You are two thousand 13 going on 14, I'll depend on you

First of all, thanks for reading my blog. I hope that you have found something this year with which you could relate. I understand that I'm an eclectic mix. Mother. Runner. Math/Science Teacher. Cook. Quasicrafter. Adoption preparer. Jack of all trades. Master of nothing. It's a mixed up blog. It does take me a little vulnerability to put life out there, and I appreciate all the positive feedback.

I am at a point where I can look back at the past year and look ahead to the next.

Bling and swag from 2013

Last year, I didn't make my mileage goal. Not even close. Didn't even run 1000 miles. I was about 40 miles short. Looking back at this, I doesn't bother me a bit. The miles I did run were great. I had fun. I ran happy (except when I complained or cried). In short, I'm proud of the miles I did run. I did a number of trail runs this year: Bear Trax/Brownie Shuffle 20k, the Waterfall Glen Xtreme 10 miler and the North Face Endurance Challenge half marathon. When I was a kid I used to go cross country skiing, and I loved looking up to the sky ahead of me on the trail between the trees. It was majestic and regal. Trail running gives me that same pleasure. I feel strong after running a trail race. During a trail run I oscillate between invincible and exhausted.

I had a successful sprint triathlon, first one in five years. As an ambassador for Esprit de She, I raced the Naperville Triathlon with my stepmom. We will both be racing it again this year. I like that she goes into the water before I do. Her expression tells me how cold the water is. Last year it was COLD. I am pondering doing a few triathlons this year. Purely pondering.

To round out the year, I did a few half marathons including the Wisconsin Half Marathon which I did for its first two years and the did Pittsburgh for two. Doing Wisconsin again was like a meet and greet in and out and back. I waved almost as much as I ran. I ran a lot of miles and races with my friend Kate. We ran Wisconsin, and we camped then ran North Face together. We even spied out her new house when it went on the market.

The inaugural Naperville Marathon kicked my butt in a good way. Running a marathon is such a good for the soul experience. It tests limits mentally, emotionally, physically and even spiritually. I only did one marathon this year. The previous two years I ran two a year. I am still up in the air about whether I like the Spring marathon or the Fall marathon more. I need to run a few more to get a good test pool. Six marathons since Sept 2010 isn't too shabby.

This year I also sat on a jury, got my secondary math teaching endorsement, took two math classes, taught two math classes, got into grad school, completed our home study, finished and filed our dossier, drove across the country and enjoyed my family.

Mom, you have a lot of necklaces!

So what's on the docket for this year? Good question. Saturday I will be running the Frozen Gnome 10k in crazy conditions - 30 inch snow fall and post freezing rain. It should be memorable. Frozen Gnome and the Esprit de She Naperville Triathlon are the only races that I'm signed up for this year. Here's the thing, we hope to be going to China this year to meet our son. We don't know when and that makes planning races very difficult. And when we do bring our son home, our life will turn upside down for some time. Jen Hatmaker's post on after the airport echos all the adoption training we've had. We hope for the best and prepare for the worst. In terms of running, I'd like to do the Wisconsin Marathon, Grandma's Marathon and maybe even the Conquer the Capitol Challenge. I'd also like to do my first 50K with the North Face Endurance Challenge. *deep breath* Racing will have to wait and see.

Since I'm chomping at the bit, my body made it a little easier. Just before the Naperville Marathon the outside of my right foot began to hurt, sometimes during the run and sometimes while standing or walking. I took some time off (and did Insanity), taped, rested, and nsaided. I even went to the doctor. Before I go on to the podiatrist, I'm going to take a cue from my dog, Seamus.

My rest teacher

What are my fitness goals for 2014? I'd like to be able to do 10 regular push ups by the end of the year. I think that's attainable. No mileage goals. No time goals. This year is an adventure. Stick around; this could get interesting.

These are a few of my favorite (holiday) things...

As measurable snow has fallen and the air is definitely cold, this is my follow up post to the ways the holidays kill my holiday spirit. Thank you for letting me vent about the holiday craziness. However, I remind myself that holiday is a compound word - holy day - and to treat it that way.

Here are some of the things I love about the holidays...

• Our family traditions - Every year we read The Advent Book taking turns opening a door everyday until Christmas. The book tells the Christmas story and on Dec 25 behind the big red door is baby Jesus. By Christmas my girlios have their pages memorized. We also read The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever, which is a great book for any age. Our Christmas morning tradition includes not any opening gifts until breakfast is eaten and all cleaned up. Apparently, the girlios have noted, Christmas breakfast includes bacon.
• The opportunity to bless others - I know the holiday season has begun when Operation Christmas Child boxes come out. My girlios love shopping, packing and giving to children around the world. There are so many opportunities to give during the season - meals, adopting a family, shoveling, etc. We try to be cheerful givers. It really is better to give than to receive.
• Pretending that I do crafts - My craft graveyard suggest that I have good intentions but little productivity. However, I like to believe that I am crafty. And since I have 'free' time in the holidays, I like to make and create things. Sewing, scrap booking, knitting, crocheting. Small projects normally get done. Long term projects drop by the wayside (and into the graveyard) when the holidays are over.
• Reading books - Since I have been involved in academia since the dawn of time, I don't get a lot of time to read for pleasure. I read some great books to the girlios during the school year but the holidays offer me the chance to read books of my choosing. I love getting lost in a book. I like, as Bobbi puts it, a book hangover. Losing track of time, staying up way too late, getting lost in a book, laughing or crying, and speaking in the same dialect for the rest of the day are things I love about reading. Fiction, nonfiction. Classic, fluff. History of civilization, history of math, history of dumplings. Sweet holiday reading.
• Warm beverages, fleece and blankets - One word: coziness. I love snuggling in blankets with a warm cup in hand. Sometimes it is with a book. Sometimes it is just sitting. Normally, there is a dog at my side and one at my feet. We can fit a surprising number of people on the couch.
• Playing in the snow - There is sledding, skiing, snowshoeing, snowball fights, snowmen, snow angels. We love it as a family. If the snow is falling it is usually between 20-30 degrees, and we can tolerate it. Of course, there is cocoa afterwards. I love winter running too.
• Using the oven - In the summer turning on the oven is oppressive. During the holidays my baking switch turns on. Turning on the oven sends heat and smells around the house. Since I have a little more time, I can experiment with recipes, stock up the freezer and make old favorites. It satisfies my creative desires too.
• Hanging out with my family - The holidays are a special time for my family to be together. We could be playing a game together, cooking together, or reading books/playing in different parts of the house. There is just a peace when we are all together. Yes, we still have to referee girlio scuffles, but even the dogs know when the pack is all together. A special bonus is seeing  member of the extended family - G'ma, G'pa, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. It's nice to catch up and spend time together.

I wish you Happy Holy Days. Set them apart and fill them with peace, love and joy. Blessings!

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

This recipe is a staple in our family. It's easy and terribly good. The original recipe is from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book. My adaptations are slight. Unlike most zucchini bread recipes, the original recipe has only a quarter cup of oil. I reduce the oil farther, and it is still moist. When the garden produces more zucchini than we can eat, I shred and freeze it for cold days like today when I don't mind the oven being on. It can be made vegan with an egg replacer. Since the first loaf is gone within half an hour of taking it out of the oven I normally make three loaves at a time.

So yummy! You are welcome.

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
3/4 cup sugar*
1 cup finely shredded unpeeled zucchini
2 tbsp cooking oil*
2 tbsp apple sauce
1 egg
1/4 tsp finely shredded lemon peel**
1/2 cup semisweet morsels

*The original recipe calls for 1 cup sugar and 1/4 cup of oil.
** I use dried lemon peel

1. In a mixing bowl combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, baking powder, and nutmeg.
2. In another mixing bowl combine sugar, shredded zucchini, cooking oil, egg and lemon peel and mix well.

3. Add flour mixture and stir until just combined.
4. Stir in chocolate chips.

5. Pour batter into a greased 8x4x2 inch loaf pan.



6. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about an hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. (When making 3 loaves, I rotate the loaves every 18 minutes)

7. Cool for 5-10 minutes before removing from pan and cool thoroughly on a wire rack. Or eat it all before completely cooled. The loaves can be frozen. I usually wrap them in cling wrap and then in aluminum foil.

Enjoy!

A weary mom's pep talk

Today I have been in a funk. I must have woken up under a dark cloud. I'm tired. Just tired. Tired of washing the same dishes, washing the same clothes, and cooking in general. I didn't want to be responsible. Being a mom and working seemed too much. The day felt long from the moment it started, and I was struggling.

So today I thought about the encouragement I wanted to hear. Here are a few things I heard.

• It's okay to let the dishes wait. They'll be there when you are ready.
• You don't have to make a gourmet meal. Simple still fills stomachs.
• Take time for yourself. Don't feel guilty about a moment of sanity.
• It's okay to close and even lock the bathroom door.
• You don't have to do all the laundry today. Try for one load.
• Your kids are only this age for a moment. Spontaneously hug them even though they are driving you crazy.
• It's okay to sit down.
• Change it up a bit. Change it up a lot if need be.
• Turn up the music if you like this song. Dance maybe. 
• It's okay to be good enough today.
• Today is not a reflection of tomorrow.
• Today may bend you, but it won't break you.

My day wasn't great, but it wasn't terrible. Partly cloudy when the forecast looked like rain. If you're a tired mom like me, I hope you find this encouraging. There are many many days we need it. There is hope on the drudgery days.

Insanity Log: Day 2

Life is insane in the holidays so why not do the Insanity workout at the same time. I may not write about all the days, but I am writing to keep myself accountable to do all 60 days of the workout. I'd love encouragement. Feel free to ignore the posts too. Or enjoy my quips and whines while drinking coffee on the couch. I will sweat for you. If I break or tear something, I'm out.

I work part time, and I work a couple of jobs. As my days in December seem to be playing out, I am working every day except two in the next 19. Poor planning and insanity. I need an outlet, endorphins and a routine.

I picked up the Insanity workout from my local online garage sale. We have p90x, and I like it in the winter months, but the workouts can be long. Insanity workouts are shorter (and harder). So here is how it is going so far...

Day 1: Fit test. A bunch of different exercises for a minute. DVD is 25 minutes long. Conclusion: I am not Insanity fit. Is it bad to be sore from the fitness test? This is going to be a long 60 days.

Day 2: Was sore getting out of bed from fitness test. First workout is 40 minutes long. Went to the bathroom twice during the workout and drank half a gallon of water. Sweat like a boss. Jumping in workout emphasizes my jiggly butt and jiggly thighs. Bummer. I did need that information currently. Had to rest a lot, especially near the end. Loved all the stretching in the middle. Need to find my heart rate monitor for tomorrow. No joke. Was sore an hour after the workout. It's going to be a long sore day. Coffee..coffee...where are you?

Buttermilk Pie

This Thanksgiving I was blessed once again to have my parents cook. I did contribute a very very small part and made two pies. One of the pies was a pecan pie, and the other was this buttermilk pie. Someone (I am so sorry I have forgotten who) gave us a pie book with a pie plate when we were first married. I go through my recipe books often donating the ones I don't use and this book, American Pie by Theresa Kennedy, always makes the cuts. There are some unusual pie recipes in the book. It appeals to my Frankenfood side. I still haven't made all the pies yet. This Thanksgiving, I tried two new recipes. I had the ingredients, and buttermilk pie sounded so interesting.

Buttermilk Pie

1 pie crust*
2 cups buttermilk
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons lightly salted butter, melted
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1. Ease crust into 9-inch pie pan; trim the overhang to 1 inch and flute the edges.
2. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the buttermilk, flour, and melted butter and beat until the flour is completely blended. Add sugar and continue beating.
4. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla and blend.
5. Pour the filling into the crust and sprinkle it with nutmeg. Bake for 10 minutes.
6. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and bake for an additional 20 to 25 minutes**or until the filling is set. Serve warm or chilled.

The book says "An old fashioned recipe that might seem unusual to pie eaters today. The custard filling is tangy and sweet, reminiscent of pies made with cream cheese." It was interesting. It had almost lemony in flavor, but it was still distinctly buttermilk. It was eaten and well received.


*I buy a pie crust. Gasp! There is a recipe in the book for crusts. It currently does not fit into my slacker lifestyle.
** This pie is pretty fast to make which fits into my slacker lifestyle.

Mark Kennedy's Pecan Pie

We were given a pie recipe book, American Pie by Theresa Kennedy, with a pie dish early in our marriage. It has a lot of cool and unusual recipes in it. I usually make Aunt Dear's Pecan Crème Pie* because it is easy and delicious. I thought I had all the ingredients, but I didn't have any light corn syrup. I did, however, have dark corn syrup and all the ingredients for the pie on the next page, Mark Kennedy's Pecan Pie. It takes a little more work**, but it was good. It's much richer than Aunt Dear's. It was well received, and I came home with an empty pie dish. I also made buttermilk pie. The recipe for it is in the previous post if you are interested.

Pecan pie ready for T-day travel

Mark Kennedy's Pecan Pie

1 pie crust***
3 eggs
1 cup dark corn syrup
1 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 tablespoons lightly salted butter, softened
1 cup coarsely chopped pecans

1. Roll pie crust into pie pan with 1 inch overhang. Flute edges as desired and set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
3. Place the eggs, corn syrup, brown sugar, salt, vanilla, and butter in a medium mixing bowl. Beat for 3 minutes on medium speed with an electric mixer, or by hand until the butter is completely incorporated. (It turns a nice lighter brown)
4. Add the pecans and stir to blend. Pour the filling into the crust and bake for 1 hour.

Yum yum good.

*I'll post this some time. It deserves its own post.
**I'm a slacker pie maker so it really doesn't take that much extra work.
***I buy a crust. Slacker. You can make one if you are purist.