Running Chatterbox

Do any of you get super chatty after a good run and/or workout? It’s the weirdest thing–I’ll be quiet and reclusive for the whole day and then after going on run I’ll come back and talk my roomies’ ears off!! Perhaps, it’s the endorphins or maybe just my mind wanting to get some swirling thoughts out into the air.

Last night, I made a pit stop at Whole Foods to pick up some necessities fun stuff to hold me over until l I get a chance to go grocery shopping this weekend.

They FINA-frickin’-LLY got the Whole Wheat’n Honey Fig Bars back into the bulk section!!! I’ve been checking every trip in hopes of finding these kiddos. I enjoy eating FROZEN (seriously SO GOOD frozen) fig bars but I can never commit to buying a whole box!

This morning, after ruining my bowl of overnight oats (not worth telling the story), I quickly made a bowl of oat bran while racing out the door. I added some pecan pieces and dried apricots.

What’s the brown blob, you ask?

The brown blob is this SUPER COOL jar of 100% Organic Raw Vegan Chocolate Coconut Spread (!!!!!). Oh dear oh me of my!

I saw this little fellow at Whole Foods and I had to snatch him up for keeps! It felt like finding a piece of treasure or something. Okay, that sounds lame! But honestly, check out the super quirky ingredients label:

It tastes slightly on the dark chocolatey-bitter side…I’m thinking it’s from the raw cacao! I love the rich, decadent taste of it. It makes me feel like I’m eating special chocolate for special kids only. Right, exaaactly….just like that!

I ate lunch on campus at The Refectory Cafe, which I snapped a photo of in this post . It is a ‘green cafe’ that uses local products, organic ingredients, recycled materials, and sustainable practices!

I got a Mediterranean Wrap with hummus, capers, mozzarella cheese, olives, tomatoes, and spring mix lettuce. I’ve never tried this specific wrap but I must say it was amazing–exactly what I was craving!!

With a gorgey fruit bowl!! None of which I was allergic too! WOOHOO! I couldn’t resist once I saw the plump blueberries!

They also sell Larabars, so I got a Chocolate Coconut Chew for laterrrrrr.

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RUN FOREST ALLIE RUN!

After classes, I pretended to do work at the library (guff) and then went for a much-needed and highly-anticipated RUN!!!

Finally, right? After all that stressin’ yesterday. P.S. thank you for your comforting comments about stress, anxiety, and planning. Y’all made me feel a lot better and slightly more normal for all the mumbo jumbo in my head!

I ran outside for 35 min. and walked for 25 min. for a total of 60 min. I used a quasi-Galloway method–running and taking 2 min. walk breaks at random points in time.

Afterwards, I wasn’t tired, I wasn’t hungry, and I still had more energy to give. I knew it would be a bad idea time-wise to go to the gym AND overdoing it, so I came home and tired myself out with some exercises:

• 25 squats with my textbooks for weight
• 50 sit ups and bicycle crunches
• 30 lunges
• 15 pushups

SO obsessed with my running skirt!

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Okay dinner time…get excited people!!! There are 3 parts so stick with me!!!

Part 1:

I have never cooked wheat berries myself. I’ve only had it prepared and in bread form. Considering I LOVE chewy grains, I knew this would be the grain for me!

Last night, I soaked the wheat berries I got from the bulk section (from above).

Today I simmered them on medium heat for about an hour and drained them.

Part 2:

Next I sauteed some onions, carrots, and mixed peppers.

Added the wheat berries, salt, peppers, and this organic dressing I got $FREE from Whole Foods a couple weeks ago.

TA DA!!!

Part 3:

I cut open the acorn squash I got from TJ’s a couple weeks back….with the smallest knife ever!!

And roasted it at 375 degrees F for about an hour.

Part 1+ Part 2 + Part 3 + Feta Cheese=

+Leaf Plate! I’ve been seeing so many stuffed squash lately in the blogworld, I just had to participate

It separated like spaghetti squash when I pierced it with my dingle hopper!!

After my culinary success, I proceeded to burn the seeds. I had it in there for 7 minutes and they went sizzle sizzle!

For dessert I had a fig bar, a Z-bar, and finished off the Larabar. I LOVE bars

One last announcement and you’re free to go! I got a 2009 Healthy Chow Award from Nicole!! Oh geez!!!! Thank you, Nicole for taking the time to write such sweet, wonderful, and eloquent words! I am honored It honestly amazes me to this very second how nice you all are to me. I’m really not used to it being here at school. Just sayin’…

Quirky Q’s

1) Are you a exercise-induced chatterbox?

2) What’s the nicest/coolest blog award you’ve gotten? The only other award I’ve gotten is the One lovely Blog Award from Maria! back in July (when LLE was a baby).

3) What your favorite squash? I’d have to go with butternut squash, sorry Acorn!

**Don’t forget: BSI Contest!!! Get your entries in!! Let me see you do your thang (with almond butter!!).

***I’VE GOT A SURPRISE FOR YOU TOMORROW!!!

Tagged as: Acorn Squash, Blueberries, Cantaloupe, Capers, Carrots, Chocolate Coconut Spread, Dried Apricots, Feta Cheese, Fig Bars, Honey Dew, Hummus, Larabar, Mediterranean Wrap, Mozzarella Cheese, Oat Bran, Olive Oil, Olives, Pecans, Peppers, Pineapple, Spring Mix, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Wheat Berries, Wrap, Z-Bar