Surf City USA

I finally registered for my marathon! I don't know why I was waiting...maybe to see if I could really do it. I mean, I know I can really do it, but I was a little nervous that I might chicken out (I still might chicken out, but I am going to try hard not to). A marathon is a scary goal to set out to accomplish! Traveling in non-English-speaking countries is NOTHING compared to this!

I was previously lined up to run the Napa Valley Marathon, but there were a few obstacles so I decided to search for something a little cheaper and closer to where I live. Napa Valley will be visited, believe me, but maybe I will enjoy it more under different circumstances.

I found this marathon: Surf City USA Marathon. I am really excited because I think it is a perfect thing to mark my time in Southern California! It is a month earlier than the other one, so that means I have to work hard to finish all my training, but I am up for it! A big bonus is that it is really close (maybe 30 minutes away) and my friends (if I have some by then!) can come and cheer me on!

The trail goes down the Pacific Coast Highway through several beach areas. I read that we get cool surfboard medals at the end of it, too!

Look what I found!

This, my friends, is Laguna Lake. It is the first lake/river/pond I have seen in California...maybe ever. The 70-something-year-old identical twins across the street told me about this lake last week, but I didn't find it until today. The girls, Jean and Jane, have been particularly helpful in helping me find things in this new city. They are so cute, too--they live together, dress identically, have the same red hair, and even finish each others' sentences! I really like them--they remind me of my aunt Reeva, only doubled. Neither has been married or has children, and when one is over here too long, the other comes over to check things out.

My running has been a great way to get out and get to know the city. There are a couple of local trails I have tried running, and have the general layout of the streets on this side of town.



I am really excited to get out there on the trails tomorrow and see what else I can find! :)

Awesome owl print:

This is SO on my wish list! Check it out:



I found this gocco print on etsy (click here to see the artist). It is a small print (3.5x5), and I might reward myself with it when I get a job! :) I never was much into owls until I moved to Korea. In Korea, owls seem to be everywhere--not real ones, necessarily, but paintings, sculptures and so on.

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins--yum!

I was inspired to make some pumpkin muffins after reading a friend's blog (Sabrina's) last week. I didn't have even the most basic of baking supplies (flour, sugar, oil...), so I had to really start from scratch (harvest the wheat and sugar cane, etc.). I whipped up these tasty things from a recipe I found online. I have linked the recipe, so if you are interested in trying them, just click here: allrecipes.com. They turned out better than I expected, though, they made more than the recipe told me they would. I ended up with almost 2 dozen muffins, and had to convince Martin to take a bunch home (it was tough to convince him)!

Running

Today's run was my longest one so far: somewhere between 11 and 12 miles. I felt great through the whole run and felt even better when it was over! :)

I am getting into my stride and can easily run 6-7 miles 4 times a week. I even like it. There is something called the "runner's high" that I have heard of--I think I get it. There is an addictive quality to running--it isn't horrible for me anymore, and, though I sometimes dread the thought of another grueling workout, I still get an enormous feeling of accomplishment when I finish even a shorter run.

I felt really good today--my body aches, but I feel like this marathon thing might really happen for me. It is one more life goal ready to be checked off my list!

Project Runway

Last Saturday, I peeked out of one of the white, pom-pom-lined curtain windows in Edna's house and saw a yard sale across the street. I am a sucker for yard sales. Not the kind where people are just trying to pawn off their garbage onto other unsuspecting people from the dark depths of a damp garage, but the kind where there is charmingly useful/cool stuff neatly arranged on a lawn with happy sellers prepared to strike a bargain.

This sale in particular caught my eye because of the large, wheeled racks stuffed with colorful dresses. I wandered over to the sale and started chatting with the two gentlemen who lived in the house. I found out that they are both designers! One focuses on vintage-style dresses, while the other designs modern clothes to sell to department stores. All of the dresses that were hanging in the yard were original designs. Most were samples to show buyers, and luckily, many were my size. I pulled out a few (which were priced at $5 each) and settled on one dress that I liked the best.

I also picked up an apron that one of the men designed for $3. Fun sale! Now, I have no hard evidence on this, but I speculate that the yard sale season might extend far into the fall and winter months (it was 90 degrees today). I hope to stumble upon a few more fun sales like this one!

Here is the apron:


And, here is the dress:



I wore a black cami under the dress on Sunday with my open-toe, black heels. The dress has a tie in the back, but fits pretty close to my body (I am actually about a size larger than he makes the dresses, but this one fits).