Keeping 2024 Pinteresting

I love Pinterest. The organization, the ideas, the creativity. Most of all, I want to be the kind of person that uses Pinterest to make awesome and amazing things that make my life better and inspire others. And since this year is all about becoming the person that I want to be, part of that will be to focus on tackling some of those Pinterest Pins that I have collected over the years. 

Each week I plan to choose at least one pin to attempt. I have a wide variety of boards, just chock full of amazing ideas for crafts, meals, gifts and so much more. I also plan to make more of my own pins. I have create a board for RunNerdGirl and have posted a few pins here and there, but I need to be more consistent with promoting my own things. Like this blog!

I have already completed Step 1 - Cleaning out my Boards and Pins. I removed any dead links and removed any projects that are outdated for my current life. For example, I had a whole board of Toddler Fun ideas. Not sure that any of those ideas would be suitable for my now almost 14 year old. 

A few of my Pinterest Boards

The plan is to post some, if not all of the things that I try out here on the blog to let you know how it went. Both the good and the bad. I know there will be a few candidates for Pinstrosities and I plan to show it all. 

If you are interested in checking out my Pinterest, you can find it here: https://www.pinterest.com/lissayn And if you see anything on there in particular that you would like to see me attempt, drop me a suggestion in the comments. I haven't picked my first project quite yet, but my guess is it will be either a meal, or something from my Best Life board. After all, finding my best life is what this is all about. 

Are you on Pinterest? Drop my your links in the comments. I would love to check out your boards for ideas as well. 

Finding Joy to the Run

As a part of my new year's initiative to get myself back to a me that I like again, I have been in search of a plan or program that is both sustainable and with some support. I know if I do this all on my own in secret, as I have in the past, I will fail, as I have in the past. So to the internet I went, in search of, well, I wasn't sure what. 

The answer ended up coming for, of all places, Facebook. There is an account that I have followed for years called Another Mother Runner. Not even sure how they got on my radar, but as a runner who is a mother, I must have hit follow somewhere along the way. I saw their posts here and there, blog links, motivational things, your typical supportive runner group. But then, just when I needed to see it, I saw a post asking if I had yet joined their Joy to the Run program. Curious, I clicked. 

I learned that Joy to the Run is an annual free program that is hosted by Another Mother Runner each year. It consists of a calendar for the month of December that features suggested workouts 6 days of week plus a rest day. There is also a Facebook group for those registered for the program. Each workout has a cute wintery themed twist (2 strength workouts, yoga on Fridays, and several runs/walks). The strength workouts have live Zoom options, plus recordings available after, and the yoga has a video to follow along. The strength also has detailed written instructions, in case you cannot join the videos and one of the runs has a suggested speed workout with instructions. Every Saturday is a contest day where you post a picture of a specific thing in the Facebook group. Sundays are a rest day. 

The registration was completely free, but there was an option to order some fun merchandise themed for the program. Since I wanted this to be something that I actually put my heart into, to help myself be more "all-in" I did order a long sleeve tech shirt, again, completely optional. I love it. It's cute and comfy and I am glad I bought it. There was also a headband, which I did not get.

Super cute Joy to the Run shirt

I am not going to post the calendar here, because that is their content, but here is the link to their website where you can find more information: https://anothermotherrunner.com/product/joy-to-the-run-2023/?fbclid=IwAR1-vYmOZbho00Sx12OcePUn3gf4yYEseTxiKq4txVGAOlkleFnxueQsjQU 

Don't be intimidated by the the detailed (seriously detailed) calendar, however. There is wiggle room, so it is not an all or nothing kind of thing. If you miss a specific workout, they do not want you to feel like a failure. In fact, it is emphasized in several places on the calendar, site and in the supportive Facebook group, they just are asking you do do what you can. The number one guideline on the calendar states:

"We’re looking for 20-30 minutes of movement most days of December. We’ve provided workouts for you, but they’re just ideas, not mandates. If a 20-minute walk at lunch is going to be best for you that day, eat your lunch, lace up, and head out." - Joy to the Run pdf

To me, this sounded like a great way to get myself back into the habit of regularly working out. It provided a road map of what to do, had support of others via the Facebook group, and was fun. I like having a plan, especially for the strength workouts. Every day in the group, which has just under 700 members, there is a check in post where you can chime in with what you did, or you can make your own post if you like. Everyone in the group has been super supportive and encouraging. It has been fun posting my workouts and seeing what the others are doing. And I even won the first Saturday contest day by posting my bingo card where you marked off cool things you saw and did during a run. I think I got extra points by finding a "real" Buddy the Elf when the bingo card was looking for a Buddy the Elf decoration. I receive some really cool AMR stickers in the mail as my prize. I've really enjoyed this program over the last month.

Turns out that in addition to the Joy to the Run program, that spans just the month of December, Another Mother Runner has a Many Happy Miles program that lasts the whole year. Like JTTR it has a monthly calendar of workouts, but so much more with all of this:

• Calendar: A downloadable version of all Many Happy Miles happenings
• Discount: Discount on training programs available exclusively to Many Happy Miles members
• Expert Workshop: Expert workshop information (dates, worksheets, video + podcast after the workshop)
• Physical Therapy: Move of the Month + Ask the PT Sessions
• Workout Materials: Monthly workout + challenge + strength circuit, including video(s)
• Workout Videos: A library of workout, yoga and foam rolling videos for easy access
• Many Happy Miles Facebook Group
• SWAG item of choice 
• Workouts in the Final Surge App

Basically, it is like Joy to the Run on steroids. The program costs $235 for the year. And while i had originally set out to find something online that was free, after as much as I enjoyed JTTR, I decided to register. I am already in the Facebook group, which has again been super supportive, like the JTTR one, and am anxiously awaiting to get started in January. Each month has a different focus, and January is Press Refresh, exactly what I need. 

For more information on Many Happy Miles, you can check out the AMR website here: https://anothermotherrunner.com/many-happy-miles-2024/ The registration goes until mid-January if you want to join me. I am sure I will be posting more here and of course on my social media pages (Instagram: runnerdgirl and Twitter: runnerdgirl) about how the program is going. 

(Please note: I am not advertising for Another Mother Runner in anyway, or receiving any form of benefit for mentioning their program, just writing about my own personal experiences.) 

Warm Hands at the Flip of a Turtle

 Disclaimer: I received a pair of Turtle Gloves Weather Protect Heavyweight Warm Mittens to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

Look, I'm just going to come right out and say it - This time of the year really sucks for the outdoor runner part of me. I am a girl who loves her weather warm, sunny and well above the temperature most runners prefer. I just hate, hate HATE being cold!!! (No really, I've said it before: https://runnerdgirl.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-winter-running-blahs.html)

But Lissa, don't you live in SC? Isn't it like 40-50 degrees most mornings in the winter? Usually, but not this year for some reason. We are riding into week like 3 or it being below freaking freezing in the morning!! Seriously, it was 24 degrees this morning!! And this is a girl whose preferred running temperature is above 80 degrees. Saying I am have not been thrilled is an understatement!

So what's a cold-natured girl to do? Why layer up of course.

But... I will even be the first to admit that sometimes, just sometimes, I tend to get carried away in the layering. Because of this, I love me some items that can transition as needed, like my Turtle Gloves Flip Mittens 🐢.

I've had both pairs of Lightweight and Midweight Turtle Gloves for awhile now and they are amazing. Just recently, Turtle Gloves developed a new, Weather Protect Heavyweight Flip Mitten made with Polartec® WindBloc® Fabric that is 100% windproof, water repellent, moisture wicking, breathable and fast drying. They are perfect for outdoor sports in cold and below freezing conditions. 

So how do they work? I'll let Turtle Gloves tell you themselves:

WEATHER PROTECT HEAVYWEIGHT Mittens are perfect for very cold hands, extreme cold Winter running, outdoor sports and activities such as dog walking, X-C skiing, ice-fishing or just shoveling snow. Easy access to fingers when needed. For HEAVY FABRICS, slide mitten slightly off fingers and lightly curl fingers inside mitten before flipping elastic trim edge over all fingers and thumb, push and pull mitten as needed to expose fingers. Similar method to flip back into the mitten. - from: https://turtlegloves.com/product/convertible-mittens-warm/

Basically, they go from being full mittens, to fingerless gloves with a quick flip. So when I start out my run and am cold AF, I can have them in full mitten mode. Then a few miles in when (if) I warm up, I can flip them easily into fingerless mode without even breaking stride. And, when I start to get chilly, I can can flip them back just as easily. And I do, near constantly. Flip/Filp/Flip - easy peasy. Perfect for a girl like me who's temperature sensitive.

My favorite things about them are that they are easily convertible, and they come in smaller sizes, including XS, for people like me with small hands than most "sport" gloves I've worn in the past. It also doesn't hurt that they are cute! Mine are Heavy Gray/Silver. I just love the cute silver stitching on them. Functional and sparkly! What is not to love?

Interested in trying them out for yourself? You can order online at the Turtle Gloves website: https://turtlegloves.com/ They also have lightweight, midweight and fleece convertible mittens as well. 

Journey to Positivity: Exploring Affirmations

AKA: If I Say It, I Might Think/Feel It

So in my previous post here: https://runnerdgirl.blogspot.com/2023/12/ending-year-low-but-im-gonna-start-next.html I talked about how I am in desperate need of complete overhaul in my life. Doing the same things that I've done before will not cut it. It's time to shake things up and try out some concepts and strategies that past me would never consider, or even scoff at. Things like Daily Affirmations.

Affirmations are positive statements or phrases repeated consistently with the for aim of cultivating positivity and achieving goals. The are thought to hold within them an incredible force to shape thoughts, beliefs, and actions. From bolstering self-esteem to fostering a positive mindset, the practice of using Affirmations are said to lead to profound personal growth and empowerment.

Note: I had no idea what images to put in this post,
so I just went with some nice pics I took recently

Understanding Affirmations

The general thinking behind Affirmations is that our thoughts have a direct impact on our reality. By consistently repeating these positive beliefs and intentions, you can rewire your subconscious mind, influencing attitudes and behaviors and guide you towards a more constructive and optimistic outlook on life. And that is precisely what I am needing these days.

Harnessing the Power of Affirmations

According to those who believe in the power of Affirmations, their magic lies in simplicity and accessibility. Anyone can utilize affirmations to bring about transformative changes. If you dream it, you can do it. Here’s how my research has shown that they best work:

1. Define Clear and Positive Affirmations:

Crafting affirmations involves creating concise and affirmative statements that reflect a goal, desire, or quality you hope to embody. Affirmations work best when you focus on what you want rather than what you lack.

2. Consistent Repetition:

Repetition is key to embedding Affirmations into the subconscious mind. By consistently repeating affirmations daily—whether through verbal recitation, written notes, or visualization—you reinforce these positive messages within yourself.

3. Belief and Emotional Connection:

Belief in the affirmations is crucial. It’s not merely about reciting words; it’s about truly feeling and believing in their truth. When coupled with emotional involvement, affirmations become more potent in reshaping thoughts and behaviors.

4. Integration into Daily Routine:

Integrating affirmations into daily routines, such as reciting them during morning rituals or before bedtime, helps anchor them firmly into one's subconscious mind.

5. Adapting Affirmations to Evolving Goals:

As you progress or goals change, updating or refining affirmations ensures alignment with their current aspirations, maintaining relevance and efficacy.

 

The Impact of Affirmations on Personal Growth

The effects of incorporating affirmations into one's life can be profound and far-reaching:

1. Enhanced Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem:

Affirmations can instill a sense of confidence and self-worth, helping individuals overcome self-doubt and negative self-perceptions.

2. Positive Mindset and Resilience:

By fostering a positive outlook, affirmations empower individuals to navigate challenges with resilience and optimism, reframing setbacks as opportunities for growth.

3. Goal Achievement and Manifestation:

Consistent affirmation practices align the subconscious mind with one's goals, enhancing focus and determination, and ultimately aiding in their manifestation.

4. Stress Reduction and Mental Well-being:

Affirmations can alleviate stress, anxiety, and negativity by promoting a more relaxed and positive mental state.

So this year, I as a part of my whole life reset, I am going to try to embrace the power of affirmations. I decided to pick one statement per month to focus on. I will spend that month focusing on just one Affirmation. I will start each day both saying the month's Affirmation and writing it in my Self Care App, Finch.

My 2024 Affirmations (one per month)

1. I will get better every day.
2. I am getting better every day.
3. I have more strength than I think.
4. I know I can achieve anything I focus on.
5. Life is meant to be lived fully and deeply.
6. I am proud of myself and of who I am becoming.
7. There is power within me.
8. I am in control of my life.
9. My happiness depends on me and me alone.
10. I am taking steps to make my dreams a reality.
11. I am taking steps to make my dreams a reality.
12. I deserve to be happy, and I choose to be happy.

And while I am waiting until January to officially start this list of Affirmations, I am already starting off now with another until then: I AM READY FOR CHANGE. 

Have you ever used Affirmations? If so, what was yours? If not, what would yours be?

Ending the Year Low, But I'm Gonna Start the Next High

So it is again that time of year, the end of the year to be specific, where I look back on how the year went and wow, was this one not fantastic. I mean, that is a bit harsh, I do have a lot to be thankful for, I have a home, food to eat, friends and family and all that jazz, I accomplished some things and have some really great memories here and there, but if I am being truly honest, I just was not into 2023 mentally. 

Yes, it is so cliche to start a NEW YEAR, NEW ME kind of mentality, but for me, I need this. My self esteem has been rock bottom. My fitness is lower than it has been in years. My motivation has been non-existent. I've barely done any blogging this year because I just haven't been compelled to talk much about the life I've been living these days. In fact I feel like that I have not been really living this year, just kind of going through the motions and waiting for the next thing to happen. 

But you know what, it's not going to just happen. Not unless I make it. So this month, I've been planning. I've come up with what I think is a good, solid list of goals for 2024 to start digging my way out of this hole that I've gotten myself into. I really really need this to work for me, so I am trying to do this the right way, to not overwhelm myself and do too much at once thus ensuring that I fail at one thing and just give up. So I am breaking down the year into areas of focus, a different one for each month, along with an Affirmation, a kind of Mantra to guide that month. I will be posting some blog posts this month with some more concrete details on what some of my 2024 goals and focus area will be, but for now, I just needed to put out there into the universe that I NEED TO CHANGE. I am not happy and I need to take charge of well being, both physical and emotional in order to do better, feel better. I don't like me right now. I used to. And I want to again. 

And Yet Here We Are...