What is that annoying noise? Oh yes, my alarm.

6am came awfully early this Monday morning. I was blessed with a two week holiday from work and I slept in most days. I don't normally need an alarm since my circadian rhythm (and two 4 1/2 yr olds) has a +/- 10 minute window of accuracy; however, this cold morning required an extra step. I'm back to work, the kids are back to school and so goes the weekly routine.

I will be walking/running 4 miles today after work. Inside of course -- it is still 10 degrees outside. Currently my pedometer has 2106 steps. This little contraption is very sensitive. I went to check my progress yesterday, after running errands with the kids, and my forearm must have hit the reset button because total steps equaled 601. Only 601! I know that before the movies I was over 6,000. To be fair, I didn't want to estimate. My first day of tracking ended up being n/a.

Today's goal -- not fall asleep at work. daily naps during the holiday is the culprit.

Diet tidbit -- fat makes you fat. Only the good fat will do!

A kick in my step. A pedometer on my hip.

Health practitioners say you must walk 10,000 steps a day. One of my Christmas gifts this year was a pedometer. I measured my stride, attached it to hip and have my begun my journey to 10,000. One of the races I'm participating in this season is the Annapolis 1/2 marathon. My training partner is H and we couldn't be more excited to be racing together. Our plan is to spend every Sunday doing our 'long' segments. Week 1 was a 4 miler. Not today. It is currently 22 degrees with a -12 wind chill. We don't live in Chicago or Buffalo where that type of day is a walk in the park. Our closets are not filled with the necessary layers of wool, cotton and fur. We decided that hot chocolate and a movie were our better option. We start next Sunday.

A savvy young lady shared with me her favorite diet tip - you may love food, but you have to love thin better. As I embark in my first 10,000 steps, I'm also designing a new eating regime of less of everything, but more fruits and veggies.

breakfast - egg white omelet w/ roasted red peppers
snack 1 - apple

lunch - 1/2 cup oatmeal w/ pumpkin
snack 2 - trail mix

dinner - veggie pizza w/ goat cheese and tofu sausage

total calories consumed = 1500. total steps taken =

first goal = 10 pounds lost = a brand new nook from Barnes & Noble.

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A cold weekend wouldn't be the same without a trip to the movie theatre. The twins have been begging to go see Alvin and the Chipmunks (the Squeakquel). Today I will make their wish a reality. The Washington Post movie critic, who is usually disappointed in sequels, wrote that this one is bearable. I hope he is right or I just wasted $27 + money for snacks.

I rubbed my eyes and the calendar said January 2010

This blog appears every time I open internet explorer, but I just realized that my last post was February 2009. That was 10 months ago. What a year it was. I won't type a long summary of 2009, but let me just say that we hit some major bumps in our lives. On to 2010!

I may be the only follower of my own blog, but if you happen to read my posts from time to time, you'll remember that I challenged myself to a triathlon last year. I am happy to report that I finished four and added a few 5ks in for fun. I was one proud athlete. The problem with signing up for so many was I was physically exhausted most days. I have decided that in 2010 I would continue on my path to keeping active and healthy, but my body has kindly asked that I not do so much. I will do longer, more challenging races, just fewer of them. So far I have one triathlon planned in August and a 1/2 marathon in June. Having taken the last three weeks of December off from training, I am excited to be back in the gym as of this morning.

I don't like making too many resolutions, because I must be 100% dedicated to them in order for me to complete them, but I do have many 'must dos' in 2010. I will share a few:

• Post at least three days a week (with training schedules and diet goals)


• Relearn how to sew and continue my knitting


• Enroll the kids in Girl/Boy Scouts


• Be a better recylcer.


• Save $2,000


• Use less bad language.

I am currently purging closets, drawers and storage boxes. A clean slate for the new year.

My hubby the carnivore

The challenge is getting harder by the day. Why? Well because, I enjoy eating meat. If the doctor told me no more red meat, fish or chicken for the rest of my life, I think I'd rather dive off the Key Bridge with a bloody fillet in my hand! I'm enjoying the tofu and the added vegetables, but preparing two meals where the aroma of grilled meat in the kitchen makes it cheating very easy.

I HAVE NOT cheated, but watching KG eat his meal while smiling with satisfaction is just breaking my heart. I know the pluses to living a 'green' lifestyle, but why can't tofu be just a bit more tasty. Two evenings ago, I pulled out pork chops from the freezer. They were breaded and baked and looked so scrumptious.

I'm trying to find some more vegetarian recipes. I just don't know if I can do another night of sauteed veggies. My FB friends have been sending me suggestions. I'm still in my research phase of this challenge.
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Day 4 -5

Breakfast - Yogurt and granola
Lunch - Hummus w/ veggies & pita chips
Dinner - Leftover couscous
Snack - an entire bag of Hanover's baked cheese curls (I couldn't help myself there!)

Temptation

There are many positives about working from home - less work interruptions, mileage savings on the SUV, lower household expenses (ie - gas), walking John & Kathryn to school, being a classroom mom, etc. The list really could go on for miles. One of the negatives of working from home - grazing opportunities.

It's harder to graze at the office. I take my lunch almost every day that I'm on campus (snacks, too) and the candy bowls don't have the goodies that I like. I focus on the tasks of the day without ever thinking about my hunger. My house, on the other hand, has everything that I like. When I'm sitting with my laptop, I'm constantly thinking about what I can snack on. It doesn't matter how busy my day is, I find myself wandering to the kitchen. I've found that having a cold drink (water, iced tea or lemonade) has helped me stay away from the 'danger zone'. I've also stocked my pantry with nuts and dried fruits.

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Day 3

Breakfast - shredded wheat with Soy Milk
Lunch - Hummus with baked Parmesan chips
Snack - McDonald's fruit & walnut salad
Dinner - Couscous w/ pine nuts, tomatoes and silken tofu

Exercise

30 Minutes of lap swimming
3.5 Mile run

I heart Soy

I have received many positive words of encouragement as day 2 of my vegetarian challenge comes to a close. While I'm not exclusively removing dairy from my diet, I will be replacing regular milk with soy milk. Kevin will wrinkle his nose in disgust, but Soy Milk really isn't too bad and the protein is important to my training. Truth be told, I really like it. I've bought Silk Soy milk from time to time (usually when I have a coupon), so I am already accustomed to the taste. Lately, I've been substituting my morning coffee creamer with Chocolate Soy and I make a delicious strawberry/blackberry shake with the Vanilla Soy. The Silk Soy company offers soy 'light', so I'm not too concerned about calories. You can't beat only 80 calories/serving.

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Day 2

Breakfast - Bite-size spinach quiche
Snack - Almonds w/ dried cherries
Lunch - Yogurt w/ granola
Dinner - Roasted potatoes (leftovers) with melted Swiss

Exercise

30 minutes of lap swimming

Can I be a vegetarian for 30 days

The few blog followers I have know that I am participating in my first triathlon this coming May. With just three months left until I plunge into Smith Mountain Lake, I've decided to make some small changes to my diet. With all my swimming, biking and running, I needed to increase my protein intake. While I love a beautifully grilled steak (medium rare, please), I've decided to live the next thirty days as a vegetarian. I will be substituting my usual proteins with soy, peanuts, legumes and more leafy green veggies. My sister is a vegetarian and she makes it look so easy, so I've stepping up to her challenge. To help me keep to this challenge, I will be chronicling my daily diet.

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Day 1

Let me just say, the first step is always the hardest. It's even harder when you've spent the night before having a four course meal at Pelana in Washington, DC. This date night with my good friend Holly, her boyfriend Tony and Kevin was a superb gastronomical experience. The gnocchi (course #2) and the braised duck with pureed peas (course #4) made waking up to this change very difficult.

Breakfast - vegetarian link sausage, small coffee cake & peaches. Coffee w/ Chocolate Soy.
Lunch - Silken tofu with broccoli
Snack - Cup of Almonds & dried cherries
Dinner - Roasted potatoes, onions, and garlic.
Dessert - Sliced Apples

Since Kevin is not participating in this challenge, meals where we dine together will continue to include steak, chicken, seafood. I will just omit those items from my plate.

At the end of this challenge, I will be leaving for a girl's weekend in Disneyworld (FL) where I will be participating in my first spring 5k.

Merry Christmas

Tricks & Treats

This October found Spidey and Glenda the Good Witch at the Glasscock home. While neither child likes to put on a costume, they cooperated for mommy on Halloween. After a chocolate filled day at preschool, John & Kathryn walked the neighborhood gathering additional candy. We made it to four homes before they asked to return to sitting on the porch. We saw many creative costumes this season.

Please enjoy more pictures from this year's collection.

Is it October already?

What happened to September? The twins went back to school and now it's time to think about Halloween costumes. We had another month of busy - back to school night, lots of Silpada parties, Mommy being sick with whooping cough, a visit from Dee and the kids, and a weekend trip to Richmond. Wooph, we're tired....

John & Kathryn are thriving at school. Good marks all around. Kathryn is in her repeater mode - every word or sentence out of my mouth is repeated clearly and articulately out of hers. This goes for bad words, too (i.e. - the f-bomb). John is reading out loud his favorite book (Llama Llama Red Pajama). He likes to crawl into bed with me and tell me the story in his words.

I don't know what the twins will be for Halloween yet. Their costumes from last year still fit, I may just recycle the witch & dino one more year. Our neighborhood has seen an increase in families with kids. I expect candy distribution to be popular.

Kevin ends his eight week training program today. One word - YIPPEE!! These last eight weeks were important for his career development but not easy on any of us. I am very proud of this accomplishment, but look forward to some normalcy in October.

The leaves are changing, the crisp autumn morning air has arrived and the pumpkins are being picked. I love autumn.

Boo Boo Patient

You should see what the other pre-schooler looks like! Just kidding. John wasn't in a fight. We had a stroller accident and this was the end result. While jogging them to school yesterday, the pivot wheel malfunctioned (i.e. - popped off). What happened next - stroller flips, daddy falls on top of stroller, and John gets a boo-boo. I was almost at work when Kevin called. I immediately turned the car around and met them at the pediatrician's office. No broken bones or chipped teeth. Just some gravel burn & a split upper lip. Nothing a little ice cream can't fix. Grandma Busardo came over for some extra TLC. Kathryn told John last night that 'it's okay' when he had to take his medicine. I'm so proud of her compassion. And I'm extremely proud of what a big boy John was through this ordeal.

These scratches are just the beginning of many!

Couch to 5k

At a recent play date my girlfriend & I were discussing my decision to race in a triathlon. I mentioned that the hardest part of the three components would be the running. I just am not a running/jogging fan. She recommended a website that got her back into shape - couch to 5k (www.c25k.com). I have one word about this website - FANTASTIC! I've downloaded the weekly podcasts and did my first run. It's not so bad. The music is a little cheesy, but the intervals of running/walking are keeping me positive. Since most of my exercising includes pushing the twins in a jogger or pulling them on bike trailer, I should do pretty well when I'm solo! We are planning on running the Jingle Bell 5k in Dec-08.

The new school year begins tomorrow. That means me lite commute these last few months has come to an end. On Wednesday, the Gtown kids return to class. It's going to be a hectic week.

Summer Stay-cation

For the last few years, my parents have been renting a place in Myrtle Beach. This year would be no different. We would go for seven days the second week of August. Unfortunately, our plans were altered when Grandpa Busardo fell ill and it was decided we wouldn't travel. Instead of the beaches of South Carolina, I spent the week home with the twins. Kevin wasn't going to be able to join us at the beach this year because of the intensive management program he's currently enrolled. The twins and me stuck to our normal routine, except I didn't go into the office.

Our stay-cation began with the installation of our new 46" LCD television. We only missed the first thirty minutes of the opening ceremonies [of the 2008 Olympics]. It was beautiful to watch in high-def. We spent the next two days with friends - FiFi came to visit us for antiquing in Old Town Frederick. We then joined an old friend, from my corporate days, for a play date with her son. Since I was at home, I couldn't avoid a few around the house type chores - laundry, addressing August birthday cards, and yard sale tagging. Oh, and a new hairstyle. It'll take some getting used to (it's really short), but I think I'm going to like it. I made sure to get out on my bicycle -- 13miles/day for three days straight. My biking goal is 12 miles under 60 minutes! Thursday was spent in Baltimore. Grandma Busardo and me took the twins to the Maryland Science Center. We had tickets to the Body World 2 exhibit. The body is both fascinating and disturbing at the same time. To see it plasticized and quartered left me thinking about how I need to take better care of my body. Wow! Smoking really is a disgusting habit. And a coal miner's lung - there aren't words to describe it. I spent Friday in Arlington with Diana and her kids for our third play date of the week. A trip to Arlington just isn't the same without Joe's Pizza for lunch. We talked about Facebook and how there are four types of Facebook friends - the collector, the get-back-in-touch, the voyeur, and the peeping tom. I couldn't help but laugh when she shared her theories on Facebook. For me, I'm still finding the popularity of Facebook a bit creepy. Saturday meant a trip to the Montgomery County Fair. The twins identified all the animals, listened to a rooster crow, and loved petting the bunny rabbits. And, it wouldn't be a fair without a funnel cake. I haven't seen much of Kevin since he's been working twice as hard! We can't wait for October 1 - the end of his program.

It's back to work tomorrow. I'm not sure what will await me. I tried not to check email too many times. The buildings didn't burn down, which means it will most likely be business as usual. It would have been nice to sit on the beach for a week, but I'm not sure this year's trip would have been a vacation [sans Kevin]. I enjoyed the time off and look forward to my next real vacation. At least I saved $200-$300 in gas. And the naps! I haven't napped in weeks. Those afternoon siestas felt so good.

I'll end this post with a John & Kathryn update. They have gone from silent children to non-stop talkers. And, they hit another milestone today. As Grandma Busardo and I were chatting, they hopped on their tricycles and pedaled around the house. Today was the first day they actually pumped their pedals! The kids are growing like weeds. Maybe we should have another.

Triathlon Training

In a past post I mentioned I was training for a triathlon. The training continues. The triathlon isn't until 2009, but I'm glad I made the decision to do this. I'm getting in better shape, I'm eating better (no more meat), and feeling invigorated. My training focus for August is bicycling. It's been at least 10 years since I've been on a bike (for more than a few minutes). My neighborhood has rolling hills. I'm getting my balance and great practice shifting my gears.

My legs burn by the end of my ride, but my backside is looking slimmer. The tri is a 20k (approximately 12 miles). It was suggested that I train for a 15 miler, so that the 12 miles don't seem so hard the day of the race. I'm at the 12 mile mark, just need to add another 3 miles to my route. The 12 miles are taking me a little less than 1 hour. That time will improve as I continue my quest.

Next training step is the swimming. That will be my winter goal. Thanks to everyone for their continued encouragement.

Sony LCD -- Delivery Tomorrow

We lasted less than one week. While Kevin was plotting my revenge for not running out and buying a new television, I was secretly doing my homework on what to buy. I found a Sony LCD Flat Screen. Kevin gave his approval this evening. And now, it's ours. Bonus points for it being on sale this week!

Kevin is home tomorrow. His mission - to pick up the television, dismantle our current tv armoire, install the new tv, and all hook-up all the other peripheral accessories! His mission must be completed before I come home from work.

Thankfully, the tv should be up and running before the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. Go USA.

TV Status

It's been 4 days, 8 hours and 17 minutes since our television stopped working. The Best Buy delivery truck will not be making a stop at our house. Why? We are going to see how long we can last without a television. My parents offered up one for theirs as soon as they heard about our situation. We respectfully declined. Kevin is going through some serious television withdrawl. Me, not so much. I'm missing my Bravo TV shows (date my ex, project runway) and my new favorite show on TBS (My Boys). But I think I'll survive (hint - I can catch the episodes missed online).

How long can we last?

What are we to do -- the television has malfunctioned. Our Sony TV has a sleeper mode that won't switch off. Kevin called the Sony people, the Best Buy people and a few friends that know something about televisions. It will cost $150 just to get a technician out to the house. Their earliest time available is next Thursday!!

What many of you may not know is that we have only one TV in our entire home. It's in the family room in the basement. Whatever are we to do without the boob tube? I am of two minds. One, the TV is an unnecessary luxury. We just don't need it. Sitting down being lazy isn't healthy. The other, of course, is that it is my ally when the twins are melting and will only be distracted if SpongeBob, Dora, Deigo or the Bumble Bee movie is playing.

Just how long can we go without it?!?! So far, 10 hrs and counting.....

Business Trip

Who doesn't like a four day business trip to Chicago? Not me! Chic-a-go is only my FAVORITE city. I'd move there in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, my current job (which I really like) keeps me in DC. I telework two days a week (my butt firmly planted in MD), but I think I'd be stretching it if I moved to Illinois and asked for a telecommuting arrangement! The conference doesn't begin until Sunday, which means Saturday will be spent walking Michigan Ave, coffee with a friend, and just taking in the city I love. I'm looking forward to two private museum tours - the Field Museum & the Contemporary Art Museum. If time permits, I'll check the baseball schedule to see if either the Cubs or White Sox are playing at home. Grandma Busardo is coming for a long visit. With her around, the twins won't miss me. Or......maybe they will.

I can gauge just how much Kathryn is mad when I leave her for more than a day. My 'missing mommy' system dates back to when the twins were just thirteen months and I left them for a business trip to Hawaii. From the moment Kevin picked me up at the airport, she wouldn't let me touch her (no hugs, no kisses, no cuddling) for almost two weeks. Her screams in the mini-van would have made you think there was a stranger abducting her. First I thought, okay she's mad I left. But when daddy would ask for a kiss and would get not one, but ten; I was hurt. I would ask and the head would turn, the hand would come out and I would get a resounding 'NO'. It was the cold shoulder for mommy. I wasn't going to fight it. I let her decide when mommy could come out of the dog house. Things got better in year two -- it only took about four days for her to warm back up. I'm thinking now that they are three and have many distractions (bicycles, pools, grandma), I won't get the evil eye when I return. Keep your fingers crossed.

If my camera can fit in my carry-on bag, I'll be sure to take lots of pictures of my favorite US city.

Kutztown Festival

This past weekend, Grandma Busardo and I took the twins for a quick trip to Northeastern, PA to visit the Ferrandinas. Our trip began with a stop in Kutztown for the town's annual festival. After funnel cakes, Quaker baskets, tuba playing and a quick afternoon rain shower we headed to my relatives home for pool time and good eats. Please enjoy the photos.

Little Rock and back again

As soon as I arrived back home from Roanoke, Kevin and I packed the twins for our annual trip to Little Rock, Arkansas. Why Little Rock you may ask? To visit Kevin's grandma and uncle. This year would mark our third trip since the twins arrived; the second year flying. We drove the first year and decided that even with a stop to visit my friend and her family in Nashville, the distance was just too much. Thankfully, United added a direct flight from Dulles to Little Rock about six months ago. We flew through Charlotte last year and that wasn't the most pleasant of experiences. Let's just say that a certain (daughter) someone almost had us all escorted off the plane because they wouldn't put their seat belt on! The flight this year was full (who knew Little Rock was a popular destination), but with the current state of our airline industry, I'm going to hedge my bets and say that this schedule will be cancelled because the analysts will tell you it isn't cost-effective.

We had a lovely visit with Grandma and Uncle Grand Papa (Uncle Ken) who live in Conway, a little town forty miles northwest of Little Rock. Actually, I wouldn't call it a little town considering it has more churches than Arlington and is the home to three Universities. The demographics would also suggest that this town is the upper crust of Arkansas. They live across from the 18th hole of a country club and we enjoyed watching the golfers try to chip in their shots every afternoon while sipping our sweet iced tea. Conway is not Washington. You function at a different pace, eat three square meals a day (at a table), and nap in the afternoons. We were spoiled!! The highlight of our trip was to the Arkansas Room at the Faulkner County library to admire the town celebrity -- Uncle Ken is a master wood-turner and was asked to display his work. We spent an afternoon admiring his collection (my favorite piece is the Limb Vase, pictured above -- and I hint every time we visit just how much I love it). Uncle Ken has made us a few pieces and we display them with pride at our house.

One afternoon we all hopped in the minivan for a trip to Playworld. Think of it as the Little Rock version of Chuck E Cheese minus the smell of feet (since they make the kids wear socks). They played air hockey and skeet ball; jumped in the basin of balls; and just had an overall good time. They even accumulated (with the help of mom and dad) enough tickets for one plastic snake each! The twins enjoyed a bubble bath in Grandma's jacuzzi tub. With the jets blasting, they've never seen so many bubbles. On our second to last day, we went to Kevin's favorite restaurant -- the Fish House (best place for catfish that side of the Mississippi) for some green tomato relish, homemade hushpuppies and thier signature catfish.

After five days, we had to say our goodbyes and headed back to Washington. We were almost charged $100 because one of our bags weighed more than 50lbs. We frantically rearranged our checked bags and the larger bag came in at 49.7lbs. Just under the wire! We returned home rested and lazily wishing that our vacation could last a few days longer. Actually, mine will since I'm not scheduled to return to Georgetown until Wednesday. Now that the laptop is fired up, I'm sure I'll be clearing emails and checking reports from my couch. Kevin went back to work today, but then has the next two days off. I see an afternoon at the pool with daddy tomorrow!

Me and the twins are off to Kutztown, PA this coming weekend to visit with my Uncle and his family. Our summer has become quite a hotbed of activity. July is around the corner and more exciting events (for one - my Silpada business launch) awaits us!