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Happy Father’s Day 1,000 Miles Away

I have a lot to fill you in on including a Saturday which ended in pure lady of leisure style and a Sunday that’s been more productive than normal.

But, first, I want to take time to wish all the fathers and mothers who have had to fulfill both roles a wonderful Happy Father’s Day.

 Holidays like this are tough for Bo and me. It’s virtually impossible to make the trip down to Savannah for Easter, Mother’s Day,  and Father’s Day since we don’t get any extra time off of work.

We aren’t able to spend the afternoon out on the boat with Bo’s family celebrating in their favorite way or grilling out with my family. Instead, these holidays become much like any other Sunday. In fact, without a calendar to remind us, we may be guilty of forgetting the occasion. Actually, since it is the third largest fragrance selling period, I probably wouldn’t forget. But, I digress.

Many of our friends’ families live in New York or New Jersey which means they get the time with their family. I’m not going to lie, when I hear that Theodora’s mom can drive into the city to pick her up for an impromptu weekend at home, it tugs at my heart a bit.

But, at the end of the day, this is the city where Bo and I have to be for our careers and calling Savannah home is wonderful for vacations.

So until then, I can only reflect on the many reasons we’re thankful for our fathers today even though they are over 1,000 miles away; and neither has figured out how to download and use Skype.

My Dad

  • He has shared his love of travel and trying new things with me; even though I will never travel to Central Maine with him again

  

  • He always empowered me to try anything, even when it meant trying to tag along with the boys camping or target shooting.

 

  • He will do absolutely anything for the people he loves, family and friends alike.

 

  • His dedication and work ethic has always inspired me. Over 25 years ago he left the comforts of corporate America to start his own company. There were definitely bumps along the way, but now he has been able to share his very successful business with my brother.
  • He doesn’t take himself too seriously and loves to laugh. How many dads do you know who jump their way across the Brooklyn Bridge or imitate the cyclists who almost run him over?

 

Bo’s Dad 

  •  He has always supported Bo no matter what.
  • He’s been a positive force in his life no matter how dark the time.
  • He taught Bo everything he knows about boating, golf, real estate.
  • In short, he’s been my biggest fan.

 

Happy Father’s Day Ron & Bob! We wish we could be there in person to celebrate but we’ll see you soon!

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Bo’s First Run Since Surgery

Today’s run was awesome for one primary reason. It was Bo’s first outside run since his knee surgery in April!

IMG_2639 (640x478) This is the face of a very sweaty but happy runner!

We woke up at 9am ready to tackle our 6 mile run before the summer heat took over the city.

IMG_2637 (478x640) Lucky for us, I forgot to buy regular peanut butter at the grocery store this week. Oh well, PB&Co Chocolate Dreams did the job and was like a pre-run treat.

I chose to forego my CamelBak today since it was a six mile run that would keep us near plenty of water fountains and bodegas if I got thirsty.  We also decided to avoid hills since it was Bo’s first run outside since his surgery. His doctor and PT both recommended doing at least 2 or 3 flat runs outside before conquering Central Park.

The run was amazing until mile 5.5 which is when my shins randomly started killing me. I’m going to wear my recovery socks tomorrow and continue stretching and foam rolling in hopes of staying injury free. But, I was able to maintain negative splits, starting at close to ten minute pace and ending around a 9.

From Bo’s perspective:

“Coming back after almost six months of not running (prior to my torn meniscus I was plagued with calf injuries) definitely felt amazing.  One thing that I would recommend for anyone in a similar situation is to hit the leg lifting prior to your first run.  My trainer has been killing me with lunges, power cleans, squats, and sumo squats for about a month now and my legs certainly felt strong due to all the gym work.  One other thing that you need to remember is that, even if you’ve already been on the treadmill, this is your first time outside and thought you might feel strong for the first three miles or so, your endurance is likely not at the level that you were used to in the past.  For example, we ran the High Line for miles 3.5 – 5 at which point I picked up the pace and left Ash in the dust.  However, I was really dragging during the last mile as my body wasn’t used to the constant pounding that is running outside.  I hope this provides some interesting insight to anyone coming back from an injury.”

We were a sweaty mess at the end but had a blast running together after so long.

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We rewarded ourselves post stretch and foam rolling with delicious, cold smoothies!

IMG_2642 (640x478) IMG_2644 (640x478) Bo loves the Mango Mantra smoothie with a shot of whey protein. I, on the other hand, stuck with the berry monster light.

IMG_2647 (480x640) We’re off to enjoy some sunshine with Theodora before parting ways this afternoon. Bo has a boy’s night while I’m going to enjoy some pampering at Bliss this afternoon!

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Friday Favorites

It’s another rainy Friday in New York City. Bo clearly got caught in the rain on his way home tonight!

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I was actually able to take advantage of summer Friday and leave the office by 4pm which isn’t as early as my co-workers, who all left at 1pm, but it’s earlier than normal.

I started this morning off with a crazy sweat session with Lauren, my personal trainer. Lauren and I have truly become more than just trainer and client over the past few weeks. We spent the hour chatting, catching up on the week’s craziness, and breaking a sweat of course. This morning’s workout was all about weight. I had my first date with the bench press (65 lbs), did crazy rope pulls, and more during our session. Luckily she included some extra stretching today because my glutes and hamstrings were still screaming after Wednesday’s VIPr session.

By the time I ate breakfast at 8:30 my stomach was growling.

IMG_2634 (640x478)This morning’s bowl was more delicious than normal because I accidentally added more cinnamon. When I was sprinkling it the lid came off and I ended up with about a tablespoon of cinnamon in the bowl. I balanced the potency with a little extra water and some Splenda. The end result was a cinnamon sweet bowl of goodness.

IMG_2633 (640x478)Lunch was an exact repeat of yesterday’s salad since I enjoyed it so much. The apples are a fresh new addition to my salads lately and I’m loving the extra crunch without the calories of nuts or croutons.

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After leaving the office, I headed down to Union Square to make some much needed returns at JCrew and Sephora. I have to give a shoutout to JCrew today because their customer service was beyond amazing. I purchased two dresses last week for the engagement party but neither fit very well. Today when I returned the dress they were willing to credit my credit card instead of giving me gift cards; which is how I purchased the dresses. WIN!

Before I head into the kitchen for my cooking date with Bo, I want to leave you with a few of my latest favorite things.

IMG_2630 (478x640)Maybelline FIT foundation and powder: While I’m normally a Dolce&Gabbana or Cover Girl devotee, this line has become my new favorite foundation and powder. When I returned from Bermuda my foundation was suddenly way too light. When I went to Duane Reade this brand was on sale and I figured I’d give it a try since it was also supposed to match skin tones well. In addition, it’s oil free, wax free, and it’s patented pigments allow it to blend better than most. I’ve received more compliments on my makeup in the past few weeks and firmly believe it’s because this line looks so natural on my face. I highly recommend it!  At $7.99 you can’t beat it!

IMG_2631 (478x640) Yurbuds: Since running the marathon, one of the most common questions I receive is in regards to my favorite headphones. Leslie actually convinced me to upgrade to these headphones the day before the marathon! When she saw the Yurbud booth she convinced me to try them out and within a few minutes I was sold. I wore them for the marathon and they never fell out one time. Since the race, I haven’t run with anything other than these amazing headphones; until Tuesday. I ran 3 miles with Bo’s headphones since I couldn’t find mine and realized just how much I love the Yurbuds. The sound is clearer, my sweat never makes them slip out, and they stay perfectly snug, without being uncomfortable, the whole time.

IMG_2626 (478x640) Birchbox I first read about Birchbox on Grace’s blog over a year ago when she received her first Birchbox. After seeing her enjoy the monthly gift for over a year, I finally joined the cult so I could see what it was all about. Birchbox is a company which provides subscribers to a monthly package of the newest beauty samples in a deluxe size that’s large enough to let you try it multiple times. Gone are the foil packets or single use trial packets! I love the concept since I’m a beauty junkie and love sampling the newest products without having to pay for a full size. In addition, it introduces me to many products I wouldn’t necessarily find on my own. Even better, it’s only $10 per month! This month, my best Birchbox yet, included the following:

Dr. Dennis Gross EZ4U Facial Towelettes
Amika Obliphica Hair Treatment
kate spade new york Twirl – 3.4 fl oz
Pangea Organics Toner for Normal to Oily Skin
Laura Geller Baked Blush-n-Brighten

Question: What is your favorite thing right now?

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