Likable Links III

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Dear Mom, 

Stella needs this.

Love, 

Sher

It's Thursday - yay! My mom put up a cute pic of our dog, Stella, on fb yesterday which made me miss her terribly so the above is a dedication to Boston terriers everywhere and the upcoming Halloween holiday. Fitting, right? I try. Anyway, it's time for another addition of likable links! Lots of good stuff today. Hope you enjoy! xo

1. I think I drooled a little when these potatoes came across my bloglovin' feed. Need to make them, STAT. (ohsheglows.com)

2. How did we express emotion via text before emojis?! (buzzfeed.com)

3. How to chop and cook two of the most flavorful, healthy foods EVER. Garlic and Onions! (thekitchn.com)

4. Really interesting article on how boxing is helping those with Parkinson's disease. The gym is right in Lawrence, MA. (boston.com)

5. I like these 5 simple steps to a healthy heart. These can drastically reduce your risk for heart attack. (menshealth.com)

6. OMG why are elephants so gigantic and so cute all at the same time?! (buzzfeed.com)

7. A great article on whether or not to workout when you're tired. (hint: depends on why you're tired). (huffingtonpost.com)

NBGNO LaceUp365 Recap

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Hello my frieeeeenndss! As most of you know by now, I recently emceed last week's New Balance Girls' Night Out (NBGNO). To get a refresher on how it came about read THIS. New Balance developed NBGNO with the goal of empowering women through physical and social experiences and opportunities, to connect with others. Last week's theme was LACEUP365. I've talked about how passionate I am for the #LaceUp365 program for close to a year now (HERE, HERE, AND HERE). Essentially, it represents New Balance's 25 year partnership with Susan G. Komen and was developed to bring awareness to breast cancer 365 days a year, not just in October. The ultimate goal being: a world without breast cancer. So, the next time you lace up for a workout and decide to take a selfie or a scenic photo - think about someone who has been diagnosed and give that little instagram pic a special hashtag #LACEUP365.

For those of you that have been touched by breast cancer by either experiencing it personally or someone you are close to, you understand why there is so much pink, so many organizations, and so many ribbons. And that understanding is this... guys, there is no cure. Doctors have made HUGE strides and have come so incredibly far, but, they still need more funding. Since Stacy's diagnosis, I've learned that breast cancer is REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY complex. I never, ever ever realized the complexity of BRCA and HER2, and FISH test and Progesterone positive or negative and Estrogen positive or negative. Gah! You catch my drift? Every diagnosis gets a different treatment.

So, New Balance  dedicated last week's NBGNO to #LaceUp365. We chatted, we ran a few miles, we ate apps, had pink cosmos, dedicated our runs to BC survivors and honorees, and then I emceed a bit more and then the BRILLIANT BRILLIANT BRILLIANT DR. BRASTIANOS shared her story.

Action shot before we crossed the street.

Through the Common.

The sun setting over the Charles. Swoon.

Back at the store, it was my turn to chat with everyone again and tell my experience over the past year with #LaceUp365. At first I was super nervous, but, Renee (at New Balance) told me to just "have a conversation" with the girls, which totally relaxed me. It is Girls' Night Out, after all!

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Dr. Priscilla Brastianos is a person on a mission with a deeply personal passion for finding a cure for breast cancer. A Komen research grantee, and Director of the Brain Metastasis Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Brastianos is an incredible leader. She spoke at the Komen race 3 weeks ago which was when I first heard her story. Her grandmother diagnosed herself with breast cancer when she was in medical school at the age of 23 and then sadly passed at age 29. Her mother just passed of bc this year at age 57. I can't really explain to you how incredible this woman is... she's such an inspiration.

Dr. Brastianos is the second one in from the left.

Dr. Brastianos is the second one in from the left.

If there's one thing that I want you all to take from her speech at the event, it's this: 

EXERCISE REDUCES YOUR RISK FOR BREAST CANCER BY 20%.

She provided a lot of excellent information, but, this fact stood out to me big time and I actually didn't catch it at the race and I admittedly didn't know the percentage was that high. This is a big deal, it's proven. So, if you could all do yourselves a favor, if you're not already exercising, please start somewhere. I'm talking about more than walking. Get your heart rate up at least 3x per week. Lift, dance in the living room, join an exercise class, run, do push ups and squats, hit a heavy bag, jump rope, climb stairs, do jumping jacks, play spike ball, WHATEVER. Just please start exercising. That is one big huge number that really means something! If you need ideas for getting your heart rate up, message me and I'll guide you. I promise.

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This dedication wall shouldn't have so many names. Let's make a cure happen!
xoxo

Broiled Cod & Roasted Fall Veggies

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If you follow my insta, you may have noticed that I made another huge batch of pesto the other day. My basil took off like a weed this year and it's awesome! Anyway, of course pesto is delish on the usual suspects; pizza, pasta, etc. Though tasty, pizza and a big bowl of pesto pasta aren't the two healthiest meals on the planet. So, lately I've been taking my pesto and using it on fish. On Thursday night, I made broiled, wild Cod and roasted veggies. So good.

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of roasted potatoes. I make them allll the time in the winter. Lately though, I've been thinly slicing onions to toss into the mixture. In addition to that, I added chopped baby brussel sprouts to this assortment. Toss the veggies in evoo, salt, and rosemary and bake (turning a couple times) on 400 for about 20-25 mins. The onions get really crispy and add the best flavor. It's so delish and so healthy.

before.

after.

Next, arrange the cod on a baking sheet. Pat it down with a paper towel to remove any extra moisture (always do this with fish otherwise it might have a more poached/boiled effect rather than baked/broiled). Drizzle with evoo and salt and broil until it's opaque.

Top the fish with the pesto and serve. Health on a plate!

Enjoy! xo