Birthday Girl

25. October 2013 · Write a comment · Categories: recreational fun, running, sweet treats, Uncategorized · Tags: , , , , , ,

Morning!

Life is busy. Life is good. It’s my 40th birthday today!!!! I feel like an old lady in the world of blogging. Had one martini last night and I feel like I have a hangover 😉 I’m meeting friends for dinner tonight and plan on these accessories:

accessories

Yesterday I started my morning taking my dad to his mechanic to pick up his car in this really pretty town in NJ. Fall foliage is just in full effect here on the East Coast.

morningautumn

photo 3-1

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Then I took the doodle on our favorite mystical magical walk in the woods.

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Then I attempted what I thought would be an easy thing to make….Caramel Apples. I wanted to give them as favors to the guests at my party tomorrow. I went apple picking and (discovered the best cross training ever) last weekend and picked 36 Granny Smiths for the task. Everything started off successful! They were lookin’ good.

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All the elements before the debacle

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The first batch….lookin good!

I even wrapped one to see what the final product would look like

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Short-lived success

But a few hours later, the caramel slid off the apple and I ended up with this…

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pool of caramel with an apple garnish

I managed to salvage about 2 dozen buy melting chocolate and spreading it on the apple with some toffee bits but the rest were a total bomb!

photo 1

Saved!

I’m praying that The Rescue Baker saves the day. She mentioned maybe she could make mini cakes for all! After the apple debacle I went for a run because that’s what I do right? I sweat out the small stuff 😉

Duncan sticking his nose into everything as always

Duncan sticking his nose into everything as always

All was good until I got a weird side stitch just before mile 4. It lasted for forever a few minutes and I had to walk. I freaked out! What if that happens to me during the marathon?

Then came my first of many birthday celebrations. Sushi! (and a coconut lychee martini which I drank too fast to photograph)

the heart shaped roll was called the Cupid Roll.

the heart shaped roll was called the Cupid Roll.

I arrived at work today and these lovely gifts were waiting for me…

flowers and cupcakes....works for me!

flowers and cupcakes….works for me!

And now I better get back to work. I’ve got another celebratory dinner tonight and then tomorrow my running peeps and I are running the last 10 miles of the NYC Marathon route in preparation and then in the evening I’ll be partying it up!

Catch ya later.

Question: What’s your favorite tradition on your birthday? I always like to take a walk in the park and enjoy the Autumn leaves. 

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The best cross-training ever

21. October 2013 · Write a comment · Categories: cross training, recreational fun · Tags: , , ,

As a runner, I find very few truly enjoyable ways to cross-train. Sometimes it’s the elliptical but mostly I just walk when I’m not running. I hate the gym, I’m not a bike person, don’t like to swim or do yoga. But yesterday, I found the best cross training workout..APPLE PICKING!!!

full body workout: apple picking

full body workout: apple picking

My niece and I spent about an hour and a half from beginning to end. We started with the walk from the parking lot all the way to the orchards. I’m guessing it was a good 1/2 mile warmup. We got our buckets and headed through the orchards to find the Granny Smith trees. Probably another 1/2 mile.

Then came the fun part. We climbed up and down through a dozen or so trees. I felt my core engage as I lifted myself up onto the branches and my arms were working hard to keep me steady.

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We made a quick pit stop to the pumpkin patch for a few pumpkins and after settling our bill we walked back to the car with a combined total of almost 35 pounds of apples and pumpkins!!!! I carried both buckets for some of the time and then my niece and I split the task for the remaining time.

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I suppose I’m on to something. A new cross-fit trend? There was a bonus WOD (workout of the day) too…

We went to Six Flags Great Adventure to ride some roller coasters AND get spooked during Fright Fest. Walking the length of the park, screaming and laughing….OH YEA! Another great workout indeed!

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Next to the runner’s high, I have to say, riding roller coasters are the next best high to have. It was a great day! And I got us season passes for 2014. I’m ditching my gym membership!

And now it’s Monday and nothing seems to be working, not my brain, not my computer, not my phone….

loading

 

Question: Do you enjoy rollercoasters? What’s your favorite? I really loved El Toro. 

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A little Jeep TLC with a small casualty and 10 strong miles

19. October 2013 · 1 comment · Categories: recreational fun, running, Uncategorized · Tags: , ,

Last night I watched the full moon (Hunter’s moon) waiting for this eclipse that I read about online.

total eclipse of the heart

total non-eclipse of the heart

Never saw the eclipse so I moved on to channel surfing with my best furrpal to relax and end a busy week.

Furrpal Friday

Furrpal Friday

The other day I noticed one of my tires was really low and upon further inspection I noticed this:

that doesn't belong

that doesn’t belong

So this morning, instead of sleeping in, I went to get the tire fixed. Only cost $21 and took about 45 minutes. Then I decided I might as well get the Jeep washed. It was pretty dirty. Aside from the exterior berries, leaves, bird poo and general grime, the inside was filled with remnants from last week’s race. I had a heat sheet, the paper plate from my slice of post-race pizza, empty water bottles and tons of leaves that crept into the car as well.

looking good for an 11 year old

looking good for an 11 year old vehicle

Only one little casualty. In my haste, I forgot to remove my beloved car magnets. I had a casualty…

Gonna miss her!

Gonna miss her!

I came home, had a li’l breakfast and then at exactly 10:55am (because now I’m obsessed with starting as many of my remaining training runs at the time I’ll be starting the NYCM) I set out for a 10 miler. I opted to wear the shirt I plan on wearing for NYCM as well.

Team Stupid Cancer

Team Stupid Cancer

I let charging my iPod slip through the cracks, so I went with no music. It was a GREAT 10 miles. I started slow and picked up the pace for the second half. I felt in total control of my breath and at times running felt effortless. (who am I and where’d Sally go?)

negative splits!

negative splits!

After my run I took the pup to his our favorite place to enjoy the fresh air and the lovely October colors…

leafcollage1 sallwoods

leafcollage2

Today has been a great day. I hope you are all enjoying it too. Catch ya later!

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Saturday Stuff

06. October 2013 · Write a comment · Categories: fundraising, labradoodle, recreational fun, Uncategorized · Tags: , ,

It’s hard to believe that it was 80 degrees on Tuesday September 17th when i ran my half marathon in South Dakota and just yesterday they were slammed with over 3 feet of snow! Talk about a complete 180 in just 2 weeks!

I didn’t run today. I started my day volunteering at an Autism Speaks fundraising walk. I took photos.

photo 1

Then I relaxed and did a whole lot of nothing for a couple of hours. My schedule gets crazy for the next 5 weeks and I just wanted to shut off and do nothing for a bit. But then I got the doodle’s “you’re putty in my paws” look and I took him for a walk through the woods and around our local park. I was hoping the Autumn colors would be emerging but it’s hit or miss here and the area we went today was still pretty green. So I wore a colorful shirt to compensate:

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I thought the leaves are supposed to be changing ma?

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dramatic

After dinner I took a quick trip to Target for some grocery items. I ended up grabbing a halloween costume for Duncan too! (I bought both but am leaning toward the tuxedo).

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Tomorrow the plan is to be out the door about 6:30am to get to my running spot at sunrise. I’m planning on running 14 miles along the boardwalk and underneath the Verrazano Bridge. It’s time to get excited and start visualizing the start of the NYC Marathon.

Hope you are all having a nice weekend. I’m off to bed.

Question: Which costume should I make Duncan wear? Tuxedo? Pirate?

 

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