Not Strong Enough

I found myself having what I've come to call a "Dad moment" in the car as I took HRH to school this morning.  I managed to pull myself together so I didn't drive Ursula smack into the construction cones for all the tears, but it was touch and go for a bit.
It was the sudden realization that my dad would be turning 65 this October if he were still alive.  He'd be eligible for retirement, and he'd be able to take it easy and probably drive my mom up the wall if actually DID decide to retire, although I suspect that he'd have a tough go at not pestering people chewing the fat working all day.
And I can only imagine the fun of the retirement party.
What would be more fitting, then, than to have a sort of retirement party for Dad's birthday, right?  Such a great idea, although I'm not really sure what happens at retirement parties.  I suspect gifts like sock garters, sandal-sock combos, and velour track suits are given.
Celebrating my dad's birthday is something that I've always tried to focus on, rather than the day he died after a four-year battle with colon cancer.  The difficulty is that both happened in October.  As was my parents' wedding anniversary.  It's nearly impossible, then, to separate the days.  Death Day is far too close to Birth Day.  I've re-christened October as Sucky McSucksalot Month, as my heart is truly heavy during this month - in the span of 16 days, I mourn the loss of a beautiful life, I mourn a marriage that was torn asunder by that treacherous third party, and I mourn a birthday I can't truly celebrate anymore.
During a "Dad moment," I don't just cry.  My heart tightens up and tries to claw its way up my throat, which start burning like I just swallowed fire.  If I don't have something like controlling a moving vehicle to distract me, the rolling tears will turn into ugly girl crying - red, puffy eyes, snotty, running nose, and ragged breathing that can lead to hyperventilating if I'm not careful.  The grief that washes over me is powerful enough to knock me to my knees, where you'll still find me asking "WHY?"
I would love to honor my dad and the amazing work that he did in his 51 years.  I'd love to raise my glass and toast his accomplishments and tell him, even in just a symbolic gesture, that he can finally take a break and just relax for a bit.  Maybe he could finally finish the house remodeling project that he started when I was about HRH's age.
I'm just not sure I'm strong enough.
Yet.

Push, Plank

I have finally accepted that the way the Hundred Pushups Challenge was designed is not for me.

My body doesn't jump from doing 72 to 80 pushups in two days.

And I'm OK with that.

I haven't thrown out the app or gotten rid of the pushups in my weekly routine.  In fact, I really like including them, I really really like how my arms are looking, and I really really REALLY like the fact that the program only expects users to use it three days a week.
So, I've been using the reset option to repeat days.
Like adding reps or weight to other cross training practices, it can take me a week or more to move from one Day to the next.  I try to maintain a balance of pushing myself along in the program with being careful not to overdo it.  I tend to spend 3-4 days per Day before moving to the next, using the final, max-out set as a guide.  Once I can max out at 2-4 pushups more than the minimum with only little exhaustion, I know it's time to move on.
Yet still I have no cheesy body-builder, flexing pose to offer you.

I can feel your disappointment from here.
To help you process your feelings, I have a snap of how many pushups I have done since I started the challenge.  I hope it's as soothing as it's intended to be.

But while I continue to incorporate my thrice-weekly pushups,  have taken another element out.
I have been intrigued with the #plakaday movement on Twitter for a while and finally decided to add it.  The concept, if you're not familiar, is to complete a plank for as long as you can, with the objective of being able to hold it longer and longer each time.
It's not that I didn't enjoy doing the daily planks.  In fact, I was able to feel a difference in my abs relatively quickly.
But unfortunately, I made the decision to participate in the hashtagging on Twitter, and that's where things went awry.
You see, someone calling himself (or herself) The Plank Police has taken it upon himself (or herself) to call people out when they miss a few days of hashtagging their planking progress on Twitter.
Thus far, I've been asked if I'm "hard core or hard snore" and if I'm "shooting planks or shooting blanks."
So basically, instead of saying, "Hi, I notice you haven't been hashtagging your plank progress every single day.  I'm sure you're busy with other things that are far more important in your life than a one-minute plank and which I have no business asking about, but I just wanted to make sure you're OK" (in 140 characters or less, of course), this person has determined that it's his (or her) job to call people out for not doing something that they aren't required to do in the first place.
Um, really?
So, two weeks was enough for me.  I called it quits on the #plankaday and its skewed definition of "support," although I am still using planks in my ab workouts throughout the week.
Call me spoiled.  The online running community is so amazingly supportive, whether I run 1 mile or 20, that I probably assumed (yes, shame on me!) that other online communities would be similar.
I'm certainly not going to apologize to this faceless Plank Police for not posting about a day or two (or seven, if that's the way it is) of my planks, but I can make the choice to discontinue an activity that is less than uplifting and helpful, which is exactly what I have done.
Thanks, but no thanks, #plankaday.  You can have your snark and pretend support.  For me, I'll stick with my #runchat, #runnerd, #runhers, and #RunningPackintheSky hashtags.  I support them, and they actually support me.  With, you know, kind words and encouragement instead of nagging.

What hashtags on Twitter do you follow?
What is a great source of support for you in your healthy efforts?

Afternoon Update:
Thanks to the retweets of a few of my Twitter running buddies, @PlankPolice (who is apparently NOT a bot) responded:

Thanks to my girls @MomonEmpty and @agirlrunner for their support here.  Hopefully we'll see some positive changes with the encouragement offered.  For now, I'm keeping planks in my cross training plan, but I'm not sure how much I'll tweet about them.

Sept 1 Update:
While Mike, one of the founders of #plankaday noted in his comment below that I have been removed from the Plank Police's list, I've since been mentioned in two tweets that are similar to above.  I will be sending a message once again requesting to be taken of the list.  Hopefully this time it will work.

My Motivational Mutt

In the past week or so, Zooey the Devil Dog has eaten (at least):

1. Two 10-ounce Nathan hydration bottles
2. My earbuds
3. My headset that I use every single day for work
4. A ballpoint pen
5. Two 5-inch princess dolls
6. Tissue from the bathroom trash bin
7. Countless hair ties (I stopped counting after six)

She also attempted to eat up my Misto bottle, and she's started going after poor Holden a heck of a lot more; Sunday I had to hold her down in the alpha position for about 15 minutes before we were both calm.
Yes, she's a naughty, naughty hound dog, unable to control herself around gross, snotty tissues and miniature, rubbery-textured ball gowns.  I was always thankful for our Diaper Champ before HRH was potty trained, yet Zooey still gets her paws on the occasional training pant, usually getting caught with the trash bin lid stuck on her collar.

And yet I love that stupid mutt more than I ever could have imagined I would love a dog.

"Ai wuvs mai momma, and mai momma wuvs me!"

For all her foibles, Zooey is absolutely the sweetest creature, and I can't imagine a better first dog.  Except for the first 5 months we had her, when I was pregnant and didn't know what the heck I was doing with a puppy (we're pointing all fingers at The Husband for that timing), it's been relatively painless.

Even better - she will never say no to going for a run.
In fact, when my alarm goes off at 4:30, she is awake, ready, and panting excitedly by my side of the bed by 4:30:05.
Can you imagine her disappointment if I were to hit the snooze button?
And can you further imagine how badly I would feel were I to disappoint her so?

Regardless of how tired or sore or lazy I am at that point, once the alarm has gone off, there is no going back to sleep.  I did try that once.
Only once.
Sixty-plus pounds of black and tan coonhound jumping on you to see why you aren't getting up to go for a run is enough to teach anyone that lesson.
So, I get up and stagger to the bathroom to get dressed.  Zooey follows me to supervise and, if she's really lucky, snag a quick snack out of the trash bin.  I'm never dressed fast enough to please her, and those mornings when I fumble with my heart rate monitor are enough to drive her mad.

Why yoo iz not ready yet?
(Please, avert your eyes from the awesomeness of my legs
and ensemble; look at the adorbs pup instead)

Zooey greets every run with the excitement of a six-year-old on Christmas morning.  Once I start my GPS and take that first step, it's on like Donkey Kong, and I wish that I could explain to her the importance of the long, slow run on the weekend, as she doesn't seem to follow any training plan and just goes out 100% every single time.
My excitement level is usually more reserved, but I never EVER regret going for a run.  At this point in my running "career," by the time I'm lacing up my shoes, running isn't something I have to do; it's something I choose to do - because I love it.  And then it's on like Donkey Kong for both of us.
And I am so grateful to Zooey for that perspective.

Without her, it might be easy to say "tomorrow" every day for a week.

Without her, I could probably come up with every excuse in the book not to run.

Without her, I might hit that snooze button a few more times - and then run out of time to run.

Without her, I might not even be running.

Zooey gets me moving, and if you are looking for that motivation to move, a dog might be the just thing for you, too.
Oh, sure, my anecdotal evidence is one thing.  But several studies have proven that people with animals - dogs in particular - are more likely to get out the door and move.

After all, it's so much harder to come up with an excuse not to head out the door when this is what's looking back at you:

"What is this 'rest day' of which you speak?"

Running not your thing?  A pooch will be equally happy to join you for a daily walk or two.  Or is your mutt kind of a couch potato?  Good news - you can take a "doga" class (dog yoga) together!  There's even a DVD.

I'm considering getting it.

Of course, not everyone is in the position to get a dog.  They are commitments, emotional and financial commitments, and they require more attention than three runs a week.  If you do not think you can keep the commitment that you will need to make, please find another motivator.  But if you are ready for a canine pal, please look to adopt.  You'll not only have a new family member, but you'll be saving a life in the process.

Holy Crepe Week, Batman! Vegetarian Roasted Red Pepper, Mushroom, and Goat Cheese Crepes (Plus a Bonus!)

Well.  If you've been following the #CrepeWeek hashtag on Twitter, you'll know that it's been a whirlwind week round these parts.  We've got 12 bloggers, 4 cookbook giveaways, and one can't-miss crepe recipe.  Winning-er than winning, if I do say so myself.
If you haven't been in the reindeer games, let me bring you up to speed:
America's Test Kitchen has kindly worked with us this week as we all played with their fabulous, can't-possibly-screw-up-it's-that-easy crepe recipe (Don't believe me? Click the link to watch the video - you'll be sold.  And while you're there, I encourage you to sign up - ATK has amazing, time-tested recipes that you will want to use again and again).  All of us used this recipe as our base while filling the crepes with all sorts of amazingly drool-worthy recipes.  ATK has also provided four of their cookbooks as fabulous (Seriously - they are FABulous!  You want all of them!) giveaway items.
But more on the cookbooks in a minute.  First, the crepe recipes.
We paired a savory and sweet crepe each day, providing you with a litany of possible meal combinations.  It's up to you to determine which one you have to have today, and which one can wait until later today:

• Comfortably Domestic and Wanna Be a Country Cleaver kicked things off on Monday with, respectively, Tuscan crepes and Grand Marnier berry crepes.
• Tuesday, we were served up some southwestern crepes with cilantro pesto by Tenaciously Yours, as well as Inside NanaBread's Head's lemon cream crepe cakes for two.
• On Wednesday, pork belly and wild mushroom crepes by Climbing Grier Mountain and blueberry ginger crepes à la mode (because why would you NOT want ice cream?) from Munching in the Mitten were on the menu.

(Are you dying yet?  Because I am.)

• Bakeaholic Mama brought us "The Vermonter," a beast of a crepe with Vermont cheddar, Vermont ham, apples, and sage, and The Hill Country Cook made an amazing blackberry orange crepe with cream cheese and mascarpone filling on Thursday.
• Friday nearly finished off the week with The GromMom's prosciutto and asparagus crepe with a (screaming this part) MANGO CREAM SAUCE (plus a bonus - don't miss it!) and La Petite Pancake's strawberry crepes au lait.

Yes.  Our dinner parties would be EPIC.  It's pretty much a given that we need to all get together somewhere with a huge kitchen and basically throw down.  And then hibernate for 6 weeks while we recover from said food fest.

And don't forget to enter to win any or all (you want all) of these amazing books from America's Test Kitchen:

• Baking Illustrated (offered over at Comfortably Domestic)
• Cook's Illustrated (offered over at Wanna Be a Country Cleaver)
• Weeknight Faves (offered over at Climbing Grier Mountain)
• ATK Family Baking (offered over at The Hill Country Cook)

And that brings us to today.  I've paired up with our newbie, Ann at From My Sweetheart, and boy, oh boy, do we have some goodies for you.  Seriously.  I can't even begin to tell you about Anne's red velvet crepes with sweet mascarpone cream.
I screamed a little bit lot while typing that.  And maybe peed a little.  I'm pretty excited.  OK, a lot excited.  Actually, I had to be stopped from buying a plane ticket to go to her place for dessert.
This is clearly one of those Run-Don't-Walk-Eat-Dessert-First situations.  I mean, I like my crepes a whole lot, but we're talking red velvet here.  That's a completely different level.

Once you've snarfed those babies down, I've got a twist on one of my favorites.
When The Husband was finishing up his master's, he had a fellowship with the city of Washington, DC.  While I stayed in Michigan that last year, he was down there in a postage stamp sized apartment.  I love DC for all that it has to offer, especially the food.
Mere blocks from the apartment was L'Enfant's, a Belgian crepe bar.  We went there fairly regularly when I would come to visit, and the roasted red pepper and goat cheese was always a go-to when I wasn't sure what I wanted.  For my version, I beefed it up with a bit of mushroom.
And for heaven's sake, don't forget the Hoegaarden!

Roasted Red Pepper, Mushroom, and Herbed Goat Cheese Crepes
(serves 2)

• 2 organic red peppers, washed, cut in half, and seeded
• 2 Tbsp coconut milk (or organic whole milk)
• Oregano (preferrably fresh), to taste)
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Juice of 1/2 lime
• 1 pound mushrooms, any variety, chopped
• 1/2 onion, any variety (I prefer red onion here), chopped
• 5 oz herbed goat cheese (or plain goat cheese that you have mixed with your favorite herbs)
• Cooking oil (your choice)

Put your sweetie to work making those amazing ATK crepes.  The Husband is Official Crepe-Maker (hehe - crepe-maker!) in our house, so I took the opportunity to share a snap of him.

On a hot grill or under the broiler (or actually on a stovetop burner), roast the peppers, turning to ensure that the skin gets evenly charred. Remove and immediately place into a plastic zip-top bag; allow to rest for 5-10 minutes.  Remove peppers from the bag and peel off/discard the skins.
(Sorry I don't have a pic of this - my hands were covered in red pepper skin, and TH was chasing HRH around the house to keep her away from the kitchen)
Place 1 1/2 pepper along with the coconut milk, oregano, salt, pepper, and lime juice into a food processor and blend until  smooth.  Set aside, but keep warm (not hot).
Chop the remaining 1/2 pepper
In a large saute pan, heat 2 Tbsp of your favorite cooking oil (this recipe works well with canola, olive, and coconut oils) over medium-high heat.  Add mushrooms, onions, and the remainder of the red pepper and saute until the mushrooms and soft and the onions are translucent.

Add mushroom mixture to a bowl where the goat cheese is already waiting and mix. thoroughly.  Adjust seasoning to taste.

To assemble crepes:
Spoon 2-3 Tbsp of the filling into each crepe and roll up.  Drizzle red pepper sauce over crepes just before serving.

For an added kick of pepper, you can add cayenne or hot sauce to the red pepper sauce and put inside the crepe with the filling as well as on top.  Which is what we did.  Because we go big.

Note - these crepes are not a looker - it's my experience that anything that is mixed with a soft cheese or  various gravies usually look blobby.  But don't you fret.  These babies might not be that photogenic, but they don't disappoint on the trip to Flavor Town.

Of course, in the Philistine house, we can't just have one kind of crepe.  Whenever we have crepes for dinner, we have to have them for dessert, too.  I'll be honest - that there were leftover crepes for my breakfast the next morning was a complete anomaly, one that I took measures to ensure would not repeat itself at lunchtime.

So here's a special bonus crepe recipe, just for you!

Pineapple Mango Crepes with Coconut Cream and Macadamia Nut Drizzle
(serves 2)

For the crepes:

• 1 large red mango (or two yellow mangoes), roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup crushed pineapple (or chunk pineapple, chopped to be a bit smaller), drained
• 2 Tbsp pineapple juice
• 1 Tbsp cornstarch or tapioca flour

Add all ingredients to a small saucepan and bring just to a boil.  Simmer 10 minutes and then remove from heat.  Allow to cool slightly, but the filling should remain warm.

For the coconut cream:

• 1/2 cup coconut milk (full fat only, please!)
• 2 Tbsp maple syrup, honey, or agave nectar
• 1 Tbsp cornstarch or tapioca flour
• 1/3 cup macadamia nuts, chopped
• 1/3 cup toasted coconut or dried coconut flakes
• In a small saucepan, bring the coconut milk, syrup, and cornstarch just to a boil and reduce to simmer.  Simmer until the mixture has reduced and thickened; set aside so it stays warm.

To assemble crepes:
Add 3 Tbsp filling to each crepe and roll up.  Drizzle the top with the coconut cream, and then top with macadamia nuts and coconut.  Try to breathe between bites.

We are huge fans of tropical fruit in our house, and we especially liked this recipe because it was fruit sweet but not overly sweet.  By adding just a touch of sweetener to the coconut cream, we balanced out the acidic sweetness of the pineapple with the creaminess of the drizzle.
And then we licked the plates clean.

I hope that you enjoyed Crepe Week as much as we all did.  A huge thanks to America's Test Kitchen for helping us throw this party - the crepe recipe is amazing and easily adaptable, as you've seen, to both sweet and savory crepes that are perfect for any meal of the day!

***Disclaimer: all opinions expressed in this post are my own.  I was not remunerated by ATK for it in any way, but I just really like the show, the books, and the website, and I think you will, too!

Workout Wednesday - New Kicks!

Since Zooey ate that hydration bottle last Friday, I needed to get in to the running store ASAP to replace it.  Having one less ten-ounce bottle is a big deal when we're breaking heat records left and right around here (I'm literally praying for it to be 103 this weekend - that's insanity).

More importantly, it was also time to get new shoes as well.

Now, I haven't been a loyal shoe brand/style girl.  Until this go round.  After trying on the Nikes, the Brooks, and the Sauconys, I went with my old staple - the Saucony Guide 5 (a Runner's World editor's choice this past spring!)  I love my Brooks Cascadia for trail running and hiking, so I seriously considered them until I did a test run and had a little heel trouble.  I liked the Nikes, too, with their additional support for my pronating feet, and I am sure I would have enjoyed running in them.

But the Sauconys just felt right.

They fit my heel better than the Brooks did, they gave me plenty of toe room (no lost toenails, please!), and I know that I am not going to get injured by wearing them.  

This is kind of totally super exciting, because not only will I know what I want regardless of where I am when in need of a shoe, I can also look to ordering all the fun, fabulous colors that Saucony has to offer (hint - I totally want the yellow ones).
Mostly the shopping for pretty colors.
Of course, I feel like this is another step in becoming one of those "real" runners I admire so strongly.  It's kind of silly, and yes, I know that I'm a real runner because I run.  But the fact that I know my body - my feet - well enough to identify that the Sauconys were the right shoe for them makes me feel like I've hit another milestone, so when I say "I'm a runner," I have a kind of "proof" beyond my mileage and my compression sleeves.
They'll go great with my new hydration bottles.

Do you have an "it" running shoe?
When did you feel like a "real" runner?

Hiking A Mountain With 300 of my Closest Friends

The temperatures in the Valley have been hitting record levels this last week, and right now, as I type at 10PM, it's still 107°.  

Cue the sound bite  of the (NSFW) weather report from Good Morning, Vietnam.

But when the opportunity to hike A Mountain in Tempe with Chris Powell from ABC's Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition came up on Saturday morning, I wasn't going to say no.

Chris is actually a native of the Valley, and one of the local radio stations has hosted a few of these A Mountain hikes already to roaring success.

But still, Zooey the Devil Dog, who ate one of my hydration bottles this week, needed to burn some energy, so we got up at 4:30 anyway to run 3 of the 4 miles my training plan called for.  I opted to only run 3 because of the water bottle situation as well as the fact that the hike would take place at 8AM, well after sunrise.

I took it easy to make sure that the hound's tongue wouldn't be lolling on the ground by the time we got home, where I dropped her off (no way was I taking my girl on a hot, sunny, crowded hike!), switched out my Sauconies for my Brooks trail shoes, and headed back out the door.

I was shocked at how many people - well over 300 - were there.  I had figured that the heat would keep people away, but it wasn't a deterrent at all.  That in itself is truly a testament to the huge impact Chris Powell has made on people since the show began.

Of course the event started with a few words.  But if you've watched the show, you know that Chris's words are always inspiring, and speaking to a group of several hundred was no different than when speaking to one of his clients on national television.  Chris spoke of being dedicated to making healthy choices and healthy changes, and he used the phrase "beneficial selfishness" when reminding us that we have to make our decisions for ourselves and no one else.

That rang true here.  Sometimes, even that day, I feel badly about leaving my family to go for a run when I could easily stay home and spend time with them instead.  But being beneficially selfish and going for those runs means that I'll be around to have more of those moments, and I must keep that in mind.  It's not always about the right now, and even if I'm not there, I'm setting an example to my daughter by putting my health on the list of Things That Are Extremely Important.

The audience was rapt.

And then Chris challenged all of us in the crowd: "Everybody must leave here with a victory."  He didn't want anyone to leave without achieving some sort of victory.  For some, he acknowledged, that would be climbing part way and using the switchback to head back down.  For others, it was heading all the way up to "Sparky's House" at the very top.  And yet others would need to run the steep, advanced trail multiple times.

And with that admonishment, we were off.

Just as a note, A Mountain is not actually a mountain.  It's official name is Hayden Butte, and while it can be steep in parts, it's not a long trail, so going up and down multiple times is definitely within the realm of doable, and the butte is used just for that by ROTC students at ASU and others who are training on hills.

The advanced trail starts off paved, but it becomes very steep very quickly, so it's a fantastic calf workout.

Tempe Town Lake and the two bridges

Tempe City Hall is an inverted pyramid.
Since I was an architecture major for 6 weeks,
I feel like I need to include this snap.

The Tempe Transportation Department building
has a green roof!  So cool!

When pavement gave way to railroad ties and rock, our trail met the switchback, and things leveled off, but boy howdy was it crowded! Some people had used the more intermediate switchback to head up sooner and were already headed down.  

But I had to make a detour at the A.

I was only about halfway to the cross bar of the A
to give you a bit more perspective.

The A is an ASU treasure, and it's fiercely guarded during the week leading up to the Territorial Cup game between ASU and UofA.  At the beginning of each school year, as a symbol of starting a new year, the A is whitewashed before getting its first coat of gold paint.  Throughout the year, various groups will paint the A different colors, but as long as it's not red and blue, we're good, and it's simply repainted gold.

From the A it's only a short climb to the top, where your view on a less crowded day will be 360°.

Not that I felt I was cheated out of any views due to the number of people enjoying the same sights and the collective inspiration.  Far from it, I was thrilled that so many people were sharing in that same moment.  Some people were so thrilled to get up to the top that it was better than some of the Olympics outcomes.  I was proud and excited for all of them, even if I had nothing to do with that victory personally.

Sun Devil Stadium, built between the two buttes in Tempe.
You can see the "other" A here.

A more expansive view - you can see the solar panels above (parking) Lot 59 to the left,
the indoor practice stadium directly behind Sun Devil Stadium (big white bubble),
and Manzanita Hall, where I lived as a freshman - it's now completely gutted,
under renovation.

After spending a little time taking in all the positive energy that was absolutely radiating off the top of A Mountain, I headed back down in order to offer a bit more room to those who were still coming up - or headed up for a second go round.

Since I had been up early and had already gotten my workout in, I opted to only go up once, but on my way back down, there was one more order of business that needed to be dealt with.

EHRMAGEHRH!  CHREHRS PEHRWEHRLL!
Go, Devils!

I had to get a snap with Chris and shake his hand.  Both he (an ASU alumnus himself) and his wife, Heidi, laughed heartily when I introduced myself.

Because my last name is Powell, too.

No relation (TOTAL BUMMER).

But really, what an absolutely lovely couple.  In the brief seconds I had to speak with them, it was so clear that the positive attitude Chris has about him on the show is The Real Thing.  Both he and Heidi radiated kindness, excitement, and that zest for all things healthy.

And can we just talk about Heidi's arms?  Because they are amazing.  More perfect than Mary Poppins.  A new inspiration for my Hundred Pushups Challenge.

It might be cliché, but it really was the perfect cap for the morning.  While it was hot - already well into the 90s - I bounced down the remaining bit of the trail and hopped in the car, renewed with an excitement I don't think I had when the alarm buzzed.

Chris and Heidi Powell touched so many lives Saturday morning, and we Arizonans are so fortunate to have them as a part of our community.  They want us - all of us - to lead lives that are joyful and healthy.  How can I not be grateful for neighbors who want nothing more?

Thanks, Chris and Heidi!  

Oh, and if you're planning a family reunion any time soon, I'm sure I can find some distant third cousin that ties us together!

Who inspires you to be a better you?

What amazing people live in your neck of the woods?

What local landmarks do you treasure?

(Why do I always have to ask three questions?)

Operation: Eat it or Starve - How Do You Know You Don't Like It if You Won't Try It?

Did you hear that?
It was the sound of me turning into "that mom."  The mom who nags the kid to eat.
Yep, that's me.
Good thing I have a pair of mom shorts I can put on so I really look the part.

HRH has worked tirelessly to reject anything that isn't a strawberry, apple, or highly processed carb.  In the last week, she even decided that she doesn't like cheese anymore, which is disconcerting to me; since she doesn't eat any meat other than bacon and the occasional chicken nugget, I do want to make sure that she is getting the protein she needs.
But she's been a huge proponent of Drink All the Milk of late, and she conned her daddy into buying her orange juice, which she is drinking, and bananas, which she isn't eating.  Oh, and she also asked for peaches and green apples, which were purchased in the Not Organic Section.  Then she told us she doesn't like peaches.
Even my attempt to make a The Very Hungry Caterpillar-themed dinner fell flat.  The plum was also disconcerting to our fair princess.

It was at this meal that HRH informed me
that she no longer eats cheese.
Zooey was only too happy to help out with that.

So, clearly, we are taking the "starve" route of late.

Today, especially, was tough.  Having left early in the morning for a run and hike, I have no idea what she had for breakfast or even if she had it (The Husband is NOT a morning person and barely managed a grumble when I said goodbye, so I'm uncertain as to whether or not he was mentally capable of making a meal in such a state).

For lunch she was presented with a first course (we've been doing courses so that she can't fill up on strawberries and ignore spaghetti) of fruit salad: apple, peach, cherry, honeydew, and watermelon.
To her credit, she put a piece of honeydew in her mouth.
And then spit it out with such to do that Gloria Swanson's heart would swell with pride.
No further courses were offered.

At dinner, I made her this lovely plate:

Carrot and cucumber butterflies
fluttering around a berry flower - yum!

Yes, I even gave HRH *A* strawberry in the "salad" course.
And she didn't even eat that.  Apparently the cucumber traumatized her so much that she couldn't bring herself to eat anything.
So I ate the strawberry and blueberries but left the veggies, which are really what I'm trying to focus on this week with HRH's meals.
A little later, the carrots were eaten, but still, the cucumbers continued to traumatize left and right.

So, tonight, HRH really is going to bed hungry - very little lunch (as in none), an unsanctioned glass of milk while I ran to the grocery store, and a few carrot sticks are all that she's had since this morning.

Maybe tomorrow morning I can get her to eat something.
Maybe.