{sweet tooth; looking "comfortable"}

I will be the first to admit that I have a sometimes-insatiable sweet tooth. Brownies. Cookies. Ice cream. Cakes. Yep. 

Sweet tooth or not, I try my best to eat a healthy diet. Plenty of fruits and veggies, not many bad snack foods, etc etc etc. I often forgo dessert at home {unless I have free time after my son goes to bed, and make a mug cake- which I often share with hubs}. 

All that being said, sometimes there is just nothing like a warm, chocolatey, gooey corner piece of a fresh pan of brownies. {...there are four corner pieces... my mouth is watering}

I may have noticed that my sweet tooth has been getting the better of me lately... and yes, the frigid temperatures and frequent snow-fall has somewhat sucked my workout motivation out of me, and no. I'm not happy about it. 

BUT, darling hubs told me the other day that I was looking a little "comfortable" {in his defense, he did say that both of us were} and that really kicked my butt. 

At first I was pissed. {How dare he?!?}
Then, I got even more self-conscious. {If he thinks I look "soft", everyone else must think worse}. 
Then, I realized: If the man I'm married to, and have asked to be honest with me about everything, and have entrusted with the position of my life-long partner can't tell me that I've {maybe} gained a few... who can?!? After all, he also named himself as a guilty party in  winter-weight gain, so what's wrong with keeping each other in check and healthy?

The logical side of me is happy that I married a man who won't lie to my face and let me leave the house in a dress that DOES make my butt look big... {or actually let my butt get big in the first place} the emotional side of me is going to get over it- right after she finishes the brownies. 

It's time for me to get off my butt, and get back to the gym. 

{Cycle for Survival 2014; quick NYC trip}

The "Shore Girls" 2014

This past weekend was my Cycle for Survival ride in NYC. Just like last year, it was an amazing experience- a room filled with enthusiasm, inspiration, and the most amazing energy you could ever experience. This year was different though, because of who I got to ride with. It was the first year since her diagnosis and treatment that my cousin was able to ride as a Survivor... being a part of her victory ride was pretty beautiful {even though she may say otherwise due to her hate of sweating in public}. I could not have been more proud to be there, and I am already looking forward to next year. 

I also got to stroll through the city for the first time in a long time... I haven't been up to New York in a while. In fact, I may not have been up since last year's ride. My hubs and I had planned a date day in the city last summer, but that day ended up being far from what we had planned {more on that another time}. It was nice to walk the city streets and remember just how awesome New York is. 

I got to grab lunch at the Kati Roll Company... it was recommended by one of the docs I work with, and I will definitely be stopping there again... Quick, delicious, simple, homemade Indian street food. {YUM!} My only regret is not getting more than one roll. 

{cycle for survival}

Me and my team 2013

Once in a while... if we're lucky, we get to be a part of something amazing. Have one of those spine-tingling, goosebump-making, is-this-a-movie? experiences. 

Cycle for Survival is one of those experiences for me. 

There is a lot of cancer in my family. Typically, it has affected the older generations... But, a few years ago, it decided to strike young. One of my cousins was diagnosed with breast cancer at 31 years old. Thankfully, today she is a survivor. She is an incredibly strong woman with an awesome sense of humor and a big heart- I cannot imagine the world without her- or her new baby girl. 

After being diagnosed, she sought out the best at Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC. She is my link to Cycle for Survival. 

Cycle was started by a former patient and has grown into something amazing. Once an event held with a few spin bikes in one small gym; Cycle now takes place all over the country, with hundreds of bikes... and raises millions of dollars. {100% of which gets allocated to research projects within six months}. 

What blows me away about Cycle is the energy. Current patients, survivors, parents, sisters, brothers, friends, and co-workers all affected by cancer {in one of its many forms} fill the gym with the most unbelievable energy I have ever experienced. They share stories, they honor memories... they stay positive. They fill others with hope {even after experiencing devastating losses}. 

Last year, I cried. I smiled. I laughed... I was in awe of all of the amazing people who came together in one room to really make a difference. It was humbling. Empowering. Breathtaking. 

This year, I will do it again. I am proud to say that I am a part of such an amazing event. I am proud of my family's survivors, and of those we have lost. 

I'm gonna help kick cancer's ass. 

{couch to 5k and beyond: a race to my 30th birthday}

So, in 346 short days, I will be turning the not-so-big 3-0. I never thought of myself as the type of person who would mind such things. I love my little budding laugh lines, can deal with plucking the occasional gray hair, and generally don't feel old. Sure: I prefer to stay in my pj pants at home, watching Hulu, sipping a glass of wine- or gin and tonic- as compared to going out clubbing- yes, I do think the music is loud... but that doesn't make me old. It's just my personality, right?

It wasn't until the other night at work when a pleasantly confused patient asked me what my goals were that I really started to think about what me being thirty meant. 

There are a lot of things that I thought I would have done by now. I haven't traveled hardly anywhere on my list of places to see; I haven't finished having kids- my goal was 2 by thirty and then done; I haven't obtained my ultimate dream job; bought my perfect house; obtained the wardrobe I dream of; lived the romantic carefree life you see in movies; finished graduate school- something, it turns out I don't really want to do anyway... the list goes on and on. 

The more I think about it, the more I come up with. Granted, some of the items on the list are silly or unrealistic, but some are completely reasonable and attainable. 

I've decided after some sulking- followed by some rational thought, and a self-inflicted kick in the butt- that sure, there are things that I haven't done BUT hopefully, I have time. Life is a work in progress, and I need to stop thinking of it as a "To-Do List"- yes, I am still keeping the list in the back of my mind for future motivation. 

So, rather than freaking out about what I haven't accomplished in my 29 years, I am going to celebrate and enjoy what I have done... and work on doing my best to send my 20's out with a bang... while running 13.1 miles through Disney. 

The Walt Disney World Marathon weekend has always been held on my birthday weekend in January. Traditionally, my mom and I would head to WDW to celebrate my day, and about 15? years ago during our annual getaway I took notice of the fun, and added running in the weekend-long event to my bucket list. There it has sat. Well, it's time to get off the bench. 

Once upon a time, I was athletic, I loved working out and did so regularly... then I got lazy- enjoyed college, got married, pregnant, busy- kicking into gear when I needed to [read, in order to lose almost 60lbs of baby weight] and then letting life get in the way of regular exercise.  

SO, after my aforementioned kick in the butt, pre-planning, and shoe shopping- I've started my adventure. First, I'm working on the well-known Couch to 5K program. Then, I will take on half-marathon training. 

I am going to turn 30, dressed as Minnie Mouse, running through the Magic Kingdom- with my Mickey Mouse costumed hubs running by my side. 

I haven't been this excited about something in a while... it has been almost as fun as planning my wedding was! Thirty is going to be thrilling!

I've already picked out my skirt.
... and my shirt.
Unless I decide to go really big, and wear a tutu.