Crossed a Goal off My List

Hello I hope everyone is doing well, I know I have been gone for an unforgivable amount of time and any article that I have read on proper blogging etiquette says that I should be punctual on my blog posts and not start out every post with and apology and excuse as to why I have been absent.  I honestly can say I am not sorry for being absent because for the last several months I have not had anything to say, I in fact have had the worst case of creative block that when I did open my blogger page this is what came out, lkadjfkuaiofjkladjflkj.  I wanted to spare everyone from the gibberish that often spills out when I start back to work and I promise that there has been nothing huge missed in the last month and a half while I was on this unannounced hiatus. But lets get back into the swing with something great.

I crossed a Goal off My List!


For the past year or so I have been flirting with the idea of becoming a runner and would have good days and bad days attempting this.  During the last month, I have been talking more and more with my runner friends and really deciding that I wanted to run some races.  So I found some 5k's near my home and decided it was time to try.  I didn't do any Couch to 5k Programs and probably ran a total of 15 miles in perpetration for the 5k I participated in yesterday. That's right I went against every piece of advice that I had searched online and ran a race with pretty much no training.

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One of my friends was able to join me on this run and we had agreed to meet at 5:45 and ride together to the Tennis Garden where the event was being held.  True to Penny form I woke up at 5:45 and had to text and say I was running late, but on my way. I didn't get to drink the coconut water I had planned and that frozen waffle and Peanut butter remained in the freezer untoasted and calling my name. We made it to the Tennis Garden just after 6am (this event was just a few minutes from home) and register and then had the 1hr wait until the start. During this time we met a wonderful woman who until I told her I was a new runner had been undecided as to run or not. This was such a great meeting, we were perfectly matched and became a partner who I could encourage when neither of us felt like running.  I did a combination of running and walking and finished in 44 minutes and 36 seconds.  

I am ecstatic with these results. I wasn't the fastest and I was passed up by a Grandma who was power walking and many other people, but none of that mattered to me. I am so happy that I finished I had a friend and an acquaintance cheering me on at the finish line and received a medal to go along with my number and most of all I am now addicted.  I have already planned my next race and found a training plan. 

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The Mission Inn Run. It is a 5k, 10k, 1/2 and full Marathon as well as group runs. I have a few friends who will be running the 1/2 marathon so I am excited to be able to cheer them on as I complete my first 10k and begin preparing for some other more challenging races that I have my eye on.  I don't know if this means that I am becoming a runner, the one thing I know is that some of my goals include completing races and I want to finish these in my 30th year. 

I can not promise that this is going to mark my return to blogging as I have been suffering from writers block, but I am going to try and share my training and current diet on a regular basis. 

What goal do you want to complete this year?

We made it Vancouver Washington!

Here are some Cell Pictures from the first 4 days of our trip. 

 Ashland Dog park, So didn't want to leave this beautiful area. 

 This picture was so cool, I wanted to share it. I totally dig Camera360 for Android.

 An Oregon Rest Stop, Who knew they had rest stops that were so Picturesque.

Columbia River.

 There may be many pictures of water in the upcoming days, I have so missed living close to the a large body of water. 

Now I have to fight this girl for the 2nd bed in the hotel room, she is a little mad I chose to use the Eliptical machine rather than walking her in the dark "Cold" (70 degree) Washington Night. 

See you Soon!

Rooad Trippppp!

We set of the other day to see family in Oregon and quickly decided to continue on to Washington since we were so close. Here are some pictures of where we have been so far. 

 Vista Del Lago, such a tease there was no water access from where we were.  :(

 I <3 when they act this cute! Doesn't always happen, but it is cute. 

Where I am staying. There is a  great piece of undeveloped land that I get to take the dogs on a off leash walk, those pictures will be tomorrow. 

While I was at the Sun Dial bridge in Redding, Ca I was blessed to see many butterflies and this one landed on the plant behind me while the puppies were cooling their paws in the river. 

Sun Dial bridge and this can be used as a sundial. when you cross the bridge there is a curb that has time and when I was there it was accurate. 

The backside of the bridge. 

Well until tomorrow. I will remember to take my camera with me as I travel around the little area of Ashland. There are so many unique stores and beautiful sites, I want to get them all on film. I hope you are all doing well and will be back soon. 

Yeah for Wednesday!

Good Day, Ever since I posted the phrase "Good Eye Might" I want to open every email, blog post or text with that. Really I can't help but to smile when I type it.  But on to Wednesday, today was a good start to it and rapidly descended into not so great, but I planned to do What I Ate Wednesday because I always enjoy being able to go back and get ideas from myself and the others on Peas and Crayons Link party. 

My breakfast, Greenberry Shakeology with 1 Cup Strawberries and 1 cup OJ Blended. 

 This is the new Java Blue Lime Twist at Starbucks. This is the Bomb Diggity drink. They have one other flavor and it adds the perfect fresh taste to the morning coffee. I could drink this everyday. 

 My on the Road Snack we were driving all over the desert getting some stray errands done that we had missed on Monday. 

 Lunch was a Pear and Tofu Shiritaki Fettuccine. This is a great meal and super simple to make.

1 Package Tofu Shiritaki Noodles

2Tbs Cream Cheese

2 Tbs Sour cream 

2Tbs Parmesan

It tastes great with veggies as well, but I was so hungry I didn't even think about veggies.

Dinnet BLT on Schar mini baguettes. These little Baguettes were fabulous, since going Gluten Free I haven't had a hoagie sandwich and every once in awhile I will miss them, but not anymore. The Sandwich was quite good and I really wanted to spend an hour eating it so it would never end but alas it was so good I hoovered it. 

If you are Gluten Free I recommend that you try the Schar products, each item I have tried has been a great re-placer for the breads I gave up so long ago. Well I gotta run and maybe give the dogs that walk they have been bugging me about now that it has cooled down.  

Have a great Evening!

Tongue Tied Tuesday

Good Day! I have been quite busy this weekend working on a blog post craft with a friend that isn't completed yet so the planned post for the beginning of this week is on hold until probably Friday. This put me in a bit of a bind because I didn't know what I was going to do. As I read through a day of The Bible in 90 Days (checkout the plan here) then read Eat that Frog (about getting rid of procrastination), then continued on to re-arrange and clean my bedroom and all the while thinking about what I was going to post today. After all that thinking I still can't decide what to share with you.

Today I will share with you some pictures from  Platinum Presenters meeting I went to a few months ago. It was such a wonderful day I got to hear people from my Beachbody Team share their stories and encouragement as well as be encouraged by people Like Tony Horton, Brett Hobel, Shaun T, and Chalene Johnson.  It makes me so happy to know I get to work with and for a company that cares not only about every person's physical health but also about their relational and mental health.

Started off early in the morning, but I was still happy to be up and on my way. 

 Goodbye heat to the desert and quiet streets of Indio.

 So beautiful driving past the windmills and slowly seeing the thermometer go down. 

 When I got over the mountains I found these thick clouds that seemed totally out of place for the middle of June. 

 What is this stuff? Is it fog? I haven't seen this since leaving Washington. 

 It took me 45 mins to go  1 mile, now I am glad I never sought out a job in LA. I wanted to take a nap it took so long. 

 Christine Dwyer

 Shaun T.  This man was so much better looking in person. 

 As was this man, Tony Horton. I hope I am in half as good of shape when I am knocking on the door of 60. 

 Brett Hobel of Rev Abs and the Biggest Loser

 Chalene Johnson, So petite but such a firecracker. "Smart People Take Notes."

 With Chloe Gibbs, My Beachbody Coach and motivator. You Rock Girl. 

Seriously Traffic at 10pm there is something wrong with that. But I made it home and have a great day to remember and so inspired every time I look back at my notes or look that these pictures. 

What is something that you did recently that has resounded in your heart and mind for months?

Hopefully Tuesday doesn't find you with an artistic block, 

Fabulous Food Fridays and New food finds

Good Friday, The  wonderful end to the week, beginning of the weekend and its summer so going outside to enjoy a patio meal, a swim, or just a good walk with the pups is definitely in order. Now that you have enjoyed the outdoors for a little while you probably worked up an appetite and for anyone out there that is Gluten Free and has missed garlic bread I have the answer for you. Schar "Europes best gluten free product",

I would have to say that I agree. They have these little cheese crackers that taste way better in soup than oyster crackers ever did. But back to the Baguette, I have tried with no avail to make baguettes to go with my lasagna's, pasta's and french onion soups with no luck. They all turned out to be smooshy breads that would absorb all the juice of the soup and fall apart before i even had the chance to poke my spoon through the top of the perfectly browned cheese. When I saw this in the local natural food store and knew this weeks E-Mealz menu included Lasagna and Ravioli I had to try it. Even Better the  bread has no gluten, milk  or wheat in it. When I opened the bread it had the most wonderful smell, it smelled like sourdough bread. I immediatly ran to grandma and shoved it in her nose and made her tell me what she thought of. She asked me  again if it was really gluten free
because it smelt nothing like any of out gluten free breads

have smelt like in the past.  When I cut into it wasn't as dense as a full gluten baguette would be, but it wasn't as crumbly as the other breads I have tried. The garlic butter spread on easily and after baking the bread in the oven for about 30 minutes the butter had melted nicely and was a delightful addition to the  lasagna and salad that we had for dinner.

 It was great having garlic bread with dinner, I haven't had garlic bread since going gluten free and I occasionally miss it being able to mop up the left over marinara with bread, but alas I have it back.  Our dinner consisted of Crock Pot Lasagna, Garlic bread and a salad topped with dried cherries, apple, feta and Panera Bread Cherry Balsamic dressing.

This is the other recent find, a sugar grinder that has coffee beans and chocolate in it. Trader Joe's I love you! It is the perfect sweetener for tea and adds just a hint of chocolate to my Chai Tea.

I hope you all have a happy Friday and good plans for the weekend. Get out and do something fun, I will be helping a friend strip and stain her dinning room table. I look forward to posting either a beautiful recreation or the funniest story of two city girls refinishing furniture ever.

What are your plans for this weekend? 


Have you ever tried to say Good Eye Might? Try it there is no way to say it without sounding Australian.  Let me know in the comments if you tried. 

Have fun!

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Go check them out for some wonderful meal Ideas!

I like to be Beat: A P90X Review

There are many times in my life I have joked about being a Masochist, continually going to a job where children hit me, going to a job I don't like, kickboxing classes, or continuing to do the same action over and over and receiving the same negative result. I am starting to think that I really am a Masochist, because recently while discussing workout routines with my coach I told her that I wanted to try P90X but was scared of it. She, Chloe, told me you have done Insanity which is just as hard you can do P90X.  After making excuses to her and then continuing to make the same excuses for a few weeks following that conversation I decided to jump in with both feet and kick Tony's Butt and tell everyone I killed the program.  Ok, I guess I went from a little afraid to entirely too cocky and got my booty served to me the first day.

The first day cut out any thoughts of me being able to fly through the program.  It was Chest and Back This meant that I had to get reacquainted with my chin up bar which quickly changed to using the bands. Then the push ups, well again I have to say any swagger I went into this workout with was quickly kicked from me and replaced with a certain amount of humbleness and drive so I could kick butt like the women on the videos.
For me the first workout was the most difficult, because I do not have much strength in my upper body. But I fell in love with it though, as much as I struggled to finish the first week, starting the second week I invited friends to join me.  This made it that much better, because now I had people to cheer on and to help while I was working out alongside them.  Also the second week has given way to less muscle soreness and a better ability to jump. Where in the first week I was worried to jump on my recently sprained ankle I no longer felt the previous weakness.

So Far my favorites are Plyo-X and Kenpo -X. The difference between Insanity Plyo and P90X is great.  Where Insanity you pushed and pushed to get the program done quickly Tony has you slow down during some of the activities and really feel the movement you are doing. Kenpo-X is Karate/Kickboxing/Fun. Even though I couldn't kick high due to the pervious day's leg workout I  was dripping with sweat. There is something great about being able to punch kick and jump your way through a workout and it is great release of stress, just picture every hit you make is at your enemies.

I wish you luck on all your workout adventures, if you would like to become part of my team and receive weekly newsletters and move closer to your goals visit me here to receive a free Team Beachbody Account.