Did Someone Say Christmas Cookies?

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Coco

My children have outgrown Santa Claus and I do as much shopping as I can on-line, but one enduring holiday tradition is baking cookies. Every year since 1998 a group of us have blocked off  a weekend day in December to get together and bake cookies. We each make double batches of two different recipes, and someone brings pre-baked cut-outs that we decorate while the other cookies cool.  It’s like a cookie exchange but we do the baking together.

Bake-A-Thon
It started off as a way to bake more complicated recipes than we might try on our own, but has become a way to really catch up and have the types of conversations that only come about while working side-by-side, elbow-deep in cookie dough over several hours.  Continue reading →

Posted in Food | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

The Hectic Holidays Ultimate Coffee Date

Posted on December 5, 2015 by Coco

Welcome to the last Ultimate Coffee Date Link Up of 2015! In honor of the holiday season, we also are offering hot apple cider, hot chocolate, and egg nog, if you prefer those beverages. 😉 Don’t forget to visit my co-hosts Deborah at Confessions of A Mother Runner and Lynda at Fitness Mom Wine Country, and spread some holiday cheer by commenting on other blogs in the link up.

The Ultimate Coffee Date Link Up

Use the code above to grab the Ultimate Coffee Date badge for your blog.
New to link ups? This post has my top tips for making them work for you.

Continue reading →

Posted in Coffee Date | Tagged | 17 Comments

Why SoulCycle Is Not For Me

Posted on December 4, 2015 by Coco

I’ve wanted to try SoulCycle since they first came to Washington, D.C., but until now none of their locations were convenient. That changed a few weeks ago when they opened a studio in Georgetown, just a few blocks from my office. When a colleague arranged a free trial class for a group of us, I jumped on the chance to see what all the hype is about, and now I can share my own SoulCycle review. 

Soul Cycle Review
SoulCycle says that it is “indoor cycling re-invented” and promises that “SoulCycle doesn’t just change bodies, it changes lives.” I know many people love SoulCycle, but there are at least five reasons it’s not for me.  Continue reading →

Posted in Fitness | Tagged | 28 Comments

Apple Pie Baked Oatmeal

Posted on December 2, 2015 by Coco

I ate my fill of turkey and stuffing over Thanksgiving weekend, but I never get enough apple pie. I won’t bake pie again until Christmas, but this baked oatmeal recipe includes the best flavors of apple pie and is a nutritious and delicious way to tide me over until our next holiday celebration.

Apple Pie Baked Oatmeal
Serve with a splash of milk, or top with yogurt (plain, vanilla or coconut) or leftover cranberry sauce. 
Continue reading →

Posted in Food | Tagged | 26 Comments

Healthy Meals On The Run

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Coco

Now that the Thanksgiving leftovers are gone and the year-end craziness is festivities are upon us, you may be planning to live on take-out and Christmas cookies for the next few weeks, but that’s no way to fuel a healthy holiday season. Luckily, Runner’s World has a great new cookbook that is full of healthy recipes you can make between shopping trips and holiday parties.  

Meals On The Run
I received a copy of Meals On The Run to review, and already have tried two of the recipes. Continue reading →

Posted in Fitness, Product Reviews | Tagged | 12 Comments