November Virtual Coffee Date

November 7, 2025November 7, 2025 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 8 Comments

Hi friends! I can’t believe we’re in NOVEMBER and already thinking about the holiday season! I’m here for it. I’m joining Coco and Deborah for their virtual coffee today, while also sharing a fitness update for a fitness linkup, so I’m excited to share what’s going on over here.

Here’s what I’d tell you if we were chatting in real life:

I’d tell you that I’m ready for the holidays. I know, I know… we just wrapped up Halloween, but I can’t help it. I love the holidays. The cookies, the baking, the time off work, and most of all, seeing the magic of the season through my kids’ eyes. It’s pure joy. I’m already counting down the days until Christmas! And don’t tell my husband – but when he’s not home we’ve even started listening to some holiday tunes.

Bought him a holiday shirt on one of his days home this week

I’d tell you that Airline travel recently started stressing me out. I’m traveling this week and airline travel has been stressing me out lately. I’m not sure when this started, but I’ve been feeling more anxious than usual, especially with all the flight delays and cancellations due to the government shutdown. I’ve been triple-checking my itinerary, and even though I know I can’t control it, I’m still nervous! Anyone else get travel anxiety?

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you how wonderful it was to have my parents in town last weekend. The kids were so excited to have them here, and my parents were all in on Halloween with carving pumpkins, handing out candy, and all. It rained pretty heavily the first day they were here, but we lucked out with sunshine on their last day and snuck in a beautiful fall hike. The leaves were beautiful and it felt like the perfect way to wrap up their visit.

I’d also share that I saw an author talk this week! A fellow mom at the school my kids go to gets tickets through her work to see authors speak on occasion, and she texted me last minute with an extra ticket to see Liz Moore (author of God of the Woods) speak on Monday. I am so glad I went – she was a great speaker (really down to earth) and now i want to read some of her other books!

If we were having coffee, I’d share some good news. GM is on the mend! After his surprise emergency appendectomy, he’s finally cleared to go back to school next week. I’m feeling so grateful that B took him to the hospital when he did. His recovery has been smooth, and I’m just so relieved everything turned out okay. It’s one of those moments that reminds you how quickly things can change and how lucky we are when they go right.

We have played a lot of Play Doh this week

If we were having coffee, I’d also tell you how happy I am to be running again. After dealing with a hip injury, I’m finally back out there. It’s slow, and most days it’s still a run-walk combo, but I’ll take it. I’m just so glad to be moving again and not just walking or stuck on the indoor bike. There’s something about being outside, even for a short jog, that lifts my spirits. Especially on the weekends when I can run in daylight! I even got in a 3 a.m. treadmill slow jog before a flight this morning. So happy to be back at it!

So that’s me. What about you?

Does travel give you anxiety?
Are you ready for the holidays yet?

Linking up with My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and The Running Teacher for the Fit Five Friday linkup and the Ultimate Coffee Date hosted by Coco and Deborah

August Virtual Coffee Date

August 1, 2025July 31, 2025 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 13 Comments

Hi friends! I can’t believe we’re in August, but here we are. I’m joining Coco and Deborah for their virtual coffee today, while also sharing a fitness update for a fitness linkup, so I’m excited to share what’s going on over here. Here’s what I’d tell you if we were chatting in real life (most likely on a patio because it’s patio season in Cleveland!):

We Threw a 100-Year-Old House Party!
Our home turned 100 this year, and we celebrated with friends and family. We hosted an open house/backyard bash with about 75 people. It was a great mix of friends, neighbors, families from our kids’ school, B’s family and kids running around everywhere. We had a DIY taco bar from Cilantro (so good), bubbles, temporary tattoos, sidewalk chalk, lots of sporting equipment, drinks, and I baked a bunch of desserts. It was supposed to storm but we lucked out and the weather held out! It was one of those days that just felt so much fun from start to finish. I wish I had taken more photos, but I was too busy enjoying it all. Maybe I love hosting more than I realized?

Summer Is Flying By
If you know me, this will come as no surprise – I’m not ready for summer to end. I love the slower mornings, the warm weather, the way it’s lighter in the mornings. I’ve been running more on the trails and paths near me, something I can’t do in the winter when it’s too dark. There’s something about being surrounded by trees and nature that just feels good for the soul!

Birthday Season = Complete!
With my kids’ birthdays in May, June, and July, summer is basically one big celebration. We had Guardians games, outdoor movie nights, trips to the Zoo, SkyZone, and so many treats. It’s a whirlwind, but a fun one. I’m always a little sad when GM’s bday is over because it’s so much fun to celebrate everyone!

Some Music in the Mix
This was the first summer FW is taking piano lessons at Musicologie (he took last summer off), and it’s been going really well! He’s been learning some Beatles songs (which makes my heart so happy), and while it’s definitely a challenge to get in practice time when the weather is so nice, rainy days and no school have helped. It’s been such a sweet addition to our summer routine.

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Summer Fitness Wins
Fitness-wise, this summer has been one of my best! A few weeks ago, I hit my highest mileage week (almost 50 miles!), and July ended up being a nearly 200-mile month. I’ve also been swimming laps while the kids are at their swim lessons and I’ve continued weightlifting a few times a week. I’ve alao got in a few strollwe walks and runs with GM! It’s been a great balance, and I’m feeling grateful for the time and energy to move.

Fall Sports Are Coming
After softball and baseball ended, we had a bit of a break from the usual sports/activities chaos (just swimming lessons in the evenings), but that’s about to change. My son starts flag football and soccer next week, and in a few weeks my daughter will resume ballet, cross country and soccer too. I’m not quite ready for the schedule shuffle, but I do love cheering them on from the sidelines.

Summer Reading
I’ve been reading a lot this summer, and it’s been so nice! One Golden Summer by Carley Golden was the perfect beachy, feel-good read. I’m definitely going to check out more from that author. Got any recommendations?

A Little Travel, A Lot of Cleveland Love
We didn’t travel much this summer, just Memorial Day weekend in Atlanta in May, a week in Boston in June, and a quick trip to Albany (now!) to see my brother who’s visiting from Germany. But honestly? I love summer in Cleveland. It’s my favorite time to be here.

So that’s me. What about you? What’s been bringing you joy this summer?

Questions for you:

Any summer reading recommendations?
Is summer lower key for you, too?

May Virtual Coffee Date

May 2, 2025May 2, 2025 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 12 Comments

Happy first Friday in May! Join me in a virtual coffee date. It’s a fun way to share some randomness on my brain with you … here’s what I’d share if we were having a coffee date today.

Not my coffee, but my husband’s mocha at brunch at my new sister-in-law’s cafe!

If we were having coffee today, I’d order some herbal tea, since I don’t drink a lot of caffeine. That said, I did have a Liquid IV with caffeine in today because I did a long run before work and needed all the caffeine I could get afterwards!

But I digress. If we were having coffee today, I’d tell you…

I’m just a few weeks out from the Cleveland Half Marathon!

I can’t believe it’s already May, and race day is just around the corner. I’m officially almost done with training — I hit 12 miles today and it felt great (okay, it felt great after I was done).

As an ambassador for the event this year, I’ve loved being part of the community, going to the kick off run, etc. BUT I can’t wait until race weekend to volunteer at the Expo because that’s when it really feels real. The weekend is always so inspiring – the spectators, all the volunteers, the runners, etc.

Remember, as a Cleveland Marathon Ambassador, which means I also have discounted race admission should you want to sign up – you can use SAVE20MELCARN for 20% off your race entry into ANY of the races (including 5K, 10K, kids run!). I’m doing the challenge series which already sold out, and the other events are selling out FAST!

May is MAYhem.

Honestly, this month rivals the holidays when it comes to chaos. Work is nonstop, we’ve got spring and summer sports overlapping (this weekend alone, my son has FIVE games — soccer and baseball!), and we’re juggling a piano recital, dance recital, school events, and a few upcoming trips. It’s all fun and exciting, but also … a little overwhelming? Just trying to stay upright and caffeinated over here.

We got a piano!

One of the bright spots in our house lately is the addition of a piano. My son started taking lessons through Musicologie, and he’s been having so much fun learning. If you’re in Ohio or Indiana you should check them out — while we have one dedicated teacher, I can schedule and reschedule all the lessons online, which is helpful this time of year when baseball games, weddings (more on that in a minute), etc. get in the way of our regularly scheduled lessons. I just got him a Beatles piano book and he’s already picking out the notes to “Hey Jude.” Watching him sit down and play totally on his own has been one of those proud, heart-melty parenting moments.

I got a haircut!

I chopped my hair off last week!! It was time. It was getting so long and I needed something shorter and easier. I love how they will curl it afterwards so it’s a wavy bob — I wish I could do that myself. I’ve tried to no avail. It just stays straight for me!

Same day, different hair (also wearing makeup in the 2nd one …)

We celebrated our 14-year wedding anniversary this week.

14 years! It’s wild to think how much life we’ve packed into those years, and I’m feeling especially grateful for B this month — for being my favorite dance partner (more on that in a sec), and keeping me sane in all the chaos.

14 years ago … we had the best weather!

Speaking of weddings… my brother-in-law got married last week!

It was a beautiful weekend full of family, friends, and so much dancing. Thursday night’s welcome reception was a full-on party — the kids loved it, and I baked cookies for the dessert table. Friday was an adults-only evening, and after the ceremony (LM was a flower girl with some of her other girl cousins!), B and I danced until midnight before heading to an after-party. It felt like a throwback to pre-kid life, but of course, during half the reception, I kept saying to B, “Oh, LM likes this song… FW would love to dance to this song!” etc.

Scroll through the below photos for some videos too – including dancing and flower girls 🙂

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And did I mention travel?

May is going to be the most I’ve traveled since the pandemic I think: three trips, four flights, a road trip, and lots of logistics, packing, unpacking, etc. I’m crossing my fingers that everything goes smoothly. It’s a lot, but I’m excited – it will be a lot of fun!

From the last time we all flew together as a family – Germany last year!