t-giving training.

thanksgiving is 2 weeks away...2 weeks away!  thanksgiving is gunning hard for my favorite of the "non-jesus" holidays, although it has some work to do before it blows valentine's day out of the water.  i dare you to jockey for the pole position, thanksgiving 2011.  make your move.

thanksgiving is like christmas except without having to buy stuff.  i like that i can just hang out with my friends and family without having to buy their affection with material things.  i can just buy their love with tasty side dishes instead. 

however, t-giving can both literally and figuratively be a total turkey.  if you're trying to stay in shape and eat well, better sleep from november 23rd-november 26th.  t-giving has four, sassy "s" words that can really throw a wrench in the old "getting my pants up" routine.  sugar, stress, saturated fats, and being sedentary. 

holidays be full of tasty foods full of saturated fat and sugar and they are in abundant supply.  let's be real, who can exercise that much restraint?  i see a crock pot full of mashed potatoes and i'm all over it.  plus, there's lots of adult libations around the holidays and booze be full of empty calories due to the high sugar content of most alcohols and mixers.  holidays also be stressful, yo.  stress (for some people) only causes one to drink and eat more.  and it all adds up to a holiday where all you want to do is sit on your fat, bloaty behind and watch home alone for the 100th time in between football games (which sounds awesome, right?)

ok, there's nothing wrong with getting a little lax around the holidays.  it is going to happen.  get after it.  enjoy yourself.  i plan on probably getting a little wild with the dark meat (that's what she said) myself.  admittedly, i got a little crazy after my half-marathon.  i've had more sugar and bad carbs in the past two weeks than i have had in the past 3 months.

this is why i am spending the next two weeks training for t-giving.  that's right.  training.  increase the exercise, decrease the saturated fat and sugar (true story: i have a garbage can full of candy corn,) and just chill out. 

feel free to join in on the fun and watch for some helpful tips to work around those sassy "s" words as we countdown to t-giving 2011.

h&b: smooth operator

friends, winter is creeping up on us.  although the weather has been pretty indecisive and relatively mild the past few months, the dry air is slowly settling in as evidenced by my bloody, dry, cracked knuckles, my chapped lips, and my dry scalp.

over the years, i've tried a lot of fancy-schmancy stuff to help keep the "gator effect" in the winter down to a minimum.

here are some tried and true products that i'm willing to bet you'll be into...unless you like bloody knucks, dandruff, and gritty lips...which is totally your call.

baking soda: cheap, handy exfoliater

every journey to smooth and supple skin/hair starts with exfoliation. 

put 1/2-1 tsp in the palm of your hand with your facial wash to buff away dead skin.  use more for a more intense scrub. you can also sprinkle on a loofah in the shower or use it to strip away excess residue in your hair if you mix a small amount in your shampoo. i use this stuff on occasion to help smooth rough elbows, knees, feet, whatever!  it's more cost effective than cosmetic lines out there and incredibly versatile. 

vaseline: cheap, intensive moisturizer

i don't know how vaseline made it's way into this world but i don't want to live without it.  it's not just for beauty pageant smiles.  if you want to moisturize super troublesome spots in a short amount of time, slather on some of this goo and hit the sheets.  make sure whatever you grease up isn't exposed to your sheets, clothes, etc. because this stuff is impossible to get out.  grab an old pair of socks or a rando, mismatched pair of  magic gloves to help protect your linens from the petrol.  i can't stand doing this so i only do it in extreme situations because it totally works.  however, i'm a big fan of vaseline as an emergency lip balm in any sitch.

cetaphil: best drugstore moisturizer (for my money, at least)

cetaphil is a staple in my house.  it's like frank's red hot sauce: i put that s*$& on everything :) cetaphil is a great option for winter moisturizing.  it is a humectant which means it draws moisture in and keeps it there.  it also is non-comodogenic meaning it doesn't clog pores so you can put it on your face and not worry about breaking out.  it also does not have fragrance which is a particular bonus in the winter.  ever notice how lotions with scents BURN BURN BURN when you put them on chapped hands?  that's because of the alcohols and chemicals involved with fragrance.  they actually end up drying you out worse than if you didn't have any lotion on at all.  my friend, cetaphil, comes available fragrance-free so all i feel is 'ahhhhhhhhh' when i put it on instead of  'OMG! AHHHHHHHHHHH!'

pantene pro-v 2-in-1- moisturizing shampoo/conditioner

using conditioner every day can make your hair dull and weigh it down.  however, if you are prone to getting a dry scalp in the winter, using conditioner in small doses every day is a good way to keep dandruff down.  selecting a 2-in-1 product like pantene offers is a nice balance of cleaning and moisturizing without being too hardcore on one or the other.

lastly, chapstick.  i love my chapstick.  i have at least 6 sticks between my office, my house, my car, my purses, my nightstand....wherever.  chapstick isn't just for your lips, folks. i use it on small, dry patches of skin.  i'm not exactly using as directed when i put it on my forehead or knuckles or even when i work some into my palms to help smooth fly-aways and keep my eyebrows in place, but it works.  i would just recommend you use 'original' for those more adventurous purposes. 

side note: my husband hates when i wear stuff on my lips.  it's a guaranteed way to get a big "EWWWWWWWWWWW.....LIP STUFF" and a sour face from him after a smooch.  but when i wear cherry chapstick, the dude has no complaints :)

stay smooth, my babies.  stay smooth.

half-marathon, vol. 1: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

i did it.  i successfully completed my first half-marathon.  all the hype surrounding half-marathons is true.  the pain, the exhilaration, the adrenaline, the excitement, the pain, the unadulterated joy, the love, the pride, and the pain...it's all legitimate.  it's intoxicating.  it's addicting.  it's an accomplishment.  it changes you.

i'm part of a club now.  i can put that "13.1" sticker on the back of my car.  i'm a legit member of a running brotherhood.  it feels pretty damn good.

after this post, you likely won't have to hear about this damn race ever again except for a few relevant references for future posts. it's mostly because i'm sick of talking about it but more so because i am not a person that believes in coasting on one accomplishment.  i mean, there's a reason i don't walk around with my high school DECA trophies or that one ribbon i won from a coloring contest at the grocery store.  that's not to say i don't believe in a good, long, sustained celebration after a major accomplishment, but i find i don't do a lot of forward moving if i stay in one spot for too long.

the good

i finished.  i finished in under 3 hours.  my goal was 2:38.  more on this "time thing" later.  but the good thing is, i did it.

also good: there is no shortage of positive energy in a race.  all the runners are rooting for one-another.  all the  spectaters want you to do well.  total strangers outpour a tremendous amount of support, well-wishes, high-fives, shots, hoots, hollers...its indescribable.  it is a tremendous encouragement.  really, really awesome.

the bad

until mile 7, i was having the run of my life.  i was making the best time ever.  i felt amazing. i was keeping pace right alongside "clay matthews" at the 2:30 marker.  then, around mile 7, without warning, my left knee started burning.  three strides later, the pain was incredible.  i couldn't bend my knee without tearing up.  never, in all my training or in all my life, have i ever experienced that kind of sharp, burning, relentless pain in that area of my knee.  i walked it out, stretched it out, watched the 2:30 marker fade into the distance.

the 2:40 pacer stopped to see what was up as she watched me struggle, jogging 20 seconds here or there and then hunching over on the side of the road to stretch.  she, having struggled with the same issue all her life as a seasoned runner, informed me it was most likely an IT band injury.  basically, i pissed off the ligament that is responsible for connecting most all your muscles from your ass to your knee--it controls the movement of the leg.  you don't want to get it angry but i totally did with all the downhill sprawls and uneven paths. 

i had to walk the last 5 miles or so.  the medics at the finish and the personal trainers in my office affirmed the pacer's suspicions.  i need to start a rehab program to get the IT band to "calm the hell down" so that i can get running again.  but for now, i need to take a few weeks off and get healthy.  kind of a bummer but a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things.

more good

a runner from milwaukee had the same problem but her started more around mile 3. super nice chick named devon.  we decided not to quit and to support each other the rest of the way.  remember what i said earlier about the positive energy in a race?  you can't find nicer people...really.  just a testament to the bond that runners have on the course.  we support, we rally, we finish :)

(finishers!)

the ugly

i lost a toe nail during the race.  tmi? probably.  took my shoes off and found a bloody toe with a missing nail...whoops.  guess that "post-race pedi" will have to wait a while...you know, until i have all my toe nails again.

again, all the hype is true.  it finally happened: i'm a runner.

*special shout-out to my husband who sacrificed a trip to the hampton hot tub, a dinner at potbelly, and all body heat reserves just to help me do this damn thing.  <3  he says i've never looked happier, not even on our wedding day, than i did in the race pics.  i told him that it was 100 times less painful to marry him than it was to finish this race.  i was ready for the race to end but this marriage thing...i want that to last a long, long time :)

it's the final countdown

(beeeeeeeeee do beeeeee do beeeeeeeeeeee do be be do)

hey, friends.  my first half-marathon is THIS SATURDAY.  you really snuck up on me, half-marathon.  touche.

after 12 weeks of training (more like 9 since for three weeks I was pretty much m.i.a...my bad,) the BIG DAY is more or less finally here...and you know what, i'm presently more concerned with not finding any cool, knee-high, halloween-themed socks to run in than finishing.  don't get it twisted, i will finish barring any outlandish injuries.

i feel like i should be more worried than i am...oh well.  once that baby starts, there's no turning back.  only one way home and that's the finish line.

i just have to say, "thanks!" to everyone who has supported and encouraged this crazy affair from day one.  i'll do you all proud.

just another meatless monday (oh way oh)..except for the shrimp...and except the fact it's tuesday

fact: i love tofu. 

i totes used to hate that spongy, grey, dank-smelling salty brick of blaeeeeeeeeeeeahhhh but i've grown to love the stuff.

fact:  until today, i've never prepared anything at home with tofu.  i've let that up to the pros at hu hot, gingerootz, and the cafeteria at franklin campus.

it's tricky to get in protein in if you're vegging out for a while.  although i'm running this month like a pecestarian (thanks, mike!) seafood be pricey, yo.  so it's time to get down and dirty with the bean curd and the first time around was pretty damn tastey.

i present to you a recipe for (me so) hot and sour soup

ingredients:
8 oz fresh or frozen peeled and devined shrimp (i bought the cheapest, smallest shrimp i could find)
3.5 oz chicken broth
7 oz canned whole mushrooms drained (i just noticed the recipe said to halve the shrooms...you totally don't have to)
1/4 cup rice vinegar or white vinegar (white vinegar was just fine)
2 tbsp soy sauce (i used low sodium)
1 tsp sugar
1tsp fresh grated ginger
1/2 tsp black pepper
4 oz tofu cut into bite-size chunks (adorable)
1 tbsp cornstarch
1 tbsp cold water
1 cup fresh pea pods (didn't include in my recipe)
1 beaten egg (sorry, egg)
2 tbsp green onion (didn't have but wish i would have...next time)

directions:

*thaw shrimp if frozen.  combine broth, shrooms, vinegar, soy, sugar, ginger, and pepper.  bring to a boil.  reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 2 minutes.

*get the shrimp and the tofu into the hot tub (pot full of the other ingredients) and simmer covered for 1 minute more. 

*stir together the cornstarch and water.  stir into the hot tub and add the pea pods.  cook and stir until slightly thickens and bubbly.  cook and stir for 2 minutes more.  pour egg into the soup in a steady stream while stirring 2-3 times to creat shreds.

*remove from heat, add green onions, and get ready for a oriental taste treat senseation numbah 1!

i love this soup.  it's better than the rando bowl of meaty, brothy mystery you get at a restaurant.  you could even go without the shrimp and it'd be just as good.

now, i elected to serve mine with some brown rice on the side, a rando fortune cookie from the back of the cupboard, and some new belgium belgo ipa (which is great) but do what you want.


trust me.  this stuff is better than it looks in my half-assed picture above.

pps: shout out to better homes and gardens, "easy dinners: soups and stews" for this bitchin' delight

happy anniversary to me

so today marks approximately the 2 month anniversary of this blog--what up!

i woke up this morning and thought, "hey, let's try on a pair of those jeans that have been collecting dust."

so....i did...and a pair actually fit--happy anniversary to me, you guys.
no calisthenics were required to stretch jeans into being "wearable."  you peeps know what i'm talking about--the squats, the lunges, the pulling on the waistband...the stretching and contorting and shimmy-ing and hoping and wishing...none of that...i just put on the pants and got on with my day (after some celebratory cusses :) )

even though in two months my grand total weight loss has only been 10 lbs, i'm pretty surprised that there is, in fact, something to this "building muscle" thing.  i mean, i couldn't get these babies over my thighs eight weeks ago and i'm still pretty damn surprised that i'm wearing these jeans today because the scale, well, the scale has been a little bitch.

i'm off to walk these little babies around the town today and by around the town i mean at the office and then celebrate tonight with a 10-mile run and a Brew Crew victory (i really hope they win...i can't imagine a life without my husband and a loss just might crush his will to live.)

just another meatless...month? (oh way oh)

hot off the heals of my confession on friday, i submit confessions pt 2 (just like usher)-i ate like ridiculous this weekend.  we had a wedding and i've never seen so much awesome food in my life...shrimp the size of my fist, bacon-wrapped scallops, bruschetta, steak, and open bar...man, it was cray-cray!  and, you know what, i pigged out like ridiculous and honestly, i don't even feel bad about it.  once in a while, we all have to go a little nuts and i choose those times wisely and i had to strike while the iron was hot on this one, folks.

anyway, i'm no worse for the wear today but feeling like some detoxing is in order.  as the fates would have it, it's also time to go grocery shopping again.  hubs and i decided we are going to try and go vegetarian 6 out of 7 days a week until thanksgiving (after which, we will eat a TON of turkey and sommersausage and all that other great meat stuff.)  we decided to allow fish so basically, we are going to be vegetarians...except on sundays (tailgate food, people!)...and we'll allow fish...so, i don't know what that actually is called...i know it's not vegetarian...whatever...it's close.

anyway, this crazy adventure starts today.  stay tuned for some rabbit food recipes!

also, what a great weekend for wisconsin sports...the badgers, the brewers, and the pack (my fave) just wrecked the competition.  loves it.