This week we have so many reasons to be grateful: good food, even better friends and simple, yet awesome, experiences. Throw in a little faith and good humor about our training process and you’ve got a full week. While we’re on the lovefest roll, keep in mind we would love to hear what you are loving these days. Feel free to email us at Lowiandgblog@gmail.com.

Food :

(G) Aladdin’s Eatery is quite possibly my guiltiest pleasure. I am obsessed, and I do mean obsessed, with Aladdin’s salad dressing. In fact, if all salad dressing were this good everyone would eat salad. And the hummus with hot sauce… and you gotta get the hot sauce … well it makes my mouth water thinking about it. While it’s all healthy food it is so amazingly good. And if you play your cards right, you can save enough calories during your lunch or dinner so that you can indulge in a dessert. Totally worth a splurge.

Friends:

(G) A thank you to Shakira for meeting me at Glacier Ridge Metro Park this week to get some miles in, chat a lot and laugh even more. She really made the time and the distance go so much better.

And an additional shout-out to my husband, John (Johnny Armani).  He was a real trooper in volunteering to run 17 miles with me on Saturday so I didn’t lose my mind or quit. I cannot confirm that he wasn’t ready to lose his mind after all those miles with me, though.

Music:  

(L) I love music that has some kind of message, especially one that speaks to something I preach about. And this week I heard, 6’2 by Marie Miller.  Love it!  I am always telling my girls that the right guy will come along when it’s time and that maybe they should pray about it. Well, this girl took her mama’s advice and added, “that if God can do anything I might as well ask for exactly what I want!”  Very cute song.

Experiences:

(G) After a few bone-chilling bouts of running outside this week my love of water, particularly hot water, has been renewed. There is nothing like submerging yourself into a nice vat of steaming water or a hot pour over of water to make you feel anew. So essentially, here’s to running water!

(L) Some of my favorite experiences are listening to my girls express their excitement for something that they are passionate about.  This week I was able to spend a day with my oldest, Alex, and she has such a love for school, what she is doing and where she is going. I couldn’t help but smile.  Sydney was able to spend some time working on her music this weekend and she gets so excited that it’s contagious.  Last, but certainly not least is my little Reese’s Pieces.  She came home excited to start running again with her little running partner.  So fun!

Cookbooks:

(G) I got this cookbook, Isa Does It: Amazingly Easy, Wildly Delicious Vegan Recipes for Every Day of the Week by Isa Chandra Moskowitz, for Christmas from our L&G Mama and it’s my favorite right now. Every single thing I have made has been yummy delicious. I have warmed up this winter with Sweet Potato and Red Curry Soup, Cheddary Broccoli Soup, and Harira. Then I got even more good eats with Curried Peanut Sauce Bowl and Olive-Lentil Burger. There are 250 plus pages in this delightful food guide. Vegan or no.. it’s worth the money.

Books:

(L)  The Non-Runner’s Marathon Guide For Women is hilarious.  Okay, it has some practical advice, too, but if you are attempting to run any distance and you are slow or have never run before this book is for you!  I am reading it and cracking up.  Only a few pages in she talks about training to run or walk a marathon.  Here is a quote from the author, Dawn Dais: “There is no shame in training to walk. There is also no shame in training to run and being passed by the walkers!”  Hmmm. I fear that will be me on this epic journey.

L&G Weekly Roundup: In case you missed any of the fun this week!

Thursday: #TBT: The Miller Girls

Wednesday: Find Peace …

Tuesday: Torture Report #9: Mud, Duct Tape and Where’s My Sunscreen?

Monday: Are You Whisper-Worthy?

Sunshine & Sarcasm

Lowi & G