Ski Hill Holiday

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Shortly after Christmas, we left the great state of Illinois (and the great land of Chicago) to head to the Eastern Time Zone. Michigan, to be exact. We will be staying in Western Michigan for a while, but had a quick jaunt up to my in laws' ski resort in Northern Michigan.

I donned my 'ski diamonds' (read: wearing your main rock in a pair of huge gloves while skiing freaks me out - I don't trust myself!) for a day of skiing.

I have been skiing for almost twenty years, so I am very comfortable on skis, but I still don't take many risks (of all the places in life to take risks - and trust me, I take them - this is just not it for me...). Call me a wuss, but I played it pretty safe this time.

Don't worry, though. I consoled myself with a burger. With bacon. Look at me.

Fun fact: my grandparents met in the Windy City Ski Club (Chicago) many years ago. My mom's entire family has used that sweet anecdote as justification for our not-so-little ski addiction. Since I was away from them for this ski trip, I was photo-bragging the whole time. Sorry I'm not sorry.

Due to the aforementioned family ski addiction, I have been conditioned to require some sort of hot tub action post-ski hill. We finished up in the late afternoon, and I treated myself to a bubbly soak in the tub, complemented by some Royskopp Pandora. What can I say, the heart wants what it wants...

Some other successes of our ski hill holiday include...

(1) Time spent at the spa. Once you're in, you're free to 'move about the cabin,' so to speak. Meaning I indulged not only in plenty of treadmill miles and stretching sessions, but also in lots and lots of sauna and steam room time. Somehow, my skin survived.

(2) The Snowflake Lounge. This is a favorite late night hot spot for guests at Boyne Mountain, and I am making sure to accumulate good memories there. Maybe memories is the wrong word for it...

(3) Ski Hill New Years Eve. It is not the short dresses, stage makeup New Years Eve I remember from Chicago, but it has its own kind of magic.

(4) Lake Street Market. Two thumbs way, way up for delicious New Years Eve eats... Spinach/Artichoke dip (which later made it into my morning-after omelet), death-by-cheese-plate, and plenty of dessert. All made fresh at this local Boyne market.

(5) Breakfast. I always love breakfast, but it was especially good (and indulgent) at Cafe Sante.

(6) My husband. Did I mention how wonderful he is? Best. Decision. Of. My. Life.

And there it is! Our Ski Hill Holiday. Now, time for a voluntary forced reboot juice cleanse... 

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

• What were your big 'wins' this holiday? Favorite new memories?
• Do you have any ski related traditions with your family? 
• Any other holiday traditions you want to share?

New Years Resolutions

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Happy New Years Eve! I have some fun posts queued up of my time up in Northern Michigan at my in laws' ski place, but for now, I wanted to focus on the day at hand!

2013 was a blessed year for me. Most importantly, I married the love of my life! I also quit my day job to work on consulting and writing my book full time, and decided to spend time in West Michigan, gutting a house my husband and I own. I went to New York, Madison, Costa Rica, Florida, and Northern Michigan. Let's just say things went well for Mrs. G in 2013.

But, now, on to 2014. I have seen friends and bloggers making New Years Resolutions all over the place. As far as I'm concerned, how you state your new resolution is what makes the difference between success and failure. Check out these posts for how to frame, segment, specify, or alter your resolutions to set yourself out on the right foot, and then find some methods for attaining your new goals.

• 3 Ways to Make Your New Years Resolutions More Attainable
• Meeting Your New Years Fitness, Nutrition, and Organizational Goals

That said, I did title this post New Years Resolutions, so I suppose it's only fair that I force myself to be accountable by sharing mine.

• Do yoga or pilates at least once per week. I actually resolved to achieve this last year, and at times I was successful, but there was a large chunk of the year when I totally stopped doing yoga and pilates and was super focused on cardio and weights. I want to avoid that and force myself to continue to reap the mental and physical benefits of these practices.
• Leave the U.S. I did this last year, but I want to make sure it happens every year. Traveling within the US is easier and cheaper, but it is important to me to see the world. My husband and I are working on an anniversary trip, so I think this will be do-able.
• Don't consume alcohol at home. I don't have a problem with having a drink occasionally at dinner, but I want to break the habit of having a glass of wine with dinner at home. I don't need the sugar, calories, or buzz, so it is just unnecessary.
• Finish The Magic. I started this book of daily gratitude exercises last year, and I got about half way through, but then kind of dropped off. I continued doing some of the exercises daily, but I want to be sure I am building on that. 
• Publish My Book. It's practically finished, but for edits I will undoubtedly make after getting feedback from my beta readers (want to be one? comment on this post!).

Well, there you have it! For those of you who are making your own new years resolutions, good luck! IF your goals are fitness or nutrition oriented, check out this fitness and nutrition chart to keep you on track, and this fitness page to find tons of workout tips and programs!