5 running topics to talk about, a random Q for you and I will still support them.

I got really crazy yesterday and did 8 miles instead of my normal 7 miles.  I even hit a 9:10 average pace, it was one of those mornings that I woke up feeling really great.  I’ll take it!

I always wonder what cars think of me as they drive by and see me attempting a self-timer running picture… I doubt this is something that most people do.

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I came home and got right to work on my pancake.  Andrew is always quite amazed that I can flip a pancake the size that I make them without breaking it.  It takes some serious practice to perfect flipping the Bisquick pancake.

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We got to have Knox for a few hours while his mom was at work so we went to a splash pad that had a park right next to it.

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While I don’t like donuts right now (please have that change soon… I swear my pregnancy with Brooke is what made me love donuts so much in the first place), I still fully support donuts.

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I think one of the things I love about cooking at home the most is having easy leftovers for lunch the next day.  I just added more spinach and chicken to the leftover salad and boom.. delicious.

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After lunch I took a nap (I can’t help it some days).  The I took Brooke to the library to read for a while and bring some books home!  I got a bunch of stuff done at home and then it was time for dinner!

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Also, we are really into Simon says these days.

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I tried another new recipe… we are on a roll over here!  For dinner last night I made this Creamy Chicken Quinoa and Broccoli Casserole and it was SO SO good.  Brooke even loved it:)  We used swiss cheese instead of Gruyere cheese but other than that kept the recipe the same!  You don’t use any cans for this recipe and you make your own sauce… try it!

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We all really loved this dish, even Brooke.

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Say hello to our current project.  The basement.  Our goal is to turn this into an awesome playroom with carpet and all sorts of organization.  Wish us luck:)  I can’t wait for all of the toys to be in one area…

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This was in my race packet… what is everyone’s thoughts on this stuff?  Do you just add it to smoothies or what do you do with it?  I kind of love getting in some good fat through pb so I’m not sure about the 90% less fat thing but I want to try it in a smoothie sometime.

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How Andrew runs at night after a big dinner, I will never understand but I will continue to watch from the couch in amazement.

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1.  Do you ever find that your upper body/shoulders/neck are most sore after a race or a hard workout?  A friend of mine ran a time last weekend way faster than she was expecting and she told me that this was a problem for her!  She has to constantly remind herself to relax her shoulder and keep them back or down during a race but her body still tends to do this!  I’ve definitely experienced this too during a run where I notice myself tensing up and my shoulders are almost up to my ears!  Just something to think about while you run, keep those shoulders relaxed and away from your ears:)  Run tall with your head straight but keep the shoulders down!

2.  While pregnant… I have noticed that my belly breathing has turned into more of chest breathing!  With chest breathing I’m not able to get in as much oxygen while running so my current thoughts have been about belly breathing again.  Belly breathing —>  deeper breathes—> more oxygen to the bloodstream !  It is much more efficient.  Are you a belly breather or a chest breather while running?

3.  Okay, WOW!!!  I am beyond impressed!!!!  Her first marathon + pushing 3 of her kids in a stroller = 4:25.

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4.  At my half-marathon this last weekend I saw about 5 different YOUNG kids running (and cruising by me) at the race.  I am guessing they were all ranging between 8-13 years old.  What are your thoughts on young ones running longer endurance races like a half marathon or full marathon?!

5.  I saw this and could not agree more with it… Josse (my running partner probably disagrees with this ha).  I always dress like it is 10 degrees warmer ha… hence why I one time wore shorts and a tank top to a marathon where it was snowing for the first 8 miles.  I think that day I was dressed as though it was 30 degrees warmer.

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I know this is a weird question to be asking in August (PS how is it August?!) but I really want a new (amazing) planner.  I try to make my calendar on my phone work but it just doesn’t happen because I like having everything written down instead.  Is there a good planner you can start at anytime in the year that you recommend (or do I just wait until 2018 starts?  A reader was talking about her Erin Condren planner and I fell in love with how cute they were.  I would also love to hear your different recommendations!  THANKS!!

Do you have a planner… which one? Do you prefer writing things down or using your phone for your schedule etc!?

How young is too young for longer endurance races or do you think it depends on the kid/what their doc says etc?!

Ever use PB Fit?  What other random things do you add to your smoothies?

What distance do you do the MOST often each week… what’s kind of your goto run distance?

-7 miles.

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116 comments

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I love my planner from Target! Seriously its amazing and with big boxes I also use it to make small to do lists. The back says “egg press for blue sky”. I think blue sky is the brand and egg press is the designer of the print on it but don’t hold me to it. Anyways its awesome and I’m definitely going to buy it again for next year.
I tried pbfit or something similar) about 2 years ago and made it with water to put on toast. The consistency is different and I wasn’t thrilled about it so I haven’t used it since. I feel like it would be good in a smoothie though.
Thanks for sharing that recipe, it looks delicious! Have a great day :)

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I love the Erin condren planners ! They keep me so organized ( ok as much as possible that is) I am old school and must write down in a planner what I need to do

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I always loved the Erin Condren planners and notebooks! definitely recommend them. This year I switched to a pretty one from Henri Bendel but I am not using it as much as when I used the life planner. So impressed by that marathon mom! I need to read the article to see if the kids really sat the whole 4 hours or if she needed to stop. my son never would have sat that long!

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There are lots of planners that start in August (made kinda for the school year) that I used to get every year when I was teaching. I LOVE the Lilly Pulitzer ones, but they’re kind of expensive, so I’ve been getting ones from Target more recently. They have some really cute ones, too. My current one is the brand Sugar Paper, and I love it!

I’d say my go-to distance is 6 miles. I usually run that most weekdays. I’ve been building my mileage back up and was able to run 9 last weekend! I know that doesn’t sound like a lot, but it’s taken FOREVER to get past my kidney issues, and it felt like a huge accomplishment!

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The Handmade Home has a free planner they offer every year. https://www.thehandmadehome.net/blog/ You just print out what you want.

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These planners save me!! I love the art, they have space for different family members’ activities and appointments, and they start in August (back-to-school time is filled with activities that are hard for me to keep straight).
https://www.amazon.com/Engelbreits-Anything-2017-2018-17-Month-Calendar/dp/1449481809/ref=sr_1_cc_6?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1501676118&sr=1-6-catcorr&keywords=sandra+boynton+planner
https://www.amazon.com/Moms-Family-Desk-Planner-Calendar/dp/0761193502/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1501676118&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=sandra+boynton+planner

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I’m conflicted about young kids running that long! You don’t want to discourage them from running and risk them not wanting to continue the sport, but you also don’t want them to get injured doing something so challenging so young. I’d probably err on the side of limiting them to a 10K or less until they hit their teenage years. It just seems a little bit safer, but I’m not an expert!

I’ve always tried to make planners work but I can never seem to stick to them. My best try was with a bullet journal (basically a make-your-own-planner planner), but I’ve even stopped using that recently. I think I like the idea of being organized more than actually being organized – oh well!

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I love PBFit for smoothies!! Also, since I’m trying to be better at counting macros for my nutrition, I like the idea of not using up all my fats in a couple spoonfuls of PB.
I love physical planners a lot but I use my phone planner because it pulls from my gmails, so it has all my work appointments too. I like that I can see my entire schedule easily and it auto updates when I get a meeting request. But I’ve only loved my phone calendar since I switched to an Android. The iPhone calendar is horrible.
And that’s too young in my opinion. I think 10k is the longest distance I would let my kids do until maybe 16-18. I would worry about impacting their growth.

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The powdered PB freaks me out-it just seems so processed and not right! I guess if I was making a baked good with a PB glaze I could see using it, or to a smoothie but I’d rather use the real deal. Besides I prefer organic PB and ya never know how the powdered stuff is processed.

I am loving reading about the planners!!!

8-13 year olds doing a half marathon? I’m not sure that is wise because no only is the race challenging for that age group, the training leading up to it! 13 might be on the edge of “okay” in my opinion, especially if the kiddo has a nice base of running short distances.

my go to distance ranges from 10-15km depending on my route or the temperature!

Thank you for the recipe!!!!!!

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I used to get extremely tight in my back and neck after my runs. My chiro said I ran too tense but also my body was unproportional from swimming so long and that is stressed that area. I don’t have the issue as much anymore since working more on lower back and core throughout the years.

I’ve used Erin condren planner for years. I tried to go a cheaper route but honestly it’s the only planner that has everything I need and want. It’s also the only planner I’ve ever used for the entire yeR. I think I’m on year 3 or 4 of them now…

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I don’t have a planner but I like to jot notes to myself down so they’re all over the place – a planner would be a wise investment!
I don’t like there being young kids on long runs, maybe if they’re with a parent it’s ok. At our local Parkrun (a weekly 5km run) there are a fair few kids running it and there’s nothing more annoying than the little girl who’s laces constantly untie and she asks everyone to help her tie them again…
I’m not a smoothie ginger but I think I’d be adding ginger to them all the time if I did bother to make some.
My favourite distance to do weekly is a nice 7.7km circle route by my house :)

Rachel | Coffee & Avocados

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We use powdered PB in banana smoothies – so good! Smoothieweb.com has some good ones to try. About 4 miles is my go to distance most days. I love all the recipes! Keep ’em coming!! P.S. The Salted Caramel Rice Krispie Treats are amazing! Thanks!

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I use Plum Paper planners – similar to Erin Condren planners. There are lots of custom options and you can start at any month. I just use the Month-by-Month layout – but added extra notes sections and checklists/to-do lists.

Personally – I think half marathons should wait until the kids are in their teens (late teens).

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I have gotten into bullet journaling lately. It’s really flexible and customizable. You can use any notebook for it too! It’s take a little bit of time to understand the concept and some of the templates people use but it’s great! I use mine to break my week down to make a weekly to do list and daily to do. There are dedicated instagram accounts on how to bullet journal!

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um, WHERE did you get that amazing doughnut shirt?? I need one in my life.

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AIMEE I got it years ago and I cannot remember where I got it:) I am so sorry… I’ll keep searching though!

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Erin condren for sure!! But I have also used the Mormon Mom planner and liked it to!

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The PB Fit is awesome….and at our Costco in Arizona, they have massive containers of PB fit Organic. I use in smoothies, on apples…in recipes….its quite tasty:)))

Have a great day!

Lauren

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My son is 10 years old and has run 5 half marathons. His first was at 8 years. He started running when he was 5. At the beginning of the running season, we set a training calendar together. He runs 3 days a week and always knows what the mileage is. I allow him to set the pace that feels comfortable to him and allow needed walking breaks. I run all races with him and we finish together. (Except for last Saturday when he sprinted ahead of me so he could get a PR).
This is what my son wants to add. “It is fun to run with my mom. It is hard but I like it. I will be running one more half marathon in Pocatello this summer. That will be my third this summer.”

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He is on FIRE Diane!! I love what he said… how special to share that together Diane! Tell him good luck at Pocatello and I want to hear all about it!

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Okay so I absolutely love my Erin Condren planner. Been buying it for years and it has totally been my life saver. This past year the only thing I didn’t like was that the cover kept falling off but that’s never happened any other year. The price is a bit costly and I do know there are others similar with cheaper price tag online. Etsy has quite a few. I order my new one every October since I tend to plan my life like three months in advance for work. On a side note… I was never a really a fan of donuts but last night at 8:30 pm I desperately wanted a jelly donut so off my husband and I went to find me one. Happy to report I was able to satisfy my preggo craving! Haha

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I love peanut butter powder!! It’s really great for baking, since baking with actual peanut butter can be a bit of a struggle texture-wise sometimes. I make these super yummy chocolate peanut butter protein brownie things :D

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I had an Erin Condren planner last year and loved it! But I am so busy at work that it’s just easier to rely on my calendar on my work phone. I am also a firm believer in the power of post-its… all over the place… :)

I haven’t used PBFit but I have used other powdered peanut butters. They worked great for smoothies and I’ve used them in cookies but to eat on toast…it wasn’t for me. It was nice when I was trying to watch what I eat and track calories but I have just learned to make room for real nut butters now.

I would say 5 miles is my go-to. There’s a route I run that’s a perfect 5 mile loop (although I can extend it to longer if I need to) that starts with uphill and ends with downhill and then flat so it’s easier to power through.

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I highly recommend Limelife planners! They are super customizable – you can choose different layouts, personalize the cover, and select from several decorative colors/patterns on the inside. Plus, you can set them to start on any month you want! Since I got mine, two of my friends have also purchased them, and we all love our unique planners. I usually use mine to write down tasks I need to do and track deadlines. I use my phone calendar for appointments since I can set the exact time and date, then get a reminder.
When I have pb powder, I like to put it in smoothies and oatmeal (with banana and maybe a few chocolate chips!). You could even make a pb drizzle by mixing it with maple syrup, and I bet that would taste great on your Bisquick :)
My go-to running distance right now is 4 miles, but my favorite distance is 6-8 miles. I’ve been taking things pretty easy, but I’m about to start half marathon training again, so I’ll get to increase all my running distances soon!! Yay!
Hope you are having a lovely week!

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A lot of planners are 16 month to coincide with back–to-school. I just bought my calendar for next year because I have things to write in it.

Despite working on a computer all day I can’t get behind the calendar on my phone. I share a google calendar with my husband and he puts everything in it – j put some stuff in case I need to look it up, but I still rely heavily on writing it down. I have a wall calendar I keep in a drawer, but then I have a 5-week dry erase calendar – I color code it for all our activities. Every 3 weeks I re-do it. It is very cathartic.

I feel like women are programmed to think like a monthly calendar – must be us having to think monthly from a young age. My husband doesn’t need to be able to look at a month at a time. He is fine With his app.

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It’s not as bright and colorful as Erin Condren, but I LOVE my Get To Work Book planner. It has a spot each week for 3 top priorities to get done, a place to goal set each month and plan your action items, a spot for brainstorming…. it’: awesome!! Plus it’s made by an awesome mom/blogger/entrepreneur. Search “get to work” on Instagram and you’ll find her.

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YES!!!! I love my Get To Work Book. I have no idea what I’d do without it. And Elise is so great!!!

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When I’m not injured 3-5 miles is my most often run distance during the week. And then on the weekend 7-10 miles. I can’t wait to run again. It’ll probably be winter when I can so I’ll remember to dress for 15 degrees warmer ;)

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It seems like you’re really feeling great these days! I’m so glad! Me too…I FINALLY am feeling the second trimester magic!

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YAY SARA!!! I am so glad you are feeling better right now. Hallelujah!!! Second trimester > first trimester!

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I have an Erin Condren but I find that it’s too big/bulky to carry around every day so I ended up using a moleskin one with a weekly layout. Have a great day!

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Honestly, just check in at Target & Marshalls! Here in Canada we have Winners/HomeSense also, and I just got a September 2017 – December 2018 planner for $8! I think it’s similar to Marshalls in that they change stock often, so I just checked in on my lunch breaks for a few weeks and finally found the perfect one :)

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PB Fit and Greek yogurt (I like to use vanilla, but plain would probably be good) makes a great dip for apples! I also use it in smoothies and sometimes use it to make protein balls for easy fuel.

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yep. I use PB2 and plain greek yogurt with like a teaspoon of Agave. It’s a great protein in the afternoon but I bet it would be really good in smoothies. For someone who is always needing protein but I don’t like peanut butter, this works really well. I don’t find the peanut butter taste overpowering.

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My sister always tenses her shoulders up. I do it once in a while too but she does it all the time. We look a lot a like too, so that’s one way we can tell who’s who in running pictures haha.

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I use the powdered PB in smoothies- usually a “chunky monkey” smoothie- Banana, Chocolate coconut(or almond) milk, Powdered PB, Protein powder, ice & a scoop of greek yogurt….it’s my go-to and satsfies a sweet tooth that may come on too. Sometimes I will just mix the PB powder in my greek yogurt for a snack though.

I have head good things about Erin Condren planner, but also heard really good things about this “ignited” planner too- it’s got goal setting, lots of pages and sections, and looks really nice. it’s definitely on my list! http://amzn.to/2uYnP0m

I also like the fringe planners, I first got one a few years ago at a Marshalls or TJMAXX. They’re nice, and reasonably priced too. I found this one on Amazon http://amzn.to/2uVCVFA but I think it was only like $10 or $15 at the store when I got one (yay for marshalls pricing!)

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I’m like you – I handwrite my schedule and bring my planner with me everywhere :) I’ve been using this Quo Vadis planner for years and I love that you can just buy the refills of the pages (so you don’t have to keep buying new covers)! https://classicofficeproducts.com/planners-notebooks/quo-vadis-planners/academic-year-planners/quo-vadis-scholar-55-6-1-4-w-x-9-3-8-h-weekly-planner.html

I use PB Fit in smoothies. I like it because it’s less messy and tastes really similar to peanut butter. But I do have to admit… there’s nothing like regular ol’ PB!

I do five miles most often (when my foot isn’t broken ;) )! I have a couple five mile loops near my apartment that I love to do in the morning.

Have a great day, Janae!!

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Plum Paper Designs planners! I swear by them… Just bought my third one in 3 years. They’re just as cute as Erin Condron planners but half the price :)

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I LOVE PB FIT. As a peanut butter addict (meaning I can’t be trusted with a jar in the house, LOL!) I have this around and add it to smoothies or on top of pancakes! Gives me my taste of PB butter without me digging to the bottom of the jar with a spoon! I love the hand written calendars but my husband and I were struggling on remembering what each of us had going on or would make plans with friends and then realize the other one already had a commitment. I just recently started using the COZI app and we are loving it. You can share it with anyone you want so we are able to see what each other inputs. It also sends us a weekly\daily email reminding us what our day looks like. I can keep track of groceries or errands needed so whoever goes out knows exactly what the house is needing! Definitely worth it!!

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Erin Condren calendars ALL the way! I’ve been using one for about 4 years now, and even though I just resigned from teaching, I still use mine. They’re seriously amazing. They can be a little pricey, though. Once you order one, you get coupons, so that helps! :)

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I’ve always loved my Erin Condren! I tried a Bullet Journal this year but it takes way too much time and creativity for me. And since I didn’t like it, I actually just bought a Lilly Pulitzer August 2017 – December 2018 planner, which would work perfectly for your weird timing too!! Check them out! Also, in the past, $4.99 planners from TJMaxx/Marshalls are actually even better than the expensive fancy ones sometimes. I can’t believe the selection they have there! Starting in August is actually not that uncommon because its the beginning of the school year, so especially for college type kids the planners are necessary. Good luck! I <3 paper planners. Can't do it electronically to save my life

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I am very torn with young kids doing marathons or maybe even half marathons. Knowing what running can do to your joints (I still think it is an awesome form of exercise), I am not sure what the effect it will have on them in the future. I would almost rather see those kids do mini triathlons. This might not even be a concern, I am not a doctor, but I just feel like all that distance on growing bones and joints might have an impact later. Or maybe I am completely wrong and it will strengthen those joints??
I have also been contemplating a planner however we just got the Echo Dot on prime day and I will have to say, that is awesome. I just tell her to add things to my list and voila it is there. I have a binder for planning and scheduling for my job. I travel to see my students (a preschool special education teacher) and my schedule is forever changing. I have yet to find a planner to accommodate those needs. I have a peanut allergy and I want them to come up with an Almond butter powder!!

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I use a Passion Planner but it’s a monstrously big thing. As a student, I need my hours broken down but it might be more than you need.

I use PB Fit all the time. I like that I can control the consistency of it, i.e. the more liquidy it is, the better it mixes into oatmeal or drizzles on waffles/pancakes like syrup.

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I ran the Deseret news half marathon with my 13-year-old last week at his request. He ran cross country and outdoor track the previous school year, which included long runs of up to 10-13 miles. I wouldn’t want my kids to run that far any younger, but he was able to make it without injury (though he did take the whole next week off running) and was really proud of himself, and I was glad to be alongside him!

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CONGRATS on the half marathon with your 13 year old Ranee… that is AWESOME! So cool that he has done cross country and track last year! Keep me updated on how you guys are doing and how special to be able to run together. I love it!

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I’m positive you would LOVE the Mormon Mom Planner. You can find them at intheleafytreetops.com. They have a ton of pages that are geared towards religion – visiting teaching, scripture study, family home evening charts, etc. I’ve used them for the last three years. I think they sell them at a store up where you live too. I know they had them at the BYU bookstore at one point, but I’m not positive if they still sell them there. I was thinking they had them at a specific Hobby Lobby store too. Anyway, they have both academic and yearly planners and are even prettier than the Erin Condren planners.

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https://intheleafytreetops.com/

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I was wrong! They are at the Quilted Bear in American Fork and Draper.

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I’ve never heard of these before… SO COOL Amy!! Thank you for sharing!

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I have a review of this one plus Erin Condren and most of the ones mentioned in the comments here on my YouTube channel: Amanda’s Favorites https://www.youtube.com/AmandasFavorites . They just did a lot of upgrades to this planner for the academic year ones that start in August. I am going to post that Review hopefully on Monday. I already have the review up of the 2017 Mom on the Go planner from Mormon Mom Planners. They are similar to Erin Condren…..a bit smaller with less room to write. But they have more “mom” organization pages.

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AMANDA!!!! Your videos are just what I needed… THANK YOU for these reviews! I’m hooked (watching one as I am typing this:)

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Got one of the Mormon mom planners this year and LOVE it. Super sturdy and I can keep track of everything!

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I got a Start planner and love it. I know she has a mid year one.

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Hi Janae!!!

I use Plum Planner and love it! It reminds me of Erin Condren but is more in my budget range (it is around 40 SHIPPED as opposed to 65ish, if I remember correctly). I really love mine! Also, I have the shoulder tense thing bad haha- mine hurt so bad after nearly every run! I must need to relax or something ;)

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Hi Janae- I’ve been on a new recipe kick as well and want to share this one we tried at my house last night and LOVED. It was easy to make, delicious, and fast to clean up because it uses one pan! http://www.saltandlavender.com/creamy-dijon-rosemary-chicken/

Random, but I noticed the Leesa mattress in your basement picture… have you considered donating it? I would imagine it’s still in great condition since it’s not that old. Just a thought that maybe it could go to use for a less fortunate family if it’s not being used anymore. =)

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That recipe has me DROOLING!! Thank you so so much!! We have to make it:) About the Leesa, we were using it for our guests (pulled it out to the family room) the last few weeks and then Andrew’s mom asked to have it for their house since they needed a new one and they are going to come pick it up soon. Otherwise we totally would be donating it! Thanks Katelyn and enjoy your day!

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Shoulders is something that HURTS for me when I’m running tempos or speed.

Also, shoulders sometimes indicate me when I need to slow down. If I’m running and I’m still recovering from a cold or something, I would start feeling very dizzy and nauseous after a few miles. However, with years I’ve learned to avoid these episodes by paying attention to my shoulders. If I feel like they’re weak and even hurting a little bit, I need to stop/slow down or else I would start feeling like I’m fainting. I know it’s weird, but never it fails to me!

I still don’t know how I feel about PB Fit. I really like peanut butter and I think it’s really cool that one powder can simulate its flavor. But that powdered peanut butter must work for people who count their macros and want to really control their grams of fats per day. I don’t count my macros at all, so I don’t see PB Fit as something really useful for me.

Hope you have a great day Janae:)

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I’ve always used The Simplified Planner by Emily Ley and would highly recommend it! I’ll never switch to another one!

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I’m definitely a paper planner person. I have to write things down or else I forget appointments or deadlines. I just a cheap one I get from Staples for $10 or $15.

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My friend just introduced me to a new planner that I LOVE! It’s undated, so you can start anytime, and you can even check off how much water you’ve drank that day, exercise, water but also, “what I’m grateful for today” in addition to normal planning functionality. My friend described it to me as a planner for women that is more holistic about your daily life. On Amazon it’s a “bloom daily planners bound to-do list book”

Separately, I just started using PB fit in smoothies and it’s delicious! I’ve paired it with unsweetened cocoa powder (or chocolate protein powder), almond milk and a banana.

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On the PB fit, I would personally either add it into a smoothie, or into my oatmeal. I actually have a jar of PB2 which is probably similar – it’s a powdered PB, and it works well in either!

-Rachel

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I haven’t used PBFit, but use other powdered peanut butter in smoothies, especially with strawberries–it sort of tastes like a peanut butter and jelly. I have also recently began adding it to oatmeal with bananas.

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Day designer planners from Target are the BEST if you love to do lists! I love to do lists but when I would use a normal planner I just had tons of sticky notes everywhere which was equally as stressful! These have a to do list for each day and I love them! There are a ton of different formats too (weekly, daily schedules, monthly etc) and they are only about $15 instead of the $50 for Erin Condren.

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I *LOVE* my Erin Condren planner! It’s the perfect amount of space to keep daily to-dos (for both work and personal) as well as add stickers for everything from doc appts to birthdays and holidays. Erin Condren has a ton of add-ons that really make it fun. Additionally, I love the variety available for cover art. I’ve been using a paper planner every year for the past 10-15 years and the Erin Condren ones are by far my favorites.
Though, I’m also intrigued with the idea of drawing out my own planner, but I’m pretty sure that’s one of those Pinterest things I’ll want to do but never actually do!

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Lilly Pullitzer Agendas are THE BEST! I’ve been using them for years and they actually start in August and run through the next calendar year- so August 2017- December 2018- it’s completely necessary for me to have that many months while managing a blended family! They also come in adorable prints and have stickers- what’s not to love!

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I’ve never used PBFit, but I have used PB2, and I love it. It’s nice to keep at my desk (or maybe in your car or somewhere) in case you just want to slap some PB on an apple, all you need is some water. I use it in overnight oats and smoothies // milkshakes often since it gives great PB flavor without needing a ton. I also don’t have to really adjust my liquid ratios & then my blender doesn’t have PB goop everywhere EXCEPT my smoothie.

Plus, since there is less fat, but full flavor, I can save my fat for things like avocados. :)

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I swear by Moleskine (clean and simple), but I think you should also check out “MomAgenda.” They are absolutely beautiful (although a little bit on the pricier end). I have a serious weakness for paper goods and school supplies!

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I just ordered my second Erin Condren planner! I know they are expensive, but I LOVE them!! It gives me enjoyment to read all the motivational quotes inside and stay organized!

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PBFit is so delicious! I but the big container at Costco. I mix 2 TBS with a vanilla protein shake, frozen banana and ice, it is so filling and so so tasty!

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I love Erin Condren, but there are so many other good planners out there too! The best planner for you really depends on what you need it for;) If I could only chat with you in person and ask you all the questions….then I could recommend;) LOL. I am passionate about planners. I run a planner YouTube Channel Amanda’s favorites: https://www.youtube.com/AmandasFavorites I think if you are going for cute and fun you can’t get better than Erin Condren;) I have review videos on Erin condren new 2018 vertical layout and Horizontal (also you have to choose neutral or colorful;) I talk about all that in my videos if you want more info before you go into spending the money;) I have a $10 OFF your first Erin Condren link in all my video descriptions;)

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My planner seriously saved my sanity last semester. It’s a fairly cheap one from Target but each day has a big space to write in. I divide it in half and do work, appointments, things with times, etc. on one side and a to-do list on the other. I don’t go anywhere without it. I bet Target (and other places, I just always go to Target) have several right now with school starting.

Yum that casserole looks good! Thanks for sharing, we’re in such a dinner rut at my house right now.

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a friend of mine gifted me a passion planner (http://www.passionplanner.com/) and i love it! it encourages you to set daily/weekly/monthly/ yearly goals and throughout the year has you check in on your progress. it also has little motivational quotes each week and a space for you to write encouraging words, thoughts, etc. each week it also asks you to jot down what good things happened the week before. it also has plenty of space to write out daily plans by the hour and an area for “to do” lists. i try to set aside a little chunk of time each week to write out the following week and the weeks i do that, i definitely feel so motivated and productive!

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I haven’t used a planner in years. The one thing I really have to stay on top of is our travel – I love the TripIt app, it organizes flights, rental cars, and hotels.

I use PB2 (powdered peanut butter) all the time in smoothies – it’s a nice add in. This morning I made one with chocolate almond milk, frozen bananas, protein powder and PB2.

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I have a planner! mine actually begins in August – I always get the large Lily Pulitzer agenda and i use different colored markers/pens. (cleaning = blue, my second job = pink, CycleBar classes = red, etc.) I prefer to write things down versus using my phone.

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I LOVE the Erin Condren planners but can’t stomach the price. So I shopped around and found one at Michael’s which I have been loving. It is by Create 365, mine is called the medium Happy Planner. I LOVE planners and have used a variety of them. I like the idea of the planners you can re-use the covers but at this stage of life this one seems best. Good luck!

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Bando planners for life! They are super cute, have stickers and set up just right for me. Papersource sells them, the BYU MOA bookstore sells them now too (though not a lot of options) or you can order them online. I’ve been using them for three years now and don’t think I’ll be able to switch. I get the medium size, I like to lay it completely flat when I’m planning and I love the little slip to keep it closed. It’s definitely worth checking out.

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Day Designer all the way for a planner! I used to have an Erin Condren and loved it, but Day Designer is perfect for list makers (it has one day per page!).
I agree with the 10 degree rule, but I actually go by 20! So, if it’s 30 degrees, I dress like it’s 50. It also motivates me to actually do a warm up in the cold winter months so I can start feeling the heat!

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Plum Paper has AWESOME planners, and they are significantly cheaper than Erin’s! You can design them any way you’d like. I have used them for 2+ years!! I LOVE them!

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I LOVE my Desire Map Planner from Danielle LaPorte!! It’s not one of those middle-of-the-year planners but they just released the 2018 planners and I got a sneak peak and SO GOOD!!

I definitely have to dress as if it’s about 15 degrees warmer! There was a race I ran in November in Chicago a couple years ago and I was wearing shorts and a tank top and meanwhile everyone lined up around me was in long pants and long-sleeved shirts. I gave my parents a long sleeve just before lining up but there was no way I would run in it. A couple people around me made comments because I was standing there shivering but I warm up within the first mile and as it turned out, 1/2 mile in I was sweating and warm and so happy that I didn’t have to carry a long sleeve with me the rest of the way (and I think this was before I knew about the “throw away” shirt).

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The best thing I’ve used to stay organized is a holdover from my parents…a big desk calendar, but hung up on our fridge! Bonus points for finding a two year one – this was great when we were planning a wedding and needed to plan so far ahead!

I’ve heard that half and full marathons aren’t recommended for kids until they’re done growing; otherwise their growth plates can get screwed up? I’m not a doctor or any sort of medical person, so I don’t know if this is really true or not, but high school me had no desire to run for more than an hour, so 10Ks were my jam! That being said, my mom kept trying to talk me out of running my first full at the age of 24 :)

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I LOVE Erin Condren planners! I’ve been using them for years and write about them a ton on my blog and Instagram. I’m a huge planner person – they keep me so organized!

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I’ve yet to find a planner that totally works for me … so this fall I bit the bullet and I’m designing/putting together my own! I created a test run of Aug 2017 – Jan 2018 to see how I like it for a few months and to note the changes I’d like to make. Then I’ll print a whole year off for 2018. It costs $3 and five minutes to spiral-bind it at the office supply store. It’s a total game-changer for me.

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I love powdered PB mixed with some vanilla protein powder and almond/coconut milk! It’s a great dip for fruit, especially if you’re trying to get an adequate but quick protein intake after a workout. Great in smoothies too!

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plumpaper.com has awesome planners. They are the same dimensions as Erin Condren (so you can use her cover) but way cheaper and they ship really fast. Also you can add like 20 pages of notes for like 5 bucks!

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During my first half-marathon, I had the same soreness with shoulders as your friend. Since then, I’ve concentrated on moving my shoulder blades closer together not just running, but when I’m working at a desk or walking, too. Also, whenever catching us with our shoulders hunched up, my yoga teacher says, “don’t let your shoulders become earrings” –> which is what I actually tell myself during running! Hope this might help your friend!

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I HAVE to write everything down! I love my Erin Condren planner and get so excited for the new ones to come out each Fall!

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Good job making new dinners! I have a broccoli and rice recipe but this would be different with the quinoa. WHat is poultry seasoning? I saw that in the recipe.
And I have a question about the 10 degree warmer thing – you dress like your running in weather 10 degree warmer or like it was regular clothes?
And share what kind of planner you get. I love planners too.

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Hey Mary!!! Try out the recipe for sure:) So we didn’t have poultry season at home but I just looked in the spice section at our grocery store and found poultry seasoning! About the temperatures… I dress as though I’m about to run in weather 10 degrees warmer than it really is! I hope you are having an awesome day!

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I can’t wait until I can run 7 miles as a normal run for the day! 7 would be really long for me right now ;)
That donut shirt is adorable! And I can’t wait to make that casserole dish – seriously looks delicious!
I don’t have a planner – but I have a huge desk calendar at work I use to keep track of my life!
I saw one of my coworkers with a plum paper planner the other day and I am thinking about getting one before schools starts next week – they are super cute.
My typical run is 3-4 miles right now but I’m looking forward to running more over the next few months!
Have a great day!

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My son joine me for a ten mile racr last year. His goal was to run 10 miles when he was ten and raise $10,000 for Team World Vision. We sat down with two different doctors, and both gave their blessings. He ran 2-3 days a week with me and always set the pace. He has since stuck to shorter races, but that is fine by me. He accomplished all of his goals, and he still regularly runs with me.

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I love my ink + volt planner! https://inkandvolt.com/ It breaks down for year, month, then week and really helps me with my schedule and helps track my goals really well too! Plus it has writing prompts each week that I love!

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A lot of the 18 month planners are built around the school year and start in August or September so it’s actually the perfect time for you to look for one. I use a notebook and write things down kind of bullet journal style but also have the calendar planner for scheduling things for my blog, Youtube and other personal projects. I know I should be embracing technology but a handwritten schedule just works better for me too.

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I am pretty much obsessed with planners… it’s the teacher in me :) for the last few years, I bought an Erin Condren planner. This winter, I was getting ready to order a new one and happened to be in Michael’s. They were selling nearly identical planners to the Erin Condren. It had the same set up, stickers, and fun patterned covers to choose from. They also go on sale/you can use the online 50% off coupon. I think I got mine for less than $15 and I’m so happy with it!!

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I love my planner from Plum Paper! You can customize it and start any month if the year. You can also add as many months as you want. I started mine I June and its been a life saver (the phone calendar fails me every time!). It’s also a little bit less than some of the others depending on how you design it.
https://www.plumpaper.com

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Found a super cute planner at Michael’s for $15 bucks because they were having a sale- they might still be if there is one near you. It is very similar to an Erin Condren but obviously much cheaper. Searching Etsy for planner stickers is dangerous but so fun!

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Get the app called Timetree. It’s free. Plus you can sync your calendar with Andrew.

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I use the planners from Michael’s. They have a sale on them right now for the start of the school year. Lots of fun accessories, and big enough to capture a lot of detail.

I’ve used PB2 and PBFit in smoothies, predominantly. But I have also added it to muffins.. and I bet you could add it to your pancakes!! :)

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Use a Blue Sky planner! They are available at both Target and Walmart, for just 10 dollars each. There are two versions available each year: one made for the school year, which extends from July of the current year through June of the next year; and one made for the regular year, which extends from January through December. The planners feature yearly, monthly, and daily calendar pages. The monthly and daily ones have lines to facilitate neat, tidy writing, which, for me, ensures continued motivation to use the planner for the entire year. The thing that I don’t like about other, unlined planners if that they become messy through use.

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My go to mileage right now is about 6 miles. I’m taking it kind of easy through the heat of the summer before I start my marathon training.

I love PB Fit in my smoothies! My tummy doesn’t do well with regular pb but it does okay with this!

I’ve heard a lot of great things about the Erin Condren planner but I love using Google Calendar because both myself and the hubs can see it :)

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Hi! I love your blog, but I never really comment! However when I saw your planner question I had to contrbibute! I’m the same exact way! I hate using my phone because I like everything in front of me, but then it’s annoying to have to carry around a planner when I always have my phone on me. Does anyone have a good app suggestion (better than the apple calendar) where everything is easier to see and a better setup?

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Hi Janae! I rarely comment, but I am absolutely SOLD on my Erin Condren planner . This is my 8th year ordering from her. LOVE the product and customer service. Once they messed up on the personalization and immediately fixied it and compensated me for the trouble. SO… go for it!

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definitely recommend the erin condren planner – i’m on my 4th one!

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Love love LOVE my Ban.do planner. It goes through August 2017 – December 2018, and I was so excited to start using it this week. I have the medium sized one, and it’s great. I’ve tried pocket sized planners and large ones, and this one is the perfect size for planning out my weeks and throwing in my purse or backpack when I need to have it with me. Also comes with fun stickers and quotes that make me smile.

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I love my passion planner!! Very meta, but super organized.

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I love my Happy planner from Michaels!! It’s the absolute cutest and not as expensive as EC! Even though I’ve had an EC one and loved it too! But they have tons of cute accessories at Michaels for the happy planners which sold me! :)

I’ve never tried that peanut butter but I’ve seen tons of people who love it in their smoothies!

My go to distance is usually between 3-4 miles! I’m training for my 5th half though I’m about to start increasing my distances! YAY!!

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Bloom daily planners are my fave!

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I agree PB2 etc. is delish in smoothies. Also great to sprinkle on warm toast. Personally I spread either coconut manna or coconut oil, sprinkle PB2 on top and it melts! Also great to sprinkle on salmon with some bbq sauce and bake. Or any protein for that matter.

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I love having a physical planner to write things in and plan ahead on Sunday nights for the week ahead. I am a teacher, ultrarunner, and mom of 2 boys, so it gets hard to fit everything in somedays but planning ahead helps so much. Last year I used a small harbound one, Blue Sky brand from Target. I went to buy it again for this school year and they made so many changes to it that I don’t like it anymore. I started researching and found out that Erin Condren just releases hardbound planners for this year! I ordered mine from Amazon though to save some money. Same product but different design. It gets here today and I can’t wait. I like the hardbound because I hate writing around coil/spirals, and I prefer the ribbon bookmark to the tabs on the side.

As for kids running, my now 13 year old ran 12 miles when he was 9 just because he wanted to. He worked his way up and I rode my bike next to him and handed him Gu and water along the way. It’s one of my favorite memories ever!

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Also…I use PB2 in waffle or pancake batter….bit mostly in my yogurt. I take plain Greek yogurt and add PB2, milled flax, and honey. SO good! It’s full of protein and great for a morning or after workout snack. I hear you on the fats, but I feel like I get enough from avocado, whole nuts, olive oil, etc.

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Write Stuff planners are amazing. Seriously, the best planner I’ve ever used. What makes them so awesome is that they’re goal-oriented, which means you can start using one at any time and just set your goals. You can set long-term goals and short-term goals, and throughout each week, there are spots that check in on your progress on the long-term goals, along with spots to track your current goals for the week, month, etc. Also, the planners are super cute and high quality! My husband uses his for school to keep track of assignments too.
http://www.writestuffplanning.com/

They’re also on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/b/AZLLEQYBHLFYK

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I love my Life 360 Calendar. You can change the pages in and out so you can just buy replacement pages and start it at any point in the year. I also have an insert for home that includes budget sheets, meal planning sheets, a to do list and a house cleaning list. There is a fitness insert you can get too. They have different styles with match stickers. I love stickers. :)

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Sorry, I just checked and its the Happy Planner Create 365.

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I just got a very cute planner from Barnes & Noble. I think the brand is “Gallery Leather” and it is called a “family planner” because it has space and organization that would be great for many schedules. It goes August 2017-December 2018 so it is perfect! Each day has its own column with times 6am to 6pm so you can fill in your daily schedule, and it also has a to-do list space at the bottom of every day, and pages of perforated list space in the back! I’m obsessed. I LOVED my Erin Condren one year it was gifted to me (I’m a teacher so it was amazing), but they are so darn expensive!

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I’m an old curmudgeon – I think, in general, that kids should wait until high school for half marathons and post-high school for marathons. There is just so much growing, especially for boys, that happens during those years and the extra stress of high mileage on muscles, tendons, and bones can be hard. 5ks, 10ks…go for it!

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You can get an ‘academic calendar’ they go from August to August each year.

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i just got this planner and i love it:
https://www.bando.com/collections/agendas/products/bando-17-month-large-agenda-one-day-at-a-time

it has lots of cute phrases and reminders throughout. it’s pretty big though.

and i love pb fit! i used to buy pb2 but i prefer the flavor of pb fit (and they sell it at costco). i do use it in smoothies, “nice” cream, or oatmeal as others have said – it’s definitely not going to do the trick as a spread on a bagel or anything if you’re craving peanut butter, but it’s good mixed in with other things. maybe mixed with bisquik??

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