This recipe for chicken and mushroom soup with rice was inspired by a recipe in the Giant weekly circular, but ended up being largely based on the Spicy Sausage and Mushroom Soup recipe from the Runner’s World Cookbook, except without the spicy sausage.
A few weeks ago Swēt Ride opened it doors to hold a special class for my Moms Run This Town group. Even though it was bitter cold and I still needed to pack for my vacation, I made the time to check it out, because I love indoor cycling, and Sue had given it good marks in her Swēt Ride review.
Our instructor, Kate, still pumped at the end of the ride!
Swēt Ride is located in a cute storefront in the Del Ray section of Alexandria, Virginia, in between the Caboose Cafe and Cheesetique wine and cheese bar, and catty-corner from the Dairy Godmother frozen custard shop–not that I’ve been to any of these other places. 😉 Continue reading
Welcome to the March 2015 edition of the Ultimate Coffee date link up! It is so nice to take time out of our hectic schedules to get to know each other a little better over a virtual cup of coffee or tea, or your beverage of choice!
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If we were having coffee, I would have to show off the fun coffee mug that my awesome co-host Deb had made for us!
I know my co-host Lynda is enjoying hers too!
If we were having coffee, I would tell you about the snowy weather at the Reston 10 Miler last weekend. (You can read my recap here). I was happy with my time, but laughed when I figured out that with my pace I’d have to be at least 65 in order to win an age group prize–we’ve got some awesome female runners around here!
If we were having coffee, I would have to explain why I am a bit emotional today. You see, it’s this little guy’s birthday. But he’s turning 21, and it’s his first day of Spring Break, and he’s spending it with friends in New York City, so I won’t even see him.
Now, I don’t remember how I celebrated my 21st birthday–not because it was that awesome, but because it was that long ago!–but I am sure that I didn’t spend it with my parents. Still, as a parent, it is hard not to be a part of such a milestone. (Although I am sure I am better off not knowing exactly how he is celebrating ….).
Speaking of Spring Break, if we were having coffee I would have to ask, “Is it spring yet?” While the Polar Vortex didn’t get as much press this year, our February temperatures were 9 degrees below average, and we had so many days in the teens and twenties. And can you believe we had a snow day on Thursday?!
And, speaking of spring, don’t forget that we “Spring Forward” tonight for Daylight Saving Time. I think we have a few clocks that we still need to change ourselves, but since I use my phone for my alarm I have to count on AT&T and Apple to wake me up on time tomorrow![Tweet “Join the March #CoffeeDate Link Up!”]
If we were having coffee, I would tell you that I’ve been in a rut of evening snacking, and am trying MealEnders signaling lozenges via a sponsored opportunity through FitApporaoch to break that habit. If you struggle with the same issue, I’d encourage you to check out my review and enter the giveaway.
Are you going anywhere for Spring Break?
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Today’s Friday Five topic–Friday Favorites–comes at a perfect time, because there are lots of little things I have been loving lately that I want to share with you! Hopefully you’ll forgive me if there are more than five?
I am still loving these three-ingredient breakfast cookies for pre-workout fuel. I pop one or two in the toaster oven and top with a schmear of peanut butter. They seem to be easy to digest and have enough staying power to get me through a long run or indoor cycling class.
My favorite way to refuel after a long run is to enjoy a slice of leftover pizza with a sunny side up egg. This means we have to have leftover pizza in the house, but that isn’t a problem, since I am so addicted to our favorite pizza place!
I usually have oatmeal for a mid-morning snack at work, and I’ve got a new “recipe” that I’m loving lately. As a Tastemaker for BlueDiamond and Almond Breeze Almondmilk, I was given an opportunity to try Almond Breeze Unsweetened Vanilla Almondmilk. As soon as I tasted it, I knew it would be good in oatmeal. And, with only 30 calories per 1 cup serving, it’s also a great base for protein powder smoothies.
To make my oatmeal, I use 1/3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats, 2/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 1 tablespoon Hemp Hearts, and 2 tablespoons of raisins. The unsweetened vanilla almond milk adds great flavor and depth without making the oatmeal too sweet.
To prepare for our ski trip, I bought a variety of snack bars for easy fuel on the slopes. My favorite was the apple cinnamon Health Warrior Chia Bar (100 cal, 3g protein, 4 g fiber). They are delicious and satisfying. Plus, they provide hours of entertainment as you try to use your tongue to free the stray chia seeds from your teeth. 😉
I also discovered Caramel Almond and Sea Salt Kind bars–I still love that salted caramel flavor!
Two long flights to Utah and back meant time for reading, and I enjoyed both of the books I downloaded to my Kindle.
The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins is #2 on Amazon, so maybe you’ve already read it.
(Click image to see on Amazon via my Amazon affiliate link.)
It’s a murder mystery told from three perspectives: Rachel (the girl on the train) who is an alcoholic, the murder victim, and Anna (Rachel’s ex-husband’s wife and the murder victim’s neighbor). It’s a real page turner as you try to figure out “who done it” and also brace yourself for the train wreck that is Rachel’s personal life.
Speaking, of wrecks, the other book I read was Wreckage by Emily Bleeker. I was able to download this book for free via the Amazon Prime/Kindle First program, which lets Amazon Prime members download two out of four selected books every month. I stumbled across that program while looking for my next book to read and may be hooked!
Wreckage tells the story of Lillian Linden, who has survived a plane crash and two years of living on a deserted island, but the experience and secrets she is keeping with her fellow survivors may be tearing them all apart. It was interesting to see how the characters coped with survivor’s guilt, and to follow their struggles to re-establish family relationships after they were rescued. It might not have been the best choice for airplane reading, but at least I wasn’t flying over the ocean!
I believe in the benefits of compression socks, and I wear them for hilly runs, races, and post-race recovery. With my history of DVTs (you can read more about that here) I also wear them on long flights, and probably could benefit from wearing them for long days at the office.
A few weeks ago Susan Costa Walston, the founder of Lily Trotters, reached out to me to see if I would be interested in trying their new line of compression socks. There are so many brands of compression socks out there, but she got my attention because while Lily Trotters have all the compression technology of performance compression socks (they provide a pressure of 15-20 mmHg), they are made with a proprietary 100% micro nylon weave that makes them thin enough to wear with regular shoes. Oh, and they come, in several fashionable designs!
Are these cute or what?!
I wore these to work the day after the Reston 10 Miler, and I definitely noticed the compression. Plus, my legs felt good during my run the next day. Lily Trotters is still in their pre-launch phase, but I’m watching their progress on Kickstarter.
I am loving the community and camaraderie of the link ups I participate in, including the Friday Five link up, and the Tuesdays on the Run link up. I know every link up has their freeloaders, but I find that most people who participate in these link ups play nice and I am getting to know some great people.
Tomorrow (March 7) is the March edition of The Ultimate Coffee Date Link Up that I co-host with Deb and Lynda. One nice thing about The Ultimate Coffee Date Link Up is that it is not limited to any specific niche or theme. If you haven’t joined before, check out last month’s link-up to see how it works. We’d love to have you join us!
Another fun thing about blogging is blogger giveaways, and I’m hosting one now for MealEnders, which are lozenges designed to help you stop mindless munching. See what I think about them so far and enter the giveaway here.
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Want to know what others are loving lately? Check out the Friday Five link up hosted by Eat Pray Run DC, Mar on the Run and You Signed Up for What!
Have you tried any of the things I’m loving lately?
When I was offered the chance to do a MealEnders review through my affiliation with SweatPink and FitApproach, I was intrigued but wary. I do struggle with after-dinner grazing, but I don’t want to take any products with stimulants or herbal ingredients that have not been approved by the FDA. I was intrigued to learn that MealEnders is based on a two-layer taste system instead of a drug effect, and eager to give them a try.
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
