erica miss america: a Healthy Living, Gluten Free Foodie & Marathon Runner's Blog

Monday Mantra

2012-01-30T08:32:00.000-05:00

And The Winner Is...

2012-01-23T16:38:00.000-05:00

Drum roll please....
The winner of last week's Cause I Feel Like It Giveaway is

If you haven't read through the comments from this giveaway, you really should. I read many of them the other day over my morning cup of coffee and had tears in my eyes. You guys are all amazing and the things for which you are grateful are beautiful! Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me and my readers!!!

Brianna, email me at erica@ericasaradesigns.com and let's start designing your custom engraved necklace!

Monday Mantra

2012-01-23T08:02:00.001-05:00

A Giveaway... Cause I Feel Like It

2012-01-18T22:38:00.000-05:00

Hope you're into Velveeta because it's about to get a whole lot cheesy on my blog right now. It's 10:36 pm and it's been a long night. I had an amazing run when I got home from consulting today, ate some sushi, and then dug into today's orders. And now I've just finished, I'm ready to crawl into bed, and I'm exhausted but smiling because I feel seriously grateful right now.

engraving tonight's orders

I've often found that when things get tough, and I feel like crawling into bed and sleeping until life calms down, the universe comes through and reminds me that my life is pretty awesome. No, it's not perfect and yes, I have loads to work on. But I am lucky and when I don't feel that way, something happens to remind me just how fortunate I am. And then I get all warm and fuzzy and want to make someone else feel just as grateful. Which is why now, at 10:30 pm on a Wednesday night, I've decided to do a "just for the heck of it" giveaway!

To enter, leave a comment and let us all know about something for which you currently feel grateful AND then tweet or facebook about this giveaway to spread the love.

Oh yeah, you're probably wondering what you'll win. The giveaway winner will receive their choice of a custom engraved personalized or race bling necklace from my site. Yup, your choice! I'll pick a winner on Monday. Good luck!

Have the courage to take a risk & follow your dreams. You may just succeed after all!

No Pain, No Gain?

2012-01-17T15:16:00.000-05:00

A while back, I posted a workout on dailymile that went something like "tough run, yada yada yada, but happy not to feel anymore pain, blah, blah, blah". Just as expected, the wonderful dailymile community commented with encouragement and awesomeness. I appreciated all of the comments and the support, but one of them stuck out more than the others and has been on my mind ever since. I don't remember the exact words but it definitely included the phrase "No pain, no gain!" and it got me thinking. Do I really believe in that concept? No pain, no gain?

Let me show you what no pain no gain really means. This is my training recap from 2011.
I started 2011 with the goal of running at least 1,000 miles, a significant yet not unreasonable distance considering where I was with my running. I started the year taking it light, having completed the Philadelphia Marathon in November 2010 and then the Ted Corbitt 15k in December 2010. I tried to keep my miles consistent, with a peak in March (I don't quite remember why) and then was supposed to increase mileage in June to begin building it up for NYCM 2011 training.

June began with the Race for Israel, a stellar race in which I PRd and felt awesome. But just 2 days later, I headed out for a relaxed 4 miler and couldn't make it passed my corner. I was in pain. Major pain. My right hamstring hurt and my right hip felt like it was on fire. I felt my eyes well up with tears, hung my head, and walked home in disgust. "Disgust" you might wonder? Yeah, disgust. Because the minute I felt that pain, I realized that the issues I had ignored for months had finally caught up with me and I was officially injured. I'd make mention of aches & pains here & there; how I might have stretched my hamstring too far during a wall split in yoga, or how my hamstring felt pretty tight during a run in Central Park. But I figured I was a runner, I was strong, and I could just ignore the pain & push through it. No pain, no gain. Until it was all pain and no gain.

I saw doctors, got an MRI, found out that I had some major swelling around my right hamstring that was forcing me to adjust my form and therefore impacting the rest of my body in not so wonderful ways. I decided I would be "smart", that I would stop running but still train for the New York City Marathon by swimming & getting my miles in on the elliptical until I could run again. My physical therapist told me to take those elliptical sessions slow, to avoid aggravating my hamstring. And I told myself I was doing just that, but how slow was I really going if I was getting 16 miles done in 2 hours? Yes, I did "long runs" on the elliptical like the insane woman I can be from time to time. Take a look at my August hours above and you'll see those miles. Then take a look at September. That's what happened when I didn't listen to my physical therapist or my body.... no pain, no gain? Anyone see the gain?

After months of putting my body throught the ringer & ignoring the pain, I finally gave myself a bit of a break. There have been weeks when I haven't run at all, instead focusing on a little elliptical here and there. When I have run, it's been inside on the treadmill with no hills or cold weather to deal with. Taking some smart advice, I gave up my intention of running the NYC Half in March and instead have decided to focus on a late Spring Half. In the meantime, I'll train for some shorter races, like the 4 mile Gridiron in Central Park on February 5th.

This past weekend, I ran outside for the first time this year and it was tough but felt good. My hamstring didn't hurt, my hip didn't hurt, and I had a smile on my face most of the time. I'm finally building up my miles again as you can see in this weekly recap. It's a small increase, but a start.

Yesterday, I posted about being true to myself and doing what I want to do to be happy. Running is a big part of that but I realize that I need to learn to keep my ego in check. Just because I want to run every day doesn't mean that I should be, at least not for now. I need to be honest with myself and I need to focus on my long term goals: NYCM 2012 and even longer term, to run for the rest of my life.

Around the time that I was dealing with my injury, I saw a fellow runner post about an injury of her own. She had twisted her ankle running that week and despite the pain she was in, ran a race that weekend so that she could complete here 9+1 to qualify for NYCM 2012. She posted this on dailymile and every single person that commented congratulated her on pushing through the pain. It got me thinking and it even pissed me off a little because as a community we should be supportive of one another in making smart and healthy choices. I wanted more than anything to post that I thought she was wrong to race that weekend, that she should've listened to her body to prevent further injury that might take her out of the game completely. But I chickened out. So as my supportive community, I'm asking you to call me out on my bullsh*t if you ever feel so inclined. I'd like to think I can keep my ego in check on my own but to be honest, it gets the best of me sometimes. And I could use your help. Thanks in advance.

There you have it, my thoughts. Feel free to chime in, to agree, to disagree... whatever you want.

If I Am Not For Myself

2012-01-16T12:25:00.000-05:00

It's Monday, the 16th day of 2012, and until now, I had yet to post on my blog this year. 2011 was an amazing year for me but the last few weeks, even months, have been overwhelming and I needed some private time to just be. So I've been resting, clearing my head, getting rid of the dark circles under my eyes, and trying to figure out how to make 2012 just as amazing but not as overwhelming & exhausting.

And that's where today's Monday Mantra, the first of 2012, comes in. Here it is, on my necklace, in hebrew. "Im Ein Ani Li Mi Li?", or in English, "If I am not for myself, who will be for me?"

I put this necklace together last Monday after going through some stuff that has forced me to dig deep and to re-examine how I've been approaching my life. The 26.2 is a reminder that if I work hard enough, I can accomplish anything. The heart is a reminder to love myself, and that I deserve the love that comes my way. And the hebrew "If I am not for myself, who will be for me" charm reminds me that first & foremost, I need to accept and expect the most from myself because if I don't, why on earth would anyone else?

Now I'm not really one to make New Year's resolutions because I'm not exactly the most disciplined person and I'm totally okay with that. But even more, because I feel that with each day, my life evolves and I'd prefer to change my goals accordingly. So as of today, my only goal is to try to be true to myself again. To put myself first, to put what I love to do and want to do first, and to take the time to do those things. I want to run, and practice yoga, and plan trips, and read a book, and love the people I love, and take a bubble bath, and eat healthy food, and take care of myself, and drink good wine, and walk in the park, and work on my photography, to be honest, to feel safe, to feel secure, and to be a good friend, and to volunteer, and to think in terms of the positive instead of worrying about what might be, to expect the best, and to come back from injury stronger, and build speed.... stream of consciousness, the list goes on....

So there you have it, my first Monday Mantra of the year, perhaps my mantra for all of 2012, and little taste of what's going on in my head. I don't know, maybe this post is a bit too open and I feel just a bit vulnerable... but I'm going to be totally okay with that. Maybe being vulnerable will help me feel stronger, if that makes any sense.

Any mantras going on in your head for 2012?

2012 Anthem: Happy New Years!

2011-12-31T10:43:00.000-05:00

I wasn't sure what I wanted my last post of 2011 to be until just a minute ago. G just showed me this video and it seems to be the perfect anthem for 2012. Thank you for an amazing 2011 and here's to a fantastic 2012!

Monday Mantra

2011-12-19T09:22:00.000-05:00

Monday Mantra

2011-12-12T07:52:00.000-05:00

http://iamblessed.tumblr.com/page/5

Monday Mantra

2011-12-05T08:37:00.000-05:00

My Favorite Giveaway Ever

2011-11-29T12:49:00.000-05:00

I have a list a mile long of blog posts I want to write: that pumpkin bread recipe I'm in love with, my Race to Deliver recap, or images from my Thanksgiving in Maine. But all of those will have to wait because I'm really excited about my friend Grateful Mama's Erica Sara giveaway and want to make sure you're in the loop.

I'm not sure how I first "met" Sugarmagnolia (aka Grateful Mama), whether it was through dailymile or the twitterverse, but we felt like kindred spirits right away and I knew we'd be friends. After I redesigned her blog, we discussed doing a giveaway but the timing didn't seem right so we agreed to wait about.

Fast forward a few months later... I was hired to teach jewelry at LivePerson Aspire 2011 event and as a result, I got to hear Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul, and Mary sing! For those of you who don't know me that well, I truly believe I was born at the wrong time. I should've been a teenager in the 60's or 70's; Peter, Paul and Mary is one of my favorite groups and hearing Peter sing, and then meeting him & getting a kiss from him might have been one of my favorite 2011 memories. But I digress. During Peter's presentation, he held up two beautiful guitars, both of which he painted with his own artwork, and told the crowd that they could win one of these beautiful guitars and all they had to do was something good for the world. He said we could leave the event, do something kind for the world, and then email him and let him know we did to be entered to win a guitar. And I LOVED this idea!!! I do giveaways all the time and am truly happy every time an excited winner contacts me to collect their prize. But the opportunity to encourage folks to do their part in the world, no matter how big or how small, got me really excited.

And then Sugarmagnolia contacted me about our earlier giveaway conversations, she seemed like the perfect person to host this giveaway, and so it was born. And here it is! Please, please, please enter!!! Not because you get to choose from three necklaces, which is awesome, but because in this crazy wacky world, you do have the ability to change someone's life for the better, even if just for a moment. And maybe that person will then be inspired to pass it forward... and maybe, just maybe, more people will have smiles on their faces this week and .. ok, you get the point. Now go enter & good luck!

Monday Mantra

2011-11-28T08:46:00.000-05:00

Monday Mantra

2011-11-21T08:44:00.002-05:00

Monday Mantra

2011-11-14T08:01:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday!

2011-11-11T08:27:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday! I cannot believe another week is over! It's been quite a whirlwind: editing marathon pictures, post marathon race bling orders, and getting ready for this weekend's trunk show at Exhale Central Park South. So many things for which to be grateful.

So hey, I'm having a trunk show this weekend & you're all invited! So if you're in town (NYC), please stop by and say hello. I'd love to chat!

I'll be showing my new 18kt coated Drusy collection at the show and I can't wait to see the response. Here are just a few of the new pieces

Hope to see you there!

NYCM Race Recaps Galore!

2011-11-09T10:54:00.000-05:00

I told myself I wouldn't blog today, that I needed a day off from thinking about the marathon to focus on my upcoming holiday trunk shows and engraving race bling orders. But I can't help it because in the past two days, I've read so many incredible race recaps and I am in awe of so many people. I say this all the time but I'll say it again: the running community is an incredible one and I am proud to be a bib wearing member. So, to keep the marathon mojo flowing, I've decided to compile a list of some awesome race recaps for you all to enjoy! Here are just a few of the people (in no particular order) I am honored to know and were overjoyed to cheer on at this weekend's NYC Marathon (click on the images to access their race recaps!). I know that I'm probably leaving a billion people out so PLEASE, if you wrote a race recap, leave a comment at the bottom with the link! I will do my best to continue updating this post by adding your pics/recaps!!!

360 days, 23 hours, 25 minutes and 40 seconds till NYCM 2012!

NYC Marathon 2011: Part 2

2011-11-08T07:25:00.001-05:00

It may seem strange to write a race recap for a race I didn't run, but NYCM has been a significant part of my life for the last year. From the entire weekend of last year's race to now, it's been on my mind at least once a day. So it only seems fitting to me that I recap my experience and memories from this weekend.

For those of you new to my blog, I was registered to run NYCM on Sunday and began training only to injure myself in July and realize that it just wasn't going to happen this year. After a few weeks of rest, PT, and even training on an elliptical for long "runs" (16 miles on an elliptical is NOT fun!) until I could run again, my body just wouldn't cooperate and with some advice from an important friend, I acknowledge that my health was more important and stopped training. I watched my friends train all summer and early fall, envious each time I heard about a great long run or some awesome speedwork they accomplished. It was difficult for a while but I did my best to support them and be there for them. After all, NYCM 2011 was no longer my race but it was still theirs and they deserved my support and encouragement. I stopped focusing on what I couldn't do and focused on what I could. I could cheer for them and there for them, I could check in after long runs or even the short ones to see how they did, I could meet them in the park for a quick hello during their training. After a while, it got much easier and all I could think about was cheering for them on race day. I think that's what kept me in good spirits throughout the training period- knowing that although I couldn't run with them, I would get to see my friends out there on race day and scream like a wild woman for them.

Race week came and I was psyched! I visited the park every day, took pictures and posted them here to get others excited. I tried to serve as eyes for the out of town folks who would love a glimpse of the park as it transformed into a race course. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be for the most part. But the day they put that finish line up, I bawled like a baby. I walked into the park at 72nd street, headed towards Tavern on the Green and the flood gates opened and I cried. Lucky for me, Jess also happened to be in the park in the exact same area at the moment and met up so we could console each other. Just another reminder of how important friends are.

As race day drew nearer, I began preparations. Posters needed to be made, emails about where I was cheering needed to be sent, runners needed to be tracked, I was hosting Vee for the weekend so my apartment needed to be cleaned (ok, that didn't happen but I did try!), I needed to set up for friends who would use my bathtub for ice baths after the race, and I needed to put the finishing touches on the dailymile meetup brunch. On Friday, I met a friend in town for the race and visited the expo with her, took her out for lunch, and then gave her a tour of the finish area in Central Park. The path to the finish was lined with flags and and full of people from all over the world. The energy was beautiful!

On Saturday, I attended the dailymile brunch which was a great success (whew!). We had about 36 runners in town for the race and we were a lively and chatty bunch. I almost felt the need to apologize to the rest of the patrons at Josie's East (sorry other diners!). Josie's was awesome, working with me to create a custom menu for the dailymilers, and the food was great. If you're in town and need a delicious and healthy place to eat, you should definitely check them out. And they are vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free friendly!

Saturday evening I headed downtown to wish my favorite marathoner good luck. We grabbed a bite to eat, chatted a bit about the day ahead, and I just tried to be there for him to keep him calm and focused. It was interesting to be on the outside, looking in at the emotions of all my friends running the next day. NYCM is so important to me and was a huge part of my life this year but at the same time, since I wasn't running it after all, my emotions were a bit out of wack. I wasn't anxious or nervous about Sunday, but was in a way. I could totally feel the emotions of those I cared about who were running but was still looking in from the outside. I went home Saturday night wondering how I would feel when I woke up Sunday morning.

And then it was Sunday morning, I woke at 6am and I could feel the nervous energy in the air! The upper west side was already up and alive. I put the finishing touches on my poster, ran to get some treats at Trader Joe's, and Vee and I met up with Melissa, Jeff and Vicky to head to CP. We found some of Vicky's friends at the entrance and then walked around the great lawn to find out cheering spot in front of Cleopatra's Needle where Jen & Kimberly were already waiting with a giant bowl of candy & Gu for the runners. Our group got bigger as Jess, Jeff, Shannon, Stacy, and Seth joined us. We were in time to see the elites go by and I was out of control excited!!! We saw Mary when she was still in the lead, with Firehiwot and Buzu on her tail minutes before they passed her to win first & second place!

We saw Geoffrey Mutai leading the way for the men towards a first place finish, followed by Emmanuel Mutai and Tsegaye who came in second and third.

The race was insane! The crowd was thick, everyone was cheering and smiling and having an amazing time. There were kids watching the runners in awe. And then our friends started to go by and the day got even better. We saw Lam looking strong, Baker passed with his arms up in the air waving at us, we almost missed Susan but screamed her name like crazy when we saw her. My favorite marathoner G passed by, gave me a sweet signal and looked strong as he made his way south in the park. Next I saw this guy with the bloodiest nipples ever and started cracking up until I saw his face and realized it was my good friend Ronnie in town from Miami. I was so happy to see him and cheered and jumped up and down. Woohoo Ronnie! The runners kept coming and friends kept passing: Kevin, Maura H, Sharon, Matt, Steph, Linna, Sam G! The only thing almost as awesome as running a marathon is getting to cheer your friends on as they run theirs!

Of course, I took a gazillion pictures (a gazillion = 1,000+ in this case) and have edited & posted most in a slideshow for you to enjoy. I posted part 1 in yesterday's post and here's the rest. Like I said yesterday, if you spot yourself, please feel free to grab the picture and use for your own purposes but please credit me if you do (thanks in advance).

NYC Marathon 2011: Part 1

2011-11-07T13:03:00.000-05:00

"Wow!" It's the first word that comes to mind when I think about yesterday's NYC Marathon. Wow the people, wow the crowd, wow the strength, wow the courage, wow the love, just wow. I have lots to write about this race but I am still sorting through my thoughts and need another day to put them into words.

In the meantime, I'd love to share the pictures I shot from my cheering spot in Central Park, positioned just after the 24 mile marker. I shot about 1500 pictures, edited them down to 960 and spent this morning uploading the first half and reviewing them. Since I really need to get back to working and engraving marathon jewelry for all those incredible finishers out there, I've decided to post a slideshow of the first 500 pictures and will post the rest tomorrow along with my thoughts on the day. I know how we all love a good race picture and wish they were available the minute we cross the finish line; I didn't want to keep you in suspense. So enjoy and if you spot yourself, please feel free to grab the picture and use for your own purposes but please credit me if you do (thanks in advance). And don't forget to stop by tomorrow for part 2.

Congratulations to all the finishers and I hope you are still celebrating your a$$es off!

Monday Mantra

2011-11-07T11:43:00.000-05:00

why stop

DREAMING

when you

wake up?

Come Sunday

2011-11-02T17:45:00.000-04:00

When I stepped out of my apartment and onto West 72nd Street this morning, I saw the sun rising over Central Park and the street filled with traffic...

and I thought to myself, come Sunday, the street will be lined with UPS trucks transporting marathon bags from the Start to the Finish Line

I approached Central Park West, filled with commuters and taxis...

...and noted, come Sunday, CPW will be packed with spectators on their way to cheering spots, and then later, with marathoners proudly searching for their family & friends

Come Sunday, these runners won't be training on this bridge because their training will be over and the race will have begun

Come Sunday, the sidewalks of Central Park South will be packed with cheering, screaming spectators...

and the street will be packed with runners instead of cars, making their way towards Columbus Circle and then back into Central Park

and if they turn to their left along Central Park South, they may catch a glimpse of some famous NYC landmarks

And come Sunday, after running along Central Park South, these runners will face this path

and will run towards the finish line, instead of away.

and on the way, they'll pass these bleachers which will be packed with folks cheering them on and watching them accomplish their dreams and reach their goals

and as they cross the Finish Line come Sunday, they will pass this statue and will know that Fred was right, "Few Things in Life Match the Thrill of a Marathon."

So, anyone else psyched for Marathon Sunday to come?!?

Countdown to the Finish Line!

2011-11-01T13:45:00.000-04:00

As I took today's daily walk to my backyard, aka Central Park, I saw this sign:

Um, YAY!!! I knew what that meant... time to see the Finish Line! Here are some photographs I took as the Finish Line was being built this morning. The energy in the park is beautiful right now, the sky is blue, the trees are gorgeous and the sun is shining. If you have a chance, definitely stop by and enjoy it! And if these pictures don't psych you up enough, take a look at yesterday's post where I included a slideshow from last year's New York City Marathon. Let the countdown continue....

And now, back to work ... lots of finish line gifts and race bling to engrave!

It's New York City Marathon Week!!!

2011-10-31T14:40:00.000-04:00

Marathon week is finally here and even though I had to drop out this year, I'm still crazy excited. I'm busy making my signs, making bib # lists so I can track all my friends, checking in on folks to see how they're feeling, and getting ready to cheer my butt off on Sunday.

I'm also really excited to have been selected as a New York Road Runner Social Media Reporter for the week. I just got back from their offices where a group of us were debriefed on how we can partner with NYRR to provide race week and day coverage and tips via twitter, facebook, blogs and all the other social media platforms available. I have to give them credit, it's a great idea and I'm really excited to be a part of it. On race day, we'll be wearing these cute shirts to if you see us, stop by, say hi & tell us how your race day is going.

To kick off the week, I took a stroll through Central Park to check out how race day preparations are coming along. I love walking through the park as the race approaches; folks were out in their ING Marathon gear, I saw lots of international runners already visiting and touring the city, and took some pictures of the marathon signs decorating Central Park West.

It's going to be an incredible few days leading up to Sunday.... stay tuned for daily posts and pictures! In the meantime, here's my slideshow from last year's race to get you psyched.

Monday Mantra

2011-10-31T09:37:00.000-04:00

Pumpkin Sage Mac n Cheese

2011-10-28T08:52:00.001-04:00

I love fall. I love the cool and crisp air, the colors on the trees, hanging on the couch with hot apple cider or a good glass of wine, warms stews and soups, knowing that Thanksgiving is on it's way, running in the cold. I love all of it.

LOVE Pumpkin spotted in Chelsea, NYC

The heat came on in my apartment last week, the down vest came out of storage, and I was in the mood for warm and cozy comfort food. Mac n Cheese = the perfect warm and cozy comfort food, right? Inspired by a meal my good friend Abbe once fed me, I found myself in my kitchen coming up with this recipe, Pumpkin Sage Mac n Cheese. And OMG, was it good. I made mine gluten free by using gluten free pasta and breadcrumbs so feel free to modify to suit your needs. Here's recipe cause I like you and since it's going to be cold out this weekend, you'll need something warm to fill you up.

Pumpkin Sage Mac n Cheese
Serves 4
8 oz Pasta, whichever shape makes you happy
1 cup Canned Pumpkin
1/4 cup Milk (I used Almond Milk because it's what I had)
2 cups Shredded Cheese (I used a combo of Asiago, Mozzarella, and Parmesan. Cheddar or Goat Cheese would also be fantastic)
5 large Sage leaves, cut into chiffonade
Salt and Pepper to taste
1/2 cup Bread Crumbs

Cook your pasta according to the package directions, but remove from the water about 2 minutes before it's done, until not quite al dente.
Preheat oven to 400 F.
In the meantime, in a large bowl, combine the pumpkin, milk, shredded cheese and sage leaves. Season with salt and pepper. When the pasta is cooked, toss into the pumpkin and cheese mixture and mix well.
Spoon the pasta into a small casserole dish and cover with the breadcrumbs. Place in your preheated oven and bake approximately 20-30 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the breadcrumbs are toasted and browned.

Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend!

What a Week!

2011-10-27T14:36:00.001-04:00

I'm having another one of those weeks where I keep thinking to myself, "Holy Sh*t! How am I this blessed?" No seriously, I can't stop smiling. It's only Thursday and this week has been incredible. I can't imagine it getting any better although I won't complain if it does. Last night, I think I might have actually repeated "Best 24 hours" ever to G a gazillion times.

It all began with the LivePerson Aspire 2011 Event I participated in Tuesday night. Held at a very cool loft like space in Chelsea, Tuesday Aspire 2011 was a three day conference at which LivePerson's global customers gathered to meet, network, hear incredible speakers and learn from one another. I was present at Tuesday night's "Evening of Discover, Enrichment and Connection" to teach jewelry making and it was a blast! Along with a mixologist, sushi chefs, cigar rollers, and several other experts, I had a chance to mingle, chat and teach this incredible group of people while a band played in the background. The energy in the room was incredible and I found it sort of awesome that 75% of my students were men wanting to make necklaces for their girlfriends, wives and daughters. So much fun!


My table, my awesome apprentice Seth setting up, food shots & folks making their own bling!

Even more awesome than the event itself is the fact that I learned that Peter Yarrow, of Peter, Paul and Mary, would be attending and playing at the conference the next day! Hi, my name is Erica Sara and I LOVE Peter, Paul, and Mary. I grew up on their music, loved watching their PBS concerts every year, and Lemon Tree is one of my all time favorite songs. I hinted at how much I'd love to attend and was told to show up at noon the next day for the performance. Um, YAY!!!!

Peter played Puff the Magic Dragon, If I Had a Hammer, and a new song which is the theme for his organization Operation Respect. Peter's message was a beautiful one, about respecting one another and the world in which we live, and deserves it's own post so more on that in the very near future. I sat just a few feet away from him and even had the opportunity to meet him (he kissed my hand!) after the show (Thanks Jeremy!!!).


Peter brought along these guitars which he painted and offered everyone a chance to win one of them. His contest inspired me and so I'll be holding a similar one soon so stay tuned...

This week, I also had a chance to workout with former couture runway model, Claire Moore, at the new Athleta store on the UWS. The workout, organized by Zeel, kicked my tush and I had a chance to make some new friends. You can read all about it on Zeel's blog!

Working out with Claire & the Gang

My workout was followed by a cup of coffee with my favorite nutritionist, Market Melissa, some more running around for work, and then a quiet evening at home with my favorite guy watching Pearl Jam Twenty.

So yes, I'm walking around with a smile on my face and feeling truly lucky to live the life I've created. Up next is a fantastic weekend including watching fireworks from a friend's roof, working on my New York City Marathon signs, engraving Race Bling, and volunteering at the New York Road Runner Poland Spring Marathon Kickoff 5 Miler!

How was your week? Anything exciting on your agenda this weekend? I love hearing from you so leave a note and fill me in on what's putting a smile on your face these days!