Just a happy girl

It was foggy and overcast most of the day, it's two weeks to Christmas and so warm that I'm wearing a t-shirt and flip flops, our icicle lights just can't manage to make their way onto our rooftop, I haven't bought one present yet, and BJ killed a ginormous brown recluse spider in our garage yesterday and now I'm fearing an invasion.

Despite all this, as I as lounging on the couch early this evening next to my love, I realized that I'm more happy and content than I've ever been ... and quite simply - life is good.

(Here's a favorite pic I don't think I've ever posted)

mmmmmm .... cookies!

I'm sure I've mentioned at least once that I'm not much of a cook or baker or candlestick maker. What can I say? I never aspired to be the "little lady" or a stay at home type so I ignored Womanly Duties 101 in college. Despite this fact, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to take part in a holiday cookie exchange. I mean cookie goodness and an opportunity to socialize in my adopted home town with someone other than BJ? What's not to love.

**And to clarify, I thoroughly enjoy spending time with BJ, but I've been here four months and have had no girl time since I really haven't made any of my own friends yet. Some of BJ's friends and spouses are kind enough to tolerate me - but given my crazy night shift schedule and my overall terrifying fear of socializing with strangers, it makes it hard to meet new people. **

So given my shortcomings in the kitchen and the need for six dozen cookies, I stuck with what I know best - no bake cookies. This picture makes it look like I hardly took any, but this was the second tub and wasn't filled. They're a recipe from my great-grandma Sophronia that I've made a few times before and in my opinion taste fabulous! Even though they're not baked they actually are rather labor intensive. I was hoping that BJ would help with the process, but alas he was snoring on the couch when the cookie laboring was needed.

Though I was tempted to say "Screw you" when he asked for some of the cookie bootie, there really is no way that I could eat a whole bucket full of cookies on my own without injuring myself in some fashion.

And even though it was a "ladies" kindof outing, BJ came along because he's good friends with the esteemed hostess and her charming other half . He regaled BJ with tales of how awesome it is to have a brand new MacBook Pro and later on when the guests left, they showed their true ages. Just goes to show - simple minds, simple pleasures which is why I love him so much :)

Lazy Days

I know I missed Thursday's trip down memory lane, but it was towards the end of three shifts in a row, and any nurse can attest to the fact that doing three 12 hours shifts back to back really sucks away your life. It's basically a matter of work, drive and sleep - and when you're on the night shift, it seems even worse. So I'll get it at it next week.

Today I'm in that completely lethargic mode that you have when you FINALLY have a day off. I got home about 7:50 a.m. this morning, hit the couch and then slept for about five hours and am still trying to wake up so that I can go be a productive member of society. I have stamps to buy, Christmas cookies to make, errands to run and all I can think about is curling up in my jammie pants on the couch and vegging out the rest of the day. It's overcast and has been raining outside which doesn't help the matter.

But I will resist the sloth!! I will actually put on real clothes and leave the house. For those not familiar, it has happened that I've been off a full two days and never once put on real clothes - I mean I do change my jammies and sweats - it's not like I'm hillbilly! but two full days can go by without me even leaving the house. That's the kind of exhaustion and anti-sociability that comes from saving lives. Or maybe I'm just a lazy ass?!?!?!

off I go ..

I feel pretty! Oh so pretty!

You know how sometimes I'm a vain blogger talking only about me, me, me?? ... though in retrospect isn't what most bloggers do? Write about their lives and their interests as a way to avoid irritating all of their friends and co-workers with banter that they don't care about?? It gives you an outlet to brag and expound and people only have to read it if they're interested.

With that in mind, I'm not going to feel guilty at all about this post ... Look at us, aren't we pretty?!?!? :)

We just got our pictures from our engagement photo shoot and I am SO HAPPY with how they turned out! Since this is my first (and last) engagement, I wasn't really sure what to expect. I've seen some that were clearly done in the Sears Portrait studio and have that stiff, formal look which is totally NOT me - or us for that matter.

We were very blessed that BJ has a good friend who is a full-time junior high teacher and part-time fabulous photographer! She was kind enough to offer to shoot these as a wedding gift and when asking us what we wanted, we just knew that we wanted it outdoors with Fall colors around.

She suggested the train cars which are down by the Arkansas River at the Big Dam Bridge, a place we are very familiar with since we run the trail there frequently.

It was very surreal looking at these pictures because I normally hate the way I look, especially on film. A few weeks back I posted a snapshot that I hated so much, it spurred me on to a weight loss and fitness transformation. When I saw these, all I could think was, "Wow, those make me look like I'm really hot!" I still don't believe I'm hot, or think it when I look in the mirror - but damn I LOVE these pictures! If you haven't already been bored to tears by all the ones I threw in this post, you can see more here. (broken link has been fixed ... sorry!)

and to not be soooo vain, I think BJ is handsome and adorable and sexy as well!!

A HUGE shout out to Amy Cary of Amy Cary Photography!! She does all types of portraits, engagement, family, children, babies, bridal - is awesome, sweet and very reasonably priced. If you're in the Little Rock metro area and interested, the link to her website is here.

Jingle Bell Rock!

You might be thinking, "Wow, Jenn hasn't blogged about running lately. I wonder how her training is coming?" Well the short answer is that my training has been supplanted by unpacking, decorating and all other sorts of working around the new house. I'm sure it's not the smartest thing to take two weeks off, but it's just the way it's happened so no point in going on about it.

Yesterday, BJ and I participated in the Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis which is a national series of 5K events. I had signed up for it last year when I was living in Denver, but it was ridiculously cold and I had worked the night before so I skipped it. This time around, it was about 45 degrees and sunny when we left the house and by the end of the race I was wishing I hadn't worn long sleeves it was so warm! Since I hadn't been running lately I didn't approach it as a race. I went no watch, no heart rate monitor and in the end no timing chip (I lost it somewhere between my warm up run and the start of the race ... stupid zip ties!) I just wanted to go for a run, breathe the cool air and enjoy the atmosphere! Since I had no watch I had no clue how fast I was going, and I was actually shocked when I brought it in at just under 34 minutes on the finish clock. To be honest, I was going pretty slow and I didn't feel like running - if BJ hadn't been registered as well I would have stayed home.

I'm glad I went though, it was a pretty fun event with lots of costumes, santa hats and reindeer antlers. It was also one of the few family friendly races that welcomed jogging strollers and dogs. I didn't run in the hat because it's a little too loose, but we did have jingle bells on our shoes and my pony tail holders. So it was 3.1 miles of giddy up jingle horse pick up your feet, jingle around the clock. Mix and a mingle in the jingling feet, that's the jingle bell rock!