This is an easy one today. Just tell me, what are you thankful for?
Need some inspiration? Let this guy help…
What are you thankful for?
running
39 Questions – Totally Stolen
Total disclaimer: I stole this from Snack Therapy last week. So read this, then feel free to steal it because it reminds me of that sort of LiveJournal (is that still a thing?) sort of old-school blogging. I love it I love it. So here goes!
1. Were you named after anyone?
Yes. I am my parents first, and they named me after this Stevie Wonder single.
My name is actually Cheri Armour, and one of the rough things about getting married is deciding whether to change my beautiful last name that my parents gave me or not. Ah. I’ve got a ton of time to decide, right?
2. When was the last time you cried?
It kind of makes me cry to think about it. But the last time I really cried was when my grandmother died. I cried for real when it was time to lay her to rest. And it was really hard. Let’s move along.
3. Do you like your handwriting?
Yeah duh. I write like a total girl. Wanna see?
4. What is your favorite lunch meat?
I’m a vegetarian. So none, please 🙂
5. Do you have kids?
No. But I think I’d like some. I think I’d be a good mom.
6. If you were another person, would you be friends with you?
Yes. I think I always try to do the right thing. I value that in other people. I hope they value that in me. And I really love my friends. I hope they can see that.
7. Do you use sarcasm a lot?
Absolutely yes. That’s truly how I used to deal with my problems. I do it now because it’s like a second language.
8. Do you still have your tonsils?
I do! I used to get sore throats a lot, but honestly, since I’ve started running, it’s not really been a thing as much.
9. Would you bungee jump?
Absolutely not. I’m terrified of heights. I’m embarrassed at how scared I am of heights.
10 What is your favorite cereal?
I am so boring. I don’t really eat cereal. But when I was a kid?
This.
And this.
These are both things that I enjoyed with my mom as a kid, and I’d probably start crying if I took a bite of either of these two now. It just reminds me of really happy stuff.
11. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?
Yes.
I mostly wear running shoes and it’s expensive to just mush them off, and it’s really bad for the tendons in your ankles to mush them off.
12. Do you think you are strong?
Yes. I’m a little girl. But I’m so so strong.
13. What is your favorite ice cream?
I’m pretty lactose intolerant, so I try to stay away from ice cream. I love fro yo, and over the holidays I discovered pumpkin cheesecake fro yo from this place called like Yogen Fruz? Does that sound like a real place or did I make that up?
14. What is the first thing you notice about other people?
Are they nice to other people? Do they treat waitstaff and their mom and their siblings kindly? They do? Okay, we can be friends 🙂
15. Red or pink?
Red on my nails please.
16. What is your least favorite thing about yourself?
I hate that I lose things. I cannot express to you how much I hate losing stuff.
17. Any tattoos?
Wouldn’t you like to know…..
But yes. I have footprints on my back in honor of my singing group, and a little baby turtle. I would like to get some huge colorful pieces after I get married.
18. Do you have any hobbies?
I run. I run so much. I love it. I told someone today that I feel more like myself when I’m running like 30ish miles a week at least. I blog. And I sing. Really well actually. I made the X-Factor one time. I told that story once.
19. What color shoes are you wearing?
Sock colored. I’m wearing some SmartWool socks.
20. What was the last thing you ate?
Apricot Slice, courtesy of a Kiwi friend who came over for Super Bowl Sunday, It tastes like something we eat in Haiti.
21. What are you listening to right now?
Anything by my woman crush. Here’s my favorite Demi Lovato song now 🙂
22. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
You know I own like 20 high-end nail polishes right? Don’t bother asking me that now. I’m wearing yellow now, though 🙂
23. Favorite smells?
I love the way my dog smells. That’s gross, but she’s so comforting. She sleeps on the edge of my bed, and I wake up sometimes and peek down to check on how she’s doing. And she she has not pooped on the floor in like a whole day 🙂
24. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
My sister, Deb. She’s two years younger than I am, but I’m pretty good friends with all of my siblings.
25. Mountain hideaway or beach house?
Bora Bora. I saw it on KUWTK, if you don’t know what that acronym is, BYE. Kidding, kinda.
26. Favorite sport to watch?
Girl, bye.
27. Hair color?
Loc colored. Very brown. Lighter brown on the ends from working at summer camps.
28. Eye colors?
Brown! So dark.
29. Do you wear contacts?
Yes. I wear Dailies, and I really need Lasik because I’m getting blinder by the second.
30. Scary movies or happy endings?
Happy endings. I hated The Breakup.
31. Last movie you watched?
Hm. I watched Girls Season 1 all weekend.
32. What color shirt are you wearing?
A black race top from the Shamrock Marathon, the first marathon I ever did. I almost forgot I had it on, and this sweet girl at run club was like “OMG are you from Virginia?!” No cause I got the worst and only speeding ticket ever there when I was like 19. SO NO. I am not from the state which got me grounded for an entire semester. Thank you though.
33. Summer or winter?
Summer. I live for little tiny jean shorts.
34. Hugs or kisses?
Both
35. Computer or television?
Telly baby! I love Bravo, HLN, and E! I won’t try and make any apologies for that.
36. What book are you reading right now?
Hanson’s Marathon Method. Pretending to read it. Blogging instead.
37. What’s on your mouse pad?
38. What color is your house?
This like weird brown color.
39. What color is your car?
Champagne darlings!
What was your favorite question of the stolen survey? Now answer it!
10 miles felt like home.
Yesterday, Super Bowl Sunday (WOOO WHAT A HALFTIME SHOW, but that’s another post,) I’d cleaned, and was laying on the couch watching the first season of Girls…
Side note: I’m not sure how I feel about Girls yet because there are just so, so so, many uncomfortable scenes. Lena Dunham is naked the entire first season, there is a crack incident, and the entire incident where Jessa is kind of getting involved with the Dad she’s babysitting for completely made me so uncomfortable. More on them later.
Okay, so finally, with a ton of episodes of Girls finished, I had a choice. I could either take a nap, or venture out and do my 10 miles in yesterday’s beautiful weather.
To be honest, I think I was a little scared to run 10. I hadn’t run 10 since my marathon flop in October (where I barfed 18 miles into the race), and I was really concerned that my stomach might start hurting again, and I’d begin to lose motivation for the race. But I suited up, filled up my water bottle, and off I went.
It was a beautiful day, and this was one of the first sights I encountered in the 60-degree weather.
It was really freaky. Last week, we got a good bit of snow and ice, and despite the fact that most everything was melted by the time we hit 60 yesterday, there were still areas that hadn’t been touched by light, and this little stream, House Creek was frozen to this milky white color. It was so weird, I had to stop, just a few miles in.
I suffer from gastritis, and one of my fears is that it may flare up in the same way it had in October. But I was careful with my tummy, only eating a PowerBar fruit smoothie pouch before, and avoiding alcohol and caffeine in the hours and days before, and my stomach thanked me kindly. But the nicest part, after I got over the initial, paralyzing fear that I might get sick mid-run again, was that 10 miles felt just like home. Was it easy as pie, no way. But it was almost as if my body had retained some memory of having run that distance before, and it was so much easier than the first time I ever ran 10. It actually felt good, and I’m starting to believe and trust in my training a little more. Next week is 15, and here’s to 15 feeling like home as well 🙂
How did your run/workout go this weekend?
That time I stalked a bartender…
I took a little break on Saturday, so I hope you guys didn’t miss me a ton. Happy Superbowl Sunday!
Okay, so this weekend, thus far, I taught a gorgeous Zumba class, took the most killer nap that has ever existed with the dog, ran, and stalked a bartender. Let me explain.
Zumba was beautiful. Class was packed, and it was one of those classes where I sorta felt myself getting emotional because of how joyous the class seemed like they were. I truly, truly hope the class can feel what I’m giving to them.
The Zappos Delivery.
Let me say this. I have ruined nearly every gift that Austin has given me. Not on purpose, but my propensity toward curiosity has ruined everything. When he bought me my Garmin, I bugged him until he gave me the present before dinner on that birthday. During our engagement, I asked so many questions that he started taking his iPad with him everywhere because he was afraid I was going to snoop on his purchase of my engagement ring or on his credit card statement. Good call.
Well yesterday, this box randomly arrived at my apartment.
But Austin’s name was on the package. My antennae went up. I sent him a text.
“That wasn’t supposed to get delivered there! It was supposed to go to the office.”
So I played it cool.
“Should I put it somewhere for you?”
I was hoping it was nothing and he’d tell me to open it, and that’s how I’d know it was a regular package. But he asked me to set it aside for him, and Michael, the best friend, made me swear not to snoop.
FINE! So he’s come to pick up the package, and now I have no clue what it was. More on that, if it turns into anything later.
Moving right along!
How I stalked a bartender.
For weeks, I’ve been trying to hunt down the bartender that made a drink for me last summer, just before we got engaged. It was a toasted coconut martini, and we had it at the place where we had our first date, just weeks now before we got engaged. It was delicious, and I’d like to feature this drink at our wedding.
I called around to the place, the Rockford, a number of time before one of the bartenders told me that the bartender that I was looking for was now working at a different bar. So I changed my running route to go right by the bar where he was working, and chatted with him about the recipe, which he gladly gave me.
Yes, I’m a creep, but I got what I wanted!
Finally, on my run, I caught sight of this. I think they’re calling these “knit bombs” and ladies around the city are knitting and decorating the trees, bus stops, and bike racks. Do you guys have anything cool going on like this in your city? Cause I’ll tell you what, this definitely put a smile on my face while I was plodding through a few rainy and cold miles.
So I’m pumped, I’m expecting a pretty decent crowd for the Superbowl. Who are you going for this evening? The Broncos, the Seahawks, or Bruno Mars? What are you drinking? And what are your plans?
Here’s what! What three things are you obsessed with today?
I dedicate this post to none other than Bravo Andy. If you know anything of me, you know that I love Bravo, and Bravo Andy is seriously my American Idol. I think we were separated at birth, because our senses of humor are strikingly similar. But I’m going into far too much detail about my Jewish brethren, let’s get on with it! At the beginning of each broadcast, Andy does his “Here’s What” segment, which involves him telling us what three things he’s obsessed with that day.
So here’s what!
1. Butter London Nail Polish in Pimms.
I have been looking for a good quality yellow polish for a long time, and I just haven’t found the right shade for my skin tone. I finally researched, and found this color on Amazon. Once I found out that Ulta carried the polish, which runs at $15 a bottle (whew!) I bought it last night, and gave myself a much-needed mani. The color is gorgeous, and is bringing a lot of sunshine to an otherwise crappy weather situation.
2. The Netflix app for iPhone. I have been a big fan of Netflix for a long time, however, I figured something really really cool out. Yesterday, after I taught Zumba, I was dreading having to run 5 miles for marathon training because I just wasn’t comfortable doing it outside. A lot of the trails and side roads are still really icy here, and I didn’t want to risk slipping and injuring myself. So I got the bright idea to download the Netflix app, and watch a movie while I plodded through 5 miles.
I’ve seen ‘Flight’ before, but since I’d liked it so well the first time, I decided to watch it again. The movie is fantastic. Seriously. The previews were a little deceptive, although the story is based around this pilot, the plot deals more with addiction and less with flying than you’d think, though this movie seriously has one of THE best flight scenes I think I’ve ever seen. But if addiction interests you whatsoever, please watch this.
3. This dog.
Coco is the tiny girl wonder who came into our lives a few weeks ago. She’s an absolute doll, and I’m having a blast spoiling the heck out of her. We’re still working on potty problems, but honestly, nothing makes me happier than waking up in the middle of the night and peeking down at the edge of the bed to see her curled up. She is SO good. If she doesn’t stop crapping on my floor though, I’m gonna cook her for dinner!
I kid! She’s great!
So, on this icy Friday, what three things are you obsessed with? Feel free to send me pics of your dogs too, you know I love a good dog pic 🙂
Snow Day + Interval Training
The schools in our county are out again today, and I’m feeling for the teachers and parents, who I’m sure are going a little stir-crazy, but the side roads are still kind of sketchy.
So for those of you who are northerners that are reading, I am a transplant from Brooklyn, NY, and most of my family is either there or in New Jersey now. I know you guys might be dumbfounded on how 2-6″ of snow can cripple a state or a city like Atlanta, but very simply put, our secondary roads haven’t been plowed, and it makes it really dangerous for a lot of folks.
As far as Atlanta is concerned, Atlanta and the larger state of Georgia largely ignored the forecast, didn’t cancel schools prior to the weather event, and then everyone was released from work/government jobs/school at the same time, creating that horrific gridlock. One of my best friends had to sleep in a school. Thank you to all the teachers, the security guards, the bus drivers, and the cafeteria ladies that worked wayyy overtime to take care of folks, you are incredible. As for the higher-ups in that metro area, you get a HUGE side-eye from me for endangering literally millions of lives.
Moving right along.
We actually got a decent amount of snow, and for someone like me, whose neighborhood is kinda woodsy and hilly, the ice is still pretty bad. It’s also really annoying to try to get your dog to poop in the snow, fun fact.
So instead of going to work, I largely stayed in until I had to venture out for some soup and coffee.
So since the snow started on Tuesday night, I ended up taking a rest day on Tuesday because a lot of the gyms were closing early, and it just didn’t make sense to try and bang out intervals in the ice. So yesterday night, I made myself a little cheat sheet, and ventured over to the gym to do some interval training. But how was I going to do this distance interval without a track?
Enter Garmin 610. What good is a fancy watch if you don’t use all the features? So I changed the distance interval to a timed one, and banged them out. I honestly have never used the interval featured on the Garmin 610 because my training has been more about just getting mileage in and not necessarily focusing on strength or speed (not a great thing, because the end of a marathon gets ROUGH). This time, I’m focusing on more than just the long run, and I’m sorta loving it. The coolest thing about doing a timed interval is that you rack up some serious mileage without realizing – over the 6 intervals I managed to squeeze in 5 miles without like, staring at the distance ticker on the treadmill. Very nice!
And after working out, the husband-to-be took me out for dinn, which consisted of a small salad and some sweet potato fries, one of my favorite indulgences! Still fries, but not necessarily as bad for you as regular fries.
So folks, how are you making out with this weather? Anyone still out of school today? Anyone iced in? Anyone perfectly dry?
Old School Blogging #OSBlog 5 Things…
I totally love this idea, and I’ve stolen this from a few bloggers. PLEASE, please, feel free to steal this, blog on it, or even answer some of the questions here in the comments. You know I live for your comments right? They’re like delicious treats! But I stole this from Miss Elaine, who did this particular one back in July.
Five Things I Have a Passion For
1. My growing family. This year, I’m getting married, I have adopted a little orange cat, and a little dog. I’m so in love and so crazy about the idea of creating my own family.
2. Writing. This blog. I’d love to go full-time with this one day, sooner rather than later.
3. Running. My gosh, I love what running has done for me. You know this.
4. Exercise. Not just the running kind, but swimming, hiking, yoga, and all the stuff I do when I’m not running.
5. Nail polish. #sorrynotsorry.
6. Can I do 6? I love my shows. Mostly Bravo, but I adore my shows.
Five Things I Would Like to do Before I Die
1. Write a book about weight loss and healthy living for black women.
2. Buy a house (with my husband) in a city with wooden floors, a backyard, a porch, and beautiful colors on the walls.
3. Run an ultra marathon. I can’t believe I’m saying (or writing that) out loud.
4. Pay off these student loans. I want 0 debt. None.
5. Learn Spanish. Austin is doing his Rosetta Stone now. I want to learn it so that the both of us can travel with little difficulties.
Five Things I Say A Lot
1. Literally…
2. I love you babe!
3. Babe!
4. Beautiful! (This usually applies to motivation for my fitness classes.)
5. I’m dying/I’m dead. (I’m dramatic).
Five Books and/or Magazines I Have Read Lately
1. Dean Karnazes wrote 2, and I read them both. Ultramarathon Man and Run. Both good, both inspiring.
2. Most Talkative by Andy Cohen of Bravo. I didn’t stop laughing.
3. Fitness Magazine! Alexa somehow snagged a subscription and forwarded it along to me!
4. Cosmo. Because Ariana Grande was on the cover and she’s adorable,
5. I started reading this month’s Glamour because Shakira was on the cover
Five Favorite Movies
1. The Sex and the City Movie (Oh my gosh, when Steve tells Miranda he cheated on her).
2. Knocked Up
3. The 40-Year-Old Virgin
4. Taken
5. And most recently, The Flight with Denzel Washington. Denzel can do no wrong, and this movie is no exception.
Five Places I Would Love to Travel
1. Haiti
2. Trinidad
3. Bora Bora. I’m really hoping we can travel here for our honeymoon.
4. France
5. Just South America in general.
So your turn. What 5 songs can you not live without right now?
Here’s mine.
Pharrell has been a big winner as of late, and this “happy” song is no exception. 🙂
The best things ever.
Seriously, yesterday was an incredible day. I’m finding that the more I choose to be happy, the happier I am, and yesterday, every little thing made me extraordinarily happy.
- The weather was gorgeous in North Carolina yesterday. Seriously, it was like 60 degrees. I was able to run 6 miles in shorts and a tank top. Today, it’s supposed to snow. Climate change at its absolutely finest.
- I forgot my Garmin charger in Florida. Not the good part obviously. But my sister sent it my way yesterday, which was perfect timing because I got the beeping sound of death that indicates your Garmin is fixin’ to die. (Like the way I threw Southern lingo into there?)
- My sweet tooth was going nuts yesterday. So I made an executive decision, stopped by the Harris Teeter on the way home, and bough this teeny tiny Ben and Jerry’s, pictured above. It’s like a tiny taste of exactly what I needed, and it won’t ruin your life, as it comes in at 280 calories of cookie dough goodness.
- Apothic Red Wine. Bought some of that too. And drank some. YUM!
- Gloves. I was given some Columbia gloves as a gift. Très necessary, as the temp plummeted from 60s to upper 20s as the evening went on.
- Glamour Magazine. I love magazines. If I could, I would have a subscription to Glamour, Rolling Stone, Elle, InStyle, Self, Shape, Women’s Health, Brides, Runner’s World, and Cosmo. But there are only 24 hours in the day, and my bank account would be very upset if all I bought was nail polish and magazines like I want to.
- I made some time to clean! So in between the baby ice cream consumption and a glass of vino, I was able to light candles, sweep, sprinkle some smelly stuff on the carpet, and vacuum. There’s almost nothing that makes me happier than waking up in the morning to a clean space.
So, if you could have a subscription to any magazines, which ones would you have?
What things are making you happy today/this week?
Weekend update! We heart DC!
If you’ve been following along about anything here on the blog, you’ll know that I’m absolutely enamored of the District of Columbia. So best bud Scott invited me up, and Friday, after work, I took off, and made the trip, that was a little over 4 hours. Not a bad drive, right?
So Friday evening, me and the bestie braved the cold, and met some Elon friends out, and just enjoyed some tasty drinks.
The next day, we braved the cold temps and wind yet again, and hit this spot called Pound the Hill, a coffee bar that turns into a wine bar in the evenings. We went earlier in the day, so we missed the wine, but enjoyed some ah-mazing treats nonetheless.
Dear Scott, in front of Pound the Hill in DC. It’s right next to a yoga studio – how genius is that, right?
The space is small, but extremely warm! These DC coffee shops get packed! Best to get there early, grab a seat, and stay there.
Menus. And I spotted Nutella. Well, say no more, if there’s Nutella involved, I need to taste these.
A Nutella latte with skim to cut the sweetness! It was delicious – hot and creamy!
The holy grail of things to eat! This sandwich was a Nutella, banana, and honey sandwich. SO sweet, but good if you’re into that….which I totally am. If you don’t have a sweet tooth, just skip this one. But I loved it.
I packed my running clothes. I have big news, I’m running the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon on April 13th, and it’s time to up the mileage. The wind slowed down, and Scott provided me with directions to get to Capitol Hill. So off I went. Are you ready for this?
In one of the greatest cities, in the greatest country in the world, I got to run to the Capital building, peek a few blocks down to see some monuments, and run back. The run totaled about 4 miles or so, and I didn’t feel too chilly, despite some good wind.
Next, we hit a birthday party, where the girls based it around the coolest theme.
So this doesn’t look like a whole lot of pizza right? Well, that’s because the girls made 5, yes 5 (?!) pizzas, allowed us to taste each one, and then paired each pizza with a beer. Very cool, and I was impressed by how much DC folks, friend’s of Scott’s were so welcoming and seemed to enjoy meeting me and hearing about what I did. Seriously, DC folk seem like nice, genuine, kind people.
And finally folks, no post would be complete without a picture of a pup, right? This guy, Fitzgerald, was the dog of the house where we were staying. I’m glad I left little Coco behind – she had not yet received her ThunderShirt, and the long car ride, plus Fitz’s high pitty energy would have freaked her out. But I’m glad to be home with my lady.
So folks, what did you do this weekend? Fill me in!
Overactive Blogger 