It Is Still A Mile

As you all know, Kipper and I are training to do the Warrior Dash at the end of April. Today both Kipper and I were really tired and didn't want to go work out, but we both pushed each other to head to the gym. As we drove to the gym, I was thinking I would just take it easy and maybe just walk since I was so tired. Yet as I walked into the gym and stepped on the treadmill I decided if I tool the time to get dressed and drive there, then by golly I was going to give it my all.

While I still can't run a solid mile yet, I am getting closer to it. But while I haven't hit that milestone yet, I did hit a big milestone for me today. While on the treadmill I would walk 2 min, run a 1 min, walk 2 min, run 2 min etc. When I was done with my workout I looked at how far I had gone and how long it took me - I had shaved my time down to a 15 min mile!

Is that super impressive to someone who is a runner? Well of course not! But for me, the girl that even when I worked out 4-5 times a day that HATED running, it is a huge thing! When I was done I felt so empowered and happy that Kipper and I push each other not only to workout, but to run longer, harder and faster.  Can't wait to see where we both are in another month!!

Coming Soon...

I wasn't going to say anything until I had everything together, up and running, BUT I am so excited (and proud of myself) that I am finally doing this, I can't keep it to myself!

So what is THIS you ask? I am opening an Etsy shop!


For the last few years I have had so many friends hound me about doing something like this and I have always wanted to as well (just didn't have the confidence I guess..) But after some thinking I figured, "What do I have to lose??"  :) 


Stay tuned for the launch of Allie in Glitterland! (P.S. Big thanks to Rei for coming up with the perfect name!)

First Comes Love...Which Leads to Allie Being Crafty

One of the first people I met when I went to work for the Heart Association 2007 was Aly. We both were in JWC and had several mutual friends, so it is was only natural that we became friends.

First Comes Love...In February 2009,   Aly headed to Mardi Gras where she was surprised with a proposal from her boyfriend, Trent.

Then Comes Marriage... Fast forward to October 31st. I was  blessed to be able to watch  Aly walk down the aisle and say I do to her prince charming. While the wedding was very much a traditional wedding, the reception was unlike any I have every been too. Trent is a HUGE Halloween person and every year he has a themed Halloween Party called Boo. I have a feeling it will be really hard to out do Boo 12: Tacky Bridesmaids and Groomsman, since it was their wedding reception!  (Honestly it was the most fun I have ever had at a wedding reception!) I mean how many wedding receptions have you been to in a costume and where the groom is dressed as a Pirate?



Then Comes Aly With A Baby Carriage... Fast forwarding again, this time to the summer of 2011. Aly and Trent announced they are expecting - TWINS!  I was so excited about getting crafty for Aly's shower when things got put on hold because the twins decided to make their debut 10 weeks early.

Thomas 1.1lb

Maggie 1.15lb

Aly's shower was rescheduled to January so now that she has her gift, can show off what I did for the twins. I always have adored the appliqued onesies you see all over Canton and Etsy, so I decided to take my inspiration from those and try my hand at them. (plus of course some bows for Miss Maggie!)

Here is the finished products! I was excited with how they turned out, but I have to say it is hard to so on onesies....they are so tiny!!!

The twins have been in the NICU since they were born on November 2nd and have been growing and getting stronger everyday! And the best news! Miss  Maggie got to come home last Friday weighing 6.9lb!  Mr. Thomas still has a little longer before he can come home.  He is weighing in at 5lb and hopefully will get to join his little sister at home in early March.  I am so excited for Aly and Trent, and I can't wait to meet both the little Layman's! :) 

I'm A Warrior...In Glitter!

For the last few weeks Kipper has been talking about doing the Warrior Dash with a bunch of people from work. I had heard about it before because a few other people I know have done it, but honestly I didn't pay much attention. Early this week we started talking about it again and something clicked. As I looked at the website I came to 2 conclusions 1) This actually might be fun and 2) I can totally do this! Monday, January 16, 2012 the Team Glitter Warrior was born!

I have a feeling many of you are saying what the heck are you talking about? Well to sum it up this is the official description for the Warrior Dash.

"A mud-crawling, fire-leaping, extreme 5k run from hell. Warriors conquer extreme obstacles, push their limits and celebrate with music, beer and Warrior helmets."


The responses from friends have been interesting, both when I tell them I am doing it and when asking them to join me.

Conversation 1: 

Little Alex:  You that it involves mud, right?

Me:  Yea but they give you a Viking helmet, AND there is also a costume contest,  turkey legs and beer. Not that I like beer but still it is an option!

Little Alex: I will do it with you!

Me: Score one for Team Glitter Warriors!!

Conversation 2: 

Me:  Getting a group together to do the Warrior Dash in April. Want to do it? You know you want to join the Glitter Warriors!?!?

J Crab:  Have you lost your mind?!?!?!? Me? Mud? I've seen the pictures of guys doing it. NO WAY!

Me: They give you a beer at the end! :)

J Crab: I can afford to buy my own beer.

 Me: Fine, you can be an honorary Glitter Warrior and a sign holder with Tricia if you would like.

Now Kipper is still a little skeptical and he said that I have to prove to him I am serious about this before he will pay the $60 for me to register. (Apparently planning out cute outfits for everyone to wear the day of does NOT prove ones dedication, just in case you were wondering)  

But I am determined to show him and everyone else I am TOTALLY serious! I am going to not only DO the Warrior Dash, I am going to COMPLETE the Warrior Dash, all while wearing an obnoxious amount of pink and glitter...which I am sure will involve a tutu as well!

 As I was in the middle of Day 1 of Glitter Warrior Training I found that when I started to feel like I couldn't run any further, planning the Glitter Warrior "uniform" helped me forget that I my legs were about to fall off.

All joking aside, today will be Day 2 of Glitter Warrior Training and I am pumped! On Day 1 Kipper and I went 2.5 miles, alternating walking and running, but I ran HALF of it! I was pretty proud of myself seeing that I haven't really worked out in like...um....yea...a year!?!?! Not only did I FEEL amazing, I had a blast working out with the hubby. (By the way, can we talk about how skinny he is getting?!?!?!)



And it will feel even better when I cross the finish line and I'm able to say, " I, Allie Martin, leader of the Glitter Warriors, can do anything...even when wearing a tutu!" Now who wants to join me?????

Time Sure Does Fly

Had to believe it has almost been 2 years since I directed my first JWC Spring Show. (For those of you who don't know what the heck I am talking about: every year the Junior Woman's Club of Fort Worth writes, produces and performs and original musical based off of the club wide theme for the year)  Even though I have directed twice now, that first year holds a sort of magic that I am not sure can ever be repeated. From start to finish, it was pretty much a magical experience (even if I pretty much had NO life for a year) and went down in my book as one of my greatest accomplishments to date. I can't begin to describe what is is like to watch your visions come to life through the script, dances and the show as a whole, but it is an experience I will never forget. 

Today Cascada's version of Kids In America (which was our closing number) came on and all of a sudden I still got the same giddy feeling I did the first time we performed for an audience. It is a mixture of excitement and relief that you made it to the end and the audience is still there, and clapping none the less. 

I know I will never be on Broadway or have the opportunity to direct a major show, so this experience was a dream come true for me, with little pieces of my heart sprinkled throughout.  It is always fun when something in your daily life sparks a trip down memory lane. :) 

 

I could go on and on about how much I love Spring Show (even if it does make me insane and want to punch people sometimes) but I will spare you all. I am sure there will be plenty of Spring Show related posts in the future, especially since Tricia and I are planing Eden Wood and MaKenzie Meyers from Toddlers and Tiaras in this years show! :) 

There She Is.....

Tonight the 91st Miss America will be crowned LIVE on ABC. Many people have posed the questions, "Is Miss America still relevant in today's society?"  and "Isn't Miss America a beauty pageant?" Well let me answer those questions for you, "Hell Yes" and "Hell No!"

Miss America is far more than the pageant you see on TV, it is a national program that impacts more than just the 53 girls lucky enough to represent their state each you. If you were to add up all of the community service hours and people impacted by Miss America, 53 state title holders, 100's of local title holders, and the 1000's of local contestant who might never even make it to the state level - that alone should answer both of those questions for anyone. These young women are more than just a pretty face wearing a crown - they are successful, educated, volunteers and role models to people of all ages.  

I am sure the skeptics that have read to the part are saying "That is a nice canned answer" and/or "And you are qualified to to make that assessment because???" Well, I am a product of the Miss America Program and because of it I am not only the woman I am today, but my career is where it is today. Because of my volunteer work on my platform I was invited and served as one of two youth members for a Untied Way Realignment Task Force at 16 years old.  At 17 years old I was invited to present at a state wide conference for volunteer service and leadership. Because of the relationships and partnerships I built through working my platform as a local teen and miss title holder I was able to secure my first non profit career position before I ever graduated college. These are just a few of the highlights of what I gained as a part of the program. And I never won a state title, the closest I ever got was 4th Runner Up my last year at Miss Teen Texas. 

All of the things I took away from my participation in the Miss America program are what led my husband, Kipper, and I to decide to become local directors, so that I could help give back and allow other young women the opportunity that I had.  While we are taking a break as directors to focus on growing our little family, we still very much love our Miss Texas family. Through my time as contestant and as a director I have formed life long friendships that I treasure more than you know. Many of my dearest friends (and pretty family!) are because of the Miss America program. Some I met when I was only 14, others not till I was an adult but I treasure them all. 

As I watch the pageant tonight, I know that years of hard work and dreams have lead those 53 young women to this moment. And while only one of them will have the experience of being crowned the 91st Miss America, all of them are truly remarkable young woman and should be proud of what they have accomplished.

And of course a special shout out to our very own Miss Texas, Kendall Morris!! It has been wonderful watching her grow up through this program as a local teen, state teen, local miss and now a state miss titleholder! I know God has many big things in store for her! 

Ready. Set. Go.

I might need to remind myself of this every so often!  But I know setting the goal and making my choice to go after it is the the first (and sometimes the hardest) step.  I have lost the weight before and kept it off for over 3 years. Somehow I let life get in the way and my weight creeped back up. I deserve better than that and I am making the the pledge to myself that once this weight is off, the only reason I can gain it back is if we have a Little Martin on the way! So if I am a little cranky the next few days, you know I am just adjusting my diet! :)