In this 17 minute video, Hugh and I discuss three important lessons he learned from this Ironman experience. Have a strong PURPOSE for why you are setting out on your journey, follow a well thought out PLAN and consistently take action on it daily, and have an ACCOUNTABILITY metric in place that will not let you off the hook.

With social isolation in full effect due to the COVID-19 virus, I’m finding myself indoors more than I prefer to be. While I prioritize getting fresh air everyday either via going for a run or walk (even if it is just to the mailbox!), when I am indoors I often find myself wandering into the kitchen and opening the refrigerator or pantry more than usual. Anyone else catching themselves doing this too?

Although the December holidays are behind us, I still have a few sweet treats in the freezer waiting to be taken out on a special occasion. One of those treats waiting to be eaten in 2020 is my favorite family recipe called Holiday Bread. Read on to get the recipe and enjoy!

Whether you are a morning person or not, the first few moments of each day help set the tone for what’s to come over the coarse of the next 12 hours. What do you do in those first few moments after opening your eyes? Read on to learn more about my morning routine and two books that help me set a positive tone for the day ahead.

In this 25 minute video, Jessica and I talk about what Thai Massage is, who is a good candidate for this type of therapy, what the benefits are, and a live demonstration of what you can expect during a session. Jessica also shares her one piece of advice to everyone.

You know those moments when you get home after a long day and need food but there is nothing prepared in the fridge so you end of up eating everything in the cabinets because its convenient? To try and minimize these “hangry” (hungry + angry) moments, I have found preparing healthy, clean snacks can be a life saver for me! One of my go-to after work snacks is these ginger chocolate energy bites.

Change of seasons in New England typically means the air is full of many foreign substances including the dreaded flu. As luck would have it, I unfortunately caught the flu this past weekend and was out of commission for about two full days - yuck! Fever, chills, body aches and loss of appetite were many of the symptoms I had. As a result, I forced myself to stay in bed (for those of you that know me this is hard to do since I am a busy body!) and gave my body what it needed to heal - rest, relaxation, water and nutrients.

Although December can bring cold temperatures and inclement weather to Massachusetts, there is something about the holiday spirit that keeps us warm, merry and bright! Between the decorating, caroling and family gatherings there is typically one common thread this time of year …. SUGAR! While I typically try to limit my sugar consumption, the holidays are an exception because they feature those “once a year” family recipes that are too good to pass up.

If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook you may have noticed that I recently embarked on an outdoor adventure that spanned 9 days and included 2 states (CA and AZ), 2 National Parks (Joshua Tree and Grand Canyon), 1 Peace Park (Sedona, AZ) and endless memories! I have SO many stories, recommendations and reviews to share with you all that I am going to dedicate one blog post to each of the three distinct parts of our trip 1) Joshua Tree, CA 2) Sedona, AZ and 3) Grand Canyon National Park. So here it goes... 

The New Year naturally brings a time of reflection for most. Like many of you, I took time during the first few days of 2018 to reflect on the past year. Not only was it my most challenging year both professionally and personally but it was also the most rewarding. From taking my first solo international trip, to road biking 192 miles with over 6,000 strangers, to having difficult conversations at work, I forced myself out of my comfort zone SO many times throughout the year.

Last week I had the opportunity to make one of my dreams a reality. To celebrate my 33rd birthday, my boyfriend (yes I am dating again and found myself a keeper!) rented a Volkswagen Westfalia ("westy") from Maine Campers in Eliot Maine. I have always been fascinated by the #vanlife.  I follow numerous Instagram accounts, read books and listen to podcasts about this way of living and what attracts me most to this lifestyle is the simplicity and adventure.

What do you do with a garden full of home grown zucchini's? Make delicious zucchini bread! For the past 3 weeks I have been making 2 loaves of zucchini bread a week. Yes, this may seem like a lot but I don't want good vegetables to go to waste so I channeled my inner Betty Crocker and put them to use! I have zucchini bread in my house, my friends homes and in my freezer for a nice winter treat in 2018! 

In just 18 days I will be participating in the Pan Mass Challenge (PMC). For those of you that are not familiar with the PMC, it is a bike-a-thon that raises money for cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. 100% of every dollar raised is donated to Dana Farber. Since the PMC started in 1980 the organization has raised over half-billion dollars for cancer research! I look forward to this event every summer. For over 5 years, I have been volunteering for the PMC with my Mom.

For me, exercise positively increases my physical and emotional state of being. It’s my 30-90 minutes a day of "Abby time" where I focus on the workout at hand and let go of all the distractions that surround us each day. Like most of you reading this, there are days when I can get up at 5:30am without a problem and workout BUT then there are days when I have zero motivation and just want comfort food and my bed!

For a year and a half I have been a Jess Lively groupie! I found her podcast through a magazine article and after listening to just one episode I was hooked! Her positive outlook on life and relationships was contagious and exactly what I needed to get through 2016.  Jess Lively is dedicated to helping people live from their intuition and values based intentions. At first, I had no idea what she meant by "intuition" and "values based intentions" but I am now incorporating both into each and everyday.

After busy work trips I always find myself coming home and wanting to connect with the outdoors. It forces me to slow down and be present which can be challenging in the fast past world we live in. Whether hiking, running, biking or going for a walk I crave the fresh air and beauty that surrounds us. It has a calming factor and puts life into perspective. I always wondered if others felt this way so I took to the internet in search of other like minded, outdoor females.

Anyone that knows me, knows my love for a good pair of glasses. I feel that this necessary accessory (say those 2 words 10 times fast!) is an extension of my personality, so I’m always looking for a fun, different frame to accompany me everyday. The one problem to fun, different frames: they’re typically expensive. Although I don't mind paying the extra money for something that brings me joy and I wear every day, I have been searching for a quality frame at an affordable price. That's when I found Warby Parker.

As a health conscious individual and advocate for "buying local", a farm to table dinner was right up my alley! After running by Peppers Fine Catering on my way to the gym one evening, I noticed they had a sign out front their building promoting a Farm to Table Dinner at Indian Head Farm in Berlin Massachusetts. I was adamant that I would not let this years experience go by without attending, so I went to the farm the next day and bought a ticket.