Get your Runner Bling here!

Tonight I went running. Actually it wasn't 'tonight' so much as 'this evening', but when it gets dark at 5pm it's hard to tell the difference. Up until today, I hadn't been aware of my need for reflective gear. I suppose my day-glo legs were bright enough, but tonight in long black pants I felt a bit at risk.

As I was running, I ran through a couple ideas in my head. Wrap myself in aluminum foil? Big duct-tape X on my back? Hmm... these ideas needed some work. Then inspiration struck: Reflective Runner Bling.



Using a couple pieces of foil I was able to fashion this lovely little item. I can pin it onto the back of my shirt and voilà! Reflective Runner Bling.

I'm sure this will soon be added to the many websites featuring gift ideas for runners this Christmas. But - for a limited time only - I'll be taking orders for personalized Reflective Runner Bling for the incredible price of $19.95 + S&H. Order now and I'll upgrade your Bling to heavy duty foil at no extra cost to you. That's right - no extra cost. Your free gift for being such a sucker one of my first customers.

Also available from our shop:
the HydraJuice Bottle
Phonebook Step Aerobics

Act now. This offer can't possibly last!

The marché de Noël is here!

Headed into the market with Ngân ("I'm the tall one." Just had to say it since I don't get to often.)

Last Friday I (amazingly) found that I had a couple hours free so quickly rallied the troops (Ngân, Kendra and Evan) for a trip to the Marché de Noël, the annual Christmas market in Lyon. It was - as always - awesome. The twinkling lights, hot mulled drinks, beautiful handcrafted gifts... Definitely recommend planning a stop by if you're in the area between now and December 24th.

In related news:


The December issue of theFrenchPaper, on sale in kiosques around France...


...with an article on the Marché de Noël by yours truly!


Le marché de Noël fact 1: 900 vendors applied for spots at this year's market.


Ngân sampling the mulled cider with cinnamon and lemon


Le marché de Noël fact 2: Of those 900 vendors, only 130 applicants were chosen.


Cheers!


Le marché de Noël fact 3: The market started in 1996.


Le marché de Noël fact 4: It is the largest Christmas market in the region.


Le marché de Noël fact 5: I absolutely love it.


Well, aren't you in-the-know? Already reading the blog... ;)

He's 'practically' funny...

K: If you want, I could give you a couple ideas for my Christmas gifts.

J: Gifts? You mean more than one?

K: Very funny.

J: Sure. What do you want?

And at this point, a very clear distinction is made between a person who loves to shop and a person who finds joy in practicality.

K: Well, I want a lightweight fleece vest for running, and...

J: You have one.

K: No, I don't.

J: Sure you do. I gave you my old one.

K: It's huge on me! It bounces all over the place when I run. Way too big.

J: What about your blue fleece? The one your mom got for you?

K: It has long sleeves.

J: Just cut them off with scissors. There... gift number one: check! So what's next on your list?

K: Nevermind...

Your assignments...

Sitting in our apartment, waiting for Jonathan to come home from long hours at the clinic, thinking about the long day I'll have at work tomorrow... My cousin just posted on Facebook that she's "helping clean the house and waiting for fam to get here."

In this case, 'fam' includes my parents, who are back in the US right now. I started to get a little weepy, but decided instead to nip it in the bud by doing one of the things I do best: bossing people around delegating.



So, here are your Thanksgiving assignments from me.

- Corrie, hug my Mom and Dad for me - and make 'em big ones.

- Beth, enjoy hosting your first Thanksgiving at Holly Hill. Take lots of pictures!

- LeAnn and Marcy, run hard.

- Kevin and Penni, have a wonderful dinner of la pizza.

- Tauna, enjoy the quiet and know you are very much appreciated.

- Jana, show Hannah and Charlie a picture of us and tell them 'aboot' how we celebrate American Thanksgiving :)

- Julie, tell Renae and Sam that we love them. Jesse too, if he's feeling left out.

- Pegs, know you're missed and thought of. (Same goes for another someone whose name starts with a P and has four letters, but we know he wouldn't want his name on the internet.)

- Kate, try to console Chris with the fact that we'll see you guys in 25 days. Another serving of pasta should help numb his pain.

- Britt, hug the kiddos for us (remind them we'll see them in about a year!) and take copious notes about what kinds of foods you make.

- Everyone else, eat lots of green bean casserole (my favorite) and pumpkin pie on our behalf. But you can keep the calories for yourselves... Happy Thanksgiving!

Le Thanksgiving...

Five Americans, a Pole and a French woman are sitting in a room the size of a prison cell. Two of them are vegetarians and one has Vietnamese roots. A baby and a three-year-old are crawling around on the floor...

Not the lead in to a good joke - it's just Thanksgiving at our place! :) It was a great combo of cultures. We ate tons of good American food, but spread out over a nice two hour meal à la française.


Britt, since I know you want the list: turkey, dressing, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, deviled eggs, mashed potatoes and gravy, frog eye salad (so good!), green tomato pickles, fresh bread, pumpkin pie and apple tart.


Ngân and Evan...


... and Jonathan with Evan!


The scene before...


... and after. (I like the 'after' much better.)