Go Rachel, it's ya birthday, gonna workout like it's yo birthday!!

That's right, it's my birthday today... So much fun. I love birthdays - mine and others - always have and always will and it's even more exciting now that there will be a baby to celebrate with soon!

So my birthday workout consisted of....

An at home weights workout, courtesy of womans health magazine and their awesome 20 minute at home workouts. I used my 5kg hand weights for these and mostly focussed on arms and legs, with a little bit of back and abs in there too.

After that I was all geared up to get out and go for a run...

I know, I'm totally working that running pose... Practiced for hours!

... Until hubby got home, at which time I thought it would be nice to go together. However, this just ended up being a brisk walk as I am still trying to teach Tim how to, and encourage him that yes you can, love running! This did not happen today but we had a lovely walk on a sunny spring evening instead.

Then, to top off the day, Tim took me out for a surprise dinner. I thought we were just going to eat at home since we are having a celebratory dinner with friends and some fam on Fri night instead, so this was a treat. Naturally, being the birthday girl and all, I got to pick so chose our favourite Israeli restaurant to go to.

My delicious dinner with falafels... Sooo good!

This place has the best food with delicious salads and the falafel are to die for! And to top it off, since it's my birthday and all, we shared a dessert... Classic baklava with ice cream... Yummo!

To sum it up, I have had a great day, thanks mostly in part to my wonderful husband who started my day with this funky tune that you just MUST listen to!  Then, at school, I had 4 classes of students sing happy birthday to me which, despite the colour of my face at the time, made me feel very special. Feeling the love all round, that's fo sho!

How do you like to celebrate your birthday? Do you have family traditions? 

Do you workout on your birthday or use this as an excuse to have a 'rest day'?

Passionate Passion Party

One of my favourite quotes but I had temporarily forgotten it....

The last few weeks I have felt a bit nonchalant about the whole running business. Coming into winter I often find it's not the most inspiring time to be running, as well as getting a lot more work (which is so awesome, but sometimes tiring). However, today I had an unofficial job interview in which I got asked what my passions were and what I did outside of school and teaching.

This got me thinking and got me talking about running. For any of you who know me, you will know that once you get me started on something I love and am passionate about, it's VERY hard to shut me up again. I thought I managed to be quite contained in this situation though - my husband would be so proud! So once I got talking about how passionate I am about running, why I run, why I love it and what my goals are, it made me really feel passionate again. Yay!

Last week I officially registered for this marathon again, which I was hoping would give me the burst of inspiration and enthusiasm I needed. Alas, I found that it didn't really help, but am letting YOU all know that if it is motivation and inspiration you need, talking about your passions REALLY does help and give you the boost you need. Or kick up the butt in my case. I really can't afford to keep sitting on the couch and just blogging about it all day, I actually have to do something at some point right!?!

So just some encouragement to you, if you are feeling a little nonchalant like i was, try to remember and maybe even talk about your passion, why you love it, why you do it and what it brings to your life, and maybe even others'.

What are your passions? What helps to inspire or motivate you when you are not feeling the passion?

And I'll just leave you with this one last reminder - Whatever you are doing...

Winter warmers...

We Southern Hemisphere-ers are now 4 days into winter - oh joy. Now myself being a summer gal and all I find winter to be the least inspiring time of the year. However, this year I have decided to try and embrace it and make the most of it. So here's a list of all of the good things about winter - yes, there are good things about it for all you summer-lovin' peeps out there!

1. Slow cooker/crock put meals - these are the goods sir!

If you do not have one of these bad boys your best be on your way to get one NOW!

Check out this site and this month's issue of this mag for some great slow cooker recipes!

2. Cosying up with your hunk of burning love to watch some uber lame but oh-so-sweet lurrrrve movies. Or if you're like me and my husband - some shoot-em-up-til-there's-blood-on-everyone movies. Ok, so we actually like both those types of movies, depending on the time of the month our moods.

My hunk of burning love - so hot right now!

 Note to all the single ladies looking for a man out there: The bigger the guns, the better the cosying up will be and the warmer he'll be able to keep you in those cold winter months.

3. Slippers - Just like this here pooch, I just love me a good pair of slippers.

4. Having all your blankets on your bed so that they are soooo heavy you can't actually move when you're in it.

5. Fires! Ok, so our wee pad does not have one of these but that means that whenever I go to someone's house who does have one I generally tend to curl up in front of it like a cat  well-behaved adult.

6. Running without having to take water with you because you are not sweating out of every pore in your body.

7. Winter fashion - such as boots, coats and scarves... LOVE!

8. Mulled wine - Oh So Good! This stuff not only tastes delish but it warms you up from the inside out - Bliss!

Could this mulled wine get any more wintery? It's even wearing a scarf!

What is your favourite season of the year? What are the things you like (or dislike) about winter?

Because I know you've been missing me!

I know it has been a little while since I have posted - a little too long for some of you... HA! So here is a bit of what I have been up to lately...

I have been working LOTS which is GREAT! For those of you who don't know, I finished my teacher training at the end of last year but haven't been able to get a full time job this year. I started off relief teaching and now I am practically full time doing that which is awesome. Still trying to get a permanent position but trusting that'll come in time - thus the reason I get excited when I have lots of work.

Loving working, getting the experience and, of course, having MONEY - BONUS!

I have also been training for and playing hockey lately - my team is doing great this season. And I am still doing bootcamp, which is awesome. We have 4 weeks left of that and then I get into my next training plan for my next marathon which will be the Adidas Auckland Marathon.

Exciting business - I know you are ALL wishing you lived a life as exhilarating as mine right now. Getting excited about having lots of work is a sure fire sign that you are not the world's most exciting person - Doh!

This weekend, however, is a long one which are always well loved in my household. Long weekends mean more time with my awesome husband, more sleep in time, more time with friends and family, and more time to spend just faffing around - who doesn't love that!?!

My wonderful husband, his father and my father (what lovely bonding time) spent Saturday building a cover over our front step while I was lunching and brunching with my girls (it's a hard life, I know). Yesterday was fun-filled church activities (I mean that too, that's not a sarcastic voice) and then today I had the pleasure of climbing this awesome mountain with my lovely friend:

Mount Manaia

View from the top of Mount Manaia - what a blessed place I live in!

This afternoon I get to spend going over plans for my next couple of weeks of work - I am excited about this as I will be in ONE classroom for TWO WHOLE WEEKS! Excitement city right there!

So don't go getting all jealous about how exciting and thrilling my life is or anything because no, I won't be toning it down anytime soon either. Sorry!

And about the running - well I know this doesn't really even cover much about that but keep posted for these majorly cool posts coming soon:
- Low mileage marathon training plans, and
- How you know you are getting serious about this running business...

I am enjoying my in-between-marathons low running training and getting to do things I can't/don't when I am in marathon training. Get amongst it - try something different :)

Enjoy your long weekend all your Kiwi and Aussie peeps!

Curious Runner Girl