Happy early Birthday to me:)

So this update is a little over due--but what else would you expect?;) Last Tuesday, I was in Lubbock and on my 7 mile long run of the week and I started to think -- I think everybody should live in West Texas for at least a year out of their lives. I feel like the world would be a much happier place! As I'm running down the road, it doesn't matter who it is whether it be a fellow student or someone working on the drainage system you almost always see a genuine smile creep up on their face followed by a hearty "Hello!" or "Hi! How are you today?". Then I'll respond just as equally happy with a very breathy response and a big smile on my face! These type of encounters go a long way to adding such a happy aura to my day:)

Following my 7 mile run, I decided I wanted to learn the bike route to school so I can be more eco-friendly in the fall. However, it was extremely hot and by the time I got to school (7 miles later--which really isn't that far), I was dripping sweat (that's the kicker -- I don't really want to be drenched and stinky by the time I get to class. However, this day I was just going to the pool so it was suitable:)). Then I swam about 25 laps (with stopping every couple) and working on my flip turn a little bit! My friends Jamie and Jessica and their brother came up as well and we played some water volleyball with some other people we had just met -- it was a good day!:) Then I got to ride my bike another scorching 7 miles home. Looks like being so eco-friendly will have to wait til the cooler months and then in the Spring when I move closer to campus. My classmates will thank me:)

I also took Dea on a mile run after I got home from my 7 mile run while I wore my 5-finger shoes. Here's the little trouper!

When I got home from my run earlier in the day, I was pretty hungry so this is what I came up with:

Collard Sandwich Wrap

1. Start by layering two (or three, I later had to add another because I had too many veggies in this to close it) leaves of washed collard (removing the stem as you see has been done here).

2. Add veggies (I'm showing mine in layers because I put sooooo many!). Here we have raw snap peas, sprouts, and baby carrots.

Here I have added the cherub and sunburst tomatoes -- Mmmm mmmm!!

And here we have orange bell pepper, a strip of cucumber (cut long ways), portobello and avodado (the avocado makes the wrap I think) and I then added some salsa (which is not shown). This is where I added the extra leaf but it's easier to just go ahead and lay two side by side and then the leaf on the bottom from the beginning.

3. Roll it all up and this is what you get! Pure, raw, deliciousness:)

I tried another time cooking the portobello, bell peppers, carrots and green beans and it just wasn't as good:( Looks like raw is the way to do this wrap!

I also got to use my brand new knives!! Happy early Birthday to me from M & D!:) <3

Williams Sanoma was having a sale on their knives and these which are Wustof Ikon Classic were marked way WAY down because this handle color is being discontinued -- AWESOME.:) Even though they're white, they won't stain! Hooray!:)

The day after my swim/bike/run, I took it easy. I tried to go to the gym, but I was just way too exhausted. Part of it was the lack of sleep I had gotten the night before more than anything but I admit, part of it was because I had drank a little bit much the night before to get up at 6 AM and have a productive run. If anything, it probably would have hurt me. Where have the days gone where I could drink myself silly and then get up at 6AM the next morning and run off my hangover? Sometimes this works, but I'm starting to feel the effects of growing up -- and it's taking a toll on my body and I do not like it. One. Bit. But, I think those days left when Junior year of college came to a close. However, you're only as old as you feel so I'm just going to stay 22 forever. :)

The following days, I'd run 5 miles or go to the gym (mostly running). Friday I ran 5 miles and then followed that with a swim lesson. My legs were pooped! He kicked my butt a little bit that day. He had me swim 4 laps back without touching the ground or stopping and he timed me. I'm a little competitive in case you didn't know that about me so I basically tried to go balls to the wall and forgot all about breathing and pace and technique so needless to say, it was rough. I'm gonna go work on that today or tomorrow. Yesterday was another long run of the week at 8 miles. Today, I think will be a weights day:) Hope ya'll have a great day! I'll post again soon:)

42 days...

Until my half-marathon in Boulder, CO:). I literally just signed up -- & I'm really excited! I wanted to take a road trip (or plane for that matter--but they're just more expensive usually because you can't split your airfare like you can split the gas in a car with friends) somewhere the week/weekend before school starts back. It started off with Charleston, SC, then moved to Mexico, then changed to Florida...However, all these plans were never actually set. So, there I was reading my Runner's World thinking a race is just what I want to do. I knew though that the only half-marathon in Texas in August was the Hottest Half in Irving which does not sound appealing to me. At. All. So I started looking up in states around Texas and clicked on gorgeous ol' Colorado. I've always wanted to go to Boulder and this is the weekend before school so it just ended up being perfect. :) Whether or not I have anyone who wants to road trip it with me, I'm fine either way. I'm just excited about the race! It's a 10 hour drive, but I don't have school until Thursday the 26th so I can stay Sunday night and drive back down to Lubbock on Monday. Hooray!:)

This morning started with just a mile run and then an hour at the gym. Good workout! Tomorrow morning I'm up at 5:30 or 5:45 to pack and run 5 miles (pack first, run second). I'm off to Lubbock again tomorrow night-Thursday for a variety of reasons, mostly pertaining to school but I'm really excited about seeing everyone again already!:)

The Mesh Pot
Tonight for dinner was a little compilation (The Mesh Pot) of things like I usually do up at school. 1 cup whole wheat pasta, boiled snap peas, a variety of small (golden tomatoes and a random selection from the gourmet bunch I bought -- but you can never go wrong with the Nature Sweet cherubs!) tomatoes that have been boiled with the skin peeled off (takes about 5-7 minutes. You can do this in the same pot as the snap peas while the pasta boils), a sliced portobello that was cooked on the stove with olive oil spray and a little sprinkle of sea salt, olive oil, garlic salt, and a bunch of sliced fresh basil. Pretty much what you do is combine the peeled/boiled/cut (you cut them in half and then half again if you like--just one time should be enough but be sure to add the tomato juice to the concoction) tomatoes with the snap peas, portobello mushrooms, sliced basil and pasta in a bowl. Then drizzle a little olive oil--you don't need much--over the mix. Sprinkle some garlic salt and mix up! Add more garlic salt if you think it needs it:) I loved it! Fresh, and delicious mixtures like this are my favorites:)

Last night I got some good advice from Chef Rene. First thing he told me was to "Don't speak about your work. Let your work speak about you." and the second, "Don't think like a cook. Think like a chef/owner." So basically -- whatever you want to be, doesn't matter what you're doing, adopt that frame of mind and become that mentally--then you will get there.:)

I'm sure I'll be cooking a bit while I'm Lubbock so I'll be sure to add whatever it is I come up with:) Hope your day is full of lots of happiness and smiles tomorrow:) Goodnight! <3

Scrumptious week of groceries:)

I had a pretty good week--minus a few blips along the way, but that's just life isn't it? Like whacking your face with your car door on your way to work because you're in a hurry, so you have to run inside to get ice making you even more late in the process -- Or maybe you're just having an off day? That happened to me on Thursday, but minus that blip...it was a very good week:)

Last Saturday (I know that technically counts as last week but since I have not updated since then, it will be included) was my sister Sarah's BBQ -- so much fun! We had a nice little dance party at the end of the night that ended in us jumping in the pool:) The next morning Sarah and I got up and went on a 4 mile run at Zilker park followed by us making the Banana Espresso Muffins I have the recipe to on here in a previous post...And also getting breakfast tacos:) Mmmm mmmm. Her oven kept turning off though so we had to use the 'stick a stick in it' test to see if  they were done. Then I went to Whole Foods (my mecca) and I got a couple of things there but I mostly went for the organic cotton tee's. I got a couple for my sister and then a few more for me. I just can't get over how cheap they are while looking so cute and being sustainable for the environment!:) I love love love them. I now own 6 or 7 I believe? Then I also picked up some Purely Decadent coconut milk ice cream for my sister in Almond Brownie Fudge...D'lish. Seriously, one of the best "ice creams" I've ever had. Then I got some steamed beets just to try and some more raw almond butter as well as some fruits and veggies:) But I didn't get anything out of the ordinary until I went to Central Market later in the week.

Monday I ran 5 miles. Even though I had just ran the day before, I was grumpy enough that it felt like I hadn't run in a week. Then Tuesday was swimming in the morning, then boot camp, followed by a bike ride up to my old middle school (only about 4 miles round trip) and a half mile run on their track in my Vibram shoes. The swim ended up being only about 9 or 10 laps because as it got lighter, more crickets were getting in the pool which I thought was odd. Me and bugs -- we'll we don't exactly see eye to eye;) Wednesday, I took off to run in the morning but only got about a mile out before turning back. I had the intention of running later in the day but I rested instead. Wednesday was supposed to be an off day (following Tuesday which was also an off day--two in a row never happens?!), but Chef asked me if I could come in and start saute so I did.:) Thursday, I had a really really good gym workout. I did the stairclimber and full body with weights and machines and a lot of abs. Friday was another boot camp and another off day! So I spent some time at La Cantera shopping around a little bit before going off to my swim lesson at 5. He taught me to be better at freestyle, and then the breath (breast?) stroke on my stomach and back, and then we worked on my back stroke and finally he taught me how to flip turn! I'm pretty excited--that's something I never saw myself doing because I've always had to hold my nose -- but as it turns out it's not that hard as long as you stick your landing on the wall and turn over quickly so you don't push off into the ground;) Then in the evening, Katy and I went to eat at Green -- the vegetarian restaurant again and because it's downtown-ish we decided to go to the Alamo. First, we stopped at the Menger hotel and had a drink in their bar (it's haunted supposedly) :) Then we went to Pat O'briens for a bit. This was the third time I've been actually out since being in San Antonio, and only the 4th time to have had any alcohol which is such a change from Lubbock:) It's nice though because there, pretty much all you can do is go out and while I've been known to say no to many drinks before or drinking at all--it's definitely harder to do there than it is here.

So like I said, I went to Central Market:) Here is some of the stuff I got while on my little trip there -- And some comparisons in products:)

The one on the left is called golden zucchini and the one on the right is zephyr squash. I prepared both together, sliced on the stove with a little olive oil spray, salt and pepper as well as doing the same thing in the oven only with olive oil non-spray:). They're really good -- similar to summer squash but not quite as sweet.

These are Baked Lentil Chips. The ones on the left are sea salt and on the right are cucumber dill (love the dill!). I eat them with the mozzarella almond cheese (below), or just by themselves. They have about 110 calories for 30 chips!

Oh my goodness -- heaven in my mouth. Savoy Sorbet is a local brand that I got at Central Market. You can look them up at savoysorbet.com. You can also find retail locations on the website. I have tried Chamomille Orange and Lavender. They're perfectly refreshing and even though the ones on the right are delicious as well, I would still pick these sorbets over the more decadent desserts any day! Lavender has 25 calories per ounce and 7g of sugar. Chamomille orange has 34 calories per ounce and 9g of sugar. They are made with purified water, cane sugar, organic or wild crafted herbs and other natural flavors. The Purely Decadent desserts on the right are cookie dough and chocolate peanutbutter swirl. Mmmm mmm:). 1/2 a cup of the cookie dough is 190 calories, 80 from fat, and 15g of sugar. 1/2 a cup of the peanut butter swirl is 210 calories, 120 from fat, and 12g of sugar.

These are three granolas I've compared: on the left we have Oat and Honey from the Central Market Organics brand (USDA Organic), followed by Cascadian Farms Maple granola which is also USDA Organic, and then we have Dylan's Chia granola with dried cherries. Oats and Honey has 210 calories for 1/2 cup, 60 calories from fat, 0 sodium, 33 carbs, and 9g of sugar. Cascadian Farms Maple granola has 220 calories for 2/3 cup, 40 from fat, 160g of sodium, 42 carbs and 14g of sugar. Dylan's Chia granola with dried cherries has 160 for 1/2 cup, 45 from fat, sodium 0, 25g carbs and 8g sugar. At first glance, Dylan's might look like the winner--however you must double the numbers to come up with a more accurate comparison. I love them all. Dylan's has a lot of flavor and is very chewy, but it's also not necessarily worth the 320 calories per 1/2 cup (100 calories roughly more than the other two brands and you're even getting more with the Cascadian Farms than you are with Dylan's!). I love the maple taste in the Cascadian Farms and it is the healthiest choice. However, I found I like the Oat and Honey granola from Central Market Organics to be the best fruit and milk (coconut milk that is) topper:)

I thought maybe I'd like plain oatmeal? I thought wrong. Not that it's awful--I just end up having to add some agave or honey to it to sweeten it up a bit which really defeats the whole purpose. I tried adding just fruit with it because I always put fruit in my oatmeal anyway and it was like I had a bite of this delicious sweet fruit, and then it was covered in all this mush...good brand, different flavor next time:).

Not very crazy about this. I thought this would be like the soy vanilla milk where you can just drink it when you want something sweet but no. This has 10 calories and 1g of sugar more than regular coconut milk and it really doesn't taste much different at all. I think it's acutally not even as good as the regular. Better save yourself the 10 calories and 1g of sugar for something more worth it:).

Love this stuff! From Central Market also--when you put the light agave (I'm not sure why it's light anyway, it has the same amount of sugar and same calories as regular agave--I just found that it's more runny. However it's still delicious.) on these Magic Pops (15 calories per round and made with whole wheat flour that has been puffed in the store and into these fresh little snack cakes -- perfect sub for toast), it tastes like a roasted marshmallow! So yummy:) I also like to dip the Magic Pop's in cashew butter or put apricot jam on them:) Mmm mmm.

The greatest find I've had in a long time!! ALMOND CHEESE!! I love love the mozzarella -- you can find them at central market (and they're soy free!) 50 calories per serving (1/8 of the block).

Golden raspberries -- YUMMY! Not quite as tart as regular rasperries and so yummy! I put them on toast yesterday with my cashew butter on half and the other half I had my chocolate peanutbutter. It was a different combo but it was really good:)

These are mango nectarines. They don't taste too terribly different from a regular nectarine, or at least I didn't think so but they're really good! And fun because they're different:) Maybe you'll taste a bigger difference than me if you try them!

I. Love. Tomatoes. On the left we have the Nature Sweet cherry tomatoes that I can eat like candy. In the middle we have a gourmet selection of a bunch of different kinds that I can also eat like candy. And on the right we have organic, local, sunburst tomatoes that I can also eat like candy. I do have to say though, the Nature Sweet have been my favorite for a long time and they may not be local, organic, or gourmet -- but they're still my favorite whether it be snacking, making pasta sauce with infused olive oil, salads, on eggs, roasting, whatever. They're my number one:)

So the other day I was eating some garbanzos because frankly I just love them. And I'd also read that if you eat some garbanzos, you're less likely to eat excess food throughout the rest of the day. The brand I had eaten was Progresso. The one above is the type I normally get but that was not what was available this particular day in the pantry. Immediately I tasted a very salty difference. A couple days later, I came home with these bad boys. I looked at the sodium difference -- Progresso = 470mg sodium where as these abbove had 110mg sodium. And they're organic. Looks like we have a winner:)

"Love is to the heart what the summer is to the farmer's year -- it brings to harvest all the loveliest flowers of the soul." - Author unknown

On my way :)

My swim lesson the other day was SO GOOD! I got so much out of it -- I'm really excited! I felt a little out of my element when he had me starting off holding onto the side of the pool while sticking my face in the water and blowing air bubbles. That's about the time I was thinking "I'm 21 and just taking swim lessons NOW?" but I've always had some crazy fear of deep water even though I never would really admit it. So now it is, and there I was blowing water bubbles:) But soon after, we moved to me using the kickboard with both hands and just working on my breathing, to using one hand to swim and one hand on the kick board, to actually doing laps. We then moved to arm placement -- all in 45 minutes:) My coach even said that he think's I'll be ready, or really on my way to a triathalon in about 5 weeks so we decided  on 5 lessons which will be one a week. I can actually already tell a difference in my body! I love it, almost as much as running. I'll get there one day I'm sure but since I'm still new at it and I still tend to choke on water from time to time -- it'll just take a bit of getting it down. I've also been doing my 30 minutes of swimming about every other morning. I would have swam the day before yesterday but it was pouring when I got up. It was yesterday too, but I decided to suck it up and go swim (it wasn't lightning) and lucky for me -- the rain let up for those 30 minutes I swam!:) Yay!!:)

Work has continued to be crazy. Maybe even CRAZIER. I've been doing saucier and like yesterday, I bounced back between saucier and working in pantry on the line. 9-10 hour days on your feet without a break are a little exhausting. I fully intended to go out with my friend Ryan from work last night, but I was just too pooped and my head hurt even after my nap:/ I didn't even get to fit in a run! This morning I got up to go run 6 miles, but it was 5:30 when I was about to run and my Mom freaked me out a little bit about running so early even though I do it in Lubbock all the time so I opted for the gym and treadmill to find out it was closed!:( Maybe I'll get off early enough where I can run after work and before heading to Austin for my sister's bbq -- but I doubt it unfortunately:( Today may have to be an off day by default which wouldn't be awful since tomorrow I'm planning on running 6 miles at Zilker Park before going to the Whole Foods in Austin and coming back down to San Antonio. This way, my foot isn't over worked.

So yesterday, I created my tentative marathon pre-training training plan. Since my plan is 16 weeks long, I have to train to get to the 9 miles the long runs begin at. How I did this was I made a little calender for the month of July designating what I need to do every day. However, I will simply highlight what I have done even it if it is from another day in the week. I feel like when you're doing something so strenuous, you need to do what your body feels like it can do therefore this gives me the freedom to run my long runs when I feel able, rest when I need it and do intermediate work outs on those other days. I also created a food log:) We'll see how that goes since I'm hardly at home and with being at work all the time I can't really write stuff down -- but it's just to help me cut out the unnecessary snacking that goes on while I'm at work (unfortunately that's when I need my log the most--but I think if I visualize having to write it down later on, that'll help me not eat it. It's worked before!:)).

I'm also going to start my personal training certification here in a couple weeks. It's more expensive than I anticipated but I think it'll definitely be worth it in the long run. It'll take about 4-6 weeks so that's perfect for the amount of time I have remaining in the summer. I contacted the hospital I want to work at about what certifications are accepted but haven't heard anything back yet. I'll call again soon just to make sure! Hope you have a great weekend and happy 4th!:)