Listening to my body, washing machines, meeting goals

Happy Sunday (or Monday by the time you are reading this)

How was your weekend?  Mine was pretty good. Okay it was great.  To the outside person someone would think my weekend sucked.  It was all school and all job search but I fit in a good spin session and run and had a positive attitude.  I have NO idea where this positive attitude is coming from!!! I am NOT am optimist in any sense of the word but man, I’ll take a positive attitude!!! Here are three things that made my happy today.

 

#1.  Listening to my body.  Sunday means I like to run longer than 7 miles.  I’m not training for anything but I like adding a couple of miles here and there.  I woke up this morning at 7 and it was raining and windy and for some reason I just did not feel like running. I’ve had some hard workouts this past week and enjoyed them all but my legs were tired.  And it occurred to me that I CAN decide on my mileage! So I did 7 miles in a little under an hour.  And I felt great after.  I also was content not running more than 7.  

 

#2. Washing machines.  Doing laundry is one of my least favorite activities.  I HATE folding and putting away clothes.  But today, while I was a crabbypants doing laundry, I realized how much WORSE my life would be without washing machines.  I also have one in my apartment just for me.  And that changed my entire perspective on laundry and suddenly it wasn’t so bad! 

 

#3.  Meeting goals.  My goal this month was to apply for 16 jobs…and…I DID IT!! That feels so good! I think statistically, after applying for 16 jobs I’m pretty qualified for and wrote pretty good cover letters for, one HAS to call back for an interview?  Please, please, please.  One interview?  I got my first rejection e-mail but I don’t actually mind.  I WILL get a job and it is exciting to dream.  

 

So how about you? When do you just listen to your body?  What machine are you thankful for today?  What goal do you feel awesome about meeting?

 

I have a good feeling about this week!  I don’t love January and I am perfectly content with it coming to an end.  

 

xoxo,

Emily

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Gossip girl, lungs, kids wanting healthier foods

Happy friday all.  Want to know something that has bothered me since moving to the west coast 2.5 years ago?  The fact that I am two hours behind from central time (where my family and most of my friends are) and 3 hours behind from eastern time (where the Today Show happens).  Something weird but true.  Totally bothers me.  Sometimes my Facebook feeds tell me what happens on TV shows.  I don’t really love that.  Well actually, I never watch TV shows when they are actually on… I record them.  But I don’t even have the chance to watch shows before the Facebook feeds.  Wow.  I wasn’t expecting all that to come out.  Apparently I feel strongly about always ‘being behind’ on the west coast.  

 

Okay moving on.  To happiness of the day.  Get ready.

 

#1.  Gossip Girl.  On Friday and Saturday nights I watch the programs I’ve recorded from the week while I eat dinner.  This is a treat because during the week and Sunday I generally am doing school related reading/writing.  Yes I have am exciting life.  But ohmygod I am loving Gossip Girl right now!!!  Where is this plot GOING?!?!? Only time will tell.  Totally a guilty pleasure and totally fine.  I also love anything on the Food Network, HGTV, and the Cooking Channel.  And Glee.  Yes I watch that too.  

 

2.  Lungs.  Can I just talk about how much I love my lungs???  Seriously, there are so many people out there with lung related problems.  Trust me.  I know the stats.  I am so glad I didn’t randomly start smoking.  I wasn’t perfect in high school but cigs just never appealed to me.  And now, I have awesome lungs.  I can run and run and spin and give myself torture workouts on the stairmill.  And they never burn.  I was thinking about this today on my very early, very brisk run.  The cold air does sort of hurt sometimes but nothing I can’t work with.  I am so thankful I live in a city that has decent air quality and so thankful I grew up in a house that had good air quality.  

 

3.  Kids wanting healthier food.  Childhood obesity prevention among low socioeconomic families is something I am very passionate about and what I have focused much of my graduate stuff on.  I geek out over policies around prevention and public health interventions in general.  Anyway.  Childhood obesity is a VERY complex problem but there has been a push to give kids healthier food in schools.  Michelle Obama and company made a big announcement about nutrition guidelines in schools this week.  I’m not going to comment because I just haven’t done my research but it is raising attention.  One of the major push backs from healthier options in schools are people who say kids don’t want the healthy food.  I don’t think this is true.  Kids don’t want bad food.  Healthy food DOES NOT EQUAL BAD!!!  So I love hearing stories like this from NPR: 
http://www.npr.org/2012/01/26/145885680/kids-have-a-say-in-louisvilles-school-lunch-menu

Basically it is about how kids in Louisville schools are allowed to design their menu of healthy food.  The kid interviewed seems so enthusiastic about healthy foods.  SO EXCITING!!! 

 

Okay.  I’m done. What shows do you consider your ‘guilty pleasure’?  Any opinions on childhood obesity prevention???  I’ve got a couple : )

 

xoxo,

Emily

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What I Ate Wednesday

So today I’m going to participate in ‘what I ate Wednesday’ that sometimes happens on blogs.  Okay so actually this is food from Tuesday but I’m posting it on Wednesday.  Reason?  I just have been too happy the last 48 hours to identify specific happiness elements.  WOOOO!!! Nothing I can pin-point that has triggered this great mood.  But I’ll take it! So.much.energy.  And happy peanut butter day.  Peanut butter is my favorite food.  Seriously it is.  Nothing special in it.  One ingredient: peanuts.  That’s all.  So simple.  Plus I thought it would be sorta fun to document all I ate.  Or extremely strange.  But here it is!!!  Enjoy!!  I’ll also tell you the story of my day.  This will be fun.  I promise.  

 

5:15 alarm goes off.  BRRRRRRBOOOAOOA (alarm sound) and I’m up right away! YES! So much opportunity! Will a potential employer call me back today??? (answer: no)  From bed –> bus –> gym –> treadmill (4 miles speed intervals) –> elip ( to feed the Today Show addiction) — > leg weight stuff –> stretch — shower –> walk to shuttle –> arrive at desk.  Phew.  Still following?

 

Breakfast = Almost empty peanut butter jar + 1/2 cup 0% Fage Yogurt + 1/2 c oatmeal + 1/4 cup soy milk.  Oh and coffee. I didn’t even know it was National Peanut Butter Day!!! I would say what a coincidence but given the amount of pb jars I go through I’m not sure this is a coincidence.  

Snack: Whole Wheat Toast + smashed banana + tea

Lunch: Refried beans + cheddar cheese + 1/2 whole wheat pita + assorted veggies (jicama, carrots, celery, peppers)

Snack: Unpictured apple while running errands after work in the rain… I love Trader Joes!

Snack again: A banana chocolate protein muffin from TJ (totally a I’m hungry so I’m going to buy random stuff move) + peanut butter on top of muffin + pear + goat cheese + tea

Cover letter, cover letter, cover letter, read about mercury exposures and fetal outcomes (decide to eat fish for dinner… yes they were about negative outcomes… yes it made me want fish… Good thing I don’t plan to have any fetal things happening anytime soon)

Dinner: Canned smoked herring from Trader Joes (now unwrinkle your nose.  canned fish is GREAT), assorted veggies (mushrooms, broc, canned tomato, green beans, spinach), cous cous, acorn squash, roasted parsnip, glass o’ skim milk.  

Bed time snack: I eat this almost every night.  1/2ish cup of plain, nonfat yogurt +  spoon full of protein powder (I’m working my way through Vega chocolate) + spoon full of peanut butter straight into the mouth. And sleepytime tea

 

Well that’s everything! 

 

What was the best this you ate today?

 

xoxo,

Emily

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A good friend’s bday, toothpaste, peanut butter trick

Happy Monday!! Pretty good Monday up in ‘herrrr.  

Just jumpin’ in to bring you happiness and joy on this Monday.  More like report on some very random things that are awesome.

 

1. A good friend’s bday.  One of my best friends had her 26th birthday today.  I’ve known her since she moved from England in 8th grade and her family lives down the street from my family! I admire her in so many ways.  She lost her mom to cancer when she was 19 after watching her battle for years and years and years.  She is so strong, I can’t believe it.  She is also a graduate student (in public health!) in Chicago and works and actually has a social life.  It helps that she gets along with everyone, yet somehow manages to stand up for herself and speak her mind.  I wish, wish, wish I was there to celebrate with her.  I miss her terribly.  I love sending people cards and calling them on their birthday.  But I hate my own birthday.  Go figure.

 

2.  Toothpaste.  I found the most awesome toothpaste ever.  Ready for it?  Crest – Wintergreen.  So good!! I am pretty loyal to Crest. No real reason except that my mom always bought it.  Anyway.  I tried this new flavor and BAM! Awesome.  My grandma had the wintergreen lifesavers all the time.  They are my childhood.  This toothpaste tastes like my childhood.

3. Peanut butter trick.  So I eat natural peanut butter.  I LOVE opening a new jar.  Like Christmas, I swear.  But stirring it is hmmmm messy.  So I came across this trick.  A day or so before you have to open the jar, turn it up side down.  This makes the oil move to the bottom so that it doesn’t slop out the top when you stir it.  And stir, stir, stir.  Does anyone else hate the word slop??  Yuck. And moist.  Double yuck.

 

That’s all I’ve got.  I have a hot date with the Colbert Report (he is ON lately! Cracks me up!) and my foam roller.  My legs are feeling tired after my 9 miler yesterday.  Particularly my hip-joint is sore.  So roll, roll, roll.  I also used the ARC trainer today and did some laps (what, what? who am I??) and water jogging (I use the term jogging lightly since I don’t really know what water jogging is).

 

xo

Emily

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Best snack ever, 9 miler, Peet’s

Hi!

Happy Sunday to you.  I’m feeling a bit under the weather.  It came on in the last couple hours (after my 9 miler) but my throat is scratchy and I’m rather tired.  And nothing sounds good to eat but once I get food (even tho nothing sounds good my little energy zaps after about three hours) it tastes really good.  Just not the normal hmmm FOOD.  

 

My week looks pretty usual, especially compared to last week! Weather.com is trying to tell me it might be dry tomorrow.  We’ll see, we’ll see.  Confession: with the holiday last Monday, my general studycentric weekends and three snow days, I haven’t worn makeup or anything other than sweats/workout clothes/pjs for 9 days.  Many people would kill for this.  I fully respect that! My mom and sister would consider this heaven.  Not me.  Yes, I could have put on jeans and put on some mascara but I didn’t see the point.  I am SO ready to get back on schedule tomorrow! wooooo!

 

So want some happiness?

1.  Best snack ever! I am so excited about this.  So yesterday I may have thrown an apple at the ground.  It was an accident but since I have some weird inability to throw away slightly damaged produce I had to be creative with how to consume it.  On a side-note has anyone read the David Sedaris book where he talks about his dad and how he won’t throw away food that goes bad.  I love David Sedaris… soooo funny! Well, I see some things Sedaris’ dad and I have in common.  Moving on.  Here was my solution: apple turn-over.  Sort of.  Preheat oven to 350.  While the oven is heating slice of the mushiest part of the apple and mix with about a tablespoon of almond butter (or any butter… I was feelin’ Justin’s Honey Almond butter).  Get out 1/2 whole wheat pita (tortilla would also work).  Put apple mush and almond butter in pita and bake for 20 mins.  Oh and add some cinnamon.  Eat with greek yogurt for dipping.  It was damn good.  See, I love it:

 

2. 9 miles.  Yup, I ran 9 miles.  Before I felt yucky.  And it was really good.  I did push myself and got some great times on those miles.  So I’m not training for anything due to that I don’t know where I’ll be living in 2 months thing.  But I want to keep my long runs in a plan but more causally.  I haven’t done 9 miles since Nov.  Since there is no ‘real’ reason to do longish runs, I’ll probably try to run 9-11 miles everyish week.  I want to sign up for a half marathon the second I know where I”ll be to run one so I want to maintain my running shape.  But I’m planning on a fall marathon so the goal is to maintain and not get injured.  Thoughts?  Good plan?  The miles:

#3.  Peet’s.  Since I was hung up in my apartment all week, I decided to take some work to Peet’s Coffee.  I rarely ‘treat’ myself to working at a coffee shop because it gets expensive buying drinks.  And I have no income besides student loans, which apparently I don’t qualify for after I’m done with the student thing.  Oh and they ask for the money back. But it is such a treat to work by a window instead of in my dark basement.  While I worked away I watched the snow melt away at Green Lake.  Woooo! And the sun sorta came out.  Neat! 

 

Questions: Runners – do you do longish runs when you aren’t ‘training’ for anything??  What are you looking forward to this week?

 

xo,

Emily 

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Snow day round 3, functional drain systems, outside runs

Hello!

I write to you on what is my THIRD snow day.  Yes THREE.  No, Seattle did not get several feet of snow.  But Seattle did get several inches so the city was shut down for three ++ days.  That’s just how Seattle roles.  It gave me the opportunity to look for jobs which is oddly addicting! Seriously! I also really like dreaming about living in new cities.  I am slightly particular about the whole location thing.  I want a big city and by big I mean pretty much the largest cities in the country.  I did my undergrad in LaCrosse WI and hated it.  No small towns for me please.  I would also LOVE a city with public transportation so that I did not have to drive every day! Here are the top three cities on my list (and in this order): 1) New York City, 2) Chicago, 3) Washington DC.  Some other cities I will happily move to are: Seattle (errr I guess stay here), Boston, Philly, Baltimore, Minneapolis/St Paul (aka home), Portland, the Bay Area, Raleigh (public health hub!), Austin, Denver, Boulder, and St. Louis.  Am I missing any really cool cities?!?!?  Tell me what other cities I should include!!!

To the happiness!

1.  Snow day round 3.  I am happy I am a graduate student and not a real person with a real job.  If I had a real job I would either not get a snow day or have to work from home.  I haven’t at all been lazy… I’ve been doing a lot of work.  I love that I can stay safe and close to home and away from the buses! Here is a U-tube clip of cars and buses in Seattle from a snow storm in 2010: 

.  So happy I didn’t have to deal with that! 

 

2.  Functional drain systems.  Yesterday the tree roots from the drain system were cleared! That means that I can shower and do laundry without a flooding bathroom.  I cannot report if the drain system actually work now seeing how I’ve neither showered or done laundry in the last 24 hours.  Snow days = very questionable hygiene.  

 

3.  Outside runs.  I was going crazy inside.  Solution?  Run outside!! I ran in a window of time before it started raining (yes, it is now warm and raining) so it was pleasant conditions.  It was a slow run because the snow was pretty slippery and the footing was pretty bad.  So refreshing! It was pretty too! It is nasty outside now! Some areas have a foot of slush!!! I’m so happy I got to run before the slush! 

 

So tell me: What cities should I add to my list of cities I will move to?  

 

xo, Emily

 

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SNOW DAY, gym passes mean showers, slow cookers

Hello from the [temporary] white wonderland of Seattle.  If you haven’t heard Seattle got some snow.  University of Washington had a snow day today (no surprise) and I have a hunch it will be closed tomorrow to.  Well that was fun… lets move on mother nature.  Thanks.  I have to admit, I miss the snow.  It makes me want to move to a location that has snow and makes me move away from Seattle.  I’m ready to have blue skies and crisp snow.  But snow in Seattle is not my idea of snow.  It kinda hurts actually.  Like little ice chunks flying at your face.  Now we are dealing with the thawing and re-freezing of the snow which is absolutely the most awful conditions for runners and transportation.  Gah.  Might be awhile till it’s gone.  It’s just ugly now. 

 

But classes were cancelled so I got to hang out in sweats for day number five.  So here is some happiness.

 

1. SNOW DAY.  This is how my snow day went down.  I got a text message from school at 11 pm saying classes were cancelled (I was already ‘sleeping’ and by sleeping I mean having Seattle-snow induced insomnia).  I looked at the weather and it looked like it would be okay if I went to the gym first thing.  So I woke up at 6 am (I wasn’t sleeping anyway) and got to the gym.  I ran a 7 mile progressive run.  7 miles on the treadmill.  We’ll call that a snow day miracle.  Mostly I just got some school stuff done all day but at a much slower pace.  At one point I thought I needed a nap but I must have not needed one that much because I forgot about that plan.  I went for a walk later in the afternoon.  Seattle peeps are funny in the snow.  They use umbrellas even though the wind was 12 mph.  That was weird.  They also use sleds on ice and cross-country skis on dirt.  Hmmm.  Here’s the proof of the snow.

 

2. Gym passes mean showers.  Like I mentioned in my last post I got a trial at a gym near my house.  Well, I am pretty happy I did! It kept me sane during this snow craziness.  And another thing.  The gym gave me an opportunity for a shower.  So we have a bit of a problem in my apartment.  Seems the tree roots have grown into the pipes, plugging the system.  So basically anytime I run water it comes into my bathroom.  Cool.  So no shower and minimal dishes washing and toilet flushing.  I guess it is pretty easily fixed according to my landlord.  However it just so happens the city is on lock down for a while from the snow storm.  So we don’t know when someone will come to fix it!!! Could be next week sometime!!! And my gym pass is done now so that means unless campus opens up (I can shower at the gym there) I will be without a shower.  There is a gym in my neighborhood that I can use for the day for $12 but that will add up quickly!!! Grrrr. But at least I got to shower today! 

 

3. Slow cookers.  I like slow cookers.  I’ve had some concoction of veggies and beans in it all day and it smell AWESOME!!! So that is what I’m going to do now.  Eat some slow cooked dinner!!

 

Snow days: Love ‘em or hate ‘em.  I like one but more than one is overkill! What do you do on snow days??

 

xo,

Emily

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Peppers, Draft 1 completion, 17 Ridiculously Sexual Product Names

Hello!

 

I am sitting in my apartment waiting for a ‘huge snow storm‘ to hit seattle.  Ugh.  Seattle cannot handle 1 inch of snow.  5-10 inches.  Excuse the language but WTF!?!? I’m ready to resume normal, functional transportation please.  Thanks.  I may have had a slight breakdown when I waited for a bus for 35 mins at the ‘snow route’ stop only to realize that particular bus driver decided not to do the snow route thing.  Seattle transit is very clear that ALL BUSES ARE RUNNING ON SNOW ROUTES.  BOOOO.  Well, the weather is temporary.  

 

Oh and it is my dad’s birthday!!! He is seriously the most supportive person I know.  He is a great, great, great man.  I don’t even know how to explain him and how wonderful he his.  So just trust me.  Best dad ever.

 

To the happiness!!

 

1. Peppers!! At the grocery store yellow, orange and red peppers were $1.00!!! Check out my lunch.  Pepperific 

2.  Draft 1 completion.  Being home bound does have its perks.  I submitted draft 1 of my Capstone for my public health graduate degree to my faculty!!! So awesome.  I’m nowhere near done but a draft is a draft!

 

3.  17 Ridiculously Sexual Product Names.  Read this.  Made me laugh. 

 

For any Pacific Northwestern peeps stay safe in the snow.  Well, everyone, stay safe and happy!!!

 

xo, Emily

 

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Martin Luther King Jr., Snowy run, free gym trials

Hello.  

 

Since my last post I’ve managed to chill about the snow a bit.  Breath, breath, breath.  But gee it changed my plans Sunday! So I have a very awesome aunt who just so happens to have a work site in Seattle so she comes here about every 2-3 weeks for work.  It is AWESOME because 1) she rents a car (hello heavy groceries and quick errand running), 2) she takes me to any restaurant I want, and 3) it is so nice to see family! So she flew in Sunday and we had big plans to go grocery shopping and out to eat at a fancy restaurant.  Usually we are pretty rushed because she is only here during the week and I’m busy and she’s busy but we had all Sunday afternoon.  Well the snow ended that plan.  I gave her stick orders: drive straight to your hotel and stay there.  She obeyed.  Needless to say I am disappointed.  But I’m moving on.  I went to the grocery store all by myself just in time to snatch the last half-gallon of skim milk.  Apparently the rest of Seattle did the stock up at the grocery store and buckle down thang before I did.  

 

Happiness for the day.

 

1.  Martin Luther King Jr.  Quick tribute to that great man.  I don’t think anyone can deny what a profound impact he had on this country.  I am so thankful for him and is bravery. 

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” MLK

Source

 

2. Snowy run.  On Sunday I ran a snowy 7 miles.  It was warm so cold wasn’t a problem.  But it was pretty icy so I took it slow.  I didn’t bring my watch so that I wasn’t frustrated.  I also listened to This American Life on my iPod to keep my pace pretty slow.  The episode from last Sunday was a real thinker.  It was pretty with the snow.

 

3.  Free gym trials.  Since I didn’t have school today and I’m anticipating a possible university closure tomorrow (so the rec center will be closed) I decided to try out a new gym.  I’m figuring I won’t be running outside for a couple days.  I love running in the snow but the ice is really scary.  It will be ice so no running.  I have a free three-day pass.  It is about two miles north of me but the public transportation there is not awesome so under normal circumstances it isn’t a great option.  However, since there was no school today and I’ve decided I’m not going into work tomorrow (scary snow = work from home) I have a lot of flexibility.  So after I finally found a running bus (the buses are running in the snow but are on ‘snow routes’ that are rather unclear) I arrived at the gym.  I really like gyms actually.  I did some speed work on the treadmill and ended with a progressive hill for a total of 4 miles.  I was really into the Today Show’s recap of the awards last night but I was dunzo on the dreadmill so I jumped on an elliptical for 25 mins.  I finished with 15 mins of arm weight stuff, 20 miles of pool laps (very slow laps..) and a dip in the HOT TUB!!! Oh my gosh did that hot tub feel amazing.  Wooo.  What is it with me and the pool.  Two Monday’s in a row! 

 

Your turn: do you like gyms?  I love gyms!  I love the social element the most I think.  How do you feel about snow?  I LOVE the snow but I hate snow in Seattle.  

 

xo, Emily

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sunrise + sunset, recyclable breakfast bowls, Olympic countdown

Today was hard.  Saturdays sometimes are.  No structure, little social interaction opportunities, lots of school stuff and snow.  Yes I said snow.  I LOVE snow but this ‘snow’ in Seattle IS NOT SNOW.  I’m sorry people but the slushy junk that falls in pellets from the sky that really really hurts your face is not snow. Snow is fluffy.  Snow crunches.  Seattle snow is wet (and melts or ices when it hits the ground) and is disgusting junk.  Snow in Seattle makes me very anxious.  Like I’m going to need a Valium anxious.  I called my mom in tears… I didn’t mean to but I burst into tears when I told her it was snowing.  In all fairness I had one past experience with snow in Seattle.  It was right before Thanksgiving a year ago.  Everything shut down (including school) and public transportation was in shambles.  It was the most isolating experience of my life.  Most people think bad weather means you get to stay inside and veg out with friends/families.  Well since public transportation (my only mode of transportation) stops bad weather means a lot of alone time.  And it sucks.  I can’t get to the gym, the grocery store, humans…  Plus I’m super type A and like being able to be productive.  And I really want to see my aunt tomorrow who is supposed to fly in for business. My mantra: you cannot control the weather, you cannot control the weather, you cannot control the weather.

 

Okay… waaaah… my weather sucks but it happens.  Time to move on!!!  I’m going to find happiness right now.

 

1. Sunrise + sunset.  On Friday I experienced both the sunrise and sunset.  Okay… not so much the sunrise (I guess that still doesn’t happen until like 8) but the general lighting of the sky.  It was pretty.  I also ran 7 miles… also pretty.  Win for a Friday.  I experienced the sunset at happy hour Friday afternoon.  We were celebrating a fellow Public Health student’s birthday.  It was spectacular!  I took a picture of that one:

2.  Recyclable breakfast bowls.  The bowl was an empty almond butter jar.  I really really like things I can discard during the day because that means my load gets lighter throughout the day.  This mix was almond butter (there was a lot left..mahaha), greek yogurt, splash o’ soy milk and oats.  And look at my super awesome silverware set.  Awesome.  I am also so excited to be in the library.  

 

3.  Olympic countdown.  The Olympics are coming up SO FAST!!!  Today was the marathon qualifying event.  It was on in the background while I was reading about the association between fish consumption and cognitive development in babies (wooo enviro health).  I love watching really, really, really good athletes.  Well, actually I don’t like watching really good football players. Good thing football isn’t an Olympic sport.  Those runners are so amazing. 

source

 

I was going to listen to some jazz but due to the weather (and my dramatic reaction to the weather) I will be staying closer to home.  I rented a movie from Redbox (I Don’t Know How She Does It with Sarah Jessica Parker) and I’m making a lasagna (sorta).  Shall be a good one.

 

So tell me: how do you deal with crappy weather??  Any mantras??

 

xo,

Emily

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