Happy Sunday, friendly faces! 
I feel like I havenāt talked to you guys in ages, but I spent the majority of the holidays completely disconnected from all forms of social media, and I have to admit that it was pretty darn glorious. I was starting to feel a little burnt out for a while there, and a break was exactly what I needed to put myself in a fresh state of mind and reignite that spark. I spent a good chunk of the weekend brainstorming blog and business related ideas, and Iām super excited for what 2015 has in store.
Iām also super excited because today marks the beginning of Birthday Week! #happydance. 7 days until the big 3-0, and Iām ready to attack that sucker with a vengeance. But Iāll go into more detail about all that later, because right now itās time for some Link Love! So I hope you enjoy some of the articles I came across this week, and Iāll see you tomorrow with a little Christmas 2014 recap. Bye!
In my headā¦
. fitness .
So You Want to Startā¦ Running via Hello Healthy.
I do, actuallyā¦ so this list is super helpful when it comes to things to keep in mind when lacing up.
. health .
101 Health and Fitness Resolutions that Rock via Hello Healthy.
Not a bad list of resolutions if youāre looking to adopt some healthier habits in 2015.
. life .
15 Beautiful Castles During Winter via Travel Over the Globe.
It may be cold and annoying at times, but youāve gotta admit winter sure is beautiful.
11 Laws of Motivation That Will Help You Achieve Any Goal via Learning Mind.
Think about why youāre doing what youāre doing and buckle up for the long haul.
The 5 Most Important People to Forgive by the End of the Year via Mind Body Green.
We donāt realize it, but grudges take a lot out of us. Forgiveness may not be easy, but itās extremely freeing.
100 Ways to Simplify Your Life (and Make Yourself Happier) via Miss Minimalist.
As someone who has a tendency to get overwhelmed easily, Iām really loving these suggestions for simplification.
27 Simple Things to Start Doing for Your Happiness via Marc and Angel Hack Life.
The pursuit of happiness doesnāt have to be complicated. Itās really just the collection of small, simple things.
Letting Go and Enjoying Annoying Situations via Tiny Buddha.
We may not have control over circumstances, but we can control how we react to them.
. beauty .
The Ultimate Smooth Leg Scrub via Makeup.com.
Because letās face it, ladiesā¦ we all want gorgeously smooth legs. And this one is super easy to make!
10 Kitchen Pantry Beauty Ingredients via Womenās Day.
Thereās beauty in healthy food ā literally!
. blogging .
*crickets*
For my bellyā¦
20-Minute Cinnamon Roll Pull Aparts via Chelseaās Messy Apron.
A quick and easy way to get a cinnamon roll fix? Gimme!
Vegan Chickpea Pot Pie via Making Thyme for Health.
Now this is my idea of the perfect comfort food. Holy.snap do these look good!
Paleo Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Squares via The Paleo Running Momma.
A deliciously healthy way to use up those ripe bananas! Now if only I had some lying aroundā¦
Gingerdoodle Cookies via Like Mother, Like Daughter.
The perfectness of snickerdoodles and gingerbread in one cookie?!? Be still my pounding heart.
Your linksā¦
Three things you did yesterday; three things youāre going to do today. Go!
Yesterday: picked up my house after the craziness of the holidays, brainstormed blog & business ideas, and eventually gave myself a Buddha belly from eating too many roasted veggies 
Today: going to church, experimenting in the kitchen, and going over to my parentsā for dinner.
More places to find me!
E-mail ā runwithspoons@hotmail.com
Twitter ā runwithspoons
Facebook ā runningwithspoons
Pinterest ā runwithspoons
Instagram ā runwithspoons
Bloglovin ā runningwithspoons
Iāll be your running buddy. Or course it will have to be from a far, much like our entire relationship. Weāre long distance kid. Ha, who knew. Oh I guess Mr. Geography did. Have I mentioned my poor geography skills beforeā¦yeah, so about that.
I really liked the 101 health and fitness resolutions. They were practical and beneficial for the average person, not necessarily the already uber healthy community. Good tips and realistic to boot. Plus, they threw a little love to the local farmers which I adore.
By the way, Iām making that ultra smooth leg scrub and slathering it all over my chest. Donāt say I didnāt warn you.
Great links this week, Amanda! I hope you had an awesome holiday ā if it involved a castle, Iām pretty sure it had to be amazing. Yesterday we checked out a new beer hall in Winnipeg, went grocery shopping, and made lentil dip for today! Today weāre headed to the mall (one more Christmas present to buy!), cleaning house, and having my mom and stepdad over and by boyfriends parents (phew!).
6 daysā¦until you finally become a man.
Da!
Chickpea pot pie sounds strangely delicious!
Yesterday: stopped at Anthropologie to use my birthday month discount and found out a HUGE sale was going down (!!!), dinner with friends, game night/charades with said friends. Wild Saturday night
Today: not much. Arenāt Sundays wonderful?
Hope you have a great week!
http://youtube.com/sparklesandsuch26
Iām glad you enjoyed your blog/social media break so much ā I know you needed it! It sounds like it gave you a new spark and excitement for the next year of blogging!
3 things I did yesterday: watched Chef for the second time in 24 hours, worked on the giant Christmas crossword from the Globe & Mail, and went out for dinner for my parentsā anniversary
3 things I did today: made buckwheat pancakes, went for a walk with JZ, and read some of my current book (The Scarlet Letter).
Wahoo for Birthday week!!!!! Hope you are off to an amazingggg start!
And I hope your Christmas was spectacular!!!!x
I took loads of time off from social media (I let myself take a break from blogging during holidays) and it felt great too, but my anxiety about missing out was soaring a little!
Iām glad you had a wonderful holiday and yayyy for almost being your birthday!
What are you doing for your birthday, lovebug?
I think youāll like 30! Especially because you donāt look a day over 24.
Canāt wait to hear about your Christmas holiday in the Rockies. xo
Iām not 100% sure yet! My boarding buddies suggested a trip out to Jasper, but that might have to wait until the week after. Iām not big on huge birthday celebrations, but I feel like I should do something bigger for 30. Time will tell
Thanks so much for sharing our cookies!
Yesterday I had a late Christmas dinner with my friends..it was a fantastic time! It was actually an all day adventure at my house. I love days like that when you make great new memories.
Isnāt it amazing how great you feel when you step away from social media? I tried to make that a Saturday habit. Itās refreshing to have one day a week disconnected & keeps me sane too. Big 30?!? Woohoo! The best is yet to comeā¦30ās are great.
Thatās what I keep hearing! Which is probably why Iām actually looking forward to them
Hope youāre having a relaxing Sunday, Megan!
Great links Amanda! I really liked the article about letting go and enjoying annoying situations. It was a good reminder. We never know what greatness may come from an annoying situation!
Thanks for all the good reads! I have been a little disconnected myself over the holidays and it does feel a little relaxing I must say. Have a lovey Sunday!
Happy birthday week, love! Hope you had a super weekend :)! Three things I did yesterday include a catch-up walk with a friend, book a last minute trip for new years eve, and go to my cousinās place for dinner!
I canāt believe your bday is already next week! Time is flyingā¦Three things yesterday ā long run, rest, much needed manicureā¦Three things today ā short run, errands and having my parents over for my dadās birthday dinner! I didnāt bake a cake this year though ā I am too tired.
I hear that. Iām not looking forward to trying to come up with my own cake, so weāll see what I end up withā¦
I just turned 30 a few weeks ago, happy birthday week!! Disconnecting for awhile is so nice, I think everyone needs to do it once in awhile!
Couldnāt agree more! Now to figure out how to make it happen more oftenā¦
Just curious, but how does the third ālink-upā above about āThings I Love About My Momā have anything to do with food and fitness? I think they need to read the post you linked to last week about people abusing link-upsā¦
Umā¦and then I just noticed that blogger linked up FOUR other times? She seriously needs to take a step back. Desperation is not attractiveā¦
7 days till 30? Oh ya! itās a good decade.. well, getting better. ENJOY the last bit of disconnect
Disconnecting has felt so good! Iām hoping Iāll be refreshed for the new year too!
Loving the link this week too! XOXO
Isnāt it amazing how relaxed and renewed you feel getting away from social media for even a day? I spent all of Christmas away from it and it was really eye opening. Apparently I have been a little burnt out! Glad you are really getting to enjoy the holiday week, and thank you for the Link Love!
Canāt agree more getting away from everything is a necessity. We had a wonderful Christmas and I hope you did as well.
Itās pretty amazing, yeah. I always figure I take enough time off since I donāt post everyday, but it really did make a huge difference. Now to figure out how to do it more often