Running in the New Year

It was New Year's Eve, and I was on a plane coming home from Tucson, Arizona after spending the week with Patrick's family. The doubt was settling in my mind, only barely, but I was determined. Patrick was experiencing more doubt, and the desire to run a 4 mile race at midnight had dwindled to a mere nothing for him. "Do you we have to run this race?" he asked, looking at me with a most pathetic, although adorable, demeanor. "OF COURSE WE ARE RUNNING THIS! We may never do it if we don't do it tonight!!!!" I quietly said in an emphatic voice on the plane. "Okay," he conceded. And when I looked out my window as we were descending from the sky over Manhattan, I viewed the small block that was Times Square, thankful that that was NOT how I was going to say hello to 2012 and was feeling ready to run.

Fast forward a few hours later- Sarah, my Small Mom, Big City friend, came over to our house and we talked shop for a bit. She handed Patrick and I our race gear for the New York Road Runners Emerald Nuts 4 Mile Midnight Run (numbers, T-shirts, and hats), and we caught up for a bit about our holidays. Then, it was time. We trekked to the park via a very smelly subway, and entered a giant New Year's Eve party. The weather was a balmy 40 degrees, and so the trio of us walked around for a while, taking in the sites, waiting for the beginning of the race. As midnight neared, we headed over to the line of runners, feeling excited for 2012 to come. 10...9...8... here it is! The moment we have been waiting for...3...2..1! Happy New Year! The fireworks shot up high in the sky and for 10 minutes, we got to enjoy the show before we could even begin to run. Once we were off, we had to dodge a few of the thousands of runners that participated in the race, some wearing some crazy looking costumes, lighted up tutus, and a few nuns! It was great. Oh! and they served us champagne at mile 2 (although it was not champagne but really sparkling cider...which was still really fun). As soon as we were finished running the race, Sarah had to leave us to go home to her family, and Patrick and I went back home to drink some real sparkling wine, after which I felt a little sick and very sleepy.

It was a great was way to spend New Year's and there is no better way for New Yorkers to kick off a healthy and happy 2012. So, my next running goal is quickly approaching, which is the Tinker Bell Half Marathon in Disneyland! I am super pumped about this particular race because 1. I have NEVER been to Disneyland and 2. I am running this with my Aunt Susan, who began training for this when I asked her to join me after the Princess Half last year. She has been doing a great job training, and it will be a a really fun time being with her for the weekend. oh and 3. I have an awesome outfit this year...picture to come later.

I encourage you all who have made resolutions to get into shape this year to give yourself small goals to accomplish the big ones. Sign up for local races like a 5k or 4 miler. Then, if you love it (which you just might...I never thought I would but races are so much fun and you can collect lots of fun t-shirts) sign up for a half marathon...I recommend a Disney one for your first. They are completely entertaining for the entire 13.1 miles and the whole weekend is filled with many exciting events for the runners! Check out their website for more details and a list of events happening year round at http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/sports/rundisney. I will also be posting my number and some race details for when I run the half in a few weeks so you can follow my progress if you want!

Happy Running and Happy New Year!















Patrick and I in Central Park getting ready to run!

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Christmas in Vieques

Just as I promised, I will now bring you up to speed with my Christmas vacation in Vieques Island, Puerto Rico. It is a little island off the coast of Puerto Rico consisting of about 9,000 inhabitants, 600 or so roaming horses, and 1 major resort, the W, which is where we spent 5 glorious days. To get to said island, you can either take a ferry boat from San Juan to the little town of Isabel Segundo, or you can fly in the tiniest airplane that only holds 10 people, including the pilot. We opted for the plane, because we were advised that should we attempt the ferry we may not make it to Vieques because the residents have priority.

Tips for Viequen travel:
1. Rent a car- you will need it and want it. The island has many interesting beaches to explore and discover. You will also want to check out the Island's two main towns: Isabel Segundo and Esperanza. They are small, and you can enjoy them within an hour.

2. Go to the Bioluminescent Bay- it is something you will not want to miss. You could kayak or you could, like us, take an electric boat where your tour guides will tell you anything and everything you want to know about the bay. For instance, you will learn that the bay is filled with microscopic dinoflagellates that glow/illuminate when they are disturbed. We got the chance to see the fish swim through the water, at night, because they leave a blue streak caused by the microorganisms. We also got to stick our hands in buckets to see up close the dinoflagellates sparkling on our skin. So cool!

3. Eat the local food- oh how I love lechon and all things Puerto Rican!!!! I had yucca mofongo with churrasco, roasted pork many times, and paella! On Christmas afternoon, the W had a Puerto Rican smorgasbord with lots of amazing foods to feast on...and boy did I feast!

4. Don't be in a hurry- because no one else is. It is a place of slow pace, and it is a good reminder for a New Yorker that it is good to take it easy. There are lots of fun activities in which you can engage (snorkeling, stand up paddle boarding, hiking, horseback riding, boating, fishing), just give yourself as much or as little time so that you can truly enjoy the island's natural beauty.

5. Don't feed the horses- they say they are wild but they really aren't. Still, it is best to let them graze. Every horse we saw belongs to someone, but they are allowed to roam the island as they please. So, give them their distance, and they will give you yours. It is all about mutual respect.

Thus I leave you with a few pics before you book your next vacation there!

















Patrick's family and I hanging out at the fire pit at the W.





















This little piggy roasted for 7 hours and it was muy delicioso! He was the main dish on our Christmas buffet.




















The iguanas had their own tanning deck at the W. Everyday, they come out to enjoy some sun and lettuce snacks around 1 p.m.




















Sunset at Paya Caracas-this is how I spent my Christmas evening. It was serenely perfect.





















I just couldn't get away from the pigeons! Just like in NYC, this guy decided to make himself at home right outside on our deck (except the NYC pigeons hang out on our fire escape...we do not have a deck).




















The main pool at the W.


























Overlooking the water- W property. Shortly after this was taken, Patrick and I climbed down the cliff to check out the tide pools below. One of my favorite memories from the trip.




















Patrick was our "co-pilot" on the way back to San Juan. Adios Vieques! Gracias por los recuerdos.



Before I go, I must say that while staying at the W Vieques, we received exemplary service, lovely rooms, and enjoyed the property very much. I had an amazing spa treatment at the AWAY spa where I had the cafe con coco scrub and a 60 minute massage that was just divine. The staff sticks to their "Whatever, Whenever" motto, so all you need to do is ask, and you will receive!

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whoa it is 2012!

Hello New Year...goodbye bad grammar. For those of you who have been following me over the past couple of years , you might have noticed my lack of capitalization. Yes, it was on purpose...I thought it was whimsical and artistic? No, it was lame and lazy. So here I am changing up my blog by adding capital letters where they belong. I will also give my blog a new makeover, but give me some time for that.

I have two posts up my sleeve that I desperately want to share with my faithful readers. One is about my Christmas vacation in Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, and the other is about the Emerald Nuts 4 mile midnight run in Central Park that I ran to ring in the New Year. So please stay tuned for those exciting couple of posts!

Another change is I will no longer have "missions." I feel restrained by that, and there is so much else going on around me that I would love to share with you. New York City is filled with all kinds of stories, so I hope to pass those along.

Finally, I will write more that 16 posts this year. That was completely uninspired of me to leave you all hanging last year, and for that I apologize. I need to balance my writing, running, craft-making, and working so that I can keep you up on all the happenings with me and Patrick. My goal will be to write at LEAST!!!! one post a week. Modest a goal it may be, but I think I can commit to that without disappointing everyone. My original intention was to write a post everyday...HAHA! Yeah right, maybe if I was a professional blogger.

So here is to a new start of the new year. Hope 2012 brings you new adventures, however big or small, every day!

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mission: christmastime is here!

one question...when did that happen? i think i have been non-stop since my last post between family visits, work, cookie baking, and other interesting things along the way, i have not had a chance to sit down a write. oh well. i am not going to feel guilty about that, and patrick has been pressing me to write. it is just how it's been...i have priorities and the blog has gone to the wayside.

ok so anyway here is the rundown of what has been going on this month.

1. patrick and i saw over the rhine in concert! unfortunately we stood next to their so-called number one fan and he insisted on singing every effing song...out of tune. for those of you who do not know me, i play the violin, and along with this comes an ear that is so fine tuned that i can hear the slightest sharp or flat note. it is a curse. and it was especially so that night. at one point i stuck my finger in my right ear just so i would hear him less. other than that, otr was amazing as usual.

2. family came to town- we came, we saw, we conquered the christmas time lights of nyc. we also got to see daniel radcliffe in how to succeed in business without really trying. he was pretty good. i would recommend seeing him before he leaves at the end of the year.

3. my brother turned 30! go josh!!!!

4. my friend lindsay and her family came to town...we saw more lights and fun windows. we also were slightly attacked by a flock of pigeons. lindsay and i screamed and all of central park south stared at us in horror (not true but we were scared). btw my two least favorite and most hated birds on earth are seagulls and pigeons.

5. i baked, i sewed, i knitted...a lot! i made hats, ornaments, and lots of cookies (which have been consumed by patrick's and my offices in the past 2 days).

6. tomorrow i am saying goodbye to the place i have worked as a therapist for the past year. i have mixed emotions about it, but i am mostly satisfied that this is the right decision for me and the time.

so now that december is almost over, all i have left to do is head to puerto rico to spend christmas with patrick's family. i am looking forward to it, and hopefully it will be a time to finally slow down and enjoy the rest of 2011. and if i get the chance, i hope to write a post or 2 while in PR!

merry christmas and happy hanukkah to all my friends and family!

love and blessings as i sign off.
mission: accomplished.

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mission: thanksgiving and beyond

so we are almost a week out since thanksgiving, and i hope you all had an enjoyable one. i sure did! this year we traveled all the way down the turnpike to jersey/pennsylvania to spend the holiday with my family. first stop! tori and dylan's new home! we had the pleasure of staying with my sister this year because my mom had a full house...there was literally no room in the inn. we had our pre thanksgiving dinner at shileen's pub in westville where we enjoyed some good ole bar fare and a pumpkin pie shot! pretty good way to kick off the festivities if you ask me!

thursday morning patrick and i got up bright and early to get ready to go to my mom's house in PA. for those of you who do not know my lil mommy, this is her favorite holiday, and she and my step dad, kirk, pull out all of the stops.

this year my mom decided to have not one, but two turkeys. the best part is that she paid under $12 for both of them...total! the trimmings included: her most delicious stuffing, brussel sprouts with bacon, green bean casserole, candied yams, sweet potato casserole (made by yours truly), mashed potatoes, mimom's homemade cranberry relish, and roasted carrots with rosemary. for dessert we had pumpkin pie, apple pie, pumpkin delight cake, cheesecake, roasted pecans, candy...did i forget anything? oh yeah we topped it all with some homemade cinnamon vanilla whipped cream. yum!

before the meal we had cheese, hummus, salami, pepperoni, crackers, fruit...really the list goes on!!! so not only did my mom prepare the food, but she had a beautiful table all set for us.

here are some pics from the day!




















me and my mimom
























thanksgiving table. candelabra from anthropologie!
























kirk grilled one of the turkeys because the other one was in the oven roasting. it turned out great!






















turkeys side by side



















patrick and i are ready to dig in! yummy!























my mom's dog jack waiting for thanksgiving to begin and hoping for some scraps!

after stuffing myself full of tasty food all day, it was time to head home. a food coma induced slumber began as soon as i returned home to my sister's. the next day we spent the morning lazying around, picked up a new piece to our Christmas village from khols and then travelled to my dad's in millville, nj to get cheeseburgers from jim's lunch and hit up the annual christmas parade. it was fun hanging out with my dad and step-mom, cindy, as well as my brother, sis-in-law, and their son! after the parade we headed back to my dad's house for some hot chocolate and lots of xbox kinect! oh man did we dance our food off!

no pics from the parade...i forgot my camera at my mom's house.

saturday, 15 of us ventured out to hershey park to celebrate mimom's 75th birthday. the family first checked out chocolate world, rode the chocolate tour ride, got our free chocolate, and then stocked up on all the goodies you can't find in your average grocery store! then, everyone went to the hershey grille at the hershey lodge for a wonderful dinner. after stuffing my face yet again (good thing i am training for the tinkerbell half marathon or i would never make it without gaining weight), we went to hershey park to ride the rides and enjoy the 2 million lights they have set up!


















mom and zeph at chocolate world





















me and mimom on the chocolate tour ride!


















josh and zeph...someone is excited to see the lights in hershey park




















patrick and i ending the night on the monorail

after all the traveling back and forth from house to house to hotel and back home, i am still recovering! i did have a great time hanging out with my family, and i am looking forward to continuing celebrating the holidays with more friends and family.

this is beth signing off.
mission: accomplished

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mission: holidays in the city

every year, NYC becomes simply flooded with tourists to see our tree, our parade, our lights, our windows, our shows, and to shop of course! i also partake in all the amazing festivities, as it is my favorite time of the year. here are some suggestions for you as you visit our amazing city.

1. the tree-in the past i have recommended going to see the tree at rockefeller center, and this year is no different. i love the tree, and the season would not be complete if i didn't stand beneath its majestic bows covered in thousands of lights and topped with a most dazzling swarovsky crystal star. after viewing the tree, head north on 5th ave and check out all the store windows and lights that adorn the famous street.

2. holiday shops- there are three areas where you can shop for unique gifts, finding something special for everyone on your list. you will also find yummy treats to eat, so make sure you include that into your trip. the holiday shops are located at columbus circle (59th and central park west), bryant park (42nd between 6th and 5th aves) and union square (14th and 5th ave).

3. see a show- so you could go traditional and see the rockettes at radio city, watch the nutcracker ballet at lincoln center, or feel holidayish by going to the broadway musical elf. fine. but! if you want a show that will really send you into a joyful spirit, then you must go see godspell. this musical revival is not to be missed, and you will not regret making that choice over the other Christmas shows available in the city. godspell is full of amazing actors, strong singing, and a fantanstic set (it looks simple, but it has more to it than meets the eye). the jokes are modern with an ancient message behind it. please please please go see this show. if you aren't convinced yet, the music to the show was written by the same guy who did the music for wicked, stephen schwartz. i loved it and you may even be asked to join the cast on stage...why miss your chance to be in a broadway musical!

4. give- there are so many opportunities to help out those who are living without. the foodbank of NYC has a program where just $1 can provide 5 meals! wow...that is amazing if you ask me. we have over 20,000 individual and families who are currently homeless. you may pass them on the street, subway, or you may not see them at all. but they are out there, and they could use your and my help! just think, $10 will feed 50 people! i think there is no better way to spend your money than filling the stomachs of those who are hungry. and if you are not coming to NYC this year, you can still make an online donation. just go to http://www.foodbanknyc.org/ for information. if you do not want to donate to our city, why not give back to your own community?

for other suggestions check out my post http://bethinthebigapple.blogspot.com/2009/12/mission-nyc-during-holidays.html for more great ideas.

happy holidays and we hope to see you here!

this is beth signing off.
mission: it's just getting started!

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mission: an attitude of gratitude

thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, and not just because it is full of amazing food, although that is a HUGE perk. in the midst of the hustle and bustle, i like to take time to reflect on the year and allow true thanksgiving to fill my heart and soul. so here are the things i am thankful for this year.

1. family- i think of those in my life who are my true support and give me love year round. i can be a pain in the butt, a disappointment, or say something inappropriate and my family will stick by me through thick and thin. they also know how to bring out the best in me, and they support my crazy dreams, hoping that i find success and purpose in all that i do. my family is every growing too as i will be an aunt to two more little ones in 2012! that always makes me feel so joyful! also, i have family all over the country, and no matter where we are or where they are, i have several places to call home.

2. my husband- so technically he is my family, but i have to give a special thanksgiving shout out to him. he is my biggest fan, biggest support, and my biggest love. i know that he loves me unconditionally because he has to put up with my antics the most...and boy does he know how to handle me. he is the sweetest, most patient person in my life, and i am so thankful that he is mine. i am looking forward to our upcoming adventures we are planning for 2012, and i am glad he will be by my side through it all.

3. my friends- i have some pretty amazing friends, and they, too, are located around the country. i am blessed to see the ones who are close by and get to share in my experiences in NYC. i also get to catch up and receive support from those i can call up or skype with (i should mention that i am thankful for skype).

4. life in general- i am thankful for this life that God has given me. He has blessed us with so much (a roof over my head, food on my table, and jobs to provide us a living), and to Him i truly give all my thanks to. most of the time i am unaware of what God is doing in my life, but i know that he is always there loving me for who i am and guiding me as i try to figure out what i am doing along the way. this life is too beautiful to waste, this life God has given me, and waste it i shall not!

ok so i am thankful so much more, but that could lead to a very long and boring post. so, don't forget to count your blessings, and i challenge you to take time to reflect on what you are thankful for.

this is beth signing off.
mission: continually remembering to be thankful

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