Choices Lead to Habits

February 26th, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Fitness - (9 Comments)

Do you know the best thing about running on cold and dreary days?

Cold and Dreary

It makes running on the sunny days that much brighter.

(I know that sounds corny but it’s true!)

My weekend long run for Week 4 of half marathon training was seven miles. It was 30-something degrees and I wore all my usual winter running gear with the addition of a windbreaker over my fleece. By the time I was three miles in, I was starting to feel HOT and overdressed. Sometime around mile four I finally took off my neck warmer and mittens and shoved them in the pockets of my jacket before tying it around my waist for the remaining three miles home.

Avocado Perks

February 24th, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Healthy Habits - (37 Comments)

I’ve got too many ripe avocados right now.

Over Easy Eggs with Avocado

Although I think this is comparable to complaining that your pants are too loose or that you have too much money.

I like avocado and egg salad sandwiches, so I decided to throw some of my abundant avocado onto my over easy eggs this morning.  This was an awesome breakfast combo, which is why I’m here telling you about it now:

Avocado on eggs is good.  Eat this.

(If over easy eggs aren’t your favorite, I don’t think you’ll go wrong with avocado in an omelet or on top of scrambled eggs either.)

A very good friend of mine left a question on Facebook last week about butter and if there was some way to make it more spreadable.

Dear Ali,

I have started using “real” butter because someone has opened my eyes to the benefits of it.

(and really, I didn’t need much pushing. Here, eat this creamy tastiness! OK!)

Any tips on how to make it more spreadable? I know some people leave it out on a butter plate thing, but since it’s just me and my man, we don’t use that much butter and seems like it would go bad before we used it all.

In the Long Run

February 18th, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Fitness - (3 Comments)

Let’s say you want to run a half marathon, but you take a look at a couple training programs and you’re worried that you don’t have time to commit to every single run prescribed in the plan or if you’re really going to be able to keep going through all these snow filled days.

Half Marathon Training

These are a Few of My Favorite Greens

February 16th, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Lunch - (1 Comments)

At this very moment, my house is quiet.

Zak is at drum practice, the girls are off on a mini-adventure with a beloved aunt, the boy is napping.

I can hear crickets.

Yes, crickets in the winter. Hard to believe, eh?

Well believe this – I just finished this kick-ass salad for lunch.

Bleu Cheese and Salmon with Arugula

The ass-kicking was thanks in part to the pile of arugula I added to the greens mix.

Arugula

Arugula, spinach and red leaf lettuce, tossed in a little olive oil and balsamic.

Spinach Red Leaf Lettuce and Arugula with balsamic and olive oil

Yes, Really.

Crazy Smoothie Concoction

I’m not exactly sure where to begin with this one.

I guess I’ll just tell you that a reader named James has left a couple of comments on the Mama’s Weeds Facebook page about smoothies/health shakes he’s made. The first one was with sweet potato, banana, orange juice and cinnamon.

Sweet potato in a smoothie? I’d totally make that.

(But I haven’t yet.)

Then a couple days ago, he left another list of smoothie ingredients.

Beets. Broccoli. Cottage Cheese. Orange juice. Strawberries.

You’re kidding me, right?

Crunchy Coconut Cups

February 11th, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Short or Sweet - (10 Comments)

Yesterday marked 11 weeks until the Flower City Half Marathon at the end of April.  Since we’re going to chat about running on Monday’s from now until then, this week I want to tell you about my current favorite pre-run snack – originally inspired by Lisa’s Coconut Oil Chocolate PB cups.

I make these all the time, people.

Coconut Oil Almond Butter Cups

ALL THE TIME.  (yes, that required shouting.)  These are easy and delicious, and even good for you too.

QUICK! Go get your grocery list!

I’ll wait.

Cream Cheese Brick

Add cream cheese to the list.

(I’ll wait.)

It turns out there’s more than one good place to smear cream cheese.

Like a bagel? That’s one.

Cream cheese frosting? Why not.

For cheesecake? Getting my fork…

And how about into an omelet?

Sneak Peek Cream Cheese Omelet

Yes, please!

This fantastic cheese omelet idea is thanks to:

1.) the brick of cream I bought for a recipe but didn’t end up using

I never had any interest in bone broth until I had a “why” – and that “why” originated with Deep Nutrition, but I’ve since read a lot more about the wonders of bone broth from many other sources, various books and a boatload of websites.  I’m completely convinced that bone broth is well worth adding to my diet.

Spring Training

February 4th, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Fitness - (3 Comments)

Flower City Challenge 2013

The Flower City Half Marathon here in Rochester is twelve weeks away.  I haven’t officially signed up for this race yet – but I unofficially signed up in my head yesterday, and that totally counts.