Easy run

Since I didn't get a chance to run all day at work, I decided on an easy 30 minute run from home.  Since daylight savings is now over, I was going to run out of daylight, so decided to stick to the streets, rather than going up on to the trails of Wellington Park and finding myself out in the dark. As I ran up the street close to home, the smell of Lamb chops filled the air.......mmmmmmmm.  It's always great to finish a run and have a yummy dinner on the table when you get home.

Thursday Track Session

Thursday nights are track night.  It provides me with a chance to work on a little speed and get those legs turning over a little faster.  On track nights I get to train with a group, which always gives you someone at your level to work with and make you work a little harder.  I am doing some faster stuff at the moment, some 300m and 150m repetitions, since it is only a couple of weeks until I compete in Brisbane at the Australian Master Nationals.  I have never competed at these Championships before, but went along with my Mum several times, when she was competing many years ago.  I am looking forward to competing at National level again and it gives me the much needed motivation to get out there to train each day.

The Very Best Gifts For Mothers Day 2011 (Mothers Day Gifts)

Author: JohnS

The Very Best Gifts For Mothers Day 2011 (Mothers Day Gifts)

Mothers Day is fast approaching, which may not seem like a very big deal to many of you; simply get her a card and some chocolates and she will be happy, right? Wrong. Mothers Day is just as significant an occasion as any other and your presents should reflect this. Much too often we settle with something traditional and ordinary when looking for Mothers Day gifts.

However, you have to ask yourself whether your mother herself is traditional and ordinary. Inevitably, the answer is no, so why disappoint her with a present that suggests this? Only the very best Mothers Day gifts will do for the very best mums, so take a look at some of the examples below, which will guarantee your present will not disappoint this year.

You can really give your mum something out of this world with the Name a Star Gift Box. This incredibly unique gift allows you to genuinely write your mum's name in the stars as it contains everything needed to dedicate a star to her. The gift comes in an elegant metal presentation box and includes everything from a personalised certificate bearing your chosen name, to its coordinates in the night sky so that the lucky recipient can locate it herself. Your fortunate mum will also receive a fact sheet and night sky book, providing her with everything she needs to know about astronomy to accompany her amazing gift. This completely unique present is possible since there are only a small amount of stars in the sky which actually have allocated names; most are simply distinguished by a catalogue number. Your mum's star name will be registered on the Intergalactic Star Database for the rest of eternity, making the Name a Star Gift Box a present that will truly last forever.

There is no better way to celebrate a special occasion such as this year's Mothers Day than with a good old bottle of bubbly. Not only does this allow you and your mum to really celebrate in style, but, with the Luxury Personalised Vintage Their Year Champagne, you can even personalise the bottle with the lucky recipient's name printed in amazing full colour on the label. However, the opportunity for personalisation does not stop there. You can even personalise it so that it is from any year, whether it be the year of her birth or this year, to create a memorable keepsake that she can treasure forever. Inside, the champagne itself is a beautiful blend of Meunier and Pinot Noir, creating an exquisitely fresh, light and youthful champagne. You can even include your own personal message on the label, to really give this Mothers Day gift that extra element of individuality. You cannot fail to please your special mum with this ingenious present.

On a similar theme, if your mum particularly enjoys her wine, then why not present her with the Personalised Giant Wine Glass, the perfect way for her to avoid having to share her bottles! This is a top quality wine glass which, believe it or not, holds an entire bottle of wine! You can even have your own personal message hand engraved onto the glass, so that the present becomes a lifelong keepsake and, of course, if you dedicate it to your mum, no one can steal her drink again. This gift is guaranteed to please any wine-loving mum.

Why not really bring the family together with your Mothers Day gifts this year, with the Family History Gift Box? This is a sleek and luxurious gift box, containing everything your mum needs to uncover all the historical details of your family and find out everything that neither of you ever knew. Starting off with the history of your surname, you and your mum can trace your entire family's history. The great thing about this gift is that it is personalised, so that you can register your surname and the recipient will then receive a personal illustrative certificate which explains the specific history of her surname. Other items included with this amazing gift include a guide on tracing family history, a family tree for the lucky lady to fill in and a personalised pen. This gift is not only something unpredictable that will really take the recipient by surprise, but it also creates a brilliant way for the whole family to get together and spend quality time on the project.

So reserve only the very best for your mum this Mothers Day when it comes to choosing your Mothers Day presents. It's not often you get to prove to her how special she really is, so why not really go all out this year and treat her as well as she deserves.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gifts-articles/the-very-best-gifts-for-mothers-day-2011-mothers-day-gifts-4454005.html

About the Author

To explore our range of mothers day gifts, please visit our website at http://www.gettingpersonal.co.uk.
   

Cupcake

Think of cupcakes as edible Mother's Day cards. And no matter the skill level of the baker (or the baker's "assistant"), there's a technique that will fill the bill, from using cake mix with canned frosting to baking from scratch and crafting elaborately decorated tops. Here are some ideas for cooking up a memorable day for Mom.

MILK CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Yield: Enough for 12 regular cupcakes

1/4 cup heavy cream

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

10 1/2 ounces milk chocolate, broken into small pieces

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1. Combine cream and butter in a saucepan; place over very low heat. Stir constantly until butter melts completely. (Do not let it come to a boil, or it will burn.) Remove from the heat; add chocolate. Let stand until chocolate softens, about 3 minutes.

2. Add vanilla and whisk until smooth.

3. Let frosting stand at room temperature until it is cool and thick enough to spread on cupcakes.

Per serving (based on 12): 180 calories; 12g fat; 7g saturated fat; 20mg cholesterol; 2g protein; 15g carbohydrate; 13g sugar; no fiber; 45mg sodium; 40mg calcium.

Adapted from "Cupcakes from the Primrose Bakery," by Martha Swift and Lisa Thomas (Kyle Books, 2009)

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

Yield: 18 to 22 cupcakes

3 large eggs, divided

1 1/4 cups milk, divided

1 cup packed brown sugar

3 ounces unsweetened chocolate

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

1 cup granulated sugar

2 cups cake flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

1. All ingredients should be at room temperature. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease the tops of two 12-cup cupcake pans and line the pans with cupcake liners. Separate one of the eggs.

2. In a saucepan over low heat, combine 1/2 cup milk, brown sugar and chocolate. When chocolate has melted, whisk in egg yolk. Remove from the heat and set aside.

3. Beat butter in the bowl of an electric mixer at medium-high speed until softened. Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Slowly add the remaining 2 eggs and the reserved egg white, scraping the bowl down after each addition.

4. Sift together flour, baking soda and salt onto a piece of waxed paper. With the mixer at low speed, add the dry ingredients in several additions, alternating with the remaining 3/4 cup milk and vanilla. Stir chocolate mixture into batter by hand, mixing only until combined.

5. Pour batter into the cupcake liners, filling each three-quarters full. Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until the tops spring back when lightly pressed. Remove the cupcakes from the baking pans, place on a wire rack and allow to cool completely before icing.

Per serving (based on 22): 200 calories; 7g fat; 4.5g saturated fat; 40mg cholesterol; 3g protein; 31g carbohydrate; 20g sugar; 1g fiber; 130mg sodium; 40mg calcium.

Adapted from "The Whimsical Bakehouse," by Kaye Hansen and Liv Hansen (Clarkson Potter, 2002)

PERFECT CAKE MIX CUPCAKES

Yield: 24 standard cupcakes

1 (18 \-ounce) box cake mix without pudding (such as Duncan Hines)

1 cup buttermilk

Vegetable oil (the amount called for in mix directions)

4 large eggs

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin cups with paper liners.

2. Follow the cake mix instructions, substituting 1 cup buttermilk for whatever amount of water is called for and using 4 eggs regardless of instructions. Beat with an electric mixer until moistened, about 30 seconds. Increase speed to high and beat until thick, 2 minutes more.

3. Spoon half of the batter into a large zipper-closed plastic bag, press out the air, and seal. Snip a \-inch corner from the bag. Fill the paper liners two-thirds full of batter. Repeat with the rest of the batter and another bag.

4. Bake until golden (if using a light-colored mix) and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 15 to 25 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from the baking pans, place on a wire rack and allow to cool completely before icing with your favorite frosting.

Per cupcake (yellow cake, made with 1/3 cup vegetable oil): 135 calories; 6g fat; 1g saturated fat; 35mg cholesterol; 2g protein; 18g carbohydrate; 10g sugar; no fiber; 165mg sodium; 40mg calcium.

Adapted from "What's New, Cupcake?" by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson (Houghton Mifflin, 2010)

VANILLA BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Yield: Enough for 15 to 20 standard cupcakes

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup 2 percent milk, at room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 1/4 cups powdered sugar, sifted

Food coloring, optional

1. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, milk, vanilla and half of the sugar until smooth. Gradually add the remainder of the sugar and beat until smooth and creamy.

2. For colored frosting, start with one drop of food coloring and beat thoroughly, which will result in a pale pastel color. Add one drop at a time, beating after each addition, to reach the desired shade.

Per serving (based on 20): 120 calories; 1.5g fat; 1g saturated fat; 5mg cholesterol; no protein; 26g carbohydrate; 25g sugar; no fiber; no sodium; no calcium.

Adapted from "Cupcakes From the Primrose Bakery" by Martha Swift and Lisa Thomas (Kyle Books, 2009)

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Yield: Enough for 24 standard cupcakes

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature

1 pound cream cheese, at room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 cups sifted powdered sugar

1. Beat butter, cream cheese and vanilla together in the bowl of an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes.

2. Add sugar and beat until smooth.

Per serving (based on 24): 210 calories; 14g fat; 9g saturated fat; 40mg cholesterol; 2g protein; 20g carbohydrate; 20g sugar; no fiber; 55mg sodium; 20mg calcium.

Adapted from "The Icing on the Cupcake (A Novel)," by Jennifer Ross (Ballantine Books Trade Paperback, 2010)

Read more: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/04/06/1954203/cupcakes-for-mothers-day.html#ixzz1Inz2eGsA

Lunchtime runs

Working 3-4 days a week, with two young children, it is difficult to find time for myself, especially to do the things I enjoy, which I cannot take for granted now.  The best way to fit in a run, is to do so in my lunch hour.  I usually meet up with friends and run around the various trails close by the Hobart CBD.  We take in the Cenotaph, Queens Domain, Cornelian Bay, Botanical Gardens, Waterworks Reserve or head down Sandy Bay Rd to Nutgrove Beach.  Making a commitment to meet others to exercise, is a great way to stay motivated and get out there, whatever the weather.

Orienteering

I have been racing a lot lately and with my husband keen to race the the first Cross Country of the season at Bellerive Beach, I took the opportunity to watch the race and look after our two infant children and have the day off.

Sunday, I headed out of town for a bit of Orienteering in the bush, which I haven't done in a while.  The weather was pretty average, but I enjoyed being out there, trying to find my way around with my map and compass in hand.  I like Orienteering because it gets you out there amounst the elements and is a lot more fun than just running around the streets.  It's a great family day too.  The kids love being outdoors and will soon be old enough to take for a little walk on one of the easier courses.

Last years Mothers Day Classic - Reunion with family and friends.

Having returned to Hobart just 2 days before last years Mothers Day Classic, after living overseas for 10 years, it was a great opportunity to catch up with family and friends, who had supported me from afar during the previous year or so since my diagnosis in June 2009.  I am again looking forward to participating in 2011. I am very motivated to get people from my workplace and my fellow support group members, as well as family and friends, to come along to this wonderful event and I encourage everyone to get out there on Mothers Day to support the cause and create awareness of this disease, that can effect anyone, even fit and healthy young mothers, with no family history of the disease.