{Friend Makin' Monday - How Do You Celebrate?}

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please add your links there too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

 How Do You Celebrate?

1. When is your birthday?  September 7
2. Do you like to celebrate it or do you prefer to keep it quiet?  I'm more the low-key type for birthdays. Dinner out with family and/or a few friends is all I need.
3. Have you ever had a surprise party?  Yep, I think it was my 20th birthday. My college roommate, Charity, arranged the whole thing. She got me!
4. What sign are you?  Does it represent you well?  I'm a Virgo and per Wikipedia "....people born under this sign are quick-thinking, observant, and analytical." Yep, that's me.
5. Do you tell the truth about your age?  Yep, no reason not to.
6. Share your best birthday memory.  21st birthday.... Went out with college girlfriends to the Longbranch. We had a great time and when it was time to leave, we'll just say I was a little "happy". I fell (hard) in the gravel parking lot and somehow came out without a single scratch. I swear, I had a liquor bubble guarding me.
7. Share a few item that could be on your birthday wishlist.  I'm never good at making lists for gifts...Some clothes, perfume, and a VitaMix :-)
8. What is your favorite kind of cake?  Good 'ole yellow cake with chocolate icing
9. If you could be anywhere on your next birthday, where would you be?  We'll be at Disney World! Perfect!
10. Do you make a wish when you blow out the candles?  Yep!

 Now it’s your turn to answer this week’s questions!  Don’t forget to  link up in the comments!  

{Friend Makin' Monday - Summer Fun}

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please add your links there too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

Summer Fun

1. What is your favorite summer fruit? Hands down - watermelon!
2. Do you know how to swim? I do. Growing up at the beach made me quite the little fish.
3. Do you prefer sun or snow?  I am a sun girl! I wish that I actually liked snow :-/
4. What temperature do you like most inside your home?  This one is kinda tricky. We just got a new AC and are trying to get things figured out. Right now, our AC is at about 76.
5. Is it humid where you live?  Uh, without a doubt! I love summer, but I'm not looking forward to the humidity in July!
6. What is your favorite food to put on the grill? The hubs and I will grill just about anything. I do best with chicken and pork on the grill though. Still getting my technique right with steak and seafood.
7. Do you prefer to wear a one-piece  or two-piece swim suit?  I like tankinis - full coverage, but I don't have to take the entire swimsuit off to go to the bathroom.
8. What is your favorite summer drink?  Strawberry daiquiri!
9. Do you prefer the pool or the ocean?  Ocean
10. What are you looking forward to most over the summer?  Lots of things - trip to Blowing Rock/Boone with my in-laws, training for several fall half marathons, beach/pool time, vacation in September, etc.

Now it’s your turn to answer this week’s questions.  Don’t forget to link up in the comments at www.alltheweigh.com!  Happy Monday, friends!

{Starting from scratch...}

Well, kinda....

It's no secret that my running has suffered terribly since my surgery in November. During the winter it was entirely to cold and the cold breeze bothered my incisions. In the spring, my heart and soul just wasn't in it. Now, here I sit, 6 months after surgery, starting fresh.

This past Saturday, I went for a "test" run with the Raleigh Galloway group. I have been running for just under 3 years using Galloway-esque training methods, but hadn't ever run with the group. I know his run/walk/run method is the ticket for me because I've run 6 half marathons by run/walk/run.

Anyway... I've always been a little "Judgy McJudgerson" about the group because they are so huge! I wasn't sure that it was a good fit for me. Due to not being able to always coordinate schedules with my running buddies, I realized that the accountability and structure may be worth a shot.

We met at Capital RunWalk in Cameron Village around 6:45 a.m. I quickly found some of my NCRC Women's Beginner Running Program buddies and chatted for a bit. Suzanne and I ended up connecting with the 11:30 pace group for 6-mile run. The run went from Cameron Village, down Clark Avenue through Meredith College (loved running through my alma mater), and back.

I'm not going to rehash the entire run, but here's some highlights:

• It's nice to have a large group, even though it seems a little impersonal at first.
• The run felt awesome! Normally after a long run, I'm exhausted. After the run on Saturday, I helped my mother-in-law with her yard sale and subsequent clean up. The hubs and I also went out wtih some frinds. Not once did I wish for a nap!
• I was able to stay toward the front of the 11:30 group the whole time. I may even try the 11:00 group next weekend.

So, here's to a great season with Galloway! (and maybe a full marathon in the future...)