Now I've Gone & Done It

It's official, I'm off my rocker.  Why?  I've signed up for a half-marathon!  Yes, I've only just completed my third 5k but somehow I felt the pull to do more, to really push myself.  Actually, I've felt the tugging on my heart for awhile but wasn't brave enough to admit it.  Slowly, I put feelers out there to friends/family that have run a half, but always with a "maybe someday" caveat attached.  Today I decided to put my money where my mouth is and sign the dotted line. 

I'm giving myself 15 weeks to train and prepare.  Oddly enough, I feel like most the workouts need to go on in my brain - the mere idea of running 13.1 miles is a bit daunting.  As nervous as I am, I'm also really excited.  My workout schedule will be posted, with progress reports along the way.  Wish me luck!

Time To Get Personal

This (sorry excuse for a) blog was created for the sole purpose of documenting every precious moment of Haley's life.  Two and a half year later, this blog has fallen off the rails in terms of updates.  Haley is still precious and adorable and loads of fun...she is the single greatest achievement of my life.  However, in the two and a half years since her birth, a second achievement has been in the works (no, not another baby) - me. 

(It's true...it really works!)

I've been on and off Weight Watchers for approximately 11 years; ouch.  When I first joined, with the loving support and encouragement of Mom, I did well and lost weight.  A typical college student I then proceeded to follow the plan on my own...and did not succeed.  Next started a cycle of half-hearted joinings and dropping outs, all without any real success.  When I got pregnant with Haley, I was already unhappy with my weight - adding pregnancy to mix freaked me out.  I was conscience of my eating habits and was able to get my weight gain to 25ish pounds.  However, that added to my already overweight frame was not a good look, nor good for my health. 

Haley was born in August and I asked for a Weight Watchers subscription for my September birthday; my generous parents obliged.  I'm happy to report that I am closing in on my goal and to-date have lost 60 pounds!  I am beyond proud of myself - this has not been easy, but through out the past two years I have stuck it out rather than quit.  I've asked myself why and have a theory.

This time, the desire for weight loss isn't about vanity...that's a lie, it is to a small degree.  But moreso, it's about being the best version of myself for my family, friends, coworkers, dogs...everyone.  The people I love most in my life (husband, kiddo, parents, sibling) deserve more than an unhappy, unhealth, overweight me - and they're finally getting it.  I couldn't be more excited!

2011 Rewind

2011, a year full of stuff...vague, eh?  For better or worse, 2011 was good to our little family of 3.  Full of life lessons and love and fun.  Christmas was no exception.  Haley Bug was excited about Santa Claus and had a long wish list, which included a hula hoop, pink soccer ball, pink car, roller skates, books, and a computer.  (Really, our two year old asked for a computer...and money - that's another story.)  Haley's wishes came true with most of her wish list fulfilled.  It was pure sweetness to watch her pass out presents and open her own.  Having a little one really does put magic back in to Christmas. 

Our little family of three is looking forward to seeing what 2012 will bring!

The Christmas Story (HD version)

Amazing video!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing everyone a blessed 2012!

Cousins

I've been organizing photos and came across these; Haley meeting her baby cousin Izzy.  Both girls have changed so much in the last 6 months!

Haley is unabashedly in love with Charlie and Izzy.  She asks about playing with them no less than 10 times a day.  It's fun to watch Haley and Charlie race around at top speed and wrestle each other.  In fact, someone asked us if they were twins recently! 

Haley's baby doll is appropriately named, Izzy.  First order of business each morning is to feed Izzy - baby doll Izzy is placed in the highchair and 'fed' with a baby spoon.  It's fun to imagine this threesome grow up together. 

Best. Cake. Ever.

I rang in another year surrounded by family and friends; stretching my birthday from one day into a multiple day celebration.  Lucky me!  Saturday night’s celebration was loud and chaotic, thanks to Haley and Charlie...our “twin” two year olds.  Cousins just 6 months apart, they race around with enough energy to power a space shuttle.  Sweet baby Izzy watched wide eyed at the pandemonium laughing and smiling at her brother and cousin’s antics.  All too soon, Izzy will be joining the fray. 

The celebration was capped off with a legendary chocolate cake.  My sister-in-law Paige has made this cake synonymous with birthdays in our household.  Even my uber-health minded, anti-dessert, brother has requested this cake three years running.  It is that good.  Rich chocolate with undertones of coffee - in a word this cake is decadent. 

As a loyal Weight Watcher member, I generally am careful if not OCD about counting my points.  I couldn’t bear to calculate the points in a piece of this cake.  It was my birthday, and everyone knows calories don’t count on birthdays.

Beatty’s Chocolate Cake

Courtesy of Ina Garten

Butter, for greasing the pans

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
2 cups sugar
3/4 cups good cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup buttermilk, shaken
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee
Chocolate Buttercream, recipe follows

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter two 8-inch x 2-inch round cake pans. Line with parchment paper, then butter and flour the pans.

Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix on low speed until combined. In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry. With mixer still on low, add the coffee and stir just to combine, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 30 minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack and cool completely.

Place 1 layer, flat side up, on a flat plate or cake pedestal. With a knife or offset spatula, spread the top with frosting. Place the second layer on top, rounded side up, and spread the frosting evenly on the top and sides of the cake.

Chocolate Buttercream:

6 ounces good semisweet chocolate  
1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 extra-large egg yolk, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon instant coffee powder

Chop the chocolate and place it in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Stir until just melted and set aside until cooled to room temperature.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed until light yellow and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and continue beating for 3 minutes. Turn the mixer to low, gradually add the confectioners' sugar, then beat at medium speed, scraping down the bowl as necessary, until smooth and creamy. Dissolve the coffee powder in 2 teaspoons of the hottest tap water. On low speed, add the chocolate and coffee to the butter mixture and mix until blended.  Spread immediately on the cooled cake.