May Your Easter be Fabulous!

Happy Easter Everyone!

May your outfits be Lilly...

A Lilly Pulitzer Easter! by melodycmiller on Polyvore

Your cookies be egg-shaped... 

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Your baskets be monogrammed... 

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& Your eggs be golden!

 

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May your Easter be simply fabulous, and filled with your closest family and friends!

Easter 2012

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

My Fitness Wishlist!

This Easter, as I continue to get ready for my 10K race at Oak Island, I've got fitness on the brain!

Here are few items that I'd love to have:

Melody's Fitness Wishlist! by melodycmiller on Polyvore

Monogrammed Yoga Mat: Doing exercises using a blanket on the floor is a little less than desirable. This yoga mat would solve all of my problems and look super cute at the same time!
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Running Watch: This adorable pink watch would be the perfect accessory for my long runs outside this spring and summer. It calculates your time, distance, calories burned and pace.
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Weights: I'd love to have two-10 lb weights of my own. This would make exercises at home even more beneficial.

Kettlebell: I've learned quite a few kettlebell exercises during my personal training sessions each week, and I'd love to have one for myself to use at home! A 6 lb kettlebell would serve that purpose just fine!

What's on your fitness wishlist?

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

A Bachelorette Party Re-Cap!

On Saturday night, I had the pleasure of attending my first-ever bachelorette party!

My cousin Courtney is getting married in less than two weeks, so her MOH/sister Jessica put together a fun little dinner for us. Let's just say that I totally underestimated the amount of fun that four girls (all at completely different stages of their lives) could have during a trip to Applebee's! I didn't even know people still ate at Applebee's, but that place was packed all night, and we were right in the middle of it!

Prior to dinner, my mom and I decided to go shopping and pick up a few bachelorette-themed items! We also had some bachelorette party balloons blown up, and dropped them off at Applebee's with instructions to have them on our table when got there. 

Once we arrived at dinner, we laughed, sang, and even danced a little bit (well, at least I did!) It was so much fun! We also played a super fun card game, to see how well we knew the bride-to-be!

Courtney with her balloons, sash and margarita!

Jessica (Courtney's sister/MOH) & Samantha (close friend)

Courtney and margarita numero dos!

In the car on the way home!

If every bachelorette party is this fun, then count me in! I'm already looking forward to the next one!

Courtney & I are third cousins, but are also the same age, so we've stayed close over the years. I feel so lucky and honored to be one of her bridesmaids on her special day.

Here we are on the day of our fifth grade graduation! My, how time flies!

...and 12 years later, at Courtney's bachelorette party! What a special bond we have!

Congrats Courtney & Derick, may you have the most fabulous life together! 

While Courtney's busy enjoying her last two weeks of bachelorettehood, I'm planning on being the next Bachelorette...like ABC style haha.

Who's with me?!

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

The Color Run: Tips, Likes & Dislikes

As you all know, last Saturday morning, I ran my first 5K ever!

Most people have some idea as to how a 5K usually goes, whether they ran cross-country in high school, or have at least attended a race like this. Having done neither of those, when I jumped in the car on Saturday morning ready to go run, I had no idea what to expect! 

Here are my tips, likes and dislikes about The Color Run 2013:

Tips

-Get to the race location early! 

This is probably a given, but we left in time to get there 30 minutes early, and still barely made it because of the crazy traffic.

-Eat a little something

I need to have something on my stomach before I try to run three miles, but I forgot about this the morning before the race. With only Pop Tarts and Honey Buns laying around the house, I was forced to run on a few bites of a not-so-tasty protein bar. 

-Wear sunglasses!

I knew I was going to being showered with color throughout the race, but I had no idea it would cover every part of my body. I grabbed a pair of fun heart sunglasses as we ran out the door, and they truly saved my eyes. There were times that I couldn't even see through a cloud of color!

Likes

-Getting a t-shirt

I know this is standard with most races, but I loved being able to wear my Color Run t-shirt to personal training the next day, and be proud of what I had accomplished!

-The pre-race excitement

For this race, everyone was wearing crazy socks, tutus, & glasses. Some people got really creative! This, paired with the high-energy announcers and music at the starting line got my adrenaline pumping. I was bursting with excitement by the time we started.

Dislikes

-No mile markers

The Color Run is a 100% fun environment, so they choose not to time the race at all, but it would've been helpful to see a 1, 2, and 3-mile marker. Without these, you had no idea how far you'd gone and how much distance you had left.

-Designated areas for walkers/runner

When we made it to what seemed like the half-way point of the race, the majority of the participants were walking. Some had strollers, others were taking pictures or stopping to enjoy water breaks. For Samantha and I, who had planned to run the whole time, this was difficult to navigate around. I would've liked for The Color Run to have designated areas or sides for walkers/runners. This would really help those planning on running the whole course.

-An exciting finish

Crossing the finish line of my first 5K race was a huge moment for me! If you'd told me four months ago that I'd be running a 3.1 mile race, I would've said you were crazy! It was a bit of a let down to have no one cheering or anything at the finish. I remember crossing the finish line, and then walking into a crowd of people just standing there. Next time, I hope this will be organized a little better.

All in all, I had the most fabulous time at my first 5K race! There are always going to be things that you wish were a little different, which gives me the perfect amount of fuel I need to run my next one, a 10K in Oak Island, North Carolina.

I would definitely run The Color Run again, and recommend it to anyone!

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

The Garmin Forerunner Running Watch!

In honor of spring's arrival and warmer weather on the way, I thought I'd talk about something that I'm also really looking forward to about this new, fresh season:

Running Outside!

Though I began my running career on a treadmill and an indoor track, outdoor running is something that I'm quickly falling in love with!

I love the feeling of being free, being able to see things going on around me, listening to music on Pandora, and feeling the wind in my face. The only hard part about transitioning from the treadmill to the open road, is not having something to keep track of how far I've gone.

Normally, I use the MapMyRun iPhone app. It lets me track where I've been, for how long and the calories that I've burned. This works great, except I have to take my armband completely off to see how far I've gone. This doesn't take much energy, but it's pretty annoying to have to stop mid-workout to check my mileage in between full miles.

My solution to this little running problem?

The Garmin Forerunner10:

 

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The Garmin Forerunner10 is a GPS watch that's worn on the wrist, just like a normal watch, except it keeps track of your running. This model is one of the more basic ones, and calculates distance, time and calories burned. I love that it comes in hot pink, perfect for a girly runner like me! This one costs about $130. I also like the next nicest model, the Forerunner110.

The Garmin Forerunner110:

The Forerunner110 is a little more advanced with it's options, and features a heart rate monitor that the model 10 doesn't have. With its added features, also comes an added price! This one will cost you $230, but for those features, it may be worth it for you.

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Luckily, I have a friend that works at a sporting goods store nearby that's offered to pick up the watch for me with their 40% off employee discount! That brings the Forerunner10 to $78, and the 110 to a mere $138! Definitely worth the savings!

Do any of you have a Garmin running watch? Do you love it?

Thanks to Stephanie at The Midwest Prep for introducing me to these super cool running watches! I can't wait to have one of my own!

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

Success is...Intimidating?

A little over a month ago, an acquaintance made a comment to me that really rubbed me the wrong way. I don't know why I let it bother me, but I still can't seem to shake the words that were said and how they made me feel.

I was told that having my life together was very intimidating, that it seemed like I had everything planned out, and had all the answers.

I'm sure it sounds petty that this comment bothered me, but to someone that feels like their life is anything but together, it caught me off guard.

At first, I didn't know how to respond to this type of statement. Do I apologize for having a plan, goals and dreams? Should I be upset at myself for making someone else feel this way? I'm still a little confused.

One thing I do know is that I have worked very hard and feel blessed beyond measure to be where I am today.

A quote from Mrs. Lara Casey

Here are a few things that I wish I would've thought to tell this person, who was so quick to judge me that night...

1. I graduated from high school with honors because I worked my butt off and studied. 

2. I made the choice to come to Appalachian State, after not being accepted into the school that I dreamed of attending my entire life.

3. I joined a sorority to better myself after going through a break up that brought me to my knees.

4. I did an internship the summer before my senior year that I despised and sent the "plan" that I thought I had into a tailspin.

5. I lost one of my best friends for no reason, and to this day have no idea why or how it happened.

6. I made a D in college accounting, without missing a day of class, and it still makes me sick to think about it.

7. I did a completely unpaid internship after my college graduation because I had a dream that I believed in.

8. I took an amazing full-time job at my alma mater, after neglecting to hear back from umpteen other job opportunities.

So to the person that doesn't know the real me and made this unnecessary comment, it may seem like I have my life together, but honestly, I'm far from it.

I do believe in being the best you that you can be. I believe in working hard. I believe you should do a job that makes you happy every single day, and never settle for any less. I believe you should say yes ma'am, please, and thank you. I believe in prayer, and God's healing hands. And I believe that you shouldn't judge too quickly because you never know who's going to change your life.

One of my favorite quotes, also from Mrs. Lara Casey

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

I'm a Color Runner!

This past Friday night, I could hardly sleep from excitement of running The Color Run the next morning! This was a day that I'd been preparing for for months now, and everything had to be perfect! My running partner, Samantha had been to pick up our race shirts and packets earlier last week, so we had everything we needed. 

My packet came stuffed with my racing bib, Color Run wristband, fun tattoo, safety pins for the bib, a package of color, and the 2013 Color Run t-shirt.

I started planning our outfits way ahead of time, and thanks to Amy of Lily and Bliss, I decided to go with a monogrammed white top instead of the standard white t-shirt! Once I knew the color of my monogram, I pulled in a pair of pink/purple Nike shorts, an over-sized pink bow I had laying around, and a neon pink/gold sports bra!

I loved being able to have my race outfit show my personality!

On Saturday morning, my family and I woke up bright and early to start getting ready for the race! Even though Samantha and I were the only two running, my Mom, Dad and Brother were our wonderful cheerleaders and photographers!

On the way to the race!

SO excited to be in the car and on the way!!

The race started at 10AM, but I wanted to be there at least half an hour early to give us time to eat a little something, stretch, take some photos, and do any other last minute things before we started running. This unfortunately was not the case. Traffic was backed up coming from every direction, so we didn't get out of the car until about 10 minutes before the race started!

Getting ready to head to the starting line!

I hadn't planned on wearing the heart sunglasses, but grabbed them at the last minute to keep the color out of my eyes. So glad I did!

Samantha!

When we finally made it to the race corral, Samantha and I jumped in line about 100 yards from the starting line. They start the race in different heats, and we were in about the 4th one back. There were so many people!

 Waiting for our heat to start!

I loved having the announcers there to pump you up before you started running.

 
Here we go!

I was so excited when we finally started running, I think I ran the entire race off pure adrenaline! It didn't even seem like we were running because I was having so much fun!

During the race, we were showered with tons of yellow, purple, green, pink, and blue color. I had color in places I didn't even know existed! 

The after effect!

The crazy color explosion once everyone was done!

Since I just started running this past November, I was beyond thrilled to cross the finish line! It felt so good to finish something that I worked so hard for!

After this race, I think I'm in love with 5K's! They are the perfect distance to get your heart pumping without tiring you out. I've already got my eye on another one in May, when the Race for the Cure comes to Winston-Salem!

I hope all of you out there running this weekend had as much fun as I did!

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

Choosing My First 10K Race!

I am so excited to announce that I've chosen the 10K race that I'll be doing in April, once I complete my 8-week training program!

For someone that's running their first 5K this weekend, running a 10K race is a BIG deal! Not only is the 10K twice as long, but it takes more endurance, increased mental strength, and in this particular race, I'm running solo.

With these things in mind, I wanted to consider all the options, and see which race was best for me!

After doing research on a lot of different races, their terrain, and distance, I finally decided on:

The Oak Island Lighthouse 10K!

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I liked this particular race for so many different reasons!

1. It's at Oak Island! Besides running through Cinderella's Castle in Disney World, I can't imagine more beautiful scenery as I run my first six-miler.

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2. This particular race is a run/walk, so there will be participants at all different paces. I would hate to feel like I was being left behind by everyone else.

3. Since the race takes place at the beach, the terrain is flat. For my first 10k, I was looking for an easy course, where all the elements are on my side.

4. My family has decided to go down the Friday before the race (April 19th,) so we'll be spending the night in Southport. This will be a great opportunity for us to have a nice dinner, go see the beach, and relax before the big race on Saturday morning.

I can't wait!

My first 5K, The Color Run, is this Saturday in Winston-Salem, NC. I'll be posting all kinds of pictures and updates from that, so make sure you're following me on Instagram & Twitter. I'm praying for good running weather!

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

My Essie Wish List

With spring just around the corner, I've been dreaming of so many bright and fun Essie colors to add to my collection! 

My Essie Wish List by melodycmiller featuring a hot pink nail polish

What colors are you craving this time of year?!

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

The Ultimate Preppy Dress!

Yesterday, in honor of the first signs of spring starting to shine through, I wore one of my all-time favorite dresses...a dress that I have personally deemed the ultimate preppy dress! 

This precious smock is a Ralph Lauren oxford shirtdress from the POLO outlet store. It's blue with pink stripes, and came with a matching pink belt! So me!

I love this dress because it's perfect for so many occasions! I've worn it to birthday dinners, Mother's Day lunches, church, etc. and I always feel like the belle of the ball!

I picked this up in a POLO outlet at the North Carolina Outer Banks four years ago. I wasn't looking specifically for this dress, but I remember walking in and seeing one of the salespeople wearing one just like it, but it in a different color. She'd paired it with brown cowboy boots, and it was gorgeous! I was in love with that outfit, and knew I had to have it! I don't remember the exact price, but it couldn't have been more than $40.00 or so, which is a steal for a good dress that you can wear for going on 5 years!

I don't know if POLO still sells the exact one, but they did have a similar dress on their website:

The Adele Cotton Poplin Shirtdress

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If you ever find a button-up, oxford dress like this one, grab it! It's one of my favorite preppy purchases of all time, and I just know you would love it too!

As always, Have a Sweet Day!