Guest Post!! 20SB Blog Swap

I met Christy through the 20sb blog swap (20sb is a blogging community for 20 something bloggers that I rarely go to... bu thought a blog swap sounded fun!).

From my stalking of her blog.. Christy sounds like a pretty awesome gal, with some great goals.  I really appreciate her honesty and I am inspired by her desire to better her life before 25- perhaps I should start a 30 before 30 list?.... anyway, here is her guest post, and you can check out mine at her blog: http://twentyfivebeforetwentyfive.blogspot.com/

2010 was a tough year for me. I started the year with a demotion at my job that included increased (that's right increased) responsibilities and  a pretty rough salary adjustment. By February, I was so miserable I tried to quit and after promises that it would get better I changed my mind. March rolled around and things still hadn't gotten better. I started complaining a lot...to my friends, my parents, my boyfriend, everyone who would listen and when they all got sick of listening I started running after work to blow off some steam. I realized that I really enjoyed running and decided to sign up for a 10k. I also decided to start my blog and my list of 25 things to do before I turned 25. That 10k turned into a Half-Marathon and 8 months later, a Full Marathon. In May, I left my job and moved to New York to start my Master's and I love it!

My 25 list has been my saving grace this year. From getting lost into books I've never read to running and trying new things, it's become a huge part of who I am. Almost everything I do is because it's related to something on "my list" and I love that! So as 2011 rolls around, it's time to start making serious moves on my list. I've crossed 3 things off and have a lot of work to go! I'll be 24 in February and my goal for 2011 is to stop putting off some of the things on my list: like making a sand castle or finishing my college scrapbook.

In 2011, I want to run another marathon. I also want to break a 2 hour half marathon. I want to go to all of the ball parks I haven't been to yet and I want to start taking French lessons. I want to swim with the dolphins and go to India. A lot of people have called my list overly ambitious but that's just who I am. I've always been the person that puts too much on my plate but for the first time, I'm not stressed about how much I have to do because I'm having too much fun doing it!

And of course everyone has one of those "Stop Smoke" or "Start Dieting" type resolutions and mine is to Stop Complaining! Since I lived in Boston and was trapped in the cold, cold weather and that miserable job, I feel like all I do is complain. I keep it off my blog but in my personal life and my everyday conversations, I complain a lot and it needs to stop. I've come really close to pushing people away like that and I don't want to lose anyone because of it. So that's the biggest step for me....and working on crossing some more things off my list!

Thanks, Christy!  Wishing you the best for 2011! 

Oh man, I love my girls!

My girls are the BEST THING EVER!!! As busy as my life is- and by busy I mean totally hectic; feel like my brain is a bag of mush; cannot believe how fast time flies when you have two kids...
Let me get back on track to what I was saying... as busy as my life is; I love that my kids are a part of my life, and they bring me so much happiness and fun that it makes it all worth it.
Avery Coy is already 7 months old- unbelievable! She is sitting up, laughing, teething, eating baby food, and is such a happy little chubster. She's not rolling over too often- the doc says probably because she's got around 21 lbs to roll... hee hee
Ali Bananas is totally 2- she's pushing boundaries and figuring out what she can and cannot get away with- but with her smart-as-a-ship mentality it is almost hard to keep a straight face at times: She told me: "don't you tell me no, momma" the other night!  I mean, c'mon now, Miss Bossy Pants! 
She talks like crazy- expanding her vocabulary every day- and she catches on and is so smart and funny: it's amazing watching her brain work. 
She's also potty-trained!!!!!!!!! Going on 2 months now! She doesn't even have accidents during nap time; and only sometimes has some potty in her pull up in the AM after sleeping at night (probably cause she sleeps like a rock).
So yeah, my kids are pretty much amazing. I am so thankful for them every single day- even when they are naughty, I still cannot believe how blessed I am to have them.  They make me understand so much about love and its capacity.  I'll say it again- they make every hour of lost sleep, looooooong days of working then coming home to parent a crazy house, time lost with my husband, brain mush... worth it!

Holy Snow!

North Idaho has been getting CRAZY amounts of snow for this time of year.  We officially broke a record with the snowiest November of all time!  Usually, I hate the snow and everything about it.  This year, I have changed my feelings and I think it is because
 #1 My parents gave us a snow blower for (early) Christmas this year!! And we don't have to slave away every day, twice a day, shoveling our driveway and sidewalk.
#2 Ali loves the snow, and reminds me that it IS fun to play in :)  We haven't gotten to build a snowman yet, as the snow is dry and not very packable- but soon! (I will of course post pictures, as I have not built a snowman in probably 15 years!)

Here is what we're looking at for the next 10 days as far as weather is concerned:

 And this is why I LOVE to live in the GREAT NORTHWEST!  It is simply beautiful... this picture was taken 20 minutes from my house (not by me) - simply gorgeous!