Category: Random

January Rewind

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The first month of 2014 is over and it went by so quickly! I spent most of the month traveling and avoiding some of the crazy weather we’ve had. I can’t help but think I’m starting this year on the right foot. Let’s take a look at the numbers.

Miles run: 51

Races run: 0

Miles biked: 0

Books read: 1 (Once a Runner)

Places traveled: 4 (Chicago, Vegas, Detroit, Toronto)

New recipes: 1, Ham & Bean Soup

My mileage jumped up pretty high this month. I haven’t run that many miles since the early fall. It felt great to get more miles in and I know it will only go up from here. I even focused on cross training with my Body Fusion class. Once I get back to a regular schedule I can add yoga in, and hopefully get back on the bike as well.

I finally finished Once a Runner and it was a great book. It will be perfect motivation to get my training schedule off on the right foot. I’ve got a book for work to read next, but I’m hoping to dive into more books I’ve had on my to-read list.

Like I mentioned before, I traveled a lot in January. I started off in Chicago, where we celebrated New Years. I followed that up with 4 days in Vegas and got to run the strip. The next week I traveled to Detroit, and spent the week after that in Toronto. Lots of miles and lots of days wondering which time zone and state I was in. At least it makes the winter go by quick!

I also made ham and bean soup and shared my recipe of spaghetti squash. February will bring a few trips, more miles and hopefully better weather!

What did you do in January? What are your goals for February?

 

A Trip Up North

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Last week I spent Tuesday through Friday in Toronto, Canada for a work trip. I’m no stranger to the city, in fact I’ve done this trip at least four times. The first time I was there, I toured the city the best way I know how, by running it. This time it was a little too chilly to run the city, but I was able to capture some pretty good photos.

Welcome to Toronto!

Welcome to Toronto!

View from my hotel

View from my hotel

Check out the clouds

Check out the clouds

Good morning Toronto!

Good morning Toronto!

Such beauty

Such beauty

The beautiful CN Tower

The beautiful CN Tower

Ok, so more than a few photos from my hotel, but the city is gorgeous, so I couldn’t help myself. Toronto is a beautiful city to walk, and I felt really safe. If you’re looking to stay in the downtown area, I highly recommend the Residence Inn Toronto Downtown. The rooms were large and spacious, and even included a kitchen. You can easily walk to the lake, to the convention center, restaurants, bars and a few of the sports arenas.

As for food, let’s just say that I’ve never had a bad meal in Toronto. We went to a variety of restaurants after the show, and I’m pretty sure if I didn’t walk so much, I would have easily gained 10 pounds.

  • Paese Ristorante – Located on King Street, Paese was about a 5 minute walk from the hotel. The restaurant is very chic but also very cozy. I ate an entire Margherita pizza by myself with a glass of Verdicchio ‘Macrina’. Both the pizza and wine were excellent, so you better believe I’m adding that to my HelloVino list!
  • Jack Astors Bar & Grille – To me this was similar to BW3’s, but a little bit more upscale. I had the Shrimply Delicious Pasta with a side of poutine. It was the first time I ever tried poutine, and honestly, I really liked it. I may try making it at home sometime.
  • e11even – This restaurant was in the heart of the sports district. The atmosphere and design was very sophisticated and the meal was amazing. I had the crab cake, lobster mac n’ cheese, and followed it up with the warmed nut brownie for dessert. The menu is pricy, but it’s definitely worth it.

Have you ever tried poutine? Have you traveled to Toronto?

 

 

 

365 Days

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One year, 365 days. A lot can happen in this small amount of time. A few days ago, Jen asked me to participate in a 365 day photo challenge. I’ve participated in a few monthly Instagram challenges, but trying a photo challenge that would last one full year sounded really exciting.  So I’ve decided to give it a shot. I haven’t decided on a theme, but I want to focus on taking pictures when the perfect moment happens.

We’ll be using 365project.org and you’re welcome to follow along. I’m sure I’ll update with my favorite pictures throughout the year, but to catch all the photos, feel free to follow me. We’re starting on February 1st and I’m excited to see what amazing things I’ll capture over the next 365 days.

And so we begin, 365 days of my life, filled with running, traveling, possibly some adorable cats, and so much more. I hope you enjoy it and hopefully you can start your own 365 day journey!

My new substitute for Pasta

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If you know me, then you’d know that I have a weakness for pasta. I can and easily have had pasta multiple times a week, even in the same day. There’s something really comforting about it, and no matter how many times I eat it, I can never get sick of it. However, in an effort to work towards a healthier weight, I’ve started to cut back on my pasta intake. As much as I love the extra carbs, sometimes it’s nice to be a little healthy and thats where I discovered spaghetti squash.

Now I know I’m not the first one to discover this delicious treat, but it’s something that’s easy to cook, it’s healthy, and you don’t get that I’m too stuffed to move feeling when you’re done eating it. There are a ton of recipes online, but we followed the sticker on the squash and it turned out just fine. Toppings can range from butter to chicken to marinara sauce. We kept it simple with butter and parmesan cheese, but the possibilities are endless.

Easy, How to Directions:

  • Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees
  • Cut spaghetti squash in half and scoop out seeds
  • Place spaghetti squash on pan, cut side down and leave in the oven for 45 minutes.
  • Remove from oven, flip over spaghetti squash and microwave for 7-10 minutes.
  • Remove from microwave, scoop out desired amount and add your toppings.
Yum!

Yum!

Spaghetti squash has easily become a staple in our home and I’m excited to try new toppings to see which we like best. I’m also looking forward to trying other squashes and expanding my cooking abilities.

 

Have you tried spaghetti squash? Which toppings do you prefer?

Friday Faves

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It’s time for another addition of my favorite things! I’ve got a variety of items on the list this month, let’s take a look!

Hello Vino App – I’m a big fan of wine, and when I mean big, I mean I’m doing a wine tasting almost every weekend at our grocery store. (Too much wine, maybe?) I used to take a picture of the bottle so I’d remember it for future reference, but now there’s an app for that. Hello Vino is the perfect app for wine lovers. You can keep track of your favorite wines, find deals on wines, or find the perfect wine to pair with any meal. In other words it’s the how to on becoming a wine snob.

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Body Fusion Class – I’m absolutely loving my Body Fusion class right now. It’s the perfect mix of lifting and yoga. I never knew the proper way to lift, so having an instructor show me the right way and new ways to lift makes all the difference. I can tell this will be a huge help with training this year. Better yet, the class is on Monday nights so it’s the perfect way to kick off a new week!

Bastille – This is my latest album download and I’m completely satisfied. I heard Pompeii on the radio this summer and recently started hearing Bad Blood, then I knew I was hooked. I downloaded the entire album and I can’t get enough. Plus, most of the songs are on a quick beat so they’re perfect to add to my race playlist! Also, they’ll be performing on Saturday Night Live this weekend if you’re interested in checking them out.

My final favorite will be sort of a reoccurring favorite. Back in December I was accepted as a 2014 Nuun Fan Member as part of a new tri-level ambassador program. So each month I’ll be focusing on one flavor of Nuun that I’m loving.

Cherry Limeade Nuun – Cherry Limeade has been my travel buddy and afternoon savior. With just 40mg of caffeine, it’s the perfect dose to get you back on your feet, but doesn’t keep you awake until the wee hours of the morning. With early flights and multiple time zones over these next couple weeks, my sleeping schedule will be all over the place. Luckily I’ll have my Cherry Limeade Nuun to keep me awake when I need it most. It’s also been a great tool to use for that 3:00 lull every afternoon, one tab and I can keep plugging away until I leave at 5:30. The flavor is great and I’d definitely recommend it over that afternoon cup of coffee!

Capture

 

What are you currently crushing on? Do you still watch SNL? What’s your favorite flavor of Nuun?

A Trip to CHI Town

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It’s hard to believe, but it’s already been a week since we went to Chicago for New Years. Luckily we went last week, and not this week or I don’t think I would have been brave enough to venture outside. Last year we spent New Years Eve at home, which was nice, but this year we wanted to do something more exciting. We decided we’d take a trip to Chicago, since neither of us had been there before and catch up with some of Darren’s friends. We drove in on Monday, spent Tuesday touring the city and drove back home on Wednesday. It was a short trip, but it was nice to get a mini vacation in after the holidays. The only downside was that it was freezing! Remind me to make my next visit to Chicago during a warmer season.

First night in Chicago

First night in Chicago

Buses, trains or walking. Something I'm definitely not used to

Buses, trains or walking. Something I’m definitely not used to.

A cold and snowy Navy Pier visit.

A cold and snowy Navy Pier visit.

No trip is complete without a lighthouse!

No trip is complete without a lighthouse!

Beautiful skyline

Beautiful skyline

And of course, a visit to the Bean!

And of course, a visit to the Bean!

We also visited a bunch of restaurants/bars.

  • Yokozuna
  • Bar Toma
  • The Signature Lounge (John Hancock Center)
  • Harry Caray’s Tavern
  • Mullen’s Bar & Grill
  • Sluggers
  • Rock Bottom Restaurant &  Brewery

We barely touched the surface of Chicago, but I know we’ll be back again to explore such a great city!

 

Have you been to Chicago? What was your favorite thing to see/visit?

 

 

 

 

 

2014 Goals

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Happy New Year! Hope you had a fun and safe night bringing in the new year. We celebrated in Chicago, post to follow.

Anyway, it’s easy to say that 2013 wasn’t my best year of running, and that’s something I definitely want to change for 2014. I’m already optimistic that this year is going to be great. I have a lot of goals that I want to accomplish, or at least attempt. I also have other goals I’d like to work on through the next 365 days. 2014 will be a year to become a better me!

2014 Goals

Running:

  • Break 2:00 in the half marathon
  • Break 24:30 in the 5k
  • Raise $1,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
  • Volunteer for a race
  • PR in all distances
  • Run at least 6 half marathons
  • Run 600 miles

Personal:

  • Try at least 15 new recipes
  • Plan a vacation for somewhere new
  • Achieve and maintain a healthy weight
  • Read at least 10 books
  • Donate 1/4 of my clothes
  • Try something completely out of my element
  • Bike at least 20 miles a month
  • Get back into yoga

Blogging:

  • Own my own domain
  • Blog at least 3 times a week
  • Update the blog layout
  • Use a blog calendar

I’m really looking forward to 2014 and all that it brings. Hopefully I can accomplish all these goals and more!

What are your goals for 2014?

2013 in Review

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Finally, 2013 is coming to an end. It’s wasn’t a terrible year, but I never really got too excited about it. However, there were plenty of great things that happened in the past 365 days. Here’s a look at 2013.

  • I ran 12 races: five half marathons, one 10k and six 5ks
  • I traveled: Vegas, Toronto x2, Dallas (Work) & Austin, Colorado (Vacations)
  • I ran the 3M Half Marathon and knocked Texas off my list
  • I met Melissa and Paula 
  • I PR’d in the 5k
  • I traded in my Mazda3 and upgraded to the VW Tiguan, hello AWD
  • I ran my first trail race, the Yeti! Set Go 10k
  • I joined a new running group, Medina Country Road Runners
  • I was part of two weddings, Congrats again Elayna & Nicole!
  • I gave my dad a surprise 60th birthday party
  • We bought a house!

And of course 2013 had plenty of goals and plans that I set out to accomplish, so let’s take a look at how those turned out.

2013 Goals

Running:

  • Run a sub 2:00 half marathon –Stuck at 2:05
  • Run 800 miles –Not even close, but at least I made it over half way at 435
  • PR in the 5k –PR’d on my home turf at the Sole to Soul 5k
  • Run two half marathons in two new states – I knocked Texas off my list, so I’m 1/2 on this one
  • Volunteer at races –I joined the Medina Half Marathon committee, so that counts right?

Personal

  • Travel –I traveled a lot for work: Vegas, Dallas, Toronto x2, but we also took some trips for fun: Colorado & Austin
  • Learn German – I really need to learn German still
  • Learn to cook and eat healthier – I tried some new and healthy recipes this year, not many, but it’s a start
  • Stress less – Oh, this was a silly goal, that definitely won’t happen
  • Read more, at least 10 books – Four books, and definitely not enough, I’ll be trying this again.
  • Cut out unnecessary purchases – I’d say I did this for most of the year, and then I got a new car, and a house, and some really cute clothes….

What did you do in 2013? What was your favorite memory? Did you accomplish all of your goals?

Friday Faves

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It’s Friday! Which can only mean one thing, it’s time for the December edition of my Friday Faves! Just like last month, I have a variety of favorite things, not just focused on running. Have a look to see what I’m currently digging, and maybe they’ll become a favorite of yours as well!

Out of Milk App–  Melissa wrote about some apps that were must haves on her phone a couple weeks ago. After checking out her post, I immediately downloaded this app. It’s the perfect way to keep track of all your groceries. My favorite thing about this app, you can share it between people, so Darren and I can both add things to the list. You can also scan the barcode of an item you need to add, perfect for when you run out of something and need to replace it. Seriously, download this app, it will make your grocery shopping easier than ever!

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Days of Gold by Jake Owen- I absolutely love this album. I grew up on country, then got out of it for a while, and then got back into it. When I got back into it, Jake Owen was one of my top artists on my iPod. He just released Days of Gold this month and it is by far my favorite album of his yet. Top picks on this album: Days of Gold, Beachin’, Tall Glass of Something

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Breaking Bad – Ok, so we’re late to the party on this one, but we’ve somehow become addicted. We started Breaking Bad on Netflix about two weeks ago, thinking of trying a few episodes and finishing the rest over Christmas. Not possible! It’s such an odd show, and definitely something I didn’t think I’d like, but we just can’t get enough. We’re almost done with season 3 and will definitely finish the series up by the new year.

6pm.com – I’ve used this site over the past couple of years and it’s great for getting discounted clothes/shoes/accessories, but more specifically running clothes. They tend to carry items that are a little older or have been discontinued, and you can usually get at least 40% off most items. They don’t have all the brands I like, but it’s great site to stock up on my Asics tights and jackets.

Starbucks Gingerbread Latte- Ok, another thing that I’m a little late on, but this year I discovered the Gingerbread Latte from Starbucks. In years past I’ve usually been chugging the Campfire Mocha from Caribou all winter long, but since they’re no longer in Ohio, I had to find a new winter drink. This has definitely become my new go to winter coffee and I simply can’t get enough.

So there are my favorite things for December. A little bit of everything, but all great things. Go ahead and try one or all of them, you won’t be disappointed!

What are you currently digging?