My Package

Chris has a fun idea. I'm playing along. Here's what I would love:

- a great running MP3 file or Cd or whatever. What do you love running to?

- a couple of easy favorite recipes- anything from appetizers to desserts to beverages.

- a list of the top things you like to do with your kids. Do you have made up games? Describe them to me.

- a quote that you think I might like based on what you know about me.

- a book you've read that you think I might benefit from or just enjoy.


You know what I'd like from my family? Instead of random tchotchke? I'd like babysitting. My time with my husband is way too infrequent. I don't need anything. Babysitting is such a lovely gift. I'd also like them to take a kid overnight- just one at a time. This is a lovely gift for the kid. Something they will remember more clearly than a set of legos. It also lends itself to more one on one time for the 2 that are left behind. A bonus gift.

I love and I hate this time of year for so many reasons.

Event Announcement!

I am going to re-launch my running with the "Jingle-Bell" run next weekend. It'll be a bit of a scientific experiment to see what the time difference will be between now- not running and last summer, running.

I miss this blog. Wow, I miss this blog.

Here's where I am and what I'm doing: GNMParents. I know a lot of you are parents as well as athletes... so consider this an invitation.

Have any thoughts on the toys in your lives? Share your ideas!

I love two

It's a chilly rainy day in Maine. I spent a long while snuggling with Lucy on the couch under a warm blanket.

She calls her elbows her elmos.

She is so so soft.

She pretend snores.

She is fascinated by her nipples and (much to my dismay) has stopped calling them hippos.

We've begun the preliminary potty training process- you know it's your 3rd kid when she wears her brother's underwear to potty train!

She and Clay have had such a lovely morning playing that I keep putting off her nap. There is nothing more warming on this planet than watching your kids play together happily.

Another day at our own pace, snuggling and lovin each other.


Hope your day's good, too.

Great Source for Holiday Gifts

I never really push products or companies, BUT... I do love to share really great experiences.

I ordered a travel coffee mug for my mother-in-law for her birthday. Here's my deal- I love giving photo gifts of the kids to people who I think would like them, but I am really very bad at getting an acceptable photo in the appropriate time frame so that I can order without paying an arm and a leg to ship it today and receive it a week ago.

I ordered the mug on Tuesday, it shipped on Wedneday, and I had it in my hot little hands on Friday without paying any extra shipping charges.

The mug itself was about $20. I was very pleased with the quality of the mug AND with the quality of the photo. I had to email my pictures to the company and there was a bit of a delay due to my email. They tracked me down to make sure I re-sent them. Then they let me know thru personal email that they had gotten the images and that the mug had shipped out. My interactions with the folks at the company were just fantastic and that is what it's all about. The company seems pretty small, and in my experience they are doing it all right.

Need a photo gift? Check out MarvelousMugs.com. They are currently offering a pre-holiday special (10%) as well as discounts on duplicate orders. (Coupon code: Holiday06).

If you place an order, share your experience with me! I think these folks rock!

Best Food I've Made Since Summer Ended

This recipe is nothing but fan-freakin-tastic and if you don't try it, well, shame on you. I made it for a whole mess of people, and just guesstimated the measurements, but the original recipe went something like this:

Crock Pot Thai Chicken

1 lb chicken breast cut into bite sized pieces (place in crock)

mix together:
3/4 cups Salsa
2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/4 cup sunflower seed butter (I've also made it with peanut butter, but the sunflower seed butter added a whole new dimention)
1 Tablespoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons grated gresh ginger

Mix into chicken. Cook on high for 3-4 hours. Serve over brown rice or couscous or even whole wheat spaghetti and garnish with fresh cilantro (ok, use a lot and mix it in YUM!).

Should've taken a picture, but we ate it all.

How are you guys, anyway? Share a favorite healthy fall meal here, would you? My diet needs some inspiration.