Smitten with the Mitten

March 17, 2019.Reading time 4 minutes.

This Florida girl is taking a leap of faith and moving to Michigan! I know, I know…most people move to Florida FROM Michigan. Like most things though – I do them a little backwards 😉 The past few years, I have been blessed to travel to Grand Rapids, MI for work on several occasions; […]

Good Grief

September 27, 2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

Grief is a funny thing. I don’t think there’s truth in the saying that it ‘goes away with time.’ Instead, I think it never goes away, but we learn how to navigate our emotions like a skillful sailor – adjusting our sails and navigating the rough seas along with the calm. Four years ago I […]

Whole30: Where Do I Start?

August 28, 2018.Reading time 2 minutes.

Alright. You’re ready to do your first Whole30, but you have no idea where to start. Good news – I got you! First, the Whole30 website is a wealth of knowledge and you can browse through and download all kinds of information – for free! Here are a few of my favorite links for quick reference: Whole30 […]

Motivation Station

August 22, 2018.Reading time 2 minutes.

If you’ve seen me the last week or so and have asked how I’m doing, I’ve undoubtedly answered with, “Do you want the truth?” Then with an unwavering and knowing smile, I’ve told you that I’m doing, “as good as can be expected.” Truth is, I’m having a tough time with motivation. I’m a few […]

Halfway to Chicago

April 14, 2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

Let me tell you about my friend, Amelia. She is kind, thoughtful, and one of those people who, in a crowded room, makes you feel like the only person that matters. When I first set out on my Chicago Marathon journey, Amelia was quick to ask questions, give me tips, and offer her support along […]

Marathon Training Week Six

February 13, 2018.Reading time 1 minute.

This week I am prioritizing sleep. I didn’t log enough zzz’s last week and my body felt the repercussions – I was sore, irritable, and lacked motivation. I’m upping my sleep game by getting into bed a whole nine hours before I intend to get up. That means if I’m up at 5am, I’ll be […]

3 Tips for Whole30 Success

February 11, 2018.Reading time 4 minutes.

After working in the health & fitness industry for over ten years, it still amazes me the power that food has on our bodies. It can be our greatest medicine or our greatest demise. After almost two years of reading and researching the Whole30 (mostly just hemming and hawing), I finally did my first reset […]

When the Going Gets Tough (and Week 5 of Marathon Training)

February 5, 2018.Reading time 2 minutes.

Through the years, I’ve realized that most people want the rewards of accomplishing their goals without the daily sacrifices that it takes to get them there. It breeds from a society that uses quick fixes, magic pills, and instant gratification as a way to determine daily behavior. We start off with high hopes, but as […]

Marathon Training Week 4

January 28, 2018.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Heading into Week Four feeling fantastic – which I’m sure I can attribute to being on the home stretch of the ‘January Whole30 Challenge’. (More on that later!) Here’s what’s in store for this week: Sunday: Rest Day! Monday: RUN! (I’m on week 4 of Coach Jenny’s Half Marathon Run/Walk Program) Tuesday: Rest Day! (with […]

Training Before The Training

January 23, 2018.Reading time 2 minutes.

I was one of the lucky lottery winners this past December when I was selected out of thousands of hopefuls who were not guaranteed entry into the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. I submitted my form with a hope, a prayer, and a little liquid encouragement (cheers!) Truthfully, when I received the confirmation email almost […]