Sorry I’ve been absent lately. I spent the large part of this week in Baltimore attending the Social Fresh conference. Fabulous experience for marketers! Such a refreshing conference with tons of relevant, actionable topics.
*Um, yeah… I am fully aware that technically today is Thursday so I have no right acting like this is a Wordless Wednesday post but “Text Free Thursday” just didn’t have the same ring to it and I really meant to get this up yesterday, so there. (I may need some more sleep.) I’ll be sure to blog more about the experience in the next few days.
El numero uno. The awesomest of awesome. The bomb.
Why? Because I (well, sort of) gave them a little taste of Disney this week.
Disney came to Baltimore to put on a Disney Summer Social and our family was lucky enough to be included in their festivities! (The boys were beside themselves with excitement. If there is one vacation they ask for again and again – it is another trip to Disney.)
We had a lovely time socializing with blogging pals, meeting new friends and catching up on everyone’s family adventures. It was a real treat!
The boys were fascinated to learn about these new updates to their fav Disney adventures:
“Star Tours – The Adventures Continue” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios taking riders to the planets Coruscant and Tatooine. (We. Love. Star. Wars. Nuff. Said.)
Wild Africa Trek, in Disney’s Animal Kingdom taking small groups of visitors on adventures into unexplored areas of the Disney savanna to learn about wildlife. (My firstborn is pretty much destined to work in a zoo. His love for animals sometimes outways humans.)
Lightning McQueen replacing Herbie the Love Bug on stage in Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show. (Our family loved this show. We saw it twice. Fire! Fast cars! Stunt men!)
Enhancements added to the HauntedMansion. (Great experience. Just enough to scare but not too much!)
As for me, I have been dreaming of running the Disney Marathon, okay, actually of earning the Goofy medal for a long time. (And now there is a TINKERBELL 1/2 MARATHON! You know she is my favorite, right?) I was kinda thinking of asking for Disney Marathon entry for my birthday present this year but, it seems a little over the top. Then again you only turn 40 once, right? (Husband? Are you reading this?)
The Disney event was a lovely ending to our summer. Which got me thinking of ways to extend summer break just a bit longer. Hmmm…. Disney cruise, anyone?
Disclosure: I attended the Disney Summer Social event with my children and received some goodies and treats. I was not asked to post nor compensated for it. All opinions expressed are my very own.
Up until Saturday night I could honestly say that I was not a fan.
Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t DISLIKE monster trucks, per se. I had simply not been exposed to the whole world that is monster truck madness.
But that evening we were invited to attend Monster Jam’s “Havoc in the Harbor” at the Baltimore Raven’s M&T Bank Stadium as guests of Feld Motorsports.
INTENSE? You could say that.
My boys were over the moon with excitement. We were instantly converted from family-who-didn’t-know-what-they-were-missing to HUGE FANS.
People, there were trucks skidding and sliding, flipping over, twisting around, losing parts and even CATCHING FIRE. What is not to love about that!? I was even biting my nails at one point…. ME! The girly-girl who wore a maxi-dress to the festivities. (I think I was subconsciously trying to declare my femininity in an overly testosterone-laden arena.)
My pal Keyonte and I rocking the girly wear!
We are most definitely converts...
In case you are a newbie like me, you’ll find some of these facts fascinating:
The custom designed trucks are each about 12 feet tall and 12 feet wide, weigh a minimum of 10,000 pounds and sit atop 66-inch-tall tires.
They can generate 1,500 to 2,000 horsepower and are capable of speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. (Crazy!)
Monster trucks can fly up to 125 to 130 feet (a distance greater than 14 cars side by side) and up to 35 feet in the air.
My little boys (and their dad) were never happier. Need more convincing? Watch below:
Training for the Baltimore Marathon Officially Begins!
Okay, friends, there is no turning back. This weekend marks the formal and official no-turning-back-now start of training for the Baltimore Marathon. I’m really excited about this race because it is my pal Lori’s first marathon (whee!) and the first time I’ve ever run the full course in Baltimore. I’ve run the 1/2 four separate times so this is an exciting step for me. (Of course, Katie will also be joining us as well. She is a warrior, that one.)
Below is the plan that will be guiding our training team for the next four months. You can keep track of the actual mileage via my Daily Mile account. (Also located on the right sidebar of this blog)
Date / Mileage
July 2 / 9 July 9 / 10 July 16 / 7 July 23 / 12 July 30 / 13 August 6 / 10 August 13 / 15 August 20 / 16 August 27 / 12 September 3 / 18 September 10 / 14 September 17 / 20 September 24 / 12 October 1 / 20 October 8 / 4 October 15 / Race
(BTW – This training schedule is courtesy of Hal Higdon. And ever-so-slightly modified by me. Natch.)
Interested in running but don’t know where to start? CHECK OUT MY VIDEO on the subject.
Will I be there? Are you kidding? I MUST be there. Running with zombies? Hellz yeah! (Even though technically is is the weekend AFTER Baltimore. So, the zombies might have the advantage on me that day.)
If you are in the area, you should really hope over to the website and check it out.
If you have read my blog for any length of time, then you know that this December I hit the big 4-0 milestone. I’ve gone through various stages of emotions regarding this fact, I’m ashamed to admit. First was excitement, then irreverence and finally, full speed ahead to panic. Before you jump to conclusions about my “panic,” let me clear one thing up for you – it is not about the age. It is about accomplishments. It is about getting “my house” in order. It is about goal setting.
So, this morning I put together a list of 40 things that I want to do prior to the big 4-0. I’ll blog about them as I accomplish them. Crossing my fingers that I manage to get it all done!
Personal
Finish decorating my bedroom.
Complete the picture mural in the living room.
Begin writing a book.
Bring back the pink hair or get a nose piercing.
Learn how to skateboard.
Have my first girlfriend’s weekend away.
Visit the beach.
Buy an expensive night cream.
Buy a new (read: slinky) dress to wear to a fancy function.
Get an extravagant pedicure.
Adopt a mantra.
Buy iPhone 4
Complete a Bible study.
Join a book club. (online or in person)
Take a cooking class.
Blog / Online
Finish the blog redesign along with You Tube, Twitter, About.Me and new blog cards.
Launch a new web series.
Get that big content idea off the ground.
Land a really cool partnership.
Nab a cool guest post opportunity or meet a blogger that I’ve always admired.
Fitness Goals
Lose that 15 pounds.
Run the Baltimore marathon.
Finish a Body-For-Life round.
Try Yoga.
Professional
Join the board of directors or take a leadership role in an organization.
Finish decorating my office.
Find an organizational system that works perfectly for me.
Do something outside my comfort zone.
Write a white paper.
Land a speaking engagement.
Attend a conference or take an online course in my industry.
Family
Take each boy on a special day alone.
Run a 5K with one or both of the boys.
Spend a romantic night away with my husband.
See a musical, play or performance.
Take the boys to New York.
Go to a theme park.
Call my sister(s) every week.
Have tea at a tea room with my mother and sisters.
Take a family hike.
You may ask yourself, WHY am I telling the world this nonsense? Because my dear friend, if it is out there then I HAVE TO DO IT. Accountability is a good thing.
What big goals do you have before you turn 40? Or 50? Or 60? Or even 30?
Working momma. Flibbertigibbet. Family environs upkeep manager. Deadline juggler. Intellectual magpie... Random postings from a life of a working DC Metro mom. Unapologetically myself.
of a race -the 
If you have read my blog for any length of time, then you know that this December I hit the big 4-0 milestone. I’ve gone through various stages of emotions regarding this fact, I’m ashamed to admit. First was excitement, then irreverence and finally, full speed ahead to panic. Before you jump to conclusions about my “panic,” let me clear one thing up for you – it is not about the age. It is about accomplishments. It is about getting “my house” in order. It is about goal setting.
