Book Review: Gone Girl By Gillian Flynn

Posted on September 28, 2012 by Coco

If you don’t count the “50 Shades” books (which I have no interest in reading–sorry, I’m not sorry!), Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn was the book that everyone seemed to be reading and recommending this summer.

Once I started reading it, I understood why. It was quite a page-turner with just enough twists and turns to keep me up late reading.

The story starts on Nick and Amy’s fifth wedding anniversary, when Amy disappears. The husband is always a suspect and Nick doesn’t do himself any favors.

What happens when your wife goes missing and you are a jerk?

It’s a whodunit told in chapters that alternate between Nick and Amy’s diary–and you never know whom to believe. I won’t even hint at any spoilers, but I will say that the story gets satisfyingly Revenge-y with each dark plot development.

Speaking of Revenge, who else is excited for season 2?

Posted in Book Reviews, Life | Tagged | 9 Comments

Pumpkin Beers: Round Two

Posted on September 27, 2012 by Coco

Desperate for some time together, my husband decided to accompany me to the grocery store last weekend. While I shopped the produce section, he browsed the beer selection one aisle over. He enjoyed the pumpkin beers we had sampled at Rustico, and found two more that looked good.

According to the website:

Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale is a light refreshing wheat ale with delightful aromatics and subtle spiced flavor.

This beer definitely was on the light side (but not the “lite” side!), with a strong nutmeg aroma.

He also wanted to try this one:

This is how the Star Hill brewery website describes it:

Boxcar Pumpkin Porter is a traditional English-style Brown Porter with pumpkin added to the mash. Light spicing allows the subtle flavors of pumpkin and roasty porter to shine through.

(So much darker!)

The “pumpkin” flavor of this one was more subtle, but the beer as a whole had more flavor.

I don’t think I like either of these better than the Dogfish Head Punkin Ale, Pumpking, or Schlafly Pumpkin Ale we had at Rustico, but it is fun to try different variations on the “pumpkin beer” theme.

Do you have a favorite “pumpkin” beer?

Does your spouse/significant other go grocery shopping with you?

Posted in Food | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday (The Smiling Edition)

Posted on September 26, 2012 by Coco

I had a lot of fun at Fitbloggin trying out new workouts and learning more about blogging,
but the best part was finally meeting old blogger friends and making new ones.

I even was able to buy Josie a free drink!

Posted in Fitness, Life | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Treadmill Tuesday: 30 Minute Speed Interval Workout

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Coco

It has been a while since I’ve posted a treadmill workout. I didn’t spend much time on the treadmill this summer, and when I did, I took it easy since I was rehabbing my ITB/glutes/piriformis. Now that I am feeling stronger, I think my body can handle some more intense running workouts, and with the Army Ten Miler only a few weeks away, I think my body needs to practice running faster again.

Necessity was the mother of this workout–last week I hit the snooze button too many times and only had 30 minutes to squeeze in a workout.

30 Minute Speed Interval Workout
walking warm-up
0-2 min: walking @ 3.7 mph
running warm-up
2-4 min: running @ 5.7 mph
4-5 min: running @ 6.0 mph
2/1 speed intervals
5-7 min: running @ 6.7 mph
7-8 min: running @ 6.2 mph
8-10 min: running @ 6.7 mph
10-11 min: running @ 6.2 mph
11-13 min: running @ 6.7 mph
13-14 min: running @ 6.2 mph
14-16 min: running @ 6.8 mph
16-17 min: running @ 6.2 mph
17-19 min: running @ 6.9 mph
19-20 min: running @ 6.2 mph
20-22 min: running @ 7.0 mph
22-23 min: running @ 6.2 mph
23-25 min: running @ 7.1 mph
25-26 min: running @ 6.5 mph
running cool-down
26-28 min: running @ 5.7 mph
walking cool-down
28-30 min: walking @ 3.7 mph

Do you have a go-to workout for when you are short on time?

Posted in Fitness, Treadmill Workouts | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Is Maple Syrup Sweeter Than Honey?

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Coco

I am wary of most food fads and didn’t pay much attention to the Canada Maple Syrup representatives at Fitbloggin, but as I was sorting out all my swag, their brochure caught my attention.


At first I laughed at this statement:

Before your workout, maple syrup gives you the energy burst needed to power through your exercise regimen.

I mean, it’s sugar! But then I saw this nutrition information chart:

Now, I know I’m never going to consume a 1/4 cup “serving” of maple syrup (I just don’t like that much sweetness), but the chart provides an interesting comparison to my other go-to liquid sweetener, honey. I was surprised to see that maple syrup has more of some nutrients than honey, and fewer grams of sugars.

(Pure Maple Syrup in our Fitbloggin swag bag)

I do like a drizzle of maple syrup on my banana oatmeal pancakes, and I did put some Grade B maple syrup on my oatmeal at Fitbloggin (the darker grade syrup has more antioxidants and a stronger flavor) and it was delicious. Now, I may try it on other things instead of honey–like peanut butter toast. The Pure Canada Maple website has more interesting recipes, including a “sports drink” recipe (based on orange juice) and a smoothie recipe.

Do you like maple syrup? What do you think I should try it on?

Have you tried agave nectar?

Posted in Food | Tagged , | 16 Comments