Pimp that Blogger: Chic Runner

Time to share another one of my favourite bloggers with you! This time it's all about Danica over at Chic Runner.

Danica is a cool L.A. chick that runs on beach paths (jealous? I am! lol I need to get me back to the Coast). She blogs about her running adventures, Claude, her running twin, potty breaks, life in LA, her vacations, adoption, Mr. R, and anything that makes her laugh. Seriously, she's one cool blogger!!! In fact when my google reader is bursting at the seams her blog is one of the first ones I read.

I can always count on Danica for a good laugh. :o)

One thing that has become obvious reading Chic Runner is how much Danica admired and loved her mother. You see when Danica was in University she tragically and suddenly lost her mother to cancer. To honour her mother's memory and help raise funds for research, Danica has decided to participate in the Avon Los Angeles Two Day Cancer Walk.

Recently, Danica wrote an incredibly moving post detailing her motivation for participating in the walk. I hope you'll read her story and consider donating on Danica's page. She's hoping to raise $2000 in pledges for the race.

If you would like to help please head over to Danica's Avon Cancer Walk page.

Gracias! :o)

Dear SELF Magazine - it's time we talked

Dear SELF:

For years I've been a SHAPE magazine kind of girl but recently I discovered you. And boy was I glad! Since then you and I have become good friends. In fact I have to confess I love your workouts (who knew something from a magazine could kick my butt) so much I've even shared them with my fellow bloggies.

And then you went and did something bad . . .

Don't look at me like that! You and I, both know I'm talking about your September issue.

You decided to publish a cover featuring Kelly Clarkson. Good old Kelly has always been a sweet girl. She doesn`t seem to be at all jaded by show business. In fact she appears to be the same lovely Texas girl who first walked on the Idol stage. Now there`s no denying that Kelly has gained a few pounds in the last year (who doesn`t have their ups and downs). Of course this has led to some vicious media attacks. Thankfully Kelly continues to show a remarkable amount of confidence both on and off stage. She`s comfortable in her own skin! That alone makes her a positive body image role model.

I guess you must agree since you put her on the cover.


But you didn`t just leave it at that - you photo shopped the living daylights out of Kelly. You didn`t perk her up - you took about 50lbs off. And then you had the nerve to position her next to headlines that promote total body confidence. Clearly, you want us to feel good about ourselves just like Kelly. But then why was she not good enough . . . why did you have to alter her so drastically!!!!!


Of course you could smell the controversy brewing so you decided to put out a statement. This was the part where you could have saved yourself. But nope. You dug yourself an even bigger hole and admitted you retouched the photo to make Kelly look her best. You also managed to spout some incoherent dribble about being ashamed of your body even after it got you through a marathon.


Seriously! It baffles the mind!!!!


So here`s the bottom line - I am disappointed in you. I expected better.


From now on you can consider yourself on probation. To get off probation I expect you to practice what you preach. To promote a healthy lifestyle and above all to promote a positive body image. Girls and women are bombarded by the media telling them they are not good enough . . . they don`t need you to contribute to the negativity.


I will be watching.


Yours,


A Disappointed Reader

Spoiled Rotten

Before I headed to Cabo I went up towards the Golden, British Columbia for work. Golden is practically adjacent to Banff and Yoho National Parks. Right smack dab in the middle of the Rocky Mountains.

And it was there that I realized that I am spoiled rotten . . .


You see I get to ride gondolas and stand on the very top of mountains . . .

Where the views are spectacular . . .

And the wildlife abundant . . .

The fiance and I get to build up an appetite on awesome alpine trails . . .

And then indulge in fabulous eats . . .

And abundant drinks . . .

On a variety of Rocky Mountain patios . . .

My backyard is full of views . . .

People dream of seeing once in their lives . . .

There can be no doubt . . .

I am spoiled rotten.

The Novelty of Just Taking Off

Running Towards a Half - Update

It will probably come as no surprise when I confess I'd fallen off the running wagon lately. First it began with the scorching heat of the Rocky Mountain summer. Then when it wasn't blisteringly hot it was crazy stormy.

Not the most running conducive weather. What I should have done to keep up momentum was to head to the gym instead. But I didn't.

Then I went on vacation and swan instead of run. When I came back home I found myself enveloped in a province rampant with wild flowers. You could almost taste the smoke outside (and you could definitely smell it).

All in all the reasons not to run racked up and I never got beyond a walk.

But this week I decided to make a change; I read one of Marelen's (Mission to Another Marathon) post - she's so consistent and has come so far. And yes it guilted me into running.

So for the past two nights, the fiance and I have been at it again. On both nights we've run about 3 miles. It's been somewhat slow going 'cause my (left) leg feels stiff and tends to cramp up. But it feels so good just to be out there running again.

In the process I've tried a new approach to running - just taking off. No iPod. No Nike+. No gadgets. Just me, the fiance, and my running shoes. I have to admit it's been somewhat liberating.

In some ways I miss the music but I don't miss my Nike+. That little guy drives me insane sometimes. You see at times it won't sync with my iPod and other times (like currently) it just doesn't update my profile.

All of this has me considering a less cumbersome approach - perhaps a Polar heart rate monitor or a Garmin. Any suggestions? Will these tools be lost on a newbie like me?

Looking forward to hearing the feedback! :o)

Foto Friday

Buenos Dias Bloggies!

If you're cities are anything like mine then it's been blistering hot. And blistering hot summer days often lead me to day dream of cool winter days. So I thought I would feature a picture I took this past winter! :o)

On a random winter's day, instead of staying cooped up inside, the fiance and I went for a walk to a local heritage area. It was deserted (save for a lone cat that followed us around) and cold. But it was also beautiful in a peaceful kind of way.

Of course I took along my humble point and shoot and squatted all over the place to get just the right shot. I have to admit I'm rather proud of my pictures (especially this one) hence why I'm featuring it here today.

See you later this afternoon for another blog entry . . .

Happy Friday Amigos!

A Pescatarian Check-Up

So how is this whole pescatarian adventure of mine going? Pretty well actually!!! :o)

I managed to go to Mexico and only eat non-fish protein once. And that was a complete accident. When we were getting ready to come back we chose to eat food from the only healthy option available at the airport - Subway. I didn't even think and just ordered my usual (pre-pescatarian) Subway choice . . . a turkey breast sub. Ooops!

Other than that I've completely steered clear of meat/chicken/pork. It does mean, however, that I have had to change my grocery shopping habits but in a good way.

Exit meats and enter lean seafood and lots and lots of fruits and veggies.


This is yesterday's grocery haul. It consisted of: Japanese mayo (good for the spicy sauce I make for my homemade sushi), Heinz Chili sauce (the sister claims it's way better than ketchup), a bag of frozen black tiger prawns, Kashi cereal (for the fiance), cremini mushrooms, two massive containers of blueberries (yes I'm aware I have a problem), seaweed, yogurt, goat's milk feta cheese, plain yogurt, 4 lemons, tomatoes, garlic, chives, mint, basil, dill, fresh mozzarella, and for the fiance I bought pork, beef, and chicken. Oh and how could I forget my small little amount of skinless salmon and my massive whole Chinook salmon. That's right - the WHOLE fish!!!!!! :oO

I'm not yet sure what I will do with the whole salmon. Maybe cut it up into steaks. Although I'm tempted to cook it in a salt crust. I should do that (once the temperature gets better) and show you bloggies the results. It turns the salmon into such lovely buttery textured goodness! YUM!

For tonight I used the salmon fillet and cooked myself dinner:

I grilled some of my salmon with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and a squeeze of lemon. I then served that with a salad made of lovely tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil torn up into little pieces, all drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar (finished off with a bit of salt). It was a delicious and pescatarian dinner.

For dessert I cracked into my (ginormous) stash of blueberries and had a small cupful:

So far so good on the pescatarian front. Granted at the end of this month I will visit my parents in Toronto. And I have no doubt that some non-pescatarian goodies may sneak into the picture. But on the whole I intend on sticking to my pescatarian diet.

And the unintentional bonus to all of this? The weight loss continues. Crazy!!!!

And the WINNER is - plus pimp that blogger

Hola boys and girlies!

I'm back from Cabo and I had a ridiculously good time. I have to confess it's the first vacation I've ever taken where I've done nothing - just hung out and relaxed. It took a little bit of time for me to come off my frenetic pace but once I did. Ahhhhh . . . complete relaxation!!!!!

I came back chill and calm like a cucumber. In fact I think the fiance and I are still living off of the relaxation of Cabo. Oh and the resort was everything I hoped for and more. We loved it so much we're getting married there. That's right - this Destination Wedding bride found herself a venue! YAAAAAYYY!!!!

But more on that later . . .

For now I have a winner to announce!



And the Winner Is . . .

To pick a winner I entered you boys and girlies in random. org. You were all assigned a number according to the order in which you posted. I then let the randomizer do it's work and it popped back #2.

Which means the winner is Mara of I Made Dinner!!! What a perfect gift for a Spanish Teacher!!

Please get in touch with me Mara and provide me with your addy and I'll happily send the little trinket box to you. :o)



Pimp that Blog - Cookbook Fixation

Once in a while I like to feature bloggers that I think have something special. This week I've decided to feature a blogger that is definitely special - and I'm not just saying that because she's my sister! :oP


That's right - the little curly haired girl featured above (the one munching on her head would be me - lol) has recently started a blog called Cookbook Fixation. The sister is a great writer capable of sarcasm and wit the likes of which I can only aspire to! lol She also cooks a mean dinner or dessert. You see I am undoubtedly from a family of foodies.

Now you won't find any low carb type foods on her blog. But don't let that fool you. The sister has managed to lose 100lbs with a combination of diet and exercise. She just believes in indulging but in moderation! :o)

I hope you'll consider popping over and checking out Cookbook Fixation - tell her I sent you! lol