Half Marathon Training!

Am I crazy?? Apparently I'm only half crazy for doing only half of a marathon! I only know one person that has done one and she gave me some great advice. There's a method to the madness of running that many miles! Run three minutes and walk one minute. I have been training that way for the past few weeks and I feel like I could just keep on running. I have already ran my longest distance (6 miles) and felt like I could continue both times! I am running a steady pace of a 8-10 minute mile. I wondered if the walk breaks would slow me down.. but nope!

I also thought since I only knew one person that had ran a half marathon that maybe there weren't that many crazies out there! But when I first went to register for the Rock The Parkway half marathon in Kansas City... it was at capacity. I couldn't register, 4,500 people already registered! I also see the bumper stickers now 13.1 or 26.2! Look for them! There are plenty of crazies out there!

I might like to have this one!

I luckily found another half marathon just a week after the Rock The Parkway one. I signed up for the Kansas Half Marathon (a benefit for health care access clinic). It's in Lawrence.. not too far. I really wanted to sign up for it, because I was afraid if I didn't do it when I planned to that I might not end up doing it.

 I've got about 12 weeks to get ready!

I have always wanted to be a runner. I like how I can always get better at running. I'm not very sporty/athletic or coordinated... so I feel like I'm good at something as a runner. In the past I would run pretty regularly for a while, but then I would hurt my ankles or my shins. Sometimes I would just get out of the habit of it for one reason or another and it would be hard to get back into. For the past year I have been running pretty much routinely (and I haven't hurt myself!). I haven't felt like I have gotten out of the habit of it for very long periods of time. I have been able to get right back to the distance I was last running pretty quickly. I ran my first 5k last June and did another one in September. In December I was looking for some runs to do again in 2012. I wondered how long it would take to train for a half marathon, I found some 12 week training schedules. I was like ok.. maybe I can do it. I have put my mind to it and it may just become a new hobby and something that really helps me stay in shape and keep up with the running! I know there was a half marathon last October in Kansas City, so maybe in April and October I can run half marathons. I see that the next step up is a marathon (26.2 miles) and then tri athalon... but I don't know if I'll get that crazy!

I just got this super cute hand stamped metal cuff bracelet.

http://www.etsy.com/people/Running4Linda

What I need!!!

my cute little stop watch

two really great pairs of running shoes! I like my Adidas and Asics!

A TRAINING SCHEDULE

http://running.about.com/od/halfmarathonracetraining/a/runwalkhalfmarathon.htm

I need a case with a clip for my ipod!!!
AND a music play list! I'll take any suggestions!

places to run!

I really like running at Railroad Park, and I run at the school tracks, and if it's too cold.. too hot I run at the indoor track at my gym. I'm glad the weather has been so decent. I have been able to run outside for most of my training already (in January!) I enjoy a summer run in the rain or at sunset. I only run at night if my hubby watches me (:

SUPER CUTE T-SHIRTS!

I would like this shirt for my training

this is the shirt I want for the race!

I would proudly wear this shirt after the race!

http://www.cafepress.com/

I'm pretty sure running 13.1 miles is the perfect excuse to be able to eat some of these cookies 'n cream oreo fudge brownies I've been wanting to try forever! I just know if I made something like this I would eat way too many of them! I burn about 820 calories running for an hour... let's multiply that by 2.5! I think running for 2 1/2 hours will burn about 2000 calories! So I can have more than one brownie if I want (:

http://www.kevinandamanda.com/new-recipes/cookies-n-cream-oreo-fudge-brownies.html

Wish me luck! I know it's crazy but I'm super excited!

Yummy Granola Balls

Granola Balls

so yummy and simple and not too bad for you!

Evan and I have been enjoying these for a few weeks now, after one of my friends made them and got addicted! They are easy to whip up and the ingredients are simple. Plus they are actually pretty low calorie! Just don't eat too many of them at a time (:

not very many ingredients

melt peanut butter, butter and honey until smooth

add oats and rice crispies.. let set a few minutes before adding chocolate chips and dried cranberries

drop rounded tablespoons into mini muffin liners, refrigerate for 15 minutes

and they are adorable!

Ingredients

1/3 cup honey (I use just a little less than a 1/3.. the honey is kinda overpowering)

1/4 cup peanut butter

2 tbs butter

1 cup old fashioned oats

1 cup rice crispies cereal

1/4 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup chocolate chips

(I use more like 1/3 of the cranberries and chocolate chips... they just don't spread very far)

In medium sauce pan melt honey, butter, and peanut butter until smooth. Off heat mix in cereal, oats, and cranberries. Let it set a couple of minutes before adding chocolate chips. Spoon by rounded tablespoon into mini muffin liners and put in the refrigerator about 15 minutes.

I use a little ice cream scoop that looks about the size of a tablespoon and it makes about 25 granola balls. I store them in the refrigerator, they seem to soften at room temp. I hope you enjoy!

source:www.twopeasintheirpod.com/

Santa Fe Salad with Chili Lime Dressing

I got pretty excited when I found this recipe on pinterest... when I said I was making salad for dinner last night Evan was like "SALAD!?!?" Even though he does like salad and eats it a lot for lunch. He ended up really liking the salad. It is a weight watchers recipe so I will have to share it with my mom since she just started weigh watchers last week. She also eats salad a lot but gets kinda bored with it. I think chicken or taco meat could be added to make it more of a meal type of salad... I needed to eat light because of other things I had throughout the day.

cilantro and lime... such a great pair!

dressing and all the fixin's!

all tossed together except for the dressing... I'll add that each time I eat it.

it makes a whole lot! now I'll have it for lunch all week (:

dressed and served with ice tea!

*side note: the recipe calls for light mayo... and I thought I might add sour cream next time, maybe half mayo and half sour cream

Ingredients

	6 Tbsp reduced-calorie mayonnaise
	3 Tbsp cilantro, fresh, finely chopped
	3 Tbsp water
	1 medium uncooked scallion(s), minced
	1 1/2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
	2 tsp sugar
	1/2 tsp chili powder
	15 oz canned black beans, rinsed and drained
	1 1/2 cup(s) cooked corn kernels, fresh or frozen
	2 cup(s) grape tomatoes
	1 medium sweet red pepper(s), cut into thin strips (about 1 1/2 cups)
	8 cup(s) romaine lettuce, cut into thick shreds (about 2 hearts)

Instructions

• To make dressing, in a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, cilantro, water, scallion, lime juice, sugar and chili powder until smooth. Transfer to a jar or a plastic container with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate until ready to use.
  
• In a large bowl or food storage container, layer remaining ingredients in order listed; cover and refrigerate.
  
• To serve, spoon salad ingredients into a bowl. Shake dressing and then drizzle dressing over salad; toss well to coat. Yields about 2 cups of salad and 1 1/2 tablespoons of dressing per serving.

http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/RecipePage.aspx?recipeid=94061

Peanut Butter (Healthy) Treats

This post is definitely for peanut butter lovers!

I pinned this fruity peanut butter dip last week and it was repinned so many times! I knew I had to try it!

It's so yummy! For people that love peanut butter and if you love it on fruit give this a try!

And it's simple!

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup fruit flavored yogurt

1/4 cup powdered sugar

mix until smooth!

and there's a nice breakfast... I have no idea how many calories so I just dipped very little on each piece of fruit!

from: http://sixsistersstuff.blogspot.com/ (I just love this blog!)

Evan and I love sweets... so we have to have something sweet around and since we are trying to be healthy I have been making things that aren't as bad for us to snack on! Evan also loves peanut butter, so I can put that in anything that's a little better and he'll eat it up!

I made these peanut butter cookies that have no flour and no butter! They are pretty tasty, chewy and sweet! Hopefully they are a little better than regular cookies!

mix all ingredients together by hand... the spatula is there because Evan had to scrape everything off my hands!

place by spoonful (give them some room - I usually bake 12 cookies at a time, but these spread out a lot) onto a greased baking sheet... they stick - use parchment paper... I didn't have any but I usually use it while baking!

bake for about ten minutes just watch them towards the end, depending on the size it could be more or less

Evan has already declared these his new favorite cookie (:

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
1 cup oatmeal
1 cup extra chunky peanut butter
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well by hand. Refrigerate dough while pre-heating oven to 350 degrees. Place spoonfuls of  dough onto greased cookie sheets, leaving plenty of room in between cookies. The cookies tend to spread out quite a bit while cooking. Bake to desired crispiness (10-12 minutes).
http://www.andruswilliams.com/2011/01/26/peanut-butter-oatmeal-cookies/

Beefy Deep Dish Pizza... actually a healthy recipe

Super Easy... Yummy... and Healthy Beefy Deep Dish Pizza!

just four simple ingredients

 you can add anything else you like.. I'm just showing how simple it is on it's own!

grease a 9x13 baking dish and spread pizza dough over the bottom of the dish and halfway up the side. bake in the oven at 425 for about 7 minutes

brown one pound of ground beef while the pizza dough is baking

the recipe doesn't call for it, but I always season meat with salt & pepper!

drain the meat, then add 1 1/2 cups of your favorite pasta sauce, mix, add to the pizza crust, top with mozzarella cheese. bake for 8 more minutes!

it's that easy!

 enjoy!

the recipe is adapted from http://www.momswhothink.com/healthy-recipes/healthy-dinner-recipes-week-one.html

I didn't rinse the meat and put it out on paper towels.. just drained it. I used lean beef (97/3) and it usually doesn't have much fat. I have heard from a nutritionist that if you rinse beef that is 80/20 it's almost just as good for you as the 97/3.

Deep Dish Pizza:

Makes 6 Servings

Each serving contains:

385 calories
22g protein
22g carbohydrate
20g total fat

Ingredients:

1 (10 ounce) can refrigerated pizza crust dough
1 pound ground beef
1 ½ cups jarred low-sodium, sugar free, spicy mushroom pasta sauce
1 ¼ cups (4 ounces) shredded part skim mozzarella cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Grease a 13x9 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Unroll the pizza dough, press it over the bottom and halfway up the sides of the prepared dish, and bake for 7 minutes.

3 .While the crust bakes, sauté the beef in a large skillet until browned, breaking the meat up into small pieces using a wooden spoon.

4. Drain the meat in a colander, rinse with hot water, and shake the colander to drain out as much water as possible.

5. Turn out the meat onto a paper towel-lined baking sheet and roll up the meat in the towel to blot up any moisture.

6. Pour the meat into a bowl, add the sauce, and toss to mix.

7. Spread the meat over the crust and sprinkle cheese on top. Bake until the crust is browned and the cheese melts, about 8 minutes longer.

Favorite Wedding Moments

Here's a look at my most treasured memories of such a perfect day! It was so fun, the weather was great, my vision came to life and everything was so beautiful! Evan and I were surrounded by all of our friends and family!

 

I love Evan's face when he first saw me... and the only time I cried was when I first came out to see him. I was just too happy and excited to be very emotional!

My bridesmaids and my mom got my dress on just right! I was so happy when I was in all my bridal attire!

When we first got to the park, a girl was saying "oh how beautiful", Evan said "Thank you! It took me all day to look this beautiful!" She then said "NO! I was talking about her!" We were laughing at Evan and happy to get the compliment!

Pictures were a blast! The boys were having fun!

 Nothing makes a bride feel MORE like a princess than when a little girl spots you from across the park and says she wants to go meet the princess! She was so cute and so shy! I love her red boots!

Finishing touches before the ceremony, the not always so quiet and calm flower girls stayed calm and quiet in my dressing room and watched me... My maid of honor and I put a little make up on them and they were so sweet.
 
Evan's cousin sang so well!

You may kiss your bride! I always wanted to practice our kiss, but Evan would be too silly! But it was perfect on our day! XOXOXO!

My mom looks so happy here! This was right after the ceremony.

I love when we were introduced at the reception! Evan was really happy with how everything turned out and didn't feel as bad for the money that was spent! Right before we went out he was saying "you're my wife now!" It was so cute!

A special dance with my handsome granddad! He wasn't sure how well he would dance, but he wow'd everyone!

I got my smash! I tried to smash it on Evan, but I think he opened his mouth too wide or something!

  I loved everyone's reaction to the big panties Evan pulled out during the garter toss! And my uncle caught them!!!

 
There was non stop dancing! The kids never left the dance floor and The Kevin Ellis stole the show during shout at the softer now part!

I'm so happy my best buds from high school were there and that we have stayed in touch all these years!

A few of my absolute favorite pics!

We had the most amazing photographer! She's so fun and the pictures just have a special touch...

all photos by www.allisonkruiz.com