Golden Beet Chips + Kale Smoothies + Tag You're It!

Good morning folks! The lovely RunningLaur tagged me in this craziness, so here goes!

8 Things to which I am looking forward:

• Running my first marathon next Saturday!
• Hanging out with my family & friends in NC before/after the marathon next weeekend
  
• Going to the beach A LOT this summer
• Getting a sweet ass tan
• More green smoothies! (I just discovered these, love them)
• Wild West Relay in August!
• Meeting more people through this blog :)
• Training for Wild West Relay + other post-marathon races (MCM? Chicago?)
  

8 Things I did yesterday

• Had my first green smoothie which I loved
  
• Skipped my 4 mile run to come home and snack/watch trashy TV (i.e. Real Housewives) while he BF was at school
  
• Went to Whole Foods at lunch and got some sweet deals (avocados for $1.69??)
  
• Found out I am 2 months behind on cell phone bill. Crap.
• Talked to my mom! (Who was going to the Jimmy Buffet concert last night!)
• Made yummy BBQ baked chicken (that I haven't actually tasted yet, but it looked/smelled great!)
• Was really sore from Monday night's run
• Paid bills and got really depressed at my lack of fund$
  

8 Things I wish I could do/I want to do

• Plan my yearly international vacay (prob not going to happen this year)
  
• Spend my days doing something I LOVE vs. kind of like
  
• Work more on making myself happy vs. relying on others to prop me up
  
• Hike more! Go to the mountains more. Visit Colorado or Utah or Washington state.
  
• Run another marathon this year & do it faster than my first
  
• Meet more people in Charleston!
• Visit a good friend in Seattle
• Start cycling!
  

8 Shows I watch (we don't have DVR anymore, so I'm not really a regular of anything other than the first 4)

• LOST
• Amazing Race
• Real Housewives
• The Office
  
• Grey's (sometimes)
• Seinfeld re-runs
• Family Guy (with the boy)
• ER (well, it's not on anymore, but I have been a long time fan! Love Dr. Green)
  

And I tag these eight people (if you've already been tagged/hate doing these/just don't want to, completely okay with me):

• RedHead
• JustRun
• JoyRun
• Julianne
• Amanda
• TFH
• Abbie
• Sweet and Fit

Nothing much new to report today, but thought I would share with you some yummy things I cooked/whipped up yesterday and this morning. I bring to you...Golden Beet Chips!!


I found this recipe one day while I was searching for kale chips, and it looked so good I had to try it! The original calls for baking these in a 325 oven and just keeping an eye on them "for a few minutes" until they're done. I would say these baked for maybe 20 minutes or so, and they weren't getting crunchy enough to I yanked the heat up to 400 for about 5 more minutes and they crisped up! Although, I don't have a mandolin so I think if mine had been potato chip thin 325 would have been okay.

These definitely tasted like beets, so if you don't like beets, don't make them! But I like beets and with enough heat/olive oil/sea salt, I can trick myself into thinking anything is tasty :) That being said, I ate the entire golden beet on my own (like you think the boo would eat beet chips? Yeah right.) and I thoroughly enjoyed it and would definitely make it again! This was my first time actually cooking a raw beet, pretty cool! (I have only eaten the canned pickled kind before.)

Also tried a kale smoothie this morning, and I must say, it tasted healthier than yesterday's spinach smoothie and was so light and refreshing!!


In this one I added 2 big kale stalks (hard stem removed), 1 chopped pink apple (skin and all), 2/3 cup soy milk light, & 4 ice cubes. Very, very good. I like to chew on something for breakfast though, so had a slice of whole wheat double fiber toast with PB to help fill me up.

***
Yes, I skipped my run yesterday. I was so sore, so I just came home and relaxed and stretched. Tonight I will be heading out on a run though, 4-6 depending on how I feel!

Thanks for everyone's comments on my upcoming race, I really don't think I would have been able to keep up this grueling training on my own without the support of all of you out there! Seriously!

Since I don't have too many people in my life who are big fans of running/eating as healthy as I do, it's been such an eye opener to have all of you out there to answer my running questions, inspire me to run further/faster/longer, and to generally propel me forward through this training! So THANK YOU!