Triple Threat

June Gypsies

2011-06-19T09:36:00.000-04:00

June has been a month of travel for Stacy and I. This is the reason behind the lack of blogging that you may have noticed. We have turned our move into an opportunity to visit some beautiful places. I have managed to scrape together a few pictures thanks to facebook, but there will be more to come once I am able to find a decent computer. Enjoy!

On Being Amy For A Day (Stacy)

2011-06-09T09:08:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, Mel and I followed Amy around all day long and attended almost all of her exercise classes (we had to sneak out of one due to some scheduling issues). It was so much fun and definitely exhausting. We started the day off with a 6:00 am cycle class which was an absolute blast. It was a great way to wake up and get our sweat on before the day began. After cycle we had a little bit of a break until Body Attack at 11:00. Body Attack is a super fun class with all sorts of plyometric drills and interval training. I love going to that class! During the afternoon I had a chance to work on packing and more moving stuff and then it was off to the gym again for a 30 minute abs class followed by Body Pump. Following Amy around for the day was incredibly fun but it also made me see my sister in a new way. She is an amazing person and I adore having her as my sister. However, I never realized just how much energy and passion she puts into her job. Amy works so hard at making everyone in the class feel welcome and she powers through each of the workouts like she has all the energy in the world. In between the exercise classes, she is an amazing mom, wife, sister, friend and so much more. I am truly blessed to have the original wonder woman as my sister!

Tales Of The Unemployed (Mel)

2011-06-08T08:08:00.000-04:00

So this is what I have been missing all these years!

Beginning last Friday I did something I have only dreamed about doing since I was 15 years old. I quit my job without a single prospect of another (at least for a little while). I have officially been unemployed for two days and man I LOVE it! Of course it is not as if I am doing absolutelyy nothing, because I am in the midst of moving to South Carolina as well as helping Stacy move to Florida. But it has also freed up time for some awesome things that I never would have had time for while I was part of the workforce. Let me review so you can all be jealous…

Monday:

Woke up around 8:30 (That never happens!)

Went for a run with Stacy (We hit up a lot of our favorite running spots…Byrd park, The Nickle Bridge, Pony Pasture, Grove Ave, and Carytown)

Took a nap

Went to Amy’s Body Pump class (And Amy’s classes are always amazing!)

Ate a peach while taking a walk with absolutely gorgeous weather

Made a delicious dinner and watched The Fighter.

Tuesday:

Woke up a bit earlier and went running through University of Richmond.

Spent some time in meditation by the pond

Went to lunch with this lovely woman

Did a little bit of work, but not too much!

Went and got a manicure and pedicure followed by a delicious dinner with this lovely woman (My mother in law)

And now here I sit, typing this and enjoying the rest of the evening with Stacy. And tomorrow I get to shadow Amy! What a life!

Houseguest (Mel)

2011-06-07T15:54:00.000-04:00

So this week I packed all my belongings and placed them on a truck to be taken to South Carolina. Seeing as I am now here in Richmond with an empty house, Stacy has been kind enough to share her apartment with me. So I am crashing at her place, and I am sure crashing her style. One thing that you must know about Stacy and I, is that we are completely different when it comes to our organizational skills. Stacy is the essence of organization, and manages to have everything planned out to the tiniest detail. I am more of a fly by the seat of your pants girl and take on tasks as they present themselves. Because of this I am almost certain that it makes me a very hard house guest to have. Let’s take a look at

Exhibit A:

As you can plainly see by this picture, that to the untrained eye this is just a messy pile of things. However, there is some sort of system that I have implemented so that I am able to somehow throw together an outfit each morning.

Exhibit B:

As you can plainly see from this picture I am very happy with my pile of stuff. However, I am going to try and clean this up a bit in order to be a bit more accommodating to my wonderful host. With all that said I am having a blast rooming with Stacy!We have gotten to go on some awesome runs, made some delicious food, and even talk late into the night. I almost feel like we are kids sharing a room again, but even better since we are in charge Sorry about the mess Stacy, and thanks so much for sharing your home!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MALIA! (Amy)

2011-06-06T09:11:00.000-04:00

So this week my baby girl turned 7 years old which officially makes me feel old! Pretty sure I am no where near old enough to have a 7 year old but it has happened! We celebrated her and the wonderful person she is on her actual birthday, which was on Thursday, by going out to dinner and then spending the evening at the pool.
The big party was held on Sunday at the park. While we were a bit concerned that rain would ruin the party, we were lucky that it cleared up just in time for the party. We were blessed to have family and good friends join us and Malia had a blast!

My Long Lost Friend....SLEEP! (Amy)

2011-06-04T07:03:00.000-04:00

This week, sleep and I have definitely been on different pages.

Sunday night was my best night of sleep. The Triple Threat ladies had an awesome slumber party and after some Delicious Skinny Girl Margarita's and lots of girl talk, we all hit the bed by 11:30 and were able to sleep in until 7:30! AHHHHH bliss!

Monday, busy day and a late night! My head hit the pillow about 12:30 and was up at 4am for a personal training client at 5am and a TRX class at 6am.

Tuesday night, I crawled into bed at midnight only to be woken up at 1 and then again around 3 first by my youngest and then by my oldest. I finally gave up on sleep around 5.

Wednesday, I was a walking zombie and was so excited to get into bed by 11. However, it wasn't to be. I was woken up by my youngest at 1 and spent the rest of the night sitting up so she could sleep on my chest while I gave her breathing treatments. (Seasonal allergies and possible asthma hits her REALLY hard.) I think I did manage to fall asleep between 4:30 and 7 but I was sitting up with a 4 year old in my lap and it wasn't exactly quality sleep.

By the time Thursday came around, exhausted does not even begin to explain it. I fell into bed at 11:45 and forced myself to lay there. I was exhausted yet had consumed so much caffeine throughout the day in order to have the energy to enjoy my daughters birthday that sleep avoided me. I FINALLY dozed off around 3 and woke up at 5:50 (50 min after my alarm was to go off...FML) so I could teach cycle.

I know that tonight will not be an early night but I am aiming to be in bed by 11pm. I have a BUSY day tomorrow followed by my daughters birthday party on Sunday. I need a week to recover and just catch up on sleep! If only I could sleep like this......

Sigh...

Come Buy Our Stuff (Mel)

2011-06-03T19:26:00.000-04:00

(A shout out to all the Richmond readers)

So I am sure that all of you are well aware at this point that Stacy and I are both in the midst of moving. Somehow we both managed to end up with June 11th as our deadline to be out of our homes. So with June 11th fast approaching we are throwing a huge yard sale to try and simplify our move as much as possible. What does this mean for you? Well it means that if you are near Richmond and in need of furniture, kitchen gadgets, dishes, pictures, or maybe even a cute bag, then June 4th is your lucky day! We will be starting the yard sale early so rise and shine and come check out our collection of treasures for sale. Plus, if you have kids, Amy is throwing in some wonderful gently used kids items too. So come check us out…you know you want to! Here are all the details….

When: Saturday June 4th
Where: My house (or at least my house until June 11th)

10415 Marbleridge Ct
Richmond, VA 23236

I hope to see you there!

P.S. Stacy wants me to mention that you should feel free to bring coffee and snacks if you do stop by!

Whew (Stacy)

2011-06-02T20:22:00.000-04:00

Moving is no joke! I have been insanely busy getting everything packed, organized, cleaned and ready to move. After this, I am going to need a long, relaxing vacation.

Anyone want to come help me pack?

May Recipe Challenge - Strawberries (Amy)

2011-06-01T18:25:00.000-04:00

Better late than never right?!?

So my favorite way to enjoy strawberries is quick and simple.....

Gather all this:

-Strawberries

-Greek Yogurt

-Walnuts

-Agave or Honey

-Walnuts

Slice strawberries into a bowl

Top with the Greek yogurt

Put some agave, walnuts and cinnamon on top of the Greek yogurt

ENJOY!

I mean really...why do we need to make it any more complicated than that!?!

May Recipe Challenge - Strawberries (Stacy)

2011-05-31T14:43:00.000-04:00

Well, I am getting this recipe in at the very last minute but better late than never right?!? The month of May has been absolutely insane. Between work and moving and traveling and all sorts of other crazy stuff, I just haven't been very focused on baking or on strawberries. With that being said, I did manage to try out a new recipe and it turned out to be absolutely delicious. I have been thinking about using mangoes in a baking project for quite some time and the thought of pairing them with strawberries seemed like a great idea. I decided to make a Strawberry Mango Crisp and the results far exceeded my expectations! You should make this as soon as possible. Then, serve yourself a huge slice right out of the oven, top it with some vanilla ice cream and when you have finished stuffing your face with this delicious concoction, you can lick the bowl clean and write me a thank you note! It's that good!

Strawberry Mango Crisp

2 small mangoes (peeled and chopped)

1 quart strawberries (chopped)

1/4 cup strawberry jelly

2 cups oats

1/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 cup coconut

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup honey or agave

1 tsp almond extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped mangoes and strawberries.

Add the strawberry jelly and mix until evenly distributed. Put the fruit into a 8x8 baking dish and set aside.

In another mixing bowl combine the oats, flour, coconut and cinnamon. Stir until combined. Make a well in the center of your dry ingredients and add the oil, honey and almond extract.

Mix the wet and the dry ingredients until everything is incorporated. (Add additional coconut oil and honey as needed.) Once the crisp mixture is mixed thoroughly, sprinkle it on top of the prepared fruit mixture and place the baking dish in the oven. Bake the crisp for about 30 minutes or until the top is lightly browned. Dig in and enjoy!

But I Don't Want To Work Out... (Stacy)

2011-05-28T12:59:00.001-04:00

This was me today before I went out for a morning run. If I am being honest with you, I was really just stalling because I absolutely did not feel like running this morning. I had an entire list of excuses ready to go and almost talked myself out of running. I was tired, hungry, stressed, sore and frustrated. Plus, my Garmin is broke, my stomach was upset, my knees are swollen and my favorite running shorts were in the wash. Talk about having a LOT of reasons to bail on a run. All I wanted to do was crawl back into bed, pull the covers over my head and sleep until tomorrow. However, in the back of my mind I knew that a run was just what my body needed to shake me out of this funk. I pulled on my running shoes, grabbed a sip of water and ran out the door before I had time to change my mind. When I walked back through the door about an hour later, I felt like a new person. Sure, I was thirsty and hungry and my knees still hurt but I felt like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders and I had a smile on my face.

As an athlete, I am usually very good about getting in my workouts every day. I love the gym and running and moving my body. However, we all have those days when we have simply lost our motivation and drive. A friend of mine was recently asking me about training for a marathon and my thoughts on her ability to complete one. As I listened to her describe her hatred for running and her skepticism that she was capable of actually accomplishing this goal, I thought about how often I hear those same thoughts racing through my head. Sure, I have completed plenty of marathons. I have qualified for Boston even. Yes, I am an Ironman. I work out at least two times a day and sometimes more. I always push myself to the extreme and sometimes to the point of injury. There is no doubt in my mind that it was stupid to finish a marathon with a foot full of stress fractures. No, I don't fuel myself properly. I worry all the time that I am getting slower and losing my fitness. I obsess about miles and plan workouts months in advance. I realize all of these things about myself and even with my passion and obsession for exercise, I still have plenty of days where it takes everything I have inside of me to put on my running shoes and get started on my workout. I am starting to realize that this is normal. We all fight those voices in our head. We all lose our motivation every once in awhile. We have those days when we are just in a funk and want to sit on the couch, eat ice cream and allow ourselves to be lazy. Want to hear a little secret? Are you sure? Okay...but don't freak out when I tell you this...working out, running, exercising, being fit or whatever you want to call it IS NOT EASY! Not by a long shot! It isn't easy for anyone. Trust me, if it was easy then everyone would be doing it. Here is the deal though, it is worth it! Every tough workout, every struggle, every time you have to talk yourself into pushing just a little bit farther...it is all worth it! You are shaping so much more than a six pack when you put on your big girl panties and just go out there and do it! You are building character and confidence and learning just how awesome you really are. Because you are! Really...you are awesome!

I told my friend that I sincerely believe she is capable of completing a marathon but I also told her to not give up when it hurts...because it will and it does and the sooner we admit that to ourselves, the better off we will be. However, the awesome feeling of accomplishment when we realize that we can do something that we previously thought was impossible, makes all of the pain simply disappear. Go be awesome today! I know you can!

Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow - (Mel)

2011-05-27T13:09:00.000-04:00

I have the awful habit of hanging onto running shoes way past their prime. It seems as if I get a pair broken in and then I can’t imagine having to start over with a brand new pair of shoes...no matter how soft and cushy the new pair may be. This may be why I have dealt with IT band issues in the past and also why I have a closet full of old running shoes. Recently, on our trip to New York, Stacy came up with a brilliant idea that we should take a pair of old shoes to run in and then toss them. This way we wouldn't have to lug around heavy shoes all day. So I looked in my closet and picked the oldest pair I could find. Unfortunately the oldest pair also happened to be my favorite pair of pink Asics with an awesome design. Somehow I managed to pack them and when the moment came, I took a deep breath, pushed them deep into the trash can and said good bye.

I felt as if I was abandoning an old friend. We had been through many tough miles together and here I was leaving them in the locker room trash can in the middle of Manhattan! What was I thinking!?! But all good things must come to an end. Those shoes had been great but perhaps the next ones will be even better. Do any of you have things like this that you are sentimental about? I would love to know that I am not alone and completely out on a limb on this one. Also, seeing as I am now in the market for a new pair of shoes, any shoe recommendations would be great!

Eating In The Heat - (Amy)

2011-05-27T08:20:00.000-04:00

As the summer heat sets in, I tend to eat less cooked foods and more raw and cold foods. What are your favorites? One of my favorites is fresh, cold Tuna Pasta Salad.

I start with rotini noodles (or your favorite pasta) and cook them as directed. Once they are cooked, I drain them, give them a quick cold water rinse and place them in the fridge to cool off.

Next, I chop up an assortment of veggies. I am a veggie addict and think that you can never have too many. Some I have used are bell peppers, cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, black olives, broccoli, edamame, peas, and fresh spinach. Feel free to be adventurous and try anything that sounds good. (Feta cheese, pine nuts, olives, sundried tomatoes, goat cheese, artichoke hearts, pecans and avocado are also great to mix in.)

Drain a family size can of tuna and grab a bottle of your favorite Italian dressing.

Now, all that is left to do is to mix all of the veggies, noodles, mix-ins, dressing and tuna together. Place the salad in the fridge to chill and serve with some crusty bread and chunks of fresh juicy watermelon. Mmmm!

The best part of this meal is that you can make a large bowl and it saves very well. In fact, I think this salad tastes best after two or three days of in the fridge.

So that's my answer to summer time eating....what's yours?

Big Changes - (Stacy)

2011-05-26T10:15:00.000-04:00

It seems like every few months, for the past couple of years, there have been HUGE monumental changes in my life. I have been thrown a few curve balls, experienced some amazing highs and been sucker punched by life a few too many times to count. I feel as if I have been trying as hard as I possibly can to keep up with everything life has thrown my way and have worked hard to adapt to all of the changes. I have been in survival mode for almost two years now...or maybe even longer...just trying to keep up. Recently, while on a long run, I was contemplating the direction that my life is going and I decided that it was time to take control of the direction. I don't want to be pushed around by life anymore. I don't want to waste years of my life just trying to survive. I want to learn what it means to embrace life and to thrive. I want to be healthy again and to feel pride when I think about my accomplishments. I want to be proud of who I am as a woman and I want to be strong enough to be the sister, friend, daughter, aunt, training partner and lover(?) that those around me deserve.

With all of that being said, I have decided to make a huge change and move to Florida for awhile. I am going to be temporarily living and working in Florida while I comtemplate my next step. I have made a list of goals that I would like to see accomplished over the next six months and I will be blogging about all of them as they happen. I am excited to have a fresh start and to work on carving out some space for myself to heal and breathe for a bit. Last week, I gave notice at work and over the next two weeks, I will be packing up my apartment, taking care of last minute business in Richmond and saying goodbye to all of the people I love in Virginia. I am going to miss Richmond so much but I know that I will be back again one day. I am really not sure where life is going to take me from here but it feels really good to be making some decisions for myself and moving forward...even if I am not 100% sure of the direction. Life is an adventure and I am ready to embrace it!

May Recipe Challenge…..Strawberries! (Mel)

2011-05-26T09:21:00.000-04:00

When I begin to think about all the delicious things that I could make with strawberries, I think of the usual recipes…strawberry shortcake, strawberry pie, smoothies, spinach and strawberry salad, etc. (Maybe some of those aren’t necessarily the first thing that comes to mind, but that is just how it is for me.) However, for some reason during that whole thought process, all I wanted was something with lemon. So I decided that I like strawberries and I like lemon, so why not combine them both! I mean strawberry lemonade is a hit! So that is just what I did.

Behold…

Vegan Lemon Cake with Cream Cheese Icing and Fresh Strawberries

This was featured at coffee club a few weeks ago and received rave reviews from all of the Triple Threat ladies. If you want to give it a try here is what you do:

For the cake you will need:

2 cups soy milk
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup canola oil
¾ cup agave or honey
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
3 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Begin by combining the soymilk and apple cider vinegar. Whisk together, until it looks as if it will curdle. Next add oil, agave or honey, vanilla, almond, and lemon juice to the soymilk mixture.

In a separate bowl sift together all the dry ingredients.

Mix the wet and dry ingredients together leaving little to no lumps. Lastly mix in your lemon zest and pour the batter into your pan. Place the cake in the oven and allow to bake for 30 minutes.While your cake is baking you can mix up the frosting.

Simply combine:

· Cream Cheese or Vegan Cream Cheese alternative
· Vanilla
· Agave

Mix until you reach desired consistency and adding vanilla and agave to taste. Then set the icing aside in the fridge until you are ready to assemble your cake. When the cake is finished and has been allowed to cool, assemble with the icing and fresh strawberries. You can be as creative and decorative as you like or you can just make a hug pile of cake icing and strawberries and dig in! Make this...you won't regret it!

I would love to hear some of your strawberry recipes. Send them in and we will give them a try. Happy eating everyone!

This Is What I Do....BodyCombat (Amy)

2011-05-26T09:01:00.000-04:00

BODYCOMBAT™ is the empowering cardio workout where you are totally unleashed. This fiercely energetic program is inspired by martial arts and draws from a wide array of disciplines such as karate, boxing, taekwondo, tai chi and muay thai. Supported by driving music, you strike, punch, kick and kata your way through calories to superior cardio fitness.

This is my favorite class! When I have had an awful day or someone has pissed me off! Kicking and punching my way to complete fatigue and getting phenomenal results is just the type of stress relief I love in my workouts.

BodyCombat will always hold a very special place for me as it is the first program I ever trained in. I was new to teaching and instead of easing into it with something easier, I jumped in with both feet and just went for it and I couldn't be happier I did. If you have the chance get your butt to a BodyCombat class you won't regret it!

A Weekend In NYC (Stacy)

2011-05-23T11:20:00.000-04:00

What an amazing weekend! I am so ready to go back...I LOVE NYC!

Ahhhh It's Finally Friday (Amy)

2011-05-20T14:24:00.000-04:00

I don't know about you guys but this week has kicked my butt! The reality that it is finally Friday is beyond exciting. I know that all of the Triple Threat Ladies have a busy but fun weekend ahead of us. While Stacy and Mel are gallivanting around NYC, I am excited to have a date night with my oldest daughter tonight and then I will be hosting a baby shower tomorrow for a dear friend of mine, who is also celebrating her birthday today! (Happy Birthday Sweetie!) Whatever you get into this weekend, I hope that it is fabulous...just like you!

The Chronicles of Coffee Club (Stacy)

2011-05-20T10:01:00.000-04:00

Some days are just easier than others. Coffee Club was awesome this morning as usual. We ate, we sipped on coffee, we laughed, we worked on solving all of our issues (didn't quite accomplish this one but we gave it a good try), we hugged, we gossiped and well, we did all of the regular Coffee Club sort of things. Life isn't being very fair to any of us lately and we are all dealing with stress, illness, huge life altering decisions and much more. Knowing that we have each other is pulling us through and we are managing to smile through it all. Fake it till you make it right!?!

Out Of My Funk (Mel)

2011-05-19T13:34:00.000-04:00

Today was one of those days that I lacked motivation and drive. I am sure all of you have those days too. Lucky for me I have this Nappy Roots song to pull me out of my funk. Let's make this a good day!

I Have No Shame (Stacy)

2011-05-19T10:26:00.001-04:00

I am a person who is driven to push myself. I am always trying to do more, be more and accomplish more. Failure is a bad word in my book. Although this can be a very positive thing, it has a negative side as well. Because I am never satisfied with the status quo, I tend to push myself to unhealthy limits. This is especially true in the areas of exercise, sleep and eating. The fact that I recognize this about myself and yet continue to push myself to unhealthy levels is not something I am proud of. Just keeping it real!

So why am I telling you all of this? Well, this morning as I was pulling my tired, scrawny butt out of bed, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and couldn't help but laugh out loud. Here it was, 3:30 in the morning, my head was in a fog from a rough night of tossing and turning. My eyes were crusty, sleepy and carrying more baggage than the entire Coach spring line. My hair was simply a mess. My mind was not awake enough to realize that I had a killer hill workout and a ton of pull ups waiting to be accomplished...ignorance is bliss...and all I could think about was crawling back into bed, sleeping for 12 hours and waking up to David Beckham serving me breakfast in bed with copious amounts of Starbucks coffee and warm, freshly baked doughnuts. (Hey, you have your fantasies and I have mine!)

So, the question is, did I crawl back into bed? No way. I am way too type A for that to happen. Instead, I whipped out my camera and took some pictures of what I look like at 3:30 in the morning, with no makeup, very little sleep and messy hair. Why? Well, who knows really? However, because I have no shame you are now going to get a glimpse of just how lovely these early mornings are...

Is it any wonder that I am single? Sigh. I have issues!

Kopali Organic Dark Chocolate Covered Bananas (Mel)

2011-05-18T16:03:00.000-04:00

As Stacy has mentioned in a previous blog post, the wonderful people at Kopali sent some delicious treats for the Triple Threat ladies to sample. Kopali is an amazing organic food company. In reading further about them on their website, Kopali, I found a few things that make me feel that even if their products weren’t as amazing as they are I would still want to support them!

1. Their goal is the creation of eco friendly and sustainable villages in Costa Rica through a network of caring people. These people include developers and entrepreneurs to plan the community, farmers, teachers, artists, and a collection of any other kind people who wish give their talents to the new communities.

2. They are spreading “permacultre” which according to their website is defined as "consciously designed landscapes which mimic the patterns and relationships found in nature, while yielding an abundance of food, fiber and energy for provision of local needs." This means that the communities are focused on long term sustainability of the land and resources through biodiversity.

3. Their business principles focus primarily on enriching the people in the communities and the planet first and foremost. The profit they do receive is then put back into the community to sustain the local economy and support their commerce.

These are the type of ideals that will make me loyal to a company.

Ok, now back to my sample:

When the package arrived, we divided it up as fair as we possibly could. However, I am pretty sure that I got the best part of the whole deal….the dark chocolate covered bananas! I have to confess though, that after meeting with the Triple Threat ladies, and dividing the package, I headed off to class without a second thought about the safety of my dark chocolate covered bananas. When I returned to my car a few hours later, I was devastated to see that my wonderful treat had completely melted! However, when life gives you melted dark chocolate covered bananas what do you do? You make a strawberry Greek yogurt dark chocolate banana bowl of deliciousness! And that is just what I did!

Combine one bowl of strawberries

Plus a container of Greek yogurt

Top with the melted dark chocolate covered bananas

and enjoy the fruity, creamy, decadent treat!

Kopali Organics for the win!

This Is Why I Do What I Do ( Amy)

2011-05-18T12:05:00.000-04:00

This week has been so inspirational and rewarding that I just have to share how proud I am. Almost every day, I get the privilege to lead so many incredible people through their workouts. Watching them attempt things that they never thought they would be able to accomplish or to push themselves just a little harder than before is always so inspiring for me. However, what I absolutely love is when they achieve something that they swore to me they would never be able to accomplish. That look on their face, when they realize "Holy treadmill!! I'm actually doing it", or they finally shed those extra pounds, or realize that they now have a defined and sexy muscle, or that their range of motion has increased allowing them to perform an activity that was previously impossible...and on and on it goes! This past week, I was able to observe some extremely hard working people achieve some of these amazing accomplishments.

There was one man at the gym who has just been kicking his own butt to win the Beach Challenge that we have going on. Outside of the obvious weight loss, he is not afraid to attempt any class on the schedule. So with this spirit, he walked into perhaps one of the most cardio intense classes on the schedule. Along with the expected nerves of the unknown and a little doubt that he would ever make it through the entire hour, he jumped in with both feet and went hard. When the hour was over, he walked out of that room completely drenched from sweat! I swear he had sweat dripping off his shirt! However, the thing I loved the most was the smile on his face when we were stretching and he realized that he had done it!

Another woman I know has gone through some major stress in her life and has been unable to maintain a healthy weight. I ran into her at the gym and she mentioned that she was trying to put some weight on to get back to a healthy weight. I gave her a few suggestions on classes and other things she could do. I watched her walk into a class and knew that she was extremely sore but hoped she would keep up with it. A week later, I saw her and she was ALL smiles! She was back in class and was excited to tell me that she had managed to gain a few much needed pounds. I was so excited for her and I am happy to watch her continue on this path to a healthy body.

Ok just one more...this perhaps to me was one of the most rewarding. On Tuesday mornings I teach TRX suspension training which I love. I have a very, very, very dedicated woman that comes every week at 6:00am with a smile and sleepy eyes. For the next hour, she pushes through hard challenges as sweat drips from her body. When we first started with the TRX training, she would give me these looks that said, "Yep, no way in hell". Over the next few months we worked and we worked and we played around with options. Now, if you have never done TRX, the plank takes your normal plank to a whole new level. Well yesterday, we slid our feet into the straps and I went through all of the options for planks. As I looked around the room to make sure every one's form was correct, I watched as this woman pushed up off of her knees into a full plank and then held it for 30 seconds. The determination on her face to finish pushed her to hold that plank through all of the sweat dripping down her face and a shaky body. When she came down the look on her face said it all!

Of course, there are many other stories...some that I am able to be a part of and I many that I will never even know. This is why I do what I do. I cannot wait to see what these three inspirational people and the many other people I am blessed to work with will accomplish!

My Family Is Awesome (Stacy)

2011-05-17T14:20:00.000-04:00

And you can take awesome to mean whatever you see fit!

A Monday In The Life Of Me! (Amy)

2011-05-17T09:34:00.000-04:00

Every Sunday evening as the day is coming to an end and I am thinking about the start of the week, this is the day I am looking ahead to....

* Wake up 5am, head to the gym to get my miles in before I have time to talk myself out of it! I'm proud of myself for getting 9 miles in yesterday! Wooohooo!

* Get home to wake my girls up and get them ready for the day. I never thought waking up a 4 and 6 year old could be such a challenge and it's not every morning, but every once in a while I get a flash forward of what I am in for come the teen years. (Anyone know any good all girl boarding schools?!?!)

* Once everyone is dressed, breakfast is eaten and lunches are packed, we head to the bus stop where my girls run and play around in the grass. The other mothers yell at their kids to stand still in line while we wait for the bus but I refuse to make my kids just stand in a line! It seems ridiculous to me! So instead, I smile at all the dirty looks the other mothers give me and sip my coffee.

* As soon as Malia is on the bus, Ava and I head to the gym. My children refer to this gym as "The Bug Gym" which is in no way a reflection of the cleanliness of the gym but rather some of the decor in the children's play area. From 9:45 till 10:45 I teach a cycle class and re-wake my legs up.

* As soon as we are done at the gym, I grab Ava and we run errands. Yesterday we went to Target to pick up a couple of things and then ran to the post office to mail some letters. Then, we rush over to another gym. My children refer to this as "Gym number 1". Not necessarily because it is their favorite but simply because it is the first gym we went to when we moved back to Virginia. At 12:00 I teach a 45 min cycle class which is perhaps one of my favorite classes all week! The people in that class kick my butt!

* When we are done there I take my soaked and exhausted self and Ava home for a much needed shower (me), lunch (both) and some down time (Ava....don't I wish me too?!) I spend the afternoons doing all the mom/maid/cook/organizer/do absolutely everything that has to get done stuff.

* Around 4pm, I pick Malia up at the bus stop and we go home for afternoon snacks and homework. Typically by the time all this is wrapped up, it is time to get ready to head to the gym known as "The Socks Gym". From 6:30 till 8:30, I teach 2 classes (BodyPump and BodyJam). Last night I had awesome classes! The members totally impressed me and I am SO looking forward to next Monday.

* By the time I grab my girls from childcare, we are all exhausted. It just so happens that on this Monday, while grabbing a towel, I turned the wrong way and pulled something in my back. So, at 8:30 at night I was not about to go home and cook. My children were pleased to hear that Chik-Fil-A was on the menu for dinner and tried to convince me to let them eat ice cream for dinner!

* After dinner, I got my girls in bed, took a shower and finally sat on the couch with a baked potato and some ice on my back. I am pretty sure I crawled into bed around 10:30 and the next thing I knew, it was 5am and time to get up and start my Tuesday!

That was my Monday....how was yours?

Let's Hear It For New York... (Stacy)

2011-05-16T12:38:00.000-04:00

On Friday I will be heading to New York City for the very first time and I couldn't be more excited! I have been dreaming of going to New York for years now and that dream is finally about to come true. I am so excited, that it is sort of hard to concentrate on work and life and everything else that is going on.

So, this is where you come in. I need help! I don't want to spend hours wandering around and wasting time. I want to do New York the right way!

- What are your favorite places in NYC?

- Where should I eat?

- What should I do?

- What is an absolute must?

- Where is the best shopping?

I need all of the tips and advice that you guys have...let's hear it!

MAGNUM ( Amy)

2011-05-15T06:20:00.000-04:00

Nope not what you are thinking at all....I am talking about "the ice cream bar for pleasure seekers". Have you seen the commercial? A sexy young woman is all sweaty and hot and enjoying a cold delicious chocolaty treat. Well, I can safely say that this is not at all what my family looked like when they enjoyed these treats but boy oh boy, they did enjoy them!

The lovely people from Magnum sent me a coupon for a free box of their ice cream bars so while I was at the grocery store, I picked up a box of the chocolate caramel flavor for my family to try. Oh my goodness...the look on their faces said it all! Or in the words of my 4 year old, "This is the MOST delicious thing EVER mommy!" The only down side is that the box without the coupon sells for between $3-$4 dollars and only contains 3 ice cream bars. Since I have two little ice cream monsters and a hungry husband, I am thinking I am going to have to purchase another box, or maybe 2, so that I can have a shot at trying one!

Running Update (Amy)

2011-05-14T06:31:00.000-04:00

So I am still running for my Beach Body Challenge! Still not a fan but I am pushing through. I would enjoy it much more if I wasn't stuck on a treadmill but I do love being able to pace myself on the treadmill. Perhaps my favorite thing about all this running is that I realized I am better at it then I use to be. Yippee!

I use to be huffing and puffing at the slowest pace, like 10 min miles. My first run I discovered that an 8 minute mile pace was rather comfortable and when a good song was pumping the 7 minute mile was...wait for it.....enjoyable! (I know I am thinking WTH myself!)

So every day I lace up my shoes put on my headphones and press start on the treadmill for my gym team. I must say I am glad my run is done for today, but tomorrow I will add more miles and get at least 5 more miles closer to my goal!

May Recipe Challenge - Strawberries

2011-05-13T15:59:00.000-04:00

What can we say? Life has been so very busy for all three of us and we just remembered that we needed to pick an ingredient for the May Recipe Challenge. This month turned out to be a very easy choice for us because strawberries are everywhere right now and they just seem appropriate for spring time recipes. By midnight on May 31 st, all three of us will have a delicious and creative strawberry recipe posted on the blog. The only rule to this challenge is that the recipe MUST contain strawberries, other than that it is a complete free for all.

Savory, sweet, entree, dessert, appetizer, canning, pickling, baking...its all on the table. SO now it is time to get creative and make this month all about strawberries. As usual we would absolutely love to have our readers join in on the challenge. If you have a delicious strawberry recipe to share please feel free to post about it in the comment section or you can also submit your recipe to me via email at stacybutler@juno.com. Let's get creative!

Pineapple Portabella Pasta (Mel)

2011-05-13T14:29:00.000-04:00

When I am going out of town for the weekend, I like to empty my fridge of any fresh produce. In preparation for a weekend in Charleston, I decided to raid my fridge and pantry today. I wanted to scrape something together to take to work for dinner, and also clean out any perishables. A look in the fridge produced two portabella caps, some leftover pineapple, a lemon, and Annie’s Gingerly Salad Dressing. I peeked into the pantry and found a package of spaghetti. From there I began to formulate a plan to make:

Pineapple Portabella Pasta

I began by cooking some spaghetti noodles and once the pasta was cooked, I seasoned it with some pepper, olive oil and fresh lemon juice.

Next, I cut the portabella mushrooms into strips and marinated them with the Annie’s Gingerly salad dressing and fresh lemon juice. While they were marinating, I began to sauté the pineapple:

I placed the portabellas on top of the pineapple and let them cook for about 10 minutes.

Once the pineapple and portabellas began to brown (just a bit), while remaining crisp, I removed them from the heat, and served over the pasta.

It does not have a very good visual appeal, but trust me it is delicious!!! Another successful pantry raid!

The Dirty South Marathon Series (Stacy)

2011-05-13T13:01:00.000-04:00

Way back in 2005, I ran my very first marathon. It was a life changing experience and created a love for distance running that I cling to even on the days when I don't feel like running.

In 2008, Mel and Billy ran their first marathon. We trained together all summer long and when they crossed the finish line, there were tears of pride, joy and relief in my eyes!

Over the years, Mel and Billy have become my faithful training partners and we have created quite a bond and shared so many miles of memories. Every year, we try to pick a marathon or two that we plan to focus on and then we lace up our running shoes, turn on our Garmins and cross our fingers that we will all make it to the finish line without injury and with smiles on our faces. Sometimes this plan works and other times we have had to deal with disappointment. Through it all though, I have had a blast with my two favorite running buddies.

Due to their upcoming move to Charleston, South Carolina, we will no longer be able to train together but that hasn't stopped us from making a marathon plan for the year. The plan this year is for each of us to train on our own and then we will meet up at the race to cheer each other on. I am very excited about our marathon plans for this year because although the schedule is a little bit optimistic, we are going to be trying three new races! I love to travel and explore new cities and this year we will be embarking on what Mel and I have dubbed The Dirty South Marathon Series. We will be running the Savannah Marathon in November,

the Charleston Marathon in January

and the New Orleans Marathon in March.

Not only will we be covering three new races, in three different states but the unofficial plan is to the fuel the entire thing with chicken, waffles and sweet tea vodka!

By the way, I am totally just kidding about the chicken and waffles...that would just be crazy! The sweet tea vodka however...

Kicking Horse Coffee - Take #1 (Stacy)

2011-05-13T12:51:00.000-04:00

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I absolutely LOVE coffee. I look forward to sipping on my morning cup of coffee from the moment I wake up! I also spend my afternoon counting down the hours to my afternoon coffee break. I love the taste, the aroma, the pick me up and everything else about coffee. I have heard all about the positive attributes of coffee and the negative side effects of consuming too much but honestly, I just love it too much to really care. Oh coffee...it truly is the sweet, sweet nectar of the gods!

I recently heard about a company called Kicking Horse Coffee and I was instantly intrigued by their products. They are the only certified shade grown organic and certified fair trade coffee roaster in all of Canada. On top of that, they have adorable names for their various roasts and a promise of strong, dark, rich coffee. Umm...hello, where can I get some of that!?!

I sent out a request to sample a few of their products and they very kindly sent me three different blends to sample. I received the Kick Ass blend, the 454 Horsepower blend and the Three Sisters blend. When I opened the package, I was greeted with the most wonderful coffee aroma and I knew that I was in for a great cup of coffee.

I decided that this coffee was too enticing to keep all to myself, so I invited Mel over to help me sample it. We decided to try the 454 Horsepower and so I pulled out my coffee grinder...

gave the beans a good grinding...

brewed us up a couple of good strong cups of coffee...

and then, for a split second, I forgot all about my intense love for Starbucks! Seriously, this coffee was so rich and intense but it had no bitter aftertaste and no hint of a burnt flavor. Mel and I drained the entire pot, although I am pretty sure it was mostly my doing...and it was delicious to the last drop. I am really looking forward to sampling the other blends. Mmmmm...coffee!

Running Gadgets (Mel)

2011-05-11T14:16:00.000-04:00

I have often been asked if I use an i-pod while running. The simple answer is basically no. I have brought an i-pod along at times just in case a dose of musical motivation is needed during a long difficult race. While training I use a Garmin to track the miles, and a water bottle. However 99% of the time, when I am running I am gadget free. I love hearing the sounds of the event, the people making comments around me and the sound of the feet hitting the ground. I was browsing the internet at work (as usual ) and I came across the king of running gadgets.
Check it out….

Meet Joseph Tame.

He is a marathon runner who has taken running gadgets to another level. He ran the Tokyo Marathon on February 27, 2011. However Joseph Tame decided that he wanted to make his marathon a live action sport. He had live internet coverage of his race through the use of an i-pad and four i-phones. Along with live internet coverage, he was able to connect with supporters via i-phone who were then able to type out his verbal tweets. He also accessorized with some colorful pink bunnies. If you want to find out more about Joseph Tame check out his article on CNN.

Tokyo Marathon Gadget Man

But this article caused me to ponder a couple questions…

- Do any of you use running gadgets?
- And if you do use running gadgets, what are they?
- Should marathons be a live action sport?

Have a fabulous day!

Most Delicious Meal With A Twist! (Amy)

2011-05-11T09:07:00.000-04:00

Last night my children requested pasta for dinner, so today I took some ground turkey,

1 large can of tomato sauce,

1 can of diced tomatoes,

1/2 onion (diced)

and a bunch of spices. (I used garlic, basil, thyme, and oregano.) I put all of the above ingredients into the crock pot and set it on low for the day.

When I made it home from teaching, I put some water on to boil so that I could make some pasta and jumped in the shower. HOWEVER, I decided that pasta just didn't sound good to me and all I really wanted was vegetables.

So ...I took a bag of broccoli and a bag of whole okra and spread them out on a large baking sheet. I sprayed them with some olive oil and sprinkled sea salt on top and then placed them in the oven at 450 degrees. Once they were cooked, I put the vegetables in a bowl and poured pasta sauce all over my vegetables. It was absolutely delicious! In fact, my husband ate the same thing and he said that he loved the change to our dinner. SUCCESS!!! (Is it bad that I get more excited about my husband eating vegetables than my girls?!?! It is truly more of an accomplishment to get him to eat vegetables! My girls will actually ask for them!)

Give this simple, healthy dinner a try...I bet you will love it!

The Diary Of A Divorce ( Stacy)

2011-05-10T14:46:00.000-04:00

The process of a divorce has so many steps and requires each person to make a ton of important decisions. When I first started pursuing a divorce, my attorney asked me if I was planning on changing my name back to my maiden name. At that point, my name was really the last thing on my mind. In the midst of all the chaos and emotional frustration, I really didn't care at all what my name was. I decided at that moment to not change my name because, to be quite honest, changing your name is a huge pain! I hated the entire process of changing my name after I was married. It required so many phone calls and so much paperwork...it was just SO annoying. It never really occurred to me that people would find it strange that I am keeping my married name but so far everyone who finds out, looks at me like I have two heads. I really don't understand what the big deal is!! I have been Stacy Renee Lane for almost 7 years now and the name has sort of grown on me. I don't want to change my name. Really...what is the big deal? Am I missing something here? Let me know what you think. I am really curious to hear other opinions on this.

On Being A Mom (Amy)

2011-05-09T15:22:00.000-04:00

So this may be late, But Happy Mother's Day to all the Mommies out there! If you are a mom, then you don't need to be reminded of what an incredible privilege it is to be a mom!

I remember the most amazing thing to me was really learning what love was after having my daughters! After looking into those precious little eyes, the wrinkled skin, the misshaped head from having just been through a rather traumatic experience known as birth and the little pissed off cry that sounded like the smallest little noise I had ever heard. Having just gone through the ordeal of giving birth and not to forget all the fun I had the previous months while pregnant...I was so completely head over heels in love none of it mattered.

Even to this day, when my girls seem to have done everything that they are not supposed to and I am at my wits end, I look at them and melt. They still get in trouble but all my frustration seems to melt away!

My oldest daughter made me the sweetest little card that I can't stop reading. I don't know that I will ever grow tired of seeing "I love you mom" in her precious little hand writing.

While Mother's Day may not ever turn out like I would love to imagine it would, or being a mother for that sake, I will forever appreciate the moments I am reminded of the incredible and precious little girls I get to be Mom to!

Family of Strays - Lola (Mel)

2011-05-09T06:43:00.000-04:00

The third and last addition to the Matheny family of strays is a black and white cat named Lola.

Lola waltzed into our life a year after we moved into our first house. I had mentioned to my husband, literally only days before, that I really would like to have a cat. He had never had a cat growing up, and I felt that this was something he really should experience. But truthfully, the main reason was that I wanted a cat. A few days later, as we left our house, we saw a tiny black and white ball of fur run under our car and scurry up into the motor. We looked underneath the car and could not find this little creature. Terrified to start the car and confirm our fears that something was indeed inside the engine, we popped open the hood and began to investigate. We soon saw her tucked away amongst the wires and metal of the motor. My husband reached down into the motor and pulled out the tiniest, most adorable kitten I have ever seen. (and believe me, my family had A LOT of cats and kittens throughout my childhood, so this is not a completely biased opinion.) We both looked at this kitten that he held, and then looked at each other. We knew without having to say a word that she was meant to be ours. After much deliberation, we settled on the name Lola. We have found as we have gotten to know her personality that it is the perfect fit. When I think of the name Lola, I think of someone with a lot of sass, and Lola certainly fits that description. She was the smallest kitten I have ever seen and must have been the runt of the litter. Luckily, she was able to chew the food we bought for her, and began to put on weight. Through the years, Lola has found her niche in the family. She leads a life that I only dream about as I head out the door each day. She spends her days chasing a sun patch that splashes across our living room floor or curling up on her favorite blanket. She awakens long enough to sprint up and down our stairs for a frantic twenty minutes, eat some food and then it is back to sleep. Despite her habit of sleeping twenty two hours of the day, she is still a vital part of my marathon training... recovery! During the long runs that are essential leading up to a marathon, there is usually one thought that gets me through the tough miles and that is “finish this run and then you can go curl up on the couch with Lola!” That thought has been the magic mantra that has gotten me through many miles.

My family of strays is a wild quirky mix. I feel so blessed that each one has found their way into my family. I cannot imagine my life without each of these amazing creatures. They each have filled my heart with love and wonderful memories, with many more to come.

Kopali Organics (Stacy)

2011-05-07T10:50:00.000-04:00

Recently, the kind people over at Kopali Organics sent me a few things to sample. (consider this my FTC disclosure!) In addition to an adorable tank top (picture coming soon), I was sent a package of the Organic Supergood Superfood Mix. This trail mix is a unique assortment of goji berries, mulberries, pistachios and cacao nibs. I am a HUGE fan of mulberries and pistachios so I was very excited to try this mix. Well let me tell you, those people at Kopali are on to something great! The combination of crunchy cacao nibs, chewy goji berries, salty pistachios and crispy mulberries was like a party in my mouth! I loved every single bit of this trail mix. I ate half of the trail mix straight from the bag and the other half was used as a delicious topping for my protein shake. I love the small portable serving size, the great nutritional stats and the unique ingredients. I am definitely planning on looking for more of this great trail mix at Whole Foods.

Family Fun At Folly Beach (Stacy)

2011-05-06T14:41:00.000-04:00

I wish that I had the time to recount every single second of our recent trip to Folly Beach, South Carolina. Amy, Mel and I, along with various other members of our family, had a wonderful but way too short vacation. We spent our days playing on the beach and our evenings walking through downtown Charleston, enjoying fabulous meals, playing games, laughing and just enjoying the uninterrupted time together. I am beyond blessed to be a part of such an amazing family and I am already trying to figure out a way to make another vacation happen in the very near future. Here are a few pictures from our fabulous trip:

Back to work...sigh...at least it is Friday!

BoBo's Oat Bars (Amy)

2011-05-06T13:54:00.000-04:00

O.M.GOOODNESS!!! These bars are beyond delicious! I have tried three different flavors and they are all SO delicious. The chocolate flavored Oat Bar has the slightest taste of chocolate but taste more like the oatmeal cake in a Little Debbies oatmeal cream pie. The Peanut Butter Bar is a heavenly mixture of oats and peant butter and the Coconut flavor (which I am currently enjoying with a cup of coffee) is deilcious and sweet without being overly sweet.

BoBo's Oat Bars are made in Boulder, Colorado and let me tell you that they know what they are doing in Bobo's Bakery! These Oat Bars have all of the good stuff and none of the bad stuff...although you would never know it even if you were a junk food junkie. They are super moist and chewy! When I snack on one, I feel like I am totally eating something awful when I am actually consuming something extremely nutritious.

These bars are available online, at Whole Foods and locally at Ellwood Thompson's here in the Richmond area. I highly recommend them, especially if you are looking for a healthy alternative to junk food or just a delicious snack for when you are on the go! Trust me on this one!

(I recieved these bars for free from Bobo's Oat Bars but all opinions, comments and reviews are my own. I was not paid for my opinion...disclaimer, disclaimer, disclaimer...blah...blah...blah...)

Three Years Later… (Mel)

2011-05-06T08:27:00.000-04:00

So I woke up on Tuesday morning to an exhilarating discovery!!!

I have been waiting to see this flower for THREE YEARS! Let me backtrack and fill all of you in…

Summer of 2008 I spruced up my patio garden area with some shrubs and flowers. We picked up very low maintenance plants because my thumb is any shade other than green. I did my part and mulched, watered and cared for the plants. However, every year without fail this guy...

...has decided that he needs to dig up this particular bush. I would go outside, find it uprooted, replant it, give Seysh an evil look, and on and on the cycle went year after year. This year however the bush has prevailed! I have always wondered what the flower would look like and now I finally know!!!!

It really is the little things in life!!

HELLO CAFFEINE! (Amy)

2011-05-05T13:52:00.000-04:00

Well, my 30 days have come and gone and I survived the caffeine challenge! I had a cup of normal coffee and I feel like I am jumping out of my skin! I may have to ease myself back into the caffeine but I am really in no rush! Not needing that coffee to get me moving has actually been pretty nice. I still enjoy my decaf coffee however so I doubt it will be too long before I am back on the strong stuff!
I will say that after doing this detox, (which caffeine was not the only thing I was avoiding) I feel so much better. So, I would gladly do this again should the need arrive! Until then, I will enjoy my coffee with or without caffeine!

Miles of Smiles (Mel)

2011-05-04T11:16:00.000-04:00

Want to know what I am doing at work tonight?
Reading this blog:
No Meat Athlete
I stumbled across this blog while scanning the internet and it is a great fit for a vegetarian runner like me. However I have noticed that it attracts many types of eaters and athletes. I really enjoyed a guest post by Susan Lacke titled 27 Things Your Training Partner Won’t Tell You.
I was thinking of my faithful running partners Stacy and Billy throughout the entire list, but especially Number 27…

27. Even if a training partner is faster than you, don't discount yourself. Chances are very good that person admires something about you: Your positive attitude, your ability to make compression shorts look good, your persistence…whatever it is, keep it up. There's a reason they're still training with you, you bad ass.

Check it out if you have some time. Chances are you will relate to or all of them...and Stacy and Billy….thanks for all the smiles and miles!

My Latest Girl Crush (Stacy)

2011-05-04T08:39:00.000-04:00

So...I have a little bit of a girl crush! Every time I hear Adele's voice, I get a big huge smile on my face and my heart just feels happy. Seriously, I can't get enough of this song!

April Recipe Challenge - Eggs (Amy)

2011-04-30T04:31:00.000-04:00

So, for my Recipe Challenge entry I decided to go with something not too original but way delicious! A Veggie Frittata. It was simple to make and I wish I had more to eat!

Amy's Veggie Fritatta
6 Eggs
Bell Peppers (I used green, red, and yellow)
Onion
Spinach
Mushrooms
Cheese
Salt and Pepper
Splash of Milk

As usual I need to find ways to make food quickly and so this is how I managed this incredible meal!
First, I took a bag of frozen peppers and onions and placed them in the microwave for 2 minutes.
While they were cooking, I washed and cut some spinach and mushrooms and placed them in a round cake pan. By this point, the peppers and onions were done, so I placed them in the pan with the other vegetables.
Next, I whisked 6 eggs and a splash of milk together in a cup and then poured the egg mixture over the vegetables. Finally, I sprinkled a bit of fresh pepper and sea salt on top along with some pepper jack cheese to give it a little kick. I put the pan in the oven at 350 degrees for about 30-40 mins or until firm in the middle.

The prep time for my frittata literally took about 5-10 minutes tops and that is with 2 kids running around and chasing the cat through the kitchen! Make this...you will not regret it and you can thank me while you enjoy your frittatas! By the way, I am always looking for new veggie combinations for my frittatas so if you make this recipe, drop me a comment and let me know what you put in yours! Later!

The Chronicles of Coffee Club (Stacy)

2011-04-29T14:25:00.000-04:00

This is going to be a quick recap of Coffee Club because I am currently getting ready for a fabulous vacation with my sister friends. There is so much to do and not enough time to do it! However, there is ALWAYS time for Coffee Club

This week Amy brought us some of her delicious veggie frittata (recipe coming soon) along with huge juicy apples. Of course we also sipped on some delicious coffee and talked our faces off! I am not sure how it happens but somehow that precious hour of Coffee Club time always flies by way too fast. At least we have next week to look forward to!

Sneak Peak (Mel)

2011-04-29T09:15:00.000-04:00

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I will soon be living in Charleston SC and my husband is already living there. In order to see him occasionally, I have been driving back and forth on weekends. On a recent weekend trip, we spent a day at Folly Beach which is about 15 minutes outside of Charleston. Not a bad setup huh?

Well the Triple Threat Ladies have a much deserved beach trip coming up this weekend to Folly Beach. We will be accompanied by a fun group of family including my husband (Billy), Amy’s husband and daughters, and our Mom and Step dad. I am sure that we will have lots to share about our beach adventures in the next week or so but I wanted to give you a sneak peak from my recent day at Folly Beach …

We began our day with a run on the beach starting at the Folly Beach Pier.

The sand near the shoreline is stiff, making running on the beach ideal. It has just enough give to make a comfortable running surface without having to dig your way through the sand. In fact the sand is stiff enough that you see people riding their bikes along the shoreline!

On our run we saw kids playing in the rocks that line the beach.

We looked down in the crevices and noticed there were star fish sitting in the cracks. We picked one up and let a little girl who was nearby carry it to the ocean.
After our run we decided to stroll down Main Street.

We did a little bit of shopping.

By this point, we were famished! We decided to try a colorful looking restaurant called Taco Boy.

Just as the name implies, they serve tacos of all kinds. My husband tried a tempura shrimp taco while I went with a vegetarian portabella mushroom. We both thoroughly enjoyed our tacos and the decor! There was a brightly painted wall filled with various masks right next to where we were sitting.

In front of us there was a beautiful array of lanterns.

After lunch, we went back out to the beach and soaked up some sun before heading home. It was a beautiful day filled with the promise of summer.

I hope you enjoyed the sneak peak to Folly Beach. More to come...

What I Do (Amy)

2011-04-28T13:31:00.000-04:00

Just thought I would share a little bit about what I do in my group exercise classes. I will briefly summarize each of the classes I teach, in order to give you a better idea of my workout routine. Today I am tackling Body Pump. I teach it tonight at 6:30, so why not start there!?!

What is BODY PUMP?

Body Pump is the original Barbell Class that sstrengthens your entire body! Breaking it down even more, it is a weight training class that works all of the muscle groups in just one hour with a concentration on endurance. When done properly, Body Pump can completely fatigue the body in a way that you never imagined was possible with weights.

I love teaching Body Pump and appreciate it for so many fabulous reasons! Weight training is super important for a healthy physique, a strong body, and overall health. I love that I can get my weight training done in an hour. For amazing results, I suggest you take this class 2-3 times a week.

When I first started taking this class, I swear, everything on my body jiggled and wiggled when I moved. Defined muscles were not a part of my body in any way, shape or form. The absolute lightest weights at the gym kicked my butt! Body Pump has given me muscles in places that I NEVER imagined I would have them. I love having defined muscles without the whole big, bulky muscle girl look and Body Pump has done that for me.

Questions? Let me know I would be more then happy to answer them!

April Recipe Challenge - Eggs (Stacy)

2011-04-28T08:55:00.000-04:00

(Let me apologize in advance for the horrible pictures. Trust me when I say that this recipe tastes a million times better than the pictures make it look...promise!)

Over the weekend, I completed my Egg Recipe for the April Recipe Challenge. I knew from the beginning that I was going to make an egg dessert but I honestly had no idea what to make. On a beautiful evening last week, I came home from work, changed into workout clothes and went out on a brainstorming walk. I always do my best thinking on a long walk or run and this night was no exception. After 5 miles of walking, thinking, debating and thinking some more, I knew that I had my recipe. So without further adeui, here it is:

Samoa Pie
(creamy, rich chocolate pie with a macaroon topping)

1 Prepared Graham Cracker Crust

1 Box Silken Tofu
2 RIPE Peeled Avocados
1/2 Cup Maple Syrup (or Agave)
3 Squares Unsweetened Bakers Chocolate
1 Cup Coconut Milk
6 Egg Whites
2 Cups Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
1 Tsp Almond Extract
1/2 Cup Honey

First we need to make some chocolate mousse/pudding type of stuff. Place the tofu, avocados and maple syrup into your food processor and blend together until smooth and creamy. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan on low heat, combine the Baker's chocolate and 1/2 cup of the coconut milk. Allow the chocolate to melt, stirring frequently. Once the chocolate is completely melted, slowly pour into the tofu and avocado mixture in the food processor and process again until all of the chocolate is incorporated. Add the additional coconut milk as needed to reach your desired consisitency. You may also need to add additional maple syrup depending on your preference. Once the pudding mixture is smooth and creamy, slowly pour it into your prepared graham cracker crust and place in the refrigerator to cool.

Now we can move on to our macaroon topping. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees. Place the egg whites in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Once the eggs are all whipped up, slowly fold in the coconut, almond extract and honey. Spread the macaroon topping, in a very thin layer, onto a lightly greased baking sheet and bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Remove the macaroon topping from the oven and allow to cool.

Once the macaroon topping has cooled, break it into pieces and sprinkle liberally over the top of your pudding mixture. Place the pie back in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes to set and then serve with freshly whipped cream and coffee. Mmmmm!!

Who knew that eggs could be so decadent?!

Answers to Triple Threat Trivia - Pick A Sis

2011-04-27T14:51:00.000-04:00

In case you were curious to know the answers to the Triple Threat Trivia - Pick A Sis:

- Stacy was run over by a horse while playing tag with her brother in the pasture. She suffered a concussion along with a few bumps and bruises. Needless to say, she has steered clear of horses ever since.

- Amy had knee surgery at the tender age of 22. After too much running her knees decided they had enough and forced her to take a break.

- Mel gave herself frostbite while icing an IT Band injury after a long run. She wrapped her knee in ice with an ace bandage and left it like that for way too long. The following pictures don't even begin to do it justice...it was crazy gross!

No one guessed all three correctly which is a real shame because we were going to give the winner $1,000,000! Oh well, guess you will all just have to try again next time!

Hello Beach Season! (Amy)

2011-04-27T07:36:00.000-04:00

So let me tell you what craziness I have decided to tackle! One of the gyms I work for is holding a competition called the Beach Challenge. I am a team captain and need to find a way to motivate my team. I am not the type of person who will ask you to do something that I am not willing to do myself. As a result, my challenge is to run the distance to the destination point of the prize within the next 6 weeks. Basically that means I need to log a total of 255 miles in the next 6 weeks!!! I did the math and if I run 5 miles a day, every day, for the next 6 weeks I can get there... or I can run 5 days a week and try to keep my miles at 8.50.

AHHHHHH I hate running!! No really, I HATE it. I always enjoy it for a short bit and there are usually little spurts in my run where I am loving it and feel fabulous but overall...UGH! Nope, not a fan at all! I ALWAYS feel ridiculous because my siblings run like it is nothing. You have no idea how many times I have heard, "oh I am just going out for an easy 10 miler." Ummm hello, there is no such thing as an easy 10 miler... at least not in my world!

Let me tell you a little story....about 10 years ago, my wonderful big sister and I decided to run the Rock n Roll Half Marathon in VA Beach. This was the first half marathon for both of us and I would like to believe we were WAY under trained for this race. Not to mention, the race is held over the Labor Day weekend which means it is HOT! We both completed the race but right around mile 10 or 11, I could no longer take it. I started bitching and moaning and (I am quite ashamed of this now) yelling at Stacy about what a horrible idea this was. I kept telling her that we were obviously crazy for paying to do such a thing! By the time I was done throwing my temper tantrum, Stacy told me to shut up and run because we were only half a mile from the finish line. True story...and somewhere there are embarrassing pictures to prove it!

I ran a lot to relieve stress while Steve was in Iraq and I reached a point where I was logging 10 miles a day while pushing a jogging stroller. However, I ran to the point where I messed up my knee which resulted in major knee surgery at 22. I haven't been able to enjoy running ever since.

So this challenge will be exactly that... a really big challenge for me! I am leaving the option open of using other cardio machines (i.e. elliptical, stepmill, etc.) just in case my knee starts to act up. However, I would really like to finish this challenge by running. I logged 5 miles today and I am feeling good so far. My plan is to run consistently throughout the rest of the week or else complete a really long run at some point! I am crossing my shoe laces and hoping that I can make it there. Wish me luck!

The Diary Of A Divorce ( Stacy)

2011-04-26T14:47:00.000-04:00

Even though my divorce was finalized last week, there are still so many emotions, thoughts, memories and issues that I am dealing with. One big thing that I am still struggling with is the process of creating new traditions and not spending my time focused on the way things used to be. I had an absolutely wonderful Easter with my family and I enjoyed every single moment of it. However, throughout the day I couldn't help but think about all of the previous Easter's that I spent with H and his family. For the past 8 years, I have celebrated Easter by going to church with H's family and then having a huge family dinner with all of them. H and I would also exchange Easter baskets with each other and there was always a nice relaxing Easter morning run and an afternoon nap. We had wonderful Easter traditions and it is hard to not compare this year to years gone by. Creating new traditions is not an easy process and it feels a bit like wearing a brand new pair of sexy shoes...although you feel amazing in the new shoes, you can't deny that they pinch just a little bit. They are uncomfortable and new and fun and fantastic and irritating and weird all at the same time. Traditions must be broken in and given time to replace old memories. They need room to grow and flourish in order to replace the memories that are better off forgotten. Easter this year is a sweet memory of precious time with my family and I am looking forward to watching that tradition continue for many years to come.

(Above picture was borrowed from a gorgeous shoe poster by Steff Green and is available at allposters.com.)

April Recipe Challenge - Eggs (Mel)

2011-04-26T10:24:00.001-04:00

Not sure what to do with all the leftover Easter eggs? Try this simple and exotic take on the classic egg salad recipe. It literally took about 20 minutes and for me that is the key to a great recipe!

Indian Curry Egg Salad
Step 1: Prepare your hard boiled eggs. (If not already on hand)

I followed the “perfect hard boiled egg method” that I found online, and found that it worked very well. Here’s what you do…
Fill a pot of water so that the eggs have are covered with about 1/2 an inch of water. Bring the eggs to a gentle boil then turn off the heat and cover for exactly seven minutes. Once they have sat for seven minutes quickly transfer the eggs to an ice bath. (I used a glass bowl filled half with water and half with ice)

While the eggs chilled in their ice bath I began to work on the “dressing”.

I combined:
3 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
2 ½ teaspoons curry powder
And two generous pinches of sea salt

Mix together and set aside.

Then I got out the rest of the ingredients and began to chop.

I combined:
¼ cup diced pecans
1 small bunch chives
Half of a small onion (choose your favorite variety...I used Vidalia)
Half of an apple (again choose your favorite variety...I used Gala which is what I had on hand)

Chop all ingredients and mix lightly to combine

By this point the eggs should be chilled and ready to come out of their ice bath. Peel the eggs and place them in a large bowl with the chopped ingredients and the dressing.

Mash the eggs with a fork but don’t overdo it so that you leave some texture. Mix to combine all ingredients. If the salad looks dry add a bit more yogurt and curry to moisten to personal taste. Cover and chill. Serves 3-4 and tastes great on pita!

Happy Eating!

Easter 2011 (Stacy)

2011-04-25T10:43:00.000-04:00

I suppose my Easter recap is better late than never right!? I had such a wonderful Easter with my family. My only wish is that the day could have lasted much, much longer.

I started the day off by heading out to Brown's Island and Belle Isle for a trail run. I met up with Mel, Billy (her husband) and our friend James for a beautiful, challenging and fun filled run on the North Bank Trail. It was great to be out on the trails again. All of us will be running in the XDuro 21K race in June and so this run was our attempt to get familiar with the course before the race. Trail running is the perfect way to start the day! SO much fun!

After the run, I rushed home to shower and get ready for our family Easter dinner. I was signed up to bring a salad and a dessert to dinner. Originally I was planning on making my food on Saturday but that just didn't happen. Somehow Saturday got away from me and so I was rushing to get everything together. I managed to throw together a great salad made with spinach, beets, grape tomatoes, red onion, feta, pecans, radishes and sweet basil vinaigrette. It was delicious! I also made Samoa Pie which turned out better than I expected. (Samoa Pie is my recipe for the April Egg Challenge and I will be sharing the recipe along with pictures later this week.) As soon as I had all of the food ready and packed up, I threw on a sundress, grabbed my sunglasses and made my way to my parent's house.

My family had such a wonderful time celebrating Easter together. We had an Easter Egg hunt for my nieces and also ate a wonderful dinner together. It was so nice to have time to sit and chat with everyone. Life has been busy for all of us lately and we seem to be pulled in a million different directions. I loved being able to catch up with everyone and share some laughter, love and time. My family is just amazing!

The rest of my Easter was spent trying to catch up on laundry, cleaning, errands and chores. It was no fun at all but definitely necessary. Sometimes being a grown up just isn't very cool! By the end of the day, I literally fell into bed absolutely exhausted. How can it already be Monday!?!

Healthy Easter Baskets (Mel)

2011-04-23T10:10:00.000-04:00

Easter is upon us once again! I absolutely love this time of year! Spring is in full bloom with lush green trees and vibrant flowers reminding me that winter is officially over...and each year I find myself caught up once again in the Easter holiday. I begin to scour the aisles of the grocery store, gathering treats and preparing Easter baskets for loved ones. However, each year the majority of what I find lining the shelves are the usual Peeps, Cadbury Eggs, jelly beans, and giant chocolate bunnies. So how can you avoid the Easter sugar overload while still fulfilling your Easter Bunny duties? Here a few simple ideas…

Fruit!

Fruit is a nutritious treat that can easily be customized to fit the specifications of the recipient. The warm days of Spring usually bring a nice variety of fruits in season which makes the selection varied and delicious!

Protein Bars

Larabars

Perfect Foods Bars

There is a massive market for protein bars, and consequently numerous options. If you search through the ingredients it is easy to find a large variety that use natural and simple ingredients. They are a scrumptious treat that doesn’t involve sugar and high fructose corn syrup. Larabars and Perfect Foods Bars are just a couple of my favorites!

Nuts
(if allergies are not a problem)

Packed with healthy fats, fiber and antioxidants nuts are a great addition to an Easter basket.

Finally, I always like to throw in something special for each specific person. This year I filled my husband’s Easter basket with his favorite beverage, Ginger Brew.

If you are a fan of ginger do yourself a favor and pick up some ginger beer. It is a non-alcoholic spicy version of ginger ale. I am not a fan of any type of soda, and even I like this!

These are just a few suggestions from this little Easter Bunny. Let your imagination run wild and be the healthy Easter Bunnies I know that you can be!

Happy Easter!!!

Triple Threat Trivia - Pick A Sis

2011-04-23T06:13:00.000-04:00

Hi guys! Want to play a game!?! This is a little Triple Threat Trivia game that we like to call Pick A Sis! We are going to list three random but true facts and all you have to do is pick which fact matches to which sister. Easy enough, right!?! Are you ready!? Let's play!!

1.) I gave myself a bad case of frost bite by over icing an injury.

2.) I have had knee surgery.

3.) I suffered a concussion after being run over by a horse and have hated horses ever since.

Alright, let's see how you guys do. Just leave your guess in the comments section. Good luck!

Chronicles of Coffee Club (Stacy)

2011-04-22T10:51:00.001-04:00

Another Friday morning and another great Coffee Club! Here is the quick recap:

We took pictures of ourselves! Our weekly Coffee Club picture only required one take today! The camera gods must have been smiling on us.

Amy brought us delicious carob banana nut muffins!! OMG! So good...I die! (Channeling my inner Rachel Zoe. LOVE her!) She also brought huge containers of fresh mango and strawberries that were perfectly ripe and almost too delicious!

Mel brought us adorable Easter baskets that were filled with the coolest Easter treats. (i.e. larabars, fruit, candy...) and the sweetest Easter cards ever! Totally made my day!

Starbucks treated us to free coffee in our travel mugs to celebrate Earth Day! Yay for Earth Day and a huge hip hip hooray for free coffee.

It was a perfect Friday morning!

Track Work (Stacy)

2011-04-22T10:36:00.001-04:00

(FYI - This post was supposed to go up on Thursday but oh well, better late than never!)

This morning, Mel and I met up at the local track for some speed intervals. I absolutely love to do speed work out on the track! I haven't been doing track work lately because of all my knee issues but today seemed like a great day to give it a try again. It was an absolutely beautiful spring morning. The birds were singing, the air was filled with the fragrance of honeysuckle, a slight breeze was blowing and the sunrise was freakin amazing! (The sunrise was honestly so beautiful that at one point, I was so busy staring at the sky that I ran right off the track! True story!)

I made it out to the track super early and did 4 x 800 meters with 400 meter recovery jogs, plus some additional warm up laps and an extra little 400 for fun. When Mel arrived at 6:00 am, we got to work! We did 4 x 400 meters and 4 x 200 meters with a 400 meter recovery lap after each interval. We finished our workout with a couple of extra cool down laps and enjoyed some awesome girl talk time.
(Seriously, I have to say that Mel is amazing! Who else would run around in circles with me at 6:00 am after only 3 hours of sleep?!? That girl is a rock star! I want to be just like her when I grow up!)

My legs held up pretty well during the speed work and I managed to survive all 10.50 miles of fun. I am still feeling a bit of pain but things are getting better. I can't wait to be back to pain free running. Until then, I am going to embrace beautiful mornings like this one and keep on running.

Feeding A Finicky Family In A Flash #3 (Amy)

2011-04-22T09:59:00.000-04:00

Making delicious Mexican food in a flash has always seemed to be nearly impossible to me but I have found a way to make a delicious quick Mexican meal that is filled with healthy stuff!

Start by placing boneless skinless chicken breast tenders along with sliced peppers, onions, about a 1/4 of chicken broth and fajita seasoning into your crock pot. (I like to use the frozen bags of mixed peppers and onions because they have already been washed and cut which means less prep work for me.) Turn your crock pot on the lowest setting and allow the chicken to slowly cook for the day.

About 20 minutes before I am ready to eat, I make some brown rice or quinoa according to the package instructions. Both of these grains have quick cooking options available which even include 90 second microwaveable packets. While my grains are cooking, I also heat up some corn and a can of black beans.

Next I quickly chop up a few tomatoes and avocado, wash and shred fresh lettuce or spinach and prepare my assembly line. At this point, getting dinner on the table is all a matter of layering my ingredients. Here is how the layering usually goes down:

1. rice or quinoa
2. chicken and peppers
3. corn and beans
4. shredded cheese
5. lettuce, spinach, avocado and tomato
6. greek yogurt or sour cream
7. salsa

Of course you can layer it however you like and you can use any combination of ingredients that strike your fancy. This meal is SO delicious, relatively inexpensive, quick, easy and healthy! It's a winner!

Food Rut (Stacy)

2011-04-21T09:22:00.000-04:00

Lately it seems like I have been in a major food rut. I eat almost the exact same thing every single day with very little exception. The sad thing is that this rut has been going on for almost a year now. Honestly, my grocery list is almost identical every single week and I pack the exact same lunch every single day. I need to bust out of this rut for a few reasons:

1.) I am getting tired of all of the foods I have been eating and as a result I find myself skipping meals or just choosing to not eat.

2.) I am sure that my body is looking to receive nutrients from some of the foods that I haven't been eating. Variety is the spice of life, right?!?

3.) My energy levels are sooooooooooo low lately. Now, I can't blame this entirely on my food rut because I know that my crazy schedule, lack of sleep and tendency to over exercise are all contributing to my exhaustion issues. However, I am way too young to be feeling this tired all the time and I need to make a few changes.

This week at the grocery store, I picked up two new to me foods and I am excited to try them out and start experimenting a bit more with my diet. I bought a package of Black Bean Pasta which is exactly what it sounds like, pasta that is made with black beans. Clever, huh? It is very high in protein and looks delicious. I am not sure what I am going to do with it yet but I have a few ideas floating around in my head. The other new addition to my grocery basket was a can of skinless and boneless sardines. I have to admit that I am very scared to try the sardines but I have heard that they are SO good for you. I love tuna and salmon so maybe I will just pop open the can and pretend that I am eating one of those instead.

Have you ever been stuck in a food rut?

How did you do you break out of it?

Any suggestions for new foods I should try?

The Diary of a Divorce (Stacy)

2011-04-20T14:36:00.000-04:00

This week I recieved the final decree from the judge granting my divorce. After more than a year of struggling to get this taken care of and dealing with all of the emotions that seem to go hand in hand with a divorce, I am allowing myself to exhale! I can finally let this weight drop off of my shoulders. I can stop holding my breath while I wait for the next hammer to hit. I can move on and pursue things that make me happy without the fear of retribution. I am still trying to process everything and my emotions are a little bit crazy but at this moment it doesn't feel very hard to smile at all. In fact, I am having a hard time making the smiles stop and it feels really good.

Mel’s Lazy Lasagna (Vegetarian)

2011-04-20T09:49:00.000-04:00

I thought I should add to Amy’s delicious lazy lasagna post with my vegetarian version of this simple and tasty meal. Have no fear meat eaters, this version is delicious for you too! In fact, my husband who has a special place in his heart for bacon, BBQ, and seafood absolutely loves this vegetarian remix. Ok, so now that I have cleared that up, here is what you do…

- Start with a box of your favorite pasta. My favorite is whole wheat rotini, but any kind will do. Bake according to package instructions.

- While the pasta cooks, I usually work on getting the filling together. In lieu of cottage cheese, I make a tofu mixture that is both delicious and a great protein addition. I begin with a block of tofu. (I suggest Twin Oaks Tofu which is the absolute best tofu ever!)

- Cut the tofu into small pieces and place in a mixing bowl. Then add basil, garlic, oregano and any other spices that strike your fancy.

- Then add a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice.

- Mash all of the filling ingredients together until the tofu is the consistency of ricotta cheese and all of the spices are incorporated.

- Now the layering can begin! When layering, I usually take inventory of whatever happens to be in my pantry at the time and add whatever I see fit. Essentially, I layer noodles, pasta sauce, my tofu mixture and veggies (my favorite is spinach but many varieties of veggies have been used and approved in our house) into a casserole dish. The layering is completely up to you but make sure to finish with some sauce on top. Lacto-ovo vegetarians and meat eaters may want to add cheese into the mix but it is not essential to the recipe. Once your lazy lasagna is assembled in the casserole dish, cover the entire thing with foil and bake for about 30-45 minutes at 350 degrees. In the last 15 minutes of baking, remove the foil and allow it to finish baking until heated through. Bon appétit!

April Recipe Challenge - Eggs

2011-04-19T16:33:00.000-04:00

(photo courtesy of incredibleegg.org)

So, we realize that April is more than half way over but there is still time to squeeze in a recipe challenge. Before midnight on April 30th, each of us will be posting a unique and new recipe that highlights the all important and incredibly edible egg. (Remember the Incredible Edible Egg commercials? For real, that was marketing at its best...I'm just saying!) Why eggs you may ask? Well, it just seems appropriate for the month of April. With Easter and all of the little egg shaped things everywhere, eggs seem like a good seasonal pick. We would love to have our readers join in. If you have a great egg recipe that you would like to share, please let us know! It would be egg-scellent! Entrees, appetizers, desserts, side dishes, breads and anything else you can think of is all fair game. The only "rule" to this recipe challenge is that your recipe must contain at least 4 eggs (or a comparable amount of any egg substitute if you are making a vegan recipe). Oh man, this is going to be fun!!!

Caffeine (Amy)

2011-04-19T15:24:00.000-04:00

Caffeine...I NEED some caffeine! Trying to keep up with my crazy schedule and enjoy Spring Break with my girls is completely wearing me OUT! Decaf coffee is just not cutting it because I know that a key element is missing! I can't wait to have caffeine back! I miss that added burst of energy that helps get me through the day! I worked very late last night (home at 9pm and still had to get kids feed, showered, etc...) then I was up again before the sun to go teach spin. A nice strong cup of coffee would be amazing right now! I still have a few days to go with my challenge so I guess I will just keep guzzling lemon water (which seems to help wake me up a little bit)and dreaming about my good friend caffeine!

Sister Friends (Stacy)

2011-04-19T10:26:00.000-04:00

The best thing my parents EVER did for me was to give me two amazing sisters! (and one really awesome brother but that post is for another day...love you Shane!) I have been absolutely blessed to have Amy and Mel in my life. I don't quite remember when it happened but quite a few years ago we started to refer to each other as "sister friends" and the name simply stuck. The moniker of sister friends seems to sum up perfectly the way we feel about each other. We are sisters by blood and that will never change but even if these ladies were not my sisters, I would choose them to be my friends. I am amazed at what incredible woman they are and I am constantly striving to be even half as cool as they are. My sisters have always been my best friends. We grew up doing absolutely everything together and even shared a room for most of our childhood. Unlike most sisters, we very rarely fought with each other...mostly because we were too busy having fun together and trying to plan our next adventure. Sure, we had our disagreements and there were a few situations as adults that threatened to pull us all apart (I take full responsibility for most of our adult issues but those stories are for another day. Let's just say that I have not always made the right decisions...live and learn right?!Thank God that Amy and Mel have huge forgiving hearts!) but no matter what has happened in our lives, we have always managed to stick together and maintain our sister friend relationships.

This morning I found a picture of my nieces (Ava and Malia) that completely melted my heart, made me want to hug someone and gave me hope that the sister friend legacy will be continued. I can only hope that they are able to experience the depth of love, support, friendship, laughter and adventures that I have experienced with my sister friends.

Don't you feel like we should all just hug each other now? I need to find someone to hug...

Thoughts On A Long Run (Stacy)

2011-04-18T10:44:00.000-04:00

Without fail, every Sunday morning for the past few years, I have pulled myself out of bed and set out on a long run. I absolutely LOVE my Sunday morning long runs and I look forward to them every week. Sometimes I run with friends or participate in a race but most of the time it is just me, my water bottle, a pair of running shoes and a huge collection of thoughts that have been stored in my mind all week long. I cherish the uninterrupted hours where I can siphon through the chaos, ideas, memories and questions running through my head.

This week, I set out on an absolutely gorgeous morning to conquer a particularly hilly but fun 15 mile loop. I spent the first two miles finding my rhythm and assessing my body to see how I felt. Once I had established a decent pace and was "in my running groove", I began to allow my mind to wander and these are a few of the things that I thought about:

-How much longer will it be before Ava and Malia (my nieces) are taller than me?
-How do squirrels climb sideways on trees?
-What should I have for breakfast?
-My socks totally don't match my shirt.
-I wonder if Casey had her baby yet.
-I thought I brought more water than this!
-What is Amy doing at Boot Camp? I bet they are having fun!
-Where should I move?
-I wonder if Mom and Edge have started their walk yet. I hope Edge's knees are feeling better. Poor guy.
-Wow! That guy is wearing a purple suit! I wonder if he picked that out or if his wife made him wear it?!?
-Why do my knees still hurt?
-I need to buy a bikini for vacation. How is it already bikini season again?
-Should I go on a date? Am I ready to date?
-Should I get a boob job?
-Man, there is pollen everywhere!
-I miss Dad and Susan
-I wonder if Shane is with the goats yet?
-How did the POW's endure such horrible conditions during World War 2? I can barely hold myself together through a long day at work.
-When will the judge finalize my divorce. I hope it is this week.
-I think I should have brought more than 1 bottle of water with me. Darn it!
-Mmmm! Tuna sounds really good right now! Maybe I should have a tuna steak for breakfast. maybe not though because that seems sort of weird.
-I hope that watermelon is good. I think it is still too early to be buying watermelon. Why did I buy a watermelon? What was I thinking?
-Did I check the mail yesterday?
-What should I make for Easter dinner?

And the thoughts went on and on and on...

As I made my way back home and finished up my run, I felt like I had worked through quite a few things in my mind. Honestly, running is my therapy and the best way I have found to deal with life and everything it throws at me. For now, my mind is refreshed, my legs are exhausted and I think I may need to go fix myself a tuna steak!

Musings and Memories (Amy)

2011-04-17T12:27:00.000-04:00

So, do you want to know what I did on Saturday night?!?! I did something that always sends me through an emotional roller coaster and something I haven't done in well over a year. I have a BIG binder of letters that Steve (my husband) and I wrote to each other while he was in boot camp and on both of his deployments. (one to Afghanistan and one to Iraq) Tonight, as I was putting down my book for book club (Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand), I couldn't resist picking up our book and scanning through it. Most of the letters I read tonight were from his deployment to Afghanistan. We were newlyweds during that deployment and I was pregnant with Malia who I actually gave birth to while he was still deployed. Tonight as I read through the letters, I laughed at the silly stories he told me about his platoon and was captivated by the way he described the fire fights he experienced and the long hours they worked. I also read through the letters that I wrote to him as a grumpy pregnant woman in the late spring heat of VA...those spring days honestly felt like the hottest day in August! I also wrote to him about the birth of our daughter and the early stages of my mommy-hood adventures. My mind is racing with memories that haven't been brought to my attention for quite some time. Tomorrow, Steve will be honorably discharged from the Marine Corp. I am amazed at all of the things he has been through since these letters began. I am also realizing all of the ways those experiences have changed us both. In a way these memories make me feel old. I know that I am not old but the life lived in those letters seems to have happened years and years ago. Someone once told me I should write a book about my life and who knows, maybe one day I will. I already have a large chapter of it documented through these precious letters. For now I am off to bed with my memories.

On The Road Again (Mel)

2011-04-16T10:13:00.000-04:00

I am in a bit of a transitional stage in my life right now. My husband just started a job in Charleston SC, and we are currently living 426 miles apart. But who’s counting, right!? Lately my weekends have been consumed with road trips back and forth. The most difficult part of planning these trips has been ensuring that I am maintaining a healthy diet. I have found that the key to successful snacking on the road is pre planning! If you wait until you are out on the road the chance of finding any type of healthy food becomes near to impossible...especially somewhere past South of the Border. Stacy and I found this out the hard way right around Lumberton, NC! In preparation for today's road trip, I made a stop at my favorite local Richmond market, Ellwood Thompson's.

Here are the staples that I must have for a road trip:

Apples!

Carrots

A nutritious treat

And of course water

Inspired by Amy's quest to forgo caffeine and the weird reverse effect that caffeine had on me last weekend, I have decided to experiment with a caffeine alternative. After searching Ellwood Thompson's options, I decided to try wheatgrass.

I have often heard that wheatgrass has many health benefits, one being a boost of energy. In fact from reading more about wheatgrass I have learned that two ounces of wheatgrass is equivalent to three pounds of organic vegetables in vitamins and minerals. It also claims to give the same energy boost that could be found in two cups of coffee. I am hoping that all of this is true and I don't end up making an emergency coffee stop halfway to my destination. Either way I will be sure to report back on the results of this experiment. Happy weekend everyone!

Feeding A Finicky Family In A Flash #2 (Amy)

2011-04-15T16:32:00.000-04:00

So another night and another dinner. I chose to stick with something that is a frequent visitor to our dinner plates. I know that this will always be a crowd pleaser...well at least 9 times out of 10.

(Stacy has posted a very similar recipe in the past but unless you have been reading her blog from the beginning, you may have missed it. This one is so good though that it definitely bears repeating. Mel, Stacy and I all make our own versions of this recipe quite regularly.)

Lazy Lasagna (a.k.a MMMM Delicious!)
1 box of whole wheat rotini noodles
1 lb.ground turkey
1 large container cottage cheese
1 egg (optional)
1 jar of pasta sauce
1 cup Italian blend cheese to sprinkle on top

Cook the noodles according to the directions on the package. Saute the ground turkey. I like to mix some spices (i.e. basil, oregano, garlic, etc...) into the turkey while it cooks. Mix the egg into the cottage cheese. Then, layer the ingredients in the following order: noodles, meat, 1/2 the pasta sauce, cottage cheese mix, noodles, the other 1/2 of the pasta sauce and then top it off with the cheese.

Bake at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes. You can lower the temp and allow it to bake longer (1-2 hours) if you want to do the whole slow cooking thing. In my case, the husband chose to skip the gym (again) and so his only job was to turn on the oven 30 minutes before dinner time. When I arrived home at 7:30, (a rare "early" night for me) dinner was pipping hot and ready to come out of the oven. As soon as showers, baths and the normal evening stuff was taken care of, dinner was served!

Malia and Ava (my daughters) each ate two servings. (Ava has already decided that she will be having the leftovers for lunch today!) Unfortunately, my husband decided to forgo dinner for a box of girl scout cookies. (YES, an entire box of Samoas!!!) Oh well, you can't win them all.

The Chronicles of Coffee Club (Stacy)

2011-04-15T11:13:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday! As many of you know, Mel, Amy and I meet every Friday morning for a little thing we like to call Coffee Club. This weekly meeting has been going on for over five years now and is honestly one of my absolute favorite times of the week. The three of us have made it a priority to set aside this time just to work on our sister friend relationships and it has been one of the absolute best decisions we have ever made. We laugh, we chat, we gossip, we sip on coffee, we eat delicious things, we have been known to cry and we just enjoy our time together. I can't give away any of our Coffee Club secrets because all of the members have been sworn to complete secrecy...sort of like the whole Fight Club thing but much, much cooler! However, I can share a few pictures and a recipe that makes it perfectly okay to have chocolate for breakfast.

This week it was my turn to bring breakfast to Coffee Club. We operate on a rotating schedule and have complete freedom to bring anything we want on our particular week. I always look forward to my week because I absolutely love to feed people. It is some weird obsession of mine! In fact, sometimes I steal Amy or Mel's week...but shhh...don't tell! (I am only able to steal their weeks because they both have WAY too much going on and I can pretty easily convince them to let me take over their week if I come up with the right excuse.) Anyway, breakfast this morning was a great little twist on a breakfast cookie recipe of mine. It is super simple and filled with great ingredients to start the day off right.

Cocoa Nutty Pecan Breakfast Cookies
1 cup oats
1/3 cup spelt flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup coconut
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/3 cup cocoa powder
2 egg whites
1 tsp almond extract
2/3 cup honey, agave or maple syrup (pick your favorite)
1/4 cup almond butter
1/4 cup chocolate or carob chips (optional)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Mix all of the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl until well combined. Place the cookie dough on a lightly greased baking sheet. I usually make the cookies about the size of a golf ball but anything goes. Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes...and that is it! Super easy and totally delicious!

Mel was kind enough to be our cookie eating model this morning!

We enjoyed our cookies with copious amounts of coffee and some really delicious and juicy oranges. Breakfast of champions...or at least, the breakfast of three adorable sister friends!

I am already counting down the days until next Friday morning!

The Morning Adventures of Stacy

2011-04-14T12:56:00.000-04:00

This morning I met up with this lady:

And we did a little bit of this:

I would like to thank these for making it possible:

I would also like to thank this lady for making it fun:

That is all!

Feeding A Finicky Family In A Flash

2011-04-14T12:16:00.000-04:00

Eating healthy can be a challenge! Even when everyone is on board with healthy eating and you magically have time to prep healthy meals & snacks, it can still be quite the project. I am not sure that a life with plenty of time to cook and a family who loves healthy food does exist but if it does it has completely escaped me! I think it may be a myth...like unicorns and Big Foot!

As a mom, wife, fitness instructor, sister, blogger, friend and so much more, I am crazy insane busy 23 hours out of the day...or at least that is how it feels!! I often find myself crawling into bed thinking, "hurry up and sleep you have a lot to do"! On a typical night, I don't get home from work until 8 or 8:30. At that time of night, with two tired and hungry girls in tow, I am completely exhausted and want a hot shower, my sweat pants and a comfortable bed! Trying to pull together dinner at that point is definitely not something I want to do! It would be so very easy to grab a precooked meal, take out or even fast food! (which is definitely something that my junk food loving husband would LOVE!). However, there is no way that my budget could handle that constant expense and it seems silly to make my body suffer through less than stellar food choices.

Another struggle that I am sure many of us face, is the constant challenge of getting our kids and spouses (in my case both) to eat healthy. I am in NO way, shape or form claiming that I have this figured out! Life is a constant cycle of learning and I have found a few tips and tricks that work well for me. So in this ongoing series, Feeding A Finicky Family In A Flash , I am going to share the triumphs (and failures?) of helping my family to eat well.

Last night I will claim as a HUGE triumph!!! I was working at the gym until about 8:00 pm and finally made it home just before 8:30 pm. Knowing that it was going to be a late night, I prepared some chicken and cooked it slowly in the oven while I was at the gym. The chicken was very simple to prepare. All I did is thaw the chicken, sprinkle a few spices on top, cover it up with aluminum foil and put it in the oven at 275 degrees. I started cooking the chicken around 4:00 pm as I was packing things up to head out the door. After work, I went straight to the kitchen and threw some carrots in the steamer. I also spread some fresh kale that had been tossed with olive oil and sea salt onto a baking sheet and placed it in the oven at 475 degrees. By this time, the chicken was done so I pulled it out of the oven while the kale cooked. Finally, I put some potatoes in the microwave for a quick bake and made my way to the shower. As soon as I finished showering, I started a bath for my girls and threw them in the tub. (not literally!) After a quick check on the food, I helped the girls finish up their bath and then sent them to their rooms to put on their pajamas. While they were getting dressed, I made quick work of prepping every one's plate and dinner was served! Within 15-20 minutes, dinner was ready to eat and we were all showered and changed into clean pajamas! (this excludes my husband, who happened to be sitting on the couch, in the exact same spot I had left him earlier that afternoon...but that is a topic for another post...sigh!)

Dinner was DELICIOUS and my girls actually asked for more Kale!!!

I am really happy that dinner was such a success but at the same time, I realize that tomorrow is another day and I have another dinner to figure out and another late night ahead of me! Fingers crossed for another successful night!

A Family of Strays (Featuring Ada)

2011-04-14T09:14:00.000-04:00

The second addition to the Matheny Family of Strays is Ada. Let me start by saying that, Ada is the reason why I no longer allow myself to go to local animal shelters, because I know I will end up bringing another animal home. However, back before I made this rule, my husband and I were cruising around and wasting time on a Saturday afternoon when we decided to stop in at a local animal shelter. As soon as we saw Ada, our hearts melted. She looked emaciated and had just given birth to a litter of puppies. We found out that all of her puppies had been adopted but they were unable to find a home for Ada. This particular animal shelter only kept animals for so long and as a result she was scheduled to be euthanized that week. The wheels in our head began to spin and it wasn’t long before we were filling out adoption papers. Our thought process was, "if we already have one dog, two can’t be that bad right"? Lucky for us, Ada has been a very obedient and easy going dog. She certainly has her quirks though and is adamant to guard her possessions, especially from Seysh!

Ada has an awful nail biting habit and I am extremely embarrassed to admit it but she is racist. Yes, I know that sounds weird, but she is. Don't ask! We have tried to fix it, but to no avail. However, despite these flaws, Ada is everything you could possibly want in a dog. She is loyal, eager to please, and follows so closely to your side that she steps on your feet at least once a day. Ada is also full of amazing spunk and energy levels that would surpass that of dogs half her age. She is the perfect marathon training partner because she has a steady pace and unending endurance. When Ada and I run together, I am reminded to savor the joy of running. Ada has brightened my life in so many ways!

A (Wednes)Day In The Life (Stacy)

2011-04-13T15:20:00.000-04:00

Want to hear about my day?

This is a typical Wednesday in the wonderful world of Stacy:

3:30 am - Wake up, pull on my workout clothes and head to the gym.

4:00 am - Workout time!!! Wednesday's are typically my easy/recovery day which is awesome! This morning I did a nice easy 7.50 miles on the treadmill, suffered through a HARD 30 minute core workout and then spent some time stretching and rolling around on the foam roller.

6:30 am - Shower, get dressed, chit chat with the locker room ladies and commute to work.

7:00 am - Work, work, work the day away! I always work through lunch and very rarely take breaks because I like to leave work as soon as possible. My meals during the work day are typically on a grab as needed basis. The only exception to this is my 2:30 pm coffee break...this is non negotiable and extremely necessary! (Sorry Amy but I am sticking with the caffeine!)

6:00 pm - Leave work and meet my brother for a run. We typically run a nice easy 3-5 miles and spend an hour or so catching up on each other's lives. It is a great way to relax after work!!

7:30 pm - Arrive home, shower, pack my gym bag for the next day, pack my lunch and deal with random things. (i.e. errands, mail, messages, etc...)

8:30 pm - Make dinner and relax! I usually spend about 20 minutes stretching and doing some type of yoga which is followed by some much needed time in front of the TV or else frantically trying to finish my Book Club book.

10:00 pm - Write in my journal, brush my teeth, wash my face, moisturize my wrinkles away and head to my wonderful, comfortable bed!

What does your typical Wednesday look like?

My Challenge - 30 Days Without Caffeine (Amy)

2011-04-13T13:31:00.000-04:00

AAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Yes, that was my first reaction as well and in fact there are still moments I want to do that! However I am determined to see this challenge through.

So you may be thinking, "why the (choice word) would you do that to yourself"?!!? Well let me explain...over the past winter, I literally caught every cold, flu, virus and illness that came around. It was a never ending cycle of sickness and it lasted for weeks on end. So, in order to build up my immune system, I decided to clean up my diet. While examining my current diet, I knew that my caffeine addiction would need to be addressed. I realized that I currently required a large dose of caffeine every day or else I was tired, grumpy and had NO energy. My caffeine vehicle of choice was usually a Venti Dirty Chai (which, if you have never had one, I highly recommend! SOOOOO delicious!) followed by another cup or two of coffee. In addition, I would have other assorted forms of caffeine throughout the day. (my favorite being chocolate!)

As I thought about this whole caffeine challenge, I decided that my best choice would be to go cold turkey and just cut it out completely. I am one week into the challenge and have done surprisingly well. I have replaced my normal cup of coffee with decaf tea or decaf coffee and so far that seems to be working for me. I have been a little more tired and it takes me a little bit longer to wake up but I am surviving! I would have to say that the biggest thing I noticed was an increase in muscle fatigue. I have been much more sore than I typically am and I have to believe it is a result of the lack of caffeine. I am finding that most days, I have this caffeine challenge down with no problem...but there are definitely other days when I want to say screw it and find the largest cup of coffee (or dirty chai) imaginable!!

Well, I figure now that I have put it out there, I have all of you fabulous readers to hold me accountable! No going back now! Only 22 more days to conquer this goal...but who's counting!?!

Family of Strays (Featuring Seysh)

2011-04-13T09:00:00.000-04:00

(Over the next few blog posts, I want to introduce my family of strays, my pets Seysh, Ada, and Lola. Each one has a unique story of how they became a part of the Matheny family.)

Today I am going to talk about the first dog that joined our crew, Seysh. The first time I saw Seysh, he was chained up outside of my neighbor’s house. He was a beautiful white fluffy puppy. As the days went by, he eventually was let off his chain but I noticed that he was getting thinner and eating out of the trash. Seysh began to venture over to my house and I would feed him whatever I had on hand. He soon became a common presence in my yard. After some time, I approached my neighbor and bluntly asked her if I could have her dog. She had no problem with this arrangement, because she was under investigation with animal control for lack of care to her other pets. After numerous flea baths and a visit to the vet for much needed vaccines, Seysh was soon healthy, happy and rambunctious. He has many quirks that make him one of a kind. He has severe separation anxiety and has destroyed countless objects including an entire couch, a crate, a door and even the walls! However, beneath all of his quirks he is a big teddy bear full of love. He and I were brought together at a time when I was just venturing out into adult hood and we have "grown up" together. He has been an enthusiastic running partner for the past five years. When I lace up my running shoes and grab his leash his tail starts wagging and he jumps around the room with excitement. Recently he has become my walking partner instead, after beginning to show signs of hip dysplasia. It has been hard to see him enter a new stage in his life but somehow he still manages to act like a puppy; chewing up my things and testing my patience. Despite all the of the craziness that he has brought to my life, I can’t imagine what I would be like without him!

The Diary of a Divorce (Stacy)

2011-04-12T15:32:00.001-04:00

(This entry is part of a series that I will be doing as I move through the ups and downs of my divorce. I am writing from my heart and sharing my own personal experience. Sometimes the posts will be upbeat and sometimes they may be filled with angst, anger, pity, rage, depression and whining. You have been warned...)

I woke up this morning and reached for the alarm clock that was screaming at me from my night stand. In the darkness of my room, I slowly crawled out of bed, rubbed my eyes and pulled on the workout clothes I had laid out the night before. Walking out to my car, I took a quick glance down at my phone and when the date and time popped up, I realized with a start that today marked a painful anniversary for me. I have tried in vain to forget the dates and times and circumstances of the past year but every time I think I am making progress, another "anniversary" rolls around and I am hit with a wave of memories. One year ago today, I discovered that my husband was cheating on me and I haven't been the same ever since. The circumstances leading up to the betrayal and all of the little details aren't as important as the aftermath that I have been left with. My confidence has been shaken. My self-esteem is almost non existent. I have lost my ability to trust anyone. I constantly ask myself why I wasn't good enough and what I could have done differently. I mourn the loss of what I once had. Loneliness often overwhelms me to the point where I feel as if I am suffocating. I try to pick up the pieces but they all seem like a puzzle that is impossible to solve. Standing outside in all of the dark quiet that takes place at 3:45 am, I felt a sudden strong urge to go crawl back in bed, pull the covers over my head and cry myself to sleep. The desire to give up was there taunting me in a mocking and condescending way that left me feeling bruised and battered. However, in the next moment, I felt a sudden urge to prove myself strong. I literally told myself, out loud, in the middle of the parking lot, at 3:45 in the morning, with bed head and sleepy eyes, "Pull yourself together Stacy! You are not a pussy and you are not giving up. You can do this! Now go run some miles!" Now, the fact that I just admitted that I talk to myself and give myself pep talks will ruin any idea that you may have had that I am normal but it was exactly what I needed in that moment. I needed a reminder that I was strong enough to handle this! I feel myself growing stronger with each passing day and I do see progress in the way I handle the emotional toll this has taken on me. I am not sure when everything becomes "ok" again but my fingers are crossed that April 12, 2012 will reveal a strong, confident and open hearted woman. For now, I am going to keep moving forward and tackle this challenge one day at a time. I can do this!

Music To Drive Your Workout! (Amy)

2011-04-12T09:33:00.000-04:00

(My girls are already dancing on tables...really!?! I have a lot to be afraid of in the future!)

With the massive number of classes I teach every week, I am always listening too and looking for new music. Finding the right music to drive your workout can sometimes be quite a challenge! Sometimes the only thing that pulls me through a really hard workout is the music! I love music and listen to it almost non stop! I often get my groove on while cooking and find myself dancing way more than cooking...which leaves my family waiting for dinner! Oops!

So back to the music, I love a good remix and am always looking for mash-ups as well. I especially love the Jay Z and Linkin Park mash-ups but there are plenty of other ones that I am in love with including, Rhianna, Lady Gaga, Adele, Pit Bull, J Lo, and many many more! A remixed version of a hit song can put some extra energy into the workout because you already know the song but the new beat and tempo help drive you. At the moment, I am in love with Adele and Duffy and both of these ladies have some great remixes! Jump Smoker, Fredde Le Grand, and Eric Prydz remixes never seem to fail and there are plenty of other hot remixes out there. Just Google the name of the song and remix...works every time!

Most importantly, I believe variety is the driving force to a great playlist. I love a huge variety of music and find that it keeps my workouts lively and a lot more fun! If all I listened to was top 40 hits for my entire workout I would get so very bored. I am proud that my playlist is eclectic! My little Ipod is rocking everything from B.O.B. to Justin Bieber, to ACDC and topped off by Eminem...plus everything else in between. Now, would I listen to all that driving down the road? NOPE... in fact if Bieber comes on the radio, I change it as fast as my hand can move!! (YES - I am a proud member of the No Beiber Fever Club!) Somehow though, when his tiny pre-pubescent voice pops up in a remix, it makes me laugh out loud right in the middle of my workout! I like the harder music to help push me to go harder and the music I can sing along with to distract me from thinking about how tired I am.

I am always finding new music and falling in love with a new favorite. I would love to hear your suggestions for great workout music and the next time I find something fabulous I will send it your way! Ok...back to my music search!!

Introducing Stacy Lane

2011-04-11T15:33:00.000-04:00

Allow me to reintroduce myself:

My name is Stacy and I originally started this blog all the way back in January 2009. At that time the blog went by the name Eating To Live Love Laugh Tri and was all about my adventures as a tri athlete, wife and foodie. I really enjoyed blogging and having an avenue to express myself. Life was all about training for races, loving on my husband, eating good food and smiling y way through it all. My life seemed perfect!

Then in November 2009, my life was completely turned upside down. Those of you, who followed along on my blog, were able to get a small glimpse of my story. I did my absolute best to keep up with the blog but eventually it all just became too much. I was working almost 80 hours a week, running constantly, trying to handle the emotional pain of a divorce, not taking care of myself and basically just falling apart. I don’t feel like there is any need to rehash the whole sad story but I am happy to say that things are starting to look up. Life doesn’t seem quite so dark and scary anymore. There are still a few issues that I am trying to work through and of course some days are better than others but it is definitely becoming easier to smile.

As of today, I am a single lady who is looking forward to a bright future. I still work a TON of hours, run way too much and need to figure out how to take better care of myself but I am also really excited about life and all the possibilities in front of me. I am hoping that 2011 will be the year that I am able to pursue some of my passions, dreams and goals. I am currently reevaluating every aspect of my life and there are some definite changes on the horizon. Moving, school, romance, career change, adventures and new experiences are all possibilities. I can’t wait to see how the next year unfolds and I am excited to share it all with the blog world.

Introducing Amy McNeil

2011-04-11T13:00:00.000-04:00

Where to begin?!?

I have been married for almost 8 years to a Marine. Steve has served both active duty and as a reservist and is getting out in a matter of days!!!

I am a mother of 2 crazy/precious little girls who never seem to stop or cease to amaze me.

I work for several gyms teaching group exercise classes and I love, love, love my job! I mainly teach Les Mills formats (BodyPump, BodyCombat, BodyJam, BodyAttack, and BodyStep) but I also teach Spinning and TRX suspension training.I love to push myself and others and think the only exception to my normally quite personality is when I am teaching.In fact I would say anyone who has taken one of my classes would disagree that I am a quite person! I would LOVE to get my personal training certification and explore a whole different side of the fitness industry.

As it is already obvious, I have 2 kick ass sisters and an amazing brother. I believe we all share a unique relationship and have since we were children.

I am a quite person and pretty reserved. I love hard and fully! I treasure my family and an amazing circle of friends and hold them close to my heart. I am a pretty open person so anything else you want to know, let me know.

Introducing Melissa Matheny (a.k.a Mel)

2011-04-11T11:30:00.000-04:00

100 Things About Mel

1. I am happily married to my high school sweetheart

2. Runner

3. Working towards running a marathon in every state in the United States (And Washington D.C.)

4. My first tattoo was three stars, one for me and one for each of my sisters

5. I have a tattoo of the state flower for each state where I have run a marathon

6. Sister to two beautiful and talented women (Stacy and Amy ) and an awesome brother.

7. Youngest in my family

8. Vegetarian

9. Proud owner of three strays, two husky/lab mix dogs and a cat (Seysh, Ada, and Lola)

10. College student at VCU

11. Future teacher

12. Love working with children

13. Believe in equality

14. Attention seeker

15. Not fazed by blood, guts, or gore

16. Love to read

17. Favorite author Phillip K. Dick

18. Love to try new things

19. Extremely scared of snakes

20. Hate carbonated drinks

21. Genuine

22. I was born at home

23. I am employed at a hospital, but have never been a patient at one.

24. Not very tech savvy

25. I cried at the end of my first marathon

26. I hugged the nearest stranger and the end of my second marathon

27. I have learned to be a little less emotional at the end of a marathon

28. Love meeting new people

29. Hate being on the phone

30. I feel like your handshake reveals your character

31. I do my best thinking on a run

32. Support animal rights

33. Adore my family

34. Extremely patient

35. Had a pet cow named Dolly

36. I love learning

37. Believe that there is nothing a good sweat can’t fix

38. Exceedingly patient

39. Favorite movie is the Jerk

40. Despise clutter

41. Believe that dark chocolate is the only kind of chocolate we need in this world

42. I have witnessed the miracle of birth…and cried

43. Running has made me nonchalant about toenails falling off

44. My hair has been every color of the rainbow

45. Thrive on change

46. I have brown eyes

47. Love the feeling of laughing until your stomach hurts

48. Favorite season is fall

49. My house has completely burned down….twice!

50. My hair has been going grey since I was 21

51. I hate ketchup

52. I have adored the Wizard of Oz since I was four

53. I have a knack for picking the loser

54. The spicier the food or drink, the better!

55. Enjoy singing at the top of my lungs in my car

56. Enjoy seeing someone else singing at the top of their lungs in their car

57. It is extremely difficult to make me truly angry, and extremely difficult for me to forget

58. I am a rockabilly, punk rock, funk, jazz, reggae, and rock and roll fan

59. I do not like to shop

60. I love a good challenge

61. I have seen every Shirley Temple movie that has ever been made

62. I could still sing most of the songs in every Shirley Temple movie ever made

63. I despise milk

64. I adore soy milk

65. Favorite color is green

66. I was late for my own wedding

67. I am not a list maker (And yes I do see the irony)

68. Guns creep me out

69. I can make a mean breakfast over a campfire

70. I once colored my hair so much that I removed all the pigment and was forced to shave it.

71. I am always amused by people watching

72. I can curl my tongue

73. I love to win

74. I hate to see people lose

75. My middle name is Jayme. I went by my middle name for a year and now there are some people out there who still call me Jayme.

76. Watching the news makes me sad

77. If I could I would take a nap everyday

78. My favorite time to nap is during a thunderstorm

79. I like not having a plan

80. I cannot sleep with socks on

81. I am drawn to people with big personalities

82. I have no religious affiliation, but love to hear about other peoples

83. I love the feeling of coming home and putting on pajamas

84. Stereotypes annoy me

85. In a perfect world I would travel nine months of the year

86. If I see someone else cry I immediately begin to cry too

87. I surprised myself and found that I love public speaking

88. I named my car (Herman)

89. I can only get a caffeine buzz from Starbucks coffee

90. I love to cook but I hate grocery shopping

91. I find dresses extremely comfortable

92. I like to eat French fries dipped in mustard

93. I feel my best with 12 or more hours of sleep

94. I have realized that 12 or more hours of sleep is impossible to achieve

95. I remember my dreams nearly every night

96. I am very sensitive

97. It takes a long time for me to trust people

98. I wear grey far too often

99. I am obsessed with ginger

100. I am amazed that I was able to finish this list!

Time To Change It Up

2011-04-11T09:08:00.000-04:00

Hmmm...so you may have noticed that the title of the blog, along with the header and well, pretty much everything has changed! After a lot of thought and some great discussions with the two best sisters ever, we have decided to turn this blog into a group project. You may be asking yourself, "Why in the world would they write a group blog?" and well, I have a few answers for you:

1.) I am really blessed to have two sisters who are amazing, accomplished, intelligent, strong, entertaining and gorgeous women. They have taught me so many wonderful things and I feel selfish keeping it all to myself. I want them to share a bit of who they are with the blog world. Trust me, you will be thanking me for this!

2.) At this point in my life, I don't really have the time or the energy to blog every day, much less multiple times a day. Rather than struggle to keep a blog going by myself, it is going to be an awesome pleasure to be blogging alongside of these two amazing women.

3.) Mel is getting ready to move to Charleston, South Carolina and Amy and I are going to miss her SO much. One way that we can stay connected is to work on this project together as a "sister friend" hobby. It will definitely make it a little more complicated to have Mel in a different location but we are pretty clever ladies and I am certain that we can make this work.

4.) I really like the name Triple Threat...so yeah, there is that!

5.) Although the three of us share many similar qualities, we are also extremely different in a lot of ways. With all three of us sharing our lives and adventures with you, I can guarantee that there will be something for everyone. Between the three of us, we have pretty much every subject you could possibly be interested in covered (i.e. fitness, fashion, food, kids, pets, marriage, recipes, travel, school, the work place, shopping, racing, the single life, injuries, adventures, book reviews, girl talk and SO much more)...and we can totally make the rest of it up!

Anyway, I am very excited about this new endeavor and I look forward to seeing how it will all unfold. We are going to start things off by each writing a little About Me post so that you can get to know us a little bit better. Please feel free to comment away, ask questions, share this blog with friends, talk about us on twitter, post us on Facebook and of course, sending treats is always a great option as well.

Alright, let's do this thing...

HUGE Changes Are Coming...

2011-04-05T12:36:00.000-04:00

I don't think you guys are ready for what I have in store for you! Things are about to get CRAZY up in here! I have just a few more details to nail down and then this blog is going to be flipped upside down in a wonderful way! The tenative launch date is April 11th so stay tuned and get excited...I mean REALLY excited!

My Return To Blogging?

2011-03-04T10:36:00.000-05:00

I am feeling the itch...

Now the question is:
To scratch or not to scratch? Hmmm...

I Heart Running

2010-09-14T13:08:00.000-04:00

"Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?"
Peter Maher

I am happy to report that I was strong today! Ten mile tempo run in 70 minutes...I owned that sucker! Well, maybe I didn't quite own it but I gave it my all and I finished it with a smile on my face. Plus, the smile stayed there through the following hour of Boot Camp so I think that should count for something! The quote above is one that I remind myself of every single day. This morning I wrote the quote on a bright post it note and stuck it on the treadmill while I was running. Every time I felt like quitting, I would glance at the note and push myself to be strong today. Mental reminders like this are key for me when I am running. They motivate me to push harder and not give up. I want to be proud of my running ability and I want to make sure that I am giving my all...even when no one is looking! I just really love to run...I mean for real! Love it!

On Sunday morning, I woke up to a dreary, rainy cold morning. I promised myself all week that I would take Sunday off from running and let my legs rest a bit. However, around 8:00 I got a text from Mel and Billy asking if I wanted to get in a few miles with them. Well, I decided that I just can't turn down my favorite running buddies when they ask me to come and run! So, I quickly threw on some running clothes, grabbed my water bottle and met them for a quick 8ish mile run by the river. The rain let up after about 20 minutes or so and we had a great time laughing and chatting through the miles. I have decided that I will no longer promise my legs a day of rest...in my opinion, a fun morning with great friends completely trumps a day off from running.

Family Dinners Are Where Its At

2010-09-13T11:05:00.000-04:00

Saturday was a super busy day for me but it ended in the most wonderful way. I started my day bright and early at 3:30 which was way too early for my tired bones! I taught Boot Camp on Friday night and had an absolute blast at class but by the time I finished teaching and cleaned up the equipment it was getting late. Right after class, I had to make a grocery run because my poor little refrigerator was looking pathetic and empty. Anyway, to make a very long story a little bit shorter, it was very late by the time I fell into bed on Friday night and when my alarm went off on Saturday morning, I wanted to curl up in a ball and cry. I had no choice but to get up though so I pulled my butt out of bed, had a quick breakfast and set out on a long run. I did 18 miles of really tough, boring and pathetic running through my neighborhood. My legs and really my whole body were absolutely exhausted but I was determined to get this long run finished. As soon as I finished running, I took a quick shower and rushed off to work. After spending all day at work, I ran a couple of quick errands, did some laundry, changed clothes and then the good part of my day finally started!
Shane (my fabulous brother), Mel and Billy (my sister and brother-in-law) all met me for dinner at a local Mediterranean restaurant called CousCous. We enjoyed a fabulous meal of Greek salads, hummus, kebabs, pitas, couscous, tea and much more. The food was all very good but the best part of the evening was spending time with people I love. The conversation mixed with laughter and shared memories. The smiles on our faces were genuine and stayed in place with no effort. It was an absolutely wonderful evening and one that I hope to repeat time and time again.

The above picture is of a dish that Mel and Billy ordered called saganaki. It was a combination of sliced apples and sheep cheese that was set on fire right as it was brought to the table. I was absolutely fascinated by the presentation of the dish. Who thinks of these types of things? I didn't try the saganaki because I am not really a cheese person but everyone else at the table seemed to enjoy it. Apparently setting cheese on fire makes it taste better! Who knew?

I am already trying to set the wheels in motion for our next family dinner. I am truly blessed!

Mmmm Coffee

2010-09-10T15:28:00.000-04:00

Could I live without coffee? Maybe...but I don't plan on ever finding out the answer to that question!
Today I am thankful for coffee!

Sleepy Sisters

2010-09-09T16:28:00.000-04:00

This morning I met my absolute favorite running partner (Mel) for a hill workout. Our plan this morning was a 2 mile warm up, 6 repeats of an intense 1/2 mile hill and then a 2 mile cool down. I arrived at the gym super early to squeeze in a weight workout and also did a quick 2 mile run to loosen up my legs. My poor little legs are so tired. I have been pushing them really hard and they can totally feel it. When Mel arrived at 5:15, we quickly grabbed our water bottles and set out in the dark, chilly morning air to get our workout finished. We both just wanted to get our miles and be done with it. During our warm up jog, we calculated that between the two of us we had a combined total of about 6 1/2 hours of sleep. Yes...that's right folks, Mel and I both decided to do intense hill training on about 3 hours of sleep a piece. Not the brightest idea but we both wanted to make sure we got our workout in. Personally, I also really wanted to see Mel and spend some time hanging out with her. We have both been so busy lately and I don't get to see her nearly enough. Anyway, as we made our way through our warm up miles, we spent some time chit chatting and at one point we both ran right next to a HUGE snake that was just hanging out in the middle of the road. Now, Mel and I are both absolutely terrified of snakes. I am so scared of them that I often skip the reptile exhibits at zoos and museums and anywhere else they happen to be. I hate snakes! However, this morning neither one of us even reacted to the fact that there was a snake in the road. I think we were both just so exhausted that we didn't even have the energy to scream. You know you are ridiculously tired when you you can't even be afraid! Anyway, we managed to make it through our workout and then spent ten minutes walking around outside just gossiping and giggling and enjoying some sister time together while the sun came up. Sometimes workouts are just an excuse to spend time with people you love and I am totally okay with that!

Hugs Are On The Way

2010-09-08T12:57:00.000-04:00

Do you see that big smile on my face? Are you curious why it is there? Well, apart from the fact that this picture was taken at Starbucks where I am about to get my daily caffeine fix, I am smiling for another wonderful reason. Today my brother is flying into town and I absolutely cannot wait to get a hug from him. I have been counting down the days and now that the day has finally arrived, I am starting to count the hours, minutes and even seconds. I have even started to track his flight into Richmond despite the fact that it doesn't take off for another few hours...not much has changed in the status by the way! So excited! It will be so nice to have my big brother here for me when I am feeling less than strong. Just a few more hours to go...

Holidays Sort of Suck

2010-09-07T16:38:00.000-04:00

There is no way to even sugar coat this...I had a really tough weekend. Holiday weekends are VERY hard for me to deal with because I am trying to figure out how to create a new life for myself and yet all I can think about is what I was doing the previous year and how much my life has changed. I don't even feel like the same person that I used to be and I suppose that the reality of the situation is that I am not the same at all. Life and its struggles and challenges have a way of changing us. This year has transformed the way I handle life and especially the way I view relationships and people in general. Anyway, I don't want to go on and on about my sad life I just wanted to put it out there that I had a tough weekend and so I dealt with it the only way I knew how...it involved three things...

*I ran a lot and for no reason other than to run. I covered almost 50 miles in less than three days and probably would have run more if I didn't have other things that needed to get done.

*I slept a lot...too much actually. I am really not so good at sleeping.

*I ate way too many Greens Plus Protein Bars and drank copious amounts of coffee. Although I love both of these things, I probably shouldn't have loved them quite as much as I did this weekend.

So there you have it. My holiday weekend was filled with tears, sleep, protein bars, coffee and running. I am sort of glad to be back at work and I wish I had someone to hug...just keeping it real!

A Recipe For Disaster

2010-09-04T14:50:00.000-04:00

Want to know how to have a really crappy long run? I have the perfect combination of steps to guarantee that your run sucks from beginning to end and leaves you feeling like death when it is all over.

First, the day before your planned long run, do a two hour leg and plyometric workout in the morning. When you are finished with that, go to work and sit at a desk for 10 hours. After you have finished working for the day, teach a 60 minute boot camp class that focuses on leg and core work and make sure you run a lot of laps! To finish off your day, eat a huge dinner of grapes and brazil nuts to make up for all of the food you forgot to eat during the day while you were working. Go to bed with an upset stomach and then proceed to lay on your back staring at the ceiling for two hours because you can't sleep. At this point, you should pick up your phone and call someone who will stress you out and keep you on the phone for WAY too long. Make sure the conversation is emotionally draining and if tears are involved then even better. You should try to make sure you fall asleep at some point but don't get more than about three hours of sleep...I mean, anything more than that would just be lazy.

On the morning of your long run, wake up with a headache, drink three HUGE cups of black coffee and then eat an apple. Ignore the fact that your stomach feels horrible, grab a 12 oz bottle of water and head out the door. Make sure at this point that you pick the toughest possible course you can think of to run. Hills, busy roads, no water stops, tough trails...all of these will contribute to making sure your run is hard. Make sure you run out of water within the first hour and don't even think about bringing any type of gel or sports drink. Now spend the next two and a half hours wondering why you all of a sudden hate running and silently cursing yourself for signing up for another marathon. Finish your run and sit on the floor for 20 minutes wishing you couldn't feel the grip of the Grim Reaper on your entire body. Done and done!

I am a runner, I still love to run...and for today, that is more than enough!

True Story #2

2010-09-03T10:38:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, I found myself with an hour of free time on a sunny, warm day and decided to hit up the pool. I was SO excited because as anyone who knows me can tell you, I am obsessed with hanging out at the pool and relaxing in the sun. I love to feel the warmth of the sun on my skin. It literally rejuvenates my soul and makes me feel alive. Mel always teases me that I am solar powered because while most people become lethargic and lazy in the sun, I totally thrive in the heat. Case in point: My absolute favorite weather for running is in 90 degree temperatures with 100% humidity...yes, I know that is weird but it is totally true! Anyway, back to my story...I quickly threw on my cute little white bikini (in the picture above), grabbed my towel and a book and set out for the pool. Now, typically I am sort of a modest type of girl and I wear shorts and t-shirt over my bathing suit for the walk to and from the pool. However, on this perfectly warm summer day, I decided to just walk to the pool in my bikini in order to save time. I didn't feel like missing out on one single second of pool time and finding a pair of shorts and a t-shirt was definitely not a priority. The walk to the pool was uneventful and I quickly found a spot directly under the sun to relax. As I happily began to lay out my towel, I felt something snap and before I even realized what was happening, my bikini top went flying off of me. Somehow the plastic snap came loose, (probably from all of the times I lazily threw it into the dryer instead of hanging it to dry like it clearly instructed me to do on the label...oops!) snapped into three pieces and left me standing poolside with no top on! For a split second I just stood there with a look of shock on my face. Normally I would throw on my cover up t-shirt but of course this was the one day I decide to forgo the t-shirt. I panicked for a second because I had no idea how I was going to walk back home with no top. Fortunately I realized that I had a huge towel in front of me, so I quickly wrapped the towel around me, hung my head in shame and walked home very quickly. I have convinced myself that no one saw what happened...stupid white bikini, I never liked you anyway!

I Feel The Need For Speed

2010-09-02T13:07:00.001-04:00

Mel and I met at the track this morning for a speed work session that was super tough but tons of fun. We made our way to the track at 5:30 and after a quick warm up jog, we took off running. (My workout this morning was 4 x 1000 meters, 4 x 800 meters and 4 x 400 meters with a 400 meter recovery jog after each set and an additional 2 mile warm up and cool down.) It was an absolutely beautiful morning! The sky was dark and filled with stars as we started our intervals and as we quickly knocked each set out, the sun began to rise, the birds were chirping, the air was filled with promise and huge smiles threatened to take over our sweaty faces. Mornings like this remind me why I am a runner and also make me ever so thankful that I have the best training partner ever.

Change Will Do You Good

2010-09-02T12:45:00.000-04:00

So, as you can probably see, I have made a couple of changes to the blog. I am still not 100% sure what direction I am going to take with the content but for now my plan is to just write about stuff that interests me and stuff that makes up the story of my life...this could mean a wide range of topics. I am a complicated and eccentric person and I am surrounded by drama that you wouldn't believe. When these two scenarios are combined, well...you get a story that is a little bit crazy, filled with emotion and definitely entertaining. (Albeit sometimes in the trashy magazine or rubber necking type of way.) My plan is to see how this style of writing and content goes and then reevaluate everything in about a month. At that point I may just delete the whole blog and disappear or reinvent myself and change everything up again or hmmm...is there a third option? Is success an option? I guess we will find out together!

Change Is In The Air...

2010-09-01T17:40:00.000-04:00

Welcome to September! Stay tuned because things are about to get exciting...

Times Are Changing

2010-07-28T16:07:00.002-04:00

Hi guys! So, I have been thinking a lot lately and this blog is really not a reflection of where I am in my life right now. The name is all wrong, the style of writing is wrong, the information is outdated and well...it is just ALL wrong. I am going to take a brief break to figure out a new name, style, design and focus for the blog. Any thoughts or ideas that you have for me would be greatly appreciated. Until then, here are a few pictures to prove that although the blog has been on hold, my life is definitely moving forward full steam! I am having a wonderful summer and embracing all that life has to offer.

See you all soon...I promise!

Be Back Soon...

2010-07-12T14:18:00.004-04:00

I have a HUGE project at work and a deadline looming so I am going to be MIA for a little while. I promise to be back as soon as possible but I have to keep my priorities in line and right now all of my energy is being put into work. On the bright side, I am going to see Jack Johnson in Virginia Beach with my awesome sisters in just a few more days. I am so excited! Honestly, I think that the thought of a day at the beach, chill time with my favorite ladies and seeing Jack is going to be the only thing that gets me through the next few days. If I get a chance I will definitely pop in and say hi and catch you up on all of the interesting details of my life...until then my friends, keep living, loving and laughing!

Believe It Or Not

2010-07-09T12:36:00.002-04:00

Despite what this blog may lead you to believe, I have been working out this week. I actually was able to fit in a couple of really good sweat sessions and a couple of great runs. So here is a quick rundown...

Monday: I had this day off from work which was awesome. I totally took advantage of the opportunity and slept in. It was awesome! Once I was awake, I did 45 minutes of sprint intervals on the elliptical, 45 minutes of upper body weights, 20 minutes of core work and then went for a long, leisurely walk through my neighborhood. It was a nice chill sort of workout and I loved every second of it! This workout was followed by an afternoon spent at the pool with a great book...I love summer time!

Tuesday: I was up bright and early on Tuesday morning for a tempo run. I did a 10 mile tempo run that took me roughly 75 minutes. It was tough but fun in a twisted sort of way. After my tempo run, I went to a 60 minute boot camp class with Mel that focused on a LOT of cardio along with some weight training and core work. On Tuesday night I went to another 60 minute boot camp class that focused on circuit training. Basically, you do one move for two minutes and then switch it up...sounds easy but is FAR from it! It was a great workout and I was exhausted when it was all said and done.

Wednesday: This was another early morning for me and it started with a 30 minute easy run. I was planning on running longer but my hamstring was feeling really tight so I moved to the stepmill and busted out 60 minutes on that bad boy! I finished up my workout with 30 minutes of core work and 15 minutes of stretching.

Thursday: I warmed up on the treadmill with a 30 minute run and then did a quick 45 minute upper body workout. I also tested out my pull up skills again and I am happy to announce that I can complete 12 unassisted pull ups now! Woo hoo! After my weight workout, I left the gym and met Mel at the track for some speed work. We had an awesome run and it was a blast being out at the track with her. We did about 7 miles of intervals that varied in length from 200 meters to 800 meters. It was hot, it was humid and there were mud puddles all over the track but we totally dominated the intervals like the rock stars we are!

Friday: Back at the gym where I did 75 minutes of cross training on various equipment. I kept switching it up based on how my hamstring was feeling. That little sucker is determined to make my life miserable lately! After my cardio session, I did a pretty beast leg and plyometric workout and followed that up with 20 minutes of core work.

So there you have it in a nutshell. What did your workouts look like this week? I would love to hear how you got your endorphin fix.

You Must Try This!

2010-07-08T09:45:00.004-04:00

Here are my instructions on how to make a really great bowl of oatmeal.

First combine some juicy, fresh mango...

And some sweet cherries...

In a blender and allow them to process until they make a sweet, smooth mango cherry sauce.

Pour the sweet mango cherry sauce into a bowl and then add your oats...

Lots of cinnamon...

A tiny bit of molasses...

A sprinkle of coconut...

A few raw sunflower seeds...

And a few raw pepitas...

Add a little bit of water, milk, soy milk, juice or whatever other liquid you like to use in your oatmeal and then allow the mixture to cook in your microwave or on the stove top until it is goopy and yummy and everything a bowl of oats should be.

Mmm...really...you must try this!

Sitting...Wishing...Waiting...

2010-07-07T11:03:00.003-04:00

I have a lot of decisions to make...and by a lot, I mean more than I can handle. Blogging is not high on my list of priorities right now. I wish it was. I wish that I was excited about life and running and eating healthy and triathlons and everything else that used to make me smile. The truth is that none of that seems very important to me right now. I am having a really hard time getting inspired to write about things that seem so trivial right now. Maybe I am just stuck in a rut or maybe all of the stress of the past few months is finally catching up to me. I wish I knew. Really...I wish...