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Life as a new mom has kept me pretty busy. Patsy isn't sleeping as much during the day as she once did, so her attention consumes most of my days. Plus, the end of my maternity leave is in sight so I'm really trying to make the most of our time left together! As the holiday season is upon us, I thought I would put together a gift guide for your favorite runner(s)! I'm not super fancy with images, photoshop, and nice links... So I created a Pinterest board with my top ideas! All gifts are $30 or less--many of which I've talked about on this blog before!

And just for good measure, I've included some fun holiday photos from previous years. (A full post full of Patsy's Christmas clothes will be following!)

Pepper all dressed up for the holiday season and Mokena's Pet of the Week in 2012

Breakfast with Santa in 2011

Christmas Eve Cookie Exchange 2011

Blogger Brunch and Jingle Bell 5k 2012

It really is quite amazing how quickly the time goes by when taking care of a small child. I can only imagine how fast the time will go by when I'm also running and working too! I thought I would put together a list of some of my favorite things from Patsy's first few weeks of life!

1) Wubbanubs - these came recommended from Michelle at Crazy Running Legs. I saw them and thought they were so adorable, I needed to register for a few. In addition to being adorable, they are pretty functional too. They are much more difficult to lose than the normal pacifier. When Patsy spits it out (which is often), it sits on her instead of rolling onto the floor.


2) Aden & Anais Swaddle Blankets - These were recommended to me by several different folks. I love that they are muslin and breathable. It makes me feel better about using them and the lessened suffocation hazard. They are also pretty large which is great for the novice swaddler. Last but not least, the patterns are absolutely adorable. They are a little on the expensive side but they occasionally go on sale at Babies R Us and are also available on the Kohl's website. I highly recommend you pick up some!


3) Fisher Price Rock N Play Sleeper - This was something that I didn't register for but my SILs bought for me because they thought I would love it. Oh my goodness, this is the best thing ever! It pretty much is a portable crib that is super easy to maneuver around. We live in a ranch and this sleeper is pushed around to the kitchen, living room, bathroom... wherever! I'm so glad we have this little piece of furniture.


4) Summer Infant Swaddlers - These are fantastic. The nurses at the hospital are able to swaddle your baby for you beautifully. Then you come home and no one in your house has the same amazing swaddling skills. Therefore, the folks at Summer Infant created swaddles that use velcro to keep in place. We put Patsy in them just for sleeping and she loves them. Babies are only supposed to be tightly swaddled for the first few months so I didn't get a ton, just a few. These swaddles are currently available at TJ Maxx and Marshall's stores for much, much cheaper than Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby.


5) Honest Company Diapers - I heard about this company from a friend and I liked that they had diapers that were plant based and biodegradable. I consider myself to be semi-crunchy-granola and I thought that these diapers were a good fit for us. They are delivered to my house as regularly as I want them to be (and wipes are included in the package). The patterns are also super adorable. The only downside is that they don't come with the blue/yellow line that says whether or not the diaper is wet. As often as she is peeing and pooping, I'm not too worried about it at this point. The company doesn't just do diapers. They also offer cleaning products, baby care products, and even vitamins. All of their products are organic, plant based, and uber-enviro-friendly.



And just because, here are some more photos of my adorable baby girl. I might be having a bit too much fun picking out her outfits every day. Headbands are pretty much a necessity.



Note: I was in no way compensated for the reviews of these products. These opinions and views are my own.

Although a few days have been still fairly warm, the freezing cold temperatures of winter are around the corner. I've been running through the last few winters, away from the treadmill, and I've accumulated my fair share of gear. I thought I would share with you some of my favorite winter essentials. Note, I don't want to focus much here on the brands that I use, just the items themselves. If you have questions about preferred brands, please leave me a comment or talk to me about it at the next group run and I will be happy to respond!

Fleece gloves with mitten feature

Seems self-explanatory, right? I think I have a mild case of Raynaud's phenomenon so it took me a bit of time to find the right pair. I had been suffering through my cheap $3 near-the-register-throw-away gloves and it just wasn't helping things. I do, however, have 2 pairs that I keep in the rotation. 1 pair that is thinner, great for fall nights or mid-day runs when the sun is out. The 2nd pair I recently purchased this past winter after the recommendation of Amanda Too Tall Fritz. They are a thicker fleece, have a mitten fold-over option (this was something I specifically looked for), a reflective strip (added bonus), and clip together (my favorite feature). I don't mind holding things in my hands when I run so if I warm up and need to take off my gloves, I can buckle them together so I either lose or keep them both (only being able to find 1 mitten is about as frustrating as only being able to find 1 sock)! Of course, it is important to find out what works best for you as discomfort leads to a long run feeling much longer than necessary.

Variety is the spice of life. I couldn't have just 1 rain jacket...

When it comes to sizing, I am usually pretty particular. I like things to fit a certain way... When it comes to jackets like this, I definitely go outside my comfort zone. Jackets are meant to be the outermost layer. If you would like to wear this jacket as protection against snow and rain, you may need to think the same way. In the winter when I'm wearing lots of layers, I feel it is necessary to go a size up. I want room for my layers underneath. As you can tell from the lovely photos above, I have a few options. Some range in price from $10-$90 (although I bought all of these either on clearance or at Marshall's). I like to have a variety of options depending on the size of the pockets (that back pocket is a bit inconvenient/cumbersome for larger items) and what time of day it is (probably not the best idea to wear the black jacket at night). If you plan on running when it is drizzling, misting, down pouring, snow storming, or flurrying, you will be thankful that you have a rain jacket to keep you (mostly) dry!


I'm a huge fan of running tights. I don't like how pants feel moving/rubbing against my legs when I run so I much prefer the ease of tights. I know some folks are not as comfortable and throw on a pair of shorts over their tights. (There are even some options where you can get a running skirt attached to your tights). Either way, I think it is important to invest in a good pair that you love and feel comfortable in. I have some cheaper pairs and some more expensive pairs. The cheaper pairs work better during the week for shorter runs, but a lot of times you really do get what you pay for. Some tight brands are different lengths so you'll have to find out what works best for you and your legs. I have longer legs so I sometimes wear higher socks to cover any unexposed areas. Running tights are not cheap so I found it best to accumulate over time to help save my bank account! :)

Homemade hat with ponytail hole (2nd from the left)

Posing my headband with Pepper

I have a few different varieties and I think it is important. Sometimes for races, I like to just cover my ears since I know I warm up more quickly than during a long run. These are especially great for fall and some of the warmer winter days. I have a hat where I cut out a hole for my ponytail, and I have a hat that I wear over my ponytail, depending on the weather and what you're comfortable with. There are also much fancier headbands and hats with the ponytail hole built-in, but I have yet to invest in one of those.


After a fairly mild winter, I invested in one of these on clearance at the end of last year. I haven't used one yet, but I have a feeling one will be necessary this upcoming winter. This is one of those "function over fashion" items as I don't think anyone can look "cool" or "not like a robber" when wearing one of these. But when it is freezing outside, you gotta do what you gotta do. If you don't feel comfortable with a mask or don't want to spend the money, an extra headband works too, just to cover your neck if anything else.


This seems like it might be more relevant in the summer, but the sun hitting the white winter snow can definitely cause a need for sunglasses. Plus, if it is windy, it can help block part of your face. Be careful when switching from car-to-outside and vice-versa as fogging may occur. (I don't normally wear glasses so I usually forget about the whole "fogging" thing until it is too late.) Plus, you look suuuper cool while running with shades. AmIRight??


Winter running is very different than summer running. Wearing many thinner layers is definitely the way to go as it is easier to peel away layers at a time (like an onion, so-to-speak) than wearing a heavy jacket and having minimal options (sweaty or freezing). I like to wear those long unflattering unisex tee-shirts as my lowest layer and tuck it into my tights/capris to help avoid other layers from riding up and from skin being exposed. Especially if I'm wearing a FuelBelt, the chances of things riding up are much larger.

Fuel Belts are all the rage in the winter months

Many of the water fountains are turned off during the winter so it is best to bring your own water. If you don't mind running with something in your hand, a handheld can be great. The warmth of your hand will also help keep the water from freezing (which can happen if you drop water at spots along the trail). The full belt is also another option, with different pockets to store things like Kleenex (which you ALWAYS need in the winter). Or you can just store Kleenex in pockets of your jacket, tights, etc.



There are definitely not as cute winter running clothes as there are summer, but when you live in Chicago, you realize this on those extra cold days. You may be teased by some non runners, but that is probably going to happen anyways, whether it is winter or not (or is this just me?). I hate being cold so I dress however I need to in order to not be cold. Lol.

Non-runner artist's rendition of a runner

What are some of your favorite winter items? Did I miss anything?
For these items and others, I highly recommend checking our your local Kohl's or Marshall's for a good deal. RunningWarehouse.com also has tons of options available with free shipping!

As I have mentioned a few times here before, my husband (Toph) is a vegetarian so most (if not all) the recipes I put together are vegetarian. I am always looking to give new products a try. When I heard more about FakeMeats.com during our Zooma weekend, I just knew I had to place an order.

All of the items are priced so it is cheaper or very comparable to buying in the store (plus, you get the warm fuzzier from supporting a local business). Since Toph is a huge jerky fan, most of my first order was jerky. Haha. Have you ever tried vegetarian beef jerky before? It is pretty outstanding! (Primal Strips Thai Peanut is my favorite.) They have several different variety packs too, if you don't want to commit to a single flavor.

Close-up of the Primal Strips

With all the crock pot recipes I've been making lately, I've struggled with what kind of fake meat product would work best. I have a feeling tofu would completely liquefy and some of the other products are more "ready to eat" and don't really absorb flavor. Soy Curls to the rescue! I haven't yet used them (as I haven't cooked a "real meal" in several days) but I just know they will be amazing. They come dried so if I use them when making a soup in the crockpot, they will absorb the broth as a way of re-hydrating them. (The website also recommends that they make a mean BBQ sandwich.)

Cooking is always a challenge for me so if I can find a good product that is easy and tastes great, sign me up! Do you often make vegetarian things? Do you go for fake meat products or just stick to veggies? Why or why not?

*In the interest of full disclosure, I was not compensated in any way for this review. I purchased these products with my own money, but did use a discount code. I just wanted to talk about some additional vegetarian options, outside of the "normal" stuff you'd find at the store.

Last year I completed my first marathon but had some major fueling and stomach issues. I've tried a lot of different things this summer so I thought I'd put together a little summary of the things I've tried, what worked, and what didn't work.

First, let's talk about hydration. Lot's of people can't do Gatorade. I've always been able to handle it in the past. However, when mixing it with other fuels in my stomach, the Gatorade usually  makes a re-appearance. I love it for recovery after I'm done running, but I've learned that I can't use it while running. As a quick note, the handheld I keep referencing is from Fuel Belt and is the 10oz model.

What did work?

1) Gu Roctane Ultra Endurance powder (review found here)

I used this in my handheld for long runs in place of Gatorade. I like that this is in a powder so you can make it as concentrated or as weak as you like. I received this free sample from the folks at Gu for filling out a survey from their Facebook page. The flavors I received were grape and lemon lime. The grape was my preferred flavor and I was sad when I finished the last little bit. Unfortunately, I think it was a promotional product and I haven't been able to find this product at retail stores or at expos. They do have it for sale on their website here. (If you ever find this at a store, let me know!)

2) Gu Brew
Similar to the Roctane powder, Gu Brew is meant to be mixed with water in place of Gatorade. Maggie (who won my Road ID raffle) offered me a sample of Gu Brew Orange to try. It comes in tablet form so you can either break it in half or use the entire tablet, depending on how concentrated you'd like your drink. I used it on a short run and it didn't irritate my stomach. As I only had one sample, I wasn't able to give it a try on a longer run. Either way, it didn't irritate my stomach and I think this is an okay replacement if you can't find the Gu Rocktane Ultra Endurance Powder. This item is also for sale on Gu's website.

3) Nathan Electrolyte Tablet
I received a roll of the orange flavor in my packet from the Southwest Half Marathon packet. I figured since I had luck with the tablets, I should give it a try. For most of the summer, this has been my go-to. It has gotten me through a lot of hot hot days and has kept the stomach monsters at bay. I would mix 1 tablet with a pint glass full of water and then pour what would fit into my handheld. After the run, I'd drink what was left in the pint glass in addition to whatever was left in the handheld. Sometimes I would also break a tablet in half, put it in my handheld, and fill the rest up with water. The tablet package is kind of expensive ($8 at the local running store) but you get a decent amount of tablets inside. I would say it is worth the price. I also recently purchased the lemon lime flavor. I'm a fan but I don't love it as much as I love the orange.

4) ZipFizz
I purchased this for the first time at the RNR Expo. I just recently hosted a Zipfizz giveaway after having their product and really enjoying it. I used on a run for the first time and enjoyed it even more! I don't know if it is the mix of vitamins or the fact that my stomach is now adjusted to the flavor orange, but this didn't give me any stomach rumblings. That is always a positive!

5) Honey Stinger Chews
I really like these guys. Katie at Live Half Full had recommended them to me back at our first Chicago blogger meetup. I tried them and really liked them. They are small and easy to chew while running. They aren't too thick so they are easy going down. They taste delicious and are also organic. A lot of those strange chemicals are not found in these guys which I think is part of the reason my stomach seems to like them. Available at Sports Authority and Dicks Sporting Goods, they are also easily accessible.

6) Gatorade Chews
I first tried these in the packet of the Palos Turkey Trot back in November. I enjoyed their shape (flat and square) and thought they were easy to consume. I bought a few packs at the Shamrock Shuffle expo and enjoyed them on long runs. They helped me to my PR half marathon in April as they didn't upset my stomach along the way! These have become more popular and are now available in running stores. With Gatorade's new marketing, it is confusing to tell which things are for before and which ones are for during a workout. If you're looking to give these a try, make sure you find the ones that say "perform" instead of "prime." (I reached out to Gatorade to see if they would do a giveaway for these guys with no luck.)

What kind of fuel works best for you? Have you tried any of these products before? As you may notice, Gu is not on this list. I just cannot stomach the gels. The taste, the texture, the rock in my stomach. No dice.

This week Mag Mile Runner's photo challenge is to name your favorite running thing.

What is your favorite running “thing”? Something that you either HAVE to have for every run or race, or something you don’t always have or use, but look forward to eating/using/wearing before, during or after a run. Maybe it completely changed your running, or is something you just really like. It can be something you wear, something you eat, something you use (in reality or digitally), etc, but it has to be a thing.

At first, I wanted to name my Garmin. But I know I depend too much on technology sometimes so I wanted to think of something else I use all the time that I really enjoy. The winner: Nike Running Cyclone Jacket! This is something I saw one of my fellow Yankee Runners wearing on a misty summer day during marathon training. She told me she had gotten it at Marshall's so I rushed over there and purchased one.

Best. Purchase. Ever. It only cost about $30-$35 (because it was at Marshall's) and I wear it all the time. It is really light so perfect for the outermost layer when it is cold and/or snowing. (I purchased a size up than I normally would have and that was a great decision for layering.)

But also light enough to wear when it is warmer and rainy. It is even comfortable enough to wear during a half marathon...
Or running with a friend while she completes a full marathon!
 

I keep finding new ways to make this photo relevant enough to post.

Even my bestie Kara thinks so too! So many people have asked me where I got this jacket so here are some of the details in case you are interested in purchasing one too. I really wish I would have bought more (and I plan on buying another one if I see it again at Marshall's). I know Maggie found hers on eBay and I've seen them on the clearance rack at the Nike Outlet as well. Gingerfoxxx picked one up too, but I'm not sure where she got hers. It really is the perfect running jacket and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a jacket to wear in the rain or snow.

Yesterday I decided to do my easy 2 mile run and have some fun with it. The weather was beautiful and I was dying to try out my new Oiselle Lori shorts ("Oiselle" is pronounced wa-zell) that I bought from The Clymb. I was originally going to run on the treadmill but when I heard the weather had warmed up a bit since the morning, I decided to run outside. I haven't run outside on my lunch break since last year's marathon training. I forgot how awesome it is to get a breath of fresh air and a workout in during the week.

Since I was only going 2 miles, I decided to have some fun with it and mess with the self timer app on my phone.


I first heard about Oiselle through Pinterest, coming across their Rundies.
Hello. Who wouldn't want this set? (For $65 though, I had to seriously restrain myself.) When looking for donations for my Open Heard Magic raffles, the folks at Oiselle were nice enough to donate some items (that will be raffled off very soon, btw). Then, Sarah at OuaL gave them a rave review as well. I seriously couldn't wait to try these shorts out and (spoiler alert) they didn't disappoint.

Now, to talk about the most important thing, my Oiselle Lori shorts. I ordered them through The Clymb a few weeks back and have been dying to try them out. Yesterday was a great excuse.

1. Fabric: The material is very soft and moisture wicking (obviously). The inside underwear is on a bit of the "grandma" size, but that just made them more comfortable to run in (in my opinion anyways. I love me some grandma underwear).

2. Functionality: The shorts had a huge pocket on the inside that could fit more than just a key (take note Nike!) You could comfortably carry a Gu (or even a Sports Beans bag), a key, and an ID badge.

Need to run with an ID badge? No problem!

I know other pairs of their shorts have even more pockets of different sizes. The Lori shorts, however, only have 1, but I like that it is a big one. I didn't feel concerned that anything was going to fly out, even though there was no flap on the top of the pocket.

The shorts stayed at the waist and didn't ride up or anything during the run.

3. Important Extras: I ordered a size small and they were great. I have what is known as a "pancake butt" so the Nike Tempo shorts end up looking like a balloon on my behind. These shorts were great because they looked fine on my pancake butt but had room if you had more than a pancake in your trunk.

As my skin is frequently described as pastey, see-through, and glow-in-the-dark, any shorts I wear (light or dark) end up accentuating my paleness. Granted, I love my pale skin and fully embrace it! As a first choice, I probably wouldn't have gone with lavender, but that is all that was available on the site in my size when I went to order. But I like that this color is out of my comfort zone and adds some colorful dimension to my running wardrobe.

Lori Shorts = Kelly Approved!

Another thing I like about Oiselle is that they only make and sell women's clothes. I feel they have a great understanding of what women are looking for in running attire. I also have a feeling this is the start of a new love/addiction (as if I needed to love another brand of running clothes). :) To find out more about Oiselle and to check out their products, click here.

*Disclaimer: I was not compensated in any way for this review. I purchased these shorts myself with my own money. The opinions expressed on my blog are my own.

After recovering from the heat of my half marathon on Sunday, I did some rowing on Monday in the cool basement while re-watching episode 3 of Game of Thrones. It felt great to get the body moving in a non-running way while the sweat wasn't pouring off my brow. I'm still surprised that these unseasonably warm temperatures are continuing!

Last night I made plans to meet up with my husband's friend Ryan who has recently gotten back into running. We met up at the Old Plank Trail in Frankfort with the pup for 4 miles. I didn't want to look at pace and just run according to how I felt. I haven't had a rest day since the half marathon so I didn't want to push it. I took a speed work break this week because of the shuffle, but I'll be back at it next week. I think my next 5k is going to be in April so I have to keep up the speed work to meet that 22:xx goal! I felt great during the run and tried a new type of fuel.

I follow Gu on Facebook and they offered some free samples to some people that completed a survey. I was one of those folks and receive a sample of the Roctane Ultra Endurance powder shown above in both lemon lime and grape. (The website link has some more information on this product if you're interested). I gave the grape a try last night and I really liked it. The flavor was good and it didn't seem to mess with my stomach. Then again, I was only running 4 miles. :) I'm going to give this stuff a try more in the upcoming weeks. I don't know if I want to put the cart before the horse, but I'm really liking this stuff and it might give me what I need while being easy on my stomach?! Have you tried this product before? If so, let me know what you thought!

We ended up finishing the 4 miles in 39:18 (average 9:49 pace) with negative splits at every mile. Even with the warm temperatures, I didn't feel horrible. Maybe it is because the temps weren't as bad as Sunday. Maybe, dare I say it, my body is starting to get "used to" these temps? Either way, it felt good and I'm excited that I wasn't dying in the heat. My dog on the other hand was completely pooped at the end. I got her some water and realized that I need to start carrying more water for me and for her while out running. Maybe I need to invest in one of those retractable dog bowls to keep with me?

Just look at that face, so tired!

This Saturday I'll be attending the Chicago Running Blogger meetup and the Shamrock Shuffle expo after that. I'm excited to meet up with fellow running bloggers! Can't wait to meet all you guys! :)

P.S. I'm going to have my first official giveaway and another raffle (a big big prize this time around!!) starting soon! I'm excited and can't wait to share it with all of you! :) Happy Hump Day!

Based on a few questions that I've gotten recently (and some encouragement from TTF), and considering the weather conditions in this lovely bipolar Chicago winter, here is a product review of my trail shoes, Saucony Progrid Xodus 2.0. First things first, the story behind the shoe purchase (I mean, what's the fun in just a review without a story, right??). Running for Kicks hosted a local trail run on a Saturday in early/mid November. Amanda and I ran the hilly 5.75 mile loop together. The run was sponsored by Saucony and had a big turnout.

After completing the run, we headed to the store for hot chocolate and bagels--the perfect post-run fuel. They had 3 pairs of Saucony trail shoes that they were raffling off. I had never worn the Saucony brand before so I happily took my raffle ticket--and won!

At RFK with the other trail shoe winners

Needless to say, I was beyond excited. I haven't bought shoes at Running for Kicks before so I was excited to see what everyone was always talking about! Mel, the owner, asked me what I was looking for in a shoe. I overpronate, have orthopedic insoles, need a really sturdy and stable shoe, and currently run in the Asics Kayano 17s. Right away, he went to the back and came out with a pair of Saucony Progrid Xodus 2.0 for me to try. This pair had arch lock and was very stable. The shoes are water resistant and help with slippage out on the trail. I went out for a quick run around the parking lot to give them a feel. One of the shoes had a sharp something sticking through which was rubbing up against my heel. I'm not sure what it was, but after grabbing another pair, that was no longer an issue. (I think it was just a weird imperfection or something.)

Shoe twins

Now, for the actual review.



Looks:
These shoes sure do grab your attention. The colors are a bit flashy for me, but I do like the reflective strips. The shoelaces seem to come untied an unusual amount of time, so I might consider swapping them out if you're not a fan. Also, I feel like my feet look enormous in these shoes. I normally wear a size 9 (already big boats) and these are a 9.5. They fit great with my orthodics and everything, but I just feel like the boats are extra big in these bad boys. I'm not sure if Saucony normally runs small, but this was my experience with this particular shoe.

Soure: Amazon

Terrain:
I've run with these shoes on both trails and concrete. When wearing them while running on sidewalks or streets, they seem bulky and heavy. When I switched it up and ran in the grass (shh, don't tell my neighbors), they instantly felt better--light and purposeful. I've been running in them a lot more through the slush and snow of the sidestreets, and they seem to do well on mixed terrain (light snow, melted slush, wet concrete). My toes stay somewhat dry (versus my normal trainers) and I think they really do help with the slipping factor. It's not like wearing YakTrax or anything--don't get me wrong. If there is an icy patch, you'll probably still fall, but I think in the grand scheme of things they are helpful.

Price:
They seem to be in the average range for a running shoe, depending on the size and where you look. Amazon lists it at $95-$100. (Running for Kicks had them priced at $100 last I checked. Not sure about other local running stores or if they carry them. Please let me know in the comments if you know otherwise, and I'm happy to post.)

Overall:
I liked/like these shoes and would recommend them to others. To be honest, if I didn't win the raffle, I probably wouldn't have paid money to buy these on my own. Now that I have them, I'm glad I do. A trail shoe might just be something else I can keep in the shoe rotation! :)

Inaugural run!

Do you own any trail shoes? What prompted you to buy them? If not, what ones are you currently eyeing? What's your preferred brand of trail shoes or trainers?

*I was not compensated in any way for this review by Saucony or Running for Kicks. The thoughts and views expressed on my blog are completely my own.