Cramping My Style

This post is going to be quite the mother-load. First off, I have to say that I totally identified with Hangry Heather’s post the other day. It’s always hard getting back into the swing of things for a new school year. Throw in hosting a party over the weekend and a long run and football on Sunday and I was toast Monday. So let’s catch up.

Since we chatted last, I had a long run Sunday, biked on Monday and a three-miler today.

Sunday:

Distance: 7.01 miles
Time: 1:31:42
Avg. Pace: 10:30/mile
(I’m too lazy to fetch my HR monitor and get you those stats…be honest, you don’t care)

Monday: 45 minute bike ride with Hubbers

Tuesday:

Distance: 2.86 miles
Time: 25:06
Avg. Pace: 8:44/mile

(My Nike+ was acting up again…I paced a 9:22 on it for some reason. So mad I didn’t get credit to make this month’s speed goal!)

I also had some MAJOR cramping in my stomach during this run. It was really painful and caused me to walk a few times. It was not a fun run.

Since my groin has been bothering me lately, I decided to ice, ice baby after my run:

Then Hubbers was a doll and stretched it out for me. I sat in that exact position and he sat next to me and just pulled my leg to make an L with the other leg. It felt reeeeeally good!

SUNDAY:

Breakfast:

Kashi H2H, Nature’s Path pumpkin flax granola, almond milk, strawberries

Lunch:

Leftover pasta salad from Saturday’s block party

Dinner:

was at our neighbor’s house for the Giants/Redskins game. Hubbers and I are Giants fans, they’re Redskins fans. We watch the games they play each other together and take turns hosting. I was so glad it wasn’t my turn. I was beat from Saturday and the 7 mile run!

MONDAY:

Breakfast:

Pumpkin oats…see what’s in the mix here.

Lunch/Snack:

A.M. snack was a mini CLIF bar.

Veggie/hummus wrap on lavash bread with spinach, tomato and carrots

and a kiwi

Dinner: was out – I was craving a burger and forgot to photograph. Sometimes a girl just needs a burger. It was awesome.

TUESDAY:

Breakfast:

Creamy Oatbran

In the mix:

• 1/3 cup oatbran
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 1/2 cup water
• cinnamon
• vanilla
• 1 mashed banana

Topped with plain Chobani and strawberries…delightful!

My throat was feeling a little sore, so I slammed back some “EmergenC” on the way out the door.

Lunch/Snack:

Snack was a mini CLIF…I know, shocking.

Amy’s Light in Sodium Minestrone and a mini ciabatta roll with some…

grapes!

Snack: One of my former students came by with a birthday treat of a Carvel flying saucer. I don’t know what possessed me to do it, but I ate it. It was delish.

Dinner:

Wild Sockeye Salmon broiled with salt, pepper, fresh garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, red pepper flakes and oregano and spinach salad with carrots and tomatoes and balsamic vinaigrette. This piece of salmon was HUGE. I couldn’t finish it, but it was really good.

Then I put together some mini caprese paninis for tomorrow’s lunch. While the press was heating, I finished my bottle of Sauv. B. I’m still savoring this glass.

I know I said I’d take pics on Saturday, but honestly I was running around so much I completely forgot! Here are the appetizers and dessert. I showed you the pasta salad earlier. I also made teriyaki chicken, BBQ shrimp and chicken sausage – all which Hubbers grilled to perfection and served a green salad.

Beer bread with spinach dip (I got a million compliments on the dip…thanks, Joe ;) Trader Joe that is!)

Potato chips and fake pirate’s booty from TJ’s

Chips and salsa

Veggies and dip

Pina Colada cupcakes

The party was a success. I had one too many vodka and pink sparkling lemonades for the day. Running on Sunday was painful. Everyone had a great time, though!

In other news, I’m super excited that Antonio won HGTV’s Design Star!

I’m a big fan!

Also, as we speak, my DVR is recording…

I’m beyond excited! I LOOOOOOOOOOVE me some BL. Can’t wait to see what’s in store this season!

AND, if you thought all that was good…look what was on my doorstep when I arrived home…

The AMAZING folks at Amazing Grass sent me some products to test out and review for the blog. I’m super excited and can’t wait to start taste-testing! Thanks again, Teri! I smell an “amazing” giveaway in your future, readers! Time to come out of the woodwork and make yourselves known!

Have a great night!

Just Call Me Baking Gal!

    Operation Baking GALS is an organization I got involved with when my friend April asked me to join her team.  Basically, you join a team, bake some goodies, and send them to troops serving overseas.  It’s a great way to feel like I’m helping out and doing a good deed :)

Here are the goodies I sent:

Chocolate chip cookies

Pumpkin Bread (for a taste of Fall from back home)

I also baked Truffle brownies. There’s the goods all ready to go on their voyage.

Breakfast:    

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had a yogurt bowl with plain Chobani, Kashi H2H, Nature’s Path Pumpkin flax granola, sliced bananas and organic raspberries.  Yummilicious. 

Snack/Lunch:

Trail mix pack for snack; baby arugula, tomatoes, red onion salad; mini ciabatta roll; organic strawberries for lunch

Dinner

I went out to eat with my mom and brother since Hubbers went out to dinner in the city.  You’ll see pics tomorrow as lunch.

This morning I woke up bright and early to run my 5 miles.  It was very dark and I felt a little nervous about running in the dark for some reason.  After debating back and forth, I decided to run on the treadmill in the basement.  I think all that delay threw me off because my body was just NOT feeling it.  I did 2 miles and called it a day.  I think my body is still getting used to waking up early and getting moving right away.  Tomorrow I have another 2 miles in my training schedule so I’ll be sure to get that done in the a.m!

Off to get myself back in the early to bed mode to get my 8 hours of shut-eye.

A Baby Shower and a Luau

That is what I'm doing today. It will be quite the day-o-fun. First up on the agenda: a baby shower brunch for a friend. The shower is a brunch, but I had to eat something when I woke up. I had some of the Trader Joe's Triple Berry O's that I bought at hubby's request.

I've only had a couple of spoonfulls of these tossed in with my yogurt bowls. They were ok. I'm not the hugest fan of freeze-dried fruit in my cereal, so I added some fresh blues. I also put in some Bear Naked Fit granola. These didn't taste all that nutritious. I threw out the box when I put them in the airtight container I store my cereals in, so I'm not sure of the facts.

On to my baking project! As you see in the title, I am also going to a luau today. I hate showing up to a party empty-handed, so I made some cupcakes. Pina colada cupcakes. Yeah, they exist and they're good.
I found the recipe at Betty Crocker.com. I didn't feel like going all out Martha Stewart, though I love her, so I wanted to use a mix and spruce it up. These are AWESOME. They really taste like pina coladas! Hubbers is always my taste-tester for baked goods, so I had a bite of his and it was great! You can find the recipe here.

Here are the little beauties all cozied up together:

I was so tempted to buy cocktail umbrellas for them. I couldn't find them! I hope everyone likes them.

Well I am off to squeeze in a quick workout and then off to party all day! Enjoy the day!