Running with Gratitude!

I read an article today that said gratitude is healthy for you.  Grateful people feel more alert, alive, interested, and enthusiastic.  They also feel more connected to others.  Apparently, being grateful can actually influence your health in a positive way!  Nice... 

So in this week of Thanksgiving I'm working on reconnecting with some people that I've been "too busy" to see.  (Sad...)  I'm grateful for so many people in my life, and for the grace of God who placed each of these wonderful people in my path.

I'm thankful for my wonderful friend Rosie.  Rosie has been a friend for over 14 years.  Her daughter was in my 1st grade class and Rosie eventually ended up being our daycare provider for both my son and daughter.  We've stayed close through the years.  Rosie is truly a daughter of God.  She speaks to God...calls him Dad when she talks to him and about him.  I love that. Rosie is so spiritual and truthful about her beliefs.

Whenever we meet up, the conversation begins with kids, husbands, future plans, and finally moves to God's place in our lives.  Rosie keeps me real...she doesn't sugar coat anything, and I always come away from our times together feeling just so...grateful!  I love you Rosie!  Thank you for being my very special friend!

Running on Shoesday!

It's Tuesday Shoesday!  Look at these gorgeous stunners!!  Sometimes you find some "drop-dead" fabulous shoes but...you must ask yourself...What the heck are you going to wear them with?  When are you going to wear them?  I haven't quite answered these questions yet...it's enough to just put them on and dream...

 Enjoy your Tuesday!

Drop in with the Shoe Obsessed One and see what kind of "stunners" she has today!

Thanks for dropping by!

Running with deliciousness...

I love fall!  My favorite fall things?  Cooler days and evenings, beautiful fall colors, and warm soups and stews.  We made this delicious soup last week.  It's Posole - not the traditional recipe, but still very yummy!

My mother in law is a wonderful cook.  She's the kind of cook that just knows how much of every ingredient to include.  She makes the most wonderful Spanish rice and her most requested dish is Tacos Margarita!  Yum!


When we told her about this soup she wanted the recipe, so...here it is!

Ingredients

• 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts, diced
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 large white onion, diced
• 1 jalapeno pepper, chopped (remove seeds for less heat)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 6-ounce cans whole green chiles, drained
• 1 cup fresh cilantro
• 4 cups low-fat, low-sodium chicken broth
• 2 15-ounce cans hominy, drained
• Sliced avocado and radishes and/or baked corn chips, for garnish (optional)

Directions

Season the chicken with 1/2 teaspoon thyme, and salt and pepper to taste; set aside.  Heat the vegetable oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, jalapeno and garlic and cook until soft, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a blender, then add the chiles, cilantro and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon thyme and puree until smooth. 

Return to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring, until the sauce thickens and turns deep green, about 5 minutes.
Add the broth, hominy and chicken to the saucepan. Cover and simmer until the chicken is tender, about 10 minutes. Garnish with avocado, radishes and/or corn chips, if desired.

This soup actually tastes better a couple days after you make it - all the flavors meld together!  

If you love soup, you need to check out Sweet Bee Cottage (this is a shameless plug for my cousin).  Over at the Cottage they have made some fabulous soups - made my  mouth water just reading about it!

Thanks for stopping by today!  Tell me, are you making anything delicious for the cold weather?

Running...without water!

Water...it covers at least 70 percent of the earth - too bad some races aren't covered wtih 70 percent water! 

I feel so stupid!!  I always wear my water belt...always...even for 5Ks!  But when Baby Boy and I ran the Cross City Race recently, I felt so (over)confident that I wanted to run as free as I could.  So I left my water in the car.  I knew they'd have water at every mile...right?  WRONG!!  I even remember my trainer, Kyle, warning everyone to NOT rely on the race for water! 

So, Baby Boy and I started at a really great pace...9:28 for our first mile!  I started looking for the water tables...none appeared.  Second mile...9:30...again, I looked for the water tables...I even heard other people asking the volunteers on the side streets - "Where's the water?" and I saw the volunteers point forward!  Mile 3...starting to feel my extreme lack of water...finally a water table...but alas...too late for me.  Mile 4,5,and 6...averaged 10:20...must have water...

So, my goal had been to beat last year's time of 58 minutes, but instead I ran 59:46.  Disappointing.  Lesson learned - always take water.

Up next - Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K...I'm feeling fast...and I'll have water!!

Running...recaps!

Smokey the Bear, Smokey the Bear...howlin' and a growlin' and a sniffin' the air...anyone remember that tune?  Well, Smokey gave us a great day at the Smokey Bear run.

Gorgeous day, gorgeous views, and a good time with Baby Boy!

 
Our time was good, (1:00:47) considering the many slight hills...more hills that I had anticipated.  I was sore for about 3 days! Baby Boy stayed right with me - I even told him to run ahead of me at the end so he could beat me...he didn't.  Sweet, huh!

Baby Boy and I have been dealing with his "D" in Algebra...it hasn't been too pleasant...so it was very nice to get out and run with him.

Up next...another 6 mile race on Sunday!  Last year my time in the Cross City race was below 1:00...so excited to see if I can better my time!  I'll keep you updated!


Thanks for stopping by!

Running and Racing...finally!

I'm so excited - I've got a race this weekend!  It has been 4 months since my last race - I'm going through withdrawls!

Baby Boy and I signed up for a race that I've never run before - The Smokey Bear Run!  Sounds fun - huh?  It's a 10K held in Bass Lake.  The race photos I've seen are just gorgeous.  It's got a few hills, but I'm feeling good about it!

 The best part is that Baby Boy won't be yelling at me from 100 feet back, "Mummy...Mummy...wait up...Mummy...Mummy...wait up!"  He does that all the time when we run around the neighborhood, but I know he won't do it in front of a crowd.  

Oh, yes...my 13 year old, who could run me down in seconds...who runs a 7 minute mile with his cross country team...did I mention he's 13?


I'll let you know how it goes!  I'm so excited!!!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Running with Martha!

I love Martha Stewart!  I love cupcakes!  However, I'm not sure if I love Martha Stewart's cupcakes!

 I received this book as a birthday gift last year.  I just started using it a few months ago.  The first recipe I tried was for Mocha Cupcakes.  They were very yummy!  Even put chocolate covered espresso beans on top - just like Martha!

Next, I tried the peanut butter and chocolate cupcakes.  Not such a winner these!  I think I baked them too long, as they came out very dry!  So dry, in fact, that I ended up throwing out the last 4 cupcakes - it should be a crime - I know!!

 So, this past weekend I tried a chocolate mint cupcake - with a real chocolate peppermint inside!!

Dry...that's all I can say.  They are supposed to be "brownie" cupcakes, but I think I'm having issues with the baking time.  Martha...give me a little help here - really, how long should these yummy things bake?  Sorry, Martha, I'm going to have to second guess you from now on when I make cupcakes - I still love you though!