Have A Spectackylar Christmas!

Posted on December 24, 2012 by Coco

I really have no right to complain about tacky Christmas decorations.

I have quite a selection of festive holiday shirts

and a truly spectacular Christmas sweater I found at a thrift store.

I think it outshines our tree!

This year we replaced our white Christmas tree with a more traditional green one,

but the kids aren’t the only ones who are missing this sparkly wonder.

White Christmas Tree

But inflatable yard decorations do nothing for me,

especially when they are over-done.

Xmas Inflatables

Because nothing says “Merry Christmas” like Santa in an outhouse?!

Outhouse Santa

Do you have a tacky spectacular holiday sweater?

Posted in Life | Tagged | 6 Comments

Love Is The Reason For The Season

Posted on December 23, 2012 by Coco

Today is the fourth Sunday in Advent. The fourth week of Advent usually is shorter than a full week, but this year it is as short as possible, since tomorrow we will start celebrating  Christmas!

Are you ready for Christmas?

Our tree is decorated and presents are spilling out from under its branches.

Christmas Tree 3

Christmas cookies have been made–and eaten.

empty cookie tin

Looks like we need to make more for Santa!

The theme of the fourth week of Advent–love–works well for Christmas too.

They say that “Jesus is the reason for the season,” but Jesus spent his life preaching and teaching about love–and proclaiming the Good News of God’s love for us all. At Christmas, we buy gifts for those we love, we travel over the river and through the woods to visit with those we love, and we plan and prepare a special meal to enjoy with those we love. If you are losing sleep over your holiday to-do list and stressing over the things that just won’t get done, remember the reason for your December dashing, and keep in mind that the most important gift you can give your loved ones is you!

In the final, frazzled days leading up to Christmas, it always helps me to remember these words from How The Grinch Stole Christmas:

Christmas Day is in our grasp
so long as we have hands to clasp.
Christmas Day will always be
Just as long as we have we.
Welcome, Christmas, while we stand
Heart to heart … and hand in hand.

This reduces Christmas to its essence–spending time with family and friends.

Prayer for the Fourth Week of Advent:

In our watching and our waiting,
Come Lord Jesus.
In our hopes and in our fears,
Come Lord Jesus.
In our homes and in our world,
Come Lord Jesus.
Come bless us and surprise us.
Amen

Are you ready for Christmas?

Posted in My Faith | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Three Things Thursday (The Salted Caramel Edition)

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Coco

Have you noticed that “salted caramel” seems to be a popular flavor this season? I never thought of myself as a big caramel fan, but I am totally hooked on this fad.

My absolute favorite are the salted caramel cake pops at Starbucks.

They have just the right amount of fudgey chocolate cake, a thick chocolate shell, and a  drizzle of caramel–that’s a lot of tastebud satisfaction for 180 calories.

For a lighter dose of caramel, this is my new favorite latte drink.

20121213-204451.jpg

That’s a non-fat latte with caramel drizzle!

When I want to go all-out, I savor one of these

Artisan Salted Caramels

or a square or two of one of these.

Have you tried any salted caramel creations?

Posted in Food | Tagged , | 12 Comments

30 Minute Treadmill Workout (Speed And Incline Intervals)

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Coco

I am stuck between a rock and a hard place with my commitment to at least 30 minutes of cardio a day through the holidays and my penchant to hit the snooze button when it’s cold outside! I usually like to do 40-50 minute treadmill workouts, but lately I’ve had to come up with 30 minute workouts to make up for my dozing.

30 Minute Treadmill Workout With Speed And Incline Intervals
0-4: warm-up at 6.3 mph at 0.5% incline
5-6: increase pace to 6.7 mph (maintain 0.5% incline)
7: recover at 6.5 mph
8-9: increase pace to 6.7 mph
10:  recover at 6.5 mph
11-12:  increase incline to 1.5% (maintain 6.5 mph pace)
13: recover at 0.5% incline
14-15: increase incline to 1.5%
16: recover at 0.5% incline
17-18: increase pace to 6.7 mph (maintain 0.5% incline)
19: recover at 6.5 mph
20-21: increase pace to 6.7 mph
22: recover at 6.5 mph
23-24: increase incline to 1.5% (maintain 6.5 mph pace)
25: recover at 0.5% incline
26-27: increase incline to 1.5%
28: recover at 0.5% incline
29-30:  cool down at 6.3 mph and 0.5% incline

This workout is not an HIIT (high intensity interval training) workout–the incline and pace were challenging, but not really out of my comfort zone. Not every workout needs to kick my ass, as long as it get my heart rate up and gets those endorphins flowing!

Posted in Fitness, Treadmill Workouts | Tagged | 7 Comments

My Fitness Gift Wish List For Runners

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Coco

Over the past few weeks, I’ve seen lots of blog posts with great fitness-related holiday gift ideas. The Garmin Forerunner 10 made many “Top 10” wish lists for runners, and it really was the first thing on my list. Other than that, I am pretty well-stocked with fitness gear, but there are still a few things that I want. The problem is, I don’t know where to find them–can you help me?

1.  Something to protect my earbud cords and keep them untangled that is easy to use.

Pink Earphone Cable Cord Wrap Manager

I have several things like this, but they are not convenient. It takes forever to wrap/unwrap the cord. When I tried keeping the cord wrapped like this in my purse I missed calls while trying to get the ends free!

2.  Wireless headphones I can use on the treadmill. I hate having to make the television REALLY LOUD so I can hear it over the noise of the treadmill. I’d like a wireless headphone set that uses earbuds, but I’ve only been able to find big ones like this.

 Those just won’t work for running!

3.  Running shorts with a gripper bottom hem. I used to blame my thighs for making my shorts ride up, but now I blame the designers/manufacturers. A few years ago I found shorts that have a bottom hem with a rubberry/grippy material that keeps the shorts in place. Those shorts are just about worn out and I have not been able to find replacements.

Every time I am in a running store I check out the bottom hem of every line of shorts, but so far the only shorts I’ve found with a gripper hem are padded bike shorts.

Can you help me out? 

Is there something you’d like to have that you haven’t been able to find?

If you need some easier-to-find gift ideas, check out these ideas from other Fitfluential Ambassadors:

Holiday Gifts For Runners from Josephine at Plant Based Runner

Gifts for Runners from Lea at Running for Dummies

Holiday Fitness Wish List from Angela at Happy Fit Mama

25 Stocking Stuffers Ideas For Runners  from Janice at Fitness Cheerleader

10 Fitness/Nutrition Gadgets To Give Or Receive  from Tamara (guest posting at Wish & Whimsy)

Holiday Gift Guide For Your Fitness Fanatic from Rachel at Running Rachel

The Fit Girl’s Holiday Gift Guide from Fit Betty

Top Gifts For Runners from Road Runner Girl

Health And Fitness Gift Guide from Losing It And Loving It

Gift Guide For Runners from Healthy Happier Bear

BRF Gifts For $10 Or Less from Run With Jess

2012 Holiday Gift Guide For Runners and 5 Gift Ideas For Runners from Run With Nutrition

2012 Holiday Gift Guide from Midwest Multisport Life

 

 

Posted in Fitness | Tagged , , | 11 Comments