Hello November! AKA the start line of the sprint to the end of the year. Doesn’t it seem like time goes extra fast the final 2 months of the year?! I am both SO ready for it and absolutely not feeling prepared at all. Unsurprisingly, it was hard to think past the first week of this month, and you’ll see that reflected in this post, so with that disclaimer here we go… Continue reading
O Brave New World! (On travel, imagination, and our unique stories…)
“O Brave New World! That has such people in it” – that Tempest line is one of my favorites and I think about it any time I travel some place new that shakes me out of my comfort zone- whether that be a brand new country, a different city or state, just a new local trail I haven’t explored before. Continue reading
Fabulous Fall: Intentional, Simple Rituals for a Cozy Season
Now that it doesn’t feel like I live on the face of the sun, I am really looking into some intentional fall feeling rituals to embrace cozy season. Hello Hygge! I am trying to lean into the start of these intentional, simple rituals right now especially because my nerves are revving up since I am in the “taper” phase of training. So here are five of my favorites that I am loving focusing on to bring me back to intentional living… Continue reading
My Favorite Instruments for Intentional Productivity
THIS POST CONTAINS SOME AFFILIATE LINKS, SO IF YOU BUY A PRODUCT THROUGH THAT LINK, I GET A SMALL PERCENTAGE. HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT BEEN PAID OR RECEIVED ANY COMPENSATION TO WRITE THIS POST AND THE VIEWS IN IT ARE 100% MINE.
I’ve been thinking a lot about instruments– I was going to write a little about the instruments I’ve used during my training but, honestly, I’m a little over writing about running at the moment. Then I realized I have several favorite instruments for intentional productivity that I’d just love to share about and that have helped me during training but aren’t directly related to running. So I’m sharing them here. Keep in mind: they’re only instruments though- they need you to play them or they are not worth much. I could have the greatest tool for productivity in the world, but if I let it sit in the box waiting for the perfect time to use it or waiting for me to become perfect at using it.. that tool (aka instrument) would not be worth much. So here are the instruments I use on a daily or weekly basis to be sure I’m not just spinning my wheels but actually moving toward my big picture goals. Continue reading
September Recap and October Goals 2022
Oh man, WE MADE IT! We made it past the most challenging time in the year for most Phoenicians and onto fall. Are there more challenges ahead? Sure. Do those challenges include insanely hot weather?! I hope not/they certainly shouldn’t. Continue reading
Three Questions I ask Myself Daily
OK, so this post is full of some real talk… I have been on the struggle bus for a while. I KNOW this is a seasonal challenge- August and early September are truly just the time of year when Phoenicians are constantly wondering if they should pack it all up and move… and this year has been extra hard with all the humid heat instead of our typical dry heat. Plus, while I have been outside training, I am doing all of it trying to avoid the sunlight as much as possible- running super early, taking the shadiest paths possible, etc. And my mental health is just SO much better when I can actually go out and ENJOY the sunshine. So while I am in a season of struggle, one of my go-to practices is to “do in the dark what you know how to do in the light” and that means things like continuing to move my body, practicing gratitude, hydrating, praying, and asking myself the following 3 questions when I start to get really overhwelmed and critical of myself…which can pop up a lot during this training cycle, especially as my miles for the week keep getting more intense… Continue reading
What I love about ME
It is SO HARD to take a compliment and even harder to compliment myself. I had made a note in my drafts folder for this blog YEARS ago of a challenge that was popular at the time to name 5 things you like about yourself, something that was a challenge because it seemed extra hard or uncomfortable for women especially. Well, after almost this exact same prompt coming up in a recent MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) meeting, I’ve finally dusted off this old post idea… and upgraded it from like to love. I challenge you to share with me some things YOU really love about yourself too… Continue reading
“I’ve never run this far before…”
Last weekend I ran 15 miles for my long run. This was a HUGE shift in my marathon training as up until this point I have run a half marathon distance or less for my long runs- a distance that I have run before. While that distance started getting hard with no “course support” or cheering fans that I am used to having if going above ten miles, it was not nearly as intimidating as suddenly being back in the place where I have to think to myself “I have never run this far before.” Continue reading
August Recap and September Goals
September- a month where we in Phoenix all think it should be cooler than it actually ever is, but also a month filled with hope of the cool weather to come as at least mornings start to become more bearable (we hope… after how weird and humid this summer was who knows?!) Here is how my tending list items went last month and where my focus will be for September: Continue reading
A Letter to My Youngest as she starts Preschool
The second installment in my “I forgot to post birthday letters on time this year but at least I made notes about it in their birthday books” series… my youngest starts preschool this week and so I thought I would formalize and share her annual letter for the occasion just like I did with my middle kid when she started Kindergarten earlier this month. Continue reading
Alphabet Resolutions 