Category Archives: Celebrity Fodder

Tuesday Thoughts

Posted on by
7

So we’re officially 5 days away from Christmas. And thankfully, a very long holiday weekend! I can’t wait to eat, drink and be merry with those I love most! And watch Home Alone, go ice-skating, make Christmas cookies, and blast Christmas music all weekend.

This post has no real rhyme or reason, but rather some tangents:

  • My protein smoothie this morning was green. Actually green. After ~6 months of coming up with a brown sludge, I finally got a green color to come out front and center. It even tasted healthier. And all it took was boyfriend grabbing a bag of mixed frozen fruit different from what we usually get. (Peaches, honeydew, pineapple, strawberries, grapes).
  • Last night, after a particularly long day, I ran 5 miles. With no Garmin or anything crazy like that, so I have no idea how fast I went, but it felt fast. When Rihanna is singing “Shut Up and Drive” in your ear, you run even faster. I had the great idea to sign up for a TRX/Barre Combo class last night as well, and thinking it would be a “Bar Method” type class where I always felt the need to run after, I figured I was fine. Wrong. It was a bootcamp class from hell and I’m not kidding when I say that 55       minutes was harder than all 3:57:03 of the marathon. I have never in my life been so jealous of the girls in the Pilates class.

  • Chipotle now has brown rice. Which made yesterday’s carnitas burrito bowl even more delicious. And here I thought that wasn’t possible.
  • I’m really, really, really excited for The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo to come out tomorrow. Not as excited as I will be for The Hunger Games to come out in March, but about 90% as excited. I’m also still a little disturbed about Rooney Mara’s makeover. I didn’t imagine Lisbeth as looking scary, I thought she was supposed to look like a little girl? (Waif like?)

Even the Swedish Lisbeth was more badass than scary.

  • It’s freezing in SF (40′s, which is <10 degrees from actual freezing temperatures, which is far too close for comfort in my opinion) and all I can think about is wanting to go on a beach vacation. Or to Europe.

  • I keep on thinking that I don’t have enough presents for people for Christmas so then I buy more. And more. Until each person has enough presents to merit having their own tree to fit them all.
  • I went to spin at lunch today – and that too was harder than running a marathon. Maybe I should just stick to running and pilates as it seems to work out better for me than when I get crazy and try new athletic endeavors. Post-spin is the only time I take an absolutely freezing shower to cool down after. Co-workers, you’re welcome. I spotted not 1, but 2 people change back into work clothes after the sweatiest class I’ve ever taken, and head back to their desk jobs. Not even a spritz of body splash.

Have a great day! :)

Taper Thoughts

Posted on by
10

HAPPY FRIDAY! Today marks the start of MARATHON weekend! I took Monday off as I’m pretty sure that after running 26.2 miles I will want to do nothing but sleep and sit and relax come Monday morning.

T-Minus 44 hours to go-time.

In doing this “taper”, which I’ve found is to give your legs a rest, and rather than try to gain more fitness, just maintain the fitness you’ve gained over the past 15 weeks and give your muscles, body, mind a break after all of the training, I’ve had a bunch of thoughts going through my head.

  • I’ve heard and read people and have had people tell me that I’ll get nervous that I’m not doing enough in these last couple of weeks and that I’ll be scared to lose fitness. Honestly I haven’t even really thought about it.  I figure I didn’t gain all of this fitness in a week or two, so I’m certainly not going to lose it in a week or two. (Did I mention rationalizing is a skill I excel at?)

  • Further more, I am LOVING all of this extra free time to actually get things done, go to Pilates classes without worrying about how I’m going to run on my lead legs the next day, cook, sleep, not fall asleep on the couch like a zombie at 9pm, etc. Hal hasn’t steered me wrong yet, so I’m just following his wise advice. (AKA the holy grail – my training plan.)
  • Hydrating. I’ve been drinking water like Lindsey Lohan the morning after a night out. I’ve been going through 2-3 Nalgene bottles (32oz) a day at work, and then a few pint glasses full at home.



If you aren’t familiar with this little Nalgene insert – get one. It makes drinking out of the bottles SO much easier. (And in my case greatly reduces the chances that you’re going to spill all down the front of your shirt.)

  • I never really drink during the week but since I’ve told myself that I will be avoiding alcohol in the 7 days leading up to the marathon all I want is a glass of wine. Especially while relaxing at night, with the Christmas lights on. Torture. Tell me I can’t eat or drink something and it will be all I want.

via

  • I’m also still drinking my normal caffeine intake (cup of black or a latte in the morning… or both because yesterday and today just called for it) even though I’ve read to avoid it in the week before the marathon. I figure now is not the time for caffeine withdrawal headaches.

  • I’m also eating as clean as physically possible this week – nothing processed, no junk, nothing greasy and nothing out of the ordinary. Lots of lean protein, whole grains, fruits and veggies. Not taking any chances on being sluggish for Sunday.

  • In completely random news (and of no relevance to this post about tapering thoughts) I’ve also discovered the best flavor Clif Bar to date. I’m planning to go back and buy out the store’s entire supply.

Hope you all have a great Friday! Good luck to everyone racing this weekend!

 

Goodbye November

Posted on by
4

And it’s Wednesday! The last day of November. Although by the looks of SF, our apartment, and my play-list you’d think we were at least mid-way through December. I love that the Christmas season gets to last just a little bit longer this year. November was a great month full of a 1/2 Marathon PR, my 27th birthday, the LAST double digit training runs pre-marathon, a wonderful Thanksgiving with all of my loved ones and a lot of fun throughout the month.

After a particularly cloudy and foggy day (the fog was sitting on the Golden Gate Bridge last night to the point that it was almost invisible), the sun is out for a beautiful, crisp, fall/winter day. And the winds are a raging! There’s a chance winds may get up to 70mph tonight.

Something else that’s beautiful? Christmas trees. (Be ready for at least one Christmas mention in every single post from now until about the 28th.)

And the fact that I have 2 miles to run before the marathon on Sunday. (Which is now 4 days away.) 2 Miles. That. is. it. I went to the gym at lunch today, ran glorious 4 miles at a relaxing 10-minute mile pace and read Vogue. I’m pretty sure the universe will now explode from so much perfection in one run.

Speaking of running, I now get about 2-5 e-mails a day from the marathon people with subjects ranging from the expo, the bus in the morning (thank you Lexi’s parents in advance for our ride!), and today’s e-mail – how to take good marathon pictures while running.

In case you’re looking for some tips:

  • Pin your Bib Number high on your chest  & keep it visible Because that sounds comfortable.
  • Look Up As opposed to…. down? While running in a marathon with thousands of other people just waiting to trample me?
  • Don’t cross your arms. Quite frankly if you can run while crossing your arms that is a feat in and of itself and it very photograph worthy.
  • Don’t stop your watch at the Finish-Line I’m pretty sure the last thing on my mind when I cross the finish line will be my watch. The only thing I will be thinking is “IT’S OVER”

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show last night. I’m pretty sure only women watched it. Which is fine, because the “outfits” (I use the term loosely) were gorgeous, the hair was perfect, and I’m pretty sure no one would allow me to wear a $2.5 million dollar bra so good for Miranda Kerr. Also, maybe it was just me (or a hell of a lot of photo-shop in the catalogs) but I was expecting stick figures. These women are ripped. We’re talking serious muscle definition. I was beyond impressed.

And then I promptly signed up for multiple pilates classes next week.

I now aspire to have abs like the angels. And moves like Jagger. (damn it Adam Levine and your stupid live singing.) I also want to become best friends with Miranda Kerr. Did anyone else #1 watch and #2 find it as adorable as I did that whenever she’d walk by Orlando Bloom would stand up and she’d wave at him? And just to really rub it in- she had a baby less than a year ago.

In addition to consuming 96+ ounces of water during the work day (it’s quite possible I’m over hydrating but I’m not taking any chances for Sunday), I’ve also been obsessively checking the weather for Sunday. So far, so good great.

While the low of 34 isn’t exactly ideal, the fact that it won’t rain, will be sunny, and  (hopefully) won’t be warmer than 60 is very, very exciting to me. That is my idea of perfect running weather. I’m planning on wearing arm warmers, cheap gloves, and a long sleeve shirt over my tank and capris (I’m thinking shorts in 30 degree weather is a no-go, but I’m determined to find a way to make them work. I can’t run without my brand new Tempos/matching shirt!) so that I can gracefully chuck them on the side of the road once they are no longer needed.

With that little mumble jumble of thoughts (it’s been a long day of end-of-the-month madness over here in technology sales land) I’m off to get my hair cut.

Hope you’re having a great day!

Christmas in November?

Posted on by
6

Happy Monday! (The only way a Monday that started in the 6am hour can be “happy” is if a short week comes after it in my opinion). :)

You’d think with all of the sleeping that occurred yesterday (slept until noon, eat, nap 2-4, gym, eat, sleep) I would have been tossing and turning all night. Not so – I was out like a light, and woke up feeling completely refreshed (but another hour or two of sleep would have been welcomed with open arms!)

Today marks the beginning of Thanksgiving week!

And even though San Francisco has decided it’s appropriate to put up Christmas lights, trees and massive ornaments (I’m looking at you 101 California Street) on November 21, I choose to celebrate November for what it really is – my birthday month Thanksgiving!

I love all things fall – apple cider, falling leaves, crisp cool days, gathering together for a Thanksgiving feast with loved ones, and everything that comes with it! Winter lasts far too long, so while I love to celebrate the holidays, I like to wait until Thanksgiving has come and gone before I go all out with my decorating.

(That’s not to say I haven’t fired up the *Nsync Christmas Pandora Station, because I have. But everything else will have to wait until December 1… or November 28. Because when Thanksgiving’s over, it’s over, right?) And then you bet I will fully embrace and enjoy every single Christmas decoration I can until January! Our apartment will probably be fully decorated by 8am on Monday morning.

My Spiced Chestnut candle has about .4 inches of wax left to burn. It’s sad really -  we’ve had such good times together over the past month.

But I mean technically “Spiced Chestnut” could go well into December… maybe I’ll have to pick up another when I go in for my annual “Winter Forest” candle next week.

Do you like to get the Christmas decorating started as early as possible? Or are you a wait until Thanksgiving is over kind of person like myself?

It’s Freezing.

Posted on by
4

Gooood morning!

First up – check out my guest post over at Jimmy Choos On The Treadmill! Colleen is vacationing in Curacao all week (say it with me now… JEALOUS) and asked me to write a guest post for her fabulous blog. I’m just waiting for her to announce her next vacation is to SF this winter. Cold and rainy January vacation? What’s not to love? It just screams paradise. ;-)

This week started out a bit rough – with a conference call at 6am on Monday morning.

Yes, 6am. A time when I’m normally blissfully fast asleep for another 50 minutes.


But severe and extreme exhaustion aside, I have a feeling it’s going to end a lot better than it started.

Today marks my last day of my mid-twenties. Yes friends, tomorrow I turn 27. The beginning of the late-twenties. Where has my youth gone?

Although it seems that 27 is going to be starting on some very high notes with:

  • Thanksgiving (Birthday Feast anyone?)
  • Running a MARATHON (Are you sick of reading about the Marathon yet? Just hold tight, it’s almost over, I promise!)
  • Holiday Parties and Festivities
  • Christmas
  • New Years
  • Holiday Baked Goodies (you can bet with all this Marathon training I will be baking and “poison testing” up a storm)

The weather has been chilling out in SF lately (and getting dark at 4pm which I can’t even talk about) and I’ve fully embraced boot weather, and my new, red “boot socks” from Banana Republic.

Someone else embraces the red “boot socks” as well.

To combat the biting cold (50 degrees. Say what Midwest?) that has descended upon our city, we’ve been in the mood for warm, easy dinners that require minimal cooking for maximum evening relaxation.

(FYI : “Tapering” so far hasn’t left me any less starving than actual training.)

Cold weather always makes me crave warm, comfort foods!

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup!

Probably as easy to put together as a PB&J. If not easier. Because the PB doesn’t get all over your hands. (Just me?)

  • Saute chopped celery and onion in a little butter until tender (or add whatever you want)
  • Pour in Chicken Broth
  • Add noodles (TJ’s Lemon Pepper Papardelle is unreal good), pulled chicken, and spices, salt and pepper
  • Simmer for 20 minutes.

Toast up some slices of fresh-baked bread, add some goat cheese and you’re good to go. Best part? Leftovers.

With that, it’s time to tackle Tuesday… hope you have a great day!