Ladies: 5 Reasons Why You Should Lift

There seems to be this old tale that women who lift weights are manly and will have ginormous muscles. Well, today I wanted to chat about WHY it is important for women to lift weights, and more importantly, lift heavier than they think they can lift.

There are so many benefits to weight lifting. We will get into that, and also chat about how to get started.

So, you're ready to start lifting but have no idea where to go? If you plan on attending a gym, it may be worth booking an appointment with a personal trainer to at least get familiar with the strength training area. At my gym they have it separated by cardio equipment, strength training machines/dumb bells, and another room with another rack of dumb bells and things like yoga mats, foam rollers, resistance bands/tubes, and kettle bells. Having someone show you around the gym will not only answer any questions you may have about the facility, but make you feel more comfortable. Being comfortable is HUGE in starting a strength training journey (or any health journey for that matter), as you will be more inclined to stick to it if you don't feel awkward or out of place.

That's not to say that feeling awkward won't happen, because I can guarantee that it will happen! However, getting your bearings will help make things easier in the long run.

To get started means to simply put on your work out gear and get going. If buying a new exercise outfit will motivate you to take the first steps, then by all means, do what you need to do. That being said, in order to begin a program you just have to START, so start now, whatever that may look like for you!

When it comes to strength training, having a plan will allow you to visually see what you need to do in the gym. A plan tailored to your specific needs will also alleviate that, "OMG what do I do today!?" feeling that can arise. Start small to start - say two times per week - and build up as you start to feel stronger in the gym. Soon enough, you will have a work out split (another word for plan) that can target multiple parts of your body.

For me, my workout split looks something like this:

Legs twice per week, shoulders/triceps twice per week, and one day for back and biceps. Occasionally I will mix in some back/biceps on my shoulder days, but it is completely up to you. Every 4-6 weeks I switch things up (providing I am seeing results), and I mix some cardio in there as well because I love me some running! : )

Again, your first steps into strength training may be at-home YouTube videos, and that's okay, too! Do what works for you and what makes your body feel good.

So, WHY should women strength train?

I'll tell you why I personally do it. I strength train for mental clarity, for challenging my body, so I can withstand day to day activities with ease, so I can age gracefully (or so I am hoping anyway), and so I can be a better me.

You can tell when I haven't worked out because I am grouchy, irritable, and I won't be as in tune with my body or my mood. This is important to me as I want to be present and mindful in my interactions out there in the world, so working out can set the tone for a great day.

However, some other reasons why women should strength train are listed below.

1. You will burn more fat. Strength training builds muscle, and muscle burns more calories and fat while resting. Sure, you burn calories after a run, but not nearly as many as you would after a good strength training session!

2. You will practice the art of mental strength. Yep, you can do one more rep. Yep, you can lift a little bit heavier. Yep, you can do one more squat. Strength training (and athletic training in general) helps train your mind in that whole, "mind-over-matter" sense, which can translate to so many other areas of your life.

3. You'll strengthen your bones, as strength training helps your muscles, bones, ligaments, and tendons adapt under pressure. Your bones will become stronger and more dense, which will help stave off age related degeneration.

4. You will lean out. Yes, weight lifting (combined with a clean diet, OF COURSE) will help your jeans feel looser and make your shirt less tight. This is because muscle takes up less space than fat. Sure, a pound is a pound, but a pound of fat is more voluminous than a pound of muscle. So while you may still weigh the same weight (which I don't recommend going by the number on the scale anyway), you probably look a little slimmer since your body is increasing muscle and decreasing fat.

5. Your HEART will seriously thank you. Strength training and cardiovascular exercise is a God-send for your heart. As you get into better shape, your heart actually doesn't have to work as hard to send blood throughout your body. Exercise reduces blood pressure, and we all know high blood pressure ain't cute.

---

If you are a woman who has a strength training routine, what does this look like for you? Let me know in the comments! Any AMAZING moves I should try in the gym!?

Healthy Morning Habits to Start Now

Does anyone else LOVE mornings? I especially love them on a Sunday or Monday when I have the whole day to myself. Easing into the morning can set the tone for a happier day. Whether you are a late riser or an early riser, I hope you can find a few takeaways from today's post to help create some more healthy habits. Of course, you don't have to do these just in the morning. They are all great no matter what time of day they occur! However, some of them are especially effective the morning to get the day started when your body is freshly awake. Let me know in the comments if there are any morning habits you like to do!

---

1. Hold the phone. One thing that is important in the morning is allowing yourself to wake up on your own terms, without being inundated with social media first thing. I know how tempting it can be to check your phone right away. Trust me, been there all too often! However, I wait until I've been up for an hour (give or take) before I finally check social media. It can be so overwhelming for me in the morning to be bombarded with what everyone else is doing, so keeping my phone aside while I am going about my morning business helps me feel more engaged in what I am feeling and doing to get my day started

2. Lemon water, lemon water, lemon water. I LOVE lemon water so much. Lemon water in the morning (especially with warm water) is a gentle way to "detox" your body and flush out any toxins in your system. It kickstarts the digestive system, rehydrates the body, and can help energize you for the day ahead. BUT - that doesn't mean ditch the coffee. Drink your lemon water first, girl! Hydrate before you caffeinate is my rule of thumb.

3. Get moving - or not. Some people love to exercise in the morning. I am one of those people who enjoy working out in the morning to get my sweat-sesh out of the way, though at the same time I also enjoy working out in the evening to sweat out the day's stress. That being said, exercising in the morning can help wake you up and aid in better dietary choices throughout the day. On the other hand, some people love starting their morning on a more quiet note: meditation. Meditation doesn't have to be sitting on your yoga mat for an hour saying "Omm" one hundred times. I ain't got time (or the patience) for that. However, even meditating for five minutes can be beneficial at calming your nervous system, clearing your mind, and setting positive intentions for your day. Find what works for you and go with it!

4. Journal or read. I am a book lover at heart (maybe that's why I enjoy blogging so much!) and whether you are reading a biography, a fantasty novel (Harry Potter say heyyyy whaaat), or writing in your journal, the act of reading and writing can not only be therapeutic, but it can also help reinvigorate your mind. Waking up with an interesting article is a nice way to pass time as you're having your morning lemon water, too!

5. Eat breakfast. If you aren't a big fan of breakfast foods, eat something. If you think about it, you wouldn't drive your car without putting gas in it, right? So why would you start your day without fueling your body? My go-to breakfast is oatmeal, though I have been switching it up lately with eggs and berries a few times per week when I want some more protein in the morning. Not interested in cooking in the morning? There are tons of yummy recipes out there for healthy breakfast cookies and muffins, that way you can grab, go, and be on your way. Alternatively, a smoothie is another great way to get some nutrients into the system! Having breakfast ensures that your brain and body have the nutrients required to perform at it's best.

---

Now, off to get my coffee! Have a fantastic day everyone : )

Race Recap: 2016 Victoria Half Marathon

Good morning, party people!

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving Sunday yesterday. I ate a lot, drank a bit, and had a merry ol' time with family. Yep, an extra serving of stuffing happened because it is what I look forward to the most when it comes to the Thanksgiving dinner spread.

Let's back up and chat about yesterday's half marathon. It is actually my fifth year running this race (not that I counted the medals when I got home or anything..) and the course did not disappoint.

My alarm went off shortly after 5am on Sunday morning. Ew, right? That is an awful time to wake up anyway, especially on a Sunday. I went to bed around 9:30pm the night before after a simple spaghetti dinner, and was carbed up and ready to run.

Pre-race my breakfast was some instant oatmeal. I find this sits better in my stomach than slow cooking oats and peanut butter toast with banana. PB toast used to be my go-to, but I find that it is harder on my digestive system and kind of sits like a rock as I run, you know? Anyway, I felt fueled up and ready on our drive to Victoria. Bless Ryan's kind heart for always driving me so early at the ass crack of dawn to these events. I'm kinda psycho in that way, I suppose.

Runners heading towards the start line.

The Parliament buildings looking pretty! It was about 7:20am at this point and just starting to get lighter outside.

The start line! The half marathon was sold out, and the street was bustling with that race day excitement. It always helps pump me up when there is a good vibe on race day! How can it not be good, though? You're about to kill 21.1km! When 7:30am hit, the race began, and the crowd moved up until we were over the start line and runnin'.

I experimented a little bit during this run not only with a new running belt that holds a water bottle, but with a new running method too. Generally I just RUN and hope I don't die or fall or smash face first into the ground (note: this has never happened, well, aside from tripping and falling during the Oak Bay half in 2013 I think it was. Oops), BUT. This time I tested out the "run 10 minutes, walk 1 minute method." Doing this gave me time to drink my own water (bypassing water stations is a beautiful thing) and get ready for the next 10 minute segment of running. Eventually I will be in better shape to just run the whole thing as I have done in the past, but this was a great way to mentally break it up. The water belt was a game changer too. Definitely worth the $43.

The Victoria Half has some rolling hills, but nothing that I haven't come up against before. Compared to Kelowna, it was smooth sailing! I carried one gel in my water belt (I am a big fan of the Honey Stinger gels in fruit smoothie flavour, as they are all natural and don't make my tummy feel weird) and took half at about the 13km mark and then the rest around the 15km mark. One thing I thought to myself as I was running along Dallas Rd is how much I truly enjoy this course. While the expo is meh, the race itself is WOW! Nothing better than running along the ocean and in beautiful Victoria!

What worked well for me: having my own water and being able to have a drink anytime I wanted to. Ever since the Kelowna half I thought about purchasing a water belt, but I just never got around to it. Bless the Running Room for having a 20% off coupon on Saturday! I also wore a new pair of pants that I had never worn in a half marathon before that were FANTASTIC. I will post about my favourite running gear later on this month, but just know that they are life changing. And Lululemon. Shocking, right? : )

Was I waving? Or pretending to high five Ryan through the fence? Or just posing like a cheese ball? One will never know. Oh yeah, this shirt was the jam too as I never felt too hot or too cold during the whole race. Win, win.

Ooh paparazzi. Enough with the glamour shots. 

Another one done and dusted! We headed to White Spot after the race for some breakfast, and then home to shower and RELAX! Oh, and I foam rolled too. I'm so good at this post-race recovery thing! Hint hint, post about that coming soon too ; )

All in all it was a great run and a wonderful Thanksgiving Sunday. See ya again next year, Victoria half! 

Try This: Upperbody Blast Workout

Good morning!

I hope you are all having a good week so far. As you read in my Monday post, life with Nala has been both busy and lazy. During one of her many snoozes I was able to sneak in a workout, and I wanted to share that with you today!

I am all about the at-home workouts right now. Yeah, I was on the hot yoga train and yeah, I did sign up for a recurring membership and haven't been in two weeks. It is so, SO damn hot right now and the thought of going to yoga and sweating through my toes does not sound appealing. Can anyone else relate to this? Does anyone want fall to hurry up?

Okay, going too far there right now. We are, what, half way through summer? Aye aye aye.

Anyway, I'll get back on track here.

If you are looking for a good upper body workout then I would highly recommend giving this one a shot! Added bonus: you only need a pair of free-weights (or dumbbells).

Modify the exercises if you need to. I took a 30 second to one minute break in between each exercise before moving onto the next one. Once all exercises are completed, take a water break and do 'em again!

---

I hope you enjoy the workout! Let me know in the comments what YOUR current favourite workout is right now : )

One Day, Three Workouts + A New Cleanse

Happy Monday!

What's up? How's life?

I hope you all had a great weekend, and a big Happy Mother's Day to all you mama's out there! Yesterday was a busy day jam-packed with family, so the day flew by and there was little downtime. Despite all the running around, it was so good to see people from both my side and Ryan's side of the family, and I am happy we could fit (mostly!) everyone into one day.

My family (as in, mom, dad, Sarah & her friend Sarah) came over for dinner, where Ryan BBQ'd some balsamic marinaded chicken. I made a big quinoa salad with black beans, as well as some grilled zucchini sticks and a spinach salad. Lots of food and lots of laughs, as we played Cards Against Humanity afterwards. Does anyone else love that game? It is one of those games where it's like. Hmmm... Do I really want to play this in front of my parents? Nevertheless, it was hilarious & my sister's friend had never played it before. Crazy! It was definitely a fun time and the day was FULL OF FOOD!

Too much food. You know when you are full, but you keep on eating because, well. It's there! And I don't want it to go to waste. That's exactly how I felt yesterday. I found myself eating things like cookies and chips, when usually I am not tempted by those. Although it was a weird day of eating, I am back on track today.

Before we jump into what happened today, I wanted to let you guys know that I am trying a cleanse. Yes, a cleanse. And not an all liquids cleanse or a soup cleanse or anything like that. I am doing the Wild Rose Herbal D-Tox. You have probably seen it in stores, and to be honest, I had this cleanse kit for over a year and a half before biting the bullet and starting it today. When I first purchased the kit, it was near Christmas time and I was starting my first bikini prep in the New Year. So, I figured prep plus a cleanse was probably too much. Here we are now!

You take the three herbal pill supplements twice per day, as well as the CL Herbal Extract twice per day. It is suggested that the supplements are taken before meals at breakfast and dinner. This is pretty doable, I'd say. The last thing I want is to be hauling out all of my supplements at lunch time at work. I know people would probably be like, oh, okay, because they were used to my food during prep, but nevertheless. It makes it easier to do at home. Additionally, it also comes with a booklet with a list of foods to eat during the cleanse. The usual bread, pasta, candy, ice cream, dairy, sugar, etc. is on the avoid list, though there are things that I eat every day that are on the YES list. This includes berries, oatmeal, brown rice, quinoa, chicken, etc. During the cleanse you are to avoid things like added sauces - some oils are okay - and peanut butter. PEANUT BUTTER? That is my ride or die in my morning bowl of oats. However, yeast bacteria thrive on things like sugar and peanut butter. I am going to cut it out during this twelve day cleanse and see how my skin reacts to that. Eczema is a very picky thing, and although I like to think I know my triggers (dairy, bread), even the slightest thing can set it off. We shall see how I fare with this!

Why a cleanse? Why not! As I read through the booklet last night, I immediately thought: do it for the blog. This doesn't mean I am going to do ANYTHING for the sake of writing about it on the blog, but I read so many blogs and reviews before finally jumping in. Perhaps this will serve as a tool for you in case you are ever interested in trying it!

So, with a new cleanse on the go, it was only fitting to go grocery shopping and stock up on some more healthy items. This included more berries, rice cakes, almond butter (this is allowed!), lemons, cucumber, and apples. We'll see how creative I get with this, as it almost reminds me of my prep diet - only with more fruit! Here is a little example of a prepped lunch for the week:

Quinoa, broccoli & baked chicken breast with a sugar free (it is amazing what they put sugar in!) seasoning, which is a medley of spices like garlic, pepper, onion, etc. I also made a big salad for tomorrow, as I usually like having salads on Tuesdays as it is a rest day. More carbs on the days that I work out!

Speaking of work outs, I am absolutely exhausted from my day of working out. Yes, it was pretty much a day. If you didn't pick up on this already by the first photo in this post, I went to a hot yoga class today. There is a studio maybe four doors down from my work, and although I walk by there pretty much every day, I hadn't been inside in a long time. In fact, the first time I ever went was 2009, and since then they have undergone some ownership changes. This meant that I was eligible again for the 2 week intro pass. Myself and two other coworkers arrived at 9:30am to get our sweat on, and holy crap did I ever sweat. It is hard to grab onto your arms and legs in certain poses when literally every pore of your body is pouring with sweat. The class was an hour long, and man did I ever feel good after! There were people of all ages and experience levels too, which was really cool to see. I didn't feel like the odd one out despite not being the most flexible yogi in the room, but that's the great thing about yoga. Everyone is on their own journey and you just make space for what feels good to your body.

After yoga, I came home and started laundry while my oatmeal cooked away on the stove. I got a bit of a late start to my breakfast game (something about twisting around on a full stomach in a boiling hot room didn't sound appealing to me pre-yoga), so I started my cleanse during the first meal. Once breakfast was settled, I thought to myself. Well, what else am I going to do? So what else did I do but go for a run. Crazy, I know, but that's what I did. I ran 5km, then immediately jumped into the shower. After running some errands in the afternoon, prepping meals, and even taking a 30 minute cat nap, I headed off to another workout class.

Yes, another workout class.

Me and the two other coworkers I went to hot yoga with also went to a Barre Infusion class at our local rec centre. It was lots of fun and incorporated tons of squats! Barre generally uses things like the bar (as seen in ballet class), balls, and lighter dumbbells. The repetitions are HIGH, like to the point where I was losing count between what rep and set we were in. My legs are starting to feel sore now, so I know I will feel it tomorrow! It is also a great core workout too. If you have been interested in trying a Barre class I would highly recommend it! It is a good work out for sure.

And with that, I am off to flop on the couch and RELAX! I always tell Ryan that I need one day to just do nothing - yet on my days off I am always so GO GO GO! Maybe next weekend ; )

Until next time, friends!

What I'm Reading + Workout Wednesday

Oh you know, just going in for the ol' ONE TWO PUNCH! This photo was taken five days out from my first bikini competition. Crazy to think that this time last year I was still in prep-mode!

How is it going today everyone? We are at the middle of the week - hooray! Yesterday was my Monday, and I was totally having a stereotypical Monday (even for a Tuesday). You know those nights where you don't have a good sleep, and then everything throughout the day is just issue after issue, and then you have commitments after work and then you come home at 8:30pm and feel like going right to bed? Mhm. That was me yesterday.

So was this:

In my head of course, but nonetheless.

I am happy to report that today was much better! I have been into a new book this month, so I took some time this morning to spend at least fifteen minutes reading. It has been a goal to read a book per month, and so far, so good! Last month I read Miracles Now by Gabrielle Bernstein and it was a great way to inject some peace and positive vibes into my day. If you are into books that make you think and dive deep into your thoughts, then this is the book for you. Personally, it forces me to think outside of my little brain box, if that makes any sense. It has given me a different perspective on some things as well, because when I catch myself being negative about a situation, at least I can acknowledge it and try to move on without feeling stuck in that negative space.

The book I am reading for the month of May is along the same lines. From what I gather, it is an interactive book that allows you to write in certain sections and brain storm. I am all about brain storming and getting those ideas from my head to paper. This is what the book looks like in case you are wondering!

And a little sneak peak at some items on my desk right now!

Forever throwing it back to that one time I was fifty shades of chocolate ; ) And of course some plants because air purity, am I right? There is also an aloe plant on the shelf. More office decor to come! Planner is by Erin Condren - loooove this, and speaking of my planner, I need to get on planning this week! Ryan's dad has been over since last Friday, so my evenings have been a little all over the place (aside from taking some downtime to check in on the blog)!

Anddddd now it's time for work out Wednesday!

I haven't been to the gym in a hot minute, but tonight a co-worker and I went to a fitness class. Originally we were planning on attending the barre fusion class, though that class sold out like half an hour before it started SOOO we missed the boat big time on that one. Fortunately, we only had to wait fifteen minutes before another class started. Although it wasn't the barre fusion class, it was a cardio strength class and HOLY CRAP. My legs are sore as I lay here on my couch typing to you guys. It was a great work out. Tough, challenging, I wanted to die laying there on the mat doing glute bridges holding a medicine ball over my head, but it left me feeling great! It was a circuit style class with twelve different stations. We ran through each station once, and then we divided it into three sections of four exercises. You repeated the four exercises three times - twice for forty seconds, one for thirty seconds, and then moved onto the second set of four exercises. Does that make sense? The first section was cardio, second was legs, third was strength and fourth was strength and abs. The hour went by pretty fast, and I was happy to get a good, heart pumping work out in. You know when you do a work out and you feel sufficiently worked? That's how this class left me. I am always up for a challenge though, so I am sure we will be back!

What is your favourite work out class? Let me know in the comments!

I hope you guys are having a good week so far! Later friends :)

Garden Magic & Full Body BLAST Workout

The other day I went out to the garden and saw magic happening right before my eyes. I am happy to report that I have a baby cauliflower growing and a couple baby cucumbers! It is always so exciting to see the literal fruits of your labor, and everything tastes so fresh right grown in your own backyard. I have a hard time buying things like kale now since I have a huge abundance of it, and the same will ring true when my cherry tomatoes ripen. Exciting stuff!

I started off yesterday with a 5 mile run. It was cool and crisp out - perfect running weather.

Overall I felt good despite fallin' off my pace during mile three. Oh well! They can't all be perfect and even, I suppose.

Once I was home, I quickly showered and got myself ready before it was time to make breakfast. Of course, breakfast was the usual oatmeal with coffee. So original!

Then later on in the day I headed to the gym. My legs felt good from the morning run, so I hopped on the treadmill and ran another three to bring my grand total to eight for the day. I also completed a strength training work out that focused mostly on upper body, but also threw in things like deadlifts and jump squats to keep my body guessing and my heart rate up. Here it is below:

I switched between 12 and 15 pound weights for the above exercises. For the jump squats, I used a 10 pound medicine ball as that was most comfortable for me to use. Use whatever works best for you, or use your body weight. Throwing the squat jumps into the mix was a great way to keep my heart rate up and muscles guessing. They will be appearing in many workouts to come! 

Oh yeah! I also did a one minute plank before stretching a bit and heading on my way. Let me know if you give it a try and tell me what you think!

After the gym, Ryan and I went for a walk along the trail. Lately we've been going for a walk in the evening, and I find it's a great way to catch up on the day together, get some fresh air, and unwind. There were quite a few people out and about, mostly families and their kids riding bikes, but overall a fairly quiet walk! We completed 2.1 miles, then made a delicious dinner of salmon, mini potatoes & roasted veggies which was enjoyed while watching Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2. Kids at heart!

Hope you all had a good night and Happy almost Weekend!

The Longest Four Day Week In the History of Four Day Weeks

Here is the revised picture a coworker sent to me:

And this is 100% accurate.

FRIDAY IS FINALLY HERE!

You'd think the days would go by zipping fast because there's only four rather than five, but for some reason this week just dragged on. And on. And on. And it didn't end. And it's still not done. Perhaps it's because I have been extra frustrated and kind of stressed out this week. Lots has been on my mind (revolving around the same subject), and it's gotten to a point where my mind is jam packed with a bajillion thoughts and it gets distracting. Hopefully this funk passes soon. Have you felt that way before!?

Save my soul. Anyway, let's look back at the (incredibly slow moving) week.

Tuesday I took a rest day. My hip was hurting a little bit thanks to overstretching it on Monday, and I was advised by a certain smart man in my life that "it's better to take a day off than injuring yourself more and having to take off a whole month, OR MORE." Yes, oh wise one. I have to admit that the day of rest was much needed, and my Wednesday's run was great!

Wednesday: 6.31 mile run, 20 minute strength training that focused on squats, standing leg lifts (to strengthen the outer hips), tricep dips, and core work. I have also been walking on my coffee break + lunch break at work (hooray, fresh air and MOVEMENT!), which rounds out to 2 miles if I am only walking on one of my coffee breaks. I try to do this every day, but sometimes the afternoon coffee break is missed!

Thursday: 4.35 mile run + 30 minutes strength training.
3 x 10 squats
3 x 10 push ups
3 x 10 shoulder press, 3 x 10 chest press
1 minute plank
4 x 25 weighted oblique bends
3 x 10 bent over rows
3 x 12 bicep curls
2 x 25 weighted plie squats

I am not too sure what is on the running plan for today, but it'll be an easy paced run since my legs are a bit sore from yesterday's work out!

I'd have to say that the phrase below definitely applies to me lately. What the heck. Negative Nancy over here or what? Admitting is the first step, riiiight? And the next is probably changing the environment that is causing the stress. In the works, people. In the works.

Anywho, I am off! Have a fantastic Friday!

Easy, Healthy Dinners, Sheep & Return to Trail Running

Friday night dinner: Ginger honey lime prawns with broccoli carrot slaw. This was super easy to make and packed a flavourful punch. The recipe called for couscous, but I wanted a heartier meal and substituted brown rice. I also added cilantro and slivered almonds. Healthy and delicious!

Marley moo takes a little snooze, thus leaving me couch bound until something outside caught his attention or I forced him off. I don't mind the snuggles, though.

My cute little succulent plant :)

7.5km (or 4.66 miles) of glorious trail running this afternoon around a local lake. I'd like to do this at least once a week!

This guy makes a wonderful running buddy and is so good off leash! Before I was hesitant taking him off leash, but my parents have gone with him hundreds of times before, so I figured I'd try it out today. He is very careful and always looks back to check if you're still there. Or, he'll sprint up ahead and wait, then once you catch up he goes off again. He's very polite when coming across other dogs, too. Sniff sniff, goodbye.

Post-run bubble bath with this Halloween bubble bar from Lush Cosmetics. I crumbled the lighter orange part as well as the leaves, and a bit of the side and had some big bubbles going on!

Lounging in fuzzy sheep socks. They are "shea infused" so I should have some soft feet after this. Maybe. We'll see. I'm probably due for a pedicure any day now.

Hope you guys all had a fantastic weekend!

Gumboots Galore & 700 Miles

Last weekend at Costco I stumbled across these beauties. Naturally, I had to get them (and wear them around the mall). My sister got a pair too with a bird design on them, and fortunately we are (basically) the same shoe size and we can swap them back and forth. Two more to add to the gumboot collection!

Runners and gumboots: the only two styles of shoes I need in my wardrobe. If I could wear thrift store flannels and gumboots all day I totally would. Unfortunately that is not the case, because running would be a wee bit difficult!

Oreo, the true gift of Christmas. She was just thrilled as I'm sure you can imagine.

And we got snow again!!! I am sad to say, however, that the rain has washed it all away :( It was pretty while it lasted.

Puppy snuggles after a 10km run yesterday, early evening. 

I'm sad to say it's almost time to retire these babies! This week I ran 31 miles, and while I could be switching over to my Mizuno Wave Sayonara shoes every so often, I keep gravitating to my Brooks because they are a stability shoe and offer more cushioning. I'm just not "used" to my Sayonaras (yet)! Since I purchased these runners, I have logged nearly SEVEN HUNDRED miles on them, give or take. Holy cow. I didn't even know that until I calculated that a few minutes ago. I've used my Sayonara runners maybe four times this year, but that's still a lot of miles on the Brooks. The weird thing is that they don't feel like they're losing a lot of cushion. Now I say a lot because obviously they aren't as springy as they used to be, but they aren't terrible. Yet. Now I know it's time to start using the other ones! Note: Running shoes should be replaced every 300-500 miles. Just a tad bit over that.

On another note, run every day in December is still going well! I'm on track for 130 miles this month, but I am hoping to fall between 125-130 as most of my running has been pretty easy this month. By easy I mean, no running-myself-into-the-ground workouts because I know I can't take a rest day after. Or rather, I don't want to because I'd like to see this challenge through to the end.

Anywho, I hope you guys had a good weekend and are all ready for the holidays! I did my wrapping today, so presents are under the tree waiting to be opened. I have two more days of work left before a little Christmas break, and I am excited to see family (and sleep in, of course). Bye for now!

An Egg Kick & October Favourites!

Post 4.1 mile run lunch. I am forever on an egg kick, so as per usual I whipped up some veggie scrambled eggs. I use two eggs and a splash of milk, then add my veggies in the pan and mix it all together. Why dirty up another dish just to mix it together when you can put it in the pan all at once? Makes sense to me. I added some garlic salt to my tomato slices (and ate one before this photo was snapped) and steamed some broccoli in the microwave and voila! I am le chef.

Rewind to my run:
4.1 easy and some strength training (kinda) after.

3 x 10 push ups

15/15/20 reverse crunches

50 squats (body weight)

1 minute plank

I should do that more often. And not just say I should ;)

Since it is Beauty Tuesday (yeah, yeah, remember those!?), I figured I would share some of my October favourites with you. I generally use the same products day to day, but some things only pop up in stores when the fall season hits. Naturally, I have to buy more than one because I love them so much. 

On to the favourites!

Tim Horton's Pumpkin Spice Tea: I had a hell of a time finding this last year. Every Tim's I went to was sold out, and one of the employees felt so bad for me (after telling me a lady literally ordered ten CASES of the tea) he gave me the four tea bags that were left for store use. My mom actually picked this up and got two boxes. Thank you, mom. Thank you. The struggle is real.

Bath & Body Works Aspen Caramel Woods Body Lotion: You can't really tell in the picture, but I squeezed every last drop out of this sucker. It smells sweet and very fall-like. Bonus, it comes in other fall scents which I am currently working through right now.

LUSH Lemony Flutter: This cuticle butter can be used on any dry spots you have. I use it on my cuticles, lips, and any dry patches of skin that pop up. It smells like sweet lemons and is super moisturizing!

Bath & Body Works Pumpkin Caramel Latte Candle: And every other fall scented candle of their's that I have. So good. You can't go wrong!

MAC Blush in Warm Soul: I would describe this as a peach bronze colour with warm undertones and a hint of shimmer. Look at me sounding like a beauty guru. I've honestly had this blush for over two years, and yes that's not exactly hygienic of me, but I can't let it go! It is my go-to colour and pairs well with a lot of make up looks... Like the only one I have.

Cover Girl Flamed Out Mascara: My only gripe with this mascara is that I wish the wand itself was longer. It is quite short, but it has a cool almost hour glass shaped brush that grab onto lashes and add volume and definition. 

And in the spirit of Halloween, my sister and I carved pumpkins last night. She specifically told me NOT to carve a cat, so I hid it from her until the last possible second before revealing... Meow. A cat. It's no surprise since the last pumpkin I carved was a cat face. Then she had to one up me and did an owl. Show off ;)

Happy Tuesday!