This

is where I want to be on cold days like today.



Superbowl Sunday

Nice work... ref...

Cake

My mom was good at baking cakes. 

She made cakes for MANY weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, the list goes on and on. 

Some of her cakes were so huge they had water fountains in them.

I thought maybe the "cake-baking" gene was naturally inherited.

I was planning on making my own wedding cake.

I decided to practice on my friend's 30th birthday cake.

I'm glad I practiced...

The picture makes it look better than it really looked. 

Though I hear it was quite tasty (I had to miss the party).

Today Is

The second day I've missed class!

Because of

THIS

Only... 35 more years until I retire...



BRCA1/BRCA2

Last year I submitted blood for a genetic test for the BRCA1/BRCA2 gene mutation (breast cancer gene).  Unfortuntly, the Boll side of my family has a rich history of breast cancer and Creighton University is doing an ongoing family study of this gene mutation.  Normally genetic testing is thousands of dollars but because my family is part of this study, I could be tested for free.  I submitted my test without hesitation.  There's a lot of controversy regarding genetic testing.  I could only see the good in it.  I might as well benefit from the struggles others in our family have gone through, right?  If I'm positive - I can get more indepth screenings or even qualify for a preventative masectomy.  Well - my test results came in last week.  After talking with the nurse and doctor over the phone for what seemed like forEVER I finally was given my results....

Negative!

It's great to know I don't have this mutation but I will not stop on my persuit of prevention.

Frusterated

I have been running for

THREE weeks now.

I only lost 2.4 pounds this week.

What the heck?

I've lost 5 lbs total in 2011.  I guess I should look at it that way

and 2.4 lbs in the opposite direction would be even more frusterating.

It's so easy to give up.

Not this time.

If I can average 2 lbs a week for the next 20 weeks... I will look amazing

 in my wedding dress.

Bring it - treadmill.

Marathon

HALF marathon(s), that is.

What better 30th birthday gift to myself than to run 13.1 miles... twice?

My soon to be cousin-in-law, Stacey, sent an email a few months ago regarding the Fargo 1/2 marathon.

It's May 21st.

My 30th birthday is May 4th.

Why not?

I registered without hesitation.  I'm not only setting an attainable goal for myself but also getting into shape before the wedding.  My actual training begins on Monday, February 7.  I've been preparing for training by running 5-6 times per week.  My first week of training consists of three 2 mile runs and three 3 mile runs.  I've been running 2-3 miles every night in hopes to get to my real training feeling 100% comfortable with 3-4 miles.  So far, so good!  I've already started to lose weight, which is lovely.

Now, somewhere between Fargo and today there was talk about running the Duluth 1/2 marathon as well.  This would be June 18th.  I am still griting my teeth over quiting at mile 16 two years ago while trying to run the full marathon.  I chalked it up to setting a goal that was out of my reach.  Really, that wasn't it at all.  I lost steam during trainings and skipped a couple (most) of my 18-20 mile runs.  The disappointment runs deep over that failure.  I see the Duluth 1/2 as a chance for redeption.  No, it's not the full - but it's a Duluth finish.  I should still be in good shape by June and it is only a few weeks before the wedding.  It seems to work out perfectly.  Matt is training for Fargo but I think I may talk him into Duluth instead.  I don't think he's up for two half marathons this summer.

Now... I must pray for the strength to get through these next 4 months.

Lucy modeling her accessorizing fox scarf.