Friday Favorites v.55

GUYS. TGIF.

Today is going to be hot and maybe rainy?. Tomorrow and Sunday are going to be hot. My plans for this hot and humid weekend include playing with Murphy in his new doggie (kiddie) pool, drinking lots of water and trying not to pass out during my runs.

Stay cool this weekend, friends!

But before the weekend begins, let’s go over some of my favorites from this week. While work was pretty busy and my runs were pretty boring, I found lots of great inspiration and fun things on the web this week.

1. Watermelon Tumbler Set. The cutest set for summer dinner parties or snacks around the pool.

2. Finding Gobi. Finding Gobi is the miraculous tale of Dion Leonard, a seasoned ultramarathon runner who crosses paths with a stray dog while competing in a 155-mile race through the Gobi Desert in China. The pup, who would later earn the name Gobi, proved that what she lacked in size, she more than made up for in heart, as she went step for step with Dion over the Tian Shan Mountains, across massive sand dunes, through yurt villages and the black sands of the Gobi Desert, keeping pace with him for nearly 80 miles.

Their story is now a book and will soon be a movie! As a runner and a dog lover, I can’t wait to get my hands on this book. Such an inspirational story!

3. Mix and match healthy smoothie recipes from Fannetastic Food!

4. I’ve been on a beet kick lately and these juices are so good! These are from a local place in Owensboro, but I also love the beet juice from Suja.

5. Chemotherapy, then the U.S. Championships, for Gabriele Grunewald. Such an great story of grit and character. I wish her the best! It really does go to show you, that most of the time, we are the only ones holding ourselves back. We have no limitations. We just have to believe we can do anything.

6. The best red, white & blue running gear for the 4th of July. *I love this tank! It looks so light and airy and it’s long enough to cover everything. Definitely buying it this weekend.

7. Exercise ball ab workout. I tried this out on Thursday and holy abs it was a killer.

8. So focused on his favorite red ball. I love it. Lunch time fetch with Murphy is the best. 

Advice for summer training

Hi guys! Happy first day of summer!

I mentioned in yesterday’s post that I am eyeing a fall half marathon, which means I am training all summer. In the heat and in the humidity.

While I know what doesn’t kill me makes me stronger, I want to be smart about training and running lots of miles in the heat.

So I went to The Loop for some advice on summer training. I got a lot of great responses on this post, so if you need some help I did, check it out!

While it sucks, running the heat only makes you stronger for the fall. Drink lots of water, wear plenty of sunscreen and take breaks when needed! If you put in the work, the results will come.

Eyeing a fall half marathon

Hi guys! How is it already Tuesday?! I feel like yesterday flew by in such a flash.

To quickly recap my weekend – Buffalo Wild Wings, running, Wonder Woman, Father’s Day meals and shenanigans and two Redbox movies.

I’m also starting a new training plan with the hopes of running a half marathon in either October or November (I’ve been eyeing several local races for this fall!)

Murphy always pretends to be scared of the treadmill, but after a few minutes of me running, he goes back to normal and starts going crazy and shifting through everything in the garage.

So hopefully in the next few weeks I will be able to ramp up my milage and get started with a set running schedule/training plan.

Are you eyeing any fall races? I’d love to hear your tips on summer training!

Healthy eating should not be a diet plan

Welcome to back the work week, friends! I hope you all had a great Father’s Day weekend. I got to spend time with both my dad and my father-in-law, so I am one happy girl today!

Now. Onto more serious matters.

I hate when I’m out to eat with people and they think because I’m getting “just a salad” that it means I am dieting. No! I don’t want the foods I eat to be considered a diet! I want to become a way of life. I want to eat healthy and nourishing foods that sustain my daily activities!

Eat good to feel good, right? I want to feel good. I want to feel great. Lots of processed foods and fake sugars are not going to get me there.

Cucumbers and tuna fish (my latest lunch obsession) is healthy, but you know what, it also tastes good! And I don’t feel bloated and nasty after eating it like I would if I ate a burger and fries from McDonald’s. Eating healthy should not be a diet plan.

I want to learn to live a balanced life. To me, eating well is a way I can respect my body AND help it live out its full potential. I like to run. Therefore, I need foods that can fuel my body so I can be my best self and perform well. Don’t get me wrong, I love chocolate chip cookies and pizza is one of my top three favorite foods, but I think a life filled with moderation is a good thing.

Below, I’ve linked some of my favorite recipes that are delicious and good for you!

BREAKFAST
Hard boiled egg and cheddar muffin.
Cherry Banana Smoothie.
My new favorite smoothie.
Avocado toast FIVE ways.

LUNCH
Sweet & spicy summertime guac.
White bean and mozzarella sandwich.

SUPPER
Easy baked ginger chicken.
Skinny beef and broccoli noodles.
BBQ salmon. (While I don’t get to cook fish at home due my husband’s, but I love to eat it! I haven’t tried this recipe, but it looks delish!)

EXTRAS
Chocolate chip banana bread cookies.
Summer fruit salad.

Friday Favorites v.54

I’m starting off my Friday with doughnuts! That has to mean today is going to be a great day. I have a low-key weekend planned at home and I am definitely looking forward to it.

I also am going to start a new training plan this weekend, so that’s exciting! I’m hoping it will help me focus and get my butt in shape (literally and figuratively).

Before the weekend can begin, let’s go through some of my favorite things from this past week.

1. Getting the chance to get out of the office and walk around downtown. I had to go to the courthouse the other day for work-related things and it was so nice to be out in some fresh air! I also love all of the American flags we have displayed downtown. 

2. Look at all of these popsicle recipes! I cannot wait to give some of these a try this summer.

3. If you’re a bookworm who is looking for something new to read, check out this list by PBFingers.

4. My best work friend is left me this week to pursue bigger and better things in Utah. While I’m sad to be losing such a great friend, I am so proud of her work ethic and all the great things she has coming her way!

5. Four tips to work more effectively. Love these tips! Even though I can’t burn a candle at my desk at work, I do like the idea of having a “relaxing/feel good scent” when you work from home. Random example, I LOVE the smell of fresh peaches. It instantly relaxes me and makes me feel invigorated.

6. This howdy y’all phone case from Draper James. Perfect for summer!

7. I love Miley Cyrus and I love Jimmy Fallon, so obviously the two of them together is a win in my book. Earlier this week, the two surprised subway riders in NYC with a surprise performance.

8. Murphy and I took about 20 pictures until I found one that halfway decent. & even then, I still look like a hot mess. #sweatyselfie

45 minute treadmill workout

Happy hump day! This week already seems to be dragging, so I am trying to switch things up with an intense fat-burning treadmill workout.

While this workout looks like a killer (let’s be honest, I’ll probably have to take a few breaks) I am excited to give it a try!

Yard work, river walks and mini golf

This weekend was crammed pack with work and play and it was awesome.

On Saturday while Ryan was at work, me, my brother and Murphy did a TON of yard work. I’m talking mowing, weed eating, pulling weeds, cleaning up the garage, etc. It took most of the afternoon, but the yard looked great afterward.

Murphy has also decided he’s a farm pup now.


Saturday night I met a friend in town for dinner. She leaves Kentucky this week for a new job in Utah, so I’m sad to see her go, but am so proud of her and her work ethic!

We ate a local Korean place and then walked all along the river after dinner. 


Saturday, Ryan and I, along with our friend Maddie made a two hour road trip down to Grand Rivers, KY., to eat at Patti’s 1880s Settlement! It’s a well known restaurant in western Kentucky and has so much great food. They are known for their 2 inch porkchops and mile high meringue pies. We ate until we were stuffed and then headed outside for two rounds of putt putt golf. 

All in all it was a great weekend with family, friends and food. To be honest, I didn’t get in a lot of running over the last three days, but spending time with these people is more important than any run or workout.

Come hell or high water: treadmill running

You know what is longer than microwave minutes? Treadmill minutes.

I hate running on a treadmill. When I was first starting my running journey, I was a sophomore in high school and was on my school’s track team and we ran outside EVERY. DAMN. DAY.

My coach was a former Ironman and standout runner who worked in a factory and now coached high school girls. And like I said, we ran outside. Every. Damn. Day. No matter the weather. Come hell or high water, you would find 10 high school girls bunched up and shuffling down the sidewalk on a daily four mile run.

His two favorite sayings were, “I’ve learned to enjoy ALL types of weather” and “if it doesn’t kill you, it’ll make you stronger and if you die, then it must have been your time to go.”

Now, nine years after I began running under his direction, I still think of those sayings often. So after running outside every day for three years, now when I’m forced to run on the treadmill due to working late or terrible weather, I dread it. While I am thankful to have a treadmill at home, I still much rather run outside. But life doesn’t always let us do what we want, so every day Monday – Friday after work I am on that treadmill.

Sometimes I take the easy way out and skip my run all together. But then I feel sh*t, so I usually, I suck it up, stand on the treadmill cursing my decision and begin my run.

*Fake it til you make it, right?!

While I don’t always love having to run on the treadmill, I know it makes me a better runner. Treadmill miles are better than no miles, right?! Plus I’m slowly but surely building up my mental game.

With that said, I am still so grateful that I am able to run.

I don’t have to run, I get to run.

There are so many people in the world who would love a chance to walk, much less run, and here I am complaining about something I choose to do. But I love to run. I also love to eat chocolate chip cookies. Another incentive to run? You better believe it.

Friday Favorites v.53

Haaaappy Friiiiday! I can’t believe another week has come and gone. I love that weekend is already upon us, but man does it feel like time is flying by.

So before some fun in the sun this weekend — let’s talk favorites.

1. One of my favorite things to do is host. I love having people in my home, taking care of them and feeding everyone a good meal. Earlier this week, Emily Ley shared a great post on her blog with tips from others on how to be hospitable and how love people well.

2. Since Wednesday was Global Running Day, Brooks launched the coolest campaign I’ve seen in a while. The thought was that every runner should be endorsed. So by signing up here, you can become an official Brooks endorsed athlete.


3. I’ve been looking into some Whole30 recipes this week. While I’m not planning on completly following the plan, I would like to get some ideas on how to incorporate more whole foods into my diet. Have any suggestions on Whole 30 snacks or recipes? Let me know in the comments below!

4. Running and pups. Two of my favorite things.

5. Country livin’

6. The second biggest project I do all year got sent off the printer yesterday. Such a hufe weight off my shoulders!

7. The difference between dog lovers and dog parents. Haha. It’s so true!

8. ​Fetch is fun. Boomerangs are cool.

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Pineapple Express drink recipe

Friends, we are allllmost to the weekend!

If you’re celebrating with Thirsty Thursday tonight or just need a great new drink recipe for the summer, then check out this deliciously fruity mix!