Rustic Living

I've mentioned before how much I love sharing local favorite shops... but not only am I sharing a shop I love, but a woman I admire. The shop is Rustic Living, and it holds all sorts of shabby-chic home, baby and wedding creations from one of my real-life friends, Ashley (who also has a blog HERE!). Ashley lives here in Idaho (literally 10 minutes from me), and you've seen her beautiful face recently from photos when we went to brunch together, and she's also the one who designed my wedding bouquets! She is a lover of thrifting and vintage finds, an expert at turning said finds into rustic masterpieces, and she and her husband are also expecting a baby within the next couple weeks. To say I adore this girl is an understatement.

When you click over to Rustic Living, make sure to use code auniesauce for 25% off your order. You can also find Ashley here: blog // facebook // twitter // pinterest.

Today, Ashley is giving away a $30 store credit to Rustic Living. This giveaway is so easy. Just visit Rustic Living and then leave a comment below! If you'd like to tweet/facebook/pin the giveaway, please leave a second comment with your shared link, and it will count for another entry.

The black and white: giveaway is open internationally until midnight on Sunday, May 23. Winner will be announced via email and right here in this post.

Me & Icy Running: A Blog Post From My Mom

Preface: I look up to my mom more than anyone in the entire world. She's beautiful, she's fit, she's always the life of the party, and she's a wonderful story teller... so I asked her to tell her side (my side can be read here) of our running together. Also—Aunie is my nickname in Daniel's family—but in MY family, I have always gone by Icy. I couldn't say Annelise when I was younger, so Icy it was. Enjoy.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Annelise asked me to write a guest blog for her about our race at the Idaho Potato Marathon.  I’ve not written a blog before so here goes......

First and foremost, we love to run together.  We train at the same pace.  We even run the same way meaning we look the same when we run.  Seriously!  This was our fifth half-marathon together and we plan to one day run a full marathon together.  I’ve run three of those and I know she can do it too.  She just needs to convince herself that she can do it!

Why do we do it?  We love the planning, the training, the commitment and the excuse to get new running gear (of course)!   We get together to plan for the races.  We train long runs on the weekends.  I have to give her most of the credit....She does all the searches for races and course mapping.  I just show up to encourage her along the way.  Sometimes she gets cranky...at times her tummy doesn’t really want to run but I keep her going with that half step in front of her.  She’ll notice and scold me for speeding up but I know I’m keeping her on pace.  At the end she will always have that last kick.  We hold hands over the finish line to make that push together.

This was one of the best races for us.  Great weather, easy flat course running from Lucky Peak Dam into Boise, fun people and stellar outfits!  You’ve probably noticed our matching outfits in her previous blogs and Facebook posts.  She loves the BRIGHT stuff.  Anything neon is her favorite.  Last week while shopping I got there before her and picked out the capris I know she would love.  She did but they were just too funky for me.  We compromise with a lot of laughs while trying on the options!  We may sound like we make a big deal about the outfits and I guess we do.  That’s part of the fun of the event.  But we also run hard and pick the right gear to get the job done.  Just because it’s cute, doesn’t mean it doesn’t work!  There are times when we are out there and are dumbfounded by the inappropriate clothes people wear...ill-fitting, too tight, too sheer and mismatched (oh no).  AND it is entirely irritating when they pass us!  How can they pass us when they aren’t wearing good running clothes.  Really!  (I had to bring up the fashion side since what blog of Annelise’s doesn’t have fashion sense in it!)

Sometimes it is those that pass us that do amaze and sometimes inspire us. Not the elite runners because you expect that but those that surprise us.  The 75 year old man that runs stooped over or the first time runner that didn’t train.  I plan on running as long as I can and I would love to be an 80 year old still running in a race!  BTW, with my daughter along my side!

Finally, I want to bring up the bigger picture in all of this.  I don’t care what you choose to do with your child but just DO IT.  Don’t wait until you have more time or more money.  And make it meaningful and individual with them.  Something you both like to do.  It can be anything – garage sale together, go “real estating”, takes the dogs on walks, golf, frisbee golf, bicycle, play games, hike....  Don’t just go to a movie or eat out – we do that with everyone else.  If it is a meal, plan the recipes and cook it together or make a new dessert each week.  Our running is so much more than running.  It is our time to talk, share, dream and plan.  Don’t miss out on how much fun that can be and how close it can bring you together.  I don’t think there is anything Annelise can’t say to me (even if it might be TMI!).  So no matter who you are, be inspired to pick up the phone or go home tonight and grab that kid of yours and go for a run.  You’ll love it!

______________________________________________________________________________________

I love you, Mom. For anyone reading this—today more than ever—get out there and spend time with the ones you love... and then take the extra step—hold someone close to you today. Say a little prayer for a stranger. Lend a helping hand. You never know how far your touch can reach.

Famous Idaho Potato Half Marathon

On Saturday, my mom and I ran the Famous Idaho Potato Half Marathon! We had a ton of fun! As I mentioned last week, we didn't train for it at all, so our goal was simply no walking. We should have been more ambitious, because not only did we rock the run, but we came in just under two hours, at a time of 1:58. Our fastest half is 1:48, so for no training I'd say we totally killed it. We ran the race with our friends Sean & Sydney, and we all finished right around the same time. We were all happy to have finished under two hours. 

Overall, the race went great. We passed people holding signs that said, "Chuck Norris never ran a marathon," and "Toenails are overrated!" We love people watching, and it always makes the race go by quickly. I think what amazed me the most were the thousands of people out doing wonderful things for their bodies. It was so encouraging! 

I started getting tired around mile 11, and when we came around the last bend, I saw Daniel standing in the grass right at mile 13, cheering us on, and it was all I needed to help me finish strong. I don't think there's anything better than a big smile & kiss from your husband right as you finish a long race. It makes it all worth it! 

I'll tell you what, after the race, Daniel and I went to Cracker Barrel, and I had a big stack of Marion blackberry pancakes, a bowl of their homemade mac-and-cheese, a glass of chocolate milk, and a huge side of absolutely-no-guilt-what-so-ever. Later that afternoon, I even indulged in a well-deserved nap. It was the best day. 

Next up on our list is a full marathon. We don't know which, but we're looking for ones in the Pacific Northwest that are really fun! Suggestions are welcome. Here's to fun races, being active with family, and lots and lots of sweat. 

Hey Aunie, Want To Run a Half Marathon? SURE, WHY NOT!

I've always been a runner. I won a one-mile fun run when I was about 10-years old, and I haven't stopped since. In high school, I ran track and competed in the 400, 800, 4x400, 4x800 and every other relay that involved either of those distances... heck, I even won my Senior Districts in the 400, and my 4x400 team took home the State gold medal. During my first year in college, I was on the track team at the University of Redlands and my main events were the 400, 800, 4x400 and the 400 hurdles.

After transferring back to Boise State and joining their cheerleading program, I began running long distance with my mom (who has run 3 full marathons, including Boston) in our spare time. In June of 2009, my mom and I ran our first race together, the See Jane Run "Chocolate and Champagne" Half Marathon (left photo), and finished in 1:48 and first in our age groups. Later in October of 2009, my mom and I again ran another half, the Prison Break Half Marathon. I don't have a photo of us because I had the flu the week of the race and got very sick mid-race, so was in no shape for photos afterward. Two weeks later in November, we ran Zeitgeist (middle photo), a half marathon that travels through the Boise foothills. And then, two years later in April of 2011, we ran Race to Robie Creek (right photo). It's the toughest marathon in the Northwest, and it rocked us (well, me anyway). If you want more juicy race details AND my typical training schedule, read this post!

Anyway—long story short—last week, our friends asked us to run the Famous Idaho Potato Half Marathon with them. My mom and I looked at each other, shrugged our shoulders, and said, "Why not?!" Also, it should be noted that I haven't run more than 30-minutes since that last half marathon in 2011... so with absolutely NO training except for two 1-hour (6-mile) runs this week, tomorrow, we are running the Famous Idaho Potato Half Marathon... which is 13.1 miles...so it should be interesting, to say the least!

Oh, and yes, we will be wearing matching outfits—our favorite race tradition. Wish us luck... the gun goes off tomorrow at 7:00 am!

Yes To Spring & Summer Essentials

I have a new post on the Yes To Carrots blog—it's about my warm weather essentials. And let me tell you what, that little red Spot Stick in the middle works wonders... I kid you not—it's a little miracle pimple zapper. Click HERE to see the full post and my 3 must-haves for this season's warm weather!

Oh, and in case you're curious, to find out how I became the Yes To Carrots "Yes To Stylista," read this post. Now it's your turn—what are your essentials for spring & summer?