What's going on?

It's been a while since my last post; I've really been dragging this pass week! I don't what it is, but I've been so tired and just listless. I didn't even run much this week (big no,no!). I'm hoping I'll able to jump back into my routine next week. Perhaps my body is just tired and is demanding some rest!

My husband and I don't really have much planned for this coming weekend; we're both looking forward to the opportunity to just rest and relax! He's been working so much lately. My husband's such a hard worker! I'm so proud of his tenacity! :]

Oh, and by the way, I got my hair cut and I'm loving it! I feel so free! LOL!

Umm... Correction (to the running entry)

OK, this is kind of sad to admit, but I did NOT run 2.5 miles in 25 mins. As a matter of fact, I only did 2.19 miles!! Why the mix up, you ask. Well, at the time that I did that aforementioned 25 minute run, I couldn't use my trusty JogStats Ap on my phone because my phone was busted [you can start the violins now]. So while I ran 25 minutes, I assumed that I must have hit the 2.5 mile mark. In my shame, I got my replacement phone in the mail and when I got the chance to run with my Ap I found out that I only run 2.19 miles in that time frame!! UGH!!!

Now, I'm concentrating on building up my endurance so that I can run at a decent speed continuously. The good news in all of this is that I am getting closer to my goal of completing 3 miles! :) Yipee!!! It's only up from here! LOL!

Family vacation update

Ok, family, you asked for rates for trips on dates not during school months so I got proposals for cruises and a land package trip to Jamaica during the first two weeks of August 2011. Check out the numbers and email me your vote. I hope to let the travel agent know our decision by the end of July.

Carnival’s Destiny

Sailing August 13-18, 2011 - Five Night Cruise

Port of Call: Miami, FL.
Visting: Ocho Rios, Jamaica & Grand Cayman Islands
Inside Cabin: $529
Ocean View Cabin: $709
Balcony Cabin: $929
3rd/4th Passenger Raters, sharing cabin with two )2) full-fare passengers
Inside Cabin: $345
Ocean View Cabin: $435
Balcony Cabin: $485

Carnival’s Liberty

Sailing August 13-20, 2011 - Seven Night Cruise

Port of Call: Miami, FL
Visiting: Cozumel, Mexico
Grand Cayman Islands
Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Inside Cabin: $729
Ocean View: $829
Balcony:$969
3rd/4th Passenger rates, sharing cabin with two (2) full fare passengers:
Inside Cabin: $469
Ocean View: $499
Balcony: $549

Jamaica Package is 4 nights and we can go anytime during first two weeks of Aug. 2011
Ocean View Rooms: $739 per person based on double occupancy
$709 per person based on triple occupancy
$1,099 per person based on single occupancy
$389 per child ages 2-12 sharing with parents

Ocean Front Rooms: $799 per person based on double occupancy
$759 per person based on single occupancy
$1,149 per person based on single occupancy
$419 per child ages 2-12 sharing with parents

I'm still running...

I RAN 25 MINS. STRAIGHT today! A minor feat for some but MAJOR for me! According to my training schedule I'm supposed to cover 2.5 miles in 25mins and I did! The big race is on Saturday, August 21 and I'm almost done with the Couch to 5k training program so hopefully I'll have the time to get my stamina up. I keep telling myself that it's only 3 miles - who knew running could be such a mental challenge. Aside from more muscularly defined legs, I'm gaining mental strength from training. You really have to learn how to take control of your mind because if you don't, it'll keep telling you like you're too tired, it's useless to go on... go ahead, take a break, it won't hurt to stop... you should be proud that you made it this far, it's OK to stop now! When thoughts like that creep up I take control and replace them with positive ones! Go me! Go me! :)

For those of you reading this who are either a new runner or an experienced one... I say to you, happy running my friend and just keep pacing yourself! :)

training days...

I'm still training for my first ever 5K race. This is my 5th week of training and I'm still SUPER EXCITED! This week my training has kind of intensified. In the earlier weeks, I just had to run in increments of 5 mins. at the most with some walking in between. On the second day of training this week, I had to run two 8 min. increments and on Friday I'll have to run a full 20 mins. with no walking. Again, I know 20 mins. may not sound like much to most people, but it is for me! I can remember when I first started training for this 5K race and I would feel like giving up after just running 90 seconds! I'm proud that I can now run more than that without feeling like I'm going to pass out!

I've started back going to my Power Sculpting class at the Y. That class really helped me get in shape when I was working out for my wedding. I'm hoping it'll keep me from any running injuries. We'll see how it goes! :) Only 4 more weeks of training left before the August 21st race in Charlotte! I'll be ready!

What is a "vacation"?

I decided to take this week off from work and it's time off that's normally described as 'vacation'. I say normally because throughout my vacation time I've learned that most people think you have to go somewhere to be on vacation. Here's a perfect example of what I mean: I told a friend that I was going to be on vacation this week and she asked, "Oh, really? Where are you going?" I told her that I was going to stay home and just relax. Her reply: "Oh, OK." I think I heard a hint of pity in her voice! This wouldn't have affected much if I hadn't had similar conversations with several people regarding my vacation. They all seemed to look at me like, OK, you took a week off work to just stay home?

Now, don't get me wrong, there are times that I do use my vacation time to actually go somewhere but truthfully, I tend to come back from vacation feeling like I need a vacation from the vacation! Maybe I should just call my "stay home vacation" time-off-from-work instead? I dunno, it's a thought.

Anyways, I'll sit here and continue to enjoy my vacation-time-off-from-work. :)

Family vacation...

OK, so I made the presentation about the different vacation options to my family at our 4th of July cookout and I think it was well received! :)

The majority vote was for the all-inclusive 5-night stay in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. We'd be staying in the Riu Ocho Rios Resort. The cost per person for an ocean view, double occupancy room is $679, but that price doesn't include airfare, which means it could end up costing about $1,100 per person.

The next vacation option that had the most votes was a 5-night cruise to Ocho Rios, Jamaica and the Grand Cayman Islands. The price per person for an inside cabin: $459, for an Ocean View cabin: $529 and for a Balcony view cabin: $629. It was hard for many to decide between a cruise to Jamaica or an All-Inclusive stay in Jamaica, plus, the price of each option nearly swayed more votes to the cruise option.

Now, I'm all for flying to Jamaica for vacation, but I do want as much of our family as possible to come and take part in the vacation. That is why I'm going to wait until Monday (July 12) to tell the travel agent our decision. I want to give family members the time to really evaluate which trip they'd like to go on. If you're a family member reading this, please reply to this post to let me know your vote.


Here's the list of family members who are planning to go, no matter where we end up going.


Keith, Dee, Mary Ann, Jack, Yolanda, Kris, O.B., Tullasha, Erica, Troy, Patrick, Markavis, Frankie, Novella, Idell, John, Derrick, Wayne, Robert, Mildred, Earle, Donna, Amy, Tweety, David, Evelyn, Patrick Sr.

training for my 1st-ever 5K race!

OK, so I know a 5K is only 3 miles, but this is still a HUGE deal for me!!! I've never been much of a long distance runner and some of you may not call 3 miles a long distance, but it is to me! I ran track in high school, but I was a sprinter, so this is totally new for me!


I'm using this plan called "From the couch to 5K" to help me train (and I'm literally coming from the couch to running) . This week I finished up my 4th week of training. During the first three weeks, I was kind of cheating myself because I was running in an air-conditioned gym on a treadmill that I kept flat with no inclines. I thought I was doing pretty good because hey, at least I was running! Boy was I WRONG! One day I decided to put the treadmill on a cross-country run and I felt like I was about DIE from the steep inclines! So, at the start of my 4th week of training I decided to put my foot to pavement. I attempted my first outside training on a Monday evening at 7:00 - that was a BAD IDEA. It was sooo hot! I had to walk the last five minutes of my run. I was so disappointed in myself, but I did much better on Wednesday and was running even longer than I needed to on Friday! I was even tempted to go running Saturday morning! I'm really enjoying this!!


I'll be participating in the OrthoCarolina 5K race in Charlotte on August 21st. I'm so excited and I'm determined to be able to run it in a good time. I'll keep you posted on my progress! :)

planning a BIG family vacation

I have been blessed to be a part of a BIG family and we love to get together. Some of my best childhood memories are from the big cookouts we'd have and sometimes for no reason other than to just get together. Keeping with the time honored tradition, my sister Yolanda (a.k.a. Plum) and I decided it'd be a great idea for us to take this thing on the road! So, we're planning a BIG family vacation!

This is a pretty big deal for my family because I can't recall a time when we've all taken a trip together, so it's long overdue! After meeting with a travel agent and having several email convo's with her, we've narrowed down three options for our family getaway!

1) 5-Night Cruise to Jamaica and the Grand Cayman Islands

2) 6-Night Cruise to Kings Wharf Bermuda

3) All-Inclusive stay in Jamaica

Elaine, our travel agent, was able to find us some great deals so I'm going to be presenting this to my family today at our 4th of July cookout. I'm so excited to see which one they choose!!