Friday, July 31, 2015

Coffee talk - August edition

I am linking up with Coco, Deborah, and Lynda for this month's edition of Coffee Talk.

The Ultimate Coffee Date

The link-up actually starts tomorrow, but I am ready to get this party started a day early!

The premise behind this link-up is: "If we were having [insert choice of beverage here] together, I would tell you..."

Armed with my tall glass of either orange juice or water on the rocks, here are a few things I would share:

Adam and I are going to Israel in November! We got ridiculously good airfare on Turkish Airlines. We'll be flying into Tel Aviv with a layover in Istanbul. Now we are working to figure out our itinerary - there is SO much to see and do. The plan will likely include some combination of Jerusalem, Haifa, Tiberias, the Dead Sea, Tel Aviv, and a jaunt to Petra, Jordan.

The Old City in Jerusalem

We'll also be road-tripping to Traverse City, Michigan over Labor Day! I have wanted to visit northern Michigan for a long time, so I am very excited to finally make it happen. I've heard amazing things about the beaches, the hiking, the food, and the friendly people.

The Grand Traverse Bay
Traverse City claims itself to be the Cherry Capital of the World. I plan to take advantage of this by eating as many cherries and cherry-themed recipes as possible. I want to bring home a car trunk full of cherries!

This past Wednesday, I watched sports all day long. 
In the afternoon, my company held one of its annual Chicago Cubs rooftop outings.
Hanging out with Meghna and Alicia, two of my awesome coworkers
It was so hot and sunny that most of us only spent a few minutes on the rooftop. The rest of the time, we were inside hanging out. (Allright, maybe I didn't literally watch sports all day long.) I even wore a Cubs-themed shirt to Wrigley Field for the first time ever (thanks to running the Race to Wrigley!)

Later that night, I went to Soldier Field to watch Manchester United take on Paris Saint-Germain.

It was a complete and unmitigated disaster trying to get into the stadium. Soldier Field is not built to handle 60,000+ fans trying to enter the premises and go through security all at the same time. Blech.

That aside, once I got to my seat I had fun. The atmosphere was very lively and those soccer players have footwork skills like you wouldn't believe.

My adherence to self-imposed goals lives to fight another month... but the streak is in jeopardy. (See this post for further background.) I did manage to log 62.5 miles during the month of July. As of right now, I remain perfectly on track to run 750 miles for the year.

The month of August is going to be a real challenge, though. My running motivation is as low as it has ever been. Combine that with the arrival of hot and humid summertime weather. Then throw in a dislike of the treadmill. Results:

These days my new jam is strength training. I am enjoying the quick and visible results that I've reaped from doing more consistent strength-training over the past few months. Woo-hoo, instant gratification!

I am trying to improve my dance skills. What a challenge this has been! In my Zumba classes, I'm paying closer attention to my instructor's form versus my form to identify what I can improve. The initial conclusion: EVERYTHING.

In an attempt to get some extra practice, I borrowed this DVD from the library:

It's a good thing that I don't have a mirror in my living room for when I try this DVD at home. Heh.

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So what is new with you? What would you share with me over a coffee or other beverage?

34 comments:

  1. I don't set goals either because I enjoy going with the flow more. I can adjust my schedule as needed and I don't beat myself up if I miss a workout.

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    1. I hear you on the wonders of being able to go with the flow! Although, I personally have to be careful not to let myself get TOO flowy! The couch often looks oh-so-inviting, you know? =)

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  2. I finished my summer job as a program assistant for summer school for students with special needs. Definitely quite an experience!! Let's meet up for real coffee and catch up. :-)

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    1. Wow, that program sounds like it would have been an amazing experience! Indeed, let's find a time in the next few weeks to meet up for real. When does your school year start back up?!?

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    2. I start August 24 but have a class for two weeks starting on Monday. We can meet for lunch or dinner.

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  3. Oh boy - me and Zumba? No.

    Israel sounds amazing! I hope you have a fantastic time and I can't wait to see the photos.

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    1. The nice thing about Zumba, at least in the classes that I attend, is that nobody looks at you. Everyone is too focused on keeping up with the moves to notice anything else. And that is a really, really good thing. I don't even want to look at myself in the mirror most of the time. =)

      Thank you for the well wishes on the trip!!!

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  4. I'll have to send you some Traverse City recommendations! So many good things to eat and drink. :)

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    1. Katie, please do! Any suggestions would be super helpful! I am already overwhelmed by options just in some high-level research of the area! =D

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  5. I"ve never been to Traverse City! We go to Door County all the time, and everyone says we need to check out Traverse City...a more mellow version, I hear...I"m looking forward to your report.

    Yay to the strength training! You know what it's done for me...

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    1. On that note, I've never been to Door County! I hear fantastic things about it. Maybe one of these days you could do a post on the highlights of Door County? I would love to hear more about it!

      Strength training is awesome, indeed! It's fabulous to hear that it's been so beneficial for you. Why did I wait so long to focus on it myself?!?!? Time to make up for lost time!

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  6. You will love Israel! We were there in 1999. Very exotic and Istanbul is fascinating. Cannot wait to hear about it! Good for you for focusing on strength! My favorite!

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    1. Oh my gosh! Next time we catch up, I would love to hear more details about your travels there. I am overwhelmed by all the sightseeing options there so any suggestions or thoughts would be most welcome.

      Yay for strength training! You, along with Erin, were amongst my top inspirations for settling in and focusing on it!

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  7. I'm jealous you get to go to Israel! That will be an awesome trip. And I wish I enjoyed strength training more.

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    1. Thanks Sara! The airfare was too good to pass up, so the timing just happened to work out well. It took me a while to get into strength training, too. I've quickly figured out which types of strength I like and which I don't... and I generally only do the type that I like. =D

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  8. Your trip sounds amazing! I can't wait to see the pics. Thanks for joining the coffee date!

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    1. Thank you so much, Deborah! Thanks so much for hosting - I am loving hearing all the updates from everyone! This is one of my favorite link-ups!

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  9. Wow! A trip to Israel sounds awesome. I can't wait to read about it and see all of the pictures.

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    1. Thanks so much, HoHo! Since the trip will be in November, which is after the Chicago Marathon, hopefully we will have had a chance to meet up in person before then!!! Yay for you running Chicago!!!

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  10. That is so awesome you guys are going to Israel! It seems like there are really good flight prices out there - we just snagged some good ones in the states :)

    And that is awesome you are digging the strength training! :) Why run if you don't feel like it?

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    1. Thanks Kim! What destinations do you have on your agenda? Would love to hear where you were able to snag some good airfares!!!

      YES on not running if we don't feel like it. Ahhhh, the beauty of being a hobby runner instead of a professional runner. =D

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    2. Just my typical - going to Dallas to see my otra familia, and they got good airfare here in Sept!!!!

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  11. Awesome! I love Wrigley Field. We did one of the rooftop things a few years ago when my company hosted a sales meeting in Chicago. Your trip to Israel looks fabulous, too.

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    1. Thanks Kelli! Hopefully you got some good weather when you were here! How awesome that your company hosted a sales meeting with a Wrigley rooftop outing - it sounds like your company treats it employees very well!

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  12. I enjoy dancey DVDs too - thankfully no mirrors in my family room because I'm an awful dancer.

    I love cherries. I have family near Seattle, and boy the cherries are good - AND cheap - there.

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    1. Oh gosh - it is traumatizing for me to look in the mirror when I am trying to dance. But it is fun to NOT look in the mirror and just let loose. =)

      Oooooh, Seattle cherries! Rainier cherries, which I believe are from the Pacific Northwest, are my absolute fave!!! What a great perk for you when you visit your family in Seattle!!!

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    2. Oh gosh - it is traumatizing for me to look in the mirror when I am trying to dance. But it is fun to NOT look in the mirror and just let loose. =)

      Oooooh, Seattle cherries! Rainier cherries, which I believe are from the Pacific Northwest, are my absolute fave!!! What a great perk for you when you visit your family in Seattle!!!

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  13. What an amazing trip you have ahead of you. Some wonderful traveling for sure. I have tried Zumba and walked out knowing that my body is not meant for it. I have zero moves and just can't do it. Thank you for sharing coffee with us this past weekend. Can't wait to see your travel photos.

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    1. Thanks Lynda! Zumba can definitely be a challenge for the many of us that don't have the dance gene - but thankfully it helps a lot to just not look in the mirror, LOL. Thanks very much for hosting the coffee talk! I love hearing all the interesting details from so many bloggers!

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  14. Israel! Wow! My former boss had to go there for work a few years ago and was dreading it but ended up having a great time. I hope your trip is amazing!

    What kind of strength training do you like to do?

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    1. That is awesome that your old boss enjoyed the visit to Israel! A lot of folks have mentioned being nervous about traveling there, but having a great time in the end. Thank you for the trip wishes!!!

      So I have been very inspired by both you and Marcia to weight-lift! I rotate between free weights and Nautilus-type machines. I have to say that my favorite is doing squats with a barbell. It feels so bad-ass, plus my PT routine prescribes lots of glute work. =) What about you, what is your favorite type of strength-training?

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    2. Barbell squats are awesome :-) I always prefer working my legs and Romanian deadlifts are also a favorite of mine (although they make my hamstrings SO SORE). I much prefer free weights and will take a barbell over a dumbbell whenever I get the chance. I do use the leg extension and curl machines but otherwise I stick to free weights.

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    3. I don't have much experience with deadlifts, but I read somewhere that they are one of the best and most classic weight-lifting moves around. I've been meaning to ask one of the fitness instructors for show me proper deadlift form. The last thing you want to do is throw out your back!

      I've heard that free weights are preferable to weight machines because they work your stability muscles more!

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