High Five for Friday - Link up, Vol. 9

High Five for Friday time, with Lauren over at From My Grey Desk...

Here are my 5 favorite things from this week...


ONE. My new Vibrams & celebrating National Running Day

Pretty excited to own my 1st pair of Vibrams...still trying to get used to them, and running short distances as I continue to do that. But this week I got in a 5 mile run on Tuesday, and then on Wednesday, for National Running Day, ran 2.5 with some gal pals. I can't tell you enough how much I am beginning to enjoy running (believe me, it hasn't always been that way). It is a stress reliever, and a time for me to clear my head. I don't listen to music, I just run! Anyone else feel me?? ;)

Just to share, the National Running Day website listed 10 ways to celebrate NRD and some of them are things you could be doing all the time (see 3 examples below)

TWO. Ordered some rainbow-colored kettlebell note cards via Cafe Press
You all can tell that I'm really into Crossfit now, if I'm buying kettlebell-related stuff, right?! ;)

 

THREE. Through work, I had the pleasure of hearing Lee Ellis speak - a POW survivor who has toured around, speaking about his book on leadership lessons and how he and other men survived Hanoi Hilton. He has a great story and spoke about some tough subjects...but "leading with honor" as he continued to remind us, is something we should all be doing if we are in leadership positions.

 *Got a free copy of his book too - can't wait to read it

FOUR. Got my new "The Shine Project" t-shirts in

 Have you heard about The Shine Project yet?? Um, if not, you HAVE to!! I discovered it a few weeks ago, and am a full supporter now. Daily, I'm trying to find ways to get more involved with it. Ashley (who leads it) is doing AMAZING things!!!!

FIVE. The Machine Gun Preacher movie finally came out

I have been waiting to see this movie for a really long time...it just struck me as something I wanted to learn about, since the movie is based off of real-life Sam Childers who has made it his mission to save/protect the children & people of Southern Sudan. The movie is intense, sad at times, but something I'd encourage anyone to watch. I also bought the book about Sam's memoir and can't wait to read it as well:

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Alright, well Happy Friday everybody! Have a fabulous weekend :D

After re-reading my post, it seems as though I have a lot of reading to do, hehe!!

High Five for Friday - Link up, Vol. 6

Wow, so this has been one long week! Am I right??  I don't know, some weeks just feel longer than others. Work is getting busier, the weather is getting warmer and I am just ready for a vacation! But unfortunately that's going to have to wait awhile.

Seeing as it's Friday...it's time for another H54F, a.k.a my 5 favorite things from this week, with Lauren over at From My Grey Desk

ONE. My new, ABSOLUTE favorite bracelets! I couldn't decide which color to buy, so I got both. Do you blame me??

TWO. I look forward to my Food Network Magazine every month, but especially when summer rolls around. They just have the most amazing recipes in there, plus eye-catching pictures, great articles and fun contests! I'll be curling up with this sometime this weekend for sure. Now that I'm eating a bit more basic, I'm just going to have to figure out how to make some of the dishes a little differently - but I know it can be done!

THREE. I bought this book on sale last week from Walmart and I am absolutely loving it. I got the chance to attend on of Joyce Meyer's Women's Conferences in St. Louis, MO many years ago with one of my college roommates. She blew me away then, and she is doing so again with this book. It's just a daily devotional read, which technically starts January 1st, but I'm just going to start from the beginning now and go day-by-day. I've been waking up in the morning, reading my devotion, blogging and getting ready for work - such a peaceful way to start the morning, let me tell you!

FOUR. The Strawberry Poppyseed & Chicken Salad from Panera...um, have you tried this salad?! It is one of my all-time favorites, and is only available in late Spring - Summer. And believe me, I order it every chance I get when it's there. Some people might not like fruit in their salad...but to me, it is so refreshing!! Greens, chicken, strawberries, blueberries, madarin oranges, pineapple, pecans & fat-free poppyseed dressing = DELICIOUSNESS! Oh, and did I mention you can buy the poppyseed dressing at Target...I'm pretty sure I'm going to recreate this salad at home soon!! :)

FIVE. I got contacted by a publishing company to review this book (see this post)...

...and participate in their blog tour. I'm pretty excited for the opportunity! I'll be posting my full review/post next Wednesday, May 23rd - so stay tuned!

That's it for my H54F...as always, thanks for hosting Lauren!
This weekend I am participating in the Warrior Dash near Charlotte - a 5k/3.1 mile course full of 11 obstacles (rope climbs, crawling under barbed wire, and yes, this includes lots & lots of MUD).
Wish me luck...I think I'm going to need it!! :) Pictures to come...

High Five for Friday - Link up, Vol. 5

It's Friday everyone...and you know what that means:

My favorites from this week...

 
ONE. 1st Farmer's Market trip of the season

 Peaches, strawberries, blueberries, grass-fed beef, baby spinach, avocados, tomato, jalapenos, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, and green beans

TWO. Eating healthy meals

 Baked sweet potato w/ cinnamon, squash/zucchini mix and farmers market strawberries

THREE. Refreshing cucumber H2O

 Everything's better in a mason jar...right?!

FOUR. I voted!

Did my civic duty and voted in NC this week.

FIVE. Lovely statement necklace

Isn't she a beauty?! :) Both the shirt and necklace are from Blue Door Boutique - love that place!

Alright, there you have it - my favorite things from this week. Happy Friday everyone - and have a great weekend!Thanks for hosting H54F Lauren!!

High Five for Friday - Link up, Vol. 4

Oh my goodness, I thought Friday was never going to come! But thankfully, it has...so it's time to link-up again with Lauren over at From My Grey Desk for H54F...

My favorite things from this week are...

ONE. I've had this lovely little tool for awhile, but just used it last night for the first time to slice some delicious strawberries:

There are many different kinds of strawberry slicers out there, but I got mine here, from Amazon.

TWO. Having these guys to come home to everyday:

THREE. My mini New York City ballet nail polishes (aren't they cute?!)

From left to right: My Pointe Exactly, Don't Touch My Tutu!, Care to Danse?, Pirouette My Whistle

FOUR. This thing has become my new best friend...

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A 20lb. adjustable kettle bell - that's right, I've started Crossfit and this baby is becoming a part of my weekly routines. Oh don't kid yourself, I have to take 2 weights off, so I'm only lifting 14 lbs. right now...baby steps, baby steps! But getting back into shape feels so good!!

FIVE. My little brother just completed his 1st year at college...pharmacy college that is, so it was NOT easy! He had a hard year, a lot has happened, but I couldn't be prouder!

My brother, Brian, after being awarded KIAC Field Athlete of the Week in late March :)

Alright, well thanks for hosting Lauren - I can't wait to see what everyone else's favorite things are from this week!

Have a wonderful weekend!!