National Running Safety Month

 As you can tell from the title, it is National Running Safety Month! I meant to get this post out earlier in the month but now is better than never, am I right?! With Daylight Savings, we may find ourselves running in the dark more than we would like. Because of this, I'm sharing some products with you that I personally use to keep myself safe while running in the dark, which these days can be right when I get home from work!

NoxGear Tracer360 Vest
I just had to start off with this product because it is by far one of the best purchases I've made! The NoxGear Tracer360 vest is a lightweight, light up vest you can wear over as many layers as you need. This vest makes you visible to anyone out on the road in any conditions. There are 5 multi-color flashing modes and 6 solid colors to choose from. The band that goes around the chest is also reflective for added visibility!

Headlamp
Not only do you want to be seen while running in the dark, but you also want to see the road beneath you and ahead of you! I'm fortunate to live in a very well-lit development where I do any of my in-the-dark runs, but whenever I trek outside of my development, I make sure to wear my headlamp! I can't find the exact headlamp I bought many years ago, but it's Nathan Sports brand so I've linked their online shop in the title. My one little tip for a headlamp is to actually wear it around your waist. This allows you to see beneath you and ahead of you without needing to move your head all around to see.

Go Guarded Self-Defense Ring
This is one of those items I bring with me on my run but hope I never ever have to use it! The Go Guarded ring is a heavy-duty plastic serrated-edge weapon that can be worn on any finger. This is a convenient, comfortable, and effective way to defend yourself if the unthinkable should ever happen out on a run.

I love the shoe ID because then I don't need to think about it before I leave to run!

ROADiD
Just like the Go Guarded ring, this is an item I always have on me on a run but hope I never need it! A ROADiD comes in all different shapes and sizes. You can get a shoe ID which attaches right to your shoelaces or a wrist ID that you can wear. Each ID (no matter which you choose) is able to be personalized. Most people put their name, date of birth, any known allergies or medical conditions, and their emergency contact information. I will promote this brand forever so I was super excited to be chosen as an Ambassador! If you ever go to order from ROADiD, reach out to me because I may have a discount code for you to use!

Question of the Day: How do you keep yourself safe while running in the dark?

Just Another Manic Monday

We've made it halfway through this week! I'm back in the school teaching from my classroom so my schedule has been a bit off this week. I thought I'd pop in today and share my Monday in pictures! The title is a little misleading since, as you'll see, my day looks quite boring. The crazy school stuff isn't pictured haha. I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday!

I start every morning with my Start Today Journal where I write out 5 things I am grateful for and 10 dreams I'm going to make happen. I try and do this before I even get out of bed in the morning to guarantee I do it.

I wanted to start my week off on a good note, so I pushed myself to go on my daily run before work knowing I'd be exhausted after work. Running in the dark takes some getting used to.

After packing up my bag and lunch, I started working on my Priority Planner to kill time before leaving for work.

I picked up a Wawa coffee on the way to work since teachers get free coffee until September 30th. I had been working from home the past week or so which meant I had to get my little area all set back up in my classroom.

I took some time when I got home from work to fix up my nails with my dip powder.

John and I were both way too exhausted after work to cook so we went and grabbed dinner from our favorite diner up the street. I got my favorite turkey chipotle panini with sweet potato waffle fries.

When we got home, I had to package up a Poshmark sale I had made that morning.

I finished off the long day with a stress relieving bubble bath. I read a bit of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas while I soaked.

Question of the Day: What is your favorite way to relax at night?

Friday Favorites

 Another week has come and gone so here is another Friday Favorites post! Work will be starting up shortly for me which means I'm really trying to soak in these summer days. I spent a lot of time this past week seeing some friends while also getting things done around the house in preparation for a crazy school year. This weekend is John's birthday but, as of now, we don't have any set in stone plans. All I know is we are celebrating tomorrow with his parents and Sunday (his actual birthday) just us. Before I sign off and go get wrap up his presents, I'm sharing a few things I've been loving this week.

Dunkin' Pumpkin Iced Coffee with Oat Milk
As of August 19th, pumpkin is back at Dunkin'! I know a lot of people think it's too early but it's been a rough couple months so please just let us pumpkin lovers have this, haha. Anyway, along with pumpkin, Dunkin' also released a few other new items, one being oat milk as an option! I was all over this as any real dairy can mess with my stomach. I went the other day and got my usual pumpkin iced coffee, but instead of cream, I got the oat milk. Holy moly was it yummy! I'd compare it to the creaminess of regular cream but without the stomachache after. I highly recommend a pumpkin iced coffee with oat milk or any of your favorite Dunkin' beverage with oat milk!

Dunkin' Mocha Latte Cereal
Sorry to my non-coffee loving friends, but another coffee related item! Post recently released a Dunkin' line of cereal. They currently offer two flavors: caramel macchiato and mocha latte. While at the grocery store on Wednesday, I caved and picked up a box of the mocha latte cereal. Of course I came right home and poured myself a bowl. Guys, the flavor is phenomenal! The combination of coffee and mocha flavors is spot on and the little marshmallows are a much-loved touch. Now I'm eager to try the caramel macchiato flavor!

Special Edition Gunmetal ROADiD
This week ROADiD released a new finish option for the 19mm wrist ID- gunmetal. As an ambassador, I got first dibs at getting one and I jumped on the chance! There are five amazing band colors to choose from- bubble gum (the color I chose!), swim trunks (blue), tennis ball (bright yellow), charcoal, and sidewalk (kind of like an off-white). I'm pretty sure I let out a squeal when I opened the box and saw how pretty the gunmetal grey hardware looked against the bright pink band. SO. PRETTY. Like all ROADiD wrist IDs, the quality of both the silicone band (which is adjustable for all wrist sizes!) and hardware is wonderful. Plus, I feel safe going on a run knowing all my emergency information is right on wrist if needed! If you're interested in buying one, or any ROADiD, use my code EMILY_2020 until October 1st for a discount!

Question of the Week: What is something you've been loving this week?

Running Streak Tips

If you follow me on Instagram then it's no secret that I've been doing a run streak since the end of May (today is day 76!). My sister and I started a run streak together as a way to challenge ourselves since we were both currently not following any sort of training schedule. While we might not be going super long distances or running at phenomenal paces every day, we are still enjoying ourselves and loving our daily routine. Neither of us know how long we will continue this for especially with school (and crazy schedules!) quickly approaching. Today I'm sharing with you some things I've personally learned throughout the past few months of my run streak.

Get it done with early. I learned that, personally, I do better when I get my daily run done with before I even start my day. I literally get up and ready, drink some water, and go. When I get back home, I am always full of energy and ready to start my day. It also feels nice later in the day knowing that I already ran for the day so it's okay if I'm getting tired and just want to chill.

Get into a routine. I really can't stress this one enough! Once you get yourself into a routine with running each day, it will feel much easier. The most stressful part of running for me is trying to plan and squeeze it in each day. When it's already built into my daily routine, I don't have to think about it.

If you're feeling exhausted, space out your runs. This was a tip my sister found somewhere online and I wish I knew where so I could credit them because it's a good one! This may contradict my first two tips but hear me out. Most days I run anywhere from 1-4 miles but at least once a week I will do a longer run. If I feel completely drained later in the day, after I've already run my longer distance, I will plan to run the next day later in the day to maximize my recovery time. It will mess with my routine for a few days, and most likely force me to only run a mile or two the next day or so, but it's worth it for my body!

Don't obsess over each run. In the beginning of my streak, I was getting annoyed that my paces weren't the best and some days I just really couldn't push myself past that first mile. After beating myself up for a couple days I finally realized- I'm running every freakin' day, of course I'll have slower/harder days! Instead of obsessing over each and every run, I just focus on my love of running. If I know I want to do some sort of speed work or Bad Ass Lady Gang guided workout one day, I will try and pick a day where I haven't been running too much leading up to it.

Make everything accessible. Now that running is part of my daily routine, my sunglasses and headphones have become a permanent decoration on my dining room server. My running shoes are kept in the same spot every day so I don't have to take time searching the house. I pick out what I'm going to wear each night before I go to bed. I do all of this so I have no excuses. Each morning I wake up, grab all my running gear from their respective places, and go. No thinking, no searching. Just running. And maybe you don't want your running gear on display at all times. I get that. So maybe you can find a spot in your closet or a drawer somewhere in your house to be the home for your everyday running accessories. Whatever works for you!

Question of the Day: Have you ever had a run streak? If so, how many days did it last?

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday & last day of July! Where has the time gone?! It's crazy to think that my summer break is quickly coming to an end. This summer has definitely been very different compared to other years but I am really enjoying it. There isn't much on our agenda this weekend besides an ice cream party at my sister's on Sunday. We have been trying to do little family get together's on a weekly basis to make up for the past few months. Maybe we'll even squeeze in some pool time at John's parents at some point ;) Now for what you came here for, my Friday Favorites! Enjoy and have a great weekend!

Badass Lady Gang Virtual Runs

I'm not even sure how I stumbled across this on Instagram, but I'm so glad I did! As part of the Run, Selfie, Repeat podcast, the Badass Lady Gang hosts weekly virtual runs. Each week is a different workout in which you can listen to through the podcast. Kelly guides you through the workout so all you need to do is listen and run. Not much thinking is involved so that is right up my alley! I did the workout pictured above yesterday and oh man, was it a spicy one! If you're looking for a way to switch up your running routine, I highly suggest trying one of the many guided runs that they have to offer!

Sweet Magnolias

After many suggestions, I finally caved and watched Sweet Magnolias. I must've really loved it because I binged it over the course of just a few days! The Netflix series follows the lives of 3 women in a small South Carolina time who have been friends since childhood. They are by each other's sides through everything when it comes to romance, family, and their careers. It's such a sweet show that is a nice break from all the really intense shows out there! I happened to finish it as soon as they announced there will be a season two so that is exciting!

Skinny Banana Bread Muffins

I had a couple of really ripe bananas sitting in my fruit bowl the other day so I decided to whip up some banana bread muffins! I did a little google search and came across this healthy-ish recipe that required little sugar. They were super quick to whip up and taste amazing! I made some with chocolate chips and while the plain ones were good, the chocolate chip muffins really knocked it out of the park! This may be my new go-to banana muffin recipes now!

Question of the Day: What is something you've been loving lately?

Friday Favorites

TGIF! Today wraps up week 9 of remote teaching. It was a long week of meetings and preparing for the rest of the year. It still hasn't hit me that we won't be returning to school this year but I'm sure it will soon enough. I'm planning to have a relaxed weekend after such a mentally exhausting week. A hot bath and fuzzy socks are calling my name! Today I'm share a few things I've really been loving this week so enjoy and have a great weekend :)

KG Designs Initial Necklace
I have been wanting a necklace with an H on it since John and I got married to represent my new last name. Before Christmas, I did some research and found a lot of good options. I didn't end up getting one so I was super excited when I found out one of my best friends had a friend who made them! I ordered my necklace a few weeks ago and was thrilled when it came in. It was everything I ever wanted. I may never take it off now!

KG Designs makes the most adorable jewelry by hand and I insist you go check out her shop!She offers necklaces, earrings, and rings for spectacular prices. Some of her pieces are even made using recycled materials so that's a winner in my book!

Priority Planner
You will be hearing me talk about this planner for the rest of my life because it is PERFECT! If you don't know Rachel Hollis, author of Girl, Wash Your Face and Girl, Stop Apologizing, then I highly suggest taking some time to peruse her Instagram and website. But anyway, I'm here to rave about her Priority Planner. The Priority Planner is a 3 month planner that helps you map out your days in order to help you achieve your goals. This has been key for me during quarantine due to a lack of schedule and sometimes motivation. I map out each day in my planner to see what needs to be done and when. I am currently working on towards a goal relating to my Poshmark shop and this is helping me tremendously! I feel like my description is not doing this planner any justice, so if this sounds like something up your alley, watch these videos on Rachel's website to get a better idea of what I am trying to convey to you guys!

Belcorva Shorts
Since I'm so in love with my Belcorva capris, I decided to check out their shorts selection as the weather is beginning to warm up. I learned that they sell both biker shorts and running shorts with the pockets I have grown to love. I instantly fell in love with the Runner's Dream 5 Pocket Shorts due to the 5 inch inseam and the fact that the pockets are part of the inner compression liner. Because I wasn't sure if they would be perfect for me and I didn't want to shell out the money before knowing, I hopped on Poshmark and found the exact pair I wanted for a fraction of the price. Now that I've worn them for a couple runs and have confirmed they are just as great as the capris, I plan to order more pairs! They are the perfect length so they don't bunch up and the pockets in the inner liner hold my phone perfect. It's a little annoying that I have to pull up the outer layer to get to the pocket but if anything, it stops me from pulling out my phone constantly!


Question of the Day: What is something you've been loving this week?

Currently: Quarantine Edition

Hey! How is it already May?! With all the free time I have you'd think I'd spend it coming up with some cool blog post ideas but that hasn't been the case this week. Now that schools in New Jersey have officially closed for the remainder of the year, the stress is REAL. I've also been using this time to get a lot of house work done.

Since I feel like the past month or so has been a real blur, I'm taking a moment today to check in and share a "currently" post with you!

I am currently...

Eating

Super Hero Muffins from Run Fast. Eat Slow. by Shalane Flanagan and Elyse Kopecky. I've been enjoying them as a mid-day snack!

Purple + gym clothes all day, everyday!

Wearing

Work out clothes all day, everyday. There is no real point in dressing up while working from home and I try and sneak in random workouts through out the day, so leggings, a tank, and sweatshirt are my normal attire. 

Reading

Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin. It's a book all about habits which is right up my alley. I bought it when it first came out a couple years ago and am finally getting around to reading it.

Watching

Grey's Anatomy... again. John and I love this show and we are currently re-watching the whole series.

Drinking

Whipped coffee. This has been my favorite pick-me-up in the afternoon!

On Saturday we did our long run together and even went as far to wear completely matching outfits!

Loving
My new routine of getting up early and running almost every morning! My sister and I have gotten into the habit of going on a run every morning at the same time. We talk on the phone during our run, which gives us a chance to catch up before our days get crazy.

Question of the Day: What is something you’re currently eating, wearing, listening to, etc.? Pick one :)

Coastal Delaware Marathon Training Week 12

Happy Tuesday! We got back late from Rhode Island on Sunday night so I figured this post could hold off until today. This week was a tough one. While it start out strong with some strength training and solid runs, I ended up with some pretty nasty knee pain towards the end of the week. I made the executive decision to skip my long run over the weekend. It was already going to be hard to fit in while in Rhode Island so this made it easier. I figured I’ve put following my training plan super closely the past 12 weeks and one missed workout wouldn’t kill me. This gave me the chance to really explore the area and I even squeezed in an easy 3 mile run by the bay!

Monday: strength training

Tuesday: 4 miles

Wednesday: REST

Thursday: 4 miles with strides at the end

Friday: REST {left for Rhode Island}

Saturday: 3 miles + TONS of walking

Sunday: REST {left to head home to NJ}

Weekly Total: 11 miles

Question of the Day: Do you like to run while on a vacation?

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday and Happy Valentines Day! To be honest, I kept thinking yesterday was Valentine's Day since John and I chose to celebrate a day early. I have been so confused with dates all week! We celebrated last night with our traditional heart-shaped pizza because we are spending the weekend in the Poconos with his family. Once I get through this long day of celebrating with my kiddos and then a half day in-service for teachers, we'll be on the road. I'm sure I'll be watching the clock all day ;) I hope you all have a fun weekend ahead of you as well!

Belcorva Capris

A couple of weeks ago I won a gift card to Belcorva so after much consideration, I finally purchased a pair of capris. I always struggle to find capris that fit me right. Usually they're too tight around the calves or too loose around the waist. Belcorva won my heart by fitting overall perfectly! I have worn these for multiple runs and they haven't felt like they were sliding down my waist at all. There are pockets on the side which actually held my phone without bouncing out. I was impressed! These may be my new go-to capris.

FitVibes Lemon Bar Protein

After seeing ads on my Instagram feed for weeks, I finally took the plunge and bought this protein powder. The flavor alone was the selling factor for me but it also is great nutrition-wise. I have tried a lot of protein powders in the past and never really found a brand or flavor I love until this one! The lemon bar flavor is delicious without tasting fake. I shook it up in my blender bottle with water and it blended perfectly with no chunks left behind. I loved that even though I only mixed it with water, it was still super creamy. FitVibes also offers a berries & cream flavor and a cinnamon bun flavor that I am now eager to try.

Palmer’s Coconut Oil Hand Cream

My mom gave this to me a couple weeks ago and I put it in my car so I'd always have one there. I've been putting it on each morning on my way to work and it is making such a difference with my dry hands. This back and forth weather has been brutal on my hands but this has been helping revive them. The consistency is a little thicker than I'd prefer but if I put it on before I pull out of my driveway, it has soaked in by the time I get to work. It has a nice smell which is a good bonus :)

Question of the Day: What is something  you're loving this week?

My 2020 Goals

Originally I wasn't going to share my 2020 goals on here because I have no intention of doing monthly updates like I did last year. The more I thought about it, I figured why not? Maybe typing them up here and putting them out in the blog-iverse will make sure I keep up with them. Or maybe they will give you an idea for a 2020 goal for yourself if you're still racking your brain for one. Either way, here are the goals I've set for myself {aka typed up in a note on my phone and have been thinking about since the year has started}, enjoy!

Hot chocolate + frozen Cool Whip is a good form of self care on a cold night!

Take Care of Me

Whether this means saying "no" to something or a weekly self-care day, I really want to start making ME happy. So far I've been loving dedicating a part of my Sunday night to putting on a face mask and relaxing.

Just a small fraction of books I want to read {and some I’ve already read!}. 

Read Books I Have in the House

I have a habit of picking up new books from the thrift store whenever a title strikes my eye so my goal is to focus on reading them before buying any more. On Goodreads I set a goal for 12 books this year. I am sure I will surpass that number {I have already read 2 books since January 1st!} but I wanted to pick an attainable number just in case life gets wild, like it usually does.

Not pictured: all the post-it flags marking all the recipes I want to try. 

Try 24 New Recipes

This is actually a goal between John and I. We both are tired of eating the same old, same old, so we have decided to try 24 different recipes throughout the year. The idea is to pick 2 a month: 1 my choice and 1 his choice.

Make Running My #1 Priority

In case it wasn't obvious, I love running. Lately I've been letting the craziness of life keep me from putting my full effort into running as a whole. In 2020 I want to put running at the top of my priority list by following my training plans to the best of my ability and truly incorporating strength training, foam rolling, speed work, and all that other good stuff into my training.

Question of the Day: Did you set any goals for 2020? If so, what is one of them?

Coastal Delaware Marathon Training Week 5

I finally got a strength training workout in! I was sick for most of this week so the fact that I got any type of work out in is a miracle. Although I felt crappy going into my runs in the beginning of the week, I ended up feeling great during them. I’m working hard at pushing myself {as long as I am not too sick!} and getting my workouts done. Week 5 is done and we are now less than 3 months out from the marathon!

Monday: REST

A night run while it was slightly misting out. 

Tuesday: 4 miles

Wednesday: Strength Training

I was busy right after work so a 7:30 PM run it was!

Thursday: 3 miles

Friday: REST

Saturday: REST

Sunday: 11 miles

Weekly Total: 18 miles


Question of the Day: What do you typically do about your workouts when you’re sick? Sit them out or push yourself?

Coastal Delaware Marathon Training Week 4

It’s hard to believe week 4 of training is already done! This week was a little lighter on the mileage as I adjusted back to working a full 5-day work week but they were all solid workouts! Strength training went out the window as I used a lot of my free time to spend time with my brother. He leaves this week for an unknown amount of time so I took advantage of the time we had. I’m actually looking forward to getting back into a routine this week, as long as this cold I have goes away quickly! I hope you all have a great Monday!

Monday: 3 miles

Tuesday: REST

Wednesday: 3 miles

Thursday: REST

Friday: REST

Saturday: REST

Sunday: 10 miles

Weekly Total: 16 miles


Question of the Day: What is your go-to snack/meal for before a long run?

Coastal Delaware Marathon Training Week 3

Happy Monday! It’s hard to believe New Year’s was just. Few days ago. With my free time this past week, I was able to squeeze in a good amount of runs. On Sunday I finally got a new pair of shoes so of course I had to try them out :)

It’s so dark here in the morning and I feel like I’m not as much of the morning person as I usually am. I hope you all have a great day!

Monday: REST

Tuesday: {New Year’s Eve} 3 miles

Wednesday: {New Year’s Day} 3 miles

Thursday: Speed Work- 2 miles

Friday: REST

Saturday: 8 miles

Sunday: 2 miles
I bought a new pair of Brooks Ghosts and just needed to take them for a quick spin!

Weekly Total: 18 miles


Question of the Day: How do you make yourself a morning person on these super dark mornings?

Coastal Delaware Marathon Training Week 2

I should’ve known marathon training during the holidays would be a bit crazy but it wasn’t as bad as I expected! Due to all my free time, I got in a good amount of runs except for my botched long run on Sunday. Luckily it’s early in the training cycle so I’m not too worried about missing it! I hope you all had a great Christmas week and got in some relaxing!

Monday: 3 miles + Strength Training

Tuesday: {Christmas Eve} REST

Wednesday: {Christmas Day} 3 miles with Dale

Thursday: REST

Friday: 3 miles with Dale + Ashley

Saturday: REST

Sunday: 6 miles 2 miles with Dale

Weekly Total: 11 miles


Question of the Day: What does your family do to celebrate Christmas? Do you have any fun traditions?