I just love the holidays!

I suppose I always will. I guess for me it's not so much about the actual day we celebrate which in my case is Christmas but what it's all about. There are things I look forward to every year that are things I can count on that lift my spirits. It's no wonder I suffer from post-holiday depression! I have much to look forward to. Here's a list of things I count on:

1) Time with my family. My family ROCKS! They are awesome, smart, funny and very fun! Since we don't all live in the same city or state, you can imagine how important this time is for me. Very! So I soak up every ounce of every minute of every second I have with them because I know the chances that I will see them again soon are small. So I lap it up...every last drop of family goodness. They are awesome! Sure we have some times when we don't get along, just like any family, but we have so many fun and funny times that it more than cancels out!

2) Board Games - I am a board game whore. Oops! Did I say that?!? Hahaha! I LOVE board games! Love love love!!!! I think my favorites are Scattegories and Catch Phrase. But we do love Quiddler which is actually a word card game and not a "board" game per se. I also love playing Spoons which usually turns a little vicious around our family table. We're slightly competitive. But I also like 25 Words or Less. That's a mentally challenging one. I'm sure there will be a new game this year so I'll let you know what crops up now.

3) Outdoor family fun - This can include anything from skiing, sledding, hiking to just walking the neighborhood. I love this. I do get cold, for sure! Hard to believe I grew up in the snow but when you haven't lived in it for a LONG time (20+ years) it's kind of hard to get used to. Luckily I don't live in it and it's so much fun so I just grin and bear it. We go on this one hike where it's very gradual so we hike/walk up and then we sled all the way back down basically taking out several people in the process. It's always good.

4) Great food - We usually have some pretty good meals and of course yummy homemade treats. I can't wait to see what we end up with this year. I hope there isn't Puppy Chow. Have you had this ridiculousness? I love it and hate it all at the same time. It has peanut butter. Need I say more?

5) LAUGHTER! - I can't get enough of it and my family cracks me up. I don't even know what to tell you. They're just downright funny! That's all there is to it. They say funny things, do funny things, make funny faces. It's just entertaining.

6) HUGS - Gotta love 'em! I'm a hugger and I make sure to get my special holiday hug allotment in while I'm on holiday break.

7) Special moments and great memories in the making. This is a given. Absolutely going to happen. I love memories, stories, and just general hanging out. There's nothing quite like it. And I get a lot of that. Just spending the time you want with the people you love the most that know you the best. To me, nothing can compare. And I mean nothing!!

So in all the spirit of the season I wish you all a safe, happy, merry, jolly, and fun holiday season. I hope you show up in the new year renewed with life, laughter and love. After all, it's the stuff of life! How are YOU enjoying your holidays?

Back in the Land of the Living

Wow! I haven't posted since February 3rd!!! Sorry about that for anyone that really cares. Okay, last week I thought I was having allergies that started on Monday and kept getting worse. Finally I left work at noon on Wednesday because I was wiped out and couldn't breathe. Guess what?!? I was sick. Sick, sick, sick. I have not worked out since Wednesday morning (4 and a half days!!!) and I definitely haven't eaten according to plan. I haven't eaten anything terrible but not really on my plan. That's okay. Still a good 3 months out from even starting my contest prep and a good 6 1/2 months out from my competition.

My body and mind are well rested though so it should be a great week for me. Today I did a lot of cooking. I made pork tenderloin, fajitas, Moroccan chicken, lemon blueberry muffins, lemon poppyseed muffins, and broccomole. Wow! I didn't realize I made so much. Good job me.

It's off to bed for now but I will keep you posted this week as it starts to shape up. Hope my body doesn't go into complete and total shock tomorrow! Can't wait for tomorrow. I don't like being sick but I love the way you feel once you feel "normal" again!

“Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.” ~Buddha

“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.” ~Mahatma Gandhi

“The first wealth is health.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson