This week

So. Many.  Feels. Right now.

Wednesday was the LRC holiday par-tay! We started the night at Road Runner sports. If you haven’t been there, you should probably visit after reading this post. They are pretty great! I knew there were there in Deer Park, but I had never really been inside until I went to running club. Then LRC had an event there, and I decided to go and check it out. They have a friendly staff that is pretty helpful. You can even pay to do this thing called, “Shoe Dog” where you run on a treadmill and they video tape your stride. Then they determine the shoe that works best with your stride! DUH right? They also give you inserts (which I think was included with the price of the service) to put in your shoes for running. They are semi-custom fitted. I have been using mine, and they have been fine!

Anywho, we were back at Road Runner for our ugly sweater party! We all wore ugly sweaters, vests, and holiday themed items of choice. I chose to wear the sweater of the season- the "MEH-rry Christmas" Grumpy Cat sweater that I made! Another guy in running club glittered his beard…which, I mean, is amazing. He won the best dressed contest and got a free pair of shoes! So that rocked.

They also had beer, wine, and little snacks for us to munch on while we mingled and shopped. VIP members of the store (a membership you buy for the year) got a pretty good discount on everything in the store, which I took advantage of and got a new pair of running shoes!

WHAAAAAAT? I know, I know. You’re probably thinking, “Amy, normally you wait until you’re getting shin splints and in pain before finally getting a new pair of shoes. Then you blog about how stupid you are!” Yea, well, I’m 27 and like, and adult, or whatever so I’m planning ahead. Also, Instagram helps me know when to buy new ones because you know I’m all over it with the new pair I get. Word.

I also bought another pair of Nike socks- in purrrrrrrple :D

Then we headed over to the Village Tavern in Long Grove. I had never been there and it’s right in the cute part of town so that was fun! We had the longest table ever, plus a smaller table for the LATE PEOPLE. Heh.

Eventually we pulled all the tables together and did our white elephant gift exchange! It was super fun, and since we had a lot of people, there were all different kinds of gifts. I also saw probably the biggest can of beans I have ever seen in my life….and also admired all of the Star Wars gifts. I’m surprised there were not donuts, or that there weren’t more bottles of wine!

I ended up getting a blowhorn, that got stolen by LAUREN (goddammit), but I’m cool with it. The opportunity to open a wrapped gift is just fabulous, so I chose a new gift and it was a blue model car and a Kenny G CD (Merry Christmas mom!)

I gave a chocolate Santa, an N*Sync Christmas CD, and a framed picture of our fearless founder Mike. Because, running club shenanigans. Also, I figured who wouldn’t want a framed picture of Mike?  And this one was all Christmasy because he was wearing a Santa hat, so boom. Jill ended up with this gift, and I’m pretty sure she’s in love.

After a few Fistmas beers, laughter, candid conversation, and the token group photo, I peaced out. I had school the next day after all, and me + little sleep + Christmas week = mean teacher.

Thursday we had our final Secret Santa gift exchange during our Christmas lunch! We had AN HOUR for lunch, which is a gift in itself, to eat and mingle. Everything was delicious, and it was fun to find out who had been secretly giving you gifts all week. For my gifts I got: cookies and chocolate, two Christmas scented candles, lotions, and a scarf and gift card to a nail place that I LOVE in AH J I was way spoiled! Thanks Loretta!!

Then, after school, I went to a kickboxing class with some running ladies. It’s always a good class- you super work up a sweat, and it’s fun! Also, it’s nice that it’s down the street from my house right in Libertyville. I feel like I have to go back for a yoga class sometime, even though I’m a crappy yogi, lol.

It’s been a hard, tiring, and excellent week you guys.

Thank goodness for winter break!

P.S.- None of these pictures were mine- they were all from the people who went to the event and tagged me on Facebook!