April Challenge

On April 1st, I decided to challenge myself.  No this wasn't an April Fool's Day joke.  I was serious.  I was going to challenge myself with some sort of fitness goal.  I made it a point to walk/jog once per day for at least 15 minutes during the week and an hour each on Saturday and Sunday.

My husband and I have a treadmill so that makes it easy.

Yes, I'm slow.  My pace is 20 minute miles.  I know as I keep doing the walking/jogging then I will get faster.  I always kept the incline at 3.0.

I walked on 3.0 and moved up to walking to 3.2.  I jogged on 4.0.

I actually started the walking/jogging in March.  

March:

25th- 30 minutes- 1.5 miles

26th- 20 minutes- 1 mile

27th- 20 minutes- 1 mile

28th- 1 hour- 3.2 miles

29th- 1 hour- 3 miles

30th- 20 minutes- 1 mile

31st- 20 minutes- 1 mile

I wanted to keep it off so this is why I made my April Challenge.

I was motivated.  I never once thought about putting it off.  I had made my mind up and I was going to stick to it no matter what.  I did find it easier to walk/jog early in the morning.  If I did it in the evening I had way too much energy and didn't fall asleep right away.  So, I got up a little early so I'd have time to get my walk/jog in.

April:

1st-  20 minutes- 1 mile

2nd- 20 minutes- 1 mile

3rd- 30 minutes- 1.6 miles

4th- 1 hour- 3 miles

5th- 1 hour- 3.2 miles

6th- 20 minutes- 1 mile

7th- 20 minutes- 1 mile

8th- 20 minutes- 1 mile

9th- 20 minutes- 1 mile

10th- 20 minutes- 1 mile

11th- 1 hour- 3 miles

12th- 1 hour- 3.1 miles

13th- 20 minutes- 1 mile

14th- 15 minutes- .75 of a mile

15th- 20 minutes- 1 mile

16th- 20 minutes- 1 mile

17th- 20 minutes- 1 mile

18th- 1 hour- 3.2 miles

19th- 1 hour- 3.3 miles

20th- 20 minutes- 1 mile

21st- 20 minutes- 1 mile

22nd- 20 minutes- 1 mile

23rd- 20 minutes- 1 mile

24th- 20 minutes- 1.2 miles

25th- 1 hour- 3.3 miles

26th- 1 hour- 3.4 miles

27th- 20 minutes- 1.1 miles

28th- 30 minutes- 1.7 miles

29th- 20 minutes- 1 mile

30th- 35 minutes- 2.15 miles

= 50 miles for the MONTH!  :)  Woo-hoo!

Here was my best 1 mile time.  16:41  I didn't stop there though.  I went on to do 3.4 miles.

1 hour at 3.4 miles.

This day, I wore a pedometer to track steps.  I walked/jogged for 3.4 miles, ran errands, laundry, dishes, cleaned my house and did some gardening.  I got in over 10,000 steps.  :)

This morning, I was only 2.15 miles away to reaching my 50 miles goal.  I got up early, put on some gym clothes and got to it.  I did it in 35:31.  :)

I'm very glad I accomplished my goal and didn't give up.  Yes, my legs are sore but it's a good sore.

I celebrated my '50 miles' with rewarding myself with a Peanut Butter and Chocolate cupcake from "Crumb & Get it".  This place makes the best sweets in my town, hands down.

And I was a nice wife.  I picked up my husband a red velvet cupcake so he could celebrate with me.

Now what should be my May goal?

Central Virginia Food Truck Rodeo

My BFF went to the 1st Central Virginia Food Truck Rodeo last year.  She had a great time and I was jealous that I didn't go.  When I heard they were doing another one I was in.

The weather was supposed to be rainy but all the rain ended before 10am.  YAY!  We met up and went to Chesterfield Towne Center for the food trucks.

The gates opened at noon.  Free admission.  :)  We walked around scoping out what trucks there there.  

Mister Softee

Sammich

bonbon  (love the name b/c it's one of my many nicknames)

Goatocado

Kristen got a Quinoa bowl for us to share.  She got the mountain tropp.  It's warm quinoa, topped with fresh arugula, black beans, apple and corn pico de gallo, gouda cheese, sliced avocado and lime mango sauce.  OMG......sooooo good and fresh.  I'm actually kinda craving this right now.

Happy Empanada

We had to wait a while for our order.  We were the first ones.  We both got an empanada and we shared the fried plantains.

I got the traditional beef empanada.  K got the spinach, mushroom and feta.   Soooo good.

We then walked around some more.

Carnitas Carnitas

Boka

Grapevine

Walking around

Polar Roller and Zzaam!

de Rochonnet delights

Gelati Celesti

K got 'just ask'.   

"A White Chocolate based ice cream, we line the tub with creamy peanut butter and mix in chunks of Oreos to create this one-of-a-kind treat".  I tried K's and it was heaven.  haha

I got chocolate decadence.  Apparently, the best seller since the business started over 30 years ago.  If you love chocolate and can't get enough, then you need this in your life.

We walked around some more again.

Strawberry Street Cafe

Kona ice

The UFO truck

Curbside Creations

Caribbean Cuisine

More trucks

This was a ton of fun!  There is another one coming up in the fall and I want to go.  :)

New Things Monday

So, before I went to Super Target a few days ago for my weekly trip I scanned my cartwheel app to see if there was anything on it I wanted to get.  

I came across and added Oikos greek yogurt by Dannon.  

I've been trying to incorporate more protein foods into my diet since I'm exercising everyday so I got some to try.  I've never had this brand before.  I've had Chobani and Wegmans generic brand greek yogurts and like them.  I figured since I had the virtual coupon I'd give it a try and if I didn't like it then I know my husband might have.

I picked up the blueberry non fat greek yogurt.  

(Picture taken from google images)

I tried it and loved it.  It was creamy and very tasty.  MMMMM!  I will be stocking up on these next time I'm in the grocery store.  :)  I want to try the strawberry. 

M&M Minis Cookie Dough Dip

If you're like me then you've had your fair share of raw cookie dough.  As you eat it, you know that you shouldn't eat it because there's raw egg in it.  You think to yourself while you enjoy that heaping spoonful.....what if you get sick?  But then you shake it off and you go ahead and enjoy that spoonful or two or three.  :)

Well, no need to worry about getting sick from raw egg anymore.

At my work food swap I organized this past week, my friend, Sharon made and swapped us with Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip.

This stuff is good and let me warn you......very addicting!  You can eat it with graham crackers, nilla wafers, animal crackers or just grab a spoon.

While we were all chatting, Sharon and I were thinking of other things to use instead of mini chocolate chips.  I think that crumbled up oreo cookies would be good.  She agreed.  She then suggested maybe even using M&M minis.  I thought that was genius.

So, it was on my to do list to make at some point today.  

(I'm so glad I walked/jogged for an hour on the treadmill today).

While at Target today, I picked up a bag of M&M minis.  They were on sale and also on cartwheel.  SCORE!  :)  I got the bag for $2.39.  Every penny counts when it comes to savings.

The only other ingredient that I needed was cream cheese and that was on cartwheel too. 

You will need:

1/2 cup unsalted stick of butter (cut into small pieces)

1/3 cup brown sugar

pinch of salt

1 tsp vanilla (I used my homemade vanilla extract)

8oz package of cream cheese (I used 1/3 fat)

1/2 cup powdered sugar

3/4 cup mini chocolate chips or other candies (I used M&M Minis)

In a small pot, melt the butter, brown sugar and salt stirring constantly until everything is melted.  Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla extract and set aside to cool to room temperature.

Once the butter/sugar mix was cool, I mixed up the cream cheese and powdered sugar.

Mix in the butter/sugar mix until combined.

Add your candy.

Mix

MMMMMM  (I noticed the M&M's colors bled in the cream cheese.....oh well).

Serve it up with whatever graham crackers, cookies you'd like.

Be sure to have a spoon at the ready, because you will need it.  Leftovers (hahaha.....like you will have any) can be stored in the fridge up to 5 days.  :)

Super Target Finds

I went to my super target today to get some groceries.

This instantly drew my attention as I walked in the door.  It was on an end cap at the front.  It's Mike Ike candies.  The colors really pop out.  Don't they look cool.  I can't find anything online about it.

I walked around the store getting items on my list.  I can't believe how many different kinds of M&M's there are.  It's kinda ridiculous but then again M&M's are just that awesome.

I did treat myself a little today.  I don't do it often but today I decided to.  

After I got everything on my grocery list.....

I got myself a new pair of sunglasses.  I buy the cheap ones b/c I'm so bad with sunglasses and I like these.  They are comfortable.  LOL

I walked to the Woman's clothing section and picked up 2 t-shirts for myself.  They were on sale for $8 each.  Score!

I then walked over to the dollar spot.  Some things are $1 and some things are $3.  

They have some cute gardening things out.  Some workers were stocking some new items.  Every time I check the dollar spot there is always an associate putting things out.  

There were a few different chalk board garden markers, seedlings and pots.

I like to take pictures of things I really find cute, instead of buying so I can think it over and I don't end up buying on an impulse.  Then it ends up in the yard sale pile.  LOL

I just love this little glass terrarium.  

Tiny bushel baskets.  I love these too.  I would have bought one if it was $1.  They are kinda small (can't really tell in the picture) to pay $3 for one when I'm pretty sure the huge ones don't cost that much.

Little jars that you could use for spices or homemade candies or something.  These would be good for a food swap.

A lemonade jug.  This was very cute.  I almost bought it but stuck to my picture rule.  :)

Lots of cute things at the dollar spot.  :)