New Gal's Guide to Seattle: Seafair 2012

My newest Girl Power Hour blog post is up! Check it out!!

New Gal's Guide: Seafair 2012

New Gal’s Guide: Moving Home – From Seattle to Jacksonville, FL

When I was deciding to move back to Jacksonville, the one thing I didn't want to give up was my Girl Power Hour blog. I was very happy when Darnell, the founder of GPH, told me I could blog from anywhere. We deeded to change the name to New Gal's Guide, so I could blog about any city I had visited.

For my first New Gal's Guide, Darnell and I decided it would be a great idea to share my trip across country. I hope you enjoy!

New Gal’s Guide: Moving Home – From Seattle to Jacksonville, FL

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

                        

New Gals Guide to Seattle: Underground Tour Seattle

My March, Girl Power Hour post, is up! I was so excited to be contacted by Underground Tour Seattle to do this tour! This is something that everyone should do when you visit Seattle!! Enjoy!

New Gals Guide to Seattle: Underground Tour

Stop Kony 2012

There are very few times when I will get involved in anything political, but this 29 minute video needs to be seen by everyone. Please take the time to watch the video and find Invisible Children on Facebook and Twitter.

Let's stop Kony in 2012!!

I Got My Medal!!!

Earlier this month I virtually ran the 26.2 with Donna half marathon! I was very excited today to receive my race shirt, bag, race bib and my finishers medal!

 This is definitely the prettiest medal I have!

I can't wait to run this race in person next year! I am excited!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope everyone has an amazing Valentine's Day!!

26.2 with Donna - The National Marathon to Fight Breast Cancer

One year ago I posted a blog about my Mom running her first marathon. After she crossed the finish line she inspired me to begin my running journey! I trained for my first 5K in 4 weeks and was addicted from that moment on. I was supposed to go home and run the 26.2 with Donna half marathon with my Mom this year, but being unemployed and looking for a job kept me from going home. Luckily for me the race has some amazing directors and since I am part of the Jeff Galloway family they let me run the race virtually.

Yesterday morning I woke up at 7 a.m. ready to run my race. I had already pre-planned my route, hoping I would have enough water and gatorade to get me through this run. It was an overcast and cool morning on the Samamish River Trail and there were quite a few runners to join me in my run. I wasn't trying to concentrate on the mileage, but when everyone started to turn around and go back I knew it was time to check my watch. 3 miles....I had only gone 3 miles...seriously? All of these "smart people" were only running 6 miles...and I still had 10 miles to go. Focusing on my running and music I finally hit the 6.5 mile mark...I had run from Woodinville to Redmond...seriously? I just ran through 3 towns in a matter of 6.5 miles. The only good part here was that it was time to turn around and head back.

Running back to Woodinville seemed to go by pretty quick. Despite my leg muscles tightening up I made it back to my car! It was a great feeling...the only downfall is that my car wasn't an actual finish line...there was no cheering crowd and sadly no one handing out medals! I felt amazing, I had managed to run 13.1 miles by myself and I managed to get a new personal record. I ran my half marathon in 3:31:41...that is 18 minutes faster than I ran the Seattle half marathon!

It was a great run and I look forward to running the half marathon in Jacksonville, FL next year! I will update this post when I receive my race packet and medal!

Lets FINISH Breast Cancer!

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!!

Everyone knows that I am a huge football fan, so Super Bowl Sunday for me is a big deal! Not only do I watch the game, but being a PR/advertising person, I also love the commercials! Congratulations to the New York Giants for winning the Super Bowl, but I would like to share with you my favorite commercials from the big game!

M&M Commercial! This is my favorite!

Doritos Dog Commercial!

Coca Cola Bears Commercials....I am so happy they brought the polar bears back!


I know this isn't a commercial, but I am excited for this movie to come out!


Way to go Giants!! 2012 Super Bowl Champions!

Random Facts about Me!

I was going through different blogs that I follow last night and I noticed this trend of people posting random facts about themselves! I thought this was a great idea, so I wanted to share 11 random facts about me along with my answers to a bunch of different questions that I saw on the different sites! I hope you enjoy!!

11 Random Facts About Me:
1. I am a half marathon runner! YAY! 13.1!!
2. I am addicted to high heels! I only have one pair of 3 inch heels...everything else is 5-6 inches! I think I have a short complex! :-)
3. I love chicken! If I could eat fried chicken and boneless chicken wings everyday without gaining weight, I would!
4. I am obsessed with Apple products! I have an iPhone 4S, iPad, iPod touch and a MacBook Pro! Anytime I leave my house I have my iPhone 4S and my iPad! I might have a problem!
5. My favorite M&M is the blue one...I don't know why, it just is!
6. I love carbs! Potatoes and pasta are amazing!
7. I am addicted to Diet Coke! People think I am crazy because I drink Diet Coke instead of coffee!
8. I love wine...enough said!
9. I love my puppy...she is the cutest!
10. If I won the lottery I would fill my closet with expensive shoes and purses!
11. I have a camera with me at all times!

Random Questions:
1. What is your biggest pet peeve? My biggest pet peeve are slow drivers...if the speed limit is 60, then go 60...not 50! Just saying!
2. What TV show are you most embarrassed to admit that you watch? I would have to say The Bachelor. I watch it knowing that I will be getting annoyed at some point during the show! It is good drama!
3. What is your favorite childhood memory? Anything involving hanging out with my family!
4. Three words that describe you? Quirky, smiley, outgoing
5. Hamburger or hot dog? Hamburger
6. What book did you last read? I am currently reading The Hunger Games, but the last book I read was Seattle Girl by Lucy Kevin!
7. What is your biggest accomplishment to date? My biggest accomplishment to date, besides graduating from college, would be finishing my first half marathon! I ran the Seattle half marathon last November, it was a lot of fun!

8. Do you keep a journal? My blog is kind of like my journal, other than that I only journal when I get really stressed/emotional.
9. What picture of yourself is you favorite?

10. Where would you most like to travel? Paris, Greece, Bora Bora, Rome, London...I think that is it!
11. Stripes or polka dots? Stripes!!
12. If you could only travel one place for the rest of your life, where would it be? Paris
13. What are staples in your fridge? Diet Coke, Colby Jack Cheese and Gatorade
14. Who has been the biggest influence in your life thus far? My Mommy!
15. If you could sit down with ANYONE real, alive, dead, or fiction, who would it be? Where would you eat? Hmmmm...this one is tough! I would have to say Coco Chanel! She is timeless, I would love to just talk to her about life and fashion. We would probably eat at some really cute cafe in Paris!
16. What is the last thing that made you laugh so hard your stomach hurt? Making jokes with my sisters at family dinner last weekend!
17. What is one thing you love about yourself? My smile!
18. What is something you dislike about yourself? I am too hard on myself...I can be mean! (But only to me!)
19. Why do you blog? I started out blogging to keep my family up to date on things going on in my life. Now I blog because it is fun and I love doing new things to blog about!
20. What is your favorite junk food? Jujubes or frozen M&Ms!
21. What was your last nightmare? I had a nightmare that Callie got hit by a car, I woke up in tears!
22. What has been your favorite age and why? I don't think I have had a bad age...so far 28 is treating me well! :-)

New Girl's Guide to Seattle: Valentine's Day Guide

My February New Girl's Guide to Seattle Blog post is up! Check it out for some fantastic Valentine's Day ideas!!

New Girl's Guide to Seattle: Valentine's Day Guide

Happy 5th Birthday Callie!

Yesterday was a special day in our house, Callie turned 5! Since I had a very busy day, trying to catch up on appointments I missed last week, I am giving her a birthday week!! She was excited to get a few new toys and treats yesterday! I think she is a very spoiled puppy!

Snowmaggedon 2012: Day 6

Today was the day that the snow was going to stop...but that was not the case! The snow continued, which makes it our sixth straight day of falling snow! The good news is that there is a light at the end of the tunnel...the snow has stopped! Tomorrow the temperature will rise above freezing, and the snow will begin to melt!

I have had a lot of fun over these past few days, but I am very happy for life to go back to normal!

Snowmageddon 2012: Day 5

This morning I had the pleasure of waking up to 6-8 inches of fresh snow. The weather forecasters definitely weren't wrong when they talked about how much snow could fall. I was really happy that I had no where I needed to go today, I could just stay home and enjoy the snow!

I took a picture from my balcony last night and this morning to show the difference!

With snow everything looks so clean!

Callie, "I don't think I need to go outside in the snow!"

I made brownies for the maintenance guys who helped me get

my car unstuck yesterday!

I went for a walk to get out of the house and enjoy the snow!

I love icicles...they are so pretty!

These are some of the views from my balcony!

I thought Boeuf Bourguignon would be the perfect dinner for a snow day!

It was delicious!

Snowmageddon 2012: Days 1-4

Seattle is known more for umbrellas and rain boots, rather than snow boots. Sure, most people have their winter ski gear, but typically you only wear your ski gear when you go to the slopes. Last Saturday began snowmageddon 2012, we are seeing one of the biggest snow storms in the past decade. We have had decent snow fall over the past four days, but there is a storm coming in tomorrow that can dump as much as 10 inches on snow around the Seattle area. 

I have been documenting the first four days of snow, and I thought it would be a good idea to post these pictures now before the big snow fall tomorrow! After driving in snow today, my first time, I completely agree with what I posted last year:

"A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water."

New Girl’s Guide to Seattle: Seattle Center and The Next Fifty

My January New Girl's Guide to Seattle post is up. Check out the Girl Power Hour blog to learn more about Seattle Center and the 50th Anniversary of Seattle World's Fair!

Girl Power Hour's New Girl's Guide to Seattle

Happy 2012!

2011 was a rough year...but it can only get better! I am excited for 2012 and everything it is going to bring!  

Cheers to 2012!

My Favorite Things...Christmas 2011

I wanted to share some of my "favorite things" I received this Christmas! I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas!

1. Michael Kors iPhone case

2. Ugg Bailey Button Bomber Boots

3. Longchamp Eiffel Tower Bag (It came all the way from Paris, France!!)

4. MacBook Pro

5. Cold Weather Running Gear (Always a good idea when you live in Seattle!)

6. My new TV!!!