Five Things Friday: just five things I’m thinking about or things that made my week, or things that I otherwise feel like sharing.
This week, my mind has been preoccupied with a family situation back home (don’t worry, everyone is fine, it’s just a frustrating emotional situation). It’s been particularly hard on my mom, and while my sister does an amazing job trying to juggle the first full week back at school (she’s a teacher), some teenager problems, and supporting my mom, I just wish I was closer and could help out more. How do you guys handle situations where you are too far away to really do anything other than be available to listen?
* * *
I baked my Greek yogurt-lemon-zucchini bread last weekend. I had extra zucchini and that’s always a good excuse to bake. I will have to get more lemon extract though. I was out and it really makes a difference when you use lemon extract in baking – so much more lemon flavor! Take note!
* * *
I am happy to report that I am all caught up on my Feedly. You’ve probably received a comment galore from me sometime during this week. I basically tried to “catch up” whenever I had a free minute. I really wanted to be up-to-date with everything ( aka caught up on your lives!) before I start bombarding you with my summer recaps, which I have still to write. (Keep in mind, they’re mostly for me, so don’t feel bad skipping one (or more) here and there, if it’s too much. I just know I need to get this onto digital paper soon).
* * *
I came across this running tank (probably an Instagram-sponsored ad – LOL) and I am super-intrigued because wait for it … it has pockets! Anything with pockets is great in my book! I realized that running belts are great, but I much prefer clothing that already comes with pockets (that are big enough to hold my phone, key, and/or snack). I have a koala clip, but as much as I want to love it, if I am honest, it doesn’t really work for me to run with something between my shoulder blades. I have tried to wear it inside the back of my pants above my tailbone, but that only works when I am wearing tights/cycling shorts that keep it in place. So, a tank top with pockets seems like a genius idea. Have you seen this and/or ordered from Constantia Gear before?
* * *
Earlier this week, I got a sweet surprise in the mail. Remember the Power Zone Pack Ireland Map Race that I told you about the other day? Well, our team #streakersarmypubcrawl virtually reached Galway on August, 10 as the 5th team out of 118.
We were all stoked, but we didn’t pull this off without a lot of work. The weekend before, one of our team leads had pledged to ride 100 miles over the weekend (to keep spirits high and everyone motivated), and the second team lead had jumped in and said that she would send everyone a prize that would match the 100 miles. Well, quite a few people felt compelled to step up their game, including me, and earlier this week I received a package with beautifully wrapped and delicious homebaked cookies. I really didn’t expect to actually receive a prize, I thought it was all just a way to motivate the team, and I would have tried for the 100 miles regardless of a reward, but I thought it was really sweet that she actually followed through. It’s so fun to be part of a community of like-minded people, most of which you’ve never met in person, who care about each other (but I shouldn’t be surprised because that’s the same with our own little blogosphere here, amirite?)
Have a great weekend! Any plans?
Elisabeth
August 19, 2022 at 7:59 amWe have company arriving in a few hours – my BIL and SIL + their three little boys (all under 7). It is going to be CHAOS. But I’m also excited because this is the big last push until the end of summer and as horribly “Scroogey” of me, I am counting down the days until September and routines.
So sorry to hear about the tough situation back home. It is so hard to be so far away; in addition to sadness, there can often be a sense of guilt to not be able to do more. I feel this way with my family, too – everyone is scattered geographically. I imagine your moral support from afar makes more of a positive impact than you can possibly imagine. Praying things are sorted quickly with agreeable solutions for all involved parties <3
San
August 21, 2022 at 2:42 pmI hope you had a great weekend with your family. And thank you for your kind words, means a lot.
Tanja
August 19, 2022 at 10:41 amLooove the tank – everything with pockets and thumb holes is amazing!
Sorry about the chaos at home – it will hopefully get better with time!
How amazing is that? Receiving a prize for doing what you love! You better watch out – I’m back soon :)
Xo
San
August 21, 2022 at 2:42 pmRight, pockets and thumbholes are EVERYTHING :)
NGS
August 19, 2022 at 3:43 pmAwww…how sweet that your teammate sent you a prize! That’s something that would really make my week.
I don’t run for long distances like you, so I’m usually pretty good with just the pockets in my running pants – phone and (occasionally) keys. Trying to figure out where to keep other things I might need on a run sounds like a real challenge.
San
August 21, 2022 at 2:43 pmYeah, I am usually good with pockets in my running pants, too… but not all of my pants have pockets. Purchase fail LOL
Nicole MacPherson
August 20, 2022 at 6:33 amPockets in the tank top! That’s an idea! I have running tights – and shorts – from lululemon that have pockets on the side of the thigh, and it’s perfect for slipping a phone into, or a key. I don’t know how I lived without it, to be honest! I don’t run with water or snacks because my distances are always <10km, but I love those tights!
Your teammate sounds delightful!
San
August 21, 2022 at 2:44 pmI will definitely only buy pants with pockets going forward – I don’t know why they’ve ever made pants without pockets LOL
Tobia | craftaliciousme
August 21, 2022 at 3:40 amHope the situation at home is getting better and you can relax. I guess it’s really nerv racking not being able to do anything.
San
August 21, 2022 at 2:44 pmThanks friend.
Sara
August 21, 2022 at 9:54 amI think sometimes people just need that safe space where they can talk about situations and process how they are feeling… and it often helps to have someone with some distance from the situation. Keep being an active listener is the best advice I have. <3
San
August 21, 2022 at 2:44 pmThanks for your kind words, Sara. I needed to hear that <3
Suzanne
August 21, 2022 at 12:22 pmI loved getting your barrage of comments – it was so fun to read through them all. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. :-)
And I am so sorry you are worrying about a family member from afar. That is so tough. My parents live on the other side of the US from me and it is really hard when you can’t be there. When my dad had prostate cancer last year, was so hard over the phone/email to tell how he was REALLY doing, and how my mom was doing. Sometimes you just want to be able to pop over with a fresh zucchini bread and have tea with your family. I really hope that the situation resolves in the best possible way, as quickly as possible.
San
August 21, 2022 at 2:45 pmYou’re welcome. Couldn’t just skip all the posts I missed ;)
And thank you for chiming in with your own experience – yes, family on the other side of the country or across an ocean are basically the same thing, so you totally get what I am saying! <3
Lisa of Lisa's Yarns
August 22, 2022 at 1:14 pmI also much prefer to have pockets in my clothing v wearing a running belt. I have 3 pairs of bikeshorts that I run in and they all have pockets on the side and I love them!! So much better than a belt!
That was kind of you to comment on all of my posts!!!! That takes a lot of time!
Stephany
August 29, 2022 at 5:11 pmI am so impressed that you not only read everything in your Feedly, but also took the time to leave thoughtful comments! I am always woefully behind on blog reading these days.
I’m sorry about the family situation back home, and I hope things start to get better. It has to be so hard to not be able to be there in person, but I know that they feel your love and support from afar and sometimes a listening ear is what is needed. <3
anne
September 7, 2022 at 4:45 pmOh, San, I hear you on the family things. I was struggling when my family faced some major challenges… and to not be close to them (geographically) made it exponentially harder. It’s natural to want to be right there and helping in a concrete way, I think. But think of all you do just by listening, by being someone that your family trusts and loves. That’s invaluable, too. I hope you remember that. <3
And yes, pockets. Sheesh. Why does any piece of clothing NOT have them???