Good Bye January!

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We made it through the first month of 2025!! Hooray!! That means we’re one month closer to spring, warmer days, lighter mornings, and hopefully sunnier days! 

January turned out to be an okay month, all things considered. Despite the sub-zero temps, constant snow and ice, a few days of travel, and crazy weekends full of kid activities and more, I got in some great activity and stayed injury free! Hooray!

My monthly mileage included:

  • 151.81 miles running, mostly indoor miles. I barely made it outside at all in January because our winter has been so unbearable! But this did include  2 runs in Florida that were really nice 🙂
  • 2 days off. One earlier in the month when I felt like my hip was starting to get cranky (thankfully, after babying it for a few days I feel better), and one this week when I was sick.

But I’m getting ahead of myself about this week. Here’s how it looked:

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Birthday Week!

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In case the title didn’t give it away, this week was my birthday! I celebrated my birthday Thursday with a quick trip away with just B! It was the first time we had gone away since the 3 kids were born, and our first actual trip away on a plane (not just a short drive away/staycation), just the 2 of us, since FW was born.  Our last trip like that was in May 2016 when I was pregnant with FW.

Anyway, I’m getting ahead of myself as usual. But that trip, combined with the long weekend plus schools being closed Tuesday and Wednesday due to frigid temps made it a very out-of-routine, but a wonderful, week.

Here’s how it looked:

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January Is…

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What are your thoughts about January? Our January so far has been cold, snowy, icy, and not my favorite. In fact, it’s supposed to be in the negatives next week, which is also not my favorite:

Now, don’t get me wrong – there are some good things about January. And one of them is that it’s my birthday month! But I admittedly don’t love a January birthday. In my experience, nobody wants to celebrate it. It’s too cold, they’re on a diet (food diet, spending money diet, drinking diet, etc.) for the new year, etc. In fact, I saw 2 funny Instagram reels the other day that summed up how I feel about having a January birthday …

These made me laugh – at least I’m not the only one who is feeling this way! So here we are, on January 43rd (doesn’t it feel like that?!) … but with that, here’s how the week went:

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Back At Our Routine

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And just like that, we are back to our routine! School started up again part of the way through this week, and I was back at early meetings (an 8 a.m. on Monday even before school started), so I started getting back to my normal morning workouts. While I do like my routine, I LOVE and miss the slow mornings and days of our break. There’s something so wonderful about not having to wake up the kids, pack their lunch bags, help with homework, etc.

This week I got in several days of running, but all indoors. We had cold, snowy, icy weather, and I decided to play it safe. It may sound boring but it wasn’t bad.

Here’s how the week went:

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My 2024 Running Recap

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It’s that time of year again — for my annual running recap!

This year was an eventful year for running and working out. A lot is different than last year – fewer mileage (thanks a lot, TWO injuries!) but new cross-training habits. Here’s a look at the good, the bad and what’s coming up in 2025. 

Let’s start with the not-so-good:

Two injuries AND a low mileage year: I had 2 injuries this year, which hurt my running. I started off January 2024 feeling great – so great in fact that I ramped up my mileage, doing 7 miles a day for a few days in a row… and then my hip started acting up. I kept running on it for a few days when suddenly I could barely walk without pain. So, I took one month off. During that time, I was lucky enough to be able to ride my indoor bike and rowing machine and do some hip strengthening exercises (lots of clam shells!) and then came back in February feeling strong!

The second injury was the beginning of September – I ran into a door and broke my toe. I kept running on it (not realizing it was broken), but then once I realized it was, I was off it for 6 weeks. And at the same time, my daughter broke her arm on the monkey bars! We were both injured for the beginning of the school year.

So between those 6 weeks and the 4+ weeks off with those two injuries, my mileage this year was less than stellar. I had my lowest mileage year in several years. I barely beat how many miles I ran the year GM was born (1379.6) – even with the time off from running after giving birth plus my slowing down before he was born (I ran through 38ish weeks pregnant. My last run was the 13th and he was born the 22nd).

And now, the good:

I actually started cross training! Every year I make it an informal goal to cross train. In 2023, we invested in an exercise bike and rower, and I would sometimes go on those for 15-30 minutes at a time in between runs or when I was injured. But this year, I started something completely new – weight training! When my foot was broken, I started a weight training program where each day I focused on a different body part. I used kettlebells to start, and on Prime Day, we invested in some free weights. I went back to running in October, but my weight training hasn’t stopped! I’m actually enjoying lifting weights most mornings and while it sometimes is hard to fit it in PLUS running, I know it’s good for my body and my bones to keep getting stronger. This is a big deal for me and I’m so proud that I’ve been able to keep it up!

How it started – with my boot and some kettlebells.

I ran a great Cleveland half marathon! I had no speed goals this year, but ended up running it faster than I have ran it the past few years. Was it sub-2 like I had been in the past? No, but it was 2:02 and 4 minutes faster than 2023 and 9 minutes faster than 2022! And I had a ton of fun! Race recap here >> https://icrashedtheweb.com/2024/05/19/cleveland-marathon-2024-challenge-series-recap/

I’m a Cleveland Marathon ambassador again! I’m once again an ambassador for the 2025 Cleveland marathon race events. If you’re thinking of running any of the events, I have a 20% off coupon code for you! Use SAVE20MELCARN on any of the events – 5k, 10k, full, half, or even the challenge series!

Also good for this year, I did several races with my kids! My 8 year old seems to enjoy doing 5Ks, and we’ve run a few together, including the recent Turkey Trot where he got a trophy for getting 2nd place in his age group! I’ve loved running with him and hope he continues to enjoy doing races. He never runs outside of the races (unless it’s at a sport like soccer or basketball), but maybe some day he will enjoy going for a run with me.

All smiles after a 5K in the pouring rain – but look at that trophy!

Total mileage in 2024: 1,385.7 miles run … plus countless miles on the indoor bike, a few on the rowing machine (I can’t seem to get into that), and lots of weight training (18 weeks so far!)

Questions for you:

  • How did your 2024 go? Did you start something new with your workout routine?
  • Any goals for 2025? My 2 goals are to 1) not get injured and 2) keep up my weight training!

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

What I Read in 2024: 60 Books

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Ahh, this year more than other years I truly felt that there are too many books out there – and not enough time to read! I had a great year in terms of reading, with a wide variety of books – nonfiction, fiction, romance, YA, thrillers, historical fiction, memoirs, etc. Thanks to Goodreads, I know that I read 22,619 pages this year and the average book length was 370 pages (down from last year’s average of 389 pages thanks to the epic ACOTAR – one of those books was 757 pages!).

Here’s a look at everything I read in 2024 – in order of most recently read to first read. And scroll down for some of my favorites:

  • The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali
  • Heir of Fire by Sarah J Maas
  • The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden
  • Replay by Ken Grimwood
  • Son Yet Sung by James McBride
  • Trust by Hernan Diaz
  • Fantasticland by Mike Bockroven
  • The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer
  • The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J Maas
  • The House on the Cereulean Sea by TJ Kune
  • Educated by Tara Westover
  • Crown of Midnight by Sarah J Maas
  • Half a Life by Jill Ciment
  • All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
  • Funny Story by  Emily Henry
  • Beach Read by Emily Henry
  • Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling
  • The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
  • Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas
  • You’re Safe Here by Leslie Stephens
  • Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
  • The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love by India Holton
  • Shark Heart by Emily Habeck
  • The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton
  • Consent by Jill Ciment
  • An Unfinished Love Story by Doris Kearns Goodwin
  • The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
  • The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer
  • The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
  • Fifty Words for Rain by Asha Lemmie
  • The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
  • The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
  • The Emperor and the Endless Palace by Junstinian Huang
  • Real Americans by Rachel Khong
  • Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
  • Annie Bot by Sierra Greer
  • The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
  • Wolf at the Table by Adam Rapp
  • Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
  • James by Percival Everett
  • First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
  • Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
  • Happy Place by Emily Henry
  • The Fury by Alex Michaelides
  • Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
  • The Teacher by Freida McFadden
  • Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher
  • The Longest Race by Kara Goucher
  • The Inheritance Games by Jennifer
  • North Woods by Daniel Mason
  • The Women by Kristin Hannah
  • Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
  • The Maid by Nita Prose
  • The One by John Marrs
  • The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
  • What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez
  • Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo
  • We Are Displaced by Malala Yousafzai
  • Dear Girls by Ali Wong

20240books

Here are some of my thoughts on the books:

Books that Left Me Feeling Warm and Cozy:

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna – This was cute and left me feeling warm inside. It’s about a young woman (a secret witch) who moves in with a few younger witches to help them learn how to use/control their powers.

The House on the Cereulean Sea by TJ Kune – Ah, I really loved this book. It was also coincidentally about magical creatures/kids so maybe I have a thing for kids with magical powers? One of the kids is also named Lucy (his real name is Lucifer as he’s the son of the devil … because that’s what this book is like!).

Books That I Liked the Concept of More Than the Actual Book

I’m not saying these weren’t good books. They had good concepts and I know people who enjoyed each of them! But I think I loved the idea behind them too much to enjoy the book as much.

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle – I don’t want to give too much away, but the book involves a murder mystery, time travel/loop (or some term that I don’t know) and more. Loved the concept when I figured out what was going on, but it could’ve been done better in my opinion – some of it dragged on for me.

Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica – I have a thing for post-apocalyptic/dystopian books, so when I heard about this from a friend I was intrigued. It is about a world where a virus has contaminated all animals, so humans are forced to eat other humans for protein, leading to essentially farms/slaughterhouses of humans that are bred purely for meat. It was too much and too detailed for me personally, but overall a read that made you think. I would’ve done without as much detail about cannibalism though 🙂

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley – The book is about a woman who works for a new government ministry in charge of helping expats from throughout history (yes there’s time travel) living in modern-day London. There’s aforementioned time travel, romance, spies – but I had a hard time getting through parts. I still enjoyed the overall book and themes, but the concept sounded more fascinating to me than the actual read was.

Books that Left Me Thinking (in a good way!)

We Are Displaced by Malala Yousafzai – We read this in my book club and I really enjoyed it. Each chapter is told from the different perspective of a refuge who has had to seek life in another country, often very far from home. It makes you look at immigration, refugees, etc. differently.

Educated by Tara Westover – I know this book isn’t new but I hadn’t read it years ago because I thought it was about something else.  Tara tells the story of her growing up in a conservative religious household where she was homeschooled and barely exposed to the outside world; she later desires to go to college and the book tells of her journey to do this, as well as her complex feelings about leaving her family.

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali – I haven’t read many (any?) books about Iran, and this book about two women growing up in 1950s Iran that goes through the 1980s really stuck with me.

Books That I Couldn’t Put Down

Note – I’m not saying these were the best books I read this year. They were books that yes I enjoyed, but also books that I found either the plot so gripping or books that left me on the edge of my seat so that I had to keep reading.

The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden – What Frieda McFadden book isn’t hard to put down? My friend Emily dropped off the actual book after she read it and I read it in 3 days.

Replay by Ken Grimwood – My cousin recommended this older book at Thanksgiving and I’m glad I picked it up. It’s about a man who dies in his 40s – but then wakes up in college again, living his same life over and over again until he dies in his 40s and wakes up again. It made me think about what I would do differently if I could live my life again and it really makes you aware of all the possibilities there are in life based on one little moment.

Fantasticland by Mike Bockroven – What happens when a hurricane hits a Florida amusement park and the employees are left stranded in the park? This was a thriller that I would probably be too scared to watch on the screen but I LOVED it and couldn’t put it down. I don’t read gory thrillers often, but this was too good.

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult – Sorry but I’m not usually a big Jodi Picoult fan. I find her books too emotionally draining and almost too intentionally sad/depressing .. but Mad Honey. Wow. I don’t want to give too much away but I really really loved this book and had to keep reading.

My favorite three I read this year (in no order)

Real Americans by Rachel Khong – This was a really interesting story about three generations of Chinese American women and their different experiences living in the U.S.

James by Percival Everett – this is a re-telling of the adventures of Huck Finn, told by the slave’s POV. I loved loved loved this book – possibly my favorite this year.

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride – I do love a good James McBride story and this one didn’t disappoint. I love his storytelling, the outrageous things that happen to his characters and the way his characters come to life.

Some questions for you:

  • What are you reading right now?
  • What book did you recently read that you recommend?

What Day Is It?

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It’s that time of year that I love. Spending time with my family. Sleeping in (well, until 7 or when my kids get up). Baking and eating all the cookies. Seeing my parents. And of course, not quite knowing what day it is.

Despite not knowing what day it is, not being home for half the week and not being with my treadmill, weights, etc., oh – and there being snow and ice where I was in NY, I was still able to get in some workouts this week. Here’s how the week looked:

Here’s how the week went:

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Feeling Jolly

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If by feeling jolly I mean full of holiday events and (of course) sugar, then the title of this post is true. We had 3 different holiday concerts this week – each of the kids put on a holiday performance, AND I went on a cookie-baking spree this week/over the weekend and I am so full of sugar that I don’t know if it’s a good or a bad thing!

Here’s some of what I made:

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Thankfully, I have running to balance (?) it all out. And weight lifting. I’m still doing my weight training and keeping up with my mileage, and have been lucky to feel good since my broken toe in September. As the year winds down, I’m grateful to at least be injury free for now, and feeling stronger than I was this time last year.

Here’s how the week went:

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I Made Taylor Swift’s Chai Cookies

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Note: I’ve updated this recipe! I found the frosting/icing to be too runny and never set — here’s an updated version if you prefer a harder frosting: https://icrashedtheweb.com/2025/12/09/taylor-swifts-chai-cookies-updated/. For the original recipe with the thinner icing, view below.

A few months ago, I made Donna Kelce’s chocolate chip cookies (here’s the recipe!), and after making them, realized I wanted to make a Taylor Swift recipe.

Not only is my 6-year-old daughter in love with Taylor Swift (as most 6-year-old girls seem to be these days), but Taylor Swift has a Cleveland connection – at least by her boyfriend, Travis Kelce. Travis Kelce is from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and and we are often on “Taylor watch” when Kansas City is in town for football.

So this week was the PERFECT occasion to make the Taylor Swift cookies. Not only was Friday her birthday, but the Chiefs were in town playing the Browns! It was the perfect Taylor Swift weekend and my daughter and I celebrated by listening to Taylor Swift Christmas tunes and making her famous chai cookies.

I pretty much made this recipe exactly. I’ll admit that there were quite a few steps to make these with my daughter but they turned out great! They were like a spiced snickerdoodle cookie with eggnog frosting. YUM!

Would I make them again?

Maybe – they were good but there were a few extra steps and ingredients required that aren’t in my typical cookie recipe AND they require time to sit so they may not become my go-to cookie in a pinch. But they were good enough to share and my kids loved them! My oldest said they’re one of his top holiday cookies now.

Taylor Swift’s Chai Cookies

(originally shared from the Joy the Baker)

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One More Week

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One more week … just one full more week and then the kids are off school and I can sleep in! It makes it a little crazy to have the kids off school and me home trying to work, get things done, etc. BUT sleeping in is a priceless joy that I thoroughly appreciate this time of year.

In other news, I’m excited to announce that I’m back again as a Cleveland Marathon Ambassador! If you’ve ever considered running what was voted the BEST RACE IN CLE – come and see me in Cleveland in May! I love doing the Challenge Series and running the 5K Saturday and half marathon on Sunday. As an ambassador, I get free entry and will get free entry to giveaway too (more on that coming soon).

If you’re considering signing up, I also have a 20% off code FOR ANY OF THE EVENTS (Yes this includes the Challenge Series, 5K, half, you name it!): SAVE20MELCARN. Registration increases in price Sunday, and will only keep going up so you may as well use it now 🙂

Screenshot 2024-12-13 102549

Anyway, here’s how the week went. The weather started off great but we ended up with snow mid-week and I got a broken Yaktrack! But I’m getting ahead of myself. Here we go!

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