Happy Thanksgiving!

Thankful for our health, happiness, and an incredible year! Although we may not be back in CLE tonight with family, we were blessed to spend a wonderful evening in Lausanne with the American students with delicious food and a side of snow! 

Speeding to an end

So strange that things are quickly coming to an end. With Thanksgiving tomorrow, a weekend in Z with Ash, the arrival of my mother-in-law on Monday, and the conclusion of the IMD year is just over a week a way... my feelings are all over the place.

On one hand, I am so excited for the holidays and to see my family and friends! On the other hand, I am torn that I am leaving so many people that have become so important to me over this intense year. We are trying to cram in as much as we can before everyone dashes all over the world. It is really funny to reflect back on all of this and think about the low points of the year when I thought it would never end and to the more recent times when I realized that all of us will never be in the same place again. There are definitely people I want to hold onto tightly and never let go of. The one thing I have surely looked forward to since we started the year was to have friends all over the world. Now, to be able to see all of these wonderful people, we are going to have to travel to new places and see their homes :) Lucky me!

Not sure how much I will be able to post in the next week or so, but thanks to all my readers for being on the other end when I really needed someone to listen. Blogging this year has been a great escape and therapy for me. I have been able to work on a passion of mine that I never had time for before and found that I really enjoy it!

amazing weekend away

This weekend we had a blast in France. We dined on delicious French food and wine with our resident expert and enjoyed great company. We also have two new half-marathon finishers! Despite the cold, rain and excessive hills, all of us finished the course! I could not be more proud of my neighbors and husband for doing it.

Of course, a bonus for the weekend, was having Ashley and Mike join us. Even though it did make our trip back more of an adventure, I would not trade it for the world. I cannot believe we head back to the States so soon and leave our Swiss friends, but we sure are trying to get as many good memories in as we can before we leave.
(uploading pictures later)

Burgundy!

The weekend has finally arrived for the half-marathon in Burgundy. There has been a lot of effort put forth for this weekend and all of us are looking forward to getting away, enjoying the countryside, some wine, food and, of course, competition! Not only will we be with Yann and Maxime, but Ashley and Mike will be making the trip in from Z.

from Lausanne 10k

So proud of my two neighbors for training and looking forward to seeing them accomplish one of their goals tomorrow! 

Cool New Fashion Technology

I went online this morning to search how to style a pair of peep toe boots I bought over a year ago and never really figured out how to wear. Before I even searched, I thought it would be a cool option if they showed a few models in the shoes with different outfits to show how best to wear something, in this case a funky boot.

And I stumbled on this article and immediately created my own boutique. I got the name nicki so I think I must be a pretty early user. It is really cool. But I also discovered through the article other interesting fashion sites, doing very similar things. This one is the most advanced.

I can hardly wait for what the next best thing is in online fashion- who knows, maybe instead of finding what I want online, I will actually be the one with the idea and create it.

Song of the day

Don't Quit!

An all-time favorite poem that I used to repeat during my races in high school, when I felt so tired that maybe I couldn't finish or keep going as fast as I wanted. I just kept repeating some of the lines, especially the third stanza. My mom has had this poem posted on the wall next to the treadmill at home for years. Now I realize how valuable this poem has been to me not only for competitions but also for life in general.

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit-

Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,

As every one of us sometimes learns,

And many a fellow turns about

When he might have won had he stuck it out.

Don't give up though the pace seems slow -

You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than

It seems to a faint and faltering man;

Often the struggler has given up

When he might have captured the victor's cup;

And he learned too late when the night came down,

How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out -

The silver tint in the clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell how close you are,

It might be near when it seems afar;

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -

It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

Holidays!

This upcoming Thanksgiving could have been a cold and rather lonely holiday in our temporary home here in Switzerland. Luckily, we get to celebrate it not once, but TWICE! The first will be on the actual day with the American students in Lausanne with each of us bringing a dish and drink to the table. The second one will be with Ash and Mike in Z. Soo fun! Gobble gobble!

Once upon a time...

I feel like a queen everyday, but this lady will actually be one!

She said YES!

After voyaging across an ocean for her, we knew it couldn't be too long before these two decided to tie the knot! Congrats on the recent engagement! So happy I can be here to celebrate with you both!

Russian Party-На здоровье!

A week ago, Nicholas and I headed to the IMD restaurant for the Russian Party. The night started with a shot of very smooth vodka, chased by a pickle and a badge. The Russians had a couple of performers, one with an accordion, who sang and got the party started, while some of the guys gave a presentation.

The best part of the badge is that the address is 32 not 23... 

While the vodka kept flowing, heavily, the organizers past around a plate of frozen.... something. When it finally got to me, I thought how it looked identical to an extremely fatty piece of thick bacon. Frozen. "Eat up!" they shouted. In Japan, Akane told me they eat raisin butter with Sake. In Colombia, they take a spoonful of olive oil before drinking. Apparently, in Russia, they just eat a big, fat, slab of lard to slow down the absorption of alcohol into the blood stream.

The fat 

In the spirit of immersing myself into their culture for one night, I indulged in a piece. The idea is to put it all in your mouth, chew and swallow. I, of course, tasted first. Bad idea. It was like eating a frozen, chewy piece of salt. UGH. I hate salt!! I was reminded that, while only drinking vodka, it was important to have something lining my stomach. I downed half a piece and decided I would moderate my vodka intake if it meant no more salty fat.

the performers

The night progressed along, with more music, Russian dance, interesting foods and great company. Since Nicholas had a lot of work to do the next day, we left around 11pm. Despite how much vodka we consumed, seems like the bacon and early exit worked well for a productive Sunday without a hangover. That much cannot be said for everyone ;)

Fun Fact: Did you know that voda means water in Russian?

Happy Super-Belated Birthday Blog to my Brother!!

To the guy I always wanted to be and be with.
To my first friend and trusted confidant.
To the person who always listened to my crazy dreams and believed in them.
To my biggest competition and fan.
To the person I fought the most with in my life and the one with who I will always defend.

love the curls ;) 

To my super big brother. I love you and miss you like crazy. So proud of you and all that you have accomplished personally and professionally. Although I may have stopped physically following you, (high school, college...) I will never stop following your example. 

Happy 1st Anniversary Dino and Camila!

Yo soy tremendamente afortunada de tener amigos como ustedes en mi vida. Felicitaciones por este primer año de matrimonio! 

El primero de muchos!

Going to be an Aunt :)

This is a BIG one! I have been holding this news in for awhile and finally got permission from the father-to-be to post to the blog! MY BIG Brother is going to be a DADDY!!!! Rachel and Tony are expecting a bundle of joy at the end of March! I could not be more excited at the idea of being an aunt and spoiling that child to pieces! Move over Saki and Yoshi!

Congratulations Tony and Rachel!!

Things have gotten busy around here

I have been a bad blogger, but I swear I have an excuse. I have gotten involved in graduation and the yearbook and trips away and editing that I just seem to have lost the time to really think and write. So much has been going on and I can't wait to write about at least some of it!!