Sunday, December 22, 2019

All I Want for Christmas is Sun!

I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I just want the sun to shine
And to watch the temperature climb
My wish is only one...
All I want for Christmas is Sun!

Apologies to Mariah Carey and Justin Bieber but I just don't want to run in the cold and snow. 

The sunshine makes everything look better, doesn't it?
Guys, a white Christmas is overrated.

It looks like my wish for a sunshiney Christmas is going to come true. We've been blessed with a stretch of precipitation free warm (relatively speaking) sunshiney weather. Thank you Mother Nature. If only our Chicago winters could be like this every year, I'd want for nothing else. It's so much easier to get motivated to get up early and get out the door for a run. You all know that I'll run in the bitter cold, but it doesn't mean that I like it!

The Week in Review
Monday: run 4 miles/40 pushups
Tuesday: rest
Wednesday: run 6 miles/Yoga with Adriene
Thursday: strength training/CrossFit
Friday: rest
Saturday: run 4 miles
Sunday: TBD

Running
On Monday, I wanted to get in a quick 4 before I had to leave for Madison to pick up my youngest for winter break. That meant I wasn't able to go to CrossFit. Feeling a little guilty about missing CrossFit, I did run/pushup intervals! It worked out great and I was able to get in 40 strict pushups total. A runner's gotta do...


Speaking of bitter cold, Wednesday morning was RIDICULOUS. It was 12F but with the wind chill, the real feel was -4F. Still, the sun was shining and that makes all the difference. I layered up, pulled on my ninja face mask, and headed to the bike path, starting into the wind for 6 miles. I saw no other runners that morning, which did not surprise me at all.


That cold snap was short-lived and by Saturday morning, I was able to run my 4 miles in relatively balmy conditions under the bright sunshine. 

CrossFit
As I mentioned above, I had to skip Monday's CrossFit class. By Thursday, I was itching for some strength training and Sammy Jo brought it. I worked on front squats alternating with strict presses, sets of 5. After that, I worked on cleans to overhead press. After all those strict presses, I struggled with the overhead presses. 


Bootcamp was a very tough 27-21-15-9 workout of assault bike calories, hang cleans, front squats, push presses, and abmat situps. In between each set, we had to do a 10 lap shuttle run. The workout took 40 minutes and not everyone was able to complete it. This was the hardest bootcamp since that one we did last summer, and Sammy Jo acknowledged our hard work by sharing it on IG. 

And yes, Steph surprised me again by coming to class!
Holiday Fun
Besides sunshine, all I want for Christmas is fun with my family! This week provided some of that and my mama's heart was warm and happy! On Thursday, we all met up at the Christkindlmarkt in downtown Chicago. It was a beautiful evening and we shared in some Gluhwein and black lager. It got really crowded, so we left and enjoyed dinner at a restaurant across the street. 


On Saturday, my sister married her longtime fiance. It was a wonderful evening of celebration and family! Plus it was fun to dress up.



How was your week? Are you enjoying some nice weather? Partaking in some holiday fun? For me, the best part of the holidays is the festivities and time with family! 

I'm linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Rundown.




52 comments :

  1. Nice to have the kids home. We had the whole crew here all of last weekend and they'll all be here for the entire Christmas week. I'm as happy as a clam. Congratulations to your sister! Beautiful weather for a run AND for a wedding!

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  2. I totally agree with you - I'm totally cool with having a snow-free Christmas, which luckily it looks like we will have this week :)

    Congrats to your sister and new brother-in-law! I love the dress that you wore to the wedding!

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  3. I think that is the first time I've seen a photo of you all dressed up! You look great! You and your sister don't look at all alike.
    Great idea with the push-ups! I notice that you are doing them correctly, too.
    If it's any comfort to you: the last two days here in Southwest Florida have been rainy and miserable. Nice for running, though.
    Enjoy your time with the family!

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    1. It's funny that you say that--when people see us together, they say we look alike, lol!

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  4. I am always happy when Dec 21 arrives, because the days will get longer and the weather will get nicer.
    You and your sister are gorgeous!

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    1. We've got to get through January and February. But yes, it's all uphill from here!

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  5. I had a beautiful sunshin-y run this morning by myself before the rest of my household woke up. It was heavenly! And...you can do 40 pushups?!?! That's impressive!

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  6. You & your sister look wonderful together -- making happy memories!

    Unfortunately we did not enjoy much nice weather this week. Extreme cold -- but at least some sunshine -- and yes, a little more snow. I'm with you on wanting the sun, but I could use some warmer temps too!

    40 is definitely a lot of pushups. I know I couldn't do that many!

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    1. Sunshine+warmth would be perfection! And yes you could do that many pushups--just break them up into sets.

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  7. I like a little bit of snow for Christmas (it's what I know, having lived in the Midwest all of my life), but then it can go. Although, if it's going to be buttocks-freezing cold, we might as well have something to show for it. That said, I do embrace any and all sunshine Momma N sends my way. Hope you have a nice Christmas :-)

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    1. I grew up in the Midwest too but I don't remember all that many white Christmases. I'm good with a green one!

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  8. I swear the sun has been my saving grace this week. Your sis lucked out with a gorgeous December wedding day! Could not agree more: It is SO nice to have the family together!

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    1. My mom had a saying yesterday: happy the bride the sun shines on!

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  9. Congrats to your sister! Beautiful picture of you two! Can you believe I've never been downtown for Christkindlmarket? I see so many pictures on Instagram and Facebook and am curious about it. I am also happy about the warmer weather. After's last year horrible weather, I hope it stays warm.

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  10. Oh my goodness - so COLD! I could not cope with that. Glad to live in temperate England!! Love the pic of you and your sister, I liked it on FB but didn't realise the occasion. How lovely!

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    1. My sister does not like FB but I wanted that photo for my profile picture. I figured the people who know her would know what it was! LOL

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  11. I love that color on you at your sister's wedding.
    I love the holiday markets-finally went Friday after work.

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    1. Red is my favorite color and it was a Black Friday bargain! Can't beat that but I hope I get a chance to wear it again.

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  12. All of your family together and your sister's wedding! Looks like a fantastic holiday season for you all. Congrats to your sister. You both look gorgeous. Merry Christmas to you

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    1. It was an absolutely wonderful evening and I am so happy for her and Ron! Everyone deserves to be happy.

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  13. We have snow on the ground but some more would be much appreciated. ;) BUT I fully agree with you on two things - the sunshine makes everything feel much better and I don't like being cold but that's not going to stop me from running in it.

    Congrats to your sister! You both look beautiful!

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    1. I'm really enjoying the mild weather we are having right now. I know it's not going to last.

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  14. Its so fun to have the family home for the holidays. I enjoy running in the winter, though our "winter" is nothing like yours. I don't think I'd like temps in the 20s!

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  15. Awww, congratulations to your sister - you two look beautiful!

    I agree, time with family is such a wonderful part of the holiday season. We've started a new Christmas Eve tradition after mass that we all look forward to and of course, there's Book Night, another favorite family Christmas tradition!

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  16. Congratulations to your sister! We had our first holiday family dinner yesterday with more to come Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (restaurant)!and Saturday (brunch). I hope to get some sunny miles in between!

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  17. I dont need a white Christmas either! I really appreciate warmer weather in December because it makes the winter not feel quite as long. We have had years when it was 70 degrees Christmas week and others when it was 0 degrees. I havent looked too closely at the forecast but I think it is supposed to be on the warmer side this year.

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    1. I am certain that this is all going to turn into a real winter soon enough! But I plan on enjoying it while it lasts!

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  18. Congratulations to your sister and her new husband! She (and you) look beautiful! It’s so great you have your family around you for the holidays!

    I’m thankful that I will never have a white Christmas unless I choose to travel to one. My husband has been suggesting we go to the Palm Springs Tram but I’m resisting. 😉

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    1. I'm really enjoying my adult children and all the fun we've been having. When they were teens, I had so much melancholy about the holidays--they didn't want to be with us and that was hard! I feel very lucky. <3

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  19. You are fire in that red dress! Congratulations to your sister! What a happy day :)

    We have been suffering through absolutely miserable rainstorms. Usually, in Florida, we get an hour of rain, but for some reason, we've had two days of just pouring down precipitation. Ew. I would love some snow, but I don't see that happening either. However, if the reports are to be believed, we will have a sunny Christmas.

    You got some great variety in this week! Awesome job!

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    1. I'm happy to have a green Christmas! I hope your rain goes away, tho.

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  20. Sounds like a fun family week! I’m with you on crossing my fingers for warmer weather this week :). We’re traveling to Atlanta so I think it will at least be warmer than here.

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  21. Oh I'm so with you on wanting the sunshine and mild temps vs. the snow!

    Best wishes to your sister! You two look fabulous :) Enjoy the time with your family!!

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    1. Right? A White Christmas is so overrated. Give me warmth, any day!

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  22. Congrats to your sister! That Crossfit workout sounds like a shoulder killer. Bozeman finally has snow in the forecast for Christmas (it's been almost a month, I think...really dry for here), but of course we're headed south so will be getting a grey/brown Christmas instead.

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    1. Ok, our Christmas isn't really green but I'm happy with the warmer temps. I know it's going to get cold eventually.

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  23. Congratulations to your sister, you both look beautiful! I'm right there with you, bring on the sunshine for Christmas :)

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  24. Sorry, I'm a fan of all the snow!! As a matter of fact, we are just packing right now for a ski trip! But hopefully it will be lots of snow AND sunshine on the slopes. Enjoy your family time, and Merry Christmas!

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  25. I runfession. I cannot do even one push-up.

    Sun makes all the difference...it seems to be sunny only on my rest days.

    Red is your color. You look marvelous.

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  26. Well, maybe I could...if tried LOL

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