I’m a horrible blogger

Ahem.  Who’s been busy?  Raise your hand!  Who’s NOT busy?  Says no one ever never.  That’s not why this blog is horrible.  It’s horrible because there are no pictures, no recipe.  You really need to make the White Chicken Chili I mention….there will be pictures and a recipe.  Pinky promise.  Oh hey, I could throw in a couple of pictures that have made me chuckle…that I stole from somewhere.  Let’s do that and call it good for now. FOUND THE LINK TO THE White Chicken Chili.  It is AMAZING.  I SWAR.  See?!!  I’m only a little horrible now.
PS All pictures stolen from the wide web of the world.  And if you don’t understand the whole ermagerd thing, then you’re just not living with a teenager silly.
I just wasted about five minutes of my life trying to figure out how to add a folder to my gallery on my phone.  I have a habit of taking pictures of recipes I want to try.  And I wanted to separate the recipes out from the other stupid pictures I take.  Can’t do it.  Bummer.  I wonder if there’s an app for that?
Life has been whizzing by.  I’ve successfully finished painting the piece of furniture I picked up on the side of the road for $20 when the price tag said $25 but the dude didn’t want all of my scrounged change writers desk that is in our kitchen and a chest that was at the foot of my bed. Maybe you want to see pictures?

Not my desk.

I’m itching to paint my desk and filing cabinet now but did I mention a baby quilt that I need to get finished?  I tried to finish the baby quilt last weekend, but our one and only fabric store is moving to a bigger location and instead of moving the inventory they are selling it at ridiculous prices.  I did not have patience to wade through the bargain shoppers that were in line to score 90% off.  I also don’t do Black Friday sales.  Tells you something about my patience levels.
The other thing that drove me crazy last weekend?  I had a gift card to Dutch Bros.  I had no energy.  I think, great!  I will try one of the Red Bull infused drinks.  It was free coffee day, everyone in town that was not at the fabric store was in line and causing traffic jams for a stupid free coffee at Dutch Bros.
Running…I’m doing it.  Tapering, so far, has not been too nasty.  I haven’t decreased my mid-week runs…just the long runs are getting shorter.  I just ran my last long run of 11 miles.  Sunday is the big day.  I run slower that most people and I run faster than most people.  There, I covered both groups of people. I’d love to run #3 in less than 5 hours…so anything with a four in front of it will have me on cloud 9.  The time to beat from last year is 5:22ish.  First year was 6:05ish.  See? I improve.  I will just slightly kill myself to run it in less than 5 hours.  Slightly.
KT tape…in pink.  Just use it!  I taped up my right calf on Sunday using the “calf strain” instructions.  Guess which calf hurt and which didn’t after the run?  You can bet I will be taping both calves on Sunday!  I don’t know how that stuff works, but I’m a believer.  I guess it’s something new call science?

Not me doing yergah.

Over the weekend, I went all Betty Crocker.  I made White Chicken Chili…which is always amazing.  I have a precooked pizza crust made in the bread machine raring to go on Wednesday night, and I made two batches of apple crisp.  Not a fan as I did something wrong.  It tastes good, but it doesn’t look right.  I’m thinking the butter wasn’t cold enough when I cut it in for the topping?
That’s pretty much it.  I laughed because I came to work to relax.  The weekends have been really busy and I’m trying to squeeze in as much as possible before the weather turns me into a shut in.  I like the snow, I really do.  I like being inside with something warm to drink and candles glowing all around.  I’m going to like it a lot more now that I have a treadmill.  I should put candles around my treadmill.
Ooohh…must create a playlist for the marathon.  Kind of cutting it close.

20 Mile Fun Run

Wowzers, what a weekend!  Mind you, I wouldn’t say wowzers unless I was making fun of you and/or being sarcastic, which I am never, but this really was one of those weekends.  Just very busy and productive, with nothing too fancy going on.  It started with a girls’ night on Friday playing with makeup.  Saturday morning I tried to sleep in since we switched our long run to Sunday….so I could catch up on my sleep.  But 7:30am just doesn’t seem like sleeping in much…especially when you wake up with a headache.  Coffeeeeeee.  I’m calling for youuuuuuu.  To take my mind off my headache, I decided to reorganize some cupboards in my kitchen.  Talk about feeling proud!  We should take bets to see how long they stay that way.  Anyone want to take a week?  One month? Uh, three days?
Next up was to paint my writer’s desk, aka the “kitchen catch-all.”  I’m soo SO SOOOOO excited to show you the finished piece but I have some finishing touches to, well, finish up.  Hopefully I’ll get to reveal it later this week.  For now, please note that I am absolutely in LOVE with glaze.  And also, the below conversation I had with two different family members, two different times….I wanted to punch them.
Them, “Are you going to leave it white?”
Me, “It’s not white, it’s “Antique Beige”.  The primer was white, this is cream colored PEOPLE!!!”

That pretty much sums it up!

Maybe I’m a little high strung, but it’s irritating to spend a lot of time on something and have someone breeze through and tell you you’ve done nothing.  Yes, that’s pretty much what it felt like.
I also did the requisite laundry, and dropping and picking up of kiddos at various locations….fell asleep during the rented “What to expect” movie…shocking.  Watch a movie in just one evening?  Nooo, I’m old.  Let’s spread it out over the month.  I can stay awake at a movie theater, most of the time, but watch a movie at home with both eyes open through the whole thing?  Not a chance!
Sunday morning was fun run day.  We switched it up to Sunday to give me one more day of rest since I was going to need it for a 20 miler.  Whelp, The fun run ended up being only 19 miles.  Considering that not too many people “only just run” 19 miles on a Sunday morning, I will be proud.  Still kinda kicking myself that I didn’t go the full 20.  Again, I gave up and said, “Screw it!”  I don’t know what’s gotten into me except that maybe I’m tired?
Lastly…since I have no pictures for you….I stumbled across this picture last night and I nearly laughed for a minute straight each time I looked at it….which was roughly 32 times.

My calf is/was trying to kill me.

I’m trying not to fret.  If you’ve read any of my panic attack on Facebook, then you know that I have a really bad cramp in my calf.  I refuse to believe it’s anything worse and I’m just being a big baby about it.  We’ll see if the sports doc says anything different on Thursday. I’m a little worried that he will agree I’m being a big baby AND he’ll tell me I can’t run the marathon on October 7th.  He’s not going to tell me that though.  He can’t!  It doesn’t hurt that bad so it can’t be that bad.  Don’t anyone tell me otherwise or I will stop talking to you until I’ve come to grip with whatever this is.  All in all, I’m praying that I’m going to go to the doc, get to pay a hefty little co pay, get told I’m a big baby, and maybe they will through in a little ice massage?  I would be perfectly happy with that.
Wednesday morning update…the calf is feeling much better and I haven’t run since Sunday.  I could at least ride my spin bike but this 8 hour of sleep thing is pretty chill.  I have an appointment tomorrow just to rule out that I’m a go-getter and a major workhorse.

Nature versus Hulu

I took my kiddos to school this morning and on the way back home to finish getting ready, I got a free car wash from the neighbors wonky sprinkler.  It reminded me how much I’ve enjoyed running on my treadmill.  I’m looking forward to the snow this year and how I won’t be able to use at as an excuse to not drive to the gym in the mornings.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.  I’m a runner that loves her perfect conditions.  I will run in ONE of the below conditions, but if you combine it with another one from the same category, I will whine like a baby.

Weather Conditions that make me a weenie tot:

Rain

Freezing cold

Snow

Wind

Dark

Heat

Humidity

Other things you don’t have to deal with when running on a treadmill at home:

Getting stopped dead in your tracks by a skunk

Looking like a cave explorer while wearing a headlamp

Having rain/sprinkler mist float into your line of eyesight, while wearing your headlamp, and making you temporarily blind.

Getting a free shower from a sprinkler that has a mind of it’s own.

Getting scared out of your wits when another runner or biker sneaks up on you all stealth mode like and says something sinister like, “Good Morning!”

Looking like you're working the chain gang, or are at the very least, a flagger because of your neon safety vest you’re sporting.

Dogs barking and the fear of getting chased or bitten or dead.

Cars passing and the fear of getting run over or kidnapped

Competing with the garbage truck on garbage day.

Running past wet, soggy, and/or hot garbage.

I could keep going and going…….

Needless to say, I’m pretty much enjoying running on my treadmill, cutting out the traveling time to the gym, and staying away from all those sunrises?  I mean, who wouldn’t prefer educational TV like the Bachelor Pad versus a sunrise in the morning.  Come on people!  Haha, I’m only kind of kidding.

Arial shot of my little set up.  I have a fan in the treadmill – it’s noisy – a small fan for my face.  My coffee cup…yeah, sometimes I take coffee breaks while running.  My laptop with the Hulu for the trash tv.  My water bottle.  And my daughter doesn’t know that her Carmex has to stay here now.  Very handy!

Glow sticks and cupcakes

I’m sure you’ve been wondering what I’ve been up to since Saturday.  You haven’t?  Then let me tell you!

On the home improvement front:

• I changed the plastic strip thingy on the bottom of our shower door so the water would stop leaking out onto the floor.  I did it all by myself!  I was a little frantic that my hubs would get home while I was in the middle of the project and say something to the extent of, “What in GOD’S name are you DOING?!?!”  But he didn’t.  And I don’t even think I told him that I didn’t it.  I’m that smug and secretive about my projects.  Or he just doesn’t really care. lol!
• I also splurged and spent a whopping $5.74 and changed out the toilet seat in my kid’s bathroom.  Come to think of it, the hubs was aware I was doing something, but he didn’t come and investigate.  I think he pretends to not notice so he doesn’t get roped into my projects.  Smart guy!
• I have in my hot little hands the paint for the writer’s desk that I’m refinishing.  Finally, after a long drawn out week of not finding the exact paint/brand even at a store 180 miles away….I just decided to quit trying to be perfect about it and made my purchase at the good ole’ Depot of Home things.

The before…kinda nasty eh?

• I used florescent spray paint, in PINK, to paint a lamp.  It’s very PINK and awesome!
• I really don’t know what has gotten into me.  I think it’s September and school starting.  It’s a fresh start for all of us.  One more has left the nest, all the kiddos now have their own room, and I’m taking charge and making sure the toilets are clean.  Wheeee!

Switching gears and just a few more things of random interest to absolutely no one, I’m sure:

• Saturday was date night.  Awesome sushi rolls.  We go to the place in the town where the Sushi is made by honest to goodness Japanese sushi chef.  They would probably not be impressed with my ninja cake.
• We also saw the movie “Lawless”.  I really enjoyed it.  There’s not much to not enjoy about Tom Hardy though.
• My Oogieloves glowstick for just in case you got scared during the previews…which I did…”Sinister” ?? Oh HECK no!  Yup, they were giving them away for free.  Want a free glowstick? “No!”, said no one.  Ever. ha!

• And lastly, I will share with you one of my current obsessions…the margarita lime cupcake from Crave….the most dangerous little cupcake store a few doors down from where I work.  I’ve limited myself to one a week.  I think I might need to cut down to just one a month…how about two a month?  That sounds better.  These things are the best!  They make me soooo so happy.  Don’t tell anyone that I hide it under my desk and sneak bites when no one is around. And really don’t tell anyone that the plate and fork from last Friday’s cupcake is still under my desk.  I’m as bad has my kids.

  I’m constantly thrilled at my picture taking skills!

What have you spray painted lately?

Have you seen Lawless yet?  You should!

It looked like poop during a couple of different phases.

Today’s run was supposed to be 19 miles.  I had a mini breakdown around mile 2 from all the little stressors that have been bubbling up.  See?! Running is a great stress reliever and it comes out whether or not you want it too. haha!  So the weather was good and didn’t get as toasty as quickly as the weather dude said it would be.  The bugs weren’t too bad either and we stayed away from the canal for the most part.  What ended up getting me in the end was the lack of sleep.  (Hey self, please stop staying up until 10pm and waking up at 4am.)  Instead of running back to the van with the hubs to get in 15 miles, I took a short cut home and quit at 13.  I quit the run.  Not a first for me yet I was still pretty mad at myself.  Mheh.  At least I got in 13 right?  One more long run next weekend and then it’s TAPER TIME!  Cool fact that only my hubs and I find interesting…my longest long run last year was 18 miles which was run a year ago from next week.  It was run 10 minutes slower than our 18 mile run that we ran last week. (Wondering how many times I could say the word run in one sentence.) See?!  I’ve made improvement!  Something else I improved?  The Ninja cake!!

My friend and coworker, Heather, posted this on facebook the other night for me.  It just so happened that I was eating my very first ninja cake when I viewed this. I really don’t know why I’ve started calling it the ninja cake other than it’s rather sneaky and genius in that it has spinach in it.  I guess that is indeed a very good reason to call it a ninja cake.

So I improved on it, I mentioned….mmmhmm!  I added some PB2 and some dark chocolate chunks.  I was literally on cloud 9 and there were definitely angels singing.  I kid you not!  See, look….I took pictures.  Not of the angels, but of the cake in progress.  I also threw in an iced coffee made with my beloved Peet’s coffee.  I sweetened it with dark chocolate Stevia, cuz I’m bad a…awesome like that.

 

The ingredient line up….minus the baking powder and PB2 Powder.  My pumpkin there is defrosting in a bowl of hot water because I buy the big cans and portion them out into 1/2 cup servings and freeze.  Smart….some would even call me a moron genius.Another genius move of mine was to use my dinkus Cuisinart mixer thing versus the big blender. Much easier to use and clean up…until the blade dumped into the mug.Poop phase number one….or I mean 2.1 bwaahhaaahaa! Phase 2.2 The final 2.3 turd And sheer awesomeness ninja cake!!!  It has fiber pumpkin and fiber spinach in it so there’s a reason that it looks like it does,

*wink wink*

The time I left my phone at home and then ate a chocolate cake made of pumpkin and spinach…..

I left my phone at home today and nearly hyperventilated.  I contemplated turning around and making an illegal up-turn, but I would have been late for work.  I do have some sense of responsibility.  Then I told myself I was a big girl and didn’t need my phone.  The fame could reach me at work if there was an emergency….alas, I only made it to lunch.  Waste of gas…there went my sense of responsibility.  Heck though, I made it until lunch.  Something to celebrate!!!  Nationwide is on your siiiiiiidddeeeee.  (Just a little ditty to worm it’s way into your brain.  I’ve been singing it the last two days.)

I’d really  like to know your thoughts on school busses that aren’t yellow.  They look a little creepy to me.  Like they are up to no good.  Except there’s a bank in town that has a school bus that is painted pink, and looks like a pig.  The only thing that bus is up to is Fun with a capital F.
The real point of this blog is to share with you what is quickly going to be my new obsession.  Cake in the microwave…and it’s healthyish! 

I followed this recipe and substituted one egg and two egg whites for the egg substitute.  I used coconut flour instead of whole wheat flour, added three tablespoons of oats, and I used coconut sugar as my sweetener.  Then I topped it with some Trader Joe’s Cookie Butter.  

I should have smothered it and will definitely do so later tomorrow night.  The real success is that I tackled my husband to the ground and made him take a bite.  I had mistakenly let him see that there was spinach in it.  He also despises pumpkin as well.  To quote him, “That’s not bad.”
Ooooh my goodness, I thought it was amazing for being a somewhat healthy dessert.  If I really wanted to live it up, I could add some dark chocolate bits.  Ooooh here comes a wild evening later….geesh, I mean tomorrow night.

PS I refrained from making the title even longer.  You are welcome.