Looking Back, A Few Resolutions + An Icy Five

As 2012 comes to a close, I can proudly look back upon a few of its highlights and say that I accomplished what I set out to do.  Here are a few of my resolutions from 1/1/12...

• Not only getting back into "running" shape, but racing shape too. 
• Beginning this blog, which launched on January 21, 2012.
• Making healthier food choices...
• Making new friends and reconnecting with old ones.

As I look ahead to the upcoming year, I don't necessarily have any new or significant resolutions.  But instead, I want to tweak a few of last year's to make myself an even better person both physically and mentally.

Resolutions for 2013:

• I plan on continuing to run and train to the best of my ability and as time allows, but I want to focus more on taking care of my body.  This includes daily stretching, increased yoga sessions and more time on the foam roller.  

• I've been saying for a while that I want to make some changes to this blog including a new logo and a move from Blogger to WordPress.  To do this, I've enlisted the help of a friend to help me with the "techy" stuff that is way over my head.  

• I think I do a decent job with making good food choices and cooking healthy meals.  However, my goals this year are to totally eliminate any processed food {I really don't eat much of that to begin with}, add more veggies into my diet, and to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

• I need to become more organized in my home.  Because of my schedule, my life in general is extremely organized and everything is planned out in advance.  But, the one area that I tend to push to the side is keeping my home in order.  Like my mom says, everything should have a place.  Quite honestly, everything does NOT have a place in my house and I want to work on that in the upcoming months.

This morning I went for the last run of the year...an easy five miler through downtown. 

Due to the slick icy patches and snowy sidewalks my run was a little more relaxed than normal, and the last 50 yards was on pure ice...hence the 11:45 {pace} that was registered on my watch.  I also wore the new jacket my sister gave me for Christmas.  It's perfect for colder weather because it provides extra protection from the wind in the chest area and to me, it was comparable to wearing a vest.  A short-sleeved shirt underneath was all I needed to be "perfectly" comfortable throughout my run.    

I hope that you all have a safe New Year's Eve and a healthy and prosperous 2013.  What are your resolutions for the upcoming year?



   

Loving Lately

Every year Fred purchases a poinsettia from one of the many fundraisers at his schools.  This year for some reason, my flower didn't do so well.  To compensate for the drooping stems, I snipped them off and created this colorful centerpiece using a store-bought bouquet of lilies and mums.  The final result was beautiful on my Christmas table.   

The sales after Christmas can be downright amazing.  I picked up this entire bag of clothes for my daughter at the Gap for under $50...five shirts, a dress, a skirt, a pair of tights and a hat.  It was a "score" in my opinion... 

For years, I've been trying to stall my daughter from getting her ears pierced.  My grandparents treated me when I was eight years old, so my mom and I thought it was time for her to have them done.

Flexible wire whisper bracelets {here} add a whimsical touch to a chunky gold watch.   

Banana chocolate chip biscotti from here...perfect to use up ripe bananas. 

What are you loving lately?

Christmas Day

Good morning!  Christmas Day started off great with a hike with my two boys.  Once I got home, it was straight to work on the dinner for that evening.  

Menu

~Appetizer~
Phyllo Cups filled with Brie and Cranberry Pomegranate Preserves  

~Main Course~

Ina's Herb Roasted Turkey Breast

Giada's Mascarpone Mashed Potatoes

Stuffing with Sage Sausage

Smoked Ham

Corn from this past summer 

Green Beans

Homemade gravy

The turkey breast was amazing.  I've used this recipe once before and both times, it was moist, juicy and extremely flavorful.  The trick?  Fresh herbs combined with olive oil tucked under the skin and on top of it.   
 

After dinner, we settled into the living room with a plate of cookies while diving into the presents. 

Apparently, Fred liked his new hat AND his new Phillies shirt!

 
Christmas came and went in a flash, but we still have a few more stops to make this weekend to celebrate.  We're looking forward to seeing more family members, both in Fred's family and mine.  

This morning we woke up to remnants of the winter storm...more slushy white stuff.  Lauretta and I were supposed to run very early, but that didn't happen for various reasons and I'm hoping to get out later today for a few miles after the sun melts the roads.

Enjoy the day!    

Tranquil Times

The few days leading up to Christmas were both quiet and relaxing in my house for a few reasons.  One...the kids were with their other respective parent, and two...I had all of my shopping, wrapping and baking finished.  On Sunday, Fred and I found ourselves with a few extra hours to spare so we decided to bundle up and head downtown to visit the open air Christmas Village.  Some of the members of the Bethlehem police force patrol the streets on horseback.  The horses are gorgeous.   

The city set up huts in certain areas off of Main Street which feature vendors selling all sorts of unique items.  The village resembles that of a Christkindlmarkt in Germany.  

I stopped for a mini-break....

The Sun Inn, Bethlehem's oldest hotel.  It has been in operation since 1760, but today it stands as a museum.  George and Martha Washington were once visitors.  

Christmas Eve began with an early morning run with my buddy, Lauretta.  We covered about nine miles in 70 minutes.  Lauretta was home from Virginia to visit her parents with her brand new fiance, Peter.  It was a tad on the chilly side when we started!     

After our run, I made these sticky buns as a Christmas Eve treat before Payton headed to her dad's house.  They were super easy and really delicious!

That afternoon, Fred and I headed to Jacobsburg State Park for a little hike with Willsey.  We covered between two-three miles before it started to get dark.  This was the first time that Willsey was off-leash in a public setting and he did a stellar job.  I was a proud mommy!   

Christmas morning was all white!  After presents and coffee, Fred and I jumped in the car for another walk with Willsey before the kids got home.  This time we went to one of my favorite running trails, which was new to Fred.  I love this picture of the two of us.    

The good boy!

Once we got home, it was time for me to start preparing for the girls to come home, along with the Christmas dinner {more on that later}.  I hope that you had a wonderful holiday!

Merry Christmas

...from my family to yours!

Loving Lately

Wrapping gifts with pretty paper and sparkly ribbon can sometimes be a chore, especially when you have a lot to do.  But once they are finished, the fruits of your labor sit charmingly under the tree for all to admire.     

Hot chocolate on a chilly night is so cozy and relaxing, but a touch of peppermint schnapps makes it even better.  It’s like a Peppermint Patty in a mug.  

A simple wreath made of cut-up white garbage bags tied around a bent hanger makes an adorable holiday gift from any child.  

My hometown {Bethlehem, aka "The Christmas City"} decorated for the holiday is stunning.   

Pretzels and chocolate, salty and sweet…a winning combination. 

After a day off from school, my class left me this note.  I was sent on a scavenger hunt around the classroom.  So cute...they were showing their love!

Let it snow!  The Parent Teacher Association in Connecticut wants the students of Sandy Hook Elementary School to be greeted by a winter wonderland when they head back to school in their new building.  They are asking children and parents from around the country to create unique snowflakes to decorate their school.  The snowflakes are due by January 12^th and you can send them to this address:  

Connecticut PTA

60 Connolly Parkway

Building 12, Suite 103

Hamden, CT  06514

The Elvis Omelet

The other day my friend Jolene told me about a new omelet she discovered at the Starlite Diner.  It’s called the Elvis Omelet and when Jolene ordered it off the menu, she immediately knew it was a hit.  Better yet, it’s super easy to make.

What’s in the Elvis Omelet?  Three eggs cooked with a {whole} sliced banana, then peanut butter sandwiched in between the eggs when they are done.  Topped with a sprinkle of powdered sugar, this omelet is both delicious and healthy.  Plus, I’m sure egg whites could be substituted to make this dish even healthier. 

A quick side note: Lately we’ve been bombarded with devastating news, and our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Newtown, CT.  Jolene told me that she accidentally left her wallet at the Starlite on that day and one of the workers found it.  Somehow her mother was reached and the wallet was returned, all contents in tact.  When Jolene went back to retrieve it, she thanked the girl and gave her all of the cash that was left.  Bottom line, there are still people in this world who are thoughtful, caring and kind, but sometimes we tend to lose sight of the goodness that is around us.    

Thanks for sharing, Jolene!

As for running, I ran a solid 5 miler in just under 38 minutes last night.  It was a race against darkness so I pushed myself a little bit, even though I was tired from my day at school.

Have a great day!

Getting Movin' Again

 

We’re halfway through the week before Christmas and as you could probably imagine, my children {both at home and at school} are bursting with excitement.  Heck, I’m even excited for a little R&R time at home with the fam!

As I prep for the holidays, I still try to make some time for runs.  Even though I may not be running “as much” as I would like, a few miles is better than nothing. 

Recently, I did a workout on the track with Jesse.  Even though I have yet to nail down a race schedule for the new year, I felt like I needed to get my legs moving again since my last real workout was the day before Thanksgiving.  Granted, I managed to fit in some long runs sandwiched between easy five milers, but nothing compares to a few intervals to get the old heart pumping.  

Here’s the workout:

Warm-up – about 4.5 miles and drills/strides

2 x 800 - 3:11.5, 2:58.5 {at the same rest}

2 x 400 - 1:24, 1:22 {at the same rest}

2 x 200 - 38.5, 37.3 {1 minute rest}

2 mile cool down

The goal was to get in a longer warm-up for added miles.  I haven’t been on the track for a while {here} and this simple workout was just what I needed.  After Christmas I need to sit down and plan a race schedule.  Having a few goals in mind drives the way I train and the workouts I do. 

What are your racing plans for the new year?  Do you gear your workouts to your racing schedule? 

Snowman Soup

My daughter's 2nd grade holiday party is approaching and I wanted to come up with some sort of goodie bag/game prize that is both creative and useful.  Since the celebration is one for all holidays, I decided to put together "Snowman Soup" for every child in the classroom.  

Materials needed {per child}:

• one packet of hot chocolate
• mini marshmallows individually wrapped in little plastic bags {because they get sticky on their own}
• 4-5 Hershey kisses
• one candy cane
• clear cellophane bag
• tags printed on cardstock {I found mine here}

A large, family-sized bag of Hershey kisses yields approximately 4-5 pieces per child in a class of 22 students.

Assemble together in a bag and staple the tag onto the top. 

The tags I used came with this cute poem on the back...

The final product!  My daughter and I had a fun time assembling them and she is so excited to hand them out to her friends at school on Friday afternoon.  

Christmas Party + Cookie Baking

This past weekend was full of Christmas{y} activities such as my work party, the Nutcracker ballet with my daughter, cookie baking with my mom and a performance of Harry Connick Jr.'s The Happy Elf musical at our local community theater.  Though I barely had time for nothing else, it sure was fun to take in a few shows and gather with my coworkers.   

Here I am about to board the bus for our party with my friends at work...  

My favorite people to work with!

Our old teammate {Katie} met up with us for a bit.  It was great to see her too!

And of course,  my BFF at work, Beth...
 

Even though you work with people everyday, it's always nice to have a chance to socialize with them beyond the school walls.


Cookie baking has become a tradition that I do every year with my mom.  Though we like all kinds of cookies, there are a few must-haves that we are certain to make.  Two of those include my Baba's Jelly cookies and the Spritz cookies using an 80 year old cookie press. 

While we were busy perfecting each and every cookie, Payton and Alli were having fun making holiday cards using the old cards my parents received in 2011.  Leave it up to my mom to pull those babies out!   

First up, "Jellies" with red raspberry preserves.  The dough for this particular cookie doesn't expand so we fit a ton on one baking sheet.  We like to make them rather small since that is how my grandmother used to do it.   
  

If I had to choose, these are probably my favorite holiday treats.

After a quick lunch, we were on to the next type...old fashioned Spritz. 

Spritz cookies are made by placing buttery dough into a metal cylinder tube.  By turning the knob, the insert inside is lowered and pushes the dough through these metal stencils.  This particular cookie press belonged to my grandmother and like I said, my mom estimates it to be approximately 80 years old.  We've tried the newer plastic versions and they just don't match up. 

This year I picked up colored sugar for the top.  These buttery cookies are so good that they melt in your mouth.

After dinner my family wanted cookies for dessert.  Being the cookie police, I only allowed two per person.  Needless to say, my family was not happy but they need to last until Christmas!  

On another subject, running has been hard to squeeze in.  I did, however, run 4 on Saturday and about 7.5 miles with Jesse on Sunday.  Hey, it's something.  

What did you do this weekend that put you in the Christmas spirit?