I survived Girls Camp! And came back with some pictures, too

It's really hard for me to not write about running. So here's my one running plug for the day: I ran for the first time in a week yesterday and it felt great. I ran slower than I have in awhile, but we're trying to prevent injury. Running is freedom for me.

Now, let's talk Girl's Camp.

The weather was perfect.

The bugs were minimal.

The lake felt amazing.

The girls were spectacular.

It was more fun than a barrel of monkeys.

But is a barrel of monkeys really that fun? Or mostly just a little scary? 

I'm sticking with fun. 

Here's some pictures.

With some captions.

Because this is a blog, and not Facebook.

The rifle range.

Of course I loved it.

Thanks for teaching me everything I know, Dad!

Lovely form for the back two girls.

Let me tell you something about Girl's Camp...

Sometimes when you put a bunch of girls together for a week

it gets silly

borderline weird

but the best part, is that everyone is silly and weird

so in reality, it's COOL.

See how cool?

She might hate me later...

We are oozing with coolness.

In fact, people were jealous of our glasses.

Also, we were trying to make nerdy faces.

Epitome of cool.

Also at Girl's Camp, there are random Rock Out! moments

this was one of them

Our whole gang.

all 6 of our girls

and 4 of our leaders

We have a familiar resemblance to some famous green turtles I think...

Horses!

I chose not to participate in this one.

I'm still a little skittish around horses because of what happened last time...

maybe I should write about it one day

My favorite summer thing in the world:

boating.

I could spend every day for the entire summer on a boat in the lake and I would be a happy, happy girl.

This is my favorite picture of me.

I think I look cool.

and tan.

and boaterish.

I'm only slightly conceited.

Boating again!

These girls were dying to go and it didn't take much to convince me!

Rappelling and rock climbing.

Unfortunately, we ran out of time so I only got to rappel.

I figured when we move to Idaho I'll have plenty more opportunities to try real rock climbing.

It looked safer than I was expecting.

I think I could do it.

Also, it's a good thing this picture was taken from the front.

With helmets and people to cover up the harnesses.

See the green tent?

See that red tent?

We slept in the red tent.

Our food stayed in the green tent.

They are less than 10 feet apart.

The first night I didn't sleep because I thought a raccoon was in our tent.

He was really trying to get food from the green tent.

The next night I found some earplugs.

I told ya I was really cool.

Our group was "from Britain"

so one of the girls made bonnets.

Legit bonnets.

It took her hours.

She's the bomb.com

See where I am? With the hat?

See the girl to my left, kneeling? She's the bomb.com bonnet maker.

Also, about a billion people thought I was one of the girls.

Do I really look that young?

...never mind, don't answer.

This wasn't even all of the gear.

It went into two and a half cars.

Headed home.

Dirty.

Sweaty.

Some covered in bug bites 

some not

And filled with fun, happy, memories of another spectacular year at camp.

Ticks were executed by fire and explosion.

Giant spiders in tent were killed with shoes.

Races with turtles were held.

All in all, the best week of my summer!

Thanks girls!!!

Oh, and I should mention we're moving.

In a month.

To an apartment that's closer to campus.

I am SO. dang. excited.

and happy.

Pre-injury and pre-camp. What not to do.

On Tuesday morning I will embark on a very exciting, dirty, sweaty, and fun adventure....

GIRLS CAMP!!!!



I really cannot wait and I am SO excited! I'm also a little nervous seeing as how I'm the Camp Director for our ward, so I have added responsibility instead of just being there. But, I'm always up for an adventure and a challenge. I also really can't wait to spend time outside! I feel like I've been so busy this summer (mostly getting ready for camp) that I haven't been outside much at all! Bring on the farmer's tan, baby!

In lieu of my absence, this is the last you will hear from me before I make my spectacular comeback. Which will surely include crashing in bed for a week straight before hitting the pool every. single. day.

I also just wanted to share a running update:

I'm usually a really good example of what not to do in life...

2 Monday's ago I started running harder, faster, and longer. I tracked about 17 miles averaging a 9.5 minute mile after my first 5k. Then last week, I could only run about 12.5 miles because the knee pain began. I tried to slow my pace, but suddenly, and very oddly, a 9.5 minute mile feels really comfortable for me. However, I have to back off a bit if I want my knee to stop hurting and be fine for my upcoming race on the 30th.

Girls Camp will be a good break, but I'll be sad to not run.

I talked with my mom about it briefly (oh yeah, she's been running for about 5 years now), and she said in her experience she had knee pain when: mileage increased to quickly, speed increased too quickly, and/or lack of cross training on the rest of the body.

I guess she may be right because I haven't been cross training. At all. OOPS. I also really increased my miles and speed (not purposely!) at the same time the week before I started hurting. So, when I get back from Camp, I may have to run slow and short for a few days before I can resume my normal training. I also plan on cross training more and doing some weight lifting.

So, let that be a lesson to you, beginner runners (including myself), to not over train too quickly! Otherwise, injury may sneak up on you. And there's not much worse than getting injured right after you find a good groove and right before a big race.

Happy Sunday and have a good week everyone!
Until I'm back from the great outdoor adventure.... 

k

P.S. Because I know you miss him, and because I am the coolest mom on the block, here is Bubs last Sunday:

Yes, that is my kitchen sink.

Yes, he climbed in himself.

Yes, he turned the water on himself.

Yes, he is completely soaking wet.

Yes, he was absolutely thrilled and laughing the whole time.

It's okay to go "swimming" in the sink, right?

10 tips to start running

I still don't consider myself a runner, but I thought I'd share some tips about getting started.

1. Start small.

Choose a small distance you want to run and then run it without stopping. For example, once around a track, or from here to that mailbox, or one mile. Take a one or two minute walking break, then run the distance again.

2. Gradually increase your distance.

As it gets easier running a set distance, start increasing that distance. Push yourself to see how far you can go beyond the landmark you were trying to meet. Celebrate the small and big accomplishments! You're stronger than you think!

3. Don't worry about your speed. Yet.

I was talking to a runner friend of mine and asked for some tips about speed and distance. She told me it's much more important to build up your endurance first before your speed. She said the speed will come in time, but you need to build your distance and increase your mileage. My mom told me she read somewhere that you should be running for 3-4 years before trying to increase your speed. I think it's a personal decision, but I have found as my endurance and distance has increased, my speed has increased slightly as well. When I run, I don't try to run fast, I try to find a comfortable pace that I can maintain for the miles I've planned. I time every run and plug in the miles and minutes. Sometimes I run faster, sometimes slower. My speed really depends on how my morning goes, how awake I am, what the weather is like, how I feel, and what type of terrain I'm running.

4. "Run until you can't run another step, then walk to catch your breath, then repeat."

I picked up some old Runner's World magazines from my mom and found this quote in there. It was from a track couch to an old student who came back for running advice. I've found that when I think this way, I'm surprised at how far I can go. I really like to compete with myself and beat my goals in my mind. It's a fun mental game I play when I run.

5. "I've never been on a run that I regret, but I always regret not running."

My mom shared this piece of advice with me one day. Now I repeat something similar every morning when I wake up. It's incredibly motivating and ridiculously true. I have yet to run a run I regret. But every time I think about running and don't go, I feel guilty and regret it. Even if you have time or energy to only run a mile, that's better than sitting on the couch doing nothing.

6. Find a time to run that works for you. Before someone else finds something else they think is more important for you to be doing. My time happens to be at 6:00 am. What about you?

7. Fight through the pain. (unless it's an injury!)

Every time I go out to run, the first 1/2 mile kills me. I became quickly aware of this and now I remind myself that once I get past the first 1/2 mile, I'll feel much better. I usually feel another plateau around 3 miles, but I found the other day that once I hit 4 miles, it was much easier to keep going. Moral of the story? Fight through the plateaus and you'll be surprised at how strong you are.

8. Stay hydrated and eat well!!

Drinking tons of water is so important for running. I'm still a work in progress on this, but I feel much better when I drink more water. Eating is also important. Protein, fiber, and complex carbs will provide more energy and sustenance than refined and processed food. Also, the more you run, the hungrier you'll be, so stock up on good snacks. I've been a fruit craving machine since I started running. Especially berries. I should probably stop eating a nightly bowl of ice cream though.... ;-)

9. Get at least one outfit that is good quality running gear (and cute, too!)

Some good spanx on bottom (and top for the ladies), as well as a shirt that is comfy and breathable is important. Also keep in mind what type of weather you're running in. If it's 50 degrees or below, I wear pants and a t-shirt. 55-65 degrees I wear capris and a t-shirt. 65-73 degrees I wear capris and a tank. Anything above 74 degrees I'll wear shorts and a tank top. But that's my preference, in Missouri weather, for now.

10. Good shoes make a world of difference.

If you're going to run, and can only invest in one thing, invest in shoes. Would you drive a car on bald tires? Would you play a football game without pads? Would you swim without a swimsuit (don't answer that, please!) Whether it's running barefoot, running in five fingers/skeletoes, or running in tennis shoes, find something that works for you. Old, worn out, shoes will provide blisters, sore muscles, and achy joints. Not fun. I like my current shoes, but the more I run, the more I'm considering even more of a minimalist shoe. I have found that running with a toe strike alleviates alot of pain in my knees and ankles vs a heel strike.

Bonus: If running to music is your thing, put together a rockin' playlist that will keep you motivated. What's on mine? Favorites first:

-Na Na Na, My Chemical Romance
-Party Rock Anthem, LMFAO
-Starships, Nicki Manaj (wish it was edited better though)
-Throw It On Me, Timbaland
-Sexy And I Know It, LMFAO
-Good Feeling, Flo Rida
-You Make Me Feel Good, Cobra Starship
-La La La, LMFAO
-Stronger, Kelly Clarkson


Some others that I like alot:
Jump, Flo Rida
Let It Rock, Kevin Rudolf
Moves Like Jagger, Maroon 5
Gettin' Over You, David Guetta
Party Poison, My Chemical Romance
Boom Boom Pow, Black Eyed Peas
Imma Be, Black Eyed Peas
Never Again, Kelly Clarkson

And of course, the song I always play first, out of habit:

I Gotta Feeling, Black Eyed Peas


I may or may not change the words in my head to "today's gonna be a good run, today's gonna be a good good run." 

What's on your playlist? What are some things you've found to be successful as you've started running? I'd love to hear from ya!

Non-runner running: My Story

For months I have been searching for something to define me. When I was younger it was dance. Then teaching kindergarten. Then I got pregnant, moved, and had a baby. I haven't found anything since to define me.

I'm not very good at crafting.

Sewing is not appealing.

Making jewelry takes too long and is too frustrating (and expensive).

Photography is not my passion.

Every Mormon mom knows how to cook.

Competitive dancing is unrealistic with a child (in my mind).

"School teacher" and "stay at home mom" can't belong in the same sentence (unless you're home schooling).

And the list could go on.

Then one day a friend of mine invited me to start walking with her in the mornings. It felt amazing to be moving my body and chatting with a friend. Soon after we started talking about running. Running 5k's. Then half marathon's. Then she posted this video on my facebook:

It struck a chord deep inside. From the moment the video began, I knew I had to run a half marathon. 

Then life hit. 

Hard.

I slacked off and stopped walking and running for a few days. My coping mechanism for the family turmoil I was experiencing became indulging in chocolate, sweets, snacks, and doing nothing. I gained a couple pounds and felt so emotionally and mentally drained I didn't want to function. This didn't last too long, but long enough for me to be really unhappy with myself. 

In the back of my mind I kept thinking about running. Wanting to, but not wanting to. Then one morning, with the support from my husband, I laced up my new shoes and took off for a run around the neighborhood. I had to take several walking breaks, but the defining moment was when I began jogging up a long, gradual hill. I pushed myself through the pain and didn't give up. I was so overcome with emotion when I reached the top, that a few tears came to my eyes. I believe it was a sort of a wake up call. 

I continued walking with my friend in the mornings and one night Scott and I decided to take a short run to grab a movie. Not wanting to look like a slacker, or weak, I tried to keep up with him. Lovingly, he kept a much slower pace than normal and stayed right by my side pushing me and encouraging me. Before I knew it, I had run nearly 3 miles without taking a walking break. 

I realized I was much stronger than I thought. 

In the days and weeks that followed, I started running when I could, which was mostly easy since Scott was on break from school. The week before he was to start classes again, he devised up a plan that had me running every morning before he left, and him running on campus between or after class. I was pretty hesitant, but I knew I wanted to run. Badly. It took me a couple weeks to get into a good groove and to realize I could wake up at 5:45 am to run. Every time my alarm clock beeped I thought: "If I don't get up and run, I will surely regret it. If I do get up and run, I'll be happy I did."

I still repeat that mantra every time my alarm beeps.

I've now been running consistently for 3 weeks. I don't consider myself a runner, yet. 

For me, running is free. 

It's an escape.

a coping mechanism.

something for me.

And symbolic of so many things in my life: 

my marriage

my little family

taking control of my life

When it gets hard, keep running.

When it hurts, keep running.

Fight through the pain and endure to the end. Never give up. You're stronger than you think.

Since I started running I have accomplished things I never thought possible. I never thought I would be able to run like I run. I never thought I would love running like I love it. I never thought I would crave going farther, pushing myself harder, just to beat my previous PR and see what my body is capable of. I never thought I would enjoy the physical pain that running can be. It helps numb the emotional pain that I've felt. When I think about the recent events that have happened, it only makes me fight harder. I feel conviction and passion. The anger and hurt fuels my body and pushes me forward. 

Running has given me confidence. I feel good about myself. I feel good about my body. I feel strong. I feel capable. I feel empowered.

Running for me is so much more than running.

It is everything I have been searching for.

It is everything I have been needing.

And boy, does it feel GOOD. 

p.s. I am officially signed up to run a 10k, another 5k, and a half marathon, between now and September. I'm so dang excited!

You Asked: Weekly Menu Sample

You asked for it, I'm delivering.

But it's still a work in progress.

Awhile back I wrote about meal planning and grocery shopping. I mentioned we spend around $50-60 a week on groceries. I had several responses asking for sample menus and recipes that fit in that price range. I compiled some things together and came up with a one week sample. It's a rough estimate and pricing will largely depend on what you have on hand, what brand you buy, and what your local grocery rates are.

Without further ado, here is a one week sample. Click on the links to go to my cooking blog (which hasn't been updated in over a year, until now) to find the recipes.

These estimates are based on my family size: 2 adults, one small child. Meal = one serving for each of us. Two meals would be enough for my family to have dinner and lunch the next day.

Breakfasts
1. Scrambled eggs - appx. $2.00 for 2 people
2. Whole wheat waffles - approx. $2.00 for 4-6 people (if you have wheat flour on hand)
3. Steel cut oats - approx. $2.00 for 4-6 people
4. Cold cereal - approx. $1.50 for 2 people (depending on cereal)

The waffles and oatmeal will carry over for two breakfasts if you have 2 adults and 2 kids.
Total: approx. $7.50

Dinners
1. Spicy Veggie Wraps - approx. $5 for 4 servings (2 meals)
2. Lasagna - approx. $12 for 2 pans, (3 meals plus extra pan in freezer)
3. Mexi-Quinoa Salad - approx. $3 for 2 meals
4. BBQ Chicken Salad - approx. $6 for at least 2 meals
5. Asian Chicken - approx. $4 for 2 meals

Total: approx. $30, for about 11 meals, plus a pan of lasagna for the freezer.

Side items (per meal)
1. Lettuce for salad: $1.00
2. Broccoli (aldi): $1.25
3. Grapes: $1.50/lb
4. Rice: $1.00
5. Strawberries: $2.50/lb ($1.25 for one meal)

Total: approx. $6.00

Grand Total: approx. $43.50 for one week, including an extra pan of lasagna in the freezer!

I will once again reiterate, these are very rough estimates! I did not go through my grocery bills and see how much I actually spent. Nor did I calculate the cost of one bag of tortillas divided up according to how much was used in that recipe. None of these numbers are exact. None of these numbers reflect any snacks, treats, extras, or replenishing basics, and most of them are based off of having basic ingredients at home: flour, wheat flour, spices, canned goods, etc. (In reality, I might actually be way off, but I'm going to pretend I'm not)

I also don't plan very many lunches. We are huge on leftovers at our house (don't worry, it wasn't always that way!), so I plan big enough dinners that we'll have lunch for the following day. It usually works out, but once in awhile I'll do something like grilled cheese, mac n cheese, meat sandwiches, pbj, etc for lunch. I don't really add those things in because I usually already have that food on hand.

In the future I may try to calculate a more exact number to get a precise amount of money spent on food, but for me for now, this is good enough.


**I usually buy groceries at Aldi, Costco, Walmart, or Schnucks. I also usually buy off brands of most things unless they are on sale.

"So you're a runner, too?"

I have never claimed to be a runner.
I don't really think of myself as one.
However, there may be changes in the breeze.

I ran my first 5k on Memorial Day. I honestly have never run an organized 5k in my life. I've done it while training, but never as a race. I woke up a little jittery and nervous the morning of. I thought I was completely prepared for what was ahead and kept telling myself "don't be worried, this is nothing. You run 3 miles nearly every day, you'll be fine."


Just before the race was set to begin, I strapped on and plugged in my ipod to get it started. Dead. Not one drop of battery. Hurdle number 1.
My dear hubby was so kind and gave me his, insisting that he would be fine without music. I, on the other hand, cannot run without music. (though I've never tried)
We lined up and heard "On your mark, get set, go!" and the race began. I was right out in front, lined up with my hubby, and watched him shoot off like a bullet. Being the competitive girl I am, shot off much faster than I should have. Hurdle number 2.
The race started at 8:30 am. It was a balmy 80 degrees (or more) with 50% humidity making it feel like 85. In English, for runners, this means really, really, hot! The hottest I've run in while training is 72. Hurdle number 3.
As I was running along, listening to music, I realized that hubby's playlist was not exactly pump up and needs to be updated. Badly. Hurdle number 4.
I also realized that the shorts combo I was wearing, spanx shorts and soccer shorts, was not an ideal combo for running as they kept riding up. Hurdle number 5.

By the time we came to the last long stretch of road before the finish line, I was feeling a bit wasted since I had started so fast with no warm up. My legs felt about 100 pounds each. My head and chest and arms were aching. I felt like vomiting. All I wanted was some shade and water. I was *this close* to walking, but as I rounded the corner I saw my two boys watching and cheering for me. No way could I walk now! I straggled up to the finish line and realized why runners always stop right after crossing and keel over with their hands on their knees. It feels very apropos.

I checked my watch and realized I finished in 29 minutes. After contemplating that for awhile, I thought it was actually wrong and perhaps I finished in 28 minutes. I thought it to be nearly impossible, considering how slow I felt I was going, and the suffocating heat, so I went to the official time sheet.

28:09!

That, my friends, is a 9.06 minute mile!
I've never run that fast in my life.
And considering all the unexpected hurdles I had pop up, I feel pretty dang good about that!

My favorite comment of the day came from someone that saw me work as a choreographer for their ward. She simply said: "So you're a runner, too!?" with a look of awe.

That made my day. What a boost of confidence. What a great day!
I'm only just a little proud of myself. Especially considering I've been consistently running for about 2.5 weeks.

Pre-race family picture

Post race. A little hot and sweaty.

Post race with a close friend of mine from our ward.

Two of my close friends and fellow Logan wives.

Me running.

I took it from someone who posted it on facebook. Thanks!

And again.

My hubby said it best when he said: "I love running outside because it makes me feel alive."

Amen, baby, amen!

W.W.W.

W.W.W. aka "Whole Wheat Waffles"

This is what we had for breakfast.

When I was young, almost every Spring Break we would jump in the car and make the 16 hour drive from Kansas City to Utah to visit our family. We would always stay at Grandma and Grandpa's house (for at least the majority of the trip). One of my absolute favorite memories was waking up to the smell of waffles. But these were not just any waffles, they were Grandpa made and kid approved. They were also whole wheat.

To this day I'm still not exactly sure what he did to the batter to make them taste so. darn. good. But he did something. And let me tell you, I've never tasted a better whole wheat waffle in my life than Grandpa's. I've also tried to recreate them many times. All failing.

When he served those waffles, they came piping hot off the pan, dished up with lots of butter, hot syrup, bacon, eggs, orange juice, and whatever else you could possibly imagine for breakfast. Breakfast at Grandpa's is still a very special treat, and something me and my siblings all look forward to when we visit!

Today I made some w.w.w. They didn't turn out nearly as good as Grandpa's. But, they were from scratch, and they were altered from a recipe, and turned out yummy the first try. I didn't want to forget what I did, and I wanted to share it with you, because nothing says awesome like a breakfast you can feel good about (that tastes good too!).

Whole Wheat Waffles 

(K's version)

1 1/4 cup whole wheat

1/2 cup white flour

2 TBL. brown sugar, packed

1 TBL. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

2 eggs, slightly beaten,

1 3/4 cups milk

1/4 + 1/8 cup applesauce**

1/8 cup cooking oil

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix the dry ingredients together. Mix the wet ingredients separately. Add the wet into the dry and stir JUST until it's moistened. The batter will be quite lumpy. Pour onto a waffle grid and cook according to grid directions. 

**With the applesauce/oil, it called for a 1/2 cup oil but instead I filled a 1/2 cup about three quarters of the way full with apple sauce, then topped it off with the oil. So I'm not sure of exact measurements. You couldn't even taste the applesauce, and they turned out nice and moist!

These took about 5 minutes to throw together, all with ingredients I had on hand. Try them. They're yummy! And I felt great about having a healthy breakfast. 

Happy Saturday everyone! Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend. I'll be running a 5k on Monday and I can't wait! Especially after running 4 miles at 10 minutes per mile this morning. Small victories, people, that's what it's about!!

Now to go clean up the mess of Bubs "cooking" in the dogs food and water bowl. Oy.