Friday Five #52

Hey friends, feels like it's been a while since I wrote a Friday Five post or any sort of recap & it has been. I'm excited for another 3 day weekend! How about you? I'm also excited for my NYE plans tomorrow! Local afternoon 5K with Ciara, 6PM fireworks, pick up Chinese food on the way home, sip wine on the couch in my own house until midnight. Now that's a NYE done 'Old lady style'. :) What are you up to for NYE?

Before I can get ahead of myself, it's Friday, but also, in my 9-5 world (okay, so really I start work at 830, it just doesn't have the same ring) it's month end, quarter end, and year end, all on one day. Which means errybody wants their shit done and they want it done today.

Onto some Friday Five before I catch y'all back here next year (does that "joke" ever get old!?)!

one // My Mom is, umm, not great with technology. She got a smartphone in 2016, and other than learning how to use emojis, she pretty much has no idea what she's doing. So when I told her there was a self-timer feature on the iPhone, which meant we didn't have to try to cram into a selfie, she was ecstatic. Can't say the pictures turned out any better, but Merry Belated Christmas, Internet friends. :) And no worries, there was one where we actually smiled, just didn't seem like any fun to show you that one.

two // Guys. The Sass. I was born this way, seriously.

three // Mr. Sass is such a handyman & it is one of those qualities I never knew I cared about in a future husband until I had it. He was sick of me tossing my keys // wallet on the living room end table instead of "where they belong" - which we still disagree on, but that's a story for another day. So, he found some old pallets and crafted this beauty which does triple duty. Slots to hold mail, hooks for keys & jackets AND I plan to string some twine up top and use it to display some more pictures! Did I mention he did it all based off a picture I found on Pinterest & in one afternoon? Yeah, cue those heart eyed emojis for my resident handyman.

four // After reading Gretchen's post I ordered myself a GreenChef box to try out. It came last night - which was perfect because pickins was gettin' slim around here since I chose to postpone a grocery run until this weekend. We made one meal right away, but excited to try the rest!

five // Funnies...

As evidenced by my NYE plans...

How are you celebrating NYE?
If you could be any superhero which one would you be?
Tell me about more things I can make Mr. Sass build from pallets - I.AM.OBSESSED.

linking up with Heather, Amanda, Andrea, Tif, Della & Katie

January 2017 Goals + December Goal Update

Holy Hell. 2016 flew by and 2017 is pretty much here. I promised you all lots of goal posts. Don't worry. I didn't forget. I'll be dedicating more posts in January to my 2017 goals, broken down into fitness, finance, personal and blogging goals.

I wanted to keep December goals simple. I knew the month would be crazy, filled with travel and extra social time. My focus was on enjoying this time, not packing it full of personal improvement projects.

Before we jump into my new January 2017 goals, let's see how I did with December.

Finish up 5K training | Couldn't let the dream die
While my "last" 5K for the year was Trot for Tots 5K on December 11th, I missed my goal. But, I've got one more change I'm running a local NYE 5K. It starts at 330PM, which should be interesting since I am usually a morning runner. I'd love to hit my sub-25 goal just in the nick of time, but if I don't? I'm still excited to run a fun // unique 5K. Long story short, 5K training is STILL NOT DONE.

Finish up Save the Date's | Done!
They're mailed! Missing a few addresses, but, I figure if someone doesn't get a Save-the-Date it's not the end of the world. So I am crossing this one off my to-do list!

Maintain Weight | Not quite sure
Honestly, not sure how I did on this one, I am going to assume the worst, which is that I packed on a few pounds worth of my Mom's cooking. But, it usually takes me a few days of drinking water like it's my job before I settle back into my true weight.

Outline 2017 Goals | Posting soon!
They're not up on the blog yet, but a lot of my spare brain power has been devoted to my 2017 goals. What do I want to accomplish next year? How will I make it happen? How will my life change once I'm officially married? Lots of pondering, stay tuned. I'll post my fitness goals next week!
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So, what's on tap for the first bit of the new year!?

Register for my Spring half | I'll have the deets about which race it is up next week + some of the tune up races I'll be doing along the way.

Finish up my 2017 content calendar | No, I don't have all my 2017 posts written, though how great would that be!? But, I do have ideas penned out for what I'm writing when so when the mood strikes I can just write, not worry about an idea.

Outside workout 1x per week | This is when the doom & gloom of winter really seem to set in, making sure I get outside for a run or hike definitely helps keep my mood up!

Re-schedule engagement pics | Ours got canceled in December due to some shit weather, but I would love a winter wonderland as the backdrop, so we'll reschedule for January

Order wedding invitations | On one hand it feels like May is years away. On the other hand, I know it isn't really. This is one of those things I'm ready to order, find a good sale & check it off my to-do list.

Drop 5 LBs | I was on the maintain train over the holidays, but now that they're said & gone it's time to get back to it. I'll be tracking in MFP & keeping it simple with my workday lunches. Salads, chicken & veggies, etc. 

What are some of your January goals?
What are some of your 2017 goals?  

Linking up with Amanda +  Ange

All the blog posts I'll never write Pt.2

You may remember a post from last month, about all the blog posts I'll never write. The post suggestions you see all over Pinterest - that couldn't possibly apply to me.

If makeup tutorials are your thing, you go, girl. But also, don't expect to find them here, I just replaced my mascara (that I bought in 2010) with a new tube. I figured I should splurge the $4 ever few years whether I need it or not. And the fact that my tube of mascara isn't empty after 6 years should tell you something about how much wear it.

My mind is in full on holiday mode, not so much in the sense of buying last minute gifts or decorating the house, but just that I'm ready for a few days off work, seeing my people & gorging myself on Chinese food and cinnamon rolls, though not together. I had a post half written about my favorite holiday tradition, but just didn't feel inspired to finish it. I would rather just live it.

So, I did what I usually do when I'm lacking inspiration, take a look at all my drafts, all the different ideas I have jotted down and see if anything sticks out. But when it doesn't? I head to Pinterest. Which was when I decided it was time for another round of "Posts I'll never write". Without further adieu, another addition of me proving I know nothing about fashion or beauty.

What's in your purse?
Nothing. I don't own one. Well, I own one, but I don't use it. Why? Because all it becomes is a oversized snack pouch, and I usually sneak a cardigan in there, because I'm always cold. And all of a sudden it's like Marry Poppins handbag & I'm like, "Oh, you're hungry? Here, I have options. Would you like an apple, or an orange, or an old banana, or any of these 4 types of granola bars? Or this PBJ sandwich?". NOPE. Just nope.

Write about a product you use daily?
Toothpaste. I'm fairly loyal to Crest, never Colgate. But I also enjoy Aquafresh. And definitely prefer a paste to a gel.

Okay, folks. For once I'm being serious about this one. Bag Balm. But, I'm also being serious when I tell you its original use was for chafed cows udders. Wait, what? Yeah. Chafed cow udders, chapped lips - sounds about the same to me.This stuff is seriously the best when it comes to anything chapped, I even put it on my hands if they get cracked & dry. I use it on cuts, scrapes, even my tattoo when I first got it. But I use it on my lips every damn night. And, if you're a cyclist, I used it in place of chamois butter too. I'm sure you can buy it on the Internet, but I usually find it at Walgreens or Tractor Supply.

What's your style?
My style is kind of a combination, somewhere along the lines of  - I try really hard not to buy new clothes because I don't enjoy shopping + my style is "this office is freezing" + "Whatever is currently being sold at Target". Seriously.

What are you afraid of - and why?
The dark. Because that shit is scary. There could be weird stuff out there, but you can't see it. Or bugs. There could also be bugs. Or ax-murderers. I think I've made a pretty solid case here. Why yes, yes I do still turn out the lights in the room and run like a crazy person to jump into bed. How on earth would I turn that into a whole blog post?

How much does your face cost? Break down your beauty routine in dollars.
$3.49 - UP & UP face wash from Target. Probably purchased in 2012 based on how many apartments it has been through with me.
$3.99 - New mascara, purchased in a panic from Ulta. Not yet opened.
$7.99 - Bag Balm. My current tin was purchased in 2012, and I'm only about halfway through.

$15.47 spent since 2012-ish, mascara not included. So, $11.48 without the mascara. Which, we'll say the face wash & bag balm have lasted 3.5 years to make things easy. 365 x 3.5 = 1289 days. So, my face costs me $.0089 cents per day.

I know, I know, I'm working to cut back my beauty spending in 2017.

What is your nickname - and what's the meaning behind it?
My nickname is Jess. Because that's the only way you can make Jessie shorter. Sometimes, when people think they're being clever, they call me Messy Jessie, like it's the first time anyone has come up with that. Sometimes, when people want to be punched in the face, they call me Jessica. Which is not my name.

Merry Christmas - or Merry Whatever. I'll see y'all back here next week. In the meantime, catch me on Insta, I'll be posting there over the holidays. :)

How much would you guess your face costs?
What's your nickname?
If you have any genius post ideas - share 'em.

Linking up with Amanda

Weekend Highlights : Not exactly like we planned

Hey, hi, hello. Welcome back to The Sass, it's Monday, again, unfortunately. But, I hope you are ready to rock & roll, 'cause for us 9-5 folks it's really like Tuesday already! No work for me on Friday or Monday, thanks to a weekend Christmas. So, there's a good chance you won't see me around the blog world those days either.

Either way, remember on Friday when I was all YAY group run! And YAY engagement pictures? No, you don't? Well, here, look for yourself. Before we even hit lunchtime on Friday our group run was canceled due to some shit weather in the forecast. And I will say, the forecast was spot on. Rain, turning into freezing rain, and all falling down onto frozen ground. Then more rain. We woke up Saturday morning to a sheet of ice.

Instead of running errands, we brewed a full 12 cup pot of coffee & got to work. Switching out the bed in the spare room has been on the to-do list for a while, pulling out the twin bed and swapping in a full sized bed, more suited for overnight guests.

While I meant to take a picture of the whole thing, I didn't, 'cause it's all a bunch of mismatched cast-off furniture, and my college comforter (which I still love). I did, however, manage to snag a picture of the sheets that were hiding on the bed before we swapped them.

I shit you not, when I moved in this place, everything had moose (meese?) on it. The bedspread, the shower curtain, the rugs, most of the wall art. EVERYTHING. So, it didn't shock me in the slightest to see moose sheets on the bed, under the moose comforter. -__-

Shortly after we finished the spare room Mr. Sass had to jet off for work. I knew I needed to get some miles in, since I signed up for one more 5K in 2016. So I scraped the ice off my car & headed to the gym. I ran 5 miles on the treadmill, more than I've run on the treadmill in quite some time. I truly hated every second of it. So, I ran progressive miles figuring at least I'd be done faster. I'm glad I got it done - I just didn't like the process.

Then, after dinner, bee-bopping around on the Internet, I check our wedding email, see that I have an email from our photographer, the same one we were set to meet Sunday morning for engagement pictures, recommending we postpone due to weather, and the inevitable slop that 2 days of rain will bring. Of course, this was just after I finished painting my nails & picking out our outfits. Sigh.

Sunday? Lots happened Sunday. We turned wedding band shopping into a date when we split a gyro afterwards, before Mr. Sass headed off to work and I headed off for a girls day. I made chocolate covered pretzels, but my former roommate Stef went full on Pinterest.

Also, while there are no pics to prove it, this big bully spend all night on the couch giving me "hugs" aka resting his head on my (very full) belly. But, all I have instead is a picture of him looking like the saddest dog in the world, when he realized the piece of food I was holding up was just so he would look at me, and not because I actually planned to give it to him. Bad Auntie.

Not quite the weekend I planned, but a good one nonetheless.

How was your weekend?
Anyone else have a husband who thinks they live in a log cabin?
If you could get rid of one thing your significant other owns, what would it be?

Linking up with :Holly & Tricia 

Friday Five #51

For whatever reason, this week has felt so scattered. Maybe it has been my fuller that usual social calendar, everyone seems to want to hang out as we creep up on Christmas, or my general lack of sleep as a result. Either way, I'm psyched it's the weekend.

I'll finally get to join in a group run Saturday morning (so long as the weather holds out!) and we are supposed to be taking engagement pictures on Sunday. Though I still have NO IDEA what I'm wearing for them. Cue panic!

If you missed it, I posted my year in review on Wednesday, all of my favorite adventures of 2016, and boy, has it been a year. Either way, it's on to some sense of normalcy around here, some Friday Five.

one // Okay, so I know I said that the Trot for Tots 5K was my last race of the year, and it was, until I found this New Years Eve 5K. Complete with what I've been calling "Old Lady Fireworks" because they go off at 6PM which is just my style. A NYE celebration early enough that I can have fun and then go home and drink on the couch? Sign me up. Maybe my sub 25 goal for 2016 isn't dead after all?

two // Mr. Sass had Wednesday off this week & I got some good news, so I convinced him to cook me a fancy dinner. We had venison fillets, scallops, and rosemary potatoes, and of course, a bottle of red. And the picture does it no justice.

three // Tuesday was ladies night at Pro Bike + Run. Unfortunately the weather kept some folks away, but I'm so glad I made it. There were great vendors, awesome food (that I ate until I was way too full) and giveaways. Including Gu & Stroopwafel by Gu. It took two friends convincing me, since my original plan was to rush home from work and change into sweatpants per usual, but I'm so glad I went!

four // Me, trying not to laugh & shake the ornaments off my antlers. One of the minute to win it games at a holiday party last weekend was to get as many ornaments onto the antlers on your head as you could. Mr. Sass' antlers got all tangled up in mine when we tried to snap a picture.

five // Funnies...

How do you celebrate good news?
What holiday tradition are you looking forward to in the next few weeks?
What was the best part of your week?

linking up with Heather, Amanda, Andrea, Tif, Della & Katie

A Year in Review : Saying Goodbye to 2016

2016 was busy. Like crazy busy in my opinion. I visited 6 countries, I went to 6 weddings - struggling to think of another thing I did in 'sixes', but I'm sure there was something.

I asked a friend why the years seem to go by faster and faster as I get older. She wisely told me it was because it was now a smaller portion of my overall life. And there seems to be some logic to that. Not sure if it's entirely true, or just that I seem to have a lot going on. Either way, I'm about ready to declare 2017 the year of the nap.

I feel like Blog Land is overrun with year in review posts as we get into the end of December, and for good reason. I write this for me. I love that you all come along on this ride with me, but I love looking back on old posts, they're such a great memory jogger and digital scrapbook of sorts.

So, if you missed it...here's 2016 in a (picture heavy) nutshell...

January

My first (and maybe last) Polar Bear Plunge. I did not come out of this one unscathed.

And plenty of hiking...even in the snow.

February

Reel Big Fish live (again).

Two whole years since we brought this big bully home with us.

And, my constant countdown to our New Zealand trip! Where I could literally copy every picture here & still not do that trip justice. But here are recaps if you missed it!

Christchurch, Mt. Cook, Milford Sound, Glenorchy, Queenstown.

March

A visit to see my friend Annie in Michigan.

April

A hike at Mt. Davis - the tallest point in PA.

Before jetting off to Europe! Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro & Venice!

May

HM#8? The Pittsburgh Half Marathon.

An overnight backpacking trip on the Black Forest Trail.

 And my first ever AG award at the Team Alex 5K!

 A trip to the Indy 500 with my Dad!

June

Red Jumpsuit Apparatus live in concert.

More trails, more hiking.

Getting fancy for a 40th anniversary party!

 A whole weekend in Milwaukee with some great friends. Rocking those pool-side drinks.

July

A 4th of July 5K and another AG award!

A trip to Presque Isle to enjoy the bike path & beaches.

AND SO MANY PICKLES!

 A day date tasting wine & hiking new trails.

August

Two Face 10K - my first trail race & quite the challenge.

A mini road trip to taste wine in Lake Milton, OH & to catch up with an old friend before she moved abroad.

September

Another wedding - and another chance to hike somewhere new. We explored Erie. Elk Creek Wildlife area, Erie Bluffs State Park & Presque Isle State Park.

Then it was onto Ragnar#3

October

The BF and I headed to the the PA Grand Canyon, Ricketts Glen State Park & the Poconos, and we came back halfway to being Mr & Mrs Sass! AKA we got engaged.

Then it was apple picking & a day full of fall fun.

Before heading off to Roanoke to hike a section of the Appalachian Trail.

A new to me hike at Ohiopyle with Ciara.

November

A trip to Erie to explore the Erie wine trail!

Another 5K, where I placed as 3rd overall female!

A trip to a new Brewery with an old friend over Thanksgiving!

December

A girls weekend away - with more new hiking trails.

One final 5K & one final AG award!

2 more weeks to go, which will be filled with holiday parties, time with friends and family.

Thanks 2016 - I know you were rough for some, but you were pretty damn good to me. Somehow, 2017 is looking like it's going to top it! Bring it on 2017. Bring on married life, a honeymoon, more running, more racing, and more miles of new trails.

What was the best thing to happen to you in 2016?
What was the worst?
What are you most looking forward to in 2017?

Linking up with Holly, Tricia  & Amanda