Various updates

 Once again, work has hit me like a ton of bricks. Not a bad ton of bricks, I suppose. Just very busy! I'm back into full swing at my regular job and also teaching two classes as an adjunct. Keeps me busy for sure. So here's what's been up since my last post before the semester started:

Work: Like I said - busy! Several trips to Pittsburgh to meet with my online students. And my regular classes are going well. I have some great groups of students and am very thankful for that. I've also been doing a really interesting professional development program about teaching language that is useful for employment and I'm learning so much!

Running: I just finished my last long run (10 miles) before the Pittsburgh half on May 1. I haven't been training as well / as much as I would've ideally liked, but I'll take it. I'm super thankful to have had L. and/or T. with me for most of my longer runs and am really looking forward to running with L. at the race AND seeing some of my favorite out of town running friends :)

Travel: J and I went to Charleston, SC for a long weekend back in March with some of his friends from college. It was super nice and I loved taking a trip that didn't involve a wedding, conference, or other obligation. It was just for fun. The weather wasn't as warm as I was hoping for, but it was beautiful and a great trip. 

Thirty-One: It's been a good year so far! I did a very nice vendor event in March and then had a great open house / girls evening in early April. I'm loving the new catalog and the spring gift guide. (If you haven't seen them yet and want to - just let me know!) 

Around the house: First - I haven't done nearly as much crafting as I'd like :( Still working on that same sweater I started a year ago. And I think I've forgotten how to use my sewing machine :P But I'll get back at it... hopefully after my online classes end and I have a little extra time each week.  But I have been reading a lot, which makes me happy. I got a yogurt maker and have been happily making homemade yogurt, because I take odd pleasure in making things that normal people buy from the store. On a related note - J and I started the seeds for our vegetable garden this weekend and I'm looking forward to that. I also became a member at the local botanical gardens and am hoping to visit a lot this summer. We went to the recent cactus and succulent show and I added a new Mother-of-Thousands kalanchoe to my collection. I'm ridiculously excited about this. And then we got a zebra aloe from L. :) Making progress in my crazy plant lady life goals.  

Other miscellaneous notes: 

-J's hockey team won the city championships! I'm so proud of them :)  

-We've been to some really great concerts / shows lately. We love live music and I'm thankful that we get to enjoy it so often.

-Now that I'm not working more than 1 evening a week, I've been able to get back into my small group meetings at church and I'm really happy about it.

-I finally feel like I might be heading in the right direction with some of my health issues, though it's honestly pretty overwhelming and takes up more of my energy that I'd like. I at least have a new doctor that I feel a little more confident in...  so we'll see how this goes!

-Conway is still adorable and we love him ;)  We can't have a blog post and not mention him! 

So - the short version: Life is pretty good. I'd love to be a little less busy, but I have really nothing to complain about :) I'm sure there's something I've forgotten to mention here, but if I tried to recap it all, then I'd never finish this post or ever post again... So consider this your brief(~ish) update on my life! 

Hi. Remember me?

I love this ridiculous selfie with Conway. Found it on my phone when I was looking through pictures for this post. 

So. Hi. It's been a while. Last time I wrote, I was finishing up the summer term and now we're over a month into the fall semester! Time flies! Teaching is going well, and I'm enjoying getting to know my new groups of students. But things have been very busy. Fortunately, one of my classes is ending next week and it'll be nice to have an evening home again! (Which is also a little sad, because that class is a ton of fun and I'll miss it! But I will not miss what I affectionately call "12 hour Tuesdays"...)  I can't really recap everything that's happened since my last post, but I'll share some photo highlights with a little bit of commentary :)

First! We went to the Virginia beach at the end of August with a huge group of my friends. It was great and they are the best.

 I did some light summer reading, including this one (The School to Prison Pipelne). I also finished Born with Teeth, Bossypants, and another Akunin mystery novel or two. Sadly, reading has stalled since then! I even have two very sad library books I've renewed multiple times waiting for me to read them.. 

We went bike riding. 

And played mini golf.

We also went stand up paddle boarding. Which was awesome. I want to do it all the time :)

I enjoyed running along the boardwalk. 

We stopped on the way home at two of my favorite Williamsburg places. Pierce's... 

And Sno To Go!

We stopped at a rest stop with some pretty sunflowers :) Nothing special about this picture, I just like it.

The following weekend we were in the DC area. This is my obligatory "First ride on the Silver Line" picture. Granted, it's several months after many of my other friends posted theirs. But still. I have one ;) 

We were in the area for my good friend from college and grad school's wedding, which was just lovely. We had a great time!

Conway was pretty tuckered out from the trip! 

I finished this lace-back shirt, which I designed myself and made without a pattern.  I'm not the most technically skilled sewer (sewist?), but I enjoy the process for sure :) Now I just need to figure out how and where to wear this!

This dress isn't new, but it's one of my favorites and I finally got a nice picture of it :) I submitted it to a sewing contest, which it didn't win - but I did at least make the "here are some entries!" photo montage ;)

And this past weekend we took Conway to our church's blessing of the animals. It's complete chaos, but always a fun time. 

A few other random big things that I don't really have pictures of...

My doctor put me on a new diet to try to resolve some chronic stomach issues. I decided to cut out both what she recommended I cut as well as some other things I know cause issues for me. Sadly, it doesn't leave me with a lot of things I can eat - but I'm making do...  Cross your fingers that maybe some answers come of this! 

In early September I got a tattoo. There are (of course) pictures of this, but I've decided to not post them widely/publicly. If you want to see one, just let me know and I'm happy to share. I had made the appointment back in June and my artist had a long waiting list. She was totally worth it, though. I'm completely in love with the tattoo! 

Running has been going well.  I did the Beat The Blerch virtual half marathon back in August and I have a real half marathon this weekend. Wish me luck!  I'll try to remember to report back when I'm done!

And now that I feel like I've caught up and that posting won't be a huge deal / effort, I can try to get back to more regular posts...  (We'll see if this actually happens or not!) 

Reading, Running, and a StrideBox review

It's hard for me to believe the summer is almost over! I have one (ONE!) class left to teach for my summer session. Then a week off and back at it for the fall. So much craziness :) I've also just started teaching a new class for employees at a local hospital and it's been so much fun so far! Very different from my other classes and I love it.

J and I have been making the most of these last few weeks of summer. Lots of good food from our garden and our CSA box. And finally using our grill.  We've gone to a few more sporting events, including a baseball game with awesome fireworks, and an arena football game where we got to sit in a corporate suite!

In less fun and exciting news, I had some more medical tests done last week to try to figure out what's been going on with my stomach for the past (almost) two years. We may be a little closer to an answer, but I'm not going to count my chickens before they hatch. I won't get into much detail about personal medical stuff on this blog, and we're still waiting on biopsy results, but I do currently have an ulcer.  It's funny - when you feel sick for so long, you start to hope for tests results that show something is actually wrong with you and it's not all in your head...  Think good thoughts for me that we may solve this mystery!

On a happier note - I've been doing a lot of reading this summer. I've probably read more for fun this summer than I have in the past few years combined. I'm working my way through Boris Akunin's entire Fandorin series (I think I've finished 4 so far and have the next two checked out of the library), and have also read a couple of random books on creativity and organization (Such as Getting Things Done, and Manage Your Day-to-Day: Build Your Routine, Find Your Focus, and Sharpen Your Creative Mind). Side note: I'm trying very hard to implement the "two minute rule" from Getting Things Done. I found the rest of the organization tips a little overwhelming for my current situation - but the suggestion that if something takes less than 2 minutes to complete - just go ahead and do it. That I can get behind!)  I already blogged about reading 10% Happier (which I highly recommend!). I'm currently reading Amy Poehler's Yes Please and have Kate Mulgrew's Born with Teeth and Tina Fey's Bossypants checked out. I made a few recipes from Linda Ly's The CSA Cookbook and all were lovely and delicious.  And in true Erin fashion, I also have The School to Prison Pipeline: Structuring Legal Reform By Catherine Kim on my summer reading list ;)    I feel like there's something I'm forgetting, but even with that list it's a lot! I've been inspired by both my work teaching that literature seminar for adults in the workplace back in June and by my awesome friend Amanda's blog: Amanda Loves Words     So - if I ever finish my giant pile checked out from the library, does anyone have any other recommendations for me? ;)

My running has been going well so far this summer. I finished a ten-mile race last week! I wasn't fast, but I finished and I didn't get sick during the race. So I consider that a win in my book! :) Plus I got a shiny new medal!  Next up is a virtual half marathon, followed by a real half marathon in October...   I have to admit that one of the ways I got myself back into regular training and running longer distances was straight up bribery. ;) After getting my first box as a birthday gift (thanks, mom!) I subscribed to StrideBox. (Note: they don't have a referral program yet, so I'm sharing this just because I love it so much) Every month you get a surprise box of running related goodies. I told myself I could use one item from the box for each run over 5 miles. (two for 10 miles!) And it's been a fun way to try new products and keep my mileage up ;)  Not all of the products have been winners, but there's been at least one product from each box so far that I've liked enough to buy :)

May StrideBox

I ended up buying the Osmo Active Hydration power from this box. I've used it on several of my runs in hotter weather and during my ten-mile race.

June StrideBox

In this box I really liked the MESTRENGTH recovery drink powder. I've found it really helps after my long runs or other tough workouts :) I also really like the Ruby's Lube and might buy it instead of BodyGlide *gasp*! 

July StideBox

I really like the Huma energy gels from this box! I bought more to use during my ten-mile race and they *knock on wood* don't seem to upset my stomach :) Yay! 

August StrideBox

Just got this one in the mail! I haven't had a chance to use anything yet, but I generally love the Honey Stingers chews and can't wait to try this flavor :) 

And that's it from me for this evening! I leave you with a few more questions (in addition to my above request for book recommendations ;) )  Have you ever tried a running (or other) subscription box? Did you discover something you love?