I am extra happy on this rainy Friday because I will be leaving shortly for a weekend getaway with PJ! We are heading to Delaware, and we will be running the Dogfish Dash 10k on Sunday. Believe it or not, this is the first time in our four-year relationship that we are taking a vacation alone! Usually when we plan time away, we are visiting family or friends. I love seeing the fam or having an action packed vaca with friends, but I'm excited to spend a weekend with PJ (and Christian Grey) and no distractions.
Speaking of Christian Grey, I am already halfway through 50 Shades Darker, which is the second book in the 50 shades trilogy. The best word to describe this book series is SEXY. If you are looking to get absorbed in a book, I would totally recommend this series. The best part about a trilogy in my opinion is that I don't get that sadness when a book is over and I can't look forward to reading it anymore. With a trilogy, the drama continues!
Nothing too exciting has been happening with me over the past few days. On Wednesday night, this came out from the cabinet again...
I am loving my crockpot right now. I used it a bit last year, but I have already used it four times in September alone! As I stated in previous posts, I love focusing my energy on creating yummy side dishes. There are so many great crockpot recipes out there that aren't just your basic meat and potatoes meal. For example, I have tagged recipes for crockpot oatmeal,lasagna, brownies, soups, and sides! On Wednesday, I made Slow Cooked Butternut squash which I adapted from a recipe I found on FitSugar.
Slow Cooked Butternut Squash
-1.5 lbs butternut squash (peeled, seeded, medium dice)
-1 large apple, medium dice
-2 tablespoons of golden raisins
-1/2 cup orange juice
-sprinkle of cinnamon
-drizzle of agave nectar
Directions:
Place ingredients into the slow cooker, except for raisins,agave, and cinnamon. Place them in the middle so they don't burn. When cooked, mix and combine broken down apple and squash. Serve with a sprinkle of cinnamon, golden raisins, and an agave drizzle! ENJOY! Cook on high for 2 hours. Makes 8 servings (1/2 cup serving).
Yum. Squash, salmon, and braised kale. **TIP** When I make a veggie like Kale or broccoli and I want to keep it simple, healthy, and flavorful, I'll add a dash of balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper to the veggie and it gives it a nice tanginess without compromising the vegetable's natural flavor and nutrition.
While I'm discussing food, I forgot to post this picture when I took it last Saturday and I just have to share it.
These are Eggland's Best eggs. When I opened the package to make sure there were no cracks in the eggs, I was so excited to see that each egg had been marked with the breast cancer awareness ribbon! What a wonderful way to advocate for breast cancer awareness- and let's be honest- these eggs are adorable! Eggland's Best eggs have less saturated fat, double the Omega 3,and ten times more Vitamin E, compared to ordinary eggs. I would buy these little eggies more frequently, but FreshDirect doesn't carry them :( Get on it, FreshDirect!
On to other news. Yesterday I received a little package in the mail covered with stickers - it made my day! Momma and Dad sent me a little somethin' to brighten my day :) Don't you love "just because" gifts!? I used to receive little packages quite frequently when I was in college. They were always covered in stickers by my adorable mom and packed with special goodies .Receiving this package brought me right back to the excitment I felt when I received a notice in my college mailbox that I had a package :)
Last evening, I ran 6 long miles (YIPEE!) ,which is the last time I had to run before this weekend's race (not a race for me haha). For someone who doesn't LOVE running, it can be difficult to motivated yourself to complete a long run. I have been training the past two weeks on a treadmill, which makes it easy to just stop running and go back upstairs to my apartment. When running outside you have to continue your run to get home! Here are a few strategies that I have found to help me in completing those longer runs.
1. If you're running on a treadmill, plan your run around a great tv show or movie. This is key for me.
2. Cover the treadmill time with a sweatshirt and don't keep peaking!
3. Focus on the reason you are training , whether it's to successfully complete a race or to have a personal best time. For me, picturing myself running the race with ease keeps me truckin' on.
This is what I'm going to look like when I cross the finish line on Sunday! Nothing beats the power of positive thinking, right!?
Alright, I have to go pack! I'll pop back in at some point this weekend!
XO
Sarah
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