Merry Christmas from the Family!

2012 has certainly been a year for us. With Mom's cancer diagnosis and loss, we haven't had time for much of anything else. We've always done family cards, but this year time just ran out on us! So, we are going digital this year. So, here it is!

Merry Christmas from the Richardson's!!

A digital ecard by Smilebox

Long Time No Write

Seems like it's been forever since I posted here. The past 5 months have been horrendous, to say the least. My mother was diagnosed with terminal brain and lung cancer. It was quick and VERY aggressive. My husband, Casey, and I pretty much put our lives on hold to see to her care. Sadly, Not nearly 3 months after diagnosis, she passed away. It's a very strange, new reality.

My swim teammates have really kept me going throughout the whole ordeal. I think if I hadn't had a swimming pool, I would have jumped off a cliff by now. Just a month after Mom's passing, the team took a big trip to the 4th Annual Rowdy Gaines Masters Classic in Orlando, Florida. It was a three day meet. All of us piled into 2 cars and took off. We had SO MUCH FUN!! In addition to the beautiful October Orlando weather, the meet was terrific too! It was the biggest Masters meet that I've ever attended, so it was a challenge to get my anxiety under control.

I got the opportunity to be a total fangirl and meet Rowdy Gaines! He is such a nice and genuine guy. He didn't mind at all the fan adoration and took time out with anyone who wanted to meet and chat with him. It turned out to be great fun, and I'm SO glad that I got to go! Here are some shots of us at the meet.

Me and Rowdy Gaines




Me and Katie just being really silly and pretending we had no pants on!!




Me, Katie and Pam getting ready for our 50 Breaststroke event!




On deck for the backstroke!



Definitely need to work on my arms!!

Busy, Busy!!

The last couple of weeks have just been a whirlwind! This is the end of the semester, so things are really wild at work and in class. Last week, was really CRAZY for me. I had my skills test in my Water Safety Instructor class, the Masters Swim Club had to attend the Sports Club Awards Banquet, then the next day was the Awards Ceremony!

The Masters Swim Club was presented with a Service Award for having the most community service of any of the Sports Clubs. We were also awarded with an Outstanding Sport Club Award for 2012. Our Coach, Katie, and Morgan, one of our new officers, attended the banquet with me. We had a great time!

Me, Morgan, and Katie at the banquet with our awards.

Our Outstanding Sport Club Award

Back in March, I got a letter telling me that I had received the Nancy Hill Robertson Scholarship Award! I am so excited. This scholarship is going to pay for me to go to school full-time for the next year and finish my degree in Recreation Administration! Last Wednesday, the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences held their Awards Ceremony, where I was awarded the scholarship.

Me and my advisor, Dr. Joey Gray, at the Awards Ceremony.

My Award.

This week is finals week, so I took my final in WSI class. I've also spent the week, tying up loose ends and getting my summer class schedule set. I have a whole week break, before my May-mester class starts. The good thing is that it only lasts 10 days. I also have a class in June. Once that's over, I get an almost 2 month break, before fall classes! Looks like another busy summer for me!

Blue Wave Raider Spring Swim Meet!

I can't believe that I haven't posted this yet!! My spring swim meet went REALLY well. I was so worried about being slow, since I had been so sick and hadn't practiced much. Imagine my surprise, when again, I beat all of my times!! I was SO excited! The race that I'm proudest of was my 100 Back! I dropped my time nearly 6 seconds! We've been invited by the Nashville Aquatics Club Masters for a long course meet at the end of May. There are several of us that are going to go! I can't wait to try it.

Here are a couple of videos of me swimming at our home meet. The first is of the 50 Back. I was the only woman to swim in this heat, so it looks like I really got stomped, which was not the case.

This one is of my 50 Breast. I'm not a fast breaststroker, but I really like to race it. I still have a lot of work to do on this stroke!

Happy Easter!!

Happy Easter! This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad. Psalm 118:24

Good Friday

By his stripes, we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 I am remembering the reason for this day! Everyone have a blessed Good Friday and Holy Saturday!

Special Kids 5K

This past weekend, I ran the 1st annual Special Kids 5K race. I've run the Fenton Payne & Fred 5K for them the last couple of years. This year, they had their very own race. I ran with a couple members of the Blue Wave Raiders swim team, Morgan and Katie. We all had SUCH a good time!! We are already planning our next 5K! Special Kids does SUCH good work for the children! I try to support them all I can!

Here are some shots from Saturday.

My traditional "after the race" goofy pose.

The cool race tech shirts.

Me and Katie being goofy after the race!

With swim teammates, Katie and Morgan after the race!

5K finishing medals.

POTW: Or, Polish of the Week

This week, it is Sinful Colors Dancing Nails. This is a color that my Mom picked up. She was really anxious for me to try it, and I'm really glad I did. The formula irritated me a little bit, because it wanted to pull off the end of my nails. Still, it only took two coats. This color seems to be a little bit chameleon, because it seems to look good with any color. It's a pretty rose copper.

In shade.

In sun.

Wordless Wednesday on Thursday

Auntie Moon enjoying the spring weather!!

POTW: Or, Polish of the Week

O.K. I'm a week behind. I meant to get this up last week, but last week jumped up and kicked me right square in the butt! It's been so crazy around my neck of the woods, I'm not sure if I'm coming or going. Anyway, here's last week's polish of the week.

Sinful Colors Unicorn

Happy 14th Birthday to Daisy!!

Today is the "Grumpy Old Lady" dog's 14th Birthday!! We are having a little pawty for her tonight! She is the oldest one of the family!! We are hoping that we all get Krystal hamburgers, but we'll just have to wait and see!! Anyway, Happy Happy Birthday Daisy!!

Color of the Week

Well, my new addiction got the better of both me and Mom this week. Saturday after our trip to the hair salon, we headed right straight to Walgreen's. I've always hated going to Walgreen's and usually complain, rather loudly, about being there. Not this time! I had done a little research to see what brands of nail polish were available at Walgreen's. As it turns out, one of the brands and colors I was looking for is available there. I'd been searching where to get Sinful Colors. I was so happy, when I walked in and there was a HUGE rack of color choices!! So, my score of the weekend was Sinful Colors Cinderella. It just makes me think of Spring and Easter. The pictures don't show it, but it has some really pretty shimmer to it. I also picked up a pastel yellow called Unicorn. That will be the next one I try. But for now, here's Cinderella:

Now, I just have to see how it stands up to swim practice.

Shopping Trip

On Saturday, Mom and I decided to go and shop for a bit. I woke up not feeling all that great, but I struggled on for a bit. We made our usual stop at Cato's, and I put a couple of cute things on lay-a-way for the spring! Yay for spring clothes!! Afterwards, we went down to Sally's Beauty Supply to have a look at their nail polish offerings. See, I've gotten Mom addicted too. So much so, that she TOTALLY supports my addiction. We collect the polish together!! Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised to find that they had a quite large collection of China Glaze! That is one of the brands that is definitely on my wish list. I made a list of several of the new collection colors that I want to try. I also was over the moon that they have the China Glaze Magnetix Collection there too! This is one of the top things on my wish list!! I hope to pick that up next weekend! Anyway, Mom and I decided on Finger Paint's Silver Sculpture. Even thought the name says it's silver, it really looks orchid/lavender in the bottle and on the nail. (Mom got hers done). I'll be trying this, sometime after swim practice this week.

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All in all, not a bad little shopping trip!

Girly Girl

I'm not quite sure what's happened to me lately. I have a new hobby/obsession. It's nail polish and nail art. I've turned into such a girly girl. For the last week I've looked forward to payday, so I could go and buy new polish. In the last year, I went from having 2 polishes total to having probably over 30. My favorites are glitters and metallics. I very rarely use creams. Anyway, I happily went shopping last night for my very first OPI polish purchase. I ended up with one from OPI's Katy Perry collection called Teenage Dream and another called Princesses Rule. I'm in the mood for spring, so pink was the color of the day. Since I swim constantly, I've discovered that the OPI polish really stands up to the beating. I can wear it for practice all week, and it still looks good!

Here's the photos of the colors:

Katy Perry's Teenage Dream

Princesses Rule

Both very pretty pinks. The Princesses Rule is shimmery with pink and gold tones. It's very sheer, so it really suits my swimming schedule. It's very forgiving, when it does chip. The Teenage Dream is LOADED with glitter, and I just LOVE it! I tried my very first gradient manicure last night. Not a total success, but it's pretty anyway. Here are some shots.

This was made in lamplight only.

This in the bright sunlight.

As you can see, it has high sparkle in any kind of light, and I absolutely love it! Now, I can't wait to try the blue in the Katy Perry collection, Last Friday Night! I'm officially and addict! Now if you all will excuse me, I have some gummy bears to eat!!

Happy Shrove Tuesday!!

Happy Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras everyone!! I absolutely LOVE Fat Tuesday!! I know that I'm weird, but it is the lead in to one of my favorite seasons of the year, Lent. Tonight at church, we are have a Shrove Tuesday Pancake supper with pancakes, sausage, gumbo, King Cake, and all of the Mardi Gras fixings! We always have such a good time!

The dogs are even going to have a good Fat Tuesday, when we get home. Casey bought them a pack of Red Hots to split! A coworker brought in a homemade King Cake, so I can't wait to taste it. What are you all doing for Fat Tuesday??

Swimming 100 Miles for the MS Association!

As you all know, I love to swim and participate on my local United States Masters Team, the MTSU Blue Wave Raiders. I want to swim for all of those affected by MS and their families, but especially for one of my closest friends, Linda. Linda is in the advanced stages of MS, and uses a power chair for her mobility. I have watched her battle and struggle with this devastating disease, and I want to help find a cure for her.

Since 2012 is an Olympic year my goal is to swim 100 miles, before the start of the London games on Friday, July 27, 2012. Help me reach my goal and support the fight for MS!  Please consider making a donation to my cause!!

http://support.msassociation.org/site/TR?type=fr_tribute_fund&fr_id=1050&pxfid=9090&post_id=13930&bpg=rlist&pg=fund

WKU Meet Wrap Up and Birthday Weekend!

Saturday's meet was an absolute BLAST!! I still had a small case of the nerves, beforehand, but I managed quite well (thanks to Katie's good humor)! I am disappointed that the video camera had a SNAFU, so we didn't get any footage. I think I may have figured out the problem, and hopefully it's not broken. I'm proud to say that I swam faster than I ever have at this meet! I ended up taking 2 first place events (200 medley relay, I was backstroke leg, and 50 Breaststroke) and 2 second place events (50 Freestyle and 50 Backstroke). I am the most proud of my 50 Backstroke! I'm still dropping time! The entire team did REALLY well too! We all had a great time!

Another boost on Saturday was the local paper had an article on the team. They decided to take the pictures last week, and everyone is still on winter break. So, I was the lucky photo subject. The article and the pictures both turned out really nice, and I'm really proud of them. Here's the shot that was included in the article.

Here's the link to the article, written by my really good friend, Nancy DeJennaro.

Swim into shape | The Daily News Journal | dnj.com:

'via Blog this'

After the meet on the way home, Casey took me to Texas Roadhouse for a birthday dinner. Katie and her boyfriend Matt came with us. We had a REALLY good meal and a REALLY good time! I was so tired that after dinner we headed straight home, so I could promptly fall out!

Yesterday was AWESOME too! After a great church service and many well wishes, Mom took me out birthday shopping. That's the first time I've been birthday shopping in years!! She bought me a new sweater, top, and pair of GREAT birthday boots! Yes, I'm wearing them today, even though it's in the 50's here! Some things just don't change with age! HEHEHE!! In a few minutes, my new coworkers are taking me out for a birthday lunch! This birthday is just getting better and better! I can't wait to see what the next few minutes bring!

Happy New Year!!

WOW!! I can't believe that I didn't post once throughout the Christmas season! It WAS really crazy. We had a death in the family the weekend before Christmas, so that week was just jam packed with relatives and visitors. It was great to see everyone, but I wish that it had been under different circumstances.

Now, let's see..the Christmas wrapup. We had a GREAT Christmas! Mine actually started the weekend before in Atlanta. Casey had bought me tickets to USA Swimming's Duel In the Pool. The entire Olympic Team was there competing against Team Europe! It was SO much fun! It was really nice to see them all in person. I managed to get Rebecca Soni's autograph and also Chloe Sutton's! Casey also bought me an event t-shirt to wear! I couldn't have asked for a better gift! Here's some shots that I made at the meet.

Team Europe(In Blue) and Team USA (Red)

Missy Franklin getting ready for her event.

The closest I could get to Ryan Lochte! HAHA!

As you can tell, I had a GREAT time!

The rest of Christmas was wonderful too! All spent with friends and family. Casey gifted me with a really pretty swimming themed bracelet, which I LOVE!

The dogs even had a big Christmas! They received a HUGE box and many more Christmas cards than me in the blog holiday exchange! They were so cute opening their presents. I'll post those in the next few days.

The next big thing on the agenda is this Saturday's swim meet at Western Kentucky University! This was by far one of my favorite meets last year. It didn't hurt that I took home my first swimming ribbons there too! I've registered for 3 events, the 50 Backstroke, the 50 Freestyle, and the 50 Breaststroke. All of my practice pools have been closed over the holidays, so it's definitely going to be a "wing it" meet. I'll post later on how it all goes!