2012 Nails

I was browsing my pics on my phone a few days a go and noticed I had tons of pictures of my freshly painted nails. I think 2012 was the year I really got obsessed with painting my nails! 

I can't wait to see what the hot new colours will be this year. What was your go-to colour? 

2012 review

2012 will hands down go down in the books as the best year yet. It was busy, exciting, happy and scary year.

In January, I wanted to become more grateful and started Grateful Monday's. My little blog turned 1  too!

In February, I ran my best 5k ever with a time of 26 minutes. 

In March, I turned 20, and cried on my birthday. I was not ready to leave the teen years behind. But? Now that I'm almost 21? I've realized the 20's are awesome! We showered my (now) SIL with love during her bridal shower for the Hannon side of the family. 

In April, I reached my goal weight, I lost more during the summer but now I'm back at that goal weight.  I also ran my 1st 10k during this month. And I finished my 1st year of university! 

In May, my brother got married! I've never felt more beautiful. Added another 10k to my races I've run.

In June, Karen ran her 1st 5k.  During June, we found out that my mom had breast cancer.  I lost my concert virginity too! 

In July, I started dating Alex. I also spent a week at camp. 

In August, my parents celebrated 30 years of marriage. I expressed my hatred at cancer.  I also ran a 15k race in 1:24. 

In September, I signed up for a half-marathon. School started too. 

In October, I ran my 1st half-marathon in 2:23. I loved it! My mom finished Chemo. 

In November, I saw So You Think You Can Dance 2012 tour with karen. Radiation for my mom started. 

In December, I signed up for another half-marathon, cried over Sandy Hook. I enjoyed my time off from school. 

I'm ready for 2012 to be gone and see what 2013 brings! 

Flags flying at half-mast

Yesterday I was overcome with emotions as I walked passed my former elementary school with the flag flying at half-masted. 

My heart has been so so so heavy the past 5 days. I'm not a mom so I don't understand how it feels to love a child and to have them taken away? I can't imagine. But am I an (almost) teacher. I cried thinking of all the children I've taught over the past 2 years and how much I love them. 

But in the end, this isn't about me. It's the 20 children, 6 educators and 1 adult who are gone. 

I want to write about what needs to be done to prevent this from happening in the USA again or in the world. I want to write about laws that need to be looked at. But that isn't going to help. Everyone knows things are going to have to change fast so other innocent lives won't be taken away. So families do not have to bury their 6 year old. So teachers don't have to put themselves infront of a killer again. So citizens won't resort to shooting and killing because they need help. 

I think that if this tragic event has taught us anything it's that we need to be telling our loved ones we love them every.single.day. hold them close. I know I have. 

Fitness Friday

I'm so happy to be off school for Christmas holidays until January 14th. Like so so so happy.

So happy because I can get back into running and start training for my 2nd half-marathon that's happening is two months! 

My work outs took a little back seat this semester which made me so sad. Seriously, who knew that working out can make me such a nicer person to around?!

I've been looking around on Pinterest for some new work outs and came across this one. It's awesome! All over workout plus running. Couldn't ask for me!

Source: blondeponytail.com via Sarah on Pinterest

November photo a day

1) crayons at placement

2) my mustard cardi

3) healthy breakfast

4) watching my fav sunday tv show

5) riding the 5pm train to see Alex

6) my favourite thing

7) reflection

8) do you brush your teeth everyday?

9) little marshmallows 

10) won't live without running

11) late night snack

12) love water, my drink of choice

13) my bed

14) man-made wunderbar ice cream is awesome!

15) my purse

16) my view from my window

17) bought (rented) a pair of bowling shoes

18) bowling happened this weekend

19) my shirt from old navy is awesome

20) doing home"work" but wanting to read my own book.

21) wearing my festive nails

22) grateful for my placement this semester

23) black tea

24) listening to silence 

25) sky

26) my favourite breakfast in the cupboard

27) tree at One of a Kind craft show

28) bus

29) my big boy

30) my school calendar on the wall

Christmas Break To-Do lis

Side note: Happy 54th birthday to my mommy! She's doing great with the treatments. Chemo was ugly toward the end and she has started radiation on Friday. please continue to pray for her.
~

A few weeks a go, while writing a very boring essay (are essay's ever fun!?) I started day-dreaming about my month off  37 days off from school for Christmas break! Yes, once again got super lucky.

I started thinking of all the fun things to do and made a Christmas Break 2012 To-Do list.

• exercise everyday. Running, 30 day shred, weights, yoga. Anything! 
• bake a ginger bread loaf
• bake chocolate caramel muffins
• make a craft
• read 5 books
• ice skating at Harbourfront 
• Take a sleid ride with Alex

Whats on your holiday to-do list? 

I'm back folks!

After a 19 day running hiatus, I'm back! 

I told myself that when school was in full swing this semester I would still run at least 2 times a week. 

HAHA! That clearly didn't happen.  But now that school is slowing down (a week today I'm done!) I'm so happy to be pounding the pavement again! 

And I even signed up for  the Peterborough half marathon in February! My first race of the the 2013 running year! And my second half marathon! SO EXCITED! 

Insta-lately #3.

Back for the third time in 3 weeks for Instalately with Jenn! 

1) So sad dog sitting is over for this year. 

2) Went out of the comfort zone and bought a red lip stick.

3) Red bull + university life= need!

Insta-lately

Oh, hai bloggy friends. 

Yup, still alive. Barely, with school but thankfully 23 days till freedom! But who's counting. 

Even though I barely blog, I've still been taking lots of pictures with  Instagram. (@lifeofsarahh)

1) Karen and I (along with her cousin) saw So you think you can dance 2012 tour. Amazing!

2)Opening number

3) Intermission picture. 

4) Amazing turn-out at the Remeberance Day Service on sunday. Legion #22 (pictured) is my Grandpa Hannon's legion. Lest we forget. 

5) The girls from SYTYCD. 

Linking up with Jenn 

INSTA-LATELY

1) I ran the Tom Taylor 10 miler on Sunday in 1:43 minutes. 

2) It's been raining since Friday night. Thanks Sandy. 

3) My new favourite snack, pumpkin seeds with cranberries and raisins

4) Post run tradition, icing my knee. 

Hey, that's Pin-tastic!

A few weeks a go I came across this adorable craft while searching for a black craft I could do with my pre-school children. 
It was so easy to make. I got my best friend to pre-cut the head which helped. All the  children  do is trace their hands, cut it out, glue together on the back and glue on googly-eyes and the fangs. 
I've never gotten so many compliments on a craft. I even had fun making it!
 

1st half marathon!

I was sitting in church this morning when I leaned over to the best friend and said "this time last week, I was crossing the finish line of the Toronto Scotiabank half-marathon."

Yup. I did it.  In 2:23. Not bad for my first time. 

I had so much fun but I'll be honest, from 12km-19km I was in so much pain. Yes, I walked A TON because of all the cramps and being tight but made myself run the last 2k...crying the last 500 meters thinking how far I've come in the past year. This time last year? I did a 5k in 36 minutes and hated every single minute of it. A year a go I was 30 pounds heavier. Thanks to running, it's gone. 

Already signed up for the Peterborough half in February! 

Project Pinterest: Pumpkin Cookie

Hope y'all had a wonderful weekend. Mine started normal: homework saturday along with date night and I ran my first half marathon Sunday! (re-cap to come)

I'm linking up with AP for Project Pinterest to show you my yummy pumpkin cookies I made for Thanksgiving last week.

Source: mybakingaddiction.com via Sarah on Pinterest

You will need:
2 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter; softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup pure pumpkin puree
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup dried cherries; roughly chopped

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line your baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.

2. Combine flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and salt in medium bowl. Beat butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar in large mixer bowl until light and fluffy.

3. Add pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract; mix well. Add flour mixture; combine until all ingredients are incorporated. Fold in white chocolate chips and dried cherries.

4. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto prepared baking sheets.

5. Bake for 12-14 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

I want one now! They are the perfect fall cookie, very harvest-y, I must say. All off my family loved them, even Alex's little nephews kept coming back for more!

Currently

I'm linking up with my girl Jenn over at Perfectly Imperfect for Currently. 

Current Book:

Current playlist:

Just downloaded Babel by Mumford and Sons so that has been on repeat. 

Current Colour:

dying to try this colour from Essie

Current Food/Drink:

   Craving some Apple Cider!

                                     Current Fav Show: 

Current Needs: 

 I NEED my hair to grow faster. 

Current banes of my existence:

My cousin who got engaged over the weekend (yay!) and posted it on facebook before calling his own family to tell of the happy news...Grandma included! 

Current #1 blessing:

My family and the best boyfriend ever.

Current outfit:

Current excitement: 

-my half-marathon on Sunday

-date nights

-55 days left of this semester!

Current Mood: 

Tired..will I ever feel rested?

Current Quote:

Current Product: 

I've been using these products on my face for a few days. My skin has never looked so brighter and glowly ever! 

Giving Thanks

This past weekend was my Thanksgiving...us Canadians, and it was lovely. 

Lovely because I brought Alex to meet my family! Big steps people :) And of course seeing my cousins was great.

We changed things up a bit and instead of having Thanksgiving at my house, we went to my uncles farm in Napanee ON to have dinner with my mom's side of the family, for the weekend. 

Monday, Alex and I headed up to Keswick for his familys dinner. His family? Is great. Love them. 

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going back to my turkey induced coma.  

Can't imagine

I had a wonderful but an oh, so tiring day at placement today.

One of those days where I was always on my feet, reading stories or cleaning...which I don't mind because my placement this semester is amazing.

It was one of those days where I realized for the millionth time how lucky I am for having a wonderful boyfriend.

I had an job interview for a higher qualification/pay raise thru the city, still lifeguarding...and I passed! Totally on cloud nine. Lots of studying paid off!

I was excited to light a fall candle from bath and body, grab my ice cold corona and curl up watching grey's anatomy tonight, a little "you made it to thursday!" celebration.

After getting home at 6pm, I logged onto facebook and there my entire good day was ruined.

Seeing a post from a girl who I've gone to school with since kindergarten saying that cancer had taken her dad just crushed me. Yes, for the obvious reasons, at 20 her daddy is gone but because of effing cancer. CANCER! Cancer like my mom is being treated for now.

I have peace that my mom isn't going to die tomorrow, or a year from now from cancer but it is always in my back of my mind. Always.

It is times like these, where I find out cancer has taken a loved one from someone I know, that I hug my family closer, say I love you more.

Side note: We are halfway done chemo. 3rd one is next Tuesday (9th). Radiation starts mid november for 33 days straight. Keep praying!

*Thinking of the Pogue family tonight. 

Project Pinterest

I love me some pinterest. It's seriously the best app and shall I mention the most used on my phone? Le duh.

I always find myself pinning great crafts or yummy things to bake but never get around to making them. 

Until Ashley created this awesome link up to actually make us "pinners" do something with all our pins.

I came across this easy craft and knew I had to do it!

Source: theknottybride.com via Sarah on Pinterest

 TA-DA! Such a prettier way to put brushes or anything in :)

What I'm loving Wednesday

I'm alive, I swear! No real reason why I haven't read a single blog in over a week slash posted something! Between class, placement, homework, the boy, life can get crazy...fast.

But I'm here!

So today I'm loving...

My beautiful necklace from Group-deal. It's the knock-off from J.crew and more than 50% less! #score.

I'm loving...bath and body works new fall smells. The leaves candle actually smell like a leaves on a crisp morning and the orchard walk has a very light smell. Not boom, in your face smell. 

Gosh, I love fall :) 

Linking up with Jaime today :) 

Bears vs Packer

This post could also be titled "A house divided" 

Because my family are Packers fans and Alex loves the Bears. Like, thinks they are the best team ever. 

You see, if you follow NFL football you know that tonights game is a big, intense game against the Bears and Packers. 

AKA: rivials

Y'all should have been a fly on the wall to see my dads reaction when I bought a bears shirt from Old Navy. Basically told me to take it off. 

And when I posted this picture on IG this week, the comment from my brother saying if I wore this shirt around him he wouldn't talk to me, just made me laugh. 

So tonight, I'll be watching the game with my dad, me cheering for the bears while he roots for the packers. 

All I have to say is...

BEARS, BEARS, BEARS!