I’ve been in a funk lately.  The winter weather moved in way too quickly for my liking and it’s getting me down.  Serious disagreements, deaths, body hurts, very “blue” rather than “rosy red” mood all have finally taken their toll.   

“Tis the season to be jolly”,  a celebratory season, festivities, parties, and yet there is some bad air around.  Well, it’s time to de-funkify and so goes forth the mission.  Here’s how I try to get out of a funk: 

  • Realize I can’t fix things beyond my control and  worry won’t solve anything. Move forward.
  • Fix things that I CAN control. Take positive steps toward recovery rather than denial and use common sense. 
  • Smile, it always makes everything feel a bit better.  Try to smile first and cry later if you have to. 
  • Positive self talk.  Practice positive statements instead of negative ones . “The week ahead is filled with great possibilities and achievements” and NOTthe week ahead looks cold, windy. I’m not looking  forward to the week.

On  the workout front, it’s all here in my  schedule:  Boston Training Spreadsheet. I’ll get only limited miles in and all of them will be on the treadmill. BORING week ahead. HEY! That’s a negative statement!  Let’s fix that RIGHT NOW!   Change to:  I’ll be able to get some running in, stay warm and won’t risk injury by slipping on ice.  Feeling better already. Smile with tongue out

What do you do to “De-Funkify”?

Ted has wanted to see this movie for the past two weeks.  I didn’t want to see it.

Eat Pray love

We FINALLY rented it Friday night.  He won that one.  Ten minutes into the movie, and I’m not kidding you, Ted was snoring like a freight train.  I closed my eyes hoping that I could sleep through it as well. That never happens when I want it to.  I watched the entire film and didn’t like it. It was slow and flitted from place to place.  I like Julia Roberts but did NOT like this one.

Apple Blondies

No more nuts! It seems that just too many cookie and bar recipes include nuts. Now nuts are good for you in moderation and nuts are my “go to” snack throughout the day, but what’s a great recipe LESS nuts?  Here it is… this is a super blondie recipe where the sugar has been cut by about 1/3 from standard recipes and little slices of apple included for  fiber.

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Depending on how you cut them, you can get 28 to 36 squares

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  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1 1/4 sticks unsalted butter, partially melted
  • 1 1/2 cups packed dark brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
  • 3/4 cup diced apple – peeled, cored.  About 3 small apples
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • *Add 1/2 tsp cinnamon if you like (I didn’t because my mother is allergic to that spice)

Preheat the oven to 350 F.  Spray a 9 x 13 pan with non stick baking spray ( the kind with flour in it). 

In a bowl, mix the dry ingredients:  flour, baking powder, salt, and soda.

In another bowl and using your mixer, beat well the part melted butter and sugar, about 1 – 2 minutes.  Add the eggs and vanilla and beat for another minute.  Add the flour slowly, about 1/3rd at a time. 

Spread the mixture into the prepared pan. Sprinkle on the chocolate chips and then the apple pieces. 

Bake for 30 minutes or until lightly browned.

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Not too heavy and not teeth achy sweet

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Perfect with a nice cup of coffee, tea, or…spiked Eggnog!

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Do you have a favorite Blondie recipe?

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