W.I.A.W. on a Sunday

Like I mentioned in my last post I'm away this week.  Monday to Wednesday I'm in Napanee training for work.  I come home latish Wednesday night and leave early Thursday for a conference until Friday.  Next week I'll post about trying to make the healthiest decisions while on the road - I get to travel a lot in my new job.

I decided to post about what I ate during the weekend.  It's a bit more interesting that smoothie for breakfast, salad for lunch... a bit : )

Sundays I typically sleep in until 8 or so then get up make some coffee and read the paper.  My kiddos get up around 7 or so and are usually hungry shortly after I get up so I make them pancakes... then go back to reading the paper.

My husband likes to make breakfast and I'm not going to try to interfere with that.. typically this is what he puts together.  Eggs, homefries and toast.

Usually after a bigger breakfast I'm not too hungry for lunch but I will have a salad.

I also tend to graze on food through the afternoon... some of these.

A banana, an apple, in other words fruit.

If its nice during the summer I love to see how much I can bar-b-que at one time.  This Sunday it was - grilled eggplant, onions and mushrooms, grilled aloo gobi, cheese and grilled romaine (not as gross as it sounds).

Weekend Wrap Up

Its sad when this time rolls around on a Sunday night.  I wish weekends could last one day longer.  But no luck.  I shouldn't complain though - I had a stellar weekend. 

Friday night I got together with friends to make some vegan recipes and drink some wine.  The food was good but the company was better.

Saturday morning after my TRX class I ran with some old friends and caught up.  Rick who I ran my first marathon with ran the Pittsburgh marathon at the start of May and smashed our PR of 4:08 coming in at 3:49.  It was fun to run with him again.  And guess what - we ran 8k and I didn't once think about anything but the run!

Then Saturday night a hot tub party - not nearly as exciting as it sounds.  My girls were invited and enjoyed bobbing in the hot tub.

Today the weather was beautiful and I was home alone - unexpectantly.  Thanks to a birthday party and a play date.  I will be away all week for work so I made sure all the house work and laundry was caught up... then I hung out here for a bit.

And with the extra time I had I made a few new recipes - carrot hummus and soft tortillas.

Carrot Hummus

by Denise Boyd Dunlop

Prep Time: 10 min

Cook Time: 30 min

6048518

Ingredients

• 1 pound carrots, peeled and chopped
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 tbsp. graham masala
• 4 cloves garlic peeled
• 1/4 cup almond butter
• 2 tbsp. nutritional yeast
• water
• salt & pepper

Instructions

Toss carrots and garlic in oil with graham masala. Roast on parchment line cookie sheet in over preheated to 375 for 30 minutes or until carrots are tender. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly. Add to food processor with remaining ingredients except water. Begin to process adding water as necessary until mixture has the consistency of hummus. Season with salt & pepper.

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W.I.A.W.

I made up with the treadmill, in case you were wondering.  I decided to go back to the gym on Monday and give it another shot.  This time different playlist.  Something on my phone called 'Lady Face Dance Party' (lady face is the nickname I have given my children - I have no idea why, but it stuck).  Yes the secret to a good treadmill workout is not music that I enjoy listening to but Top 40 stuff enjoyed by a 7 & 9 year old.  Shows where my brain is at.

Actually there is some research about the beats per minute making you run faster and I know there are websites dedicated to music at the specific tempo you are looking for.  But I've never actually experienced the results... until today.  Now I'm a Bieliber.  Just kidding I skipped the Biebs and One Direction... I do have some pride.

So without further ado here is my diet from Tuesday....


Smoothie for breakfast... my favourite

spinach, avocado, mangoes, hemp hearts and orange juice.  It tastes just like a creamcicle.

Lunch.....

sandwich with hummus, cucs and sprouts

Dinner....

beet and feta salad with enough for tomorrow's lunch

I also had a an apple, banana..

and giant bowl of popcorn with nutritional yeast.

It's Not You, It's Me.

I've admitted that I've been a huge wimp over the past few months and ran on the treadmill a lot.  But with the weather finally turning warm, I've ran outside more often.  I'm gradually building up my distance and my goal is to be running 10k by June 15th.  Last weekend I ran a lovely 8.5k outside and was feeling quite confident in myself to easily reach my goal.

So yesterday I planned my run.  It was raining and I was not in the mood to go outside (I really am made of sugar).  I headed to the gym armed with a spectacular play list and the intention of running 6 miles, just under 10k.  What could go wrong.

I started off very slow for speed 6.2 mph.  I decided that I would increase by 0.2 or 0.3 mph every mile.  Here's my synopsis of how the run went....

Mile 1 - time in 9:45.  Thought running through my head - 'Wow that was really slow.  This playlist isn't as great as I thought it was.  Should I just run 5 miles instead of 6? No - stick it out do 6.'

Mile 1.25 - Thought - 'I'm only running 5. Yes definitely 5 miles.'

Mile 1.45 - Thought - 'JJ Grey & Mofro, The Sun is shining down - why did I put this song on my playlist - its a great song but maybe I would appreciate it more if I was sitting on a porch.... drinking beer.  Yes beer is good.'

Mile 1.77 - Thought - 'Why can't I get into this run?  Do I need better music.  Should I change playlists?'

Mile 1.99 - Thought - 'Good in a few seconds I get to press a button and increase my speed to 6.8.'

Mile 2.13 - Thought - 'Maybe I should turn the TV on.  I can't reach the remote. Never mind.  Thinking of TV - do I like the new Arrested Development?  Its weird seeing the actors older. I wonder what I will look like in 10 years?  I think I look better than I did at 27, but maybe not.'

Mile 2.56 - Thought - 'Are those my feet making so much noise.  I sound like an elephant.  Soft feet, soft feet, soft feet - I should go for a pedicure.'

Mile 2.99 - Thought - 'Good - time to push a button again - up to 7.0.'

Mile 3.07 - Thought - 'Back to Arrested Development - does Portia de Rossi look better with short or long hair?  She's gorgeous either way.  Speaking of hair, I have had highlights and no one has noticed.  They're quite light... does this mean people don't like it and are just being polite? Who cares - I like them and its summer.  But really, no one has said anything.'

Mile 3.25 - Thought - 'Let's make this a game.  I need to get into the run.  Ok - pretend you're on a track.  Seven more times around the track.  Speed work would be better than this treadmill today.'

Mile 3.43 - Thought - 'I haven't even made one lap.  This game is stupid.'

Mile 3.56 - Thought - 'Another JJ Grey & MoFro song, Beautiful World.  Great song.  Not great for this run.  I wish I was on my deck or a patio and the sun was shining.  Hmmmm deck or patio.  I like beer.  How many calories are in a Corona.  I should google that when I get home.'

Mile 3.75 - Thought - `Finally - a good song.  Cold War Kids - Miracle Mile.  How many times would I have to hear this song if I listened to it for the rest of this endless run?'

Mile 4.0 - Thought - 'Ohhh good time to push a button.  7.2 - why does this feel so fast.  Should I hang on to the handle bars?  That would look dumb.  Besides it doesn't count.  Suck it up and run.'

Mile 4.28 - Thought - 'This song is ok - maybe I don't need to hear it a third time.'

Mile 4.5 - Thought - 'Hey two more times around the track.'

Mile 4.67 - Thought - 'Maybe I should go that extra mile.  Screw that - you're almost done.'

Mile 4.75 - Thought - 'One more lap.'

Mile 4.76 - Thought - 'Seriously that's as far as I've gotten?'

Mile 4.80 - Thought - 'Let's count down from 20.'

Mile 4.96 - Thought - 'Should I go that extra.... NO!'

Mile 5.0 - Thought 'Thank God.'

This workout is what I`m chalking up to a character building experience.  I got through it.  From now one I will run long distance outside.  I still have to run 10k but I will happen - just not on a treadmill.

It's back or rather I am.... W.I.A.W

I've missed catching up with my fellow bloggers and I was really happy to see that W.I.A.W. was still going strong.  I can't wait to check out what other people have had for meals - it gives me great ideas.

Here's my noshing's from Monday....


Smoothie.... I have been on a smoothie kick.  Its as though my stomach doesn't want anything else first thing in the morning.  This smoothie has kale, keifer, frozen berries and cinnamon.  And of course coffee on the side.

I snacked on a camera shy apple.

Lunch was also eaten before I could take a picture... salad with almonds, red peppers, tomatoes and balsamic vinaigrette along with some crackers and roasted red pepper hummus.

Dinner... bar-b-que!  Corn on the cob, stuffed portabella mushroom and more salad.

And for dessert... frozen yogurt made by my daughter.

 



Wild Berry Frozen Yogurt

by Denise Boyd Dunlop

Prep Time: 5 minutes

6048009

Ingredients (Serves 4)

• 1 cup Greek yogurt
• 2 cups frozen mixed berries
• 1/3 cup coconut sugar
• almond milk to thin

Instructions

Place all ingredients in blender in order listed except almond milk. Turn blender on and using tamper press berries into yogurt. Add milk as needed to help make the mixture frozen yogurt or ice cream like consistency. Serve immediately.

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Kids Stuff and Pretty Things

I'm going to start this post by saying I love being a mom.  Usually a statement like this follows up with a giant but.  But no but.

I love watching them forming their own thoughts about the world around them. I love watching them playing their games and trying their best.

I love watching my kids in their activities when it is warm, but not hot, freezing cold, crowded, raining or snowing. 

Here is the way I'll be spending my Tuesday and Friday evenings for the next 3 months... by the way it was quite chilly last evening.

So as much as I love my children and right now I'm attempting to savour as much growth and development as I can there are times where I just don't want to hear Farily Odd Parents first thing in the morning or step over toys in every single room of my house.  I know this won't last for ever and its my mantra at times. 

So here is my saving grace, it's cheesy and I'll admit it.  Running.  In preparation for training for the Road2Hope half I have been pre-training.  I'm working on one 5k run a week at my race pace and gradually building myself up to running 10k.  Through this training I realized how much running helped me not need my 'not lasting forever' mantra.

But despite how much running saves my sanity and helps me be a better mother sometimes a girl just needs something nice.  Check out my new purse. 

I decided to treat myself to this.  I had a rather subdued birthday this year.  Not like this or this from years past.  Mother`s day was cold and not as relaxing as I would have liked.  So a little retail therapy helped out.

Happy Victoria Day!!!

I celebrated the unofficial start to summer in typical hardy Canadian style this year... yes people - I went camping.  Way back in the day pre-mother days I used to go away every Victoria Day weekend.  There was the typical mix of wonderful weather, soggy tents, mosquitoes the size of humming birds with the sprinkling of snow.  All of my long weekend 'hardiness' ended one sad trip...the final straw for going away on the May long weekend was a freezing cold weekend we went away with another couple - and their two year old and crying screaming new born.  We were trapping in the middle of nowhere for 3 TORTUOUS days.  After that fiasco I decided to pack it in and stay put doing something useful - like gardening on the long weekend.

That is until this year, I really just wanted to get away.  So we packed up and headed to Killarney. I've posted about staying in Killarney before - it is my favourite provincial park.  So how did it rate this year - well not as busy at this time of year.  It was still beautiful as always- quartz and granite rock faces gorgeous lakes..... crazy long weekend traffic to get there and hair full of black flies. 

I hiked the Granite Ridge trail for and hung out for a while staring at Georgian Bay.

Practised yoga - yes the self gratuitous yoga shots are back.....

.... look I have followers.

My girls bravely swam to the buoys and back on a $5 bet.

Sadly we had rain the day of our planned hike on The Crack - so an old photo.

Instead we headed to Science North in Sudbury for the day.  I actually think the kiddos had more fun there instead.

This morning we packed up early leaving before 8am avoiding most of the major traffic.  The trailer is unpacked, my sixth load of laundry is almost done, I'm wearing clean clothes and I no longer smell like bug spray or a campfire.  I'm glad we went away - happy we had warm weather but I think I'm good to stay put for a few Victoria Day weekends.