Mommin' It Up!

December 5, 2008

I’m a little nervous about Emily’s Last Post

Because seriously, talking about running gives me HIVES. I can’t run a BLOCK, people, much less a 5K. And I don’t want to. When it comes to exercise, I prefer not to. BUT I also don’t want to be obese and die young, so I do Pilates. Um, at least I did until about a year ago. The time has come to get my butt in gear because now that I’ve finally weaned Sophie, I’m no longer burning those magic milk-making calories. And, I only have 60 days until BlissDom ’09 (which you all really need to attend!! Emily and I will both be there, and for some reason they are letting me speak. Say what??) at which I need to look HAWT, so…

…Monday I am back on the Pilates wagon. And maybe in nine or ten weeks, when Emily runs a 5K, I will no longer have a muffin top. Or stretch marks. Or that giant wrinkle on the right side of my forehead.

One can dream, right?

December 4, 2008December 4, 2008

I’m a little nervous about posting this!

Because frankly, I’m worried that I won’t do it. But, that is the point of posting it – to get my arse in gear.

Oh, I guess I should tell you what I’m talking about.

This – the Couch to 5K program.

It’s a beginning program for people like me who sit on the couch but would like to run a 5k. It’s a nine week series, and it starts out slow. Which describes my running perfectly. In fact, my husband has been known to say that when I run, I look like I’m jogging in place. Yes, I am that fast.

I am soooo not a runner. I consider myself somewhat athletic, but running has just never come easy to me. But it is a great way to get in shape, and since I haven’t been doing jack lately in the realm of exercise, I am going to give it a go.

I’ve done this program before, and at the conclusion of the program, I did in fact run a 5k. I use the term “run” loosely, but I didn’t walk at all, and that was a serious accomplishment for me. So I know the program works… but it only works if I get off the computer and onto the treadmill. I am hoping to go to the exercise room at work during my lunch hour so I don’t have to do it in the evenings… not to mention that if I exercise during lunch, that means I won’t go out, thereby saving money as well. Sounds like a great plan, right? Yes, until one of my co-workers starts the daily “Who wants to go to lunch?” IM conversation. Right.

I am going to need some help. So last week, after Thanksgiving calories were consumed, I started tweating about Couch to 5K on Twitter, and I am happy to report that I have some Twitter buddies who are going to undertake this craziness with me as well. Shannan from MommyBits and Marcy from Stretching a Buck, and possibly a few others are going to do it as well, so hopefully we can keep each other motivated.

So anyway, that’s my plan. But I think I’ll wait and start Monday.

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In other random news, I have been meaning to post this picture for about a month. This is my sister’s friend Sarah at a Halloween party… dressed as a Mommin It Up fan. Isn’t that hilarious?

December 3, 2008December 3, 2008

WFMW: Sweet Potato Casserole

Since Emily posted her super-awesome Buckeye recipe (which I am totally gonna make this year, I swear!) last week, I thought I’d post one of my new favorite recipes. It’s for Sweet Potato Casserole and it flippin’ tastes like candy it’s so good! It’s like the Buckeye (or crack cocaine) of vegetable dishes! The recipe belongs to my sister-in-law Elizabeth, I give her all the credit and kudos. She brought me some right after Sophie was born and it was an EXCELLENT birth recovery tool! I about cried when it was gone. Not that I was hormonal or anything…anyways…She has been making it for family get-togethers for awhile now and this year I finally had to have the recipe, since I was traveling for Thanksgiving and wouldn’t get to eat hers! I made it for Thanksgiving in Virginia and it was a big hit. So here is the hallowed recipe. My only caveat is that you need a good, sharp knife to cut those sweet taters. Those babies are HARD!

Ingredients:
1.5 lbs sweet potatoes
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 beaten egg
3 tbsp butter, cubed
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 tbsp butter
1/2 cup pecan pieces
pecan halves for decoration

Scrub and peel sweet potatoes. Cut off and discard woody portions and ends. Cut potatoes into cubes. Cook, covered in a small amount of boiling water for 25-35 minutes until tender. Drain. Combine hot sweet potatoes, 1/2 cup sugar, milk, egg, 3tbsp butter, and vanilla. With a wooden spoon, stir to break up potatoes, but not completely mash. Pour mixture into greased 2 qt. square baking dish. Combine brown sugar and flour. Cut in 2 tbsp butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbles. Stir in pecan pieces. Sprinkle mixture over potatoes. Bake uncovered in 350 degree oven about 25 minutes or until heated through.

Sorry I didn’t post this before Thanksgiving, but consider it an early Christmas present! You are going to want to make this – it is amazing! And if I could do it (since I am functionally retarded) anyone can!

For more great Wednesday epiphanies, check out Rocks in My Dryer.

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