Did You Make it to February?

It's February 1st...the beginning of that short month full of long, cold days.  If you live somewhere cold like I do, you may have let some of those January goals fall by the wayside and the multiple layers hide so much and the cold and darkness just sucks the life out of any other goal you may have had.  Now is as good a time as ever to check in on how things are going.  If you've let some goals fall by the wayside, pick them back up.  Take a minute to think of or list out your accomplishments.  Maybe you didn't do everything but I guarantee you did something.  Celebrate that and move forward.  I mean, what else is there to do in February anyway?

Goal 1# - Why wait?  
January Accomplishments - I did pretty well in the "why wait" category.  Things went back where they needed to go, I returned phone calls, RSVPed and wrote letters and cards while I thought of it.  I also did a little patch job on a pair of gloves that I'd been delaying.  Seriously, I spent hours with a cold left hand when it took less than 5 minutes to sew it up....

I mean seriously, why wait?
February Goals - I will continue to force myself to do things when I think of them, clean up after myself, and take risks I've been avoiding.

Goal #2 - Make fitness and healthy eating a routine

January Accomplishments -  I made it to 4 Sundays of Spinning, even the one that Brie wasn't at!  An unexpected outcome is that its become a family affair.  My mother joins me for spinning and my father comes afterward and I "train" him for an hour.  Its a great workout for me and such awesome time with my parents!  I've been "scheduling" workouts on my calendar and highlight the ones that I actually do.  I've got at least three highlights for every week and thats a pretty awesome accomplishment.  I've also completed the 24 day Advocare challenge which has me down 9 inches and 4 pounds.  My husband is on board with healthy eating and we've worked together to plan healthy meals!
February Goals - Continue to work out 3 times a week.  Plan exercise in on the two weekends I am out of town.  Continue the healthy eating and measure in again at the end of the month!

Goal #3 - Have a home that is ready for guests and invite them over!

January Accomplishments - The hubs and I have made some major strides in the house, despite some set backs.  We've been battling with our plumbing and a leak that just won't go away.  We also had one zone of our heater "air locked."  Among all those set backs we've cleaned and organized the den, reorganized the wires around our entertainment center, kept the bathroom and kitchen clean, reorganized the pantry, and I even tackled the yarn corner!  We had family over for a get together after a funeral.  While it was a sad reason to have people over, it was nice to be the place they could all gather together.
February Goals - Have friends over for the Olympic Opening Ceremonies, have a few friends over to do some crafting one night.  Donate the couch and reupholster  the chair I have waiting to replace it.  Get the plumbing fiasco figured out so that the guest room stop being a storage area.

Goal # 4 - Read and write more, watch TV less. 

January Accomplishments- I managed to write 7 blog posts this month, which is higher than the 1 per week average I strive for.  I've been in front of the TV quite a bit, but I've been a baby hat making factory so I justify it in that way.  We having been toying with the idea of canceling the cable and I think we are getting closer to doing just that.  On the book front, I finished and sent my January book earlier this week.  However, that knitting book club I was so excited about got closed out.  Hopefully it will open on soon!
February Goals - Return on the 6-8pm quiet block.  For awhile Mike and I would keep the TV off for those two hours abad read, write or study during that time.  There is nothing good on at that time and often we'd keep the tube off for the rest of the night.  Make plan for canceling cable - will we purchase a Roku or Apple TV? Subscribe to Hulu Plus or Amazon Prime? What will we do with an extra 100 bucks (at least) a month? Read the February book in the allotted time.

A Year Ago Today/The Return to Health: Go Pink!

Today's post is a combination "A Year Ago Today" and "The Return to Health."  As I've blogged about before, TRX was a big part of my return to fitness after cancer.  I was able to Zumba through some of my treatments, but when I was ready to get strong again, TRX and Hosner Fitness was right there to help.

A year ago today, was the First Annual GO PINK for Breast Cancer at Hosner Fitness.  Usually closed on Sunday, Hosner Fitness opened for a Sunday in October to raise money for Cancer Services Program of Fulton and Montgomery County. Suzanne Hagadorn and her crew provided screenings free of charge for breast, cervical and colorectal and provide education on cancer prevention and early detection.   Last year, I was recovering from surgery #2, but came over to watch one of the classes.  It was a time that I was still very unsure of what was going on and pretty scared.  Seeing the community come out and support one another like that was touching and hopeful.


This year, I am so incredibly blessed to be healthy enough to participate.  I put on my pink shirt and "cancer sucks" headband and joined in the fun at 8 am.  They do 4,  30 minutes classes at ten dollars each.  This year over 50 people signed up for classes.

The place was all decorated in Pink, and the lights were off to give it more of a party atmosphere with DJ Mike Garrasi providing the music and lights.

There were raffles, t-shirts, snacks, and bracelets for sale will all proceeds going to the cause.

They filled the walls with 160 ribbons celebrating survivors and supporters.

And since the classes were sold out, Rob agreed to wear this while instructing......

I know there is a lot of pink this month and the seriousness of cancer can get lost in the "save the ta-tas," that horrendous motor-boating scheme and "I'm a Boob Man" mentality of Breast Cancer awareness month.  We forget that its actually about saving women (and men), not their body parts.   This event is so great and so special because not only is the community coming together to raise money for a good cause but they come together for a celebration.  They are celebrating health and strength.  They are empowering women to take control of their health, to lead a health lifestyle that helps prevent cancer or, like me and the many other survivors that work out there, return to a healthy, vibrant lifestyle after cancer.

I can't wait to hear how much money was raised or to see the professional pictures taken by Katie Ramirez. When I'm do I will be sure to share.  For now, I'll leave you with the sign each group took their picture with, made by one of our strong survivors, Karen Agresta.  

Healthy Sunday: Ovarian Cancer 5K Team Kelly - Picture Time!!!

Click here to view these pictures larger

Sunday September 15th, an incrediable group of people got together to run or walk to raise awareness and research money for Ovarian Cancer.  I feel so special and amazed that they all came together as a team for me.  My family was there, as were some of my best friends and their families and their friends.  It truly shows how cancer affects everyone.  To think that it wasn't just my friends and family, but their friends and family as well that were praying for me, cheering me on and supporting the ones I love was incrediable to see first hand.  Wearing our Team Kelly shirts, we walked, ran and laughed our way through the day.   

The day started at Albany's Washington Park where we ran into my oncologist and nurse practitioner, got to see all of the other awesome teams as well as teal swag, information tables and crafts. 

There aren't a lot of people who hang out in the 13 minute  mile zone, but my friends Thom and Joe ran alongside me      keeping time for me and cheering me on.  We finished in about 38 minutes which was good for me but very slow for them.  I totally love them for that. 

Afterward we went to Starbucks and then Across the Street Pub and I got to hang out and bask in the awesomeness of these incrediable people. We talked and laugh and at the end of it all left feeling satisfied, accomplished and loved.  

Healthy Sunday: Power Pancakes

Sundays are good days to focus on health.  Its my day for the grocery store and food prep.  I know that if I don't get all the veggies cut up and the meals planned for the week on Sunday, I'll end up with less money in my pocket and a few more inches around my waist by the end of the week.

The Healthy Sunday I am loving these 3 ingredient power pancakes:

These are gluten free, mostly sugar free, and have protein, fruit and oats!  You've probably seen them floating around Facebook and Pinterest.  Here is my take on them.

Start with two eggs, an old banana, and a smile!

Mash them up with a fork until they are smooth.

Figure out what you want to add in.  I've been treating myself this week to a few Ghirardelli 60% Dark Chocolate Chips.  (If you haven't made cookies with this yet, DO IT, they are amazing). When I don't add the chocolate I use the really cool "Sugar, chocolate and Coffee Bean" grinder I bought at Trader Joe's and don't usually find much of a reason to use.  

Place 1/4 cup of oats and a few Chocolate Chips in the blender. Grind it up until the oats have a flour-like consistency, the chips will be nice and small so you'll get chocolate in every bite.  

Mix it in with the egg mixture until it looks like batter.  And pour onto a  greased (I use Coconut Oil Spray) heated frying pan or griddle.  

These take a little longer to cook than pancakes but they are totally worth it! I find it makes 4 small sized cakes.  

Fall Variation:

This morning I took out one egg and added some pumpkin butter I made using this recipe from Repeat Crafter Me.  

The consistency was different but the taste was so amazing I only manged to get this crappy picture half way through eating them.  

What are some other ideas for add ins?  Healthy substitutions you do?  I am always looking for new ideas!