What do you say to taking chances?

New year, new opportunities...2010 is an open road. Tomorrow I begin my journey down that road. I leave behind a great 2009 and look forward to an even better 2010.

Happy New Year!!!!

Cleo & Catnip

A Very White Christmas

Even though we've experienced a blizzard today, I'm still hoping to make it to Mom and Dad's by tomorrow (it's only 4 miles away, but the 5-8 inches of snow with drifts plus 50 mph winds have made driving treacherous). But tonight I am snuggled in with my kitties listening to the snow blow outside, trying to find something interesting to watch on TV. Last night I stayed up until 4am reading this. I could NOT put it down. Now I wish I had saved it for today!

Have a safe and merry Christmas!!!
xoxo
Jen

Warning! Fattening recipe ahead...

These little devils are da bomb. I'm usually not a big fan of the salty and sweet combination but these are so simple and yummy. They remind me of middle school when I would eat Nutty Bars for lunch (and not gain an ounce--those were the days!)

Jen's Ritz Blitz Cracker Cookies

Ritz crackers
Creamy peanut butter (I am NOT a crunchy fan)
Chocolate candy coating (Chocolate Almond Bark works best in my opinion, although it contains vegetable fats instead of cocoa butter, plus it has many additives)

Make the cracker and peanut butter sandwiches and use more peanut butter than you think you need (can you HAVE too much peanut butter??) Melt the chocolate. Of course you may use a double boiler, but it works so much better in the microwave. The chocolate gets hotter, stays hotter, and melts better. Just be sure to heat it in increments so it doesn't burn.

Drop the cracker and peanut butter sandwiches one at a time into the melted chocolate. Use a fork to stir around and coat each one. Place each coated sandwich on wax paper to cool.

I've heard some people like to freeze them but I think they taste amazing the next day. You could also try adding marshmallow cream to the mix--coat one side of a Ritz with peanut butter and the other one with marshmallow cream.

Note: These are not healthy at all. At all. You've been warned...

The Fartlek

*giggles*

This is an actual word! It's Swedish for "speed play" and has forever changed my world of running.

According to my sources, a fartlek is "simply sprinting and jogging off and on during a run." I completed my first fartlek workout last Saturday as part of my half-marathon training. I thought for sure I could do the advanced workout, since I've been steadily running since May and I am up to a long run of 5 miles. I was wrong.

I used the treadmill since it's easier to keep track of pace, distance, and time. (Thank goodness I lugged that thing in from the garage last week--this freezing weather has dampened my outside running plans!!)

Let me be frank. I am not, nor have I ever been, a fast runner. My happy pace on the treadmill is between 4.0-4.5 mph. That is not fast at all. I am a distance runner and technically consider myself more of a "jogger" than anything. So I figured once-a-week fartlek workouts would be beneficial to my overall progress as a runner.

I ended up doing the beginner level (well, my homemade version of it). I have since worked out a beginner, intermediate, and advanced fartlek schedule to follow throughout the next 6 months. Even though it feels like torture, it's nice to change up my routine once a week.

So, here is my Fartlek--Beginner workout:


I'll be posting later about any my progress...

It's freakin' cold!

Because of this:

I'm seriously considering buying this:

But I don't want to scare off the other running ninjas...

Freezing Santa 5K

I ran a Santa 5K on Saturday in downtown OKC. The temp was 29 when I left the house at 8:00 am. I had bought a new running jacket the night before and was so glad I did. I had on gloves, running pants, the jacket, a tshirt, a dri-wick long-sleeved shirt, and a hat. Really the only thing that stayed cold was my nose. And the cold wind in my eyes makes them blurry. But I finished and returned to the comfort of my car as soon as possible! I did set a PR for the race which proves all this training is working for me. I think my next race is in February (a 5-miler here in Edmond).

My heart aches

I've been following this story and was hopeful until I saw this article. I don't know if I am just super emotional today or what, but I could burst into tears at any moment. Sometimes I wish I wasn't so sensitive. It hurts my heart too much...


Tulsa Zoo giraffe dies
From Staff Reports -- Tulsa World
Published: December 4, 2009

The Tulsa Zoo announced Friday that Amali, the five-year-old female giraffe who arrived in Tulsa with a crooked neck, died during a procedure to determine the extent of her recent neck injury.

Amali, the newest giraffe at the Tulsa Zoo, injured her neck while being transported from Ohio to Oklahoma. The zoo announced Friday that Amali died. Photo provided

The Tulsa Zoo is awaiting results from the initial necropsy to determine the cause of her death. Additionally, tissue samples will be sent for microscopic examination to assist in the final diagnosis.

Amali suffered a neck injury during transport from her home zoo in Ohio October 18. Her injury was immediately noted by zoo staff as she exited the specialized trailer she arrived in.

More: http://newsok.com/tulsa-zoo-giraffe-dies/article/3422514#comments#ixzz0YkFPskJs

IBC Bank Christmas Party

Some pictures from the bank Christmas party last night...it was held in their new corporate office in OKC. We always have fun at this party...good food and spirits, lots of neat people. There were some 'local' celebrities there. It was REALLY cold outside but I'm glad we went!!

Me & my Daddy! Ain't he handsome???I'm sorry, but I look like a giant Shrek next to my little Mommy! :)Cutest couple EVER!

Brrr

I won't be running outside today...but it's on the schedule for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday!! I may have to drag the old, beat-up treadmill out of the garage and into the house!!