Waterfront Wellness

Yesterday morning, I got up early (well, early for a weekend) to make my way into downtown Baltimore to partake in the Waterfront Partnership’s Waterfront Wellness series. Every weekend during the summer, weather permitting, the Partnership offers free outside fitness classes.

With a partly cloudy start, my friend and I arrived to West Shore Park for the 8:30a yoga class. Charm City Yoga served as the sponsor, and let me tell you, after another 3 mile run on Saturday, the stretching was much appreciated. The view didn’t hurt either, and the breeze that came through as the sun peeked through the clouds was divine.

the sky around 8:15a

Classes offered include Bootcamp and Zumba on Saturdays (8:-30a and 9:30a, respectively) and Yoga and CrossFit on Sundays (again, 8:30a and 9:30a). Classes run through September 29th. For more information and to sign up, click here.

I’ll definitely be attending a few more classes and hope to see you there!

Sharp Objects

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Gillian Flynn. Her twisted, dark writing blows my mind with every book I read. I recently finished Sharp Objects, and I was surprised by my reaction.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):
WICKED above her hipbone, GIRL across her heart
Words are like a road map to reporter Camille Preaker’s troubled past. Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, Camille’s first assignment from the second-rate daily paper where she works brings her reluctantly back to her hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls.

NASTY on her kneecap, BABYDOLL on her leg
Since she left town eight years ago, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows: a beautiful thirteen-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now, installed again in her family’s Victorian mansion, Camille is haunted by the childhood tragedy she has spent her whole life trying to cut from her memory.

HARMFUL on her wrist, WHORE on her ankle
As Camille works to uncover the truth about these violent crimes, she finds herself identifying with the young victims—a bit too strongly. Clues keep leading to dead ends, forcing Camille to unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past to get at the story. Dogged by her own demons, Camille will have to confront what happened to her years before if she wants to survive this homecoming.

With its taut, crafted writing, Sharp Objects is addictive, haunting, and unforgettable

My Thoughts:
Not as good as her other books! With Gone Girl and Dark Places, I felt that I was on the edge of my seat. While Sharp Objects was intriguing, it wasn’t the can’t-put-it-down novel that I have come to expect from Flynn. It was still a shocking, suspenseful, twisted book, and it certainly held my attention. The plot explores the sometimes sensitive subject of family and what it’s like returning home after a long time. The characters each have a distinct personality, and I never had to flip back to remind myself who was who. Flynn does a wonderful job, but in comparison to her other books, it didn’t strike as strong of a chord with me.

I will say that if you’re looking for an author with shock and awe value, Gillian Flynn is your woman. I already can’t wait for her next book!

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

If you found this review helpful, check out others on my Reviews page. I’m always looking for suggestions of things to explore, so don’t be afraid to reach out via email (justcallmejanks@gmail.com), Facebook, or Twitter!

Home But Not Quite Alone

The JA was away for the evening last night & so I did what I normally do when we’re apart:

I ate well,

Was financially responsible,

(How is it that I can never come out of this store with just one item?)

And watched quality television.

Just kidding. Kind of. I did all these things, took Watson on a long walk to his favorite spot in a local park, and got through a decent chunk of this month’s Book Club book.

Now, it’s time to anxiously wait for my husband to get home. Hopefully the big storm that’s predicted for today holds off until he’s safe and sound!

When you’re home alone, how do you treat yourself?

Firsts

In the time that’s passed in my blog break, I’ve accomplished a few firsts that I’m excited to share with you

First run over 3 miles. (Which I then surpassed yesterday!)

First crabs of the season.(A sure sign of summer here in Baltimore!)

First wedding of the year. (Yay, for B+P!)

First attempt at overnight oats. (Recipe still needs a little work, but not bad!)

First call to a moving company. (Only a few more weeks…and nothing is packed. EEK.)

Firsts are a great opportunity to relish the moment and take a step back to enjoy. Sorry I didn’t bring you all along, but now that we’re basically caught up, we can move forward through new adventures

Firsts or lasts – which do you prefer?

Life Lately

Hey guys and gals,

Just wanted to pop in and let you know I’m all good. Just feeling a bit uninspired. And when that happens, I don’t write.

The weather’s been nice and I’ve spent more time enjoying it – lots of long walks with Watson and ramping up my 5K training. The JA and I are prepping for our big move in between his mountain of graduate work and my…regular work. I’m sucked in to both Dexter (we’re on season 4) and Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn.

Nothing too riveting. However, if you absolutely can’t live without me, I’m still posting to Instagram and Twitter, so you can follow me there to get your Janks fix

I’ve got some fun stuff lined up in the next few weeks and I’m hoping that kick starts my desire to blog on a regular basis again. Let’s keep our fingers crossed!

xo,
J.

Cool It: A Summer Drink Recipe

With the end of the school year in sight, the faculty, staff, and majority of students have our eyes on the prize. The days are getting longer, meaning that we (technically) can fit more into the day. Staying up later makes waking up in the mornings more difficult.

So if you’re like me and need a bit of a boost (or like this and require coffee to start your day), here’s a quick & easy recipe I’ve been using to cool down and ramp up!

Vanilla Mocha Protein Smoothie (makes one regular-size Magic Bullet)
Vanilla protein powder
Ice cubes
Mocha iced coffee
Almond milk

1. Fill Bullet blender cup a third of the way with ice cubes.
2. Add 3/4 c. iced coffee, 1/4 c. almond milk, 1/4 c. protein powder
3. Blend to desired consistency and enjoy!

If you’d rather not use premade iced coffee, Health.com provides instructions to make your own.

Have a great Thursday!

Word Nerd

At some point throughout the day, especially if it’s a hectic one, I like to glance at USA Today’s 5 Things You Need To Know. It gives me a sense of what’s going on in the world, but’s not as intense as watching the news or Twitter.

The last item today caught my eye – not only because I’m always interested in learning new words/increasing my vocabulary, but also because the state of writing and spelling in this country is becoming more and more appalling to me. It’s inspiring to see so many young people who have an interest in language.

Spelling was one of my better subjects in school, and with my minor in French I felt more than ready to tackle the preliminary Scripps Bee test. My total score was a 28 – not too shabby! You bet your bottom dollar I’m returning to the site at the end of the week to see if I would have qualified for the Semifinal round!

If you’re a word nerd like me, the Scripps National Spelling Bee can be viewed on various ESPN channels (depending on the day). If watching the Bee live isn’t your thing, but you’re curious about how students get to this point, check out Spellbound – it chronicles the journey of eight teenagers on their quest to win the 1999 National Spelling Bee. Highly recommend!

R&R

This morning, I was planning on taking it easy. Sleep in, lounge around, do some freelance work, attend a cookout, and possibly fit in a run.

Then I read Renee’s post.

And I laced up my shoes. It wasn’t my prettiest run, as my calves got tight and a stitch formed in my side about three-quarters of the way through. Yet, I was reminded of those who aren’t running for fun, but running for their lives. Running from bullets, knives, toxic chemicals. Not only running, but DYING so that I can enjoy this gorgeous day. I ran and remembered.

To the Class of 2013…

One of the famous sayings of our former school president was, “Do NOTHING between now and the end of school that will jeopardize your graduation or break your mother’s heart.” It was told to the students time and time again (mostly during the spring semester). By the students entered their senior year, these words were ingrained in their heads and he would only have to start the saying and they could recite the rest by heart.

A few small words, but a big life lesson. This man knew that although he had influence over these young people, the way to their hearts was to (literally) bring the words home.

Unfortunately, he passed away from cancer last year. Yet, in his absence, I have found myself restating these words to those seniors crossing my path. The Class of 2013 knows these words well, and knows that they ring true not only within our school walls, but within life as well.

What’s a piece of advice you would give to those graduating this year?

Seven Things Every Woman Should Accomplish in Her 20s

I saw this article on Thought Catalog this morning and while I agree with most of the suggestions, I’m not completely on board with all of them.

So I made my own list.

First, the things that I agree with:

1. Travel. Maybe not alone, but traveling is definitely on my list. I spent a semester of college in Europe, and I wouldn’t trade that experience for the world. I went back to Scotland a few years later and had a bit of time to travel to myself. I spent the a few days in Edinburgh wandering around and while it was a bit scary, it was liberating at the same time.

2. Have a night where you get too crazy. In your 20s, your metabolism (and tolerance for certain beverages) is probably at its peak. Enjoy it. Be a bit irresponsible. Make memories. Dance your heart out.

3. Disregard your parent’s advice on something. Now, my take isn’t the same as it is in the article. You see, I never really had a ‘rebellious’ time. When I went to college, I decided I wanted my belly button pierced. I had just turned 18 (ok, so not technically 20s yet but whatever), and asked Mommy Janks what she thought. She immediately responded that she didn’t like the idea. I did it anyway. Later on, I heard her recounting the story to her friends as if I didn’t do it without her permission. Sigh.

4. Ask for a raise. In a prior position, I was a part of a pretty intimidating review process. But it prepared me for life. I had to defend my decisions, express my interest in the company, and explain why I deserved a raise. If you weren’t prepared, you were like a fish in a barrel. As I said, it’s made me a better person (and also made me get everything in writing.)

Now, for a few not on the list:

5. Live in a city. While State College is big enough to merit its own zip code, it’s not necessarily a city. I’m a suburban girl and while I had a few friends who lived in the heart of a city, I have never done it. The JA was living in a part of Baltimore when we started dating and we remember that time with love and longing. It’s great feeling like a bigger part of something…like, maybe a Super Bowl win?

6. Take a trip with a close friend or your significant other (just the two of you). If you haven’t done that yet, do it now. You learn about someone when you’re sharing a car, plane, or room with someone for a few days.

7. Invest. Whether it’s buying a piece of clothing that you know you’ll wear for years to come or putting money in a retirement fund, invest in your future. I’ve always been a saver (sometimes to a fault), and I understand how hard it is to invest in big-ticket items. Yet, I bought my first decent suit jacket in my 20s and I wear it all.the.time. Initial cost? My jaw hit the floor. Cost per wear? At this point, it’s pennies. Completely worth it.

There are a few more that I could list but then it wouldn’t be seven things, so I’m going to turn it over to you. Anything that you would add/change to this list?