This weekend we made it down to Sioux Falls for the Reiffenberger Christmas get together. Unfortunately, there were several who could not make due to illness, including my daughter Molly and my son-in-law Tanner. Molly came down with the stomach flu early Saturday morning. We will luckily be getting back together later next week when we go to Huron for Christmas for Sarah’s side of the family. In between, we will be home, and celebrating. And, there really is no place like home for the holidays. Time spent with the rest of the family is great, as we don’t get together that often. But now with our kids grown, we will be starting our own holiday traditions in our home. Another chapter about to begin! Some day we will have grandkids involved!!
We all gathered at my mom’s house. She has been in that house now for the last 50 years. I grew up there, and it still holds many great memories for me! It always feel like home yet! She is still on her own, and doing well. Hopefully this continues as well! It was great seeing many of my nieces and nephews, and now their kids. It is always fun watching the look on the kids faces when they are ripping open presents!
My niece Jess, with her son Finn. That is my brother Ray, the oldest, in the background.
Finn and Keegan…brothers! Always a ham for the camera!
We get as many of us crammed around the old ping pong table as we can when it comes time to eat, and open presents. Then rotate around when opening presents. This tradition began before my kids were even born, and my oldest are now 25!
It is always nice getting together to celebrate the holidays, and catch up on how everybody is doing! I am looking forward to next week when my kids will be coming home and celebrating at home with us, and carrying on our own traditions! It is great having Megan back home for good, and not worrying about plane trips, and the weather, who can get here and who can’t!
Sarah and I are looking forward to those traditions carrying on what we started with our kids. Amazing how fast time goes by! It still feels like our kids should be that little yet. Megan, Sarah, and I got our run in Saturday morning before we took off for Sioux Falls too! No excuses there either. You just have to plan and figure out how and when, and then relax and enjoy the rest of the holiday time!
Enjoy the holidays! Enjoy family time! Enjoy them for as long as you can, as time really does go by fast! Keep striving, keep surviving…keep living! Keep moving everybody!
While you are enjoying the food, festivities and fellowship during the holidays, food safety is important to keep in mind. At large gatherings, it is easy to overlook food safety. Follow these tips to keep your gatherings safe and healthy from the start.
* Wash hands often: wash hands often—and for at least 20 seconds. Be sure to wash before touching serving utensils, after handling raw foods, after using the bathroom, or after touching skin or hair.
* Separate the ready to eat foods from raw meat and veggies: this will prevent cross contamination between foods
* Use a thermometer: always check the temps of cooked food to make sure they are cooked thoroughly.
* Use utensils: if you are taste testing dishes, make sure to use separate utensils for each food you try and each time you try it.
* Use serving utensils: have utensils ready to use at the serving table, so people aren’t using hands to touch the food.
* Saving leftovers: food should not be out for more than 2 hours after cooking, put in fridge asap to save for safe leftovers and don’t store them in the containers they were made in; transfer to smaller containers for storing.
* Storage safety: meat should be used within 3-4 days, gravies and stuffing should be used in 1-2 days, and everything else 5-7 days.
Enjoy the holidays and all they have to offer!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I have a special group of people that I run with, and even more important, they are people I can call friends. A few of them are part of my direct family, but the rest are a part of my running family. Today we met at Caribou for coffee, and exchange gifts for Secret Santa. We may have met for coffee…but it really had nothing to do about coffee. It was a time to get together, after our run, and just talk, and laugh! The coffee was just added bonus to it all. The following pictures of us just having a good time!
It was a great day to start off the morning, even when the wind chill was well below zero. Yes, we ran, and we like to run, and that is what keeps us coming back for more. But it is the friendships we make along the way that keeps us all going. Here we are all just posing for the camera!
Now, a couple people that I would say are originals for the run club were not able to make it today. Tom Beaudry, and Paula Nurnberg. Believe me, you were both there in discussion today! How could we possibly meet as a group and not have you two come up in the discussion! There were many others that are part of the group as well who have joined along the years, and had other activities going on as well. We will just have as many of us to meet as we can each time. One thing is for sure, there will be more times as well. The more of us there, the better. Maybe not to Caribou as we kind of take over the place, but hey, we are buying things there!
Cheers to you especially Tom. We have been running together for many years!!!! Runs just are not the same when you are not there. We have been through many marathons and training programs together. Many a run we have spilled our guts out to each other helping to solve problems. No amount of words can describe all the benefits that those runs have provided over the years! The last couple of weeks you have been running again, working your way back recovering from your foot injury. We both make quite the pair with injuries and illness this year. Let’s hope 2020 brings much more fun, and run times, and not health/injury times! Old running partners are always around for each other. I want to keep it this way, and look forward to many more years ahead! Thanks for all of the good times, and runs Tom! Keep moving everybody!
Healthy Holidays! Wait that doesn’t sound right, does it? We all know that it’s hard to stay healthy during the holidays that fill the fall & winter months. Halloween sugar followed by carb and calorie dense Thanksgiving, then non-stop Christmas gatherings with family, friends, & festive foods. Here are some tips to help you through the festivities.
* Don’t skip meals: continue to have a balanced schedule, even though you want to save your appetite for the BIG meal, still eat a small breakfast or lunch that is rich in protein, low fat, and full of fiber.
* Reduce butter & other fats: fats add extra calories, so reducing them will help to reduce amount of calories in the holiday meal.
* Focus on Mindful Eating vs Mindless Eating: eat because you’re hungry, not because everyone else is—think about your hunger and fullness, try new foods being served, but enjoy what you are eating.
* Go for nutrient dense foods: sweet potatoes vs. regular potatoes, veggie tray vs. cheese/cracker tray, fruit vs. cookie/pies.
* Take a walk with the family or do an activity together between the meal and dessert.
*Most of all- enjoy your time with your loved ones! Merry Christmas!
Winter is always challenging to get fresh produce at a reasonable price, but these top 5 winter foods are not only reasonably priced, but offer a great source of nutrients. Be sure to add them to your grocery list and include them in your meal planning!
1. Pomegranates: this heart-healthy food is rich in antioxidants that can contribute to improving blood flow to the heart and keep arteries unblocked.
2. Dark Leafy Greens: kale, chard, and collards thrive during the winter season while the rest of the produce section looks bleak. These greens are rich in vitamin A, C, and K. They are also an excellent source of folate.
3. Citrus fruits: limes, oranges and grapefruits are juiciest in the wintertime and can brighten up a dull winter. They are loaded with vitamin C. Citruses are a rich source of flavonoids like hesperidin, which is credited for boosting HDL (good) cholesterol while lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides.
4. Potatoes: they often given a bad rap for being one of the white starches along with white rice and white bread but unlike those starches, potatoes are a whole food and contain many beneficial nutrients. They have two excellent immune boosters – Vitamin C and B6—while also providing a good source of folate and fiber.
5. Winter Squash: comes in a variety from butternut to acorn to delicata and even spaghetti squash and they are all excellent choices in the winter. One cup of squash has 80 calories and is high in both vitamin A, C and K while also boasting a good source of potassium, B6, and folate. -Kelsey
The holidays are in full swing, which means festive food, and busy schedules. Many families are enjoying old traditions, or making new ones. Unfortunately also during these Christmas experiences, many people find themselves experiencing weight gain. Countless family gatherings and baking Christmas goodies all month are grounds for overeating, without any time to spare for exercise. By making few simple changes over the day, the holidays do not have to mean weight gain! Here are some simple tips to try out between traveling, parties, cooking, and company.
1.An Early Resolution? – Rather than waiting for New Years to start a resolution, make it easier on yourself and gradually work up to your resolution by New Years. This will also help you to stay focused and maintain weight over the holidays, so you can see faster results after. If your goal is to lose weight, maybe you will try to walk two days a week now, and by New Year’s you will be built up to walking 5 days a week!
2.Stress less about Exercise- Rather than stressing about shopping and cleaning this year, think of this as a time to multitask. Housework is one of the best ways to get in a workout over the holidays. Whether it’s moving around the kitchen while you bake, or vacuuming before company…it all burn calories! Shopping through the mall crowds, standing in line, and bringing bags out to your car all are positive experiences now that you can count it as a workout, right?
3.Quality Time- Rather than taking away from family time to work out, invite your family to do something as a group. Wake up on Christmas morning and enjoy some yoga together before presents, or take the kids out ice-skating or sledding after the famous Christmas dinner. Just remember, building a snowman or looking at Christmas lights will also provide memories that last longer than the memories watching a movie would.
4.Think Before You Eat – Eat until you are satisfied, not stuffed. If you find yourself overeating at one meal, go light on the next. Try to fill your plate with the lower calorie items such as vegetable dishes, and lean proteins, then take smaller portions of the rich foods. Eat slowly, socialize, and enjoy every bite! Overall, it’s the holidays and you need to enjoy yourself! Don’t restrict yourself from family time and enjoying some of your favorite holiday foods, but be mindful and plan ahead! Stay healthy this season, then after the holidays, your mind and body will thank you! -Kelsey
