It’s that time again. January. The month where the newly resolved flock in masses and take over the local gyms for approximately two months before their dedication begins to wane. It has become far too crowded at my gym lately, and because I hate running on treadmills anyway, I decided to go for a run outside last night. I’ve finally recovered from my toxic-ozone-induced sinus infection and I’ve been itching to get out there. It was just a short 3-miler, but it reminded me of why I fell in love with running back in DC.

Many of you have heard me talk about my Nike+ running tracker. I talk about it here, here and here. Because I love it. And you will too.

I’m proposing a running challenge. The person who runs the most miles in the month of February wins.

What’s that? You want some skin in the game? Well that’s fine too. I’m working on coming up with a suitable prize for the winning runner.

Here’s how it’s going to work:

1) Sign up for a Nike+ account. Go to nikeplus.com and create an account. Then either e-mail me, or leave a comment on this post letting me know you’re interested and I will invite you to join The Challenge (even if we don’t personally or barely know each other!).

2) Purchase a Nike+. (you’ll need to have an iPod) You can find them at Target, your local running store or online. Pop the sensor in your Nike+ shoe (alternative option below) and attach the digital tracker to an iPod Nano (or Mini?).

I don’t wear Nike shoes to run because I am shin-splint prone and have to wear “special” shoes with inserts, so I bought one of these to put my Nike sensor in:

3) Run! You will attach the sensor to your shoe and the digital tracker to your iPod. The display screen will tell you your total running time, current pace, and total distance. You have the benefit of tracking your progress like you’re on a treadmill, only with better scenery and without the stinky man sweating on you from the machine next to yours.

4) Sync your iPod with your iTunes and upload your data to your Nike+ account. You will be able to view a history of your runs…

… as well as the details of individual runs.

5) Win! Or, maybe I’ll just win… again. ;)

It’s going to be great. I hope you join us!

Currently Northern Utah is in the lead for the worst air quality in the nation. You know it’s bad when the horizon starts turning a greenish, brownish hue and the mountains disappear.

The above photo was part of an article posted yesterday by the Salt Lake Tribune. Depressing? Yes.

The following images are from the U.S. Environment Protection Agency’s air quality web site, which publishes the nation’s daily air quality statistics and advisories.

Click on the images to enlarge.

So that stuff in the sky is unhealthy? That stuff I breathe in and out all day long? Awesome.

I can’t run outside because I know that it will do more harm than good, my eyes are constantly irritated and I feel like I have allergies. Basically, I need a gas mask.

If it doesn’t start getting better I’m going to start packing my bags. Any awesome opportunities in Seattle, DC or California?

Mostly kidding boss! ;)

Firstly, thank you for the text messages, e-mails and comments with your well-wishes for Noah. My little dude pulled through like a CHAMP! They repaired the PDA defect, and all but one hole that has started forming a thin membrane and they expect it to heal on its own. They were able to do the procedure through cardiac catheterization, so they didn’t need to open up his chest. Miracles. Medicine is amazing.

On a less weighty, but still utterly fantastic, note – I received an item that I ordered from Amazon and have been anxiously awaiting. It is an outlet remote. Can you sense my excitement?

If you don’t share my enthusiasm, it’s probably because you are not fully understanding and appreciating the aforementioned device. Allow me to explain my situation:

I have a pendant/chandelier lamp in the corner of my room; the corner opposite of my bed. This is the light I like to read by, and it’s troublesome when I begin drifting towards sleep while reading in bed. I love that feeling. The feeling of “Yessss. I’m falling asleep. I’m so tired… and I’m going to be asleep any minute. This is awesome.”

You know that feeling? Because I love it. Suddenly the harsh glow coming from across the room interrupts my bliss and I am forced to drag myself from my near-slumber state to switch off the light.

I crawl back into bed, but it doesn’t seem to fit anymore. The covers aren’t curling around me like they were when I was mere breaths away from sleep, the temperature in the room suddenly feels wrong and none of my pillows will compress the way they had just moments before.

And it was for that reason alone that this blessed device was created. I am going to plug the rectangular box into my outlet and then plug my light into it. And then? Then I will lie in bed and turn my light on and off. And then on. And then off. All from the comfort of my bed. And we all know how much I like to control my environment without having to move any of my limbs.

Technology is wonderful. It gives me Diet Sunkist, remote access to my electricity, and patches holes in hearts.

I love you, 2010.

My cute little Noah is going in for heart surgery today.

When he was born they noticed a slight murmur, and since then have found three other defects. While they had initially hoped he would outgrow some of the problems, the doctors decided they need to operate. Because of his heart defects he hasn’t been gaining weight (nearly 8 months and weighs barely 14 lbs) and hasn’t hit developmental milestones like rolling over and sitting up.

They’re hoping to be able to repair his patent ductus arteriosus defect and two of the atrial septal defects through a cardiac catheterization, and will only perform open-heart surgery if they have to. We’re keeping our fingers crossed!

Send some good thoughts and prayers our way!

So there’s this guy I’ve been spending a lot of time with this holiday season. He’s absolutely adorable. He thinks I’m hysterical and laughs at everything I say. He loves to hold my hand. If I leave the room for a few minutes and walk back in, he smiles the moment he sees me.

I guess you could say I am smitten, and if you met him I dare say you would be too.

Let me introduce Noah:

Noah came to spend the evening with me tonight while his parents went on a grownup date; An evening that did not include a kindergartner, a toddler or an infant. A meal at which both parents were able to use both of their arms. No need to cut meat for one, pour the other a glass of milk, and bounce the littlest of the three in their lap.

So while they were out, we had a little date of our own. We had dinner (he had a bottle, I had a quesadilla), we cuddled and watched Glee, and then junior had a bath.

He kicked and giggled and splashed and laughed.

Can we talk about his two bottom teeth? Because I’m pretty much obsessed.

There has never been a more happy baby…

… or an auntie more in love.

I am smitten.

Sometimes it’s hard to avoid finding things you want for yourself when you’re shopping for others. Especially when shopping for friends who have similar taste, and when you’re in your favorite store. I have refrained from shopping for myself pretty effectively so far this season, but while Christmas shopping this week I found some great deals that I couldn’t pass up.

I was in Anthropologie and stumbled upon a cute cropped denim jacket with funky zipper accents and an exposed zipper closure, in my size, and marked down from $128 to $9.99. Yes, $10.

When I saw the price I assumed there had to be some flaw. Either the zipper was broken, seams were coming undone, or the fit had to be awkward. I was pleasantly surprised that it fit great, was very well made and was really cute on.

I also noticed one lone sweater in the sale section that I had liked back in the fall, but couldn’t bring myself to spend $98 for it.

The jacquard sweater, which I purchased for $19, has a great cowl neck and is super soft. I couldn’t find a picture of it online, so you have to settle for webcam pictures of it on me. :)

Thanks Anthropologie for the great pre-Christmas gift giving!

It’s been a great holiday season, and I’m determined to not let it pass me by in a blur. So before I forget, I wanted to post an update of last week’s events.

Friday night my roommate, Natalie, and I went to a Christmas party. Lucky for me, Santa gave me a smack on the butt and told me, “You’ve been a very good girl this year.”

Saturday was the annual Sound of Music sing-a-long event at the Tower Theatre. At this showing you are encouraged to dress up, sing along, cheer for Maria, hiss at the evil baroness, shake bells when the church bell rings, and pull party poppers when The Captain and Maria finally kiss. It was magical. Our group showed up in varying costumes from a nun, to a sheep herder, girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes, Fredrick, brown paper packages tied up with strings, and Maria (from the do-re-mi scene, of course).

It was such a fun night and I fully intend on attending next year as a drop of golden sun.

Late Saturday it began to rain. And then sleet. And then freeze. Sunday morning when I tried to leave for church, I couldn’t pull my car away from the curb. So I gave up. And it continued to snow.

Monday morning I hoped that the slush was frozen, but not ice. That may not make sense to my non-Utah-winter friends, but there is a distinct difference between sheet ice and frozen snow/slush. Frozen snow is crunchy and has a rough texture that allows your car to move over it no problemo. Alas, it was not crunchy frozen snow/slush that I encountered Monday morning; It was slush over a blanket of ice. I revved my engine and turned my wheels. I tried to shovel down to the asphalt so my tires had something solid to propel themselves against. I reversed and rocked forward, I tried all the tricks i knew – but to no avail. After 35 minutes I was stuck against a curb in the middle of the street.

I finally asked Amy to help push me out. She threw boots on over her pajamas and stole salt from the bucket by our next-door-neighbor’s door – which resulted in the karmic retribution of getting locked out as I finally sped off. I couldn’t turn around on the street (terrified of getting stuck all over again) so I went down one street and looped around. As I passed my street, a yellow figure wildly jumped up and down and shouted. It was the squeal that finally caught my attention. There was Amy – sweating from running down the street to catch me, wearing pj bottoms, big boots, no makeup, half-done hair and a yellow coat, frantically waving a shovel in the air. This end to the stuck-in-the-middle-of-the-road drama put a hysterical spin on the morning and I laughed, instead of scowling and cursing winter as I pulled up to the office nearly an hour late.

So Santa, since I’ve been such a good girl this year (as referenced above) would you mind throwing a set of tires in my stocking?

It’s just not Christmas without the annual Elf party!

…and the celebration of Christ’s birth, of course.

I’m thankful that it’s the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

Mostly because this means that it’s almost Friday and Natalie will FINALLY let me decorate for Christmas.

I can hardly stand it.