Disney Princess Half Marathon Recap

Mom - excited and ready to head out!

I lay in bed wide awake wondering what time it was.  I told myself to go back to sleep but then I talked myself out of it, wondering if the alarms (we set 3) would go off.  We were waking in the middle of the night, after all; wake up time was 3AM to catch a bus to the starting line at 3:30.  As I lay there tossing in bed thinking about the day ahead, I found myself excited and eager, which were emotions I don't remember from last year's half marathon.  Finally as I looked up to try to read the alarm clock, my Mom (in the other double bed) popped her head up..."I'm so excited" she squealed.  "Me too", I responded!  She jumped out of bed to check the time...alas it was only 2:15, but it was clear that neither of us were going to sleep anymore.  We clicked on the TV for some mindless entertainment while we waited to start getting ready.  I felt at ease.

At about 2:50, I finally got out of bed to don my running duds for the day - black compression shorts, a deep purple top, my long-sleeved throw away top and a frilly pink and purple ribbony pony tail thingie (my only Princess-y flair).  We packed a bag for bag check this year knowing that we would be waiting a while until we met the rest of our group (walkers).  I also had my breakfast in another bag - an english muffin with peanut butter, a banana, watermelon sport beans and a bottle of water (1/3 full for obvious bathroom reasons).  

We look tired...go figure!

We left our room at about 3:20 to pick up the rest of our group on the way to the bus.  We stayed at Caribbean Beach resort, a host resort, so our transportation should have been seamless.  Note the use of the words "should have."  We waited about 10 minutes for the bus to arrive and luckily were able to get seats...not everyone fit so some folks had to wait for another bus.  Very quickly my mom and I noticed that we were not headed in the right direction, towards Epcot.  A u-turn later and my mom scooted to the front of the bus to figure out what was going on.  She ultimately ended up sitting in the front row to help the driver to find his way...45 minutes later we were at the Epcot parking lots.  Since we'd done the race last year, we knew that there was a lot of walking to make it to your actual corral...probably 2+ miles.  We made it through bag check, a port-a-potty stop and we were out to our corral, B - same as last year.



Race plan wristband

We stayed toward the back of our corral knowing that we would be doing a walk-run strategy and figured that was best.  The Fairy Godmother sends you off with a little ditty and some fabulous fireworks - they do this for every corral which is really magical, as cliche as that sounds.  I loved every minute of it.  So at 5:51, we were off and running.  Our strategy was to walk, run every mile and half mile, respectively.  I put the race plan on the reverse of a Clif pace bracelet from the race expo.  We followed it to a t.

Miles 0-10 felt pretty great with the exception of mile 7.  My knees started to really bother me at that point and I started to wonder if I would be able to run much longer.  I didn't say a word to Mom, knowing that if I did, my concern would become a reality.  I kept it to myself and tried to push past the pain, mentally speaking.  And it worked...I didn't really notice my knees for the rest of the race.  At mile 10, I finally took my Clif shot, with some water at the water stop.  I felt great and still had a lot of energy so I told my Mom we were going to run the duration.  We started up the on ramp to the road into Epcot and saw the Army man from Toy Story.  An important note is that I vividly remember this spot from last year and really, deeply wondering if I would finish...or survive for that matter...I was semi-dillusional at this point (not a significant exageration) and was babbling on to my mom.  This year I was lucid and gunning it to the finish - what a difference a year makes.

I saw the mile 11 sign - the finish line was really coming...and fast.  My mom double checked that I knew how fast we were running (9 min mile pace) I nodded yes and yelled "let's go" (my ipod shuffle was loud and I didn't bother to hit pause while we talked, so I yelled).  There are 3 overpasses in rapid succession as you head into Epoct for the finish.  We walked up the last overpass to catch our breath and then we sprinted down and into the park to pass the mile 12 marker, the International gateway and the gospel choir as you turn for the finish.  I saw a few girls start walking as they struggled and gave them high 5's and shouted words of encouragement as so many did for me last year.  As we neared the end, I yelled for my mom to stay with me as we entered the chute and we crossed holding hands, arms in the air.  It's silly, but it was really an incredible moment for me.  I conquered all those demons that plagued me the last 365 days since the last race...my health issues, my life issues and most importantly my confidence in my ability to finish.  We hugged and yelled "we did it" and found the ladies handing out the medals.  I felt a little dazed from excitement and physical exertion.  We definitely negative split the race and I think we finished the last 5k in 27 or 28 minutes...it felt like a dead sprint. 


After we got our medals, I headed to the medical self help area for some ice for my knees and some tylenol.  We meandered through the crowd to get some water and powerade, then headed to the food tent and finally to bag check to retrieve our things.  It was quite chilly once you cooled off, so we went hunting for the mylar blankets to keep warm.  We met up with our friends at our designated meeting point, gave celebratory hugs and headed back to the hotel for a much-needed hot shower.  

The Disney Princess race is totally magical (like, for real) and is an amazing experience with tons of women encouraging each other and reveling in the princess spirit.  While we don't dress up on race day, we gussied up for our post-race park visit, wearing hot pink t-shirts that I designed that read "We love Disney so much we ran through it"...of course they had Minnie ears with a sparkly bedazzled crown.

Our Disney Princess Half Group - Lauren, Judy, Pam, Christine and Kymberlee

 Who knows...maybe I'll keep running.  Or maybe not.  After Sunday, I don't have anything to prove anymore and that is incredibly cathartic.

Comfort Food 001

I love pasta with every fiber of my being.  In another life, I was probably a very overweight Italian woman.  It brings me so much happiness and you can prepare it a gazillion ways.  Pasta is as diverse as meat.  There's orzo which is akin to rice, penne that goes with any sauce and large shells or manicotti for adding substantial fillings.  Really, I love them all.  I make a great, cold orzo salad for the spring and summer with fresh veggies, grilled chicken and feta.  In the winter, I often make a big pan or some sort of pasta for leftovers.  It freezes well and is easy to reheat.  That was a lot of build up to share one of my favorite recipes with you - baked ziti or rigatoni or penne.

Baked pasta

• 16 oz "tube" pasta - ziti, penne or rigtoni
• 1 jar pasta sauce - I recommend tomato and basil
• 8 oz ricotta
• 1/4 C sour cream - I use low fat
• 1 egg
• 8 oz shredded Italian cheese blend
• 1 lb ground pork, ground beef or Italian sausage - if using pork or beef, I recommend adding some diced onion, garlic and parsley for flavor

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Make pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, cook ground meat or sausage over med-high heat in a skillet.
3. Mix pasta sauce, ricotta, sour cream, egg and half of shredded cheese in a large bowl.  Add ground meat and then pasta, mixing thoroughly to cover all of the pasta with the sauce.
4. Spread pasta mixture in 9x13 pan and top with remaining shredded cheese.  Bake for 20-25 minutes or until bubbling.

Imperfect Pet Parenting

For some reason, I've been letting Paddy sleep in bed a lot recently. 

Look how comfy she looks?

Because it's been chilly, I've been welcoming the extra warmth.  She's learned that when I turn off the lights, it's sleepy time, but that doesn't mean she's the perfect bed companion.  Sometimes she worms her way so that her paws/head are on my pillow with me.  Last night, she moved to the center of the bed so that I couldn't stretch my legs without bumping into her....talk about a bed hog!  And in my imperfect pet parenting ways, I gently kicked her until she moved so I could be comfortable again. 

Oh I'm sorry, am I disturbing your naptime?

The right answer is probably moving her back to her crate for bedtime.  But I have to admit, I'm such a sucker for that shaggy pup that I enjoy the extra snuggle time!

It is decidedly *not* a snow day

Like a young elementary school student, I was wishing for a snow day today.  I was hoping to see mounds of the fluffy, white stuff when I awoke this morning.  But alas, once again, the weathermen in Southeast Virginia overstated the conditions.  We don't have any on the ground - boo hoo!  But in the essence of a more fun, light post, let's talk about what I would do if we had been snowed in.

1. Bundle up with Paddy and go for a walk in the snow around the neighborhood.  I love taking walks in the snow.  I remember when we lived in VA when I was in high school and got a big snow overnight and my parents woke me up and we went for a midnight walk in the snow...that was a really fun night. 

2. When we're cold and sniffly from the walk, come home and make some cocoa and a hot breakfast - maybe Waffles with bacon or an omelet.

3. Read.  I just finished David Lebovitz's The Sweet Life in Paris so I'm eager for a new read.  I would love to spend an hour browsing the new kindle books on Amazon...something I definitely usually don't devote much time.

4. Watch some movies or Netflix.  Yesterday I discovered the show Gossip Girl.  I have certainly been missing a fab show - I could curl up and get caught up on this for hours!

5.  Play in the snow in the backyard with Paddy.  One of the best things about my pup is her love of cold and snowy weather.  If it weren't for her getting snow and ice crusted in her paws, she would be out there all day.

6. Take a nap...you're probably picking up that I'm coming up with all of my favorite lazy day activities.

7. Do some crafts or something creative.

Here's wishing you have a snow day today!

Musings 004

I've struggled with my confidence recently.  2012 has brought some significant opportunities (check out that positive spin, eh?) for professional and personal growth.  I've been out of my comfort zone a lot these days.  I've made a lot of mistakes.  I've had a few triumphs, but they have largely been outnumbered by mistakes, so I've struggled to mentally embrace those successes.  I'm also probably in a rut...some people are not part of my inner circle of trust have even commented on this (thanks for your opinion on my mental state, but go away!).

So what do you do, when your ego feels perpetually bruised?  And I'm not talking ego in a negative way.  We all need a reasonably positive sense of self to succeed in life.  I set some new personal goals that are only about ME....see my previous post on a half marathon.  I've always found very deep fulfillment from athletic or physical pursuits and I know that about myself.  So why not try to complete 13.1 miles with 14 days notice?  I certainly don't expect to be bragging about my finish time, but I am really looking forward to this race (more than I did last year, I think). 

I've been focusing on being a really good friend these days.  As I've mentioned previously, 2012 has been a rough year for my girl gaggle - premies, sick pups, bridal woes and the list goes on.  And in turn, I've had my own rough patches through which my friends have coaxed me.  Making time for a phone call in the evening or carving out a few hours for dinner and drinks to soothe the nerves and angst of daily stresses are good for the soul.  I know I have a select few friends both locally and just a phone call away who can pull me out of any funk, even if just for a night.

I've also been making time for some of the more mundane hobbies that I deeply enjoy - baking and crafts.  I spent last Sunday in front of my oven working on treats for friends and coworkers....I emerged with buttermilk biscuits (heart-shaped, of course!), cranberry and white chocolate cookies and truffle pops.  All big winners at the office and around the neighborhood.  I'm working on a few craft projects of the paper and sewing variety to channel some of my energy in creative ways. 

With that, I hope my confidence will eventually reemerge to its original state.  If nothing else, just being aware of its dip is something, right?  Being self aware is half the battle of coming out of a funk. And if all else fails, blast Katy Perry's new song "Part of Me" and you're bound to feel a little more empowered!

How do you get yourself out of a confidence rut? 

Reclaiming a half

I did something a little crazy last weekend.  I registered for a half marathon...14 days away.  Yes, you read that correctly.  I don't have any intentions of running the whole thing.  I haven't really been running, so I'm definitely not ready for that.  I do, however, plan to run parts of it.  I did a good "road test" last weekend and proved to myself that I'm ready- 10 miles walk/run on the treadmill in 2 hours.  My last half marathon didn't end very well, despite many months of training so I'm trying to reclaim this race for my psyche.  I have 3 goals for myself:
1. Run more than I walk
2. Stay healthy
3. Enjoy this race

Is it nap time yet?

Someone is very sleepy this morning.

Mourning the loss...of someone we never met?

I like US Weekly and People just like the next girl.  I love when I see a new issue on the magazine rack at the gym.  It's perfect reading for the elliptical - doesn't require too much brainpower and there are lots of pictures.  That being said, I'm usually relatively current on my celeb gossip and am easily entertained by the drama.  However, one thing I have never understood is the tendency to revere celebrities in death and fixate so deeply on mourning their contributions to society and the associated loss.  Some examples that come to mind - Anna Nicole Smith (ok, maybe she didn't really contribute to society other than in I-feel-sorry-for-you ways), Heath Ledger, Amy Winehouse, and most recently, Whitney Houston.

I can't tell you how many media outlets had tributes to Whitney Houston over the weekend.  Even my local, hometown news station had an entire web page dedicated to her.  It's just overkill and something that I cannot rationalize, intellectually speaking. 

Whitney certainly was a music fixture in my early life.  I remember my Mom playing her tapes when we were out and about in her Volvo station wagon back in the late 80s/early 90s.  I think we even had some of her CDs when tapes went out of fashion.  I danced to "Queen of the Night" in our camp talent show.  I always liked her music and her smile was amazing.

So while I enjoyed her music, I was perplexed by the coverage this weekend and early this week.  I never met Whitney.  I found her entertaining, but no more or less so than the next actor, writer, producer or singer.  For society as a whole to mourn her death with such vigor and fervor seems strange to me.  Why don't we mourn everyone in that same way?  In death, our family members don't make front page news for weeks on end, but their relative impact on us is undoubtedly stronger and much more relevant in our daily lives.  In my mind, the contributions of those closest to us should be the focal points in our lives.

As I've worked through the words to describe my sentiments on celebrity deaths, I continue to be confused.  Maybe you're not supposed to apply intellect to life and death...

A loss

I am a big New England sports fan and have been mourning the Patriots' Super Bowl loss for the last 24 hours or so.  While I love the Pats, I sort of expected it.  They came out of the gate sloppy and had some silly penalties (12 men on the field) called against them.  While this loss was memorable, that in the 2007 Super Bowl was worse.  But nothing can compare to the 2003 ALCS, where my beloved Red Sox played the Yankees.

Let's take a journey back in time, shall we?  Game 7 happened to coincide with my college's Senior Night, aka a bar rented out for us and they drove us back and forth in school buses.  Classy.  I was glued to the TVs over the bar with a plethora of other Yanks and Sox fans.  Since I went to school in PA, there was a strong showing for both teams.  The game went into extra innings and we ordered more beers (duh, we're college students).  Enter 11th inning. Enter Aaron Boone.  Enter walk off home run.


Source

My disbelief was palpable.  I stared at the TV with my mouth agape (catching some flies, if you will).  And then the realization set in.  The season was over and we were going home.  I think I shed a few tears into a pitcher of beer that night.  Never have I been so attached to a team like the 2003 or 2004 Red Sox.  I love those guys.

Do you get super emotional about sports?  Or attached to a specific team?

Musings 003

Hey 2012,

It's time to shape up!  I thought you would be a super duper year and you've started like a dud.  My job has been burying me.  I'm grateful to have a job in this economy, but I'm tired and burned out.  You ushered in the birth of two darling babies, albeit way too early.  And you brought some sad news on the health of a dear friend's doggie.  There has been far too much anxiety and worry for being 35 days in.  Can you please work on some happier, fun times?

Sincerely,
Christine

Just in case

I keep the weather for multiple cities on my iPhone. You know, just in case I decide to pick up and go tomorrow.
NYC, Paris, London and Hamilton (Bermuda).
I like to be prepared.

A Rainy Day

They say that when it rains, it pours.  And typically I've found that to be true.  Oftentimes when the really annoying sort of bad news comes, it comes in waves.  Exhibit A - last week in the life of Imperfect Christine.  I had to have the steering column replaced on my car, had a really rough, trying week at the office and came home from Saturday morning errands to find my garage filled with water leaking from my water heater.  Suffice to say that the moments of joy were few and far between from last Monday to this Monday. 

But through it all, I knew one thing.  While it was an incredible inconvenience to be car-less last week and to be acutely monitoring the water situation in my garage with a rotation of a few crappy towels (thank goodness I kept my towels from college and found them in the attic!) to sop up the mess, I knew one thing - I could pay for these repairs with a little thing called the rainy day fund, aka a savings account.  My parents trained me young to prepare for unplanned expenses and I'm so grateful they did. 

While I don't intend to be overly preachy or charade as a goody-too shoes, I do highly recommend that everyone consider such an arrangement.  Most banks offer a variety of savings account options, with many being free of service charges.  Heck, you can even keep an envelope of cash between your mattress and boxspring.  Knowing that you have a little financial padding can truly ease the burden of a situation wrought with angst and stress.

Musings 002

Do you ever find music that speaks to you?  Maybe it's an album or a song or a ditty.  It doesn't have to be something terribly profound, but I always seem to find a song or album every now and then that just literally moves my soul.  I've been listening to music a lot more than I have in the past recently.  Chalk it up to some longer days and nights at the office and some very detailed assignments that require a lot of concentration.  All through school, I used music as background noise to help me focus on homework or studying...I guess old habits die hard.

So you're obviously wondering (ok, maybe not) what music I'm going to discuss in this post.  Florence and the Machine's new album, Ceremonials.  It's haunting.  I imagine it pulsing through the halls of an old stone church.  There is one song that feels religious to me.  It's the first track on the album which is on repeat in my home tonight.  It's called "Only if for a night."

As I've become older and maybe a little bit wiser, I've been more aware of the relationships I have and what they mean to me.  I've also realized that relationships don't have to last forever and they may exist for a specific reason at a specific point in your life.  Friendships fade.  Lovers leave.  People die.  That may be a negative outlook, but it's reality and that's ok.  And while I'm not sure of the writer's intent with this song, I think the lyrics speak to anyone who has lost someone, whether that be a metaphorical or physical loss.

Then I heard your voice as clear as day, 

And you told me I should concentrate, 

It was all so strange, 

And so surreal, 

That a ghost should be so practical.

I can't explain it, but this just explodes in my mind.  

A Toast to Sunday Brunch

I'm a big breakfast fan.  It's probably my favorite meal, but unfortunately that little pesky thing called a job keeps me from a legit breakfast most days.  So I can typically found over my stove on a Sunday morning.  I believe in a wholesome Sunday breakfast, spent with full mugs of coffee and the Sunday paper.  It's practically a ritual for me.  It feels good for the soul and it feels good to spend some time with loved ones and/or the news.

So this Sunday, I poked around my fridge and cabinets for some ideas.  After noticing a chunk of fancy scmancy sourdough still in fridge, I decided on French toast.  While I believe in Sunday brunch, I also believe in good bread for French toast.  You just shouldn't use some old white bread for this....it's just not right.  Find a bakery or heck, buy a nice loaf of French bread from your grocer's bakery department.  It will do.

What you'll need

Christine's French Toast, makes 4 slices

• 4 slices sourdough, about 1/2 inch thick
• 1 egg
• 1/4-ish C milk
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• pinch nutmeg

Break egg in a shallow dish and beat well.  Add milk, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Beat well.  Place sliced bread in the dish to absorb the liquid, turning over once.

Let it soak up all the eggy, milky deliciousness!

Heat a nonstick skillet over med-high heat.  Cook the toast for about 3-4 minutes per side or until golden brown.

Dust with powdered sugar and serve with maple syrup.

Doesn't that look fab?

TGIF!

Oy, what a week it has been!  Yes, you guessed it, highly imperfect!  From car troubles to some exceedingly long nights at work, it's tried my patience to the hills and back.  I'm tired and not super enthused about life right now.  But it's Friday and I am slightly renewed knowing that I'm not going to be calling a colleague or a friend to get me someplace I need to be.


Available at Sephora



I've got a lot to look forward to this weekend - a Friday night at my favorite restaurant with a dear friend, watching the Pats kick some Broncos tail on Saturday and helping a friend with wedding planning on Sunday.  And next week, I'll be leaving on a jet plane for a little place called paradise.  It may be for work, but it will be a welcome respite from my gray, carpeted cubicle walls.  Hope is on the horizon!

I'll leave you with this little nugget for a Friday evening...Bobbi Brown gel eye liner in the pot is ah-ma-zing!  Get thee to a department store and buy some - totally fab!

Perfect pizza

I'm a big fan of pizza.  I mean big.  The more I think about it, the more I'm realizing that pizza might be one of my top fav foods.  Like maybe top 3.  It's so awesome - you get all the food groups with enough junk food-ness to be super satisfying.  Tonight I made a seriously awesome pie.

Yea I know it doesn't exactly look perfect, but let me tell you it was delish.  It consisted of Trader Joe's pizza crust (hmm you're probably really thinking I'm an undercover PR person for them with back to back posts on their products), some baked chicken breast (of the boneless, skinless variety, sliced very thin), Williams-Sonoma artichoke and garlic pizza sauce and freshly grated Parmesan.  That's it - 4 ingredients and you're done.  

If you've never tried this pizza sauce, by golly get thee to a Williams-Sonoma and buy it immediately!  It's delicious.  I think I got about 4 homemade pizzas out of the jar.  It's pretty garlicky so if you don't like the stuff, stay away.  You can use it somewhat sparingly since it's very strong in flavor, meaning more pizzas.  Hooray!

Oh Trader Joes, I love thee

I am a big fan of Trader Joe's.  I love that they have reasonably priced organic and unique foods.  I have been known to play Supermarket Sweep on the wine and cheese aisles...literally!  I can think of a handful of occasions when the cashier has asked if I'm having a wine and cheese party.  Um, not exactly ma'am...I'm a single gal who works really hard and enjoys her cheese and wine!  I also love their frozen and semi-prepared foods.  They're a godsend for a busy, working gal. 

Today, I tried a new frozen "meal" - the Eggplant Parmesan stack.  As I had a work from home day while my car was in the shop, I "made" myself a nice, hot lunch.  Let me tell you, this thing was seriously delicious!  I love eggplant - I buy them in bushels (okay, not really) at the farmer's market in the summertime.  This did not disappoint - some mozzarella, sun dried tomatoes, pesto, tomato slices and very lightly breaded eggplant...totally delicious!  While maybe not the lowest in calories (I think it was 420 for the entire meal), it was really fulfilling and good for a chilly January day.

*I was not compensated by Trader Joe's to write this post....it's my honest opinion.  But Trader Joe's, if you want to put me on the payroll, bring it on!

Imperfection - 001

The first of one of my "columns"....on imperfection.  Today was imperfect in so many ways...I mean hello, it's Monday after all!  I came home from work to quickly drop off my things and decided to run some errands.  I've been long overdue to renew my passport and needed to get a new picture so I figured I would swing by CVS on my way to the grocery store (read: no breakfast food in the house and no coffee filters will very likely result in a VERY unhappy morning).  As I bee bopped out the house before 6pm (read: very early for me to be home and out and about), I thought what a productive Monday evening I would have.  I should have known better...as I got into my car, I got a weird error message about the steering lock and it wouldn't start.  I looked through the manual for a resolution and immediately called my Dad.  After trying a few things to no avail, I stomped my feet (literally), yelled some obscenities and started to cry.  Yes, I am 30 years old and still throw temper tantrums....mind you, there was no one to witness. 

I did some quick research online and realized my little ride likely required a ride to the dealership for a repair.  After calling AAA and hearing that my membership only covers a 5 mile tow (for real?!) and that I would have to pay $50-ish to have it towed to the dealer (enter more rage in my heart), I started frantically texting a friend to whine and complain.  Hey, misery does indeed love company!  Another moment that definitely highlighted my singlehood - no buddy to share in my misery.  After a quick pep talk from my darling friend, I was back in business, mentally and emotionally speaking.

Source

The tow guy came and successfully got my car out of the garage and over to the dealer.  After the ordeal, I sat at my kitchen bar eating some leftover Chinese food and sipping a beer and I realized that while that was a big imperfection in my day, it wasn't the worst that could have happened.  Luckily, I have the financial means to have my car repaired and have a few buddies who live close enough that I can get a ride to work.  It really wasn't the end of the world even if the inconvenience felt like it.  I can get by with some tea tomorrow morning and a granola bar for breakfast.  I called my Dad to apologize for being curt with him as he tried to come up with ideas to resolve the steering lock issue.  And then I promptly kicked back on the sofa with my sweet pup to unwind from this evening's excitement. 

Imperfect Christine, signing off for this time.

Musings - 001

I'm not too big on new year's resolutions, although I genuinely like the idea of goal setting.  I'm a pretty goal-oriented person so that concept resonates well with me.  The newness of a new calendar year is a nice clean slate with which to work. 

As 2011 wore on and inched closer to my 30th birthday (it was in October), I found myself really looking forward to a new decade and feeling contemplative.  I had set some goals for myself before that birthday...some public and some private.  I truly felt awesome as I approached that day.  I realized that I finally found myself (yes that is totally cliche) and was totally comfortable with whatever age I was.  I hit my stride at work, made some big changes in my life, renewed some friendships and felt on top of the world.  I looked forward to that day in the same way that some look forward to a new year.  It was a clean slate, a new number in front of my age and most of all, I was totally ok with it!  So while I'm not setting resolutions, I'm still looking to 2012 in the same way that I looked to my 30th year...with hope, excitement and a fresh start.

While many are focused on health and weight loss with the new year, I'm focusing on other things in the forefront.  Don't get me wrong, health and fitness are a big part of my life, but that won't change with the new year.  Back to my 30th birthday...I was frustrated with my weight last summer and finally bit the bullet and went on a real diet.  I lost 14lbs before my birthday and I've kept it off.  This year, I basically want to continue that trend and stay healthy.

My focal points for 2012....

Source

1. At the office - Be a thoughtful leader and grow in my new role.  Provide thoughtful guidance, keep an open mind and an open door policy with my colleagues.

2. On the road - Travel someplace new.  Maybe Italy.  Maybe a new island (I do have the beach on my mind).  Maybe a new city in the US.

3. In the kitchen - Try new recipes.  Make use of the gadgets I have in my kitchen.

4. For my psyche - Find ways to fulfill my interest in healthcare.  Diversify my volunteer experiences. 

5. For my soul - Forgive.  Be patient.  Express empathy.  Be open minded.

I wish you the best on your new year whether you make resolutions, set goals or just roll with the punches!

Run, mama, run!

Today, I'm cheering on my speedy mama as she runs through Walt Disney World on her third half marathon!  A little less than a year ago, I convinced her to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon with me and she's definitely caught the running bug.  I'm really impressed that she continues to train and love running.  And for someone who professed that she wasn't sure she is capable of running 13.1 miles, she sure has changed her tune!  Go, mama, go!

I've gone to the dark side

After 30 years of playing on a PC, I bit the bullet and bought a Mac.


Swoon!

I love it!  It's purty, it's easy to use and it syncs all of my apple products.  As my father said, the iphone was the gateway drug and I'm now onto harder things like the crack pipe!

Adventures in Plumbing

My kitchen faucet has been leaking and my bathroom toilet has been running.  Alas, it was time for Pauline the Plumber to make her appearance at my home.  I took a few lessons from my days as a mechanical engineer and cracked open my home improvement book for a few pointers.  Oddly enough, plumbing is one of my favorite home improvement chores.

I started with the toilet and expected a quick tweak would solve the issue...I was wrong!  After failing to successfully get my toilet to completely stop running after adjusting the float height, I realized there was something wrong with the internals of the existing float assembly.  So I was off to Lowe's for some replacement parts.  I replaced the float assembly, overflow tube and flapper with new, plastic parts...judging from the black ickiness on my hands and in the tank water, I don't think the previous parts had been replaced since my home was built in 1968...blach!  About an hour and a half later and success!

The kitchen sink was another story.  I tried a few different ways to remove the existing stem valve and replace it, but I could never find the right part.  I called my Dad for advice (read: moral support).  He suggested replacing the entire faucet.  Aha!  Another good idea to get the endless dripping that was testing my patience and the depth of my pockets to pay my growing water bill.  I crawled under the sink to try to loosen the nuts holding the faucet in place.  Harrumph!  They were corroded and impossible to turn.  I think a muscle man must have tightened them last time.  After a few contorted attempts to loosen them, I threw a mini temper tantrum on the floor of my kitchen.  I decided it was time to call my neighborhood plumber who does great work at a reasonable price.  Sometimes you have to know when to call it a day...

In all, I was 2 for 3 of my plumbing projects today.  I also cleaned out the trap on my bathroom sink to help it drain better.  While I didn't solve all of the issues, I am feeling good about my successes!

Magazine love

While I love to read a great book, I'm also a big fan of magazines.  They're good for the gym or for those nights when I don't have the mental energy to invest in a novel.  I've reevaluated my subscriptions and am sharing a few of my favorites for various occasions...

Why now?

Why a new blog?  Well my friends, I love blogging, but I wanted a fresh start.  I was ready to move on from an old moniker and think out of the box a little bit.  I look forward to sharing my thoughts, my adventures at work, tales of success, travels and of course, my imperfections.

Happy New Year!

There really isn't anything like a fresh calendar page to make you feel fresh, free and dream big for the new year ahead!

Planner from Kate Spade