Food, Fitness, Family

We’re traveling right now, and I don’t have my big camera to take photos. So, I thought I’d elaborate on some Instagrams from the past few days. And I think the themes of food, fitness, and family will come up again and again, so consider this a semi-regular feature!

FOOD

I was writing an article for Wise Bread on different desserts you can bake in your microwave, and it totally reminded me of one of my favorite old breakfast recipes. Of course, I’m referring to microwave muffins.

Have you tried them yet?


MICROWAVE MUFFINS

What you’ll need . . . 

• 1 ripe banana, mashed
• 3 tablespoons whole wheat flour
• 3 tablespoons rolled oats, uncooked
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• pinch sea salt
• 1 tablespoon smooth peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon almond milk
• handful chocolate chips (berries, etc.)

Method . . . 

1. Lightly grease a tall mug with coconut or olive oil. Set aside.
2. Mix together the flour, oats, baking powder and salt in a small bowl.
3. Add the mashed banana, almond milk, peanut butter, and chocolate chips.
4. Mix until just combined. Then microwave on high for 2:30-3 minutes. 
5. Let cool before serving (tip mug upside-down, cut in half, etc.).
6. Serve with banana slices and peanut butter.

FITNESS

Stephen and I ran a 10K together yesterday around 8:30 pace in the hills around his childhood home. The best part was the weather. 56 degrees and sunny. Really. I’ll take that in late December -- for sure!

That gives me a total of 30 miles for the last week, broken down as follows:

Sunday: 8 miles at 8:50/mile
Monday: 5 miles at 8:50/mile
Tuesday: 6 miles at 8:50/mile
Wednesday: 1 mile -- busy with holiday stuff
Thursday: 4 miles at 8:45/mile
Friday: OFF
Saturday: 6.2 miles at 8:30/mile


I’m slower, yes, but happy to maintain this kind of mileage and still feel comfortable. Today I’m hoping to get in a quick 5K to shake my legs out from all the work yesterday, but I may also take some more rest and save up my energy for another 8-miler tomorrow. Anyone else loving the warm weather? (I could use a snowstorm, though!)

FAMILY

We’ve definitely had a rough patch in the sleep department over the last month (maybe more). First, Ada got sick and wasn’t sleeping through the night with the sniffles. Then I got sick and was waking up at 3AM for a straight week coughing. Then Ada got sick again (gotta love the first year of preschool, right!) and now we’re traveling. I’d love just two nights in a row of solid shut-eye. I know someday I’ll forget these dragging days.

Regardless, we’re enjoying our winter break together. Before Stephen heads back to work, we’d love to take Ada to a movie for the first time in the theater. I’d like to take a day-trip someplace new and poke around for a few hours. I think Ada’s most looking forward to playing.

It’s crazy how fast that transition happens from toddler to kid. Especially when it comes to play. I love hearing all the voices Ada creates for her different characters. Or seeing the stuff she dreams up with her blocks and tinker toys. The other day she drew a picture of me and said:

“Mommy -- I drawed you! You’re in the water (pointing at the bottom of the picture) yelling ‘help, help, help!’” 

Uhhhh. At least she’s expressing herself!

:)

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