If you know me well, you know I thrive off being busy. I have a go go go mindset and I am always on the move and immersed in some sort of task, whether it be work, volunteering, working out or spending time with friends.

Due to some hip/knee pain (I let go for way too long). I am currently doing physical therapy and in week 2/8 of no running. .. Its been brutal. I went from marathon training, to now NO running? How is an energetic lady supposed to suspend her energy and stress? I’m allowed to do the bike and elliptical, but they don’t give me the same release of energy as a run through the woods does. Its been hard, but I’m determined to get my left leg back to a stronger and less painful state before training for another race.

I have a lot more free time than I did a couple months ago. You don’t realize how much time marathon training takes up until you’re no longer training. Due to all the holidays I have had lots of three day weekends the past couple of weeks.  But, I am not the type of person who likes to sleep in till noon or binge watch Netflix. So I resort to spending time with friends and testing out new recipes…

This past weekend I made a couple things. On Sunday after mass, I made Choco-Banana Oatmeal Scotchies… The banana added quite a unique flavor twist. A guy I’ve been talking too, took me to a concert on Saturday, so of course I had to make him cookies as a thank you!

Later in the evening, I made a Cheesy Chicken and Bacon Penne Pasta. I used white cheddar and it turned out delicious!! I also added in sun-dried tomatoes and spinach. Be on the lookout for both these recipes next week.

Then, since I had work off on Monday I HAD to make homemade cinnamon rolls! I am in love with these Easy Cinnamon Rolls by the Minimalist Baker. Fun fact: They’re vegan, but don’t let that stop you! They are amazing-ly delicious.

I also bought myself flowers.. because why not treat yourself? I no longer have Christmas decorations up, so my living space felt soo BARE and needed some spice in its life.

Finally,  I’ll leave you with a Henri Nouwen quote, because that man loved God and his words were wise and spoke right to the heart.

“Every time we make the decision to love someone, we open ourselves to great suffering, because those we most love cause us not only great joy but also great pain. The greatest pain comes from leaving. When the child leaves home, when the husband or wife leaves for a long period of time or for good, when the beloved friend departs to another country or dies … the pain of the leaving can tear us apart.
Still, if we want to avoid the suffering of leaving, we will never experience the joy of loving. And love is stronger than fear, life stronger than death, hope stronger than despair. We have to trust that the risk of loving is always worth taking.”

-Henri J.M. Nouwen