Running in Circles: 2013

Merry Christmas to all of our friends and family!

We are so grateful for the spirit of the holidays, for the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and for the fun traditions we have gotten to share with Hazel. She wasn't really too sure that anything was different this morning but she did sleep in until 8:00 am, so Brice and I were feeling merry!

^ Cookies for Santa ^

^ Hazel say "Cheese" ^

^Taste-testing the cookies for Santa ^

^ Gifts- Hazel is enjoying a new stool Brice built, warm boots, the cutest little beanie, new dishes just her size, and some fun new tractors ^

^ She thinks her new bowls are a stacking toy- yep, works for us ^

^ This girl isn't obsessed with new shoes- either is her mama ^

^ Enjoying "Monkey-bread" for breakfast and testing her skills with her new fork ^

We're really looking forward to spending some time with Brice's family and spending a little Christmas money that we didn't get a chance too. Thank you Hannah & Andrew for the tractors and game AND thanks to our cute neighbor Amberly for the beanie!

We love our cheesy snacks around here- Cheez-Its or goldfish- we're not too picky!

We used this recipe to make our own Cheez- Its at home and they are delish!

Actually we've made TWO batches this week and are cutting ourselves off for a bit.

Enjoy!

Homemade Cheez-Its Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

8 oz sharp cheddar cheese, grated
3 Tablespoons of unsalted butter, room temperature
1 Tablespoon vegetable shortening*
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup flour
2 Tablespoons ice water
Coarse salt for sprinkling

DIRECTIONS:

Combine cheese, butter, shortening, and salt in the bowl of your mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. The mixture will be crumbly.
Slowly add flour and then the ice water. You may add a few more drops of water to help it come together but be careful not to add too much. You don’t want a wet dough.
Pat the dough into 2 discs and wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes (or longer).
Preheat oven to 375⁰F.
Using parchment paper or a silicone mat roll each disc to 1/8 inch or less and cut into 1 inch squares (a pastry wheel or pizza wheel is easiest). Use a toothpick to punch a hole into the center of each square.
If you have difficulty separating and transferring the crackers onto the baking sheet return the parchment paper/mat to the refrigerator for 10 minutes (while you roll out the 2^nd dough disc).
Bake for 10 – 15 minutes or until puffed and browning around the edges. If you pull them out too soon and the crackers don’t have the desired crispiness you want then simply return them to the oven for 2-3 more minutes.
Move crackers to a cooling rack. Makes about 7 dozen crackers.

NOTES:

The original recipe calls for 4Tablespoons of butter. I used 1 Tablespoon of shortening to help with the crisping. Whatever method you choose just be sure to monitor those last few minutes of baking as these will burn easily. There is a very fine line between done and crisp and overdone and burnt.

The last few weeks have been busy. Brice has been finishing up classes and surviving Humanities papers ;) while Hazel and I try to keep busier inside because temperatures were in the single digits for about a week! I'm starting to get real antsy being at home all day..thinking am I doing enough to contribute... I wish I could nanny a few hours a week- and then getting overwhelmed by the idea of it.

Honestly, I'm feeling kinda lousy and down...and winter is only just beginning :(

Hazel keeps a smile on our faces though- and we love her for it!

^ Hazel made her first attempt at art in the bath ^

^ We brought home a box from Costco and Hazel found several ways to enjoy it ^

^ Daddy and Hazel were working hard when I came home from a run....Brice was hacking networks for a class assignment and Hazel was watching a youtube video called "Babies laughing at dogs 2013" ^

^Christmas jammies and getting unstuck from Daddy's sweats ^

^ Christmas jammies ^

^ We've had visitors... Hannah and Andrew from Idaho ^

^ Snuggles on a Sunday afternoon ^

We've celebrated 3 Christmas' being married and have never had a tree! This year was going to be another tree-less holiday but Brice brought home green butcher paper, we cut up some tissue paper, and let Hazel go to town with the glue stick. Merry Christmas from students on a budget ;)

Hopefully next year we can have a real yummy smelling tree with lights and ornaments!

Monday: 10 miles in 1:14 minutes (progressive run) + 3 more miles with Brice in the evening

Tuesday: 8 easy miles in 60 minutes and ab workout

Wednesday: 8 miles (2 mile warm up and the 6 miles of intervals)

Thursday: 10 miles plus a yoga class

Friday: 16 miles average pace 7:30

Saturday: 5 miles recovery

+ My thoughts: Yoga is not for me ;) I went to the class with a sister I visit teach and my companion so it was good company but just not for me.

+ 16 miles was tough but watching a few episodes on Netflix really helped! The temperatures have been single digits every morning here so everything run was on a treadmill except for Monday evenings 3 miles.

Weekly Miles: 60

Miles in 2013: 2230

Heaven is Here by Stephanie Nielson

Riding Boots

Gym Bag

My Favorite Candle

Running tights
Nike Running Jacket

Instyle Subscription

Cake Stand

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear OR watching the excitement through a child's eyes. This girl seriously makes us so happy.

So does Christmas music, retro pjs, girly headbands, and her smile.

It is snowing this morning for the first time this winter and that helps too!

photo cred: Alana Dunn

Shopping for a little babe is so much more fun than shopping for Brice or myself for that matter. I think the gift-giving rule "one you want- one you need-one you can wear- and one you can read" is the way we will do things around here. At least as long as there's only one baby to spoil ;)

Evenflo Symphony All in One Convertible Carseat

Wooden Puzzles

Winter Beanie

Cute little outfit set

Classic Books for kids

I am grateful for so many things, big and small. I'm thankful for a healthy body, for a car that runs, the gospel of Jesus Christ, loving family members, good friends, heat and AC, our cozy little apartment, nail polish, cute clothes, baby headbands, that Brice is closer to graduating, BYU, the internet......

Most importantly I'm grateful for a happy, healthy, family whom I love spending my days with!

These two make me happy!

photo credit to my cousin Megan who blogs over here

When we found out our little baby in my belly was a girl I was ecstatic! I dreamed of hair bows, cute outfits, and glitter. I dreamed about teaching her how to be sensitive, kind, and feminine. I dreamed about teaching her about loving babies and her siblings.

I dreamed of the relationship Brice would have with her- you know the one where all little girls look up to the daddy's with big sparkling eyes and dance on their toes. The relationship that involves running into Daddy's arms when he comes home from work and singing and stories to be sung and read...that kind of stuff.

I dreamed about having a little side-kick. A little "mini-me."

And then I got so scared. I have a lot of positive traits to pass on to my children but one that worried me ~~was~~ still is my inability to just be secure and confident in my own skin. I worry about my body shape and weight. I worry about how the world sees me and if I'm pretty enough. I worry about putting enough effort into myself- my talents, dreams, and interests.

I want to teach Hazel that you are in control of your own self-esteem and that confidence comes from within. I hope to set a better example that spending time together and serving one another is more important that shopping and prepping oneself. I want to teach her to be beautiful, confident, and happy.

This was on studio 5 the other morning and I sat on the couch like a sponge taking it all in.

Tips to Teach Girls Body Love

I know I can't expect myself to be perfect but I know that my example is going to be and should be the biggest influence on my kids- and right now on my daughter.

Any other thoughts on teaching confidence? loving your body?

Wishing for new shoes. Wishing that I dressed beautifully and comfortably. Wishing that this candle never ran out. Wishing for a house that I can decorate with lots of love and color. Wishing for a yummy green smoothie.

I've said it before and I'll say it again...Hazel is a busy little babe! I would much rather have a curious active baby then the opposite but she is exhausting and entertaining all day long!

Monday: 11 miles in 1:20 + 2 miles pushing Hazel with Brice

Tuesday: 12 miles plus ab workout

Wednesday: 7 miles easy

Thursday: 15 mile long run + arm workout

Friday: 8 miles in 60 minutes

Saturday: 8 miles outside in 55 minutes

Sunday: rest

Weekly Mileage: 63

Miles this year: 1972

Goals for this next week: more Insanity and plyometrics workouts and less miles

-read more-

Monday:10 miles in 1:17 (feeling really good)

Tuesday: 8 miles

Wednesday:8 miles outside + 6 miles on the treadmill

Thursday: 12 miles + pilates workout

Friday: 8 miles in 57 minutes

Saturday: 8 miles (fast average pace was 7:10)

Sunday: rest day

Weekly total: 52 miles

Miles this year: 1857

Monday: 10 miles

Tuesday: 8 mile progressive run and ab workout

Wednesday: 14 miles and zumba class

Thursday: 10 miles at 7:40 pace

Friday: 8 miles

Saturday: 5 miles with Brice + 2 more to finish off

Sunday: rest

Miles this week: 57

Miles this year: 1805

I just wanted to announce on a greater scale that I am doing private Pilates lessons again!
If you're in the Utah County area and want to get a great workout in let me know!

Private 1 hour lessons for 1-2 people ($20)
Work with stability ball, resistance tubes, Pilates ring, and most importantly your own body

For more information email me:

breann.ruth@gmail.com

The last birthday post- post 3

I spent the evening before the party baking cakes to make the cutest stacked little cake. Turns out I'm not a baker- actually I could have told you that way before baking these cakes. I'm not sure why I thought just browsing pictures of adorable cakes on Pinterest would automatically give me the skill to make them myself. The cakes got destroyed so Hazel got to eat a perfectly sized, non-homemade, $2.00 cupcake and I was just fine with that.