Oct 4
2009

A tiny acorn cap from our hike today

A tiny acorn cap from our hike today

Dave and I took a great two-hour hike at Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area in Morris County today. It was a perfect day to be on the trails–about 70-degrees, sunny, and with a nice cool breeze at the overlooks. The foliage was just beginning, and we were treated to quite a natural show!  At one of the overlooks, we could even see Manhattan in the very far distance.

The trails were moderate, and there was some climbing involved.  The hike takes you up a mountain and right back down, so it requires a good degree of determination and physical prowess.  The whole time, the forest smelled of tannic acid, the smell of fallen leaves.  Doesn’t that always remind you of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and lazy fall weekends?

Afterward, we had lunch at Rosa’s in nearby Boonton, NJ.  It was a nice little place, and it was great to eat on the very hilly Main Street there.  The town is quaint and was bustling today–a great place to spend an afternoon!

I hope you enjoy the photos as much as we loved the hike!

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Sep 24
2009

Acorns and autumn go hand-in-hand!

Acorns and autumn go hand-in-hand!

I’ll admit: over the past few months, I haven’t always made the healthiest of decisions when it comes to eating.  I love cheeseburgers (rare and juicy, with avocado slices on top–yum!), and there are just some days when I really crave a sweet dessert before bed.  General Tso could conquer my appetite any night of the week, and I’ve been a little too McCrazy for salty, crispy French fries.

Now that the seasons are changing and I’m feeling more motivated thanks to the cooler weather, I’m going to try to patch up a handful of my bad habits.  I currently have bad eating targeted.  During the spring, I switched from Lucky Charms and Cinnamon Toast Crunch to regular Cheerios with skim milk for breakfast.  It stuck.  Then, two months ago, I began having a SlimFast, yogurt, and cereal grain bar for lunch (split into a mid-morning snack, lunch, and a mid-afternoon snack).  It also stuck.  The only food vices remaining: dinner, dessert, and weekends.

My latest good habit?  Before I eat my lunch, I lock down my computer and grab my jacket before heading out for a stroll around the neighborhood.  I don’t walk for a long time–usually just 15-20 minutes–but it’s so pleasant.  I get to stretch my legs, take in the beautiful weather, and make mental notes about what I want my house and garden to look like.  There is a really cute development behind the office here in North Brunswick, and it’s a treat to meander along the shady sidewalks for just a few precious moments.

Now, if only I could motivate myself to get up extra early and use the pricey treadmill we bought back in July…  Ah, well–change is supposed to be a gradual thing, no?

What healthy choices are you making in your life?  Does the fall motivate you, too?  Tell me about it with a comment!

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