New Years Eve!

A nice bonus about my birthday being so close to New Year's Eve is that there is no need for another "year in review" recap, because only two weeks have passed! I hope you all enjoy the night and have a Happy New Year!!!! Here is to 2012 being everything you can hope for!

I.Am.Sore

We all know the feeling. The too sore to reach for the remote, too sore to get up and get a glass of water. So sore that you feel both out of shape and amazing at the same time. Yup that is going on right now. I do have the week off and have been trying my best to keep up my work outs while I have free time. I mean if the majority of the time I spend complaining that I can't run because I have no time, I should do double time to make up for it when I have off right? Ok well that's probably true but that doesn't mean I'm actually going that hard this week.

I have been trying to run here and there, as well as taking the dog for a walk when I can, this was not what made me so sore though. Paul and I found a new work out on pinterest...yes I am obsessed with that site. So the work out we did was

Ouch! It looks so easy, and pain free. It is not at all. I did it two days in a row and can barely move certain areas. For example my stomach, I don't know the last time I did crunches and they killed me. My arms also have not been worked out in so long, so yeah those hurt. It became painfully obvious that I need to do more than running, so I will hopefully be keeping up with this. Another one we found that I probably will try was

I will keep you all updated on just how this is going, and my soreness levels haha. Hope you are all enjoying your last Friday of 2011!

Boston Weekend

Boston/Christmas weekend was great! The night before I left I was doing some baking. Usually I'm not a big fan of putting any effort into making anything in the kitchen, but I wanted peppermint bark. I used Ghiradelli white and milk chocolate as well as 40 mini candy canes to make it.

It turned out pretty delicious if I do say so myself.  I also attempted to make Santa Hat Cupcakes. We won't discuss my first few batches of cupcake that didn't work for various reasons...most reasons I will however point out were not really my fault. Eventually the cupcakes were finished as well and turned out pretty great.

 Got a little help on these from the mom and brother at home!

I got home midday on Christmas Eve and went to one of my favorite places in Danvers. Supremes! Best chicken fingers and french fries ever! :) If you ever find yourself in Danvers, MA...go find it.

After that I had a little last minute Christmas shopping to do. Every year we do a Yankee Swap on Christmas Eve with the whole family. My mom, brother, and myself hadn't bought anything for the swap though, which resulted in me running out to target about 2 hours before the festivities. With my $20 limit a piece, along with it being Christmas eve, and Target, I think I did pretty well. I also purchased 3 things that I would enjoy if I pulled them.

Yoga mat!

Iced tea maker! Love!

Drinker shaker and glasses

Then it was off to Christmas Eve with the family. The night was full of delicious food and good times with the family.

My (newly married) cousin and I...I know we don't look related at all!

I ended up pulling the drink shaker and glasses, but ended up trading them for the iced tea maker! I already had a drink shaker and love iced tea, so this was an obvious answer.

Christmas Day was filled with present opening in the morning! I received many things but the following were my favorite:

Nike + from my brother

Kate Spade iPhone case! It says "Have Courage" inside. In love with it! Also from the brother

 Lulu Running tank top from my mom!

Long Sleeve Lulu top from my mom! Love the color too :) 

 

Another long sleeve Lulu top from my mom!

I also got some great stocking items, scarf/mittens from JCrew, and a book from my favorite author! Yes I was spoiled :)

My mom made my brother and I pancakes (chocolate chip for me), before getting ready and heading over to my grandfathers house for the afternoon/night. More good times and good food with the family.

Monday was filled with running errands around town, and the mall (horrible decision), followed by dinner with my bff Carolyn! Bertuccis (aka one of my favorite restaurants) was slammed, so the food took forever to get which was actually nice cause it gave her and I extra time to catch up!

Tuesday morning I was up bright and early to head back to NY. Dunk's pit stop, as well as cashing in some scratch tickets ($65 thank you very much!), then I was on my way. I was so happy to go back to Boston and see the family and friends that I miss so much, but I actually missed NY a little. I know craziness, this place is starting to grow on me? Is that possible?

Hope you all had a great Wednesday! I'm enjoying my week off from work, and will update you on my new work outs tomorrow! 

The hardest step for a runner.

This was 100% true today. I was tired, cranky, cold, and had eaten crap for the past 48 hours. I had 0 interest in going running. I convinced myself  I wouldn't and was happy with that. Then I kept thinking, hmm maybe I should go running. I thought it over and over again until finally I got off my ass, put on my ninja cold weather gear (see below) and went out for a run.

Yes I do make awkward faces in pictures.

It was cold, and long (not really but it felt it), and I wanted to stop multiple times during it. I finished though, while coughing up a lung. It was not my best run by any means, but some days it counts to just step out the front door. That's what I did for me today and I'm very happy with that.

Hope you all had a nice Holiday! My Christmas weekend post will be up tomorrow! :)

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Night time running

Last night, after a nice day of Christmas shopping and getting my car washed (finally!), I went for a night run! I have been asking (or bugging) Paul a lot recently to go out for a walk one night to see all the Christmas lights around his neighborhood. Apparently his area of Long Island is a little over the top with the decorations. Going for a run was the perfect solution, we both got our runs in and I got to see my decorations! It also was the perfect night to go out because it was still around 45 degrees out.

A couple of tips for night time running:

• Wear something bright so cars can see you. I had on black pants and a black underarmour shirt on, but threw on my lululemon purple zip up to stay warm and to make sure any cars could see me.
• Run on the sidewalk if you can. I was lucky enough to be able to stay on the side walk for my whole run. It makes you feel that much safer when running in the dark, and the drivers are less pissed at you.
• Bring your phone. I run with my phone anyways because it's how I listen to my music. At night though, it's nice to have in case anything happens you can easily call for help and etc.
• Run with someone else. While Paul and I run different paces, we ran the same loop near his house so I knew he was near me for most of the run. I knew he would lap me a few times, but liked the thought that if either of us didn't see the other for a few laps we would know something was wrong. It's nice to have that extra feeling of safety.
• Run at Christmas time!  It is so much more fun when you can go running and look at all the lights.

Here are some of the places I took pictures of on my run.

 Love! 

Sorry for the blur, I was running! 

A little intense

 They had the lights professionally done...

Same house, professionally done...

 I hate these things!

 Cute little Christmas trees :)

 Love!!!

I'm super picky about my Christmas lights. I dislike ridiculous plastic Santa's and etc on the lawn. I dislike when people don't put up lights. I HATE when people put of little plastic blow up things or when they put out something non-Christmas related and throw a Santa hat on it. I also dislike anything that flashes intensely. I don't need a seizure while driving. I love all white lights. I like whenever people put effort into decorating in general though. Crazy lights are better than not decorating at all.

I may attempt a run after work today depending on how late I leave work. That way I can see some of the lights around my house.

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Baby its cold outside

How was everyones weekend? My birthday weekend was great. I got to have a nice relaxin Saturday (this happens never) and went for a nice run without any form of timing or tracking device which was a great feeling. Then it was off to The Nutcracker!

I went to see The Nutcracker all the time when I was little and in Chicago, then last year my brother and I took my mom to see it in Boston! I had never seen it before in NY and it was fantastic! I love little Christmas traditions like going to see The Nutcracker. Very successful birthday night.

Sunday was another relaxing day. I wimped out when Paul said "lets go running," and responded with "but baby it's cold outside!" I mean really though, it was about 15 degrees outside and he was running 4 miles more than I was. This would result in me sitting outside in the freezing cold for a little while after I finished running. I instead decided to stay inside all nice and warm. We watched a movie for the afternoon (Four Christmases, very funny!) before dinner at Chipotle with his family for my birthday! This was followed by a very delicious Carvel cake!

I managed to get the day off today (yay!) for a mini shopping day. The plan is to finish up everything I need for my Christmas shopping, and not buy too many things for myself! Then off for a run this afternoon to run off all the cake and cupcakes from the weekend! Plus it isn't as cold out today so I won't wimp out!


Happy Monday everyone!!

Happy Birthday to me!

I'm a pretty big fan of my birthday, not that I usually do anything too over the top. As long as I have a cupcake at some point, I usually consider it a successful birthday.

23 was a big year for me, although most of them lately have seemed like big years for me. I may or may not have had to go back through my facebook timeline to remember everything about this year for me as well...no judgement. So here are the highlights of my birthday year!

 First was Christmas!

Which was immediately followed by VEGAS!

  New York New York Hotel we stayed in!

 Love this quote! 

February meant many Hockey games and also seeing one of my best friends!

This is also around the time I started training for the 1/2 marathon!

I cut 6 1/2 inches off my hair, yes this was one of the most exciting parts of March

I also got my new iPhone! Again yes this is one of the more exciting parts of my life...don't laugh its true.

Beginning of May I visited my brother in Arizona!

Then I ran the 1/2 marathon that there are no pictures with proof I was there. I promise though, I suffered through a miserable 13.1 miles. There is proof of a record online, just no pictures thankfully.

I spent most of June in the above location. Well actually I spent the most of June at work or traveling in the car, but when I had a free second I spent it here.

July was the big moving month!! Yay! After that July was a little crazy!

My brother and I surprised my mom at Cape Cod for her birthday!

I went on multiple job interviews and etc. That was well, not fun at all.

Then I went to a wedding with Paul, and managed to get myself a job. I know craziness!

August was filled with more race craziness and starting the new job. Oh and then a hurricane happened.

First Triathlon complete!

Awesome medal right?!

Yankee Stadium 5k!

I was back in MA too for a long weekend to see my Dad and Step mom!

September was a little slower...a little. I started to get into work and start of travel season. I did manage to do a triathlon, sort of.

October is almost a complete blur. I traveled 24/7 for work, including the weekends. For the Saturday's I was not working I was watching one of Paul's many races. This did mean I got to go to one of my favorite places, Rhode Island!

 Rock n Roll 10k in Brooklyn! 

 Newport, RI! 

The 1/2 marathon medal was awesome.

This was right around the time I got myself back in gear and started running again! Yay! 

November finished up a crazy travel season with work, followed up by an Open House for the College. I volunteered at the NYC Marathon in Nov as well!

Then of course the wedding!! 

Yay they're married! 

Of course this was followed by Thanksgiving in Rhode Island, some more work, and some more running!

As you all know the birthday year ended with a trip into the city to see the Christmas decorations! 

So that was my last year in a nutshell! The birthday plans are to have a nice choc chip pancake breakfast with some starbucks, I know not healthy but whatever it's my birthday and I'll eat fattening pancakes if I want to! Then of course go for a run to not actually feel bad about the pancake breakfast. Tonight is The Nutcracker with Paul!

So here is to myself on my 24th birthday, wishing myself all the happiness of last year and so much more :)