Friday I celebrated a friend's birthday in Gainesville where I sipped on cheap white zinfandel and made lots of goofy faces with old friends.
Saturday I celebrated my sister-in-law's birthday with a Zumba party in Orlando followed by quality sister-brother-and-sister-in-law bonding time via delicious food & Designated Driver-ing my drunk sibs home.
Sunday I helped my biff, Jessica, find her wedding dress in Orlando where we drank Santana Champ 'cuz it's so crisp (and complimentary). But really, the trip to the swanky bridal store was unnecessary because my sister and I found her the perfect dress at Goodwill before she even got there.
I know, I know, it's beautiful. And economical too!
But in all seriousness, she found a GORGEOUS dress that I can't tell you about.. but I'm SO excited. She's going to be a beautiful bride and I cannot wait for this wedding.
This one's dedicated to my biff:
(Once upon a time we came up with a pretty brilliant dance routine to this song.. I know you wish we recorded it.)
Remember how Austin and I went to Savannah, GA a couple weekends ago and it was super awesome? Well, I forgot to tell you all about one of the really cool things we observed: Savannah loves runners!
The hotel we stayed at (The Hyatt) not only overlooked the river and provided an iHome instead of an oldschool alarm clock, but it also had a Garmin Forerunner available to rent!! How cool?! They also had little running route cards that showed loops around town. We didn't actually end up running due to all the drinks fun we were having, but we brought running gear just in case and we were planning on running 7 miles, which was pretty funny considering the running route cards showed a 3.5 mile loop exactly. Also, the restaurant we ate at had an outdoor menu with a sticker stating "Runners Welcome" and I lost count of all the different cars proudly touting "26.2" stickers. These are the kinds of things that excite me, people.
While we're on the subject, let's go ahead and take a look at this badass gym inside the hotel too.
Right next to the indoor pool..
(Sorry these photos are unedited and taken on my iPhone, but you get the point. The hotel was fitness savvy.)
So back to the point. Marathon training. I have been following my schedule loosely. I have been getting my long runs in every week, but it's the short ones I keep skimping out on. Looking in my planner I'm realizing I've only been running about twice a week and hitting the gym once a week for weight training. I think my main reason for this is I'm worried about my ankles, particularly my left ankle.
In case you're new 'round these parts, I injured my left knee back in September while training for the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon and after reading "Born To Run" by Christopher McDougall, I decided to give barefoot running (or in my case, Vibram Five Finger running) a try. I am amazed each time I run at how much this decision has helped my knee. The only problem is, after years of running with ridiculously supportive (too much so) shoes on, my ankles have become accustomed to being babied. My best guess is that they're weak and I'm probably doing something slightly weird with my left leg anyway, subconsciously protecting my knee or something to make my left ankle sore. More sore than it should be.
This is why I've been hesitant to run three days in a row like Higdon would have me do, so I end up resting until my ankle feels pretty good and running then. It ends up being about two times per week. The good news is, I haven't signed up or committed to any particular race coming up, so if I'm not ready, so be it.
Here's a summary of my first four weeks of training:
Week 1: 4 miles, 2 miles, yoga
Week 2: 6 miles, 3 miles
Week 3: 7 miles, weights, 4 miles
Week 4: 5 miles, weights, 2 miles
Today marks week 5 and I am hoping to run at least five miles today. Next weekend's long run is 9 miles, so I'm probably going to need some luck to finish that one in good spirits.
(You don't have to tell me, I already know this is the most attractive photo you've ever seen of me.)
Now, onto even more exciting things! One of my favorite bloggers, Confessions of A Graphic Design Student, has started the coolest linkup for Mondays, Music Monday, where you link up a playlist based on her theme. This week it's 5 of your favorite tracks by a single artist. I figured since I've been listening to this band a lot while I run that I'd do a playlist dedicated to Grouplove.
The moment when every single second from the past day, week, month, pries on your subconscious before allowing you to sleep has been filled with fear, anxiety and sadness lately.
I know I don’t usually post about serious/personal topics, but I feel the need to share something since I figure you guys probably have been through some similar stuff.
Perhaps I've been paying more attention, or perhaps I'm just growing up, but tragic happenings have thrown my brain into a semi-constant state of unrest lately.
The photo above was taken at Payne's Prairie, which is on the way of my commute from Ocala to Gainesville (a trip I often make since Austin lives there). A massive fire in this area left that road (441) as well as I-75 (the other route I often take) filled with incredibly thick smoke as well as early morning fog, causing a series of fatal car crashes resulting in at least 10 deaths and many, many injuries (read more here).
I am heartbroken for the victims and their families, and I'm shocked at how easily any one of those cars could have belonged to me or a loved one.
To be perfectly honest, ever since the loss of a good friend to an auto accident, the thought of driving anywhere has given me a never-before-experienced flash of panic that I immediately swallow and force myself not to give in to, and I worry that this seed will simply grow bigger with time, experience and more tragedy. These moments combined with the recent hospitalization of my Grandma and the losses those very close to me have experienced have left me feeling desperate and hopeless at times, but mostly scared.
I am terrified of losing the people I love.
But that's normal, right?
It's the not-so-normal anxieties that I'm hoping to quell once and for all, like driving to the mall or failing another chemistry test or taking the GRE. I often ask myself what it is exactly that I'm scared of. Sometimes I have to remind myself that illness, failure, sadness, loss and even death are a part of life, the life we all want so badly to preserve, and the most I can do is make the most of it. Just don't let me forget to live.
There are a lot of stylish people on the internetz, so I wanted to get in on this CopyCat by Frills for Thrills action. What a fabulous idea! I discovered this beautiful lady on lookbook.nu:
Dear Friday, How the HELL are you here already?! At this rate I'm going to have to start buying wrinkle cream and Depends! Sincerely, SLOW DOWN
Dear 5-dollar-bottle-of-wine, Once upon a time I accidentally paid $17 for ONE glass of champagne. Never again. Five dollars for an entire bottle of wine? Now that's how I roll. My taste buds may just be too immature to understand the complexities of wine tasting.. but I liked the way it tasted better than that stupid champagne. Wine snobs, be gone, I'm on a budget. Sincerely, I'll-never-belong-to-a-country-club
Dear High School Self, I know you were proud of me for wearing baggy, ripped jeans and vans to chemistry lab. Not gonna lie, it felt pretty good. If everyone thinks I'm still 17 (including movie ticket vendors who i.d. me for rated 'R' movies), I might as well act like it. Sincerely, Kensie
Dear Austin, You're a badass for running 20 miles on Monday in the 80-degrees-and-sunny-FL-weather. I only ran five of them and was tired enough myself. These protein smoothies I made pretty much hit the spot, even if they were almost too thick to fit through the straw. Sincerely, Your Boo
Dear Quiznos, I'm glad that you realize that guacamole is excellent on everything, especially turkey and bacon. Sincerely, Belly Full Of Guac
Dear Ziggy, It's so cute when you rest your chin so gracefully on my pillow. It's so gross when you use the couch arm rest as toilet paper. It's so funny that you don't at all realize how different you are from most dogs.
Dear Skipper, Thanks for letting me use this FABULOUS top. I need to find one of my own. Sincerely, Your GGBig
Dear Lizzykins, Thanks for being so fun all the time. You're the bestest. Love, Kensie
Dear Chemistry Teacher, I'm pretty sure purposely not covering all the material on the exam and expecting a 'D' average for the class is not an effective method of giving us a "wake-up call" about needing to study more. In fact, it just gives me anxiety and makes me want to write terrible things about you on RateMyTeacher.com. So much for feeling secure about being able to drop one test. Sincerely, You'regonnamakemefailyoubastard
Dear Douchelords, When I'm sitting in my living room and the doors are literally rattling from the bass in your car, it's not cool. It's actually just dangerous. You're probably going to need a hearing aid within the next couple years, and any girl who is impressed by this probably has a lower-back-butterfly tattoo. Also, you're from Ocala, go blast your bass while sloshing your pick-up through the mud with a Monster in your hand, not in a residential area. Sincerely, TURN IT DOWN NO ONE LIKES YOU
Dear Left Ankle, I know my left knee has been cooperating with me and it seems too good to be true, but that's no reason for you to start bothering me. Seriously, I just want to train for a marathon in peace. Get it together, Body!!! Sincerely, I'm gonna run no matter what you throw at me, suck it.
Dear Doctors, Surgeons, Healthcare Workers, Take EXTREMELY good care of my Grandma because she's the coolest lady in the world. Sincerely, Mary MacKensie
Dear Blog Readers, Thank you so much for reading. Your comments continually brighten my days (especially this week) and I love you all for it. Also, feel free to click on random links throughout the text in my blog posts.. sometimes they're chuckle-worthy. Sincerely, MacKensie
Just like my first experience with polenta, this was my first time cooking with couscous as well, and I was so happily surprised. Once again, I found this in my Veganomicon cookbook and I knew I had to try it simply because of the 'capers' in the title. Seriously, guys, capers are right on up there with onions and garlic for me. I want them in all my food, all the time.
Ingredients:
1 (28-oz) can diced tomatoes
1 1/2 C uncooked couscous
2 T olive oil
1/2 t salt
1 t oregano (I didn't have this)
1/4 t ground cloves
Generous pinch of ground cayenne
2 T small capers (or way more, if you're an addict like myself)
*Optional: Butternut squash
Directions:
Drain 1 1/2 C tomato juice and combine it with olive oil and oregano in a saucepan. Bring it to a boil and add couscous in a steady stream, stirring constantly. Add salt, cayenne and cloves, cover and let sit for five minutes. Next, fold in drained tomatoes and capers and let them heat up.
I chose to roast a butternut squash and top it off with that, but it also tastes great by itself.
And while we're on the topic of delicious, tomatoey side dishes..
I made this today with frozen okra, frozen corn, a can of diced tomatoes, salt and pepper.
It is SO good & SO easy. Perfect.
On a different note, if you could all keep my Grandma in your thoughts and prayers for the next couple of weeks, I would really appreciate it. My Grandma is an amazing woman, she's the one who went skydiving on her 80th birthday! Needless to say, she's my role model, and she's been in the hospital.
I bought a package of polenta (essentially corn grits) waaay back when I first started this blog because of my Women's Health Magazine-inspired 32-day Health Kick. However, I did not use it because I had no effing clue what it was or how to make it taste good. Luckily, my all-knowing and wonderful Veganomicon cookbook led me through it step by step, and now I'll show you. Get excited.
Here's what you'll need.
Massive amounts of broccoli.
& the recipe doesn't actually call for onions... but I don't cook anything without onions.
First you bring the salt and veggie broth to a boil, then add the polenta in a steady stream mixing with a whisk as you go. Once it's nice and mushed up, add the olive oil and broccoli lowering the heat to low/simmer (it started jumping at me once the polenta was all mixed in, it's a lively ingredient when hot apparently). You keep mixing and letting it cook on low for about 15 minutes, then turn off the heat and let it sit for 10 (or if you're impatient like myself, you immediately proceed to the next step..)
Which is, coating a muffin pan with olive oil and smooshing the polenta mixture into it and cooling it in the fridge for an hour. (Yea, this recipe took a while to execute..) And since I was hungry, I went ahead and made my own little free-style lactose-free greek salad while I was waiting:
Once the polenta balls (hehe) are cooled down, you transfer them to a greased up pan and broil them for about 7 minutes (since mine were farther than a couple inches from the flame, I had to leave them in for more like 12 minutes, but keep your eye on them) when they're slightly brown.
There was also a pan-fry option that intimidated me, so I stuck with the broiler.
They turned out pretty well! I'm sure they would have been tastier with a fun main dish that includes spinach and mushrooms or something of that nature, but I already had the salad and all, so I was good to go. I'd love to hear how you guys prepare your polenta.
I had never worked with it before, so I'd love some suggestions!
I will update you all on my running progress soon. I'm thinking it needs its own post.
Have a lovely day!
PS:
Be sure to check out my friend's blog How To Make Art, she's an awesome artist & was nice enough to feature yours truly today!
Usually I only attempt to bake this stuff when the bananas are about be thrown out because they're so bruised and gross (I am one of those people who likes her nanners to be a little bit green still), but despite the still-yellow outside appearance, I was craving me some banana bread. So I went for it.
I'm pretty sure I also added a couple tablespoons of Agave nectar for moistness & sweetness purposes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, mix these ingredients together, slosh 'em into a greased up pan and bake for about 60 minutes (when the toothpick comes out clean).
Benefits to making this bread are as follows (and I quote):
It tastes delicious
It makes your house smell delightful
It's low in sugar
It's filling
Your nasty bruised bananas won't go to waste
Your family & boyfriend get to enjoy it and..
It's a quick & easy breakfast the next day before school when you have class from 9:30 to 12:30 and you're a baby who can't go more than a few hours without food, hypothetically speaking..
And now, without further ado, I present to you the song of the day.
Dear Tennis Shoes,
Apparently I have forgotten how to wear you due to a "Born to Run" induced anxiety about clunky-heeled running footwear. My form COMPLETELY changes when I wear you & not in a good way. You will only be worn at the gym.
-Kens
Dear Treadmill,
I have a love/hate relationship with you. You force me to stare at you constantly during my run watching the little fluorescent green numbers sluggishly increase. But if it weren't for you, I would've skipped out on my long run (7 miles this week) due to rain. So thanks, friend.
-M
Dear Ziggy,
Thanks for trying to bathe me by licking the sweat off my legs after I run. You never fail to do it & I never fail to think it's funny get grossed out. Also, you need to stop hogging the bed. You're only 40 pounds, you don't need THAT much room!
-Yo mama
Dear Jessica,
Thanks for making this delicious protein shake for me. My legs are on fire from our gym sesh. Walking to class was a chore this morning.
-Your Biff
Dear Florida,
It's pretty cool that you allow me to lay out mid-January. Weird, but cool. If only my skin were capable of being tan..
-Freckly Resident
Dear Blog Readers,
How flippin' cool are these boots I thrifted?!??!
-MacKensie
