Five Favorite Holiday Recipes

How can it be Thanksgiving next week? I am still enjoying my birthday cake, and wishing my daughter a Happy Birthday this weekend. Thank goodness Rachel, Lacey and Miranda are on top of things with this week’s Friday Five 2.0 topic, otherwise I might not have started planning my Thanksgiving menu. 

five holiday recipes
While I’m always willing to try a new recipe, I think holiday meals should be based on family favorites. That’s why our menu doesn’t change much from year to year. Here are five favorite holiday recipes we usually enjoy on Thanksgiving and/or Christmas. Continue reading

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Birthday Hullabaloo

Today is my birthday! While I usually dedicate my birthday posts to the story about the birthday I skipped–and the important health lesson I learned afterwards–this year I’m in the mood for some fun. 

Coco - 5th Birthday

My 5th Birthday Party

When I was little, my parents always made a big deal about my birthday. I had parties where I invited all the kids in my class, we played classic party games, and I had a fancy homemade birthday cake.  Continue reading

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Boston Running and Boulder Hiking

Last week I had a quick business trip to Boston, a city I love to visit but don’t get to very often. I was glad this trip fell just after the switch back to Eastern Standard Time, because that meant I could wait for daybreak before heading out for a run. The night before I almost wimped out over the cold, but since I only had packed cold weather running gear, my only option was to suck it up and brave the cold. I’m so glad I did because it ended up being a glorious autumn morning in Boston!

Autumn In Boston

The George Washington Statue in Boston Public Garden

The last time I was in Boston I participated in a running tour of the area, so I decided to recreate some of that route on my own.

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A Running Tour of Memorials on Veteran’s Day

No matter how you feel about the results of this week’s election, I bet you still believe it’s important to have the right to vote for our president, senators, congressmen, and other officials. I hope we as a nation take a collective deep breath and come together to observe Veteran’s Day and honor those who have served our country to ensure that we do have that right. Last year on Veteran’s Day I went on a running tour to visit some of the memorials in Washington, D.C. Come along with me as I remember that run–and the veterans honored by the memorials. 

Iwo Jima Memorial

One of my favorite pictures ever!

I started my run at the Marine Corps War Memorial, also known as the Iwo Jima Memorial and the background for finisher photos after the Marine Corps Marathon.  Continue reading

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Prayers After The 2016 Election

Yesterday I shared some prayers for the election from the Episcopalian Book of Common Prayer. Today, the angst I felt about the 2016 election pales in comparison to my concerns about the next presidency, but I am determined to keep the faith in our country. I refuse to read the results as an endorsement of all the ugly things that went on during the campaign. I am trying to understand the perspectives of those who wanted this outcome. And, I am praying harder than ever.

White House Jan 2016

White House, January 2016

First, I am praying for our country, that love will overcome fear, that generosity will overcome selfishness, that compassion will overcome prejudice. Continue reading

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