Grits in the City - Fitness. Family. Food.
Hope you enjoy all these as much as I do!
I’ve always loved tiny tattoos. I never quite thought of them this way until I saw someone describe them on Instagram, but they really are like grown‑up stickers. Little mementos you carry with you, arranged with the same creative freedom you’d use to design a scrapbook page.
Over the years I’ve shared my tattoos here. Some big(ger), some small, some inexpensive, others more of an investment. Each one holds its own memory and meaning. It had been almost six years since my last one.
[Read more…]Turning 46 has come with its fair share of surprises, but nothing shocked me quite like learning that we lose nearly 40% of our collagen by age 50. Absolutely insane and has me kicking myself that I haven’t prioritized doing much of a skin routine at all in recent years. Suddenly, the dryness, irritation, and accelerated aging I’d been noticing made a lot more sense. It’s all been catching up with me. My skin wasn’t just “acting up” — it was asking for help.
[Read more…]I am very used to the combination of traveling to Tori Amos shows with a side of vacation. I guess it’s prepared me well for this newfound world of race adjacent excursions! Similar to when I travel to Tori shows, I cannot totally pass up seeing some of the local hotspots, just in case I do not get to go back in the future.
Previously, I have been to Germany on a couple other occasions — to Heidelberg on one of the group school trips my mom coordinated during high school and to Hamburg when I spoke at the Marketing 2.0 and Social Media Conference. But this would be my first time visiting Berlin!
My time there was definitely limited — as well as focused on all things running and trying to somewhat save my legs for the big race. I couldn’t help doing a little sightseeing and, of course, making the most of all the meals! For more of a race-centric recap, check out my Substack, Mom on the Long Run, here!
I wanted to share a bit more on my “why” this Giving Tuesday. The London Marathon 2026 will be my fourth Abbott World Marathon Major, but this race is deeply personal. I’m running in honor of our daughter and in memory of my mom Linda Ruth and Aunt Kathy Ensley. Their strength and resilience inspire me to keep moving forward, and I want to channel that energy into raising awareness and funds for the Brain & Spine Foundation.
[Read more…]This summer took me somewhere I’d never been before, both literally and figuratively. I had the chance to attend Disability:IN’s annual conference in Orlando, and even now, I’m still processing just how powerful those few days were. It was my first time at the conference, and it left an imprint I’m not sure I’ll ever fully shake… in the best possible way.
From the moment I stepped into the mainstage sessions, I felt the energy buzzing. Two conversations in particular stayed with me long after the lights dimmed. The dialogue with Eva Erickson and Mitch Guerra was deeply inspiring, the kind of conversation that reminds you why this work matters. And the session featuring Molly Burke and Sinéad Burke was an absolute standout. I’ve just recently finished reading an advance copy of Molly’s memoir Unseen and hearing her speak about her journey added a whole new layer of meaning. Her story is remarkable. So resilient, honest, and full of the kind of perspective that shifts something inside you.
I don’t know about you, but I’m already thinking about the feast to come next week — looking forward to some time unplugged from work and plugged in fully to family time. The food has been ordered, we’re registered for our town’s second annual turkey trot and we’re already eyeing the first visit of the season to Santa.
While Black Friday is still almost a week away but the deals? So many are already live. I’ll be sharing some of my favorites here. I’ll also be sharing several gift guides I’ve pulled together to help make the seemingly endless shopping this time of year a little less daunting.
[Read more…]If you’re looking to cross off a lot of those need to buy gifts for on your list, I have a list of easy gift ideas to help get you started. This pulls from some recommendations on my Amazon storefront and on my LTK.
I’m playing a bit of catchup on all things reading. From what you see on the site here, it looks like I am behind on my reading goals for the year — and that couldn’t be further from the truth! I’ve read 25 books so far this year — and I’m close to finishing several at the same time right now! A little to share on some of my recent reads to hopefully help inspire you across that 2025 reading finish line with me.
[Read more…]Some anniversaries call for flowers. Some call for dinner reservations. And then there are the rare, unforgettable milestones that deserve something entirely different—something extraordinary. For our 10th anniversary, we went all in.
Or rather, Topher did.
To mark a decade together, he surprised me by bringing a sushi chef and a maître d’ straight into our home for a 15‑course, sake‑paired omakase experience. Yes, in our own kitchen. If “sushi spoiled” were a real condition, consider me officially diagnosed.
Some Sundays just feel charmed from the start, and this one certainly did. The Cranford Cupcake Run delivered everything its name promises: miles, smiles, and a well‑earned cupcake waiting at the finish line. It was the perfect day to lace up, breathe in the crisp air, and enjoy a community race that blends fitness, fun and a whole lot of heart.
