THE moment...

Many women talk about THE moment, the moment their lives changed for ever..  Most will talk about when they got engaged, or married or had a baby... not me. My MOMENT was when I was handed this...

My Invitational Entry into the 2014 Boston Marathon!! :)

Let me back up... 9 years ago I moved to Boston. Every April I joined the masses of people headed to Copley Square and the Boston Marathon Finish Line.. Marathon Monday. It's so awesome it even has its own Holiday. The 3rd Monday of April is known as Patriots Day, but for most, its known as a day off from work to watch the runners.

It's never less than exciting. From the moment the elite take off to the swarms of "regular" people. They are people of all shapes and sizes, some in costumes, some in military fatigues. Regardless.. it's amazing to watch. And these "regular" people might be even more amazing to watch... they give me hope that someday ... maybe I could do it too!

Well... this is my year!

How you say? How did this chubby little recreational runner turn into a MARATHONER?!!? hahah I didn't qualify. I didn't wake up and run some sub 3 hr. marathon... Bottom Line.. I got lucky.

Like seriously lucky. My boyfriend, Brian, is a Lt. Field Supervisor for a major ambulance company. Short story? His work got numbers because they work the marathon, and they gave me one. Long story? He worked Marathon Monday last year, during the bombings. Scary stuff. Story for another day. This is a happy post!

Thus begins my marathon training, my first marathon, the BOSTON MARATHON. I am beyond thrilled. I get giddy and teary-eyed just thinking about it. I just know I'll have the biggest grin on my face, and want to wear my medal and marathon jacket every single day. But for now... I focus on logging those miles in my little suburb and hope that I'll be ready on April 21st. 

101 Things... in 1001 Days

I've been an avid blog reader for quite some time, mostly with a little push from my lovely friend Allison. So when I came across this great idea here, I jumped at the chance to get Allison involved... So we both created our lists and started our 1001 days.. See her

list here!

It took a LOT longer to come up with 101 things than I thought it would. They all had to be things that were a bit far reaching, but not totally unattainable in about 2.75 years time. Some are fun and on there simply to create new memories and some push me a bit further.

Here's my list!

1. Run a marathon (Completed April 15, 2014)

2. Be a bell ringer with the Salvation Army

3. Run a mile in under 7:30 minutes

4. Give up coffee for a week.

5. Spend a weekend without technology

6. Watch 10 classic movies I’ve never seen.

7. Send Owen a present/card/postcard once a month for a year.

 He LOVES dinosaurs... Almost as much as receiving his own mail! Cutest Nephew Ever. <3

8. Take Owen to Disney.

9. Meet Mickey Mouse

10. Do not buy anything non-essential for a month.

11. Pay off my car.

12. Pass the bar exam

13. Finally get to my goal weight

14. Don’t complain about anything for a week.

15. Ride in a hot air balloon.

16. Go skydiving.

17. Eat gluten free for one week

18. Plant a tree.

19. Adopt a family at Christmas.

20. Write a letter to Owen as “Santa”

21. Send a card or flowers to a friend.. just because

22. Adopt a pet (Bruin! Adopted in May of 2014)

23. Attend a live taping of a tv show

24. Make pasta from scratch

25. Learn how to can foods, such as homemade tomato sauce

26. Knit a queen sized blanket

27. Start a college fund for Owen

28. Try Potato Donuts

29. Make a pie on Pi day!

30. Try one new recipe every day for a week

31. Don’t eat sweets for a month.

32. Pay off my credit cards (DONE!)

33. See 5 more states (Virginia,)

34. Go sailing

35. Visit a vineyard

36. Go deep sea fishing

37. Write a blog (Hello Blog Readers!)

38. Kiss under a mistle toe (December 2014)

39. Get my private pilots license

40. Read the bible, cover to cover

41. Bring my lunch to work every day for a month (January 2014)

42. Brew my own beer

43. Take an art class

44. Host a dinner party

45. Leave a 100% tip at a restaurant

46. Create a beauty routine and stick with it. (Started wearing makeup!)

47. Create a recipe book.

48. Juice fast for one week

49. See a broadway musical

50. Run a race at Disney World

51. Complete a DIY every week for a month

52. Write down 5 positive things that happened during the day for an entire month

53. Read 5 or more "classic" novels

54. Make Crepes

55. Go apple picking

56. Start to write a book

57. Learn how to make sushi

58. Spend Thanksgiving in Tennessee (November 2014)

59. Make homemade laundry detergent

60. Do a yearly half marathon for CCFA

61. Get my firearms license

62. Pass the FBI fitness test

63. Throw a surprise party for a friend

64. Attend a polo match

65. Do 100 pushups without stopping

66. Go zip lining

67. Set up a Christmas fund, to save money before December

68. Have breakfast for dinner (Easy peasy, all the time! mmm waffles)

69. Use the crockpot for dinner 5 times one month

70. Go rock climbing

71. Re-learn how to hockey stop

72. Build a blanket fort with Owen (Couch cushions count right?)

73. Keep a food journal for one month (February 2015)

74. Floss my teeth every night before bed for a month

75. Go camping

76. Buy a new bed

77. Buy a sofa (November 2013)

78. Save $10,000

79. Donate Blood

80. Attend legal continuing ed class/conference

81. Make a new friend (February 2014, Angela!)

82. Make clam chowder

83. Volunteer for a political campaign

84. Put a note in Brians lunch once a month for 6 months

85. Run 1,000 miles in a year

86. Work out every day before work for a month

87. Stretch every night before bed for a month

88. Have a date night one night a week for a year

89. Teach Owen how to make Dad’s meatloaf

90. Go running in the rain AND snow. (Snow January 2014)

91. Build a snowman

92. Grow an herb garden, cook with them!

93. Payoff someone’s layaway at Christmas time

94. Go on a road trip

95. Go waterskiing

96. Do not watch tv for a week

97. Quit FB for a week. (April 2015)

98. Rent a beach house.

99. Save $10 for every completed item

100. Donate $10 to charity for every item not completed

101. Make another 101 in 1001 list!

We are set to finish this July 14, 2016... will you join in the fun?!?!