Christmas Eve, wish list, happy national eggnog day

l First, to all my fellow eggnog lovers, happy national eggnog day!!! I like eggnog plain, but I really like it with buttershots in it.

My Christmas wish list to Santa or anyone else who loves me

Garmin forerunner 220.  I have always used my handy IPhone app to track my runs, and it sucks. I want this watch because it is like a personal trainer.  It will definitely help me with my pace.

Starbucks gift cards, need I say more

A new pair of diamond stud earrings. I had to sell my other ones a few years ago, which I regret now.

I have pretty much everything a person could ask for, health, happy children, lifestyle that allows me to stay home and not work.  

Christmas Eve has always been a big deal to me, because it was my fathers favorite day of the year.  We fill ourselves full of finger foods then relax...wait for Santa.  This year I have made pigs in a blanket, spinach artichoke dip, deviled eggs, meatballs, cheese sticks, Texas fries and miscellaneous dips. Then have an adult eggnog and call it a day.

I wish everybody a happy Christmas!!!!

What traditions does your family have?

What is on your wish list?

Do you like eggnog?

Run, sparkle, and eat: Baking completed and what's up with all the rain?

Run, sparkle, and eat: Baking completed and what's up with all the rain?: Cookies are ok for breakfast, right? I consulted with an expert and he gave me an ok and agreed it was just fine. I ALWAYS over bake, I make...

Baking completed and what's up with all the rain?

Cookies are ok for breakfast, right? I consulted with an expert and he gave me an ok and agreed it was just fine.

I ALWAYS over bake, I make two batches of everything. Just in case a last minute gift is needed.  Plus I just love to bake.

We had movie day yesterday, went to a second run theater which was really nice.  I had won some free movie passes last year at a race and finally got around to using them.  We saw teenage mutant ninja turtles, it was OK. 

Trying to sit out this nonstop rain, it rains here all the time.  I will run in the rain, but not a cold rain.  I guess it is a triple PIYO day.  The sun has not made an appearance here in quite some time.

This is how miserable it looks here.  

I'm getting so excited about Christmas Eve.  My father loved Christmas Eve we always had finger foods and lots of sweets.  I have continued that tradition with my family.  This year will be the first time in over thirty five years that I will attend Christmas Eve services at a church.  

I am feeling really good lately.  I don't suffer from physical pain.  I suffer with depression and it sucks not knowing how you will feel each day.  I hate it when people say just cheer up, because it is not that simple. It is not something that is 100% controllable. Medication, lifestyle changes, and a great support system are necessary in maintaining a status quo. I am not embarrassed to admit that I am depressed!!!!

How many different types of cookies did you make? I'm at 13

Do you or anyone you know suffer from depression?

Are you going to Christmas Eve services? 

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? 

Lots of baking, NUUN ambassador

c Happy first day of winter!!!!

And for my fellow runners

I miss the snow from Pennsylvania, it makes Christmas more fun, just my opinion.  It would be perfect if it snowed from December 21-December 26. That would be just perfect.

Baking was in full swing until the heating element melted, so bummed I was so close to being done, now I have to wait to tomorrow afternoon.  Mind you I have to mail these to family. So far I have made:

  Chocolate chip normal/chocolate white chocolate chips

  Mexican wedding cookies

  Ginger cookies aka "crack cookies"

  Almond sugar cookies

  White chocolate covered pretzel sticks

  Oreo balls

  Peanut brittle 

  Reindeer munch

I have to make vanilla crescents, Italian anise cookies, pfefferneuse and that should be enough!!!!

I was selected by NUUN to be an ambassador. Which basically means I endorse and promote their product and I get free stuff.  I was really praying for this to happen, because I drink LOTS of NUUN. 

This week has been a great week for running, I have surpassed my fifty mile a week goal, by twelve miles.  I am starting to feel confident again, I had seriously doubted if I would ever get back to where I was.  It has not been easy, lots of tears, lots of pain and a lot of kicking my own ass.

I donated so much lately and it makes me feel so good to do it.  First I donated my hair to locks of love, took two bags of puzzles and personal hygiene items to the VA hospital (mental ward)  and last stop was Goodwill with various items.  It makes my heart sparkle when I do nice things. 

Have a great first day of winter!!!!

Do you bake around the holidays? Or all the time?  I bake all the time

How to you donate items?  I do it all the time

Are you ready for Christmas?

Baking, running, and donating

I have a Christmas tradition of baking tons of cookies, and giving them out as gifts.  When I say tons, probably about 15 different types.  It feels bettter to give something that you spent time and love on.  Plus, the easiest way to a persons heart is through the stomach.  I've heard that for years.

After buying all the supplies which took about an hour, I get home and my oven stopped working, it refused to heat up.  I tried switching the breaker.  It was like it knew it was getting ready to be used for an insane amount of time. I had to call the repairman.

They were not able to "fix" it so they rigged it for now.  

The days are just not long enough lately, between cooking, running, blogging, hanging out with Zachary the day is gone.   Did I mention that he will be out of school for two weeks?  I wonder how many times I will be beckoned to the kitchen because he is hungry? I really do not mind though.

I have two weeks before my first race of 2015.  It is an eight mile race called Hill and Dale, which in itself leaves me to wonder what I was thinking registering for a race with the word Hill in it.  I was going to do a race near Nashville, but changed my mind.  

Well today is my long run day 15 miles so have a great Friday.

New York City was awesome

We left for New York on Thursday morning at 0600, which meant a three thirty wake up.  The flight was great.  Really didn't do much but unpack and get settled in. The hotel was gorgeous with a salt water pool so I got a lot of swimming in.

Friday, Zachary and I headed out on the town, after a five mile treadmill run. He was such a great travel buddy.  Took public transportation everywhere which was fun.

He was probably singing he is always singing.  

Went to see the Empire State Building which was amazing.

I wanted to go to Macy's and found these cute ornaments

The first one is an apple bell, too cute to pass up and when I told the cashier it was my first time in New York City she hooked me up!!!!

There were so many people😜 I don't like crowds but managed fine.  Some random pictures Zachary took

Friday evening was the Christmas party at the Astoria!!! All I can say is I ate too much calamari and had way too many piña coladas.  Great food met some really great people.  I won a $250 gift card to Best Buy!!!! Free boxes of chocolates.  This was me before the party

Saturday I got another five mile treadmill run in. After that we headed back out lots of walking which I loved, however Zachary assured me that his legs were going to fall off.  

Of course we had to go to the M&M store smelled so good

Went to the 9/11 memorial. It was somber, the quietest place in the city.  It was windy and cold.  The pools had water spraying everywhere so I could not get any decent pictures.  We chose not to go into the museum because I knew I would break down. I remember that day like it was yesterday.  I immediately went to work, earlier than my shift.  In all my years of law enforcement that was the day where the 911 call volume stopped, people stopped the foolishness.  

Went to Central Park and watched a street show which was amazing.  Unfortunately everything was so packed. We did go to Times Square, and Rockefeller center to see the tree.

Stopped to get a few souvenirs, in keeping with my love of sparkle, I found this cute t-shirt and a pair of Oakley sunglasses that actually fit my face!!! I love it when I score.

Also found this hair product which is the best ever

It is shiny, controlling, anti frizzing and tons of volume. 

We are at a lot of mom and pop places and I stuck to my diet with the exception of the party.

Sunday quick treadmill run, swim, and then headed out.  I didn't pack enough cold weather running gear so my run on Brooklyn Bridge was in boots and jeans lol, but I did it.

I love the bridge locks they symbolize love!!!

Everything was so crowded we made it to Times Square and Rockefeller center.  The tree was unbelievable.

So we headed home on Sunday at what was supposed to be 1800 hrs, the plane was an hour late. After we boarded we sat for an hour. I figured something was wrong.  I went up and asked the flight attendant what was going on her response " something is wrong with the fuel gauge, they are looking in the manual to see how to fix it!!!!"  I grabbed Zachary and unassed that plane in about ten seconds.  Was able to get on a flight to Memphis thirty minutes later.  The first plane lost our luggage.  It was delivered on Monday afternoon.  

It was an awesome time.

Has your luggage ever been lost? 

Do you like crowds? I hate them

Have you ever experienced New York City?  Did you love it?