Winter Running in California

Christmas came early for this runner! Newton Running sent me a pair of super comfy, airy and light weight shoes to try out. It took me forever to test them out (because of the rain thing). I've been wearing them around when I run errands and walks with Lars. I have officially tested out the shoes and worn them in.

I LOVE them!!!

They are + one. That means that they've added an additional lug (5 total). The fifth lug gives the runner a "broader and more stable platform, greater POP sensation, engineered to be faster and more efficient, designed to accommodate the splay of all 5 metatarsals and feels more responsive with better ground communication". 

When i first put these shoes I, the first thing I noticed was the POP and how light weight the shoe is. This totally benefited my running. 

This week is suppose to be cloudy, but no rain. We'll see if the weather people are right about that. If they're right, I can run all week!!

This is what Lars looks like when I run with him. I bundle him up when we hustle out the door. I also give him a toy to rattle around. But mostly, he "talks"while I run.

I've also been trying to workout at home too. This is what it looks like when I'm trying to do my squats and lunges. Little man runs around me and I end up being chased down the hallway. Toys are all around us and I try not to trip over them. 

How do you balance running and working out at home with a toddler? 

Great Buys for a Runner's Christmas

After a run and the sweat has cooled, my legs always get freezing. The awesome people at Heat Holders sent me some toasty leggings. They were perfect!

I was so warm. I wore them by themselves around the house and when I went out, I threw a pair of pants over them. Even warmer. We are going to see some Christmas lights tonight. I think I'll wear them under my jeans. 

I had one non-rainy day last week, so I was able to squeeze in a run. Since Lars goes with me, I can only run when it's not raining. Whenever I do run, I always I've my knee. I do this for prevention. Better safe than sorry. Dr. Cool sent me some great recovery wraps. 

All you do is: run it under water, place in freezer for about 20 minutes and you're ready to "ice"on the go. What I normally do it go for my run, release Lars from the stroller, grab my wrap from the freezer and relax while I ice. If I need to get up and chase Lars somewhere around the house, I can. These are prefect! I'm always trying to multi-task. I don;t have time not to.

These items were sent to me for my honest opinion. I honestly love these products and think they would be great for a gift for the runner in your life!

To all the runners: what do you want for Christmas?

Great Buys for a Child's Christmas

Since this is Lars' first Christmas, I like to look for great finds!! One site I'm in complete love with is Uncommon Goods. They sent Lars some adorable slippers! They're little puppies (Lars' favorite animal).

They have super grippies on the bottom, keep his feet nice and cozy and warm, and they actually stay on his feet. The only thing about little kids is that their feet grow crazy fast! I already need the next size.

They have so much more than just kids stuff: stuff for your kitchen, women, men, sports stuff. You name it, they've got it!

Lars loves to read. He loves the big red guy that's coming to town next week. Jay Dee was so nice to send me a book that he wrote. The book is called The Night Before the Night before Christmas.

This book has a cute story and wonderful illustrations. At Lars' age, illustrations are very important. They kept his attention the entire time!

Another thing Uncommon Goods sent me (Lars), was some rainbow sound blocks. He is obsessed with wooden objects that make sounds. It came with 2 rectangles, 2 circles (his favorite shape) and 2 squares. They all have different sounds and all different colors. 

He loves looking through the lenses ans seeing things in different colors. He can now hold it up to his eyes himself. He walks (mostly runs) around the house with the circles in his hands and shakes them as he goes up and down the hallway.

These items were sent to me to review. These are my very honest opinions of these products and Lars really does love them. A little boy can't lie. 

Let me know if you have any questions about what I've posted or if you'd like your product reviewed by me or Lars. 

What are you buying your kid(s)?

Baby Giggles

No parent wants an unhappy baby. I'm not unlike any other parent. Since Lars loves to eat (anything), I want him to be happy while he's eating. We always make eating a fun time. He has always hated wearing bibs. He always pulled the bib (those cloth ones) right off. They never lasted the entire meal. So, I ended up just having him eat sans bib. Which meant a very messy feeding time. 

The great people, Steve and Elaine, at Baby Giggles sent me some of their Crud Catchers. These are the only ones that have lasted! Don't get me wrong, Lars has tried to take off the bib, but hasn't been successful.

It always works, though. Lunch time was always our messiest feeding time (pb&j sandwiches). Now, clean up is a breeze! He doesn't even notice he's wearing it :) Feeding time is still is a fun time!

It really works too. Lars likes to dig in the pocket area and pick up what he's dropped. He now eats everything. I rarely find anything is his lap or on his high chair seat. 

I tell the truth when I review products and this is a great product! Easy clean up, flexible (and doesn't hurt when he does try to take it off), 

Baby Giggles makes a great product! If you have a messy eater, these will help you tremendously!!

Do you have a messy eater?  How do they handle wearing a bib?

Best Dessert EVER!!

So, I ate turkey day dessert waaay too fast and didn't even take a photo. I guess that means I just enjoyed it too much! I made a great dinner (no photos though). I made the standard (minus the stuffing). I don't care for stuffing too much and it didn't seem to be missed. Yay for me!

No, on to dessert. I made my candy apple cheesecake that I told you about last week. It didn't look like the picture, but it was outstanding (not my words, my guests). It turned out so great, I'm going to make it for Christmas dinner too.

Christmas has made an appearance in my house this week. I decorated my house as a start of the 25 days of Christmas. It's a new tradition, I started this year. I want Lars' 1st Christmas to be great (I know he won't remember it, but I will).

Here's my hall bath (Lars' bathroom)

Clockwise: living room (where the tree will be going this weekend), Lars'  play area, and the bottom pictures are the dining room.

Have you decorated for Christmas yet? Do you decorate?

Family Time

The other day, Jason and I took Lars to the local park (that we always run to). It's his favorite park. When we turn the corner and he sees it, he squeals and raises his arms. It's so cute.

When our little family was there last time, there was a soccer game going on. Lars wanted to borrow a ball (we forgot ours at home). He loves kicking the soccer ball around. He can start soccer when he's 3. I think I'll do that. 

I'm having my parents over for Thanksgiving tomorrow. I'm making a different dessert (apples are still involved). I can't wait to share it with you guys.  I'm taking the rest of the week off, but I will update you on the yummy food (first time making cranberry sauce) Monday.

What are you making (or having) for Thanksgiving dinner?

Winter Running

My little man is turning into a cute little boy. He can walk on his own and can stand up, while hanging on to something. He's about 30"tall and about 21 pounds. he's such a good eater (as seen in yesterday's post)

He has such a personality. He loves telling jokes (he talks baby talk and then laughs). It's the cutest thing! He loves music so much. When there's a good beat, he bounces up and down. I don't know if that's normal for little kids to do. I haven't been around kids this age too much.

My winter running has started. I know it's not technically winter, yet. But, it's cold in the mornings (for CA). Our routine is: get Lars up (about 8), we eat breakfast (he eats what we eat), we get out of our pjs and I get him bundled up for the run. He wears his thermal, sweater and beanie (with his hood up).

We always end up at the park and he plays for a while. So, I bring lots of water for both of us. For the run and play time, we're usually out for about 1 1/2 hours. Lars has a ton of fun!!

How's your winter running going? How cold is it where you live?

Loving Fall & the BEST Pancakes!!

Fall has been fantastic to us! It's been raining, but enough sunshine so we can keep going outside. Can't complain here. 

We went to apple hill last weekend, and of course, I had to pick up a bunch of my favorite apples (pink lady). I've been making my new favorite breakfast (maybe a bit too much) a lot!

Apple Pie Pancakes are the best!!! I'm not the only one that loves these pancakes. A little man loves them too!

Since Christmas is right around the corner, I've been busy making a Countdown to Christmas. It's made out of acrylic and the carrot nose moves to the number that's left until Christmas. This is something that will be around for a while. 

Lars already loves it :) 

What are your favorite type of pancakes? Pancakes or waffles for breakfast?

What every girl wants

A while ago, the great people at The Bouqs Company sent me some beautiful flowers!!! When the delivery guy knocked on the door and handed me the box, I felt so special.

Lars wanted to help me open the box. He was so curious to see what was in it. The flowers were packaged nice and neat, with barely anything damaged.

How pretty do they look? Can't you just smell them through you computer?

They were the most beautiful thing in my kitchen for a while. They smelled so good!

One of the great things about this company is that these flowers are only $40 (with FREE shipping). They're just like any other flower company and you can schedule a delivery date (you have to be home when they're delivered). The flowers are "grown on an active volcano in South America". How cool is that?!!! Ordering them online was so easy and took no time at all. They lasted longer than any flowers I have bought in a store. I love that they only cut what they sell. No extra waste. This is a great company and I will be ordering more flowers, in the future, from them.

Where do you buy your flowers? 

Happy Halloween!!

Here's my little Super Man!!

This season, we went to a pumpkin patch to choose Lars' pumpkin.

A new friend found our pumpkin (outside).

Pumpkin carving time!!

Trick or treating tonight!! Lars' first time eating some candy, should be interesting. Hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween!!

What are your plans tonight?

Spartan Super Finisher!!

Saturday was the BIG day!! Here's the course map for the Spartan Super Race. One of the sucky parts of the day was the huge traffic jam with parking (as expected with anything going on...ie: sports game or concert). The other thing was that it was pouring down rain. Not a deal for us racers, but for the spectators, especially my hubby with Lars in the stroller. The rain cover tent was ultra small and there wasn't any room for them. Some old lady gave up her spot under the tent, so they could come in and get a little dry. Other than that, it was a great day!!

Here's the course map:

Most photos were taken from my friend Dylan (my team mate's hubby). Like I said, it was a very cold, and wet start. To come up to the start line, you had to jump over a small wall (about 3'or 4' tall). 

Here are me and Kelly during the race. I think this was about 3 miles in. It was just after the monkey bars (which I didn't do well).

Some of the obstacles we had to do were: climb over walls (I think there were 4 vertical walls), which got taller and taller each wall. throw a javelin into a thing of hay, work your way through a rope maze, go through a wall, under a wall and above a wall. I think there were about 3 barb wire crawls (which were my favorite), cross some very smelly water, pull a block of cement up a huge hill (and back down), carry a sand bag the same, monkey bars, rope climb, inverted wall climb, transverse wall, a v shaped climb (up and down), fire jump (to get to the finish line), go under a wall in muddy water, rope climb over a wall and ladder walk down and think a few more. 

Here we are pulling the huge cement block up the huge ass hill. That was so hard!

After carrying a 5 gallon bucket of rocks up and down a huge hill, I stopped to say hi to my support crew.

I made it half way on the transverse wall. I think if it wasn't so slippery, I could have made it. One of the down sides of the mud, but not really). 

Right after I went under the wall in the water (waiting for Kelly).

After changing and trying to get warm with a well deserved beer! best support crew I could ask for!!

Well deserved sticker on my car (next to my 13.1 sticker).

Day after bruises (they look much, much worse now). I love battle wounds!!

Front of the medal

Back of the medal (in case you want to do the trifecta (all 3 races)).

Kelly and I after the race. I loved that they had a fire going to keep racers warm while the fueled. 

Some of the race photos:

Kelly and I after getting help climbing up a huge, very muddy, very slippery hill. We couldn't have done it without this guys help. 

Never too good to get help. 

That's another awesome thing about this race. People were so willing to help you. I had some guys help me get over a few of the walls, help with the cement and up this hill. I would have had to do so many more burpees than I already did. Yes, i had to do many, many burpees. I tried every single obstacle. I'm so proud of myself. I crossed the finish line with a smile on my face. I left everything on the course and enjoyed every single second. I know what I need to train more on (wall climbs mostly) and to get better shoes for this. 

Have you ever done a Spartan Race before? What was your experience?