Month of Numbers & A Challenge

As done in previous months, I've tried to keep up with a fitness challenge. The other day while out running, this one came to me. 

How about a Numbers Challenge? Being the science geek I am, I know that March is the month of "Pi". In math, the number Pi (pie) is 3.14 (with many other numbers following that decimal, but rounded at .14). So on March 14 (3/14) it is known as Pi Day. In honor of this month being a big math/science number month, my challenge is to set a number goal to achieve. A set number of miles you want to run, bike, walk. A number of pounds you'd like to drop. A number of pushups, situps, lunges, squats you'd like to do each day or week. 

Whatever your number goal is, try your hardest to stick to it.

My goal: to run 30 miles for the month of March.

Right now, I'm doing the plankaday challenge. Holding a plank for as long as I can, 1-2 mintues on average, each day. I try to make push ups and lunges a daily routine as well. Every little bit helps!

If you want to participate in this challenge, tag me on Twitter (@charmoon) with your goal and how you're doing. Let's use the hashtag #MarchGoal. If you are on Facebook, write on my wall with your "March Goal" or simply comment on this blog post. Let's be active this month!!

Healthy Eating: A way of life

Eating healthy is nearly second nature to me, but it doesn't mean that "healthy" food is all bland, gross, boring tasting. There is so much diversity and potential when eating healthy. Small, simple choices and swaps can make your diet/meal choices that much more healthy. And by starting small, you are already making better choices that will lead to more healthy choices. Such deep thoughts, I know.

Making a fruit smoothie at home. Both cost effective and a great way to "fill you up" as a snack or meal replacement. I use frozen yogurt that I froze myself. Vanilla yogurt frozen in ice cube trays and popped into a blender/food processor. Add in whatever fruits & splash of juice you like. I used: Frozen vanilla yogurt (Chobani greek  yogurt), raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, mango and pineapple with a splash of apple juice. Blend until smooth. I've also added in frozen chopped spinach, ground flax seed and wheat germ as additional supplements that are only good for you!

Any meal can be made healthy by adding some fresh, steamed veggies. Or by substituting in some steamed brown rice. Brown rice is better than regular pasta because there is the whole grain goodness and also it mixes it up by not always having pasta "carbs". Rice is still a grain and has carbs, but a better carb for you. 

Who says ice cream can't be healthy?! This is actually ice cream made solely from 1 ingredient: frozen bananas! I sliced a banana and froze it. Then, took it out and put it in a blender. One tip: take it out of the freezer maybe 5-10 minutes before you want to blend it. This allows it to "soften" up a bit so when you blend it its not so much work on the blender. You can add in peanut butter, chocolate chips or syrup, nuts, fruit...anything! If you like banana flavor, you will love this healthy take on ice cream. 1 frozen banana made a good size cup of ice cream for one person.

And that frozen fruit smoothie from above? Why not use it to make Popsicles! A tasty desert treat too.

Eating healthy doesn't have to be a huge life-altering decision. It can be as simple as substituting your evening desert for a healthier choice or adding in vegetables to your meal.

I hope this helps and that you can start to enjoy the tasty benefits of being healthy!

13.1 Miles. No big deal

While many people were enjoying their morning coffee, reading up on the news, perhaps going out for breakfast or brunch...I ran 13.1 miles. No big deal. I was done by 10:30am and on with the rest of my day. Which, consisted of ice, stretching and resting.

I ran my first Half Marathon on Jan 20th 2013 at the PF Chang's Rock 'n Roll Marathon. It was a girls weekend get together that had been planned since June 2012. A group of us decided we would run it together, though we all ran different times and distances, all because one of the ladies had a birthday. What a great group of ladies I am now friends with (those didn't already know). It was a great time getting to know each other, training, talking about how we were doing and to accomplish a goal I had always wanted to do. Next on the list? More half marathons and someday a full. Here is the weekend at a glance. Oh yeah, the results. Spoiler: 13.1 miles in 2:35 min. PR for me! Avg 11min/mile. Not bad! I only walked 2.5 total miles and did great. Goal: get the time down to 2:30 and keep going down from there. 2:20 and someday 2:00.

At the Rock 'n Roll Expo, downtown Phoenix.

At the expo. Only 26.2 miles to go!

Carbing it up the night before with some fellow weather nerd ladies.

Best Gal Pal Jessica :) and fellow Weather nerd!

At the start, waiting for that gun to go off.

At the start line. New best buddy Emma!

A quick shot as we head east. Around mile 2. 

TOAST! To the finish!

Hydrating with Nuun :) I love.

A bowl of protein goodness: Choc protein goo, PB, coconut cookie dough crumble & cinnamon flatout bowl. All from Stuftmama's recipes. Yum!

Just crossed the finish and was handed a medal and asked to take my picture. Atleast I'm smiling!

And after chugging some water. 

Gal Pal ladies from work & Jackson. We are ready to rock!

The whole group of ladies that ran (minus 1). Some ran the full, some ran the half marathon and some ran the half relay. We all accomplished goals and kicked butt!

 What a great weekend. Happy Birthday to Miss Leslie. She ran her first ever full Marathon and kicked some serious butt! What's next on the list?

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{Have been MIA from blog world, oops! Life has gotten in the way and blogging has gone to the back burner. Hopefully I can find some time to get back into things.}

Remember that Juneathon stuff?

Try hard to remember back to June.
Lots of running, biking, working out. 100+ degree days. Crazy me running outside. Remember? Well the fun doesn't end there. There is a challenge for January!

Janathon

Why not start the year off with being active? You know I'm down for this! As before, I will probably not be blogging every single day. But I'll post the highlights and weekly updates. It does help that I'm running the P.F. Changs Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon this month. Woot, woot! My first ever half marathon. Actually, my first ever race longer than a 10k. I'm excited!

Anyone else want to join in the Run-Fun that is Janathon? 

You know you want to join the fun!

I use RunKeeper as an app on my phone for tracking my workouts/runs. I also double check that with Google maps and make sure to note the time I start. I've been known to have GPS tracking issues and a random 52 mile run is logged for me. Ambitious but not correct!

Anyone have any cool apps they use? GPS wrist watch recommendations? I need one, just don't have the cash for one.

Happy Active-ness Month!

Pinterest Wins: Pancake Muffins

Instagram'd my Pancake Muffins

Found an idea on Pinterest and BAM...made it work. Pretty tasty. Didn't have anything too crazy for toppings but Chocolate Chips and Blueberries work wonders. 

The original Pin:

Source: theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com via Char on Pinterest

And here's how I did it.

Ingredients:

Pancake Mix (yep, I used box mix. Easy)

Toppings of choice (I used chocolate chips and blueberries)

Mix batter in bowl according to directions on box. If using a from-scratch version, it will work just the same. Preheat oven to 350* degrees, or according to box directions. Spray muffin pan with non-stick spray. Spoon batter into muffin tins, about half full. The fuller, the more plump your muffins will be. Add toppings. Also would be good: Nuts, bacon, sausage...Bake in oven for 10-12 minutes, again according to box directions for Muffins. Check with a toothpick. Let cool. Eat up. Eat them all. Ok, maybe not all of them.

These are super easy. Can be made ahead of time and grab 'n go for breakfast.

You'll thank me later. Or thank Pinterest. Same thing.

"Best Of"

What about a "Best Of" recipes post? I need to get my butt in gear and start coming up with new and exciting things for dinner. In the mean time, here are a few of the "Best Of" selections that are made over and over again and somewhat east to do.

Pizza Bites-- Remember these? A few ingredients you may already have laying around and in less than 30 minutes you have hand-held pizza bites to munch on, take for lunch, or a great appetizer!

Baked Zucchini Sticks-- Ok so maybe not a meal, but another great snack. Better if made & eaten fresh, as they may get soggy as leftovers. Very few ingredients. 

Broccoli Chicken Bake-- One of the most requested recipes. Simple, vegetable, pasta, chicken. Dinner in a dish & bake. 

Easy Enchiladas-- I realize these are just cheese enchiladas, so adding ground beef would be extra better. EASY!

Potstickers or Dumplings-- I need to make these again! So easy, finger food and can be customized to whatever you want to fill them with!

Now I feel like I need to go make a bunch of food!

What are some of your favorite, easy, go-to meals? What would you like to see me make?

No Mas

This time of year really gets me thinking. Especially since we are a distance apart from our families. Growing up, both Josh and I valued all the time spent with our families. Sometimes you take for granted what you had, and don't realize it until you don't have it anymore.

A quick trip over to your mom's house. 

Watching a movie with your brother/sister on Friday night. 

Meeting up with cousins or nieces and nephews.

These are things that are tough to do when you live 900+ miles apart. It becomes even harder during the Holidays to not be together with friends and family.

Visiting Christmas Lights in Greeley, CO

A few years ago, I came up with a tradition or a saying that I wanted to catch on. During a difficult time during the Holidays, my Grandma became sick and had to go to the hospital. It's times like these that bring a family close together, though not a great situation to be getting together. This was just before Christmas. At one point, there was a question as to whether we would even have Christmas that year. So I said, "Let's just have Christ-no-Mas". Meaning, we didn't need to have all the gifts and wrapping paper and "stuff" to get together with everyone. We were all there, we scrambled together to get some food for a meal or two, since we were all there. Why not celebrate us being together as a family? We didn't need the "Mas" or extra stuff. We only need each other, and Christ.

There are a few different meanings of Christmas, depending on what you believe and think, but the bottom line is BELIEVING. 

Christmas Lights in Greeley, CO.
Another great display you must see is the Greeley Grizwalds

Whether a young child knows or understands what Christmas is all about, he or she believes that Santa may come to their house while they are sleeping, eat a cookie, drink some milk, leave footprints with soot, and drop off some new toys that they will find when they wake up super early the next day. The magic of having something to believe in is what we should all remember. Whether you get one gift, or ten, the thought of believing someone somewhere thought of you is enough.

So I venture to exercise Christ-no-Mas every year. As our families grow and gain more people and as we also lose some people and loved ones, I strive to believe in the time we have together is enough. 

Having a meal with family.
Inviting a friend over to sit and chat over coffee.
Visiting a family you haven't seen for a while.
The once-a-year-get-together should be enjoyed.

We never know when it may be our last day, or holiday, or season together. Gifts are a bonus. But we don't need all that extra "stuff" or Mas to celebrate the holidays. 

I hope you all have a very wonderful Holiday Season. Hug your loved ones. Enjoy the atmosphere. Give to others. Make a difference in someone else's life. For whatever you believe in or celebrate, Merry Christmas to you!