Monday, December 12, 2011

Ghetto

First I want to thank you for all of your heartfelt comments on my last post. I can always count on this blogging community to come through with support, insights and kindness.

Ken and I headed out the door this weekend to run in 20 degree temps. My perfect running weather involves calm winds (or a tail wind that miraculously changes direction to be at your back the whole way), sunshine and low 50 degree temps. We were only 30 degrees colder than my ideal. This gives me the right to complain and shiver and cuss. I did this for the first half of the run until I warmed up. If you want to run with me and be on the receiving end of this spew, let me know. Sometimes I even pee myself just to stay warm.

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As we headed out Sam asked what I was wearing. He said it in such a way that made me think he was judging me. How dare he.  He then asked if I would be sporting this very outfit when I went to run errands later.  He acted as if I don't do this everyday. I told him, why yes I would be wearing this ghetto outfit all day. I would especially be wearing it when I came into his 8th grade classroom to do the Macarena for his friends.

Since I work from home it is commonplace not workout then stay in my clothes well into the afternoon.  Ken is working now so I try to shower and change before he gets home to make it look like I believe in hygiene. I also clear the dishes out of the sink and so some other stuff. I know some of you do this too. I KNOW IT.

Later, my mom, Joie and I made Christmas cookies. I don’t mean we rolled out some dough and used cookie cutters and icing while drinking wine. I mean we got down to some serious business. We made 8 kinds including Peanut Butter Blossoms, Mexican Wedding Cookies, Cocoa Balls, Cranberry/Orange, Spritz, Pecan Lace, , Peanut Butter Cups,  and some other chocolate bar cookie my mom made from the Joy of Cooking.

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Yes, we just made one of each.

Growing up we always had the cocoa balls and the spritz cookies, so they are my favorites. We also used to make gingerbread men and decorate them to hang on the tree. We also strung popcorn and cranberries with a needle and thread for the tree. My mom was that mom who went above and beyond. Me, not so much.

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Funny thing about me, I don’t even like cookies that much. Weird, I know. I’m more of a cake/donut kind of girl. I do love the tradition of baking them, though, and watching the kids scarf them up.

The best news of the weekend? I got the heat in my car fixed. You have no idea what this means to me. I figured it would costs hundreds, but it was $60. $60 has brought me pure happiness.

What’s your favorite running temp?

How long do you stay in your clothes after a workout?

What’s your favorite holiday cookie to make? Feel free to share recipes!

SUAR

75 comments:

  1. My favorite running temps are in the 40s. Perfect. :)

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  2. My favorite temps are upper 40s/lower 50s. Which it rarely is in Iowa! And I don't languish in my running clothes, mainly because I get chilled--very very chilled. Even in the summer, I start to get uncomfortable soon after a run and head straight to the shower to warm up.

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  3. I like diferent things about different temperatures. I would say probably mid 50s like you...my favorite running time EVER is right after sunrise in the summer (I live in Colorado too...so I bet you know what I'm talking about). =PERFECTION
    I sometimes stay in my running clothes ALL day as well. Other times, I run and jump right in the shower.
    Peanut blossoms are probably my favorite, but only from a sentimental standpoint. Used to make them with my Grandma who passed away this year.

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  4. Upper 50s are my ideal running temp. And sometimes I go several hours between running and showering.

    Favorite Christmas cookie is a spritz sandwich cookie with a raspberry layer in the middle, dipped in chocolate, rolled in pistachios! We are redoing our kitchen at the moment, so no cookie baking for us. We don't have the time on weekends--and trying to find things stacked in the dining room is awful.

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  5. my favorite is about 50 as well and will tolerate to 40 before heading to treadmill land.
    I stay in my running clothes all day as well - even if I ran early in the morning (reasons: you might to get a second run in during the day so why change?, working from home, i only have myself to offend, and I'll get to go to the gym with the spouse later anyway). In fact, I wear my run clothes so much that one day I had real clothes on when I went to the grocery store and the kid cashier didn't know who I was.

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  6. Favorite running temp is 50 degrees with a very light breeze that only hits when I am very warm. I am a ornery cold weather runner and curse in my head to myself the whole first half as well. Then I feel i over dressed and bitch about that the second half. My lips are always chapped and cold too and that pisses me right off.

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  7. Favorite running temp: 40s and sunny or 60 and raining. I change right away because I do not get to work from home and have a partner who HATES (literally gags at times) how I smell after I run. I don't think it's THAT bad!

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  8. Ah! It looks like my house when my grandmother was still alive. She was the master baker. There were 6 different kinds of cookies she made from scratch and EVERYONE in the family got their own tin (including what was left of her 12 siblings, their kids, their grandkids, and their great-grandkids in a couple families). We literally spent the first week of December JUST baking and packaging. Every year. I miss it and her so much (been gone 2 years now). Now mom and I just make 1 or 2 batches of our favorites and that's it.

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  9. I love running in the 50's, with a nice breeze.
    I raced yesterday at 9am, I finally got a shower at 3pm, and there was a Target trip in there too. Sorry to anyone who saw my sweaty salt face in public yesterday.

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  10. I definitely stay in my running clothes way too long after a workout. It is probably pretty darn gross. Like, hours sometimes. Ew.

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  11. I definitely like the 50-60s. It's cold when you get started, but you warm up quickly. I get really hot when I run; my face gets flushed. It is quite uncomfortable in the warm summer days.

    I have learned to make it in the cold cold... but then I can't stay in my clothes all day. Don't you get chills???

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  12. I am a wimp. My perfect running temps in the 70s. Which, I won't see in the PacNW until about JULY.

    I get out of my workout gear and shower immediately. I've gone so far as to bring my daughter in with me because I refuse to sit around in sweat!

    Those cookies look amazing. My favorite is anything but gingerbread. I just don't like the spice-ish factor.

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  13. 40-50F is probably my favourite running temp! I'm surprised you had bare calves for 20 degrees. Brrr!

    MMMM cookies! We made those blossoms too. They're one of my faves!

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  14. Favorite temps are in the 50's. I usually don't stay in my workout clothes for very long because I get so cold after a workout, I just want to hop in the hot shower:) I don't make cookies very often because I end up eating all of them.

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  15. I love the high 50's low 60's. Warm enough to wear something cute and lighter in weight, you can sweat like crazy and not overheat.

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  16. Forget the running temps. I want to come over an eat those cookies with wine.

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  17. I love fall and spring running. give me shorts and a long sleeve T - that's the temp I like.

    I have only just started doing my holiday baking. I made white chocolate dipped oreos yesterday b/c they;re EASY. Today is nanimo bars and possible pb cups!

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  18. Perfect running temps? Low 50s, which I will not see again until, maybe, May or June here. I did a 10K race Saturday with a starting temp of about 32 degrees; the hard part about those runs is finding the right balance of gear that keeps me from freezing before the race start yet will not be too hot by the end of the race. Love making Christmas cookies, but I have to make sure I have someone to give a bunch to so I won't scarf too many myself!

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  19. So guilty as charged! It's really ridiculous how I remain content in those stupid running clothes all day!

    Give me about 55-60 with sun for the perfect running temps. No wind.

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  20. My favourite running temp is right around 5c (40f). It's also the temp I run best in.

    I only hang out in my running clothes after if it was a short run. Otherwise, I get chilled. Showering after has nothing to do with hygiene, just with getting warm.

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  21. Perfect running temp is in the 40's to 50's.
    I like making any kind of cookie that uses one bowl, doesn't need to be refrigerated before baking, and I can just plop it on the baking sheet. Nothing formed or pretty for me. Just basic, good tasting cookie.

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  22. Karen has two nicknames for me: Snackito and Cookie Monster. I LOVE cookies and that is why when I bake them I make them in batches so small that they are gone in 15 minutes never to be seen again otherwise I'll be snacking on them all day long.

    I work from home and recently have forced myself to leave the house to avoid Snackito but to also shower and get myself clean. It helps in being productive.

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  23. Brrr! Good for you for getting out there...that's a little too cold for me! I like the 40s and above.

    Some days I stay in my workout clothes all day...I really stink at the end of the day..ha ha!

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  24. Honestly, I am scared to death I stink if I wear my workout clothes past my workout. Plus, I get really cold if I keep wearing them. I'm sure it's the Arkansan in me that freezes anywhere below 60, but I get cold easy, so I automatically head for a hot shower, even in the summertime.

    My favorite thing to make (no matter how fattening) is puppy chow. It's phenomenal! Chex covered in chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar? You can't go wrong. If you don't know what it is, look it up!

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  25. 40's or 50's =) Ugh, as much as I love cookies, I must stay away from them. Looking at these photos makes me want to make some for breakfast!

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  26. I probably live in the ONLY place that is colder than Colorado....Montana. So I am used to running in 20-30 degree temps and after I warm up, I LOVE IT! I have to use a special Soothe product on my face because it gets so sensitive in the dry cold weather.

    My favorite cookies are butterscotch haystacks!

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  27. So glad you got your heat fixed in your car-necessary in CO. I too love the 50's and sun, wind is my biggest enemy, so even if it cold and not windy, I'm okay.

    Holy cookies, I would've put on several lbs. baking with you Beth!

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  28. 15 to 20 degrees if not raining. If raining -- then I go with 50.

    Cookies are EVIL. Just saying.

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  29. I prefer the 50 degrees, but I'm a Southern Cal girl living in the cold Northern Cal temps. <3

    I love how it's in the 20's and you're wearing capris! I'd barely step outside unless I was going skiing in that weather! IMHO, of course--

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  30. PS I guess North Dakota is probably colder..and windy-er....and well, it's North Dakota.

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  31. gee fav temp! I have no idea!!! How long I stay in my clothes depends on how hard I ran and if my kids destroyed the house while I was gone.

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  32. Ha, I was just talking to a friend about this. I swear people think I live at a gym and YES I admit I do that very often. I work from home and have 2 little kids so they can't judge. :)
    Yum, we are baking cookies next week and I am going to try baking Salted Caramel Thumbprints. YUM!

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  33. If I workout before work, I will stay in my sweaty outfit for about 30 minutes. Don't worry; I put on a sweatshirt to "muffle" the smell. If I workout on a weekend, it's totally up in the air as far as shower time.

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  34. My favorite temp would have to be in the 50s/low 60s. It's warm enough, but not too hot that I get all sweaty. As an added bonus, if I'm not sweaty, I don't have to shower and change as quickly, although it probably averages around 30-60 minutes before I change. And I do the same thing- clean up around the house before my husband gets home. Try to make it look like I did something productive that day.

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  35. From one runner to another....you look HOT!
    Yep, as an at home momma I get cleaned up right before the kiddos get in the door.
    Your cookies look soooo YUMMY! I love Peanut Butter Blossoms with Reese's Miniatures!

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  36. We had a major cookie baking day yesterday--i just put a bunch of pics up on my blog also :) I think we ended up with 14 different types and like 25-30 dozen total cookies. And I love THEM ALL!

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  37. Forgot to mention.....the wimp in me likes around 70 degree temps! Who would of thought growing up in chilly Minnesota but now living in the South....I am spoiled for sure!

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  38. Seriously! That's all you wear out there??? BRRR...I went out at about 30 with a jacket on...but then again I guess I did end up with it around my waist 1/2 way through. :)

    I'm really bad about putting things off becuase I think it will be to expensive, or to hard and then turns out it was so easy I should have taken care of it long ago. Glad you have heat! I went with out once when I was in my early 20's freezing rain and no defrost finally had me getting it fixed. :)

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  39. Wow you sure have a lot of hot weather readers. I like to run when it's just above freezing a few degrees. I have no objection to hanging around the house in sweaty gear, but if I want to sit anywhere I'll get showered and changed right away.

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  40. The mild fall has left me a little bit of a weather wuss. I think I'm with you on the 50's although I've done some 30s and 40s lately that haven't been too awful. I also work at home and have been known to stay in my workout clothes way too long (and yes, I clean up the dishes before my neat-nick husband gets home although I don't always bathe before he gets home as I want him to see that I did indeed work out). The PB blossoms you made are my FAVORITE! I'm totally a cookie person - much more so than cake although donuts are awesome. My husband loves these molasses cookies and gumdrop cookies his mom made. I can take or leave them. But I can post a recipe if anyone really wants it. My stepmom used to be the crazy baker this time of year. Christmas always makes me think of her (and tomorrow is the 2 year anniversary of her death so she is also on my mind for that reason). She made all sorts of cookies and candy and party mixes. I actually thought about whipping up a few batches of goodies this last weekend in her memory, but then didn't want to be tempted with them.

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  41. I love running in the 40s. Colder is okay too, but 40s is blissfully awesome! Cookies? Anything where the dough is already made and I only have to bake it works for me!

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  42. today was 43 degrees and raining.....and I enjoyed every one of those 11 miles. And yeah, I stay in my running clothes until its time to pick up the kids from school....then I'll even splurge and throw on a little make-up

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  43. I just have to say, am I the only one who loves to run in the upper 80's? Seriously...the hotter it is, the more I want to run. Winters require mental fortitude. I'm in Northern California mountains, 4000 ft elevation, so I DO suffer through cold winters. Sorry I hardly ever comment, but I just LOVE your blogs!

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  44. Best temps are high 40s. Unless I get chilled I've been guilty of staying in the workout clothes the whole day because I got distracted the moment I came back in the door. (This requires some perfume and a clean outer layer - usually favorite hoodie- when you have to run to the grocery store later.)

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  45. Mid 60's is what I prefer, but will go down to the lower 40's to upper 80's if properly hydrated. After a workout, I get out of those damp things asap. lol. As for cookies, I just buy them. Take care.

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  46. During the summer I fall in love with the awesome sweatfest of running in the heat and then during winter I love bundling up in all my running gear (okay, not all of it at once). I like variety in temps.

    A.m. weekday runs I am out right away. Weekend or p.m. runs, I usually push my family's limits by staying in them a little too long (for their noses).

    I like the making of cookies a bit more than the eating but I like the eating part a bit more than the cleaning up from making them part.

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  47. I can't wait to go to school and teach my kids class the macarena. That's gold. Im putting it in my arsenal now...

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  48. I think your outfit is adorable! And I'm stoked today because my SUAR shirt just came in the mail!

    I love running in the dry heat... so 75-85 degrees is BLISS.

    As for cookies, my husband went on a baking kick when we were first dating and he would wrap up a few and bring them to where I worked... those were my favorite cookies, and the ingredients were totally off the wall... wish I could find that recipe.

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  49. In the summer, I might stay in my running clothes for a few hours, but in the winter, I change right away (I get cold).
    I make 12 different kinds of cookies for Christmas. Nut balls and snickerdoodles are must haves (they are grandma's recipes)!
    http://bakerunlive.com/2011/12/05/snickerdoodle-cookies/

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  50. You totally should have entered that Lululemon contest...your outfit is almost as ghetto as mine :)

    I like high 40s-low 50s the best. No wind, please.

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  51. 50's are the perfect temp range for me. I shower (most of the time) and change almost immediately after I run. When it's cold I'm too cold to stay in wet clothes and when it's hot I am WAY too gross not to shower immediately! My favorite cookie is the old standby chocolate chip (although my new favorite has cornflakes smashed up in it, yummy!)

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  52. I like running in the 40's best. Those Christmas desserts look so good!

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  53. OH - The hell with outside temp. Let's just talk about SPRITZ. I LOVE spritz. They were a tradition in our home growing up - we would add food coloring to each batch so that we had disgustingly green trees, yellow stars, etc... My sons still think they are the best Christmas cookies. Since they are only once a year we won't even begin to talk about the artificial colorings as well as the saturated fats....

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  54. I've got a reasonably large window of comfort but if I could choose I'd go 40 degrees.
    I change out of my running clothes pretty quickly because I'm sweat-soaked and nasty. But the actual shower may come hours later.

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  55. My favorite temps are in the mid 40s! I like your outfit, he doesn't know what he is talking about. Still tricking Ken about your hygiene...I like it.

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  56. My favorite temps are in the low 60's, and I ran on the treadmill today because there was frost on the ground and I am a wuss.

    Also, I do the shower/change dash when necessary. But Hubby stops at the gym on his way home and I try to meet him there most days, so we are often grubby together for dinner.
    We are TOTALLY into hygiene. ; )

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  57. The white powdered sugar ones we call snowballs. Super yummy but I always choke on powdered sugar.

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  58. My favorite running temp is in the low 70's on the beach with a slight breeze in Cancun. But since I can't convince my husband to move there permanently, I'm okay with low 50's here in Memphis. The coldest we've run this year is in the low 30's and I didn't even have to use my third layer of clothing. So far so good.

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  59. Favorite temp = anything over 32 degrees.

    Favorite cookies = snickerdoodles

    OK, I love cookies, but that's the one I would hate to live without :)

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  60. I love 60 degrees and no humidity. I get that maybe one day a year here in NOLA. But I get plenty of tasty 90 degree 90% humidity days, yum.

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  61. my favorite are sugar cookies that we decorate. the icing makes them stay super soft and amazing. and my favorite running temp is 45-50, slight breeze, and sunny.

    wicking fabric means nothing. I am so sweaty after runs that I dont sit on the furniture until after i shower and change....getting out of my post shower/pjs is another story. I can stay in them all day with wet hair and not care one bit

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  62. For me 30's are the perfect running temps!! It depends on how cold I am or who is at my house if I hang around. Or if I see something shiny and get distracted.

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  63. I live in Louisiana for a reason. Anything under 70 degrees is cold for me. Can't wait until July and August get here.

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  64. YUMMY!! I got some dough made today and then it said to put in fridge for 24 hours hour so I then went back to bed...after I ate my weight in dough. I'm not much of a cookie person either, but if they're there I'll eat them. I am so bad!

    Happy warmth in the car - yay!

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  65. I love running when it's in the 30s-40s. We ran tonight around 6:00 when it was about 35 and I still worked up a great sweat. Here is my tried and true cookie recipe. These are super easy and melt in your mouth off the pan. Don't overbake em or you'll be sorry. I always do the minimum time.

    Ingredients

    1 (9 ounce) bag HERSHEY®'S KISSES® or KISSES® WITH ALMONDS Milk Chocolates
    1 cup butter softened
    1/3 cup granulated sugar
    1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    2 cups all-purpose flour
    1 cup HERSHEY®'S MINI CHIPS™ Semisweet Chocolate
    CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE (recipe follows) or HERSHEY'S Chocolate Shoppe Topping
    Directions

    Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Remove wrappers from chocolate pieces.
    Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla in large bowl until well blended. Add flour to butter mixture; blend until smooth. Stir in small chocolate chips. Mold scant tablespoon dough around each chocolate piece, covering completely. Shape into balls; place on ungreased cookie sheet.
    Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. Prepare CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE, if desired. Drizzle over each cookie.


    CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE
    Place 1/4 cup HERSHEY'S MINI CHIPS and 1 teaspoon shortening in small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at HIGH (100%) 30 seconds; stir. If necessary, microwave at HIGH an additional 20 seconds or until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth when stirred.

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  66. man, i stay in my workout clothes as long as i can get away with it. also, if i'm doing doubles....why waste the water for two showers??

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  67. 50's. And since I also work from home fulltime, it is also common here to stay in workout clothes until later in the day and then get cleaned up. Along with the breakfast and lunch dishes.
    Spritz cookies. And buckeyes!

    The Kidless Kronicles

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  68. I'm from Southern California so my favorite running temp is like 70.

    I tend to get really lazy about showering/changing after a long run. After going to the gym or whatnot I usually change pretty quickly - lately I just shower there and then go about my day if it is on one of my days off. After the Vegas half I was so miserable I just wanted to curl up and leave my running clothes on. I ended up giving in to a hot shower and clean pajamas after I found out it would take 1.5 to get my room service "dinner".

    I made some brown sugar cookies last night from a random recipe I found. They didn't turn out so great... I should probably throw them out so I stop "testing" them to see if they've gotten any better.

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  69. My crotch sweats way too much to stay in my workout clothes for even five minutes.
    Those cookies look delicious!

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  71. Oops...deleted last post by accident. Favorite running temps are in the 50s with no wind. I usually run after work before I pick up my daughters so I'm usually in my workout clothes for a couple of hours. Gross but sometimes can't be helped when I only have a few hours to get things done, cook dinner, bathtime, etc. before they go to bed. But, when I can, I take a shower right away - especially if I worked out over lunch.

    My mom's divinity is definitely my favorite. She used to make it with a family friend while I would sit at the kitchen counter and watch them. Unfortunately our friend passed away a few years ago but every time I eat it, it always brings back great memories for me!

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  72. Those look divine. I'll send you my address separately so can send them to me. :)

    I love cookies! I made these ones called cranberry hootycreeks (dumb name, I know) and they were ah-mazing. Look up the recipe. I kid you not, they are delish.

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  73. I FREEZE if I don't get in the shower soon after running.......I think I have some mild exercise-induced Reynaud's Syndrome or something like that haha....

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  74. I love running in the 60s. Which is great because winter here is usually in the 60s most days. We were just in Big Bear over the weekend and ran in cold temps and snow. It was rough! I don't think I could that often.

    Mmm cookies! I just ate about 15 at work. Cookies are the death of me. Good thing marathon training is just starting up for me.

    I have some serious catching up to do on your blog! Off I go...

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  75. Fave temp: low 60's and I run in a tank top then. Hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, hate humid hot weather. I cannot breathe. Cold does not bother me. Rain does not bother me.

    Yes, I stay in my clothes also. Sometimes, when I'm shivering sitting there reading the computer, I say what the heck, and then realize, I'm still in my sweaty running clothes. Oh well, and I change them maybe 3 hours after the run. That's on the list of habits to change. It causes me all kinds of grief, from the teen boys telling me I stink, to rashes where I don't want them, to sniffly noses when I don't need that, to just plain feeling like a bum.

    Fave Xmas cookie? I used to bake 60 dozen - no joke - of every ethnic kind. I would have to say that now, if I had to pick only one, it would be those chocolate krinkles.

    Now you're making me feel bad that I haven't done ANYTHING this year yet. The tree will go up tomorrow AND cookies will get baked this weekend! In addition to running that Reindeer Run 5K!

    Shut up, Jill, and bake, oh, and run! :-)

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