Family - the best thing on earth

Ran 5K on the treadmill in the morning while watching DVD "Mao's Last Dancer." Took 32 minutes. Felt great. It wasn't hard at all and I could go on and on. But I had to go work for the boyfriend.

Apparently the holiday festivities continue for my boyfriend's family.
We had lots of family coming down from all over the U.S., and we all gathered at Aunt E's house (or she lovingly calls it "my hotel").

Her place is out in a small, friendly community. Humble. Homey. House full of love.

All the kiddos...

I always feel incredibly lucky and blessed to be part of them.

Dashing Through The Snow Virtual Race

Hello everyone!
How about a virtual race done specifically on Christmas Day?


http://www.emblibrary.com/el/Products.aspx?CS_ProductID=D3494&CS_Catalog=Emblibrary



Race Date: Christmas Day 2011

Time: All day Christmas Day. When the clock strikes midnight till the next strike at midnight

Distance: 1 mile OR 5K (3.1 miles) OR 10K (6.2 miles) 
Type of Race: Run or Walk or Run and Walk
Optional: Feel free to deck yourself up with boughs of holly, or Santa suit, or anything that's Christmas-y.

Why This Race?
1. Because I need a race before the end of 2011.
2. Because we eat too much cookies, cakes, casseroles on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
3. Because some people need the run to get away and clear their head.
4. Because some people just need some kind of "race" to keep them accountable during the holidays.

What do you do?
Comment under this post if you want in. Now, this is a race to hold you accountable for working out on Christmas Day. You DO NOT have to commit to the distance. But if you want in, you are committing yourself to working out on Christmas Day. That's why I am keeping the distance pretty flexible because I know it will be a hectic day. But do at least take 15 or 20 minutes to walk with your kids/dogs/loved ones.
If you commit yourself to the race and didn't race, you will DNS. And there will be consequences! :)

After the race, take a picture of yourself in all the glorious Christmas sweat.
Email your picture to me at runchristinarun@gmail.com. 
Include the following information:
Your name.
Your blog.
Distance Ran:
Optional: A little blurb about the run or a random thought that occured to you? Or a Christmas cheer? Or if you have a race report, even better!

What will happen to those who DNS?
You will be featured too! I will have a list of DNSers. Hate me? Don't. I'm just trying to help. :)

Edited 12/15/2011: 
Remember, this is just a "race" to keep you moving on Christmas Day. So, even if you are walking to get coffee or walking the dog, it will work too. You may complete the distance all at once, or break it up into chunks. You may do it on the road, on the trails, on the treadmill, or even up and down your driveway.
Just keep moving .... :)

The Weekend, Food and Santa's Loot, and Goodies in the Mail.

On Saturday, I drove to the "big city" to visit a family member (it is my boyfriend's family, but he is as good as mine) in the hospital and then off to Sam's Club to pick up my treadmill. 

It was utter chaos at Sam's. Got two guys to help me load the treadmill onto my vehicle and they were trying to convince me that it wasn't going to fit! Just because the treadmill box doesn't slide all the way in doesn't mean it is NOT going to fit. I had called for measurements and cleared out my 4Runner and had all the seats down for this treadmill. There is NO way I am leaving Sam's without my treadmill. 

 Then, I went to my favorite Vietnamese restaurant and ate some pho. 

It is just some beef broth (really good, simmered for long hours beef broth), thinly sliced brisket and flank steak, rice noodles, jalapenos, bean sprouts, basil, and lime juice. 

Photastic! 

Got home late. 

Left all the Christmas in my vehicle so the boyfriend can help unload the next day.
There are a lot of other stuff stashed on the sides and this picture is horrible!

My manly man-friend got this heavy sucker moved into the house, all the way to the guest bedroom.

 And this is the main body of the treadmill.

 The instructions did call for 2 people to assemble. 

It should also call for some patience. 

I also had to go to the store to buy some screwdriver, wrench, and long-nosed pliers
because the boyfriend left his tool box at work.

And we took A LOT of breaks because I was getting aggravated. 

Now, it is UP and Running!!! 

I have yet to actually do a real run on it. 

The virgin ride...
Oh my... It has to be perfect!
(I will unveil the new treadmill and the virgin run!)

In the mail ...
I got this holiday postcard from Kyria
She gets bitten by the travel bug quite often ....

 I also FINALLY received my birthday present from my best friend all the way from Singapore. 

Love the card ... Ewe is kinda goat (and I am born in the year of the goat).
And a Mandarin CD.
Ha!!!
Mandarin CDs help keep me brushed up on my Mandarin. Really. 

Thank you, my bestest friend!! 

And I am a messy desk person. And I rarely have a spot that is kinda presentable. 

So here, relish.

The snowflake mug is from Hallmark.
My former boss at the papers gave that to me at our Christmas party when I was working at the papers. He was a weird fella and while I don't agree with how he handled a lot of stuff, I was always professional and respectful (since he is my supervisor and he is my elder).
But this mug ... oh my... I love this mug. (Well, his wife picked it out cos she worked at Hallmark).
I use it all year round. But during the holidays, the red and the snowflake ... it is simply festive!

Got anything fun other than bills in the mail?
Tell me!!!!

It's Beginning To Look .... (photos intensive)

 It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

My 9-foot Christmas tree is still in the box somewhere with decorations and ornaments stashed away in a box somewhere. I needed something Christmas for the house.
But, I don't want to spend a lot of money and I don't want to have a bunch stuff to put away (since I am still trying to put things away from our move).

So I bought these $1 stockings and personalized it.
Gonna add buttons and what-nots to prettify it.

 But right now, it is hanging on the mantle.
I'll add the finishing touches over the days.

 I love poinsettas. The red is so festive.
I really wanted a white one since the house has so much wood paneling
and maybe the white would brighten the place up a little.
But Wal-Mart only have reds.

Since I don't want to have to mess with nine feet worth of tree, ornaments and ribbons, I bought this little real plant at Wal-Mart.

Add some cheap glass ornaments and red bows and this is it!
Our 2011 Christmas tree.

I figured I can remove the bows and ornaments and leave the plant on the coffee table after Christmas
is over. And if it dies under my watch, I can simply toss it into the woods.

It's beginning to look like I am going to have an operational study.

I have been doing some painting in the study.
The wall is still in its original pink.

I wanted to paint it white (some kind of white - marshmallow white, linen white, crisp white ... you get it),
but since I am on a budget, I am leaving the wall pink (gasp!!!)

I opted to paint the shelves/bookcases the previous resident left behind.

Here, there are three colors.
The pink wall (far right. I am leaving the room pink.)
A dark grey
(The middle strip of color. It is the original color of the inside of the bookcase - which I am painting over.)
A lighter grey - the color I painted (on the far left. My boyfriend said it looks like over-riped exposed avocado).

I am not very adventurous when it comes to colors.
If there is one color I have to paint my world in, it will be WHITE.

The inside is done. The outside trims of the bookcase was some kind of creamy color. But it was in a pretty bad shape. So I painted it white. Semi-gloss white.

First coat is looking good.

It's beginning to look like I am not going to be running today or tomorrow. 

I am going to go pick up my treadmill tomorrow!!!!

So we'll probably spend the day getting it set up. 

 I was going to set up a "workout area" in the formal living room but since the previous residents still has majority of their stuff all consolidated in the formal living room and another room and porch .....

the treadmill is going into the guest bed room, which also is kinda like my sewing room.

It's a process.

(and yes, I am aware I have funky living situation. But oh well, I gotto be thankful for a roof over my head).

It's also beginning to look like I am addicted to these little cups of deliciousness.

Love fruit cocktail.
Love Jell-O.
Love convenience of two wonders in one cup!

So, what's going on in your world. What's it looking like these days?
Tell Me!!!

Christmas dilemmas.

1. Ran 3 miles on the treadmill at the Y. It started quite well because there was another person (a man in his 50s) running next to me. He was actually running and my peripheral vision caught a glance at his pace - 5.5.  So I kept up and I was feeling good. Then, he got a phone call on his cell phone and he was done.  I carried on the rest of it by myself.  Took me 34 or 35 minutes.
   
2. I said I would do 3 runs this week (which I did - Monday, Wednesday, Friday). But since Wednesday's run was not far and can barely qualify as a run, I am going to go to the Y again tomorrow and hash out another 5K.  My abs are still sore from Wednesday's crunches. It hurts so good. :)
   
3. November's mileage was pathetic. I will be working to get December's numbers up.
   
4. I am craving sugar. Like a coconut pie, or cheesecake, or tres leche cake.
   
5. I think the braces are definitely moving my teeth.Also, while I can eat better now, I am not eating much because I hate having food stuck between those braces. So, often, I chose laziness/anal retentive over food. I might still be losing weight since I haven't eaten much because it takes me twice or three times as long as before to finish eating something small. 
   
6. My boyfriend and I are going to be doing a lot more homemade stuff for gifts this year (for the adults) so that way, the other little nieces and nephews will still get their presents but we'll be able to cut down on the spending. What kind of homemade yummies do you like? We are thinking our homemade wine, two or three types of cookies/biscottis, roasted nuts, maybe some local produce like honey. Money's tight - since I am committing myself to the braces and I am helping my brother with some of his wedding expenses. I only have one brother, so, I want to contribute what I can for him and his quite cool wife-to-be.
   
7. I am still debating if I should put up my Christmas tree. Because it means moving more boxes and taking time to put it up, and take it down. Time I don't have. Argh. I can't believe I am considering this.
   
   I am sorry my posts have been just random points instead of a wonderful beautiful narration about my runs and my life. I find this is the quicker way to get the random bits of my life in. 

List and Who's Who At My Birthday Party?

Since all the businesses are putting out their Christmas decorations and Christmas trees and Christmas merchandise and my friends are cleaning to Christmas music, hey, why not work on your Christmas wish list?  Come share with me what's on your running Christmas wish list this year? I need some ideas to put on mine! (Cash for race registration is always good, right?)

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Who's Who At My Birthday Party?
Gotto give this girl some kudos! Denita came down with a nasty bug but still got dressed and ran on her treadmill. Look at her sporting that Bondi Band and that pretty smile.
She really is what her blog title says - Persevere!

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And I should also mention Jill over at Run With Jill "ran" with me on my birthday too.
And in you are definitely in for a treat! She very rarely does giveaways.
But right now, she is doing a Scorpion Sucker Giveaway!

Ah ha! You got that right. A sucker that has scorpion in it!
It is the month of the Scorpios, you know? 
I think if you are ooh-so-lucky, she will throw in a CSN gift card too!

Head over to her blog and check it out.

(EDIT: Thanks for all of you who ran. Sorry if it seems like I'm dragging this Who's Who. I figured, since you ran, I want to give you credit for your efforts and hopefully help other bloggers/readers find your blog. That's why I am only doing a maximum of 2 posts at a time.)