friday five: love

It's Friday, and I'm so happy because I have a day filled with catching up on errands and taking care of some stuff I didn't have time for during the week.

Valentine's Day is tomorrow – do you celebrate at all? I've never been one to care much for the holiday, though I tend to request special foods like heart shaped pizza from Lou Malnati's or heart shaped donuts from Dunkin Donuts. Food just seems to taste better when it's in the shape of a heart ;)

Last year, DD was out of the heart shaped donuts at 8am on Valentine's Day, so this year my husband surprised me with them this morning. He's so smart going a day early and he must really love me :)

I am linking up with the ladies of DC for the weekly Friday Five post – Mar on the Run, Eat Pray Run DC, and You Signed Up For What?!. This week's theme is 'Love'. So I am going to give you 5 random things I'm loving at this point in time.

1. My Nike Lunarglide 6s.

2. Beck's album 'Morning Phase'. It's pretty awesome, and I love how mellow it is. Great for listening to while I'm working.

3. Homemade Vanilla Chai (loosely based off the Dunkin Donuts version). I found the recipe online, and have been loving it. I'm currently lacking two ingredients in my mix, because they were quite expensive at Jewel. Tastes pretty good without them, so I'm ok with it. I've been using my husband's milk frother to make it extra delicious.

4. The Light Between Oceans - currently reading and thoroughly enjoying. It has a book to video sticker on it (I borrow books from the library)... is it already a movie, or currently in production? Haven't heard anything about it.

5. runDisney Princess Half Marathon gear sneak peak! I have no idea how I'm going to decide what to purchase... it's gonna be a tough one. I definitely need the jacket that says Have you seen my glass slipper, the wine glass, and the 'I Did It' shirts. What do you think of the gear? Any must-haves on your list (if you are going)?

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend, and a beautiful Valentine's Day, whether you celebrate it with someone you love, or home alone with a glass of wine (which will probably be me haha).

friday five: favorite indoor workouts

Happy Friday everyone! I'm finally getting back to my normal schedule, and am joining back in with the Friday Five linkup hosted by Courtney at Eat, Pray, Run DC, Cynthia at You Signed Up For What?, and Mar at Mar on the Run. Thanks for hosting, ladies! (Click on the links for each lovely lady to read their FF posts and to find other blogs to read from the linkup).

The theme for today is 'Favorite Indoor Workouts':

1. Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred - I love her quick 25–30 minute videos that are tough as nails. You can squeeze in a workout even if you are pressed for time, and you know you're making those 25 minutes count.

2. Jillian Michaels Body Revolution - see above.

3. Treadmill - I know most people hate the treadmill, but when it's too cold/icy outside in the winter, or too hot/humid in the summer, it's a great way to still get in my runs. As long as I have some good music or a good movie/tv show, I find the time to go by quickly enough. Mind you, I don't want to do my long long runs on there, but it's a great way to do the maintenance ones if the weather outside isn't to my liking.

4. Yoga - Great way to strengthen your body, as well as relax, burn calories, and fine tune the muscles.

5. Barre Classes - another great way to burn calories, build and lengthen muscles. I couldn't afford classes in the city anymore, but there is a Barre Pilates class at my gym that I'm going to try out next week.

What are your favorite go-to indoor workouts?

friday five: 2015 fitness goals

Oh boy, has life gotten in the way lately ;) It's been quite a few busy days with relatives in town, a wedding, and work. I should just start calling this 'saturday catch up' rather than friday five, since I've been a day late this past month. Yikes. Anyway, it is what it is.

I'm linking up with the DC Trifecta: Courtney at Eat Pray Run DC, Cynthia at You Signed up for What?, and Mar at Mar on the Run, as I do every week. Thanks for hosting, ladies! This week's theme is "Fitness Goals".

1. Complete my first marathon. I'm not too far away from checking this off my list. I'm excited and nervous!

2. Register for marathon #2. Yes, even though I have yet to finish the first one, I'm already thinking about registering for another this year (hoping to get picked in the Chicago Marathon lottery).

3. Beat my half marathon time. Seeing as it's just over 3 hours, and I have been getting faster as 2014 came to a close, I know this is an attainable goal (and maybe I'll even be able to set a PR early in the year, and then beat that later in the year – that's what I'm really reaching for).

4. PR in the 5k and 10k distances. Again, my times are pretty slow for those, so I know it's a goal that's within reach if I keep up with my training.

5. CROSS TRAIN. This is a big one – one of the main reasons I joined a gym. I want to start swimming, along with taking some other random classes there to see what I like. Cross training at least twice a week with three days of running is my starting goal, and then seeing how I'm feeling from there.

I'm hoping for an epic 2015 when it comes to running and fitness :)

How about you – what are your goals or resolutions for 2015?

friday five: free friday

A day late, again... sorry! It's been such a busy few days, spending lots of time with family and STILL recovering from being sick. I hope you all had a great Christmas and are gearing up for a fun New Years Eve.

I'm linking up with the DC Trifecta: Courtney at Eat Pray Run DC, Cynthia at You Signed up for What?, and Mar at Mar on the Run, as I do every Friday. Thanks for hosting, ladies! This week's theme is "Free Friday", which means we can write about whatever we want. It was a tough call, but I decided to list my favorite races of 2014 (quite hard to narrow it down to just five!), as my final Friday Five post of the year. It's going to be a short post, as I'm sure everyone is busy this time of year. 

Top Five Races of 2014 (though not in a particular order).

1. Tinker Bell Half Marathon. My first time to Disneyland, and so of course was also my first runDisney race there as well.

2. Wine and Dine Half Marathon. This was my third year with this race, and though it was rainy the entire race, I had a great time. I also picked up my first Coast to Coast medal :)

3. Rock 'n' Roll Remix Challenge. I'm just going to lump this race weekend together as I did the 5k and half. I met Shalane Flanagan after the 5k, which was such an exciting moment, and had a really fun time at the half (even though it was crazy hot). 

4. Rudolph Ramble 8k. Just a really fun, holiday themed race that was well organized and had a nice course.

5. Soldier Field 10 Mile. Another well organized race, with a finish line on the 50 yard line of Soldier Field – really cool.

Some other races that I really enjoyed: Rock the Night 5k, Burgers and Beer 5k, Shamrock Shuffle, Chicago Spring Half Marathon, and the Magnificent Mile Women's Half Marathon.

Did you have any favorite races from this past year? What made them so special?

friday five: holiday traditions

I'm a day late on my post - many apologies! I've been stuck in bed ALL dang week sick. I managed to get out of the house yesterday to get to the doctor for some medication, and that's about all the energy I had. I'm feeling a smidgen better today, so wanted to make sure I got this posted – never want to miss a week of Friday Five!

Anyway, I'm linking up with the DC Trifecta: Courtney at Eat Pray Run DC, Cynthia at You Signed up for What?, and Mar at Mar on the Run, as I do every Friday (or Saturday on a rough week ;) ). Thanks for hosting, ladies! This week's theme is "Holiday Traditions".

1. Christmas Eve Mass. Every Christmas Eve I go to mass with my siblings and my mom.

2. Christmas Eve at my house. Starting a few years back, we started having Christmas Eve at my house. It has a little more room than my mom's, so my nephew has room to run around. With all of the new additions to the families (wives and kids), it made it easier to squeeze everyone in.

3. Popeye's Chicken for Christmas Eve Dinner. This has been a long standing tradition in my family. I honestly can't remember a time we didn't do this.

4. Movie time. My husband and I love watching movies during the holidays. We've been trying to get in a few Christmas movies (like Christmas Vacation - I've never seen it, if you can believe such a thing.) and I need my all time favorite White Christmas. If we find a day of nothing, we'll be doing a marathon of the Lord of the Rings Triology. Love it.

5. Baking cookies with my mom. I think I might have mentioned this in a post previously, but I always bake butter and sugar cookies with my mom before Christmas. I've been sick so haven't had the chance to do this yet, but I'm hoping I'll be better by mid-next week to partake in our tradition. I'll be so sad if I can't make it.

What are some of your holiday traditions?

friday five: favorite winter activities

Happy Friday! It's time for the link up with the DC Trifecta: Courtney at Eat Pray Run DC, Cynthia at You Signed up for What?, and Mar at Mar on the Run, as I do every Friday. This week's theme is "Favorite Winter Activities".

1. Running. Yes, I'm a rare breed – I enjoy running in the winter! It's so peaceful (especially when there's some snow on the grass, trees, and bushes) and I think it's refreshing. Now, I'm not a fan of wind or if the ground is icy... I'm not always the most coordinated. This year I really want to get some Yaktrax so I can run whenever I want without worrying about falling.

2. Christkindlmarket. At Daley Plaza each year, Christkindlmarket arrives for about a month. This year it opened on November 21, and it will close on December 24. It's a traditional German American Holiday Market that has Glühwein, beer, German food (potato pancakes - yum!), nuts, and lots of adorable shops that have ornaments, steins, etc. They used have cute ceramic boots for the Glühwein, and it was only about a dollar or two more, but last year they got rid of the boot and it was just a little mug... cute, but I liked the boot better. I'm actually heading there tonight with the husband, and then again Monday for lunch with my mom. Can't wait!

3. Drinking warm beverages and playing board games with friends. Hot spiced wine, hot chocolate, or hot cider – I love any of it! It's a great time of year to get together with friends and play some board games, like Cards Against Humanity... always a hilarious night.

4. Wandering the neighborhood looking at lights. When I was little, this was a family tradition, now I like to do it with the husband and our dogs. Once we get home, it's time to warm up with some hot cocoa and marshmallows :)

5. Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo. I love going to the zoo to see all of the light displays and to visit all of the animals. It's a fun, low key evening.

What are some things you love to do in the winter? Are there any special traditions that you MUST do each year? Would love to hear about them!

Thanks to Courtney, Cynthia, and Mar for hosting! Make sure to check out their "Friday Five" posts (direct links above in first paragraph) and link up if you are joining in on the fun. Don't forget to read/comment on some of the other link ups as well :)

friday five: favorites

Happy Friday! I don't know about you, but full work weeks after a holiday weekend always seem to drag on a bit. On Fridays, I link up with the DC Trifecta: Courtney at Eat Pray Run DC, Cynthia at You Signed up for What?, and Mar at Mar on the Run, as I do every Friday. This week's theme is "Favorites", so below is a list of five favorite things happening this week/month:

1. Addaday Ultra Roller Plus Series Pro. This roller is AMAZING, I kid you not. The gears massage the muscles and help work out the knots. I love to use it on my calves every night and especially love it after a long run. If you want more info, read my review here. Please keep in mind that even though I received the roller free of charge thanks to the BibRave Pro program, I only recommend things I like and use myself.

2. Santa Hustle. Tomorrow the Santa Hustle series starts off in Chicago, and I can't wait to run this fun race. I ran last year and though it was extremely cold, I really liked it. Everyone is supposed to wear the sweatshirt, Santa hat, and Santa beard that came with the goodie bag, and it's fun to watch a sea of Santas run along the lakefront path. 

3. Christmas movies. It's time to start binge watching Christmas movies. Some of my favorites include all of the claymation movies, A Christmas Story, and White Christmas. I also enjoy going through all of the Harry Potter movies— though they aren't necessarily Christmas movies, I enjoy watching them back-to-back (or at least within a few days of each other). It's also the perfect excuse to snuggle on the couch with lots of blankets and my two precious pups... an my husband too, I guess. Let's also add in a glass of wine or a pint of beer ;)

4. Time with family and friends. I love this time of year, because everyone makes it a point to spend time together. Whether it's for an intimate dinner or a party, I love getting together with everyone.

5. Cold weather. As long as the wind isn't too horrific, I love the colder weather. I enjoy bundling up in a coat, scarf, hat, and gloves and spending time outside. I also enjoy running in the cold, though I do notice my joints are much more stuff than in the warmer temps. I find it so refreshing. And once the outside activities are complete, I love to come inside and have some hot chocolate with marshmallows or hot cider and snuggle on the couch.

BONUS: I also LOVE baking during the holidays – I've been trying new cookie recipes each year, but also always make two kinds with my mom (which we've been doing since I was little). Any great cookie recipes you'd like to share?!

What are some things you are loving this week or month?

Thanks to Courtney, Cynthia, and Mar for hosting! Make sure to check out their "Friday Five" posts (direct links above in first paragraph) and link up if you are joining in on the fun. Don't forget to read/comment on some of the other link ups! 

friday five: gratitude

Happy Friday! I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, and had a chance to run a Turkey Trot in the morning before binging on your Thanksgiving Day feast :) 

Like every Friday, I am linking up with the DC Trifecta: Courtney at Eat Pray Run DC, Cynthia at You Signed up for What?, and Mar at Mar on the Run, as I do every Friday. This week's theme is "Gratitude". Below is a list of five things I am grateful for this year:

1. Family. This is a no-brainer for me, and is probably high on most people's list. The family I was born in to is a group of fantastic people, I have a supportive husband, two adorable dogs, and great in-laws. I am thankful every day for each and every one of them.

2. Friends. I adore my friends. They make me laugh and are always there for me when I need them. Some of them even fit into the 'family' category.

3. Running. I am thankful for running. It's a great stress release, fun way to stay fit and healthy (or at least trying to be these things), and even though I started out not enjoying it, it's something I now love. 

4. Being a BibRave Pro. Joining the BibRave Pro ambassadorship is one of the best thing's I've ever done. I'm thankful I decided to apply (it took a bit of courage for me to put myself out there), and even more thankful that I was chosen. I've met a great group of people that I can now call friends, and it's been a great experience. It's helped me to connect more with the running community, and other than my blog, joining #bibchat on Tuesday nights was how I first started interacting with other runners. I've also had the chance to try out some great products. It's been a great few months :) PS They are taking applications for 2015 Pros – only open until 11/30, so get on it if you are interested.

5. My readers and all the new friends I've made on Twitter/Instagram. I am thankful for each and every one of you, my readers, along with all of the new friends I've made on Twitter and Instagram. It's been so great to interact with so many new people who are supportive, inspirational, and motivating. Thank you for being awesome!

What are you grateful for this year?

Thanks to Courtney, Cynthia, and Mar for hosting! Make sure to check out their "Friday Five" posts (direct links above in first paragraph) and link up if you are joining in on the fun. Don't forget to read/comment on some of the other link ups! 

friday five: favorite fall foods

It's Friday! Whoo! Like every Friday, I am linking up with the DC Trifecta: Courtney at Eat Pray Run DC, Cynthia at You Signed up for What?, and Mar at Mar on the Run, as I do every Friday. This week's theme is "Favorite Fall Foods".

1. Caprese Farro Salad. This recipe comes courtesy of the Runner's World Cookbook. Here's the recipe online. We have always used quinoa instead of farro.

2. Panera Bread Tomato Soup and Mozzarella Tomato Panini. I like to go over on my lunch break and pick up this combo. Helps keep me warm in our freezing office, and it tastes delicious.

3. Cinnamon Rolls. YUM. The smell is great to wake up to, plus when it's fresh from the oven it's just so lovely. It's a great weekend treat, when you have the time to savor it with a glass of milk and some tea.

4. Pumpkin Pie. I pretty much only eat it on Thanksgiving, but I love pumpkin pie... and french apple. Nothing says fall like a big ole slice of pumpkin pie :)

5. Chicken Noodle Soup. Nothing like a hot bowl of chicken noodle soup to warm the soul. I eat a lot of soup in the fall/winter – especially when I'm feeling crummy. I haven't tried this recipe yet, but sounds good and easy enough to make... maybe. I'm not the cook in the family ;)

What are some of your favorite fall foods?

Thanks to Courtney, Cynthia, and Mar for hosting! Make sure to check out their "Friday Five" posts (direct links above in first paragraph) and link up if you are joining in on the fun. Don't forget to read/comment on some of the other link ups! 

friday five: cold weather safety

Happy Friday, my friends! It's been a whirlwind of a week, and I'll get to it all on Monday in my Week in Review post. Sorry I've been a bit quiet this week on the blog and on Twitter/Instagram (if you've even noticed haha), but it'll be explained :)

Today I am linking up with the lovely ladies of DC: Courtney at Eat Pray Run DC, Cynthia at You Signed up for What?, and Mar at Mar on the Run, as I do every Friday. This week's theme is "Cold Weather Running Safety", which is another great topic. They've got some great ones for the month of November (as always, but they were nice enough to get together and plan out the whole month at once, for our benefit – thanks ladies!). 

1. Wear bright/reflective clothing and bring some lights with you if it's dark. I'm sure you've heard this a million times, but I can't emphasize it enough. I've seen way too many runners out there in the dawn/sundown/night wearing all black – what are they thinking? It can be so hard to see runners/walkers/cyclists at any time of day, but I think in the grey of winter it can be even more difficult. I'm always aware of them because I am one, but I've seen way too many near incidents because drivers can't see the runners. I also love to use Road ID flashing lights as well as Knuckle Lights for when it's hard to see the sidewalk at night.

2. Be aware of your surroundings. Again, a tip for all year round, but it's a good one. Be in the mindset that cars don't see you (most don't!). Watch out for ice patches. Keep your headphones low so you can still hear outside noises.

3. Wear a gaiter. It can be hard to breath the cold air in. Wear a gaiter to help make it more bearable. I got one last winter and it really made a world of difference.

4. Use shoes with good traction. Perhaps you have trail shoes that would work well in the snow and ice. I've heard others use something that clips onto the bottom of your shoes to help with the tractor. We want to make sure that we stay on our feet while we're out there ;)

5. Wear a Road ID. Safety should be a top priority, which is why I always wear my Road ID when I'm out running. It gives me piece of mind knowing that if I can't speak for myself, my Road ID gives the information needed for the medics to get to work and so they can call my family. I also like that you can buy different color bands, so if you like to color coordinate, or just like to mix it up once in a while, it's easy to do. Click here if you need to purchase one. They could also make a great Christmas gift!

Do you have any winter safety tips?

Thanks to Courtney, Cynthia, and Mar for hosting! Make sure to check out their "Friday Five" posts (direct links above in first paragraph) and link up if you are joining in on the fun. Don't forget to read/comment on some of the other link ups :) 

friday five: staying on track during the holidays

Happy Friday, my friends! I've got an exciting few weeks (heck, the next two months are filled!) coming up, and look forward to sharing all the fun with you! Today I am linking up with the lovely ladies of DC: Courtney at Eat Pray Run DC, Cynthia at You Signed up for What?, and Mar at Mar on the Run, as I do every Friday. This week's theme is "Staying on Track During the Holidays", a very worthy and timely topic, as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years is just around the corner (Can you believe it? Me either!). Without further ado, my tips for you:

1. Track your food. I know this sounds boring and tedious, but if you aren't already tracking your foods with a journal or an app like My Fitness Pal, this could be key to helping you stay on track during these next few months. It will help you to stay accountable with what you're eating, and can help you pull in the reins when you start getting out of control eating cookies at that family party. Tracking helps you be mindful of what you're eating. You might be less likely to grab a second helping if you know it'll put your over your calories for the day.

2. Bring a healthy alternative. The holidays usually means a lot of get togethers and parties. Bring a veggie or fruit tray to the party (or something more creative, if you're the type haha), so there is a healthier option to choose from/fill up on, rather than that chili cheese dip.

3. Try some new recipes. If you're like me, you enjoy baking cookies during the winter holidays! Maybe instead of the fattening ones, we can try some new recipes that are healthier. Healthy doesn't have to mean yucky - there's a lot of low calorie options out there that taste great. Experiment a little and try something new.

4. Portion control. Making sure your portions are under control will be a big factor in keeping the pants buttoned, rather than popping off. Try using a smaller plate, or just be aware of how big the portion you're putting on your plate really is. Generally, I find most people to think their portion is less than it really is (thinking something is just a 1/2 cup when it's really 1 cup). 

5. Go ahead and have a cookie (or whatever your choice is). Don't deny yourself a special treat now and again, just make sure to be conscious of how much you are eating. Try and limit yourself to one cookie rather than three, and use moderation. It's not always a great idea to deny our cravings, as it can lead to a binge later on. So go ahead – enjoy it!

And a little bonus for ya: if you happen to slip up during the holidays, don't be too hard on yourself. Everyone has their off days, just remember tomorrow is a new day. It's a time of family, friends, and happy times — make sure to enjoy it and not fret too much. Also, try not to think 'well, I did horrible at lunch today, the rest of the day is shot'. Not true – you can still make good decisions for dinner! Keep your chin up :)

What are your tips for staying on track during the holidays? Any favorite healthy recipes you like during this time of year?

Thanks to Courtney, Cynthia, and Mar for hosting! Make sure to check out their "Friday Five" posts (direct links above in first paragraph) and link up if you are joining in on the fun. Don't forget to read/comment on some of the other link ups :) 

Also, in case you missed it, here are my posts from the week:

Week in Review

Weekly Chase #31
Nuun Review

Have a great weekend, everyone!