Visions of Christmas

It's hard to believe 2012 is coming to a close - I hope you each had a wonderful Christmas.  I feel blessed to have been able to take some vacation time last last week.   Super husband was able to have the week off as well.   It was filled with the usual busy-ness associated with the holidays, but we had a nice mix of quiet time too.  We hosted my husband's family on Christmas Eve,  his co-workers yesterday and will be hosting friends on New Years Eve - I love having people in my home!   

All of the Christmas decor has been taken down too.  To be honest, it came down the day after Christmas!   The 26th happened to be a cold, wet, rainy day and seemed like the perfect opportunity to take it down.  I go back to work on January 2nd and I feel like the house is in relatively good order.   I'm making a trip to the grocery store in the morning for "post New Year's" foods.  

Meanwhile, I'm trying to decide where to go with this blog.  I always have high hopes of chronicling life via the blog, but then I question why - or maybe I should have a specific purpose - weight loss, DIY, raising a family - or maybe I shouldn't attempt at all because I haven't done the best job keeping posts up-to-date over the past couple of years.   Anyway,  something I'll continue to ponder....
 

Thanksgiving 2012

I was a bit of a procrastinator in getting prepared for Thanksgiving this year.  No particular reason - just lots of different things going - maybe I was stressed, but like always it all came together in the end.

For the past two years, I have participated in our local "Turkey Strut".   After awhile the race registrations add up, so I didn't register this year.  All along I thought I would do a 5K through our neighborhood, we have a nice route.  Thanksgiving morning came and I had a million things still left on the to-do list:  make deviled eggs; make fruit salad;  (oh, did I mention I hadn't been to the grocery store yet?!); clean kitchen; vacuum house... and on and on.   Super husband and super son were busy trying to gather the leaves that had fallen last week - for some reason they always accumulate around the front of our house and get tracked inside.   We're all making nice progress - gotta love TEAMWORK - before I realize it, it's noon and we're done!  Our guests aren't arriving until 5p, so I have plenty of time.  And then the excuses begin --

• I've worked hard this morning - I should relax until company arrives.
• What if the virtual 5K times are posted like last year?  Then, I'll feel defeated b/c I'm sure I will be slower than last year.
• I can do it tomorrow when I don't have any plans.
• Still struggling with what the "right" thing to do for my back.

You see where this was going right?  Several friends started posting on Facebook about what a fun time they had on Turkey Trots, Gobble Wobbles, etc and I said ENOUGH is ENOUGH.  And headed out for my own 5K.

And, in under 48 minutes it was DONE!

Happy New Year & Race Results

Cheers to the New Year - "Running of the Lights" 1.01.2012

As I mentioned yesterday, our family participated in a local 5.5K at midnight to ring in the New Year.

I'm not sure why it was a 5.5K this year - the only think I noticed that was different was the start/finish line was moved.  I finished in 46:15 - I ran more & when I stopped to walk - I tried to keep a brisk pace & I would do more running (usually I get mentally defeated after I take a walk break and never pick back up with running again).  There was a tough steady incline (that's a nice way of saying HUGE hill) on the back stretch & it slowed me down a bit. I felt strong and my breathing felt really good - just need to work through the "mental" of thinking I need to slow down and walk - when I should just press ahead.  Overall, I'm really happy with where I finished and how I felt throughout the race.

So today, I celebrate:

1.01.11 - Running of the Lights 5K - 53.25

1.01.12 - Running of the Lights 5.5K - 46:15

My best 5K time - Crystal Coast 5K - March 2011 - 45:19

And, congrats to my friend, Sally, who did this virtually with me (via her treadmill!).

PS - If you are reading my blog and thinking "man, that's slow" - then you probably don't need to be reading my blog.  :)    Just remember, I'm still lapping the people who are sitting on the couch.

How are you ringing in the New Year?

The older I get, the faster the years roll out -- they told me it would be like this  :)    I know there are lots of plans for New Years... watching the ball drop;  pigging out for the last time in 2011;  and partying it up with friends.    I hate to say it - but I'm usually asleep before the ball drops.  In the past, we've had get-togethers with friends - enjoying food and playing games until the New Year rings in.   

Last year, we tried something different  - the Running of the Lights.   It's a local 5K (this year it's changed to 5.5K) combined with a 1.75 mile walk/fun run.  We had a blast despite the fact it was close to single digit temperatures by midnight.  Personally, I couldn't think of a better way to ring in the New Year this year.  I've tried really hard to embark on a healthy lifestyle over the past 12-15 months and this helps with that!    Super-husband and super-son will be doing the walk and I will be attempting the 5.5K run.  I'm hoping to push myself a little harder than the Thanksgiving Turkey Strut.

Try as I might - I could not convince our friends to join us this year!   However, my friend, Sally, will be doing the race with me via her treadmill.  What are your plans for the New Year?

Holiday Workout... Let's celebrate!

Merry Christmas!

As my brother & I said when we were little, it's Christmas Eve, Eve!  

With the holidays,  people are busy with out of town visitors, shopping, baking, cooking and cleaning up the chaos.  Sometimes, we allow the entire month of December to be an excuse to over indulge or break from our exercise routine.  I want to encourage you to stick with the program!    Our boot camp was cancelled for today & Monday (since our instructor has out of town guests) -- but she emailed us a workout to do on our own.   I looked at the workout and thought it would be difficult for me to watch the clock for intervals & pay attention to the workout!   I had settled into the comfort of my couch when a friend of mine posted she was heading out for a run.  *ding, ding, ding*  Just because I had chosen not to do the boot camp routine - did not mean today was a "free pass".   So I laced up the tennis shoes & grabbed my iPod. 

I can definitely tell boot camp is making me stronger.  I am definitely still slow, but I'm reminded of this quote I found on Pinterest.   "It doesn't matter how slow you are, you are still lapping the people on the couch."  (AMEN!)  My comfort zone tends to put into a brisk walker or an interval girl - but as I've posted before I really want to be a runner.  I decided I would run one mile and then walk one mile back home.  (By the way,  it's 60 degrees here today & I went in shorts!!!).   Did I want to stop short of the mile and switch to intervals or walking?  Yes - but I kept telling myself - push to the next street sign; the next stop sign; around the corner to the next street - before I knew it one mile was DONE!   It was slow - 12 minutes - but faster than the 14 minute mile I did Thanksgiving.  On the walk back home, I enjoyed looking at the neighborhood houses decorated for Christmas & patting myself on the back for a job well done.

So today I celebrate --

• getting off the couch
• pushing myself a little further
• believing I'm stronger than I think I am
• 12 minutes is faster than 14 minutes

Here's hoping for some more mileage on Christmas Eve! 

My Favorite Holiday Snacks...

My mom is one of the best cooks I know - she loves to try new recipes & read cookbooks.  However, baking is not her thing, so for Christmas our treats were often snack related and not cookies she had baked for us to ice.  :)  

Here are a few of my favorites...

1. Sausage Balls - quick & easy... the trick -- letting all the ingredients come to room temperature before trying to make them into balls...
2. Butterscotch Haystacks - again, quick & easy... some people like to add peanuts, but I prefer the noodle & butterscotch only version  (yes, I even omit the peanut butter & marshmallows)
3. Chocolate Pretzels - am I repeating myself - another quick & easy recipe... this is a great one to let kids help with ... they can unwrap the hershey kisses or places the M&M's on the finished treat!
4. Fudge - For as long as I can remember, our family has always used the recipe on the Kraft marshmallow creme jar.
5. Spinach Artichoke Dip - my favorite appetizer & snack!
6. Queso Dip - again, right off the back of the Rotel label

There are many other "treats" I love during the holiday season, but these are just a few of my favorites.  Do you have a favorite holiday treat?

My Christmas Wish List...

My 2011 Wish List

1. Moving Comfort Sports Bra - It's possible I'm crazy for listing this as number one on my list, but I desperately need a new one!   This particular brand is rather pricey - but having had two in this brand for the past 3 years - I can honestly say hands-down they are the BEST.   They keep the "girls" in their place better than any other sports bra I've worn -- especially for running and high impact activities.
2. Super Thick Yoga Mat - The end of October,  I switched from running M-W-F to Boot Camp.  I've been using the yoga mat that came with our Wii and let's just say I have battle wounds.  The boot camp is outside and we do lots of planks, push-ups, and other crazy ab work & I'd like to believe a super-thick yoga mat would help make it more bearable.  :)  
3. Saucony Ride 4 - new shoes! - It's that time of year when I need some new tread.  The Ride4 has been my go-to shoe for the past three years.  If you've never been professionally fitted for shoes, I highly recommend it.  Since wearing the appropriate shoe for my foot, I have not experience any shin splints!

Those really are my top 3 items.  It seems crazy that I am asking for fitness stuff - but that's kinda where I am in life right now.  :)

Merry CHRISTmas... nearly perfect Christmas card

Super-son (10 y/o old);  Wei-Zei (black) and Heidi (gray)

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!   This picture was snapped quickly last Sunday evening & it's nearly perfect of Superson and our 2 four-legged family members - EXCEPT the I could not edit the dog's flash-struck eyes! 

I finished classes for the semester on December 12th and I've been enjoying some relaxing evenings. However,  I do have plenty I should be doing!   We had a busy & lazy weekend - hosting some of super-husband's coworkers for lunch on Saturday and today (Sunday) we've been rather lazy.

I'm looking forward to Christmas and enjoying some time with family!   Are you ready for Christmas?

Another Holiday Tradition...Candle Tea

I love this picture of young & old working together on the Beeswax candles.

One of my favorite holiday traditions is attending the Candle Tea at Old Salem.  And as part of the tradition, we usually stand in a really long line outside with really cold temperatures.  We don't get alot of snow in our area, but the past two years it has snowed while we've been waiting in line.  The Candle Tea is sponsored by Home Moravian Church and held in the Single Brothers House at Old Salem.  The Candle Tea consist of hearing a little history of the Moravians and specifically the Single Brothers House;  singing Christmas carols;  the candle-making room (see pic above); going into the kitchen and enjoying Moravian coffee and sugar cake (my favorite!);  the Putz; and ending with the nativity & reading of the Christmas story.   Nothing changes about the candle tea each year - but we love going as family and remembering the simplicity of the season.

Do you have any holiday traditions?

Simple Christmas Decor

One of my favorite things to do this time of year is look at the ways people get creative and decorate for the holidays.   I'm a pretty simple gal with a pretty simple family, so I like to keep it simple.  I scored the Christmas Subway art ($14.99) from TJ Maxx the end of October.  Last year, I took all of my old garland to Goodwill - it was quite tattered and some of the electrical cords were questionable.  I found this prelit garland on sale at Target ($7.00) over the weekend.  I kept the the Willow Tree angels, family plaque, and digital frame -- I know they aren't seasonal - but it defines so much of "who" are family is.  The vase in the middle was one I had on hand and the ornaments inside came from the Dollar Tree.   I'm very happy with the look and the simplicity of it.   I'm linking up to the Mantel Party at Southern Hospitality.  

Holiday Traditions... Charlie

Holiday Traditions... they're special and full of memories that will last a lifetime.  One of the traditions, we started with our son is Elf on the Shelf.   The picture above is of our elf, Charlie.  Charlie arrived at our house about 5 years ago.   Even though super-son is 10 years old, he is still eagerly awaiting the elf's arrival this year and it warms my heart that he still "believes".   Charlie will arrive at our house shortly after Thanksgiving and watch over the household carefully each day.  At night, he flies home to the North Pole to report the day's activities to Santa.

Do you have a holiday tradition?

92 Days until Christmas...

Seriously? Only 92 days - wow... I saw the sign posted on a doorway here in the office. So, I started thinking - what can we do differently this year? I'm voting for a cash-only Christmas. Ok - let me explain - that sounds like I'm asking for cash only gifts! No, no, no! Actually, I don't need a thing my family's health and happiness are good enough for me.

BUT, we have decided to buy with cash only this year - no plastic! I realize for most people that's not a big deal, but we are trying very hard to adhere to a budget and move toward being debt-free. So - this is a BIG baby-step for us. (I'm waiting on the library to call and tell me the Dave Ramsey book is ready for me to pick-up!).

This next question - where will the money come from? Well, super-husband started a new job in July. We are having money from each paycheck put into a Medical Care Expenses account (they take the money out pre-tax; we submit receipts and are reimbursed for what we've spent). If we hold all our receipts until the end of November, we will be able to submit a little over $300 which will be back just in time for holiday shopping. "Santa" has a Best Buy gift card that he will be using to pay for most of super-son's BIG item.

Do you have money-saving tips for Christmas? I'd love to hear about them!