Holiday Cheer

Merry Christmas week and happy Hanukkah!

Are you guys all pumped up for the upcoming holidays? 

I am! 

Which is totally weird because I've forever been known as the Christmas Scrooge...

But, something's different this year. 

I've put a lot of thought into my gifts and I'm even digging the occasional cheesy Christmas song.

(Maybe even a whole Christmas album. Shhh.. don't tell anyone!)

egg nog challah bread french toast / christmas cheer

In the next few weeks I'm really looking forward to...

Spending time with family and friends

Lots of good food

The family Yankee swap

Giving Rob his gift

Cooking from my new cookbook

Reading this book

Skiing

Running outside in the cold 

(I don't get to run outside very often in the winter -- it's dark when I wake up and dark when I leave work)

Relaxinggggg......

  Oh.... And I'm also excited for my trip to Costa Rica with Rob! :)

Last night I did this kettlebell workout with some HIIT and I'm feeling it today.

Have you tried using kettlebell yet? If not, you should!

Resolutions

While everyone is endlessly going on about the holidays, I've been thinking about New Year's Resolutions. 

What's yours? Have you even thought about it? 

I have two: use less toilet paper and read more. 

(Is that TMI? Whatever, it's real!) 

I'm not even sure what the word "less" means, really. Like, only use 2 or 3 squares per wipe? I don't know about that.  Maybe I'll make it more general and change my resolution to: "be more mindful when using paper products". I mean, I know I could definitely cut back on all paper products, including printing paper (my job entails LOTS of paper. It's disturbing, actually).

Revised New Year's Resolutions: 

be more mindful when using paper products

read more often.

I like it.

Anyway. What I'm trying to say here is that you should be thinking about your New Year's Resolutions.

Think about it for a day or two... or a week...

It should be a reasonable, achievable, AND sustainable goal. 

Do your research. 

 (did you know I work in research?)

Your NYR can't be, "I want to lose 20 lbs by the end of the week". It should be more like, "I want to make an effort to work out at least twice a week" or "I plan to run at least 3 road races in 2012".

AND

Your NYR can't be, "I'll run outside every day" if it's darker than dark outside when you wake up at 5AM and when you're done with work at 5PM. 

Make sure your NYR is plausible.

Also, consider things/events/people/feelings that could potentially keep you from achieving your NYR and come up with solutions to these "obstacles". When you have a goal, it's good to have a back-up plan just in case sh*t hits the fan. 

After you've thought it all through, create a reasonable plan and make your sweet little NYR happen.

winter sky via Rob

It takes more than just a quick thought to come up with a New Year's Resolution. 

Take some time now and think about it, plan it, and make it happen. 

You'll be happy you did come January 1st.

 

Thanksgiving Eve

Hi Friends, it's Thanksgiving Eve! 

new glasses via warby parker

I took today off to help my mama prep for turkey day festivities. We've been cooking up a storm here: so far we've got some roasted carrots and parsnips, brussel sprouts with red grapes, roasted butternut squash with sage and garlic, and blueberry and pumpkin pies. I can't wait to catch up with family and friends and feast on delicious food!

Hope you all have a peaceful Thanksgiving!

xoxo

A Very Veggie Thanksgiving

If you don't already know: I'm a vegetarian.

Well, actually, I'm a pescetarian. I don't eat red meat or poultry but I do eat fish, eggs, and dairy. I've been a vegetarian (pescetarian, whatever) for over two years and this is my second Thanksgiving as a vegetarian. In my two years as a veggie, I've noticed that it's usually around the holidays when people start to get weary of my dietary choices: What do you eat? Aren't you gonna starve? You can't be full! You need some turkey on your plate…

Actually, I'll have lots of veggies, I won't starve, I will most definitely be very full, and I'll pass on the turkey, thank you.

Last year, I kept it pretty simple with lots of veggie side dishes and no main protein. This year, my mom announced that she's "not making a tofurkey or whatever you call it", which is totally fine because: a. I'm not even remotely interested in a tofurkey, and b. I don't expect anyone to accommodate my somewhat unconventional diet (something that comes with being a vegetarian). So, I'm on my own for prepping a vegetarian option. I was thinking about doing something a little special -- adding a little class to my sans turkey Thanksgiving plate with this recipe:

Roasted Salmon with Cranberry-Mustard Sauce

I hope mine looks as delicious as this! via

The cranberries were definitely the selling point for me.

What do you have planned for Thanksgiving? Are you a vegetarian or do you have any vegetarians in your family? What do you/they do on this turkey filled holiday?