A Few of My Favorite Things

A few new favorites while we push through this gray winter weather.

Behold, the sweaty band. I got one for Christmas and am loving it. All those layers I thought were a great idea when getting the wife chop no longer hinder me from running like the wind. I'm boring and got white. It has a silver stripe. Step back.

I'm sure I owe most of my water consumption to the Tervis Tumbler - grande size. Bonus points - the lid and the straw. I travel up a few floors every morning to get the good (Sonic like) ice and I'm set for the morning.

Speaking of morning, I have a new love in the face wash department. I love it so much I want to use it at night too. Is that ok? Does the evening dilute its effectiveness? Its caused quite an identity crisis, but I love it none the less.

Fresh scent? Caffeine? Sign me up.

And the BEST FOR LAST. I wish I could take credit for this discovery, but alas, I cannot. You can thank me later.

Living the Dream

It was my favorite kind of weekend. Plenty of time to be both lazy and productive. After spending all night parked on the couch with the folks at Sterling Cooper, we headed out Saturday for a cloudy 8 mile run. It was painful - not that a long run is ever entirely pleasant, but my legs -perhaps weighed down by Goobers and Sour Patch Kids - felt pretty tired. Not exactly the feeling I like going into a race next weekend.

The training plan doesn't stop. Cue life lesson. So after dropping MS off at the airport Monday morning (hello, Bravo and pancakes for dinner), I took a little nap (it was 6:30) and decided to get one of the week's run out of the way. This is about as real as it gets. I'm sorry I'm not the type with the full face of makeup to work out.

I told you I owned a lot of pink.

It was heavenly. I felt good. Made it up all the hills at just the speed I wanted without feeling near death. We all know what uphills mean - downhills. Downhills that led right back to my starting point. It was just what I needed.

I spent the afternoon with this guy. He was very excited about it. I think he prefers me at work.

Other than a poorly scheduled visit to the dentist (this just in - flossing is KEY if you don't want your mouth to look like you got punched in the face at your semi-annual cleaning), it was a great vacation day and start to the week. Is it just me or does that extra day make all the difference?

Attitude Check

I have referenced my tendency towards a Type A personality numerous times on this blog. There are many advantages - I'm fairly organized, I'm pretty good at planning ahead and providing some structure to our family life.

On the flip side, there are parts of my personality that aren't so pretty. An exaggerated sense of time urgency, competitiveness and becoming easily irritated are things I struggle with. When things don't go according to my plan, I get frustrated. It's amazing how these are magnified when living with another person who doesn't always share these traits (thank the Lord). It's something I've been praying God would begin to change in me this year.

Be careful what you pray for. As I'm sure we've all experienced, God doesn't just give us patience, or love. But instead, gives us a chance to exercise patience and love. I've been slow in making the connection between these prayers and the circumstances God provides to give me a new attitude.

This week in church, we read 3 John. As I glanced through the intro, I read something that struck that nerve again. "It can be easy to join others in gossip, complaining or small acts of dishonesty..."

Rarely, if not ever, do I think of complaining as a fault, much less a sin. It really clicked with me how deep our attitudes run and how what is in my heart surfaces.

"The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things from the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks."

I think blaming a personality type is a cop out. I'm going to go out on a limb and say most of us have a tendency towards selfishness, frustration and jealousy rather than serving, peace and joy. As I move forward this year, I pray that my heart would be changed. I think the rest will fall into place.

A Run and The Pub

Before all the snow and ice hit, it was relatively warm for a nice, albeit hilly, 7 mile run. I overestimated the chill and found myself stripping down everything I could that wouldn't get me in trouble.

We were pretty hungry after and seized the opportunity to try the new 500 calorie or less menu at McAllisters. I was delighted to see the chicken spud as an option. If it had some jalapenos and salsa, it would have been perfection.

We were thirsty too. Don't you love their tea?!

After refueling, I dragged MS to do the weekly shopping with me. Despite the mad rush for milk and bread, Publix had their game face on. It was crowded, but well stocked and we were in and out in no time.

Total: $59.07
Saved: $45.65

Favorite purchase of the week - Batter Blaster (not bladder baster, like I told MS on the way to the store)- Organic Pancake Mix. Normally $3.99/can on sale for BOGO. Had (2) $1 off coupons, paid $1 per can.

This, plus my CVS trip and grabbing a few odds and ends (read:ice cream) through the week put us right on target with the grocery budget.



Ahhhh...I heart Publix.

We Were Prepared

There were forecasts for lots of snow here yesterday. Lots, if you're in the South, anyways. Lots of snow turned into lots of ice. Neither snow, nor rain, nor sleet.....you get the idea. There are no snow days at my work. But, I wanted to ensure we were prepared.

After all, ice cream and brownies > milk and bread.

And just for good measure....

We also had some exciting company for the weekend.

We are light ages behind, but thanks to Netflix and some more up to date friends, we are enjoying our nightly dates with Don Draper and company at Sterling Cooper.

Some of us enjoyed the snow more than others. Eating the snow, laying in the snow, making yellow snow. Good family fun.

I'm dunzo with the snow. I have my own winter layer courtesey of Ghiradhelli. A girl can only run on a treadmill so long.

Praying for temps above 32,

Frugal Friday

The holdiays are over and we're trying to get into the normal routine. I've been saying for weeks I need to get back into the drugstore game, but when I realized I was down to my very last razor, I knew I could put it off no longer. I think we can all agree the price of razors alone is motivation enough.

 I was brave and did two transactions in the lunch time crowd. I would be lying if I said I didn't get a little flustered (how dare the women in front of me ask questions while I'm trying to get my basket organized) but I think I came through with a W.

Transaction One:
1 Excedrin Extra Strength
1 Excedrin Migraine (came with a bonus 8 Excedrin PM)
2 Excedrin PM

Used:
1 Free Excedrin Extra Strength coupon
1 Free Excedrin Migraine coupon
(2) $2.50 of one Excedrin PM.

Paid: $4.37
Received $10 Extra Care Bucks (ECBs)

Transaction Two:
1 box of tampons
2 Revlon nail cutters

Used:
$1 off tampons
$10 ECBs from transaction one

Paid: $7.07
Received $10 ECBs

So all those products for $11.44 out of pocket for around $40 worth of products, I should never have a body pain or trouble sleeping for the next 9 months and I have $10 to use on next week's sale. Conveniently, razors are on sale and you get $5 ECBs when you purchase. Feels good to be on a roll again.

I met my better half for lunch right down the street at a restaurant we had a groupon for. We ended up paying $5 plus tip for a sit down meal. Would have been a total win had I ordered a salad rather than crab cakes and fries, but I don't recall perfection being the goal here.

In less frugal news, these came in this week, just in the nick of time for this weekend's long run! How have I not been running in pink shoes this whole time? It's hard for me to resist pink running clothes and if I'm not careful I'll soon look like I'm sponsored by Pepto Bismol.

Happy weekend!

Hitting the Streets

It's tradition. Each year, we train for and run Mercedes Half Marathon through the streets of the Magic City.

Training for this falls in step with some other traditions. Namely, eggnog, cookies, cream cheese based dips, casseroles and weather that looks like this.

All this to say, I can't decide if this is a great time to amp up the running routine, or the worst time of the year.

Nonetheless, no matter how cold or busy, I know how heartbroken I would be race weekend if we weren't running. (Heartbroken might be a strong word here, work with me.) So early in the morning, out the door we go. Tights and all.

I would be lying if I didn't say crossing off runs wasn't a big motivation. (Things we aren't fans of - first week of training, strength training and cross training. That's what New Year's resolutions are for, right?)

Maybe some day we will move past the Novice training. Today is not that day.

We are closing out week 7 and it's getting increasingly harder to get up and run out in the cold as the mileage increases. Not pictured: my hair paying the price of me running late this morning.

Five weeks to go. Updates to come.