sidebar | life and training 6.20 – 6.26
Anyone else growing weary of reporting yet another blow to humanity?
Honestly, I don’t want to dwell in my Sidebar too much about current events. I grow tired and achy just thinking about them. I don’t believe it to be a mystery which side of this coin I’m imprinted on. I’m pissed and disgusted. That should tell you enough.
July 4th is coming, and I know people celebrate it in a benign fashion totally unrelated to its symbolic meaning, so that’s why I continue to share recipes and insight on making the holiday pleasant. What I do encourage anyone to do is not listen to TikTok and form some meaningless, shallow rebellion against the day. Rather, do some research, see if you can locate businesses who support your beliefs, perhaps ones run by minorities or women, and patron them rather than big box companies that hold standards opposites of your own. Such an action does far more good than stamping your feet down on social media. Just saying.
For my part, July 4th isn’t a big deal. I don’t work that day so I’ll probably be outside and BBQ just like half the country. I’m usually in bed by fireworks. Just a typical boringass day in the life of Kellie. This week, though, I’m hyped to share some extra July 4th recipes you can also carry into the rest of your summer gatherings. Food is an outlet of escape for me, and perhaps sharing time and meals with friends is for you, too.
I’ll cheers to that.
Summertime Cakes & Cupcakes
Peach Melba Ice Cream Loaf Cake
No Fuss Vanilla Key Lime Cheesecake
Maple Brown Butter Fig Layer Cake
Bursting Blueberry Lime Cupcakes
Pastels for the 4th
Below I’m sharing some of my favorite white and dusky pink pieces to inspire your July 4th attire. I don’t own all of them (no way) but the colorway and patterns inspire me.
Tops
Dresses
Active/Outdoors
Swim
What I’m Up To This Week
Testing… I honestly don’t even know yet. This past week was a big flop for many concepts so I’m not sure I’m ready to bodyslam them again. Thinking a summery mac and cheese at least, a sushi bowl, and a fun July 4th cocktail.
Wanting…This lovely navy cutting board for staging fall recipes. Yep, already thinking of autumn food around here, I’m over summer already.
Wearing…These soft-ass basics, best for creating any sort of outfit. Grabbed a light brown and a green striped one. They’re seriously SO SOF.
Buying…This marble rolling pin (FINALLY. Wood ones suck) and floral imprint dinner plate. Always looking for ways to level up my staging.
Loving…Bike shorts, but ONLY for wearing around the house. They make my legs look like tree stumps otherwise and I don’t love them for styling normal outfits – comfy for long cooking days, though. Wouldn’t mind snagging the heather oatmeal of these.
Reading…Verity by Colleen Hoover. A new to me author and I’ve heard many good things about this story. I found it pretty formulaic and as far as the story pace goes, predictable. Good if you like straightforward suspense, but not my favorite.
A Few Things I’m Digging
T-shirts…Obsessed with these basics. Easily dress them up or down for casual daytime or spiffy nighttime looks.
Pesto…Such a fitting flavor profile for the season. I usually make a version of my broccoli pesto and soon will be debuting a Greek-style pesto!
Cereal…I seem to mention a new cereal every week, but Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheerios are my shit right now.
Necklace…I don’t love jewelry but J bought me a sun and moon necklace awhile back that I will continue to love. This one is similar!
Peanut butter…Bought Justin’s Honey Peanut Butter in an act of desperation during the Jif recall phenomenon, and honestly it might be one of my favorites ever.
Monday, 6.20: 3.18 miles, 11:19 pace + 1 hour back & biceps
Decent run, heart rate averaged 158. Seeing the fall is really satisfying thus far. Bumped up my intervals to 2 minute run/1:30 walk, keeping the recovery the same as prior but trying to get more trotting in the mix.
Strength:
- 3 x 8 mid row 90#
- 3 x 11 biceps curl 25#
- 3 x 10 rope pulldown 77#
- 3 x 10 boat rotating curl 20#
- 3 x 12 row 35#
- 3 x 12 zottman curl 15#
- 3 x 15 ea. cable retractions 7#
- 4 x 8 bent over front raise 35#
- 3 x 12 waiter curl 35#
- 3 x 12 oblique bends
- 3 x 30 Russian twist 25#
Tuesday, 6.21: 2.66 miles, 11:16 pace + 55 minute shoulders & triceps + 1,050 yard swim (23:40)
Felt pretty nervous all day that I wouldn’t have time to do everything I needed/wanted, but that fear was unfounded. I managed to plot my day out efficiently and did what I wanted, including a quick but lovely swim after work. 200 wu, 5 x 100, 5 x 50 free/breast medley, 100 cooldown. It was a gorgeous day for the pool and the breeze was even a bit cool!
Strength:
- 3 x 11 bench press 70#
- 3 x 8 ea. bent arm side raise 20#
- 3 x 11 pullover 40#
- 3 x 10 narrow press 30#
- 3 x 9 Arnold 20#
- 3 x 11 extension 40#
- 3 x 15 fly 20#
- 3 x 11 press down 37#
- 3 x 12 underhand front raise 15#
- 5 minutes core
Wednesday, 6.22: 5.18 miles, 11:06 pace + 1 hour legs
Unseasonably lovely morning with a dew point of 66 – which trust me, is lovely for Florida. The run was pretty clunky, though, and my pacing for the intervals pretty helter skelter. 2 x 400, 2 x 300, 2 x 200. I do wonder if GPS reception had something to do with the numbers, though, since the positive splits seemed a bit extreme.
Strength:
- 2 x 15 ea. Jefferson lunge 40#
- 3 x 12 sumo squat 60#
- 2 x 8/ 2 x 6 ea. single leg extension 60/70#
- 3 x 12 double pulse plie squat 80#
- 3 x 11 ea. single leg press 120#
- 2 x 15 ea. step out goblet side lunge 35#
- 3 x 10 ea. single leg hip thrust 40#
- 3 x 30 skaters
- 3 x 20 ea. banded clams
- 2 x 20 ea. banded single leg bridge
Thursday, 6.23: 2.17 miles, 11:31 pace + 52 minute back& biceps + 1,300 yard swim (31:38)
Funny how 2 miles seemed like a total waste of time during marathon training. Right now, I’m embracing miniature mileage. Legs were heavy but to be expected after heavy lifts. Had a nice, quiet after work swim with a freestyle ladder wedged between 50 yard kick sets.
Strength:
- 3 x 11 ea. eccentric curl 15#
- 3 x 9 mid row 80#
- 3 x 10 ea. cable curl 20#
- 3 x 8 rope pulldown 83#
- 3 x 11 ea. cross hammer curl 20#
- 3 x 9 narrow row 40#
- 3 x 10 ea. reverse fly 20#
- 3 x 8 narrow overhead pull 24#
- 3 x 20 punches 10#
- 5 minutes core
Friday, 6.25: 25 minute elliptical + 56 minute shoulders & tris
The temperature was EIGHTY FIVE when I woke up this morning, but it seemed this day was an anomaly. Headed indoors for my morning sessions and forewent my typical afternoon walk, which I like to do on non-swimming days usually, since we were under a heat advisory and I was not having it after the day we faced.
Strength:
- 3 x 9 overhead extension 45#
- 3 x 8 wide row 35#
- 3 x 9 bench press 35#
- 3 x 12 face pull 47#
- 2 x 10/1 x 9 skullcrusher 40# (failed the last rep)
- 3 x 12 close press 25#
- 3 x 10 ea. incline cross raise 20#
- 3 x 18 alt. seated front raise 15#
- 4 x 8 triceps pulse
Saturday, 6.25: 5.78 miles, 11:15 pace + 63 minute legs
The weather calmed to normal bullshit levels, and I ran faster than I should’ve during the 2 minute intervals, but oh well. Not too fussy over menial things like heartrate when our world is exploding.
Strength:
- 3 x 10 elevated squat 70#
- 3 x 15 elevated deadlift 90#
- 3 x 10 elevated sumo squat 90#
- 3 x 12 narrow leg press 180#
- 2 x 15 ea. single leg press 100#
- 3 x 8 alt. squat step out 50#
- 3 x 20 calf raise 150#
- 3 x 12 ea. supported SLDL 50#
- 3 x 10 ea. band things
- 3 x 15 ea. banded glute kickbacks
- 3 x 8 ea. lateral step up
Sunday, 6.26: 3.23 mile walk (50:00)
Total running mileage: 18.96
Total swimming yardage: 2,350
