Erica Finds...Me Inspiring!

So THIS happened!

And just like that...my day = MADE.  Thank you so very much to the lovely, amazing, wonderful Erica @ Erica Finds...!

The Rules:

• Thank and link to the person who nominated you.
• List the rules and display the award.
• Share seven facts about yourself.
• Nominate 15 other blogs you enjoy, then comment on their posts to let them know that you have nominated them.

So here we go!
Seven Things About Me:

1.  The number seven is my favorite.  It (and the number 17) were my volleyball jersey numbers all through school.  This list rocks already!

2.  I have a very mild, regulated obsession with Chef Gordon Ramsay.  I just found "Kitchen Nightmares" on Netflix.  While it isn't my favorite show of his, it's still fun to watch the guy lose his mind every once in a while.  The way he tastes food is fascinating, and he's a marathon runner and Ironman triathlete!

On top of all of that, his Facebook updates are precious.  Yes...PRECIOUS.

3.  I lived in Germany from 2001-2003.  This is a happy fact about me, but I really wish that I had been an endurance athlete when I lived there!  I worked out in the tiny gym on post; I like to think that that's where my love for fitness really began, where I didn't have a coach or trainer telling me what to do.

Sort of unfortunate:  I was ages 21-23, very naive, not extremely adventurous, and didn't take a ton of pictures.  I did find this one...a picture of my village (Baumholder) from my apartment.

4.  For some reason, I never stick around after races.  I'm dead serious:  I have no idea why.  Yesterday's ZOOMA race sort of made me realize that maybe I should be hanging out for a while!  The other Ambassadors were posting photos, and I got sort of jealy.  Now, the circumstances were rather different yesterday, but I think I will make more of an effort to chill after races in the future.

5.  My original dream job was to be a Physical Therapist for the San Antonio Spurs.  When I started my journey with Kinesiology in college, my professor had our class do observations at elementary and middle school Physical Education classes.  I didn't like this.  I wanted a degree with an emphasis in Exercise Science, not P.E.

My first day observing was a huge eye-opener.  I watched a large 2nd grade class (~90 children) being lead by one P.E. teacher, doing their warm-ups.  They had stretching leaders at the front of the gym.  They did their stretches, ran around the gym a few times, then returned to their dots.  The leaders then said "JUMPING JACKS", and that's when my heart smiled the biggest.  The way these kids jumped in the air, the way their arms and legs flailed with haphazard "star" movements, their smiling faces looking up and they were LAUGHING.  That was when I decided that I wanted to make that happen -- to inspire children to have fun with Physical Education.  The rest is history:)

6.  A short one, since you've been reading a lot about me...

I love Nutella.  A whole lot.

7.  As of yesterday, I am Ordained!  Harry's best friend, Adam, is marrying my beautiful friend Terri this October, and they asked me to be their officiant!  I am so stoked beyond belief that I get to honor their wonderful marriage this way!

Last rites, too.  That just got real.

My Rockin', Inspiring Nominees:
1.  So Cal Runner Gal
2.  Olives 'n' Wine
3.  Busy Bod
4.  Flying Feet in Faith
5.  Chocolate Runner Girl
6.  Grab Your Kicks
7.  My First 5K
8.  Food and Fun on the Run
9.  Fine Fit Day
10.  Shin Splints and Chocolate Chips
11.  Mar on the Run
12.  Al the Gal Runs
13.  Laura Fat2Fit
14.  Bruises in the Frosting
15.  This Hobbit Runs

Thanks for reading about me!  <3  Go check out these simply amazing, inspiring bloggers!

Cookies & COSMOS

I soooooooooo meant to update you guys on my weekend yesterday, but work got so nuts that I was too exhausted to do anything when I got home yesterday.  I sat my booty on the couch and totally watched "House, M.D." on Netflix until Harry got home.  :P

We had the Sophs this past weekend, which is usually a good time.  These weekends are always packed with funsies, whether it's a ton of activities at the park, visiting with family, or a dance party and PJ day.   They almost always involve Skookies.

We head right over to Harry's parents' house right after picking her up Saturday.  They were sweet enough to feed us pizza (all three of us were STARVING), and they even let me watch some of the Spurs vs. Mavs game.  Harry and I snuggled up in his Dad's recliner...tightest snuggle ever!

It's always a riot to see what a tomboy Sophia can be.  Taking on a teenage boy (her uncle) is tough!  And as you can see, her main technique of tickling one's feet is to latch on like a howler monkey and never ever letting go.  Not even if you threaten to ground her.  :\

 After some visiting, some pizza, some coloring with Grandma and some near-napping for Harry and I, we head home.  My throat and sinuses were really bugging me, so I hit the sack early (it was 8:45pm or so at this point).  Harry and Sophs stayed up for Skookies, in which I was slightly envious.

I got up the next morning, still suffering from what I'm assuming was sinus blahhhhhh.  I had a 10-mile @ pace on the schedule, but I ended up just taking it easy.  I have the Wisconsin Half Marathon this weekend and didn't want to push anything, especially if I'm on the edge of getting sick.

I also go this e-mail!  SO EXCITING!  

Best believe, I spent most of my long run thinking about all of the amazing athletes and sporty girls with whom I would become besties!  There are a few that live in and around Chicago; I can't wait for a meet-up run or Yoga sesh.

After some breaky, we hit up the park for some kite flying, and then off to Fleet Feet in Old Town to pick up my packet.  Harry wanted to show Sophs the ropes.  This was her first time on a treadmill...I was so proud!

We left Fleet Feet and dropped off Sophs.  We won't see her for a couple of weeks, when she's doing the Run or Dye 5K with us!  She's so excited to do it!

USE DISCOUNT CODE BLOGCHICAGO FOR $10.00 OFF REGISTRATION!  :)

Harry and I usually watch COSMOS on Sunday evenings.  There have been a couple of occasions, like this past weekend, where we were just too doggone tired to watch it without dozing off.  We love the snot out of the show, but the couch is sooooo comfy.  :)  So last night after dinner, we made some dessert and snuggled up for our show.

Cookies and ice cream?  Uh, YES.

One last thing (I promise!):  This week, FitApproach is doing a weekly Yoga challenge on Instagram.  FUNSIES!  I just had to join in!  Go check it out if you have a chance.  :)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Are you watching COSMOS?  What's your favorite thing about it so far?

-Please don't say the water bear.  Ew.

Parents or peeps who love hanging with kiddos:  What's your favorite activity?

-Sophia LOVES baking with me!  How cool is that?

Any races you have coming up?  How's your training going?

So It's Been a Few Days...

Last-last Friday afternoon, I came home and realized our internet was out.  It wasn't until this past Thursday that it was able to come back on.  First World Problems, y'all.  I couldn't exactly blog from work...that'd be wrong...!  Right?  :\ Although I did get my Giveaway winner post squared away (because that HAD to happen!) last Tuesday.  :)

At any rate, of course I've been running.  The weather is warming up, which means no more bulky layers and perhaps some speedwork can be accomplished!  I've really started to embrace the trails near where I work in the suburbs.  Hills, rollers...ahhhh, they feel good on my hips.  While upping my mileage, I really need to concentrate on getting my stretching and Yoga done.  No rushing.  From what I can tell, I'm pretty susceptible to succumbing to Plantar Fasciitis, so I really gotta concentrate on cross-training and stretching.

Yesterday was a particularly busy day for us.  Harry and I took off yesterday morning for an easy-peasy three miler through the park about a mile from our house.  I feel horrible for driving somewhere to run, but we had planned to end the run near the park for a coffee date.

♬ It's beginning to look a lot like Spriiiiiiiiiii-iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing...♬
(Although, it's actually seemed more like Autumn to me...derp.)

Seagulls.  Seriously?  Those aren't even real bodies of water!

We ended our run here at Portage Grounds.  Harry treated me to some delicious coffee and a cinnamon roll...which I inhaled demolished ate before taking a picture.

Next stop for the day was to visit some friends.  I haven't met their baby boy yet, and he's already five months old!  He's HUGE...he looks like a one year-old!  These two are probably the most hospitable people I've ever met, and I'm from the South, for crying out loud.  Suzie had all of the bases covered, so I went empty-handed, which was a strange feeling for me.  Anyway, guac burgers and macaroni salad for me, and snuggling with baby boy nearly the entire time; seriously, I monopolized him.

Side note:  I might be going for a record of how many babies I can play with/hold/feed/love on.  I think I've posted about three or four babies since last month.

Next up:  A Chicago Fire soccer game!  Second row seats.  Ballin'.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!

It ended up being a tied game, with a failed PK attempt at the VERY END OF THE GAME.  In other news, Harry and I saw ourselves on TV highlights when we got home.  Haha.

Just one last stop.  Burgers for lunch weren't enough for us.  We needed more.  Leadbelly burgers for dinner!  This is my "House of the Rising Sun", because fried egg on a burger is always a good idea in my book.  Belly fries to side.  I could only eat half of my burger...omg.  Harry and I, on a really good, rare day, can down the burgers and fries, and a shake.  Each.  I don't know if I'm really proud or really embarrassed about that.

And everyone gets a cookie with their meal.  I clearly took a bite out of mine before I realized that I needed to snap a photo of it.  I don't regret that moment.

So no Sophia this weekend, but I can't wait to see her next weekend!  We only have fun!  We had our first dance party last weekend, and I had a flashback of my own childhood.  Random cartwheels, creative body movements, and Toni the Pony was a prop at some point.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Are you injury-prone?  What do you do to prevent it?

Yogi friends:  Have you heard about the #SpringFeverYogis April challenge?  Get some!

Do you like going to sporting events?

Basketball is my fave...GO SPURS GO!  :)