Friends are the Flowers in the Garden of LIFE

Hello loves! How y'all doing? Fabulous here! Still home in Tennessee and loving it. Seriously, I love coming home.  I know I don't want to live here right now, maybe one day; however, I LOVE coming to visit! That little Princess right there and  that handsome Tank make life so awesome! I am blessed to be able to come home and share moments like Tank's 9th birthday with him and the family.

Plus its always nice to catch up with old friends.  For instance - on the right is my KellieShea.  Her and I talk pretty frequently while I'm in Jersey, not every day but enough. I go to her for everything! On the left is my Travis - I don't talk to him at all when I'm gone, but when we catch up, it's like nothing even skips a beat.  I love it. It seems no matter where I have been in my life, I am also extremely blessed to have such amazing friends around me!

Tank's birthday was awesome.  He seemed to really enjoy himself. He's huge into WWE, so that was the theme.  It was just family. He's doing the movies with friends another weekend.  We played place the patch on Cena's wrist - Tank said it was his Uncle and my future hubby - YES, PLEASE ;) I wish I could date Cena or The Rock haha! Broski, Tank and I went to Splash Country Saturday just us three - it was awesome!

Last night I went out with some HS friends and DJ Nyce One. Christa is on the right in the green - her and I have been friends for about 15 years.  We have had some ups and downs and I wouldn't trade it! She is currently expecting a sweet little baby and I can't wait! In the yellow is my BiaBia - her and I have had MANY adventures and I love we still keep up. We are going on about 7 years.

Courtney is in the dress on the left - she is actually Christa's little sister - and my pseudo little sister haha. I love her! On the right is my Nyce One.  He's the best! I actually (FINALLY) saw Iron Man 3 today with him.  Holy AMAZING!!!

Today consisted of playing with my babies this morning - Princess is falling more in love with my girls! Today she actually sat with LD and pet her and Scarlet.  It was super cute! I also went by Fleet Feet Sports Knoxville and got fit for some new shoes.  My ankle is doing great and I am ready to get back to it. I got to see my Whooty and it was fabulous.  We both got new shoes and to catch up!

Workout wise I've been semi slacking with the week.  I did my first ever WOD with rope climbs this week at CrossFit Knoxville. It was awesome. I couldn't believe I did it. Have a huge bruise on my leg, but it makes me feel pretty bad ass!

Fitness Recap
Sunday  - WODed with Jenn in Philly
Monday - CrossFit - Got my 95# Snatch I told y'all about - plus some hang clean & jerk work
Tuesday - CrossFit - squatted and just focused on form. 

Wednesday -  Drove all day
Thursday - rest
Friday - CrossFit - dropped into CrossFit Knoxville and did the rope WOD

Saturday - active rest - played and walked all over Splash Country with the boys

Sunday -  RUN in my new shoes :)

 

Looking forward to tonight and my last day here tomorrow.  Back to semi normal training schedule and school this next week, then off to CALIFORNIA for the DumboDoubleDare next week!! I'm super stoked because Mama is coming too. She has NEVER been to any of my races or CrossFit things so this is a big to me.  Too bad I'm not really running - more just trying to survive. haha

 

How was your weekend?

~xoxo

M

 

 

CrossFit Crew + 2 Ladies Night + Summer Legends

Hello LOVES! How y'all doing today? I am in TENNESSEE....don't be jealous...actually be very jealous.  I have to tell you, I have been in a funk lately.  Not my normal outgoing self.  I've been very judgmental towards people I wouldn't normal be judgmental too. I've been a bit of a bitch too. Clearly need to work on that. I'm homesick.  The spring/summer is the hardest for me. Throughout the fall/winter I get to see my family a TON- Tank and Princess's birthdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas! Spring/summer I don't really get to get down.  I sat down with a really good friend lately and talked about life....and I think he had a point...I'm starting to get nervous about Jerz.  Jersey is now becoming the 2nd longest place I've ever lived besides Tennessee.  I never thought that I'd be in Jersey more then a year or two.  Here I am going into my fourth year. It will tie Ohio this year.  I never thought anywhere would tie Ohio or Tennessee.  My love for those two places is monumental; however, Jersey is very much so close to my heart.

I think the biggest change to how I feel towards Jersey is my box, CrossFit Aspire. I know, people get sick of hearing CrossFitters talk about how much they love the box, our WODs (workout of the day) and apparently we have all drank Kool-Aid, but seriously, screw that. I LOVE my box. These people have started as complete strangers, and yes, I only know them from the box; however, these people have become some of my best friends. These girls love me regardless of my shenanigans. They know who they are! I'm not sure I can ever thank them for everything they have done for me! There are lots of people at my gym I am friends with, but obviously with how life works, I seem to get closer with certain people.  I had an impromptu ladies night this past Monday and I needed it. I don't think those girls knew how much I needed it - HUGE thanks to AC, Rachel, Nilda, Allie, and Teralyn. Love you ladies! AC - I'm glad we started that plan during out workout! ;)

Had some AWESOME WODs Monday and Tuesday -
Monday - I PRed my snatch - FINALLY hit 95# and think I could have gone up, but I didn't.

Tuesday night I went to the Legends of the Summer Tour.  HOLY SHIT - please excuse the language - but HOLY SHIT. Let's discuss that if you know me, you know my obsession with Jay Z is HIGH! I love him.  He was PHENOMINAL!!! Of course I knew everything he did - and totally made friends with the guy next to me over it haha!

JT - yea, I get all the hype over him by the girls now.  He's HOT.  I went with my cousin Ashley, T and GF. We had an awesome time.  Seriously - it was the perfect end to my Jerz summer break. I need more nights like that!

I definitely paid for it yesterday when attempting to drive the 12.5-13 hours home.  I was exhausted, but I would do it again tomorrow. 

On my way home I stopped in Maryland to see the Boo thing and her girls! Her hubs was at work, so didn't get to see my Danni, but It was a much need little pick me up on the drive. Gummy & Ellie are getting SO big, and I honestly feel like it's been forever since I had seen them.  Boo needs to get to Jersey for another girls weekend.  She came to see me for my birthday and we need another weekend! The drive - seemed to take forever- was a really nice mental break. 

 I forgot how much I love that drive.  It's long, but I get a lot done mentally on that trip.  Windows down the WHOLE way.  I miss that. I miss the mountains and the green. Had the girls too! Scarlet loves the car - and she loves rest right next to me. haha

The Princess and Tank were still up when I got here so that was awesome.  I was scared I wouldn't get to see them. I don't get enough time with them so I try and suck in whatever time I get. 

Everyone is at work and school today - I'm spending my day with KellieShea - going to Fleet Feet Knoxville to get fit for new shoes.  Want to make sure I'm coming back in the right shoes from the broken ankle.  Plus the Dumbo Double Dare is getting UBER close and I am so not ready.  At least I'll have the right shoes for the race.  Then we will putz around - I miss my Knoxville friends - excited for this week!

Happy Thursday Loves!

Are you running DDD? Do you have a costume?

~xx
M

Marathon Recap - #2 in the Books!



Shahin & me Pre-Race
Wouldn't be a runner without him!

 This past weekend was a weekend I have been waiting for a while to come up. This past weekend was the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. And so with that, marathon #2 is in the books! Now, comes the fun part - race recap and what I learned! The biggest thing I learned - CrossFit is definitely an amazing way to cross train and get your body in shape! On top of that - the second biggest thing I learned...I will NEVER race without training properly again.  I did not train.  At ALL! I am very lucky and blessed to be sitting here and typing this. My legs actually feel pretty good - they are sore, but hello 26.2 miles will make anyone's legs sore. My achilles feels good.  The trips to the see Dr. Jarvis (and Dr. B who did see me the Thursday before I left) at Healthy Goals are fabulous and helped my hip get through it.  I can only imagine how I would have felt had I actually trained.

The Castle <3>

Training was almost obsolete minus CrossFit and the occasional 5K.  I did good all summer getting ready for Rock'N'Roll Philly and helping train that group. It was building a great base for this weekend. I was still going strong until the awesome hospital week...and a forced week off of everything and then a "don't run more then 6" rest of the month.  Well that just shut all my running down. I ran the Hot To Trot in Knoxville over Thanksgiving, but ask if I have run since then?!? NOPE - not except for my 5K for #5bythe5th. And yes ya'll, I know how stupid it was of me to still run...but it was DISNEY!! And really I think the face it was Disney totally helped! I mean look at the castle - I want to get married there :)

Me, Lilo & Melissa right after mile 7!

So let's talk race -- Obviously - it's an early start! Sarah stayed the night with me which was nice because I had someone to get ready with.  We headed to the bus with the crew from FFK. We got to the start and settled in to wait! Miles 1-10 were fabulous! I ran with Melissa from my old training group at Fleet Feet Knoxville. Now, we all know about my hip and issues I've been having and she has been having some issues with her knee so we just did 3:1s the first 10 miles.  We stopped to take pictures with characters (as soon as she gets home and post them I will share), totally took our time and really just enjoyed ourselves. Rilo meet us right outside of the Magic Kingdom. It was really nice to seem him! Magic Kingdom is awesome! You get to go down main street and around the park.  You get to go through the castle - I LOVE that place - I seriously want to get married at Disney or the beach haha! We also had Cheryl, Dana & Kylie right after mile 7.  That was a lifesaver - Cheryl gave me an clementine, and I totally needed that!!

When we hit 13, I made her keep saying "we are awesome...I'm feeling awesome" haha! It helped. At 13, we dropped to a 2:30:1:30 interval.  We were in the Animal Kingdom and it was really starting to heat up. Even with the heat, it was actually still decent on the first part.  There was a lot of shade still as the sun wasn't really up in full force yet.  The Animal Kingdom was fun to go through - right as we entered they had animals you could get your picture with - I passed, but Melissa got one with a snake. Miles 14-18 were hard. We came out of Animal Kingdom and headed into ESPN Wide World of Sports - lots of concrete and just open field.  We did get to run around the main field at the park - that was cool! Once we hit 17 we were in single digits and that helped me keep going. 18-20 I was hot - I stopped and sprayed more sun screen on (got to love my irish skin haha).



Ro & me at mile 26!

 Once we hit 20 - it was only a 10K left - I just kept telling myself, I do 10Ks all the time. Now this whole time - I was trying to find my friend Ro. She was suppose to run, but ended up having some foot issues and couldn't; however, she was going to meet me and run some with me.  Originally she was to meet us in the Animal Kingdom.  That didn't workout.  She made it to MGM studios and was going to meet me right after mile 23. Miles 20-23 were hard.  I was really hot, my legs were cramping some - they gave out bananas and I think that helped me not cramp as much - and my foot hurt. We fell into pace with the 7hour pacer.  We found him about mile 21 and I stayed with him till mile 24.  He was doing 20:40 and it was about as much as I could handle at that point.  Ro hopped in at mile 23.  She was kind of a breath of fresh air.  Melissa and I both needed her. At 24 I was done. There was nothing more in my body.  And I was ok with it.  I knew I was lucky to even make it to that point and I was VERY thankful to have made it to that point.



Me, Mickey & Ro before finish!

 Ro ran with Melissa for a bit and I found Ed & Kaye (pic with them to come) at mile 25 in Epcot. Ed & Kaye are fabulous and just came along when I needed help. Ed's knee was giving him a hard time and it was Kaye's first marathon.  We all agreed the heat wasn't helping either haha. Now Epcot is tricky see - it's the finish, but you have to go in and go ALL THE WAY AROUND and back to the parking lot to be done.



Proud moment!



Ro dropped back and told me her family was at the fountain and she was going to run ahead and meet me there.  I said perfect! When we got to them, it was SO good to see her and her family.  To think I meet her and her family on my 100 mile bike ride...crazy! And then we were done.  Before I crossed, I had my picture taken with Ro & Mickey.



Beautiful isn't it?!?



Yes, I've learned my lesson.  And I know that I am VERY lucky to be feeling as good as I am, and not have any injuries.  I am thankful, I am.  I am also a WAY bigger fan of CrossFit now then  ever before.  There is NO way I would have done this without having CrossFit in my life.  Justin & Alycia - and ALL my Aspire folks - thanks! Without ya'll kicking my butt 5-6x a week - I wouldn't have done this! Also, HUGE thanks to Andrew - he kept me feed super well last week and I also think that helped - I had a non-paleo breakfast morning of the race, but I am ok with that.  I need it on days like that!



Love him!




Ice bath & elevated legs :)





While we waited for our bus, Shahin had a beer and found himself a comfortable chair :) I got back to the room and did my least favorite part of this - an ice bath. I know my legs needed it. I then spent 20 minutes upside down letting my legs just drain and relax. I also happened to finish Sarah's bag of Flipz she left in the room - salty & sweet is also fabulous post race haha!





Me, Dana & Kylie

I spent the rest of the day/night with my Fleet Feet Knoxville group - I never forget, but I love being reminded how amazing they all are and how lucky I am to have them in my life!! I was also lucky enough to meet new FFK people and had a blast with them too!! Hot tub to relax our legs - have a beer then bed! Had to catch an early flight back to Jersey.

Now to TRAIN and get ready for the next race :)

~xoxo
M

Just Know You're Not Alone

Happy happy Sunday! It's been a crazy week, but I made it through and through a great weekend full of CrossFit, a full day at my best friend's house with her and her amazing family and a check in with early Christmas presents from Mama Dukes! Before I update you on the weekend -- I got to see Dollface for sushi last Tuesday and Ro last Wednesday -- and let's back up and talk about #SweatPink deals for this past week...take note at NO runs...I really need to get refocused...marathon in 6 weeks...

MONDAY - Deadlift PR at 135 for set of 5! PR!!

TUESDAY - Off day!

WEDNESDAY - Front squat - not a happy day for me - sucked at FS - got 115 3 sets of 3 - tried to get 125 and couldn't :( Metcon kicked my butt too!!

THURSDAY - We did power snatch + Overhead squat -- 1 EMOTM for 12 minutes -- check the video...ignore the horrible sloppy OHS but that's 70#-- YEAH BUDDY!! PR time :)

FRIDAY we worked on back squat - which I PR'ed last Thursday at 3 sets of 6 at 135 - I got 145 up for 1 set of 6 and 1 set of 4.  Hope to get all sets of 6 next week. We had a 10-1 metcon of pull-ups & HSPUs. 

SATURDAY we had split jerks - 2 EMOTM for 7 - and I got 95#!! Another PR!The metcon was 5 split jerks (65#), 7 box jumps and 9 sit ups. Felt great to get it in before getting on the road to MD.

Now for the rest of Saturday - headed down to MD to spend the weekend with my best friend and her family.  I find it awesome that in the last year not only did my mom move to MD and is so much closer to me, but so did my best friend and her family.  They live about a mile apart from each other - talk about perfect! What I love most about going to see Boo is we can sit around and do NOTHING and we still have a great time. 

Which is pretty much what we did.  However, we did go to Fleet Feet Gaithersburg down there - it was a BEAUTIFUL store.  I love going to all the difference ones and checking them out. After that we went to Buca di Beppo.  SCRUMPTIOUS!! I had not been there in forever. Saturday night we watched Arthur Christmas...here is the trailor - it was SUPER cute! Check it out if you haven't seen it :)

Stopped by Mama Dukes on my way home - got two early Christmas presents -- new pots and pans and new luggage!!! YAY!!! Just in time for my trips - home for the holidays and Orlando for my attempt at a marathon haha :)

Now, I am working on food and workout plans for the week for my #Elf4Health challenge.  I have a lot to do - lesson plans, laundry, pick up the apartment and clean. BUSY week coming up - my girls have their second game tomorrow, Bengals vs Eagles game with my T on Thursday, school holiday party and CrossFit Aspire holiday party on Friday and group lil gathering here on Saturday! PLUS I should hear if I got into the Nike Women's Half in DC this upcoming April.  *fingers crossed please*

How'd you #SweatPink this week?
Any fun plans coming up?

~xoxo
M

No Reason To Stay Is A Good Reason To Go :)

Holy smokes -- last week = total meltdown.  I felt like I just couldn't get on top of things and that I was constantly falling behind in places I was already behind.  I only worked out 3x last  week - the plus side was all 3 days I PR'ed.  Monday's WOD killed me - I literally had tears in my eye from my shoulders being ON FIRE!! haha! Thrusters - 100# (2x105#), Back Squat sets of 6 - 135#, and push press sets of 5 - 95# (1x100#).  I need to start setting goals for the movements and working on a schedule for skill work. My arms are getting tighter and I have little bump.  I'm looking forward to starting Olympic Lifting Class this week + back to my 5-6 days a week and gymnastics!!

For this weekends #Elf4Health fun -- I cleaned out my closet, my shoes collection and my Christmas decorations as well!! I also found an ornament I had forgotten about -- look how cute he is!!! I cleaned out 2 trash bags worth of clothes, scarfs, hoodies and shoes.  Felt good to de-clutter my closet! Working on doing that in my whole life! Started to set up some of my Christmas decorations as well....trying to decide if I want a tree or not....still haven't made up my mind!

Sunday - some of the girls from the upper grades and I went to Hammonton to celebrate K's wife's baby shower! I had such a good time, and I really am blessed to work with some awesome people at my school!!  Speaking of work...the BIG news for the day is after 6 years, I no longer work for Fleet Feet Sports.  I have such love for the company and I look forward to the day I can work for another store. At this time - I had no reason to stay working for a place I wasn't happy with and need more time to focus on my career and life!

How was your weekend?

How'd you choose to Sweat Pink?

~xoxo
M

Day 6 - Community Love

Today has shown me how much I love my running and CrossFit communities. As we all know now - Hurricane Sandy has slammed the coast of New Jersey and New York.  There are a lot of ways for both the running and CrossFit community to help -- here are two I am doing...

First --> One of my favorite bloggers over at www.justkeepsweating.com is putting together a virtual race.  Her name is Carlyn and she is one of those who Sandy rocked her normal world.  Here is the information -- if you live by me, I am putting together a night for all of us to do the run together - next Thursday, Novemeber 15th - a 5K run or 1 mile walk from my Fleet Feet here in NJ.  You can get more information here but here is the main part --

1 .SIGN UP: Racing for Relief

2. Donate (Please note there is a $10 minimum) this counts as your entry fee

3. Download and print your Racing for Relief bib to wear while you run - if you come next Thursday the 15th I'll have one for you!

4. Spread the word and get everyone you know involved.The more runners we have, the more money we raise.
5.RUN RUN RUN!
Anytime before December 1st.
6. Post your times here
[Please do this before December 1st]
You can run on a treadmill or outside.
With a group or by yourself.
Not a runner?
Walk!

It wouldn't be a race without a shirt right?
Long and short sleeved shirts for men and women that will be available until November 30th.
You can purchase them here
All monatary proceeds will go to the American Red Cross.

 

Second --> my box, CrossFit Aspire, is hosting CrossFit Athletes Vs. Gymnastics: A Showdown to Save the Shore.

 

Here is the info --  Its a friendly fundraiser competition hosted by CrossFit Aspire and Cherry Hill Gymnastics to help raise money for Sandy relief efforts.  The event will begin with multiple heats of a fun, all-levels workout. All area CrossFit athletes and gymnasts are invited to participate. The event will continue onto a 'Best of the Best' workout in which the top CrossFit athletes and gymnasts will go head to head for title of Best Local Athlete.

 

Registration -

IF YOU REGISTER BEFORE November 16th: Click on the free ticket and go HERE to donate $20 and get a FREE cool T shirt. Be sure to write "Pick up at CF Aspire" in the comment section when you order.
 

IF YOU REGISTER AFTER November 16th, or if you don't want the T shirt, you can make your donation above.

Spectators (family, friends, athletes) are welcome. No ticket purchase is necessary to spectate, but donations at the door are highly suggested. All donations will go to the Red Cross to aid in their relief efforts.



 

Let me know if you have any questions or know of any other awesome events!!

 

Hope to see you at one or both :)

 

~xoxo

M

Month of Thanks - Day 4 - Running& Finding My Groove :)

So, this weekend seemed CRAZY busy to me. I didn't head into it thinking it would be busy at all!  Friday was pretty simple - School & Fleet Feet Sports.  After FF, I headed over to one of the girls from the boxes house for a Girls Night. It was really awesome to hang out with the girls - I got to know them better and we really had a good time.  Lots of wine consumed and tried by all.  Also tried Ali's pomegranate raspberry beer - pretty good stuff! And someone else brought this chocolate shot called "Chocolate Therapy" - that could be dangerous!

Saturday started with our last "In the Dark" Wod as power is officially back at Aspire!! YAY!!! After coming home and getting ready, I headed into Fleet Feet till 2. I can honestly say I LOVE the chance to talk to runners - doesn't matter if they are new, old, 5min milers or run/walkers - I LOVE our community and how much we all just do it for the LOVE of running!

After FF, my mother had driven up and we headed out to the Philadelphia Expo Center (which wasn't in Philly ha) for a craft fair. It was a pretty cool fair - in the picture to the right are my collections (minus some chocolate/mint covered pretzels that I already ate them all haha). The pictures on the left side are taken by a photographer named John Chumack - check out his stuff here! I feel in love with the heart - hello Love is my last name - it is the Heart Nebula Complex! He does all his own work.  He gave me the second piece for my classroom FOR FREE! How awesome is he?!?! It is slightly bent and he said he couldn't sell it, so he let me have it. One the right are some hand scrubs from Pretty Baby Naturals. CrossFit does some beautiful work to my hands - hopefully this helps :)

Once I got home, I let the girls be out for a few and then I headed over to Wifey's family Beef & Beer in honor of her brother who passed away.  They have it every year and the proceeds go to local children for educational scholarships and other awesome charitable events!  In the pic is Wifey, Kels, Dollface & me - we had a good time and it was good to see the girls.  My three blonds and me- after we took it Dollface says "it looks like we photo shopped you in Melis" haha! I didn't stay super long, but I definitely wanted to support my Parisi family!


This morning I woke up and FROZE myself by running the Bridge Run.  I'm not going to lie, I was very excited to do this.  I thought it would be cool to be able to run over and back on the Ben Franklin Bridge, and it was! The view at the top was BEAUTIFUL!!! I wanted to set a PR and I did.  I got 1:15.  My fastest ever (and actually training) was a 1:19 - I was in good running shape then so can't wait to see what happens not that I am cleared to train at 100% again!! To the left is the crew - they have become my NJ running crew, and I love them!! We have a good time!



To the right is my girlfriend Heather.  Her and her fiance were suppose to run - Mike did, but Heather is sick so just came to support.  THANKFULLY she did, because I forgot my shoes - who goes to a 10K and forgets their runners you may ask?!?! THIS GIRL!! I tried not to freak out - but thankfully Heather had on her adrenalines from Brooks so even though they were a size big, they were better then my Kinvara (my speed shoe NOT my distance shoe). Under is a view on the top - way better in person :)



After the run, I stopped by Aspire - I was originally planning on working on some cleans, but my legs were more tired then I thought (I also didn't think I'd make my time) so I worked on some pull ups! Jill was there so we planned to grocery shop after I changed and such - which actually turned into a trip to Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Bath & Body Works (check out my awesome new candle below - smells AMAZABALLS) and Vicki's! Jill's hubby is going to love me :) I also had some coffee - still learning - tried heavy cream (Paleo friendly as it gets), stevia and cinnamon via a twitter friend's suggestion -- it was delicious and helped me warm up!!





All of that to bring me to this - day 4 - I am thankful for running and the community I have found in it! Between my Fleet Feet Knoxville and Fleet Feet Marlton crews to the twitter #runchat convos to random twitter friends who also run! I LOVE my running community and how awesome and supportive we are!! I am thankful I have found running, and am slowly getting my running grove back :)

How was your weekend?
How did you #SweatPink this weekend?


~xoxo
M