Faroe Islands Day 1: What the Sheep??

After our 24-hour Copenhagen whirlwind, we were ready to move on to our main destination: the Faroe Islands! Here's how the next leg of our adventure went with day 1... in which Gina tries to jam in as many adorable villages and cliffs as possible.

Tuesday

• After a dead-to-the-world, deep sleep in our fabulous Copenhagen hotel and some carry-on reconfiguration, we checked out to head for our next flight. While we didn't have much time to spare, we did make time to walk back to Nyhavn, hit up a bakery (Vedels Konditori), and eat some danish by the canal. A nice little breakfast before we were on the metro and then boarding yet another plane. (This time for a short two hour jaunt.)
• Flying into the Faroe Islands is like flying into Jurassic Park. It's absolutely amazing, and you're certain that people don't belong there, because they'll just spoil it. There's also probably dinosaurs there. Even if you don't see them at first, you just are constantly waiting for a fanfare of music and BOOM dinos! 

Sometimes you wanna go...

• Our plane arrived around 12:30 pm and I insisted we eat at the airport. There are not many restaurants on the Faroes, except in certain villages. While I had scheduled a grocery store stop for later in the day, the idea of not having easily accessible food meant that I was eating like a mama bear prepping for the long winter. This would prove a wise strategy given the crazy amount of steps we put on hiking.
• We strapped on our hiking boots and picked up the rental car (see tips for getting around the islands here!) and off we went! 
• For a plug-and-play adventure map, you can follow along right here. Looking at the map and seeing all the islands, you think it's a lot bigger, but everything was oddly close together. (No matter where you're standing on any given island, you're within 5k of the ocean!)
• First attempted stop: Kvívík, which Google Maps could not seem to find, so we didn't end up seeing (til our last day when we found it accidentally!). With the stress of me directing the beau to drive into a mountain looming, we took a little break to reset. Stopped alongside the road, I was thrilled by the random sheep hanging out just feet away, not realizing this would be commonplace the whole trip.
• A short time later, we tally-hoed onward. Taking under ocean and under mountain tunnels to go from the island of Vágar to the "big island" of Streymoy (total area around 144 sq miles - which is slightly smaller than the size of the city of Atlanta). Thank goodness I wasn't driving, or we'd have never made it anywhere. I'd have been stopping to take photos every five seconds. And with the beau at the wheel, that's just what I did - a nonstop stream of fabulous images and videos. It's so beautiful that even a photo out a car window is frickin' frame-able. 

Just a peak??  (bahaha, get it?! PEAK!)

• Our first real stop: Saksun! After a long drive down a one-lane road (with two-way traffic), we found a fork in the road with two areas to park: to the left or the right. 
• The left fork is what we took first. It was next to a trail that led down to a large tidal, seawater lagoon and a giant waterfall (both which fed into the ocean around the bend). This massive area looks up at the cliffside which the small village of Saksun is perched upon. The whole area is surrounded by mountains. Those picturesque little houses and a gorgeous church, overlook this stunning area, which is home to about a dozen people and a zillion lambs. Since it was low tide, we walked along the sandy shore of the lagoon around the headland to see the ocean. We made several failed attempts to scale up along the sandy slopes to get a few over the ravines edges of the surrounding area. Turns out, we're just not as nimble mountaineers as those damn sheep, because no matter how many of their trails I tried to climb in, I just kept sliding down! After my boots got entirely too full of sand, we followed the sheep back toward the car.

Staring out into the ocean, eating snacks: a still life of our trip.

• Since we'd seen the area below Saksun, we decided to take the right fork to go up into the village. The view from above was totally worth it. This was the first of many historical and well-placed churches that made me think, "Yeah, I could find God in a place like this..." The villages of the Faroes also tend to have one public restroom, indicated by a little WC sign plus arrow, that you follow on a fabulous scavenger hunt until you find something that looks nothing like a restroom. In this case, it was grass roofed and a really fascinating place to have a pee! 

I spent a good portion of the trip trying to get Saksun sand out of my boots
and looking toward the horizon #basic

• Next up was the renowned Fossá Waterfall. This giant waterfall is just there, hanging out on the side of a road. Because the side of the road in the Faroes, no matter which side of the road, is filled with majestic frickin' beauty. We lucked out and were having beautiful weather, so the waterfall was "low" enough that I could climb up around by it. (I've seen photos of it after a heavy rain and it's insane how different it looks!) This was a quick stop since our car was precariously parked and a group of we-have-fancy-cameras-because-we're-real-photographers people showed up and it made me feel bad about standing there gawking in the middle of all their shots.
• We continued driving up to Tjørnuvík - zipping around what the beau called the "death cliff" (hairpin turns on more one-lane roads). Also surrounded by mountains, this village is on the ocean. It's windy and exposed water apparently draws in a lot of surfers (#faroesbrah). From the edge of the village, you can see Risin and Kellingin (aka the Giant and Witch) - free standing rock pillars off the nearby cliffs. Apparently there is a trail between Tjørnuvík and Saksun (a three hour hike) that I'd have definitely had us do if I'd realized it was there in advance. (Next time!)

Hey there, Tjørnuvík, lookin' good.

• Finally, we were en route to our "hotel." With a very important stop made at Bónus Norðskála, a Faroese grocery store with a giant pig for the logo! Here we loaded up on a meat/cheese feast (Remember those lambs from earlier? Womp Womp!) and grabbed snacks for the rest of the days. This was brilliant to save money overall, but was also a godsend to prevent me from being whiny and starving on our coming days of hiking, where restaurants were few and far between! 
• We stayed at the Gjáargarður Guesthouse in Gjógv. Gjógv is absolutely splendi and is just on the edge of the world. I hate to overuse words like "idyllic" and "charming" but really, they're just so damn applicable! PLUS, our hotel had a heated floor in the bathroom and a picnic table patio area that overlooked all that frickin' splendor so it was literal heaven. 

Inappropriate footwear at its finest at the Gjógv gorge!

• After we checked in (at around 9:30 pm - because I kept making us stop to take pictures!), we explored the nearby cliff area and the gorge that the village is named after. We took the very well laid out and easy trail to a spot called Mary's Bænk (aka the Princess seat! Google it!) that overlooks the gorge. We went to this easy spot because my boots were drying on our heated bathroom floor after I attempted to scrub out that Saksun sand, so I was wearing tiny ballet flats for this particular cliff climbing excursion (sorry, mom!). 

With the sun not quite set, watching the clouds roll in to tuck the neighboring islands to sleep, perched up on a point just above the crashing waves... it was quite possibly a perfect day. Going to sleep in Gjógv, we still had several days of island hopping and grass-roof fangirl squealing ahead of us!

Don't know where it goes, but it's only me and I walk alone.

Copenhagen Round 1: The Whirlwind

Since I've never been called "short winded" in my life.... this is part one of a day-by-day series on our recent trip to Copenhagen and the Faroe Islands, focusing on out first two days. For general thoughts and tips for travelling to these locations, go hit up this heavily bulleted post. 

Coming off a hectic month of work, a royal wedding in which I had to watch my future husband marry a cool (albeit less attractive) other woman, and our yearly 5k, I somehow managed to squeeze in rabid excitement for our looming trip. After months of planning and packing, it was go time. And here's how it allllll began...

Sunday

• Because it's substantially cheaper to fly out of Chicago compared to Milwaukee, leg one of the journey was a bus ride down to Chi. After a drop off from the beau's dad, we were off! We left obnoxiously early, which ended up being a swell idea since, due to traffic, the bus arrived to O'Hare an hour late. 
• After prancing past the British Airways terminal (still decked out for the royal wedding - single tear), we suffered through the ridiculously inefficient security that is the international terminal. (Thanks, O'Hare, for leaving such a great impression on our guests. You suck.) There, we sacrificed a bag of liquids to the TSA gods (seriously, HOW does a ziploc baggie GO MISSING on that five feet of conveyor belt - major flaw there) before breaking from the masses to enjoy some pizza and a beer.
• While dining, we were serenaded by a random youth choir that was rehearsing while waiting at a nearby gate. An audience is an audience, I suppose, no matter where you're queuing! 
• Upon boarding for our 10 pm departure, we were informed that sorry, they had to switch planes and we'd gotten an older model. Comforted by my lack of leg room, I scoped out our fellow passengers, just in case we'd need allies upon crashing. 
• Fun fact: a 10 pm flight comes with TWO meals! Dinner AND breakfast! It's been a hot second since my last transatlantic flight (ten years in fact, almost to the date, since my return from study abroad) that this was just a frickin' delight. Airplane meals are WAY better than I remember! So, major props, SAS. 
• We did dinner and a show (the new Jumanji movie, which we watched on our separate little screens while carefully timing any pauses) and then tried to get some sleep so we could stay up and fight the jetlag upon arrival. 

Go home, plane. You're drunk.

Monday

• It was 1:30 pm Copenhagen time when we arrived, and with a 9:30 pm sunset time, I was stoked to cram in eight hours of exploring! Since we really only had a "24 hour layover" and I wasn't sure how exhausted we'd be on our return layover, I insisted that we see everything possible right away. 
• Since it had been almost a nine hour flight and I was eager to ditch our bags, the first place we aimed for was our hotel, the Copenhagen Strand. We snagged some DKK cashoola and caught the metro. Cheers to Denmark for crushing it on public transit - the metro was clean, efficient and overall just lovely. 
• After a luggage drop and quick showers (fun fact: it ended up being about 75 degrees and I had only packed sweaters so, this gal was a sweaty mess!), it was time for the first of many intricately planned "tours" that I had written up in a Google Doc before out trip. If you want to follow along, here was the "walking tour" I took us on!

Took me awhile to realize København was Copenhagen... derp.

• A short stop from our hotel: the Christiansborg Palace (aka Danish Parliament). We didn't go in, just looked around the outside and checked out the grandiose building while enjoying the beautiful weather. 
• En route to our next stop, I insisted upon getting gelato. We wandered, eating our rapidly melting treats from Gelato Rajissimo, peaking into the occasional shop, and then arrived to the Rundetårn.
• Known as the "Round Tower," for just about $4, you can take the slow and steady spiral walk up to the observation deck atop the tower where you can get a full 360 view of the city. This is a great early stop because it helps you get a bird's eye view of how the city is laid out, so you can sort of see where you'll be heading later to see other sites. Since it's not a strenuous climb to the top, I'd recommend this stop for anyone. There was a gaggle of drunk French women who were particularly enjoying the sites when we were there (we later saw them drinking wine on bicycles in the streets #FrenchAF). Rundetårn also has little history and art exhibits as you spiral up or down. (If you were in a rush, you could go up and down and do a brief look at the exhibits in a half hour even.)

Up on the roof, leaving our mark on the city after a spirally ascent.

• Thanks to my dawdling and constant photo taking, by the time we made our way to Frederik's Church, they had just closed. I could just kick myself at not seeing the inside, because the outside of this huge marble church was just stunning. There were also beautiful lilacs everywhere! 
• Because you just can't go to Copenhagen without seeing it, we next walked along the Kastellet (a star shaped fortress / park area) to get to the Little Mermaid statue. The statue itself was... fine. It was the same somewhat underwhelming feeling I had when seeing the Mona Lisa. It's a beautiful and culturally significant piece of artwork but it's oddly small in real life and so surrounded by tourists that you don't get a chance to really enjoy it. Worth a stop though because there were so many cool gardens and other statues on our walk there, AND a really cool little church that I was obsessed with (aka took fifty photos of). 
• It was getting closer to sunset and was feeding time, so we came back along the canal to head for dinner. Turns out the Royal Run was taking place: a race being run to celebrate the birthday of the Crown Prince, who is apparently an avid runner. At some point, we had missed the royals running (damn it, royal watch fail!) but found ourselves in and out of the course area for the rest of the night. (Because of COURSE there'd be a race wherever we go - the beau was bummed that he didn't know, else he'd have been running it!)
• Dodging the runners, we passed by the Opera House and finally got to Nyhavn. If you've ever seen a postcard of Copenhagen, odds are you saw the Nyhavn. It's the iconic brightly painted houses and restaurants along the canal. Bicycles and merriment to be had by all. We had a restaurant in mind, but it ended up that they only serve Smørrebrød (open faced sandwiches that are a specialty of the region) at lunch. Since the beau really wanted to try them, we instead went to a lovely spot called Nyhavns Faergekro. Sitting outside, eating some delicious local cuisine, watching the runners from a distance, and enjoying a cold beverage after a long day of travelling and walking: it was heaven. 
• We stayed out til after sunset before getting back to the hotel, where we flooded the bathroom (thanks for the lack of shower doors, Europe!) and struggled to stay awake late enough to beat the jet lag. 

Knowing that a week later we'd be back in the city to enjoy more delicious food and sights, it made the introductory whirlwind pretty chill. If we really weren't able to catch something we wanted to see, we'd be able to try and squeeze it in on the way back. The weather was beautiful and it was the perfect jumping point for the entire trip. Because, the next day, we were off to our main destination... the Faroe Islands.

A danish in Denmark, naturally.

Copenhagen & The Faroe Islands: Shit Worth Knowing

This post and my packing rant are prequels to my day-by-day series on our recent trip to Copenhagen and the Faroe Islands. Check out the other posts in the coming days to get your adventure fix!

When we started telling people we'd booked a European escapades, they were excited. When we told them it was to the Faroe Islands, they shifted to confused and bewildered. "Where? And how on earth did you pick that place?" were the most common responses (or the occasional "oh neat" nod that meant they didn't care to hear more). So, here are some reasons why:

• Go. Google the Faroe Islands right now. They're fucking stunning. (Instagrammable AF!) It's the kind of place you see and wonder "Why doesn't everyone move here??" and I'm already quietly planning to convince all my friends to move there so we can all be the only inhabitants on an island together. 
• They're like Iceland's cool kid sister. Iceland is all trendy and sexy right now, but expensive once you get there. The Faroes are lesser known but just phenomenal, and often overlooked. They're the "next big thing." I really wanted to get there before it became flooded with tourists and see it while it was still a bit "wild."
• It was easy to set up a 24-hour "layover" in Copenhagen to bookend our trip with. So we got a little bit of the city-life on either side of our hiking adventure.
• I'm too antsy to sit on a beach. While it's true that no one would look at me and say "Oh yeah, she's a hiker," it's nice to roam and explore beautiful places. An active vacation is a good relationship test, too - if we can't go hiking in a foreign land together, then honestly, we're not meant to be. We both have too much wanderlust in our souls. 
• Yes, I was excited about seeing puffins... that didn't work out, but, yes, it was a reason. ((More details on that debacle to come))

Would I recommend going to either or both? 100%. (Especially if you fancy yourself a photographer or a bird enthusiast!) I was already plotting out our return trip before we even got on the plane home. So, now that we've planned and gone on our fantastic voyage, here are some tips and fun facts about Copenhagen and the Faroe Islands.

Let's play "spot the photographer"

Both:

• They're not on the Euro, even though they're in the EU. The currency is the Danish Krone (DKK) and it's a little over 6 DKK to 1 USD. So if it's 25 DKK to get into a museum, you're looking at just $4. The Faroes have their own version of DKK bills with different imagery printed on it (coins are the same). You can use DKK bills from Copenhagen in the Faroe Islands fine, but you can't use those Faroese bills back in Copenhagen without causing confusion.
• Bring a pen. Credit cards (especially Visa) are widely accepted, but most Europeans have a pin and don't have to sign for credit cards. Ours process differently and need a signature. Since no one in Europe has to sign normally, most places didn't have a pen handy. (GET it together, America! Down with signatures!)  
• Everyone speaks English pretty much. Most people in the Faroes know three languages: Danish, English and Faroese (which is closer to Icelandic). 
• Green energy is everywhere. Wind farms for days. More bicycles than you can shake a recycled stick at. 
• All the hotel beds were either two twin beds pushed next to each other, or at the very least had two twin comforters on the bed. Twin comforters are AMAZING. You know in the night, when you wake up cold and realize your SO has burritoed into the comforter and you have no blankets covering you? I have two words for you: twin. comforters. Love my beau, but I may love being covered while I sleep more. 
• Unlike the rest of Europe, where people tend to eat later at night, most restaurants seemed to close by 10 or 11 it seemed. 
• Security at both airports was quite efficient. (Way better than fucking O'Hare.)
• They're so far north, you can expect some serious daytime hourage if you're going in the sprint/summer months. When we were there, sunrise in the Faroes was at 4 am, and sunset at 10:30 pm - that's 18+ hours of daylight (at the peak in June, it's almost 20 hours). Copenhagen was just shy of 17 hours of daylight at that same time. So. You get plenty of time to explore!

This was at 9:30 pm. Also, person for scale.
(See upper left cliff.)

Copenhagen:

• It's the capital and most populous city of Denmark.
• Great public transport - their metro is very easy to navigate.
• Like most major cities, different areas have VERY different atmospheres. The harbor area we saw on a Monday, and was full of restaurants and tourists, but was so pretty. Bustling in the way Europe bustles - so chill AF. Versus on Saturday we saw the area by Tivoli at night and it was a crazy drunk club scene, with bachelorette party buses scream-singing "Despacito" (Sunday morning, that same area was hipster breakfast and families). And the area by the airport? More homes and businesses. So, it can really vary depending where you are and when. 
• The Little Mermaid statue is pretty overrated. Like the Mona Lisa, she's small and surrounded by tourists. It's a beautiful walk to get there though, so, may as well.
• Their open-faced sandwiches (Smørrebrød) are famous. But be careful if you're aiming to get your fix: some places only serve them for lunch. 
• Need your royal fix? The Danish monarchy has got you covered! 
• Try the cinnamon rolls. They're different, and delicious.
• A lot of the places that look cool during the day are also badass at night. Explore at different times of day! The nighttime lights at Tivoli are super fun. 
• Even on a warm day, the wind by the harbor can be chilly. You've been warned.

Faroe Islands:

• If you're afraid of feeling isolated, narrow roadways, the ocean, seabirds, heights, etc - you may not enjoy your visit as much. 
• Consists of 18 rocky, volcanic islands about midway between Iceland and Norway in the North Atlantic Ocean. AKA: they out there. 
• The overall population is about 50,000 people. Many islands have very sparse populations (Mykines has a dozen retirees on it, Stóra Dímun has two families, etc).
• They're self-governing but technically part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Denmark subsidizes them economically (about 3% of their GDP).
• Transportation is fascinating. The islands are connected by ferry, boat, bus, helicopter, over-ocean bridges, or under-ocean tunnels. If the weather shifts, you very well may be stuck on whatever island you're on. (Again, see puffin story.) If you're taking a ferry or helicopter, you HAVE to be very careful with the schedule and thoroughly review the rules. Don't just try and wing it. For example, helicopters only fly certain days of the week and will only take you one way (same day). You have to find a different way back or wait several days for another chopper. So, do your fucking research and don't cowboy it. 

"Bridge Over Troubled Waters" is actually the national anthem.

• IF you're renting a car: remember, they're mostly stick shift. So if you're like me, you need to really make sure they get you one of the five automatic cars on the lot. Else, if you're a novice in a manual, driving those hills would be a living nightmare. 

• The roads often involve hairpin turns on cliff edges or suddenly go through mountains. A portion of the roads and tunnels (further from the airport and capital) are also one-lane. As in, one lane for two-way traffic. In this scenario, there are little divots on the side of the road that you can pull over into to allow oncoming traffic to get by. Yes, that means that you can find yourself in a dark one-lane tunnel through a mountain, see headlights coming, and have to panic to find a pull-over (lest you have to back up on a tiny, pitch-black, bored-through-a-mountain rock tunnel). The sheep also have a genuine DGAF notion about cars and freely wander the roadways. Even if you honk. 

Roadside Assistance: Faroe Islands style

• All that being said, I highly recommend renting a car. It's the best way to get about on your own schedule. And, nothing is that far! If you wanted to drive from one of the westmost cities (like Gasadalur) to one of the eastmost cities (like Vidareidi), it's only a two hour drive. Assuming you don't stop to take a million photos on the way (which, you will want to). 
• Their tourism industry is still developing. You won't find a Hilton here. Or a McDonald's. Also, don't expect to find a restaurant every couple miles (so PACK SNACKS!). Do expect to find friendly locals who are willing to help out if needed. And, don't worry, most towns have a public restroom (WC = water closet). 
• No matter where you look, you're going to see something beautiful. Wherever you're standing, you're not more than 5k from the ocean. This means astonishing views of neighboring islands, waterways, etc. EVERYWHERE. Some of the best views can be seen on the airplane ride in (or if you're lucky enough to catch a ferry or helicopter, those views are supposed to be choice as well). 
• Their largest industry is fishing. Eat all the seafood you can. And lamb. Damn good lamb as well (see DGAF sheep vs cars comment). 
• Some trails are well laid out. Some are just worn grass with random rock piles to guide you. Most involve a lot of incline. There seem to be few restrictions on where you can rove about though so, just be careful and go. Everyone kept saying that if you're up on a mountain, and the fog rolls in, just chill til it rolls out, else you could meander off a cliff. A legit warning. 

Wait, which rock pile am I supposed to follow??

The biggest thing I learned from our experience: just because a place isn't as well known, doesn't mean it's not a place worth going. I mean, yeah, of course I know we live in a great big world, duh. BUT when looking at most travel bucket lists, you'll see a lot of standard places: Paris, London, etc. There is NOTHING wrong with these places and they're wonderful and beautiful and diverse in their own ways and I've been and I love them. But I think it's time for us to reevaluate our bullet points here, and to try adding in some outliers. You know, to start planning more voyages to that area outside our comfort zone, where the magic lives.

Faroes: Keep Calm, Carry On

After months of planning, it was time: our trip to the Faroe Islands and Copenhagen was just around the corner! As soon as we'd booked the flight, I started hitting the "end of winter" sales and gathering sweaters, picking out the perfect outfits to look fabulous for the 'gram while hiking mountains. There was also a long quest for hiking boots, as I was determined to get a pair of highly recommended (but discontinued) boots (long story short: I got em!). Every bit of my gear was slowly and meticulously planned out.

That's when, a week from our departure, the beau sprung on me that he had thought we weren't checking bags. Just carry-ons, he said. For seven days. Of sweater-weather. Shouldn't be a problem, should make things much easier.

... And with that, all my carefully laid plans imploded.

There I was, standing amongst my stack of sweaters, buried in stress from work, having a mild anxiety attack, staring at my two suitcases. The one I had planned to bring, and the infinitely smaller (per my mind's eye) carry-on.

After a come-to-Jesus moment with myself (read: sobbing, clinging to my Insta-worthy sweaters), I was ready and determined. A carry-on it was. I could do this. I ran off to buy organizer bags, because everyone said that was the trick... Most were totally unnecessary and I returned them. Here is what I DID do to save space, and what I brought along in that tiny bag for our voyage.**

Let's do this, little red!

To save space:

• Streamline shit:  Duh. Best way to save space is have less stuff. So, I laid everything out to decide what was really necessary and what wasn't. I also made a firm "maybe" pile of stuff I could add back in if I had room. I laid out every single thing, so there would be no surprise items to squeeze in last minute (this was the night before we left #nopressure).
• Roll with it: You'll always hear people talk about rolling their clothes to avoid wrinkling and save room. This is infinite wisdom, always. Just, do it. 
• Suck it up: Vacuum seal compression bags. I've heard rave reviews, I just didn't get how to pull that off. TURNS OUT that there are some that require no equipment. It's like a jumbo ziploc bag that you seal up, and then roll the air out. The air can only go out one way. It. Is. Magic. That magic bag is how my sweaters went from taking up 3/4 of my carry-on to 1/3 of it. [Price: $5 at TJ Maxx and I now use them to store blankets under the bed, dust free!]
• Bag it: Organization is key to space saving. While I returned most of the little organizer bags, I did keep one "cube tube" to keep my socks/panties/PJs/misc in order [Price: $10, Container Store travel sale]. I had my makeup bag to org toiletries, the compression bag to keep my sweaters together, and then a shit ton of ziplocs to org anything else (seriously, no need to buy something fancy, these work fine). 
• Splitsies: I split up the liquids and had the beau take some of the shared items, like shampoo and nail clippers, to save me a little room. (That bag was lost going through security so... hit or miss on that decision.) 
• Disposable: Since I wasn't sure what I might want to buy to bring back, to make sure I had room for later, most of what I brought with was also "disposable." Snacks would be consumed, tissues used, my face wipes tossed, etc. AND a lot of my clothing could get tossed if I was in a real bind for capacity (see ratty shoes and free sweaters below - plus, TMI, but I brought my least fave panties - they take up space, too! Toss if needed!) 

Flatlays confuse me.... 

What I packed.... 

• On my person
• My badass waterproof, wind resistant, lightweight, 3-in-1 coat (that I've worn every day since I bought it) - the HFX performance Kingsley 3-in-1 jacket - it has a black rain jacket shell and teal puffy insulated jacket liner, they  easily zip apart if you want to wear just one part - it's the probably best coat I've ever owned 
• Price: $112 (originally $220) - this was my splurge item since I haven't gotten a new winter coat in six years. It's even MORE on sale now, so GET IT!
• My bulkiest blue-and-white-stripped sweater [Price: free* - Old Navy]
• A black undershirt/tank 
• Black scarf
• My comfy black "jeans" - Rockstar 24/7's (that my sister tried to convince me are jeggings but, I swear, they're not - they're just soft denim!!) [Price: free* - Old Navy] 
• Semi-ratty black sneakers (since I just wanted comfy plane shoes and a hiking boot alternative if needed for dinner or something)
• Mint green watch - which I didn't change the time on for our whole trip
• In my backpack - we flew SAS which had size limitations for your "personal" item, which meant my backpack was a bit of a stretch, so I made sure not to pack it TOO full, just to avoid conflict. I specifically packed my most important items, just in case something happened with my carry-on though.
• Nautica waterproof cross-body purse that I wore the whole trip and that has the best pockets (for the flight, it was hidden in my backpack since it's a "personal item" in itself) [Price: $15 - on sale, Boston Store RIP]
• My purse had my wallet, glasses/contacts case, regular camera, passport, Field Notes, and phones in it
• Waterproof hiking boots - which, despite the struggle to find a size for a discontinued style (Ahnu Sugarpine), were so worth it [Price on eBay: $100 - my second splurge item, but invaluable to my happiest on the trip, since I fucking hate wet socks]
• Hats - vital with the wind #becausebigears  [Price: $6 for two, thanks seasonal H&M clearance! I bought new ones because my others are a bit loose on my head and I was worried about wind - I was right]
• Snacks, sudoku, music, hairbrush and face wipes: aka stuff for the flight
• Inhaler, digi chargers, meds, tissues, hand sani, extra socks: aka my vitals
• A large reusable grocery bag - which was our trip snack bag and meant I could sprawl my shit out when we weren't hopping on planes
• One outfit, just in case
• Plain black long sleeve shirt 
• Black waterproof lightweight pants, that also button up to be capris [Price: $10 - Eddie Bauer outlet]
• In my carry-on bag 
• Various organization baggies (see above)
• Makeup bag and liquids bag
• Curling iron (from my study abroad days - thanks, France, for your two pronged European standard plugs!)
• Compression socks (#cuzim90), PJ shorts, panties, bras, gloves, etc.
• Tops:
• Light grey cable-knit sweater [Price: free* - Old Navy]
• Raspberry v-neck sweater [Price: free* - Old Navy]
• Cupio black, blue and white turtleneck - block colors [Price: $4 - Goodwill]
• Cupio black, blue and white turtleneck - zipzagging colors [Price: $10 - Boston Store. Yes, I found the same turtleneck in a slightly different pattern and I got it #noregrets]
• Maroon long sweater [Price: free* - Old Navy]
• Black with white stripes, 3/4 sleeve thin tunic 
• Plain grey v-neck t-shirt (worn for PJs, but not a "PJ shirt" - so I could wear it out as well)
• Bottoms:
• My standard pair of black jeans that I always wear
• A pair of black tights (with footies)
• Black activewear pants (Calvin Klein performance - a workout pant with butt pockets so I don't have to feel like I'm wearing legging as pants) [Price: $30 - way more than I'd normally spend on pants, but they were great for hiking]
• Pair of grey flats (that could be tossed if needed since I've had them forever, and they were only $3 originally lol)

So - why babble all that off?  Because that list encapsulates some of my fave packing tips:

1. Oh, yes, you can bring all that shit. Where there's a will, there's a way. Jenga that junk in there! (And that compression bag = life for me now!) Don't be afraid to go small,  having a carry-on only really is way easier, plus saves time / the annoyance of hauling stuff.
2. DON'T forget to budget for those "I need this for my trip" costs. Could I have gotten fewer sweaters? Sure. But, I'd have been miserable without those good hiking boots, and without that coat. And those two things, even though I got them on sale, just cost more. So, when you're budgeting for a trip, don't forget to factor those purchases in! 
3. Keep to a color palette so clothes can be easily intermixed. Notice all the black? Yeah, that just works always. (And, then you don't have any visible sweaty pits when hiking!)
4. Split your stuff up between your allotted bags. If one goes missing then, it's less detrimental. Always keep the most important stuff with your person if you can. And having more bag options means you can divvy stuff up differently as you're travelling (the ziploc that organized my snacks later kept my dirty socks from stankin' up my bag).

There's always a tipping point when packing for a trip where you have to decide: is this the stuff I actually need and am I could toting that crap around?? And that's when you have to dig deep, get rid of that fifth pair of pants, and say, "Not today, pack rat. Not. Today." Godspeed, travelers. Keep calm and carry... on...  (See what I did there???)

Where's my plane again?

Also, if you're thinking "I don't give a fuck about luggage, where's the adventure??" 

You can go check my other travel tips post (that's less luggage-centric), these Copenhagen highlights, or these play-by-play posts about our days in the Faroe Islands!

* Ready for some footnote inception?? Go see my footnote in my post about becoming debt-free to hear me rave like a lunatic about that Gap Card I have and love.  
** I added prices for things I bought new "for the trip" - I got a lot of great stuff that I'll use all the time, so, though the trip inspired the buys, I'm totally happy with the purchases! Another note: the weather in Copenhagen was set to be 70s and sunny, the Faroe Islands between 50 and 60 with the constant potential for rain/wind/mist - REALLY easy weather to pack for.... 

Cast off the Shackles of Yesterday

Here it is, a moment almost eight years in the making:
I am now officially debt free!

Kickin' off those financial chains (that have become an unfortunate fashion statement of my generation) and running forward toward the future! It took just shy of eight years, but my student loans and car loan are now fully paid, and I feel $45k+ lighter (ouch, my soul). Just in time for my personal goal of breaking free before my 30th! (Can I get a "fuck yeah"??)

BONJOUR! Welcome to your debt free life!

When it comes to debt, there are often feelings of "being behind" or comparing against others. But really, this isn't a race in which we compete against one another. It's a race for all of us to get to the other side as soon as we can. A struggle against the "man" and a bitchin' awful burden that we all need to help push each other through. AND a race we need to then convince each other to stay out of and never run again, so as not to have a Sisyphean debt situation that haunts us til we're old and crotchety. (Because interest rates make people crotchety!)

So, while some of these may be obvious, I've had enough friends who have said, exhausted, "I can't wait til I get there" that I've compiled a list of things I did over the years to chip away at that mountain. Some being things I wish I'd have always done - so that I could've paid off my shit even sooner. These aren't financial wizardry, but hey, whatever gets the job done!

• Spend like you're as poor as you were that first summer : When I first moved down to Milwaukee, I was making $30k a year and working 50+ hour weeks (#salaried). My student loans had kicked in in full force and I had long since burned through any savings over the years (from trying to pay for uni upfront). I was pretty damn poor. And... it was a fantastically fun summer. I had a good time, and no money. Baseline. I know that I can live on a little, and that means a lot. They always say to not ramp up your living expenses too much as you make more money over the years, and then you can save more. It's true. 
• Keep pushing : Speaking of that first job.... OH my goodness, negotiate!! If I had a time machine, I'd kill Hitler, hug my grandma, and tell my 22 year old self to not be such a weak tit pansy and negotiate on that first salary. Know your worth and push to get paid what you deserve. Because over time, you'll make percentage raises. And when you get a pay raise on dirt, you just get slightly more dirt. (And this isn't Waterworld.) Keep fighting for more. 
• Work smarter, not harder : Pay off your debt with the highest interest rates first. Period. If you have credit card debt, then you better be tossing every spare dime you have at that shit, because the APR will murder you in your sleep if you don't. 
• Make it work for you : If you do have to pay using credit, get a card that gives you some sort of perk. Whatever your fancy is: airline miles, cash back, etc.* AS LONG AS YOU PAY IT OFF RIGHT AWAY, it can help you save in other ways.
• Know when to hold 'em : IE know what you're willing to splurge on and what you're not. Gas money to go see family? 100% yes. A nicer pillow for my creaky neck (#cuzim90)? Yes, or I'll die -  and the pillow will save a chiropractor bill. That root canal? Well damn, sure. Getting my nails done? Ha, not unless you mean getting some polish from the dollar store and doing them myself. Getting a soda at dinner? Yeah, I could buy a whole liter for that same price. AKA some things are worth your money, and some things are just fluff that you can do without. I mean, I went without internet for three years in my twenties (no smartphone either, I went to the library). So. Much. Savings.  
• Buy thrifty : Thrift stores forever! For furniture, tchotchkes and literally 95% of my clothes. Especially in my early twenties, I owned very few things that weren't on their second life. (I had never spent more than $20 on a pair of pants until I was 28.) If you hate the idea of pre-owned goods: A) good luck in a post-apocalyptic future state and B) then at least get a bargain! Outlet stores and sales seasons for bargain goods. And haggle for everything else. (Did you know that some dentists will give you a discount if you pay in cash? Don't ask me how I know that. Just know that it can be worth it to ask them.)
• Save on housing : you don't have to have that fancy apartment with in-unit laundry right away. You can live in a cheap (but safe) "shithole" for a bit, or at least do without some luxuries to save some moola.
• Be thrifty : Have the same amount of fun, but spend less. 
• Hit up happy hour instead of buying drinks or food full price. And always, always have leftovers.** 
• Have a water between every drink on a night out to save your head and your wallet the hangover. 
• If you're making a meal, stretch it out - add more noodles to that sauce, tag on some bread so you get filled up faster and eat less of the more expensive stuff, don't always have meat with every meal, etc.*** Buy fruit in season, buy in bulk for the rest, and freeze what you can. That includes buying snacks in bulk and then putting them into your own little baggies (like a drug dealer - of Teddy Grahams). 
• Go to free local events. 
• Travel on foot instead of Ubering. 
• Make your own damn coffee at home. 
• Fix things instead of buying new things. DIY some shit. 
• You don't have to pay for a gym - there are plenty of free videos online.
• Laundry can be skimped a bit - change into lounge clothes as soon as you get home from work and that blazer can be worn again! Also, air dry as much stuff as you can.
• Unplug shit and shut off lights. Seriously, it does add up. And #SaveThePlanet.****
• Keep the beater car as long as you can : Not having a car loan is the best. It lets you pay off other stuff faster. Don't feel bad if you have a beater car. If it's safe and it runs, hold onto it. Even if the tape deck is busted. 
• Vacation cheaply : Don't nix travel, just be careful about it.
• Visit someone you know and can crash with. Then you can save SO much, and, bonus, you get to see people you care about. (Thank you friends, for your kindness and your couches over the years!) 
• If it's cheaper to drive/train/bus than to fly, give that a go. 
• Instead of eating out on your trip every meal, hop to a grocery store and make some sandwiches or grab some cereal. 
• Try a "staycation" and go someone closer to home - odds are there are some really cool places within a few hours of where you are, and day trips mean you get to sleep in your own bed at night! 
• If you're lucky enough to travel for work, piggy back a few days off the end of a work trip to take time for yourself to enjoy. 
• Buddy. System. Travelling together means splitting costs as well! 
• Ask for practical gifts : My favorite Christmas gifts for the last ten years: contact solution and Nyquil. These are expensive necessities that Santa brings me to save me money. Thanks, Santa!
• Keep chipping : Every little bit really does help. Holiday bonus? Birthday card cash from grandma? Random money you found in your books while moving? (Yeah, I have some depression era tendencies of not trusting banks. Fight me.) Just push it all towards that principal, man.  

So... hate the idea of budgeting? Yeah. We all do. Just, be conscious of your spending. Make little changes that help you chip away without feeling like you're deprived. And then, deprive yourself from time to time to ramp up the pay off. It's a tough fight but, you know what they say.... love, is a battlefield. And we love having things (like a college education and a car that runs in all the gears). So sometimes we need to take on debt and then fight it, to get the junk we love. The point is, that we all keep fighting, and that we make it to the other side. Because, man oh man, does that other side feel fantastic! 

I did it! Cheers to victory and a debt free future!

* I have a Gap card. It gives me Gap cash to spend at Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic or Athleta. And I frickin' love it. Is it an "adult" choice? Probably not. But I've gotten almost $1000 in savings on clothes since I got it. What does that look like? $600 in gap cash and $400 worth of extra savings from being a card holder. That free card cash has bought me jeans, work outfits, swimsuits, a full suit for the beau, baby shower clothes, Christmas presents for my family, etc. Plus, since I get that shopping bug, what's better than FREE clothes??

** You know where I first became a "regular" in Milwaukee? The Bees.... As in, the Applebee's. Because it was walking distance from my apartment (no taxi fare or DUI ticket fee). They had a 2 for $20 dinner special where I could eat an app and a dessert with a friend and then take my full main meal home for leftovers. Add on a $2 long island (or two). And boom, I've spent less than $15 for dinner and drinks with a friend PLUS two meals worth of leftovers. I have no regrets about those nights at the Bees, and neither does my wallet. 

*** When I studied abroad, I spent every dime on travel. When it was a regular week at uni though, I ate like a weird homeless person. I'd haggle for potatoes and carrots from the gypsies at the market on Sunday, pick up a pack of 80 euro cent "hot dogs" from Li'dl (the Aldi's of France), buy a few baguettes and some wine, a box of noodles and some butter. My total cost for food for the week would be around 10 euros (a little over $15 at the time). Again, baseline. I know I can survive off that and not die of scurvy - so I can eat on the cheap if needed and make something out of nothing. I also lost a lot of weight. So. Bonus.
**** Also, you know where you can charge that cell phone for "free"? Pretty much anywhere but your home. The library. The coffee shop. The office. Those places all have a much bigger budget for their electric bill than you do probably... Just saying. 

Thanks, Mom

Moms are a special breed of badass. Not all mothers are the traditional kind, who've pushed a watermelon out of their vagina, some are ones who came into the role by other circumstances. The one thing all moms have in common: their unyielding (and often terrifying) love for their children and the fact that those children made them a little insane over the years.

And that, is why we love them. Because they love us, and they're just a bit unhinged from all the torture we put them through over the years. These are the women who were responsible for molding us into the people we became. And that just explains so much about each of us.

Stand by your ma.

As a quick little ode to the woman who bore me, I wanted to compile a list of some of the things she's taught me over the years....

• How not to cut bangs - because they shouldn't start at the back of the head (see my school photos from grades 1 through 4).
• You should never shower during a lightning storm, you might get zapped. (Sorry, ma, I did this just last night. Still alive.)
• "You've gotta suffer to be beautiful" - she said, combing endless knots out of my hair.
• Old country music is the best country music - get a buck for the box, put on "A White Sport Coat and a Pink Carnation," and see who your friends really are. Oldies, in general, are the way to go.
• If it starts raining while you’re mowing lawn, just kick it into rabbit gear and beeline for the garage (after you finish that last strip in the front of course). 
• How to pack your whole world into the trunk of a car. Seriously. She's a wizard at that shit. Must be because she's so good at puzzles in general. 
• I should always be thankful I didn’t have three brothers.
• Anything crazy thing I ever have done, probably pales in comparison to just one summer of my mom's youth. She listens to the stories about my shenanigans, and I can just tell she's thinking, "I can do ya one better...." 
• Handsomeness level should always be measured against a young Elvis. He was just SO handsome.
• How to squirrel clean - because in our small hometown, someone is bound to show up at any moment, and the only time you'll have to tidy up is from the time you see them drive up the street to the time they make it to the door. No time for real cleaning, only time for hiding. Squirrel away anything sitting out and worry about finding those nuts again later. 
• How to dye and perm hair at home. When I think of the money saved by my family over the years, it's insane.
• If the need should arise, I have childbearing hips. THANKS for those, ma. LOVE having those Shannon hips and thighs. 
• How to drive while blowing your nose and eating a hot dog - and then deciding it's time to pass someone on that two-lane highway, as well. 
• You should always look good when you go to the grocery store in case you meet the man of your dreams AND always wear clean underwear on a trip in case you get in an accident and have to go to the hospital. This was a double whammy from both mom and grandma - to the point that I don't even recall who said it more often. But, to this day, I've only worn sweatpants to the grocery store like twice ever. So. Point made.
• Old margarine containers really do make the best Tupperware.
• "Our friends called!" You know that scene in The Jerk when he's really excited about the new phone book? My mom gets excited in the same way when she gets home and there are messages on the answering machine. Never underestimate the joy of a voicemail. (That is, to anyone over  40. The rest of us hate voicemails.)
• Big is a great movie, definitely worth buying. Even if you accidentally buy it three or four times...
• Always keep a baseball bat handy - a wooden one specifically. That is our family weapon of choice. My mom has one by her bedside. I keep one in the trunk of my car. Because one never knows.
• No matter where you are, or what kind of trouble you might be in, she is always just a phone call away. Family isn't here to judge when you need help, and it's better to call than to struggle alone.

My ma has also taught me how to laugh long and loud. And, even though she's not one to cry during movies (and will always turn and go "ARE YOU CRYING??" just to call you out), she has no hesitation in laughing til the tears start flowing. I remember sitting at my college summer orientation, watching a comedy sketch with my mom by my side. She and I were both laughing so hard that we had started sobbing. With tears streaming down my face I sputtered, "MOM, quit making me laugh! Everyone is going to wonder why we're crying and... and I won't have any friends!!" At which point, she of course started cry-laughing harder. And as the stitch in my side grew and the looks from those seated near us became more alarmed, I knew that even if I didn't make a single friend (because I was that freak weeping girl), I'd always have one friend to laugh with. My mama.

Cheers to this woman, who gave me life and makes my heart smile.

My Life as an Accidental Spectathlete

I'm not what one might call "athletic." As a teen, when all my gal pals were picking which Spice Girl best represented them, Sporty Spice wasn't even in my top five. (Yes, I know there were only five. That's how unrelatable I found her, her tracksuits, and ridiculously high pony.) And yet somehow, I've found myself in a relationship with...  a runner.

I assure you, he was not a running man when we started dating, or else my love-being-lazy-Spidey-senses would've gone off. But, as is his way, when he decides to be passionate about something, he goes ALL in. Cue last spring, at which point he had run a total of three 5ks in his life, just for funsies, and was one of those guys who never went to the gym, but somehow stayed super skinny (due to willpower - that personality trait which continues to elude me). Then one day he woke up, and decided that running was his thing. (Very Forrest Gump of him.)

And here we are. A year later. Since that revelation, in 2017, he ticked off the following races (not to mention countless training hours):

• Nine 5ks
• Two 8ks
• One quarter marathon
• Three half marathons
• And one 1-miler burrito run (don't ask)

2018 is just over three months in, and he's already surpassed the 300 mile mark. Beyond practice, we've had four races so far: two 5ks, one 10k, and another half marathon. Of these 20 competitions: I've so far only missed three.* Which means that, despite my general inability to run properly, firm opinion that running should be reserved for snagging the last donut in the break room / fleeing if one's life is in danger (zombies), and overall confusion as to why anyone would put their body through that torture... I've accidentally become a Spectathlete.

Running down the dream....

Being a Spectathlete goes beyond just showing up. That shit's for pansies. That was me, once: wandering aimlessly, bringing way too much shit without having anything helpful, and basically being more of a burden than a help. But now, I'm a well-oiled machine. A mix between the cranky-old-man coach from Rocky, cheerleader, and psychotic mama bear. While he's prepping by putting on the miles, I'm preparing to be the ultimate support system.

So, what does an average race day look like for someone who is acting as beach mom, coach, caddie, chauffeur, dasher, doctor and documentarian, all in one?

PRE
The weeks leading up:

• Constantly check the weather. The worse the predicted conditions, the more annoying I am about convincing the beau that racing is awful and he should stop.
• Read and re-read the event website. Figure out the best place to stake out. Memorize parking and street closure details. (I also scope out what kind of food/rewards will be given, so I know what snacks I can expect to hijack.)

Finisher freebies: breakfast of champions!

The night before:

• Continuous commentary about weather conditions.
• Nail down wake-up time based on start time. Set backup alarms.
• Make sure attire is laid out and ready (last minute laundry, as needed). Add backup race gear into my backpack (extra socks, fresh sweatbands, windbreaker jacket, etc). 
• Carbo load. This is for me, not the beau. He carbo loads prior. This is just an excuse for me to eat more while I stress about him somehow injuring himself the next day. 

The morning of:

• Awake at ass crack of dawn / stupid early. Make sure the beau is up / showering.
• Hydrate and have a quick breakfast. Pack second breakfast (usually candy) to eat while standing along the trail, staring at all the runners sweating and panting. 
• Argue about how he should wear more clothes, it's cold out. Slather some sunscreen on his face and neck as he squirms away. Try to convince him to wear a hat, lose the battle, pack said hat just in case he changes his mind. 
• Add last minute stuff into beach mom backpack - typically just body glide. You know. For the nips. 
• Freak out that we're leaving late and rush out, with a spiked hot cocoa in hand. 
• Since my man's legs don't need to be doing any additional work, I put the pedal to the medal. Sometimes that means a quick drive to an easily accessible lot near the starting line. Other times, it means having left too late and being blocked at every turn by various event barricades and me shrieking, "I'M GOING TO GET YOU TO THIS RACE!" while taking evasive action. 
• Arrive at course. Convince beau to stay in the car as long as possible. 
• Once we're in the throng of people, it's time for pre-race stretches. Because he doesn't stretch on his own ever, in the minutes prior to the start, I force him to do some leg swings, toe taps, and some bring-it-around-towns.
• About 15 minutes before the start, he gets antsy and leaves me to go stand in the corral, pushing his way to be near the pacer of his choice. I go find a spot past the start line and take a zillion rapid click photos trying to capture him among the crowd as the race begins.

Cocoa, cocktails, and cowbells

DURING

• As soon as he's off. I'm out. If it's a long run, I'll hoof it to get food, or will walk about. If the weather is awful, I'll hop back to the car and read or write up my weekly to-do list. If it's a short run, I don't go far. 5ks are a quick ordeal, and I want to be there for the finish. 
• For the long runs, I prop myself up along the route, ready to give the beau a mid-race cheer, a quick kiss, fresh socks, that hat he swore he wouldn't want, a tissue, etc. This also means I'm in prime position to have him chuck his empty water bottle or a sweaty jacket at me, to lighten his load. (At which point, I typically fail to catch whatever he threw, and have to dash into the course to chase after said object.)
• Yes, I carry a cowbell. When I'm not frantically waving it, being a screaming fanatic, it dangles off my beach mom backpack and I sound like a lost, stray sheep.
• Despite my tendency to eat ice cream while spectating, I genuinely try to support all the runners, even if it's stupid early and in typically less-than-optimal conditions. I've learned to yell helpful things, like "Don't forget to breath!" or "There's a GIANT puddle a few yards up - veer left!" or "You're just behind the 8:30 pacer!"
• Depending where I was staked out, sometimes I need to drop into a dead sprint to make it to the finish line in time. Cutting the course and dodging between the crowd to get to that final victory moment. It's a tuck-and-run, speedy little ninja scenario.
• Near the finishing chute, I hold my ground among the proud spouses, moms, and various fan clans. We make small talk. Many of us have already spoken while hanging out along the route. All of us want to catch that final photo of our loved one crossing (or about to cross) that finish line. We need to be there to give that last hurrah and to mop up their sweaty foreheads as they clumsily put on their medal. I'll cut a bitch if they get in the way, even if we're new race-day-BFFs. Plus, sometimes someone pukes after they cross the finish, and who doesn't want to have a front row seat to that ridiculousness??

Keep it up, runners! I'll be right here, snacking.

POST

• As official record keeper, I immediately shove a camera in the beau's reddened face. Especially for the winter races he foolishly signed up for (IN WISCONSIN), I was sure to photograph his frozen misery as a future cautionary reference. And then whatever photo I take, I text to his mom. #BecauseMoms
• After I've consumed his freebie finisher snacks, and he's had his post-race beer (again, Wisconsin - every occasion ends with a beer), we head to the car. He regales the tales of his adventure, providing a play-by-play of every pace change and hill. We critique the group who hosted the event and compare notes about how well they did (or didn't do) with setup, course markers, etc. 
• Once home, the commentary continues, as my dearest man obsesses over the posted times of others in his age group. I make the occasional comment and offer suggestions. He showers and (after much training) hangs up his sweaty clothes. 
• Have you ever seen a runner's feet? Don't. If you have to, just be ready to play doctor and patch up some bloody toes.** Forcing a man to take care of his body is like trying to force broccoli on a toddler - they'll thank you later. 

And then he's back to normal. I force him to hydrate, and he consumes an entire day's worth of calories in one sitting. Life returns to its usual pace, and I get a full 24-hours without hearing the comment "I'm going to pop out for a quick run..."

And then it starts all over again. 

No, running is not something I'm good at. Per my doctor, "Some people just aren't meant to be runners, sweetie." And no, it's not even something I really comprehend as a choice of hobby. BUT, once a year, instead of taking on my usual role as a spectathlete, we run a 5k together. We​ don't run side-by-side like some couples, because in this arena, we're not equals. He excels, and I'm so proud of him. When we're in the same race, he high-fives me while coming back around (when I have yet to even hit the turn around point). And when I huff my way, red-faced across that finish line, he's right there, cheering me on. Because at some point in the past year, running went from being a solo activity, to being a team sport. And since then, we've been running down that dream... together. 

Teamwork makes the dream work...

* In case you're curious as to why, of the three I missed: one I was in Vegas for a bachelorette, another I was in NYC for work, and the last one I had a going away happy hour for a coworker who was departing to go write her novel (worth celebrating!). So. Valid ish reasons, in my opinion.
** Helpful hint for preventative foot help: medical paper tape is good, Body Glide is better.