Looking Back

As 2009 comes to a close, I thought I'd take the liberty to use one post, on this last day of the year, to look back at the last 354 days.

A lot has happened for all of us this past year - personally, economically, politically... we've all been through a lot as individuals and members of society. There is a lot to look forward to in the year to come. I hope that the year is filled with opportunity, adventure, fun, hard work, and many memories to be made. I hope that the year to come is a healthy and happy one.

Looking back though, I've been through a lot.
For all intents and purposes, I've overcome a pretty serious surgery, thanks to my great doctors and a great hospital.

I've seen a few great concerts

Traveled a bit

Went to a few games

Shopped at a few farmer's markets

Hung out with family & friends

Oh, yeah. And I ran a marathon.

All in all, I had a pretty good year.

I hope you all look back on 2009 and are proud of what you've done and all you've accomplished. Even during the rough times, there are always a few good things to cherish.

Kale.... lots of it

Yesterday was a cold and blustery day here in NYC. It was windy! And, it was the perfect day for a warm, filling dinner. I found a recipe earlier in the month on serious eats for 'quick white bean stew with chard & tomatoes' that sounded easy and tasty, so I filed it away to try sometime. Since I had yesterday off, I decided to take a try at it. After making it though, I have to say, that it's so easy and quick (hence the name of the recipe) that it would be easy to put together even after a day at work!

I'm all about the short ingredients list. This recipe easily falls in that category - 2lbs swiss chard (or kale), 1 - 16oz can of cannallini beans (drained & rinsed), 1 cup tomatoes,  chopped (although I am definitely going to add more next time), 1tsp crushed red pepper (I left this out), 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, 3 garlic cloves, finely sliced, salt & pepper to taste, grated parmesan (we left this out too).

The kale is chopped and thrown in a pot of boiling water and then allowed to simmer for 8 minutes.

After draining the kale, I put the oil, garlic, and tomatoes in the pot and brought to a boil again. Then I added the beans and some pepper and cooked it for three minutes before adding the kale back in for 5 more minutes.

We sliced two pears, got out a few crisp 'n light rye Wasa crackers and had a great meal.

Being the sweet wife that I am, I packed up the leftovers for Woody to take to work today. We agreed that this is a meal to be repeated, but we'll add more tomatoes and beans next time. It seemed more like kale with beans & tomatoes than a stew, but it won't take much to change that. People who reviewed the recipe here had other ideas too.

Woody and I just started eating kale this fall. Don't know what took us so long! It's a tasty deep green leafy vegetable that has a lot of health benefits that are great for everyone, not just runners and fitness buffs. Kale is very low in saturated fat, a good source of nutrients like vitamins A, E, C, and K, fiber, and protein. It's also very filling for the amount of calories per serving, so it is a great food if you are trying to eat healthfully while not eating a lot.

If you try this recipe, let me know what you think. Do you have any favorite quick & easy stews for cold winter nights?

*****
Housekeeping note: Woody and I leave early tomorrow morning for San Antonio. I'm going to try and line up a few posts, but right now I'm planning to leave my computer at home since our trip is so short. Check back tomorrow and Friday, if you're around and I'll catch up with you on Sunday!

Happy New Year! I hope you have fun celebrating!

Back in windy New York

Happy Tuesday!


We're back in New York and I'm enjoying two days off work before we head to San Antonio for the last few days of vacation.

I didn't get a very good nights sleep, so even though I planned to sleep in a while, I was still up and just about ready to go to the gym when Woody got back from there just before 6:30am. He has to work today and tomorrow (poor guy) so he was there dark & early this morning. It is extremely windy here today. After 1.5hrs of cardio and a bit of stretching and weight training, I saw the wind blow a trash can down the street and was stopped in my tracks by a gust! Definitely a bit chilly and I'm not planning on spending much time outside today.

While I definitely ate too much of the great food my brother-in-law cooked over the weekend, I had a great time in Minneapolis. The weather didn't stop us from getting there on time, got to see my sister help lead the Christmas Eve service at her church, received great gifts and gave a few good ones too (if I say so myself!), enjoyed good food, got to play with my cute and talkative nephew, hang out with the family, visit a few museums, and got back to New York without much problem (we didn't see any heightened security).

We hit up the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis on Sunday to tour the mansion and learn more about our Scandinavian heritage (Finnish & Danish, mostly).



















My sister & her family got the Wii Fit system, so we all got to join in the fun and try out a few games. Woody & I don't have a Wii System, and this was actually our first time trying it. I think we're addicted - Woody would have kept playing if we didn't pull him from it to leave for the airport!

My nephew even got into the action! (Isn't he adorable?!)

And we stopped for Juicy Lucy's at the 5-8 Club for lunch before they dropped us off at the airport. Yes, we ate burgers with cheese oozing out of them! But trust me, they are really good burgers. I wouldn't have split one with my mom if it wasn't actually a good burger. I think this was one of the trip highlights for Woody!

But seriously, we had a great time and thank my sister, her husband, son, and my parents for welcoming us and sharing the holiday with us!

The Hotel "Fitness Room"

Hi all! We are still up here enjoying the cold Minnesota winter! We had a great Christmas, celebrating with my family, including our cute little nephew.

It was so fun to watch him explore and enjoy all his gifts, and all the wrapping paper!

I think I mentioned Woody and I are staying at a hotel while we're in Minneapolis. My sister and her husband have a great house, but it's just not big enough for six adults, a rambunctious little boy and two cats. My mom found a nice, extended stay hotel not far from there house for us and it's worked out really well so far. My brother-in-law had to drive us here the first two nights since the roads were so rough, but it was much better last night so we borrowed their trailblazer and will meet them at the Univ of Minnesota Arboretum in a little bit for their brunch and to take a look at the decorated Christmas tree display and Gingerbread houses before we head off for a few more museums today.

My mom knew that since we were going to stay at a hotel we needed one with some sort of 'fitness room.' I think it would be very cool to work as a consultant to hotels (mom & pop and large chains) to help them develop their fitness rooms and other services to help guests stay in shape while staying over.

So many hotels have barely there fitness rooms. We weren't expecting much from this one, pretty bare bones, from the web site. That's fine. As long as they are open about the sparseness, I'm fine with it. The hotel where we are staying later this week in San Antonio on the other hand, plays a little trick on their website. They positioned the picture just right so it looks like there are several machines than there really are, since what you really see is a reflection in the mirror (you wouldn't notice this if you just took a casual look at the picture).

This one isn't bad. I went down yesterday morning and Woody joined me today. You can see in the pictures (that isn't me on the treadmill) there are only two treadmills, an elliptical, bench and some weights. I think a bike would be nice for those who aren't able to use treadmills (like me right now) and don't like elliptical (this one is a bit awkward), but it's still not bad. I do like that there is a nice flat screen tv, big windows, bright but not obnoxious walls, towels, a drinking fountain, and disinfectant wipes to wipe down the machines. We got a nice 30 minute workout in, just enough to work up a little sweat, and did some stretching. It's definitely nice when you're on vacation, even in the cold winter, to be able to work up a little sweat. I have no illusions that this is doing anything to help curb all the calories I'm eating this weekend, but at least we're moving a little bit!

Hope you're all having a great weekend and staying warm! Anyone watching bowl games? What do you think about Urban Meyer's announcement? Crazy, right?

Room with a View

We're staying in a hotel while in Minneapolis. This is the view from our window. It has been snowing pretty steadily since yesterday morning.

Merry Christmas!!

We made it to Minneapolis and there is a lot of snow! We definitely have a white Christmas here! I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Spreading a little Sugarland holiday cheer to anyone who may be perusing cyberspace today!




(roll over to view)

Post #100!

I've made it to my 100th post! And on Christmas Eve, none the less! Let me tell you, I did NOT plan it that way. I don't think I am even remotely that talented.

Most people are probably traveling or busy picking up last minute gifts, cooking, or frolicking in the snow somewhere! Woody and I are crossing our fingers that our plane leaves LGA and arrives safely in Minneapolis. The joys of winter travel! ;)

So... I've seen quite a few bloggers do special posts for their 100th, and being the follower that I am, have planned something similar for you today. Here it goes.

10 of 10 (10 things for 10 topics)

My 10 Favorite Healthy Foods: 1) apples, 2) bananas, 3) sweet potatoes, 4) fresh corn on the cob, 5) blueberries, 6) almonds, 7) avocado, 8) peanut butter, 9) dark chocolate, 10) yogurt
My 10 Favorite Un-healthy Foods: 1) chocolate, 2) cookies, 3) ice cream, 4) grilled cheese sandwiches, 5) pasties (a Finnish dish), 6) waffle fries, 7) french toast, 8) homefries, 9) brownies, 10) new england clam chowder
My 10 Favorite Places: 1) Mill Point, 2) Traverse City, 3) Michigan State Campus, 4) Little Dix Bay, 5) London, 6) Montreal, 7) Venice, 8) Leelanau & Old Mission Peninsulas, 9) Central Park, 10) home (in NYC & Okemos)
10 Places I Want to Go Someday: 1) Cuba, 2) Napa Valley, 3) Boston, 4) Greece, 5) Rome, 6) Ireland, 7) Finland, 8) Seattle, 9) Portugal, 10) Denver
10 Things I Find Annoying at the Gym or While Running (for fun or in races): 1) people who don't wear appropriate clothing, 2) when people move weights and don't put them back, 3) when people don't wipe their sweat off the machine they were just on for an hr, 4) excessive grunting, 5) when people talk too loudly, especially on their phone, 6) heavy feet, 7) when someone cuts me off during a race, 8) when someone starts a race in a coral that is too fast for them 9) when someone is not mindful of the fact that other people are running on the same path or working out in the same area as them, 10) when people flex in the mirror incessantly, checking themselves out
The 10 Best Running "Tools": 1) The Stick, 2) good shoes, 3) fuel belt, 4) iPod, 5) a good watch, 6) socks that stay put, 7) WATER, 8) Gels/Shot Blocks/fuel in general, 9) ice baths (even though they can be excruciating!), 10) compression socks
10 Reasons Why I LOVE Running: 1) it's a great way to enjoy the outdoors, 2) a great workout (that's pretty obvious), 3) the sense of accomplishment I feel when I've finished a great run or completed a race, 4) an opportunity to either block everything out and focus on running or to think about things, 5) cute running clothes(!), 6) the awesomeness of race day excitement, 7) it's good for my physical health & my soul, 8) great way to spend time with friends, 9) I now LOVE adding to my race medal collection, 10) the post run chocolate milk!
10 Great Places to Run or Races to Race: 1) Central Park, 2) Berlin, 3) Hudson River Park, 4) the Chanhassen, MN area (the lakes are beautiful at sunrise!), 5) Montreal, 6) NYC Marathon, 7) Mini 10K, 8) Scotland Run, 9) Japan Day 4 miler, 10) The NYC 1/2 Marathon
10 Simple Things that Make Me Smile: 1) a hug from my husband, 2) warm, sunny days, 3) perfectly timing with the bus or subway, 4) watching kids laugh and play without a care, 5) a piece of really good chocolate, 6) hearing a really great song, especially one sung by Ella Fitzgerald, 7) watching a classic episode of "Friends," 8) finishing a great workout, 9) wearing a new outfit for the first time, 10) hearing about a friend's accomplishment
10 Things I'm Thankful For: 1) my uber-supportive parents, my sister & her family, 2) my amazing husband, 3) a comfortable, safe home with plenty to eat, 3) wonderful friends & family, 4) the ability & desire to run, 5) the opportunity to live & work in NYC, 6) a great education, 7) my hopes & dreams, 8) opportunities to travel, 9) that I live in the US, 10) everyone who reads this blog!

So..... that's it! I hope you've enjoyed my lists and I look forward to sharing a lot more with you in the months to come!

Please send good thoughts in the general direction of LaGuardia Airport, that we might actually get out this afternoon and land safely in Minneapolis. I'm taking my computer with me, so I'll post pictures from the land of snow!! If you're traveling over the holidays too, I hope your travels are safe and easy.



Merry Christmas Eve!!

One Day Left

Today is my last day of work for the year! And boy, am I ready for a break! This has been a long, tough, exciting, busy, chocked full of new things, kind of year.

The office has been slowly clearing out - a few people took the whole week off, others won't be there today, and I will be out Thursday - it's strange to say goodbye knowing that we won't see each other until 2010. We're a pretty small office and spend quite a lot of time together, so we've become quite the dysfunctionally-working family. If someone needs help with something, others are there in a second. Tuesday, for instance, one guy had a big mailing that HAD to get out before the holidays but also had a few other time sensitive things on his plate, so four of us grabbed the jiffys and got to work. It was done within an hour. One of my colleagues, Gracella, is one of my best running buddies. She also trained for the NYC Marathon (her first too) and was a great inspiration and support system through the months of training. We may have times of disagreement, but in the end, we're all there for the same reason and are ready to lend a helping hand or words of encouragement. I hope 2010 brings more success and that we reinstate our weekly running group!

Last night, the Spartan Men's Basketball team (#9) was in Austin to play Texas (#2). Woody went to one of the two MSU Alumni bars to watch with other Spartans, and I bowed out to come home and do some baking. Well, things didn't turn out how I had hoped. Something has been up with our oven for the last week or so. I pre-heat the oven and within minutes of putting something in, the smoke detector starts beeping it's horrible, screeching beep! Woody is good at jumping up on a chair with newspaper or magazine in hand to wave around under the detector while I run to open the window and the door (create a straight through airflow) until the beeping stops. This time I was on my own. It went off three times within 4 minutes of putting the granola in the oven. I had BIG plans for baking last night and they all went up in 'smoke.' Woody isn't working today, so one thing on his 'honey do' list (which he never has) is to talk with the maintenance guys and get one up here to figure out what's going on. I'm not going to stall my planned Martha Stewart evolution because of either an issue with the oven or an over sensitive smoke detector. Also, the Spartans lost another game they should have (could have) won.

When Woody got home, he took the battery out of the detector (I know, I know) so I could finish up the granola. Let's just say, I got far fewer hours of sleep last night than is recommended and was dragging myself to the gym this morning. But, the granola looks good!

















Tomorrow we are hoping to make our way to Minneapolis for Christmas, to spend with my parents, sister, brother-in-law, and nephew. The weather forecast doesn't look so great, at all, so we're starting to wonder if we're actually going to make it or not. Hopefully we will, because it sounds like it's going to be a busy, fun-filled weekend. It's going to be interesting/fun to see a 21 month old enjoy Christmas! After the way we've celebrated Christmas the last few years, I almost forget what it's like to be a kid at Christmas.

I remember when we were young, my father's side of the family would all gather at my Grandparents house. With my Grandparents, parents, 6 aunts & uncles, my sister, 7 cousins, and often one or two others who would join in the celebration, we would enjoy tons of food, games, odd child shenanigans, the full family picture, and a raucous gift opening session. Us kids would gather up all the wrapping paper after all the gifts had been open and play in it all for as long as we could until Grandpa or an uncle would pull out the big trash bags. I remember lots of loud laughter, intense conversations, and many photo albums that would tell the story of the year that had just passed. We have a big family, that is even bigger now that most of my cousins have had children. I can't imagine how much space we would need if all four generations got together in one place.

It's great to read the Christmas letters that come in the mail. To find out what people are up to and have been spending their time and effort on all year long. Woody and I send out some cards, but haven't gotten to the 'Christmas Letter' point yet. We feel it's really something reserved for couples with children, who have swim lessons and class recitals to talk about. But I don't know, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe we can send a Christmas letter about our escapades. Hmmm. Maybe next year.

What are your plans for the holidays?! Are you scheduled to fly or drive somewhere with weather that isn't looking so great? Do you send out Christmas letters recounting your adventures of the past year? Do you have any great memories of the holidays growing up?

Have a great day!

Don't forget to check in tomorrow, for my 100th post!

Dinner Time

First, I want to start this post by sending a Tuesday Morning Shout Out to Mel at Tall Mom On The Run. I've become a huge fan of Mel's blog (she really has it down) and have gained a lot of inspiration from her over the past few months I've been reading. Mel set a goal for 2009 to run 1000 miles. I could not believe this when I read it. 1000 miles!?! Seems like a highly unattainable goal for me, but I'm sure some people can do it. Well, one of those people is Mel! She went for a 3 mile run and then celebrated with her cheering section (her family). You can read about it here. Congrats Mel!!

On with today's post...

You may have heard already that I LOVE potatoes. I have not met a type of potato that I haven't liked and hardly any preparations that don't make me happy (over buttered, practically raw shredded 'home fries' don't do it). The sweet potato, a root vegetable which is actually a distant relative of the standard potato and often refereed to in regions of America as a 'yam' are exceptionally great - they taste fantastic and are very healthy.

Nutrition Facts of a Sweet Potato:
Low in sodium
Very low in saturated fat and cholesterol
Low on the glycemic index
Good source of dietary fiber, potassium, vitamin B6
Very good source of Vitamins A & C and Manganese
Great anti-inflammatory


As much as I love the sweet potato, I need to add a few new recipes to the rotation because I tend to stick to two preparations -
1. The loaded sweet potato with veggies, a little cheese, sometimes a little bit of meat (like ham, turkey or chicken) and ketchup (yet, I put ketchup on it!).

2. Sweet Potato chips - slice the potato, brush each side of the slices with a little bit of olive oil, add a bit of fresh crushed pepper and bake in the oven for 15 minutes each side then finish up with the broiler.

I went with option #2 last night. Woody isn't a big fan of version 1, so I will often make the 'chips' so I can share with him. He likes them a bit crispier than I do though, so sometimes I'll take what I want and then put them back in and broil for another minute or two.

Here's a picture as I'm flipping them over.














This was my dinner. A Gardenburger Blackbean pattie on an Arnold's Sandwich Thin with avocado, lettuce & onion, sugar snap peas, a pear, and sweet potato "chips." YUM!















If you're ever wondering how many calories are in a sweet potato, pear, apple, whatever it is you're about to eat, check out Calorie King. It's a pretty cool site where you can just plug in what you're eating (they even have nutritional info for fast food and chain restaurant items) and it tells you all you need to know. Definitely can help you keep on track through the holidays or help you make sure you're getting enough calories while training for your next marathon!

If you're traveling today or tomorrow for the holidays, I wish you best of luck on a smooth trip and very happy holidays! Our countdown to Minneapolis is on and I'm crossing my fingers that the predicted winter storm doesn't turn up!

Have a great day!

The 'Wonders' of Photoshop

Doesn't it drive you crazy when you see a photo in a magazine or ad that just doesn't look right? When you can obviously tell that some work has been done to make the celebrity or model look more 'attractive?' Or when you watch a movie or see a great photo of someone only to find out later that it was photo shopped? It's pretty disappointing, isn't it? We're told by select people what we're supposed to think is beautiful. What we should strive to look like.

We're smarter than that though, right? Well, I'd like to hope so, but unfortunately I don't think that's really how it is. At least not for a lot of people.

We like to stay fit, work out, and eat well because we want to be healthy. Health is what is most important. Some people, and possibly the majority of us at some point, act in un-healthy ways in an attempt to fit the 'mold' or look like the model on the cover of a magazine. And this isn't just the case for women. Men, too, may be photo-shopped to have a chiseled six-pack or bigger biceps. And I don't think men are 100% unaffected by these photos either.

There was a recent post on jezebel.com that highlights several cases of extreme photo-shopping. I do see a difference between retouching (as long as it is minor) and photo-shopping to make someone look different than they really do. Celebrities and models are paid to look good. They have personal trainers and the ability to work out for multiple hours a day. That's just not possible for normal people with regular jobs and responsibilities. It's hard enough to find time in the day for a 30 minute run or an hour long gym class and then we have to look at these altered versions of reality and feel like that is what we're supposed to be working towards.

Well, really, what is important is that we're happy with ourselves and feel good and our HEALTHY. I do believe that weight is an important part of being healthy, but it doesn't mean we all have to be a size 2.

*****
You might remember my post on Friday about SLEEP! Well, I've found more good press for it today! There is a large feature on the benefits of sleep in the latest issue of SELF magazine and also there was a story on the front page of the Sports section in the NY Times today about sleep becoming a more important issue in the NBA. Turns out several teams have cut out the traditional morning shoot around practice in favor of allowing the players more time to sleep. At first I was like "what? You've got to be kidding me. These guys are paid millions of dollars to play basketball. They can skip a party or two and get an extra hour of shut eye." BUT, after reading the article it really does make a lot of sense and seems to be helping the teams who have halted the practices.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

We had a bit of a snow storm yesterday. It started around 2pm when we were at Rockefeller Center, but it didn't really start to come down until later at night. At one point, I could hardly make out the high rise apartment building across the street!




















Instead of going to the gym this morning, I decided to take a walk over to Central Park and enjoy the fresh snow! Here are a few pictures I took on my walk.

Good Coffee

Somewhat ironic that I'm choosing to write about coffee the day after I write about sleep, isn't it?

I got plenty of sleep last night and plan to do the same tonight! But, even with a good nights sleep, I still LOVE a good cup of joe. I didn't always like coffee. It wasn't until I was hanging out with Woody that I started drinking it, actually. I couldn't figure out how to make it taste good (to me) without adding a lot of milk and sugar, and I don't like adding sugar to foods. Somehow though, when we started going out to breakfast often (we LOVE breakfast) I gradually started drinking a cup. Then when I moved out here, I started drinking it in the office and now every day I grab a cup from the coffee cart across from our office. The coffee guy is really nice, if he sees me across the street and he doesn't have a line waiting, then he'll have my coffee (small with a little bit of skim) waiting when I get there, and it's only 75 cents a cup! I also love going to coffee shops in the city, getting a cup and sitting down to read a good book or write out my thoughts. There are some great coffee shops in this city, but it seems most are not in this neighborhood, which is kind of a drag. Still, I have a few favorites and a few on my list to try out this winter.

Anyway, we only make coffee at home on the weekends since we usually have green tea when we get back from the gym. Woody has been trying all sorts of different coffees - the roaster and country of origin - to find what we like best and just try new things. I want to find him a book like the wine books, but for coffee, so he can keep track. (Let me know if you ever see one!)

Today we made our way in the snow (it wasn't really sticking yet) down to 29th street to check out Stumptown. The coffee shop opened in the ACE Hotel not too long ago. Many smaller coffee shops and restaurants have been carrying the Portland, OR coffee for a while now, but this is the first shop in the city. I'd heard lots of great things about it and wanted to check it out. Well, so far, it's lived up to the hype. We picked up half a pound of Indonesia Gajah Aceh whole beans to bring home with us and each got a cup to enjoy there. Delicious! Smooth and flavorful. I am not a coffee connoisseur, but I really enjoyed the cup. The shop itself doesn't have any seats, only a bar at the window, but it's connected to the ACE Hotel, so we went into the lobby and took a seat on one of the many couches to enjoy our coffee before heading back into the snowy cold.














Stumptown follows a direct trade practice, which means they work directly with the coffee farmers to give them the best price possible and help them produce the best beans possible. The company started in Portland, has several there, as well as two in Seattle and now one, in New York. The coffee served at Stumptown in New York are roasted in Red Hook, Brooklyn, and I've heard, this is the only coffee served in NYC that is also roasted in NYC. You know what that means - FRESH!

We're very excited to try out this coffee tomorrow morning while we read the NY Times and the ground is covered in snow outside. Sounds pretty close to a perfect Sunday morning, right?

Ah...Sleep

I am on a LOT of email lists every day.

Daily Candy, Vital Juice Daily, Hungry Girl, Rodale, Runner's World, Ad Age, Billboard, Cynopsis, Cynopsis Digital, YPulse........ I'm sure there are a few more. Some are for work, some for play. I found it very interesting that two of my Thursday emails were about SLEEP.

The gym was pretty empty this morning. My two guesses as to why: (1) the real temperature was 18 degrees, with wind chill around 10 and (2) people we're just sleeping in!

We all know sleep is important. Our body needs it to rest and recouperate from our hectic lives. Our muscles need sleep to repair from our workouts. Our minds just need sleep to get some time off. Unfortunately, I think we often give up a bit of our sleep time to do other things. I know I do. I've been trying every day this week to have the lights off by 10:15 but that hasn't happened yet. Usually I see 10:30 on the clock and sometime's 11pm, during the week. This doesn't sound bad really, until you take into account that my alarm is set for 5:00am (and it's 8 minutes fast). 6 hours of sleep is not much. Some people say they work best on a few hours of sleep, and I think in some rare cases, that's actually true, but most people need a good 7-9 hours of solid sleep. And that's for adults. Kids, obviously, need more.

I think there's a reason why these were both talking about sleep. Probably because we're all busier than usual during the holidays. Parties, shopping, wrapping, family events, stress, baking. This list, too, goes on and on. Both articles had good tips on why we need more sleep and how to get it. According to the Rodale article, not getting enough sleep can cause us to eat more and gain weight - not just because we're up longer to eat more, but because lack of sleep can increase a chemical signal for hunger while lowering the chemical that signals satiety. Bad news! Other studies have shown that adults who get 7 or more hours of sleep per night may live longer than those who don't (I'm in trouble). The Vital Juice Daily piece gives a few tips that might help you get a little more shut eye.

So, try to get a little extra shut eye every night and you might just live a healthier and longer life! Hopefully you can at sleep in a few days over the holidays! Ask for breakfast in bed for Christmas!















Doesn't this look nice?!

******
On another note, this is my 94th post! I feel like I just started writing not too long ago! With the help of a suggestion from Gracela, I have something fun planned for my 100th post, so stay tuned. It might just come on Christmas Eve day!


Have a great Friday!