thanksgiving

Weekly Therapy: Turkey for you, turkey for me.

- Mel

the week:
Thanksgiving! No Turkey Trots for me this year, as we’re hosting some friends that are also staying in town — and my dad decided to fly out to Des Moines to join us! So, I’m on airport and hosting duties (but I did get my morning miles in to offset all those calories). I ended up getting to use PTO for Friday, too, so I have a very short work week!

A photo posted by Mel! (@melliesmel) on

weekend:
My dad is staying through Saturday, so we hope to do a little sight-seeing to show off our new city! On Black Friday, there is a Market Day Iowa pop-up in Capital Square — featuring a bunch of local artists and vendors. Did you take advantage of any Black Friday deals for yourself?

A week off from racing, but I plan to get out for a preview run of the Nature Center in Council Bluffs for my 12-miler this Sunday with a couple of fellow Turkeys.

seven things, seven days:
1. Pumpkin Cranberry Way Better chips season!!!!!!!
2. So thankful for my biweekly chats with my running coach. I was feeling a lot of anxiety about my upcoming trail race, and she helped remind me about the excitement and fun factor of doing a new challenge. I lose sight of that far too often.
3. I took a new cardio-based yoga class this week at my gym… and it was awful. -_-
4. I’ve also had an awful experience with Trunk Club and finally requested a new stylist. I am still not very impressed. I guess that I expected more from a Nordstrom service.
5. This article about psychologists Kahneman & Tversky got me all excited about Michael Lewis’ upcoming new book! {via Vanity Fair}
6. Just in time for Turkey Day: The Psychology of Comfort Food {via Luvo blog}
7. Tis the season to buy your loved ones discounted race registrations!

Macy’s Thanksgiving and Heart of Haiti: Gifts that Give Hope

- Mel

This is my second year participating in a Macy’s holiday Heart of Haiti campaign, and I am grateful for the opportunity to spread the word about this incredible organization again.

On Thanksgiving, we give pause to the upcoming purpose of the holiday season — a time for both giving and giving back. Amid the frenzy of the shopping lists and Black Friday emails, for a moment think about how gift buying can still be in the spirit of the season. Macy’s Heart of Haiti home décor products are gifts that give hope. Just the kind of holiday spirit that we should joyously celebrate.

The country of Haiti is rich in the arts and despite being the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, skilled papier mache artisans are anxious to work and earn a living to support their families. Macy’s Heart of Haiti has been providing economic support to Haitian artisans ever since the devastating earthquake hit over five years ago. Shortly after the earthquake, Macy’s joined forces with the Haitian artisans to develop a decorative product line for sale featuring their beautiful handmade goods.

This video tells the story of how the project started and the difference it is making in the lives of these artists:

The Heart of Haiti line of home décor items is made in the town of Jacmel — a charming, historic port known for its artisan community — by sculptors and artisans who have practiced the handcrafted technique of papier mache for centuries. This seaside town suffered a lot of destruction during the earthquake. Artisan studios and homes were destroyed, and residents were left with no way to make a living. The sales of these handcrafted items at Macy’s allows the artisans to once again practice their craft while feeding their families, sending their children to school and supporting their extended families.

heart of haiti, papier mache, home decor, vase
Macy’s Heart of Haiti vase with pieces from last year’s home decor collection.

Macy’s sent me this beautiful papier mache vase, which artisans created using age-old techniques. The process of making these decorative items starts with forming a mold out of dried mud, then using recycled cement bags. This particular vase features a black & white, wavy lines motif meant to mimic the gentle sea. Click through to watch another Heart of Haiti video, which features the process of making papier mache items for Macy’s.

This season, you can make a conscious decision to spend your dollars. Haiti has an estimated 400,000 artisans who rely solely on their handcrafted goods as a source of income.

30-something approved: Macy’s Heart of Haiti employs 550 artisans, providing economic support to their extended family members and others. The Macy’s Heart of Haiti line is only available at a few Macy’s stores in New York City, Chicago, D.C., San Francisco, Atlanta and a select few others. But all products are available on the Macy’s gifts that give hope page.

(Yes, my mantel decor has changed again!)
(Yes, my mantel decor has changed again!)

Disclaimer: I am a member of the Everywhere Society and Everywhere has gifted me a vase from Macy’s Heart of Haiti collection for this post. The vase retails for $55 and is available exclusively at Macy’s. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

PNC Turkey Trot: Five miles for food! Or something.

- Mel

The 2013 Turkey Trot was the first 5K I was able to run in full without stopping (and gasping and generally dying from running). It was also the first Thanksgiving I stayed “home” for nearly my entire adult life. It was also a proud (and awful!) moment. And here I am, a year later, running a full five miles. No stopping, no gasping. No dying! WHO AM I?!

WOWS and runners! (and me in my Browns hat again)
WOWS and runners!

I’m glad my friend and neighbor snapped this, as I didn’t take any pictures this race.

I really enjoyed this course, except for that last mile loop up-and-back around Heinz field. It felt the longest, and there are a lot of people (and cars, wtf) darting between two lanes of runners and just resonated as chaos in my brain. I hated knowing the runners on the other side were almost finished, and I had no idea where the turn around point was (even though I looked at the map before the race, my brain was not processing the length). Not to mention, the course ran long (again!). I wasn’t really sure where my point would be to quicken for the finish line either.

I have pacing problems though. I seriously could not believe my pace time at my first mile (I use MapMyRun for mile updates on pace, splits, etc.). But once I was in the 9:30 zone, I was not slowing up until I finished (or my body gave up). A race is when you are supposed to challenge and push yourself a little, right? Or a lot. Overall though, my body felt good, and a couple days later, I’m ready for another couple miles.

Finished: 48:59
69th in my age group

I don’t have anything else planned for November, but that’s 4 races completed in one month!
East Nash Dash (4 miles)
EQT 10-miler (10 miles, duh)
Hot Chocolate 15k
and Turkey Trot (5 miles)
Total mileage for November: (lots of race mileage, and not a lot of training… yikes) 35.01 miles

I don’t anticipate my training changing much until January (when half-marathon training starts), since December is a cluster-you-know-what.

Next up: Christmas Story Virtual 10k on December 6.

Weekly Therapy: fueled by turkey

- Mel

the week:
This Thanksgiving week has been cray-zay, and I’m happy to be on the other end of it. Bring on the holiday madness and anxiety! And cheese plates. More of those, please. Approaching Thanksgiving was really stressful, and I had to deal with some last-minute disappointment (which I ran off in an anger-fueled 5-mile Turkey Trot); alas, keeping some perspective, I am so thankful for so many people in my life and my present opportunities and future prospects. And we had one helluva gluten-free, nightshade-free Thanksgiving meal.

Did you run enough?
Did you run enough?

weekend:
I feel overwhelmed by homework (story of my life), so I’ll be consumed by two-sample hypotheses and group conflict (in more ways than one). THREE WEEKS left in this semester.

seven things, seven days:
1. Upgraded and ran the Turkey Trot 5-miler this year! I love having runners-as-neighbors too, for the camaraderie to approach the start line.
2. I also love being able to walk to/from the start/finish line.
3. Received my virtual race packet for the Christmas Story 10k. I’ve never done a virtual race, and this race swag is sweet. SO EXCITE.
4. Having reverse heat problems now where the bedroom is the warmest room in the house, which… NOPE.
5. Also, we finally had a plumber out to fix the calcified water line to the house humidifier (since the furnace company doesn’t have its own plumber, #dumb), and when the furnace is switched to “winter,” the furnace doesn’t work. HOORAY, OLD HOUSES!
6. Another week before the glass doors are installed in the new shower, but we’ve basically moved in. SO HAPPY to not have to run to the other side of the house in the middle of the night to pee!
7. On Life Lists and Bucket Lists and such: Why you’re more likely to run a marathon at an age ending in “9.” Crisis of Meaning is an interesting spin on things. {via Research Digest)

Weekly Therapy: More Thanks

- Mel

the week:
We were anticipating “Gobblegeddon” to arrive in Pittsburgh just prior to Thanksgiving, and we were thankfully spared (but definitely not from all the doomsday MAKE SURE YOU HAVE TOILET PAPER AND BREAD!!!! style weather reporting).

Hosting our first Thanksgiving dinner with mixed family was so wonderful, and we were squeezed in! I loved having people in our home and planning a meal for 12 people… and decorating the table for a REAL dinner party. I loved not having to drive somewhere (especially considering my work schedule around the holiday). My nieces were adorably high strung; the cats were beyond terrified. And besides the boyfriend chopping off a small section of his finger cutting the absolutely last item (ahem), there was no bloodshed! My dad took over turkey carving duties — his first attempt; he cut that dang bird perfectly.

weekend:
CHRISTMAS DECORATING! Our tree isn’t being delivered until the first week of December, but I’m bringing up the bins from the basement to prepare. And there WILL be glitter nutcrackers adorning my mantel.

seven things, seven days:
1. I started Thanksgiving running the PNC YMCA Turkey Trot. Not only did I run the entire 5K (my ultimate goal of the race), I freakin PR’d that thing! Did I mention it was 17 degrees?!
2. I wore my new Splendid boots the ENTIRE day of Thanksgiving. They were so comfortable, I wanted to sleep in them. Hey, I wonder if Splendid makes slippers…
3. My Black Friday treat this year was a MVP pass to Rollercon.
4. A portion of our back roof is getting replaced. Finally. The contractor is going to seal the chimney too. Praise Tiny Baby Jesus, these leaks just may stop in time for Christmas!
5. I found someone on Etsy that makes frames for those photo booth strips. We have so many of those cute pictures that I want to hang.
6. Doctor bills are SO much more manageable when your yearly deductible has been met. And I get to see hot doctor again this week.
7. If you missed it on Facebook, I shared this story from Door Sixteen about her 30-something experiences with acne and skin problems. I can’t tell you how much I can relate.

Giving thanks.

- Mel

Thankful for: the last two months off derby to clear my head, refocus and recharge. AND spend more “free” time with the boyfriend and friends.

Thankful for: the physical ability to run and CrossFit and skate and yoga to keep my mental sanity (and get a great ass in the meantime).

Thankful for: the boyfriend’s support — mentally and financially — in my (seemingly) never-ending job search.

Thankful for: having an extra dining room chairs to seat additional adults at Thanksgiving dinner.

Thankful for: my boyfriend being responsible for planning, purchasing and making said dinner.

Thankful for: spending the holiday with my sisters, nieces and dad.

Thankful for: having a blended family get-together.

Thankful for: an upcoming week off in December to travel.

Thankful for: these three cats that keep me warm in winter with furry snuggles.

Thankful for: feeling more like “me”… and getting back to the things I love.

Giving Thanks: to friends and family, old and new

- Mel

On this Thanksgiving, I’m so thankful for the life that the boyfriend and I have created together — and those three cute kitties that keep our feet warm at night.

While we’re not with family this holiday (see you at Christmas!), we’re spending it with dear friends who are just as close to both of us (and their newborn *squee*). They’ve graciously opened their home to us and a few “orphans” stuck in Charleston for an epic feast.

I am in this picture… doing my typical Photobomb Face. Or, that was some crazy-good Mac n’ Cheese.

Not gonna lie, but I’m also very thankful for this lovely vacation to a beautiful city. And banana Moon Pies (#keepingitreal).

I’m so happy that I decided to start this new project. I’ve already met a handful of wonderful bloggers through this venture who share in my 30-something passions. And thank YOU for stopping by and reading (are you lurking?) — I hope that you leave a comment to tell me about yourself and your own personal projects.

Happy Thanksgiving!