currently: april 2016

Here’s what’s been up in April… along with longer + brighter days, the light fog that’s hung around me for a big chunk of the past couple years has started to lift, finally. 

excited about

Representing HOKA as a flyer ambassador! In 2014, coming off a stress fracture and on coach’s recommendation, I (reluctantly) bought my first pair of Hokas. I thought they looked ridiculous and a bit too moon boot-y, but then I ran in them – and, have been running in them ever since. Nine pairs of Cliftons (and one pair of Conquests) later, I’m pumped to be representing a shoe I love that’s changed my running and allowed me to run some crazy mileage injury-free!

drinking

Tart cherry concentrate. I cannot get enough of this, you guys. I can’t remember who told me about tart cherry juice (my go-to is Stanton Orchards), but I finally picked some up at the co-op a few weeks ago, and it’s now one of my daily drinks (along with kombucha, tea and a morning cup of Bialetti coffee). Mixed with Vintage pink grapefruit sparkling water, it’s the perfect treat before bed, as cherry juice contains melatonin. Other health benefits: high antioxidant + anthocyanin (an anti-inflammatory) levels and high oxygen radical absorption capacity. Yes, please to all of that! 

FundAminos. Protein powders and I haven’t really been getting along lately (because there’s whey and/or stevia in nearly every single one), so after I started working with the awesome folks at pure clean powder a bit more in depth, I gave the FundAminos a try. It contains all eight essential amino acids “the body needs to support and strengthen its muscular, skeletal, enzymatic and hormonal systems” and is three times more effective than protein powder. Bonus: It doesn’t bother my GI, and it tastes great!

reading

A few months after starting it – and with a few reads in between – I finished Liz Gilbert’s Big Magic. So much underlining, so many dogeared pages! Bottom line: We’re all creative, in different ways, and it’s our obligation to create and pursue our art, whatever that art is. A few favorite nuggets… 

Do whatever brings you to life, then. Follow your own fascinations, obsessions, and compulsions. Trust them. Create whatever causes a revolution in your heart (page 101). 

Devotional discipline is the best approach. Do what you love to do, and do it with both seriousness and lightness. At least then you will know that you have tried and that – whatever the outcome – you have traveled a noble path. … When it’s for love, you will always do it anyhow (page 184).

Don’t let go of your courage the moment things stop being easy or rewarding. Because that moment? That’s the moment when interesting begins (page 247).

Other good reads this month: 

• Brené Brown nails it again with this piece. This… oh, how this line speaks to me(!): …finally realizing that the prime of our lives is not about answers – it starts when we finally allow ourselves to soften into the mysteries and live in the questions. Damn, is it hard to live in the uncertainty sometimes! Amiright?! I’m learning, through this article, Liz’s book and Brené’s Daring Greatly course, that showing up no matter how I look and trying my best is where the magic happens – and, I want to experience that magic. 
• Piggybacking on that is Darius Foroux’s 25 life lessons. I can’t pick a favorite because they’re all important. Be nice, keep learning, practice gratitude and #ZFG… yes, yes, yes and yes. 
• And, Seth Godin on focus. We *get* to choose. 

angry about

Unequal pay for women. It’s 2016, folks. How is this still something we experience?! Just one example: the U.S. women’s soccer team. Trevor Noah nailed it with his recent segment on The Daily Show. These hard working + talented women earn a quarter – a QUARTER –  what the U.S. men’s soccer team earns. WTF. 

recovering from

The flu. Oof. I felt great last Friday and spent the day at a women coaching symposium (more on that soon) and the evening catching up with my family. When I woke up Saturday morning, I nearly threw up after taking one sip of coffee. I promptly went back to bed, head pounding and stomach in knots, sure that because I’m a one-glass-of-wine lightweight, it was a hangover. Not so, as I woke up on and off throughout the day to dry heave. Midday Sunday rolled around, and after sleeping about 32 hours of the previous 36, the sickness finally started to lift. A steaming bowl of pho for dinner, some electrolytes and a hot shower capped off the evening, and by Monday midday, I was feeling close to 100 percent. 

loving

Cycling outside + this Coeur Sports leather cycling wallet. After months on the trainer, the weather finally warmed up enough to ride outside. This, on two wheels in the sunshine, is my happy place. 

I’ve long used ziploc bags to keep my cell phone from getting soak in sweat while out biking. Not any more thanks to Coeur’s cycling wallet. It’s functional – water resistant and fits an iPhone 6 – and, it’s cute thanks to black leather and a pink zipper. I may or may not be using this daily to carry my phone and ID. 

scheming 

Future plans! It’s no secret I’ve bounced around the past few years trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. During a particularly meh day earlier this month, while listening to a podcast during my evening commute, it finally hit me. Never in my career have I had a path to follow or goals that excited me – until now. The plan is falling into place, and I’m working toward something that lights me up. I’ll share more as I continue on this journey toward job love… cheers to that!