A Big Event + My 10 Running Thoughts

To display artwork, I did thumbtacks (eye hooks would be sturdier) and kitchen twine. Then used clothespins to hang art. So easy. We moved and I need to do this in our current house!

For the kids art display check out Hedy Art on Facebook. She custom makes Pieces in Eugene, Oregon but will ship them. I have three of her pieces. She makes one with a wire and small clips you could use to rotate Brooke’s and Knox’s masterpieces. And you could add a fun saying to the it to.

I live in Mississippi and I prefer running in the heat. I guess I’m just used to it. I always think its crazy when you say 40ish degrees is your perfect running weather. I’m on a treadmill if its under 60 degrees.

Also, the first mile is always the hardest part of the run for me. My legs are waking up, I’m trying to get my breathing in a rhythm, and I’m trying to convince myself to keep going. This is why I try to run as far away from my house as possible. Because I have to somehow get back to my house and if I run, I get there faster. :)

First of all, WAY TO GO, Skye!!!! Also, that French toast looks delicious! Did you use Dave’s Killer Bread?? I think you’ve mentioned that brand before, but I just discovered it, and I feel like I’m not exaggerating when I say that my life has completely changed because of it. :)

I had plantar fasciitis really badly a few years back, and I ended up having to change shoes completely to get rid of it. Thankfully, I haven’t dealt with it since then, but I remember constantly rolling my foot on golf balls and some contraption I bought. I also started focusing on my running form a lot more and making sure I actually use my hips when I run.

Hope you have a great day, Janae!

Where are those adorable flamingo suits from??

Hi Janae! You mentioned all the marathons you’ve ran… Any tips for the Utah Valley Marathon? My husband is running it next week and neither of us have run it before. We hear there’s some hills…
Thanks!!

Every couple of months, I do a blind-baking test for the people at work. I make one recipe homemade and another recipe using a box mix. I then have people vote on which one they liked the best. I set them out on the table with a number in front and a box with a slot for people to drop their vote. I had always heard that box brownies were the ONE dessert that is better boxed. So far my homemade recipe has won out! The vote is always pretty close though :) King Arthur’s recipe works well (according to my coworkers :) ). It does matter the kind of cocoa powder you use. I tried very dark once and that was NOT a winner. Just regular hershey’s, unsweetened, was a success. It is their “quick and easy” one I’ve tried : https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/quick-and-easy-fudge-brownies-recipe

I tend to be a back sleeper, sometimes my side. And boxed brownie’s all the way !!! We love the plain, but we also love the one with caramel mixed in, but our most beloved boxed brownie mix is the half brownie half cookie one. Oh my, it’s a staple in this house. We have a thing with brownie’s. Top of the food pyramid for sure.

I completely agree on the brownies, unless I make my neighbor Nicole’s brownies, they are awesome. Recipe is below:

Nicole’s Buttermilk Brownies
Put the following in a big bowl:
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
In a saucepan bring the following to a boil:
• 2 sticks butter
• 6 tablespoons cocoa
• 1 cup water
Once the above comes to a boil pour over ingredients in a bowl and stir by hand to mix in.
Then add:
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
Pour onto large cookie sheet and Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.

Buttermilk Brownie Icing
Bring the following to a boil:
• 1 stick of melted butter
• 4 tablespoons of Cocoa (Nicole uses Tollhouse Brand)
• 5 tablespoons buttermilk
Once you reach the boil, take off the stove and add a 1# bag of confectioners’ sugar and a splash of vanilla. Let stand 5-10 minutes to frost.
Tip: Nicole freezes leftover Buttermilk since it is rarely used and it defrosts perfectly for the next batch of brownies.

Back and side sleeper, have never slept on my stomach, just don’t think my neck would like it.
I have played a lot of tennis lately so my last run felt awesome, I was on fresh legs, felt like I could just keep going.

Foam rolling my lower legs (hamstrings down to Achilles), hanging my heels off a footstool under my desk during work, ankle /foot circles, rolling a lacrosse ball under my feet, and stretching my toes all help alleviate or head off plantar fasciitis attacks.

I tend to pick flat courses these days–especially near beaches :)

Definitely a side sleeper.

Boxed brownie mixes are so delicious and simple, I’m not sure I’ve ever made them from scratch.

Yesterday with a running clock during a 5x400m with 1-minute rest between, maintaining time within 10 seconds for each: “Did I start too fast?” “Is this the same pace as round 2?” “Humidity is crushing me!” “I’m catching that guy.” “The clock should say X:XX when I get done with this one. Right? Or is my math wrong?”

How amazing that your BIL saved his neighbor! What an experience!!!

Oh, please try these! The reviews alone should sell you. They are a super rich brownie if you are into that kind of thing :)
https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/outrageous-brownies-recipe3-1916679

As for the levitates, I just bought my first pair! I love them so far but will keep them for slower runs as I do find them a bit heavier and bulkier than a speed shoe. Thanks for the recommendation!!

IKEA has an awesome art wire we use to display our older daughter’s artwork…you just attach both ends to the wall and then use clips to display the art work. Pretty cheap, easy to change things up, and don’t have to put holes in the art or photos.

I hung string in my toy room across an entire wall and then I hand the art up with clips. The kids love it and feel so special.

I’ve had PF for almost 4 years! :( :( My PF in my left foot is almost completely torn away from the bone. I’m kind of hoping that it will just completely tear and then it won’t hurt anymore? ha. It’s miserable. So, not much running for me lately. It’s seriously the worst so I hope yours go away quickly!

Boxed brownies are one of my all time favorite desserts. Can’t be beat!

i neeeeeed that R8 recovery roller. it sounds like you love it… can you adjust the pressure?

i’ve not had PF that i know of – hope i don’t ever have to!

i prefer an up and down course i guess? i am mostly used to an up and down course. a flat course can get a little monotonous however i’ll take that over lots of turns in a course…!

i start sleep on my side (fetal) but i usually end up on my stomach or back.

homemade brownies i guess!

this morning’s run – i was looking at the sky wondering is it going to rain? it was really humid and it looked like it was about to. felt some wet on my face. briefly took inventory of nearby subway stations in case it poured…but alas no rain. i had some really long internal conversation going on in me while going over the bridge. but of course now i don’t remember any of it. i just remember thinking, oh, i’m in Manhattan already (ran in to work from home as a commute). i also thought, oh i could eat right about now. dammit i’m in mile 1… lol :)

yesterday’s run: i was running behind a lot of people on a path – right next to a planted garden wall (to beautify the path). there were these large purple blossoms and i was thinking oh that’s pretty. i guess i was breathing with my mouth open, and all of a sudden i noticed a humongous bee flying out of my mouth. i guess it flew in, realized i was breathing and flew out. i was just kind of surprised and stunned, but kept running. i thought about closing my mouth but figured i needed to breathe and air is important so i kept on running with my mouth wide open. hah!

that’s scary and what a relief that your brother in law saved someone’s life!

1,000% agree on the “Breakfast. Breakfast. Breakfast.” thought! It is truly the only thing that gets me through a run in the morning… I mostly just have to be careful not to think too hard on that thought that it makes me cut the run short just to get home to my eggs and oatmeal!!
Re displaying kid art, my mother has a few of these frames (https://amzn.to/2J8p17p) and they are AMAZING and so easy to change out for new art. She rotates my little sister’s art in and I love seeing the new addition every time I visit home!
—
http://www.areweadultsyet.com

Hurray for milestones!!!! Go Skye!!!! Very exciting!

I use Trader Joe’s gluten free brownie mix (even though I am not gluten free) they are so fudgy! A little on the sweet side, but it’s ok. My one word of advice is they always need more time to bake than the package says.

PF is such a pain….I had it once. I got rid of it with constant calf stretching and massage with a tennis or lacrosse ball. And yes, trying my best to not go into plantar flexion at night was key. If you need another contraption, get the pro stretch calf stretcher.
https://www.amazon.com/ProStretch-Blue-Stretcher-Fasciitis-Tendonitis/dp/B000GAAXGK

Have a great day!

How do you roll out the TJ pizza dough? I have tried several times and end up with an icky mess! Thanks so much for your help!

You’ve inspired me to make brownies tonight for my study sesh! (Friend of Andrew’s here from his nursing cohort… I’ve read your blog for years but never commented and what a small world to end up realizing you’re Andrew’s wife!)

I LOVE this recipe. Super easy and I think it rivals the box mix: http://www.runningwithspoons.com/2014/12/12/flourless-double-chocolate-brownies/

The brownie recipe on the back of the Bakers Unsweetened chocolate box is the best hands down.

For our kids’ art, we hung up the wire curtain rod from Ikea: https://m.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/art/60075295/ and use the little clips to hang their art. Inexpensive and looks so cute in our hallway. Plus, it’s super easy to change out their masterpieces whenever they create something new.

Check out this blog post for making a corkboard for your kids’ art!!
https://www.younghouselove.com/more-room-for-grumpy-snowman/