Join me in a new challenge...it's All About You.

I get really great comments from you guys when I post about running. It really helps to keep me motivated. I run pretty often, but I can very easily be swayed from a run if something comes up.....like playing with Luke, feeling tired, or a new episode of the Real Houeswives on Bravo TV.....

Some of the comments are about how you wish you could run, but can't because of an injury, or not having time in your day. Theta Mom has challenged her readers to find one hour per week to take a time out and do something for themselves. I want to challenge you to do something for yourself too, become active. We know how important exercise is for our overall well being, and the great thing is, you can do it alone, or as a family. Go for a walk, bike ride, play Wii, or run!!! This isn't going to be a strict challenge, where you have to do it every day, just when you can, but you have to do something at least once a week.

I really think this could be fun, and it's a great time of year to do it, since school is starting, and we're getting back on schedule. I want us feeling good in time for the holiday season, so this challenge will begin next Friday, September 4, and end Friday October 30.

If you would like to participate, write a comment, or email me (mesbaker@gmail.com). Let me know what your plan is (run, walk) and the number of times a week you can commit to. Each week you'll have to tell me how you did, and I'll post the results along with your blog link. Seriously, what do you have to lose?

If you look closely in the photo, Luke is pointing at you, asking you what your challenge is......

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step" ~ Lao-tsu

Well something's working

I tried on my skinny jeans the other night. And they fit! Not that I would wear them out of the house yet, but I could button them closed. whoohoo! I'm going to the Kelly Clarkson concert tonight (feeding my inner 14 year old) and I'm happy with my outfit, a favorite top paired with jeans in my "fat" size. They're roomy, which is a million times better than a night of misery in too tight jeans.

So now I'm trying to figure out how I did it. I have been running regularly, and upping my intake of fruits and veggies. The morning smoothie is now a habit, it's truly refreshing, and I get excited over how many servings of the good stuff I'm getting. I've been throwing chia seeds in the shake too, they're the "new" flax seed, and they help keep you feeling full. I usually just have the shake, and then suddenly, it's lunchtime. Believe me, I'm definitely still indulging in things, which makes me think the weight would come off quicker if I just gave them up. Baby steps.

On a side note, I've been reading a bunch of chick lit lately. But hey, it's summer. I did read "Peace Like a River" by Leif Enger, which is what I chose for my book club for September. Great book, I cried at the end, which is rare for me. I've got a few waiting for me at the library, I'm trying to cut back on my Barnes & Noble shopping. I love having a stack of books just waiting for me to dive into. I just don't know which to read first!

This photo is old, but I really like it. I look happy, because I am.

Texas Caviar

It's day 12 of the Smoothie Challenge I'm doing with Jennifer. And I think it's going pretty well. I like the flavor of the Green Superfood vs. the Wheat Grass, and I've been sticking to a breakfast smoothie made of raspberries, watermellon, a banana, peaches, skim milk, and a 1/2 tablespoon of chia seeds. I sliced up a watermellon into cubes, then froze them on a cookie sheet. When I add them to the blender it's like watermellon ice cubes. My dad and brother got in on the act during their visit, and my niece tried it as well. The look on her face was classic, she thought it was going to taste like chocolate.

I made a new salsa for the party, and it's really refreshing this time of year. It's basically a bean salsa, which my friend K calls Texas Caviar. It's pretty healthy, other than the sugar, but after it sits overnight, you pour off the dressing before serving. It was a hit, and it's perfect on Tostitos Scoops.

Here is the recipe. I'm still tinkering with my links to my recipes, so I figured it was easier to list it after I write about what I cook.

Texas Caviar

2 cans of black eyed peas, drained

2 cans of white corn, drained (it's even better if you can get fresh corn)

1 red pepper, diced

1 green pepper, diced

1 med sweet onion, diced

In a bowl, mix together:

1/4 cup olive oil

1 1/2 cup sugar

1 cup vinegar

4 tablespoons of Tiger Sauce

Mix in the veggies, marinate overnight. Drain most of the juice before serving.

Nothing like a good run to start the week off right

We had another great weekend with the family, Eliza's birthday party was a success. We managed to find a princess birthday cake, complete with a light up Cinderella....what more could a 3 year old ask for.

My sister in law had never seen our wedding video, so I dug it out of the bookshelf, and relived our wedding, which was 10 years ago. We were all laughing away, and then my 9 year old niece said, "wow, you guys were all so thin!" ouch! That comment was a perfect reminder to stay on track this week with my running.

Mike had the day off from work today, so I took advantage, and planned a run around the neighborhood. Then I read Colorado Runner's post about her trail run, which sounded like a great idea, so I changed plans, and drove over to Beaver Lake to run the trails. I didn't really have a distance plan, I decided to just see how I felt as I went along. I did 4.5, then ran to the car to chug some water and eat some m&m's. I still haven't tried Gels for energy, I'm afraid of what they might do to my stomach. My friend Karin suggested the m&m's, and this was the second time I've added them to a run. I felt good, so I headed back out to do a 3 mile loop around the lake. I've been calling my left leg "my leg of many problems" because of my hamstring, arch and bone spur issues. As I started up the first steep hill, my arch started aching. I cut myself some slack, as I did my fair share of eating and drinking wine this weekend, so I walked it. Then I got into my groove, until a yellow jacket flew into my face. I don't know what it is about bees this summer, but I feel like there are more of them than usual. We had a whole colony living above our sliding glass door that Mike had to get rid of, and I really don't like bees. I'm okay with the occasional bug flying into my mouth during a run, but I'm not down with them stinging me as they go in. I managed to swat it away without getting stung, and that bit of adrenaline got me sprinting a bit. Got back into the groove, and saw a few deer as I finished up, which is always cool.

I ended up doing 7.5, and I was happy. I'm icing my foot, and think I'll do a few more runs of this distance this week, and hoping to do 11.5 over the weekend. My half marathon is coming up fast, so gotta get with the program!!

I'm a running gear creature of habit

I did a monster house cleaning today, to prep for our visitors. We're giving my brother our bedroom while he visits with his wife, 9 year old daughter V, and 4 month daughter I. I usually let our bedroom and bath slip a bit on the clean scale....it's clean, but not visitor clean, so it needed it.

Once I got the easy cleaning done, I tackled my closet and chest of drawers. I was trying to make some order of my clothes, and maybe toss old clothing if I could. I have a pile of tshirts from various races, which I will never toss. Then I went through my running shorts and and bras and socks and shoes. I even unearthed a brace I wore to bed when I had plantar faciitis, it's a blue padded thing that kept my foot at a 90 degree angle while I slept. I actually wore it on a flight to Ireland because I wanted to keep my rehab up, even on vacation.

I looked at all my gear on the floor, and surprise, it was all the same. I go to Dick's or Sports Authority a few times a year to see what's new for running. I try a bunch of things on, prance around in front of the mirror, use a coupon for my purchases if I have one, then head home. But looking at my running clothes, it was all the same sitting there on my bedroom floor. Three pairs of black Nike stretch running shorts, four pairs of Asics, white tees for the summer, long sleeve tees for the fall, and yes, black Nike stretch pants for fall runs. I don't know why I bother looking at articles about new shoes or gear, because like it or not, I guess I've found what works.

My dad (see my health and fitness inspiration post) is due to arrive tomorrow. I'm wondering if I can get him out for a quick run around the neighborhood.....we shall see....

Where did this little girl come from?

Eliza turns three this weekend. We're celebrating with a family party, my Dad is making the trip up from Maryland, and my brother and his family is coming from LI. Eliza requested a princess cake, and we'll have another for Mike and my father in law, as they have August birthdays as well. I'm excited, it will be nice to have lots of people from both sides of the family in attendence.

Growing up, I always felt that someday I would have a daughter. So I was thrown for a loop when Luke was born, I remember holding him right after giving birth and thinking "what do I do with a boy?" When Eliza was born, I held her and thought "what do I do with a girl?"

Luke was an easy baby, probably to make up for the 31 hours of labor he put me through. He slept through the night at three months, just in time for me to go back to work. Eliza on the other hand took only 3 1/2 hours to be born. The delivery room nurse called her feisty, as Eliza slapped her hand away from the bassinet. Eliza was colicky for the first three months of her life (I'm surprised my sister had kids after suffering through Eliza's first Thanksgiving), and didn't sleep through the night until she was seven months old.

The other day Eliza came into the room and I took a good look at her, and I couldn't get over how she's not a baby anymore. We're officially done with diapers, and she loves her Littlest Pet Shop and Disney Princesses, although she prefers Luke's Star Wars toys and Cars. She's still got a crabby streak, but she readily doles out smooches, and is a funny little girl. The other day she saw some kids lounging in front of the library and she said "Look Mom, they're doing yoga."

These are two of many favorite photos of my girl, five day old Eliza in her first denim skirt, and one from a few weeks ago, wearing Grandma's lipstick. I'm a lucky Mama.

The Image of My Bod

I feel like I'm repeating myself, but it's been several days since my last run. I got sidelined by a few different things. I felt like I was getting a cold, then I lost my voice for a few days, which I'm attributing to the central air. We turned it on for the first time last week, and from what I'm hearing, we keep it pretty cold (69 degrees). Then I started a new pack of birth control pills, which for some reason the mail order drug company switched to generic. I felt so crappy, the other night in bed I realized I felt like I was pregnant, which I'm definitely not. Even though "they" say there is no difference between generic and name brand, I beg to differ. Regardless of all these excuses, I haven't run and that's bad.

It's finally been really hot, and tonight it's raining. Before it starting coming down, Mike brought my freshly laundered tshirts in from the deck, where I like to dry them, and hung them up in the kitchen to continue drying. I was looking up at them while doing the dishes (the place to find me if you're looking for me) and I realized that the shirts looked like they belong to a thin person. Then I thought of how I live by my Mom's rule of "if something fits well, buy three, but in a different color." It's hard to get a true image of what your body looks like, just by looking in the mirror, or how something feels when you put it on. I beat myself up every day about what I eat and how I look in certain things. For once it was nice to see my clothes from a different angle, and be happy with what I saw.