Running Shoes

There is nothing like a brand new pair of running shoes.  You look at the box and there is so much excitement about what lies ahead.

 This box was exceptionally exciting because it was super motivating, and made me want to get out on the road for a nice, long run.

It's strange, because many people find their love for something earlier on in life, but for me I just really started to enjoy running about a year ago.  I love running on a cool, fall Saturday morning, I love running without music if I am somewhere quiet, although most days I need my ipod to get me through :) I love the sense of accomplishment after completing a long run, and mostly I just love the way I feel after a good long run.  It clears my head, makes me feel strong and plainly stated-happy.

So anywho, back to my shoes.  Next step, opening the box, smelling that new shoe smell.  They are so WHITE!

Look at those~so clean, so many miles ahead!

Now its time for a comparison:

OLD SHOES

NEW SHOES!

ONE OF EACH!

My old shoes just got me across the finish line of my second half marathon.  It was here in Denver 2 weeks ago,  and it was the Inaugural Rock and Roll Half Marathon in Denver.  The Rock and Roll series is a fun race, they have bands set up throughout the race to keep you motivated.

 I am having trouble parting with my old shoes, because I ran so far in them and accomplished another big race in them~but as Jason tells me, the are old, have no tread left, and quite frankly they are DIRTY.  So for now I guess it's time to toss them out.  Time to start racking up the miles on my new pair.  I can't wait!

Here are a couple pics from my race :)

Early-and Dad on crutches-still there to cheer me on :)

That's me in the White hat~about mile 4. 

My love and biggest supporter!

Happy Running!

Inspiration

Thank you for the inspiration Kate :) xo

Wedding Fun

The husband and I spent last weekend in LA at his God-Father's wedding.  What is so cool about this particular wedding is that Michael (the God-Fatha) is in his 50's and he has never been married before.  Then he met Jordan, his soulmate, and they got maarrrriiieeed!!! Yippee :)

Jason and I went for a beautiful hike up Laurel Canyon on Sunday morning before the wedding.  It is just so crazy how endless Los Angeles is. You can look 360 degrees around and all you see is city, city and more city.  We were lucky because there wasn't much smog so we could see forever.  Oh and the houses up there in the hills-WOW.  I saw more than one that I could make my permanent residence :)

We spent the afternoon and evening celebrating Michael and Jordan-I know it's hard not to laugh-Michael Jordan.  It was a lovely ceremony and you could see how truly in love they are.  Cheers!

Me and my love. 

Toasty......

Just as fall is FINALLY arriving in Denver, the husband and I are heading to LA. Where when I just checked, it is supposed to be in the high 80's low 90's this weekend.  I guess I better pack my summer clothes for this trip.  Although in pictures I have seen lately on people.com Miley, Jessica, Nicole and Lindsay (before rehab), all wear fall clothes, even when it is 90 degrees out there.  Guess I better pack my short shorts and Uggs.  HA! I am pretty sure it was a warm, sunny LA day when she wore this:

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! My post title has made me hungry-going to toast a slice of whole grain bread and slather it with some delish ChokeCherry Jelly. :)

xo

ChokeCherry Jelly

My Gramma Gilbert (Mom's mom) has been making her famous ChokeCherry jelly for years.  This year my mom and I took the task on, only hoping to get close to the yum factor that my gramma achieves every year. Of course, I won't be able to share the "secret" recipe but let me just say-the work it takes to make the jelly far outweighs the ingredients in the jelly :o)

Chokecherries pre boil

Boiling the berries to get them ready for the juicing 

Gramma's old juicing contraption-and Dante helping out in the background :)

Mash those berries down to their last drop!

Hard work ;)

I think this is when my arm started getting tired!

Just a little longer.....

Juice! You would not believe how much jelly this makes!

So sadly, I didn't have a third person to help us take pictures of the actual juice to jelly process.  My mom and I were both needed in the kitchen to get the jelly into the jars as fast as possible, so that the jars could seal up and we wouldn't need to do parafin coating.  But as you can see it was a success!! You invert the jars for about 5-7 minutes to help them seal and then voila-Jelly!! I am still working on the label for the lids and as soon as I am done I will post a pic of the finished project.

Setting the seal

ChokeCherry Jelly-Gramma Gilbert style :)

Some of you will be getting a jar of this delicious jelly very soon.  xoxo