Fitting Gifts

Posted on December 26, 2010 by Coco

I’ve been running for almost 10 years, but it didn’t take me long to learn that the best way to be motivated for a holiday workout is to get cool running gear for Christmas. Even though I am pretty well-equipped now, my family surprised me with some great stuff.

  • Two new pairs of gloves:

One is medium weight and perfect for most of my runs. The other is heavier and with “touch” fingers that actually work with my iPhone–perfect for cheering my son on during those early season lacrosse games.

  •  Two new running tops:

The one on the left is thick and fuzzy and has those thumb-hole sleeves. I wore it today and it was awesome! The other is bit lighter and has a little LED light near the right cuff. You can use it as a flashlight or set it to flash to make yourself more visible. Perfect for my o’dark-thirty runs.

  • And, I won’t show you the purple Patagonia panties my daughter picked out for me. 😉

The other thing motivating me is my “new” (refurbished) Garmin. After 3 1/2 years my Garmin just wouldn’t hold a charge anymore. When I finally got around to calling customer support, they said I could get a refurbished one for $89. It has a 90 day warranty, so I need to put it to the test!

In the two weeks since I’ve had it, I’ve taken it out for 5 runs:

  1. 12/16: 4.5 miles, 44:44 minutes
  2. 12/20: 5.0 miles, 50:23 minutes
  3. 12/22: 5.16 miles, 51:25 minutes
  4. 12/24: 6.6 miles, 1:06 hour/minutes
  5. 12/26: 8 miles, 1:14 hour/minutes

Not a bad record for this hectic time of year, especially considering that weather has been a complicating factor.

Do you have any awesome new fitness gear? Have you tried it out yet?

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Basking in the Glow of Christmas

Posted on December 25, 2010 by Coco

Our Christmas sermon drew on this passage from Isaiah 9:2:

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.

It is such a beautiful passage, and can be interpreted and applied in so many ways.

Church At Christmas

Our priest drew on the message of Jesus being “the Light of the world,” and noted that that theme took hold in early Christendom, long before the Virgin Birth and Holy Trinity became part of our doctrine. He encouraged us to really celebrate the light of Christmas.

From the bright star that led the wise men to find the little baby born in a manger

 

To the divine light that shines in our own lives in moments of darkness–when we find comfort, strength, or hope in the midst of trying times.

 

Reflecting on times when we have felt that Light in our lives can bring more meaning to Christmas. As we celebrate the holiday, we can bask in the Light, with awe, wonder, and joy.

White Christmas Tree

Today, I soaked up everything Christmas–relaxing by the light of the Christmas tree, enjoying our favorite Christmas music, exchanging gifts with my family, playing games with my children, eating my fill of Christmas cookies and chocolates. As I wrap up this Christmas, I am feeling truly blessed to have so much Light in my life.

 

How did you feel blessed this Christmas? What Christmas memory brought light to your day?

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Christmas Eve In The Kitchen

Posted on December 25, 2010 by Coco

Merry Christmas!

We had a lovely Christmas Eve, although it got a bit dicey in the morning when I was in the kitchen with my daughter and we were both stressed about getting everything done in time. We worked through it and ended up having a nice time together. I think some Christmas angels must have intervened!

I woke up @ 5:30 (I had my alarm set for 6:00) and decided to get up and go out for my “Christmas Eve” run. I love my Christmas playlist (featuring an electic mix of Harry Connick, Jr., Elvis, and The Blind Boys of Alabama) and that helps get me out the door.  I was aiming for 6 miles, which means I had to take my hilly route.  I was really pumped up and happy and had a great run. There was one stretch when I was going up hill and into the wind so I felt like I was doing resistance training too! My ITB did feel tight, so when I got back I did lots of stretching – felt sooo goooood! Then it was time for a shower, coffee and the marathon of Christmas Eve in the kitchen.

My daughter made two batches of mini loaves of pumpkin bread to give away, a double batch of jam thumbprint cookies, and our apple pie.

At the same time, I was slicing brussel sprouts for a raw brussel sprout salad for our dinner, helping my daughter where she would let me, and getting the table set up (although my husband was a big help and ironed the tablecloth once I realized that the one I had gotten ready was too small!).

That came right after my freak-out moment. The mail had come and he said that there were a bunch of Christmas cards. My reply:

Maybe I can enjoy them tomorrow. I can’t do ONE MORE THING today.

Yeah, I was feeling stressed. But really, just one freak-out moment is a pretty good record for me getting ready for a big family dinner. And, I did get to enjoy the cards before going to bed last night.

I managed to get everything ready before my parents arrived, and was able to enjoy some cheese & crackers and veggies & dip while we opened presents with them before I had to do the rest of the dinner preparations. My kids were a big help too, although I have to wonder if they were joining me in the kitchen to get a break from the grandparents!

I had wanted to be eating @ 6:00 and we came pretty close by sitting down at 6:15.  I felt amazingly relaxed (much more so than at Thanksgiving for some reason) and really enjoyed our meal.  We had a Honeybaked ham and lots of side dishes.  I had mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, that brussel sprout salad and my mom’s whole cranberry sauce.  After a break it was time for dessert, and I did have a slice of both the apple pie and the pecan pie (my first and it turned out perfectly!) with a small scoop of ice cream.

Yes, I was stuffed, but ’tis the season!

I was worried about wrapping up dinner and being able to clean up the kitchen in time for our Christmas Eve candlelight service @ 10:00, but we were finished eating by around 8:00, so the bigger challenge was staying energized until our 9:30 departure time. I had told my son early in the evening that he was going to be our designated driver so my husband and I could both have a drink or two (we try not to drink AT ALL in front of the kids if we are going to drive). He knew it was a ploy to make sure he went to church, but he went along. We also got my parents to come, so it was a nice end to the evening. We got home @ 11:30 and I pretty much went straight to bed!

My daughter wants to do presents early today so she can go to her boyfriend’s family’s house @ 10.  So, I set my alarm for 6:00 to do final “Santa” stuff and I finally needed it to wake up! My husband and I got the stockings stuffed and now are sitting side-by-side on the sofa enjoying the glow of the Christmas tree with all the pretty presents before the Christmas chaos begins!

Yesterday I was cursing having our family dinner on Christmas Eve–I was so stressed in the morning and wished I had more time to get ready at a slower pace–but now that I don’t have any kitchen duties today I think it will be nice– it gives me an extra day to relax!

Merry Christmas!

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It’s A Wrap!

Posted on December 23, 2010 by Coco

We are having our family dinner on Christmas Eve and I had to work through yesterday, so today was my day to make my list and check it twice.

  • I went to the grocery store–my husband came along and we ventured into Harris Teeter for the first time, so it was kind of fun. But, this was all they had in the way of brussel sprouts:

I guess they are super fresh!

  • I took my son shopping for a gift for my husband and daughter. Of course we had to stop for Starbucks. And, I got some yummy beer at Unwined:

 

  • I did my last cookie baking:

  • I made my first pecan pie:

My sister-in-law usually makes pecan pie, but she isn’t coming over until Sunday, and my son really wants a pecan pie, so I bit the bullet and bought the jar of corn syrup! I did increase the amount of pecans to my liking but there is nothing healthy about that pie! I also tried out the new pie crust cutters I got at William-Sonoma–aren’t they cute?  I can’t wait to use them on the apple pie tomorrow.

  • I wrapped all of my presents:

I have a short list of errands for the morning, then that ubiquitous last-minute cleaning, then I will start cooking! My dad is coming over @ 3:30 to do presents, and my mom is coming @ 4:00 to help me pull dinner together. I hope to be sitting down to dinner at 6:00 so we can make it to the Christmas Eve candlelight service at 10:00.

Merry Christmas!

 

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The Grinch Who Gave Me Back Christmas

Posted on December 21, 2010 by Coco

‘Twas three nights before Christmas Eve, when all through the house, we were making our lists and checking them twice.

My son, 16 years old, with his first “serious” girl friend (i.e., they’ve gone on an actual *date* to see Harry Potter):

Mom, I need to get a present for A—–.

Do you know what you want to get her?

Yes, will you help me buy something on-line?

What is it?

A necklace.

Uh-oh. My son has good taste. My mom has him hooked on clothes from Joseph A. Banks. My husband encouraged a purchase at Brooks Brothers because “a good shirt can last for years.” He doesn’t have a lot of clothes, but what he has is nice.

A necklace? It depends on if it fits in my budget.

What’s your budget?

Um, I don’t know. How much is the necklace?

It’s from Tiffany.

I pick myself up off the floor and try to stop laughing. 

Tiffany?

I turn to my husband: 

I don’t think you’ve ever bought me anything from Tiffany!

  Back to my son:

 How much?

$115

I turn to my husband: 

Have you ever spent $115 on jewelry for me?

Not on a single item!

(Probably true, not counting my engagement ring and wedding band).

We find out that my son’s (female) friend suggested the necklace. (He denied that she works for Tiffany!) We confirm that A—– won’t be freaked out by such a nice gift. We log onto Tiffany.com.

Yes, my son is spoiled. But considering that he didn’t even make a “list” for himself, we don’t mind doing this for him, because giving this to her is what will make him happy on Christmas.

I’ve gone through the same thing with my daughter. She puts a lot of time and effort into choosing just the right gifts for her close friends, grandparents, and other relatives, and is more generous than I would be with some of her selections. But, I know that gift-buying can be fraught with stress and it is very important to her that she find something that the person will really like. It’s easy for me to know that for my parents it really is the thought that counts, but they also appreciate all the thoughtful, “perfect” gifts that she finds.

So, as I pull out my wallet, I try to bite my tongue and give thanks that I have raised such generous children.

Some day I will share with them my Christmas meltdown, when I was distraught that the gifts I could afford to give my husband did not begin to express how much I loved him. I was really feeling inadequate when I was rescued by The Grinch Who Stole Christmas:

“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.”
“Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more.”

I’m not saying that I don’t still stress over finding presents that everyone will enjoy, but I no longer worry about them matching up to the love, friendship and appreciation that I have for the recipient. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older (or realize that my children are getting older), or maybe it’s because I have everything I need (and more), but I really am more excited about seeing family and friends than I am about finding out what is wrapped in pretty paper under our tree.

“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.”

(Thank you, Dr. Seuss!)

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