flurries, trees and adventure...

After 'First Saturday' and work, I ran up to Costco with Jess, met Staci and Kinkos to get my passport photo (as Staci held my jacket and wallet, and I sat against a white backdrop- I felt like I was in grade school again:)), and then headed out to Black Forest with the girls to celebrate Jessica's birthday! We were dying in the car as we all sang (out of tune, and with incorrect lyrics) Christmas music. It was such a fun time, and Alyssa's house was amazing!

Sunday morning, we ventured out in the beautiful snow for a run in Bear Creek Park. It was so absolutely beautiful! However, the slippery hills didn't help my glute situation. After, we headed to Starbucks for some warm bliss:).

The day had only begun at this point. Headed home to shower and clean up for the next outing... up to the mountains to cut down our Christmas trees!

We pulled off deep into Rampart Range Road up in Woodland Park and the day couldn't have been more perfect. Snow falling, not too cold, really feeling like we were in the mountains. Once we started venturing out into the woods, we realized everything was leading downhill...not a good idea when everyone would be carrying a tree back uphill back to the car. Slipping and sliding, yelling eachothers' names, trying to stay on the buddy system, running up to claim our trees...many laughs were shared.

This was the first tree-cutting down experience for us all and everyone agreed that it was absolutely more fun then visiting a tree lot, and we'd definitely be doing this again. Today I have to get one more strand of white lights, along with some bulbs and then she'll be finished. I am already loving the wonderful smell...and with the surrounding snow outside my window, it is finally feeling like Christmas!

ow glute...

The combo of a grueling speed workout (thanks to coldness, yet again) Friday pm and a Saturday morning run, made for an unhappy, nagging left glute. Boo. Hopefully tomorrow it will behave itself for the girl's long Sunday run. I have a feeling another visit to the creperie will be in order:). After a run, work, a trip to Costco, taking care of the passport photo at Kinkos, a bit of couch time...soon, it's off to Jessica's Bday party!

Full Moon Run

With the outlook of a high of 17 degrees yesterday, I woke up ready to enjoy some Hot Yoga before the day got extremely cold, and the run with the Full Mooners was even colder! Rita's Hot class was awesome, and I love how in that type of yoga, you can see improvements in your postures so quickly.

Thanks to Slave (John) for letting me leave work early to attend the (probably coldest I've ever attended) Full Moon Run. I was quite bundled with a solid four heavy layers on top, my warmest tights, and my super cute new Sugoi hat to cover the dome. The usual Full Moon runners were there, plus my friends; Christy, Jess, Chelsea, Brooks and James. The first five minutes were a little rough on the nose and lips as the rest of the bod wasn't really warmed up yet. But after that, it was so enjoyable, so beautiful out! We did a nice little loop in the Garden of the Gods, and even though we couldn't see the full moon, it was there because everything was glowing. Definitely a memorable run:).

After the run, we headed off to Amanda's Fonda to celebrate my great friend, Jessica's birthday (Happy Birthday dear!). Laughs were shared as we attempted to start her 40 firsts lists. You can guess that ideas for this list turned to inappropriates-ville pretty quickly:). I enjoyed some tasty, warm tortilla soup. Speaking of food...I've been meaning to post about the post- NUT (Nutrition program through Core Power Yoga) life I've begun. I have absolutely made many changes to my diet since taking the program. Since I am blood type A, and meats (aside from Chicken and turkey) aren't in the positive energy column... I have cut them out almost completely and I can feel a major change. Every time I eat meat now, my stomach is instantly in knots. Another change I've made is the now staple in my daily meals- tofu and soy. I am still working on making tofu in different ways, but so far so good...I am loving it. I even cooked some tempah with my spaghetti sauce and spaghetti squash! Soy milk, edemame, soy kefir, almond milk...are also all now on my favorite list. I have refrained from entering caffeine back into my routine and have instead been enjoying decaf Christmas Blend from Starbucks- yummo! I honestly don't feel like I need the caffeine anymore...so why bring it back ehh? Now I do have one confession...

Yes, I caved and bought some; my absolute favorite indulgence this time of year...wait, no, all year round. Pumpkin creamer is so so good. But, I don't use as much as I used to...and, I mix just a tablespoon of it, with some Soy vanilla creamer. Totally hits the spot.

Well, that's all for now...better get ready for work and leave early since we had a dusting of snow last night and I'm sure, based on the extremely low temps, that it is frozen solid.

Madster

My amazing cousin Maddy is doing a blog for her adventures in running...hilarious...check it out here.

Jill's Bday...

Such a fun day with Jill...the birthday girl! Lunch at Shuga's , an amazing place...and a bit o' shopping. In the eve, a bunch of friends got together to celebrate at our favorite local brewery, Trinity. Again, frustrated with the camera...still need practice in lots of various lighting in order to use the manual setting minus the frustrations (thanks for the help Ryan:))...but a few shots to put you in the moment. Happy Birthday Jill!

Shuga's...


Trinity...or Trinzo as we call it...:)

Ryan's beautiful/tasty cake he made for Jill...Ice cream cake none the less...

I am in love with this pic...capturing so much.

Up to no good...as usual.

Thanksgiving craziness/Sunday run...

Sunday's run started at Memorial Park as it was the first Incline Club run of the season. Our Sunday group wasn't sure what we felt like doing, so we just met there and a few of us decided last minute to head into the Garden of the Gods (instead of the Ute Pass/Waldo loop). The weather was perfect and although my legs were sore from the incline the day before, it was a fabulous run!

Jill joined us for breakfast and we've all been wanting to try this new creperie in Manitou Springs for a while...and wow, it was absolutely fantastic! They had savory crepes, sweet crepes and coffee served in pint glasses- very cool. And the best part, all of the crepes are gluten-free! I can't wait to go back and try a few more. Dani and I split the Veggie Crepe (hummus, mushrooms, zucchini, tomatoes, sliced almonds) and the Blitz with pumpkin butter and ricotta. So so yummy! The pictures don't do them justice as I'm still trying to figure out the manual setting indoors (and out as well) with my camera:). It will get there.

Thanksgiving was a wonderful day with family and friends. Good food, big laughs, uncomfortable bellies...priceless memories.

My pretty champagne cooler...

Hanging out from Aunt Jeanne's cabin...she is amazing:).

Baby Kira loves Thanksgiving food too...lots of it!

Greenland

No pics from the long run yesterday:(. Oh well...it still was fabulous. A group of us (Jane, Jess, Maddy, Staci, Micky, and I) headed up to Greenland openspace for an 8.4 mile lollipop loop. A gorgeous place where you feel out in the middle of no where...rolling hills, train tracks, views for miles. Greenland is a usually muddy/windy mess, but on this day, it was pleasant and very much a joy.

Afterward, we headed to our once-upon-a-time weekly breakfast stop, The Egg & I. A tasty warm meal and great conversation ended our Sunday morning outing with a smile on everyone's faces. Props to Maddy for her tackling her first Greenland loop...keep it up studly.

Last night CPY put on a free Carnival Event. It was an absolute blast! They combined all of the classes they offer (hot, hot fusion, power, sculpt, bootcamp) into one 75 min class. The room was packed to the brim...probably close to 60 people, and we were lucky enough to have the hands of about 10 adjusters! Lots of different kinds of music, different styles, different teachers. So much fun.

After an amazing massage, I am now loving the smells of my tasty tofu baking in the oven...I must go enjoy it!

new, tasty, and fun...

James showed up with this card for me...what a crack up. On the inside it had a big whale on in and the pink and green characters yelled "get Whale soon...get it...get whallle soon...". Hilarious. If you are wondering why he scratched out 'sick' and wrote what he did...yes, I did in fact cut the &%#! out of my thumb Monday night with a brand new knife I bought that day. No fun I say.

I had the best oat bran concoction yesterday morning after my beautiful hour run in the still-snowy Garden. Mixed in was pumpkin, carob chips and chopped almonds...yummers! After the picture I added some kefir to the top...it doesn't look as purty with the liquidy white stuff over the top:). This kept me so full for hours!

After my nock off Magic Bullet bit the dust (it was literally smoking, shooting black stuff everywhere- not a pretty scene folks) Monday morning, I headed to Bed Bath and Beyond looking to get the real Magic Bullet, but instead ran across this little puppy. I've wanted a food processor for a long time and told myself that I'd treat myself to one if I continued my attempts to cooking/baking new things post CPY NUT program. And it comes with a blender too! What a deal! I'm so excited to use it...first up Chocolate Covered Katie's Fudge Babies I suspect.

Off to a run before work! Happy day to all.

winter wonderland...

An amazing trail run in the Garden of the Gods with the girls this morning. I think we all were feeling twelve again as we slipped and slid in the puffy white stuff, laughter and giggles the entire time. No falls surprisingly enough! :) A few pics to tell the story...