Molasses.

I don’t know if it was just me but this week went super slow. Heck, this whole month has gone really slow… snow, cold, snow, cold, repeat.

Especially topical since my work is on weight watchers right now… If I had a $ for every time someone complained about what they “can’t eat”…

Anyways, here’s a random post to get me through to the WEEKEND!

1) I have done yoga twice this week. That’s right, TWICE! Sister started teaching somewhere new and brought me along to try it out. I’d like to say I’m re-addicted but all I can think about are my aching hamstrings and aching triceps. Yikes!

2) I have my February craft project on the horizon this weekend. I’m being a total tree-hugger/pinterest-reader and making reusable paper towels We shall see how this goes, I have not used a sewing machine in about 3 years so it could get interesting and I may do lots of yelling/cursing at said sewing machine.

Don’t they look so cute?

3) Tickets go on sale tomorrow for Boys II Men, 98 degrees and NKOTB. I really want to go to this concert but I don’t know if I am a fan enough to put up with it. Maybe the tickets will sell out super quickly and I won’t have a chance, or be $1,000.

How can you NOT want to see them in concert?

4) Winter Storm “Q” kind of messed up my run this morning. Not amused. Not amused.

5) I finally think I got my sister addicted to weight lifting! I’ve been trying for years and finally Body Pump was enough to get her hooked We both really, really like the at home workout DVD set. Best use of a gift card so far! I actually look forward to doing these DVDs which is a nice change of pace for workouts!

6) I used to love Downton Abbey so, so much. (*cryptic language ahead to avoid spoiling anything) But after this “season” my fondness is quickly running out. How many more people have to leave the show before it’s just over? It’s been a little too dramatic these past few episode… I’m just glad I read the spoilers online beforehand so I wasn’t surprised by any of it. Still so pissed over it though!

 

7) I am looking forward to an incredibly lazy weekend this weekend. I can’t wait!

Anything big on your agenda for the weekend?

Friday.

Another Friday, another chance to blog about nothing. Well, not really nothing but nothing super important…

1) I got a very exciting shipment in the mail yesterday!  Some new workout DVDS.  I really do have an obsession with workout DVDS… I managed to use very little of my own money to buy this because I had some gift cards saved up from various sources so I am not counting that as a “something that I bought” per my 2013 goals.

I am very exited to try out this program because for the longest time, I really did like the Body Pump classes at the gym but then the gym started getting too busy and it was annoying. By working out at home, I can no longer use that excuse

2) Speaking of my 2013 goals and the “no buying things” one, I had to revise that one slightly because I was way too vague with that. How do I go about not buying things when I still kind of need to live and that means thing inevitably need to be purchased. Does that mean I can still run races? or no? Can I buy new shoes if my old ones get worn out? or no? So I actually took the time to set up a budget at mint.com. I feel like I made that resolution because my money spending gets out of control and I go all or nothing. So I am hoping this budget idea will help me find the happy medium. I’m still not going to make any large purchases but I can still make smaller purchases provided they fit in my budget or I can save up the budget for a larger purchase down the road. We shall see how this goes now that it’s actually follow-able. (apparently this goals thing is too complicated for me to figure out or something).

My motto

3) I ran a whopping 64 miles this week (and no, not 64, 4, not 6). If it wouldn’t have snowed all the week long, I might have gotten in another few but I’m shooting for a very slow return to mileage (despite my want to sign up for all the races right now) so I guess that fits the bill. (I was smart and allotted myself some racing money in my budget – hehe).

4) I’m really enjoying this slow down goal for this week… I’m realizing how many things I normally do at once and it’s kind of eye opening. I don’t think I am capable of just eating without watching TV or looking at a computer though. It’s really boring and awkward sometimes…so again with the compromises of the goals after 2 days. I’m such a superstar.

If that’s not the face of a superstar, I don’t know what is!

5) I had to get a stupid biometric screening done for work on Tuesday to show me how unhealthy I am. Had to as in it would have cost me $40/month if I would have “declined” to have said testing done. I am happy to report I showed them and had a good cholesterol reading off the chart and a bad cholesterol reading too small to measure. Way to be my “wake up call” to my unhealthy lifestyle. Fail. I really wish I had to work to bring the good cholesterol down so I had an excuse to eat some french fries. That would be a challenge I would gladly accept!

My ideal meal. All food groups covered on one delicious plate.

6) Speaking of food, I am so over it this week. Everything I planned for meals turned into an epic disaster. Sweet potatoes were rotten, regular potatoes were green so I freaked out they were toxic and threw those away, grain salad I made tasted disgusting and I realized I hate quinoa plus I was out of ingredient to make bread and didn’t have any other back ups so it was kind of an interesting and unappetizing week for food. I have since re-read through some Rachel Ray cookbooks to find some new inspiration…

7) I hate snow. I had a vague memory yesterday of being younger and freaking out when the temp would rise over 32 in the winter and melt all the snow. Now, I would be just fine never seeing it again this winter.

Putting this in my front yard.

“This blog post = not amused.”

That’s more than enough for now. What’s on your plate this weekend? (Literally and figuratively)

One last January Friday.

I’m not at all sad that January is almost over.  And I am even gladder I missed 25% of it  However, Wisconsin has not been kind to me this past week with it’s lovely weather.  I always say I am moving somewhere warmer and then… do nothing about it.  One of these years!

Some random tidbits from my last week back in the Midwest:

1) I hate wearing a coat in the car.  Like hate, hate.  So I never wear one in to work since I park in a parking garage (one perk of my job!). This week I broke down and wore a puffy vest for 2 day  I’m pretty sure everyone that works in this office has asked me at one point or another “where’s your coat?” I really just want to say, “Does it matter?”  #busybodies

2) I finally decided to join our local Co-Op, Outpost!  I’ve been hmmm and hawwwing for 2+ years about joining and never took the time to do it.  And then I find out they are building a new store that might actually be closer to me!  Score!  Sister and I are hoping to shop a little smarter this year for groceries so I think joining a co-op will help lead us in the right direction

3) I love, love, love, the TV show, Nashville.  Any other fans out there? It started out a little slow and confusing (I thought all the lead men looked the same?!) but now I totally look forward to it every week! (Just realized Rayna’s manager and Juliette’s manager are different people last night.  Apparently I have a broken facial recognition system in my brain or something…)

4) Since I have not been running this week, I’ve been revisiting my Insanity DVDs!  Totally forgot how hard those whoop my butt!  Sweaty mess by the end and just a little sore

5) I tackled my January craft/organizational project on Tuesday night!  One hour, bam and done!  My closet was a disaster and now it’s not!

6) I found out I have three days LESS vacation this year than last year.  WTF?  Why give me more hours and then take them away.  Rude.

7) This lady is a crazy awesome runner.  She did an indoor half marathon on Saturday followed by an indoor full marathon on Sunday and had a better time than my recent marathon!  Impressive!!  (I thought only Disney had the Goofy Challenge set up this way but I guess up in little ole Wisconsin we have the same thing! Take that, Disney World )

8) My other blogger bud, Allison, is officially training for her first marathon!  I’m excited to watch her train for the same race I trained for last year. (But never actually finished…)  You are welcome for taking the sucky year in 2012 thereby assuring this year will be fantastic!  (It’s gotta be, right?)

9) I miss these.

Vegan + gf deliciousness.

10) And this place:

But mainly the cookie sandwich… I think I need to see how much money I have left on an itunes card to get the app for that!

11) 54 days until Spring!!!!!!!

This sunrise this week was pretty though…

Anything fun going on this weekend?

Can it get worse?

I normally LOVE December, all the Christmas lights, cookies, festivities, etc.  But this month is off to a rotten start.  Why so many weird things happened this week, I know not but I am hoping it’s maybe just clearing it out of it’s system before the New Year!

1) My water heater gave out Wednesday morning.  Luckily I heard it and could turn it off before I had 40ish gallons of water all over my basement.

2) You cannot run your dishwasher or shower when your water heater is out.  Good to know, good to know.  Also, the wash machine does not work either…

3) I’m still not sure what to do about the shotuation.  Return them?  Try to break them in again with bandaids? Go get fitted again?  I hate shopping, hence why I order stuff online but when it’s not consistent… arg!

4) I got matched to be a Big Sister on Wednesday as well (a good thing for the week!).  I’m really excited to meet my Little Brother next week!  I think it’s kind of funny I am matched with a Little Brother though – I guess they knew I already have a little sister so they wanted to broaden my horizons ;)  I’m really looking forward to taking him to sports game, the zoo, the park, sledding, etc., etc.!  All the fun kid stuff I miss doing from when I babysat more

5) I’m planning an 8ish mile run this weekend.  Hopefully it does not snow the whole run but I’ll make it work somehow.  At least 8 miles is doable (although not ideal) on the treadmill!

6) I am totally addicted to making Christmas cookies.  Every year I tell myself I don’t need all that sugar in the house and then as soon as it’s December, I just want all the cookies!  Sister and I baked and frosted our first batch of cut outs this year!  And surprisingly, there are still some left!  That’s saying something  We used this recipe but subbed gluten free bisquick and they turned out better than normal cookies do!  Maybe I’ve just forgotten what “normal” tastes like but these are fantastic!

7) I was “planning” to take December 21st off from work until I realized that might quite possibly (or not) be the last day of the world – now I am most certainly taking that day off of work!  There is no way I am intentionally working when the world might end ;) I can’t imagine a worse scenario than being bombed by fire balls from space with all my nearest and dearest co-workers near by…   Ha!

8) I’m going to make an effort to get my scrapbooks caught up this weekend.  I’m sure it’s wishful thinking but I really want them done by the end of the year!  I’m sure some people would call that a stupid goal but for whatever reason, I feel much better when I know my memories are safe – probably because I know how unsafe they are just sitting in my memory…

9)  I feel like I should give myself a “racing budget” for 2013.  But then I start thinking about how much I would have to allow myself and the number starts to be scary.  Maybe it’s better not to calculate that sort of thing… I soon need to decide Cellcom, or no?, Summerfest, or no?  Erg.

10) 6 miles on the treadmill this morning felt like 600 miles…

11) Old guys on treadmills next to you feel the need to chat with you while you are trying to run and the women in the locker room are really gossip-y… probably more reasons I am not the biggest gym workerouter.

I think that’s enough for this week… anything good happen to you this week?  Please show me there is SOME good left in this world

Good Bye, November.

My favorite month of the whole entire year.  Over, just like that.  Last year I blamed Hawaii on taking my favorite month from me but I’m not sure who’s to blame this year.  I love everything about November (except for any premature snow) and it’s always hard for me to face the impending doom of winter driving in a commute that involves driving into Milwaukee traffic.  But since I still have one last day, that happens to be a Friday, I will try to embrace it with a random Friday post!

1) Decaf Lattes from Starbucks have too much caffeine for me.  WTF.  I am all hyped up all afternoon after I get one.  I love lattes and I can’t stand the idea of never being able to enjoy one again

2) I forgot to mention in my Marathon Monday post that Sister and I went to see the new Twilight Movie and it was AWESOME!  Kristin Stewart even had one scene were I believed she was an actress with emotions!  It was quite shocking really!  Now this series is added to the Harry Potter Vault of re-watching/re-reading when I am feeling nostalgic.  I will always remember I read the very first chapter of the very first Harry Potter book the night I brought my puppy home!

3) It’s felt really weird having my Christmas tree up for almost a week already when it’s just now turning into December… I love the lights on the tree though and always miss them when I take them down in January

4) Someone got new jammies for Christmas.  And so did I!  (Thanks sisser!)

5) I’m braving the shopping world tomorrow to try to get my Christmas shopping done.  If I don’t find it tomorrow, I’ll order it online.

6) I was browsing Etsy yesterday and kept thinking of my blogging friend, Allison and her love of owls!  They are everywhere on the site and actually kind of cute ones!  (Coming from the girl who has been terrified of owls since I was 5 years old and my grandma had a mirror/picture of an owl that terrified me!)  If you are looking for a good random Christmas gift idea, check etsy!  So much cute stuff!  And it gave me really cute ideas for the kids I babysit!

7) I’m going to tackle an 11 mile run tomorrow.  I don’t know if I am looking forward to that or scared of that.

8) I received a $50,000 check in the mail yesterday, at work.  Unfortunately it was inadvertently addressed to me.  Darn it.

9) I finally have a new driver’s license where I don’t look like a 14 year old!  I almost got stuck with a picture where I had my eyes shut and my tongue out but “because I asked” they took another picture.  Seriously.

10) I am completely obsessed with Downton Abbey!  I tried to watch the first episode a year or so ago when I hurt by back and thought I hated it.  I started re-watching it over Thanksgiving and now can’t get enough!  New episodes start Jan 6!!  (Although I already read spoilers, oops!)

10) I think that’s all I have this week.  It was a rather boring but fast one so I’m not going to complain about that!  Happy Friday

T-6 Days.

I LOVE Thanksgiving.  Like an unhealthy amount.  All my favorite foods, dessert everywhere I turn and wine.  I would say this might be my favorite day of the whole entire year and this year is no exception!  My birthday is actually on Monday so I have that and then three days later, Thanksgiving!  It’s like the best birthday present ever  But since it’s still 6 days away, I will distract myself from the thoughts of food and sugar with a random Friday post!

1) Yesterday I managed to snag two iPad smart covers + a plastic back cover for $40!  Aka half price!  I’ve been super classy since I got my iPad and use random blankets and bowls to prop my iPad up when I am watching it. But finally I am moving up in the world and will have an iPad stand!  And also my sister will be the recipient of the second since I couldn’t leave her out of the deals!

2) I officially joined a Gym on Saturday and have been there a whopping… 1 time.  Um, oops.  This is why I was hesitant to join.  I am hoping I can turn this around after this weekend!

3) Speaking of this weekend!  The Girls on the Rn 5k is Sunday!  How has it been 10 weeks already?  I swear we just started the season and it’s already over.  I am kind of looking forward to having my Tuesday and Thursday evenings back (for gym time) but I am going to miss the girls…

4) Pinterest is that thing that I never knew I needed to plan my Thanksgiving menu.  How convenient is it to find a recipe and just PIN IT ON A THANKSGIVING BOARD?!?!  Genius!!  No more finding recipes and then forgetting about them.  And no more pinning things with no intention of baking/cooking what you pin.  Finally Pinterest is making sense to me

5) I have become addicted to So Delicious Coconut Coffee Creamer.  No, there are not 32 servings in a small container, that is clearly a misprint – ha!  It makes French toast taste amazing also!

6) I also NEED to renew my driver’s license!!  Like NOW!  But I lost my renewal slip… hopefully I can still renew without it.  I’m a moron.  Maybe I will attempt this at lunch today.  It only expires Monday… #procrasinator And I will finally look slightly older than 12 years old on my license (hopefully…)

7) It’s officially cold outside and that makes me kind of sad  I love fall while we have pretty leaves and cool temps but once it makes that shift to cold + dead, yuck.

8) This weekend I will start Christmas shopping… I am not that fond of shopping and I swear every year to plan ahead and order stuff online.  I think I still will try to for family but for the giving tree thing we do at work, I’ll have to settle for braving the madness.

9) Never leave valuables in your car.  Sister’s was broken into on Monday and now we are both paranoid x10 about everything… I really hate that feeling.

10) No long run planned this weekend and that makes me way too happy.

That’s all I got today.  Happy Friday!

Freaky Friday.

Did you ever watch that movie back in the day?  I don’t mean the re-make with Lindsey Lohan… the REAL one??  With Jodie Foster.  I love, love, loved this movie when I was younger!  That doesn’t really have anything to do with this post but oh well, ha!

Since it was Halloween a few days ago, it’s been rather random being out and about in downtown Milwaukee.  I’m pretty sure I’ve seen some costumes but then again maybe people are just dressed weird for no reason this week?  Would not be the first time.  Some other random tidbits from this week…

1) Someone dressed up as a Skunk for Halloween  He actually took a walk around the block in the costume on Wednesday which really surprised me.  Normally I put his costume on him and he stares at me like he wants to kill me and refuses to move.  Apparently his love for walking has won out  He also got some beef for his “treat” (no, he’s not spoiled at all!)  He also wore his Halloween Jammies!

pewww. Oh wait, that’s not the costume that smells?!

2) I am terribly glad that the the election is next week.  I am beyond tired of getting spam calls and junk mail spewing forth lies about this person or that person.  New idea, just promote what you plan to do and don’t sling mud at your opponent?  Just a thought.

3) I have a race on Sunday!  No, not the NYC Marathon but a Turkey Trot 15k!  I wish I had something more turkey/thanksgiving-ey to wear but no such luck.  My t-shirt from the turkey trot last year is like a 3/4 sleeve that was supposed to be a long sleeve… #tallgirlproblems

The 5 mile distance might be my favorite! But I’ll have to run another to know for sure…

4) It’s been another one of those weeks at work… It’s really hard to remind myself to just be happy I have a job in weeks like these but I’m trying… at least it’s Friday again!

5) The pictures and aftermath from sandy makes me sick to my stomach.Storms have always freaked me out but for some reason this hurricane gave me this really erie feeling Sunday-Wednesday.  Probably the hype from the storm didn’t help.  Praying for all the victims of the storm that they will stay safe and everything will be restored as soon as possible.

6) I came across this this week.  I know I wasn’t terribly fond of my Nashville Rock n Roll race experience but this tour pass idea makes me want to race them all  (I would just need to plan for the crowds better maybe?)  At least try to hit all within driving distance!  Plus you get so many extra medals – lol!

I loved Nashville!

7) We had our practice 5k at Girls on the Run Tuesday.  It went so much better than I anticipated.  I really doubted whether we’d been having the girls do enough practice runs in the past 8ish weeks but Tuesday they proved how awesome those girls are!  All but one of them finished the 5k in under 40 minutes! (and that 1 is another story so I don’t hold it against her!) That to me is amazing considering some of them could not run a block a few weeks ago. It’s pretty cool to realize we are actually getting something across to them!  Two of the girls are exceptionally speedy though and I managed to be buddied up with fast girl #1 on Tuesday which meant I got a little speedwork session in that afternoon.  But it was really fun and pretty humbling to have a 5th grader push me at certain points (and beat me in a sprint at the end!)

8) How is it November?!?!?  Aka the start of the Holidays and my birthday month?  I swear it was just my birthday last year… eek,.

I don’t think this years birthday will be as good as last years. Hawaii birthday for the win!

9) Who’s excited for their extra hour of sleep this weekend (provided you are not overseas or in Indiana, Arizona, etc.)??  Mememememememe!  Although technically I am kind of going to be wasting it by doing a race that morning but whatever…

10) Oh and last week when I was excited to have fall back to have daylight for my runs.  Yeah, I’m dumb.  I’ll be excited to have daylight when I leave for work!  Man, that darkness really creeps in in the winter…

11) The Red Cups are back!!  This makes me ridiculously happy  Many years I am annoyed when holiday decorations start appearing this early in the year but this year I am going to embrace it!  Maybe I will put my lights up while I’m at it!  They’ve only been down about 6 months so why not?

 

I suppose that’s enough for now but have a good Friday and good weekend!  And good luck to everyone running this weekend!

Big running plans this weekend?  A race perhaps?

Week from…

I’ll let you fill in that blank but it was not a fun week around my parts.  I’ve felt like crap all week and work has completely sucked.  Girls on the Run has been way more stressful/taxing than I anticipated when I signed up to volunteer and I’m just overall not feeling like I am accomplishing anything lately… Every day I go into work, I contemplate just quitting and then proceeding to sell my house and move away.  (It’s a delusional world I live in )  Also, this election is making me the crabbiest person in the WORLD! I have now resorted to only watching recorded television (to ff through commercials), changing radio stations in the car and unfriending/unfollowing people on twitter and facebook.  Obviously things could be much worse but still… bad week.

So anyways, I have not done a random Friday post in a while but this week I felt like returning to a fun Friday post to celebrate the end of this week!

1) My new favorite show is Top Gear.  My dad is obsessed with this show and I watched a few episodes when I was home last weekend and now I am hooked!  I think the hosts of the show are hilarious and it makes me want to move to London!  I got suckered into trying out Amazon Prime for the year ($20 off with the amazon credit card!!!) and was happy to find I can watch it there!  And a new season too which I might have to share with my dad when I am home in the near future

2) Girls on the Run is really a struggle this week.  It’s probably bad to complain about volunteering but we have some girls in our group who are just a challenge.  It’s so hard to feel like your time is being well spent when you get such disrespect from children who are 8-10 years old.  I would never talk to anyone (old or young) the way they talk to me and disrespect my requests to stop talking when I am talking but no dice.  The majority of the girls are really nice and sweet and cooperative but the bad ones really pull the whole group down.  It’s times like this I am very thankful I never pursued being a teacher or youth group leader… It’s also very frustrating because the other leaders just don’t want to deal with it… awesome.  I’ll just keep trucking along and hope I’m making some kind of good impression on them!

3) I got a manicure last Friday as part of my “work retreat” but it only lasted 5ish days and now I am kind of missing it  I am not the type to paint my nails but for whatever reason, it made me feel a little more pulled together this week when everything else seemed to be falling apart.  I think I need to make a trip to target and get some new polishes.

Witch nails!

4) Speaking of Target!  My poor pup is getting a Halloween costume  I know he does not really appreciate being dressed up but costumes are too funny I can’t ever resist.  This week the costumes were on sale at Target so I ordered him 2 for a whopping $7 out of pocket!  I had a $5 giftcard to use up + my target debit card gets me free 2 day shipping and 5% off each purchase.  Hard to beat that!  Now I have to decide which costume for this year… Skunk or Astronaut

5) Speaking of skunk… last week a lady came to work smelling like a skunk!  Please tell me people are normally smart enough to stay home from work when they stink?  I am starting to loose faith in the human being’s ability to think clearly.

6) I’m going to try my hardest to get in 7-8 miles of running this weekend.  I think it’s finally time to stop offering myself the opportunity to woos out of long runs and just do it.  7 to 26.2 by January 13, 2013… Why does that always seem so discouraging!?  At least I know I can do it…

7) I think I am ready to join a running group!  That sounds like such a dilemma in my life, no?  (side note, why does blogging instantly make me feel like a drama queen?  cheap therapy, right?) I really want to focus on doing local runs next year and I think the savings on registration fees alone will be enough to make it worth it + I have the potential of group runs which might help me stay/get motivated to run better again.  (Birthday present idea hint, hint )

8) I may have registered for another race… I told myself no more for this year but then I happened to see a 15k Turkey Trot in two weeks that cost a whopping $12 so I “had” to sign up.  I’m shooting for winning a free turkey by being closest to my predicted finish time.  I went ambitious and listed 1:35:45.  We’ll see how loud I am laughing at that finish time in a few weeks.  Must stop.  Can’t stop.

9) Speaking of races, I am also doing a fun run 5K the weekend before with my blogging buddy Allison!  It’s a monster dash so this weekend I will be brainstorming a costume to wear  Preferably not featuring any kind of head gear this year… Might have to make a Goodwill trip this weekend – hehehe!

10) I’ve completed week one of my NASM personal training certification!  I am LOVING it so far and can’t wait to tackle week two this weekend.  I love the mix between reading and watching short video recaps and can’t wait to get more into everything!

11) Yesterday I happened to be reading Mama Pea’s blog and saw a comment about a button she had for Compassion International which is an organization that allows people to sponsor children in impoverished areas with a monthly donation.  After seeing that, I was reminded how even though my week seemed “bad” at least I have the basic necessities like food, water and a safe place to live.  I’ve been meaning to sponsor a kid for years but never bit the bullet but yesterday, I just decided to go for it!  I picked a little 5 year old boy named Jose and it was his birthday yesterday  If you are ever looking for a good charity to donate too, this would be a good place to look!

I think that’s enough for today.  Too much whining, too much random but it is what it is and it’s Friday! Hope you’ve had a better week than me and that everyone has a good weekend, me included

Your turn: Most annoying thing this week – go!

(and you are not allowed to say me)

Friday Fun.

I have had so many issues this week I am just glad I made it to Friday!  In lieu of making my brain work to come up with a list of what’s all been going on, I am going to borrow my blogging buddy Allison’s survey she posted yesterday!  (Hope that’s OK, Allison?! )

This or That: Health and Fitness

1) Run/workout in the heat and humidity or freezing temps and snow? - Freezing temps for sure, no question.  I have run in snow storms, freezing temps, with snow all over the ground and always finish those runs.  The ones in the summer when I get hot, almost always end on a sour note…  Although to be fair, I almost always run in the morning before the heat really is an issue so I still say summer is my favorite season to run in!

Soooo cold!

2) Have washboard abs or flat abs? - Like this is even a choice I have in real life… ha!  But I might as well say washboard since it’s never going to happen either way!

3) Dr. Oz or The Doctors? - I do really think one of the Doctor’s is cute but I’ve actually never seen the show so I have to say Dr. Oz rates here.  Plus he worked out with Shaun T!

4) Cardio or Strength? - This is probably sacrilegious to say on a running blog but I love strength so much more!  If I could only do one exercise the rest of my life, I would much prefer Strength!

5) Cravings:  protein or carbs? - This really depends on the day but 90% of the time it’s probably carbs.  When I have too many carbs I really do crave meat, steak especially so I don’t think I would be happy only eating one or the other for the rest of my life!

6) Jillian Michaels or Bob Harper? - Bob, Bob, Bob, Bob!  I always liked him better on Biggest Loser and I like his workout DVDs better than Jillian’s (but I do really like hers too!).  So I will forever be on Team Bob!

7) Frozen Yogurt or Ice Cream? - Ummm, hard one.  Like choosing between Birthday and Christmas for your favorite “holiday”… I think I have to say Frozen Yogurt.  I remember being probably 8-9ish years old and being obsessed with TCBY and their parfaits!  Tragically the location I always went to closed shortly after that but I recently found out there is one just a few miles from my house!!  Whoop!

Tired of this picture yet?

8) To train:  upper body or lower body? - UPPER BODY!  I hate, hate, hate lunges and only semi tolerate squats.  Feeling the burn in my biceps/chest/tris makes me very happy

9) Protein powder or food with protein? - Protein powder makes me gag.  I’ve likely just never found one I like but ick.  Real food all the way.  Unless I develop a keen love of chalk, I doubt this will ever change.

10) Lunges or squats? - See No. 8 for the answer of neither.  But if I have to pick one… squats.

11) Sweet or salty? - Normally sweet.  Ok, maybe always sweet

12) Workout attire:  cute or comfy? - I would like to be able to say “cute” but in all reality, I can’t really say either.  Workout clothes always fit me stupid so they aren’t often what I would classify as “comfy” and they sure as heck are not cute!  I am lucky if I am not 100% embarrassing most days!  I’ve been known to wear some special combos when out and about… like really special.

13) Body Pump or heavy lifting? - Ehhh, another neither?!  I used to love Body Pump but it got old and I really never liked “heavy” lifting.  I like lifting slightly lighter weights for more reps so whatever that means for an answer, I am not sure

14) Yoga or Pilates? - Sister, shut your ears/eyes but Pilates!  I’ve never gotten along well with Yoga but I am quite fond of Pilates!  Now I just need to find a new DVD or a place to take classes so I can see all the benefits it can offer!

15) Nike or Adidas? - NIKE!  I have always been a big Nike freak, shoes, clothes, Nike+ workout equipment, etc., etc.  And my recent return to them for shoes has been going well so that makes me even more of an advocate  I just don’t think I ever liked those Adidas stripes… they looked too intense.

New Nikes

16) Running on the treadmill or outdoors? - I really am not fond of the treadmill but I think I would benefit from doing more speed related workouts on this machine so I can start working on getting faster without going all crazy outside.  Slow and steady!  But outdoors is for sure my preference here!

17) Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s? - Hard choice again… I would give it to Trader Joe’s if it were not for the Whole Foods salad bar.  That just really trumps TJ’s in so many ways!  I just really wish there was not a $50 cover charge at whole foods… At least TJ’s is cheap!

18) Summer or Winter Olympics? - This used to be Winter but in the last 2 Olympics, I have really become a Summer convert.  I just love watching the running, swimming, cycling, mountain biking, BMX (not even joking), track & field, gymnastics!  So many interesting things to watch! (Plenty of weird ones too, though…)

19) Exercise classes or exercise videos? - Exercise videos.  I hate working out in front of/around people.  I feel so much better at my own house.  Probably also because when working out at a gym I feel like a giant towering over everyone else in the classes… why do I always feel so TALL at the gym! #tallgirlproblems

20) Steamed veggies or roasted veggies? - Ehhh, roasted, I guess.  I’d rather not eat veggies.  Does that make me a bad person?!  But normally roasted = dipped in ketchup for then I am a fan!

I love little survey’s like this – it’s always fun to see other’s responses as well so… what are some of your preferences in the list above?!

Have a great weekend!

Friday.

This week was weird.  People got on my nerves repeatedly and I had to bite my tongue more times than I can count.  Good thing I really don’t have to deal with too many people at work.  The amount of people I do have to deal with is plenty… But anyways, here are my random weekly happenings!  I feel like it was a pretty boring week but at least it’s now the weekend (in like 10-12 hours…)

1) I actually have a backyard now!  Having had a weed garden for 3+ years has been fun but I am happy I now don’t have to look the other way when I walk out my back door!

I guess it was greener back then though!

2) I am pretty sure I have decided that being passive aggressive is one of my least favorite personality traits in a person and yet, I am always the one who wins when someone wants to play that game.  At work someone has been pulling that shit for at least the last year and I officially one upped said person on Wednesday.  #score

3) The Olympics have started to bore me… I really liked watching swimming and gymnastics to a certain extent and some track and field but the way they are showing it now has just totally lost my interest.  I feel like every time I tune into NBC, it’s either Track Cycling (stupid), Beach Volleyball (stupider) or Polo (wt?).  And when track and field comes on, it’s like on for 5 seconds and then over because they run so damn fast.

Plus this just pissed me off. Seriously, you messed up and still get silver. Be thankful for that and your team GOLD. Brat.

4) Tomorrow I am planning to run a 5k.  I’m not really sure how well this will go as I’ve run a total of like 20 miles in the last two weeks but at least I’ve gotten in 2 3ish mile runs so I know I can do it.  And I know I won’t be the last because it’s a run/walk!  I’d like to set a new PR but even that may be asking too much for my current condition… although my old PR is like 35 minutes so it’s not super speedy or anything.

5) All I’ve wanted to eat this week is Pancakes.  Breakfast, lunch dinner, that’s always what first jumps into my head.  That or peanut butter + jelly with BBQ potato chips.  Clearly I have a very advanced palate.  I’m not really sure what that means I am short on dietary-wise but I’m thinking it means I have an excuse to carbo-load for a 5k  In all honestly, I will likely have them for breakfast and dinner today because I am too lazy to cook any real food and that’s about the quickest meal option I know!

Carbs are so good!

6) My stupid sciatica issue is acting up again… It was feeling better until acupuncture on Tuesday.  That used to make it feel better but now, not so much.  I guess that’s a sign that I can stop going.  I certainly won’t miss the 35+ min drive each way!  At least now I know that’s what it is so I won’t let it stop me from running because that just makes it worse.

7) I’d wanted to sign up for a bike ride at Road America next weekend but didn’t want to go alone so I tried to talk my sister into it but she was not having it.  Now I find out McDreamy is going to be riding it.  I’m not the hugest fan of Grey’s Anatomy but I still think it would have been cool to bike with him!  And it is a multiple lap type event so he would pass me at least once if nothing else!  Oh well – it will probably be ridiculously crowded now and I am not a fan of crowds so it’s probably for the best!

Oh look, he’s on a bike!

8) I’m bad-habiting again…I have always had an issue with biting/picking at my fingernails and I know it’s gross but I mess them up without even realizing I am doing it!  It’s time to bust out the finger tappies I think… I am mentally 6 years old someday.  Normal people my age get manicures, I just need to get fingernails back

9) I am reading Emily Giffin’s Where We Belong right now and really liking it so far.  It seems quite a bit different from her other books but it’s a good change so far!  I’m interested to see where this story line leads.

10) I am totally addicted to the ABC Family show Beverly Hills Nannies.  As someone who for a few minutes contemplated being a nanny post-college if I didn’t find a job, I think this is even more interesting!  I can see so many parallels to my own babysitting past in some of the stories although on the show they are so much more dramatic than in my real life  Also, one of the nannies is from Wisconsin but has clearly been Beverly Hillized just a little so she sure does not remind me of people ’round these parts!

I can’t even imagine!

That’s all I got this week!  Hope you have a good weekend in store where ever you are!

What do you think of McKayla’s attitude at getting silver?  Understandable or Unbelievable?