New Website!

Hi all,

I have  moved to blogging at running4cupcakes.com. Check it out for new posts! Thanks,

Katie

Baby Dog Stroller

Yesterday I went on my first run with a baby, a dog, and the jogging stroller!

It was awesome! **And no more calf pain. Crossing my fingers that it is gone for good!

We did 4 miles together.

Luke was awake for most of it, but then fell asleep in the last mile.

Abby alternated between running in front, happy to be out of the house, and running in back, pouting that we had to bring the baby and stroller. She added to her protest when she was running in back, by staying at the very end of her leash, so she was almost adding a counter-traction to me trying to run forward! Such a silly puppy dog.

Thankfully, I was able to transfer Luke into his crib from the stroller and he slept for another 20 minutes –> the perfect amount for me to shower and get dressed!

I am looking forward to many more runs of the 3 of us together. . . and maybe sometimes we will let Scott come too.

Halloween Trail Mix

Every October (who I am kidding) September. . . as soon as the candy corn hits the shelves, I know I need to make this right away.

Halloween trail mix is super quick and easy.

Get the 3 ingredients: Candy corn, Peanuts, and M&Ms.

I usually get the largest of each bag available in the store. . .but you can get any size and as you get close to the end of the bag, just add whatever you might need to make it come out even!

Put it all into a big Ziploc bag. And mix together.

Done and done.

Eat and enjoy!

According to my husband (who can’t get enough!) the perfect ratio is 1 candy corn, 3 peanut halves, and 1 M&M.

Weekend Update: 10/7/12

As always, a caramel skim latte from Caribou for the car ride up to the cities

First stop: MOA (Mall of America). . . Luke and I kept ourselves entertained in the dressing room with Dad was trying on pants.

They were having a competition – making structures out of canned foods – with local architectural firms to support a local food shelter. . . they were still early in the building process. Le Sueur –> represent!

But had some cool photos from years past. . .

Then, off to Grandma and Grandpa’s house. . .

Grandma Mary just got back from Seattle and brought back a super adorable toy airplane for Luke.

Which he loved for about 2 minutes and then the rug was much more interesting! Oh the life of a almost 6 month old.  

Abby did not appreciate having to share attention with Luke – and also he was on her rug.  ..

Then, we all went and had lunch at Scott’s favorite restaurant – Chili’s – where he always gets the same thing. . . chipotle chicken crispers..  . so boring! Love their chips and salsa though! And I had a fabulous bowl of potato soup and a yummy sandwich. Great lunch with great company.

Abby being cute in the car – love her paws together!

I had gotten Scott an arrangement from Edible Arrangements for our 4th anniversary, and we went a finally picked it up last weekend. (it is sorta out of our way, hence why we didn’t get it until then.) But they messed up the order and gave me dark chocolate strawberries. And the lady at the store wasn’t helpful at all. . . so social media to the rescue – I tweeted about it!

And heard back from the company and they offered to make it right. . . another bouquet with all white chocolate strawberries – and they were delicious! Thanks again Edible Arrangements for making it right.  

Dinner on Saturday night – squash! Abby has learned very quickly to be close by when Luke is in his high chair.

And she tries so hard. . .

notice the puppy nose in this picture! –>

Dad having fun with the camera. ..

And bummer. . . at Target on Sunday to pick up antibiotics for Luke’s 1st ear infection. Boo.

Thankfully, he was feeling good enough later in the day to put on his Packers sweatshirt and go for his 1st family run!

I bundled him up good – cause it was only 55 degrees out. . . and put some extra padding in to help keep him in place.

He did great! And even fell asleep on the way home.  

Family pic… or as close as we could get!  

And my calf stayed nice and quiet! 3 miles and no pain –> I’ll take it.

Overall, a really nice weekend. .. and I think Luke is starting to feel better from his ear infection.

What were you up to? Any running? Eats at a good restaurant?

Quick Friday Hello

Just stopping in quick to say Happy Weekend to everyone!

And to let you know about my awesome Friday. ..

Started with a great caramel skim latte and a beautiful morning.

Luke, Abby, and I ran errands.

I had an ah-mazing apple Fuji salad from Panera.

I spent quality time laughing and playing with Luke.

I spent 30 minutes on the treadmill doing an incline walking workout without a single peep from my calf. (Still trying to hold off on actually running til Sunday. . . but I am hopeful!)

Did The Fitnessista’s 5 minute Ab Burner <—seriously no joke! Check it out.

Dinner was burgers from Schmidt’s Meat Market.

And now chilling on the couch with the husband and a very furry dog between us!

Hope you had a great day too. . . share with me what you did!

Foodie Pen Pal–September II

I posted on Monday about MY foodie pen pal for September and all the awesome stuff I got in my box. . .

But you didn’t get to hear about what I sent! I sent my box to another reader – so no blog post to see it on. . . Michele is a reader in Michigan who was a first time participant!

And here is what she got from me. . .

Laffy Taffy – just ‘cause I love the dumb jokes on the wrappers!  

Yogurt covered almonds. . . so delicious! (And Luke was a good helper putting the box together!)

RPSs – my favorite thing from my foodie box last month so had to spread the RPS joy!

oh my goodness – these things are ridiculously delicious. Salads, yogurt, ice cream!

Hot pepper jelly – perfect with crackers and a smear of cream cheese. Apple chutney – paired with yogurt or ice cream or over pork chops. Both fresh and local from the Mankato Farmer’s Market.

And a cute cupcake card!  

Already thinking about what I am going to send me pen pal for October. . . something Halloween related I think!!!

Injury!

And things were going so well. . .

With the half marathon less than a month away and I was having some of the best running I have had in the recent past. .. it was really only a matter of time before this happened.

An injury.

source

I was out on a nice run, the sun was shinning, there was a slight breeze, and I was feeling good. A little too good. . . I was running before I picked Luke up from daycare so I had exactly 55 minutes before I had to be back at daycare to pick him up. And we have been looking at houses in St. Peter, thinking about a move sometime in the future. And I wanted to run past this house we saw online. And it took me 28 minutes to get there. Ok, no big deal, I can just pick up the pace a little bit to get back on time. . . and I had given myself a few minute buffer just in case too. But I was running faster than I normally do, but again, NBD, because I was feeling good. Then BAM . . . sharp pain in my calf. I had to stop and walk. Totally strained my calf muscle! I hobbled back to daycare to pick up Luke and thankfully made it on time. . . and I took a few days off from running. . . but since then – every time I go running – it hurts!

 source

Scott and I did run 11.1 miles on Sunday. And it felt fine for about the first 6 miles and then started to feel tight and strained. I am a little slow, so I ran again on Tuesday for 4 miles and it hurt the whole time!

I guess I keep hoping that running will help stretch it out, but no luck! Now we are 18 days away from the half marathon and I don’t want to have to deal with this injury during it! Boo. So, I am going to do relative rest, ibuprofen, ice, heat, stretching like crazy. No more long runs til the half marathon. . . and don’t push it thru pain on short runs. I am thinking I might try some incline walking on the treadmill later this week to get in a workout but not run until at least this weekend.

Any other suggestions on dealing with this?

Think happy get better quick thoughts for my running for me please!