Our Light Was On!

After work I had a great 20 minute massage, deep tissue, and much needed. It was a good pain, if you know what I mean. I left feeling refreshed and relaxed. Afterward, I was on to the house to make some dinner and wait for the kiddos.

When I walked up to the door I saw our beautiful little pumpkin all lit up.

Hubby and I decided to stay home and hand out treats to the trick-or-treaters and we were the ONLY ones with the lights on, on our block. So we had TWO kids come to our house, now what do we do with all the leftover candy!!! Well at least dinner was fabulous:) We made some homemade pizza, well almost all homemade.

We bought a three pack pizza kit at Costco, and made it tonight. I think that homemade pizza is the perfect pre-race dinner. It has a well balanced amount of protein, complex carbs, fats and plenty of veggies. The kit comes with a whole wheat crust, and pizza sauce. I don't put cheese on mine because it hurts my tummy. So I made it a his and hers pizza. Half bbq chicken with tomatoes Annie's BBQ Sauce (I love this stuff!), red and yellow peppers. The other half was a chicken parm with mozz cheese, marinara, and chicken. It was yummy.. I wanted to eat it right off the rack! I added some salad to the side as well.

As you can see we need a pizza pan!

Well, we waited we watched the Food Network's Haunted Gingerbread House Challenge, so fun. We waited and waited...played with Bosco, and waited no luck with the kiddos, so now we have all of this candy in our house and I am leaving for the weekend I better hide it from the hubby...lol...

Our front door with NO kids...:(

Off to bed, a very early Halloween night. Hope it pays off tomorrow morning!

Freaky Friday!

Man this day has gone by so quick it's FREAKY, I am barely sitting down to blog.

Well let me do a mini recap on last night.

Got home and changed super fast because I went to a power yoga class at a new gym down the street. The class we an hour long and there were only about 6 of us so it was kind of like a private session. It was ok until these other women in the class started laughing, a little hard to hold poses and concentrate with all the noise. After we were done, I kinda wanted more...it was free I can't complain.

After yoga the hubby and I decided to stay home from study and spend some quality time with each other. We didn't know what to eat for dinner...so I decided to take a look through the cupboards and see what we had. I decided to finally try and make some tofu. I have had it in the fridge for a week now, and it was about time I gave it a try. I have had tofu before and I love it, but I have never cooked it myself. I just through in the sauce pan, added a little evoo and some seasoning salt(added a little too much because it was too salty). I added some Annie's BBQ sauce to the tofu and it tasted just fine. On the side I cooked up some brussel sprouts,hubby made organic mac and cheese, and some black eye peas. I know it was a weird combination but very filling.

This morning I got up at 5am, and was contemplating going to an hour spin class.It's my last day on my free 7 day past, so I thought what the heck I better go. The only reason I was thinking of not going was because I was worried that my legs would be too sore and that I would feel it during the race tomorrow. So I just did 40 minutes of the class and then some free weights and ab work out. I feel ok today, so I think that was the best move!

It was Halloween sofor bfast I made a bloddy mess!!! Here it is:

Because hubby and I are going to Memphis for Thanksgiving, I decided to find a local race there and run it. Hey why not race on vacation, it's what I love to do! I found a race on the 27th at 9am, it's called the Memphis Turkey Trot!!! So I could run and then stuff myself with goodies:) I hope it works out.

Well it's the night before my race, and Halloween so once again my plans are conflicted. For all YOU racers out there you must KNOW what I mean about sacrificing either Friday nights or Saturday nights for early long runs or long races. We got invited out to a couple parties, but I sadly had to decline because of my 4:30am wake up call!!! O' well I ll party at 9am tomorrow, when it's all over:) I will post result's on Sunday, because I want to spend as much time with Ray Hay as possible! Have a safe and Happy Halloween....the hubby and I will be at our house for the first time this Halloween so we can't wait to see all the trick or treaters!

How did she get there?

Didn't wake up till 7:15, apparently I needed more sleep then I thought. I had to be somewhere at 8 so I literally through on my running gear (which is a lot these days) and rushed out the door. At the beginning of my run I felt great, then I started noticing some sharp pains in my back! I know that people always think that I should have back pains from running with big bobs(sorry to be so blunt) but I never have any back pain. I think that the spinning classes are causing my back pain, I made need to work on better form. Because I only 30 minutes to get some good running in, I tried to stay at 8min pace and the picked it up after the first mile. I had to run down hill for a mile, so we all know what that means, I had to run up hill on the way back. I live near the mountains so I can't get away from the hills!!!!

My Stats:
25min run
avg pace 8:20
max pace: 6:02
calories burned: 372

When I got home I did a good ten minuet ab work out:

50 crunches
100 bicycles
50 leg touches with feet in the air
50 leg touches side to side
1 minute plank

I had to run hubby to the car shop at 8 and then come home and make some bfast. I made the most Delicious bowl of oats ever!

Pumpkin/Cran Oats

1/2 c coaches oats
1/2 c hemp milk
1/2 c H2O
1/4 c pumpkin

1/4 c cranberries
1/2 banana
handful of pecans
handful of honey & flax granola
pinch of cinnamon & nutmeg
spoonful of pumpkin butter for sweetness

I just love the creamy texture of the pumpkin and banana in there. The tang of the cranberry sauce just made the whole thing perfect! I also had a cup of Joe of course, some people might love there bowls like Kath, but I love my coffee cups they all tell a story. Like this one, Mountain

Thunder Coffee Plantation is where hubby and I visited in Hawaii for our first anniversary.

Some of you asked about my journey to Boston and how long has it taken me to get where I am in my running today. Well let's just say I have been running sense I could walk...lol..

I started running on a club team when I was 11 and then I did cheer leading my freshman year of high school and missed running so much I quit and started the cross country team my sophomore year. I ran varsity cross country my junior and senior year(but I my PR in highschool for 3 miles was 20min), along with water polo and track, I hated track though I am a long distance runner all the way. After high school I went to college and just kept being really active but not too much into running until my Senior year of college when I trained for the St. Jude Marathon in Memphis TN. I trained poorly but I got out there and did it anyway, I ran a 4:20, which was good for me at the time.

Then I had the worse case of major foot spurs, so I was forced to not run for almost a YEAR! I took up kickboxing and lost more weight then ever, apparently my body needed a change. It has only been a year now sense I have been serious about running, and health in general. I mean I have always loved both but now I am just passionate about them both so much. To get to Boston, I had a 3:30 training plan, and it worked!!! My qualifying time was 3:40, and I ran a 3:25 at St.George. It's funny how both of the marathons I have run start with St!!!

Here is the link to my first blog post, and the reason I started this blog.....

http://nhershoes.blogspot.com/2008_06_18_archive.html

Here is the link to my qualifying marathon, the run that got me to Boston....http://nhershoes.blogspot.com/2008_10_05_archive.html

I am going to Boston!

When I arrived at home this evening I received an exciting letter in the mail. MY BOSTON CONFIRMATION letter! I am going to Boston.!I am so excited, not only to run the race but as a History major I will just eat up all that Boston has to offer! I have friend named Christina who lives there and has graciously offered me and the hubby a place to stay. This is a huge relief for two reason, one being that it cost like a bazillion dollars to stay anywhere near downtown, and everything else is booked! I can't wait to see her too, we haven't seen each other in quite a while. I can't believe that I have actually qualified and will be training again in January, it's all hitting me now, and to top it off the Boston Marathon this year is on my BIRTHDAY April 20th, what a way to celebrate!

So today was a pretty nice day, lots of sunshine so no complaints here. I don't really post what I eat for lunch because it's about the same thing every day. I work with a few simple ingredients.
Romain salad mix,goat cheese,tomotoes, can of salmon, pine nuts, pita chips,pita bread hummus,carrots,apples, and some watermelon on occasion.


I don't eat all of this at one sitting but a combo of it throughout the week. So if I took pics they would all look the same:) My true passion is cooking dinner! I think I love the challenge and I love LOVE love the faces I get when hubby takes his first bite.




This year hubby and I didn't make it out to get a pumpkin, but my wonderful coworker Cheryl brought me back on from her classes Field trip to the pumpkin patch. He so cute, I shall name him Corbin:) I am hoping that when hubby gets home from softball we can carve him.







I skipped out on my women's group tonight, I need a night to myself. Some weeks just catch up on me all too fast, and I need some serenity, some peace and quite. So as soon as the hubby left, I turned up the Boss System and played some Run Kid Run and cleaned up a little, and then turned it down to some Frankie for cooking music and a glass of wine. I am currently waiting for dinner to be done, I will post pics in the morning. I am making a Chicken Green bean and Mushroom type casserole, with Alexis Red Potatoes.

I will have it on my new plate I got along with the bowl at Marshalls, only $2 and it's my favorite color!


























I will have to add it to my chest of dishes....






















Tomorrow I have high hopes on running an hour run, and doing some free weights/ab workout. I want to get up nice and early, but it's so dark outside right now so I might have to wait till the light comes out. I can't wait for the time change!!! Three more days...

Hubby and I are headed to Memphis for Turkey Day this year. I wasn't too excited because the weather isn't the best out there, 30 degree temps are not my fave. But it will be nice to see my sister in law,and the parents. I am also excited to get some great food there too like O'Charlies, McCalisters, and the best Thai food place ever! Some background in case you don't know hubby and I met in Memphis TN, where I went to college and then he moved back to California with me when we got married, what a trooper. Seeing that I have four brothers and all, I missed them all sooo much! I love that I have a huge family, it makes me want to have 5 kids myself, but I am willing to wait a little while:)

Well I better go check on the food! Have a great night. Oh and by the way go Phillie's (this is for my friend Steph in Jersey).

New Plan & SkirtChasing Weekend!

WOW Tuesday was absolute madness! I was up at 5am, did a great spin/weight class and then I didn't' get home until 10pm last night! Needless to say I had no time to blog or catch up on my blogger reading.

This morning I decided to sleep in and wake up with out the alarm. My body is sore from this week already, and I needed to listen to it. I got up and watched the news for the weather this weekend, and saw that there is a major freeze over the south! I am praying for you all to be safe out there. I remember what it was like living in Memphis and having the roads shut down because of the ice, and also the ice on my windshield that I had to scrape off with a credit card..lol...It still is in the 90's here, and I think this weekend it should go down to the low 80's.

I wasn't in the mood to cook anything up this morning, my tummy has not been so nice to me this morning. So I just had a combo bowl of Fiber One Honey Cluster, and Kashi Almond and Flax, with a half of banana(wasn't worthy of a pic). Stomach just isn't back to normal. It might be because I had ice cream last night, which I haven't had in a very long time.

Well this morning I wanted to share with you all two things, a new plan that I want to start on, and the 5k Skirt Chaser Race I am doing this weekend.

First the Plan

I have decided that until January I am going to mix up my workouts a bit and do some major cross training. I want to do kickboxing,cycling,yoga,running, and weight training. Well there are only seven days in a week so I needed to get serious and jot down my goals. Here is the plan; Spin class, or ride twice a week, run at least twice a week, do a yoga class at least once a week(and one at home too), do weights at least twice a week(I would like to do it three times but I am trying to be realistic), and do akb(aerobic kickboxing) 3 times a week. I know this is a lot but I might have to pull some two a days, this is not unusual for me. I would love it if I was able to do a swim workout, but the gym I am looking at joining doesn't have a pool:( I am trying to lay out a schedule for the plan but until I join a gym I will not have times of all the classes so for now this is what I can do.

Mondays-AM Spinning, PM AKB
Tuesdays-AM Weights,PM AKB
Wednesdays-AM RUN
Thursdays-AM Weights/Run, PM AKB
Fridays-AM Spinning, PM Yoga
Saturdays-AM AKB, Softball
Sundays-AM off!( but not really,I have a 5k or 10k every other Sunday this month), PM Softball

So I am setting high goals but once I have a gym membership I will know exactly what days I want to do what. I need to have a plan otherwise I don't like thinking I can just sleep in and do my workout later, I need to get up early and have a purpose! I have 4 races either 5k,10k, or 15k's between now and December. I also have one Tri in December that I want to PR at!

Skirt Chaser 5K presented by SkirtSports

When I heard about this race, I got so excited! I love the theme and idea. Every women participant gets a running skirt, or if you buy a larger package you get even more! You know me and my running skirts, I just love them! At the race the women get to take off three minutes before the guys and the point is for them to chase us down:) I think it's cute! The Winner Snags $500!Regardless of gender, the first person across the line takes home the grand prize! Ok I know there are going to be a lot of fast people going out there for that prize but I am thinking I would really like that GRAND PRIZE, I am going for it! I am going to try and break 19minute 5k time! The course is pretty flat so it might be possible. I know that I am not half as fast as a lot of men out there, but I think I have a pretty good chance with a three minuet lead...lol...well we shall see.

Sense the race is out in LA, I am going to make a weekend out of it. Rachel and I will go down on Saturday morning early, the race starts at 8am and it takes about an hour and a half to get there. Then after the race they will have a block party for us to go to, should be fun times, and then we shall go to WHOLE FOODS MARKET! They have one only ten minutes from the race, I am so excited, I have been wanting to go for so long. I feel like a kid who is excited about going into a toy store for the first time, I know it's silly but so true. Then after some shopping I am going to meet up with my other friend Ray Hay and hang out for the night. She lives in Marina Del Ray, she moved here from Memphis. I am excited to see her and catch up on life. So the race has turned into a girls getaway weekend, I love it!

Well I am off to take on the world, or maybe just my students..lol..have a Happy Hump Day!

It's about time I had some coconut oats!

This is going to be a quick post, I will blog later about my spin class this morning and the weekend RACE coming up:)

I was so torn on what to have for bfast this morning so I went for a little bit of everything! I wanted oatmeal(because I got a new bowl at Marshall's yesterday for 2 bucks!) and I have had this pack of organic coconut flakes in the cupboard forever, I have been dying to try them in my oats!

The Combo:

1/2 c Coaches Oats
1/2 c hemp milk

1/4 c H2O

1/4 c pumpkin

handful homemade pecan honey granola
handful of almonds
spoonful of pumpkin butter for sweetness
handful of flax seed
handful of COCONUT!

cinnamon

Loved all the different textures, I think I will have to try a bowl of coconut and banana oats!

Well I am off for the day, I will be back later for details about the upcoming race this weekend!

Make a difference Mondays!

Spin class rocked this morning! I wore my hear rat monitor so I was able to see how hard I needed to push myself. My legs burned, and I have never sweat that much in a spin class!

Here are my statistics:

• Duration: 45:00 minutes
• Average Heart Rate: 150 bpm
• Maximum Heart Rate: 196bpm
  
  26 year old target heart rate:
  98–166 beats per minute 50%-85%
  195 beats per minute 90%-100%

I came home and made a large bowl of Cranberry Oats!

I want to stop and take a break from my normal posts about food and exercise and talk about Make a Difference Mondays! My local radio station always does this thing on air where they talk about doing something big or small for someone else on Mondays, just because. This could be anything for buying the person behind you in line at Sbux a coffee, or even paying for a strangers dinner bill. Mondays are rough for a lot of people and they don't need to be. My challange to you readers and myslf is to pass the torch of love on to others. Being intentional about making a difference every day, but thinking about it every Monday. I would love us to share our Monday stories with one another! How can you make a difference in someones life today, how have you made a difference?

Face Behind the Counter
The face behind the counter
paints a portrait very clear
This life which God created
Has real hopes, real hurts, and fears
Will I take a moment
From the pressing day ahead
And listen to my spirit
To serve a soul that might need fed
I see within their eyes
The need for something true
Will I let them see my faith
By what I say and do
Can I spare a tiny piece
From life's giant block of time
Will I take these seconds given
And from my own world, choose to climb
A chance to be a blessing
A chance to show some grace
With hope, they just might see
A glimpse of God's face.
-Doug Cox

Sunday Softball and Stuff

We won our softball game!!! A wonderful way to end our weekend. I am starting to kinda like the sport...well kinda. I love that hubby and I get to do it together, it's quality time for sure.

This afternoon after Church, I got to plan my week of events,meals and exercise plan. On Sundays I like to sit outside,(because it's so nice in sunny So CAL) with three things;

#1 The laptop to update my google calender, and find some new recipes

#2 My big planner that I have to write everything in, grocery list, meals, every moment of every day(hey we only have 24 hours in a day I want to make the best of them, don't judge me..lol)

#3 My Rachel Ray and Cooking light magazines for inspiration.

While I was outside I had my turkey sub from Subway, with all the veggies and I added cranberry sauce to the top. I had some frozen mango in the freezer that I have been dying to eat as well, very nice and simple lunch.

After I was done planning the week, I was starving and couldn't figure out what to eat so I munched on some leftover cornbread with a drizzle of honey, not the best snack but it filled me for the moment. I need to get my hands busy so I strapped on the Ipod, and cleaned up the house a little bit, then practiced some of my kickboxing routine. There are a few new moves I wanted to add, and I am changing up the music.

For dinner hubby and I had Chicken Parm which I made yesterday when I made my BSI recipe, it was so nice to have dinner already prepared. I made whole wheat pasta for the hubby and I put my chicken on a bed of fresh asparagus cooked with olive oil, garlic, and a little lemon juice. I also cut up a whole wheat baguette that I have been meaning to prepare, and served it with some balsamic vinegar and light Swiss cheese(love laughing cow soooo much). I also had one glass of Merlot, I love red wine with Italian food it's so perfect reminds me of Italy every time. I think softball is one of the only sports I can eat a big meal and wine right before I go and play..haha..

I ADORE my Rachel Ray Cook Wear I got from Hubby last year for my Bday:)

Tonight after our game, one of the girls on the team was celebrating a birthday so they gave us the most amazing brownies ever. First I said no thank you, I was just planning on nibbling on hubby's and then I tasted it and caved in! It was so Delicious, it was the moistest brownie I have ever had in my life. It had chocolate morsels on top with melted carmel...mmmm...I stopped at two big bites in fear that I would have a sugar high. It was hard though.

Well off to bed I have a spin/weight class at 6am tomorrow. Goodnight everyone!

Costumes and Cranberries!

We had such a fun time last night! Hubby and I got all dressed up and headed to the Bowie's for a fantastic costume party. Hubby and I have not been to a Halloween party sense we have been married. Personally I don't ever really get dressed up for Halloween unless there is a part to go to. We decided to be Zeus and Aphrodite, yes Aphrodite is Zeus' daughter and the goddess of love and beauty..lol...They were cute and simple costumes:)

The party was elaborately decorated, they went all out! There were spider webs everywhere, candles, lights, music...and of course there was food on every table. We started with some appetizers, the table was covered with every dip possible. Spinach dip, artichoke dip, cheese dip, and guacamole, I was in heaven! I love all of these so I just put a spoonful of them all on my little plate with some wheat thins and had my own little taste test. I ended up picking at the table through the night:)

Then dinner was served, lots of chilli, cornbread (we brought some), and salads. I had a piece of our cornbread topped with a delicious bowl of chilliwith all sorts of beans in it. I also grabbed a little cranberry salad, and a spoonful of a mac and cheese casserole. Everything was wonderful and so filling. O' ya they also had a nice little variety of drinks. I started off with a glass of white wine that was very sweet and yummy. I ended up having two glasses, I was proud of myself for not over doing it.

We sat around and talked with old friends I went to high school with, that I never got to hang out with. They were the "cool kids" in high school, they were some funny peeps! I don't think I have laughed that hard in a long time, man I love stories about the good Ole' days! After dinner, hubby and I headed to the candy bar and the dessert bar.

They were so cute! I wish I would have thought about this for my wedding. I grabbed an pumpkin bar(which I found out later was light, so I went back forseconds) and a piece of coffee cake but I didn't finish it, not a big fan of cake. We got some great pics of the evening I hope you enjoy!

This morning I woke up and I was refreshed, no FOOD hangover! Man after all the junk I ate I thought I would be filling it this morning, but nope feeling great! I decided to use the cranberry sauce I made for yesterdays chicken, in a bowl of oats. I also added some fresh apple cider, the combination was perfect!

Cranberry Oats

Combo:

1/2 c oats
1/4 c H2O
1/2 c vanilla hempmilk
1/2 banana
1/4 cup homemade cranberry sauce (warm this up separately)
1/4 cup apple cider
a little Honest foods Blueberry Vanilla Almond granola plank
handful of pecans
handful of flax seeds
drizzle of honey on top
dash of cinnamon

I loved the flavors and the aroma it was the perfect treat for this beautiful Sunday morning.

I am letting the hubby sleep in while I clean a little more. We are teaching the 3 and four year old Sunday school class so he needs all the rest he can get:) I hope you all have a beautiful Sunday, rest and recuperate before the week! I have kickboxing and a softball game tonight so I will have to rest this afternoon:) Have a good one!