The 5k That Almost Wasn't

 

 

This past drizzly Thursday evening, I ran in The 5k That Almost Wasn't. I had quite the adventure with two of my friends from work trying to get there-- it was basically the movie,  Planes, Trains & Automobiles (I heard someone else say that, I've never actually seen the movie ha).

Boston Waterfront

The Harborthon 5k was on Long Island in the Boston Harbor. Long Island is actually closed to the public and is home to Camp Harborview which offers children living in Boston's at-risk neighborhoods the opportunity to leave the city and participate in a four-week summer camp experience. It was such a great event and for such a worthy cause, but it was definitely questionable if we would make it.

Stuck in traffic for close to 2 hours, we tried forever to get a cab in the rain (not an easy task), missed all three ferries (our only mode of transportation to the island), sprinted half a mile along the Boston waterfront to beg our way onto another ferry that happened to be stopping at the island (it pays to be a pushy female!). We finally made it and arrived 30 seconds before the race started. It was a fun, challenging course, and I definitely felt the effects from not running lately (shame on me). The after-party was fun  too, with great beer to rehydrate with.




on the ferry, finally!

 

 

 The adventure continued after the 5k, when I stayed at my sister-in-law's new South Boston apartment. Her whole apartment is so pretty and thoughtfully decorated (she claims the whole apartment is Threshold by Target, which I of course love).

I loved what Sydney said to me when she first started decorating her city-sized apartment, and that she has to be so conscious and absolutely love every single thing she puts in her apartment, because of her limited space. It's such a great way to think about decorating, even a suburb-sized house like my own, and imagine your space is limited to only the things you absolutely love and serve a purpose.  Her bed was definitely pretty and I loved and appreciated so much that she made it up this perfectly, mere minutes before we went to sleep. Luckily her brother, my husband, is good at making the bed as well because it's not one of my strengths.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mustache Bash

I had the pleasure of celebrating a long-time/forever family friend, Wally's, 60th birthday this past weekend. Growing up, the Shea's' house was basically an extension of my own home. My family has always lived next door to the Shea family, our parents built our houses on next door lots around the same time. Meg and I spent our entire childhoods playing together and we have hours of video footage capturing memories spent celebrating birthdays, holidays and vacations together. They were always the best memories growing up and this weekend's party was no exception.

No Shopping July Challenge

 

Inspired by the lovely Tracey of Talkative TLC, I have decided to join her No Shop July Challenge. I have a self-admittedly huuuuuge shopping problem. So huge, I sometimes question my mental stability.

I have a crazy, wildly-known love for Target and can't leave that store without spending a minimum of $50-- the clothes, the shoes, the home décor-- there are no limits to the things I want to (and usually do) buy. I also live about 2 miles from Target so I go way too frequently. I've been known to invent a fake "totally necessary reason" as a ruse to go to Target. Only then to spend an hour aimlessly roaming around like an insane person looking at all the pretty Threshold home décor. Then $100 later I'm crazily telling the person in line next to me "I just came in her for a toothbrush! Target got me again! hahahahhaha(crazy laugh)"  That scenario has happened more often than I care to admit. Luke even has to rein me in like I'm a little kid on a leash while we shop there together. The second we walk in, I'm running up an down every aisle distracted by all things shiny (probably doing the same crazy laugh). It's all just NUTS and needs to end!


but look how pretty!

 

SO, challenge accepted and I'm hoping this is the shopping detox I need to make myself more conscious about my spending habits and save money this month in the process. Oh and to stop awkwardly  talking to other shoppers in line at Target.

 

I'm following all of Tracey's rules and acceptable shopping guidelines and adding one, very necessary rule of my own:

 

NO TARGET!

 

 

 

Some rules I have set for myself this month:

• Obviously, No Target - and I'm not even going to allow myself to shop here for those (real) essential purchases. Obviously my willpower when it comes to shopping at Target is non-existent so I just have to avoid it for the entire month of July. :(
• Clean out and organize my closet to be able to see what I do have
• Plan out my outfits for events a few days in advance to avoid stress and the urge to shop for something new (July 4th always a tough one for some reason...)
• Unsubscribe from all store emails, this is a biggie for me -- I'm a marketer's dream when it comes to Sales and Email Marketing...

I'm glad that by posting this today, I'm holding myself accountable to the challenge. I already had an urge to shop this morning fueled by the constant "closet full of clothes, nothing to wear" dilemma.

SO wish me luck!! July will be a tough month for sales at the Kingston Target, that's for sure.

Luke's 28!

Happy 28th birthday to my handsome groom! I'm so excited to be celebrating his first birthday together as husband and wife (still sounds weird by the way!)

 

I was planning to make him an elaborate, from-scratch cake that I would spend all of tonight preparing. But when I asked him what kind of cake he wanted, his reply was actually what I should have expected...

 

Funfetti with chocolate frosting. Done!

That means considerably less research (as typically goes into my process of finding the perfect cake flavor and recipe) and work to bake a cake from scratch.*

*Sidenote - I've tried making from-scratch Funfetti cupcakes before and while they were good, but you just can't beat the original, from-the-box version. Some things are not to be messed around with.


Luke is the absolute best and deserves the best birthday. Because he only wants Funfetti cake when I'm willing to make anything.  And because he does so many sweet things, like get me a morning coffee every day...

*If you can't tell, that's a coffee he's handing off to me as we passed on his way home from work and my way to work.

 

Happy Birthday, Luke! 

Summer Days

This past weekend was what all summer weekends should be. I read once that jamming many activities into your weekend makes it feel longer, and I definitely accomplished that this weekend.

Friday consisted of: a delicious summery dinner with Luke's family, a much-needed venture to a new Target for 1 more required curtain (I cleaned my Target straight out), mojitos and Parks & Recreation with my sister-in-law, Sydney.

Saturday was an early morning Body Pump workout, a fabulous boat trip and fried-seafood-lunch with friends, and a get together at our house for the Bruins game. I made 4 pizzas (maybe my record for most pizza made in a night), I'll post my recipes soon.

Sunday involved sleeping in way past my usual, eating Captain Crunch in bed while watching the Food Network, a very hot walk with Dexter in downtown Plymouth, an idea to add shelving to my bathroom closet, which was quickly forgotten when I heard friends were down the street at our beach, a refreshing rosemary grapefruit cocktail while reading on my hammock, lastly followed by dinner and ice cream with my husband. oh! and we also fell asleep on the couch watching this lunatic walk across the Grand Canyon.

SO as you can see, I definitely jam packed my weekend with the most delightful things possible. I'm going to make a point to do that often this summer. It truly does make the weekend feel longer, since it takes me a while to think of all the things I did. Summer's just getting started, but I think it's off to a good start!

Cause Every Other Name Was Taken

geez!

Naming a blog is hard. I have started and stopped a few blogs, but I decided I wanted one with a name that wouldn't limit my ramblings and allow me to cover all topics that pop in my head.

I limited myself with the name of my last blog Pursuit of Hoppiness , intending to post about beer and cooking. It quickly spun off and made me realize I shouldn't limit my blog to just one area of interest.

So, I'm excited to be able to document my every day efforts of injecting more fabulousness (how neat that that's a real word!) into my everyday life, food, closet, home, marriage, etc.

And the name?

Well, I recently purchased this motivating print so the term 'hustle' was in my head. Also, I love the image that the name 'Hustle & Shine' conjures in my head.  And I fully plan on defining exactly what it means to "hustle and shine" in the process of this blog. And for God's sake, stop pinning and start doing.



“Lighthouses don’t fire cannons to call attention to their shining, they just shine.”- Dwight L. Moody