Stuck in a BOOT

So I've been training for this half marathon coming up in May.  I've been clocking the miles and I thought I was doing quite well until last week.  My Right ankle normally "clicks" when I walk down the steps in the morning and has lately been quite painful.  To fix this I take a few motrin and continue with my life.  The last 2 days it hasn't worked.  I did 4 miles on Wednesday and it hasn't been right since.  Any wight bearing causes some severe pain.  I am not one to go to a doctor but this morning I decided it was high time.  I made my appointment and off I went.

The took X-rays and decided it was either tendonitis or a stress fracture.  Treatment is the same.  Stop running, ice, elevation & Motrin.  This also means a boot.  UUGGHH.  I started my half marathon 2 weeks sooner than I HAD to to give myself time to adjust and this injury is putting me back 2 weeks.  With my fingers crossed I may still be able to run in May.... fingers crossed.

  

Warm day outside

Its March 7th.  In Cleveland.  It was 65 degrees today!!  YAHOO!  My husband announced "it is OFFICIALLY spring!"  Thats the real deal then, spoken by the Cleveland boy!  D1 had art class with the MIL & BIL so It was D2 and I today until hubby woke up.  I decided to take advantage of D2's morning nap and I headed outside.  We have 2 dogs, a Rottweiler and a Great Dane mix, thats a TON of poo.  Given that we haven't cleaned it in about 4 months thats REALLY a ton of poo.  I took the girls wagon and threw a trug on it and went to work.  Needless to say, I quickly filled it.  I even got to pick up sticks along the way!  SPRING CLEANING AT ITS FINEST!

Poo central

Hubby met me outside once he got up and dressed and we walked our property and discussed future plans.  We own 8 acres.  Much of it is a ravine and unusable.  He likes the 'natural' (IE WEEDS!) look.  I have been asking him to clear more of the brush to make more usable clean space.  Today he approved!  He left for work at 4 and I was already out there chucking sticks into a pile!  When its nice outside I take full advantage.  Unfortunately that means that my inside projects come to a screeching halt, but that is what rainy days are for... right?

Area next to the driveway.... soon to be cleared out!

Next to the ravine... to be cleared

 I got on the tractor and took down some brush next to the fence.  This is a large area that soon will be grassy.  Yes, more to mow... but more to enjoy!

I mowed a strip next to the fence.. this will all be 'debrushed'

Then I finished my shelves in the garage.  We installed the Rubbermaid Fasttrack in the garage to hang and store things.  I then decided to add a shelving unit next to the door so that things are easily accessible from the house.  We have TONS of shoes and I am always looking for ways to get things off of the floor.  I then found some plant hangar 'S' hooks and found a solution!  WALA!

Boots hung with plant S hooks!

Muffin Mania

Today I woke up and did a 3 mile run in my new Reebok Realflex.  They are comfy OUT OF THE BOX!!  I could barely believe it. I had my vibrams ready to go but they went unneeded. YEAH.  I love my vibrams just need a bit of extra support/cushion when my ankles are screaming when I do back to back days.

My vibrams and my new Reeboks

Then it was off to music class.  D1 is in the stage where she will just REPEAT EVERYTHING.  AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN.  "mommy I like that."  "Mommy, I like that." "MOMMY, I LIKE THAT."  Uggh.  D2 was pretty crabby as well. I was annoyed before we even left the house.  Class went well and on the way home the MIL called and asked if she could have D1 for the day. SURE!  This allowed me to just deal with D2 for Muffin Day.  I dropped her off but was running late.  Speeding home, I got pulled over.  DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  My first speeding ticket in over 5 years.  DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!  Its gonna be a doozy too.  UUGGHHHH.

I finally got home and beat the girls here which made me slightly happy.  I started both ovens to start the baking frenzy and started prepping for lunch.  There are a bunch of us that adore Pinterest.  We have been pinning muffin recipes and just love the sound of them all.  Someone suggested baking some.... so I suggested that they come over and we bake and trade!  One friend's daughter named it "MUFFIN MANIA" and it seems to fit perfectly.

For lunch I made Edamame Rice Bowl.  This is a recipe i use a lot.  It's from Vegetarian Times Magazine.  ITS AMAZING.  I have YET to find someone that doesn't LOVE it.  You wouldn't think the ingredients go together but its DIVINE.  Here's the recipe!

EDAMAME RICE BOWL

4 cup brown rice (cooked)

1- 8oz bag frozen SHELLED edemame
1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

10 pitted kalamata olives sliced

3 TBS chopped Cilantro

1 TBS olive oil

1 TBS lime juice

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

1.  Cook rice to package directions.

2.  Bring 2 cups salted water to a boil, add edemame, and cook 2 minutes, or until tender; Drain and set aside

3.  Toss together rice, edemame, cranberries, feta, olives, olive oil, lime joice, and red pepper flakes in a large bowl.  Season with salt and pepper.

Then I made "pizza in a pot"

Pizza in a pot


2 cups Spaghetti Sauce
1 cup Ricotta
1/2 cup diced pepperoni
1 cup diced tomatoes
1 cup Shredded Mozzarella
Torn basil for garnish
Dash of EVOO


Add spaghetti sauce, diced tomatoes, ricotta and pepperoni in a oven proof bowl.  
Cook at 350 until cooked all the way through
Add Mozzarella, basil and EVOO


Serve with Crostini.

It was now Muffin Mania.  There were 4 adults and a friends 10 year old daughter that helped ALOT.  We all had a blast.  We made:
Pumpkin Donut Muffins (recipe below)
Chocolate Peanut Butter Muffins
Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins
White Chocolate Apricot Muffins
Yogurt, Banana & walnut (my healthy ones!) (recipe below)
and we had Choc Chip Banana muffins

The baking crew!

Assembly

Finished product

Baking!

My Pumpkin Donut Muffins

My assortment

The healthy (140 calories) Yogurt, Banana & Walnut muffins

Everyone brought their own ingredients and muffin pans.  We each baked and then split up our booty.   We cut up each kind and taste tested them all.  We each baked and then split up our booty.  We all went home with an assortment of muffins.  Into the freezer they went!  I suggested that we do this quarterly and I did not hear an objection!  A new tradition has begun!

Here are my recipes:

Pumpkin Donut Muffins

Makes 12 muffins

• 3 CUPS ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR (SPOONED AND LEVELED), PLUS MORE FOR PAn
• 2 1/2 TEASPOONS BAKING POWDER
• 1/4 TEASPOON BAKING SODA
• 1 TEASPOON COARSE SALT
• 1/2 TEASPOON GROUND NUTMEG
• 1/4 TEASPOON GROUND ALLSPICE
• 1/3 CUP BUTTERMILK
• 1 1/4 CUPS PURE PUMPKIN PURÉE (FROM A 15-OUNCE CAN, NOT THE WHOLE THING!)
• 1 3/4 STICKS UNSALTED BUTTER, ROOM TEMPERATURE
• 3/4 CUP LIGHT BROWN SUGAR
• 2 LARGE EGGS

Glaze: 
• 4 TABLESPOONS UNSALTED BUTTER, MELTED (USE 1 TO 2 TABLESPOONS IF JUST COATING THE TOPS)
• 3/4 CUP GRANULATED SUGAR
• 2 1/2 TEASPOONS CINNAMON

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour 12 standard muffin cups.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. Set aside.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the pumpkin and buttermilk. Set aside.
4. Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and brown sugar.
5. Add the eggs, one at a time, scraping bowl as needed.
6. With the mixer on low, add flour mixture in three additions, alternating with two additions pumpkin mixture, and beat to combine.
7. Spoon 1/3 cup batter into each muffin cup. Bake for 30 minutes.
8. Let muffins cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack.
9. Working with one at a time, remove muffins from pan, brush all over with melted unsalted butter, then toss to coat in sugar mixture. Let muffins cool completely on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container, up to 1 day.

Yogurt, Banana & Walnut muffins (146 calories!)

• 1 1/4 C OATMEAL
• 1/2 C Brown RICE FLOUR
• 1/4 C GROUND FLAXSEED
• 1 TSP BAKING POWDER
• 1 TSP BAKING SODA
• 2 EGGS, BEATEN
• 1/4 C PLAIN YOGURT
• 3 MEDIUM, RIPE BANANAS, MASHED
• 1/2 C AGAVE SYRUP
• 1/3 C GRAPESEED OIL
• 1/4 C WALNUT PIECES (I used about double this)

Directions

1.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

2.

In a large bowl, whisk together oatmeal, flour, flaxseed, baking powder, and baking soda.

3.

In a separate bowl, combine eggs, yogurt, bananas, syrup, and oil. Add flour mixture and fold in walnuts.

4.

Divide batter into paper-lined muffin cups. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched. Cool on a wire rack.

Operation Organize, Purge & Clean

Today Hubby wanted to hang at his family's house so I was without D1 for the day.  I slept in (until 8:30a!) and started with the fridge.  I clean it regularly but I guess I have neglected it lately as it was DISGUSTING. I took out every drawer, every shelf and cleaned every square inch.  I have known forever that Hubby was a 'Condiment King', but today solidified that knowledge.  We had 12, yes, 12 different kinds of pickles.  We have 6 different hot sauces, 6 kinds of barbecue sauces, and 5 different kimchi's in my fridge.  I won't even begin to get into salad dressings and mustards.

I then started working on the forever migrating toys.  We finished the basement last year and that is the designated "toy room" yet more and more toys end up coming upstairs.  I am constantly taking them back down the steps.  Today I went through both kids rooms and organized them and made rather large piles of toys to head back downstairs.  This is something I can never do with D1 around because everything becomes her "favorite toy" again.  This time also helped me sort through what is going to be sold at our consignment sale.  I felt very accomplished.

Since I got the kids rooms completed I felt like I should clean something of myself as well.  I've had a bag and a half of clothes in the closet to go to Goodwill.  I have also had 2 sock drawers that I can barely close.  I decided it was time.  I went through and pulled out all of the Christmas socks and put them away and then looked for the socks that are thinning/holey and got rid of them. While I was at it I thought it was high time to clean out the bra and underwear drawers.  My body is not what it was 5 years ago.  There is NO reason that I should own thongs, NONE.  I made a deal with myself that if I was every in shape enough to wear them again that I can buy myself new ones.  I must have cleared out 20 pairs.  Shame, I know, but I have always had a steadfast rule that if I haven't worn something in 2 years it was Goodwill bound.  Undies are no different.  I couldn't help but stare at some of these things thinking "I used to fit them", ugggh, tomorrow is a treadmill day!

I finished out the day doing laundry, dishes, vacuuming and mopping floors.  I always feel so good after a good cleaning session.  Its almost as good as therapy for me.

I got my grocery list together after Hubby got home and the kids went to nap.  I spent 2 wonderful hours alone shopping with a  Dunkin Donuts coffee in hand.  Tomorrow is muffin day and I am really looking forward to it.... pictures and recipes to come!

Bunco night

So the 1st Saturday of the month is Bunco night.  If you don't know what Bunco is.. look it up.  Its a dice game that you play while socializing and drinking with your friends.  A GREAT TIME.  We always have a blast and tonight followed suit.  I recommend bunco night to EVERYONE.  Get one started wherever you live.... spend time with your girls!

Beet shits

Day started out very good.  I slept in (7am!) and it was a rest day in the half marathon training.  I drank my coffee and surfed the net in peace & quiet until I got the kids up at 830.  Both girls woke up happy so I consider that a fabulous morning.  We got dressed and ate breakfast.  The MIL got here around 10 to watch D2 so I could go to mommy & me preschool with D1.  It was rainbow day and we got to do a cute craft.

Afterwards, we went to the mall to get come new "clippies" for D1's hair.  This was the first time I have let her walk the mall.  She did well.  We had lunch and she helped me look for shoes.  Had to have a small lesson about needs & wants.  Needless to say mommy didn't buy any shoes.  BUT...  We discovered Paciugo gelato.  If you have one in your area I HIGHY suggest it.  One thing about me is that I can NOT turn down ice cream.  When D1 asked for it, I happily obliged.  Once I started talking to the guy behind the counter...  I fell I love.  He said that my small (which had 3 different flavors) was 210 calories.  This stuff is made from milk not cream like ice cream.  I will be going back.  I went to their website and noticed all of their flavors.  I may be back DAILY.  YUM.

http://paciugo.com/

Fast forward to tonight.  Hubby got home from work and we decide to make tacos.  We now have a freezer of venison so I figured I would try it (along with my homemade taco seasoning).  It was great.  I also made spanish rice from scratch.  Not sure why I have never done this before... but its quite easy.

It was now bath time.  I have been getting the kids in the tub together.  D1 is fine alone and D2 has this swivel seat that attached to the wall of the tub so its awesome to let them play and spend time together.  D1 has been ASKING to get in every day... and it makes things easier for me, so I am all about it!  Daily, I say a little prayer that D2 doesn't poop in the tub.  She is 8 months old, its a quite valid fear.  Tonight I got D2 out and was getting her diaper on when I hear "mommy, I have to poop".  Mind you, we are in about the 6-7 month of potty training, so she has been pretty awesome lately.  I got D2's diaper on... it couldn't have been even 2 minutes.  I walk over and there is a tub full of poop soup.  I said "did you poop in the tub".  "No mommy".  Uh huh.  This is what I saw.

Needless to say that every tub toy has been quarantined.  D1 had to be completely disinfected.  D2's tub seat has been submerged in bleach as is the entire tub.  Gross.  The best part is that we had beets for dinner last night.  Beet shits. Joy joy.  I had to text a friend who calls me during her dark hours... just so she can see that the black cloud covers more than her home.  Of course, she loved this.

As if that wasn't enough...

Finally, with hubby's help I get everything cleaned up so I went downstairs.  I had to pee so I went in and found a toilet full of beet shits.... this time they belonged to hubby.  Yep, forgot to flush.  EWWWWWWWWwwwwwwwwwww.  It will be a LONG TIME before I make beets again.

I am in beet hell.

Holy teeth!

Today I woke up early as D2 wanted a bottle at 6am.  This screwed up my 6:30 wake up because I laid back down and it turned into a 7 wake up.  I did 3 miles and started my day.  It was only in the 40's today so I deemed it a sofa movie day.  Its also the 1st day this week we didn't have anywhere to go so Jammie Day it was!  Even the dogs participated!  We watched Lady & the Tramp and snacked on Goldfish.  Beautiful day.

Then it was nap time for D2.  They is when D1 and I get to snuggle.  Its amazing how you love both of your kids but its nice to focus all your attention on one at a time.  We made popcorn and snuggled.  It was awesome.

D2 is getting her 4 top teeth now at the same time.  Poor kid.  I looked back at D1's records and noticed that she got her 1st tooth (bottom) in March.  D2 is 2 weeks older but has had her 2 bottoms for months now.  WAY Ahead of schedule!  I noticed that D2 was crabby about 3 weeks ago and took a look into the lion's mouth and saw a glimmer of her top left tooth.  She now has her 6th tooth breaking now.  Crap!  6 teeth before D1 had one!  Poor kiddo.  She also gave up her binky this week.  I never push it on them... and when D1 was 7 months old she kept spitting it out so I never gave it back.  Same thing happened with D2 last week.  Makes me happy because I don't want the issue of having to take it once they WANT it.  I can deal with blankies.... just not binkys!

Tonight the neighbor girl, V, came over to watch the kids.  We have a deal that she comes over a couple times a month to "babysit" and I have time to clean.  So far its been working out wonderfully.  She gets experience (she is only 13) and I get some quiet time to get stuff done.  Win. Win.

Made dinner.... red beets and Mac & Cheese.  I will never make M&C from scratch again since finding Kraft Homestyle.  can you say AWESOME.  Its just SO yummy.  Highly recommend it!

Ok... my body is yelling at me to sleep.  NIGHT!!!