New Years Double [part one]

Well it is official I haven't blogged in about a month.. WOW there is a lot to catch you up on, but first we are going to get through the next couple of days.  Yes, I said WE!  I need all the support I can get.  I know I have talked about it and you know about it, but tomorrow I embark on a goal that I set for myself 6 months ago.  I am going to run the New Years Double.  I will run a Half Marathon in the morning and MY FIRST FULL marathon on New Years Day.  The best part is at the end of this double marathon I will have 2 medals  that I put into a HUGE CHALLENGE PLATE!!!  I am most excited about this bling!

WOW.  It has been a great year!  I can not believe I am actually about to do this.  I am sitting in my hotel room in Allen and have laid my clothes out, done my 30 minute stretching routine, and have synced all of my favorite running songs to my iPod.  I am stressed beyond belief!  NOT, however, for tomorrow's race, but Tuesday's race.  26.2 miles!   I can not wait to put that sticker on the back of my car.  And I can not wait to say that I have completed the hardest goal I have ever put my mind to, thus far in my life.  

There are 2 things I am worried/nervous/anxious about.  

1.  I am nervous that I will run too slow.  I have done some pace training, but I am a slow runner.  They give you a 6 hour time limit, but if you are not at 13.1 miles at 3 hours, then you are stopped, THEN, if you are not at 75% of the course in 4.5 hours then you are stopped.  My goal is to finish and not get stopped. 
2. I am worried that after my half marathon tomorrow I will be too sore or pull something in my race and not be able to complete the marathon on Tuesday.  (however, even if I am limping, I WILL start this race!) (and even if I am hurt, I most likely will not say anything about it!) The weather tomorrow is 90% rain and 41`!!  Anyone wanna run with me!??  I didn't think so. I am nuts.  

Southern Girl Swap: Fancy Little Things; Christmas Traditions

Today is the day!!!  Go check out the BLOG HOP Page and read all of our blogs.  Comment on them, Follow them, and then tweet us at #southerngirlswap for a chance to win a Christmas Surprise from Starbucks!

Catherine Sims is writing on my wall today.  She is a long time friend from college and has a wonderful blog about life over at TheFancyLittleThings.blogspot.com  - Go read her blog!!!

I’m so excited to be participating in my first ever blog hop!  All of the other bloggers who are participating are so fun and I highly recommend that you check follow them!  We’ve decided to talk about our own personal Christmas traditions.  I can’t say that my family has had a lot of specific traditions over the years.  Nothing compared to my husband’s family.  My Christmas tree is currently covered in 50% pretty color coordinated ornaments and 50% ornaments that he has collected since birth.    

Although I made fun of his “special” ornaments the moment that I saw them, I think it’s cute that he has a story for each one so I’ve gotten him an ornament each year of our marriage.  We will definitely keep up this tradition when we have children of our own, but I’ve decided that we’ll have two different trees in the future.  One “pretty” tree covered in sparkles and feathers and perfectly matching decorations and one “traditional” family tree that we’ll use for our gifts.
As for my family traditions, we have two that we’ve done over the years that I think are fairly unique.  Like most families we used to read the real Christmas story, the story of the birth of Jesus, on Christmas Eve but we would also read one of my favorite books of all time, “Cajun Night Before Christmas.” 
My mother was born in New Orleans and most of her family still lives in Southern Louisiana so we always got a kick out of reading this version of the story and laughed at how so many of her family members really talk that way.  I will definitely get a copy of this for myself!

The next tradition is one of my favorites!  Every year my mom wraps a note in a random box that is not size appropriate that says “Roses are red, violets are blue, an (insert ornament type) is holding something for you. 









 Once I open the note I go to the Christmas tree where everyone laughs at me while I try to find the one of hundreds of ornaments that has my gift on it.  This is always reserved for the piece of jewelry that my Dad gets for me each year.  Somehow in the midst of opening gifts I always forget about it until I open it so I’m super excited when I see it!
So there you have it, my favorite traditions!  I’m sure the list will expand one day when I have kids of my own but for now I’m happy with the fancy little things that have stuck with us through the years.

Merry Christmas!

Don't forget to comment, follow, and tweet so that Abby (CharmedBliss), Me (The Fancy Little Things), and YOU! Can win the GIVEAWAY!!! Announced a week from today at our Blog Hop Page!  Enjoy the Blog Hop and don't forget to spread the word!!



#SouthernGirlSwap