Flow Found, Running in Snow

I am reading an amazing book called The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer. In it there is an idea the authors call flow in which the runner is really into the run. There is much more to it but you need to read the book to get more. I had no idea I would find so much information in a book about running. You put on your shoes and make sure your Garmin is charged, what more is there?

While I am only 54% done with the book according to my Kindle I feel like I know so much more than I ever thought there was to learn about training. Yes, there is more than shoes and a GPS watch.

Read and let me know what you think. I just wish there was more about nutrition as that is one area I am still working hard to learn more. My friend and running buddy, Libby, is helping. She blogged about our fabulous flow run on her blog. It was so interesting that she had such a similar feeling about a run. I can still hear the crunch of snow under our feet.

Tonight I am heading to something call a FatAss Run. It is for working off those holiday calories with others. Should be fun! Hope my newish Salomon SpeedCross 3s don't get too muddy!

New Year, New Posts

The girls and I went out for a short run in the snow this morning. Even though I had gone for a longer run last night on the trails I wanted to start the year with a run. Running with us was Ellen, the founder of Running for the Hill of it and a great inspiration. She is training for a marathon in November so running with her always feels like marathon training.

Since it was so cold I did not invite the girls to run. They stayed in the jogger with snow pants, coats, masks, snow boots, and waterproof gloves. I brought a Kindle Fire with a few TV shows for them to watch while I ran. I also attached a thin quilt to the canopy of the jogger to keep the wind out of their faces.

We started at Gary Gribbles and ran South and slightly East to 19th and Barker. Most of the sidewalks were snow packed so much of the running took place in the road. I loved it! It was a short 3 mile run but was just enough to start the year off right. After I took the girls to Starbucks and Ellen accompanied us. 

Here is to 2013!

Simplify

For my birthday I received some wonderful new kitchen tools. My family truly loves me and spoils me. One of the wonderful gifts was a new Kitchen Aid stand mixer I have wanted given to me by my fabulous boyfriend. I immediately took the old mixer to the garage to get it ready to donate. The only problem is that the new mixer is larger and does not fit in its place. My mother-in-law suggested adjusting my cabinets but I think a simpler process is in order.

It always feels good to clean out my kitchen. Hope to have some before pictures soon.

Weekly Menu February 28 - March 6

This is the first week of our monthly menu. We went through it in February and like it so far. There will definitely be a few changes down the road but for now it works.

Monday - Slow Cooker Mac 'n Cheese, Strawberry Salad
Tuesday - Meatloaf Muffin Cups, mashed potatoes
Wednesday - Brown Sugar Pork Chops, roasted vegetable
Thursday - Baked Tilapia, brown rice
Friday -
Saturday - Leftovers
Sunday - Oven Fried Chicken, glazed carrots

Lunches
Muffin Tin Monday
Turkey & Cheese
Nut Butter & Jam
Bagel & Cream Cheese
Muffins & fruit

Breakfasts
Sweet Couscous
Cold Cereal
Yogurt, Granola, & Fruit
Fluffy Eggs
Muffins
Rainbow Pancakes

Weekly Menu February 21 - 27

Dinner:
Monday - Tomato Soup and Waffle Iron Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, fresh fruit
Tuesday - Homemade Hawaiian Pizza, salad
Wednesday - Easy Pork Roast, Baked Acorn Squash
Thursday - Tuna Hot Dish, frozen peas
Friday - Little Lasagna Cups, fresh fruit
Saturday - Leftovers
Sunday - Oven Fried Chicken

For Breakfast we will have:
Pink Pancakes
Ham and Cheese Popovers
Green Monsters
Baked Oatmeal
Cold Cereal
Homemade Yogurt and fruit

Lunches are usually:
Muffin Tin Monday
What's For Lunch Wednesday

We linked up this menu with Super Jenn.

What's in Your Freezer?

We have a chest style deep freeze. After a while of picking up deals when I saw them and not really remembering what I had on hand, the freezer got a little full. My friend Jenn is trying to help me save more money on groceries and her first step is always to see what you have on hand. That was hard for me because the deep freeze is in a little nook under the stairs with very little light. I always thought if I knew what was in the freezer then I could plan my meals easier. Then when I needed an item I would know it was there because I had a list. Now I just needed time to take the inventory...

Enter one Friday evening with the girls in bed, Joshua in Wichita, and me in the basement. I watched a movie but was still not tired. After looking over a pile of coupons waiting to be cut out I remembered Jenn saying that it was better to meal plan at first. So that is what I shall do.

• 5 small bags chicken
• whole chicken
• split chicken breast
• leg quarters
• breakfast sausage
• 3 packages hot dogs
• 1/2 bag scallops
• 4 1/2 bags chicken broth cubes
• 4 bags shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 bags shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 bag shredded Mexican cheese
• 1/2 bag pierogies
• 2 small containers tortilla soup
• 1 large container chicken soup
• 4 bananas
• almond flour
• sugar
• 2 loaves bread
• 2 loaves sourdough bread
• French loaf bread
• pita pockets
• whip cream
• heavy cream
• 2 small containers strawberry jam
• okra
• California vegetables
• 4 bags broccoli
• cauliflower broccoli
• 2 bags spinach
• 2 bags corn
• carrots
• 4 bags peas
• green peppers
• 3 bags stir fry vegetables
• green beans
• 2 containers juice
• 2 mystery containers

It looks like we are having a lot of chicken. Share your favorite chicken recipe with me, would you?

May 3-7

Meal Planning is slowly getting easier. I have learned that if I serve my basics most of the week and throw in a new recipe one or two days the family eats better. So recently it looks like we have been eating the same meal plan every week. Close but not quite! We added another favorite to the rotation: roasted vegetables and chicken. So easy, this one was made by Audrey. This week will be the last that Joshua will be with us for a while so we will be able to add in a few meals he is not as fond of. Our week will be a little short as we are going to Tulsa for a visit and so I can run in the Full Moon 5K.

May 3-7	Breakfast	Lunch	Snack	Dinner
Monday	Cereal	Muffin Tin Monday	Granola bars	Boxed mac-n-cheese
Tuesday	Yogurt	Quesadillas	Carrots & peanut butter	Pizza Wraps
Wednesday	Pink Pancakes	Turkey wraps	Cottage cheese & fruit	Rainy-Day BBQ Chicken
Thursday	Fluffy Eggs	TBD	Carrot Cake cookies	Tuna Hot Dish
Friday	Cereal	PB&J	Grapes & cheese	TBD (Tulsa)