New Items for Me and a FREE Race Entry for YOU!

Some of my favorite blog posts to read are ones that turn me on to new products, so I thought I'd do one of those today. 

1. Almond Milk Yogurt. I'm really excited to try these tomorrow! I was recently told to go off dairy made from cow's milk (by a nutritionist I am seeing for my Alopecia Areata......that'll be reserved for another post though). While it didn't bother me too much, I really do miss the occasional greek yogurt. I've seen these at the store, but they are a bit pricey for me, so until today I haven't tried them. 

2. Food Life Gluten Free Rice Millet Bread. I LOVE RUNNY EGGS AND TOAST. Let me just say that. If I could only have bread with one thing for the rest of my life, I'd toast that shit up and put a runny egg on it (with jam and hot sauce of course). This better be good. 

3. Applegate Organics Organic Turkey Burgers. Just a spur of the moment buy. I'm always looking for quick and easy ways to get some quality protein. 

4. Meyenberg Low Fat Goat's Milk. Goat's milk was reallllly hard to get used to. I think I was being a kid and the thought of it kind of made me nauseated, but it really grew on me. I don't typically go for "low-fat" foods but I thought it might be a little less rich than Whole Goat's Milk, so I'd give it a try.

5. Salted Caramel GU. I almost made innappropriate sounds when I saw this new GU flavor at the check out of the Sports Authority. Let it be known that I would eat just about anything that has salted caramel on it. I am planning on a double digit run this Sunday and can't wait to bring this with me!

6. Under Armour Women's Training Socks. I have been getting some SERIOUS blisters recently. I've never had particularly attractive feet, but they've recently took a change for the worse when I bought new shoes. The new shoes feel great and cost me a pretty penny, so they aren't going anywhere. Enter new socks. Hopefully I'll finish my next long run without a disgusting, blood filled blister sticking out of the side of my foot.

 

and now I have something for you!

I was recently contacted about participating in the Williamsburg Half Marathon. After looking at the website (http://www.runforachievabledream.com/) I couldn't help but sign up! Historic Williamsburg is sure to deliver a beautiful, scenic race, and the money raised benefits a more than worthy cause. 

and I have a FREE race entry for one of my readers. 

To enter: Simply leave a comment and tell me what new item you're trying these days! I will pick a winner on Friday, May 9.

The Girl Who Baked Everything

 

A love a good 4 day weekend, especially when it is not expected. Due to Hurricane Sandy, school and work were canceled for Monday and Tuesday. Do you know what I spent the past 4 days doing.....not exactly running. The name of this blog should be changed to Pumpkin Junkie.

 

Saturday I was supposed to do a 50 minute tempo run. Every single family member ended up being busy though, and I couldn't find a sitter. I decided this meant that I should simply not stress, and spend some quality time with my daughter. We had a guest coming over for dinner. Remember the "pumpkin craze" I talked about in my last post...

 

I started with a huge crock pot of pumpkin chili and a batch of pumpkin cornbread muffins.

 

 

Paired with a Blue Moon Pumpkin Ale. It was perfection.

 

For dessert I made these Pumpkin Pie Biscotti with a cream cheese drizzle. A little bit of a mix between a biscotti and a scone. Pretty damn good.

 

 

I also made this Pumpkin Cheesecake which I brought over to my friends for her birthday. While I didn't get to taste it I'm told it was amazing!

 

And since I'm that crazy.....Pumpkin Pancakes for dinner the next morning:-) I made them with Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Baking Mix.

 

My training called for an 8 mile run on Sunday. I ate those delicious pancakes, got suited up, and was stopped in my tracks when I noticed how disgusting my daughter's bright red eye looked. A couple of hours in-line at the CVS Minute Clinic confirmed she had pink eye.

 

Seeing as though that's contagious for 24 hours, I wouldn't be dropping her at any body's house on Monday either.

 

I did manage to get a nice 5 miler in this morning. I tried to take it nice and easy, which was a lot easier with all the puddles and piles of leaves and debris that Hurricane Sandy left in my way.

 

After running, I continued my madness in the kitchen. I'll show you pictures tomorrow but I have to say from this one that today's creations put everything else to shame.

 

I caught him over the sink, frosting utensil in one hand, measuring cup with batter in the other, taking alternate licks.

 

The finished product was even better.

Butternut Squash Pizza

I really need to get better at posting every day, or at least every other day. My workouts for last week were as follows:

 

Monday: 3.2 mile run

Tuesday: 45 minute Yoga Class

Wednesday: 5 miles

Thursday: 3 miles + 40 min strength training

Friday: 60 minute elliptical (Cross Training) + 20 minutes strength training

Saturday: 45 minute tempo run (5.6 miles)

Sunday: 6.45 miles

 

Today was a quick 3 miles in 23:30. Finally! I did a 3 mile run in under 24 minutes on the elliptical. and you know what? Not that bad. For some reason, I have never been able to do that. Hell, it's not actually "for no reason" it's because, just like last weekend's race, I don't push myself in the beginning....this is especially true on the treadmill. Last weekend's race gave me a bit of a confidence boost so when I got to the gym today I knew I had it.

 

After my run I did about 30 minutes of weights. My usual circuit of ankle weights, with core work on the stability ball and lots of stretching in between. I was so awesomely drenched at the end of this workout. I wish I had taken a picture:-)

 

Since I'm bad at taking pictures of my food, and nobody really cares all that much, I'm just going to show my one or two favorite meals.

 

This is a home made pizza. Roasted butternut squash, onions and a bit of pepper jack and Colby cheese. On top of my Harris Teeter Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free Crust. It was SO good!!

 

 

This weekend was just like every other weekend and flew by WAY to quickly.

We did have a ton of fun at a birthday party for a little girl we know. 

 

Moon Bounce and all. The boy was brave enough to get in with the children. He got tackled!! It was awesome to watch and we all had a blast.

 

Sunday Kaitlyn and I headed to our local Farmer's Market. I picked up some delicious Cameo apples (I seriously LOVE a good apple. Cannot be too sweet though. I had a sample of a Honey Crisp and couldn't take another bite. Holy hell. It was pure sweetness.)

 

I also picked up some acorn squash, just to try something other than butternut, and a spaghetti squash. I made the spaghetti squash last night, topped with ground beef and tomato sauce. Delish.

 

 

Kaitlyn realllllly wanted this bad boy, but since we couldn't even carry it I opted against it.

 

This coming week is going to be crazy workout wise. I have 24 miles, a yoga class and two weight lifting sessions, plus a 10K (Mud Run) and a 5K (Color Run) this weekend. I am SO excited!

Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free Bread and Pizza.

My training plan called for a rest day yesterday. Usually, rest days kill me mentally. One this particular day, my quads and calfs were spent and it was welcomed. Kaitlyn and I didn't have too much to do that afternoon though, so we made it an active one. We walked to a nearby school, walked some laps around the track and fields and headed home, equaling about 40 minutes.

Some were more active than others......

I think she did more cartwheels than actually walking.

A well deserved break with a bright red face!

I stretched out quite a bit when we got home. Good move.

Today's workout was awesome and kicked my rear!

First, I geared up and headed outside for my 4 mile run  It was around 75 degrees but I was chilly and wore a long sleeve over my short sleeve. About a mile into the run I was regretting it but too in the zone to stop and take it off.... Seeing as though I was running in DC, and all things in DC confuse me, I ended up doing 4.5 hot sweaty miles at an average pace of 8:15. Job well done in my book.

**Can I just say how excited I am about running these days. My old "comfortable" pace about a year ago was 9:00-9:30 a mile! Huge improvements!**

Returning from my run, I went to the Chiseled Physique class to get my second day of weight lifting in. While we didn't do as much leg work as I like (read SQUATS baby!) we killed the shoulders and biceps. 45 minutes of that and I was spent and felt quite accomplished!

Needless to say I devoured my salad for lunch.

Upon getting home (6:00, later than usual!!) we decided it was time to test out the Wheat Free, Gluten Free Pizza Dough Mix I grabbed at Trader Joes.

Another good move.

It was really easy to make and got nice and toasty! Piled with veggies of course:-)

A couple pieces of that and a couple beers and I convinced myself it was Friday night.....sadly, it's not yet.

While I'm talking about wheat-free, gluten free products. I grabbed these french rolls last week and had one last night. These suckers aren't bad at all! They tasted just like a biscuit!

I will definitely be heading to Trader Joe's again in the near future!

This Girl Knows How to Party

Last night I found myself in a very unfamiliar place. No daughter and no boyfriend.

What's a 25-year old girl to do in such a situation?

First, I missed my optometrist appointment because I couldn't find the office. How does this even happen? I have lived in this tiny little town my ENTIRE life.

Then I did something even cooler and went grocery shopping. Since I was feeling CRAZY I made the 20 minute drive to Trader Joes!

These aren't all the purchases but they are definitely my favorites!

Sunflower Butter = My addiction

Fig Jam = New to me. We'll see.

Hummus = I couldn't decide which flavor then saw this quartet! Effing sold. Amazing.

Lentil Chips = To dip in aforementioned quartet of goodness.

Nuts = This girl loooooves nuts (insert inappropriate giggle. Seriously though, I do. They are a few dollars cheaper per bag at TJs. I got pistachios, almonds, sunflower seeds (my daughter's addiction) and pine nuts)

Green Thai Curry Sauce = No need to explain the goodness there

Wine = Again, a few dollars cheaper per bottle. Can't wait to pop those open!

This one I was really excited to try....

Gluten, wheat and oat free bread. It's made from rice flour. It was MUCH softer than any other wheat free breads so I grabbed it. At $3.50 for 4 rolls, I won't be eating them TOO much.

I don't know if I've mentioned my food sensitives. Wheat, Corn, Soy and Peanuts. Peanuts being the worst. I usually eat them anyways, because the "symptoms" aren't terrible but this pas weekend it got pretty bad. So I'm back to cutting them out....

**I've been meaning to write a post about all those food sensitivities, a holistic practitioner (is that the right term?) that I've been speaking with and why I'm bald (not just my head hair is gone either....)....It's just not as fun as posts like this. I'll get to it soon**

I got home, ate one of those rolls w/tuna and some lentil chips with hummus while watching "Remember the Titans". That's how I roll.