Thinking Out Loud February 25, 2016

 

I was going to say I still can’t find my neck warmer but then somehow we (we as in my friend Meghan and I) discovered yesterday afternoon that she had it by mistake in a pile of stuff I had given her but I can’t go to get because she has the flu and the whole process of figuring out how to get the darn scarf without getting the flu became too challenging so I will just wait.

My dad read my post last week, the one that said I had a dream about Cookie Crisp cereal so when I was sick, he brought me a box. It was good but gosh, dry cereal always tears up the inside of my mouth. This is one of the reasons I stopped eating cereal for the most part years ago.

There’s lots of hockey chatter about the possibility of the Islanders looking to get out of playing in Brooklyn. I know you don’t care about this but I care about this and wonder if maybe they have read my complaints written here on the blog and tweeted on twitter and that’s what did it. You know, because my happiness as a fan matters to them a whole lot. Let’s pretend I played a role, okay? #isles

So I have this thing about pretty stationery. I love it. Always have, just like my obsession with stickers. I already started summer camp shopping for my son (crazy, I know, but it’s almost March which means almost summer which means camp preparation starts now) and the summer camp stationery is out in full force.

Is it wrong to get myself lots of cute packs of cupcake stationery so I can relive my childhood while writing him lots of letters and maybe he will even send me a letter back?

Truth: I used to love some of my stationery so much that I wouldn’t even use it. It was to pretty to write on.

My friend Meaghan found me these stickers and although they aren’t Lisa Frank, two of them are just perfect for me. And, I feel like you know me so well that you can probably guess which two stickers belong to me too.

My running friend, Carmella, (we met at the Runner’s World Half & Festival where we both ran the hat trick!) shared this running quote on facebook the other day and I just LOVE IT.

Such an empowering quite, right?! Sometimes I think we runners underestimate what it means when we run the distances that we do like no big deal. It is a big deal.

I have been really good lately about switching my phone to vibrate by 7:00 pm and not looking at it again until morning. Sure I miss texts, calls and emails but who cares! The important people know my home phone number and if they feel it’s necessary, they can call me. However, the people closest to me know to just call my son directly if they need us, he’s always up and ready to talk late because late is cool which clearly, I am not.

Don’t forget to check out what everyone else is thinking about today 🙂

Which sticker from the above picture would suit you? Did you guess the two that are perfect for me?

Does cereal irritate your mouth?

Anyone you know have the flu right now?

Quinoa And Ants On A Different Log

 

Let’s start this week off with a direct quote from my horoscope:

“While you don’t have A WAY to influence the future right now, you do have THE POWER to influence it, so think only happy, hopeful thoughts.”

I like that. A lot.

Saturday’s Long Run. On the treadmill. Let’s discuss.

One of my biggest problems with running inside on the treadmill is that it opens me up for possible conversation with other human beings.

Without getting too much into detail, the woman next to me found it acceptable to ask me where to plug her heads phones into her treadmill.

1. Please don’t bother me while I am running.

2. I can’t hear you with my own head phones blasting  Jason Derulo’s “Talk Dirty” into my ears.

3. The headphone graphic printed on your treadmill display is a pretty good indicator of where to plug.

It’s no secret (except maybe to this woman) that running is my alone time and I don’t like to talk, especially while I am trying to conquer a long run on a treadmill.

Before I started up my mill, I made the mental decision to break the run into groups of 5 miles. My long run goal is always 10 miles, anything past 10 is a bonus. I do normally go past 10 on any given Saturday- sometimes 11, 12 etc. but mentally, telling myself 10 is the goal makes life a bit easier.

In my head, I contemplated 3 sets of 5 miles for a total of 15…. I finished at 13.30 miles instead.

Could I have continued? Sure. As long as I pace myself, as long as I slow down when I am tired, I can certainly keep going.

But, I said to myself at the 13.1 mark, why bother? You just ran a serious half marathon not only at a race pace but on a treadmill so why go any further?

It was less than 2 miles to complete the 15. I knew that. I knew I could finish it all up in 10 minutes.

10 minutes is like nothing at that point in the run so you can look at it two ways: Just finish it, it’s only 10 minutes OR I am satisfied and don’t need to push for another 10 minutes.

I am proud to know when enough is enough for me.

As I ran, I thought about how I still have absolutely no desire to ever train for the 26.2.

People tell me this will change and maybe it will. For now though, my body functions well at my current training level and my mind remains quite satisfied with sticking to half marathons and my current routine.

Speaking of routine, of course I hit up Trader Joe’s over the weekend.

Instead of showing you my lackluster grocery haul, I will tell you what was missing from my cart:

• Onion Rings
• Cage-Free Liquid Egg Whites
• Meatless Meatballs

It was about to snow again so it is entirely possible that they were low on food since most of Long Island was doing their daily storm stock up.

However, it seems the new “Fearless Flyer” is out with new items throughout the store, including the freezer section which leaves me in fear (which isn’t allowed since the flyer claims I should be fearless) because it is possible my onion rings have been replaced by new flyer finds.

Like this Melodious Blend:

Please excuse the lighting, I took this picture while leaning deep into the freezer case. It is a new blend of chick peas and lentils with tomatoes and olive oil. Sounds lovely but really, I can make this at home.

This was the last box in the freezer case. Fully Cooked Organic Quinoa, just like the frozen organic cooked brown rice.

Now, I do buy the frozen bags of brown rice but the quinoa? I already make quinoa every week myself.

Quinoa is way simple to whip up, requires no attention on the stove and it fully cooked in a matter of minutes. I always make a few servings at a time and store it in the refrigerator to add to just about anything.

I love the texture of quinoa and it’s ability to satisfy my appetite. I don’t understand how it does it, but it does (maybe it has something to do with it being a complete protein containing all 9 essential amino acids).

I cook my quinoa in water (or even with a touch of coconut water) instead of a vegetable broth just so I can effectively add it to any dish allowing it to completely take on the flavors of any meal.

Quinoa combined with avocado is a favorite in my world. I add it to stir frys, salads, Italian dishes, oatmeal and now, my new snack:

Ants on a log has taken on new meaning. Replace celery with carrots and add some quinoa to your peanut butter. Top with raisins.

Genius, I know.

I was also a sneaky little genius on Friday when I ended up at Cold Stone:

Yes, yes, yes, it’s a beautiful sundae in the waffle bowl but the genius and sneaky part was me scoping out their waffle machine while they made the waffle bowls.

I really am determined to make my own and I am pretty confident that if Mr. Cold Stone man can do it, so can I.

Confidence people, you must have confidence.

Before I go get ready to run, can I show you the new pens I bought?

A sucker for school supplies all of my life, how do you pass up pens with donuts and gumball machines?

I have been on a mad search for the right sized pen to fit the tiny little slot in my agenda. This pen doesn’t even come close to fitting but it has gumballs on it so I am trying to make it work in the meantime.

Have a great Monday and an especially great Monday if you are lucky enough to be off from work for President’s Day!

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Are you off from work today?

Do you love school supplies like me?

Favorite way to eat quinoa?

Are you a chatty runner or do you like to be left alone?