Year 26 - Let's Go

What a birthday weekend it was. I am always so surprised and feel so warm and fuzzy inside with all of the birthday love that I get from family, friends and even old college course group-mates that you never thought you'd hear from again.

Before I go on about my weekend.... Happy Birthday to my mom!!! Another year older and definitely another year wiser.

Now to the weekend - all kinds of low key adventures made my time over the past three days well-spent.

Of course a birthday wouldn't have been a birthday without a cool morning run - and happily with few distractions I did one of my quicker runs than I've done in a while. Dropping my goal to only 50 miles has proved to give me fresher legs each time I hit the pavement and a brighter outlook for 5 miles rather than 10-15!

What other things made up my birthday weekend? Let me share!

Saucebox Happy Hour with a fun group of fellow Portland ladies: Laura, Ashley , Brooke, Jane and Rachel.

Coming home to an amazing surprise CLEAN job (THANKS MOM!) including new bedding.

A 90 minute massage with one of Portland's finest (Book today!)

Great dinner and time with parents at one of our SE favorites - Hopworks

Getting to see what all the hype is about Uptown Market with Brooke and Brad

Awesomely stayed in bed till 1:30pm on Sunday (missed spin class and early run plans - oh well!)

Went to Costco to get THIS GUY (strapped in for safety) You can get one too for under $30 while supplies last!



Week's Meat and vegetable prep, with an amazing taco salad for dinner

And... went to bed at a decent time Sunday night to get myself in the right mindset for another long week ahead.

I can't thank you enough for all of the birthday love and I'm hoping this year will be as good as everyone wishes it'll go!

It Happened at Midnight

No Judgement allowed, but do you want to know what I did with my Thursday night?

First I went to Costco, where I almost got a pair of Red Hunters for $75 but wanted the gloss finish and they didn't have it in my size. Then I saw the oversized 37" tall stuffed panda's and wanted one SO badly because I'm a little needy for cuddles lately - but didn't want to get him wet in the rain. I left Costco with 2 pantry boxes of gum because I'm a gum fiend - then spent an hour and a half in traffic back across town. #FirstWorldProblems

Yes, I do plan to get that Panda soon

After what seemed like so much running around I got home and napped with the light on and my shoes still on - even though I had a big night of a workout, laundry and silly TV on the agenda.

When I woke up around 8:30 I was still not productive like I'd planned to be, and instead got stuck on my laptop checking out Buzzfeed, reading blogs and microwaving my dinner. Before I knew it - it was 11:50pm and I had a this unstoppable craving for some peppermint ice cream. I wouldn't have driven to get the magical flavor but since my 24-hour grocery store is only 2 blocks away I literally had no excuse. When I got home, peppermint and I had a date. All in all, a good night.

Cool story, Jessi.

Here's something for everyone!

• No matter how old I get, these things will still be painfully awkward.


• Want to ride the train in Moscow? It's free, but Drop and give me 30.


• Grammar lesson: Their, There, They're


• Cats acting like Humans


• Winning the war of attrition - great tips for preparation, focus and recovery

ALSO - Snapchat is fun.  Brooke and Brad know my antics and you can see them too: JumpingJE

Have a great weekend and Happy Birthday to me!

How Have We Not Mentioned my Birthday?

Well this is embarrassing.

I'm not sure how this slipped through the cracks oh yeah, probably the month-long blogging hiatus but Saturday is the day to celebrate my 26th year on this earth! 

You would think that since it's a Saturday birthday for a city girl that I'd have plans to be wined and dined, hit the town in my dancing shoes and come home so late that I'd be greeting the sunrise as I fumbled my way through my front door.

That might sound fun for some of you wild and still ready to party people out there - the honest truth is that my introverted self is looking forward to something a little calmer.

• Work Lunch Here


• Blate Here (blog date)


• Running


• 90 minute massage


• Closet cleaning (to make room for new things, duh!)


• Birthday weekend family time

Exciting weekend + other non-birthday related activities that won't leave me exhausted for Monday will help to carry on my happy, relaxed and productive lifestyle I've been living.

Just as proof that I'm not the party animal I once was, one of the amazing adult birthday presents I'm so excited about from mom and dad is a windshield replacement! My poor car has had a huge gash on her pretty face since the summer.

And hey, if you want to get me a present I won't stop you!

Jessi