its foodie penpal time!

Well its that time of the month, where I get to show you the lovely goods I got from the ever awesome foodie penpal group I participate in. I cant thank Lindsay enough for putting this all together!

This month I got an awesome package from Frieda over at the Purple Oven Mitt (seriously isn't that an adorable name!)

 

Frieda sent me a postcard from the Pacific Northwest, and I cried! We want to move to that region so bad that I was totally in love with the card, talk about beauty! 

Than on to the food, my husband didnt know what the package of food was when he opened it but before I could take a picture he already was digging in! He feel in love with the plantain chips and trail mix! 

 

Frieda was awesome in helping me with my gluten free newness and sent me some yummy mac and cheese to try! I love doing this much because so many new things are found that I would have never seen and so many new crushes are made! Thanks a bunch Frieda!

Here are the details on joining in on the penpal club!

On the 5th of every month, you will receive your penpal pairing via email. It will be your responsibility to contact your penpal and get their mailing address and any other information you might need like allergies or dietary restrictions.
-You will have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail. On the last day of the month, you will post about the goodies you received from your penpal! 
-The boxes are to be filled with fun foodie things, local food items or even homemade treats! The spending limit is $15. The box must also include something written. This can be anything from a note explaining what’s in the box, to a fun recipe…use your imagination!
-You are responsible for figuring out the best way to ship your items depending on their size and how fragile they are. (Don’t forget about flat rate boxes!)
-Foodie Penpals is open to blog readers as well as bloggers. If you’re a reader and you get paired with a blogger, you are to write a short guest post for your penpal to post on their blog about what you received. If two readers are paired together, neither needs to worry about writing a post for that month. 
-Foodie Penplas is open to US & Canadian residents.  Please note, Canadian Residents will be paired with other Canadians only. We've determined things might get too slow and backed up if we're trying to send foods through customs across the border from US to Canada and vice versa. So, I'm going to keep two separate lists and match US w/ US and Canada w/ Canada!

f you’re interested in participating for April, please CLICK HERE to fill out the participation form and read the terms and conditions. 

Running for life

Funny how sometimes we write about something in our life than so quickly things can change. For the past six months my 93 year old grandmother has been sick. She has lived a beautiful long life and means the world to me. She was very involved in my life and on Monday she moved on from this life to one I can only imagine is much better for her now. The last six months were not easy on her body and cancer tore through it with a force so painful and unrelentless. She is no longer in pain and that is the best relief to anyone who saw her suffer. Today I sit inside a dark room watching it rain outside and all I want to do is run. So as soon as I get someone to watch the girls, I am going to go run. I am going to run for her and for me. I will run for the beautiful long life I got to share with her, and the beautiful lives we will both now lead.

a clean start

I am slowly getting my running back up and I cant help but feel good about it. This week has been rainy, rain to me is refreshing and a clean start. I needed a clean start and mother nature agreed with me!

So many times we can get out of whack and that is when I am prone to give up. I want to give into my laziness, buy what is easy and get off track. I was thinking today about how I was able to gain the weight that I did in the past, and I think I fell into a comfortable routine of laziness. Its hard for me to imagine that laziness now because even when I am out of whack, I am more active than I ever was in the past. I

I realized that my mind had a clean start a few years back and the old comfortable routine I was once use to was washed away. When I am not active, I want to be active! I have moments that I get a bit lazy but the rain comes and washes away my laziness and reminds me of my new routine.

A clean start has helped me in so many ways throughout my life. I listened to a song after Ashlyn passed away, over and over again, about being washed away. The song reminds me of tough times and how clear I have risen from hard times. How I am still rising. Sometimes we all need a little rain to wash away the things that are holding us down.

Book Review: The Ultimate Beginner's Running Guide: The Key to Running Inspired

This week I am working on building my running back up. I have been off since my bout with pneumonia and its been a rough ride back to getting my running and exercise back in gear. I can blame the pneumonia but it is more of me letting myself fly into old habits and lose some of the things I have worked so hard for in the past year. With the weather warming up and races across the city, I am slowly crawling out of my self-imposed shell and working on building up my running again!

With the help of this awesome book that I was asked to review, I am ready to get going again! The book The Ultimate Beginner's Running Guide: The Key to Running Inspired by Ryan Robert. Now I have been running for over a year and while its not so beginner, we all can learn new things and this book helped me learn a lot! I had read several books about running when I began running but none of them hit me like this one did. It was informative but not in a way that felt so scientific that you didn't want to keep reading.

As I sat in self pity reading this book, I realized a few things...

-Take running one day at a time. We get caught up in so much more than just the day we are living in. While when training we have a future plan set out, we have to look at our day just for that day!

-I cant explain how important this is, stretching is key to and I love how he explains how to start out with a jog or walk instead of cold stretching. I explain this in our new beginners class often but sometimes people do not think about it.

-I love how he maps out training schedules for new runners, active enthusiasts, weight loss and people over 50.

-Another area I am passionate about is making sure you are buying shoes for your feet, not for style.

I cannot explain to you enough, how much I enjoyed this book. I plan to recommend it to all of my beginning runners class! I plan on reading this book every time I get in a slump. I usually never want to re-read books but I promise, this is a good one!

(PS this book is on Amazon right now for free if you are a prime member or 4.99!! Its worth this price and I would recommend it to so many people!)

life planning for the week!

I do think its somewhat official that I have an issue with gluten. I had my stomach day the other day and it took me a while to get back to feeling better. Since going back off gluten my stomach felt almost immediately better one day later. I think that I don't have the severe allergies that some have but I do if I eat a full serving. I will keep seeing how it goes and with a conversation with my doctor see where we will go from here!

This is one interesting week for me! I am trying out working at night so I can get more done and have no distractions! Its great that I am able to test out and make my own schedule but I have no idea how this one will go! It will take some getting use to. Last night was interesting but so far I am feeling okay. I didn't bring any water with me to drink and that was probably the only problem! For those of you who asked, I mainly decided to stay on at work so that my resume has something on it when I get back in the workforce and because it is so flexible, its hard to leave! I also have several track club events going on that are taking up my nights and leaving my husband as a single parent! Thank goodness he is getting use to my crazy schedule!

With all the craziness going on this week, I have learned to make meals that are easy enough for me to get ready and my husband to plate! I am sure this week will be lots of fun but I am really ready for summer break!

Monday
Dinner: Brisket Taco Salad
Workout: 4 mile run

Tuesday
Dinner: Frittatas, Brussels Sprouts and Salad
Workout: Gym

Wednesday
Dinner: Sandwiches, Fruit Salad and Applesauce (salad for me at event I have to attend)
Workout: 4 mile run

Thursday
Dinner: My mother is making dinner
Workout: Gym

Friday
Dinner: Turkey Burgers, Zucchini Bites and Sweet Potato Fries
Workout: BodyPump

Saturday:
Dinner: Sweet Potato Asian Salad
Workout:  5k Race/Diva Dash!

Sunday
Dinner: Roasted Chicken, Green Beans and Salad
Workout: Rest

How is your week looking? Anyone work nights have tips for me?

Runners Weekly Ramblings!

 I finally am getting up one of my favorite post of the week, my weekly ramblings! These are some things I found around the blogging world that got my little mind a thinkin! And since my baby is two today I thought I would grace you all with a beautiful picture of Eisley (eyes-lee) my St. Patrick's Day baby!

Dina over at, Dina Runs, wrote a blog post full of great information to get you out running, NAKED! No, not that kind of naked, the kind where you leave your GPS at home and just run! I loved this post because I think so many times we are worried about numbers and for some reason I think going naked is truly relaxing!

Peachy Palate posted a delish recipe that I cant wait to try out! Its an Asian Sweet Potato Salad that looks killer in her photos and sounds amazing! I think I will be adding it to my menu plan this week!

With going gluten free I have been getting cozy with some new blogs and my favorite one is Make It Naked! Her pictures are beautiful and her food all looks and sounds perfect! I love her recipe for Green Eggs and Ham!

Kathy over at Just Keep Running, shared an article from the NY Times that caused a bit of a stir that they closed the comments on it. The article is about a writer who went to one of the biggest loser camps for weight loss. I was intrigued  more so by the comments that were written than the actual story. I think if someone wants to do this for a vacation that is great but in the end, they can do this stuff at home, using that that money towards a gym membership, nutritionist and have a real plan other than the one week. I think losing weight is more about changing your habits and learning right and wrong more than anything. If they can do that great but in reality obesity hits more poor people than it does rich (in America). The means to pay for is probably out of reach for many, including going to a gym, buying mainly vegetables and whatnot, so while these might help those who have the means to go, that is great but its not going to solve the real problem!

books get me motivated!

Our house is kind of in a slump right now. I am having trouble adjusting to working a very weird schedule and keeping this house up! Did I mention that I decided to stay on at the store for a while? I work crazy early in the morning and get home before the girls are up so they don't lose time with me. I am losing sleep at the moment and I have to figure out the right mix! Whenever my life gets busy or feels out of control, I tend to let go on my eating, not make time for exercise and let the girls do whatever. Its not something I am proud of but its life and well, this blog is about real life!

I decided this week to start cleaning up around the house, getting rid of clutter and clear my mind! I needed to really let it sink in why I live the life I live and choose exercise and health when I am in a groove. They way I get my mind back in gear is with books! I cant live without an audible book while I am cleaning and organizing.

One book that really got me to get out in run when I began my journey was Run Like A Mother!  I got an email yesterday saying that Dimity and Sarah's new book, Train Like A Mother is coming out next week! I quickly went over to amazon and pre-ordered a copy! I need a boost to get me ready for my spring race schedule and I think that will help get me out of my funk! I also went over to their website and totally fell in love with the shirts they have! So this book is on my schedule for next week! Cant wait!

I needed something in the meantime to get me through my hump and decided a book on food was exactly what I needed! Two years ago I read the book What To Eat by Marion Nestle and loved it! Marion spends her days in the world of nutrition and really has researched everything to the extremes. This book is not a diet book at all, its a book about food and the ends and outs of it. Its not motivated by corporate sponsors at all and since she has been in the nutrition world for years and extremely well educated on the topic, to me its totally reliable! So when her new book Why Calories Matter came out I pounced on it!   I am reading this now and well let you know how it is when I am done!

I am slowly building back my desires to get working out again and I am hoping flooding my brain with cold hard facts will whip it back in shape!

Do you have any books that motivate you to get in gear? Would love to hear about them!

my mind and body disagree

Do you ever one of those days where you think you are about to have a perfect run? Today I went into to work around 4:30 and got off at 12. I took the time to get a run in before picking the girls up from the babysitter and went out for a run. I was excited to run, my exercising has been slacking with me trying to adjust to my schedule and finally I had time and a perfect day to do it.

(seriously this Under Armour tank is amazingly soft and I got it for 5 bucks on clearance!)

 I was totally excited and told myself I was just going to run and if it took me 3,5,10 miles I was going to enjoy it! I put on my favorite shorts and tank (it was 80 degrees out!). I went out with a bounce in my step, the best way to run!

Sadly my body didn't want to play with the joy in my mind. At a quarter of mile I felt a pang in my side but thought it was nothing, at almost a mile, I started to have major cramps in my stomach. Ugh they hurt and I couldn't figure them out but I assumed they would go away if I kept going. Sadly they didn't go away and they didn't get better if I stopped in walked for a second. It was totally weird and I cant describe the pain, it wasn't girly cramps it was stomach cramps and in a totally different area from where I normally get cramps.

I ended up just running 2.5 miles and it took me longer than normal but at least I got to do something! I continued to have the cramps the rest of the day and realized that morning I had had some gluten and wonder if after a week of being gluten free that my stomach had an awful time processing it. That is the only thing that I can think of at the moment.

Any runners insight on to anything else that it could be?

time for relaxing...

Ahh I see a little bit of a break in my crazy schedule right now and it just so happens to be a week where the temperatures are going to be in the 70s! I am not going to complain one bit at all! I have no idea what our plans will be but I intend to do a little reading, a little running and a little time at the gym!

First day of soaking up the sun!

My goals for the week are: spend some time outside with the girls, get all laundry done and put winter clothes away and clean out my bathrooms drawers I have no idea if I will accomplish these goals (lets just say so far these goals aren't going so well), but I am sure going to try.

A new year, a new do!

On Sunday my first born turned FIVE YEARS OLD! I can't believe that she is getting so big and she made a huge decision and I let her! She had beautiful long hair that everyone complimented when they saw it but it also was very tangled at times. She has been begging for a new haircut the past couple of weeks, so on her birthday, I gave in. I didn't give much of an opinion because I wanted it to be up to her. So we left the hair salon with oodles of hair on the floor, a mom in shock and a happy little five year old!

On the gluten free front, things are going well. I had a little slip up when I was making Avery's breakfast yesterday and I didn't even think when I slipped monkey bread into my mouth. I thought my stomach hurt after I ate it but than again I think my mind was playing tricks on me! The other issues that my tummy has have not occurred the entire week but than again I just never know! So onward marching we go with go with gluten free, so far its been good but we need more time to see how things go!

How is your week looking? Is it spring break in your area?

WIAW...a gluten free day

On Sunday, I started a gluten free diet and so far it hasnt been to hard! I have been sticking close to our menu plan and making sure to eat clean as much as possible! Today is the first day I will be working since I went gluten free but I dont plan on working too long today, even so I packed up everything and I think I am good to go!

Here is what my first day of gluten free living looked like:

 

Trader Joe's Gluten Free Oats, Raspberries, chocolate protein and chia seeds.

A Taco Salad with hamburger meat, 1/2 shell of corn taco torn up, a little cheese, salsa and big old dollop of guacamole!

Snack: Mary's Gone Crackers and Cheese
Butter Chicken (made with gramflour instead of regular) and Rice

with a big heaping side of asparagus!

Are you excited its asparagus season? I know I sure am!

gluten free menu planning!

Yes I am taking the dive into gluten free living. My stomach issues have continued this past month and while it could be a number of things, all tests are coming back fine. Unfortunately my stomach has different ideas and after having a rock hard stomach last week that made me hate moving, I decided it was time, with the help of my doctor to start eliminating things from my diet. Since almost all of my symptoms lean towards celiac (although two test have come back negative), she thinks I might have developed an gluten  sensitivity. She explained to me that if I have just recently developed gluten issues, I could actually have celiac but the villi are not damaged enough. So who knows!! I have no idea if this will help but at least its a step and I am totally done with getting blood drawn, poked and prodded. We are going to test this out for 3 weeks and go from there.

Anywhoo! I have been spending my weekend reading up on some great gluten free bloggers such as, Jo-Lynne at Musing of A Housewife,  Karina at Gluten-Free Goodess and local friend Joanne at 52 sweets. They are inspiring and have so much great information on the topics! I cant wait to read more and see if in the next 3 weeks my life will be changing to gluten free living!

This morning I had a wonderful bowl of brown rice hot cereal, chia seeds, biochem protein powder and blueberries! 

Monday:

-Breakfast: Brown Rice Hot Cereal

-Lunch: Salad with grilled chicken and Asparagus

-Dinner: Gruyere Chicken with Mushrooms (Inspired by Jo-Lynne at Musing of  a Housewife)

-Workout: Chest/Triceps and 4 Mile Run

Tuesday:

-Breakfast: Omelet
-Lunch: Rice Cake with Avocado, salad and fruit
-Dinner: Asian Turkey Meatballs (from Gluten Free Goddess)
-Workout: Back and Biceps

Wednesday:

-Breakfast: Chocolate Protein Gluten Free Oatmeal
-Lunch: Salad with grilled Chicken
-Dinner: Crockpot Whole Chicken, Sweet Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts
-Workout: 5 mile Run

Thursday:

-Breakfast: Brown Rice Hot Cereal
-Lunch:  Leftovers
-Dinner: Crustless quiche/salad/Asparagus (Inspired by Jo-Lynne at Musing of  a Housewife)
-Workout: Legs and Calves

Friday:

-Breakfast: Veggie Omelet
-Lunch: Leftover  Quiche with Salad
-Dinner: Girls friend b-day party, so I am thinking it will be a homemade pizza, popcorn kid movie party!
-Workout: Shoulder and Abs and hopefully a 4 mile run

Saturday:

-Breakfast: Green Smoothies
-Lunch:  Out
-Dinner: Chili Chicken, Rice and Naan (for Brian, I will miss Naan more than anything!although I have seen gluten free recipes!)
-Workout: 5 mile run

Sunday:

-Breakfast: Birthday Breakfast for Avery, whatever she request

-Lunch: Birthday Party for Girls, probably an assortment of things

-Dinner:Sweet Potato Chicken Chili (another adapted from Gluten Free Goddess)

-Workout: Rest

Do you have a favorite gluten free blog!? 

Linking Up to Menu Planning Monday!

a new start, goal for the month!

I am standing in my kitchen trying not to get dog hair over my work outfit which is of course, revolves around the color black! So before I head out to work for a few hours I decided it was about time that I posted to the Fitness Friday link up since it really has been ages!

Its the beginning of the month and the beginning of me being of restrictions so I am ready to get back in the game! I have a few crazy weekends coming up but that is nothing compared to last month!! Every month I list out goals and while I love having my list, last month I don't think I was able to cross off anything! So this month we are starting all over again!

Goals for March!
-Weight Train 4 days a week. One of those days must be Bodypump!
-Run 100 miles in March
-Complete my first trail run
-Beat my 5k time for the Diva Dash! This is my anniversary run and I cant wait to try running it again since I began running. My time for it was around 35 minutes last year, my PR time is 27:56, so here is hoping for under that!
-Get back to reading!

What are your goals for the month!

I added a race tab on the sidebar of the blog! I kept forgetting which races I had already paid for so thought it was a good idea to keep a reminder tab! I have a lot more planned for the year but those are the ones I have paid for already!