Run DMT

I'm a mom on the run!

Run DMT - I'm a mom on the run!

J&J For All You Love

*Disclaimer: I am participating in the J&J For All You Love campaign and have received compensation for sharing my heartfelt motherhood tribute for Mother’s Day and to promote JOHNSON’S® Baby CARES Care Cards, a digital e-card platform encouraging moms to share positive messages of encouragement with other moms across the country, while simultaneously supporting Save the Children®*

Twelve years ago, I stood in classroom filled with desks and children.  I loved my job and my career choice.  I loved seeing light bulbs shine above my students’ little heads once they finally processed a concept.

Though the paperwork, the parent conferences, the hours spent planning often overshadowed the bright faces that filled my classroom, I loved teaching and I did so for seven years.

Then, I became pregnant and when I heard my little one’s heartbeat in our very first sonogram, I knew my life and my career path would change forever.  That day, I willingly made the choice to be a stay at home mom to raise the baby that grew inside me.

US36weeks1

As my little one grew, I sang songs to my belly.  I read stories to a baby that I hadn’t met yet to ensure my little one would know my voice.  On the day she was born, the moment the nurses placed my newborn baby girl on my chest, I looked into her little swollen eyes and cried.  Though we only just met, I fell in love with my baby girl.

Allana_Day1

Twelve years later that love has grown and multiplied as our family grew and multiplied with the birth of two more babies.  Each time, I instantly fell in love with them all.

2Emma_Day1

I am still at home, raising my children and I often miss my teaching days, but I don’t regret my choice.  I don’t need to ask for a personal day or worry about substitute plans.  Though most days balancing three kids can be tough, for the most part, we have fun.

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The other day, my seven year old completed an “All About Me” poster.  In the “What I want to be when I grow up” section, she wrote “I want to be a mommy.”

I asked, “Why do you want to be a mom when you grow up?  Why not a teacher or a doctor?”

“Because moms have fun.  Moms go on field trips and take their kids places and spend time with them and love their kids.”

Yes, we certainly do.  And I wouldn’t have it any other way.


In celebration of Mother’s Day this year, JOHNSON’S® Baby has established JOHNSON’S® Baby CARES Care Cards, a digital e-card platform encouraging moms to share positive messages of encouragement with other moms across the country, while simultaneously supporting Save the Children®.  You can help, too!

Simply pick and share a card filled with messages of reassurance for a Mom in your life on Facebook at http://www.johnsonsbabycares.com. For every card sent, shared or liked, JOHNSON’S®  Baby will donate $1.00 to Save the Children® (up to $150,000) to benefit early childhood education programs that foster education and reassurance for new moms. These cards will not only spread encouragement to Moms throughout the country but will also provide Moms in need with the skills and knowledge to successfully support their child’s growth.

J&JForAllYouLove

Soup du Jour Vlog Hop: My Mother’s Day Reflection

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Earlier this week, the Today Show shared a piece by Today Moms on how parents of three children felt more stress than parents with fewer children or even more children.  According to their survey, parents of three often feel outnumbered, whereas parents of four or more children tend to be more relaxed.

Being a mom of three, I definitely feel outnumbered, over-stressed and have resorted to self medicating with beer or wine.  However, one too many glasses and I could hit the magic number of four children. Of course, I’ll be more relaxed and I’ll drink less due to something called the “Duggar Effect“.  Sure.  I’ll drink to that.

Happy Mother’s Day!

What are you reflecting on this Mother’s Day? Do you have one, two, three or more children? Do you feel stressed or does the idea of more children stress you out?



Pinning and Planning – May 5

Early this morning, I will be paddle boarding along the Crystal River.  My Cinco de Mayo fiesta will begin once I return home to the ice cold Margaritas waiting for me there.

Zim Zari (our favorite local Tex-Mex restaurant) typically offers kids eat free all day on Sunday, but for this Sunday’s Cinco de Mayo fiesta, kids eat free before 3:00 p.m.   I considered going to Zim Zari for dinner but once I sat down to plan our dinner menu for the week, I realized we would be eating a few times this week.  ¡Así, Zim Zari es no va!  Though we may stay home for our Cinco de Mayo fiesta, I may Skinnytaste’s Mexican Unfried Ice Cream add tonight’s to the menu to sweeten the deal.

Friday, we leave for the TradeWinds on St. Pete Beach for Mother’s Day.  I’ve never been there and I can’t wait to soak in some sun, absorb some Vitamin D for my mother’s Day gift and run along the beach.  With all the eating out we’re doing this week, I’m going to definitely need to find time for fitness.

Speaking of finding time for fitness, don’t miss out on this awesome fitness giveaway happening here! Win it just in time for Mother’s Day and give the gift of fitness!

And now for our dinner menu for the week:

S – Copycat Chipotle Burrito Bowls with Cilantro Rice

M – Roasted Veggies and Shaved Asiago on Flatbread

T – Roasted Mojo Chicken with Tomato Zucchini Orzo

W – Loaded Baked Potatoes (My family will eat this. I will be at the Boston Memorial Run.)

Th – School’s McDonald’s Night (I will be at National Moms Night Out.)

F – Picnic on the beach

What’s on your dinner menu this week?  What are your Cinco de Mayo plans?  What are your Mother’s Day plans?



Cinco de Mayo Menu

PhotobucketI had a bit of blogger failure.  With Cinco de Mayo on the horizon, I forgot to create and plan a Mexican inspired dish to share for Friday Food Fight.

Then, it dawned on me.  I don’t need to share anything new.  I’ll spotlight some of my favorite Mexican dishes I’ve already shared for a Cinco de Mayo menu. Yes! That’s the ticket!

Of course, every good Cinco de Mayo fiesta needs to keep the margaritas flowing.  Iron chef Allan’s Better Than Margaritaville Margaritas will definitely put the ole’ in your day.

Better Than Margaritaville Margaritas

Most Cinco de Mayo menus offer very little vegetarian options.  Serve this tasty Roasted Vegetable Mexican Lasagna and you will please everyone.

Roasted Vegetable Lasagna

Wholly Diablo Shrimp served Skinnytaste’s Skinnytaste’s Southwest Black Bean, Quinoa and Mango Medley would make a mucho bueno combo.

Wholly Diablo Shrimp

Skinnytaste’s Southwest Black Bean, Quinoa and Mango Medley

If you feel Mexican food needs meat, but want to keep things relatively low fat, how about a ground turkey Mexican Lasagna?  This dish will please a whole crowd of carnivores.

Mexican Lasagna

Chicken-Mushroom {and Spinach} Quesadillas adds some healthy greens to your fiesta.

Chicken-Mushroom {and Spinach} Quesadillas

If your Cinco de Mayo can’t be complete without tacos, then try these Ground Turkey Tacos.

Ground Turkey Tacos

For an undersea Cinco de Mayo inspired taco selection, serve Banging Baked Fish Tacos or Blackened Baja-Style Talapia served in a corn tortilla.

Banging Baked Fish Tacos

Blackened Baja-Style Talapia

If more plato needs more pollo, try Pollo Relleno or Chicken Veracruz served with Spanish Rice.

Pollo Relleno

Chicken Veracruz

Spanish Rics

For dessert, the obvious choice would be Mexican Wedding Cakes for Cinco de Mayo, but you prefer something a bit more festive and decorative, try these Piña Colada Cupcakes.

Mexican Wedding Cakes

Piña Colada Cupcakes

What’s on your Cinco de Mayo Menu?

Thanks for joining our weekly Friday Food Fight! Can’t wait to see what everyone is flinging this week!



*Also submitted at*

Pinning and Planning – April 29 (and giveaway)

What’s that quote about “the best-laid plans”?  That was me last week.  I was so excited about the Yelptucky Derby , attending my first Yelp event and having excuse to get all dressed up to wear a fancy hat.  Then my kids got sick.

Our parents have comprised immune systems so we can’t have them babysit when the kids are sick and run the risk of exposing them to whatever our kids caught.  Instead, I sadly hung up my fancy hat to play nursemaid.  Of course, that also meant the meals I planned had to be postponed as my kids only wanted toast and cuddles from mama.

Thankfully, everyone felt better by Saturday so Allana and I could attend her Girl Scout Troop’s Run 4 Respect and the Keel and Curley Blueberry Festival.  We picked berries and enjoyed some wine.  Stay tuned for photos and blueberry themed recipes!

M – Pasta Shells with Tomatoes and Mozzerella Cheese

T – Sautéed Tilapia with Lemon-Peppercorn Pan Sauce on Couscous with Roasted Asparagus

W – Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry

Th – Pulled BBQ Pork Sandwiches and Low Fat Classic Coleslaw

F - Pizza

What’s on your dinner menu plan this week?



And to help with menu planning, portion control and tracking it all, I’m giveaway a FitBit Zip, fitbook, a sleek red digital glass scale and a red and white polka dot reisenthel tote. Enter to below! Giveaway ends 5/6/13 at midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Girl Scouts} Run the World – Run 4 Respect

On Saturday, Allana’s Girl Scout Troop hosted an anti-bullying 5K fun run, “Run 4 Respect” to earn their Bronze Award.  Advertised and publicized solely by word of mouth, the inaugural event had 125 registered runners.

Over the past few months, the girls planned every aspect of the event: the route, the signage, their shirts, awards, finisher ribbons, refreshments and entertainment.

For the entertainment, there was a DJ, a bouncy castle, a face painter and a volunteer to make balloon animals, a first for any race I’ve attended!

Allana selected me to serve as a cheerleader along the course and I wore my green tutu just for the occasion.  I thought the color coordinated nicely with the Girl Scout’s t-shirts, but the color would also keep the runner’s spirits bright.

The troop invited Mrs. Universe, Kelly Lightburn, to emcee, present awards and speak to the crowd after the race about standing up to bullies and the importance of self-confidence.

The inaugural event was a huge success and it was evident the Girl Scouts worked very hard on their Run 4 Respect Fun Run from start to finish.


For Music Mondays, I’m now teaming up with my good friend and fellow Marathon Mama, Chrissy.



Visit Xmas Dolly and Jade Louise Designs for more Music Monday.

Low Fat Ground Turkey Chili

PhotobucketGround Turkey Chili is my go-to dinner. Everyone eats it without complaint.  My kids love with it piles of shredded cheddar cheese and a dollop of sour cream, which masks any heat.  I prefer my chili with a dash (or two or three) of hot sauce or topped with some salsa. Depending on my mood, I’ll serve it over brown rice or white rice. Thankfully, my kids will eat it with either rice.

Back in my vegetarian days, I prepared this with tofu crumbles.  Made with either turkey or tofu, this dish is packed with protein and only takes about 30 minutes to prepare.  It’s perfect for those crazy busy schedule days.  You can prepare it the morning and reheat it when you return home.  The leftovers make great nachos and the leftovers freeze well too.

Low Fat Ground Turkey Chili
Print

Cuisine: Tex Mex
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4-6
A quick, healthy and flavorful chili dish made with lean turkey.
Ingredients
  • 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 lb 99% lean ground turkey
  • 1 – 15oz can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tbsp chili powder
  • 4 tsp ground cumin
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground ginger
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • 2 Tbsp cider vinegar
  • 1 carton Pomi chopped tomatoes
  • 1 tsp Kosher salt
  • ½ tsp black ground pepper
Instructions
  1. Heat olive oil on in a large skillet on a medium to low heat. Add onions and sauté until translucent. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant.
  2. Add turkey to pan. Chop and stir turkey to combine with garlic and onions. Cook until no longer pink.
  3. Add spices stirring through meat. Add cider vinegar and cook for a minute. Stir in chopped tomatoes and pinto beans. Simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. Serve over rice.


*Also submitted at*

Random Thoughts about an Oil Spill, New Shoes, Boston Marathon and Track Tuesday

Last Wednesday, I wanted to get a quick 6 miles in before my husband left for his business trip.  When crunched for time, I seem to run better under pressure in my training runs.  I was so impressed with myself.

6 miles
Time 1:03
Ave Pace 10:32
Max Pace 8:30

Hubby has been working on the yard and therefore, the garage is a disaster. As a result and there is no path get in or out.  I managed to maneuver through the garage before my run, but somehow I slipped trying to work my way back inside after my run.

I tripped over my hubby’s recycled oil container and used motor oil glubbed all over my shoes.  I went into hysterics and probably woke the neighbor up with my cussing.  I immediately took the shoes off and vigorously attempted to scrub them clean with an old toothbrush and Dawn dish detergent.  I then threw them the shoes in a bleach cycle in the washing machine in the hopes would come clean.  Another Dawn scrubbing and two more bleach cycles in the wash and the motor oil stains and smell remained.

I was devastated.  These shoes were less than two months old and now I needed to replace them, however, I’ll hang onto them until Pretty Muddy.  I’ll wear them for the mud run and then donate them at the end of the race.  Hopefully, their industrial commercial washing machines can remove the smell and stains.

So, ordered a new pair of shoes form Brooks in the hopes they would arrive in time for Iron Girl, but they didn’t.  They arrived on Monday by Fed Ex in this nifty shoebox free packaging.

Following the directions printed on the packaging, I turned the FedEx envelope inside out and it become a groovy tote.  Don’t you just love that!  It’s so green.  Earth Day came a week early!

But oil spill shoes, new shoes and fun totes seem so trivial after the events that unfolded in Boston yesterday.  I had been watching the live streaming on Facebook to stay up-to-date on my friends, Marcia and Andrea, but the live stream marathon updates were overshadowed by devastating news of explosion near the finish line.  Patrick (Marcia’s husband) couldn’t locate her for about 40 minutes and we were all on edge until we had word of their safety.

When I finally watched the news footage later that evening, I cried.  That could be any of us at any race.  Why would someone do this? Is it some anti-government person trying to make a statement on Tax Day?

Well here’s my statement to the sick bastard who bombed the Boston Marathon.

You didn’t just bomb some race. You bombed THE race.  Boston Marathon is the race that all runners dream and aspire to in a lifetime.  It’s on every runner’s bucket list and some, like me, only qualify in our dreams.

Yes, these marathons are our dreams.  Marathons are our goals and while your goal was to put fear in a nation with dodgy explosives, we don’t fear you.  You make us stronger.  You make us want to run more.  You make us long for Boston even more.  We will train harder and thanks to your cowardly ploy, you made Boston Marathon attainable.

We survived 911 and stupid shoebombers and we didn’t stop flying.   We fly more.

You may have caused another massacre in Boston, but you messed with the wrong community. Runners are a resilient bunch.   We are a strong people.  Runners compete in wheelchairs and others with prosthetic limbs.  Even bombs won’t stop us.  Our will, our love and our passion makes us stronger.  Just give us a reason to run and we will run until we die.

Though it turns my stomach to learn of the death of a young child who died while cheering for the world’s finest athletes, it won’t stop me from bringing my children to races.  My children will keep running with me and we will keep cheering for others.

Furthermore, the actions of a lone lunatic won’t stop me from applying to the NYC marathon again this year, because I refuse to live in fear.  Much like those who ran Boston, NYC is my dream.  Once we stop dreaming, the terrorists win.

For Boston, I will keep running and dreaming.

And so will my children.

To prove it, my girls and I ran 26.2 minutes for Boston after dinner.

Today’s Track Tuesdays speedwork is dedicated to the speedy runners, the spectators and the lives lost at the Boston Marathon.

“I got sole, but I’m not a soldier.”
RememberBostonBib

1.1 mile warm up
Time 10:45
Ave Pace 9:48

Lap 1 – 0.25 mile
Time 1:58
Ave Pace 7:54

Lap 2 – 0.25 mile
Time 2:00
Ave Pace 8:02

Lap 3 – 0.25 mile
Time 2:00
Ave Pace 8:03

Lap 4 – 0.25 mile
Time 2:00
Ave Pace 8:02

1 mile cool down
Time 9:34

Total Time 28:18
Total distance 3.1

Prayers4Boston



*Also linking up at*

Stacy

Pinning and Planning – April 14

I only have one more week to deal with hubby’s crazy travel schedule which is right in the middle of FCAT week (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test). Grades 3-12 grade will endure a completely ridiculous, stressful exam in order to be promoted.  It’s a horrible exam and everyone feels the pressure statewide: the students, the teachers, the administrators and the parents.  *sigh* Thankfully, I will only be flying solo one evening during testing week.

As for our dinner menu, last week we packed on the protein to prepare my muscles.  This week, I’m serving lots of brain food for good test scores.

S – Pork Chile Verde with Cilantro Rice (Still refining this tasty recipe! Use juice of 3 limes and no zest!)

M – Caprese Paninis and Broccoli Salad

T – Chicken Veracruz with Garlic and Spinach Rice

W – Penne and Asparagus

Th – Black Bean Quesadillas and/or Cuban Quesadillas (Reduced fat Swiss Cheese, Pickles and leftover Pork Chili Verde)

F - Pizza

What’s on your dinner menu this week?



LongHorn Steakhouse: Flavorful Under 500

Disclaimer: LongHorn Steakhouse provided me with a dinner for my honest review of the meal.  The opinions shared are my own.

Between my sensitivity to MSG and my inability to stomach bad food, dining out has become more and more difficult for me.  I have to admit, I was nervous to dine at a steakhouse, because steakhouses have terrible reputations for heavily seasoned food and MSG.  Since my reactions to restaurant foods have become increasingly worse since my pregnancy with baby #3, I begged the kind people of Longhorn to allow me to bring my friend, Chrissy, along for the meal.

Honestly, it had been years (before children when I was a vegetarian) since I last stepped into a LongHorn Steakhouse and crunched on the peanut shells spewed all over the floor and I could only recall eating there once.  Since then, Longhorn has cleared away the discarded peanut casings and with it, it’s rough and tough Texas décor.  Although some of the western décor remains, the ambience resembles an affordable Capital Grille.

After our introductions, I felt compelled to inquire about MSG.  The manager assured me that their food does not contain MSG and they take food allergies very seriously.  He advised me to avoid eating only one item and I predicted his answer before he name it: the ranch salad dressing.

Everything else on the menu is made in house.  In fact, everything is made fresh and the salads are hand-cut daily.

Though we were there to taste LongHorn’s Flavorful Under 500 menu selections, we sample a few house-special appetizers, such as the Chilled Shrimp Cocktail,

Spinach Dip,

Grilled White Cheddar Stuffed Mushrooms,

and the Wild West Shrimp.  I photographed more than I ate to keep my calories in check.

Besides, I prefer to drink my calories.

I washed down the starters with The Perfect Margarita made with Sauza Conmemorativo tequila, Grand Marnier, Patrón Citrónge, Triple Sec, plus orange, lemon and lime juices.  I could certainly taste the juices as it lacked that heavy corn-syrupy taste that many places use to mask bad margaritas.  The Perfect was a perfect choice and almost as good as homemade!

There were two chicken entrées on the Flavorful Under 500 menu that piqued my interest.  Chrissy and I decided to share our dinners so we could sample both.  I ordered the Napa Grilled Chicken which served two breasts topped with artichoke hearts, portabella mushrooms, roasted tomatoes and a white wine herb sauce.

Chrissy ordered the Sierra Chicken, two fresh grilled chicken breasts topped with tomato-basil salsa.   Both dinners came with steamed vegetables for sides priced under $15.00 and are relatively low-cost, low calorie plates that served flavorful, very filling meals.

Of course, everyone knows that you eat low calorie meals to save room for dessert.  Even LongHorn Steakhouse realizes this fact, which would explain why the Flavorful Under 500 can be found above the desserts in the menu.

To finish off a fabulous dining experience, the LongHorn Dessert Sampler offered a shareable sampler of three favorites: Chocolate Stampede, Caramel Apple Goldrush and Mountain Top Cheesecake.

Those were all very delicious, however, the must-try fork-licking dessert for the night was the Salted Caramel Cake, which was totally worth blowing 500 calories just to taste a forkful.  This same dessert would be served in a two-bite tall shot glass in a fancier establishment for the same price.  I happily ate more than two bites because the sweet-salty combination and airy yellow cake fooled my brain into thinking it was a “lighter”, low calorie dessert.  As LongHorn’s pride of the dessert, the Salted Carmel Cake stacked up to its name.

I appreciate the reintroduction to LongHorn Steakhouse and I would most certainly return for another Flavorful Under 500 meal. Affordable meals, low calorie family-friendly dining experiences without MSG and reactions are so hard to find these days.   I already told my oldest carnivorous daughter that we would return for dinner on her birthday, since steak is always her requested birthday meal and LongHorn Steakhouse has a wonderful assortment of reasonably priced kids meals for children 12 and under, including a Kid’s Sirloin.  Then, she can celebrate her big day by blowing out the candle in a slice of her own Salted Caramel Cake.

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