Sugar and Spice Cake
Posted on: August 7, 2011
Happy Sunday everyone! 🙂 Did this weekend fly by or what?!
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I almost didn’t bake today, but man am I glad I did.
Sugar and Spice Cake – original recipe here
Ingredients:
| 1 1/4 | cups flour |
| 1 | cup sugar |
| 3 | teaspoons ground cinnamon |
| 1/4 | teaspoon salt |
| 1/2 | cup butter |
| 3/4 | cup sour cream |
| 1 | teaspoon baking soda |
| 1 | teaspoon baking powder |
| 2 | eggs |
Directions:
- Heat oven to 350º. Grease bottom and side of round pan, 9×1 1/2 inches, or square pan, 8x8x2 inches
- Mix flour sugar, cinnamon and salt in large bowl. Cut in butter, using pastry blender or crisscrossing 2 knives, until mixture is size of small peas; reserve 1/3 cup.
- Stir remaining ingredients into flour mixture with spoon until well blended. Pour into pan. Sprinkle reserved flour mixture over batter.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Serve warm or cool.
*I don’t have a pastry blender so I used the two knives and it worked just fine
This is soooo light and fluffy. It also makes me want fall time to be here NOW 🙂
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Question of the night:
What’s your favorite thing about fall?
My New Love: Gu + Day 11
Posted on: August 6, 2011
I have no idea where yesterday went to. Sorry for no five facts or book review. No biggie!! There’s always next friday 🙂
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Yesterday, I was given two Gu’s to try today. I was talking to a couple that are training for a half marathon (her) and a marathon (him). I was telling them about my problem, and he let me take two Gu’s home.
I’m not going to lie, I was a little nervous about trying them. I’m a huge texture person and I was afraid it would kick my gag reflex into high gear. I had a 7 mile run on the agenda today and I didn’t want to feel like crap after. So, I put on my big girl pants and tried them.
Per instructions, I used this one about 15 minutes before I started running
It actually wasn’t too bad. I took my time with it. I can not stand anything thick and this is thick. Not too bad though. I survived!
45 minutes into my run, I took this one
I slowed to a walk so I didn’t have to squeeze the whole thing in my mouth. I’m not a huge on banana flavored stuff, but this was pretty good. I knocked out 7 miles like it was nothing!! I felt good the WHOLE time 🙂
I’m really excited because I think I have found a solution to the problem. Come Monday, I will be at the running store investing in some of these bad boys 🙂
Please disregard the tile of my kitchen floor 😉
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Question of the night:
What is your running/exercise fuel?
Ran 5 Miles and DIDN’T PUKE!!
Posted on: August 5, 2011
- In: Diesel | half marathon | workouts
- Leave a Comment
- “Can I Help You?”
I had to sneak in a Diesel pic since he’s so handsome 🙂
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Workout (Yesterdays)
I got to the gym around 7:00 am to do a weights session. I love lifting weights, but since I have been focusing on half marathon training, I’ve been having a hard time getting motivated to weight lift.
Push Ups-15
Bent Over Row-15
Hammer Curls-15
Bent Over Fly-15
Shoulder Press-15
Tricep Dips-15
I used 10 pound weights. I did this circuit style, so I completed this two more times for of total of three times. I followed up with some ab work.
50 frog crunches
50 ab turns
25 sit ups
25 crunches
I rounded it all out with 15 minutes of incline walking on the treadmill.
I was a nice sweaty beast when I was finished.
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Tomorrow’s Friday!! Woot -Woot
On the agenda for the blog tomorrow:
Five Facts
Book Review of “French Women Don’t Get Fat.” Hint: AMAZING
Question of the night:
Any plans for the weekend?
In 25 Days….
Posted on: August 2, 2011
- In: half marathon | monthly highlights | Run | weather
- Leave a Comment
I’ll be running the 10 mile CRIM. I’m super excited/nervous!
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I can’t believe it’s AUGUST already. Where has this year went to? Let’s recap the month:
I officially signed up for the CRIM and Brooksie Way
Made some yummy Orange Pop Cupcakes….
….and an even yummier Pineapple Upside Down Cake
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It’s been pretty nice here in Michigan. Hot, but nice
I love instagram
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Half Marathon Training
Today was day 9. It was a 3 mile run. Every Tuesdays are 3 milers. I wanted to see what I could do without dying and I maintained an 8:49/mile pretty much the whole three miles. For me, that was flying. This is what I felt like after flying for 3 miles
That’s my “hurry up and take a picture before people come in and think I’m weird” picture. Not that I really care though. 🙂
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I’m actually home a little early, so I’m going to do some work on the blog
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Question of the night:
How has the summer been so far where you are at? <—-Here in the mitten, we had rain all spring and it’s pretty much been 185* degrees ever since.
On the agenda today was a 6 mile run. No problem. Or so I thought. I still am getting light-headed and nauseous around mile 5. I don’t know what’s going on. I ate about 1/2 hour before I started and I had water with me. Maybe I need to start bringing Gatorade too. I don’t know. I’m very confused and I’m starting to get nervous about my 10 miler and half marathon. I really would prefer if I don’t throw up while running 😦 How embarrassing would that be??
I’ll figure it out I’m sure. Running’s all about figuring out what works for you, right? Trial and error!! Needless to say, 6 miles turned in to 5 followed by a lot of prayer that breakfast would stay in my stomach.
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Book Review
I remember watching this movie when I was younger and I loved it. Well, a few weeks ago I was wandering around the library and ran across the book. I started it right away and couldn’t put it down. The book goes more into detail about the horrors of being stuck in a foreign country with no way to get out.
(Click here for a look inside)
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Question of the night:
What is a recent movie you just watched and enjoyed? <—- we just finished The Lincoln Lawyer and it was really good!!
5 Facts Friday- Blog Edition
Posted on: July 30, 2011
I am a new blogger and a relatively new blog reader. I really didn’t know they existed. Aside from Facebook and People.com, I don’t venture much around the web. Celebrity gossip makes my day 🙂
When I started working out in January, I started Googling to find some work out ideas. From that point on, I have found many blogs that I have fallen in love with. I am sure this will have to be done on more than one Friday. There are quite a few blogs that I absolutely love. I am going to start with the five blogs I first started reading.
*The Fitnessista– This was the very first blog I ever found. I love Gina’s page. The workouts are what got my attention and I have followed ever since. I love Gina’s realness and the workouts she puts together are awesome!! Holla at the winter/summer shape-ups!! I have used the Winter Shape Up 2011 and the Summer Shape Up 2011 and have seen amazing results. In all honesty, I owe a lot of my weight loss to her workouts.
*Peanut Butter Fingers– I found Julie through Fitnessista. I was on Fitnessista’s blog roll and it was the name that intrigued me to click the link. Peanut Butter Fingers?!?! What?!?! I love peanut butter. I loved it from the start. I love how down to earth Julie is. I feel like we could meet up and talk for hours even though I don’t even know her. Also, how stinkin’ cute is Sadie?
*Sweet Tooth Sweet Life– You are going to notice a pattern here….I found Courtney from Peanut Butter Fingers site!! I love the recipes this girl whips out. I have made a couple myself. Orange soda cupcakes anyone? Even though I call soda “pop.” I’ll let that slide since they were so GOOD!!
*Running Off The Reeses– One word: hilarious!! I also found Cely through Peanut Butter Fingers. You absolutely have to go to her sight. I literally laugh out loud when I read her posts. EVERY SINGLE TIME!! She recently went to Alaska and I am green with vacation envy. Alaska is one of the places I want to go.
*Carrots N Cake– By this point, you already know where I found Tina- Peanut Butter Fingers!! 😉 I love Tina’s day-to-day adventures. I also love the complete honesty like with her colitis diagnosis. Since I am a blogger baby, I love her page that is dedicated just to blogging tips.
All of these blogs as well as some more that will be mentioned at a later time, have completely inspired me. Each one is so unique. It feels awesome to be a part of such a great community.
Question of the night:
What is one of your favorite blogs?
Library Raid and a Book Review
Posted on: July 26, 2011
- In: Book Review | Books
- 2 Comments
As we all know, I love to read. One of the best things about the building I work in is that there is a library right across the street. I can literally hear the angels singing….. 🙂
On my lunch hour today, my friend and I went over there to scope it out. Aside from the obnoxiously loud receptionist, it was like a small slice of heaven. There have been a few books I’ve been trying to get my hands on, but they have been out. Today some of them were in and I snatched them right up. 
I read a review about “French Women Don’t Get Fat” over at AFoodieStaysFit and I have been practically climbing the walls waiting for it to get back to the library.
I actually wanted to read “Freakonomics” first, but it was out so I went ahead and got this one.
I’m sure I’ll never touch fast food again after this book. However, I said that after watching “Super Size Me”, and that happened for about .0265984 seconds. I haven’t touched the chicken nuggets. Watch the documentary and you’ll know why.
Do I think I will have them all finished in 3 weeks? Nope. But they are in my possession now and I will just keep checking them out. Muhahaha 🙂
The library has nice little baskets to put your books in while goofing off roaming the aisles. This was ours:
My friend just had a baby (love that guy so much) so there were some cutsie baby books in there too.
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Book Review
I finished this today
In all honesty, I was completely disappointed. It got such great reviews. I wanted to just skip pages so I get to the end and start another book. I hate when that happens.
To me, the book was ALL OVER THE PLACE. It’s written as Rueben telling a story. It randomly jumps from present to past. Right near the end, I started to get a little in to it, but not enough to where I couldn’t put it down. Boo 😦
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Question of the night?
Have you ever been super excited about a book and it ended up being a total bust?
Wanted To Be Upside Down
Posted on: July 24, 2011
Yesterday was day 5 of half marathon training. It was a nice easy 5 mile run. I felt really good through most of it. At mile 4.5 though, I was starting to get a little sluggish so I just cranked up the music and prayed to God to finish. As soon as I was done, my head started spinning. I had a Larabar before my run, so maybe I just need to eat a little more before I run? I’ll figure it out I’m sure. My post run fuel was a wonderful banana (enter Gwen Stefani song here 🙂 )
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After that, I had a coupon to cash in
Who doesn’t want free undies from this place?!?! Victoria’s Secret OWNS me!!
From there it was a grad party and then B. E. D for this girl
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Todays Workout
When I went to the gym this morning, I knew I wanted to do something different. I have been eyeballing a pyramid workout for quite a while so I decided today was the day.
Squats-2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18,20,18,16,14,12,10,8,6,4,2
Pull Ups-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1
Push Ups-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1
Elbow Planks (in seconds)-5,10,15,20,25,30,35,40,45,50,45,40,35,30,25,20,15,10,5
I really enjoyed doing something different, but I found myself getting a little bored after a while. Also, my back started really hurting near the end, so I took out some of the elbow planks and replaced them with side planks.
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Since today is Sunday, that means I was a baking machine 🙂 I was originally going to make cookies, but we have two HUGE boxes already, so at the last-minute I decided to skip that and make Pineapple Upside Down Cake. I’m not a huge cake fan, but Matt is. Let me tell ya, this was to die for.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 can (14-16 oz.) crushed pineapple (juice reserved)
2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
Directions
Melt butter in sauce pan. Stir in brown sugar
Poor in bottom of 8*8 baking dish. Spread 1 cup of pineapple over brown sugar mixture.
Bake at 275* while making cake batter
Beat eggs sugar and vanilla until nicely mixed. Add flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix together. Stir in reserved pineapple juice.
Remove dish from over. Bring temperature to 350*. Pour cake batter over pineapple mixture. Bake for 40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Let cool and then flip upside down onto a plate!!
Before flip
After flip
I *might* have taste tested a little bit from the corner. Maybe.
This cake got the royal treatment. It’s sitting on some of my wedding gift china….that has never been used until today.
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I’m off to enjoy another piece of cake. Back to the grind tomorrow!!
Question of the night:
What is something you enjoy baking? I like to bake anything, but I especially like doing cakes.
Five Facts Friday!!
Posted on: July 23, 2011
After yesterday’s ridiculous heat, it’s actually not too bad today. I got to the gym first thing this morning and completed 15 minutes on the stairmaster and 25 on the bike. Note to self: when on said stairmaster, pay attention to the machine, not the iPhone. I almost killed myself when it switched to a higher level.
While on the bike, I caught up on some very educational reading.
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After that, it was work time. I stopped at the gas station and got some essential fuel.
Ahhh….Diet Mountain Dew. There really are no words. I try not to drink pop through the week. Come Friday though, all bets are off and I will practically bathe in the stuff.
Coffee with French Vanilla creamer. That’s a morning staple.
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Since it’s Friday, you know what that means. Five facts about yours truly.
1.) I always read the last page of a book first. I started doing it years ago and still do it.
2.) My poor iPhone deserves a better owner. Really. I am knock down drag out IN LOVE with my phone, but I drop it all the time. So sad.
3.) I hate the word “panty.” It’s dirty. Yuck
4.) I am insane about spelling. Please learn how to spell. Thank you
5.) Punctuation not so much though. Do I really have to use another comma??
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So to really hold myself accountable, this is my work out plan for the week.
Saturday- 5 mile Run
Sunday- Weights
Monday- Off
Tuesday- 3 Mile Run
Wednesday- Weights
Thursday- 4 Miles
Friday- Eliptical
Saturday- 6 Miles
Sunday- Weights
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Have a good night everyone!!
Question of the night:
What is one thing you hate doing at the gym?
I hate the stairmaster, but I know it’s giving me a killer workout, so I put on my big girl pants and tough it out!!
5 Miles? Not Hardly
Posted on: July 21, 2011
We’re breaking records here in the mitten. It’s 99* with a heat index of 108*. Um, thanks but no thanks. We humans just like to complain huh? Too hot….too cold…too much rain….too much sun….too much snow. Since I can admit that I’m a complainer, I’m going to keep right on complaining about this disgusting heat. Blah.
The butter was actually melted at the restaurant….and yes the air was on in there.
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I had it in my head that I was going to do 5 miles on the treadmill AFTER work, but you better believe that didn’t happen. I knew I should have went at 5:30 this morning, but my bed was too comfy and I was snuggled with my two fave men. Whatever. BUUUUTTTTT, since we not only have a heat warning but also an air quality alert, I decided that the world won’t stop spinning if I don’t run today.
I’m not going to lie though, I was a little on edge when I made the decision. I like to stick to my schedule and I don’t like when things get in the way of my workouts. Even if mother nature is not being nice!! Tomorrow’s a new day though, right?
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Question of the night:
Are you a “go with the flow” type, or a “planner/scheduler?”
I am ridiculous when it comes to planning stuff out. Every vacation has an itinerary and I don’t do well in “go with the flow” situations. Gives me the heebeejeebees.
Motor City Runner 