Christmas in South Carolina

We do things just a little bit different in the south.

This year was only the second time I hadn't been back home in PA for Christmas. The first time was in 2009, when I had only been at my job for a few months and couldn't take the time off for both Christmas and Thanksgiving. Each year we can only make the 800 mile trip for one or the other, certainly not both when they are so close together. So it was a quiet Stewart Christmas- just Doug and I with Karma, Pepper and Senior Gato.

...and Melissa Facey (she's peeking out at the bottom of the photo).

You may think I'm a complete lunatic for having a life-size picture of my sister's face but I assure you I am totally normal (mostly). See, there's a hilarious radio morning show that we're big fans of called Preston and Steve on 93.3 WMMR in Philadelphia. One of the co-hosts, Casey, created Casey Facey. Listeners can go on the website and print out a picture of his face, then attach it to a paint stick and take pictures with it in exotic places: France, The Grand Canyon, Chickie n Pete's... The point is that, um, I guess there really isn't a point other than embarrassing yourself in public and making a regional inside joke reach far and wide. When I moved to SC I really missed my sister. We thought that creating facies for one another would be a hilarious way to include the other in things that we do. My first Melissa facey was quite busy.

In my kitchen

I lost her on a road trip to Atlanta. So on Saturday while dreadfully slow at work I made a new one, this time without the ridiculous facial expression.



Melissa Facey with Rowyn on Christmas Eve



Despite how slow we were at work on Saturday I still had a fairly productive day. I started it off by running 8.2 miles with some friends. It was supposed to be a 12 mile run originally, but somebody couldn't hang...*cough cough*. Seriously though, I was not upset about cutting the run short because I needed to fix breakfast and get to work.

AND get a Grande Skinny Peppermint Soy Latte. What? We meet in a Starbucks parking lot to run. What do you expect?? I also got a White Chocolate Mocha for Doug. It's his fave!

I was able to finish off my homemade gift for Doug and was happy to send my employees home 2 hours early! I wrapped up the work day on my laptop while watching the Eagles win but still not make it to the playoffs thank to the Jets. Argh! We had dinner with the neighbors, played the PlayStation Move and then I graciously pulled an Irish goodbye and snuck off to bed with company still over. I was exhausted!

But let’s get back to business: CHRISTMAS! Doug and I had so much fun opening our gifts. We only exchanged a few small items between the 2 of us, but our families had kept the base of our tree full by mailing gifts for weeks.

New Eagles Trailer Hitch Cover



My Gift for Doug. I got this idea from another blogger and absolutely LOVE it!



I got LOTS of new running stuff, including a headband with headphones built in! SO COOL!

The aftermath

My new scarf, earrings and cookie monster pants

Notice I'm wearing a short sleeve shirt while on my back porch? That's a South Carolina Christmas for you! I couldn't even wear my cookie monster pants for very long because they were way to warm! Seriously. After about an hour I had to strip them off! The weather has been pretty unpredictable recently, with a week of warm and sunny and then 2 fays of bitter cold. I'm sure I’ll get good use out of my winter clothes eventually.




Christmas Breakfast

I really wanted to try a healthy gingerbread pancake recipe but the idea immediately got dismissed by Doug. It turns out he's not a fan of gingerbread :( So instead I made Tone It Up Chocolate Protein Pancakes. They were awesome. Naturally they didn't taste like a gigantic cookie like regular chocolate chip pancakes do, but they were nutrient dense, very filling and super healthy! I had a second pancake for a snack a few hours later. I also indulged with Bailey's in my coffee. Mmmmmm!



With Whipped Chocolate Fat Free Greek Yogurt

 All in all I'd say our morning was fabulous! After thoroughly destroying the living room with cardboard boxes and wrapping paper we watched a movie (Warrior- definitely recommended) and spoke to family members on the phone. Before we knew it the time had come to get get ready and head over to the Arlett's (2 of our close friends with 2 amazingly adorable children) for dinner and cocktails!

On Sofa: Doug, Bruce and Me
Back Row: Nikki, Emily, Dave, Tracy and Pat
Not pictured: Neil (holding the camera), Todd, Sally, Stef and Buzzy

Doug and I with baby Rowyn



Rhys with his cell phone



Emily, mommy-to-be, feeding Rowyn

We had a great time with some of our dearest friends. Dinner was wonderful (thank you to Neil and Tracy) and I especially liked the champagne cocktail we enjoyed at the end of the night. Despite being so far away from home on the holiday we had an incredible time. It made me realize that I have family everywhere- even in SC. I hope anyone reading this also had lots of laughter and love yesterday. Merry Christmas (Fa rararaaa rara ra ra)

Finding Time for 'Me' Time

The holidays are a magical time of year. People are focusing on giving, showing their loved-ones that they care, and spreading joy that they most likely neglected the other 11 months of the year. It's also a time for stress, bad eating habits, missed workouts and anxiety. I'm making it a point this holiday season to take care of myself!


And how do I plan to do that? It's simple to explain (less simple to do):

1) Don't focus on food!
This is a little tip I got from my Tone It Up Girls Karena and Katrina. They made a great point in saying that so many holiday functions are centered around the food. Instead we should sit back, relax and enjoy our friends, loved ones, time to ourselves...whatever makes you happy!
2) Keep working out
Sure, our days are shorter and I more than anyone know it's hard to get up in the morning to sneak in a workout. But regardless how much it sucks to sit up and put our feet on the floor it's important to remember it will not be regretted. A quick morning routine will not only start my metabolism but also wake me up and get me ready for the day spiritually and mentally. Later in the day when I have more time, whether on my lunch break or after work, I'll complete a more thorough routine.
3) Enjoy Holiday Treats in Moderation
I'm not turning my back on homemade treats that are only available this time of year. But I will make sure I'm not over doing it.
4) Focus on giving thoughtful and personalized gifts. It's not about how much you spend but that you know someone well enough to be able to get something they'll enjoy. It's about thoughtfulness.
5) Enjoy Time with My Husband
At parties I'm going to make it a point to socialize with him as well as other people. He's very important and deserves my attention. I'm also going to make sure that we don't miss out on our regular movie nights on the sofa or wine on the back patio. Our time together is invaluable.
6)Find Time for 'Me' Time
My "me" time is a quiet run, time alone in the gym, singing/dancing in the bathroom while getting ready, playing with my pets, or reading a book.

This last item brings me to the real reason for this post. I've discovered recently that one of my favorite things to do alone is read, provided I have the right book. I even joined a book club to ensure that I'm reading like I said I would! Our book club meets once a month, over hors d'oeuvres and cocktails, to discuss our recent read. This month we read The Beach Trees by Karen White.

I really enjoyed it and could appreciate the protagonist's transition from her detached life in the Northeast to a slower life down South. The book also shed light on the deeply emotional act of rebuilding after Katrina and the strength and hope people in Louisiana and Mississippi have. I think a trip to Biloxi (one of the settings) may be in order.

Before reading The Beach Trees my book club read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I wasn't yet part of the group but everyone insisted I would love it so I gave it a shot. Let me tell you they were right! I couldn't put it down and finished it in just 4 days (which is super fast for me)! After reading the first book I quickly moved onto the second (Catching Fire) and am now reading the third (Mockinjay). I think once I'm done with the trilogy I'll write a proper review.

Reading allows me to unwind and detach myself from everyday stresses. With the right book I become completely immersed in the storyline. I'm glad I finally learned that this is a healthy form of relaxation for me. At the risk of being a complete poser, my New Years Resolution for 2012 will be to read at least 1 book a month. This was one of my best friend's resolutions last year and she actually stuck to it!

I'm focusing on me- not in a self absorbed, the world revolves around me kind of way- and it feels good. What are you going to focus on this Holiday Season?

Taking Time to Reflect

As I walked down Stump Rd. in Pipersville, PA this morning I wasn't chilled by the fall PA air or dreading the wind in my face (though it's much colder than I'm used to these days). Instead I was warmed with the familiarity of the sun rising over the field adjacent to the neigborhood where I spent my teenage years and delighted at the brown leaves whipping at my feet. This was the route I walked to my bus stop with my sister hundreds of times. It feels good to be home.

The only thing that would make the trip better was if Doug was able to take it with me. This is the first Thanksgiving we've spent apart in years.

I made the trip from my sunny SC home back to PA to celebrate Thanksgiving with my families (yes, I have many) late Tuesday night. A co-worker of mine and I loaded up her Altima and took the 11-hour trip together. The time went surprisingly fast and our excitement to go home (Bucks County, PA for me and Long Island for her) only grew with each mile we traveled. We had one or two interesting encouters on the way, but for the most part the drive went well. Kelly dropped me off at a Dunkin' Donuts in Bordentown, NJ where I arranged to meet my Dad.

Kelly and I parted ways, she continued on to NY, and I caught up with my Dad over a cup of coffee. After only getting 2 hours of sleep in the car I had that auto-pilot feeling...when you're not exactly sure how you keep on going but you just do. We drove up route 29, along the Delaware River, which looked mostly unchanged to me since the last time I drove it with my sister 4 or 5 years ago. Memories came back all along the drive. After 30 minutes we reach my Dads where I relaxed with my little sister for the rest of the afternoon. I was so exhausted I wanted to keep it low key. We ordered in Chinese. After dinner my Dad and I met up with my Uncle mark for a drink at a new bar in the area, Blondies Sports Bar and Grille. This location is brand new, so they don't have the website up yet. They also have a location in AZ and NV. We decided to check it out because two of the owners are old friends of my Dads.

I tried to hit the sack early because packet pick-up for my 5-mile Turkey Trot was at 8am. It was a beautiful race! I ran with my sister-in-law, uncle, cousin, and close family friend. We celebrated with Bloody Mary's afterward.

Next on the agenda was the highlight of the day: EATING! I enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving meal with my grandmother, mother, sister, and my mother's boyfriend Scott.

After dinner I had plenty of time to reflect on what I'm thankful for:

My wonderful husband, Doug, who makes me laugh everyday and has an incredible way of dealing with me when I'm stressed or overwhelmed.

My family who loves me unconditionally. It's gigantic and there's no way I can picture everyone but here's a shot of some of them at our wedding.

My wonderful friends I've met along the way

My kids (and others)

Having my health and the ability to stay in shape and run

My marriage, which is better than I ever dreamed.

I have so many blessings in my life <3. I'm looking forward to the Stewart Thanksgiving tonight and a wedding tomorrow. More fun to come!