Run

Since August I have been working on becoming a runner.

My parents have always been avid runners, but growing up I couldn't have avoided it more. You could even say that I absolutely HATED running and straight up refused to do it. This summer though, I was looking for something to help me get in shape, and I decided that I couldn't avoid running any longer... especially because it's essentially a free workout. Let's not jump the gun too quickly and say I'm a running lover... I haven't made a complete turn around yet, but running has definitely become more enjoyable these past two months (or maybe just less grueling haha) . When I started I honestly couldn't run more than a minute without getting a cramp in my side, but with the help of the Couch to 5k app on my phone I was able to work my way up to running a solid 30 minutes without wanting to absolutely die.

It's a great little thing that coaches you through your run, lets you listen to your own music, but lets you know when you need to walk and when you need to start running. There are lots of different plans/apps out there, but this one I would definitely recommend. It is so helpful to get you started... that doesn't mean its always easy! Those first few days of running 5 minutes, then 8 minutes are super tough but you feel like such a champion when you make it through!

Now that I've completed the program I've moved on to bigger and better things. When my parents were here last April Keith and I set a goal to run the half marathon here in Nashville. It seemed like something that was so far off, but now I really want to get myself in gear and train through the winter. I found a new half marathon trainer app to use because I would really like to see myself run the whole way. I just did the first day, which seemed like cake because it's only half the running time that I just left off at, but I know this is going to get really tough.

Here's to positive running thoughts! I hope that I can stay motivated to get up and go to the gym through the winter, those are always the months I just want to hibernate haha. Wish me luck!

Horse Day

This post is purely to document something absolutely hysterical that happened on instagram yesterday between my friends and I. As a backstory, I would like to mention that in college it was widely known to my friends that I didn't enjoy horses; this fact was clearly exploited as they would give me horse figurines as gifts, or draw hundreds of pictures of scary horses and post them all over my dorm room while I was in class. 

So here is how I started my day yesterday: I woke up to find that Keith had posted about a horseback ride we should take as a date, and watch what happened next completely unplanned by him... (be sure to read the captions too)

This was definitely my favorite post haha "I'm not sure why we're doing this..."

So from 9am til 9pm, 8 different people posted 12 different photos of horses for me hahaha. Keith and I could not stop laughing as we watched them all roll in throughout the day. I know it's slightly malicious but all in good fun and reminded me of how great my friends truly are. It's so awesome to know that we can have a good time with each other even though we're far. Oh the power of smart phones.

So even though Keith posted this picture of me with a sad face, I couldn't have been happier to have a great laugh yesterday. Thank for nothing, friends ;)

Instagram

Technology is a pretty amazing thing. I love how my iPhone has allowed me to stay connected with far-away friends and family in so many more ways than just chatting. instagram is my new favorite, and most used app on my phone these days. Not only can I take quick, cute photos... but all my followers can keep track of where I am in my world and we can have some funny banter about it without having to drop everything for a heart-to-heart phone call. The fun thing that I'm learning as I use it more is that SO much of the internet has embraced this app, that they are developing great ways to turn your photos into lasting memories beyond the digital world. Here are some of the cooler things I've discovered across the web this week:

First there is StickyGram which allows you to make your instagram photos into magnets. I could definitely get into this because it seems really affordable and I'm always looking for creative ways to keep photos in our house.

Next thing I found was this advertisement for blurb to turn your instagram photo roll into a book. After getting a book like this printed for our wedding, I am IN LOVE! I am really leaning towards these as opposed to ordering prints and putting them in an old fashioned album. They look GREAT and are a definite coffee table hit. Look how pretty these are!

This last link is for another iPhone app that boasts a simple way to print photos from your phone called PostalPix. Recently I've been SO bad at keeping hardcopies of the photos I take so this seems pretty ideal now that 100% of my photos are taken on my phone. I plan on testing this one out asap. 

I promise that I wasn't paid to advertise these... I just know that lots of you are using instagram/other cell phone photography apps and wanted to share these little goodies with you. I'm just excited that camera phone technology has been upgraded to the point that it's an option to get photos printed (my grainy little razr photos would not have been worth the effort haha). 

I recently added this to our about me page, but if we aren't friends on instagram... my username is drich.