Coffee Talk - September edition

Fall is definitely starting to come to town! There's a cool breeze shifting through the air, the days are noticeably shorter, and my eyes and throat are starting to itch from my seasonal allergies. The body knows!

I will be linking up with Coco and Deborah for the September edition of the Ultimate Coffee Date.

The link-up asks, "If we were having [insert choice of beverage here] together, I would tell you..."

Today's post is going to be short because...

It's vacation time!
Tonight, Adam and I are catching a flight to eastern Europe. We'll be visiting Budapest, Prague, and Vienna. Adam's been to Prague before, but I've never been to any of these three cities. I am really excited to be able to experience each of them for the first time. My travel bug has been biting me like mad for several months, so this trip couldn't come fast enough.

While there are certainly plenty of amazing sights to see, I would also be plenty content with just hanging out at sidewalk cafes, absorbing the atmosphere, and watching the world go by.

Side note: I probably won't be blogging much, if at all during this trip. We'll see how things shake out during my down time.

Chicago Local and Hyatt Centric Explorer
On the flip side of vacation, I've talked at length about how much I enjoy exploring all the nooks and crannies of my hometown Chicago. I absolutely love sharing the discoveries with friends, family, and visitors. Therefore, I am so thrilled to be working with Hyatt Centric on a program to provide local arts and culture recommendations to their hotel guests. What a great match!

If anyone needs anything, I am here to help!!!

Getting my running legs back
After undergoing a mobility assessment a few weeks ago, I've been working with a fitness instructor to target some of my weak points. I think it's helped, both physically and mentally. I've learned a few new strength exercises, which has helped shake up the routine and alleviated some rising boredom. My hamstrings, while still chronically tight, are not the daggers they used to be. The slowly expanding range of movement is like a huge breath of fresh air. I'm ready to boogie!

This past Wednesday, I knocked out 5 miles on the treadmill. Normally, 3 miles is about the max I can comfortably tolerate on the treadmill before I start to lose my mind. Forgetting even about the treadmill, this was the best-feeling 5-mile run I've had in months.

All in all, I'm starting to feel like my old self again, and it is wonderful. Thumbs up in all directions!!!

Happy Labor Day weekend, everyone!!!