For Some...

Hopefully those of us that fall into the daylight saving time mode will have saved up our sunshine and warm memories as we head into the winter months.  The nights will come sooner and the darkness will envelop us earlier.

I am holding off on this tradition, a little bit longer as I soak up the Arizona sun.  Today we actually had a little bit of rain, so I cut out of my training walk early.  I went back later in the day to catch up on some miles as the sun came back out and graced us with a beautiful rainbow as well as a few clouds in the sky.

I really love coming out to Fountain Hills to visit & escape the "winter blues" that seem to creep in.  I am hoping that this year I can store enough sunshine in my pocket to keep me smiling all winter long.

I also went "pink" hunting today looking for some fun things to have for my walk next weekend.  I found a few goodies that I can't wait to wear!  So, for my friends that are entering into day light savings time remember to set your clocks back an hour!

Fantastic Foodie Fridays~ Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread

Taking a small departure from a meal this week, I decided that I would throw in a healthy snack or could be used as a breakfast on the run with a nice glass of soy milk.  Determined to mimic a classic banana bread that her mom used to make. Lauren, ditched the calorie-laden Crisco for raw honey, applesauce and healthy oils.  I found that I had to bake this longer than the recipe calls for, but it was well worth the wait!  I always use a toothpick to see if a baked good is done.  Hope you enjoy my recipe this week & aren't too upset that it is not an actual meal.   

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
• 1 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 1 tbsp ground flaxseed
• Pinch of sea salt
• 3 ripe bananas, mashed with a fork
• 2 egg whites
• 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 cup raw honey
• 1/4 cup safflower oil
• 1/3 cup chopped dark chocolate
• Olive oil cooking spray, optional

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, flaxseed and salt.
2. In a large bowl, with a hand mixer, beat bananas until smooth. Add egg whites and beat until combined. Gradually mix in applesauce, honey and safflower oil.
3. Mix dry ingredients into banana mixture; stir in chocolate.
4. Mist a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Pour batter into pan and bake for 45 minutes, or until browned on top.

Nutrients per slice: Calories: 182, Total Fat: 6 g, Sat. Fat: 1 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3 g, Carbs: 32 g, Fiber: 3 g, Sugars: 16 g, Protein: 3 g, Sodium: 74 mg, Cholesterol: 0 mg

Posted on September 12, 2011 In Clean Eating By Lauren Coles | Photo: Jodi Pudge

A Day of Surprises...

The day started off with a training walk at 5:30.  I managed to get in 7 miles before I started to feel my legs burning.  By the time I got back to my parents house my legs were on fire!  I tried not to itch them, but you know I did.  I had a sense of relief until the burn came back worse than before!  I went and washed my legs off in an attempt to stop the allergic reaction.  No luck there, so it was off to get Benadryl.  By the time I got it, and put it on I had started to develop little blisters on my legs.  ( Still not sure what caused the reaction, but happy to report that half a tube of Benadryl later & I am fine.  We took the kids to Build-a-Bear today & Tyler got to make his new friend "Pikachu".  Tristin had made his bear four years ago when he was three, now it was Tyler's turn.  It was priceless to see him go through the process.  I got some wonderful pictures.  Tristin got a new outfit for his bear, "Shanie" while we were there.  I would love to share them, but can't at this point, because of not being on my own computer.  I will have to do a page of pictures as a re-cap once my Arizona trip is done.  Once we got done at Build-a-Bear we went by Lush, which is a wonderful store that has natural products.  If you ever get a chance to get by one I highly suggest taking a stop in.  We finished our outing by eating at 5 Guys and it was delicious!  We headed home and spent the rest of the day playing with Tyler's new bear & coloring the boxes that they gave us.  Now, on to the phone call.  I got a phone call tonight from Liz Parks, who is the Field Coordinator for the Susan G. Komen Arizona 3-Day for the Cure.  She called to ask me if I would want to be an Honor Flag Bearer.  I was thrilled, as well as being very touched.  So, I will now have the wonderful privileged of carrying the Honor Flag in Opening & Closing Ceremonies for "My Children".  At Closing Ceremonies I was asked if Tristin & Tyler would want to join me on the stage.  I proudly said, "Yes".  We will see if on Sunday the boys actually want to get up in front of everyone.  Either way, it is a huge honor & I am humbled... 

Fingers Crossed...

Today I spent lots of time on the phone trying to set up a fundraiser or two while I am here, and possibly an interview with at least one news paper.  Tomorrow I have set up 3 "interviews".  Other than that it wasn't a terribly exciting day.  Managed to get in 8 miles this morining in a training walk before the family woke up, and I have been working really hard to keep pushing the liquids.  The dry climate really takes the water right out of you & it doesn't take much for you to get depleted.  I feel with every step I take I am leaving a little water footprint behind.  So, it's chug, chug, chug.  I ran into internet conection problems ( Again ) so I am back on Mom's computer.  Frustrating, but at least I have a way to get my blog done.  So for today, I will be happy that I have a means to get my blog done.  Fingers Crossed & Prayers up for tomorrow in the hopes that people will be receptive to my ideas. 

Field Trip...

Today, I took a little break to spend some time with the family.  Each day I am going out for training walks, but I can't be gone too long as my Mom has her hands full.  Leaving her with Tristin & Tyler can be a little over whelming especially when they want to go, go , GO!  So, Today my Mother took us to Arizona's Natural History Museum in Mesa.  We decided to take the kids for a little field trip.  In between my training walks and getting everybody all ready for the 3-Day experience. The trip took us about four hours total.  We got to look and learn about all different kinds of dinosaurs, & see their bones. Then we went to look at the planets and different kinds of minerals.  We learned about the Arizona desert and the creatures that inhabit it, the boys even got to see a Gila Monster eating a mouse, they were fascinated.  I found out that I would have made an amazing prospectors wife, but would have starved if I had actually had to be a prospector as I didn't have the patience or the desire to sit for hours on end panning for gold.  I was amused with it for about a 1/2 hour.  Tyler ended up soaking wet from his attempt at panning for gold. Tristin did fairly well and I believe that my Mom has prospecting in her veins!  We had a great time and it was a nice side trip for all of us.  Tyler surprised me when he saw one of the pictures of space and he referred to it as "Pink Heaven"... Out of the mouths of babes...

"Pink Heaven"

Tristin & Tyler learning about Dinosaurs