Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts

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Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and non-book bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise (i.e. share exciting plans for the weekend, rants on things they've encountered during the week, etc.). 

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1) I just made a "dream/reality" list for 1/2 marathons I want to do in 2016. I have set the goal of running 10 half marathons in 2016. Hope I can do it!!

2) For the first time ever, it will be just the 3 of us on Christmas day. We are planning to be complete bums and spend the day in our PJs.  Note: I will likely get on the treadmill to get my 10k steps, so I guess I won't be a complete bum, but pretty darn close. 

3) This crazy warm weather is really strange. And kind of uncomfortable. Now I do love the warm weather, but it's balmy and sticky...yuck. And I have to completely change my (church) Christmas outfit now. Ugh!!

4) I'll be up late tonight with some last minute wrapping...and mentally preparing myself for the Lego takeover of my house that will occur tomorrow morning.

5) I have baked a LOT more than I thought I would....for the record, 3 dozen Hershey Kiss cookies, 2 Tomato Soup Cakes (sounds gross I know, but it's amazing...can also be called Spice Cake) and 3 dozen decorated sugar cookies.  Tomorrow I will make a banana bread because husband only likes it when it's warm (seriously?!? what a baby!!). And then there IS a whole bag of Hershey kisses left so looks like more of those will be made. 

6) I am afraid to say it in case it jinxes the whole thing, but I feel like Christmas break is going by at a nice leisurely pace...so happy about that.

7) As has become tradition, we will make the trek to the SC beach for New Years again this year. We will even leave a day early to swing by O's worksite in NC for him to get something done....I love these little adventures. 

8) We saw Star Wars Sunday afternoon with my mom, and then went to her house for Christmas. I LOVED the movie...might even have to see it again, which I never do at the theater. I know Ethan would be up for it though. 

9) I bought my cats a new toy  (for Christmas) and gave it to them already. I have yet to see them play with it. *sigh* I also bought them a bag of catnip. It is very clear which gift they prefer. 

10) Have a Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Top Ten Tuesday - 1st 10 books I want to read in 2016

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Even though it likely won't go down this way...here is my list of the first 10 books I hope to read in 2016.

1) The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende.

2) The Ship of Brides by Jojo Moyes - this one just came to me electronically from the library yesterday...I should really get started with it. 

3) What She Left Behind by Ellen Wiseman - I really enjoyed her book The Plum Tree and hope this one is just as good.

4) My Name is Resolute by Nancy Turner - got a few pages in to this one already but put it down in an effort to read a couple other shorter books. This has 600+ pages. Ack!!

5) Crossing on the Paris by Dana Gynther

6) The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer - this one has been on my TBR list for way too long. It is my preferred genre and sounds fabulous, but the # of pages always scares me off. Maybe 2016 will be the year of less books read, but more long books.

7) The English Girl by Margaret Leroy - I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVED her book The Soldier's Wife and have been wanting to read this one since it's release, but it has not been published in the USA....Thank you Ebay, I just ordered it from the UK. Yay!!

8) A Walk Across the Sun by Corban Addison - it's been on my list for so so long and every time I read the description, I want to move it to the top of my list.

9) Somewhere in France: A Novel of the Great War by Jennifer Robson - these last two are like others on this list, my preferred genre (WWII) and I even have both of them on my Kindle just waiting to be read. 

10) After the War is Over - by Jennifer Robson

Santa Hustle 1/2 Marathon Race Recap

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Packet Pick-up

I did it! I ran my 4th half marathon last Sunday. With an injured hamstring even. It was also my first post-crazy-knee-surgery half marathon.

The Santa Hustle 1/2 was well organized from what I could tell. We drove up on Saturday early afternoon to check in and get my race packet. Packet pick up was easy. It helped that the line for the half was super short (no one) and the 5k line was 20 people deep. That certainly worked to my advantage. After picking up my packet, we enjoyed some water park time at the Wilderness @ the Smokies. Really a neat place. Afterwards, we met my mom and her husband for a delicious dinner- they have a great buffet - and then we all went to the arcade area where they also have some mini bowling lanes. Ethan was in heaven.

Pre-race selfie....I look pretty tired here, but I was feeling ok.

Candy & Cookie stops on the race route!

I love the Galloway method. My only complaint is that it's so hard to do the walk intervals early in the race, so I have to remind myself that it is key to finishing successfully. This race was proof of that as I continued my 1:1 intervals in the last couple miles and passed quite a few people.

My time wasn't great, but oddly enough it was a PR for me, taking 5 minutes off my previous best time. I'm pretty excited about that since I had NO expectations for a "good" time considering how awful my leg felt last weekend in the 5k race. Based on the 15k race I did in early October, Disney estimates I should finish a half in 25 less minutes than I finished this one, so I cannot wait to be 100% and really go for it.

Sunday morning, I was up at 6am to drink my protein milk and get ready for the race. The half was to start at 7:30am and the 5k at 7:45am. I really need to wait until the very last second to use the restroom before the race starts, although this time I almost missed the start. Ha!

I saw my mom on her balcony as the race started. I was frantically waving to her but in the sea of red clothing, she did not see me...though she asked me if I was yelling to her and waving, so I guess she actually DID see me, but just wasn't sure it was me.

OK - the funniest thing...I bought this shirt at Target on Saturday morning. The forecast had been calling for rain so I never bothered to look for a Christmas shirt for the race since I figured I'd be wearing a raincoat over it. Well, about Wednesday, the forecast improved and I was on the hunt for  a shirt. This one was $13 at Target. A few miles into the race I noticed colored lint all over my arms, at one point, a LOT of very red lint that I gasped at first thinking I had an injury. Crazy, I know. By the time I finished the race, this shirt was also finished. All the color wore out where there was friction from my arms. Even stranger, all the color transferred to the tank I had on underneath. Neither shirt was wearable agains so they went straight into the garbage can when we got home. This would be a perfect example of "you get what you pay for."

You can see the color loss on my shirt in this picture!
There was a sign above us that said "Mistletoe Kissing Station"...mom cut that out of the picture...oops!

I'm still surprised I finished the race upright. My leg hung in there and I felt good for most of the race up until mile 12. Oh mile 12....we are NOT friends!

I was SOOO ready to be done, that last mile was killing me. I have never seen my mom AT the finish line before so while Oscar and Ethan were cheering loud and taking pictures, when I saw my mom, I got a little choked up...and so did she. We are such "softies".

Apparently all the 5k runners ate the bananas. I was VERY upset that there were NONE for me and that all I had to pick from for after race foods was chocolate chip cookies. I gave Ethan one. I might have eaten one but I cannot remember.

I felt a bit funky after finishing. My stomach was queasy. I desperately wanted to sit down and I just felt strange. I have never  had any of these feelings post-race before. We enjoyed the picture spots they had set up and once we had all the pictures we could think of we made our way inside.

Oscar had work to do back home so I got in the shower as quickly as I could at that point. I was feeling sore already. My mom and her husband headed out to enjoy the day at Dollywood in anticipation of the Christmas lights in the evening. We checked out at noon and were home in 50 minutes.

I had scheduled a massage for 5pm thinking of how wonderful it would feel after the race. It was "ok" but it was not "fabulous" by any means. I think I would have been better off having it on Monday as I was quite uncomfortable and really struggled to walk and going DOWN steps was near impossible. I'm sure my soreness was elevated due to not being able to adequately train for the past 2 months because of this darn hamstring issue.

In the end, it was a great weekend. Good family fun. A good race. An awesome (and HUGE) medal. A PR for me. Everybody's happy! I'd love to do this race again next year.

Bookish & Not-So-Bookish Thoughts

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Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and non-book bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise (i.e. share exciting plans for the weekend, rants on things they've encountered during the week, etc.). 

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1) I will never be called "Sally Sunshine" and I'm totally OK with that. In fact, most "Sally Sunshine" types get on my very last nerve....I mean seriously, I don't need to be told that "I am blessed" (because I already know that) or that my happiness is dependent on my reaction to a situation etc. I am especially irritated by such comments from people who (1) do not work full time (2) do not have kids (3) have received a shitload of money from their parents (4) have no bills--see #3 or any combination of some sort of false reality that they may be living in. It's sickening really! It feels like being told that I am not allowed to ever feel sad or anything less than happy. Uh...that's not realistic, people!

2) Good thing I am entertained by these posts weeks, months and years later. I'm the only one reading them anyway.

3) Happy to report that I finished the Santa Hustle Half Marathon last Sunday. Even got a PR!! While injured. Now, that was not expected. I'll have a full race report up eventually. With pictures.

4) The school Christmas program is tonight. There was also a performance yesterday afternoon. Our music teacher is amazing. I love these performances. Ethan really enjoys them too, taking it upon himself to audition for speaking parts. I love it. 

5) I cannot wait until next week. Christmas break. Oscar will still have to work a few days so Ethan and I will get our holiday baking on. I also have a dentist and doctor appointment. Always trying to avoid using the very few hours of sick time at work. 

6) So this planner craze. I'm not a paper planner kind of gal. I love the look of them, but I cannot function with one. Everything goes on my phone. The other "issue" is that I have bad handwriting and if I don't like how it looks, I will erase and re-write. OCD much? I know. So no paper planner for me....however.........I have been wanting a notebook of sorts where I can jot down random things, or keep track of the PopSugar Reading Challenge and other completely bizarre and interesting-to-only-me kinds of things. So all that to say, Tuesday night I stayed up until 1am to finish my order for an awesome Erin Condren Notebook. I am dying for it to arrive, which will likely be just before Christmas. Merry Christmas to me!!!

7) As previously mentioned in another post, I plan to do the 2016 PopSugar Reading Challenge. One of the challenge item's is an Oprah pick....oh boy...I don't typically read what she picks, purely out of spite, can't stand her. Hoping there will be a good book there somewhere. 

8) That's all I got this week!! Happy Thursday!!

2015 Reading Challenge

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Remember this? I'm sure you do as it was plastered all over Pinterest and I think I saw it at least 32,486 times during the month of January alone. 

Anyway, I pretty much ignored it, feeling like I would be lucky to read 5 books that would fit the listed categories.

Guess what?!!? I was wrong!

Last night, I stumbled upon this gem, the 2016 Pop Sugar Reading Challenge, which reminded me of the 2015 version. 

I quickly printed off both with plans to make an official attempt at the challenge in 2016 and then to also see just how many books I read that might fit the 2015 challenge. Surprise, surprise!

So, for the 2015 challenge, I read 20 books on the challenge list of 50. Not quite 50% but then my overall reading for the year was way down as well. 

Here's what I read for the challenge:

A book with more than 500 pages - The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters
A book published this year - Saving Mr. Terupt by Robert Buyea
A book with a number in the title - Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
A funny book - Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling
A book by a female author - The House on Tradd Street by Karen White
A book with a one-word title - Charleston by Margaret Bradham Thornton
A book set in a different country - The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
A nonfiction book - The Fringe Hours by Jessica Turner
A popular author's first book - How to Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
A book from an author you love that you haven't read yet - All the Single Ladies by Dorothea Benton Frank
A mystery/thriller - The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
A book a friend recommended - Gods & Kings by Lynn Austin
A Pulitzer Prize-winning book - All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
A memoir - Yes, Please by Amy Poehler
A book set somewhere you've always wanted to visit - The Last Summer in Chelsea Beach by Pam Jenoff - set in London and Washington D.C.
A book with a color in the title - Touchblue by Cynthia Lord
A book with magic - Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty
A book by an author you've never read - The Color of Secrets by Lindsay Ashford
A book you own but have never read - The Mapmaker's Children by Sarah McCoy
A book with bad reviews: Go Set a Watchman, Harper Lee (I read lots of negative about this book)

I'm pretty happy with my results and I may just try to squeeze in one more before 2015 closes for the category "A book that came out the year you were born" -It just so happens that The Hiding Place by Cora Ten Boom was published in 1971 and has been on my "to-read" list for a while now.

Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts

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Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and non-book bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise (i.e. share exciting plans for the weekend, rants on things they've encountered during the week, etc.). 

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1) Woohoo!! 6 more days of school until Christmas break. It cannot get here soon enough!

2) I'll be reading the following two books with 5th grade girls and boys, respectively, for our next round of book club in January. I'm excited...they both sound really good!



3) Yesterday at work I had a verbal "blunder"...that's what I'm calling it anyway...I was talking to Ethan's teacher and another 2nd grade teacher. I feel like I had a complete brain shutdown as I used an adjective to describe my child that I would NEVER typically use so while I can't understand why I said it, I'm also traumatized by the fact that I said it and that these teachers may think I actually feel this way about my awesome kid. It's been bothering me since the moment I said it. And I'm disappointed in myself and cannot seem to forgive myself or move on. :( 

4) We finally put the Christmas tree up last night. I'm so glad it's done. I picked out a smaller tree this year as (1) our house is small and (2) it's always cramped in a corner anyway. I think it's the perfect size....though a lot of ornaments are getting the year off since we didn't have room for all of them. On that note, Sharky the Elf decided to sit in the tree today now that it's all decorated. Silly elf!

5) I'm doing a classroom lesson today in 3rd grade on Career. It's a lesson unlike any other that I've ever done before. I will be wearing a BOX into the classroom and reading the book "Being Wendy"....I am so excited about this lesson because it's so different from anything I've done before. I'm certain the kids will enjoy it. I have to give credit though as I did not create it, but instead found it out there in cyberland while searching for classroom lessons.

6) I ordered this shirt. Had to have it. Hope to wear it on our last day of school before Christmas break. #WeNeedMoreHarryPotter

7) I really want to buy this one too, but I think I'll save it for next year.

8) There doesn't seem to be any rain in the forecast on Sunday any longer, which makes me very happy since I'll be walking & running outside for almost 3 hours. Hooray!!! Even more exciting is that the high for the day is 72!! That is NOT December weather....but it's great running weather!

9) I really need to start some Christmas shopping...especially for things I need to ship. Ugh!!

10) Christmas was so much more fun when I was a child...all of my (small) family was together and we didn't have to ship anything. We saw each other every year. While I love Christmas with Ethan, I do miss seeing all of my family members for Christmas. It's just not the same. :(

Bucket List: Running Races

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There are so so many races out there that I want to do...just like books & reading, not enough time (or money)...but here is my newly created "hopeful" Race Bucket List for just the first half of 2016:

Strawberry Plains 10k - February 6, 2016
I saw a lady wearing the 2015 shirt from this race while shopping last weekend. It caught my eye and made me realize that I don't look much outside my immediate city for races and I should!! This one would be about 30 minutes from my house. It's on Feb 6 which is our "snowy season"...so could be risky...depending on my leg if I do it this year and I'll wait until the last minute to sign up anyway as I'm not running in the snow. Ick!
Also - no finishers medal for 10k. Boo!

Chattanooga Half Marathon- Sunday, March 6, 2016

Only 1 hour away!! Fun city!!

$80 Finishers Medal!!

Shamrock Run -Richmond 2016 - March 13, 2016 
Oscar should be working near Richmond in March 2016
Bonus it's on a Sunday and the start of our Spring Break week.
Totally affordable @ $25
Finishers medal-yay!!

Publix Savannah Women's 1/2 Marathon - April 2, 2016

$65 Beautiful place to run

Great goodie bag and medal

Earth Day 5k - Gatlinburg, TN April 22, 2106

10pm start time - would love to do a night race

Not a lot of details on-line quite yet.

Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon - Sunday, October 23, 2016

5 miles of oceanfront running! Yes, please!!

$70 Awesome surfboard shape medal!!!

8 hour drive - that would be a long day to get home that evening & be able to work on Monday.

Sunshine Santa 5k Race Recap

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Once I accepted that fact that my leg was not ready to run the 1/2 marathon I had originally signed up for, I was able look forward to this race. I was really hoping that I would be able to run 1:1 pain-free-intervals and finish with a decent time, even if it wasn't a PR.  #wishfulthinking

Based on the forecast, I knew I would be wearing my running leggings (no shorts for me) as well as my Gapfit pullover sweatshirt. I have never had a problem being TOO warm. In hindsight, I wish I had a more Christmas-y outfit. Going to work on that for my next "race". Picked up some adorable Christmas socks today!!

Ethan and Oscar came with me (yay, I didn't have to hold on to any car keys) and we arrived quicker than I thought - this was a new running location for me and I wasn't sure just how long it would take us to get there. I picked up my packet, which included a (flimsy) Santa hat, of which they were quickly running out of and a "performance" long sleeve shirt. When I see the word "performance" or "wicking" my brain immediately thinks "go up a size" and so I did and well, that strategy was a fail this time around...the shirt is huge. On the bright side, the front of the shirt looks like a Santa jacket so I don't anticipate wearing it anywhere so I guess the size doesn't matter.

Here is a very UNflattering picture of me after the race.
I ended up wearing the shirt to run in since it was so cold.
It is so big that it fits loosely over the shirt AND sweatshirt that I was already wearing.

Sadly, within the first 1/2 mile my leg was unhappy and I knew I was going to be walking a lot more than I had hoped. Ugh....I am beyond frustrated with this hamstring thing...it's been 7 weeks now and it's still not completely healed. Even worse, the PT "discharged" me from PT telling me to rest it for 2 weeks and I should be better. Um no!

Thankfully I already had an appointment with the orthopedic surgeon scheduled as a follow up to the crazy knee surgery of 2013, so I moved it up to next week and I'll talk to him about the hamstring (again) as well. The only bummer is that I can't get in this week, before the 1/2 marathon I have on Sunday. Yep, can't defer, can't get a refund, so I'm going. I may not be walking on Monday...but I'll have a shiny new medal to show for it. Ha!

So I'm resting as much as possible this week in hopes for the best outcome possible on Sunday. What totally bums me out is that when I registered for this race, I had hoped it would be a test run for the WDW Princess and give me an idea of what my finish time would be. Now, it's just a walk/run for exercise...and the forecast calls for rain. Seriously!

Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts

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Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and non-book bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise (i.e. share exciting plans for the weekend, rants on things they've encountered during the week, etc.). 

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1) I'm not typically one to take part in controversial topics or the latest news story, but today I am making an exception. Another shooting. This is really getting out of control and the fact that it's becoming almost "common place" is frightening. I am saddened for all those affected. I am infuriated by those people who scream "gun control" and think that taking everyone's guns away is the answer. I'm not even a "gun-lover" and realize this is NOT the answer. Have these people not heard of the black market? Or the other billion places people who are determined to engage in terrorist acts will get their guns. They will find a way. Gun control will not eliminate mass shootings. Rant complete.

2) I mentioned a while back that I was not going to do the December Daily scrapbooking project this year. I thought I would regret not making an attempt at it once all the pictures started popping up on IG and blogs...but I am happy to report that I am completely happy with my decision and seeing others pictures actually stresses me out because I just can't imagine trying to keep up with that right now. 

3) I think instead of a yearly reading goal, I should set a yearly buying books goal. I would surely meet that goal, right? I can't believe I have only read 38 books this year...especially when the last 4 years I have read 50 or more. Sad.

4) I officially have a girl crush. After watching all of The Mindy Project episodes and reading her two books (and laughing my ass off)...I just LOVE Mindy Kaling. Can't help it. I hope someday she does a talk or book event somewhere near me (because we know it won't be IN Knoxville - nothing cool happens here, ever!)...I have to see her!!! I should probably buy hardcopies of her books to have...they are keepers for sure!!

5) So I caved and started reading The Fringe Hours. It was all "hyped" up in the crafty/scrapbooking world and then a friend said it was really good so fine, I'll give it a try. I'm 15% in (whatever page # that is!!!) I hate % in books by the way. Anyway, I feel like I'm using my "fringe hours" reading a book that I really don't need to read when I could be using those "fringe hours" to read something I might enjoy more. Does that make sense? Anyway, I'll keep going but I've already become irritated with one women she interviewed who just had "too much to do" (welcome to the Club) and even though she could "hire more people" (!!!) to help her, she still needed to do a lot of things herself that were filling her plate. Well, damn....wouldn't life be easier if we all had the ability to simply "hire more people"?!?!  Ugh. 

6) Last night a friend was hosting a fundraiser at Salsarita's for the Children's Hospital....and since this is Ethan's #1 place eat, you bet we were there. It worked out really well too because we had been wanting to see The Good Dinosaur and so we did that after dinner. It was (another) late night not making bedtime even once this week. Oh well. I was just happy I squeezed in a 30 minute walk on the treadmill and a few exercises. The movie was cute, though I may have dozed off for a few minutes in the beginning...oops!

7) Since I hurt my leg/hamstring and have not been able to run, (40ish days now!!) I also quit weighing myself as the results are directly tied to my daily mental health...seriously. Well, this week with a new treadmill installed at home, I felt re-motivated to get my act together even if I'm not running...at least every day I KNOW I can make my 10k steps and get in a good fast-paced walk. So I got back on the scale and while it wasn't fabulous news, I was happy to see that I was only up 3lbs since the injury and already this week I've come down 1lb. I can live with that. For now.

8) I've reached that FIRST nightmare Christmas experience where my kid wants something that is SOLD OUT everywhere* and has been for months. The Jurassic World Lego Indominus Rex Breakout set. It's a $105ish Lego set...not something we would have typically bought "for no reason" when it was out months ago and of course now we are out of luck. Then the other day Ethan said "Well Santa will be able to find it!" Then I said (in my head) "Oh Shit!"
*It is available on Amazon.com from their (black) Market sellers for a 200% markup...yeah, cuz we want to pay $200+ for LEGOS!!!  #somepeoplejustsuck  #pricegougemuch #parentingishard

9)  Even though I deferred on the Turkey Trot, I still received an email with pictures and race results. I'm SOOO glad I deferred as the race was heavily populated by people from my school/work. I really try to keep my work and private life separate but of course in this (good 'ol boy) town, it can be hard to do and I occasionally run into people why running errands on the weekends. Of course, now there is next year for that race and I'll have to deal with it then...unless I'm living in FL or working elsewhere?!?!?

10) I keep flip-flopping between hairdressers...this time last year I jumped the boat on my regular gal as her schedule just did not mesh with mine at all and it was a complete hassle to try to get an appointment with her. Add to that, she was often running late and when I have to take Ethan, that just doesn't work. I don't want to spend 2 hours of my Saturday there, so I would always try to go on a weeknight, of which she doesn't work many. I like this new gal I've been going to now. Easy to schedule. Quick haircuts. Has only ran late 1 time and it was 10 minutes max. I can deal with that. The only issue is that after about 4-5 haircuts with new gal, my hair just doesn't seem "right"...it won't do what I want it to do etc. She also seems to have an aversion against hairspray and my hair is super fine and doesn't stay where it needs to unless using hairspray. Anyway, I'm going back to hairdresser #1 tomorrow for a cut. Now I will have to manufacture a "story" (lie) about how/where I got my haircut when I go back to the new hairdresser gal. Why do I feel like I need to give an explanation? Getting a haircut shouldn't be so challenging. Ack!!

Results: November Goals

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1) Read 4 books:  FAILED! 3 books...working on the 4th.  I was enjoying The Mindy Project way too much which took away from reading time. It's ok though, I love that show!!

2) Make 8 blog posts. FAILED! Completed 6 posts in November.

3) Run the 2 races I'm currently signed up for this month. FAILED! Had to defer on the Turkey Trot and walked the Nov 8 5k I had signed up for. Hoping & planning to (finally) run a 5k this Saturday....it was supposed to be a 1/2 though. 

4) Remove the broken treadmill from my house. ACCOMPLISHED!! I (alone) removed it from the house on Friday afternoon and by Saturday morning it was gone - either the garbage men took it or someone drove by in the middle of the night and took it for parts?

5) Organize my closet. FAILED! I look at the mess every day but have been too lazy to pull a chair into the closet and tackle the shelf. Maybe this month!

6) Re-focus my eating habits. IN PROGRESS! Yes...happy to report that I've made positive progress on this one...but let's be honest, everyday is a challenge. 

7) Run 1 mile a day from Thanksgiving morning through to the end of the year. FAILED!! Of course I couldn't start this on Thanksgiving day, but maybe I'll be able to start it up by mid-December...just have to see how my fussy leg feels...especially after the upcoming 5k.

Well, overall it appears that November was much more a month of FAILURE than SUCCESS. Oh well...there's always December, right?

My Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts

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Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and non-book bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise (i.e. share exciting plans for the weekend, rants on things they've encountered during the week, etc.). 

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1) Happy Thanksgiving! Eat lots of turkey. Take a nap. Make it fun!!



2) After reading Mindy Kaling's latest book and hearing all about her show, The Mindy Project, I decided that I really needed to watch it. I signed up for Hulu and there began my The Mindy Project binge watching. So far, I have completed the 1st season and am on episode 21 in the 2nd season. I love it. She's hilarious. And I LOVE Danny (Chris Messina). He is officially my new Mr. Big!

3) I ended up having to defer on the Turkey Trot 5k this morning. Not happy about that at all. My leg is improving just a whole lot slower than anyone ever thought. My PT said that it might have been an Avulsion...which is basically when body structure is detached from its normal point of insertion torn away by trauma. Or in other words, pieces of bone likely detached with the muscle when the muscle strain occurred. Probably a lot more info that you wanted to know.

4) I've started book #4 for the month...might just make that goal if I can finish it in 6 days...which should be do-able as it's under 300 pages. 

5) I want this sweater from Gap sooooooo bad. And it is sold out everywhere including on-line. I have resorted to looking on Ebay for it. No luck so far. So sad. 

6) I'm not much of a Black Friday shopper, but we are going out tonight 6pm to Sears to get a new treadmill. It's too good a deal to pass up. I will be so happy to get back to my walking (and eventually running) routine.

7) That's all I got this week...gotta get back to watching The Mindy Project!!!

Bookish & Not-So-Bookish Thoughts

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Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and non-book bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise (i.e. share exciting plans for the weekend, rants on things they've encountered during the week, etc.). 

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1) I started this post last week but obviously never got back to finish it and actually post it.

2) It took 3-4 days to finally start to feel "normal" again after the 5k (speed) walk I did in Nashville. I know I'm not 100% though and probably will not run for the next couple weeks at least. I've already asked to defer on the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. If I should miraculously heal before then, I will run. I can let them know the day before, which is awesome. 

3) On Saturday morning, just before I got on the elliptical machine for 1 hour, my Fitbit died. Completely died. Not just the battery. Whole Fitbit unit dead. If I weren't so addicted to numbers & stats, I'd give up on Fitbit completely. This is probably the 3rd or 4th Zip unit I've had that has not lasted a full year. The bright side: I emailed Fitbit and they are sending me yet another Zip. For free. But still. A complete pain.


4) On Monday afternoon, as a "test" to see how my leg is healing (or not), I walked with my friend yesterday. We do a 3 mile mostly flat route. Well, let's just say that my entire hamstring was sore on Tuesday. Not good!! #HurtsJustSittingAtMyDesk #IGuessThisIsWhatGettingOldLooksLike

5) I'm still going to PT twice a week. They are using this scraper-like thing and running it down my hamstring. The objective is to get the hamstring to bleed microscopically so that the blood aids healing. Let's just say it doesn't feel so great. 

6) I am anxiously awaiting Thanksgiving Break. We are only off from Wed to Fri, but at this point, I'll take what I can get. By then, we will have had 56 consecutive days of school, no Fall Break, no Veteran's Day Break, no Random Historical/Presidential Guy Break. None. Thanksgiving Break is MUCH needed by many. The crazy train has started running here and needs to stop and quickly. #EmotionalEatingIsStarting


7) It's been 32 days since I last ran. Not good. Not only is this not good for my physically, but mentally as well. Frustrated is an understatement at this point. I'm also starting to wig out a bit as February is just around the corner and I need to be able to run that 1/2 marathon. The other crap news is that months ago I signed up for TWO 1/2 marathons in December. I will be at least walking one of them because they don't do deferrals or refunds.  I think I will be a last minute sign up person going forward. 

8) I am sad for a friend. After a brief "text-versation", I learned that things are not great (or good?) in their life and therefore they are not very happy and there is nothing I can do to help. I also really miss this friend. My heart hurts. 

9) My reading has slowed this week...I believe it's due to going to Yoga class vs. spending the time on the elliptical machine. I can read while on the elliptical, not so much while doing yoga. That's 2 hours of reading lost each week. I'm still reading "The Last Summer on Chelsea Beach" by Pam Jenoff and loving the story, hopefully I'll finish it this weekend? 

10) On Sunday, I'm headed to middle TN for a work conference. Staying overnight one night (all alone!!!) and I am most looking forward to the alone time and endless reading in my comfy hotel room. I guess I'll have to attend the sessions and I'm sure they will be great and informative, but I cannot deny my excitement for just being alone. With my books. Woot!