My birthday is in ONE WEEK, and we can talk about this...

It's that time of year again!  It has come every year for *murmurs* years, and it won't stop.  I'm usually very low-key about my birthday, but you know what?  I'm going to start embracing it and celebrating how I want to celebrate.

Case-in-point

I've demanded ice cream cake.

I have seven days to figure out how else I'd like to celebrate.  I'd say "go for a run", but that may not be able to happen quite yet.  You see, I'm going to see Dr. Chin, my Podiatrist, for another appointment on Monday.  Hopefully I'll have more answers for myself, and for you.<3

Other ways to celebrate?  Go out with friends?  Make Harry take me out?  Make Harry cook for me?  Gosh, I don't know what to do.  I know that I'd like a drink of some sort, and some yummy food (always).  

I'd LOVE some of this brew again, but I haven't found it.  Booooo. It FOR REAL tasted like chocolate cake!

We will have Sophia for my birthday, so that's going to be pretty awesome!  I have some pretty cool plans that I'll go over on Friday -----> stay tuned, lol.:)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I would love to tell you more about this.

But I'm afraid that nothing is set in stone quite yet.  I'll let you know more later...!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How are you spending your weekend?


What was something fun you did for your last birthday?

No, I didn't forget to blog today...

...I did forget to push the "publish" button, but that's about it.  I'll save my "good" post for next week, though, haha.

I did make a pretty superb meal for dinner.  #wifeoftheyear

Pot roast with s'mashed 'taters and the best dinner rolls.

Harry and I are bundled up on the couch, watching "Return of the Jedi" and having some yummy things.

I hope you had an awesome day!  I'll *see* you tomorrow!<3

Just FYI on a Sunday afternoon

This was a weird way to chill last night -- all three of us on our laptops while watching "The Simpsons".

And this is mandatory for today:  Harry is a huge Steelers fan.

This is my favorite Sunday lunch.

These are going to belong to me once they make it to the US.

AND THIS IS HAPPENING TODAY!  There are a few good things on there.;)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Do you pay attention to deals online?
--I'm kind of afraid to, to be honest.  Ha.

Everything Hurts.

DOMS.  Sweet DOMS.  It usually takes muscles to go into Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness about 24-48 hours post-activity.

It took less than eight for me to start walking with tender leggies.

The Nike Training Club workout that I completed the other day had a ton of plyometrics in it, which are awesome exercises for building up muscle fibers, working dynamic flexibility, as well as enhancing injury-prevention.  If you haven't done them in a while, they're sure to make you feel like a total noob.  It's been about six months or so since I've done them, and apparently that was long enough for my brain and muscles to have forgotten the results.

Just these.  They use to be my fave when I was a bodybuilder.  As an endurance athlete?  Not so much.:P  I'll learn to love them...again.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We came back home yesterday to the Chi, after a nine-day visit with my kinfolk (fam).  BUT before we could leave, my Daddio and I had to go to our favorite hole-in-the-wall breakfast spot.

Blueberry pancakes, coffee, and bacon = the way to my soul.  My very cholesterol-ridden soul.  One thing's for sure -- if Harry and I did anything while in Texas, it was exercise our taste buds.

We hung out for a little while longer, watched the Rose Parade (did you seeeeee?), and some of the Rose Bowl, before taking off for the airport.  I'm always sad to leave my parents, but I was really excited to come back home.

Harry and I kept ourselves entertained by watching "30 Rock" on the plane.  He has one of those nifty splitters to where two people can listen to something; we basically keep it in our travel bags just for something like this.

Plane sunsets are pretty nice.

We (finally) got home and I found ONE MORE GIFT under the tree!  All of the other Rock N Bloggers had received their gifts and were posting them in our forum.  I couldn't wait to get home and open my gift box!

No makeup.  Lazy traveler over here.

We ordered pizza, watched "Black Mirrors" and called it a night.  Harry miraculously got some laundry done (what...? the washer and dryer work at 8:00pm?) and I hit the sack.  I have four more child/student-free days to enjoy!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Do you incorporate plyometrics into your training?

Let's talk travel!  Do you have big plans in 2017?

What's your favorite breakfast item?

(Pancakes could totally win in this category for me.)

My face matches my headband, NYD tradition, and more BFF time

I wasn't about to brave the hurricane that was a ton of people at the gym on the first day of the year yesterday.  Instead, after taking Harry to his NYD 5K (usually a tradition for both of us), I chose to do a Nike Training Club workout at my parents' house.  My sweet Momma walked around the block with me, ~.7 mile, then I grabbed my water bottle and phone and head into the garage (with the door open).

20 minutes into my workout, I thought I was going to hurl.  It was 70*F (nope, not kidding) and 90% humidity (still not kidding), and that kind of combination, on top of performing some plyometric moves, will make one's HR go up up up.  My face went full-on tomato shade.

Here's how some of it went.  Not shabby, like at all.  It was probably the weather that had me feeling so grody.  Reason why there are no pictures of me doing this workout = it was so muggy, the camera lens got fogged up.  So here's some of what happened...

After getting ready in record-breaking time, we head over to my cousin's house for New Year's Day tradition eats.  They served:  My Memaw's (that's Texan for "Grandmother") cornbread and potato salad, my cousin's husband's smoked brisket and venison sausage,

and of course, black-eyed peas.  They're edible luck to us!  I cannot remember the last year where I didn't start it off with BEP.

After lunch, I got more time with my BFF.

We really like selfies and Snapchat.

We got home and Harry and I realized that we should probably prepare for our trip home (today).  Apparently, on our way up, my bottle of Vitamin D capsules exploded everywhere in my bag.  Up until today, I had just ignored it.  I could do that no longer, and had to finally clean out my bag.  There was probably a good 1/4 of the bottle in there and in my clothes.

I was officially done adulting for the day.  Mom and I plopped onto the couch and watched some HP.

Mom ended up making spaghetti with our favorite sauce with beef and tomatoes for dinner.

Pro tip:  pour an awesome amount of olive oil with seasoning onto a plate, then dump a clump of finely shredded parm cheese on top of it.  Mix it together, and you've got the greatest bread sopping mix ever.

Cred:  Momma G.

We're taking off pretty soon, so I'll catch up with y'all later!  I hope you're off to a good start in 2017!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Do you like to travel during the holidays, or do you like to hold off until later to see fam and friends?


RANDOM:  What's your favorite board game?




Did you run in the New Year?  How did it go?

Happy 2017!

Hey, guys!  Happy New Year!

So I've been a little MIA; the last week of school before the holiday tends to get a little nuts, and we set straight off to Texas basically when my break started.

Since then, there's been some great downtime

Some fam time

(From my crazy-beautiful cousin's Snapchat -- I always wanted to be her when we were younger!)

And of course, some BFF time

You know...the usual holiday stuff.:) . 

I'm currently walking around without the boot, 100%.  HOWEVER, I haven't run yet.  Spinning and swimming have been happening, for sure.  I'm still waiting for my orthotics to come in, and then I will attempt some sort of distance while running.

Don't get me wrong:  I've picked up my feet for a little jog to demonstrate something for my seventh grade girls.  They applauded. <3

So as far as 2017 goals go, I DO have several!  I'll definitely go into them later.  They aren't outlandish or over-the-top, but they're goals.  Big or small -- everyone should have them.  

Or maybe not everyone should.  Sometimes winging it works, too.

Without getting into the deets, I think a less-chaotic year would be nice (HAHAHAHA!).  More planning will be involved, more care to detail, and less injuries.  Yup.  Less.of.that, fam.

I hope y'all are getting out there and rocking day 1 of 365.  Me and my parents are going to watch Harry run his NYD5K, I'll get a workout in at some point, and then heading over to have tradition black-eyed peas with the rest of our family.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tell me about one goal you have for 2017!


Do you eat or practice something traditional for NYD?


Anyone racing today?!  Tell me how you do!

On the hunt, and on the road!

No workout yesterday morning -- I had to drive to work with a friend that lives nearby.  Harry was picking up Sophia, then picking me up after school, so we can head out!

Not that I couldn't wake up and do some sort of workout around the house.  However, I was totally lazy and hadn't packed yet.  So my Friday morning was filled with coffee, packing, and stalking you guys.<3

It was a *Fire and Ice* kind of day for us.  You see children running ---- I see students exploring (space, reaction time, agility, speed, and awareness).:).



During my break, I realized that I was out of hot chocolate.  Yup.  My new obsession was no longer available to me (at the school anyway...I could've hit up the Dunkin' Donuts, but I'd rather be lazy and dramatic).  I was on the hunt!

I went to my Principal first; she always has the best hot chocolate.  Alas, she was out. *gasp*  After visiting three other teachers, whom all had concerned looks on their faces, I found someone who had the good stuff on them.

I had enough time to enjoy my lunch and an episode of "30 Rock".

True story, and Harry knows it:  There's only one man on the planet I'd leave him for, and that's Kenneth Parcell/Jack McBrayer.

One of my teacher friends made the CUTEST bulletin board!  So yummy.

And finally, Sophs and Harry picked me up and we were on our way to BELIEVELAND!

(Or Cleveland, if you don't subscribe to that idea.)

("The Cleve", is another option.)

Harry brought my favorite blankie to cozy up with for the trip.  It's been SEVERAL YEARS since I've been a passenger on a road trip, and I wanted to be extra comfy.

Side note:  I love my new car.  It's so thoughtful.  After about three hours of driving, it'll ask you if you want to stop for a minute.:)

So we did.  And this was dinner.

We finally made it to the Cleve, and Soph showed us her mad bed-jumping skills.  For about a half hour.  I wish I was kidding.

Sophs and I are off to watch Harry finish A Christmas Story 10K!  Talk to you tomorrow!:)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Big city friends -- Is there a place you like to retreat to to get out of the busy-busy city in which you live?  Where is that place?


Anyone racing CIM this weekend?!


What is your absolute FAVORITE fruit?!
------ >>>>>>>>>>

First #MIMM of 2016, some DIY beauty, and CHECK IT.

I know.  I'm over the "first ___________ of 2016" now.;)

Is it just me, or are Mondays my biggest photo dumps of all?  I have the whole weekend to take pictures, and since I'm in love with everything, I have to post it here.  So sit back, enjoy the snaps and minimal text!

I'll use any excuse to get my parents to come visit us, or in this instance, to come back.  My Mom is either the same way, or she really falls for it.

We have leftovers for dayyyyyyyyyzzzzzzz.  New Year's Eve was dinner with mine parents and Harry's parents, so we had a ton of pasta in the fridge.  We each split two different dishes for lunch Saturday.  It seemed like the right thing to do.  I added a handful of spinach to my plate, because green is pretty. 

Because I go back to work on Monday, I decided to take my Saturday as easy as can be.  Bubble bath?  Yes.  And from he DIY department, Sole Mate Steph made something special for me for Christmas!

It polished my skin like nothing I've ever used in my life.  Also, I may considered eating it at one point -- it smelled reaaaaaaaaaally yummy.  I refrained.

Harry and I were inspired, so we made our own bubble bath, that was so soothing and calming.  It didn't really bubble all that much, which was disappointing to me because I'm all about building bubble castles and whatnot, but it was nice all the same.  This Mason jar was the only container in which we figured DIY bubble bath should be.

Another DIY:  A mask for myself.  Why I posted this picture:  I sat down next to my husband for ten minutes before he figured out that I had it all over my face.

Saturday nights require pizza, so we ordered our fave.

And we finished off the last of these.

Sunday morning:  Yeah.

A four-miler through the park = my longest run for 2016.  HA.:D

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah, it was a little slick in some places.

And I'm here to remind you, you...HAPPY WINTER THINGS ARE NOT OVER because Christmas is done!

Football may be mandatory on Sundays, but that doesn't mean you can't have a little distraction on your husband's iPhone.  Belle.<3

The rest of our day was...well...football.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So check this out.  I have my new race schedule up, and believe it or not, I nearly have a race (in some cases, two) every single month.  I am missing one month, and that's December.  Several steps will need to be taken for me to figure out what race that may be...;)  I feel great having a clear path in front of me, and while I'm not tri'ing this year, I have my sights set on some PRs.

I'm gonna let you in on a little secret:  As of December 31st, I didn't have this anywhere near done.  I started and completed it this past Saturday morning.:)  So now, I'm allllllllllllllllllllllll

How's THAT for marvelous?!:)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Back to work after the holidays!  Are you ready?
-Me.  Thanks to BFF Tommie Jo for sending me this SUNDAY MORNING.:P