Happy Thanksgiving

I always try to be thankful for the things God has given me but it's this time of the year, I tend to remember a little more. Thanksgiving to me sometimes gets over powered by Christmas but in fact, it is one of my favorite holidays. Everyone is in good spirit, no one is super stressed, the atmosphere is more calm and friendly. It's a time of being together and eating. It's a time to remember to be thankful for all the joys in your life. So on this day before Thanksgiving (and because I won't post till next Monday) I thought I would tell you all what I am thankful for!

 

 

My fun, loving, handsome, made for me husband

 

 

My wonderful example of love parents

 

 

My crazy, wild, fun siblings

 

 

My sweet children in my life...my nieces and nephews

 

 

My perfect dogs

 

 

My excepting, wonderful in-laws

 

 

My there for me through anything friends

 

 

 

 

My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and my almighty father in heaven, God

 

Without these things in my life, I would have nothing. They make me who I am. They keep me going. I am so blessed to have each of these people in my life.

 

So you might have noticed that in the children section of this post, I did not mention someone. I have been debating on telling this story and I felt like today was a good time to say something. A few weeks ago I mentioned that Angie was supposed to find out what she was having but the baby was not cooperating so she had to wait a few weeks. Well she did and when she went back, she found out she was having a girl. But there were complications. They already had picked a name out for her before they found out, Aubrey Claire Talbert was going to be her name. Aubrey's heart, lungs and intestines were forming on the outside of her body. So they scheduled another appointment with a specialist to see how they would go about either treating it or not. I can't even being to tell you how many prayers were sent up those next days. And the waiting game is so long. So when they got into the specialist, the news was not good. Her chest cavity was 4 weeks behind and she just wasn't growing the way she needed to be. There was no fixing Aubrey. So they schedule to have Angie induced and 55-hours later, Angie delivered Aubrey. And Aubrey went to be with God. As hard as this is for me to write because I won't get to know Aubrey till I myself get to heaven, the amount of strength both Matt and Angie have shown is something for the books. I would like to share you what both Matt and Angie wrote on Facebook....

 

Angie on November 12th- Our hearts are heavy as I write this. Yesterday we found out that little Aubrey's condition is fatal and she won't be able to make it to term, yet alone survive outside the womb. We discovered every single one of her organs formed outside, her heart did not form right, and her chest was 4 weeks behind the rest of her body developmentally. This happens 8 in a million pregnancies. Matt and I have decided this must mean God knows we are 8 of the strongest people out of a million... and we will be able to handle this. Tests have shown this is not chromosomal and we will be able to have a healthy baby in the future. It has never happened twice to a mother. In the next few days I will be admitted to the hospital and induced. We will get to say goodbye to our sweet angel and she will begin her amazing life in heaven. Please pray for us during this difficult time. We have no doubt God will help us through this and we will be stronger than ever. We have the best family and friend support in the world and are so thankful for that.

 

 

Matt on November 15th- After 55 hours of labor Angie Talbert finally delivered our baby. We are both at peace knowing that Aubrey is in Heaven with God and we will see her again. We are incredibly thankful for all the support and prayers we received. This experience has strengthened our faith, our bond with each other, and our love for Colton. Immediately after the birth Angie went to the OR for an additional procedure and is in pain but otherwise doing well. Please pray for her continued recovery. Thank you all.

 

 

Not once through this whole ordeal did they once bash God or blame God. They both kept their faith and in return, God made it stronger. He never gives up on us. He is always with us. And this ordeal has only proven it.

 

 

 

Aubrey- I may never know why God decided he needed you by his side instead of allowing me to hold you until you got to big but it is something beyond my knowledge. I can't even being to tell you how loved you already were/are and how so many people prayed for you to live on this earth. I know in Heaven you have the most perfect heart and your little body is perfectly healed. Say hi to my sister's 2 babies up there for me and I will see you again sweet angel. I love you- Love, Aunt Dani

 

 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Hold on to the ones you love very tight because you just never know what this world will bring. Take the time to tell everyone you love how special they are to you. I thank you for taking the time out of your day to read my blog. I am very thankful for you, my friends, my readers. I love you all!

 

My prayer for today.....

Dear God,

Today I decided I would talk to you instead of my diary. I do my best to talk to you everyday but there are some days I fall extremely behind. I let other things get in my way and forget to speak to you. But my heart is heavy right now and when my heart is heavy, I find speaking to you helps me find peace with things. I know I don't have to say anything you haven't seen or heard but this whole thing with Ferguson is just so awful. So many emotions and so many rash decisions have happened. I am not picking sides here. I don't want to cause an uproar over something that is already causing so much pain but I just need your help, Lord, in understanding how a community can destroy their own little town? How could they set things on fire and say such awful things about one another? There is only one true judge in the world and that is you God. Only you decide what is right or wrong. Now, I am thankful we do have a judicial system in place for protecting those innocent and punishing those guilty. It helps keep order. I understand the law and why we have it. I trust in the law to help protect me. But there are so many people who don't know you or don't understand you who also have a hard time with the law and the understanding of it. The media does not help in this situation going on right now. I feel like they are trying to start another Civil Rights Movement. Where there doesn't need to be one. Even the boy who was killed parents are asking for calmness and no violence. And if anyone has any right to do anything, it's them but they are taking the high road in this. And I am not saying the cop is guilty, he was proven innocent in a court of law and I trust in that. There are facts and evidence that back his story. In Proverbs 3:13-18, you tell me, "Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace." Finding understanding in this chaos is truly hard but having you on my side, having a place to turn to for answers is so rewarding in itself. I just wish everyone knew you.

 

 

Lord, when I see people, I see them for what they are. I don't judge them. I don't make accusations on anyone. I don't care if someone is male or female or white or black or from America or China, you created us all equally. People make their own decisions in life, people pick which path they go. And those people will have to live with those consequences. That is not my place to tell them or to judge them. You created us in your image and your image is perfect. You taught me that through your word. You taught me all about love and kindness and forgiveness. Love and kindness are the easiest for me to understand from you. Having love for one another (to me) comes easy. I have a big heart and it's because of you I know how to use it. And kindness is the easiest for me. I don't get being mean to someone just to get something they want. That's being a bully and I don't stand for that. I find being nice and kind gets me way more in this world and when I show that to the world, I tend to receive it back. Forgiveness to me is the hardest to understand. Finding true forgiveness for someone is incredibly hard, even when that person didn't mean to do it or it was an accident. In Matthew 6:14-15, you tell me, "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." When I do wrong, I turn to you for forgiveness and as long as it is true in my heart you do. It's the knowing of how someone else feels when they ask for forgiveness is where I struggle. But I trust in you and in the end, if I have done right in your eyes, I will get to meet you one day.

Father, I thank you for everything you have given me. I know everything I have been given is from you; from my family to my friends to my husband to my dogs. I thank you for all the abilities you have given me. I thank you for your time and your wisdom. But mostly Lord, I thank you for your love. Without your love, I am no one. Just a shell walking this world. Just another face in the crowd. Without the love of Jesus Christ, my sins would never be forgiven. I thank you God for it all. The Devil is a sneaky creature, and I thank you for helping me not give in to him. I thank you for the Light in the times of darkness. I love you....

John 1:1-5- "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

In my time of need, I always remember this poem.

It's in your name I pray, Amen!



Love, Me




P.S. Friends, if you are ever in need of a Bible verse or curious as to what the Lord says about something, please visit http://www.openbible.info/topics/

The best pie crust you will ever eat!!!!

Because Thanksgiving is this Thursday and because I am gluten-free, I have found this amazing recipe for pie crust. I love dessert but being gluten-free can limit the pie intake at Thanksgiving and Christmas. So I always volunteer to bring a pie because A) I can bake and B) because I can make me something I can eat for sure! One of the men I work with has a wife who is a food blogger and makes all her own stuff. When I told him I was having a hard time finding something I like for Thanksgiving (last year) he recommended her pie crust. So I went on her blog and followed the instructions. The first one I baked, I put in 1/4 of a tablespoon of salt and it was suppose to be a 1/4 of a teaspoon. It tasted like a salt lick. Granted it wasn't my fault because she had just written 1/4 kosher salt so I didn't know. Thankfully I work with her husband so I told him and she went on that day and added teaspoon! :) So granted, that one didn't get eaten. But the next time I made, I did it exactly according to her recipe and OMG it was so good. Better than any other pie crust I ate! So I thought I would share it with you and give you her blog for you to go check out!!!!! Everything she makes, she try's to keep as healthy as she can be. I just love her!

Pie Crust:
2 & 1/2 cups of pecans or walnuts
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. In a food processor, add nuts, baking soda, salt and butter and blend until finely grounded. In a sprayed pie plate, press the crust evenly with your hands into the bottom and sides of the plate. Bake the crust for 15 minutes on a cookie sheet, to avoid burning on the bottom. Then pull it out and place whatever pie filling you want, pumpkin, cheesecake, blueberry, cherry, etc. and bake according to those directions.

I swear it is the best tasting crust you will ever eat. I like to use pecans, especially with pumpkin, but honestly I haven't even tried walnuts. I'm sure it's amazing too. Or even mixing the two! I made a cherry cheesecake last year at Christmas with the pie crust. And I have made a pumpkin too.

Her website has it with a recipe for Paleo Pumpkin Pie. When I made it, I used the pumpkin out of the can and followed those instructions. But her pumpkin pie sounds better because she uses fresh pumpkin and coconut milk (instead of evaporated milk)!!!

The lady's name is Kim and her website is http://www.kimshealthyeats.com/ 

 

Go check her out! She's amazing. I can't wait to get in the kitchen and make this again. Let me know if you try it out and how much you love it.

 

 

Don't forget you can follow me on:

Instagram at dani_lynn_lewis

Pinterest at http://www.pinterest.com/danilynnlewis/

 

 

And don't forget to check out my wine guide for Thanksgiving.

Click for red wine and click for white wine.

 

 

I also still have my Thanksgiving Younique Party going on. Anyone who spends over $40 will receive an eye-pigment color of their choice! With so many combinations, it wont be hard getting your basket to $40 (before tax and shipping). Once you have made the purchase, I will reach out to you and see what color you would like. Oh....and for every $40 you spend, a free eye pigment will be giving. So spend $80, you get 2! And so on. So fill that shopping cart full of gifts and know you are shopping with ease! Party ends Thursday at midnight! https://www.youniqueproducts.com/DaniLynnLewis/party/896677/view

 

 

A users guide to Red Wine for Thanksgiving

So we talked about what white wine to have with thanksgiving so its only fair we tackle red wine. I myself, am more of a white drinker. It is more pleasing to my palate and it doesn't stain my teeth! But you don't get the benefits like you do in red wine. But that is for another day and another lesson! Today we are focusing on what red wine to drink on that wonderful Thanksgiving day!

 

The best red wine for me that goes with everything and almost will satisfy every palate, is Pinot Noir! Pinot Noirs are the lightest more diverse red wine out there. In the US, the 2 main places you buy Pinot Noir is Oregon and California. And boy, is there a difference. Cali PN's are fruitier, silky and are lighter on the palate. Oregon PN's are a little heavier, have a little more spice to them and tend to be have a richer color. I love both sides. They both are good for different types of food. If you are having your traditional turkey, baked and a little season, go with California PN. If you are having a turkey that is fried or has a bunch of seasoning, go with Oregon (Willamette Valley). Pinot Noir can be described as cranberry, cherry, raspberry, vanilla, mushroom, tobacco, cola, and caramel. Pinot Noir is also the best wine you can drink for your body. Because the amount of antioxidants you get compared to how many calories you are drinking. It has the lowest calorie count for wine.

Mark West- A pleasing mix of black cherry, cola, strawberry, plum, and soft tannins. Around $8-$10 a bottle.










Picket Fence Pinot Noir- Aromas of brandy, red cherries, forest floor, toasty baking spices and warm vanilla. The chewy red and black fruits come through in the mouth with layers of fine tannins and French oak. A delicious finish ends this wine on a lush note of crème brulee topped with a hint of plum. This is one of my favorite pinots for the price. So amazing! Around $12-$15 a bottle.




Meiomi Pinot Noir- Deep, rich garnet color. The wine opens up with aromas of ripe berries, fresh cranberry, candy apple and vanilla. There is a hint of Granny Smith apple and cream soda with cherry cola notes. It has some many different layers. It has a hint of earthiness and sweet oak on the finish. Around $14-$19 a bottle.







Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir- Bright ruby in color, the wine opens with aromas of cherries, strawberries and clove with a hint of earthiness. Flavors have a fruity and sweet front, juicy middle and soft finish. Around $17-$22 a bottle.









Bear Boat Pinot Noir- Ruby in color with flavors of strawberry, bing cherry. Delicate body, well balanced acidity and a lingering finish with a hint of vanilla. Around $18-$22 a bottle
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                    Firesteed Pinot Noir Willamette Valley- Alive with Raspberry and dark Cherry aromas, begins with bright fruit up front, but later reveals deeper tones that combine cedar and spice with the wine’s luscious flavors of vanilla bean and blackberries. The wine’s silky tannins will continue to soften. Around $22-$26 a bottle.

 

Argyle Pinot Noir- Argyle Pinot Noir is honest and unmingled. Fermented in small lots, and blended for purity, this blend has ripe, red raspberry, cherry and a hint of backwoods spice. No other word can describe the palate but lush. Gentle, slightly firm tannins. Around $22-$26 a bottle.

 

 

 

So you're saying, those are great choices Dani, but what if I want something a little heavier. Something a little different. Well then I would tell you to go for a juicy Syrah from California! The reason I wouldn't pick Cabernet or Merlot, is because they are to much for Thanksgiving dinner, We want to compliment it, not over power it. Listen to me describe a Syrah to you: blackberry, jammy, blueberry, boysenberry, olive, pepper, clove, mint, chocolate, bacon fat and tobacco. Ok, now if that doesn't go with Thanksgiving.....then my name is not Dani! Sometimes a true Syrah is hard to find, so you could also look for a GSM blend. Again, another day for that lesson!

Cline Syrah- is a wine of surprising complexity. The deep purple color explodes with fresh blueberry and black cherry jammy fruit spiced with cracked black pepper aromas. Around $9-$12 a bottle.









Fess Parker Syrah- this handcrafted wine represents the best of what Santa Barbara County Syrah has to offer.  Flavors of dark cherry, blackberry, spice and toast on the palate with light mint and herbal notes. Around $17-$22 a bottle.

 

                                            Red Car Box Car Syrah- We get a balanced syrah, heavy on flavor but not on weight, with notes of cigarbox, earth, barnyard with a nice white pepper twist on the finish.  Around $25-$29 a bottle.

 

 

 

 

 

I hope there is something between the 2 of these choices you like. If you are not sure, stick with a California Pinot Noir. It pleases the most palates. Your red wine drinkers will love it but its nice and soft enough for your white wine drinkers. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

 

I hope you all have a wonderful Friday and a wonderful weekend.

A users guide to White Wine for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is in a week! Can you believe it? Are you already planning your meal? Have you got everything down to a science now? Are you dreading your family coming over and everything being a mess? Are you so excited because that one cousin you love dearly is coming this year and you know its going to be a good time? While I might not be the cook in my family, when it comes to picking out what wine goes with what food, I master it! Oh and I am pretty good at opening and pouring too. These jobs matter! Or at least I tell myself it matters. And thank God I don't have a mother in law who glares at me when I don't cook and just sit on the couch holding someone's baby in one arm and a glass of wine in the other!  

 

So for those of you who aren't in the same boat as me, I am going to help you pick out a few wines that will go with your Thanksgiving meal! I might not can cook your turkey or make you mashed potatoes but I CAN pick out a wine!!!!!! :) :)

 

For those people who love a good white wine.....the best wine to pair for Thanksgiving in a good oaky buttery Chardonnay.  Especially if the turkey you are eating have been marinated in some butter. The light smoky savory piece of turkey, just melts in your mouth. You need a wine that has some back bone to it. A wine that will stand up next to it. And Chardonnay does just that. A few ways to describe Chardonnay are these words: vanilla, baked tart, crème brulee, pie crust, butter, coconut and caramelized sugar. These are the characteristics you want in your Chardonnay when having it with Thanksgiving. And you might be thinking, that's a lot of oak and butter for one meal. But you don't just eat turkey correct? You eat a whole bunch of other flavors. Chardonnay is just the best at complimenting all of them at once!

So you're asking...well that's great Dani. Thanks. But how am I to know which one is by the bottle. 

Depending on your budget, here are some really good wines for you to choose from. You should be able to find these in any grocery store or liquor store.

 

 

 

 

 

 Toasted Head Chardonnay- It smells like pear, nectarine, banana and a little spice. On the palate, citrus and tropical fruit with toasty butterscotch oak, and has a soft finish. Around $9-$12 a bottle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Franciscan Chardonnay- The palate has fresh pear and citrus flavors with a mouthfilling, creamy, round finish. Bright fruit flavors and a silky texture lead to a lingering finish of apple, honeysuckle and vanilla. Around $14-$20 a bottle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

La Crema Monterey- exotic floral and tropical fruit on the nose. Butterscotch, lemon peel, grilled pineapple, honeysuckle and a hint of spice on the palate. A toast and caramel finish. (note: La Crème comes in a few different varieties of Chardonnay. For Thanksgiving, I believe the Monterey will go best). Around $15-$20 a bottle.

 

 

 

 

 

 DeLoach Chardonnay Russian River- Buttery, tropical fruit with a hint of banana and pear. If you are wanting something a tad lighter, this is it. It doesn't scream butter and oak but has just enough in it for it to be amazing with Thanksgiving. Around $15-$22 a bottle.

 

 

 

Cuvaison Chardonnay- Has a lovely aromatics of honeysuckle, lily, acacia blossom and clove spice. Upon tasting this wine, it has white peach, apricot, nectarine and lime zest all tied to a bright, long, refreshing finish. Again, for something on the lighter side. This is one of my very favorite Chardonnay's. It is what I drank at my wedding! Around $20-$26 a bottle.

 

 

 

 

Sonoma Cutrer- Fruit aromas of apple, pear and white peach are accented with toasted nuts, oak spice, a hint of vanilla and a touch of butter. This wine is a medium-bodied, mouth-filling wine. The creamy richness is balanced with a bright acidity and highlighted with flavors of apple, pear and lemon zest. Around $20-$26.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rombauer Chardonnay- Juicy peaches, pineapple and lime on the nose, followed by vanilla and cedar. Ripe tropical fruit and fig jam help give it a silky palate. Soft spice, vanilla and nectarines on the finish. Around $32-$38 a bottle

 

 

 

Anything over this price point, ask me in the comments and I will recommend. Oh, and I will be coming to your Thanksgiving if you are spending over this for a bottle!

 

So you are saying to me, Dani, what if I don't like Chardonnay. I've tried many different ones and I just don't care for them. Any other suggestions you might have! And my answer would be YES!

 

 

 

 

Champagne surprisingly just isn't for New Years. It actual pairs amazing with food. And when I say Champagne, I mean real Champagne, from France. Not sparkling wine. But with a budget, it is hard to find a true Champagne under $30 a bottle. So...with that in mind, get Prosecco. Prosecco is the Italian version of Champagne and honestly, taste as close to true Champagne as you can get.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few Proseccos I like are Lamarca, Zonin, Mionetto, Martini & Rossi, Ruffino and Tiziano. They range from $9-$16.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So you don't like Chardonnay and you say all the bubbles give you a headache...anything else you might suggest? YES!

 

 

 

A dry Riesling will go great for Thanksgiving, especially if you are the type that likes something on the sweet side. Dry Riesling's aren't that sweet. They are more acidic and have a lighter palate. They tend to be crisp, dry and have more of a jasmine, citrus flavor to them. But they can have a hint of some sweetness to them. I don't like sweet wine. Make's me sick. But I LOVE dry Riesling. Germany and France make great ones.  If they come from France, they come from the region called Alsace. If you like to eat ham at Thanksgiving, a dry Riesling from Alsace would be an amazing pairing! I will tell you this, Alsace is hard to find. Spec's has a great variety of them just FYI! My two favorite brands for Alsace wine (and they don't just make Reisling, they make other varities) are Trimbach and Zind Humbrecht. They range from $22-$30. A dry Riesling from Germany ranges from $10-$20.

 

 

 

 

Stay tuned to tomorrow where I will suggest some amazing RED WINE to go with your Thanksgiving dinner.

You don't have to go fast, you just have to go!

For those of you who don't know, I am a runner. Not an everyday runner but a few times a week runner. When I run, I never run under 2 miles. To me, my work-out just doesn't feel complete if I don't go at least 2 miles. When I first started out running, about 5 years ago, I had no idea what to wear. I ran track in middle school and was given a uniform to wear but never learned the proper attire when running outside. I read some where that stated when you run outside, dress for a 20 degree difference. So say, it's 70 degrees out, dress like you would if it was 90 degrees out. Your body temperature on average goes up 20 degrees when you are running. I have a hard time doing that. When I step out my front porch, and it is some what cold, I cant stand being in shorts and tank top! But half way through my run, I wish I was.

But now its cold out so you're asking you're self, what do I wear for it? My nose runs and my hands freeze and I cant feel my face when I get home.

 

I am going to help teach you what to wear in the cold when you run.

 

Layers are always a good thing. Anything you can take off and tie around your waist is good to have.

 

Let's start at the legs. Keeping them warm is good for the circulation and helps your muscle not tighten up. When you are in the cold, all your muscles tense. It's a natural reaction. So finding a pair of tights is crucial to running outside.

 

Nike Pro Hyperwarm 3.0- http://store.nike.com/us/en_us/pd/pro-hyperwarm-3-training-tights/pid-1480991/pgid-1536187- $50- black and grey

 What I love about this is they are thin enough to not get in the way of running but because of the material, they help hold in heat to help keep your legs warm when outside. You can wear this on its own but it's recommended to be worn under your clothes.

 

So what to wear over these? You can either pair these with running shorts if it's not that cold out or you can pair it with this kind of pants.

 

Nike Rally Loose Pants- http://store.nike.com/us/en_us/pd/rally-loose-pants/pid-728912/pgid-10215940- $55- black

 
These pants are loose enough around the legs so you can run and they wont get in the way.

Ok, so the legs are taken care of. What about the top. Having a good sports bra is KEY to helping you run comfortably. You don't want them all in your face or bouncing cause that can hurt after a while. I am a fan of the Victoria Secret sports bra line.

They have so many different kinds of sports bra's for whatever you need. https://www.victoriassecret.com/bras/sports-bras that is the link to them. Please go check out how many different ones there are. You can even narrow it down to what you need it for!

OK, so you have your tights, your pants, your sports bra and now you need a shirt!

Nike Pro Hyperwarm Crew 3.0- http://store.nike.com/us/en_us/pd/pro-hyperwarm-crew-3-training-shirt/pid-1536171/pgid-1536174- $50- multiple different colors

What I love about this is that it is snug and stays in place. And it has thumb holes to help cover a portion of your hands and not ride up while you are running! It is light weight and made to worn as the first layer.

For what you put over this, you can do pretty much anything. Either a zip-up jacket, or a hoodie sweatshirt or even a t-shirt for those not very cold days. Whatever you decide to place over, make sure it is breathable or you will get chapped. Remember the whole 20 degree rule when running outside. If you add too many layers, you will start to get bunched up and uncomfortable.

 

 

 

Ok so you have your leggings, your pants, your sports bra, you undershirt and your jacket/sweater/top ready to go! What about your shoes? The most crucial item when it comes to running. I love Nike attire. Love everything about it. But when it comes to running shoes, I tend to be an Adidas girl. They just fit my feet better.

So without taking sides on different brands of shoes, I wanted to give you advice when going to pick out your shoes instead.

When preparing to go to the shoe store, do 3 things:

1. Go to the shoe store towards the end of the day, when your feet are naturally slightly swollen
2. Bring your old shoes with you so you can show the salesperson what you like and don't like.
3. Bring any inserts, ankle braces or socks you like to wear with your shoes when you run.

How do you know if its a good shoe store?

• If you don't know where to go and want to try different brands, I have found that Run-On store is the best. Or a store like it. They specialist in just shoes and their salespeople take great care of you. Or if you know you like Nike or Adidas, go to that store. Not like a Foot Locker or something. Those salespeople aren't the best in knowledge. They are just looking for commission. (no offense)

How to tell if its the right fit for you:

• Try on BOTH shoes (with socks, braces and inserts if have) and lace them like you normally would. Walk around the store with them for 5-10 minutes. You may look weird but it doesn't matter. You want to make sure they fit correctly. If something doesn't feel right, tell the salesmen. Also, what I have discovered is that in running shoes, you need to go up 1/2 to a full size bigger than your normal shoe size. When you run, your feet go forward and you want to make sure you have enough room for your toes.

So you found the perfect ones and its months later. How do you know when to replace them?

• Keep track of your mileage. RunKeeper is a wonderful app that tracks where and how long you have ran. I use it every time I run. Shoes should be replaced every 500 miles. Or at least once a year if you are an avid runner. If you start to hurt more than normal or you get really bad shin splints for days, that can be a sign too.

So you have your leggings, your pants, your sports bra, your undershirt, your jacket/sweater/top and now your shoes! You are almost ready! For those really cold days, wear gloves and a Beanie to keep your head and ears warm. Don't go through all this trouble to come back from running sick. Not worth it. You can find gloves and beanies cheap at any store!

 

Like I said, you are almost ready! What's the last thing you ask before you step out the door........MUSIC! I can not run without music. And finding a great playlist can be hard.

 

That's what I love about Spotify. They have created all the playlist for you. And Spotify is free (with ads). I love it. I could not get through a workout with my music.

 

 

 

Now get your butt out there and get going!!! And always listen to your body. Don't over do it. Walk if you must. Sometimes it nice to slow down and take it all in. Life is too short for you to not!