My athletic peak:

BAHAHAHA. Yes, I reached my physical peak at age 23 last weekend when I ran 5 miles along the Colorado River. But I've decided that I'm not going to let it stop me from running a couple more races in my life because I loved passing people and eating the free bananas and chocolate milk afterwards. I am a true competitive fatty. Also, I am going to pass on posting photos of me in my running pantalones because, well, who really looks good in spandex? And I'm not going to combine text of me gushing on about free chocolate milk and follow it with photos of myself in stretchy pants. Waaaaay too much for me and the internet to handle. 

(where I ran. GORGEous. heh heh.)

( My Aztec lady DIXIE)

(So this is me testing/gorging myself on the "matrimony waters" that come out of the side of a mountain on the side of the freeway. Totally sketch and delicious and hopefully effective. Haha. )

(A lot of people wearing stretchy clothing getting ready to run!)

A mild Siberia.

 White Sands National Monument felt like a whole different world. I was only able to stay for a solid 45 minutes, and all I could think about was that I wished I could spend the weekend exploring it. And taking photos. And building castles. And walking barefoot. And making sand angels. And sliding down sand cliffs. Until next time, Alamorgordo.

Kicking some booty.

This last weekend I went to Alamagordo to help my high school kiddo compete in a Boys & Girls Club competition. Kids from all over the state met up and competed with essays and speeches for scholarships to help with college tuition. The competition was fierce, and he did so great. The competition focused on teens that have overcome challenges in their lives, and with the help of the Boys & Girls Club chosen a life of positive choices. It felt great working for and representing an organization that does so much good. I love my job!

(getting out the nervous butterflies and the final speech.)

Love me some Langston Hughes.

Lately:

Saturday bike ride.

 It was surprisingly nice weather on Saturday so I spent some time biking around Aztec looking like a weirdo pulling my phone out of my bra to take pictures of my bike. I have also been obsessively looking for a new place to rent with a backyard so I can finally adopt a Willis! No luck yet.

instagram has turned me into a hipster monster.

12 year old girls party hard.

Had a sleepover with my girlies. And what sleepover isn't complete without makeovers and zombie photo shoots?

Fooled me.

Since when does the southwest have winters like this? owwwwtrageous.

My 2013 mantra is better than yours. But we can share if you like.

I'm a known cheeseball so please endure this cheeseball new year confession: this might just be a girl's best swinging-the-world-by-the-tail song evah. (And this video in its jewel toned glory? haaale.) It also can't hurt that Alicia Keys is and forever will be my wannabe doppelgänger. 

stevie wonder aint got nothin on you.

Lost Dutchman State Park is a place that's best seen by stepping back a few paces, and then taking a couple more. Everything is so grand and enormous and fitting for a wide angle lens. Standing close made you feel small. The canyon walls, the towering cactuses, were giants and the scale of things only got bigger after the hike to the summit when the entire desert floor reached to the horizon.

batman and robin. ben and jerry. lady and the tramp. thelma and louise.

Whatever you want to call it, it was downright fantastic to have a travel companion again. (even better when that partner loves, hell, even requests being photographed.) 

sunday drive

Shared from my baby bro and my bossum buddy, this guy speaks both to my freedom thinking heart and my gilly dancing legs.

work collections.

The tiger points sheet may need an introduction. At work before my kids leave they have to fill one of these sheets out asking about what they did during the day. They get points for being good and participating in things I plan. Well, this is from Viola. You may remember her from earlier. This is real life proof of how funny/sweet/endearing she is.