Hi!! :D

Hi everyone! I know I've been MIA - but I have a good reason!

I'm pregnant and SUPER BUSY!!

Here I am with my expanding belly..

I'll make sure to keep everyone updated from now on. I'll be 28 weeks on Friday so expect another composite picture in about 3 weeks (though I will post before then, promise)!

I've Won a Blog Award!! - The Liebster Award

Woot, Woot! My Sweat Pink Sister Lynette nominated me for the LIEBSTER AWARD. I am so excited and flattered that she thought of me.

I had actually never heard of this award before, so I went to Wiki and Google to see what it was all about.  Liebster is German for “dearest” and this award it given to fellow bloggers with less than 200 followers as a way to spread the new blogger love (didn't really check this.. just picked blogs I liked)! 

The Rules:

1. Each person must post 11 random things about themselves.
2. Answer the 11 questions the person giving the award has set for you.
3. Create 11 questions for the people you will be giving the award to.
4. Choose 11 people to award and send them a link to your post. Go to their page and tell them.
5. No tag backs.

11 Facts about me:

1. I'm a early bird, even on the weekend.
2. I kill plants, I've event killed a cactus.
3. I'm addicted to buying socks in all different colors.
4. My husband and I have four cats.
5. I'm seriosly grossed out my all bugs even fake ones and those on TV.
6. My favorite color is teal and I will buy everything in that color.
7. I love everything day of the dead themed.
8. I love papercrafting and have my own craft room.
9. I was born in Germany so I could never be president.
10. I love throwing parties and have a homemade "photo booth" for our parties compete with props.
11. I'm addicted to the Internet and I have numerous friends that I've never met IRL :D

11 Questions from Lynette:

1. Why did you start blogging?
I started blogging so I could my running, fitness and weight loss progress. I also wanted to be able to blog about my crafting and daily life activies.

2. What is your favorite recipe?
Dirty Quinoa

3. If you’re not working out you are…
Hanging out with my husband or friends

4. Where is the best place you’ve ever traveled to?
Right now - St. John,  but in May I'm going to Bora Bora!

5. Movie you could watch on repeat?
Love Actually

6. Favorite “pump me up” song?
Ke$ha - Die Young
   
7. What is your favorite fitness magazine?
Women's Running Magazine
   
8. What social media platforms do you use to promote your blog?
Facebook, Twitter, Dailymile & Instagram
   
9. What is your go-to drink when you’re out?
Rum & Diet
   
10. Quote that never gets old?
“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”
- Epicurus (Greek philosopher, BC 341-270)
   
11. Item of clothing you can’t live without?
Socks!!!! Lots and lots of socks!

My Questions for my Awardees:

1. Why did you start blogging?
2. If you could run a destination race anywhere, where would you have the race?
3. How do you stay motivated to workout doing bad weather?
4. Best book you have read lately?
5. What is your biggest accomplishment?
6. Death row last meal would be?
7. Are you a white underwear girl or do you like them colorful?
8. What is something you can't leave the house without?
9. Coffee or tea?
10. What is your favorite post on your own blog?
11. What are you looking forward to the most in 2013?

11 People I’m Awarding:

Fit Running Mama

Fitful Focus

In my Life I Love You More

Katie Moves

Living the Sweat Life

Mom Running on Empty

Recipe for Disaster

Run Turtle Run

Running on Candy... Fueled by Sugar, Rainbows and Glitter

Running while Mommy

Will Write 4 Travel

Running and Running and Running!!

I finally confirmed and updated my race schedule for 2013! :D I might add on a few additional virtual races, but I'm done with my in person race schedule (pending the registration of a few races). I'm doing a couple of 13 in 2013 "challenges" so I have to run a minimum of 13 races this year. 

I know it looks like a lot, but quite a few of the dates of my virtual races overlap with dates that I'm running in person races or when I will be doing training runs of the same distance. I'm super excited for the bling I'll accumulate over the year.

Are you running any of the same races this year? Do you want to run with me this year? I'd love running some company!

Race Recap: Mermaid Series 5K & Get Out and Go!

On Saturday I ran the Mermaid Series 5K, San Diego and I had a blast! It was my first Mermaid Series race and first official (non-virtual) race of my 13 races in 2013. The race course was in Mission Bay and we ran along the gorgeous coast of Fiesta Island. It was so nice to see a large number of women out running together and enjoying the beautiful scenery.

I represented my Sweat Pink Sisters with my running attire (my new Sweat Pink tank and Nike LunarGlide running shoes) and I was even Sparkling by sporting my favorite sparkly headband from Sparkly Soul.

I was so motivated to run this race and set a PR.... And I did! I ran it in 37:50 (12:12 pace) which is my fastest 5K race, to date! I'm so excited that this was the way I started my 2013 race schedule!

Today's Monday Motivation is just to get out and go! It doesn't matter how slow you are... You're faster than everyone sitting on the couch! I used to be embarrassed about how slow my pace was, but now I'm just so happy that I have the motivation to start the race. :D



Did you run a race this weekend? Did you just get up and go? Maybe you're still training for your first race?! Leave me some love and let me know... I'd love to hear about it!

Be Awesome & Congrats to the Ravens

A great friend of mine, July, always says she reminds herself daily to be Awesome, from her I am inspired to remind myself how awesome I am. When I ran across this picture I thought it was perfect for today. I definitely needed the reminder and motivation. I'll be AWESOME today when I get home and go for a run. This morning I was not able to get up for my morning workout :(. I was way too tired from my Superbowl cheering and screaming last night!

Speaking of the Superbowl....

Congrats to the Baltimore Ravens! They are definitely AWESOME! They are Superbowl XLVII Champions!! I knew they would do it! :D I wish I could make it to the parade that is going to be given in their honor tomorrow, but unfortunately I have to work. Boo!

So, did you watch the Superbowl? What was your favorite commercial? How are you going to be AWESOME today?

50. Go to Niagara Falls

Sorry I was missing from the blog, but I have a good excuse... I was in Canada!!! I have been busy trying to catch up on my 101 in 1001 days list. This past weekend I went to Niagara Falls for the Ice Wine Festival. It was a blast! I traveled with a girlfriend, April, and over and over we kept saying how nice Canadians were. We also received soo much free stuff. Free food, free wine, seriously such really nice people. We wanted to move there! :D Below are some pictures from the weekend, enjoy!

This was the view of Niagara Falls from our hotel room. We had an awesome view from our fallsview room. We were upgraded to a high floor in the Niagara Falls Marriott Fallsview Hotel and Spa. If you ever go there, definitely check out the packages because they were only about $50 more than the price of a room (per night) and you get daily breakfast, a wine tour, wine samples at two different wineries and a dinner credit at the restaurant at the hotel!

The first night we checked in we thought we missed all the fireworks that they had over the falls, but lucky us, they still had them for one more night! I got to check off one more item from my 101 in 1001 days list!

54. Watch fireworks - DONE!

We were busy over the weekend going to nine wineries/vineyards on Saturday and twelve wineries/vineyards on Sunday (send me a message if you want the list, I'd be happy to share). We also visited a chocolate factory and did a tour of a winery on Sunday. It was a busy weekend! I was able to acquire the pictured regular wines, late harvest wines and ice wines in the picture. Want to know the difference between a late harvest and an ice wine? Here is a good explanation.


Where have you traveled to lately? Any trips out of the country coming up soon? Do you like sweet wines? Have you had late harvest or ice wine before?

35. Make a Painting for the House

On Saturday I went with my dear friend, Jennifer, to Wet Your Palettes for Girls Night. We had a blast! We got in touch with our creative side for a change and I was able to complete #35 of my 101 in 1001 days. It's always nice to play with paint and get a little dirty somewhere other than your house. You had to be over 21 years old to go there on this particular night because it was BYOB. We didn't bring any wine to drink while painting but I did have a nice "DC Tap Water" to drink at Busboys and Poets before the class.

I even started a trend of putting snow for snow capped mountains on the purple mountains we had to paint. Quite a few other people in the class followed, what can I say, I'm a trend setter!

Here is a picture of us with our paintings!

What have you done lately to get in touch with your creative side? What creative/crafty types of activities do you like to do?

I Made Homemade Almond Butter and Protein Bars!

This weekend I got it in my head that it was a great idea to make homemade protein bars. I love to bake, how hard can it be to make protein bars, right? ;P

First step for me was to find a recipe that I liked. There was no way I was gonna fly solo and make this up on my own! Lucky me, I remembered that a Facebook friend posted a link for homemade protein bars, score!

Second step, I made a trip to one of my favorite stores - Wegmans! The recipe called for lots of hard to find products which usually you would need to go to a speciality store for or order online, but I got it all from Wegmans. Granted, I walked around the store for about an hour looking for everything because even the associates working there weren't very helpful during this trip... But I got what I needed!

Third step, started the recipe! So I pulled out my food processor to make almond butter. Darn it if my $200 KitchenAid food processor that I only used twice wouldn't work. The lights came on, but clearly the motor was telling me it didn't think so :(

Back to the second step, I went to Walmart to get a cheapo food processor. I bought a $19 ninja.

Finally I get to start the the first recipe! I fired up my ninja and made my almond butter. At first I thought maybe I was doing something wrong because it got really doughy and was very compact. But then all of the sudden, tada it started to liquefy! Yay me!

Next the second receipe, the protein bars, my Piece de resistance! These were actually much easier to make than I expected. First I ground my oats in the ninja per the recipe below. I gathered all my ingredients and I used my handy KitchenAid stand mixer which, thank all that is good above still works (I would have some serious issues if it didn't as we just got that sucker for a wedding gift last year!) to mix everything together. Once that was done and everything was in a "cookie dough" consistency I poured it in my parchment lined brownie pan and into the refrigerator it went overnight! See pictures below, but I think it all turned out pretty well and they taste super yummy!

Raw Almond Butter:

Receipe from Chockohlawtay

(makes about 1.5 cups)

   3 cups Raw, unsalted Almonds

Directions:
1.  Add the almonds to a food processor and pulse to chop.
2.  Blend the chopped almonds for about 10-15 minutes, scraping the sides when necessary.
3.  Add salt or stevia/sweetener to taste (I didn't, but it all depends on taste) and scoop/pour into a pretty sealable jar.  Store tightly sealed in the fridge.


Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bars 
[no bake, low sugar, high fiber/protein]
Receipe from Chockohlawtay
(makes 10 bars) *mine made 12, it's all in how you cut them*

   144g (1+1/2 cups) Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
   128g (1/2 cup) Raw Almond Butter
   1 cup + 3 tbs Unsweetened Almond Milk
   10 packets Truvia (or sweetener of choice)
   1/2 tsp Stevia Extract
   1/2 tsp Butter Extract
   1/4 tsp Salt
   40g (1/4 cup) Brown Rice Flour
   168g (8 scoops) Unflavored Brown Rice Protein Powder
   1/3 cup Mini Dark Chocolate Chips

Directions:
1.  Line a 9*13" brownie pan with parchment paper both ways and set aside.
2.  Blend the oats into a flour and set aside.
3.  In a large stand mixer bowl, add the almond butter and almond milk and stir
4.  While the mixer is still mixing, add the Truvia, stevia, butter extract and salt.
5.  Still mixing, add the brown rice flour and oat flour.  Add the protein powder (dough should be thick like cookie dough)
6.  Take the bowl off the stand mixer and fold in the chocolate chips.  Dump into the prepared pan and flatten with the spatula (or if you're fancy, a pastry roller).  Cover and refrigerate overnight.
7.  The next day, slice into bars and store covered in the fridge.

Where can you/ find these Ingredients?
I was able to find all of the ingredients at Wegmans or if you want to order online you can go through the links on Jessica's blog.

Have you made almond butter or protein bars before? Where did you get your recipe?

Sparkly Soul Headbands (Discount Code Included!)

I've been eyeing up the sparkly headbands on Sparkly Soul for quite a while. Yesterday on Facebook Sparky Soul announced they are giving 15% off all Lavender, Black and White (Go Ravens!) or Black, Gold and Red (Boo 49ers ;P) headbands until Super Bowl Sunday!!! Make sure to use the code "SUPERBOWL" at checkout.

I quickly purchased one of each of these babies because they are awesome!!

Don't delay.. go now!!

Loving my morning workouts!

I've been so motivated this month to get up every morning, at 5:15am, to get in an elliptical workout. I'm also able to catch up on my Facebook, Instagram and Tweets while I rock out to music and get in "extra" steps on my fitbit one.

My morning workouts are what I have challenged myself at least all throughout January (I don't do resolutions) and I'm doing it with the wonderful blog ladies who set up goalgetter2013. Last week I posted a few pictures of my morning workouts on Instagram. Here is one of my pictures, make sure to check me out @livecraftsweat for my other pictures and to see how I do for the rest of January! Pretty snazzy for around 5:30am don't you think? ;P





So, here is today's Monday Motivation -


What do you think about working out in the morning? Do you get in a better workout in the morning, lunchtime or evening?