From The Kitchen - And Other Stuff

From The Kitchen:
I love the 15 Fast Ideas section of the Rachael Ray magazine.  Quick, easy recipes that taste great! 

This week I tried the Moroccan Spiced Pork Chops and they were a hit! 

 

Ingredients

• 3/4cup dried apricots, diced
• 2 tablespoons dried currants
• 1/4cup orange juice
• 4 thin bone-in pork chops
• 1 1/2teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 1/2tablespoons EVOO
• 3 scallions, sliced
• 1/4cup almonds, toasted and chopped

Directions

1. In small bowl, toss apricots, currants and orange juice. Sprinkle pork with cinnamon and cumin; season. In skillet, cook pork in 2 tbsp. EVOO over medium-high heat, turning once, 8 minutes. Stir scallions, almonds and remaining oil into apricot mixture; season. Spoon relish over pork.

Weekend Plans:
It's Relay For Life weekend!  Thankfully the sun is out and I'm excited to let Sky run around on the football field, she loves being free to just run around! 

Running Plans:
Need 8 miles this weekend.  Tentative plan is to do 3 at Relay tomorrow morning, then meet Elya for her last leg of Rainier to Ruston and do 5 with her.  However, we seem to be short of walkers for our Relay team.  So, if I end up filling in extra time slots I may just do all 8 at Relay.  8 miles on a track, while that will be a nice break for my body, my mind may not handle it as well.  We shall see how it all unfolds.  

Sky Pics:
A left-over camping pic that for some reason I didn't post. 

Sky loves her Auntie Shelle.  If you look close you can see Sky's first fat lip, left bottom corner.

 



 

She loves Mark's hats!

 

 

Have a great weekend whatever you plans are!  

Thankful Thursday

-I'm thankful it's Thursday!  Thursday's are non-running days which means I get to have wine with dinner Wednesday night and I get bacon and egg for breakfast Thursday morning.  Sky likes bacon and eggs so much I'm currently cooking a second egg and more bacon for her.

Thursday is also a day we usually don't have plans.  I don't mind if plans pop up, but I don't usually schedule anything for Thursday's, so we get to hang out at home and just chill. 

-It's not raining, this very minute anyway.

-The swimwear saga has ended!  I tell you it is hard to find a cute, not too revealing, not too covered up, Sky proof two piece that doesn't cost over $100!  Having curves doesn't help at all either! 

I ordered one from Athleta, sucked up and spent over $100 on it thinking more money would mean better fit...wrong!  Sent it back.  Then decided to go the bargain basement route and went to Marshalls and got a one piece, but hated it when I tried it on again at home so took it back.

At this point I was pissed off and decide I just won't ever swim again.  But, then I got an email from JCP about their current sale and after looking through the swimwear options found several on line that I liked, so went in yesterday tried them on and ended up with this...

 

 

The top is a new line, at least it's new to me, Zero Exposure.  Cute, a little sexy, but no chance of anything popping out that shouldn't.  The swim skirt is so dang cute on!  It's an Ana bottom, but the two look really good together.  Best part is...$44 for both!  My #1 concern is holding Sky/playing with her in the pool and her inadvertently grabbing my top and yanking.  I love the cute little bikini of years past, but it just doesn't work with a 2 year old climbing all over you. 

 

-I'm also thankful that I got such a good deal on the swimwear that I was able to get this cute little purse for summer travel for only $9.97!

 

 

Super simple black and white shinny fabric that is easy to clean with a damp cloth.  I don't need another purse in the least, and have some lovely ones that have been given to me.  But I don't like camping/traveling with my Coach or L.A.M.B. purses.  They are too nice and cost too much to ruin with campfire smell/ending up on the truck floor when road tripping etc.  So, this lovely little find could not be passed up.  It will be perfect for Utah! 

 

Best part is, one thing I look for in a purse is fun, contrasting fabric on the inside...

 



...black with hot pink for $9.97?!  SOLD!  Thank you Dad for the spending $$!  (Not done yet, waiting for the Athleta refund, and plan on getting some new summer running tops!)

 

-Super thankful to find out yesterday that Dad and Val will be here for my 2nd 1/2, which incidentally is the one I'm most worried about.  Knowing I have family and friends along the way/at the finis is what will keep me going! 

 

-Also thankful for crockpot meals!  I LOVE to cook, but sometimes just want something easy with minimal effort!

 

 

What are you thankful for today? 

 

 

 

 

 

Blister Remedy!!!!!

Before I get to the blister remedy I know a good number of readers only really care about Sky pics...

...so here you go.  I was in the bathroom and could hear her crying and pissed off, but didn't think much of it because she had been full of sass all day.  I didn't make any effort to hurry and finish in the bathroom, so felt kind of bad when I walked out and saw that she was stuck.  But, I didn't feel too bad because I took time to take a pic before helping her.  :)

Ok, on to the blister remedy...

...this spray is working like magic.  I spray it on, let it dry (it's still sticky/tacky) then sprinkle foot powder on my feet and put my socks on.  Sounds super easy right?  Wrong!!!!  The spry is so very sticky that it is like a wrestling match to pull my knee-high compression socks on.  They stick so bad to my foot that I work up a sweat just putting on my socks!  And, yes I know I could switch to low socks, but every time I do that my shins hate me, and I don't care for calf sleeves, so knee high compression it is. 

Do you have any idea how nice it is to run and not feel hot burning spots on my feet?!  It's nice, really nice, worth the sock wrestling match! 

Speaking of my feet...zero and I mean ZERO foot pain!  Given the fast pace last night and how tired my legs felt for the stroller run today I was a little surprised things were not flared up, but it's all good.  Actually I don't have any pain of any kind!  Muscle soreness and fatigue yes, but no pain! 

Pain free is a great place to be mid(ish) training cycle! 

And, to keep the Sky lovers happy here are a few more...

...swinging in her new rain jacket.  (she looks so grown up!)  Good thing we got her a rain jacket because we got caught in a major downpour walking home from the park...

 ...Sky and Mark in the rain, showing off how well her jacket works!  She was not amused. 

Running Update

-Running in the sand is really f'ing hard!  Even on wet sand it's still really f'ing hard!  Especially when wearing old running shoes, so the new ones don't get sand in them, then is even more f'ing hard! 

But, we did it, and thankfully the only time the entire trip it didn't rain was during our run. 

It was hard but don't we look cute after 6 miles? 

 

 

-Got 5 miles in tonight with the run group, and had a sub 9 minutes first mile.  This chick don't run sub 9...that is just crazy! 

 

After 5...we look happy to be done!

 

 

 

-I feel pretty great this time around.  By this point in the training cycle last year I was already having issues with my foot.  This time around I had issues to start with (different than last years issue), but know what to do to fix it!  I'm totally staying on top of all the potential issues with the foam roller and trigger point board.  I'm feeling pretty good so far! 

 

-Got these yellow compression socks to go with my yellow run club shirt.  Not an exact match, but good enough for me. 

 

Thank you Dad!

 

-The only big hitch in my Training/Half Fanatic/Running 3 1/2's plan is good news actually.  Elya is pregnant!  So, after 1/2 #1 in July she is done with the races.  She will still run, but won't be there for the long and or hot runs.  Oddly enough while we are both running See Jane, she is running with her friends and I'm running with Michelle, so we aren't actually planning on running that one together...the only one she is still going to be able to do.   

 

What the means for me #1 is while I'm excited and happy for her, I'm sad to miss out on all the time we were going to spend together training for #2 and #3.  I was really looking forward to all the "Elya" time this summer. 

 

#2 is means I will be running #2 and #3 alone.  Sad panda.  She has offered to cheer from the sidelines though, and to be at one of the water stations for 1/2 #2 since it's in August and I may very well need a 2nd pair of socks and shoes to make it through that one. 

 

The thing is I know I can run alone, I did it last year, and I will do it again this year, twice.  But, that doesn't mean I'm looking forward to the alone part.  Especially since each of the races have specific spots I know I'm going to struggle with and am going to wish I had someone suffering right there next to me. 

 

So if anyone wants to run Tacoma Narrows 8/3 or the Soldier Run in GH 9/29 let me know!  Even if you only want to jump in for a few miles (especially the over the narrows bridge miles) let me know!  I would love the company!!! 

 

-Stroller Group in the morning...these "back-to-back" runs are getting harder and hard the further and faster we run Tuesday night!

 

 

 









Perfect Morning

What's not perfect, coming home early from camping. 

Waking Daddy up from his nap.

We left yesterday afternoon due to truck issues.  As in driving down the road it just shut off.  Mark worked on it, got it running and we figured we had better get home while we could.  The Beckham's left early as well so make sure we made it back.  

Bonus was they still came over to the house last night to make the dinner they were going to make in camp!  It kinda felt like the last night of camping, only with all the comforts of home!

What is perfect...it's 8:41 and I'm the only one awake!  I usually get Sky up at 7am, so I can keep her on her nap and bedtime schedule, but she didn't sleep hardly at all the night before, doesn't nap very well while we are camping, so I figured I would let her sleep while I enjoy my coffee and catch up on emails and reading the blogs I follow.  I LOVE mornings like this, getting time to myself before the house is awake, usually for that to happen I have to get up at 5 or 6, so this feels like such a luxury!

   The only way Sky really naps while we are camping is if we go for a drive. 

 

 

Happy Memorial Day!!!  

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for Camping!!!!  So is Sky! 

 
 

Mark had a crazy week at work, very not typical.  He never has to work late/weekends, but starting last Friday night he has been working late, worked all weekend, and getting up early to work some more.  Thankfully a lot of that happens from home since he can access everything from home.  It's still work though, so we are all looking forward to getting away. 

I'm also thankful that Sky checked out 100% healthy today at her 2 year well child visit.  She is healthy and too dang smart for my good! 

On the running front Michelle and I have a distraction for our 6 mile run this weekend...running on the beach.  Pretty sure it's going to be windy, wet, and cold, but it's something different and sand is pretty soft so our bodies will enjoy the break from pavement.  

It's funny to me that this is our long run for the week, yet I'm at a point that 6 miles isn't long anymore.  10 and above is what I "stress" about and to think when this running thing first started 3 miles seemed like a mountain I would never reach the summit of.  My how things have changed! 

Whatever your plans are for the weekend running or otherwise enjoy the long weekend, and take a moment to remember those that have given their life for our freedom. 

2 Year's Old!!!

I really can't believe we have a two year old!  Actually I can when she is throwing a fit, she has had a few epic ones to be sure. 

 

But, even with a touch of the terrible two's I love this little girl to pieces! 

 

I know I posted this one already, but it's so Sky!

 

Her little heart is so full of love!  Love for her family and friends, sports, being outside, playing non stop, her books, and her Oh Boy (Bishop).

 

She is fearless jumping off anything she can climb up on, walking the edge of the retaining wall, running as fast and far from us at the park as she possible can, trusting that no matter how high she is and how much enthusiasm she puts into it when she flings herself at us we will catch her. 

 

Determined (a nice word for stubborn!!!) to do things her way and in her own time (particularly potty training!!!)  I know every two year old is stubborn, but when you add in all that sass it's a challenging combination to be sure.  Hilarious sometimes, but challenging. 

 

I'm still in awe every day that this is my life.  We waited for what felt like such a long time for Sky to be part of our life that sometimes I look at her while she is playing and can hardly believe we have a little munchkin running around our house.  And not only that, but I get to be with her every day!  Not that I don't need a break now and then, but I wouldn't trade it!

 

I love living life through her eyes with all the joy and enthusiasm that she brings to whatever she does.  Every day is an adventure full of fun, smiles, laughter, mess, sassiness, hugs, kisses, high fives, pounds and love.  Lot's and lot's of love! 

 

I can't wait to see how she grows and changes in the year to come!

 

 

 

    

Grandpa and Grandma Visit!

Dad and Val took some time off to drive over and celebrate Sky's birthday with her!  She had a blast opening gifts, getting a whole summer wardrobe, playing and spending time with them! 

Bonus for me...Dad worked on my foot and it went from a 10 on the pain scale to a 2!!!  I can't tell you how relieved I am!  Plus he showed me what to do with the foam roller and the peg board to keep it under control! 

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! 

 

Dad and Sky at the park.

 

Sky LOVES her new slide!!!  I do too actually!

Reading the potty book to her for the millionth time! 

Wheeling around on the dog food bin.

Swinging like a big girl with Grandpa!  

Enjoying dinner time with Grandpa and Grandma! 

 

I'm so glad she got to spend time with Grandpa and Grandma.  She loves them so much and has so much fun playing and wrestling around! 

 

Thank you guys for helping to make her birthday special and getting her some pretty cool toys, books, and cloths! 

 

There are a ton more pics on Mark's camera.  When they are up I will post a link.  

Birthday Party!

It feels like we are celebrating Sky's birthday all week, and we kinda are.  By the time we catch up with everyone that wants to celebrate it we will be into next week already! 

Before I talk about her party I need to apologize to those that didn't get the Facebook invitation until the day of, or to those that never did get it.  I sent the event out through FB in an attempt to save money on postage, but found out (way to close to the party day to send snail mail invitations out) that it didn't go through to a lot of the people we invited.  I emailed and sent text's messages frantically to let people know they were invited. 

Let's jus say lesson learned...I will not be doing FB invitations again, next year good old paper invitations through the post office! 

Before we could even put a candle in the cupcake she had grabbed it and shoved it in her mouth.  Oh well, it is her birthday! 

  
There was so much fun stuff in the family gym at the Y!  Sky, and all the kids...and the adults for that matter, were able to run around like crazy and not be told no.  From balance beams, to rings, uneven bars, and a trampoline built into the floor, oh and the rope swing (that was a big hit) everyone had a blast!  I think the adults played harder than the kids did actually!

The party gang!

 



TGIF From The Kitchen

I am glad the week is over!  Mostly because we are ending with Sky uninjured and seemingly back to normal, for the most part, with her leg. 

It was dicey Thursday though.  I popped her elbow out again while playing.  She reacted, but not as badly as the first time (which resulted in an ER trip).  So after hair cuts, and lunch with Daddy we headed home and I called Gentry to see if he could take a look. 

He said all was well and to give her some ibuprofen.  It took a bit for her to realize her arm wasn't hurting as much and she could use it, but nothing like an enticing sandbox to play in to make her forget and use her arm to scoop sand into her bucket! 

I am so thankful I can just call Gentry when things are off with Sky.  For one I don't panic or worry about her health at all, I can always run things by Gentry before going to the Dr. 

Nothing worse than an almost 2 year old with more energy than her little body can contain, but because her foot or arm "huts" can't play and burn that energy off.  Fun for all to be sure.  :-/

She did get a birthday package today though.  While I was going to make her wait to open it she had other ideas and before I knew it had two gifts open and charging into the others. 

With her blinking cupcake necklace and hand-made slippers!  This was just a quick pic...I'll get better ones in the next few days.  The slippers are adorable and really well made! 

 

She also got some cute cloths, a really great animal lacing activity that will help with dexterity, and a rubber ball.  And, I got matching slippers, and a Target gift card!  Totally felt spoiled.  Thank you Uncle Randy and Aunt Nancy!!!  Should have seen the look of anger when I took the cloths to remove the tags...she was ticked.  Those are her outfits, and hers alone! 

 

 

From the Kitchen (and the living room and the deck) I have been enjoying reading this cookbook! 

 

 

 

 

Christine won Master Chef season 3 (big competition with really hard challenges) and guess what...she is blind!  Her story is inspiring, her food is amazing, and the cookbook is beautiful! 

 

There is a personal story to go with every single recipe and the photo's are just lovely.  I literally read it like it was a novel, and am so excited to start using some of the recipes.  It's one of the few cookbooks I have that I can say out of the entire book there are maybe 3 recipes that I have zero interest or desire in making.   

 

I really want to lock myself in the kitchen and cook 8 hours a day for a week until I have made everything in the book, it's that good! 

 

I can't really lock myself in the kitchen though...for one thing it doesn't have any doors, and I have training runs, Sky's birthday party, and family visiting so the new recipes will have to wait a bit.

 

5 miles in the early morning.  Giving 5 mile drive a go.  I haven't run it in a really long time, but have a 12K coming up there in a couple weeks so am taking it on in the morning with Michelle. 

 

Have a great weekend and happy running!    



Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for the advice I received from the stroller ladies yesterday...to put Sky's pj's on backwards. 

It worked!  Diaper stayed on and I didn't have to strip the crib and do pee soaked laundry! 

Backwards PJ's.

 

 

I'm also thankful for the cute adorable moments that more than make the frustrating ones worth it! 

 

Seriously, left her for all of 30 seconds and somehow sitting on the table with her shoes on is how it's done.  But, with that smile it makes it hard to get mad!  Cute, adorable and frustrating all at the same time! 

 

I know it's a crap pic, she is so far away you can't even see her, but she is in Daddy's chair with books in her lap reading them.  I love that she loves books!

 

When cute and adorable isn't making it better...Margarita's will!  Trader Joe's margarita mix...the BOMB!!!!



Scratching My Head...

...and no I don't have lice. 

Things I can't figure out:

1.  This whole potty training thing! 
 2nd morning this week I have had to strip the crib and wash everything because Sky took her diaper off in the middle of the night and peed freely in the crib. 

She hates her diapers, hates them.  Kicks and fights every time she needs to be changed.  Yet, no matter how long she sits on the potty and no matter how badly she wants an m&m she will not go potty in the big girl potty. 

Drastic measures tonight folks.  I'm putty her diaper on backwards, maybe she won't find the tabs to pull it off that way, and I'm cutting the feet off her footed pj's so I can put them on backwards as well and zip her into them.  No way she will figure out how to unzip them backwards! 

2.  Running logic! 

I think whoever made up negative splits and caused runners to strive for that has it all wrong.  It really doesn't make any sense.  The longer you run, and the more tired you are you should start running slower, not faster!  Really - oh man I'm tired, my legs hurt, I feel like I'm going to pass out, but must run each mile faster than the one before so I have negative splits.  Whatever. 

At least that's what I'm telling myself after seeing the splits for last night and this mornings runs!  Both would be perfect if they were backwards!  Not to mention it was only a 4 miler last night, should be manageable right?!  Oh well.  Ultimately I just want to finish my first 1/2 and have fun with Michelle while doing it, so the splits don't really matter.   

Last night:

Miles - Pace

1	-  9:09.4	1.00
2  -	9:37.1	1.00
3	- 10:03.2	1.00
4	- 10:04.3	1.00

This Morning: 

Miles - Pace

1 -	11:04.3	1.00
2 -	11:18.0	1.00
3 -	11:29.9	1.00

Last Day of Play To Learn :(

We are a little sad around here because Play To Learn has ended for the summer.  Sky was just getting to the point that she was excited to show daddy her art project when we got home.  She would walk into his office with the biggest grin on her face and her arms out showing off her latest creation. 

Guess that means it's time for me to step it up and create our own little play to learn experience at home! 

Thankfully it is sunny today and we were able to have last day treats outside and play on the big kid playground at the school that hosts the classes. 

I'm also loving the sun for our run tonight!  The weather forecast was not pretty, but just maybe it will be ok for the run tonight.  4 miles, new route, some stress to run off, foot not hurting nearly as bad as it has been...all means it should be a pretty great run.  

On to Sky pics...

A little outside time with her hat and now shoes.  Girl hates having shoes on!

 

Daddy drew her some shapes and automobiles in chalk.  She still doesn't get the difference between car and truck, but we are working on it. 



It Was Bound To Happen Sometime...

Sky's had to get her first x-ray today.  To be expected when raising a rough and tumble girl right? 

Don't be alarmed, we are fairly confident there is nothing broken or fractured.  But, since she hurt herself almost a week ago she has varied between not walking at all, walking with a bad limp, turning her leg in severely when walking, and rolling her ankle all the time. 

Gentry has been keeping an eye on her and checking her regularly so we knew there was nothing emergent going on.  I was able to get her into the Dr. today, and while she feels like ibuprofen and time will take care of it, she ordered x-ray's just to be sure. 

Sky was a champ, mostly because Daddy was there to distract her.

Drawing on the protective paper on the exam table.

Daddy wearing a paper and exam glove crown!

 

The look on her face is priceless!

 

 

Walking over to imaging...Pooh her trusty sidekick helps keep things calm.

 



 



Happy Mother's Day

I hope all the mommies out there feel the love of the day! 

I feel so incredible lucky to call this little girl my daughter.  I LOVE being a mommy more than I knew was possible!   

From The Kitchen

If you see Mexican a Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Magazine in stores, and like Mexican food even a little...get it!!! 

We are big Mexican Food fans and I'm loving everything we try out of this magazine!

This week our favorite was Street Enchiladas...and yes this is a pic of the pic in the magazine, because I forgot to take a pic of the ones I made. 

Street Enchiladas
Prep: 25 minutes Cook: 24 minutes - it took me longer because I did one tortilla at a time. 

Ingredients*

• 1 tablespoon  vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup  chopped onion (1 medium)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt
• 1 14 1/2ounce can petite diced tomatoes, undrained
• 2 tablespoons  ground ancho chile pepper
• 2 tablespoons  ground pasilla chile pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon  cayenne pepper
• 1 28 ounce can red enchilada sauce (do not use green enchilada sauce)
• 3/4 cup  beef broth or vegetable broth (I used beef) 
• 1/2 ounce  unsweetened chocolate, chopped (1-1/2 tablespoons chopped)
• 1 tablespoon  honey
• Corn oil or vegetable oil for frying
• 20 6 inches  corn tortillas
• 1 1/4 cups  crumbled queso fresco or feta cheese (5 ounces) (I used queso) 
• 1 cup  snipped fresh cilantro
• 1 cup  finely chopped onion (1 large)

Directions

1. In a large saucepan heat the 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add the 1/2 cup chopped onion, the garlic, and a pinch of salt; cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in tomatoes, ancho pepper, pasilla pepper, and cayenne pepper. Cook, covered, for 4 to 5 minutes or until tomatoes can be easily mashed. Transfer mixture to a food processor or blender. Cover and process or blend until smooth. Return mixture to saucepan over medium heat.

 

2. Stir in enchilada sauce, broth, chocolate, and honey. Simmer, uncovered, about 20 minutes or just until sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Season to taste with salt. Remove from heat.

 

3. Heat an extra-large skillet over medium heat. Add just enough oil to lightly coat the bottom of the skillet. **When oil is hot, use tongs to dip each tortilla into enchilada sauce to generously coat both sides. Working in batches, cook each tortilla in hot oil for 15 to 20 seconds or until lightly browned on one side (be careful not to burn the sauce). Sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of the queso fresco on one half of each tortilla. Using a spatula, fold each tortilla in half over cheese; fold again so the tortilla is quartered. Transfer enchiladas to a serving platter. Top each with some of the cilantro and some of the finely chopped onion. Repeat to make 20 enchiladas total, adding more oil to the skillet as needed. (Refrigerate any leftover sauce for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months).

 

Changes I made:

-*I added ground beef.  Mark can't eat cheese, so making cheese enchiladas just doesn't work.  I didn't season the meat at all, just browned it and used it in place of the cheese on the inside.

 

-**I tried dipping the tortillas in the sauce and they tore every time.  So, I switched to spooning sauce on one side and spreading it around, putting the sauce side down in the heated skillet and spooning more sauce on the inside.  From there I followed the rest of the directions as is.   

 

I really like that it makes enough sauce to freeze 2, maybe 3, batches for future enchilada nights! 

 

No Sky pics today.  Was a busy day grocery shopping, no great photo ops there. 

 

I'm thankful I'm feeling better and ready for 4 miles in the morning with Michelle! 

 

Have a great weekend everyone! 

Thankful Thursday

Did you know it's teacher appreciation week?! 

Today I'm thankful for all the teachers out there.  Not only the ones I had personally in school, but to all those that have taught, are currently teaching, and plan on going into teaching in the future. 

I know you don't do it for the money or the recognition.  You do it because you are passionate about helping others learn and grow.     

Thank you for giving so much or yourselves to others every day! 

Sky is thankful for her blanket...

...so much so that she insisted on wearing as a toga most of the morning. 

She is also very thankful for the electronic photo frame that Mark gave her, preloaded with pics of all her favorite people...

...I'm not kidding when I say she will sit and look at that thing for 20 to 30 minutes at a time.  That is a really long time in 2 year old life!  It's great because she sits there while I'm working in the kitchen and talks to me about who is in each picture and describes what is going on.  She really likes the ones of herself sliding. 

Lastly I'm thankful that Sky is walking around, albeit with a limp and pain killers on board.  She hurt herself at the park the other night, and didn't take more than a handful of steps all day yesterday.  It's really hard to carry her around all day...she is so darn heavy!  Anyway, we gave her ibuprofen after dinner yesterday and after 20 minutes or so she was off and limp running.  Same story today, but at least she is getting around on her own!  Her limp is pretty darn cute.    

New Running Skirt

 

 

New Running Skirt and new Fleet Feet Run Club Shirt!

 

 

Close-up of the print on the skirt.  Love all the distances and color! 

 

 

Thank you Dad for the new skirt!  Any time I'm given some spending money I try to hold on to some of it for those out of the blue things that I really need or want.  I knew I was volunteering at the TCM Race Expo, and knew there would be some great vendors.  So, last time he slipped me some just because money I held onto it so I could get something fun at the expo. 

 

This is a new brand for me, you can check out the link HERE 

 

I LOVE this skirt!  First, with all those colors it matches anything I put on, and I love that.  My compression socks don't match my tops at all, but this skirt brings it all together.  Because matching is really important to having a good run!  :)

 

The shorts underneath are longer than other running skirts, so there is zero leg rub and zero need for Glide.  The seams on the shorts are on the outside so they don't rub your skin.  Makes them look inside out a little bit, but they are under the skirt so who cares! 

 

The great thing is for each print you can choose shorts, briefs, or bikini bottoms underneath.  Nice to have so many options to fit everyone's preference!   

 

There are side pockets on each leg with velcro, so things like chap stick, id, car key are safe.

 

If anyone from Fleet Feet is reading please know that the run club shirts are awesome for running, the run club logo looks great on the yellow, and I appreciate Adidas sponsoring the shirts!  My comments about the color are strictly based on the fact that yellow makes me look like a corpse...it's the single worst color for me to wear.  It's nothing personal!   

 

Best part about the skirt, it makes the awful color of the run club shirt look good.  It's really only awful because that shade of yellow makes me look like the walking dead, but it is good for visibility and it feels really, really good.  So, overall it's a win. 

 

Thank you Dad...I knew the shirt was a bad color for me and was sort of dreading them being done at the printer, but having the awesome skirt to balance it out made it fun to get ready to run today!

 

 



Run #1 Done!

It wasn't pretty, but we got it done!  I felt great in the AM, but at some point my tummy decided it hated me and I was sick all afternoon.  I tried to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, but everything that went in, came right back out. 

I was not about to bail on the very first training run though.  Not a great way to inspire confidence in Michele right!  So, we ran, a pretty decent pace to, 9:30 ish for 3 miles.  Felt like crap when we got back to the store, dizzy etc.  Thankfully they have Nuun and saltines so I was ok after a glass of water spiked with Nuun and a cracker.  Thank you Liz for the hook up! 

On to run #2 this morning with the stroller group!  Loving the sun we are having, and that my tummy feels better! 

I meant to post this yesterday, but with not feeling well it didn't happen.  Monday was play date with Reagan day, and it was also in the 80's, which meant after our walk to Starbucks... 

The girls rode in the wagon together for the first time.  It went pretty well.  We may have left a snack trail down the sidewalk though.  It seemed to be entertaining to throw stuff out while we were walking. 

 

...It was time to let them play in the yard....

 

 

Play in the yard time turned into naked play in the yard time.  I couldn't get a "safe" pic of the two of them together without risking my phone taking a swim. 

 

 

I hope everyone is having lovely weather like we are.  Get out and enjoy it today!!!

 

 



 



 

 



 





It Begins...

10 weeks of everything I do or don't eat & drink, every workout I do or don't skip, every run I put my all into or half ass, every time I make time to stretch or decide to skip it...every little thing goes towards the condition I will be in lining up at the start line in 10 weeks. 

I am so excited!  I'm ready for this, ready for the runs, the non-drinking, lot's of water, tons of sunblock (given the 80+ weather we are having...in May!), the black toenails, sore legs...all of it, I'm ready! 

I have a 3 week training cycle between 1/2 #1 and #2, and 8 weeks between #2 and #3, so basically my whole summer, every little thing counts! 

Today is a walk, tomorrow is the first run! 

Shout out"s:
-To Jenny who BQ'd at TCM (Tacoma City Marathon) yesterday!
-To Amy for pacing her running partner and helping her BQ! 
-To Josh for running his first race yesterday, 5 mile leg of a marathon relay leg, had a 9:30 ish average pace!  Already see on FB that he's talking about a 5K next! 
-Angela at Fleet Feet for fitting Josh, Bob, and Michelle for running shoes!  I love being able to recommend the store to friends and they go in and get exactly what they need!
-Mark for being on board with this whole training thing I'm doing and being on Sky duty for the long runs!


Backtrack to Saturday...Pics from Camano Island...

Sky and Daddy gazing at the sea.

She did not want her pic taken.  It's a new thing saying no when she sees the camera.

I wonder what she is thinking when she looks out at the water, does she think it's a huge bathtub?

Mark grilled hotdogs and mini peppers, we grabbed a bottle of wine and baked beans at the store.  Kind of perfect!

She LOVED throwing rocks in the water.  Spent a lot of time doing that with a big old grin on her face and giggling the whole time!