My Week in Pictures III

Is it me, or do the weeks before Christmas feel like they are both speeding by and dragging on both at the same time? I'm both surprised and relieved that the last work week before Christmas is finally here! I have just four and half long days that stand between me and 11 days off from work. Not that I'm counting... To start off this week, I'm sharing with you what I did in the last week, in picture form! Have a great week :)

John and I started off the work week with a spontaneous date to Chili's. We've had a gift card for there and finally decided to go use it so it was basically a free night out for us.

We hung up with wreath my aunt gifted to us and it really makes our front porch/patio/whatever it's call look festive!

I spent Tuesday night reading through my new cook book. I've already put sticky tabs on so many recipes I want to try!

I finally found romaine at my local grocery store and was excited to have a salad for lunch on Wednesday!

I squeezed in a quick mile on Wednesday before going grocery shopping with my mom for the baking items we needed for Saturday's baking extravaganza.

Friday was holiday socks day at work so I wore the candy cane leg warmers I bought a few years ago for a Christmas themed 5k. They were actually super warm all day and I'm wondering why the leg warmer trend died out...

All the teachers at my school were gifted with $30 towards the Scholastic book fair. I spent my whole lunch picking out some good books to read and then share with my students!

John and I were ready for bed super early on Friday night (as we are most nights) so I suggested we go look at Christmas lights as opposed to going to bed at 7:30 pm on a Friday night. We saw some cute houses!

Saturday was cookie baking day and we started bright and early!

Tommy had a blast helping us! He believes that all cookies should have sprinkles and I 100% support that!

My mom and I made the pizzelles using my mom-mom's pizzelle iron she used to always use to make them for us on Christmas Eve.

They didn't turn out half bad!

Tommy's cookies vs. our cookies.

A Saturday spent cookie baking and getting nephew snuggles is a pretty solid Saturday in my book!

I finally got my marathon finisher quarter zip and decided to take a picture first thing Sunday morning because I was so pumped for it!

I went on a relaxing, scenic run on Sunday morning before the rain started back up.

I didn't look at my watch at all during my run (it was covered up by my jacket) and just ran the pace my body wanted me to. It felt great!

My Sunday afternoon was spent at my co-worker's Pampered Chef party. I ordered my own granola bar mold so maybe mine will look a bit nicer when I make them!

My weekend ended with decorating my chai sugar cookies with an eggnog icing for my school's cookie bake off tomorrow. I'm going to be sick of Christmas cookies soon enough...

Question of the Day: What's something fun you did in the past week?

Friday Five: 5 Things I’m Loving This Week

Happy happy Friday, everyone! This was one of the longest weeks ever and I’m so relieved that Friday is finally here. I’ve got a pretty relaxing schedule this weekend, including baking a ton of cookies with my mom and sister. I’m really looking forward to eating some yummy cookies :) In typical Friday fashion, here are 5 things I’ve been loving this week!

1. Asics Fleece-Lined Leggings

For the last couple years I've been on the hunt for the perfect pair of fleece-lined leggings for running. After some trial and error, I think I've finally found the perfect pair! I got them for an awesome price at the Asics outlet a few weeks ago. They fit perfectly (I struggle with finding the right tights that don't fall down around my waist), the fleece lining is keeps my legs warm, and they are thin enough that I don't feel too bulky. 

2. 26.2 Necklace

For my birthday on Sunday John really spoiled me! One of my gifts was a 26.2 Roman numeral necklace from Gone For a Run. I've had my eye on it after I saw someone I followed on Instragram wearing it in one of their pictures a couple years ago. I love Roman numerals and wearing something that reminds me that I can do anything, so it's a win-win in my book!

3. Run Fast. Cook Fast. Eat Slow. Cookbook

The second part of my birthday gift from John was Shalane and Elyse's second cookbook together. I'm a huge fan of their first cookbook, Run Fast. Eat Slow., so I knew I wouldn't be disappointed. Although I haven't gotten a chance to actually try out any of the recipes yet, I've read through the whole book and put sticky notes on all the recipes that I want to try. Let me tell you, I may have used a whole pack of sticky notes because everything just looks SO GOOD! Along with all the great recipes, there are also some great tips throughout the book. Shalane and Elyse share meal planning tips, budgeting tips, exercises, stretches, and more. They also include some tips for making some of the recipes when you have a nut allergy (like me!) which is super helpful because we all know 90% (this is an estimate) of running related recipes include a nut in some form. Or maybe I just notice this more because I have an allergy?

4. Step Stool

I've always known I was a bit vertically challenged. This never really bothered me until I bought a house with a good amount of cabinets and shelves that are completely out of reach for me. John's parents surprised me with a step stool for my birthday because they knew how frustrated I was that a good portion of our cabinets were unusable due to the fact that I needed to stand on the counters to reach them. This may seem like a lame gift but I am so happy with it! It's a nicely made step stool that is light so that I can easily carry it around the house and folds up thin enough that I can store it easily. Though let's be honest, it will almost always be out and being used!

5. Tribe Dark Chocolate Hummus

I bought this on a whim Wednesday while grocery shopping with my mom and it’s safe to say I’m already OBSESSED! I’ve been eating it with animal crackers at lunch and it’s the perfect way to control my sweet tooth. It doesn’t even feel like I’m eating some healthy! I highly suggest this anyone who wants a sweet treat that is guilt free!

Question of the Day: What are you loving this week?

Gift Guide for Runners

We are less than 2 weeks away from Christmas! If you are like me, then you're pretty much done your Christmas shopping. But if you're not, I'm here to help you shop for your favorite runner in your life (or yourself if you want to #treatyoself)! I've compiled a list of items I believe any runner would appreciate. The list ranges in prices so you can shop based on your budget! Prices are based off the product's website so it is possible you could find these items somewhere cheaper, like Amazon.

Body Glide ($4.99+) 

The perfect stocking stuffer for any runner, especially one who complains about chafing!

Momentum Jewelry ($8-$27.99) 

I can't even choose one item from Momentum to suggest! They have the cutest Motivate Wraps and Foot Notes that any runner is bound to love. Pick from either one of the provided sayings or customize your own! The ideas are endless!

KT Tape ($12.99+) 

There are different types and colors to choose from, so you can cater to your favorite runner based on their needs and favorite color.

RoadID ($20+)

A great item that every runner should have is some sort of RoadID. RoadID offers wrist band IDs, shoe IDs, and more so you can choose which you think your runner will prefer! This is a personalized item that will require your runner's emergency contact information so if you don't know what to put on it, a gift card to RoadID may be your best bet!

Flip Belt ($29+) 

This is the best gift for any runner who likes to carry their phone, some snacks, and other items with them on their run. They come in different styles and sizes so be sure to consider this when picking one out.

HydroFlask Insulated Water Bottle ($29.95+)

Your runner most likely likes to keep hydrated so what better way to encourage that hobby that with a new water bottle? A HydroFlask water bottle will keep their water icy cold all day. There are tons of different options including sizes, colors, and lid types so you'll really be able to personalize the best bottle for them!

GRID Foam Roller ($34.99+)

There are many other foam rollers you can choose from but this is a top choice of mine! Give your runner the gift that keeps on giving when you give them a foam roller.

R8 Recovery Roller ($129+) 

This is definitely a more costly item but is worth every penny! This is a step up from your every day foam roller and your runner will love/hate you for getting them something that hurts so good!

Erica Sara Designs Jewelry ($42+) 

Looking for a way to commemorate your runner's most recent race or PR? Head over to Erica Sara's website and check out all the jewelry she has to offer. And she doesn't just stop at running related jewelry! She has an American Sign Language collection, custom jewelry with your child's foot or hand print, personalized silhouette necklaces, race course elevation necklaces, my personal favorite, her handwriting collection, and more. I could go on for days about her jewelry so I'll stop and let you have a look for yourself.

Sarah Marie Design Studio Kinda Wanna Run Sweatshirt ($68)

Does your runner need the softest, most comfortable sweatshirt to debate runs in? Then this is the perfect gift! This us another brand that I highly suggest checking out the rest of the website for other great gift ideas like coffee mugs and wine glasses with great sayings.

Race Entries (Prices vary)

The best way to a runners heart is by acknowledging their passion and fueling it. A race entry, especially one they had their eye on but were debating, is a great gift that speaks right to a runners heart.

Gift Cards to Running Stores (Prices vary)

Buying clothing or shoes for any person is difficult, so take the easy way out and just give them a gift card to their favorite running store. Don't feel bad about it though because they will most likely be thrilled to be a given a shopping spree at their favorite store!

26 Facts About Me!

On Sunday I turned 26 and to celebrate, I thought it would be fun to share 26 facts about myself. It took me some time, but I finally was able to think of 26 facts that spanned throughout all my years of life and didn't relate to running since I always talk about that. I hope you find them as interesting or fun as I did :)

1. I can touch my nose with my tongue!

2. I played the trumpet from 5th-12th grade and was in the marching band from 9th-12th grade.

3. To go off being in marching band, my senior year was the first year my band won the Atlantic Coast Championship which is a huge deal. It was a great way to finish off my final year of marching band!

4. I have Reynaud's Syndrome which causes both my fingers and toes to turn white when they get even the slightest bit cold. It's been a pain lately!

5. I met Kristen Chenoweth in 2012. She's just as adorable in person as you'd imagine!

6. My first official job was as a waitress at a diner. I still get stressed when I eat at a restaurant and the waitresses are clearly busy and running around.

7. I'm technically a registered Boy Scout because I worked at a Cub Scout camp for 2 summers.

We saw baby sea turtles going from their nest to the ocean!

8. My first time out of the country was at age 22. I went to Mexico with John and his family.

 9. At the age of 7, I was rushed to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy. It was my first and only surgery.

10. I was in my school's musical my senior year of high school. It was the play Les Miserables and I just was part of the ensemble.

11. My favorite musical of all time is Wicked. I saw it in Chicago in 2008 when my band went there as our annual band trip.

12. I participated in a few pageants after high school. I am by no means a pageant queen, but it was a fun way to earn some scholarship money!

13. I've collected pressed pennies since I was young. My mom and I used to research penny machine locations anytime we went somewhere new. Family members used to bring them back from their trips for me, I still collect them to this day.

14. I drink at least a gallon of water a day.

15. I used to think I wanted to teacher the younger grades but after a long term position as a middle school teacher, I chose to take a full time position teaching middle school.

16. My hair used to be really long until I cut it short in 2015 and donated it. I've kept it short since.

17. I've been best friends with my fiance since the beginning of 5th grade. For those counting, that's about 15 years!

18. I'm still best friends with two of the girls I met and became friends with in kindergarten.

19. I know some American Sign Language. ASL was offered as a course while I was in college and it fulfilled my foreign language requirement. I still remember a lot and even taught my nephew some so he can communicate with us.

20. My first pet was my cat, Nala, who lived for 18 years. 

First car vs. my current car

21. I didn't get my first car until November of my freshman year of college which made life a bit difficult until then. My first car was a teal-ish colored 1997 Ford Contour.

22. I have been a Girl Scout since I was in kindergarten and still technically am one.

23. I was an RA in college for three years and it was a great experience! I met one of my best friends through the job :)

24. I used to drink coffee every single day since Freshman year of high school. Sometime in April I stopped wanting to drink it and haven't had any ever since!

25. I was the president of my high school's ecology club.

26. My absolute favorite color is purple! Almost everything I own is purple, including my engagement ring.

Question of the Day: What is a fun fact about you?

My Week in Pictures II

As much as this was a crazy busy week, it was mostly filled with conferences, food, and {some} sleep. The weekend was when it got exciting! My birthday was yesterday so the whole weekend pretty much turned into one big birthday celebration. Continue on to see what I did {and ate}.. I'm beginning to think this should be "My Week in Food" haha.


I somehow ended up with 30 eggs in my fridge so I made an attempt to make egg salad. It actually turned out pretty good for my first time!

On Tuesday we made a calendar of just Dexter pictures for John's parents. He wanted to help!

A half day on Tuesday meant I could go on a lunch date to Chick-Fil-A with this cutie and my mom. He also got to share his big news with the world that he is going to be a big brother!

John made the biggest batch of friend rice I've ever seen!

Thursday night was John's work holiday party at the aquarium. The food and company was amazing!
There was even an ice cream sundae bar but I ate mine before snapping a pic :)

The dinner was hosted in a ballroom with a big tank full of sharks.

Friday was pajama day at work. I wore my elephant pants my friend Rachel brought me from Kenya.

On Friday night John's parents took us to Maggiano's to celebrate my birthday. So yummy! Also, the waitress thought it was my 21st birthday and I went with it...

Did I mention how sweet the waitress was? First she thought I was 5 years younger and then a cute note!

The greatest, most practical gift from John's parents. Now I can get into my highest cabinets without standing on counters! #shortgirlproblems

Saturday morning snuggles with Dexter.

John and I have a tradition of going to the Christmas Village at Love Park for my birthday. Boy was it crowded and COLD!

Being in Philly makes me think about the marathon :)

We may or may not have waited 45+ minutes for melted cheese...

So. Worth. It!

My birthday morning started with a Sharky's French toast bagel and tea in bed along with presents!

I got in a nice 2.6 mile run for my 26th birthday :)

After a trip to Home Goods and Walmart, we finally found the right stockings. Dexter helped John hang them up!

I got my birthday Starbucks chai tea latte and took an obligatory tree photo with it.

The candles really lit up the room! 24 candles meant we had to light 2 more plus 1 for good luck after I blew out the original 24.

I ended the weekend with dinner and cake with my whole family! :)

Question of the Day: What was something fun you did this past week?

Friday Five: 5 Things I’m Loving This Week

Happy first Friday of December! Can you believe it's already here?! I have a pretty fun-filled weekend ahead of me as my birthday is on Sunday! Tonight we're going to dinner with John's parents to celebrate and then tomorrow just John and I are going to Philly to celebrate. I love going to the Christmas Village each year so that is our plan as long as the weather cooperates. On Sunday we are having both of our families over for dinner and cake, which I'm really looking forward to! Anywho, before I can get on with this eventful weekend, I'm here to share with you 5 things I've been loving this week!

1. Milk Frother

I'm not 100% sure if that is a word but oh well! At IKEA last week I came across a super reasonably priced milk frother so I can make all of my drinks just a little bit more ~fancy~. I used it on Sunday because I was just dying to try it out. Wow does it really work! I poured a little bit of milk into a glass, turned the frother on (it's battery powered), and stuck it in the milk. Within seconds, the milk tripled in size to a nice frothy consistency. I then topped my hot chocolate with it and it was DELISH!

2. The Nonrunner's Marathon Guide for Women by Dawn Dais

I know I'm obviously not a "nonrunner" but I've had this book on my shelf for awhile now and I finally decided to start reading it. It's probably one of the funniest running books I've read in awhile. I'm not finished yet, but so far the author is writing about her experience of deciding to run a marathon and her training for that. She's absolutely hilarious with the stories she tells! She refers to her running friend as "Chipper Jen" (whose qualities somewhat mirror mine..oops) and describes her feelings of each run in the funniest way possible.

3. Blueberry Sugar Candle

As you may know from my last Week in Pictures post, I recently acquired an abundance of candles from Bath and Body Works. Out of all the ones I bought, the Blueberry Sugar one is my number one favorite! It has such a nice, sweet scent without being too overbearing. Although the image on the candle makes you believe it is strictly a holiday candle, you can bet that I'll be burning this candle year round!

4. Christmas Kitchen Towels

My house is slowly becoming the winter wonderland that I have always wanted with the help of just the smallest details. On Black Friday I got the best deal on some cute Christmas themed kitchen towels. My favorite is pictured above! It's crazy how a simple dish towel can make my kitchen feel just a bit more festive.

5. Santa Hat Chair Covers

To go along with my winter wonderland feel, I've added Santa hat chair covers to my dining room! My grandparents bought them for me at I believe Christmas Tree Shops over the weekend and they are just the sweetest things! I was so excited to put them on my chairs and did so during my decorating extravaganza in the beginning of the week. If you're looking for a way to spice up a room in your house, these are a simple way to do so!

Question of the Day: What are you loving this week?

Running Around The Holidays

As we get farther into the holiday season, I figured it was time to share a post with you that was actually originally written over a year ago for a guest post on the famous Carlee McDot’s blog! You can check out the original post here. She was going away and wanted some guest bloggers to write posts for during that time. I was lucky enough to share some of my tips for running during the holidays and I’m going to share that same post with you all today! When you’re done reading my post, I highly suggest you head over to Carlee’s blog for her 12 Days of Carlee’s Christmas giveaways that started December 1st!

Plan out your running schedule ahead of time. Before things begin to get hectic, sit down with your schedule and map out when you want to run or do your workouts. This can either be done in the beginning of each week or if you're feeling good, for the next month or so. Having everything written down (or typed out) and it front of you will help keep you on schedule and allow you to plan around those runs. I like to plan and write my future runs in my Believe Training Journal because once it's written down I personally feel obligated to get it done. 

Run early. We've all been there. You tell yourself you will go for a run after work/dinner/a party/etc. When the time comes around, the last thing you want to do is slip on your running shoes and head out the door. You're tired, too relaxed, or too warm inside your cozy house to immerse yourself into the cold air outside. Instead of pushing your run off into later in the day, run as soon as you get up in the morning, before your body has time to find a way to stop you! Forcing yourself out the door in the morning can benefit you in more ways than one. First, you are getting your run over and done with before your busy day begins. Second, you will feel more energized the rest of the day. And third, you will start your day with some time to yourself. Just remember, if you are running early enough where it is still dark outside, where your reflective gear! Invest in a reflective vest, a headlamp, and any other reflective gear that you wish.

Make your workouts shorter but more intense. With busy schedules and shorter days, long runs may not be possible for you. When I only have a short amount of time to run, instead of just scrapping the whole run because I can "only get one mile in," I choose to run that mile at the quickest pace I can. This allows me to complete the run in a reasonable amount while also making the run effective.

Set a simple goal for the holiday season rather than a more complex goal. I always love to have a goal. Working towards a goal gives me a sense of purpose and is my go-to "why" for when I really don't want to lace up and head out the door. Big goals may be hard to focus on during the busy holiday season so I usually choose to give myself a more simple goal. These goals usually focus on the number of times I will run in a week. Setting a goal for distance is tough because I never know the amount of time I'll get to run each day. I can always manage to squeeze in a quick mile or two a few times a week, though!

Sign up for a holiday themed race to run with friends and family. There are such a wide variety of holiday themed races that range in mileage. Ask your friends and family in advanced if they would like to join you, allowing them the appropriate time to train, if needed. Most of these themed races are just for fun, making them possible for all runners and non-runners. My sister and I have done the Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis where you tie jingle bells onto your shoes so you can hear them as you run the whole 5k. It is super festive and also supports a great cause! Also, it's totally acceptable to dress up for the race! If a holiday themed race is not offered in your area, or you would love to arrange your own group run...

...Arrange a "light run" with a group of friends! One of the best parts of the holiday season is Christmas lights, in my opinion. What better way to check out the beautiful light displays in your area than on foot? Gather a group of your friends and head out for a short run (or even walk!) around the neighborhood to check out the lights. Since this is just a fun run/walk, everyone can be included.

My number one running tip for any time of the year is to just have fun! While running may be an important part of your life (I know it is for me!), never let it feel like a chore, especially during the holiday season. Unless you are on a serious training schedule, do not let running come in the way of family events or some holiday shopping that really needs to get done. Do what you can and continue to love running!

Question of the Day: What is your favorite part of the holiday season?

My Week in Pictures I

Now that marathon training is over, I have been trying to think of a reoccurring post for Monday's. I've decided I'll start posting my week in pictures as a way of sharing some of my personal life with everyone! On Monday's I'll post photos that recap my previous week. Now I just have to remember to take photos of the things I do :)


After getting back from the Poconos last Sunday night, I found out that SOMEBODY tore apart a bag of cat treats while we were gone... Dexter is pretty positive it wasn't him so we are still on the lookout for the real culprit.

 I was sick Monday-Wednesday so whenever I wasn't at work, I was laying in bed with a bowl of soup!

Sick day snuggles with Dexter!

My friend, Erika, and I went to Saladworks on Thursday night. I hadn't been there in years and was so glad it's where we chose to go! I thought the napkins were adorable. I've already done a lot of the stuff on the list but I think I'll choose "eat less junk food" for this year!

To go with the theme of going out to eat, my brother and I went to Chick-Fil-A to use our calendar cards on Friday and got a free sample of their spicy chicken strips! We usually do the gym on Friday afternoons but with him being injured and me still feeling sick, we figured Chick-Fil-A was a good alternative :)

My mom and I celebrated annual candle day at Bath and Body Works by going at 6 am. You can't beat good candles for cheap!

These are just the ones I got for myself. I only planned on getting one for myself... I highly recommend the spiced apple toddy and blueberry sugar!

I experienced my first Ikea trip on Saturday with John, my sister, brother in law, and nephew. Trying the Swedish meatballs was a must, apparently. They were delicious! Surprisingly I only walked out with some bath mats and a milk frother.

We spent the rest of that night at my sister's and my brother in law made an amazing taco bake for dinner. As you can see, I always remember to take pictures of my food :)

Ended the weekend with some wedding tasks. FINALLY decided my bridesmaids dress color and style. I'm in love with it!

Question of the Day: What was one fun thing you did this past week?