Happy Hunters

It's that time again at the barn. Show time. In preparation for the Spring Show the instructors and I have been coordinating clinics and events. This past Sunday was the Hunter Clinic.


All the kids got an awesome packet of information, played a fun game of hunter jeopardy and got to practice riding together for the hunter class at the show. All of the lessons are individual, so most of the riders don't have the opportunity to ride in a group very often. At first it was a bit chaotic, but once everyone figured it out it went really well.


I had a great time, laughed a bunch and was so proud of all the good lil riders!

Gojou - 4 months

Gojou recently had his 4 month birthday! Little baby is growing a lot, eating a lot and loves playing on his giant wheel. He is a lot less grumpy and he's hurting my feelings less because all I want to do is love him and squeeze him! He hardly puts his quills up at all anymore, except for around his face. I'm slowly getting him to accept my love!

He goes on his back much easier and sometimes will allow me to pet his tummy. He is still not a huge fan of baths or food other than his ferret food and mealworms. Some days he is sweet as can be and he totally melts my heart. Others days he just wants to be left alone, but I bribe him to be nice with mealworms. Gojou does not like the camera, the sounds it makes and hates the flash most of all. So, I don't like to bother him with it too often, but I did get these pictures last night. He's hilarious, endless entertainment. I love him!!

Back On Track

Ok, confession. I've been a total slacker in my running lately. Lately as in I haven't ran in a couple weeks... a good, long couple weeks. At first the problem was the cold, rainy, windy and generally icky weather. Since I had to be out in that weather riding and teaching lessons I certainly didn't want to go back out into it once I got home. Then I was sick with a cold or two... excuses excuses. But then, sadly, it got to a point where I was actually afraid. Afraid that I'd let it go too long and that I'd have to go through the excruciating process of learning to run again. I was afraid that it would be hard again.

For the past week I would say, ok today's the day. But, I would never bite the bullet and just go. Then last night I had a dream. A dream where I was running, running and running like the wind up a hill and it was effortless. You know when you're even having dreams about running that it's time. I miss it. I forgot that one of the reasons I love running is that it is hard. I love the challenge and the power of my body. I love the burning lungs, aching muscles and pounding heart, and I love the wind in my hair.

And so this evening I ran. It felt great putting my running gear on and lacing up my running shoes. I kept thinking, "why have I put this off so long?" Evening or night is my favorite time to run. (I will never be one of those people who run well in the morning.) The sun was going down and making the clouds orange, pink and purple. The shadows were long in the remaining sunlight. It's my favorite time of day. I set off, determined not to push it too hard, to just enjoy myself. I didn't even wear my watch. I just wanted to get myself out there and back on track. After the first hill I felt my muscles and lungs starting to work and it just felt so good.

My run was awesome and I even sprinted in the last 1/4 mile. I can still run. I ran really well actually. I ran like no time had passed at all, except I was running without the usual pain in my knee and foot. Perhaps this break was actually just what I needed. I'll probably be sore tomorrow though!

Spoiled

So, update to my last post... Brad read that I loved that dress and immediately bought it for me. He told me today that he ordered it! Now I just need some place to wear it.

Today another big purchase was made which involves another stamp on my passport. Brad's leave hasn't been approved yet, so I'll wait to tell you about it. I will be extremely upset and disappointed if we don't get to go, so fingers crossed!

My husband is really really good to me. Lucky girl!

LBD

LBD... Little Black Dress. Everyone needs one right? I think I may be treating myself to this pretty little number. It's on sale too! Ahhh BCBG, you sure know how to make a dress. Classy, flattering and so detailed. Love.

As I briefly mentioned before, I have a total love for BCBG dresses. This was started by my husband when he bought me my first BCBG dress for our rehearsal dinner. If I had the love of these dresses then that I do now I would have gotten married in a BCBG for sure.

Here is my first love, my rehearsal dinner dress. This still is my fav BCBG ever... probably my favorite dress ever. I got a beautiful BCBG for Brad's winging. It's so classy, versatile and I always feel like a million bucks in it, it's so flattering. Weird I don't have a better picture of it!

BCBG dress I wore to the Cherry Point USMC ball in 2009. I loved every second I got to wear this dress. I have yet to wear it again, but I look forward to it.


And the BCBG Brad gave me for my birthday last year. And the BCBG shoes he got me to go with it. I'm so glad I'm a girl and get to wear pretty dresses and shoes! Thank goodness for BCBG dresses.

Guilty Pleasure

This guilty pleasure goes along the same stream as my love for Jersey Shore and Britney Spears. I just can't help myself. I love Holly Madison. I loved her on the Girls Next Door, she is ooooh so pretty, smart, talented, loves animals and I just can't help but smile when I watch her on her show Holly's World. Brad makes fun of my mega girl crush, but whatev. She totally rocks. And no one can rock the tube socks better than Holly.

Zoo

This weekend was mostly spent hanging out at home and enjoying each others company. Enjoying each others company as in playing the Kinect. We've spent a small fortune on Kinect games the past few days. We've had a blast doing the sports and fitness games and yesterday Brad bought me Zumba! I lovelovelove Zumba and it is a super fun workout that burns lots of calories.

We did get out for a bit to check out the Okinawa Zoo. Most people have told me not to go to the zoo here. The animals have small, bare enclosures and don't have the quality of life the animals in the big US zoo's do. But, recently I saw and ad saying that there were slow loris at this zoo and I immediately wanted to go.

I've been totally obsessed with slow loris ever since I saw the Slow Loris Loves Tickles video years ago. Unfortunately we only saw one Slow Loris and it was curled up on a branch asleep. It reminded me of a little koala.


Even though we didn't get to see the Slow Loris do anything there were a ton of other animals to see. We saw bats, monkeys, big cats, hippos, a giant ant eater, pigs, giraffes, goats, ponies, an elephant, reptiles and amphibians, kangaroos and tons of different animals. The zoo was chock full and pretty expansive. The enclosures were definitely not very nice and a quite a few different times we were overwhelmed with the smell of the animals and their excrement, but considering how Okinawa is, the zoo was pretty good. Check out the sign on the lions cage. They get so mad they pee on people... poor lions. Brad got totally grossed out watching the hippos eat, it was pretty funny. I felt especially bad for the monkeys/apes/chips that just stare into your soul with their eyes. They had a lot!




The zoo also had a small petting zoo. I went gahgah over the baby chicks. Ummmm total love fest over these lil babies. They also had a super fluffy bunny, turtles and goats.



There happened to be a flower festival going on at the zoo too! There were so many flowers and they were super pretty.



The zoo made for a nice afternoon! Oh how I love animals!