{What Will Ate} Vanilla Cinnamon Oatmeal

When the weather starts to get cool, I love to add oatmeal to my breakfast rotation. It's warm and nutritious and the flavor possibilities are endless. Old Fashioned Oats are my favorite and are worth the extra cooking time. 

This is the best and easiest oatmeal recipe for your littles! The oats cook in a bath of vanilla and cinnamon, giving it a sweet bite! Will loves this in the morning. It's quite a messy breakfast now that he particularly enjoys feeding himself from a spoon, but the kid has to learn some way, right!? I love to mix in fresh or frozen berries, applesauce or any other homemade fruit purees that I have on hand. 

One bowl for baby and one for mommy. Perfect to share with your pint sized breakfast date!

Vanilla Cinnamon Oatmeal

recipe from Cooking for Baby

2 cups water

1 cup organic old fashioned oats

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

In a small saucepan on high heat, add water, cinnamon and vanilla. Bring to a boil.  Add the oats and turn the heat down to medium low. Once the oatmeal warms back up to a boil and starts to simmer, place a cover on top and remove from the burner. Let sit for 15 minutes. Serve with fresh fruit or any other flavor add ins that your baby loves. 

Thirteen Point Fun

Race weekend in Raleigh is officially in the books and I can now say that I've run 13.1 miles. Running my first half marathon was an incredible experience! I cannot fully put into words the excitement and energy that we all felt on race day as we made our way to the starting line.

When we stepped out of our hotel at 6am on race day it was cold. Really cold. I started to rethink my decision to wear shorts but there was no turning back now! As we arrived on NC State's campus, the sky was clear and the sun was rising. It was so beautiful! We were so lucky to have a big group there with us to cheer us on. My parents, my grandma, Mark's parents, Danica's husband Bryan and even my little sister's boyfriend made a surprise appearance all the way from Florida State! The surprise of the day for us, though, was seeing our amazing neighbors cheering us on! We had no clue that they hopped in their car at 3am to be there to see us start and finish. They are the best! Will was in good hands while we ran. 

As the starting time approached and we all lined up, it was terrifying and exciting. Mark went ahead of us and the girls stayed together. Before we knew it, we were off! The sun higher in the sky at this point and the view was beautiful. The trees were all shades of Fall loveliness and leaves were crunching beneath our feet. Despite the winter chill in the air, it was the perfect fall day!

We started off slow and steady, which was key. I always say that longer runs require finding your happy pace and settling in for the long haul. The miles seemed to go by so quickly. Running with friends is always better and it helped that we could encourage each other along the way. We pointed out the mile markers as we passed each one. The course was very hilly, but not much more than what I'm used to running around Charlotte. I purposefully chose hilly routes when I was training and I really think this helped to my advantage. 

By the time we hit mile five, we started to split up. Andi and Danica were cruising ahead and Natalie close behind them. Bryce and I stopped for a bathroom break and then kept going. Around mile six or seven, we passed the 2:30 pacer, which we were trying to do. The race volunteers and spectators were wonderful! Everyone was cheering so loud and the signs were hilarious. I wish I would have taken pictures of some of my favorites because I'm still laughing thinking about them. "If you haven't pooped your pants yet, you're winning". Need I say more. 

Bryce and I remained running buddies throughout the rest of the race. We kept a steady pace and cheered louder at each mile marker. We saw our families around miles eight and nine and this was a huge source of encouragement! Will was snoozing away in his stroller and I waved my hands in the air like a crazy person. As we approached mile ten, the end was truly in sight. This was my favorite mile marker and a lady standing there said "you've been waiting for this one all morning!" We knew at that point that there was only a 5k to go!

We looped around at mile eleven and passed Andi and Danica and then Natalie. We high fived and we were all smiling so big. Though I was starting to get tired, I never felt like I was struggling and I started to amp up the pace. Once we passed mile twelve, we could seriously hear the finish line. By the time we hit 12.5 we could see it and it was the best feeling ever. We ran straight downhill the last half mile and at the bottom of the hill, my family and everyone was there cheering and my eyes got watery. Bryce and I sped through to the finish and threw our hands up in the air when we crossed that line. Our official chip time was 2:18 and after factoring in a five minute bathroom break, we are technically claiming 2:13 which I'm super proud of! My goal was to finish under 2:30 so coming in well under that felt great.

We found the rest of the lovies and huddled up as we anxiously awaited Mark the marathoner to finish his 26.2! It was freezing but we were huddled up together and still had the finish line glow. 

As marathoners crossed the finish line, more and more excitement built up. Danica predicted that Mark would come in around 3:48. We kept checking his status and pace online and looking up at the hill towards the finish line for his orange zip up! When we finally saw him, we were screaming. We ran to the median and all high fived him as he finished his final .2 miles. It was more emotional than I thought it would be! He crossed the finish line at approximately 3:48...just like my marathon veteran sister knew that he would. 

This was, without a doubt, one of the most thrilling experiences of my life. It feels so good to work towards a goal and dive in 100%. I may still be riding the race day high, but there will definitely be more half marathons in my future.

Cheers to Team Lovie!!!

#TeamLovie26: Weeks Nine + Ten

Before I post a full race recap from Raleigh this past weekend, it wouldn't be right to leave out the last two weeks of my training. Weeks nine and ten were honestly great. As I tapered my miles and focused on race day, so much excitement built up and I couldn't wait to get to Raleigh for the big day. I continued to focus on miles, not minutes, and kept a good pace with each run. 

My final long weekend run was six miles and it was easily one of the best runs during my training. My legs felt stronger than ever and I felt ready to conquer the race the following weekend. After so many miles and ten weeks of training, I felt such a sense of accomplishment! During the full ten weeks, I only missed one run due to running my ten miler on Sunday and using Monday to rest. Not too bad! 

Week	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday	Total
1	3 miles (3.22 miles, 9:54)	Rest	3 miles (3.28 miles, 9:38	Rest	3 miles (4.00 miles, 9:38)	Rest	4 miles (3.26 miles, 9:36)	13.76
2	3 miles (3.23 miles, 9:57)	Rest	4 miles (4.17 miles, 9:49)	Rest	3 miles (3.11 miles, 9:08)	5 miles (5.02 miles, 9:04)	Rest	15.53
3	3 miles (rest-sick day)	3. 12 miles (9:34)	4 miles (5.27 miles, 9:35)	Rest	3 miles (3.26 miles, 9:28)	6 miles (6.26 miles, 9:48)	Rest	17.91
4	3 miles (3.29 miles, 9:32)	Rest	5 miles (5.15 miles, 9:41)	3 miles (3.07 miles, 9:46)	Rest	7 miles (7.15 miles, 10:00)	Rest	18.66
5	3 miles (3.25 miles, 9:20)	Rest	5 miles (5.24 miles, 9:35)	Rest	3 miles (3.10 miles, 9:24)	8 miles (8.18 miles, 9:53)		19.77
6	4 miles (4.01 miles, 10:00)	Rest	5 miles (5.03 miles, 10:08)	4 miles (4.07 miles, 10:29)	Rest	9 miles (9.24 miles, 10:53)	Rest	22.35
7	4 miles (4.14 miles, 9:59)	Rest	6 miles (6.08 miles, 9:47)	4 miles (4.09 miles, 9:49)	Rest	Rest	10 miles (10.91 miles, 10:18)	25.22
8	Rest	Rest	5 miles (5 miles, 9:13)	4 miles (4.16 miles, 9:31)	Rest	8 miles (8.39 miles, 10:14)	Rest	17.55
9	3 miles (3.12 miles, 9:54)	Rest	4 miles (4.26 miles, 9:27)	Rest	3 miles (3.11 miles, 9:37)	Rest	6 Miles (6.60 miles, 9:32)	17.09
10	Rest	3 miles (3.01 miles, 9:49)	Rest	3 miles (3.20 miles, 9:38)	Rest	Rest	13.1 miles	19.31

The very last run of my training plan was extra special because Danica was here and we got to run together! We pumped each other up and couldn't stop talking about how great it was going to be to run the half marathon with our team of lovies! And...just like that...half marathon training is complete! Next up, a full race recap!

Basil Jalapeno Chicken Salad

Chicken salad restaurants seem to be all the rage right now and this is definitely a food trend I can get behind. I love that there is no right way to mix up a chicken salad and really, anything goes. I like my chicken salad light on mayo, heavy on veggies and full of savory flavor.

I had some leftover shredded chicken to use up and a batch of chicken salad seemed like a great way to repurpose my crock pot leftovers. A fresh bunch of basil was sitting alongside a giant jalapeno in my vegetable drawer and I had a little bit of pesto hanging out in there as well. This dinner came together quickly and was a perfect end to a busy Monday! It's a great dish to make on Sunday and enjoy for lunch all week!

Basil Jalapeno Chicken Salad

4-6 cups shredded chicken breast

1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped

1/4 red onion, chopped

2 Tbsp. basil pesto 

Handful fresh basil, chopped

1/2 cup mayonnaise (I use Hellman's brand made with olive oil)

Salt + pepper, to taste

Olive oil for drizzling

In a large bowl, mix chicken, jalapeno, onion, pesto, basil and mayo. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil on top of kale, in lettuce cups, on cucumber slices- the options are endless!

Trader Joe's Pumpkin Picks!

It's a pumpkin spice world out there and whether you like the seasonal flavor or not, it takes over this time of year. I made a trip to Trader Joe's last week specifically to pick up some of the pumpkin goodies that I have seen popping up in my blog reading and Instagram feed.

Canned Organic Pumpkin- Trader Joe's canned organic pumpkin is a great price ($1.99/can) and I always stock up at this time of year. There are no added ingredients either. Just pure pumpkin! 

Pumpkin Spice Salted Caramels- Oh my! One of these after dinner cures my sweet craving and is the perfect mix of salty sweet. The pumpkin spice is on the stronger side and somewhat of a strange combination when you taste it, but I love it.

Pumpkin Spice Chai- Easily my favorite of the pumpkin spice finds from TJ's! This tea mix is a nice, warm afternoon treat.

Pumpkin Spice Cranberry Crisps- The perfect little crackers to have on hand for Fall! These pair well with many cheeses, dips and the apple cinnamon goat cheese that I also picked up from my friend Joe. 

Pick a peck of pumpkins treats at TJ's before they run out! 

#TeamLovie26: Weeks Six, Seven + Eight

Race day is officially TWO WEEKS away- I can't believe it! Every time I head out for a run, I am literally in awe of what our bodies can do. Thinking back to where I was just a few months ago to where I am now blows my mind. Each week, I am running more miles than ever before and breaking my own personal records, which is definitely something to be proud of. Mark said it perfect when he said that with each Saturday run, we are pushing ourselves more than we ever have. I will be happy when I can mix in some more variety into my workouts instead of only running, but for now, it's about getting my miles in and preparing for 13.1 on race day. 

Week six was AWESOME. My weekday runs felt solid and I ended the week with a nine mile run that felt wonderful. I was dreading the nine miles but once I was three miles in, I hit a true running high. My sister and I ran together, which always helps with longer distances. The weather was perfect and kept a steady pace. I'm finding that some of my cramping was due to starting out too fast. By keeping a slower pace at the beginning, it's easier to maintain for the remaining miles and just feels better. We finished in 1:43:33 and kept a 10:53 pace. This was the first run where I felt like I could keep going another 3-4 miles, which would have made it 13.1!

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday	Total
3 miles (3.22 miles, 9:54)	Rest	3 miles (3.28 miles, 9:38	Rest	3 miles (4.00 miles, 9:38)	Rest	4 miles (3.26 miles, 9:36)	13.76
3 miles (3.23 miles, 9:57)	Rest	4 miles (4.17 miles, 9:49)	Rest	3 miles (3.11 miles, 9:08)	5 miles (5.02 miles, 9:04)	Rest	15.53
3 miles (rest-sick day)	3. 12 miles (9:34)	4 miles (5.27 miles, 9:35)	Rest	3 miles (3.26 miles, 9:28)	6 miles (6.26 miles, 9:48)	Rest	17.91
3 miles (3.29 miles, 9:32)	Rest	5 miles (5.15 miles, 9:41)	3 miles (3.07 miles, 9:46)	Rest	7 miles (7.15 miles, 10:00)	Rest	18.66
3 miles (3.25 miles, 9:20)	Rest	5 miles (5.24 miles, 9:35)	Rest	3 miles (3.10 miles, 9:24)	8 miles (8.18 miles, 9:53)		19.77
4 miles (4.01 miles, 10:00)	Rest	5 miles (5.03 miles, 10:08)	4 miles (4.07 miles, 10:29)	Rest	9 miles (9.24 miles, 10:53)	Rest	22.35
4 miles (4.14 miles, 9:59)	Rest	6 miles (6.08 miles, 9:47)	4 miles (4.09 miles, 9:49)	Rest	Rest	10 miles (10.91 miles, 10:18)	25.22
Rest	Rest	5 miles (5 miles, 9:13)	4 miles (4.16 miles, 9:31)	Rest	8 miles (8.39 miles, 10:14)	Rest	17.55

Week seven was good overall. I kept under a ten minute pace on all of my weekday runs, which I was happy with. During this week, I also completed my longest weekday run (six miles). I was SUPER nervous for my ten mile run that weekend- something about the double digits really had my stomach in knots. When I walked out the door on Sunday to run, I hit the pavement with the mindset of "five miles out and five miles back". Breaking it up into two smaller runs makes it less daunting. It started to sprinkle about three miles in and by the time I reached six miles, it was POURING. I got soaked, and the rain slowed me down a tad, but my run was so good. I ended up running 10.91 because I miscalculated my route but during the last .91 miles, I was flying! It was a definite reassurance for me and a great feeling once I finished. And I loved running in the rain!

Week eight, this past week, didn't feel as good, but my runs were solid. I ended up resting on Monday since I ran ten on Sunday, making it the only run I have missed in my entire training schedule up to this point. The long runs started to taper off this week, which is a nice change of pace. My eight mile run yesterday was rough, but I made it. I was happy with my 10:14 pace and was happy to have that run behind me. 

This week is my last full week of running before the race! Next week is only a few short runs, a two mile walk and an airport pickup somewhere in between to scoop up our California family!!! 

{What Will Ate} Little Green Pouch

If you have a little one/little ones, you know that food pouches overtake much of the "baby needs" aisles. The handy little snack pouches are really a brilliant little method for snacking both at home and on the go. I'm not a fan of all of the additives in many of the store bought pouches- even some of the applesauce pouches contain added sugar or citric acid and other preservatives. 

My friend Julie introduced me to these refillable pouches and Will and I are in LOVE! This takes a little bit of extra prep time, but its worth it to me. I've filled these little guys with everything from homemade strawberry applesauce to sweet potato, carrot, mango and parsnip puree. Lately, Will has been loving green smoothies after his afternoon nap and the little green pouches are perfect. I also blend up Greek yogurt and fresh fruit in the Beaba Babycook for fruit and yogurt pouches. For an easy filler, Trader Joe's organic applesauce (no added sugar or other ingredients- just apples!) is another favorite filler. To fill, I just use a spoon!

The zip top makes these easy to clean out. I run hot water through the pouch to rinse them and soak them in soapy water for a few minutes before scrubbing out. Bonus- they are also dishwasher safe! I purchased my pouches on Amazon.