As we say good bye to 2014, let me know what your most memorable moment of the year was... 

I have three of them:  our trip to Greece when I got to run on the original Olympic track, the birth of our grandson Oliver  and a month ago when we found out that our daughter and son-in-law (after years of trying) are going to have a baby!!!

2014 was a very good year for us. Hope it was for you too. Here's wishing us all the best in 2015!!!

Merry Christmas

A Gift List Anyone Can Afford

Christmas Eve is tomorrow and some of us are busy last minute shopping for the special people on our lists. Since most of us are looking for gifts that fit our budgets, here's a list of gift suggestions for "the large of heart and small of purse". (Sorry I don't know who came up with the list so I can't give credit...)
These gifts won't cost you a dime, but that doesn't mean they have no value. If you give one of these gifts, you will give the most priceless gift of all: yourself!

*The Gift of Listening. Psychologists tell us that one of the greatests things we can do for another is listen.

*The Gift of Signs of Affection. Take time to give your loved ones extra signs of affection.

*The Gift of a Note. Write notes to your loved ones. They can be as simple as "I love you" or as creative as a poem.

*The Gift of Laughter. Everyone loves to laugh. Give those you love this gift. Just cut out a cartoon, clip a joke, copy a riddle or save a clever article. Your gift will say "I love to laugh with you."

*The Gift of a Game. Offer to play your loved one's favorite game with him or her. Even if you lose, you'll be a winner.

*The Gift of Doing a Favor. This gift is made more valuable when it anticipates a request rather than when it responds to one.

*The Gift of a Compliment. It is great therapy for us all.

*The Gift of a Cheerful Disposition. Your gift of cheerfulness will be a precious gift for everyone--including yourself.

You could probably add more to the list but isn't this a good start? Some of these are so simple yet would really make someone's day. Hope you found the list worthwhile--I did. 

(Are you still shopping or are you done?)

So Simple Christmas Nail Art!

Of course I have to share some Christmas Nail Art with you! Love this video from Cute Polish that shows easy, easy ways to decorate your nails. Best part? You don't need any special tools except for a toothpick! No excuse not to have cute nails for the holidays.





 

Christmas in Washington,DC

The scene as we walked from our car.

This past week we were in the DC area visiting our son, daughter-in-law, grandson and newest baby grandson. One rainy night we decided to go see the National Christmas Tree. (It had quit raining by the time we got there.) The National Tree comes from Minnesota this year so it was especially meaningful.

Can you see the White House in the background?

As we got closer we saw that the National Tree was surrounded by smaller trees. Each tree has a sign by it naming a state. Since the trees were covered with a frame of lights you couldn't really see the tree. I'm not sure if these trees were supposed to have come from that particular state? I wondered if Hawaii had evergreen trees?

Actually US territories such as Puerto Rico and Guam had a tree too.

There were also wooden frames in the shape of Christmas trees that had ornaments from each state. They looked like small clear plastic beach balls filled with stuff. We weren't sure what Minnesota's had inside. We weren't impressed with these at all. I didn't even take a photograph of any.

Love this little train village!

I was wishing my grandson, Jack would have been with us. He loves trains! Around the National Christmas Tree are train tracks and several villages. We were there on a Tuesday evening and the train wasn't running. I'm not sure if it only runs on weekends or not.  It would have been really fun to see the train in action. Interesting to note that people have thrown pennies on the village platforms and around the tracks. (like a wishing well?)

The first night of Hanukkah.

There was also a giant Menorah that had the candle for the first night of Hanukkah lit. Nearby was a building labeled "Santa's workshop". It is only open on the weekends. So we peeked in the windows--saw what looked like a real toy workshop. I couldn't tell where Santa would be sitting but it looked really fun. And sadly, tucked way back in a corner was a life-size plastic Manger scene. 

A few of the decorations in the Gaylord Hotel.

I've been to DC many times but never at Christmas time. We drove around a little bit more after we left this area but there weren't too much other Christmasy things to see. We did go down to the National Harbor which had a giant ferris wheel all lit up and lots of other Christmas lights. We walked through the Gaylord Hotel. It was really beautifully decorated. Really helped put us in the Holiday spirit.

As much fun as it is to travel it is always good to be home. The Christmas lights in our own neighborhood welcomed us back.  

Wordless Wednesday

Saw this as we walked to see the Nat'l Christmas Tree.

Wordless Wednesday

Fun with the grandkids!

You Can Stretch Anytime

You can stretch anytime, anywhere! As you age, your muscles tighten and range of motion in your joints can be minimized. This can put a damper on your active lifestyle and even put a crimp in normal motions. (I try to stretch my legs after I run but I haven't been very good about stretching the rest of my body.)

Stretching increases flexibility, which will help you perform daily activities and reduce the risk of muscle, joint and tendon injuries. Stretching also improves circulation, increasing blood flow to the muscles. Increased blood flow provides more nourishment to the muscles and gets rid of more waste by-products in the muscle tissue itself. Improved circulation can also help speed up recovery time if you suffer a muscle injury. 

Everyone can learn to stretch, regardless of age or flexibility. Stretching should be a part of your daily routine, whether you exercise or not. You can stretch while you watch tv, use the computer or are getting ready for bed. 

The staff at the Mayo Clinic give these benefits of stretching:  

*Stretching increases flexibility. Flexible muscles can improve your daily performance. Tasks such as lifting packages, bending to tie your shoes or hurrying to catch a bus become easier and less tiring.  

* Stretching improves range of motion of your joints. Good range of motion keeps you in better balance, which will help keep you mobile and less prone to falls — and the related injuries — especially as you age.  

*Stretching improves circulation. Stretching increases blood flow to your muscles. Improved circulation can speed recovery after muscle injuries. 

*Stretching can relieve stress. Stretching relaxes the tense muscles that often accompany stress. 

To find some quick and easy stretches go here:  You’ll find stretches for your whole body.