Rappelling in Action!!

SO I got to do another FIRST this weekend - rappelled down a rock face!!  I never thought in a million years that it would be something I'd want to do, but let me tell you, it was exhilarating!!!  I was at the Lake visiting Will this weekend and I'd already scoped out the weather sometime early last week to get an idea as to whether we'd be able to go hiking again.  The weather was supposed to be GORGEOUS so we decided that yes, we'd spend either Saturday or Sunday outdoors again.

So Sunday rolls around and we almost decided to have a Lazy Sunday and just enjoy the day for what it was before I had to leave to come back to Atlanta.  Then our friend Shane called Will and asked if we still wanted to go hiking, that he was ready, and would come over.  Looks like we didn't have much of a choice.  We got our gear together, packed a lunch, got the animals ready and were ready to go!  Then Shane said he thought about bringing his rappelling ropes and asked if we'd want to go....  I became almost instantly terrified because the edge of a high structure scares the BEJESUS out of me!  Will pretty much all but volunteered me, said "Sure!  Go get the ropes!  You want to go rappelling, right Britt?"  Well...  I guess I did....  Off to Smith Mountain we went!!

I was harnessed up and ready to go... And thought to myself, "what the eff am I about to do?...."

Rappelling down the rock face!  It was probably 35 ft tall - seems small but it's not when you're at the top dangling over the edge!

Made it to the bottom unscathed!!!  After my heart stopped pounding and I was able to catch my breath, I said, "Let's go again!!"  

So after my first rappelling trip, Will and I decided it may be something we want to do more often.  Unfortunately, Will couldn't go down the rock face because we didn't have a harness that would fit him.  So we're going to begin our research (and by "we are" I really mean "I am") and see what we can find!  I have a feeling though it's going to become like every other outdoor hobby we have - EXPENSIVE!!!!!!!!!!  BUT.  Totally worth it!!  Can't wait to go over more rock faces!!!  Baby steps though.  Not graduating to super high heights anytime soon!

Happy Monday!!

Let the Outdoors Season Begin!!!

I cannot be MORE thrilled that the colder weather is finally going away.  Yes, we still have a few cold days ahead but the worst is OVER!  After two winter storms and being snowed/iced in for days at a time, I'm ready for warm months!  Hiking, backpacking, outdoors season in general, is right around the corner!  We have been recently blessed with a few warm weekends though, allowing me (and Will) to start getting back into backpacking shape.  Yes, I'm in great cardio shape with all the running and gym-going I do but hiking with 40 pounds of gear on your back is a different story.  I can't WAIT for our first backpacking trip of the year, but wanted to share some of God's beauty with y'all.

A few weeks ago, Will and I went hiking up Smith Mountain which is on Lake Martin in Alabama.  There's an old fire tower at the top of mountain that allows you to see for miles.  I'm looking forward to going back after everything is in full bloom but even in the middle of winter with low water levels, it was still a great view of Lake Martin and its surroundings!

At the Top of Smith Mountain

In the Fire Tower

My boys hiking lakeshore

A dilapidated shelter close to the top of Smith Mountain

View from the Top!

Different angle from the fire tower

More from the top

Again from the top

From the top of Smith Mountain at the base of the Fire Tower

If you are EVER around Smith Mountain and Lake Martin and enjoy hiking and the outdoors, please do yourself a favor and go to the Smith Mountain Fire Tower.  Even though Will and I turned our hike into 6+ miles, the hike from the parking lot to the top is maaaaaaaaaaaybe a mile.  It's absolutely doable for anyone who just wants to enjoy God's country without overexerting oneself.  Trust me, you'll love it.  These pictures really don't even do the view much justice.

So after that adventure came this past weekend's trip to Red Top Mountain in Cartersville, GA.  One of my best friends and another girlfriend joined me in hiking the 5.5 mile Homestead Trail. With moderate elevation changes but some good flat lands as well, this was a very enjoyable hike.  Just don't do like I did and run 7 miles before you hike.  Your legs will be SHOT after that much work.  Believe me.  I was SORE on Sunday, but a good sore.  Anyhow!  The views of Lake Allatoona were gorgeous, but again, just as with Lake Martin and Smith Mountain, looking forward to making this hike at full bloom!

Hillary, Shenell, and me on the Homestead Trail

Panoramic of Lake Allatoona

Docked sailboat enjoying the beautiful day

A little chunk of Lake Allatoona shoreline

Olliedog was having a blast in the lake!

Words cannot describe how happy I get knowing that shoulder season is right around the corner!  I am looking forward to more hiking and hopefully some really stellar backpacking trips this warm season!  If you know of any awesome trails that you've hiked, PLEASE share!  I'm hoping to get up to Amicalola this year as it's been a long time since I've hiked there as well as back up to Panther Creek.  I also want to venture to Raven Cliff Falls and some of the other areas in Northeast Georgia!  Would LOVE to hear about your fave places for hiking (and camping/backpacking)!

Thanks for reading!  Happy Thursday!

-Britt!

2013 Wrap-Up

Alright, so I know I said I'd TRY my hardest NOT to wait months and months and months to add another post but I was SO incredibly busy the last quarter of 2013 that I almost considered pulling out tufts of hair on an almost daily basis.  School was VERY demanding last quarter, the most intense yet (and unfortunately I have a feeling it isn't going to be much better this quarter).  Thank you everyone for your patience and understanding.

So a fair amount has happened in my life since my last post.  I guess I'll just go on a month-to-month breakdown for 4Q2013.  Aside from school and group meetings, I didn't have much going on in October.  Mama came to visit which was awesome, as always!  I miss her dearly and wish I could see her anytime I wanted, but unfortunately living on opposite sides of the country makes that extremely difficult.  Will and I decided to throw a little Halloween shindig at his house in Alabama.  Had a few friends over for a fun night.  Everyone wore costumes and while very low-key, we had a super fun time!

The Boys were Batdog and Robin for Halloween!

We opted for Charlie and Maverick from Top Gun

November.  Half Marathon time!  I headed out West to run the Santa Barbara International Half Marathon.  I didn't beat my goal but that's okay.  I can say yes, I should've trained harder, yes, I should've run more, yes, I should've done this or that or whatever.  Coulda, woulda, shoulda.  I trained to the best of my ability and all that matters is I crossed the finish line.  I didn't have to be hauled off by a medic (although I did come home with really terrible blisters and finished with a very painful foot cramp but it is what it is - I'm an athlete and athletes push through to the end).  The course was beautiful and very peaceful.  It rolled through different parts of Santa Barbara, CA that I'd have never been able to see otherwise and it finished with an ocean view.  Doesn't get any better than that!  PLUS I got to see my mom, my best friend out there, and her mom.  My running buddy also joined but he was a monster and ran the FULL marathon.  Maybe one day I'll get that fire to run 26.2 miles but right now, I'll keep my maximum race distance at 13.1.  Will I fly out for it again?  Probably not.  But it was really fun to do a destination race!  After the footrace came food (In-N-Out Burger, you always have and always will hold a very special place in my heart) and shower in preparation for hitting the Santa Barbara Wine Trail.  We all thought it was a GREAT idea to just go wine tasting without resting properly.  I'm not sure how mom, Ashley (best friend), and Beth (Ashley's mom) felt since they walked the half marathon (Ashley's very first half marathon so we were all very proud of her for this accomplishment!), but Ryan (running buddy) and I were DYING the next day.  No, we weren't hungover by any means, but our legs were VERY sore (mine especially as I barely sat down once we finished dinner - Ryan at least got in a nap while he waited on 4 grown women to get ready).  It took days for me to be able to stand up without cringing.  DAYS.  But it was totally worth it!  The long weekend in Santa Barbara was a blast!  

At the Santa Barbara Pier for some absolutely fabulous and VERY fresh seafood!

First stop on the Santa Barbara Wine Trail.  Yes, we wore our medals.  We were proud.

WE FINISHED!!!

After getting back to Atlanta, school continued and FINALLY Thanksgiving break came (although not much of a break considering I did schoolwork the majority of the time and one of my professors gave additional reading assignments over our "break").  I did however get to spend it with Will and his family since I couldn't be with mine.  It was lovely to experience Thanksgiving traditions with him.  His mom and stepdad were there as well as his grandmother, stepbrothers, aunt and uncle. I truly enjoyed myself and I am looking forward to many more holidays with his family.

VERY cool (and old) mill and dam we drove past on our way back to Will's

December.  December was nuts.  I had final projects and papers due, schoolwork and reading out the wazoo.  I was very stressed and overwhelmed with grad school for the first half of December.  And I didn't even procrastinate as much as I have in the past - it was just a very demanding quarter.  However, I got A's in both classes so couldn't really complain too much.  I finished my 5th quarter of grad school (only 3 left including the one I started this week) and have 8 A's and 2 B's in my program, 3.8 cumulative GPA so even though I have a few mental breakdowns every now and then, I'm more than pleased with my hard work and efforts!  Let's just hope it pays off in August when I'm done, ha!  Aside from schoolwork, I went with Will to his dad's side of the family's Christmas party.  I was a little anxious and overwhelmed at first as it's been a VERY long time since I've met a significant other's family and I obviously wanted their approval.  Funny how one small gesture gave me all the gold stars I would have needed - I simply offered to help clean up and do the dishes.  They cooked an elaborate meal for me so it was the very least I could do.  We got to relax and hang out with his family and watch football all day.  Perfect Saturday afternoon.

Fast forward to Christmas.  My parents unfortunately couldn't fly out for the holidays as my grandma had another stroke this past November but I was still able to spend the holidays in good spirits with Will and his family.  They've been so wonderful to me since Will and I started dating and have welcomed me with open arms.  Will drove up to join me for McElroy Sibling Christmas, where we spent a few hours relaxing and hanging out with my brother and sister-in-law.  We went to his daddy's for Christmas Eve brunch and spent Christmas day with his mom, stepdad, grandma, aunt and uncle.  Even though I couldn't spend Christmas Day with my parents and family, I very much enjoyed spending it with his.  The Saturday after Christmas, Will and I left Alabama for a few days to go to Clearwater Beach, FL with his mom and stepdad's side of the family.  We went to the nicest shooting range I've ever seen in Tampa, went deep sea fishing off the coast of Clearwater Beach (we caught 14 gray snappers as a group and I caught 3 individually - not too shabby for my first time), enjoyed fabulous seafood, went to the Hard Rock Casino for New Years Eve day, went out to experience the Clearwater Beach night life to ring in the New Year.  Will's stepbrother turned 21 on New Years Eve so celebrating with him was an absolute blast!  His stepbrother told me earlier in the month that I wasn't allowed to steal his thunder on NYE and my response: 29 is not a milestone.  If I didn't have to age, it'd be wonderful but this birthday celebration is all about you.  We had an absolute blast and hopefully we'll have many more shared birthday celebrations!

Brian and me at McElroy Sibling Christmas

Will and me at McElroy Sibling Christmas

Our first Christmas Day together at his aunt and uncle's house

Tacky Sweater Love!

Right after I caught my first fishie!

This pretty much sums up the end of 2013.  I know this is a long post, but as I said, the last 3 months of the year were a bit crazy yet refreshing at the same time.  I look forward to what 2014 has to offer.  Sure there were bumps in the road last year but 28 was one of the best years of my life.  I learned a lot and grew as a person and I welcome 2014 with open arms.  I am truly the happiest I've been in years even with all the stress of grad school.  I will finish my MBA this August and the plan after that is to move to Alabama so Will and I no longer have to do the long distance relationship.  Right now though, my focus will remain on finishing these next 3 quarters with As and hopefully graduating Suma Cum Laude from The University of Georgia!  I will do my best to not go another 3 months without posting but I can't make any promises....  Until next time, y'all be good!  And try to stay warm in this frigid weather (to say I'm looking forward to Spring is an understatement)!

xoxo,

Britt!

I Know, I Know.... It's Been Awhile!

So I apologize for my lack of posts.  It's been a bit of a wild and crazy year!  But I'm still alive and pushing forward!  First things first, I am officially more than halfway through my MBA program!  It's been stressful and exhausting yet simultaneously very rewarding!  I have met some great people that have become very close friends.  I've learned a lot about myself over the past year.  I have pushed myself past so many limits I thought I never had.  While I was diligent about my studies in undergrad, I was never as busy nor was college life nearly as chaotic and hectic as the life of a grad school student.  For those of you that have heard me talk about grad school over the last 9 months, you know what I've been going through.  For those of you that I haven't had a chance to keep up with as frequently as I'd like, I have never been this busy in my ENTIRE life.  But it is all so incredibly rewarding and it pushes me harder than I've ever been pushed.  Grad school has strangely (not really) molded me into yet an even stronger woman and I cannot WAIT until August/September 2014 when I graduate from The University of Georgia!!

In addition to grad school pretty much taking over my life, I am also now an active member of the Junior League of Cobb-Marietta.  I wish I had more time to dedicate to it and become a VERY active member, but between class, homework, studying, group meetings, etc etc etc, I unfortunately cannot dedicate the kind of time I'd prefer.  But.  I dedicate as much time as I can and that's really all I can give at this point.  It is a FANTASTIC organization of women that dedicate an inordinate amount of time to volunteerism in Cobb Co. and we continue to make a significant impact within our community.

I continue to run but again, not nearly as much as I'd like.  But I'm still doing races when I can and I'm still logging good mileage, typically around 20-25 miles per week.  I am currently in training again for the Santa Barbara International Half Marathon.  Am I training as best I can?  No.  Do I want to be able to train more?  Yes.  But I am doing the best I can.  I can tell you this though, I am absolutely looking forward to a FLAT course!!!  Running the hills of Atlanta can be brutal.  So bring on the flat ground!

In terms of my love life, I am currently dating someone who makes me incredibly happy and he can put up with all of my mental and nervous breakdowns that come with the many stress factors in my life.  It has taken us many many months to finally get our act together and to the point where we've realized we don't want to see other people, but it is long distance.  We both swore when we met way back when that we weren't going to put ourselves in a long distance relationship but after he moved and after certain events which I won't publicly go into, we realized how much we do care for each other and want to be apart of each others' lives.  We've met parents.  We're planning holidays together.  I'm going on vacation with him and his family for New Years Eve (and my 29th birthday).  We see other almost every weekend.  We're making it work.

Max is doing great!  CRAZY as always!  But he's my little furboy and no matter what shenanigans he gets into, I will always love the hell out of that dog.  He's gotten me through SO much and I could not imagine my life without that little animal.

He wanted SO badly to crawl in my lap on the way to Alabama

While things are a bit crazy and somewhat stressful for me right now, I am truly the happiest I've been in years.  That is largely due to the Boy (ya know who is if you've seen my Facebook pictures but I know he'd prefer to remain nameless on the Blog for the time being), but my family and friends along with the many rewards and blessings in my life keep me sane, grounded, optimistic, and incredibly happy!  I cannot tell you when I'll be able to post again, but I will promise you this: I'll try not to wait another 9+ months!

Hope all of y'all are doing well!  Thanks for reading!

xoxo,

Britt!

New Name, New Chapter

As most of you know, I am going through a bit of stress in my personal life right now which is why my blog has been severely lacking content over the past few months.  To keep things brief, Tom has decided he wants a divorce (now we both want it but he initiated the thought).  I do not want to publicly go into a lot of detail but let's just say he decided he liked to spend most of his free time with someone other than his wife and coupled with a lot of stories and lies, he has actually left me in a far better position mentally and emotionally (now that it's almost over).  Yes, things were very difficult for me for a few months.  Yes, I was in a very tough mental and emotional place at the beginning of everything; things were very dark for me for those few months.  But.  He has done me a HUGE favor by asking for this divorce.  I have learned a lot about him, learned he is a completely different man than the one that I fell in love with and subsequently married.  I am now the happiest I've been in a long time and I can see that in my big blue eyes- they are finally back to light blue (for months, they rarely got lighter than a grayer shade of navy).  Yes, divorce is stressful and I wish it upon no one.  But in the end, I am much better off and I will find a man (eventually, down the road, not right now) that will appreciate me for me, treat me the way that I deserve to be treated, and that will respect me for the woman I am!  I am looking forward to the next chapter of my life.  I'm in grad school at the University of Georgia, I am in the best physical shape of my life, I look the best I've ever looked, feel the best I've ever felt, am the healthiest I've ever been, have a great job with a great company- needless to say, I have a lot going for me in my life right now!!  My support network has been sensational.  My family has gone above and beyond to get me through this and I could not have asked for better friends throughout all of this.  They are exceptional people and I am incredibly blessed to have so many loving and caring people in my life.

All of that being said, I will be going back to my maiden name.  I go to court with my lawyer next Monday, December 10 to appear in front of the judge and hopefully have him/her sign off on the divorce decree.  My lawyer has no reason to believe that the judge wouldn't approve of the divorce as it is uncontested, not messy, pretty simple.  After court, I will go through the name change process (nightmare but worth it) so that I will become Brittany McElroy again!  The blog will also have a new name- not 100% sure yet, but I'm thinking "B-Mac to the Max!" and that also incorporates that sweet little furbaby that is mine to keep (I welcome blog name suggestions by the way so if you have one, I would love to hear it!).  If I don't choose that, obviously it will be something geared towards running so be on the lookout.  I did want to let y'all know of the divorce though as it is less than a week out.  If you have questions for me, I am always more than happy to answer them, just don't want to do it publicly.  Feel free to call/text/email/etc.

As always, I appreciate all of the love and support in my life and again, could not have asked for more wonderful people in my life.  I'm in a much better place and know that I will be MUCH better off at the end of this divorce!  I look forward to what the future holds and this next chapter of my life!  First semester of grad school ends next week (thank goodness, I need a break) and then off to California for the Holiday!  Be on the lookout for new things with the blog!  If I don't get another post up before the holidays, I wish everyone safe and happy holidays, a very Merry Christmas!  And don't ever forget the true meaning of Christmas!

Happy Reading!

xoxoxo,

Britt!

It's Never Too Late...

"No matter our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us and new beauty waiting to be born."

-Dale Turner

I know y'all are probably tired of the inspirational-type quotes by now, but I truly never get sick of them.  Every morning, I wake up to a quote from Runner's World Magazine and they're always from a motivational standpoint.  While I don't necessarily like ALL of the quotes I get, I do find one every so often that I think is very inspirational and worthy of sharing.  Not all of the quotes are from runners or necessarily about runners, but are still great quotes nonetheless. 

Today's quote is one I find to be very true.  It's never too late to start ANYTHING.  I can very easily apply this one to my running life.  I never thought I'd start running at the age of 25 and my only regret about my journey is that I didn't start sooner.  But what can you do when you're still stuck in a lazy mentality (and believe me when I say that I used to be VERY lazy)?  Thankfully something clicked in my head the day I saw the embarrassing number on the scale and whatever untapped motivation that was sparked a fire within me and now I can't live my life without being active and healthy.  People ask me all the time how I got into running because they KNEW how lazy I used to be when it came to working out and living a healthy lifestyle.  I tell them the story about my trip to the lady doc and that it took off from there.  Some of the most powerful and encouraging conversations I've had are those when people ask me for running advice.  I NEVER thought I'd be the person someone turned to for advice on how to eat healthy or get started with running.  It's been very rewarding over the years, more specifically for the past year or so as that's when I started getting a lot more serious about my running.

I am truly flattered when people ask me for running advice.  Since my last post, which I know has been quite some time (things have been a little hectic and very stressful- more to come on that later), I've placed in my age group in 3 races!  I placed 1st in my age group in the Paint the Mall Pink 5K on October 7, 3rd in my age group in the Anything is Possible 5K on November 3, and 2nd in my age group this past weekend at the JE Dunn 5K!  After I finished the race this past weekend, a gentleman walked up to me and thanked me for helping him keep pace (I paced at 8:15/mi for this race).  It's very encouraging as a runner to have people ask you for advice or tell you that they use you as a pacer.

My journey over the years shows that if you can stick with something, fully dedicate yourself to it, that there truly are untapped possibilities within us.  Again (and I know I continue to say this), I NEVER thought I'd be able to call myself a runner, run races almost every weekend, or even place in a race, but I can and I do and I have.  It's a great feeling to be so committed to something and have people recognize it about you.  So go out and discover something you love and keep at it!  You'll find the results SO incredibly rewarding!

Happy Reading!

xoxoxo,

Britt!

Anything is Possible 5K - Finish time of 25:14, placed 3rd A/G (out of 84), 46/758 in Women Overall, 166/1191 Overall, 8:08/mi pace.  All starting at 150 AM so we could finish before we started (time changed!)- VERY FUN RACE!!!

Paint the Mall Pink 5K - Finish time of 26:31, placed 1st A/G (out of 21),  18/225 Women Overall, 48/299 Overall

Freedom..

Running gives freedom.  When you run you can determine your own tempo.  You can choose your own course and think whatever you want.  Nobody tells you what to do.

-Nina Kuscik, marathoner

This is so incredibly true.  When I first started running, I did it as a step up from walking.  Now I do it to be by myself, clear my head, blow off steam, let the day go, etc.  I go at my pace that is comfortable to me.  I may try to keep up with others or run faster on any given day, but it's because I choose to, not because someone else is forcing me.  I run for me and my health.  It's very cathartic for me and it is the very first thing I want to do when I get upset.  I want to put on my gear, tie up my laces, and hit the open road.  

I run races for the fun of things and to try to improve my personal records.  I don't try to compete with anyone else.  Sure, it would be nice to place in my age group here and there, but that's not what's important to me.  What's important to me in a race, is setting a goal (ie. personal record, cross the finish line, have fun) and fulfilling that goal.  I have a slew of races throughout the rest of the year (thank you Atlanta Track Club and Active.com Advantage for all of the free entries) and I will use those to set goals, to train for my upcoming half marathon (Silver Comet Half- if you want a good first half marathon or a flat course, this one is supposed to be GREAT), and to grow as a runner.  

Let's fast forward a few weeks.  I started this post a few weeks ago and didn't finish.  As an update, I DID finally place in my age group!!!  I ran the RunningNerd ATL 20K (yes, that's 12.4 miles) on September 2 and even though there were only 9 of us in my age group, I placed 3rd with a time of about an hour and 48 minutes.  I don't remember the exact time though.  

ATL 20K Finisher's Pic

I'd like to place in a bigger race one day, but as mentioned above, that's not what's important to me about running.  I just want to improve my personal times and keep pushing forward.  Sometimes pushing through the pain is hard.  Countless long runs have given me sores and blisters on my feet, even had a toenail come off once (think Peachtree Road Race '12) but I kept pushing.  I love setting my own path and determining the distance.  There's no one out there to tell me I can't do it; it's all up to me.  My training goals have kept me going and I will push this 27 year old body as far as it will let me for as long as it will let me (within reason obviously).  Running is what I do when I want to escape.  I never ever thought I would become a runner and I cherish the day I ran that first half mile home under the twinkling stars of twilight.


Until the next I lace up (maybe tonight but probably tomorrow), happy reading!

xoxo, 

Britt!

GOOOOOOOOOOO DAWGS! SIC' EM!!

As many of you may know, I've recently been entertaining the thought of going to graduate school and getting a Masters of Business Administration.  Well.  Long story short, I went onto the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business website to see if their admissions requirements or information had changed from last year to this year and saw a little blurp that said "Still accepting applications for Fall 2012." I jumped on the opportunity and have been accepted to the University of Georgia's Professional MBA program!!!  I was really looking for information to start getting ready to apply for next year, but when I saw that little gem of a sentence, I couldn't put it off.  I HAD to talk to someone about applying this year!

So I emailed the program to ask if they accept GMAT waivers (for anyone who doesn't know what the GMAT is, it's a beast of an exam to test your quantitative and verbal reasoning skills as they would apply in the business world- well that's the intention...).  I received a phone call from the admissions assistant the following day to say no, they do not accept waivers, but would accept the GRE which is supposed to be a little bit easier than the GMAT.  All in all, they're both 2 very hard exams, just different formats.  I decided I'd take the GRE in 2 weeks and then go from there.  During that day's run, I received a phone from the Admissions Director of the Professional MBA programs.  On her voicemail, she indicated that based on my work experience and undergrad performance alone, I'd be an ideal candidate for the program and just needed to submit a GRE score as soon as possible!  I returned her phone call the following day and we briefly chatted and next thing I knew, I'd received a $1000 scholarship from UGA and would be taking the GRE less than a week later!  I studied.  I took the test.  I got scores a little above average (decent for the amount of time I studied, but not my greatest performance by any means).  I submitted my application.  The following day, I got my acceptance email from the Terry College of Business at The University of Georgia- I was about to start grad school!!!!!

Fast forward a few weeks.  Class starts next Monday.  I already have assignments due on Day 1.  This program is about to be intense but I.Can't.WAIT!!!!  I attended new student orientation last week at the Gwinnett campus (I'll be in Buckhead).  I learned a lot of info (including the fact that I'll be able to buy UGA football tickets next season as a student!) and I'm even more thrilled about starting the program!  I know this is not going to be an easy feat by any means, but I look forward to the challenge and the day that I graduate from The University of Georgia with a Masters of Business Administration (I've not yet selected a focus or concentration as that happens about a year and a half from now).  This progressed so quickly that I still cannot believe it's happening, still can't believe I start grad school next week, but I could not be more excited or anxious about it!  As I said, this is going to be a busy and difficult 2 years, but I look forward to all of it!  It will open so many professional doors and I will meet great friends and colleagues along the way.  The UGA network is huge and I am thrilled to now be a part of it!!!  So on that note,

GOOOOOOOOOOOOO DAWGS!!!!  SIC' EM!!!

IT'S GREAT TO BE A GEORGIA BULLDOG!!!!

XOXOXO,

Britt!

I AM A RUNNER

I AM A RUNNER because I run.  Not because I run fast.  Not because I run far.  I AM A RUNNER because I say I am.  And no one can tell me I'm not.

-John Bingham, author and runner

I find this quote to be exceptionally motivating for beginning runners.  When I first started running, I didn't consider myself a runner.  I was probably running for 6 months before I actually considered myself a runner. And no, I was not fast.  I was actually pretty slow (think 11 minute miles).  But like Mr. Bingham indicated, it does not matter how fast you run.  As long as you are running, you are a runner.  Don't ever let anyone tell you differently.

As for an update on the running front, Tom and I are registered to run the 12th Annual Silver Comet Half Marathon on October 27.  It will be my second half marathon, Tom's first.  It is a mostly flat course (thank goodness) so it will be a great first half marathon for Tom and I am planning for a PR (hopefully will be easy to do considering I only have one time to beat, HA)!  Training has been good this time around.  I've been running only outdoors (unless it's been storming- I value my life too much to risk getting struck my lightening) which is entirely the opposite of my training for the Publix Half in March; I trained mostly indoors for that which made the race more difficult in deailng with the hills and weather.  Tom and I are training separately thanks to our very different work schedules, but that's okay.  While I would love to have a training buddy, I'm okay with doing solo long runs.  I can check my pace, my breathing, my stride and not have to worry about keeping up with anyone else.  I'm not saying they're easy long runs (are they ever?) but I still find them enjoyable.  I love walking through the front door knowing I've just run 7, 9, 10+ miles.  It's a good sense of accomplishment.  I do have a VERY long run this weekend.  I'll be participating in the ATL 20K (yes, that's 12.4 miles) and the only reason I signed up for the 20K in lieu of the 10K was because of the distance.  It fits almost perfectly into my training plan.  The 12 miler isn't technically due up til next weekend, but I may as well do it this weekend and get a medal out of it!  More to come on those results later!

I know some of you may be tired of me going on and on and on about my running ventures, but running has become something about which I'm extremely passionate!  Going through the struggles we've had over the years (job changes, Tom's addiction, etc.), it's become a great stress outlet and it keeps me sane.  I clear my head and start fresh!  They always say the hardest part of running is the first step out the front door.  I couldn't agree more and I'm incredibly grateful for God giving me the physical ability to participate in something I have grown to love so much and for allowing me to be able to take that first step out the front door.

Run on!

Britt!

I Will...

"I'm glad to be here right now, poking at my threshold.  

I want to get more comfortable being uncomfortable.  

I want to get more confident being uncertain.  

I don't want to shrink back just because something isn't easy.  

I want to push back, and make more room in the area between I can't and I can.  

Maybe that spot is called I will."

-Kristin Armstrong, Mile Markers blog, RunnersWorld.com

Over the past few years, running has become my safe haven, my place where only I exist and no one else.  I run for me, not to prove anything to others.  I talk a lot to God while I'm running.  In fact, he may even want me to just shut up in my head and listen (I do that too but probably not as often as I should).  My runs provide me with time for self-reflection, a time to assess what's going on in my world.  It's my catharsis, my greatest form of stress relief, a time to blow off steam so-to-speak.  It brings peace to my sometimes chaotic world and it gives me time to get lost in my thoughts and music and just go without a worry (except to avoid getting hit by a car of course).

I can officially say I've been running for more than 2 years now and it's been a long, but plentiful and beautiful journey for me.  When I started running in August/September 2010, I could barely finish half a mile without wanting to die on the side of the road.  Now I run 4-6 mile minimums, I participate in races on an almost monthly basis (some months, I run consecutive weekends), I've joined the Atlanta Track Club, Atlanta's largest running club, I've run a half marathon, I'm running another one in the fall, the list of my personal accomplishments goes on.  I am not the same woman I was 2 years ago nor do I plan on ever going back to that woman.  Yes, running played a very significant part in my weight loss journey, but it has done so much more for me.  It has given me the determination, motivation, and strength to keep going when times are tough.  It has forced me to rely on my inner strength to get through those rough patches.  It's given me insight on what it feels like to push through pain- physical and emotional.  But it has also provided me with a lot of good times.  The races I do with family and friends are always fun.  I've been told by others I've encouraged and motivated them to get in shape and hit the road (the BIGGEST compliment I could ever receive).  The running community is one of THE nicest communities out there and I've met some great people throughout my journey.  I could not imagine my life without my running shoes anymore.  I plan vacations around my running (Tom and I are going on a running cruise February 2013- more to follow.  Can't.Wait.) and always pack my gear.  I plan my weekends around races.  I look forward to each and every race I run and no matter how I finish, good or bad, I'm appreciative God has given me the strength and ability to get through it.

When I saw this quote, it reminded me a lot of how I felt 2+ years ago.  I was afraid.  I didn't know how to start.  I didn't want to look like the idiot flailing her arms too widely.  I didn't want to be judged for running slowly or not far enough.  I had no clue how to run or what shoes I should wear or what an acceptable form was.  I didn't want people gawking at me through their windows, pointing fingers, saying to others "that girl looks ridiculous".  I didn't know anyone in the running community nor was I aware of any running forums or blogs.  But one day, I got over all of that and my irrational fears of judgment.  I'd changed my mentality and was determined to push through whatever was holding me back.  As usual, I was walking in the twilight hours before work one morning and I said to myself, "I'm going to run the last half mile home."  So I guestimated what that distance was and I went from there.  Next thing I knew, I was telling myself to go for a mile and then some.  To say I caught the "Runner's High" is an understatement, but I still love running to this very day.  I am grateful to be where I am today and I pray that God continues to bless me with the ability to continue on my running journey.  There is no more maybe when it comes to hitting the road.  I WILL accept my personal challenges and I WILL continue to become a better person, spiritually and physically.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Happy reading!

xoxo,

Britt!

Happy Birthday Lady America!!

Hello Patriotic Friends!

So this July 4 marked the 236th birthday of Lady America!  Independence Day, as you all know, is a HUGE day of celebration in the US of A!  Most businesses are closed (including Publix- we realized that when we needed meat for the grill), people are off work, and it's a day for family and friends to gather and celebrate our independence from England!  I hope everyone had a safe and fabulous 4th of July and I hope you all celebrated our freedom, taking into account our soldiers that have fought so hard to preserve that freedom!

Our 4th of July started around 5 AM when our alarms went off to wake us up for an Atlanta tradition, the 42nd Annual Peachtree Road Race!!  This also happens to be the largest 10K in the world, a race you run with 60,000 other friends where you're being watched by 150,000+ spectators!  I wish Tom and I could have run it together but we were in different start waves so I met him at the finish line!  He's been training with me the past few months and he finished with a time not much slower than me so I am ULTRA proud of him!!  Now that we run about the same speed, we can run and train together for our races and finish future races together.  I just hope our health continues to allow us to stay active (no reason why it shouldn't) so that we can share in our running adventures (we're going on a running cruise in February 2013- more on that later).

Raising the American flag at the start of the PTRR

The starting line of the PTRR- where 60,000 people all began their 6.2 mi journey through Atlanta

We survived!  (Despite getting a bad blister UNDER a toenail on my foot)

One of my fave views of Atlanta- the skyline from Piedmont Park.  During the PTRR celebration

The coveted PTRR shirt (I voted for this design)

The rest of our celebratory day consisted of cleaning our humble abode, spending the afternoon relaxing by the pool and grilling out with friends.  Yes, we watched fireworks... just on TV and not out in the summer heat.  We watched the Independecent Day celebration in Centennial Olympic Park as it was televised.  I heard some going off somewhere not too far away so it made a tad more realistic.  We were just too tired from lack of sleep and being in the sun all day to leave the house again to watch fireworks.  Overall, it was a GREAT Independence Day and we look forward to running the Peachtree TOGETHER next year!  We will be running a PTRR qualifying race in a few weeks so we plan to run it and finish together so we can be in the same start wave next year!


One more quick note.  Tom and I joined the Atlanta Track Club while we were at the PTRR Expo!!!  I know that I am more excited about it than him, but we couldn't pass it up.  We paid $50 which includes our membership from now until the END of December 2013.  We get FREE entry into 13 low-key events in 2013 sponsored by the ATC (as well as the remaining events of 2012) as well as other discounts, including 6 months of FREE coaching (I want to get faster)!  There are also social functions for being a member (great way to meet fellow runners) as well as many other ATC events throughout the year.  The list of benefits goes on.  On top of all of that, Tom and I will have GUARANTEED entry into the 2013 Peachtree Road Race!!!!  I am thrilled to be a member of such a great running club and look forward to taking full advantage of our membership, including our first free race this Saturday- the 2012 Decatur Dekalb YMCA 4 Miler!

Hope everyone is staying cool during this hot summer!  And I hope you all had a fabulous (and safe) 4th of July!  Would love to hear stories!

Happy Living!

xoxo,

Britt!

Dedication to Daddy

So I know it's been a few weeks since Father's Day, but I wanted to take a few minutes to write about my father as other than my husband, he is the most important man in my life!

My dad has always been a constant figure in my life, one I look up to (literally. And metaphorically speaking of course). He has been everything I could ask for in a father- the disciplinarian (even when I didn't want to be disciplined or felt I didn't warrant any discplinary action), the business role model, the caring, nuturing man in the first 20+ years of my life, the man on which I based great character traits for a future husband, etc.  My daddy is a true Southern gentleman and has taught me so much in my life.  He has helped develop me into the woman I am today and continues to offer his constant love and support in everything that I do.  Over the years, he has let me make my own decisions, some bad but mostly good, and he is always there to pick up the pieces when I've fallen, to offer the love and support Daddy's little girl could need.  Even when he forced me to move across the country during pivotal moments of my life (entering my freshman year of high school), he has always been there for me.  He has made a LOT of sacrifices for our family with the sole intention of giving us a better life, a life he didn't have growing up.  He didn't miss my basketball games or choir concerts or my brother's football games because he wanted to or didn't care; he missed them because he was travelling for work, allowing us to keep our commitments and live where we wanted to instead of making us move too quickly.

My father may be the most stubborn man you'll ever meet, but he is also one of the greatest men you'll ever meet!  He is witty and intelligent, sarcastic yet caring, loving and courageous, the list goes on!  Sure, my dad's made me angry or upset, hurt my feelings, etc. but I know all of his actions are out of his love for me as his daughter, his baby girl, and that he will always have good intentions at heart. I may not talk to Daddy every day but I know he's there for me, know he loves me and cares for me deeply, each and every day.  I love that man and fear the day that I lose him (hopefully FAR in the future).

I'll end this post on the greatest memory I have of my father.  It was my wedding day and he made me cry twice (tears of joy, of course).  The first was when he saw me for the first time on May 15, 2010.  I had just finished getting ready, had opened my wedding present from Tom (beautiful cross on a chain), and in walks my dad!  He looked at me and immediately tears welled up in his eyes.  Of course, I started crying in return and he gave me the longest bear hug and told me how proud he was of me, how beautiful I was, and how this was one of his greatest moments with me.  The second was during our Father-Daughter dance at the reception.  I told Daddy a few weeks before my wedding that I had picked out the PERFECT song for us to dance to but for obvious reason wasn't going to tell him.  Throughout my years, there have been songs that will ALWAYS remind me of my father, specifically "Old School" by Steely Dan and "Africa" by Toto, but neither of those was the song I chose for my dance with my dad.  The song I chose is one that he told me long before planning my wedding always reminded him of me, that he came downstairs to the basement to ask me a question and I was listening to it and he really liked it and had to put it on his MP3 player immediately- "When You Come Back Down" by Nickel Creek.  The lyrics are absolutely touching and very indicative of my and my father's relationship.  He's let me go to chase my dreams but will always be here for me should I fall.  So when the guitar started playing, the spark of recognition flickered across my dad's face and he said to me, "No you didn't!  Are you trying to make me cry again?!" but just loud enough so that only I could hear him.  He walked up to me, took me in his arms, and we talked, cried, and laughed while we danced to our song.  Those two instances of my adult life are two of my greatest memories of Daddy and they both occurred on the same day, the happiest day of my life!

Daddy, I know you probably aren't reading this, but if you are, I love you SO much and you are the best father I could have ever asked for!  Everything you've done for me has made me such a strong woman and I could not imagine my life without you in it.  Thank you for everything you have done for me and all that you will do for me (and Tom) in the future.  Love you so much Papabear!!

New Job, New Beginnings

Happy Tuesday!!  (If there is such a thing, right?!)

SO I know it's been a few weeks, but the past few weeks have been a little hectic!  As I mentioned in my last post, I was to start a new position with SunTrust Bank on June 4.  Well June 4, 2012 came and went and I started my new job!  I attended a half day of orientation that Monday with the rest of the day free to absorb all of the information.  It was a very exciting day for me so I ate lunch at Tom's Panera and went home and relaxed with Max the rest of the afternoon!  That Tuesday, I reported promptly to my new office (Midtown, 14th and Peachtree, Campanile Building for those familiar with Atlanta) and started getting familiarized with SunTrust policies, procedures, my new job, my new coworkers (still don't remember all of their names, but I'm learning), my floor (it's very maze-like), etc., etc., etc.  

Fast forward a few weeks and I'm now in my 3rd week of the new job!  I'm still getting my feet wet so to speak.  I'm learning the new systems, learning the new formats, etc., but everything is a learning process!  I've gotten myself acquainted with a lot and doing a lot of the research and analysis on my own, but still have questions.  So far, I'm loving it!  It's a breath of fresh air from my last position!  I enjoy what I'm doing and it's definitely a bit more challenging than my last job duties!  My coworkers are very nice and while I don't remember all of their names just yet, I will learn them eventually.  The person I interact with the most is a Romanian expat who moved to the States in 1998.  He has been a great help and I love talking to him about the cultural differences between Romania and the US of A!  For instance, in Romania, people (children included) don't sit on the floors because they are "dirty" whereas in America, we always sit on the floor!  While it was strange to hear that this is an oddity in other parts of the world, it's enlightening at the same time.  I LOVE to learn about new cultures so I look forward to learning more from him on this new career path!

So not only am I really enjoying my new position three weeks into it, I'm also LOVING my new benefits!  I get discounts on things (such as Braves and Falcons tickets, tickets to shows and theaters, stores, electronics, restaurants, etc.).  We will have MUCH better health insurance options.  I am able to join diversity groups and become more involved in the community through the community service programs.  I have stumbled upon a fabulous opportunity with a GREAT company!  While I'm sure my opinions will change at times (as no one's job is absolutely perfect), I can't foresee disliking my company or my career growth and development options.  I'm VERY excited about this opportunity and look forward to new opportunities that lie ahead!!

Front of the Campinile Building with the Suntrust Logo!

Love being in tall buildings!

On a side note, Daddy will be in town this week!!!  So even though I didn't get to spend Father's Day with him, I get to see him for the next few days!  I'm VERY excited about this, too!!  I will soon have a Father's Day post dedicated to him!

A New Chapter

This post will be pretty brief.  It's time for a very exciting update in my life!

On June 4, 2012, I will begin a new chapter in my professional life!  I have been offered a position with SunTrust, one of the South's largest banks, headquartered right here in Atlanta!  While the past 2 years in my position with J.P. Turner have had their ups and downs, I am looking forward to the new venture!  I will be a Portfolio Investment Specialist.  My primary job function will be to assist the Portfolio Managers in investment research and portfolio analytics.  I will create client presentations and prepare the managers for these presentations.  While I have been informed that I will be required to do small amounts of work in an administrative capacity, I am okay with this as EVERY job has at least some administrative work!

I am VERY excited about my new position!  Not only will this open the door to many other opportunities with a large financial institution, it will be another learning and growing opportunity!  Not to mention, it comes with a pretty significant raise, better benefits, and higher sense of professional development!  My family has been very supportive of me throughout the interview process and I could not have asked more of them.  They were very encouraging when I got bad news from potential employers, telling me to keep my head high and that God would put the right opportunity in my path.  There were times of grave disappointment when I thought I was very qualified for a position where I didn't receive an offer, but I just had to keep telling myself that God always has a plans and while things may not make sense, there's always a rhyme or reason as to why it's happened.

I'm really hoping this is going to be a long-term opportunity for me as I am tired of changing employers every few years.  I need some professional longevity and because SunTrust has many opportunities in a variety of departments, functions, and capacities, this could be a long-term career move for me!  I am fortunate to be afforded this opportunity and I look forward to what the future brings!  It's a very exciting time in my life and I hope I'll be able to get some sleep on Sunday, June 3, 2012!  (I don't usually sleep well the night before my first day on a new job- fingers crossed!)

On a side note.  Tom and I are visiting the old stomping grounds this weekend for the Memorial Day holiday!  We leave for Jacksonville, FL Friday afternoon to stay with a friend from my high school in California (that I haven't seen in almost 10 years- thank you Facebook for the reconnect!) so I'm VERY excited to visit with him!  Saturday, we'll go to the beach- FINALLY!  We haven't had a beach trip since our honeymoon to St. Lucia so we're looking forward to seeing the ocean for the first time in 2 years!  After Jacksonville, we'll be heading to Orlando to visit my uncle, aunt, and cousins and hopefully one of Tom's former coworkers that we haven't seen since shortly after we moved to Atlanta!  It should be a very fun weekend!  Pictures to follow (assuming I remember to take them)!

Thanks for reading!!

All my love,

Britt!

2 Years and Going Strong!

Tuesday, May 15, 2012 was a very special day for Tom and me!  We celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary!  I know this isn't as many as some couples, but it counts for me and we're still going strong!  Of course we have had our ups and downs over the past 2 years, but just as life happens, it happens for a reason.  So to celebrate our 2 years of marriage, we went to Imperial Fez, a Moroccan restaurant in Buckhead.  Neither of us has ever been to a Moroccan restaurant nor have we eaten Moroccan food.  To say this was an experience is a vast understatement.  If you have never been to a Moroccan restaurant and can get an experience like what we had on Tuesday, I highly recommend it!

Dinner started with confusion.  All of the tables were extremely close to the ground so we felt like we were sitting on the floor.  It was a set up different than any we had ever seen.  After being seated, a server came over to tell us a little bit about the menu, get drink orders, etc.  We ordered the five course meal which started with a lentil soup and a salad variety (don't ask me what they were because I couldn't tell you).  There were 5 or 6 different salads on the plate with a basket of Moroccan bread and per our server, our forks were for decoration only, that we were to eat with our fingers.  Tom looked at me with wild eyes to indicate our server was crazy.  He politely obliged but it somewhat closed his mind to the experience.  He eventually opened up as the next course came out and then our entrees and dessert.  We used our decorative forks after the salad course as there was NO way on God's beautiful green Earth that we could gracefully eat the remainder of our meal with our fingers.

Imperial Fez dining room

Throughout our meal, Imperial Fez provides a source of entertainment I've never witnessed- a real live belly dancer!!  As she started her dance sequence, I leaned over to Tom and said, "I could do that!  Give me a costume!"  She continued to dance.  I retracted my statement.  She was moving her body in ways I know I never could.  She balanced a sword on her head AND DANCED!  Although the music was a bit on the loud side, we enjoyed the few times she entered the dining room for entertainment purposes.

Belly Dancer

You can faintly see the sword balanced on her head- talent.

Throughout the meal, we befriended the table of women next to us and chatted off and on with them.  It was one of their birthdays (lady in the pink shirt above).  They were loud yet entertaining.  Their conversation was intriguing and we were glad to join in on some of it.  Right before we left, some of the servers came out to do a birthday celebration for the Birthday Girl.  Little did I know, my husband was going to join and start dancing!  It was by far one of the most fun things I've ever seen him do in a restaurant!  I hope he keeps his young, jovial spirit as we grow together!

Tom doing a jig for the Birthday Girl

All in all, this was a very memorable dinner!  For Tom, it will be one he only wants to experience once.  I really enjoyed the food and would definitely eat it again, but I'm not sure Tom shares in my sentiments.  He did buy me a "Happy 2 Year Anniversary Cake" and some flowers so I enjoyed a small sliver of cake when we got home (I was too full from dinner to eat more than that).  And I'm still eating small pieces of the cake as it is very delicious!  I look forward to sharing many more May 15ths with my husband!  He is a very caring and loving man and although I want to punch him sometimes, I love him to death!  We had a great anniversary celebration and I can't wait for the years to come!  Love you Poop!!

Thanks for sharing in my love and enthusiasm!

All my love, 

Britt!