Paper City Design

As we all know- I have 2 sisters.  Very cool ladies indeed (although 'ladies' is sometimes a stretch for us Deckers).  I'm the middle child, I know you would have never guessed.  Katie Decker-McNamara is my older sister (she's 25) and she lives in Brooklyn, NY (jealous!) with her awesome husband Justin.  Katie is a Graphic Designer, she is the "artsy" one in the fam.  She has done/produced/created or "Harry Potter'd" my high school graduation announcements* as well as my programs, wedding invites, bridal shower invites and Lord knows what else for me other the years!  --  Including my blog header!

She has just launched her new site: http://www.papercity-design.com/.  Katie usually has me proof read her "publications," probably because I like to write and have had journalism "experience"... and I don't mind doing it.  I almost flipped.  Her new site is wicked awesome.  You should check it, fo sho.  She is a freelancing machine right now.  She also has a shop on Etsy, a blog and everything a successful Graphic Designer should have (for links, see website above).  So- for your next event, contact Katie with Paper City Design.  Basically everything she does is hand crafted (screen printing included!) and is always one-of-a-kind!  She puts love and beauty into everything she works on.  Not to mention, some of the most reasonably priced goods for such labor intensive products.



(Katie & I Rockefeller Center, summer 2009)

(Red Hook -Brooklyn, summer 2009)

Ohhh glorious Brooklyn!  I think I'll pretend I'm running through Prospect Park tonight instead of on a treadmill...at the gym... not enjoying the fall weather at all.




*previously stated- high school & college announcements. Abbey Mora should get credit for my amazing TTU graduate announcements. Sorry Abbey!

Just.like.mom.never.made

Lately I have been re-examining my lifestyle. At work we started a "GiT FiT Challenge." Not to be mistaken for a "Biggest Loser"-like competition. Myself and 4 co-workers are trying to encourage each other to be more active. There is more to life then beer! -- or sugar in my case.

Throughout my 24 years of life I have been a pretty die hard athlete. Gymnast from birth until age 12, 12-20 was devoted to diving. I took diving really seriously, so seriously that at 3 different times while being a 5A district diving power house I was also taking gymnastics classes in school or after school. I was also a freshman cheerleader in high school. All of this...while diving. My coach loved me. (not.) So needless to say, I am used to working out. I like it, it's a good therapy and I always sleep better when I'm active.

While trying to get fit and look smashing everyday in sunny Florida, I decided to run a Half-Marathon (which from hence forth I will refer to as halfy). This is exciting to me. My last year of undergrad I was plagued with a bum knee. But, I was determined and worked out my knee and it is holding together nicely thus far. While preparing and bustin' my butt I have been scanning friends blogs and noticed one on a camp friend's FB. My friend had been working with a CrossFit team in Austin and the coaches from this CrossFit started a blog. About food. The hardest thing for me is to eat and work out. The blog titled- Just.like.mom.never.made is about eating Paleo (or Paleolithic). Paleo diet consists mainly of meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, roots, and nuts; and excludes grains, legumes, dairy products, salt, refined sugar, and processed oils. A very interesting concept. I have read many testimonials about individuals (women mostly) who slowly switched their diet and now have more energy, are sustained for longer periods of time, can work harder and longer in work outs and have staved off disease. This is very exciting to me. I want to have a long healthy life with a healthy family. While I have not decided to go Paleo, I am thinking about incorporating many of their recipes into our dinner menu. I encourage you to check it out. If you are tired of eating processed junk, check it out. Quality over quantity and truly- You don't want to be a statistic.

Check it out! http://justlikemomnevermade.blogspot.com/
and check out your local CrossFit group, who doesn't what to look like these women?!

Florida in February

November in Texas means the beginning of jacket weather. When you ride your bike to school in the mornings you should probably start wearing mittens so your little fingers don't dry up and freeze off and lest we forget, football is officially upon us.

November in Florida consists of muggy, sweaty weather that makes even the most die-hard beach goer, stay indoors. Most mornings when leaving for work I can't decide if I should wear a jacket because I'll end up taking it off half way through the day and that just ruins my outfit. Flats or wedges? Flats (my personal fave) will get soaked if it's raining (which it does here in Florida!) and wedges, well, my wedges are used and abused from summer... they need a break. (My life is so difficult, I KNOW!) This sort of yo-yo weather is apparently going to stick around the state until January (according to my local Floridian). I figure there is a reason everyone flocks here from the northern regions starting oh, a month or so ago... So in celebration of the warm temperatures or a celebration of the cooler ones to come, I have decided to run a half-marathon in February. Yes dear friends, I did say half-marathon. 13.1 miles, just a jog around the park, yes? Although I haven't nailed down the exact halfy to run, there are plenty to choose from here, since apparently this is the only state with weather nice enough to have said competitions in the dead of winter. I have started my training which seems pretty casual right now, but I'm sure in 2 weeks when my Saturday run is 6 miles, I won't be quite as optimistic. Good thing I have a great husband who seems to be pretty jazzed about this whole thing... now if only to take the damn GRE (gag).

MIA

I will be 24 on Tuesday, which of late I have decided to be quite an accomplishment.

On my dull days I get a little huffy and whine about how my job is basically meaningless and although I run all the time, I can't seem to lose those last 5 lbs I have grown to love and my friends live what seems like 1 million miles away...blah, blah, blah. At this point, I call my bff Felicia and she says- "I know, I know, poor you." Then she goes on to tell me about how I HAVE A JOB and food to eat and I am alive and at the age of 24 I have graduated from college and have a great husband! and great friends that love me and family that tolerates me. So basically I'm livin' the sweet life. I will be MIA for the next week or so, celebrating my birthday week and missing all my friends. So I thought I would share some photos from fave birthdays past!

Ever since I met my loverly friends in Fort Worth, I have essentially refused to celebrate a birthday without them.

(21st birthday cake, Thank you friends!)



(Lydia & I on her 22nd birthday, Crickets, Lubbock, TX)



(23rd birthday, Fort Worth)

Lydia is my favorite birthday friend, she gets me. Regardless of what we had going on, we would always start our birthday festivities at Chimy's (we walked from my house!) and slowly progress to Crickets... or if we got really tired, or it had been a really long week, or we drank too much, we'd give up after Chimy's and go get pizza and watch one of our favorite shows on my DVR and eat the whole pizza. It was wonderful.

So this year, I am going to get Sushi with my husband. (something Lydia would never do!) and then probably walk around downtown St. Augustine, in all of it's historic glory! I look forward to it.

Happy birthday to me :)

5K Fun

Just a follow-up with my last post. Stephen finished the run in approximately 25 mins and I ran it in 35 mins. I had been training for 45, so not too shabby! :)

Just keep running...

Stephen attends the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. Every year they have a 5K Run-Walk benefiting Project Special Care, a not-for-profit organization that provides advocacy, care and therapy for children and young adults who are facing challenges or crisis in their life. I must say, a worthy cause. Stephen ran it last year and did his part in helping raise $8,000 for Project Special Care. This year I am going to join the festivities and run the 5K. The first time I ran a 5K was when I was a junior in college and I ran the Fort Worth Zoo 5K Fun-Run. I died. The second half my friend Claudia, who isn't much of a runner (or so I thought!) was basically carrying me. I made it, but only just. Then again, I had never actually run outside for any period of time. This time I have been doing some training. I run at least 2 5K's a week and hope to not die, but no promises.

I'll be sure to post a couple pictures from the race.

For more information on the 11th Annual University of St. Augustine 5K Run-Walk visit: http://www.historiccity.com/2010/staugustine/news/florida/11th-university-of-st-augustine-5k-run-walk-2-6608

For more information and how you can help Project Special Care visit: http://www.co.st-johns.fl.us/bcc/family_integrity_program/services/psc.aspx

The New Boss

As you all know, I am from the great state of Texas; where not only is everything BIGGER, but better when it comes to our baseball (and football, but that story's for another day!). Many of you are undoubtedly watching the ALCS, who ISN'T?! is the real question...

As an devoted, loyal and some-what rowdy Boston Red Sox fan I have come to accept their painful season as one of the past and have made the decision to root for the beloved Texas Rangers. How can you not love the Rangers, with Nolan Ryan as owner and the former President of the United States dropping by for a friendly game of stick ball...But with 3 or 4 games down (I've lost count with all the winning!) the excitement has worn off a bit, not that I don't love winning, but I am a fan of the come-back team! Boston goes 3 games losing to the Yankees and as we're all starting to get a little down, as if it's destiny, we win 4 straight and win the whole damn series. That's my kinda game, I love the rush.

"Get to the point!" you're shouting.

The purpose of this entire post is to say: Down with the Yankeeeesssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ahhhhhhhhh

I don't know many people that wouldn't agree with that statement. The New York Yankees are the main reason baseball is the re-played, steroid using, million dollar salaried game of today. I miss the good ole days where if you've jacked 600 home-runs, it's because YOU.ARE.AMAZING hands-down. I guess I should point my finger more specifically at George Steinbrenner, but I have been taught to never speak ill of the dead. So, shame on you Yankees. You suck.

(Cliff Lee, rockin' it in NY on Monday night, courtesy ESPN.com)

To read more about the MLB Postseason please visit- http://espn.go.com/mlb/

For more info on the "Claw and Antler" frenzy that is sweeping the nation visit- http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/mlb/columns/story?columnist=webster_kelly&id=5661214

I love you Cliff Leeeee!