Workout Recap - Week 2

Sunday, January 5th – Rest Day

Monday, January 6th – 8.88 mile run

Tuesday, January 7th – 6 mile run

Wednesday, January 8th – 6 mile run

Thursday, January 9th – 60 minutes on the stationary bike

Friday, January 10th – 12.12 mile run

Saturday, January 11th – 8 mile run

Here's to a cutback week - WHOO HOO! Last week my back-to-back long runs consisted of a 20.20 mile run and a 10.10 mile run for a total of 30.30 miles over the course of two days. This week my back-to-back runs only hit 20 miles (which was shorter than my long run in a single day last week). My legs appreciate the break (especially now that I'm getting into a routine at work and have 4 days of working open to close), although, to be honest, they're still tired, but that's what you get when you're standing for 9 hours at a time... But when it's important to you, you make the time and make it work!

How were your workouts this past week?

Friday Favorites

I know, I know, it's been a hot minute since I've posted a Friday Favorites (and I'm sure you're tired of the excuses so I won't even bore you with them), but I'm doing my best to get back into a routine and hopefully this is step one. And, with that, let's not drag out the intro any longer than it needs to be... Here are some of the things I'm loving lately.

Upcycled Puffy Tote from Parks Project

I'm not sure if I've mentioned it recently or not, but I love me some bags. I do my best to live a minimalistic lifestyle, but bags (as well as water bottles) are a weakness of mine. When I saw Parks Project release their newest bag, which is made from old puffy jackets, I was in love and have been trying to figure out how I could justify its purchase (and trying to decide on green or black). (As of right now I'm just loving it from afar, but hopefully one day I will be able to make it mine. Honestly, I think the only thing saving my wallet right now is that the bag doesn't have a zip closure. If it did, SOLD!)

I mean, a pocket for my water bottles... GENIUS!

Momentum Jewelry Sale

Momentum Jewelry is currently running a New Year Fresh Start Sale. You can score BOGO on Motivate Wraps and Footnotes, $15 Motivate Packs and $15 mini SPARKS. If you follow me on social media I'm sure you've seen your fair share of my arm candy and my favorite stuff normally comes from Momentum. Whether you are buying yourself something to keep you motivated or stocking up on gifts from friends and family members, you do not want to miss this sale. No coupon required (the discount will automatically be applied). This sale runs through Sunday so get your shop on!

Source

ROAD iD Ambassador Program

2019 was the inaugural year for #TeamROADiD (the ambassador program with ROAD iD). Apparently we did a good job because they're bringing the program back for a second year - WHOO HOO! (Don't worry, you can save your applause until later ;)) If you love ROAD iD and are interested in applying for the 2020 team, you can fill out the application HERE. (FYI: The applications will close on January 20th, so don't delay. Everyone will be notified by February 7th of their status.)

Okay, this picture has nothing to do with the ambassador program, but isn't it super cute?!
Source: @roadid's Instagram feed

REI Co-op Cool Trail Pack Cooler

The hubby and I LOVE REI. We received an REI gift card for Christmas and have been eye-ballin' a ton of gear (honestly, I think if we won the lottery we would buy almost the entire REI and Patagonia stores... but then we'd have to play the lottery to begin with ;)). When we were in our local store a few weeks back we saw this cool backpack cooler combo and I had to share it. Inside the pack there is a leakproof cooler insert, which holds 10 pounds of ice to keep 20 cans cold for up to 40 hours. And when you aren't using it as a cooler, you can remove the insert and use it as a roomy pack for day hiking. What a stinking awesome idea... And the colors are AMAZEBALLS! (Like I said with the first find, bags are my jam!)

Dear Mother Nature, Starring Pattie Gonia

I found out about Pattie Gonia through a few REI Instagram posts and recently watched the 30 minute video they made on YouTube. Wyn Wiley (he/him), aka Pattie Gonia (she/her), has made waves over the past year as an environmental advocate drag queen. REI follows Wyn as he travels to Hawaii to see first-hand the impacts of careless consumption and plastics on Mother Nature (or as Pattie says, "Mother Natch"). Wyn meets with scientists, non-profit leaders, volunteers, then rallies the Pattie community to lead a beach clean-up. Ultimately, Wyn partners with sustainable fashion designer, Angela Luna, to create three dresses that personify the plastics crisis. If you have the time, you should definitely watch it. Not only are Wyn and Pattie AWESOME, but we absolutely need to think more about our plastic consumption... like NOW!

What are you loving lately?

2020 "Word of the Year" {& GIVEAWAY}

A few months back (wowser, I can't believe this conversation started in October and it's already January... where does the time go?!), my contact at MudLOVE asked if I wanted to team up with them for a collaboration. Every year they encourage their employees and fans to choose a word or phrase as a tool for living an intentional year. They were hoping I'd join the campaign and obviously I was all in! (There isn't much MudLOVE could ask I'd turn down - THEY ROCK MY SOCKS!)

To be honest, I normally try to sit down and set out goals for the upcoming year (as opposed to resolutions, which feel like they're meant to be broken), but I've never really picked a single word or phrase to encapsulate my intentions for the upcoming year. This led to quite a bit of soul searching and I was excited to get the wheels turning. #RealTalk: You'd think picking a word would be easy, but I found the task rather strenuous and a bit stressful (I doubt it was meant to be demanding, but I wanted to really find a word to capture my purpose/ aspirations, not just throw out a phrase willy-nilly).

Source

After a few weeks of deliberations (I had to get my choice to them by the end of October so they would have time to make the custom band before the craziness of the holiday season began and I literally sent my info over on the very last day because I was still going back and forth on which word/ phrase I wanted to use), I finally decided.

Source

"be kind"

I believe this phrase truly encapsulates everything that I am planning to work for in 2020. And, for me, it is three-fold.

First, I want to be kind to myself. I am often my harshest critic (aren't we all?!) and really want to take this upcoming year and work on being nicer to myself (although, let's be real, I am sure this is going to be a lifelong goal). If I wouldn't say something to a friend, I shouldn't say it about myself. I often always seem to demand perfection from myself, but that's not realistic or feasible in every situation... and when I come up less than perfect I need to acknowledge the shortcoming, see if there is something I can fix and then adjust accordingly. I don't need to beat myself up for hours days weeks upon end over mistakes (whether they be tiny or huge). We are all imperfect - I am willing to acknowledge that in others yet demand an impossible level of perfection from myself. I need to learn to give myself grace, to do my best and then to move on.

Next, I want to be kind to others. I do my darnedest to try and put others first, but this year I want to be deliberate about it. I want to be kind to others for the simple reason that they are God's workmanship. Obviously I hope my intentions are never selfish, but who knows if deep down I am actually doing something good because I hope one day they will return the favor or because I want to be known for my kindness. I want to be kind to others whether it is acknowledged or not. I want to put others first and show them love whether I think they deserve it or not. #BeKindOrBeQuiet

Finally, I want to be kind to the environment. Don't get me wrong, the hubby and I pride ourselves on being tree huggers, but again, I want to be conscious about this. I haven't worked out exactly what this will look like - whether it will be a monthly clean-up effort, donating to conservancy charities, getting involved with an environmental group, etc - but I know I want to make it a focus. We only have one place to live, we need to protect it. God has entrusted us with his creation and we need to do our part to take care of it! And, I promise, every effort (no matter big or small) matters!

I am so excited to be reminded of my intention on a daily basis because of my MudLOVE custom band. Did you know that they now offer a turquoise or coral color glaze as well as the traditional brown?! Of course I had to try one of the new colors on my 2020 band. Not only do I love the premise of the campaign (and the new glaze option), but I love what MudLOVE does on a daily basis as well! In case you aren't familiar with their work, every one of their handcrafted products that they sell provides one week of clean water to someone in the Central African Republic. AMAZEBALLS!

And now, what you've all been waiting for, a chance to win your very own custom band! Entering this giveaway is easy-peasy! Simply use the Rafflecopter widget below and cross your fingers. Some entries are available daily so I'd HIGHLY recommend entering early and often (and coming back every day until the giveaway ends). Beast of luck to you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway will run through Monday, January 13th at 11:59pm PST. The winner will be contacted on Tuesday, January 14th via the email address on their Rafflecopter account and has 24 hours to claim their prize (make sure your information is up-to-date and you check your email regularly). US Residents only. All entries are verified, so do whatever the required action for the entry is or it will be disqualified. I'd hate for you to miss out due to a technicality, so if you're going to click the option, make sure you do whatever it asks or a new, random winner will be selected in your place. Best of luck!

PS Even if you don't win the giveaway, you're still a winner because MudLOVE's Word of the Year campaign features custom bracelets for $12 ($4 off!). This sale will run for the entire month of January. Whether you're making custom bands as a way to 'treat yo-self', as a group gift for your runner girl gang or stocking up for future presents, don't miss this sale!

What is your word of the year?

Walt Wednesday

Some people do a "Wordless Wednesday" post, where they simply share a photo or image, but I thought I'd make a little series out of my Wednesdays. And since I love alliteration so much, why not go with Walt Wednesdays (obviously everyone can use a little break from the seriousness, scariness and sassiness of life - and what better way to help put a smile on your face than with a cute wiener dog picture, am I right?!)... So, without further ado...

WALT WEDNESDAY!

When life gets overwhelming, how do you de-stress?

Workout Recap - Week 53 / Week 1

Sunday, December 29th – Rest Day

Monday, December 30th – 6 mile run

Tuesday, December 31st – 9.12 mile run

Wednesday, January 1st – 6.20 mile run

Thursday, January 2nd – Rest Day

Friday, January 3rd – 20.20 mile run

Saturday, January 4th – 10.10 mile run

Can you believe another year has come to an end?! Shoot, not even that but another DECADE! Time flies when you're having fun (or maybe when you grow up). Anywho, I was stoked to have not only capped of 2019 with a sunset run (and with a 9.12 mile run that put me at 2,202 miles for the year) but to also have kicked off 2020 with a sunrise run (I had recently been told of a Japanese tradition of watching the first sunrise of the year and thought I'd make it run-tastic ;)). As I'm sure you have noticed in my recap, the foam rolling and stretching have NOT become a habit again, but I have moved my foam roller back out into the living room so I am hoping the visual reminder will get my booty back in gear! PS In case I never mentioned it before, I give MAJOR PROPS to the runners who find the time to train as well as work full-time... it's no joke! But if it's important to you, you will make it happen. And I'm doing my best to make it happen!

How were your workouts this past week?

REVIEW: Daily Harvest (& DISCOUNT CODE)

#RealTalk: I don't do New Year's Resolutions, but GOALS are totally my jam. I know, I know, it may not make logical sense, especially since it is just language, but hear me out. Resolutions just scream "an activity or habit that I will fail at making a constant in my life for more than a couple weeks" whereas goals come with the understanding that it's a journey (with bumps, bruises and hiccups along the way). I'm not sure why, but resolutions, at least in my mind, tend to be an all or nothing commitment. If I fail at whatever I'm trying to accomplish I can just wipe my hands and tell myself that at least I tried... Goals, on the other hand, feel more long term and it's assumed it'll take hard work and dedication to conquer them.

With that said, I know a lot of people DO have New Year's Resolutions and many of them center around health (i.e. lose weight, exercise more, eat healthier, get more sleep, etc). Although I don't believe that change needs to occur on January 1st (shoot, we aren't promised tomorrow, so we shouldn't put off until tomorrow what we could and should do TODAY!) I know that flipping the calendar can signify a clean slate, a fresh start and a great day to start making some changes.

Whether you're planning to set a resolution (or goal) of eating healthier in 2020 or are just looking for a new product to try, I wanted to share a little bit about Daily Harvest. They deliver thoughtfully sourced, chef crafted food built on organic fruits and vegetables. Their goal is to turn your freezer into a pantry of clean, nourishing food that’s ready to enjoy in minutes.

Super convenient... the yumminess arrives on your doorstep almost as fast as 1, 2, 3!

Their products are a win-win (times like a billion and a half, but I didn't want to type "win" that many times and I figured you didn't want to read it over and over again either ;)).

Convenient -- Delivered to your doorstep.
Customizable -- Make it your own!
Fast & Easy -- Ready in less than five minutes.
Ingredients You Can See -- All are listed on the cup and visible when you remove the lid.
Clean and Plant-Based -- Top-quality fruits and veggies.
Freezer, Not Fridge -- No risk of spoilage.
Dietary Flexibility -- Gluten-free, vegan, keto ... they’ve got it!
Unique Recipes -- Flavors you wouldn’t make at home.
Variety -- A recipe for every time of a day.
Delicious -- All recipes are crafted by a chef to be equal parts delicious and nutrient-rich!

Like I said, amazing, right?! They offer a ton of goodness including Smoothies, Harvest Bowls, Soups, Oat Bowls, Bites, Chia Bowls and Lattes (although, as you will see from my review below, I have only tried the smoothies thus far... but everything else looks and sounds just as amazing). My first box arrived last week and I wanted to tell you all about it.

So excited to give this subscription a try!

Thanks to my new partnership with Daily Harvest I was able to pick six smoothie cups to try out (truth be told, I had been eye ballin' these for a while now and just hadn't gotten around to placing an order, so when they reached out I was STOKED and did a little happy dance). I first looked to make sure what I was choosing from was vegan and did NOT contain cucumbers (you can filter the product based on likes and dislikes, the key benefits and any dietary needs). With those two parameters I was given 57 results from the assortment of products, including 20 smoothies. Talk about choices! I finally narrowed down my decision to the Tart Cherry + Raspberry Smoothie, Strawberry + Peach Smoothie, Acai + Cherry Smoothie, Dragon Fruit + Lychee Smoothie, Blueberry + Hemp Smoothie and Mango + Papaya Smoothie.

The ingredients are simple, delicious and organic!

As you all are hopefully aware of by now (either thanks to my Instagram announcement or my previous blog post), I recently started a new job. Along with my part time role helping Sparkle Athletic with their social media, at the beginning of the month I took a position with my local running store. Going from very part time (10-15 hours a week) to full time (40 hours a week between the two positions) means I need to on top of my time management. Not only are these smoothie cups a healthy and nutritious way to grab a meal on the go, they are a major time saver as well! Literally all you have to do is choose your liquid base (almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, coconut water, water, etc), fill the cup to top with liquid and toss it all into a blender, then blend and pour everything back into the cup. It's so easy peasy even a caveman can do it!

You can choose the liquid base. We normally have some type of non-dairy option on hand
(when the box first arrived we had THREE different options - silk, almond and oat "milks").

Now that I've worked my way through all of my smoothie cups I wanted to share my thoughts. I did want to mention that a few people sent me messages via social media saying they added ingredients to their smoothies (ranging from a banana or greens to yogurt or coffee). While I think adding things to jazz up the smoothies is a great idea, I decided to prepare them by strictly adding a liquid base so I (and you through reading my review) could get an untainted assessment.

Overall I'd give these smoothies two thumbs up. If you're expecting them to be overtly sweet or taste like a milkshake, you may be a bit disappointed, but if you're wanting a convenient way to add extra fruits and veggies into your diet this is a great option. A few of the smoothies felt as though they were missing a little in the flavor department (so I could totally see adding spinach and a banana to the mix), but overall I was stoked with the nutritional value and yumminess. The process is super easy and I was able to make one quickly before heading out the door to work. (Since I didn't add anything extra to my smoothies I was able to blend them in the single serving cups that came with my blender - which made clean-up afterwards a breeze!) I was a little surprised that more of them didn't have greens in them (only the Blueberry + Hemp Smoothie had greens in it), but I also appreciate that you can add them in yourself if you'd like them. I'd say taste testing the smoothies during the winter may not have been super ideal (they' be amazing in the summer, but when I'm already chilled from my morning run it is hard to rally for a frozen drink), but I took one for the team and drank them down ;)

Like I mentioned at the jump, whether you are looking for a way to help set yourself up for success with your New Year's Resolutions or just looking for a new food subscription box, you may very well be interested in giving Daily Harvest a shot. And, if you want to save money (because, let's be real, who doesn't want to keep some of their hard earned dolla dolla bills y'all in their own pocket?!) you can use code "CARLEEMCDOT" to save $25 off your first order. And, in complete transparency, I want to let you know that I do make a couple bucks when someone uses my code, but hopefully by now you know that I always have to #KeepItReal and wouldn't recommend a product I didn't use and enjoy myself!

Did you set any New Year's Resolutions?

Walt Wednesday

Some people do a "Wordless Wednesday" post, where they simply share a photo or image, but I thought I'd make a little series out of my Wednesdays. And since I love alliteration so much, why not go with Walt Wednesdays (obviously everyone can use a little break from the seriousness, scariness and sassiness of life - and what better way to help put a smile on your face than with a cute wiener dog picture, am I right?!)... So, without further ado...

WALT WEDNESDAY!

When life gets overwhelming, how do you de-stress?