MLB All Star Color Run Cincinnati 2015!

Waking up early on a Saturday isn't typically something I look forward to doing, but today was a totally different story, and I'm not sorry at all for rolling out of bed at 7. It was color run dayyyyy! And not just any color run: Today was the MLB All Star Color Run, in honor of the All Star game that will be here in Cincinnati on Tuesday next week.

So up & at it at 7am it was; I rendezvoused with Jessica & Andrew at CYOFL at 8 for some quick warm-up, and then it was off to downtown, where the crowds were already pouring in.

We were readyyyyy..

here we go! 

What. A. BLAST! Seriously. If you're not into fun runs like this, I'm really not sure why. I couldn't have picked a better day for this to happen, nor a better group of people. We had an amazing time! :)

the cyofl team! 

We met up with the rest of the group, got our gear on, and we were off in search of the start line. Let the fun - and color - begin! 

(When the CR posts pictures from today, via bib/team ID's, I'll get those up, too!) 

It was a hilarious bout of running, powdering, music, laughter and awesome teammates among a few thousand of our closest friends. This definitely beat sleeping in today! 

yeahhh! 

The "post run" party was a giant affair right in the heart of Sawyer Point: a field of powder clouds, race day t-shirts boldly staking their claims to the course of the 3+ miles between start and finish. We gathered together in front of the main stage, where beat-dropping-powder throws (I kid you not) looked exactly like this:

Again, I can't wait to see the pictures from today's run... because my team had some of the most fun together today that I've had on any run in a long time. We were covered from head to toe in powder and thrilled about it!

colorfulllll! 

the guys, minus 1 of the andrews..

Poor Jessica wound up losing a battle with her contact lenses, so it was an early departure from downtown for us; we hopped in the backseat, thankful for Bumper's seat cover ;)

just strollin' downtown.. no biggie...

backseat post-race! :p 

I picked up my car and headed home to shower up, unsure of whether or not I'd be able to remove all the swatches of color from my body and clothes. I stripped off my shoes and whatever else I could outside, and realized there was much more than I'd bargained for, all the way to the core! 

lovin' it! 

c o v e r e d ! 

Hilarious.

So I cleaned up and switched gears into swimsuit mode and U-turned it right back to Jessica's, to join her and Andrew poolside for an hour or so. It was a short-lived little visit, before we shuttled Andrew back to his truck and took ourselves and Bumper over to Chipotle for lunch. 

Bumper, the king of the backseat :) 

cruisin' with bumper & jessica! 

The rest of the day was devoted to laundry [fyi, all the color it seems did in fact wash out of even the white tshirt and everything else, too!], clean up a little around the house, and then just... veg.. out. I did some reading, a little shopping and formulated some tentative plans for Rob's birthday.. sorry, no spoilers yet ;) 

The boys are 2 days into their bike trip now; I just spotted a FB update with some cruise pictures along the way in Gatlinburg. I'm... jealous. 

Happy Weekend, Blogbots! 

xo | cmd

Farewell, Jamaica! [For NOW, That Is!]

Checking out of a hotel is either a relief or a disappointment for me, but rarely ever both. Today was the first time I have ever had a perfect blend of both of those emotions. I am of course disappointed because we've been spoiled rotten for the past week here. I'm excited though, to get home and see Sydni, and basically start over in planning for the next vacation, in 2015. Because hey - that's what you do immediately following a big vaca, isn't it? ;)

We dragged our bags down to the lobby just after 7am, followed shortly by Cassie and Shayne, then Tara and Jordan. The six of us sat down for a quick breakfast and some last minute absorption of what the last five days have been.

legends sunrise panoramic

We included some love for the management; that's Clayton in the front and Adrian to the back right, they are awesome, and we will be back to see them & Jamaica, ASAP!

so i probably should get out of the shadows... haha..

At the front, some of the cab drivers and guides with whom we've connected over the past few days left us with farewell [for now] hugs, warm wishes of safe travels and those big, happy, contagious smiles that pretty much make a repeat trip to this place a done deal.

The trip back to the airport felt normal compared to the initial ride out six days ago. Riding on the left side of the road felt less foreign and the erratic driving culture didn't phase us as we careened on through the hills and open roads back to Montego Bay.

At the airport, we passed through security and customs to be immediately greeted by an Americanized food court. This is our normal, but felt vaguely unfamiliar in contrast to what we've just done. It's funny how just a week of adjusted living can make us feel!

'murica.

Also, it wouldn't be a last hoorah at the airport without a stop off at Margaritaville for some refreshment.

margaritaville | montego bay, jamaica

... in margaritaville!

"come back, come back to jamaica"
..... yes, yes i think i will!

seeing doubles!
... could you imagine two of this guy? haha...

And... a group pic to commemorate our final moments in Jamaica:

rob. cori. cassie. shayne. nate. audrianna. jordan. tara.
new friends from jamaica 2014!

Finally, despite our last-minute protests, we boarded the flight and waved goodbye to this beautiful island.

boo. hiss.

Three hours later, we were back on the ground in Cincinnati, where we said goodbye to the newlyweds Tara and Jordan, and to our other couple friends Cassie and Shayne. Our cab carried us away from CVG and before we knew it, we were dragging our luggage back up our driveway and into the house.

Our dogs were more than ready to see us. A MILLION thank you's again to Becky for pup-sitting them while we were gone! WE. OWE. YOU!

hiiiii babies!!

Of our little group of couples, Shayne and Cassie happen to live within an hour's drive of us; we immediately agreed to make plans in the near future to hang out soon, but we didn't figure it would be this soon: 

well all right then!

With that being said, we unpacked, did some laundry, loved on our dogs and took power naps before we were up again, showered and out the door down to see our new friends back on US turf.

with our new friends.. in cinci!

rob. cori. jessica. cassie. shayne

ladies!

We are back on American soil now and have one day to buffer us from the reality of returning to work on Monday. We'll be sleeping in, for sure, and with any luck, doing absolutely nothing with it before our routines find us again.

Good night, Cincinnati! It was beautiful abroad but it's nice to see you... and my own bed.. again ;)

xo | cmd