Category Archives: Uncategorized

Nike? Me Likey.

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I feel more excited to find out if I am selected for the Nike Half Marathon lottery than I was when we bought tickets for the $640 million jackpot.  Nike didn’t mention when they were going to announce the winners of the random draw but it should hopefully be by the end of the week.

I signed up with my best friend in another state and two co-workers who already run with one another.  I’ve come to terms with the fact that I am dependent on other people to motivate myself.  I rely on other people to keep me on track and it is damn near impossible to log a lot of miles at my own free will.  My current running partner doesn’t pace herself, doesn’t run with music and has been barefoot running for about a year already:

GoofyDoodle

 

Closet Cleaning

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Sunday morning I spent most of my time not showering and stalking Pinterest.  I found this really great blog that put me in the mood to get organized and spend my life savings at The Container Store.

I emptied out my closet and put everything on the bed.  The entire closet was empty.  I intended to just go through my clothes, donate what I don’t want and put everything I wanted to keep back in the closet.  James came in after I dumped everything out and had the great idea to take the long rod down, put up two rods on each side and add shelving in the middle.  If he was feeling handy enough to start a project, I was smart enough to let him!

Why do I have this much crap?

After two hours between The Container Store, Bed Bath and Beyond, a trip home and another trip to The Container Store, we had all the materials we needed.  We bought two Start-A-Stack systems and four ventilated shelves.  James did all the hard work by screwing everything up and I started tackling the clothes I didn’t want.  It took me for what felt like forever to sort through everything and get rid of what doesn’t fit, what doesn’t look flattering and fold or hang up everything I wanted.  Now I need to go through my dresser and get re-organized.

Not sure how James' shoes ended up in my closet.

This photo shows my closet almost done.  I just need to fill up the drawers! That garbage bag is a construction sized bag that holds everything to be donated.

Broccoli Bite Beauties

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James and I were headed to a Christmas party at our friend’s house this past weekend and we needed to take an appetizer.  As vegetarians going to a meat-heavy party, I wanted to take something that was substantial and heavy on the veggies because who knew what we would be able to eat.  I was inspired by this recipe and modified a few things. I wish I evaluated my ingredients before getting started.  I used 2 pounds of fresh broccoli and only three eggs.  Yowza.  But it worked.  I don’t know how, but it worked.  Next time I make these, I’ll definitely use twice as many eggs and may even make them bigger like a veggie burger and put them in between two slices of bread.

mmmm broccoli

Broccoli Bite Beauties

2 pounds fresh broccoli (steamed and then chopped)

6 eggs (recommended, I used three)

2 cups of cheese (I used a combination of Monteray, Cheddar and Parmesean)

1 cup seasoned bread crumbs

1 teaspoon garlic powder

Salt and Pepper

Scoop out into 1/4 cup balls.  Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.  Flip the broccoli patties over with a small spatula and squish them into flat patties.  Bake an additional 10 minutes.

 

Miserable

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This past weekend James and I went to a wedding that was out of town and I packed all of my running gear so I wouldn’t miss out on my long run.  Well I packed everything but my running shoes which are only slightly more important than my head band.  Dof.

Oh well.  But I wore some really pretty high heels from Ann Taylor that are so comfortable for the first three hours you wear them but then turn into torturous footwear in no time.  The wedding was on Saturday and its been three days and my feet are still sore.  I rubbed my toes raw.  I’m relaxing my toes and I’m going to throw those shoes away (maybe).

September Goals

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Any month is off to a great start when it begins with a three day weekend.  Here are my goals for September:

Run. Just freaking run.  I want to at least run three times per week in September.

Spend less money.  No more crazy household purchases.  Must. Pinch. Pennies.

Waste less food.  I imagine the only way to do this is to meal plan.  And I know that meal planning will also help us spend less money.

More yoga.  It doesn’t have to be 45 minutes of yoga.  I don’t have to pull out my fancy yoga mat.  My goal is to stretch and breathe my way to calm through September.

Continue wedding planning.  Not too much more to do in this department but I still need to keep my mind on it!

Cash in on Groupons.  I’m notorious for buying Groupons and sitting on them until they are ready to expire.

Make chili.  This one is for James.  He’s been patiently waiting for it since winter and its almost seasonally appropriate.

Get a professional massage.  I have a gift card and I deserve it!

Pink flamingos are so hot right now

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The family came over today to celebrate my 28th birthday. We had grilled chicken wraps and corn salad with tomatoes and basil along with mango black bean salsa. My favorite part was the pink flamingo birthday cake my mom made me. It really was a perfect birthday. Thanks for a wonderful day!

one of my favorite birthday cakes

a 3 mile run

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My intentions were to get up early, eat something light and let it digest before my run.  I got up a little later than expected (6:30am) and got ready to go on my first long run.  It was starting to get hotter out so I contemplated just running on an empty stomach.  But then I remembered, training my stomach for the half marathon is just as important as training my legs.  If my only goal for this race is to not poop my pants, I need to start early in the training program to adjust to eating before a run.

I finished 3 miles and came back home exhausted from the heat.

Goofy Runner and Goofy Puppy

I made a smoothie after the run (Odwalla mango juice, Chobani Champions, strawberries and added a scoop of protein).  I felt full all day to the point I never got hungry.  I don’t like not feeling hungry because then I just eat anyways because the clock tells me too. Sunday is a rest day (and my birthday) since I’m adjusting my long runs to Saturdays.

 

(Pizza) Planet Fitness

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After work, I wanted to get some cross-training in so I went to the gym.  Before I left the house I did a little research on Muscle and Strength website and found a workout under the “women’s workouts” section.  I picked the 12 week beginner’s training routine and wrote down the notes on reps on a little index card.  I ate two dates and countless pretzels for energy.  I finally made it to the gym and the first thing I see is people gathered around a table full of pizza.  It smelled soooo gooood.  I forgot the first Monday of every month is pizza night at the gym.

I took my little index card and made it to the free weights and machines section.  The one filled with all the giant guys that know what they’re doing.  I actually did:

15 reps leg press (90 pounds)

15 reps lat pull down (40 pounds)

15 reps ab curls

15 reps barbell curls (25 pounds)

15 reps dumbell shrugs (15 pounds)

Then after that, I did some random machines in the Express room and then about 45 variations of crunches.  When I got home, I waited around for James to come home (I ordered pizza online at Mama MiMi’s) and then James, Penny and I went for a 20 minute run in the rain.

 

Third time is the charm.

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I went running on Saturday on whim.  No music.  No water bottle.  Just me and strange desire to run.  The next day I signed up for the half marathon.  What was I thinking?

Last year, I ran 2 half marathons.  Both were in Columbus.  The first was the Spirit of Columbus Half…in August.  I finished at 2:36 and I almost passed out at the finish line (and in the shower).  I trained since April or May but not religiously to the schedule so I think that was a big downfall.  The second was the Nationwide Insurance Columbus Half Marathon in October.  I finished at 2:26.  That was better, if only for the cooler weather.  I knocked 10 minutes off my first time.  Now I find myself training again.  This time by myself as my sister-in-law thinks I’m crazy.  This time I swear I’m going to follow the training plan.  I’m using the Fitness Magazine 8 week training guide so I am a few weeks ahead of schedule.  When I went running on Saturday, I mapped my run after I got home and found out that I only completed a mile and a half.  This is going to be a long training but my only goal is to finish….and not poop my pants.

I sweat out enough salt for a batch of soft pretzels.