Nutritional Knits

3-Day Re-cap ... DAY 1

Wow!!  What an amazing journey!!

Last year I was absolutely moved to tears on almost every day of the event (I've said it before and I'll say it again... I'm a total sap!).  This year I wanted my experience to be a bit different.  Instead of focusing on getting in my 60 miles I wanted to participate more in the community aspect of the 3-Day.  I wanted to stop and take pictures, chat with other walkers and interact more with the supporters.

I was surprised when about six months ago my mother told me she was ready to do the Breast Cancer 3-Day with me.  I was so please that she accepted this challenge - 60 miles is no small feat, especially when you've had two knee surgeries in the last three years, as she has but I knew that she was up to it.

We did a few training walks together when the weather cooperated and next thing we knew it was July and the event was right around the corner. 

The day before she kept texting me messages like "I'm so nervous! I have butterflies!" which I totally understood!  We woke up at 4:30am on Friday morning to torrential rain.  Had a few cups of coffee, made a couple of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (with pepitas added to them!) and headed on out to Framingham.  My Dad had volunteered to drive us over which was a great help.  As we sat in the gear truck line waiting to unload our bags the rain beat down steadily.  Nice weather ... for DUCKS!  Finally we unloaded and poncho-ed up and headed over to the main area for the Opening  Ceremonies.  Since we got there right before it started we were towards the back of the crowd.  It was wet, muddy and windy yet everyone there was in upbeat spirits -- ready to walk the walk!  I'm pretty weepy during the whole ceremony.  At the end six people currently afflicted with breast cancer (is this right?) come out to the platform in the middle of the holding area and hold hands in a circle.  The circle is supposed to represent those who were lost to the disease.  At this point I'm really really weepy.  Then they take hold of their flags and walk down the pathway that goes down the middle.  This officially opens the route.

The first day was fairly uneventful and I didn't take many pictures because of the rain.  There are always lots of interesting outfits on the 3-Day but everyone was pretty much covered in ponchos at the beginning.  Last year I didn't take any rain precautions with my feet and had wet feet all day.  This year we brought shopping bags and put our feet into them, tied them at the ankles and slipped our sneakers over them.  It worked out great and looked so funny!  I forgot to take a picture though, doh! 

We walked from Framingham into Wellsley before we stopped for our first 3-Day lunch (chicken on a bulky roll, fruit, chips and cookies).  Luckily there was a bench for us to sit on (benches are easier on my mum's knee) and we sat and took off our wet socks and let our feet dry out.

Then we re-Body Glided, put on new socks, our shoes and continued on until we got to the last Pit Stop of the day (Pit Stop 5) which was at the 16.2 mile marker. 

       click on any picture to see it larger

That is when we decided to call it a day.  My mother's knee was acting up and my left hip (trouble spot that started acting up when I started training) was bothering me.  We jumped on the SAG bus back to camp  The funny thing about that is that my dad had decided to find a spot along the route to hang out and wait for us.  Unfortunately he chose a spot only three miles from camp (he was going to welcome us "home") and we took the bus right past him!!!  We had no idea that he'd be there!  Bummer - that was our first "meet-up" mishap of the weekend.  The first of many, ha ha.

Once back at camp we grabbed our tents and luggage and found our tent assignment spot (F-89).  Normally when you come into camp you are supposed to rest and rehydrate but we did that while sitting on the bus so we got started right after we came in.  We had a queen sized air mattress, plastic tarps to keep us dry and reflective pink flamingo's to decorate our tent with.  Oh, and a pink cowboy hat too!

Then we stretched and headed over to the main tent for a delicious spaghetti and meatball supper.  With a side salad and garlic bread.  After that it's time to sit in line for the showers and next thing you know it's 8:00 at night and I was ready to hit the sack!  Sleeping on the three day is spotty... you're super tired but since you drink! drink! drink! so much you have to get up three times to use the porta potty.

We had a good first day.  I think my mum was surprised at how well one night of sleep will do you.  When she went to bed her knee really hurt (as did my hip) but once 5:30am rolled around we were good as new!

[Click on the photos to see them larger.  You can also see pictures of all of this in my flickr 3-Day set.]

THANK YOU!!!!

I have a full 3 Day recap coming, broken down by day and how my mum and I did on each day but I first wanted to post this picture and say THANK YOU to everyone who supported me and my mum in this walk.

There were around 1,600 walkers in this years Boston 3-Day.  Between walkers and crew we raised over 4 million dollars for the cause!!!

Isn't that fantastic???  If you donated, then YOU helped us raise this money... please give yourself a round of applause.  :P

The route this year was a very interesting one... I was very familiar with it, having grown up in Cambridge.  As a matter of fact on Day 3 we walked right by the street where I grew up (and where my mother still lives!).  Later that same day we walked right through the neighborhood where my office is!!

Overall we had a healthy walk - a bit of stiffness, but no injuries and only one measly little blister!!  More details and pics coming soon!!  THANK YOU AGAIN!!!

Funny Thing....

My brother is a local EMT and was randomly called to do a video shoot "detail" only to find out when he got there that they actually needed EMT's to be in the video.  So here are the production still shots for the video shoot of my baby bro and the Dropkick Murphy's new song.

My brother is the handsome medic with the trademark family butt-chin  ;P

photo courtesy of Phishisgoodfood flickr account

OK, so you can't actually see his chin but I had to get that in there. :)  He's the medic in the back.  He's also the one with the nautical stars (former Marine) on his arms in this pic:

photo courtesy of Phishisgoodfood flickr account

He called me while working on this shoot and gave me details.  Mostly he was surprised at how long a video shoot takes (not complaining, just surprised) and how cool every one was.  Then I teased the heck out of him for the rest of the day... "will you remember the little people???" :)  He is a former Marine and fought in both Afghanistan and Iraq but I'm his big sister and he'll always be my little brother so I will always, always tease him. 

More shots can be found here.

Refreshing Cantaloupe Smoothie

Simple ingredients...

1C fresh frozen cantaloupe, two very ripe bananas, 1C hemp milk, 1T flax meal and 1/2 scoop of Vega Health Optimizer powder (regular flavor). The Vega powder turned it that slight green tint.

Very delicious, fruity and cold - perfect for a summer afternoon!

Time to bust out the Post -its!

I've got some new books to read and cook from!!

You can always tell when I find a good resourceful book:

..and in case you're wondering what books these are.  You can see the titles here.

Productive Weekend.

This weekend was a real "summer" weekend for me.  I spent Saturday by the pool with Joe, soaking up the sun and cooling off in the water.  It was such a great day to "do nothing."  Later we indulged in some Chinese food and I even had a beer (ok, I had two!).  Since our usual Chinese food joint doesn't have sushi we decided to order from another place in our town.  I had veggie sushi and some raw kale salad that I made earlier in the day topped with sunflower and sesame seeds.  Everything tasted good but unfortunately today both my husband and I have sour stomachs.  I think it's a given that we won't be going back to that restaurant any time soon.

Today I did my last long training walk, then cleaned the house, moved around really heavy furniture and cleaned some more. I even cleaned out those "catch-all" kitchen drawers that everyone has.  Everything looks so clean and organized... I almost don't recognize the place, ha ha.

By the way, that kale salad from Saturday is a pretty standard recipe - it's very easy to make and I like having it in the fridge as a quick side dish.  I make it without the fixings and then add to it before I eat it (like with the sunflower and sesame seeds). 

Basic Raw Kale Salad

1 head of kale
juice of 1/2 lemon
2 T olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Remove the thick stems from the kale and tear or chop the leaves into pieces.  Discard the stems.  Put kale in a large bowl and add the olive oil and lemon juice and massage the kale for at leat three minutes or up until five.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Add your fixings or put the kale in the fridge to have later.  Add your fixings when you're ready to eat. 

Some of the many toppings I use are: chopped red pepper, raw carrots, cucumber, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, olives, mandarin orange slices, nuts.  Use whatever suits your fancy for that day!

Lori Harris' recent contribution to the Art of Strength Women's Page included a yummy raw kale recipe that I love.  Give it a try!

Farmer's Market Haul

parsley, basil, broccoli, 2 heads of kale, corn, zucchini, red leaf lettuce, butter lettuce, raisin oatmeal bread ...and yes, dearies, that is bacon you see on the lower right hand of the picture.  (Purchased from the Stillmans Farm tent.)  I don't eat meat often, especially bacon, but when I do it's good quality, sustainably raised meat.  And that good quality sustainably raised smoked bacon was part of an exceptionally delicious breakfast cooked up by me and my father.

Every item, save for the avocado -obviously, came from this morning's market:

I typically have a ton of fruit for breakfast and then an avocado smoothie and salad for lunch so this breakfast right here was a treat - and filling!  Oh, and it was so great to be working in a kitchen with my Pops again!  Did I mention that he was a chef?  Yup, he's good stuff and he can cook up a mean couple of eggs!!

The 3-Day Route, 2009 !!!!

We are never told the exact route we are taking until the morning of the walk, but the 3-Day does send out an email with a description of the walk to entice us.  This year it seems that the walk will be scenic and really beautiful!!

"The Boston Breast Cancer 3-Day will begin with an emotional Opening Ceremony at Farm Pond in Framingham where we'll gather together to pay tribute to the many women and men who have lost their battle with breast cancer, and honor the survivors. We'll remember the reason we're walking as we make our way through several towns filled with interesting architecture, as well as many small shops and restaurants. We will enjoy a stroll through Waltham, the city known as “Watch City” due to the Waltham Watch Factory established here in 1854, before heading to camp for the night.

On Saturday morning, we'll rise and shine, ready to hit the trail. This second day of walking will feature many spots that are both beautiful and historic, including Arlington and Lexington. The route will travel along Mystic Lake and then Woburn Parkway, a walking path surrounded by a lake on both sides, before heading to lunch. We'll pass the Minuteman Statue, the Old Bury Ground and the Lexington Battle Ground before walking back to camp for another night of community, camaraderie and fun.

The final day of our journey will wind towards Cambridge. We'll walk through the neighborhoods of Brattle Street and the town center, then along the border of Harvard. From here, we'll head to MIT before crossing the Charles River. Once in the center of Boston, enjoy a stroll through the Public Gardens and the Financial District. Then it's on to “Southie,” located south of the Fort Point Channel and abutting Dorchester Bay. We'll walk along the bay as we make our way to our final destination, the University of Massachusetts, for a celebratory Closing Ceremony. "

Know what is funny about this route?  It walks through the neighborhood where I grew up (Cambridge Brattle street area) and where my mother, and fellow walker, still lives!!!  We will be walking a block away from the house!  Now there is NO excuse for my brothers not to come out and support us, ha ha!!  I have an idea where the camp will be and that is only 10 minutes from my mum's house.  It's kind of funny that she'll be walking past her house then will need someone to pick her up later that day to drive her back home.

It also takes us through Boston, pretty close to my office (Public Gardens).  It's so funny to me how familiar I am with this years route - while last year I walked through towns that I didn't even know existed or had never been in (all south/west of the city). 

If you live in the area and want to come out to any of the cheering stations - you can find the locations and the schedule here and here (3-Day site).

Only a week left before the walk.... I'M SO EXCITED!!!

Exhausted.

Wow. I am absolutely trashed today.  My legs feel like lead.  I think it's a combination of taking a Benedryl last night, walking 12 miles on Tuesday, not eating enough on Wednesday and then going to the gym.  I had my breakfast late yesterday (fruit), which means I hardly ate any of my lunch and by the time I got to the gym I didn't have enough calories in my to sustain my 1500 burned from the day before plus what I needed for energy for my workout. We combined one-legged squats with 26-lb kettlebell renegade rows and while I did ok with the squats it was a poor showing with the rows.  The first set I did 8 reps, the second I did 5 and the last set was a whopping 4! Ha! I think we were supposed to do 10 reps per set.  I can't believe how sweaty I was - I don't think I've ever sweat that much (ok, maybe once)!  I may not have had enough calories but I obviously was well hydrated.  Anyhow, I'm glad I went to the gym and did what I could.  I always have fun and there are such great people there.  Actually, yesterday was a great snapshot of the different levels of fitness in my gym.  When I got there Stacey and Jenn were both working out - both ladies are insanely strong and very fit.  Seeing them in action really makes you want to work hard and push yourself.  Anyway, I was partnered up as usual with KB and we were working so slow that Angus was pretty much on his own and Kevin really worked him hard.  Redemption for all that vacation eating! ha ha

While I was having my breakfast this morning I stumbled upon a new (to me) food site: Foodbuz.  It's kind of a collection of blogs, articles and recipes.  They post a Top 9 Recipes each day which is neat and is great exposure to the many different types of blogs out there.  In today's Top 9 I followed a recipe which ended up bringing me to the blog Almost Bourdain.  This blog is great!!  Many of the recipes are simple, yet elegant - although some do have some of the less familiar ingredients, like tapioca starch, etc.  I don't eat very much soy, but this particular recipe caught my eye: Agedashi Tofu with Chili, Basil and Crispy Ginger Shreds Recipe.  As did the Lacy Malaysian Pumpkin and Coconut Pudding Recipe.  So pretty!!  There are a lot of recipes, some are gluten-free, some are dairy free and some are completely full of fat, dairy, gluten and look absolutely delicious ( Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream anyone).

I happen to have some apricots that are yummy but slightly mealy so I think I'll use this recipes to crank out some apricot preserves (my favorite!).  YUM!!  OK, off to finish my breakfast, have some coffee and start my work day!!

Farm Fresh Local Eggs

This is one of my favorite ways to eat eggs.  Fried eggs (used olive oil spray) with lightly sauteed grape tomatoes and local zucchini, topped with fresh avocado and pepitas - all wrapped up in a tortilla.  Some beans thrown in the mix is also very delicious!  That is a flour tortilla (didn't have any sprouted or wheat ones on hand) but I've also had this same meal wrapped in a blanched (and stemmed) collard green.  I also love the 'no tortilla' version of these eggs served over sauteed beans and veggies.  All of the previously mentioned wraps are delicious but my favorite is the one picture above!!  I'd have to say my favorite egg dish is a toss up between this meal and soft-boiled eggs with a very small amount of "butter" and black pepper.

I absolutely love fresh eggs and know that they are one thing I will never give up.  I would - and sometimes do- eat them every day.  I eat a mostly meat-free diet so I'm not concerned over cholesterol plus new studies are showing that eggs don't have the negative effect on cholesterol that we used to think. In fact they can help make a healthy heart! 

More reasons to enjoy those local farm fresh eggs:

• high in lutein, good for the eyes
• fantastic source of protein
• contain choline, helps with brain function
• good fats/Omegas!!
• naturally occurring vitamin D

But all eggs are not created equal!  Eggs that come from over crowded chicken farms where the animals are not allowed to roam or feed on their natural food sources do not contain the nutritional profile as eggs that come from free range, organically fed chicks.  During the summer I have more access to farm fresh local eggs due to the lazy fact that the farmers come to me (via the Boston Farmers Markets) as opposed to me going to them. This is one of my during off-season goals: to find a local farm that raises their chickens to my standards so I can have yummy and healthy fresh eggs all year.

Find a local farm near you.  Read more about the benefits of eggs here: WHfoods, purehealthMD, themedicalnews. 

Tuesday's Training Walk: 12 miles

Marblehead Neck walk, 12 miles
Time: 6 hrs
Calories burned: 1440 (according to my heart rate monitor)

Today's walk was lovely - as you can see from the photo above this particular route walks along the shore and past a few beaches.  It was a beautiful day - mid-seventies with enough cloud cover and sea breezes to keep us cool.

We walked six miles to the beach, stopped for lunch and then to air out our piggies, change our socks and head back on the road for the last six miles.  Like Sunday, this was another slow walk.  The slowest yet.  Thankfully my left hip didn't hurt me at all - probably due to the slow pace.

Here are a few more photos from the walk:

 
 
 
 

I think mum and I will do one more long training walk next week - probably along the Charles River.  Meanwhile, I'll try to get a few 5-7 mile walks in on my own before then.  I can't believe that the walk is right around the corner - only a week and 1/2 to go!!  So excited!!

Raw Kale & Shiitake Salad

Recipe from Elana's Pantry.

I've been wanting to try a massaged kale recipe for some time and this particular one really jumped out at me.  Elana has a beautiful site with lots of recipes.  I suggest you take a cruise over there and check them out - they aren't all vegan or raw but they are gluten free, 

My husband eats a pretty healthy version of the Standard American Diet (SAD) so I don't try to force anything on him.  Often I'll leave leftovers of some raw veggie dish out and he'll pick at it while cooking his own meat and veggies supper.  I had my serving of this dish and when I went back into the kitchen he had finished the leftovers (quite a bit).  I'm pretty sure that was the first time he's had raw kale and I'm ABSOLUTELY sure that was the first time he has tried umeboshi vinegar.  His take on it?  "Really good" was how he described it - which I figured since he the bowl was empty.

This recipe was easy and delicious. I used dinasour (lacto) kale and was really happy with it.  I didn't have any sesame oil (I'm not a fan) so I sprinkled some black sesame seeds on top.  I also added a splash of fresh lemon juice and black pepper and then marinated the shiitake's in it before mixing it all together.  I had it along some some take-home sushi but I think this would have been a great side dish to the maple grilled salmon from the previous post.

raw kale salad topped w/ black sesame seeds

Overall, this recipe easy, delicious and had my husband eating raw kale - it will most definitely stay in my repertoire.  You can find the recipe here.

Maple Glazed Salmon & Moroccan Pesto Quinoa

sorry for the poor lighting, I was hungry!

This weekend I got to try out a few new recipes.  One of which was brought to my attention by Stacey's blog and the other was from my the book The Raw Food Detox Diet by Natalia Rose.

I have to admit that any title with the word "detox" or "diet" in it usually makes me cringe.  Diet is surrounded by such negativity and detox is so overused.  That and cleanse.  It's like "clean" ...everyone is clean eating now.

Natalia's book uses food combining to ensure the quick-elimination of food through your body.  Now, while I'm not personally overly concerned with quick-elimination (trying to not get too graphic here people) she did touch up on something I have trouble with: bloating.  Some days I feel (and look) like I'm going to give birth to an adult.  I'm going to read more about food combining and pay attention to what combination of foods make me feel bloated.  Then I'll build from there.  Even if this is not something that I want to do I still have learned some great tips and great recipes from the book.  As you can see the meal I had was not properly "combined" - I just really wanted to make both recipes.  [Also, side note: maple salmon and olives aren't the best tasting flavors together so I ate my salmon first, then the quinoa].

OK, back to the food!!! Her maple glazed salmon was delicious! If you love the taste of salmon you might not love this because the maple slightly masks the flavor of the fish.  I'm not a huge salmon fan so this was perfect for me.  The recipe calls for shouyo but I used wheat-free tamari instead.  I also grilled it stove top instead of putting it in the oven.  Yum yum.

The quinoa, however, was my favorite part of the meal.  Tangy, tart, sweet and full of spices, olives and pistachio's - it was so flavorful!  My  modifications were minimal - I even used the parsley (not my favorite) and the really really really expensive pistachios.

My modifications:

• I gave the pistachio's and olives a rough chop before adding them in
• upped the spices a bit (I like spices!) and added a splash of red wine vinegar
• also added one sweet onion that I had sliced and grilled along side the fish, as well as one red bell pepper (the recipe calls for it to be broiled - grilled is yummier!).  
• used water in place of the chicken broth (the dish is salty enough with the olives in it!!)

You can find the recipe here or here.

You can read more about food combining at these sites:  Choosing Raw, Ayurvada, Detox the World.

Sunday's Training Walk: 5 Miles

Beach walk, 5 miles
Time: 1 hr, 45 mins
Calories burned: 655 (according to my heart rate monitor)

Unfortunately, my mother and I rescheduled our 12 mile walk from today to Tuesday.  I decided to make today's walk a short one - which was a good decision because I was having problems with my left leg again.  As you can see from my stats, it was a slow walk.  I think if anything is going to keep me from my 20 miles per day it will be my time.  You only have a certain amount of time to get to each pit stop and if you get there too late they "sweep" you to the next stop.  From the 3-Day site:

All pit stops have designated opening and closing hours, timed to keep you moving along the route at a reasonable and safe pace. If you reach a pit stop before it opens, you will be asked to stop and wait. If you reach a pit stop after it closes, you will be transported to lunch or camp (whichever is next).

There is no shame in getting "swept" - it's a walk, not a race  Needles to say, I'd like to walk all 60.  Thankfully, each time I stop and stretch my hips feel better... time consuming but that is my plan.

I had lots more to write about my training - plus a funny story about yesterday's walk and a donout, but I'm pretty wiped out now so it's lights out for me.   G'nite!!

Saturday's Training Walk: 10 Miles

Farmer's Market walk, 10 miles
Time: 3 hrs, 16 mins
Calories burned: 1276 (according to my heart rate monitor)

Today's walk covered 10 miles.  When doing training walks alone I like to have a destination to keep me from getting bored.  I think this is why I can walk so much on a daily basis - because I'm walking to work or to the train station and therefore don't get bored walking around some random track or pond.  Lately, my Saturday morning destination has been to the local Farmer's Market.

I had planned on waking at 7:00, making my green lemonade and then heading out the door but didn't sleep well and decided to stay in bed for an extra hour.  Good decision, I think, however it did put me an hour behind schedule and next thing I knew I was leaving the house for my walk at 10:30.  Since the market closes at noon I had to walk at a pretty good clip.  Unfortunately, I got there too late and my usual source for yummy greens and collards was all packed up.  So I headed over to my favorite baker's tent to see what yummy breads were left - nadda, all gone.  Bummer! Knowing that I needed something to eat before my walk back I opted for dairy-free pumpkin muffin from the snobby baker's tent and found a shady spot to rest my feet.

My training has been behind schedule due to a few problems with my hips - especially my left hip.  When you walk 10, 15 and 20 miles your hips are going to hurt but it was the fact that my left hip was still hurting me three/four days later that made me worry.  Finally, I went to see my buddy Aaron who checked me out and gave me a specialized program of exercises & stretches to do specifically before any walks.  He is a godsend, really.  Today was my firt time using it and my hips were noticiably less hurty and once I was done walking they were a bit stiff but they didn't hurt.  Yay!! I'm feeling so much more optimistic about walking now. 

Mistakes I made in this walk:

• Didn't bodyglide my feet and have friction/hot spots (not blisters) at the balls of both my feet.  I know from experience that it will go away in an hour or so if I stay off my feet.
• I didn't stop for stretches as many times as I should have - which is really important in recovering from a long walk.  Because I switched my route this morning I hadn't realized that I added 2 miles onto it. 
• Wore capris that gave me a bit of heat rash on my thighs.  It's really not that bad but I had forgotten to pull up my capri's during lunch to let my legs get some air.  I learned this lesson the hard way last year when I wore PANTS on my first 18 mile training walk.  And it was 90 degrees out!  I had heat rash on the back of my calves and the front of my thighs.  It doesn't hurt and only itched toward the end but UGH! so gross.

Now I've got my feet up and resting - about to eat that massive bowl of fruit (yum!).  Later I'll run some errands (still need to buy some greens!!) and try out a few new recipes.  I have a Moroccan pesto quinoa dish I'm dying to try.  I've been fiending for some olives and that will fit the bill!

Tomorrow's training walk is for 12+ miles with my momma.  I'm so glad to be walking with her because 1. I love her, she's my momma, and 2. it's so much less boring when you have someone fun to walk with!  The walk itself is a beautiful one along the shores and beches and into Marblehead Neck  with a stop for lunch on the beach.  Maybe I'll bring my little point and shoot camera too!

Thursday's Menu

Back to work, and back to eating healthy!!! I really need to kick this carb kick that I"m on... I've had bagels with (fake) cream cheese all week.  Not to mention sandwiches, candies and all other vacation type foods.  If I have a bagel or bread-type item for breakfast then I eat a LOT all day.  Always happens.

Breakfast:
At home:  Green Juice - I bought a juicer!!!! and a scoop of homemade Brazil nut butter
At work:  Green smoothie (blueberries, kale, hemp milk, cherries, flax, banana, hemp, goji berries).

Lunch:
Leftover salad (pretty large) - and an apple. Unsalted natural peanut butter if I get the munchies (usually around 3:00).

Dinner:
Farm fresh local eggs scrambled with sauteed onion, peppers & kidney beans and avocado, wrapped in a collard (instead of a tortilla).  Side of broccoli (maybe 1/2 recipe of Julie's cheesy broccoli?). More green juice.  Munch on some cherries, too.

Lots of veggies!! Fruit - but not overboard and even a serving of beans.  I'll post all about my new juicer soon.  I love it!! (don't love cleaning it but it's worth it!)

Slacker!

I take three days off from work (mini stay-cation) and don't write any posts!  I spent my July 4th weekend on the beach, warmed by a bonfire, with my husband.  It was wonderful - especially since it also included two days of sunshine! I sat in the sun on the beach and drank a few cold coronas.  V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N!  Then I came home and it's been rainy and stormy ever since.  I finally put my peach saplings outside - it's do or die time for them!! So far they look good (although one of them looked pretty dead before I put it out).

Before we headed to the beach we went to our town's firework display.  I love fireworks!! I get all emotional and I clap and try to hold my husband's hand. I watched Boston's fireworks on t.v. and I clapped when they were over.  In the living room.  By myself. Yeah. 

Here are a few more pictures from my town's display:

3-Day Walk Cheering Stations

We never know our exact walking route until the day of the walk - and even then it's usually only that particular day's route.  It's kept quiet for security reasons and probably to keep supporters off the random areas of the route and into the Cheering Station. 

A Cheering Station is a designated area that is set up for families, friends and supporters of the 3-Day walkers to cheer, visit with and give out treats (yay, tootsie rolls!) to those people who are walking.  Unless you have done a walk like this yourself you have no idea how wonderful it is to have so many people cheering you on and providing you with such words of encouragement.  When someone you have never met before looks at you with tears in their eyes and thanks you for walking it really makes what you are doing feel special.  Especially if that person is a breast cancer survivor or family/friend of someone who was lost to the disease. 

The stations are usually full of people, young and old.  Some people have treats, some have Popsicle and spray bottles full of cold water and some people just have kind words.  The kids are always awesome - I love seeing their handmade signs.  It is a wonderful sense of community and caring that really hits home.  Oh, and most important... when you really start to feel beat, like you can't walk another mile, seeing all those wonderful supporters gives you the energy and drive you need to finish that day's miles!

This year's route is particularly intriguing to me.  We are walking from Framingham to Newton, on through to Lexington and Cambridge and then to our final destination: UMass.  I'm especially excited about this route because I grew up in Cambridge, it's my hometown. I am wondering how crowded some of these areas are going to be but I'm still really excited about it!  Here are the full schedule of Cheering Stations for the three days:

Friday, July 24:

9:00 am - 11:30 am
Hunnewell Playground
Parking at Stars Market, 448 Washington Street
Wellesley MA 02482

11:15 am - 3:00 pm
Learning Prep School
1507 Washington Street
Newton, MA 02465

Saturday, July 25:

10:15 am - 3:30 pm
YMCA-Greater Boston Area: North Suburban Family Branch‎
175 Lexington Street
Woburn, MA 01801

11:30 am - 5:45 pm
Friendly’s Restaurant
1111 Waltham Street
Lexington, MA 02421

Sunday, July 26:

8:15 am - 11:15 am
Cambridge City Hall
795 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139

If you have an opportunity to be a part of a cheering station (at any walk/race event) I encourage you to do so.  Hopefully I'll see some of your faces along the route!!!

Happy Independence Day!

our town fireworks 7/3/2009

The Long Weekend Has Begun.

cheese-less veggie pizza w/sun-dried tomato

I got the hard work out of the way by hitting the gym at 11:00 (instead of my usual Friday night) then crashed my mum's house and had lunch (pizza) with KB and my two brothers.  My brothers are a riot - both in their twenties they couldn't be more different:  One brother, the youngest, had just returned from a workout at the Y and was getting ready to follow it up with a run.  The other brother was sitting down to a breakfast of three grilled hot dogs and a few Coors Lights.  They crack me up.

My town does their fireworks tonight if the rain holds off -we'll probably skip it anyway and try to catch glimpses of them over the tops of the trees.  My favorite part of the 4th is when Joe and I head to his family's beach house for the bonfire.  Just sitting around with family, having a few beers and watching the kiddos have a blast dancing to the dj in the glow of the bonfire out on the rocks.  It's a great time - hopefully the weather won' t be too cold or rainy.

Have a safe and wonderful 4th Celebration!!!

Lifetime Goal: Smile More.

I've gone back and forth in my head about how personal I want to get on this blog.  It's supposed to be about nutrition, fitness and my journey into healthy - but I guess that includes mental health as well.  Sometimes, I think this blog is too sterile and could use a touch of personal info to warm it up.  This isn't my first blog - my first blog was actually created as a therapeutic tool in dealing with the anger I was feeling over my baby brother's deployment to Afghanistan, and then later to Iraq.  That was a rough time for me.  It makes me sad when I think back to how much time I wasted on all that hate and anger.  My friends and my husband, god bless them, were the rocks in my life - solid and strong they kept me surrounded with their love an support.  I can't imagine how broken I'd be without them.

Sometimes it's easier to write what I feel than to actually vocalize it.  That is where the blogging came in.  At some of my more angry days my hate was geared toward the war, the Administration and the abundance of ignorance that is created when you mix religion + politics.  It was during these blogs that I met some really wonderful people - supportive people, who to this day I am still in contact with. One piece of advice that my (then new) friend Kerstin told me was to try and use my anger in a positive fashion instead of a hateful one.  Of course, she has an amazing way with words and wrote it in a much more eloquent way but you get the gist.  Take the things in life that bother you and find a way to turn them around with a positive spin.  My baby brother, who celebrated his 21st birthday in Baghdad, returned to us safely.  He's seen things no one should see and has aged in years beyond my own but he is now in a good place, as am I.  This was just one of many experiences that has led me to where I am now.  I am in a good place, yet I feel like I need to smile more.  Smiles, like moods, are contagious too.  I want to smile at a stranger and have them smile back.  And then pass it along.  Sounds silly, I know but if you knew someone with an enigmatic smile then you'd understand.

My Great Aunt Mary was an incredible woman - an grandmother to me, a mother to my mum and a mentor to us both.  Her smile is the epitome of kindness and love.  She smiled at everyone - and they smiled back.  My favorite was the look of surprise on a strangers face when they smiled back.  You just couldn't help it.  It was contagious.  Of course, it was more than just moving her mouth into the shape of a smile - it was the love and kindness and radiated from her.  One year at Christmas Eve mass a woman came over to us afterward just to meet the "woman with such a loving smile" that she could see from across the church. That was my Aunt Mary.

Even as the cancer took over her lungs until she still was a beacon of love. Since her passing my lifetime goal has been to smile more.  Genuine smiles - meaning, find something happy inside, build from that and then share it with the world in a form of a smile. 

I've been thinking about Aunt Mary a lot lately and have used those memories to remind me to smile more.

Just like she used to.

j

Laughter Really is the Best Medicine.

I am an emotional sponge.  I soak up people emotions, good and bad.  I hate it - except when I'm surrounded by someone's good attitude or happy aura... then I'm thrilled to take in all that goodness and hopefully pass it on.  Of course this works two ways and I seem to be much more porous around people who are being nasty, sad or angry.  My body gets tense and my shoulders start to climb up toward my ears.  Sometimes I realize that I'm gritting my teeth together and thinking my own nasty thoughts.

Tonight's small group training at the gym seemed a bit too quiet and tense for my liking.  My trainer was quiet and clearly pre-occupied and the rest of us seemed to follow that lead.  Now don't get me wrong, I'm not the type who needs to fill the quiet with constant chatter (that drives me crazy, actually) but I wasn't getting a good vibe.  I was finding it hard to concentrate, I started doing exercises wrong and overthinking stuff.   I need to be in a good mood to get my butt kicked like that, ha ha.  Thankfully, Krista and I were told to do walking wheelbarrels (she holding my ankles while I waked on my hands and then switch).  In such a compromised position it was really hard not to laugh.  Especially if you know people are watching you.  I felt the giggles coming and tried to keep them in -- I've got to tell ya, it's hard to keep your abs tight, squeeze your feet together and not laugh at the same time!  As expected, it happend - I couldn't hold in the giggling, and it eventually turned into full-on laughter to the point that I had to cover my mouth to stop.  When I turned around to apologize to the group for the inturruption I saw smiles all around, even a few laughs.  Mission accomplished...apparently I wasn't the only porous one there.

Julie's Cheesy Broccoli Bowl

The yumminess in front is a Sunshine burger wrapped in a just barely blanched collard green, topped with avocado and mango peach salsa.  The yumminess in the back is Julie's Cheesy Broccoli Bowl.  I found Julie via the Vega community website.  That is a great page with lots of nutritional experts, athletes and fun video blogs (vlogs).  I've enjoyed watching Lyzabeth Lopez training vlogs.

Here is the recipe with my modifications. 

INGREDIENTS:
a few shakes of wheat-free tamari
1 Tbsp raw tahini
1 Tbsp coconut oil, melted
2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
¼ tsp paprika (I used half-sharp, yum!)
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1½ tsp lemon juice
3 cups finely chopped fresh broccoli florets
1 or 2 Tbsp hemp seeds
water, if needed

Mix the nutritional yeast, paprika, and garlic powder together. Stir in the tahini , tamari, lemon juice, and coconut oil and whisk thoroughly with a small fork. If a thinner sauce is desired, add a little water, a tablespoon at a time. This was pretty thick but I thawed out my frozen broccoli by dumping it in the leftover collard water that was still on the stove.  The water wasn't on, but it was still warm and thawed out the broccoli.  Then I drained the broccoli and tossed wih the sauce.  The water in the broccoli helped thin the sauce out a bit.

This supposedly last in the frige a couple of days but I wouldn't know because I ate it in one sitting.  OH! and it also supposedly serves 2.  Again, I ate it all. Good stuff!

Here is the link to her original recipe.  Go check out Julie's site.  She's super cute and has all kinds of great nutritional tips.