Because we all need a little reminder sometimes

My mother-in-law, whom I ADORE sent me this video. It is so nice to be reminded of the true beauty that surrounds us and that we are so blessed to be a part of. So take just a few minutes to check out this video and may you be reminded of your value and how worthy you are of pure joy.

http://www.thejoymovie.com/

Ding dong here comes Halloween!

Are you passing out candy this year to your neighborhood kids? Are you taking your own kids trick or treating? If you answered yes to one or both of those questions, odds are you will probably end up with mucho candy laying around the house. And if you're like me and your kids are too young to even eat the candy, guess who eats it instead? Right, his loving parents!

Learning from year's past of eating leftover candy mindlessly, I have come to realize that I don't even really like it that much. Sure the first few bites might taste good and are uber sweet, but the headache and gut ache afterwards are less then appetizing. So I found a few ideas of how to use left over candy- I 'upped their healthy factor' by changing a few ingredients, and adding a few of my own!

But first... Keep in mind that when you have healthy food in the house, you will eat healthier. When you have less than healthy foods lying around, you will choose those too. So choose one or two of the ideas below, take a piece or pie/ cake or a cookie for you and your family then give the rest away. Your co-workers, friends and neighbors will thank you!

Here are some tips:
* Chop up 1 handful of chocolate candies and mix into a half-gallon of softened low- fat ice cream or fat free frozen yogurt. Pour into a prepared pie shell and freeze into an ice-cream pie. You can garnish it with low-fat whipped topping and more of the chopped up chocolate candy pieces.

* Make ice cream and candy parfaits. Start by layering slices of angel food cake with vanilla yogurt or sorbet and whipped cream. Then, simply add leftover candy pieces.

* Chop up leftover candy bars and mix them into boxed cake mixes to send to work or to give to a friend for his/her birthday.

* Break up chocolate bars and use them in place of chocolate chips in your standard chocolate-chip cookie recipe. Take them over to your neighbors for a surprise treat!

* Gather all your leftover hard candies (Life Savers, Jolly Ranchers work best) and add to your favorite sugar cookie recipe. During baking they'll melt and create a stained-glass effect.

Happy baking and sharing!

Running in the rain

It might not be everybody's idea of a beautiful morning, but there is something thrilling about running in the rain. Maybe it's the fact that I have made the choice to run in less than ideal conditions which strengthens my confidence as a runner, maybe it's the solitude (because no one else likes to run in rain and wind), or maybe it's the feeling that the roads belong to me, I don't know what makes rainy runs so wonderful, but to me they are!

I also value the time to myself. I LOVE my family, and I LOVE lazy Sunday morning before we go to church, but there is something so peaceful about a run by myself to relieve stress and clear my thoughts. As I train with more clients, I see a clear pattern of particularly moms, putting themselves last. They then come to me tired, drained, and lacking energy. After just a few weeks, they start to feel better about themselves and approach their 'mom role' differently. They feel better because of the weight and inches they are losing, but more so, I think they feel better about themselves because they are re-discovering that they truly matter! They have put themselves on the back burner for so long that they had forgotten how it feels to have time dedicated just to them. So whether you take time to run in the rain or go for a walk on a sunny day... just be sure to take time for you!!! You matter.

Ahhh... all done!

Well we made it- we conquered all 26.2 miles of the beautiful Towpath marathon. Geoff and I felt really good throughout the race and are so thankful for the experience of running. We set a new personal record by 2 minutes- HOORAY! I also learned so much along the way. I learned that running a marathon is like childbirth (I'll explain, I promise!) and I re-learned how much I adore and love my husband and how blessed we are to run together.

First, the childbirth analogy, childbirth is like running because: 1. Once it's over, the initial pain quickly dissipates and you are just elated with your new bundle of joy/ accomplishment. 2. The moment you start labor or running, you can't stop until it's done- it's not an option. 3. The next day you say in your pain oblivion that you 'will NEVER EVER do this again', but somehow, someway, the thought starts to creep into your mind a little later down the road. :)

My husband is a gift from God- no question about it. He is one of those guys that strengthens under pressure and steps up to the challenge. Today he taught me about gut strength and how to simultaneously listen to my body. He is just incredible and I am so blessed to be his wife. I am also so thankful to have a running partner who likes to play silly games and talk about random things.

So what's next? Recovery! And maybe... just maybe the Grand Rapids half marathon next weekend- I know, I'm nuts... but it's the whole baby thing, the thought starts to slowly creep back in! :)

Thanks for reading, enjoy your Sunday.

It's almost here!

After months of training, Geoff and I are so excited to run a marathon this weekend. We leave tonight to drop our son off at my parent's house, then head onto Cleveland tomorrow. We are thrilled for a little down time before the race and then to put all of our training and hard work to the test on Sunday.

I just read an email sent to the GR race director that he then posted for all of us on the email group to see. It was from a former Olympian (1996 1 mile runner) and thought that his perspective on the marathon was so right on. I hope his thoughts give you a little insight as to why we run.

Today, runners deal with stress well and are typically more emotionally balanced. They are doers and discover solutions before the sedentary. They intimately know their neighborhood. They come up with great ideas during long miles of breathing, sweating, and pounding. Runners have passion; they are willing to suffer a long time for something they want. They are not interested in instant gratification or a quick high; they plan, prepare, and execute until they achieve their goal.

The most respected runners since early times were those that could run the marathon. The marathon is the most revered of all the distances. It is 26.2 miles of shear fortitude and focus.

Now we have cars, cell phones, and satellites, why do people run the marathon? The marathon is a microcosm of our lives and provides us insight into who we are and what we are made of. A marathon event and the training associated to prepare for one is the opportunity to identify with others like us.

On race day we see thousands of runners going in the same direction. It is a phenomenon of positive momentum. It is a moment at which we all in unison draw the line in the sand AGAINST several things: most notably, procrastination and laziness, age and gender, and quitting and getting fat. Most importantly during a marathon you are guaranteed to see the human spirit at its best.

I will attempt to complete my fourth marathon on September 19, 2008 at 9:00am in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I have only completed two of the three I have attempted. I am a 1996 Olympic mile runner and will go way beyond my specialty in an attempt to gain some self-prospective. There is only one thing I know for sure: I know I will be tested beyond what I can imagine, the distance is too long for me to run alone and it will take me looking to my fellow competitors and remembering the people that I have sweated and trained with for inspiration if I plan to finish strong. Paul McMullen, 1996 Olympian, Spring Lake, Michigan

Thanks for reading my post today, whether you know it or not you help to drive me faster and further ahead, just by simply reading my blog. Thanks for the support and check back Sunday for an update!

Mmmm... pizza!

Try this healthier version of pizza next time your craving a slice of 'pie!'

Pepperoni Pita Pizza
Makes 4 pizzas

Ingredients:2 whole-wheat pitas (6-inch diameter)

1 cup pizza sauce

1 cup shredded, part-skim mozzarella cheese

2 ounces sliced turkey pepperoni (about 32 slices)

1/4 cup chopped, roasted red peppers

4 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese

1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Split the pitas in half to form circles.
Place the pita halves on 2 baking sheets.

Spread 1/4 cup pizza sauce on each pita half to within 1/2 inch of the edge.

Sprinkle each half with 1/4 cup mozzarella.

Arrange pepperoni slices on top of the cheese.

Sprinkle each pizza with 1 teaspoon peppers and top with 1 teaspoon Parmesan.

Drizzle the oil over the pizza.
Bake for 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Remove to serving plates and cut into quarters.

Per pizza: 241 calories, 9g total fat, 27g carbohydrates, 13g protein, 16mg cholesterol, 4g fiber, 704mg sodium