"I want to go to there." -Liz Lemon

Sometimes, Richie and I like to go driving around our neighborhood to learn more about the cool side roads and parks of Virginia. One Sunday, we decided to pack up some oatmeal creme pies and head out to explore the area surrounding the Fairfax courthouse, where Richie used to intern.

Imagine our surprise when we happen to come across a Zion Road! Being Sunday and all, we decided it was probably a good idea to drive around in that area, and not too much longer we ended up on Hill Cumorah Drive! What are the chances?? There are exactly 3 houses on this street, and I hope that when it comes time for us to buy a house, one of these will go up for sale, so I can say things like "take a right off of Zion St. and then a right on Hill Cumorah Drive and we are the first house on the left."

For those of you who don't know why I find this exciting, check out: http://www.hillcumorah.org/

For those of you who don't understand the title, check out: www.nbc.com/30_Rock/

Bichon Frise = my BFF

Considering moving apartments just to get a bichon frise. (Our apartment doesn't allow pets.) Isn't he the cutest thing you've ever seen??

Mid-Year Resolutions

Ok, it's almost been 6 months since we all made our new year resolutions... who remembers what they resolved to do? Not me! So I'm going to make this more manageable for myself and make resolutions for the next 6 months. Inspiration: Britni's goals that she blogged about this morning!

Mid Year Resolutions:

1. Take/Rock the GRE: I know what you’re thinking – haven’t you been studying for like… forever? And the answer is yes, but I keep on taking month-long study breaks because I haven’t had a goal date to take it. I hereby resolve to take it by the end of the year to make sure I stick to it.

2. Run a half-marathon: Specifically, the Baltimore Half Marathon on October 10th (Happy pre-Birthday to me!) with Richie and our friend Britni.



3. Read at least one good book a month: Including but not limited to the following: John Adams, Les Miserables (abridged version… sorry Hugo), Team of Rivals, Walden by Thoreau.

4. Keep a $40/week household budget: Couponing is the key to this! And yes, I still love it!

5. Become proficient* in sewing: To do this, I’m going to start attending the ward’s monthly sewing club to glean information from the awesome sewing queens that surround me. I already have some fun beginner projects in mind, including this adorable scrap-pieced baby bib… good thing everyone and their dog is preggers right now!



6. Make 3 homemade meals per week: I’ve learned that the easiest way to do this is by cooking on Sunday and then making two additional meals that I can freeze and reheat when I get home from work during the week.

7. Set aside at least $500/month to pay back law school student loans: Blahhhh, I don’t like this one. But it must be done.

8. Take fun vacays to Gettysburg, Salt Lake/Lake Powell, Miami, Baltimore and Omaha: Who says you can’t have fun resolutions?

9. Go through all of my stuff and get rid of anything I don't need or use: Taken from Britni’s list -- awesome idea.

10. Make sure I tell the hubs I love him at least once every day: Corny, sorry. But it’s important!

*Proficient = able to do all three of the following: basic mending of clothes (hemming, etc.); make matching Christmas PJs for Richie and I, and make several of the cute bibs mentioned above!

Bodies = Amazing

Over the past few months, I've been increasingly amazed at how quickly our bodies develop and adapt to new situations, and basically just how amazing they are.

At church, I teach - mostly play - in the junior nursery (18 months until the end of the calendar year), and I am amazed at how much my adorable little kiddos have grown over the past 6 months. In January, none of them could talk, they would cry a lot and steal things from each other. Just yesterday, I noticed how they are all talking now (including their "please"s and "thank you"s!), playing with each other and basically just growing up and maturing. It's been so much fun to watch them each week during this really formative time and see how quickly they change!


As most of you know, I've also been getting into running lately and ran the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5k on June 6 and the Lawyer Have Heart 10k last Saturday (finished in just over an hour!). I actually only started running consistently in April, which means in about 3 months, I've increased my running ability from a half mile (literally) to the 6.2 that I just ran.

I really do think that one of the best things in life is looking back to see how far you've come in anything, and it's been really fun to track my progress in running. My next goal is to do the Baltimore Half Marathon in October! Wish me luck :)

Corporate Life: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

The Good: Thinking it's Thursday when it is actually Friday.

The Bad: Thinking it's Friday when it's actually Thursday.

The Ugly: Thinking it's Saturday when it's actually Friday, turning off your alarm and going back to sleep.