For the love of Reese pieces

People don’t get why I love winter running, so I need to share it with you all and hope I can get some of you to give it a try!

First of all winter running and trail running are what I like to call “Nature’s obstacle courses”.  They provide attainable challenges and keep you on your toes the whole time. That is why I love them both so much! 😆
Things you need to know and things to make sure you have before trying this type of running:

Firstly, you need to be dressed warmly enough that you can get through the first 10 minutes of your run.  You don’t want to overdo it or you will overheat! I wear layers and use zippered clothing that can be zipped down if I am too warm. I have 2 types of running shoes for all of my running, my regular road shoes, and my trail/winter running shoes. These trail shoes have more tread, and a waterproof layer (sometimes) to protect your feet a little more.  You should have mittens/gloves that have a flip back top for when/if your hands get too hot.   Lastly, you should have a balaclava or a neck warmer to cover a good portion of your face and ears, and a good thin, yet warm hat.

When I run in the winter I feel so challenged, and so very satisfied when I am done.   I don’t worry about speed or distance, because the satisfaction of the battling the ice, snow, wind, and minus zero temperatures are an exhilarating challenge.

One thing also is that winter running gives you an excuse to run slower and use shorter strides.  This is an important tip as this is what you need to focus on the whole time.  As you run, shorten your stride in the snow and ice and if you think you may slip just hop off onto the grass and/or walk.   You also need to do this as you approach corners.

Well, have I convinced any of you out there to give it a try??? I strongly encourage you to if you love running and like a challenge.  This is the main way I have learned to embrace winter.  I found an activity I thoroughly enjoy doing outside and I learned that the challenge and fun of it make me so very happy, which in turn makes me a better person.

There are few things that satisfy me as much as coming in the door after a winter run with my icicled eyelashes!

Once you’ve embraced this, you can give my other favourite a try……snowshoe running😆 Now that’s another blog😄😄😄

Please, give it a try!  There are so many nice, clear winter days that are purely gorgeous and you could learn to embrace winter too.

Your Simply Susan motivational tip of the day.

Keep  sunny, and embrace winter running. 😆

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Being organized, What does it mean?

Being organized means putting forth a little more effort now to make things easier moving forward.

Becoming organized is changing how you think. From when you walk in the door and put your keys down in a standard spot you always use, to filling the dishwasher in such a way that makes it easier to empty.

It’s keeping your hats and mitts in one easy access basket by the front door.  There are so many things you could start doing today that will make life easier tomorrow….as long as you keep it up!!!
Once you start thinking in an organized way, things start to fall in place and get easier. Trust me. I wasn’t always this organized! Growing up I didn’t care about it as much, or see the benefit of it as I do now. Don’t get me wrong though, my mom had places for things and everything was kept quite clean and tidy. I just realized when I became a parent and bought a house that being organized and using these basic rules across the board not only keeps me happy, but my family as well!
Organizing is taking the time to do things the right way first with schedules, organizing bins, folders, any system you can put in place for yourself or your family that makes things easier and more automatic.
So many people are in such a hurry these days and need to get places fast, and get things done quickly. So, what you need to do is to first take some time to figure out what isn’t working and find a way to make yourself more efficient.

Some things I do (apart from the few I mentioned above) are:

1. Dealing with paperwork right away as it comes in the door (recycle bin, file, make a note of dates in my planner etc.)
2. Placing my phone/purse/wallet in a designated spot.
3. Have a charging station where all devices are charged in one spot.
4. Menu planning for the week.
5. Put clothes away or in the laundry after wearing them.
6. Keep a list on your phone or planner where you can add items you regularly use that you have run out of.
7. Put things back after you use them (books, magazines, appliances etc.)
8. Putting reminders in your calendar for due dates as soon as you find out about them.

These are just a few ideas off the top of my head.  It does take some time, but putting things away and keeping “like” items together and all in one spot saves time.  Keeping regularly used items in the same spot becomes a habit in no time and is worth it!

Your Simply Susan tip of the day! 😍

 

 

Quick and dirty cleaning tip😆 (Reader discretion advised)😆

One of my favourite cleaning tips to give people is to clean the shower right before you take one! You know you’re going to get wet and it’s just too dangerous to reach that far without getting in your tub or shower stall, so why not just do some naked cleaning of your shower!!!!!!😄😄😄

👉👉One important point to mention is that when you spray your mixture on, spray the higher parts and let it drip down your wall. You could spray the tub first, wait, wipe, then rinse away before getting in the tub to clean the walls. This mixture is soap, so once water is added to rinse it will become very slippery until rinsed away, so be careful if you are standing in your tub.!👈👈

The second very important tip I’ll mention here is what I use to clean the shower; soap scum and all.  I use an equal parts mixture of Dawn liquid soap and vinegar.   Just shake gently, spray on, wait 5-15 minutes (depending on how much build up your walls have) then wipe down (easy, NO elbow grease needed) and rinse away!

I prefer to use environmentally friendly cleaners, but have always struggled to find a good one for soap scum removal.  But, this simple half and half mixture really is that easy and works better than anything I’ve tried!

There you have it, your Simply Susan tip of the day!😆

Shake it up and rinse on!