Run, Forrest, Run

Hi!!

So many running updates for you!!

I was in New Orleans with my mom and step dad a couple weeks ago for my step dad's neurology conference and all 3 of us participated in a 5K sponsored by LSU. It was a very small race - only about 200 participants and the official results were never posted online, but if I remember the clock correctly, I ran about a 27:05 or so... my first race with a sub 9 minute mile pace! My mom and step dad each finished a few minutes later and both did awesome. It was each their first race in years and years so I was extremely proud of them for signing up and doing so great.

Mom & step dad after finishing the race!

 Sweaty from the race & wet from the rain

Of course we also made time to enjoy some beignets...

Watch my step dad compete in the annual neurobowl...

his team undefeated for 12 years!

Dr. B. thinking hard...

See the sights...

And gamble just a tiny bit...

Since getting back from NOLA, I've started my half marathon training! This will be my longest race to date and I'm really excited about the idea of completing 13.1 miles, especially since I'll have my marathoning brother by my side!

I had my first run on Monday which was just a baby 3 mile run, but it went terribly! I used to get really itchy legs when I ran in any weather under 60 degrees and that came back and happened again. It was so bad that at one point I contemplated begging a cab driver to take me home for free. Unfortunately, it didn't stop when I walked so I figured I would just get home as fast as possible and finished strong at least. My second run today was a million times better and made me feel much more confident about how the rest of my training will go. I did a fast 3 miles in the 75 degree heat, kept under my goal pace, and felt great when I was done.

I typically map out my runs on Map My Run, but I'm starting to get sick of doing that and would like to have the freedom to go where I want on my longer runs especially... so today I caved and bought myself a Garmin watch!! I've been wanting one for almost 6 months and figured now was as good a time as any to make the purchase! Plus - they're currently running a special on certain watches that students get a $50 rebate so if you're a student and in the market for a new GPS watch - get one before May 15th!! I ended up with the Forerunner 210 (mine only cost $200 because I didn't get the heart rate monitor right now which you can purchase separately). I can't wait to use it on my run this weekend!

Have a fun Cinco de Mayo weekend everyone!!

Birthday Dinner #1

Hi!

This past weekend my "pledge mom" Lauren from my sorority was in town from New York so I was able to go out with her and some other girls to catch up. On Saturday night, a group of us went out for dinner at Kan Zaman which is a fun BYOB place with belly dancers. We shared a bunch of plates and enjoyed lots of falafel, feta, chicken, rice, and pita with hummus. My favorite was definitely the falafel and I would go back just for a plate of that.

with Lauren at Kan Zaman

My birthday is coming up this Saturday so last night my awesome guy who we'll call J took me out for an early birthday dinner. We took advantage of Restaurant Week and headed to Cafe Ba Ba Reeba, a great tapas place that I haven't been to in years. We were too busy eating and talking for me to remember to snap pics of most of the food, but I captured a few essentials... like cheese, drinks, and dessert.

a bad picture of spinach and manchego cheese stuffed mushrooms and baked goat cheese in marinara

his and hers sangria: 

black raspberry for J and peach for me

dessert: butterscotch something or other for J and chocolate truffle cake for me

Aside from what's pictured above, I also devoured a piece of toast with ahi tuna and avocado along with a short ribs and mashed potatoes dish and seafod paella. J also ordered some kind of beef with blue cheese and chips, a fried goat cheese bite, and chicken and pork paella. We each had a little of everything and every dish we had was incredible. This was definitely the best meal I've had in a long time. The sangria was sooo delish so J and I decided we need to try and recreate it ASAP. I can't wait to go back to Cafe Ba Ba Reeba and try all their other tapas!

I haven't really talked about working out at all recently so I figured I'd give my hundreds of adoring blog fans an update on that. I've been taking classes at Exhale (core fusion, core fusion cardio, and yoga) about 6 times a week for the last 6 months or so and I'm just as obsessed as when I first started going there. These classes are addicting and I love that I'm still sore the next day even though I've been doing the classes for a while now. If anyone wants to try a class but doesn't want to go alone (I'm totally like that when I try new classes!) let me know and I'd love to bring you with me to Exhale!

You may remember I injured my foot back in late October right before my 15K race. I ran the race anyway which obviously delayed my healing and it's still not 100%. I went through a bunch of rounds of physical therapy and I can tell it's getting better, but I still haven't been able to run pain-free in months. I'm hoping to start running again, but I've been advised to wait until the pain stops completely to get back into it. Hopefully it's sooner rather than later!

Have a great couple days and I'll catch ya later!

Return of the FitFoodie...

Whelp, I'm back! I took a loooong blogging break because I just wasn't feeling it and when I start this blog about 10 months ago I told myself it would be solely for fun and enjoyment. I never want to feel like I have to blog. So if I'm not in the mood, it's not happenin!

Today I'll share some pictures of my recent favorite meals and a ridiculously easy recipe!

Blueberry protein pancakes

BBQ salmon, broccoli, rice pilaf

Homemade pita chips

Homemade guacamole

Ice cream sundae!

Steak and broccoli

Fish tacos: hard shell tacos, kale, tomato, onion, tilapia, and salsa

Chicken noodle soup

BBQ pineapple chicken with wild rice

The recipe for the BBQ pineapple chicken is a crazy easy crock pot meal and incredibly delicious! Here's the recipe for 2 servings...

Here's what you need:

- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

- 1/2 bottle BBQ sauce

- 1 can diced pineapple chunks

- 1/8 cup diced red onion or pepper (optional)

- 1/4 cup water

Here's what you do:

Place the thawed chicken breasts into the crock pot and put onions or other veggies on top. Drain pineapple can and pour half the contents on top of the chicken breasts. Dump BBQ sauce over the chicken (should cover completely) and add the rest of the pineapple. Add about 1/4 cup of water. Set crock pot to low and cook for 6-7 hours. Shred the chicken if you'd like and let the meat soak up the sauce or simply enjoy the breast whole. Served with a side of instant rice, it's a quick and healthy meal! 

Enjoy!!

Vacay, Hanukkah & New Year's

Happy new year! I'm just a little late...

I've been a little sick the last week but I'm finally feeling good and out of bed and back to blogging too! Here are some quick fun pics from my vacation to Mexico with my mom and brother:

 

gorgeous hotel

 

a bit of yoga on the beach 

*taught by my mom who recently earned her yoga instructor certification!

matching with mom

family tequila shot

with my brother adam

most beautiful sunset i've ever seen on our last night in peurto vallarta

It was a perfect escape from the cold in Chicago and we had amazing weather the entire time... can't wait to get back next year!

Since my family couldn't all get together while Hanukkah was actually happening, we had a delayed Hanukkah party on New Year's Eve day. I was in charge of the latkes and used a recipe my mom found in the Tribune. We tested the recipe out a few days before the party to make sure it was decent and we were obsessed - we ate about a dozen latkes each that day. I spent over an hour fying latkes while my family ate them up.

the recipe - so easy!

i don't know where the rest of my latke pictures went so i can't show you the finished ones... but we placed them on a paper bag to get the oil out when they were done cooking and then ate them hot!

 

the pup cj loving her new dreidel toy she got for hanukkah

New Year's ended up being a great night. I went with a group of friends to a BYOB sushi restaurant and then to our friend's to ring in the new year.

with the roommate before heading out

sushi at dinner (no i did not eat that all - i shared with someone!)

some girls at the party

I was enjoying the last few days of my break, but tonight I have my first class of the semester. As much as sitting around doing nothing can be nice, I definitely get bored way too easily and crave some sort of order and schedule in my life. Since I work/study/write from home 90% of the time, I also hate being steps from the kitchen all day, everyday. Getting back in a routine where I'm not home as often helps curb mindless eating! Here are some of my recent eats:

egg and cheese bagelwich with a side of strawberries

spinach salad with onion, tomato, bell pepper, carrots, chicken, and some light bbq ranch dressing

Have a great rest of your week and enjoy the weather while it lasts!

Holiday Party Sweets Recipes!!

Hi!

I'm back from my vacation to Puerto Vallarta with the fam and have lots to share with you! As promised, here are some pictures and recipes of the treats from the holiday party my roommate and I hosted a few weeks ago:

cake pop prep

finished delicious cake pops

Cake Pops

What you'll need...
- chocolate melts (I think white chocolate works best - I use the chocolate discs from Michael's Craft Store)
- cake pop sticks (from Michael's)
- cake mix
- frosting
- sprinkles

What you'll do...
Day 1: Bake the cake as directed on the box. Let cake cool completely and then crumble into a large bowl. Mix in almost an entire can of frosting with the cake. Lay out a cookie sheet with wax paper. Roll cake balls in your hands and place onto wax paper. Leave cake balls uncovered in fridge overnight.

Day 2: Melt chocolate using a double boiler and set up sprinkles in small bowls with spoons for each color sprinkle. Set up an empty mini muffin tin or empty egg carton with wax paper on top (can use another cookie sheet with wax paper if you don't have those - the round setting just help holds the circular shape). Push sticks into the cake balls all the way through to the other side but not far enough where they stick out. Take each cake pop and dip into chocolate; spin cake pop around for about 5-10 seconds to let the extra chocolate drip off. Spoon (don't dip!) sprinkles over the pops quickly and place lightly onto wax paper. Let sit out till the party or next day and enjoy!

Tips:
- Mixing the crumbled cake with frosting is much easier with your hands than with a utensil, but if you use red velvet I would recommend gloves because the red stains your hands for a day or so
- You can do it all in one day, but I think it's easier to do in 2 days unless you have all day to let it cool and harden when necessary
- I would use regular sprinkles because it's already so sweet but if you liked the ones I had, use crystal sugar sprinkles.. they just add a whole extra layer of sugar and sweetness so it's too much for some people!
- I used red velvet cake, cream cheese frosting, white chocolate melts and blue and white sugar sprinkles

Mom making holiday pretzel treats

yum! 

Holiday Pretzel Treats

What you'll need...

- chocolate melts

- m&ms (I picked out all the colors I wanted to use)

- mini pretzels 

What you'll do...

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lay out wax paper on a cookie sheet and top with pretzels. Place a chocolate disc over each pretzel. Bake in oven until chocolate is soft, about 4-6 minutes. Remove tray from oven and immediately press an m&m onto each pretzel with the "m" side face down. Place tray into fridge to allow the treats to harden in place. Keep in an airtight container or bag until ready to serve!

chocolate-marshmallow-pretzel dreidels (and my mom's cheese straws which are amazing but I don't know how to make)

Dreidel Treats

What you'll need...

- short pretzel sticks

- marshmallows

- hershey kisses

- chocolate discs (milk chocolate works best for this one)

- white icing

What you'll do...

Melt chocolate using a double boiler and line cookie sheet with wax paper. Dip flat side of hershey kiss in the chocolate and secure onto one side of the marshmallow. Repeat until you have a full tray and transfer tray to refrigerator for 10 minutes. Remove tray and cut a small slit into each marshmallow. Insert a pretzel stick into each opening. Dip marshmallows into melted chocolate and lay on wax paper to dry. Repeat until all are finished and refrigerate for about 15 minutes until set. Use white icing to write a Hebrew letter onto one side of the dreidel. Be sure to use a small amount of icing so it doesn't slide down the sides of the dreidel. Let set in fridge at least a few hours before serving. 

Hanukkah table

view of the hanging snowflakes we made

cheese & wine table

Christmas/alcohol table

cheese & crackers, bruschetta, nuts & fruit

roommates/hosts

unrelated but great picture of chasing marshmallow vodka with a finger full of  frosting

Enjoy these recipes - they're great for parties and by changing colors/flavors, you can use the cake pops & pretzel treats for any occasion. 

Be back soon with a Mexico recap :) Until then, Happy New Year! Be safe, have fun, and enjoy the weekend to get 2012 off to an amazing start!!