Ultimate Coffee Date

Best Swag of 2020!: Tea/coffee Date September 2020

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 36 Comments

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Pull up a chair and mug with Coco and Deborah and me and a bunch of bloggers for the ultimate coffee tea date: My mug was way overdue for an update!

Best swag of 2020 so far

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I would share with you again the cool mug I earned by four hot, sweaty, buggy trail runs in July. Well, three, I caved on the last one because they were mostly so miserable and just folded it into a long run. I do love this mug though, so it’s my new Ultimate “Coffee” mascot.

Do they stay or do they go?

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you that this house was supposed to a be temporary home. It was a temporary appointment for Mr. Judy. That was 12 years ago (he still has 5 years to go to match our temporary move to TX). Landscaping wasn’t a big priority at first, but with all the time at home in 2020 we are trying a little harder. We’ll see what survives Winter.

I’m usually good at looking up which plants are toxic to dogs before we buy, but I didn’t do that with the Black Eye’d Susans. I’m seeing conflicting info. What to do? However, as I was researching that, I did find out that the Aloe plant I bought a few months ago is most definitely highly toxic to dogs. Which is weird, because aloe gel can be very soothing for them. It’s been moved.

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you we’re moving into Fall, which means Winter is coming (we watched Game of Thrones this Summer), which means getting in movement is harder and harder.

I’ve finally been motivated to get in some more movement to my days — some days. More solo walks. More walking on my side trips to my mom. I balance that out with some rest days, too, because I know I need that. I don’t have much longer to easily get in that extra movement — not sure why I waited so long.

Oh yeah, hot, humid, buggy Summer!

We have a sunflower “field” in our own neighborhood!

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell we’ve been watching these flowers grow all Summer. They tilled 3 rows outside their fenced in yard, which seemed weird. It kind of looks like flowers with herbs planted between rows of flowers. Did they just not want their dogs to eat the flowers? Inquiring minds want to know!

Flowers & herbs?

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you that you already know that I’m constantly losing things. Constantly. Little things. Big things. This one might be the biggest one yet: an entire sheet set.

I’ve been chipping away at the house all year, decluttering, reorganizing . . . and every time I reorganize it seems I can’t remember where I reorganized things. The sheet set was in a different laundry bag. Thanks to running, I have a ton of “laundry bags”.

Have you been ramping it up in Summer, or waiting for cooler days?

Ever had a temporary home that lasted for years? 

Do you use those bags we get as swag as laundry bags? What do you use them for?

I am also linking up with:

I am also linking up with the  Fridays with Fairytales and Fitness from Fairytales & Fitness.

bfridayfairy

Pandemic Dressdown: Tea/coffee Date August 2020

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 38 Comments

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Pull up a chair and mug with Coco and Deborah and me and a bunch of bloggers for the ultimate coffee tea date: I’m sharing all my any cute shoes are gathering dust. But first . . .

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Fanny packs: Yay or Nay? | Photo by Johnny Edgardo Guzman on Pexels.com

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
Have you noticed fannypacks making a comeback? I’ve noticed quite a few runners/walkers sporting them. I’m happy that my Skirt Sports provides me with #allthepockets and I don’t have to sport that look.

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you we did find someplace local to donate clothes/shoes. There is more decluttering to be done (seems like an endless job) but it was nice to get rid of quite a few bags I’d accumulated to donate.

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You can’t see anything — other than sunscreen it’s all me under that hat!

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you in that I rarely wear any makeup these days with the exception of lip balm (it’s got SPF in it). Seriously, what’s the point? If I’m going out, I’m most likely just putting on a mask at some point anyway. I have to remind myself not to put on the lip balm if I know that I’m going to be wearing a mask!

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you along with the makeup, I rarely wear anything other than running shoes, Oofos, and sneakers I use for walking or very occasionally hiking shoes. So every once in a while when we do go somewhere, I make a little effort and wear some cute sandals (but no makeup).

#itsthelittlethings

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you I rarely wear any earrings, either! I have to remind myself to put in some earrings once in a while so my holes don’t close up. Usually when I go see my mom.

Our glasses and dishes are in these cabinets. It’s so awkward getting in there. Excuse the dirty floor! I blame it on the dogs. Except they’re constantly trying to help me clean the floors.

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
Finally, I’d tell you I have one of  the most awkward kitchens. My dishwasher is almost in the corner by the fridge, with a lazy susan cabinet and some drawers in between — it’s a very tight space.

I’m constantly banging against it when emptying it. I recently knocked my ankle against it good. I had a bruise that hurt for week. Heck, even my foot hurt when I ran for a little while and my gait was slightly altered. Thankfully it did heal up on its own, but I’ve been super careful since then — until the next time, of course.

Do you miss dressing up?

Do you put on makeup even if you’ll be wearing a mask? 

Do you — or have you ever — worn a fannypack? 

I am also linking up with:

I am also linking up with the  Fridays with Fairytales and Fitness from Fairytales & Fitness.

bfridayfairy

The grass is always greener: Tea/coffee Date July 2020

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 30 Comments

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Pull up a chair and mug with Coco and Deborah and me for the ultimate coffee tea date: I’m sharing how I finally used the dogs picking up habits (usually the bad ones) to my advantage this month.

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Better together? Or not?????

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you Lola occasionally has gagging/coughing attacks. They’re generally gone within 24 hours. Usually when I notice her having issues, I give her something for allergies, and it seems to help. I forgot to do that with her most recent episode, and paid the price with her waking us up at midnight coughing.

I also have cough medicine for her. Unfortunately she hates it. Even mixed with a little honey. Although apparently mixed with a little tuna works.

The funny part is we were trying to give her some before bed the next day. Bandit was there, tail going. So what the heck, I thought, I’ll give him a little, and sure enough, he liked it. The really funny part was after seeing Bandit eat it, Lola deigned to lick some without me having to try and smear it on her mouth.

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you sometimes my Garmin just loses its mind. I don’t know why. Sometimes it’s a bogus heart rate reading. Other times, like last week, it tells me that I’ve climbed 50 flights of stairs. Before noon. Twice! I can assure you I didn’t. My run was a little hilly, but nothing out of the ordinary. I swear it’s possessed some days!

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Sunshine & no clouds — not what I want to see on a Summer run!

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you in the Winter I long for sun. In the Summer, I pray for clouds! I can’t tell you how good cloud cover feels when it’s hot and humid outside — and how good sun feels on a very cold day.

#neversatisfied

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you thankfully our backyard isn’t too buggy, but I got some bites when I visited with my friend last week. On my hip. An area that’s sure to rub.

Then I got a brilliant idea: why not put my anti chafing gel on it? It definitely does seem to help. I swear I only seem to get bites in places that are sure to rub.

Do your furkids imitate each other?

Figured out a new running hack lately (or life hack, I guess!)? 

Do you care about sunshine & cloud cover? 

I am also linking up with:

I am also linking up with the  Fridays with Fairytales and Fitness from Fairytales & Fitness.

bfridayfairy

Lost dog tails: Tea/coffee Date June 2020

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 38 Comments

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Thankfully my dog tale/tail had a happy ending!

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Pull up a chair and mug with Coco and Deborah and me for the ultimate coffee tea date: and I’ll tell you how I’m trying new/old stuff, spending more time outdoors, and finally getting to see (but not hug) my mom.

Enjoying my own herbal tea blends

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you everything old is new again. I have been fascinated by herbs for a long time. I’ve taken a few classes in the past, making some herbal teas I rarely drank. I have come full circle back to that, but now I am drinking my herbal teas. I guess I’m not alone, because it’s been hard to find some of the herbs I want to use!

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you even though we have not been that hard hit up here, I’m not up for large groups yet. It’s a personal decision and everyone has to do what they’re comfortable with. It’s not always about one person, sometimes it’s about the people in that person’s life. I am down with one on one in the open air.

The base for the next fountain & an outdoor rug courtesy of our neighborhood

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you we are slowly working on making our backyard more of an oasis, although Mr Judy does most of the work. There’s the Yoga platform. I put the Wicker chair I dragged home from a dumpster a few years ago behind the platform; it’s my meditation seat.

Mr. Judy is working on a fountain (all his fountains have been made with things we have at home so far, except for the power sources and pumps). Actually, now he’s working on another fountain with an old fire pit we dragged home this week. We’re planning to move our trellis over there, and I’m planning to hang some wind chimes from it.

Then I found the outdoor rug I’m carrying above — I carried that home about 3/4 mile (with multiple stops). Turns out that it’s pretty stained, but I’m working on cleaning it up and hoping to use it for my Yoga students (they can put their mats on it).

The sad part is that I’m the one that spends all the time out there and Mr. Judy does most of the work!

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you I walked the dogs last week, and at one point I noticed a dog that I thought was in its backyard. Then I noticed it wasn’t in its backyard. I tried to hustle the dogs along, but that’s when the dog noticed us. He ran over to us, and chaos ensued (if you’ve ever walked two dogs meeting another dog, you’ll understand).

Lola was freaking out and being all reactive, while Bandit was standing patiently and letting the dog sniff him. I felt terrible leaving the dog there, but I couldn’t try to get it into its yard with the way Lola was acting. The dog (who was very sweet) ran after us for a while, then headed back, and I was pretty sure I knew where it lived, but I had to get the dogs home first.

I went back as soon as I dropped the dogs off at home (I was basically far enough away that by the time Mr. Judy could’ve gotten to me, I would’ve been home already). As I was looking for the dog (and saw that indeed, the gate was open at its house), someone called me from across the street and wanted to know if I was looking for a poodle.

We chatted, I told him where the dog lived, and he was going to take it over later (it was still pretty early in the morning). I felt so much better, I’d felt terrible leaving the dog loose, but I couldn’t get him to his home safely with Lola raising such a fuss.

Socially distancing with Mom

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you we finally did make the trip to my mom:

  • 4 hours in the car
  • 1.25 hours chatting, socially distanced, outside, with masks
  • 1 pit stop
  • 1 hyper geriatric dog
  • 1 carsick dog

Totally worth it, even though it always makes for a tiring day!

Ever had to wrangle a loose dog to its home?

Have you picked up any new skills while in quarantine? 

Are you working on making your backyard more inviting? 

ICYMI: I’ve got another new Yin Yoga practice to help keep your immune system strong — or possibly help your digestion and breathing — maybe both! It’s a relatively short practice for Yin Yoga, a bit over 30 minutes long. Check it out here.

I am also linking up with:

I am also linking up with the  Fridays with Fairytales and Fitness from Fairytales & Fitness.

bfridayfairy

 

Battling Elements & Tech: Tea/coffee Date May 2020

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 34 Comments

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Remind me why I thought starting a YouTube channel was a good idea? (it’s here, if you haven’t already checked it out).

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Pull up a chair and mug with Coco and Deborah and me for the ultimate coffee tea date: and I’d chew your ear off about all my tech woes.

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you tech has been super frustrating lately. Editing videos is just not for the impatient. Although the volume sounds just fine on my devices, apparently not on anyone else’s. I don’t know why. I am working on fixing that (but nothing is easy when it comes to tech!).

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you it’s truly amazing what you can have delivered these days, and those delivery people are superheroes in my book. I even finally found some baking powder — I believe, anyway, we’ll see what happens when I get that delivery.

C’mon Spring, it’s time to put those Winter coats away!

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you I am still occasionally wearing Winter coats (I hope that’s not true by the time this goes live!). At least I don’t have to wear the purple monstrosity, although there was one day last week I considered it. I did wear the green coat this week, sadly. I’m hoping that’ll be the last time.

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you I came home from my long run last Saturday, and told Mr. Judy I was bored with my 8 mile long runs so I went 9. You get me, right? He’s lived with me long enough to sorta understand, but he’s not a runner, so he doesn’t really get it.

So ready to go somewhere. Anywhere, really!

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you I long for a vacation, even though I know it’s not happening. I have a feeling this will be my longest stretch ever with no travel. We’re considering getting some BBQ & bringing some to my mom.

We can’t go in, but we can social distance with her if she comes out on the porch. It would mean a really long day in the car (and for the dogs in the car, no way could we leave them at home for that many hours). Then do we eat it in the car or do we bring it home, which means reheating it hours later? If it ever stops raining . . .

Is it still cold enough to wear a Winter coat sometimes where you live?

Are you excited or bored by your runs/workouts? 

If you could travel, where would you go? 

I am also linking up with the  Fridays with Fairytales and Fitness from Fairytales & Fitness.

bfridayfairy

ICYMI: I took advantage of the one nice day this week to film outside; I talk about Karma vs Dharma here. I’m also going live on Facebook at 4 pm ET  hereto share a short-er preview of next week’s longer Yin Yoga video (which was also filmed outside — feels so much better out there!).

I can’t really interact with you while I’m doing the live video, but you can like it and/or comment and I’ll get back to you later! Maybe there will be a new meditation this weekend . . .

Be the first to know when I release new videos: sign up for my newsletter here to find out when I add new videos, and you’ll receive a free Self Love Affirmation PDF and a bonus audio-only version of this self love meditation.

Silver linings: Tea/coffee Date April 2020

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 29 Comments

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Mr. Judy and the dogs are once again front and center if we were getting together over a hot beverage. Aren’t they always?

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Pull up a chair and mug with Coco and Deborah and me for the ultimate coffee tea date: can we talk? Especially about the damn menopot!

Hard to believe this was just 3 years ago

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I would tell you I called my mom on my Dad’s birthday last week. He would have been 94. I didn’t mention it . . . and neither did she. She’s a pretty stoic person in general, although during the months of his decline she was a nervous wreck. Now she’s had time to decompress (now she has too much alone time though!).

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you that one of the things that has changed for me is the way I food shop. I was used to going several times a week, never getting more than I can carry in one load — and always using reusable bags.

Now I try to limit it to once a week, which makes the fresh veggies harder to keep stocked, but of course limits my exposure. The irony is that after enforcing a no plastic bag law (fine by me), now they’re saying don’t use reuseable bags. Some stores. Some are okay with it as long as you pack it yourself — fine by me, I actually prefer to pack my own bag, but at the smaller grocery stores they actually make that difficult.

I took cleaning spray to the store and sprayed the bags before I actually left, then again after I unpacked them. I know, I know, I should have been doing that all along.

At least last week I could use these, haven’t been to the store yet this week

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you that so far I’ve mostly been able to find what I needed. I’d also tell you that I don’t think I’m hoarding, but I have actually been spending more at the food store (I saw a news story that the grocery stores have seen a surge in sales!).

I am buying some things just in case I am unable to find them next time I shop. Although my freezer is now full to bursting, so I guess we’re good!

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you I have noticed more runners pretty much everywhere I went in the last couple of weeks. It’s obvious that some of these are relatively new runners. Good coming from bad — there’s always that silver lining!

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you I notice what I call the 9/11 effect. We went to NYC after 9/11, after a long absence from the city because Mr. Judy isn’t fond of it and we lived in TX at the time. It was a 40th birthday present to me, so about 6ish months afterward (we didn’t go right on my birthday — NYC in the middle of Winter is not for the faint of heart!).

Even Mr. Judy enjoyed the trip. He noticed that everyone was more courteous, more friendly, just in general nicer. I have noticed people being much nicer after COVID19 really hit.

Are you noticing any difference in people, if you’re out there walking or running?

Are you afraid to grocery shop? I’m not really, but Mr. Judy is beginning to freak out about it.

Can you think of any silver linings lately? 

I am also linking up with the  Fridays with Fairytales and Fitness from Fairytales & Fitness.

bfridayfairy

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ICYMI: I took advantage of the one nice day this week to film outside; I talk about Karma vs Dharma here. I’m also going live on Facebook at 4 pm ET  hereto share a short-er preview of next week’s longer Yin Yoga video (which was also filmed outside — feels so much better out there!).

I can’t really interact with you while I’m doing the live video, but you can like it and/or comment and I’ll get back to you later! Maybe there will be a new meditation this weekend . . .

Be the first to know when I release new videos: sign up for my newsletter here to find out when I add new videos, and you’ll receive a free Self Love Affirmation PDF and a bonus audio-only version of this self love meditation.

Running Down a New Normal: Runfessions March 2020

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 29 Comments

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March most definitely did not go out like a lamb. As you can tell, I try to work on my Runfessions throughout the month, and I’d written most of this post before all the craziness really started.

It’s a great time to focus on the things that are good in our life, and these linkups are one of those things! I mean seriously, who would even read this blog without the linkups?

I would tell you . . .
I was rather relieved when it became difficult to visit my mom on her birthday. As much as I wanted to be there for her, I was still getting over something and I was teaching Yoga that morning.

I hated the fact that I couldn’t be there, but I’d struggled with whether or not I should be — I’d been sick, not very sick, but was it the right decision to go where there’s a large number of elderly people?

Update: Obviously now I know it was absolutely the right decision.

I runfess . . .
I was really interested in a Yin Yoga training locally this month. Unfortunately it fell as I was just getting back into running after being sick, and it was 2 full days on the weekend. I’d already missed a long run the week previously. It was forecast to rain the Friday before, and I didn’t feel recovered enough to do a long run in a chilly rain.

Update: that studio is closed, but they are livestreaming classes. The reason I wanted to take the course was to have an in person teaching, though, since my training was online.

I runfess . . .
I was getting pretty excited about going to DE for the half next month. I was researching things to do, we’d made our hotel reservation.

Update: cancelled. I contacted the hotel we made the reservation at on their Website, but I haven’t heard back, so I guess I better call them. I never did call them, but they finally called me to tell me they’d be closing. Hello, check your Website occasionally. Well, I’ll give them a pass considering what’s going on.

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I runfess . . .
I have not had a massage in quite a few months. I didn’t get my usual birthday massage. I was, however, rewarded for my ongoing decluttering in my spare room — I came across a Spa Finder gift card for $50! That’s about the size of a tip for a massage (kidding, but not too far off the truth). I was so excited!

Update: Even though I’m fairly certain I didn’t have COVID-19, I’ve been practicing as much social distancing as possible just in case. Which means no massage right now. 😦 Of course the further update is they’re not open.

I would tell you . . .
I bought two new-to-me Brooks running shoes. The first time I wore the they were incredibly comfortable! Yet the next day the sole of my foot felt funny. Not painful, just kind of stretched and achy. I’d bought these shoes because my easy run shoes were about a year old with a lot of miles on them and I didn’t want to experience Plantar Fasciitis. WTF?

It remained that way several days, but eventually felt fine. In that time it occurred to me that I’d gone back to using my Shinttek (you can buy it here and read my review here) after a long hiatus, and that might be the culprit. Sure enough, after my next run, my feet felt fine. Whew!

Update: I’ve continued to run in the shoes and my feet feel completely normal. Thank goodness because I really like them!

Are you turning your thoughts to Fall now? 

Any virtual races you’re excited about (not my cup of tea)?

Do you have more running shoes than you really need now that there are no races?

What do you have to runfess from March? Come join us

ICYMI: I’m going back to basics today on the YouTube Channel here. I’m sharing tips to better planking. I hope to have another meditation out this weekend, and yet another next week! If you do like these meditations, please press the like button — it helps me continue to bring everyone free videos.

Be the first to know when I release new videos: sign up for my newsletter here to find out when I add new videos, and you’ll receive a free Self Love Affirmation PDF and a bonus audio-only version of this self love meditation.

Runfessions

I am also linking up with:

 

Aging isn’t for sissies: Tea/coffee Date March 2020

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 29 Comments

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Mr. Judy and the dogs are once again front and center if we were getting together over a hot beverage. Aren’t they always?

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Pull up a chair and mug with Coco and Deborah and me for the ultimate coffee tea date: can we talk? Especially about the damn menopot!

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I would tell you Mr. Judy was away last week at a conference. I finally got my alone time. Somehow I accomplish a great deal more when he isn’t home. I am, however, very grateful that we were not clobbered with a big snowstorm this time.

Mr. Judy has gone to this conference many times, and we’re almost always hit with a big one while he’s away. I didn’t have to shovel once!

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you that I am all care-giver’d out. It’s been one thing after another since we moved to NY 11 years ago: parents and a whole string of aging furkids. Lola was having stomach issues while Mr. Judy was gone. She was waking me up several times a night to go outside. I am quite grateful that she didn’t just do something inside, but still.

One night it was so bad that I left the back door, the one with the pet door that we usually close at night, open. I knew it was the only way I was going to get any sleep.

Aging is not easy, in humans or animals. Good thing they’re cute.

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you that it is also ironic — and sad — that 4 years ago Lola was the one that had to be admonished to slow down on walks because Chester was in heart failure and couldn’t walk that fast. Now it’s Bandit who has to slow down for Lola. She’s not in heart failure, at least not yet, but she is old (14) and definitely showing it.

No worries, I still have plenty that fit & are flattering.

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you I have a large pile of jeans to donate. They actually fit — my guess is that I am probably thinner now than I was when I bought them — but let’s just say things have shifted and a lower rise does this middle aged body no favors. Damn menopot! Do you feel me? I know some of you do, anyway.

If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you that something is going on with me and soap lately. I brought a different brand of dishsoap. In trying to get it going the first time, I ended up with soap all over my sweater. I was not pleased. I won’t be buying that brand again.

Then I was reaching over to get the cup that holds our toothbrushes so I could wash it, and I knocked the soap container into the sink, where it proceeded to break into a million pieces.

I scooped up the pieces to throw out in the garbage in the kitchen, unwittingly trailing soap across the bathroom, the hallway, and the kitchen floor. There’s a trash can in the bathroom. Don’t ask me why I didn’t just throw it in there. Maybe sleep deprivation The soap container was cheap, but I really liked it. I almost bought two at the time . . .

Is your body shifting (but maybe not your weight)?

One word to describe 2020 Winter so far? I admit I don’t know what I’d pick, so I’m interested to see what you pick.

Do you buy multiples of things you like? 

I am also linking up with the  Fridays with Fairytales and Fitness from Fairytales & Fitness.

bfridayfairy

Not so humble: Runfessions February 2020

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 37 Comments

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February may be my birthday month, and I was happy there was no big snowstorm. That’s usually when the big storms hit. I enjoyed all the festivities. I runfess that right now I’m not so much enjoying the running (until last Sunday, when we had almost Spring-like temps, no wind, and sunshine.

As I was finishing this up, however, it was raw, gray, and dreary yet again. But those bulbs are coming up, and before you know it we’ll be complaining about the heat.

I would tell you . . .
I’m a pretty modest person. I would even say humble. Except . . . I remember a day fairly early in February when I was running and saw another woman out there running. I think I’d asked her in the past what her easy pace was, thinking we might be compatible, but it was faster than mine and she didn’t take the bait.

I have to admit that I got some satisfaction from the fact that I was running faster than her, without trying to.

I wrote about being a humble runner five years ago here, when Deb @ debruns.com was still running her Wednesday Word linkup. I’d say that post was fairly accurate.

Lucky I don’t have to run in the dark & cold

I runfess . . .
I’m an early bird, but I just have no desire to run earlier in the morning when it’s colder out in Winter. So I *sometimes* (but not always) choose to run on my own so I can pick a time and place I prefer.Lately it’s been a lot, but mostly due to all the stress I was under. Then my friends made that generous donation in honor of my Dad and I felt badly!

I runfess . . .
The April half, after much back and forth, can be run. Except there’s some other things going on in my life that still makes it iffy. I don’t feel a really strong desire to run it, I must say. I think that’s mostly due to the Winter blahs. Pretty sure I’ll have a good time if I do get to run it.

Seriously, aren’t they the cutest?

I runfess . . .
I got some birthday gelt (Yiddish for money), and I’ve been hard at work putting it to use. Maybe a little too hard. There are Yoga books, there are some new clothes, new socks (regular, not running), a tiny little singing bowl and statue of Ganesh (remover of obstacles, the God of beginnings), and a rose quartz vibrating face roller — it’s supposed to promote collagen formation. I have absolutely no idea whether or not it does, but it feels great, looks pretty and wasn’t expensive. You can find it on Amazon here (Amazon Affiliate link).

I would tell you . . .
I keep putting on my goals to try out other minimal drop shoes. Yet I don’t. Which is why I end up (or Mr. Judy ends up) buying shoes from England. Truly, I need to try out Altras! I used to like Brooks minimal drop shoes way back when, but haven’t heard good things about recent models.

Do you have recommendations for minimal drop shoes other than Newtons? 

Are you excited for you next big goal race?

Is your running suffering from winter blahs?

What do you have to runfess from February? Come join us

Runfessions

I am also linking up with:

Nature finds a way: Runfessions January 2020

~ Chocolaterunsjudy ~ 34 Comments

bnature

I’m runfessing and sipping tea all in one post. There wasn’t a whole lot of running in January, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have things to get off my chest. There always seems to be a steady stream of things to tell you and odd things going on in my life. I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours!

The Vitamix has been christened. It will be used a lot in the coming years!

I would tell you . . .
I’d been eyeing a new Vitamix for a few years. Mine is at least 12 years old, maybe older. It sees a lot of use. Mr. Judy found me a good deal, and it sat on the the counter. And it sat . . . and sat . . .

I had soups I wanted to make (I don’t use it as much for smoothies in Winter) but I just never could seem to find the time. I finally made a Potato Leek Soup and the new Vitamix is christened. Now to figure out what to do with the old one  . . . which still runs, by the way.

I runfess . . .
#thestruggleisreal when it comes to getting out the door in Winter. January was actually on the mild side, despite some snow, some freezing rain, and some bitter cold. But mostly it was unseasonably warm, including running in that skirt for one long run!

Finding the skirt? It was not something I expected to need in Winter, so it was packed away. But in which cube? Getting out the door is hard enough without having to go through the Summer running clothes!

I runfess . . .
Running on the treadmill usually means I do a more thorough warm up, because I’m not out there freezing my butt off waiting to get started. Things got intense mid-month, I was stressed, I was busy, I was tired. I realized as I was running on the mill one day that foam rolling never even entered my mind — I runfess that I didn’t do it afterwards, either (because it was already lunchtime and I was hungry!).

I runfess . . .
I did pretty good with food through most of the holidays. Until I spent much of the week between Christmas and New Years at my moms. Of course spending another week with her after my Dad passed was also a struggle, with more eating out and not many healthy choices available some days.

Who knew eating at a senior living community could be such a food struggle?

I shake my head every time I see this. It’s not the only one, either!

I would tell you . . .
We had a planter outside on the deck, and we brought it in knowing it would probably fall apart out there during Winter. It has pots with dead herb plants on it. In those pots, which have not seen a drop of water in months, these seedlings are growing — that’s what the subject of this post refers to. Seriously, how?

Have you ever seen plants growing without any water (other than cacti)? 

Have you had to haul out Summer running clothes this Winter?

Open stuff immediately, whether or not you’re ready to use it?

What do you have to runfess from January? Come join us

Runfessions

I am also linking up with:

Ultimate-Coffee-Date-1-300x300

Coco and Deborah for the ultimate coffee tea date.

As well as Fairytales and Fitness

It’s a party this weekend!