Saturday Playlist Party!

Happy Saturday morning!  Hope you are all set to have a fantastic weekend!  I get to work today then get ready just in case this hurricane/tropical storm actually makes it to us.  I just really hope it doesn't mess up my plans to run tomorrow morning!

This morning I wanted to share something special with you....my running playlist!  I hope you will do the same!  I am a music fanatic and I love listening to new things in pretty much every genre.  While I have finally gotten to the point where I can run without music for a while, I am in love with my new Plantronics headphones so I pretty much always have something playing! (Missed reading the review? Find it here!)

headphones? always!

So here is the question...do you listen to music while you run?  If so, what is on your playlist at the moment?

I have music ADD so my playlist is constantly changing.  I pay for Spotify premium so I can listen to my playlists while I run without killing my data. Possibly the best money I spend all month.  i mean eating is important, but music probably comes in right up there with groceries!

I have just started to build my Fall 2015 playlist and I am so excited about it!

It is only about an hour and a half long as I am writing this, but it will grow almost daily until I get bored with it and start a new playlist.  This is why I love Spotify so much!

In case you don't have time to puruse the whole thing, I wanted to share the top five on there that I thing you need to go listen to right this very moment:

1) Lucy - Adam Lambert ft. Brian May (the guitar and vocals make my heart happy and my feet fast)
2) Alive Tonight - Grace Potter (if you run after dark you need to have this song on your playlist)
3) Sons & Daughters - The American Spirit (soft but compelling)
4) Our Own House - MisterWives (catchy times a million. I end up singing this in my head all day at work)
5) Chandelier - Twisted Measure (this is a cover of the Sia song that is just incredible)


Did I name a song you are loving too or did I help you find a new favorite?  What songs am I missing?

If you write a blog post about your favorite playlist I would LOVE to have you join the LinkUp below!  If you don't write a post, leave a comment with some must listen songs.  This playlist needs to grow!

An InLinkz Link-up

Friday Five:Things I Did This Summer

 Happy Friday! Once again I am linking up with Mar on the Run, You Signed Up for What?, and Eat Pray Run DC for the Friday Five link up.  If you haven't checked it out already you should...it's a great way to discover new blogs about running and fitness :) 

This week we are talking about five things we did this summer...I personally can't believe that summer is almost over.  I think I might be one of the few people that isn't really upset about it though.  I am looking forward to a Central Florida Fall and Winter!  It has cooled off the last few days and it is so nice to actually be able to breathe and not drown in sweat the minute you go outside!  That said, I did have a VERY eventful summer, so here are five of the awesome things that happened.

1) I quit my job and moved to Florida.  Can we talk about the best decision ever? I absolutely love it here and I do not miss the old job one bit.  There were occasional perks and I worked with some great people. But working that many hours and living in the middle of nowhere wasn't great.

2) I got a new job! I am love love loving my new job...and I have been there for about three months now so it isn't new job infatuation anymore.  Like any job it has it's ups and downs, but I love not being overtime exempt salaried.  Getting paid for the hours you work is such a novel concept at this point.  I also love that I actually have some free time.  Sure I may have to stay a little longer than scheduled occasionally, but overall there is no expectation to work late every night of the week. Not to mention i work with some pretty awesome people!

3) My fiance and I got our first apartment together. Super exciting stuff! I am loving where we are and finally having our dog here with us! We moved in almost a month ago, so naturally we are not unpacked at all...but my mom is visiting in two weeks so I need to get on that!

4) Tried a few new fitness activities. I got really into PureBarre and took a ton of classes in a three month window.  I plan on renewing my membership soon and keeping up with it...it just wasn't making financial sense at the moment.  I also went kayaking for the first time this summer and I loved it! As soon as we were on dry land I was searching Craigslist for a kayak.

5) Discovered awesome new restaurants! One of the best things about Orlando is being able to go out to eat without feeling like your only options are the mega chains (I'm looking at you Olive Garden).  There are so many amazing local restaurants and local chains that I have fallen in love with!

How amazing is this turtle french toast from KeKe's? Answer: Very!!!

So there you have it, five things I did this summer!! What have you been up to?!

Plantronics BackBeat Fit Review

Disclaimer: I received Plantronics BackBeatFit headphones to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

These headphones were my first adventure into wireless headphone territory and I don't actually know how I lived with cords for so long!

How many times have you been running on the treadmill with your phone on the console then you catch your arm on the headphone cord and your phone goes flinging across the gym? it can't be just me that has this problem right?

Then there is the "cord eats everything" problem.  Like really cord, do you need to grab all my keys?

So when this box showed up at my doorstep I was so thrilled!

They even included a note which I thought was a great personal touch.  There is more of a connection than you typically feel when you get something shipped to you.

The headphones even come with a good amount of charge which was super exciting because that meant I could put them on immediately and have a dance party around the apartment!  My dog was concerned but I was having a blast.

The sound quality is amazing and I love being able to pause the music and adjust the volume without having to actually get my phone out.

This came in particularly handy when I went out for a run and it was raining.  I am not good at being prepared for life, so I do not own a waterproof phone case.  This means that I would usually have to put my phone in a plastic bag then try to poke at the screen and buttons through the bag.  Oh and poke a hole through the bag to plug my headphones in.  It's a fun thing, but oddly enough I didn't miss it AT ALL when I went out for a run in the rain and just had to put my phone in a bag and go.  Insert heart eyes emoji here.

These headphones are waterproof too, which is a huge relief.  And, despite the rain and copious amounts of sweat there was no slipping.  Again, if you are like me you have probably spent what feels like a lifetime trying to keep wet headphones in your ears while running.  Not having to worry about that was way more relaxing than I thought possible.  The BackBeatFits go over your ear, in your ear, and have another little loop that fits in the ridge on your ear so they are going nowhere.

Due to soggy conditions and looking like a drowned sweaty rat, I waited till after I showered to take some pictures.  So you get to see me with actual make up on. Like a grown up.  Except they were taken at red lights because I was running (lol puns) late for a staff meeting at work!

I love that they are low profile.  You can barely see them from the front.  This also means that you barely notice they are there while you are running.  None of the bulk and frustration, all of the great music sounds!

But SURPRISE they are there!

(The people in cars next to me probably thought I was nuts)

Overall: I give the BackBeatFits a 10 out of 10...maybe an 11 if you will allow it.  I am completely in love and use them for everything from running and gym things to walking the dog to dance parties with myself while I get ready for work.

If you want your own pair, you can find them HERE.
Still on the fence? Check out what other BibRavePros had to say!
Angie, Rachel, John, Jeremy, Danielle, Brandon, Emily, and Chadd all wrote reviews!

And last but not least, if you have questions about my experience with the BackBeatFits let me know!!

National Dog Day!!

Happy hump day and happy National Dog Day! Not that I need a reason to celebrate my dog, but if the holiday insists I certainly won't say no!

I have today off so I am out and about doing fun new things that I will be sharing on the blog next week for my very first Try It Tuesday link up! Please feel free to join! Just try something new, write about it, then share your link! Totally a piece of cake. In fact if you try a cake recipe and share it that would be amazing. Just a thought.

So while I am out and about, I just wanted to share a few Hank pictures. He has been in my life for 2.5 years and I can't imagine a better dog for me!

When we first met

Our first hiking trip 

Going to see the waterfalls

Making me smile every day!

Do you have a dog? How are you celebrating?!

Monday Morning Coffee Talk

Hi guys! happy Monday morning! I am actually probably one of the few people happy that Monday is here because it is actually my day off after seven days of work!

Today I am linking up with some great bloggers to talk about my very favorite thing. The reason I wake up in the morning.

COFFEE!

I think about 90 % of my selfies and snapchats include a cup of coffee so this is right up my ally!

If you are a coffee lover and aren't already following the blog hop, here is a link to Train With Bain who got us all started!

If you are not a coffee lover, please tell me your secret! How do you manage to function throughout the day?

Because coffee is such an integral part of my daily ability to function, I can't afford to buy it at a shop every day, but I like to really enjoy it when I do go out!  Therefore, I split this post up into two parts: my coffee habits at home and when I am out and about!

Home
My at home coffee routine is pretty basic. I don't usually use fancy coffee and I am currently working my way through some Folgers.  If I am going to get nicer coffee, I do love love love Tully's.  It's not a more common brand, but it is really good coffee that doesn't totally break the bank.

My coffee mug game is where the real fun comes in

My favorite to go coffee mug is this super cute ceramic one from Lilly Pulitzer in Lobstah Roll.  You can't be sad when you have this cup full of coffee with you.

 2) My current favorite at home coffee mug (Fact: I have a lot and they tend to change pretty frequently when I find an awesome new mug!) is this one with the little cows on it.  It is not very big so I need a lot of refills!

Orlando Coffee


For a city as big as Orlando, there doesn't seem to be much of a coffee scene from what I have found so far.  That said, there are two places that I think every coffee lover needs to go when they come to visit!

First Watch.  In addition to having amazing breakfast and juice, their plain ol coffee is out of control good.  I legitimately wanted to sit there all day and just drink coffee.  They do sell the beans as well, so that is probably a little less weird.  Either way, I highly recommend it.

 Lineage in the East End Market in Winter Park is a cute little coffee bar that makes really great espresso drinks.  They are not overly sweet or complicated and the goodness of the espresso is given its own chance to shine.  I have not personally tried it, but I have been told that their cold brew coffee is to die for.  If you are looking for a quality cup of coffee I can not recommend them enough.

Well now that I am dreaming of all the coffee goodness I don't currently have, I am going to pass you along to the next blogger joining the link up!  Go check out Marcie's coffee post and enjoy a cup while you read!

Are you a coffee lover? What is your favorite kind?  Do you make it at home or buy it while you are out? Do you have a favorite mug?!

Friday Five: Five Years From Now

 Happy Friday! Once again I am linking up with Mar on the Run, You Signed Up for What?, and Eat Pray Run DC for the Friday Five link up.  If you haven't checked it out already you should...it's a great way to discover new blogs about running and fitness :) 

This week we are talking about things we will be doing in five years.  Now if my running addiction habit has taught me anything it is that predicting what you will be doing in the future is pretty much impossible.  If you told me two years ago I would run a marathon then sign up for an ultra I would have laughed you right out the door.  I hated running.  And now look.  

That said, here are five things I think I might be doing in five years :)

1) Own my own home - guys I really hate renting.  I want a house with a yard and hopefully a barn and a workshop.

2)  Starting a family.  Now that is a really crazy one to say out loud...or type, but I do want to have children and I am not getting any younger. Of course this is one of the hardest things to predict about the future and how things will play out, but if everything works well my fiance (only husband by then) and I will have a baby or two in five years.

3) Own my own business.  At the moment I am looking at having an Etsy shop selling quilted aprons, potholders, placemats and such.  I am optimistic that it will take off. I am not counting on it becoming my only job or source of income, but I think it would be very rewarding if it did at least produce some pocket change!

4) Be certified as a fitness instructor.  I don't know the particulars of how I want to do this yet or what I want to do in particular; I am just putting it out there in the universe if you will.  I would love to teach group fitness or yoga.  As I get other parts of my life under control it is something I will pursue more actively.

5) Running!  This one is (hopefully) a sure thing.  Running has become my happy place and my ultimate stress buster.  I can't imagine life without it anymore.  I would love to qualify for Boston and maybe try a 50 miler someday.  If item #2 on the list slows that down I will still be happy running 5ks :)

So there it is! Hopefully I will still be blogging in 5 years so I can revisit this post and probably laugh at the whole thing.

What do you plan to be doing in five years?

Try It Tuesday: fun treadmill workout

Hi guys! Happy Tuesday!  I hope your week is off to a great start!!!

I want to cover two little pieces of housekeeping before I get into the try it part of this post:

1) I am not a doctor or a coach/trainer/etc.  I work retail and I have a degree in Politics.  I am not qualified in any way shape or form to give you real workout advice.  I am telling you what I did and if you want to try it too, that's on you.

2) I'm turning Try It Tuesday into a blog link up starting on September 1st! More information will be coming soon, but I hope you will join me and share stories about new things you try!

Now to the good part!

This week I tried a couple new things in one go. The first new thing was the fitness center at our apartment complex.  It's small but there are two treadmills and I had it all to myself last night when I tried it out.

 Plus you can't beat the view of the parking lot.  Very great people watching!  I also like being able to see my reflection a little bit in the glass. I tend to pull my shoulders up while I run and it is a nice visual reminder to relax my arms.

For the second new thing I'm sharing a fun workout that I made up and actually made the treadmill not suck.  When I say fun I am not even being sarcastic. And I am not a treadmill lover.

I am, however, a lazy runner. I don't tend to push myself and when I get tired I take a walk break.  So the purpose of this was to make me run a little faster than my "comfortable" ploddy pace and to keep it interesting enough that I didn't just give up and go home!

I started out walking .1 mile to warm up a bit (at about 3.5 mph).  I also set the treadmill for a 1% incline to spice things up a bit.
After the walking warm up, I set the treadmill to 5.2 mph which, for me, is an easy jog pace.  If you are using this plan, set it to a happy easy warm-up jog pace whatever that might be for you.

From there, I upped the pace by .1 mph every .1 miles and kept going until I couldn't. Then, because I know myself and know that I quit before I really can't anymore, I went one more. 

I discovered that I am slow and out of shape yall! I made it to 6.5 mph and went back to .1 miles of walking.

For the second set I started back at a 5.3 and upped the pace .1 mph every .05 miles. I really liked this part because the walk break had allowed my heart rate to regulate and these quicker increases made it pick up faster.  My goal for the second set was to go .1 mph further than I had the time before.  I was worn out by the time I got to that part, so naturally I kicked it up to 7 mph and did a final .1 mile to finish out.

Then I walked until my heart wasn't trying to pop out of my throat.

To be completely honest, I ate like crap yesterday and drank almost no water.  I am planning to make this type of workout something I do every Monday because I think it will be nice to be able to see if I am making progress!

If you have a fun treadmill workout suggestion, share it with me! I love variety!
Did you try anything new this week? I would love to hear about it!

Hope you have a great Tuesday!
Jessica

Happy Monday!

How was your weekend? Did you do anything fun?
I got my dog back yesterday ! So that was obviously the highlight of my weekend.  I can't even begon to say how grateful I am to have an amazing friend that was willing to keep Hank until we found an apartment to keep him in.  We went for a celebratory walk to Panera and had a dinner snack.

I spent Saturday at work and most of yesterday running errands, watching way too many Disney movies on ABC Family, and painting furniture to test my mad skills before I get started on my china hutch!  (I get it today...in like 2.5 hours)

Like how amazing is this thing!?  It was even on a super great sale and I got it for dirt cheap.  I have been playing with chalk paint all weekend to get ready for the great china hutch redo.
I actually went to an antique store yesterday and was amazed at the price tags on old china hutches that had been "shabby chiced."  Most were upwards of $300 which just seems crazy to me.  I guess I have watched enough Flea Market Flip that it shouldn't be that surprising anymore.  Maybe I need to get into that industry!

I apologize in advance...with getting this new apartment I have gone into a frenzy trying to get it put together and decorated at least a little.  Of course I am avoiding unpacking like the plague, but I like to day dream about decorating.  I may create another blog to post all my decorating and crafting adventures so I don't totally overrun this one!

That said, I found a convenient new trail near my house (it's an urban style trial so it's paved, but at least it's not a sidewalk) and kept driving past it longingly since it was either a million degrees and humid or a million degrees and pouring rain so hard you couldn't see your hand in front of your face all weekend.  That's just not my cup of tea.  I need to stop making excuses though, because there is also a fitness center at our apartment complex, I just haven't been brave enough to go check it out yet!  Tonight might be the night.

That was about the extent of my weekend! I think I need to find friends that do fun and exciting things so I can live vicariously through them!

Friday Five: Running Tips

 Happy Friday! Once again I am linking up with Mar on the Run, You Signed Up for What?, and Eat Pray Run DC for the Friday Five link up.  If you haven't checked it out already you should...it's a great way to discover new blogs about running and fitness :) 

This week we are talking about running tips. If you are reading this and are anything like me, the idea of starting running is/was a weird and scary thing.  You mean people just run...for fun?  Where do I go? How do I start? 

That said, I want to gear this post towards those who are new to running or are looking to start!

1) Get fitted for running shoes.  Running is a great way to totally wear out your body in all the best, endorphin producing ways.  It can also be a real pain in the...everywhere.  Save yourself from the stuff that is 100% avoidable by going to a running store and having a professional help you out.  This will honestly pay of over and over and keep you from hating running because everything hurts.

2) It's going to hurt.  At least a little.  But then it gets way better. I know I said shoes help, and they do.  But if you are really wanting to push your body you have to go outside your comfort zone.  I know when I first started I didn't believe people that told me about runners' highs and all that nonsense.  I got to the part where it hurt and I was tired and quit. (Basically I am lazy yall.) One day I pushed past that and realized that after a certain point it gets better, then it actually starts to feel good.  Even now I often whine my way through the first mile or two. But now I know that running feels good after my body gets going.

3) Find your people.  A supportive group is so valuable when you are getting started (or when you are keeping going!) and it makes the experience so much better.  I used to live in a really small town and a lot of my running "people" were online.  That's awesome!  Check out blogs and Twitter chats.  Social media is an amazing resource and just tons of fun! If you live in a bigger town, join running groups. Meetup.com is great and a lot of running stores have Couch to 5K type programs where you can go run with other people that are just getting started too!

4) Ask questions.  As a general rule, all the runners I have met are really cool people and love to talk about running.  You asking a question might make their day.  Mostly because we love seeing other people get started...and it's not everyday that someone willing sits through our talks about heel striking, GU, and what we use to prevent chafing.  Fun right?  All jokes aside, if you are experiencing something there is a good chance another runner has been in your shoes.  Ask away.  If people you know in person don't know the answer, go to Twitter! Hashtags like #bibchat and #runchat are super popular and a lot of other runners will see your question...and usually offer up great advice!

5) Have fun!  With all the advice and tips like these that you will find on the internet it can feel even more overwhelming.  Don't worry about being the fastest or being able to run far.  Just go out and enjoy it :)

Are you a new runner with questions? Check out the rest of the blogs linking up or ask here!
Experienced runner with tips that I left out? Share with me!

Hope you all have a great Friday! The weekend is just around the corner!

Try It Tuesday: Addaday

"Disclaimer: I received an Addaday Pro to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!"

I am going to go ahead and spoil any anticipation there might have been about how I feel about my Addaday and tell you right from the start that I am completely in love with it and I have no idea how I lived without one.

I have not always been the best at dedicating time to recovery. Sometimes I think I am hardwired to go until I can't anymore.  For obvious reasons, this can make training a little complicated.  While I am still learning to schedule rest days for myself before my body demands them, I am working hard on taking care of my muscles.  The Addaday makes this a lot easier because, unlike a foam roller, you do not have to have access to floor space.  In fact, mine has mostly been used while sitting in my car.  Thanks to I4 traffic twice a day, my legs were usually feeling great by the time I got to where I was going! A foam roller can't do that!

The Addaday also has the added perk of being scientifically designed to help you release all the aches and pains you accumulate throughout the day. The knobs are made to feel like fingers and elbows like you would experience during a massage.  The little red knob is an added bonus because it is really great for targeting the places that need more precise pressure. The gears are also spaced to make it easier to maneuver the Addaday around your body. I find that they are perfect for running up either side of my spine at the same time...which feels amazing! One of my other favorite features is that the Addaday doesn't grab your hair.  My hair is longer so I have gotten stuck just trying to roll over in bed. Foam rollers obviously present a challenge if I want to target anything above mid back.  With the Addaday I was able to use the gears to dig into the knots in my shoulders without worrying about being bald by the time I was done. That is a win win situation if you ask me.

One of the very best things about the Addaday is that you do not have to be an expert to use it.  How many times have you looked at diagrams of how to use something and felt completely lost? Feeling better should not be complicated like that! If you visit the Addaday website they actually have videos to walk you through uses of the roller to help with different problems.  

Between running, cross training, and moving this weekend as well as having a job that keeps me on my feet for most of the day, I can use all the help I can get to keep my body happy with me. I have had incredible results using my Addaday.  The results are made even better by the fact that I am able to easily carry it with me so I do not have to consciously schedule recovery time into my day.  When soemthing aches, I am able to spend some time on it without having to find open floor space to roll around on.  I did get a few funny looks from my traffic jam neighbors, but that's just because they don't know what they are missing out on!

Do you have questions about the Addaday?  Let me know!
If you want one of your very own (you do!) you can find the Pro as well as many other options on the Addaday website.

Big Fat Life Post

If you follow my blog (thanks!) you'll probably have noticed that consistency has been out the window for a little while now. If you don't follow, trust me. It's true. 

By way of explanation, I'll just say that life has been too hectic lately and I have felt like I am just hanging on for dear life. This weekend we are (finally) moving across town into our own apartment. I am finally going to unpack, get my dog back, have a kitchen, and cut my commute to work drastically. Right now I am driving somewhere between an hour and a half and two hours each way for work every day. It's not fun. With this move my commute will be less than 20 minutes. A chorus of angels sings in my head every time I think about it. 

I also have plans to open an Etsy shop after I move. So between trying to wedding plan, working on moving, trying to figure out how to open my own business, blogging, running, and going to Pure Barre I've been stretched a little thin especially mentally. At the end of the day I just don't have the willpower to do things!

I don't think there are enough words to describe how excited I am about this move. I'm not a fan of the process, but having my own space again will be worth it. 

Tomorrow (aka Friday) will be my very last day driving that far to work and back. Saturday morning I am getting up super early to go volunteer at the Masters of all Terrain half marathon (which I had wanted to run but decided maybe I should have working legs for that whole moving thing) where I will be cheering and handing out water. After that it is all systems go for moving! We have a uhaul reserved and the power company has been paid so here is hoping for the smoothest possible move. Like that ever happens lol. 

Follow along on Twitter and Instagram (@seejessrun711 on both) this weekend for live action reporting of the chaos that's coming ;)

All this to say that I am really really excited for this weekend and life and blogging should be back to some semblance of normal before long!!!

Try it Tuesday: UV Half Buff

Disclaimer: I received a UV Half Buff to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

Have you ever started using a product and immediately wondered where it had been your whole life? No joke that's how I feel about the UV Half Buff from Buff USA!

I live in Florida so it is absurdly hot and humid and most runs last about 30 seconds before I have sweat pouring down my face and my hair just gets steadily larger and wilder as the run progresses. Not life threatening, but not a good look either. I also happen to have a longish and biggish noggin. That means that all the sweat headbands (or really just headbands in general) I had tried before either went flinging off the back of my head with surprising force, or gave me a headache before too long.

(I know I know, all the Florida talk and I picked the Washington print...but I have to have a little home state pride every now and then!)

The half Buff is a great size (half the length of the original Buff) because I can just fold it in half then roll up the back a bit and it fits great...I'm partial but I think it looks pretty cute too. 

I've worn mine on many many runs now and it has never slipped once. And even though the rest of me is soaked through with sweat, I don't have any running down my face. Can I get an amen?

As if a headband that actually stays put when you run (ok I also highly recommend it for hot yoga!) isn't enough, it's also got sunburn fighting powers. According to Buff it blocks 95% of UV Rays. Girls, if you've ever been for a long run with your hair parted and burned your scalp you know how great this is. Guys, probably the same thing? 

In addition to coming in a ton of awesome patterns and colors, it's also made out of a great material that regulates temperature really well. As in I don't feel like I'm having a heat stroke wearing this on my head while running. Rumor has it that they are also really good for keeping your ears/head warmer in the chillier part of the year. Needless to say I have not had the opportunity to check that functionality personally. Anyone have a walk in freezer I can borrow?

Overall I give the UV Half Buff two thumbs up and then some! It has quickly become one of my must haves for running!

Have questions that I didn't answer? Let me know!!

Ready to try one for yourself? Find them here and use the code BibRave10 for 10% off-then be sure to let me know what you think!!