2 minutes can mean so much

Happy Mother's Day!

I cut 2 minutes off last week's time for my 6 mile run!  I know that I took it slow last week and that was the original plan for this morning.  However, I was feeling so good that on miles 4 and 5 I really felt like I could push faster, so I did.  Maybe next week I'll get to cut another minute off in preparation for my first 10K of the year on the 23rd.

Not too much going on with any of my other goals, just trying to have a good week and stay on track.  I have turned down cake 3 times in the last 4 days which is HUGE for me.  I absolutely love desserts.  Yesterday I spent a few hours icing a Dora the Explorer cake with my friend Heather for her niece's birthday.  I managed to avoid the cake scraps and the icing even.  Last night at a b'day party, Officer BF and I left before the cake (we'd already been there 3 hours, we aren't THAT rude) and I'd made a healthier apple crumble that I left there for the other guests. 

I do have a new recipe update...not healthy at all.  Buffalo chicken dip was a hit!  I had a couple of bites but made sure to sit as far away as I could.

Fresh Start

So week one of the diet "take 2" was successful. 2lbs down! Now, to keep it up without losing momentum. The Biggest Loser was inspirational last night. It was so great to see how amazing everyone looked, I love makeover week!! Michael and Daris' hair, Sunshine's whole look, so much improved.

Today I taught a great lesson, went for a 3 mile jog and then made dinner. Grilled honey-ginger salmon, carrots and a whole wheat roll. Yummy and healthy! And...a new recipe to add to the list.

The budgeting is going well...I have enough money saved up for my 2 summer classes already. It'll hurt when that bill comes in and I have to watch the numbers go down.

Tonight, catching up on DVRS (This week's Glee is great!) with my feet up. I'm avoiding housework but I'll get around to it tomorrow I'm sure. If not, there's always the weekend. Dusting and laundry just have no pull when it's so gorgeous out.

6 mile mark!

I ran 6 miles yesterday! It's the first 10K (almost) run I've done and I'm a little achy today, but I finished. Now, I just have to keep up with workouts the rest of this week and I'll be onto something! I did my run on the path that runs from Nyack to Piermont and it's just gorgeous. It's so inspiring to run along the river. That, and Nyack Beach are my 2 favorite places to jog. When I hear "The Hudson" come on the ipod while I'm running it's even better.

New restuarant update: Went to the Sidewalk Bistro in Piermont last week with friends and it was a fantastic dinner! We had a salmon tartar and pizza for appetizers and I had scallops sauteed with homemade spinach pappardelle for my entree. AMAZING. The sauce had saffron infused into and was so yummy. Desserts were delicious as well, the apple tart was topped with rich vanilla ice cream and the cheese plate was a great savory dessert with grapes and apples.

I'm trying hard to get back on the diet wagon. I'm reading 'The Runners Diet" and hoping that helps me stay on track. Sparkpeople is helping with the calorie tracking...but does require me to actually do it. I actually tracked all weekend which is a big step in the right direction.

My biggest success, and a great time, was brunch with the girls on Sunday. My closest friends from HS were all in town the same day (a minor miracle!) and we got together for coffee, fruit and cake. I filled my plate with fruit, had a small piece of the apple tart and stayed "well-behaved." I focused instead on getting to be with some of the best people in the world. We've know each other more than 25 years and there's something comforting about being with people who know who that well!

Grad classes: I have finished 2 classes and signed up for 2 more. That will have me at 12 credits by the end of July, I'm looking for one more summer class to balance out the summer.

Time to get back to work...lessons and a mani-pedi this afternoon. My feet deserve it!

Spring Break, Easter and Grease!

My spring break was wonderful. I had time to relax, went upstate to visit Officer BF's sister and her family, went for a couple of runs, and went with Heather to visit Carlo's bakery. I also finished cake class #2, which I brought to Palm Sunday afternoon with the BF's family. I don't know that it qualifies as a new recipe but I can now make royal icing...and lots of different flowers.



I also managed to get to 2 new restaurants. Casey's up in Little Falls, NY where I had AMAZING scallops and Quinta Steakhouse in Pearl River where the steamed mussels were really great. Can you tell I love seafood? I think that puts me at 4 restaurants for the year....well on my way to the 10 I'm aiming for.




Easter was a great day with lots of family times on both sides. I sang 2 masses in the morning and then Officer BF and I had lunch with my family. This was followed by drinks with the cousins since it was such a beautiful day. I love being outside in Nyack on a gorgeous day. I am lucky to live here!


After my family time we went and picked up BF's nephews for a boys night with a stopoff for some dinner with their grandma and great-grandma. Those boys ate EVERYTHING "snacky" I had in my house that night. A box of Cheez-its, caramel popcorn and a 5lb bag of baby carrots! They're great boys and I loved having time with them. We played Wii games (love the Raving Rabbids!) and enjoyed the most recent installment of The Pacific


I went for a nice 3 mile run on Saturday morning and have another planned for this afternoon. I also have some new walking buddies which will help keep me motivated on non-running days. As additional incentive, I'm signed up for a 10K on June 13th. I'm hoping to add one on May 23rd as well.



This past week was show week at my school, which meant a lot of pizza, piano playing and time stuck inside on beautiful days. The show, Grease, turned out wonderfully and I couldn't be prouder of the kids involved. After a week of Easter break it was a long and tiring week so I'm vowing to get back on track with this whole running thing and weight loss (which should go hand in hand) this week.


And away we go!

Restaurant and Grad Class #2

Well, restaurant #2 was Joe & Joe's in Pearl River. Big portions of food, mostly Italian style, and it was yummy! The BF and I enjoyed it but think we still prefer the food at another Italian place up the road.

I had a great time this past Sunday at the Pearl River parade, my friends are great! I can't say I watched a lot of the parade but the social aspect of the day was fantastic. Plenty of Guinness and sunshine. Diet...what diet?

Tonight Officer BF and I will be heading upstate with the possibility of a 3rd new restaurant. (Yay!) There will definitely be relaxation time, which I desperately need. It was tech week here for our middle school show so I'm tired. Staying at school until 8 is wearing on me but it's almost spring break!

Plans for this upcoming week off...running, gym time, catching up on DVRs, healthy cooking and rest. There's the possibility of a trip to Cake Boss in Hoboken and hopefully some time with the girls also. Oh, and that all gets ended with 2 days of graduate class #2...woo hoo!!

Restaurant #1

Finally, a new restaurant!

I went out with Katie last night, to Woody's Parkside Tavern in Sparkill. It's restaurant week so for $28 each we had an appetizer, dinner and dessert. The food was excellent and the company was outstanding! I had steamed clams in a red curry broth, homemade papparedelle in a duck ragu and a spiced pear and ginger bread pudding. (Not such a good meal for the diet!) We also had a waitress who cracked us up, she was so chatty and conversational about everything. She was also very focused on "her boss" who she referred to at least a half dozen times. It was refreshing to hear an employee talk so nicely about their employer.

I made it to the gym Monday...Thursday is looking like my next chance to get there. Thursday is also parent-teacher conferences at school so it'll have be a quick workout. Saturday is going to be New Class day! Not sure what it's going to be yet, but maybe spinning.

Diet is going alright. I haven't gained any lately, just trying to get through this week with that goal. Starting Friday it's back on the "losing" track.

One more bag going to Goodwill is in the car and ready to get dropped, just have to do it.

Oh, Deer?

March 2nd Update....February go the best of me but I'm back on track. However, I made some awesome cakes (Andy's b'day cake is the pic today.) went on a great mini-vacation with the BF and ate EVERYTHING! I'm starting to feel much better today so I'm here for an update at the end of month 2. The BF is very supportive and we're trying to support each other. My resolutions 1-3 line up with stuff he wants to accomplish as well so it's nice to have a partner. Maybe it's time to share this blog with more people...

1. Lose 20 lbs
I'm still at 6 down...14 to go. I started back at the gym today after a week's break.

2. Cook 20 new recipes, 10 of them must be healthy.
So far I've cooked 6 new recipes, the icing for class is definitely NOT healthy, but it's useful. The brussel sprouts, beef burguignone (sp??) chicken spinach wraps and

3. Run a 10k in under 1:03
I've had pneumonia the last week or so. I got back to the gym today and have started strength training on top of cardio. I'm hoping that will help me in the big picture but I HATE it right now!

4. Read 20 books that qualify as literature, not brain candy.
"Gung Ho!", "The Spanish Bride", "The House of the Seven Sisters", "The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry" I'm also trying to start a book club which will help in this endeavor. Next up...The Winter Prince. I've actually been trying to get through it for a few weeks but reading for grad class and life overall gets in the way.

5. Try 10 new classes at the gym or workouts
Starting some strength training....

6 Complete 20 credits towards my 2nd masters degree
I am in the middle of my first 3 credit class and registered for the next. I'm hoping to take 3 more classes over the summer to get myself to 15 credits by the time school starts in the fall!

7. Be able to play at least 10 chords on guitar
Oh lord....so totally haven't started on this one!

8. Give away at least 10 bags of stuff to charities
I've given away 1, started a 2nd bag which I'm hoping to give away soon.

9. Try 10 new restaurants
Very behind on this one...mostly because of resolution 10!

10. Spend 10-20 minutes every week working on budgeting in an effort to save more and spend less.
I'm doing pretty well on this one! I still look upside down because of the classes I paid for so far but I'm planning to be better about saving and have opened a 2nd savings account to help me organize my $ better. I'm feeling better about my finances even though they don't show improvement quite yet.