BELIZE!

CONGRATS to my beautiful friends Mike & Wendy who married in Ambergris Caye, Belize on 11.11.11! The trip was amazing! The wedding was beautiful & perfect! Belize was awesome and the people who live there are amazing! SO many good memories to share about this trip! Kayaking (saw a shark), next day snorkeling in the reef & swam with the sharks in Shark Ray Alley! Saw scorpions, tarantulas & giant lizards! Ate well, drank well, and LAUGHED more than I thought was possible! AMAZING!! Congrats W & M!!

Here is my album with a few pictures I took: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2672547091446.2148860.1189218832&type=1&l=317a135920 

Travel Blog Update

SNOOP DOGG - With Emily, Meredith & Lisa

I haven't posted FOREVER so I thought I'd do a quick update!
I think I'll just do a quick list with photos - like a year & review (since my last post was in July)

July 26 - Snoop Dogg Concert at the Crossroads in Kansas City! Not really traveled for it - but it was SUPER fun and we made the KC Star - so here is the picture of me & my friends!

Madison, Wisconsin

August 4th I headed to Chicago to meet up with my college buddies! I met up with Sara & spent the day with her kiddos in St. Charles, IL. It was wonderful! Friday, we headed up to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. We had a great time at the lake! Brooke drove down to meet us - then the three of us headed to Brooke's place in Madison, Wisconsin. We had SUCH a great time - and spent the day kayaking at the lake! VERY fun trip & I can't wait to go back & repeat it!

North Face Endurance Challenge - 10K

August 28th - getting back into the running game! I ran a 10K for the North Face Endurance Challenge. This was my first trail run! It was great - early enough in the morning that the humidity and heat were at a low and it started at the Nelson Atkins Museum which is close to my condo - so I just walked down to the starting line and walked home once I finished the race! I have a pic of the race to share!! I'll definitely do this race again next year. There is actually a 50K people run, too! Some people really amaze me with their tremendous ability to train!!

cheering at the end of 13.1!

On September 11 - I headed back to Chicago to run the Chicago half-marthon again! This was my 2nd year in a row - and I did my personal best at 2:10:14! I was VERY excited to finish - as you can probably tell! I spent a few days in Chicago and got a full day of shopping in after the run on Michigan! It was a great trip!

On October 1st - we headed to Topeka to join my mother to all run a 5K together! My sister Beth & her son Andrew also ran! It was SOOO impressive. My mother had some knee surgery nearly a year ago - and did SUCH a great job and got an amazing time averaging 10 minute miles! Andrew, his first organized run, ran with Beth the entire time until the end where he sprinted the last 50 meters & smoked Beth! It was awesome! Afterwards, we spent the entire day and night crafternooning and laughing! It was a great weekend!

KC Half Marathon

Race Against Breast Cancer 5K

October 6th - I went to spend a week in NYC. It was wonderful. Worked during the days and ate great food at night. Went to the museums, Central Park, shopped at Soho, ate in the Meat Packing Industry, West Village & Chelsea. It was nice to escape and get away and I love spending time in NYC with the ability to just walk around and be completely entertained! A week after later (and three days after I got back to KC) - I ran the KC Half-Marathon! This is the 3rd time I've done this race - the first time I ran in a relay team with my father, sister & brother in law. This was my 2nd time running the half. AND - I got my personal best time again! This was my 6th half-marathon in total!

Halloween - one of my FAVORITE holidays! This year I was the Raisin Sunmaid! I have attached that photo!

November 5th - my friend Elizabeth and I drove to Grain Valley, MO and did our first Ruckus Run. Basically, the entire course (4 miles) has constant obstacle courses (mud slides, monkey bars, nose-bleed nets, Tarzan ropes to cross the creek) and there is NO way you can participate without getting completely dirty! it was SOO much fun! Here is the website to see the list of obstacles. If you ever want a reason to get filthy - you should sign up and do this event. Well worth it!! We are definitely in for next year! http://www.runruckus.com/kc-course.html

Californ-I-A!

I'm headed to Cali Friday (July 15th - flight is at 6am!) We are going to LA & staying at The Wilshire Hotel! I'll be there until Monday & then will drive over to Pasadena to spend a few days with my friends Stacy, Bryce & Baby Madelyn! I'm very excited and looking forward to some time on the beach to relax, catch up on my reading & just enjoy that beautiful side of the country! I'll post my adventures - as of now, riding the Ferris Wheel at the Santa Monica Pier & [maybe] going on a whale-watching cruise are the only plans we have so far! Have a safe weekend! I'll be in touch!! xo Sarah

View from The Wilshire Hotel - the Hollywood sign!

Pool at the Wilshire Hotel

Ferris Wheel at Santa Monica Pier

Bryce, Stacy & Madelyn

Beaches, Babies & Banachs!

Meaghan, Tim & Evan!

I'm heading to Jacksonville, Florida again! I was there a couple months ago [February 3-7] visiting my friends Meaghan & Tim Banach. Since then, they have added a member to their family - Evan Michael! I'll be flying out Thursday, May 19th and will get to meet Evan for the first time [he was born April 16th]! The Banachs recently moved, so we may do some unpacking & decorating - or I may just take some time to cuddle with the baby! We will probably head to the beach on Friday and relax and soak up the sun!! Saturday is Evan's meet & greet/post-baby shower at Grandma's house [which is also in Jacksonville]! I'm looking forward to it! I'll post some pictures and provide an update soon!

Day -4 in Miami!

If you receive this by email - I'm 95% sure this is the link to see this post on my blog (for better viewing): http://magellan-sarah.blogspot.com/2011/02/day--4-in-miami.html

Okay, okay... so I've been back in KC since late Friday night -- but it has been a bit of the crazy/busy/nuts side of things - which is good! It's great to take a week off work and then jump back into it when it's busy & there's lots to do!

The rest of Miami was a blast! Brooke and I had a great time (like always when we travel)! A few pics (as promised in my last post are below). We relaxed, ate some great food, laid out an entire day (when the forecast called for rain all day - so it was even better since it wasn't expected!)... and now I'm pealing to prove it!

We had dinner at South Beach Thursday night after laying out from 9am - 5pm. We were at the pool until about 5 - got showered and ready and had a glass of wine at the pool bar and watched the sunset! Then we cabbed it to South Beach, had one $18 drink a piece and realized dinner was good enough for us - and then head back to get some fast-food ice cream for $1 and call it good!

Friday we got up early, got ready and checked out - and spent the day walking all over downtown Miami, had sushi for lunch and then shopped in Bayside near the bay (and both got some cute/long dresses that we'll keep for summer!) There was a reggae band playing near the water - where there were also 4 or 5 HUGE cruise ships - which was cool to see up close! We both left Friday night - so we departed at 3:30.

I had a connecting flight in Orlando (that I wasn't aware about until Friday - I thought my flight was direct) - so it was QUITE the surprise when my first flight was slightly delayed and when I landed I had 20 minutes to catch my flight to KC. I ran to the bathroom & got in line just in time when they were finalizing the remaining A's (I was on Southwest). So it was MUCH to my surprise - when I got on the plane in a big rush and heard my name! A friend of mine, Lisa - used to work at GCSAA - and her former-colleague, Sheri was sitting in the front row! She recognized me and was in Orlando for a conference. It was fun to see her! We chatted for about 30 seconds & then I looked up - and there in row 7 was my father! Ummm... ha! So random! It had been YEARS since I've seen someone on my flight (Jason Charay - spring break/college/2001 on my way to Mexico). Such a fun coincidence! Dad was at the window - and I sat in the aisle and so lucky - no one sat in the middle! Dad was SUPER kind & lent me (insisted I used) his noise-free earphones (a TOTAL must-have for travelers!!) so I never realized I was on a 3-hour/8pm flight coming home from Disney World - it was amazing!

Okay - sorry I am 4 days late! In KC - the weather was -1 to 8 degrees each day I was in Miami. When I got back - it has been at least 50 degrees each day! whew hew! So, I had some serious dog-walking to do and I had to finish my book - it was a real page-clicker! (joke for strictly Kindle users!) That book recommendation is below =) SO GOOD!

Today (Tuesday - 2/15) I had a root-canal in my front tooth to replace one that was done last year from my face-plant. I have a temporary glued-in (fingers crossed - last year while I was in Victoria, BC - my falsies fell out. EEK!!) I will get my replacement in 2 weeks from today (on March 1) - and then leave again early March 3 for NYC for 6 days!! (which will be my next trip - I PROMISED my dentist to stay in town for 2 weeks... as well as NOT attend any St. Patty's Day parties =) Fair enough!

Pics from Miami - just a couple! Hope you are all well!

View from our hotel room (note the clean window)!

Lunch @ the Hard Rock. Our view from our table... not bad

Sunset sitting by the hotel pool

Brooke & Myself - Tuesday night. On our way out in Miami! [Party in the city where the heat is on - Welcome to Miami!]

A good book recommendation - also the book for my book club that meets this Thursday!

Day 1 in Miami

Hi everyone! Just a quick post - I made it to Miami! Got in yesterday afternoon (Tuesday - Feb 8) and It was 3 degrees when I left KC and was 76 when I landed in Ft. Lauderdale!!

I shuttled From the airport to the hotel and met up with Brooke! We had a cocktail and much needed catch-up conversations!! We did go out for a bit to the Blue Martini! So fun - and so great to not have to wear snow boots and heavy coats!

Today we walked around all over - had lunch at the Hard Rock, got pedicures and laid by the pool! Tonight we ordered in Thai food and just taking it easy in the hotel - watched idol & read... Kind of lazy =) tomorrow we plan on getting a good work-out in-- Brooke has a session to attend for her conference & then we will spend the day at South Beach!

I'm on my iPad now since we don't get free Internet - so I'll post pics later!

MIAMI!

SKYLINE OF MIAMI - VIEW FROM OUR HOTEL

Hello all! Hope everyone is doing well! As I'm typing this blogpost - it's currently 7 degrees outside in Kansas City... but tomorrow I leave to go to Miami! whew hew! It was 80 degrees there today!

I am going with Brooke - my college roomie, now my ongoing travel buddy! We have gone on some amazing trips together: our excursion through South America in 2009, last year at this time we were in the Riviera Maya in Mexico, and last Spring we went to New Orleans for Jazz Fest!

I leave tomorrow - and have a layover, so I arrive in Miami at 4:30pm. We are staying at the Hilton Miami Downtown. I'm not sure what we'll do while we are there this week - perhaps go to South Beach and check out the some beaches in the Keys. At this point - I'm just excited to be outside and feel WARM! yay!!

Our hotel has a rooftop pool! Once I finish this posting, I'm going to download a few books on to my Kindle so I'll have some reading material for my poolside days! I'll post more during the trip! Stay warm!!!

Here are a few pics of the view from our hotel:

ROOFTOP POOL

VIEW FROM THE HOTEL

Chicagobound in Chicagoland!

Hi everyone! I'm on a very last-minute impromptu trip to Chicago!! (Literally booked tickets Monday night at 10:45pm and flew out Wednesday at noon!) It worked out to just come to the Windy City for a couple days and work just a bit more remote than the norm when I work from home!

We are staying at the Felix on the loop downtown! It's great - here are some pics: http://www.hotelfelixchicago.com/hotel-picture-gallery/index.cfm.

I've been working all morning from the bed. The vacation has been worth it by just being able to wake up and not have to walk Corbonzo around the block in this cold! Although - I saw in KC the weather is in the 40s. It's in the upper teens here and is in the process of snowing 2 inches... but - it's Chicago - and I came prepared! And, if not - I know exactly where to find a few shops that may be able to help me out if I need an extra layer or two!

I'm gonig to finish up a few emails and then walk down to do a little shopping (mainly window) on the Magnificent Mile -- and then off to a coffee shop for most likely a couple warm beverages! I'm feeling a chai tea AND hot chocolate in my future!