Rouxbe Archives ~ TRAILMOMMA

January 26, 2015April 21, 2015

NOW WHAT?

It’s official! I finished my six month online plant-based cooking course withÂ Rouxbe. The ending was some what bitter sweet for me. When I started this course last August, I really didn’t know exactly what to expect. I’ve been plant-based for over 20 years so what more could I possibly learn throughout this course?

Well, as I came to realize (about mid-way through the course), is that this program was very much geared towards ME becoming a professional CHEF! Ya I know, the course title alone (Plant-Based Professional Certification Course) should have been a major clue but I was curious and of course I can’t forget that generous offer by Joe Girard, the CEO of Rouxbe too. Read about that here.

I would be lying if I said I did not struggle some during my certification. For me, the hardest and biggest obstacle of all was time. Finding the time. Making the time. Having the time. It was difficult and I was often challenged quite a bit by either throwing things together at the last minute or not really focusing well on my assignments.

I admit that I did not do quite a few of the practice dishes that I wasÂ supposed to do before each unit exam. It was not that I was challenged by the course content so much, it was 100% the lack of quality time for me to devote fully to the course. That doesn’t mean I didn’t love it and that I didn’t learn anything. I definitely picked up quite a few tips and tricks along the way. I also came to realize that presentation is huge when presenting a meal (just maybe not so much at home).

With all that said and done, I would recommend this course to anyone. It doesn’t have to just be for the chef in that restaurant who is curious about expanding their menu more with plant-based meals (although I truly hope restaurants and chefs consider this program for that reason alone). No, this program could benefit stay-at-home moms who do want to learn how to cook plant-based meals for their family, or for someone who is retired and wants to better their health or who just may like to cook or perhaps someone who has a part-time job and is just not entirely sure where their life is headed.

I truly think Rouxbe’s program couldÂ benefit someone who is very curious about plant-based living and who does not know where to even start. The support and content within the program is great and they will help and guide you. Those who work in hospitals or nursing homes, should be required to take this course just to expand and broaden their knowledge and to SEE how food does impact your overall health and well being.

So, I am happy that I signed up for the program. I am proud that I finished. I am proof that you can never know too much about one thing. 20 years of eating plants and I am proud to say that I have a certificate from Rouxbe and a certificate from T. Collin Campell’s eCornell plant-based nutrition program.

I am very passionate about plant-based living (just ask anyone who knows me). I do not shove my knowledge in your face and I never judge what is on your plate, but if you ask me for advice, I will give it to you 100%. My passion for nutrition and beliefs fall in line with those of T. Collin Campbell, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, Rip Esselstyn and the Engine2 group. I am a strong believer that food is fuel and that food can heal.

Which is why when my mother-in-law and father-in-law came down with some medical issues recently, I jumped at the chance to make them a few meals for the week to help them get by. It was super easy too because one of my presents to myself upon completing the Rouxbe course was an Instant Pot.

Chickpeas, homemade veggie broth and oat bran.

Yes, I just learned how to make these elaborate meals and garnishes through Rouxbe and what do I do? I buy a pressure cooker/steamer/crockpot where I basically can make one pot meals super fast. 🙂 The Instant Pot ROCKS. I have to say. It has transformed my life.

In less than 30 minutes (usually) I have been making all kinds of beans from scratch, not from a can. I have been using all kinds of new veggies and throwing the scraps into a baggy so that I can make my own veggie broth (in 5 minutes I might add). I have made broth before but the process was always so time consuming. Not anymore. I love my Instant Pot (or instapot as I call it).

It is fabulous and I really enjoy making these meals for people to consume. So with my new certification, I may not become a chef in a restaurant but I have become the plant-based doctor of our family so to speak. 🙂 Although I am still working on getting my girls to eat new things. Baby steps.

So now that Rouxbe is over and my instapot is creating more time for me, what exactly am I doing with all this “free” time? All kinds of things! In my first full week done with Rouxbe, I enjoyed some quality time with my family.

We hit the skate park with some friends. — We hit the skate park.

I went on a beautiful run through the fog in Auburn. — I went on a beautiful run through the fog in Auburn with friends.

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Watched my girls so Vans could ride and take these awesome photos. — Watched my girls so Vans could ride with the guys and take these awesome photos.

And of course I continued to cook some amazing meals (our fridge is looking a little crazy at the moment).

Peanut Butter Banana Cookies (for my runs - and well every minute in-between) — Peanut Butter Banana Cookies (for my long runs – and well every minute in-between)

Life has been good. I know it won’t be long before I get some kind itch to try something new or take on another adventure but for now, I am content to just enjoy my family, continue to experiment with plant-based dishes and of course run. Speaking of running, my training has been going really well. I feel strong when I am out there on the trails each weekend. Weekdays I may drag but once I step foot on the dusty trail, I explode with energy and excitement. I am looking forward to my 50k in February.

And of course coming home to these two beauties and not having to complete an assignment or take a test is just icing on the (plant-based) cake. 🙂

Happy Trails!

~Trailmomma

January 3, 2015April 21, 2015

WHAT COULD HAPPEN?

Happy New Year everyone! It is hard to believe that 2015 is already upon us and that 2014 is over. I, for one, am looking forward to a new year. Not that 2014 was terrible, I just felt like it wasn’t really a memorable year. Running wise I guess it was. I ran Way Too Cool 50k, The American River 50 Miler, Miners Revenge Marathon,Â Mt. Tam 50K and CIM and quite a handful of other neat races. I survived the year with no injuries which for any runner, pretty much means it was a successful year.

Still, I want different things for 2015. While I don’t typically list out new year resolutions, I do have some internal goals and aspirations in my mind and heart. This year, they are not running focused. I have a few races on the calendar but running wise, I am looking forward to just sitting back and enjoying the trails while maintaining a solid base so that I can pace Pigeon later this summer on her next 100 mile race.

Although 2015 did start off on a sour note running wise for me. New Years Day I met Pigeon for what was supposed to be an easy 10 mile run. What could happen? Apparently, a lot. 🙂

Within 5 minutes of starting our run my toe caught a rock and I went flying. I thought I was going to be able to correct myself and avoid a very rocky tumble, but my hand got cut on a rock and it pretty much weakened my support and down I went. I tumbled pretty hard and almost fell off a little cliff on the trail. The ground was frozen solid since it was still early so the impact was pretty harsh on my legs and right side. Pigeon and I started cracking up instantly. She did ask if I was okay. But overall, we laughed for probably the next 20 minutes replaying the fall in our heads.

The rest of the run was pretty humorous too. At one point I heard something falling from the trees above. I thought for sure it was a tree coming down on my head (we just had a big storm that had weakened a lot of trees). I stopped and started screaming with my hands on my head. Pigeon started screaming “what?! what?!” as she turned around to see what the heck was going on with me.

When I looked up to see if the tree was still coming down, I saw a squirrel jumping from branch to branch. That little bugger! “Oh, it’s just a squirrel.” I said. Cue laughter.

Needles to say, with my legs gushing blood, an uneasy tummy and very muddy conditions this was a tough run for me. Happy New Years Day!

For days after that run, I was quite sore. More sore than I have been after any race. The cuts on my knees are deep and require being covered by bandages constantly as they keep, oozing and leaking (sorry – too much sharing?). Still, I agreed to meet Pigeon for a 14 mile run two days later.

Hobbling out of my car, I was thinking I was ready to run. In reality, it probably took me about two miles before I even felt nearly comfortable. It took the first 7 miles (aka our turn around) before I didn’t feel pain every time I took a step. Mind you, not the type of pain that is serious, more the dried up stretched out skin kind of pain (again, too much sharing?).

We saw a family of deer on our run. We ran through mud and puddles. It was so awesome and it was NOT technical at all which is exactly what my body needed.

We ran, we talked and we took a lot of photos. I don’t have much to write about other than what you see in the photo. It was a beautifully chilly day. We ran into a duathlon happening along the trails but it didn’t inhibit our run much at all. We even cheered for some of the runners along the way.

Back in the day, Pigeon and I used to joke around with all my photo taking during a run. We used to pretend that we were posing for the JC Penny catalog. If you have no idea what the JC Penny catalog is, than you are WAY younger than me. 🙂 Just know that the photos in it were hilarious and painfully forced.

We only had to run 7 miles out before we turned around but in that last mile, I have to say, a lot happened. As we were running, Pigeon yelled out “There’s a hoe” … and clearly she meant it.

That was kind of odd to find sitting along side a trail, but later we realized why it was there. Someone is building some off shoot trails that lead down to the lake and this “hoe” which I think they feel is hidden, is helping them.

At our turn around spot, Pigeon and I had a little fun with the camera trying to get some decent shots. These are the kinds of runs I enjoy where we can laugh, have a little fun and still run pretty hard.

Hmm, here Pigeon comes up the hill - must have been a camera hand off? — Hmm, here Pigeon comes up the hill – must have been a camera hand off?

I think our action shots look pretty nice no? 🙂 We are just plain silly sometimes out there. If you can’t have fun, what can you do?

Our mileage back was at a pretty good pace. We did have some photos stops along the way which kind of make me laugh.

Pigeon kept asking me if I had seen the stripper pole on our way out. I had to ask her what she said, because I thought for a minute she said stripper pole. Oh wait, she did. So on our way back she made sure to point out this “pole” to me.

Clearly I was not nor have I ever been, nor will I ever BE a stripper as that photo above is about as stripper as I can get. Seriously, why is that pole even out on the trail!?

Soon we came to the overlook spot again and we paused, as we always do to enjoy the view, have some fuel and just well, take in an unexpected selfie.

Our mileage back was pretty fast. We had some good clips of just running hard with very little walking. We both agreed these types of runs are great confidence boosters. Both of us has had some hard runs the last two times we ran together, so we needed this good boost of running strong (even if it was flat) to reinforce that we are in shape.

Stopped only for the puddling jumping — Stopped only for the puddleÂ jumping

In case you are wondering, she made it across the above puddle. We both did. Neither one of us felt like getting wet on this run so we skilled ourselves at getting clever at jumping and dancing around these types of puddles. It was pretty funny too.

Overall, we accomplished 14 miles. It felt good to bust out a decent 14 mile run despite the aches I’ve had lately. I still can’t move much let alone bend a knee and kneel on something, but run? That I can do. These cuts that I have are pretty deep and with the cold weather, it is hard to wear anything but long pants which requires a band-aid so as not to ruin any more of my favorite jeans. 🙂

However, I can’t complain. It has been a pretty good start to 2015. I am almost done with my Rouxbe Plant Based Cooking course which I am quite excited about.

It has taken a lot of hard work and a lot of my time to manage this course. I am excited by what I have learned. It has also made me realize a few things about cooking and cooking for people, that I would like to improve upon.

The girls are having a blast during their break from school. Too much in fact. A lot of bike riding has happened lately.
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Not to mention, quite a few trips to the park where the Peanut is excelling at doing the monkey bars.

It really has been a great end of 2014 and a wonderful start to 2015. I am really hoping to manage a lot this coming year but in an entirely different way. 2014 had a lot of saying ‘yes’ in it despite what that meant or what affect it would have on my family. 2015, I am hoping will be a bit different. Let’s see where this crazy year will take me.

What New Year resolutions do you have? Â Please feel free to share in the comments. I am curious. 🙂

2015 will also be about sleep — 2015 will also be about more sleep

Happy Trails!

~Trailmomma

(warning – no proof reading, sorry)

October 22, 2014April 21, 2015

WHERE IS THE TIME GOING?

Time just seems to be flying by me lately. I swear that just yesterday it was the first of October and I was super excited for my favorite month and now, BOOM we have less than two weeks left! Halloween is just right around the corner. The girls couldn’t be more excited about it.

Of course the time is also flying whenÂ I look at my 50k training plan and see that we onlyÂ have three weeks or so until race day! Gulp.Â My training has been less thanÂ stellar compared to races past but I do what I can do, when I can do it, which seems to be my M.O. for most of my races.

I am so behind in so many other areas of my life right now, why not tack on lack of mileage for a 50k? My blog has been suffering lately,Â I am behind in my Rouxbe assignments and now add lack of training. Vans has been traveling lately for work so my time for other thingsÂ is limited but I have been enjoying my solo girl time with those two cuties above.

I did get in one last long run before Vans left on his trip. Last Sunday Burning Girl and I decided to do the route that we had done with Stonegate Girl just two weeks prior. I was pretty confident that I knew the way … famous last words.

My "P's" - Pearl Izumi & Picky Bars. — My “P’s” – Pearl Izumi & Picky Bars.

Burning Girl picked me up and we drove to the Auburn Damn Overlook. The sun was up so I wasn’t too worried about the dark and I wasn’t even worried about seeing a bear like last week. We were on the other side of ADO and for some reason, in my head, that means I am safe. I know, not the best theory but I am going with it.

Off we ran down the hill and onto the single track. It was pretty darn cold compared to just two weeks ago. We were just chatting it up and we realized that without Stonegate Girl, we had to do a lot of the talking. 🙂 Which of course means that I was not paying close attention to where we were running. Yes, I took us down a wrong turn. We realized it pretty early on but we just kept going with it. We knew that the river always had to be on our right to be going in the right direction.

Up. Down. Over boulders. Under logs. We did it all. Soon we popped out onto a section of the trail that did look very familiar to me. I felt like this was the “secret” trail that I had been on a few weeks ago when I ran with another group. However, all of a sudden, things stopped looking familiar and we came across quite a few forks in the trail or turns. We’d stop, look around and make the best decision of what WE thought looked right. 🙂 Burning Girl is so easy-going. She wasn’t worried one bit but I was getting a tad bit nervous and could hear PigeonÂ yelling at me in my head. 🙂 Soon we came across this interesting piece of BlairwitchÂ art.

Burning Girl thought this was pretty cool and so we stopped to take some photos. I felt very secluded but was hopeful that this trail would pop us back out onto the main trail where we needed to be.

We just kept running. I stopped talking and was being more aware of my surroundings. I didn’t like that some of the trail hadÂ a rock ledge above us. I always fear that something will be sitting on that ledge.

Finally however, we connected with the main trail and I was flabbergasted as to where I had made the wrong turn. We clearly came down to the river way too early and it bugged me. Burning Girl said to let it go, she loved the adventure.

I have to say, even when we were back on the normal trail, there has been lots of work lately on the trails, leaving them looking a bit unfamiliar at times. Still, now I know what I did wrong and I know where to turn next time. I swear.

The rest of the run was pretty fun. We ran into a LOT of other ultra runners out on the trail. On our route back we ran into numerous hikers and horses. So noÂ need to worry (Dad), we were never far from someone out there. All in all, we got 15 hard miles done in a decent time and then soaked our legs in the canal again (which was WAY colder this time around).

In some other exciting news my fabulous Great Aunt Debbie came for a visit! Technically she is Vans’s Aunt and the girls’ great aunt – is that right? But we all call her the Great Aunt Debbie. 🙂 She came down from Idaho and we have not seen her in quite some time.

Luckily Facebook allows her to keep tabs on us and the girls and she is always my number one reader and commenter on this blog (Hi Debbie!). I wanted to share that she has lost 25 pounds recently! She has done so by really cleaning up her diet and added more exercise!

She reaches out to me from time to time for nutritional advice. She’s always been plant-curious, meaning she’s been thinking and asking about plant-based living. She does eat some meat but she’s really increased the greens and added foods like quinoa to her repertoire. I was super excited for her visit because she always asks me for recipes for the meals that I post on my Trailmomma Facebook page.

AÂ lot of what I have been making lately is either part of my Plant-BasedÂ Rouxbe cooking assignments OR from my two new favorite books. Mostly, I have to say, they have been from my two favorite books (Prevent and ReverseÂ Heart Disease Cookbook and My Beef WithÂ Meat)Â … and I wanted to share those booksÂ with my Great Aunt Debbie so that she can learn more about living plant-based and why it truly is the best and healthiest way to live.

She was super stoked to get these and she’ s already made a few of the recipes and is sold! I am super-duperÂ happy. These books and their recipes are EASY. Really easy. I don’t have the time lately to prepare elaborate meals (although I do for my RouxbeÂ assignments) but I truly believe in the Esselstyn Family and their message about plant-based eating. It makes sense and for someone (like myself) who hasÂ aÂ high family history of heart-disease, it is a no-brainer.
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However, I do enjoy making some of the more elaborate meals that RouxbeÂ asks us to make. They are time-consuming though and I find that I can only make most of them on weekends. One dish at a time.

Home-made Veggie Broth used to make Cabbage Soup

The cabbage soup above was a shocker for many reasons. I had no idea it was THAT easy to make your own vegetable broth. Really, 90 minutes is all that it took (I did have an issue with throwing away all the veggies though). I also didn’t think I would like cabbage soup much but I was wrong. It was tasty! I made the above Esselstyn style – without any oils.

Cashew Bechemel aka Creamed Greens over Brown Jasmine Rice — Cashew bechamel aka Creamed Greens over Brown Jasmine Rice

I am not a cashew sauce fan. Mostly because I do not like the flavor and I do not like the amount of fat it can add to a dish, but in honor of my assignment, I made the above and I admit it was pretty darn tasty. It also makes A LOT of sauce … so I have been sharing it with friends.

Cauliflower Buffalo Wings - these were GOOD! — Cauliflower Buffalo Wings – these were GOOD!

Other than cooking when I canÂ andÂ running when I can, I still feel like life is flying by. I look at my girls and see how big they are getting. My blog happens when it happens. I’ve been reading a little more lately too, trying to find time to squeeze that in to let my brain rest at night (something I am not very good at doing). With Vans out-of-town, I have also been getting more sleep. Not every night butÂ most nights. Some nights, it is the usual, I am up late finishing laundry, packing lunches, prepping meals and trying to squeeze in a few Rouxbe assignments but I make sure to follow it with a night where I do not do that and instead I read in bed. No tv. It’s been really nice actually.

Stress can come in many forms. It doesn’t always come from work, it can come from the things you enjoy like cooking and blogging and worrying (about not running enough). So, I am trying hard to calm my mind. I even woke up early one morning and stretched. That was it. I did some core work but mostly, I stretched my achy muscles and it was wonderful.

I have a lot to be grateful for in this world. I have two beautiful girls, aÂ wonderful husband who supports my running as well asÂ otherÂ craziness and friends and family that I cherish more than anything. So for me, I plan to stay on this planet a long time and combat the genes that were given to me as best I can. Healthy eating, exercise and mindfulness is the name of my game.

Happy Trails!

~Trailmomma

September 15, 2014April 21, 2015

HEART HEALTHY

Vans was in Whistler, Canada for six days last week leaving me with the girls for our own little week of adventure.

Not to worry though as we didn’t waste any time getting our own little party started …

Dinner at my our favorite restaurant. — Dinner at my our favorite restaurant the first night!

The girls understood that Daddy was away doing a bike race at our friends house in another country and that we had to continue on our usual routine as best we could without him. For me, that meant no more morning or weekend runs with the usual girls or using soccer practice as a time to do some of my Rouxbe cooking assignments.

The running part was an adjustment, but luckily I work for a company that provides showers and a locker room so I took my running outside a few days week during my lunch hour. The distance is only four miles and there is only about 9 feet of elevation (picture a completely flat bike trail and business park) so instead, I motivated myself to start running faster.

I was able to maintain an average pace ofÂ about 7:37/mile each day thatÂ I ran on my lunch break. The temps were in the 90s too so it was pretty hot when all was said and done but it was a nice stress reliever which I have needed since work is growing more and more insane lately. Â I have also been using my standup desk more and taking the six flights of stairs at the office. I keep reading articles about how sitting is slowly killing us by raising ourÂ triglycerides and insulin levels and that a mere 30 minutes of activity doesn’t do squat to combat the damage. I commute at least two hours each day to work, I sit at a desk all day long most days and when I come home, I am sitting with the Peanut doing homework. I know it may seem like I am on the go all the time but the reality of it is, I do spend a lot of time in a chair. Think about yourself. How much time do you sit in a car, a chair, at a desk or on a couch? Really think about it. The number may surprise you.

I also recently have been diving more and more into my favorite type of cooking. The online cooking course I am taking through Rouxbe is great but it is your basic plant-based cooking style using things like coconut oils and cashews to create rich and fulfilling meals. My family history of severe heart disease and heart attacks really makes it hard for me to eat that way all the time. I truly believe in the work behind Dr. Esselstyn and when I finally received his wife and daughter’s cookbook, Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, I have been on an plant-power cooking adventure!

Rouxbe does have a unit on oil-free cooking and I am eagerly waiting to get there so I can learn even more tips and tricks to cooking fantastic plant-based meals without oils or nuts.

Another Esselstyn inspired meal - Green Onion Hummus — Another Esselstyn inspired meal – Green Onion Hummus

It is really important for me to try and maintain a healthy heart (as it should be for everyone). I don’t need to share the statistics that prove Americans are getting more and more unhealthy and are more and more reliant on pharmaceuticals to try and “fix” their ailments. Drugs do not reverse anything. They are only a band-aid which is why I love Dr. Esselstyn’s message. He’s a doctor, a cardiologist and is first line of defense for any of his patients is to avoid medication and put them on a plant-based oil and nut free way of living. Not a diet, a way of life.

I know I know, so many of you are probably thinking “What?! You already do not eat gluten and meat, what on earth are you going to eat now if you leave out oil and nuts?!” It isn’t that difficult to cook oil free. Oil has no nutritional value to it what so ever. It is pure fat and can do massive damage to the endothelium, the innermost lining of the artery. Nuts will be a little harder as I do love almond butter. What Dr. EsselstynÂ and his crew (including his son Rip who is the founder and drive behind Engine 2) say, is that if you do not have a history of heart disease that 100% avoiding nuts and fats like avocado isn’t AS crucial.

I should preface this by saying I am TRYING to be better about living this way. In the years before Vans and the girls, my diet was very much low fat and nut freeÂ and I truly felt my healthiest (minus that gluten thing). However running and training for ultra races also presents various problems when you are maxing out high mileage on a weekly basis. In fact, my usual pre-race breakfast is a bar that contains a lot of nuts! What to do?

When asked about “moderation” Dr. Esselstyn’s response is generally, “if you eat unhealthy foodsÂ in moderation, you will have a moderate heart attack.” It makes sense. I am just trying to get the hang of it all. Eating this way and being active is doable. Rip EsselstynÂ is a former professional triathlete and firefighter who ate this way during his training days. It can be done. We shall see where this road takes me.

In other healthy news, the Peanut had another soccer game this weekend wherein she played goalie during the first half. One goal made it past her but her team soon rose to the challenge and returned the goal and many more.

It was a pretty grueling weekend. The temperature was in the 100s both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday started early with soccer photos for every single team in the league!

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We had the soccer photos at 9 am (and it was scorching already) followed by a game at 11:00 am. Come noontime, everyone was fried and exhausted. Since I wasn’t able to run on Saturday due to all the soccer activities, I planned a run with Stonegate, Burning Girl and PigeonÂ for early Sunday morning. I haven’t seen Pigeon in quite some time so I was totally stoked when she said she could run with us!

Pigeon arrived at my house promptly at 6 am and we ran ourselves down to the trail head to meet Stonegate and Burning Girl. The sun had just come up and Pigeon and I were catching up on some lost time and laughs. I love how we can always pick up wherever we left off.

We headed out on New York Creek looking to do about 16 miles for the day. My house is about a half mile from the trail head so that added an additional mile for us. Right off the bat my legs felt a little tired but they soon came back to life for a short while. The run out is always nice. It is somewhat downhill and we’re usually super excited and chat the whole way. By the time we passed Spanish House over by Folsom Lake the conversations were starting to slow. I felt like I had a bowling ball in my tummy for a while but it luckily subsided after I ate some food and took a salt tab.

The trails are a bit technical on this side of the lake compared to the route I normally go but it was a nice change of pace and it had some real nice rolling hills that we’d run and occasionally walk. Poor Pigeon had run 26 miles on Friday, 15 on Saturday and was sticking with us on our 16 mile run today. Her legs were beat but she was able to hang with us.

P1050972 — So lucky to live so close to trails like this.

We chattedÂ and shared stories. The girls laughed endlessly at my fear of birds and Stonegate is longing for the day when a turkey crosses my path on the trails. I am sure she will have her day one of these days especially as we approach Thanksgiving.

Even though we started running at 6:30 am you could feel the heatÂ coming. The air was thickÂ on our route back and we were reduced to walking a bit more. We also encountered a million mountain bikers on the trail having a few close calls with some head on collisions.

Overall it felt good to be back out running some distance on the trails. I definitely feel the absence and I hope that I can rebuild the stamina I once had when it comes to running longer. I am also looking forward to the next two weekends coming up. Lots of adventures are ahead quite a few of them will be in Tahoe!

Meanwhile, I will be back in the kitchen cooking for Rouxbe as well as trying to incorporate some of my own plant-based meals ala Esselstyn style.

Happy Trails!

~Trailmomma

September 5, 2014April 21, 2015

CHALLENGING WEEK

This has been quite a challenging week for me in many regards. It started off with the holiday weekend which was absolutely wonderful, don’t get me wrong, but it deletes a day out of your “normal” work day routine which is essential when you have a child in first grade who gets more homework than any child I have ever seen. Okay, maybe the homework is “average” compared to most but they must not have a child who drags her feet and complains endlessly for 20 minutes about a ONE page worksheet that she has to do. We’re instructed to do “20 minutes” of homework a night … if I followed that rule, the Peanut would still be doing first grade homework when she turns 45.

Another challenge this week for me has been trying to fit in running when I can. The holiday weekend brought us to Tahoe, our home/heart away from home. The Trailmomma family has been itching to get away to our “usual” Tahoe place and all the stars aligned at the last-minute to allow us this amazing get-away.

I am not complaining in the least. The girls had an amazing time just running wild and riding their bikes.

Vans and I had a chance to relax and unwind leaving work worries behind as well.

We just did what we normally do when we go to Tahoe and that is chill. I was given a day of running while Vans was given a day of biking. The girls just found whatever adventures they could find throughout the property.

Super tiny humans playing in the hammocks.

After a few days spent in Tahoe, we then moved to Donner Lake where we joined our friends in our Annual Camping Trip. You can see the other annual camping trips here: Camping 2013, Camping 2012, Camping 2011Â andÂ Camping 2010.

The one downside of our trip was when we realized that we had forgotten to bring the ADULT sleeping bags. We had to steal some of the girls’ blankets which they clearly noticed, but if we didn’t, Vans and I would have either frozen to death or gotten divorced … neither one really appeals. 🙂

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Overall, the camping and Tahoe trips were a success. While they took away from our usual routine of things, it was nice to get out of town.

When I had to return to work, I tried to run on my lunch hour to squeeze in an extra few miles wherein I think I almost left my lungs on the side of an old deserted street in Rancho Cordova. Why does a flat fast few miles kill me more than running uphill at 3,000 plus feet of elevation?! Ouch.

Combine that with some Rouxbe cooking assignments that I have been putting off. We are in the “Batch Cooking” segment of the course which I love the idea since I batch cook my grains all the time on weekends. Still, my first real graded assignment was a risotto, which I love, don’t get me wrong but a risotto requires time, patience and a little fineness.

This little assignment came about at about 9 pm on a Wednesday evening after I put the girls to bed since I really could not fathom finding time toÂ do this assignment once Vans left for Canada. Yes, he has left for Canada to visit Be-Well-Run and her hubby Dokeg to participate in the Whistler Grand Fondo! I am super excited for him and I hope he has a fabulous time but cooking and cleaning dishes at 10 pm at night on a Wednesday was pretty grueling.

Now I am a solo parent trying to schedule a night at concert in the park, a birthday party, a soccer game, a girls morning and a swimming clinic this weekend. Easy peasy right?

Or….maybe we’ll just hang out in our monkey jammies all day and call it good. 🙂

Happy Trails!

~Trailmomma

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