16 Hour Days and Pinterest Inspiration

8 months in Alaska and I'm still in awe. This is the view from our driveway looking down our street. Look at those mountains. 

Alaska is remarkable. Today we had (/have because the sun is still out at 10:30 p.m.) 16 hours of sunlight. It's incredible. It's light more than it's dark. And the weather has been nice too. The mornings are a little cool but it's been warming up to 50 in the afternoons. 

This week has been really great. Thanks in large part to a day of grilling on Saturday. Nathanial received a new charcoal grill as a birthday gift from his mom. I'm not sure who was more excited about it - him or me. 

 

Nathanial is quite the grill master. He cooked enough meat to last the week. It has made a huge difference in our evenings. 

He grilled 4 sets of shish kabobs, 8 pounds of chicken, a pound of sausage, 2 pounds of pork chops, hamburgers and corn on the cob. 

He's also been a champ at preparing dinner while I get in a run after work. My favorite meal was the lemon chicken pasta he made with some of the grilled chicken. 

He's a man of many talents that husband of mine. He surprised me Tuesday night with a ukele serenade. While I was out on my run, he bought a ukele and taught himself "You Are My Sunshine." It was awesome. It's more impressive considering I wasn't gone that long and knowing the ukele is an instrument made for right handed people and he's left handed. I'm trying to convince him to take his show on the road - to Hawaii :)

I've been talking a lot about running lately because I've finally found my love for it again. I've already signed up for another half marathon this summer and am eyeing several more. This time around I'm determined to be more consistent in my training. I decided to join a training group to help with that and so far so good. The group is organized through the local running store. There are four coaches and over 100 women. It's such an empowering group of ladies. We will meet twice a week. On Wednesdays we do a track workout with tempo and stride work and on Saturdays we will do long runs. This was the first week and I couldn't be more thrilled with my decision to join. I wasn't so sure on Wednesday morning when I had to be at the track at 6 a.m. in the pouring rain. Early mornings  are not my thing and showing up at a place I didn't know with a group where I didn't know a soul was nerve-wracking.   

Turns out Pinterest is right sometimes. 

Outer Space and Old Age

I thought I'd start by clearing up some confusion. I wanted to set the record straight that we live in Alaska. I've been calling it the Final Frontier since we moved and Nathanial just decided to point out that the Final Frontier is outer space. Apparently Alaska is known as the Last Frontier. Oops. Sometimes it seems like we're living on a different planet so I understand why no one has corrected me before.  

Now that we have that settled, let's move on to more important things. I started a job this week! It is such an answer to prayer. While it was a blessing to be able to have time at home being a wife and working on renovations, it never felt like my calling. I struggled a lot with a sense of purpose and often felt like I wasn't using my talents. 

I am working at the university in town and could not be more thrilled! I had some great meetings last week and am excited for things to ramp up. 

One afternoon I had Pandora playing and Taylor Swift's 22 came on. The lyrics "I don't know about you, but I'm feeling 22" really made me laugh because that day I couldn't have felt older. I got a coffee at the student union building and was laughed at by the barista when calling for a grande. Apparently that's a Starbucks term not used on a college campus. Then one of the student workers in the department invited me to join in with he and his friends for a break dancing session. Ha. 

Even though I look similar to my 18 year old self, a lot has changed since then. 

My first week was great. I had plenty of time to get settled in and to start getting to know people. 

Other than work, church is what is keeping us the most busy. 

Nathanial has quite the reputation as the trumpet player. The older people get grumpy if he doesn't play each service. He was even called up to the pulpit to play a Jewish shofar (authentic ram's horn) in the week leading up to Easter. He has also recruited another trumpet player. The two of them along with a trombonist create what he describes as "a wall of sound." I would describe it as awesome. 

Some friends and I sang a special last weekend during the Easter service and had a blast doing it. We're looking into making it a regular thing. 

I have to work on my stage faces if that happens. I also need to make sure the photographer is further back in the auditorium and gets a better angle. :)

I'm still working hard on the Preschool Committee trying to improve that ministry. We have so many sweet babies at our church. 

Nathanial and I have been teaching the 3, 4 and 5 year old class on Wednesday nights. We study different missionaries and the countries they serve. This month is all about Mexico which is so fun. We already taught our little friends some Spanish songs, played maracas and made tissue paper flowers. I can't wait to bring in a piñata for them. 

Who You Should Marry

If you aren't one for sappy, then you'll want to skip this post.  Sometimes (as evidenced by the lack of posts lately) I have such a hard time coming up with what to write; other times an idea sparks and the words just seem to flow out of me.  That's how I feel tonight.

Recently Nathanial and I saw the new Cinderella movie.  There's something so enchanting about that story. It still seems to conjure the same excitement and awe in me as it did when I was a child. Tonight as I reflected on the day, it dawned on me that there is so much more romance in the every day.

Little girls should dream not of being swept out of a pumpkin carriage and off their feet but should dream of a Godly man that will make even the most ordinary day seem like a fairy tale.

They should want a husband who (in no particular order):

• Would rather spend an evening listening to a podcast about the Bible than finish the show you've been binge watching on Netflix

• Will start talking in a fake accent to keep you calm and laughing when it's 11 p.m. the night before Easter and you still have 4 more dishes to make for the church luncheon you planned
• And will also jump in to help where needed and grate carrots like a pro

• Will make multiple trips to the church dumpster during the lunch because he's the only one who notices the trash cans are full
• And will still graciously take a selfie with you afterwards because you forgot to take any pictures
• He'll also agree to wear a hot pink tie so you look coordinated

• Who will start a Bible study because he's tired of your church not having anything for men

• Who may not have much experience with kids but will still agree to help you teach the 3 & 4 year old class at church. He'll also be a good sport  and volunteer to watch your friend's three little girls on a Friday evening

• Will be your biggest supporter and cheerleader even if that means standing outside in freezing temperatures while you run

• Will inspire you to be the best version of yourself 

• Will use his talents to worship God but also to serenade you with your favorite songs on a week night

• Will encourage you to always be kind and will selflessly show up to help remodel a basement or help an elderly couple move

• Will wake up early to make you breakfast on your first day at a new job

I am so incredibly blessed to be Nathanial's wife.  I am so thankful for a husband whose love for me is only surpassed by his love for his Savior.  This list could go on for pages but I also married the man who will be so annoyed by this post.  Who wouldn't see any of these things as something to be bragged about.  That's the beauty of it though. It's the little things; the every day moments, that make for the best romance. 

Boom goes the sunroof

ThIs weekend is off to a bang and a pop and lots of broken glass. It was an eventful Friday to say the least since my sunroof exploded while I was driving. No explanation or warning - it just exploded into a million pieces. After waiting more than 2 hours for a tow truck and fighting with the dealership about a rental car, we finally made it home. Apparently this isn't an uncommon issue with sunroofs. It will take a week for the glass to arrive from the lower 48...shipping in Alaska. I'm thankful I wasn't hurt and am hopeful the repair process will go smoothly. 

And now for some happier times. Here are my Friday favorites. I thought I would share what I can't get enough of lately. 

- Leopard print. My pre-teen self is so pleased with my love of leopard. Scarf, headband, shirts, sunglasses, socks, even my tennis shoe laces are leopard lately. Next on my wish list is a tortoise shell watch. 

- Running. My love of running (especially races) is back in full force. The only problem is more running means I want more gear. I've been eyeing Lululemon and a new Garmin watch. 

The temperature at the start of the Shamrock Shuffle was -3. I guess I can really call myself an Alaskan runner. 

- Performaces. Last weekend we saw Ira Glass, the host of This American Life. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Nathanial was downright giddy about the whole thing which made it even more fun. 

This weekend we're going to see Million Dollar Quartet. I think we're most looking forward to the Johnny Cash portion. 

- Northern Lights. One of my favorite things about living in Alaska is the Northern Lights. Most of the time we don't even end up seeing them but I love when we try. We drive up a mountain near our house. There's nothing better than the small moments star gazing with my wonderful husband away from everything. It's even more fun when you leave your house at 11 p.m. on a Tuesday. Talk about adventure. 

iPhone photos at night aren't the best, but here's a mountain view shot of the Anchorage skyline. 

Fur Rondy and The Last Great Race

It has been an exciting couple of weeks in Anchorage.  We spent the last two weekends celebrating the start of the Iditarod and Fur Rendezvous.

Fur Rendezvous, known as Fur Rondy to the locals, is a winter festival that captivates the city of Anchorage.  It started in the mid 1930s as a way to unite the community in celebration when the miners and trappers cane to town with their collections.  There are all kinds of events during the two weekends of Fur Rondy - everything from a fur auction to blanket tosses. Several streets of downtown are taken over by hoards of people and vendors and all of the various events. There's even a carnival midway.  I loved how even with thousands of people it felt like a very hometown kind of event. We kept running into people we knew which was even more impressive considering our circle here is pretty small.

Here were some of my favorite parts of Fur Rondy:

Outhouse Races

This event was just as entertaining as it sounds. Teams built outhouses on top of skies and raced them down the streets of downtown Anchorage.  Our favorite heat was when "The Splatters" raced "The Duck Farts."

 

The Food

Street vendors were everywhere. You haven't lived until you've tried a Reindeer hot dog.  It was delicious.  And I only felt a little anti-Christmas eating it.

The VIP Experience

Nathanial's company was the corporate sponsor of the Iditarod Dog Race that was the capstone of Fur Rondy. Both weekends they rented out the Hard Rock Cafe for employee families.  It was so nice to be able to take a break from the cold. It was also fun to see his company name everywhere.

The first weekend they had some of the dog mushers stop by.  We got to take a picture with Aliy Zirkle who has come in second in the Iditarod the last three years; last year she lost by less than 2 minutes. We're hoping she'll pull out a win this year!

The Iditarod

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog race is Alaska's biggest claim to fame (maybe aside from Sarah Palin :) ).  Mushers and a team of 16 dogs cover over 1,000 miles of tundra to go from Anchorage to Nome.  The race usually takes between 10 and 14 days.   It's heralded as "The Last Great Race."  This year wasn't the best because of the unusually high temperatures we've been having.  The race start was actually moved to another town for only the second time in the race's 80 year history. Luckily for us, they still did a ceremonial start.  Snow actually had to be freighted in by railroad for the ceremonial start. It took more than 100 frontloaders to spread it out.  It was gone by Monday.

It was really cool to see the teams take off. The dogs are so excited before they get to run and once they start you can see how much joy it brings them.  They all seemed to be smiling.

Here's a quick video of Aliy's crew getting ready to take off.  You can see how pumped the dogs are.  We learned the dogs were actually bred to be vocal  so the mushers can tell if they are injured. 

 

We were also surprised  at how small the dogs are.  Alaskan Huskies run the Iditarod not the Siberian breed most people picture.  These dogs are smaller and can run faster and further distances. 

Running of the Reindeer

By far my favorite event of Fur Rondy was the Running of the Reindeer.  Nathanial and I got to run alongside a herd of 12 reindeer and lots of crazy costumed people. It was a blast!

I was really impressed with people's dedication to wearing costumes as it was in the teens that afternoon.   We dressed in lots of layers and were still a little cold.

Talk about state pride!

The reindeer moved so much more gracefully than I expected.  They weaved in and out of people, so even though they ran alongside us, we were never at risk for getting rammed by their antlers.

Alaska: Where even the reindeer have sponsors

I'm currently thinking of marathon ideas with a wildlife release. It was exhilarating and definitely increased my pace to know an animal was behind me.

Races are my favorite part of running.  Nothing beats the community  and excitement that surrounds an organized run.

I'm doing a Shamrock Shuffle 5K this weekend.  The temperature is supposed to be sub zero.  Eek.  When I signed up for the race, I thought it would be warmer.  I plan on it being my last race until we get some warmer weather this summer.

Life Lately: Workout Edition

I've struggled lately to have something to say on this little blog of mine. Probably because life for the last few weeks has mostly been comprised of the normal day-to-day stuff and lots of hard work trying to get back in shape. Veggie pics and sweaty selfies aren't the most exciting thing to look at. Especially when snowy mountains are the standard. 

Getting back into shape is so much harder than it was to get out of shape. I'm looking forward to the day my face isn't red after a hard workout. I've caught the running bug again and have my sights on at least two half marathons this summer. Nathanial says running is the only free sport that is this expensive.

I completed my first sub-freezing 5K on Valentine's Day. The temperature was in the 20's and the whole course was ice or snow. I was relieved I got my shoes studded. 

I've also started Crossfitting again. I'm so grateful my friend Monica got me back into it. I forgot how much I enjoyed it (which is only easy to say on an off day.) 

Aside from my workouts, I've also overhauled my eating habits and am back to a more Paleo way of eating (hence all the veggies.) I'm blessed with a wonderful, supportive husband who will eat almost anything I put in front of him even if it's paleo meatloaf that substitutes the normal ingredients for some odd ones. He might even ask sweetly if I used a new recipe and then when thanked for his support may say "It's ok, I'm living vicariously through lunch."  

I can already tell a huge difference in how I feel because of my efforts and other people are starting to notice which is pretty awesome. I've already gotten several compliments and my gift from my secret sister at church was a bag of Smart  Water. I love that she bought my favorite brand and that me drinking water is a noticeable habit. 

This week I was scouring the produce section trying to add some variety and came across this crazy broccoli. I snapped a pic but decided I'd rather see it at the store than on my plate. 

Stunning Views and Sweet Surprises

We had an incredible time celebrating our first anniversary with an Alaskan style weekend getaway.  We visited a beautiful resort about an hour from where we live.  The views were breathtaking!

We left Friday afternoon once Nathanial got home from work. I knew it would be a good weekend when he banished me from downstairs while he loaded the car. He really outdid himself with all the sweet surprises he had for me over the weekend.

We laughed about how the gray-ness of the day and the remoteness of the resort made us feel like we were driving into The Shining.

We arrived at the hotel and went up to check out our room.  We were on one of the highest floors with a north and mountain facing view.  Nathanial had me stay in one part of our suite while he got the first of many surprises out of his box of tricks.  I do mean a literal box.  He wouldn't let me look into it and was very specific with the bellhop about how to handle it.

The first surprise was a vase of beautiful roses which he had nicely arranged. 

We exchanged gifts after a great dinner at the Double Musky.  Our actual anniversary wasn't until the next day but we decided since the whole weekend was a celebration we should go ahead and open gifts.

I decided to use my design skills for Nathanial's gift.  I wanted to follow the traditional theme which was paper. I created a print with the lyrics from our first dance. I sent a copy for King George to autograph as well. We'll see if he comes through this time!  I also designed note cards with Nathanial's initials and name. I loved how both turned out and so did he!

Nathanial made me a gorgeous canvas with our wedding vows.  I love the picture he selected and am excited to have a written reminder of our vows.  He even made sure the border color was one of our wedding colors.  Swoon.

One of the fun things about vacationing in Alaska was that our resort offered a Northern Lights wake-up call.  The skies weren't very clear over the weekend so that wasn't something we got to experience.

However, we were spoiled by beautiful sights all weekend. Our room had a wall of windows and it was fun to watch the sun come out through the day.  Sunlight completely changed the look of things. 

This was the view in the morning.

























We ate breakfast Saturday morning at the resort.  The best part was the view and the strawberry sauce they had near the crepes and pancakes.

That afternoon we headed out for some snowshoeing.  Neither of us has experienced much of the outdoors in our time in Alaska. Our friends speak highly of snowshoeing (and offered us their shoes) so off we went.  It's been a really light snow season this winter so the trail we took didn't have much snow and what was there was packed tightly.  We ended up taking off the snowshoes about halfway up and just hiking the rest of the way.

Snowshoeing selfie!

The temperature was in the low teens but with lots of layers and views like this we didn't mind.

We ate a late lunch back at the resort.  They surprised us with an anniversary dessert called Baked Alyeska (the name of the resort.)  I loved how the sugar details embodied the Northern Lights. They didn't light it on fire but it was still delicious.

Saturday evening we had an elegant dinner at a restaurant on the top of the mountain.  It was accessible only by tram which only added to its grandeur. 

Even the walkway to the tram was pretty.

You know it's a fancy restaurant when the waiter brings out a sample size bisque to welcome you and when your actual soup has a caviar topped scallop anchored by other seafood.

An edible anniversary banner might be another give-away.

The dessert was beautiful but not very tasty which played well into Nathanial's suprise for me after dinner.

I was a little disappointed going into the weekend that we wouldn't be able to participate in the tradition of eating our wedding cake as we left it in the safe protection of my grandma's freezer when we moved. Unbeknowst to me, my amazing husband had one of our friends with a cake business recreate our top tier.  It took some major planning on his part as she was going out of town and he needed to transport it and keep it refrigerated without me knowing.

I have to admit when he brought it out along with some sparkling cider (and even the plates he thought to bring) I started to cry. I am blessed beyond measure to be his wife. He even had her include an orange filling like we had on our original cake.

He also brought our wedding DVD and photo album.

He put so much thought and effort into making me feel special on a weekend that was about both of us.  I am so lucky!

We finished out the weekend with a fantastic couples massage. It was the perfect relaxing end to a wonderful trip.

It was sad to leave but the drive home wasn't so bad because it looked like this.