Why Tri?

Last Saturday was the Jordanelle Triathlon. Nearly a mile swim, a 25 mile bike ride and just short of a 10K distance for the run at the end. Believe it or not, I really love this stuff. And with my sweet new bike, "Libertad", I really like the cycling portion of it ...assuming I don't get a flat. Just in case you are interested, Summer Sanders (1992 Barcelona Summer Olympian and gold medalist in the Butterfly) raced with me that day. My girls know her as a contestant on "The Apprentice" last season. She definitely beat me, but wow for the one woman that beat her on the swim. While others were watching the pros cycle in the Tour de Utah just west of my race in Park City, I was swimming with an Olympian. Sweet day.


Meet Summer.

I placed 20th overall the women. And I met my own personal goal which was to finish in under 3 hours, with my final time being 2:52.

18 years...yesterday

But since yesterday was all about my Aunt Karen and her birthday, we didn't get the chance to partay together.

Today we shall. And at the top of the list is to go shopping for a bike light for me. Thrilling, I know. Or the other option, since the 18th anniversary gift is porcelain, we could buy more plates.

I'm pretty sure Matt likes the bike light idea.

Karen's 60th in living color

Karen's Surprise 60th

Today, I had a little tea party in honor of a pretty amazing woman, my Aunt Karen. Well, a tea party minus the tea. But I played with tea pots and tea cups just for the occasion. I'll post lots of pics tomorrow after I've had a little sleep. I might download files upside down and backwards at this time of day. Not to mention, I'm completely sugar drunk.

School Days

Yesterday I took the older girls shopping for school clothes. They each each got their budget. They each stuck to their budget. Highlights of the day were the discount room at Anthropologie, American Eagle skinny pants prices slashed, and our favorite classic cardigans that went miraculously on sale this week at Target.

I came home trying to get excited about my girls starting the school year and leaving me alone at home, so June and I replaced the patriotic fillers with the familiar aromas of rubber erasers, colored wax, wood and fresh lead.

I'm still not excited...

Brain Re-Booted

Sometimes you just need to get away from it all. I am learning the art of getting away, relaxing and enjoying God's most beautiful masterpeices. This last weekend we spent time in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Our family, along with some good friends and family, took a raft down the Snake River. We hiked the Tetons. We rode our mountain bikes around Palisades Reservoir and the surrounding area. I ran early every morning, fearful of moose, bear or any other animal I imagined might attack me. But it was so peaceful and pristine during those early hours of the morning, I had no choice but to take the risk. The weather cooperated, it was cool and brisk or sunny and warm at all the right times. Even the bugs cooperated. The company we spent time with was enough to refill my bucket until the next get away.

I have many cool projects to start this week, and I just hauled home a truck bed full of fresh ideas and more brain capacity...along with one happy family and some very dirty laundry.

Anthropologie Knows Me By Name

Now this is good solid marketing. Thank you Anthropologie for remembering me on my birthday. I know they probably send out thousands of these, maybe more, and yet it feels as personal as my mother's card, well minus the money she encloses. The little candle is a necklace when you detatch it from the card. This card reminded me that they want me to have a "do-over" birthday too. After expressing their tasteful birthday wishes, they tease me. Just bring this little cutie in to any Anthropologie location, and I get a whopping 15% off of that $325 jacket I really want. Yea right. But the thought is what keeps me shopping there, even if it is just in the discounted merchandise in the back room. These are the kinds of client touch points my little business last year offered customers. I created intriguing marketing pieces that kept customers curious. And unfortunately for Matt, Anthropologie does it too. And they do it very well.

8-9-10 (A Do Over Day)

So, I really loved everything about my birthday yesterday.

8-9-10 let's do it again.