There comes a moment in every Gen Xer's life when you wake up, look in the mirror, and think... "Wait... when did THIS happen?" Seriously. Yesterday I was blasting Bon Jovi in my car, eating Pizza Hut Personal Pan Pizzas after school, and trying to figure out how to record songs off the radio without the DJ talking over the intro. Today? I'm researching compression socks, comparing running shoes like they're luxury handbags, and getting excited over a Costco-sized bottle of i

What I Wish I Had Known Before I Started Running at 50 Spoiler Alert: Running isn't the hard part. Learning everything that comes with it is. There is a quote that says: "The best time to start was years ago. The second-best time is today." Whew. That one hits differently now. Looking back, I'm not sure I would have listened to that advice twenty years ago, but I sure wish I had started this journey a lot sooner than the ripe old age of 50. About a year ago, I casually asked

Sometimes you sign up for a race because it looks fun. Sometimes you sign up because the medal is cool. And sometimes you sign up because it's close to home and think, "How hard can it be?" Spoiler alert: those are usually the races that humble you the most. The Paiute Meadows 30K was one of those races. My husband and I originally signed up because we wanted to support our local running community. We had heard great things about the race organizers and figured it would be a

Alright, fellow thrill-seekers and fitness fanatics, listen up! If you think adventure is just for the two-legged crowd, think again. Your pug, that adorable little snort machine, is totally down for some action-packed escapades. Sure, they might not be scaling Everest anytime soon, but these pint-sized pals have a surprising zest for life. So buckle up, because I’m about to spill the beans on the best pug adventure activities that’ll have you both panting (and not just from

Alright, fellow thrill-seekers and fitness fanatics, let’s talk about something close to my heart: adventures with my pug. Yes, that adorable little snort machine who thinks every walk is a marathon and every squirrel is a personal nemesis. If you’re ready to swap the couch for some fresh air and tail wags, buckle up. We’re diving into the best pug adventure activities that’ll have you both panting (in different ways) and grinning ear to ear. Bubby at the park for a walk day

Alright, fellow wanderlusters and shutterbugs, listen up! If you’ve ever dreamed of turning your globe-trotting escapades and camera-clicking obsession into a full-blown travel blog that makes people stop scrolling and actually read (gasp!), you’re in the right place. I’m here to spill the beans on how to create a travel and photography blog that’s as addictive as your favorite Netflix binge and as eye-catching as that perfect sunset shot you nailed last summer. Silver Lake,

Alright friends, buckle up—because this one is a two-for-one special: a little running, a little chaos, and a whole lot of “why did we sign up for this again?” energy. As most of you know, my family and I have a slight obsession with running—especially trail runs and anything in Reno. Why Reno? Because it’s close, it’s easy, and honestly… it keeps calling us back like a toxic ex with really good snacks. This year we’ve done two races hosted by the Reno Running Company, and le

Let’s talk about motivation… or honestly, the lack of it. Because in my head, I am 100% going to work out today. I have the best intentions. I’ve planned it. I’ve mentally committed. And then… I get home from a long day. I’m tired. I’m overstimulated. Something random happened at work. Dinner needs to be made. The house needs attention. And suddenly I’m thinking: “Yeah… not today.” Sound familiar? The Mental Battle Is Real There are so many days where I sit there and think: “

Let me just start by saying: I clearly did not understand what “formidable” meant when I signed up for this race. The sign created for the race - 2026 For reference, formidable means inspiring fear or respect through being impressively powerful, intense, or capable. Cool, cool… sounds fun, right? 🙃 Looking back now, I have to laugh because when I signed up for this race in Auburn, I thought, “No big deal. I’ve been on this trail before. I got this.” I saw the medal previe

I’m over 50 and taking up running and walking. I hear all the time how “cool” it is that we’re sharing our adventures. People tell me they wish they could do it too. And every single time I say the same thing: If I can do it, you absolutely can too. We’re all in different stages of life. Our why is different. Some of us want to lose weight. Some are recovering from addiction. Some want to be able to move at 80. Some of us are quietly trying to outrun our own mortality. Whate

We are still training consistently. While we do take one to two rest days per week, we are now following a structured routine that includes strength training every other day with running in between. My husband and I do different workouts based on our individual needs, but we follow the same overall schedule, which helps keep us both accountable. I am still using the Runna app to build and guide my training program. I’ve adjusted my plan to include one full rest day per week,

We have all heard it before—the race itself is only 1% of the work , while the other 99% happens during training . Living in a colder part of California, training outside has been an adventure of its own. We regularly find ourselves running in 30-degree weather , and there are days when we’re training in rain or snow . Learning what to wear to stay warm, dry, and comfortable without overheating has been a process of trial and error. Shoes: Finding What Works for Your Feet For

For those who may not know, I’ve been on a GLP-1 medication for almost three years. I started my journey with Wegovy , and honestly—it felt like magic at first. I took my medication, checked in with my provider, and the weight came off steadily. I wasn’t tracking food, I wasn’t exercising consistently, and I wasn’t really changing my lifestyle. I was simply eating less, and the scale kept moving. Eventually, I reached the maximum dose and hit a plateau. And if I’m being hones

Sadly, I have to share that Disneyland will no longer be hosting RunDisney events . We do know this is temporary, but there’s no clear timeline on when they’ll return. For those of us who live in California, this means traveling to Florida to get our RunDisney fix. It also means that for runners dreaming of earning their Coast to Coast , that goal is being placed on the back burner for now. Our Metals from Wine & Dine 2025 You can feel sad about it—or you can use this time to

We’ve officially completed our first run of the year —well, technically our second. We started 2026 strong with a New Year’s Day run on January 1st in Auburn, California , and followed it up with what felt like our first big race of the season: a 10K and a Half Marathon . After coming home, we took a well-earned recovery week. That doesn’t mean we stopped moving entirely—we still focused on stretching and light gym workouts—but we did step away from structured treadmill trai

Alright, listen up, shutterbugs and pixel pushers! You’ve got a camera, a dream, and a bunch of killer shots that could make Ansel Adams jealous. But here’s the kicker - if your personal photography portfolio looks like a hot mess, no one’s gonna stick around to admire your genius. So, buckle up, because I’m about to spill the tea on how to craft a portfolio that actually stands out in the wild jungle of online photography. Why Your Photo Portfolio Tips Need to Be More Than

Prepping for Our Walt Disney World Run Weekend! It’s finally here! We’re leaving for Walt Disney World in just a day or two, and I can’t believe how fast this trip snuck up on us. We’ve been planning this for about six months, and yet somehow I’m still double-checking everything like it’s the night before finals. Hotels? Check. Flights? Check. Bags? Sort of check. Running gear? Probably scattered around the house somewhere. This trip has been months in the making, and I can’

📍 Walt Disney World Resort — November 2025 Started in the morning with long sleeves At the Wine & Dine Race Weekend , there’s a challenge where you can run all three races —the 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon—over one weekend. I’ll be honest: doing that as your first race weekend is absolutely wild… but yep, we did it. My husband didn’t do the full challenge this time (he’s already regretting that decision), but after this experience, we decided we’ll be doing the challenges fro

Sometimes a lake feels like a secret gift from nature—and Juniper Lake is one of those places. My family and I try to visit every year, but life (and wildfires) has made that a little harder recently. If you follow my blog, you know I often talk about the devastation caused by the Dixie Fire in 2021 . Sadly, Juniper Lake wasn’t spared. Located within Lassen Volcanic National Park , Juniper Lake is not accessible from the park’s two main entrances. Instead, you’ll have to do

Lake Almanor is one of the most popular lakes in Lassen and Plumas counties—beloved by locals and a must-visit spot for travelers. With its sheer size, there’s no way to see it all in one trip! My family’s favorite hangout is near Rocky Point and the Plumas Pines area. Sony 6700 with E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS lens, ISO 100, focal length 50mm, aperture f/5.6, shutter speed 1/400 sec. 📍 How to Get There: 🚗 From Reno, NV : About 170 miles (3 hours) 🚗 From Chico, CA : About