Running With Perseverance

My Fitness Gift Wish List For Runners

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Coco

Over the past few weeks, I’ve seen lots of blog posts with great fitness-related holiday gift ideas. The Garmin Forerunner 10 made many “Top 10” wish lists for runners, and it really was the first thing on my list. Other than that, I am pretty well-stocked with fitness gear, but there are still a few things that I want. The problem is, I don’t know where to find them–can you help me?

1. Something to protect my earbud cords and keep them untangled that is easy to use.

I have several things like this, but they are not convenient. It takes forever to wrap/unwrap the cord. When I tried keeping the cord wrapped like this in my purse I missed calls while trying to get the ends free!

2. Wireless headphones I can use on the treadmill. I hate having to make the television REALLY LOUD so I can hear it over the noise of the treadmill. I’d like a wireless headphone set that uses earbuds, but I’ve only been able to find big ones like this.

Those just won’t work for running!

3. Running shorts with a gripper bottom hem. I used to blame my thighs for making my shorts ride up, but now I blame the designers/manufacturers. A few years ago I found shorts that have a bottom hem with a rubberry/grippy material that keeps the shorts in place. Those shorts are just about worn out and I have not been able to find replacements.

Every time I am in a running store I check out the bottom hem of every line of shorts, but so far the only shorts I’ve found with a gripper hem are padded bike shorts.

Can you help me out?

Is there something you’d like to have that you haven’t been able to find?

If you need some easier-to-find gift ideas, check out these ideas from other Fitfluential Ambassadors:

Holiday Gifts For Runners from Josephine at Plant Based Runner

Gifts for Runners from Lea at Running for Dummies

Holiday Fitness Wish List from Angela at Happy Fit Mama

25 Stocking Stuffers Ideas For Runners from Janice at Fitness Cheerleader

10 Fitness/Nutrition Gadgets To Give Or Receive from Tamara (guest posting at Wish & Whimsy)

Holiday Gift Guide For Your Fitness Fanatic from Rachel at Running Rachel

The Fit Girl’s Holiday Gift Guide from Fit Betty

Top Gifts For Runners from Road Runner Girl

Health And Fitness Gift Guide from Losing It And Loving It

Gift Guide For Runners from Healthy Happier Bear

BRF Gifts For $10 Or Less from Run With Jess

2012 Holiday Gift Guide For Runners and 5 Gift Ideas For Runners from Run With Nutrition

2012 Holiday Gift Guide from Midwest Multisport Life

Posted in Fitness | Tagged Gadgets, Gift Guide, Running | 11 Comments

Fluffy Chobani Mashed Potatoes

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Coco

My mom does all the heavy lifting for our Thanksgiving dinner, but I always am responsible for the mashed potatoes and the pies. This year I decided to try a new way of cooking the potatoes and a new mashed potato recipe.

The new way of cooking the potatoes was inspired by The Splendid Table, a radio show about food that airs on my public radio station on Saturday afternoons. In a pre-Thanksgiving show, one of the guests extolled the virtues of steaming potatoes instead of boiling them. I was intrigued, and knew I have the right equipment–this giant pot with a steamer insert:

Steamer

I looked for more specific directions on the internet, and found some guidance in this Steamy Kitchen recipe. It is a simple as it sounds: wash, peel and quarter the potatoes and steam until tender.

The new recipe came from Chobani. I usually use milk, butter, and sour cream in my mashed potatoes, and I’ve used plain Chobani instead of sour cream in other recipes, so I figured it would be an easy swap. The Chobani recipe calls for these ingredients:

1/2 cup Chobani Non-Fat Plain Greek Yogurt
1 ¼ lbs Russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
¼ c low-sodium vegetable broth, warmed
2 Tbsp melted unsalted butter
1 ½ Tbsp chopped fresh chives
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper

I used about 3 lbs of Yukon Gold potatoes, washed, peeled and quartered (much bigger than 1-inch pieces). Using my steamer pot, I steamed them until they were tender–about 25 minutes. One nice thing about the pot is that I didn’t have to pour out a vat of boiling water–I just lifted the steamer insert, let it drain into the pot, and dumped the potatoes into a big bowl. I used my masher to mash the potatoes by hand. (I do not have a ricer–that would make them even fluffier).

Since I was using twice the amount of potatoes, I used about 1 cup of plain Chobani. I had some chicken bullion in my pantry, and used that and water reserved from the potato pot instead of the broth. My son would not touch the potatoes if he spotted anything green in them, so I skipped the chives. I added salt and pepper to taste.

Fluffy Chobani Mashed Potatoes

They were a big hit, and I will be making them again for Christmas dinner.

Do you like mashed potatoes?

Posted in Food | Tagged Chobani, Christmas, Recipe | 4 Comments

Happy Merry Joy!

Posted on December 16, 2012 by Coco

I wrote this post on Thursday, before the tragic events in Newtown. I am holding the parents, children, teachers, and friends in my thoughts and prayers–and also remembering others who are facing hard times. It may be too much to ask that they find some joy in this holiday season, but I fervently pray that they feel the love, care, and concern that we are sending their way, and hope that they are able to experience the peace of God which truly surpasses all understanding.

This week is the third week of Advent. In a traditional advent wreath, the third candle is pink and is referred to as the “joy” candle. I was taught that this candle is a lighter color than the others (which are purple) to offer encouragement that Christmas is coming, even though it may seem like it is taking forever to get here.

This year, the third week of advent comes when I am finally getting into the spirit of the season–which is a good thing because Christmas is barely a week away!

We’ve gotten more holiday cards from friends and family.

(Did you see how I made this holiday card garland?)

We went skating at the new outdoor rink in Georgetown.

Coco Skating

We put up our Christmas tree.

Christmas Tree

I am enjoying listening to the 24/7 Christmas song programming on the radio instead of cringing because it’s “too early.”

I have made my list and I’m checking it twice–and getting excited about the gifts I’ll be putting under the tree.

My son is home from college, my daughter will be home tomorrow, and I’m ready to bake some more cookies.

Christmas Cookie Collage

(Did you see the recipes for my ginger spice and eggnog spritz cookies?)

Have you caught the Happy Holidays Merry Christmas Joy To The World spirit?

Prayer for the Third Week of Advent
Bless, O God, the road that is before us.
Bless, O God, the friends who are around us.
Bless, O God, your love which is within us.
Bless, O God, your light which leads us home.
Amen.

Posted in Life, My Faith | Tagged Advent, Christian, Christmas, Cookies, Empty Nest, Family, Friends | 3 Comments

Too Much Of A Good Thing? (The Starbucks Steel Card)

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Coco

It’s no secret that I love Starbucks. I usually start my day with a pot of Starbucks coffee that I brew at home, and I am always happy to see a Starbucks when I am traveling–whether I need a “tall bold” to get me through an evening meeting or a Perfect Oatmeal to start my day.

There is a Starbucks in my office complex, but I try not to go there very often. When I have caffeine late in the day it really impacts my sleep. Not only does it keep me up, but any sleep I do get is not very restful. It may get me through the day, but I pay the price the next day–and need even more Starbucks to keep going!

Still, I am enough of a Starbucks fan to have been interested in the new Starbucks Steel card.

starbucks steel gift card

(source)

Did you hear about it? The card costs $450 and comes loaded with $400 to spend at Starbucks. Apparently, the card really is made of steel and costs $50 to make, so Starbucks is breaking even with the $450 price tag. Only 5,000 cards were available and, according to this article on Forbes.com, they sold out in a minute, although you may be able to bid for one on eBay.

I contemplated getting one for my daughter long enough to ask her if she would want to receive her Starbucks “allowance” ($50/month) all at once. Luckily she knows herself well enough to realize that she would spend it all at once–or at least before Spring Break. While I prefer the bold brewed coffees, she’s hooked on the fancy espresso drinks that can cost more than $5 each.

I didn’t really want one for myself because I am hooked on the Starbucks app.

I use it to pay for my purchases at Starbucks, find the nearest Starbucks when I am traveling, and send my daughter a Starbucks eGift when she needs another latte to get through exams.