I’m a total slacker. There is no way around it.

I haven’t written a blog post in over 10 months (GASP).

The last time I blogged, I made a million excuses as to why I hadn’t blogged or at the very least, why I was a blog slacker.

This is not an excuse, this is a fact. Planning your own wedding, for 150 people, is hard work (but obvi, totally worth it).

Even though this post is totally unrelated to running, I hope you will continue reading.

My sister Lindsey is one of the most incredible human beings to ever live! I know, I know, I’m a little biased – she is my sister – but after reading this, I think you will agree.

One week ago, Lindsey left everything – her cool job (working in Advertising/Public Relations for a Publishing Company), her cool lifestyle (living in Downtown Orlando), her cool clothes (she is a lover of 4” platform heels) and her cool family (again, a little biased)! She left everything because she felt called to do something better, something life-changing. Lindsey moved to Guatemala one week ago – she will be teaching English to the orphans of Antigua and hopes to change lives, including her own.

Lindsey started a blog to document her year-long journey in Guatemala. Less than one week into her new life, she has explored Guatemala City, Antigua and hiked a volcano.

If you are interested, you can read and follow her adventures at: Peace, Love and Guatemala!

Lindsey – if you can read this from Guatemala – I love you and I miss you!!!

Okay, okay – I’m a terrible blogger! December 1, 2009 was my last post? That’s embarrassing. And to top it all off? I haven’t even looked at your blog or posted a comment. Blogger friends – I’m so very sorry… I promise to be better in 2010.

I typically have an excuse for my blog slacking – and you are about to get an incredible list of “why’s”. I have been wedding-planning crazy and it’s been a blast!

1) We picked a date: July 3, 2010!!!!!!!

2) We picked a place: Washington Golf and Country Club in Arlington, VA.

3) I found my dress!!!!! Unfortunately, I can not post a picture of it since BJ reads my blog. But what I can tell you: it’s absolutely gorgeous!

4) The girls bought their bridesmaid dresses. They are BCBG and totally fabulous.

5) We have a photographer. Her name is Kristi and she’s awesome! She is insanely talented and really, really cool. I can’t wait for our engagement session and wedding day! (Check out her blog.)

6) The wedding colors are: bright blue (bridesmaid dress) and yellow (I’m carrying sunflowers) with accents of lime green. I was inspired by this awesome paisley print.

7) I’m this close to ordering the invitations – made by a local woman who sells on Etsy. If you don’t know about Etsy, now you do and today is pretty much the best day of your life. Etsy rocks!

Looking at this list, I really hope you can forgive me for:
A) not writing sooner
B) being a bad blogging friend

I’m headed to (sunny) Florida tomorrow for 9 days and will have plenty of time to catch up on my blog reading. I also have an awesome running announcement – and will post soon.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

xoxo I RUN LIKE A GIRL

I hope everyone had an awesome Thanksgiving! I certainly enjoyed having 4 days off!

BJ and I decided to host Thanksgiving this year and we had a blast. I made my first turkey, ever, and it was a success. BJ can’t stop raving about how delicious he was (maybe it’s because we bought an organic turkey and maybe it has nothing to do with my cooking skills…). Either way, I’m documenting this one in the books – 1st Thanksgiving = success.

We wanted to run a local Turkey Trot but it sold out before we could register. Since we decided to host at the last minute, I didn’t want to sign up earlier if we weren’t going to be in town (in years past, we’ve had Thanksgiving dinner at his mom’s house). By the time I realized we were going to have dinner in Arlington, the race was sold out. So, BJ and I decided to host our own Turkey Trot. We ran the 4.5 mile loop were we met. It was also our 1 month engagement anniversary, so we were extra sentimental on Thanksgiving.

Things I’m thankful for everyday (and not just on Thanksgiving):
1) My amazing family. I seriously have the coolest parents and the best (2) sisters e-v-e-r. I miss them like crazy! My mom and sisters are coming to DC this weekend to go wedding dress shopping with me – I can’t wait.
2) A fiancé!! BJ rocks my world – and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with him. Being engaged is seriously the coolest thing.
3) Awesome friends, a great job and being able to run (aka my health). I am so lucky to be blessed with such great things in my life.

In wedding news, we are this close to picking a place. I have called over 40 places in the DC metro area – and am not having much success. Although I have a feeling that we will be picking a place soon!!! I can’t wait to have a date and place. I know this is a terrible excuse but I have been slacking in the workout department due to wedding venue shopping. I feel like BJ and I go look at a place every other day. Soon, it will be over very soon.

PS – once I have a date and place, I promise to be a better blogging friend to everyone!

Two years ago, BJ and I met at Pacers, our local running store. Pacers is home to a Tuesday/Thursday night fun run group, ranging anywhere from 10 to 100 people. It’s a great group of locals, all levels of ability and one common theme: we like (or in my case, love) to run!

I especially love that BJ and I met running because for anyone who reads I RUN LIKE A GIRL, I think it’s pretty obvious that I am obsessed with running. I mean, I was born to run! But, other than my love for running – BJ met me when a) I was running faster than him and b) I was hot and sweaty. Anyone that can fall in love with a sweaty woman who is faster than him = true love. One week after meeting, I claimed BJ all to myself.

Fast forward to October 29, 2009.

BJ and I had plans to run our favorite long run after work, appropriately named “long run”. It’s an 8 mile loop and we run it once every 2-3 weeks. (note: we always pack my hot pink CamelBak for hydration) It was a gorgeous night, not too hot, not too cold – perfect running weather. We were talking about our days, the weather, how we were feeling – normal running talk. Around mile 5, we run past this great park – it has tennis courts, a big open field, an old train caboose and a few picnic tables. BJ asked if we could “stop to stretch”. Of course – I was in no hurry (and feeling a little rickety myself).

So, we stopped. And then BJ started saying some really nice things to me, I mean really nice (I’ll leave all of the little details to us)….I started to think: “What’s going on here? Is he being an extra sweet boyfriend? Or, is he about to propose?” Around the same time I started thinking those things – BJ got down on one knee, pulled out a (gorgeous) ring from the CamelBak and asked me to marry him.

I said: YES!!!!

Unfortunately we had 3 miles left – so we practically had to sprint home because I could not wait to tell everyone our wonderful news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even more fun – BJ made reservations at our favorite restaurant and had told them we were getting engaged. When we arrived, there was champagne and a delicious bottle of wine waiting for us – and personal “congratulations” menus. We had wonderful food and wine and dessert. It was absolutely perfect! And I could not be happier!

So, we met running, we both love to run and BJ proposed on a run – I could not think of a more perfect way for us to get engaged!

Sorry I’m late picking the winners.
Thanks to everyone who entered my Drymax Socks giveaway – and to all of my new followers! Since everyone can’t win (I know, sorry!), I highly suggest buying a pair at your local running store. I am a huge, huge fan of these socks!

So, without further adeiu, the winners are:

Carly – who just ran her first 10k, blister free
Mel – Tall Mom on the Run – who LOVES the blister free promise and the odor control

Please email me your address: melody.parry@gmail.com

In other (fun) running news: I have been dying to start trail running but dragging my feet on actually buying a pair of trail shoes. Last week I saw these bad boys at Hudson Trail Outfitters – it was pretty much love-at-first-sight:

Yes, they are hot pink (and awesome)! Trail running starts this week – and I can’t wait.