In Loving Memory. Cohen.

{click here to read more}

toys running the streets and day 8. a photo that makes you angry/sad.

ok..back on track.  It was the Summer Solstice weekend here in AK and if you have ever been in Alaska you know that Summer Solstice=tons of fun!  Our days & nights were jammed packed full of activities, one of them being a 10k!  I am so proud of myself for completing the 6.2 miles and for actually running 6 of those 6.2 miles!  This was my very first 10k and I absolutely LOVED it!  Greg and I have already decided to try our first 1/2 marathon in August..training mode has taken over!  Here in our town of Alaska the Midnight Sun 10k Run is a sight to be seen!  Some people dress up in costumes to celebrate the 24-hours of sunlight and of course, I participated.  I'm not exactly one to let fun times slip by...
10,000 points to whoever can guess what we were? :) 

pre-race:

post-race:

We seriously felt like celebrities the entire race {and no, I ran in pink tennis shoes, not the pink heels}!  Kids, and adults, went bananas for us!  I've never taken so many pictures for people in my life..it only confirms that I was wrong to not trust my gut and audition for Tinkerbell at Disney World the summer I graduated from college!  And because I just love my husband & his hilarious ways, I have to show you guys this pic!

It takes one creative man to figure out how to wear cowboy boots AND run a 10k!  Nice work, babe!

So..speaking of running/working-out/in-shape{ness}.  Here's my day 8 pics:

Angry: because I don't look like this anymore.

Sad: because I did it the complete wrong way.

But ya know what?  I'm happy now.  That's more than I can say for myself back then.  Both these pics were taken when I was a Senior in College ('07) and honestly, I was a tad-bit crazy brained about working out.  I woke up, worked out, went to class, went for a long run, went to work, worked out, attended my group x classes, then went to dance practice, and usually ate a hot dog {no bun} for dinner. No joke. Too much on the body?  Absolutely.  I saw the gym as an opportunity to relieve stress and so I smothered myself in it.  Sure, I would love to look like this again, and by training the proper way I hope to obtain my goal.  First stop, 5k on the 4th of July! 

day 7. a photo that makes you happy.

experiencing life with him by my side.

This was as we were leaving our wedding reception..happy, excited, giddy...

It feels as if we are constantly waving goodbye.  Either to our family & friends{moving to far away places}, to each other {deployments, training, etc}, or to our new friends at each Army destination {PCS}.  But I think what makes me happy about waving goodbye, a normally sad event...is knowing that I'm following the life God has laid out for me.  And that life is being a wife to that handsome man by my side.

day 5. favorite quote(s).

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
                  -Jeremiah 29:11


"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart."
                  -Psalm 37:4

day 4. favorite book(s).

no surprises here. addiction.

this book is AMAZING.

and this book is fabulous, the movie absolutely STINKS.  I honestly wish I would have never gone to see it...

And for a fav. children's book {which I cannot wait to read to our child(ren) one day}

day 3. favorite tv show(s).

Love the Army Wives show on Lifetime. Sure, some of it is complete and total ridiculousness, however, I'm still hooked.  And as sad as it may be, some of my non-military friends enjoy the show and get a tiny little glimpse into my life.

If you come into my house and flip on the TV..there about a 99.9% chance it will be on HGTV.  My favorite channel of all time!  I am obsessed with home decor and home buying/selling...Greg and I have always had a lifetime goal to flip a house one day & we make such a great team!  He's the handyman and I'm the one with design & style knowledge! :) Here's a couple of my favorites:

Again, love anything related to dance and this show never disappoints.

And last, but certainly not least, this is my favorite duo!  If I ever got the chance to meet Stacy London I think my life would be complete! {but hopefully not because I got put on the show!}

day 1: a new challenge & favorite song.(s)

So today, I decided to start a new challenge.  It's 30 days of designated blogging material..I got the idea from Ashley at Daddy's Duty and decided to give it a try.
Day 01 - your favorite song
Day 02 - your favorite movie
Day 03 - your favorite television program
Day 04 - your favorite book
Day 05 - your favorite quote
Day 06 - whatever tickles your fancy
Day 07 - a photo that makes you happy
Day 08 - a photo that makes you angry/sad
Day 09 - a photo you took
Day 10 - a photo of you taken over ten years ago
Day 11 - a photo of you taken recently
Day 12 - whatever tickles your fancy
Day 13 - a fictional book
Day 14 - a non-fictional book
Day 15 - a fanfic
Day 16 - a song that makes you cry (or nearly)
Day 17 - an art piece (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.)
Day 18 - whatever tickles your fancy
Day 19 - a talent of yours
Day 20 - a hobby of yours
Day 21 - a recipe
Day 22 - a website
Day 23 - a YouTube video
Day 24 - whatever tickles your fancy
Day 25 - your day, in great detail
Day 26 - your week, in great detail
Day 27 - this month, in great detail
Day 28 - this year, in great detail
Day 29 - hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days
Day 30 - whatever tickles your fancy

Here goes nothing...
Day 1: Your favorite song.
Picking just one favorite song would just be a crime for me considering I absolutely LOVE music & have a wide range of favorites.  I like everything from classic rock, hip hop, pop, country, contemporary christian, and alternative.  So per true Shannon fashion...I'll mix up the rules & list a few..in no particular order.

A classic. How can you NOT love this song?  Brings back soooo many college memories.


Colbie Calliat..one of my favorite artists of all TIME. so organic and real.




You might kill me for posting this video..but I couldn't find a better version.  Oh well...my husband and I both adore OAR.  I think it's against the law to not..


And lastly...I leave you with one of the most influencial songs in my LIFE. Greg and I saw Brandon Heath in concert once & let's just say..I am forever changed.  I've wrote about this song before on this blog, but man, I so desperately have a longing for missions, both foreign & domestic, and this song only magnified that.


Back tomorrow with favorite movie(s). Happy Saturday!