What I Read: April 2023

What I Read: April 2023

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This month felt like a whirlwind.

One minute it was April 1st and now suddenly I’m about to flip my calendar over to May. Time is so weird, but I am looking forward to summer (minus the extreme temperatures)! I’m definitely getting the urge to pick up some beach reads. Another Elin Hilderbrand novel may be in my near future.

For whatever reason, my lean toward non-fiction continues. I read 5 books in April, 3 of which were non-fiction. Here’s the list:
-The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz
-Drinking Games by Sarah Levy
-Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo
-Impossible Odds by Jessica Buchanan, Erik Landelmalm, & Anthony Flacco
-A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Let’s get into those reviews!

Nuun vs. Liquid I.V.
PRODUCT REVIEW: Liquid I.V. vs. Nuun

PRODUCT REVIEW: Liquid I.V. vs. Nuun

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As a runner in Florida, especially in the summertime, I have a serious need for electrolyte replacement to avoid the whole muscle cramping, headache-y, ears pounding feeling. While I do love an original lemon-lime Gatorade or one of the other traditional sports drinks, there are now so many other electrolyte drink options on the market!

I’ve been making an effort to try out different electrolyte replacement brands, including Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier and Nuun Sport tablets, to see what works best for me. I do like both, but there are some major differences between the two!

The Magic of Thinking Big: My Favorite Lesson

The Magic of Thinking Big: My Favorite Lesson

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I’m currently listening to the audiobook version of The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz, PhD., and I am loving it!

Though it was first written in 1959, it largely reads like it was written today with a few exceptions. I love that unlike some other self-help titles, the takeaways are very clear and the chapters include summaries at the end. It makes it really easy to try to apply the guidance to your own life.

There is one idea that has really stood out to me and I hope you can find it helpful too!

March
What I Read: March 2023

What I Read: March 2023

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March proved to be a solid month of reading for me, finishing six books!

It’s odd because I definitely seem to be continuing my lean toward non-fiction this year. I usually consider myself to be an avid fiction reader with a few non-fiction titles sprinkled in. It must be all the running books!

Here’s this month’s list:
-Finding Me by Viola Davis
-Good for a Girl by Lauren Fleshman
-The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
-The Longest Race by Kara Goucher with Mary Pilon
-Endure by Alex Hutchinson
-How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

Let’s get into the reviews!

Trader Joe's Rose Water Facial Toner
BEAUTY REVIEW: Trader Joe’s Rose Water Facial Toner

BEAUTY REVIEW: Trader Joe’s Rose Water Facial Toner

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If Trader Joe’s wasn’t always so overwhelmingly crowded and chaotic, I would visit more often as they always seem to have a fun rotation of affordable beauty products on their shelves.

My latest find: Trader Joe’s Rose Water Facial Toner.

Its cutesy light pink and white packaging caught my eye and convinced me to give it a try.

dealing with running disappointment
Dealing with Disappointment: Running Edition

Dealing with Disappointment: Running Edition

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I’m finally ready to talk about it.

The 15k race that I look forward to all year long- and spent months training for- didn’t go the way I wanted. No PR. No fancy top 10% finisher hat. Just a headache and a participation medal.

While it’s easy to get stuck in the disappointment (and I was for a few days), I’ve come to terms with it all. If you’re a runner who misses a set goal, maybe my thought process will help you!

Candy hearts
What I Read: February 2023

What I Read: February 2023

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I don’t know if it was the spark of the ‘new year, new me’ attitude still sticking around, but February proved to be a big month of non-fiction/self-improvement reads for me! I read 5 non-fiction books this month, which is far outside of my norm, and only two fiction books.

The list includes:
-Absolute Power by David Baldacci
-How She Did It by Molly Huddle and Sara Slattery
-Do Hard Things by Steve Magness
-Everyday Sisu by Katja Pantzar
-The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama
-Range by David Epstein
-All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham

Now, for the reviews!

BalanceFrom Foam Pylometric Box
Product Review: BalanceFrom Foam Plyometric Box

Product Review: BalanceFrom Foam Plyometric Box

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After months of having the BalanceFrom 3-in-1 20″ 24″ 30″ Foam Plyometric Box in my mental shopping cart and obsessively reading reviews, I finally added it to my real shopping cart on Amazon and hit purchase.

I bought the plyo box with the goal of doing plyometrics to improve my speed as a runner. (A very brief Google search told me it would.) I was also looking for something that would shake up my usual workout routine, which largely included running or lifting dumbbells haphazardly. I was particularly drawn to the BalanceFrom jumping box as it’s made of a foam material. As a beginner to this, I find the wooden plyo boxes to be a bit intimidating! All I can picture is my shin sliding down the side…

Clouds in the sky
Musings from Online Shopping: Am I Walking My Talk?

Musings from Online Shopping: Am I Walking My Talk?

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I consider myself to be someone that cares about the environment. I recycle. I bring my own reusable bags to the grocery store. You get the idea. But I had a moment recently that really made me stop and think about my convictions. I was ordering a pair of new running shoes online and when I got to the shipping section, I was presented with a choice. Did I want to go with express shipping and have my shoes arrive…

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Blogilates Sculpt & Debloat Protein Powder
REVIEW: Blogilates Sculpt & Debloat Protein Powder with Probiotics

REVIEW: Blogilates Sculpt & Debloat Protein Powder with Probiotics

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As I try to get more serious about my running, I realized I need to get more serious about my recovery too. While this means taking rest days (something I don’t struggle with), I think for me it also means increasing my daily protein intake (something I do struggle with). So, I’ve decided to start the journey of finding a plant-based protein powder I actually enjoy.

As a fan of Cassey Ho, both her YouTube workouts and her Popflex brand, I decided to try out the Blogilates Sculpt and Debloat Protein Powder with Probiotics sold exclusively at Target.