Five for Friday

I am not very prepared for this week's Five for Friday post because today has snuck up on me! This week has flown by!

1. There is a Greenmarket near Woody's office every Wednesday and this week he found these beautiful things.

I added them to a delicious salad (which I made even better by topping with some avocado and quinoa). Nice, easy summer dinner on a hot day.

2. I found out about this really interesting film that's screening in New York through July 14th and looks like another must see in the genre of food documentaries. "Farmageddon tells the story of small, family farms that were providing safe, healthy foods to their communities and were forced to stop, sometimes through violent action, by agents of misguided government bureaucracies, and seeks to figure out why." The trailer is very moving previewing interviews with farmers, authors and others who are intimately involved in this, including Joel Salatin, owner of Polyface Farms (you'll recognize him from his appearance in Food, Inc. and involvement in Michael Pollan's best seller, The Omnivore's Dilemma. I hope to find myself comfortably in a seat in the movie theater come Saturday night.

3. Last time I saw my Sports Doc to check up on my stress fracture she recommended that I purchase a book called Run Metrics since I wouldn't be going to physical therapy. I've now heard both authors, Dr Robert Maschi and Dr Heather Williams, speak at various running events in the city and their method sounded really interesting. The book arrived the other day and I'm looking forward to incorporating their exercises into my routine to gain strength, stability and power while I run, while reducing my risk of injuries!

4. A week from today we're flying to Seattle! I can't wait and have been spending quite a lot of time reading about the city, neighborhoods, running routes, and opportunities to kayak. This weekend we'll start working out what to do when, so we have some sort of structure when we get there. Two things are for sure: 1) we're going to the Seattle Mariner's game Friday night, 2) I'm running the See Jane Run 5k Sunday morning and will be meeting fantastic bloggers including Mel, Kerrie, Chelsea, Zoe and Jill. It sounds like they're a pretty tight knit group, but I'm excited to meet them!


5. I'm thinking about joining a local running team, but I'm not quite convinced because I'm still running pretty slow right now. Ironically, that's both a reason why I am nervous to join but also why I want to join. Also, I didn't start running until a few years out of college and do most of my runs solo, so it would be a whole new world for me. Decisions, decisions.

• How do you feel about running with a team or local club?
• Have you ever gone out of your way to support local farmers or dairies?
• What exciting things are you doing this weekend?
• Do you use Blogger? What do you think of the new Blogger in Draft? I think it's going to take a few days for me to figure it all out.

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Today's workout -

35min elliptical
3x10 clam shells
100 crunches
2x15 resistance band woodchops
2x15 squats
2x15 cable-pull push-downs
stretching

5 for Friday

Happy Friday!!

1. The last few days I've been having trouble signing into blogger. Obviously, I can get in to write posts, but when I try to comment on other blogs, 99% of the time I'm denied! I know I'm not the only one experiencing this frustration, but I want you to know that I've been reading posts, I just can't always comment on them. Last night I could comment on a few posts but this morning I don't seem to be able to again. So annoying. Hopefully it'll be all worked out soon or Blogger might see a mass exodus to wordpress.

2. I love the Friday before Holiday weekends! Get our of work early, the anticipation of three days off. I also love when we stay in town for holiday weekend's because the city pretty much clears out. Ahhhh.... calmness. There are a few things on our to-do list, like sleeping in, going for a run in the park, going to see The Hangover Part 2, a picnic on Governor's Island, the farmers market, finish reading The Help. You know, a lot of really taxing activities!

3. Speaking of The Help...it pains me every time I have to put it down! I've been catching the bus to work a little earlier the last few days so I can read on the bus then sit in a park near my office and read for a few more minutes before getting to work. (This is also because it's been so incredibly beautiful the past few mornings that I want to spend the whole day outside). I will definitely finish this over the weekend and will post my review next week!

4. Last Friday I mentioned Woody and I were taking a knife skills class this week. Well, we took the class Tuesday night and I can't wait to tell you about it. But, it'll have to wait for another post. We learned a lot, more than just the technical stuff I thought we would, and the teacher was great. (Insiders tip: Brendan teaches knife skills at both Brooklyn Kitchen and Institute of Culinary Education, but the Brooklyn class is much cheaper) Be sure to check back next week for the recap!

5. Last night I cashed in one of the best Groupon deals ever! Several months back The  Running Company offered a $50 for $25 Groupon that could be used on anything but electronics. Well, hello! Instantly I thought "NEW SHOES!!" I put off going for a while because of my injury, but last night I picked up a pretty new pair of Brooks Ravenna 2! I love the Ravenna's I've been wearing and the new ones felt pretty good in the store when I was able to do a quick little treadmill jog before committing. I plan on breaking them in slowly, especially since I'm still coming back from the stress reaction, but it's good to have another solid shoe in rotation.

• What are you plans for the holiday weekend?
• What's your favorite thing to eat at a BBQ?
• Am I the only one who gets more excited about buying running shoes than any other kind of shoe?
• Have you ever switched blog platforms?

Have a great weekend!!
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Today's workout -
None. Rest Day!

5 for Friday

After a week hiatus from Five for Friday due to the unfortunate Blogger Blackout of 2011, we're back and running this week!

1. Today is my big sister's Birthday. I feel bad because with all the rain I didn't get her gift sent until Tuesday; I hope it got to her in Minnesota for today! As the Mom of a rambunctious and super-smart three year old boy and an adorable 7 month old little girl who can melt your heart in an instant, she has her hands full day and night. My brother-in-law is leaving on a two week work trip today, but I hope she has an incredible Birthday nonetheless. She deserves it!

2. Tonight, assuming that it isn't pouring out, Woody and I are meeting after dinner and going to Madison Square Park for Madison Square Eats for dinner. The outdoor food festival featuring a wide variety of food, started May 6th and is happening every Friday through June 3rd, so we're going before it's over! We can't wait to see what there is! Oh, it's open from 11am till 9pm.

3. Saturday is the Brooklyn Half-Marathon. It's part of the NYRR Half-Marathon Grand Prix, the 5 race series of half-marathons in each borough. This was to be my first of the borough half-marathons; I was one of the lucky ones who registered before the it sold out in a matter of days. I've heard it's the best of the 5 because it starts in Prospect Park and ends on the Coney Island Boardwalk. As much as I wish I was running, I hope everyone who is out there has an incredible race! I also hope we have a break in the nasty rainy weather and it's a beautiful day! Good luck to all the Brooklyn Half runners and everyone else racing this weekend!!

4. Woody and I have decided that we're not going to let this summer pass us by. Can you believe that next weekend is the un-official start to summer?!?! It seems as though the seasons pass by and we haven't done half the things we were hoping to do. But not this summer. We've agreed that we'd rather be exhausted when Fall rolls around than have any regrets. So, we're starting a list of all the things we want to do and we'll check them off as we go along. Grace has already agreed to join me for the 'girl' stuff that Woody might not be so interested in, so I'm convinced that this will be the best summer of my life here in NYC! (Well, maybe aside from the summer when Woody and I got married!)

5. Since I've been posting videos all week, I'll post one more. This is just crazy....

• What's on tap for your weekend?
• What are some of the things on your 'must do' list for the summer?

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Today's workout -
None. Rest Day!

5 for Friday

1. Tonight I’ll be sleeping in the room I grew up in. I’m going home for a very quick weekend trip. You see, I have one older sister and 7 cousins on my father’s side. Our Grandma turned 90 years old last month. A few of the older cousins got us all to commit to one day to meet in East Lansing to celebrate with our Grandma. So, it’s just Grandma, her 9 grandkids and 3 of her great-grandkids (all under 6 mos old), for the day. We have a few things planned for the day, but really it’s a time for us all to get together. The last time we were all in the same place was last summer, for our Grandpa’s memorial service; this is a much more joyous occasion.

2. Saw THIS on twitter Wednesday and went crazy for it instantly! I definitely have to send one of my race bibs in to be made into coasters! I love the motivational fridge magnets too! 

via 26MileStones

3. I signed up for another race. According to Daily Mile that means I have six on my calendar now, the first one being in 14 days! I just signed up to run the Scotland Run 10K in Central Park with Grace! Let me know if you’re running this. No doubt we’ll be hitting up some great place for brunch afterwards and I’d love for you to join us!

4. Researchers at the University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign, recently released the results of a study done to see how well athletes cross busy streets in comparison to non-athletes. So, basically seeing how well one group processes information versus the other. It'll take too long to explain the actual study in this post, but it's pretty interesting, so check it out HERE.

5. I did it. After a horrible night of sleep, I woke up at 4:40am, went to the gym, and ran 7 miles. The first half mile was still a bit wonky and my legs felt heavy, but I suppose that's to be expected when you wake up so early and start running less than an hour later.
Long run for the week: complete!

• What are you doing this weekend?
• Are you on Daily Mile? If so, what's your favorite thing about it?

Don't forget to enter the giveaway!! 4 free Raw Crunch Bars might be heading your way!
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Today's workout -
7 mile run
lots of stretching
foam roller

Five for Friday

Happy Friday! I am tired this morning. The big rain storm that came through the area made our building creak like a 300 year old wood ship all night long and our ceiling started to leak again. We had to call maintence at 12:30am to bring a bucket and tarp. This morning, we found a few new wet spots on our bedroom ceiling that need to be fixed too. I need some coffee.

Did you hear there's a free Fitness Fashion Show for women next Wednesday that's raising money for youth running programs through ticket sales for great raffle prizes? Are you coming?

1. Today my Dad is having eye surgery. He's nervous about it, which makes me nervous. My parents are my rocks, and it's hard for me to see either of them scared or worried about anything. This is pretty major surgery for him but he has a great doctor who is the best in the area. I'm sure it will go well without any problems, but it's surgery, so it's a little scary. Next Friday he goes in for the other eye, so it's not over after today. Hopefully this one will go smoothly so he won't be so nervous next week. I wish I could be there with my Mom while she's in the waiting room; she's had to spend too many hours in hospital waiting rooms. I just called and told my Dad I love him and I'll talk to him soon.

2. I saw a link to this video on Twitter the other day and want to share it with you. The narrator's voice is a little creepy, but if you just listen to what he says, it's pretty cool.

A Runner's High by Ben Redmond from Mishmash on Vimeo.

3. While on Facebook the other day I was served up an ad that I actually clicked on. It was for the NYC Running Show presented by Jack Rabbit Sports. It's two days of all things running. Unfortunately though, one of those days is a Friday. Hmmm. The list of events looks great with featured speakers Matt Long and Scott Jurek and highlight panels on women's health and minimalist running. Of course, there will be the usual vendors including all the big running shoe companies and other companies that offer all the essentials for runners. Grace and I have already made a date to attend this inaugural event!

4. Tomorrow Woody and I are heading out to the Brooklyn Flea. Even though this awesome event has been happening weekly since 2008, I've only been there once. And this will be Woody's first time. Until April, when it moves outdoors, it's held in the former Williamsburg Savings Bank, a gorgeous building in its own right. There are more than a hundred vendors, offering "antique and re-purposed furniture, vintage clothing, collectibles and antiques, as well as a tightly curated selection of jewelry, art, and crafts by local artisans and designers, plus delicious fresh food." I'm definitely looking forward to combing through all the treasures and enjoying some tasty food after my 8 mile run!

5. Just wanted to give you a heads up that I'm working on two giveaways. I haven't settled on the dates yet, but they'll be relatively soon and I promise they'll be tasty! (hint, hint. wink, wink)

• What are you doing this weekend?
• What was the best part of your week?

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Today's Workout -

None. Rest day!

5 for Friday

1. Today is a rest day! I don't usually take two rest day's in a week, but because of the rain on Monday I didn't go to the gym and my regular rest day is scheduled for Friday's. I want to stay on track so I'm taking today off. Also, I got to Zumba Tuesday night, so I'm still getting six workouts in this week.

2. A friend of mine asked if I could help spread the word about this great event. If you're in the NYC area and have clothes to donate, please help this very worthy organization.

3. March 16th is the next NYRR Young Professionals Committee event. This time, it's a FREE women's-only night showcasing fantastic Spring running gear! Urban Athletics will be on hand to show us brand new gear, from a variety of companies, and answer any questions you might have about shoes, gear, and dressing for the changing temperatures. Be nice to the models, they're all NYRR YPC members! Runners just like you. We'll also have food, drinks, and raffle prizes! While it's a free event, we're asking people to RSVP here. Let me know if you have any questions!

4. I've posted about TED before, and wanted to let you know about a new initiative they've started. TED2011 has been happening all week, and among the many great speakers (can't wait to watch some of the videos on their website) they announced TED Education. I think this is an incredible addition to their programming.

5. Tomorrow Woody and I are heading uptown to check out the Nutropolitan Museum after I finish the 7 mile run that I have on tap. It's been getting a lot of coverage, so I think it might be pretty busy! I'm planning to take pictures to share with you all next week!

If you want to check out some very funny Adidas ads from 1999 titled "Runners. Yeah, we're different." click HERE. I bet you can imagine some of the visuals!

• What are you up to this weekend?
• If you could hear any one person speak, like a TED Talk, who would it be?

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Today's workout -
None. Rest day!

5 for Friday

I hope you've all had a great (short) work week and are looking forward to the weekend! I know I am! ;)

1. @maleciawalker shared THIS interesting link with me the other day through twitter. It's a racetrack for hill workouts in Spain! Perfect for runners in areas that are flat as a pancake. From the pictures though, this area seems to have plenty of hills, but perhaps it's just where the designers live and wanted to give it a try. Anyway, I thought it is a pretty cool idea.

2. Woody and I are going to the New York Times Travel Show tomorrow at the Javits Center. Other than the long hike we'll have to take to get there from the subway, I'm really looking forward to this! We're making travel a priority, since we both have many places we want to visit during our lives, so we thought this would be a fun event to go to. First on our list, this year, is Philly (for the race), North Carolina and Seattle. Then, who knows! Maybe we'll decide on Saturday!

3. If you're in NYC next weekend, you might want to check this out, if only for the high quirk factor. The Nutropolitan Museum of Art!, being promoted as the world's first PB&J art exhibit, will take place March 4th through 6th. Apparently you get a free jar of PB&Co peanut butter (while supplies last) and another will be donated to the Food Bank of New York as well! The idea originated with Lee Zalbin and Peanut Butter and Co is a main sponsor.

4. Have you ever been online, clicked on a link, and gotten one of those annoying 404 error messages that the page no longer existed? Well, some companies actually have a sense of humor and have added a little art to these pages... I'm guessing with the hope that you won't be quite so annoyed that they've taken the page down. Mashable put together a great collection of these pages HERE, but here's a preview from their site....

5. Two food related items for you:
a) Michael Pollan is working on a second installment of his amazing book, Food Rules, and is asking for help. If you have a favorite food rule you'd like to suggest, submit it HERE (deadline is February 27th).
b) Yesterday Google rolled out yet another new tool in it's vast online empire. Recipe View. Now when you search Google for a recipe you can click 'recipe' on the side bar and filter by ingredient, cook time and even calorie count to help you find the recipe that matches what you need the best! I haven't used it yet (since it just popped up yesterday) but if it works like they say it will, I have a feeling this will be really useful!

• What's on tap for your weekend?
• If someone (not me) offered you a free trip anywhere in the world, where would you go and what would you do?

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Yesterday's workout -
3mile run
3x10 cable pull pushdown
3x10 cable twists
3x10 leg press
3x10 overhead tricep extension
3x12 upright row
3x12 hammer curls
100 jumping jacks
125 crunches
lots of stretching

Today's workout -
None. Rest day!

5 For Friday

1. I am not prepared for this week's 5 for Friday post, so I apologize in advance! I was caught up with work and preparations for the fundraiser last night and have hardly surfed the web or thought outside my own bubble this week.

2. Monday is President's Day and I am really looking forward to a day off! I plan on sleeping in, working out, reading, drinking coffee, and lazying around! I love 3 day weekends, when we don't travel, because I can spread out any chores or errands over three days instead of packing them into two. Or, I can just relax on the third and just do whatever I feel like. It's a great thing.

3. I slept horribly last night and now feel very sluggish right now. My head is all fuzzy and I just want to go back to bed. I woke up a little before 1:45am and tried to fall back to sleep for over an hour, finally got up, went into the other room and read a magazine for a little bit. My upper back was aching a bit so I used my trigger wheel to work out a few kinks. I think that helped me get back to sleep. I did finally get to sleep around 3:30am and I did not go to the gym this morning. I hope the uneasiness in my stomach and this fuzzy headache goes away soon! I now have an iced coffee to help out.

4. The event last night, to raise money for the New York Road Runners Youth Programs was a big success. We only had a few who didn't make it and those who did, seemed to have a great time! There were a lot of sweaty people coming out of the spin room, but with big smiles on their faces!

great gift bags!

healthy snacks

lots of mingling (there were some guys there!)

5. Yesterday and today we're having incredible spring weather in NYC. It's supposed to reach 64' again today and I had trouble deciding what to wear this morning! I definitely wore the wrong coat! It's too bad this isn't lasting through the holiday weekend, but it is nice while we have it! Definitely looking forward to Spring and great running weather!

• Do you have Monday off? How are you going to spend it?
• What's your remedy for overcoming a bad night of sleep?
• What do you have planned for the weekend? Any races or training runs?

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Today's workout -
none. Rest day!!

5 For Friday

1. This week I registered for two more races. My calendar is starting to fill up! I registered for the Brooklyn Half Marathon on May 21st and the New York Mini 10K on June 11! I'm really excited for both of these. I haven't run the Brooklyn Half before but since I want to run at least four half marathons this year, this one seems like a good one to do. I have run the Mini 10K twice and it's a great race. It's a women's-only field and instead of starting in Central Park, it starts on Central Park West and goes north for a bit before turning into the park. It's a nice little twist on the usual race routes for NYRR races and all the women are so encouraging and supportive!

2. The other day I saw a tweet about free races in NYC. I was immediately curious so I clicked the link. Some group puts together races with holiday themes in Van Cortland Park up in the Bronx. The races are free but they ask for donations to cover costs. As you can imagine, the races are pretty low-key, with what sounds like a do-it-yourself atmosphere, but who knows, they could be fun! They do come with amusing race souvenirs! I'd love to hear if anyone has run one of these! Next one is this Sunday for Valentine's Day.

3. New York Running Company at Columbus Circle is having a big winter gear sale this weekend. When I was in Grand Central I noticed the Super Runners Shop there has a sale going on too. Check them out if you need another long sleeve top or jacket to make it through the rest of this super-cold winter!

4. Busy weekend ahead starting with a 6 mile run on tap for tomorrow morning. I have a little craft project to do in preparation for the NYRR YPC fundraiser on Thursday night, Woody and I are finally going to see The King's Speech! (I've had a celebrity/Englishman-crush on Colin Firth since Bridget Jones.) Yoga Sunday morning and then we're taking a trip to Red Hook, Brooklyn via the IKEA ferry to do a little IKEA and Fairway shopping plus a stop at BAKED.

5. BUT, before all that, I'm more than excited for tonight! I'm going to see Adele perform music from her new album, "21"! I haven't seen her live since 2009 when she was here touring for her album "19" and it was such an incredible show. She has an amazing voice and a sharp personality. I can not wait! Work will not go by fast enough for me! Here's a great video from the new album:

• What races are you looking forward to?
• Have you ever run a free race organized completely by volunteers?
• Have you seen The Kings Speech? More importantly, are you also in love with Colin Firth? (if so, I know we'll be friends forever!)
• What's on tap for your weekend?

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Today's workout -
4mile run
3x10 cable pull push-down
3x10 leg press
3x10 weighted side bends
100 jumping jacks
1x50sec planks

5 For Friday

Another week is (almost) in the books, not to mention another month! I can't believe it's February already. Thankfully, we're getting closer to Spring! The sun was starting to come up over Brooklyn as I walked home from the gym at 6:30am! The days are getting longer and I couldn't be happier. Soon I might be running outside in the morning again. I have to admit that I was lazy today. I woke up and even though I had running on my schedule, I just couldn't bring myself to get on the treadmill and opted for the elliptical instead. I did tack on an extra 5 minutes, but I know it's not the same workout as running. Oh well, I still got my heart rate up and I'll do better next week!

1.The other day I came across an articles summarizing one of those research studies that just seems so obvious it's ridiculous that people spent time and money on it. Apparently, kids who are fed unhealthy foods grow to prefer them. Amazing, right? And maybe some of you can explain this to me, why do some parents try to feed their kids right but then eat poorly themselves? Has 'lead by example' fallen to the wayside?

2. Speaking of eating well.... it seems there are some people now who believe that eating breakfast doesn't affect the amount of calories you'll eat throughout the day. Obviously this goes against what most nutritionists have been saying for years, and personally, I don't buy it. I can say for myself, that if I don't eat a good breakfast in the morning, I'm starving way before noon and will eat more the rest of the day once I do start eating. This study involved only a small amount of subjects and I definitely think that it all depends on the individual. Maybe eating breakfast doesn't matter for some people, but I don't think it's wise to tell people that anyone can skip breakfast and it won't matter.

3.  Did you hear that the 2010 Dietary Guidelines were released the other day? Yep, on January 31st, 2011. Gotta love how well our government agencies hits deadlines! I haven't read through everything yet, but Marion Nestle has and you can read her thoughts about the new guidelines HERE. As far as the executive summary goes, it does state that Americans need to reduce the amount of sodium intake, eat smaller portion sizes, be more physically active, and more. This is a good start, but we'll see if their other recommendations take shape and our culture starts to change. 

4. I'm particularly excited about two things this weekend. a) tomorrow I'm meeting Grace and Kether at the early hour of 8am to take a bootcamp class! I'm nervous because I know it's going to be intense, but I need a little kick in the butt! And, I'm doing it with two of the most supportive women I know! b) Sunday morning Grace and I are volunteering at God's Love We Deliver to help prepare food for people who are too sick to shop or prepare food. We signed up through a group called Urban Girl Squad. We've never attended one of their social or volunteer events, but I'm really looking forward to this opportunity to spend a few hours doing something for someone else.

5. Last week I told you about the NYRR Young Professionals Committee event at Flywheel, with support from Lululemon, to raise funds for youth running. Well, as of last night, it is sold out! The invite just went out today to our mailing list and it sold out within hours! We're beyond thrilled! We have a bunch of other great events coming up, including a women's fashion night on March 2nd. Stay tuned for more details. Or, better yet, 'like' our facebook page so you get all the info right away!

I hope you have a great weekend!!

• What did you do this week that you're proud of or happy about?
• Do you know why some parents try to teach their kids to eat well but then don't do it themselves?
• Do you eat breakfast?
• What are you excited for this weekend?

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Thursday's workout -
5mile run
3x10 cable pull push down
3x12 upright row

 

Today's workout -
55min elliptical
2x40sec planks
stretching

5 For Friday

Well, it's Thursday night and I'm writing this as I eat dinner, continue to work on a PowerPoint deck (that's been occupying my life) for a meeting at work next week and watch the Michigan State basketball game against UofM (which we lost). If this isn't multi-tasking, I don't know what is! At least I'm not doing anything dangerous, like walking and typing on my blackberry!

1. This has been a long, but quick, week. I've been really busy at work (ie: the deck I'm working on) so the day seems to go by quickly but it's exhausting. I worked on it at home Wednesday night as well, which is why I didn't have a post yesterday. We've been having meetings to work on this deck as a group, but the timing has been up in the air each day so I just work frantically until I'm told it's time to print and save! My lunches have not been eaten at any regular time. The good thing is though, we all know what's going on and are prepared to talk about any part of the presentation. Plus, I'm learning quite a bit as we go along, so it's not all that bad.

2. Meet my new favorite kitchen gadget: the garlic press! My mother in law gave us one that she had, but hadn't used when we were visiting her last week. I was so excited because we love garlic, use it quite often in our cooking, but haven't really wanted to spend the money on a press. Well, we used it tonight for the first time while making pasta (we always add a ton of fresh veggies to the sauce) and it was so quick and easy! And it even comes with an attached cleaning device to make and is dishwasher safe! I think I'm in love!

3. We had another snow storm Wednesday and into Thursday morning. Another 19 inches fell in Central Park during this storm, making a total of about 55 inches of snow so far this season (really, just since the storm on Dec 26th). It's on track to be the snowiest season on record, and we've already surpassed the January record! I trudged to work Thursday but I have to say, it wasn't all that bad. It was actually kind of nice because there wasn't nearly as much traffic! And I got to see pretty snow covered trees like this one!

4. I went to a New York Road Runner Young Professionals Committee meeting Tuesday night. I'm really excited about all the events we are planning through National Running Day on June 3rd. Our first event of the year will be February 17th and we're doing something different: a spinning class at the uber popular Flywheel! The studio and Lululemon are partnering with us to create this awesome event that will include a full hour long class and time for mingling with other fitness-minded New Yorkers over food and drink after class. Naturally, there will be goodie bags for everyone, too! And it's all for the great cause of supporting youth running programs around the country! Click HERE if you want to buy tickets (it should go live Friday) and let me know if you have any questions. If you want to go, I suggest you sign up soon because I have a feeling tickets will go fast for this one and space is limited!

5. It's been a while since I've talked about my perpetually injured foot. Well, that's because it's feeling so much better! It's still stiff every once in a while, but not nearly as often as it was and it doesn't hurt at all after a workout! I'm feeling really optimistic about how it's doing but I'm still awfully careful about things. I stretch, start each workout and end each day with a few dynamic stretches to loosen all my leg muscles and I stay away from risky activities like running in the ice and snow. I also think running on the Woodway as often as I can when running on the treadmill is the right way to go. I can definitely tell a difference between the two surfaces. Hopefully I'll stay injury free through my training for the Broadstreet Run!

What's on tap for your weekend?
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Thursday's workout -
none. much needed rest day!

Today's workout -
5mi run
3x12 cable push down
3x12 cable twists
stretching

5 For Friday

1. Yesterday Michelle Obama joined executives from Wal-Mart at a Washington, DC community center to announce the behemouth's initiative to make their in-house brand healthier and fruits and vegetables cheaper... by 2015. Yep, it's going to take them 5 years to make the changes. I really hope they do reduce the sodium, sugar and trans fats in their foods, but I'm not so sure I like the idea of them moving into food deserts to 'solve' the access to food problem that many areas face. It's a problem that needs to be solved, but not necessarily by them expanding their empire. Maybe this will spur other companies to make changes as well.

2. Woody and I signed our lease and handed over the checks, so it's official. We will be in our current apartment through June 2012! We're definitely excited to know for certain that we won't have to look for a new apartment for at least 17 months and we are really enjoying life in FiDi. There's definitely a lot more to explore down here and now we'll have some time to do it. After that, we'll just have to wait and see!

3. Money Saving Tip of the Week: Woody and I have found several easy ways to save money over the past few years, one of which is to buy in bulk! It's really simple and can save a good amount of money over time. We buy everything from rolled oats, to dried fruit, nuts, and grains and recently Woody became hooked on wasabi peas. He'll get a 1lb bag for like $3.99 and munch on them like they're raisins! I can handle some, but I stay away from the super-coated ones! In any case, you can find just about anything in bulk, but you have to look for it. Most Whole Foods stores have a bulk section, not all and they're not always very big, but you can also look for health food stores and last time I was at Meijer there was one.

4. We are starting to plan our trip to Seattle this summer, but first we have to decide when to go! It definitely has to be between Memorial Day and Labor Day, but that still covers a lot of time. If you live in Seattle, or have visited, when is the best time to visit? And do you know any great places to run?

5. I LOVE "Friends." You know, the sitcom from the 90's? I can still sit and watch hours of reruns like some people can watch hours of "Seinfeld." Have you heard about the new sitcom starring Matthew Perry and Allison Janney (who was in another favorite show of mine, "The West Wing") "Mr. Sunshine"? It premieres on ABC Wednesday February 9th and I can't wait to see it! I'm going to an event that night that will thankfully be over at 8pm so I can get home and watch. For all of the other Matthew Perry fans, here's the preview!

Good luck to everyone running the Manhattan Half Marathon tomorrow! It definitely takes a lot of dedication to get up early on a Saturday morning and go run 2+ loops of Central Park in 20 degree weather!

What was your favorite show of the 90's?

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today's workout -

4mile run

3x10 cable push down

3x10 leg press

stretching

5 For Friday

1. Tomorrow Woody and I are waking up way too early for a Saturday morning to head to the airport. We're going to Florida for several days to visit Woody's family: his mom, brother, and grandparents. We're both looking forward to the visit and to leaving this cold weather for a warmer climate. Today is the coldest day yet of the winter for us, so this is definitely great timing for our trip! I'm definitely going to take advantage of being in Florida by running each morning; I just have to remember what to wear when it's 50 degrees! I'm taking our computer and planning to post a few times while we're down there.

2. While at the airport, or on the plan (gotta love free wi-fi on Jet Blue), I am going to register for the Broad Street Run, a 10 mile race in Philly on May 1st. I've never run this race before, I've never run a race outside of NYC, but I've heard great things about it. I've also heard that it fills up quickly and since a lot of races seem to be filling up in record times this year, I'm definitely registering as soon as possible. I'm excited for this race for a few reasons: 1) It will be the first race I will travel for, 2) It's in Philly and I love Philly, 3) It's a new distance for me, 4) We'll also be celebrating my 30th Birthday, which is April 30th, that weekend (yep, now you know how old I am)! If you're running this race too, let me know!

3. NYC Winter Restaurant Week starts January 24th and runs through February 6th! This city has a ton of amazing restaurants (read: expensive) and this is a great time to enjoy 3-course meals at a more wallet-friendly price! Woody and I have taken advantage of almost every restaurant week since we've been out here. There's a list of over 300 participating restaurants and many of the menu's (which are pre-fixe) are posted. My one tip: knowing what the menu is beforehand is very helpful since you usually get two or three choices for each course. You don't want to sit down at the table and see that you don't want to try anything on the menu!

4. I found some funny ads the other day that I had to share with you! I'm not endorsing these products, but I do think they're perfect for a Friday laugh! 

Click HERE to watch

Click HERE to watch

5. If you're like me, you want to make sure that the foods you eat are healthy for you. That the meat you buy is the best meat you can get; definitely not the stuff pumped with hormones and antibiotics and who knows what else. Recently the USDA released a new set of regulations for many raw meat products requiring nutrition labels starting in 2012. Right now, a lot of the 'labels' on meat are more marketing terms than anything else. If you've ever been confused about the difference between 'grass-fed' and 'free-range' check out THIS article by Rodale.

What's on tap for your weekend?
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today's workout -
5.65mile/50min elliptical
3x10 bicep curls
3x10 hammer curls
3x10 overhead tricep extension
stretching

5 For Friday

Well, we've almost made it through the first week of 2011! How has it gone for you? It hasn't been too bad for me, but I'm definitely looking forward to the weekend! Here are a few random things I wanted to share with you...

1. I read about an interesting app the other day that helps people pair their food and drink (not just wine). It is the mobile version of the best selling book What to Drink with What You Eat so you can figure out what works together when you're at a restaurant, wine shop, grocery store. I don't have an iPhone, so I haven't used this myself, but it sounds really useful and incredibly convenient!

2. I've talked about one of my favorite Michigan small businesses before - Cherry Republic. The other day, I got their e-newsletter (I won't be unsubscribing from this one) and learned about a very interesting and unusual promotion they're running. Apparently, they're helping out people who received gift cards for the holidays that they don't want by bartering with them for CR products! So far they've exchanged Boomchunkas, salsa and more for Barnes & Noble, Cheesecake Factory, Am Ex and other gift cards. Is it just me or is this not a great idea for a small business to gain even more loyalty from their customers!?

3. Sunday night an email came through on my blackberry from our group leader at work telling us there had been a flood in the office. She said it wasn't too destructive but some things had been moved around and a few people would be displaced until everything was cleaned up. Well, it was a little worse than we had been led to believe. Half the office was full of industrial fans, all the baseboards were torn off the walls, carpet was pulled up and bubbly. It was a mess. And loud. Finally the fans disappeared yesterday but the place is still a mess and there's a constant musty smell. Hopefully the insurance check will come soon and the carpet can be replaced. It's definitely been an interesting first week back.

4. Have you ever read Reader's Digest? (I love the reader submitted jokes) They just launched a new website and e-newsletter with a corresponding twitter account, MyBestYou. It's aimed at women 35 and over and "serves as a guide for looking great, staying healthy, eating well and embracing life." Reader's Digest has been a respected magazine for decades and I hope this website does well as an extension of the brand.

5. Woody and I received an incredibly great package yesterday! His mom sent us a box of honeybell oranges and grapefruits from Florida. She sent us a box in December and just as we were finishing them off, here arrives another box! Woody is extremely excited as he loves his citrus. I only just started eating grapefruit last year (I thought it was too tart until then) but I do love a good orange. As he said "we'll be all sorts of healthy this winter!"

What's the best thing that's happened to you during the first week of 2011?
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today's workout -
none. much needed rest day.

5 For Friday: New Year's Eve Edition

Happy New Year's Eve! I hope this has been a great year for everyone and you're looking forward to an even better 2011! This week I'm going to look back at a few things that made the year.

1. I spent seven months unemployed, not by choice. In January I was laid off from a job I had held for almost six years, that I loved (even though it stressed me out and I did complain about it), and where I had met most of my best NYC friends. It was tough, however I can also count myself as one of the lucky ones as I began my new job in August.

2. I was injured for a good amount of the year as well. This taught me how much I take my feet for granted and how much I do love to run. I was forced to find new ways to exercise but unfortunately I still gained a few pounds and am working to get them off. I'm back to running, Woody joined me for two races this fall (his first ever) and I have big hopes for next year!

3. Even while unemployed, Woody and I made sure we took a vacation in June. Being mindful of our budget, we spent the week at our family cottage. We also took a long weekend trip to Boston with my family to celebrate my Mom's birthday. Taking time to relax and rejuvenate is important, whether you're working  a 9-5 job or working on finding a job.

4. My Grandfather passed away in May. It's weird that he's not around anymore, but he lived a long life, accomplished incredible things and went amazing places that I can only dream of. In happier life moments: a good friend married her soul mate, my sister gave birth to a beautiful and healthy little girl who has a very proud big brother, and another good friend gave birth to her first, a little boy!

5. Woody and I moved to a new apartment after 3.5 years in our last one and absolutely love it. Then we hosted my parents for Christmas; our first time being hosts for a holiday! I think it went well, even considering that they ended up staying three days longer than expected due to the Holiday Blizzard of 2010!

What were some of the highlights in 2010 for you?

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE!!

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today's workout -
5.5-6m run
went for my last run of 2010 this morning! not sure how long it was because of a few detours due to snow and ice, but it was still a great run!
3x10 squat/medicine ball toss
3x10 lateral pull downs
100 crunches
stretching

5 For Friday

This has been a busy week and unfortunately the weekend looks to be really busy too, so I'm not really sure when I'm going to get some time to rest, but I'm looking forward to Christmas and having my parents visit us for the holiday next weekend.

1. Tuesday night we finally got our Christmas tree. If you're not in New York City, you may not realize how we buy our trees out here. There are Christmas tree stands all around the city on the sidewalks. Companies set up for the entire month of December and are open 24 hours a day. There is always at least one person camped out watching the trees and selling them - huge and tiny - to New Yorkers. We have found that there is a distinct lack of stands downtown so we purchased ours from a stand across from Woody's office. In midtown. We brought it home on the bus. It was still rush hour!

 bringing it home

we still have work to do, but at least it has lights!

2. White Christmas is my favorite Christmas film. I know Holiday Inn was really the film where Bing Crosby sang "White Christmas" for the first time, but the foursome of Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen is legendary. They're amazing together. I love Bing Crosby's voice and demeanor plus, he will always remind me of my Grandfather. The other day I was tipped off to this new video on FunnyorDie.com. Will Ferrell and John C Reilly did a remake of a classic video of Bing Crosby and David Bowie singing "Little Drummer Boy" So, for your viewing pleasure...

And click HERE for the remake

3. This weekend, starting today, is a special holiday market for the Hester Street Fair. Good thing is that it's not outdoors! My one gripe is that the fair (a market, really) is in a space on the LES that is much to small for the amount of people it draws each week. This was it's first year though, so hopefully next year they'll be able to make it a bit easier to move around. This one is going to be indoors and I hope it's big enough! Grace, Kether and I are meeting up Sunday afternoon to partake in a little shopping and girl talk! I guess that will be a chance for me to relax after all! Go HERE for the details.

4. Since a lot of people travel for the holidays I thought it would be a good time to share these two lists with you. The first is a list of hotels that you should stay away from! According to tripadvisor.com, THESE are the dirtiest hotels in the country. On a much better note, THESE are the best hotels in the country, so go ahead and book that much deserved vacation!

5. On a consumer awareness tip, Dannon has agreed to pay $21million to settle State and Federal investigations into the marketing of their popular yogurt, Activia and yogurt drink DanActiv. You've seen the ads where they make health claims that the yogurt helps settle GI issues and promotes the "Activia Challenge". Well, turns out there isn't clinical proof and now they will have to get FDA approval before they market the products in such a way. I'm wondering, have you ever tried this yogurt? Did you buy it because of these claims?

Have you reached all the goals you set this year?
Enjoy the weekend!
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today's workout -
50minutes/5.75miles elliptical
3x10 straight front arm raise
stretching

5 For Friday

Our presentation to our client yesterday went well and we were all glad when it was over! Stressful week and only today left until the weekend!

1. Mark Zuckerberg is the latest millionaire to join Warren Buffet and Bill & Melinda Gate's effort to enlist the wealthiest people in America to pledge at least half of their wealth to philanthropic causes and charitable organizations. While The Giving Pledge isn't a legal contract, all participants (also including Michael Bloomberg, Ted Turner, Diane Von Furstenberg and Barry Diller, and many others) must make a public statement announcing their intentions. It's a great initiative and I'm happy to see whenever someone joins this elite group.

2. It's the holiday season and, like me, you might be stumped on what to get a friend or family member. If you are, check out the Grub Street Gift Guide for some great ideas for your favorite foodie! So far there are 3 parts to the guide and I wouldn't be surprised if more are added. The first highlights regional specialties from all across the country, the second features expert picks, and the last is a list of classes and tours. Woody and I can personally vouch for the Grasshopper portion of the Momofuku Frankenpie (so good!).

3. Also while hanging out on Grub Street I read the sad news that IHOP is planning to open 24 locations in the NYC metro area, including one in Times Square. Now, I spent my fair share of hours at the IHOP in East Lansing after High School football games and Woody and I even went to one a few times while we were dating, but it's just not cool for IHOP to be moving into Times Square. Just like TGI Friday should not be in Union Square. A quick note to anyone who may visit NYC, please, please, please do not eat breakfast, lunch or dinner at a national chain restaurant. There are so many amazing places to enjoy a quick meal or a luxurious lingering dinner, try something uniquely New York City when you're here. If you're worried about knowing if it's a good place or not, chances are that if it's really busy, then it is!

4. When the temperatures get cold, I love a cup of really good hot cocoa. Travel & Leisure magazine has put together a list of the best hot chocolate in the country. Once when my parents were visiting, we visited my favorite chocolate shop in the city and tried their hot chocolate (which is also the first one on this list). It was so thick, it was literally like drinking liquid chocolate. I couldn't even finish the whole little cup and I LOVE chocolate! It is delicious though!

5. I was made well aware the other day that there are only two weeks before Christmas. We have yet to buy a Christmas tree, and haven't even started our holiday card list or shopping. I need to work on the menus for our Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas day meal. I have to find a church downtown so we can attend a Christmas Eve service. I haven't put up one decoration. Thankfully my parents sent us a mini-tree and advent calendars (yes, the chocolate ones of course!). We have a lot to do!

How are your holiday activities going?
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today's workout -
45 minutes/5mile elliptical
3x10 weighted side bends
1x40sec plank
stretching