T minus 250 days: disney world here i come!

In order to get revved up for my commitment to this whole marathon process, I needed to bite the bullet and sign up for a marathon. Since I don't exercise, don't run, and am basically a couch potato, I obviously needed very strong motivation. What better motivation then a race through Disney World's Magic Kingdom at Disney World??!!

I've been to Disney World 3 times, Disney Land once, and I must say I love all things Disney.
I signed up for the Walt Disney World Marathon in January. I'm on my way to Disney World, baby. January 10, 2010. 26.2 miles and then all the rides I want. :-) Wooohooo!

I ran 1 mile this morning and wasn't phased at all. Can't wait to run another one.

day 1: yes I can!

My plan this morning was to wake up at 5:30 and hit the ground running. Well, it was more like 6:00 and I didn't get down to the gym downstairs until 6:15. But once I got down there it wasn't that bad. For my first day I decided to take it slow - 30 minutes on the treadmill. I did a walk/run - 5 min. walk/10 min. run/5 w/10 r.

Hopefully, tomorrow I can wake up again. :-) Today I will find a marathon to sign up for so I can't back out of this challenge...White Rock in Dallas or ING in Miami?

Yes You Can!

I have decided to set a new goal for myself and in order to ensure that I accomplish the goal I decided I needed to hold myself accountable for it by making it public on my blog. So what is this new goal you ask...I am going to run a marathon...an actual 26.2 mile marathon. This goal is a little crazy, especially for me. I don't run. Throughout most of my elementary and high school days I was the girl who finished last or next to last in those mandatory one mile runs. Why is this? Because I have always been a fat kid at heart. I like to eat, watch tv or read a book, and sleep. Now I bake and do crafts. None of those activities involve any exercise and there has been a reason for that. But now, I'm 28...almost 30. When I was 26 I was finishing up my JD. When I was 27 I was planning my wedding. Now I'm 28 and what am doing...nothing. I'm working. I'm about to buy a house. But what am I doing? Not enough is the answer. I figure I need to have a goal each year and this is my new goal. I will run a marathon before my 29th birthday. Right now my target date is December. This sounds impossible, but I was told by my marathoner/triathlete/iron man friend that it's doable. She said you can train in five months if you want to, but I'm going to be more realistic.

Tomorrow is definitely the beginning of a new day. :-)

birdie diaper cake

Ever since I first saw a diaper cake online, I have been in love with them. I make a diaper cake for just about every shower that I throw. They make cute and practical centerpieces. Sunday's shower for my cousin Lisa is no different. I'm excited about my momma bird/baby bird theme, especially after my invites turned out so cute. I was fortunate that I was easily able to continue the theme into the cake.

Step 1: Get some diapers and receiving blankets. I found some cute pink birdie blankets by Dwell for Target.

Step 2: Make topper. Usually I use a stuffed toy for the topper, but I couldn't find a stuffed birdie that the was the same shape as the birds I used in the invite. So I drew birds on pink and yellow card stock and cut them out, just as I did for the invites only bigger. And then I took the hanger that the receiving blankets were wrapped around and taped the birds on either side of the hanger.

Step 3: Roll the diapers and layer them into a 3 tier cake wrapping the receiving blankets around each layer.

Step 4: Stack the tiers on top of each other. Stick the topper in the cake. Add a couple toys for good measure.

I hope Lisa likes her cake. :-)

25 Things

1. Pebbles (my dog) is my favorite everything...she can always make me smile.
2. I love horror movies and romantic comedies.
3. I'm a hypochondriac. I spend a lot of time self diagnosing myself online.
4. I'm fascinated by all medical mystery/documentary shows on discovery health. Especially if it concerns medical abnormalities.
5. My dream job would allow me to be more creative - like a graphic designer/event planner and part time fashionista.
6. Like most Asians, I used to to want to be a doctor, until I went to college and realized I was far better at research and writing then math and molecular structures.
7. I'm addicted to office supplies...highlighters, pens, and sticky tabs oh my! This addiction was realized in law school.
8. My other addiction - spicy food - when I was little I would eat it until my lips would throb so much that I would take an ice cube to cool them down.
9. I am incredibly unimpressed by brand name things - cars, purses, clothes, etc. I would rather spend the money on a fabulous trip with someone I love because I value life experiences over material things. That doesn't mean I don't love shopping...b/c I LOVE shopping.
10. I am a news junkie - I listen to NPR all day - when I'm driving, in my office, weekend mornings while I'm making pancakes or working on a project.
11. I hate Valentine's Day.
12. I read the NY Times every day.
13. I am easily startled and can get so engrossed in what I am reading that when someone comes into my office and says something I jump in my seat.
14. I am very stubborn, I must win every argument...I guess that's why I became a lawyer.
15. I prefer cultural/educational vacations. I'd rather spend an entire day in a museum than on a beach.
16. If I take on a new hobby - right now it's baking - I get obsessed with mastering it.
17. I am a dreamer, I guess that's the Pisces in me.
18. I didn't start doing my own laundry until I got married.
19. I'm 28, but get carded all the time. Recently, at a legal conferences I was carded at the bar even though I was wearing my name tag which clearly indicated that I am a lawyer.
20. I don't really like coffee, but drink it every morning at work just because.
21. I am jealous of those who don't have to go work...but I didn't get a JD so I could spend my days shopping and watching tv.
22. I want to be as good of a parent as my parents were to me.
23. Even though I love romantic comedies and cheesy asian soaps...I am not particularly romantic. I don't believe in love at first sight or soulmates. I believe that our physical attraction to certain people is all biological and based in science. I believe that our emotional attraction to a person is a choice.
24. I am not easily convinced...of anything.
25. I love politics and political discussions. Laws make the world go round, and I am annoyed by people who don't vote or who vote but don't understand the issues before doing so. I hate talking to someone who has obviously resigned themselves to apathy and ignorance.

baby bird cake

My cousin's shower is Sunday, so I am finalizing my plans. I'm making a cake, and I'm thinking of doing something similar to the one pictured only with yellow frosting and pink birds. Does anyone else have any good ideas?

song in my head: I Don't Know by Lisa Hannigan

I Don't Know from ATO Records on Vimeo.