Healthy Chicks

Happy Friday ladies! As I sit here finishing up some work in Starbucks, many thoughts are flowing through my head. I’m not sure you know this about me, but I am always thinking. I mean always, always. What can I say? I’m a girl of many (sometimes crazy) ideas. Here’s what’s going through my mind on this rainy Friday afternoon:

-There is a older man sitting next to me at Starbucks who has been writing on a napkin for the past hour. When I glanced over (I swear I’m not nosy) I saw that both sides of the napkin are completely covered with teeny-tiny scribbled handwriting. The hopeless romantic inside me likes to think he is writing a love letter to a long lost woman from his past.

-This grande medium roast with one pump of pumpkin may just be the perfect pick-me-up for a rainy, dreary day

-What if our dreams could be recorded and transformed into movies? Seriously, between my boyfriend and I, I think we’d be famous. But then again, would we really want to replay some of those dreams?

-There’s only two (plus some) months left until Christmas. When is it too early to watch Love Actually and The Holiday?

-I am running the Newport Half this weekend (eek!) Will I break my PR? Will I break my PR? Will I break my PR?

-I have 5,159 emails in my Gmail inbox. Will that number ever read 0? Now that’d be the day…

-I have been accepted on a Fitfluential campaign for Yurbuds. Please, please, PRETTY PLEASE come today in time for my half. I am so sick of the ones I have that continuously fall out of my ears every time I sweat/turn a corner/the wind blows.

-I want sushi. Like now.

Happy weekend-ing friends!

Ever since I started training for my first half marathon in NYC about a year and a half ago, I’ve become somewhat obsessed with running. It’s hard to believe that I am now just 13 days away from my third half marathon in Newport, Rhode Island. As much as I love running, one thing is certain: it’s all about the music for me. While some enjoy running with nature, I need an iPod to get me through my runs, especially those longer training runs. Fortunately, there’s dozens of great songs out there to make for an extra sweaty workout.

Here’s a look of some of my top running songs right now. Please add your own in the comment section below!

XoXo,

Good afternoon ladies! I haven’t done one of my Friday Favorites posts in a while, so I figured I’d get back into the groove today. Here’s what I’ve been crushing on this week…

1. Cat Stevens albums, particularly this song. I used to listen to his music when I was younger and it somehow reminds me to be calm, strong, confident and inspired
2. The $50 voucher to Basho Japanese Brasserie that my boyfriend bought me from LivingSocial. They definitely serve up the top three Spicy Tuna Maki rolls I’ve ever tasted.
3. The new FitFluential #proof tanks. Once you sweat, the back reads “#proof” and well it’s an extra excuse to get extra sweaty during workouts!
4. My super refreshing, delicious homemade summer tabouli. It was so good that I’m actually making it again for a summer BBQ this weekend.
5. Sticks & Twigs from Mary’s Gone Crackers. These little gluten free, whole grain pretzels are to die for, and contain good-for-you whole grains like brown rice, amaranth, quinoa, and millet.
6. Grilled turkey burgers with sauteed mushrooms & onions, topped with melted fresh mozzarella.
7. Running! Yes, I am running again in training for the Newport Half Marathon this October. And let me just say, it feels gooood.
8. Snail mail from a good friend. Nothing makes me smile more than a letter in the mail!
9. Shutting down. Yes that means no TV, phone, or computer within the hour before bed. Try it sometime…
10. These handmade little hair ties from local Boston company, Stanz & Co. Stay tuned, there will be a giveaway on my blog in the near future!
11. Hummus wraps for lunch. Hummus + leafy greens + olive oil + cucumber + salt & pepper + feta + whole grain pita.

What’s at the top of your list this week? HAPPY Friday!

I just finished running my second half marathon this morning, that is the Newport Half Marathon. I ran the race with my sister, father, cousin and her husband. I also had my very proud boyfriend and mother there cheering me on for support. I must say there’s nothing like the feeling you get looking up at people you love all around you.

Nor is there anything like the  feeling of running for a purpose…with a dream. After all, that is why I run now. Forget exercise. Yes, that’s a plus. But I run for the high. I run to l.e.t g.o. I run to feel powerful, to feel alive. I run for me. And that’s what is important. I am extremely proud of myself for completing my second half marathon, with a personal record to top it off. I’m mostly proud of myself for running with my all, you know my heart & soul.