Happy NFL Draft Day

Being from the South, I am definitely in College Football country. I love watching and keeping up with all sports but College Football and NFL are for sure my favorite. Draft Day is always fun since you get to see where your favorite college players get to continue their careers. I'm partial to all SEC teams (War Eagle!) but I know how much talent is out there in the ACC, PAC12, and the BIG10 as well as independents. Here are my picks for the 2015 NFL Draft!

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Jameis Winston (QB, FSU)

2. Tennessee Titans- Marcus Mariotta (QB, Oregon)

3. Jacksonville Jaguars- Leonard Williams (DL, USC)

4. Oakland Raiders- Amari Cooper (WR, Alabama)

5. Washington Redskins- Dante Fowler (DE/OLB, Florida)

6. New York Jets- Kevin White (WR, West Virginia)

7. Chicago Bears- Trae Waynes (CB, Michigan)

8. Atlanta Falcons- Bud Dupree (OLB, Kentucky)

9. New York Jets- Danny Shelton (NT, Washington)

10. St. Louis Rams- Andrus Peat (OT, Stanford)

11. Minnesota Vikings- DeVante Parker (WR, Louisville)

12. Cleaveland Browns- Brandon Scheff (OG, Iowa)

13. New Orleans Saints- Randy Gregory (OLB, Nebraska)

14. Miami Dolphins- La'el Collins (OT, LSU)

15. San Fransico 49'ers- Arik Armstead (DT, Oregon)

16. Houston Texans- Nelson Agholor (WR, USC)

17. San Diego Chargers- Todd Gurley (RB, Georgia)

18. Kansas City Chiefs- Trae Waynes (CB, Michigan)

19. Cleaveland Browns- Eddie Goldman (DT, Florida)

20. Phillidelphia Eagles- Phillip Dorsett (WR, Miami)

21. Cincinnati Bengals- Shane Ray (DE, Mussouri)

22. Pittsburgh Steelers- Landon Collins (SS, Alabama)

23. Detroit Lions- Malcolm Brown (DT, Texas)

24. Arizona Cardinals- Kevin Johnson (CB, Wake Forest)

25. Carolina Panthers- Cedric Ogbuehi (OT, Texas)

26. Baltimore Ravens- Melvin Gordon (RB, Wisconsin)

27. Dallas Cowboys- Admeer Abdullah (RB, Nebraska)

28. Denver Broncos- Cameron Irving (C, Florida)

29. Indianapolis Colts- Ereck Flowers (OG, Miami)

30. Green Bay Packers- Eric Kendricks (ILB, UCLA)

31. New Orleans Saints- Maxx Williams (TE, Minnesota)

32. New England Patriots- Sammie Coates (WR, Auburn)

Who is your top pick for your team? Anyone that I missed that you think will be in the first round?  Tell me!

Ex Machina Review

Ex Machina

Directed by: Alex Garland

Starring: Domnhall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, and Oscar Isaac




I had heard good things about the Sci-Fi film Ex Machina and a friend and I went to check it out last night. We were literally the only girls in the theater (so ladies the odds are in your favor), I was a bit skeptical that this would be just another macho, Terminator type film. All I can say is WOW! This film is very good and extremely well done. I knew very little about this movie going into it and was glad I stayed away from spoilers and Wikipedia. Therefore, I'm not going to give too much away about the storyline and ending since I think you need to see it in person. But, I will give you a spoiler-free summary!

Caleb played by Domnhall Gleeson (yes, he did play one of the Weasley brothers in the Harry Potter franchise), begins the film by being selected by his company as the winner of a coding contest and in turns get to visit the creator of the company, Nathan. Oscar Isaac (A Most Violent Year ) portrays Nathan, a genius, billionaire playboy type (think Tony Stark) who soon reveals to Caleb that he has invited him there to test an A.I. aka Artificial Intelligence aka a robot. This A.I. testing is unique, Caleb must determine if the A.I. (named Ava played by Alicia Vikander) is so human like that you can't even tell she's not a real human being. Caleb appears to be a little put off by Nathan, from the reclusive estate to the experiment, you get the feeling Nathan is not one to trust. Caleb agrees to the seven day experiment testing and soon meets Ava. After their first encounter (she interacts just like a regular female), Caleb seems quite taken by the A.I.  Like I said, I don't want to give away too much since this film has several twists and you really need to see it on the screen!

The actors were all terrific, there couldn't have been a better casting job. The directing almost reminded me of a Hitchcock type film, the most simplistic of scenes could make your heart race and you didn't want to miss a scene. Great acting, directing and storytelling, the film actually made you think afterwards. One of my friends who had already seen El Machina, asked me after I saw it, who I thought the villain was. That really got me re-thinking the movie and honestly there could be several answers to that question. Which is why you need to see this movie in theaters today! You can check out the trailer for Ex Machina here!

I definitely thought this was a great, creepy film. What about you? Have you seen it? Does it interest you or no? Let me know!

While We're Young Review

While We're Young

Directed by: Noah Baumbach

Starring: Ben Stiller, Naomi Watts, Adam Driver and Amanda Seyfried

 

The indie dramedy, While We're Young, tells the story of a 40-something married couple, Josh (Stiller) and Cornelia (Watts), who begin to feel distanced from their friends who have children. After attending one of Josh's film classes, they meet a young, hipster couple, Jamie (Driver) and Darby (Seyfried) and begin to have a youthful revival of their lives. But, soon find out the friendship isn't all that it seems.

Stiller (who I personally like acting wise, I'm not ashamed to say Along Came Polly is one of my favorite movies), plays struggling film documentary maker Josh, who has failed to release a new film in years but has been working on a specific historical one for at least ten years. Cornelia (portrayed by Watts) is a more successful film producer, presumably due to the fact her father is a well known filmmaker. As soon as you see them both on screen the scene portrays them uncomfortable around their longtime friends who have just become parents. It's clear they no longer have much in common with their pals as the dynamic has shifted from friends to baby. Josh and Cornelia appear to be a average, happy married couple even though they can't remember the last time they took a vacation or shocked to see how long ago a certain event was. They are getting older...and they realize this. Josh teaches a non-credit film course and after a painful class (Josh doesn't know how to fix a PowerPoint), Jamie and Darby come over to introduce themselves. Jamie ( Driver, who is more commonly known for his work on the HBO hit Girls) and Darby (Seyfried) are the quintessential hipster, Brooklyn couple. They ride bikes everywhere, make vintage products seem cooler than what they are, and at first appear to be a perfect couple. Josh is taken with the couple and soon introduces them to Cornelia, who has her doubts about Jamie but likes Darby. Soon Josh and Cornelia are blowing off their older friends to hang out with their new, young friends. Josh decides to help Jamie follow his dreams and help him make a documentary on a Facebook style project. Through the filming, Josh begins to realize how entitled Jamie is and it take a look at young people today and differences of the past and a look towards the future.

The acting was great! Stiller and Watts were perfect in their roles, even though I'm in my 20's I could emphasize with the couple. In one scene, Cornelia sees one of her best friends out with her new "mommy friends" and they invite her to come along to a Wiggles-esque show with the babies. It shows exactly how people with no children feel when they attend something of that nature. Stiller acts similar in many of his films, I'm glad he didn't go too over the top and loud with the role. It's clear his character wants to emulate his new, young friend and Stiller does a great job with that (love it when Jeff begins dressing like Jamie complete with a fedora style hat).  Adam Driver is quickly becoming one of my favorite actors, I've been watching Girls since the first season and he keeps getting better and better. He just sort of has that appeal to him, he can play the trendy, fun hipster guy because that's what he appears to be in real life. However, I'm not sure the writers had to make him so unlikeable in this film. Or maybe it could have been done more gradual, Jamie goes from charming to sleazy in just a few scenes. But, if the point was to make the audience dislike him then they did their job. Seyfried is a good actress but she just seems kind of there in this movie. I wish you could have gotten to see more of Jamie and Darby without Cornelia and Josh so you could have more of a feel of the couple and their relationship. Still, I think all the actors did wonderful in their respected roles.

I won't give away everything that happens in the movie but I think the ending was pretty clever and makes you think at the same time. I would recommend this indie, perfect for date night or a night out with friends. Watch the trailer to While We're Young here!


While We're Young is in theaters everywhere now.


Let me know if you've seen this film! Did you like it? Plan on seeing it?



 

Chicago Here I Come

Even though I've had ZERO luck with the lottery for the NYC Marathon I was thrilled to receive this email for the 2015 Chicago Marathon! I'm headed to Chi-Town in October with my best running friend who was also selected.  Let the marathon training begin...again! 

Are any of you headed to Chicago with me? First marathon for anyone? What are the must-do's for Chi-Town? Let me know! 

 

 

 

Outfit of the Day

Rainy days in the South are perfect for movie outings. I am obsessed with this  Piko top, it goes with everything and any season (plus they come in a wide array of colors!) and let's talk about these shoes...leopard print kicks. Super comfy, stylish and less than $20!

Be on the lookout for my reviews for While We're Young and Ex Machina coming this week on the blog.

Top: Piko, Shorts: Target, Bag: Louis Vuitton, Shoes: Target

Registering for the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

If any of my runners out there are planning on running any (or all) of the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend events in 2016, remember registration opens TOMORROW AT 12 NOON EST! I have run at this event the past three years and am registered for the Goofy in 2016. Here are a few tips for tomorrow since runDisney races are known to sell out in record time.



Completing my third WDW Full Marathon in January 2015

Tip 1: Know what race you want to register for. Disney has its own lingo for races and challenges.  Here is a breakdown for Marathon Weekend races:

* Dopey Challenge (Full Marathon, Half-Marathon, 10k and 5k (aka you run ALL the races).
* Goofy Race and a Half Challenge (Full Marathon and Half Marathon)
* Full Marathon (26.2 miles)
* Half-Marathon (13.1 miles)
* 10k (6.2 miles)
* 5k (3.1 miles)
* Kid's Races (100m, 200m, 300m or 400m dash and one-mile run)

I ran the Goofy Challenge (also my first marathon ever!) back in 2013 then I completed the inaugural Dopey Challenge in 2014 (an experience I will write a whole recap and how-to on in the future) and finally back to the Goofy Challenge this past year in 2015.

Tip 2: Realize how much training you will need to do when selecting a race before registration.

The challenges runDisney has are amazing and by far some of the best races I have done. However, they are very expensive and do require time to train. Running an event like the Dopey Challenge is serious work, realize you will have to train or there is a good chance you will hurt yourself during race weekend or face the possibility of not finishing. Look at your schedule and make sure you can commit to the training required for running 48.6 in the span of four days before paying the pricey race fee.

Tip 3: Do not wait to register, if there is a race you want to participate in register the moment it opens!

It's crazy how much the runDisney brand has grown and how fast the events will sell out. Looking back on previous events it appears the Dopey Challenge, the 10k and the 5k will sell out first then the half-marathon. The Goofy and full Marathon usually take a little longer to reach capacity but each year is different so it's best just to register asap.

Good luck to all registering tomorrow! I hope all of you are able to get into the race you want!

Be on the lookout for costume tutorials this week with all the excitement of the Everest Challenge and Tinkerbell Half-Marathon weekend coming up, I can't wait to teach you how to make some last minute costumes and show you what I've been working on for upcoming races!

Who is registering tomorrow? What races? Let me know in the comment section below!

Outfit of the Day

I have found the perfect summer dress! Perfect for warm weather and comfortable enough to wear to a music festival or dressy enough for dinner out on a Friday night. I wore this dress to several events and outings this past weekend (yes, I wore it multiple times!) and got compliments everywhere I went. Wishing I had bought an extra now!





(Dress: Jen's Pirate Booty, Bag:Kate Spade, Shoes: Tori Burch, Jewelry: Fabrik)

Outfit of the Day

Happy Friday! Enjoy the weekend with a donut...or two.

 

The Age of Adaline Review

On Tuesday, I got to attend a sneak preview of the new drama The Age of Adaline starring Blake Lively, Michael Huism, Ellen Burnstyn and Harrson Ford. The film, which tells the story of a young woman, Adaline, (played by Blake Lively) who never ages after she survives a bizarre accident involving lightning. Adaline never ages past 29 (a dream for most haha) but you see her life through a series of flashbacks as well as current day. She meets Ellis (Michael Huism) on New Years Eve in present time and finally opens up to the possibility of having a "real life". 

I was very interested in seeing this film since it seemed unique and with summer movies approaching filled with fast cars, robots and super heroes it was a nice break from usual suspects in theaters right now. So, when one of my fellow movie buff buddies invited me to the sneak preview I knew I was in! 

 

First, I think the actors did a great job in their roles. While I was in high school then college, Gossip Girl was a prominent TV favorite for myself so I have been a fan of Blake Lively for a few years. She definitely looked the part, she can pull off the "old Hollywood" look and if you love fashion you will be obsessed with the clothes in this film! This was my first time seeing Michael Huism on screen and he was reminiscent of Shia LaBeouf for some reason to me in looks but I enjoyed his screen time and he and Lively appeared to have good chemistry. Ellen Burnstyn plays Adaline's daughter (who does age while her mother stays young), was wonderful in the time she was on screen. I would have liked to have seen more of her and I wish the film had focused more on the mother-daughter relationship, it is a very unique circumstance to think you are in your late 70's while your mother continues to be in her late 20's. Check out the film Requiem for a Dream to see what a powerhouse actress Burnstyn is. Harrison Ford is one of my favorite actors (who hasn't had a crush on him?) and thought he did well in the role of William, Ellis's dad, who also knew Adaline years ago (plus they dated!). What's amazing is actor Anthony Ingruber who portrays young William in the flashbacks, I honestly thought it was CGI of the real Harrison Ford until I looked at the IMDB page. Seriously see this film just to see the uncanny resemblance in looks and voice, it's spot on. 

The storyline is interesting with elements of drama, touches of comedy and romance with a hint of sci-fi components. The only thing that I would have changed besides more of the mother-daughter relationship is the fact that William and Adaline dated (and seemed to be very much in love), maybe it's just me but it was a little gross to think about having once dated your boyfriend's father. I would have preferred them to just have been friends from the past or maybe not make Ellis the son of William. However, all the actors had chemistry with each other and made for an intriguing film. 

I would highly recommend this film and it's perfect for a girls night out, date night or if you just want a break from giant dinosaurs or talking robots. A unique film that delivers with a well rounded cast. Definitely check this one out in theaters!

Get your snacks and hit the theater!

 

The Age of Adaline opens in all theaters tomorrow (Friday, April 24). 

 

Outfit of the Day

I love that summer is weeks away but I'm not ready to give up my leather jackets just yet. Great for the pre-summer heat and when it gets too warm just tie it around your waist for a trendy look.

(Jacket: Forever 21, Dress: Fabric, Shoes: Target, Necklace: Free People, Bag: Louis Vuitton)

Pink Sunday. Surviving Lilly for Target 2015

So, as many of you have seen, the Lilly Pulitzer collection for Target, was one of the hottest fashion stories for spring. It was a simple idea that Target has used many times in the past, get a well-known, usually higher end designer, to create more affordable pieces. Jason Wu, Isaac Mizrahi and Marc Jacobs are just a few special Target designers of the past. I'm not sure any of those collections came close to the popularity of the Lilly for Target collection which was unveiled several weeks ago. I began seeing girls on social media discuss their "battle plans" and already knew which items they wanted picked out from the day the collection was revealed. Surprising to some (and some not) the collection at most stores were sold out in 10-20 minutes. We are talking Target opened at 8am and the collection was gone at 8:20am...crazy! I'll tell you a little bit about experiencing this event, what finds I was able to score, tips, and if I would ever do it again.

The aftermath

First off, if you don't know who or what Lilly Pulitzer is, I can give you a little rundown. Lilly started a juice stand in Palm Beach and apparently one day she spilled juice on her dress and came up with idea to make brightly colored clothing to conceal the juice stains. Soon people began asking her about the dresses and she began selling them hence forth starting her own brand. Lilly Pulitzer is very popular in the South as well as areas such as Maine and Connecticut, it is often seen as very preppy, such as something you would see worn at a country club or the Kentucky Derby. I have friends who absolutely love it and wear nothing else while I have some friends who hate it and would not be caught wearing it. I for one, do like their clothes, while the colors are bright and patterns bold, the dresses are easily some of the most comfortable I own. It is easy to begin looking like a stepford wife in head to toe Lilly so I usually throw in some accessories that are a little more edgy to break the look up. The point is, she is a very beloved designer and I had a feeling this collection was going to be a hot commodity.

While looking over the collection, I mainly set my sights on home décor. I purchased my first home this past year and thought the outdoor umbrella and fun lawn chair would be a great addition to my backyard, especially with summer quickly approaching. I asked my mom if she wanted to go to our local Target close to when they opened Sunday morning (tip: during shopping excursions like this it's usually better to get a female family member or friend to come along rather than a boyfriend/husband. More on that later.) As my mom and I pulled in around 7:50am...we saw a line formed outside the entrance. I knew there would be a lot of people but I honestly did not expect a line outside the store. We made the game plan, my mom would hit the home goods while I checked out the clothing and accessories. At 8am the Target employees opened the doors and it kind of looked like a very well dresses stampede. It is kind of a blur but I know I missed out on a bag I wanted (I was too slow!) but I found a really cute beach bag and wristlet. Accessories were literally flying off the shelves as I made my way to the clothing section, I could tell there was hardly anything left. I did want a swimsuit and surprisingly spotted one! It was a little big but with swimsuits you can usually make do since sizing is weird at times. I had the top and saw there was a bottom left. I reached for the bottom and as I was pulling it my way a child tried to grab it out of my hand! It was confusing but soon the child moved on. It was very chaotic so I decided to head over to the home section, my mom did way better than me and had secured the chair set and umbrella. We just looked at each other and knew it was time to go. By the time we left, about 20 minutes after we had entered the store, it appeared everything was gone with the exception of a few headbands, lights and vases. I did go grocery shopping later that night at Target and they had two dresses which had been returned, they are bigger than I normally wear but I plan on hemming them up to make them shorter.

I have never really been a part of something like this (although my mom was having Beanie Baby flashbacks) but here are a few tips I can offer for situations like this.

Tip 1: Shop online if at all possible. I heard the site crashed around 12am when the line went live but you probably have a better shot at securing at least a few things. Already have an account set up and your debit/credit card on file so you can use express checkout. Also, check out your things 1-2 items at a time, less prone to crash and lose all your items.

Tip 2: Arrive early if you are shopping in person. I am notorious in my friend group as always being early but let me tell you people that are early rather than late get things done. It helps that I'm a morning person (and don't need much sleep) but set those alarms and get going!

Tip 3: Have a "team" with you. Ideally this situation needed three people, but we did pretty good with two. If you are shopping solo you will probably have to make a choice of the items you really want, if its furniture hit the home area first and save the other sections of the store after you get your "must have".

Tip 4: With your team, especially if it has to do with clothing/fashion searching, it probably is best to leave your boyfriend/husband at home. I saw so many women yelling at their husbands (or boyfriends) it was like some of them were out of control. I could tell by the few men that were there they had no idea what was going on and it's sad to see people getting into a frenzy and fighting with someone about who was supposed to grab an umbrella.

Tip 5: Have fun. I understand this was probably a really big deal for some people and it was definitely a huge disappointment for those who came away empty handed. But there are more clothing options out there! If you have to get your hands on some Lilly, do a little research and find out when their next sale is, check online and I'm sure you will find some great deals. I have heard about a lot of Target for Lilly items being on eBay and hiking the price way up. Don't buy these overpriced items unless it's something you just can't live without. Why pay $200 for a dress that was originally $36 when you can buy a real Lilly dress at the actual Lilly Pulitzer store for that price? It's easy to get swept up in the hype but try to put things into perspective.

 Also, returns keep rolling in each day so keep your eye peeled just in case! I'm not sure I would be part of the madness again, the clothes and home wear items were really cute and great prices but it definitely felt like the shopping Hunger Games! Happy to have survived Lilly for Target 2015.

What about you? Did you take part in all the craziness? What were your stores like? Impressed with the collection? Let me know in the comments section below!

Happy Earth Day! Outfit of the Day

(Dress: ThinkMink, Bag: Louis Vuitton, Jacket: BB Dakota, Shoes: purchased at SOCA in Birmingham)

I hope everyone is able to go out and enjoy some sunshine on this beautiful Earth Day! I will begin posting links for outfits of the day but also click the "Instagram" button (camera icon) located at the side of the page and follow. I usually always post my outfits there first as well as info on where I found the pieces.

Thank you!

Travel Often...Preparing for New Summer Adventures

 

I love traveling, whether it's a day trip right here in my home state of Alabama or a flight across the country to one of my favorite cities in the world, Los Angeles, as soon as one trip ends I'm ready for the next to begin! On the blog, I'll show you some of the best destinations in the South and which
one of the fifty states I want to cross of my list next. As much as I would love to explore new cities and states for a week, that isn't really a possibility with my schedule. So I do mostly 2-3 day weekend trips plus show you how to make traveling work on a budget. What are some of my favorite places right now? Here's a quick look!

Pink Taco is a Must-Do in LA

I love the state of California, not sure if it's the constant sunshine and warm days or the Hollywood appeal that makes the movie lover in me pick this destination as one of my favorites. I feel like California has kind of become a second home to me the last couple of months, a few of my best college friends have either moved there for graduate school or to start jobs while I actually met my best running friend at the Disneyland Half-Marathon in Anaheim almost two years ago. We have since done several races and I was thrilled to run the 30th anniversary of the LA Marathon with her this past March. I will definitely do a whole post on Cali in the near future as I have spent many trips in the heart of Hollywood, Santa Monica and Anaheim aka Disneyland. I am super excited for May since I will be making two trips to the Golden State but more on that in future posts.

Ultimate Tourist Photo Spot
 

Speaking of Disneyland, how can I live in the South and not mention the great state of Florida? Florida is easily one of my favorite states and it has been that way since I was four years old. Of course I love the beach, my favorite just may be Seaside which is located on beautiful 30A. If you have ever seen the film, The Truman Show starring Jim Carrey then you know this place is beautiful. The shores are lined with the cutest and most colorful beach houses I have ever seen. It truly feels like you have stepped back in time, it's a lot less chaotic than places like Panama City or Gulf Shores so if you are looking for more of a party/spring break atmosphere then it might not be the best choice.

Means of transportation in Seaside? Bicycles!

But, I could not mention Florida without probably the most well known tourist destination in the world...the Walt Disney World Resort! My family have been annual passholders for years so now even in my 20's, I love a trip to Orlando. Now, I am not someone who is obsessed with Mickey Mouse or wears a princess hat around the parks but I do love all the memories my family and friends have made there over the years. If you have ANY questions about Orlando, I am the person to ask! I will obviously make more detailed posts about Orlando/Disney related trips as well as Universal Studios and all the new Harry Potter parks. Just a word of advice to all my runners reading this...if you are a fan of Disney World you MUST do at least one runDisney event, you won't regret it! Disney World is great for all ages, it's safe, clean, easy to manage and yes, it can be cheesy but that's part of the fun. However, it can get very pricey very quickly so I'll be sure to give as many money saving tips as I can!

Getting extra luck in "Japan" aka Epcot

 

Typical day at Universal Orlando

Finally, I love visiting places close to me and that could be New Orleans, Nashville, Atlanta or my city, Birmingham. Sometimes the best adventures are the ones where you can just get into your car and drive. I'll be doing research on what places are the absolute best to visit in the South (and getting your suggestions too!) and all over the country. I have a goal of visiting all 50 states so I like to try as many new cities and states as possible. I am also ready to see what all I can discover right here in Alabama!

No trip to NOLA is complete without a trip to Café Du Monde
 

This summer I am most excited to visit Austin, Texas for the first time! So, any of you Austin locals out there let me know what we absolutely must-do for an amazing weekend. What are your plans for the summer? Any big trips planned? What's your favorite destination of ALL time?

Comment below!

My Running Story

One of the many things I will discuss on my blog is running. I will say I'm not super fast, so if you are coming here for tips on how to run a half-marathon in one hour then I can't help you (although if you can, I would love to hear some of your secrets!) but I can tell you about my past experiences and recap future races I will be participating in.
  
So, how did I get started running 13.1 and 26.2 miles for fun? About 4 years ago, I found out that is was very easy to become unhealthy while you are in college. In high school I had been so active as a cheerleader that I didn't realize how much a lack of physical activity can effect your health, mood, outlook, etc. Two of my friends asked if I wanted to participate in a local 5k. I quickly said yes and honestly knew next to nothing about running. A 5k to me could have very well meant five miles for all I cared. I had run some to stay in shape but I had NEVER done anything like a 5k before

The 5k we chose was at the Birmingham Zoo, (a family favorite attraction located in Birmingham, AL), I still remember starting the race and thinking "wow, this is so easy!"...it felt like we had been running forever when I noticed the one mile marker. Wait, we still have two more to go!? But, as I settled in and turned up my I-pod the next two miles seemed to fly by. As soon as I crossed that finish line I knew I was hooked.



Since running that 5k in May of 2011, I have run over 30 half-marathons, 6 full marathons, several challenges including the Dopey Challenge at the Walt Disney World resort as well as many 5k's and 10k's. Running has become a big part of my life and it's weird to think about how at one time I would have never even considered running 13.1 miles let alone 26.2!








 

Don't hesitate to ask me any running related questions and I will be making several race recaps for future races I have coming up, including the Country Music Marathon and Half-Marathon in Nashville which I will be attending this weekend!



Finishing the LA Marathon in March 2015

Let me know what some of your favorite races are!

Are you a runner? If not, have you ever considered signing up and training for a race? I would love to hear from you in the comment section below!

Welcome!

 Hi! I'm Laurel and welcome to my blog!

 To explain my title, Adventures Right Outside the Yellow Door, it's simple really...I live in a house with a bright yellow door. When I was renovating my home, the one thing I had to have was a yellow door. Yellow has always suited my personality, sunny and optimistic, someone who always tries to see the glass half-full. So, as the name would suggest I will be chronicling my adventures which are just right outside the yellow door.

You'll find everything on this blog from the latest fashion trends to the best places to travel in the South (and beyond!). Lots of running tips and race reviews (especially runDisney) and what restaurants have the best desserts that you just can't pass up. Running costume tutorials, Saturday game days and how to pack for a 24 hour last minute trip are just a few things you can expect to learn!

If you want to know a little more about myself please don't hesitate to ask! Please direct all inquiries and questions to my email and please follow my social media accounts located at the right hand side of the page.

I would love to have you follow along as I invite you on all my adventures right outside the yellow door!