Back to School tomorrow!!!!

Although he is very well behaved, Zachary heads back to school tomorrow.  He is very low maintenance but I like being able to do the things that I like to do without worrying I am taking time away from him.  Plus his new XBOX is hooked up to the TV I do PIYO on.

My running has improved so much over the last month.  I have reached my goal to get back to where I was before I got injured.  It has been a long road, but I am pleased at the results.  This morning I got out the door early for a nine mile run.  I am amazed how yesterday I was running in shorts and a tank top and today I had to wear winter gear.  

This blog is covering two days, as I forgot to post it yesterday.  It was not that I was too busy because one of my goals was to start going to bed earlier and waking up earlier which has really been awesome.  I just forgot.  

So I had another great run, spent an extra day with Zachary, and just enjoyed being happy.  

A few quotes,

For so long, I sat around feeling sorry for myself, contemplating if life was worth living.  I did this because I thought that a person other than myself was responsible for my existence.  After several years of thinking like this, I finally realized that only I could make myself happy.  It was not easy to let go 

of what was holding me hostage but I had to in order to see that there was a life worth living.  I still have sad moments but I know how to handle them.  I guess I owe a huge thank you to the person who I held onto for so long.  Without that experience I would not be so strong today.  I am a believer in "what doesn't kill us only makes us stronger."  Enough with the sad things. 

I am really looking forward to a great race season.  I feel like all the hard work has finally paid off.  Running is my way of lettting go of negativity, I leave it out there with the miles.  

What I  have to work on now is comparision.  I am always comparing myself to others.  Whether I am comparing running times, or how to be a better mother.  I need to accept that I do the best that I can.

I guess being a perfectionist has its downside.  

Do you compare yourself to others?

Are you glad that school is back in?  I AM

What makes you happy?

Spending some much needed time with Zachary and early running

Most mornings I clean the house do laundry and wake up completely before I head out for a run.  At night I have to take medicine for PTSD so it takes time for me to be completely alert.  This week I have Zachary at home so I have to head out earlier.  Today sucked I'm not even going to put how many miles, not many but under an eight minute mile pace.  Have to just keep telling yourself that good days come from bad days.

The first day of vacation is always fun, then it wears off, the countdown starts at day two. I often wonder why they need such a LONG vacation, they are just kids.  At least I don't have the constant fighting I used to have with my older two. 

We have a lot planned movies, cookie decorating, puzzles and just being lazy. Here are a few of my favorite Christmas movies.

I like funny movies!!!!

I have just a few small gifts to get and I will be done with Christmas shopping.  I dread going anywhere because of the crowds of rude people.

Are you done with your Christmas shopping?

What is your favorite Christmas movie?

Have you baked anything? 

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.

First pancreatic cancer awareness day November 13, 2014

Today is the first ever, worldwide, pancreatic cancer awareness day!!! I lost my father to this disease, so I am grateful that it has finally been recognized.

I just had a blah day, knocked out seven miles on the treadmill.  Wished I was anywhere else but there, I seem to have lost my desire to run lately.  I know that the weather has a lot to do with it. I now why people call it the dreadmill.  

It is a pick up and eat at home kinda day.  The wonderful veterans hospital, has screwed me up again. My medication ran out over the weekend it was supposed to be here on the ninth so I am just feeling like a pile of $&:,   They are all about, hurry up and wait.  Certain anti-depressants can cause withdrawals, which sucks.

Did I mention how much I dislike the cold? Lol. I never seem to be warm.

On the bright side tomorrow is a new day and I will be fine. I know this is rambling so have a great evening.

Do you like/dislike the cold?

Do you often feel blah and just want the day to end?

How is the weather where you are?

Fantastic Friday

I have had two great days of running pain free, which has been few and far between lately. I have been plagued with injuries since March.  Broken tailbone, torn hamstring, blisters, lost toenails, runners knee, and lastly the ingrown toenail.  I am grateful for the last two days. 9 miles yesterday and 12 today, averaging an 8:13 mile.  

After about a year of contemplating whether or not I should attempt to cook my way through Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking I have decided to go for it. So I bought the paperback copy.  Does anyone know where I may be able to get a first edition autographed?

Academy sports is having their grand opening all weekend,ms cored a free pair of Crocs, which will be very useful for the pool.  Tomorrow is a free tackle bag. I will be there because I love to fish.  It is another favorite past time of mine.

So I am training for an Ironman, several marathons, and cooking my way through a cookbook. I will never say I am bored..

Why doesn't anyone comment? I would appreciate a comment good or bad 😜

Have a great weekend, keep sparkling🌌

Great run, no device thursday

I purposely slept in today I have been waking up at 0544 everyday for weeks.  Very annoying, so I took a sleeping medication and slept in until 0930.  Immediately went for a run upon waking up. That extra sleep really helped.  I ran 9 miles in just over an hour which I am satisfied with.  Found 46 cents along the way!!!!!! 

When I am running, or just walking through a store I always say hi to everyone that I can.  Some seem shocked, some seem to be happy that they were noticed.  I feel that if I can make one person smile everyday then I am spreading joy, love, and sparkle..  Don't ever change who you are to please someone, you are only hurting yourself.  

Last night I made potato soup. Two separate pots lol. One with sausage and one with kale.  It was delicious I couldn't stop eating it.

I am making Zachary chocolate chip cookies for when he gets home from school. I have implemented a no device Thursday.  This applies to me as well.  No phones, tablets, video games, or computer for the entire evening.  I love technology, but,,,, I feel like quality time has been taken away and replaced with electronics.  Zachary agreed, and we shall see how well it goes.

I have used these excuses, have you? 

Do you have a device free day at your house?

How do you spread sparkle?