I’m on a natural, veggie-full food kick right now. Plus my general obsession with all how-tos is in full force. From cutting sugar (ug, why is it so hard. I just can’t.kick.the.habit.) to being a total badass, this digital digest is a little dose of “you got this.”

Safety first!

Bike Tire Basics: How to Fix a Flat
This fantastic article/video got me home. Last weekend my bike tire took a hit and rapidly deflated. Thankfully my brother had outfitted my bike with a patch kit… but I had completely forgotten how to use it. I watched REI’s video on the side of the road and put my bike back together like a badass who knows what she’s doing (even when she very clearly doesn’t. The video didn’t say anything about not needing your helmet).

Oatmeal Superfood Breakfast Bars
I’m on a massive healthy snack quest. In an effort to increase the amount of healthy, nutritious foods I eat, I’m trying to replace the rice chips, potato chips, and every other packaged snack I eat. These granola bars are calling to me. Blueberries, pumpkin seeds, healthy fats – yes please! I’m stockpiling them all here, and if you are nice, I’ll share them with you.

Couch to 5k
I started the Couch to 5k program this week, and I couldn’t be more stoked. My mom and I started running together years ago when I was home for the summer from college. It’s less fun without company (especially someone who is just as out of shape as you), but it brings back the good ole times! I’m re-doing week one next week, who is joining me?

Try Living With Lucie

I don’t know how it happened. YouTube is a mystical place. I somehow stumbled upon these videos from Lucie Fink and I just couldn’t stop watching. My favorites are 5 Days of Minimalism and 5 Days of Zero Waste.

Ten things to toss
You know I’m a sucker for any list or advice of things to get rid of. These aren’t your usual “clothes you haven’t worn in a while” items. The daily shower, strong women, and beach bodies have my vote!

Bits by me elsewhere:

9 Surprising Reasons To Go See An Allergist
Trust me, I know a thing or two about allergies.

Can A Banana Soothe Poison Ivy Rash? We Put It + 7 Other Natural Remedies To The Test
I looked at horrific images of poison oak/ivy rashes so you don’t have to! You can thank me by clicking on the (pretty-image only) article.

11 Crafty Ways You Can Use Rosemary
This made me want to make things.

Towering redwoods, bounding deer, lackadaisical banana slugs – hiking in Butano State Park was fantastic coastal adventure.

I had been talking about hiking for months. My poor physical therapist was constantly answering my pestering questions about when I would be ready to run or at least hike on uneven terrain. I was so excited to slip on my trail running shoes last week. I bought them three days before I hurt my ankle, and they spent nearly six months sitting in my closet. A constant reminder of all of the things I wanted to do but couldn’t.

Our first adventure together was a success. We hiked a three mile loop along a trail that started in the campground and took us in a loop around the park. The park had been closed for the wet winter and had only opened a few weeks before we visited. Between the hoards of spider webs (some spiders attached) across the trail and the frolicking deer who looked just as startled to see us as we them, it was pretty clear the trail hadn’t gotten much use yet.

We carried a stick to clear the path, and we were constantly trying not to step on banana slugs. The coastal wildflowers and lush ferns didn’t disappoint. It was one of the most peaceful hikes I’ve ever been on. The last hike we did in the summer was swarming with people. We saw one other person on the trail, and we had gotten so used to being alone out there that the mountain biker felt out of place.

Besides the spiders (I will admit, I very much disliked that part and was constantly stopping to ask for a “spider check.” Untrustworthy creatures if you ask me.), the hike was just what I needed. And hiking during the week? Amazing! I see more non-weekend hikes in my future.

PS. Camping in Butano State Park.

The more I work on my computer, the more time I spend cruising the internet. It’s so easy to open 10 tabs in my five minute Pomodoro break. And then hoard them until my computer threatens to crash with every click of a mouse.

I’m working on cutting back on my over-abundant online reading. (A true media diet might need to be in order…) But in the meantime, I wanted to share with you some of the things I enjoyed this week. From new blogs I discovered (and binge read immediately), to podcast episodes, to things I’ve written in other place, there’s a little bit of everything.

Digital Digest

Choosing to Skip the Upgrade and Care for the Gadget You’ve Got
YESSSSSSS! I’m writing this on a four-year old computer after reading this article on my four-year old phone. I cried when my last computer died. The Apple store guy just didn’t get it. Love the one you’re with.

Skin Cleanse
I can’t get enough of this book. I’m only halfway through and I’m already eating better and paying more attention to how I feel. It also caused a massive cookbook binge from my local library. Must.Have.More.Vegetables.

Trash is for Tossers
This ignited a serious zero waste kick for me. I took jars to the store, guys. I bought nutritional yeast. I was that hippie. And I loved it! Fantastic blog.

Wonder Bars
I have been trying to desperately cut my sugar (and thus my inflammation), but I couldn’t kick the sweet tooth cravings. My mom made these bars years ago from an InStyle magazine, and I went in a desperate search across the desert of the internet to find them. Dark chocolate with a little healthy crunch. Wonder bars indeed.

Tim Farriss and Caroline Paul Podcast
Oh man. I’m super obsessed with Caroline and her partner Wendy MacNaughton right now. Likely a larger part of a different post soon, but in the meantime, you should listen to Tim talk to the total badass. She was in the SF Fire Department for years. She took up luging. Now she’s a gutsy writer.

Update: Forgot about the part where I said I would include links of some of my work from the week.

23 Organic Beauty Buys Under $15
I use hardly any beauty products myself, but I love to look at all of the things. I had a blast writing this one. Bonus! I discovered a great daily face sunscreen in the process (more coming soon).

8 Chic Sweatpants For Your Laziest Days
Written in sweats. Boom.

Growing up, camping was something mystical that other people did. Our sleeping bags were used for indoor sleepovers and trips to grandma’s. I “camped” in the backyard once with neighborhood friends, and we 100 percent ended up sleeping inside in beds and blankets.

Camping in Butano State Park was my fourth camping trip, and I have to say, it’s growing on me. There is something to the quiet of the outdoors (until the birds have their say anyway), the lack of cellphone service, the space, the friendly people.

I haven’t moved away from car camping yet (I’m not ready to sacrifice all comfort. I’m working on it.), but we take as little as we can with us. Especially for a quick overnight trip like this one.

The first day, a quiet Sunday, we lounged around and read before cooking up dinner and sitting around the fire. On Monday morning we went for a short (my first since injury!) hike before packing up our camp.

What We Brought

Camping gear:
Two-person tent
2 sleeping bags*
2 sleeping pads*
2 pillows (stolen off our beds)
1 extra fleece blanket (so thankful we had it!)
1 yoga mat (this princess put it under her sleeping pad for extra cush)
1 lantern*
2 camping chairs* (First time we ever had them, so great!)
1 tarp*

*Borrowed from my awesome brother or his friend’s

“kitchen” stuff
1 medium microfiber towel
1 dish towel
1 dish rag
Small bottle of castile soap (for hand and dish washing)
2 reusable plastic plates
2 forks
2 spoons
Forgot the knife
Didn’t have a dish pan (oops)
1 small Jetboil
1 cloth napkin
1 small/medium cooler*

Food
Zero waste carrots in a jar
Zero waste bell pepper in a jar
Tortillas
Cheese
Lime
Refried beans in a jar (heated in the Jetboil)
Granola
Soy milk
S’mores ingredients
Lots of snacks (granola bars, rice chips, crackers, tortilla chips)

My bag
Book
Notebook and pen
2 pairs of socks
2 pairs of underwear (my mom always taught us to have a spare. Can’t kick the habit)
Trail running shoes
Fleece sweats
T-shirt to sleep in
Down jacket (doubled as a blanket at night)
Sports bra
Sweat-wicking shirt
Cropped leggings (too cold to wear them)
Sunscreen
Forgot the toothpaste
But had the toothbrush and floss
Travel aloe vera
Travel jojoba oil
Hairbrush
Water bottle, which I spilled in the tent yet again.
Wore in: yoga pants, 3/4 sleeve t-shirt, slip on shoes, and a sweatshirt

We got so lucky and had beautiful weather during the day, but since it’s so close to the ocean in Pescadero, it got cold at night. I ended up sleeping in my fleece sweats, t-shirt, sweatshirt, and socks all night. I also used the blanket and covered my feet with my down jacket. Not once was I too warm.

We had a great time and although I spent all week confused on what day it was, I really enjoyed the Sunday/Monday trip.

I am so close to being able to run. And I don’t mean the 100-200 steps I’m able to “run” right now. To prepare for when I get to really run and to speed my progress toward running, I have been doing Kinetic Revolution‘s Run Strong Challenge.

While it was intended to be done each day for 30 days (you know, when it was being posted live a couple months ago), I have been doing it every time I go to the gym. And crying pretty much every time. (That’s the best my face looked during those side plank leg lifts. Killer.)

The program is meant to target weaknesses and strengthen core running mechanics. So far it has certainly made me rethink my readiness to run. I’m far shakier than I wish to admit on most of the exercises. My core is pretty strong, but as soon as I have to stand on one leg and do something else it gets ugly.

I’m always surprised by how hard the exercises are. They look so easy and simple when James demonstrates them, but after the first set I’m convinced otherwise. Most of the exercises are things I’ve never done before or are fun variations on old friends/foes.

If nothing else, it’s been a key reminder to me that strong, healthy running starts with the little things. It’s not all about the mileage. Maybe I can’t go out for a run right now, but I can get ready for months of healthy running.

Want to try it for yourself? Here’s day one.

A video posted by James Dunne (@kineticrev) on Nov 30, 2015 at 10:59pm PST

Mold can be so much more than a pesky problem in your shower. Mold spores are naturally found in both outdoor and indoor air, but they become problematic when they start to grow in our homes. In high concentrations, mold spores are considered indoor air pollutants. They can cause nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing, wheezing, eye irritation, and even more severe reactions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Children exposed to mold during infancy have a much higher risk of developing asthma.

When faced with mold, many of us reach for a disinfectant like bleach. But there may be safer, and more effective, alternatives to the standby.

In a recent article on Rodale’s Organic Life, I pit bleach against lemons to see which comes out on top. From the pros and cons of bleach and lemon to permanent mold removal tips, I got the dirt on mold removal. Learn how to clean mold with lemons in the full article here.

I can’t get enough of inspiring Instagram accounts. These are the runners to follow on Instagram if you want to add a little bit of speed and amazingness to your feed.

As a runner myself, I am comforted by the runners who share their stories of injuries and comebacks, who are first time Olympic trials qualifiers, who set new records. I will likely never get anywhere near them (in real life or in accomplishments), but witnessing their dedication, hard work, setbacks, and triumphs gets me all jazzed up.

Whether you are a runner or you appreciate some healthy, supportive fitspo, these are my go-to Instagram runners. Many of these runners could have been on my list of female athletes to follow, but I set them aside so I could share them with you here.

Runners to follow on Instagram

Shalane Flanagan

A photo posted by Shalane Flanagan (@shalaneflanagan) on Feb 15, 2016 at 5:34am PST

I can’t wait to see how she does at the Olympics. (I’m also looking forward to her upcoming cookbook.)

Sarah Brown

A video posted by Sarah Brown (@sarahmb15) on Feb 22, 2016 at 9:33am PST

She ran throughout her entire pregnancy. And was back to training a week later.

David Laney

A photo posted by David Laney (@davidlaney12) on Mar 11, 2016 at 6:15am PST

His trail runs make me swoon. But don’t let that fool you, he also competed at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.

Ella Greenwood (AKA Ultra Ellie)

A photo posted by Ellie Greenwood (@ultraellie) on Dec 10, 2015 at 9:10am PST

And I complain when I have to run more than eight miles.

Amelia Boone

A photo posted by Amelia Boone (@arboone11) on Sep 17, 2015 at 10:51am PDT

She destroys the entire field at obstacle races. Check out her great interview with Tim Ferriss on his podcast.

Dirtbag Runners 

A photo posted by Dirtbag Runners (@dirtbagrunners) on Mar 31, 2016 at 7:43am PDT

Every photo is a stunning view with a strong runner. Can’t really ask for too much more.

Andrea Duke

A photo posted by Andrea Duke (@andreaduke1) on Mar 24, 2016 at 6:00am PDT

She has been mixing up her training for the 2016 OCR World Championship, and it is really fun to see what she’s up to. She’s also wicked smart and a mom of two.

Lucy Bartholomew

A photo posted by Lucy Bartholomew (@lucy_bartholomew) on Mar 12, 2016 at 11:05pm PST

Lucy is an ultra marathoner in Australia. I am endlessly jealous of her trails and beach days.

Little Wing

A photo posted by Littlewing (@runlittlewing) on Mar 15, 2016 at 1:08pm PDT

For everyone who ever wondered what it would be like to go pro and be young and glamorous and surrounded by best friends. Totally not jealous. These speedy girls are Lauren Fleshman‘s crew.

Anna Frosty

A photo posted by @annafrosty on Mar 20, 2016 at 9:50pm PDT

Ultra runner and ambassador for SisuGirls.

Emily Halnon

A photo posted by Emily Halnon (@emilysweats) on Sep 19, 2015 at 6:18pm PDT

This concrete runner turned ultra marathoner shares her killer views (and brews).

Kara Goucher

A photo posted by Kara Goucher (@karagoucher) on Mar 3, 2016 at 7:15am PST

Despite being a professional runner, Kara’s feed feels like one of your friend’s. It’s honest and about her life, not just running. Also, I want to play with her new puppy.

Scott Jurek

A photo posted by Scott Jurek (@scottjurek) on Mar 21, 2016 at 7:26pm PDT

His feet take him some incredible places.

Stephanie Rothstein Bruce

A photo posted by Stephanie Rothstein Bruce (@stephrothstein) on Mar 30, 2016 at 6:08pm PDT

Professional runner, coach, business woman, mother (of two under two?), Steph makes me feel so lazy.

Who do you follow? Anyone missing from the list?

5 months later and I’m starting to feel like myself again.

This past month was full of huge progress:

I went for my first “run”… at 75 percent of my bodyweight. Too bad I can’t take the AlterG with me outside.

The barbell and I are friends again. I’m squatting, deadlifting, even hang power cleaning. I missed you, my harshest friend. (On a side note, turns out not lifting for four months makes you super weak.)

After receiving permission from my physical therapist, I have been taking “jogging steps” on my walks. This means I run nearly as slow as I walk for 20 steps or so while smiling like a lunatic. Can’t stop me now!

I (finally!) go hours without thinking about my ankle. I get out of bed without fearing pain. I don’t dream about my ankle or wake up in the middle night with pain. I can sit cross-legged.

Swimming feels like it used to. I can do every stroke, kick with a kick board, and even sprint a bit. I still tape before I get in, but being able to do old workouts is huge.

Upward dog (sort of) and downward dog are back. I still have some trouble with a few poses, but armed with a blanket, I can modify most things these days. Overall, yoga feels like it used to and my ankle mobility/stability is making huge strides. Probably thanks to the brutal Warrior III.

Yesterday I hit 10,000 steps and didn’t want to cry. My ankle didn’t swell. I didn’t go to bed cursing myself.

I’m so close to running. So close. And yet realistically, probably another month until I’m running more than a quarter mile at a time. And that’s okay. I’ll be running just in time for my favorite weather. My running shorts and tank tops are ready.