Villa M

Downtown Sunday 5k

Posted in on 8:32 PM by Jilian

This weekend was Blacksburg's second annual Summer Soltice Fest. Among other fun events was the 2nd annual Downtown Sundown 5k which benefits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. My friend Maria has been bravely fighting Lymphoma this year. What an inspiration she has been facing this awful disease head on and conquering it one step at a time! It was an honor for us to come together last night as a team to run (& cheer) in her honor during the race!

Thanks to another friend Lauren who helped design the t-shirts!

Team Maria!

Maria & I

MARIA ROCKS!

PS. Maria next year we're training for this together! It'll be part of our work out plan :)

Lucky me.

Posted in on 7:52 PM by Jilian

Thirty - Something

Posted in on 2:50 PM by Jilian

I think after 30 birthdays I finally worked out my perfect recipe for a great birthday! Cram the day full of fun things!

~ Start the day with a yoga class.
~ Enjoy an egg souffle & mango tea at Panera (while using the free wi-fi to get a little work done)

Before

~ Haircut!

After

~ Lunch with the boss followed by a Mangoloda from TCBY :)
~ Listening to my 2 year old niece (& brother) sing me Happy Birthday over the phone!
~ A couple hours of work.
~ Tee time with the ladies (golf league)
~ Dinner with friends!

Awesome. If only I could figure how to get ALL my friends and family to Blacksburg. hmmm.

The facebook messages, phone calls, & emails also contribute to making the day great! Thanks to all my friends & family for sending me love today!

31. Let's go. Plans are to make this the best year yet :)

Five Years

Posted in on 10:03 PM by Jilian

1825 days. Not one goes by when I don't miss you.

I've enjoyed exploring Thailand and thinking about your adventures here. Wishing you were here making new memories with us! They really go crazy celebrating April 13th :) I know you were smiling down on me drenched and laughing in the streets!

I love you daddy! Always and forever.

Google Rocks :)

Posted in on 6:28 AM by Jilian

I spent some time this weekend whipping up a little website for a friend - and have to give google some props. A little google calendar here - a little google maps there - and voila :) I think it's a cute little page with major usefulness!

Check it out.

You also gotta love google doodles :)

Today:

Valentines 09:

New Years Day 09:

Election Day 08:

They make me smile :) You can view all the old google doodles here.

PS. How bout that snow! FINALLY :)

Siam Sunrays

Posted in on 6:02 PM by Jilian

Thailand hopes new cocktail can lure back tourists

BANGKOK (AP) -- Cuba's got the Mojito. There's the Singapore Sling and the Manhattan. Thailand hopes a newly created drink called "Siam Sunrays" will enter the world's cocktail lexicon and help draw tourists back to the country.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand unveiled the drink Thursday, calling it "Thailand in a glass - the new punch in Thai tourism."

The cocktail consists of a shot of vodka, coconut liqueur, a dash of chili pepper and sugar, lime juice, a few slivers of lemongrass and ginger - shaken not stirred, then strained into a glass - with ice and soda water.

It's the latest strategy to revive Thailand's key tourism industry, which was battered by political protests last year that culminated in a weeklong shutdown of Bangkok's two main airports. The airport seizure stranded more than 300,000 travelers at the start of the peak holiday season, dealing a devastating blow to Thailand's tourist-friendly image.

"Successful signature drinks are one way to fast-track holiday destinations onto the world tourism map," the tourism authority said in a joint statement with the Thai Hotels Association.

Siam Sunrays was the winner of a competition sponsored by the two agencies to create a national cocktail.

"Thailand's new signature drink is based on very Thai ingredients," the statement said, adding that the drink was now available at hotels and resorts across the country.

T & I are looking forward to reviewing Thailand's new national drink! It'll have to be pretty tasty to compete with the Mojito!

Yoga vs. Pilates - What's the difference?

Posted in on 8:56 AM by Jilian

There are quite a few blogs of people I do not know IRL that I read regularly. Strange maybe (I originally only read blogs of friends & family!) but these women (mostly) are super talented writers with all kinds of wisdom, humor, craftiness, and experience to share. The blogging 'community' is quite and interesting world - kinda makes me want to go back to school and do a big paper/study on it. But not really :)

I've enjoyed reading The Shared Journey over the past year. Super talented writer who lost her dad recently. She's been so real and open about about that journey. I relate so much - just can't put into words the feelings like she can :) It's been as healing for me to read as it is for her to write probably.

Anyways - she also writes freelance and recently wrote this article for Fox News which I really enjoyed! I do some pilates (videos) and just started participating in a yoga class once a week - so I'm not real familiar with either. I do know I need to spend more time on my core and stretching!

Yoga vs. Pilates: What's Right For You?

pathetic

Posted in on 8:53 AM by Jilian

That's what my bloggin has been. Haha - and I considered 'blogging more regularly' as a possible new years resolution!! I have many lists around of 'things to blog' - just haven't been able to find the time and motivation to create them. No promises, but I'll try to be better! I hope I have some friends that still drop in once in a while :)