On the Calendar: Army 10-miler

 

Well, since I didn't get into the NYC Marathon this year, I came up with a Plan B – the Army 10-miler in Washington, D.C. in October. I'll be running the race with my little sister (who's done it before.) Good thing I set my alarm for midnight last night to register – it sold out in hours! Here's the training plan that I'll be following. Words cannot describe how happy I am to have a race on my calendar. I work out better under pressure. ;) Now if only I could master the balancing act that is my life.

{read about past fitness challenges here}

NaNoWriMo Recap

Well, another NaNoWriMo – National Novel Writing Month – has come to an end. So.... how'd I do?

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Prenatal Yoga

One of my pregnancy challenges has been to make sure I get enough exercise. During my writing retreat back in August/September, I started a regular walking routine and have (mostly) continued that schedule since my return to NYC. But about a month ago, I started really missing yoga.....

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Sewing Projects

One of my personal challenges this year was to learn how to make something. ANYTHING. I'm totally jealous of the amazing things my crafty friends create (ahem, Lesley, Carey, Amanda.) Well, since I got to hang out with my mom recently, I asked her to teach me the basics of using a sewing machine. So she set up her Bernina, gave me a stellar 101 class, and left town for two weeks. Intimidating? Yes. But I followed a pattern, then made up a few of my own, rethreaded the Bernina just fine, and successfully fixed the machine after a two-hour tension ordeal. When I was frustrated with how writing was going, I played reruns of Project Runway and mindlessly stitched away. I found myself actually looking forward to my craft time. So, want to see my finished goods? (Set your expectations low, people.) Here you go!

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Writing Retreat Recap

So I completed my first 14-day writing retreat. Did I accomplish any of my goals?

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Writing Retreat

This week marks the beginning of my unofficial 14-day writing retreat challenge in south Florida! Here are five tips from other writers, and my personal goals for this creative time...

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Organic Cooking Class

You can't keep me away from the Brooklyn Brainery! I took my first cooking class (um, since home economics?) there last week. It had an organic 101 theme, so it was right up my alley. And what's not to love about a cooking class that tells you to bring tupperware? Here's what I learned and what we made...

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Chicken Class

As part of my ongoing challenge to learn lots of random new things, I took a Brooklyn Brainery class last night on chicken ownership. I know, I live in Manhattan and won't be buying chickens anytime soon. But my sister has chickens and, well, I'm a writer after all, so who knows when this info might come in handy? Here are some things I learned...

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Programming Languages Class

This year I challenged myself to learn some new things. Random stuff, helpful skills, whatever. So yesterday I took a two-hour class on computer programming languages at Brooklyn Brainery...

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Yoga in Times Square

Yesterday, to celebrate the longest day of the year, thousands of people practiced yoga in Times Square. I went with my friend Amy to the lunchtime Bikram yoga class.... Here's what it was like.

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