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Happy June! Summer is upon us, and you know that means summertime travel! I am sure many of you are looking forward to some weekend escapes this summer. Or perhaps you are a light traveler and don’t want or require a lot of luggage. The more I travel, the more I try to consolidate and try to keep the packing to a minimum. It has been a bit easier with my discovery of the TLS Mother Lode Weekend Convertible by ebags. This backpack has changed the way I travel.
With this bag, I can bring everything I need without having to check a bag. The bag is lightweight at almost 4lbs. It fits nicely in the overhead bin on the plane.. It comes equpped with a fold down shelf and a divider to separate items. It is roomy inside and my packing cubes fit perfectly
There is a padded sleeve for a laptop, several interior pockets for documents and keys, and an expandable and stowable water bottle pocket.
It also comes with stowable back straps and a removable padded shoulder strap.
There is so much to this bag. In my opinion, you really can’t go wrong with this bag. Hence why it is this week’s Love of the Week!
Ahhh.. we had our first real taste of summer this weekend. I am so excited for the season. The days are longer, our schedules are relaxed and we live life at a different pace. The kids are out of school in a few short weeks and it is time for me to create my summer bucket list.
When my boys were small, I had an endless list of things I wanted to accomplish over the summer. It would include play dates at the playground, a day at a spray park, the children’s museum, etc. Now that R&N are 18 and 14, it gets a bit harder to come up with something that we would all enjoy. It is not impossible, but it takes a bit more planning and in some cases more money. Below are some ideas I have planned for my boys and I would love to hear your own ideas.
- Hit the beach! We get up early, spend most of the day at the beach, have a yummy dinner, and hit an ice cream shop on our way home.
- Try a different ice cream shop each week. We love ice cream, and though we have our favorites, we want to explore and see what else is out there.
- Attend a professional sporting event, like a baseball game or soccer match. I see a visit to Fenway Park in the future.
- Be a tourist in your own capital city. This summer we plan on walking the Freedom Trail with the boys. We also want to check out the new wax museum and a few new restaurants that have opened up in town.
- Go for a hike.
- Have a family movie night outside. Rent a projector, set up a white sheet as a screen, make some popcorn and you are good to go.
- Attend a firework show. Every July 3rd, my family gathers at Gillette Stadium for the local fireworks put on by the Kraft family. Harvard Pilgrim puts on a 5 and 10k race, Finish at the 50, on the same night. I run the race, my family cheers me on and then we stay to watch the fireworks. We set up a picnic, meet friends, and ring in the 4th a day early.
- Visit an amusement or water park.
- Buy a metal detector and go hunting. My son received one as a birthday gift and we plan to use it this summer.
- Volunteer. This summer I am looking for someplace to take my boys to volunteer for the day.
- Take a road trip.
- Get a job. This applies to my 17-year-old, but with college around the corner, it is a good one.
- S’mores over a firepit.
- Spend time with extended family, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
- Go to the drive-in movies.
These are just some of the ideas I have jotted down. Ultimately, each summer the list gets a bit longer and we never accomplish it all. However, as I look at it, we are never bored.
Tune in next week when I share what it is on my personal summer bucket list. Yes, I have one for me and one for the boys. Until next time, happy planning!
Yesterday I turned 47 years old. 47?!?! My goodness, where has the time gone? It seems like yesterday I was graduating from high school, headed off to start my college years. Now I have a 17-year-old son preparing to do the same. I remember turning 30 and panicking that I was getting old. I was stressed about it. I walked into Origins and spent an obscene amount of money on anti aging products. I thought if I am this panicked over 30, what the hell will I be like at 40? I am happy to report, I survived, and, the older I get, the more I embrace it. I mean, let’s face it, it is better than the alternative.
Since turning 40, my life has become my own. I no longer do things just to please people. I do what I feel is best for my family and me. I don’t let other people’s opinions of me bother me. As Rachel Hollis says, other people’s opinions of you are none of your business. The last 7 seven years has had its highs and lows, each of which has caused to me grow into the woman I am today.
The most significant of these, the death of my Mom 5 years ago. Mom passed much too soon, at the age of 61. Though I would do anything to have her back, there has been some good that has come from her death. My sisters, Dad and I are closer than ever. It drove home the point that life is much too short and we must live it. Don’t let life pass you by, but seize opportunities and run with them.
Speaking of opportunities, I have done just that. I have taken chances professionally and personally, all having paid off. I can’t say I would have done any of these in my younger years. I cared too much of how it would be perceived or that I would fail. Well, as I said above, I no longer let what other people think affect me, and failure, well that is all part of growth.
In the last seven years, I have fallen in love with fitness. I became a marathoner! This is something I NEVER dreamed I would or ever want to do. I have a healthier relationship with my body. I have expanded my social circle, coming out of my shell, and connecting with others with similar interests and goals in life. I guess you can say; I found my tribe. I have raised babies into beautiful, kind teenagers. My husband, I reached 20 years of marriage. Twenty years is a long time! We have traveled to various places around the world as a family and continue to add to this travel list as the years go on.
What is most exciting to me on my birthday, the future ahead. There is still so much to do in this life, and I plan to make the most of it.
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It is that time again. I promise you, this week’s love of the week is not a hair product. Though, it does go around your head.
I don’t know about you, but I when I run, clean the house, or want to drown out my kids (only kidding!), I want to grab a pair of earbuds and listen to some music, a podcast or an audiobook. However, earbuds drive me crazy. After a while, they become very uncomfortable. As I sweat, they fall out of my ears and I have to keep readjusting them. I can’t hear anything else around me. This is a concern of mine when out running. I want and need to be aware of my surroundings. The solution?? AfterShokz !
AfterShokz are bone conduction headphones. Sound is vibrations. The vibrations travel through the air to our eardrums. With a bone conduction headphones, the sound is vibrating against the cheekbone, sending the vibrations to the inner ear, bypassing the ear canal. As you can see from the photo, the transducers sit against the cheekbones outside the ear canal. There is nothing blocking the ear canal, causing discomfort. Again, with nothing blocking the ear canal, one can still hear everything around them. I am very aware of when a car pulls up, someone is walking behind me, etc.
There a few different models. I own the Trek Air. I had the Trek Titanium, but stepped on them and they snapped. I went with the Trek Air because they are smaller. I also wanted a fun color and loved this color red.
The headphones are wireless, light, have a 6-hour battery life and are sweatproof. I have worn them in the rain, though please do not submerge in water or leave out in bad weather. I have worn them in the gym and even with all the noise there, could hear perfectly fine. I have even taken a phone call or two on them. Often times, I have come home from a run and forget I had them on long after I have turned them off, they are that comfortable.
If you are ever in the market for a pair of headphones, I highly recommend AfterShokz. I will never go back to earbuds again!
Shop Aftershokz Headphones Today!
Shop The Trekz Air Tech Bundle at Aftershokz.com!
Shop The Trekz Titanium Adventure Bundle at Aftershokz.com!
Has this happened to you? 3:00 pm rolls around and BOOM, you hit a wall? In fact, I am experiencing it right now, and it is the inspiration for this blog post.
I find when I am not doing certain things daily, the witching hour, as I like to call it, hits me like a ton of bricks. I am cranky, tired, and want to go home and to bed. However, 99% of the time, this is not realistic. I usually have an hour or so of work left; I have places to be in the evening, I sometimes still have to get my workout done, make dinner, etc. It can be neverending. It begs the question, how do I move past this and stop feeling this way. It is quite simple. I need to go back to the healthy habits I created a while ago. Here are eight things that I try to do regularly and that you can too, to keep my energy up all day long.
- Wake up and go to bed the same time each day. I find I am at my best when I am in bed by 9:30 pm and up between 5-5: 30 am. This goes for the weekends as well.
- Get 7-8 hours of sleep a night. In law school, up until I hit 40, I lived and prided myself on the fact I only needed 4 hours a night. Those days are long gone.
- Eat a healthy, hearty breakfast. It should include protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fat. This fills me up and keeps me full until mid-morning.
- Do not go more than 3-4 hours without eating. I make sure to pack enough snacks during the workday to keep me satisfied. It also keeps me away from the vending machines. I pack a no/low-fat Greek yogurt, hummus and veggies, apples and peanut butter, slices of deli turkey, or some nuts and seeds.
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate Often I find when I am tired, it is because I have not had enough water. I drink half my body weight in ounces, plus more due to my running schedule.
- Fit in exercise. Exercise not only makes us feel better physically but mentally as well. When I start my day with a workout, I feel energized and, it carries through the day. If I work out at lunch, it gives me the boost I need to get through the afternoon.
- Get up and move every hour to an hour and a half. Sitting at a desk all day is one of the worst things we can do. I make sure to get up and move every hour.
- Take breaks throughout the day. Talk a co-worker, take a walk outside, call a friend. 10 mins are all it takes to re-energizer the next couple of hours.
What about you? Do you do any of these things to recharge during the day?
So, you want to be a runner? Almost seven years ago I had this same thought. My family and I were at Gillette Stadium getting ready to watch some 4th of July fireworks. We arrived early to secure a prime spot for watching the show. As we were sitting around waiting, I noticed runners were running through the stadium. Every July 3rd, a local health insurance company sponsored a 5 and 10k race. It was at that moment; I knew I wanted to become a runner. The next day, in 100-degree heat, I started my journey. Was it easy? No! Did I make mistakes? Yes! I made them all. I never took the time to seek out advice. I just grabbed a pair of sneakers (ones that did not fit well) and ran. So that your journey may be a bit more painless, I am offering 8 tips to get you started.
- Invest in the right tools. This includes the proper running shoes, running bra and socks. I recommend taking a trip to your local running store. They will properly fit you based on your gait. They will watch you walk either on a treadmill or out in front of the store to analyze your gait. I cannot stress enough how important it is to have properly fitted shoes. Since it is such an individual decision based on your own body, I really can’t recommend any particular brand. I can say, I wear Brooks and love them. Just as important, running socks. I swear by Balega running socks. These are the most comfortable socks. I never get blisters and are just as comfortable at the end of my run, as they are at the beginning of my run. Lastly, a good running bra. Again, I highly recommend going to a local running store and getting fitted. Brooks makes my favorite bra.
- Invest in an app. There are several apps on the market for runners. Many of them are free, and most can be upgraded for a price. Couch to 5K is very popular. RunKeeper is another good one. You can set the apps so that you are running for so many minutes and walking for so many minutes. RunKeeper has plenty of programs for beginners. I wish I had done this. I started training too fast and too far. My first run was 3 miles. Much too far for my first time out.
- Track every run so you may track your progress. Again, I recommend either RunKeeper or Strava.
- Pace yourself. Slow down and run at a pace you are comfortable running. The risk of injury is high if you go out too hard and too fast. Over time, you will get stronger and faster.
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
- Add some simple strength training moves. This helps prevent injury. I strength train 3 three times a week. If you are not sure what to do, drop me a note, I would be happy to make some suggestions.
- Rest days are important. Rest days are part of your training and should not be ignored.
- Sign up for a local 5k. This will give you the motivation and incentive to keep on training.
I hope you find these tips helpful. Running is such a joy for me, and I would love it if more people could experience that joy.
A little bit more about my running journey: I started running almost seven years ago, at the age of 40. I began to lose a few pounds, but it quickly became something more. I love talking to new runners and helping them start their journey. If you are looking for support, advice or just some motivation, feel free to reach out.
The last couple of weeks my son, Robbie, and I have been on several college tours. Robbie is a junior and just recently, has shown interest in the whole college process. Last month he had met with his guidance counselor and had a chat about what he wanted to study. Now, up until this point, he had shown very little interest in college, at least to me. He mentioned 3-4 schools to his counselor and said he wanted to study sports management. After doing some research, we narrowed the list down a bit and made some appointments to see the schools.
Since mid-April, we have seen four schools and have three more on our list. This past weekend we were at a university up in New Hampshire for an open house and tour. It is a bit further away and slightly bigger than the other schools. However, from the moment he stepped on the campus, he seemed to fit in. He walked over to the mascot and had his picture taken.
He was engaged during the tour and had a great conversation with members of the sports management department. During our lunch, I asked him what he thought. He told me that this school is now his number one choice.
As we were walking back to the car, I could not help but smile and be excited about what lies ahead for him. At the same time, my eyes filled with tears and my stomach felt like it was in knots. You see, whether he attends this school or another, in a little more than a year, he will be gone. He will be off on this new adventure. It is was at this moment it became clear, he was never mine, to begin with, he was only on loan. I also realized the one thing no one told me when I became a Mom.
It is an exciting time ahead, but there will also be some tears along the way.
Every morning my company sends out an e-mail entitled ‘Healthy Tip”. It contains one tip ranging from diet, exercise, self-care, family, finances and more. Today’s topic was “Making a Ten Year Goal.” I love articles like this, and it gave some great tips.
First, ten years is a long time. It may be a bit overwhelming to think of it all at once. The article suggested breaking it down into smaller goals, similar to what I described in my Goals vs. Resolution post earlier this year. Each goal should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-defined. Each goal should be a building block to your long-term goal. For example, my ten-year plan is to be retired, living a half a year in Topsail, North Carolina and half the year back home in Boston, traveling throughout. There are steps I need to take to make that plan come to fruition. For example, to retire early, I need to be maxing out my 401k. I want to have a second stream of income, so I don’t have to rely on my retirement income solely. To have a second stream of income, I need to monetize this blog. How am I going to do that? I write down my goals for monetizing the blog and work toward those. I need to find and save for a beach house. What are the steps I need to take reach that goal. The list goes on and on, keeping in mind the big picture, my 10-year plan.
Now it is your turn, have you thought about your ten-year plan? What steps have you taken to achieve your goal?
We are a little more than a week away from May 1st. The unofficial kick off to summer, Memorial Day weekend is six weeks away. My birthday is five weeks away, but I digress! Are you where you want to be in your health and fitness goals? I know I am NOT and starting today, that is going to change.
First, I want to make it clear, I am talking more than just weight loss. I am talking about going into the summer feeling our best, physically and mentally. This means fueling our bodies with the proper food, moving our bodies daily, taking time for self-care, sleep, and surrounding ourselves with positive, uplifting people.
At the beginning of the year, I committed to all of the above. Except for running, I have not kept up with the rest, and I can feel it. I have let my strength training slide, my eating habits have been less than stellar, and I lack sleep. I am not feeling comfortable in my own skin. I do not want to head into summer feeling this way. With my training season in full swing, I need to implement some changes. I am putting this out in the universe for two reasons, one to keep me accountable and two, to see if I can entice you to join me!
In looking over the last couple of months, I have concluded there are two reasons I have let my health and fitness goals slide, discipline and not being an active participant in my online accountability group. Accountability groups are key. Here are five reasons why accountability groups work.
- The group is always available. The group is right there, on Facebook, just a click away. If you have a question, facing a struggle, or just want to clelebrate a milestone, simply clikc on the group and tell them about it. Chances are, there is someone on the other end of their phone waiting to respond.
- Third Party accountability. It is a LOT harder NOT to follow through with your goals after you have declared them in a group.
- Learn from each other. Each of us bring something new to the group. As we share share our tips on nutrition and fitness, we learn and grow in our journey to come healthy.
- Positivity. There is no room for drama in these groups. We spend time building each other up, not tearing each other down. Need I say more?
- Like minded women working toward similar goals tend to shine. I have seen it over and over again.
As you can see, there are some great benefits to belonging to an accountability group. It is time I stop the talk and walk the walk. I have been just going through the motions, and that needs to stop. I learned a long time ago, I can’t, nor do I want to do this alone. On April 29th, I am starting up an accountability group on Facebook. It is a free, private, judgment-free group. We will share our goals, struggles, our daily food and fitness logs, exchange recipes and more. The goal is to be an active participant in the group; however, if you are not entirely ready to commit, you can be added and check it out. With summer coming, I want to be as healthy, mentally and physically as I can be. I would love for you to join me. Comment below or send me a message at lifeatmyownpace@yahoo.com. Let’s do this together!
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Hummm. I see a trend. Another product for hair has made my Love of the Week list. This week’s love is these sweet headbands called Sweaty Bands.
These non-slip velvet lined headbands are the only ones that stay in my hair. I have very thick, naturally curly hair. Most headbands do not remain in place, especially after a long run. That is until I found Sweaty Bands. Each RunDisney event I attend, I make sure to purchase a couple. Initially, I thought the brand was exclusive to RunDisney, so imagine my excitement when I found I could order some online.
I wear the bands not only when exercising, but anytime I want to keep my hair out of my face. I throw one on when putting on my make up or cleaning the house. The bands come in various colors, patterns, and different thicknesses. There is something for everyone.
Now I want to pass the love on to you. I have teamed up with Sweaty Bands and together are offering my readers 15% off their first order. Click on the photo below and enter SC15off at checkout. I can’t wait to hear what you think.
