Happy Halloween and A Great Running How To

Happy Halloween!! Do you have any plans for the night? So far, I think ours include a night at home where I force the hubs to watch The Nightmare Before Christmas yet again. But really, how can anyone resist This is Halloween? I don't know. Unfortunately, we live right next to a massive shopping complex so all the cute kiddos go there for candy instead of our place. The first year we learned this the hard way and ended up with a very anticlimactic first Halloween in our new place and a MASSIVE bowl of candy. Being the kind person that I am, we pawned most of it off to our front office. Those poor girls got so much Halloween candy.

Now that the Halloween bit is over, let's talk running! I recently came across (and by I , I mean the hubs showed me) this YouTube channel all about running. The Ginger Runner has tons of great tips for runners out there and he is an untra-marathoner himself. Pretty great! This video gives some great tips for running at night, but he also goes a bit above and beyond the norm for it. I would definitely recommend watching it whether you are an ultra runner yourself, or are just getting your toes into the running world. Heck, even watch it if you want to live vicariously through an ultra-marathoner. His tips are pretty darn great!! Let me know how the video helped you as well :)

Happy Halloween and TGIF!!

App Review: Acorns

Way back in the day you may remember this blog having articles with the theme "Thrifty Girl". I loved those. Sales and saving money are one of my favorite things to do, sometimes to a fault... Anyone remember that J. Crew blow out a few weeks back? Well, my wallet sure does and our closets are still trying to deal with the influx of pretty, soft things.

Of course, saving money and investing money go hand-in-hand in the bigger picture. We save to have a nest egg to fall back on, get that thing we have been really wanting (hello house, car, vacation), or, just for safe keeping. Investing is really the same, we invest to increase our assets, get to that retirement, bigger house, college fund, or anything else just a bit faster. But, let's face it, the average family just starting out or single guy/gal rarely has the kind of money needed to start setting aside.... Or so you think. Welcome Acorns.

Acorns is a nifty little app that is great for those already investing or just starting out in the investment game. Simply put, Acorns rounds your purchases up to the even dollar and invests that small amount. Unlike many things out there, the app makes investments easy to understand and lowers that limitation wall most newbie investors are afraid of crossing. The hubs recently found this app, and although we already invest, we decided that doing a little more wouldn't hurt. The good thing is that the app has taught us both a bit more about investments and it has helped us find what kind of investors we are.

When you start up Acorns you will tie the app with a few different bank accounts of your choosing. I know that some of you have freaked out at this idea, but let me say, it is as safe as Mint which is pretty darn safe. Next, you decide what kind of investments you want: Safe and untouched for the next ten year, moderate and available in 3-5, or those dangerous penny stocks that will take or multiply your change. We chose the moderate and connected it with the debit account that I use most often.

Although it is the second most common card we have (the first being a credit card we pay off every month), I only use it enough to average about $10 of investments per month. Of course, you can always add money to Acorns. In fact, you start off by adding anywhere from $5 up.

And, that's it. Next time you purchase things, you will also be purchasing stock for your future. Well done, you can now, actually, celebrate that sale in more than one way! But, be sure you are ready for those deductions, it will round up your expenditures and thus round down your available moneys.

For those who want to be able to keep track of what is happening, the app does it too. You can see your stock portfolio, each stock's past month, and your projected income for the next 20-years. Best of all, the information is actually easy to understand. I know, the whole not needing an MBA to understand your stock portfolio is a new idea to many, but it is a real one.

Whether you are wanting to save a bit and investing is new, or you are the Kevin Rose of young investors, this app is a big recommendation from me. Saving money and investing a bit is just plain smart. This app makes it both simple and easy and I have yet to see a downside in using it :) Oh, and did I mention it is free?!! It's free.

A Squatastic Wake-Up Challenge

Good morning! I hope your day has started off right! If you are still feeling a bit sluggish or the idea of conquering your pillow sounds between than conquering that to-do list, this morning challenge should help. I have been doing this challenge every morning for over a week now and LOVE IT. It is simple, quick, and let me tell you, it is effective. As you may have figured from the title above, this weeks challenge is all about the squat. For this challenge, you will be doing 99 squats in 3 different varieties.

Of course, this challenge can be done at any time during the day, but I find mornings to be best. The squats get your blood pumping and your morning started without feeling like you just ran 5-miles. Plus, doing this simple exercise in the morning will make it more likely for you to workout again later on in the day. And, for all you over-achievers out there, I recommend doing this more than once. That's right, try fitting in some squats throughout your day and see how it helps your energy and your bum. I did this a lot while we were traveling and it seriously helped me not feel so achy during and after flights.

What I Missed While in Greece

Now, I am looking at all the articles, pop culture, and news I have missed over the past week and thinking that it simply must be shared. Because, there is the off chance that you also missed all these goodies and that is simply not acceptable. Happy Tuesday and here's to vacations, the internet, cat babies (who are sitting on your lap right now purring, pawing at your face, and thanking you for the tuna you gave them because you completely forgot they were out of wet food. It happens, don't judge), and coming home!

Oh, and you may see a supreme lack of pictures from Greece on this post. Do not fret, there will be PLENTY in the following week.

Another 20-Minute Kettlebell Workout

Because all the 20-minute kettlebell workouts in the world do not satiate my kettlebell workout desire. I looked at this with longing while kettlebell free in Athens.

These Cookies

They are made with coconut oi and oatmeal. Oh, and chocolate, bananas, and magic.

This Tracey Anderson Workout

I have been eating like a true Grecian and apparently, do not have their god-like metabolism to back it up. This flat stomach workout via flat stomach goddess just might be my ticket to normal-size town! Whoowhoo.

This Outfit

Because it's fall and I love it. I mean really, look at it. Do we need a better reason?!

These Noms

Full disclosure, I am not sure what is in them or how they are made because I have not clicked on the link. They just look soo good that all I can do is stare, and maybe drool a little.