Welcome!

Welcome to Sweet Tooth Runner! I am an active person who likes to run and “make moves” (as I often say).  I also require a daily sugar fix whether its frozen yogurt, a cookie, frozen banana bites, or a handful of chocolate chips.  I try to emphasize the importance of finding a balance between my love for exercise and sweets and that is what this blog is all about.  In this blog you will find everything from recipes, food finds, work out ideas, entertaining gym experiences, and other random thoughts along the way.  Here are 10 random, fun facts about me to kick-start the blog:

1. Growing up in Houston, my mom would bake cookies on special rainy days.  To this day, I still love to bake and eat cookies on crazy weather days (except those rain days have changed to snow days now that I live in Chicago).

                                 Cookies that I decorated with my Mom for my nephew Nathan.

                                                                        

2. Speaking of Chicago, there is nothing better than a Chicago summer. It is full of bike riding, farmers markets, street festivals, and lakefront runs.  People say that they put up with the winter so that they can enjoy the summer…so true!

                                                   Farmer's Market with my Mom

                                         At the Food Truck Festival with my friends Hailey, Ally, and Catherine

3. I always keep a running list of restaurants that I have heard about and want to try.  I love going to and trying new places.  Before I always got stuck in a restaurant “rut”. Keeping the list has helped me to change it up and be more adventurous.

4. I love reading and read almost every night before bed. I'm also in a book club with a group of my friends.  Except to also see reviews of my latest reads.

5. I have done a Sprint Triathlon and two half marathons. Even though I get inspired every year watching and hearing about others running the marathon (including my dad), I have zero desire to ever run one.

                                     Swimming in Lake Michigan for the Sprint Triathlon (freezing!)

                                                        After I completed my second half marathon

6. My favorite meal of the day is brunch. I don’t care if its omelets, bagels, waffles, pancakes, whatever! If it’s brunch, I’m there.

7. Cooking and running are, in my opinion, the ultimate stress relievers.  Without these two things I do not think I would be sane.

                                         Tye Dye cake for Nikki's Birthday Cake Party

8. If I could only eat three things for the rest of my life it would definitely be frozen yogurt, popcorn, and peanut butter.  The perfect mix of something sweet, something salty, and something just plain delicious.

9. I love my family and friends more than anything! I have an incredible, loving, entertaining, and supportive mom, dad, sister, brother in law, and nephew (who is the cutest thing ever).  My friends mean the world to me and are like my second family.

                                                        Me and my parents

                                                           Danielle, Noah, and my adorable nephew Nathan

                  Just a few of my closest friends (had to do a college throwback picture so that everyone was included)


10. I am extremely excited (but also nervous) to start this blog.  Any feedback and suggestions are appreciated.  Enjoy!