The bike is finito!

Check out this fox.

New bar tape, old shifters that DC fixed, new (to me) stem DC snagged from the local bike shop mechanic for a mere $10

new silver brake cables, same brakes from when we bought it

New white Specialized saddle.  The same one I have on my commuter bike

and new Specialized tires that DC says won't pop...I think that's sort of like when his dad told me there weren't snakes in the water at the lake house...and then that night he was killing an anaconda in the back yard.

 

DC spent his entire Sunday afternoon building her while I was in The Woodlands running a muck with my roommate from college (you can watch her inform the Amarillo, Texas population here).

Thank you for my bike, DC!

The End of Soup Season

When I cook dinner, I don't like to eat a whole lot of saturated fat.  There are exceptions to this.  Absolutely.  BBQ is one.  Whataburger is one.  Lord have mercy if there is pizza around.  Geez the rodeo is the best/worst dream/nightmare.  We definitely consumed chocolate covered cheesecake on a stick right after an Italian sausage sandwich and beer.  no regrets here people.  It was amazing.

DC says I have a small but extremely chubby girl living inside me.  I have to watch it ...no one wants that girl to come out for reals.  She's been around before (hello 1990-2006) and she can be a you know what when she's hungry.

What the heck am I writing about?

Right.  Shrimp and Corn Chowder with Fennel.

Typically when I read my Real Simple Magazine (within 2 days of getting it), I skip over the recipes.  They look divine, but the back of the magazine has all of the nutrition facts and it is rarely good news.  And the word chowder is usually a no go.  But!  A month after getting the February issue, I ran across this recipe again, and it looked amazing.  Plus, I knew I only had a couple of weeks before DC would not accept soups for dinner anymore.  Hot Houston + a hot meal is not a good combo.  And he'll probably shave his beard around the same time as the soup cut off.  Why doesn't he just cut my heart out and rip it into pieces then spit on it and run over it on his bike?

I love his beard.  Him too.  Mostly the beard.

Oh my gosh worst post ever.  Who lets me drink so much coffee every dadgum day?

Ok so I took this recipe and made it a little lighter.  Don't hate.

I forgot to take a picture of the fennel before I cut it up.  If you've never used it before, it smells like licorice (don't gag), and it is frilly.  Yes.  Frilly.

So you want to cut the bulb off, rinse it, and chop it up.  Save the rest for topping a salad off, or for your husband who craves licorice.

Leeks!  I love to cook with leeks.  My love for onions tripled when I started using these.  I love them.  You're going to use the white to light green areas, so cut off the rest, then chop what you have.

Save the ends!  I planted them hoping for some little leeks.

Chop up some potato.  It calls for however many pounds, and I don't really want a ton of them, nor do I know how to measure how much potato I am putting in, so I just try to guess about how much potato DC and I would eat in one sitting (like a baked potato) and throw that much in there.  My recipes never make sense on here.  But they taste good so there.

Melt some butter or oil in a large pan.  I used this and only 1 tablespoon.  It works well for cooking, but not so much for baking.  Baking is hard to find substitutes for the bad stuff and still have it come out tasting good.

If I could go back, I would season the veggies more.  So, use some salt and pepper and whatever else you like.  Cook until the veggies are tender.  Then stir in about 2 tablespoons of flour.

Add the clam juice.  Do not mix this up with clam sauce!!

the potatoes

and the milk.  I totally meant to stop and get at least 2% milk for this, and I didn't.  It calls for whole milk and there's pretty much zero chance that I would use that, but non fat milk will have a hard time thickening.  Lucky for me, DC likes thin chowder.  You could also use a potato masher and mash them up for a thicker consistency.

Bring all of this to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for about 12 minutes.

Stir in 1 package of frozen shrimp (cooked, tail off, and thawed / drained) and one frozen package of corn (thawed and drained).  Be sure to season again when you stir these in.

This shrimp has no preservatives.  We likey.  I also have no clue where we bought them because we found this package in the back of the freezer when we were trying to make room for our wedding cake tier.  Also!  The shrimp in the picture on Real Simple has been grilled and placed on top.  If you simply toss shrimp in like I did, it's not going to get that "cooked on both sides" look.

Cook until shrimp and corn are heated through and the potatoes are tender.  The recipe says about 4 minutes, but this is so far off.  My potatoes took for-ev-er to cook through.

Stir in some lemon juice

How do you cut and squeeze your lemons?

Like Giada?

Like Rachel?

DC was still working on bikes, so I dished it up in these super cute personal pots and covered it with their lids.  Then I whipped up some garlic bread a la Giada.  You literally toast some bread (we love Whole Foods or Central Market's Seedalicious) and rub a garlic clove over the bread while it's still hot.  No butter needed and it tastes so fresh.

There she blows.  I forgot to snag some parsley at the store the week before so I threw cilantro on there.  I like it on everything, so it was delicious for me, but I don't know if everyone would like it.

Sayonara soup season!

Hot Off The Press!

Back in October, on my list I said that I wanted to write something for publication.

I was 110% sure it would be one of the few I wouldn't actually do.

I was way wrong!  I guess it shows what God will do with you if you let him.

One of my patients from 2008 asked me to contribute to his book, and it was released last week!

You can find it here

John took his motorcycle out for a ride around the block one Sunday afternoon when he was hit by a car and flew 150 feet over 4 lanes of traffic.  His youngest son was 4 months old when he crashed.  His family had to rent an apartment in Houston and take turns traveling from McAllen, TX to take care of him.  And then, just in time, because God is rarely early, but he is always on time, John woke up in the The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research...almost a year after I had met his family.  When he was admitted into the Neuro ICU at the hospital I work at, everyone was sure he wouldn't make it.  Including me.

I highly highly HIGHLY recommend getting a copy of his book.  His story will change your life.  If you're interested, you can email the following ladies for ordering information:

Patti@starops.com or Jennifer@starops.com.

I meant every word that I wrote.  Meeting John's family and observing their consistent faithfulness was one of the most amazing things I have ever experienced.  If you aren't one bit moved by his story, if it doesn't make you re-evaluate your life priorities, or if you aren't desiring to stand on the same foundation they're on, I'll pay you back for your book.  I don't get anything from you buying his book, but you will.

Grease Monkey

I know was going to post a delish recipe today, but DC and I got to work on my road bike last night, so I decided to post some bike progress instead, mostly for the fellas who read.  And Liza!

Here she is before

The pictures aren't great.  Our light fixtures are yellow.  some are white. and it was night.  Ugh I hate apartment lighting.

DC taught me how to take off the horrendous bottle cages, the wheels, both brakes, derailleurs, shifters (wait he took those off), chain, bar tape, & brake cables.

Ya'll I think this bike sat buried in a dirt pile in someone's yard for years.  because people have those.  It was so dusty and grimy.  The shifters wouldn't even move and I thought we would have to buy new ones (based on my extensive knowledge of bicycles...as DC says "Your sarcasm is dripping off of that").  But my engineer scientist nerd (the good kind...) of a husband fixed them.  It was incredible.  I was amazed.

I cleaned all of the parts we took off.  We use Simple Green.  I think most cyclists do.  Then again, I have no idea what I base that on.  Then I cleaned the frame.  And we found this.

The original price tag.  I think D said this is a 1999 Trek.  I almost got kicked out of DC's family when his dad found out I got a Trek.  Now I'm pretty sure I'd be out for good if I weren't so dang cool.  The tag says this bike is from Bike Barn.  BUT!  As I type, DC is at his dad's shop spending plenty of money on parts.  He rarely leaves there without doing so.

Anyone have a shorter stem?  This one is for someone with ape arms.  I'll trade you.  Then I'll take back the comment about ape arms.

So this is where she is now.  All cleaned up and ready to get new parts.

We're definitely going to get a white saddle and white bar tape.

Silver cable housing.  New pedals.

That's about all she needs.  She is SUCH a steal.

Hopefully we'll finish her up this weekend and plant our seeds that have all sprouted (except the blasted peppers), and we're gonna spend some time at the art festival.

The weather is too amazing to be inside, people.  Unless you live in Brooklyn.  Or DC.  Or Newport.

Happy weekend!

High above the chimney top; that's where you'll find me

I am all over the place in my head this morning.  So much I'm thinking about, and none of it is really blog material.

We've got a good new recipe we're trying tonight.  We're going to make it lighter than it says to, and I'll post it tomorrow

Rent and Wicked are both coming to Houston this summer.  So. excited. to maybe see one or both.  My Pandora is on my Rent station, and if you like the show Glee, you should tune in; they play all of their songs, too.  They also play Lion King songs.  And all the girly Disney songs that I don't know but my husband and Will Dietz know every word to.  Including dialogue.

My dad got us opening day tickets to the Astros.  2 rows above their dugout.  The day after our one year anniversary.  The day after we get back from a stellar weekend away.  DC doesn't know where we're going.  I'm taking opening day off to prepare my head for the game.  By that I mean sleep in, clean up camping stuff (he knew that part), go for a run or a bike ride, meet my parents early, have a good beer ready for DC when he meets up with us.

Everyone is having a spring sale.  Lucy, Banana Republic, Gap, New Balance, Nine West, Nike...just some of the emails I got this morning.  Don't pay full price for things.  So silly.  I need new clothes.  Don't you roll your eyes, Devin Michael.  The spring colors make me want to throw away everything I have.  I tend to fill up an online basket with completely reasonable purchases and then x out of it when I can't find a free shipping code.  Someone who is addicted to shopping and easily charges things on their credit card, please come help me.  Wait...

Every day I get off of the train and everyone who rode with me jumps off of the ramp into the middle of the street just so they don't have to walk an extra 20 feet to the crosswalk.  One day, 10 cops stood on the other side and gave them all tickets.  But they still do it.  Yesterday I was driving home in the rain.  2 lanes were stopped, but my left turn only lane was flying.  By flying I mean 20 mph or so.  A woman jaywalked through the 2 stopped lanes and stepped right in front of my car.  I slammed on the brakes, she froze, and it ended way too close for comfort.  I haven't stopped thinking about that lady and how me going 5 mph faster could have affected both of us for life.  Follow the rules so people don't get hurt.  Crosswalks are at every block.  Don't be lazy.  There's your public service announcement.

I am seriously loving (still) Lisa's stuff.  But there are some look alikes on etsy.  Love the owls.  and birds.  and hearts.  I love all 3 of those.

We're looking for a writing desk for our bike room / study.  Think rustic, vintage, quaint, think THIS!!!  If you find one somewhere, send it my way.  Hopefully we can get that room in some sort of order eventually.  Anyone have a knack for meticulous organization?  I'll hire you.  And pay you with wine or beer.  Or free bike maintenance.  I'm organized, but I didn't know what was coming when I said yes to a man with so many bikes, bike tools, bike clothes, bike shoes.

Anyone who is dating a cyclist, please talk with me prior to further commitment, so I can coach/prepare/medicate you.

The Bayou City Art Festival is this weekend.  The weather should be gorgeous.  We're planning to put our herbs outside for some good sun this weekend.  Everything has sprouted except our peppers.  The ones I was most excited for.

Do you Groupon?  Good stuff.  Tempting stuff.

Happy Thursday, Party People.

No stupid munching

Part of living a healthy lifestyle and eating a healthy...truly healthy...diet is education.  If you aren't educated about what you're eating, you're most likely going to eat something completely terrible for you.  Example.  I have a coworker who is "On a diet".  This coworker ate a large caesar salad for lunch the other day and was all chatty Cathy about how light she ate.  She might as well have had a Big Mac, because they have just about the same amout of calories, fat, and sodium.

Here are some resources to get you edumacated about what you're eating, because it's not all about fat content either:

Jillian talks chemicals in food, containers, and kitchen cleaners

The Daily Plate can help you scope out your food before you eat it

The 10 worst sandwiches you can eat

Eat This Not That

Growth

We have sprouts!

Happy Monday!

Rice and Raisins! Who woulda thunk it?!

When DC and I did our 10k last Saturday, we sprinted across the finish line and immediately bee-lined it to the vendor tents.  We got our tshirts, some breakfast tacos, apples, water, and some Mojo bars.  The thing was, I had just run 6.2 miles and I didn't want any of that except water.  Until we went by the Minute rice tent and sampled this gloriously amazing post-race / post-work out snack.

So, start with some brown rice.  You can definitely use instant, and just follow the directions on the box.

BUT!  When it says to boil the water, instead of water, you are going to use apple juice.

This! just! got! interesting!  (Name the show?  Seriously name the show because I can't think of it)

When it's done, mix it up with some raisins

Drizzle some honey on it and eat.

Y'all seriously.  It's delicious.  Best post-workout snack EVA.

Grow Great Grub Winner!

We have a winner, folks!

Mr. Kyle is the proud new owner of the Grow Great Grub giveaway!

Kyle, send me your info and I'll get it to you

Some Girls Get "Just Because" Flowers.

I get a "Just Because" road bike.

DC brought this home for me last night totally out of the blue.  I am WAY excited about it.  I have big dreams for her...lots of things to change, but plenty we will leave on her.  DC is going to teach me about bike maintenance as we fix her up, an I'll probably chronicle that a little on here.

I think I see a duathlon in our future together, you sweet ride, you.

My husband rules.

Small Space Garden, Stage 1

Ya'll, we just cannot wait until we have a home with a big fat lush yard, so we can make plots to grow vegetables and herbs, but alas, we just re-signed with our apartment complex.  So for now, we have to learn how to grow what we want in a small space.

I picked up this book to teach me a little about planting and organically growing everything in pots, cans, etc.

It is spectacular.  If I could have described exactly the information I was seeking for our apartment garden, this book would have completely covered it and then some (it's full of recipes too)

Ms. Trail describes each plant's favorite environment, container, sun exposure, watering preference, and anything else these Prima Donnas might need or want.

Oh what the hay.  Let's do a giveaway.  Comment on this post and tell me about what you have planted this season.  If you haven't planted anything, you are lame (sorta kidding), so tell me why you have chosen to make multiple trips to the grocery store's herbs and produce section instead of planting things to have at arms reach whenever you please.  I'll pick one comment at random to receive a copy of Grow Great Grub.  Giveaway ends Thursday, March 18th at 12:00pm central time.

Moving on.  Last night, DC and I did stage 1 of our garden planting.

Hokay.  So.  We bought these biodegradable pots, organic potting soil, and whatever seeds we wanted.  The little pots are excellent because you can plant them right in the container you plant to keep the herbs in later.  No need to transplant.  I have also heard of people using egg shells for the same reason.  I am sure there are plenty of different ways to do it.  We filled up each pot leaving about 1 1/2 inches from the top.  Then we put the seeds in according to the directions on the package, and covered with the appropriate amount of soil on top.  Make sure you read those directions.  Not every seed is planted the same way.

I did a little bit of research, and this is the organic fertilizer we chose.  You mix it with water according to the instructions, and just water your plants as you normally would.  We put our tray of seeds up by a window that we know gets medium sunlight throughout the day.

This fertilizer is to be used every 3 weeks, so our seeds will get their next juice fix about a week after we plant them in their permanent homes.

For the life of us, we could not find mint seeds.  We went ahead and got a pot of mint and planted it, hoping it will spread and grow into a huge bush of deliciousness.

So, this is what we have sprouting:

Oregano

Cilantro

Peppers

Tomatoes

Chives

Onions

Sweet Basil

and Lavender for my migraines

and the mint plant

It will take about 14 days for our seeds to be ready for pots.  If our garden doesn't work, I totally take back the comment I made about frequenting the grocery stores being lame.  If it does work, I still mean it.

Spring has sprung and #21 is done

This weekend, DC and I ran the Bayou City Classic.  It was DC's first running race eva eva eva and my first 10k.  Mark #21 completely off of my list.  Amazing!  When I made that list in October, I was totally kidding about the 10k.  Do you understand that I started running in October and in the first days could not run more than 2 minutes at a time?  If I can do it, anyone can, I promise you.

What's next?  DC has signed us up for Tour de Houston next weekend.

Ay caramba.

After the race, DC and I hit the local farmer's markets as we do every Saturday.  The produce was abundant and there were plenty of new delish things to buy.  So exciting to have Spring back.

One of the booths had fresh cut flowers.  DC bought me some.  Swoon.

I finally doctored my orchid enough for her to stop being dramatic and start growing

The Hen and Chicks are just busy being awesome

I love me some cacti.  Especially these.  I like to pull their petals off and squish them.

Maybe I should leave that part out.

Last but certainly not least, my exotic possibly not supposed to have it in the states plant is totally digging this weather

I stay up until midnight every night to make sure I don't miss her blooming.  Going on 3 years now.

Wait.

Hopefully we will get to plant our organic herbs and veggies this week.  I got a great resource for planting everything we wanted in an apartment atmosphere.

Happy Monday!

Some reviews and other hubbub

The past couple weeks have been rainy and disgusting outside.  Welcome to the swamp that is Houston, Texas.  So, DC and I have been doing some Jillian Michaels.

She is just as mean as she is on TV.  Calls you names and everything.  Maybe it's me calling her names.  I am not really into home work out DVDs.  I'd much rather be outside or something, but, I actually really enjoy this one, and by "enjoy", I mean she makes me hurt and I hate her for it, but then I love her.   She pushes us through 3 circuts of strength, cardio, and abs, and about half way through it, I wish I was training with Bob instead.   Of all of the muscles she works, my calves are the sorest.  From jump roping in place.  I am so lame.  Anyway, I highly recommend it (minus the music- it's kinda 90s techno).  I do not recommend doing it with your significant other because when DC does butt kicks, I can't even move I'm laughing so hard.  Really ruins my workout.

My book club had our first book discush last month.

We read The Help and the votes were unanimous- excellent book.  So much woman-catty-ness, so much drama, so many strong females, so many hard times, so much secrecy.  If you can get used to the jargon Kathryn Stockett uses, you will fly through this thing.  Unless you're married to someone who ignores you while he watches Top Gear, but as soon as you open a book, he begs for attention.  If you are in that situation, reading this may take longer than everyone else in your book club.  Not that I would know.

This month's book has so far been a flop for everyone.  I won't say who recommended it.  Yes I will.  Jellie.

DC and I have a race tomorrow morning.  I have a possibly cracked sacrum.  Some of you may call running a 10k stupid in such a situation, but since my doctor friend, who operates on the Bush folks (he has to be legit), tells me I can't make the crack worse, I say I am hard core.

The weather is supposed to be stupendous in Houston this weekend.  High of 70s, sunshine.  Perfect weather for getting some pictures for the blog banner.  And for a bike swap.  And for planting.  And for taxes.  Wait.

Go outside this weekend, lovely blog readers.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

The Winner of the guest blog giveaway is:

Christine!

Christine said: The thing that I CANNOT live without now that I have it, is my Garmin 305..seriously this baby makes training so much better. My times are getting better with each training run.

Congrats Christine!  Send me your info via the contact form and I'll get your goods to ya!

Guest Blogger Questions Answered

Amanda asked:  I've got issues when it comes to my ankles.  Any suggestions on some good shoes?

Kristan:

Running shoes are the most important component in your entire running arsenal. The choice of shoe also varies from person to person due to foot shape, arches, the way you run, and so many other factors. Because of this, I always hesitate to recommend a certain shoe or even brand, because what works for me may not work for you. The best advice I can give is to look up where your local running store is and pay them a visit. A mass market sporting goods chain will not do because their sales people are not knowledgeable in the specifics of running. A specialty running store staffs people whose first passion is running, so they want to find the best shoes that work for you. Let them know a few things before they start the process, such as price range, mileage, any running goals, and any lingering pain issues, such as your ankles. They will take a look at your feet and ask you to run a bit, so they can get a sense of your stride. This is the best way to find yourself in running shoes that are completely comfortable and supportive to your ankles and the rest of your body! Once you find a pair you love, you can order your next pair online, which may save you a few dollars and a trip to the store. Finally remember to get new shoes after you run/walked between 400-500 miles in them. It may sound like a lot of miles, but trust me, all your running adds up!

(Note from Stephanie: Amanda, I would love to train you!  Give me a few months!!  Also, I have never used the Nike pod thing, but my Garmin watch is fantastic at doing exactly what you described)

Maggie asked: How do you get over the training hump of 6 miles?  When I get to mile 6, it seems that my knees give out.

Kristan:

Getting over a mileage hump can be tough. It can be both a physical and mental barrier. When I started my long runs, I foolishly thought that if I stopped to walk or stretch for a short amount of time, I was cheating on the run. Thankfully I learned it is just the opposite. Sometimes a short break can help us better complete the run. If you find yourself having trouble going beyond 6 miles, it may be beneficial to insert a short break within your run. If you do not normally warm up, try running a mile and then stopping for a few minutes to stretch the areas of your legs that are tight before continuing on. Another option could be to stop halfway through your run for a 1-2 minute walk break. You can even insert these breaks after every mile or two. It helps with the mental aspect of your run, as you can break your runs into smaller segments. Finally another way to try to get through all of your mileage is to start off at a slower pace than normal for at least the first half of your run. This may put less stress on your legs and allow you to complete the distance. Training barriers like these are only temporary. You will break through it and leave 6 miles in the dust in no time!

Keep the questions for Kristan coming!!  (PS you can check her out here flying past some guys...and she will probably hate me for that) Remember the giveaway ends tomorrow at 5pm central so get those comments and questions in (on the original post) asap to enter!

D-E-B-T-F-R-E-E!!!

We are officially debt free.

Car paid off.

Completely necessary for health and safety and comfort and sanity purchase paid off.

Dunzo.

And it feels so good!!!

And now I am going shopping.

Jokes.

Guest Blogger and a Giveaway!

For any of you who have read the blog for a while, I need not introduce my friend  K-stan.  However, for the newbies, Kstan is a friend of mine that lives in Brooklyn.  We met on a cruise ship in 2006 and have been friends ever since.  What you really need to know about her, though (other than her love for roosters, her boyfriend's knack for making up the most absurd life mantras, or her crazy holy-water-throwing grandma), is that she is a phenomenal runner.  Kstan ran the NYC marathon in November in sub-3 hours.  She was the 27th woman to finish out of eleventybillion runners.   On top of it all, she is my free personal running coach and answers all 43 of my daily retarded questions with the most astounding patience.  She knows more about running than anyone I know, and I wanted to share some of her wisdom with the running readers.  So, without further ado, Kstan the Swift:

Running is my pastime and my passion. And I truly believe anyone can be a runner. So you can imagine my excitement when Stephanie started to run as well! As Steph and many other runners move beyond the 5K realm onto 10K’s and relays (and perhaps a marathon soon…I hope!), training runs inevitably get longer, with your longest run usually falling on the weekends. How should you tread into this new mileage territory? Are there things to eat or wear that make your running life easier? I think so. Here are a few of my favorites:

Eating and Drinking on the run- And no. I do not mean a burger and one hand and a beer in the other. Let’s start with hydration. As the warm weather fast approaches, it is more and more important to stay properly hydrated on runs. This means that if you are running for over 45 minutes in warm weather, it is time to strap on the energy belt. It is typically a strap that Velcros around your midsection and holds 2-4 water bottles, as well as a pouch for food, ID, cell phone, or other run essentials. It will not be your most fashionable accessory, and it does add a bit of weight to your run, however, having your water right on your hip during your summer run is a valuable resource! My favorite is the Road Runner Sport 2 Energy Speed Belt. It is the running equivalent of my huge satchel purse; I can pack everything I would ever need for a run and zoom away. If you prefer a smaller bottle, there are also hand held water bottles as well, like the Nathan Quick Draw. If you are a true outdoors person, you may own a Camelback pack, which works just as well!

Eating on the run is a bit trickier. Before I started long runs, I never had any clue that you had to take in calories during a run, what to eat, or even when to eat. A rule of thumb is if you are running over 45 minutes, then you should have some sort of energy intake, either right before you start running or 30 minutes into the run. My preferred method of energy intake: GU Gels.

If you have never used it before, Gu is a packet of instant energy that sort of tastes like frosting. If the thought of eating a frosting like substance is not appealing, you can get energy in the form of fruit snacks like Gu Chomps. And if you want to go for an even simpler option, gummy bears can help give you some much needed sugar in the middle of your run. Enjoy it! Where else can you get a free pass to consume gummy bears?! Gu gels are the most portable and best way to get your energy mid run. Just two warnings: 1. Try any sort of gel or chews on a training run before you ever use it in a race to make sure it works without causing any discomfort. 2. Stop running as you eat it, because attempting to do everything at once may result in a tumble. This may seem obvious, but this also may have happened to me. Moving on…

Running Socks – Running socks will change your life. I discovered this when I was away from home and about to go on a run, but had forgotten socks. A quick trip to the local running store and $10 later (yes, more on that in a second) saved me. When I returned from my sweaty stinky summer run (glamorous, right?), I took off my socks, and my feet were dry. Bone dry! Not a drop of sweat! I may have made everyone feel my feet because I was so excited. Yes, I know that is weird. Am I the only one who finds this exciting? Other than my weird excitment about dry feet, running socks have other benefits. They hug your foot, offering compression and arch support. Special running socks offer no movement during runs, which is another cause of foot irritation. They offer slightly more cushioning on your runs. The wicking material that keeps your feet dry also keeps them odor free, so you won't clear the room when you remove your running shoes! Alas, let's get to the one uncomfortable part of special running socks: the price. Yes, they are expensive. And yes you can go to Target and buy 5 of their socks for the price of one pair of Feetures socks (my favorites). This is certainly a valid concern, so I suggest just buying one pair to try at first, and save them for your longer runs on the weekends. This is how I started, and I became hooked. Hi, my name is Kristan and I am a running sock addict.

Body Glide- While we are on the topic of irritation, I have a true story for you. I ran my first marathon last fall and was rather perplexed to find tubs of Vasoline with popsicle sticks pocking out of it at the start. Any questions I had about why I would find this here were answered when the other runners started globbing it all over themselves. Communal Vasoline not your thing? Thank goodness for Body Glide.

While running in warm weather, you will find that some of your running attire may rub you the wrong way and cause irriatation. Remember the episodes of the Office where Any Bernard experiences some bleeding during the Dunder Miffilin Fun Run?



Yeah, you want to avoid that. In addition to respecting your personal space and your health, Body Glide helps you avoid any discomfort/chafing that may occur while running. It looks like a little stick of deodorant and it glides right on. Rub it on feet, legs, arm pits, anywhere. Don’t be shy about buying it. Irritation happens to the best of us.

Finally, the best way to learn more about running is to be open to experimenting with what works best for you on your runs, as well as not being afraid to ask questions to other more experienced runners. I am always learning from other runners around me and can assure you that no question is stupid, inappropriate, or too gross. For those of you who like to read, The Runner’s World Complete Book of Women’s Running is a great resource.

In addition I cannot go on enough about the benefits of running with others. If you are currently running solo, go to the Road Runner’s Club of America website and find a club near you. Joining a club and meeting new people can truly be a life changing experience.

Seriously good stuff!

And lucky for you, I am giving one super lucky reader a copy of The Runner's World Complete Book of Women's Running, a stick of Body Glide, and some Gu-u-u!

4 ways to enter:

1. Leave a comment with your absolutely cannot do without exercise/fitness item

2. Twitter this giveaway-o-rama.  Leave a comment that you did so

3. Blog this giveaway and link back to this post.  Leave a comment that you did so

4. Leave a question for Kstan in a separate comment.  It could be a running question, question about her marathon, how she trained, or about her love for roosters.

Giveaway deadline is Wednesday, March 10 at 5pm central.  This is my first giveaway, so if no one decides to enter, I am keeping the stuff for myself.

Aspen Snowmass Give Me My Heart Back

 

 

Kevin was the greatest teacher ever.

The girl to my right broke her tailbone.

The girl to my left writes this blog

Chris and Abby

I sat here for much of the trip drinking coffee by the fire, reading, and watching the people come down the mountain.  Perfect vacay.

Indeed.

And so, I crossed #9 off of my list.

Me gusto enchiladas, ay yay yay yayyyy! Arriba.

Enchiladas are, like, the easiest thing to make.  Ever.  Maybe.

I don't typically toot my own horn, or any horn for that matter, but I make some freakin' good enchiladas.  Ladies, especially if you are lacking in the cooking-skills-making food for your husband/boyfriend/fiance market, make these ladas and you will be a goddess who rules the brain of your man.

As usual, I don't have a solid recipe to share (see black bean hummus).  So, try to stick with me here.

Drizzle some oil in a pan and throw in whatever spices you want your meat to taste like.  That's what sh...never mind.  I think I used chili powder and garlic something and some other things.  You can use whatever you want.
This particular time, I made ground turkey enchiladas.

DO NOT! knock it until you try it.  If you try to be health conscious as we do, make sure to get the extra lean turkey.  Sometimes people are all, "Oh I'll be all healthy and get turkey", and then they don't read the package and end up buying the turkey who spent his whole life at the bar drinking beer and eating pub food and then stumbled home and stopped at the pizzeria every night.

Throw the meat in and cook it until it is mostly not pink.  You're going to cook it again, so if it's not completely done, it's not the end of the world.  No need to throw it against the wall and cry because you are the worst cook in the history of America.  Not that I've done that.

If you want to make pulled chicken ladas, throw some chicken breasts in boiling water for about 10-30 minutes.  Look, I don't know how long I boil them for, so just sort of watch until they are done aka not pink in the middle.  Then get them out and pull them with a fork.  If you don't know how to pull chicken, email me.

Next, open the wine.

It would be pretty cool if I could say I make enchiladas with wine somehow, but, it's simply to drink while you cook.  It will make it so much more relaxing, I promise.  Some of my favorite alone time is spent cooking with some wine and DC's ipod playing in the living room.

This one was on sale at Central Market and it ended up being delicious.

And since DC wasn't home yet, Rico Paco Manuel Eduardo kept me company.  Courtesy of Jellie.

Ok so while your meat is a rockin' in the pan, you need to decide what else you want to put in these bad boys.  If you just want meat and cheese, that's fine, you can be boring and remind me of a friend in elementary school who would only eat cheese enchiladas and mac n cheese.  And chicken nuggets.  Or you can pull stuff from your fridge and make this interesting and be a more intriguing person to me.  It's up to you.

As you can see, I have chosen some mushrooms (I can't believe it either, but I am really starting to enjoy them), chopped cilantro, TONS of chopped onion because I love them and I am cooking so I do whateva I want, and green pepper which would not normally be a choice of mine, but I needed to use them before they went bad.  When your meat is done, put it in a large mixing bowl, then throw your veggies in the leftover meat-cooking-juice-goodness.  Cook them down until they are pretty soft.

While the veggies cooked, I threw in some green chilies I had leftover.  Leftover from what, I have not one clue, but I like me some spice, so they were perfect.

When everything is cooked up and lookin' good, mix it all together in a big bowl.  I added half a bag of fat free (you can find some kinds that melt...some don't) cheese

and you can add half a can, or a whole can of enchilada sauce (I used some cans of medium and some of hot) if you want.  I didn't add it to my bowl because I realized half way through that I didn't have enough of it and it's more crucial to use it for the top of them.  Just, like, add some srirachi or some tobasco or something.  Or, if you're a wimp and don't like spice, I don't know what to tell you.  Just leave it I guess.

Then just stuff them with the mixture, roll em up, and put them seam side down in a pan.  Check out those tortillas.  We get them at Central Market (non-Texans, this is like Whole Foods) freshly made.  They're usually still warm in the bag.  Delish.

After every layer, you want to pour some enchilada sauce on them.  If you leave any spots dry, it will be crunchy after they cook.

I did one layer of the jalapeno tortillas and one of some whole wheat tortillas.  Then, cover every inch with enchilada sauce and cheese.  Put a humongous piece of foil loosely on top and cook in the oven (maybe on 350?) for about 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

While they cook, drink some wine and chop up some tomatoes, more cilantro, get out the sour cream, and anything else you want on top

You can also whip up some guac and chips for your man who is still at work makin that change to provide for your ridiculous shopping habit slash your amazing trip to the mountains.

Love.

And then, devour.

This really makes too much food for DC and myself, so we freeze about half of it and eat it during a week when, say, we have returned from an excellent vacay and have not one grocery in the place.