Friday Faves + Goodbye Kitchen + YOU are Amazing!

4.3 miles for my Thursday morning!  I was on my own for the run so I just did some loops around our neighborhood.  I’m sure any neighbors that saw me run by them a few times must have thought I was crazy… just a little crazy but also really wanting to stay close to home:)

And then it was time to take Brooke to school!  The happiness that the fake fur on her hood brings to her is priceless.

Our neighbor called and said he could get started on our kitchen yesterday which we are beyond excited about.  Now to figure out this weekend of eating until we get a sink and counters again:)  I don’t know how my sister did it with 5 kids for weeks when she was redoing her kitchen!  I see a lot of cereal in our future.

This dog is beyond loved.

After school we were able to have one of the kid’s friends with us come around on a few errands.  No kitchen = pizza factory for lunch because I was craving one of their salads big time.

And of course their breadtwist that doesn’t actually fit entirely into the picture.  One of the many important lessons that Andrew has taught me in life is the importance of ranch and dipping breadsticks or pizza into it.

And this is the salad that I had on my mind.  They have kiwi, apples, cranberries, chicken, cheese, mandarin oranges and almonds on there… heaven (especially when drenched in their dressing)!

After lunch we had to go pick up some things at Home Depot to get things moving on the kitchen!  I decided I would join the kids in pretending the ground was hot lava and sit on the cart the whole time.  Once again, the pregnancy card comes in handy over here.

Yep, this was a much more fun trip to Home Depot than usual doing it this way:)

I ran into Target while we were out to get some of the things you recommended for my hospital bag (HERE) and saw these!  Maybe these are the one type of Oreos that I will actually love since they are Hot Cocoa flavor?  Has anyone tried them?

The kids are actually pretty thrilled with the idea of having simple meals for the next few days… that means they aren’t having to try any new meals (because that might be the hardest thing on the planet at this point;).

THANK YOU to Andrew because he picked up Noodles & Co for me for dinner and since he knows their garlic bread isn’t my favorite, he stopped at a different store for the better stuff.

My stomach is turning into a great mini-table for my food and I spill less often this way!

A happy pregnant wife that is no longer hungry and ate exactly what sounded good to her = a happy life;)

———————————————————————————–

Time for a few Friday Favorites!!!

*I just started trying out some new leave in conditioner (my first time ever) and it is fabulous!

*Andrew took this picture the last time he was at In-N-Out (I’m one of those people that doesn’t understand why people love that place so much… add to the fact that hamburgers are a current aversion)!  But they have FREE HOT COCOA for kids on rainy days.  That is brilliant.  I will be taking the kids the next time it rains and I’m sure I’ll get a hot chocolate and/or shake for me too:)

*The other day I was on the computer getting some things done and I heard a Youtube movie start.  I found Andrew and Brooke taking an online ballet class.  You should have heard Brooke’s giggles, she was so happy.

*This carbs sweatshirt… I saw my friend wearing one the other day and decided that I REALLY need one since that is 95% of my diet right now;)

*My sister’s little boy is going places with his basketball career already.  Nothing but net.

*Roolee (my favorite boutique ever) started their Black Friday sales now—>  HERE!

*Seeing this…  we are an interesting bunch of humans:)

*Brooks is giving away a super cute long sleeve holiday Distance Tee when you spend $150 or more… grab some new shoes!  PS the Launch 4s (aka my favorite shoe right now) are only $75 right now!!

*Sara recommended this book, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance and it is super interesting!  It isn’t a running book but pretty much everything in it can be related to running and I loved this part about the treadmill, “Staying on the treadmill is one thing, and I do think it’s related to staying true to our commitments even when we’re not comfortable.  But getting back on the treadmill the next day, eager to try again, is in my view even more reflective of grit.  Because when you don’t come back the next day— when you permanently turn your back on a commitment— your effort plummets to zero.  As a consequence, your skills stop improving, and at the same time, you stop producing anything with whatever skills you have.”

*Gwen Jorgensen (she took the Olympic triathlon gold in Rio) just said that she is leaving the triathlon to go to the MARATHON.  Her goal is to go for the gold at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, I can’t wait to see how she does with the marathon!!  (source)

———————————————————————————–

Keep on being AMAZING and if you want me to feature your accomplishments, send them to [email protected]  !!!

———————————————————————————–

Christina!!!  “Here is my husband and me at the Rockville 5k this morning.  I’m currently 38+ weeks pregnant with our first child and set my sights on this race the past couple weeks.  My goal was to run under 30 minutes and we came in at 29:15!! Now I’m ready for this baby to come:)”

———————————————————————————–

Florence!!!  “Well… I did it!!!!!  I had my first half marathon race on Sunday which I completed in 3:03 (i.e.: 14 minutes quicker than I did it in training)!!!  The race was the Nice-Cannes marathon on the French Riviera which I did as part of a relay team with my husband Kevin (each runner does a half).   When I finished I sat on the ground and promptly burst into tears of happiness and exhaustion!!!  My next half marathon race is the Barcelona half marathon in February and I’m running the London Marathon in April!  Yikes!!!”

———————————————————————————–

Sarah!!!  “This race was the best, yet most challenging run in my entire running career and I still cannot find the right words.  It was incredible- incredibly fun and incredibly tough!  I was overwhelmed but the cheering crowds, the atmosphere and the passion for running in the participants as well as in the spectators that could be felt along the entire 26.2 miles.  After the starting signal I was so motivated that I started faster than I planned to.  All the cheering made me feel great, but at mile12 my thighs started to hurt.  I was not used to running hilly terrain and all the up and down took a toll on my legs.  So I backed off, accepting that I won’t run a new PB, but deciding that I savor every kilometer in this awesome atmosphere and this beautiful city from that time on.  And I did.  Although the course was tougher than I could imagine beforehand I just forgot about the pain in my legs and feet and had the most joyful run ever.  I finished in 3:10:22 and I am proud and so very thankful that I had the chance to be a part of this incredible event.  And from now on, I’m in love with NYC!  This picture was taken after I was reunited with my husband, who finished as well (equally overwhelmed), and after having the best grilled cheese ever.  All the love from Germany (with a bit of jet lag and pretty sore legs from sitting on an airplane for 10 hours the day after the marathon)!”

———————————————————————————–

Loribeth!!!  “My running accomplishment is that I ran my 10th half marathon on Saturday!  It was a tough one because I underestimated the course.  It was a small race limited to 400 people (only about 250 ran the half) and sponsored by the YMCA.  The course was on the paved parkway trails just a few blocks from my in-laws house… I run those trails every time we visit Nashville.  I forgot how intense the hills are in middle Tennessee and combining that with 100% humidity, some major toe cramps, a pretty big chafing spot under my arm (ouch!), and starting out a bit too fast, I was about 10 minutes off my usual time.  I was initially very upset but my wonderful husband very quickly made me realize just how awesome I was for finishing and I actually came in 5th in my age group, so the hills were not just tough for me but for everybody!  The race was so well organized with police and volunteers at every crosswalk and subdivision entrance (there are a lot of those on this course) and there was a festival for all the kids afterwards with pizza, inflatables, music, and the police and fire department trucks.  I found a great tent afterwards where they had a massage therapist and got all those toe cramps calmed down.   My Tennessee flag jersey was a hit, too!  I will definitely be back to try this race again, and I will not underestimate it again!!!!”

———————————————————————————–

Have any Friday Favorites?!?

What are your true thoughts about Oreos… any varieties you love more than others?  What about in-n-out… fan or not so much?  

Anyone running RNR Las Vegas this weekend?  Who has done a Rock’n’Roll race in the past… which one(s)?!  This is one of my favorite races (besides the fact I felt so sick because I was pregnant and didn’t know it;)… ENJOY and I’m going to make it back one of these years!

What are your Friday night plans?