Lucy and Luna Love Snow and Snuggles!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Run! Run! Run!

Not only did I run fifteen miles on my treadmill today, overlooking all the snow in my backyard… My dad decided that we are going to have a duet, with him singing and me playing the violin. The Little Drummer Boy, is our song of choice. I have new strings for my violin and everything.

Lucy and Luna had a pretty big day themselves, in their chihuahua world.

My fat miracle babies, laying on my brass bed from Italy that’s over a hundred years old, pretty exciting stuff…. They sleep eighteen hours a day. :) We’ve been watching Gossip Girl, on the episode 13 of season 5, my guilty pleasure.

Shopping for a new dress because I love this linen brand. She makes such beautiful pieces; truly a talented artist and designer. Gorgeous linen coats, dresses and bags you can mix with a modern look too. I scrolled through to the size chart and adore this picture of the redhead with her three little birdies, holding her flowers, with a flower crown in her hair; I think that her looking to the side and not downward like the flowers, towards her birds is symbolic of life. She should be with the birdies. I have a larger print of this fantastically heartwarming portrait framed and hanging on my bedroom wall below my crucifix blessed by the pope from the Vatican, accompanied by three white peony roses laced with satin ribbon resting on top of the frame. Little rose scented wooden wicked candles below the portrait, very pretty. Sometimes, you just find things you really like in the most unexpected places. Lithuania linen is the best, it has a different level of luxurious texture.

I listened to this version of Hallelujah, and it inspired me to play it outside on my porch with some old sheet music, that I have kept on my purple music stand. Calming, soothing and relaxing music. Maybe I’ll turn into Paganini practicing so much, lately. Playing very romantical music.

WOW!

Here is a link to the Runner’s World article about this amazing man beating the half marathon world record. Look at him go!!

https://www.runnersworld.com/races-places/a34882800/valencia-marathon-half-marathon-results/

My Favorite Things?

My favorite short story to read evermore, is O’Henry’s short story, The Gift of the Magi, because this story means everything that true love really stands for whether you would like to acknowledge that fact or not. My favorite movie is, The Wizard Of Oz. I personally feel that these two pieces, and marathon running of course, are the greatest metaphors for life.

It is silly and benign, however, I adore seeing the ribbon in the hair of Dorothy and the Lion in, The Wizard Of Oz, par ce que it reminds me of wearing satin ribbon in my hair competing in races during cross-country season! I made my entire team wear those ribbons, yet hopefully we all appreciate that demand ‘later in life'; love each other for it for goodness sake. :)

Perhaps, my true fans will appreciate things that I really love outside of running, and enjoy my favorite masterpieces, over and over, and over again. I just adore these things in reality, and love to have the privilege of a platform to share pieces of which I very much love and enjoy to the highest level.

Mile Repeats

I run through a park a lot to do mile repeats. Afterwards, I am so hot and sweaty, I like to just take off all my layers, and lounge on top of a picnic table. I stop doing the mile repeats when I start doing seven minute miles, hahah.

PID Crafts

My professor is trained in gem cutting, and makes beautiful jewelry with his wife to support Partners in Development. It is a thing with Saint Josephs College, to go hiking to find a stone/gem, and have them make a promise, engagement, or cocktail ring. A little something to bring down by the lake at sunset, or to the top of a mountain, it does not even need a label! You can select any stone, or fine gem and they will make a gorgeous piece of jewelry. Everyone thinks it is the cutest and most romantic gift for after graduation, or perhaps mission trips to Haiti and Guatemala. Beautiful with extra sentimental value, more than fine jewelry. Here is a link to this very pretty jewelry!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/PIDcrafts

Therapeutic Yoga

Take Three Deep Calming Relaxing Breathes

One of the best ways that I have found to stay physical during an injury is therapeutic yoga. One summer, for pleasure I took an intensive graduate therapeutic yoga class, taught classes in afternoons, and became a certified therapeutic yoga instructor. People find it to be very calming and relaxing, to work in small groups outside or in a studio, listening to soft music whilst participating in the classes. When I had these classes, I would have my small group sit in a circle on large pillows or zafu pillows, working on deep breathing and being silent during a ten minute period of relaxation. Then, I would have everyone go to their station we had set up before starting class. In the stations were a yoga mat, yoga blocks holding up a yoga bolster at an angle, a second yoga bolster to support the legs, a chair to rest the legs, a yoga blanket, yoga belt, and cucumber water. It feels very nice to lay on a yoga bolster, with a second bolster under the knees, and legs resting on the chair elevating. So, my small group would enjoy resting in this position for several minutes, until we would begin gentle exercises. After finishing all of our gentle exercises, we would return to the pillows for more calming relaxing breathing. These classes were a rejuvenating, very powerful experience for everyone. I highly recommend having therapeutic yoga in a daily regimen. Many whom have been in classes that I have taken or instructed were injured, looking for something not too physically demanding, pregnant, overcoming health obstacles, or looking to be social. I have taught classes voluntarily here in NY for a small group of girls overcoming health obstacles, to achieve a calming relaxing very healing experience. In Alaska, I worked with a young group of women on therapeutic yoga and breathing relaxation for fun, because they were taking exercise classes in my office building and I had extra time. When I am speaking about running at a retreat or camp or convention center, I always like to have a therapeutic yoga time for the group. My runners love to do this type of yoga after practice or on a rest day. Signing up for a yoga class, is like taking dance lessons, doing a cycling group exercise, skiing, golf, or a night of run club; there is nothing to feel intimidated by. Yoga can be that night to treat yourself. As an athlete, it is very rewarding to teach small groups on the side, it is something that I very much enjoy doing and a skill/opportunity that I feel blessed to have.

These are products that I use for therapeutic yoga classes. Wegmans even sells some of these products. Have an abundance of pillows and blankets. It is always nice to have extra pillows or yoga blocks to rest your hands. When I discovered the yoga bolster, I found my favorite thing ever, it makes your back feel so good. My yoga mat is very thick and comfy.

PID has very nice blankets to use for yoga.

It was such an honor to meet Khenpo Jigme, and have the luxury of lovely conversation after mindfulness meditation.

This was such a fun elective to take senior year after finishing major/minor requirements.

I love to color mandalas in my adult coloring book, because of the opportunity that I had to see a sand mandala created and destroyed over the course of days.

Sprint

Sometimes, I just love to run as fast as I can, in a dead sprint for as long as possible, not looking at my watch or paying attention to the distance.

Wine Party Idea

My parents are members of many small wine clubs in Upstate NY. We absolutely love to go to the Knapp Winery. There are dinner parties, wine pick up parties, and special events, sometimes my parents are allowed to bring my sisters and I. Needless to say, we love the wine club. One of my favorite events in the past few years, was tasting the Dry Riesling. To tantalize the pallet they had us try the flavors of the wine first. I thought the print-outs depicting flavors salty, sweet, bitter and sour with the diagrams were very nice. This could be a fun idea for wine tasting at home with friends, having a little guide to build your pallet and articulate everything you taste!