Currently… Birthday and Holidays Edition

Currently…  A post on “things of the moment” for me (#6). [Inspired by Marcia and other bloggers.]

An awesome birthday card sentiment - perfect for the season and times!
An awesome birthday card sentiment – perfect for the season and times!

State of things: I am having trouble believing that I just turned 43. Where does the time go? I still feel young. That is my story and I am sticking with it. The fall flew by and I am still enjoying my new job and travels. We celebrated the husband’s 40th with a great party. I completed my 15th NYC Marathon on 11/2, so now I am guaranteed entry for life. I am pretty pumped and was happy with my run – especially given the windy, windy day! The husband and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary and just realized that we will have been together for 17 years in February. Time flies. We took a brief getaway in the Dominican Republic to celebrate (Thank you, Dr. Lisa, for talking me off the ledge about the chikengunya epidemic. I bathed in DEET but the relaxation was worth it.) We are gearing up for the holidays. I watched a segment of the Today show that said that the average American gains 6 lbs between Thanksgiving and New Years and then resolves to lose 14. I joined several online fitness challenges and a challenge at my gym to try to at least beat those stats. I also signed up for a half marathon on 11/29 (ran it!) and 12/28 in San Diego for added motivation.

current books of monthBooks: In addition to some $1.99 mystery guilty pleasures from Bookperk, I read a slew of books this month. I binge read all of the Alafair Burke Ellie Hatcher mysteries. There are 6. I also read Amazon Top 100 winner, Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng, Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty and then her Three Wishes and The Last Anniversary. The mysteries were a bit far fetched, but I liked them all. Everything I Never Told You was amazingly written and very sad. The Liane Moriartys are addictive and are really cleverly written and sewn together. I especially liked The Last Anniversary. Leslie sent me the As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales of the Making of the Princess Bride by Cary Elwes (Westley). It is a LOVE fest and made me smile. Have you read anything I should check out lately?

current movies

Movies: I saw Begin Again and The Fault in Our Stars on planes on vacation and we saw part 1 of the Mockingjay (and Catching Fire on Netflix to catch up.) We also watched Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. That still holds up! I liked all of these movies. Begin Again was very sweet and easy to relate to. Fault was true to the book and I liked the casting. It made me cry even though I know what would happen. We liked Mockingjay better than Catching Fire and are looking forward to part 2. It was sad to see Phillip Seymour Hoffman and to know he is gone. Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner still holds up and is especially relevant with all of the race related incidents recently in the headlines. If you have never seen it, you should check it out.  Have you seen anything good lately?

TV: Other than my Today Show treadmill obsession, I am not much for watching TV. We finally finished the Sopranos. I thought the end was as good as anything I could have come up with. We watched Twin Peaks. I. did. not. get. it. Too many red herrings for me. The husband has seen it before and it made sense to him. Can’t say that I am willing to sit through it again! Now, we are watching season 1 of Homeland. Good stuff! What is on your TV dance card these days?

Website/Podcast: Not a website, but I am still loving my daily news emails from theSkimm. I totally get the tone and humor and come out more informed. A win-win. And I am adding podcasts this time. I am loving Third Coast Festival’s Best Of Episodes and of course am ob-sessed with Serial. Have you listened yet??? What do you think? Guilty or innocent??

Prairie State Half - All AG medalists in 5 different age groups! NYC Marathon - Central Park
Prairie State Half – All AG medalists in 5 different age groups! NYC Marathon – Central Park

Run: My running got a second wind in September (after a sucky August) with great weather in the Chicago Half and a fun and fast Park Ridge 5K. October was good as well with one of my fastest halfs of the year at Prairie State (and Age Group Win) and then 3rd place female and my fastest 10K in over 5 years at Run 10 Feed 10. November brought the NYC Marathon, a Turkey Day 8K and the Schaumberg Half (another solid time and AG win!) Lesson learned, don’t run 4 half marathons in the hottest month of the year. Remind me next year, please. On tap, San Diego Holiday Half on 12/28, Phoenix Marathon on 2/28, NYC Half 3/17 and something in SLO on 4/25. You heard it here first. Here’s to 2015!

Non-Run Workouts: I have been keeping up the “Smart Workouts” on The J & J 7 Minute Workout (I am almost at workout #100) and weekly pilates and yoga. ClassPass launched here in Chicago and I was invited to the previews, but I was out of town, so Stacy, Kristin and Meryl checked it out for me. ClassPass lets you take unlimited classes at boutique studios for $99 a month (3 classes per studio). I have free ClassPass for December. So far, I have not made it to any new studios (just ones I already have tried). I am pumped to try a few things and a few in California at the end of the month, too!

current foodsFood/Drink: My cupboard runneth over again with great new products from cool companies. I have so many new things to try and lots of giveaways coming so STAY TUNED. I am loving raw wraps from Wrawp. These are amazing and are so good for you. Full review and giveaway coming soon. I am also giving away some delicious all natural Flyjoy bars and Simple Squares in my stocking stuffers giveaway this week so stay tuned. As a member of the Peanut Butter & Co Yum Squad, I created some #candycanehack recipes. Recipes and giveaway coming this week, too. In 2015, I have delicious quinoa cereal and granola from Cocomama to review and share and some great jerky trail mix from Kooee…and LOTS more!

Excitement: We get to meet our new niece in a few weeks! Yay!

Pet Peeve: Now that I am flying for work again, I have a lot more. The fact that airlines now charge for same day stand by when you are physically there and there are seats available was high on my list this quarter.

Wish(es): I hope that all of my readers, friends and family have a safe, happy and healthy holiday season (and that I will continue to have awesome stuff to learn and share in 2015!)

What is keeping you busy these days? Please share in the comments!

PS. Don’t forget to enter my awesome giveaways. Great stuff for the holidays!