A promise... and a tag!

I am sitting here with that deliciously tight feeling all through my body, knowing I ran 13 miles this morning and have only 6 more days until my next race! I am making a pact with myself, the same way I promised myself to become vegetarian, and then later to become a runner... I am going to pick my yoga practice back up! I was really getting into it when my friend and yoga instructor Amy moved away *tear* I loved Amy's class! I also love Amy and really miss her and her adorable son Denali. In class, she worked with my hearing and made adjustments to keep me included. I always left feeling flexible and as part of a whole. When I attend other yoga classes I always feel alienated and hurt my neck trying to watch for the next pose. I have a wonderful daily yoga book, and have learned a lot of the poses from Amy and various other classes already. So I will be really pushing myself to commit and hopefully a year from now I will not only be one of those annoying people avoiding the food you cooked, or the nerd running down the street with a water belt and visor... I will also be the bendy chick with the lean musculature only yoga can help you accomplish!

Now I have a little homework assignment to complete, my girlfriend Michelle who took some absolutley gorgeous photographs of my kids for me this week tagged me. So the 4th photo in the 4th file in my picture files is:

Ok that is a picture of my Dad, Tom, at my wedding reception at Maggianos in Las Vegas. He is so handsome! Thanks Michelle, now I am tagging Kadi, Priscilla, and KC!

I'll post the photos Michelle took of the kids tomorrow, right now I need to go put up the tree with my kids!

An egg is a chicken's period...

Saturday morning I ran a really solid 14 miles! I mapped it out and just took off. It felt so good to be free, running in the crisp Autumn air, the weather was just perfect. The run was so long I was meditating, and just circulating positive energy. I came home and did my yoga, showered and drank some protein. It was the perfect way to kick off the day...

That night I headed to my friend Darci's for her bday! (Wendy went too, don't want to leave her out! LOL) We stayed up late drinking and laughing. Paul and Darci were playing pool.... and then I woke up the next morning in her son's bed sprawled out next to JT! Good times!

This week is hectic, trying to squeeze in a 5 miler, tomorrow I am taking the kids to Discovery Science Center with my Moms group, then Wednesday I will be a cooking machine! Instead of FoTurkey Roast *shudder* I am making soyrizo and pepperjack tamales with my vegetarian masa! Some whole wheat stuffing and mashed potatoes with rice milk will round it out... can't wait to steal the bowl of fried artichoke hearts and gorge myself on them! They're made with egg... but it's Thanksgiving! And I mean I'm not even eating Turkey or gravy! I'm only human people... stop judging me...

I'm getting coal in my stocking...

I am so freaking busy with the holidays already descending into our lives! The kids both had school parties this week that I volunteered for, and it was so fun getting a glimpse into their little world away from home. I was a bit horrified when I walked into JT's class and saw all of the little kids had feathers on their heads. The school actually still teaches that the pilgrims and indians were friends? It sickens me knowing they lied to my baby, and not a virtuous and fun lie like Santa, but a horrible, conspiratorial, genocide cover up kind of lie. I don't want to be the Mom who ruins the fun, the one all the other parents say "Oh we have to say 'holiday' party instead of 'Christmas' party because of her." After school I mentioned it off hand to the teacher, and just said I was a bit shocked, but what could I do? She apologized half-heartedly, it's not her fault really, she doesn't set the curriculum. I am not saying we should tell 6 year old how we really "won" this land, but we could just focus on the message of Thanks and Family involved with a beautiful holiday, without marring it with lies.

Of course I lied to JT last night over dinner! My hypocrisy knows no bounds, apparently... Tonight we are going to Victoria Gardens for the tree-lighting ceremony and to see Santa! I made some off-hand comment about Santa being old, what was I thinking? JT asks me if Santa is dying, because he is old. Paul told him Santa will live as long as he believes in him. JT is too damn smart, he says "Why are there some people who don't believe in Santa?" Why is he so damn quick? Too smart for his own good. I told him that Santa has magic, and not everyone believes in magic. JT proudly says that he believes in magic, and hopefully looked at me and said, "Mommy, do you believe in magic?" To which I proudly lied and said "Yes, baby, I do."

What's cooking this week...

I haven't shared much about my vegetarian diet, but I had a dream last night that I was eating the skin off a chicken (wing) and was so thoroughly disgusted I felt the need to share. I'm going to occassionally post vegetarian recipes. If you have considered going vegetarian but think it is too much of a challenge, then try going for "Meatless Mondays." Just one day a week, and then if you enjoy it, you can expand a day a month, or whatever suits you. Personally, I never eat meat, eggs or milk. I eat products from outside my home that have minimal egg or milk ingredients, but I always cook without either. Don't ask my about cheese. Nobody takes my cheese, or my wine, so just let that go now.

A lot of people assume without meat a meal cannot be complete, I honestly thought this at first too! In time I realized there are a lot of things we already eat without meat. Cheese enchiladas? Lasagna? Beans are a quick and nutritious substitute for meat in tacos and burritos. Of course I could not survive without Soyrizo. I don't eat much soy anymore, too many concerns about the way it acts as nature's estrogen and could contribute to tumor growth. But the day I discovered soyrizo my entire (kitchen) world opened up. It tastes just like chorizo, I am not kidding, with no grease, low fat, low calories. I use it in tacos, burritos, chili, tamales. Every person who has come to my home and eaten something with soyrizo has then asked for my recipe. Ok, well no one has complained at least!

What's cooking this week:

Soyrizo Chili

1/2 medium onion, chopped (I use frozen pre-chopped!)
1 green and 1 red bell pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped (I keep a big jar if mincled garlic and spoon out as necessary!)
Fresh chopped cilantro
1 package soyrizo
2 cans diced tomatoes (14 ounce)
1 can stewed tomatoes (14 ounce)
1/4 cup chili powder
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn
Half a tall bottle of Newcastle beer
Shredded Cheese
Tapatio to taste

1. Add chopped veggies and soyrizo to slow cooker and heat.
2. Mix the tomatoes into the pot. Season chili with chili powder and pepper, salt, seasoning salt and fresh cilantro to taste. Stir in the kidney beans, pinto beans, and black beans, add beer cook at low 4-5 hours.
3. Stir in the corn, and continue cooking 5 minutes before serving.
4. Garnish with shredded cheese.

This makes enough to last over a couple of days and goes great with Trader Joe's onion bagels!
If you make it come back and comment, tell me how you loved it!

Raising the bar...

I finally got a good solid run in! I went almost 12 miles yesterday and am actually not sore at all today. A lot of it was uphill, and I hate to admit I had to walk the last half mile home. I kept trying to jog but the heat beat me down. As I was running I realized LV is only 3 weeks away! I will only get in 2 more long runs before then, and struggled with 12 miles! I finished the LB half in 2:35 and my plan is to beat that time! I guess I have to keep in mind the important thing is that I finish and raise awareness of NF2. I hate the idea of not improving with each race, part of running is always raising the bar. I remind myself I had my wisdom teeth out and was forced to sit out for about 3 weeks, but the evil running dictator in my head scoffs and says not to make excuses. So I wont. I'll just add an extra run on Wednesdays, a few short hill runs for endurance, and be prepared to limp for a week after the race. If it doesn't hurt, you're not running!

Just to share:
Mica is now totally potty trained, and she is running around the house in Beauty and the Beast underwear bending her finger at me whispering Redrum Redrum.
Yesterday she walked up to Paul butt naked and in a deep voice said "I'm Daddy!"
JT says he is growing his hair like Goku from Dragon Ball Z, and I am supposed to know what this means..
.

Fabulosity!

As women we tend to get down on ourselves all the time, being positive is good for our souls, good for our kids, and good for our husbands who are sick of reassuring us! Kadi over at Womb at the Innsane had a great idea to list all the reasons we are awesome! I loved the idea, and the possibility of winning this adorable necklace didn't hurt either!

I am an intelligent woman who is not afraid to be a nerd!
I am a compassionate and loyal friend.
I'm silly and fun.
I really like the golden tone of my skin.
My legs and booty look great from running! LOL
I ran a half marathon and continue to run!
I am a really good organizer and always step up and take charge.
I love animals, and have the self control to be vegetarian, and am a good enough cook to pull it off with a meat-eating husband!
I am a good Mom, I am very involved and loving with my kids.

Do you have a blog? List all the reasons you are fabulous and grab this button Kadi made! Don't forget to link back to me of course!

3 weeks til Vegas!

Daylight Savings can kiss my ass. (Sorry Nani!) I hate that it gets dark so early! I can't fit a run in at all. Paul gets off early today so if it's not super hot I will finally head out for that 10 miles. Sunday I hope to repeat the 10 miles, then run 10 miles every 3-4 days for the next 3 weeks. Lofty goals, I know. With Las Vegas coming up I have real motivation. I just found out CTF will be in Vegas! Yeah! I didn't know that. I really love having a team to meet up with and run with. It makes everything so much more exciting.

As I have said before I wont actively email fundraise each run, but I am going to be having an actual fundraiser next weekend in Rancho Cucamonga to raise some money for CTF! More details will be coming soon!

Back on the wagon!

I took a great, mostly uphill, 7 mile run Saturday! I feel so much better already! I actually had to walk just a few times, on the steeper parts of the hills. I feel 7 miles is a solid accomplishment after almost a month of being sedentary! Hopefully tomorrow I will run a flat run, and cover 10 miles. I will be kicking ass and taking names in Vegas!

I also had to stop taking propolis for a month while I had my wisdom teeth out. You can't take propolis 2 weeks before or after surgery, something about the blood not clotting. So this week I get back on track with both.

It feels great to have that little pull in my calves everytime I walk, the burn in my legs when I lift anything, and that stiffness anytime I try to crouch. Everytime I wince a little I know I had a good run!

Shave the Date

Escape

I haven't gone on a real run since Long Beach! I am gaining weight and losing aerobic capacity very quickly. Yesterday during a solid game of "I'm gonna getchu!" with Mica, I actually lost my breath! With the sun setting so early, Paul working overtime, and my complete aversion to treadmill runs, it will be very difficult to get in enough training to be ready for Las Vegas on December 7th. I will do it, I don't know how yet, but I have to. With everything going on in my private life right now, running is my solace, my escape. When I run I am not Mommy, or wife, friend, or organizer... I am Olivia, I am myself, independent and able to face whatever is thrown at me. When I run I work out all the kinks, first the ones in my feet, then ankles, then knees... and as I hit my stride I clear out all of the clutter in my mind. The rythm of the road creates a meditative mood, I can clearly see what I need to do, what I haven't done, and create plans for what I will do as soon as I get home. People say once you build up the athletic ability to run a long distance, the battle becomes completely mental. You have to force yourself to keep going, not to stop, even when your body is telling you to. Mind over matter. In overcoming that challenge you build mental fortitude as surely as you build muscle mass. Now that I have had almost 3 weeks off to recuperate from my wisdom teeth extraction, I feel like my mind is cloudy and filled with cobwebs. It's time to stop waiting, and start running...

Get out and VOTE!!

This weekend was a total blast! We got to celebrate my fave holiday, Halloween...

Then Saturday was JT's 6th birthday! I can't believe my little baby boy is a little man! He was so excited and got way too much stuff of course, but he is worth it.

Today of course is election day, I am all prepared with my Obama shirt! I've read through all of the CA props and am ready for No on everything but 2 (better treatment of farm animals) and 7(clean energy, creates jobs), and especially no on h8te! I love the debates surrounding an election. Too many people get so incredibly angry when people disagree with their political beliefs, and try to force their own religions/beliefs onto everyone else. I love that we live in a democracy, where we can have a beer and talk about the issues, then let it go and still be friends. I just hope that this election more people vote based on the greater good, rather than forcing ideological beliefs into law. Whichever way it turns out, whoever and whatever comes out on top, we will still be America, and that is something we can all be thankful for.