redgrill18

We took zero pics b/c of all the rain, but it is indeed awesome. The only other one I've been to is NC and Md is just leaps and bounds better and larger. We've been going there for years and there are still shops I find each year that I've never wandered into and love.

Welp, closeout entry-I didn't do so great on my challenge. But-I did a heck of a lot better than I would've if I hadn't done the challenge so I'm counting it as a moderate win. I did end up doing the 5k and am so glad I did. It renewed my desire to keep up with running a bit and definitely made for a much more positive Saturday than it would've been if I'd just been sitting around all cranky and sleepy. I actually did pretty great on my timing too! I think my fastest time every about a decade ago was around 31 and I did 35 minutes Saturday on 4 hours sleep, without training, and while still having the last remnants of my cough. Not too shabby! The Rennfest was a tooootal rainout but we sucked it up and went and had a great time. Didn't see many shows b/c of the pouring but I got my go to years worth of honey, a friend got this glass blown orb that costs $95 for FREE b/c the owner of the stand I guess just really liked how she described how much the one she got last year made her so happy when she sat at work and how appreciative she was of his work. And he legit was not hitting on her at all-it was crazy. She was almost crying she was so happy. I had been eyeing this steel drum sort of thing for my munchkin to play with and a tibetan bowl for me at the music store and they gave me $50 off so I felt accomplished. Took it home and she was playing with them both for a while, so success! Now to decide what to do with my next challenge. I think i want to stick with 3 a week running, but also think based on various aches and pains that it's well past time to suck it up and get weight training back in the lineup even if I hate it. So I'm gonna brainstorm how to make that happen and see y'all in a week!

It sure is a renaissance festival! Maryland-it's awesome. Annnnnnd, bonus, it's supposed to rain at the start time and then be cloudy the rest of the day-which means instead of being elbow to elbow with everyone we'll have the run of the place! So long as you dress properly it's basically the funnest. I have not! For some reason I'm not a huge raw veggie fan...but maybe I should try again. It's much easier that way and I certainly prefer them to soggy leftover cooked veggies so worth a shot. I'm leaning towards last minute signing up for Baltimore's 5k, which is tomorrow AM. We'll likely be getting home from Philly around 1 or 2am and kiddo will be waking us at 6am. So...since I can't sleep anyways why not get some motivation to get back in gear with my running? I'd been doing about 2 miles on my usual runs and tomorrow is supposed to be nice and chilly. The expo is literally right across the street so I can just hop over there and grab my stuff easily. Then I figure I won't be as angry about the lack of sleep and will also be easier to nap in the afternoon with munchkin in anticipation of besty arriving around 2AM so I'm not a total zombie. I normally do the 5k most years but they switched the race the last few years to the most borrrring route that this year also happens to be a construction zone so I've been boycotting. But it really is pretty inspiring to do an actual race with thousands of people and the other 5ks around here just don't usually have near the same attendance. Woot!

Yeah, I always do scrambled eggs too but I sort of hate them so I end up not eating enough of them and then being starving at lunch. I think I need to get back to just scrambling random veggies into the eggs and focus on mixing up the veggies each day so I don't get bored. I was also thinking about cooking the veggies and making little uncooked egg scramble ramekins at night and then popping them in the oven when I wake up so they're ready after showering/etc but I'm not sure if it's foodsafe to have raw scrambled eggs chill overnight in the fridge? Every time I make quiches or egg bakes and have them as leftovers they just are so dry and unappetizing on the second day. Got a new book from the library last night The Six of Crows while I wait on Ninth House by the same author that everyone and their mother is freaking out about so I started that (and of course, my hold for NH arrived at the library today after having been 'pending' since the book came out two weeks ago, haha!) . Last night wasn't great, hubs had an 'all hands' meeting at his new work at 5pm, speeches went to 630 so he hopped in a taxi to get back to his car by 7 when the garage closes and got stuck behind the usual DC motorcade. DC I swear is the only city where when a garage closes you are just sh*t outta luck. So he didn't get to come home but thankfully his bff lives in DC now so he they had some quality snuggle time watching WWE and eating peruvian chicken. Calmed him down or I worried hubs would've actually gone back and set fire to the garage when he picked up his car this AM. But I made the most of my night and got my melting screamy munchkin in bed as early as I could and then knitted, watched minimal tv, meditated, read, and went to bed on time. I did all this work on prepping stuff for buddha bowls on Monday and just...don't want any of it. Made munchkin broccoli, chicken and banana for breakfast this AM and also didn't want that...so I got a bagel from DD instead. I think part of it is I need to be better about not dreading busy weekends, which the next two are. It's all good stuff, but it's like I'm already exhausted knowing I'll be getting 6 or less hours of sleep each night and get into why bother mentality? Anyways, lots of fun to look forward to-hitting the haunted prison in Philly tomorrow night (hopefully if we have time also hitting cheesesteaks for dinner) and then Saturday night my bestie flies in (and arrives at my house around 130AM, oof) and our crew is going to the last day of RennFest sans kiddos so shenanigans will be had! Zero updates to challenge items.

What Waanie said They're so cuuuuute!

I vote that the lounging was needed. You're doing a LOT for someone who is pregnant and kicking arse while doing it but sometimes, your body just needs some recovery or some soul feeding hygge with a good book to build up your mental reserves. Sorry your hip pain has been getting in the way of workouts. I was definitely frustrated once I hit the point in my pregnancy with munchkin where I couldn't jog anymore but remember you'll get it back once your adorable baby girl makes her way here. Happy Tuesday!

Alright, new week and last week of challenge! Overall I feel like I am doing about 50% challenge wise but...better than 0% and everything I'm doing was a 0%ish before I started. So I'll try for a great final week. Yesterday was holiday from work so I watched a ton of my nutrition video course, did a bunch of meal prep for buddha bowls this week for lunch, and cooked up some winter squash that I told myself I'd eat for breakfast...meh. I baked butternut at 450 last night, then warmed it in the toaster oven this AM and put some honey on it and it was still just kinda blech. I think if I cubed it prior to toaster oven I might have a better texture and taste so I'm going to try that tomorrow am and if that doesn't work than next time I'll figure out some sort of soup I can quickly puree it into. I'm just trying really hard to eat more veggies and cut back on fruit. I like veggies...it's just hard to cook them in a way that is appetizing for breakfast when trying to get out the door. Biked to work today and took bike out front door and it was *SO* much easier, so will definitely be doing that and just trying not to think about what I'm wheeling thru the house when I bring it in each night I still really need to stop by the bike store and ask them about proper bike fit for a cruiser bike and get a new kickstand installed-maybe tomorrow after work. Doubt I can get in a jog tonight b/c we have family coming over for dinner; but maybe if we can get them out of there by 730 than I could do a late one. My cough is still there but very, very mild now so a good jog in the cold I think would help me cough up whatever lingering nonsense is hanging on. Yesterday was nice to have the day off b/c the weekend was very gogogo so in between meal prepping I knitted a bunch. Finished a tank top I've been working on all summer just in time for fall and it is...not great. So I didn't weave in the ends yet and figure I'll unseam it in the spring and try to fix it up a bit. It actually works out better that I finished it too late b/c I probably would've said 'eh, good enough' if it was still in season and then just ended up disappointed with it. Too short I think is the main problem (which is real weird given that I'm 5'2'' so I expect most patterns to be long on me) but on the plus side I think I seamed it pretty well so that was a nice surprise. Now I'm working on a gorgeous pink hooded sweater for munchkin and it's going super fast b/c it's a big thick wool so I'm excited to have a project that has a faster payoff than the tank top! Happy Tuesday! Breakdown: Jog One Two Three Bike One Two Three Knife Throwing One Session Bonus: Meal Prep Bonus: Nutrition Video One Hour

Alrighty, new week and back at work. So in sum, last week sorta sucked but that was expected. Went camping Sunday night and it was...kind of awful? Haha. But at least now I know! Munchkin wouldn't go to sleep so was overexcited and running all over. I was dehydrated b/c too busy trying to keep up w her instead of hydrating and trying to sleep with a munchkin rolling all over the tent in her sleep wasn't ideal and it was also about 5 degrees too hot to be comfortable sleeping weather. Ah well. So in sum, next time-get a cabin and contain the munchkin. Then, lack of sleep led to Monday being a bit of a bore just trying to catch up. Tuesday got up and did a full self care routine and jog and then promptly got what I assumed was a dehydration headache with muscle soreness so started taking Advil...fast forward to Thursday and still felt awful and kept waking up in sweat puddles that after trial and error were not thermostat related. Stopped taking Advil, whoops! Turns out I had a fever of 102 I'd been medicating away for two days just trying to keep up. Not that I had much of a choice while soloing sans hubs but not great. So spent most of the daycare time in bed trying to get unsick and did almost nothing on my fun list of things to do. By Friday a gnarly cough had emerged that is preventing sleeping but it at least appears the fever headache part is gone; yay? I did get in an attempt at sewing day and messed up my first try at a shirt pretty immensely, but I'm going to continue working on the messed up one so I can practice (and make more messups), then do a muslin mockup and try again, and then a final-so at least I got a little further along and there is a plan! Saturday stumbled thru watching munchkin at home while letting her watch Disney movies so I can lay on couch (and feel horrid guilt)...turns out only thing worse than getting out of the house while sick with a munchkin is staying home with one so Sunday I Adviled up and took her to the zoo. Lots of walking but I think it actually helped me feel a little better and she loved it *so* much. Was dying looking at the polar bear that was playing right at the glass and then with the giraffes and elephants she just kept loudly exclaiming "Wow. Wooooooow. WOW." I'm about 30% certain that her wow's were for the audience as much as for the actual awe. Haha. Back at work today and hubs arrives home tonight so I officially survived...barely. I'd actually love to go for a jog tonight to try to just cough out everything but since I'm also running on fumes I'm going to try to get at least two nights of sleep in before trying to jog again so I don't end up just catching something else with my currently crap immune system. Happy Monday!

Love the Emma bike pic! So cute Hope you're feeling better going into the weekend so you can enjoy it!

Ooooh, I really like this one! Are those peas or capers? Either way, looks delicious! Also, random question but just realized the title 5 x 5 and I can't say that without having it in Faith voice from Buffy. Intentional reference? Happy weekend

Alright so I decided on account of all the horror stories of women traveling alone and getting murdered that I'd see if my brother wanted to join as his wife hates camping so I know he misses it like me. I could just bring my dog for safety but the goal is to have as stress-free a camping experience as possible and I'm not sure how munchkin or dog will sleep in nature yet so gonna keep the variables smaller, haha. I'll save her for next time. Bro said he was down so I found a state park in between us and hopefully tonight he'll get the go ahead and I can book it! I'm sort of ridiculously excited A friend also suggested I get a facial or a massage so it's something a bit splurgey but for $100+ I just don't get a whole lot out of them? So I started looking up Ayurvedic spa treatments to try something new and found a super well reviewed place that has a ton of open appts for next week-once camping is booked that will be next up. Got a jog in Wednesday and will get in another tonight after work. Last night we had an impromptu date night b/c grandma wanted some munchkin time so that was kind of nice. While hubs is out I'm also going to order a few bike racks to try out, move everything to the front so hopefully I can get better with the biking to work, and maybe even visit the bike store for some necessities like a new kickstand. Now to go over-caffeinate and furiously clear out all my work so I can slide into next week with no worries. Breakdown: Jog One Two Three Bike One Two Three Knife Throwing One Session Bonus: Meal Prep [Partial Fail-missed Monday] Bonus: Nutrition Video One Hour

Yay! Munchkin slept til 7! Feel like a new human. Randomly used my 20 seconds of courage yesterday and signed up for a bodpod assessment for this morning. I was kinda just curious where my body fat actually is and wanted to know my RMR calories. The end result was 35.5% body fat (which is better than the 38.3 my fitbit scale was saying) and RMR of 1300 calories, which is 100 better than I thought it would be. They recommended 102 grams of protein a day (oof, guess it's time to break the protein powder back out). Not sure I would pay to do it again but it was definitely interesting to do once and has renewed my desire to try calorie and macro counting again and maaaaaybe convince myself to at least do some body weight workouts. We'll see. Didn't get in my jog yet today b/c of the test but am going to attempt to get out of work early enough to get one in before daycare pickup. Also, a super early wakeup from baby yesterday meant I had time to grocery shop before work so no more lost week! Breakdown: Jog One Two Three Bike One Two Three Knife Throwing One Session Bonus: Meal Prep [Partial Fail-missed Monday] Bonus: Nutrition Video One Hour

Eating as much protein as docs or trainers or whoever want us to is SO HARD. I almost never hit it unless I have a protein shake. Mainly b/c of breakfast; there's only so many eggs I can eat or have time to cook, haha. Greek yogurt is a good one at breakfast but I always have to sprinkle some carby goodness granola and/or walnuts in to make it palatable. For fruits I know all berries are big on the low-starch. They're my go to for a parfait in the am. Pears (I personally hate them) are good too. Are there specific preparations you've tried for veggies that you hated or liked? I mostly do high heat roasting in the oven so they get that slightly crunchy but cooked texture but I still get bored after more than 1 day with that. Sauteeing always seemed soggy to me. If I'm really hating them I give them a squirt with some lemon juice and add red pepper flakes for a bit more taste than just salt and pepper. I got a bunch of cool veggie side cookbooks and try to make the 'cooking' part of my meal focus on that and then just do a quick pan roasted meat. I'm sure others can come up with cooler ways to make them palatable. And I don't think there's anything wrong w eating veg w ranch if it gets you eating more veggies! Maybe if you feel guilt over the dressing try out a homemade ranch dressing recipe with yogurt and then it's even more protein? You got this and we're here for you!! Have fun with the new car

New week! Weekend was okay. Hanging out with the extended family has challenges but I survived. Then went to last game of the season which was lovely; my fav player hit the game winning homerun (which is SUPER rare for him b/c he is quite terrible these days) and munchkin was an absolute dream and stuck it out til the end of the game. No tantrums, lots of cheering, super happy. Didn't have time to do meal prep/plan or go grocery shopping, so it will be a bit of a lost week food wise :/ So now I just get to come up with a mental list of where we're going to get takeout from this week. Tonight-Indian! Saturday hubs leaves for 10 days for Europe. My apologies in advance for the miserable human I'll be caring for munchkin solo while also harboring a large grudge from the unresolved fight of hubs still going for 10 days when I wouldn't agree to more than 5. The end result is I don't get a vacation this year so I'm taking next week off work for a staycation and need to figure out some short day trips or stuff to do to keep from murdering him when he gets back or spending the whole week just day-drinking and binge watching Netflix. I was thinking about trying to build giant raised garden beds with built in seating in the back patio but the cost of wood makes it prohibitive for me this year (seriously, why is lumber so expensive!). But I'll probably finalize plans for it at least and then maybe can tackle it next year. Other ideas are a day of sewing to clear out a project or two, a day to hike some backwoods areas and scout a backpacking site for the future, a DC museum day, and *maybe* a day of camping with munchkin. I think for camping I'd need a second pair of hands to be able to cook and keep munchkin from killing herself so gotta figure that one out. I'm really curious to see how she sleeps outdoors. Any ideas of other things to try that can be done between the hours of 730AM and 630PM (when I can be sans munchkin)? Anyways, off to a good start with a jog this AM when munchkin wouldn't go back down at 530AM. Yay? Breakdown: Jog One Two Three Bike One Two Three Knife Throwing One Session Bonus: Meal Prep [Fail] Bonus: Nutrition Video One Hour

Welp, turned a rough night into a great morning! Munchkin woke up at 545 and wouldn't go back down so I just decided to get up and take her on a morning run with me so I wouldn't have to do it at lunch. And it was straight up lovely. Normally I don't wear my headphones if I have her with me for extra safety but this early in the AM it was totally fine as there were a ton of joggers and very few cars. Munchkin just spent the whole time pointing at the moon and waving to the other runners. Gonna be a packed weekend, which I never look forward to. Got an O's game tonight and Sunday (last of the season) and Saturday I'm driving out to Delaware for a girl's day/sleepover with my Mom and sister. I think I've landed on skipping biking is not laziness b/c I'm still really wanting to get out and jog and just not feeling it on the biking despite really enjoying it while I'm doing it. So-regardless of the reason time to change something. My bike is *heavy* b/c I got an e-bike thinking 'hey, this way if I'm being lazy I'll still use it to go run to the grocery store/work after hours/etc when I get rid of my car!' If I could go back in time, I would've just bought the lightest bike in a heartbeat. Lugging the 55 lbs in and out the back doors every time I use it is more than a little difficult, and then I have to maneuver around all our stuff in the back patio. I've been researching every which way to store it in an attractive and out of the way manner and it just can't be done in the space by the back doors b/c it's too small. The front door doesn't have a storm door, is three steps down, and immediately on the street. So-new game plan is to try the front to see if it's an easier exit and then focus on a rack that can be put in the living room somewhere, which will have many more options. Happy weekend everyone! Breakdown: Jog One Two Three Bike One Two Three Knife Throwing One Session Bonus: Meal Prep Bonus: Nutrition Video One Hour