Christmas + Birthday Celebrations

I had such a great Christmas this year. I've been a bit of a Scrooge the last couple of years since my mom passed away because she was always so obsessed with Christmas, it was hard to celebrate without her. This year I decided to pick up the slack and be back to my typical Elf self and celebrate extra hard.

Including getting my nails into the spirit with a fun manicure before the occasion.

Ollie was pretty excited that there was a snapchat filter specifically for dogs.

One of my running buddies got me this awesome travel tumbler which worked really well for Christmas flavored wine!

Family photo. Ollie is super enthused. 

Ollie and I were excited to stay in our matching pjs on Christmas morning since we didn't have plans until later in the day.

Kyle and I attempted to take a nice family photo, and it was a struggle, per usual.

But eventually we succeeded.

The day after Christmas was my birthday and I took a vacation day from work. I had a super low-key day planned including a long-is run, yoga at the running store, followed by some beers at my favorite brewery in town.

I did make a run to Target and bought some extra Christmas ornaments that matched mine. I'm probably the only person that decorates their Christmas tree AGAIN the day after Christmas, but whatever.

It snowed, and then torrentially rained. It was the craziest weather I've experienced on my birthday.

My running buddy Chris got me a donut with some candles for before our run. 

Happy Holidays

Kyle's BFF was back in town over Christmas, so we put on our fun pants for one whole night to join him.

Several Moscow mules were consumed, but not so many that I couldn't still run 5 miles the next day. Priorities and stuff. Also, so many beards.

On Christmas I got a new NoxGear vest, and was so excited that I proceeded to wear it for most of Christmas present opening. Everyone was... thrilled. I'm sure.

Ollie and I managed to take a super adorable Christmas selfie, but somehow we never got a family picture in our matching Christmas jammies. Given how much I $pent on Ollie's I'm more than a little bummed.

A bunch of my favorite people joined me at my favorite local brewery after yoga for some beers to celebrate my birthday. Obviously Toni bought me a new matching stocking hat for us to show off.

Bah Hum Pug, Scrooges

Hope you all had great OllieDays! Kyle and I got matching pug shirts, so I felt it was necessary that we took a trillion Christmas photos. Please enjoy.

My pug sweater for work on Chistmas eve.

Kyle and his bestie.

Ollie can't get over the beauty of the tree!

Kyle and I made brunch for my parents on Christmas morning. And after doing my part, I enjoyed some bubbles. And a selfie. Obvs.

Rein(pug)deer games.

Besties.

My favorite present is this little face. The sweater is SO CUTE.

Ollie loves her grandpa.

<3

I chose a photo in which Ollie looks bad, because Kyle looks SO GOOD. He never has a real smile in photos. This is a christmas miracle, I tell ya.

Me and my baby girl.

And then I had fun taking selfies while waiting for Kyle to get gas. Who knew that gas station parking lots had such great light?!?!

Super natural pose, duh. Last selfie as a 30 year old!

Merry Christmas

Happy Ollie-days and have an Ollie Jolly Christmas. I'll be enjoying my last day in my 20s today. Eeps! Merry Christmas!

Dashing Through the Snow......

This weekend I was lamenting to Aaron that I didn't think I was going to get a chance to enjoy a Christmas light run before everyone took down their lights.  And then to my great surprise today through the fluffy beautiful snowflakes falling, I noticed that the temp would be.... kinda warm.... after work.  And the wind would be... almost non-existent.  30 degrees that actually feels like 30 degrees.... I might be in love with you!  For the record I haven't ran outside in South Dakota since before Thanksgiving.  Wow.

I came home and got super excited to put on my new running coat.  I figured since it was a Christmas run, I would take my new coat picture in front of my Christmas tree.  It only seems natural.  I loaded up my iPod with Glee Christmas songs and I was out the door.

I had no plan for time/mileage/route and headed for the southwest side of town thinking that if the sidewalks were bad I could run in the street (very low traffic/residential area).  Immediately I knew the run was going to be slow going.  The two blocks surrounding my apartment were free and clear of snow, but there were a good 3" of slush and snow from there on out.  At one point I had to detour in to a parking lot and through snow drifts behind a business to reroute from the 3 feet of snow drifts covering the sidewalk.  When I made my way back to the sidewalk I found again that it was blocked.  I had no choice but to run on the road...... oh hai super busy street in town at night.  Sure glad my new running coat is WHITE SO YOU CAN SEE ME.  DON'T WANT TO DIE KTHXBAI. (That's me trying to be cool like The Angry Runner, FYI.)

I received one honk from a big city truck which I like to think meant "Cute new coat Jerbear!" and not "You stupid idiot you're going to get struck and die!"  To which I would reply, "If you did your job and enforced the snow removal policies I wouldn't have to....neener neener!"  But these are just hypothetical conversations, naturally.

I saw some houses that had some great light displays.  I found an all green light house (my fave, duh) and one with a movable blow up carousal in their yard (impressive).  I have many many "Naughty List" notices that are going out in tomorrow's mail to the a-holes who clearly haven't scooped their sidewalks since before I left for Vegas (that's right, I measured your snow accumulation....shape up!).  I chattered merrily to the folks out scooping their sidewalks when I ran by.  I like to think positive reinforcement helps, no?

My knees and hips started to huuuuuuuurt about 4 miles in to the run from all the slipping and sliding around.  I contemplated rockin' out some snow angels to get some icing in, but thought people would think I am loco.

The whole time I was running, I was so very proud of myself for not looking at my time or distance on my garmin (because A) I knew it was slow, and B) really didn't care how far I was going).  And was even more proud that I wasn't having anxiety over finishing the run at an obscure amount (ie: anything other than .0, .25, .5, .75).  Go figure, when I was a block from home I heard my Garmin beep for the first time the whole run, and decided to just stop there.  OCD....you win this time......

I did 7 miles in 1:15:40 for a pace of 11 something.  The last 5 blocks that were completely clear (near a hospital building, so go figure) I averaged a 8:35 pace.  Snow = not easy. :)

I got to combine two of my favorite things:  running + Christmas....and could not be happier about it.  I'm fairly certain that I'm so obsessed about Christmas because I had to wait a full 364 days to celebrate my first one!!!  NOT FAIR.

In addition to the sweet Christmas lights, I also counted birthday candles that people had out to celebrate ME!  When I was little, I always used to think that the Noel candles people had on their porches were for me and Jesus' birthday!  Well, that stuck, and I still get all sorts of excited when I see them.  I found two different households with them, for a grand total of 5.  I'll probably have to find another 22 before Sunday (or my OCD will, I should say....).

I got my first birthday present in the mail from Danielle this weekend.  YAY!  So so so cute.  And I was surprised that she sent the green and gold prior to GB v. Pats match up (sadly they didn't help us get the W, at least it was a good game!)  Thanks so much Danielle, you're ze best.

I also came home to a bunch of fun Holiday cards today.......

Miss Susan, Jason, and one of my BFFs Nikki.  I also had my free birthday drink coupon from starbucks!!!!  Oh pumpkin spice latte, I'm a-comin' for you. 

And I found this gem when I was putting up my Christmas decorations this year.... my original stocking. Part of me wants to find some white felt and add the missing 40 to the end.  Twitter love, right?  ;)  #SuchADork

Merry Blizzard

I must say my Christmas was a little less than Merry.  Bahhumbug and all of that.  South Dakota (and much of the midwest) was hit by a monster blizzard that left me stranded away from my family.  At first I thought it would be kind of fun.  Ooh!  Snowed in! PJs for days!  Then it just got booooooring.  Mental note:  Being snowed in = fun.  Being snowed in alone = makes you want to slit your wrists just a lil. (kidding.  kind of.)

Once Saturday hit, I realized I hadn't left my tiny apartment in over 48 hours, and decided to trek outside to attempt to clean off my car, and play photog.  Since it had been so long since I had driven my car, I had forgotten where I had parked.  I proceeded to spend at least 5 minutes cleaning off another red car before thinking, "wait a second...  when did I get a spoiler?"  Here's my car POST cleaning off.  I actually had to call in reinforcements on Sunday to help me scoop her out.  Poor thing.

I live right by a really pretty park, so I wanted to take some pictures of the pretty Christmas trees all covered in snow.  Please enjoy.

Trying to capture how deep the snow is.  Only knee high here.  No biggie.

But this, my friends is mid-thigh.  Slightly impressive.

All bundled up!

Deeeeeeep foot prints.

This one looks oddly radioactive, notsure why that is.

I love me some snow covered trees.  So purty.

This one may end up in my living room decorated next Xmas. :p

In total, we ended up with 18.5" of snow, but some drifts were easily 4-6' tall.  At my parents house my mom took a picture of my dad (who's 6'3") standing in front of a drift 2 1/2 times taller than him.  Impressivo!

Also thanks for posting about your lovely holidays.  I totally lived vicariously through all of you.