2.11.2009

Restaurants

This page lists the restaurants I have visited in hopes it will help you decide where to go if you are ever in the Baltimore Metro area. Please feel free to email me with any questions.

American/Eclectic:

Breakfast/Diner:
Italian:
Mexican:
Sandwich/Lunch:
Seafood:
Sushi:

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Race Schedule

2010 Race Schedule

  • 03.28.2010: White Hall 15k
  • 05.08.2010: Tour De Cure Bike Ride
  • 05.23.2010: Patapsco Trail Race
  • 06.06.2010: EX2 Off-Road Half Marathon
  • 07.11.2010: EX2 Off-Road Duathlon
  • 09.18.2010: Dad's 60k Trail Run (I will do a portion)
  • 10.16.2010: Baltimore Half Marathon



2009 Race Schedule
Completed Marathons (6, so far...)
  • 2009 - Philadelphia Marathon - 4:41 (recap HERE)
  • 2008 - Harrisburg Marathon - 4:47 (recap HERE)
  • 2008 - Baltimore Marathon - 5:20 (recap HERE)
  • 2005 - New York City Marathon - 4:45
  • 2004 - Baltimore Marathon - 4:27, PR
  • 2003 - Marines Corps Marathon - 4:54, FIRST

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Recipes

Appetizers

Baked Brie (*coming soon*)
Fruit Salsa
Shrimp Wontons (*coming soon*)

Bread

Whole Wheat Beer Bread

Soups/Sauces

Spicy Butternut Squash Soup

Mustard Vinaigrette

Quick Butternut Squash Soup

PePaw Soup

White Chicken Chili


Side Dishes

Broccoli w/ Garlic & Peanuts

Carrot Casserole

Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

Hot Slaw

Spinach Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms


Main Dishes

Baked Salmon w/ Fig Jam and Red Pepper

Cheesy Chicken Zucchini Pasta

Chicken Marsala

Chicken Von Ronzo

Lemon Caper Pasta

Maryland Roasted Chicken

Spicy Chicken Sausage Veggie CousCous

Three Bean CousCous

Turkey Chili

Turkey Mini-Meatloaves

Veggie Pizza w/ Whole Wheat Crust

White Eggplant Ratatouille Over Baked Polenta


Desserts

Apricot Oatmeal Coconut Bars

Butterscotch Bark

Dessert Wontons

Peach/Blueberry Cobbler

Pineapple/Banana Bread

Pumpkin Bars

Sweet Ricotta/Blueberry Wrap

Toffee Bark


Smoothies

Chocolate Soy/Banana Smoothie


Breakfast

Turkey Bacon/Spinach Mini Frittatas



**Please note that most, but not all, of the recipes listed are my personal creations. The original source will be credited within the recipe post, where applicable.

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About Me

Hello and thanks for visiting my blog! My name is Lauren and I have a passion for food and all athletic activities. (...and my dog, Oscar, and cat, Lucy!)

This blog is a place where I can share my love of food (eating, cooking, trying new products, and going out to restaurants) and my love of all things "active"(running, lifting, tennis, mountain biking, racquetball, soccer, spin, rowing, etc!).

I strive to make consistent, healthy choices, but feel it is necessary to splurge every now and then for your favorites. Everything in moderation.



A Little Background


I have been involved in sports for as long as I remember. Growing up, I played softball, soccer, basketball, and tennis. My high school years focused around being a 3-sport athlete and playing basketball year-round. I was lucky enough to grow up with health-conscious parents who provided well-balanced meals and healthy packed lunches.

College is where my eating habits went downhill. Playing soccer in college helped to keep me in pretty good shape during the fall. Winter and spring were a different story. The college cafeteria didn't always have the healthiest options and since I had always been able to eat what I wanted, I slowly started packing on the pounds.

All the unhealthy eating and drinking, combined with not being involved in winter and spring sports caught up with me. The pizza dipped in blue cheese dressing at 1am and the numerous alcoholic beverages weren't helping my waistline. When I had to start buying bigger size clothes, I realized my body was changing, and not in a good way.
I graduated college and entered the working world where I was sitting at a desk for most of the day. The team sports I had become accustomed to were mostly over. I eventually was able to find a few soccer teams where I could get out there and get some exercise.

I remember a particular indoor game where a friend of mine mentioned training for a marathon together and having my dad train us. He was an accomplished marathoner and had been training newbies for awhile. Even though I wasn't keen on running, the challenge appealed to me. I also thought it could be a good way to shed the extra college pounds once and for all.

Slowly, over the course of 6 months, which involved a lot of training runs and races - the extra weight melted off. The frequency of "going out" nights decreased because of the long training runs on Saturday mornings. I never bought into any of the fad diets, but instead, tried to make healthier choices more frequently.
When all was said and done, I had to get most of my pants altered to fit my slimmer body and it felt incredible. I finished the marathon and had a new found a respect for the "challenge" of running.
I had also discovered a healthier version of me that I wanted to keep...

Hope you enjoy!

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2.10.2009

It's been awhile (2.10.2009)

Thanks for all the get well wishes for Oscar. He is still limping, but is showing small signs of improvement every day. We had an appt at the vet tonight and the doctor thinks it is a sprain, but wants to see the x-rays from the Pet ER before knowing for sure.


I was also informed that Oscar needs to go on a diet. He is about 10 pounds overweight. All those treats caught up with him over the holidays. She said that I should lower the amount of dry food and add in a can of green beans. Anyone else done this?! We will see how this goes over. I told him I wouldn't start his diet until after his paw was better.

Quickest Weekend Recap Eva

Saturday, my mom and I went to my friend, Chrissi's, baby shower brunch in DC. It was a great time and I got to see some good friends from college!

My first breakfast plate.
My second breakfast plate. Kidding. My friend Laura, who helped organize the shower, made these cute little buggers. I had a strawberry cupcake that was deeelish.

Centerpieces with baby sock roses. aww.
Friend shot...The rest of my Saturday involved greasy food and the Pet ER. Chick-Fil-a: cant deny its goodness.
Sunday was spent nursing Oscar back to health and then drinking bloody mary's outside in Fell's Point to celebrate the 60 degree weather. Had to get out and enjoy it for a few hours. I definitely fell off the workout wagon for a while there, which is a shame because the weather was perfect this weekend!

Ok, probably not the quickest recap, but I tried.

Monday

I don't always post pictures of my lunch, but I wanted to show what is starting to become a regular lunch salad for me. The beets are wrapped in plastic wrap since they stain everything. Beets and Goat Cheese added to any salad makes me actually WANT to eat it.
After work, the weather was still pretty warm and it was light out, so I went for a 3.4 mile (33 mins) run and then did a 20 min lifting, lunge, ab workout at home.

This week is about getting back on the program. I am going to repeat the 3rd week from my running program since I only did 1/3 of it last week.

Exciting Stuff

1. I had the highest bid for Andrea's (bella eats [and runs]) Chocolate Chip Cookies in Meghann's blogger bake sale. The sale benefits Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). Great cause and I cant wait to get the cookies!!

2. My first contest is coming in the next few days...once I get my act together.

Good night!

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