Shipping Up!

I'm currently in the forever-awkward-post-Mani/Pedi-can't-touch-anything position. It's awful. There are plenty times each day where I'm sedentary enough that my nails would dry perfectly without a single rub or smudge, but right after a manicure? Must touch everything! Right after a pedicure? Feet-so-cold, this blanket won't ruin that coat of polish that must have dried 20 minutes ago? Lies.

Whenever you're in doubt, always wait 20 more minutes for drying, just as a safety measure. 

These drying nails didn't help me get laundry done any quicker and didn't let me sweat and didn't help me pack, but they are done and unsmudged and I call that a victory.

Pack? 

Yes! I'm headed out of town to Upper-Right USA for a long weekend. Maybe see me around and maybe you won't. Instagram is your best bet!

There's a lot I'm looking forward to about this trip, but think these two new companions are high on the list. At least for those middle-seat plane rides I've become accustomed to! 

Have you read either of these? Have a great weekend!

The Reading Confession

I may have stirred up a bit of controversy yesterday with my comment about how "I don't read novels" and then how I'd never read any of the books Alyssa noted as must-reads. Also not knowing anything about Jodi Picoult or how to spell her name put some negative points in the Jessi-is-awesome column.

Nobody shamed me but they'd love for me to see the light in the stories that are out there that can change a life. I had a serious heart-to-heart with Alyssa, followed by Kristen's heart breaking over the facts. I felt like it was finally time to share...

I can't read.

Just kidding, haha. Somehow it's still in my head that confessions are synonymous with April Fools. I play.

But really, I can read despite the way I often misuse grammar/punctuation. It's not that I don't like reading. I really enjoy reading! It's a way to step out of the present and into the lives of the characters. It's a way to decompress. It's a cuddly way to spend cozy time in the winter. It's a peaceful way to spend sunny time in the summer. I understand all of the wonderful things about reading, I do.

It's just that I don't make time to read stories.

Like I said yesterday, my interests gravitate more toward self-help books, like any of the following titles I've purchased on Amazon in the last 4 months:

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

The SPEED of Trust

The Willpower Instinct

The Power of Habit

I do want to make time to read stories, the ones that will make me feel or think or understand. The ones that I can find myself within or the ones that are just as intriguing because I'm unable to find myself in them.

This is why I was so ecstatic and so public about joining Plucky's book club. It really is a huge accomplishment for me to read a ~300 page story in the course of a month. It takes dedication and willpower and wantpower!

The last story I read was Eleanor & Park in March with a few other lovely blogger ladies, and I really enjoyed it!

Before Eleanor & Park, it's unfortunate to say that the last novel I read was either The Hunger Games or - don't hate me, Melissa - Fifty Shades (#2, because I didn't finish #3), neither within the last year. Likely back in 2013 when I'd read a book while a former love interest of mine would play video games. 

You'd think that with all the cross-country flights I've been on - especially in the middle seat - that I'd have a bit more reading under my belt but somehow I've passed that time with internet browsing, napping or scrolling through the 2,000 photos on my camera roll. Productive? Never. Entertaining? Always. 

Next up for Plucky's book club is The Opposite of Loneliness, but I guess there are a few other books out there that will strike my fancy? 

Oh, remember that time I faked you out that I was getting a puppy? Sorry if you missed it but that was an epic April Fools prank! 

What are you confessing with Melissa today?

Last Favorites of March

Well.

I'm not quite sure how it happened but this week I was a Monday - Wednesday - Friday blogger.

The easy stuff only. Weekend recap, some kind of confession (about nails and personal struggles) and my favorite things from the week. I might be a bad blogger to say it, but the 3x a week thing is one of my favorites worth mentioning, but I'm going to tuck it into this paragraph so only those of you actually reading will know what a bad blogger I am!

This weekend should be a great one and I'm planning to soak up my time at home since I'll be out of town the next 3/4 weekends after that in April. Home, ClassPass and maybe some hiking if I get really lucky with the weather. What are you up to this weekend?

Favorite Animal Video

This dog wasted some perfectly amazing food and did it adorably. Fritz, you're cute, but damn you are awful at catching. This video is worth a watch! 

Favorite Read

I think it's worth mentioning that I'm about to finish a..... don't be shocked.... a book! I am still about 100 pages away but I am ecstatically anticipating book club wine night with Plucky, MacKensie, Melissa and whoever else of you lovely ladies has been reading along with us all month! 

Now if only I could find this Eleanor Wine and drink it in a park Sunday night, all would be perfect with the world. 

Favorite Find

What, have you heard about this company Priv? They are in NYC, LA and London and it's a beauty and wellness company that offers contracted services to you wherever and whenever you want. Haircut at home, makeup for a night out, manicure for your interview, yoga in your sunroom, eyebrows over coffee? It's all accessible to you right where you need it through this company. Talk about awesome (and a really easy way to reduce overhead costs for the professionals providing their services)! Maybe I won't need to learn how to do a self-manicure after all.  Come to Portland next?

Favorite Night

Thursday was the greatest night of them all. Sunny sunroof-open drive, Bad Yogi Stretchy session for commuters, 75-minute massage, tasty paleo dinner and a great night's rest with ambitious goals for my Friday.

Try this yoga session for those of us who bus, drive, bike, sit, etc after work (should be most of you!)

Are you ladies linking up with Amanda for this week's Friday Favorites?

Inspired Confessions

I could have come to you today with the boring and #basic confessions like "agh! I already bought two bags of Easter jelly beans!" or "I didn't even want to go out last night for St. Patrick's day, and also because I don't have friends".

Those are fun confessions, but predictable. 

Rather, all of my confessions today are inspired by articles I saw on Thought Catalog yesterday. I am not this clever or creative myself, but can at least link you back to the article that inspired the confession. Are we okay with that? Cool!

Make sure you're linking up with Melissa when you join the party!

:: Last week I confessed that I joined and dropped a dating website/app that just wasn't for me. I can confess that is wasn't MissTravel, which is apparently a website that allows the "Generous" and the "Attractive" to find each other and travel together. One has the money and means to do it, but nobody to travel with. One has great looks and I'm assuming no job? (article here)

:: Never have I ever cleaned a makeup brush. I've cleaned paint brushes and hair brushes, but never makeup. That's possibly because I buy from Target's Elf collection and if they get gross or broken or tired, I go buy another for $2.99 and spend another $50 on things I desperately don't need. Shame me, please. (article here)

:: My real-life dating disasters have included a former wrestler who just wanted to put me in wrestling holds without wanting anything else, a guy that perspired the entire time during our dinner date... yet never ordered food and another guy who got a second date but decided that we were "getting too serious" because we held hands in a theater and I texted to make sure he got home safely? Sure there's more but that was enough for today. (article here)

:: My favorite holiday of all isn't actually a "holiday". It's April Fools! The meanest thing I have ever done was to stage a fake breakup with a former boyfriend, getting upset over something I was actually upset over, but taking it way overboard. I took what I could from his house, swore that I would come back and get the rest 'another day' and while I was out I went to a coffee shop for a few hours to read the Hunger Games in peace. That's how long ago this was. I've realized more recently that games like this aren't appropriate 'April Fools' territory. However, some of these are fun. (article here)

Okay, that was fun. Also oddly very "dating" related.

What are you confessing today??

4 - 3 - 2 - 1 Favorites

Happy Friday to you and you and you! 

We're supposed to have some crazy wonderful weather in the high 60's this weekend and I can't wait to see what's in store! You can bet I'll be spending time out in nature!

This week long and full of focus. It's crazy to say, but I'm feeling balanced with this wild concept of blogging five days a week, meal prepping, reading, going to workout classes and of course still having me-time. 

Want something done right? Give it to a busy person! 

Today we are counting down to Favorites just like we've counted down to Friday all week.

4, 3, 2, 1 - go! 

Four Favorite Fitness Reads

People are fitnessing all over the place and I'm getting back into reading all of the wonderful that's out there in the internet world about fitness, fitness philosophy and how being into sweating moves into many other parts of your life and not just your workout. Enjoy these four reads as much as I did.

Beginning A Yoga Home Practice - AlyssaGoesBang
Fitness Jesus Comes in Many Forms - Real Talk With KB
Inevitable vs Optional - Tracy Tris
Get that A$$ into Shape and Keep it There - Deadspin

Three Favorite Selfless Blogging Hacks

These three posts are selflessly devoted to helping you be a better blogger. From fresh topics to blogging tips for newbies and pro's alike all the way to how you can be better at the twitter machine. Even if you don't want to up your blogging game (or you're not a blogger) these are still great reads to expand your creativity.

30 Unique Post Ideas - Champagne Laced
10 Tips to Succeed at Blogging (not just for beginners!) - Meet at the Barre
9 Tips to Build Your Blog through Twitter - Hello Rigby!

Two Favorite Photos

One beautiful, one terrifying. Let's play "Match the description to the photo"!

One Favorite New Song

Yeah, this. NSFW. Yes, Safe for dancing.

Happy Friday!

Please link up with Amanda and share all your favorites this week!

So Much Random

I don't have any clear thoughts today that I really could put much energy behind, so forgive me for the random.

Topic 1: 

Guys, I joined a book club. Not just any book club, Plucky's book club!

I was invited to it this month after hearing about the amazing time the current members had last month when they got onto a Google Hangout, drank wine (before, during and after the call), chatted about the book and obviously other non-book things that blogger chicks love to talk about. The choice is Eleanor & Park and Amazon will be ever-so-kindly delivering it to me today. It's definitely a "young-adult / teen" book and probably the equivalent of a chick-flick in book form which will make it even easier to read. Win!

Topic 2:

Can anyone explain how I was nominated for the 2015 Best of Blogging Awards? 

If you didn't see it, this single post apparently has all of the bloggers that you're not currently following but you should be following in one special location on the internet. Go check it out and get inspired. 

I was placed in a category called "The Healthiest Honey" and have some pretty strong competition against ladies who have published books, ladies who make Instagram fitness their jobs and ladies who have won actual awards for the way their bodies look. 

I guess I bring a fitness-enthusiast-realism flavor to the blog land with my "I'll try anything once" attitude. I guess I encourage ladies to love themselves and take care of themselves. But to be in the mix with those others, I giggle. Thanks for the ab workout whoever nominated me! Maybe I'm best suited in "The Savvy Single" but then I'm alongside MacKensie and yeah, no.

Topic 3:

As a career-hungry 20-something, I beyond loved everything that this article was about. The basic concept that networking can be done away from the office and while you're sweating is brilliant. The idea that you show so much of your personality by showing commitment to your fitness, that you create an experience through a workout rather than traditional conversation over coffee. If this sounds interesting I suggest you check it out.

Plus, my new favorite word was born. Sweatworking (like networking in case you missed it)

This is all I'll put you through today, thanks for playing friends!

Five Things

Do you know why I adore Brooke?

1. Our friendship basically started over Pinterest-stalking each other
2. She's hilarious and one of the most down to earth people I know
3. Girl always tags me!

(Okay so there's many more reasons but that would be a post in itself)

Last week Brooke accepted her tag in the 5 Things post and she decided to sent it my way.

She promised this post was going to be easy so I'm going to give it a shot (from 30,000 feet) en route to Toronto for the week.

5 Things I'm Passionate About

Running

I've considered myself a runner since my Junior year in high school, but really kicked it up a notch the first year out of college when I no longer had a routine workout schedule. Since December of 2009 I've had a goal of running 100 (or more) miles per month and I've happily met and exceeded this goal. Running allows me to think, process, be accountable and push toward a fitness-happy goal.

Health

My health is very important to me and above all its important that those around me are healthy as well. As I think about the adult and mother I want to be, I have a fit, energetic, happy, relaxed and easy-going woman in mind.

Laughter

Laughing is my absolute favorite thing to do in this world. Dan captured me with his wit and sense of humor, I associate with hilarious individuals and have a deep appreciation for people who can make any situation laughable.

Being in Love

I'm so in love with my Daniel that it would be hard to not list him as something I'm passionate about. He makes my tail wag like a puppy.

Education

I have always been a sponge for new information. I soak it up. Three degrees in college and I'm still hungry for knowledge. I think that the more we know, the better informed we are to live our lives happily and courageously. While I don't know if I plan to continue down the road of higher education, I'm always game for getting better at my photography, understanding human psychology and getting to the bottom of the things that inspire me.

5 Things I Want to Do Before I Die

Get Married
Raise children with good hearts and good values
2 week (at least) international vacation with Dan (get your passport!)
See the Northern Lights
Retire young

5 Reads I Love

Blogs on Blogs on Blogs

I'm a serial blog addict. Once upon a time I unfollowed a ton of blogs to close my world, but over time I'm back up to (maybe 50) that I read on a daily basis and love it all. This counts as reading, yeah?

Hand Written Letters

I love mail that comes in the actual mail. My dear friend Tanna is great at sending me hand written letters and I'm thrilled every time I open the envelope to an adorable card and an update on how her beautiful family is doing. I need to pay this forward more often.

TED Talks

Ok I know this isn't reading, but its some of the most intellectual content I digest. Yes, I'd still love it in print format. What I love about the talks is that every person is an expert in their field and the topics are always fascinating, have information I didn't know before and almost always an idea that has never entered my brain.

Chelsea Handler

To get my giggle on I turn to my kindle on iPad for any silly excerpt from Chelsea. If you have a good sense of humor you know that anything from her is gold.

Guilty as Charged

Yes, I've read all 7 Harry Potter books, all 3 Hunger Games books and 2.5 of the Fifty Shades trilogy (not exactly sure why I never finished). I also have been known to geek out over Excel handbooks, leadership strategy books an supply chain efficiency cases. Go ahead make fun, I'm judging me too.

5 Places I Want to Travel (and haven't been to!)

Cancun
Brazil
New Zealand
South Africa
Canary Islands

5 Movies I'll Never Get Tired Of

Shawshank Redemption
Step Brothers
The Lion King
Forrest Gump
Sandlot

5 Tags!

I know it says to tag somebody, so I'm going to throw it to the following girls that I hope will read this post and join the party.

Rachel @ Tossing the Script
Tami @ Friday Morning Buzz
Anna @ A Dash of Quirky
Lauren @ Method to my Madness
Macey @ Macey Perseveres

Easy post I promise!

20 Miles Later

I'd like to say that we had a pretty lazy weekend, but when I look back and remember feel that I ran 10 miles Friday night and 10 miles again on Sunday morning I really can't make that claim. Portland had glimpses of good weather this weekend and somehow I found those windows and took advantage. Also, that means I've already knocked out two of four 10 miles runs for February.

If we're honest, what I enjoyed the most about this weekend was having no plans and listening to what swept over me at the moment.  My only true plans were to get to 33 running miles for the month, grocery shop to re-stock the staples needed for Sunday night meal prep and watch the return of The Walking Dead that I've been anticipating for months now. With ease, all three were accomplished and I still had the chance to start a book about leadership that I remember enjoying in college. More on that topic soon.

I want to encourage everyone to go over to Brooke's post from last week about her famous Fresh Veggie Salsa - since that's what Dan and I are planning to enjoy in almost every meal together for the remainder of the week. I'm going to show you photos of my process. but force you to link to her page for the master recipe!

In addition to cooking and cleaning up a storm, I was proud of  Dan for seizing the opportunity to get his first round of golf in for the year (outside of the simulator). It's one of his biggest passions in life and even though I'm horrible at it I still need to encourage him to play and understand that it's an outlet for him similar to how running and blogging are outlets for me.

We stayed up way too late last night watching the previous, the new and the recap shows that The Walking Dead series had to offer. I wouldn't have it any other way! 

<3 JE

February's Eight Great Goals

Welcome, February! Please have a seat and make yourself comfortable - I've been waiting for you.

January has always been one of my least favorite months as far as months go and I've heard others say that too. It's a rude awakening from the holidays, the days are short, the nights are cold and my heat, energy and water bills are off the charts in comparison. I'd like to shine some positive light on January as a time to restart, to renew and for new beginnings - but truly every month should be approached this way. Just like everyday should be like Valentine's Day and you should call your mother more than only on her birthday, Christmas or Mother's Day. Little things.

This month is sure to present some challenges, like more dreary & cold weather,  three less days to complete 100 miles or that our workforce of three will drop down to two (ahh!). With all of the madness presented in those challenges there's still so much more to look forward to. Loving and nurturing Tiger, a no-frills baby shower invite, Super Bowl shenanigans, another 90 minute massage, return of AMC's The Walking Dead, Bailey's 1 and a half year birthday(!!!), girls night birthday fun, seeing Amanda (hopefully) when she makes her first visit to Portland after her big career move, continuing to live with my wonderful boyfriend ...and so much more I don't even know about!

Let's get down to it, my mission for the month!

February's Eight Great Goals:

1. Follow Amanda from RunToTheFinish in her #BestFoot challenge to Eat a Clean Breakfast every day in February

2. Read a book, cover to cover, for the pure pleasure of reading. Any suggestions are welcome - what have you read lately?

3. Practice my pool game before brother comes home in March.

4. Spend some serious time at mom and dad's house to go through 'the archives' that they've been holding onto my entire life since I moved out 7 years ago.

5. Encourage Dan to play golf and never ask that he does otherwise.

6. Pre-write 3 posts per week to eliminate some time constraints and pressures when it comes to delivering content by 8am.

7. Comment on other blogger's posts and participate in this worldwide community.

8. Log four 10-mile runs in preparation for my second #ToughMudder (first mudder here).

That seems like more than enough to keep me busy in the short 28 days. I am excited to share more with you as you share more with me!

<3 JE