Merry Blog-mas and Happy Christmas too!

Wow...what a great Christmas this year has been.  My weekend has been full of family fun and the only downside has been a nasty cold or sinus infection that I seem to have picked up. 

This year I had two amazing Secret Santas and I want to thank them for the great gifts that they gave to me. 

First up was Shelley with the Christmas Sock Swap sponsored by Courtney.  She picked some cute pink reindeer socks and stuffed them full of goodies.  I loved the new Bondi Band headbands...Live, Laugh, Run and iTri.  Both are perfect for my fitness activities.  There were also some Clif bars, Aquaphor, and an iTunes gift card.  Shelley did great!!!

I also participated in a Secret Santa exchange through Team Tough Chik.  Xanthe was my Secret Santa and she sent me a pair of the Balega socks that I adore.  Literally, this is the only brand of socks that I run in.  It is the perfect blend of cushioning and breathability.  I was so pumped with my new socks and thanked Xanthe on Facebook and she mentioned that I had another surprise headed my way.  The next day I got a box with a case of my favorite Honey Stinger energy chews.  Yeah!!!

I decided to play Santa for myself and picked up an iPad during the post-Thanksgiving day sales.  I have been a very good girl and kept it waiting until today.  So now I need some help...what are your favorite iPad apps?  Are there any good apps for reading the blogs that you follow? 

Merry Christmas!!!

I hope you have enjoyed celebrating with your family and friends this holiday season. 

Secret Santa Reveal!

Thanks to Jill at Run With Jill for hosting the 2nd Annual Holiday Blogger Gift Exchange.  I was super excited to receive my gift in the mail.  My secret Santa did a great job and I loved the new "stockings" that she sent! I have always loved the joy of unwrapping small, fun presents from my Christmas stocking on Christmas morning and felt a little guilty for opening this one early. 

Below is the bounty that Julie at You Just have to TRI! sent.

The Honey Stinger goodies were all stuffed inside the fuzzy striped socks.  I love Honey Stinger products but actually have never tried their bars or gels.  I fell in love with the waffles first and then the gel chews.  I can't wait to try them out on my next run.  The waffle cookies rock!

The Biker Chick socks are super cute and remind me of a friend that bikes.  She helped introduce me to the sport and when I first bought my bike she told me that I absolutely had to have fun socks for cycling.  I think she would approve of these!

Thanks Julie! And thanks again to Jill for all the organizing!

Above is a picture of my real Christmas stocking.  Everyone in my family has the same stocking which were made for us by a friend of our grandmother's.  Now the tradition has been carried on by one of my aunts who has made them for my nieces and nephews as well as my cousins' children.  Every year when I put my stocking up I feel connected to my family knowing that they all have the same stockings hung by care on their mantels. 

I hope you had a great Christmas and Santa was good to you too!