Do you run?  Have you ever ran?  When I was in my 20's a did some running and I remember it felt great.  I was also skinny- not the bad skinny, but the fit into skinny-jeans skinny.  Shopping for clothes was a pleasure.

But that was a long time ago and since then I got married and had two children.  I don't buy skinny jeans and shopping for clothes is a bit of a chore.  Things wiggle that should not and I don't feel as "solidified" as I once did.

Still.  I got inspired by some of my co-workers who are runners.  They come into the office in running tights that show no bulges, no jiggly stuff.  I admire it.  They are moms and they aren't in their 20's.  I thought, hmmm...can I run too?  Is this even possible?

I decided I will try to run.  The last time I ran was after my 4-year-old at the mall.  This time I was on a treadmill at the gym.  I cranked the speed up to 5.2 and began running.  It felt awful, everything was loose, jiggly and my knee hurt.  

I ran just 1 minute.  1 minute!  I felt exhausted and was in pain.  I resumed walking on a slight incline.

I minute and I was done!  Tomorrow I am going to try 2 minutes.  Yep, 2 minutes! 

By now we have heard all the buzz about this book:  Bringing Up Bebe by Pamela Druckerman, yes?  Oui?

The blogs were all (mostly positive) and excited about it.  Major newspapers published essays on it.  We here at the magazine even went on local TV to discuss it.  

I have to admit, while I like some of what the French do differently than us, it seemed to me like the book was a little too negative about American parents.  

This article in the NY Times by Susannah Meadows summed it up best for me:  "In France there’s national paid maternity leave, subsidies for nannies and high-quality day care, and free preschool. With that kind of help, you’d be a less frazzled parent too. Mostly the distinctions are a matter of emphasis. French parents are especially disciplined about enforcing rules that affect their own pleasure."

I agree!  If American parents had this kind of support, perhaps we would be more patient, calm and able to focus on ourselves better.  

I do like the French.  I love their cheese, the way they embrace whimsy, their high-style, and, my God, their pastries/pattiseries alone could make a person happy!  But as parents, I am not sure they are superior to us, just better supported.  

Et Vous?  What do you think?

Have you heard about artist Ron English's guerilla marketing initiative to fight sugary cereals that are marketed to children?  He is covertly placing boxes featuring an obese Tony Tiger on grocery store shelves next the real stuff.

The boxes have names like "Sugar Frosted Fat" and are sometimes next to a vinyl figure of Fat Tony!  

Has it really come to this?  Do you admire this artist?  Are companies who market unhealthy foods to our children morally suspect at best?

Or....do you think, "eh it's only flakes!"

Last Friday I got a chance to sit and watch the rain for a while.  I parked myself at Devine Gelateria on 19th street in Midtown and ordered a pot of strong, black tea.  Have you ever done that?  Just allowed yourself a little spot of time to sit and think and do nothing?  I think this is how my creativity and my energy comes back up and I am able to see everything in focus.

Thoughts:  Midtown is beginning to have an energy again that dwindled with the recession.  The trees are pretty in winter.  Hot tea served in a cast iron pot is so nice.  Cold gelato on a rainy day is so good.  When I give myself "quiet time" then the work I do later is better quality.  I am a better mother when I get time alone.

 How about you?

Happy Rainy Monday!

Like everyone else, I am trying to get healthier, lose weight and exercise more.  Bleh.  One easy thing I've implemented with my family:  smoothie morning.  The night before I cut up fruit - in this case fresh d'anjou pear - and stash in the freezer.  The next morning I blend it with almond milk, a handful of uncooked oatmeal, wheat germ, juice and some honey or maple syrup.  

Pear Oat Smoothie (makes 2)

1 ripe pear, cut up and frozen

1 cup almond milk

1/2 cup oatmeal, uncooked

1 c. juice (any) I used apple

Sprinkle of wheat germ

Drizzle of maple syrup

Dash of pumpkin pie spice

Whirl.  Sip.  Feel healthy and virtuous!