{ Running with Annie - Week 2 of my C25K Experience }

Okay, so I officially completed week 2 of the Couch to 5K aka C25K  running training program by Cool Running. And there are a few things I discovered during Week 2---- Running with Annie is the best! and by this I mean Annie Lennox of the Eurythmics. (remind me to tell you how when thinking of names for my daughter, Annie was one of the top 5 b/c I think Annie Lennox is so awesome.)  Sweet Dreams is a great song for running. Right when I am in that phase of feeling my calves are on fire and my muscles feeling fatigued, Annie's powerful voice sings in through my earphones with "Sweet Dreams are made of these..." and I think to myself how true that is. I know what my sweet dream is in terms of fitness and health and if this is what sweet dreams are made of then I will run on...."Keep your head up. Movin' On. Hold your head up. Movin' on."

Another thing I learned during week 2 of the C25K program is that  Week 1 really did prepare me for Week 2. Even when I think I can't do the increased run time, I do it, and then I think, "Wow, that wasn't so bad."

Finally, I also learned that a great scenery can do wonders. I am blest to live in a very visually appealing nature-filled neighborhood and area. During Day 2 of Week 2, I decided to train alongside the St. John's River after dropping off my daughter at her school. It was a crisp cold morning. The scenery, the air, and running to the voice of Annie Lennox made for a great workout and for the most part, I was able to ignore the "just let me melt into jello on the pavement" feeling in my legs. I LOVE the C25K program!

 By the way, Sweet Dreams is also what's playing on my Virtual Victrola . It is my song for you. Don't forget to turn off my playlist on bottom of this page before listening to my Virtual Victrola

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

{ Disco Dancer on the Victrola }

What's playing on my Virtual Victrola today? Death of a Disco Dancer by The Smiths. My daughter and I made coffins for Dia de los Muertos and this is one of the coffins I made. Yes, yes, I know, a bit cheezy. But, oh how I use to LOVE The Smiths and Morrissey during my high school days. Had you opened my locker in high school, you'd have found it covered in Morrissey posters. That was then and I still think Morrissey and the Smiths are awesome, but, no longer in that crazed-loved gladiolas b/c they were Morrissey's favorite flower-obsessed way. haha. If you are or once was a true Smith's fan, then you'd totally get the "Disco Dancer" part of the coffin.

But, if you weren't, then this is my cheezy ode to their song, Death of a Disco Dancer . (be sure to turn off my playlist at bottom of page before listening to my Virtual Victrola)

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

{ Come On, Eileen }

What's playing on my Virtual Victrola today?

 This song, Come On Eileen, by Dexy's Midnight Wonders. 

Yes, I know-I know, it is an old one hit wonder.

 But, I love when this song comes on. 

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

{ Lonestar Refried Bean Dip. Plus, What's Playing on my Virtual Victrola }

There are certain flavors unique to Texas which I sometimes get to missing; flavors I grew up with like a spicy skillet made dip.

Using the banana peppers, roma tomatoes, and jalapenos I grew, I made this refried bean dip.

I call it When Your Missing Texas Refried Bean Dip -----or for short, Lonestar Refried Bean Dip.

3 jalapenos, in my opinion, give it just enough spice. However, if you want to kick up the sizzle on the tongue factor, use Pepper Jack cheese instead of Colby Jack. 

NEED

Enough extra virgen olive oil to lightly coat a medium size skillet

3 small jalapenos finely chopped

2 banana peppers finely chopped

2 Roma tomatoes finely chopped

1/2 yellow onion finely chopped

1/2 cup sliced black olives

2 minced garlic cloves

1 tbsp ground Cumin

1 tbsp Adobo Seasoning

Salt and Pepper to taste

1 16oz can Refried Beans

1 8oz box plain Cream Cheese Spread

1 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese (or Pepper Jack for extra spicy)

Tortilla Chips or Fritos for dipping

--------Lightly coat a medium skillet w/ extra virgen olive oil. Add chopped jalapenos, banana peppers, onion, tomatoes, and minced garlic. Saute over a low to medium heat. Add can of refried beans, cream cheese, colby jack, and black olives to skillet. Stir until all is well blended and cheeses are melted. Add Cumin, Adobo, salt & pepper. Stir and serve warm with tortilla chips or Fritos for dipping.

This is a really great song; Let's Go To Luckenbach, Texas ....la la la la la. One of my favorites and so very TEXAS. It's what I have playing on my Virtual Victrola . Click and have a listen. It's my song for you. Now go make that bean dip and enjoy!

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

{ Long Way Home }

Now that the Christmas Season has passed, I no longer have Christmas carols running around in my mind like busy little elves. Now, I have other songs in my head, like this one, Long Way Home , by Tina Dickow. In case I haven't mentioned it before, 1/2 of my family lives in Denmark; aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.

My cousin, Nina, in Denmark, sent me Dickow's The Road to Gavle CD about a year ago. I absolutely love it.  Plus, sometimes when I am listening to the CD, I like to imagine that my dear cousins on the other side of the world are doing the same thing I am doing while humming and singing along to the music while folding clothes, picking up after their children,wondering what to make for dinner. I really like the words to Long Way Home . So here is whats playing on my Virtual Victrola . Click here for a listen. It is my song for you. Gosh, I LOVE this song and this CD!

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

Willie Nelson VS. U2

I have the neatest song playing on my Virtual Victrola and would like to share it with you. It is my song for you. I've had my home state of Texas and my Texas loved-ones on my mind a lot lately for various reasons. Have I mentioned that I am a 6th generation Texan on my Mom's side? ----Only 100 billion times it might seem to anyone who knows me. And so in attempting to close the miles between my home here on the east coast of Florida and my heart on the gulf coast of Texas, I was listening to some Willie Nelson tunes on my playlist while putting away leftovers, packing my daughter's school lunch, and chatting about my day with my husband this evening when I came across this song which is an awesome mix between Willie Nelson and U2. Willie Nelson's You were Always On My Mind and U2's With Or Without You are blended into a slightly upbeat song, yet still remain very melancholy and melodic. Normally, I am not a huge fan of mixes. But, I totally loved this one and had to play it on my Virtual Victrola for you.

Houston, Texas

source

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

Ruby Tuesday

What is playing on my Virtual Victrola this October Tuesday evening? Ruby Tuesday, of course. It is my song for you. This version by Italian music genius, Franco Battiato, is my absolute favorite. Plus, I love all music by Franco Battiato. The soft melodic tones in his Ruby Tuesday version are beautiful. I love the angelic voice of the opera-style singer in the background who blends so well with Battiato's voice. When I first heard this version of Ruby Tuesday, it was also the first time I had ever paid attention to the lyrics and their meaning. I had heard it a million times by the Rolling Stones. But, Battiato's version made me actually stop and listen. It is the perfect song to have on my Virtual Victrola this evening as I pause at the end of a busy day to say, "Goodbye, Ruby Tuesday." Well, it is after midnight now and officially the start of Wednesday. Some of my best thinking is done after midnight. Good night. Click HERE and enjoy my song for you.

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

The Monster Mash

 I have only one song playing on my Virtual Victrola this October evening--- The Monster Mash . The french doors are open to the backyard where the sounds of night crickets and toads serenade me as I drink my San Sebastian Vintner's Red Wine and sort through Halloween boxes filled with decorations. A refreshing autumn night breeze gently creeps in and snoops around my house scaring all the dust bunnies from their hidey holes. My husband is grilling a lemon and garlic(to keep away the vampires, of course) pork loin while sipping on a Shiner Oktoberfest beer. My daughter is sitting outside near the fire from the chiminaya and practicing her times tables. I hope you are enjoying the start of October as much as we are. Let's do the Mash! The Monster Mash! This is my song for you.

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

Northern Sky on my Virtual Victrola

Source

Okay, dusting off a record and placing the needle down on my Virtual Victrola and this is what's playing, Northern Sky by Nick Drake. It's one of my all time favorite songs and I am dedicating it to you, of course! This is one of those songs I can listen to over and over and over. It is sooo soothing and perfect on a day like this when it has done nothing but rain all day. Oh, would you like a glass of wine? Northern Sky is also a perfect song for unwinding before bedtime; a melancholy lullaby.  I also think it is very cool that it's played for one of the last scenes of one of my all time favorite movies, Serendipity ,starring John Cusack . The storm that passed through put this song into my mind. Plus, just knowing that Autumn is tip-toeing it's way South from the North makes me wanna play Nick Drake's Northern Sky on my Virtual Victrola and celebrate the change of seasons. Enjoy this song from me to you.

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.



Friday Song in My Heart

It's Friday!!! Nothing more, nothing less, just feeling the simple comfort and happiness in a Friday---that Birthday feeling or when your favorite song is on the radio or like a tank full of gas and the weekend ahead or like a good cleansing deep breath and a nice stretch....that feeling which only a Friday can bring. I woke up this Friday morning with this song playing on my mental Victrola--Calling All Angels by Train . I love this band and this song. Here is my Song for you. Scooch the coffee table over, roll up the rug, and let's dance and celebrate Friday!

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.