I did it....

My friend recently started a blog for her healthy part of life. She tracks what she eats, her workout etc. every day. My family for many years has talked to each other about their work outs. While in NYC I got a daily recount of my parents run or workout. Growing up it got to be so much that I banned certain people from talking to me about healthy stuff, what I ate or didn't eat and working out. Daily exercise talk is too much for me, so here's what I've decided to do. I won't do this every day, but I need an outlet about exercising. This will be my forum for the ups and downs of working out, attempting to run and eating better. No, this is not my own "Biggest Loser" (although I love that show), you will not know my weight, maybe a comment about loss/gain, this is not my pity party for sympathy or praise, JUST AN OUTLET. SO, here goes.... - I was dreading going to the gym on Monday since I hadn't been for over a week, and haven't had some of my asthma medicine. But, after class Shawn and I headed over to the rec center. I started out up on the track. Now, you must know my exercise has been hit and miss (mostly misses) for a while. Last time I ran this track I could only do 2 laps (9 laps = 1 mile) which is quite pathetic. So Monday my goal was to run 3. Well, I ran 6! Walked another, ran 2 more, and finished walking 3. It felt good, considering I could barely run at all before. I continued with some weight lifting, abductors, adductors and stretching. Still feeling pretty good Shawn and I went back up and ran another 5 laps with a sprint at the end! 2 miles later, I was starting to think I will be able to run 3 miles in a month. Good start!

5k Update

Training is not going so well... I woke up Sunday congested, sore throat, my ears hurt along with an achy body. That was the high point of the week, it's been down hill ever since. So to say the least I have not been training or exercising all week. Not looking forward to Monday, but I have to do it.

5k.....hopefully

My sister-in-law, Katie, and I have been saying we should do a 5K since I got engaged. That was 3 years ago and we have yet to do one. Well that all changes for me this year....hopefully. The Ogden marathon ends right outside the doors of my work. So my work, The Imaging Depot, has offered to pay it's employees entrance fee for whichever part of the race we want to do. A couple of us decided to do the 5k. I don't believe Katie will be joining me, but Katie, start training with me and we'll do one this summer! Training was supposed to start today...........better luck tomorrow?! I've never been a runner, but 3.1 miles can't be that bad right? Here's to getting in shape and running in my first official event ever, and hoping it won't be my last. Katie, and all the other 3 of you that read this blog will be the ones holding me to it. Updates on my progress to follow. UPDATE: Shawn saw me typing this up and asked if he gets to do it with me, of course! So I signed him up as well. We'll keep each other on track.

Fruit Bowl

Summer is coming, can you feel it?! I spent 90% of this glorious day inside working. The few moments I spent walking to my car this evening got me excited for summer, the sunsets, the heat, boating, family trips, being outside and fresh fruits and veggies. This is what our fruit bowl looks like right now after a trip to Costco and Smith's. Our fridge also holds strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and apples. Now, how do just two people eat all this before it goes bad? Some of the fruit will be for Conference Sunday breakfast, but the rest we will enjoy. Here's to hoping Summer comes a little faster, I'll be thinking about it with every bite!

Visit to NYC

Dear Mom and Dad, It was great to be able to visit you in NYC. Shawn and I had so much fun traveling around and exploring the city with you. I'm glad we were the first to come which meant we got to experience some things you hadn't seen yet. Some of the highlights were NY tourists spots including the Statute of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Brooklyn Bridge, shopping on 5th Avenue, the Museum of Modern Art, China Town & Little Italy, Top of Rockafeller Center, the Empire State Building, the Museum of Natural History, Central Park and ground zero. We also loved exploring the upper west side where you live, seeing the temple and your office, and going to your ward in Harlem. Of course we found amazing food in NY including some great finds featured on the Food Network, Grimaldi's: best pizza ever, Brooklyn Icecream Factory, Levain's: great cookies the size of your fist, the Shake Shack, and great Italian in Little Italy. Getting to see Wicked for the first time was also incredible! Thanks again for letting us come see and stay with you! Love, one appreciative daughter + one appreciative son-in-law

President's Day

Shawn & Elliot Pretty sure Shawn was trying to turn the camera off... This is a little late, but for President's Day we went up to Brighton. We spent the day with my sister, 2 brothers-in-law & 2 nephews. It was fun and exhausting. I'm not a great skier, but somehow ended up trying to find my way through powder. I tried following Shawn and my sister but usually ended up on my back, at one point I took a nice rest with my skies straight up in the air :)

Spicy Chili

Made this last night. It was spicy and delicious! Didn't taste like normal old chili, plus Shawn made homemade corn bread. We were quite the cooks, and our house smelled amazing all night. An old friend of mine went to culinary school and is now doing an internship at the LA Times. He did this recipe for something for that. The link for the recipe is below.

Christmas Traditons: Postcard to NYC

One of my family's Christmas traditions are these: Swedish Tea Rings. Every year I would help my mom make these and deliver them to our neighbors and friends. But the best one was always saved for Christmas morning. After opening presents we would enjoy this once a year treat. Well, Nancy and Joe are in NYC for this Christmas and next so I took up the honor, stress and enjoyment of making them. Although my mom did find a way to make them for my dad this year! Dear Nana and Grandpa, Since you are away this year I decided to carry on the tradition and make THESE Your other children were very surprised and happy when I showed up on Christmas Eve with these in hand. Especially since I didn't do my math very well and each tea ring was twice the size it should have been! :) Christmas morning was great for all to have a little piece of Christmas past and mom in each home. Tea ring and coke after presents, what more could you need? Hope NYC tea ring is as good tea ring at home.