Weekend Recap & Ever Feel This Way?

You know those days where you feel completely in-control and ready to tackle the world? Also, do you know those days where you’re like oh crap how am I going to tackle this?! Yeah. last night was kinda the latter. One of the things that really helps me when I feel this way is journaling, meditating, or just taking a brain break (reading/ cuddling with the cats/ watching a show that will de-stress me etc.). That’s why I love this blog because it gives me the opportunity to write out my thoughts. Sometimes I’m able to come up with a solution and other times, I decide that it isn’t really worth my time to find a solution and just move on (something that used to be really hard for me to do in the past!). Also seeing these faces certainly helps too ; )

Flashback to Friday night’s dinner. Homemade pizza with this Sourdough crust is SO good! PS we added more cheese after the photo because cheese is the best.

Current favorite dessert. Popcorn & Justin’s Dark Chocolate Mini PB Cups.

Saturday morning, we headed up Rabbit Ears and went show shoeing! It’s such a great way to cross train for those trail runs I’ll be doing later in the Spring and it’s so beautiful out there with the fresh snow.

Stella loves to eat anything….even snow.

Alex’s head looks very similar to a target here. It’s also really impressive how he can crouch down like that. Talk about being flexible.

In the afternoon, I took advantage of the 30* weather (it unfortunately was cloudy and not so sunny anymore, but still warmer than we’ve had!) and explored a different part of our neighborhood. I had 4 miles on the schedule and got to 4.1 and decided to walk the remaining 1/2 mile home rather than run extra. it’s been nice to not be on such a rigid schedule and listening to my body a bit more.

Made this recipe for dinner Saturday night. So so so delicious and so many leftovers!

Also finished another book. I also really love when you get to the last three pages of a book and find that they’ve been cut in half.

Favorite winter activity?

Send me your favorite Pinterest dinner recipe!

Favorite pizza toppings?

Weekend Recap & Little Fires Everywhere Book Review!

Happy Monday! Gosh this weekend we had BEAUTIFUL weather here. It honestly felt like Spring (aka it was 35* degrees and we were all out there wearing shorts…i kid….kind of ; ) ….). How was the weather where you were?!? We didn’t end up going to Winter Park (we may on Christmas Day though!), but got in a bunch of fun activities here.

Flashback to Friday afternoon at the Library. I think I *may* have over-estimated my fast reading abilities! Let’s see how many of these I can read in the two week period before I can renew them…

HI Mapes! All stretched out watching the best Christmas movie (in my opinion…)- Christmas Vacation!

Accompanied by some Hot Cocoa with mini marshmellows…a must in hot cocoa!

We also had some fun re-decorating our tree thanks to Brady. We actually set it back up not just once, but TWICE this weekend. Also I took down some ornaments in hopes that may he’ll be less tempted to try to climb it and knock it down again…

Saturday morning I had Alex take some photos for me (of me running, wearing my 2018 medals, etc.) and we also went out for a walk. It was so lovely out, I never wanted to come back in!

Followed up my 5 mile run with some recovery jasyoga! Then we watched the Incredibles 2 after dinner (we had the Bison Chili from RFCFES cookbook).

Sunday morning breakfast! Eggs + Avocado = perfection.

Another run on Sunday midmorning, then we met up for a walk down by the lake. They actually groom the trails in the winter so it’s pretty easy to walk above the snow (in most parts) and also super fun to cross country ski on them!

Followed by a Sunday afternoon of baking Spelt Banana Bread, going to the gym to get my strength in, teaching skating, and then making some Homemade Mac ‘n Cheese with Broccoli!

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Book #17 of the year is complete! I LOVED Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. It took me a while (around 100 pages) to get into the story and then I honestly couldn’t get enough of it! I stayed up way too late many nights reading and becoming captivated by her storytelling. She does such a great job of laying the groundwork of the characters in the beginning that by the time a large event happens, you’re so invested. It takes place in a rural Ohio town following multiple storylines of characters, so there really is something for everyone to relate to in this story. There are mixed-emotions between two families and I found the story (at times) so ironic. I also had no idea how each “fire” was going to be set (and by which character)! So good until the very end. I also thought her narrative and overall language used was very similar to Jodi Picoult’s.

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Favorite Christmas Movie?

Hot cocoa—> what do you like in yours?

How do you like your eggs? —> normally scrambled with some spinach, onion, cheese, and a side of avocado!

10 Photos From Our Weekend & What Do You Do?!

I woke up this morning thinking it was Friday. Then, I realized that it was actually Monday. That was pretty disappointing. At least we’ve got a few four day weekends up ahead! I just found out on Friday that we get Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, & New Years Day off- yay! Normally we’ve only gotten Christmas Day & New Years Day off so this was really exciting to find out. I also found out some other exciting news yesterday (can’t share it quite yet …. ; ) ….) so obviously we celebrated with a mini Lemon Cake. The best way to celebrate when you get good news (at least in my opinion)!

Flashback to the perfect Friday night- Hot Cocoa and some chocolate! Hot Cocoa is definitely a favorite of mine in the winter months to stay warm.

Saturday morning breakfast ala Alex. He makes the best breakfast. Also had overeasy eggs, which I hadn’t had in a REALLY long time. YUM.

Easy & snowy 5 mile run down by the lake Saturday morning. They actually plowed this portion of the trail (it’s also a dirt road), so I felt completely spoiled to be the only one out there enjoying it with some snowflakes flying as well.

We popped our snowshoes on and headed out to Gore Pass to get our Christmas Tree (we got a tree permit a few weeks ago). We normally head out towards Clark, CO to get our tree, but this year we tried something different and it worked out so well!

We got the most beautiful and perfect tree. I honestly felt like Clark Griswold when we spotted it in the forest among the cluster of trees (you want to take a tree in a cluster of them rather than a single standing one).

The views were also so beautiful out there. We were the only ones and saw only two other cars on the road the whole time!

It looks great (normally we get a really Charlie Brown looking tree) and we even made it back to watch Syracuse beat Georgetown in Men’s Basketball! Go Orange!

Then I made some of the pretzel granola from Run Fast Cook Fast Eat Slow and we also made some Rice Krispie Treats-I was craving them and it really hit the spot!

Saturday night we watched Home Alone 2 and then on Sunday I made it out for another easy (& hilly!) 5 miles.

Then relaxed with an Epsom Salt Bath (while catching up on This Is Us- I only have 1 episode left until I’m all caught up?!? I’m obsessed with this show now).

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What Do You Do:

-When You’re craving something? —> do you make it or do you let the feeling pass?

-When You get good news?!

-When it’s cold outside and you have a run to get in? —> bundle up or hit the ‘mill?

-Get your Christmas tree from a store/farm/chop it down?

Have a great start to your week!

Have You Seen These & 2 Days Off!

Happy Monday! These weekend was honestly a bit of a blur for me. Monday came way too fast, but I’m already looking forward to next weekend (we’re getting our Christmas tree)! P.S. this post is brought to you by ample coffee this morning, Brady cuddles, and my heated blanket (the second-best way to start a workday (in my opinion) ; ) First best-way would be a run, but it was 10* out this morning and I want to get some sunshine so I’ll get it in later this afternoon.

Let’s rewind to Friday morning, where I got in my first hike UP the ski mountain (& then a ski down)! Nothing like doing a new activity to get you feeling way out of shape.

Saturday morning blueberry pancakes, bacon, and coffee : )

Saturday we were going to get our Christmas tree, but unfortunately Stella caught a stomach bug (anyone know that dogs can get these?!?). So we spent from noon Saturday until midnight taking her outside several times every hour. She was herself again on Sunday, which was relief! It is definitely no-fun to see your pets not feeling well. I got in a This Is Us binge (I’m almost all caught up and I’m kinda sad!) with some Maple cuddles.

Tried to make some cookies with gluten-free flour (that’s all they had at the store?!) and they came out like this. They still tasted so delicious, so that’s all that matters?

Made some homemade granola.

Got in a treadmill run on Saturday (it was so windy/icy/blowing snow) and then 30 minutes on Sunday.

Sunday was a crazy-busy day with teaching skiing clinics from 9am-4pm, running for 30 minutes, then teaching a skating lesson at 4:45! I got home at 6pm and Alex had tomato-beef soup waiting (he’s a keeper)!

I took Saturday & Sunday completely OFF from social media and it felt amazing. I may need to start doing this every week? Also what ones have you seen on this?

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Favorite Holiday movie? —> I love the Polar Express, The Grinch, Christmas Vacation, and Miracle on 34th Street.

Ever take a few days off from Social Media?

Favorite type of cookie? —> Oatmeal Chocolate Chip!

Photos From Our Long Weekend & Shoe Dog Book Review

Happy Monday! How was your Holiday weekend? I cannot believe that it’s the last weekend in November?!? Also we got a BUNCH of snow Saturday- finally our first good snowstorm in what feels like at least two years. We couldn’t even remember getting this much snow last year at all. Today is also a great day because I’m going to start running again! I’m building back up slowly and for the next 4 weeks (basically until Christmas), my mileage won’t peak above 33 miles per week and I think the longest run I’ll have is 7 miles. Much needed break before I begin my marathon training for Eugene! Let’s catch up on the long weekend shall we and then I’ve got another book review for you too.

Gym time. Mainly lifting some lift weights, lots of lunges, ab work (most days during the week), and balance-related things (I’ll post my full strength workout tomorrow!).

Longest plank held EVER!! So close to getting my 4:00 plank hold goal for this month!

Made our own movie theater with some popcorn (we did it on the stovetop in a pan and it was both equally fun + scary) and candy! Rented Wonder Woman at our local library (it was blue-ray which made the quality even better and a free resource for us!).

Lots of kitty cuddles.

Working on another goal for the month! I crocheted a coaster!

Lots of snow on Saturday. We did a long snowy walk and then spent the rest of the day cuddled up by the fire. It was MUCH needed!

New training plan is ready to go for Eugene- following Hanson’s Marathon Method again. I’ll share my plan on Thursday with you and also my goals for the late-Spring race!

Shoe Dog By Phil Knight Book Review - 5/5 stars

Normally sports books are some of my favorite (also really love reading autobiographies), so I knew that once I was able to read this one it would be something I enjoyed. However, I had NO idea I would like it this much. I know sometimes that autobiographies (especially ones when the author is a ‘business tycoon’ may be filtered, so obviously everything read needs to be taken with a grain of salt) can be really ‘in favor’ of the author, however the story behind Nike is mind-blowing.

I had NO idea how his idea came to become (he also has an MBA, so I felt like I could relate to him on some level) Nike, how many times they almost went bankrupt, and how they made their ideas into reality. It also centers around Eugene/ Beaverton, OR (which is where my marathon will be held in April), which got me even more excited my race knowing more of the history behind the city (along with Nike itself).

I did think that the ending felt a bit rushed, but the entire journey from its fruitition to becoming a multi-million dollar company (and beyond by now) was amazing. Phil also blends in how running helped him brainstorm, relive stress, and work out business deals- also something I could easily relate to. This book was definitely a page-turner for me and I already can’t wait to re-read it (probably right before the marathon ; ) ….). I’ve never been a huge fan of Nike (and definitely still have some qualms), however this did provide me some appreciation for it!

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Ever read Shoe Dog?

Five things you did this weekend?

Snow- do you love it?! Anyone else get a snowstorm this weekend?