Jen A. Miller Consulting

Author: Jen A. Miller

How to Pick the Perfect Running Shoes

4 Things to Consider When Shopping for Your Next Pair of Sneaks

Favorite Running Shoes Fall 2014 by singlediariesxo featuring nike shoes

I started running when I was thirteen. In those days, a long run maxed out somewhere in the neighborhood of two miles. Literally, somewhere in the neighborhood. When I started high school I joined the cross country team under the counsel of my mom who had warned me that getting involved would be the only way to make friends. My long-runs crept up for two mile sprints to eight mile hauls. Come college I stepped up my game from 5K races to full marathons. It was in the training for 26.2 miles of pavement pounding that I truly felt I could consider myself an expert in the sport.

As someone who had now been running for over a decade (when did I get so old?), I know that the my shoes can make or break a run. Unlike a new pair of pumps, this is not the time to choose your shoes based on aesthetics. If you truly want to have a great running experience you need to follow the advice you’ve probably heard your mother dish out– look for comfort over all else.

Here, to help you pick out the perfect pair, I’m sharing 4 things you should consider when shopping for your next set of running shoes. And just for fun, I’m throwing in a round up of the latest batch of running shoes to hit the shelves because, lets be honest, good advice is easier to follow when served up in style.

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September 26, 2014
Experience a Taste of the Cafe Culture ft. on The Hungry Traveler

Coffee Addicts Rejoice! A Look at the Cafe Culture of Vienna

At age 26, with over 30 countries added to my passport, I’d consider myself a fairly well-traveled girl. While I’ve hit the standard tourist stops across Europe– Spain, France, Germany, UK–one country that had someone managed to miss my path was Austria.

If I’m honest, I’ve never had a strong desire to visit Austria. Aside from knowing it as the setting which brought Fraulein Maria and Captain Von Trapp together (Sound of Music fans anyone?), I knew very little about the country. Yet when the chance to pay a visit to Vienna came up, I jumped on board, fully excited to step foot into the city of Do Re Me.

Within minutes of arriving to the city I’d fallen in love with Vienna. Beautiful architecture surrounds you in every direction, classic music is seemingly always playing in the background, and perhaps best of all, on nearly every corner you can find a delightfully quaint coffee shop. Vienna is a city with a rich heritage of cafés and there are many waiting to lure you in with their magnificent smells wafting out from within its doors.

Of all the coffee shops one could visit, the most famous is Cafe Landtmann. Head on over to The Hungry Traveler to get the scoop on this famed spot and to learn a thing or two about indulging in true Viennese cafe culture.

September 25, 2014
Single Girl Reveals | Moving In Together

Jen Smith shares her experience moving in with her boyfriend and what to consider before taking the leap

PHOTO: Stephanie Rausser.

Moving in with my boyfriend was a HUGE decision but one that came surprisingly easy for the two of us. Alex and I have been dating over 7 years, with two small breaks in there. We’ve talked about living together for several years, but it never felt right so we always chose to wait.

I pride myself on my independence. Since I went through my quarter-life crisis a few years ago, I worked extremely hard to redefine myself by joining several organizations, making quality friends, and starting a new career path. I thought by living together I would lose my individuality, miss out on seeing my friends, and give up what I love doing most. I was surprisingly wrong.

Alex asked me to “live together” rather than “with him.” Many may not see a difference, but to me, it was an important distinction. To be comfortable moving in together, the act had to be done together and the decision about where to live had to be ours. We worked together to choose which furniture and decorations we were keeping so that our space was a blend of our personalities—for example, he got to keep his sports bobble head collection and me? I got to keep my owl collection.

I value a well-rounded life, and I was worried that by living with Alex, my life would be too focused on “home”… that I wouldn’t have enough time for friends or activities I love. Instead, we find a balance: on nights he’s out with the boys, I can choose to have a girls’ night, attend my favorite yoga class, or finish reading the latest book on my list.

Alex and I are big on communication and find that many conflicts can be avoided with a conversation, so we chose to talk about our concerns before living together. Since I’m a list-maker, I pulled together a list of things to discuss before taking the leap that might also be helpful for you to consider when you are ready to take this step in your relationship.

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September 24, 2014
Why Snooze When You Can… | Morning Rituals

5 morning rituals that will get you out of bed

PHOTO: Pinterest.

I am a night owl. I can stay up later than most people, and my love of sleep means that, historically speaking, me waking up naturally before 11am is unusual. Sleep is important to me, so I’ve always made it a priority; I would categorize that under “good self-care.” Living a freelance life means that I now have the freedom to sleep in a little later when I have to stay up to the wee hours to get work done. In the past few months, however, sleeping in late just ain’t what it used to be (hello, late 20s). Although I’m a creature of habit, part of me does want to become more of a morning person. If you’re like me and need a little boost in the AM, here are 5 rituals you can add to your morning routine that might motivate you to stop hitting the snooze button (or at least cut back to one hit).

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September 22, 2014
Single Girl Dinner Parties | Simple Italian

7 Dishes for an easy-to-make Italian themed dinner party

Potlucks are a single girl’s best friend. For less than $20 a person, you can have a multi-dish meal and really enjoy each others’ company (and by that I mean open more than one bottle of wine without paying an arm and a leg). My sister hosted a group of us for a cozy dinner party at her place. Their friends met through a series of MeetUp events when they were all somewhat new to San Francisco a few years ago. Who says you can’t meet new friends online?

What was on the menu for our Italian dinner party? Caprese skewers, cheese and crackers, bruschetta, prosciutto-wrapped melons, arugula ravioli, and salmon with asparagus… with a little vino and a delightful bundt cake. It’s a delicious night in for up to 10 friends, or pick and choose a few dishes for a party of two. Best part about this menu? You can pick up all the ingredients from Trader Joe’s. Read on for ingredients and recipes.

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September 19, 2014