Great Running Freebies!

I love to read about running and one of my favorite websites just posted a bunch of free pdfs with some great training pointers. So go check it out!



http://www.runnersworld.com/cas/pdf/0,,s6-238-591-0-0,00.html

It's Official: I'm a Dirty Dasher!

  

This last Saturday morning was intense. The Dirty Dash 10k took me almost 2 hours to complete, but it was so worth it! With 16 obstacles to overcome, along with 6.2 miles of hard core hill/trail running, The Dirty Dash was by far the hardest run I've ever completed! Its something that I want to try again, but with a lot more training under my belt. I'd totally recommend it for someone up for a challenge!

Tire Obstacle



Final Obstacle: MUD PIT!!



Here I go, almost done!



Dirty Dashers

Posing in all my muddied state! :)

Shower Time!

Zucchini Crusted Pizza

3 cups shredded zucchini

3/4 cup egg substitute  (I used 3 eggs)

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese  (I used cheddar)

2 small tomatoes, halved and thinly sliced

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup julienned green pepper

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

3 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese

1 teaspoon dried oregano

Additional topping ideas: pepperoni, olives, grilled chicken etc.

Directions

1. Squeeze excess moisture out of zucchini and let sit for about 5 minutes. In a bowl, combine zucchini and egg substitute; mix well. Add flour and salt; stir well. Spread onto the bottom of a 12-in. pizza pan coated with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Bake at 450 degrees F for 8 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F. Sprinkle with mozzarella, tomatoes, onion, green pepper, oregano, basil and Parmesan cheese and other optional toppings. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until onion is tender and cheese is melted.

Original recipe from Allrecipes.com, but I've made a few adjustments :)

Diet. That Nasty Four Letter Word

First of all, let me clarify something. Diet is a bad word. I've always believed the word carried a negative connotation on its back. It started out being perfectly innocent and then slowly morphed into something not so nice.You say the word diet to me and I will most likely cringe. If somebody tells me they are on a diet and asks my opinion about it, I usually ask them, "Is it something you can do for the rest of your life? If it's not, you are wasting your time". Now, I understand cutting back on certain food items that may be a adding a few pounds, I get that. What I don't get is somebody totally revamping what they are eating only for a designated time just so they can lose the unwanted poundage. What is going to happen when you start eating the same way you did before? Yep, all the weight comes right back on. It all comes down to this: if you don't change those habits that are making you fat, your fat is going to stick to you like glue. Yuck! This is the personal trainer starting to coming out of me, all it takes is one step at a time. So start setting some goals!

Baked Chicken Taquitos

I got this recipe from a coworker and it is very tasty!

Ingredients:

2 cups shredded chicken breast

1/3 cup cream cheese

¼ cup green salsa

1 cup grated pepperjack cheese

1 fresh green chili pepper diced

1 ½-2 minced garlic cloves

3 Tbsp chopped cilantro

3 Tbsp sliced green onions

3 Tbsp fresh squeezed lime juice

½ tsp chili powder

½ tsp cumin

¼ tsp onion powder

Flour or corn tortillas

Sautee the diced green chili pepper in 1-2 Tbsp of oil on low heat until tender. (about 15 minutes).

Melt the cream cheese in a large bowl in the microwave so it is soft and easy to stir. Mix in all other ingredients with the cream cheese, including the sautéed green chili peppers. Warm tortillas in microwave so they are easy to roll. Place about 3 Tbsp (about 1/8 cup for larger tortillas) of cream cheese/chicken mixture into tortillas and roll, place in pan seam side down. Pour as much extra green salsa and pepperjack cheese on top as you like.

Bake uncovered on 425 for about 20 minutes.

One Year!

 

Two weekends ago Drew and I celebrated our one-year anniversary (and now I finally internet so I can upload pictures). Its so hard to believe that we've already made it past a year! Wednesday, four days before our anniversary, we left Spokane for a family reunion in Tamarack, Idaho. Tamarack was so scenic and the weather was perfect. We were able to go horseback riding and relax in our beautiful room complete with a fireplace, jet tub and sauna. It was amazing!  I was surprised by Drew on Saturday when he told me we were going to Caldwell, Idaho for the last two days of our vacation. I had such a great time.


Our suite complete with fireplace, balcony, sauna & jet tub



View from our balcony

Riding "Lucky"



Family Picture Time

Fun Pic



Silly Pic







Easy Corn Salsa

Easy Corn Salsa

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups chopped fresh tomato, or 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, not drained
2/3 cup frozen whole-kernel corn
1 cup chopped cucumber, not peeled
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper, red or green
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp salt (opt.)
1/8 tsp ground black pepper
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
*Sodium is figured for no added salt

Mix ingredients together in medium bowl and serve. Refrigerate leftovers.


Serves 8 (1/2 cup servings)

Nutrition Facts:
calories 189; total fat 7g; saturated fat 1g; cholesterol 62mg; total carbohydrate 6g; dietary fiber 1g; sugars 4g; protein 24g

Wedding Weekend

My sister Kate got married this last weekend, and what a day it turned out to be! Friday was beautiful and sunny, the only day out of the whole weekend with sunshine which made it possible to have pictures outside at the park. Rebecca Hollis took the pics and they turned out amazing! But we knew they would, she took the photos at my wedding and my brother's wedding and we can't help but love her stuff, she is practically in our family.  I put a few of the pics up, but there are more at her website Rebecca Hollis Blogspot, check her out she is fantastic!



Me and the bride-to-be...

Sisters...

Cutest little ring bearer carrying the homemade pillow...

Congrats Kate & Jon!



Another Ringbearer Pillow

So after I showed a friend at work the pillow I made for my sister's wedding, she wanted me to make her one. I got all excited and rushed to the fabric store and whipped this one up in about 2 hours. Its starting to become a little addicting.

View from the front...

View from the side...

13.1

13.1 miles and I ran them all, every single last one of them! It was a perfect day for a race, sunny and warm with a touch of a breeze. The race started at 7:30am, so my day started off early. I finished within a minute of last year's time and felt great about it. It was my friend Heather's first 1/2 and she did great! One thing I was a little bummed about was that we didn't get any pictures of me running in to the finish line, apparently I was just too fast for my husband to catch me. :) Love you hon!

Me right after the race, getting refueled...

My sister, my cousin and I...

Me and my friend Heather...