Sunday Housekeeping & Favorites

Hi! 

I ran my first race of 2013 this morning and it was great!  I'll share more of the details tomorrow, but it was definitely a good start to the season.

I realized the other day I should give the heads up that Google is going to be shutting down Google Reader in July.  For me personally I don't use Google Reader to keep up on my blogs so I don't need to transfer anything.  I am sure a lot of people do use it and if you do my personal recommendation is to switch to Bloglovin.  I talked about it just a couple weeks ago here, but I'll share my love for it again.



An Ode to Bloglovin'

- It is simple all around and I am a simple minded girl    
- Adding and searching for blogs is super easy
- There is a free app for your iPhone and Android based phone, sweet!  
- Both the app and the website lay out the blogs so that you never miss a new post from your favorite blogs

That is my 2 cents on a great blog reader that is simple, easy and keeps track of all of your favorite blogs at the tip of your fingers.  I have a link to my blog on Bloglovin' on the right side bar of my page if you are so inclined to follow this runner!

Sarah made this necklace for me and it immediately jumped to the top of my favorites list.  They are at an age where they want to know about Mama and Daddy.  Recently the big discussion is what our favorite color is and obviously mine is pink.  I love pink, all shades I am not discriminatory.  The other day I pulled out their bead kit so they could make some necklaces and Sarah made this one special for me.  I was doing some chore when she brought it to me and my heart skipped a beat.  In her sweet little voice she said "Look Mama, I made this necklace for you because your favorite color is pink!"  The idea of Sarah sitting quietly and thinking to herself "hey mama likes pink, I'll make her a pink necklace" pulled at my heart strings.  Usually once all of the strings and beads have been used we'll take the necklaces apart and start over.  I hid this one, I'll keep it with me forever, it is such a true representation of my sweet children.  I'll pull it out when she is 15 and hates my guts, it'll remind me of her innocence at 4 years old.  I question myself as a mom a lot, I think most mothers do, but for a moment Sarah made me feel pretty good.  I really do have some amazing little girls, I am a lucky mom.

Back to running news!  Road Runner Sports in Tualatin Oregon is having a Girls Night Out Wednesday March 20th @ 6PM.  I went to their last GNO and it was so much fun!  They have yummy snacks, wine, great vendors and lots of prizes.  If I was home I would be there in heartbeat, but alas I'll have to wait till next time.  Grab your best running girlfriends and go, if not for you do it for me!  

Are you going to humor me and go to the Girls Night Out? 

Do you have a blog reader that you really like?  If so, share what it is!  

Did you do a St. Patrick's Day themed race today?!  

-There was so much green in my race this morning, I loved the tutus the most!

        

Tooth Fairies

Hi! 

Is everyone recovering nicely from their Halloween parties over the weekend?  It was pretty low key over here!  Katherine has had a low fever since Friday night and it keeps going down and coming back, random.  Other than the fever she is still her perky self, I don't think anything that take that kid out.  

Friday was Sherwood Old Town's Trick or Treat event and the girls and I passed out balloons to all of the participating businesses beforehand.  I was a little worried they wouldn't want to share the balloons, but surprised at how well they did!  Then it was time to get home so we could get everyone's costumes ready for the main event!  The girls decided on Thursday that they wanted to be Tooth Fairies so I did my best to come up with some tooth fairy type ideas.  I made a wand with extra tooth brushes and ribbon and cut out some teeth to put on their buckets and make them official Tooth Fairy Name Tags.  

Jess went as Iron Man, the girls kept calling him Iron Man Daddy!  All of the little kids in Old Town kept fist bumping him and were so excited to see him walking down the street.  Yes I married a 13 year old kid trapped in a 30'somethings body, but I love that he will always be a kid at heart.  Plus c'mon, who doesn't have some sort of a crush on Iron Man?!

Thursday night was Girls Night Out at the Portland Running Running Company.  They had a small fashion show highlighting some of the new jackets and pants that have come out for the Fall and Winter.  After the show there was a 5 mile run in Beaverton which Katie and I ran 100% together and both of our running apps gave us 2 different running paces...awesome!  I am going with hers though because it was faster.   

We also ran into this guy while we were watching the fashion show.  Katie's husband Bryan works for FedEx and his route is in Beaverton.  He called Katie while we were watching the fashion show and he was right outside Portland Running Company.  It was a fun surprise!

After the run they had some raffle drawings, wine and snacks and a massage therapists giving Thai Massages.  I ran into my twin while Katie and I were shopping around.  Apparently I am really tall!  Or have a really large head...it could go either way really.  

At first I noticed we had the same pull over on and then I looked down and we had the same shoes too!  It was pretty funny :)  She writes a blog Portland Pretzels, it's a pretty cool blog and she is a fun girl!

Katie and I were still hungry after having snacks at the GNO so we headed to Ruby Tuesdays where I put together the largest salad EVER from the salad bar.  I was pretty proud of my creation.  They also brought us out some "complimentary" uber-tiny biscuits.  Katie and I both cracked up when they brought them to the table, oh yes thank you for the tiny little "free" biscuits!  

I would love to go to another run by the Portland Running Company, they had lots of reflective gear for everyone to borrow and a place to keep track of the mileage you run with them.  Everyone was so nice and welcoming of course and the guy answering questions about shoes was super informative.  Reminded me why I have always like Portland Running Company so much!  

Sisterhood of the Scholls Striders meets every Thursday at 6pm at the PRC on Scholls and Nimbus in Beaverton.  If you are looking for an inviting group of women of all levels and ages then this is the group for you.  

Do you ever run with a group or do you run mostly solo?  

Any fun Halloween Parties or traditions this weekend? 

Did you race in any Halloween run this weekend?

Girl's Night Out!

Happy Friday!  It was another whirlwind week and somehow we have gotten to Friday already (again).  Last night I went to Road Runner's Girl's Night Out in Tualatin and wasn't really sure what to expect.  Luckily they knew how to hook a girl up with some good stuff. 

There wasn't a huge turn out but they had some great vendors, like a rep from Brooks who was really informative for this Mizuno loving girl.  I tried on a pair of the Brooks Pure Cadence in purple and I really liked them.  I am going to check into them again after the marathon.  They also had a couple local running clubs for women one of which started just a few weeks ago by Olympian Amy Begley!  

Ya she autographed that for me, whatever, no big deal (ya right, I was so excited!).  Since I was trying to be cool and collected I didn't notice until this morning or maybe it just didn't register but I love that she wrote "Set Goals!".  Seriously that is like my mantra lately and I LOVE that she put it on her picture for me, pretty cool.  Amy started a running group called Distance Divas which she defines as "A social group for women runners of all ages and abilities."  You should really check it out, just click HERE!  

Another fun running group that was there was Runner Chicks Training Club who was offering a great deal on an upcoming race in Yamhill County wine county.  Its the Run Now, Wine Later @ Solena Estate and I am pretty excited for it.  Registration includes a Girlfriend Run/Walk through the vineyard, breakfast following, wine tasting and a special speaker Sarah Bowen Shea who is the co-author of Run Like A Mother.  Since Sarah is going to be there sharing lots of wisdom with us I am going to get her book to read before the run, which is Sunday October 28th.  I have plenty of time if I ignore my kids to finish it before the end of October, ya sure why not?!  I've actually wanted to read it for a while so this should give me the push.  

While there wasn't a huge turn out last night it was still a lot of fun.  I love being around fellow runners of all abilities I feel like I am learning so much from them.  I've been running almost a full year and I like being part of the "runners club."  Speaking of which tomorrow morning is my first Saturday morning in a LONG time that I am not doing a long training run, ah!  Tomorrow morning is the Color Run (finally) so Katie and I will be there getting our color on!  I do need to get an 8 miler in this weekend but I'll bust that out on Sunday.  Going with Coach Jim's advice and not push it during the taper weeks.  

Have you read Run Like A Mother?  

If you haven't you should set the goal to have it read by October 28th and then we can chat about it! 

What are your running plans this weekend?  Any races?  

Look for me tomorrow at the Color Run if you'll be there, I'll be the one covered in color :)