Five things Friday, ep. 10

1. Ran yesterday. On the treadmill. Was bummed about having to be on the 'mill but so glad to stretch out the legs for a run! With any luck, tomorrow will bring an outdoor run.
2. I'm taking my little guy to see Sesame Street Live this morning. He is soooooo excited. I'm excited by his excitement! It may end up being the nuttiest hour and a half of my life, but I can take it. Really, I can. I hope.
   
3. Just over three weeks to the Winter Marathon Relay! (Suzy, I owe you an email with my time.) I'm running the 9.2 mile leg so I really had better step up my running.
   
4. I posted the winner of the Darn Tough giveaway over here. I'll have another giveaway starting on Monday for everyone who likes breakfast. Yay for breakfast!
5. Speaking of giveaways, Marlene is hosting an awesome one from Lift Your Sole jewelry. Check it out! Oh, and I've started a weekend giveaway spotlight at my other site. Every Saturday, I'll post about some fun giveaways going on around the blogosphere. Let me know if you have one that you'd like to have included!

Have a super weekend, everyone!

~ Felice

Fake turtles of life.

Right now, there is a plastic turtle growing in a bowl on my kitchen counter. A goody from a recent birthday party, the turtle started out tiny and is supposed to "grow" by 600% in 7 days. Or something like that. All I know is that the weird thing looks oddly real, save his neon green head. And his flippers or whatnots get bigger and creepier each day.

I don't like turtles. I have nothing necessarily against them, I just don't really go for them. So, fake ones, sitting in big bowls of water, growing, on my counter? Yeah, not so down with that.

But my son, on the other hand, likes the turtle. He's all about how big it has gotten and how it went from little to BIG! And because he likes this turtle, I indulge him. I let the turtle be.

Which is the way it goes with life. Things come along and, before you know it, you're growing fake turtles, jumping up and down and going bonkers because your son used the toilet, or bumming-out because you can't do your favorite thing. Which happens to be running. Sure, you're disappointed and you crave that most favorite thing. But, you know, that's life. You get over it. You take it in stride.

If there is one thing that I have learned in this here life it is that you have bend with the wind, lest you break. And who wants to break? Not me, that's for sure. So I bend. I try to go with the flow as much as possible. I don't always do the best job, but I work toward it. I try to be flexible. I let the fake turtles of life grow on my kitchen counter.

So bend away. Take it all in stride. And if you are lucky, you'll soon get to do that favorite thing. Me? I'll be running tomorrow. And hoping that my son suddenly develops an aversion to reptiles of all sorts.

Fat chance.

~ Felice

PS: Don't forget about the Darn Tough socks giveaway here. Ends tomorrow at midnight!

Happy on a Monday.

Lovely Aron at Runner's Rambles tagged me to write 10 things that make me happy. Thanks, Aron! Not only is it a fun exercise but it gives me something to post about ;-) Ha!

I've decided to list 10 running-related things that make me happy. So, here goes:

1. My hilly neighborhood. I love that I can walk out my front door and go for a peaceful 5 mile run -- hills and all -- and never be too far from home. It's comforting. Sure, I sometimes enjoy running other routes, but my neighborhood one is perfect for me.
   
2. When Conal asks me if I'm going running. OK, OK, most of the things that my little toddler does make me happy (the now-infrequent tantrums excluded!), but when he shows that he is into my running, that makes me happier than happy.
   
3. My favorite running shorts. They are a sassy dark pink. They fit perfectly. They were $4.98 at Target. Happiness all around!
4. My Craisin and almond post-run snack. Protein. Carbs. Vitamin C. Yum! My post-run handful of Craisins and almonds is a favorite treat.
5. The way I feel after crossing the finish line. Strong race or not, crossing the line indicates that I've worked hard and finished what I've started. That is one satisfying feeling.
6. Marathon telecasts. Why aren't more marathons on TV? I would watch every weekend, honestly. And, yes, I like to watch the whole race, not just the last few miles. I'm a fan!
7. Running blogs! Oh, my. Yes. I am an addict. I love reading about running and I love learning from my fellow running bloggers.
8. Brooks. I have been a loyal Brooks running shoe gal for over seven years and I don't know if I'll ever change. They work for me and make me happy!
9. New gear. If I could, I would buy running gear all the time. And then I would end up in the poor house. Right now, I'm digging my Garmin Forerunner and my awesome turquoise running bra. The bra and I have been together for only two runs, but it is love.
10. Feeling strong. When I run, I feel strong. When I set a PR, run with vigor up a hill, nail my speed work, or tackle a new distance, I feel even stronger. Running really lifts me up, making me happier with every step!

If you haven't made a happy list yet, try it out. Happy Monday, everyone!

~ Felice

PS: My Darn Tough socks review and giveaway is up at my other site. Yay!

Five things Friday, ep. 10

First . . . wow, 301 followers?!?!?! Thanks, everyone! I love visitors -- I hope I don't disappoint :-)

1. I jumped in and created a Facebook page for this here blog. You can check it out here. I feel a bit like a copycat because I'd never thought of making a page until I started to see a bunch of blog pages on FB in the past two weeks. Maybe I'm not a copycat, though, since I was just inspired by all of you FBers!
2. The early registration notice came out for my CSA (community supported agriculture) share yesterday. That, to me, means spring is practically here. Granted, we're only a month into winter but I've got fresh, local produce on my mind!
3. Haven't run since Sunday. A forced layoff of sorts and it is getting to me! The weather has been decent (it was 39 degrees yesterday) so, ugh, the not running is tough. Luckily, I have a wedding on Saturday and my son's preschool open house on Sunday to distract me this weekend.
   
4. What happens if you eat too many clementines? I mean, can that happen? And what is too many, anyway? Six in a sitting? Nine in one day? I've done both . . .
   
5. I posted the Bondi Band winner over here. Next giveaway? Darn Tough socks on Monday. Dude!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

~ Felice