Canine Commandments

Cooper is my first dog.  I never really understood why dogs were so great until I got one, but now I know they really are the most loyal and loving creatures on earth (even if they chew your favorite pair of stilettos).

This warms and breaks my heart at the same time:

I'm heading home now and snuggling the pup to pieces.  If you have a dog, give them some extra loving today.

Salsa Chicken

This salsa chicken concoction is one of my go-to dinner favorites, and it's also super satisfying and healthy.  Win!

Ingredients:

•  1 pound chicken breast

•  1 tablespoon olive oil

•  1 jar of chunky salsa

•  1 can of black beans

Cut the chicken breasts half or thirds, and boil for 7-10 minutes:

Drain and once cooled, shred the chicken with a fork:

Add chicken to a fry pan along with 1 tablespoon of olive oil for 1-2 minutes.  Add salsa (I use medium for more kick) and mix, followed by a can of black beans.

This makes about 2.5-3 cups, so it's quite a few servings.  Yay for leftovers!  I usually use it for a salad topping, or as a tortilla filling.  Tonight was a tortilla night...

I add some salad greens, 1/2 cup of the salsa chicken mix, a tablespoon of reduced-fat shredded cheese, and a teaspoon of reduced-fat sour cream.

Yum.  It's no gourmet meal, but at around 400(ish) calories, it's very satisfying!

Retail Inspiration

Cute workout stuff edition:

I should probably buy stock in Nike... 

Off to Fredericksburg this morning to get the hair did.  Have a great weekend!

The Temper Trap

Favorite workout song of the week:



Happy Friday!

Winter Blues

Can it please be spring already??  I have a definite case of the winter blues.  I usually love winter, but I'm so over it right now. 

Thankfully, I have a working laptop again (hello, new MacBook), so I've been distracting myself by creating these inspiration boards.  You know, for when I come into some serious cash, and also for when I'm in-shape!  A girl can dream...

Spring Favorites (via ShopStyle):

For all my fashionista-minded friends out there, check out ShopStyle!  It's a cite that pulls from thousands of stores/brands and has a ton of selection.  It's nice to go to one place and browse a mix of style and prices.  It's the perfect place for ideas, and they have everything from clothing to furniture. 

Dangerous but very fun :)

SparkPeople

Hello, Monday.  I hope everyone had a great weekend! 

My first week into 2011 went well.  I managed to eat pretty healthy, and made it to the gym four times (3x spin; 1x Body Pump) for solid workouts.  I got some running and hiking in there, too.  Now I just have to keep this momentum going...

Speaking of, wanted to share something I've found really helpful lately.  Over the past few months, I started using Livestrong to track what I was eating on a daily basis.  I thought doing so would be a pain, but it's really helped me understand some of the bad eating habits I have, and how better choices can make a big impact.  I guess there really is something to this whole balanced diet concept!

I recently switched over to using Sparkpeople to track this info (thanks to BrieFit ).  I think Sparkspeople is a bit more user-friendly, and I love that they focus on different goals within a diet, versus just limited calories and fat.  They also have lots of common take-out food (Subway, etc.) in their menu, which is nice if you don't always have the nutrition information available.

Here's an example of what one of my good days looks like....

 I try to stick to around 1,500 calories per day.  Of course, there are some days when I go above that, and some days I'm slightly below it.  I try not to stress about the exact number, and just go based on what makes me feel the best.  1,500 seems to be a good number for me when I'm doing moderate excercise, so that's where I am right now. 

My favorite part about Sparkspeople is that you can run a "Daily Feedback" report at the end of the day that charts out where you calories are going to in terms of nutritional value.  Here's the feedback from the same day tracked above:

I'm high on carbs (shock!).  I'm working on adding more healthy fats into my diet (almonds, etc.) and cutting back on some of the carbs, to help my body adjust.  See, such helpful information to have!

Back to the grind.

Bomb.com

I recently, much to the detriment of the budget, rekindled my love for J. Crew.  Things were rocky between us for a few years, but we've worked out our differences.  I got a wee bit excited when this email arrived in my inbox this afternoon....

Once and awhile, J. Crew will open up it's factory store online for a weekend.  If you are in need of anything, take advantage while you can!  And please let me know what you bought so that I can live vicariously through you.  As SkinnyRunner would say, bomb.com.  Happy Friday!

Better Late Than Never...

Jumping on the bandwagon (a few days late):

1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?

Started a blog. Ran an 8k. Took up photography.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I wanted to be healthier both mentally and physically in 2010. I think I've improved a lot mentally, but physically, I'm still a work in progress. I also wanted to work on trying new things, which I've done better at, but I know I need to continue challenging myself in 2011.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes! Ibby, Karly and Jill all gave birth to beautiful baby girls. Maybe there are some boys in store for 2011?

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Fortunately, no.

5. What countries did you visit?

Mexico in January and Grand Cayman in December.

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?

A Master's Degree!

7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

* June 27, when Mrs. Foot and I met for brunch to celebrate her birthday, and she surprised me with the cutest Cooper-inspired stationary. It wasn't as much about the gift (which I loved), but just a moment that stands out and always reminds me that I'm surrounding by the most thoughtful and loving friends I could ever ask for. Thank you!

* July 4, when Emily invited me to spend the day at the pool and going to a Nationals game. It was the hottest.day.ever but we had fun, and it was a very Washingtonian way to spend Independence Day!

* September 25, when Sarah and Travis tied the knot in Richmond, Virginia. So much love :)

* October 31, a day I spent with JB, cheering her sister on at the USMC Marathon. I had so much fun that day, and was really moved by the love and support JB showed for her sister, and all the hard work the runners put into their fundraising and training efforts. I think that's the day I told myself that I have to get back into the running saddle. So inspiring!

* December 23, when Ashley and I went to the Capitals v. Penguins game at Verizon Center. It was hands down the best sporting event I've ever been to, and even though the Caps ended up losing in a shootout, it was a fabulous night spent with one of my favorites. A new tradition, for sure!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Running my first 8k, and making the responsible (albeit tough) decision to move home and work on finishing grad school.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Probably financially. I've definitely improved, but there are just so many pretty things out there I want to buy! I wish I had taken more advantage of living at home and paid off more student loans, build up savings, etc.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing major. And actually, I think 2010 was one of my healthiest years in terms of not coming down with any really bad colds, etc. Vitamins are working! I did get a tibia stress fracture after running the 8k, but with a few weeks of rest, that healed itself pretty well.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A dSLR camera and a Kindle.

12. Where did most of your money go?
Paying off some of my student loans, and lots of consumer debt. Again, I like pretty things...

13. What did you get really excited about?
As cheesy at it sounds, life. I think I began to understand the whole "work to live" mentality versus always being concerned with climbing the corporate ladder and that being my biggest drive in life. I feel much more balanced now, and I'm happier.

14. What song will always remind you of 2010?
"Intro" by The Xx. It's the song from Apolo Ohno's AT&T commercial that played during the 2010 Vancover Olympics. Ya'll know how I get about the Olympics ;-)

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:
– happier or sadder? Happier, by far.
– thinner or fatter? About the same.
– richer or poorer? A little less poor?

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Photography. I need all the practice I can get! And putting myself out there more. I really need help in that area...

17. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worrying about the small stuff, and being insecure about things I can't control.

18. How did you spend Christmas?
A low-key day with the family.

19. What was your favorite TV program?
Modern Family. Makes me laugh out loud like an idiot, and it reminds me not to take life too seriously.

20. What were your favorite books of the year?
The Help and The Hunger Games trilogy.

21. What was your favorite music from this year?
Eminem and anything Lil Wayne.  Both get me moving.

 22. What were your favorite films of the year?
Harry Potter, 7 Pt. 1.

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I spent my 27th birthday in Grand Cayman with the family.

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Maybe to have been in a serious relationship, but I guess that can cut both ways.

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
As much as it pains me to say it... simple and comfy. I didn't have the best year in terms of loving the way I look, so I stuck to the basics.

26. What kept you sane?
My friends, Cooper, and working out. Oh, and Venti Soy Lattes.
 
27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
Leave negativity behind at the end of the day, and treat each morning as a fresh start.

Girl Talk

The only thing (besides a new outfit), that motivates me to workout is a good playlist on the trusty iPod.  I came across an album called "All Day" by Girl Talk via another blog, and I love it!  Girl Talk is a mash-up artist that combines songs to make one continuous playlist that's over an hour long and perfect for the gym and/or running.  The songs are also shortened, so there's lots of changes in beat and variety.  The album is free, too.  As a heads up, there's plenty of explicit language, so if you're not a fan of the F-bomb, I'd take a pass.

Here's a preview:

Happy listening!

2011 Resolution Run 5K Recap

Happy 2011!  I survived the Resolution Run 5K in Baltimore on Saturday.  The race wasn't chip-timed, but I'm estimating that we finished somewhere around 40-41 minutes.  What's even more exciting is that we actually finished!  Little did I know, but the course is about 60% hills.  It was a bitch.

I can't find any good pictures to prove my point, but Patterson Park, where the race took place, is incredibly hilly.  Below is a picture of a cool building (?) that we passed between miles 1-2.  This was at the top of the biggest climb, which I swear was at least half a mile of straight hiking.  There were plenty of curse words exchanged by this point.  The top of the hill was very pretty though... I enjoyed the view between grunts, hacks and breathlessness. :)

(Source)

The race wasn't the most organized (we didn't even know where the starting line was until about 5 minutes before the race), but the organizers and runners were all really nice and supportive, and it made for a great time.  Also, since the race is only run within the park, there weren't any streets closed, police activity, etc.  We arrived about an hour and half early and found a parking spot right near the park with no problem, and it was a breeze getting out of the park after the race.  I love cities that aren't a logistical nightmare.

In February, I'm registered for the "Love The Run You're With" 5k in Pentagon Row, and in March I'll hopefully repeat (more successfully this time!) the St. Patrick's Day 8k in DC.  Fingers crossed for good health and continued improvement. 

Thanks to everyone for all the support leading up to this race.  And to Emmy, for running the damn thing with me! :)