Did your May start out super busy like mine has? It seems like this month may be just as chaotic as April, but I’m looking forward to having the right plan to get everything done and take better care of myself when it comes to health and fitness!
And I almost forgot to say Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers and surrogate mothers out there! You do so much for us, I really do appreciate it!
Every first Saturday of the month is the Ultimate Coffee Date Linkup with Coco, Deborah, and Lynda! It’s a fun way to share what’s going on in your life and get to know other bloggers, so check them out!
And for the first time, I’m linking up with Ilka from Ilka’s Blog and Angela from Marathons and Motivation for the Sunday Food and Fitness Linkup!
I’m also linking up with Tricia and HoHo for the Weekly Wrap, always a fun time!
Ultimate Coffee Date – May 2016
If we were having coffee, I would tell you…that work continues to be busy. Every day this past week, we had our potential project bidders come in for mandatory site visits and Q&A at our Plants, and we have two more companies coming in on Monday. It was great to be back in the Plant again and get to do a lot of walking around, but I have to admit that the process became very tiring by Friday. Things are really picking up, so I forsee long working days in my future. Thankfully, I’m enjoying what I’m doing!
If we were having coffee, I would tell you…I went for a cake decorating class at Ella Vanilla a few days ago in Chestnut Hill! It is a new cake decorating supplies shop that offers a variety of classes on decorating cakes, cupcakes, and cookies. They also have cake kits that you can purchase to make your own at home. I was able to attend this event with 3 other bloggers thanks to the PHLBloggers and we had a wonderful time. I’d never done anything like this before so I was extremely nervous, but I really enjoyed working with the gum paste, creating roses and a leaf, and learning how to pipe frosting with a piping bag! I think it turned out great! Now I’m thinking this would be a fun party idea for my 30th birthday in a few months…
If we were having coffee, I would tell you…about that house I mentioned in last month’s coffee talk. That weekend that we were in DC for the Cherry Blossom Run, we ended up putting an offer on the house. We went low because they were honestly asking way above the market value. They countered by dropping the price by only $1,000, so we walked away. We continued to look at houses through April but didn’t see anything that we liked, and then suddenly a couple of weeks ago, the sellers of that previous house came back to us with a new counteroffer that was more reasonable. So, we came to an agreement and we’re going through the paperwork now! I’m praying that everything works out with this house as it covers all of our needs: the right square footage, amazing neighborhood, near public transportation, easy parking, and of course access to a great running trail! Fingers crossed!
If we were having coffee, I would tell you…that speaking of that running trail, Bret and I had a preview on Saturday of what could become our new running routine. The Wissahickon Park is absolutely breathtaking and was already one of my favorite places to run, but after checking out some new trails, I’m even more in love! We had a fun time getting lost in the trails and covering a few miles and even crossing a creek a couple of times! Oh, and I saw 2 huge deer in the forest…wow!
If we were having coffee, I would tell you…I am still amazed that I PR’d at the Broad Street Run last Sunday. I couldn’t help but wonder if I ran that pace for 3 more miles how close I would be to a 2 hour half marathon! That has been the dream for me for a long time. I’m still baffled at my speed gains the past few months but I know that I need to get back to my routine of running 4 days a week. My cross-training classes (yoga, boot camp, weight training) are ending soon, so I need to make sure I keep up the momentum!
If we were having coffee, I would tell you…that I’m signed up for the SWEAT Fitness Beach Body Challenge! This was another great opportunity thanks to PHLBloggers. This challenge kicked off in May and features daily workouts, a nutrition plan, and two personal training sessions. I have to admit that I did not jump in the first week due to low motivation, but today, I’m all in and ready to go!
From SWEAT FitnessIf we were having coffee, I would tell you…that last but not least, my sister has been doing a great job in the healthy eating department. She came up with a fun idea to have a #JJFit Ingredient Challenge where we would feature a different healthy ingredient to cook each week. I have been a completely lazy slob in the kitchen for far too long and I’m tired of it. I miss cooking and trying new recipes, so today is the day where I will get my act together in that regard as well! I’ll be sure to share my concoctions on Instagram!
How was your week? Any special plans for Mother’s Day? What would you share with me over coffee?
oooh, fingers crossed everything works out with the house! That trail looks like a fun one – it’d be great to be close to it. And wow on that cake!
Thanks a lot, Mar!
Good luck on the house!
I took several cake decorating classes (Wilton) years ago, and it was fun, but of course I haven’t used it since. I do a lot more healthy baking now.
Congrats on finding another gear!
Thanks, Judy! Yes, cakes may not be the healthiest thing LOL, but it was fun to play in my more artistic side!
All the best with the house! So many emotions tied up in selling a house. Some just don’t want to be reasonable about letting them go. I’ve always wanted to learn how to decorate cakes. But then again its probably good I don’t know as I’d be eating everything in sight! Yours turned out great!
Thanks a lot, Marcia! Yeah, the emotions have been all over the place…I just want to hurry up and get in there! Haha, thankfully I don’t have any decorating supplies at home to tempt me to make a bunch of cakes!
Wow that cake looks fab and the running trail sounds amazing.
Thanks a lot, Alison!
Congrats on PR’ing at Broad Street…it was a good day to get in and get out! Oh that cake decorating class sounds so fun too!!
Thanks a lot, Lauren! 🙂
So happy and excited for you that the house buy seems to have worked out. So much fun, though scary & exciting at the same time.
Did you do anything specific to work on your speed ? Is it something you wanted to work on ?
Thanks, Karen! It’s scary and exciting! You know what, I wasn’t really focusing on speed this year. I did do speed intervals while training for Cherry Blossom, but only once a week. I do think that boot camp, yoga, and weight training 3 days a week has helped me get a lot stronger, and maybe that’s helped me get faster?
Holy cow, that cake looks amazing! As someone who got excused from middle school art class for being so bad, I truly admire people with that kind of talent! I made a cake for Michael’s birthday and just frosted it, and it still looked horrible!
Thanks a lot, Rebecca! Trust me, my cake was probably “middle of the pack” compared to the others. I used to love art class but always took too long to finish my work! And I’m sure your cake looked and tasted good!
Happy belated Mother’s Day! I’ve always wanted to take a food-related class (be it cooking or cake-decorating). That cake you made looks awesome! 😀
Great job on your PR and good luck on your beach body challenge! I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for you on that house buy! <3
Thanks a lot, Farrah! Appreciate the good vibes!
Lots of exciting stuff happening! I hope all works out well and the house is yours 😉 (house hunting is such a stressful adventure, but it’s also very exciting getting to explore new places and dream about making each potential house your own).
Thanks a lot, Kimberly! We’re getting so close now, so hopefully no major hiccups are on the way!
Love the roses and leaf on your cake! Great job!! Good luck on the house! We’re trying to sell our house and have had no offers yet. 🙁 Hope things turn around soon. Congrats on your PR! Have a great week!
Thank you, Sherry! I hope you get some offers on your house soon. I’m realizing what a stressful process buying and selling is, so definitely wishing you the best that things turn around soon!
Look at you! Janelle, that is a great first time decorated cake. I use to decorate for people then it got too time consuming so I do know how much effort you put into this. I never could do roses good out of buttercream icing though. Is that the basket weave technique? I did always like it and it looked pretty neat! I’m so very glad you had fun in your class, will you take any more? It would be great for a party!
We made the roses using gum paste, so we were able to mold it pretty easily and actually used dum dum lollipops in the center to support all the petals! I do think I’d like to take another class, possibly as a birthday party event in a few months!
I hope everything with the house falls right into place!
I spent Mothers day relaxing in the morning, a 14 mile run in the afternoon followed by walking in the woods with my boys. It was great!
If I were having coffee with you I would tell you that I love that it is spring and I am excited to run in less clothing and not wear a hat and gloves! I am pretty happy for spring and can’t wait for summer and the beach!
Thanks a lot, Crystal! Sounds like an awesome Mother’s Day! I agree that I’m glad that the weather is warmer now for spring running! I want to hit the beach too! 🙂
Hi Janelle! Thanks so much for joining in the Sunday Fitness & Food Link-Up:-) I love reading about your month & I have to say the cake decorating class sounds so fun. I love baking & would really enjoy learning how to decorate with icing better. Your cake is beautiful!! Congratulations on your PR as well, so exciting!!
Thanks a lot, Angela! I’m so glad I could participate in the linkup and will be back!! If you ever swing through Philly, Ella Vanilla was a really nice place to have a cake decorating class!
A cake decorating class sounds like fun! Your creation looks yummy too. I hope they let you bring it home so you could share it with the hubs. Fingers crossed that everything works out with the offer on your house. Those nearby trails sound like the perfect place for running. Congratulations on your PR at the Broad Street Run. You can absolutely do a sub 2 half. Thanks for linking with us Janelle!
Thanks a lot, HoHo! I still have a LONG way to go before I’m comfortable at the sub-2 hour zone, but I hope to get there in next year or so!