10 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 1, 2 & 3

Lately, I have so many things going around in my head that I cannot make them settle coherently. This is good timing though, since last year I joined up with Lisa to do the 10 Days of Thanksgiving and it's about that time again! Like last year, I will not necessarily do one a day, but there WILL be 10 things! You can see the ones I did last year here. Also like last year, I am a little late to the party. That's the way it goes in November, I guess. The first three are kind of a theme... Here they are: Things I am thankful for this year, number 1, 2 and 3!

1. Where I Live

The neighborhood

This year I am lucky to be in the Bay Area, where the weather is perfect running weather all year round. No matter what you like to do, it is here. Within walking distance, there are restaurants, grocery stores, running trails, art, wine and easy biking paths. It is all here! There is something for everyone and the everyones are varied. I like having varied everyones around me.

2. Great Food 

Pancakes at La Note

Ethiopian? Vietnamese? Nepalese? Burmese? YES PLEASE! I love all the great ethnic food near me and let me tell you, I MISS that when I am working around the country. I get so tired of fried food and meat with gravy. I want a nice, steaming hot bowl of Pho! So that's great. My other favorite thing to do is Brunch. I have a list of places To Try that I am working on, albeit slowly! Some of my local favorites? Brown Sugar and Sams Log Cabin. This is up for change though! Any suggestions?

3. Places to Run 

Huckleberry Preserve

This deserves a post all on it's own, but it is so nice to not only have a great neighborhood to run in, but also several paths nearby. Best of all, there are several parks with many, MANY different trails to run on. As you know, trail running is my favorite thing to do and I also think running hilly routes is better for you, is less monotonous and makes you stronger overall. So having these so near to me is pure BLISS. I don't ever want to live anywhere where I don't have trail access ever again!

What are you thankful for this year? What is your favorite thing about the area you live in?

What a Week

It's been a while since I've done a Week in Review post! I love doing them, since it's a great way for me to remember what I did throughout the week. I am surprised at how putting it together on a list makes me seem so much more productive sometimes! Not that I am not, but it just reminds me of what I DID do, rather than making me worry about what I did not.

Last Sunday, I went with a friend for a run and then brunch. The place we went to for brunch had really great food and bottomless mimosas, made with fresh fruit juice. The waiter comes around with a pitcher and in order to try the next kind (there were about 20) you have to down the one you have. Sure, the glasses are only 6 oz, but they add up!

 What started out as an innocent Sunday morning brunch....

See those teeny, tiny glasses? 

...ended up as Dance Party USA. 

Hey. There was Madonna.

And 2 Live Crew.

It rained a lot this week. 

View from the back porch.

The sun did peek out from time to time, enough so I could catch up on my

reading,

coffee drinking,

and sunshine loving.

That coffee cup holds about a third of the pot. 

I love it.

I also learned that "Cher" hair is back in style. 

Um, ladies, I have had that hair for the last 30 years. 

Well I guess you have to be "in style" once every 30 years.

Note the insert. 

It says "Don't go overboard.  Leave a little body. Poker straight hair is not always flattering"

Yeah. Like I said. 30 years.

I made a couple of care packages for my loved ones.

And this is why I believe in Karma...

The VERY SAME DAY...I received two blog prizes in the mail! 

A Nature Box that I won from Carrie. 

And Profoot insoles that I won from Marcia.

Heads up people. Do you love boxes?

Or organizing? 

Or organizing with boxes? 

Target special = $1 each! 

This weekend I went running, went grocery shopping and cooked up a storm.

Two kinds of chili.

And a pan of brownies. 

I did not eat this entire thing by myself. 

Only the entire edge part. 

The middle got cut out and made into...

 

These! Brownie Balls! 

Not quite the same as the cake pops I made last time, but close.

 

I had to try one. It was pretty darn good. Except that I really didn't need it. 

After I licked the batter spoon. 

And the bowl. 

And ate all the edges of the brownies. 

And all the leftover melting chocolates.

I feel sick. 

How was your week? Have you ever had bottomless mimosas? Be honest, how much of the brownie pan can you eat in one sitting?