Guilty pleasures

I have many guilty pleasures, they seem to be everchanging.  I will list a few of my current ones.
I LOVE to eat candy.  I always have, gummy bears are my absolute favorite.  When I was pregnant with my oldest, I was stationed in Nurnberg, Germany.  How lucky was I?  I was so lucky to be right next door to a gummy bear factory, which sold ten pound bags, for a couple U.S. dollars !!!!!!!  I craved them. Haribo are the closest to real German bears, lol

I have ten pairs of running shoes, and I feel like that is not enough. I am always looking for another pair.

I justify this by saying that I have to switch out after each workout-not really.  I have to have trail shoes, race shoes, speed shoes, you get the idea.

Peanut butter toasted bagels.  I could eat them for every meal, every day.  Another thing that I justify by saying I need them for running.  

French fries. What is left to say???

Air fresheners.  Doesn't everyone have a rubbermaid container full of them? I love to come home to an awesome smelling home. I  like vanillas, caramel, and nutmeg scented the best.  Bath and body works is my go to. 

I love to watch TV all the time even at the gym.  I think growing up without TV makes me love it more.  I enjoy Food Network, HGTV, Oxygen, prettty much all of it.  

I cannot live without my Keurig.  First thing I do in the morning is have a cup of chai latte and watch the birds.  The bird watching is another think I love to do.  It is something that my father and I used to do together and I never stopped.

These are just a few,  I have many LOL

On a sadder note, my eleven year old cat, Prissy, is sick and it is breaking my heart. I am taking her to the vet later today, praying they can fix whatever is wrong.  I have had her since she was four weeks old and she has been healthy ever since. Isn't she beautiful?

Have a great day. 

Have your pets ever gotten sick?

What are a couple of your guilty pleasures?

Have you ever lived overseas?

I've been very busy

I think I have mentioned it before, I love to clean, I know it sounds crazy but I do. I plan my day around workouts and cleaning.  I have organized my cupboard, bleached the kitchen floor, and now I am scrubbing all the appliances. Maybe because it has been in the 60s this past few days, I feel like spring cleaning.  I seriously am this happy when I clean.

This past week at the gym I actually ran for the first time in a week.  I am trying to let my right calf completely heal before I attempt too much.  I spent many hours on the spinning bike, which is so BORING.  Saturday I did a double class, with an older man teaching in spandex, let's just say, everything was showing. I actually gagged a few times, it was horrible.  I am feeling stronger as each day passes.

I have been cooking what I like to call "lazy meals."  What are lazy meals, you ask?"  It is when you open something from a box and put it in the oven.  I don't usually eat said meal, I try to stick with a salad.  Poor Zachary gets stuck eating it.  He loves my cooking, sometimes, when you suffer from depression you really can't do much.  

Tonight I am making my famous potato soup.

It is my own recipe, however I will share because it is delicious.

First I peel about four pounds of potatoes (I like to make extras)

I put enough water in the pot to cover the potatoes and then add Lipton Onion soup mix about 11/2 packages.  

I let the potatoes cook through and then add pepperoni about a six ounce portion chopped up.

Then let it simmer for 10 minutes.

I then add half a pint of cream and about a cup of sharp cheddar cheese.

Let that simmer until the cheese melts.

Serve immediately with green onions on top.

It is very easy to make and is absolutely my favorite homemade soup.

It is so nice outside today and Zachary is out of school for MLK day, so we are going for a walk later.

There is a deer rescue center about 1/4 of a mile from our house, we go there often because the deer are so beautiful to look at.

Make sure you spread some sparkle along your days journey.  It is effortless to smile at someone, or say hello.

I hope everyone had a great weekend. Have a great Monday!

What activities do you do when you are on the injured list?  Spinning

How was your weekend?

Do you spread a little sparkle throughout your day?

Things I can't live without

1. My children.  I have three sons, Jordan 21, Marcus 20, and Zachary 11.  They are my pride and joy, each one has a different quality that makes them unique in their own way.  Raising them has not been easy but I would not change a thing about them.

2. Candles.  I am always burning a candle.  I love the way they look and smell.  I particularly love the ones from Bath and Body works.  Right now I am loving their pumpkin caramel swirl.  

3. Internet.  I love the internet.  I can keep in touch with family and friends, conduct business, and explore endless opportunities to create new things.

4. NUUN.  I absolutely drink too much of this, but it is delicious.  It is a drink for active hydration and it comes in a variety of flavors however my favorite is the tri-berry.  What is better than this, being an ambassador for their company!!!!!!

5. Running.  I love running.  I actually hated running when I was in the Army.  How did I get into it?  Chasing suspects down.  It was like this awesome high when I could catch someone younger than me.  I always said "suspects run for freedom, police run to catch."  Suspects have more to run for.  I won't even tell you the hell a suspect would go through if I caught them.  I would use my age, sex, the fact that I was carrying at least 25 pounds of extra gear to taunt them.  I then realized that running could possibly save another officers life if they were in trouble.  So I always stayed in shape.  I started to run competitively in 2012. Now I run for sanity.  

6. Nature.  I enjoy anything nature.  Trail runs, birdwatching, walking in the woods, the smells, the sounds, the peace.  My father loved to be outside. I am a lot like him.  When I was younger I would spend as much time outside with my father as I could.  This was difficult because he was disabled from cancer when I was younger.  He instilled all my great values.  I miss him everyday, however feel like he is with me when I am outside.

What are your favorite things?

Have you tried blogging?  if so what is the name of your blog?

What motivates you?

I'm back!!!! Pet peeves at the gym

I took a little break because I was not sure if anyone was actually reading my blog.  I got a sweet message from a high school buddy Jenny Kreider who said she missed it.  That made my day so I am back to blog.

PET PEEVES at the gym.
The reason I am writing this is because I spent two hours spinning this morning and was completely grossed out.

1. Does working out really require you make "sex like" moans?  It makes me feel weird when I hear men moaning at the gym.

2.  Do you really have to wear makeup and fake eyelashes to a spin class?   When I go to the gym, I may wear mascara, however I know that I go to the gym to work not look good.

3. I think at some point the "older" population just needs to not wear spandex.  I was so grossed out by the second instructor because he was "older" and decided to wear spandex shirt and shorts to teach.  I beg the lord to remove that image from my head. Let's just say it made this guy, look sexy,, LOL.

4. Please for the love of GOD, wear deodorant.  It seems like every gym I go to the smelliest people sit right next to me.  I think it, in this case, was a cultural thing.  I mean when in Rome, welcome to America, land of deodorant. I thought the following were fitting:

5. The classes were full of people, no bikes available.  Why on earth would you take a class depriving someone else of working out, when all you do is complain and half ass it.  

On the bright side I was awarded a 15% off Buffalo Wild Wings coupon for working so hard in class.  I had to make the difficult decision to cancel my marathon next weekend in New Orleans, as my leg is still bothering me.  So for now my next race is scheduled on February 14, 2015. You get the mug full of snacks when you cross the finish line as well as the awesome ribbon.

Zachary is growing like a weed, my older two are back to living their lives.  Prissy is doing well, spoiled as always.

Have you ever run a hot chocolate run?

Do you have any pet peeves at the gym?  I DO

How is your new year going?  mine is great

Blueberries in January

So this morning I ran into Krogers to pick up a few items, and right when I walked in there was a huge display of fresh blueberries.  Of course I picked up a container of them.  They always remind me of summer back home.  My brother and I would be sent out to pick blueberries, however we would eat more then we were supposed to.  My mother would ask us if we were eating them and like little clueless kids, we replied "no."  Now looking back maybe we should have realized that our mouths had turned blue.

I came home and made cream of wheat with fresh blueberries and bananas. I always add a litlle almond extract to my hot cereals because I like the smell and flavor.

I have not been running for the last few days because I have a lingering pain in my calf.  I have been cross training at the gym instead.  I just joined LA FITNESS, which just opened.  I love the pool, and sauna.

 

I'm sure it is cold where you are so I included some cold weather humor:

I love funny quotes especially when I grew up near Lake Erie.  It was so cold growing up that when you went outside your nostrils would freeze together.  The Army introduced me to the mild winters, so I decided to stay south.  I physically cannot handle the cold anymore, my body shuts down so fast because of Raynauds phenomenon.  

With the New Year behind us, I made a few decisions to not drink soda or alcohol.  I am trying to cut down on sugar, notice I said cut down, because I would not be honest if I said I was stopping all together.  I have been eating a lot healthier then I have in awhile.  It is not easy to do the healthy thing, with all the unhealthy options available, it is about self control.  I have not eaten fast food in months. If I am going to eat away from the house, I always make sure there are healthy options available. 

How cold is it where you are?  It is twenty five degrees here.

Would you move for weather purposes? 

How are you doing with your goals?  I am on track feeling pretty good

 

Back to School tomorrow!!!!

Although he is very well behaved, Zachary heads back to school tomorrow.  He is very low maintenance but I like being able to do the things that I like to do without worrying I am taking time away from him.  Plus his new XBOX is hooked up to the TV I do PIYO on.

My running has improved so much over the last month.  I have reached my goal to get back to where I was before I got injured.  It has been a long road, but I am pleased at the results.  This morning I got out the door early for a nine mile run.  I am amazed how yesterday I was running in shorts and a tank top and today I had to wear winter gear.  

This blog is covering two days, as I forgot to post it yesterday.  It was not that I was too busy because one of my goals was to start going to bed earlier and waking up earlier which has really been awesome.  I just forgot.  

So I had another great run, spent an extra day with Zachary, and just enjoyed being happy.  

A few quotes,

For so long, I sat around feeling sorry for myself, contemplating if life was worth living.  I did this because I thought that a person other than myself was responsible for my existence.  After several years of thinking like this, I finally realized that only I could make myself happy.  It was not easy to let go 

of what was holding me hostage but I had to in order to see that there was a life worth living.  I still have sad moments but I know how to handle them.  I guess I owe a huge thank you to the person who I held onto for so long.  Without that experience I would not be so strong today.  I am a believer in "what doesn't kill us only makes us stronger."  Enough with the sad things. 

I am really looking forward to a great race season.  I feel like all the hard work has finally paid off.  Running is my way of lettting go of negativity, I leave it out there with the miles.  

What I  have to work on now is comparision.  I am always comparing myself to others.  Whether I am comparing running times, or how to be a better mother.  I need to accept that I do the best that I can.

I guess being a perfectionist has its downside.  

Do you compare yourself to others?

Are you glad that school is back in?  I AM

What makes you happy?

Race #1 success and wet

Hill and Dale 8 miler...
Started out feeling really good, great pace, rain was not bothering me at all.  It was a balmy 70 degrees outside. I had a lightweight jacket on which two miles in had to come off, because it was so hot.  Where do you put an Aasics jacket so no one will steal it?  On top of a porta potty, seriously, I did that.  Since I was at the porta potty, made a quick pit stop, while the race was going.  Now I look back and think that if I had not made that decision I would have fared a little better in the placing. Then again at least I did not decide to go behind a small tree as seven hundred people were running by.  Whoever that lady was had ZERO class, maybe she thought she was cute.  It was one of the trashiest displays I have ever seen at a race. The hills were challenging, the puddles were challenging, however overall I really enjoyed myself.
The compliment of the day was "you are the best smelling runner I have ever come across."  I was honored at that statement.

Finished fourth in the female division!!!!!

Got home and took a well needed and deserved hot shower.  Went out to On The Border for dinner and had an awesome cactus margarita as a reward for a job well done!!!!!

Back to work tomorrow with a 12 mile run on the agenda. 

Let the hard work begin

HI have set my goals for 2015 and they are not going to be easy to achieve, however I am a hard worker and know that I can do it.  I have been taking it easy the last couple days, because I have been experiencing pain in my calf area.  I went to the doctor about it and they suggested that it could be a stress fracture, however being stubborn, I still continue to push past it.  Tomorrow is my first race of the year and I have my hopes set pretty high. It is a hilly course, hense, the name Hill and Dale, and I have struggled on hills.  Lately I have incorporated them into every run.

A couple months ago I started to cook from Julia Childs Mastering the Art of French Cooking.  It was going well, until I realized that Zachary was not enjoying the food AT ALL.  So I decided that it was not a good idea right now to continue with the project.  So I am currently looking for a cookbook that contains food that an eleven year old will actually eat. I already own Americas Test Kitchen Family Cookbook and am leaning towards that.  I need projects to keep me focused. Since I love to eat and cook this challenge seems to fit.

 

So far I have planned my races out until June 2015.  Along with these races I also have some smaller triathlons planned.

January 3, Hill and Dale 8 Miler - Tennessee

January 25, Rock and Roll Marathon New Orleans - Louisiana

February 14, Hot Chocolate 15K - Tennessee

March 1, Little Rock  Marathon - Arkansas

March 15 Germantown half marathon -Tennessee

March 28 Whispering Woods half marathon - Mississippi

April 18 Ouachita Trail 50K - Arkansas

April 25 Country Music Marathon - Tennessee

May still looking

June 7, Navy ten miler - Tennessee

Well have a great day and I will post after my race tomorrow

Have you planned your runs for the year?

Have you ever cooked through an entire cookbook?

Happy New Year!!!!

I hope everyone had a safe and happy arrival of the New Year.  Unfortunately I fell asleep.  From what I was told it sounded like a war zone outside the house, and  I slept right through it.

I spent most of the morning getting my race schedule planned for 2015.  It also marks the official start of my ambassadorship with NUUN!!!  This is my favorite flavor tri berry.

December was a great running month I increased my mileage significantly with 181 miles.  I am going to keep track of all my miles in 2015 and am setting a personal goal of 2500, which is totally attainable.

My first race is on January 3, 2015, it is an eight mile hilly run.  I am looking forward to it!!!!  My next run after that one is in New Orleans on January 25, 2015 a full marathon, I have never been to New Orleans so I am very excited.

I was going to cook a traditional New Years good luck dinner, however, I am sick to my stomach today.

Sad news about the guinea pig, it passed yesterday, we cried a little, but know it is not suffering anymore.  This is the third one to die on us.

I am really looking forward to reaching many personal bests this year running. I plan on staying out of the hospital, I plan on finding happiness every day.  I am going to work on my blog, no body ever comments on it, so I am not sure if anyone is reading it, or if anyone actually likes it.

Enjoy your New Year!!!