Welcome Lily Dawn & Next Weeks Training Routine

First time holding my sweet niece, Lily Dawn. 

My sissy, Ashley and her sweet baby girl. 

This weeks routine:

Monday - Wednesday (no girlies til Thursday morning)

5:30-6:00: yoga

6:00-6:30: HIIT workout

6:30-7:40: run!!!! 

Thursday

5:30-6:00: yoga

6:00-6:30: HIIT workout

7:10-8:00: run!!!!

Friday

5:30-6:00: yoga

6:00-6:30: HIIT workout

7:10-8:00: spinning

Saturday

12 mile run

I did manage to get 8 miles in today, on no sleep and trips to and from the hospital. :)

Today I'm Going to Be an Auntie!

My sister is having a baby today! We are sitting in the waiting room as I type this, waiting for her arrival! 

Yesterday Ashley started having contractions very regularly. We met her at the hospital and walked the hospital for awhile. 

(Isn't she the most gorgeous pregnant momma you've ever seen.) She was checked again and sent home for awhile. 

Later in the night, she was admitted. 

After a jacuzzi bath her water finally broke and she was on her way. After hours of labor she still looks incredible. 

And finally it's time to push!!!

And now we wait!!!!

Back in Routine :)

5:00a: PERFECT way to start any day

5:30a: Yoga

6:30a: Breakfast with my babies, they are leaving for 5 day, sad day...

7:00a: Run!!

8:00a: Angry at Ms Kimbo, this is the SECOND ONE she has eaten... Grr. 

Off to work, which was crazy busy. :) Lunch with Bill, which was nice. And tonight, and evening out with friends. Woot!

What is this? A funk?

I don't know what I would call this week... A funk? I've been barely running, primarily doing yoga, eating like shit and cranky... 

I've been trying to remedy my issue. Things have been difficult at home. Is that it? My morning routine was upset three times this week with two morning events at the girls' school and one morning my mom was in town... Is that it? Poor scheduling? Am I burnt out with all the running? No way!! Well no more excuses lady. Tomorrow morning my routine is set, my overnight oats are currently prepping in the fridge and I'm ready to get over this shitty little hump. And I know when I bust through it, I'll be so thankful. 

On an up-note my daughter was Mars in a play at her school. 

Where I brought these fun cupcakes!

And today, my co-workers got me a great card and a box of wine for Social Worker Appreciation Month. And I got an email from a different co-worker that meant a lot to me! THEN, when I got home from work I got ANOTHER super sweet thank you card from the girls' nanny with gift cards for a date night, for making her feel like family (I just love that girl). 

Where did the week go?

What a whirlwind of a week and this weekend was a great end to it.

Saturday I had my long run and the girls had a breakfast date with their great-grandparents. So we met early and it was chilly out at 31 degrees. After the girls returned and we got home from running some errands for work the girls had a birthday slumber party at the neighbor girls'. So Bill and I headed out for a bike ride, although it was still pretty chilly out at 45 degrees. Thank goodness for my Mizuno heat pullover, that thing is so comfy and yet so warm. Got home and pulled on my compression socks and rock taped my back and foot. My foot still ended up pretty sore. Wore my Mizunos all weekend and that seemed to help. 

Today, the girls came home around 7:30... Which meant no long snuggly Sunday morning. Instead I cleaned house and prepped my sprouts for this week and my Overnight Oats for tomorrow. And then did some yoga to stretch my back, Kimbo joined in as well but fell asleep at the end during the meditation. 

Then after Bill was up and around, I talked him to joining me for a walk. When we returned we did a ton of yard work. Which was much needed. I will get this horribly, poorly maintained yard taken care of this year, one flower bed at a time! Today I raked all the leaves and trimmed the bushes in two of the front beds and planted flowers along the house and on the porch.

Then we took the girlies out for Spot On (their fav) and stopped off at Home Depot (their least fav). Did I mention I got flowers on Thursday? They look amazing today. 

Off to a better start...

Did not hit that dang snooze button this morning. So got my run in early this morning. :) hurray! Getting it done early, leaves me to get all my morning chores done and not put a rush on the girlies. Everyone wins. :)

Tonight was a terrific little bike ride after work with Bill and the kiddos. :) terrific. 

Snooze Button Addict

Since the time change, my snooze button & I have entered into very serious relationship...

That damn snooze button promises me 8 more minutes of sleeping, over and over and over......... Does it make me feel more rested? No. Do I get my running in? No. Then, like tonight, I have to make those miles up, I have a marathon to train for. I'm 10 weeks out from the marathon. Ten weeks. So I'm sorry Snooze Button, I'm breaking up with you. 

Chocolate Cake Cookies

1 pkg chocolate cake mix
1 egg
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 tablespoons Hersey's chocolate syrup
1 1/2 cups m&m's

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl combine egg, butter, and syrup, and cake mix with and electric mixer on low speed until thoroughly mixed. Add m&m's. Drop rounded tablespoons onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. Cool on wire racks. 

Both Bill and the girlies loved them!!!

Grilled Romaine Lettuce

If you have never grilled lettuce, you are missing out!

You take a head of romaine lettuce and cut it in half lengthwise. Lay it face up on the grill, drizzle lightly with extra virgin olive oil (then I sprinkle with Johnny's salt). Grill each side for 2 or 3 minutes. It's sooo simple, yet sooo good. 

Planted my seedlings for my garden tonight too! Woo hoo!

Wine Fest with my Sexy Husband

Had a great time with my Honey at a wine tasting Saturday night. My co-workers were there, and it was so nice to just all dressed up and hang out for the night. Bill is always the funniest person to do things with, his relaxed disposition and easy-going attitude makes anything and everything a good time. I'm so very thankful to have him. 

Good Day All in All

Pretty good little day. :) Had a rough nights sleep, which is my way of saying I didn't run or lift this morning. So after getting the girls off to school, I went downstairs to check out the girls' doors, to keep the dog out... AND IN THE YARD, WAS THE VACUUM... What the hell kind of dog takes your vacuum outside???? Yeah, you read that right, not a shoe, not a stuffed animal or food scraps, NO the whole damn handheld vacuum... wtf? So far we have lost three pairs of children's running shoes, two toy bins, MY FOAM ROLLER (which by the way is my ONLY effective relief for my back hurting), a pile of magazines, two books, a children's tent... I mean seriously? What is wrong with this dog? And she's so stinking cute that it's impossible to get too pissed at her (well minus the foam roller day, that was to much, too much). So today, I decided, THAT'S IT! THAT DOG GOES OUTSIDE WHEN WE AREN'T HOME. Only to get a text this afternoon from the girls' nanny that said this "I am with the girls. Also when I got here Kimbo was out in the front yard". You win Kimbo... You win.

Work was mostly meetings today, I got caught up on a few things to prepare for no working tomorrow to go with Bill to the Tri-Cities. Was supposed to have lunch with a girlfriend, but it didn't workout, so instead did some tanning on this super white body, my sissy always says "tan fat is sexier than white fat".

Then I left work at four to go for an AMAZING run in the sunshine. I went from running last week in three layers to being too warm in a long sleeved burn out tee... Whoa. It felt sooo good. AND THEN, when I got home, BILL WANTED TO GO FOR A BIKE RIDE with the kiddos. Who's winning today? This girl.

We came home afterward and made the fam some Baked Ziti, getting the thumbs up on the new recipie from both Bill and the girlies, and made myself some Miracle Noodles with crab and italian dressing, yum.

So yeah, good day all in all. Plus, tomorrow I'm taking a personal day from work, getting a long run in in the morning and going shopping while Bill is in his training, may just need some new running gear... Need? Want? Same thing...

Feel Good Moments

There are days at my job that I feel very fulfilled, very appreciated and remind me of all the reasons I love to work in long term care. One of the big reasons being the person that a family can turn to in a very painful time in their life, such as facing that they are in fact going to lose their loved one. Many people view working in rehabilitation/long term care/nursing home settings as a very depressing thought. You'd be amazed the happiness that I feel.

Today I had two amazingly "feel good moments". One, receiving a card from a son thanking me for allowing him to trust again. What an amazing thing to have someone say to you.

The second moment, when sitting with a man in tears after bad news, he reaches out for my hand and says "Thank you for being here, I'm scared". At that moment, I'm reminded of why I love my job, why I love this population of people and why all the crappy things that come with my job are worth it. 

And sometimes I need to take a moment and soak up the feel good moments. :) 

Family Fun Day & Quinoa Salad

Good little Saturday with a nice bike ride with the hubby and kiddos. 

Lunch at one of my favorite lunch places following the bike ride. A visit from my mom and Aunt, which was nice. Then, because we are going to LaGrande to visit Bills family tomorrow, I did our grocery shopping tonight. Bill and the kids went to Spot On while I shopped. 

Tonight I made my lunches for the week and decided on Quinoa Salad, because it's delicious hot or cold and because it smells great to make.

1 t extra virgin olive oil

1 finely chopped onion

3T diced garlic

3/4c uncooked quinoa

1/2c organic vegetable broth

1t cumin

1/4t cayenne pepper

Salt & Pepper

1 can corn (I prefer Costco's organic)

2 cans black beans (I prefer Costco's organic)

10 cherry tomatoes, halved

1/2c chopped cilantro

Sauté onion in oil. Add garlic. Stop, breathe in and enjoy the smell. Add quinoa, broth, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt & pepper and bring to boil. Simmer about 10 minutes. Add corn, black beans tomatoes & cilantro. Allow to simmer until thickened. (Makes 4 servings, 279 calories per serving.)

Focused on the Fam

This morning the girls had a parent's reading with their kids event at the school. (Unfortunately, only Haili's teacher does Facebook, so I don't have a pic of us with Graci). It was really nice though being able to do that with them both. 

Tonight, the girls and I made calazones. The girls LOVE making these because it's so super easy and they can each make their own. 

Time with my girlies was just what I needed today. 

Today was a rest day, so back at it tomorrow, hopefully not heavy rain, I'd like to get back outside. 

Self Talk

Me this morning, speaking to me. 

Me: ohhhh I am sooo tired, I should take a rest day

Me: your running schedule says you need to run today

Me: yeah, but you ran a long run yesterday, you should rest those legs

Me: uhh, self, you ran long yesterday because you skipped your weekend run, you made it up

Me: I still need a rest day

Me: too damn bad, lazy bones

Me: maybe a short run?

Me: no!

Me: ugh... *loud exaggerated sigh*

Me: run sprints, you'll be done fast and get in all your miles...

Me: fine. 

And so today, was sprints!

Work was really pretty good today, got a lot done, and busy all day so it flew by. There are days like this that I just feel totally on point and effective at work. 

Tonight is swimming lessons with my girls. Love these ladies. :) 

(New school pics!)

Long Run Monday!!!

You know that you talk too much about your running schedule when your alarm goes off at 4:30am and you lean over and hit snooze, and your husband so sweetly says "honey, you have a long run this morning". And that's what I did.  

This morning I was thinking a lot about my quickly approaching races & goals that I have set for them. These next few weeks are the most difficult to stay on track for and the real key to my training for this year.

So after a totally focused day, eating exactly as planned, I made a giant plate of vegetables, now when I say "giant plate of vegetables", I mean that literally. In my food processor, I put in a whole yam, a shallot, and a whole head of broccoli and diced them all up. Put them in a pan and topped with some fat free mozzarella cheese. Top this pile of healthy off with some hot sauce and YUM. Big yum.

Feeling super good about this week!!!

Home Grown Sprouts & Stuffed Zucchini

Sundays have become the day of meal planning, grocery shopping & food prep for the week to come. Made my menu for the week, made my shopping list for the items we needed for the week, then Bill and I went grocery shopping. Tonight on the menu was taco salad, which I'll spare you with a mediocre recipe, it was good, but not blog-worthy. :) 

The sprouts are done! So I'll walk you through the awesome process. 

The sprouts in the top left corner were started Wednesday, and were completely overflowing the jar today. I bought the sprouting lid on Amazon.com, but a cheesecloth will work just as well. So I took 1T of sprout seeds and put them into the bottom of a mason jar, filled with water and left them over night. The following morning you completely drain the seeds, rinse them well with room temperature water and drain, placing them upside down in a bowl, wrapped in a towel and left in a warm area. The seeds, that literally start sprouting the second day need to be rinsed, drained and put upside down in towel three times a day. Then tada Sprouts!!!!

Sprouts are a super food often overlooked when trying to improve health. Check out these websites:

http://sproutpeople.org/sprouts/nutrition/science/#broccolibrain

http://www.medindia.net/patients/lifestyleandwellness/sprouts-the-super-food.htm

Also pre-made my lunches for the week, baked Panko Chicken and Stuffed Zuccini. They smelled soooo yummy. 

The chicken is just dipped in egg and then Panko, then baked. 

Stuffed Zucchini 

Take two zucchinis, slice them length-wise, using a spoon scoop them out to make the zucchinis into little boats, placing the insides into a bowl. I added two spoonfuls of sun-dried tomatoes to the zucchini. Meanwhile, I sautéed a half an onion and five small peppers, then diced them up. Later mixed the zucchini mix to the onion mix, then filled the zucchinis with the veggies, then baked them for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Yum.