Winner & here and there

The winner of Oprah's giveaway (hehe) is the Happy Runner selected by random.org #13!!
Runners Log, Gu, Beans, raw choc chip cookies, Lara homemade bars, Pb flax granola bars & PB Oaties. :) Hope you like nuts!!

The winner of some pb flax oaties is *Lisa*

Buffalo Bill, I have something special for you too. Great snack tip there.

Winners email me at tosha25italia@yahoo

Thanks everyone for your awesome snack ideas!
Here and there - some random things:
My nike+ died several months ago. It was only a year and a few months old. I finally brought it to an apple store and they told me I basically had to buy a new one. There are no battery replacements (and the warranty only covers it for 1 year). Just incase you are on the market for one, you should know this!

mental/emotional
After school let out and I stopped hearing from kids and reading emails from work (I wanted to) on a daily basis, it has been easier for me to not be thinking about teaching. I think September will be hard, and I finally heard back from my district that I CANNOT sub and jobshare will NOT be an option. However, the past week or two, I am feeling good about being home and can't imagine leaving Nick for more than a couple of days a week. He does new things every day and I love seeing them and watching him grow. He'll be 5 months soon and I don't know where the time went! So, I feel good that I have taken the opportunity to take some time off and be poor for a bit. I think it is worth it.

Food
Thanks for your help yesterday - I don't feel like I am eating badly! Maybe the nursing is keeping the pounds on but I thought that was burning calories plus an active workout schedule... I don't get it! I've cut the pb out of the oatmeal in the morning (that was just an unnecessary thing and bad idea). I really cut back on cheese. I was eating it daily. I have 2 smoothies most days, one w/ veggies and banana and protein powder and one with fruit and hemp powder. It is fun making the raw food, but also still counts as dessert to me!

BABY FOOD
Moms - what foods do you make yourself for the baby and what do you buy pre made?
Alison gave me a great tip to just mash the banana - no food processor, and Angela - same w/ avocado, what else are some easy foods to make? So far, Nick has had apples, oats, rice, pears, bananas and prunes. I think I am going to go through all the fruits then try all the veggies. I wanted to wait till he was 6 months, but since he is constipated often, the pediatrician said to start the solids. So far it hasn't helped him, but he is into the solids!

Yesterday I did some yoga on demand w/ some guy - thighs and butt or something. I feel THAT today!! :)

Feeling like a big load

I've been feeling like a load lately. I felt like my weight was starting to go down, but now it is just stuck again. It isn't the number that I focus on, but how I feel. I don't feel good about my body right now. My stomach just looks gross to me, still. I feel like I am not overeating, just eating when I am hungry and eating good things! (of course the occasional splurge) - but I can't seem to lose weight, despite running faster, swimming, and Jillian Shred workouts 3 times a week. I've read many moms out there go below their pre-pregnancy weight around 4-5 months, but I'm still stuck here! Should I eat less? Count calories? Switch up my workouts? What gives?

In the first week of marathon training for a possible Steamtown Marathon, it went pretty well. I had to get up at 5 yesterday to run 12 on the treadmill. Usually Nick is up around 6:30 so I figured I could get most of it done before he woke up. He was up at 5:30! I let him play/talk till he started to fuss around 6, and went to get him, then finished running after he was fed and happy. The morning workouts - I love getting it out of the way. For the long runs, they are definitely going to have to be done in the morning to be done! I also woke up early a couple of times this past week to be able to run w/o interruption and it worked well!

12 miles/1::50:36/9:13 minute mile - ehh. It felt ok, kind of dragging. My knees have been bothersome as of late.

Favorite comment of the week by Jess after my swimming fiasco:
So, did you go home commando?
Answer: no, I always have a change of clothes in my swim bag :)

The giveaway ends tonight @ midnight, don't forget to enter!

Note to Self

So, I took Nick to the Y today to go swimming. Normally I have my suit in my bag - at least one of them. I rinse it there and use the machine thing that gets the water out of it and just keep it in my bag. After Wednesday I washed one of my suits and yesterday I took Nick swimming and rinsed that one at home... so I get to the locker room and have no suit. I do have a pair of Victoria's Secret colorful PINK underwear and 2 sportsbras in my bag... one of them kind of matched. I really didn't feel like running or doing other cardio. So... I just wore a sports bra and the bright striped underwear. You totally couldn't tell (except that it didn't match). TO make a long story short, I swam in that, had to go get the other sports bra to double up, but still felt like water was flying in my top and that I was going so slow. I actually stopped to see how fast the guy next to me was swimming because he kept passing me and he was OLD - and he looked like he was going pretty damn slow. And he was beating me. It was not a good swim. I did 1800 yards and couldn't wait to get out. So note to self: Make sure your bathing suit is in the bag before you leave the house.

The rest of the week, workouts were pretty good. Thursday's run seemed to fly by. Starting on Tuesday I got up at 6am to do the workout before Nick was up at 7:30, but that was the only day that Nick was up that late - rest of the week at 6 talking to himself and 6:30 to eat. It was great being able to get in the run uninterrupted.. but I don't think I'll be getting up at 5. I tried getting up this morning at 5 to go swimming, fully knowing I would talk myself out of it. I just lay in bed thinking, I will have to pump, only get to swim 45 minutes (with the masters team) and have to rush home to be home in time to feed Nick. The pumping part is annoying - I really hate pumping. But I really am tired of swimming alone too - so hopefully one of these days I can get there - been saying that for months now.

Thanks for the advice with the biking! I won't give up yet.

Lizzie sent me some Australian Anzac cookies earlier this week - they did not even last long enough to get a picture. They were delicious. She is donating some for the bake sale!! Look out for those amazing anzacs!! (BTW, I'm totally still looking for willing bakers!!)

I've been busy mostly baking this week - putting some things together for the giveaway and my own and Bill's enjoyment! One thing that I learned is that you shouldn't sub in canola oil for coconut oil.
It isn't the same.

Raw Chocolate Chip cookies
Sooo much better w/ the coconut oil

Homemade Lara Bars

Peanut butter flax granola bars

June 25 - 4 years!

Oh crap! what now ? We're married!!

Happy anniversary to my best friend & husband! : ) It has been a great 4 years - to many more!

June 25, 2005
Villanova

• 

I even gave him a kiss after he shoved cake in my face

Honeymoon in Hawaii... do I hear 5 year anniversary in Hawaii??

Brick?

Today I played on the bikes at the gym. It is similar to a video game - computer screen where you see other people and as you bike uphill, the resistance increases and so on. I SUCK at biking!
I chose a challenging course, out of moderate or easy, that was a mistake. I do not need to be challenged at biking. It said it was to be 25-35 minutes and 8 miles. By 22 minutes I had only completed 4 miles. And I'm pretty sure a triathlon is more like 20 to 100 miles, I have no idea. One thing is for sure, I do not like biking. My legs must be weak. I was planning on riding for 30 minutes and doing the elliptical but instead I hopped off the bike and into the pool for 1250 yds. Does that count as a brick? (Don't laugh at me!) I would have done a 20 minute run and had my own triathlon but Nick was in the daycare and I wanted to take him swimming. Boo for the bike! What is the main part of a tri - the one that is always included. Is it the bike? Maybe I can find a duathlon where it is swim-run -swim or vice versa.

whole foods

I finally made it to whole foods to get some needed baking items. On Monday, I actually drove there, and got out of the car for a second, but Nick woke up (we are having some nap issues) - so I turned around and drove home. That was like seeing a big warm chocolate chip cookie and having to walk away. But I made it today! Man, I love the products there but it is so expensive! I would love a shopping spree to whole foods. Free shopping forever. How can I get that? One cool thing is that they give you 5 cents back (per bag I think) for using your own bags. I went at 8am today, the best time to go and browse. Otherwise, I want to run people over with my shopping cart! It happens to be in a ritzy area and I'm not a big fan of everyone on their cell phones walking around in their heels. Anyway, I got some good stuff for some baking! I can't wait to make some of my favorite items for the giveaway! Also, they were just putting out hemp seeds and Amazing Grass items. I wouldn't even know what they were (nor most of the items I was buying) if not for blogging! When I was in college, whole foods was called Fresh Fields. Sometimes I can't shake calling it Fresh Fields, but I'm getting better!

Speaking of which, I really want to win this giveaway for Amazing Grass that Erica has going on. Check it out (but don't enter, bc I want to win!!haha) Just saw Amanda has a giveaway going on to! Hmm.. why can't Amazing Grass contact me to try it out??


Nick is going to try some bananas today. So far, he's had brown rice, oats, and apples. He likes the apples the best. We'll try out the bananas. Sometimes I use the hand blender that I use for my smoothies, but sometimes it is so little of an amount that it doesn't work. Then, I whip out the mini food processor, an item I've made fun of for years - I put a big food processor on my wedding registry and one of my mom's cheap aunts bought me this mini one instead. I just got the normal size one for christmas this year from my inlaws - and man have I been making use of it!

And talking about blogs, when you find a new blog that you like and you comment here and there, after how long do you follow the blog if the blogger never checks out your blog and comments? Does it depend on how much you like the blog? I tend to follow blogs for a while, but if I never get a comment from the blog I am following, I might just stop reading the other blog. Is that wrong? I love hearing from you, so I'd rather comment on your blogs than those who aren't reading mine. What do you think?

Oprah's giveaway

In honor of my blogversary, I'm going to do "a few of my favorite things" giveaway. So you can call me Oprah.

Some things that will be included:

Runners Log book
Vanilla Bean GU
Sport Beans
Various homemade goodies + other surprises

If you want to participate, leave a comment telling me what your favorite healthy snack is.

Winners will be chosen randomly. Contest ends on Monday June 29,2009 at midnight. If the prize is not claimed in 48 hours a new winner will be chosen. The winner will be announced in a post.


I did some mad baking last night, and tried Angela's glonuts. I don't have a donut pan so this rose pan that is from our wedding and I have used maybe once had to do. They were larger than her mini donuts and I prefer them small, but they were delicious! I also used some leftover icing from the blackbean brownies - I sweetened them up to bring them over for Father's Day and my parents couldn't tell they were not your standard brownie!

They were delicious!

Then I made some Dr Nanners burgers (a spinoff of Dr Praegers which seem so easy to make). I just started dumping things into the food processor (broccoli, kale, peppers, some bulgar, oat bran, and a tbsp of oil). They didn't stick together too well, and were mushy but they were similar to a broccoli patty that Dr Praegers might sell!

I had one for lunch w/ some multigrain bread and smart balance spread. YUM!

Happy 1st Birthday, Blog!

Today is my blog's first birthday! : ) It has been a fun year!

A special shoutout to my longtime followers, since the very beginning, D10 and Aron! Thanks ladies! You are inspiring!

You've followed me through

• my parents and inlaws trip to Maine
• running while pregnant
• being pregnant and antipregger esp maternity clothes!
  
• attempting to run the Philly marathon 28 weeks pregnant (did the 1/2)
  
• giving birth to Nick
• running the Boston marathon
• deciding whether to work or take some time off with Nick
• thinking about doing my first tri
  

Thanks for all of your support! It has been great to have all of you to turn to!

I'll have a birthday giveaway coming up this week, I haven't decided what it will be yet, but stay tuned!

RUNNING
Some fast running this weekend has helped to keep me motivated... I just plugged in a training plan for the Steamtown Marathon in October which starts today but today is a non running day for me, so we'll start that tomorrow! This one is from smartcoach and based on my last 5k time. I feel like there was somewhere where you could put your goal time and come up with a plan based on that. Anyone know anything about that? I am definitely incorporating Monday "off" days where I will do yoga only. I will otherwise burn out.

SWIMMING
The master's board was missing today and I was not feeling it at all! I did 2500 yds but it was brutal. 45 min.

EATING
Not as good as a couple weeks ago, but still hitting up the produce place and eating good veggies and fruits. I've had a few bad eating days lately, mostly the end of last week. I picked up some hemp protein powder at Trader Joe's to switch it up from my Aria protein powder. I've made 2 smoothies with it so far, and you really can't taste it. Hemp has similar benefits as flaxseeds and is said to be good for athletes and vegans/vegetarians for those Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids!

Smoothie - hemp powder, kale, 1/2 banana, almond milk + skim milk - it was green!



Where can I find one of those bike trainer things and how much do they run?

All you can eat

I don't know if my period is imminent or what, but holy **** I was a machine yesterday, and the end of this week. When Nick went to bed last night, my mission was to go to Whole Foods (a goal of the week that was never accomplished). Once out, I decided I'd rather go home and hang out with Bill since Nick went to bed early and easily, but that I needed ice cream. I stood in the ice cream aisle of the Acme for a long time. I had Edy's Loaded PB cup in my hands and was reading the ingredients - it was $2.50. Breyers Cookies and Cream (bill's fave) or Cookie Dough (my fave) all natural was 5 bucks, but had like 5 ingredients compared to a whole lot in the other one. Edy's looked Loaded. Breyers, ehh. I tried calling Bill but I had no service. In the end, I picked the Breyers Cookies and Cream and felt like it was the better choice. Breyers did not disappoint! I reasoned with myself that I would make some edible homemade cookie dough to throw in the dough so that it was a mix. I also warmed up some black bean brownies and threw them into my bowl of ice cream, cookie dough and brownies! We had a great movie and ice cream night!

All week I was overeating at night and not even hungry. On Thursday and Friday all I could think about was Pizza Hut pizza, nachos... junk food - food I never eat. I HARDLY EVER eat ice cream. It doesn't even appeal to me. Frankly, I like the toppings and mixins better than the ice cream. But what is going on ?! Lack of motivation, crazy awful food cravings - I think my period is trying to return!! (I'm still nursing, yes.)

So when I was running today, I decided I wanted to go fast and burn off ice cream and cookie dough. I was picturing it burning away so that I could keep up a fast pace : ) You play, you pay!

4 miles/30:22/7:36 Treadmill ... It went by quickly!

WHy flax?

SPOTLIGHT ON FLAXSEED

I don't know when I started using flax, but for me, it was because of the Omega 3's that I wasn't getting since I don't eat fish. I wanted to do some research and check out the benefits of flax (and make sure it is worth using in my baking, peanut butter and oatmeal)!

FLAX
Flax is a seed grown in cool climates. Ground flax is said to be more easily digestible than the seed itself. I use a coffee grinder to grind it up!

BENEFITS
So flax- it has Omega 3 fatty acids, which may have these benefits:

• great source of fiber
  
• natural antioxidant
  
• reduced risk of cancer, diabetes, heart attack
• helps lower cholesterol
• protective effects against breast cancer and prostate cancer
• can help with hot flashes and constipation

WHERE TO FIND IT
You can find flaxseed in the health food section of your local grocery store. It is sold as seeds and ground, but is usually more cost efficient if you purchase the seeds and grind yourself. Whole Foods and health stores will definitely have it if you cannot find in your supermarket.

STORE IT
In the fridge or freezer

FLAX IN FOODS
The easiest way to incorporate flax into your diet is a tablespoon here and there - in baked goods (cookies, muffins, breads - throw it into the dough), oatmeal, cereal, yogurt, smoothies... try it out!

Try this recipe, adapted from here: it only makes 6-8 muffins

Almond Surprise Power Muffins
1 egg
1/4 c brown sugar - I need to try agave to see if that works too
1 tbsp canola oil
1/3 c ground flax
2/3 c ground oatmeal
1/3 c whole wheat flour
1 mashed banana or 1 cup of pumpkin or sweet potato puree
1/2 tsp baking soda
1.5 tbs almond butter (optional)

Use a whisk and whisk all together then put half the batter into each muffin cup,add a tspish of almond butter to each one, then top with rest of batter, then bake until set! Add some chocolate chips for an extra! : )

ready to go in the oven...

Locals looking for a Father's Day 5k?? Click here for 2.

Struggling!

Ah, my workouts really are a struggle lately. Yesterday I just didn't feel like finishing the 4 50s that were left in the set on the board and felt good enough just getting in 3000yds. Usually I'm one to do more than what is on the board. Running - I wake up on the days that I run and just dread it.
What's going on? The weather? Lack of baby naps? Confusion over staying at home for a year? Eesh.

If you make the green monsters with banana, you totally can't taste the greens.
I used 1/2 c kale, 1/2 c spinach, a banana and a cup of almond/skim milk mixed and it was good!


Yesterday I followed this recipe for Anzac cookies after Lizzie told me she would make some for the bake sale (still taking donations!) but it was very crumbly, and due to Nick's non napping, it was interrupted too. I made 3 that stuck together and then I just started adding things to the bowl of crumbles and made it into a bar w/ pumpkin, cranberries and flax. The cookies were delicious, the bread is interesting.

And while I was swimming and hungry I wanted some black bean brownies. I took the easy way out and got a box of brownie mix from my mom's cupboard, added a can of black beans and a can of water (the beans food processed) and these are really good! You totally can't tell! Bill thought they had tofu in them. The consistency looks different and they look very fudgy/moist but they are good!!

S W I M M I N G

Jessica asked about my swim background so I thought I'd devote a little time to it! I don't know how early I was in the pool, but I know as a child, at least by age 4, my mom always took us swimming. I remember being scared of the holes in the wall. They still kind of freak me out.


I started swimming on a team when I was 6 and swam competitively all through high school. I was really good when I was 9 in winter swimming, and when I was 12 in the summer swimming. After that, it all kind of went downhill, and I was a mediocre swimmer but never awesome.

In high school I swam the 200 free, 200 IM and 500 free. The team at my school wasn't very good, so I was one of the top 4 swimmers on the team. I've always been a long distance swimmer. I did backstroke in the summers and I've done the mile in a couple of meets.

I kept up swimming every now and then during college, and picked up Masters swimming a couple of years ago. The best thing was that it was right at my high school that I teach at, so I could do it right before work (5:30-6:30) and then go to work! I swam with the fast people and continued in the summers at an outdoor pool - this was great! They are rebuilding the pool @ my high school so this fall/winter I swam with another team which wasn't as fun, mostly swimming alone. Right now, I'm just swimming on my own! The masters program at the Y starts at 5:30 but Nick gets up between 5:30-6:30 right now, so this hasn't worked for me yet. I hope soon.

My sister is a really good swimmer and swam in college at Delaware. My brother swam up until he had to wear a speedo, and then he quit.

The biggest thing for me was the drains in the pool. Some drains still scare me. I don't know what it is about them - are they going to suck me down? On all of my meet programs I have the drain lanes written on the front page ("drain lanes 1 and 5.") If I happened to be racing in a drain lane, the anxiety was awful!! I think I kept my eyes closed and went crooked. When I brought Nick swimming and stepped on a drain by accident, I still was kind of freaked out! It's so weird!

I think that Nick will like the water too. So far, he enjoys it!


Monday's board workout was ENDURANCE. It was mostly 400s and 3 and 200s. To me, that is easy. I don't like doing fast 100s. Today's workout was a bunch of fast free. I feel like a slacker but to motivate myself to go fast somedays, I need to be swimming with someone in the lane next to me!


In other news, I had my first GREEN smoothie (aka green monster) yesterday. Spinach, banana, almond milk and some protein powder. Not bad. You can taste the spinach (I used frozen).




And I'm working on some healthy breakfast muffins.

Post 5k

POST RUN
1 day post 5k - holy crap, I am sore. I have shin splints and my hamstrings and quads are sore!! I need to get training faster! I walked a bit today w/ Nick & my sister and her dog, and was seriously breathing heavily walking up hills (What?!) and swam 3000 yds. I'm still waiting to see if I placed in my age group on Sunday, it was a small crowd. The results aren't posted yet.

TRI
Thanks for your help with the tri questions - a tri is in my future, but not sure when/where yet. I always said I'd do a tri in waters like Hawaii. I might look for an indoor one for now, or just a local one that is cheap.

WORK/STAYING HOME/BALANCE
I decided I'm bipolar in terms of how I feel day to day about being home. I want to be working and doing what I love, but I know that that means leaving Nick, which I don't want to do. Sometimes I think about how by next September I'll be dying to go back to work and sometimes I think it will be impossible to go back after being home for a year and a half, and impossible to leave Nick and I consider the thought of taking as much time as possible to watch my kid(s) grow up while I can. Other days I think how can I minimize the time that I am not working. Some days it is hard to leave Nick in the gym daycare for an hour and other days I need the life that I used to have. I think I am struggling to make the connection that although I'm the same person, my life is totally different. Some people can go on working and resume their old life, but for some people, the old person ceases to exist and the baby changes everything. I'm somewhere in between and seeking some balance and I'm getting there (most days).

FOOD
I made more hummus today. This weekend I made stuffed peppers for the first time (with bulgar, parmesan cheese, and mushrooms) - these were really good! This week's plan is to make some black bean brownies. I haven't found the recipe that I want to use yet - there are tons out there. Let me know if you have seen a good one!

I made Nick homemade brown rice cereal today (thanks Mama Simmons for some help with that). He seemed totally into it! I was pretty excited to give it to him. THe video is too long and wouldn't upload.

seconds from a PR!

I ran a 5k today to benefit my school. Bill and his parents, and Nick did it too! I was huffing and puffing - it was a super hilly course!! I could not tell what my pace even was before I hit the first mile: 7:04. Mile 2 14 something, and finished 23:17. I thought my PR was 22 something but it is 23:14! I wasn't giving 110% at the end and definitely could have pushed harder. I remember letting myself off the hook in the first mile - I need to be more hardcore!! It was a good race, I didn't know what to expect and in April ran a low 25 5k for my first speed race back! It was also fun being for a good cause and having all of the "D" family participate!

Glonuts & Tris

Thanks for the tips from yesterday's post- especially that it is only temporary, I have to keep reminding myself this and make the best of it. I don't know why this adjustment is so hard for me!

Triathlon questions -
do you need a wetsuit/triathlon outfit?
How does it work with the bike - you bring it the day before?
I have a bike, I think it is a mountain bike. What kind of bike should I have?
Is the swim like dodging kicks the whole time or do you really swim?
I would love to do a pool swim tri - anyone seen any of those? Does that even count?

Glonuts - followed Angela's recipe but used Agave nectar for the sugar, and had no maple syrup so used brown rice syrup. My icing wasn't the best consistency, it kind of fell off to the side, but these were tasty! I want a doughnut pan now!

These look messy but were tasty!

Running - my run was heartless today. I just kept telling myself if I ran faster I would be done quicker, but that didn't seem to motivate me. I did 7 in the morning on the TM and 3 in the early afternoon. I couldn't wait to be done (which wasn't fun).

Kind of a rough one!

This week was kind of a rough week emotionally. I've been trying to keep super busy, but this week I was at school or school functions 3 times and it killed me! Tuesday I took Nick to school to see the kids, Thursday night was our department party, and today I was there packing up my classroom. I am hurting! I keep doubting my decision and thinking I should have returned in September. I feel so lost without teaching. I still haven't heard anything from the letter that I sent. Next week I'll be heading back in to finish packing my room and for an end of the year luncheon. I think some closure will be good, but also, I'm just all over the place in my thoughts.

SWIMMING
I had a really good swim on Wednesday and finished 3200 yards in 51:15. The workout had some good intervals on it, and even though I'm not as fast as I was, or maybe as I would be if swimming with others, I'm getting there. I really wish I could motivate myself to get up and go to the masters swimming. Nick's wake up just happens to be right in the middle of it most mornings, but when he sleeps later and we cut out that early morning feeding, I'll have to get going there!

RUNNING
Running has been blah this week. I haven't been very motivated to run fast, so I've been keeping it easy. Tuesday I did 8 miles before heading into school, 2 on Wednesday and 2 5 milers on Thursday. All of the runs were on the treadmill, it is so humid here, I plan to keep running on the treadmill until the humidity breaks!

SHRED
I've been doing Jillian's shred level 3 two or three times a week. I kind of need to switch it up, but I love this workout. It is hard and makes me sweat!

FOOD
I made some fun things this week, but I need to remember that even if they are healthier than the real thing (like chocolate chip cookies) - they are still a dessert, so go easy!

BAKE FOR DANA
I'm going to rename the bake sale auction to BAKE FOR DANA(Farber). There are some exciting things to bid on, and I'm getting really excited, even though it is more than a month away!

More experimenting

Smoothies - I've been having one every day. Yesterday's was a change up. I kind of wanted it to be green, because they look refreshing, but no such luck. In this colorful drink, I used

• almond breeze
• skim milk
• cooked broccoli
• cooked kale
• berries
• flax
• 1/2 a banana

It was good!

Today's powerhouse - more purple

• cooked broccoli (this was just leftover and I needed to use it)
• fresh kale leaves
  
• blueberries
• almond breeze
• skim milk
• flax

Yesterday I did some more baking and experimenting and here are some of the things below.
Hummus
2 c chick peas (soaked dry ones)
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed and strained lemon juice (didn't have it)
Up to 3 tablespoon cold water
3 tablespoons tahini
1 small clove garlic, crushed
3/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
Paprika
1 tablespoon olive oil
A little plain yogurt (depending on the consistency if chunky add more) - forgot about this

It still turned out pretty good, but not creamy enough. Now that I am posting this, I see I forgot yogurt and that would really help!



Raw chocolate chip cookies. I followed the recipe from here except used smart oil instead of coconut oil. I have never used coconut oil, and I'm not too sure of its nutritional benefits.
This was the part making the chocolate chips. They were delicious!


The dough was quite crumbly and oily, and some were hard to get into balls. I put them in the freezer so that I didn't eat them all, and in hopes they'd stay together better!




Today going on here is an auction similar to what I will do. If you aren't a baker, by the way, considering donating anything you are willing to donate! Remember it is for a great cause and anything helps! I think a fun running pack of your favorite running items (gu, powerbars, clif blocks,etc would be really fun! ) I donated a homemade wedding countdown board and homemade necklace to the auction going on there. Check it out!

Help me out locals - places to run in Philly - Kelly Drive - what do you have to add?

More food and running

Today I was trying to work on speed. I forgot I have a 5k at my school this Sunday, that I'd like to run fast for! I haven't done a 5k since April, so I'm looking forward to this! Today I decided I'd work on speed. I like working on speed in terms of the workout going by quickly, but I don't in that it is difficult! When I did my 2 miles warmup, I thought, ok, I'm going to run mile repeats. I didn't make it through the first mile, and cut it back to 1/2 mile repeats. I did one of those and then decided 1/4 mile repeats would be fine. So I worked on them and did 2 1/2 mile repeats and 3 or 4 1/4 mile repeats. They were decent but not as great as I was hoping for, and by the end my legs were tired and I was kind of out of breath!

I went into school today to see my students, this was hard but we had a great day there (and then Nick slept for 3 hours) ! The sup't hasn't responded yet.

Some experiments this week so far: (Note: somewhere along the way my pictures went back to being small on the default, so click on them for a big picture)

Granola Bars
These turned out way too sweet, here is what I used:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 c honey
  
• 1/4 c hemp oil
• 1/4 c nanners almond butter
  
• 2 c. oats
• 1/4 c ground flax
  
• 1/4 c sunflower seeds
  
• 1/4 c flax seeds
  
• 1/4 c coconut
  

Lara Chocolate Chip Cookie Bar - I liked this! I followed the recipe exactly. These taste like chips ahoy to me. And Lara Bars.





Veggie Burgers
I didn't make the dressing, which would have made them better. These were a little dry. Here's what I used:

• Burgers
• 1/2 cup dried lentils
• 2 Tbs. olive oil
• 1/2 red bell pepper, diced (1/2 cup)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 tsp.)
• 15-oz. dried/soaked chickpeas
  
• A bunch of dried parsley leaves
• 3 egg whites
  
• 2 tsp. ground cumin
• 1 tsp. ground coriander
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup oatmeal
  
• 1 piece whole wheat bread
  
• 3/4 cup grated carrots
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder

I mainly used the food processor to process everything together. These turned out a bit dry and definitely would have been better with the dressing. It made 10 burgers, I'll make the dressing for the rest!


Tonight's dinner: Veggie Burger, baked sweet potatoes, kale and spinach frittata


Where'd everyone go? Not many comments lately. Maybe the food stuff is boring, I just need something to keep me busy! I'm still looking for bakers. I have around 6 amazing souls but hope to get more from some of you talented people out there!!