365 Fresh Starts

A Blog About Life

We've been conditioned to expect things to be all or nothing. We make dramatic resolutions on December 31st that we break by January 2, and then feel terrible about ourselves. We think that we can't change at all because our annual, dramatic attempts at change just don't work.

We get 365 fresh starts each year.

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What Would Betty Do Logo Training: Hate Running, Love Racing

Written on March 27, 2011 by Alisa.

Once upon a time, there was a girl who struggled to run solo, but realized that she could probably run forever with the adrenaline of a group to carry her along. The Plan Monday: Gym Tuesday: Kickboxing Wednesday: Pilates Thursday: Half of kickboxing Friday: Gym Saturday: 5K race! Sunday: Off It’s been six months since […] Read More

What Would Betty Do Logo Sour Cream and Chive Mashed Potatoes

Written on March 25, 2011 by Alisa.

I was raised on conventional mashed potatoes: russets, margarine and milk. Years ago, I decided to get fancy and created this mashed potato recipe. Ingredients 1 bag red skin potatoes, quartered, skins on Kosher salt Sour cream Fresh chives, chopped Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste Instructions In a saucepot with salted water, bring […] Read More

What Would Betty Do Logo Eating in Hawaii

Written on March 23, 2011 by Alisa.

As winter drags on, it seems that everyone I know is talking about vacations, and how they can manage to go to the fabulous destinations without depleting the kiddo’s college fund. When I told people that we were going to Hawaii for two weeks at the end of last year, they looked at me like […] Read More

What Would Betty Do Logo Try Something New: Betty Burgers

Written on March 21, 2011 by Alisa.

When our Santa Cruz friends suggested lunch at Betty Burgers, how could I say no? This place is supposed to be a Santa Cruz legend, and it’s easy to understand why. Not only do they have fabulous burgers featuring the slightly disturbing “secret lube,” they also have tasty fries, sweet potato fries and fantastic ice […] Read More

What Would Betty Do Logo Training: A Plan Would Be Good

Written on March 20, 2011 by Alisa.

Midway through a halfhearted effort at the gym, it occurred to me that I really need a gym-day plan. The Plan Monday: Gym Tuesday: Off (meetings in San Francisco) Wednesday: Pilates Off (sick kid) Thursday: Kickboxing Gym (forgot it was Thursday, went to the gym by mistake) Friday: Kickboxing Off (by the time the boy […] Read More

What Would Betty Do Logo Grandma R’s Meatballs

Written on March 18, 2011 by Alisa.

A few confessions to start: 1) Grandma R isn’t my grandma. In fact, there’s some debate as to whether the recipe is really hers, or if it came from a different grandmother, and 2) I’ve made some modifications over the years. The original called for 2-4 cloves of chopped garlic. I don’t know about you, […] Read More

What Would Betty Do Logo Pets Improve Quality of Life for Seniors

Written on March 16, 2011 by Alisa.

My 92-year-old Nana lives in an assisted living apartment complex outside Philadelphia. I’ve never known her to be much of a pet person, yet her face lights up every time she spots Sadie, the chocolate lab who hangs out in the lobby. My Nana has outlived my grandfather by more than a dozen years. She’s […] Read More

What Would Betty Do Logo Try Something New: Hungarian Bacon

Written on March 14, 2011 by Alisa.

I’ll start by explaining that until Saturday, I didn’t even know that Hungarians had their own bacon. Our Hungarian friends invited us to a late afternoon beach bonfire and cookout, I assumed that we’d be having the usual hamburgers and hot dogs. Little did I know that we’d be grilling 1/2″ thick strips of the […] Read More

What Would Betty Do Logo Training: So, About that Race…

Written on March 13, 2011 by Alisa.

Less than two weeks until the 5K. I’m roughly two months from being ready. This should go well. The Plan: Monday: Gym Tuesday: Kickboxing Wednesday: Pilates Thursday: Kickboxing Gym Friday: Kickboxing Saturday: Rest Sunday: Beach walk On Wednesday, at Pilates, Mercy said the words that I dread: “let’s stretch out your hamstrings.” While I was […] Read More

What Would Betty Do Logo Sloppy Joes

Written on March 11, 2011 by Alisa.

Sometimes you just want comfort food from childhood, and there’s nothing quite as comforting as sloppy joes. I’ve updated the recipe a bit so that it’s better than your store-bought kit. If your family prefers a blander version, reduce the amount of steak seasoning by half. Leftovers can be frozen in single-serving sizes for a […] Read More