HIGH FIVE

1) to move or gesture in celebration or greeting in which two people slap each other's open palm with their arms raised
2) greet with a high five

Happy National Running Day! 

In honor of this day, it seems appropriate that I finally get around to talking about the 10k I ran recently: the Snohomish Women's Run. This was the first 10k in a series of three that we have planned before our half -- you know, to keep our training honest. This run was also the first 10k race I have completed and I must say, I really enjoyed it! Not as long as a 15k but not as short as a 5k...juuuuuuust right! It was during this run, I was reminded why I run...

I will be honest, sometimes I run for the goodies (cute bibs, quality shirts, medals, etc.) and I was initially drawn to this run because it had an awesome finishers' medal. But I am glad that I signed up for this run for so many other reasons. This was inaugural Snohomish Women’s Run and other than not having enough shuttles to transport people to/from parking/event locations, everything else seemed to go off without a hitch. A beautiful, flat course out in the country -- exactly what I was looking for!

This was my first all-women event and I really liked the atmosphere. There were super fit racers, moms, pregnant ladies (who ran faster than me), teenagers, grandmothers -- you name it! Seriously, it was quite the spectrum. But we were all there because wanted to push ourselves and we all joined together in this community of runners to do so. 

My all-time favorite moment was in my 4th mile of the race. The course was an out and back loop. As we were on our back route, we crossed paths with those in the beginning of their race. Someone stood out to me: a woman running alone, who was looking exhausted. As I watched her jog, I couldn't help but be proud of the hard work she was putting in. She didn't make excuses like "I could never run a 10k" or "I am tired" or "I don't have a workout buddy". It didn't matter how fast she was going because she was beating everyone who was on the couch at home. She put one foot in front of the other and didn't stop. She didn't over-think it, she just keep going. As we were getting close to passing each other I felt compelled to let her know I was rooting for her -- so I ran across the the course towards her, gave her a high five, and she gave me a huge smile.

I run because I believe in a life of fitness. 
I run because it strengthens not only my mind but my body. 
I run to encourage others -- because I turned "I could never do that" into "I will conquer that". 

Additionally, the Snohomish Women's Run's charity partner is Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County which is a cause that definitely is worth supporting. I had many sorority sisters that volunteer for the Domestic Violence Services in Hillsdale County, so it made me feel as though it was my chance to help the cause. 

All-in-all I had a great experience (I ran in 59:19). We had a blast exploring Mukilteo at our packet pick-up the day before and enjoyed an amazing brunch after our race at Arnie's (go there...seriously). This run makes me look forward to my next two 10k's and then my half! Until then I will keep running and keep giving HIGH FIVES!

SAMPLE

1) to take a small part of anything or one of a number, intended to show the quality, style, or nature of the whole
2) to experiment with a subset of a population in order to study the total population.
3) to take a sample or samples of; test or judge by a sample

Sometimes, I am thankful for social media. When Facebook serves its actual purpose of sharing things (events, milestones in your life, pictures, etc.) you are doing with with your friends -- cool things can happen. 

Without a friend sharing this event on Facebook, I would have never heard of the Gig Harbor Beer Festival. Thank you Brianna (and as an added bonus her boyfriend was playing in one of the bands)! Also, thank you for making sure we bought our tickets ahead of time -- because this event sold out!

Although we weren't too sure about the weather (you never know with Seattle spring), we ended up having gorgeous blue skies and fairly warm temps. We also weren't too sure about the location, as it was set up in the middle of the Uptown Gig Harbor shopping village -- but we ended up really liking it! This allowed for easy parking and a variety of options for our post festival meal. 

We ran into old friends and made some new ones; we tasted eight sips from local breweries; and we not only soaked up the sun, but also music from local talent. My favorite was Siren's Call from Narrows Brewing (seen in the bottom two pictures) because they use dried hibiscus in the brewing process which gives it a lighter cider taste and adds a pink hue. 

Next time, we are definitely making pretzel necklaces to eat while we SAMPLE. 

GAZE

1) to look steadily and intently, as with great curiosity, interest, pleasure, or wonder

It is a tradition that we, as sisters, visit the Mount Vernon tulips every April to gaze at the rows and rows of color and beauty. Following our tulip viewing, we head over to Calle -- for our favorite food, street tacos! To me, it doesn't feel like spring is here until I see those tulips!

Last year my sisters and I thought this would be the perfect setting for a photo that we would later give to our mom on Mother's Day in the form of a canvas print. See below!

Mom loved it so much that she wanted to come with us on our annual tulip trip this year! Due to busy schedules, we had to pick a weekend that was a little early in the season -- so we ended up with spectacular weather but less tulip blossoms than we were used to seeing. 

Nevertheless, we still had a wonderful day together and got our annual Calle fix! No matter how many times I see the tulips, I am always in awe of how beautiful the fields are. I am already looking forward to next year, as we take our mini-road trip to the tulip fields and GAZE. 

SLIME

1) to cover or smear with or as if with slime

If you are a 90's child, you watched Nickelodeon. And if you watched Nickelodeon, chances are your favorite show (or at least second favorite to Legends of the Hidden Temple) was Double Dare. 

I used to dream of going on Double Dare. I would image myself jumping into the ice cream sundae in the kiddie pool searching frantically for the flag, as the time incessantly ticked away on the clock. Why did they discontinue that show?!

Thankfully, my faithful friend Groupon helped make my dreams come true with The Slime Run. This was a 5k run/slime obstacle course at Remlinger Farms in Carnation, WA and was the perfect run for my sisters to join us for! This event was much less about the running and much more about the slime filled obstacles!

As we drove to Carnation, we were a bit worried about the weather -- but the rain held out until after we finished, and received our slimey medals! After the run, we cleaned up and headed to our favorite spot for a post run brunch. A very successful Saturday. 

If you could live out one of your childhood dreams -- would it involved SLIME?!

BOND

1) to connect or bind
2) to place a bonded debt on or secure a debt by bonds; mortgage
3) to join (two materials)
4) to lay (bricks, stones, etc.) so as to produce a strong construction
5) to hold together or cohere, from or as from being bonded, as bricks in a wall or particles in a mass
6) to establish a bonding

Last week marked the end of Sebastian's first year in law school (now just need to get through finals!). Although I am not the one putting in the endless hours of reading, writing, and studying -- I can say that this academic year flew by.

It seems so recent that Sebastian and I first checked out Seattle U together, as he was Law School shopping. And now here he is 1/3 of the way done. I am so proud of his hard work and involvement in and out of the classroom -- but I am even more impressed with the amazing people he has surrounded himself with in the process. 

My favorite memories from Sebastian's first year of law school, always include his two new best friends and the bond they have created together. These guys are not only inseparable, but unstoppable -- and luckily for me, they each come with an amazing girlfriend!

These guys keep Sebastian sane and these girls are always there to commiserate with me as we navigate our new role of Law School Girlfriends together. 

But best of all -- these couples were the most outstanding company that one could have when attending the Barristers Ball (aka Law Prom). Barristers Ball was one of my most favorite nights of this year! The dancing and laughs were endless. The food was delicious, drinks were cold, and the company was perfect. I wish I could do it all over again. 

I know boys don't get all mushy -- so I will say this on behalf of Sebastian: THANK YOU guys for being the best friends Sebastian and I could ask for. There is a lot of new territory that comes with Law School, and I am so thankful that we are in this together. Law school may only be three years, but I can see that this friendship will last beyond that and grow into a lifetime BOND.

CAPTURE

1) to take by force
2) to gain control of or exert influence over
3) to take possession of, as in a game or contest
4) to represent or record in lasting form

Today is April 1st -- April Fools' Day for all you pranksters. For me, this marks the start of second quarter, which means the first three months of 2014 have already flown by in the blink of an eye. For someone who loves to track things, the beginning of Q2 is the perfect time for me to check in on my new years resolutions:

Pray: I have shared prayer more often with my family as they have been driving up to come to Church with me as often as possible. 
Run, lift, and practice yoga: I have ran my first 15K and signed up for a half (more to come on both of those!). I have added AM lifting sessions multiple days a week to compliment my evening yoga classes.
Eat clean: The majority of my meals are paleo and still having a blast trying out new alternative recipes.
Save weekly: I have been sticking to the reverse plan for the 52 Weeks of Saving. If you haven't heard of it -- check it out here! It is so simple and you end with over $1,300 put away. 
Establish balance: This is not a goal that is easy measured, but I do feel like I have been keeping busy and allowing myself downtime. Also, I deleted the Facebook app from my phone for Lent -- which has really helped in balancing my time and phone usage. 
Nix the negative: That is where this post comes into play! Read on!
Travel near or far: Currently, I have a few "near" places on the calendar (Minnesota in June, Las Vegas in July, and California in August). Now I want to focus on the "far". 

Looking back on the first three months of the year -- I am really proud of how I have maintained my focus on my resolutions and I want to keep it up! This brings me to the #100happydays challenge I just read about. 

All this challenge involves is capturing a photo of something that has made you happy each day. Surprisingly, the website notes that 71% of people who tried to complete this challenge failed, attributing a lack of time as the main for the not completing the challenge.

WAIT! WHAT? People actually think they don’t have time to be happy?

The converse side of my resolution "nix the negative" is to "promote the positive". It is all too easy to focus on what is missing, but what if we shifted our mind set and focused on what is going well? Conscious happiness, that is what will happen!

I am starting today and my 100th day will be on July 9th. Why don't you join in the challenge and make the time to welcome happiness into your life each day (click here!). I will complete my challenge via Instagram (using the hashtag #SMB100happydays) -- but you can do it with any format you desire. Can you do it? You are part of beautiful moments each and everyday, memories that ask you to CAPTURE. 

DRIVE

1) to send, expel, or otherwise cause to move by force or compulsion
2) to cause and guide the movement of (a vehicle, an animal,etc.)
3) to convey in a vehicle
4) to force to work or act
5) to impel; constrain; urge; compel

Another year -- another President's Day weekend celebrated with a girl time. I can't even explain how much I love three-day weekends that include a mini-road trip. They are the perfect opportunity to explore somewhere close and get you out of your normal weekend mode. 

Despite the fact the weather (read: crazy pass conditions) tried to stop us from making it out to Yakima this year, we pushed through anyways. The drive was stressful and took double the amount of time it should have, but the trusty Subaru got us there in one piece. 

Weekends with my girls are always filled with catching up, laughing, and wine-ing -- and I wouldn't have it any other way. I truly hope that we can continue this President's Day tradition. And if we are keeping the wine theme -- maybe next year will be Napa (OK-- maybe just Walla-Walla or somewhere in Oregon)?

Also I have to share that while in Yakima, we tasted the BEST rosé I have EVER from Treveri Cellars. It was so good that our bride-to-be picked up six bottles for her wedding day -- and I bought one that I am saving for a special occasion. If you love sparking wine, everything at Treveri is good! Beyond the sparkling wine, we loved the food, service, atmosphere and the stories from our sommelier -- we stayed for hours just soaking it all in (or up?). If you aren't going to be in Yakima anytime soon but want to give these sparkling wines a try, we were told that Wine World in the University District carries Treveri Wines.

There are so many places to be explored right in your own backyard. So, next time you have a three-day weekend, back your bags and go for a DRIVE! 

PS. If you want to check out my post from last year's President's Day Weekend in Yakima, you can view it HERE. 

TANGO

1) to dance the tango
2) to execute movements of the tango, a dance of Latin-American origin, danced by couples, and having many varied steps, figures,and poses
3) to move the body in duple time, characterized by long gliding steps and sudden pauses

Although Valentine's Day was a month ago, I still have to share how much fun I had Tango Dancing! 

This year, Sebastian and I celebrated our 6th Valentine's Day together -- and when we were thinking about what we should do, we knew it had to be something outside of the box. Going out to dinner was just not going to cut it. We wanted adventure! Our top three ideas were tango dancing, indoor rock climbing, or a trampoline park. Since we still wanted things to be on the romantic side, tango dancing won out (but don't be surprised when those other ideas make their way into future posts).

I follow a lot of blogs, especially ones that keep me up-to-date on things happening around Seattle. Through this, I found out about Century Ballroom hosting an Argentine Tango and Wine night for Valentine's Day -- perfect! 

So after receiving two dozen roses, and going out to dinner (spoiled -- I know), Sebastian and I headed over to Capital Hill with our dancing shoes on. 

The first hour was a Tango lesson. We were taught the basics of upper carriage, traveling footwork, and connecting steps. The room was packed with couples -- so the practicing portion was a bit difficult. After a few tries, better communication (yes, I was trying to lead too much), and a couple of questions to the instructor, we had it down!

After the lesson, there was a break for an Argentinian Wine tasting while the band set up. We tasted some wonderful organic wines, but opted for champagne since this was an occasion to be celebrated (and champagne is my favorite)! 

Once the Tango Band was set up -- it was time for open dance. This is where we really had fun because we were not limited by space or instructor. It was so fun having live music and people around us who REALLY knew how to tango. Seeing them perform the basics and build upon them into fancier footwork really made us wish we took more lessons. 

All in all it was a wonderful evening and I would highly recommend any/all classes at Century Ballroom (salsa, swing, waltz, etc.). If you and your beau are looking for something new, get out there and TANGO!

SMILE

1) to assume a facial expression indicating pleasure, favor, or amusement, but sometimes derision or scorn
2) to move the lips characterized by an upturning of the corners of the mouth
3) to regard with favor
4) to have a pleasant or agreeable appearance or aspect

I feel absolutely terrible about the tardiness of this post -- I meant to get this up around the holidays, but I never got around to finishing it! So, here it is now!

One of my favorite things about the holidays is that all of my high school besties come HOME! When we all are in the Seattle-area, we try to schedule a time to get together for a dinner or something along those lines. This year the way everyone's travel schedule worked out, we were able to have a little dinner party at my place. I LOVE hosting dinner parties/get together so I was really excited that this worked out. On top of it, I have a co-worker who also loves to host events -- so when I told her about my girls dinner she has the perfect addition to the festivities -- "PHOTOBOOTH" PROPS!

Last year our landlords let us pick an accent wall in our kitchen, so we chose a mossy green for the brick wall. This turned out to be the ideal backdrop for our "photobooth". Who knew?! We laid out all of the holiday themed props and took turns being photographed. Then using the collage feature at picmonkey.com -- I was able to string the photos together to make them look like actual photobooth strips. 

My girlfriends and I had so much fun with the props that I decided to bring them to my parents house on Christmas day so my sisters and I could also play around with them. This time we used our fireplace because it had a holiday feel and we propped my sister's phone up on a table. She has a feature that allows you to say "shoot!" while in camera mode and the picture will capture on a one second delay. This provided lots of laughs for us and some pretty cute holiday photos.

If you ever find yourself looking for a quick craft project for a rainy day -- make some props and throw together some prop bins! It is so fun to have these little items on hand for get togethers, no matter the reason or season. These photos will be the talk of your event! 

I loved looking back through these photos, as I put together the photo strips. I couldn't help but be thankful for the amazing women around me in the form of friends and family, and SMILE. 

FLY

1) to move through the air using wings
2) to be carried through the air by the wind or any other force
3) to float or flutter in the air
4) to travel in an aircraft or spacecraft.
5) to move suddenly and quickly; start unexpectedly

The first two months of 2014 have truly flown by -- or maybe I am just doing a great job of sticking to my New Year's Resolution of staying present? Either way it has been almost 2 months since my last post so it is time to get a little update going. 

For my birthday this year I received entry to the Quarter Century Club -- you know, turned the big 2-5! And the weekend I spent celebrating was one for the record books...literally. 

To kick off my birthday weekend, some of my wonderful co-workers surprised me by "decorating" my desk. It was a huge surprise, not only that my desk was decorated, but more so the extent to which they decorated it. I mean...see for yourself: 

That evening, Sebastian took me to see Pacific Northwest Ballet's opening night of The Sleeping Beauty. Now, I have to tell you when he took me to PNB's opening night of Swan Lake for my 18th birthday, I feel asleep in the 4th act (and no the irony of the fact that I fell asleep in a ballet and also the name of this year's ballet is not lost on us). So it REALLY meant a lot and he would give the ballet another go with me this year. Anyways, the ballet was absolutely stunning (as always), and definitely made me miss my good ol' dancin' days.

The next day was my actual birthday and I spent the morning indulging, you know coffee and giant stawberry nutella crepe for breakfast, followed by mani's and pedi's, then mexican food/happy hour for lunch (who doesn't love a sombrero?!). 

From then it was time to head to iFly for Indoor Skydiving! I will be honest, I would have loved to go outdoor skydiving for my birthday -- but due to the fact that it is February, it did not seem the most feasible. Indoor skydiving was the next best thing -- and I LOVED it. The best part was the fact that I had a group go with me, and my Dad did it! Such a hoot to share this experience and fly with my Dad. Also, could this shot be any better?! Check out that beautiful 12th Man flag! 

After iFly, I met some friends at Capitol Cider. A few months ago, I read a Seattle Met blog post about this new cider bar, and I wanted to try it out -- what better time than my birthday, right? The main floor is dimly, romantically lit restaurant that includes gluten-free food options -- perfect for a future date night. The lower floor has quite a different feel -- a bustling bar with tons of seating and games for everyone. We set up camp by the shuffleboard tables, playing any game we could get our hands on (Battleship!) and tasting the delicious ciders. Thank you to all who came out to celebrate with me! 

Thankfully, I had distracted myself all weekend with birthday activities -- because the moment I woke up on Sunday, the butterflies wouldn't stop (well...I think they were butterflies...). The day was finally here. The day I had anticipated almost as much as my birthday: SUPERBOWL SUNDAY, SEAHAWKS vs BRONCOS. This is the first Superbowl in a looooong time that I couldn't care less about about the commercials -- this year Superbowl was about FOOTBALL (and Bruno Mars!). Now that we are so far past the game, the details are irrelevant but one thing remains the same, the Seahawks were untouchable that day -- absolutely perfect. What a game to end the season on. From the girl who spent halftime crying tear of joy and who only wanted a Lombardi Trophy for her birthday, I say THANK YOU SEAHAWKS! It was an epic ride, for the record books. (Also -- thank you Sylvia for letting me wear you autographed jersey from THE BEST CORNER IN THE GAME, since he is #25!)

I still can't get over what a wonderful time I had on my birthday weekend: the love, laughs, food, company, experiences, gifts, and memories. And if the beginning of this year is going to set the precedent for 2014, this year is going to FLY. 

RESOLVE (2014 edition)

1) to come to a definite or earnest decision about; determine (to do something)

One of my all-time favorite parts of the year is the period between Christmas and New Years. Some people love the "spring cleaning" concept -- but for me, it is now that I feel the refreshing, renewal, kick-start phase. I love cleaning out the old, organizing the new, and setting myself up for a new year.

2013 brought wonderful memories beyond my wildest dreams, really and truly. It was a year abundant in blessings, some of which I couldn't see at the time but have now come into full focus.

“Your journey has molded you for the greater good, 

and it was exactly what it needed to be. 

Don't think that you've lost time. 

It took each and every situation you have 

encountered to bring you to the now. 

And now is right on time.” 

-Asha Tyson

As I sat down to hammer out my resolutions, I did some good ol' fashioned journaling via Lara Casey's goal setting prompts (if you are looking for some inspiration for your resolutions -- check them out!). As I worked through the questions and reflected on the past year, I found myself really zeroing in on the idea that "now is right on time" and I ended up with more of a mantra for 2014 than a set of resolutions.

“Everything changed the day she figured out 

there was exactly enough time for the important things in her life.”

Now is on time.
Be here now.

In 2014, I want to BE PRESENT and to focus on what matters most. I want to work smart and efficiently. I want to give my time to the things that keep my anchored. And I want to be true to myself.

My mantra for 2014:

BE
Pray honestly and often
Run, lift, and practice yoga
Eat clean and fall in love with water
Save weekly
Establish balance
Nix the negative
Travel near or far

I still plan on jotting down a few specific goals but for now, I am excited about focusing on this mantra. From yoga, I have learned about the strength that comes with focusing the mind -- and I am looking forward transitioning this concept from my yoga practice into my everyday life. I also was pleasantly surprised that this mantra of mine is fully comprised of verbs -- 2014 you are going to be action-packed!

Where are you at with your goal setting? Do you use a vision board? What will you give your focus to in 2014? Again, Let me encourage you to challenge yourself fully in whatever you RESOLVE!

VISUALIZE

1) to recall or form mental images or pictures
2) to make visual or visible
3) to form a mental image of
4) to make perceptible to the mind or imagination

I believe in bucket lists, dreams, and goals and in the plan it takes to make them come true. I believe that you must write your goals down, tell them to someone you trust, and most importantly you must believe in them by visualizing them.

You can make your dreams come true. 

You can make things happen.

You, your mind and your heart are powerful entities

and when they are in sync, magic happens. 

At the beginning of 2013, I set some big goals and lots of small ones -- I aimed to balance feeling accomplished while still pushing myself. Outside of my tangible goals, I have my lofty dreams, the ones that are closer to my heart than my brain, but are just as (if not more) important as (than) my goals. 

My top three "dream come true" moments in 2013 are as follows:

Now of my top three "dream come true" moments, none of these were goals I set for myself at the beginning of the year -- none of them had an initial plan. Instead, these fall into the dream category (well...maybe not bungee jumping, but just go with it), dreams my heart visualized.

I did set a goal to go on a cruise -- and once that plan was in action I knew I needed to jump at the opportunity to make a dream come true, swimming with dolphins. 

Bungee jumping was neither on my mind nor my heart at the beginning of 2013 (skydiving is though!) -- but when I was asked by a friend if I would join her in surprising one of my best friends in a group bungee experience, I agreed immediately. It was then I learned that spontaneity is an ingredient of dreams, and decided that bungee jumping could be a "stepping stone" toward skydiving (sorry Mom!).

Some dreams come out of a plan and some dreams come from spontaneous action. But there are other dreams -- that no matter how hard you visualize them, plan for them or go for them in moment -- that don't end up how you imagined. But they can still end up perfect.  

Although the only time I have written about Macklemore was when I finally saw him in concert last year when he opened the Heist tour in Seattle, I have been a faithful fan of his since I was in high school. In college, I used to listen to The Town endlessly because I missed Seattle so much. Also because I was in Michigan at the time, I missed seeing him at Bumbershoot in 2009. But despite all that, I have followed his journey over the years, and I have wanted to meet him ever since I can remember. I truly cannot think of any human being I have wanted to meet more than him. I have never been a fan anything in the capacity that I am of Macklemore. 

This meeting is something I have visualized for years! I pictured myself telling him what a big fan I am of him as a person -- as Ben Haggerty, the man who overcame an addiction. How much I admire his lyricism, and wish I could be half the wordsmith that he is. I wanted to congratulate him on his fully-deserved success and stand at awe in front of man that is truly dedicated to his art form. I wanted to tell him how my favorite song is Vipassana and how we love to listen to Stay at Home Dad at work. I pictured him signing my Shark Face Gang tank top and taking a picture with me. 

When I met Macklemore, none of that happened.

First of all, part of my heart had already given up on meeting him -- he had become too big too quickly. Secondly, I didn't expect after JUST missing him at a charity event, that I would get a call from a co-worker a few hours later saying "I just saw Macklemore get out of the elevator at Pacific Place. Now is your chance -- get over here!" So in pursuit of making dreams come true -- I tore out of my office faster than Richard Sherman on a pick six (with or without a shoe...you decide). 

Then it was a matter of tracking him down. My co-worker and I peaked in every storefront window of Pacific Place (thankfully there are not too many stores, and it is an open layout -- all the better for stalking!), keeping our fingers crossed that he wasn't doing his Christmas shopping in Victoria's Secret. We got to the top floor without any sign of him, we were getting ready to throw in the towel, besides...my phone battery was about to die anyways so "good thing" we didn't find him. 

In a last ditch effort (because you don't go running through the mall for nothing...), we took the sky bridge over to Nordstrom. I was thinking about how thankful I was that my heart was finally beating normally, and not pounding in my chest when my co-worker grabbed my arm, stopped me in my tracks and said three words that made my life complete... "there he is".

I quickly went into denial, then panic and then after some social media stalking to confirm it was him -- I knew what I had to do. Despite the fact I was shaking more than when I went bungee jumping, I somehow got the courage to walk up to him and somehow I managed to forget absolutely everything I wanted to say:

"Hi...I will try not to draw any attention to you, I just wanted to tell you what a huge fan I am --" "Thank y.." "I saw you open this year in Portland and I saw you open last year in Seattle --" "Yah? Aweso..." "And I am just a huge fan I love your work I love everything you do and I love you." (WAIT...WHAT?! I BLURTED OUT I LOVE YOU?! Oh come on brain...) "I appreciate..." "And I love Tricia I met her in Portland and I told her congrats on your engagement. I am really happy for you guys." "Thank you." "Do you mind if we take a picture?" "Of course not." (Note: yes I am in italics and yes there is no punctuation for a reason. I was speaking a mile a minute and he couldn't even get a word in. Unfortunately, I turned into a typical starstruck fan.)

So really, as much as I believe in the strength of visualization -- some instances will cause it all to fly out of your ears. Thankfully despite the fact that I was talking at the speed of sound and word vomiting "I love you", he was so gracious and humble as I spoke to him. He didn't act too busy or laugh at my weirdness -- he simply smiled at me while I spoke to him and listed to me like I had the most important things in the world to tell him. And after I spilled my guts, took a picture and began to walk away -- I ran back over to him (like any normal person?!) and asked for a hug, to which he responded "Yah, absolutely".

The moral of this blog post is make your dreams happen -- whether that may be through goal setting or complete spontaneity -- and don't wait! I am such a planner, but after seeing that some of the most amazing things that happened to me in 2013 were things that did not start with a plan, I am reminded that I need to be present in the moment. As you start go map out where you want to be in 2014, I encourage you to not only set attainable goals, but really listen to you heart and VISUALIZE. 

BREAK

1) to smash, split, or divide into parts violently; reduce to pieces or fragments
2) to infringe, ignore, or act contrary to
3) to fracture a bone of (some part of the body)
4) to lacerate; wound
5) to destroy or interrupt the regularity, uniformity, continuity, or arrangement of
6) to put an end to; overcome; stop
7) to discover the system, key, method, etc., for decoding or deciphering
8) to remove a part from a set or collection
9) to exchange for or divide into smaller units or components
10) to make a way through
11) to open or force one's way into
12) to better (a given score or record)
13) to disclose or divulge personally in speech or writing
14) to release (a story) for publication or airing on radio or television

When entering into 2013 -- I had no idea I would end the year assisting with two new records in the Guinness Book of World Records!

If you recall -- the first record I was part of was back in January with the Largest Snowball fight. According to Guinness: "The largest snowball fight was achieved by 5,834 participants at an event organized by Seattle Snow Day (USA) at Seattle Center, Washington, USA, on 12 January 2013. Each participant threw at least one snowball during the attempt, with proceeds benefiting the Boys and Girls Clubs of Seattle."

The second record was set this December when the 12th Man RECLAIMED the loudest crowd roar record. We originally held the record but then the Kansas City Chiefs beat us out -- so in true Seahawks fashion, we fought back. According to Guinness: "The loudest crowd roar at a sports stadium is 137.6 decibels and was achieved by fans of the Seattle Seahawks, aka "Volume 12 - The Seahawks 12th Man" (USA), at Centurylink Stadium in Seattle, Washington, USA, on 1 December 2013.The record was achieved with 12 mins 29 secs left to play in the second quarter during a 3rd down Seahawks defensive stand."

How fun right?! Both of the events were a blast and memories I won't forget!

Have you been part of any world records? What record do you want to BREAK?

FUNDRAISE

1) to raise money for a cause or project
Non-profit organizations can only continue toward their mission with support (whether through time or donations) from individuals who believe in their cause. There are two non-profit organizations that have my heart and I want to share them with you.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Mission: “The mission of Mothers Against Drunk Driving is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking."

I have been supporting MADD since the fall of 2007 when a careless dunk driver took my best friend's life as the driver drove southbound on northbound I-5. Since that day -- I knew I wanted to get involved with MADD and spread the word about the heinous tragedies caused from impaired driving. Everyday I have to deal with the reality that Bawny is no longer with us, but I can keep her alive by sharing her story. Team Bawny has been participating in MADD's signature 5k walks and and this year, their 5k run. 

This year was especially memorable for me because my work participated, even sponsoring a post-race picnic. It meant the world to share this team with Bawny's family -- so they know that their beautiful girl is not forgotten. Thank you to all who participated by walking/running and those who made donations (I was the third highest fundraiser in the runner category!).

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Mission: "LLS's mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families."

When I was in college my uncle was diagnosed with leukemia. Up until that point, I had been blessed that no one in my family had been touched by cancer's deathly hands. As I read more about the disease, I learned how much scientific progress had been made within the last ten years. Without funds there is no research and without research there is no cure. As my uncle fought leukemia -- I signed up to participate in the Big Climb, forming Team Uncle Tiger in order to help raise funds for research. Climbing 1,311 stairs sounded terrible -- but no where near as terrible as anything my uncle went through. Team Uncle Tiger proudly runs and walks in the Big Climb annually to celebrate my uncle's remission and to work together towards more remission realities for others. 

If you are interested in getting involved with either cause please let me know! I would love for you to join my teams or to put you into contact with someone from MADD or LLS. MADD's signature event has passed for this year but registration for the Big Climb opens TOMORROW (November 1st at 9am PT)! If you are interested in participating, I would encourage you to sign up ASAP because this event will sell out in a matter of days. If you are interested in donating please feel free to contact me via comment below. 

What causes have your heart? What tips do you have to FUNDRAISE?

FALL

1) to drop or descend under the force of gravity, as to a lower place through loss or lack of support
2) to come or drop down suddenly to a lower position, especially to leave a standing suddenly, whether voluntarily or not
3) to become less or lower; become of a lower level, degree, amount, quality, value, number, etc.; decline
4) to subside or abate
5) extend downward; hang down

As impossible as it may seem, I find myself falling more in love with autumn every year -- the food, the activities, the colors, all of it!

This year Sebastian and I checked out a new fall activity -- zombie paintball hayrides! If you haven't heard of it you should check out Thomas Family Farms. We must have come late to the party on this one, because the lines were crazy long when we went. We waited for thirty minutes just to purchase tickets...only to go stand in another line for the hayride. Luckily, they have a VIP option -- so we gladly paid a bit more to skip the line. 

Picture your typical hayride. Now image paintball guns mounted to one side of the cart. Then put on some music and off we go! We had a blast shooting zombies in their different scenes with our glow-in-the-dark paintballs and watching some fall to the ground after they had hobbled too closely our way. (I will caution you -- the hayride route is much shorter than we expected, but they have a haunted house and a haunted corn maze so you could make your trip worth it by checking those out.)

After our zombie action, we headed over to the beer garden to watch some football and relax by the heaters. Nothing says fall like football, right?

Although we tried something new, I definitely could not let the season pass without going to a traditional pumpkin patch, this time with my family. Since my parents live in the south end, we choose to check out Spooner Farms in Puyallup and we were not disappointed. 

After throwing on some flannel shirts, we headed out to the patch. Spooner has facepainting, a maze, pumpkin sling shots, food, and lots of places for photo ops. Other than finding the perfect pumpkins, the pumpkin sling shot was definitely the highlight of our visit. I did not have much luck, as my little pumpkins didn't do much more than fall to the ground after I released the holster, but my sisters weren't doing too poorly and when we anchored my mom she had a few good shots. 

Overall, it was a wonderful weekend filled with autumn activities. Next on the to-do list is get my pumpkin carved! But until then I will treasure each and every colorful leaf that makes a delicate FALL.

JUMP

1) to spring clear of the ground or other support by a sudden muscular effort; leap
2) to rise suddenly or quickly
3) to move or jerk suddenly, as from surprise or shock
4) to obey quickly and energetically; hustle
5) to be full of activity; bustle

Imagine waking up on a sunny Sunday morning in September to have your friends tell you, "get up -- we are going BUNGEE JUMPING! HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY!" You would definitely be surprised, right?!

Thankfully that didn't happen to me, but I did have to keep that secret from my best friend for almost a month! 

Normally the words "bungee jumping" don't come up in normal conversation, but you know how it goes when the one thing you aren't supposed to say is always on the forefront of your mind. I was constantly suppressing my word vomit. It got so bad one that one time that I squealed to Jo, "Oh my goodness I just have so many fun things coming up in my life -- I am so excited!" And with a puzzled look, she replied "That's really awesome Shann?"

The bridge we jumped from is a three hour drive south in Amboy, WA. The excitement and nervousness was almost palpable in my car as I drove down with my co-pilot. And to add to the stress, I had to listen to the Seahawks game on the radio while we drove (although they did win!).

We finally arrived, only to find out that the other half of our group was running late. When all was said and done, I ended up waiting at the bridge for an hour! Talk about sweaty palms, let me tell you. The good news was that someone ended up jumping ahead of me so I had the chance to see the process. Call me crazy, but that totally calmed my nerves. Getting to see exactly what I was going to get into helped to take the "unknown" out of the situation. 

Once my group arrived, I was elected to jump first. Afterwards I was first asked "how was it?!" and my answer was "really weird". And while I will still stick to that answer, I will also add -- it is really hard to explain. I don't feel that I was all that afraid to jump and I am not afraid of heights. Truly, my fear was that statistics wouldn't be in my favor...but they were! 

Have you had those dreams when you feel like you are falling and it jolts you awake? Well that is the closest thing I can compare the feeling to, without the waking up part. I am sure this isn't making any sense...so here is a video: 



I still cannot believe I did it but I am glad I did and I would do it all over again. Happy surprise birthday Jo.! Here's to another year of friendship! I look forward to whatever next adventures come our away, as we JUMP in!

SAVOR

1) to give a savor to; season; flavor
2) to perceive by taste or smell, especially with relish
3) to give oneself to the enjoyment of

Dave Matthews Band. At the Gorge. Labor Day weekend.

This has been on my bucket list probably since I started my bucket list. But really, this event should be (and probably is) on every concert go-er's "must see" list (I mean it is Dave's favorite venue, so how do you top that?). I was lucky enough to not only get to see DMB at the Gorge with a wonderful group of friends, but I got to spend the whole weekend in the paradise that is Sunland. 

Sunland is just as stunning as it sounds, a slice of heaven that juts into the Columbia River -- just far enough of a drive from Seattle that you are anxious to get there, but no so far that it takes away from the fun of a long weekend. The weather was perfect for Labor Day, HOT and dry.

Between the outstanding company and the plethora of activities, my face was not without a smile for three days. We went tubing, boating, cliff jumping, swimming, and jet skiing, then ate, hooped, slacklined, and slept -- over and over again. I haven't spend this much time in my bikini since I went to Mexico!

When the days felt like they couldn't get better, we "one-upped" ourselves by heading over to the Gorge for DMB (just a short little seven minute drive away). This was my first time at the Gorge, and it took my breath away. The view is beyond incredible, and add a concert venue to it -- WOW! The folky Head and the Heart opened and then we jammed the night away to DMB -- seriously, so much fun.  

The craziest part of the whole weekend was that I didn't plan any of it. It was so fun be a free bird for a change, without keeping an eye on the time or checking my phone. I was in total relaxation mode, which allowed me to soak up the sun, enjoy quality conversations, sit back and SAVOR.