It’s been a busy day for me! Holiday? What holiday?
I ran a bunch of errands, did housework, and have to work later.
I took time out from the insanity and made a salad and plated it up on one of my new plates.
Thanks for everyone who told me you liked my new dishes and Marshall’s finds. Glad to hear many of you are fans of the discount stores for finding some great deals. Me too! But as I mentioned, I can only handle so much messiness and disarray before I get overwhelmed.
I dressed the salad with Horseradish Relish Dressing
I love the kick of horseradish!
And made a batch of Cinnamon & Sugar Roasted Chickpea “Peanuts”
Then it was time to honor the Holiday with Chocolate.
Enter: No-Bake Vegan Mint Chocolate Chip Coconut Snowballs
If you have coconut flakes on hand and are wondering what to do with them, this is a fast, easy, freezer-friendly dessert.
I also have a post with Chocolate Recipes if you want to skip the coconut and cut straight to the chocolate. I wouldn’t mind.
Earlier in the day Skylar and I went out in the winter weather.
It’s chilly here! Mid 50s and windy. I know that some of you think this is “balmy”. I don’t. I grew up in Minnesota and left that kind of weather for a reason! I am a warm weather girl, big time.
So is Skylar. But she bundles up with the best of ’em.
And yes, I wear a hat and vest when it’s this “cold”. My ears are really sensitive from too many childhood ear infections. I have to protect them or I get horrible headaches from cold temps and wind.
At least the hibiscus are still blooming despite the cold weather.
Questions:
1. Did you do anything special because of the Holiday?
No, clearly, nothing “special” here. Just another day of errands, a workout, housework, and work.
2. How do you dress for winter workouts?
I know Tina just did a post on how to dress for winter workouts.
When I lived in cold weather climates, I still worked out outside. I have no idea how I did it, but I did. I just wore as many layers as possible and made my workouts fairly brief while telling myself in my head, “This will be over soon!” and I ran as fast as possible back home!
I’d love to hear your fave combinations for layering and dressing for the winter. What types of base layers, middle weight layers, and outer layers you choose. It can be tricky to nail it properly and be warm enough, yet not over-heat. Nothing can spoil a run faster than being too cold. Or too hot.
My general strategy is a Target sports bra, then a base layer which usually is an old cotton race t-shirt, then a 10 year old Nike dry-fit shirt on top of that, and then a vest with a hat or ear warmer and gloves.
For pants, I have a pair of Lululemon pants that I bought to do yoga in but they are too hot for yoga and have been working well as running pants.
None of my choices are what the experts would recommend. Cotton isn’t a technical fabric nor is wearing a cotton hat nor yoga pants for running. But it’s what I have and seems to work fine for me. Just like I shop in my own kitchen and closet for dishes and everyday clothes, I shop in my own closet for workout wear.
What’s your base layer(s)?
What do you like for your outer layer(s)…vests, jackets, pullovers, hoods or no hood?
What do you do to protect your ears? Hat, ear-warmer, hood, nothing? I need something on my ears and a hood!
Glove or no gloves? Yes, for me!
How do you dress for your outdoor winter workouts? If you have any gear you love and is a lifesaver for you, tell me about it!
P.S. I have a couple workout posts that you may enjoy:
Streamlining Your Workouts into 40 minutes or less ( 20 mins cardio + 20 mins yoga/lifting/core work)
I just met a guy from Minnesota over the weekend. We bonded over Garrison Keillor… Please tell me you know who that is! :)
I always wear cotton when I run. When it’s cold outside I usually wear a sports bra, a cotton tank top, a cotton long sleeve tshirt, leggings, and my columbia fleece. Gloves? Yes. I would rather be too warm than too cold!
garrison keillor and the tales of lake wobegon, you know it baby :)
I really dislike the cold, so in the Winter I usually just stick to the gym or workout at home. I can’t wait to start running outside again! Even just walking from my car to the gym entrance is rough for me! I layer up like no other too!
Love your white knit hat!
After our cold snap, 50’s is warm ;-) Of course, we’ve been having some 70’s and I’m loving that. I have learned to layer. I get really hot when running, but always have to keep my ears covered (mine are sensitive too). I prefer my legs to be hot (keeping muscles loose) but cannot stand for my arms and core to get too warm – then I feel like I’m suffocating. So layers I can peel off!
Being from MN yourself, you will appreciate this: at 50 degrees I let my kids wear t-shirts and go without jackets, lol! 60 and we’re all having picnics at the beach. Always cracks me up to see Californians or Floridians pulling out the winter coats for anything under 70;) And now you will excuse me, I have to go make your mint coconut snowball thingies!
lol on the picnics at the beach in 60 :)
enjoy the mint snowballs!
Living in cold weather for going on six years now (?!?!?) has taught me how to dress for outdoor workouts. I try to balance my workouts to be about half inside and half out– although this time of year, they start to move inside more and more.
Glad you had a fun day with your girl! She looks so toasty in her big coat!
Work per usual over here! I didn’t even know people got off work for President’s Day! LOL
It was W’s bday so we finished up celebrating for him and I did a bunch of wedding stuff. I’m super sensitive to the cold-hate it, so I bundle up as best as I can and try to keep the complaints to a minimum,…which is hard!
I had to work a 12 hour day on Pres. Day. Oh well, days off are for pansies! ;)
Living in FL, I am the ultimate cold weather wuss. I keep my workouts indoors when the temp dips below 65!
For me personally, “cold weather” is everything below 40°, I might consider running outside on those days. But on “very cold weather” days, which start at 30°, I usually resort to the treadmill. I just hate being cold!
I also start with a sports bra and a wicking shirt, then maybe add a longsleeve cotton shirt, and always my running jacket on top. For pants I wear my running tights, knee high socks, sneaker socks on top (I hate having cold feet!), and maybe another pair of loose pants. I also need to protect my ears, so I wear at least a headband, or a fleece hat on colder days. Gloves are a must when it’s below 40, but optional on milder days, as my running jacket has rather long sleeves.
And I always wear a scarf to protect my neck!
That’s more clothes than recommended (e.g. by Runner’s World), but I’d rather be a bit too warm than too cold when I run.
Have a nice week!
great post. very informative. im usually a wuss when it comes to running outside in the cold weather. and it’s cold up here in the bay area right now…around 50s as well. i just cannot make myself run outside when it’s cold. lol but maybe if i do layer up, i’ll be fine. but i usually tolerate it around 60s. i spend a lot of time being inside heated room for yoga, it feels so good when it’s cold outside! but i do wear hats, tank top, zip up jacket, pants… don’t have any running goloves but maybe will look into it! thanks again for this post.
glad you liked this post :)
Cute cool weather gear. It’s in the 50s here today too, but I love it for long runs.
1. I relaxed and shopped, not a bad way to spend the holiday.
2. For runs I’ll usually need a headband to warm my ears and maybe gloves if it’s 40 or below. But usually a long sleeve sport shirt is fine. I invested in a running winter jacket only to find it too hot and heavy for long runs.
50 degrees….I’d be bundled up too. Its about 40 here in the daytime but gets down to the teens at night. I don’t leave the house until it warms up though, because I am a HUGE sissy.
I don’t wear anything special. I’m a Target girl, and a cheapskate. I used to be all about the wool base layers when I worked at an REI-type store (ie when I got them at super deals), but now, I wear whatever. I just wear a lot of layers and then I know I’m good to go.
Also, I try to not workout outside in the winter. :)
not working out outside…grrr…if my gym had better childcare hours i could be inside more but whatever, at least it’s san diego winters vs. a MN/WI winter!
Ugh, it IS cold here! It was 45 degrees this morning when I left my house- I was so glad I was going to the gym and not for a run outside!
Thank you for saying that it IS cold in SoCal right now :) I always catch a lot of flack when I post how “cold” it is..but it really is right now!
Is it that cold there in Cali???
Every time I come here I get so hungry. Snowballs, chocolate, horseradish dressing. You are triggering cravings ;-)
The only thing I do differently in the winter is wear long pants to workout in. No shorts. I rarely do outdoor workouts in the winter here because it’s SO cold and I’m a wuss :(
I am similar to you with the sports bra, then tanks, then Nike zip up. Only now with the belly it’s sports bra, long H&M tank or much larger size Marshalls exercise tank (any brand) and an open hoodie.
Wish I could afford Lululemon. I just can’t justify it :(
The pants are the one and only piece of lulu I bought that i wear. Have bought yoga shorts and a sports bra before from them. Not really in love with them. Never wear them. Will happily buy Target stuff or other smaller niche yoga brands, always, in the future :)