Addendum to last post

Got the babysitting covered. Thanks to my sweet friends near and far who offered to babysit in response to my post. Could go on another vacation for what I'm paying a sitter to stay with my kids, but they are my kids so it's worth it, right? I have to keep reminding myself of their preciousness and my concern for their well-being when I think about the check I will be writing to their babysitter. Okay, I'm done complaining. Just wanted to say thanks for the offers to help, I love my friends :)

Thank Goodness

I've mentioned previously that I am running the Boston Marathon in April. For marathon runners, the Boston is the be-all-end-all of marathons. It is the ultimate goal to be able to run the Boston, but lately I haven't felt so grateful to have the privilege this year. Reasons are as follows:

#1: I don't have any friends running with me
#2: I don't have any training partners because none of my friends are doing races this spring
#3: It is so hard to train in the cold, dark, winter months by myself
#4: I don't have anyone to watch my kids when we are in Boston (my top 2 options just fell through)
#5: My airline just changed my flight times so that I am scheduled to fly back to CO at 8 AM instead of 8 PM on the day of the marathon - WHAT???
#6: In order to get a new flight I had to pay DOUBLE of what my original flight cost

I was beginning to think, "Should I even be going? This doesn't seem worth it!" But then I got on the Boston Athletic Association website to read about the race and get inspired again and found this article.

Big changes are occurring with the Boston Marathon qualifications! The article states that next year the registration process will proceed in waves. It allows those with the fastest qualifying times to register first. The first day of registration will be open to people whose qualifying times are 10 minutes or more under their age groups qualifications and so on down the line. So basically, those of us who squeak by with a qualifying time of 3:39 when the cut off is 3:40 (ME) will be last to register and the chance of there being any spots open is pretty much zero. In 2013 the qualifying times become more strict, cutting 5 minutes off the qualifying times for each age group. PLUS, the registration process will occur in waves as stated for 2012.

Why am I writing all this? Because it made me realize how lucky and fortunate I am to be running Boston this year. I don't know if I will get another chance with the reformations. All the money, headache, hassle, early morning runs, pain, fatigue, loneliness is worth it.

BOSTON, HERE I COME!!!

Best Girls Trip Ever - Vegas, Baby, Vegas!

In 1996, the third floor of John Hall at BYU (with some adopted friends from the second and first floors) was home to some of the coolest girls around. After Freshman year we all went various directions, but in 2007 we decided this group of girls needed to reestablish the connections we had in 1996, so we started a girls trip tradition. This year it was hosted by Miss Amberli in her new home in Vegas. Us cold weather girls couldn't wait for some warm weather and the magic of Vegas. The trip did not disappoint! In fact, I'm kind of having a hard time getting back to my normal life because it seems so dull and boring compared to the fun we had. Plus, I really, really, really, miss my amazing friends!

Here's a little recap (not in order at all, but whatever):

Spa Day

Melissa has always had mad magic making skills and she used those skills multiple times this trip to hook us up with amazing opportunities. Such as....a PRIVATE spa suite at the brand new swanky Cosmopolitan hotel for $0. It normally rents for $100 an hour and we were there over 4 hours, but all we had to pay for was the services we enjoyed (massages, facials, pedicures, etc). We had our own sauna, hot tubs, massage room, and living spaces, plus access to all the spa facilities (pools, workout room, fancy snacks, etc.). As we relaxed, we had front seat views of the Bellagio water show that went on right out side our window. It was unbelievable. Up until now I wouldn't have said I was a spa girl, but I was wrong.

Shopping/Strolling/Eating

The Cosmopolitan really is an amazing new hotel and we had to check it all out. Especially the chandelier that extends three floors! There are all these little lounges that sit within the chandelier's outer rims that are so pretty. If you go to Vegas, check it out, it's the place to stay! We shopped a ton, and ate a ton, but my favorite night of dining was at the Cosmo's Wicked Spoon Buffet. Every entree I tried was "to die for" good, but I could have skipped all the entrees and went straight to the dessert. There were rows and rows of confections that didn't just look pretty, they tasted divine. There were 31 gelato flavors that made your mouth water just looking at them - I think I tasted 30 of the 31. Once again, I wouldn't have said I was a buffet girl, but I was wrong.

Cirque de Soleil "KA"/Studio 54

I had never been to a Cirque de Soleil production, but I have always wanted to, so I was thrilled when we all decided to splurge for a show. It was fantastic! So innovative and daring - I loved every second! But the real icing on the cake this night was dancing at Studio 54. I haven't danced in a club since Club Omni in Provo circa 1998, and I didn't realize what I've been missing all these years until I was back on the dance floor. To say I had fun is a blatant understatement. I know it sounds ridiculous and immature, but it seriously was the funnest night I've had in a long time. And I think all 10 of us girls looked pretty hot out there busting a move! I wouldn't have said I was much of a club girl anymore, but I was wrong.






Thank you, thank you, thank you, Amberli for putting together such a terrific weekend. And thank you Amberli, Jenny, Allison, Trisha, Shauna, Mehrsa, Amy, Melissa, and Joanna for being such great friends. I look up to all of you and was so uplifted by our conversations and late night confessions. Can't wait for girls trip 2012!