What a Weekend!

Can you say Fantastic Weekend!?

It started out Friday with a Royals Home Opener.

The friends, food and drink, sunshine, perfect weather and great seats trumped a loss.

Then Saturday was filled with grabbing three sets of bees for their hives. One set for our house and we brought two sets down to Doug's mom and dad's.

Doug's parents place is one of my favorite places on Earth. The great company, the quiet of the country, their pond, the animals, fresh air. It just does not get any better. I am so lucky to have two great in-laws (to be). There are truly none better!

Doug's parents have 17 baby sheep right now. They are adorable.

I got to feed the baby! She is thirteen days old. Too cute...

And here are some photos of one set of bees. This is at our house...

Thousands of bees before they are introduced into their hive

Doug placing the queen into the hive

Bee free... A little bit of bee humor.

Buzzing around before they settle in.

As for Sunday. A day of rest and the smell of fresh baked bread!

All of this makes for one amazing weekend. Come Monday morning, I'm sure to still have a smile on my face.

A Love for Kansas City Beer and Chocolate

Kansas City had an extravaganza a couple of weeks ago.
The Boulevard Chocolate Ale craze.

It's a collaboration with one of the best beer makers in the country, Boulevard Brewery, and the best chocolate artisan ever, Christopher Elbow Chocolates, both made locally here in Kansas City.

This is the second year the two combined forces to make the tastiest chocolate beer of all time. Last year they sold out in less than a week. This year, the bottles were sold out in one day. And this is with producing over double what they did last year. Lucky for us, we were put on a list so I was able to scavenge two bottles.

The liquid gold...

People were waiting in lines around the buildings of the liquor stores at 8 and 9 in the morning. Stores were giving out tickets and officially were selling out even before they opened.

Some of the local bars around town had it on tap, so we decided to partake of their beer and hoard ours.

Cheers...

Day two...still on tap...an excuse to go out for dinner.

Oh...and have another Chocolate Ale...or two.

Day three...we decided to stay home and cook out. In January. It was 61 degrees out at 6pm. So beautiful. We grilled steaks and was going to break out a bottle. Until we gnawed into them and they were icky. So the dogs ended up with steak. We ate cereal and decided to save the Chocolate Ale for another day.

Day four...a couple of the bars were getting another shipment in so we decided to head up to grab another glass. By the time we arrived at 5:30pm they were already tapped out. Boo.

I thought the chaos was finally coming to an end...

 Until a friend put his bottles up for a fundraiser last night.

Whoot! We scored another bottle!

What can we say? It was for a good cause. And it will go to good use.

Marathon Medal Display

First things first...had another fabulous run this morning. Whoot! Whoot! It was in the 40's with heavy mist. Pretty perfect. You could smell the trees and it was peaceful. I had another stellar run. Long story short...it's amazing what consistent training will do for a girl and her running.

Now...on to the real reason for this post...

Doug has been hard at work refinishing our basement. He worked himself around to his old medal display. It was an area we had a large map of the United States where Doug would 'pin' each location he ran a marathon. Under the map was somewhat of a ballerina bar where he would slide his medals onto and have them hang from the bar. 

 

We knew we wanted to change that up, but what do you do with over 90 MARATHON medals and 1 IRONMAN medal? With more forthcoming...

Below is what we decided. And this is only 50ish of them. We're still deciding on how to display the others.

 Curious to know what is inside the jail door?

Our wine cellar that Doug created.

How did I get so lucky?

Please May I Have Another?

How I felt on my run this morning...

Gotta love days like these!

Let's Talk...Butt Crack Rash

One of the most common searches that hit my blog from the Internet is a post I wrote with the words 'butt crack rash'. For some reason or another, I can't find it in my blog anymore. But anywho..it was simply about having a rash after a marathon I ran.

In the previous blog I simply touched the surface (ewww...) on the subject and didn't go into too much detail as to why I had it. I thought I would clarify since there were so many hits on this subject...

Now...before some of you get too excited...this is butt crack rash pertaining to running and the rash you obtain from the friction of your booty. This is not for great insight into symptoms or treatment for other reasons to have butt crack rash pertaining to STD's or other undesirables. But...if you are needing information on that subject, I know just the person to get you in touch with. Her name is...That calls for a real ewww...Be careful out there.

Now for running butt crack rash...

It is a rash you obtain from the friction of clothes against the body. This is due to the repeated back and forth motion on your skin for a long distance over a sustained period of time on skin that is not used to that type of friction. Depending on what your body is used to, rash can occur at any distance your body is not accustomed to. It can also take place if you have some new garment against the body that again, your body is not familiar with.

To help alleviate this, I use Vaseline or Body Glide in this particular area to cut down on the friction. Again, for those lubing up in this area for any other reason besides running...this is not your blog. Snicker...Snicker. But for running long distances...this works. I also Vaseline my feet/toes and around the bra line area. This will really help from becoming chafed in these areas on your run.

However...be sure not to glob on too much. I once mentored a girl who told a story of such:
I ran my 18 miles on the trails. After my run, I went to the grocery store in my running clothes to pick up a few things. As I stood in line at the checkout stand, I had a lady lean over and whisper to me as she was pointing to the back of my pants. She proceeded to tell me that I 'may have an issue'. I'm sure she was thinking maybe I had started my period. As I was getting ready to tell her, 'no...it's from the Vaseline I slapped on my ass (for running this morning)'  I decided against it and thought it would be better for her to think I had started my period instead of lubing my butt with Vaseline before 10 am on a Saturday morning!

Honestly...this story isn't mine. But it cracks me up every time I think about her telling the story. Lesson learned. Don't glob too much or it will soak through your clothing

So...there you have it.
Got butt crack rash (from running)?
Vaseline.

Half Marathon Bahama Mama

Our first night in Nassau we decided to walk down to eat dinner on the ocean.

This is a photo from the highest point on the island at one of the forts near the Queen's staircase.

A view from our room.

This was perfect as the races started right outside our door.

After I finished the half marathon, I walked down to the beach to do a little leg soaking in some cool, salty water to ease the pain of not training. Then I went back to the hotel room, got cleaned up and came back to sit on the beach waiting Doug's arrival in from the marathon. Not a bad place to hang out if I must say myself.

Doug just steps away from the finish line.

Great job babe on yet another marathon!

Why, yes, I think I would like a fruity drink. How about two, please?

Our bartender on the beach.

Drink up...

I thought I might just get by without seeing any hair braiding, but no...

A good time was had by all at Senor Frogs...balloon hats (you'll have to visit Doug's blog for that picture)...free shots...I think Doug had an equivelent of three shots at one pouring...dancing...we even met some people from Ogden, Utah. One of our favorite marathon destinations. It just so happened that one of the guys we met helps put together the marathon. Small world.

This guy is making up some ceviche for us. Yumm...it was delish.

Just hanging out...

Ahhh...warm sun...palm trees...the ocean...

Ohh...so to the race then...

It was put on really well. I think this was their 3rd year and I was rather impressed. It was a small field, not a crazy amount of people. Water stops were handled very nicely. The volunteers were great. The course was almost all along the beach (at least for the half marathon). The best part was Doug running the first 9 miles with me before the half marathon course split from the marathon course.

And...they had drawings. You had to be present to win, so as I sat on the beach soaking in the sun, talking to new friends I'd made, I heard them state they were drawing for the grand prize...a two night stay to Atlantis and dinner for two at Bobby Flay's restaurant. Might you guess whose number was drawn?
Mine!
Whoot! Whoot!

I Don't Know...

I don't know what beach this is...

I don't know what day this is...

I don't know if I've packed enough clothes to wear...

And I don't care.

The words I'll be singing later this week as Doug and I head to...the Bahamas!

The Kansas weather has been outstanding thus far this year and we've been very fortunate. However, I'll be happy to trade the barren trees, brown grass and dry itchy skin for some sand between my toes, palm trees and the taste of salt water on my tongue from the ocean breeze.

We signed up for the marathon months ago, thinking that would kick start my running. Why, oh why, don't I learn my lesson? It didn't work. Days...weeks...months came and went. And...nothing. So...I'm going to run to the half.

I don't know how...And I don't care!

Here's to sun...sand...surf...and running