Stephany does this each week and Amber started doing it as well, so I am following suit and capping off what felt like a really busy week with this recap post!
The high of my week was going out for sushi with a friend that I hadn't seen (you guessed it) since I moved back. We went to this place that has the best happy hour deals and I feel like we basically ate our weight in sushi.
The low of my week was finding out that the sister of one of my closest friends (who is my age) is once again fighting breast cancer after being in remission for the last couple of years. Life is not fair.
A blog post I loved was Kelly's post about Max being 7 months old. I love seeing pictures of her little guy and hearing about his likes, dislikes, and developmental milestones. You can't help but smile when you look at the photos that her talented sister Caroline takes!
For my workouts, I completed an arms workout Monday morning, run club Monday night, a shred workout Tuesday morning, a ridiculous running club workout that involved 8 hill repeats with core work at the top of every hill on Wednesday and this 500 rep workout this morning (I only did the running part to warm up). So all in all I fit a lot in and am on track to fit 31 workouts in this month!
The best money I spent was on the delicious sushi that I had last night.
My plans this weekend include going to the driving range and out for dinner with Phil tonight, a trail run tomorrow morning and then a wedding that evening in southeastern MN. On Sunday I'm meeting Allison for coffee and then going for a walk with a friend that was unfortunately diagnosed with breast cancer this summer (she's actually a little younger than me) and is in the midst of treatments. Did I mention that life is NOT fair? I have Monday off so Phil and I are tentatively planning on going to Valleyfair which is a local amusement park. I'm not huge on rides but it will be fun to do something different! I was thinking this would be a quiet, plan-free weekend but that is really not the case. But I am trying to embrace my busy schedule.
What was the high and low of your week?
Friday, August 29, 2014
Monday, August 25, 2014
Weekend Recap
Another great weekend had come and gone! As usual, I fit quite a bit in!
On Friday night we met up with some of Phil's high school friends at Bauhaus Brew Labs which is a local brewery in Northeast Minneapolis. They have a great outdoor area with lots of picnic tables and some lawn games and there is a food truck there to provide some eats. I don't drink beer so I stuck with a locally made root beer, which was good but totally overpriced IMO ($3 for an 8 oz bottle). A lot of people brought games to play, including our group. I got to play Cards Against Humanity for the first time, which was a lot of fun.
On Saturday morning I met up with my running club for a very hilly run that the coaches refer to as the "potpourri of hills." The miles ticked by fairly fast and I debated extending my run from 13 miles to 16 miles so I could finish with the group but in the end I decided to stick with my plan. I definitely could have kept going if I had wanted to, though, which is a good feeling.
Saturday was the anniversary of my RA diagnosis so I spent a lot of time thinking back on where I was a year ago. A year ago, I was in a walking boot, had a tough time pushing revolving doors, pressing elevator buttons, opening jars, you name it. I would cringe when I'd get up every morning from the pain I'd feel when my feet touched the floor. 365 days later I'm running 13 miles and feeling great. I'm so thankful to be where I am today health-wise.
On Saturday afternoon, Phil picked me up and we headed over to the golf course where his best friend is a golf pro. I took a lesson from him which was very helpful. I've got some work to do at the driving range but I am hoping that I can golf an executive course before the end of the summer.
On Saturday evening we stayed in for the evening and I made dinner. A dish Phil loves is Moussaka, which I would loosely describe as the Greek version of lasagna. He had Moussaka earlier this summer when we went out for Greek food and I told him that I thought I could make it on my own. I researched recipes and found this GF one. This recipe was definitely a labor of love as it took several hours to make, but it was all worth it and it was fun to work together in the kitchen (Phil made the bechamel sauce and assembled the Moussaka). I served it with a Greek salad. After dinner we watched some of the Vikings game and played a game of Trivia (Phil kicked my butt) and 2 games of cribbage (I won both games!).
On Sunday morning, I met a friend for brunch that I hadn't seen since I moved back (yep, there are still people I have not seen since I got back). It was fun to catch up with her. She had a baby shortly before I moved so lots has happened in both of our lives since we last saw each other.
I spent Sunday afternoon and evening cleaning, doing laundry, catching up on the phone with several friends, and reading.
I'm well-rested and ready to tackle another week but am VERY happy that the coming weekend is a 3-day one!
What was the best thing you ate all weekend? Mine was the Moussaka!
On Friday night we met up with some of Phil's high school friends at Bauhaus Brew Labs which is a local brewery in Northeast Minneapolis. They have a great outdoor area with lots of picnic tables and some lawn games and there is a food truck there to provide some eats. I don't drink beer so I stuck with a locally made root beer, which was good but totally overpriced IMO ($3 for an 8 oz bottle). A lot of people brought games to play, including our group. I got to play Cards Against Humanity for the first time, which was a lot of fun.
On Saturday morning I met up with my running club for a very hilly run that the coaches refer to as the "potpourri of hills." The miles ticked by fairly fast and I debated extending my run from 13 miles to 16 miles so I could finish with the group but in the end I decided to stick with my plan. I definitely could have kept going if I had wanted to, though, which is a good feeling.
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| All smiles after 13 hilly miles! |
On Saturday afternoon, Phil picked me up and we headed over to the golf course where his best friend is a golf pro. I took a lesson from him which was very helpful. I've got some work to do at the driving range but I am hoping that I can golf an executive course before the end of the summer.
On Saturday evening we stayed in for the evening and I made dinner. A dish Phil loves is Moussaka, which I would loosely describe as the Greek version of lasagna. He had Moussaka earlier this summer when we went out for Greek food and I told him that I thought I could make it on my own. I researched recipes and found this GF one. This recipe was definitely a labor of love as it took several hours to make, but it was all worth it and it was fun to work together in the kitchen (Phil made the bechamel sauce and assembled the Moussaka). I served it with a Greek salad. After dinner we watched some of the Vikings game and played a game of Trivia (Phil kicked my butt) and 2 games of cribbage (I won both games!).
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| It yielded quite a bit so we have lots of leftover Moussaka to eat this week! |
I spent Sunday afternoon and evening cleaning, doing laundry, catching up on the phone with several friends, and reading.
I'm well-rested and ready to tackle another week but am VERY happy that the coming weekend is a 3-day one!
What was the best thing you ate all weekend? Mine was the Moussaka!
Friday, August 22, 2014
R.A-nniversary
It's kind of surreal to say this, but tomorrow will mark one year since I found out that I have RA. In some ways it feels like I got my diagnosis ages ago; in other ways, it still feels fresh and new. I don't think I'll ever forget the days and weeks leading up to my diagnosis, or the experience of learning that I had a chronic illness. I'll never forget the fear and anxiety I felt in those initial months or how much I doubted that I'd ever feel like my normal self and live an active life again.
I've come incredibly far in the past year and am happy to say that most weeks, the only time I think about the fact that I have RA is when I take my weekly injection and oral medication on Monday nights. Besides that, I feel fortunate that I can say that I really do feel like my normal, pre-RA self.
But there are times when I am reminded that I have RA. Things like having to explain why I am not running a marathon this year (or possibly ever) or having to explain why I don't drink at work happy hours or most social events (I'm limited to 2 drinks/month so really have to ration my alcohol intake) and not being able to wear heels (they hurt my joints too much) remind me that I have RA. Seeing my hazardous material receptacle in my closet and the syringes in my fridge remind me that I have RA. I do wonder when/if the next flare-up is going to occur and I worry that I won't find a Rheumatologist in the area that I will like as much as the one I saw in Charlotte.
But all in all, having RA has not been the life-crippling experience that I thought it was going to be when I was first diagnosed. I know I am fortunate that it was caught early before permanent damage was done and for that I am very grateful. I owe a big thanks to my mom and sister-in-law for mentioning RA as a possible explanation for the pain and swelling I was struggling with last August. If they hadn't pushed me to go back to the doctor and ask to have further tests ran, who knows when I would have gotten my diagnosis.
A year ago, if you had told me I'd be running, doing burpees, lifting weights, and getting out of bed with no pain, I wouldn't have believed you. I will never take for granted the ability to be active ever again.
So my message to you is this: if you can walk, run, jump, swim, and bike with no pain, be grateful. If you have unexplainable pain or feel something just isn't right, listen to your intuition and see a doctor. Advocate for yourself until you have an answer.
*Ahem, now excuse me while I step down from my soap box*
I've come incredibly far in the past year and am happy to say that most weeks, the only time I think about the fact that I have RA is when I take my weekly injection and oral medication on Monday nights. Besides that, I feel fortunate that I can say that I really do feel like my normal, pre-RA self.
But there are times when I am reminded that I have RA. Things like having to explain why I am not running a marathon this year (or possibly ever) or having to explain why I don't drink at work happy hours or most social events (I'm limited to 2 drinks/month so really have to ration my alcohol intake) and not being able to wear heels (they hurt my joints too much) remind me that I have RA. Seeing my hazardous material receptacle in my closet and the syringes in my fridge remind me that I have RA. I do wonder when/if the next flare-up is going to occur and I worry that I won't find a Rheumatologist in the area that I will like as much as the one I saw in Charlotte.
But all in all, having RA has not been the life-crippling experience that I thought it was going to be when I was first diagnosed. I know I am fortunate that it was caught early before permanent damage was done and for that I am very grateful. I owe a big thanks to my mom and sister-in-law for mentioning RA as a possible explanation for the pain and swelling I was struggling with last August. If they hadn't pushed me to go back to the doctor and ask to have further tests ran, who knows when I would have gotten my diagnosis.
A year ago, if you had told me I'd be running, doing burpees, lifting weights, and getting out of bed with no pain, I wouldn't have believed you. I will never take for granted the ability to be active ever again.
So my message to you is this: if you can walk, run, jump, swim, and bike with no pain, be grateful. If you have unexplainable pain or feel something just isn't right, listen to your intuition and see a doctor. Advocate for yourself until you have an answer.
*Ahem, now excuse me while I step down from my soap box*
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Currently: August Edition
Whoa - August is 2/3 of the way over! Didn't the month just start like yesterday? Here's what's currently happening in my life/on my mind these days...
Reading: The Pearl that Broke Its Shell. I am really enjoy this book, but I'm progressing through it so slowly because I am just so tired by the end of the day that I usually can only read for 20 minutes and I haven't made as much time for reading on the weekend lately.
Loving: the weather we've had lately. It's been warm, sunny and not as humid as it normally is in August. I have barely ran my air conditioner this summer as I get such a nice breeze off the river!
Thinking: about rehiring the cleaning service that I used to use before I moved to Charlotte. Part of me feels guilty for hiring a cleaning service as I feel like I should have time/make time to clean but the reality is that I am just not home all that often, and when I am home I don't want to spend time cleaning.
Frustrated: every time I look at the comps for other condos in the area where I own a condo (which I rent out). I know short sales and foreclosures are necessary for some people but it really sucks when all the comps in your neighborhood are distressed sales. I feel like I am never going to be able to sell that dang condo.
Feeling: like my body has adjusted to getting less sleep on week nights as I no longer feel a wave of exhaustion in the afternoon like I did earlier this summer. I can't really sleep past 4-4:30 on week days but my I'm accepting that my body just won't let me sleep later than that.
Anticipating: the wedding that Phil and I will be attending at the end of the month. The person getting married is one of his college friends so we'll know lots of other people there. Similar to Amber's wedding in July, this wedding is also located on a farm.
Watching: very little TV these days because we finished House of Cards and the Next Food Network Star concluded earlier this month.
Sad: that the days are getting shorter so quickly. It used to be light out when I got up in the morning to workout, now it doesn't start to get light out until I am half way done getting ready after my workout. I'm trying to appreciate the fact that it's light out when I leave for work as I know that soon enough that will not be the case.
Working: on rebuilding some of the presentations that I made at my old job. I forgot how much work it is to start from scratch and build presentations. I have a big client meeting at the end of September, though, so at least I have something to motivate me to get it done.
Grateful: that I have been able to log so many miles this summer and that between run club and Phil, I rarely have to run alone. I definitely have come to prefer running with others!
Listening: to more country music than I usually do. There is something about summer that puts me more in the mood for country!
Wishing: that I had less hours in my work week and more hours in my week nights/weekends.
What are you currently reading, grateful for and wishing for?
Reading: The Pearl that Broke Its Shell. I am really enjoy this book, but I'm progressing through it so slowly because I am just so tired by the end of the day that I usually can only read for 20 minutes and I haven't made as much time for reading on the weekend lately.
Loving: the weather we've had lately. It's been warm, sunny and not as humid as it normally is in August. I have barely ran my air conditioner this summer as I get such a nice breeze off the river!
Thinking: about rehiring the cleaning service that I used to use before I moved to Charlotte. Part of me feels guilty for hiring a cleaning service as I feel like I should have time/make time to clean but the reality is that I am just not home all that often, and when I am home I don't want to spend time cleaning.
Frustrated: every time I look at the comps for other condos in the area where I own a condo (which I rent out). I know short sales and foreclosures are necessary for some people but it really sucks when all the comps in your neighborhood are distressed sales. I feel like I am never going to be able to sell that dang condo.
Feeling: like my body has adjusted to getting less sleep on week nights as I no longer feel a wave of exhaustion in the afternoon like I did earlier this summer. I can't really sleep past 4-4:30 on week days but my I'm accepting that my body just won't let me sleep later than that.
Anticipating: the wedding that Phil and I will be attending at the end of the month. The person getting married is one of his college friends so we'll know lots of other people there. Similar to Amber's wedding in July, this wedding is also located on a farm.
Watching: very little TV these days because we finished House of Cards and the Next Food Network Star concluded earlier this month.
Sad: that the days are getting shorter so quickly. It used to be light out when I got up in the morning to workout, now it doesn't start to get light out until I am half way done getting ready after my workout. I'm trying to appreciate the fact that it's light out when I leave for work as I know that soon enough that will not be the case.
Working: on rebuilding some of the presentations that I made at my old job. I forgot how much work it is to start from scratch and build presentations. I have a big client meeting at the end of September, though, so at least I have something to motivate me to get it done.
Grateful: that I have been able to log so many miles this summer and that between run club and Phil, I rarely have to run alone. I definitely have come to prefer running with others!
Listening: to more country music than I usually do. There is something about summer that puts me more in the mood for country!
Wishing: that I had less hours in my work week and more hours in my week nights/weekends.
What are you currently reading, grateful for and wishing for?
Monday, August 18, 2014
Where Did the Weekend Go?
It's Monday morning and I am once again asking myself where the weekend went? If only the week days flew by as fast as the weekends did. Here's what kept me busy this weekend!
After work on Friday, I hit up Banana Republic before going home as I had a 50% off 5 things coupon. I just can't pass up savings like that! I bought some staples for my wardrobe, like a couple new button downs, but I also bought this fall coat. Yes, I own a lot of coats but I actually have not bought a fall jacket in over 2 years so I figured I was due!
On Friday evening, Phil and I sat on his patio for awhile since it was such a nice night and then headed to the driving range to hit a bucket of balls. I'm terrible at golf but this was a fun thing to do on a nice evening. I'm taking a golf lesson this Saturday so hopefully I start to improve! After hitting some balls and playing a little putting game, we went to dinner at a small, family-owned Mexican restaurant we've been wanting to try out, which was so good.
On Saturday morning I was up early for my long run. It was really humid out and there were times during the run when I was wishing it would rain but all in all the run went well and I felt like I could have kept going at the end which is always a good feeling.
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After my run I met with up a friend I hadn't seen since I moved back and her husband and 2 kids. I was too hungry to pause and take a photo of my omelet but it was so good! It was great to catch up with her.
Saturday afternoon was mostly about being productive. My biggest chore was going through my closet and getting rid of things that don't fit or don't mesh with my current sense of style. I have quite a pile of things to donate and I threw away about a half a garbage bag full of clothes too that were not in the right condition to donate.
On Saturday evening we met up with some of Phil's friends for his birthday dinner at an Indian restaurant. Phil had walked 18 holes and ran after that and I had ran 14+ miles so we had both worked up an appetite that day! The food was so good and we had a fun night. After dinner we headed back to his place for a game of cribbage (I won! Woo hoo!).
Sunday flew by as I got a workout in, finished buying the last part of Phil's gift and wrapped everything, grocery shopped, cut up so much fruit, did laundry and made a big batch of Indian lentil stew. I'm glad this recipe yields a lot because with my busy week ahead I am not going to have much time to make meals.
I capped off the day with a video chat with Alli, Becky, and Kelly on Sunday evening, which is really the best way to end a weekend!
All in all it was a really fun weekend and a good mix of seeing Phil and friends, being active and being productive. And the fun continues tonight as today is Phil's actual birthday so we'll be celebrating tonight!
What was the highlight of your weekend?
After work on Friday, I hit up Banana Republic before going home as I had a 50% off 5 things coupon. I just can't pass up savings like that! I bought some staples for my wardrobe, like a couple new button downs, but I also bought this fall coat. Yes, I own a lot of coats but I actually have not bought a fall jacket in over 2 years so I figured I was due!
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| I don't normally take pictures of myself in dressing rooms but I sent this to a friend for her opinion on whether I should get it. She gave it the thumbs up. |
On Saturday morning I was up early for my long run. It was really humid out and there were times during the run when I was wishing it would rain but all in all the run went well and I felt like I could have kept going at the end which is always a good feeling.
After my run I met with up a friend I hadn't seen since I moved back and her husband and 2 kids. I was too hungry to pause and take a photo of my omelet but it was so good! It was great to catch up with her.
Saturday afternoon was mostly about being productive. My biggest chore was going through my closet and getting rid of things that don't fit or don't mesh with my current sense of style. I have quite a pile of things to donate and I threw away about a half a garbage bag full of clothes too that were not in the right condition to donate.
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| Purging feels so good. |
On Saturday evening we met up with some of Phil's friends for his birthday dinner at an Indian restaurant. Phil had walked 18 holes and ran after that and I had ran 14+ miles so we had both worked up an appetite that day! The food was so good and we had a fun night. After dinner we headed back to his place for a game of cribbage (I won! Woo hoo!).
Sunday flew by as I got a workout in, finished buying the last part of Phil's gift and wrapped everything, grocery shopped, cut up so much fruit, did laundry and made a big batch of Indian lentil stew. I'm glad this recipe yields a lot because with my busy week ahead I am not going to have much time to make meals.
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| #indianfoodfordays |
All in all it was a really fun weekend and a good mix of seeing Phil and friends, being active and being productive. And the fun continues tonight as today is Phil's actual birthday so we'll be celebrating tonight!
What was the highlight of your weekend?
Friday, August 15, 2014
Book Review: The Wharf of Chartrons
SYNOPSIS
A family linked by wine and old rivalries sets out for new territory, during the turmoil of World War I.David and Gaspard are cousins, bonded by family and their allegiance to their winemaking heritage. Parting with tradition and moving their vineyards near Bordeaux threatens to upset the family peace, but that’s only the beginning of their trouble. Short on funds, they are forced to team with a wealthy but morally corrupt engineer—though perhaps at a cost too high for the cousins…
Despite the odds, David and Gaspard succeed in making a successful wine, Clos-Marzacq. Along the way, they each fall in love, though not always in the best of circumstances. And now, to cement their successes, the cousins need to secure a stronghold on the Wharf of Chartrons, seen as the gateway to selling into England and America.
The Wharf of Chartrons exalts the passion of men who have a love of their land, and who are concerned about drawing the very best wine from it.
MY REVIEW
I'm a big fan of historical fiction, especially when the book is set in France, so I was drawn to this book. It is set in the Bordeaux region of France, which is a region I haven't visited but would love to someday. In the book, two cousins leave their family vineyard behind to start anew in Bordeaux.
The author weaves together a story of the toils and triumphs of running a vineyard with the story of the lives of the two cousins. They definitely encountered some bumps along the way, both professionally and personally. Some bumps were handled better than others and I definitely preferred one character, David, over the other character, Gaspard.
I haven't toured a vineyard before so haven't given much thought to all of the labor that goes into making a wine. It definitely gave me an appreciation for the hard work that goes into each bottle of wine. You also learn about some questionable practicing, such as lacing the wine with wine from another region during years when the harvest is bad. I love the fact that the author of this book actually lives in the region where the book was set as I feel that improves the authenticity of the book and impacts the author's ability to vividly describe the region.
All in all it was an entertaining book and filled my France fix for the month.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
In 1982, he began what would become a long-term relationship with the publishing house Éditions Milan, in Toulouse. To date, Jean-Paul Malaval has written ten works of historical fiction, mainly based in the region where he grew up, the Corrèze, which is near the Dordogne. Five of his ten novels have been published by Presses de la Cité. He is loyal to his home region and has been mayor of the town of Vars-sur-Roseix in Corrèze since 1995.
Visit the wikipedia page on him [in French]
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Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Tuesday Tidbits
I'm in the midst of another busy week so this is the closest I can come to a proper post! Here are some tidbits of things that are on my mind with a few photos sprinkled throughout!
- I got a late start to grilling this summer but have definitely rediscovered my love of grilled meals. Phil and I grilled on Thursday and the food turned out so good! I think my favorite thing was the corn which I bought at the downtown farmer's market that day!
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- My weekend at the lake was wonderful. Phil met my entire family (minus one brother-in-law) and it went really well. It was great to introduce my family to someone who is an important part of my life and it's always nice to get the endorsement from family when you are dating someone. He went to his friend's lake home on Friday night so I was on my own for the rest of the weekend. It was great to spend time with my immediate family and see some of my aunts, uncles, and cousins on Saturday. I have to admit that by Saturday night I was pretty socialized out, so I was pretty quiet on Sunday. As I get older, I find that after a lot of social interaction, I get to the point where I am all 'talked out'. I didn't take as many pictures this weekend as I thought I would but here are a couple that I snapped/one that I stole from Abby!
- I fit in a lot of family time last weekend but I did not fit in a long run. I had the best intentions to run on Sunday morning but woke up to rain and windy weather and just couldn't motivate myself to get out there. So I did a shred workout when I got home (which kicked my butt) and called it good enough. I don't like skipping long runs but it has to happen sometimes. I know I'm ready for my trail half in the fall (well, besides the fact that my training hasn't contained much trail running but I'll make it work).
- As I said in the intro, I'm in the midst of another busy week. I am looking forward to the weekend ahead as we don't have too much planned besides Phil's birthday dinner on Saturday night. I feel a little bit behind on life right now as there is laundry to fold, groceries to buy, cleaning to do, and emails to respond to so hopefully I'll get a chance to catch up this weekend! I hate feeling behind!
That's all from my neck of the woods (or all I have time to write about). Tell me one tidbit about your week or weekend!
- I got a late start to grilling this summer but have definitely rediscovered my love of grilled meals. Phil and I grilled on Thursday and the food turned out so good! I think my favorite thing was the corn which I bought at the downtown farmer's market that day!
- My weekend at the lake was wonderful. Phil met my entire family (minus one brother-in-law) and it went really well. It was great to introduce my family to someone who is an important part of my life and it's always nice to get the endorsement from family when you are dating someone. He went to his friend's lake home on Friday night so I was on my own for the rest of the weekend. It was great to spend time with my immediate family and see some of my aunts, uncles, and cousins on Saturday. I have to admit that by Saturday night I was pretty socialized out, so I was pretty quiet on Sunday. As I get older, I find that after a lot of social interaction, I get to the point where I am all 'talked out'. I didn't take as many pictures this weekend as I thought I would but here are a couple that I snapped/one that I stole from Abby!
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| My sister Abby & I. |
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| My nephew Matthew holding my youngest niece, Evelyn! |
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| My serious little bee. By the way, kids swimsuits are so much more fun than adult ones! |
- As I said in the intro, I'm in the midst of another busy week. I am looking forward to the weekend ahead as we don't have too much planned besides Phil's birthday dinner on Saturday night. I feel a little bit behind on life right now as there is laundry to fold, groceries to buy, cleaning to do, and emails to respond to so hopefully I'll get a chance to catch up this weekend! I hate feeling behind!
That's all from my neck of the woods (or all I have time to write about). Tell me one tidbit about your week or weekend!
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Looking Forward
Happy Thursday, everyone! Today is actually my Friday as I took tomorrow off to head up north to my parents' lake home for the weekend. I don't have many vacation days since I just started a new job so I am going to savor this day off!
It's been awhile since I did a looking forward post, so I figured it'd be a good way to close out the week!
Today I'm looking forward to going for a run after work with Phil and grilling afterwards. I run with my club Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday but last week it worked well to do a short 4 miler with Phil so hopefully this is something we can continue to do most weeks.
This weekend I am looking forward to seeing my whole family and introducing Phil to them! There are 17 people in my immediate family, including spouses and kids, so there are a lot of people for him to meet! It's pretty rare for my entire family to be together so I am really excited to see everyone. Phil will be there during the day on Friday as he is going to a friend's cabin for the rest of the weekend but I'm glad he'll get to spend most of Friday with my family. I am hoping the weather is nice as I want to spend as much time outdoors as possible. We are having a big family get together with my mom's side of the family on Saturday so it should be a really fun family-filled weekend!
This month I am looking forward to celebrating Phil's birthday. So far we have plans to do a dinner with his friends the weekend before and then on his actual birthday I'll let him pick between a meal made by moi or dinner out at his restaurant of choice. I have most of his gift figured out, and like many of you suggested, I went with an experience versus a physical gift. Hopefully he likes it!
This year I am looking forward to two girls weekends in October - one with my friend Heidi from Austin who will visit for a weekend early in the month and one with my friend Lori from Charlotte who will visit at the end of the month!
What are you looking forward to?
It's been awhile since I did a looking forward post, so I figured it'd be a good way to close out the week!
Today I'm looking forward to going for a run after work with Phil and grilling afterwards. I run with my club Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday but last week it worked well to do a short 4 miler with Phil so hopefully this is something we can continue to do most weeks.
This weekend I am looking forward to seeing my whole family and introducing Phil to them! There are 17 people in my immediate family, including spouses and kids, so there are a lot of people for him to meet! It's pretty rare for my entire family to be together so I am really excited to see everyone. Phil will be there during the day on Friday as he is going to a friend's cabin for the rest of the weekend but I'm glad he'll get to spend most of Friday with my family. I am hoping the weather is nice as I want to spend as much time outdoors as possible. We are having a big family get together with my mom's side of the family on Saturday so it should be a really fun family-filled weekend!
This month I am looking forward to celebrating Phil's birthday. So far we have plans to do a dinner with his friends the weekend before and then on his actual birthday I'll let him pick between a meal made by moi or dinner out at his restaurant of choice. I have most of his gift figured out, and like many of you suggested, I went with an experience versus a physical gift. Hopefully he likes it!
This year I am looking forward to two girls weekends in October - one with my friend Heidi from Austin who will visit for a weekend early in the month and one with my friend Lori from Charlotte who will visit at the end of the month!
What are you looking forward to?
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
My 2nd Fix
Last week I received my second "Fix" from Stitch Fix. I had provided really detailed feedback on my last fix so was excited to see how this one would turn out. Here is what I got!
Items #1 and #2 - Top and Cropped Pants
The first thing I saw when I opened the box from Stitch Fix was some red pants. I was excited as I love bright cropped pants. I tried them on with a patterned top that they had sent me.
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You can't tell in this photo, but unfortunately the pants did not fit me. They were already a little bit loose in the waist and butt areas and I could tell they would likely stretch a bit so as much as I really loved them, I had to send them back. But - I love the top and it fit great so I am keeping it! I can see myself pairing it with cropped pants, jeans, or a pencil skirt so it's going to be a versatile piece for my wardrobe.
Item #3 - Tank Top
I saw that they once again sent me something with stripes which I was excited about...
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But I wasn't crazy about the side panels which makes it flare out a bit. I prefer more tailored looks so this was a bit of a miss for me. Plus it's pretty casual and not really something I could see myself wearing to work so I opted to send it back. I have a hard time spending money on clothes that I can't wear to work.
Item #4 - Cardigan
I heart cardigans and can never seem to have too many of them as I love layered looks (and am perpetually cold) so I was happy to see a cardigan in my fix.
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This cardigan was super comfy, but I ended up sending it back because the price point was too high for the style/fabric in my opinion. I feel like most of what I have received from Stitch Fix is reasonably priced, but this cardigan was $78 which is just way too much for me to spend on a casual, cotton cardigan.
Item #5 - Dress
When I pulled this dress out of the box my immediate reaction was a solid two thumbs down due to the pattern...
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After trying it on, I actually liked it more than I thought I would. But I did not love it. I think if I was in a situation where I liked everything else, I would have kept this dress to get the 25% off of my total order. But, I was sending other things back so the verdict was to all send this back. Plus I felt the price point ($148) was too high for a thin, jersey-type fabric dress. I spend a fraction of that on the dresses that I get at Banana Republic which are made from a sturdier fabric.
So all in all, I once again only kept 1 item - but I really like the one item I kept. I would have kept the red pants if they had fit better and there wasn't anything I strongly disliked in this fix so I feel like my stylist is getting better.
My plan is to do at least 2 more fixes to see if I start to keep more things. But even if I just keep one item/fix, it's actually worth it for me as it will allow me to slowly build my wardrobe over time.
The thoughts in this review are my own and I was not compensated for Stitch Fix to post this review. However, I will receive a $25 credit if you sign up for Stitch Fix using the referral link included in this post.
Items #1 and #2 - Top and Cropped Pants
The first thing I saw when I opened the box from Stitch Fix was some red pants. I was excited as I love bright cropped pants. I tried them on with a patterned top that they had sent me.
You can't tell in this photo, but unfortunately the pants did not fit me. They were already a little bit loose in the waist and butt areas and I could tell they would likely stretch a bit so as much as I really loved them, I had to send them back. But - I love the top and it fit great so I am keeping it! I can see myself pairing it with cropped pants, jeans, or a pencil skirt so it's going to be a versatile piece for my wardrobe.
Item #3 - Tank Top
I saw that they once again sent me something with stripes which I was excited about...
But I wasn't crazy about the side panels which makes it flare out a bit. I prefer more tailored looks so this was a bit of a miss for me. Plus it's pretty casual and not really something I could see myself wearing to work so I opted to send it back. I have a hard time spending money on clothes that I can't wear to work.
Item #4 - Cardigan
I heart cardigans and can never seem to have too many of them as I love layered looks (and am perpetually cold) so I was happy to see a cardigan in my fix.
This cardigan was super comfy, but I ended up sending it back because the price point was too high for the style/fabric in my opinion. I feel like most of what I have received from Stitch Fix is reasonably priced, but this cardigan was $78 which is just way too much for me to spend on a casual, cotton cardigan.
Item #5 - Dress
When I pulled this dress out of the box my immediate reaction was a solid two thumbs down due to the pattern...
After trying it on, I actually liked it more than I thought I would. But I did not love it. I think if I was in a situation where I liked everything else, I would have kept this dress to get the 25% off of my total order. But, I was sending other things back so the verdict was to all send this back. Plus I felt the price point ($148) was too high for a thin, jersey-type fabric dress. I spend a fraction of that on the dresses that I get at Banana Republic which are made from a sturdier fabric.
So all in all, I once again only kept 1 item - but I really like the one item I kept. I would have kept the red pants if they had fit better and there wasn't anything I strongly disliked in this fix so I feel like my stylist is getting better.
My plan is to do at least 2 more fixes to see if I start to keep more things. But even if I just keep one item/fix, it's actually worth it for me as it will allow me to slowly build my wardrobe over time.
The thoughts in this review are my own and I was not compensated for Stitch Fix to post this review. However, I will receive a $25 credit if you sign up for Stitch Fix using the referral link included in this post.
Monday, August 4, 2014
A Perfect Summer Weekend
July was an awesome month, but it felt BUSY. Now don't get me wrong, I love having a busy, full life but after several weekends of non-stop activity, I needed a slower paced weekend. Which is exactly how this weekend ended up being!
Even though I worked on Friday, it almost felt like my weekend started on Thursday. It was a beautiful evening, so Phil came over for a run after work and then I used some zucchini that I had bought at the farmer's market the previous weekend to make sausage-stuffed zucchini boats. If you have some bigger zucchini on hand, I highly recommend this recipe.
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On Friday night, Phil and I were planning to get take-out and lay low but at the last minute one of his friends invited us over for dinner. They grilled, and we brought dessert and bean bag toss along with us. It was a really fun night. Phil lives pretty close to his 3 closest friends from college, so these impromptu get-togethers happen frequently, which is fun.
On Saturday morning, I was up bright and early for my run. I was planning to run 12.5 miles but it turned out a road we were planning to take was closed so I decided to do the 15 mile route that most of the club was running. I had ran 13.5 miles the week before so figured it was an OK distance increase. I am glad I brought this gu along as I definitely needed it. This was a new-to-me flavor and I liked it! I think it is random that there is a yeti on the packaging. It reminded me of the yeti in the Saks 5th Avenue Christmas window display that I saw when I visited Alli last December!
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The run went OK, but the last couple of miles were a bit of a struggle for me. It was hot and we had to run through downtown and I was just ready to be done. Our coach had 2 different water stops set up for us, which was very nice as it was a really warm, humid day. I was so happy when the run was over!
Saturday afternoon was spent grocery shopping, meal planning, and most importantly, relaxing! I sat on my patio and read for several hours. I heart my patio SO much. The view just can't be beat!
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Phil had a bachelor party on Saturday night, so I was on my own for the evening. I spent the evening going to mass, making dinner, and doing more reading. Maybe I will actually read more than 3 books this month!
Waking up without an alarm on Sunday morning was fabulous. It's the only day of the week that can happen so I savor those days. I started off my day by donning some bright capris and going to a yoga class at a local studio. After my 15 mile run the previous day, I was in need of some serious stretching.
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After yoga, Phil came over and we walked across the river to brunch. It was a beautiful day and the view along the walk is so pretty. Have I mentioned how much I love my neighborhood?
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After brunch we hung by the pool for a bit and played some cribbage, which is our favorite game. Then he went home to do yard work and I met up with my two best local friends for an evening of girl time. We did a little window shopping and had dinner at a Mexican restaurants. It was so great to spend an evening catching up. I was home just after 7 so had a little bit of time to relax before heading to bed. I've got a busy week ahead of me so am glad this weekend was more relaxing!
What was the highlight of your weekend?
Even though I worked on Friday, it almost felt like my weekend started on Thursday. It was a beautiful evening, so Phil came over for a run after work and then I used some zucchini that I had bought at the farmer's market the previous weekend to make sausage-stuffed zucchini boats. If you have some bigger zucchini on hand, I highly recommend this recipe.
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On Friday night, Phil and I were planning to get take-out and lay low but at the last minute one of his friends invited us over for dinner. They grilled, and we brought dessert and bean bag toss along with us. It was a really fun night. Phil lives pretty close to his 3 closest friends from college, so these impromptu get-togethers happen frequently, which is fun.
On Saturday morning, I was up bright and early for my run. I was planning to run 12.5 miles but it turned out a road we were planning to take was closed so I decided to do the 15 mile route that most of the club was running. I had ran 13.5 miles the week before so figured it was an OK distance increase. I am glad I brought this gu along as I definitely needed it. This was a new-to-me flavor and I liked it! I think it is random that there is a yeti on the packaging. It reminded me of the yeti in the Saks 5th Avenue Christmas window display that I saw when I visited Alli last December!
The run went OK, but the last couple of miles were a bit of a struggle for me. It was hot and we had to run through downtown and I was just ready to be done. Our coach had 2 different water stops set up for us, which was very nice as it was a really warm, humid day. I was so happy when the run was over!
Saturday afternoon was spent grocery shopping, meal planning, and most importantly, relaxing! I sat on my patio and read for several hours. I heart my patio SO much. The view just can't be beat!
Phil had a bachelor party on Saturday night, so I was on my own for the evening. I spent the evening going to mass, making dinner, and doing more reading. Maybe I will actually read more than 3 books this month!
Waking up without an alarm on Sunday morning was fabulous. It's the only day of the week that can happen so I savor those days. I started off my day by donning some bright capris and going to a yoga class at a local studio. After my 15 mile run the previous day, I was in need of some serious stretching.
After yoga, Phil came over and we walked across the river to brunch. It was a beautiful day and the view along the walk is so pretty. Have I mentioned how much I love my neighborhood?
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After brunch we hung by the pool for a bit and played some cribbage, which is our favorite game. Then he went home to do yard work and I met up with my two best local friends for an evening of girl time. We did a little window shopping and had dinner at a Mexican restaurants. It was so great to spend an evening catching up. I was home just after 7 so had a little bit of time to relax before heading to bed. I've got a busy week ahead of me so am glad this weekend was more relaxing!
What was the highlight of your weekend?
Friday, August 1, 2014
Music, Books, Miles and Looks
Oh hey, it's August. That's crazy. But I don't know anyone who is thinking, 'gosh this year is going slow' so I guess I am not alone in thinking the year is going by fast - maybe too fast. July was a blur. I fit a lot in so it's not surprising that it flew by!
Music:
Photograph by Ed Sheeran - I couldn't find a good live version of this song, so this is the version from the album. I love a lot of the songs from his new album but this is one of my favorites!
Boyce Avenue covering What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction - I was introduced to this cover artist by a yoga instructor. He tends to cover pop songs, but slows them down to a different pace.
Books:
When I went back to look at how many books I read this month, I was actually surprised that I read 3 as it felt like I barely read during the month of July. My weekends and week nights have been so busy that I just don't make time to read like I did in the past (see how I didn't say I don't have time to read? I don't like it when people say they don't have time for things). I miss reading on a more frequent basis but don't see life slowing down anytime soon so the second half of 2014 might just be a slower reading season for me!
Sullivan's Island by Dorothea Benton Frank - 3 stars
On the Island by Tracy Garvis-Graves - 3 stars
Painting the Moon by Traci Borum - 3 stars
Miles:
You guys! I had a 100+ mileage month for the first time since September of 2012!! That is huge for me! I ran about 118 miles last month which is a big increase over last month when I ran about 78 miles! The reason for the mileage increase is that run club started up again in July so all of my runs are longer than they were when I was logging miles alone. I also surpassed my goal of doing 31 workouts in 31 days as I did 33 workouts! I'm on a 4-month streak of meeting my workout-a-day goal!
Looks:
One of my favorite outfits of the month is this head-to-toe Banana Republic outfit. The pants are cream but have a texture to them which makes them different/fun. The top is kind of obnoxiously bright but I heart pink so figured I can pull it off.
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Outfit #2 is another head-to-toe BR look. When will this company start paying me for all the marketing I do for them?? This shirt actually made last month's post, but I am including it again this month as I paired it with a new pencil skirt that I got for 1/2 off. I love that I pretty much get everything 40-50% off at Banana.
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Lastly, my stitch fix top made my list of favorite looks. And what do you know, I'm wearing it with another slightly different khaki skirt (which is from Banana!). My closet is so diverse, I know.
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Music:
Photograph by Ed Sheeran - I couldn't find a good live version of this song, so this is the version from the album. I love a lot of the songs from his new album but this is one of my favorites!
Boyce Avenue covering What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction - I was introduced to this cover artist by a yoga instructor. He tends to cover pop songs, but slows them down to a different pace.
Books:
When I went back to look at how many books I read this month, I was actually surprised that I read 3 as it felt like I barely read during the month of July. My weekends and week nights have been so busy that I just don't make time to read like I did in the past (see how I didn't say I don't have time to read? I don't like it when people say they don't have time for things). I miss reading on a more frequent basis but don't see life slowing down anytime soon so the second half of 2014 might just be a slower reading season for me!
Sullivan's Island by Dorothea Benton Frank - 3 stars
On the Island by Tracy Garvis-Graves - 3 stars
Painting the Moon by Traci Borum - 3 stars
Miles:
You guys! I had a 100+ mileage month for the first time since September of 2012!! That is huge for me! I ran about 118 miles last month which is a big increase over last month when I ran about 78 miles! The reason for the mileage increase is that run club started up again in July so all of my runs are longer than they were when I was logging miles alone. I also surpassed my goal of doing 31 workouts in 31 days as I did 33 workouts! I'm on a 4-month streak of meeting my workout-a-day goal!
Looks:
One of my favorite outfits of the month is this head-to-toe Banana Republic outfit. The pants are cream but have a texture to them which makes them different/fun. The top is kind of obnoxiously bright but I heart pink so figured I can pull it off.
Outfit #2 is another head-to-toe BR look. When will this company start paying me for all the marketing I do for them?? This shirt actually made last month's post, but I am including it again this month as I paired it with a new pencil skirt that I got for 1/2 off. I love that I pretty much get everything 40-50% off at Banana.
Lastly, my stitch fix top made my list of favorite looks. And what do you know, I'm wearing it with another slightly different khaki skirt (which is from Banana!). My closet is so diverse, I know.