9 Miles on a Treadmill and a Taste of Texas

I'm back in Chicago!  I had a great time seeing my family and friends in Houston this past weekend.  It was so great seeing everyone, especially this cute little guy...

In just one month since I last saw him, he started not just walking...but running!  He is so active, energetic, and happy.  I loved spending time with him and the rest of my family.

Since I went out with friends Friday night, there was no way that I was going to wake up at 5 am to beat the Houston heat and humidity (let's be honest...it was still probably too hot and humid at that time anyway) to run my scheduled 9 miles.  Instead, I did it on the treadmill.  I was dreading running for that long on the treadmill, but it ended up not being so bad thanks to the Olympics.  During the first part of my run I watched men's cross country.  Talk about inspiring and perfect timing!  It was like I was running with them.  The second half was men's beach volleyball and who doesn't like looking at cute guys while they run?!

After 60 minutes (and before resetting the treadmill), went 6.28 miles.

Finishing the last 2.7 miles after another 25:55 minutes.

I felt a little silly (and crazy) having to restart the treadmill since it only runs for 60 minutes.  The girl running next to me definitely gave me a funny look.  Overall, I have to say that I impressed myself.  I kept a 9:30 min/mile pace and felt pretty good afterwards.

That night, I went for some well-deserved Tex-Mex.  Whenever I go back to Houston, I make sure to get some Mexican food.  When we were deciding where to go, I said that I didn't care where as long as the had good guacamole and tortillas.  My sister, brother in law, and I ended up going to El Tiempo...great decision!  We didn't even bother looking at the menu because we knew right away what we were getting: chips and salsa, guacamole, and chicken fajitas.  What else could you want? It was all delicious!  The tortillas were soft and warm, just the way they should be.  The chicken fajitas came on a hot plate along with grilled onions and peppers.  I loved the onions!  I definitely loaded up my tortilla with the onions (good thing I was just out with family haha).  

The fajitas (and Noah peaking out from behind them)

The rest of the delicious meal (clockwise: guacamole, beans, salsa, and rice)

After an impromptu decision, we got a sopaipilla for dessert.  A sopaipilla is basically fried dough...and it's awesome!  It came with a side of chocolate dipping sauce, honey on the side, and whipped cream.  Always being someone who loves to finish off a meal with something sweet, I was very happy about the decision.

Can't resist a little something sweet to complete the meal!

After a weekend of incredible food and eating (including a bagel Sunday brunch, my favorite Mediterranean restaurant, and an awesome home cooked dinner with swordfish and peach sauce), it's back to being healthy!  I hit up the grocery store and got some great staples and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Giveaway Winner

Right now, I'm in Houston and stupidly left my camera-computer connector (real great terminology right? you can tell how technological I am) so I'm going to hold off on posting until Wednesday.  I hope that everyone had a great weekend! I know that I am having a great time with my family and friends in Houston (despite the ridiculous heat and humidity).

However.....I wanted to post the winner of the PB Crave Giveaway.

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:7Powered by RANDOM.ORG
Congrats to Kate!  Please email me your home address at elyssa.fink@gmail.com so that you can get your PB Crave variety pack.

Last Minute Flight and Friday Funday

After my Olympics post yesterday, another Chicago blogger posted about a fun workout to do while watching the Olympics.  It's like a drinking game, but for working out!  I will definitely try this out when I watch the Olympics in the next couple of days.  Check out the Olympic Challenge here.

I booked a last minute flight to Houston this week and just arrived late last night.  I'm so excited to spend a long weekend in Houston!  I have big plans to see my family and friends and to eat some good food.

Whenever I travel, I always bring a snack or meal with me.  I am easily tempted by the candy and snacks at the airport.  Having my own stash of foods keeps me from buying all those airport goodies which are definitely not good on the waist...or wallet!  My flight yesterday as around dinner time, so I brought a wrap from Freshii and a little piece of chocolate for my end of meal sweet tooth (Sorry...I ate it before I could take a pic. But it was loaded with veggies and chicken. And it was delicious).

I have a 9 mile run planned this weekend for my training.  Since the heat and humidity are out of control in Houston, I'm planning on completing my run in the treadmill.  Should be interesting!

And now....FRIDAY FUNDAY!

Watermelon Ice: A fun idea for outside BBQ.

Crab Salad in Avocado Halves: I love everything about this recipe.  It is another perfect summer recipe.

Barbie Creator's House: I wouldn't have expected anything else.

Bad Day Motto: I need to remember to think this during a bad day...

And to Do This:

Arms Like Natalie Coughlin: This is a great arm workout that I have on my list to do next week!

Sweating to the 90s: Why not put some 90s music on your next running playlist!

I'm Loving cherries! Both sweet...

And savory

Have a great weekend! Remember Sunday is your last change to enter the GIVEAWAY!

Obsessed with the Olympics

Like so many other people, I have become obsessed with watching the Olympics.  Minus the Opening Ceremonies, this year's Olympics have been one of my favorites to watch.  The Olympics have been so incredible this year with so many inspiring and amazing athletes.  Every night after work, I watch the various competitions (I mostly have been paying attention to gymnastics, swimming, beach volleyball, and diving).  And then in the morning, all my favorite athletes are highlighted and interviewed.  It's sad but I feel like I know them because I have watched them so much over the past week.

How can you not love Missy Franklin.  SHe is a 17 year old, gold metal winner who is still so down to Earth and a "normal" teenager.

Rogers (aka "The Professor") and Dalhausser are a great team to watch. Their chemistry (haha like that corny joke right there) is unbelievable.

The "greatest beach volleyball team of all time", May-Treanor and Walsh (who had 2 children since the last Olympic games) are going for their 3rd Olympic win.

First USA team gold since 1996...unbelievable!

Yup, that wink is meant for me.  If I knew how to wink without looking like an idiot, I would wink right back at you.

Last weekend, I watched the Olympics for a pretty good portion of my Sunday (and by that I mean basically all day minus when I left for brunch and the grocery store...food, obviously).  BUt when someone asked me what I did that day, I felt totally okay saying that I stayed home watching the Olympics.  I mean, it only happens once every four years right!?

I was talking with a friend last night and we agreed that not only are the actual Olympic Games amazing, but the commercials are too!  I know it sounds stupid but I'll totally admit that I don't mind the commercial breaks.  Here are a couple of my favorites:

My friend Ally told me about this one and I LOVE it.  By far one of my favorites.

The Olympic athletes aren't always serious.  Fitting in with the "Call Me Maybe" craze, the USA Olympic swimmers made a video themselves.  I know this song is so overplayed, but I couldn't resist.  And I know you will press play because there are some pretty good looking men swimmers in the video:

Have a great day!  Don't forget to enter the PB Crave giveaway HERE.

PB Crave Recipes

Keep entering the PB Crave giveaway HERE!  You can enter the giveaway until midnight on Sunday.

When I received PB Crave, I was so excited to try some new recipes.  PB Crave's flavors are a great way to change up an old peanut butter recipe favorite.  Do you have a go to peanut butter cookie recipe?  Try making it with Razzle Dazzle to make your cookies extra special.  Do you crave smoothies on a hot summer day?  Add CoCo Bananas to your smoothie to give it some extra flavor.

I'm going to share two different recipes that I made using different PB Crave flavors.  The first is Cookie Nookie Rice Krispie Treats.  It's definitely a classic sweet treat with some pumped up flavor.  I brought these to a friend's apartment while watching the Olympic Opening Ceremonies and they were a huge hit

Cookie Nookie Rice Krispies:

Ingredients:

3 tbl margarine

4 cups mini marshmallows

3/4 cup Cookie Nookie

6 cups Rice Krispies

Instructions:
1. Lightly grease 9 x 13 pan. Set aside
2. Put Rice Krispies in a large bowl.  Set aside.
3. In a medium pot on low heat, melt margarine and marshmallows. Stir constantly.  Add Cookie Nookie and stir until incorporated.
4. Add mixture to Rice Krispies.  Stir until Rice Krispies are completely coated.
5. Pour and press into pan.
6. Let cool, cut, then enjoy!

CoCo Bananas is my favorite of the peanut butters, so I obviously had to make something with it.  The second recipe is CoCo Bananas Granola Bars.  I decided to try and go a little bit healthier with this one and change up an Elvis Granola Bar recipe that I saw here. 

CoCo Bananas Granola Bars:
Ingredients:
4 cups rolled oats
2 tbl flax seeds (or chia seeds, both add texture)
1/2 cup unsalted peanuts
1/2 cup unsweetened banana chips
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup CoCo Bananas
1/2 cup + 2 tbl honey

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350.  Spray 9 x 13 pan and set aside.
2. Combine oats, flax seeds, peanuts, banana chips, and chocolate in a medium bowl.  Set aside.
3. In a medium pot on low heat, melt and combine honey and CoCo Bananas.
4. Add melted peanut butter and honey to bowl.  Stir until combined.
5. Pour and press into pan.
6. Bake for 25 minutes.
7. Let cool, cut, and enjoy!

There are so many other delicious recipes to make with the PB Crave flavors!  Be sure to enter the giveaway HERE for your chance to win all 4 PB Crave flavors.

GIVEAWAY!

Today is Sweet Tooth Runner's first ever GIVEAWAY and it's an awesome one (if I do say so myself).

A few weeks ago, I read about PB Crave and immediately knew that I had to try it.  PB Crave is a natural peanut butter that combines honey and incredible flavors to make four amazing, unique, and addicting peanut butters.  They use actual chunks of Belgium chocolate and and pure, natural MEL-O honey to make these peanut butters stand out.  The flavors are:

Choco Choco: Semi-sweet and dark chocolate with peanut butter and wild honey

Co Co Bananas: Natural banana flavor with peanut butter, semi-sweet chocolate, and wild honey.  This flavor is also lactose free!

Cookie Nookie: Natural cookie flavoring with peanut butter, semi-sweet chocolate, and wild honey.

Razzle Dazzle: Natural raspberry flavoring with peanut butter, white and semi-sweet chocolate, and wild honey.

I love that the flavors have a just a hint of flavor and pieces or swirls of chocolate throughout the jars.  The flavor is not too overpowering so the peanut butter flavor still comes through.  While all of the flavors are amazing (and trust me I quickly tried them all), my favorite was the CoCo Bananas.  I have always loved the combination of peanut butter, chocolate, and bananas.  CoCo Bananas truly finds the perfect balance in these flavors.

Not only does PB Crave make incredible peanut butters, but it also gives back.  PB Crave donates 2% of its profits from every jar to Project Peanut Butter, a non-profit organization that serves hundreds of thousands of malnourished children.

PB Crave can be found at some Whole Foods, Fresh Market, or Earth Fare....

BUT one lucky winner a ChocoChoco Variety Pack of $20.97 value shipped to their door!  The giveaway will end Sunday at midnight.  I will randomly select a winner and contact them for their information so that they can receive their PB Crave prize!

Includes a jar of each flavor!

To enter the giveaway:

1. Like PB Crave on facebook here

2. Like PB Crave on their website here (enter your email in the "join our family" section)

3. Follow PB Crave on twitter here

4. Follow PB Crave on Pinterest here

Be sure to comment on this page for each Like or Follow you do.  In each comment include what you liked/followed as well as what flavor you are most excited to try and/or how you would enjoy your PB Crave.

Good Luck! Be sure to post, tweet, and share this giveaway with your friends and family!

Look forward to tomorrow's post when I will share two recipes I made using PB Crave.

A Special Birthday and the BTN Big 10k

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sister, Danielle!  It's the big 3-0 and I wish that I could be there celebrating with her (and eating some Dessert Gallery diner cake).  I love you and hope you have a special day!

This past Saturday was the BTN Big 10k.  Having gone to Michigan, I am obviously a huge Michigan fan and will take any opportunity I can to sport my maize and blue pride.  I was clearly excited for this race!  The packet pick-up was at Fleet Feet, not far from my apartment.  I went after work on Thursday and it was extremely easy and fast.  I don't think I have ever gone in and out of a race packet pick up so quickly...definite plus!  The race shirt was a dry fit running shirt supporting your Big Ten school.  I love the shirt and will definitely be sporting it once its cooler outside.

The morning of the race, I ate my typical pre-run snack: 1/4 of a banana and a "lara-ball".  I wore a maize and blue sport bra and a neon yellow running shirt to show off my Michigan pride.  

The race started at 7:40, so I was up and out of the apartment by 6:30.  I have to admit, I'm kind of getting used to the early Saturday mornings.  The past couple days it had been really hot in Chicago, but the morning of the run it was 75 degrees and not humid.  Not bad for running weather!  

The race started at Soldier Field and went south of the city.  It was along the lakefront path and there were gorgeous views the entire run (always a plus).  Throughout the course, there were people dressed in football uniforms, fight songs playing, and even a slip 'n slide at the halfway 3 mile point.  I swear that each time I passed a stereo, the Michigan fight song was playing.  Talk about perfect timing!

I felt really good the first half of the run. Maybe too good because my first three miles were fairly faster than I usually run.  I started to slow down (most likely also because I was getting tired from going faster) for the last 3 miles but it was a good thing. Also, the second half of the run, the wind pushed against me for a while.  Overall, I had a pretty good run.  I finished in 58 min and 10 sec (about a 9:30 mile/min).  I'm keeping ahead of my last year pace, which is always motivating and exciting!


After the run, there was a tailgate area set up with food, beer, and games.  I met up with Lindsay by the Michigan tent, another blogger and Michigan fan!

A couple other friends ran and we all met up after everyone finished.

And then, naturally, we went to brunch!

Tomorrow, Sweet Tooth Runner is having it's first ever GIVEAWAY!  Be sure to check it out...you are going to LOVE it!