Motivation Monday Vol. 2.2

Work smarter, not harder. 

I've been hearing this quote since I was 10 years old on the soccer field and I never thought I'd start using it in my work life. Our coach use to tell us this quote when we played against teams -- guiding us to pass the ball around the field (work smarter) and not play kick and run which was making us exhausted (not harder).

I've been at the United Way for exactly two months and from day one things have been non-stop and full speed since my arrival. I thought a lot of this was because I was new and I of course had to learn the lay of the land -- but I was wrong. From day one I hit the ground running and I've come to learn this is how the industry is. I'm a fan of a fast-paced environment (hence why I think I loved journalism.) But being action packed all day has made me realize that I need to "work smarter, not hard" while at the office. There are many days when I look at the clock and it is 3 p.m., I've yet to get out of my chair, eat lunch OR pee.  AND it feels like I have nothing checked off my "to do" list.

But that is what time management is all about - working smarter, not harder. Not all days are hunky dori, filled with flowers and rainbows. Lots of days suck, like today. But luckily with some running therapy and nearly two hours of Facetiming with your best friend, you day picks right back up and you're ready to do the whole thing all over again.

Bestie Pensacola Adventures

I’m so excited to write this post because it’s full of fun! So as you all know this past weekend I headed to Pensacola to visit Caroline. I had the pleasure of being with her all day Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and let me tell you, we lived every day to the fullest.

Thursday
It was a super early morning. My plane took off from PHL at 5:45 a.m. to Atlanta, and quickly I had to jump on my flight from Atlanta to Pensacola. I arrived in Pensacola around 8:30 a.m. and was greeted by Caroline and Miss Kai in the back seat. We headed back to her house where we sat on her couch from 9 a.m. to noon chatting and catching up on life. We were like little school girls, we should have been braiding each other’s hair! Before heading down to visit, I did a little research and found a two-hour Segway tour of Downtown Pensacola. We looked it up and there were openings for the 2 p.m. tour. So we headed downtown and grabbed lunch at the Tin Cow – “Pensacola's Custom Hamburger & Shake Spot.” Oh my gawd was it delicious! CB and I both built our own burger – mine of course had the classics but I also threw on bacon infused potato chips and tried their amazing hand-cut French fries. Nom nom! I opted out for a milkshake or beer, maybe next time though! Feeling 15lbs heavier, we headed to our Segway tour. Lucky for us, we were the only two for the 2 p.m. tour! So CB and I had a private tour with our tour guide, Chris. We mastered our Segway’s and hit the streets seeing monuments and locations including the Blue Wahoos Stadium, Belmont-Devilliers Neighborhood, Fort George, Veteran's Memorial Park, Plaza de Luna, and the spot where Florida was officially handed over from the Spanish to the United States. Very education and very fun, Caroline and I had a blast.


Fitness Friday
I say fitness Friday because Caroline and I were active all day! Me screwed up from the one hour time change and CB use to getting up early, the two of us hit the pavement early on Friday morning around 6:30 a.m. logging a 3-mile run for my marathon training. Note to self: doesn’t matter how early you run, Florida heat and humidity is gross! The next adventure for the day was standup paddle boarding. We headed to Pensacola beach and bought a two hour rental. A little nervous because it was my first time and determined not to fall, paddle boarding was awesome! The ocean water was so warm and waves were not big. We cruised around for a little over an hour and then sat on our boards in the middle of the ocean gabbing away yet again! It was so peaceful out on the water. The view in Pensacola is breathtaking; I couldn’t help but soak it in. We grabbed lunch at a little place called Native Café and went home to hit the showers. Friday night we headed to the Blue Wahoos game – they’re a AA minor league baseball team affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds. The bayfront ballpark was named one of the five best minor league ballparks in the nation, rightfully so with its amazing bay backdrop. It’s a great atmosphere at the games and tickers were only $8. Can’t beat that!

Saturday
The last days of vacation are always the worst because you’re savoring every hour of being away. Saturday morning I had my first CrossFit experience. Caroline and Ryan are avid CrossFitters and I was excited to join her in her element. Saturday workouts are partner workouts at her gym so like old times the package deal was at it again. It was a great workout and you could definitely tell I was a rookie, but I worked my ass off, dripping in sweat the entire time. The coaches are great there – the one coach would come up to me and alter my form or give me tips on how to do the movements. It’s a great group, I can see why the Bergh’s love it. We hit the showers and headed out to the Pensacola Farmers Market. With crafters and food vendors, there were lots of items to browse. There were lots of honey, jams and pound cakes – maybe a southern treat? We cooled off for a few hours before heading to Caroline’s birthday dinner. She picked The Grand Marlin located right on the beach. With a breath taking view, the food was amazing – sharing lobster mac n cheese to start, scallops and salmon as our entrees, a dark chocolate peanut butter pie for dessert and cocktails to top things off. A full belly and happy heart, it was the perfect way to end the weekend.

Of course on Sunday I was heading back home and leaving was bittersweet. Pensacola treated me well and I was beyond upset my best friend wasn’t coming home too. I know in due time the Bergh’s will HOPEFULLY be moving closer to home, but for now, we continue our long distance friendship, staying in touch with calls, texts and social media. "Invest in people who invest in you." I will forever invest in my sweet Caroline because I know she invest herself in me.

Motivation Monday IV

Sweat. Smile. Repeat. 

That’s exactly what I did over a long 4 day weekend visiting my best friend Caroline in Pensacola. We stayed active (sweat), we told stories and created new memories (smile), and continued the shenanigans for 72 hours straight (repeat). I strongly encourage everyone to sweat, smile and repeat at least once this week.

This trip could not have come at a better time. I’ve been in a funk, a really bad funk, for about three weeks and there is no better medicine then your best friend. Caroline and I always say it doesn't matter how much time passes from when we see each other or chat on the phone because we pick right up like no time has passed at all. It’s pretty amazing how one person can warm your soul and be your other half. Some higher being had us come together and I can’t thank them enough! Maybe the God of Soccer?

Thank you Caroline for welcoming me into your home and showing me the ropes of Pensacola.Thank you for helping me get life off my mind. And most of all, thank you for being YOU!  I can’t wait to visit again. Stay tuned for a blog post talking about all of them fun Caroline and I had this weekend!

Last Week Recap
I'm happy to say I kept on marathon training track despite being on the road for four days. I crushed a 5-mile pace run on Wednesday at 4 a.m. and I was able to have a 3-mile training run while in Florida. I also did some cross training with CBB – she took me to Cross Fit. You’ll hear more about our fitness activities tomorrow.

This Week’s Goals
1. I wasn’t able to get my 8-mile weekend run in so I’m running it today. Since getting up at 4 a.m., running in the afternoon makes me mental. I psych myself out before I even hit the pavement and I’m losing the mental battle already. But I have no choice. I need to get out there, no matter how slow or fast I go – just gotta MOVE!
2. Remember that Kindle I was telling you about? I’m plugging away through my first book and I absolutely love it. Looking for a good read? It’s called “Plain Truth” by Jodi Picoult.  It might still only be $1.99 for my fellow Kindle lovers. Read it! I’m one chapter away from being finished. Can’t wait to be done this week and start my next book. #BookWormMandee
3. I’m shooting a riffle for the first time this week. Yes you heard me correctly…me + a gun = happening this weekend. Taylor and I will be joining my dad at the gun club this weekend. I’ll be honest, I’m terribly scared of the kickback but my dad keeps telling me I’m a big girl and I’ll be fine. Watch out Outdoor Games, I’m coming for ya!

Motivation Monday Vol. III

Well… it’s officially here. My 18-week marathon training schedule begins this week!!! (EKK!!) Just like I have been doing, now through November 23 you’re going to see me on the streets pounding pavement and racking up mileage. My entire agenda book is filled with my training runs and my weekend long runs are planned out at specific locations. This time around I’m much more focused and ready to kick ass this fall. My Disney Marathon was a great experience but this one can be better. I know it will be better -- running in MY city with my friends and family to cheer me on. It doesn't get better than that. Cheers to a happy, healthy and injury free training schedule. I can’t wait to see where my body, mind and spirit take me on this journey. The past 10 months have been one hell of an experience.



Last Week Recap:
- I had a solid week of running and completed all of my training runs. I ran Philadelphia’s Color Run on Saturday with a few friends and had a peaceful 6-miler at Peace Valley Park in Doylestown. That park is my absolute favorite to run – I could run there every weekend! My mom even joined me on Sunday morning, she walked while I ran. Happy to see us both get out there. Great job, Marmee!
- Sadly not too much progress with my Kindle but this week I’ll be sure to get some good reading in.
- Sunday was National Ice Cream Day. I treated myself and it was amazing :) Click here to see.

This Week’s Goals
1. It’s an exciting week ahead as my marathon training begins. Mileage is starting to pick up and pace/speed runs are beginning. Training is going to be difficult this week because I’m traveling to Florida to visit my best friend, Caroline. She is a fitness mama herself so I know she’ll be supporting me if I need to run a day or two while I’m down there.
2. Two thumbs up for going to Florida! I can not WAIT to see my best friend and to finally see where she is calling “home” over the last two years. I can’t wait to see her puppy and her house and her new life. It’s truly amazing that no matter how much time passes, you pick right up with your best friend like it was just yesterday when you saw each other. Since forever, until forever my sweet Caroline.