Countdown to 2014

Over the past few weeks things have gotten pretty crazy around here. The company I work for signed on two new clients, both requiring lots of time and attention in the last few weeks of the year; we have four PR plans to finalize for the coming year; my parents arrive this coming Saturday; we spent three nerve-wracking days investigating ways to get our hands on Rose Bowl tickets (yes, we’re going!!!!); Christmas shopping and planning to do and we’re trying to find time to enjoy the season. In the middle of this all, we had a ridiculously crazy cold snap in Colorado and went spent more than a week with temperatures below freezing. It wasn’t much fun to wait for the bus in -10 degree temperatures!

With only a little more than two weeks left of 2013, I’ve been thinking a lot about the new year and starting it off in good health, good spirits and generally feeling great. It’s been almost TWO FULL YEARS since I finished recovering from my last stress fracture, January 7th will mark the 5th anniversary of when I had my surgery and (a little more superficially) I am in a wedding in early March and hoping for a great year ahead of running and outdoor sports. So I’m doing my best to get through the holidays and start 2014 right.

So, here’s what I’ve been doing:

• Keeping up with my workouts – even if that means multiple days a week on the treadmill
• Mixing up my workouts by adding interval training and Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred to the rotation
• I made a pact to myself not to take more than 2 days off in a row, including when my parents are visiting
• Drinking lots of water (or tea in its place when the heat was hardly working in our office during the cold snap)
• Limiting indulgences but not cutting them out completely!
• Getting enough sleep
• Singing along (loudly) with my Christmas music in the car, it’s good for the spirit!
• Trying to focus on one thing at a time and doing it the best I can, whatever it might be
• When I start to feel stressed, I take a deep breath and think about ringing in the New Year at the Rose Bowl cheering for the MSU Spartans!

^{Oh, the gym}

^{It’s a Christmas Pig!!}

How are you getting through the holidays feeling great? * What is your favorite holiday movie? * What do you love most about this time of year?

Oh, Snow

It began snowing yesterday morning around 10:30am. We had trecked over to try brunch at a little place on Chambers called Kitchenette (we all enjoyed our meals, by the way) and not long after we sat down did the snow start. After we ate, Woody and I attempted to show my parents around Tribecca for a bit, but the snow was just annoying and really made it difficult to look at anything. So we stopped at Whole Foods on our way home for a few food stuffs and then hunkered down for the day.

All of the local airports are closed and my parents, who were supposed to fly out today, are now flying out first thing tomorrow morning. They've gone on an adventure around the city in search of holiday windows while I work from home today. But before I started working this morning, Woody and I made our way to the gym (thankfully it's nearby) and this is what we found....

Hopefully I can get out and take a few more pictures before all of this melts! Apparently it may be in the 40's by the end of the week (perfect running weather!).

Do you love or loath the snow?
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today's workout -
50min elliptical
3x10 hammer curl
3x10 bicep curl
3x10 cable pull side twists
stretching