2013: Another Year of Running!

The races I plan to run 2013 have been scheduled, paid for & confirmed! Last year I ran the Rock'N'Roll 1/2 marathon in March and the Marine Corps Marathon in October. This year, I am running the North Face Endurance Challenge 1/2 marathon in June and the Revenge of the Penguins 20-miler in September!

The North Face Endurance Challenge is a trail race in Sterling, VA at the Algonquian National Park. I'm going to be jumping over boulders, trudging up hills and hopefully running into some cute animal life! (AKA- bunnies & owls... HOOT!)

The Revenge of the Penguins 20-miler is a low-key race that most runners sign-up for as a final training run before their October marathon. I however, am running it as my main event! (It was only $40... I couldn't resist. Plus- the whole penguin theme hooked me). It's a relatively flat course along the C & O canal footpath in DC.

RUN, RUN, RUN!

The Oscars!

The OSCARS are this weekend! And I flipping LOVE the Oscars! This year I am throwing on my old prom dress & going to a friend's house for an all-out "Oscar Watching" party. Sure, I'll probably leave by 10:00 to come home and sleep & miss all the good awards. But the excitement & mystery behind the whole charade is exhilarating!

I haven't seen all of the nominated films, but still have strong opinions on who is going to win each award. Here are my predictions...

Best Picture:

Zero Dark Thirty... (I haven't seen it, but the Academy has too much American pride not to vote for it) OR... Les Miserables... (The emotion, the acting, the music! This is going to be a close call)

Actor in a Leading Role:

Daniel Day Lewis... (Again, haven't seen Lincoln. But I hear he was badass in the role! The other nominees all had great performances. But again, the whole American pride thing will have an edge with the Academy).

Actress in a Leading Role:

Jessica Chastain... (Jennifer Lawrence had a great performance in Silver Linings Playbook, but Jessica Chastain, who is- by the way- a vegan, is going to win for finding Osama Bin Laden)

Actor in a Supporting Role:

Alan Arkin...(He's old, and Argo might not win anything else. I'm pulling for this guy!)

Actress in a Supporting Role:

Anne Hathaway... (I think it's going to be a close call with Sally Field, but America loves Anne Hathaway too much not to give her a trophy for posing as a prostitute).


For all the other awards.... who really cares? I'll be drinking & munching on guacamole. Have a wonderful Oscar weekend!

Mr. Whiskers

There was once a rambunctious family of monkeys who lived in the treehouse of a nice family. Everyday, the little boy in the family went outside and fed bananas to all of the monkeys so they wouldn't break into the house and make a mess. The monkeys were very happy & lived satisfied, banana-ful lives.

One day, the little boy and his family decided to go on vacation. The little boy forgot to leave bananas for the monkeys, and the monkeys became very, very angry. They monkey family crept out of their treehouse and broke into the family's home. They searched and searched for bananas but couldn't find any in the house. They therefore decided to eat the family's cat.

When the little boy's family returned from vacation a week later, they looked for the cat all over the neighborhood but couldn't find him. "Mr Whiskers!" they called. "Mr Whiskers!" But Mr. Whiskers was nowhere to be found. The little boy went outside to visit the family of monkeys living in his treehouse and said, "Have any of you monkeys seen Mr. Whiskers?" The monkeys quickly answered, "No. Mr. Whiskers ran away. Now, where are our bananas?"

Lesson of the story: Tie up all your loose ends before going on vacation.

Mugs, Cups & Tea... Oh My!

I am a collector... a collector of things! When I was younger, I collected turtles, beanie babies & pogs. Now that I'm all grown-up, I collect other things like running tips, books, shoes, & men! (Just kidding Brian... you know you're my only guy ;)

Two of my favorite things to collect are mugs & coffee cups. Since I indulge in at least one giant cup of tea a day, I always need an assortment of cute, unique mugs & cups on hand. Here are some awesome finds from around the internet that would be perfect additions to anyone's collection...

A chalkboard mug (to write secret messages or play games!)

A collection of colorful owl mugs.... HOOT!

Beautiful initial mugs from Anthropologie

His & Hers mugs... Awww!

Harry Potter-themed mug! (*Always*)

A mug with a surprise at the bottom once you've finished your drink :)

A mug for gamers! (ZOOM ZOOM)

A mug for those who enjoy a little sumthin' sumthin' extra in their morning joe

AND finally... a mug for those who require cookies with their tea :)

All Aboard the Hogwarts Express!

On Sunday morning the Hogwarts Express pulled into National Airport to take me all the way to the Harry Potter theme park in Orlando, FL! (The H.E. looked an awful lot like a U.S. Airways plane, but no matter)...

When I finally arrived in Hogsmeade, the conductor greeted me personally and thanked me for journeying to Hogwarts! I proceeded to take a tour of the village and spent some quality time in Honeydukes, Zonko's, Dervish & Banges, Ollivander's, The Three Broomsticks & even The Hog's Head! Here's a picture of me in the Hog's Head enjoying a delicious mug of butterbeer...

But the best part of the day was visiting Hogwarts Castle! Once inside, Harry & friends took me on a crazy tour... playing Quidditch, meeting Albus Dumbledore & fighting spiders and dementors! It was such a fun day.

Here are some of the Quidditch balls showcased in Hogsmeade from Harry Potter's first ever Quidditch match!

But please don't be fooled. I didn't JUST visit Hogsmeade on my journey to Orlando! I also took a quick detour to the Animal Kingdom Resort where I got to have lunch with some furry safari friends like this Zebra named Elliott.

 I also took a trip down memory lane and visited a nearby Friendly's to indulge in one of their famous Coneheads! (It was the perfect treat after a long day outside in the hot sun)

I then journeyed to an awesome mini-golf course to play a quick 18 holes. The course was holiday themed and blasted Christmas carols the entire time! I was quite impressed :)

 

It was a wonderful vacation that I won't soon forgot. And so, my loyal readers... as one of the hostesses said to me at the Animal Kingdom Resort... "Have a magical day!"

2013 In & Out List

Every year on January 1st the Washington Post publishes an In & Out List. It is a comprehensive survey of what WP writers think we should leave behind in the previous year & embrace anew in the new year! I have decided to create my own In & Out List and post it here for your reading pleasure...

Out: Road Races
In: Trail Races

I ran a half-marathon and a full marathon in 2012, both of which were road races. They were amazing experiences but were also hard on my old-lady hips. To soften the blow, I have signed up for a TRAIL race half-marathon this June called the North Face Endurance Challenge. Bring on the mud, grass & softer ground!

Out: Whole Foods
In: Trader Joe's

For those of you who still shop at Whole Foods for everyday groceries... STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING! The store is great for specialty heath foods, (ex. coconut oil & weird grains you can't pronounce), but Trader Joe's is where it's at in 2013. Their food is delicious & original, their staff is so friendly & the prices are unbeatable!

Out: Cute Baby Seals
In: Cute Baby Hedgehogs

OK... ALL baby animals are precious. But the baby seal phase has run its course. It's time to OOH and AAH over the adorableness of baby Hedgehogs!

Out: Watching movies in 3D
In: Watching movies @ the new AMC luxury theaters

Movies in 3D not only cost 4-5 dollars more, but they also give you a headache and make you want to barf. Instead, visit one of AMC's new luxury theaters equipped with large, red leather chairs that you can adjust to rest your feet. It feels like you're watching a movie in the comfort of your favorite Lazy-Boy chair.

Out: IPAs (super hoppy beers)
In: Collaboration beers!

IPAs were THE THING in 2012. Breweries competed over making the bitterest brews w/ the highest ABVs possible! In 2013, grab a collaboration beer instead. Breweries are coming together to create unique, delicious beers with interesting flavors. A plus- most collaboration beers are brewed to raise money for charitable causes!

Out: Green Teas
In: London Fogs

Green Tea is still a great option for all of it's health benefits. But an even COOLER drink to try is a London Fog. It's an Earl Grey latte made with your choice of milk and a dash of vanilla syrup. So delicious and way more interesting than ordering a plain "Green Tea."

Out: Sexy Vampires
In: Sexy Dwarfs

Unfortunately, the Twilight films are over and there will be no more adventures with our hot vampire friends. Fortunately, The Hobbit has given us some new creates to obsess over!

Out: Retail Therapy
In: Pinterest Therapy

Yes, Pinterest has been around for awhile. But in 2013- you should embrace it as a means of relaxation & comfort. Instead of going to the mall and spending hundreds of dollars to ease your troubles, pin cute pictures of baby hedgehogs, delicious recipes & your dream home all for free!

Les Miserables... (according to Hilary)

If it's not obvious by the name of my blog, there are few things in life I love more than musicals. I listen to musical soundtracks while working out, frequently re-enact my role as Liesl in Longfellow Middle School's 8th grade production of "The Sound of Music," and often dream about people breaking out into song & performing choreographed dances in public!

For those of you with similar passions, I HOPE you have seen Les Miserables in theaters! If not, shame on you. But here is all you need to know in order to discuss the film with your fellow theater nerds...

1) Hugh Jackman should win an Oscar. BAD-ASS singing, acting, & walking through poop while saving Marius.

2) Anne Hathaway should win an Oscar. Her performance was emotional & inspiring with perfectly pitched singing. Plus she had to lose a bunch of weight and chop off all of her hair.

3) Sasha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter were perfectly casted. I ask you...Who else is more fit to run a corrupt B&B than Borat & Bellatrix Lestrange?

4) Russell Crowe can't sing and should not have been casted as Javert. Apparently he begged for the role. (They should have turned him down).

5) Eddie Redmayne did a GREAT job as Marius. His freckles are kind of weird & his voice is too high, but he's totally hot. I have such a weakness for that European look. Brian- you know what I'm talking about ;)

6) The actor who played Enjolras, (head of the rebels), played Tripp on Gossip Girl during season 3!

Overall synopsis- it is definitely worth seeing! I cried several times. You will leave the theater feeling melancholy yet inspired/impacted by the epic, EPIC nature of the film.

Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!