tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608890448442173182024-02-07T03:08:32.371-05:00 Run.Chew.SparkleLife should be enjoyed Running and Eating with a extra dose of Sparkle!!!Run.Chew.Sparklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01315542291470008705noreply@blogger.comBlogger807125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-360889044844217318.post-61399538127411359462020-04-28T10:02:00.001-04:002020-04-28T10:02:19.907-04:00Stay At Home Rambles<br />
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Well Hello There!!!<br />
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Over here still in Quarantine and living my best Social Distancing Life.<br />
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Lets be honest though, some days are better than others, some hours are even hard.<br />
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I have to admit though, I have been Thriving during this time and Surviving at the same time. Some days I don't think about what is happening and just treat it as days off and other days, I think about work, how work is going to happen and when we are opening.<br />
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That portion is really starting to get to me. I just need a date or a time Frame of when we are going back. I feel like I need time to think about it and process it before they give us the go ahead. I mean yes, I have had many days to process it, but gosh getting back into the swing of things is going to be different. But for my planning heart I have, attaching a date to it, makes my anxiousness a lot less than what it is now.<br />
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Yes, my positive self, does suffer a bit with being anxious. It is just sometimes all of this gets to become too much. On top of all the worry, there is the Unemployment aspect that has been so much fun. I say that in the most sarcastic way possible.<br />
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One, never in my life did I think I would be applying and worrying about unemployment. I sent in my papers on April 5 and have not heard a thing back about it. NOT A WORD. See this is where my anxiousness comes in, THE UNKNOWN. Again, all I want to know is if it was received.<br />
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PLANNING HEART PEOPLE!!!<br />
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I am in a comfortable spot though in my life. I am not struggling, every single one of my bills are being paid. I have not had to touch my savings and I was even able to treat myself to some new online purchases. I have a Beyond supportive partner in this in James. He is still working and being paid, and has been a huge help. It is even more supportive because we don't do anything, so I am not spending a dang dime anywhere, and even if I offer to buy groceries or a meal out, HE WILL not let me do it.<br />
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I am truly blessed. Even though I am an Independent women, it is amazing to have a partner who will do anything in his power to not see me fail.<br />
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Okay back to some thoughts about this whole process.<br />
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I have really been taping into who I am and how I have gotten by with all of this process and the one thing I have been doing is making sure all the things I have accomplished during this time, I have been writing down or journaling per say.<br />
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I want to be able to look back on this time, and see all the stuff I accomplished or did accomplish. There are things on my list like, I took afternoon baths, I used my bubble bath and lotions, I drank a lot of water, I worked out every day for 30 minutes a day. And there are moments, where I laid on the couch in the beginning for a few hours and cried. I took Stress Vitamins and I took a low dose Xanx a couple of times. I called people and vented. I took lots of naps and got up early.<br />
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I documented a lot of the little things because it has made me successful in this journey, to just see all the things I have done the last 40 days so far, and for me, that is a way of surviving and thriving.<br />
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I also have been taping into a lot of my personal development and my well being and growing my influence and leadership with my peers, like opening this blog back up.<br />
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I am not sure where I am going with this post today. The last two lessons with the Next 90 days have tied into this. Leadership and Organization. and Both tie into each other. I have been a Leader for myself these last 40 days. Leading myself into the next journey life is going to take me, because it will be a journey coming out of this. And I have been doing a lot of my organizing from my drawers and areas in my life to keep me calm and collected.<br />
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I highly recommend this practice. Choose one area, one little area and just organize it. It brings a sense of calm and purpose and accomplishment.<br />
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If you have kept reading my rambling, thank you haha.Run.Chew.Sparklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01315542291470008705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-360889044844217318.post-82417762525152366622020-04-14T08:35:00.001-04:002020-04-14T08:35:54.249-04:00HABITS are a POWERFUL thingWell hello there!<br />
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We are approaching another week in Quarantine and dare I say it, it has become quite the routine and every day. I think there becomes apart of you and your brain where you just realize and probably accept this is it and how it is going to be and live with it. While I adjusted to this lifestyle a bit ago with this closure, I think now it has finally settled back in, but I would be lying if I didn't think when this is all over, how different and scary the world will be again and what will my life look like.<br />
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Okay, I know that seems dramatic but it ties into the Habits Lesson of Week #3 of the Next 90 Challenge over with the Hollis Co.<br />
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This week is all about Habits. I have to say I have created some great Habits I instill into my daily lifestyle over the last few years. Habits or creating a Habit is something I really enjoy doing. I am a girl after structure and routine and lists and getting fulfillment from that. It is just how I am personally wired.<br />
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When I first started on my Weight Loss Journey, a habit I had to create was Tracking my food. I knew through the Power of Weight Watchers, IF I was going to lose weight, THEN I was going to have to track my food. Tracking every thing I ate. Dave Hollis, talks about these IF/Then statements, If I do this, Then I do this.<br />
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I live my life by that If/then statements a lot when it comes to my lifestyle of eating better and exercise. Tracking my food has been a proven success in my journey. I know what food I am eating, how much or how little and it holds me accountable.<br />
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Right now in this scenioro, If I want to lose 50 pounds Then I need to track my food, then I need to exercise more, then I need to schedule my OTF classes 1 more day a week, then I need to stay with the classes and not cancel.<br />
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When we started this Quarantine I was very nervous about some of my Habits that I have created weren't going to stay around much because of Boredom. The Habit of exercise was the one I was most concerned about. I had gotten into a great Habit of working out Sunday's, Wednesday and Thursday religiously with OTF and sometimes even throwing in an extra day. By doing that I was seeing some great results.<br />
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Then this happened and they had to close. BUT since I had instilled this Habit in me, I just had to shift it a little more, so my Habit now is doing the At Home workouts with OTF, M-W-F. I have also created another Habit, thankfully to the 5 for Thrive, of moving my body every day for at least 30 minutes. I have been walking more and running more and doing yoga more than I have ever done in my life. Seriously, as of today from April 1-today I have ran and walked 40.2 miles. and we aren't even half way through the month.<br />
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Here is the thing I want to stick, the Habit of this exercise and movement. When life resumes itself again, I want to be ready and stronger then before, but I don't want to lose all this great progress I have made. Maybe James and I's evening walks for 30 minutes won't be the same again because of our schedules, but we can create a habit on the day we are off together to keep this up. It will become more second nature to each other again.<br />
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Dave also talks about Habits we wanted to take away from this season of life. Some I found important to carry on into my daily life and next season was doing things I can control, like making my bed every day, simple right, but gosh darnit, it does make a huge difference for me. Seeking and finding Joy, giving Grace to myself and others, Drinking the stupid water, making more time to have healthy and delicious meals.<br />
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That is another one. James and I would sit down to eat together maybe 4 nights a week, not too bad, but most of those times were eating out or carry out, because I was too tired to cook or time or just the nature of convince. This has taught me that cooking really doesn't take a whole lot of time and it doesn't have to be hard or crazy, I can do it. I cook 6 nights out of our week, once a week we order from somewhere else, a local restuarant and it is lovely. This is a habit I enjoy a lot. because it brings us closer together and I enjoy the praise James gives me when he says he enjoys a meal.<br />
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Now all habits I have created are great Habits. One Habit I believe I need to tweak a bit is the getting dressed Habit. I have been resulting to just leggings, workout clothes and my PJ's every day. I have not worn Jeans since March 16th, no LIE. I just don't have the desire, it is hot, and I am not going anywhere so what is the point. Well the point is it makes me feel better. One habit I tweaked early on was wearing a bra during the day and it changed my whole perspective.<br />
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Crazy I know. But I was in my home, I was comfy, why do I need a bra. BUT after a week or so, that got old real quick and it just made me seem frumpy. So I started even in my sweats and leggings, putting the bra on and it made stand a little taller and more importantly feel better. So a habit I want to tweak, is one day I week, I will actually get ready fully and put some jeans and shirt on and maybe, just maybe put some makeup on.<br />
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A habit I need to not just tweak but get rid of is, is the habit of being on my phone constantly, especially at night. I look at my phone while we are watching movies, shows and talking. I am taking it to the whole evening and I am truly missing out. So I am setting a limit for myself, 9:30 every night, I am putting the phone away and being engaged in the evening before bed, which we usually end up falling asleep around 11. Once I create this habit and then I can instill another time frame, earlier and so forth.<br />
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Dave spoke around the power of habits and how a habit was and is created and how we are triggered by a habit, being consistent with my habits is what makes me successful. I don't and want to give up, because it is not an option for me.<br />
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The topic this week was way different than I thought it would be. I will not lie, a bit of it was confusing to me, because habits were something I thought I had a pretty solid grasp on and I thought I had a couple of habits I had mastered but in actuality, every single thing we do is a habit. How we go about our lives is one big habit and new habits surface and old ones come back often.<br />
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A habit I took a year last year to really master, slowly started to make its way back into my life and that was the habit of snacking and eating Bites, Licks and Tastes from my journey. In WW, terms we call those BLT's. I was having small extra bites of dinner, licks of things I was making or small tastes of things James was eating. Those little extra things, really add up, and I know my process would go better, if I stop that. I had worked so hard on nailing that down, but with this down time and being around, I have resurfaced that habit.<br />
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NOT ANYMORE. It stops today. Now more BLT's, I have to retrain my mind and body and it is crazy how one silly little slip up and alter a lot of hard work.<br />
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He also spoke to habits you have instilled and adding more habits on top of it. I tried some this morning..I made a routine schedule of my day, I usually just plan a little, but I stacked more on to it, so using my hour early wake up, to read 1 hour of my Personal Development book.<br />
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I have used my daily OTF workouts at 4, and stacking on running before between 2 and 3, to add more to that exercise portion.<br />
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As I conclude this habits, creating new habits is hard, getting rid of bad habits is hard, everything is hard, BUT CHOOSE YOUR HARD.<br />
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How do you want to reflect and show up for yourself when this is all said and done, do you want to have bad habits instilled to carry into the rest of the year, or do you want to use this time to really start some Habits to make you successful through out and make this time worth it, just a little bit more....???Run.Chew.Sparklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01315542291470008705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-360889044844217318.post-78000426890507492742020-04-07T10:48:00.000-04:002020-04-07T11:12:02.548-04:00Joy List<br />
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Happy Tuesday!!<br />
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I have since decided that for the next 13 weeks, or how many at this point, is some of my blog posts will be in conjunction with the lessons Rachel Hollis is giving during the next 90 days lessons and my reflection or homework as she has stated to go along with it. </div>
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This weeks topic is finding Joy</div>
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CHOOSING JOY.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Joy</i></span></b></div>
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<b>Noun: A feeling of great pleasure and happiness.</b></div>
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Read that again...</div>
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<i><b>A feeling of great pleasure and happiness. </b></i></div>
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How many of us search for that every day or go out and try to support that in our ever day lifestyles with family and friends and even strangers. She explained finding Joy in this particular season can be troublesome, it can be hard to find that moment of happiness when we are feed some of the darkest thoughts we have ever encountered. </div>
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Maybe it is from the news, givings us the countless death counts, or friends and family members who are personally troubled with what is happening, either they have the virus, or know someone. Or maybe it is the lack of social interaction, lost of job, or lost of wages, or maybe just all of this really sucks and doing the same thing over and over again, is wearing thin for most.</div>
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Whatever the case may be, finding Joy in a season like this, can be like finding a needle in a hay stack. BUT when you Choose to seek out Joy, you would be surprised how the littlest things can bring you Joy and ultimately bring you a sense of my love cup is full and then Gratitude.</div>
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I practice Daily Gratitude. </div>
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I have a Start Today Journal and every day I write 5 things I am grateful for that I have experienced in the last 24 hours, or even in that moment. They are simple and meaningful and most of the time, something that speaks just to me and only me. I don't over think it, I just write 5 things I am thankful for.</div>
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But the funny thing is, those 5 things are often things that brought me Joy. See how it all ties in together...</div>
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I am Grateful for the great pleasure and happiness those moments or things brought me. I find it easy to seek Joy and find Joy in my every day. I look at the world through the perspective of happiness. I have been called being Naive for this practice, or silly, or even annoying, BUT I can tell you I am the most positive person in the room, most of the time, and I am proud of that.</div>
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Okay, so now that we have a little history on Choosing Joy...Why Choose Joy??!! </div>
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Simply...why the heck not??? </div>
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Why not just seek something that makes you happy. </div>
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Happiness brightness. up your day, it brings a smile to your face, it gives you good feelings, that with happiness can over power those dark images. Rachel brought up making a Joy list this week, to also use as a list to read when things just Suck. When the world is pounding us down, look at your Joy list and find some things you can do right now, to bring a little bit of happiness to your life.</div>
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That concept is amazing. </div>
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Sometimes just reading about the things that can bring you Joy, BRINGS YOU JOY!! For me, some of the items on my list, are a lot of social things, things I can do right in the season of my life, but reading them, gives me a Hope that soon, I will be able to do them again. It then brings me Gratitude, that those are things I am grateful to do in my life, and it gives me the sense of appreciation I will have when I experience them again.</div>
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For example, a pedicure. </div>
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And I am not talking just the typical pedicure. </div>
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I am talking the whole nine yards, pedicure, the one with the really warm or hot water, picking out the best color, the HOT PINK WITH SPARKLES, the seat with the massage, the hot rocks of my calves, having an Iced Coffee in my hand and a book on my lap and for 45 minutes, I am enjoying and just relaxing. That brings me Joy, it also has to fall on a Saturday, when I am off of work and after I am going to get lunch and do retail therapy.</div>
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I just created a whole Joy picture in my head, a whole picture, that typing it right now, I can see it, I am feel it and can experience it. Man I can not wait to do that again. Maybe it won't be the same, but man those moments bring me Joy. Rachel also brought up the idea, which I mentioned that maybe you can adjust your joy to fit it right now. And I came up with the idea that I am going to use some of my million Bath and Body Works products I have and I am going to give myself my own pedicure. I have a foot scrub, foot lotion, a fancy nail polish, I bought forever ago, I have a heating pad and a massage thing I use for my legs for working out and I will bring myself some joy. Pour my coffee over ice and pull out my book and create a little bit of Joy right now. </div>
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I challenge you to do the same thing...</div>
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As homework, we were to make a Joy list of 15 items, mine is more than 15 because I just couldn't stop writing of all the things that I find Joy, pure pleasure and happiness in.</div>
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Maybe reading my Joy List, just might bring you some Joy also...</div>
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1. A slow, sip, quite, sitting down cup of coffee ( I do this one a lot these days, since I am not running on my way to work)</div>
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2. Laughing, big, hard laughs with James, where tears come down my cheeks.</div>
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3. Sitting curled up with a blanket and a book ( I try to do this every day)</div>
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4. Browsing the inside of a library.</div>
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5. Walking through the book aisle of Target, taking pictures of books I want to read, so I can request them from the library.</div>
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6. A big, Bouquet of Sunflowers</div>
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7. Petting a Dog</div>
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8. Seeing a Dog when I am running</div>
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9. Dog Sitting Sherman ( I have been able to do this every week and it makes my life full)</div>
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10. Nashville, TN- The whole dang city and atmosphere just makes me so happy</div>
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11. Crossing a Finish Line during a Race</div>
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12. Completing a training program for a race</div>
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13. Cleaning the house while listening to John Mayer</div>
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14. John Mayer singing Slow Dancing in a Burning Room</div>
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15. Hipster Coffee shops, that make cool drinks that are Instagram worthy pictures.</div>
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16. Ordering an Iced Coffee and going for a walk.</div>
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17. Farmers Markets</div>
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18. Afternoon Naps under the comforters.</div>
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19. Big, Fluffy Blankets and Pillows</div>
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20. Sleeping in hotel rooms on vacations</div>
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21. Swimming in a Creek</div>
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22. Watching the waves crash, while sitting in a chair with my feet in the sand.</div>
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23. Christmas Lights, all kinds, always</div>
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24. Having my boyfriend being Sober</div>
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25. Playing Scrabble with my Poppy</div>
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26. Playing 500 Rummy with my Poppy</div>
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27. Going to the racetrack with my Poppy</div>
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28. Running in downtown St. Pete along the water at Sunrise.</div>
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29. Sunsets on the beach</div>
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30. Cotton Candy skies</div>
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31. Running in my neighborhood and smelling houses cooking breakfast</div>
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32. Key Lime Pie</div>
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33. Pistachio Iced Coffee from Dunkin Donuts</div>
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34. Getting Ice Cream from a Boardwalk, Ice Cream Shop</div>
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35. Crossing off items from my To Do List</div>
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36. Making Lists every day of things to get done</div>
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37. Sweating at Orange Theory Fitness</div>
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38. Going for a walk with James</div>
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39. James and I talking about what kind of house we want to live in together and get</div>
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40. Training a new associate and they really understanding and growing</div>
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41. The smell of fall</div>
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42. Going to a pumpkin patch</div>
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43. Having a hot apple cider in the fall, in Upstate New York with a apple Cider Donut</div>
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44. Seeing the Tree with Rockefeller Center at Christmas</div>
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45. A cool, brisk day, where all you need is a light sweatshirt</div>
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46. Warm, sheets from the dryer</div>
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47. Going out to breakfast with James</div>
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48. Using Stickers to decorate my Planner</div>
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49. Watching It's a Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve</div>
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50. Slow dancing with James to a song on the radio, on a random day</div>
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51. Lighting candles </div>
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52. Rain storms</div>
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53. The smell of candles burning after you have finished cleaning</div>
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54. Lavender Vanilla on bed sheets</div>
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55. Cleaning my car in the car wash<br />
56. Watching FRIENDS at night on the couch with James before we go to bed<br />
57. Forehead kisses<br />
58. Squeezing our hands to do 1-2-3, which means I LOVE YOU<br />
59. Classic Rock stations that make me think of my Dad<br />
60. Records</div>
Run.Chew.Sparklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01315542291470008705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-360889044844217318.post-10362097269828350842020-03-31T08:10:00.000-04:002020-03-31T08:22:40.400-04:00Perspective: My Trauma, Fear and RejectionWell we have made it through another week of CoronaVirus, Stay Home, Social Distancing of 2020.<br />
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I honestly have no clue what to call it, other than that.<br />
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Today, has been 2 weeks since we closed BBW and shut down the store. Originally we had some high hopes we would have been open by yesterday, the mall sent an email saying they weren't going to open until the 19th, and then Pres. Trump extended the Social Distancing until the 30th.<br />
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I honestly have no clue when I am going back to work. I am literally just trying to take it day by day and moment by moment, and week by week.<br />
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I have been surviving and also Thriving during this process.<br />
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I am a child of hard things. I have been through some tough shit in my day, and maybe I will get to that at some point, but we can save that for another post.<br />
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Today the idea of Perspective is in my brain.<br />
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If you don't know, which I am sure you do know if you follow along with me, but Rachel Hollis, whom is one of the many people I look up too, and inspire from, is hosting a Next 90 Challenge.<br />
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If you have never done one before, the 90 Day Challenge, usually comes the beginning of October and runs until January and it is the Last 90 Days, it is with the Intent that we end the year, with a fire and purpose and sky rocket into the new year, with more motivation and routine and structure more than when we normally do the end of the year. Its pretty amazing and I have done it last two years and she began this one because of all that is going on in the world right now, we can really use some motivation and help.<br />
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So began The Next 90 Challenge, because like she says, the next 90 Days are going to be tough, they will take some adjustment and we can use the structure and routine and community more than ever.<br />
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I am not going to sit here and right all that comes along with the Next 90 Challenge because I do not want to steal the Thunder from here, so check it out <a href="http://go.thehollisco.com/" target="_blank">here</a> if you haven't already.<br />
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Please join me, lets be accountability partners and get through these Next 90 Days together.<br />
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Each week Rachel is hosting a class on a certain topic and this week it is <b>Perspective.</b><br />
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By definition Perspective means:<br />
<i>1. A particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view.</i><br />
<i>2. The art of drawing solid objects on a two-dimensional surface so as it give the right impression of their height, width, depth, and position in relation to each other when viewed from a particular point.</i><br />
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I have lived my whole life through finding Perspective or Shifting my Perspective I should say based on what I have been through. I was brought up in a household where alcoholism and drug addiction was at a fore front of much of my memories. I do not shame or hate my parents for this, my father has since died from these diseases, and yes, they are diseases. I just don't think my parents had a control on the situation in a way it should of been.<br />
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So I have been shifting my Perspective a bit about my past.<br />
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Perspective from Past Trauma...<br />
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Yes, I have seen some shit, and it was hard times, but because I we lost our house, my mom went to jail for little bit, my dad was a huge alcoholic and I literally had to sell everything that was of value to me, because of those things, I was able to move in with my Poppy and live in his home, with him, and our relationship was gifted to be the saving point of my life.<br />
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If we, I, had not gone through that, I would not have the relationship I have with my Poppy to this day. We are very close, he is my entire world and heart and I am now grateful for those experiences because if I did not have them, I would not have the blessing of the closeness we have today.<br />
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Even though this is from the past, shifting your perspective allows to look back and shift how things had turned out.<br />
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I can not change the past, I repeat I CAN NOT CHANGE THE PAST, BUT I DON'T want too, never would I change how I was brought up, because it has made me into me, I now just look at it from a different angle and find meaning from it.<br />
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I was raised that way, to be able to stand stronger and more positive than I ever should.<br />
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Now perspective from FEAR.<br />
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I fear Rejection.<br />
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Rejection is a hard one for me, because many of a times I have been rejected in so many ways or another. From growing up and being rejected from what seemed like family and family members, to being rejected by friends to being rejected by many boys in school. And then growing up Rejection came in the form of a promotion or a job opportunity.<br />
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Gosh, those promotions and job opportunity ones, really dig it in to you.<br />
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When I worked at TR, our DM, whom is and was my mentor was leaving her position to go onto bigger and better things. I was excited for her and heartbroken for me personally but also a little excited because I had felt I was next in line for her job. I was an Acting DM, I was a Training Manager, I had the tools and the respect and the knowledge, gosh I could almost taste it.<br />
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And then...<br />
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They never even allowed me to apply. They overlooked me, didn't post it enough for me to apply or even ask me to reach out and do it. And they changed the description to make it so, I honestly had no chance.<br />
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Perspective time...because of that moment, I changed my whole life.<br />
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A fire burned in my belly and I was ready to move on. I instantly knew my time, with a company I had spent almost 8 years with, giving everything I had too, I knew it was time for me to move on. And with in 5 months, I found BBW and my whole axle my life was sitting on turned upside down and I started over again with a new company, with a bright future and doing better than I ever was.<br />
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I shifted the idea that they didn't want me, that they were trying to push me out, and I changed into a reward, that the next company I go to, will be able to see how awesome I truly am, and I can bring knowledge and skills.<br />
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While I was hurt and I gave myself a good cry, I knew this was my way of being able to change, because I am not sure I would have been able to leave that company, if they hadn't rejected me.<br />
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My perspective shift, allowed me to find something better.<br />
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And the same goes for when I applied for a SM position with my current company and I was rejected. <br />
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It stung A LOT.<br />
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I mean A LOT.<br />
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I think because rejection has been an armor I have built around myself and when I try to fight it off, it just keeps coming through the cracks. But I took this past one, as it allows me to get stronger, learn the business more, build my character and my leadership, so next time, I can really blow it out of the water.<br />
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I shifted my Perspective to maybe it really isn't my time, just yet. Maybe I need to grow more in other areas, to truly take it to the next level and I did just that. I shifted it to be a better ASM, a better person and a better leader and I continue to do so.<br />
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My Perspective shift, was this was another building block to an even better dream.<br />
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And recently perspective shift...Starting on April 5th, all associates at BBW, expect for SM's, will be put on a furlough, or in simple terms, a temp lay off, until we can reopen again.<br />
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A furlough is an unpaid temp leave.<br />
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Ya'll it is scary. I have worked my whole life practically, even single week or every other week, pay checks and money come in. To have that stop, even for a small amount of time, is scary, and anxious and nerve wracking.<br />
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I cried.<br />
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At that moment, reading that, it was all too much.<br />
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And then the Perspective shift happened...<br />
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I told myself, I am blessed to have been paid for 4 weeks while out, I am healthy, I still have a job I can go back too, after this over. I have a roof over my head and food in my home and on my table. I have a boyfriend who would do anything for me, to make sure I am safe and secure. I have family and friends and I have a budget and savings if it really gets out of hand.<br />
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I AM OKAY!<br />
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I shifted my whole view of it being something that is happening to me, to something that is happening for me.<br />
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It is making me reevaluate my spending, how I budget and if I really do need all the things I spend on in my life, it is making me slow down and really grow.<br />
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If you didn't know, Growth is my word for 2020.<br />
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Okay, so my examples of Perspective shifting will be different than yours.<br />
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But I want you to think, when trauma and fear and rejection come into your life, how can you change it to see a better outcome from it, than you had seen it once before. It will take time, it is a mindset shift, you might have to dig deep sometimes to find it, and that is okay, but shift it to see it as a change for the better, or a lesson to learn from because believe me it takes less energy to find happiness than sadness from it.<br />
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We have one life to live, lets make it as meaningful as possible.<br />
<br />Run.Chew.Sparklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01315542291470008705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-360889044844217318.post-46637143430136563962020-03-24T10:29:00.001-04:002020-03-24T10:29:04.321-04:00Welcome Back from the Last 3 Years!<b><span style="font-size: large;">Well Hello!!! </span></b><br />
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Wow it has been a really long time since I have logged into my Blog.<br />
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Remember when I used to write about food and running and the little extras of my life that I refer to as Sparkle...<br />
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Yeah...it has been awhile.<br />
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And the only thing I can say, is LIFE got in the way, boy oh boy did it ever. Sitting down and doing my blog and posts and all the joy and fun I got from it, had to sit on the very back burner. Heck it wasn't even on the stove.<br />
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But back in January I was at Rise Ft. Myers with Rachel Hollis and the idea to getting back to posting on my blog has come back in my life. I really missed writing and explaining my life and doing fun things, but Gosh Instagram and Instagram Stories, made it much more easier, so that is where I have been following along with my life and what I have going on.<br />
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My blog, this blog, was all about me expressing who I am and what I love and I am sad I got away from that. So many times, I thought I should just sit down and just right a post and I just didn't, no other explanation other than I just didn't.<br />
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And I want too. I am not sure how many posts I will do, or when I will post or what, but I am going to go back to this often that is for sure.<br />
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So the last 3 years from my last post, well actually 2 years, since it was New Year's Eve.<br />
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<b>Run</b> portion of my life...<br />
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Running took a nice back seat a lot for a bit AND then I got back in the groove. I started signing up for my races, 5k's and fun runs and I started planning runs on my day off and bringing some friends along with me to do them. It feels amazing to get back to the roads and wait for it... I am getting better and Faster!!!! A couple of weeks ago, I ran a 5k, the whole time on the beach, without Stopping!! As you may remember, I follow Jeff Galloways, run-walk-run, which translates into Running for so many minutes, walk a minute then run those minutes again. Over and Over.<br />
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I highly recommend this practice of running, it not only eliminates injury BUT it helps build your endurance and stamina and without that process there was no way I would stick with being a runner for the last 8 years. Anyway, running has still been a part of my life, as we know it is my therapy, it is who I stay close to the memory of my Dad and it just makes me feel like a Badass every time I cross that finish line, so I am sticking to it.<br />
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I have even signed up for a Half Marathon in October, it will be my 11th. And I have set a goal, which if accomplished will be a Personal Best for me. I am shooting for a 2:15 Half Marathon, my best was 2:25, so I am pushing it even harder and really want to smash some goals. I will start a training plan for this around June or July, hello Summer running again.<br />
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Under the run portion I have to bring up the fact that I have joined OrangeTheory Fitness. One thing to start with is I tried a Gym, I tried Planet Fitness, but every time I went, I was scared because I honestly had NO IDEA what I was doing. I always went to the treadmill, where I would walk, not run, because I thought I could never run on a treadmill, I was a pavement runner, so the treadmill seemed below me, yes those were actually thoughts of mine, silly I know.<br />
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So last year year, a friend and I went to a Health and Fitness Expo, and OTF had a booth. I had recently made a list of activities I wanted to try, classes I wanted to take and experience and they were on my list, because a lot of my online people I followed were posting their workout experiences and seemed to love it. So I put my name in the hat thing and signed up for a free class. AND I BOOKED THE CLASS. Ya'll that was a huge step for me.<br />
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I knew very very little about OTF, I mean I think I understood the concept, but when I walked in, I had no dang clue. I took the first class, I almost died, I mean I didn't but I totally threw up. It was intense and I was sore and I was out of my comfort zone, which as we know that is where Growth Truly happens....so I was hooked.<br />
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I signed up for a membership and it was is expensive BUT it is an investment on my life and I needed that more than ever. And since that free class I have been obsessed, I got 3-4 times a week, which works very well with my schedule, the staff and the coaches are what makes it even more special. The workouts challenge me and inspire me at the same time. Every class is different and everyone in the class is different. I am not scared anymore of group fitness, I actually LOVE IT. I embrace it and want more of it. I am so grateful I signed up for that free class, because I can't imagine my life now without it. I am pushed so much with each class and my body is changing in so many ways.<br />
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My waist is smaller, my face is thinner, my arms are getting stronger and my legs are getting toner. All the things I wanted to do before, I am able to accomplish now and my energy, my happiness and sleeping is even better.<br />
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<b>Chew</b> Portion of my life....<br />
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Drum Roll... I am down 37 pounds from the last year and went down 3 pant size and a shirt size and I rejoined WW!!! Remember when I was so successful with WW way back when, I had lost 80 pounds and I was the lowest weight I had ever been. And then I ran a marathon and everything changed and I was sick of tracking and sick of WW and just burnt out, so I let it go and tried something new. I tried Flexable Dieting and Macros and just tracking my calories, and I weighed myself at home and lied about it every day to myself. I was gaining it all back!<br />
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And I gained 70 pounds back. Yup, it all came back in the corse of 5 years basically. I was lying to myself every day saying I was fine and it was okay. Last year I knew I needed to make a change and WW works for me and it has been so successful. Sure I am not losing weight the same way I did years ago and it isn't coming off as quickly BUT that is okay because thats not what matters. What matter is changing my habits and being a better version of myself. I love my workshops and my Leader and I love how it has gotten me back into a structure and routine.<br />
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<b>Sparkle</b> Part of my life....<br />
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Things are so good. Well currently not great, since we are on a Social Distancing and CoronaVirus Lockdown basically but life is great. James and I are stronger than ever. He quit drinking 14 months ago and it has changed his whole life and mine at that. I am so dang proud of him. We went through a really bad patch a few years ago, but I am so glad we came out stronger and better on the other side. He is my best friend and the only person I want to go through this life with.<br />
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Work at Bath and Body Works has been awesome. Challenging, fun, amazing, growth, all the things in one. I have learned so much about business in the last two years with them, then I did with TR for 8 and I am brought all my Leadership Skills I learned from TR and I wouldn't have it any other way. I work with and for some pretty amazing people and it is true pleasure.<br />
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I am still on my journey of Personal Development and Personal Growth to just be a better human and it is changing my life.<br />
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Okay, so where am I going to go with this and my posts...who the heck knows lol. I want and will be posting more, simple things, catch up life type and talking about any and everything. Some things, I type and write how I talk, so words might be crazy, I will have run on sentences, I will ramble and things won't make sense and if you know me a lot of this will be the same haha.<br />
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But I am back and here we goooo...!!!!!Run.Chew.Sparklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01315542291470008705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-360889044844217318.post-55051577214110559702017-12-30T07:59:00.001-05:002017-12-30T07:59:44.441-05:00Catching Up and Lots and Lots of Rambles on 2017Hey!!!!!<br />
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Remember when I used to write and blog and post really fun and exciting things. I would talk about my life, my love of running, some new foods, etc....Yeah....<br />
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So LIFE got in the way. IN a BIG way and some things in my life had to take a back seat and unfortunately this was one of them.<br />
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Life is seriously messy sometimes and complicated and all over the place and mine just kept getting that way.<br />
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BUT I am making a GOAL going into 2018, to get back into my little piece of blog on the Internet and DIVE back in again. I seriously have missed sitting down, explaining the SPARKLE moments of my life, writing about the different eats and CHEW and gosh do I miss my RUNS.<br />
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Okay, so since the last time I have posted, let me see if I can catch up a little bit...<br />
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Lets start a little bit with running....or I shall say lack there of...<br />
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Running took a big hit for me this year. From late last year and into this year, I was struggling through a LOT of calf pain and knee pain. I mean it was seriously so bad, that even going for a walk at times, seemed to be unbearable. The half marathon I did in Nashville was TOUGH. SUPER TOUGH. I was in some pain and then I took it easy for most of the summer.<br />
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I would run a few miles here and there and then go to the gym. Oh yea back in July I joined a gym which was close to my job. And I really do love it. It is still a little different to me, but I am trying. That is a HUGE goal in 2018 to get back into that again. I joined Planet Fitness and the machines are so scary to me, I feel like I have no clue what I am doing. BUT I am not scared, they are just scary. I have Pinned a lot of different exercises to do and I am READY this year to kick butt.<br />
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Let me be honest, a lot of fitness took a back seat. I seriously let life and excuses take over me. I would go good for like 3 days and then work would throw me off, or plans came up, or I was tired, or I was in pain from a run, or I had a toothache or or or or, the list goes on.<br />
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It wasn't that I wasn't motivated, I wasn't DISCIPLINED!!!<br />
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And it crept up on me. I totally gained weight this year and then stayed the same. I haven't put on a TON of weight, but enough I can feel it and I DON'T like it. I have not been as active as I have been in the years past, which is my release and it has definitely taken hold over me. Its funny how the most MOTIVATED people, sometimes just go through a RUT.<br />
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Well not anymore in 2018. I am so pumped and ready to jump in, honestly it is like a breath of fresh air.<br />
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Okay back to running because working out fits that. IN November I had originally signed up for the half marathon in St. Pete. Well with some serious leg pain, I knew it was not smart for me to do it. So I took my ticket and signed up for the 5k instead. I was ready, I was excited. The race came and I was ready to go and .60 miles in, I had to stop and walk. I was in so much pain behind my right knee, I couldn't even put my leg down or full extend. I was truly hurting. I had tears in my eyes, but I didn't turn down a side street like I wanted to do and just leave, I finished the race, walking the whole time, got my medal and went home.<br />
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My pride and heart was hurt. I have never had to walk a whole race before. I follow Jeff Galloway and do run walk run, but this was a whole other level. I was in pain. So from that day forward, I knew I just had to sit out some races, which included my beloved Turkey Trot. I was tired of being in pain and going to races and being upset, so I had to sit it out. Sometimes you have to know when to just call it quits and know when enough is enough.<br />
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So for over a month now I have not ran and I have not really been in the gym. Because then work became super crazy. I was BUSY every day and last week alone, I worked 72 plus hours. So I was beat. BUT not anymore....<br />
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Goal for 2018 in the Run part of my life is simple, just get back to running. Get back to doing it weekly and LOVING it again and PAIN FREE. So I am going to take it slow and steady, like I did when I first started and enjoy the miles. I don't plan on doing any half marathons until LATER in the year and just do some fun 5ks here and there. No pressure, no expectations just running and the love and high and drug I get from it.<br />
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And with that said that means putting some love into the gym too. I need to tone up. I am flabby in all the parts and my body needs some toning. I need to get back to being nice and healthy and fit again. While I track my food everyday through My Fitness Pal, I snack and pick on things I shouldn't and I don't track those. Like last night after we went out for a few drinks with family I had two cookies when I got home, an oatmeal cookie and a sugar cookie and had a bite of some chips. BECAUSE of the drinks I was hungry and from not being in a routine earlier in the day.<br />
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And because I was home. That too had a lot to do with it. But I have done that a lot this year, not even realizing. Making bad choices here and there, that don't really seem like a lot, but they added up and made a difference. I am not mad or sad. The main thing is I know what to do to be better and do better.<br />
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So I guess that is the Chew portion of my life. More real foods and less picking is in the works for me!!<br />
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Okay now the Sparkle! Geez the Sparkle portion took over a lot. I did a lot of traveling this year, Nashville and Maryland and New York. Nashville TWICE. I was asked to be in a wedding in January for one of my few best friends. I have met two new girlfriends, Erica and Jen and with our friend Megan and Tara, we have started a monthly girls night, which I Never knew how much I needed in my life until then. It has truly changed my world.<br />
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James and I moved into a bigger place and while it has taken some to get used too. I truly Love it and making it more of our home. James and I are in such a good place right now in our lives, it is so good. We have finally gotten over that little rough patch we were experiencing and moving forward. I can not imagine my life without him. In the summer it was scary and I wasn't sure where we were headed but we talked and worked out some things and he is my best friend and the True love of my life and we have been better ever since.<br />
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And then there is work...work this year was a weird point for me. I had lost a bit of my love for Things Remembered, mixed with a lot of other things and I knew it was time for me to move on and start looking for something new.<br />
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And I FOUND IT! This was my last Christmas with TR and I will be starting with another company come January 7. I am so excited to start the New Year off right and fresh and exciting. This is the first time I have been the new person in over 9 years!!! BUT I am ready, this is just the new path I need in my life. New job, new outlook, new me.<br />
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I know that whole new year, new me, stuff can get old, but DANG!!! I am ready and willing for it.<br />
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Okay so now that I have taken up well over 15 minutes of your life, here I am!!<br />
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This year was crappy for sure, it was different BUT it had some truly amazing moments, I mean it was really good BUT I am ready to tackle 2018 with some serious force!!! This will be my comeback, going forward year for sure AND you will see more and more posts from me!!<br />
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So cheers to the end of 2017 and HELLO to 2018!!<br />
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Happy NEW YEAR!!Run.Chew.Sparklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01315542291470008705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-360889044844217318.post-70456115543820557772017-08-02T08:35:00.003-04:002017-08-02T08:35:50.446-04:00I Am Still HereHoly Moly has it been awhile since I have actually sat down and wrote something. Life has been a roller coaster ride of a little bit of everything. Seriously all kinds of stuff going on.<br />
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The last time I wrote was back in June.<br />
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Life has been great actually.<br />
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I have joined a gym with Planet Fitness and absolutely love it. I try to get there 2-3 days a week and then run or do a walk or something the other 2-3 days. I try to take 2-3 rest days, depending what I have going on that week.<br />
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Work has been okay. My DM and mentor Jen, left the company and it was really sad for me. She has molded me into the SM and person I am today and it was really sad to see her leave our enviorment BUT she is and went on to bigger and amazing things. I am so happy and proud of her.<br />
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Social life has been amazing too. I have made some new friends at work and really found a great group of people in my life with James's friends and friends I have made. I have been living in FL for 8 years now and FINALLY have a close knit family of friends.<br />
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My best friend Erica, took me to see Sam Hunt on my birthday and it was amazing. Seriously the best concert. He really only has like one full CD, but he rocked the heck out of it and threw in some other awesome hits and it was truly a great concert. As was Dierks Bentley the month prior.<br />
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I turned 32 and I have to say 32 has been great so far. I mean really great!! Getting older really isn't all that bad and I am feeling better than ever!!!<br />
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Okay so let me get back to blogging...for some reason blogging has taken a back seat for me. A lot has been taken a back seat, such as curling up with a book and relaxing. BUT I need to get back to it.<br />
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I promise I will get back to it. I need to get back to it. I miss sitting down and just explaining my life and what I have going on with running, life and food.<br />
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So I am not done with my little blog just yet, just taking a little break for a few weeks to make sure I can make this better than ever!!!<br />
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Thank you for continuing to follow along and reading!!!Run.Chew.Sparklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01315542291470008705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-360889044844217318.post-30150583715161770362017-06-12T22:41:00.006-04:002017-06-12T22:41:56.990-04:00Perfectly ImperfectHey Friends!<br />
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So yesterday I had kind of realization, I am not perfect!<br />
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Wow shocker right!!!<br />
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Duh no one is perfect. Believe me, NO MATTER what Instagram shows, no one is perfect. Despite how many awesome fitness food and work out posts are out there, NO ONE IS PERFECT.<br />
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Heck I am lucky to have my shit together 50% of the day. Umm lets limit that 25% of the day and that is being generous to myself. Gotta pat my back sometime.<br />
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And you know what that is okay.</div>
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I am imperfect. I make mistakes. I fall down a lot. I pick myself up and I continue on. Sometimes I make bad choices and sometimes I make really great one. Sometimes I sneak a piece of garlic bread and then have carrots as a snack. Sometimes I order the margarita, with the salt and I lick the whole rim of the glass and then wave the bartender down and order another.</div>
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Sometimes I lay on the work out mat and just lay there for a good 5 minutes, with no motivation to continue on with my work out and walk out of the gym. Yup that happened on Saturday. I did a lot work out on the bike and went to do a plank and just laid there. I had no motivation to continue, I was distracted and let emotions take over me.<br />
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I didn't give up because at least I was there. But I did call it early.<br />
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I am being honest and real with that one.<br />
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And that is okay.<br />
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I also binged watched the new Orange Is The New Black in 2.5 days. I let a sinus infection/migraine take over my life and leave me feeling funky and blue. I took rest to a whole other level and just did that all weekend.<br />
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Then last night when I got home from work, I put on my running shoes and banged out a mile and did the ABS I didn't do the night before. And killed my work out.<br />
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I am not perfect. I am far from it. I make a plan most weeks and really try to stick to it.<br />
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AND THEN I DON'T.<br />
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But I try every day to be better. I try every day to pick myself up. I continue on even if I have a bad day or a bad meal or didn't get my work out or run.<br />
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I understand and recognize when I am not perfect. I recognize and work hard to change it and be better.<br />
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In point I am Perfectly Imperfect....<br />
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& I love that about me.Run.Chew.Sparklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01315542291470008705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-360889044844217318.post-24173151803891213942017-06-06T09:53:00.001-04:002017-06-06T09:53:42.650-04:00Currently June<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Good Tuesday Morning!<br />
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It has been awhile since I have posted with a Currently to update some things in my life, so I thought what a perfect time frame to do so, then the start of June!!!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Current Book</span></b>:<br />
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Geez this one is sad because I have not been reading as much as I should be. Life has been super distracting, meaning I am not unwinding and sitting down with a good book, like I should be. I need to take more time to just do that, rather than chores, or looking at my phone or binge watching whatever is on T.V. These are bad habits I have fallen into. BUT I am reading the Nicholas Sparks book, Two By Two and I have to say it is a bit slower than his others, so it is taking me a bit to get into it and I think too thats why I have not been reading. BUT I am not one to stop a book midway so I am in to finish it.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Current Music</b></span><br />
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Everything Country Music!! Seriously from being back from Nashville, I have a whole new respect for music in general, not just Country Music. I am getting super excited because concert season is upon us right now and we have some really nice line ups coming our way, such as Dierks Bentely on the 16th. Sam Hunt next Month, John Mayer and Jason Aldean the month after, Chris Stapleton in November, FGL in October and I believe Zach Brown Band in September. Between some fun running races, this is how I want to spend my money, watching live music.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Current Drink</b></span><br />
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Dunkin Donuts S'mores Iced Coffee. Seriously enough said. It is my favorite new flavor. I mean Pistachio from last year is still my MVP choice, but it is really good and I find myself wanting it every day!! Even if I am not really wanting coffee, I want the S'mores iced coffee.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Current Food</b></span><br />
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Honestly, nothing has been different for me with food. I am still eating my favorites, but dang if you put something limited or seasonal on it, I AM going to buy it no matter what!! It never fails for me haha. Also if you have lime or avocado on your menu, I am going to order it haha.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Current Show</span></b><br />
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Well now that all my shows I watched religiously are on the summer break I am watching Netflix and Hulu shows and sometimes doing some binge watching, such as just finished <i><b>Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt</b></i> on Netflix. Highly recommend it. I have been watching <i><b>The Golden Girls </b></i>on Hulu, because I mean why not and Gosh that show is hysterical, I forgot how funny they were. Seriously I wish I had the humor of Dorothy all the time. But this month brings back <i><b>Orange Is The New Black</b></i> on Netflix and <i><b>The Ranch</b></i>, both favorites of mine. And then in July Game of Thrones. Can NOT WAIT!!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Current Indulgence</span></b><br />
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Besides the S'mores Iced Coffee, I guess my indulgence would be, something about this time of year, I always want to order a margarita, with salt on the rim. haha. Weird but it is an indulgence of mine because I hardly drink anyway.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Current Links</span></b><br />
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It is not much of a link, but an App I am loving right now. I sleep really well at night, I can fall asleep basically anytime but sometimes my mind just won't shut off and I have been using the White Noise app. Basically it is a bunch of sounds that are calming to distract your mind and lull you into a sleep and man is it working!! I put on Beach Waves Crashing and then a Rain Storm and within minutes I am falling right to sleep. I am usually a quite noise person to fall asleep with but this has been really great. I fall asleep quickly and quietly. You can also set an alarm to when it should shut off. I usually do around 2 hours and I am good to go.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Current Mood</span></b><br />
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Pretty Dang Happy!!! I am off today, it is a rainy kind of day but I plan on heading over to Tampa to go to Sprouts to use a gift card I had won, a while back, so going to do that and just really take the day as it goes, get my work out in later on and relax.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Current Goal</span></b><br />
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So for the month of June, I have set a goal for myself to consistently commit and work out. I am only going to have 2 rest days a week and getting myself to the gym and working on my mile pace. I really want to bring it back down from 13:00 per mile and I have figured to divide it up each month to do so. So for June I am working on the mile time frame. I am consistently also working out in the gym, working on my arms and legs too. I am really focusing on not making any excuses or reasons to why anymore. So I started the month of June with a 12:20 mile and lets see if I can get that down the end of the month.Run.Chew.Sparklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01315542291470008705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-360889044844217318.post-91531502568945445812017-05-26T10:37:00.001-04:002017-05-26T10:44:00.594-04:00A Little PSA on The Run-Walk-Run<br />
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I have a little bit of a rant right now...<br />
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Which by the way HI!!! I know it has been quite some time since I last posted. Life has been a bit crazy and super busy with work. Seriously I feel like all I do is work, sleep and eat haha.<br />
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Oh and fit in some work outs here and there, which this week I have been on point, despite Mother Nature came and I was on a mini vacation with James.<br />
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Okay so here is my rant...<br />
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The other night after work I decided to go for a run. I do not run in the gym, I always hit the pavement around our neighborhood. Seriously I know each direction and the miles they will give me. I love my neighborhood, so many things to look at and at times lots of people out doing the same thing as me. People will honk as I am running on by, smile and wave, it is extra motivation I need.<br />
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When I first started running I was nervous people would make fun of me, or see my jiggly thighs or if my shirt rised up a bit, how embarrassing. But then I got over that fear because I realized, running was my escape and I LOVED it and I still do.<br />
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I have always followed Jeff Galloway, Run-Walk-Run. Meaning Run for a certain amount of minutes, then walk a min or .30 seconds and then Run again. It is the way I learned how to run and how to run long distance and my favorite way to run. Even if I do not have my GymBoss beeper on, I still use the run walk run. I used it with all my half marathons AND with my FULL marathon, the whole dang time.<br />
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When I ran my first race, I was so nervous people were going to get mad at me for walking. But then when I got in the crowd, I heard people using their beepers too, and running and walking and I felt amazing. I felt like I was apart of this super awesome job. In Nashville, dang everyone was walking the majority of the time. See even though we weren't running for that minute, DOES not mean we STOP. We are STILL Moving, so slowing it down a bit.<br />
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Here is where I get a bit mad. I was out running the other day and my run became a walk. A guy at a stop or turn signal rolled down his window and with a smile, motioned me to not stop and keep going, like I was being lazy for walking. He looked at me, like I was giving up, like I was stopping to give up!!! Which I was not. I was transitioning into my walk, he had seen me running and thought it was too hard for me, so I stopped and wasn't going to keep going.<br />
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I gave him a half smile and continued on, fuming inside, which in turn made my run a bit better. Thank you random stranger. But it got me thinking, why is it an issue for the walk?? Why when I start walking does it make people seem like it is not okay, that is the universal sign of all done??? When in actuality it is FAR from it. The walk break is a break, a quick way to regain composure a bit, a water break and it helps with injury. PLUS it allows me to love the run.<br />
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There are so many intervals and apps and articles on the benefits of run walk run, but why do we still give the assumption that when someone is walking while running they are giving up. Sure, the guy thought he was being motivating telling me to keep going, but I WAS keep going and I kept on going for 3 more miles.<br />
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I guess this is more of PSA than a rant, or heck a little bit of both. BUT when you see someone out running and walking and maybe even catching them doing both, how about congratulating them. Yell out good job! Yell out keep going or simply smile!! Honk, even though that scares me. Because that walk does not mean they are struggling or maybe if they are, they are STILL moving. The body is still in motion and they are NOT giving up, they are still putting one foot in front of the other!<br />
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And maybe when you are out running and walking and if you follow the Run-Walk-Run, someone will remind me to keep going too!!Run.Chew.Sparklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01315542291470008705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-360889044844217318.post-49367984413334589462017-05-08T20:29:00.004-04:002017-05-08T20:29:44.758-04:00Running Nashville: The Great, The Funny, & A little UglyIt has taken me a week to just sit down and do a quick recap of Running Nashville. It has been a whirlwind of my life since getting back from Nashville and I have not really been able to relax all week.<br />
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First off want to say that Nashville is an amazing city. It is so awesome, I seriously want to go back and vacation there again for much longer and it would be a city I would consider moving too, if I ever had to move.<br />
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The city is filled with music after music, after music. Musicians start playing at 11:00 in the bars and go to the early morning. Each bar has at least 2-4 floors and on each floor there is another bar and live music on that one too. It is like getting 4-5 bars in one bar. Crazy I know but the coolest thing. And each level will have a different variety of country music playing, with a little rock and maybe some pop mixed in.<br />
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We instantly loved Nashville once we went downtown. The downtown life is not only filled with bars but museums and fun atmosphere to do so much. For Thursday and Friday we literally walked around Nashville all day.<br />
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We took in all the sights that downtown had to offer, such as The Bridgestone Arena, The Ryman Auditoriam, The Country Music Hall of Fame, The Johnny Cash Museum, we walked up and down Broadway and found different roads that lead to more and adventures. We seriously got some major steps in those days and we were tuckered out at the end of the night, which was great because it made for some great sleep.<br />
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I have to admit I was super nervous about all our walking because my leg and calves were feeling really tight and having to run the Half Marathon on that Saturday, I wasn't sure how I would feel. Then I just said the heck with it and had fun anyway...<br />
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Friday night I got ready by laying out my flat Angie and had James do some last minute foam rolling and stick action. My right calf was driving me absolutely crazy and was so tight...<br />
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I knew it was going to give me a bother, but I tried my best anyway. I was going to show up and run the race anyway no matter what. I was not ready for this race physically. I have to admit I felt super fluffy, thanks to Mother Nature and it was throwing my whole mental game totally off. I didn't feel like the super confident person I am when it comes to races. And my leg was bothering me, making that even harder to concentrate. But I got up that morning with some super pep in my step, I had slept really good the night before and I was ready to take on the run.</div>
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Nashville was going to be my first real destination race. Okay, well my Marathon was my first real destination race, in PA. But I went to college and lived in that area, so it wasn't that much of a destination because I knew everywhere I was running. Nashville was a whole new world to me, cue Aladdin song!! But I was so excited, nervous and seriously could not wait to get running.</div>
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Okay so instead of breaking it down I am going to break it down into some highlights with The Great, The Funny & The Ugly...</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>The Great</b></i></span></div>
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1. I signed up to run this race with St. Jude to be a St. Jude Hero, meaning I raised money to run and I got an entry fee for free for doing that. Being a St. Jude Hero was so rewarding. It was actually really amazing. But even better there were so many people doing the same thing and knowing I was apart of that and raised a ton of money for a great cause, made this race probably my favorite. There were St. Jude stops all along the course and at the end, St. Jude people were there cheering you on the loudest.</div>
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2. The volunteers and spectators along the course were AMAZING!!! I mean the best I had ever been at. Every water station had people high living, spraying us down with water because it was very, very hot and unlike those high temps this time of year there. While I was used to hot weather in Florida, running a long race like that, later in the morning, made it really difficult. They also had salt packets along the way too.</div>
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3. The spectators were giving out candy, water, fruit and even popsicles. Yes popsicles.</div>
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This was at mile 10 and I thankfully was not passing it up. Usually on races I am so concerned with my pace or the miles and this time I just wanted to have some good old fun. So if a mom and her kids are giving those out I am going to run and eat it at the same time. And it tasted amazing and gave me the perfect amount of jolt. </div>
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4. Pink Starburst and pretzels. Like I said these people know how to treat runners!! I had taken my GU with me and I had one or two, but when it is hot, dannnnngg it does not taste great. So I was happy with the sugar and the salt.</div>
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5. The views along the way were amazing. We started running right down Broadway which is the big area in Nashville, with all the cool bars and Country Music Hall of Fame, we ran Music Row and I saw where Bobby Bones broadcast from, we ran past recording studios that all Country Music stars record and signed with. We ran past colleges and ended at Nissan Stadium and walking back from the race we had the best view going over the Cumberland Bridge. The views were amazing on this run. Everything was so exciting and new.</div>
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6. The expo for this race was so much fun. Lots of stands, no lines and I got to get a coffee mug to come home with AND you could exchange the size of your race shirt. Mine was way to small because race shirts suck sometime and you could actually exchange it right there. YES! And it was sponsored by Brooks, my running shoe.</div>
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7. The music was great. Rock and Roll Marathon series have live music along the miles and there were some really fun, high energy performers. It was so great. I paused my headphones at every live music station.</div>
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8. There was food before which was great because I was staying in a hotel and they didn't serve breakfast that early. So a mini bagel and banana. Also my LYFT driver was phenomenal, got me there super early and was very encouraging. </div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Funny</span></b></i></div>
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1. The funny was the signs people made. There were so many good ones that I forgot to take pictures. but the best was the one That had a picture of Donald Trump and it said I thought it would have been easier. If you watched the news that week that make perfect sense.</div>
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2. At mile 5 there was a live band that was dressed up and singing and dancing and blowing. bubbles. They made it so much fun.</div>
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3. I was just having so much fun that I didn't even care that my GPS was totally off or I was running a 15.00 minute mile. I was more concerned with the 30,000 people around me. I was dancing in the street, looking at people dressed up and having a blast.</div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Ugly...</span></b></i></div>
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1. Well the really really ugly was all the hills. I knew Nashville was going to be quite the hilly race BUT I was in for a really big surprise, like really big. The WHOLE race was elevation, seriously there might have been one area at was flat. Here is the thing, running in Florida is FLAT. Sure we have some bridges and some change in elevation but nothing like this. EVEN my marathon wasn't this hilly. It was just constant up and down.</div>
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2. Lots of people walking. Which wouldn't seem all that bad right, well it messed with my head a bit because when I saw other people walking then I felt I had too, even though maybe I didn't need too. The idea of running the hills got in my head and when they walked them so did I. Which slowed me down but I never once quit.</div>
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3. Chaffing. Seriously it was horrible because of the KT tape I had wrapped practically my whole body in and my legs and well it was hot. I know TMI but it is the real deal when you are running and I was hurttttiiiinnngg. Seriously couldn't wear jeans for days.</div>
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4. Headaches. I didn't have any caffeine except for my Spark in the beginning of the morning and later that night, I had the worst headache all night long. I was having withdrawals from caffeine.</div>
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But this race was truly my favorite race. James was at the finish line taping me as I was coming in and I was so happy to see him. It is so awesome having him on this journey with me and smiling and waving at me as I go by. He was so close to the finish that I was able to run right to him and high five him.</div>
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The end of the race was great. They gave you wet towels, water, Gatorade, pretzels, beer and cookies and a live band that was out of this world good. We opted for my beer, a picture opt and then I went and got a Big Old Burger and a nap.</div>
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I highly recommend running Nashville because it is a HUGE race, there are so many people and it makes for quite the experience. It gave me the confidence of running more destation races in the future.</div>
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We are even considering Savannah, GA next..until then....</div>
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#10 is in the books!!!</div>
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<br />Run.Chew.Sparklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01315542291470008705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-360889044844217318.post-15177006000663085242017-04-28T09:14:00.000-04:002017-04-28T09:38:43.036-04:00RunVacaGood Friday Morning!!!<br />
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This Friday is extra, extra amazing because I am in Nashville, TN!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYQjjdQkfXN4wyKwmut6tpwWTp8uYugyJwfkEj26Aq4_v3VYkjyrqkEpujj0asz0oacCqQGABzRC6-oqTcje7nfse3MW7Oj3QDEC8eEfDMIPcPwR56y53qo4NERNT2g7O8J1GT4T9t9GS/s1600/IMG_2710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYQjjdQkfXN4wyKwmut6tpwWTp8uYugyJwfkEj26Aq4_v3VYkjyrqkEpujj0asz0oacCqQGABzRC6-oqTcje7nfse3MW7Oj3QDEC8eEfDMIPcPwR56y53qo4NERNT2g7O8J1GT4T9t9GS/s320/IMG_2710.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Which means I am on vacation and running this weekend at the Rock and Roll ST. Jude 1/2 Marathon!<br />
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James and I arrived yesterday morning at 8:00 am. Our flight was out of Tampa at 7:00 and got here at 8:00 and it was an 1.5 hour flight. Yup we time traveled :0)<br />
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I forgot that TN is in a Central Time Zone. It was so funny to see on our ticket that time change, it didn't dawn on me at first.<br />
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We were so excited to be here. James and I have not had time off together in a really long time, definitely not back to back time off and we haven't had vacation since October when we went back home for the wedding. We NEED this time together, believe me. I know it is the trip to get us back to US.<br />
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Not realizing we couldn't check in early at our hotel, even though online it said you could, we decided to grab some breakfast, they let us leave our luggage and then we got a LYFT and went downtown in Nashville to check it all out.<br />
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We had no clue where we were going and we turned a corner and BAM, all of downtown Nashville right in front of us. It was amazing. There are so many bars, restaurants and Boot stores. The bars advertise live music every single night and as we were walking by, many were walking by with their guitars and ready to get there music on.<br />
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The city totally has that country music vibe right away. And it seriously is like you are transported to a whole other area in the world. We walked all over downtown, just finding different places and taking pictures. I was thrilled to have James out walking with me, as you know he is not very athletic, so to get him out and going was fantastic and boy did we get our walk on.<br />
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After walking around for over a hour we went to the Expo to pick up my bib and packet for the race. I raised 600.00 dollars for St. Jude and I am so unbelievably happy that I chose to do that for this race. It makes this race even more special.<br />
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I decided to be a St. Jude Hero because I believe in St. Jude and what they do for children who are fighting cancer and the families fighting right along with them. Plus I lost two very special people in my life to cancer, my BF's husband Tony and my Nanny. Cancer f-ing sucks and destroys so many lives and little babies and children have an even harder chance of fighting it, but St. Jude fights along with them and I wanted to help out anyway I could.<br />
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So with the help of 13 amazing people in my life who donated I am running this for them, the children, my family and friends and everyone fighting with cancer. Each person that donated I am running a mile for them.<br />
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<i><b><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: large;">Mile 1- My mom <3 font=""></3></span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: large;">Mile 2- Elizabeth Ruiz</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: large;">Mile 3- Aunt Donna</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: large;">Mile 4- Natasha Romano</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: large;">Mile 5- Uncle Keith and Abby</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: large;">Mile 6- Aunt Margaret</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: large;">Mile 7- Sarah Lavoie</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: large;">Mile 8- Susan </span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: large;">Mile 9- Nanci</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: large;">Mile 10- Lea Ann and Tony</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: large;">Mile 11- Uncle John</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: large;">Mile 12- Jen, Ben and Paige</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: large;">Mile 13-13.1- Poppy</span></b></i><br />
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At each mile, I will think of these selfless people in my life that donated to get me to the starting and finish line.<br />
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We decided yesterday after pick up to just go back to the hotel and rest for awhile. We had been going since 3:30 in the morning and we were exhausted. Like super exhausted, so we checked in and literally crashed in to the bed and we each took a nice lonnnngg nap and James NEVER naps so it was super nice.<br />
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We showered and then went back downtown to get dinner, listen to music and check out the scene. There was A LOT going on downtown, there were concerts, LOTS of people out and music playing everywhere. It was hard to choose where to go because there was so much great music playing. We went to somewhere that was still serving food and a little more chill. Two guys were playing some cover songs and they were amazing. Seriously everyone we have heard have been outstanding!!!<br />
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We ate, took in music and then went back home and crashed again.<br />
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Day 1 was a true success and today we are doing some of the touristy things ;0) and I am on my Quest still to meet someone, ANYONE from the Bobby Bones Show and find someone famous along the way also.<br />
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Wish me luck!!!<br />
<br />Run.Chew.Sparklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01315542291470008705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-360889044844217318.post-87548826179901677952017-04-20T09:42:00.000-04:002017-04-20T09:42:41.420-04:00Sustaining Energy In Your Day....It has been a week....<br />
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Yup and it is only Tuesday AND we had a Holiday on Sunday..<br />
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Crazy right, how one day can make it seem like it has just been all over the place crazy.<br />
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When I am having a rough or bad day, a work out sometimes can be the last thing I want to do right?<br />
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You just want to curl on the couch and just veg out, your energy from the day is drained and you are feeling all kinds of crappy.<br />
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When I lack energy, nothing, and I mean nothing seems fun to do or appealing. BUT I know I need to get out there and get a good work out in.<br />
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And I know it isn't the bad day that is making me not work out, but it is what I choose to eat earlier in the day that has just made me feel icky. Good food choices through out the day make for better work outs and allow you to handle stress much better.<br />
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So when you are having a bad day, do not go for chips, grease, fat, candy, cookies. Yes they seem sooooo good in the moment right. The sweet taste of a victory!! BUT it will not help you in the long run.<br />
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Grab for something healthier....<br />
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Cut up some veggies for that crunch rather than chips.<br />
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Grab and apple, strawberries or grapes for the sweet craving. Fruit has natural sugar, that will give you that boost that sugar does, but it won't back on the pounds, nor give you a serious crash.<br />
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Or even better for some carb options that don't include a loaf of bread. I know I have been there before, especially at Panera, gosh that smell. Grab a banana and cut in half and spread some Peanut Butter or Almond butter on top and you have some carbs, protein and GOOD fat. Even sprinkle some mini chocolate chips, its okay, you have to splurge sometime.<br />
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Grab some protein! Protein is a HUGE factor for me when my energy is feeling low. I usually keep some quick protein around me at all time to make sure I can sustain my energy through the day and night. For lunch I try to pack some chicken and tuna and cheese sticks are my jam.<br />
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DRINK LOTS OF WATER!!! Keep yourself hydrated, it is so very important. Some days when I am feeling dragged down, it is because I was not hydrated through out the day. I started with my coffee, which I will not give up and that was it. And realized I had not drank anything else. I grab some water and bam, color is back in my skin and I can feel my energy going back up.<br />
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Start your day with a multivitamin or a vitamin of choice. Vitamins pack a lot of nutrients in one tiny pill or gummy, to help you sustain energy through out the day.<br />
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Try one of these <i><b><a href="https://gomacro.com/shop/">Go Macro Bars</a> </b></i>to help keep your energy through out the day too. These Go Macro bars back some serious energy in a clean and healthy way. They are one of the only protein and energy bars on the market that are gluten, organic, vegan and soy free. So you don't feel that heavy after taste of a big bar, you have energy to take on the day that sustains through out your crazy day AND energy to take on a your work out.<br />
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I grabbed one of these before one of my long runs and man the energy I got from this bar was perfect. I was logging some serious miles that morning and I needed some to just keep me awake and going but before a long run, heavy foods to not sit well with my stomach, if you know what I mean... But this bar kept my energy good through out the whole run. I know stash these in my lunch bag, for my ride home commute, allowing me to feel good, awake and energized to take on some work outs when I get home.</div>
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Fueling your body with clean food makes for a better day and a better workout, which leads to a better life down the road.</div>
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What is your favorite food to help you sustain energy through out the day and workout??</div>
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<br />Run.Chew.Sparklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01315542291470008705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-360889044844217318.post-79002916777412124292017-04-16T15:01:00.004-04:002017-04-18T07:30:08.648-04:00Doggie Days of Summer Treat<br />
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Recipe ALERT :0)!!!</div>
So I have a part time job.<br />
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Well it isn't really much of a part time job, I don't get paid for it.<br />
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Except for in big wet, sloppy kisses and snuggles from this handsome guy...<br />
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This is Sherman and he is my part time job on my days off!!! I watch him during the day for one of our friends while he is at work. Sherman has become my favorite part of the week and he is an absolute treat and blast to hang out with. He seriously makes my heart full with love and joy, I couldn't even express before. He has been the stand in puppy until the day James and I get our own. </div>
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Which seems forever away... </div>
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But having Sherman around has opened up and entertained the idea to James more and more of us getting our own dog. It has only taken 8 years!!</div>
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One of my favorite thing to do with Sherman is going on walks and runs. He LOVES being outside and lucky for him, as do I. We go for long walks downtown and around our neighborhood, or even sometimes we find a special new place to check out. Our walks can go for a quick mile or up to 3 plus miles, depending on how many squirrels he wants to try to attack and catch and how hot it is.</div>
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Pets react different in the heat than humans, so keeping Sherman cool and hydrated is a big priority for me when we have our adventures. The minute we get back inside, it lays on the cool tile floor with his water. I wanted to give him a cool treat to enjoy after our walks for being such a good boy.</div>
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I went on to Pinterest and found a really quick and easy recipe with ingredients I had already and made these...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdaMvU_EWq381vZ89RSSXFHQBl5tBUudD7BXzYWg3qXkBOZQE773CJZoGimFqpi3URNGdYp_oJPTt6P6veKnaOboT8lYi0cJBSw31QRApWtcuyyQzvVwOR-no1frsF7lpFzYjd_ktk3j4l/s1600/IMG_2562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdaMvU_EWq381vZ89RSSXFHQBl5tBUudD7BXzYWg3qXkBOZQE773CJZoGimFqpi3URNGdYp_oJPTt6P6veKnaOboT8lYi0cJBSw31QRApWtcuyyQzvVwOR-no1frsF7lpFzYjd_ktk3j4l/s640/IMG_2562.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Excuse the coffee cup in the sink, I am still working on my great blogger photography skills. Just #keepingitreal.</div>
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Okay so these little treats are so easy</div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Dog Days of Summer</span></b></i></div>
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<i>1 ripe banana</i></div>
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<i>1/2 cup of Natural Peanut Butter</i></div>
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<i>Some water to have more a consistency to it to pour into the ice trays</i></div>
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<i>Mix together. Pour into ice trays and then add a like dog bone as the stick.</i></div>
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<i>Pop in the freezer for 1-2 hours. </i></div>
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They are a bit hard to get out of the ice trays at first, so I ran a knife down the sides and they popped right out.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI16ZoGPNkmBBQglGKnpEe2IpKhSHw9puErKpv_PKTxenXcOCuuvJkDQ-i76JNQ1GU8KQDBRKD2NJ5Ee2IIidWcHRlRxugTRTUs3jboTEMvA4vfbUD-P4l_EQA8E3VJE8FfCY0t7qqvEOH/s1600/IMG_2582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI16ZoGPNkmBBQglGKnpEe2IpKhSHw9puErKpv_PKTxenXcOCuuvJkDQ-i76JNQ1GU8KQDBRKD2NJ5Ee2IIidWcHRlRxugTRTUs3jboTEMvA4vfbUD-P4l_EQA8E3VJE8FfCY0t7qqvEOH/s640/IMG_2582.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Look how cute these are!!</div>
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And someone absolutely loved them...</div>
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These will be in my freezer all the time now.</div>
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And minus the dog bone, or you can if you want, these would make a nice little treat for humans too haha.</div>
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Enjoy!!</div>
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<br />Run.Chew.Sparklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01315542291470008705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-360889044844217318.post-62459981630161517802017-04-11T20:24:00.003-04:002017-04-11T20:27:42.786-04:00Top Ten Tuesday: Current Favorite Country SongsHappy Tuesday!!!<br />
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I know I am late in the day but man was today a crazy day. It was the Mondaiest of all Tuesdays.<br />
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But one thing that is getting me by is the fact we are going to Nashville in 18 days!!! I am so excited, seriously like so excited. And you know what I am most excited about, besides the half marathon I am running, is all the country music all the time.<br />
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I LOVE LOVE Country music. It is practically all I listen too anymore. So in honor of my trip to Nashville, I am doing my Top Ten Tuesday on my favorite Country songs currently!!<br />
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10. <span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Jason Alden- Any Ol' Bar Stool</i></b></span><br />
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9. <b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Kelsea Ballerini- Yeah Boy</span></i></b></div>
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8. <i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Billy Currington- Do I Make You Wanna</span></b></i></div>
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7. <span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Brother's Osborne- It Ain't My Fault</i></b></span></div>
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6.<b><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Zac Brown Band- My Old Man</span></i></b></div>
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Makes My Heart just swell...</div>
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5. <i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Something' I'm Good At- Brett Eldredge</span></b></i></div>
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Follow him on SnapChat he is hysterical</div>
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4. <span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Body Like A Back road- Sam Hunt</b></i></span></div>
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3. <i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Hurricane- Luke Combs</span></b></i></div>
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2. <span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>RaeLynn- Love Triangle</b></i></span><br />
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<i>Pulls on all the heart strings for me</i></div>
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1. <i><b> <span style="font-size: large;">Better Man- Little Big Town</span></b></i></div>
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Did you know you can wear blue in support of Autism for World Autism Month?<br />
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Did you know that there is a Tampa Bay Walk to support Autism Speaks??<br />
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If you are unfamiliar with Autism, Autism is described...<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><i><b><a href="https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism">Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, refers to a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication, as well as by unique strengths and differences.</a></b></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #010101;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On April 22, <i><b><a href="https://act.autismspeaks.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=walk_homepage">The Autism Speaks Walk</a></b></i> is being held in Tampa. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #010101;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This walk is a beautiful way to donate, raise awareness and support those with autism and families with autistic loved ones. Autism Speaks is a non-profit organization and to learn more about what they do check out their website here, </span><a href="https://act.autismspeaks.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=walk_homepage" style="font-family: inherit;">Autism Speaks.</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #010101;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Also if you have any questions about early Autism, how to screen your child or just some simple steps and answers to your journey of concern, Autism Speaks has all those answers and outreach for you.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #010101;"><span style="background-color: white;">You can walk as a team, or as an individual. This is a fundraiser walk, with a minimum raised amount of 20.00. You can sponsor the walk and volunteer also to the cause and the walk. Volunteers are needed for the Tampa Bay Area walk and you can check out how to register to be a volunteer <a href="http://act.autismspeaks.org/site/TR?pg=informational&fr_id=2792&type=fr_informational&sid=1022&wmenu=sec_abt_walk">here</a>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #010101;"><span style="background-color: white;">I highly recommend you check out the website to see all that you can do or just to provide yourself with some information on the walk and Autism. If you do not live in the Tampa Bay Area, there might be a walk happening close to you.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #010101;"><span style="background-color: white;">I am proud to be an </span>ambassador this year for the Autism Speaks walk here in Tampa Bay and hope to see you along the way.</span><br />
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<br />Run.Chew.Sparklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01315542291470008705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-360889044844217318.post-56062766612407239612017-04-03T19:54:00.003-04:002017-04-03T19:54:45.692-04:00April Goals and Excitements<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am so excited for April to be here. I have so much fun going on this month, like so much fun!</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">okay lets talk excitements...</span></i></div>
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<i><b>Iron Girl 5k</b></i> is this coming Sunday. Iron Girl is a special race for me, it was my first race I ever signed up to do and this will be my 5th year doing it. I would have loved to do the half but I am sticking to the 5k. I always get emotional at this race and this year I am running with Nanci and Corina again and we have a blast each time.</div>
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<i><b>Sherman's 2nd Birthday</b></i>. This one is excitement mainly for me. Sherman is the doggie that I dog sit on my days off occasionally. He is the dog of one of my friends and I absolutely love this dog. I am going to spoil the heck out of him too. I have already started with some toys and snacks.</div>
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Easter. I love Easter not only because it is a holiday but because it is a full day off from work, the mall is closed, it is nice. Plus it is a day I can spend all day with James.</div>
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The biggest excitement of the month is <i><b>NASHVILLE</b></i>!!!! James and I are going to Nashville, April 27-May 1. I am running the St. Jude Rock and Roll Nashville on April 29. I am so excited to run the half marathon and mainly to be in Nashville. We have so much fun things planned, like Country Hall of Fame, touring all of Nashville, checking out some bars, I am going to find Bobby Bones and I am running which is my favorite thing to do. Seriously I love everything about Nashville and can not wait to check it out in person.</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Goals for April..</span></i></b></div>
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My goals for April are pretty simple. I am planning to track every day. I need to increase my water intake. Running is amping up more this month and completing the Half Marathon. I am starting the half marathon and completing it no matter what. I am only going to weigh in once this month and taking pictures for progress. I am running at least 3 days during the week and doing more XT and rest too because my half marathon is this month and I really want to do well with it.</div>
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My goals are simple and everything I have been doing this month I have been. I have been feeling really great lately, not bloated and I have been noticing my clothes fitting better.</div>
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Read more and lay out at the beach and pool more. I need more sun and I really need to read more again. I have been slacking on that like crazy. Trying to do it more at night and on my days off.</div>
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<i><b>What are some goals you have planned for this month?</b></i></div>
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<br />Run.Chew.Sparklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01315542291470008705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-360889044844217318.post-87658829900960036852017-03-28T09:16:00.001-04:002017-03-28T09:16:17.832-04:00Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Random Things I am LovingHappy Tuesday Everyone!<br />
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Gosh it has been awhile since I have done a Top Ten Tuesday post. But you are in luck because today I am bring it back with a little bit of randomness!<br />
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I live my life pretty randomly with my taste of music, food and life in general. Nothing is never the same and neither is my taste. So I figured to kick back off the Top Ten Tuesday, I was going to do the Top Ten random things I am loving right now!<br />
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Sound good??<br />
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Good, lets go!<br />
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10. <i><b>Seltzer Water</b></i>. Seriously this seems crazy, like duh everyone loves water, but Seltzer water is my jam!! I grew up with my Poppy and he drank seltzer water all the time, it is actually the only thing he drinks, besides coffee and milk occasionally. He drinks it just plain But I prefer the flavored kind. I find myself searching out for flavored water more than ever, and when it is sparking or seltzer it is a win win for me.</div>
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9. <i><b>Spark</b></i>. Spark is an energy enhancement that is made through <a href="http://www.advocare.com/">Advocare</a>. You can buy it in a tub or get the single serve packets, which is what I get. It gives you great clean energy. I usually take it before a workout or running and practically every night after work so I don't go home and fall right to sleep. My favorite flavor so far is the Watermelon, but I am on a quest to try every flavor to see which one really is.</div>
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8. <i><b>Wake Up Wrap from Dunkin Donuts</b></i>. So there is this magical breakfast sandwich that is packed with some low carb and high protein. It is called an Egg and Cheese Wake Up wrap from Dunkin Donuts. Seriously it is kind of small but it is a perfect snack or for the morning. I practically get one every time I am there. It is just an egg patty with a piece of cheese on a tortilla wrap, melted goodness. I could make it at home but come one. It is only 150 calories and I freaking love it. It gives me some quick protein and goes perfectly with my coffee. They have other with sausage and bacon, I always just get the egg and cheese for less fat and calories, try one next time.</div>
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7. <i><b>Big Little Lies on HBO</b></i>. Big Little Lies is a book by Liane Moriarty and now is a mini series on HBO. Holy crap is it a good show and it is just like the book in my opinion. Staring Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman, it is amazing, even James loves the show. The finale episode is next Sunday but if you have HBO catch up now!! The book was a great and the show does it very good justice.</div>
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6. <i><b><a href="http://www.barkbox.com/">Bark Box</a></b></i>. Okay so this is a subscription box for dogs and it is the cutest thing ever. I signed up for a free one to try for the puppy I dog sit and he loved the box. It comes with 3 treats and 2 good sized toys for him. He loved each toy so far and the treats have been tasty for him. It is 25 a month and I think I get more excited for the box than he does. You can cancel the subscription at anytime too. It is worth trying for one month for sure.</div>
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5. <i><b>Protein Cake Bites.</b></i> </div>
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These things are AMAZING. Birthday Cake with Sprinkles, Chocolate Covered Cherry and Red Velvet. The Chocolate covered cherry is my favorite. 3 come to a pack and they are packed with 20g of protein and taste really great for only 240 calories. I picked these up at GNC.</div>
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4.<i><b> <a href="https://www.lilbuff.com/">Little Buff Bakery</a>.</b></i> This is an online only company that makes a cake mix that is protein packed and the whole cake you make is less than 300 calories. It is amazing, a whole cake. You can use the cake mix to make muffins, bread, etc. I have tried the chocolate and loved it and I just got the vanilla one so I can use it for other than cake. Recipes and reviews will be coming soon. They come with a small packet of sprinkles too! And a recipe for how to make a frosting to go along with it. Check them out.</div>
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3. <i><b>Elightened Ice Cream</b></i>.</div>
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This ice cream is protein packed and low calorie. You can eat the whole pint and not feel bad about it, or at least I don't ;0) The reason I am loving this so much is I can finally find it in Florida. They are now being sold at Winn Dixie. I found the peanut butter chocolate and red velvet there. Which the red velvet is heavenly with cream cheese swirled inside.</div>
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2. <i><b>Halo Top</b></i></div>
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Another great protein packed ice cream. I have mentioned before that I love Halo Top. And now not hard to find either, sold at Whole Foods and Publix here in Florida. The S'mores flavor is fantastic and so is the sea salt caramel. Check out the website where you can find it!</div>
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1. <i><b>Foam Rolling</b></i>. This is crazy for me to say that I am loving this but I really am. I foam rolled last night and I woke up this morning and my knee and IT band were not hurting as bad as it has been. I mean that is a HUGE change for me. It hurts a lot foam rolling and I think I literally saw stars at one point, but dang it does hurt so good. I have been using my foam roller and then also using the stick. I have the Nashville Half Marathon in 32 days and I am nervous because the pain has been bad. I know I can run it but I want to run it not crying or in pain. So I am foam rolling literally every day now.</div>
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<br />Run.Chew.Sparklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01315542291470008705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-360889044844217318.post-68540273980697686012017-03-26T09:30:00.006-04:002017-03-26T09:30:52.631-04:00Winghouse's New Limited StripTease MenuIf there is one thing that I love is when restaurants introduce new food options and spice things up a bit or in the case of Winghouse, Strip it up a bit. Strip you ask, what the heck does that mean. Well Winghouse, has a new limited time only <i><b>StripTease Menu</b></i>, featuring some really fun, new, exciting items.<br />
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On Tuesday night, I was with partnership through The Tampa Bay Bloggers was able to experience, drink and taste the new menu, let me tell you, I can not wait to go back just for the Deep Fried Twinkies alone.<br />
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We will start with <i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Dessert.</span></b></i>..<br />
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Yup they went there and have on their dessert menu a <i><b>Deep Fried Twinkie</b></i>, that comes hot and drizzled with raspberry sauce. Being a healthy living guru type of person, I wasn't sure if I would eat it, but I mean when it comes to something as a Deep Fried Twinkie, you kind of have to try it AND it definitely did not disappoint. It is fried to a golden brown, and then oozes the minute you crack into that shell. It was worth the calories, 100%. It is the perfect cheat dessert and James was with me and loved it. Even if you are not a fan or have ever had a Twinkie before, you need to go and try this dessert. It should be on your food bucket list at least once.</div>
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To start off your meal or if you are going to just be at Winghouse for drinks, they now carry <i><b>Flip Flop Wine</b></i>, that comes in a can. They are fizzy wines and have a great flavor to them. They come in 4 flavors, <i>Fizzy Chill Red, Fizzy Crisp White, Fizzy Moscato and Fizzy Pink Moscato.</i> You can drink them right out of the can or for the sophisticated drinkers, a glass is provided, lol.<br />
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Two new limited starts or apps, are the <i><b>Cheesy Broccoli Bites and Fresh Potato Chips</b></i>, that can be ordered just as chips with ranch dip and Winghouse Cheese Sauce, fully loaded or with cheese and bacon. We had the pleasure of trying both ways and all delicious all the way around.<br />
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The <i><b>Cheesy Broccoli Bites</b></i> come with this sauce that is out of this world, which typically comes with Winghouse Onion Rings and I would order them again and again.<br />
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The <i><b>potato chips</b></i> are an awesome alternative to nachos and they had a light and crisp, salty taste to them. I liked them as the fully loaded because it came with blue cheese crumbles, tomatoes and onions, jalapeƱos and hot sauce.<br />
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<i><b>Shrimp and Chicken</b></i> combo is perfect when you want to have the best of both worlds with land and sea, thats fried. They are both seasoned with Winghouse seasonings and it is so good. It comes with ranch dressing, but I would ask for the sauce that comes with the broccoli bites or onion rings, it is so good.</div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">3 New Sandwiches are also on the menu....</span></b></i><br />
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The <i><b>StripClub </b></i>is served on a Marble Rye bread, which gosh I can not even tell you the last time I had marble rye bread. I was really impressed with the choice of bread and it made a world of a difference too. The StripClub was my favorite. It has chicken, bacon, ham and Swiss cheese with lettuce and tomato and the wing house signature sauce. Tons of protein packed into that sandwich, meaning it will keep you full. Seriously the sandwich is packed to the gills and tasted amazing. I wasn't sure how I would feel about chicken with ham and bacon but all the flavors complemented each other so nicely and with the toasty bread. I will be ordering this the next time I go, it is served with chips and a pickle.<br />
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The <i><b>StripCheese</b></i> is also served on the marble rye bread with fried chicken strips, pepper jack cheese, bacon strips and tomatoes. James really enjoyed this one also. Served with chips and a pickle. Again the marble rye bread really gives it a nice taste and kick.<br />
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The <i><b>Bacon Ranch Chicken Wrap</b></i>, has fried chicken strips, bacon strips and zesty ranch. This one is tightly wrapped in a chipotle wrap. While I love wraps usually, this one didn't surprise me too much. It was very hearty but I would go with something else instead to kind of cheat with. If I am going to Winghouse I want to have something I normally wouldn't purchase. The zesty ranch does give this a little zing and also served with chips and pickle.<br />
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The next time you are at Winghouse, of course order the wings and then try something new from the StripTease mean, you will not be disappointed.<br />
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Don't miss out it is only for a <i>limited time</i>!!<br />
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Check out <a href="http://www.winghouse.com/"><b>Winghouse</b></a> here to find a location near you.</div>
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Run.Chew.Sparklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01315542291470008705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-360889044844217318.post-81490480136706172672017-03-21T07:42:00.001-04:002017-03-21T07:42:27.634-04:00The Work Out That Challenged Me...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Okay so this might seem like a bit of a rant but the beauty of this blog, is well I can write and say what I want haha. Last week, I was home in New York, spending the week with my family. While I was home I wanted to get some workouts in, besides my running, because I was still having some leg pain and there was a blizzard, so the roads were covered and that wasn't happening.<br />
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I had reached out on Facebook and asked my friends and family members to let me know of some places that offered free passes, classes for work outs, rather a fitness class or a gym or yoga. I got a ton of responses and was quite pleased to see my small town had so many different options. </div>
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On Thursday, I looked up a place called 9Round. I had driven by it many times and it was in a plaza I was very familiar with. A lot of my friends from back home had recommended going there. It looked like something way out of my comfort zone. </div>
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<i>"9Round is a specialized fitness center for people who want an unique, fun, and proven workout that guarantees results. 9Round offers a kickboxing themed fitness program that incorporates a functional, interval, cardiovascular, and circuit training regimens. The programs consist of a proprietary system of nine challenging workout stations developed by a World Champion Kickboxer."</i></h3>
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I looked up the classes and watched some videos online and it seemed really cool and different. Remember I am usually just a runner, or some stuff in the gym and yoga, so these work outs are new but exciting to me. When you go to the website, it offers a free work out. I knew that this was franchise and I remembered seeing a new one open up here in Florida too, quite close to me also. So my thought process was I will do the free workout, burn some calories, get my endorphins going and if I really loved it I would consider down here. I knew I wasn't going to join back home in NY, I only come home 2 a year, if that and it wouldn't be worth the money, BUT FREE is for ME.</div>
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I signed up for the free work out and chose to the do the later class, mainly because I figured no one would be there. I get embarrassed very easily when I am working out. I can run with millions of people but jumping around and doing stuff I am not comfortable with, makes me kind of anxious. </div>
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I know weird.</div>
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All day I thought about the work out and I was exited. It is a kickboxing atmosphere and dang I have never attempted that before. So when the time came, I got in my car, in my work out gear and headed over. When I walked in there was a young guy there and no one else. He nicely asked what I could be helped with and I explained I had signed up for a free work out online and was going to check it out. I also explained I was visiting from Florida and wanted to just sweat a little bit. He said okay and then quickly ran down the process.</div>
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I was a bit taken back because he didn't walk me through anything, he just jumped right into it. He didn't even tell me where to hang my coat or put my things. Remember I had NEVER been there before. He explained that there were 9 stations and each one, he will show me what to do, I will do it for 3 minutes and 30 seconds of active rest. Okay I got this I thought. Thank goodness I knew the active rest idea and the concept, not so lucky with the attitude.</div>
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The rest two stations were based around strength. They switch the work outs each day to something different, so he told me to not pay attention to the board, I would just do what he said. He gave me a jump rope and told me to jump for 3 minutes. Ummmm okay, I hadn't jump roped in like 20 years. Dang I felt good at first. I was skipping and moving and getting into it. Then the rope hit my pony tail and I was thrown off. But I kept going. He yelled out something, Maybe like 30 seconds and I stopped but he told me to keep going. Already station 1 and I was confused and INSTANTLY I could tell he could care less I was there. He was walking around, he did put on some music, but that was it.</div>
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No conversation. nothing. My groove was instantly off. I groove off of other peoples vibes and he was giving me that last customer, get out vibe. Station 2 did not include kettle bells, dumb bells, medicine balls or anything like the website included. I did jumping jacks for 3 minutes. My attention span was shot. </div>
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Our 30 sec. active rest was jumping the line. Which he said so quickly, before I knew it, it was over. Station 3-8 was where the kick boxing came in and I was done for. He gave me some gloves to put on, pink ones of course. I punched some bags and then kicked some. Let me tell you, I suck at kickboxing. He showed me the moves I was suppose to do. Didn't explain much, okay. honestly at all. </div>
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This was the part where I felt really defeated. I wasn't getting it. I wasn't punching correctly or kicking. I hated that I wasn't getting it. I instantly felt stupid and well less than. And I thought for sure the trainer would step in and try to help me. Build up my confidence. I tried to make a joke and say man I must be the worst person, he said no we have had worse.</div>
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Dannnnnggg. Build me Up Buttercup, why don't you. If it wasn't for the sweat dripping down my face and the satisfaction I was feeling inside I would have given up there. I felt like I was an incipience. He even went and changed into his jeans while I was attempting to kick the bag. The last station was station 9 and that consisted of 3 minutes of a plank and then push ups as the active rest and burpees. Oh joy!!</div>
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That plank was hard. Planking and me don't get along much anyway and then add 2.5 more minutes than I normally do and well disaster zone. He was walking around telling me to not drop down, 30 seconds, generic type of messages. I tried to do a side plank or add some push ups to make up for the plank I was not doing and he was telling me to suck it up. At the end, of the work out, finally, he said alright your done. </div>
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He didn't say great job or job we'll done or even what did you think. He made it clear he knew I wasn't coming back and that was it. I grabbed my coat and left. My legs were shaky for the work out and my arms too, I was sweaty and I felt good, but I also didn't feel good. I felt judged right away that he knew I wasn't coming back and that I was new. It was a different feeling. I didn't like it. My comfort zone was slowly closing in on me. I was upset at the experience but glad I did it.</div>
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I can tell you, I liked the work out and realized I needed to add more of those routines and work outs to my life for sure. I am a runner and that is all I really do, so I need more endurance, Clearly I don't have. I would try it again if I had a better trainer.</div>
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The moral of this story was a bad work out is still a Good Work out! I got out of my comfort zone and I tried a class I would NEVER had done before and I did it on my own. And I didn't give up. I didn't sit in my car and cry either. I looked at myself in the mirror and said you are better than that and great job. I gave myself the support I needed in that moment. And heck I burned some calories and you know what I am still a bit sore from that work out. So that is a plus. </div>
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My advice is try something new. Do something that scares you and when it doesn't work out how you had planned, its okay, don't let it discourage you or get you done, pick yourself up and try a new one again.</div>
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I plan on doing beach yoga next :0)</div>
Run.Chew.Sparklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01315542291470008705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-360889044844217318.post-88849634743341210782017-03-16T10:04:00.003-04:002017-03-16T10:04:24.256-04:00 Coffee Talk: Lets Get Personal, Personal....<br />
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Good Thursday Morning!!!<br />
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I am still currently on vacation and have sometime to just kick back and relax. I have been taking my mornings a little slower than normal, I have been having multiple cups of coffee, I am not racing to make my breakfast and I haven't turned on my alarm at all all week. I am sitting here listening to the Bobby Bones show on my MacBook and just taking in all this time. So while I am doing that, I wanted to do some more posts because life has gotten in the way and I want to make that stop.<br />
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I have pinned a lot of blog post ideas, because sometimes you just need a little advice, help and guidance. This morning I came across one that has you answering personal questions, I thought it was a fun idea to do. 10 personal, in depth questions....Here we go :0)!!<br />
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1. <b><i><span style="font-size: large;">What are my strengths?</span></i></b><br />
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I always love and hate this question in interviews. When I am sitting down with someone doing an interview or if I am the interviewee, it is always a tough question because there is so many ways it can go. But my strengths are as follows, I can always find a positive outlook...I choose to find a positive outlook, I will put a spin on that outlook just to find it. I love with my whole heart, which is a strength because I am open to anyone and everyone, which as you can imagine is a weakness also. I am dedicated to everything I do. I don't give up easily. I am constantly happy, upbeat and have a way to turn the energy in a room.<br />
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2. <span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Where do I feel safest?</i></b></span><br />
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I feel safest with my family back home. I feel safest when I am with my boyfriend and I feel safest when I am with my best friends. I am an extremely trusting person, so anywhere I am with people and I am not on my own, I feel safest.<br />
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3. <span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>What is my happiest memory?</i></b></span><br />
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I often think about this question, not sure why but ever since losing my dad, I often think about the happiest memories I have. And sometimes I feel like those memories get blurred or I worry about did I make those memories up. I have so many happy memories, in all aspects of my life, happy memories with my friends, family, BF, work happy memories. But if I dig deep my happiest memory would be with my dad. It was a day we were running errands together. He had this truck, I can still smell and feel the way the leather in that truck in the front seat was like. It was a single cab truck and it was covered in stone, brick and dirt because he was a mason, so his truck was constantly dirty. But I loved it, I didn't care if I was covered in it. We got in the truck and headed to the lumber yard to pick up some supplies. He was driving, I was in the passenger seat. We stopped to get some diet cokes and Slim Jim's from the corner store (which I love to do always). He got some kind of horrible snack they had there and I got a crystal clear Canadian water, black cherry of course. We drove to the lumber yard, listening to classic rock and I had a book with me. I always carried a book with me, my dad laughed because he didn't know how I could read while the car was moving. He always got motion sick. But I didn't care, I read that whole book start to finish that day just driving around with him. We got to the lumber yard and he filled up his truck and we had the windows down, driving past piles or wood and sand and concrete. He was telling me all the different kinds and in that moment, that day, I knew I would never forget it.<br />
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4. <i><b><span style="font-size: large;"> I know I am stressed when.....</span></b></i><br />
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I get this weird flutter in my eye. It is almost like butterfly wings flapping. When that happens I know I am stressed from whatever may be going on, work or life in general.<br />
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5.<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i> What is my proudest accomplishment?</i></b></span><br />
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I have a couple actually. The simple ones...graduating High School and College, out of my Mom and Dad, I was the only one too. My mom took some College courses but never finished and my Dad never was a thought to do so. And then starting and completing my Marathon. But I think my proudest accomplishment is never following down the path my parents did. Now I know that sounds horrible and my parents were both amazing people. My mom still is. They both were extremely hard working and dedicated to me, but they had vices when it came to drinking. And it is a fact that a child that has both parents that suffer from addiction it most likely to do the same and I am proud to say, I never have and have fought every day to do so. Yes I drink alcohol but I do not let alcohol control me because I know first hand what it can do. My proudest accomplishment is beating the odds.<br />
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6. <span style="font-size: large;"><b><i> Am I night owl or an early bird?</i></b></span><br />
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Can I be in between?? haha. I am a little bit of both. I love waking up early and taking on the day. I love the quietness of the morning and starting it before everyone else BUT I also like being a night owl and staying up and making the night go longer. In College, probably like everyone else, I was a night owl. And of course as I got older I became a early bird. I enjoy the cup of coffee early in the morning now more than I ever thought I would.<br />
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7. <span style="font-size: large;"><b><i> What is my biggest failure?</i></b></span><br />
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I honestly can say I don't have any regrets in life because I do 100 believe everything in life happens for a reason. But my biggest failure would be I fail when it comes to what people think about me. I have a really bad habit and fail miserably about how I will be perceived in the eyes of others, how they think I look and feel. It is bad and I am working every day on it, but that is probably my biggest failure, is not trusting myself 100.<br />
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8. <span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>What matters the most to me?</i></b></span><br />
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My Poppy. My Poppy is my life line, he is the greatest person in my life. I would do anything and everything for him.<br />
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9. <i><b>What new activities am I willing to try?</b></i><br />
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Oh my goodness, I am practically willing to try anything, once! I just need people to try it with me. I really hate going to things by myself. I am a super social person, but walking into group activities, gives me all kinds of weird feelings. So for instance doing a group class by myself for fitness really does it for me. I get nervous and weird. I am not sure why.... I can go to a movie by myself, I can eat by myself but a fitness class makes me so nervous and I know I need to get out of my comfort zone when it comes to that. Which I am actually doing that tonight to help me a grow a little bit more.<br />
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10. <i><b><span style="font-size: large;">What am I passionate about?</span></b></i><br />
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I am passionate about running, smiling, writing, dogs, love, family and friends. I am passionate about making people in my life happy. I am passionate about being a better person in the world and passionate about being a better person to others. I am passionate about happiness and my life.<br />
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<br />Run.Chew.Sparklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01315542291470008705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-360889044844217318.post-49492923879216515582017-03-14T08:18:00.002-04:002017-03-14T08:18:05.563-04:00Beach Running is Hard...Unless There Is A CupcakeGood Tuesday Morning....<br />
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I am home on vacation in New York, spending the week with my family and today we are currently enjoying a snow storm. Well everyone else is really mad about it But I am sort of loving it!!! I haven't seen snow in well over 8 years and let alone having a snow day to top that off. Believe me I am not a fan of snow at all and I think thats why I like it right now, because I know I can leave it again lol.<br />
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And I am going to attempt a run in the snow and I will do some shoveling for my Poppy. Its kind of perfect!!<br />
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But since I am stuck in this cold weather, I wanted to post about the beach, take me back a bit to when it was warm and the only white stuff I was running through was the sand.<br />
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A local running company, called St. Pete Running Company last year put on a beach race, called Race For The Cupcake. It is a 5k race right on St. Pete Beach and at the finish line you get a delicious cupcake. I mean it is a win win no matter what. Last year I signed up for it because it seemed fun and different and the entry fee was very inexpensive ( which I love!! when running a race). Instead of a tee-shirt like you receive at most races, this one, they gave a free visor. It was a great race last year and this year I knew if they were going to do it again, I was game.</div>
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So it came back around and I signed up. When I do these 5k races, I am just doing it for the bling and the experience and just to have a good old time. PR's are not that important to me at all. It would be nice to have a super stellar one, and when I don't put pressure on it then I am golden. </div>
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So the week before the race, I had a long run and after that long run, my body was hurting. My whole left side of my knee, ankle and calf were so sore. I am not sure what I did wrong but it was painful. That continued to feel that way for most of the week, so when Saturday came around I wasn't expecting anything other than that.</div>
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The morning of the race, I taped up my leg with KT tape, I took some ibuprofen and headed to the race. It was a nice cooler morning and anything against the water is a bit cooler than normal anyway. I know beach running is hard. It is honestly a whole ball game for me. I live by the beach but I never run it, I prefer to sit back in my chair and just take it all in. And since I don't do much beach running, I forget how the sand is hard to move under my feet.</div>
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My feet were moving pretty good that morning for the first 1.5 miles. I forgot my GymBoss beeper and was just kind of winging it. My leg and knee really started hurting and I found myself hobbling a bit. I can't explain it but I felt like my legs weren't moving and I was almost skipping because it hurt so bad to put my leg down...</div>
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I tried to keep running but my knee was really holding me back, I couldn't get in the groove and it was a pain I had never felt before, so for the last mile, I just walked it to the end. I hate to do that. I hate that I had to walk the rest of it home. I honestly, felt defeated. I just didn't feel like myself. I felt so off. But then I was hearing the water crashing against the sand, I was watching other people doing the same thing and it was empowering.</div>
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I didn't care that I was walking, I did not feel any shame whats so ever. I was just trying to finish the race and get that medal and cupcake. And it was a beyond gorgeous day. Injury can do that to you though, it makes you feel like you are not yourself, when really you, you are beyond yourself, Running you become a whole new person. So yes I walked the rest of the race. I shuffled myself into the finish line, but I got it done!!</div>
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That medal was so cute too. And the cupcake was delicious. I ate only half because it was super sweet, but they also gave out a fruit cup which was a perfect balance between the two. The sand was so tough to run through and now I know I want to do more beach running to help switch things up and be better prepared. I will do this race again, just because I had a bad race, doesn't mean it wasn't perfectly put together.</div>
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And now this....</div>
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<br />Run.Chew.Sparklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01315542291470008705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-360889044844217318.post-88491055965679959252017-03-13T23:04:00.002-04:002017-03-13T23:04:04.580-04:00What you missed this year....Dear Dad,<br />
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So we approached a new milestone today. Today it has been 5 years since you left my world. 5 years, 1825 day and 43800 hours. I still can't believe you are gone. I know this will sound bad but sometimes I don't even realize and then some days, on the best days, you know those days you loved, when the sun was so bright and the weather was so perfect, you never want them to end. That is the day that it hits me like a ton of bricks and I can't call you and tell you I miss you and I love you. Sure I can look to the sky or I can go to my special spot where I laid your ashes, but I miss your voice. I miss you telling me about your day and how it went. I miss you telling me about your stories of work and just simply I miss you telling me you love me.<br />
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I just miss you....<br />
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Those days happen all the time. When I hear a song on the radio, rather it be Tears in Heaven or an old school classic rock song. I put the classic rock station on sometimes just in hopes to hear you in the music again.<br />
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This 5th year of you being gone, you missed some things. I ran some more races of course. I did a 100 day running streak, yup, you were with me the whole time. I know you were there on those days when the runs were super hard and I needed that extra little push. The whole family came down this year and we had an absolute blast. Poppy was in his element with the sun and the relaxing, oh and he really likes hot wings. He even choose to eat at Hooters because he loved the wings so much haha. We did a lot when they were down here. We celebrated at the Gay Pride parade. Uncle Keith, Uncle Kevin, Abby and I had so much fun.<br />
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We went on a dolphin tour, kind of like what we did when you visited. We went to an aquarium. James, Uncle Keith, Abby and I went to Busch Gardens and we had a heck of a time. We rode rides and watched a show, we ate and had a really great day. We even went to a baseball game. I think everyone had a great visit, you of course would have had us all laughing. You would have been in the gulf and laying out on the beach all day long. You and Abby would have played in the water and you would have said over and over how much you loved Florida. I honestly think the reason I love Florida is because of you.<br />
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I celebrated my birthday in July. I turned 31 and James took me to a country concert, which by the way I sang and danced the night away. It was a simple birthday but so much fun. I went on a work trip in August, that I earned for being good at my job. In October, James FINALLY came home to Catskill with me. And guess what...<br />
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He loved it. He loved the charm of our sweet little town. I took him apple picking and he went golfing. I showed him everywhere!!!! And he ate a really NY slice of pizza. We had such a great visit and we stayed here at Poppys house, which by the way is not the walnut house anymore, but you knew that.<br />
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The holidays came and went. They happened so quickly. I am training for a half marathon in April and having some pain in my leg from the running, if you could send some good vibes that would be greatly appreciated.<br />
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This past year, I of course missed you often. And today when I woke up, for one quick moment, I couldn't believe what day it was. I recall this day all the time. It haunts me for a little bit and then it doesn't. It slips away silently and I am engulfed in the love of our family. I come home every year now since 5 years ago, just to be here with everyone. I need to be around them, mainly I just need to be around Poppy. So besides the fact that you are gone, you gave me a gift to always be back here with them, forever. We share a rare bond now, this day is always with us, but together we heal.<br />
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I love you daddy and miss you even more. Please continue to guide me in this life.<br />
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I hope I am making you proud....<br />
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Until we meet again...Run.Chew.Sparklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01315542291470008705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-360889044844217318.post-82437101750592036042017-03-02T13:50:00.001-05:002017-03-02T13:50:47.421-05:00March Goals<br />
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Lets march right into this month....<br />
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hehe see what I did there!!!<br />
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Holy crap it is March already, I mean seriously I felt like I blinked it and was January 1. Anyway a new month with new goals and new excitements.<br />
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The one nice thing this month is I am keeping everything from last month. I am continuing to track my food through My Fitness Pal and my work outs. My FitBit game has been amping up a lot more lately with the help of my mini doggie day care I provide. We love to go on walks and adventures.<br />
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I use my Endomono, a running app to track my running and track my mileage. My goal this month is to do at least 3 runs per week. This week has been a bit tough because I didn't start off the beginning of the week with a run, I did yoga and a 3 mile walk with the pup. And I only ran yesterday, 4 miles and then a 2.5 mile walk with the pup. The 4 miles hurt yesterday a lot. I am having some serious knee pain, not sure where it has come from. It started last Friday when I did the 6 miles.<br />
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And I have been foam rolling, icing and resting the best I can. Injury messes with your brain so much, it is unfair. It makes me feel less than a runner, when I know damn well I am not that. So my goal is to do a high week of miles and then the next week, a smaller week of miles.<br />
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I do have a race this weekend, Race For the Cupcake. It is a morning race on the beach. I LOVE it. I never do beach running, because I honestly forget it is something to do. I know Florida problems when the beach is right around the corner from your house and you never go. It is a 5k race and at the end you get a pretty awesome medal and a cupcake, hello like best race ever!!! It was a cooler morning last year and a month earlier, so I am hoping to have the same results. I never go into these races expecting to have a PR, I just want to finish and earn that bling and be surrounded by the same amazing people, who have the same interests.<br />
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March is also going to be the month I work on my arms and upper body. My arms have been really bothering me lately with the extra skin and I need to do better with those, so in my gym routine, I am amping that up a lot more than I have in the past. Starting off small and simple and taking it from there.<br />
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March I am also planning on doing more for me. Not things that cost money, like shopping or anything to that nature, but taking time for me to enjoy time with friends, if I want to enjoy some wine or beer and not worry about calories, then I am going to do so. Also time to read more. I have been seriously slacking on that a lot lately. I just couldn't get into the groove of it. Now I am ready to read a book a week.<br />
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Plus taking time to sit out by the pool, get back to loving the Florida weather and just relax. I do not do that enough. I need to just take time to go off the grid for a bit.<br />
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And probably the most exciting thing about this month is I am going home for vacation!!! A full week home in New York. March 13-19, spending time with my family, especially my Poppy. It is my favorite month, for that alone.<br />
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Hoping to make some more progress this month too with my weight loss. Even though that dang scale is the devil. I am seeing some difference in my legs, in my mid section and in my eating habits. I am not constantly hungry all the time. That is a nice change of pace for sure.<br />
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What are some goals you are planning for March??Run.Chew.Sparklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01315542291470008705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-360889044844217318.post-1021482444614506412017-02-26T07:36:00.002-05:002017-02-26T07:36:22.918-05:00February ProgressGood Sunday Morning!!<br />
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I have my big cup of coffee in hand, I got back into bed and now I am here. Seriously probably one of my favorite things to do in the morning is to take the coffee back to bed and savior in the quite under the covers. Man all mornings should start off like that...<br />
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Okay lets talk about how February went....<br />
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It was a nice stepping stone for me first off in my running. I was looking at my FitBit results and I set a goal to be active each week, at least 4 times. Now this includes my XT train days. And active for me is if I am moving continuously for 15 minutes or more on my FitBit. I know that seems light but it works for me. This month I was active so far, I mean I know we have 3 more days left 12 of the days. So each week I was active 4 out of the 7 days, I hit my goal each week.<br />
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I am pretty dang proud of that. I might not have always hit my step goal, but I was active, which honestly is the first beginning.<br />
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This month I started to ramp up my running too. Getting at least 2-3 runs a week. Now I am officially running 3 days a week and my smaller run is around 3-4 miles, no more 2 miles. I have to build up my endurance. The longest I have ran this month was actually on Friday. I went out and did 6 miles. Dang I forgot how much I LOVE long distance running. Seriously I do not mind those miles at all.<br />
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My music, the environment. Everything pushes me through those miles. I did stop at 4.5 miles to stretch out my calf because I was having some serious pain in my left side. Which in turn has been bothering me ever since then. I need to do a much MUCH at foam rolling, like seriously. I have the tools, I know semi what to do, I just need to do it because it hurts like hell. I am going to Yoga this morning in hopes that too will also help my leg.<br />
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It was pretty painful. It hurt while running, but after on man, I could barely move my knee. I know it is just my body moving back through the motions and not having proper shoes at work and I need new running shoes. but sometimes that is such a set back and makes you feel soooo defeated. But I won't let it get me down, I will find a way to do it better.<br />
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My running also increased this week too a bit. I ran 3 times this week, 5 on Sunday, 4 on Wednesday night and 6 on Friday. That was a BIG increase for me too, to do 3 longish runs in the week. I plan on keeping that this week too, just different days. Since Nashville is 2 months away, I want to build my endurance and runs up slowly to help with injury but also to keep me strong. I went back to the Galloway method also because honestly I have said this before, it just works for me. I am doing 3:1's and I am liking it of course.<br />
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I only lost 2 pounds this month, but I am seeing some progress in my legs and mid section. I don't feel as bloated, actually not at all and my legs are thining out some. My eating habits are getting better and better. I haven't been hungry all the time and eating a lot of protein. Seriously I don't know how people say they can't get protein in, sometimes I can't get enough in, its all I eat lol.<br />
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I have been cooking more at home, I think last week, we only ate out once. And I had soup and salad, win!! And I plan on doing a light meal prep this week. I am not a big meal prep person because I can grab something all the time to put in my bag for work. I have no problem finding that to eat, but I want to make more meals rather than a grab and go. So that is on my agenda today is to do more of the meal prep for at least lunch. Dinner I can usually put something together pretty quickly.<br />
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Work was pretty crazy this month. We had Valentine's Day, a HUGE floor set, and then inventory. It took it all out of me and also put me in a funk too, especially lately and it came to my knowledge that running seriously gets me out of those weird funks quite nicely.<br />
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I haven't been obsessing over weighing myself every day either. I got into that rut and man does that suck. I didn't like the feeling it gave me, so I stopped that and seriously I don't even weigh myself every week. Just once a month, which I just want to see what I see in the mirror more anyway.<br />
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February was a good month, I didn't give into temptation. I felt great this month, no sickness, some pain with running but overall quite successful and I earned two medals. Running Best Damn Race in the beginning of the month and doing my Valentine's Day virtual 5k.<br />
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How was your February??<br />
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<br />Run.Chew.Sparklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01315542291470008705noreply@blogger.com0