My favorite things {2013 edition}

Another year has come and gone and that means it is time to share with you some of my favorite things from 2013. 320 Sycamore has a fun "favorite things" link she does each year. I participated last year HERE, in 2011 HERE, and 2010 HERE.  So here is 2013's, in no particular order...

1. Netflix

I am addicted to netflix,  as I am sure all of you are too. So many TV shows and movies right at my finger tips for such a low monthly cost! I have particularly loved it this last year with hubby finishing his last year of law school and now working a wonky schedule mostly at night. After I put the boys to bed take off my makeup and get into comfies, I hop into bed with a treat, my ear phones and whatever netflix show I am on at the moment.

My top shows this year on Netflix that I watched from start to finish were Nip tuck, Breaking bad and Army wives. All very different and all very addicting. Nip tuck is about two friends that are plastic surgeons and all their adventures and drama. Then there is Breaking bad, oh my goodness I don't even know what to say or where to start I can say that this is probably the best written show I have ever watched in my whole life. Amazing. It starts out about a high school chemistry teacher who finds out he had cancer and starts cooking meth to provide for his family when he is gone. It takes crazy turns and you will be so enthralled. And right now I am currently watched and have almost completed Army wives. This is exactly what is sounds like it is about a group of friends that are on the same post that are all army wives. It will make you life, it is a feel good show and you will probably cry every episode.

2. Instagram

You guys I am beyond addicted to instagram. It is a bit ridiculous. But I love it, I know I have a problem and I don't care. Follow me @whitneyulrich if you aren't already to see all my life's adventures in motherhood, creating, fashion and fitness.

3. Gelous

Yes, I love shellac an yes I even have a kit, but I do not always have time for that so the next best thing is this secret weapon called Gelous Advanced nail gel coat from Sally's beauty supply. No you do not need a lap for it and yes it is better than just painting your nails with nail polish. Your nails will look flawless for a week. no more chipping, shiny and beautiful!

4. Peach Baby lips

This girl loves lip stick, but this, peach babylips, amazingness probably trumps all colors, even my love for pink. It is so smooth and has such a natural yet gorgeous plump lip look to it. You need some I promise. Get is at any drug store.

5. Loreal BB Cream

I am so glad that I discovered this tube of awesomeness. I know Loreal, yes from target or walmart it lasts forever and it is amazing. I used to use a primer from sephora that was good but oh my this BB cream changed my life. It is a primer, moisturizer, it corrects your skin and hides all the red blemishes all in one product. I have had no problems with it with my skin and recommend it to everyone. I just recently discovered how great priming is in your makeup routine. It does all that I listed above which is the bomb all by itself but it also covers amazingly and you could just wear this if you are wanting a lighter look for everyday wear and for night wear it is great as a base for your powder foundation and it makes it so you don't have to use as much. Your foundation will last soooo much longer. Saving you money that is what I am all about. Beauty does not have to be expensive,  no matter what the rest of the world and ads want you to think, I can't stress that enough.

6. Nikon D5100

I finally got a big girl camera this year and to say I am in love is a huge understatement. It is so nice to get those clean and crisp pictures that you have been wanting. I got the Nikon D5100. It is so worth the price and you will never need another camera again. This is my best friend for blogging and capturing my littles growing up and all of our family memories.

7. Iphone5

Yes, this year I finally joined the iphone family. I didn't think iphones were that big of a deal and kept on while my droid. Well now that I have gone apple, I just could never go back. It is so easy to use, it is convenient and all the good apps are through apple, plus their customer service is amazing! They have replaced multiple earphones, chargers and even my phone when the camera broke all for free.

8. PicMonkey

Picmonkey! Have you ever heard of it? It is a free online photo editing program. It is awesome. I use it all the time for my blog and to overlay text onto my pictures. It is free for their basic package and really cheap for their higher package that includes all of their features.

9. Agnes and Dora Leggings

Um, I think you all know by now my obsession for leggings. I wear them all the frickin time, like all the time. They are so comfortable, they are cute, they are in style and well I love them so I'm gonna wear them. My favorites are from the company Agnes and Dora. They are so so soft and you will die at all their patterns. They do house parties and have some of their stock online.

10. Albion Fit Clothing

I have been lucky enough to work closely with this amazing fitness clothing company this last year and seriously I don't love any other company more. I wear at least one of their items every workout. They are cute, amazing quality, fit your body just right and get the job done. Their swimming suits, leggings, tops and jackets are all to die for, seriously you will die.Love my some Albion Fit.

11. Yellow Wellies

I didn't get these beauties until the end of the year but oh my goodness they are yummy. I have worn them almost everyday since I got them. They are cute, the color is amazing, they are comfortable and they are perfect for this winter tundra called Utah. You need some right now. They will keep your feet so so warm.

12. Sage and Harper Bags

Another amazing company that I was able to work along side with this year is the amazing Sage and Harper. They make gorgeous urban good bags  that have me swooning every time I see both of mine hanging on my hook, by my side in the car, or wrapped around my body as I run my errands. I also got o meet the oh so lovely owner, Ali and she is just as amazing as you could imagine.

13. Clorox Wipes

These just always seem to make the list. What is not to love. My favorite cleaning supply ever!

14. Zinsser Bulleye 123 Primer

I love to paint and redo furniture and well the supplies you use are important. Primer is a must. It will save you time, money, it will look the best and the primer is what helps the paint to bond to the wood furniture. DO NOT SKIP THIS SUPPLY! You will use less paint to cover up the furniture and your color will be truer to color on the white primer versus the brown of the wood. Now that we know how important the primer is lets talk what primer to get. Zinsser bullseye 123 is hands down the best primer out there. Kilz has nothing against this stuff. It is the perfect light mist, it goes on so smooth and it covers like magic. I promise you are saving time if you just get this kind. I have tried so many, take my word for it. The only place I am able to find this primer is Lowes and Amazon

15. Yellow Metal Stools

I had been lusting over these stools for months, when I finally saved my pennies and convinced the hubby they were a must and well he said yes so they are now in my kitchen and they fit so perfectly. I got these at target and the set of 2 tall were about $100 but they were a little less since I used my awesome target red card!

16. McDonalds Shamrock Shakes

I was obsessed with these over the month of march last year, so much so that I found out how to make them just like Mcdonalds and made them way too often. Yummo! 

17. Costa Vida Sweet Pork Burrito

Has been my favorite since the beginning and always will be. Yes I am specifically saying Costa Vida because well I like it better than Cafe rio. The pork is sweeter, the sauce is less spicy and the dressing is creamier. Yes I smother my burrito is the salad dressing don't judge and I eat the whole thing all by myself in one sitting. I like food. Next time try it with the dressing, you can thank me later, maybe with a surprise burrito to my doorstep.

18. Haagen Daz Salted Caramel Gelato 

My very favorite ice cream of the year and to make it even better it is gelato. So creamy and delicious with caramel. What is not to love? If you haven't tried it make sure to try it this year.

19. Running/Races

I have always loved running, but this last year I finally took it to the next level and completed my first ragnar and my first half marathon, doing very well in both. I cannot wait to do ragnar this year and of course another half.

20. New Kicks

Lovin my new nike frees. I got them right before my Ragnar and they did my good then and continue to do me good in all my fitness adventures and goals. And they are CUTE!!!!

21. Crossfit

Speaking of fitness I started a new fitness journey this year that I will forever be grateful for. Thank you to my brother for introducing this amazing sport into my life and for teaching me so much. We started this adventure in September in our garage and I am lucky enough to be apart of a Crossfit affiliate gym, Crossfit Kimokeo, in Kaysville. I feel so blessed to have this in my life and I really can't wait to see where this all takes me. I have big goals and big plans, so stay tuned for all of those this next year. If you have any questions about the gym I go to feel free to ask, and I will be doing a post all about it soon.

22. Temple

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) to learn more about my religion you can go HERE or you can email me and I would love to talk to you about my beliefs and answer your questions that I can. I am so grateful for the gospel in my life. I am grateful for my testimony. I am grateful that I was able to serve in the young women in my ward this year and everything I have learned from them in the time I was with them before we moved. I don't know what I would have done with out the knowledge and comfort of the gospel in my life this year or any year for that matter. It has put my life in perspective, it has taught me what really matters in life and it has made me want to be the woman my heavenly father wants me to be. Having the knowledge of the truth is one of my very favorite things that can never be taken away.

23. My Family

I am so grateful for this sweet family of mine and they are my very favorite thing this year and ever year to come.

What are your favorite things from 2013? 

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Ragnar Wasatch Back 2013

Sorry I have been a little missing in Action lately. We just moved and so things have been a bit crazy. We were kicked out of a family's basement so things have been very emotional, stressful, and everything in between. We did find a place and hopefully things will start to work out. Anyway so I have been packing, moving and unpacking so today I am going to share with you my first Ragnar Relay experience and I have some other fun tips and projects I will be sharing with you this week!

 Ragnar Relay Wasatch Back

Logan to Park City

 197.4 miles

 June 21 and 22

Overnight

12 people 

2 vans 

1500 teams 

18000 runners

3 legs each

13-20 miles each 

thousands of honeybuckets

new friendships

lots of inside jokes

10 year anniversary 

lots of running, lots of driving, very little sleep and a lot of fun!

You guys this was such a fun race to do! If you are ever able to have the opportunity to be on a team Do it!!! They have different difficulties of legs and such so I really believe anyone can do it if they train a little. I saw people of all ages and abilities out there and it was actually really inspiring.

An old friend from SUU posted on facebook he was looking for people to help fill up spots on Van 2 of their team so I jumped right on that and said I was in. The problem was that they still needed 3 people for our van to be complete so I recruited some peeps and we got our team together just in time for the race. I knew everyone in our van and those who didn't know each other quickly became friends and had fun together. Being in a van together and cheering each other on for 2 days creates an instant bond.

I left my sweet little family bright and early in the morning to be able to meet up with my van get to the first exchange where we would be starting in Eden and got all registered.

first up of course was to decorate our van. That is a must. We were the Unicorn Rainbow Dream Team. Awesome right haha. Ok long story short it was a place holder name and then the deadline passed to change it so we just rolled with it! Yes that is a unicorn horn on the hood of our van. Thanks whit F!

I think our favorite part of the van decor was our leg check off boxes. After we completed each of our legs we got to check off a box and can I tell you that felt soooo good especially that middle of the night run and the last one.

While we were waiting for our first leg to start we also decorated T-shirts, got dressed, used the honey buckets a million times {or maybe that was just me what can I say I pee a lot when I get nervous}, and ate PB and J's!

Kirk's famous "Are you Ready?" line! We joked about this the whole time. We were registering when we first got there and kirk got all in a panic asking Kaylynn, our first runner of our van, if she was ready and told her to hurry and get dressed. Well after we rushed to get ready we come to find out it took van #1 at least an hour and a half after that to get into the exchange. He got us all nervous and stressed but it was really funny.

Don't forget all the body art that is required while running such a relay. We all put on our tattoos and even made a few of our own with sharpies.

Just about ready to rock and roll, sporting our rainbow T's right before we went to start off our first legs!

Kaylynn and I were super excited to be sporting our Swoob Sports bras for the relay. These are pretty sweet you have to check them out. They have three different pockets built into the actual bra. One for your phone/MP3 player, and two smaller ones for things such as cash, chap stick, or a key. They are also padded and have great support.

I was runner 8 I ran roughly 14ish miles all together. Perfect for my first one. This was me ready to run my first leg, getting all stretched out. My legs were 2.6, 5.9 and 5.5 miles. and I ran at about 3:00pm, 1:30 am and then again around 2:00 pm.

and I'm off!!! Here goes nothing. No turning back now.

My first outfit I wore was from the amazing Albion Fit company. I love this company if you don't already know from me sharing my love from them all over my blog, facebook and instagram. Thank you Albion for keeping me comfortable and stylish while I ran. I wore something from Albion whether it be the top or bottom every single leg.

After my first leg it was back in the van to cheer on the rest of the team and to get to the really fun part, the pumping. Well ya know the things you will do as a mom. I got the nickname "The pumper" for the rest of the relay. It was really glamorous let me tell ya. It really wasn't too bad and my little man thanked me later for it!

While the others were running we enjoyed chocolate milk among other treats,

kicked back and relaxed and even watched a little pitch perfect,

 tried to sleep

 and at one of the big exchanges they even had smores for us! Booya we were spoiled!

Our last leg. We were exhausted, sore, hungry but pumped! Kaylynn {nickname: Fat leg} was our first runner in our van and she passed off to...

me {nickname: the pumper}! Then I passed off to...

Kirk {nickname: Are you Ready}. His last leg was part of Ragnar hill! you guys this hill was freakin killer! Then he passed off to my bro

Chris {nickname: Muhammad}, who had to do the other half of ragnar hill...then he passed off to

Josh {nickname: boss man}, who was our team captain... and he passed off to our last runner

Whitney F {nickname: Hill killer}!

You guys I was so excited my cute hubby and little boys came to cheer me on for my last leg which let me tell ya I needed, because like I said I was exhausted physically and mentally and to see them there cheering me on the whole way was so amazing.

Maddux loved the flag to tell me they had some support and water for me. Cutest piece of motivation out there!

Sometimes we would dance while our van passed and cheered us on. {Or maybe that was just me, but it was sure fun}.

That dang bracelet killed me sometimes. Like I said exhausted!!!! But I got it on there eventually.

Marking off that last leg Baby!!!! I am done. I did it! I conquered my first Ragnar and man did it feel amazing!

Isn't that metal gorgeous.

Our whole 12 person team at the finish line.

Look what hubby got for me after the race. He knows me so well. Sweet tooth fairy has my heart and should be at every celebration.

So the question I am already getting...Will you do another Ragnar? Well the answer is YES! I am already on a team and just about registered for the Vegas Ragnar in November. Saints and Sinners Metal here I come. Oh and the best part? Ty is doing the next one with me. 

So did i convince you that you should sign up for a Ragnar Relay?

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