“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”
— Thomas Edison
Three months into 2025, so it’s time for a fitness update. How’s it going for you? I’ve been rather reluctant to write this post, not because I experienced any major setbacks, but because I haven’t progressed as much as I hoped. Is it worth the time it takes to write several hundred words – all to say “nothing new to report”? The importance of being transparent is what brings me here. Writing about the temptations and the struggles, and the victories – small though they may be – provides a mile marker of accountability on this journey. It is a catalyst to refocus, reevaluate, and renew.
Future me may refer to these last few months as the Winter of Waiting. It certainly has been a time of waiting and upheaval and confusion and waiting and changed plans and unknowns and more waiting. We started in Kansas, expecting to wait and work there a few months and then travel to Phoenix. That job got cancelled and we were sent to Ohio. We expected to be here a few months while waiting for the next assignment – which happened to be Wisconsin. At the last minute that position was given to another employee, and we were told to wait in Ohio for an undetermined amount of time. Then suddenly the news came – we were heading back to New York. Honestly, we hesitated a bit to announce our latest destination – we felt so uncertain that it would actually come to pass. But now the waiting is over, the team meeting is complete, housing has been arranged, and in 24 hours we will be on the road. I believe I can say with some confidence, we are moving back to Rochester, New York!
St. Patrick’s Day is almost here – the one day we all get be Irish – and how lucky we are for that! Ireland is truly a magical land, its history fascinating, its culture unique, and its people remarkable. If you have even a bit of Irish blood running through your veins (I proudly embrace my 6%!), then that is something special! So, in honor of those of us who are Irish, 😉and those who are every March 17, I thought I’d post a few favorite recipes. If you’re thinking about celebrating the holiday at home this year, then this post is for you. This delicious beef stew is Irish comfort food at its best, rich with classic flavors, and of course, Guinness! 🍺☘️
If I were ever crazy enough to open a bakery, I’d want to specialize in boozy cupcakes. Margarita cupcakes filled with lime and tequila and sprinkled with salt, sweet treats of vanilla and bourbon, or almond and amaretto, and pina colada cupcakes soaked in rum and topped with a paper umbrella. And these – Tipsy Leprechaun cupcakes – dangerously delicious chocolatey bites with 3 kinds of alcohol!
The cupcakes are based off of a popular cocktail that consists of a shot of Baileys and Irish whiskey dropped into a pint of Guinness. It was originally called an Irish Car Bomb, which is incredibly offensive, so it is now most often called an Irish Slammer, probably because you have to drink it VERY quickly, before the cream curdles. I love a good dark beer, but I don’t usually chug one in less than a minute, so these cupcakes are the way to go for me! They start with a Guinness chocolate cake, are filled with whiskey ganache, and topped with Baileys buttercream. Make them for St. Patrick’s Day, or anytime you are craving a boozy sweet treat!
Barry has been on a soup kick recently, which means I get to try out new recipes! Within a few bites, he declared this one his new all-time favorite. This creamy Tuscan-style chicken soup is the winter comfort food that dreams are made of this chilly February! I found this recipe on one of my favorite cooking blogs – Skinnytaste.com -and tweaked it a little to add a few more grams of protein. And so you don’t have to read through a lengthy narrative just to get to the recipe, I’ve put the recipe first and the post after. 😉 Enjoy!
“Ireland is not just a place; it’s a poetic blessing. Its landscapes, its people, and its stories are woven into a tapestry of beauty and inspiration”. -William Butler Yeats
At the end of a vacation in the Bahamas, some newly made friends asked us if we were coming back to the Caribbean the following year. “No,” I said, “we’re going to Ireland!” I have no idea where that boldness came from, but once the words went out into the universe, I felt committed to making it happen. My third great-grandfather, and a fifth great-grandfather and fifth great-grandmother, were all Irish. Those are distant connections I know, but still I’ve always felt drawn there, and Ireland was at the top of my bucket list. Our best friends and travel buddies have an even more direct connection to the Emerald Isle, so they were all in. So many decisions to be made! Go with an organized tour? Stay in Dublin and go on a few excursions and bus trips to see the sights? Instead, we decided to attempt a self-driving road trip, and truthfully, I think that is the absolute best way to experience all Ireland has to offer. Yes, it is a little scary to rent a car and drive around a foreign country, especially when they drive on the opposite side of the road, but you do get the hang of it, I promise! A road trip gives you freedom and opportunities you can’t get otherwise. We stayed in a wide-ranging variety of lodgings, visited ancient ruins and famous cathedrals, and strolled through manicured gardens and along clifftops. We lingered over cappuccinos at small sidewalk cafes, and we would randomly jump out of the car for pictures of sheep. There were four of us on this trip, and it took about a year to plan and save for it. Ten days was a perfect amount of time – we focused mainly on the southern and middle parts of the country, and tried to throw in a little bit of everything. I hope this itinerary inspires you to plan your own Irish road trip!
If you’re planning a trip to the Emerald Isle, it can be a bit overwhelming! I am not declaring myself an expert since we’ve only been there once (so far), but here are some of the things we learned along the way, and a few stories as well. Hopefully these will help you out. Please let me know if you have any questions! For our experiences with lodging, please check out: Ireland – Places to Stay | The Sunnydaze Diaries And for a few restaurant suggestions see: Ireland – a note about pubs and restaurants | The Sunnydaze Diaries
“My definition of a good hotel is a place I’d stay at.” -Robert DeNiro
When I’m planning a trip like this, I love to book a wide variety of accommodations. One of our goals was to really embrace the land, the people, the culture – to get the full Irish experience, and so we stayed everywhere, from hotels to cottages, from castles to rooms above pubs. Here is a list, and some short reviews, of all the places we laid our heads – the good, the great, and the not so much!
“Laughter is brightest where food is best” -Irish proverb
One of the great things about traveling is experiencing the local customs, and the cuisine! Ireland focuses on quality, locally sourced ingredients, and you can taste the difference. Seafood is in abundance, and their meat and dairy are first class. We came home with many new favorites and have incorporated a few recipes into the cooking rotation. I also buy Irish butter and cheese now whenever I can! Here is a little guide for eating out in Ireland, and a few recommendations…
“If you haven’t got your health, you haven’t got anything.” -Count Rugen, The Princess Bride
New Year’s goals for improved health and fitness are pretty common, and I am no different. Gym memberships skyrocket on January 2, only to return to normal levels by Valentine’s Day. Like most of America, I went back to the gym this month. After almost 3 months of not working out, my muscles are certainly complaining! My hope is to stick with it this time, past February, and even past the summer. And that is the reason for this post.
