I’m just enjoying life as best as I can lately. I have a lot on my plate these days and my goal is just to try and keep my mindset in a Zen, happy place. Nobody wants a Scrooge around right? Here are 5 things to keep me happy lately:

  1. Running: Of course! I ran on Friday around the neighborhood for an easy 3 miles. fri-statsSaturday was a special run. It was the Big Chill 5k held on the campus of Rutgers University. Over 8,000 runners and walkers donate toys as their registration fee and then run. I got to see Jane and Mr. SOTSS ran as well.
    Me and Jane

    Me and Jane

    The entire back wall eventually is totally filled with donated toys

    The entire back wall eventually is totally filled with donated toys

    Me and Mr. SOTSS....It was super sunny and I was squinting just a tad.

    Me and Mr. SOTSS….It was super sunny and I was squinting just a tad.

    While I didn’t pay the extra fee for a timing chip, my Garmin let me know that I ran a 9:26 pace and finished in 29 minutes! That’s pretty unbelievable considering A. I’ve been so slow lately and B. there were so many walkers to dodge and weave that I for sure wasn’t able to run freely leaving me to believe that my time would be much slower.big-chill-statsIn addition to running I also registered for the Cherry Blossom 10-miler lottery. It’s a very popular race held in Washington D.C. in April. After the Big Chill, Mr. SOTSS and I joined Jane and her posse for breakfast and we made the decision to enter the lottery. I’m looking forward to it if I get in. I want 2016 to be the year I run lots of shorter distances and 10 miles has always been a favorite distance of mine yet I’ve never run an actual 10 mile race.

  2. Getting in the Holiday Spirit: Yup, I put up my tree and decorated a little outside while Duncan napped. That’s about right.
    Woke up for the picture

    Woke up for the picture

    Boy do I enjoy revealing all my ornaments each year that have been in hibernation for a year. And I had a new ornament to put up. The one I bought as a souvenir from my trip to Jamaica this past summer.jamaica-ornamentEach ornament brings back warm fuzzy feelings. Totally made me happy.

    Why yes! May ALL your miles be merry =)

    Why yes! May ALL your miles be merry =)

    Running chick!

    Running chick!

    marathon ornament

    marathon ornament

    Doodle ornament

    Doodle ornament

    outside-2

    My cute lil snowman

    outside-1

  3. Spending quality time with my honey: We spent lots of quality time this weekend which culminated in a lovely hike today with the dogs.
    The boys in my life

    The boys in my life

    Even though it's December it is still officially Autumn. 50s and sunny.

    Even though it’s December it is still officially Autumn. 50s and sunny.

    And speaking of doggies….

  4. Cute doggies!: I’ve had to do a large amount of freelance work today and seeing them cuddled so cute around me makes me happy.napping-doggies
  5. Family dinner: This past Thursday my mom and dad had me over for dinner and homemade apple crisp. apple-crispIt felt really good to tell them all of the things in my life lately….the good, the bad and the ugly. They are so supportive and just want me to be happy….so….I’ll try as hard as I can to keep this mindset that way.

So how was your weekend? Can you tell me 5 things that have made you happy lately?

 

Overwhelmed lately. I feel like a broken record. I literally complained to Mr. SOTSS for an hour (or more) last night and feel like a terrible girlfriend for doing so. He’s so good at listening to me vent but I truly felt like I was just bringing him down. I’m not a New Year’s resolution kind of person but I do think I need to work on the complaining thing. It’s not fair. He’s got his own ish to deal with. Every year it happens. The holidays feel like they are being squished into a super busy month and I have to work hard to find the time to get it (whatever it stands for) all done and enjoy the process.

This happened tonight! Duncan and Chester made snow in my living room.

This happened during Mr. SOTSS’ visit! Duncan and Chester made snow in my living room. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas….

So anyway, here it is Wednesday already (it just turned midnight and yes, I changed my post title from “Weekend Wrap-Up on Tuesday” to “Weekend Wrap-up on Wednesday” literally moments ago) and I’m just getting some time to catch you up on the rest of my Thanksgiving weekend.

After spending my Black Friday outdoors and enjoying some fresh air with Duncan, Saturday morning Duncan and I were on the road before 6am to drive down to Princeton, NJ for the Run around Princeton Running Festival. Run Around Princeton ((RAP)) was holding this event to raise money for a local Girls on the Run organization that one of the RAP runners is a coach for. 

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A 5k loop was mapped out from one of the runner’s houses through the neighborhood and back. You could run just one loop or multiple loops to complete any distance from 5k up to 50k! There were about 35 runners who participated and in total we raised almost $2,000.

12314068_10153123906732121_2579198420794089800_nDuncan and I ran just one 5k but 4 of the runners completed the full 50k! And may I say how proud I am of Duncan. He kept an 11 min pace! 

Doodle's first 5k (I forgot to start my watch until about 1/10 of a mile in.

Doodle’s first 5k (I forgot to start my watch until about 1/10 of a mile in.

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The ladies in the black shirts were two of the 50k-ers!

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There were so many squirrels in the neighborhood which gave Duncan the push to keep going.

And I even got a Girls on the Run car magnet which of course I was giddy over. Never knew I’d be so excited about car magnets.

FullSizeRender 2I left there around 9am and headed straight to Mr SOTSS’ house. I was joining him and his family for a Rutgers University football game. I’d never been to a college football game before. It was a bit drizzly out and the game sure was a roller coaster ride. They had a huge lead that eventually got smaller and smaller and in the end they lost 46/41. Oh well. Can’t win em all 🙂

IMG_9543Next up was Mr. SOTSS’ oldest daughter’s swim meet where she did a 400 meter freestyle event and then we grabbed a bite for dinner before I finally pooped out had to say goodbye. It was a long day!

Duncan and I had another busy day on Sunday. We took a road trip Upstate New York to visit my friend Nicole who recently moved there. It was nice to catch up and lounge around for the afternoon sipping wine, playing with her daughter, visiting with some other mutual friends, and enjoying the relaxation. And the gods were with me because I didn’t hit any traffic in either direction!

Sunday funday

Sunday funday and that’s homemade wine!

Duncan and Cody napping

Duncan and Cody napping

Lots of dog loving people!

Lots of dog loving people!

Nicole and I met through Duncan when he was just 6 months old. She owns the pet sitting company that walks Duncan when I'm at work.

Nicole and I met through Duncan when he was just 6 months old. She owns the pet sitting company that walks Duncan when I’m at work. Funny that Nicole and Duncan have their more serious model pose =)

Brunette curlies X3

Brunette curlies X3

So now you’re caught up. And before you know it I’ll be recapping my next weekend. Dear universe: please can we slow things down! I want to relish a bit in the holiday season. I want to feel excited to decorate my tree and listen to some warm fuzzy music. Mmmkay thanks for listening.

Are you in the holiday spirit?

Are you feeling rushed these days?

How do yo make sure you give proper time and attention to the spirit of the holidays season?

Any traditions?

 

Hello. Happy (black) Friday! I didn’t go anywhere near a shopping mall today. I’m not a fan of chaos and lines. I took Duncan to the park for some fresh air instead.

best friends

best friends

notice that he's stepping on my toe.

notice that he’s stepping on my toe.

opt-outside-doodle

Let’s backtrack a bit. Last Sunday I went for a run in Mr. SOTSS’ neighborhood while he was at the Girls on the Run 5k with his girls.

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After the NYC Marathon 3 weeks ago I tossed my iPod and earbuds (with the missing ear piece) and Garmin into a drawer. Luckily for me there was enough battery power left in both because yesterday I WENT FOR A RUN! No set pace or distance to follow. Only requirements were to enjoy my tunes and feel the sunshine and brisk air on my face.

garmin-3miles

dorky pose to start the run

dorky running pose

When I came back I stretched my back and hamstrings which have been very tight lately.

Always keeping me company

Always keeping me company

There’s this song I’ve been obsessed with lately. Heard it on yesterday’s run. It’s called Catch and Release by Matt Simons. The lyrics sort of remind me of my connection to running. My special place to “release what builds up throughout the day”. Ironically trying to draft this post has created so much stress thanks to some weird “http error” stuff when trying to upload images I’m headed back out shortly for another run and hoping that I get to hear the song again. =) #prayingtotheshufflegods

 

Oh, and remember i mentioned that my Keurig died? Well I have a new one thanks to my awesome sister.

2.0!

2.0!

And remember my struggle with those Brooks Ghosts that I sadly had to return? Well last night Mr. SOTSS and I went outlet mall shopping and there was an Asics outlet and they had the Asics Cumulus 16’s…..in my size!!!!! I literally couldn’t even find them online anymore (well I had ordered one pair in a different color scheme but they were too small even though they said there were size 8 so I had to return them). I’m so stoked. This will give me a good 6 months before I’ll need to find a new model to work with my particular and wonky feet.

newkicks

Best feeling in the world to be reunited with my favorite kicks

old next to the new! I can thank the Beat the Blerch trail half marathon for the old ones looking so ratty

old next to the new! I can thank the Beat the Blerch trail half marathon for the old ones looking so ratty

I felt like Cinderella trying on her glass slipper. Fit like a glove. The night got even better when we came home to watch a movie and indulge in some decadence via ice cream, cookies and vino.

Best ice cream flavor I've tried in a while. And I went with Sterling merlot. I went to their vineyard in Napa a few years back and was feeling nostalgic =)

Best ice cream flavor I’ve tried in a while. And I went with Sterling merlot. I went to their vineyard in Napa a few years back and was feeling nostalgic =)

OK, well I’m off now to go for another run with no requirements. YIPPEEE! LOVE THE OFF SEASON!!!

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend. And big shout out to Mr. SOTSS’ two daughters who are minutes away from starting their Girls on the Run 5k. Good luck girls! Have a great run!!!!