You Are What You Eat

Two months ago I completed my first marathon, and every single thing that accompanied the event was fantastic.  My parents flew into town to cheer me on, my darling boyfriend (Cake, to those of you who know him) made handmade posters that would encourage me along the route, and two of my best friends surprised me at the finish line.

My favorite thing about five months of grueling training, however, was that I could eat.  And eat. And eat and eat and eat.  Pints of Haagen Dazs; Nutella and peanut butter sandwiches; french fries drenched with truffle oil---it didn't matter what it was or how much I ate.  I was a calorie-burning machine and I used my runner's metabolism as a primary excuse to stray from a healthy diet.

Since my marathon training ended in May, I have developed a taste for fresh fruits and vegetables, and most surprisingly: gluten-free cuisine.   There are gobs of cookbooks, blogs and websites that cater to such a lifestyle and I've been fortune enough to discover a couple of favorites:

www.roostblog.com (try the Chamomile & Honey Almond Meal Muffins)

www.heathereatsalmondbutter.com (spaghetti squash as a pasta substitute?  GENIOUS)

I've tested quite a few recipes from those two sites and nothing has failed me yet!

Happy Eating---

Happy (Step) Father's Day!

I think we can all agree that fathers are very significant people.  As small children, they teach us such skills as sharing; the importance of saying please and thank you; addressing our elders as Mrs. and Mr; and waiting our turn to speak in conversations.

As teenagers, fathers teach us about dedication and persistence; they teach us how to drive a car; and they teach us about punctuality as they wait up for us when we near our curfew.  And as adults they celebrate our new jobs, toast us at our weddings and whether or not they live across town or across the country, they never stop cheering us on.

My dear stepfather came into my picture just a few years ago, but his presence in my life has been nothing short of extraordinary.  He has supported me without hesitation, he is the best sounding board a girl could have, and he lives a life that is honest, peaceful and filled with love.

Thank you Bob, for being the very best stepfather I could ever ask for.  Happy Father's Day!

Arrested Development

In the spring of 2010, what started as a lovely Sunday brunch took a turn for the worse when my girlfriend and I happily decided to indulge in a "Bottomless Mimosa" menu item.  One blackout, one minor car accident and six hours later, my new and terrified boyfriend was driving me home from the Lakewood Police Department.

In this day and age, DUIs are unfortunately becoming increasingly common.  In my case, however, this was not Number One; not Number Two, but Number Three--all encompassing a ten year time span.  For the next several months, I would embark on a deep personal journey with the support of an incredible boyfriend and best friend I refer to as "Cake," two of the wisest parents in the whole wide world, and dear friends too numerous to count.

This August I will be clocking 18 months of alcohol-free living, but it is the blooming of my new life that I will be celebrating.  Thank you to each of you (you know who you are) who have nurtured me along my way.