Knitting Machine!

Today I decided to really buckle down with my eating.  Ever since I made my New Year goals I really haven't made any effort to make them happen...story of my life.

This morning I faced the dreaded scale.  It wasn't a big surprise that I had gained a couple of pounds.  It's a starting point, right?
I then recorded my measurements in this cool tracker that Becky got me at Barnes and Noble.

You record all of your body measurements and it even has some fitness tests.  You record how long it takes you to run a mile, how many push-ups, sit-ups, squats, balance that you can do at the start.  Then you record for the whole year and you see the results!  It also has a workout and food journal.  At the end of each month, there's a page where you summarize everything and see your progress.  I am pretty excited about it.  I really like these kinds of things.

I also needed to look for a running plan to follow.  Otherwise, I really don't have any motivation to hit the pavement.  I looked at my race schedule and my next race is in March, the Blarney 5K Run/Walk.  I printed out Hal's 5K Intermediate Plan.  It is exactly the number of days until the race and this way I can work on getting faster (in theory).

Yesterday, I started knitting a blanket.  I really don't knit and wanted to try and make something.  I decided to make squares using different stitches.  That way, I make a blanket and perfect different stitches.  I have a book with a bunch of knitting stitches in it.  I finished the Stockinette stitch square (top) and the Moss stitch square (bottom).

I'm going to make the blanket 3x4 squares.  I'm using wool and it is going to be a really warm blanket.

My cat was not a fan of me knitting, though.  Every time he would come lay on my lap he would get bopped with the knitting needle.  Then, he would get up and give me the stink eye.

What's your favorite hobby?

Potato and Spinach Soup Recipe

I ran for the first time this year today.  Yes, I know what the date is.  I know I waited a full 8 days to put on those running shoes, but I have a really good reason.  I was working a lot, it was cold out, my cat insisted on tummy rubs.  Lots and lots of good excuses valid reasons.

Not really.  I was lazy and didn't want to get off my couch.  But, the great thing about running is that there is only one way to move and that is forward.

So true!

So, after my 8 day work week I was able to get in 4 miles with Becky in 47:19.  And I'll be honest: I probably wouldn't have gone other wise.  It was actually pretty nice out.  It was near 40 with a little wind and full sunshine.  Becky said it is supposed to be up to 57 on Saturday and fall to 27 on Sunday.  Only in WI!

I finally took down the Christmas decorations today.  It was sad to see them go.  The Christmas tree is Eggy's absolute favorite toy.  So, we decided to put his tree in front of the window so he can enjoy the view out the front window.

I have been eating like garbage the last week and really want to get back on the healthy train.  So, today I decided to make a big pot of soup.  I sort of made up the recipe as I went.

Potato and Spinach Soup

2 Tbsp EVOO

1 small onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, diced

3 carrots, sliced

8 cups vegetable broth

4 red potatoes, cooked with peel and cut into squares

2 cups spinach, fresh

1 tsp. saffron

1 tsp thyme

1/4 tsp salt

Put large soup pot on medium heat and add the EVOO.  Heat for about a minute.  Add the onions and cook until softened.  Add the garlic and cook until soft, about 1-2 minutes.  Add the sliced carrots.  Cover and cook for about 3-5 minutes, until softened.  I then added the saffron, thyme, salt, and vegetable broth.  Cover and let cook for about 20 minutes to let the flavors cook in.  Add the already cooked potatoes.  (I just poked holes in the potatoes and cooked mine in the microwave.)  Then, mash the potatoes a bit until chunky with a potato masher.  Add the spinach last.  Bring to a boil and then lower heat and cover.  Simmer for about 30 minutes.  

It's a very brothy soup, so I think that I could have added some wild rice or barley and it would have been good too.  I really liked it, but it isn't a meal in itself...at least not to me.  

I finished the night with the ladies at Craft Night.  We had it at Melissa's.  She is due any second, so shouldn't be out driving by herself!

What is your favorite winter soup?

Goals for 2013...Yes, the Whole Year

I was going to put resolutions, but goals is more appropriate.

1) Finish my first marathon

Yes...just yes

I plan on completing my first marathon on May 4, 2013 called the Wisconsin Marathon.  I did the half last year.  It wasn't my favorite course since we ran by the finish line a couple of times, but I want to do something close to home and inexpensive.

2) Run 1000 miles by December 31, 2013

I came just a couple of hundred miles short this year without any kind of goal until  the last month besides run consistently.  I even filled up my whole running log that I get free with my Runner's World subscription. I think it will be fun to have a numerical goal to aim for.

3) Put the SB back into SBR! (Swim, Bike, Run)
While I doubled my runnning, I pretty much stopped swimming and biking, which are two things I really enjoy.  It was a conscious decision, because I wanted to focus on running and getting faster, but I also want to stay in triathlons and complete an Ironman by the time I'm 50!

4) Find a way to make money by doing things I love!

Be Happy

Running, blogging, and crafting, of course!  Yeah, me and everyone else in the world!  I have some ideas, but I need to really develop them actively over the next month or so.  Stay tuned!

5) Save money!

Scrooge McDuck

When I put my mind to it, I can save like no one's business.  I just have a problem with impulse spending.  I left my debit card at home for a few weeks at a time so I wouldn't spend anything.  It worked out pretty well.  I just need to make sure that I am planning ahead and not making impulse purchases.  I need every spare penny for races and running shoes!

6) Get to my goal weight!

Source

It's been a long time coming and I need to make a conscious effort to get to my goal weight.  I haven't gained weight in a really long time and I have been dropping a pound here and there, but I am still pretty heavy and need to drop weight so there's less stress on my body as I run longer distances.  I'm in a place now where it's less about vanity and more about health (I mean some vanity, but not completely).

Now here's the hard part...Follow Through!!

What was your favorite moment of 2012?

What are your Goals for 2013?

Don't Be Blue About 32!

That's right.  I like to rhyme stuff.

Today is my birthday!  Turning 32 really wasn't that bad.  I feel like 31 was really hard.  I was pretty sad about leaving my 20's and 31 was harder than 30.  Thirty-two has gone well.  I've gotten to spend the whole day with friends and family!

Laura came over at about 10am to exchange Christmas and birthday presents.  She got me an awesome Contigo cup like the one I had and loved!  She also got me a pair of ProCompression calf sleeves in hot pink!  They are just what I've been wanting!  I had bought the socks before and they were way too big, so I never wore them.  I knew that if I ever got another pair I would want to just get the sleeves, so I can't wait to try them!

I went to my parents at about 1pm for cake and presents.  My mom got me a faux fur throw that is so insanely soft.  I'm surprised my cat hasn't claimed it yet.  As soon as I wrote that he jumped on it and started purring.  My dad also got me a unique present.  It's called a Pot Maker.  Imagine my confusion when I opened the box and saw this.

I was like, my dad wants me to grow pot? Lol.  But then I understood it.  You make biodegradable seed starters.  It's a really cool idea.  He found it online somewhere.

I had a low key Saturday night.  Kev and I watched For the Greater Glory: The True Story of Christiada.  It was a slow beginning, but it got better.

I also made an iPhone cozy.  I found the pattern here after searching on Pinterest.  I was going to make the owl that was shown, but I may be too old for that now.  I just followed the pattern for the body and top flap, found an old button to sew on, and POW, I got me an iPhone cozy!

 I really like crocheting small things instead of giant afghans.  I feel more accomplished since I can finish them faster.

Have you started thinking about your New Year's Resolutions?

Strike That and Reverse It

Willy Wonka

Early this morning I knew I wasn't going to finish my goal of 100 miles this month.  We got a bit of snow and it continued to snow most of the morning.  While I am usually a Winter Warrior, I decided to say f*ck it and went back to sleep.

I had a horrible night's sleep.  Last night, I tried to go to bed at 11pm, but couldn't sleep.  So, I was up until about 2am.  This has been going on for about a month now.  When I went to go crawl into bed my cat was laying smack dab in the middle of my side.  Well, I did what any cat owner would do...I slept on the couch.  I mean, come on!  He was SO cute all curled up in a ball and stealing my spot.  I couldn't find it in my heart to move that little fur ball.

And I did...well, the couch, but you get the idea

I got a solid 3 hours on the couch.  I woke up to Kevin walking/stomping in the house trying to get the snow off his shoes.  Apparently he went out shopping at Wally World at 3:30 in the morning.  He did bring some donuts and coffee creamer home though, so what did I care?

Today, I hooked up my new printer.  My old one broke and Eggy got me and Kevin a new one for Christmas.  For some reason I cannot get it to print wirelessly.  I have no idea why.  I had the same problem with the other one after a couple of months.  I think that would be under the heading #FirstWorldProblems.

I printed out my marathon schedule and wrote out the dates and everything.  I will start Monday at week 13 of Hal Higdon's Novice Supreme marathon plan.

I went to Kev's parents house for lunch.  We celebrated my birthday there with homemade mac and cheese (I could taste the real butter) and cake.  It was all delicious!

Kevin and I are going to spend the rest of the night just hanging out and watching a movie.

One Flu Over the Cuckoo's Nest

I was excited to run 15 miles last weekend (I really was), but I was attacked with the stomach flu for two days.  I still have a really sensitive stomach.  I have been eating really bland things like rice, veggies, oatmeal, bread, crackers.  I also don't have much of an appetite...I know, right?  Bonus!

Source

Seriously, I'm sure my appetite will come back as I start running more.  I did a 3 mile yesterday and felt pretty good.  It had been a while since I ran, so I spent a while picking out the perfect running outfit.  Too bad you can't see my leg warmers in the picture, cuz I was wearing them.  I couldn't find my wool socks and there's always that slight gap between my socks and where my zipper will stay closed around my ankles and the leg warmers keep my ankles nice and toasty.  And yes, I also ran with my hair down like a superstar.  

I actually PR'd my 5k time with a 33:50 (11:04, 11:11, 10:37).  My best was a 34:20 or something like that.  I love that I'm getting faster!

My intentions were to do 8 today, but due to procrastination it was pretty late when I got back from running errands so I went for a short walk instead.

Last month I made a goal of 100 miles for the month.  This includes walking as well as running.  I am only 20 miles from that goal and I have three days to do it.  Noooo problem...I hope.

I've really been a crocheting machine lately.  I made my dad and brothers camouflage hats for Christmas.  They love them.  I am working on Kevin's now per his request.

I found the pattern here after searching on Pinterest.  You start at the top, which I liked.  It makes it easier to make it the length and width you want.  So many of the patterns start with the bottom, which I find weird.

I am finally reading again, too.  I go in spurts.  I guess I really didn't have time with the holidays and working constantly.  I found an author I read before, Laura Levine.  She writes these funny mysteries where the main character is named Jaine Austen, her mom is obsessed with the home shopping channel, and she has a demanding cat.  What's not to like?  The problem is that our library only has a couple of her books, so I have to wait for them to get in others that I requested.

I need to start thinking about some 2013 goals.

What are your goals for the upcoming year? 

Get In Where You Fit In

I didn't bring a lunch to work in hopes that they had something to feed us.  Luckily, I was right.  There was cereal and about a million different types of apple juice.  I tried the cereal Krave.  I had been wondering about it.  It looks good and it's called Krave.  I figured it would be really yummy. It tasted like Captain Crunch stuffed with chocolate.  Not impressed.  I'm glad that I didn't waste money buying it and trying it.  I also drank about a million cups of apple juice.

After work I stopped at my mom's to grab some library books that were due today.  Wouldn't you know it; she had some Christmas cookies.  I only had three four.  And maybe a million Hershey's almond kisses.  And a Jolly Rancher candy cane.

After that, I came home, changed, and went running.  It was a little chillier than I had anticipated.  I always dress too light on the bottom half.  My legs were immediately cold.  I thought I had on running tights that were fleece lined, but I grabbed the wrong pair.  This was true for many reasons.  The pair I grabbed also kept falling down.

If there is one piece of advice I can give new runners it's this: buy pants/shorts/skirts with a drawstring.  If you are running to lose weight, you can wear the stuff forever if you can cinch it at the waist as the pounds disappear.  I've worn the same couple of pairs of capris for three years for this reason.

I obviously did not do this when I bought the pair I threw on today.  I was shoving my undershirt into my pants as I'm running and simultaneously yanking the pants up as far as they would go.  It was a real pain in the ass and I'm sure I had the biggest camel toe imaginable.  They finally started to stay up after about the first mile.  I somehow found a happy medium with them.

The run was cold, but I enjoyed it.  It was dark by the time I got out, but I made sure I took main streets that were well lit.  I also wore my light just in case I got lost in blackness.

 I saw one other girl running.  She was going the other way on the same sidewalk and didn't say hi.  Uh, hello! Can I get at least a nod, a smile, a glance in my direction that there is another runner in the vicinity?  That would be my ultimate pet peeve.  Please acknowledge your fellow runners.  It's the polite thing to do (end rant).

Happy Running!

The run went well and I had a pretty good time for myself.

When I got home and logged everything, I jumped in the shower and pondered what I should eat.  I didn't have much time until I had to leave.  I had some rice and tortillas, so I opened a can of black beans, mixed some with rice, added cumin and chili powder, and threw it on a tortilla with Taco Bell mild sauce. <-- Pretty much a staple that I put on everything on a tortilla...everything.

Does anyone else cook their tortillas on the burner?

Yum. Arroz y frijoles.  

Kev and I went over to our friend Steve's to play Apples to Apples.  It's a fun game if you've never played it.  The 12 year old that was there won the game.  Both times.  What a humbling experience.

Now I am watching the first season of Metalocolypse.  Kevin cannot stop laughing.