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nobody said it was easy

26. June 2017 · 8 comments · Categories: cross training, Uncategorized · Tags: dogs, life stuff, running injury, yoga

Something about yoga and paying attention to song lyrics. I guess this is my new thing. Yesterday it was a Coldplay song….the lyrics that shouted at me were “Nobody Said it Was Easy”.

Speaking of yoga, I saw this gorgeous rainbow after a class earlier in the week

It felt like some sort of validation or affirmation for me. Like I was being told it’s ok to struggle…nobody said it was easy….then I thought about all the things that “it” represents for me:

Work

Physical Healing

Emotional Healing

Life

I struggle daily to feel whole without running. I constantly want to put a disclaimer to every day that states “well today was hard because I can’t run”. When actually I should just accept today was hard because it was hard.

I’m working hard at building my freelance business. I’ve recently been certified as a New York City M/WBE (Minority/women owned business) and attended a networking/procurement event this past Wednesday in the city where I had the opportunity to talk to 70 NYC agencies who could potentially contract me to do work for them.

First let me say that it felt lovely to be reunited with my favorite commuting option….the Staten Island Ferry.

This required me to dig deep to give my “elevator pitch” to these agencies. I came home drained and while I wanted to feel optimistic about the potential opportunities, I felt overwhelmed from it all.

I felt so official with my badge

Got some swag for attending which was nice. I have already used the ear buds.

I totally managed to recharge over the weekend though and that’s left me ready to tackle today.

Friday I drove out to visit a friend who I haven’t seen in a while. Her daughter is almost 6 and as adorable as ever. She heard me talking about my worry about finances and hoping I can get my business to make more money by finding some additional clients and gave me $5,000 in Post-It note currency…We played with Legos and even baked a cake in her LaLa Loopsy oven (like the Easy Bake oven).

Apron fashion and micro fashion 🙂

Let’s just say the cake wasn’t such a success but we laughed and enjoyed the silliness of half uncooked-stuck to the pan cake crumbles sprinkled on top of some very weird tasting “frosting”. Sometimes it’s about the process and not the end result right? 🙂 More »

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Uneventful week except for a haircut

19. June 2017 · 2 comments · Categories: recreational fun · Tags: blowout, curly hair, dog selfie, dogs, naturally curly

Hi there.

I don’t have much to share as of late and I’m really sorry.

Duncan’s latest favorite spot under my desk by the air conditioning vent

I went to yoga 3 times this past week and took no pictures #blogfail. I had a bit of a cold all week and my balance was off so I found it really challenging to get through a lot of the poses. I took a few slow walks around my neighborhood during the week as well and also got through my Wednesday night hike but the toe is still being a punk. I can walk fine for about 1/2 mile and then I start limping or just changing my gait enough to not roll off the toe. Geez..I feel like all I do is share updates about not being able to roll off the toe. #brokenrecord

The exciting news is that I finally got a haircut!

Fresh outta the salon

It had been 7 months since my last haircut so I was WAAAYYYY overdue. And Denise, my haircutting goddess also did a fabulous blowout job and I managed to get a couple of days out of it.

still looking good later the same day…

The morning after…no makeup hope it doesn’t scare you

As a naturally curly haired girl I don’t often get the chance to run my fingers through my hair so I enjoyed that for sure.

And then by Friday I was back to curly girl

Oh and Chester came to hang with me for a day last week when Mr. SOTSS had to go into the office.And I may or may not have taken between 20 and 30 selfies with Duncan

Sally and Duncan selfie #1,6424,259 and you can tell he’s thrilled

So since my life has been fairly uneventful why don’t you tell me what’s going on with you? Anything exciting?

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more winter fun and delaying my long run

10. March 2017 · Write a comment · Categories: running · Tags: dogs, hiking, running, skiing, snow, winter, winter fun

Hi there,

TGIF! Hope y’all had a good week. Tomorrow I had planned to run 10 miles in preparation for the Love Run half marathon coming up on March 25th. But after two not so amazing 4 mile runs this week thanks to my hamstring situation I decided to take a few days off and delay that 10 miler. I’m thinking of shooting for Tuesday. That’ll give me 3-4 days off to let things settle a bit. Of I couldn’t resist joining some of my hiking friends for some winter fun this morning in the snow.

Wait for meeeeee!

We had a quick storm that left a few inches and Duncan and I enjoyed the couple of hours out on the trails in the winter wonderland.

Hmm, red trail or blue?

There’s nothing better than fresh fallen snow in the woods

My little hiker

This is the gate that is at the entrance of the parking area at the trail head. It’s like sculpture.

Speaking of winter fun, last Sunday Mr SOTSS and I took his 2 girls and my niece skiing in Pennsylvania.

That's my niece behind me! Yes, I was able to snap photos and video while skiing. I just held both poles in the other hand. I'm so talented.

That’s my niece behind me after skiing down the “big mountain” for the first time! She did amazing. Yes, I was able to snap photos and video while skiing. I just held both poles in the other hand. I’m so talented.

This was only the 3rd time each of the girls has been on skis. Last year when we took them they had a lesson and this year we started on the bunny slope but after about an hour they all felt comfortable trying out the big mountain trails. I’m so excited that I was able to teach my niece AND Mr. SOTSS’ older daughter (she’s almost 14) how to turn.

Last run of the day. She was so excited that I taught her how to turn she wanted to practice. I’m so proud of her.

Once it clicked for them they got so much more confident and fell a whole lot less 🙂 It was a great day filled with lots of laughs.

A daddy/daughter chill session

Taking a quick nap before the struggle to get back up.

My week was pretty typical. Duncan and I had our usual walks and trips to the pet store and as I said earlier, I got two 4 mile runs in. The first one on Tuesday was in the rain but it was about 50 degrees and felt really refreshing. The second one yesterday ended up being more of a trail run/walk.

happy trails

I ran past the golf course and since it was 63 yesterday there were golfers in action. Hard to believe that today it snowed.

golfers

So now I’m going to do all the rehabbing for the next few days and see how it goes next week when I pick back up with training.

What is your idea of Winter fun? Indoors or Outdoors?

Any fun weekend plans?

What are your favorite glute, hamstring and hip strengthening exercises?

Don’t forget to turn the clocks ahead this weekend if you’re in Daylight Savings.

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freelance life essentials and some running

04. March 2017 · 1 comment · Categories: running · Tags: dogs, freelance life, running

Hi there,

Happy weekend! This was my view when I woke up this morning.

Morning!

I love a good doodle view but I wish I would have got up earlier to see the sunrise. I haven’t seen a sunrise in so long. Facebook shared this photo I took 3 years ago yesterday. I was doing 16 miles in preparation for the NJ Marathon and I got to see this beauty.

sunrise

I just got back from an 8 miler. It wasn’t too bad the first half but the second half my hamstrings were on fire. I guess I kinda knew that they weren’t going to be cooperative so I’m going to have to keep working on strengthening, stretching and foam rolling and possibly go back to see Dr. Williams who helped me when my knee was causing issues. Of course he’s not on my new insurance plan so I’m going to keep trying to fix this on my own. Good news is that by the next day I usually feel ok so I’m not as bad as I was at the end of last year. It was so cold and windy today. But I kinda liked it. We’ve had such a mild winter that my body was yearning for the frigid temps.

before and after selfies. My cheeks got a lot rosier after.

So last Tuesday I went to a networking event in the city. I left Duncan (with his fresh new haircut) at Mr. SOTSS’ house when I traveled into the city. I got in a little early so I stopped in Bryant Park for a bit to enjoy the beautiful day. It was in the 60s. Then a client asked me to send some files so I tethered my phone to my laptop and got to business right there in the park. #freelancelife.

freelance life

Speaking of freelance life….when you work from home there is one major freelance essential: coffee! I was so happy my delivery came last week as I was running dangerously low.

my biggest freelance life essential…coffee!

After my networking event, when I got back to Mr. SOTSS’ house I got to see his girls for a few. His youngest was getting ready to go to gymnastics practice and asked me to french braid the top of her hair. I ALWAYS say yes when she asks me to braid her hair. She has the best hair! It’s so relaxing for me to braid it.

Another freelance life essential is having cute doggie coworkers who don’t really work. They crack me up.

Just stares at me while I work

Chester is just so big! He’s on Duncan’s little perch but enjoyed the breeze coming thru the window.

I had hoped to run 2x during the week but alas only got out once (on Wednesday) for a 4 miler. Meanwhile can we talk about the fact that it was in the 70s when I ran on Wednesday and I wore short sleeves and today it was 28 degrees with winds at 20mph.

But, I’m excited that the weather is finally cold again because I got to wear my new race swag yesterday.

My first pom pom hat ever!

So what’s on your agenda today?

Are you a coffee drinker?

Do you like to catch the sunrise?

What would your freelance life essentials be?

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nobody said it was easy

Uneventful week except for a haircut

more winter fun and delaying my long run