Run, Laugh, Eat, Repeat

I signed up for my very first month of being a Foodie Pen Pal through The Lean Green Bean . My very first experience as a Foodie Pen Pal was wonderful.  I was able to pack a box of treats and recipes to my box recipient, Julie while receiving my box from Alexa.  Julie blogged about it today today for reveal day.  How awesome to see her post too! Juggling with Julia - her blog I received an awesome box from Alexa in DC.  She sent amazing treats!  Here's the photo of the awesome Trader Joe treats!!! The Cookie Butter is amazing - a cinnamon, nut spread that my daughter loves!  The Apple treats and fruit snacks are perfect for taking to work in my bag for grab on the go snacking!  As a family we enjoyed the DC-inspired Freeze Dried Ice Cream Sandwich - learning astronaut lessons in the process.  And the Powerberries are my new favorite snack!!! Dark chocolate rules! On the 5th of every month, you will receive your penpal pairing via email. It will be your responsibility

1.  Last person I said I love you to:  my daughter 2.  Last cocktail I had: Red Sangria on Saturday night 3.  Last award show:  SAG Awards, but then again I watch them all! 4.  Last song on my running playlist:  Fallin' for You - Colbie Callet 5.  Last thing I ate:  Dinner!  Grilled salmon, roasted sweet potatoes and broccoli

I'm always happy to try a new recipe and mix flavors I had not done in the past.  And generally the family is up for the challenge.  I've enjoyed the seven part Bobby Flay FIT webseries on Food Network and have already made one of those recipes! Here's the Fennel, Arugula, Tomato and Chick Pea salad ! And I borrowed the recipe from my Foodie Pen Pal recipient this month for Fish Tacos and tangy slaw .  I modified the recipe, and have made them TWICE for the family - who loved them!  Her healthy blog is Juggling with Julia and has wonderful recipes and stories she shares!

Sometimes it takes a good night's sleep, the reassuring voice of a friend and a self pep-talk to get me back on track. I'm blessed with amazing friends, a comfy bed and the ability to pick myself up, dust myself off and start all over again. It's a good little life I lead.  Yea ME! Today my Foodie Pen Pal package arrived and boy did I get an awesome Pal this round.  She sent awesome treats that I can't wait to blog about in a week!

1.  Last song on my running playlist:  Hold On - Wilson Phillips 2.  Last person I received a text from:  my husband 3.  Last thing I wished I'd done differently:  unplugged the flat iron this morning since I had to drive back home and unplug! 4.  Last new restaurant I tried:  Girls' Night Out a week ago we tried Eleven . 5.  Last thing I ate:   Luna Fiber bar - Chocolate Raspberry flavor

Inspired by another blogger, Running For Dummies who 'bared it all', I'm in the same boat so here goes .... I began this blogging experience to hold myself accountable to my intentions and goals as well as to track my progress.  It's not as though I have any readers, well, except Jason but I'm pretty sure that's just because I agreed to read his when he starts one. But I digress..... Yes, I struggle with how to make this all work.  Balance - purpose - you name it.  I'm a wife and a mother who works full-time at a job I love.  I continually strive to exercise daily and eat healthy consistently .. but let's just say there are days I struggle. I'd started the year SO well.  Three weeks of lots of miles - 25, 18, 18 .. and then last week 3!  If I can squeak out 5 today that will be 8.  But way short of my goal of 18-20 miles/week.  And for that I beat myself up! There is a wise woman with whom I share stories of challenges and successes at

I just love this one!  It seems like we always hear people saying, "I'll start something when ..." and there's a condition of something else happening first.  I can say this time, I'm all in!  Running, studying, quality time with family, healthy food shopping and cooking ... all at the same time!  Barely leaves time to blog! Each of those is a choice, and I get to choose. Today I accomplished each of them!  And tomorrow I'll try to do it all over again!

I had a really great day at work today! In anticipation of a big presentation I needed to make to an Executive Team, I had gotten myself worked up and nervous.  I convinced myself that I was nervous because it really mattered to me.  My husband reassured me, as he always does, that this was a piece of cake for me. Why is it that others sometimes believe so much in me, expect so much of me and yet I fear I won't deliver? When it was over I called my husband.  "How'd it go?" he asked. "I feel so good I didn't even need my boss to tell me I did a good job!  I just knew I did it!!" The nervousness was a result of energy not knowing where to go, so I put that energy into practicing and being calm.  It really worked! Yea ME!

I've been at this for 3 weeks now.  Blogging, dailymile.com logging my runs and committing to my purpose and my three goals.  Some days are much harder than others. There are many factors involved:  lack of sleep, other priorities and then there is the occasional 'I hadn't planned on THAT happening!" that occur and oh, how things get in the way! But I have persevered and made this work.  Some days are not in balance, and sometimes there is not even balance to the week ... but I have so much more energy (not to mention aches and pains!) and feel so accomplished!  I have run18 miles for each of the last two weeks, and 25 the week before that.  My longest run prior to 2013 was 3.5 miles .. and now I have consistently 5 miles at least 2 days per week.  Sometimes back to back days!  I can do this! I was having issues with the new Saucony running shoes that the salesman said my feet were screaming out for, and so I returned them.  I was then fitted for a pair of Brooks

This week was full of time management challenges for me.  Full work week, daughter back to school and activities started up again in the evenings.  Throw in hitting my 18-20 miles of running per week, studying for an exam and just normal things in life - laundry, groceries, making lunches, emptying the dishwasher .. you know the drill. Whew! So by Saturday morning I have 13 miles complete, with 5 remaining for tomorrow to hit my goal.  I was overly ambitious last week blowing through the goal with 25 miles so I needed a dose or reality this week for sure. Balance.  That's my work for this weekend.  Family time, study time, run and errands/housework.  Gotta find time for it all and still week as though I have a weekend to enjoy.  Hmmmm, that should be interesting! I can do it.  I have purpose.  And a list of course!

Yesterday was a hard day.  It felt heavy and awkward.  No, I don't mean the run, I mean the real life, job part of my day.  It felt as though I was navigating obstacles throughout the day.  I was never so happy to leave and know I was headed for a run than yesterday. I reminded myself of my onelittleword , PURPOSE and the path became clearer.  At first 'purpose' didn't seem 'feeling' enough for me as my word.  It felt hard and direct.  But when my purpose is about being clear in my direction, understanding the challenges and putting together a plan to overcome those challenges, PURPOSE defines the goal. I processed the day as I ran, and of course became clearer.  I ran four miles.  By the end I had picked up good speed and was feeling as though the run had purpose.  I was back on track.  Clearer head, plan in mind and a feeling a gratitude for the challenges of the day reminding me of my purpose and my ability to get to the other side!

Over the weekend I adapted a recipe for Superfood Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies and they turned out awesome.  I'll include the link and recipe here and credit the photo to the original site. I used cottage cheese, but would easily omit for additional unsweetened applesauce instead.  I also added the 1/2 cup chopped nuts and 1/2 cup dried cranberries to mine. From:   http://naturalnoshing.wordpress.com/2012/01/03/superfood-breakfast-cookies/ Superfood Breakfast Oatmeal Cookies  (adapted from  The Healthy Foodie ) Wet Ingredients: 1/2 cup applesauce 1/2 cup cottage cheese or canned coconut milk for vegan or dairy-free (blended tofu might work but I haven’t tried it) 2 eggs, whisked (for vegan, 1 mashed banana or blended tofu or 2 flax eggs) 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 1 1/2 Tbsp coconut oil (or other oil, butter, ghee or Earth Balance) Dry Ingredients: 1/4 cup amaranth flour (or buckwheat, oat, brown rice, sorghum or other gluten free flour) 1/4 cup flaxseed meal 2 T

In an attempt to ride the wave of newly found excitement, enthusiasm and downright energy, I chose to run a full 5 miles again today.  But today was different. I felt stronger, I ran faster and I feel much more accomplished.  Recognizing I only trimmed less than a minute off each mile, I still felt better.  At this point I'm thinking my body is responding to the conditioning and new routine I'm putting it through. Several things have improved this week: 1)  I have more energy. 2)  I feel clearer, more focused 3)  I don't have guilt over what I eat, as I know I need fuel to run 4)  I have honored my commitment, and have lived this week with purpose 5)  and last, but certainly not least, I am sleeping so much more soundly! I cannot get over that since last Monday through today (Sunday) I have run 25 miles.  Now, I realize this doesn't make me marathon ready, but it feels phenomenal!!! Food prep continued today.  Baked acorn squash, more steel cut oats an

This weekend I have plans ... run, health food store, study and cook.  Hmmm, somewhere in there I should find valuable quality time with my family too :) Took yesterday off from running so I could enjoy a longer run today .. and i did!  5 miles strong!  And all before 11am.  I'm feeling better about my consistency and not letting excuses get in my way.  I'm living with purpose.  These goals will take all year (likely) to accomplish.  Although all three are personal goals that I will PERSONALLY complete, they are different from one another. 1)  Run 18-20 miles per week, eat healthy and ultimately lose 25 lbs. by my birthday on May 31st. 2) Complete 5  CPCU courses during the calendar year of 2013.  That will complete my professional insurance designation that hangs over my head.  I will discipline myself to study and pass these tests so that I complete this designation this year! 3) Promotion .... we'll let that one marinate for a bit.  I believe I can achieve promot

This week has been all about making healthier food choices.  Lean proteins, lots of whole grains, fruits and vegetables .. and plenty of water! Two finds that I tried this week that I'm raving about!  Unpaid endorsement to follow ... Popchips - Sweet Potato and Luna Fiber Bars  - Chocolate Raspberry flavor! One salty, one sweet .. well sorta.  At least that's how I use them.  The pop chips are a great side to pack for my lunch with a pita sandwich, and the Luna bar is a great mid-afternoon pick me up.

Today I woke with an achey back.  Not exactly sure why, but decided against the virtual 5K opting for a walk instead.  In nearly an hour I walked 3.5 miles and although it was not fast, it was consistent.  And for that I'm proud of myself. I spent most of the day in the kitchen preparing for what's left of the week.  Roasting vegetables - sweet potatoes, cauliflower, acorn squash.  Making Egg Muffins that I just learned about this week from reading a blog about fitness and nutrition.  They were amazing!  Thank you to Shannon Jay Dougherty for sharing such an awesome recipe. I made Steel Cut Oats, Couscous, green beans and cut up celery and carrots for snacks and lunches, and made black-eyed peas with spinach for dinner!  WHEW! Today is back to reality ... work, school, making lunches, dinners, making sure I fit a run in and back to studying for a test on February 11th. I've also taken on the onelittleword concept.   Ali Edwards blog does a great job of helpin