One Slow Day in Miami

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I spoke at Barry University last night. Always happy to spread the Operation Beautiful story!

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The idea behind Operation Beautiful is to write a positive or kind message on a Post-It and leave it in a public place for strangers to find.  Some fun and interesting Operation Beautiful facts:

 

Over 20,000 notes have been e-mailed in since the site started in 2009…

… But I’d estimate that hundreds of thousands have been posted.

Notes have been posted on every continent and in dozens of languages.

There are two books about the movement – one for adult women and another for tween girls.

Two people have e-mailed me to say that they discovered an Operation Beautiful note on the day they were planning to commit suicide, but the note motivated them to call a therapist instead.  Totally incredible.  You never know who will find your message!

The Christian rock band Superchick regularly gives Operation Beautiful shout-outs during concerts. <3

Multiple people have gotten Operation Beautiful-inspired tattoos…  Including myself!  But no, I’m not showing it off.  🙂

The coolest place that I’ve seen an Operation Beautiful Post-It was on the South Pole (yes, there’s a literal pole down there).

We have a really strong and active Facebook group.  Be our friend for daily doses of positivity!

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My trip to Miami coincided nicely with my friend Lisette’s spring break (she’s a teacher). So instead of flying out ASAP, I booked a later flight so we could spend today together.

 

To sum up our day — we sat outside in the sunny breeze, drank fresh-squeezed juice, ate Chicken Kitchen (literally, the best ‘fast food’ in all of Miami; I always get the veggie chop chop), and painted our nails.  It was a slow day, but it was SO VERY NICE. It was so relaxing.

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Totally random side note…. And this may be a well-known fact, but I didn’t learn it until a few years ago.  Did you know that you can tell what side of the car the gas tank is on by looking at the gauge?  Whatever side of the gas tank symbol the pump is on is the correct side.  There’s usually an arrow pointing in that direction, too.  So this rental car’s gas tank is on the right.

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Ahhh, it’s the little things.

 

Ironman March Check-In

 

We’ve only got a few more days until the end of the Ironman March challenge! Time flies.

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I’ve finished the run requirement (26.2 miles), and I’m either done or very close to finishing up the swim (2.4 miles – need to check the training plan), but I’m going to struggle to completely finish the bike (112 miles) before the end of the month.  The weather, toddler sickness, and travel worked against me!  But there’s 5 days left in the month, so when I get home, I’m really going to put the pedal to the metal.  And even if I don’t wrap it all up by the end of March, I’m going to bike into April so I can finish the challenge.  Gotta follow through to the very end!

 

How’s Ironman March going for you?

{ 21 comments }

 

  • Lauren March 26, 2014, 7:38 pm

    That sounds like a perfect day!

  • melissa fitnessnyc March 26, 2014, 8:40 pm

    Wow, that gas tank thing is HUGE! Seriously, you blew my mind and saved me so much time!

  • Hannah March 26, 2014, 9:08 pm

    I’ve never heard the gas pump thing before- I can’t wait to look at my car! How cool!!! Jealous of your sunny, slow day. That looks so nice and relaxing, I hope you enjoyed it! And… I’m considering an Ironman April. I knew I wasn’t ready to swim this morning, but I want to get back in the poor. I need a challenge to motivate me… so I think I’ll just jump in a month late!!

  • Samantha March 26, 2014, 9:20 pm

    I just love your hair color in the sun! That gas tank thing is pretty cool too.

  • Joy March 26, 2014, 9:50 pm

    Oh my goodness. I never knew that about the gas gauge! Thank you for sharing this!!!

  • Sara @ LovingOnTheRun March 26, 2014, 10:06 pm

    Oh my!! This gas tank thing – blew my MIND! I never knew this – I am going to have to look at this when I go out to my car in the morning 🙂

  • Rebecca March 26, 2014, 10:08 pm

    It’s amazing to me that some people can go so long without realizing the gas tank thing. I’ve known it probably since around when I started driving and it was pointed out to me probably by my dad (who likes to tell people everything even if they’re not really paying attention <3). Of course, it doesn't necessarily show up in all cars, maybe? But yeah, just check which way the arrow points on your gas gauge. No more poking your head out the window or having to fix where you've parked your car because you forgot which side your tank thing is on.

    • Kim March 27, 2014, 10:33 am

      I can never remember which side of the car the gas tank is on. I always have to glance down at the gas tank symbol to see which way the arrow is pointed.

  • Runner Girl Eats March 27, 2014, 6:47 am

    I loveeee Chicken Kitchen! It is a must have when I go back to Miami…and enough croquetas to explode. I have never left an OB note but love the concept…I need to put a post it in my purse!

  • Kelly March 27, 2014, 6:49 am

    I knew about the little arrow on the gas gauge but I only found that out recently; like within the last 2 years. My husband told me and my mind was blown. I mean I’ve been driving since I was 17 you’d think I would have figured that one out at some point.

  • Carla March 27, 2014, 8:11 am

    ahh my girl and I were in your first book and now?
    she’s sloooowly edging toward that NEEEDING the O.B. age.

    xo

  • Cinda March 27, 2014, 8:29 am

    Looks like a wonderful day….. Our daudghter n law did a grad program at this school, nice school! I so miss going to Miami –our son graduated from U. Of Miami med. school 2 years ago and I soooo miss visiting them and that wonderful area. Enjoy!

  • Julie March 27, 2014, 10:00 am

    I didn’t know about the gas gauge thing either! Cool! I REALLY hope my bf doesn’t know; can’t wait to blow his mind! 😛

  • Katie March 27, 2014, 10:26 am

    I posted yesterday about how I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to fit all of the bike in…you mentioned there might be a giveaway, will we be able to enter if we have to go a few days into April to get our final miles?

    • Caitlin March 27, 2014, 3:13 pm

      I’m not sure – I feel bad holding other to the standard that I couldn’t uphold, but then again, I’m paying for the prizes and can’t give them to myself. Hah. SOOOO therefore, I would say that in the interest of being fair to those who got all the work done in March as required by the challenge, you have to be done in March to qualify for the prizes.

  • Amber @ Busy, Bold, Blessed March 27, 2014, 10:41 am

    Mind blown! How could I not have known this?! It IS the little things 🙂 Happy almost Friday!

  • Stacey March 27, 2014, 11:46 am

    It literally makes me giggle how most people in the comments (and you) did not know about the gas tank arrow. What I’m curious about is how doesn’t anyone notice it when they look at their tank? 🙂 I think my mom told me about it years ago while learning how to drive… or maybe I figured it out on my own? Not sure, but I do know I’ve known about it for years. It comes in very handy as we have one car with the tank on the opposite side of all the others.

  • Bethany March 27, 2014, 12:03 pm

    You can tell you are from the south! Wearing jeans- sitting outside in Miami.

    Those of us from ‘up north’ would have been melting. 🙂 Or shedding every ounce of clothing to soak up as much vitamin D we possibly could! 🙂

    Looks like a relaxing time!

  • Alex @ Kenzie Life March 27, 2014, 1:05 pm

    I had no idea about the gas tank gauge. Thank you for sharing that! Guess I’m really behind on the uptake 😉 Glad you had a fun time in Miami!

  • Elizabeth {Positively Healthy} March 27, 2014, 3:35 pm

    I did not know that about the fuel tank, I love fun facts like that! Ironman March is going great, I’m kinda sad it is coming to an end!

  • Mikella March 29, 2014, 6:49 pm

    I wonder if the gas tank thing is only on newer cars or certain brands? My gauge is definitely on the opposite side of the vehicle from the tank and has no arrow. But it is older, so maybe that’s it?

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