Weekend Stuff

Happy Monday!  Did everyone have a great weekend?  It was so beautiful in Pittsburgh, and I'm still soaking in this warm weather.  Shorts in December- why not!

Today I'll be sharing some highlights of my week and weekend.  As usual, I'll be linking up with Meghan, Katie, Erin, Holly, Tricia, Carylee, Jenna!  Hope you all have a great week!

I ordered a dress!  Thank you all for giving your feedback and all of the amazingly nice comments.  I really do appreciate it!  I'll share the dress once I get it, but it was not the most popular one! (hint hint)

Pittsburgh is getting festive!  In the Market Square area, there are lots of little Christmas markets and Santa's house.  I had a meeting in one of PPG's buildings (they look like glass castles) so I went a little early to browse the shops and buy some cookies.

There's also a big ice rink and Christmas tree!  Even if it is 60 degrees out, this definitely puts me in the Christmas spirit.

On Thursday night, I met up with some ladies (including Lynne, Steff, Chelsea and Lauren) for dinner and a white elephant gift exchange.  For my gift, I decided to make an adult hot chocolate kit- complete with a mug, marshmallows, mini alcohol and vanilla bean hot cocoa.

I got some warm, fleece mittens with a hidden flask!  I'm not sure if I'll ever use the flask, but these will be perfect for ice skating, snow shoeing, skiing, or just being outside in the winter!  Funny enough, all of our gifts seemed to have an alcohol theme- wine glasses, beer cookbooks, aerator- loved it!

We had dinner at Butcher and the Rye, which was delicious.  I got the beet salad and pig candy, and both were incredible.  The receipts come in little notebooks, where guests can leave a message or sketch.  I was shocked to open it and find Baron Batch's signature elephant!  He's a former Pittsburgh Steeler-turned artist who created last year's marathon poster, and I was so excited to see his art in person!

After dinner, we saw Altar Boyz at the Cabaret at Theater Square.  This was my first time at that theater and I loved it!  It was a smaller venue with tables of four rather than regular seats.  Waitresses came around to take drink orders, and the whole thing seemed intimate and fun.  The show itself was amazing- very funny and the singers were terrific!

Here's the outfit that I wore!  I wanted to wear something a little more dressy and edgy than usual, so I paired some old HM skinny jeans in plum with a black crop top from Madewell and my favorite Express [minus the] leather jacket.

On Saturday, Dan and I headed to Monroeville Mall for a special movie viewing!  We got there before everything opened up, but we got to see these festive little houses.  When we came back after the movie, there were also carolers out and vendors in the houses.

 I loved all the decorations, and the cute little Christmas trees!

Every year, Dan's work hosts a special viewing of two movies at a huge discount.  This year they played Mockingjay Part 2 and The Happy Dinosaur.  We opted for Mockingjay, and we got two movie tickets and two vouchers for a popcorn and pop- all for $6!  Not a bad deal at all.  The movie itself was alright.  Dan and I aren't huge fans of the Hunger Game series, but I was happy I got to finish the series.

Sunday was race day!  I ran the Jiingle Bell 5k as my final race of the year.  I'll recap it tomorrow!

I parked in the Humane Society lot for the race, so I stuck around afterwards to walk some dogs.  Look how adorable this guy is!  Those ears!

I ended the weekend watching Dan play hockey.  He joined a work league this year and this was the first game I got to go to!  He's the yellow guy in number 26.  His team won- whooo!!

Workout Recap

Total Runs : 4
Total Miles : 17
Races : Jingle Bell Run 5k (recap coming tomorrow)
Notes : This was my final "easy" week!  Now, I'm focusing on base-building before I start my marathon training.  I also want to do some cross training next week since I skipped out this week.

Comments

  1. HoHo RunsDecember 14, 2015 at 3:36 AM

    That cute little dog would have come home with me! I'm such a sucker. I think your white elephant gift was a great idea. Pittsburgh looks very festive and those buildings do look like castles. I like the little vendor houses at the mall. It sounds like you had a great easy week. Good luck as you start your base building phase. Thanks for linking Gretchen!

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    1. Gretchen BraunDecember 14, 2015 at 2:39 PM

      Thanks Holly! It was a great week, but I'm so ready to start pushing myself again :) Thanks for hosting!

      Delete
  2. Clean Eats Fast FeetsDecember 14, 2015 at 3:44 AM

    That is one impressive week, and I am right there with you when it comes to the weather. It was 70 here over the weekend, and I got to run in shorts. In Cleveland. In December. What the what?!

    We also went to the movies although we saw Martian and I thought it was fantastic.

    That little pooch is adorable. I'd want to keep him forever.

    Happy Monday and thanks for linking up!

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    Replies
    1. Gretchen BraunDecember 14, 2015 at 2:40 PM

      Weather is seriously throwing me off. Can't believe I haven't seen snow at all this year! I have been wanting to see the Martian! I'll probably wait for it to be on Netflix or Hulu though! Thanks for hosting Meghan :)

      Delete
  3. Elle SeesDecember 14, 2015 at 3:50 AM

    you rocked this weekend, from fun to run! love the white elephant idea--and that everyone had alcohol involved in their gift, lol.

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    1. Gretchen BraunDecember 14, 2015 at 2:40 PM

      Thanks Elle! I guess we all have one thing on our mind this time of year...

      Delete
  4. UnknownDecember 14, 2015 at 4:38 AM

    OMG those ears!! The show/dinner was so much fun!! See you again on Friday!

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  5. Margaret @ youngandrungryDecember 14, 2015 at 4:41 AM

    Such a fun weekend! I love the idea of your adult hot chocolate kit and the mitten flask you got is hilarious. I can't wait to see your dress! I know whatever you picked out will be amazing. Ah that puppy is adorable I bet you want to take them home all the time when your volunteering. I can't wait to hear about how your race went!

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    1. Gretchen BraunDecember 14, 2015 at 2:41 PM

      Thanks Margaret! I definitely do want to take home every dog..that's how we ended up with Selma! One dog is more than enough right now. Once we get a house, all bets are off though :)

      Delete
  6. UnknownDecember 14, 2015 at 4:56 AM

    I love that dog! I hope he gets to go to his forever home in time for the holidays! Have a great week!

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    1. Gretchen BraunDecember 14, 2015 at 2:44 PM

      I had about 3 people stop me when I had him out to ask when he would be available! I don't think he'll have any problem getting adopted :) Hopefully all our sweet dogs will get a home!!

      Delete
  7. mylittletablespoonDecember 14, 2015 at 5:35 AM

    I can't believe how much we can fit into one week. What an awesome collection of fun outings. The movie, the show, the party. And you've gotten me even more excited for Christmas. Those houses! That tree!

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    1. Gretchen BraunDecember 14, 2015 at 2:45 PM

      It was definitely a packed week for me! And I feel super in the spirit now too thanks to the decorations :)

      Delete
  8. Morgan @ Morgan Manages MommyhoodDecember 14, 2015 at 6:02 AM

    Girl, I give you so much credit for ordering your dress online!! Even though I had a small wedding and forgoes most traditional things, I HAD to go dress shopping.

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    1. Gretchen BraunDecember 14, 2015 at 2:47 PM

      Haha I have absolutely no desire to go! Thank goodness for the Internet...I might have to go though if the one I ordered doesn't work out. It's getting down to the wire!

      Delete
  9. Jessie MDecember 14, 2015 at 6:03 AM

    That pups ears are beyond adorable.

    I still need to make my way down to Market Square...I missed out during the warm weather this weekend.

    And love that hot chocolate gift idea. Super simple to put together & something everyone would use.

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    1. Gretchen BraunDecember 14, 2015 at 2:49 PM

      Seeing holiday lights is weird in warm weather, so it's probably better in the cold anyway :)

      Delete
  10. LesleyDecember 14, 2015 at 6:58 AM

    That dog is adorable! Those ears! I haven't seen either Mockingjay or the Good Dinosaur, and I don't want to. There's no movie I want to see right now, except when Cinemark does its Classic Series. Then I might be persuaded.

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    1. Gretchen BraunDecember 14, 2015 at 2:49 PM

      I haven't heard of the Classic series..I'll have to look that up! Sounds very interesting. I don't even know what movies are playing to be honest..all I know is Star Wars comes out this week!!

      Delete
  11. UnknownDecember 14, 2015 at 8:49 AM

    I would have loved to receive your Adult white elephant gift! Love me some Hot chocolate with a little bit of Bailey's, ok a lot of Bailey's in it! You did have a fun week! The concert sounds great I like the idea of having the tables in a smaller place! Very cool and I think your outfit went great! I love my black leather jacket similar to yours! It's so versatile! The dog, omg he's so dang cute too! I would have opted for the Hungar games movie too, even though I haven't read the books nor seen the first one, I know right, where have I been. But hey $6 is a steal!! Thanks for linking and good luck in our giveaway!

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    1. Gretchen BraunDecember 14, 2015 at 2:50 PM

      Thank you Tricia! Baileys is the BEST :) Thank you for hosting!

      Delete
  12. DarcyDecember 14, 2015 at 8:51 AM

    An adult hot chocolate gift is a really great idea for a gift exchange!
    www.amemoryofus.com

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  13. Laura NorrisDecember 14, 2015 at 10:29 AM

    Oooh, that puppy's ears are so cute! I don't know how you keep yourself from taking them all home. I hope he finds his forever home soon!

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    1. Gretchen BraunDecember 14, 2015 at 2:51 PM

      Right now we can only have one dog in our apartment, but all bets are off when we get a house. I want to fill it with dogs!

      Delete
  14. UnknownDecember 14, 2015 at 10:38 AM

    Oooh, exciting about the dress! Your week was so Christmasy. I love it. Great gift ideas too, with all the alcohol themes. That's awesome.

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  15. UnknownDecember 14, 2015 at 10:52 AM

    Sounds like you had an exciting weekend. I look forward to reading the recap for the jingle bell 5K.

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  16. Amanda - Voyage of the MeeMeeDecember 14, 2015 at 11:29 AM

    I can't wait to see what dress you picked!!! I thought about going back to the comments and reading through to see which one was the least popular and then I got lazy, lol :)
    Love the outfit you wore to Altar Boyz!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  17. MicheleDecember 14, 2015 at 1:04 PM

    Love your outfit! I feel like I never know what to wear when I go out because "real" clothes seem to look odd on me since I'm so used to wearing leggings :)

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    1. Gretchen BraunDecember 15, 2015 at 10:18 AM

      Thanks Michele! Same here...everything feels so weird!

      Delete
  18. Maureen @ Organically MoDecember 14, 2015 at 1:11 PM

    What a fun weekend! I love the adult hot chocolate gift pack....great idea! :)

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  19. Jess @hellotofitDecember 14, 2015 at 4:45 PM

    That mitten flask is amazing, haha! It felt odd to decorate the tree in 70 degree weather, but I didn't hate it! xoxo

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    1. Gretchen BraunDecember 15, 2015 at 10:20 AM

      The mittens are so warm! Can't wait to wear them :)

      Delete
  20. UnknownDecember 15, 2015 at 9:09 AM

    I love your white elephant exchange. Best gifts ever? I would take either! I'm trying to remember what I have contributed to some in the past. I've got plenty of useless things lying around, that is for sure!

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    1. Gretchen BraunDecember 15, 2015 at 10:23 AM

      Thanks Susie!! I like exchanges like this where you get a useful gift..definitely have some gag gifts sitting around ;)

      Delete
  21. Gina DailyDecember 15, 2015 at 10:50 AM

    Ooh, I love your outfit with the moto jacket!! It looks great! I'm so glad to hear it's your favorite jacket. :) And popular choice or not, I CAN'T WAIT to see the dress. All of your options were nice so I am sure I will love it!

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  22. Christy @ My Dirt Road Anthem: A Runner's BlogDecember 16, 2015 at 3:17 AM

    I think I need me a mitten flask! Those little Christmas trees are super cute.

    ReplyDelete

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