Woman Up!

I started my marathon training in May, right at the beginning of summer and I have gotten used to being slow as a turtle because of the ungodly Texas heat beating down on me every second of the run. But this past Sunday, the first day of fall, brought much much cooler weather and I saw a major difference in my run! 
I had been dreading this run...like dreading to the max because I knew I had never run that far and I knew I would be doing it all alone. But as I was going to bed on Saturday night, getting myself more and more nervous and anxious about the morning ahead, I just so happened to stumble across this...

This struck a cord in my brain and I realized I was getting myself in a tizzy for nothing. Whining and bitching about it wasn't going to do anything but put my head in a bad place and set me up for a bad run. So, I had a little "Come to Jesus" talk with myself and set my alarm for 3:45am so I could be out by 4:00am.

Before I knew it I was up...at 4:30am! AHHH I had overslept!! Instead of getting all worked up and stressed out again I got dressed, ate my PB and Banana Gluten-Free Toast, stretched, grabbed my lights (all 4 of them since it was still super dark out) and headed out the door telling myself "I can do this". I gave myself 4-5 hours to get it done. 

I took one step outside and a blast of cool, crisp fall air hit me in the face and I literally stood there and smiled and thanked GOD for such a gorgeous morning. As I took the corner of my block I thought that I should have brought a jacket because I was chilly. It was 53 degrees out after all!! 

The cooler weather truly was a blessing. I was expecting to finish the 20 miles in 4-5 hours and I actually did it in 3.5 hours! This makes me feel SOOOO much better about the upcoming Marathon! I might even be able to finish it under 5 hours! 

The moral of the run is to Shut your brain up. Stop getting all worked up and talking yourself out of something wonderful. WOMAN UP, Y'all!! Something Wonderful is out there waiting for you to accomplish it. 

Fall and Halloween Mini-Sessions!

I am so lucky to have such an awesome photographer in my life!! Go check out Cara Thompson Photography...especially right now since she is having an awesome Mini-Session Special!

Run or Dye Houston

This past weekend The Hubs, a few of my MRTT Ladies and I ran in Run or Dye Houston. You know, one of the super awesome crazy colored powder fun runs...AKA Get a bunch of colored corn starch thrown at you and in your face while you run a 5K. It's fun, just go with it.

Anywho, it was the first race The Hubs and I have ran together and it was awesome. He for the longest time has said he was NOT a runner but over the last few months he has been coming over to the Darkside and running! And I could not be happier about that!
It was also the first 5K for a bunch of my Moms RUN This Town Members! And I was so excited to be able to be a part of that experience with them. Especially when we crossed the finish line.
I have no idea what our time was or anything like that, all I know is that we had a blast and I am already scoping out another race for The Hubs and I do run together!!!!!

Longest Run to Date...

Gah! I cannot believe that in just a little over 2 months I will be running my first Full Marathon!! I am both so excited and so terrified at that fact...especially when I remember that just 1 year ago I could hardly run ONE mile without stopping and almost dying. I have come a long way and this weekend I hit a major milestone...my longest run to date. 

So far before this I had topped out at 15 miles and Saturday I had a 17 miler scheduled. Let me tell ya, I was not lookin forward to this run. I just could not get my head in the game all last week. But I made sure I ate right and hydrated properly to make life a bit easier. I found the best amino powder and it's really helped with my cardio and lifting workouts! 

I woke up and met my running buddies and we headed out at 6am for the run. I was still a little sleepy but around the first mile in we saw a skunk {only about 10 feet away from us} and that woke me up real quick! 

I wasn't going for speed on this run, I really just needed to get the miles in and when my Garmin beeped for the 17 mile completion I was so happy and proud of myself. 

Only 9.2 miles more and I would have had my marathon...but who am I kidding, I REALLY need to work my way up to that. 

I have 20 miles scheduled the Saturday after this coming one...that'll be my next milestone run. I'm really looking forward to that Run!! Let's hope I don't die in the process hahaha! 

The Pinterest Epidemic

By now you have probably found the awesome world of Pinterest. Maybe, like me, you've lost more than a few hours of your life sitting on the couch pinning away recipes, craft ideas and countless other things you may or may not ever use. But they're there. Just in case!! 

I have found it to be my biggest go to source for birthday party ideas for the boys and a great way to find palatable gluten free recipes. 

This eCard cracked me up though. I'm one of those moms that gets a bit crazy if my Pinterest project doesn't turn out just like the "easy tutorial" said it would. 

But I just have to remind myself that as a mom it's okay to take the shortcut sometimes. The kids don't really care all that much if the cookies aren't completely homemade. They just want the dang cookies!! 

Be the Bigger Person

There was once a time in my life where I would have fought tooth and nail to have the last word and make sure my voice was heard in every situation. But after having kids and growing up I realized sometimes it's okay to take a step back and not waste my breath when I know it's not going to make a difference to those that assume they know the whole story and what's going on because they're convinced that what they think is right. 

So I'll leave you with this...

Time to Get Real!

If you've been following my blog for any length of time then you will know that I am in the midst of training for my first Full Marathon, Rock n' Roll San Antonio. And although I have a real love for running and endurance sports, I do believe that I found my real place in the fitness scene...Lifting and Muscle Building. No, I didn't say Body Building because that usually brings to mind visions of overly veiny, super manly women and that is definitely NOT the look I am going for...not offense to anyone, that's just not for me personally. 

This brings me to a pretty big, and scarey, announcement...I have taken the plunge and am now in the beginning stages of Bikini Competition Prep. Yup, me...mother of 2...entering a Bikini Competition. What exactly is a Bikini Competition?? It's a category in the Figure Competition World...Bikini, Fitness, Figure. It's confusing, yes I know, But here are a few examples of the differences...

Bikini:

Fitness:

Figure:

Big differences, Right?!? Maybe one day I will be able to gain enough muscle to so Fitness but for now I am starting off with Bikini.

The Prep for Competition is pretty intense. And I can't REALLY start buckling down and really preparing until after the marathon due to needing to cut out intense cardio but I CAN start Upperbody work. 

Let's get beastin'!! I'm working on finalizing my training and eating plan so stay tuned!! 

My {BIG} Little Boy is Growing up!!

Well, the time has come...in a little over 2 weeks my oldest will be embarking on his "Big Boy" School Journey and will start Kindergarten. Where in the heck did time go?!? It seems like just yesterday we were learning the alphabet and colors and now he's reading sentences and doing static addition! My little man is not so little anymore.
And if you're anything like me this terrifies you. He is growing up SO FAST and in no time he will be in Middle School...and then Graduating. UGH!! I'm getting old!
But in all seriousness, I am so excited and proud of my little {BIG} boy and I cannot wait to see him excel in this new adventure!

{{This is his First and Last Day of Pre-K last year...}}

Organizing the House!!

I don't know about you but at our house summer wrecks havoc on just about everything. Our schedules are all out of whack, we are constantly busy and going here or there or there or there...and it just seems like there is never enough time to get anything done. And because of this, the house tends to be messier than usual!! 

As I was perusing Pinterest the other day I saw something that caught my eye. I was trying to find a good cleaning schedule {Since I do MUCH BETTER when I have it all mapped out as to what I need to do and when} and I saw a Pin for "14 Weeks to an Organized Home". My first thought was, uh, Yeah Right. But when I looked more into I found that this is something that I could actually do and it wouldn't be overwhelming!!

So...Here it is, Week 1, and I am READY to Tackle the Kitchen!! If anyone of you have ever been to my house then you will know that the kitchen it the heart of our house. We spend a ton of time there and yes, the boys tend to mess up the cabinets, pantry, fridge, etc. And I am guilty of having a junk drawer {or 5} that I throw things in to when I am in a rush to tidy before company. Who knows what I'll find in the cleaning and organizing process. 

I will be sure to take pictures along the way. Feel free to join me!! 

Happy Organizing! 

Weekly Meal Plan 7.29 - 8.3

The dog days of summer are in full swing. It feels like each week we keep getting busier and busier. I have started planning out 2-3 weeks of meals at once to try and keep us on track with our schedules, although I find myself deviating from time to time. It sure is nice to have the skeleton already created though! This week I’m planning the following...and planning on sticking to it!

MONDAY: Dinner out - The running club we meet with offers dinner options afterwards. Score!
TUESDAY: Honey Soy Chicken with Rice and Broccoli
WEDNESDAY: Corn Soup with Queso Fresco and Cilantro. This will also be my cheat meal for the week
THURSDAY: Leftovers
FRIDAY: Garlic Roast Beef with Mashed Potatoes and Asparagus
SATURDAY: Grilled Cilantro Shrimp Kebabs over Rice

What are you eating this week?

Gluten Free Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

In the past, I’ve always felt that even the most successful gluten free, vegan baked goods needed to come with a disclaimer. “This is a really good cookie recipe, for being gluten-free and vegan!”

But last week I finally arrived at an adapted cookie recipe that didn’t need a disclaimer. In fact, I think these cookies may have become my favorite cookie recipe. No disclaimer or excuses necessary. These Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies are, plain and simple, my favorite oatmeal chocolate chip cookie; they hold their own when pitted against their butter and gluten-laden counterparts. And I’m sure that when you make them (please make them!) you will agree.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies (gluten-free and vegan)
Makes 24 cookies
Adapted from the Baby Cakes Bakery recipe on the Bob’s Red Mill package
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups oat bran (make sure it is gluten-free)
1 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour (I use Bob’s Red Mill)
1/4 cup ground flax
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons xanthan gum
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil or canola oil
5 tablespoons applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chocolate chips (to make this recipe completely vegan, make sure the chocolate chips are vegan)

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray Cookie Sheet with cooking Spray; set aside.
2. In large bowl combine oat bran, all-purpose gluten-free flour, flax, sugar, baking soda, xanthan gum, cinnamon and salt until well combined. In small bowl combine oil, applesauce and vanilla. Add wet ingredients to try ingredients and stir until well combined. Stir in chocolate chips.
3. Drop mixture by heaping tablespoons onto baking sheet, rolling between your hands into balls if you want the cookies to be uniform and round. Mixture will feel oily and may take a little effort to keep the dough in round balls. Don’t worry, that’s totally normal.
4. Bake 7 minutes. Rotate baking sheet. Bake 7 minutes more or until cookies are golden brown. Cool on pan 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Happy Baking!

Just a typical morning...

What do mornings look like at your house? Are they filled with the smell of homemade waffles, freshly squeezed orange juice and the sound of laughter and the kids playing so nicely together? Yeah, that doesn't sound like my house either!
Usually it is me chasing my 14 month old around trying to wrangle his diaper and clothes on him before he pees on the floor while my 5 year old sits on the couch with his cereal playing Angry Birds on his iPad...completely oblivious to the rest of the world. All while I am attempting to manage to scarf down a lukewarm bowl of oatmeal before we're off to the gym, a playdate, a MRTT Run, the store or one of the many other places we frequent on a day to day basis.
This was a true snapshot of one of our mornings...I think it says it all...

However it is that you get the day started, get it started with a positive attitude. I've found that changes my whole outlook on my crazy, hectic days! 

Free BuluBox!

Have you heard of Bulu Box yet? 

Bulu box is a monthly subscription vitamin and supplement sample pack.  You will receive 4-5 healthy nutritional supplements in your box each month.  Some of the items you may receive are; vitamins, weight loss, energy, protein, digestion, sleep support and more.

There are a lot of monthly subscription boxes popping up everywhere. The thing I like about Bulu Box is that it is only $10 per month and you get access to the newest and best nutritional products on the market. AND they even send out FULL SIZE products sometimes too! 

I know that I have wanted to try several products out there but due to the price tag, I opted not to.  Bulu Box takes that problem away.  You get samples of products and then if you like them, you can go buy a full size version.  That way you know what you are spending your money on.  

HERE IS THE BEST PART!!! 

Bulu Box is giving Running Crazy Mom fans their first box FREE!!!!!  No gimmicks, no tricks.  Just a free box.  Try it out, see if you like it. 

Simply enter code Bulugan691 and click "apply coupon" before entering your information at checkout to receive your free box

Happy Bulu-ing!

30 Before 30

For the longest time, I have spoiled myself with a Birthday Month. Yup, a whole month that's just for me and my birthday. {go ahead and think what you will but I like it and the Hubs goes along with it lol}
As of today there is 1 month until my actual birthday and a little over 2 weeks until birthday month!! And that got me thinking about my actual age and the fact that I'm almost 30!! Well, not really ALMOST my 30th, I still have a few years but still. It will be here before I know it.
There are quite a few things I would like to accomplish in the next 3 years leading up to my 30th birthday. So I've created my 30 before 30 list...
30 before 30 List!

1. Jump out of a plane.
2. Run a Full Marathon - I have my first scheduled for this November!
3. Go a week with absolutely NO TV.
4. Take part in meaningful volunteer work.
5. Go to a karaoke bar and actually get the guts up to sing!!
6. Stick to a budget. Working on this one!
7. Try one new restaurant a month.
8. Create one new recipe a week.
9. Take a self defense class. I think everyone should know what to do just in case!!
10. Take a trip to the mountains and learn how to snow board.
11. Go on a road trip (out of state) with the family.
12. Do a 70.3
13. Join a book club.
14. Cook a five course meal. Maybe I’ll host a dinner party? Or just make an amazing meal for the Hubs? Not sure yet!
15. Stay up and watch the sun rise.
16. Learn to change a tire. I swear I used to know how to do this.
17. Pay it forward in the drive-thru lane
18. See two great museums in NYC (I’ve been to NYC but never done a major museum).
19. Completely rearrange and organize our closet. Like complete overhaul!!
20. Take a trip with my mother. We have such a great time together and I think a mother-daughter trip would be amazing!
21. Do a FULL Ironman.
22. Get my Rock n' Roll Marathon Series Triple Crown.
23. Have a sleepover with the girl friends.
24. Find a church and start going to bible study regularly. I need this badly and just haven't found a good church home yet.
25. Send at least five hand written letters to friends/family.
26. Learn a new language.
27. Run a Disney Race.
28. Go to the Wine Country in California.
29. Compete in a figure competition.
30. Plan an AWESOME 30th birthday party!

Yup, that's my list. Follow me on my journey!

Ahhh Kale!

One of my favorite snacks to get me through the afternoon is a nice bowl of Kale Chips. It seems like lately more and more people are jumping on the Kale Train. Of you're not already on board, you've got to try it. It's so flippin' good!

Here's how I make my Kale Chips:

Ingredients:

1 Bunch of Kale

1 Tbsp olive oil divided for 2 batches

Salt and pepper to taste 

Pre-heat your oven to 350°

Remove the leaves from the stems -- Don't discard the stems! You can make veggie broth with them. 

Wash your leaves thoroughly and pat dry. 

Divide the kale into 2 batches. Drizzle with 1/2 tbsp olive oil. 

Spread kale onto a baking sheet in a single layer. 

Salt and pepper to taste. 

Bake for 15 min. 

Repeat with second batch. 

That's it! Super easy and so good. It's the perfect healthy afternoon snack. 

Feel free to experiment with other seasonings!! 
Happy Baking! 

A Tasty Chocolatey Review!

When I became Gluten-Free I was terrified that I wouldn't be able to enjoy foods anymore. I mean, most everything yummy (cookies, cakes, bread, pretzels, etc etc) has wheat in it. I seriously thought I was going to have to survive on carrot sticks and apple slices. And hummus. Don't forget the hummus.

Soon after, I noticed more and more food companies there developing gluten-free items. I was ecstatic. Especially when I got an email offering me to try out Pillsbury's new line of Gluten-Free items. I immediately said SIGN ME UP!! 

They were brilliant enough to come up with a Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Pizza Dough and Pie Crust.

I about jumped for joy when I got this little gem in the mail 😜

I'm always looking for GF items that don't taste dry or chalky so I had high hope for this. 

This afternoon, my baking partner and I got to cooking in the kitchen!

The dough was a little hard at first so we had to let it sit out and soften a bit while the oven was pre-heating. H thought it was the perfect time to try and steal cookie dough to eat! 

The directions say to do 2" cookies for 16 cookies but I did mine a bit smaller and got 20 out of the batch. 

So what's the verdict???? SOOOO GOOOOOOOOOOD!!!! They truly do not taste like they are lacking in anything. They taste just like "regular" chocolate chip cookies. I will for sure be getting more and trying the other items in the Pillsbury GF line. 

...milk mustache!...

Have a Yummy Chocolatey Day!