Run.Chew.Sparkle

The last two days have been tough for me to get some exercise in, life of course is getting in the way. On Thursday I planned to make it a rest day because I did 9 miles on Wednesday, so that was pre-planned. And as a fun rest day, I worked and then went to the Redskins vs. Bucs game with my love. He is a huge Redskins fan, he is fun the Maryland/DC area and Skinies are very near and dear to him. They don't play the Bucs, only once like every two years, and we went to one last year, when they were in town. So its still preseason and they were in town, so OF COURSE, we went. It was a great time. I am not a huge football fan, I prefer baseball, but it is slowly coming around to me. I love the excitement and passion my boyfriend gets from it, so I join right in. I planned my meals for the day, knowing we would be eating at the game. I planned I was going to have a hot dog with bun, 8pp. I made sure I ate one of my Questbars before the game, and brought to the game with me a ...

Today I am off from work and considering it is a day off and I work the rest of the week, I needed to get a long run in. Last Friday I did 8 miles, so I pushed it up to 9 miles today, I'll stay at this 9 mile long run training for about 3 weeks. It was sort of a tough one today. I haven't ran that long since April, and I know I only just did 8 four days ago, that extra mile sure does make a huge difference. I set my alarm for 5 am, but I ended up hitting snooze for a 1/2 hour more, I could barely see my phone at 5:00. Started the run at at 6:48 and took me 1:41:51 to complete the 9 miles.  Back in January, when I started to train hard for my first Half Marathon, I did 8.17 miles in 1:37, so what an improvement. I am extremely happy to see how far I have come with my running, and I say this time and time again, it is not about the pace for me, I do have a pace I would like to be in mind, but it is about getting out there and putting miles on my shoes which is more important...

A couple of call outs on these 4 pretty awesome products. The Weight Watchers one are new items at my Weight Watcher store location, a Sweet Hazelnut Latte mix and a Roasted Almond Sensation mini bar, 2pp each. The latte I am very excited about trying, thinking about mixing in with my coffee, or making a coffee smoothie out of it. The Planters Nutrition I have been wanting to try forever, but it was always so expensive and didn't see worth the price. It is very high in points for my liking, for 2 tablespoons it is 5pp. I plan on using 1 tablespoon which is only 3pp. And I am using int on my light bread tomorrow morning before my 9 mile run for some extra energy. The Fiber One 90 Calorie Lemon Bars are AHHHAMMZING!!! I love these bars. I picked them up because you get 38 of them for 6.00! Great deal. I seriously love Big Lots for reasons like this, I can find and try items without breaking the wallet and get things I love for the same scenario. If you don't have a weight watch...

Once again I had no clue what was going to happen at this weigh in today. I swear every week it is a hit or a miss, and well this week was a miss. I earned about 33 activity points this week and ate them all. It was attack of the snack monster this week. I was extremely snacky!!! I don't know where it came from or why, I was just very hungry all the time. And I go for the right items, apples, grapes, fruit, veggies, but man, sometimes I just want something else, so all my 2-3 point snacks were looking so good and my almonds were on point. I live up to my weight gain this week of 1.4. I know its silly, that isn't much of a gain, but you know what it is a still a gain and it takes a blow to the self-esteem at times, especially, when you know you work so hard. I have been up and down for what seems like forever now, my body will just not go beyond this 151 pound mark.  It wants to stay this way forever, BUT what my mind wants, isn't what my heart wants. And the heart alway...

My obsession with overnight oats continues to grow, I literally cant stop. They are pure genius and so easy, and work so well in my life. I love LOVE the fact in the morning I can take and extra 5 minutes or more to not have to cook breakfast, it is all ready for me. Granted I would sometimes just grab a yogurt, but this is so much more than yogurt and way more filling. PLUS, my creativity is in overdrive. I love the idea I can just throw a bunch of stuff into my Mason Jar and its done and over with. More will be coming for sure! Enjoy! Ingredients 1/4 cup of Old Fashioned Oats (uncooked) 2pp 1 Pineapple Greek Yogurt ( I got mine from Aldi, Chobani would work just fine) 4pp 1/2 of a medium Peach, cut into pieces-0pp 1/4 cup of Raspberries-0pp 1 tablespoon of Blue Diamond Unsweetened Almondmilk Vanilla-0pp 1 tablespoon Chia Seeds-1pp 1 tablespoon of Walden Farms Caramel syrup-0pp Directions Mix everything together in your tightly sealed jar, bowl, container. I have been...

This is one of my favorite running quotes of all time. And it stands so true in my life and I think in any one's life. When I am running a race, a half marathon, training or a fun run, it isn't about the race itself, its about me and what I am doing in my life this exact moment it is happening. Running puts such a clear perspective in my life, at the beginning of my run, I am running with my mind, clearing it, the second part of my run, miles 6-9 I am running with the beat, the music, the energy and the idea of it all, then the final miles, I am running with my heart, mind, body and soul. And at the end of the run, I have such a clear understanding of my time, run and life, and my life was made to run!! Put on your shoes, grab your water bottle and get out there and see how wonderful your life really is, or better yet, how wonderful your life could be and is on its way to being!!

I am sure if your on Pinterest you have seen the Philly Cheese steak healthy version, where you use a green pepper, deli roast beef and Swiss cheese. They look awesome and have heard from people who have tried they are even better than they look. See now the only problem is I really wanted to try that today, but I didn't have Swiss cheese, nor the roast beef. I only had this huge green pepper I bought the other day, with no idea what I was going to make it out of. I then remembered in my late night, first moving down here to Florida days, my boyfriend and I would get these amazing, Chicken Philly Sandwiches, from this adorable late night eats, Angie's Cafe. I know how perfect of a name hehe. Well they were too die for, so I figured, I will change the idea and make it with chicken. Ingredients 1 Large Green Pepper 2 wedges of Laughing Cow Light Creamy Swiss 3 oz of Fully Cooked Chicken Directions Cut the green pepper and half and lay it open. Take your chicken, I use...

To have a Saturday off it really is a gift. I love my job a whole lot, but I envy those that get to have Saturday's off, there is just something about having a weekend off. I have been lucky this weekend to have yesterday, today and tomorrow off. It is rare in retail to be able to have something like this, so its like a vacation for me. Yesterday was my long run day, followed by house cleaning, today was my gym morning and coupon shopping and ended with a perfect dinner and a movie with my love and tomorrow is a morning run and then being half lazy and doing laundry all day. Great weekend off, but next time I really need some beach time I think. Since I am off I get to wear color!! At work our dress code is black, white or gray, so when it is a day off I splash myself with some bright. Loving the combo today of my attire. And loving how my body is looking and feeling. Confidence is really showing through. Today I planned to use some coupons I had burning in my pocket and on...

When training for a half marathon I try really, really hard to stick to a plan from Runners World magazine, but with my schedule for work and demands, it is sometimes impossible for me to accomplish. But just because I cant follow theirs doesn't mean I cant make my own. My plan is to do at least 2 gym days, where I do a long cardio session with some weights on one and then the other time, just a lite walk on the treadmill and the remainder lifting weights, focusing on full body. The other 3 days, I run. One of the days is my long run, where right now I am up to 8 miles. The other two days are a 3-4 miler and at least a 4-5 miler. Now some weeks I can accomplish all of this and other weeks I can not, but I make sure that no matter what I dedicate my long run once a week. I will make the time for that one. Yesterday I put in my 8 miles. I haven't ran 8 miles since April when I did Iron Girl. I will do this 8 miles until the first week of September. The first 2-3 weeks of Sept...

If you live near an Aldi, stop everything and go to one now!! I am a big fan of the grocery chain.  They are very inexpensive, they have some named brand stuff, and carry this line called Fit & Active that has a lot of low calorie, fat free, reduced fat, Weight Watchers friendly products. A lot of the line mimics name brand items, just with their brand on it, and for practically half the price, you can not go wrong. Some things I have learned with Aldi is you will not always get the same item again. So if you love something be willing to wait it out and keep checking back in with them to see if it will pop up again. Or stock up the next day and different Aldi's will carry different items at times. Bring your own bags and boxes, they do not bag for you. To use a cart, bring a quarter, it holds the cart for you, its to keep the parking lots clear of carts, I do believe. They don't accept coupons and just check the produce when you purchase, just to make sure there aren'...

I saw on Instagram a post where you write 20 things about yourself and then tag someone or 20 other people to do the same. I thought it would be fun to do something like that on here, since I am sure a lot of my readers are people who I already know and probably know me pretty well, whom I love and adore for reading my blog, there might be people reading who know nothing about me. I tried to think of some 20 random things, but I am pretty much an open book, have always been, I don't mind telling my story, so a lot of these you might already know. But this is all fun and games and you get to know a little bit more about me!! 1. I love anything that sparkles, has glitter and is pink. 2. I am an only child and I never wanted my parents to give me a brother or sister. 3. Music and running are my therapy, even though I have no idea what a real therapist would do for me, I have never been. 4. Christmas is my favorite holiday!! I start before Thanksgiving and extend it to Valentine...

On Monday I had posted I wanted to write a post about motivational music and well as we know I overslept. And the rest of the week got away from me. I haven't been able to work out as much or run at all this week, my legs are little itching to run. I am excited to go to sleep so I can run in the morning, craziness I know. The weather has been crappy, work has been long, stressful and forever, but I am off this whole weekend, THE WHOLE WEEKEND!! WOOHOO! And I am dedicating my free time to running, working out, cleaning and pool, I would like to the say the beach but usually by the time I get there, it rains and I have to carry everything and pack back up. Oh and getting in lots of relaxation and naps! I love to nap. Okay now that I have gotten way off track, my run tomorrow I am hoping to do 8 miles. I haven't ran all this week yet, last time I got in a long mile was last Sunday, the 11th, when I did 7. So I am shooting for 7, but really pushing myself to 8! Running that lengt...

Travel day with work and since I had some major windshield time I of course think about nothing other than food. I knew we had chicken and I had some Fiber One, I know that sounds like the craziest combination ever, but in Hungry Girl land, Fiber One is a staple when wanting something that is fried. And I knew I wanted Chicken Parm of some sort. I had made this recipe before and it was so good and even easier and the bonus I had everything at all already, so no need to stop at the grocery store. Made the chicken parm and paired it with Knorr Tomato Parm Noodles and a side of Broccoli with Tomatoes. Chicken Parm was 7pp and the noodles were 4pp and the meal 100% delicious!! Even boyfriend approved. Here ya go... Disclaimer, this is not my recipe. I did not make it up or create it, it is from Hungry Girl and from her book, 300 Under 300 cookbook. Check out her website at  Hungry Girl !! This makes 2 servings. Ingredients 1/2 cup Fiber One Bran cereal 1 1/2 tsp Italian s...

I think besides the fact I am really loving these overnight oats, creating them and naming them are even more fun for me! I am being creative and finding different items to mix together to really make something delicious and then coming up with a cute catch name has been super fun. Haha. This mornings overnight oats are brought to you by cherries and chocolate, YUM!! One of my favorite candies of all time are those chocolates with the cherry and liquid inside, when you bite it, the liquid drips all out and the cherry has just that right amount of bite, and the chocolate is rich and creamy. Oh god how I love those candies, so my oats this morning were inspired by those liquid cherry gods!! Chocolate Cherry Cordial 1/4 cup of Old Fashioned Oats (uncooked)-2pp 1 container of Yoplait 100 Greek Black Cherry Yogurt-2pp 1 Tablespoon of Chocolate Whey Protein Powder-1pp 1 Teaspoon of Mini Semi Sweet Milk Chocolate Chips-1pp 6pp total Mix all ingredients together in jar, or bowl ...

Tuesday has come around yet again, which means my Weight Watchers meeting and weigh in day. I have to admit as much as I dread the scale sometimes, I love the idea of hoping on there and finding out how my week is. I mean when I first started I could sense if it was going to be a good week or a bad week, most of the time I was happy to see it go down, or said it to go up just a little bit, and at times just shocked, either I had a huge increase, like that bizarre 4 pounds I had a while back or when I got on once and lost 5 pounds and had no clue how it happened. Well today was one of those days! First before we all get excited thinking I lost 5 pounds, stop because that is not the case, haha, I truly wish. But when I got to WW today I really had no clue what direction this weigh in was going to be going. I had a decent week, it was sort of a weird week for me. I have been going non stop with work, no days off and longer hours, so my life has been a little crazy. I have been trying to...

This morning I planned I was going to get up and get going. I was going to cook a really great breakfast, well it was going to be a waffle with some turkey sausage, sit down with coffee and write a great blog post about Monday motivation and the impact of music. Well, as you can see the time stamp it is now 10:43 pm and I am now just getting to my computer. I overslept this morning, I just kept hitting that glorious snooze button, actually it was more me just resetting the time over and over. By the time I finally got up, I had to kick it into overdrive and get ready for work. I didn't even get to sit down and enjoy my breakfast. I cooked a bagel and spread it with some Earth Balance Peanut Coconut Spread and grabbed my coffee to go. Why is is some morning I get up with such gazelle intensity and others I can barely make it out of the bed without throwing myself off the bed onto the floor to wake up. So my whole Motivational Monday, wasn't very motivational. But regard...

As I have stated most likely before I have a slight new found love for subscription boxes, I think they are pure genius and tons of fun. I love seeing those little boxes sitting outside my door when I get home, I get all giddy and childlike. I literally bust through the door and unwrap and tear open those boxes like I am a kid on Christmas morning, which by the way, is the exact same way I am on Christmas morning, what can I say I love presents. And what better present then a box full of awesome new food to try! Bonus!!! On Facebook there was a deal with Love With Food box, sign up and get your first box free, or just try the box for free. I figured why the heck not. I wasn't ready to spend another 10.00 a month, if I wasn't sure what it was. The reviews looked good and the website showed some pretty awesome products they have done in the past, so I signed up. The neat thing I thought was it said, will this be just one time thing, cancel after you receive your first box o...

Not sure what it is lately but I have been wanting macaroni and cheese! On my Instagram a girl posted a picture of a box of Annie's Macaroni and Cheese and mixing it with a 1/2 cup of Greek Yogurt, rather than using milk and butter. I thought that was pure genius!! And I cant wait to try it, but tonight I really wanted macaroni and cheese after work, I just didn't want to go and pick up a box. So I racked my brain how I was going to make this work, then it hit me. I had read in an old Hungry Girl book or email that mixing Green Giant Just For One Broccoli and Cheese Tray with whole grain elbow pasta makes for a great low calorie and low point mac and cheese. I was stoked because I had everything at home already! So I cooked up some Barilla Whole Grain Elbow macaroni. Measured out 7 oz, about 1 1/2 cups (7pp) then I cooked the broccoli and cheese tray. I mixed the broccoli and cheese tray into my pasta and then I tossed in a Weight Watchers Jalapeno Cheese wedge ( you c...

Well I am doing it again and can not wait. I signed up 2 weeks ago for my 4 half marathon. Hold on, lets just sit back and reflect on that sentence there for a minute, MY FOURTH HALF MARATHON!! AHHH!!! WOOHOO!!! It still amazes me that I have found the courage, strength and determination to run these races, I mean 13.1 miles is a lot of miles, but god do I love it. So the Women's Running Series is coming to town in November, November 24 to be exact. And a little FYI Women's Running is an awesome magazine, geared towards women and running, umm pretty fantastic. I get a lot of my tips and tricks from the magazine and the cover is usually a pretty radtastic lady, giving great tips of on running, health and life. Pick up a magazine and subscribe.  Anywho, I signed up and got a pretty great deal from it. When I signed up they offered 10.00 off the price AND a 25.00 gift card to Fit2Run, which happens to be my go to store for my running shoes and other running goodies. Well I...