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Eating this....cuz I ate that....

Just a quick little something....

My weekend/week so far has not been great.  At lunch today, I planned for a salad.  I had brought all the fixings for a delicious salad...but when lunchtime came I ate boiled egg and went to the mall to return a top that was sitting in my car.  Now...I'm at the mall on what should be just a quick in and out, but all I could think about was how wonderful some yogurt from You Say When would taste...

I did what any (most) girl would do when she was having a bad week....

I got the yogurt! And it was HEAVEN!

So...when I got hungry for some real food in the afternoon, I went with a better, healthier choice.  And it was still delish!!!! Raw veggies, boiled eggs and balsamic spritzer...yum!

Issues

Not really sure what is going on with me....but I'm working on fixing it! I'll be back packing on some miles soon. Working two jobs, trying to train for my first full marathon and my third half marathon (the half is in less than 3 weeks), spend time with my husband (forget about friends at this point) and try to clean and do laundry...I'm overwhelmed with it all at the moment.  Must prioritize better!!!!

Ok...done whining!

Sometime life gets in the way of our plans and we just have to adjust.  I'm working on that process now!

The Massage!

I purchased two massages back in April through a Groupon.  They were about to expire the end of the month.  Why I waited all this time to actually use them is beyond me, but they needed to be used or lost!  They were for two 50 minute relaxation massages.  The hubs and I met at the shop after work and I think he was looking forward to it as much as I was.  When they called us back, I got the younger, fit looking girl.  The hubs got the older, plump woman.  Works for me...

I got in the room, stripped to my undies (I brought full-butt boy shorts for the occasion) and got ready to be fully relaxed.  Well, although I was fully relaxed and the massage was "nice", I felt like I was in a constant state of wanting just a little more.  I guess I could have asked for more pressure but since the Groupon was for a relaxation massage, I didn't want to break the rules but asking for deep tissue.  It was nice.  That's it...just nice. Funny thing though during the massage...I have some stinky feet.  I'll admit it.  Along with what you may have learned yesterday about my feet they also smell.  My brother-in-law likes to say it's a family thing since apparently my sister suffers from the same stank feet.  Whatev!  It doesn't matter what I do, they tend to smell and especially if I have worn shoes with no socks.  Which brings me back to my story....I had in fact worn these cute little shoes that day...no socks (read: confined sweaty feet).  I was so relaxed, but as the therapist started working her way to my feet, I started to get a little nervous...."would she touch them", "are feet included in this massage", "do they still smell", etc.  Well, something worse happened.  As she began to massage my shin/calf, she bent my knee and braced my leg against herself.  Now, I am face down on a table...I have no idea where she braced it, but I am fairly certain that it was up against the front of her shoulder...with my ankle about ear level....that poor chick was just breathing in the sweaty grossness of my toes.  I wanted to laugh so bad, but didn't dare...my calf needed the attention so I didn't want to give her an excuse to quit early.  And...in the end...she did massage my feet and it was wonderful.  I'm glad that was the last thing she did though...I wouldn't want her touching me anywhere else after having her hands on those babies!

All in all I was happy with my experience.  For what I paid vs. what I received, it was a great deal.  Now...the Hubs? He got an amazing deal.  I was done, dressed, sipping water in the relaxation room for almost 20 minutes before he came out!!! We both went back at the same time too....so not fair.  He said that the lady was huffing and puffing from the very beginning and told him he was so tense she was going to have to do deep tissue just to loosen him up to be able to work on him.  So he not only got a longer massage but a deep tissue at that! He deserves it though and I'm so glad he had a good therapist and a wonderful experience.

We followed up our massages with a fantastic sushi dinner at Bonsai.  It was wonderful.  We love eating there but usually spend so much money that we save it for special occasions.  Well since we are trying to be a little more frugal these days, we opted to alter our "usual" selections for some less expensive ones.  We seem to like all the "special" rolls that are in the $10 -$12 range.  So we picked 4 different options in the $5 -$7 range and although they were NOT as good as our usual faves, they were still delish and we were thankful we got a sushi date AND watched our spending.  If you ever get a chance to visit Bonsai in Wesley Chapel, here are a few of my faves I recommend: Sexy Man, Crispy, Waikiki, Volcano. Done! 

Now...I know I said yesterday that I was going to run last night....that didn't happen.  I am so mad at myself too! I did so great the first week and now this week is shot to...well you get it.  This weekend is going to be a planning weekend for me...outfits, lunches, gym bag....so that I stick with it next week.  Gym in the AM: Monday and Wednesday! That means out the door by 4:40 AM (shoot me now).  Check back to keep me accountable on that one!

I work all weekend at my part time job...lets hope people are out spending money and tipping their servers well!!! I am taking my little sister to a fall festival on Saturday and I'm really looking forward to that.  It's at a horse farm and I LOVE horses (had one growing up...case you didn't know).  There will be hay rides, games, petting zoo, pony rides, costume contests and CANDY!

Thursday Latelies...I'm joining the fun!

I keep seeing some of my favorite blogs doing the "Thursday Latelies" and I decided to join in this week...even though my ugly mug will NOT be doing it as a video like some of my faves do (bex and jill). Thursday Latelies is just listing some things that you are currently loving or thankful for...so here is my list! Don't judge me...it's my first time!

My number 1 will have to be running.  I love to run...even though I may have a miserable run here and there, I still love it.  I love pushing myself and the satisfaction I feel at the end of a run.  I'm also a total sap at times and get a little emotional while running. I try to use my running time to talk with the Lord and sometimes I am just overwhelmed with thankfulness that I have the ability to run. I may never achieve the speed I want (or once had) and I may never place in a marathon, half or even a 5k, but I can run.  I have the God given ability to run and I am so thankful and humbled when I think of all the people that cannot, whether from physical disability or health reasons.  Silly, I know...but I am also the same girl who will most likely tear up when I cross a finish line, no matter how well I did.  I just get such a sense of accomplishment and often get overcome by the emotion of it....such a softie I know...don't give me that look!  

Adding to my thankfulness and love for running is this super, awesome giveaway by Tips 4 Running.  Go check out the page AND the giveaway! Those Saucony's look and sound awesome and I for one would love to win a pair.  I have my next half marathon in 24 days (here) AND my first FULL marathon in February (here) and I would love to be sporting a pair of these new Saucony's.  

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These are the ones I want!!!

Next, I am thankful for the little old man in Walmart that either just needed someone to talk to or truly got a look at my gross feet....yeah, he just needed someone to talk to, we'll go with that.  I purchased this:

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I admit it...I have nasty feet.  Part of it is that I am lazy and don't use that pumice scrubber enough on them and I'm too cheap to get regular pedi's so my heals pretty much stay dry, cracked and gross.  I will buy stuff and then never stick with putting it on regularly.  But for $5.94 I got this tub of Heel Rescue that the sweetest little old man told me was guaranteed to work (I also heard how bad his feet are and that you must be faithful for this to work...he was adorable).  I'm all for a guaranty...so I bought it.  I have only used it twice but it did feel fabulous and not super greasy either...I'll keep you posted on my progress!  Don't get your hopes up though...there will probably NOT be pics EVA of my feet on here!  I think I should have listened to my mom growing up when she constantly yelled at me to put shoes on, although she always told me I would get worms if I didn't quit running barefoot in the barn with Rusty (my best friend and quarter horse) and I never did.  I'm probably just paying now as an adult with gross feet!

Next up is this fabulous little gem I discovered: Organix Renewing Moroccan Argan Penetrating oil! LOVING it!  I have pretty healthy hair on my own, but with my highlighting, coloring, flat ironing my curls into straight submission...I wanted to use something to help it out and keep it healthy.  This stuff is fabulous! It smells great, and gives my hair such softness and shine....love it!

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Next up: Nail Life! I have pretty healthy nails, but if I neglect them I'll get the typical peeling that can occur. Years ago, a girl I worked with told me about this stuff.  She had the strongest, most beautiful natural nails ever! She swore by this stuff, so I bought some and have never been without a bottle in my house since.  It really does give you strong, healthy nails!

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Last up is my new Stella & Dot, Snake Orb Pendant Necklace! Just got it in last night and love, love, love it!!!!  Thanks to Skinny Runner for this post I got it on sale (super amazing steal) and I am so excited about it. Of course I am wearing it today and posing for super gooberish pics, but hey, new jewelry makes me silly giddy!

 

So fun! Go check out Stella & Dot!

So that is it for me...guess I have a lot that I am loving and thankful for today.  Believe me, there are a ton more that I am thankful for, but for today, this is a fun list!

OH WAIT!!!! One more thing....I'm super excited and happy that the hubs and I are getting massages together after work today! I will post about that tomorrow and all the awesome deliciousness that I'm sure it will be!

Ok...one more thing....I am still working out...but this week kind of got away from me.  I took yesterday (yes I remember that I took Monday off too) off...dumb, but I had so much to do.  I will be running tonight (even though I'm sure I won't want to after my massage and dinner with the hubs).  

Rain, rain, go away...

Tonight was supposed to be track work with my tri team (here) but the rain put an end to that.  As much as I hate track work it does really help..but it was kind of nice to just go hand out with everyone for Taco Tuesday instead!

So that I felt like I did something...I did a quick leg series before taking a nice bath with a good book.  Here is what I did:
25 squats
10 lunges (each leg)
15 calf raises (each leg)
15 squats with side leg raise
Repeat 2x

Really sad...but felt good and I'm counting it as "something" active. 

Weekend Recap

I know I said I was going to give myself Friday of....but I didn't.  I'm STILL sore from that workout...good sore though.  I didn't have to be at work on Friday until 6, and since my boss is the BOMB and lets me off at 3 on Fridays (and pays me to 4), I had time when I got home to workout.  I took full advantage and got in a weights workout at the house.  I did shoulders/chest/abs.  Great workout!

I took Saturday off and slept in with the hubs and then went to breakfast before work.  After work the hubs and I watched our friend and his band play and met up with some friends for some food and spirits at Primebar.  Brass Tap was having an Octoberfest street party event so we sat outside and watched a little football (Poor Florida...) and did some people watching. It was beautiful outside! I was in shorts and a little top and was wishing I had a jacket....the weather was awesome!

The hubs and I listening to some music!

On Sunday, the hubs went to ride his dirtbike with his dad so I had the morning to myself before work.  I decided to test out running on an empty stomach.  I planned on a 5 mile run and since I didn't get started until after 9:30 I decided I would take my fuel/hydration belt.  I hate wearing it but know that I need to so I got everything ready and headed out by 9:40 AM.  It was a beautiful morning but still got really hot even at that time!  I learned a few things on this run.

1.   I do really well running in the morning on an empty stomach.

2.   I cannot forget to take my beta blocker...if I do then I will pay during a run.

3.   Remembering to take a gel mid-run really will help!

New running gear!

I ran a total of 5.42 miles in 59:25.  For me, that was a very good run and much faster than my runs have been lately, especially being that it was longer than the others and still faster.  Strange, but I def think it has to do with running early.  It is so hard for me to work all day and then try to come home and get a good run in.  I really need to start going to bed early so that I can get up in the morning to run.  I just HATE that will mean getting up at 4 AM to run...ugh!  Anyway...back to Sunday's run.  At about mile 2 I was feeling good and plugging right along and I glanced at my HR....it was at 188! Oops! Up to this point I was doing a run 1 mile/walk 1 minute split and was just under a 10:00/min mile pace.  I usually do a 5 minute/30 second split but changed it up for this run since I felt so good.  Well, I realized that I had forgotten to take my beta blocker on Saturday, which I think is what was causing my super elevated HR.  Normally, when I take my meds daily, I won't get over 168, even if I'm running a fast pace.  I felt fine though and didn't want to start making more stops, but as I neared mile 3, my HR had climbed to 193.  I decided it would be wise for me to get my HR down, so at mile 3, I stopped running and walked for 4 minutes and got it down to 160 before I started running again.  I also took a Hammer gel at mile 3.  It took almost a mile for me to really feel the effect of the gel but man did I.  I probably could have run a few more miles...I felt that good.  Had to get to work though.  All in all....fantastic run...even with the HR issues.  

Run is done!!! Felt awesome!

Wow....what a super long and boring post...sorry! But it helps me to get this all down and keep myself accountable.  Super happy with this week....only took one day off and got some miles in.  My goal for this next week will be to get in a few more miles and have a longer run.  Less than 4 weeks to my half marathon...and I want to be ready on race morning!