Me and Forest Gump Would Get Along

A lot of people have been asking me about my recent obsession with running and how I got here. I really believe that ANYONE can become a runner. If I did it anyone can. I used to HATE running and always thought people who ran marathons were crazy, but I've seen the light, been converted, and I will never go back.

Yes. There was pain. In the initial runs I got blisters, muscles soreness, and my toenail fell off...gross. I know. But now I run more than I ever have and I dont get any of these things!

Here are some of the things that helped me love running:

1. Read the book Born To Run. It's inspirational. My sister and I have always had a blood oath with each other that we would never run a marathon. You read this book and want to go run 10 miles. Literally. It happened to me. Basically the book taught me the only thing not making me not run was my mental incapacities.

2. Start small. You can't expect to run a marathon or any crazy distance unless you train. A long time. Sometimes I get impatient with my body, but you just have to remember the end goal and stick to it. Some days stunk. Some days were awesome. Expect to have both, but just keep running. When you do feel the pain, that's where you need the mental strength to keep you going.

3. Pick a race date and sign up. Make sure you have time to train. Running is fun. Running in races is amazing. The energy and excitement on race day will make you never want to stop.

4. Download some podcasts. This was my lifesaver. I listened to endless hours of the podcast "how stuff works". I am now full of tons of useless knowledge...but it gave me something to get my mind off the hard miles:)

5. Set a schedule and stick to it. You can look up different schedules on google depending on what race you want to run. I adjusted mine to make it work for me.

6. Eat healthy. It changes your runs. It changes your body. It changes your life.

So I finished my first marathon last month and I still love running! I definitely want to do another, but right now I am just enjoying running for fun. I run about 10 miles 3 times a week, something I never thought possible for my body...but it is! Try it! Go out and run today, just for fun, and see how you feel. If you want someone to get way too excited about your new running craze just talk to me. I would be glad to tell you how awesome you are and how much you are going to change your life:)

"4 years old! 4 years old!"

This past week I have been nannying for a family in my ward whose parents went to Italy for 12 days. It has been a blast. I dont have many friends home, so I've made knew ones...they are a 13 and 9 year olds...

You might think im super pathetic, but there are many perks of hanging out with girls that are a decade younger than you. They are: 1)I get to hear all the middle school drama and dont have to stress about it. 2)I am ALWAYS the coolest one there just because I am so much older and "wiser"...they have no idea that I am actually kinda weird. 3)I get to be boy crazy again and it's totally normal 4)Best of all, I get to listen to as much Justin Beiber as I could ever imagine (I might have to purge myself from him for a while after this week.)

In New Zealand my friend and I always got made fun of for acting like we were 4 years old...I am now coming to grips with the fact that that might actually be true:)

Nature Calls

I have this thing about the outdoors...we have a very intimate relationship. I'm not one of those "interesting" people that only wear chacos and Patagonia, but I definitely consider myself "outdoorsy". One of my favorite places to go is up on a mountain near my house to a place called Rock City. It's only a 25 minute drive from my house and it's oh so beautiful. There are rocks like these everywhere that people can climb on:

What is there not to love? If you haven't tried loving nature, you should probs give it a try...

My Sister is Famous...and I love Rugby

Click here to see why

I decided at the beginning of winter semester to not continue playing rugby and a lot of people ask me if it's hard to see my team make it this far and not be on it. Honestly. I still love rugby but I will never regret the decision to quit. BUT, you better believe I will be the loudest fan on the sideline Friday and Saturday. Bring. It. On. Penn. State.

Too Much Free Time

So Im pretty sure no one actually reads this blog, but I am home for the summer again and find myself having way too much free time. Last summer I babysat the BEST kids in the entire world and I cry every time I think about working for someone else...its pathetic. I dont really want to talk about my new job other than the fact that I am getting paid. And they have lizards. And the house is a dump because the lady is a hoarder. But I am grateful. Promise.

As for what I do during the other part-time I dont work my life consists of these things:

1)Gym, gym, more gym, and running-Call me an addict...

but hey, there are worse things to be addicted to

2)Play Dance Central-The day has come. Im obsessed with a video game.

3)Hang with Banana-Little sisters are the best thing that happened to this earth. Enough said.

4)Cook-I could do it all day everyday if eating it all didn't make me look like I went back to New Zealand. I just made these for my family and everyone loved them:)

and finally....

5)Talk on the phone. Way too much. Long distance relationships stink. More than anything. Thank goodness for cell phones and unlimited minutes.

I probably should look into making a couple friends? All my friends are either at school, married in Idaho, or in stupid London. I know I know, the Single's Ward is always very promising...

Did Ya Miss Me?

K so I figured this blog would just be a journal to keep people updated while I was in New Zealand, but im rethinking my decision. Im bored and need something to do. I figured "blogging" is a complete/amazing waste of time, so why not?

I'm home for the summer anticipating my return to Provo in the fall. I cannot WAIT to see my best friends again. Roomates/New Zealanders/teamates/family. You

never realize how many people you care about until they are out of your life for 9 months. Im working this summer for a family that lives nearby. They

have 5 children, 2 of which are the most adorable baby twins. Half of my photo album on my phone consists of them. Ill share only if you agree to think they are as cute as I do:

Dont worry...they're not always naked...we just swim a lot:)

I absolutely LOVE this family. I LOVE my job. I LOVE the kids. I feel so blessed to be able to have it. Im learning so much and will probably cry my eyes out when I have to go back to school. Is it possible to have baby withdrawals?

Other than that I am just hanging out for the summer and loving being home:) Im excited for August because I get to see BOTH my bestest friends and play A LOT.

Ok I know you wanted them so heres more pictures of the babies

New Zealand Poem

This last weekend we had a ward talent show featuring all the BYU students. One girl wrote a poem about our New Zealand trip. There's tons of inside jokes, but its still pretty funny so I decided to post it.

Years from now if I am ever feeling sad
I can look back on this trip and all the fun we had
From arriving off the plane with eyes oh-so-wide
To immediately start exploring the scenic country side
We traveled along in the vans so trusty and true
Green machine, white trash, red rumbly, and smurf—that one’s blue
On we went from the Tip Top of the island way down to the Deep South
Loving each flavor we put in our mouth
Within five minutes at each campsite we made a tent city
But were gone the next morning, lickety-splity
There was so much to do just in Rotorua, I recall
Some rafting, some sledging, or rolling in a big ball
In a Hamilton evening we reached a spiritual height
Much different than Manganui we saw at that morning light
Hamilton also gave us the chance to make a new friend
For some of us girls though… we wish the contact would end
Our minds were blown as we saw each wonderful sight
Blown almost as much as on the ferry where we almost took flight
The perils of Mount Doom we did check off our list
The journey was so bad, Julianne cut her wrists
Some highlights of early on we remember
Frisbee, black water, avoiding bad weather
The long daily drives, Adam wouldn’t stop singing
And Christina just couldn’t seem to stop eating
Of course there was Alex and her blue suit
And Carly’s poor legs were to big for her boot
All Rachel and Tressa wanted to do was play touch
But Rusty couldn’t join because boy/girl would have been too much
We had no time to hinder though a suitcase and sleeping bag were lost
Luckily, Jas was still clothed but Van’s top half while sleeping is what suffered the cost
Soon we made it to the end of our two week route
But I guess it wasn’t complete without seeing Cromwell’s big fruit
Invercargill, finally, we made it at last
No one was safe from a biker riding past
Arriving didn’t mean we had time to slow down
There’s a beach, mating seals, and head to Queenstown

There we found bungy is not self-inflicting murder
And celebrated after with a juicy Fergburger
In town we biked to school and church, even in rain
But at least now our butts are not in so much pain
Church was a treat with Bro. Naunau’s leading-slash-dancing
But Matt and Erica did not notice, they were too busy romancing
Classes did have to start, but not too much dismay
Jennie just taught us naughty words… that made it ok
The rest of our classes we had it sooooooo rough
Except for kayaking…. Which actually was tough
Remarkables was a trip some also found as a trial
Becky even sprained her ankle, to fly out in style
However, the learning in these classes would have been in vain
If it wasn’t for reflecting, 8 minutes in pouring rain
Speaking of which while I reflect on the awesome bushwhacking we do
I guess it taught me; I can do hard things too
Climbing, tramping, and surfing were not the only things to cheer our mood
How could we ever forget about all the delicious food?
There was plenty to make anyone’s taste buds shout
Of Cadbury Chocolate, and finding out what hokey pokey really was all about
And finding even more to get your arteries in a jam
“fush and chops” followed by a Tim Tam Slam
Eating, playing, even sharing lice helped us get to know eachother so well
Perhaps too much as now we can even distinguish flatulent smells.
As the trip went on the closer we got
All I remember is when – I – fought
But now as it about time for us to all take flight
I wish you all never receive another sand fly bite
And that we can think of our time we did spend
Laugh, and look back, because SIT did happen