Month: July 2019

When You Have a Good Weekend You Start Monday Tired

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 7 Comments

Happy Monday! Can you believe the weekend is over? I’m SO tired after celebrating a bachelorette. I can NOT hang like I used to. I was out until 1:30 a.m. Saturday/Sunday … but I digress. Here’s a look at how the overall weekend looked:

Friday night I ended up missing out on some of the bachelorette activities and stayed in with the fam. We ordered sushi and had dinner on the porch, which was an excellent decision for a beautiful night.  Full disclosure – the kids had grilled cheese and tofu nuggets. BUT LM ended up also eating some of the rice and seaweed salad!

 

Saturday morning, B was out golfing, so we did some playing inside on our own.

But when B got home, we rode our bikes (I ran) to the playground, and then to the farmers market!

Later that afternoon, I realized both LM and I were in dresses  – so naturally we had to grab a pic.

But then it was time to head out for the bachelorette! 

We celebrated by having drinks, dinner, more drinks, dancing and more. Is there any better way to celebrate your future sister-in-law?

We stayed out LATE. I was out until 1:30 a.m., which was earlier than most of the crew. #feelingOld

But, I have 2 kids who wake up when the sun’s up most days, and staying out so late meant not as much sleep as usual. Thankfully, B let me sleep in and I got up just before the family went out for breakfast. B had planned to take the kids to pancakes  while I slept, but I have serious FOMO and had to join them. So, I ran to meet them there.

And then did a little run on the way home, putting me at 4ish for the day. Not bad considering I was out partying late!

The rest of the day was spent relaxing and hanging out. I even got in a nap when both kids were napping = win! But still — I need more sleep than that. Here’s to hoping for a restful week!

 

Questions for you:

  • How late is late for you if you’re going out? 11pm is past my bedtime…1:30 a.m. was LATE!
  • What’s your go-to sushi order?

Weekly Running Recap: 30+ Miles

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 7 Comments

This week was a relatively high mileage week for me total — 31 miles! I haven’t seen 30 weekly miles since I was half marathon training a few months ago, but somehow I ended up hitting that number this week.

Here is a look at my mileage this week:

Some highlights from the week include:

Seeing lots of deer again. Including these 2 baby deer, which I saw a few days in a row!

Getting in a stroller run with my little man on Sunday.

He even took a pic of me during one of our water breaks!

Running every day. It doesn’t happen often that I don’t take a day off, but I felt pretty good all week.

Some questions for you:

  • How many days do you run?
  • Do you have a step goal you set for yourself?

I’m linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down.

Heat Wave

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 1 Comment

Hello from HOT Cleveland.

We had a super hot weekend, with temps in the 90s and “feels like” temps getting into the triple digits! That didn’t keep us from doing anything, however. We still had lots of fun!

Friday night the four of us went out to dinner at Aladdin’s, a local Lebanese restaurant. As always, the food was amazing. I love their spicy cauliflower!

It may have been hot, but we still had time outside.

Especially on Saturday. It was HOT so we spent most of the day like this. We had a birthday party to go to (Actually, it was a half birthday party) and luckily there was a pond to relax in and plenty of water toys.

AND chickens! My friend has chickens and goats, so FW loved chasing the animals around (or running from them … I’m not sure).

Sunday was another hot one. But I wanted to get in a run and had some errands that I could do while running. So, FW and I decided to get outside and get in some literal running of errands.

We first did a loop around a lake nearby that has been drained recently. We stopped for a water break (FW sprayed me with his spray bottle in the above pic) and then he took this pic of me!

Then we ran to CVS to pick up a Rx and then the bakery to pick up treats and bread. And then the coffee shop for coffee for B and then we ran home.

5 steamy miles later, FW and B were able to enjoy the treats on the front porch. AND B had made me breakfast!

The afternoon included some playing, baking and working.

B is building a fence for our garden to hopefully keep the animals out. We’ve already lost all our zucchini and tomatoes, but hopefully will get some more tomatoes if the fence goes up.

They made some great progress and hopefully the fence will be up this week!

We finished the day with dinner with B’s parents and some new cousin time.

Some questions for you:

  • Do you have a garden? What’s in it?
  • Are there deer near you?

Steamy Runs

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 7 Comments

What a HOT week! This week we had a heat wave and I cannot remember it ever being this hot. I mean, look at this:

For living in Northeast Ohio, this is HOT. So runs this week were sweaty and mostly done early. We are not used to this! Here is a look at how the week panned out:

Some highlights:

Sunday included a stroller run with FW. B and I had stayed out late Saturday and I was TIRED Sunday morning. It took me 2 miles to get in the groove, but once I did, it was fun to be out with FW.

Friday when I woke up, it was already 80 degrees at 5 a.m.! Let’s just say that it was SWEATY.

Here’s to hoping that it cools down a LITTLE bit this week. Heck, running in the 60s will feel chilly at this rate!

Dear weather gods – for the record, I still prefer running in 80 degrees to running in 8 degrees. And a clear sidewalk? So much better than ice. Yup, summer running still beats winter!

Questions for you:

  • Did you have a heat wave? How hot is it near you?
  • What’s the coldest you run in?

I’m linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down.

Summertime is the Best Time

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 6 Comments

Can I just stress how much I LOVE SUMMER? Some people love fall, but my favorite is summer. It’s sunny, warm and there’s not a lack of fun things to do. Just being able to be outside nonstop makes me happy!

Here are some highlights from our beautiful, outdoor weekend:

I knew it was going to be a good weekend when my Friday started off with this puppy. I love it when my coworkers bring in their dogs to work! It’s so stress relieving seeing their furry faces and just being able to pet them.

Friday night, we had some friends over for pizza, beer and wine on the porch.

I neglected to get any pictures of anything but the tiny pizzas I bought accidentally. I didn’t realize a small pizza was so small!

Geraci's pepperoni and mushroom pizza in Cleveland

Saturday morning was a lazy one. LM didn’t seem to be feeling well, and there was a lot of this.

Luckily, by the afternoon she seemed as good as new. So we decided to take a walk for lunch. This is my favorite local salad 🙂

Stone Oven Jaina Salad

And FW walked the whole way there and back – a little over 1.5 miles!

Saturday night was a DATE NIGHT! B’s parents watched the kids and we went out for sushi.

Sushi 86 sushi

Followed by an Indians game. We’ve been to a lot of games this season with FW and sometimes LM, but it’s always nice to be able to go just the two of us.

Sunday morning came TOO early. After being out past my bedtime and having a few drinks, I was TIRED. I tried to shake the tiredness out of my system with a long overdue stroller run. FW and I often run to a local small lake, but they’ve drained it recently. This is what it looks like now.

The 4.5 miles FW and I did were harder than usual. But at least we had a nice .25 mi cool down around the block together!

After our run, it was time to get to work. Car wash time! FW was a great helper.

That night, it was dinner at B’s parents’ house.

We had a really great summery meal. And it was the first time that all the cousins were together! There are now 5 of them.

And then, the weekend was over. As always, too fast.

Some questions for you:

  • What is your ideal date night?
  • What is your favorite season?

Weekly Running Recap: Back At It

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 12 Comments

I am BACK from vacation. Yup, back at work, back at early morning runs and boy am I TIRED. Last week was the MLB All Star Game in Cleveland, and B ended up going to 3 nights of events for that (Sunday, Monday and then the game on Tuesday), which just made me tired.

I’ve definitely noticed a pattern in terms of how much sleep I get and how I’m able to run. Many of these runs were a STRUGGLE this week, mostly because I was going to bed past 11 and waking up at some point in the night when FW or LM got up. So when the 4:50 alarm went off I was pooped! My legs were tired, as was I. Here’s to hoping this week is a little less crazy at work and home and I get some more sleep!

Here is a look at my mileage this week:

Some highlights from the week include:

It was humid many mornings. I know 75 isn’t HOT but it was 80%+ humidity at 5 a.m.!

Seeing LOTS of deer. Several days I saw a momma deer and two babies. But one day, I saw a male deer, which doesn’t typically happen!

Monday morning, I got in more than 5 miles at a pace I was happy about. FW then went for a run that night around the block with us, so we got in 2ish runs 🙂

Saturday was an off day. But I still managed to get in my 11,000+ step goal, thanks to a walk we took as a family!

Some questions for you:

  • How early do you wake up to run?
  • Do you notice a difference in how much sleep you get and how your runs feel?
  • Do you have a step goal you set for yourself?

I’m linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down.

A Few Days in Ithaca

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And just like that, the vacation that I have been looking forward to for several months is over. Earlier in the year, we had planned a short getaway with my parents and brother. We had decided to check out the Finger Lakes, finding an AirBNB in Ithaca that would host us for the few days. My brother flew in from Berlin, my parents drove in from Albany and we all stayed together.


The trip was great. It was so wonderful to be able to spend time with my family, and LM and FW loved all the “Nonna, Grandpa, Sweetie and Uncle Greg” time. We also had a good time checking out the city and some nearby sites. Some of the highlights included:

Grabbing dinner and ice cream around Ithaca Commons.

Hiking to and splashing around Taughannock Falls.

Lunching and wine tasting at Thirsty Owl Winery.

Exploring the area – I went running along their waterfront path one day and my family and I took walks as well.

It’s always hard to finish vacation, but this one is especially hard because of the great family time we had.  I don’t know when my parents, brother and I will be all together again!

Some questions for you:

  • Have you been to Ithaca?
  • Do you vacation with your family?

Weekly Running Recap: Vacation With a Side of Running

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 8 Comments

I’m not a good vacation runner. That’s right, my runs tend to be little to none when I’m out of town with the family.

Why? To be honest, I feel guilty. I Theknow I shouldn’t, but I feel bad if I am gone from my family due to a run. I have serious FOMO as well and even if it’s just 30 minutes, I feel like I’m missing out on quality family time. I’m getting better about just going and running (because it’s what I like to do), but for the most part, I don’t run as much on vacation.

And last week was one of those weeks. My running mileage ended up around 11 miles total for the week, with runs on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. Here’s a look at what the days entailed:

The first day was just a long walk (5+ miles) throughout Toronto. We ended up covering several miles by foot (I made my step goal of 11,000+ steps), but it was all walking. And posing for photos like these 🙂

The last day in Toronto, I did get in a 3.5ish m run before our long car trip to NY. I even got a running pic with the CN Tower in the background!

In Ithaca, I went for a 3ish m run along the water one morning. It was peaceful, but it took me almost a mile to get to the waterfront trail.

Another day in Ithaca, we took a 2 mile hike to some waterfalls. It was 90 degrees and HOT but worth it – we took the easy trail (especially since B was carrying not one but two kids) to these gorgeous falls.

And then, one last run for the week – 4 miles in nearly 90% humidity. Too hot for me! (And look who stole my water bottle)

Some questions for you:

  • Do you run while traveling on vacation?
  • Did you travel for the Fourth of July week?

I’m linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down.

A Few Days in Toronto (With Kids)

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Happy Canada Day (a day late)! B, FW, LM and I are spending the week off on a vacation and starting the week off with the four of us in Toronto. Shortly after LM was born, we got the kids passports, but haven’t used them. So, we decided to take a drive across the border and spend a few days in Canada.

If you’re planning a trip to Toronto anytime soon and have kids, here are a few things you may be interested in doing. Even if you don’t have kids, these are some fun things to do.

First (not in Toronto), spend some time in Niagara Falls

On our way up north, we stopped in Niagara Falls for lunch and a boat ride to see the Falls. We met up with some friends who live in Canada and joined them on the Hornblower.


I really enjoyed the boat ride! It was so amazing to see the falls up close and it was the perfect length of a ride for kids (20 minutes or so). Pro tip: Buy your tickets in advance online, and then you won’t have to wait in a long line to purchase tickets. We only had a 10 minute wait or so to take the funicula (which was also fun) down to the boat to the falls. And we definitely got wet!

See a Blue Jays Game

The Blue Jays were in town when we were and we were able to catch a game on Canada Day. This meant there was some pre-game entertainment (including a giant Canadian flag being unrolled onto the field, as well as some people rapelling a flag onto the field) and a great giveaway (a “relaxed denim Maple Leaf hat”). We got to the game early to catch all of these and stayed for all 9 innings to catch a win. Bonus – they also have poutine at the concession stands!

Toronto Blue Jays game Canada Day flag

Toronto Blue Jays game Canada Day flag

See that guy on the roof? He is about to rappel down

Grab gelato and sit by the waterfront

We were lucky enough to have some gorgeous weather the whole time we were there — sunny, upper 70s — and on two evenings we decided to get gelato and walk along the water. One night there was even a live band playing so we got in some music (and FW got some dancing).

Go for a run or walk along the water

You know me – I need to get in at least one run on vacation. So one morning while B was giving LM and FW a bath (super dad!), I got in a run by the water. The Martin Goodman Trail is a long bike path and running path near the water that runs for many miles, which was perfect for me to enjoy a run by myself. It would’ve been great for a stroller run as well. It was perfect weather during the run and made for the perfect way to start my day.

Go to Chinatown (and eat copious amounts of dumplings)

One day we walked from our AirBNB in the financial district to Chinatown and grabbed lunch. We went to the Dumpling House and ordered steamed dumplings, pan-fried dumplings and a green onion pancake. LM enjoyed all of it – and even FW ate a few of the dumplings (minus the filling #pickyeater). The waitstaff also loves kids – they kept carrying LM around the restaurant while we ate and playing with FW.

Dumplings at The Dumpling House in Toronto

These were our pan-fried dumplings

Waitstaff carrying LM

Some of the other kid-friendly restaurants we visited included Cafe Landwer (their kids’ breakfast had amazing toast toppings!), Pie Bar (their kids dinners come with gelato for dessert) and Jack Astors (their kids menu has steak, build your own tacos and more!).

Find a playground

Because you’re with kids, you may as well find a playground for them to run around/swing around/play around on. On our walk one morning we found a small playground with some swings, slides and a seesaw, which made both our kids happy campers.

Relax with drinks (after the kids are asleep)

Our AirBNB had a balcony with an amazing view of the city. There was a lot going on downtown and the humming/buzzing of the cars moving all night was relaxing (for me). One night after the kids were in bed, we just sat outside on the patio and enjoyed the night. It was the perfect end to a long day of vacation! (Vacation with kids = tiring)

View from our rooftop patio

We only had a few days, but I’d definitely go back. The last time B and I were there was before kids, several years ago and the middle of winter, so much has changed. The next time we go, we’d probably do a few more kid-friendly activities, like visit their zoo, see the aquarium, or go to the train museum (which was right across the street from where we were staying). We just didn’t have enough time to do it all!

Some questions for you:

  • Have you ever been to Toronto?
  • Are there some standard things you try to do when vacationing with kids (e.g., find a playground, etc)?