Running for Lemons Virtual Race - For Tina

Well, my first virtual race is done for the month of August.  Lots to come!  Let me tell you a little about this one because it was very important that I ran this race for the cause...

The Running for Lemons Virtual Race benefits Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF).  Haven't heard of it?  Well, here is the url: http://www.alexslemonade.org/.  Childhood cancer is something I was exposed to at a very young age.  My little friend Tina in Kindergarten had Leukemia.  It was a long time ago, and because of my age I didn't ask a lot of questions, but I did know that Tina had it rough.  She missed a lot of school, was in pain when she did make it, and was so tiny and frail (besides her swollen belly).  But that isn't what I remember the most about Tina.  What I do remember is our time spent together each day during  quiet time.  We would get out our mats (usually she needed help carrying hers), lie them on the floor, and relax for a short period.  I felt like this time for her was so crucial because of her condition, and so I wanted to make sure she got the most out of it.  I remember her enjoying lying there after a busy morning.  So each day when she was there for quiet time, I made sure that she got her shoes off and put back on.  She had an awful time getting to those tiny shoes because of her condition.  I remember thinking to myself that it was the least I could do for my friend - a little girl my age that was fighting for her life.  Tina passed not long after that, but she will never be forgotten.  In that short time I was blessed with Tina's friendship, I knew that she appreciated my help.  She was my friend.  Even at that young age, Tina meant so much to me.  I loved her dearly.

So this race was for you Tina, and all the other little ones right now that are fighting for their lives too.  I completed my 6.2 miles and even PR'ed it for you!  I hope you are looking down and smiling.  I can't wait to see you in perfect form some day...maybe running is something you may have enjoyed, and we can do it together!

Need a Little More Persuasion?

Need a little more persuasion to run with me virtually in Jost Running's Home Run Series??  Check this out:

Come on!  You know you want to run it!!!  And you did see the bling, right?  :-)

Exciting News!!! Jost Running

In my last post,I provided information on different virtual races that I will be doing in the next few months to provide me with the motivation (ahem, bling) to get me to race day at Walt Disney World...but I also wanted to find a way that I could do so and give back.

I am happy to announce that I was selected to evaluate a virtual racing company for the next few months, Jost Running (www.jostrunning.com).  They are a mother and daughter team, Cynthia and her daughter Courtney, who wanted to provide a way for runners to "race" without the economic burden of destination races.  As Courtney says, "I love to compete against other runners, and I love getting medals for it, but don't have the time or the money to be constantly traveling to run."  She adds, "Running is a sport that can be played anywhere, so sometimes I feel ridiculous when I take a plane, a train, and a car to run 13 miles when I am completely capable of doing that distance in my own neighborhood."  Makes sense, doesn't it!!  

Jost Running is launching its inaugural monthly virtual races this August by partnering with the ALS Association to raise money for the charity.  In celebration of the end of summer and recognizing Lou Gehrig, the baseball player that put ALS on the map, August runs will be themed for his sport.  The "Home Run" race series consists of a 5K, 10K, Half, and Full Marathon, each to be completed, at a time and location chosen by the individual, within their designated seven day race week.  I have chosen to run the 10K and the Half.

Here is my 10K bib:

Here is my finisher's medal (also provided in last post):

I am really excited to be partnering up with this great company, and I recommend that you seriously consider registering for this series - different medals for Half and Marathon too!!  :-)

You can find them on Face Book as well: 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/JostRunning/117035428500224?id=117035428500224&sk=photos_stream

You Don't Have to Travel to Bring in the Bling!

A few friends have asked how I stay focused on training when races seem so far off and training/races in AZ during the summer absolutely stink!!!  Well, I have found there are a LOT of races that you can do virtually that are fun, are for great causes, and give you great bling!  Now a few of the friends joked that "virtually" just means in your head - nope!  You have to actually move your feet!!  :-)  I will dedicate this post to some of the races I have joined and some others that I have heard about...hopefully you can join in on the fun!

The first virtual series that I just love is called The Home Run Series.  You can choose distances of 5K, 10K, half marathon or marathon and you must complete your distances in the month of August.  There are two different medals:

You are awarded this medal for the 5K and 10K distances

(I chose 10K)

You are awarded this medal for the half and full distances

(I chose half)

Jost Running (jostrunning.com) is the creators of this series.  They do one each month.  They believe in getting people together without the obstacles of finance and distance:

Now there are other virtual races that are put on to help INDIVIDUALS with their charity requirements for certain races.  I am doing Running for Lemons virtually as well in the month of August:

The Running for Lemons Virtual Run is a fundraising run/walk to benefit Alex's Lemonade Stand (https://www.facebook.com/alexslemonade) which is a foundation to help support childhood cancer (um, what better cause!!!) You can choose 5K or 10K.  Of course, I chose 10K.  :-)

Now, these are a few that I have heard about but have not signed up for (yet...):

To support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society by "A Little Goofy" - Until August 15th.  Sign up and run, swim, bike, or walk 3.93 miles (the actual Disney Goofy Challenge is a full and 1/2 marathon that equals 39.3 miles) - http://www.wendysrunforlls.com/Virtual_Registration.html

Virtual run for the charity group Give Kids The World - nonprofit resort in Kissimmee Florida for children with life-threatening illness and their families - is now open.  Register until August 31 or when they sell out (they are close!).  Race distances offered are 5K, Half Marathon and Beastly Challenge (both 5K and half).  If you do the Beastly Challenge, you will get the 5K and the Half Marathon medals, plus a special 3rd medal.

https://www.facebook.com/events/391500024301034/

Now, these just a few that I have mentioned - there are a LOT!  You can google most of the races, but I also recommend that you get onto a FaceBook running group.  They will mention a lot and their individual runners will post their fundraising efforts - and who doesn't love bling, so they usually include some sort of medal.

Hope this has helped.  Shoot me a post or email if you have any questions or are having a hard time finding virtual races.  My philosophy (and many of my running friends) is that if you are putting in the miles to train for your next race how much more fun is it to get a medal in the mail for your effort!

HAPPY RUNNING!!

Dehydrating Fun & Flaxseed Crackers Recipe

So our first recipes in the dehydrator have turned out great!  Though it takes up some space on the kitchen counter, I am so happy we made the decision to add this contraption.  :-)  We went with the Excalibur 3900...here is what it looks like:

Our decision was based on the reviews that it received on Amazon.com and other review web sites.  Thus far, we are pretty pleased with its performance.  In addition to the machine, we purchased the Teflex sheets.  They are reusable, so buy one pack and see how quickly you need more (to save on costs).

The first items we made were banana chips and sweet potato chips.  both turned out good, but we need a little work on them (flavor was spot on, but I would like them a little crisper).  Once we get the recipes just right, we will share!

The flaxseed crackers turned out amazing!!  These will be a staple in our pantry.  Very full of flavor and super duper easy to make!  A few have asked for the recipe, so here it is.  The recipe came from Alissa Cohen's "Living on Live Food."  Her comment on this recipe:  "The basic cracker:  I love these!  They are simple, yet tasty and great for dipping or topping with avocado, tomato and onion.  After you make these once, you can vary the amounts of garlic and ginger and lemon to suit your taste."

Flaxseeds supply an essential fatty acid (ALA).  ALA is converted by the body into the type of omega 3 fatty acids found in many fish.  The richest sources of lignins, which provide fiber, flaxseeds prevent constipation...

2 cups whole flax seeds (soaked in 2 cups water for 4 hours or overnight)

2 cloves garlic

1/2 lemon, juiced

2 Tablespoons Bragg Liquid Aminos (We used coconut aminos)

1 Tablespoon fresh ginger

1. Place all ingredients in a food processor and blend until well combined, and until the garlic and ginger are completely ground.
2. Remove from processor and place on a Teflex sheet on top of a mesh dehydrator screen.  Spread batter into a thin sheet about 1/8 inch thick (or less...I like to make these very thin:  the 'goopy' substance from the flax seeds holds these crackers together even if they have holes.)
3. Dehydrate at 105 degrees for 10-16 hours, depending on degree of crispness desired.  Flip crackers and peel off Teflex sheet after 7-8 hours.
   
   Note:  When you place whole flax seeds in the food processor with the other ingredients, the flax seeds will stay whole.  This is suggested just to grind the other ingredients and to blend the flaxseeds into the mixture.

Please remember that if you are focusing on a raw diet, you must keep the dehydrator under 112 degrees.  Anything above that will "cook" your food...not making it raw (alive) any longer.

 This is what one sheet of the crackers looked like after they were dehydrated.  The recipe yields two sheets.  Sorry, I should have taken a picture of them before we put them into the machine.  I will with our next batch and update this entry with the pic.

  

Homemade guacamole and flaxseed chips were dinner for tonight - YUM!!

Currently we have blueberry bread in the machine.  I will update you with all the pictures and a recipe when it comes out.  

All for now!

Words to Live By

Flying Again

It has been a really good start to the month.  I am back on track with my running and work has been buzzing along pretty smoothly.

Last week, after I picked up the house in preparation for the cleaning lady to get there, I thought to myself, "I really miss my old cleaning lady.  She did such a better job!" So, with that, I let my cleaning lady go, and I hired my old cleaning lady - me!  :-)  The first thing I did was scrub my kitchen floor.  I was so disgusted by what I saw in my bucket after I got done that I continued to clean the living room and entrance way floors as well.  Wow!  Did I feel amazing after that!!

Many of you that know me know that I had incorporated FlyLady into my life when I lived back in Troy.  When I first moved out here, I didn't use FlyLady, but I really didn't even have time to think for myself because of trying to survive work and school (hence the hiring of the cleaning lady).  Well, I am back at it full steam, and I can't even tell you how much my life has already changed since I started back at it.  I love her daily routines, her zone cleaning, and her tools.  She is a God sent!!  My house looks, feels, and smells clean again...plus, my house is getting cleaned deeper than it has in a very long, long time.  If you have never heard of FlyLady, I strongly encourage you to try it out, go to FlyLady.net.  Even if you can't do it all, she teaches to jump in where you are, babysteps, progress not perfection!  I am excited to see how the system will work once the kids get here.  The kids, though, are so helpful.  I hardly ever have to ask them twice to do anything.  Their rooms are usually quite tidy, and the "family areas," as we call them, are always spotless.  We have an agreement in our house that I respect their areas (their rooms) if they respect the other parts of the home...so I don't really harp on them too much about how messy their rooms are.  Well, except for the clothes.  They know that is the only real thing that gets me in a tizzy, LOL.  But I have come up with a system for keeping that at bay as well, so all is really good.

Matt and I have been making some great progress on our eating journey.  We bought a dehydrator this past week and are now experimenting with "living on live food."  Currently, we are in the process of making sweet potato chips, banana chips and bread...all raw.  We are juicing  2 to 3 times a day now, and have almost removed the animal protein from our diet.  I am feeling really really good.  I know that we have a long way to go, but knowing my husband and how diligent he has become with this food regimen, we will be on a very steady course soon.   

On that note, love one another.  God is Love...and that is exactly what he wants us to be.

Good night friends.

Registered for Walt Disney World Marathon!

Well, I know that I said I just didn't know if a marathon was right for me any longer after I broke my foot, but I think it was because no marathon was going to be good enough...except the one I didn't finish - or rather didn't start.  And that is when I dug down deep inside me last night and pulled out the raw feelings and emotions of how I truly felt about not completing that race, and Matt and I talked.  He paused for about 15 seconds after I told him my thoughts and said, "Let's do it!  I am going to do it with you!"  I sat there and cried!  It is what I have wanted, but I knew that Matt wasn't totally sold on going back to Florida and I really didn't have anyone that would do it with me, so I just buried the feelings.  When he was so open and supportive last night, I knew that this is it.  This is the race I am supposed to do.  :-)

Today is 4th of July and we are going to just chill during the day and then go and see the fireworks out on Tempe Town Lake with the SUPs.  It should be a really fun day...I get my husband an extra day this week!  

Happy Independence Day everyone!!

Ahhhh Summer!

So summer is going so awesome!  The kids have been here for a week now and everything is down to a really nice schedule.  They have finally gotten used to the time zone and we are not falling asleep at 7 and waking up at 5!  :-)

The first weekend (well, it technically was only Sunday) we just hung around the house and had some much needed R&R.  The kids are still loving the pool and we are still having our nightly summer swim-offs.

The basketball hoop that Santa brought the kids is getting a lot of use.  Tyler is getting a little tall for the current height, but it is just right for Melissa, so I think we will leave it the way it is, at least for now.  We are getting pretty good at finding the best sunscreen for water too.  Thus far, Neutrogena Sunscreen - Beach Defense is the best...and we are using it for paddling now which pushes any sunscreen to the "stay-on" limits!

My running took a back seat just a little this week...I have only ran 6.2 thus far.  However, I do plan on getting to the gym tonight.  My goal will stay at 20 miles weekly until June 30th, and then it will go up to 25.  September is coming up on us quickly, and I need to start training now.  Goooooo feet!!  :-)

We SUP'ed 4 miles last week...definitely not enough for this girl.  We are heading out to Canyon Lake tomorrow so the kids can try it (they are going to love it!) and then I have a New Moon Paddle on Sunday night so there will be more paddling which makes me happy.  I love my new sport!

National Running Day

Don't forget that today is...

so get out there and RUN!!!

Setting Down into the "New Normal"

So, I am not going to bore everyone with lots and lots of words.  I just want to give some highlights of the last few months.  I have been very very busy with graduation and trying to get my life back in order since I finished school...

Graduation - It has been the highlight of my life thus far (next to marrying Matt).  I am so glad to have my undergrad completed because I can now move onto bigger and better things.  Masters??  Maybe, but give me a bit of time to have some fun first.  :-)

The family came out to see me, and we had such an amazing time in and around Phoenix.  Here is one pic at Goldfield Ghost Town...one of Melissa, Tyler and my favorites.

In front of the Superstition Mountains

I love my family with all my heart, and I am so SO glad that they were here to celebrate this very special milestone in my life.  It meant the world to me.

Running - I am back at it!!  My foot feels great and I am putting an average of 18 miles on my feet a week.  Usually longer runs because I enjoy them much more than the smaller runs.  I have a half in September and a half in October thus far.  I am still looking for that special marathon that I want to run, but haven't really found one that I want to give my heart and soul to training yet.  Disney was very special to me.  Maybe I will wait for 2015 to run it.  I guess we will see.  Right now, I just love getting out there and seeing what my body will let me do.

Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP'ing) - Yep, I have taken on a new passion...and have dragged Matt with me. :-)  We have met a really great group out here in AZ that we have been meeting up with on the water, and having a ball!  I have finally found something that gets me back to my love of the water out here in AZ...and it is one hell of a workout!

Me on Tempe Town Lake

Matt before he got his board on the Salt River

Our boards

Much much more to come soon!  I have started cooking us to a healthy lifestyle, of which I would love to share recipes, and things are just getting started for the summer.  Hope you will stay with me...

xoxo

Livvie

Supplements Ordered

I wanted to share with everyone the supplements that I will be taking during my detox.  These were all recommended in the book, but I did do research on my own to ensure my health and safety.  I ordered all online from:

Sonne's No. 7 Detoxification
This organic liquid supplement has the active absorbent ingredient of colloidal (liquid) bentonite.  Used along with psyllium, this mixture naturally cleanses the digestive system and detoxes the colon.  I have purchased the psyllium and will be taking that as well.  Reading through many reviews, there are some people that can not take the two together.  However, there are positive effects of doing so because the two react to each other when ingested.  I will try to take them together at first, and if it doesn't work, I will separate, taking one in the AM and taking the other in the PM.

Nature's Way Activated Charcoal
At first thought, you'd think, "How can charcoal be good for you because it is a carcinogen?"  Well, this form is not charcoal per say.  It is an activated charcoal USP, a pure wood charcoal carbon that has no carcinogenic properties.    Its unique make-up absorbs large amounts of chemicals and poisons in your body.  One teaspoon of it has a surface area of more than 10,000 square feet!  It can absorb almost 100 times its weight in toxins, bacteria, chemicals, and unwanted yuck that seep into your body each day.  I am sure you have heard of individuals that have been rushed to the hospital with alcohol poisoning that are given a charcoal treatment?  This is the same idea only in much smaller dosage.

Vitamin Shoppe Apple Pectin
This supplement is also effective at removing contaminants from the body such as metals through a process called chelation.

Garden of Life Raw Probiotic
With all the detoxing, I need to ensure I am keeping my good bacteria up.  Good bacteria help with digestion (the one thing I am having difficulty with) and with fighting harmful bacteria.  This specific product was recommended by Cherie Calbom herself, the author of the book.  I emailed her because I was unsure of what product to purchase.  She responded to me right away.  I was really really impressed.

Flaxseed
The last product I will be incorporating into my diet is flaxseed.  Flaxseed has gotten a good reputation because of the following ingredients:

Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids:  The "good" fats found to keep you heart healthy.

Lignans:  Plant estrogen and antioxidant qualities.

Fiber:  Both soluble and insoluble - you need both!

There is evidence linking the reduction in risks of heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes by using flaxseed in your diet.  I'm gonna try it!

So, that is my list.  I know, it seems like a lot, but I am really ready and open to learn, grow, and get healthy!

Update on how I am feeling - So, I woke up with a MONSTER headache.  I know it is caused from the caffeine withdrawal, and I am completely going to stick this out.  Matt made me juice this morning and within an hour the headache was subsiding.  I am drinking a ton of herbal tea, and that seems to be helping.

The one thing I need to figure out, though, is my food intake.  I am pretty sure that I am not getting enough daily calories.  I am going to spend most of my evening tonight, when the kids go to bed, reading up on this.  I did really well last night going out.  I had an amazing spinach and kale salad with mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, green beans, and corn (maybe a few other vegetables too).  I used balsamic vinegar and olive oil as dressing.  It was delicious. Hillside was very easy-going on my meal choice too.  They served it exactly how I asked.  I had a Pelligrino with lemon slice to drink.  :-)

Enough for now...more later.

End of Day One / Day Two

End of Day 1
So...I tried the awesome green smoothie.  It made me gag.  I rewarded myself with a banana, orange and blueberry smoothie.  It was sooooo good!  LOL

I had tomatoes and coconut aminos for lunch.  It was a nice change from the liquid.  I had a huge spinach, mushrooms and olive oil salad for dinner with a hint of balsamic vinegar.  Matt made dessert...banana and strawberry ice cream.  That was the highlight of my evening!

The family spend the evening playing life.  My stomach was a little upset, but all-in-all, it was a good day.

Day 2
Eating about the same as I did yesterday.  I need to get to the store and get myself sprouts and butter lettuce.  That way, I can make "sandwiches."

Matt didn't surprise me with a juice this morning like he usually does.  I was a little bummed.  However, I don't even know when he had planned on waking me up.  I naturally woke up at 7:00 listening to him come and go from the bedroom, and had to run downstairs to start my work day.  He walked out the door right after that...not sure what his morning looked like either.  But he started his day early.

I have been drinking a lot of tea today, but only herbal because I can't have the caffeine.  I am trying to get the plain ol' water in me, but if you know anything about me, you know I don't like water.  I am trying.  Imperfect progress!

I am on the brink of a headache, I can feel it coming on, but it comes and goes.  I wonder if it is because I am drinking like a camel and that is subduing it; not sure.

Tonight I am headed out to have dinner with Amanda at Hillside Spot, a little cafe in the Tuke.  I have already looked over the menu and I am A-OK.  I am going to have to improvise a little, but seeing where this little cafe is, I am sure they get picky eaters in there all the time.

I have my doctor's appointment tomorrow...hopefully, he says I can start walking.  I will be crushed if he says no.  I am feeling pretty confident that he will tho.  It has been six weeks.

A "Fresh" New Start

Happy 2013 Everyone!!

Wow, I am just so excited for this new year.  So many things that I want to do now that school is done...more hiking, learning how to swim so that I can compete in a triathlon,  learn how to SUP board, kayak, training for my first marathon in October with my husband, cooking more...the list just goes on!

My first endeavor takes me to the end of the first month of the year...I will be juice fasting the whole month of January.  I know, it sounds absolutely crazy, but I have been having some problems, and I am hoping this can alleviate most of the issues.  I just finished reading "Juicing, Fasting, and Detoxing for Life" and think that my biggest problem is my colon.  Without getting into too many details, I think a colon detox is the route that I need to ensure getting my body off to the right start this year.  My journey will be documented throughout the month so that I can teach and share my experiences with anyone that may think this is what they might need to do...

Book Cover

DAY #1
So, Matt made me breakfast this morning (he is being super supportive)...it wasn't so bad.  On page 154 of the book, he prepared The Colon Cleanse Juice Cocktail.  It consisted of the following:

1 cucumber
1 handful of spinach
1 handful of parsley
1 stalk of celery
1/2 a lemon

Now, I know that this sounds just disgusting, but it wasn't all that bad.  Matt and I have been juicing for about a month now and believe me, there have been worst...much worse.

I am still trying to find the products and supplements I need to complete the detox completely, but I wanted to start the juicing as soon as possible.  This has been a total learning experience thus far, and I am looking forward to absorbing all this new information in order to make my body healthy and pure.

Side effects - I have cut out all caffeine from my diet so as to avoid any unnatural stimulants, and have felt slight withdrawal.  I haven't had any pop in about 3 months (because I won't support any of those big corporations anymore) and I haven't had any coffee or caffeinated tea in a few days.  I know this will be the hardest addiction for me to overcome because I love my coffee in the morning.  Thankfully, I can drink herbal tea (which is tea without any tea in it, LOL), so I can still have a hot beverage in the morning on my way to work since it is quite chilly here now, and I really like having that 'luxury' on my way to work.  

I will keep everyone updated on my progress.  My next "meal" comes in an hour.  :-)

May each of you have a WONDER and BLESSED new year.  I love each and every one of you!

Livvie

Taking a Time Out

So, as most of you know my left third metatarsal is fractured.  It has been officially a week since the cast went on, and I am dealing...just dealing.  It gets frustrating at times because I can't really do anything on my own, and I have to ask for help for nearly everything.  I tried pushing my tea cup across the floor from the kitchen to the den...yep, didn't work.  Matt has tried to help out as much as he can, but he can't be with me all the time.  And if this cast is going to be on for 6 weeks, I need to learn to deal by myself.   I do like the fact that giving myself a bath is a 45 minute ab workout; my abs are like steel now!  :-)  It isn't the end of the world, though, and we will get through this.  I say "we" because my poor Matt has to deal with my mood swings from wanting to run.  Soon enough...soon enough.  Isn't my cast adorable?  LOL!

It has been a humbling experience, to say the least.  On an encouraging note, Matt has decided to run my first marathon with me.  We are still looking for a good one...I will keep everyone posted.

In 24 days I will be with my family and friends back in Michigan.  I am very excited.  We have a lot of fun things planned (Henry Ford Museum, Frankenmuth, shopping).  I have been working around the clock on one of Sarah's presents.  I really hope I can get it done before I leave.  I don't want to work on it on the plane.  We shall see!

By the time I get on the plane, I will no longer be a student.  I will have graduated - in 22 days!  I just can't believe it.  Life will be so different...

Matt and I bought a juicer the other day...wow, has that been an adventure, haha.  I am learning how to put different fruits and veggies together to make us some great combinations of micro-nutrients.  We are both feeling great lately (except my bum leg) and enjoying our new joy of cooking and preparing new things and supporting our local growers.  I got my email today of what we are getting on Sunday...can't wait!

Isn't that the truth!

Yep...I Need This:

New PR and First Half with My Husband...and First Injury

So the last few weeks have been great with one small set-back.

Mom and Dad just left from being with us for almost 2 weeks.  It was so nice to have them here.  Fortunately, with my not-so-tight school schedule, I was able to spend a significant portion of their stay with them.  We didn't do a lot of sight-seeing; mostly hung out around the house, but we did go to Mesa's Flea Market (a must do when Mom is here) and ate at Rustler's Roost the one evening.  Our vacation split into their stay here, so we only got one weekend with them.  We made the most of it, and had a really good time.



On November 4th, I ran the Women's Half Marathon here in Phoenix.  It was a small race (approximately 2K from what I was told) and the course was decent; not a lot of hills.  It was a good race.  I would recommend it.  

I ended up PR'ing, cutting 5 minutes from my best time.  It felt really good to see all my hard work with my training paying off.  Matt was there for me, cheering for me at mile 12.  It always means a lot to me when he is there showing his support.



On November 11th, Matt and I ran the Walt Disney World Wine & Dine Half in Florida.  Way back when, when I planned to run this race, Matt was not running it with me.  I thought it was somewhat foolish because he had been running, long distances at that, and I thought it would be a good venue if he wanted to try one for the first time.  After I explained to him that people celebrating with the runners would have to pay an additional fee to get into Epcot after the race, and the entrance fee was included with your race registration, he was in (of course!).

Before the race on Saturday night, Matt and I had a mini vacation...as most of you know, Disney is my FAVORITE place on earth.  We spent time at Downtown Disney and the resort on Thursday and then Magic Kingdom and Epcot on Friday.  I was able to get us tickets to Mickey's Christmas Party on Friday night.  For those of you that love Christmas and love Disney, this is a MUST DO.  It is an exclusive event; you must buy a separate ticket from the ticket you use during the day, so the park is not crowded and you get on the rides quickly.  You get all the cookies and hot cocoa you can fit in your tummy (which it was cold, so the cocoa was needed).  The entire park is decorated for Christmas and they blow snow down Mainstreet.  They put on a beautiful light and fireworks display (my photo to the left).  And to top it off, you get a special Christmas parade.  

It was truly magical.  I cried...of course.  I always do!!

We ended up staying at the Disney Caribbean Beach Resort.  It was a nice resort, but there are a few things I learned this time that I didn't know from past experiences.  The biggest one is to stay closer to the parks.  We used to drive, so this wasn't a big deal.  Although you can get around by bus, it is sometimes a pain.  While we were there, we scoped out a few of the resorts that were right there next to Epcot and MK.  When we go next time, which we have decided to go in two years (YAY!), we will stay at The Swan or the Yacht Club if we want to be near Epcot; the Polynesian if we want to be closer to MK.  The reason is the small boat at Epcot and the monorail system is just so much easier than the buses.  Plus, you can always take the buses if needed, but the boat and the monorail is much easier and faster.  

Pre-Race :-)

The race on Saturday night was good.  I didn't like how they staged us - at ESPN's World Wide of Sports, in the fields - for almost two hours, but we made the best of it.  Hind sight being 20/20, we should have brought blankets and clothes that we could have just ripped off right before the race to keep us warm...because it was COLD!

Matt wasn't fond of the race route, but it was exactly what I expected from a Disney route - lots of turns and small areas for too many people.  If your goal is to PR at these races, you must bake in at least 5 minutes.  Matt missed his personal goal of 2 hours by 3 minutes.  I told him that it was his first race, so it was automatically a PR for him.  He is already planning his next race.  I am geeked!!  As many of you know, once school is done I plan on running a half in every state...looks like I have a running partner now!  :-)

I have ran 2 half marathons and got 3 medals in the past two weeks...and my body is now telling me it is not happy.  Wednesday during my 5-miler, something tore or fractured in my left foot.  I have been waiting to see a doc because I honestly thought it was just torn, and there is really nothing a doc can do for me except tell me to stay off of it (which I am already doing - on crutches right now) and hand me a huge bill.  I pushed myself a little too hard, and now my body is telling me it needs to rest.  So I will unhappily conform.  It does feel much better today than it did when it happened, so I am hopeful that if I baby it, it will work itself out.  I am praying.  I only have 9 weeks before my full marathon now .  I am not giving up..nope; never!

As many of you know, Matt and I have decided to change our diets.  We have moved to a completely organic food regimen and are not eating any processed food.  With the extra physical activities that we are doing, and the desire to put the best food in our bodies, both of us have agreed to only support our local growers that are cognizant of food quality and the purest of ingredients in their products.  We have started to buy from only grass-fed cow/pig/chicken farmers, and we are now signed up for Chow Locally at our local farmer's market.  I have also started to prepare all of our food now (even my dressings and mayonnaise) .  I was definitely out of my element at first, but I am really enjoying what I am learning and I am continually getting better at it.  

I have been making a lot of Paleo meals again which I had gotten away from when I started training, but honestly can say my body is happier without the "carb loading."  (Plus, I truly believe all that hype is MENTAL now).  Our dinners consist of spaghetti squash, stuffed jalapenos, eggplant, fresh salads with grass-fed steak or chicken, organic cheeses and milks, sauteed kale and swiss chard, and lots of other ingredients that I would have never thought of using before.  At this point, Besides my foot problem, which has nothing to do with my food intake, I feel awesome, and Matt feels the same way.  He is even making his own tonic water now! We really think seeing current conditions and how many of our friends are getting sick...really sick with debilitating diseases...we have made a very wise decision.  I highly recommend considering this for everyone.  If you love your body and love your family, you really need to think about what you are putting into it.  With the defeat of Prop 37 in California, I have absolutely no confidence that the food industry cares about us or our longevity.  I am not going to depend on them to put food on my table (in fact, we have boycotted most of them).  We are educated...we can read labels, talk to growers, and make good choices.  And I believe in us as a society to take care of one another as well.  HELP YOUR LOCAL GROWERS!!!  Everyone always makes such a big deal about buying American, well this is as grass roots as it comes!  ;-)

On another AMAZING note, I am almost done with school!!!  Only one more month now.  I am awaiting my confirmation for graduation (which is just a formality), my class ring has been bought, and I am now starting to plan the graduation party.  I am super duper excited for this journey to be complete and for everyone to be there with me to celebrate.  The whole family is planning a trip to AZ in the spring.  I can't wait!

Well, I must be going.  Love you all | Livvie

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone!

Julie as Effie Trinket and me as Olivia the Pig :-)

I hope everyone had a really wonderful Halloween.  I spent my last Halloween as a student in class, but he did let us go early so it wasn't completely terrible.  We had a WONDERFUL Halloween party at work as well, so it made it bearable that I wasn't going to be able to celebrate at home with my neighbors.  Mom and Dad are here, so they were able to pass out candy to the kids with Matt, so he wasn't completely alone.  Matt and I finished out the night in the hot tub and chatting about the goings-on of the day.  I am excited for next year when I can partake in the festivities!  :-)  

This weekend is the first of two last half marathons I am going to do before my full in January.  I have taken it pretty easy this week, but not intentionally.  With Mom and Dad coming in on Tuesday, I was not very disciplined to get out the door, and then Halloween put me a little behind as well.  However, I know that I am going to have those weeks, as long as they are not a habit.

I found this the other day.  It speaks to me...

You can do ANYTHING you put your heart and mind into.  

My Cupcake Run & New Chili Recipe

So, tonight I ran my first Cupcake Classic Run.  I have done one other virtual run in the past; this one was by far the most fun.  I ended up running a total of 6.08 miles.  The weather is still a little warm (86 degrees), but I waited until the sun went down and enjoyed the sunset as I came around the back side of Desert Foothills.  We had a beautiful fall sky tonight.  I love running here.  We are so spoiled.  I don't miss the 40 degrees and rain in Michigan.  

I saw my first rattlesnake ever in the foothills tonight; it was a little scary.  He/she was crossing the sidewalk where I was finishing up my loop.  I stopped to let it cross.  I could definitely see the tail, so I know what it was.  There was a woman that I was passing after I saw it, and I stopped her to tell her to be careful.  She started laughing and said, "Time to turn around.  I didn't want to walk tonight anyway!"  It was just too nice of a night...I would have just been careful; I wouldn't have let it stop me.  :-)

Me right after my run

 Isn't my shirt cute?  :-)

I have to be honest though...I haven't had sweets like that in a long time and I didn't really enjoy it all that much.  I did get as healthy of a chocolate cupcake as I could get (didn't have time to make myself), with all natural ingredients, but it was just so super sweet.  Next time I will pick something more natural like carrot cake or banana...or I will be done with school and have the time to bake!  I had Mom's yellow cake and chocolate frosting last weekend and even that wasn't as sweet as this cupcake was.  I bought a four-pack.  I know Matt won't eat one, so it looks as though my friends at work will be getting them (LOL).

Click here for more information on the Cupcake Classic

I finally made Kristy's bean-less chili tonight.  Well, it isn't Kristy's recipe (it is an Everyday Paleo recipe), but I got it from her.  Oh, it is so delicious!!  I figured out how to use my food processor tonight as well, so it was much easier to prepare than if I would have had to cut up all those carrots, onions and celery.  Yep, you heard right...celery.  And Matt at it!!!  I have been really proud of him lately.  With our changes in diet to organic and grass fed, he has really been more open and positive about trying new things.  It has been good all around for both of us.  I look forward to continuing to broaden my experience in the kitchen, and trying new things.  :-)

Well, it is getting really late, and I have a big day ahead of me tomorrow.  I hope everyone that is reading this is well and feeling loved.  More to come soon...

All for Me...