eatoutsidethebox

2010-03-27T19:00:00.002-05:00

I was really tired today but I needed to run. I had 5m to do and I wanted to give my best. I took some Rhodiola and holy smokes I couldn't sit down. It was a nice run and I'm not sleepy any more!
My time was really slow 'cause my legs were sore from working out yesterday (55:19). It still felt good to get out there and I'm sure I'll adjust to the work load soon.

2009-01-12T11:01:00.000-06:00

2009-01-02T22:01:00.000-06:00

Buddy

2008-08-15T19:30:00.003-05:00

I found these pics of Buddy eating my wheatgrass and I thought it was so cute.

He loves it so much he couldn't wait for me to cut it.

Anxiously waiting

Now that he's full he'll sun himself.

Life doesn't get much better than that.

Stuffed Apples

2008-08-15T18:43:00.013-05:00

I love these, me and my baby girl. Ryan doesn't like them so much but I'll post his favorite later. Anyway, these take like 3 minutes to make and are sooo filing. It's like eating apple pie in an apple cup.

These are the suspects:

* small food processor or hand blender

* melon baller

*two medium apples

* 1/2 cup raisins

*1/4 cup almonds

* dash of cinnamon

put almonds and cinnamon in processor

grind

add raisins and leave to the side

cut apples in half

core them with the scoop thingi

scoop out the inside of the apples leaving a firm cup behind

place apple guts in processor

and blend blend blend

if the raisins are not breaking up add a dash of water and blend until they do

be careful with the water though you don't want your stuffing too soggy

stuff apples

Eat!!!

Going and going and going and.........

2008-08-04T22:59:00.019-05:00

Much requested juice recipe is here. This is the juice that I bring along with me on long run days. By long I mean 8+ miles at a time. When I see other runners sipping fluorescent drinks and sucking on gross gel packs I am always happy I have my juice with me. It really does keep me going and going and going.

The recipe here is a standard that I use but it is very flexible and feel free to adjust to your own liking. The options are truly endless.

1/2 bunch celery

1 apple

1 young coconut

1 small bunch parsley

(organic, by the way)

You will also need a food processor (or vitamix) and two paint strainer bags. As you can see mine are heavily used.

Chop chop chop

Place veggies in food processor

Blend blend blend

Now the coconut

With a serrated knife shave top layer of coconut until you reach inner shell

Here is the shell

Now just dig your knife into the shell and lift

Tadah!!!!!

I poured the water into another container and then into the food processor and blended some more.

Place bags in a bowl like this

Now put mush inside

and strain as much as you can.

I use two bags because I like my juice to be clear of pulp so if the first bag misses something the second bag will get it. This is a matter of preference.

Here you go.

Please adjust to suit your own taste. This really works for me. you can dilute the flavor more by adding cucumber, or make it sweeter by adding more apple, or if you hate parsley just use spinach. I promise you won't even know it's there (except for the green).

Why did I make this juice? Well, I can't buy it and it's much better than anything on the market.

Coconut water is the highest source of electrolytes in nature
Celery is loaded with natural sodium
Apple supplies natural sugars to fuel your run
Parsley has chlorophyll that will neutralize the acid build up caused by prolonged exertion and iron which aids in proper oxygen transport and red blood cell regeneration.

Enjoy!!!

Is There Slavery In Your Chocolate?

2008-06-12T21:07:00.000-05:00

I have a bunch of other blog posts I need to write but I came across this article and this took priority over everything else. Most people I come in contact with are not aware that slavery is still very much alive today as it has been in the past. People in first wold countries like the US remain oblivious to the fact that they are the biggest contributors to these types of world wide issues. I admit that at one point I contributed too, just like everyone else I did not know how my choices at the grocery store affected the lives of those in third world countries. Yet with knowledge comes responsibility. I can not with good conscience buy chocolate or another product that is produced by the exploitation of other human beings.

People, we have to realize that we literally vote with our dollars. Billions and billions of dollars are spent everyday. Billions and billions of votes are made. My question is, what do you vote for in your grocery cart?

It's funny because when I discuss issues like these with some people the response is usually to the effect "organic is too expensive" or "fair trade is too expensive". I can understand these objections because I am as much on a budget as you are, maybe even tighter that some of you. However, I spend the few dollars I have very carefully. Yes there are times when I feel like I must have chocolate or whatever and if I can afford the raw cacao I will. If I can not afford raw I'll get fair trade chocolate, if I can not afford that I guess I won't be having chocolate that month.

I think that as Americans we are always looking for the better deal and how we can get what we want for less. The thing we have to realize is that even though the full price may not be paid by us it is being paid by the children whose lives are being destroyed to produce our treat.

This article by John Robins very clearly describes the issue and is the most informative I have found. Take some time to see which brands are cruelty free and next time you buy your chocolate vote against slavery.

"I need a drink"

2008-04-19T17:37:00.000-05:00

This a subject I think us moms need to discuss more often. If you stay at home and home school your kids sometimes you just need a drink. Now even if you do not home school and just stay home or if you just have kids period taking 15 minutes to relax with a fun drink is very necessary. This can be a hard thing to do for someone like me who only drinks alcohol about twice a year for a total of about 2 oz of wine.

Still I don't let my lack of taste for alcohol hold me back (please, please do not parent under the influence) I still enjoy virgin versions, sometimes even for breakfast.

So to honor all the moms who need a break here are some of my favorite recipes.

African Ginger Beer

Juice of 4 Limes
1 Cup Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
1 Large piece of Ginger, juiced
½ Cup Agave Nectar or honey
4 Cups Sparkling Mineral Water
1/8th Tsp. Ground Clove
1/8th Tsp. Ground Cardamom

There are a couple of ways you can juice the ginger- either in a juicer, or you can grate it on a microplane and then squeeze the juice out of the pulp using cheesecloth or a strainer. Mix all of the ingredients together in a pitcher and serve over ice. If you feel like a real drink, add some dark rum for a ‘Dark and Stormy.’ (Green Chefs)

Warning: This drink might leave you in a state of total bliss, only consume if you want to feel amazing.

Pina Colada

2 Cups pineapple

3 Cups Coconut milk

1 Tblsp Coconut Oil

2-3 Tblsp Honey or Agave

Ice

Now to get the coconut milk there are a few approaches I use based on what I have laying around the house. One way is to open a young Thai coconut and blend the meat with the water to get milk. Another way is blending 3 parts water to 1 part coconut shreds on a high speed blender and strain to get milk. Once you have everything put in a blender with as much ice as you like and blend.

Virgin Ginger Mojitos

Handful mint leaves, about ¼ cup

Juice of 1 lime

1 Tbsp grated ginger

1 Tbsp agave syrup

Top with sparkling water

Juice your lime into your glass, peel and grate ginger adding to your glass. Add mint leaves and muddle well. Add agave syrup, ice, sparkling water to top, and mix gently but thoroughly. Enjoy!

(Freshtopia)

Who are these people living in my house?

2008-04-11T11:29:00.000-05:00

It's funny I look at my kids and it amazes me at how they develop and grow and change. It's like I'm meeting them for the first time every couple of months. Interestingly enough when I look at the parenting that surrounds me I see that many parents spend so much time trying to see themselves in their kids that they are completely missing this magnificent little person altogether. I believe in accepting my kids as they are and continuously getting to know them as they change and evolve. I still fully believe that they are in training and that it's my job to train them but to also celebrate who they are and give them and environment that let the qualities that God has given them to flourish.

I also strongly suggest having dessert for dinner (at least sometimes ; ).

Happy Birthday Butterfly!!!!

2007-11-28T23:11:00.000-06:00

Today is my Birthday and I am soooo excited. I have been waiting to write this blog for some time now and I really wanted to save it for my birthday. I am a wife to the most amazing husband on the planet and mom to two amazing kids. I am also a personal trainer who is training for the marathon here in Austin in February and I have a strange passion for raw and living foods (strange to say raw and living since they are the same thing).

I'm starting this blog because I wanted to share how wonderful my life is with the world and how grateful I am for the life I lead. Now struggles happen because they are a part of life and this is how we grow but life is to be celebrated even when it is hard. Struggle it's how butterflies are born and how they earn the right to fly. Right now I'm wiggling my wings out of my cocoon and looking forward to flying. I am nervous because I've never flown before but I am more exited to smell the fresh air in flight.