An impromptu sister coffee date and thrifting

 My weekend didn't 100% go as planned. Weather played a major roll.  I'm feeling pretty over the winter weather. This has been the coldest and snowiest January we have had in a while. I am thankful for everyday the roads are clear and we are edging closer to spring!

Friday night we had a Ladies Spa Night at our church. We had a very low turn out because of the crappy weather but a marvelous time with those who were there. 

Saturday was super cold again and coupled with the snow and slush from Friday night Laura and I decided to bail on our run.  Just has I was thinking about what to do with my day instead Laura texted to see if I'd like to meet up and go thrifting. So we did! Our cousin and her family is coming through town on Friday and we are hosting a family dinner at our church. So our first stop was Dunkin' to have coffee and finish up plans for the dinner. We laughed about doing a sister coffee date at Dunkin!

The littlest nephew also joined in the fun.

 

After we firmed up our Friday dinner plans we headed to the thrifty shopper.  We came away with some great finds.

I got three baskets, two juice glasses, planner stickers (there were two packs the same and we both got one!) some graduation stickers/decor, a striped long sleeve super soft hoodie and a cozy new blanket for Chancer. (Bruno has already torn massive holes in the one I got him last time).

We hit up a couple grocery stores together and shopped for most of what we need for Friday.

Bruno was very happy once I was back home for the day.

I spent some time working on my sungold blanket... it's coming along. I still have a bit more to do on the border. I'd hoped to get more done but after dinner on Saturday I had a headache coming on so I ended up going to bed early.

My 2024 photobook came and I love it!

Sunday night brought more snow! There was probably 4 inches on my car when I came out of church.  Roads were iffy and anxiety inducing but I made it home safe and sound.

I made sourdough pretzel bites to bring to our Bible study group.  This is one of my favorite snacks right now.

That's my weekend in a nutshell. I hope your February is off to a good start!

May Sister Coffee Date! Running and Springtime

Saturday was our May Sisters Coffee Date.  We had lunch at The  Blend.

 It is so fun visiting these local coffee shops in our area.  I opted for the Fiji Energy drink for something different.  It is a Pink base, lavender, peach, lemonade.  It was pretty tasty and refreshing.  I also had the California Turkey Sandwich with chips.

Laura the Bacon Turkey Panini and Iced Coffee.

It was fun, a little bit of a drive and a little pricey.  But it was fresh, bright and inviting.  Our heartfelt talk did my heart good.

I was able to make it out this morning for a quick run with Bruno.  We are so happy the sun is coming up early.  

I am loving the springtime this year!

I am really excited to talk to my book club ladies on Thursday night.  I love this story, I highly recommend.  I read about a third of the book yesterday afternoon.

I'm working to get back on track with my planner checklist.

Making my bed this morning was a challenge but I did my best.

I hope this fresh new week is off to a great start!

January Blues

How I am feeling today...

 The sky the other morning

I went to bed and woke up feeling pretty frustrated.  Another Winter weather advisory is part on my angst.

This is my training plan and run from Monday. It was hard and slow and I was super frustrated.  And then yesterday I did nothing. Even my step count was embarrassingly low. HOWEVER- I this morning when I check, I was slightly was encouraged that I am "Right on Target".... trying to trust the process and hope it gets better from here.  Another three miles tonight and my only goal is to do better than Monday even if its just a few seconds.  And to do yoga or stretch before bed.

I did work a little on my crochet project last night (instead of doing anything else productive).  I still have not even completed week 1 (two more stipes to go, week 4 comes out on Friday).  But I am making progress.  I am loving the project and the feel of the yarn in my hands.

A funny story from this morning...

So Monday night when I got home I was missing a slipper. I was fairly certain Bruno was the culprit.  He hasn't actually chewed a shoe in quite sometime.  But he often grabs my slipper and runs away when he's super excited and/or want to play.  It's usually not hard to find as he drops it when he's caught.  But I was perplexed as to where this slipper had gotten too.  I even looked under the couch and our bed.  Under the bench at the table.  I repeatedly asked him where it was, asking him to go find it to no avail.

This morning I was putting out the trash.  On my last two trips to the road with recyclables I let him join me.  He was joyously romping in the snow.  As I was headed back in I noticed him snuffling around in the snow in the front flower bed.  I called him and headed back down the drive to the basement door.  He came running and dropped something at my feet.... MY LOST SLIPPER! I couldn't believe it! 😅  I praised him for bringing it to me.  

I pretty quickly pieced together what had happened.  Monday night after I came home I took both dogs outside.  The romped and played in the snow.  Bruno must have grabbed my slipper in his excitement and then abandoned it in the flower bed.  I am so thankful he returned it to me before tonight's snow came!  I would have been so mad to find it in the spring when all the snow melts! 😂😂😂

I can not believe we are into May already!  I am so happy for longer days...and hopefully maybe some more sunshine in the future! I have been able to walk the dogs every morning and this morning I even managed a run! It felt great and I am excited to get back to running more. 

This morning's run at the Creekwalk, our favorite place.

This past weekend was Pittsburgh Marathon weekend and now I am dreaming of returning. I don't know if there is anything exceptional about this event. I think I miss my extended family more- I miss that feeling of training for a race together and the atmosphere when we were together for a race.  I miss sitting around on the living room floor at Grammy's and plotting our Pittsburgh adventure, laughing so hard at our ridiculous jokes. Every now and then I still think about running a Full Marathon and dream that it will be Pittsburgh.

the recaps- 

Pittsburgh 2014

Pittsburgh 2015

I've been using my salad cutting bowl to make some yummy salads this week!

This one had lettuce mix, cucumber, red onion, grilled chicken and apples. I topped it with feta cheese and Ken's Sweet Onion dressing at lunchtime. 

Hannah was heavily invested in her book one night, so we had a dinner reading party.

 Just because... waiting for their cookies

We had a bookish adventure this weekend- we planned a day to go to Barnes and Noble but then realized that it was independent bookstore day and our favorite little bookstore was having it's grand re-opening (since moving around the corner).  So we went there too.  Stopping by the library on our way home- there was also a book sale....we had to go! We came home with happy hearts and stacks of books!

And tea... I could not resist this Anne tea!

Looking forward to lots more running and reading this week! ;-)

It's September!

 Here we go! 3 miles down... 97 to go!

We changed up our route a little and ran home through town instead of back through the creekwalk. Bruno enjoyed the change of scenery and all the new smells to sniff! Hahaha. :P Today's run felt pretty good over all and I was pleased. 

We had some sourdough toast, scrambled eggs and blueberries to refuel when we got home.

Also I am counting walking the dogs in my September miles to help us hit that 100 mark this month.

Reading this- I Hate Running and You Can Too... I listened to the author yesterday on a AMR podcast.  

He is from Missoula, Montana and I feel a little bit jealous of this. I would love to go run the Missoula (Half) Marathon someday! Maybe one of the pluses of my kids all growing up on me is I maybe able to travel in the future and do some of these destination type races.... We'll see.

My take away so far - you don't need motivation. You need discipline. Just keep showing up day after day.  I find myself saying this about many this- I just don't have any motivation.... Well Amy, suck it up and do it anyway!

As I have previously mentioned the waning daylight in the mornings is disconcerting to me. My goal for September is to just be Brave- to get out there and get those miles in- even in the darkish morning hours. I saw a fellow (female) walker out this morning in the darkness, who I have seen before many times, which bolstered my courage a little bit. 

Tonight school shopping with Hannah is on the agenda...still can't believe my baby girl is headed to HIGH SCHOOL!

Happy September everyone! I am looking forward to hoodie weather and apples and baking! 

Weekending. . .

 This weekend was wonderful. Summery and warm and sunshiney.

Friday night was wonderful- our Church had a Family Night Cookout- it felt great to sit outside and chat with friends! =D Rhett and Ryan were both able to be there too which was just icing on the cake.

Saturday morning Hannah and I hit the Farmer's Market with friends and also went out to lunch. =) Again so nice to be out and about with people.😂  Hannah added two new houseplants and a little cactus to her collection.

Hannah and I spent yesterday afternoon watching a couple episodes of The Circle on Netflix- we got drawn in after having it recommended by a couple different people. Yesterday we were yelling at the TV and laughing so hard. Much needed stress relief! 😂

I kept my run streak alive over the weekend. Day 8 this morning!

Yesterday morning I enjoyed a little hammock time with Chance before church to cool off post run- absolute bliss.

This morning I am beginning this Study on Friendship with the Love God Greatly community- there is a print journal you can purchase, a digital one to download or just follow along on the website or app.