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 :)