encinitas, ca

the sun finally came out and we headed to the beach.  

more to come when we return!

the end of an era

i've been a server for years and years and years.

i started serving at the desert star playhouse on state street in murray when i was 15.

that's when it all began.

i always wanted to work at the cheesecake factory because i'm a cheesecake addict and was thrilled when they built a new one in murray a few years ago.  those were good server days.

when i moved to logan i served at chilis (only for a couple of days)

and have served at cafe sabor since [that's 3 years almost].

my cafe sabor days were good- 

i made so many great friends there that i'll never forget

i ate more chips and salsa and carne asada than i ever thought possible

i dedicated my entire saturdays to that restaurant for the last few years [10am-10pm every weekend]

but today was my last day... and i am thrilled.

thrilled to be leaving but only because that means i'm moving on.

thrilled that i'll finally have a weekend to get my house clean and errands ran... and a social life... yippee!!

thrilled that i don't have to get anyone another drink, more chips, or act like it's ok when i get a craptastic tip.

servers really put up with a lot.  waiting on tables is hardly an easy job- long hours, lots of running around remembering everything for every table, and dealing with a lot of ornery people... these are all things i won't miss.

this is my lucky elephant.  i got him while working at cheesecake and he's been with me ever since.  however, with my sabor days coming to an end, i gave it away to a fellow employee who really wanted it.  hopefully, this good luck elephant will bring good luck to them.  

i won't be needing it anymore!!!

a running post

i started running. again.

running and i have a love/hate relationship with a 65:35 ratio of love:hate.

i've been running here and there for the past year or so but decided this would be my year to run another 1/2 and possibly even {gasp} a marathon.  i turn 26 this may... wouldn't it be cool to say i ran 26 miles in my 26th year?  well i think it's cool.

upcoming run: 1/2 marathon on april 16th.  i haven't prepared nearly as much as i did for my last 1/2, but that's ok.  i may not beat my last time [2.06 hrs], but i know i can finish it and probably not walk along the way.  and i was convincing enough to talk my lil sis, katie, into running it with me.

other runs i'm considering:

dirty dash in june

dirty dash in july

tou 1/2

tou full

bear lake 10k

race for the cure

anyone running any of these runs?  wanna be my running buddy?

josh won't run with me, so i have to beg everyone around me :)

next thing... new running shoesies.

i think after this upcoming 1/2, i'm about ready for a new pair.  i've been eyeing these nike free runs for the past little bit.  they're supposed to be super flexible, like running barefoot, and come highly recommended online.  have any of you tried them?  i think they'll be perfect for my bday in may.

{via}

today was semi-warm {like 50 degrees} so i went on an afternoon run outside.

it was amazing.  a little breezy, not too warm, not too cool.

it felt so nice to get off the dreadmill for a day and actually run somewhere!

also, can i just say how much i love my nike plus app on my iphone?  connects with the chip in my shoes and keeps track of my runs, my pace, and gives me some motivation on the way.  

great teamwork on this one, nike and apple!

one thing i'm super excited about is our trip to san diego next week so i can do some good morning runs along the beach.  what could be better than a pair of running shoes, clear skies, sandy beaches, and some good tunes?

speaking of good tunes, i love me some good workout music.

sometimes i listen to the pandora radio station and put it on something like lady gaga or black eye peas.

lately i've made up a playlist that includes a little rhianna (her new cd is great for running), some katy perry, a little bit of florence + the machine, of course some lady gaga, and a bit of sugarcult and owl city.  

i'm not much of a music snob and will listen to just about anything with a good beat.

do you have any suggestions for good running music?  i know you runners are out there, spill the beans. or even anyone who likes a good beat that wants to share their favs?

hopefully getting back into my running will help me feel somewhat cute in my swimsuits this summer.  and, if i can firm up these legs of mine, i may even take a leap of faith and buy my first pair of skinny jeans.  no promises there, but sometimes i like to set lofty goals.

and that pretty much wraps up my running post

lil rag muffin

a hair cut is necessary but she's still cute.

and see that binder next to her?

yeah, school work over spring break is LAME

ho chi mihn

i did it...

today i booked my ticket to travel to ho chi mihn city, vietman this summer!

i am going to do another service mission, this time with the global foundation for children with hearing loss.

it is a foundation designed to provide teacher/parent training, hearing aid distribution, and early intervention services in order to improve the lives of deaf and hard of hearing children in countries around the world.
because of my specialized training in children and early intervention services
(and my love for traveling and service missions)
i was chosen as one of 4 students from my university to go.  yay!  it's always nice to see my extra hard work pay off.

i am definitely excited, but a little apprehensive due to the tremendous culture shock i'm sure i will experience.  i've been all over central america working but never to a developing asian country. from what i hear, their way of living is quite a bit different than ours.  i decided i'll either get over my terrible fear of public restrooms and foreign food or i'll come back with major tummy cramps and 15 lbs lighter.  (the latter doesn't sound too bad...)

anyway, i am definitely excited to do some good this summer and learn a little bit about the vietnamese people and culture while i'm at it.  if you're interested in what we're doing, you should check out these blogs:

our fundraiser blog:
aggiesgoglobal.blogspot.com

the global foundation for children with hearing loss blog:
childrenwithhearingloss.blogspot.com