Minneapolis-Star-Tribune-runningkellometers

Erin at Loop Looks tagged me to answer some ABC questions so I thought I would oblige!

A. Attached or Single?

Attached. Been married for 3 years!

B. Best Friend?
I'd have to say my cousin. I don't have any sisters and neither does she. We are the same age (born 2 months apart) so we are natural besties (even though I'm sure we drive each other crazy sometimes). She is the closest thing I've ever known to a sister.

Additionally I think you all probably know who my best running friend is Maggie. We were around the same pace (at least, my pre-pregnancy pace), we would dress alike without even realizing it, and she is probably one of the best people that I've ever met off of the internet. :)

C. Cake or pie?
Cake please! [Red velvet] Cupcakes preferred.

D. Day of choice?

I like Saturdays best. They are usually my most productive day of the week and I can stay up as late as I want! Although these days, I can barely make it past 10pm.

E. Essential Item?

Hmm, that is a tough one. I don't really know what to say here. Comfy shoes?

F. Favorite color?

Green, any shade.

G. Gummy bears or worms?

Bears. I don't like the dual flavor combos of the worms.

H. Home town?

Oak Lawn, IL

I. Favorite Indulgence?
During this precnancy it has been donuts. I haven't had a donut in years and then I found them quite delicious and delightful when I needed to add an extra 300 calories per day to my diet. :) Not to mention, I discovered specialty bakeries as well. DD just doesn't do it for me.

J. January or July?

My birthday is in January so I think that's what I'll go with! :)

K. Kids?
If you're new here, I have one on the way!

L. Life isn't complete without?

Dessert. Period.

M. Marriage date?

June 12, 2010

N. Number of brothers/sisters?
2 brothers

O. Oranges or Apples?

Do I really have to choose? I love them both for very different reasons. I made the switch to organic apples a few months back and I can never go back to regular apples ever again. So delicious! Oranges are a bit of commitment fruit. You have to commit the time and energy to peel it, and then sometimes the insides are not sweet enough or kind of gross and then you are disappointed (with some very sticky hands). But when an orange is good, it is totally worth it.

P. Phobias?

I don't know if I have any real phobias. There are several things I don't like such as mice, ants, bees, running in the heat, other people's stray hairs... Have I grossed you out yet? Because I think I might go throw up.

Q. Quotes?

I've been a big fan of quoting Napoleon Dynamite lately. Perhaps it is because I haven't seen the movie in a long time and I recently remembered how much it makes me laugh. There is just something about it. "Do the chickens have large talons?"

R. Reasons to smile?

Every time the baby kicks, I can't help but smile. Even if it kicking my bladder when I have to go to the bathroom or painfully kicking my ribs... makes me smile every. damn. time. :)

S. Season of choice?

I love the spring time. It is great temps for running PRs, I get to bring out all the bright colored clothes that have been dormant all winter, flowers are blooming, and I get to enjoy some nice temps before the retched summer heat kicks in.

T. Tag 5 People

I usually don't do this but what the heck... If you don't feel like filling this out, I would totally understand.

Maggie @ Mag Mile Runner

Amanda @ Get To Goal

Amanda @ Too Tall Fritz

Stephanie @ Run For Fun

Kim @ Ilax Studio

U. Unknown fact about me?

I loved studying anthropology in college. I wanted to switch my major and spend my years digging in Central America. My mom laughed when I told her about the switch and said there is no way that is happening. So I got my degree in business, and I think it is a better fit for me in the end.

V. Vegetable?

Do sweet potato fries and onion rings count? Salads still sound pretty gross to me in this pregnancy. Probably not a good thing. Oops.

W. Worst habit?

I still bite my nails occasionally. I know it is a really gross habit. I stop for periods of time but then, I just can't help myself. It is probably how people feel about smoking.

X. X-ray or Ultrasound?

ULTRASOUNDS ARE THE COOLEST!! I never officially posted it on the blog, but if you want to see Baby's ultrasound photos, check out the "About Me" section. I have the 10, 12, and 20 week ultrasound photos posted. :)

Y. Your favorite food?

Mmmm, delicious, greasy pizza

Pizza. NOM NOM NOM

Z. Zodiac sign?

I’m a Capricorn.

Have you entered the Running on the Wall giveaway yet? You have until Wednesday, January 9 to enter!

Katie at Live Half Full nominated me for the Liebster Award. I was nominated back in August as well so I'm not going to repeat the 11 facts about me, but you can check out my original post here!

Katie and I met for lunch during the Nato Summit week.

Here is how it works:
-Write 11 random facts about yourself.
-Answer the 11 interview questions you’ve been given by the person who nominated you. (see below)
-Create 11 new questions.
-Nominate 11 bloggers and mention them in your post.
-Go and tell the person who nominated you, along with the people you’ve nominated about your post.



1. What’s your favorite holiday splurge? Desserts. I always end up eating way too many of them! Currently in a cheese-less, tons-of-veggies stage. Looking forward to lunch!
2. How do you hold yourself accountable for workouts? I like to make plans with a friend. I feel this always helps me get back into a good routine, if I've fallen off the wagon. Running groups and group workout classes are a great way to be accountable during the winter months when it is so much easier to stay in bed or on the couch.
3. What made you start blogging? I've had online journals and various blogs since the age of 17. However, I started this running blog after completing my first marathon when all my friends and family were sick of hearing me talk about running. Now I have lots of internet friends that never get sick of it! What a treat!
4. What keeps you blogging? I love the online community that I feel a part of. I love meeting other bloggers and sharing my thoughts with the world (or small group of people on the internet that actually read my blog)!
5. Any goals in mind for 2013? A few... but that is a post for another day!
6. What is your biggest flaw? I can be very hard on myself if I don't meet a goal or don't do what is expected of me. I can be my own worst enemy in this regard. I've self-destructed a few times during races. This is something I'm going to try and work on in 2013. I have more fun and do better when I just go out there to have fun.
7. What are you three favorite things about yourself? my energy (I've been told by others that this can be motivating during a race), that I can easily go with the flow and have a good time with any group of people, and my sense of humor (I am easily amused and any day with a laugh is a good day).
8. What is your day job? analyst. I'll just leave it at that. :)
9. What is your go to snack? pretzels, possibly with something to dip them in (cream cheese, cottage cheese, peanut butter, pumpkin butter, anything really)
10. What is your go to weeknight dinner? frozen pizza. Just one of the many reasons why I will never be a healthy living blogger.
11.What’s your favorite thing to read on blogs? I love different blogs for different reasons. I always love reading new, easy dinner recipes. There can never be too many easy dinner ideas. I also love the "off the cuff" thought-provoking posts. Those can sometimes be my favorite.

As I know a lot of my blogging friends have already been tagged for the Liebster award, either now or earlier, I will not be posting any questions or tagging anyone else. (I have my blogger survey that a few folks have filled out for guest posts that may make a reappearance when I go on my next vacation.) Thanks for nominating me Katie! Sorry it took me a few weeks (literally) to get the post up. What is just 1 random fact about yourself, that you're willing to share?

As I'm sure many of you have seen, the Liebster Award is making it's way around the blogger world. I've been nominated by two different bloggers and fellow Oiselle ambassadors (Paulette and Andrea)! What does this award mean? The Liebster Blog award is meant to honor "up-and-coming" blogs with smaller followings that you really like. I'm excited to be a part of it to share my story and to nominate other bloggers you should check out (including the above ladies who nominated me.)

The Liebster Blog award asks the blogger to do the following:
1. Answer 11 questions posted by the person who nominated you.
2. List 11 random facts about yourself.
3. Nominate 11 blogs.
4. Write 11 questions for the blogs you nominate.

As I was asked by 2 different folks, I'm only going to answer 11 questions total, picking and choosing my favs. :)

1. What's your guilty pleasure running song? I really love songs that talk about running. I mean, I'm not even tired of "Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen yet! Right now my favorite song that mentions running is Florence and the Machine "Dog Days are Over"