friday favorites

good morning and happy friday to you all!

who's ready to have the most wonderful weekend?!  i know i am! 

here are a few things i'm loving this week (and some things i love every week, or more like everyday!)

hello apparel.  i cannot get enough.  in fact, i'm currently wearing this t-shirt as i type...

they are always releasing new and super cute things... i just want to fill up my wardrobe with all of the "hello" cheer! not to mention the cutest pillow. ever.  i have seriously have been eyeballing these...

oh and did i mention that i also gladly own this for jackson, and this and this for myself.  and at least one or two other shirts that are no longer available in the kids section. i'm telling you. they have the best products and the most.comfortable. t-shirts i've ever worn. i had no idea t-shirts could be so soft.  i was able to score a couple of those items when they ran a big sale on fab...and a lot of times their shop will have sales too. that's when i scoop these things up.  i think i may have a problem. ;)

another thing i'm loving?  this website. this week i was searching the internet (and pinterest of course!) to try and find running/exercising motivation and cross training info for runners. this website does not disappoint. not only is the site FULL of helpful articles, it has music playlists for people of all paces, nutrition information, and tips galore.  how could you not love it when you log on and this is the first article you see, "How to Make Running Feel Easier Instantly" sign me up!

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i saw this come through my instagram feed and oh man. i think it is the cutest. and a little boy i know would really love it.  only problem is? he'd want to play with it! danger...

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in some states around the u.s. it looks to be that spring is really around the corner...therefore my pinterest feed is starting to tease me with all of these most adorable summer outfits.  and i think i mentioned it earlier this week... only a few more months until our vacation so i better start collecting my vacation outfits and keep my booty in the gym. okay, so maybe i won't start packing outfits but i will keep my booty in the gym!!

seriously, how cute are these outfits? oh summer. or spring even...where are you?! you can find all of these (and more! on my summer 2014 pinterest board)

and i will leave you with this...

i'll check in with you guys next week!  keep your fingers crossed that i'll survive my 10k tomorrow... time to rock it! 

make this weekend a good one! #positivity2014

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wordless(ish) wednesday: really missing the sun

today as the weather has yet again dropped to below freezing temperatures... (isn't it almost march? please, please let spring be just around the corner...) i am really missing summer vacation.  only about 4 1/2 months left until we leave for south haven.  i cannot keep myself from smiling just looking at these. 

happy wednesday!!

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a boy and his dinosaurs.

today my little gets to share his dinosaurs with the class.  it is dinosaur week and he's currently wearing one of his favorite t-rex t-shirts.  

last night we collected many of his dinosaur books as well as picked enough dinosaurs that each of his friends can play with one...all of them at the same time. 

(we probably have enough for each kid to have several to play with all at the same time...sigh) 

i'm really hoping that he will be able to share when it comes time to actually share with his friends.

it is honestly hard for me to believe that his love affair with dinosaurs has lasted this long... 6 months and going strong!

once all of the dinosaurs and books were collected... it was time to initial their feet.  i don't know what it is, but i love the little "jqb" on each little foot.

jackson helped his daddy pack it all up. now he's already for school.

i wish i could be there to share this time with him. i wish i could see his happy face as he gets to tell his class all about the names of the dinosaurs and share his favorite toys. i hope they'll take lots of pictures for us! #workingmomproblems

i hope everyone else has as happy a day as my jackson is probably having. he's currently in dinosaur heaven!

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Motivation Monday - 02.24.2014

66 more days until the mini marathon!!

 (just a blurry picture of me from last year...)

with that said, this last saturday i had one of my best and most favorite runs in the history of my running.  i felt so strong and confident and happy. not a single complaint.  i honestly cannot remember a time when i ran for more than 3.5 or 4 miles without complaining. ask meagan...she'll tell you!  i will finish that run but it doesn't mean that i wont tell you how unhappy about it i am during the remainder of it. ;) 

so without a single ounce of negativity, i ran my fastest 5 miles yet.  and this week's training only called for 4.5 that day.  

i am feeling much more confident for this week's training race downtown.  a little disappointed that the weather isn't warming up (it may actually be colder for the march race than it was for the february one!) but i know that i can run the distance. 6 miles. coming right up!

here are a few of my favorite motivational pieces from this last week:

67Days22Hours36Minutes40Seconds

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thank you for the reminder nike... i'll keep on running!  

less than 10 weeks to go. let's. do. this.

how was everyone's week and weekend? 

let's keep each other motivated this week!

happy monday!

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friday favorites

happy friday!!

just stopping by to share a few things that i've come across lately that are too good not to share.

i hope everyone has a wonderful day and weekend and maybe you'll come to love these things as much as i do. ;)

made by me in picmonkey

i'm not exactly sure why this is grey...seems to defeat the positive purpose of the message ;)  however... i saw this on instagram and loved it.  even when you're having a bad day, when the odds don't seem to be in your favor, make the best of it anyway. smile and make your own sunshine.  as i'm prepping this post (on thursday) it is pretty cloudy in indianapolis today (with temperatures above freezing!!) so we could all use a little more sunshine.  so do yourself a favor and make some.

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i am seriously obsessed with this blog, DESIGN LOVE FEST.  just came across it this week and now i'm feeling very inspired.  check it out. you can download many, many oh-so-pretty desktop wallpapers, iphone or ipad wallpapers. i've since updated my desktop at work and my phone. you will not be disappointed!

plus, at the top of the blog it says, "where type &imagines totally make out". 

you had me right there!

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i was pretty upset when we lost google reader. so i saved my (long) list of blogs and uploaded into the old reader.  well apparently nowadays you can only follow 100 blogs with the old reader without upgrading (paying for) your service.  not cool.  so. i've moved on to bigger and better things.  where has bloglovin' been?  was i asleep and missed out on something? it is such a beautifully neat way to follow blogs.  so tidy, makes pinning even easier, and has an app for my phone.  i'm sold...and it hasn't cost me a dime.

that's it for today. i'd love to hear what other things you guys have come across that are too good not to share!

make this weekend the best!

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enjoying the quiet.

Most afternoons I am able to leave work before 4pm.  That gives me time to either come home and get in a run, get dinner prepped or even get a couple of small chores done before I pick Jackson up at school a little after 5pm.

Today, I got home around 4:15pm (earlier than normal it seems!) and since my next run wasn't until the next day, that left me plenty of quiet time to myself.

I preheated the oven...time to bake some chicken...

...I enjoyed a caffeinated beverage while listening to whatever music I wanted...

...cleaned up the kitchen and ran a load of dishes in the dishwasher...

(seriously. i love a clean kitchen. AND those bananas just remind me that there are many delicious banana bread muffins in our future!!)

...I found some friends just hanging out in the living room while I worked...

...did a load of laundry and took all of the clean clothes upstairs...

...and got dinner prepped... 

tonight's menu: chicken alfredo pesto pasta...with baked lemon pepper chicken. yum.

It is now 8:17pm.  Jackson and I just finished reading a Highlights High Five magazine from cover to cover at least 3 times.  He's already asleep (has been since 8pm, what?!) and Todd's at his weekly soccer game.  

I guess I didn't realize that I'd have two little bits of quiet time to myself today...  I think I'll soak it up while it lasts!

Soon 'll be in my bed, having the tiniest bowl of fruit loops and watching The Good Wife.  And maybe be asleep early, doesn't that sound like a lovely idea?

Isn't nice to have (so very quiet) time to yourself?  

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wordless(ish) wednesday: a sweet video

another attempt at my video skills.  

i just love this little family of mine.  

please take it easy on me... i'm really trying to learn this video thing!

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a delicious treat...i mean dinner.

Ya'll ready for this?

Today I'm sharing with you the recipe that we enjoyed as our Valentine's Day dinner.  Because honestly I was looking forward to this yummy pasta way more than any little chocolate treat.  It is Tuesday and this food is long gone... now I'm hungry.

Anyway.... here goes!

I found this recipe years ago using Kraft Foods.  I keep a messy little binder full of recipe printouts.  This one happens to have the date stamp on it... I printed it originally in 2006.  that's how much we love it...we've hung on to it for awhile!! 

It is honestly pretty easy and doesn't involve too many ingredients.  Those are my favorite kinds of recipes... it won't cost a whole lot and I won't have to spend hours in the kitchen to prepare.  This is oh so tasty.

This is what my kitchen looks like when I'm cooking. A mess. A delicious mess.

So. Here's what you'll need:

• 1/2 lb. fettuccine, uncooked (we use the entire box instead of half - obviously yours will be creamier if you only use half of the pasta we do!)
• 4 oz. (1/2 of an 8oz block) Philadelphia Cream Cheese, cubed
• 1/3 cup Kraft Grated Parmesan Cheese
• 3/4 cup milk (we use skim)
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine
• 1/4 tsp. white pepper
• 1/8 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg

How to make it:

1. Cook the pasta as directed

2. While the pasta is cooking, cook all the remaining ingredients in a saucepan on low heat until the cream cheese is completely melted and the mixture is well blended.  Stir occasionally.  

(The Kraft recipe leaves the nutmeg for the end to sprinkle on top...but at our house we like to just mix it right in with everything else!)

3. Drain the cooked pasta and return to the pan.  Add the sauce and toss to coat.

4. Eat it all.

Before you eat all of it, make yourself a hefty bowl and step outside to take pictures of it.  Because I'm sure that's totally normal behavior.  Well in my house it is. ;)

This is not a the lowest calorie meal so we tend to save it for special occasions.  But I promise you will not be disappointed.  If you happen to try it, come back and comment, I'd love to hear what you thought about one of our favorites!!

This is what my bowl looked like after two servings. De.Lish.

A couple of additional tips for you...

Sometimes we'll grill up some chicken to put on top... although this meal can be pretty filling on its own... the chicken on top is extra delicious!  And... although this reheats just fine, it is best enjoyed when it is fresh. So save your calories for the day and give yourself a pass to really indulge.  If you won't be having two servings like I did, try and add a splash of milk before warming the leftovers in the microwave.  And then enjoy again!

For those that are interested, here's the nutritional information according how we make the recipe at home.

Servings: 6

Per Serving:

382 calories

43g carbs

16g fat

12g protein

246mg sodium

2g sugar

Enjoy your day my friends!

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