At least if you are talking about gravity.

Unfortunately that particular law of physics does not come into play when talking about speed or the scale.

The neverending (or so it seems) battle with injuries has had a not so happy affect on both.  I used to see 8s as the first number on at least a few miles every run except for long runs.  Now I’m lucky if I see a 9 for more than a mile.  Also, my shorts are tight and my body just feels soft.  I’m over it.

Thursday began “Project Get My Sh$# Together.”  Summer is here and my workout time will be limited.  I have only three weeks of school left and with all the things I need to attend at the school, I think I have one full day to myself.  And then I have the boys home with me (or on vacation with me) until September.  I’m going to have to make the minutes I do have count.  Speedwork, anyone?  (Yes, I am smart enough to know that not every run can be run fast.  I’m just trading in some shorter faster runs that have been missing from my life.)

Thursday I ran a nice tempo run.  Four miles, with two at tempo: 9:57, 9:18, 9:17, 9:47.  It was harder than those paces “should” have been, but it’s a start.

Today, I rest.  (Isn’t that how everyone starts a month long challenge?)

Saturday, I get to run 6 miles on rolling hills as leg 1 in a mini-relay. My goal? 6 miles that all start with 9.  Here’s hoping I don’t puke.

(Don’t forget, today’s the last day to enter the Scrunchie Cap giveaway!)

This was my first month as a Foodie Pen Pal. I’ve been reading monthly reveals for a while and finally couldn’t resist.  (I’ve done quite a few online exchanges in the past, both as a blogger and before blogging, and I’ve gotten some really awesome things and some really awful stuff, so hesitated to join in.)

Well, I picked a great month to do it!  I received a package from Ariel at Having My Cake and Sharing It 2.  When it came, I totally lied to my children (“Nothing to see here…”) and ran off to see what I got.  Patience?  Yeah, I don’t have any of that.

And I was so glad my children didn’t see what I got…

FourBarrel Friendo Blendo Espresso
Dandelion Chocolate
June Taylor Lisbon Lemon Candy

Ariel included a lovely note explaining each item and suggesting an order in which to eat the chocolates, so of course, I started with the chocolate.

Dandelion Chocolate makes small batch chocolates with single origin beans.  Ariel sent me three bars: Colombia, Venezuela, and Madagascar.  I followed the directions and had a small bit of each one the first night.  I was surprised at how different they all tasted!  Personally, my favorite was the Venezuela, closely followed by the Colombia.  The Madagascar was still really good, but the others were just so.much.better.

And then I stopped following the rules.  I did what any self-respecting beer lover would do.  I paired them with beers.  Just in case you are wondering, Colombia paired well with Stoudt Brewings Fat Dog Imperial Oatmeal Stout.  Venezuela went well with both Terrapin Beer Company Coffee Oatmeal Stout and Leffe Brune.  You’re welcome.

Sadly, this is all that’s left of the chocolate now:

The June Taylor lemon candy was quite yummy as well.  Ariel suggested that I could bake them into something.  We all know how likely that is… I ate them straight from the bag.

Last, but not least, Ariel included a bag of FourBarrel coffee.  I haven’t actually drunk it yet, in part because I just enjoy the smell of it sitting next to my computer, in part because I’m too lazy to go find my grinder, in part because I want to hoard it for myself and I’m waiting for Beer Geek to go on travel.  (I know, I’m an awesome wife.)  It smells so good that I can’t imagine it tasting anything less than amazing.

A huge thank you to Lindsey at the Lean Green Bean for organizing and to Ariel for the awesome items she sent.  I couldn’t have asked for a better first month of participating in the Foodie Pen Pal program.  Want to join in?  See below for the details!  And if you want to see what I sent, check out Enjoy with Joy.  (I can only hope she enjoyed her box as much as I did.)

-On the 5th of the month, you will receive your penpal pairing via email. It will be your responsibility to contact your penpal and get their mailing address and any other information you might need like allergies or dietary restrictions.

-You will have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail. On the last day of the month, you will post about the goodies you received from your penpal!

-The boxes are to be filled with fun foodie things, local food items or even homemade treats! The spending limit is $15. The box must also include something written. This can be anything from a note explaining what’s in the box, to a fun recipe…use your imagination!

-You are responsible for figuring out the best way to ship your items depending on their size and how fragile they are. (Don’t forget about flat rate boxes!)

-Foodie Penpals is open to blog readers as well as bloggers. If you’re a reader and you get paired with a blogger, you can choose to write a short guest post for your penpal to post on their blog about what you received. If two readers are paired together, neither needs to worry about writing a post for that month.

- Foodie Penpals is open to US, Canadian residents & UK residents. Please note, Canadian Residents will be paired with other Canadians only. We’ve determined things might get too slow and backed up if we’re trying to send foods through customs across the border from US to Canada and vice versa. So, I’m going to keep two separate lists and match US w/ US and Canada w/ Canada!

***If you’re in the UK, please contact Carol Anne from This Is Rock Salt at rocksalt@thisisrocksalt.com to get involved!

AKA bits and pieces from the last few days…

• As I was dozing in bed this morning waiting for the alarm, I heard a huge “THUMP” on my window.  I opened the shade and there was a squirrel clinging to the screen, staring at me.  I smacked the window and he jumped down.  I turned away and I heard a “THUMP” again.  Sure enough, he was right back.  This repeated a few times.  I finally opened the window and scared him enough to make him run away.  WTF?
• I’m really starting to freak out about Cub Scout camp.  Important things like “how will I be able to shave my legs?” “how am I going to be able to handle July in Virginia with no air conditioning?” “Will I get withdrawal symptoms from the lack of cell phone and internet?”
• Speaking of Cub Scouts, last week the boys earned the Whittling Chip so they can take their knives for whittling there.  I’m a teensy tiny bit scared of boys with knives.

Creating some sort of creature out of soap...

• I’m losing one of my fingernails from slamming the door on my finger back in March.  I thought losing a toenail was gross, but actually losing it on my hand where people can see it is much worse.
• Whispering – I ran this weekend and my foot didn’t swell.  Shhh!
• The door on our 1995 jeep needs repairing.  You get really strange looks at the gas station when you get out the passenger door – and you are the driver.
• Summer has hit here full force this week.  I am so not ready for 90 degree runs.  The prospect of sitting on my butt and getting out of shape has never looked so good.  ;o)
• A B-52 flew over our house last night.  As an Air Force brat, I saw lots of them growing up (my dad flew in them), so I was totally bummed to miss seeing it.  It’s been years since I saw one in the air.  Also? The randomest things fly over/happen near our house.  One of the reasons I’m not sure I could ever move.
• I’m a little bit OCD about knowing what time it is.  When I went to the Blue Ridge half marathon, I lost the alarm clock I’d had since college.  Yesterday, Shoo decided he needs a watch and took the one I normally wear 24/7.  Talk about living outside your comfort zone!  I think I may have to rectify the situation at Target today.
• This weekend was all kinds of awesome.  Some lazin’, Rolling Thunder, dinner out with my boys, a pool party, yard work, and this:

Lunch with these beautiful ladies was a highlight of my weekend

• Meeting up with Kim, T, and G (and T’s adorable girls) was awesome. Rumor has it there may be some more meetups in the future, including one while we are out in Oregon this summer. Woot!

Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

Yesterday I went out for a run again.  My foot hadn’t hurt in a few days and the swelling on Tuesday and Wednesday was minimal.  I decided to take my chiro’s advice and try a more supportive shoe than what I’ve been wearing.  I wore a pair of Saucony Triumphs.  Now, I loved these shoes.  They took me (injury free) through my second marathon and many shorter races.  They helped me when I was recovering from my achilles issues.

Yesterday they made my hip and knee hurt.  It was the hip and knee on the opposite side from my current calf and foot issues. Really?  Really???  I just felt like my foot was being forced to land wrong.  I managed 3 sucky miles (although a big piece of the sucky came from forgetting to eat breakfast + 75 degree weather).

On the bright side, my foot was not swollen last night and my knee and hip didn’t hurt at all after the run.

I’m just so frustrated.  I can’t seem to run minimalist without hurting myself, but my feet and gait have apparently changed in a way that my old shoes no longer fit.  I don’t have unlimited resources to keep buying different shoes either.  So, running is just going to have to take a back seat.

I’m doing the Another Mother Runner challenge for June and my calendar is going to be filled with yoga and gym time and biking.  I will manage to work out 5 times a week, even if running is only one or two of those times.

And I love how I start the challenge with a rest day.  That’s how I roll, people.  That’s how I roll.

We’ve lived in our house for more than 15 years.  Growing up, I moved at least every three years.  The difference between the two is that you tend to declutter stuff every time you move.  When you don’t move, you have to actually make an effort to declutter.

1.  I hoard outgrown kid stuff.  Partly because I’m lazy, partly because I never know when one of the kids is going to freak out about something they can’t find, partly because I think “oh, I can sell that.”  Well, hello, my time is much better spent working than organizing.  I got a call this week from one of the places I donate to.  They have a pickup in my neighborhood on Friday.

This…

Toddler toys, outgrown clothes, and baby towels, oh my.

will be leaving my house tomorrow AM.

2.  I’m an emotional hoarder.  I still have the champagne bottle that was decorated for me on Bid Night by my sorority sisters.  I have the big wooden letters that used to be on the front of the sorority house. (My dad made them.  I took them when the house was closed down.  I’ll be keeping them.)  I still have the piggy bank I had growing up, even though it’s split in half.

Not getting rid of this

Now I just need to figure out where to cash in this…

Maybe there's enough here to buy my new dishwasher...

3. I’m a guilt hoarder.  I buy (or get for review) running clothes that I like but don’t end up ever choosing when it’s time to run. This is where YOU benefit.  I have three running skirts to get rid of.  Each of them has been worn at most two times.  Would it be awful of me to post them on the blog and offer them up to you guys?

What kind of hoarder are you?  Do you keep emotional things like Emz?  Or do you constantly declutter like Tonia?

I am a much better mom/wife/human being when I’m running on a regular basis.  From a mental health standpoint, 3o minutes of running 5 times a week is the best thing I can do for myself.  30 minutes at whatever speed my body feels is right that day seems to “flip the switch” in my head.  When I’m not getting that, I’m a lot less patient, I’m a little bit angry at the world, and stress affects me more.

For the last year and a half, I’ve had to broaden my exercise routine.  I’m happiest when I’m running, but with some extra time and effort, yoga, my bike and the gym can keep me going.   It’s not the same, but it takes the edge off.  Running is my anti-depressant.  Other exercise is like taking a slightly too low dose.

I ran on Monday.  3 miles in 29 minutes.  It felt hard, but at the same time it was awesome.  It was super humid with occasional sprinkles and it felt so good to come home sweaty, feeling like I’d really worked my body.

Monday night, my foot swelled again.  It didn’t hurt much, unless I pressed on the swelling (I know, so don’t press on it).  But it concerns me that it’s still swelling, especially after taking 5 days off.

Tuesday it felt fine and there was no swelling.  I took the day off running,  planning to get to the gym.  I ended up taking a nap instead.  (Just for the record, I’m not a napper.)

I need to get things back on track.  All of my behaviors are pointing to me heading to my unhappy place.  I don’t know if I’m going to try running or if I’m going to the gym, but I have an hour and a half between kid drop off and a phone meeting and SOME form of exercise will happen.  Otherwise, I’m pretty sure my kids are going to get the locks changed…

I haven’t run since Tuesday. The combination of being REALLY busy and REALLY tired has pushed running way down the list of priorities. This is the first time in years that I’ve gone this long without running without a valid reason (you know, like injury or childbirth or recovering from a marathon.)

I used to do this all the time. I’d get in good shape. Exercise would be a regular occurence. I’d be feeling good about myself. Then I’d get busy with the new school year. Or I’d be working two jobs. Or the one job I had would become super stressful.

One day I’d wake up and realize it had been MONTHS since I got regular exercise. All my jeans would be super tight. I’d feel squishy and even my face would look chubby. I’d have to start all over again rebuilding the exercise habit. (Luckily, I tend to eat healthy most of the time when I’m not exercising, so the weight gain was never huge.)

I realize that this time is different. I just had a blip of a few crazy days that I knew would not last long. I’m already chomping at the bit to get out there for a run.

But it reminded me just how easy it is to slide down that slope to the place where exercise is no longer a priority. To that place where exercise is always the thing that falls off the daily to do list. It reminded me that my inner lazy girl is still there.

It’s time to lock that lazy girl up again and get out there and get my sweat on. If you need me, I’ll be running in the rain.

Welcome to Sweat to Street Sunday!

Each week my fabulously fit co-hosts and I will link up with one everyday outfit AND one fitness outfit that we love!

***IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW SWEAT TO STREET ON TWITTER OR PLAN ON TWEETING YOUR POST, PLEASE USE THE HASHTAG #SweatToStreet***

Sweat to Street has been created as a place to link up your favorite outfits of the week as a new Sunday blog feature. The idea is to have some fun and change it up! Each week we encourage you to post one workout outfit and one outfit you wore that isn’t fitness related.

One of the several vineyards we hit in Loudoun County

Relaxing by the stream. With wine.

• follow the hosts on twitter: @FamilyNLifeLV, @Char__Latte, @MrsFitLibrarian, @MCMmama, @RunCupcake
• Feel free to follow us all via RSS as well so you never miss a Sweat to Street post!
• Snag a button and share the fun!!
• Sharing is caring! Be sure to visit pages participating in the link up!
• Feel free to share this link up on your own blog by grabbing the code here! get the InLinkz code
• HAVE FUN!

Remember if you don’t link up, we can’t choose you to be next week’s featured blogger! We are so excited to see all the fashions that are shared each week!

The good:

Last night I came home and was greeted with an email from Naturebox.  I’ve been chosen as one of their Ambassadors!!!  I’m really excited about this.  I mean, of course, I’m excited about the fact that I get some free product, but it’s deeper than that.  First, I just love their mission:  healthy snacks and donations to help feed America’s hungry children.  What’s not to love about that?  Second, I’ve had really, really good interactions with the company.  They are just nice people.  Third, they are looking into customizable options.  As the mom of a child with nut allergies, being in on helping to work out those possibilities!  And hopefully, I’ll get to share the Naturbox love with you all a few times a year.  Win for Everyone!!

The Bad:

Last night we discovered that our dishwasher wouldn’t turn on.  I think it’s something electrical, which is (barely) under warranty still.  Unfortunately, that means I have to go through Sears to get a repair person, which around here can take quite a while.  I’m really not looking forward to a week or more of handwashing dishes for four people.  Since I work in water conservation, I’m pretty sure I’d get a lot of crap if I went out and bought paper plates…

The Ugly Pain in the A$$:

Yesterday was a super long day.  I drove to Annapolis for an all day meeting, so I was gone from 7-5.  (I don’t know how people around here do these commutes and work a full day and still have energy left for their families.  I was a tired cranky mommy last night.)  Anyways, after I got home, Shoo was taking a bath and started whining about the water not being hot enough.  This is not usually a problem in our house (it’s usually just below scalding level), so I went and checked on our boiler.  Woohoo.  Some sort of error on the system.  Cold showers for everyone!  Hopefully our service company can get out here quickly, because Pioneer Woman I am not.  Cold showers, boiling water to wash dishes, and washing dishes by hand? Really?

My mantra for today:  At least I get to pee inside…

Things are settling back down around here. So here are some good things going on in my life:

• Core Barre – I really enjoyed the class I took last week and I had one opportunity to take it this week.  Unfortunately, I had a really tight time frame for making the class and the rain and traffic made me miss it.  I ended up doing a pseudo barre class in my basement.  Obviously I did a good job, since I can’t really use my arms today.  (Quite possibly due to the fact that my smallest weight is 5 pounds.
• Running – On Sunday I ran four miles and worked for several hours on the yard and my foot didn’t hurt!  Mile 4 even started with a 9, so running a bit faster is obviously not the problem.  Now if I can just start building some serious mileage in the Brooks. (Yesterday and today I’ve even walked around the house barefoot without problems.  Woot!)
• Army Ten Miler – I admit to a love hate relationship with this race.  It was my first double digit race almost 5 years ago.  I was SO sore afterwards.  I’ve run it twice since then and been unable to beat that elusive 1:30.  Also, while I love the race itself, it’s a bit challenging from a logistics perspective and I don’t like that.  I made myself go to bed last night before registration opened.  Registration was still open this morning when I got up.  Yeah, I registered.  So, I have an A race for fall – and a goal.  Yes, I’ll be chasing that 1:30 during my training this summer.
• Parental units – My mom arrives today.  I needed her to come watch the boys while I go to an all day meeting with a client.  My dad gets here on Thursday.  Having my parents visit is a major highlight of my month.  Some day I’m going to figure out how to live closer.  Until then, we’ll be earning lots of airline miles!
• Rain – OK, I’ll admit to not being a huge fan of rain, but we really need it.  This past weekend, Beer Geek and I mulched the front of the yard and now we’ve had two full days of rain.  I’m pretty sure I’m going to need to beat my azaleas into submission really soon!

What they looked like before the rain...

So, what’s good about your Tuesday?

Welcome to Sweat to Street Sunday’s!

Each week my fabulously fit co-hosts and I link up with one everyday outfit AND one fitness outfit that we love!

Meet Your Hosts!
Family and Life in Las Vegas (Emily)
Wild Things RUN Free (ME)
Running and Cupcakes (Samantha)
MCM Mama (Erika)
Boobs, Barbells, and Broccoli (Tenecia)

***IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW SWEAT TO STREET ON TWITTER OR PLAN ON TWEETING YOUR POST, PLEASE USE THE HASHTAG #SweatToStreet***

Sweat to Street has been created as a place to link up your favorite outfits of the week as a new Sunday blog feature. The idea is to have some fun and change it up! Each week we encourage you to post one workout outfit and one outfit you wore that isn’t fitness related.

Every week we spotlight one awesome blogger who links up with us in the previous week! Our way of thanking you for sharing your fabulous/fun/fitness style!

This week’s featured blogger: Amanda from Happy Mother Runner

Sweat

All I can say about sweat this week is that it was just a question of which pair of Brooks Connects and what color of KT Tape I was wearing.  I had both on pretty much any time I wasn’t in bed this week.

Street

I haven’t actually worn this yet.  In fact, I need you help.  I have a client meeting this week.  I haven’t been in front of a major client in a really long time (most contact comes online or on the phone).  I have a friend coming over tomorrow to take me shopping if she doesn’t like any of the below options.  The skirt is an Alfani skirt I got at Macy’s that I’m not 100% in love with.  The tops are random tops I have from back when I worked in an office.  What say you, friends in the computer? Yes or no on the skirt?  If yes, which top and in or out?  I’m so fashion challenged!

Link-up Suggestions:

• follow the hosts on twitter: @FamilyNLifeLV, @Char__Latte, @MrsFitLibrarian, @MCMmama, @RunCupcake
• Feel free to follow us all via RSS as well so you never miss a Sweat to Street post!
• Snag a button and share the fun!!
• Sharing is caring! Be sure to visit pages participating in the link up!
• Feel free to share this link up on your own blog by grabbing the code here! Get the inlinkz code!
• HAVE FUN!

Remember if you don’t link up, we can’t choose you to be next week’s featured blogger!

We are so excited to see all the fashions that are shared each week!

It was fun then…

It’s still fun now…

Happy anniversary, my love!  Here’s to a lot more years together!

No, really, I don’t.  At heart, I’m a lazy girl who would like to sit on the couch with a book and a beer.

(Just for the record, running is not exercise.  It’s a drug. A very addictive drug.)

I’m not a fan of the gym or going to classes or riding a bike for anything other than fun.

Oh, sure, I talk a good game.  I talk about how I want to cross train.  I talk about how zen yoga is.  I write great reviews about the awesome class I attended.  And I mean all it before AND after.

It’s the during I have a problem with.  I’m the one mentally cursing the instructor.  I’m the one hating on the “pain” (ok, really it’s just muscle burn).  I’m the one peaking at the clock, willing it to go faster.

But you know what, I’m still there.  I’m the one giving every little bit I can to that particular workout.  My *body* doesn’t know that I’m not loving every minute of it.  All my body knows is that it’s getting worked.

And that’s what matters.  I run to be happy.  I cross train to be healthy.  And if my little non-liftable T-Rex arms are any indication, I take classes to get guns.

Gun show and core barre review coming soon to a blog near you.

See what I mean? A food blogger I am not. Thanks Jenn for another great WIAW!

Unrelated, my foot is still swelling a bit at the end of the day, but I’ve had zero pain in the last 24 hours.  Planning to hit the road for a 3 mile run after I bike the boys to school on National Bike to School Day!

Today is a rest day for me.  I’m slowly adding running back in and I went to the gym yesterday.  I would have liked to do yoga today, but my foot is not quite ready for that.  But rest day doesn’t have to mean sitting on my butt all day.  I have a ton to get done, but there’s no reason I can’t get in a little movement at the same time.

Here’s how I add a little “workout” to my work day:

1.  Plan movement breaks – I try to get up every 15-30 minutes.  I might run upstairs and grab a load of laundry and run it down to the basement to start the load.  Or I’ll take out the trash.  Or maybe vacuum a room (my mom is thinking this  one’s unlikely LOL).

2. Use the stairs – My house is three levels, so I try to come up with reasons to go to another level.  Heck, sometimes I go up and down the stairs just for the heck of it!  This would work well in an office building with a staircase as well.

3. Drop and give me 20 – This might not work if you work in a cubicle, but if you are at home or in a private office, there’s no reason you can’t throw in a few pushups throughout the day.  Personally, I’m trying to work up to 100 every other day.

4. Pace – If you don’t have to sit still, don’t!  Pace while you are on the phone.  Walk around while you are organizing your office.  Stand while talking to your co-workers.   (I’ve been known to do leg lifts while listening in on a conference call.  Shh, don’t tell my boss.)

5. Walk (or run) an errand – Since I work from home part-time, I do a lot of my errands during the day.  When I can, I walk.  From my house I can easily walk to four grocery stores, a CVS, a bank, a mall, tons of restaurants…  OK, urban living does have its perks.  Can’t actually walk to someplace?  Take a mobile lunch.  Walk around your neighborhood.  Walk around your building.

6.  Add a little balance – I like to try to do tree pose while I’m folding laundry.  But, even just standing on one leg with a strong core while you are talking on the phone or filing helps with your balance.

7.  Hydrate – OK, so drinking is not actual movement.  However, if you are hydrating properly, you WILL need to get up and move.  Find the farthest bathroom from where you are working.  (This is easy for me as I work in our dining room and we don’t have a bathroom on that level.)

8. Stretch it out – Have you ever noticed yourself slumping forward over your computer?  I do this ALL the time.  In fact, every time I seem my chiro or get a massage,  I get comments about how my shoulders pull forward and how tight I am.  Take a few minutes to stretch your arms above your head.  Pull your shoulders back.  (Heck if you can, sit on the floor and do a few stretches.)

How do you add extra movement to your day?  I can always use new ideas.

*And now I have that stupid song stuck in my head.

I love to run.  Running has become a huge part of who I am.  It’s my anti-depressant, my stress reliever, my muse.

I need to return to my old running roots.  The ones where I ran because I wanted to or needed to.  Where I ran the distance or the speed that felt good that day.  The place I was before I started training and tracking miles and caring about my speed.

That run never hurt me.  That run was only a positive force in my life.

I run to be mentally healthy, to be physically strong, and ok, sometimes so I can continue to drink beer and still fit in my jeans.  I’ll be keeping that run around.

But, until my body stops rebelling, distance running and specific training plans will be taking a backseat.   I’ll be mixing in more yoga, more weightlifting, more cross training on the elliptical and the bike.  My body has been telling me in no uncertain terms that it needs me to make it stronger first.  To recognize that I’m older and don’t bounce back as fast from races.  To listen when a twinge starts instead of pushing through until I end up sidelined.

Because I will be back.  Because there will be more half marathons and at least one more marathon in my life.  Because I will be that woman winning her age group just because she’s the only one still racing at that age.

Because running and I aren’t done.  We’re just going to have an open relationship for a while.

Welcome to Sweat to Street Sunday’s!

Each week my fabulously fit co-hosts and I will link up with one everyday outfit AND one fitness outfit that we love!

Meet Your Hosts!
Family and Life in Las Vegas (Emily)
Wild Things RUN Free (Charlotte)
Running and Cupcakes (Samantha)
MCM Mama (Erika)
Boobs, Barbells, and Broccoli (Tenecia)

***IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW SWEAT TO STREET ON TWITTER OR PLAN ON TWEETING YOUR POST, PLEASE USE THE HASHTAG #SweatToStreet***

Sweat to Street has been created as a place to link up your favorite outfits of the week as a new Sunday blog feature. The idea is to have some fun and change it up! Each week we encourage you to post one workout outfit and one outfit you wore that isn’t fitness related.

Every week we spotlight one awesome blogger who links up with us in the previous week! Our way of thanking you for sharing your fabulous/fun/fitness style!

This week’s featured blogger: Laura from Laura Lives Life

Sweat

There wasn’t a whole lot of sweating going on around here this week.  In fact, most of my time was spent sitting on the couch with my foot in the air or in a bucket of ice.  I did finally get to workout at the gym on Friday and I went for a mostly pain free run today.  I’m still experiencing some swelling, but it’s not constantly sore and when it does hurt it’s more of an “ache” than actual pain.

I need a basic camera skills class.

 Brooks Pure Connect
KT Tape (regular not PRO)
Lululemon shorts
Random New Balance race shirt

Street

Do you have an outfit that every time you wear it, you feel good about yourself?  This skirt and top are that outfit for me.  It wasn’t expensive – the skirt is from Target and the top is from Kohl’s.  It just works really well with my figure type.

Note that I'm not wearing running shoes...

Bass shoes
Merona skirt
Croft and Barrow shirt

Link-up Suggestions:

• follow the hosts on twitter: @FamilyNLifeLV, @Char__Latte, @MrsFitLibrarian, @MCMmama, @RunCupcake
• Feel free to follow us all via RSS as well so you never miss a Sweat to Street post!
• Snag a button and share the fun!!
• Sharing is caring! Be sure to visit pages participating in the link up!
• Feel free to share this link up on your own blog by grabbing the code here! get the InLinkz code
• HAVE FUN!

Remember if you don’t link up, we can’t choose you to be next week’s featured blogger!

We are so excited to see all the fashions that are shared each week!

Yesterday, after dropping off the big kids at elementary school, I was walking with two moms and their younger children.  The kids were being typical young kids – kind of antsy, tired of waiting around while the mommies chatted and hung out.  When we reached a safe area, one of the moms turned to her daughter (who was practically vibrating with excess energy) and said,

Makes a great mantra, huh?