Mid-Year Review 2019

Happy July! I seriously can't believe it's already July. I say this every year, but where has the time gone? Before we know it, Christmas will be here!

So, how has the first half of this year gone in my little corner of the world? Well, let's take a look!

Running/Fitness

From a running standpoint, it's been great. This past spring, I managed to PR in the 5K and 10K distances and felt strong with both races. Orangetheory attendance has been a twice weekly occurrence over here and I love it! I also somehow managed to place first in my AG division for the April Half Marathon challenge at Orangetheory. Mayhem was another challenge I completed during the month of May which was so much fun.

Since May, I somehow did something crazy to my hamstring/ligament/bursa of my right leg. I took two weeks off from working out and running after Mayhem was over (except one 2 miler in Alaska on national running day), hoping that would help and it did not. After seeing an orthopedic doc last week, he decided it would be best if I began with physical therapy and go from there. My first evaluation is today and I'm really looking forward to getting some answers and hopefully some help! If you saw my instagram story, you heard me say that he also ordered dry needling (which I'm so freaked out about) and I appreciate everyone's kind words and expertise/advice. As a nurse, I'll poke you all day long, but I do not like needles pointing my way! 

Weight Loss

I'm still mostly following the Faster Way lifestyle and feeling great. I did totally bomb it while we were on vacation but it was fairly easy jumping back into it once we returned home. I've lost the extra weight put on during the cruise but haven't lost any additional weight, which I'm working on now. 

Family Time

We spent 10 days in Canada/Alaska at the end of May/beginning of June with Jason's family and had a BLAST! I've been posting a few recaps here and there with more to come. Returning home and reliving the trip through photos and videos is so much fun and I love sharing it with you guys!

Brayden is also GROWING so fast. He literally grew 1/2 inch between May and June! He's in the 95th percentile for height and grew 5 inches total since his 2 year old checkup. Crazy, I tell ya!

That's about all I can think of that was exciting or stood out as noteworthy this year! Tell me something exciting that's happened in your life in 2019!

Today, I'm also linking up with KookyRunner and Zenaida for Tuesday Topics! 

2017 Goals

With a new year comes a fresh slate with new opportunities. I've never ever been a fan of resolutions, but I do like to set goals for myself. While thinking about goals for today's Friday Five topic, I came up with several that I would like to set for 2017.

Organize and throw away/donate

Oh my gosh. Ever since we found out we were pregnant, we had to cram eight years of our lives into one less room (to make room for Brayden). I am a very sentimental person, so I often hold onto things I shouldn't necessarily hold on to. My goal for the next few months is to take my house room by room and completely organize and donate/sell/throw away the "clutter" I don't need. I also have an ebay box, so I need to post those items online to sell. We've been looking at houses for a while now (over a year) and just haven't found anything we loved. However, I know that one day we will, so my new motto is this - would I take the time to pack this item in a box and move it to a new home? If not, then bye...it has to go. This will help me stay focused on the task at hand.


Train properly for a race/stick to a training plan

As you know, my running group will cease to exist after Saturday (tomorrow). Sad face. After having been a member of the group for 8 years, this will be a huge change for me. However, I have a few races on my horizon and want to stick with a training plan so I can effectively train and complete the races without injury. My running buddy Heather still wants to keep training as well so I know this will help with my motivation!


Pay closer attention to my food intake

This one is self explanatory. I was doing really well in the months leading up to Christmas but now that's all been erased. I need to get back on track and stay at my pre-baby weight state! 


Enjoy my family

Time is something we all wish we had more of. Spending time with my family is something that is very precious to me and I want to enjoy the time we have together without distractions. As a full time working mom, I take the time I have to spend with my fast-growing baby very seriously and I want to cherish and enjoy it.


Be more contentious of money

There are times when I order something online or purchase an item simply because I want it. This year, I want to be more aware of why/where/how I'm spending my money. Is it something I truly need? If not, then I won't make the purchase. As I mentioned before, we are looking at purchasing a house in the near future and I would like to have a decent amount saved up before that time.

What are your goals for 2017?



Today, I'm linking up for the Friday Five!

Join the Friday Five 2.0 Linkup at Running on Happy & Fairytales and Fitness! 

Fitness Friday - 9/30

With the month of October fast upon us, Fall weather has finally decided to visit Southwest Louisiana and I couldn't be more thrilled!! (By the way...how is it almost October already?!) The temps this week made the way for a few nice evening runs that weren't bogged down with intense humidity and heat. I truly love Fall!

Currently Training For:

• Cajun Cup 10K (Lafayette, LA)
• Cajun Country Half Marathon (Lafayette, LA)
• Disney's Princess Half Marathon & Glass Slipper Challenge
• Rock n Roll New Orleans Half Marathon

Saturday - 12 mile run
Sunday - Rest Day 
Monday - 2 mile walk with Brayden
Tuesday - 3 mile run
Wednesday - Rest Day  
Thursday - 4 mile run
Friday - PT/Leg exercises and workout

On Saturday, my friend Heather and I set out to accomplish a goal we hadn't done since last Fall - run 12 miles. The humidity was very thick (like breathing through a wet washcloth) and it made for a warm morning, but we did it!

This was also my longest run to date since having Brayden 5 months ago! 

One thing I learned from this run - NEVER forget body glide EVER AGAIN. Such a rookie mistake...I felt really stupid after it was all said and done. Oh well, I learned my lesson for sure!

On Tuesday, I had places to go and things to do, but my Garmin took FOREVER to connect to satellites. 

It had me all like....#notimpressed.

I've had this Garmin for a while now, so I'm pretty sure a newer one will be making its way to my Christmas list this year! :)

The humidity dropped significantly this week which means Tuesday and Thursday's runs were a little better than expected! Woohoo I love Fall!

Since yesterday was National Coffee Day, I had to stop by Starbucks for a drink on my way home! 

I went with my usual - Iced Non-Fat Caramel Macchiato.

As I drove to the window to pay, I was told that the person in front of me in line paid for my beverage! Say what!? I've heard of that happening in the past but it certainly never happened to me! I was so grateful and shocked, I told the barista thank you and drove off with a huge smile. After I got out of the parking lot, I realized I was kind of a jerk for not paying for the person behind me in line. Ugh. Oh well...next time I go, I'll definitely do that!

Thursday night's run went well, too! I decided to push myself a little harder than I did on Tuesday night to see if I could run further (4 miles) and also a little faster (below a 9 min pace).

Mission accomplished!

Fall weather is truly supposed to arrive this weekend and I can't wait! Saturday morning's run is going to be fabulous!

A few extra things before I go....

•  Thank you to everyone who prayed for Pixie! She was given an antibiotic shot and some oral meds and seems to be doing much better! Whew. I feared the worst, of course...hah! 

• Remember that Legend Compression Giveaway Contest I mentioned on Monday? Well, all you have to do is click here or here and enter your email address in the popup window! You'll automatically be entered for the chance to win a $100 online shopping spree! It's as easy as that - you'll be entered for a chance to win and the winner will be chosen on 11/1! Good luck! :)

I'll leave you with a few pictures of my sweet little guy!

He was a hit at church on Sunday in his little hat and outfit!
 

Y'all, the back of this outfit even had pockets on the butt. I'm a hoarder of all things baby clothes. It might be a good thing I didn't have a girl! Hehe!

Have a fabulous weekend!!

Fitness Friday - 7/22

Hi there! Long time no see. Yes, we are all still alive over here.

This week, I've dealt with a good bit of mouth pain. Both teeth that were filled within the last year have decided to cause trouble and both need to be filled AGAIN...at the same dang time. I told my dentist to just pull all my bottom teeth and give me dentures but he convinced me that's not the answer nor the solution I am looking for. Dramatic much? Yes. Tooth pain is no joke.

Yesterday, I had one tooth fixed and on Tuesday I'll have the second. I don't care, as long as this goes away and I can eat normal food again, I'll be happy!

Know how to lose those last five pesky baby weight pounds? Have teeth issues...or get a virus. At this point, I'm not sure which one is worse!

Currently Training For:

• Cajun Cup 10K
• Cajun Country Half Marathon
• Disney's Princess Half Marathon & Glass Slipper Challenge
• Rock n Roll New Orleans Half Marathon

Saturday - 4 mile run
Sunday - 2 mile walk with Brayden
Monday - 3 mile walk with Brayden
Tuesday - Rest Day
Wednesday - 3 mile run before work
Thursday - Rest Day 
Friday - Rest Day

On Saturday morning, I met up with my running buddy Heather for a quick run around town. Jason was working nights so in order to be respectful of his time and sleep schedule, I decided to cut my run short. It was still a good run despite the circumstances and I'm grateful I was able to get the run in at all!

After church on Sunday evening, Brayden and I took a little walk around the neighborhood....

...and within minutes, he was out!

We did the same thing again on Monday evening!

Only this time, my friend Kim joined us for the walk. It was a gorgeous evening and the sunset was beautiful!

On Wednesday morning (before my mouth pain became too unbearable), I woke up early before work and set out on a three mile run.

I decided since it wasn't as hot the day before due to rain, the morning would be "cooler". Wishful thinking - 94% humidity...ugh.

The run wasn't as quick as I wanted it to be and I had to stop for a few walk breaks during the last mile.

All done!

In non-running related news, a friend from my running group and her mom stopped by to visit me at work this week. They gave Brayden this beautiful gift - it's a hand-stitched Mickey Mouse quilt! 

We are all big Disney fans so they know how much this blanket means to me! Also, it was gifted to us in a Disney parks shopping bag...isn't that too funny?! They sure know me well! I know Brayden will love his Mickey Mouse quilt, too!

That's all for this week! I'm crossing my fingers for a mouth-pain-free weekend! Have a great one!! :)

Fitness Friday - 7/15

Currently Training For:

• Cajun Country Half Marathon
• Disney's Princess Half Marathon & Glass Slipper Challenge
• Rock n Roll New Orleans Half Marathon

Saturday - 6.6 mile run
Sunday - Rest Day
Monday - 3.1 mile - runDisney's Running Shorts Series White Gloves 5K
Tuesday - Rest Day
 Wednesday - Rest Day  
Thursday - 2 mile morning run
 Friday - 2-3 mile morning run (depends what I have time for)

I completed Saturday morning's run with my running buddy, Heather. It was the first day of sign ups for fall marathon training with my running group and spirits were high. It was great to see some old friends out there I hadn't seen in a while and it was also great to meet some new ones! I met a girl who is running Princess, too! She's new to our running group, so it was great to get to know her a bit!

In total, we ran 6.6 miles (we got off track just a bit). It was wonderful to run and let the miles pass by while we talked...long runs with friends are the best! 

On Monday, I woke up early and went for a run before work. That run was the final portion of runDisney's Running Shorts Virtual 5K series. You can read more about my run here.

It was my fastest 5K to date since having Brayden three months ago and I was super proud of my time! I did push myself and my goal was to complete at least one of the three 5K's under 30 minutes. I finally made it on the last and final 5K!

Thursday morning's run was really humid and hot but a good one! Around half a mile, I looked down at my watch and saw a time of 8:53. I haven't run a mile in the 8's in MONTHS, so I decided to see if I could make it to a mile without slowing down. After reaching a mile, I decided to just keep running and see what happened. I had to be at work a little earlier on Thursday morning so my run was cut short to two miles. It was rough at the end, but I pushed hard to finish the last mile under 9 minutes. 

Overall, I couldn't have been more proud of my runs this week. Although there were only three of them (not including today), I am happy with the outcome of them. It's so encouraging to know that I AM improving and my body is returning to it's pre-pregnancy running state, slowly but surely!
 

...and just because I had to, here's a little dose of sweetness for the day! :)

I hope you have a fabulous weekend!!

Where are your running plans taking you this weekend?

Why Hello There, Fitness! :)

Patience has never been a virtue of mine. I don't like to wait, especially when given a specific date/time and things don't happen in that time frame (think Brayden's birth date...he was four days late, thank you). So, when my OB's specific instructions stated to "resume exercise gradually", I took her at her word. About a week after he was born, we ventured out for a short walk here and there just to get out of the house, but it wasn't anything serious. Last week, a crazy and ridiculous rain storm that lasted for DAYS came through and hindered my postpartum fitness plans.

When the weekend hit and we were blessed with beautiful weather, I knew I had to take advantage of the opportunity and go for it!

Jason worked nights over the weekend, so we headed out for a walk on Saturday while he was still sleeping. Madalynn, Brayden, and I enjoyed a nice brisk 2 mile walk and by the time we returned, Jason was awake! 

He sure looks good in Navy and Orange, IMO! :)

Such a gorgeous day!

After returning the clan home, I ventured out for an additional 2 mile walk on my own. I even attempted a light jog (think like 10 seconds at a time), but that wasn't comfortable so I stopped. The walk was really nice because I was able to take it at my own pace and not one dictated by contractions, bladder spasms, or heart rate issues.

It honestly feels really nice to have my body back (well, somewhat)!

This little girl was whining after my second return home, so we went out for a little venture of our own! She helped round out the last portion of my four mile walk. :)

On Sunday, I decided to take the bike out for a little spin. My sister in law mentioned an upcoming bike "race" that sounded interesting to me, but I hadn't been on the bike in a LONG while, so I decided to test it out! 

Overall, it wasn't bad at all....although my legs did burn which felt really NICE for a change! I managed to go 5.25 miles around my neighborhood at a a decent little pace (for me).

 If we end up doing the bike ride, I think things will go really well!

All I need now is a helmet and I'll be all set! :)

I cannot wait to get back to running, but that will take a bit longer - I'm still taking it one day at a time over here! :)

If you've ever been pregnant or taken a hiatus from fitness, how was your return to it?

KatieDid Productions Non-Slip Headbands Review & Giveaway

Several weeks ago, I was contacted by Katie of KatieDid Productions to do a review of her non-slip headbands and host a giveaway!

After browsing through her Etsy shop full of adorable designs, I decided on these two....Preppy Paisley and Red/White/Blue Anchors!

Preppy Paisley is a 1.5 inch headband (and is Lilly Pulitzer inspired...adorable, right?).....

....and Red, White, and Blue Anchors in a 1 inch headband. Isn't it so cute? I'm pretty sure I wore this headband every day during the 4th of July weekend!

Y'all know I love non-slip headbands and was curious to see how these held up when compared to others I've worn in the past. can honestly say I have no complaints!

I've worn these headbands during training runs, sweaty races, cross training, out to eat, just for fun, etc...and I love them! They stay put and don't move at all!

Who could beat the price, too? At $5 for a 1 inch headband and $7 for a 1.5 inch headband, it would be easy to stock up on a variety of styles/colors without overspending!

Want to stay up with Katie's latest designs? Check out her social media below:

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Pinterest

Here's how you can get in on all the fun.......Katie is offering a giveaway for readers of Just Me & My Running Shoes! One winner will chose TWO headbands in their favorite designs and she will ship them directly to the winner.

Check out Rafflecopter instructions below for further details. Giveaway will run for 1 week's time and will end and midnight on Thursday, July 16th. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclaimer: I received these headbands from KatieDid Productions free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion/review. All opinions expressed are my own, no compensation was received.


Do you wear non-slip headbands while running/cross training/yoga,etc?

Fitness Friday - 2/26

Happy Friday! I hope everyone had a good week. It's crazy to me that it's almost July!  It will be Christmas before we know it! :)

Currently training for: 
Louisiana Half Marathon
Rock ‘n’ Roll NOLA Half Marathon
Glass Slipper Challenge
Castaway Challenge
Diva’s Half Marathon
Contraband Days 5 Miler
4 on the 4th

Saturday – 6 mile run with a friend/running group
Sunday – Rest Day
Monday –  3 mile run/walk with Jason; PT exercises - lunges/squats with weights
Tuesday –  3 mile run/walk with Jason; PT exercises - lunges/squats with weights
Wednesday – 2 mile run with Madalynn
Thursday – 3.1 mile run - planning out a 5K route
Friday – Rest Day

Jason and I somehow managed to miss a crazy storm that rolled through - literally minutes after we finished our run/walk. The blue skies in the distance were still visible even though a crazy dark cloud hung over our area - it was super eerie.

To cool off, Pixie and I sat on the porch and watched the storm roll in. 

On Wednesday, I got up early before work and went for a 2 mile run. I decided to take Madalynn because the temps were a little cooler after the previous evening's rain. We had a lot of fun (as always). That girl loves to run! 

Thursday afternoon was spent with a run along a 5K route, measuring the 1 mile, 2 mile, water stops, etc. I'm helping to plan a local 5K that will be held on Saturday morning. The remainder of my evening was spent with other race volunteers, creating packets and loading a trailer. Although Saturday is going to be hot, we're going to have a lot of fun!!

A few other exciting (non-fitness related) things happened this week!

Our official Baseball Hall of Fame membership package arrived! Since we're spending the induction weekend there, we decided to purchase a membership instead of individual tickets for each day...it's actually cheaper that way! 

I was having a rough start to my day on Tuesday and was a little sad (unfortunately, that comes with the job). A friend of mine (who didn't know the situation), surprised me with my a Coke! I was so excited!! I've been looking for a bottle with my name on it since last summer and had yet to find one! This is now a souvenir and is being displayed proudly on a shelf! :)

We were also treated to a special summer treat at work this week! I got banana with cream...that's my norm and it was really good! :)

What's planned for your weekend? Anything fun? Any races/running plans?