I'm back!!!! Pet peeves at the gym

I took a little break because I was not sure if anyone was actually reading my blog.  I got a sweet message from a high school buddy Jenny Kreider who said she missed it.  That made my day so I am back to blog.

PET PEEVES at the gym.
The reason I am writing this is because I spent two hours spinning this morning and was completely grossed out.

1. Does working out really require you make "sex like" moans?  It makes me feel weird when I hear men moaning at the gym.

2.  Do you really have to wear makeup and fake eyelashes to a spin class?   When I go to the gym, I may wear mascara, however I know that I go to the gym to work not look good.

3. I think at some point the "older" population just needs to not wear spandex.  I was so grossed out by the second instructor because he was "older" and decided to wear spandex shirt and shorts to teach.  I beg the lord to remove that image from my head. Let's just say it made this guy, look sexy,, LOL.

4. Please for the love of GOD, wear deodorant.  It seems like every gym I go to the smelliest people sit right next to me.  I think it, in this case, was a cultural thing.  I mean when in Rome, welcome to America, land of deodorant. I thought the following were fitting:

5. The classes were full of people, no bikes available.  Why on earth would you take a class depriving someone else of working out, when all you do is complain and half ass it.  

On the bright side I was awarded a 15% off Buffalo Wild Wings coupon for working so hard in class.  I had to make the difficult decision to cancel my marathon next weekend in New Orleans, as my leg is still bothering me.  So for now my next race is scheduled on February 14, 2015. You get the mug full of snacks when you cross the finish line as well as the awesome ribbon.

Zachary is growing like a weed, my older two are back to living their lives.  Prissy is doing well, spoiled as always.

Have you ever run a hot chocolate run?

Do you have any pet peeves at the gym?  I DO

How is your new year going?  mine is great

PIYO works, recipe for Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake

I'm so excited that I get to go to Eat Well today, I love sushi.  They have these delicious scallops in scampi sauce. I worked out extra hard this morning to make room for dinner.

I started my PIYO workout yesterday, and it works!!!! I was sore this morning which is always a good feeling. After my PIYO workout I went running. Seven miles at a 7:43 pace. Getting back to where I was.

I must admit I am an overpacker, I pack too much. Way too much.  For example a three day trip=10 pair of socks, seriously??? I can never decide what to take so I take it all just in case. I mean it is New York City what do you pack?  I have to take dress clothes, running clothes, and the usual wear. 

This will be me in the airport, lol

As I promised here is the recipe for OOEY GOOEY TOFFEE CAKE they are the best I have ever made!!!!

Ingredients:

Cake:
1 (18.25-ounce) box yellow cake mix (I used Butter Recipe Yellow)
1 large egg
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
Filling:
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 (16-ounce) box confectioners’ sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1 cup toffee bits (I buy a bag of Heathy toffee bits in the baking section.  I use 1 cup in the filling and the remaining toffee bits sprinkled on top of the cake.)

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 13 by 9 by-2-inch baking pan.

For the cake: In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the cake mix, egg, and butter and mix well. Pat into the bottom of prepared pan and set aside.

For the filling: Still using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Dump in confectioners’ sugar and beat well. Reduce the speed and slowly pour in butter. Mix well. Fold in toffee bits.

Pour filling onto cake mixture and spread evenly. You can top the cake with the leftover toffee bits.  Bake for 35-45 minutes. Don’t be afraid to make a judgment call on the cooking time, because oven temperatures can vary. You want the center to be a little gooey, so don’t bake it past that point!

Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Cut into squares. Just remember that these wonderful cakes are very, very rich, and a little will go a long way.

Welcome December

I love December, I guess it is because of Christmas.  I love the way stores smell. I love the way kids get so excited about Christmas.  This year is going to be the best, because I will be in New York City for four days. I don't plan on sleeping the entire time.  I want to run in Central Park and across the Brooklyn Bridge.  I am beyond excited.

This year Christmas shopping is super easy for Zachary, he only wants one thing.  For months he has been asking for the same thing. Usually kids change their Christmas lists daily, so I am not complaining.

Last week was my best week of running in quite awhile. I logged 51 miles. I can no longer make excuses.  I feel better when I run both physically and mentally.  So I am running in the rain today. 

I have so many races scheduled in 2015. This is going to be my best year running. Scheduling races makes it easier to stay on track. I had to miss a lot of races this year which really set me back.  I am praying that my injuries are over for while.  

We have so many leftovers, kinda grossing me out when I open the refrigerator.  I ate a small amount of turkey on Thanksgiving which tasted ok but not like I remembered it.  I am back to my pescatarian way of eating. I do not miss eating meat at all. 

Is anybody else excited to send their kids back to school? I felt like this when he left today:

How was your Thanksgiving?

Are you happy that December is finally here? Why/why not?

What is your race schedule for 2015?

New bird sighting, rainy Wednesday

Yesterday while watching the birds, I noticed a large dove.  This was not the usual mourning dove it was much larger so I googled "dove with black mark on neck."

This is a Eurasian collared dove. This species was introduced to the Bahamas in the 1970's, then migrated to Florida in the 1980's. The description said "the mourning dove's chunky relative."  They were huge. So I really enjoyed watching them!!!  They have not been seen north of North Carolina. 

Ugh, rain and cold. Not running today, working abs and arms.  Then going to start working on a new puzzle.  Ironically this puzzle reminds me of Cumberland Plateau.  Which wasn't relaxing, however puzzles are relaxing to me.  

I made homemade eggplant Parmesan last night, and it was the best I ever had!!!!  I love to cook, which leads to eating a lot, which leads to having to work out a lot. It's a vicious cycle but someone's got to do it. Recipe tomorrow.

Do you find puzzles relaxing?

Do you run in the rain and why?

What are some of the most amazing things you have seen?