According to Berni

I figure Oprah shouldn’t be having all the fun so I thought I’d do my own version of

“Berni’s Favorite things”

Now,  keep in mind… these are my favorite things THIS week, but like any girl will know, that is subject to change at any moment. 

First up I have this Sun Dried Tomato Pesto

It is quiet possibly the BEST thing I have eaten all year (except for that coconut ice cream).   It is finely minced sundried tomatoes with pine nuts that are in Olive oil.    I have had it twice and am only using half a serving size, which is plenty for one person.   I tossed it with some Whole Grain Penne Pasta (sorry, no pics!), some roasted broccoli and mushrooms,  chopped Kalamata olives and crumbled feta cheese…  OMG!!   I seriously would eat this every day until this jar is gone but it’s fairly high in calories so I’m behaving myself.    I found it in the produce section of my regular grocery store,  you know how they have those shelves under the produce with stuff on them??  That’s where I found it…  Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Next up I have my new favorite evening treat.

I have been having half a serving size of this (which is 6 squares) at night while relaxing, after everything I need to do has been done.   Half a serving is plenty to satisfy my sweet tooth and it is SO good!!  

I have this to go along with it:

Mmmm soothing and delish!  It’s the perfect combo and helps to remind me that my day is coming to an end and it’s time to unwind.

I’ve also recently discovered that I love me some basic green smoothie.  BASIC being the key word here.   In the past when I would make a green smoothie I would use hemp milk for the liquid and add protein powder every time.   I am now using water for my liquid and am not using the protein powder all the time (saving it for when I really need it).  I am putting about 2-3 cups of baby spinach, 1 C water and 1 Med frozen banana in my magic bullet and blending it up.   It is SO refreshing, only about 120 calories and just as good as before!!!   

So my friends, there you have it… my new food finds and my new food tweaks.   I hope every one of you is having a wonderful day!!

xoxo

Hello my friends…

Sorry to be MIA but you know how sometimes LIFE gets in the way of BLOGGING??

Well, Life happened.

Saturday morning my daughter and I took my mom to the emergency room, she was having a BAD asthma attack and the last time this happened she collapsed and had some heart trouble and was on a ventilator for 3 days.   Well, this time I think we may have gotten her there in the nick of time!  They were unsuccessful at getting oxygen into her and ended up putting her under and intubated  her.  She was on the ventilator  for almost 3 days in ICU.   She is still in the hospital and is still having trouble with the breathing but has improved some. 

I apologize for not getting around to read blogs and comment like I normally do,  I promise this week I will get caught up. 

In happier news… I’m down 3.5 lbs and SUPER excited and motivated to keep up with what I’ve been doing.  I’ve found some new foods that I’m in love with and learned how to fit some things in that I can’t live without.   It’s all good!!

This morning I went on a run, 4 miles.  I absolutely enjoyed every single minute of it!!   I also ran 3.5 on Sunday…and that was a good run.   I was able to do alot of thinking while I was running, clear my head and separate myself from the ugliness that was looming in the ‘real world’.  At one point in Sunday’s run I asked myself “how can you go out and run while your mother lies in the hospital?”  my answer was simple  “because I can”.  

You see, part of my mother’s problems stem from the fact that she does not take good care of herself, she is not healthy.   Sure, she takes good care of everyone else, my sisters, me, my dad, the grandkids.   But she wont even take time to go for a walk.  I’ve been on her for ages to get healthy.  I talk till I’m blue in the face.   At some point I have to just set a good example and hope that some day she will follow….    until then I am determined to make time for ME and keep myself as healthy as I possibly can.

Well friends, tonight is TV night and I cannot tell you how happy that makes this girl!!

xoxo

With the arrival of Spring and Summer quickly approaching…it appears the blog world is a buzz with trimming, toning and overall well being.  There’s something about Summer that just encourages us all to make better choices, could it be those short shorts and tank tops??   Most likely.  We all want to look and feel better and what that all comes down to for me is choices.

Shari has begun her Spring Slimdown 2010 and I am jumping on that bandwagon fo sho!!  I have some excess pounds that I have been trying to shed for a while now with no luck.  I think my problem is that I’ve gotten comfortable and lax in what I’m eating and the calories in vs. calories out is not creating enough of a negative to lose. 

Starting today I began tracking my calories eaten and burned using SparkPeople.  I wanted to get some idea of where cuts could be made and where I’m at in the way of calories eaten in a day.  For the most part I think I eat healthy, whole, unprocessed foods that are good for me but there’s always room for improvement, right?

Well…

While logging my very 1st meal this morning… I was already surprised and could see in one meal where ALOT of calories could be cut.  Using sweetened creamer that is 35 calories per serving (1 Tbsp) seems innocent enough, right??   Well it turns out I’m using 2 servings in each cup and have 2 cups per morning that comes out to 140 calories, just for my coffee and that’s before I’ve even thought about breakfast!!  OUCH!

I’m already worried that by the end of the day I’m going to be having water with lemon for dinner… 

So, last night I had prepared some Overnight Oats with 9 grain oats, flax seed and hemp milk.  Well, those Oats cost me 481 calories!!    Holy moly!!   The oats alone were 340 calories for 1/2 C serving (dry) and the Hemp milk was 50 for 1/2 C, the flax 59 and 1T of honey 32.   Now I know this is better than eating a bowl of Captain Cruch with Crunchberries but what I’m finding out is that these healthy food items I’m eating are very calorie dense. 

Moderation is going to be key if I’m going to shed these extra pounds.  I think this is exactly what I need right now, a kick in the pants and a reminder to eat more fruits and veggies!!   Just because something is good for me doesn’t mean it’s not high in calories… in the end I just need to find balance and be aware.

Have a wonderful evening everyone!! 

xoxo

Happy Monday everyone!!

It’s back to real life today for me after spending the weekend with my friend Cindy!  

Our weekend was filled with chit-chatting, good eats, shopping and exercise…What more could any girl ask for?

I know I’ve said it before but I am still amazed at how wonderful this lady is!  It’s like that comfy pair of pants that you put on after a long day… and when you do you feel Ahhhhhhh.  You know the feeling.    That’s how it is with her.   We thoroughly enjoy each other. 

Some of our shenanigans involved YOGA.  I was extremely doubtful she would make me into a pretzel, I swear I am the most UN bendable person there is, but she managed to get me into poses I never thought I’d do!!    Never mind the stiff neck I woke up with, I’m sure that was the result of sleeping like a log last night…

Sunday morning we were up bright and early to go for a run, but before we did we jumped on the treadmill for a warm up.   We really wanted to get a gauge for how different or similar our happy pace was.  While we were at it we made a video…  and giggled about how we are both scared to run with Shari who we can’t wait to meet in a few weeks and is our hero…  will we be able to keep up??  Will she think we’re wimps??   Oh the fun of it all!!  

And now I’m laughing my arse off because I had been having trouble uploading this video… so I gave Cindy my log in so she could do it….  I just saw what she titled the video and am laughing hysterically… hopefully you get a laugh out of it too!!

Our outdoor run was lots of fun, we did about 3.2 miles in about 45 minutes, were gabbing so much we missed one of our turns and had to back track but I think it was perfect for a hilly run!

Well friends…

we hope you enjoyed reading about our visit as much as we had!! 

xoxo

Happy Friday my friends!!

I hit the tail early for a 10 mile bike ride because I’ve got a lot to do today to get ready for tomorrows ROAD TRIP!!

I hit up Sprouts (really?? again??) to stock up on this tea that I just can’t get enough of!!   I’m telling you, you MUST try it!! 

What’s that??   How did that magazine get in there???  

Now I’m in the middle of tackling my TO DO list and packing… I’m such a list maker!!   I have lists on Post-it’s everywhere…  

I’ll be up early again tomorrow to pound out a 7 mile run with my sister, then I’m off to see what kind of trouble I can get into fun I can have with my gal pal Cindy!!  She’s got plans that involve turning me into a pretzel and German Chocolate Cake, count me in!! 

I’m sure we’ll have some fun stories to share after our visit, until then have a WONDERFUL weekend and I’ll catch ya on the flip side…

xoxo

Spring has Sprung!!!

It may be too soon to tell for sure but I’m guessing that the day of my 10AM runs is long gone…

Lately I’ve been waiting until I’ve dropped my daughter off at school and traffic dies down a bit before heading out.   This morning it was 71 degrees out at 9:30 and felt like 85.  Eeek!

My training plan had 2 easy peasy miles on it for today but after Sundays AMAZING 6 miler I was feeling like I wanted more and ended up doing 5!   I was so stinking happy about that!   There have been plenty of runs cut short because I wasn’t “feeling it” but I don’t think there have been too many that I more than doubled, actually I’m pretty sure there have been NONE.  That has me smiling BIG!

Tonight is The Biggest Loser so I’m off to get comfy clothes on and get settled.  Tomorrow is my riding day- 16 miles is the plan…

Have a great night my friends!!

xoxo

Well I was up bright and early this morning, people to see and places to go.  

First on the list was Trader Joe’s,  I got there just as they were opening and took my time perusing the isles… I was in search of something NEW and FUN to try but ultimately left with what I came for and nothing new.  Oh well.

I was completely out of Olive Oil and running very low on Balsamic Vinegar so I got some of both.

It was on to Sprouts next.  Where I found this fun new Tea.  Mark over at Living Wellness recommended it a while back for those who are looking for a coffee alternative (ME).  

The box says:

“This full bodied, caffeine-free alternative to coffee has been a trusted favorite for more than 30 years.  Whith the robust flavors of roasted chicory and barley, a hint of chocolate from roasted carob and just a touch of cinnamon and allspice.  Roastaroma is hearty enough to give you a lift in the morning and delicious enough to enjoy all day long.”

Sounds like EXACTLY what I need!  The second I opened the box I knew I had found what I’ve been looking for,  it smells divine!!  And tastes just like it smells!

After all the FUN shopping was out of the way, I headed over to my regular grocery store to gather up the rest of my shopping list and look what I found in the produce section!

these were all marked down to some ridiculously low price, I think I got 2 huge bunches, something like 10 bananas for about $1.19!!!!    I guess they weren’t pretty enough.  These babies will be cut into chunks and frozen and will be perfect for smoothies!   SCORE!!

Am I the only crazy one or is there anyone else out there who’s grocery shopping involves more than one store??? 

In running news.  My sister and I met at the trail for our ‘Long Run’ of 6 miles.  We took about a month off from any long runs after the Half but are back to increasing our mileage for the OC Half on May 2nd, which she has decided to run with me!  YAY!!!    I had a feeling she wasn’t going to want to miss the fun.  I’m so glad she’ll be there again. 

This weeks 6 miles felt AMAZING!!   It was one of those runs that made me wish every run could be like this one.   Why can’t they all be good?? 

I’m happy to say that I met my cardio goal for last week, getting 3 runs and 2 bike rides in makes mama happy!!!    I’m setting the same goal for this week. 

Well my friends, have a wonderful week and for those of you with no kids in the house… just look at what you are missing!

over and over and over until I think my ears will bleed…..

xoxo

For those minds that just fell into the gutter….I’ll give you a second to collect them….

This isn’t THAT kind of post.

Lately there’s been alot of talk about Maximum Heart Rate, Calories in VS Calories out, running faster, eating clean and Birthdays.   What do all these things have in common??

Everything and nothing.

Some of us are able to run faster than others, some eat meat and some don’t,  some of us had birthdays yesterday and some ran for a long long time.   The common denominator is US and we are EVERYTHING.

Yesterday, in celebration of my birthday, I was determined to get a cardio workout in.  I honestly don’t think that I have EVER in my life done that.  This is a new year, I turned 45 and because I feel better than I ever have, I figured that was the perfect way to celebrate- use it or lose it , right??   I couldn’t come up with a way to work the number 45 into a workout- 45 miles was too long, 45 minutes was not long enough….so I set out on my bike and just figured “if it feels good, DO IT.”

Without consideration of time, speed, heart rate or distance,  I rode.   In the end I covered 16 miles in 1hr 18 min, I stopped twice along the way for water and a photo op, but mostly just enjoyed the beautiful day.   WOW!    I was surprised to find that my heart rate averaged 128 which is 70% of my MHR,  and ideal for an hour+ long cardio session.  

I love this old wood bridge.  It’s 8 miles from my house and there’s a beautiful BIG park on the other side and up about 1/2 mile.  That park is where my sister and I meet when we do our long runs, which will be starting again tomorrow eeeek.

When I got home from my ride, the kiddos had been up to some birthday shenanigans and look what I was greeted with!

and the star of the show is this little guy!!!

we discovered this little treasure a couple years ago and I am here to tell you… TO DIE FOR!!   Which is why we only get the small one.

After my glorious ride, I cleaned up and my oldest daughter took me to lunch and out for mani-pedi’s and last night the kids took me out to dinner.     What a day!!

Today we are headed over to Knott’s Berry Farm, a local amusement park for some more fun!!!

Thank you all for the wonderful Birthday wishes yesterday and I hope you are able to get out and enjoy some sunshine today too!!!

I don’t know about you, but I’m a sucker for a meaningful ‘quote’…   and this week I have come across 2 that I simply adore.

Earlier in the week I got a text message from my sister.  She sent me a picture of a quote that was in a magazine she was reading while getting her hair done.   It said

“You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”  ~  Eleanor Roosevelt

and underneath it, my sister wrote “This is how you live…I love you!”

I was SO touched by this!!    I mean, she is right, I do try to live this way but seeing my actions be put into words like that made my day!!

Then later in the week I was reading a story about an overweight girl who had just completed her first Half Marathon.  Someone had commented with this quote and I loved it so much I used it for my mantra today during my grueling invigorating workout.

“the desire to quit will be greatest right before you’re about to succeed”

Need I say more??

So… in an attempt to shake things up a bit and try my hardest to push myself a bit more, I did my first “Tempo Run”.  Whoa,  that wasn’t anything like I thought it would be….   I don’t know what I thought it would be but that for sure was NOT it.

I set out on a beautiful morning with blue skies with a plan.  The plan was 4 x 3 minute tempo w/60 second jogs between.

I ran my 1 mile warm up followed by a 3 min run at a “comfortably hard” pace (8 on a scale of 1-10 @90- 95% max heart ate).   And Whoa Nelly!!!!    I seriously don’t think I could have done 1 second past 3 minutes.   My 60 second recovery jog became a 2 minute walk break because seriously I was out of breath.   I did it again, and again, and again….   4 times total with another mile cool down at the end.

That was seriously HARD but FUN at the same time!!   I was never so glad to be done with a run but looking forward to doing it again next week!!

What doesn’t kill you will make you stronger … right???

Happy Thursday everyone!!!

xoxo

A while back I won a $25 shopping spree at Ecostore USA from Sharon over at Good, True and Beautiful,  she is also having another giveaway this week for $100 CSN shopping spree!  Go check it out and enter!!

The Ecostore USA website says:

“All of our products are made from plant- and mineral-based ingredients, free of toxic chemicals that bring people closer to nature with non-toxic, environmentally safe solutions that also help to reduce our carbon footprint.”

I was eager to try their products because I’m always torn between having a CLEAN house but worrying about the safety of the chemicals I am using to have the CLEAN house.  I decided on the Citrus Spray Cleaner, the Toilet Cleaner and the Coconut Soap.

So far I have tried all 3 products and would say I’m happy with them.   The Citrus cleaner has a light citrus smell and doesn’t make you feel like you need to hold your breath while your wiping down the counter tops.   The Toilet Cleaner also seems to do what it’s supposed to.   As for the Coconut Soap, I got 2 bars.  One for ME and one to share with a special friend who loves Coconut!    I really really love the soap!!  I’m not normally a “BAR SOAP” person but this has a light coconut smell, feels great on your skin and leaves my skin soft and not dry.

If you spend $25 you get free shipping so if  eco friendly cleaning products are important to you then you should definitely check them out.

And now for the “moderation” part of the post, and my Public Service Announcement of the week…

BEWARE:  Target has Easter candy out and there are NEW flavors of Hershey’s Kisses!

Because a certain friend of mine has passed on her coconut addiction to me I could not pass up these beauties.

do you see those 2 words…Coconut Creme??

consider yourself warned!

Have a wonderful Weekend my friends!!

xoxo