I just couldn’t think of a better title. And I think I’ve used “Life Lately” like 38 times already. So…every day I’m hustlin’. Because I have been! The past week has felt like a whirlwind, and it feels so good. I feel like I have a million things on my plate right now, and I enjoy that feeling. I’m behind on my TV shows, my Feedly is about to explode, and I haven’t called my mom in way too long (Hi, Mom! Luv u!), but I’m into it.
Here’s what I’ve been up to lately…
Hanging out with the Project Start crew this weekend! (Minus Kelly, who migrated west for the season.)SWEATING: At some new-to-me places! In an effort to explore the New Jersey fitness scene, I’ve taken classes at Prime Cycle in Hoboken (the uptown location) and Orangetheory in Edgewater. I know Orangetheory has been around forever and is everywhere, but I had never actually taken a class until yesterday. I really like Prime Cycle, and I’m on the fence about Orangetheory. (Fitness class reviews here — yay or nay? I contemplated writing reviews of each studio/class since I paid for my own classes and wouldn’t have to write an “opinions are my own but here’s a totally favorable review” type of post. Any interest? Or not super interested because Prime Cycle is super local and I’m the last person on the planet to try Orangetheory?)
RUNNING: A few days a week, and doing so without bathroom stops! Not every time, but I’ve gone for THREE different runs lately without having to make bathroom stops! (You can follow along on Strava, which you should join if you haven’t already! Let’s be friends and give each other kudos!) It’s so awesome when that happens and it feels so monumental every time. I know eventually I’ll stop sharing how many bathroom stops I make every time I run, but for now, I’m just so excited for every run I go on without having to dash into a public hotspot.
My first self-timer running photo! (How do you people do these without feeling ridiculous? I felt/looked insane. Help?)Meanwhile…
Apparently at some point I had registered to run the NYRR Gridiron 4M race this past weekend, but I ended up taking a DNS (did not start). My stomach had been hurting a bit the day before, and I was just totally exhausted and didn’t feel up for it. So I slept in a bit the morning of the race and eventually went out for my own 4-mile run later in the day — and didn’t have to make any stops! I missed getting to see my friends at the race, but was otherwise A-OK with choosing snoozing. (That rhymed!)
Also, at what point did I black out and sign up for the Brooklyn Half Marathon again?! Why do I always do this?! I don’t even love that race! (Though I did have a good run last year.) I don’t know yet if I’ll want to train and try to PR (I would like to make a half PR attempt soon, since mine is from 2011 and that’s old), or if I’ll just run it for fun. In theory I’d love to train and work hard and all that jazz, but I’m still giving my body some time to fully bounce back and recover from the past few months. So I have time to decide. (But definitely don’t let me sign up for a marathon this year. I’m not doing that. I swear.)
My track. My happy place.READING: This oh-so-accurate post about working from home, and this LOL-worthy roundup of funny Tweets.
WATCHING: This Is Us, and crying every week. I love Jack. I love Young Randall. I love Adult Randall. I love William. Never die, William. Hold on. Be strong. I’m bored with Kate’s storylines, and I’m not too keen on Kevin, but Young Kevin is adorable. And Mandy Moore is growing on me! Her flashback scenes always make me cry. I feel like she is a loving, caring, but slightly stressed-out mother of three humans, and similarly I am a loving, caring, but slightly stressed “mother” to Ellie. We have lots in common, and I think that’s why the show is so emotional for me. I can just relate so much to all that parenting stuff, you know?
DOG-SITTING: For a few days!
Morning walks with my TWO dogs!!!Brian and I are watching Hank — you may remember him as one of Ellie’s baes — for the week, and it’s been so fun. I love having two dogs. They’re like two little shadows following me around everywhere I go. They play and snuggle and kiss and sleep, and it’s so hard to stop watching them and actually focus on my work. (Don’t let me get a second dog.)
NO MORE DOGGIES JUMPIN’ ON THE BED! (JK. More doggies welcome anytime. Plz send more dogs.)TRAVELING: To Utah next week! I am completely unprepared for this trip, but YOLO!
CUTTING: My hair, for the first time since last summer. YOLO!
We got haircuts and then took a selfie and then went to Whole Foods. Very suburban.COOKING: Not at all this week and I hate it! I was in such an awesome routine of grocery shopping and meal planning and cooking and bragging about it, and I enjoyed it and felt so much better while doing it. But I haven’t had time to grocery shop this week, and my schedule is kind of a mess between now and when I leave for Utah, so I’ve just been winging it this week. Last night I had sushi and today for lunch I had sesame chicken and fried rice. That’s basically what I was eating every single day for a while, but now I don’t want any of that at all. Give me baked buffalo chicken nuggets or give me death! Don’t get me wrong, pork fried rice is delicious, but I felt bloated and sick after, instead of happy and satisfied, like when I was eating my good home-cooking.
I made this last week! Doesn’t it look fancy?! It’s called “Company Chicken” from Iowa Girl Eats, and it was really good!SLEEPING: Better! Well…kind of. I’m sleeping better than I was when I last checked in. I’ve been able to fall asleep without Ambien most nights, which is a great thing, and my nightly “we’re getting attacked by terrorists” dreams have subsided within the past week. But since we’ve been dog-sitting, I’ve been sleeping in some janky positions on account of having four bodies in a queen-sized bed. It’s ridiculous, I know, but the pups are so cute and cuddly and furry and sweet. The sacrifices we make!
I ACTUALLY WOKE UP LIKE THIS, and it was amazing.FEELING: OK. I’m still frustrated by the bathroom urgency in the morning, which hasn’t let up as much as I’d like, but once I get past that, I’m able to go about most of my day without Crohn’s disease being totally top of mind. I stress out about leaving the house from time to time and will sometimes run back inside to use the bathroom “just one more time real quick,” but otherwise I’m a normal-ish human.
VERY NORMALISH.LAUNCHING: My podcast SO SOON! I have five episodes ready to go, and can’t wait to get them up and running and out in the world. I’m kicking off with some great, inspiring guests, and I know the show will only get better from here. (I look back at my early blog posts and cringe so hard, so I’m sure there will come a time that I look back at my first few episodes and feel the same. But for now, I’m really proud of them and excited about them and can’t wait for you to hear them!) I will of course share all the information about where to find them once I launch. STAND BY.
A little podcast photo shoot. SNEAK PEEK OMG.WHAT ARE YOU LOVING, READING, WATCHING, OR WORKING ON LATELY? I love it when we share. You are my best friend. (And also Ellie. Ellie is definitely my best friend.)
30 Responses
I must be the very last Brit to read Harry Potter but I am finally working my way through them! Not sure I’m ‘loving’ them but they’re fun and quick to read! And they make me a bit homesick.
I am LOVING my job though – I teach preschool and we’re at that stage of the school year when we start seeing real breakthroughs with our kids and it makes my heart burst!
What happens is you know that Brooklyn will sell out and you happen to look at your clock and it’s noon, momentary FOMO and boom you are in.
Also, I don’t want you to give Hank back.
Oops – is that what I’m supposed to be doing whenever I try a class for free? Just had a very unhappy studio owner after I didn’t write a ” “opinions are my own but here’s a totally favorable review” post 😉 I told her I hadn’t agreed to writing a press release!
It depends on the agreement you have with the studio. If your class is free because it’s customary for a first-timer, I don’t believe you have to disclose anything. Anytime you are gifted something or are being compensated for a positive review, you need to disclose that in the post somehow. And if you ask a studio for a free class in exchange for a blog review, you should disclose that (both by law and for transparency with your readers). That doesn’t mean it has to be a positive review, just that you should disclose the agreement. This post is helpful for understanding the FTC guidelines which are, TBH, a bit of a mess: http://diannej.com/2012/new-ftc-rules-on-writing-reviews-affiliations-and-sponsored-posts/
Yay, a podcast! Maybe you’ll be the person who will get me into podcasts! 🙂
I signed up for Strava and followed you! 15k coming up with the Philly Hot Chocolate. 🙂
Cannot wait for your podcast!
Just finished “Arrowood” by Laura McHugh. Loved it!
The Jenny-Dog and the Son of Light Series (Frozen Moon, Cody and Manhunt) are all excellent books by David Greenwald. You’d enjoy them. They are DOG-CENTRIC!!!!!!
A) Always love dog pictures. Hank seems like such a sweetie! I’m glad he and Ellie have each other.
B) For the love, PLEASE don’t start doing fitness class reviews. I’m glad if you enjoy the classes you attend, but SO MANY bloggers do those dang reviews way too often. And frankly, they are not that interesting. (probably because I do not attend boutique fitness classes…) I think you have plenty of other, better content to offer.
Loveto see how ambitious you are. I’m running with SportMe running app which calculates distance, pace, time and calories and adjusts running plans to my progress.
Totally watching all the SVU episodes in the world right now. Well trying to. Currently on season 10 and wishing I was badass Benson.
Loving your puppy updates, although I’m concerned they’re going to be so sad when they separate, your insta videos are adorable!
Also found out today I’ll be on b12 shots weekly the rest of my life. First time with an actual needle and not a pen needle, any advice?
Can’t wait for your vlog, and when that day comes and you interview Mariska Hargitay can I please come? Lol!
Yay for your podcast! I would love a fitness review(s) especially since I’m curious about what you thought of Orange Theory. As a runner, I was dying to try it but found it chaotic.
Loving: Life, running, I too have had a busy schedule lately and LOVE it!
Reading: Lots of running/marathon related books
Watching: Just start the beginning of This Is Us, I know I’m so behind
Working on: Marathon training and starting a blog (Got any advice?)
I really enjoy Orange Theory! I would never pick up a weight if it was not for this class. And I can work on speed work too.
I am SO SO excited about your pod cast!! I commute quite a way and I’m always in need of something to entertain me. Can’t wait!!
Hi Ali! I first “met” you on Lindsey’s podcast and then I quickly followed you on Instagram, and your stories on there are SO HILARIOUS. I love them. And now I’m super excited that you’re coming out with a podcast! I’m going to be your biggest fan. I just felt like I should probably introduce myself if I’m following you around everywhere. Ha ha!
You so fancy! Loving the dog pictures and you didn’t miss any of the freezing race on Sunday. As for BK,I will be out there cheering for everyone!
I would LOVE to see your review of Orangetheory! I’ve taken about a dozen classes and just signed up for a membership in Florida where I’m working… psyched to see how it helps my running 🙂 I also wrote a (non-sponsored) review of Orangetheory here: http://www.50by25.com/2015/11/pricey-boutique-fitness-classes-are-they-worth-it.html
So excited for your podcast! I tell you that every time haha. Would love to read about your Orange Theory experience.
Also, I’m watching Amazing Race. I’m not sure why, but I’ve watched like 3 seasons in the last 2 weeks. SEND HELP. But it’s so good & I want to be on that show so bad!
We have two dogs and I feel like I am constantly leading this very short but insanely cute parade.
I LOVE the parade visual!!
LEADING A VERY SHORT BUT INSANELY CUTE PARADE. That is the best phrase I’ve ever heard. Yes.
Can’t wait for your podcast! I love listening to podcasts while I run (she-explores is also a really good one). Also, please continue using YOLO at inappropriate times, because for some reason it makes me giggle a lot.
Yes, please write about Orange Theory! I haven’t been yet and am debating..
Also very excited about the podcast!
OMG can’t wait for the podcast!
Haha I totally blacked out and signed up for the Brooklyn Half too, which I also don’t love! It just comes at a good time of year for training purposes and I am trying to bounce back from injury so thought it would be a good goal. I follow you on Strava… so fun! SO PUMPED for your podcast!!!!!!
So excited about the podcast!!
I’m working on running a sub30 5k. And, writing morning pages so I write something every day. And, cleaning out my DVR before I lose something I love.
That’s so exciting, and is a great goal to have! You got this. (I’ll do my best to entertain you throughout your training!)
omg the two dogs together are amazing. what are you doing in utah? (skiing?)
Staying with my BFF for a week! Her family lives there and I haven’t seen her in forever. So just going to be working remotely, basically, but excited to do it somewhere pretty!
I love your Instagram stories. You are the only person that is more obsessed with your dog than I am. I work from home too and feel like I am constantly amused at my dogs adorableness making it hard to concentrate on my work.
Can’t wait for your podcast!!!! I’ll listen while training for the bk half 🙂
I AM VERY OBSESSED WITH MY DOG. Thank you for noticing.