Top 3 Moments From Chicago And July 4th

Hi everyone! Since I was gone from the blog last week I wanted to share my top 3 moments from our trip to Chicago. Have a great day 🙂

Hopsmith With Friends

Since Alex and I were going to be in Chicago over a weekend, I thought it would be perfect to meet up with friends in the city to get drinks. Most of the time when we’re at my parents it’s for a holiday so most people are busy with their own families. Luckily that wasn’t the case so we got to meet up with about 10 people total and it was a blast!! Alex and I took the train to the city on Saturday afternoon then went to my friend Alison’s new apartment for drinks with her boyfriend Corey before we headed to Hopsmith which is a bar that Alison recommended. We drank the night away and I got to see some of my best friends which was awesome. Corey ordered us nachos and they were tasty. Alex even made a cute little speech since we were calling it birthday drinks.

Incredibles 2 With Alex, Mom and Brendan

 

My older brother Brian, Dad and sister Megan were actually in China for the first half of the trip so it was just Alex, my younger brother Brendan, my mom and I at my parent’s house. Mom was thinking of something fun for us to do so we went and saw The Incredibles 2. Majority of the people in the audience were over the age of 15 which was kind of surprising. The movie was so good though! If you haven’t seen it, you should definitely go. The 14 year wait was worth it.

Time At The Lake

On Monday afternoon, Alex and I drove to my grandparents house in Indiana. They live on the lake and I grew up going there all the time in the summer. It was such a relaxing and slow paced few days. My entire family went as well as an aunt and uncle. We celebrated some birthdays, had fireworks on July 4th, went boating, read a bunch and spent time with family. It was the perfect little refresher that I felt was needed for both Alex and I. Apparently Mike Pence’s brother lives on the same lake as my grandparents and the VP was there while we were. Alex thinks he saw the secret service on a random boat while we were out one morning too.

Question of the day: American friends, what’s the highlight from your July 4th activities?

Sunday In Pictures Vol. 37

Hello friends! I’m back. After taking last week off to enjoy time at home with family and friends, it’s back to reality today. I’ll do a little recap of our trip tomorrow but today I want to get back into the swing of things with my usual Sunday in pictures. Have a great day 🙂

Breakfast was some fried eggs courtesy of Alex and an apple donut courtesy of the farmer’s market that I went to on Saturday.

“Mom, can I help you make the chocolate cake?”

For lunch, I had a ham sandwich, carrot, pretzels and hummus.

I read more of Losing You by Nicci French.

By some miracle, the nail polish I had on since my pedicure over Memorial Day weekend was still on. I updated it to this fun mint color though.

Alex’s parents were so sweet to have a little family party to celebrate my birthday that was July 3rd. We had a barbecue with spinach salad, coleslaw, green beans, ribs and chicken.

For dessert I made me own cake. It was chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting. It was SO GOOD!! Rich but absolutely delicious.

Question of the day: What’s one highlight from your weekend?

Weekly Obsession XXIII

Happy Friday! I’m pretty excited that the weekend is tomorrow because Alex and I leave bright and early to head to Chicago. I’m not kidding about bright and early y’all, we’ll be at the airport before the sun is up haha. We’re heading to my parents house for a few days then going to one of my favorite places to visit my grandparents and spend a few days at their house on a lake. I’ll check in when I can next week but I apologize if the blog takes a bit of a back seat.

Before I can even get home to finish packing, let’s share a few things I’ve been obsessed with this week. Let me know what your plans are for July 4th next week and something you’ve been obsessed with in the comments below. Have a great day 🙂

Blueberries

I picked up two pints of blueberries since they were on sale at the grocery store and it was a great decision. Most of this week (minus today since the blueberries are gone) I’ve been bringing a full snack size bag of them to work with me. They’ve been the perfect midmorning snack. The berries come from New Jersey so they’re about as close to fresh from the farm as I can get since the farm near us doesn’t have any. Some have been really tart while others are more mild. I’ve been loving them and have to prevent myself from snacking on them at home. No joke, I would eat the whole pint if I could.

No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies

On the opposite of the health spectrum have been these no bake cookies. I made them last week and have been snacking on them nonstop. Full disclosure I ate 3 of them in one day earlier this week. No regrets either. The texture makes it feel like you’re eating straight cookie dough but it’s actually healthy. Some of them were straight peanut butter while I added a few dark chocolate chips to the top of others. If you are looking for an easy dessert for any cookouts you may have, try these out.

Paul McCartney Carpool Karoke

If you like the Beatles, watch this. If you don’t like the Beatles, watch this. Carpool karoke is one of my favorite segments that James Corden does but this one is probably my favorite! Alex and I watched it the other night and we were both singing along to the songs. Some of them have been stuck in my head since then and I’m not complaining. This video is such a feel good one and a perfect way to say goodbye to work and hello to the weekend.

Question of the day: What’s one thing you’ve been obsessed with this week?

Puppy Alarm Clock + Pizza

Hi friends! How are you doing? As I write this it is absolutely pouring out. The roof is getting absolutely pounded at work. It’s crazy! As long as the rain ends before the weekend though then I won’t complain. Hopefully the sun is shining by you! Have a great day 🙂

Once again Bailey acted like our alarm clock at 5 am to wake us up. For some reason, I feel like she is suddenly freaked out by our alarms because that’s when she starts going crazy. It definitely works to get me out of bed though! After getting ready for the day, I scrambled eggs to have for breakfast. Plus a muffin, because carbs 😉

During lunch, I read more of Before We Were Yours. It’s such a good book! It’s the story of Avery who is a politicians grown daughter who is with her father at a nursing home when one of the residents, May, acts as if she knows Avery. May has a picture in her room that contains someone who looks exactly like her grandmother. When Avery visits her grandmother to inquire about May, her grandmother acts perfectly coherent despite having dementia and living in a nursing home. Avery goes on the hunt to figure out the family’s connection with May. I feel like I’m finally getting to the best part and I can’t wait to find out what happens.

After work, I changed and headed out for 5 easy recovery miles. My hips were feeling a little achy so I stretched and foam rolled before hopping into an epsom salt bath. It was much needed! I think epsom salt baths need to become a normal part of my routine. Honestly I have no idea if it actually helps but it feels good so why not keep doing it right?

We were still on the leftovers train last night which meant more pizza for dinner! I just threw it in the oven to warm it up and then enjoyed it while we watched an episode of Billions. Alex and I just finished the second season and man it is good! The season ended with certain things wrapped up enough but still a lot of questions for you. It was a good one.

Alex and I hung out a bit then decided to turn on Coco. Unfortunately I started to doze just a tiny bit so I decided to get ready for bed and read a bit more before calling it a night.

Question of the day: If you have a dog, does it act like an alarm clock for you?

 

 

Why You Should Wear What You Want To Workout

Happy Wednesday everyone! We’re halfway to the weekend, woohoo! I hope you’re having a great week so far.

Today’s blog post came to me last week when I was on a run. It was a hot day so I was out running in shorts and a sports bra. A car passed me and the driver kind of gave me a weird look. Maybe it was because the feels like was well over 95 so I looked like a crazy person running but something told me it was because I was in a sports bra. It’s also happened before when it’s not as hot which makes me think it was the clothing choice that prompted the look.

Personally I have no issue running in a sports bra. Honestly it’s probably because I was on the cross country and track team in high school so we all ran in sports bra on our town’s running path. I got so used to it and mostly started because everyone was doing it. I didn’t want to be the only one with their shirt on and stick out back then. Now I chose to run that way since it’s more comfortable for me. I completely understand that working out in a sports bra is not for everyone. Really I get that! It’s not for everyone and who am I to judge.

What I have a problem with is people who want to give weird looks to anyone running without a shirt on. What’s the difference between shorts and a sports bra and a bikini? Technically you are more covered up in a sports bra and shorts than a bathing suit. Yet no one judges anyone in a bikini.

I don’t think the topic of not judging people for workout apparel choices applies for summer running only though. It can definitely be applied to working out at any time of the year. Even in winter people will give you a strange look for running outside. I remember getting a weird look leaving the YMCA when I was at my parents house in just shorts during the winter. And I walked maybe 100 yards to get to my car and the door. Maybe it is because it appears that you’re not dressed warm enough but it doesn’t matter what other people think. What they don’t see is the shirt and quarter zip that are under your rain jacket. Besides, if you’re layered up so that you’re not freezing or overheating and you are comfortable then that’s what matters.

With that being said, I’m not trying to cover up when it is over 90 degrees or put on extra layers in the winter to please other people. One of the biggest things with working out is being comfortable in your own skin. If I pass someone out running who has capris and a t shirt on, while it may make me hot just looking at them, if that makes them the most comfortable to get outside then so be it! I’m not going to give the person a weird look for it or judge them.

Whether you’re in a sports bra and shorts or layered up for icy rain, you have to be comfortable.

Do whatever makes YOU comfortable. Just don’t judge me for what I’m comfortable doing.

Question of the day: Do you have any thoughts on this?