tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21659157901671268542024-03-14T01:20:44.704-07:00Lindsey Likes To RunLindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03620213040917489639noreply@blogger.comBlogger231125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2165915790167126854.post-15161393582759023322016-12-02T19:14:00.002-08:002016-12-02T19:14:35.383-08:00Things I'm Loving FridayHappy Friday! This week seemed to fly by, and I can't believe we're already in December! I'm not really sure where 2016 went, but I'm looking forward to wrapping up this year with my family and bringing in a new one! I've compiled a list of things I'm loving lately. Feel free to share what you're loving, too! <br />
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<b>My Fit Bit:</b> I received this as a birthday gift and although it is mad at me every day for the lack of sleep I've been getting lately, it's been fun to see how many steps I get on the average day. (How fun is this color? I love the rose gold trim!) Now that I know about where I am, I think it's time to set goals to be a bit more active, especially on days when I'm not doing a specific workout.<br />
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<b>Training for the <a href="http://www.shamrockmarathon.com/" target="_blank">Shamrock Half Marathon</a>:</b> I just started yesterday and I was really excited that I seem to be at a decent starting point despite my lack of running lately. I have high hopes for this training cycle and think that a new PR is in the cards if I work hard. <br />
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<b>Maddux in Cooler Temperatures:</b> It's been so fun to watch my little old man on his walks lately. He is loving the cooler temperatures and has been prancing, running, and leaping on his walks. He has also been batting his treat ball around like crazy. I always worry about him in the summer months, but he acts like a new dog in the winter!<br />
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<br /><b>The Down Dog app:</b> I have been really appreciating yoga lately, but studios are costly and I feel bad enough leaving Maddux a couple times during the work week for outside the house workouts. The Down Dog app has been AMAZING and it's free for the basic (which at this point is all I really need). I usually do the 30 minute workouts, but am committing to doing at least 15 minutes every day in December to see if it can help me manage my stress a bit more. The sessions remind me a lot of my favorite class (the music is the best!) and I think this app will get a ton of use from me (Maddux thinks this is the best playtime by the way--I am basically an extra tunnel for him to run under while he chases his treat ball ha!).<br />
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<b>The Peppermint Chip Milkshake at Chickfila: </b>Oh my gosh, this is easily one of my favorite desserts (I think the fact that I have a limited time to get it makes it even more appealing). I'm kind of embarrassed about how many I have already gotten this season and I think it's a good thing that my half marathon training has started!<br />
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<b>Thanksgiving Weekend: </b> I can't believe this was only last week! I had the best time in Ohio with my sister and her pets. It was fun just relaxing and eating lots of pie, watching Gilmore girls, and shopping some Black Friday sales (I got so much Christmas shopping done already, and while I try not to buy anything for myself around the holidays I couldn't resist getting a new oven mitt!).<br />
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<b>Anyone else training for a spring half? How is it going? What are you favorite yoga apps?!</b> <br />
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Have a fabulous weekend! <br />
Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03620213040917489639noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2165915790167126854.post-56371958588396555992016-10-28T18:07:00.000-07:002016-10-28T18:09:38.965-07:0010 Half Marathons, 5 RacesHappy Friday! I had an unexpected day to catch up on life, and figured the best way to celebrate was with a blog post. (PS--I can't believe I missed the last official Friday Five! You can tell it's been way too long since I've last posted!) Things have been a bit crazy around here, but a few weeks ago I ran half marathon number 10! Since it's too late to do its own recap, I thought it would be fun to do a trip down memory lane!<br />
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1. <a href="http://www.shamrockmarathon.com/" target="_blank">Shamrock Half Marathon</a>: My happiest half marathon memories are at this race. My first half, my next big PR, and finally breaking two hours all happened on this course. Plus, the usual beach and best friend time that has become tradition doesn't hurt either!<br />
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2. Rock 'n' Roll DC: Guys, I wanted to love this race, but all I really remember from it was being super stressed out because even though I left crazy early, the metro failed me and got me there at the last minute. Needless to say, I haven't been back for this one. Maybe one day...<br />
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3. <a href="http://www.crawlincrabhalf.com/" target="_blank">Crawlin' Crab Half</a>: You guys know I love this one. The course is probably my favorite and the craft beer fest at the end is the perfect way to celebrate a race. This race has always been one that I have run just for the love of running and I wouldn't have it any other way. I find it appropriate that it was number ten!<br />
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4. Nike Women's Half DC: I got really sick leading up to this race and went in entirely under trained, but ended up having a blast! I loved getting to run through DC and the race was so well organized. Having multiple metro stops at the start was very helpful and eliminated the stress I had at Rock 'n' Roll. The Tiffany's necklace was a nice perk, too.<br />
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5.<a href="http://www.norfolkharborhalf.com/" target="_blank"> Norfolk Harbor Half </a>(formerly known as Harbor Lights!): My birthday race. The best celebration a girl could ask for, complete with pie. It rained the whole time, but I loved every minute of it!<br />
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(Can you tell which ones are my favorite races? Maybe one day I'll branch out....but if it ain't broke, don't fix it, ya know?)<br />
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<b>What are some of your favorite half marathons? Any that you want to check off your bucket list?</b> My bucket list half marathon is the Runner's World Half!<br />
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Have a great weekend!Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03620213040917489639noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2165915790167126854.post-55632169638943311132016-09-02T18:06:00.000-07:002016-09-02T18:06:45.267-07:00Friday 5: Why I Run J&AHello friends! Yes, it's been a while, and yes, I've written similar posts before, but it is the Friday Five with <a href="http://www.yousignedupforwhat.com/" target="_blank">Cynthia</a>, <a href="http://www.marontherun.com/" target="_blank">Mar</a>, and <a href="http://www.eatprayrundc.com/" target="_blank">Courtney</a>, and we are officially a month out from the <a href="http://www.crawlincrabhalf.com/" target="_blank">Crawlin' Crab Half</a>! I'm getting really excited and wanted to share my excitement about some truly amazing races with you!<br />
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1. They're fun! I feel like I always have a goofy smile on my face during these races. There are always people in costumes (how they run in some of those is beyond me!), bands playing, and of course, zombies on the course at the <a href="http://www.wicked10k.com/" target="_blank">Wicked 10k</a>. <br />
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2. The food. Both on the course and at the post-race party. My favorites are the gingerbread cookies from <a href="http://www.surfnsanta5miler.com/" target="_blank">Surf-n-Santa</a>, the pie on the <a href="http://www.norfolkharborhalf.com/" target="_blank">Norfolk Harbor</a> course (pretty sure they know it's around my birthday), and the crab chowder after Crawling' Crab. <br />
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3. Did I mention the post-race parties? Always lots of good food and plenty of beer. After the half marathons you get 4 beers (full size). It's always fun to celebrate, especially when they are on the beach (after the <a href="http://www.shamrockmarathon.com/" target="_blank">Shamrock Half</a> last year I saw dolphins!). There's also a PR bell (you know you wanna ring it!) and a board where you can write your new PR time. <br />
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4. Amazing "swag." <--Does anyone else think swag is a weird word. The medals are always fun, my favorite running shirts are all J&A race shirts, and I have a pretty sweet collection of beach towels thanks to these races. I also have a hat for every day of the week. <br />
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5. The courses. (I had to get to the actual running part eventually!) A lot of them are in Virginia Beach and have portions on the boardwalk. In my book you can't beat seeing the ocean on your run! The Surf-n-Santa course is amazing and you get to run under the Christmas lights at night. The <a href="http://www.odubigblue5k.com/" target="_blank">Big Blue 5k</a> ends on the ODU football field. It's really hard to pick a favorite because they are all different, yet awesome.<br />
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Obviously I love these races (and have for the past 7 years now!), so I'm thrilled to be a J&A ambassador again this year! Hopefully I'll have some good recaps for you in the coming months!<br />
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<b>What races do you love? If you've run J&A, what's your favorite?!</b>Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03620213040917489639noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2165915790167126854.post-64312618107968448512016-07-01T07:39:00.000-07:002016-07-01T07:39:33.330-07:00Friday 5: Summer Lovin'Yeah, so I didn't even look to see when the last time I updated this bad boy was, but it's Friday and I've missed linking up with <a href="http://www.marontherun.com/" target="_blank">Mar</a>, <a href="http://www.yousignedupforwhat.com/" target="_blank">Cynthia</a>, and <a href="http://www.eatprayrundc.com/" target="_blank">Courtney</a>, so I figured I'd give you guys a little update on life lately! Summer time has been so good to me so far!<br />
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1. Best friend time! My best friend is amazing. She is always down for a spontaneous visit and it's so nice just being able to hang out. I got to spend the past couple of days with her and she is coming to visit next week! I'm really excited to take her to some of the breweries around here and just bum by the pool.<br />
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2. The beach. It was amazing to be back on the beach (I actually can't remember the last time I had a beach day, which is incredibly sad.). The Eli Young Band has a new song called Salt Water Gospel and I feel like that sums up my feelings about the beach perfectly. <br />
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3. J&A races! (Like anyone is surprised on this one.) My best friend visit lined up perfectly with the <a href="http://www.jandaracing.com/virginia-beach-5k-summer-series/" target="_blank">Summer 5k Series</a> that J&A is putting on right now. Every Wednesday they are doing a casual fun run and I was so excited that I was able to participate! It was great being able to run on the board walk and they gave you a medal and a beach towel at the end. Perfect excuse to head to the beach for the day!<br />
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4. Bikes. I bought one! Not sure I know how to ride it (I'm currently waiting for a tool I need to tighten it--the nice man who helped us fit it in the car explained that the way it was assembled wasn't as safe as it could be and I should fix it before heading out on it.), but I'm really excited to try! I know they say "it's like riding a bike," but whoever made that up has obviously never met me. We shall see how it goes. She's really pretty though and I have a feeling we're going to have many happy rides together. <br />
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5. Yoga. I recently started getting into yoga. Beer yoga is definitely my favorite (so many breweries in this area host classes and you get a class and a beer which makes it a winner in my book), but I just finished my free week at Core Power Yoga and really enjoyed it. Guys, I went to 3 classes in a week. That is a record for this girl! I'm trying to figure out the best route to go moving forward (I'm tempted to do an unlimited month, but not sure how realistic that is with summer travel coming up...might be cheaper to just buy class packages). <br />
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I would love to hear updates from all of you! What are things you're loving so far this summer? Have a happy, happy 4th of July weekend!Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03620213040917489639noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2165915790167126854.post-2855364483013089362016-04-15T18:34:00.001-07:002016-04-15T18:34:23.407-07:00Friday 5: Things I Loved in LondonHappy Friday! I'm linking up with <a href="http://www.marontherun.com/" target="_blank">Mar</a>, <a href="http://www.yousignedupforwhat.com/" target="_blank">Cynthia</a>, and <a href="http://www.eatprayrundc.com/" target="_blank">Courtney</a> for the Friday Five! Be sure to check out what everyone is up to! So my nice friend and I had been wanting to go to London for ages, but you know how it goes. There never seems to be a good time to pick up and leave. I have a friend living in Cambridge (a quick train ride from London!) and after briefly messaging with him and learning that he and his wife were leaving in June, I decided that it was now or never. We packed our bags and were on our way on our big adventure! I actually wrote this post up last week, and then realized that it was <i>so</i> long. I decided instead of telling you every single detail of our adventure, I would give you five highlights instead.<br />
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1. Free Europe Tours: I found this tour through another blog I read regularly, and she raved about how wonderful the tour was and said it was a terrific way to see the sights of London. Although it's a free tour, you tip at the end based on how much you think it was worth. I assumed since it was a two and a half hour tour that it would be relatively leisurely, but it was the opposite! Our tour guide explained that we would be booking it to see all the sights in the allotted time. We had such a good time. Our tour guide was hilarious and told us a lot of great stories (and lots of good information, too!). He timed it out so that we could see the changing of the guard and the horse parade. It was definitely one of my favorite parts of our trip!<br />
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2. Arsenal Tour and Game: My nice friend is a HUGE Arsenal fan, so we knew that we had to get in some quality time at the stadium. I really enjoyed our tour. We couldn't fit a tour in with one of the former players, but I'm glad that we were able to do the audio tour because we got to take our time in each room. We got to take pictures in each of the players spots in the locker room and sit on the bench and take in the empty stadium. The next day we headed back and got to see a big win. It was a lot of fun and I'm so glad I got to share that experience with him!<br />
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3. Museums! We went to the National Gallery, which was cool because we got to see the work of a lot of amazing artists. Some of my favorites were the ones by Monet! (My mom used to teach art, and it was fun seeing some of the paintings we used to learn about as kids!) I have to admit that after a while I was a little museumed out. We wished that we had gotten a map so that we could have planned out our route a little better and hit the sights we really wanted to see instead of doing so many. That place is huge! We also got to go to the Natural History Museum, and I wish we had more time to visit that one! It was also gigantic, and we got to see a lot of cool things, but there just wasn't time for it all. <br />
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4. Kensington Gardens: Our hotel was within walking distance of the gardens, and one morning we walked over and explored a little. I really loved how peaceful it was (and seeing all the dogs and runners!). <br />
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5. Cambridge: I had a friend from college (we actually did a study abroad together!) that moved to Cambridge with his amazing wife to get his MBA. They took us around the little town and told us the best way to see it was by punting. Essentially you row a little boat down the river and the person steering you does it by standing on a little platform and rows with a big stick. I know that's a horrible description, but you'll see in the picture. I opted out of rowing us, because honestly my balance and coordination are not the best and I knew I would be in the river (my nice friend said he was pretty sure I would, too, so it's not just me being a wimp!). We had the best time hanging out with them, but are definitely ready for them to be back in the States! <br />
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That is our trip in a nutshell! If you've ever been (or are planning to go!) to London, I would love to hear about your experiences or share additional places to go! I could have written five times as long about it. We absolutely loved our time there! I hope you guys have an excellent weekend!<br />
Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03620213040917489639noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2165915790167126854.post-72249714375682601132016-03-04T17:51:00.000-08:002016-03-04T17:51:17.359-08:00Another Random Friday 5Happy Friday! I'm linking up with <a href="http://www.marontherun.com/" target="_blank">Mar</a>, <a href="http://www.yousignedupforwhat.com/" target="_blank">Cynthia</a>, and <a href="http://www.eatprayrundc.com/" target="_blank">Courtney</a> tonight. I figured since I have once again dropped the ball a bit when it comes to posting that I would give an update on how things are going on my end. Feel free to add some random thoughts to the comments! I'd love to hear what you're up to!<br />
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1. We had such a great time with the foster pup! <a href="https://toolkit.rescuegroups.org/javascript/v2.0/template1?animalID=9630703&key=Mqr6gy1W" target="_blank">Asphalt</a> was so sweet, and while he was all about playing (especially when he was outside), he was also the best snuggler and made sure to give Maddux some personal space. (Maddux doesn't care to play with the foster pups.) Asphalt is still looking for his forever home, so if you're looking for an amazing pup, I highly recommend checking this boy out!<br />
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2. Mad Pup went back to the vet this week, and now we're moving forward with more tests so that we can finally get on a treatment path. If anyone has experience with dogs and ultrasounds, please share! Just for the record, Maddux is acting perfectly fine. He has been loving his walks still and enjoys playing with his treat ball. We're just trying to figure out what some concerning levels in his blood work are all about.<br />
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3. Still a Body Pump addict. I wish I could go more than once a week! (It's rather expensive, so I have to settle with my once a week, but I LOVE it!) I have been able to add some more weight, which is really exciting. <br />
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4. This wine made me laugh so I did an impulse buy last week, and I'm glad I did! I'm really enjoying it.<br />
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5. Some companies really are just better than others. <a href="https://www.cabotcheese.coop/" target="_blank">Cabot</a> obviously cares a lot about their community of cheese lovers. I applied to be part of the Cabot Fit Team (which I knew was a long shot, but I also believe that if you don't apply you will definitely never be accepted!) and although I wasn't ultimately chosen, they sent me this amazing package. Wine and cheese party, anyone?<br />
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Have a great weekend!Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03620213040917489639noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2165915790167126854.post-31191157470097387942016-02-26T18:06:00.003-08:002016-02-26T18:08:20.341-08:00Friday 5: Thoughts on Fostering<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy Friday! This weekend seemed like it was a long time coming. While I have a busy weekend ahead, I'm really looking forward to it! I'm linking up with <a href="http://www.marontherun.com/" target="_blank">Mar</a>, <a href="http://www.yousignedupforwhat.com/" target="_blank">Cynthia</a>, and <a href="http://www.eatprayrundc.com/" target="_blank">Courtney</a> for the Friday Five today. Make sure to stop by!<br />
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So, my nice friend has been pretty stressed at work lately and when he was looking at the Lucky Dog website (he was going to help me drop off some donations and was checking the address....he doesn't just peruse the site for dogs like I do ha!) he came across this puppy and it was love. Neither one of us has time for a puppy full time right now, but I figured we could at least over night foster so we can get a bit of a puppy fix. I haven't fostered in so long, and I started thinking about the process and how it has changed for me over time. If any of you have fostered before, feel free to comment below! I would love to hear about your experiences!<br />
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1. I have to remember they aren't my dogs. Maddux is the most spoiled pup in the world and I'm pretty sure the older he gets, the more I give him whatever he wants. You never know what the foster pup's future family will want from them, so you have to give them more boundaries than you might give your pup. Not always easy!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bless her heart, Cream knew nothing about boundaries.</td></tr>
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2. It gets easier. I used to be one of those people who said they could never foster because they would want to keep every dog. (I actually almost did! I feel in love with my first pup, and basically the only reason I didn't fill out paperwork to adopt her was because I wanted to prove to all the doubters that I could be a successful foster haha!) I have mostly stuck to the over night fosters, so it is a little easier to say goodbye, but I have to admit there have been some tears! I cried like a baby when I said goodbye to my first foster, and then I had a couple of other pups who were so scared and shy that I hated the thought of leaving them in boarding. I was positive that there would always be water works, but surprisingly enough, I have gotten much better as time has gone on!<br />
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3. You are doing something great for these dogs. Sometimes I have a hard time with fostering, because you are bringing a dog into your home for a short time, yet in that short time many of them get insanely comfortable. They don't understand why they don't get to stay with you, and often they bond pretty quickly. This is where I have to keep reminding myself that it is so much better than the alternative. If I didn't offer them a place to crash for the night then they would be stuck in a scary shelter with an unpredictable future. In the long run, they find their forever homes and can live the life that they deserve. At this time, I know it wouldn't be fair for me to keep any of them on a permanent basis and if I did decide to adopt I wouldn't have room in my home to foster any others.<br />
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4. Adoption updates are the BEST. Lucky Dog is really great at posting adoption updates, and I always get so excited when I see one of my former fosters loving their new homes.<br />
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5. Meet my new foster! I'm so excited to hang out with this cutie and know he won't have any trouble finding a home. Look at that face! I'll be sure to post updates for you guys, but if you are interested in meeting him click <a href="http://www.luckydoganimalrescue.org/" target="_blank">here</a> for more information.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks to Lucky Dog for the picture!</td></tr>
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<br />Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03620213040917489639noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2165915790167126854.post-44728610075376597482016-02-12T17:34:00.000-08:002016-02-12T17:34:21.969-08:00What I've Been Cooking LatelyHappy Friday! Today I'm linking up with <a href="http://www.marontherun.com/" target="_blank">Mar</a>, <a href="http://www.yousignedupforwhat.com/" target="_blank">Cynthia</a>, and <a href="http://www.eatprayrundc.com/" target="_blank">Courtney</a> for the Friday Five! Today's theme is food and drink, so I thought I'd share some of the things I've been cooking lately. My parents gifted me with a new set of pots and pans and a cookbook for Christmas, so I've been more motivated in 2016 than usual to try out some recipes. <br />
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<b>1. Roasted vegetables. </b> Guys, I don't know how this has been off my radar for so long. I'll admit that I often just toss some frozen vegetable steam fresh bags in the microwave, but these roasted vegetables are AWESOME. I've done a couple batches of broccoli and some butternut squash. Easy and delicious. (I literally googled "roasted butternut squash" and "roasted broccoli" to find out how long to cook and the temperature.)<br />
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<b>2. Runner's World Cookbook recipes. </b> This is probably my favorite cookbook I have ever owned. The recipes are pretty simple for a non-chef like me and the ingredients are easy to come by. One of my favorites is their lasagna. It's so simple to throw together and incredibly good. Every time I bring it to work for lunch my coworkers comment on how good it looks. I usually throw in some zucchini in place of the mushrooms. I also recently made the creamy potato and spinach soup. I wasn't a huge fan of this (I just need to chew my food), but then I put it over some rice and it hit the spot. <br />
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<b>3. Mystery Writer's Cookbook recipes.</b> This was a fun gift I received for Christmas that features recipes from different mystery writers. I really like this cookbook and the little stories that accompany the different author's recipes are fun to read. I will admit though that at first I was nervous to make food by people with twisted minds (think Gillian Flynn!), but the chicken enchiladas and spicy crock pot pork are quick and easy to throw together and are well worth the effort of cooking. <br />
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<b>4. Mac and Cheese from Cook Yourself Thin.</b> I don't often use this cookbook because I find that the recipes generally take a long time to make and in my opinion aren't worth the effort. I love this mac and cheese though. I make it when I need a quick and easy week night meal. While yes, it's still mac and cheese, it's better than a lot of other recipes out there for you, and it's definitely better than the boxed stuff I frequently ate in college. Just a note--I always use normal cheese. I don't believe in reduced fat cheese!<br />
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<b>5. Recipes from Around the Web.</b> I make <a href="http://katemovingforward.com/2014/01/26/banana-peanut-butter-baked-oatmeal/" target="_blank">Kate's</a> banana baked oatmeal at least once a month. It's easy to make and feels a little more special than my typical bowl of oatmeal I eat during the week. I also made <a href="http://www.pbfingers.com/2016/02/01/gluten-free-frozen-waffle-breakfast-strata/" target="_blank">Julie's</a> frozen waffle breakfast strata with a few substitutions last weekend. I had a different brand of waffles, and I substituted the sausage for bacon since it's what I had on hand. I also added a little cheese, because what is bacon and eggs without some cheese? <br />
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<b>What have you been cooking lately?</b> I'd love to hear some of your favorite cookbooks, too! I like books with accessible ingredients that don't take a lot of pots and pans to make happen!Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03620213040917489639noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2165915790167126854.post-77263783856258786962016-02-04T18:37:00.002-08:002016-02-04T18:37:46.979-08:00Thinking Out Loud #3Happy Thursday! This week has been flying by and I can't believe we're almost to the weekend already. It has been a busy week for this girl! I'm linking up with <a href="http://www.runningwithspoons.com/" target="_blank">Amanda</a> for her Thinking Out Loud Thursday tradition. Be sure to check out some of the other random thoughts. I hope you guys are having a great week!<br />
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1. Grass is finally in sight! It's muddy, but it's there. We had just piles of snow after good ol' Jonas came to visit and I know my pup is happy that he can visit the backyard a little easier.<br />
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2. I added some weight this week in Body Pump! This was really exciting for me, but I've got to say a couple extra pounds makes a huge difference. I'm taking the class through June, and I can't wait to see how strong I can get!<br />
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3. Speaking of Body Pump, I have had <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwyRWcFuUZk" target="_blank">this song</a> stuck in my head for days. It's been our warm up for the past few weeks and then I heard it on the radio and haven't been able to get it out. What can I say, Body Pump is my type of party!<br />
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4. Yoga is hard. I know we've been over this, but man, my hamstrings are always sore the day after. Although my instructor isn't someone who I would consider to be super zen like, I appreciate that she really wants us to understand how to do the poses correctly. She takes the time to adjust us and wants us to understand where the effort and force should be coming from. I wouldn't say that I'm getting any more flexible, but the poses are starting to feel more fluid now as I move between them and I am definitely more confident than I was when I first started. <br />
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5. <a href="http://www.marontherun.com/" target="_blank">Mar</a> is amazing (seriously, she keeps it real and is super encouraging!) and she is hosting an Instagram challenge. Every day until February 14 you post a picture of how you are practicing self care. You can read more about the challenge <a href="http://www.marontherun.com/2016/01/26/14-days-of-self-care/" target="_blank">here</a>. Valentine's is all about that love and we can't forget to show ourselves a little!<br />
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6. Still trying to figure out what's going on with my pup. We recently delivered a urine sample to our vet (yep, about as fun to collect as you're probably imagining) and it was once again inconclusive. He's been on his liver supplement for a couple of weeks now though, so we're retesting his blood soon to see if his levels have improved. Keep your fingers crossed for my little man! I'm hoping we will have some answers soon. (Just for the record, he is acting perfectly fine, but our vet was concerned when we got his yearly blood test results done. She recommended the yearly tests when he reached "senior" status so that we can stay on top of his health.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aipphUDMQ9U/UWygr-SoYmI/AAAAAAAAA7o/fFrNL6XbfQE/s1600/lounging%2Bpup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aipphUDMQ9U/UWygr-SoYmI/AAAAAAAAA7o/fFrNL6XbfQE/s320/lounging%2Bpup.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The picture of health!</td></tr>
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7. This weekend I have 6 miles on the calendar. I've had some great 5 milers the past couple of weeks, so even though I haven't been running a whole lot, I'm still excited to start getting into longer runs. I have it mapped out so that I will do a 6, 7, 8, 9, and hopefully two 10 mile long runs before <a href="http://www.shamrockmarathon.com/" target="_blank">Shamrock</a>. I'm not going for a PR this time around (I just don't have the base built up), but there's no reason I shouldn't be able to have a strong race if I buckle down and get those long runs in. <br />
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8. This week has been full of fresh veggies! I got my first <a href="http://www.hungryharvest.net/" target="_blank">Hungry Harvest</a> box and have been really enjoying it. My box included kale, potatoes, a tomato, apples, some tangerines, a couple of pears, beets (eh not sure how I feel about those!), and broccoli. I was surprised at how large the "mini harvest" option was and I feel good about the quality and quantity I received for the price I paid. (For all my fellow grad students--they have student discounts!) It's definitely worth looking into if you are looking for a fruit and veggie delivery service. I forgot to snap a picture of the box before I unpacked it, but here's a picture of the box so that you can get an idea of how much produce you're getting! <br />
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9. My sister got me a subscription to Foot Cardigan for Christmas and I just got February's sock of the month. How fun are these?<br />
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10. I finally got a new plant for my zebra planter. The mini poinsettia was a fun holiday plant, but we have moved on to the mini orchid. Here's hoping I can keep it alive! <br />
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Have a great rest of the week!<br />
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<br />Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03620213040917489639noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2165915790167126854.post-68984272054697397682016-01-29T18:36:00.000-08:002016-01-29T18:36:02.841-08:00Friday Favorites: Maddux EditionHappy Friday! I'm linking up with <a href="http://www.marontherun.com/" target="_blank">Mar</a>, <a href="http://www.yousignedupforwhat.com/" target="_blank">Cynthia</a>, and <a href="http://www.eatprayrundc.com/" target="_blank">Courtney</a> today for the Friday Five. It's a free topic week, and since I got so much random rambling out yesterday, I figured I would do a more focused post today. As you guys know, Maddux is my heart and soul. He's my best bud and now that we're going on five years together, we have quite a collection of favorites.<br />
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1. Treat balls. Maddux LOVES these. The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OurPets-Smarter-Interactive-Inches-Colors/dp/B003ARUKTG/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1454118940&sr=1-1&keywords=iq+treat+ball" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">IQ treat ball</a> is his absolute favorite, but <a href="http://www.petsmart.com/dog/toys/toys-r-us-ball-treat-dispenser-dog-toy-color-varies--zid36-10671/cat-36-catid-100118?var_id=36-10671" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this one</a> is a close second for when the first one rolls under furniture. My pup is not the most energetic guy (even when he was younger!), but you should see this dog move to get his treats.<br />
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2. Bil Jac Little Jacs treats. Maddux is a short legged fella, and weight is something we always have to keep in mind. Even a couple of extra pounds can be tough on his old joints. These are small (sometimes I even break them in half!) so they are ideal for our walks and to put in his various balls and puzzles.<br />
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3. Treat Puzzles. His favorite one is a bottle spinner toy that my mom
made. I bought a couple others from Petsmart, but he figured them out
so fast that they don't hold his attention for quite as long. Like I
said earlier, that dog loves his treats! <br />
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4. Burt's Bees wipes. We have been using these constantly through this whole snow thing. The salt they put down isn't the best for pup paws, and I feel better knowing that he is getting a wet wipe and a towel wipe. Which brings me to the next point.... <br />
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5. <a href="http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/1/1/165859-muddy-buddy-dog-mop-chocolate.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Muddy Buddy towel</a>. This is like the "shamwow" for dogs. It dries really fast and to me it is easier to use than a towel because of how your hands can fit in the little pockets. Maddux loves getting dried off with it!<br />
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<i>What products does your pet love?</i> Maddux used to get a Bark Box, a monthly subscription with treats and toys, but we quickly got a huge surplus of treats and Maddux has enough toys for an entire city of dogs. We loved it though, and will definitely go back one day! We actually got the Muddy Buddy in one of our boxes!<br />
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<i>Just for the record--This is just a list of our favorites and I am not being paid in any way to give them a shout out. Have a great weekend!</i>Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03620213040917489639noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2165915790167126854.post-23784049490390338782016-01-28T16:36:00.001-08:002016-01-28T16:36:55.531-08:00Thinking Out Loud #2Happy Thursday! I'm joining <a href="http://www.runningwithspoons.com/" target="_blank">Amanda</a> again for her Thinking Out Loud Thursday link up. It's kind of nice having a place to dump some of my random thoughts. I'm looking forward to seeing what's going on with you guys this week!<br />
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1. Snow days are wonderful. For some reason I associate snow days with organizing. I guess it's like you have a bonus day where you have nothing else planned so you may as well deal with the piles of crap? Anyway, I unpacked two boxes that have been sitting and waiting for months and it feels so good to have a better handle on life.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-04Ms0x_E2tA/Vqqy1qoGGII/AAAAAAAACvI/d04ySf4ulj8/s1600/new%2Bapt%2Bliving%2Broom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-04Ms0x_E2tA/Vqqy1qoGGII/AAAAAAAACvI/d04ySf4ulj8/s320/new%2Bapt%2Bliving%2Broom.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Living room is pretty much done! Woohoo!</td></tr>
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2. Shoveling is an awesome workout. I'd prefer to never have to do it again, but at least I earned all those cookies I ate while snowed in.<br />
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3. Body Pump is still my favorite. Although at first I was kind of bummed that our songs stay pretty much the same (the instructor changed around a couple this week!), I'm kind of glad that they are consistent. I have a better idea of what is coming and I feel like I'm finally ready to add a little weight to some of the tracks. Even though I haven't had nearly the mileage that a half marathoner in
training should have, I am proud of myself for my cross training this
time around. Stretching and strength are bound to help in some
capacity, right?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oFgD0qAKLn8/VqqyJHo0KDI/AAAAAAAACu4/IYbYQ2frsyc/s1600/mad%2Bdog%2Bpush%2Bups.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oFgD0qAKLn8/VqqyJHo0KDI/AAAAAAAACu4/IYbYQ2frsyc/s320/mad%2Bdog%2Bpush%2Bups.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Didn't want to do push ups anyway.</td></tr>
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4. Why is it that when I have decided to try to save some money I find a million races I want to do? So far I've been strong and have resisted and I keep telling myself that these races are good ones that will be around next year. <br />
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5. Ok, so still on my Gilmore Girls binge and every time I can't understand what Lorelei sees in Jason. Yuck.<br />
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6. I'm ready to run again! I realize it hasn't even been a week yet, but I finally am feeling like I want to run and it's killing me that I can't. I'm really hoping that the sidewalks will be cleared off by this weekend, but at least my neighborhood isn't super busy so I should be ok on the roads. <br />
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7. I really want a bike, yet I know nothing about bikes. I found a cute one that is reasonably priced, but who knows if it is a good one. I would use it more for errands than for high mileage, so that probably makes a difference? Anyone have any advice? (Also, does the saying "it's like riding a bike" really hold true? It's been a while. Am I going to completely embarrass myself?)<br />
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8. I'm going to leave you with a random fun fact from my calendar: Buzz Aldrin's mom's maiden name was Moon! How crazy? Did anyone else love the Astronaut Wives mini series on ABC? It was fabulous. <br />
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<i>Tell me something random going through your mind! Any fun facts you have learned recently? What workouts are you loving lately?</i>Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03620213040917489639noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2165915790167126854.post-24691638357293752422016-01-24T08:50:00.000-08:002016-01-24T08:50:28.078-08:00Uh, Sunday 5?Hello from the frozen north! (AKA DC area) I missed posting on Friday because it was my nice friend's birthday and we have been filling our snowy days with the perfect amount of laziness. I can't wait to read how you guys have been spending your weekend! Be sure to check out the Friday Five link up with <a href="http://www.marontherun.com/" target="_blank">Mar</a>, <a href="http://www.yousignedupforwhat.com/" target="_blank">Cynthia</a>, and <a href="http://www.eatprayrundc.com/" target="_blank">Courtney</a>!<br />
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1. I went for one last run before the snow hit! Guys, this run was just what I needed. I have been in such a weird place with running, and this run was really fun. Nothing special or out of the ordinary, but it was one of those days when I just wanted to keep running. I also found a new trail near my house! I ran into a fellow runner who told me of plenty of other connecting trails, too. I see many happy exploring runs in my future!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFexy_hSm0w/VqT_ndCRkrI/AAAAAAAACuY/Al1Hy2O9qS0/s1600/geese%2Bon%2Bfrozen%2Blake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFexy_hSm0w/VqT_ndCRkrI/AAAAAAAACuY/Al1Hy2O9qS0/s320/geese%2Bon%2Bfrozen%2Blake.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honker, I mean hunker down geese! Hope they stayed warm.</td></tr>
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2. We beat Mario. Super adults.<br />
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3. We finished our puzzle! <br />
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4. We did (part of) this work out by Julie over at <a href="http://www.pbfingers.com/" target="_blank">Peanut Butter Fingers</a>. It was a great way to break a little sweat when we couldn't get out of the house.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks, Julie! This was a good one!</td></tr>
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5. I started reading Bart Yasso's book. I've been meaning to read it for a while, but it kept getting pushed back because of library holds coming available and people lending me books. Let me tell you, it is dumb to read a book about running fun when you can't actually go outside for a run. I'm ready to get those roads clear so I can make Bart proud! (Who knows, I might meet him again at <a href="http://www.shamrockmarathon.com/" target="_blank">Shamrock</a>! Just for the record, he is the nicest guy and really fun to chat with! I was lucky to have the opportunity to hang with him while working the J&A booth at the race last year.)<br />
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Who else was snowed in this weekend? How did you spend your time? I spent plenty of time napping, Netflixing, and cookie baking, too. Perfect snow day activities! Stay warm, friends!Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03620213040917489639noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2165915790167126854.post-82102113764713202152016-01-21T17:46:00.000-08:002016-01-21T17:46:02.410-08:00Thinking Out LoudHello! I hope you all are staying warm. We're supposed to get a ton of snow in the DC area this weekend. Not my favorite thing to hear! A lot of you guys know that I took a pretty long blog hiatus, so now that I'm getting back into the swing of writing again I find myself having a lot of random things to say, but no real topics to concentrate on. I recently stumbled upon <a href="http://www.runningwithspoons.com/" target="_blank">Amanda's</a> Thinking Out Loud <a href="http://www.runningwithspoons.com/2016/01/21/thinking-out-loud-166/#more-27212" target="_blank">link up</a> and it seemed like the perfect place to get out some of the randomness that has built up! <br />
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1. I finished an amazing book today. I highly recommend The Lake House by Kate Morton (and all of her other books!). It was one of those you almost hate for it to end because you enjoyed reading it so much. There were tons of twists and I kept revising my theories about how it was going to wrap up.<br />
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2. Am I the only one who has to leave notes to remember new medications? Poor Maddux is on a liver supplement (he's ok, we're just trying to figure out what some off levels in his blood mean). It has to be given on a full stomach, so I've been super paranoid about missing it and have resulted to leaving little post its as reminders. I will keep you updated when I know what's going on with my little man.<br />
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3. Body Pump is amazing. <br />
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4. I am starting to really like yoga. It challenges me in a way that running doesn't and it is kind of nice to be forced to slow down. One of my new year's mantras (I guess that's the right word for it?) is to be mindful, and I'm hoping this helps! I'm also hoping adding Body Pump and yoga into my weekly routine will help my running.<br />
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5. The other day our heat broke (honestly, it was good timing. If you have to break do it in time to get fixed before the blizzard!). Poor Maddux looked so pathetic all snuggled up in his blanket.<br />
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6. I have been binge watching Gilmore Girls. My sister got me hooked on the Gilmore Guys podcast (which was a life saver on my drive from Alabama to Virginia!). Listening to them talk about some of the minute details made me want to go back and rewatch them all (again). <br />
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7. I was all pumped to try my first <a href="http://www.hungryharvest.net/" target="_blank">Hungry Harvest</a> delivery this weekend, but it got cancelled because of the impending <strike>doom</strike> blizzard. Since I'm no longer getting my bread delivered, I figured I would stop by Panera and get a loaf to get me through the next few days (just in case!). Grocery stores = crazy lines and no bread, Panera = no lines and lots of bread. I call it a win.<br />
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8. Grad school starts back up again on Monday! It's been really nice to have a break and I know the next four months are going to fly by. <br />
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I hope you guys all have a safe, warm weekend! (And that you get to start it a little early like I do!) <br />
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<br />Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03620213040917489639noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2165915790167126854.post-40241468495891524922016-01-15T14:24:00.000-08:002016-01-15T14:24:04.336-08:00Friday 5: My Blogging Hiatus <div>
Happy Friday! I'm linking up with <a href="http://www.marontherun.com/" target="_blank">Mar</a>, <a href="http://www.eatprayrundc.com/" target="_blank">Courtney</a>, and <a href="http://www.yousignedupforwhat.com/" target="_blank">Cynthia</a> for the Friday Five. My life has been a bit chaotic the past 6 months, and while I've had tons of things to write about, I just haven't had the motivation to do so. Here's a quick look back at some of the highlights:</div>
<ul>
<li><b>I moved:</b> I had been thinking about it for a while (you know the whole rent goes way up, apartment doesn't get any better thing) and I finally found the right place. Maddux is loving our new neighborhood. I ran 8 miles in my neighborhood without getting bored or having to run the same streets over and over. I can definitely get used to it! My new place is quite a bit smaller than my old place, but I am slowly getting organized and making the most of the space I have. It's also been a good chance to declutter a bit. </li>
</ul>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side story: I bought Maddux this bed years ago. This is the first time<br />
he has EVER got on it on his own. It was a very exciting 2 minutes for me.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<ul>
<li><b>My little brother got married!</b> It was the most perfect, special weekend and I couldn't ask for a better sister-in-law! </li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li><b>Lots of J&A races: </b> The <a href="http://www.wicked10k.com/" target="_blank">Wicked 10k</a>, <a href="http://www.harborlightshalf.com/" target="_blank">Harbor Lights Half</a> (on my birthday!), and <a href="http://www.surfnsanta5miler.com/" target="_blank">Surf-n-Santa 5 Miler </a>were all amazing races and I'm glad that I was able to make it down for them. </li>
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<ul>
<li><b>I went to Vegas: </b> Over the summer my aunts and I decided that we'd run away together to go see Reba and Brooks and Dunn. It was my first trip out and I loved getting to see my idol again. </li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bX2xIe1xEpI/VphV3nwa25I/AAAAAAAACsc/yIB3bmMqWBc/s1600/corgi%2Bcash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bX2xIe1xEpI/VphV3nwa25I/AAAAAAAACsc/yIB3bmMqWBc/s320/corgi%2Bcash.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reba and corgis. My favorite things.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<ul>
<li><b><a href="http://www.shamrockmarathon.com/" target="_blank">Shamrock</a> training has begun: </b>Well, kind of. Honestly, 2015 wasn't a huge running year for me. I finally PRed in the half and 5k and since then it has been really hard to be motivated to train. I had been working so hard to get those PRs and when I finally did I wasn't really sure what to do next. On the plus side, I started Body Pump a couple of weeks ago! I'm hoping that the added strength training will help my running. I'm also going to try to incorporate some yoga into my plan, too. </li>
</ul>
<div>
Life is calming down a little now that the holidays are over, but since I now have a working camera you might see a few more updates from me from time to time. I'm also going to attempt doing a weekly training update, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. </div>
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Have a great weekend!</div>
Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03620213040917489639noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2165915790167126854.post-88711486730473744352015-12-04T16:56:00.000-08:002015-12-04T16:56:23.711-08:00Friday 5: Harbor Lights Half Hellllo! It's been FOREVER since my last post (I actually refused to look because I'm pretty sure it was longer ago than I want to admit). I figured the best way to make my way back to blog world was by joining up with <a href="http://www.marontherun.com/" target="_blank">Mar</a>, <a href="http://www.eatprayrundc.com/" target="_blank">Courtney</a>, and <a href="http://www.yousignedupforwhat.com/" target="_blank">Cynthia</a> for my favorite link up! A couple of weeks ago I ran J&A's Harbor Lights Half Marathon. I wanted to share some things about it with you since I had such a good time!<br />
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<b>1. It was on my birthday!! </b> This was a huge influence on my decision to sign up for this one. I couldn't think of anything I would rather do on my birthday!<br />
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<b>2. There was pie!</b> Ok, real talk here. The fact that it was on my birthday and there was pie felt like a sign. It was like they knew it was my birthday and wanted to party. I had a delicious mini chocolate pie and it was the perfect pick me up. It actually was a great motivator. I wasn't sure when the pie stop was and so at first I convinced myself to run at least the first 10k (I had hurt my foot a couple of weeks before the race which put a kink in my training and confidence). After the 10k I decided that I should keep going until the pie stop. The pie ended up being at mile 9 and at that point it seemed silly to take a break. <br />
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<b>3. It rained the whole time.</b> Luckily I checked the weather and knew to bring my wind breaker and a hat (not completely waterproof, but much better than if I had just been wearing a normal tech shirt!). It was one of those times when you kind of had to just laugh because if you couldn't laugh then it would probably have been miserable. At one point I was running around two girls and we decided just to go for it and jump in the puddle instead of avoiding it because there was no way our shoes could have gotten any wetter. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Free race photos! </td></tr>
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<b>4. The Grand Illumination Parade was the night before!</b> This was a bit of a surprise for my nice friend and me and we got to our hotel right in time before the roads closed. It was fun to be able to watch the parade from our window. Just a side note about our hotel: it was within walking distance from the race start/finish (wooo!) and from the Norfolk Tap Room that had a lovely selection of beer. Gotta have my lucky pre race beer! <br />
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<b>5. I loved the finish</b>. It was right on the water and they gave us one of those space blankets after we got our medals and snacks. It's the little touches like this that make me love J&A so much. (One time after a particularly hot race they gave us cool towels which was the best ever!). We didn't end up staying for the after party. I was cold and ready to be out of the rain, so I grabbed my stew and we headed back to the hotel. Huge shout out to my nice friend for venturing out in the rain to get me to my starting corral and for cheering me on at the finish line. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apparently can't have my time be over by even a second!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Thanks again J&A! I would definitely run Harbor Lights again! <br />
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Oh, and just a side note--I have a new phone which means that I can finally take pictures that aren't "selfies!" I know you guys will be disappointed not to see those masterpieces (been perfecting them for over a year now!) My instagram game is about to be crazy good.<br />
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Happy Friday!!Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03620213040917489639noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2165915790167126854.post-12936918326896263812015-09-11T18:52:00.003-07:002015-09-11T18:52:40.933-07:00Friday 5: Things I'm LovingHello again! Double post this week--watch out world, I may just be getting back into a groove yet. I'm linking up with <a href="http://www.marontherun.com/" target="_blank">Mar</a>, <a href="http://www.eatprayrundc.com/" target="_blank">Courtney</a>, and <a href="http://www.yousignedupforwhat.com/" target="_blank">Cynthia</a> for the Friday 5. Luckily for me, it's a free topic (I have trouble actually following along, and then once I see the topic I am usually sad that I missed it!). I'm going to do my semi usual things I'm loving for you! All photo cred goes to my <a href="http://www.barleythebordercollie.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">sister</a>! I figured y'all might enjoy a break from my selfies ha!<br />
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<b>1. Sister time.</b> Last weekend I took advantage of the long weekend and headed to a small town near Cleveland for some much needed sister time. It was so much fun just hanging out and we managed to pack in a ton of stuff in the short time we had together. <br />
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<b>2. Luke Bryan.</b> The reason for our sister time, and every bit as incredible as you might imagine. No idea how he works it like he does in those jeans, but I'll take it any day! Florida Georgia Line, Randy Houser, and even little Dustin Lynch were amazing, too! It was a terrific concert and I wish we could "play it again." ;-)<br />
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<b>3. Unusual, but amazing food in unusual, but awesome restaurants. </b> My sister took me to a few different places for meals that I would highly recommend if you are ever in the Cleveland area. Before the concert we went to Willoughby Brewing Company. I think she said that the building was an old rail car repair place. I always enjoy trying some new beers (the chocolate peanut butter porter was awesome!) and I couldn't resist trying the mashed potato pizza. In case you were wondering, it was every bit as good as you might guess. We even contemplated going out to buy a cooler and ice so it would last through the concert, it was THAT good. We also went to Covered Bridge Pizza Parlor (you may have guessed it was in a renovated covered bridge!) and Heavenly Creamery for ice cream in a renovated church. Just FYI, the turtle sundae is totally the way to go although my sister would probably try to sway you over to the s'mores sundae. <br />
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<b>4. Maddux getting in the water. </b> So Maddux really hates getting his paws wet. Like if he steps in a puddle he frantically lies down and tries to lick all the water off. If it's raining he refuses to go out. After a walk at one of my sister's favorite parks, we took the dogs down to the beach area to cool off. I tried my hardest to persuade Mad Dog to get all the way in the lake, but he was not having it. It was still fun watching him attempt to avoid the waves.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silly boy ran for the sand after the waves touched his toes!</td></tr>
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<b>5. Liane Moriarty books. </b> I'm reading <i>The Last Anniversary</i> right now and I really love that her books switch perspectives. It's like getting a bunch of stories in one and makes for a quick read. I've been staying up way too late this week
reading!<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Times;">What are you loving
lately?</span></b><span style="font-family: Times;"> Have a great weekend!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times;">Freekeh Giveaway Winner:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times;"> (y'all
made this easy!) Congratulations to Beth! She has been notified. </span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03620213040917489639noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2165915790167126854.post-68702359313843964722015-09-07T19:22:00.000-07:002015-09-07T19:22:00.594-07:00Freekeh ReviewHello! I know I say this after every long hiatus, but I really do plan to get into a writing routine. (And let's be honest, a routine in general). One thing that has been needing some serious attention lately is my meal planning. Luckily, my affiliation with <a href="http://www.fitapproach.com/" target="_blank">Fit Approach</a> through the Sweat Pink Ambassador team allowed me to team up with <a href="http://www.freekeh-foods.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Freekeh Foods</a> to review their product. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ujvT8MAPfC8/Ve5E0sA5w2I/AAAAAAAACk0/AptPAjvCuT8/s1600/freekeh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ujvT8MAPfC8/Ve5E0sA5w2I/AAAAAAAACk0/AptPAjvCuT8/s320/freekeh.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I apologize for the photo quality. Still rocking the selfies over here.<br />Hoping to get that fixed one day very soon! Or to bring back an actual camera...</td></tr>
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Freekeh is pronounced "free-kah" (makes me want to sing some Missy Elliott!) and is organic roasted green wheat. If you're anything like me, you are probably thinking something along the lines of "what the heck is that?" It's basically a rice. You cook it the same basic way (boil water, add freekeh, reduce heat, cover, simmer) and it works as a great base for my beloved veggie burger bowls. I really appreciate how easy freekeh is to make. I actually whipped up a batch to go with veggie burgers and feta for my friend and myself before running in an evening race and it was the perfect pre-race fuel! It wasn't too heavy and settled pretty quickly. I really want to make stuffed peppers with it! Freekeh has 6 grams of protein a serving which is also a win in my book, especially on meatless days which happen pretty often around here. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UqWGPSnHM80/Ve5Eup8d7hI/AAAAAAAACks/EMQwWHnP0PU/s1600/freekeh%2Bbowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UqWGPSnHM80/Ve5Eup8d7hI/AAAAAAAACks/EMQwWHnP0PU/s320/freekeh%2Bbowl.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I received the Rosemary Sage flavor and the Original flavor. I've got to be honest when I say that the original was my favorite. I'm not sure why, but it seemed to have more flavor (or maybe it was the fact that it was SO good with cheese!). I liked the Rosemary Sage, but I'm not sure I would go out of my way to buy it, where as the Original flavor I totally would. Just a quick note about freekeh--it says that each bag is a 4 person serving, but when I measured it out, I actually ended up with two additional servings. I have no problem with bonus!<br />
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Now here's the fun part: You can win your own package of freekeh! You can choose either Original, Rosemary Sage, or Tamari. Sorry international friends, only US Residents qualify this time! To enter, please follow Freekeh on <a href="https://twitter.com/FreekehFoods" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://instagram.com/freekehfoods/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a> (@freekehfoods) and like them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Freekeh-Foods/304009796295786" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. Tweet about the giveaway using the hashtags #LoveFreekeh and #Freekeh and then leave me a comment telling me you did so. (I know that seems like a lot of steps, BUT totally worth it!) I will randomly choose a winner on Thursday, September 10. <br />
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Good luck!<br />
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<i>**Disclaimer: I was given two packages of freekeh to review because of my affiliation with Fit Approach and the Sweat Pink Ambassadors. I was not required to give a positive review and all opinions are my own. **</i><br />
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<br />Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03620213040917489639noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2165915790167126854.post-80395552370766223432015-08-28T17:09:00.001-07:002015-08-28T17:09:28.700-07:00Friday 5: On my MindMy poor blog. Every week it seems to slip further and further down the list of priorities. When I realized that today was Friday (aka Friday 5 link up day with <a href="http://www.marontherun.com/" target="_blank">Mar</a>, <a href="http://www.eatprayrundc.com/" target="_blank">Courtney</a>, and <a href="http://www.yousignedupforwhat.com/" target="_blank">Cynthia</a>!), I knew I had to give it a little love. Because I'm kind of all over the place right now, I figured I would just get some of the thoughts in my head down! <br />
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<b>1. I have no idea how I'm going to juggle working and school. </b> Ok, I mean I know how I'm going to do it. I'm going to make tons of lists and have some late nights. The work life balance might not be so fun this next year or so, but it will be worth it in the end.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M0nQpRm9i6Y/UuWLBYtgy8I/AAAAAAAABdI/-z5LRAH5jv0/s1600/margs%2Bwith%2BLP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M0nQpRm9i6Y/UuWLBYtgy8I/AAAAAAAABdI/-z5LRAH5jv0/s320/margs%2Bwith%2BLP.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In college I preferred to juggle my workload with a margarita in my hand.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>2. The weather this week has been fantastic! </b> I sneaked in an outdoor run this week and Maddux and I went to the park almost every single day this week. It was fabulous. <br />
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<b>3. I wonder how my long run this weekend will go. </b> It's still kind of up in the air on how I'm going to approach it. Part of me wants to just tack on a couple extra miles after my group run (hoping not too many hills tomorrow!), but my nice friend and I talked about possibly running a couple of miles later in the day together, so we'll see what happens. Hopefully a two a day will be almost as good if that's how it works out.<br />
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<b>4. Punkin' Ale is coming back!</b> As well as all other good things that are pumpkin. Although I'm sad to see summer go, I really love fall. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DbeTr6kccXA/VeD3NxlYpSI/AAAAAAAACkA/SXMP_MYGGdI/s1600/IMG_0960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DbeTr6kccXA/VeD3NxlYpSI/AAAAAAAACkA/SXMP_MYGGdI/s320/IMG_0960.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We're a big fan of birthday beer in my family. <br />Luckily my birthday and pumpkin beers go well together.</td></tr>
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<b>5. Halloween. </b> My best friend and I are tossing around the idea of running the <a href="http://www.wicked10k.com/" target="_blank">Wicked 10k </a>together, so I've been thinking about some fun costumes we could run in! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KNIwrSNxCCo/Uvwl1ewwjzI/AAAAAAAABfg/5ljT-fzyKUY/s1600/wicked%2Bdorks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KNIwrSNxCCo/Uvwl1ewwjzI/AAAAAAAABfg/5ljT-fzyKUY/s320/wicked%2Bdorks.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It will be hard to beat the sibling costumes!</td></tr>
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Overall things here are really good. I am working on getting back into a routine, which is a little tricky, but I'm sure I'll be surprised how fast things will get back on track. Also, apparently after rereading this list I'm really digging some fall ha! <br />
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<b>What's on your mind lately? Any fun time management tips?</b> I'm a list maker and calendar person all the way! Have a very happy Friday!Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03620213040917489639noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2165915790167126854.post-56670071216177248672015-08-07T10:44:00.000-07:002015-08-07T10:44:59.182-07:00Friday 5: My DayHello! Today I'm linking up with <a href="http://www.marontherun.com/" target="_blank">Mar</a>, <a href="http://www.yousignedupforwhat.com/" target="_blank">Cynthia</a>, and <a href="http://www.eatprayrundc.com/" target="_blank">Courtney</a> for the Friday Five! The theme of the day is "Day in the Life" and while today hasn't been super exciting so far, I figured I'd play along! <br />
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<ul>
<li>Maddux woke me up as usual around 6am for breakfast and as usual I stumbled back to bed for a couple of hours after I filled his dish. Maddux let me sleep in until about 8 and then I made coffee and oatmeal and we snuggled on the couch for a little while watching Luke Bryan on Good Morning America. It's been such a gray day that it was hard to get up and moving!</li>
</ul>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kD4ZtYcRkGA/VMb3oHFwZRI/AAAAAAAACLI/ky_VL2Oih34/s1600/maddux%2Bin%2Bbed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kD4ZtYcRkGA/VMb3oHFwZRI/AAAAAAAACLI/ky_VL2Oih34/s320/maddux%2Bin%2Bbed.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(No, I don't have snowflake sheets on my bed still. <br />This just captures our typical mornings after he eats!)</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li>After Luke was done backing it on up (Kick the Dust up, anyone?) Maddux and I headed out for our first walk of the day. It's been surprisingly cool today! Nice change of pace for sure. When we got back I got ready for my run, which basically involved half heartedly using the stick to roll out my IT band while texting my mom about Luke's performance. </li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>I headed to the park and felt really strong on my run! Probably a big part of this was because of the cooler temps, but I'll take it any day! My pace was about 45 seconds faster per mile than it has been lately and I even cranked out the last mile in just under 9 minutes. It was a great confidence boost. I need to figure out where I am on my training plan so I can start checking runs off again. I didn't bring it with me on my Alabama trip, so I've just been kind of running to build up a base. So far so good!</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>After my run I ran some errands. Maddux needed food and I needed the new Luke Bryan album so off to Target I went. I know some of y'all are going to make jokes about the fact that I bought a cd, but y'all are going to hate it when you miss out on the bonus tracks haha! While I was at Target I also redeemed my free Starbucks drink since it was about to expire. </li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-atDiLwg3LdI/VcTtw_-TP8I/AAAAAAAACjE/CpFig99LDRU/s1600/luke%2Bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-atDiLwg3LdI/VcTtw_-TP8I/AAAAAAAACjE/CpFig99LDRU/s320/luke%2Bb.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corgis and Luke. Doesn't get much better.</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li>Now I'm eating lunch and typing this up before it's time to get ready for my friends' wedding rehearsal. I'm going to try to squeeze in one more quick walk and some homework, too! </li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wHSDYPKld-E/VQNazCaD2KI/AAAAAAAACSg/Q7RrEKcMe_I/s1600/margs%2Bwith%2Bitzel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wHSDYPKld-E/VQNazCaD2KI/AAAAAAAACSg/Q7RrEKcMe_I/s320/margs%2Bwith%2Bitzel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Congrats to the beautiful bride to be!</td></tr>
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So that's been my day so far! Just one of those run around getting things done kind of days. I'm really looking forward to next week because I'll have a little bit of down time where I can focus on school work and relaxing before work kicks into high gear again. </div>
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<b>Tell me something about your day! Did you get a break from the summer heat, too? Any other Luke Bryan lovers?!</b> My sister and I are going to see him in concert in a few weeks and I am beyond excited!</div>
Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03620213040917489639noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2165915790167126854.post-29659441399653975722015-07-17T05:55:00.001-07:002015-07-17T05:55:48.471-07:005 Things About Pure BarreHappy Friday! I hope everyone had a great week! I'm linking up with <a href="http://www.marontherun.com/" target="_blank">Mar</a>, <a href="http://www.eatprayrundc.com/" target="_blank">Courtney</a>, and <a href="http://www.yousignedupforwhat.com/" target="_blank">Cynthia</a> today. I finished my fifth Pure Barre class this week and wanted to share some things that I figured out along the way for those of you who want to try it, but are a little nervous like I was. I will say that after my first class I wasn't sure how I felt about it. I knew that it was a great workout, but it was a little intimidating. It was also NOTHING like I thought it would be. For some reason I expected classical ballet music, and it's not the case at all. It is upbeat and fast paced. Obviously I am no expert here (visit <a href="http://www.eatprayrundc.com/" target="_blank">Courtney</a> for a lot more about Pure Barre!), but I did learn a lot in my few classes! <br />
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<b>1. Get the sticky socks.</b> You don't necessarily have to get the Pure Barre ones, but it made a big difference when I started doing class in socks with a good grip on the bottom. I will say that I love my Pure Barre socks because they are really thick and comfy. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4EOW-iANi7Q/Vaj6SBNQAXI/AAAAAAAACh8/APFfQAY-pbY/s1600/sticky%2Bsocks%2Bmad%2Bdog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4EOW-iANi7Q/Vaj6SBNQAXI/AAAAAAAACh8/APFfQAY-pbY/s320/sticky%2Bsocks%2Bmad%2Bdog.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hi Maddux!!</td></tr>
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<b>2. Expect some feedback from the instructors.</b> I made sure to tell them ahead of time that I was a newbie which was helpful because they helped me get set up at first. I have only been to one studio, but I'm assuming the format is pretty much the same where the instructor models the move and then walks around to check form. They have made the slightest adjustment to my form that made the biggest difference in where I felt the movement. <br />
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<b>3. It's ok to not be super flexible. </b> Guys, during the ab section there's a part where you lift your leg up. A majority of the girls in my class had their leg all the way up almost touching the barre. My leg was pretty much straight out in front of me. At first it really bugged me, but I felt the workout a lot more when the instructor gave me advice on how to adjust to meet my inflexible needs. Also, while I looked around a lot to make sure I looked similar to other people, most of the girls are so in the zone that they don't even notice what you're doing. I learned to just focus on my workout and do my best instead of worrying about how my body just isn't bending like some of the other girls.<br />
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<b>4. It's hard. </b> The first couple of workouts I was so sore for days after. Eventually my body started getting a little used to the movements so it was slightly easier, but I have a feeling if it is easy the instructor will help you adjust to challenge yourself a little more. I purchased a couple of DVDs that I think helped me a lot because it gets you more accustomed to the movements. Also, the warm up is the same in the DVD so I felt a lot more comfortable at the beginning of class because I felt like an old pro.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lf5t_fpZ-HA/Vaj6agGqoFI/AAAAAAAACiE/i5CA_bnbgiE/s1600/pb%2Bdvd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lf5t_fpZ-HA/Vaj6agGqoFI/AAAAAAAACiE/i5CA_bnbgiE/s320/pb%2Bdvd.jpg" width="289" /></a></div>
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<b>5. Find deals!</b> My first class was on a free "Love Your Body" event on Valentine's Day. My last four classes were purchased through a Tax Day deal. I got four classes for $60. Usually single classes are $25 each. If you're like me and aren't ready to commit to a full plan (it's a little daunting if you see the price tag!), then these deals are ideal (especially if you're new and trying to get used to it!). My DVDs were also through a deal. I got a tank, two DVDs, the socks, and one of the resistance bands used in class for a great price. Follow Pure Barre on social media and sign up for the e-newsletter if you want to stay on top of offers.<br />
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While I probably won't be purchasing any packages in the near future (my closest studio is still about 25 minutes away), I really enjoyed trying out a new workout. It's possible that most of this is mental, but I felt like I started to tone up a little bit when I added Pure Barre into my newest half marathon training plan for the first few weeks. I encourage you to give it a try if you want a challenging workout. Bonus points for not being super sweaty afterwards! (And you guys know I sweat A LOT.) **Just FYI, Pure Barre in no way paid me to say nice things about them. I just know it's a big trend right now and I wanted to give you guys my honest opinion!<br />
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Have a great weekend!<br />
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<b>Have you ever tried Pure Barre? What did you think? Any advice for newbies?</b> Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03620213040917489639noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2165915790167126854.post-41084025702832605122015-07-10T07:12:00.000-07:002015-07-10T07:12:34.750-07:005 Things I've Learned LatelyHaaaaappppy Friday! I am linking up with <a href="http://www.eatprayrundc.com/" target="_blank">Courtney</a>, <a href="http://www.yousignedupforwhat.com/" target="_blank">Cynthia</a>, and <a href="http://www.marontherun.com/" target="_blank">Mar</a> today! Make sure to check out the awesome blogs joining in the fun. I have been absent on the blog front lately. Part of it is because I haven't been training for anything and the other part is that priorities have just been elsewhere. I'm happy to report that I started a training plan for my next half on Wednesday, so I'm sure I'll be inspired to document those adventures along the way. As I was trying to think of a good topic to write about today, I realized that I had a lot of random thoughts floating around (like always). I figured I'd share some things I've learned lately with you. Feel free to share your own findings in the comments!<br />
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<b>1. Love can last a life time.</b> Before you roll you eyes and think that is totally cheesy, let me explain. My nice friend and I just headed to Colorado to join a TON of my family to celebrate my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary. It was so great being out there watching them renew their vows to one another. They are each other's rock and have been a fabulous team and a wonderful example of what love can be. I'm so thankful that I was able to share in their special day!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2JVTzWMR5pk/VZ_QZ7XnYgI/AAAAAAAACg4/FR0QPmefevw/s1600/girls%2Band%2Bgrandma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2JVTzWMR5pk/VZ_QZ7XnYgI/AAAAAAAACg4/FR0QPmefevw/s320/girls%2Band%2Bgrandma.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uO1w5yktD7o/VZ_QhJOerYI/AAAAAAAAChA/WB9g788SQCo/s1600/sisters%2Bwith%2Bgrandpa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uO1w5yktD7o/VZ_QhJOerYI/AAAAAAAAChA/WB9g788SQCo/s320/sisters%2Bwith%2Bgrandpa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Obvious where were get our good looks from.<br />Photo cred for these awesome selfies goes to my <a href="http://www.barleythebordercollie.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">sister</a>!</td></tr>
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<b>2. It's ok to say no. </b>Last summer my uncle and cousins convinced me to hike up to the top of St. Mary's Glacier. As a nonhiker, this was pretty traumatic for me (even though I will reluctantly admit that it was a great experience and I'm glad I did it!). My family and I returned to the glacier again this summer. My nice friend, dad, and I got to the glacier first. My nice friend was feeling adventurous, so my dad and he took off to continue climbing. I sat my butt down on a rock, enjoyed the views, and had a great time being silly with the gals in the family when they arrived. I had a great time and did not regret my decision to stay behind.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last year's view from the top.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This year's view from the bottom.<br />It was a little rainy, a lot fun.</td></tr>
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<b>3. Sometimes you just have to ask.</b> So, you guys know my love of Reba. When I was little I was really upset that my mom wouldn't let me dye my hair red so that I could look like Reba. (Obviously, we are twins except for that red hair thing...) When I saw that Reba was performing in Vegas I really wanted to go, but didn't think it would actually happen. I mentioned something about it to my aunt and she was immediately onboard with the idea. So much so that we actually booked our tickets already! Vegas here we come! I'm so glad I brought it up, because I might have missed a fun opportunity that may not come up again.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I woud be ok if she sang Fancy over and over again.</td></tr>
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<b>4. Grocery shopping can be exciting. </b> I know what you're thinking. Grocery shopping sucks. It really does. BUT, after eating out a ton of meals, it was nice to be able to get back into my regular eating groove. When I eat out I am of the opinion that I should try what I want to try, even if it may not be the healthiest thing on the planet. At home I try to eat a lot cleaner. My fridge had been pretty pathetic leading up to my Colorado trip, but it is stocked back up with fruits, veggies, and of course, sriracha hummus. Definitely a good feeling!<br />
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<b>5. Learning is exciting. </b>I've always known this, but it's been renewed in the past couple of weeks. I mentioned in an earlier post that I started grad school. It is a little overwhelming trying to figure out how to be a student again, but I get a little giddy every time I think about the fact that I am a grad student. I am so excited to learn more and see what opportunities this opens up for me. <br />
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<b>What have you learned lately? Or been reminded of recently? </b>Have a fabulous weekend!Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03620213040917489639noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2165915790167126854.post-24390217380979291672015-06-19T18:40:00.000-07:002015-06-19T18:40:28.157-07:00Friday 5: Things that Make Me HappyHappy Friday! This is an especially happy Friday because I have a nice long break from work. I'm looking forward to some long days at the pool! I'm linking up with <a href="http://www.marontherun.com/" target="_blank">Mar</a>, <a href="http://www.yousignedupforwhat.com/" target="_blank">Cynthia</a>, and <a href="http://www.eatprayrundc.com/" target="_blank">Courtney</a> for the Friday 5 all about happy thoughts. I'm excited to read about some things that are making others happy! It's so nice to have positive things to read about.<br />
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<b>1. Maddux. </b>He had to be first. Guys, you knew this.<br />
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<b>2. Watching the Pirates win. </b> I can't wait to go to the game tomorrow! Sorry, Nats. I'll cheer for you when you're playing someone else.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wish I could go to PNC more regularly!</td></tr>
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<b>3. Races with my nice friend. </b>He is an awesome sport and goes to many of my races to support me, but it's not always easy to convince him to run with me! He ran in the Charm City Crab Run with me last weekend and although it was hot, it was a great time! I really liked running along the water and they had so many yummy snacks after! When we finished the race we were handed a mug for beer samples and got to enjoy lots of fun beer. (Oh, and more snacks!) The beer fest was a little different than most we've been to because you could choose whether you wanted a full glass or a sample. Good times! <br />
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<b>4. Trader Joe's Mini Mint Ice Cream Mouthfuls. </b>Oh my gosh, these are so good. They are nice because they are tiny enough that you can eat one in the afternoon and then another one later on in the day without feeling like a pig. Another win for Trader Joe's!<br />
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<b>5. Mary Kay Andrews books.</b> I have been waiting to read this book (I have a ton of reading for grad school and knew I would get caught up in my fun book over my school books!), but it is finally vacation time. These books are just so girly, beachy, and fun and I can't wait to dive in! (Haha.)<br />
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<b>What is making you happy lately?</b> Let's spread the joy!<br />
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<br />Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03620213040917489639noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2165915790167126854.post-75099328338042492212015-06-07T06:46:00.000-07:002015-06-07T06:46:08.148-07:00Friday 5: ZOOMA 10kGuys, I really do know my days of the week. Lately though it's just been easier to post a little late because the week days have been so busy! I hope everyone got in a wonderful run on Wednesday for National Running Day! It was nice and cool here, and though it was a little dreary, it really was great weather for a run! I'm linking up with <a href="http://www.marontherun.com/" target="_blank">Mar</a>, <a href="http://www.eatprayrundc.com/" target="_blank">Courtney</a>, and <a href="http://www.yousignedupforwhat.com/" target="_blank">Cynthia</a> today--make sure to check out the link up for some good reads.<br />
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Last weekend I ran the ZOOMA 10k in Annapolis, Maryland. Today I'm going to share with you some of my thoughts from the race. I'm not really sure where the month of May went, but I didn't train nearly as well as I should have. I kept putting off my longer distance runs and didn't run more than 4 miles before the race, (post-<a href="http://www.shamrockmarathon.com/" target="_blank">Shamrock</a> running has been a little subpar!), but I still had a fun morning! I was really proud of myself for running the whole race because it was a huge mental battle. I really do believe that you can work on something in each race even if you know it's not going to be your fastest!<br />
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<b>1. The Expo.</b> So a quick note about ZOOMA--it's a race geared towards women with the goal being a fun "girls weekend out" race. All of the locations are in really fun/gorgeous areas. ZOOMA Florida is on my bucket list of runs! The race expo was held in the Annapolis Loew's hotel (the host race of the hotel). There were plenty of public parking places a couple of minutes walk away. I went really early and only had to wait a couple of minutes to get my packet. The expo was small, but they had some cute shirts. Charm City Run had a booth, and I ended up buying a really fun shirt!<br />
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<b>2. The Course.</b> When I got to the Navy Marine Corps Stadium, there was quite a line for parking. I arrived about 30 minutes prior to the race, and after I parked I decided it would probably be best to find the portapotties. (Side note, thank goodness for car alarms, because I totally forgot where I had parked after the race.) I'm glad I did, because the line was soooo long. I waited for about 20 minutes in the line. I don't remember it being that bad a couple of years ago! The race started on time (or really close to it). The first mile or so you just kind of wind through the stadium parking lot and the roads around it. I think miles 2-4 were probably my favorite. Those were the ones where you went through downtown Annapolis (which I think is super cute) and are near the water. Around mile 5 we got to a bridge and it was brutal. The uphill seemed to last forever and it was right in the sun. (I remembered this bad boy from a couple of years ago!) Once you got to the downhill park though, it seemed like the breeze came back and it was lovely. The rest of the course wasn't too remarkable. Pretty much just winding through neighborhood streets back to the stadium for a slightly uphill finish. There wasn't a whole lot of crowd support, but there were a ton of water stops! It was really nice having that many opportunities to get water. Even though the race started at 7, it was still pretty warm! <br />
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<b>3. The Post Race Party. </b> After finishing the race, I was handed a medal, a bottle of water, a bag of Maryland Crab chips, and got to pick a snack box. I went with the hummus, but chicken salad was also a choice. My box had hummus and pretzels, carrots, and an apple. There were some vendors available and there was wine, but since I ran it solo I felt like drinking alone at 8am was kind of not my thing and I would rather just go home. <br />
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<b>4. The Swag.</b> In my race packet I received a reusable bag, a pair of Feetures socks, a journal, and my race shirt. I actually wore the socks to the race. I'm not sure I would say this is the best sock I've ever put on my foot, but they did seem a little more durable than some of my other socks. As long as they last a few months without holes I'll be happy! The medal was just a generic one for the 10k finishers. The half marathon medal was pretty cool, but I can understand why they wouldn't want to go through the cost of making two different medals for all of their races. <br />
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<b>5. Other Thoughts.</b> I left with the same impression of the race that I did the last time I ran it. It was ok. It was fun, but not one that I feel compelled to do every single year. I do like that it's pretty close (I was home before 9!) and I enjoy the distance, so I wouldn't rule it out completely in the future. I also had some unfair comparisons--a couple of years ago I ran it and when I signed up they sent me a training pack that had a ton of different stuff in it and a really cute shirt that I still wear all the time. At the actual race, I got another shirt, a water bottle, a yoga mat, and a cute necklace, AND I think the race was cheaper than it is now. Look, I get that if they did that every year they would probably be bankrupt in no time, but when you're spoiled one year it can be a little disappointing when the next year you're not! In all fairness though, I thought the goodie bag was still great this year! <br />
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Guys, I felt kind of bad. So they said that we would get a free race photo this year. Pretty much every single race photo I'm in, I look like I am in some serious pain, even if I'm not. I decided that I was just going to make a face at the camera this time so I would be intentionally crazy looking instead of the "oh that poor girl" crazy looking. Weeeeellll, the photographer did NOT look happy. As soon as I saw her face, I wished I could take it back, but oh well. The past is in the past. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think I captured the "Zombie Runner" look quite well.</td></tr>
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<b>Have you done any ZOOMA races? What did you think? What races do you have coming up? </b>Have a great weekend!<br />
<br />Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03620213040917489639noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2165915790167126854.post-10979309121204538412015-05-29T19:01:00.000-07:002015-05-29T19:01:15.493-07:00Friday 5: Thoughts on Joining a Training GroupIt's Friday! I'm linking up with <a href="http://www.marontherun.com/" target="_blank">Mar</a>, <a href="http://www.yousignedupforwhat.com/" target="_blank">Cynthia</a>, and <a href="http://eatprayrundc.com/" target="_blank">Courtney</a> for the Friday Five. Make sure to check all the great blogs! I have a race tomorrow, which I'm not <i>super</i> excited about, simply because I didn't train for it. Oops. It kind of sneaked up on me. I don't want this to happen in future races, because honestly, they are expensive and it's just not fun to run a race when you aren't prepared for the distance. I've been playing around with the idea of joining a training group for my next half, and luckily I have some time to think about it! If I'm going to do it, I want to commit. I have a lot of thoughts going on, so I would love to hear about anyone who has experience training with a group!<div>
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<b>1. I need a goal.</b> I finally broke 2 hours in my half marathon and I haven't put a lot of thought into the next goal. I mean, of course a PR would be nice, but I don't have as definitive of a goal. Quite frankly, running sub 2 was hard, and it would be nice to do that again, preferably a little more comfortably. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love that PR bell!</td></tr>
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<b>2. I do really well following plans.</b> I really like posting my plan on the fridge and checking off each run. I've been following essentially the same plan the past few races. I try to do two 5 mile runs a week and then alternate speed work and long runs. It's been working, but I would be interested to see what a coach had to say. I wonder how fast I could get actually following advice from someone who knows what they are doing. On the other hand, I appreciate how easy my plan is to follow. It works for my life.</div>
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<b>3. Long runs are tricky.</b> I try to go somewhat early and just pack a lot of water and shot bloks in my car. I do various miles that circle back to my car every so often. It seems like the training run group would have set up aid stations throughout the long runs. That would be really great. On the other hand, long runs are usually not very pretty for me. I kind of like suffering solo. Plus, I like being able to take breaks when I feel like I need them. </div>
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<b>4. I like my current group. </b> They are only a quick drive away, and besides, I would really miss seeing them every week. Plus even though it's hotter, I like that we have a later start time. 7am runs would be tough at first! From what I read there will be a couple of easy runs thrown into the mix, so I could always go back to my group for those instead. </div>
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<b>5. Commitment. </b> I think this is a really good thing for me, and something that I'm not so sure about. It would be good for me to be held accountable by a group and a coach. I like when other people know about my goals so that I can be reminded of what all the hard work is for. The plan would coincide perfectly with 2 of my three half marathons I want to do, and would hopefully give me the tools to continue moving forward for my third. I do appreciate the ability to be flexible though. I like being able to do my runs when I feel like doing them. I like being able to adjust according to how I'm feeling. I like running for me. Now I just have to decide how much support I want.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gotta earn my bling!</td></tr>
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<b>Have you ever used a training group? How did it go? Did you find that it helped you meet your goals? Maybe form new goals? </b> I would love to hear your stories!</div>
Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03620213040917489639noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2165915790167126854.post-69171511171766948062015-05-23T05:32:00.000-07:002015-05-23T05:32:12.213-07:00Friday 5: Things I'm Lovin'Poor blog has been neglected lately. One day I hope to get back into a consistent place with writing (and reading!), but for now it looks like I'm just sticking to the Friday Five with <a href="http://www.marontherun.com/" target="_blank">Mar</a>, <a href="http://www.yousignedupforwhat.com/" target="_blank">Cynthia</a>, and <a href="http://www.eatprayrundc.com/" target="_blank">Courtney</a>! Make sure to pop over and check out the link up! Since my running has been in a sad place lately, I'm back to my usual Things I'm Lovin' post! One day I might surprise y'all and mix it up!<br />
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<b>1. Foster pups finding their families!</b> I picked up my latest foster pup on Sunday and he was adopted on Thursday! Although I didn't have him long, I really loved having his adorable energy and sweet puppy snuggles for the week. I must say though, it was a big change from our usual pace, and I think Maddux and I were both a little relieved when we could get back into our normal groove. Congrats to Todd and his new family!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lUJb6HMSYwU/VWBx6Jy8j3I/AAAAAAAACcc/GrUZF6_qpzE/s1600/Photo%2Bon%2B2015-05-17%2Bat%2B22.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lUJb6HMSYwU/VWBx6Jy8j3I/AAAAAAAACcc/GrUZF6_qpzE/s320/Photo%2Bon%2B2015-05-17%2Bat%2B22.39.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Todd really loved Maddux and all of Maddux's toys.<br />Guess how Maddux felt about that.</td></tr>
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<b>2. Volunteering with <a href="http://www.luckydoganimalrescue.org/volunteer" target="_blank">Lucky Dog Animal Rescue</a>. </b> Yes, you guys know this, and it totally goes with #1, but it is worth repeating. They appreciate their volunteers so much, and I'm sure I get on their nerves with all my questions, but they never show it! They work incredibly hard to find their pups the best home, and I highly recommend getting involved with them. They have events in Virginia, Maryland, and DC, but there are a thousand ways to help out. If you are an animal lover you will have a lot of fun.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WwnkU0ks-Ts/VWByxUyJitI/AAAAAAAACck/CSYGN5u5Ijo/s1600/todd%2Bboy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WwnkU0ks-Ts/VWByxUyJitI/AAAAAAAACck/CSYGN5u5Ijo/s320/todd%2Bboy.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time flies when you get to hang out with cute pups like Todd!</td></tr>
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<b>3. Library E-Books. </b> (And let's be honest, the library in general.) I really love my nook, and it's nice being able to check out books so easily. While I love purchasing books, I try to only do it with books that I know I will want to share or read again. I read a lot of mysteries, and they aren't quite as fun the second time. My library also makes it easy to check out physical books. You just go online, put your book on hold, and then you can run in and grab it off the holds shelf. (I use the self check out, too, so I can be in and out of the library in less than 2 minutes.) <br />
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<b>4. Luke Bryan's New Music! </b> I (and every other woman) love me some Luke Bryan and I have been really excited that new music is coming out! My sister and I are going to see him this summer and his new album is coming at a perfect time. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vlJ3WR0XpxI/VWBwfVvfHpI/AAAAAAAACcQ/3xZZOxUvLyU/s1600/little%2Bblack%2Bdress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vlJ3WR0XpxI/VWBwfVvfHpI/AAAAAAAACcQ/3xZZOxUvLyU/s320/little%2Bblack%2Bdress.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We <3 summer concerts!</td></tr>
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<b>5. Feeling ready to run again.</b> I have been taking a big ol' break since <a href="http://www.shamrockmarathon.com/" target="_blank">Shamrock</a>, and while I've still been going to my run group and signed up for a couple of races, my heart just wasn't really in it. You know you're ready to train again when you obsessively start searching for races. I have three (!!!) half marathons I want to sign up for this fall, and am trying to decide if it's doable or if I may be a little crazy. I'll share more after I send my credit card up in flames from registering! They may have some big challenges thrown in, so I'm pretty excited about figuring out how to adjust my training plan!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qRoaxdF53yw/VRstPYZc6UI/AAAAAAAACWc/C-AW7ChsJHM/s1600/dolphin%2Bchallenge%2Bcomplete.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qRoaxdF53yw/VRstPYZc6UI/AAAAAAAACWc/C-AW7ChsJHM/s320/dolphin%2Bchallenge%2Bcomplete.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shamrock, I miss you! Can we relive that weekend?!</td></tr>
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<b>What are you loving lately? </b>Happy weekend, friends!<br /><div>
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Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03620213040917489639noreply@blogger.com14