Some ups and downs so far 9 days into 2017 🙂

Here’s what’s been going on in the last week…

We’ve got lots of cold weather and snow happening here on the east coast….both inside and out.

mmmm....snowsicles are yummy

mmmm….snowsicles are yummy

Yep, on Friday morning Duncan took one last rest on his pig (that Mr. SOTSS won me at the Washington State Fair last September) and then discovered a little hole big enough to de-stuff the pig and before we knew it, it was snowing in the house!

Such a comfortable pig

Such a comfortable pig

it's SNOWING!

it’s SNOWING!

It was also snowing outside and I decided to go for a 4 mile walk to get in a good amount of steps before the snow really accumulated. I walked for over an hour and really enjoyed every step. The neighborhood was quiet and magical with all the powdery white stuff falling.

being the first to step on fresh fallen snow is almost as fun stepping on (and popping) those sheets of packing bubbles!

being the first to step on fresh fallen snow is almost as fun as stepping on (and popping) those sheets of packing bubbles!

I love Winter!

I love Winter!

This is where things went south. I decided to pull out my trampoline and jump a bit for a little extra calorie burn and also to warm up and get the chill out of my body. As I went to push the trampoline in the center of the living room floor I kicked one of the metal legs so hard accidentally and next thing I knew my toenail was split into 3 pieces. Just like in the cartoons, I saw stars. I manually pulled off the two pieces that were hanging by a thread and covered the toe with antibiotic cream and a bandage and continued about my day. (no photos because I want you to continue to read my blog 🙂 It wasn’t until the evening when I tried to put a shoe on to take Duncan for a walk that I realized how painful the toe was and how hard it was for me to walk.

I was feeling rather down on myself because of a multitude of things. First, I had been tracking my calories and trying to eat healthier all week. I hadn’t had sweets and was going through major sugar withdrawal. I also hadn’t run all week because my hamstring has still been bothering me. Combine that with the fact that my workload at the moment is really too light for my liking (read….typical freelance worry about cash flow and paying bills) and I really spiraled.

Luckily yesterday I was able to get out of the house and go have fun in the snow with Mr. SOTSS and his girls (and the dogs). I tried not to let the toe pain get in the way. We spent a few hours outside. But not before we all got bundled up.

Superdoodle

Superdoodle is not super happy about this getup.

Duncan hated me for putting him in his snowsuit and boots but it just makes life easier on both of us not having to deal with the snowballs that stick to his fur.

Best angle ever! #doodlebutt

Best angle ever! #doodlebutt

Happy despite the snowsuit. Also happy the paws were set free. Those booties didn't last long.

Happy despite the snowsuit. Also happy the paws were set free. Those booties didn’t last long.

so happy when he's being a kid

so happy when he’s being a kid

Chester likes big sticks and he cannot lie

Chester likes big sticks and he cannot lie

LOL. The face says it all.

LOL. The face says it all.

Does this snowsuit make my butt look big?

Does this snowsuit make my butt look big?

Things were looking up when I weighed myself this morning and I was down 1.4 pounds. But more importantly I’m really proud of myself for sticking to eating healthier for a week straight and I’m determined to keep up the good work. I know the number on the scale will fluctuate but if I can be more conscious about my nutrition throughout the year then I can consider myself ahead of the game.

Then I realized if I take my sock off before putting my boot on the toe pain is reduced and I can walk a little better. I’m hopeful I’ll be able to get out for a slow walk today and sweat out the small stuff. Hoping a few more days will bring me enough relief in the toenail AND the hamstring area that I can run a local 5k trail run this Saturday. We shall see.

And I just got a new work assignment! Whew!

Moral of this story. Toenails are heavy! (LOL!) Seriously though, my point is that it’s so easy to spiral but if you give it some time, things can always improve.

Have a great week!

Anyone else have stubbed-toe-war-stories???? Any tips on healing the tender toenail bed?

I’m getting ready to to clean out my home office and dump a lot of stuff. And since it’s Wednesday I decided “humpday dumpday” would be a cute post title. I also feel a little like humpty dumpty after eating so much this weekend.

I’m still dog-sitting for Casey but we brought the party to my house this week. I can’t tell you how happy I was to sleep in my own bed after 5 nights. Duncan is being a gracious guest and letting Casey sit in his favorite spot and play with his new toys. So proud of him.

it's Tangle Time

it’s tangle….i mean walk time

It's nap time

Everyone likes my bed

 

Gracious Duncan

Gracious Duncan

I’ve been sticking to my decision to skip out on running for the remainder of the year. But I just made plans to run with my friends on Saturday morning which is still technically 2016. Oh well, I’m giving myself a pass because it’s our run through the city to see the Rockefeller tree and department store windows. It’s tradition and I couldn’t miss it. Here’s my post from 2014 and 2015 which ended up being just Lisa and I. Today I walked a bit. Mr. SOTSS got me this new Garmin Vivofit for Christmas since mine broke at the beginning of October so I can get back to tracking my steps. img_8287Speaking of Christmas, it was very lovely. We got to spend time and exchange gifts with his girls on the eve and then we exchanged with each other on the day. I got some pretty gloves too from his dad’s wife.

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the hearts are touch sensitive so i can use my phone

Always my favorite present

Always my favorite present

I also just made a last minute decision to join a local group for a night hike in the woods. I’m off to get batteries for my headlamp. I’ve never hiked in the dark. And I think it’s supposed to be about 5 miles. This should be interesting. I’ll fill you in on how it went next post.

Hope you all had a lovely holiday (or non-holiday) weekend.

What’s new? Anyone feel like the last week of the year always feel so out of sorts? 

 

 

Hi there,

How goes it? It’s finally starting to feel like December now. It was cold and windy on today’s run. A real feel temp of 27 degrees. I bundled up.

hat, buff and hoodie over a long sleeve shirt

hat, buff and hoodie over a long sleeve shirt

and I even wore leggings instead of capris

and I even wore leggings instead of capris

I’ve run a lot around the neighborhood in the last couple of weeks and kept thinking I should do another edition of holiday decorations. In 2013 I felt the need to analyze a whole lot, especially the square snowman. In 2014 I was injured but walked the hood and couldn’t get over the amount of non-holiday holiday decorations. An eiffel tower and a crown? What?

This year I noticed a large amount of candy canes. Fuzzy, ones, tall ones, short ones….even blue striped ones!

Fuzzy candy canes

Fuzzy candy canes

2 sizes of candy canes but can we talk about these adorable pigs too?

2 sizes of candy canes but can we talk about these adorable pigs too?

Blueberry candy canes?

Blueberry candy canes?

It was a rather slow 3.5 miles as I stopped frequently to snap pics but I’m happy I got the miles in. img_7957

In other news Duncan has been as cute as ever lately and I’ve had to document his cuteness with these pics…

The ready to play look

The ready to play look

The lazy look

The lazy look

the "take the pic already so i can have that cookie you're dangling to get the perfect shot" look

the “take the pic already so i can have that cookie you’re dangling to get the perfect shot” look

the cute and bored look

the cute and bored look

I had a weird experience the other day. As I was driving across a bridge this huge blob of paint landed on my windshield. At first I assumed it was bird poop so I used the wipers and smeared it. Once I realized it was paint I freaked out. But after a solid 30 minutes of scraping with my finger nail and a rough old towel I got most of it off.

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I love my very short conversations with Mr. SOTSS today.

morning-convo evening-convo

We just saw each other yesterday so we’re all caught up. Tonight I’m hanging with the pooch and filling out my holiday cards (although I keep getting distracted with Facebook and Words With Friends).

So what’s new with you all?

Anyone see any good movies lately?

Any exciting weekend plans? 

After the Staten Island Half last Sunday I had 2 sore spots that bothered me for a few days after. My left hamstring—all the way up the back of my thigh toward my a$$ (what I call the “THASS”)  and my right achilles was also a little tight. I couldn’t really walk normally until Wednesday so running wasn’t even on my radar until yesterday. The weather was phenomenal and I also had the entire day all to myself with no obligations whatsoever (just a little freelance work to complete) and I figured I would give it a whirl.

Dear feet: Let's see if we're ready.

Dear feet: Let’s see if we’re ready.

I giggled at first when I realized how heavy my legs were. But after a mile I felt ok…..until I didn’t. Those 2 sore spots started to bother me around mile 2 and just after I reached 3 miles I decided to just walk home. No sense in really injuring myself.

Home from 3 miles of running and an additional mile walking home.

Home from 3 miles of running and an additional mile walking home.

So now I will spend the rest of the year focusing on foam rolling and strength training (seriously, really I mean it this time….i think) to start my next training cycle healthy!

rollin'....rollin'....rollin'

rollin’….rollin’….rollin’

In the meantime I spent a whole lot of quality time with Duncan all week and weekend.

I love this dog!

I love this dog!

every single workday looks something like this

every single workday looks something like this

Really? I can't even pee without company. My fault for not shutting the door i suppose.

Really? I can’t even pee without company. My fault for not shutting the door i suppose.

Gorgeous day.....sun roof open....doggie kisses in the parking lot

Gorgeous day…..sun roof open….doggie kisses in the parking lot

Saturday morning walk

Saturday morning walk

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So excited to sniff in a different park

So excited to sniff in a different park

Dude knows how to relax in the car

Dude knows how to relax in the car

The look I got while trying to eat my dinner

The look I got while trying to eat my dinner

Saturday night couch surfing

Saturday night couch surfing

And in a few hours I’m headed to New Jersey to go pumpkin picking with Mr. SOTSS and his family. We take our picking seriously which is why apple picking had its own day a few weeks ago.

img_6551Today is JUST for pumpkins 🙂 Oh and I found this online. I’m totally doing this to my pumpkin….

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Just keep swimming!!!!!

How many days do you take off from running after a race?

Do you decorate pumpkins for Halloween? Paint them or cut them like a Jack-o-Lantern?

Any October traditions?