Category Archives: Life

Friend Makin’ Mondays: Getting to Know You

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I am awaiting some photos from my friends who were at the finish line of the marathon, but I am working on my recap post. I am hoping to have it up this weekend. Right now I’m relaxing in Ft. Lauderdale, FL at my Dad’s. Carlos is having a great time playing with his Grandpa. My husband unfortunately had to return home on Sunday to go back to work on Monday. This has been a fabulous vacation so far. The best part is that I don’t have to return to work until Sunday night. So I will have a few days after I return home to settle in and get organized for the week ahead.

I love these Friend Makin’ Monday posts even if I don’t get them up until Tuesday. Please visit Kenlie’s site to read hers and many more.

1) What is one of your favorite ways to spend a Saturday? I enjoy going for a long run in the morning. Then it depends on my husband’s work schedule and Carlos’ activities for the day. I just kind of go with the flow. I absolutely love when we can all do something as a family like go for a hike or go for a drive to someplace new. I also love to visit with family.

2) List your top three favorite TV shows.  I honestly don’t watch TV, but I do try to follow the Amazing Race and the Biggest Loser online. I also love House Hunters International and I usually catch about 10 minutes of it with my husband before I go to work at night.

3) Would you rather be in pictures or take them? Oh take them definitely, but this is something I am working on. When my son was almost a year old I was going through all the photos of his first year to put together photo books and calendars for Christmas gifts. I realized sadly that there were few photos of the two of us. I always avoided photos because I hated the way I looked in them, but I didn’t want my son’s life to be devoid of photographic memories of me. This was part of the reason I decided to start living a healthier lifestyle. One of my goals for this year is to have professional family photos done before the holidays.

4) Why do you blog? I started this blog to document my marathon training. It has been a really fun experience and I plan to continue blogging now that the marathon is over.

5) Share five websites that you visit regularly…

OK this is a boring list I know. Yahoo is where I get most of my email. Strange to think I’ve had my Yahoo email account since 1996. CNN for a quick check of the news because a girl’s got to stay in tuned to the world! Amazon is my go to place for online shopping. Twitter just because it fascinates me. My home page on my web browser is set to my iGoogle account where I can scan my Google Reader, Gmail, Gcal and my to do list. Of course I also visit my favorite blogs regularly.

6) If you could have lunch with one person from your Twitter list who would it be? Right now it would have to be Hal Higdon @higdonmarathon. I followed his training plans for my first half marathon and my first marathon. He has run 111 marathons so he certainly knows what he’s talking about. I felt very prepared in both cases and I would love to thank him in person and hear all about his incredible experiences both as a runner and a long time writer.

7) List a few of your favorite snacks. Fruit, granola bars and nuts. I also enjoy baking healthy snacks.

8 ) Do you have a pet? If so, what kind? No we don’t have any pets.

9) Which three material possessions would you struggle to live without? My iPhone, iPod and my laptop.

10) What’s your favorite drink? I am a water girl, just plain old water.

11) Do you enjoy cooking? Yes I love cooking. It’s a relatively new hobby for me and I credit the blog world for inspiring me to start cooking. I’ve grown more adventurous and ambitious in the kitchen.

12) Do you have children? I have one adorable 5 year old son.

13) What are your favorite hobbies? Cooking, reading, hiking and running.

14) Would you consider yourself to be shy or outgoing? I think I’m outgoing for the most part but I can be reserved at times.

15) If you could change one thing about yourself, what would you change? I would stop sweating the small stuff (oh and of course lose those last 15-20 pounds!).

16) Who is your favorite actor/actress? I don’t really have a favorite actor or actress.

17) What’s the coolest thing you’ve done this week?  I ran my first marathon!!!

18) Do you live near your family or far from them? I live about 15 minutes from my Mom and my Grandmother. My sister is about an hour and 15 minutes away. My Dad lives in Florida which is a 3 hour plane ride away. My in-laws live in Mozambique.

19) List three of your talents. When I think of talent I think of the arts. There are few things I am decent at though. I think I’m a pretty good mother. I’m a really good listener. I also have good organizational skills.

20) What is your greatest attribute? Determination!

Hope you are having a great day! I’m off to have some fun in the sun.

36&5

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Thirty six years ago today I received one of the best early Christmas gifts a 2 year old little girl can receive…a baby sister. She was like a real life baby doll. I wanted to take care of her, feed her and play with her. Our lives have taken us along very different paths sometimes close and other times very far apart both physically and emotionally. As time passes our bond as sisters has grown stronger. Traditionally it is the younger sister who looks up to the older sister. I have always looked up to my sister. I was horribly awkward during the teen years while my sister seemed to flow effortlessly amongst any group. She was smart, athletic, beautiful and stylish. Most importantly she was genuinely nice to everyone. Those qualities only enhance the responsible, independent, worldly woman she has become. I am honored and so very lucky to have such a wonderful sister.

Fast forward 31 years. Five years ago today I was in the hospital awaiting the birth of my first child. At 6:29 pm on December 17 my baby boy, Carlos, was born on my sister’s birthday. I was due on December 23, but kept praying I would have the baby on the 17th. It just seemed fitting to have my child on a family member’s birthday as I was born on my grandmother’s birthday.

I love that my sister and her only nephew share a special bond too. He changed our lives in many ways and brought so much joy to this month that begins with such sad memories for us. Carlos was just what we needed in our family. Words could never come close to expressing how much I adore him. These are the days I want time to stop so I can hold on to my baby boy before he is all grown up.

Today he was all little boy, giddy with excitement. Our day started at the crack of dawn. Finally at 6:30 we crept downstairs to give Carlos his gifts. We had everything set up last night. We gave him a Disney Cars table and chairs set (not very exciting I know!, but his previous set broke when Orlando decided to sit on the table and he really wanted another one. He was thrilled that this one featured the characters from Cars).

The real gift was the Wii. He recently played it at two of our friends’ homes so we knew he would like it. We never imagined his reaction. He loved it. He was so surprised and kept thanking us over and over telling us we are the “bestest” mom and dad ever! Needless to say I spent hours this morning riding Luigi around various tracks in Mario Kart. Fortunately new games were on their way later in the day.

Wii action

Krazy for Mario Kart

After hours of Wii I decided that as the mother of the birthday boy I too deserved a gift so I took some time to enjoy a nice 8 mile run on yet another gorgeous December day. From one mother to another I thank you Mother Nature. I did a slightly different route around home and it ended up being quite a hilly run with winds in my face for about half of it. I enjoyed the challenge though and actually made good time.

This evening we had family and good friends and their son over for pizza and cake to celebrate Carlos’ big day.

I couldn’t get a decent picture of Carlos blowing out the candle to save my life. His friend kept trying to blow out the candle too. It was a little crazy. This was the best I could do.

Carlos sitting with his Nonna and friend

My baby boy I mean big boy is sound asleep. I just went to check on him. I could sit and watch him sleep all day long. There is nothing more peaceful than a sleeping child or baby.  I am so blessed to have a beautiful, healthy son and a beautiful, healthy sister. So when people ask what was the best Christmas gift you ever got, it’s hard to imagine what could be better than the early Christmas gifts I received twice in my life on December 17th.

Sunday Ramblings

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1. We had two parties to go to this weekend and it was my weekend to work so I didn’t have a lot of time to get creative. There are two go to salads that I’m able to whip up fairly quickly for a party or get together. The first is one of my own concoctions. It’s simple, light and really quick and easy to make.

Broccoli Slaw Salad


1 bag of broccoli slaw

half a cup of Craisins

1/3 cup of crumbled goat cheese

1/4 cup of slivered almonds

mix with about 1/2 cup Poppy Seed dressing (any kind will do)

-The measurements are estimates. I never actually measure. I just eyeball it because it’s really up to what I have on hand. I’ve also added matchstick sliced apples or pears, peanuts instead of almonds and I’ve used a lemon vinaigrette dressing rather than poppy seed dressing though I prefer the poppy seed.

The other is Southwestern Black Bean Salad compliments of Gina at Skinnytaste. If you have never visited this website please do. It is a treasure chest of recipes complete with Weight Watcher points and nutritional stats not to mention the gorgeous photos that accompany each recipe. I get rave reviews every time I bring this salad somewhere and I am always asked to provide the recipe.

2. My favorite facial cleanser is Checks and Balances by Origins. I try to be economical and at $15 this product seems a little pricy to me. I didn’t buy it again after I ran out last time and I have missed it ever since. My face just doesn’t feel as squeaky clean with the other cleansers I tried. I received an email from Origins offering free shipping and 20% off so I ordered the cleanser. I’m so happy to have it back. Now I will say this stuff lasts forever and I probably only go through 2 tubes a year. I think my face is worthy of $30 a year!

3.  Mother Nature has been ridiculously awesome this December. I never imagined I would still be running outdoors at this point, but I am taking full advantage of the clear weather.

4.  I haven’t even started Christmas shopping unless you count the fact that I have Amazon.com open in another tab on my browser and I have three things in my cart. This month is going by way too fast.

5.  My baby is going to be 5 years old on Saturday. He was born on my sister’s birthday. For years she has been trying to convince us how horrible it is to have a December birthday especially one a week away from Christmas. I believe it now and ironically Scary Mommy did a fantastically funny post about this topic. She would like to declare March National Abstinence Month!

6. Only 23 days until the Disney Marathon! I received my bib number. It is 8503. It’s starting to feel real! And speaking of the marathon…I will be back tomorrow will a recap of my training last week. It was a great week.

Weigh in day: Week 5

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I weighed in this morning as planned. I wasn’t jumping for joy by any means. I’m sort of indifferent to the scale right now.

Weigh in #5 = 161.4

Last weigh in I was 162. I think I definitely have a handle on maintenance. The whirlwind of holiday parties and December birthdays has begun and I’m just taking it one event at a time. I attended a retirement party for one of the doctors at work last week and I enjoyed a small plate of food and I passed on the cake. Tonight is a coworker’s birthday. Nurses are notorious for bringing in tons of food for any celebration. Thankfully I only work with two people on my unit. Usually we just bring a cupcake for the birthday girl or some other treat they enjoy. On my birthday the girls brought a fruit platter! I thought that was so thoughtful.

I have to say that I have the most supportive coworkers and husband when it comes to trying to lose weight. If I say no to a sweet treat or other food they never try to coerce me into eating it nor do they say things like “come on it’s just one,” or ” you have to live a little.”

Growing up we were always encouraged to eat more. Seconds were normal and portions were huge. To this day my mother will try to make me eat the last piece of something or offer seconds despite knowing how much I have struggled with my weight. I don’t think she’s trying to be malicious. I just think she is set in her ways and to her offering food and nourishment is somehow equated to offering love and caring..

I received an email the other day from Amanda, a graduate student at Clark University. She is doing a study about people who experience a spouse trying to sabotage their efforts to eat healthier. Fortunately for me I don’t fit the criteria to participate in the study because my husband does not exhibit sabotaging behaviors, but she has asked me to pass the information along in hopes of possibly finding others who might be able to take part in the study. The following is from the email Amanda sent to me:

While it’s hard losing weight on your own, it’s not necessarily easier with a spouse or partner.  Sometimes partners/spouses undermine weight loss through acts like complaining about healthier food, gifting high-caloric foods, or even through abusive language/acts.  I’m creating an anonymous, online survey to assess for partner undermining and to learn more from those who experience it.  To be eligible to take the survey, participants need to have experienced this in their current relationship (of at least the past 2 years), and have been participating in a weight loss program for the past 5 consecutive weeks.  For more info, you can check out http://tinyurl.com/Clark-Study or Google PUBS-WL.

 Also, here’s a link describing my study on a blog post by an obesity medicine doctor, Dr. Yoni Freedhoff: 
http://www.weightymatters.ca/2011/11/is-your-spouse-sabotaging-your-weight.html?m=1

I’d really appreciate your help spreading the word about my survey as I think this is a very worthwhile and important study that could help health care professionals better understand their patients’ barriers to weight loss.

Thank you in advance for your help,


        Amanda G. Harp, M.A.
        Doctoral Candidate
        Clinical Psychology
        Clark University
        Worcester, MA
        aharp@clarku.edu

If anyone reading this might be able to help or might know of somebody who could help Amanda please email her or link to the study. According to the informational page the survey should take no more than 45 minutes and it is completely anonymous. There is also an opportunity to enter a drawing for $100 if you participate in the study.

I know there are so many people out there trying to live a healthier lifestyle but they have a difficult time leaving behind old habits because the people around them are still engaging in the behaviors. I know that only I can lose the weight, but it sure is nice to know that I have support from the people I’m around the most especially my husband.

Friend Makin’ Mondays: I Am

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I really enjoy taking part in Friend Makin’ Mondays even though I don’t get a chance to do it until Tuesday. It’s a nice break from all the running talk. If you’re new to Friend Makin’ Mondays, please answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here at:www.alltheweigh.com so everyone can see your FMM questions and answers. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so after posting your own FMM post on Kenlie’s page take some time to comment on a couple of other posts. Here is this week’s topic:

FMM: I am…

1. I am good at…listening to others. I really am. I actually look at people when they are talking to me. I am engaged in what they are saying rather than drifting off into my own world. I let people finish a sentence or an entire paragraph without interrupting.

2. I am happy when…I see my son’s face or hear his voice. He just makes me smile.

3. I am working on…loving myself for who I am right now.

4. I am interested in…a million things! Right now my interests are running, learning to cook and bake vegan, and improving my really crappy photography skills.

5. I am always…awake?! That was the first thing that came to mind. It often feels like I’m always awake because I work nights.

6. I am enjoying…blogging. I was a bit on the fence about it in the beginning, but I enjoy it a lot. It’s a great outlet for all of the many thoughts I have and it’s been a fun way for me to document my marathon training.

7. I am in…my kitchen in Western Massachusetts. Boring!

8. I am reading…Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It is interesting enough that I want to finish it but it is definitely not gripping enough to keep me from putting it down. There are so many books I would like to read just have a look at my Good Reads To Read Shelf.

9. I am concerned about…my husband who was just laid off yesterday. He is a mason and winter layoffs are expected, but this one came as a surprise and much sooner than anticipated. We plan for it financially each year, but I always worry about his spirit when this happens. He is a hard worker and likes to have a routine. It’s not even 9am here and my husband has already left to meet with his union representative to see about other work in the area. Deep down I know everything will be ok, it always is, but initially the layoff creates a worry in me. Of course it is always around the holidays which makes it more frustrating.

10. I am looking forward to…the Disney Marathon and our Florida vacation. Seriously after my 22 mile run on Sunday I am so ready for this race!

Metaphors

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I am not very philosophical. I once took a philosophy class during my freshman year of college. The professor was a fascinating woman who had been imprisoned in a concentration camp during World War II. Her wisdom was unassuming, yet she was a brilliant woman with a kind heart. I was like a fish out of water in her class surrounded by much older (the oldest was probably 30 but that was old to me at 18 years old!) and I assumed much wiser students. We read works by Dostoevsky, Kafka and Nietzsche to name a few. I read and reread paragraph after paragraph doing my best to understand the underlying meaning of the words, the metaphors and the symbolism buried in the sentences. Remember these were the days before the internet when you couldn’t just google the meaning of the stories.

Finally in a fit of frustration I went to the professor and told her that I thought I should drop the class because I just wasn’t intelligent enough. Tears filled my eyes because I felt like such a failure. She sat back and sighed before saying, “Aimee you are doing just fine. It’s the students who think they understand everything that worry me. Please do not leave the class and don’t be intimidated by the others.” She urged me to focus on the final project and assured me that she was there if I needed anything else. I aced that final. I still remember it. I had to write a paper and do a presentation for the class on Ibsen’s, The Wild Duck.

However, it was a quote from A Doll’s House by Ibsen that has stuck with me all these years. The main character Nora said,”If I’m ever to reach any understanding of myself and the things around me, I must learn to stand alone.” Just as I had to learn to stand alone in that class I have also had to learn to stand alone in my quest for self improvement. For so many years I have lived unhappy with myself, my body and my lack of will power to change the problem. I am fiercely independent, yet I always seemed to look to others to help me change the things I liked least about myself. All this time I really needed to learn how to use the tools I already have to lead a healthier lifestyle. No one can change another person. It has been up to me this entire time. Until I took the initiative and started actually doing the work no amount of support could have made me stick with the changes; changes I hope will be a part of my life forever.

I ran a long way today. Throughout the course of my 22 mile run I had a lot of time to think. I started running to help myself get healthy so I can enjoy my time raising Carlos and hopefully live long enough to know my grandchildren one day. I never realized how much running would inspire me. I’ve heard others talk about running in terms of being a metaphor for life. It certainly is in my case. Running has taught me things no classroom or book ever could. It signifies my journey towards health, self-acceptance and confidence. With each run I learn so much about myself. Running is my special time. It is my time to think, to breathe, to simply be, to work out stress, to unwind, and to push myself beyond my comfort zone.

December 2

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The days from Thanksgiving until today mark a time full of difficult memories for me, my mom and my sister. The memories are of my stepfather, Ralph. He died 15 years ago today after suffering a massive heart attack at home. The suddenness and the shock of his death saturated our lives for a long time after. He was the glue that held our little family together. Ralph brought a great deal of happiness to our lives and to the lives of everyone he met. He had one of those personalities, you know the kind that just puts you at ease immediately. His jovial laugh, Rhode Island accent and sincere smile made him immediately likable to everyone he met.

Thanksgiving was the last holiday we celebrated together. My sister was studying in Spain that year. It was a quiet holiday weekend. I lived at home though I had graduated from college earlier that year. I left for work the Monday after Thanksgiving. I always gave my mother and Ralph a hug and said, “I love you.” Ralph worked at home on Mondays. I worked in a small office at the university I graduated from. Most Mondays I would call Ralph to chit chat. This Monday was no different, except when I called my uncle answered the phone and urged me to come home immediately. My uncle also worked from home on Mondays and he and Ralph usually met for coffee. My uncle found Ralph on the sofa, unresponsive. He called 911 and tried his best to resuscitate him. It was too late.

The rest of the day is blur. I had never lost anyone I was close to until that day. Our lives have never been the same especially my mom’s. Ralph was a wonderful man who brought so much joy to our family. He had no children of his own and always loved us as though we were just as special. He was careful not to take the place of our father, but became more of a mentor to me during my awkward, frustrating teen years. Ralph listened and offered advice. He always reminded me that I was perfect just the way I was.

Ralph was a big man who loved to smoke and eat. I mean he genuinely loved smoking and eating. He ate rich Italian cuisine. He smoked anywhere from a pack to three packs of cigarettes a day. He lived his life exactly how he wanted to (and don’t think for one minute that this doesn’t anger me at times when I think about how his life ended too quickly). His death shook me up. It reminded me that we are not immortal. I knew then that I had to start taking care of myself or I too would risk heart attack and other health issues. I was a smoker at the time Ralph died. I quit 13 years ago. My weight issues have taken longer to rectify and my shift to a healthier diet didn’t begin right away, but it was constantly on my mind.

I miss Ralph and still think of him often. I wish Carlos could know him. I can only imagine the close relationship the two of them would have. I know that he would have loved my husband. I also think he would be proud of me for how I’ve changed my life over the past few years.

I ran this morning like I do most Friday mornings while Carlos is at school. The weather has been pleasantly surprising me on my run days. It was crisp and cool but the sun was shining bright. I have been experiencing great runs lately and today was no different. My legs wanted to move and my breathing took no time to get under control. I sped around the reservoir at a comfortable yet noticeably faster pace than usual. I completed 4 miles in just under 40 minutes which is a record of sorts for me since I broke my rib back in September. I thought a lot about Ralph on my run. December 2 will always be a day I remember. It will always be a day that reminds me to tell my family I love them, to hug my husband and son as much as possible, and to appreciate life.

Friend Makin’ Mondays: Holiday Shopping

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I did this last week for the first time. I tend to be a day behind because I always post my marathon training recap on Monday. I tried to get this up last night, but I didn’t happen. If you’re new to Friend Makin’ Mondays, please answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here at: www.alltheweigh.com so everyone can see your FMM questions and answers. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so after posting your own FMM post on Kenlie’s page take some time to comment on a couple of other posts. Here is this week’s topic!

Friend Makin’ Mondays: Holiday Shopping

1. Do you like to shop? I do like to shop. I don’t always feel like shopping though. I have to be in the mood for it.

2. Have you started Christmas shopping yet? No I haven’t. I can’t seem to get organized this year. I tried to shop some of the Cyber Monday sales but I had so many other things to do today.

3. Did you shop on Black Friday? if so, what did you buy? No I had to work Thanksgiving night. Although even if I didn’t have to work I wouldn’t have gone shopping. It’s madness out there!

4. List a few of your favorite stores. Don’t laugh but two of my favorite stores are Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s. I could spend hours browsing through Whole Foods. I also like Target, Loft and Ann Taylor. Those are stores I actually shop in. Then there are stores like Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn that I basically just browse in.

5. What is the last thing you purchased for yourself? We went to Kringle candle over the weekend and I bought some candles.

6. Do you prefer to shop in-store or online? I love the ease of online shopping but I hate paying shipping charges. If I can get free shipping then I usually buy online. I don’t buy clothing too often online because it can be a hassle to return. Amazon is one of my favorite places to shop online.

7. If you could purchase one thing that you don’t need at all for yourself today, what would it be? If money were no object I would buy myself an iPad.

8. Does your significant other shop with you? Not usually but it is because of our schedules and childcare. I like shopping with my husband. He is a great bargain hunter. Do they love it/hate it? My husband likes to shop but leaves the gift buying up to me.

9. Do you shop at thrift stores? I haven’t in a while but I always have fun when I do.

10. When your holiday shopping do you make lists? I make lists for everything. Google Tasks is my favorite list maker. Yes I definitely have a list of people I need to buy Christmas gifts for. I also keep a list of gift ideas for people throughout the year as they mention things they might like.

Weigh in day: Week 4

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I’m just going to get right into it. I weighed myself this morning and I was shocked.

Weigh in #4 = 162

Then I left for my solo turkey trot. I ran 10 miles at the reservoir this morning. I did the same thing last year and I’ve decided to make it a tradition. I did a lot of thinking on that run. At first I was angry, angry at the scale, at myself, at my body. Then the anger turned into a string of justifications. I’m PMSing. I’m running more. I ate more than a few of the treats I baked last night for Thanksgiving including Mama Pea’s Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Balls and Chocolate Chip Cookies with Sea Salt. Vegan does not equal fat free, but it does equal delicious. Try them you won’t be sorry, but only try one or two then give them all away.

After being angry and blaming the weight gain on random things I started to calm down. In my comment on Biz’s Holiday Challenge update this week I wrote:

“OK so as far as the challenge goes, I’m feeling so unaccomplished. I weigh in again on Thursday, but honestly I don’t feel much different. My goal was to lose 10 pounds by the end of the year and I’ve done nothing but stay the same. I was thinking about my goal today. Was it realistic given that I’m training for a marathon? I do not use running as an allowance to eat whatever I want. However, I do realize that I need to nourish my body after it has run 10, 15, 20 miles. I try to be sensible about replenishing calories. I have maintained my weight throughout training and actually have lost 2 pounds since the actual beginning of marathon training.”

I probably won’t lose 10 pounds by the end of the year. That’s ok. I will lose it after the marathon. The scale is not going away yet because this is a challenging time of year. Food is everywhere and not necessarily healthy food. There is a party every week it seems between now and Christmas. I no longer see the holidays as a time to indulge and lose sight of healthy behaviors. I have worked very hard to maintain this weight that I am at for over a year and I intend on staying here until the marathon is over. If I end up losing a pound or two great. I suspect that the 162 is largely due to a bit of water retention and if I’m correct then the scale will return to the 160 it seems so comfortable.

I may not meet my Holiday Challenge goal, but the challenge has helped me to meet other bloggers, stay focused on portion sizes, and be cognizant of what I’m eating despite all the miles I’m running. My weight loss journey is far from over, but at least I’m no longer waiting for it to end. I’m out there running and strength training, playing outside with my son, baking and cooking more and more healthy recipes that are whole food and plant based, eating a rainbow of colors and enjoying it. I’m happy, healthy and I have more energy than I have ever had before.

I am thankful for so many things in my life on this Thanksgiving Day. Here are my top 5:

  • My beautiful son Carlos tops my list. He makes me smile and truly makes me want to be a better person. When I run I do it for both of us. I want him to grow up with a healthy, happy Mom and I want him to know he can do anything he sets his mind to.
  • My handsome husband Orlando is next on my list. We celebrated 10 years of marriage in September and it has been wonderful. I love him very much.
  • Breaking my rib in September…weird right?! I know it sounds crazy, but in a strange way I’m grateful for the experience. It reminded me of how I take my good health for granted sometimes. It taught me to listen to my body and treat it with care. It also proved to me how incredible the body really is and how deserving it is of excellent nutrition and fitness.
  • My job. I’m lucky to have a job and even luckier to have a job that I really like. I have to work tonight and I don’t even mind. I’m looking forward to seeing the girls I work with. We generally have an enjoyable time no matter what.
  • Running. I promise to not get all sappy about how running has changed my life so I’ll just leave it at that!

I am also very thankful for those of you who have been visiting my blog and leaving kind, encouraging comments. Thank you so much. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Wordless Wednesday: Flowers

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It is a bitter cold, rainy day. Last week Carlos and I attended the Chrysanthemum Show at the Smith College Botanical Garden. On this dreary gray day I thought a little color was in order. Here are just some few of the many photos we took. Carlos was using my iPhone and I was using my Canon Rebel T1I which I desperately need to learn more about.