Join me by pulling up a chair and pouring yourself a cup of coffee. Even though I don’t care for coffee or tea, there is a warm beverage I enjoy so I’m treating myself to a Starbucks peppermint hot chocolate. Let’s take a break and talk about more than just fitness related topics. Sound like a plan? I’ll kick us off…

 

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that…..

November was a strong month for my workouts, but I’m planning a significant shift in my fitness goals for 2026, starting with a major change in my approach to cycling: no distance goal.

I’ve learned that I’m far too obsessive and competitive with myself, and I feel like chasing arbitrary mileage targets has led to a lot of what I call “junk miles” in 2025. By removing the distance pressure, I hope to focus more on quality workouts.

Despite this planned shift, you’ll still find me on the bike over the next couple of weeks as I focus on pounding out those final 67 miles to officially hit my 6,000-mile goal for the year!

 

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that…..

Decorating for Christmas has been very special this year as I incorporated some of my mother’s cherished items into my own decor. Mom absolutely loved Christmas—I always told her she was the original Martha Stewart! Displaying her various decorations brought back wonderful memories of seeing them in my parents’ home over the years.

In the process of decorating and making space for her keepsakes, I also took the time to purge a lot of my own things. I now have a car backseat full of donations ready to be dropped off, marking a meaningful refresh for the holiday season.

 

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that…..

In what used to be a quick two or three-day job, the process took me far longer than expected this time. I found myself needing frequent breaks, a clear sign that I’m not getting any younger!

 

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that…..

With the holidays and entertaining season upon us, let’s talk about the ultimate party centerpiece: the grazing board. Whether you call them appetizers, antipasto platters (as I’ve often done), or the trendy charcuterie board, these elaborate displays make a fantastic splash at any gathering.

I recently attended a charcuterie creation class with a friend at a nearby wine shop, and it was eye-opening. We focused on techniques to enhance visual appeal, specifically by using a wide variety of colors and textures.

I also learned the importance of creating height—something I had never done before—by utilizing small ramekins to hold items like long breadsticks or vegetables cut lengthwise. This technique adds essential depth and dimension to the overall presentation, transforming a flat platter into a dramatic focal point.

 

Here are four of my favorite antipasto platters I’ve created over the last few years. You’ll notice I use pewter platters rather than the ubiquitous wooden boards, simply because I had these pieces long before the current trend! The little blue bowls, however, were a more recent purchase, acquired about two years ago, to help organize ingredients.

 

My most recent creation, which I prepared for Thanksgiving after taking the class, allowed me to put these new principles into practice. For this gathering, I also displayed deviled eggs and olives in a separate dish, similar to the one shown in the top right of the collage of my older platters.

 

The class prompted me to consider the difference between the antipasto platters I’ve made for years versus the popular charcuterie boards. While their culinary origins are quite distinct (antipasto being Italian, often vegetable-heavy; charcuterie being French, focusing on cured meats), I discovered that in modern entertaining, the concepts often overlap, blending the best elements of both traditions.

 

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that…..

I got a clean bill of health from my urologist this week following a kidney function test from a couple of weeks ago. Needless to say, I am thrilled to have to a healthy right kidney and to have this 9-month-long chapter behind me!

 

  • Questions:
  • • If you celebrate Christmas, are you a minimalist or do you go overboard with decorating? ~ I let myself get carried away!
  • • Do you like deviled eggs, or are they even a thing where you live? ~ Our family loves deviled eggs and I make them just like my mom did, no recipe, just throw ingredients in until they taste just right.
  • • If we were having coffee, what would you tell me?