I had plans to run with my friend Amanda this morning. She had asked me if I could check out her running form and give her some tips, and since I had an easy three miles on the schedule today, I asked if she would just want to meet up for a run at the State Park. She sent me a text this morning saying that she had a migraine, so would have to reschedule. It was a nice morning for a run, so I just did three miles near my house.
For the life of me, I couldn't figure out what I wanted for breakfast this morning. Breakfast is usually my favorite meal of the day, but absolutely nothing sounded good. Finally, I decided on a Chocolate Cherry Almond Smoothie, and that ended up being a great choice. I hadn't had one in so long, and it was really good! I added extra cocoa powder to make it a rich chocolate flavor.
I headed out for my three-miler, and my legs felt okay. They were definitely fatigued from the bike ride yesterday, but I just ran at what felt like an easy pace. I forgot to turn the auto lap feature back on my Garmin, which was actually kind of confusing while I was running. I always look at the "lap pace" rather than the average pace or current pace, but because I forgot to turn on the auto lap, the lap pace WAS the average pace. So I just ignored the watch, and ran at what felt comfortable.
When I was messing with the cycling mode yesterday, I realized that my weight was still set to 135 on my Garmin. It's been a while since I was at that weight! I reset it to 152, and I was surprised at what a difference that made in my calories burned on my run today. The Garmin uses height, weight, gender, and heart rate to determine calories burned, so with a higher weight, the number of calories burned increases. I guess that's the only real bonus to being over goal right now ;)
On Facebook this morning, I saw that a local craft store was going to be closing at the end of the year, and everything in the store was 75% off. I have enough crafting supplies to keep busy for a long time, but I couldn't resist checking it out! I browsed around for a while, and the pickings were pretty slim, but I did buy $150 worth of stuff for less than $40. I got a few things for the kids for Christmas, some stuff for Eli to make a school project (he has to make a wigwam), and a few random crafting things for me. I saw a huge display of St. Patrick's Day stuff, and I was tempted to buy all sorts of things to bring to Portland for the Shamrock Run.
I didn't get the glasses or headband (I'm sure Thomas will be so disappointed!), but I did get some green hair extensions and temporary tattoos.
I slowly-but-surely have been working on using up my David's Tea stash. I have a ridiculous amount of tea in the cupboard! It's hard not to order more when I hear of the new flavors they come out with, but I really need to use up what I have. Several months ago, I made it a mission to use it and clear some space in the cupboard. I've made a pretty big dent, but I'm bummed that I don't have any of my favorites left, so now I'm drinking ones that are good, but not great.
Then a few days ago, Caitlin told me that David's just released their Banana Nut Bread flavor for a limited time. I used to love that flavor! I would mix it with the Salted Caramel, and it was delicious. Because it's only available for a limited time, of course I ordered some. And naturally, I had to get some of the Salted Caramel to have with it because I am out of that! (I just looked at the site to add the link to the Banana Nut Bread, but it's already gone--I just ordered it on the 31st.)
Several people have asked me what my favorite teas from David's are. I've tried dozens of them, and I definitely prefer the flavored black teas. My very favorites that I'll keep ordering as long as they aren't discontinued are:
Salted Caramel
Red Velvet Cake
Glitter & Gold
Read My Lips
Those are all black teas. Once in a while, I'm in the mood for rooibos tea, and my favorite flavor is Birthday Cake. There have been several others that I loved, but they were (sadly) discontinued. I will be one VERY happy camper if they ever bring back Toasted Marshmallow! It's funny, I even got Noah hooked on David's Tea--his favorite is Cranberry Pear black tea.
Now I'm in the mood for tea. Going to go make a cup and probably take a hot bath. I'm freezing!
Katie: Could you please, please remind me how you calculate your activity points? I can't remember the calculation. How does 743 calories turn into 10 activity points. It's the piece I am missing. Thanks!
I'm not sure where I got this information (it's been a long time!) but this is how I've always calculated my AP's by calories burned. I take the calories burned (743) and divide by 80, which is 9.2875. Then I round that number UP to the next whole number (10). That's how I come up with 10 :)
I have the same tea problem....I have too many at work and more than fits in a large cabinet at home. I just cant pass up new flavors and even if I don't love them I cant get rid of them incase I am in the mood for it or a guest wants that flavor. THEN I had a friend buy me the tea of the month club from Teavana last year LOL. I have twice cleaned out the cabinet and had to trow out tea that was expired. I think I need to follow your lead and just drink until I am out!! And I do blame my love for Davids tea on you :)
I've thought about organizing some sort of tea exchange for ones we don't like, but that seems like it would be a lot of work. I love that they send you samples to try, though (even though it just leads to ordering even more, haha!)
Katie have you ever tried or ordered from The Tea Guys? They are an East coast company. I actually prefer their teas to Teavana or David's. David's Tea I find has a chemical taste, but maybe that is my weird palate. Tea Guys have this maple bourbon tea that tastes almost exactly like egg nog when you put a splash of milk in it. So good!
I haven't, but Ellen from Fat Girl Wearing Thin told me about them. I tried one of the teas that Ellen sent me, but I wasn't crazy about it. I think I'll browse their flavors and give them a try (when I finally use up what I have, of course)!
I've tried a lot of those flavors since your recommended them in the past and I would have to say that these are my favorite! Red Velvet Cake Glitter & Gold Read My Lips
If the caramel one is the one I'm thinking of, I think it had a "fake" flavor. But maybe I didn't have that one and I'm thinking of something else. I'm glad you recommended these because I love them and wouldn't have known which ones to try otherwise! Thanks!
I wasn't crazy about the Salted Caramel the first time I tried it, but I got hooked on it, and now it's a favorite. Maybe give it another try? I'm glad you like the ones I recommended!
These all sounds so good. I am going off of soda pop and it's finally getting cool enough here in Tucson that something warm sounds good. I also want to say what an inspiration you are. I'm just starting out and it's daunting, but it is refreshing to see that it can be done.
Thanks so much! Tea is a GREAT way to get off of soda. I started drinking it to have a different habit at night (opposed to eating everything in sight!). I was never a tea drinker until a couple of years ago, and now I love it.
Katie: Could you please, please remind me how you calculate your activity points? I can't remember the calculation. How does 743 calories turn into 10 activity points. It's the piece I am missing. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure where I got this information (it's been a long time!) but this is how I've always calculated my AP's by calories burned. I take the calories burned (743) and divide by 80, which is 9.2875. Then I round that number UP to the next whole number (10). That's how I come up with 10 :)
DeleteI have the same tea problem....I have too many at work and more than fits in a large cabinet at home. I just cant pass up new flavors and even if I don't love them I cant get rid of them incase I am in the mood for it or a guest wants that flavor. THEN I had a friend buy me the tea of the month club from Teavana last year LOL. I have twice cleaned out the cabinet and had to trow out tea that was expired. I think I need to follow your lead and just drink until I am out!! And I do blame my love for Davids tea on you :)
ReplyDeleteI've thought about organizing some sort of tea exchange for ones we don't like, but that seems like it would be a lot of work. I love that they send you samples to try, though (even though it just leads to ordering even more, haha!)
DeleteKatie have you ever tried or ordered from The Tea Guys? They are an East coast company. I actually prefer their teas to Teavana or David's. David's Tea I find has a chemical taste, but maybe that is my weird palate. Tea Guys have this maple bourbon tea that tastes almost exactly like egg nog when you put a splash of milk in it. So good!
ReplyDeleteI haven't, but Ellen from Fat Girl Wearing Thin told me about them. I tried one of the teas that Ellen sent me, but I wasn't crazy about it. I think I'll browse their flavors and give them a try (when I finally use up what I have, of course)!
DeleteI've tried a lot of those flavors since your recommended them in the past and I would have to say that these are my favorite!
ReplyDeleteRed Velvet Cake
Glitter & Gold
Read My Lips
If the caramel one is the one I'm thinking of, I think it had a "fake" flavor. But maybe I didn't have that one and I'm thinking of something else. I'm glad you recommended these because I love them and wouldn't have known which ones to try otherwise! Thanks!
I wasn't crazy about the Salted Caramel the first time I tried it, but I got hooked on it, and now it's a favorite. Maybe give it another try? I'm glad you like the ones I recommended!
DeleteThese all sounds so good. I am going off of soda pop and it's finally getting cool enough here in Tucson that something warm sounds good. I also want to say what an inspiration you are. I'm just starting out and it's daunting, but it is refreshing to see that it can be done.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! Tea is a GREAT way to get off of soda. I started drinking it to have a different habit at night (opposed to eating everything in sight!). I was never a tea drinker until a couple of years ago, and now I love it.
DeletePlease tell me that isn't craft 2000 going out of business :(
ReplyDeleteIt is Crafts 2000. But they've changed their name and moved to the mall. They are now Pat Catan's.
Delete