Gardening in High Heels

cultivate a beautiful life

What no one tells you about running

Running sucks. #SeriouslyThough

I could probably stop there.  I started to write this in my head in the middle of a run on Tuesday and that’s how I was feeling.

#BlogPostsAlwaysComeToMeWhenIDontHavePaper

What no one tells you about running. #training #marathon #running

In case you missed all my bitching about hospitals and moving, it’s been a little tricky to find time to train for the marathon (that’s just the Pittsburgh Marathon Half, I’m not going crazy here).  I’m getting off my ass and doing it, though. #Finally

Now, I’m not a physical therapist, nurse, pro athlete, coach, or licensed to give advice, so don’t take this as be-all end-all medical knowledge.  It’s just what I know.  And this will be my 5th total half marathon, so I kinda know what I’m talking about in terms of myself and my body.

What I know about running is that it’s hard.  No one tells you how hard it is to get up and get moving.  An object a rest, #amirite?  There are some days when I just feel like I had the best workout ever and there are some days when it’s struggle city and I just want to turn around and go home. #ButSeriously #CanIJustGoHomeNow

Despite the suckiness and the burning shins and the sore lungs, ya just do it.

I think the biggest thing that no one tells you about running is that it really makes you listen to your body.  When it isn’t feeling it, honor what it’s saying.  Hit your mile goal for the day, but be gentle on yourself. #DoWhatYouCanWithWhatYouHave

I used to get so upset if I couldn’t stand running more than three miles when I was trying to train.  Now I just go with it.  On Sunday, I ran for an hour and I hit six miles.  It felt great.  Tuesday during my lunch break, I only did three. #YeahIKnowONLYThree #sarcasm

Instead of beating myself up about only running three miles, I made a deal with myself.  I ran to the next stop sign and I said I could walk if I wanted to.  I didn’t feel like I needed it, so I ran to the next stop sign.  And repeat.

Running is also a very mentally challenging sport.  Running 13.3 miles is a physical challenge for sure, but you have to believe you can do it.  The phrase “mind over matter” is so incredibly true.  I can’t emphasize it enough.  You have to be really assured that you can do it, even if you’re doubting it.  #DontLetYourselfSmellYourOwnFear

And you’re with yourself for 13.3 miles.  That’s a little longer than two hours.  If you’re telling yourself, “OMG I’M GOING TO DIE,” chances are, you aren’t doing very well.  Don’t listen to those crazy voices in your head! #LifeAdvice

When I started running, I wish I would have known that it was okay to have off days (#AsLongAsYouGetOutsideYoureAhead) and that it’s really hard to do when your mind isn’t working with your body.

Another thing no one tells you about running is that you’ll probably lose a toe nail or two and you really need to have a bee-line to a restroom when you’re done.   But more on that later.

Are you a runner? What’s something no one told you that you wish you knew?

#Hashtaghumpday @ Life with Lolo

Sunday Lately, 14

I have a confession.  By this time (doing 11 weeks straight of Sunday Lately posts), I should be able to figure out the pattern of the prompt for the week.  Not true.  I still have to go to someone’s blog, scroll to last Sunday’s post, and copy the upcoming prompt.

Next time the “Forgetting” prompt rolls around, I’m writing “The prompt pattern each week.”  Because, I mean, it’s true.

What have you been up to lately? This is week 14 of Sunday Lately link up with Katy, Meghan, and Nicole!

Updating

My house.  Betcha thought I was going to say “this blog,” didn’tcha!?  Yeah, I haven’t forgotten about that. I just need a spare damn minute.

So, I’m still trying to move my things out of my father’s house, pack up some extraneous things for him, and clean out what I can.  The problem is, I don’t know the next step.  I know my plan, but not anyone else’s.  So I can do my own thing, but eventually I get sucked back in to what the rest if the family wants me to do.  I’m so bad at saying no, guys.

Reminding

Myself that it’s okay to say no.  I even wrote about why it’s good!  I’m also loving this list of things that Emily Cassel shared about her March life lessons (biggest takeaway: your brain is a muscle, it’s okay to give it a break!)

Needing

A spare damn minute!

Wearing

As I mentioned last Monday, I’m doing the #LipStockChallenge.  My friend, Marissa, gave me the idea to wear a different lipstick every day for a certain period of time.  I started doing this on Wednesday (it was no April Fool’s joke) and I’m going to try going until I run out if I can.

Join me if you’d like!  I’m tracking the hashtag on Instagram and Twitter!

Being

Relaxed after a night outside of Pittsburgh with Jonathan and his sister and brother-in-law.  We went to Columbus to eat a huge grilled cheese sandwich from Melt.  Oh, and to see a hockey game.

April Fool’s Day! #PghGBE

It’s April Fool’s Day and the return of #PghGBE (that stands for Pittsburgh Great Blog Exchange).  Last year, I wrote a post for the fearless leader, Alex from everybody loves you, and Michael from Downtown Pittsburgh Living wrote for me.

This year, I’m writing a post for Beth at The Fashionable Eye all about the great places to find accessories in Pittsburgh.  I mean, you know me, you know my obsession with accessories, did you expect anything less?

If you’re up for it, do a tour of all of the participates (a total of 40 Pittsburgh bloggers!) or just take it bit by bit (I know I am).

Huge thanks to Alex for having me again this year and organizing this blowout.  I hope there are even more next year!

Do you do the pranks on April Fool’s Day or do you get pranked?

Sunday Lately, 13

I sat down to write this and a few hours later, barely churned out anything.  Some weeks are like that; the writing just doesn’t come as easily.  And that’s okay.

What have you been doing lately? Link up and let me know!

Dwelling

I’ve been spending too much time on the Animal Friend’s website.  When I say too much time, I mean any time spent on there is too much.  I love dogs, grew up with a dog mostly always around, work with dogs in the office..  I will eventually adopt again, but I can’t right now and, ugh, it makes my little dog-loving heart hurt.

But I’m going to be a puppy aunt tomorrow!  I’m so excited to meet my best friend’s new dog.  I’m going to spoil him.

Helping

I feel like I’ve been helping for the past month and seeing so little in return.  Blah.  Next topic.

Forgetting

OMG too many things.  Do you ever have weeks like that?  I need to go back to making constant lists of stuff to do.

Switching

It’s time to switch clothes for the season.  I’m like Meghan: I’m not a pastel person.  I have some bright colors in my wardrobe, but I wouldn’t call any of them pastel.  I pretty much just wear summer dresses with tights or plain, dark shirt with some crazy bright necklace.

Relying

On the fact that I’ve run half marathons in the past to get me through running this one with really very little preparation.  I’m starting to get worried.

What have you been up to lately?

Award season

The always-hilarious Laura from Life with Lolo for some reason thought I was groovy enough to be nominated by her for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award!  I’m not gonna lie, I’ve gotten nods (thank you, thank you everyone) in the past for various awards and I usually don’t get to write the post in time because I just forget other things come up.

Check out the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers AwardAs Laura says, “Lazy ass, party of one..”

But I felt in my soul like I needed to step it up and do this one.  I have to say, some of these really made me ponder.  I want to entertain and be deep at the same time.  That’s quite the paradox.

Before I start, I’mma be serious for a moment.  Thank you to everyone who reads my writing and takes the time to comment and share it.  I love you guys.  I wouldn’t do it if it weren’t for you.  The connections I’m making with you, whom I would never have met if it weren’t for the internet, are so meaningful to me.

I feel like I’m meeting people who are my long lost sisters.  You dig?

So, on to Laura’s questions!

What is the very first thing you do in the morning and the very last thing you do before going to sleep?

First thing in the morning is hit the snooze.  Literally, hit it.  I use Sleepcycle as my alarm in conjunction with my UP24 and to snooze, you shake/hit/otherwise bring harm upon your phone.

The last thing I do is either text Jonathan (cue the awwws here), read, or watch an episode of whatever I’m currently in the middle of on Netflix.

What are your favorite boy name & girl name for your future children (I know you have them) or just in general…?

I seriously don’t have a favorite name.

Where’s the farthest place you’ve ever driven to (or road tripped) why did you go and who were you with?

The farthest distance that I’ve driven is to Williamsburg, Virginia to visit my mom.  I’ve done it alone, I’ve done it with Jonathan, and I’ve done it with my mom.  It’s been since November and I think this is officially the longest we’ve gone without seeing each other.

This whole full-time job thing is getting in the way of random car trips.

What is the best gift you’ve ever received?

So many.

If you could see one person or group in a dream concert (alive or dead) who would it be?

I’m so close to saying Anberlin.  I saw their farewell tour on my birthday last year with Jonathan (another road trip!) and I’d love to bring them back.

 What is one food that just grosses you out?

Honestly……I don’t think there is a food that grosses me out.  I like just about everything.  I haven’t tried snails, though, and I wouldn’t eat a puffin, but it isn’t because it grosses me out but because puffins are so cute.

Has someone close to you lost someone in their family? How did you handle it (this is happening right now to me, help!)

I think I’ve had more deaths in my family than my friends have had in theirs.  The times that someone has had something happen, I just try to think about the person and how they handle situations.

If this person needs to come to you naturally, make sure they know that you’re always available.  Badgering them to talk is not going to do anything.  On the flip side, if they need to talk everything out, ask questions and listen more than you speak.

What is your favorite tweet or instagram you’ve ever shared? Show us the link!

So to find this picture I had to go back two and a half years in my Instagram feed and there were so many good pictures and memories that I wanted to share.  Dogs, cute hair cuts, good nail polish days.  Lots of food.

But these are my favorites.  I was going to include only the Franktuary menu because that was the night I met Jonathan, but the duck is just too cute to pass up.

Boring fries were anything but #foodtruck #fries #carbs #boring #signs

A photo posted by Angelica Ross (@syntaxxerrorrr) on

So much awesome in one picture. #quackpgh #tbt @thejonathang

A photo posted by Angelica Ross (@syntaxxerrorrr) on


 What is the one purchase you’ve made on your own that you are most proud of?

There have been some expensive purchases that I’ve made in the past.  My laptop, a nice camera, some of my college education, but I’m going with my car on this one.  It’s been the most expensive and the biggest decision.

I negotiated myself (could use some work there), payed the initial costs myself, and am paying off the rest of the car myself.  I also paid for insurance and this year’s AAA membership myself.  Boom.

What is your job and where do you work (because I’m nosy like that).

I am a Marketing Consultant at a SaaS company in Pittsburgh.  It’s more customer service than consulting, but that’s where this blog and my freelance social media contract work come in.  It’s a lot of work and a lot of balls to keep in the air, but it’s a necessary evil.  Sadly, this job doesn’t pay too much, so I do need to work on the side so I can squirrel away what I can.

That’s what I have to say about Laura’s questions.  I am having serious anxiety with this nomination thing.  Are you “too big for this?”  Is this something you’d like do?  Am I missing someone?  Ugh!  If you’re up for it, I’d love to nominate:

Jaelan at Making Mrs M
Katy at Wild and Wanderful
Meghan at Hayes Days
Julie at Artwork by JM
Beth at The Fashionable Eye
Michelle at Sole for the Soul
Kristin at My Life as a Teacup
Jess at In Pursuit of Simple
Nadia at The View Is Beautiful

And answer:

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
What did you want to be when you were little?
Puppies or kittens?
If you could watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Where is your favorite place to find inspiration?
Have you ever made something from Pinterest that totally worked (or failed)? What happened?
What do you drink when you go out?
Heels or sneakers?
What’s your best-kept blogging secret?
What is one thing you haven’t told your readers? Spill the beans!

And if there’s anyone I missed who wants to answer these questions, too, go for it!  Please share the link with me when you do!

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People Really Dug These

We Belong in the Garden Together