I’m more of a cake girl (or pizookie girl!) than an ice cream girl, but twice this week, I’ve fully appreciated the beauty of sorbet.

The Pilot and I took the family on a walk

pilot20

and then walked over to Frost for a little treat.

Mango sorbet for me:

sorbet

Bella had vanilla

bell7

It definitely stayed on my mind because when my friend Lee Anne texted to ask if I wanted sorbet with the baby meal she was bringing over, I didn’t turn it down.

baby meal5

The dinner she brought was absolutely amazing

Vegan black bean soup with avocado, cilantro, lime and pulled pork for the Pilot

baby meal4

and the salad of my dreams: arugula, goat cheese, walnuts, strawberries and homemade vinaigrette

salAD w gc

After digging into the blackberry sorbet, I had an incredible lunch:

soup and salad2

Another recent meal from a friend:

baby meal3

(Salad, pork tenderloin for the Pilot, potatoes, broccoli and fruit, which I’ve been using as oatmeal and yogurt topping all week)

We’ve been so fortunate to have friends and family supporting us for the past couple of weeks and helping us out with grocery, errand runs, and food. I’ve also been very thankful for all of the kind words, love and packages from my blog friends. A recent surprise:

twin snacks

Twin Cakes goodies (+ a gorgeous quilt) from my very good friends Michelle and Lori <3

Our last baby meal is on Monday, and then I’ll be back in the kitchen again! Since I’m still juggling and trying to figure out time to do things, what are your favorite quick and easy meals? I think the slow cooker and I may be reunited…

Off to walk with Kelly and Meara :)

Have a great day!
xoxo

Gina

Something to think:

“The way you think, the way you behave, the way you eat, can influence your life by 30 to 50 years.”
Deepak Chopra

{ 21 comments }

Focus On: Half Marathon Training

by Fitnessista on January 26, 2012

in focus on,something to talk about

Back in the fall, I set a goal for myself: I really want to walk/run the half marathon here at the end of March.

Now that we’re in January, and walking is pretty much the only physical activity I can do for the next week and a half, I still want to go for it.

me and bell8

Back in the day, I was really into races and running. It was one of my favorite deployment distractions, and I looked forward to long runs and training with my friends. Races gave me something to focus on while the Pilot was away, and it was something I really enjoyed… until I injured myself.

With teaching and training, I overdid it and hurt my knee. And then I realized that I was getting a little too competitive with myself –I started to feel like every run needed to be better/faster than the last and I took the fun out of it- then I broke up with running.

race

Since then, I’ve only really done HIIT sprint drills and Tabata- it’s been quite a while since I ventured into long distances. When I got pregnant, I stopped running all together since I was no longer doing interval training, and it was the first time that I really started to miss running. Now, especially since we’re in Tucson and have access to so many parks and trails, I can’t wait to get back into it.

A popular Focus On request is half marathon training, and since I’m hoping to do another one this spring, here we go :)

Please keep in mind that I’m not a hardcore runner or coach, but if you have questions, seek out the advice of an expert in your area.

So what is it?

13.1 miles of discomfort and triumph. You can walk, run, do a walk/run combo, run with a training group, friend, or solo. Many races also offer pace groups that follow a certain pace for the entire race. If you’re interested in doing a half marathon, check out this website to find our near you.

I ran two Disney Princess half marathons (recap 1 and 2), and can’t recommend the Disney races enough. They’re extremely organized, there’s a lot to look at –Tarzan in a loin cloth- and many people cheering you on along the way.

How to train for one:

One thing to keep in mind is to not overdo it with the running if you’re just getting into it. Gradually add running into your schedule to avoid overtraining and injury. The best training plans include a balance of running, cross-training, flexibility, rest days and long runs. Hal Higdon is a popular resource for training plans, as well as Runner’s World Smart Coach.

running

Tools and tips:

-The most important tool for safe running: high quality sneaks that fit well. Go to a local running store to have your stride analyzed and receive shoe recommendations. Different shoes are better-suited for different types of feet and strides, and you’ll be surprised at how much shoes affect the running experience.

-Bonus: Garmin. I have a Garmin 305 and it helped my running immensely. It was so helpful to look down and know what my pace was and how far I’ve ran.

garmin

-Clothing, music, fuel:

race

Never run a race in new clothing that you haven’t tested out before- I’ve tried that before and it was chafe city. Load up your iPod with your favorite power music, and make sure to practice fueling yourself along the way. Many people can’t stomach the gels or shot bloks, while other people can only drink water, some like Powerade or coconut water. You definitely need to figure out a type of fuel that works for you- 13 miles is a long way to go without carb or electrolyte replenishment.

My fave:

Honey stingers (for mile 7 or so) and Heed with water in the Camelbak

image Source image Source

My training plan for the half marathon in March is going to be a little different since I’m just getting back in the swing of things. My cardio endurance is there since I can teach classes for 2+ hours, but the mode (running) has been MIA from my life for quite a while. I’m going to add in one walk/run day each week as soon as I’m cleared for physical activity and go from there.

Have you ran a half marathon before? Any tips to share?

Hope everyone has a great day!

xoxo

Gina

{ 96 comments }

Hey, hemp

January 25, 2012

Another one of these hilarious videos: (I still like the originals and the yoga one the best) It definitely came to mind when I busted these out a couple of days ago: hemp seeds! Long time, no see. When my doc recommended upping my fat intake, hemp seeds was one of his suggestions as they’re [...]

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Superbowl Snacks

January 23, 2012

Even though it isn’t for a couple of weeks, Superbowl hubbub is already in full swing. I’ve mentioned this before, but after all of football games I’ve been to in my life, I still don’t really understand it. (My second date with the Pilot was an Arizona homecoming game) I understand touchdowns and field goals, [...]

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WSU Week 2

January 22, 2012

Hello to another Monday, goodbye to another glorious baby meal. Our friends Bob and Emily came over last night to hang out and brought dinner. Bella wouldn’t leave Bob alone (she LOVES him) and Emily, the baby whisperer, held Livi while we all chatted. Dinner was incredible, too. Roasted winter vegetable soup with carrots, sweet [...]

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Into the sun…

January 22, 2012

Flowers and sunlight!   Guess who ventured into the world today…. It was so nice to get out. FREEEEEEEDOM! We had a lovely brunch at Eclectic Cafe: Lox, eggs, potatoes, OJ and fruit for me, the Pilot had granola, yogurt, eggs and French toast. Nana and Tata met us for coffee while we ate- it [...]

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Stayin’ alive

January 21, 2012

Many bloggers will go outside and take lovely pictures of foliage or flowers for their posts. Everything is pretty much dead over here, except for the grass and this cilantro: which I haven’t watered in at least 4 months. It’s a survivor, for sure. Also, the perfect complement to the baby meal my friend Liz [...]

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Talking Shiba

January 20, 2012

For those of you who have also been missing your daily dose of Vies, here ya go: Ash and her hubby put that video up last night- the Pilot and I were cracking up watching it. They’ve taught Vies so many cool tricks. Over Easter, they filled Easter eggs with treats, hid them, and taught [...]

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