Fun with the birthday presents!

Since my birthday over a week ago, I've been extremely busy and in NYC for a week. This weekend was finally time to enjoy all the great birthday gifts I received. On Sat. night I made a mouth watering peach-blueberry cobbler that was a cross between my great-grandmother's peach cobbler and my favorite Cooking Light cobbler. I think it's my new favorite now.

To accompany dessert I used my new Bialettie Moka Express Espresso Maker. It's a staple in any Italian household. It's very similar to a peculator, but better than any drip coffee as the pressure forces the water through the coffee, but giving it more time to aerate in the coffee. My dad also gave me a hand held frother, so we had perfect cafe lattes.

Today, we went to Durham to 9th Street Active Feet. If you ever need running shoes this is the place...these people really know their stuff. After taking a look at my current shoes, my callus pattern on my feet (gross, I know), they way I walk and finally the way I stand on each foot, I was recommended 4 pairs of running shoes. For the first time in my life, I selected shoes based on comfort and what I needed, rather than color, brand and price. After a few test runs up and down the street I used my gift certificate from my mom to buy the Etonic Jepera 2 SC. Comparably, they are heavy for a running shoe, but offered so much cushion and also giving enough support for my over pronation. I can't wait to test them out. Being so busy with the move, birthdays and then NYC, I haven't run in over a month! But, just another reason to get back in the groove and start training for the OBX marathon.

I'm still debating on how to spend my Lowe's and Bed Bath and Beyond gift cards. I'm thinking of putting them towards a new storm door to match our windows, bath hardware for our master bedroom, or a ceiling fan for our bedroom.