Well hello there. I’m dusting off the old blogwebs for NYC Marathon Weekend 🙂

Yikes! Two and a half months have passed since I’ve blogged and Summer has turned into Fall.

The leaves have changed colors and are now falling at a rapid pace and I’ve finally dusted off the old blogwebs to post today.

I’m just so giddy and excited that Sunday is the NYC Marathon. Nope, I’m not running it this year (and most likely I might never get the opportunity again) but the energy is palpable and I want to share my enthusiasm for the race with people I know have interest in running.

I’ve been lucky enough to run it 3 times—2011, 2013 and 2015.

NYC Marathon medals

Recap Central:

Here’s a post that has a an overall recap of my all my experiences from 2011-2016 including a link to this post about my 2011 race (reflecting back 3 years later), my 2013 race recap here and 2015 here

You can also read recaps from when I spectated in 2014 and 2016.

I can remember so vividy my emotions at the finish of each race and I know that those experiences are so integral to who I am. I’m never happier than when I can share those experiences with others. And hey, it was the 2011 NYC Marathon that officially made me a marathoner.

My days of running marathons might have ended but my love of running is still strong as ever. I can’t wait to tune in to the race from my sofa on Sunday morning and feel all the feels.

In other news I turned 46 exactly one week ago. Mr SOTSS and I celebrated with a fun little weekend getaway to the North Fork and South Fork of Long Island and Shelter Island. We started on the South Fork driving through the Hamptons and walking along the beach after having a delicious warm 6 ounce chocolate chip cookie from Levain Bakery.

Happy 46th Birthday to MEEEEEEEE!!!!!

chocolate chip walnut cookie from Levain Bakery

If you know me at all, you know I love sweets but this was extra special because Mr. SOTSS and I have been dieting since Labor Day and were looking forward to splurging all weekend. (I’m down 10 pounds and he’s down about 15 pounds). AND it was my actual birthday so basically it was perfection.

So grateful to have been born in late October. It was a picture perfect fall day and the beach was all ours

Beaches in the off-season are the best

The North Fork is known for its wineries. We went to a couple of them but my favorite one was an all sparkling wine winery called Sparkling Pointe.

Sparkling Red!

More tripod/remote fun

The views of the vineyard were just stunning. Speaking of views, this was our view from the bed and breakfast we stayed at on Shelter Island…

The best part was the gift Mr. SOTSS gave me. A new tripod for my iPhone and a remote that controls the camera shutter on it. We had fun trying it out (ok, technically I had fun and he tolerated the shenanigans).

The remote even does burst mode!!!!

Happy with my gift. And the tripod too 🙂

Earlier this month I got to run the Staten Island Half Marathon and more importantly see some of my running friends…

Running friends are like mychicken soup for the soul.

And there was a celebratory pizza slice on the train ride back to my car.

And the next day I kayaked wearing my finisher’s shirt.

Kayaking in the Fall might be even better than kayaking in the Summer…

We had this bookcase that was being neglected for years and last month Mr. SOTTS and I renovated and re-decorated and I’m thrilled with how it turned out. We tried to make the air conditioner unit not stick out like a sore thumb anymore. Here’s a before and after:

before

after

I’m still commuting into the city twice a week for a consulting job and as the days get shorter I’ve had some stunner sunset views…

Pretty in Pink

NYC Skyline

Speaking of stunning views, I’ve even caught a few locally. There was a sunrise just a few weeks ago while walking Duncan at the lake…

And this sunset in early September…

Sunset from our backyard

Will you be watching the NYC Marathon on Sunday?

How has your Fall been?

Duncan says hello…

I can’t believe we’re halfway through my favorite month—October.

Silly Snapchat filtered Sally eating a freshly picked apple.

I love the Fall here in the North East. The weather has finally come down to a temperature I can get behind. Plus, I get to wear hoodies again. And the main reason October is my favorite month is because my birthday falls on the 25th. I also love Fall traditions like apple and pumpkin picking. And that’s just what I got to do this past weekend.

Mr. SOTSS, the girls, the dogs and I all drove out to the North Fork of Long Island to visit with Mr. SOTSS’ dad and his wife and do some Octobery stuff. We tackled apple picking, pumpkin picking AND a corn maze by day and had an Octoberfest inspired dinner by night (I didn’t take a single picture of our German food #fail).

The corn maze was uber muddy because it had rained all morning

The girls carved their pumpkins when we got home.

Here are a few other notable tidbits since my previous post:

More »

Hi there and Happy Halloween!

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I ran the Trenton Half Marathon on Saturday! The abbreviated recap can be summed up into 4 sentences. No rain—yay! Seeing running friends—yay! img_9144Running a strong race—yay! Refueling with hard cider and salty/greasy food—yay!img_7015

I’ll have the full recap up later this week.

After getting home from the race I hung out with Mr. SOTSS and his kids for the rest of the day/night. We went out to dinner at Joe’s Crab Shack (I’d never been before).img_7025

Then we went to a Jack-O-Lantern “experience” nearby where we got to watch a very talented pumpkin carver and then see some cool Jack-O-Lanterns.

Say hello to my little pumpkin friends. They are all named Jack. LOL

Say hello to my little pumpkin friends. They are all named Jack. LOL

Cool right?

Cool right?

I was turning into a pumpkin myself by 9pm since I had been up at 4:45 to get to the race, so I headed back home to get a good night’s sleep.

Yesterday afternoon I met back up with them and we took the dogs for a walk and then went Trick-or-Treating where Mr. SOTSS’ mom lives. We had double the usual amount of pooches. The girls’ dogs Panda and Quincy came with.

Quincy borrowed Duncan's Pirate costume and I must say he looked awesome.

Quincy borrowed Duncan’s Pirate costume and I must say he looked awesome.

Panda borrowing Duncan's Sherif costume....but she looks like she's in jail so maybe the wrong costume?

Panda borrowing Duncan’s Sherif costume….but she looks like she’s in jail so maybe the wrong costume?

Chester looking "smashing" in his Pumpkin getup (anyone remember the band Smashing Pumpkins or am I showing my age?)

Chester looking “smashing” in his Pumpkin getup (anyone remember the band Smashing Pumpkins or am I showing my age?)

And Duncan got off the hook since it was so hot out (yes, unseasonably warm 80 degrees yesterday!) So I only put on the tie around his neck.

Keepin' it simple

Keepin’ it simple

I really do love October and I must say I’ve enjoyed it down to the bitter end. I’ve got lots of exciting stuff happening in November beginning with next weekend’s NYC Marathon. I’ll be spectating again like I did in 2014. I can’t wait! I’ve got friends coming from all over the country as well as a slew of local friends running and I just hope I get to see everyone! Crossing my fingers they’ll have perfect weather.

Hope your week is off to a good start.

BOO!

How was your weekend? Do anything fun?

Hi there.

Last night at 7pm I went for a run. It felt good.

4 miles in the dark

4 miles in the dark

I’m recovered from the Staten Island Half. I did feel slow the second 2 miles but no aches or pains. YAY! And since it’s been a while since I’ve gone for a run in the dark I enjoyed the spooky (and not so spooky….um…sorry Minnie Mouse isn’t capable of being spooky) decorations.

Boo!

Boo!

Minnie Mouse

Minnie Mouse

Skeletons having good conversation

Skeletons having good conversation

I’m enjoying this amazing month! October is my favorite month color.

My favorite color is October

My favorite color is October

My birthday is in 5 days. But more than that, there’s something so comforting about the cooler temps (well except that we hit 84 degrees the last few days….can you say Indian summer?!) and the gorgeous colors of the trees in peaches, reds, and greens.

An action shot. LOL

An action shot. LOL

Gorgeous colors

Gorgeous colors

Add in my favorite attire of hoodies, puffy vests, jeans and boots and baking apple crisps….apple picking and pumpkin picking too! Just no pumpkin spice. I am not a fan. Cinnamon is good though.

I baked this and ate this all by myself :)

I baked this and ate this all by myself 🙂

An apple picking day isn't complete without climbing into the tree for a selfie

An apple picking day isn’t complete without climbing into the tree for a selfie

best friends

hoodies and leaves!

Last Sunday we went pumpkin picking. pumpkin

:)

🙂

Love that we all look the same height in shadow. :)

Love that we all look the same height in shadow. 🙂

In the corn maize maze

In the corn maize maze

And I made my Nemo. nemo-pumpkinNot sure it came out as good as the one I saw on Pinterest but i struggled to find paint that wasn’t all dried up. I finally ended up using white wall paint (satin finish lol!) But since I had no black paint I had to use a Sharpie. Um…. Using Sharpies on pumpkin skin isn’t easy.

It’s also Breast Cancer Awareness Month! I usually coordinate my mammo in October but since I was so late making an appointment I’m going next month.

Favorite month?

Favorite season?

Favorite temperature?

Favorite thing to make with apples or pumpkin?