It’s been a while since I’ve thought out loud, which is odd because I feel like that’s all I do. It’s also been a while since we’ve had some “life talk” and, as I’ll get into in a minute, I’m trying to figure out how to balance these chatty posts with more structured content on the blog.
I’m just about one month into my funemployment and it’s been pretty great. I still get questions regularly about “what’s next” and even though I have some broad, very rough ideas, I’m happy responding with “I’m not sure yet. Ask me in May when I should have graduated.” Said very nicely, of course. But really, this has been an eye-opening month. Getting back into the groove at home after being gone for college has been both easy and hard (more to come on that). There was an adjustment period and still some lingering growing pains but I’m settling in and really enjoying my time. I just started a very part-time job and I’m working on some other projects to keep me in a loose routine.
One of my favorite things about being home is having built-in running partners. Both of my parents are runners and I’ve been joining them on their 6 a.m. runs before work and longer runs on the weekend. They would do this with our without me so I might as well take advantage of the support and company!
Speaking about running, like I said last week, it’s still going well. I was hesitant to mention this on the blog until after the fact, but I’m actually running the Princess Half Marathon in two weeks. This will be my 4th Princess half and 7th Disney race (don’t ask me how much I’ve spent in total). Hear me out….it’s not for speed, I ran 8 miles last weekend and felt fine, I paid $180 last summer for it, I’m running with family, it’s pressure free. If I have an ounce of pain, which I haven’t in over a month, I will adjust my plans. I know my body well enough and I feel comfortable (and excited!) with this decision. Now it’s time to pick a costume. Any suggestion for a duo costume other than Elsa and Anna?
Ok, the blog. As you may have noticed I’ve posted two recipes in the last week (and a third is scheduled for tomorrow). I’m in no way becoming solely a food blog, but I would like to regularly incorporate some (easy) recipes. Here’s where I’m torn: recipe posts aren’t always my favorite to read. This is absolutely nothing against the blogger or content, just a personal preference. What I’m thinking is to keep the recipes to once a week and write the post to sound “normal,” not just about the food. Does that make any sense? “Normal” as in I’ll talk about things other than how “amazing” this recipe is (but of course I will mention the food). Still making sense? In general, I prefer writing what I like to read, which is a mix of chatty and structured posts so I’ll keep chugging along…
Sneak peak of tomorrow’s recipe
Lastly, I want to share my new running playlist on Spotify. There are some interesting songs (i.e. “Juicy Wiggle”) but it will keep you entertained. My favorites: “Live Young Die Free” and “Sax.”
Happy Friday-eve!
*Linking up to Thinking Out Loud and What’s New With You with Gretchen and Kristen*
My favorite posts to write are the ones that I have no plan or agenda, the words just start flowing and it is effortless! It is kind of like those epic runs…HA! Have a great day friend! XOXO
Same here…and that’s a perfect way to describe it. Running relates to everything :)
All of this is great! I’m glad you’re adjusting well and running again. It’s definitely a little hard to adjust to being back at home. A lot of people I see here ask if I’m going to the community college…nope, not at all.
I think it’s great you’re doing the Princess half! You know your body well enough to know if you can or can’t do it. I saw a duo costume of the ugly step sisters from Cinderella! I thought it was really cute.
Sam @ See Sam Run recently posted…The Path Often Traveled
Haha seriously…so many questions from people about why I’m home and what I’m doing. My mom mentioned the Ugly Stepsisters! I’ll have to google to get a good idea of their look.
I’m loving your recipes and I totally understand what you mean by keeping them “normal.” I do that too, but I also wonder what the people who were referred from Pinterest who don’t know me think. Haha I bet they’re like okay, who is this girl? Just give me your recipe! But they are a lot more fun when you life update with them!
Margaret @ youngandrungry recently posted…TOL- Whole30 Wrap-Up FOREVER!!!!
My mom says exactly the same thing. Like, “just give me the recipe, I don’t care about your life” haha. It’s hard to try to appeal to everyone so I might as well write what I like to read!
I am so jealous of your proximity to gorgeous places to run lol I can’t wait to run on Sunday!! It won’t be no 8 miles though… sorry lolz
Christina recently posted…Four Ways to Make Bruschetta
Totally forgot that we could run on the Causeway too. Both that and Bayshore are my favorite parts of Tampa.
thank you so much for linking up with Gretch and I!
I don’t post recipes on my blog (because I can barely follow one and I’m not a great cook, lol) but I love what you said about yours – I like to read them when the posts are normal and talk about other things as well as the food.. if that makes sense.
oh the princess half!! i so badly wanted to do that race, but it worked out better for us to go to disney last november than this february (and was a lot less expensive) but i totally know what you mean about not doing it for the speed or anything. disney races are for fun. i’ve only done one haha and i would do more, except my husband is not a runner (anymore) so it would just be me getting up, getting on the bus and standing around for hours, running etc.. i mean, we do that at home, but away on vacation i don’t want to spend large chunks of time on my own haha.
anyway! duo costume.. hmm… my friend and i dressed up as tinkerbell and one of her fairy friends (don’t remember her name) but we didn’t run in those costumes. i’m sure there are tons online though – mickey and minnie, mike and sully, sully and boo, lilo and stitch etc. unless you just want to do princesses, then you could go as different princesses and still look awesome. that’s so cool that you’ve been running with your parents, i wish my mum was a runner. anyway! hope there is no pain during your race and you find the perfect costumes. good luck!
Definitely do the race if you ever get a chance! It is such a fun and pressure-free environment. If I didn’t live so close it wouldn’t be on my radar though. I like the Mike and Sully idea! Hadn’t thought of that. Thanks for hosting, Kristen!
Funemployment is a weird thing. On the one hand, yay for making your own schedule! On the other hand…. what’s a schedule?
Susie @ SuzLyfe recently posted…Ain’t Nobody Got Time Fo Dat!
SERIOUSLY. Luckily I like structure and routine by nature so it hasn’t been too hard to find a balance.
Recipe posts can be hit or miss with me when I read them on other blogs. When I read all about how amazing the recipe is and how you should make it and that’s it- I’m over it, but when bloggers share a story behind the recipe or just get chatty, I love it. Is it weird it actually makes me want to make the recipe more? haha. I am still working on how I go about my recipe posts since it can be hard to always share a story behind a recipe, but it does make bloggers more relatable.
Brie @ Lean, Clean, & Brie recently posted…AMRAP Kettlebell Circuit Workout
I agree. I want to read something besides how to make the recipe. It makes it more memorable too!
My favorite posts to read are daily life posts. I love Hungry Runner Girl because she writes about her life and running etc. it’s so fun to see. I think a great duo costume would be Dory and Marlin from Finding Nemo. That would be so cool! Good luck in the race!
Ellie recently posted…Running Rambles #3 [Confidence]
I love Janae’s blog too! She writes like she’s talking to a close friend, which I appreciate.
Yay for finding a bit of a groove. That’s such a good feeling! I love creating recipes, but totally agree that writing the posts is awkward. I’ve been trying to come up with something that relates to the recipe or the inspiration behind the recipe, but still is something fairly conversational I want to share. Definitely not easy! And I always like reading (and get good feedback on) day-in-the-life posts, but you have to use those pretty sparingly and they can be a little tiring to write. Ultimately, I enjoy reading the posts the blogger clearly wants to share, if that makes sense. Passion and interest and “fun” come through your writing when you find what you like writing about, and that makes such a great reading experience. Sorry for the long-winded comment. :)
Ellen @ My Uncommon Everyday recently posted…Thinking Out Loud #42
I love long-winded comments ;) Yes x10 to what you said about recipe posts. It’s not easy to find a happy medium! Day-in-the-life posts are always a big hit…we’re such a nosy bunch haha
Love the Providence shirt! I’m originally from RI, so I’ve done a couple of races up there, and this year for Christmas I finally got a “Rhode Runner” shirt that I wear all the time!
Most of my extended family is from RI so it’s my “home away from home” :) What part of RI?!
North Providence, right outside the city!
I know Providence well! My mom went to PC and I have a few cousins who live there now.
I think it’s awesome your first race back out there is for fun with your family. I loved running the Disney Half in January with my dad. My mom doesn’t like to run “with” me because we have different styles, but all three of us are running our hometown NYC Half together in March which feels great. It was my first half in 2014, my third in 2015 and she and I both ran, and now it’ll be my 8th in 2016 and all three of us are running together!
Alyssa @ renaissancerunnergirl recently posted…WIAW #43
I did that half last year with my dad! How funny. I love that you guys are all runners too. We are generally around the same pace but sometimes 20-30 seconds different.
Recipe posts are a weird one for me as well… both to read and write. If it’s a recipe I’ve come across on Pinterest, I’ll very rarely read it. But if it’s a recipe from a blog that I regularly read? Then I’ll usually read it. But yeah… I’m not big on the ones that only talk about the food, even though I know it’s still important to mention so that people know what they’re making. It’s still something I’m trying to find a groove with as well.
Amanda @ .running with spoons. recently posted…healing hands, eyeball liquid, and second skins (ToL #168)
Yes! My mom even said “I hate when I’m trying to find a recipe and have to read through someone’s post first,” haha. So I guess it depends on if it’s a blogger you read or if you come across is on Pinterest.
So excited for you to do the half!!! I I’m with you on the recipe posts. I like that you’re going to keep talking about other things in them because I don’t tend to read recipes, if I’m being totally honest. I don’t cook so I’m not looking at blogs to find new things to make which makes recipe posts not the most exciting for me haha I LOVE your response to “what’s next.” You deserve a few months to figure out your next steps. You worked hard to graduate early and now it’s time for a break!
Sarah @pickyrunner recently posted…TOL: Catching Up
I’m really excited for the half. I know the course and race so well that it just feels natural for me to be doing it. Yup, you summed up my thoughts on recipe posts perfectly. Although now that I am starting to cook more some interest me more!
Ooo I’m envious of your runner parents! No one else in my family runs, and I’ve always dreamed of going out on runs with them, it would be so much fun! As for costume duos, you could do Nemo and Dory, the characters from Up, or maybe Cinderella and Fairy Godmother?
Julia @ Lord Still Loves Me recently posted…Learning to Say “No” From A Devout People Pleaser
I wouldn’t be a runner if it weren’t for them :) I like Cinderella and the Fairy Godmother idea!!!
Good luck with the race!! I always thought a Disney race would be super fun. I agree about the recipe posts…I tend to skip ones that are solely about the food, but like reading the “normal” ones that incorporate a recipe (and am more likely to actually try the recipe!).
Hayley recently posted…What I Realized During Yoga
I completely agree. I have a few bloggers whose recipe posts I always read because I know it will be about more than the food. I would say do a Disney race in California but I’d rather you do one in FL :)
I can’t wait to hear how the half goes! No matter what, you get to be out there running and that is always a good thing. My favorite posts to read are probably race recaps and general life updates because I’m nosy and like to read about people’s lives!
Sami recently posted…Media Free Running and Favorite Podcasts
It IS always a good thing. Thanks, Sami! I like to read general life updates too. I think we’re all nosy ;)
I love people sharing a variety of topics including recipes, thinking out loud posts (they don’t just have to be on Thursdays), and hearing about you getting to run with your parents. That’s so neat that they are both runners! :) Companionship always makes runs go by so much faster.
Emily recently posted…Recovery: A Second Chance at Life
They are the reason I started running years ago! I used to just tag along for a mile or two of their runs in middle school and slowly built up from there.
1. I have so many of the songs on that playlist on some of my spin playlists! Love!
2. I know exactly what you mean about recipe posts. I tend to skip reading them, but the ones I do read are usually ones where the blogger isn’t only writing about how amaaaaazing the recipe is, haha. And I love simple recipes!
3. I’m glad you’re still doing the Disney race! Those sound like so much fun and I’m hoping to do one someday!
Julianna recently posted…day in the life 2.2.16
Ha I just checked out your recent post and we do have such similar songs! I have tons of playlist from when I taught spin on my Spotify if you ever need some more ;)
Ah you should do a Disney race since you’re close by! I want to do a Disneyland race one day.
I am the same way- I like to read other things besides just the ingredients in recipe posts. Like tell me about other things besides just the recipe you know? So I’m all for chatty/random things being included in posts; you can count on me to love them! Haha. ALSO.. that’s so exciting you’re doing another Disney race! That’s something on my bucket list. I’d love to run one of those someday.
Amanda @ ExploringLifeAndThings recently posted…What’s new with you?
Good, because those are my favorite posts too ;)
Ah Disney races are really fun but SO expensive. Unfortunately it’s the same course for almost every race so I’m ready to take a break next year!
I always prefer to read recipe posts that have some context or conversation around them too as they still make it feel like you are communicating with a friend rather than just reading a list of instructions…
Best of luck for the Disney half- marathon!! I would love to do a ‘fun’ or themed race.
Costume duos: Lilo and Stitch, Timon and Pumba ?
Have a lovely week :)
I like Lilo and Stitch! That’s a good one. I agree with wanting to feel like you’re communicating with a friend. Hopefully my recipes can come through that way :)
post grad time can be hard… and harder to explain! This recipe looks fabulous.. I definitely need some motivating workout playlists in my life. Thanks for linking this one in! XO -Alexandra
Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
Perfectly said. Hard and hard to explain! I am always looking for new workout music so I update my Spotify regularly :)
I hate recipe posts that are really long and wordy but a lot of times I skim them and pin it if I want to possibly use it! I have been at a loss for what to post so maybe I’ll just go back to rambling chats haha. Have fun at the Princess Half! I feel like every costume ever has been done by Disney fans. You can google for inspiration!
Lauren recently posted…It’s Not You, It’s Me {Finding Meaningful Brand Partnerships}
Yes, I pin or bookmark a lot of them for later when I’m ready to cook. I’m always so impressed with the costumes at Disney races. People put some SERIOUS time and effort into them.
So happy that you joined in our linkup today and shared some thoughts! I’m glad that you’re enjoying your funemployment (and love that term!). Enjoy that break while you can! I took off 4 months after graduation and ran a marathon and traveled to Europe, so I definitely know that time off is priceless. I also totally agree with your comment about food blogs..I don’t subscribe to any because it’s not really what I’m interested in reading on an every day basis! I like sharing one recipe a week or so to get that variety :)
Gretchen recently posted…What’s New With You? Link-Up #1
This time really is priceless and I’m glad you used yours well too! Thanks for hosting the link-up :)
I love that you’re able to run with your parents! And jealous! I would love if my parents were into running like me! Also, it’s my dream to run Disney! Have fun girl!
Kaila @healthyhelperblog! recently posted…Fitness Friday: 7 AWESOME Bodyweight Workouts
I wouldn’t have started running if it weren’t for them! I feel very grateful that we all love it and can do it together.
I like your playlist! Those are some good jams for sure! I can’t wait to see your Disney costume! I was thinking maybe The Incredibles or Toy Story themed for costumes :)
sarah recently posted…Ideas for Pampering Yourself
I dressed up as the Incredibles for a party in college and it was a super easy costume. I might end up doing that again!
That’s awesome you can run with your family! Random costumes could be LILO and Stitch or something like 101 Dalmatians ;)
Kaitlin recently posted…A Mini Trip to Greece
Oh the Dalmatians is a good one. Probably easy to piece together too!
That is so great that both of your parents are runners and that you can tag along with them. There is nothing better than running with a support system. Also, recipe posts can be extremely boring and dry. I love when there is an underlying story or a particular reason why THAT recipe is so great (family recipe, hack, secret ingredient, etc). These are things I try to incorporate when I write recipe posts.
Jenn – a traveling Wife recently posted…Shenandoah Valley Travel Log [Rawley Springs, Harrisonburg, Bridgewater, Grottoes]
They are the reason I started running years ago and I’m so thankful. I feel the same way with recipe posts…I’m more likely to make them if the story is interesting too.