Elf 4 Health Challenge Update!

Am I the only one out there that seems to overcommit to things? I always feel if I'm not running around crazy, then I'm incredibly bored. So I'm currently running around prepping for my New Year's trip to Nashville tomorrow, keeping up with Elf 4 Health, planning my Grandma's 90th birthday party for next week, and about to start a new Tone It Up Challenge!

Wow I'm whiney! Maybe it's time for some winey...

AnyHOO. Here's my update to where we are at with the Elf 4 Health Challenge!

Flash Forward to this week- I was assigned a new Elf for the next 2 weeks. Her name is Becky and she is also a blogger at Olives 'n' Wine . She's pretty awesome and has a super cute blog that I suggest you hit up. Like right now. (After you finish reading MY post of course)

I just reported what I'm doing today to her and my commitments for the next few days...so thought I would share here as well!

I've done well so far with the challenge this week- they gave us a couple "break days" with the holidays I feel- which I'm totally fine with! Today's challenge was to share list "thankful list". Since I did that on here just last week, I plan to make a casserole to make up for last week when I missed that day. I think I'm going to make the casserole my last Elf - Megan from After the Ivy League made...she took it from This Cheesy Broccoli Quinoa Casserole Recipe and made a few healthy switches. I actually have all these ingredients, so that's why I chose it, though I may switch out the broccoli for cauliflower since I have alot of that. Or maybe add both! I'll make sure to update on the results...

Friday, December 28

Make a healthy mug cake in the microwave!- I have never done this, but will plan to tomorrow- I'm going to aim for This Banana Mug Cake Recipe

Saturday, December 29

Take some time for yourself! Read a book for fun, do a craft, take a bubble bath!- I may do some reading for fun (I'm about to start Gone Girl), but I prefer to take some time for myself line dancing in a honky tonk while partying in Nashville!

Monday, December 31

Make a healthy dish to take to your NYE party! - Yeah, not going to do this one :) . My hotel room is not conducive to this, nor is my NYE party at the Hard Rock Cafe.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Clean the house from top to bottom! - Considering my flight gets in at 4pm from Nashville, I will probably have to save this for Wednesday- which will definitely happen because I have out of towners arriving on Thursday!

Cheerio!

Color Run- The Happiest 5K on Earth!

Last Saturday, a team of my co-workers, friends, and I participated in St. Petersburg's Color Run 5K.
Their tagline is "The Happiest 5K on Earth" and I can believe that. I've run in dozens upon dozens of races and challenges, and this was one of my favorite by far.

From The Color Run's website:
The Color Run™ 5k is a unique experience focused less on speed and more on crazy color fun with friends and family. Color runners come from all different ages, shapes, sizes, and speeds; but everyone toeing the start line has a blast. Whether you are a casual morning mall walker or an Olympic athlete, the 3 miles of The Color Run™ course will be the most memorable and colorful run of your life!

The Color Run is a national race series and is held in cities all over the country. Each kilometer of the event has you run through a designated Color Zone: yellow, orange, pink, or blue. Sporting all white, runners run through these zones (we kept bandanas over our mouths) as volunteers douse them with color- what is apparently dyed cornstarch. So it's powder- some of my friends actually thought they were going to throw paint on us- gross!

I was pretty conservative in my race day outfit- I wore the official race shirt, a pair of neon shorts I have from Target, white knee socks, Color Run sunglasses and a white sweatband. Some on my team donned tutus, though I saw people running in togas, shower caps on, robes, etc. People got skills in the creative department!

Here's a pre-race pic. And the guy in the middle is the Runicorn, the Color Run's mascot. As you can see, we are clean at this point.

The race was super organized, with a DJ at the start lines blasting tunes and keeping the crowd motivated. The downfall was it was super croweded, as the event sold out and more than 10,000 runners participated. There was no start clock, so as they promote on their site, this was more about fun than time. Good thing, because we had to basically shuffle step to the first Color Zone.

This pircute really doesn't do it justice, but our first zone was clearly pink. I think they kept this one a little tame to get runners acclimated to what we signed up for. Blue was MUCH more intense.

This is what is going on behind me in the Blue zone. Because my friends are nice people, they kindly let me know that I must have inhaled the blue, because my teeth were blue. I proceeded to attempt to correct the situation by washing my mouth out with water. NOT A HIGHLIGHT.

The next Color Zone was...

ORANGE. Orange was pretty crazy. I couldn't really take pictures running through the cloud, but the volunteers resembled Oompa Loompas, and there were even runners laying down in the sidewalk and making "Color Angels" in the orange powder on the ground. Oh and as you can see, as you move through the Color Zone, you are basically walking as everyone is actually trying to get Color on them.

The final zone was yellow- I was pretty proud of my overhead "profile pic" style picture in this Color Zone. Though I admit, I would be a pretty silly looking bank robber.

I felt like the run was super short, but my friends insisted if followed the same route as the Race for the Cure 5k- I guess I'm still in half marathon mode!

So we finish the race and several photo shoots ensued. Everyone was given a color packet before the race and was instructed to wait until the Color Party at the end of the race. My brother-in-law thought it would be HYSTERICAL to throw my own Color Party, so he went ahead and just dumped the entire packet on top of me.

Here's an after picture:

You can clearly see this was after the yellow incident with the BIL.

 

 

So as I mentioned, we had the Color Packets for the post-race Color Party, held every 5 minutes. Everyone gathers in a centralized area, the DJ gives a count down and everyone releases their Color Packets in the air- as if we weren't colored enough!

 

Here it is from afar- it was a really, really cool site.

Who wouldn't want to be a part of that?? Isn't it pretty?? (Side note- It was very foggy and overcast that day, wondering how the color would have looked in the Florida sunshine)

 

We took our places after this group cleared out of the Color Party area. I had pink in my packet and I was determined to make it RAIN!

 

 

 

This is what it looks like from inside the Color Party. Definitely a mess! I felt like I was at some sort of sober rave. An AWESOME sober rave. It was very exhilirating!

 

We went home shortly after this and worked on scrubbing off our color. I had put on the pre-cautionary sunscreen- they had advised that would cause it to wipe off easier. That tip worked like a chart. I had put coconut oil in my hair- again as they had advised- and that came out no problem as well, and I have highlights! My advice- read the packet they email you- they know what they are talking about! Another note- my camera is a normal point and shoot Canon Powershot here. I had no problems using it in the powder cloud.

 

Can't wait to sign up for next year!!





GRATITUDE JOURNAL

Seriously getting close to Christmas- CRA-ZAY! I’m knee deep in my fitness challenges I mentioned previously. With Tone It Up!, there is a members-only challenge going on right now that I’m really enjoying. The focus is on the physical and the mental aspects of keeping yourself in check during this crazy season. One of our tasks today: “Next, let’s focus on the good, great and wonderful! Write out a list of 10 positive things in your life. What are grateful for? List it all out- either big or small!  Your family.  Your best friend who's there for you for everything. Your Tone It Up Team. Your strong, capable body!  Let the good things pour onto your page!  This list will have you beaming by the end!  We hope this helps you 're-set' your intentions and visualization for the holidays.” This was also paired with taking 10-15 minutes to quietly journal. I’m going to try to take care of both of these items with this post J. 10 Positive Things About My Life (in random order):

1)   My Health

2)   My Husband

3)   My Family

4)   My Friends

5)   My Financial Stability

6)   My Travel Experiences

7)   The Junior League of Tampa

8)   My Job

9)   My Creativity

10)  My Fitfam in person and online

So I look at these "Positive Things" and I'm truly grateful for all of them, and I live a truly wonderful life, but....how boring. They look like at least 7 of them could be on anyone's list. I decided to make an alternative list thinking back to some of the quirkier things I appreciate in my life...

10 Quirky Things I Love in My Life (in random order):

1) My quiet weekend bike rides to the neighborhood farmer's markets and community gardens where I compost my food (go local, go green!...and I'm not a hippie either).

2) My 4 pairs of TOMS (ok...sounding more like a hippie)

3) Pure Barre class- Barre class has showed me something I was always curious about, what it is like to take ballet. And it's a WORKOUT!

4) The Snapseed photo app- editing tool that makes me some SICK pictures.

5) My vast and very eclectic music collection

6) Champagne & Sangria- love them both dearly!

7) Free Yoga in the Park classes on Sundays

8) My library card that allows me to borrow unlimited books on my Kindle app

9) My Jeep Wrangler with the roof off- exhilirating!

10) My Cracker Barrel rocking chairs on my front porch

Okay- maybe a little materialistic- but my Cracker Barrel chairs DO provide me great joy. Sometimes I actually get to sit down and slow down and just chat with family and friends in them. And on and on on this quirky list- but it did make me think. What makes YOU happy? What are YOU grateful for?

Priming for Pinterest!

I give up. I'm Pinterest obsessed, but I get highly frustrated with it sometimes.

Why? The overwhelming amount of things to create or do that I have pinned, and the underwhelming number of projects I have tackled. No- I don't feel alone. Everyone I know is on Pinterest. Everyone I know is in the same boat. Because the people I know, my real life friends, all have lives- 99% of them work and if they don't have children, well they will soon!

So what is a girl to do? I work, but I'm kidless. This should be prime pinning time. So I'm taking a stand and stating it for the world to hear- I'm committing to projects. With no idea how time consuming this may or may not be, I want to start easy. Or at least start with what I think is easy. I'm committing to 1 Pinterest project per week. Whether it's a recipe, or some sort of decoration, or heck- cleaning the shower head, I, Leslie, will take the plunge and go all in on Pinterest.

And then I will create ANOTHER board, just for completed projects- I'm a visual person. 

PS- Total side note, but how great are the secret boards they started on Pinterest? HELLO- where were these a year ago?? I can now actually pin gifts for people without them seeing...whoop whoop!

Festive Fitness Time!

I'm Baaaaccckkk!

It's my favorite time of the year- holiday time- and I've made a few changes and commitments lately to my fitness regime.

On November 10th, my friend and I ran in the Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon. It was AWESOME. I highly recommend runDisney events. So entertaining, and as well run as they can be for the number of participants- and of course Disney World at this time of year is pretty outstanding. We ran through Hollywood Studios around miles 9-11 and the streets were lit up every inch with Christmas lights in some areas- honestly one of the coolest displays I have ever seen, probably THE coolest.

So I've digressed (typical). After about a year of quietly following the team, I have finally jumped on board the Tone It Up team's health and fitness plan. Karena and Katrina of Tone It Up run a highly successful blog turned empire that is connected with Self Magazine and Jane Fonda, among others. They provide weekly high quality workouts, recipes, inspiration, etc. Joining the team is a $150 commitment, but after a year of quietly following behind the scenes, I really felt like the commitment was worth it. You get exclusive access to their online community, more involvement from the team, a comprehensive diet and workout plan, and quarterly updates...though I feel it's much more. I did my first shopping trip this weekend for the plan, so this week I plan to ease myself into it. Of course I travel for work tomorrow- way to kick things off with AWESOME timing :) . (That sentence was dripping with sarcasm)

Additionally, I have decided to participate in the Elf for Health Holiday Challenge. You can learn more about the challenge at http://www.theleangreenbean.com/elf-for-health-holiday-challenge/. It's cute- you are given an "Elf" (ie buddy) and you rotate Elf's several times over the 6 week challenge. Every day is a different challenge- some physical, some diet related, and some just good for you in general. Yesterday's challenge was to clean out your closet and donate the clothes to charity. Honestly, the challenges could be used at any time of the year...here are the 1st 7 days of December. Head on over and join!!

Wish me luck with my challenges! I'll keep y'all updated on how I do!

Saturday, December 1

 Clean out your closet! Fill a bag with clothes to donate to Goodwill

Monday, December 3

 Do you know much fiber do you eat? Track your fiber intake today! You should be getting about 14 grams per every 1,000 calories consumed

Tuesday, December 4

 Have a salad today and make your own dressing!

Wednesday, December 5

 Pack a healthy snack- and pack extra to share with a friend!

Thursday, December 6

 Let's lift weights! Try an exercise you've never done before!

Friday, December 7

 Go makeup-free today!

Family Tradition

My grandparents aren't doing so hot these days and a issue is cooking. My Grandma doesn't want to do it anymore, and poor Grandpa doesn't know how...so when I go over there, I try to take some food prepared at a food prep place, like Let's Eat! or Dinner Done, or I make something myself.

My Grandma's sister (Auntie Barb from Marion, IN) is really cute and made me a cookbook once I was married of all of our family recipes. One of the best presents I received! Each recipe has a short story as to why it's special. Today I'm going to prepare 2 recipes from it...This one today...Hamburger Casserole tomorrow. My grandpa's palate right now is very bland, so I'm trying to keep things basic- but it tastes pretty darn good!

Hot Chicken Salad

From Auntie Barb's Cookbook- "There are a lot of hot chicken salad recipes in the world, but this is my favorite. I got it from Nellie Studebaker, who was our guidance counselor at school over 20 years. It's nice to make up the day before and refrigerate. It has a good combination of interesting textures.

Ingredients:

4 C cooked chicken cut into chunks

2 C chopped celery

3/4 C undiluted cream of chicken soup

2 T lemon juice

1 t salt

1 can of water chestnuts (sliced)

2/3 C grated cheese

4 hard boiled eggs (sliced)

3/4 C mayo

2 pimentoes cut fine

1 t finely minced onion

1/2 t Accent

1 1/2 C potato chips

2/3 C almonds chopped fine

Combine all ingredients except potato chips, cheese, and almonds. Place in large, rectangular baking dish. Top with potato chips, cheese, and almonds. Let stand overnight in fridge. Bake 25-30 min at 400 degrees.

Book Clubs are for Cool Kids!

I just got back from my monthly book club meeting. There are 7 of us 20 & 30 somethings in the club, we choose books 2 months in advance (for those of use that reserve library copies and need some time for them to come available), and we discuss over dinner at a small locally owned restaurant of our choosing.

Tonight we were at a Lebanese restaurant discussing Turning Angel by Greg Iles. Decent book- Crime drama, cute setting in a Mississippi town (Natchez) that you just want to live in, but awfully long at like 650 pages. Could have been done in 500. Still a pretty good page turner with lots of twists and turns. A couple unbelievable moments, but still worth the time investment.

This month we're reading an Oprah Book Club book- Wild by Cheryl Strayed- about a girl who has a lost moment in her 20's and decides to hike the Pacific Coast Trail- alone. Good so far...though I'm only on day 9 of the 100+ day hike.

So you are thinking- what's the point of this post? I will get to the point- I just like to offer up some of the previous books because I'm one of those readers who always is looking for new read recommendations.

The point is our challenge for selecting our NEXT book. We are each supposed to choose a "classic" novel and then report back on what it was about. There was no definition given to narrow down the meaning of "classic", so I can get creative. I mean, I did read a handful of them in high school but couldn't tell you one thing about them. I'm quite intrigued by this challenge- where does one start? Do you read something you already read and LOVED- like me with Little Women? Read something you THINK you remembered loving- like me with Catcher in the Rye? Do you read The Great Gatsby because it's coming out as a movie soon? Or do you read something completely new?

I posed this question to my Facebook nation and the responses were varied. I did brace myself for the "You are in a book club?" idiots, but they kept to themselves- well except for my dork husband who suggested A Charlie Brown Christmas. Thanks babe.

To note- suggestions from the FB peanut gallary (and the book club crew) so far are:
Pride and Prejudice
The Outsiders
To Kill a Mockingbird
Tale of Two Cities
Emma
1984
Little Women
Atlas Shrugged

Hmmmm....decisions....