Easy Confetti Mac and Cheese

I have a serious weakness for Mac and Cheese. Ask anyone I know and they will vouch for that fact. Unfortunately, it's not the healthiest weakness, but what comfort food really is?

You should also know that I am not a Kraft fan. Even in college, when Easy Mac was a pretty standard choice for breakfast, lunch or dinner for the majority of Bentley's student population, I just couldn't do it. I guess when you grow up with parents and grandparents who only feed you the good, homemade stuff, the cheap alternative just doesn't cut it.

My roommate pinned a recipe for Confetti Mac and Cheese a while back and whipped it up one day for a quick weekend lunch. I'll admit in hindsight that I was a little hesitant, but the girl knew what she was doing. I mean, Annie's is still from a box, but it exceeded my expectations and makes for a great, quick and somewhat healthier choice for a classic comfort food.

Ingredients:
1 Box Annie's Organic Shells & White Cheddar Mac and Cheese
3 Tbs lowfat milk
2 Tbs butter or margerine
Chopped veggies as desired*
*I used carrots, onion, broccoli and a handful of fresh spinach

Prepare Mac and Cheese as directed on the box. While the pasta is cooking, chop desired veggies and saute them with butter, adding salt and pepper seasoning as desired.

Mix veggies in with your Mac and Cheese and enjoy!

Race Recap: Hyannis Half Marathon

All week long I dreaded checking the weather for Sunday, February 24. I did it anyways, and every time I looked the forecast stayed the same - snow/rain/high winds with a temperature hovering in the high 30s. That's what you get for signing up for a race in February on the Cape, Sarah.

I think my attitude throughout the week, regardless of how many times I checked the weather, was to just ignore what was coming. This is totally unlike me, but given the situation I knew there wasn't anything I could do about the weather. Instead, I focused on getting excited to run my first race of 2013 and spend time with some great people.

Disclaimer: as a race review and recap, this is kind of a long post, so please settle in or tune in next time!

Race Expo

We stuck with our original plan, and mid-afternoon Cat, Molly and I headed down toward Hyannis.

The race expo was held at the Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis, which is also conveniently where the start and finish lines of the race were. It was fun to see them beginning to set up, and get a sense of where we'd be headed the following morning.

The race expo was set up in the first floor ballroom and, in my opinion, was just your basic expo. It wasn't the biggest I've seen but it also wasn't the smallest. Lots of smaller vendors out in the hallway with bigger vendors like Marathon Sports in the ballroom itself.

Packet pickups consisted of a large manilla envelope with your bib and safety pins along the tables. They had plenty of volunteers there and it wasn't busy mid-afternoon so we were in and out in no time. 

After picking up your bib you moved over to where they were distributing long sleeved t-shirts. The size you chose during your initial race registration was specified on your bib envelope so there was no confusion. A woman next to me did ask to exchange for a different size but they were sticking to what people had ordered with the opportunity to exchange on race day if there were extras. 

Pre-Race

After a mandatory post-expo pit stop at Mary Lou's, we hunkered down for a low key evening of baked ziti, games and relaxing.

With a start time of 10am, we didn't need to rush to get ready on Sunday morning. We took our time, stared out at the pouring rain, forced down some bagels, peanut butter and bananas and began layering up and getting ready to head out.

We arrived at the start around 9:35, the perfect amount of time to head into the Conference Center for last minute bathroom stops and one last chance to mentally prepare. Given the weather conditions, having the conference center right there to provide shelter until the last minute was really helpful and comforting.

The field size for this race isn't big in comparison to some others (400 max for the marathon and 2500 max for the half marathon, plus some 75 relay teams), so there's no corrals or staggered starts... at least that I was aware of. We finally bit the bullet and headed outside around 9:58am during the National Anthem and made our way toward the start line, funneling in with the other runners as the race began.

Course, Staff and Spectators

The course itself is as described on the race website, flat and gentle with a few rolling hills primarily occurring between miles 5-8. Nothing to be afraid of, which was good for me considering I really didn't look at an elevation or course map prior to the race. We ran mostly through residential neighborhoods with a few sections along roads with ocean views. The views in the beach areas were nice, but not necessarily what we wanted to see on race day considering they meant that you were more exposed to the wind.

Volunteer coverage for the race was average - not bad, but not amazing either. I think this may have had something to do with the weather, which was understandable. I honestly believe it's harder to stand and volunteer during a race with crappy weather conditions than it is to run one. Water stations were placed about 2 miles apart for the most part, with scarce coverage at first with volunteers struggling to keep up with demand early on but it improved as we kept going.

It wasn't a big spectator course, but there were a good amount of people around cheering on runners which was especially nice given the conditions. I don't think they know how much of a boost it can be to have someone out there cheering you on, even if you don't know them.

Race

The first few miles of the race ticked by pretty easily. I'm usually not quite comfortable with my pace until somewhere between miles 3-5 of a long run, but I felt pretty good out of the gate so I went with it. We maintained a solid 9:40 pace for most of the first 7 miles, with those slower miles clocking in higher due to traffic at a water station and a few instances of road flooding that we had to tip toe around. 

I started to feel the fatigue a bit starting at mile 8 and plaguing me up until right around mile 11. I could tell my legs were starting to get heavy and it was harder to stay focused and mentally strong. Molly had asked me around mile 10 what my half marathon PR was and as soon as she realized we were going to beat it she started to pick up the pace.

I spent the remaining 3 miles cursing her name keeping up with her and focusing on letting the miles tick away. With 2 miles to go I knew it was all going to be a mental battle, and that I was more than capable of completing the race physically, it was just a question of how fast. We used the old method of focusing on a target, and then another, and then another, and started to pick people off as we picked up our pace.

With a mile to go, race-mode Molly was in full force. We kicked it in around 12.2 and focused on getting to the finish. I knew at that point I'd have a decent PR, just wasn't sure by how much. Thanks to all the puddle dodging on the course, my Garmin registered the race as 13.22 mi, so when the nice man told us we had half a mile to go when I was convinced it was more like a quarter I kind of wanted to punch him.

In the home stretch I gave up on keeping my feet dry and splashed through some pretty big puddles full-speed ahead to pass a few more people and hit the finish line in 2:07:35, over 4 minutes faster than my previous half PR. I took a few seconds to catch my breath before pressing stop on my Garmin, hence the difference in official results time and watch time.

As I mentioned early on, my attitude toward this race was somewhat nonchalant throughout the week. After running Philly in the fall, I was actually excited about racing the half marathon distance. It didn't feel like a big deal, and since I wasn't planning to sub-2 this race I just wanted to enjoy it and hopefully come out with a PR.

Despite the crappy weather, I really enjoyed the race and had a great weekend. February isn't exactly race season in the Northeast, so i was just happy to have a race to train for and get me back into distance running. There isn't much you can do about New England weather except make the most of it, and I think we did just that. Coming away with a solid PR was just the cherry on top.

February Foodie Pen Pals

A couple of months ago, through my daily Twitter stalking of foodie and fitness bloggers that I love, I stumbled upon a program called "Foodie Pen Pals." The name itself intrigued me, and the more I read about it the more I wanted to get involved.

Essentially, Lindsay from the Lean Green Bean Blog is nice enough to organize this shindig and connect people to form a network of Foodie Pen Pals. You send, and receive, a package of foodie goodies to and from different individuals each month. To read more about the program and how it works, you can visit the Foodie Pen Pal page of Lindsay's blog here.

Brown paper packages tied up with strings really are one of my favorite things. AIM, text messages, emails, Snapchat and the like all pale in comparison to the feeling of opening a letter or a package, never mind one filled with delicious treats.

I was lucky enough to be paired with Erin of Divatastic Gladiator. I checked out Erin's blog and immediately knew I would like whatever she sent my way. She had shared a recipe for a Brie Salad that I cannot wait to try, and since then has added a few more drool worthy ideas. (Umm... hi Quadruple Chocolate Mini Cheesecakes and Salty Caramel Panna Cotta, nice to meet you.)

After attempting to fend off a cold last week only to have it attack full-force after running the Hyannis Half Marathon in the cold and rain on Sunday, I was anything but excited for this week. I received Erin's package Monday morning at the office and it was the perfect pick-me-up.

Erin had read one of my first blog posts, a recipe for Slutty Brownies, and had included the dry ingredients to make them in her package. She had also written a sweet note wishing me luck with my race, adding that the Slutty Brownie recipe looked like "the perfect naughty indulgence" after such a big event. I couldn't agree more!

I'm particularly excited about the mysterious looking jar in the upper right-hand corner of the photo - homemade pickled jalapenos. Erin included a few ideas for using them in her note, and also included a great recipe for a Hot Pepper Sauce that sounds amazing. I can't wait to try them.

Erin did a great job with this package, and I loved the combination of sweet chocolate indulgence and a spicy bite. I'm definitely looking forward to digging in!

I sent a package of goodies to Mattie down in North Carolina and received a sweet thank you email from her Tuesday afternoon. I was happy to know that it put a smile on her face. 

February was my first month as a part of Foodie Pen Pals and I will definitely be participating in March. It's such a fun program, and a great way to connect with others who share the same love of delicious treats. Thank you to Lindsay for organizing!

Life Lately

Clearly things have been a little hectic since I haven't posted in ten days. Such is life, and it has been busy in the best ways - filled with snow, love, birthdays and, of course, chocolate and pavement.

So here's a quick photo update of life during the past week or so.

Here's to a productive week, a good taper and getting excited for the Hyannis half next Sunday!

Eggs a la Office

I'm not your typical morning breakfast person. I can't eat right when I wake up, the thought of it makes me nauseous. It's something I've always battled with - especially as a runner.

On a typical weekday morning I'll get into the office, weed through emails and easy-to-check-off-the-to-do-list projects and make a cup of coffee any time between 8-9am. 

Fun fact: I hate hot coffee. I can do lattes from Starbucks, but that's about as far as my hot caffeine adventures go. As a result, my cup of coffee sits in the freezer for anywhere between 30-60 minutes to cool before adding ice.

 

Around 9:30/10am I'll get around to breakfast. I wait partially because of my lack of appetite early in the day and partially because if I do eat early on, I find myself ravenous within a couple of hours. Probably not the most healthy diet decisions, I'm aware that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but I choose to wait.

I have several go-t0 office breakfast choices, all of which are pretty healthy options. This excludes, of course, the occasional bagel Friday or rare sprinkled donut that I just can't say no to when a dozen appear in the kitchen. Oatmeal, Greek yogurt and fruit, overnight oats, whole wheat English muffins with peanut butter and eggs all make the rotation.

Eggs, you ask? In the office? Heck yes. It's possible, it's delicious, and I so wish I knew how to make them back during my college days. One of my co-workers so nicely introduced me to the concept and I've never looked back.

 

Ingredients
1 egg
2 Tbs milk or half and half (whatever you have available in your company fridge)
1/4 C+ chopped veggies
1 English muffin, tortilla or slice of bread
Cheese, salsa, ketchup or other toppings as desired

Whisk egg and milk in a bowl or Tupperware with a fork until scrambled. Season with salt and pepper as desired. Stir in veggies.

Microwave (uncovered) in 25 second intervals 3-4 times, scrambling with a fork after each interval. Once eggs are nearly cooked through, add your desired toppings. Microwave another 15 seconds if needed to melt cheese.

Top toasted English muffin, bread or tortilla with eggs and enjoy!

Tips

• Chop your veggies and round up your ingredients the night before. It's easier to grab a tupperware of everything you need an go rather than fuss with prepping it while you're trying to get out the door.
• Prep in bulk. If I'm chopping veggies, I'll usually make enough to last me 2-3 days of breakfasts. Similar with cheese and other toppings. I'll prep enough for a few days to make it even easier to grab and go.
• Store in one place. I'll store all my ingredients, eggs included, in a bigger Tupperware container rather than try and grab 5 different things.

Egg, chopped carrot, green and red pepper, salsa, low fat
cheddar cheese and a slice of whole wheat bread.

What are your go-to office breakfasts?
Do you eat early in the morning or later on?

A Weekend Home

When I was applying to colleges (cringe) 7 years ago, I had  decided that I only wanted to seriously look at schools that were close enough to home that I could visit when I wanted but far enough away that I gained new experiences and felt independent. Bentley allowed me that freedom, as has staying in Boston post-graduation.

I'm very close with my family, and I love that about my life. I value their opinions, enjoy spending time with them and couldn't imagine things any other way. As a result, when I get the chance to escape the craziness of Boston for a weekend and head out to western Mass, I take it. This was one of those weekends.

It was filled with dinner, laughs and hugs with grandparents. Treadmill miles, car repairs, lunch with Mom and grocery shopping for Super Bowl snacks. Bruins hockey, watching my little sister get ready for a school dance and walks through the woods with my Dad, stepmom and puppy.

 

My weekends home are the definition of hectic, they always have been and always will be, whether I like it or not. From the minute I drive over the mountain and into the Pioneer Valley the rest of my time there will be spent doing something. It's both exciting and exhausting - before it even starts.

 

Having divorced parents means trying to spend time equally with both families. For me, it often means feeling guilty when I'm leaving one to go see the other, or when my time is cut short with them because I have somewhere else I need to be. Being home makes me feel both whole and happy, while at the same time feeling a little empty because I can never seem to manage my time well enough to make it all work.

The sisters and I before Anna's 1st Dwight Night dance.

Yes, I know I can't make everyone happy. Yes, I know they're just grateful to spend time with me. Yes, I know they love me regardless and understand that I can't do it all. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean I don't still feel bad that I can't be in 100 places at once. I'm working on it, it's a constant battle. Remember? I'm a people pleaser.

Lucky for me, being home always puts things in perspective. As busy as I am while I'm there, there are those moments that make you slow down, step away from everything else and just appreciate how lucky you are. I got a full hour and 45 minutes of that perspective on Sunday afternoon during my run.

Sometimes I forget that the elevation factor is slightly different at home.

Overall a great run and 3 weeks out from half marathon number one of 2013. I was happy with my pace, given that it was much hillier route than I've run in awhile. My legs were also tired from the 4.7 miles on the treadmill from Saturday and the 5 miles of walks through the woods with the pup.

Truthfully I didn't know if the long run would happen this weekend. After a failed attempt Saturday morning due to nearly negative temperatures and my hatred of the treadmill, I almost opted out. As always, I'm glad I went, if only for the peaceful time and the views.

How can you not appreciate places like this?

Like all of my whirlwind trips home, I was happy to get back to Boston last night. I was exhausted, but in the best way. I unpacked, rallied, and enjoyed the commercials, the blackout and, of course, Beyonce and Destiny's Child. I think there may have been a football game as well.

One Hundred and Seventy Percent

I stumbled upon a pretty cool infographic via Women's Running on Twitter yesterday of "The Running Boom", or the awesome increase in the popularity of and participation in the sport of running.

It highlights some pretty fantastic statistics and effectively illustrates how more and more people are joining the ranks of one of the fastest growing athletic communities.

Here are some of my favorite stats:

170%

The competitive road race has seen a 170% increase 

in participation since 1991, from 5.2 to 13.9 million.

42%

Half marathons are the fastest growing racing event, 

comprising 10% of the top timed road races in 2000 and 42% in 2011.

47%

Since 2000, the number of U.S. marathon 

finishers has increased by 47%.

720

The number of marathons has more than tripled in the U.S. 

since 1985, surging from just 200 races to 720 in 2011.

You can see the full infographic here. 

I think it's so cool to see how popular running has become, and how fast the sport continues to grow!

What was the first distance race you completed? 

My first official race was the Virginia Wine Country Half Marathon in June 2011.

VA Wine Country Half Marathon
6/4/11 with Team Challenge