Week 3 of Half Marathon Training

Yes, amazingly I am sticking with my training plan. I've only missed one run so far. Yeah. Our last two long runs were 4 miles each. It does seem strange to think I just accept this as something I'm going to do rather than falling on the floor and crying and refusing to go. And it's not even that bad. I really, really like my intervals and hats off to Jeff Galloway. At this point I don't care how fast I'm going or that I'm not running the whole way, I'm just proud that I'm getting out there and doing it. Admittedly it's harder on the day I'm partner-less. I really struggle to make myself get out there and I give myself way too many excuses. I probably could talk Aaron into going with me. I get by with a little help from my friends.

Eating (and pronouncing) Quinoa

I have recently discovered the joy of eating (and saying) quinoa (keen wah). I have a strange compulsion to say the name over and over, which only works if you actually eat it. Otherwise it's just weird(er). I have read many articles about the benefits and tastiness of quinoa. Apparently it's a complete protein. And that's good. I just like the fact that you can eat it savory or sweet. I have tried two variations of quinoa:

Quinoa with Black Beans and Corn

and

Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Quinoa

Both of these recipes came from SparkRecipes, which I also absolutely love. I have found so many good and healthy recipes there. Plus they provide the nutrition information per serving.

I used the black bean quinoa for vegetarian burritos and it was loverly. Quinoa has a slightly nutty flavor and reminds me a little of couscous. But it also has this little poppy crunch. So good. Try it and join the quinoa club. One of the benefits is being able to say "quinoa" in practically any conversation!

Thanks mmm-yoso!!! for the quinoa pic

Vacation Struggles

If you (meaning maybe one person) were wondering what happened to me in the month of July I am here to assure you I'm not going away. I always have these grand schemes for summer vacation. Small things, like redecorating the whole house or finally making a daily schedule that solves all of our problems and brings world peace. But does that ever happen? Instead it's a rush of trying to stay busy and then trying to recover from staying busy. And then the kids are back in school. I need another vacation. Throw in a road trip and a weekend trip to San Diego and summer is pretty much gone. We spent the last week of summer vacation driving to and from Oklahoma. And the worst thing about driving 18 hours (besides driving 18 hours) is the incessant eating. I am like a human vacuum. Of eating. I suppose I eat so much to keep myself from just closing my eyes for a second while driving 80 miles an hour on a busy interstate. I even brought along healthy snacks this time but half a bag of almonds, craisins and chocolate chips kinda adds up. Aaron and I did manage two workouts while on vacation. Not that it canceled out two (maybe three) trips to the ice cream store, one chili cheeseburger, conies, half a chimichanga and bowl of guacamole - and that was just day one. I jest. But not really. OK the food was spread out but in essence it's still the same. Oklahoma is all about eating for me. I think I did better than previous visits in balancing out the bad with the good but I'm still really struggling with the car eating. And that's why I should now fly everywhere I go!