Humidity & Rainbows

I am so happy I have had four days in a row to chill. It has been amazing to just recharge - admittedly i have not done everything I wanted to accomplish but - that's ok. I am trying to enjoy my days off and do what I want to do versus making a to do list and feeling pressured to get that shit done. One of the pros to being childless :) I can be selfish on my days off and make them all about me!

Lots of running going on - I am very proud of myself for pushing through, sticking to my training plan, getting the miles in on hot sticky days & just doing it.  Just started Week 4 which is another 2 four mile funs, 1 five mile run Saturday and an easy three mile run.

Here I am after a 4 miler this past week - note the ice on the knees :)

Can you feel in these next two pics just how hot and humid it is here?? The runs have been brutal and I know it is only going to get worse. 

Must. Get. Up. Earlier.

Cute right? ;)

this was a day i was feeling good - my jeans are starting to feel a lot less "snug" as D-lo would say.
Note the messy guest bedroom - I may have been a wee bit distracted this week by Peaky Blinders mid way through organizing my closet - whoops.

Here is a close up of my new necklace - love it! It is by Lisa Jill Jewelry  - I have had my eye on her necklaces for about a year - my friend Tiffany in Atlanta has a buddha necklace by her that I fell in love with. I finally decided to buy one for myself - love love LOVE! Sometime you just have to treat yo self :)

 Erin and I are doing our long runs together on Saturdays....we ran at about 7am for our 5 miles on Saturday - WOW was it humid. I was worried as Erin runs much faster than me but - we did really great together - only had to stop a couple of times (the heat was really getting to me) and we ran the last mile nonstop and even sprinted the last bit - we are so awesome :)

We ran around our neighborhoods - had to get our photo by the mural behind Venice Cafe - i LOVE this place so much - so funky

This fine lady was a part of the mural as well... cutie bootie!

I was feeling extra glowy Saturday after our run and after I did a mini facial here at the house - I exfoliate once a week with Peter Thomas Roth Peeling Gel (drop everything and buy this product now!!) it is amazing and makes my face feel smooth and glowy! 

I get mine at sephora and really wish they sold it by the gallon - I use it on my feet, elbows - basically anywhere you want smoother skin - love it!!

We joined the dog park again so the pups can run - we've been twice since we got the code and they are loving it :) Charlie especially loves running free & Bebe reverts to being a puppy once we are there - she wants to play fetch endlessly with all the tennis balls.

 My fitbit was WAY in the green after Saturday.... I wish every day looked like this!!

My emotions have been really high the past few days - as many people's have been. The shooting in Orlando is heartbreaking and makes me question faith in humanity and our future. I just can't wrap my head around all the hate. It's something I have never understood - why being gay infuriates so many people. I was planning on running the Pride 5K this year anyway in St Louis but - signed up immediately on Sunday morning when I heard the news - I will do whatever I can to support my friends & family that are in the LGBTQ community - always! My heart goes out to those affected and  their families & friends. 

 I got my Pride Race tee to sport that day from a local business - Arch Apparel - lots of cute Pride shirts and STL shirts - I may have bought a couple :)

 Yesterday we had some storms in the afternoon and then sunshine - I went outside and thought I had missed the rainbow but - it came back as we were standing outside with our neighbors watching the sky - I snapped this pic as the sky was just gorgeous and it made me feel like there is love and healing on the horizon. Sappy but - I have to look at it that way otherwise - hate wins. And we can't have that.

SaveSave

Training on the Road

Back from my business trip to Indy - i was so proud of myself for sticking to my training even while out of town on business. Very easy for me to justify or explain away why I can't make training a priority and push it off for another day - not this trip :)

I made myself get up, head down to the hotel gym and put in my 4 miles - it was tough but got the miles in - go me! I was trying to compromise with myself the entire time - from the thought of staying in bed to get an extra 45 minutes of sleep to only running 3 miles once i started. Sometimes you just have to force yourself and put one foot in front of the other.

The meeting I was in Indy for was one that I helped to plan and coordinate so - i am happy to report it went well. And I am so happy it is over! Now I can relax a bit - in fact I am taking staycation days Monday and Tuesday of next week to get some downtime in to chill and unwind. So excited to have 2 whole days of no plans!

I may have rewarded myself with a dirty martini once I got home ;)

yesterday was my husband's birthday so - we went to a vertical stout tasting at a local brewery - Abraxas Stout from Perennial - 2015 was my favorite and I let my hubs drink my '13 and '14. These are 10% ABV so can sneak up on you quick - i just stuck to my half pour ;)

We decided to grab dinner near the house for the hub's birthday dinner - we went to Mission Taco, a local cantina in our neighborhood - here is Chad's fancy pants drink he ordered :)

 It was a fun night and we were home and in bed by 9 - birthday celebrations get tamer and tamer as the years go by ;)

Today is another 4 mile run day - the temps are getting super hot and humid AND our AC decided to stop working upstairs last night :( so.... I may be heading to the gym to get my miles in this afternoon or just roughing it in the heat - lots of water for me today!

Ice is my new BFF

Got all my runs in this week - even with my husband's birthday party this weekend - yay me! I just switched around my long run day and did it on Friday versus Saturday. Four miles was not too bad....although the humidity is starting to kick in. I really need to start getting my runs in early before work versus the afternoon... summers in St Louis are no joke! And yes I am officially ready for fall already :)

My favorite way to cool down after a run - a burt's bees grapefruit facial towelette straight from the refrigerator! So refreshing :)  The things that go through my mind when I run usually involve cold things - my post run towelette from the fridge, a dip in a cold pool (i wish we had one!), or icing down whatever muscle is aching or acting up. This was me Friday after my 4 miles - sweaty!

 And there has been a lot more icing of the knees too - but, this has really helped and I am not having much stiffness/pain at all - it has really helped. And I think my body is getting back into the swing of running more consistently. Now I do icing as more of a precaution - aaaannd it feels nice :)

and more icing :)

My nutrition has been sketchy with Chad's party and I have a work trip this week - it is always a challenge for me to balance work stress and healthy eating. Add work travel on top of that and well...bad choices ensue. I will try an be healthy this week but - not going to beat myself up over a few extra glasses of wine or a fat steak dinner. I told Chad we would get back into our meal planning once I am home later this week and.... thankfully it is a short trip this week.

 I did make some healthy sides for the party Saturday - some homemade salsa.... love this stuff! So good - I can never find pre-made store salsa that I like as most of it contains sugar. I hate sweet salsa - blech! This is just fresh tomatoes, red onion, jalapeños, garlic, cilantro, lime juice & salt - perfect!

Also made some pineapple chow - pineapple, habanero, garlic, cilantro & salt - very spicy and pairs well with pork or any other BBQ protein. Also some fresh watermelon - every watermelon we have bought this year has been so sweet & delicious.

 Now I am off to throw some things into a suitcase and head out for work - this training week will be 2 four miles runs, 1 five mile run on Saturday and 1 easy 3 mile run. My plan is to run tomorrow morning at the hotel on the treadmill or near the hotel - wish me luck with that!  Bringing a baggie with me so I can ice down after my run!

Cheers and hope everyone has a great week :)