Month: April 2013

Marvelous Monday {Florida Edition}

Luv What You Do Life, Travel ,

Marvelous is spending the weekend with your happy and healthy grandpa celebrating his 101st Birthday. 

 

IMAG2293

 

Need I say more?!  Even though #Grandpa Al hasn’t totally taken off, I know that pictures and birthday wishes are abuzz on Facebook between grandpa’s family and friends!  Thank you all SOOO much for all  of your warm wishes!  They made me smile and I know if grandpa understood a blog (or knew how to use a computer), he would appreciate them too!

 

Here are a few other Marvelous Moments from this weekend in Florida!

 

IMAG2278

 

Marvelous is….

 

Waking up in Florida

 

Running along the Beach

 

IMAG2282

 

Spending time by the pool catching up with cousins

 

Eating oysters with my brother and his marvelous gf

 

IMAG2289

 

Looking through old family photos

 

Hearing old family stories

 

IMAG2303

 

Participating in a special Saturday service

 

Watching grandpa make his own dinner (at 4:30pm)

 

IMAG2327

 

Having cocktail hour on the lenai

 

Making Memories!

 

IMAG2296

 

 

I hope that you had a marvelous weekend!

What have you been up to???

#Grandpa al

Luv What You Do Life, Travel , ,

So truth be told, I don’t really understand the whole hashtag thing, but I think my grandpa deserves one!

 

IMG_2363 IMG_2365

 

Why?  Not just because he is turning 101 years old this weekend!

 

IMG_7238

 

But because he exercises every day, still drives, has a great sense of humor, surrounds himself with friends young and old, is thoughtful and caring, tells stories of the old country, stays strong and independent, and is somewhat of a legend in these parts with all of the stories that my family tells about him (basically to everyone we meet)!

 

IMG_0544

 

You can read my Mom’s post about him!  Yes, she has a blog too and you should totally check it out!

 

IMG_5663

 

Last year’s 100th Birthday celebration was a blast, and I am looking forward to spending the weekend with my family in Florida celebrating this inspiring man once again.  #GrandpaAl!

 

IMG_3648

 

I’m sure there will be plenty of stories to share when I return!  So while I am gone…

Spend your weekend like Grandpa Al and celebrate each day like it’s your birthday!

 

 

If that’s not something to hashtag about, then I don’t know what is : )

Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

Luv What You Do Bread, Swimming , , ,

I was hoping to get out on my bike one more time this morning before heading out of town for the weekend.  The weather looked wet, and I wasn’t feeling motivated to get up and moving.  Instead, I went to the park district for a swim.  Between running Sunday and biking Monday, my body was pretty tired.  However, I continue to be impressed with the fact that I am actually going to the pool.  I’ve been swimming so many times this year that I’ve lost track!

 

IMAG1887

 

This morning, I started off with freestyle laps.  I did three at my typically slow pace and then sped up for the forth for 15 minutes of intervals.  Then finished off with a little over 10 minutes prone on the kick board.  After 25 minutes, I was beat from head to toe and my heart was pounding from the intervals.  I happily spent the next 10 minutes in the hot tub before dragging myself out to get ready for work.

I know I don’t even need to tell you guys how much I love making banana bread!

 

IMAG2242

 

So when someone hands me a bunch of nana’s right before I am heading out of town, I just HAVE to make some banana bread (even if the nana’s aren’t that brown).

 

IMAG2243

 

In search of a new banana bread recipe, I came across a Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread from Lovin’ From the Oven.

 

IMAG2245

 

Even though I was thinking about a double chocolate swirl type bread, this recipe definitely caught my eye.  I wanted to bring some mini bread loaves to work to share with a few coworkers, so I used three small pans instead of one big one.

 

IMAG2248

 

The breads baked up beautifully with a crispy top, and I was tempted to tear off a tiny taste of sweet crust.

 

IMAG2250

 

But I was able to resist!  Barely…my kitchen smelled so wonderful! 

 

IMAG2259

 

Instead, I packed them up into colorful bags suited for sharing with friends!

 

IMAG2263

 

The breads still smelled amazing as I drove from the pool to work this morning, and my coworkers were thrilled to have homemade bread waiting for them at work.

 

IMAG2265

 

This post is filled with more amazing banana bread recipes!

 

 

Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

From Lovin’ From the Oven

 

Ingredients

For the bread:

3 over-ripe bananas, smashed up

1/3 cup melted butter

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg, beaten

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking soda

dash of salt

1 1/2 cups flour

For the swirl:

1/3 cup sugar

1 Tbs cinnamon

 

Directions

Preheat oven to 350. Butter and four a loaf pan (or spray with cooking spray).

Mix bananas, butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla together. sprinkle baking soda and salt around on top of the banana mixture. Then gently stir in flour. Be careful not to over-mix!

In a small dish, mix together the sugar and cinnamon.

Add 1/2 of the batter to the loaf pan and then sprinkle half, or a little more than half of the cinnamon-sugar mixture all over the batter in the pan. Add the rest of the batter, and then sprinkle the leftover cinnamon-sugar on top.

Bake for 50-60 minutes.  Let cool 10 minutes before removing from the pan.

Note: If baking muffins or mini loaf pans, adjust baking time to ~35 minutes.

Biking and Burgers

Luv What You Do Biking, Turkey , , ,

So it’s Monday evening and I just realized that my most recent post is Five for Friday…yikes!  Not my most successful blogging weekend : )  No worries…I will try to make up for that in this post!  Thanks everyone for putting up with all of my complaints about the weather!  I understand that we don’t even have it the worst here in Chicago.  Good news…there are finally signs of spring.

 

IMAG2231

 

Yesterday, I was on the move from morning to night!  But I did get in a long run.  It’s incredible how hard it is to sit in class all day after being on my feet all week long at work.  If I weren’t meeting a friend to run, I would have cancelled, so that was great planning on my part.  We started running a little before 6pm.  The sun was still shining and the weather warm.  We ran a little over 90 minutes with a few water breaks.  I don’t typically run in the evenings.  One reason is that I get tired and want to cancel, but the other reason is that my tummy often gives me trouble.  I stayed away from all of my usual tummy triggers yesterday in hopes of a strong run.  Sadly, my stomach did not agree with the run and I still had chills and pain 2 hours later.  Boo!  I climbed into bed around 10pm.  Needless to say, I didn’t set an alarm for this morning, figuring I’d be awake and ready for CrossFit or yoga at 9:30am.

 

IMAG2215

 

When I finally opened my eyes and dragged myself out of bed, it was 10am.  I slept for 11 hours!!!  My stomach was feeling better but not great, so I went with a green purple smoothie for breakfast including everything but the kitchen sink (ie kale, cucumber, Greek yogurt, frozen berries).  The BOY had another pre-finals day at the library planned, but we did head out for a quick and early lunch at Panera.

 

IMAG2222

 

This is the BOY’s dessert : )  It was so cute that I had to snap a photo!  We swung by the grocery store for ingredients to make turkey burgers tonight on the grill.

 

IMAG2223 IMAG2224

 

The BOY used his new burger making technique, to create some beautiful Santa Fe Turkey Burgers.

 

IMAG2225

 

Aren’t these some gorgeous burgers?

 

IMAG2226 IMAG2227

IMAG2228 IMAG2229

 

While the BOY finished off his burgers, I prepped my bike for the first ride of the season!  Yes ladies and gentleman, I can finally stop complaining about the weather and get out on my bike!

 

IMAG2230

 

My first plan was to ride my road bike, but the tires were flat and not filling up well.  My hybrid was the perfect back up.

 

IMAG2232

 

Can you tell I’m psyched to get out and ride???

 

IMAG2233

 

The weather was gorgeous and the path alive with walkers, runners, and bikers.  I was so happy to be out on my bike…even as I pedaled hard with tired legs against the headwind.  I made it almost all the way around the path before I was stopped by the flood. 

 

IMAG2235

 

There was no way to make it through here, so I turned around and went back along the path and then cut across the road to make it home with enough time to change and grab a snack before my eye doctor appointment. 

 

IMAG2239

 

Talk about packing a lot into the day!  I had to snap a selfie of how ridiculous I looked driving around in the sunshine with dilated eyes.  I took my tired self back home for laundry and other household things that didn’t happen this weekend.  Around 6pm, the BOY returned from the library and heated up the grill.

 

IMAG2255

 

I am off to Florida at the end of the week, so there’s not much going on in terms of meal planning this week.  Our Santa Fe Turkey Burgers turned out awesome!  The BOY made them so there’s not much of a recipe to share, but I tried my best below!

 

IMAG2254

 

Told you I could pack A TON into this post!

After a 12 mile bike ride, my legs are ready for some rest.  It’s time to sit back and relax with some tea and a dark chocolate square!

See you tomorrow!

 

 

 

Santa Fe Turkey Burgers

Created by The BOY

 

Ingredients

1.25 lbs ground turkey meet (we used 93/7%)

Chopped onion and green peppers

Corn

Spices (the BOY was in charge of this area but it looked like garlic powder, sea salt, worchester, and soy sauce)

Feta (optional)

 

Directions

Mix all ingredients together.

Form into patties.

Grill or bake in the oven.

Five for Friday II

Luv What You Do Life ,

1. I arrived home to a hail storm tonight.  Seriously?  I am done with this weather!

 

IMAG2210

 

2. The BOY and I finally started watching Downton Abbey.  We are only a few episodes in, and I LOVE it!

 

 

3. Per my training schedule, I’m supposed to run 12 miles this weekend.  Unfortunately, I am in a continuing ed class all day tomorrow and Sunday, so I have no idea when I will get it in.  With this awful weather, it doesn’t seem likely and there is no way that I am running 2 hours around an indoor track.

 

IMAG2208

 

4.  I am still deeply saddened by  Monday’s marathon, but my heart warms every time I read about the support for Boston runners and residents!   This is my favorite quote…

 

Real RunnersReal Runners‏@RunningQuotes

"If you’re trying to defeat the human spirit, marathon runners are the wrong group to target."

-David & Kelvin Bright #runforboston

 

Are you participating in Chicago Runs For Boston?

 

 

5. These cookie dough balls are even more delicious than I remember.  I love having a stash in the freezer!

High Waters

Luv What You Do Life, Running ,

How was your day?  If you answered wet, then I feel your pain!

 

We got hit BIG TIME with rain and flooding, making for quite the eventful morning!  I had planned on meeting a friend at the track for a run this morning.  When I woke up super early, rain was pouring and our house was shaking with thunder.  I decided I should hit the road anyways because the longer I waited, the worst traffic would be.  All was going well until I got close to the track/work and hit a flooded road.  My detour yielded similar results, but I did get to the track.  I arrived late, but met my friend.  We abandoned the interval idea and chose to run and chat instead.

 

IMAG2202

 

Ps I did still eat my overnight oats on the go but ultimately decided that I needed two hands on the wheel, so didn’t finish them until I got to work.  About halfway through my run, the skies got REALLY dark, like pitch black dark, and a storm rolled in.  Because there are so many windows, you could definitely sense the strength of the storm.

 

IMAG2204

 

I finished up my run, showered, and headed off to see my first patient.  However, my car was buried under one of the biggest puddles I’ve ever seen.

 

IMAG2205 

 

I sloshed through the puddle to climb into my car, sadly discovering that my rain boots have hole.  Total bummer!

 

IMAG2206

 

Despite my best efforts, I hit a few more flooded roads.  I texted this picture to the BOY as I was trying to decide whether or not to forge ahead.

 

IMAG2207

 

I decided NO…everyone on the radio said not to head into standing water, but the minute I turned around, an 80 year old lady came racing by making it through the flood unharmed.  I had to smile at that!  It was definitely a crazy start to the day…I haven’t seen that much rain and flooding since I lived in Memphis!  I hope that everyone is back in their warm houses safe and sound…rumor has it that sunshine is around the corner!

 

Edited to Add…

My coworker took the best picture today of people canoeing through a soccer field…yea…there was that much rain!

They’re Back

Luv What You Do Breakfast, Fruit, Oatmeal, Vegan , , ,

Overnight oats are back!

 

IMAG2181

 

Woo Hoo!  It’s been a little while since I’ve had this breakfast, so I whipped up a batch in prep for tomorrow morning’s track workout.  I am meeting a coworker at the indoor track near work, so it was an early morning…perfect for breakfast in the car.  I convinced my coworker to try one of my new favorite interval workouts, so we’ll see how it goes.  With breakfast and a friend waiting, it will be hard to sleep in…even if it is another grey day!

 

Not yet back…the sun!

 

IMAG2180

 

It’s been way too long since we’ve seen you!

 

Also back in the picture…

 

IMAG2192

 

Banana Soft Serve (with almond butter)!

 

IMAG2195

 

This stuff is amazing!  But even better with a tiny cookie dough ball.

 

IMAG2197

 

It’s about as close to a homemade DQ blizzard as you can get!

 

IMAG2187

 

Although my workouts are going well (I ran 9.5 miles this weekend), my eating has been a bit overboard.  It’s really time to get that BACK on track!

 

 

What’s back in your world???

 

 

Banana Almond Butter Soft Serve

 

Ingredients

1 frozen banana

2-3 tbsp almond milk

1-2 tbsp almond butter

Chocolate chips (optional)

 

Directions

Place frozen banana and almond milk in food processor.  Blend until smooth, adding more milk as needed.  Add almond butter and chocolate chips (if using) and blend until well combined.  Eat immediately!

Optional: Stir in more chocolate chips, peanuts, or Vegan Cookie Dough Balls!