Way to kick off the weekend!

I ran 5.51 miles this morning with the Fleet Feet gang (time 56:27).  Indulged in a huge cinnamon raisin bagel smothered in cream cheese afterward courtesy of Saucony.  (I figure if there is anytime that it is OK to carb up, it should be after a good run.)

I found out an interesting tidbit...Saucony was founded in 1899 really close to where I grew up.  It started it Kutztown, PA and was named after the Saucony Creek.  The swish with 3 dots in their shoes represents a particular spot on the Saucony creek that has 3 boulders in a row.  That's your little known fact of the day!

Don't say you never learned anything on my blog!

Thankfully not so much snow!

While we did get some snow, it wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been.  Thankfully, everything melted all day Thursday, so the only real accumulation came Thursday night. 

The Poconos got pounded, so we are not going this weekend.  That means I get to run at home and take part in Fleet Feet's Saucony event tomorrow!  Looking forward to it!

http://www.fleetfeetnorthwales.com/event/2009/10/saturday-morning-runs-16

My in-laws agreed to watch the kids so hubby and I could get out for some shopping and dinner.  Looks like tomorrow is going to be a great day!

No turning back now...

I'm officially a registered runner in the Broad Street 10 miler. I've got 2 months to double my current distance.  ;)

I'll post regular updates on my training:

Today's Run:  3.1 miles, 32 minutes.  Minor left shin pain.  I have a feeling icy hot is my new perfume for the next 2 months.  Goal is to go 6 miles on Saturday AM (either with Fleet Feet gang if we are home or around the two lakes twice if we end up going to the Poconos).

Praying for a miss on this snowstorm...I just can't take it anymore.

OMG....I'm O-L-D!

Those that know me know that I've been resisting Facebook for a long time.  It's one more thing to keep up with....I've got the hubby, daughter, & son and all their schedules.  I work full time in a sales position with multiple clients, I run (sometimes alot, sometimes a little) and am training for a half marathon, I wrote a business plan and am trying out the entrepreunerial thing, I volunteer for lung cancer, I've got the blog, 3 email accounts, and 2 voicemail accounts.  I just can't keep up with another "THING".  I'm exhausted enough already.

Hubby is on facebook.  He told me he got a friend request from my Mom.  OMG...when did my mother get on facebook?? 

***Special note to Mom since I know you read my Blog....Holy crap Mom...you're making me feel old.  But, kudos to you for embracing technology, befriending my husband on facebook, and keeping up with my blog.  As ARL would say..."You Rock, Peace Out!" 

and then she would say, "Mom, you're embarassing me".

I'm baaaaackkkkk....

Ahhh...it is so good to be running again.  Soles to pavement, nothing but me and my music!  I did a great 5-mile run on Sunday!  I can't believe how quickly I got my milelage back after being out for a few weeks. 

Broad Street run sign ups are open.  Now I just have to convince myself that I can double what I did on Sunday.  All my runner girlz tell me I only need to train to 8 and that adrenaline will carry me the last 2.  If that's true, I only need to be able to run 3 more.  I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

Whose joining me?  Estee?  Catherine?  Lisa?  You guys game?  

Weekend Plans

Hmmmm...what's on your agenda for the weekend? 

Ours is relatively easy....ARL is at a sleepover tonight so we are down to one kid (and he has a play date over).  Saturday I need to do some clothes shopping!  Retail therapy is in my future!  I'm smiling just thinking about it! 

Not much planned for Sunday, either.  I'll get a long run in since it is supposed to go up to 40 and be less windy.  But other than that...Boring....just the way I like it.  I hate the weekends where the kids are both off in different directions and we have too many plans.  Those are the weekends where you blink and it's Monday morning again.

It's next weekend already???

Wow...time flies.  I can't believe it is Thursday already.  Seems like I just posted about looking forward to our Valentine's getaway and here we are and it is almost the next weekend.

DH and I had a blast in NYC.  Dinner was phenomenal...we ate at Josephina and I highly recommend it.  The show was great and our seats were incredible.  Second row from the stage, orchestra center!  Next year we are seeing Jersey Boys.  Those tickets go on sale 8 months in advance, so I have my calendar marked for May to buy for next year.  DH and I have been doing Valentines Day in NYC for (we think) 7 years now.  Our list of what we have seen:
Movin Out
The Lion King
Rent
Mama Mia
Wicked
In the Heights (my favorite)
South Pacific

We saw Phantom, Les Mis, and Cats as well (but not on Valentine's Weekend).

Not much else going on...I literally pushed the kids out the door on Tuesday.  I couldn't wait to get back to work and my clients and get them back in routine.  Our weekend plans are minimal....ARL has a sleep over and play practice.  That's it.  If anyone knows of anything fun going on this weekend, I'm all ears!

A lovely morning run to kick off a wonderful weekend!

I went out with the Fleet Feet gang again this morning.  It was a great run...I did just under 4 miles.  What a wonderful way to kick off our great weekend.

DH and I are headed to NYC.  We have orchestra tickets to see South Pacific and dinner reservations at Josephina.  We're staying at a new place for us this year....The Empire Hotel.  We typically stay at the Renaissance due to it's phenomenal location, but this year we are trying the Empire!   After all this family snow time, we really need 2 days to ourselves!

Happy Valentine's weekend to all!

The big dig...

The only redeeming thing about these pictures is the sun. Thank god it is back!!  Will we ever use our hot tub again??

We had the Dickson's over last night for a snow ice cream making party!  Shockingly, the snow ice cream was really good.  The kids (and, OK, the adults, too) enjoyed brownie sundaes with homemade snow ice cream!  We used snow ice cream version 1 (the version where you use evaporated milk and raw eggs) on allrecipes.com. 

Will it ever end?

I guess I need to bite my tongue after my "SNOW much fun" post.   Just to set the record straight, I'm done having SNOW much fun.  I just want this crap to stop.  Enough is enough already.  Check out Raj's mailbox...nearly covered! 

 

Guess there won't be any grilling anytime soon.  :(

A cold one...

I went out for a 2 mile run this morning.   After nursing this calve thing that's been bothering me for 3+ weeks, I decided it was time to bite the bullet and get back at it.  I researched my pain online and found it's due to poor arch support and a weak muscle that stretches from the calf to the arch.  I'm not doing a great job explaining this...if you are really curious (which I suspect you're not), go to www.coolrunning.com and search painful inner calves after running. Anyway, I've been doing some stretches, took some time off, having Mike rub them (bliss!) and borrowing his Strassburg sock (additional arch stretching).

The run today was great.  My calves don't hurt at all.  It was a damn cold one, though.  Christine drove by and probably thought I had lost my mind!  I synched my Nike+ chip.  Since I got the wonderful device, I've run 186 miles and burned 18,151 calories.  Sounds like a good reason to indulge in a chocolate martini tonight!

Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Dinner last night was quite yummy!  So, here's that recipe I promised...

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 c. mayonnaise
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 crumbled Gorgonzola
20 leaves fresh spinach
1 small jar roasted red peppers
4 slices bacon

Preheat oven to 375.  In a small bowl, mix mayo and chopped garlic.  Carefully butterfly each chicken breast making sure to not cut all the way through.  Spoon 1/4 of mayo mix on inside of chicken breast.  Top with 5 leaves spinach, 1/4 of Gorgonzola and 1/4 of roasted red peppers.  Fold chicken breast back together and wrap with a slice of bacon.   Place in baking dish.  Repeat with remaining 3 breasts.  Cover and bake 375 for 1 hour. 

Tonight's dinner is soft tacos....a yummy pre-game dinner!  Mike's cheering for the Colts and I'll be cheering for the Saints.  Should make for fun night!

SNOW much fun!!

I love SNOW days!  What a great day of family togetherness.  We cooked, baked, played Wii and just generally had a relaxing day with no errands, sports, kid parties, etc.  We didn't leave the house!  A whole day of nothing! 

Now, if you're anything like me, I define nothing as:

• 2 loads of laundry
• Cooking and baking several meals (our dinner tonight is chicken stuffed with fresh spinach, gorgonzola and roasted red peppers.  Oh yeah, it's wrapped in bacon!  If it turns out yummy, I'll post the recipe tomorrow)
• Running and emptying the dishwasher (remember, I cooked a lot!)
• Doing our federal and state tax returns
• and....Shoveling 11 inches of snow!  (Thanks Raj for helping out with the snow blower!)

Isn't our cat cute? 

It's better than freezing cold in PA!

That's been my statement over and over this week.  We came down to FL for a few days of R&R to visit my Mom.  It rained every single day.  All day every single day.  We tried to stay positive and remind ourselves that rain in FL and 60 degrees is better than work/school and 20 degrees in PA.  We made the best of it and did lots of fun (albeit) indoor activites!  Kids had a blast at Imaginarium and seeing the manatees.  I just enjoyed relaxing!

Back to life and reality today.