My First 5K

2013 has been a great year for me so far, both physically as well as mentally. Bethanne and I started exercising early in the year, and we have both come a long way from where we used to be. I had a Groupon for some group fitness classes in the basement of a church down the street, and I became hooked! It's the ONLY thing I have ever done fitness-wise that I have stuck with (minus a few injuries setting me back). The two girls that run it are like drill sergeants and it works.

Exercising has also brought about a healthier lifestyle in general. I have primarily gone organic at home and eat much healthier than I used to. It's hard to eat a burger and fries at lunch and then go to a class at 6pm. So now I opt for salads and fruit. Without intending for it to happen, weight started to come off, and I became much more energetic than ever before.

For the last few years, I have participated in the Most Excellent Race for the Achievement Centers for Children. In the past I simply signed up for the family fun walk, and strolled my way through it. I remember two years ago my mom wanted Bethanne and I to run to a corner about 1/16 a mile up the street when we were on the walk, and I thought I was going to die! Well this year was quite a different story. Matt, Bethanne and I decided to run the 5K. I'm still not much of a runner and the longest distance I had done up to that day was 2 miles. A 5K is 3.2 miles. I was kind of doubting myself, but the three of us stuck together (with iPods on) and helped push each other to cross the finish line in 31.32 minutes! I didn't stop once and I was SO PROUD of us! 

Blossom Weekend 2013

Sometimes I just love small town America. Even though I live in Cleveland and take full advantage of the city, we have so many smaller communities around town that give you a sense of being in a much smaller place. So once again, I was looking forward to my favorite weekend of the year in Chagrin Falls, OH. Blossom Time!

As we have gotten older, the dynamic of the weekend has definitely changed. Not for better, not for worse, just different. Instead of focusing on keg parties and bars (however, don't be fooled), we enjoy seeing the kids watching the parade, getting candy, riding rides, and eventually, going home to a babysitter! Then the fun begins!

This year I went to a fantastic party on Saturday night with different musicians and tons of fun people. And a crazy amount of food. Three of the girls I was with were pregnant so it was a bit more low-key, but they still stuck it out and went to the Greenville after the party. One till 1am! Impressive! Sunday was parade day and I was able to see so many people who I have known and loved for many years, which is the main reason I love the whole weekend.

 Overall, another successful Memorial Day weekend was had in Chagrin Falls!

At the Murphy Jam on Saturday night

Dana and Sydney enjoying Sydney's first ride ever!  She loved it!

Parade time

The Box of Surprises

The last time this box was opened blue balloons poured out of it letting us know that my step-sister and her husband were having a boy. This time, pink balloons filled the sky to tell us that my cousin Kelly is expecting a little girl! I am so excited to meet her (as well as four more coming soon from friends) soon! It's a baby kind of summer!

Derby Day 2013

The tradition continues!

As I have mentioned in previous blogs, my grandfather went to Gamekeeper's Tavern in Chagrin Falls for many, many Kentucky Derby races. His band would play, T-shirts were made, and good times were had. Little did he know that he was creating something in the late 70's and 80's that would continue on all these years later. About 50 people or so enjoyed cocktails, bet on horses, and visited for hours, all to watch a short horse race. Four of the five Fuller cousins came down, and two great-grandson's of Poppy's.

 I didn't win a dime, but I had a fantastic day with family and friends!

Eight Months

Where do I even start?! I have been enjoying life to the fullest since my last post, so I thought I would share my 3/4 of a year with a few pictures rather than stories.

Enjoy!

Celebrating my 34th birthday at Touch Supper Club in Cleveland

Visiting Alisa and Pearson in Grand Rapids- crazy fun times!

Madonna!!

Visiting The Biltmore Estate in Asheville

Major celebration in Asheville for Alison's 30th!

A view of Asheville landscape.  LOVE it there.

Bethanne and I went to visit our dad in Orlando and went to EPCOT Center and Universal

Enjoying a Hefeweizen in (EPCOT) Germany

I'm going to be an aunt to a little baby boy!!

Volunteering at the Browns game for Toys for Tots

Visiting with friends in NYC to celebrate our friend Jason's life.  He is missed by many.

Visiting with some of my greatest friends for brunch!

Taking in a Spring Training game in Sarasota

One lucky lady in Sarasota!  I grew up with all of these guys in my life.

St. Patty's Day partying in Cleveland!

Hitting the slot machines at Horseshoe Casino with a Frenchie

Celebrating my "oldest" friends birthday at Market Garden Brewery

One of Four

I am happy to say that I went to four weddings this summer.  And sad to say that I cannot go to Toni and Stephen's later this month in Australia  Side note- it's over 2K to fly there and you lose a total of five days there and back.  Bah.  :(  With those four weddings came two bachelorette parties and six bridal showers.  Don't forget the three baby showers.  Wow.

Krista and I became friends thanks to Dave Matthews.  Really, we did.  I don't know how many years ago it was but Jason Potts and I went camping for the DMB show in Raccoon State Park, PA like we always did, and Alison Hemly came with her friend Krista who was living in Maryland.  And voila- instant friends.  I remember our first real conversation being on a golf cart in the parking lot going to will call.  I just loved her.

Her husband Steve and I have known each other for a loooonnngggg time.  Poppy was friends with his dad and the rest is history.  Little did I know they would meet and become Mr. and Mrs.!

I am so grateful for the friend that Krista has become.  I came home to a world where people were already established in their lives and Krista and I were both still kind of figuring things out.  I had a new fabulous life here, but she opened a door for me.  We hung out and I met new friends and ran into old friends.  She threw really great parties, if I do say so myself.

I was so happy to share the wedding fun that she experienced leading up to this September.  Champagne and bow making, paper cutting and wrapping, flower girls screaming about the Biebs, breaking in shoes, pizza and wine nights- LOVED it. 

I'm pretty much the only "non high school" girlfriend who was closely involved with the whole wedding thing.  I think I might become an honorary Kenston Bomber!  I also have to mention how grateful I am to have met the friends that she has had for so many years.  They are good solid people who I am proud to call my new(ish) friends.

Her bachelorette party was one of the best nights out we have all had in years!  Just a fun, fun, fun day and night with happy girls.  Her shower was beautiful.  Her wedding was a blast.  I might still be recovering... really.

I have only posted a few pictures because most of them were uploaded to a private PG-13ish site with good reason.  Just sayin'.

(Always remember to click on the pic to make it bigger).

Tremont Pub Crawl

Flying Monkey

The before picture at the hotel

I think he might have been a cop

After pic at the hotel!

How many people does it take to set up an air mattress?  At 3am?  A lot.

It's Mrs. Seegot!  XO.

A Majestic Summer

This summer my company had a lot going on in the community, and I got involved in a few things outside of the office.  It is important to me to get out there and do things with the people that I work around.  On top of the fact that it's just plain fun, I also don't spend a lot of time with people at the office during the actual work week so getting to know them and their families is something I make an effort to do.

As you will see in this post, I am still volunteering through work for the Achievement Centers for Children here in Cleveland.  It's such a wonderful organization.  I have worked with them a few times outside of work sponsored events as well.  This year Majestic was the third highest fund raising team in Cleveland for The Most Excellent Race.  100% of the proceeds from this day go towards a special camp that the kids go to in the summer called Camp Cheerful.  Then later in the summer, some of us met the kids again at Progressive Field where the Cleveland Indians play to spend some time with them.  They are able to throw balls on the field, hit balls, run bases, eat hot dogs, meet Slider.... so cute!

Majestic also participates in the Cleveland Corporate Challenge.  There is a list of events each company competes in, and this year I did skeeball and kickball.  I was convinced I was going to rock skeeball because I used to get tons of tickets at Chuck E Cheese, but that just didn't happen.  We came in dead last!  We blamed it on my coworker being pregnant and not being able to get the ball around her belly.  There were also other companies who had people there who were on leagues.  I mean, come on.  Kickball on the other hand was a different story.  I surprised myself last year by not being horrible, and out team overall was really good this year!

The one thing I have to mention (so I remember it one day too) about this summer is how stinking HOT is was.  We had a drought for a few months, and it was the hottest summer on record in over a century.  So everything was brown, and everyone was sweaty.  I kind of got used to it after a while, but the day we played kickball was just brutal.  So to say the least, I don't exactly look like a beauty queen in these photos!  Regardless, heat and all, it has been a great summer.

*Remember that you can click on photos to enlarge them.

Getting ready to pass out gold medals to the Achievement Center kids after their 100 yard dash.

My WONDERFUL family and friends at the Most Excellent Race for the Achievement Centers for Children!

Progressive Field with the Achievement Center kids for their "Up To Bat" camp experience.

This little guy was my favorite- such an amazing little dude!



Corporate Challenge bowling team!

Don't let this picture fool you- I was not good.

Corporate Challenge kickball team at the Metro Parks

The hottest day of my life.  Ever.

At least we had some cold beers for after.  I think I drank 10 bottles of water first though!

Tug of War that I didn't participate in, but rooted on from the sidelines



Cleveland Corporate Challenge final day events- Majestic Steel FIRST PLACE in our division!