This week has just flown by. But time spent at my parents' house always does. I've been so busy that I realized today that I'd completely forgotten to blog this week. I guess that's a good sign - I've been too busy with real life to write. And thankfully, it's all good busy. So today, you get five random things... Today Jones and I fly home to Virginia. I'm looking forward to being home, but I also always wish I was staying here. It's been awesome spending two weeks with only one child. I haven't gotten to do this since he was 4! We got to check out the International Crane Foundation, the Minnesota Zoo, and the National Eagle Center. He's a good kid and he's starting to explore college options (GAH!) and we both survived him taking econ … [Read more...]
Add some ZING to your summer with OLD BAY Seasoning
This post was sponsored by OLD BAY. All opinions and recipes are my own. I've spent most of my adult life living within an easy drive of the Chesapeake Bay, where OLD BAY seasoning is a fixture in cooking. I can't remember a time when I didn't know what OLD BAY was. It's been a regular seasoning option for seafood for what seems like forever. I have a lot of fond memories of OLD BAY and beach weekends from college onward. It seemed like OLD BAY always brought us together for fun times and good food. But it's not just a seafood seasoning. When I asked my Facebook friends what they like to use OLD BAY on, one actually responded with "wouldn't the list be shorter if I just told you what I DON'T use it on?" OK, then. Suggestions … [Read more...]
School’s out for the summer!
Yes, it really just let out here (actually my middle schooler has a half day today). Yet, somehow I feel like we've been fulfilling our summer plans for a few weeks already. And since today's topic for Tuesdays on the Run is "summer plans", this post will be somewhat retrospective as well as looking to the future. A vacation with Beer Geek in Denver - this trip is already in our rear view mirror. Beer Geek and I hiked all around Denver - hitting Breckenridge, Aspen, Steamboat Springs, Colorado Springs, and Laramie, WY. We hit Pike's Peak, drank at innumerable brewpubs, and survived a crazy hail storm. All in all, it was an amazing vacation together to celebrate 23 years of marriage. Skirt Sports retreat - I had been looking … [Read more...]
DuClaw Everything is Taken Kabobs
Thank you DuClaw Brewing for sponsoring this post and sending me the DuClaw Everything is Taken. All opinions and the kabob recipe are my own. Welcome to the March edition of “Cooking with Beer”! Each month DuClaw Brewing sends me a beer and a friend and I create a recipe. It's a fun time to think outside the box and try a new beer and new food. This month's beer is "Everything is Taken", a light refreshing lager with the bonus of a lot of hoppiness. I'm not gonna lie - this is not a beer I would drink. I like my beers dark and sweet. But it was good for what it was and on a hot day, it would be a nice cold beer to have at a cookout. As Beer Geek would say, it's a good lawn mowing beer: light, refreshing, and best served ice cold. … [Read more...]
The highs and lows of summer 2017
Summer is over. Normally, summer hangs on until it is no longer officially summer, but for some reason this year, summer decided to leave when the kids went to school. We've had perfect running weather nearly every day for the last couple of weeks. I've actually even managed to go out for some runs without taking water in the last few days. I know, crazy for this time of year. I am very thankful, especially considering what much of the rest of the country is going through. Today on Tuesdays on the Run, we are taking a look back at summer and sharing our highs and lows. I was lucky - our summer was mostly highs! High I got to meet Marcia finally! Low I didn't get to meet Susie or Wendy on this trip to Chicago. High I … [Read more...]
Was July a pass or fail kind of month?
It's that time of the month. No, not that one. The one where Marcia, Patty, and I rate our month in running as part of Tuesdays on the Run and we hope that you'll join us. I have to admit that I'm not sure how to rate this month. The last Tuesday falls kind of early - this last week could totally make or break me LOL. I've had some good runs. I've had some awful runs. But up until I got the stomach bug last week, I was nailing my Marine Corps Marathon training plan. If you've followed me in previous years, you'd know that I really struggle with managing all the runs in the heat of a Virginia summer. My trick this year? A running buddy. We ran in the rain... We ran in the heat... We ran stupid … [Read more...]
It is not a secret that I am not a fan of summer running
Give me a sunny 30* day and I can run forever. Or a spring day where 50* feels like tank top weather. Or my personal favorite - the first fall day where a long sleeve shirt is perfect. But summer? Summer is not my friend. Summer makes me feel sweaty and gross - before I even get out the door. Summer allows me to chafe in places I didn't even know could chafe. Summer makes me, a die hard night owl, get up at 4:30 am to run at 5:30. Summer makes me burn in places that should never have seen the light of day in the first place. Summer means shots of pickle juice and the addition of salty things to my diet. (OK, maybe that's not so bad.) Summer means a night on the couch (and a 3am visit from the cat) so that I … [Read more...]
Training for a fall marathon in the south
Every year in March, I do my best to get into the Marine Corps Marathon. Every year in July or August, I curse past MCM Mama for thinking this was a good idea. It's not that I don't love the Marine Corps Marathon. I do. I love it so much that this will be my 4th time running it. What I hate is training for a fall marathon through the summer in the south. Case in point, yesterday when I went out for my run, the "feels like" temperature was 97*. At 9:30 in the morning. Ugh. I managed 4 miles outside and then finished the last 2 on the treadmill (with the AC unit next to the treadmill going full blast.) With the New York Marathon, the Chicago Marathon, and the Marine Corps Marathon all within a short number of weeks, as well as many smaller … [Read more...]
Five refreshing summer beer styles
Today's topic for Friday Five is "summer treats". If you've been reading my blog for more than five minutes, you know that's going to lead me directly to beer. Honestly, an ice cold beer after a hot run is one of the most refreshing treats you can find. Here are five styles to go for this summer - they are all refreshing and are often what one would call a session beer AKA a lower alcohol beer that allows you to drink more than one. Do not, however, confuse these beers with light beers. They have way more flavor (and calories) than that. Wheat beers - Last year, wheat beers became my beer of choice when it's hot out. There are a variety of styles within this category, but they all have a significant percentage of wheat versus … [Read more...]
Stocking up to survive the summer
Have I mentioned before that I'm not a huge fan of summer? Give me a below freezing day over a sweltering hot day anytime. After all, I can put on more layers, but there are only so many things I can take off before someone calls the cops (or I end up with chafing in places no one deserves to chafe.) But I can't let the weather shut down my training plan, so I've been getting all of my favorites ready for the summer. Some links below are affiliate links, which means I make a small amount if you buy through that link. Affiliate links are labeled as such. Handheld water bottles. I have several. I've been a long time fan of the Amphipod bottles, but I've recently branched out to some of the Nathan handhelds . I'm very particular about … [Read more...]
How I plan to stay fit this summer
Confession: I hate summer. OK, let me be more specific - I hate Virginia summers. They are hot and they are humid. I swear I get reverse SAD and get depressed and never want to leave my house. Seriously, I've had a few summer months when I've barely run at all. With Ragnar and Marine Corps Marathon coming up in early fall, I need to get my act together this summer. I'm going to "Run This Town". One of my fellow Skirt Sports ambassadors decided she wanted to run all of the streets in her town and a few others of us have jumped on the bandwagon. Beer Geek has biked many of the streets in our "town" and thinks I'm crazy, but I'm going to do it anyways. I doubt I'll ever finish (and there are roads that can't be run on), but I'm going … [Read more...]
Surviving the Summer Doldrums
I'm not a fan of August, which is kind of amusing since my birthday AND my favorite beer festival both happen in August. But that's 2 days of awesome surrounded by many days of struggling with summer. I've often commented that I get reverse "SAD". I just don't like being hot, I'm not a fan of swimming, and I fry (or freckle) in the sun. I'm like the antithesis of the golden brown Sun Goddess. Add in summer marathon training and I'm admittedly more than a little bit cranky these days. But, I know I just need to stick it out a few more weeks and then the mornings will be cooler and then the kids will go back to school and we will all get back into a routine. (What? Sleeping from 1am-10am is a routine. Maybe not a good one, but it's a … [Read more...]
