Introducing Everly Grace

Hi y'all! Things have been busy, busy around here but I just wanted to introduce you to someone...

Everly Grace joined us on Monday June 30th at 5:26 pm. She weighed 7 pounds 14 ounces and was 20.25 inches long! We're all doing really well, just adjusting and staying very busy! Now that we're getting into a bit of a routine, I thought I'd try to fire up the blog again.

Hopefully the blog will transition back into a running blog as I begin to train for a spring half marathon (Run the Bluegrass!!), but for now it might be a bit of a mommy blog because let's face it... This is my blog and I want a record of my life and she's the center of it now! We went on our first long walk today and she slept the whole time!

Other fun goings ons that I'll get into more later...

• We're moving! (i'm trying to be enthusiastic, fake it till you make it, right?)
• I was chosen to be an Ambassador for my favorite race, Run the Bluegrass! If you sign up, please select me as your ambassador referral. I'll post more on it later, and you can read my review of the 2012 race here. 
• I've got a great giveaway coming up next week that is sponsored by the awesome folks at Zone Perfect so keep an eye out for that!

three or four things thursday

what better way to ease back into blogging...

first things first... i'm almost 4 weeks clean! [clean eating + lifting] thank goodness i finally got my butt back in gear. i'm training with fitness poynters again [if you wanna see the results of last time i worked with them, you can check out this post] and i'm very excited about getting back on track in this area of my life. i've learned A LOT about myself and my body since i last worked with fitness poynters, so i'm really hoping i can stick with it past the weight loss portion and nail the maintenance this time!


the next picture segues into point number two...

doing ab work in my new living proof tank top! [i'm a brand ambassador for them, you should really check out their super cute shirts!] they're great looking and super comfortable. here's one of her newest designs:

and last third thing...
this year was the first year in three that i haven't done the firecracker 10k on the 4th of July. it was weird. but for some reason, running in the muggy, hot weather did not sound fun to me. but you know i wasn't going to let the day go by without wearing my awesome new pro compression USA socks... so i put those bad boys on and wore them to the gym!

i got a lot of compliments on them [and a couple of weird looks but who gives a crap]. they actually felt really good during my workout and helped protect my shins during dead lifts.

and speaking of PRO COMPRESSION that brings me to point four...

they're having a great sale this month:

you can get 40% of ALL merchandise at procompresion.com, including their brand new neon calf sleeves and team PC gear [like hats and running visors].

simply enter the coupon code JULY at checkout. you'll save 40% and get free US shipping!

*expires august 4th**

they're the best compression socks i've ever worn [i've zensah and cep], they're made in the US, and they're just good people. they support so many bloggers with giveaways, sponsorships, etc. they're definitely a company that i truly enjoy supporting.

more info:::
fitness poynters website
fitness poynters facebook
fitness poynters instagram
living proof gear website
living proof gear Facebook
PRO compression website
PRO compression facebook
PRO compression twitter

kindrunner:::: where it pays to be kind

so i have something really exciting to share with you all today, kindrunner.com is officially up and running! i'm an ambassador for this company so i'll be posting about them periodically. i am so happy to be a part of this company, which i truly think is revolutionary.

kindrunner.com

.: what's the story behind kindrunner :.
from co-founder michael conforti...

I decided to run the first 26.2 of my new career. My life was headed in a new direction. My experience training with Al for that first marathon led to a new love of running. Not too long after that race, I had the amazing and timely opportunity to purchase a running store. This was not just any running store, but one of the most highly-regarded running specialty shops in the country that runners had loved and respected for over 35 years! My new career allowed me to help runners at work while also doing what I love in my spare time.

Over time, as I saw the landscape for running continue to change and as people grew more and more concerned about the environment, I began to recognize that there might be a way to assist runners with their needs and save our planet at the same time. 

.: they are an online running store, but so much more:.

• they are running shoe experts. they post EXPERT PRODUCT REVIEWS for each shoe, they offer kindrunner rx approved alternatives [say you've been in mizuno wave riders and they work great but you want to try a brooks shoe, they'll tell you which one is most similar], they have an online expert you can chat with, and they also have 1 on 1 custom fittings over the phone.
• they offer FREE 3-WAY SHIPPING... FREE shipping of your order, FREE  shipping of returns for any reason and FREE shipping of your donated shoes back to them for repurposing with Soles4Souls or The More Foundation. 
• they offer a CONFIDENT RUNNER PRICE... for example, i wear mizuno wave riders for road running and i know what size i wear. i can waive my free return shipping and get a discount on the shoe! i still get free shipping to me, and still get free shipping of donated shoes.
• they reward you for being kind with the KINDNESS CASH REWARDS (KCR). when you receive a pair of shoes that you've ordered from them, you have the option to place an old pair of shoes (or two, or three, etc.) into the KindRunner shipping box and place the prepaid return label on the box for shipment back to them. once they received the box, they scan it and credit $10 KCR per pair new shoes purchased. (so let's say you purchase 2 pairs of shoes from them, you can ship one old pair to them and get $10 KCR or you can ship 2 old pairs back and get $20 KCR.  if you ship more than two pairs back, you can only get a maximum of $20 KCR because you only purchase two pairs of new shoes, does that make sense?) the KCR can be used to purchase ANYTHING that kindrunner sells and THEY NEVER EXPIRE.
• EASY 365 RETURNS - you have 365 days to return any product as long it's in original packaging and original condition. 
• not only are you getting great customer service and great discounts, you're helping people in need AND the environment. it's a WIN WIN. 

.: another FYI :.

• they are offering another incentive for their earliest customers... FREE SOCKS FOR LIFE for their first 500 customers! each time one of the first 500 customers returns and purchases a new pair of shoes, the order will ship with a free pair of socks of your choice from their sock inventory!

Kindrunner website

Kindrunner Facebook Page (giveaways and announcements!)

Kindrunner on Twitter

Kindrunner on YouTube

Kindrunner on Instagram

i'm a kindrunner! what kind of runner are you?

if you all are anything like me, you've got a pile of running shoes that are laying around your house. just off the top of my head i can think of 4 pairs of mizuno wave riders. they have too many miles to keep running on them, but they still look great and are fine to wear to the gym or walk in. i usually just end up taking them to goodwill at some point or sometimes my local running store takes up shoes to send to some people who need them. 

anyways, enter the best idea ever... KINDRUNNER.

their new site is launching on june 1st and i cannot wait! i love when a company comes out of no where and meets a need. but on top of meeting that need, they are reducing the buildup in landfills and getting shoes to people who might not have them otherwise. LOVE IT. i am so happy to be serving as an ambassador for this innovative company!

i'll have more details on june 1st, but here's the gist of how everything will work...

• ship your used sneakers to kindrunner [free shipping]
• they pass these shoes along to their partners [like Soles4Souls]
• they'll credit your account with kindness cash rewards for each pair you send in
• you can use the credits to buy new shoes! 

as if all this weren't reason enough to hop onboard... they are also a full service online running store! they have a combined 40+ years of experience in the field, so you're sure to get great advice on all your shoe needs! 

check back on june 3rd, and i'll have all the nitty gritty details for you!

also, head over to their website and enter your email address for a chance to win free running shoes for a year for you and a training friend!

Kindrunner website

Kindrunner Facebook Page (giveaways and announcements!)

Kindrunner on Twitter

Kindrunner on YouTube

Kindrunner on Instagram