Floor burns

I read a quote once. It was something along the lines of 

"we need to stop the glorification of busy."

I hear that. I like that. I'm all about the down time and relaxing and slow weeks and vacations. All for that. 

But I realized something in the midst of this week. I think the majority of the time, especially during the week, I'm happier when I'm busier. 

I feel productive; like a boss if you will. Juggling work with workouts with volleyball practices with friend/boyfriend time with family time with blogging time with studying time with ... Sleep

(Probably could of done a little better on the sleep side of things this week. Noted.)

In conclusion, it's Friday. And I would rather give you my life updates via pictures versus paragraphs. Capeesh? 

1. This is what I woke up to on Tuesday.  I loved it and saved it. I'm telling you, sign up for TUT if you like that morning encouragement. 

2. Did I mention I'm substitute coaching for club volleyball the next month or so? It should be cool, free swag, free advice to 15 year old teenage girls who love the sport, for a little extra $$..

3. And some free floor burns. Coaches are encouraged to jump in during scrimmages and you better believe I laid out and got my first pancake up in years. I'm not talking about plantain pancakes ether. 

SMALL yet oh so stingy

4. Tried bulletproof coffee this week. I didn't love it, I didn't hate it. I'm not a huge butter girl to begin with so it was definitely interesting. I'm not opposed to having it occasionally, but don't see it becoming a staple. 

pre-blender. weird right!?

I guess once you go black you never go back.

 I'm talking about coffee people come on. 

Clean it up.

A favorite breakfast this week was pumpkin mixed with almond butter, coconut milk, raisins, silvered almonds, chia seeds and banana on top. Normally accompanied with a hard boiled egg on the side to get a little extra protein. 

That's all I've got. I about to crank out some abs and jet off to work. 4 pm and I'll be staring the weekend straight in the eyes. 

Any bulletproof coffee lovers out there? How about black coffee lovers? I love trying new kinds/brands! :)

Cheers to the freaking weekend - 

Kait

Spring Cleaning & Stuff

I don’t get to say this very often, so I will right now. This week freaking flew by.

Guys it’s Friday. Let’s start with a workout, shall we?

On Wednesday it was warm out after work and I was fully prepared to completely punt on my afternoon workout and have an early date night on a patio with some wine. However, Andrew text me around 5 telling me he was about to head to the gym, so I pouted for a few minutes and then decided I may as well get a workout in as well.

After some brief Pinterest scanning, I got a few ideas, made my own modifications and came up with this:

15/30 Min. Total Body Sweat Sesh

I did this twice through, with a water break in between, coming out to 30 mins total. The second time around I did the second exercise listed just to mix it up. Feel free to alter depending what equipment you have on hand. I turned up the music, jumped around my room like a moron, and am proud to say that I'm sore today.

#success

The workout was actually followed by date night, during which we ate pizza in a park, and I discovered that the trees are starting to bud…

#spring

Another Pinterest success – these guys:

I made them on Monday night and have been snacking on them all week. They. Are. Delicious. I made them with turkey bacon (no reason in particular) and highly recommend them if 1. You love bacon 2. You love paleo 3. You love bacon

A new addition to my April to-do list is to clean out my closet (yes, just like the Eminem song) and pull out those warmer weather clothes. And maybe even buy some new spring-wear. However, per a recent conversation with my sister, I realized I have more catching up to do than I thought…

Bri: crop tops and kimonos ALL SUMMER

ALL SPRING

ALL FALL MAYBE EVEN

nah kimonos will prob be out by fall

my dream kimono is at urban but its 80 dollars and i dont deserve

i search state street and michigan avenue consistently for another perfect kimono but cannot find

im on a failing kimono hunt

kcomiskey: i dont know what a kimono is

Bri: sigh

this is the summer of kimonos so you need to learn

its basically see through flowy things youll wear over croptops

kcomiskey: oh yes i saw one at target once i liked it

I suppose I’m on the market for a kimono. And a croptop. Seeing that I own neither.

Any direction in this fashion issue is more than welcome. Tell me, what spring cleaning tasks do you have on your list?

Cheers to kimonos?

Kait

I wanted to tell you guys

Do any other bloggers out there keep a weird running list of things they want to blog about?

Or even if you're not a blogger,  maybe a list of things you want to remember to tell people?

(I do that a lot with my boyfriend, not gonna lie)

Normally I either keep track by taking pictures, or keeping a list of random phrases in my ‘notes’ app in my phone that would make absolutely no sense to anyone but me.

Oh yeah, I wanted to tell you guys about….

How I’ve been doing Kettlebell swings wrong for the past year. Figured that one out at Crossfit on Wednesday night.

Apparently it’s all in the hips. I’m sore today everywhere, and it’s glorious.

I wanted to tell you guys about…

The fact that I reach a point every morning where my body basically rejects coffee. I would say that I average about 1 – 1.5 mugs of coffee per morning. My mug is big – maybe about two-ish measurable cups? Anyways, usually a few sips into my second mug my body is like ‘ok I’m awake, switch to water.’ It sounds weird, but I swear I feel it daily.

I wanted to ask you guys…

If I need this scarf from Target? Maybe? Probably not, because apparently Target sucks lately.

I wanted to bitch cry to you guys about…

yesterday....

The weather. (YA COOL KAIT YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE)

But seriously, enough is enough winter. Go home.

Pretty sure wind chills were in the teens this morning.  I wore a scarf to work. I literally cannot wait until all I wear to work is a short-sleeved shirt and I’m sweating through it.

Oh, and I wanted to rave about how my favorite TV show lately is House of Cards. I started season 1 a few weeks ago with my one month Netflix trial, and am hooked. So intriguing. Love watching it while I pedal away on my bike.

HAPPY FRIDAY!! You made it! Today is Jeans Day at work, Sunday is the start of March Madness, and Monday is St. Patrick’s Day!

PUMPED.

Linking up again for #Backthatazzup Friday - how 'bout a little fun.?

Am I the only one who struggled with KB swings? Anyone else excited for some March Madness action?

Cheers - 

K

Five Things Friday

BEFORE we go any further, I have an announcement. Last night, at my third Blue Crab Crossfit class ever, I did my first double unders! 45 total, strung together about 10 in a row. The coach, Ben, was awesome, and sorry I'm not sorry, I'm a little bit proud of myself.

Moving on.

For Five Things Friday, I’m going to name one thing under each of the five categories that I’ve selected. This has been done mainly to cover the random assortment of things that I want to discuss.

1 (one) thing I loved this week – My run on Wednesday after work. Temperatures were hovering right around 55, and I was able to pull on shorts and a long sleeve t-shirt. It was magical. I did a couple laps around Patterson Park and then a short jaunt down by the water, totaling just over seven miles for this girl.

1 (one) thing (I realized) I dislike this week – The fact that Starbucks doesn’t offer almond milk. Am I being outrageous here with this expectation? I guess I just figured that enough people across the country now drink almond milk almost exclusively… it would just be an awesome option to have. Is anyone else with me here? Hello Starbs, are you listening to me??

1 (one) thing I (oddly) miss – I never in a million years thought I would say this. But while I was in the office kitchen earlier this week, another dept. was setting up for their team breakfast, and a woman was setting up one of those electric griddle things. See below.

It flashed me back to my time working in the Sunflower Deli back in good ole’ Fort Collins, CO (which is now apparently a Sprouts). Once a month we had a senior breakfast, and would set up about five of those griddles at 6 AM to cook up a plethora of pancakes, sausages, etc. At the time one of my favorite hobbies was b*tching about that job, but looking back, it was a job that kept me incredibly active, I worked with very caring people, and got to interact with a ton of (mostly) happy customers on a daily basis. I mean we were in Colorado after all – everyone is pretty much always happy there.

me, in Colorado, being very happy.

1 (one) thing that makes me sad – My leg still hurts. My right hamstring to be exact, right up under my butt. The thing is, it isn’t sharp or jabbing or anything that is super restrictive (hence why I still allow two runs per week) but my sadness comes from the fact that it has been lingering since late September. If I had to wager (I’ve been doing some reading) it’s an obnoxious case of high hamstring tendon apathy – you can readthis post on it, or this article, and then shake your head and agree with me.

I’ve started implementing some of the mentioned exercises and should probably get a little more aggressive with them. Any other suggestions or comments on this matter is more than appreciated.

Last but not least –

1 (one) thing that makes me excited – USA men’s hockey vs. Canada, today at noon EST. A win puts us in the finals – fingers crossed!

Zach Parise

Linking up with #Backthatazzup Friday – enjoy the below jam!

Cheers to ‘Merica!!

And last, but not least - an extra Friday thing. This late V-day gift - a giraffe named Sphincter - showed up on my porch last night. I love him like he's my own son.

Tell me some things you love/hate/miss/are confused by/pumped for this week. Ready go-

Kait

Confessions of a Hypochondriac

Good Morning, and Happy Friday!

I'm back at my favorite Friday spot - Panera. It's been awhile, but I think they remember me. During my 10 seconds standing in line I considered getting a pumpkin muffin, but decided to save the indulgences for the cruise starting next weekend.

Speaking of pumpkin, I have something a bit odd to share. I saw the idea on Carrots 'n' Cake first, so I can't take the credit. Yet I added a twist on her recipe, and came up with this...

Pumpkin, 1 mashed up banana, some chopped up figs, almond butter, and a dash of both honey and cinnamon. Once warmed up in the microwave, I almost felt like I was eating dessert or maybe a form of baby food?

Either way, it was a quick, easy and delicious breakfast.

Recently I've kind of been putting off the topic of running because I'm not really positive what's going on with my body (surprise, surprise). I do know that I've been having several runs like this:

This was Monday, followed by another 8 miles last night at a 7:30 pace. Cardio-wise, I feel great. And then there's my feet.

About two weeks ago on a 12-miler I got that feeling in my right foot that made me instantly want to throw myself over the side of the bridge I was running over. That stress fracture kind of feeling.

Now, I'm very torn. I've obviously still been running the past two weeks since feeling that all too familiar feeling. It's odd because some runs I feel it, some runs I don't. Most runs I feel great cardio-wise, and tell myself that I simply must be insane.

Even my mom, one of the more cautious people that I know, asked me when I was home,

"Are you sure you aren't just making it up in your head? You are a hypochondriac after all..."

That's a statement that I can't argue. The past year, outside of the real injuries that I've actually had, I've been convinced that I had a torn hamstring, a torn achilles, a torn meniscus, a torn hip flexor, low iron, ulcers, pink eye, a broken toe, depression, gluten intolerance, and dairy intolerance. 

I didn't have any of those things. Can we all take a moment and give my boyfriend an appreciative head nod? Because who do you think I ran to (oftentimes in tears) every single time I self-diagnosed myself? Him.

Felt like I should insert some comedic relief 

Anyways, back to the running a marathon with a possible stress fracture topic. Part of me wants to do it. And I definitely don't want to defer until I know 100% that I can't do it. It may even be too late to defer, I'm too afraid to check the website.

My plan? To set out for 15-18 (close to home) miles tomorrow morning, and listen to my body. See at what point things start hurting, what kind of pain it is, etc. This weekend was suppose to be 22, and then taper. Best case, I hit 20 tomorrow and declare 'It's on' and let the taper begin.

And if it hurts? And that all too familiar stress fracture feeling is screaming at me and I come to the realization that 26 miles on a semi-broken foot is a poor idea? Well, it's not the end of the world. But we can talk more on Sunday once I've figured this stupid foot out.

I'm glad this is out in the open now, I feel like I've been hiding a heavy dark secret for the past two weeks. 

Good luck to my runners this weekend. My roommate is running her first (DC) Ragnar Relay, and I hope she has an absolute blast. I'm off to start my Friday, I even wore a skirt today so I'm feeling extra productive.

I would love feedback from runners on the stress fracture thing. I wouldn't love long-winded lectures on 'being smart'... believe me, I'm not stupid. I've played through torn ligaments and given myself vertebral fractures, the whole nine yards. I'm no stranger to pain and what I should and shouldn't push through, I promise.

Cheers!

K

Crow

It's that time of week again - when the sun shines a little brighter, and the commute seems just a little bit shorter...

Hopefully?

Happy Friday! This morning I decided to link up with one of my fellow Baltimore Bloggers, Kerry, and participate in Five Things Friday...

from The Adventures of Z & K

Ready?

1. I'm very excited about this. Yesterday at yoga, for the first time ever, I managed to hold crow pose!

Oops - wrong picture...

Unfortunately, it wasn't in a cool shirt like hers....

For any of you who know what my flexibility is like as well as my general yoga abilities, this is a big deal. Feel free to leave gushing praise in the comments below.

2. I'm seeking running shoe advice. I'm serious - brands, models, anything. Help me out runner friends, give me some thoughts.

3. My girl Beth and I have been doing a lot of rides together the past few weeks. One of our favorite things to do lately is to head down to Fells Point for yoga a couple times a week. I've found that since I don't have to worry about parking with her, it actually takes less time than if I were to drive.

Beth's parking spot in my room.

4. Last night I was craving a treat after my tilapia dinner, so I threw together this bad boy:

A banana, fried in coconut oil, with a dash of unsweetened cocoa powder mixed in. Coconut sprinkled on top, 100% 21-Day Detox approved.

It was good - seriously, try it.

5. This weekend I'm pup-sitting one of my coworker's furry friends.

We have plans for long walks, movies of her choice, and cooking meals that she can smell and I can enjoy.

That's all over here folks, I'm off to work. Hope your day is marvelous-

Cheers!

Sugar Reports

Well, it's lovely morning over here in Baltimore. It may be the first morning in a week that I haven't woken up to overcast/rainy weather. It's amazing what blue skies can do for you mood.

Last night I tried out 'Restoration Yoga' at Charm City Yoga after physical therapy. It involved a lot of laying, and opening up joints. I wouldn't really call it a workout, but more of a natural spa session for my body. I think I'll keep going - I have a one month LivingSocial deal there.

Anyways, yoga put me to bed early, and I woke up at 5:30 AM ready to kick some ass. I cranked out a quick circuit workout that I once again stole from Brooke in my newly organized home gym. OK OK, it doesn't quite warrant the label gym yet, but I'm working on it....

Next to purchase: a box for step ups/box jumps, and a kettle bell...

 I hopped in the shower and meandered down the street to a recently-discovered, charming Panera. It has the super cozy feeling, and felt like the perfect place to do a little writing, reflect, and gather my jumble of thoughts.

I feel good today. It could be last night's yoga, maybe a decent night of sleep. I think the 'tired/moody' side-effects that come with the first couple of days of this sugar detox are starting to subside. I will admit I stared longingly at the cinnamon crunch bagels this morning when walking into Panera, but then remembered the pumpkin pancakes (made with coconut flour) waiting for me in my car for my breakfast at the office.

There isn't too much to report on the detox yet (I'm on Day 5) aside from these two facts that I know for certain:

1. I definitely had a mental breakdown and slightly cheated on Wednesday (Day #3). This was fully supported by my coworkers who knew I was in a bad place, and needed a little sugar in my life.

Yessssss I'm an emotional eater. Sigh.

                                                 I've been good since then, I promise.

2. My abs are currently more defined than they ever have been. Ever. I'm not really one to post selfies of my stomach, or stand in the mirror flexing, but hey I'm a girl and I check myself out on occasion.

You know that saying, abs are made in the kitchen not in the gym? I'm starting to believe it....

Alright, time to pack up and head to work. I like this morning thing, don't you? Embracing mornings was another one of my midyear goals, and I'm so glad we did this.

pinterest

Tell me, what's your go-to cozy/homey coffee place when you need some alone time? I'm pretty sure this Panera just overtook the Starbucks by my work...

Have an awesome Friday, and do me a favor? Smile.

Cheers!

A lot of beaching

Insert celebratory Friday exclamation here! Hollaaaa!

Last night I had my millionth 3rd eye doctor appointment of the past two weeks. I was informed that the holes in my eyes are healing nicely (lovely) ... and I still need to be glasses bound through the weekend. Sweet.

Sad Grandma Face

However I really didn't get too angry, for two specific reasons.

Reason #1: I was wearing my favorite shirt at the time...

I make fast look good. (truth)

Reason #2: Andrew and I are going to the beach tomorrow.

anticipatory grandma face

It's funny because a little over a year ago, early morning weekends typically meant we were getting up to drive into the mountains to ski AKA shred some powder.

The good ole' days

Now it means this:

Rehoboth Beach

I expect Saturday to be full of sun, sand, some reading, some country music and a whole lot of laying. My poor eyes, as well as my foot are in need of some rest... and so that's precisely what I shall give them.

Anyone else have a restful weekend planned?

Cheers!