COTTER CRUNCH

Fixed my link- new site update

2011-09-21T13:19:00.000-05:00

Don't forget.....update my domain site please.

www.cottercrunch.com

Oh and I finally corrected the subsrcibe link. Sheesh, sorry about that!

LC

third time is a charm....Update site

2011-09-14T13:32:00.000-05:00

Sorry, I know its annoying. But i keep getting emails from people thinking I fell off the earth. Nope. Just switched my domain servers so you might need to replug it into your google reader (if you follow) or just subscribe there. I know I know, how inconvenient. But I promise i am lot more "technologically together" over there. haha.

GO HERE----------> www.cottercrunch.com

Cheers,
LC

Please update site and Prayers needed!

2011-09-06T14:46:00.000-05:00

please go to my updated site and pray for TX. thank you!

http://www.cottercrunch.com/2011/09/labor-in-prayer/

<3
LC

changing your reader

2011-08-30T17:08:00.000-05:00

Don't forget "blogspot" folks, the new domain is no longer under blogspot, so you might have to update your reader. Well, at least I hope you do.
:P

www.cottercrunch.com

Cheers,
LC

Changing Time

2011-08-24T15:27:00.000-05:00

It’s Time. I am about finished. I’m “LETTING GO” of this site and am switching domains on my own site. Phew, now I can breathe.

Follow me if you will. I’d love to keep ya around!

(update google reader. My blogger domain is no longer.)

www.cottercrunch.com

Cheers!
LC

Chaos Contained

2011-08-22T21:17:00.002-05:00

I am a bit all over the place at the moment. But I like to think I am chaos contained. That makes sense right? Let me explain…

I’m still in the process of moving sites so I am posting here while working on the other site and confusing the heck out of everyone at the same time. haha, at least I keep you on your toes, right?
The hubs has changed his race schedule about 5 times already. Which means one minute we’re going to Vegas for world champs, the next minute we’re not. Or maybe we’re going to a different race??? Who knows!

I’ve been subbing for a co-worker who went out of town last minute to China (who does that?). I had no idea she left until I got a text message saying she needed coverage. By the time I called her she was already on the plane, hahaha! Classic. I probably would have done the same thing. So I rearranged my schedule a bit to get things covered. It all worked out just fine. But probably not my best “prepared” classes.

I totally forgot to send out a new flavor of the month for Healthy Bites. But oh well, that’s the least of my worries. I’ll get it done…..in September.

I’m thinking Banana Chocolate Chip!!! See Below.

That’s a lot of flavor CHAOS CONTAINED in one bite. Love it!

And to keep things rollin here….lets throw in a workout.

CHAOS CONTAINED CIRCUIT

Be sure to do a light warm up before hand.

10 side to side burpees
10 alternating reverse lunge to front kick (10 each leg)
10 squat curl presses
10 plank in and out hops (hold plank and hop feet in then out wide, repeat)
5 ten seconds sprints (5-10 seconds rest between). You can do this on bike, track, elliptical, etc.
10 woodchops on each side with med ball.
10 dips on bench or unassisted dip machine.

REPEAT UNTIL TOTAL FATIGUE!!

I won’t even tell you how many rounds we got through. It was chaos!

But a good sweaty chaos!

How many rounds do you think you can do?

Tell me your chaos and how you contain it……cause I know you’re bad ass like that.

Cheers for now,
LC

p.s.
Thanks for the all the wonderful cheers this past weekend. The hubs placed 4th at Timberman 70.3. I know he was aiming for top 3 but we’ll take it! Moving onward and upward!

End of Summer Discounts

2011-08-20T21:28:00.000-05:00

It’s the end of summer. Well, according to the school year that is! A few hours ago, I returned home a from running “a few” errands. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why it was so CROWDED in certain stores! Ahhh ha! Think Lindsay think! School starts Monday here and it’s tax free weekend. Of course it’s going to be a mad house. You would have thought it was Black Friday out there! Okay, I might have been stuck in lines, but at least I saved money without having to pay the tax, right? Come on, give me a little credit here. haha.

So here we are, ending the summer. It’s like a new year for a most. A chance to stay on schedule or maybe a chance to change it all up and start a new one, from scratch! Either way, it’s a good feeling, an optimistic feeling.

The hubs has taken the last 6 weeks off to focus on training, recovery, etc. He’s been one hard working man! Sunday is his “back to school” race. His chance to change things up and for the better. But more importantly, he’s excited and so am I. Like first day of school excitement! We hope for a better “half” of the season, for things to progress, but one thing is for sure.....we're excited for a change!

I made these cookies right before the hubs left for Timberman 70.3. His ~~lunchbox~~ travel bag was full of them. Some for himself and some to share with his buddies. hehe! I’m hoping they just might do the magic trick.

Flourless Nuttzo Protein Cookies

(Special discount at bottom)

Ingredients:

1 cup Nuttzo Butter (or crunchy nut butter with a few spoons of flax or chia seed added in)
1 tsp Vanilla Extract (I used the NuNaturals Stevia Vanilla drops)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg OR 1/3 cup egg whites
1-2 tsp sweetener of choice (optional)- Again, I used the 10 Vanilla Stevia Drops
2 servings (~60 grams) of Vanilla or Strawberry Protein powder
granulated sugar for topping.
Other Add-ins: place dried fruit on top (like pineapple chunks)

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350°. Grease cookie sheet and set aside. In a bowl, combine your nut butters and protein powder/baking powder. Mix well with hands then add in egg. Mix again. Roll into balls and press onto cookie sheet with fingers until flat. Sprinkle the tops with a little sugar, the real stuff! Bake for 10 minutes or so. Remove from oven and let them cool for 5 minutes before touching so they can set. Then ENJOY!

Makes around 14-16 cookies.

Nutrition per cookie: Calories 82.0, Fat: 6.0 g, Carbs: 3.3 g , Fiber: 1.1 g, Protein: 5.5 g

And since we’re all about discounts today, Nuttzo has graciously offered an “end of summer” 25% off discount for those who want a jar of their own!

Just go to the NUTTZO website to order and enter coupon code endofsummer.

You’ll have until Monday the 22nd to order.

And trust me, this should be a back to school STAPLE in your house.

It’s that good and good for you!

Well, good luck to all those racing tomorrow! Good luck to those going back to school Monday! And good luck to everyone else who must face Monday, haha.

Cheers!

Smirk

2011-08-19T07:30:00.000-05:00

Smirk- to smile in a self-satisfied or foolish manner

It’s the little things that are making me “smirk” today. A feeling of content even though we’re still so unsure of plans. But that is neither here nor there. I’m focusing on the feeling.

I smirk because it’s Friday!

I smirk because I love my husband

I smirk because the pups thinks she’s “too cool for school”

and has to be the leader our walks.

I smirk because I am clueless about technology (but I’m learning).

I smirk because I know its WINE Friday!

smirk because I know GOD is doing his Thang and I just gotta roll with the punches.

I smirk because I’m a little tired from the 4am wake up call.

I smirk because my Kombucha obsession is kinda ridiculous.

(I brew it, I buy it, I love it!)

(day 5 of the home brew)

GTs Kombucha LOVE!

I smirk because I am also sending the hubs off to his race in

style this weekend (Timberman 70.3)

I smirk because I’m sending him off well feed and fueled!

I smirk because I’ll be posting this recipe (Flourless Nuttzo Protein Cookies)…. …..soon!

I smirk because I am finally posting the Vanilla Pear Pops recipe.

and it’s just SO EASY!

Vanilla Pear Pops

1 serving vanilla protein powder
1/2 cup plain yogurt (I used goats milk or full fat greek)
honey or agave nectar (optional)
handful o ice
6oz almond milk or milk of choice
1 teaspoon vanilla (I used NuNaturals Vanilla Stevia)

Blend all together until smooth. Pour into popsicle cups and freeze.

Go ahead and “smirk” while you enjoy this!

What are you smirking at today?

Cheers,

Wait for it……..

2011-08-17T10:48:00.001-05:00

Good things come to those who wait. Oh how this is the story of my life! The waiting period. It’s where God kinda leave you lingering. No, He never leaves you. In fact, He’s right by your side. But we must not rush things. There’s a purpose, oh goodness there’s a purpose.

Waiting periods result in a feeling of readiness, excitement, and a feeling of relief. They help us build character and confidence, that is if we allow them to. Allow that time to “take its course.”

Food-----> Good food has a waiting period.

So this is a different kind of WIAW but you get my drift here, right?

Homemade Pear Vanilla Protein Pops (recipe to come)

Frozen and Flavorful, worth the wait in the freezer!

it was worth the wait for this happy face when they were done.

The perfect (GF) bread and butter…….its worth the wait to oven bake.

The smell alone is worth the wait.

How about fresh basil/tomato on Gluten Free toast with melted butter?

Or wait a little longer, make it a little crispier…..

then the almond butter will melt right on along with the honey, yogurt, granola, date topping.

And Kombucha?! You know this stuff has a waiting period. A BEAUTIFUL waiting period.

(kombucha tutortial #2 will be coming soon)

Brewing a batch from scratch and waiting for it to ferment feels good!

Feels like I am making use of this waiting period just buy letting it take its course.

Friends----> even friends have a waiting period

Because the time missed when you don’t seem them, make it even more special when you do.

I finally got to catch a bit with this GAL on her birthday. And lucky me, this GAL was there too.

please ignore the fuzzy pics, yes the camera just about out of juice,

but these snapshots could NOT wait to be taken. Haha!

Are you waiting to heal, to get stronger, to overcome a certain obstacle?

You’ll get there…..its only a matter of time.

Cheers and thank you for WAITING on me these past few days!

p.s.

As you can see I'm still waiting on the new site. Consider this my "blog in waiting." hehe.

Seesaw Life

2011-08-14T20:00:00.000-05:00

"Your mind is somewhat like a seesaw.

As your trust in God goes up, fear and worry automatically go down."

Oh how true is that quote! I read it this morning in my devotional and it hit home. So much of our life (meaning me and the hubs) is up and down. We’re up one minute and down the next. We’ve soared high and sunk low. And you know what, it comes with the territory.

We slide onto the seesaw of life not knowing what’s going to happen next or where our passions/dreams will take us. We know there’s only 2 motions, up and down. We’re bound to stay on if we hold on tight, but to what? We hold on to each other, to God, to Faith, to HOPE! And with that, the seesaw seems to float up no matter what comes our way.

Life certainly has jolted us these days, but we cannot let that weigh us down. No, we will no let those fears or worries become heavy. Down they GO!!

A night out with our favorite people lifted us up! We stayed at dinner for hours sipping, savoring, talking, and laughing.The only thing weighing us down after this night was our dessert. Hehe, and that’s probably a good thing!

The car ride home we were at ease…..feeling UPLIFTED.

How do you stay UP on life?

Cheers,

p.s.

The blog will be moving to a self hosted site later this week. Lots of messing around with it this week but we’ll get there. I may not be able to post as often, but that only means more time reading…..yea! thanks for hangin’ around with me!

Going Somewhere?

2011-08-09T06:37:00.001-05:00

Yes, I am going somewhere. I’ve to been to wordpress and back. I liked it. But a certain someone suggested to go farther….and maybe even by MYSELF (self hosted). I am gonna hold her hand all the way through it too.

teehee.

So in the meantime, just be on the look out. I’ll be around. Somewhere out there. Floating in blogger space.

I won’t leave you empty handed for now. How about a crazy travel workout? This might a while to do.

And maybe by the time you're done, I’ll be back!

Maybe, just maybe.

No Gym, No Problem Workout

5-10 minute warm up jog
50-60 body weight squats, 50 pushups on bench , 25 lower leg lifts followed by 25 bicycles
5-10 minute run out and back (faster than the warm up)
60 lunges (30 each leg), 30 pushups on ground (knees or toes), 50 bicycle crunches
5-10 minute run
40 squats (last 10 squat jumps), 20-30 pushups total with last 10 being tricep pushups, 1 minute plank
5-10 minute walk or jog for cool down.

Try it!

Cheers,
The Nomadic Cotter

Check the Freezer

2011-08-05T09:00:00.000-05:00

Since we’ve had about 50 days of record heat (over 100F), the hubs and I have gone a little crazy. Well, I am already crazy but I think I lured him into it.

You see, he is still doing his regular training which means 2-3 hour rides followed by a run……
in the afternoon…..
at these temps!!!

I can barely take it inside.

I usually end up sticking my head in the freezer for a good 5 minutes to cool off!

Feels nice in there, ahhh!

Speaking of freezers, ours has gotten a lot more use these days.

According to THIS article, freezing some of your favorite foods might help lower

your body’s temperature.

So I did what every normal overheated hormonal woman does and stuck our

favorite drinks and eats in the freezer.

Not your average use for a freezer but hey, it works! I have to say, the frozen yogurt cups are by far my favorite. I try to eat a frozen lara bar or some frozen smoothies in the morning before I teach outdoor conditioning and so far it has worked well. My core temp is cooled off for the time being.

Can’t Beat the Heat Circuit

warm up 10 minutes light jog/skips/high knees

10 on each leg- lunge/twist with weigh or medicine ball
10 dive bomber burpees (think dive bomber push up with a burpee after)
10 jump lunges and swing (jump lunge twice with weight overhead then swing med ball or weight to one side like a wood chop)

20 squat hops
20 scissor kicks

10 froggy to plank push up (start in this position them jump back to plank and add a push up)

Repeat 4-5x ( we only got through 4 rounds due to time and it was TOUGH)

cool down with easy spin on bike/stretch

What’s favorite food are you freezing these days? Can you run in 100+F temps.

I bet this “Freaking Awesome” Arizona Runner can!

Cheers to Freezer Friday!

p.s.

Good luck to all those racing this weekend. Lots of luck to Nora and Beth racing Boulder 70.3!!!!

What’s In that WIAW???

2011-08-03T17:00:00.000-05:00

Not gonna lie, I eat weird combos. I crave weird combos. I am NOT a creature of habit. To make the same thing everyday would kill me. I don’t think I ever really repeat recipes unless its for someone else. I wonder what all this means? Well I won’t worry about it cause my hubs is the same way, unless it has to do with marmite. Then he’s a creature of habit. Maramite and butter, Vegemite and butter, etc.! If there were a Marmite flavored butter, I could really kill two birds with one stone here. haha!

Anyway, my post today is full of combos. Normal combos for me, but probably weird combos to you. And I’m okay with that. I won’t tell you what's in it. You’ll just have to guess. K?

Any guesses on the combos? What's your weirdest combo?

I bet I'd like it.

I once ordered a bacon latte from this place. Darn tasty!

Thanks Jen for another great WIAW and good luck on the packing!

Cheers!

Absorbing Much?

2011-08-02T08:03:00.001-05:00

I must start off by saying, Thank Goodness its Tuesday! Yesterday just wasn't pretty, but at least it's over and done with. Now onto my nerdy discussion for the day........

Let’s face it. Getting all your recommended daily nutrients can be a little tricky. You may be eating right, exercising, drinking lots of water, etc. But are you really getting enough? Are you absorbing these nutrients?

You see, my gut has kind of gone through hell and back (before eating gluten free) and getting my food/nutrients to absorb has been my main goal. The best way (for me) has been to focus on REAL nutrient dense foods a few other important supplements. These supplements have had to be either in liquid form or powder in order to get into blood stream a little faster than in pill form. Although this might not be true for everyone, it has worked well for me.

Okay, we all know certain supplements/vitamins are beneficial for our diet but what about food? Is it helping or hurting our so called “absorption rate?” Do we really absorb all our nutrients in REAL food?

Oh wow, so many questions. Lets bullet point this.

How to get more bang for your buck with food/nutrients:

Calcium- needs Vitamin D to absorb properly. Certain Calcium supplements will now come with Vitamin D added.

Food wise, try pairing the two in a snack or meal. Example: Fortified Cereal and Milk, Stuffed Mushrooms (vitamin D) with Mozzarella (calcium), Cheese and Veggie Omelet (eggs- vitamin D, cheese for calcium).

Iron - best absorbed with Vitamin C. So take iron supplements with orange juice, fruit, etc.

Food wise- Steak (Iron) with bell peppers or tomatoes (Vitamin C). Try this combo in a salad or wrap. Don’t eat meat? No prob. Tempeh is a good source of iron. Try pairing it in a salad with strawberries (vitamin C) and toasted almonds.

Potassium - absorbed in the large intestines, and with that being said, eating other foods in conjunction with potassium can actually inhibit absorption. So avoid eating too much sodium, caffeine, or alcohol. I guess bananas foster doesn't really count, eh? hehe.

Food wise- Banana with peanut butter is a great way get that potassium absorbed

B12 Vitamin- Absorbs well with folic acid. So if you take a B12 vitamin (good for vegetarians), you might want to take it fortified cereal.
Coffee (go solo)- Since coffee acts as a diuretic and pushes “things” through the stomach a little faster, avoid taking supplements with it. It just might push those nutrients right through as well.

So there you have it folks. Are you more confused? haha. I know it can be like playing a game of mix and match but the bottom line is REAL food is our best source of nutrients.

ENJOY it and ABSORB it!

The nerd in me loves this. I could talk all day about the science behind it but don’t worry….

I won’t bore you----------> yet.

What do you think? Are you absorbing much??

Cheers,

Nerd alert Lindsay

p.s.

who else was shocked watching the bachelorette?

I’ve come to Realize….

2011-07-31T08:12:00.001-05:00

I’ve come to realize that I actually do have a life……

I’ve come to realize that I love this city……

I’ve come to realize that food is best with good company…….

I’ve come to realize to LOVE the ONE your with, LOVE the LIFE you LIVE, and SMILE.

This past week has brought answered prayers.

God’s path may be narrow at times,

but I’ve come to realize it’s a path that is straight and secure.

What have you come to realize?

Cheers to “aww haa” moments!
LC

When life hands you……Venison?

2011-07-29T06:55:00.001-05:00

First of all, whoa nelly! Thanks for the birthday wishes! I really was not expecting it so it made the day even better.

Anyways……………onto some more important news. Well, almost more important. So, one of the hubs’ clients gave him an ABUNDANT AMOUNT of local venison sausage. My cute Kiwi husband gets pretty excited when fellow Texans spoil him with food. He feels like a native and all of sudden starts saying “ya’ll.” Ha-ha, just kidding, but you get my point.

So when he came home with all this “meat” and asked me to fix something with it, I kinda was at a loss. Uh, what exactly do you want me to make with 10lbs of sausage? So many options!

We both wanted something spicy with a little tang.

Greek Venison Sausage Patties

Ingredients:

Lean meat or game meat (venison, lamb, ostrich, etc.)- 1/2 lb. to 1lb.
Greek seasoning or you can make your own with the following.

/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
1/8 teaspoon dried basil
1/8 teaspoon dried marjoram
1/8 teaspoon dried minced onion
1/8 teaspoon dried minced garlic

balsamic vinegar
paprika
dill (optional)
1 egg (yolk and white separated)
Greek yogurt or plain goats milk yogurt for topping
dash of sea salt and black pepper
oil
spicy ketchup or sriracha sauce

Directions:
Place ground meat in bowl and mix with hands. Add in spices, 1-2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar, and egg yolk. Mix again and form into patties. Should make anywhere between 2-4 patties. Get skillet ready, heat with a little oil on medium heat. Lightly coat your patties with the egg white and then place on skillet. Cook thoroughly (both sides) until meat is medium to well done. Remove from skillet and place on bed of salad/vegetables. Add a few tables of Greek yogurt/goat milk yogurt. Sprinkle with paprika and ketchup or sriracha sauce.

**I like to fancy up the salad with raw cashews, dried berries, and maybe even some dill pepper.

Eat up!

These will definitely be on my list to make again. The flavors were very nice together. Would be even better with a side of dolmas!

And with that being said, Jen over at Peas and Crayons is up to it again. Another great link connection and this recipe is perfect for "initiation". Well at least I think so. hehe.

Go check out all the cool recipes on her one big virtual blogger cookbook!

I hope everyone gets time to DISCONNECT this weekend. Take time to cook a fun meal with loved ones, play outside, or just veg. Whatever your heart desires!

I think I get to go on a hot date tomorrow night, or so I’m told.

Odd Question: What’s your go to recipe when you have an ABUNDANT amount of meat/poultry/tofu/etc.??

No one say meatloaf!

Cheers to getting wiser not older!

10 Meaningful Snapshots

2011-07-27T07:40:00.001-05:00

No WIAW today. I know, sad. Still, go check out all the WIAW on Peas and Crayons now and start drooling.

I have something else to share. You see, last night I was lying in bed setting my alarm on my phone when I accidently hit the pictures tab. All my pictures I had snapped (via crackberry) popped up and I found myself scrolling through them all, one by one.

The funny thing about phone pics are that they are usually the most random, yet so meaningful. These pictures say “I don’t have my fancy camera but I must capture this moment ASAP!” This moment could be for someone who you are thinking about, for yourself and/or keepsakes, or maybe for a little humor to brighten your day.

These pictures all mean something to me. So follow me........

a journey through my Crappy Crackberry Camera!

This was the hubs sitting in a bucket of ice after a race.

Doesn’t even look like its phased him that it was probably for ice cold drinks! haha.

Our first REAL vacation post World Champs last year.

No training, no races, just beach time.

Rescuing the hubs on the side of the road.

Yes, I am the wife that carries spare tubes and tire gear in my car……for this purpose!

Driving through the Golden Gate Bridge on our way to Vineman 70.3 last year.

This was actually a few weeks ago, driving to the race site in Portland.

Mt. Hood was so vivid and GORGEOUS!

One of my ADORABLE nieces. I gave her a Lara bar for the first time.

She is now addicted to the blueberry muffin!

My hubs’ favorite Mexican joint that we FREQUENTLY visit. Need I say more??

I sent this pic to the hubs when flying back from Portland. We were on the tarmac in a small little shuttle. The hubs loves planes. He used to fly planes acutally, still has his pilots license ya know?

I picked up these fillets the other day and just had to send a picture to Dorry.

Cause I am a dork, but I was excited!

Luckily, she got a kick out of it. Right Dor?

And my very favorite blurry phone pic…..when the hubs won Steelhead 70.3 last year.

I love this picture. I believe in him. Always have and always will.

So there you have it friends. A crappy “crackberry” snapshot of my moments.

They still make me smile each day.

What moments are captured in your phone?

If you are up for it, post them and let me know!

Lets keep this going.

Cheers,
LC

Reminders and Recipes

2011-07-25T09:02:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday. Yes, I can say happy because for one, I darn well enjoyed my No Rules Rules this weekend. I’m feeling refreshed. Funny how that happens when we actually REST!

But I also had the chance to listen to a few podcasts and make a few batches of healthy bites. I love turning on podcasts while cooking/baking. It’s the dork in me shining bright! One podcast I came across was a sermon about how we affect others. Yes, people notice our words, our actions, our tone, our lifestyle.

So what? Big deal. Why Should we care? Well, my thoughts exactly. If someone doesn’t like the way I act/live, that’s their problem. Right? Then these words were spoken and my ears perked up like a dog fixating on a noise. I rewound the podcast, listened again, and took it all in. One.Word. At. A. Time.

“Because the truth is, if you come in contact with someone you either leave them feeling better about themselves or worse, but you never leave them unaffected.”

Did you get that? Ya, no matter what, you leave an impact, or rather an impression, on someone. It’s up to you to choose how. I honestly can say I never really thought about that. Call me naïve, call me blind sided, call me whatever. BUT this opens up a whole new world to me and I find myself asking these questions.

How do I speak to others?
How do I show respect (for myself and others)?
How do I show genuine care?
Do I show compassion, gratitude, and love?

Maybe these are rhetorical questions for you? Maybe you already notice the way affect others (positively). No need to overthink, just take it in. Ya know?

Speaking of how we affect others….The Great Fundraising Act is Live!! And Susan is on twitter today sharing her story (1-2pm Eastern Time). Check it out with the #TGFA hash.

Freaking Awesome!

I’m auctioning off some Healthy Bites, but though I’d also share a recipe from a previous flavor so that you all can make them at home.

The Breakfast Bite

These bites remind of my favorite breakfast growing up. Cinnamon Raisin Oatmeal.

Ingredients:

1 cup packed organic raisins
3/4 cup rolled oats (gluten free)
cinnamon
3 TBSP honey (add more if needed)
1 serving vanilla protein powder (vegan, whey, etc.)
1 cup brown rice crispies

Directions:

combine raisins and brown rice crispies in food processor. Blend until raisins are chopped well. Then add oats. Pulse all together until oats are somewhat chopped and blended in. Transfer into a bowl and add remaining ingredients. Mix thoroughly and then roll into balls. Store in freezer or fridge to keep fresh. Makes around 20-25 bites.

Nutrition Stats per bite:

Calories 42; Fat 0.3g; Sat. fat 0.0g; Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 5.6mg, Carbohydrates 9g, Fiber 1g, Sugars 5.7g, Protein 1.5g

Look good, right? That’s because THEY ARE!!!

Cheers to a GREAT Monday! I’m off to bid!
LC

Weekend Rules

2011-07-23T16:42:00.000-05:00

I Lindsay, will take advantage of my weekend. I will not work (too much) or constantly think about what needs to be done. I will take time to sit, to relax by the pool (we’re still housesitting), and spend quality time with the hubs. I will not make plans or follow a training schedule. I will do what I feel like when the moment comes. I will smile, I will laugh, I will be kind to others (including myself), and I will breathe in fresh air (or humid air but you get the point).

I will follow these rules because I said so. And I need to practice what I preach!

oh, and I will make a vegemite/butter GF sandwich.......

because that tends to be a favorite around here on the weekends.

OC (outdoor conditioning) Workout

10 minute Warm Up (skips, butt kick drills, jog up and down street)

5 Push Ups on Curb then 5 power squat hops (repeat for 1 minute)
5 dips on curb then 10 jump lunges (repeat for 1 minute)
5 plank and knee twist off curb then 3-5 piston squats on each leg (1 minute)

Repeat 2-3x.
Run 3-5 minutes

10 walking Push ups on curb
10 walking lunges back to start
20 ab tucks on curb

Repeat 2-3x
Cool down jog, walk, stretching. (5-10 minutes)

Anyone else make weekend no rule rules?

Signing Off,

LC

p.s.
Don’t forget to tune in Monday for the GREAT FUNDRAISING AUCTION!!

Linkin’ Lindsay

2011-07-22T07:06:00.001-05:00

Haha, pretty clever, right? The title that is. By the time Friday rolls around my brain cells have diminished to about the size of pea. Seriously, not sure if it’s the heat or just the busyness.

Yes, I said busyness. I am still learning to let go of things and “lighten my load” but as soon as I do, something else smacks me in the face. I’m learning, learning to say no and be okay with less work, less obligations, less busyness. Please please, hold me accountable to this. Tough love works well with me people.

Anyway, this post is all about “link love.” You see, I am a bad blogger. I totally forgot to post some of the awards I was tagged in. Whoops. I really do have a terrible short term memory. Well, the other day, Matt actually tweeted to me about being linked in one his posts. Clearly this was a good sign to GET ON IT!!

So here I am. Ready to LINK it UP and take the challenge.

THE GOAL

To unite bloggers (from all sectors) in a joint endeavor to share lessons learned and create a bank of long but not forgotten blog posts that deserve to see the light of day again.
THE RULES

1) Blogger is nominated to take part
2) Blogger publishes his/her 7 links on his/her blog – 1 link for each category. BUT here’s where I’m going to switch it up. I’m going to link my favorites from other bloggers!
3) Blogger nominates up to 5 more bloggers to take part.
4) These bloggers publish their 7 links and nominate another 5 more bloggers
5) And so it goes on!
6) We’ll be sharing the best posts from participating bloggers on our blog and everyday on Facebook and Twitter at #My7Links

Instead of posting my links, I want to share 7 great posts from other bloggers.

Here it goes!

Most Beautiful: Jenny’s Beautiful Run
Most Blog Worthy: Janetha’s Great Fundraising act
Most Inspirational: Dorry and Yogging
Most Honorable: Heather’s letter to self
Most Hilarious: Sarah’s wedding shots
Most Edible: Any of these WIAW on Peas and Crayons
Most Creative: Mindy’s kitchen signs
And I am going to add one more. Most Determined…..THESE 2 AMAZING SISTERS!

So there you have it. A little different than the original “7 Links” challenge, but I am all about being different these days!

If I “LINKED” you, feel free to take this challenge and pass along the Link Love.

And be sure to end with some Overly Excited Pictures!

(thanks Sue)

Question: Do you have a favorite post this week? Link it up!

Cheers,
Linkin’ Lindsay

p.s.
I've got a new workout to share. Dare I post 2 days in a row? I guess you'll find out tomorrow.

WIAW special edition

2011-07-20T07:02:00.001-05:00

G’day there! Well, we made it. We’re settled into our next house sitting job. Luckily its just down the road. Sadie has new friends yet again. She’s adjusting. I like to think we’re making her more social, right? haha.

Anyway, today's WIAW has a little bonus. I think you’ll like it too. It’s another version of WIAW and I am STOKED! But first, lets get started with the food. Thanks to Jen, we’re all able to drool on our computers today.

Breakfast

Rudi’s GF toast with Cashew butter, greek yogurt, honey, fig, and big ol’ pear!

Need I say more with this drink? LUV!

Lunch- Green bean and falafel salad with chicken.

Oh and we can’t forget toast and VEGEMITE!

And not soon after that I enjoyed some Twin Cakes Vanilla Cashew biscotti with a cuppa tea.

The Twins are so amazing in the kitchen. You gotta check out their bakery items. YUM!

Another great snack bar from our local friends here in Austin.

Katie from Thunderbird Energetica sent us some great flavors. These bare are GF and Vegan.

Cocoa Hemp Walnut is my favorite.

Ahh dinner, another scrappy dish that turned out pretty tasty!

I call these my pizza tostadas.

2 corn tortillas held together with melted cheese (daiya works great),

then topped with zucchini, chicken sausage, pepper, and goat cheese.

Bake in oven for 10-15 minutes.

Okay and here’s another fun twist on WIAW.

Remember that awesome auction I was talking about? Well, its coming up!!

What I’m Auctioning Wednesday

I wanted to let you know some fun item being auctioned. Including HEALTHY BITES!!

And the hubs is auctioning off 3 of these Kswiss visors and a few Kswiss water bottles. Oh ya!

Check out THESE AUCTION ITEMS! I think I might just have to do my Christmas shopping 5 months early! All these products sounds great and our fellow bloggers are so talented.

I am still just so amazed by this blogging community. It’s a JOY to see these men/women who are there for each other (through the good and the bad).

Are you auctioning anything? If so, let us know! If not, see anything that tickles your fancy?

Hope so!

Cheers,

Oddly Delicious

2011-07-18T20:53:00.000-05:00

With everything going on in the Cotter household these days, I think its safe to say our days are pretty, well….. sporadic. Ever since we got back from Portland, we’ve been housesitting/dogsitting. In fact, we didn’t even unpack our suitcases. We just took them straight to our “house.” Quite the nomads here.

And poor Sadie, she went from my parents house (while we were in Portland), to this house (with 2 other dogs), and then tomorrow we will be switching homes and housesitting/dogsitting for yet another family. She’s really not sure what to think. But at least the dogs are welcoming her with open……bellies. haha.

Anyway, since we’re feeling quite nomadic these days our meals have been rather “odd.” Meaning, whatever is in the panty is what I’m making.

Not to worry, we did not forget to keep some Cotter staples with us.

Okay, back to my oddness.

So, the first night we got back from Portland we were pretty much empty handed. I had some wasabi seaweed snacks left over from the trip, some eggs, and some GF flour.

Can you guess what I did?

Yep, wasabi seaweed crepes.

Talk about ODD, but oh my, it was actually pretty darn tasty!!

Wasabi Seaweed Crepes

Ingredients:

2 tbsp GF flour (I used coconut and potato mixed)
3 strips of wasabi seaweed OR you can use 1 sheet nori with 2 tsp wasabi powder or wasabi mustard
1 tbsp oil
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2- 3 tbsp milk or water
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
any other spices you like. I added some paprika, cause we love paprika!
1 tsp baking powder
1 egg
goat cheese or white cheddar (optional)
Sirracha Chili sauce to garnish.

Directions:

Combine your flour, milk/water, spices, egg, vinegar, and baking powder. Mix/beat well until smooth. Oil a pan and place on medium high heat. Add your seaweed strip to the bottom of the pan. Let them cook for a minute. Then add in batter. It will cook up quickly. Flip over once and cook on other side until golden brown. Place on plate and add cheese to topping. Microwave or broil for the last minute in order to melt cheese. Then add the secret sauce…..sirracha chili sauce!!

Odd? Yes. Delicious? Surprisingly Yes!

What’s the oddest thing you’ve made lately? Did it turn out to be delicious?

Hope so!

Cheers,

A burden lifted…

2011-07-17T07:55:00.009-05:00

I think my sappy posts just might be coming back. But this time they are little more real. A big step for the good ol’ Cotter Crunch. But alas, it’s time to share a little more. Time to give you all a little more.

"God is lovingly taking everything that has happened, creating something of great worth.

In the void of our lives, He does His best work, faithful to bring order out of chaos, beauty out of darkness."

In a marriage, I firmly believe we should carry each other’s burdens. This helps lighten the load for one another and maybe, just maybe, relieve some tension. It’s all supposed to even out, right? Well what if those burdens kept feeding off each other and continued to weigh each other down more and more. It would cause huge stress and exhaustion.

A few weeks ago we realized that this was us. Striving to meet each other needs and wants while also carrying each other burdens just left us tired, feeling strained/stressed, and going nowhere.

I would often (and still kinda do) worry about the hubs training. Is he training enough or is he training too much? I don’t want him to be tired and feel like he has to work more in order to afford travel/accommodations for races. Is his knee feeling okay today? Is he eating the right meals? Am I making him enough food? Quality food? Should I budget more? Maybe I should take on more clients, teach more classes, or try to promote Healthy Bites more, etc. etc. etc. The point was, I wanted him to feel free to train and race as his profession and not worry about finances. So I busied myself so much that I when I actually did have down time, i became anxious. My stomach would hurt, I’d feel nauseous, and a little sick to my stomach. I had become one big ball of mess, and I had forgotten to take care of my own needs. In fact, I felt guilty when I did.

In return, the hubs would worry about me. He’d look at me and say “stop, just rest. Don’t worry about taking on more. You’re too busy.” He worried constantly about me and my need to take on more and more. It was always on his mind and I could see that he was stressed and feeling anxious about something. He felt useless, like he couldn’t do anything to stop this cycle. And he couldn’t.

So you see, we kept feeding each other’s burdens, to the point where it just became too heavy. Neither of us had strength to lift. We were too weak.

But where we are weak, HE (God) is strong. Through lots of continued prayer, we have realized that God is the only one who can carry these burdens. How have we not realized that before? How have lost sight of that? Easy, it’s the constant need to feel in control or want more out of life. That’s how. And with that, we lost JOY!

Today we are slowly but surely gaining strength. Strength to lift, or rather release these burdens from each other and hand them over to God. He is in control, not me. And first time in a long time, I am okay with that. Phew!

I write this today for many reasons. For one, I felt like God put it on my heart. And two, to let you see that life is messy and life is heavy. We are not the perfect couple. We don’t have our sh*t together. But thank God we don’t have to worry about that anymore. Instead, let’s love one another, pray for one another, thank God for what He's given us, and just live one day at a time.

Easier said than done some days, but it’s a start.

Cheerfully Yours,
LC

p.s.
I realize that not everyone will agree with me on this topic. This may not be a post you can relate to or want to read about, and thats okay. I wrote this for me today.
:)

I need a Cocktail

2011-07-15T07:10:00.007-05:00

Ahh the sweet sound of Friday. Doesn’t get any better, does it? Well, unless you're on vacation. But if you’re reading this, your probably not. This has been a week of catch up and boy does that hit you hard. Makes me want to run back to Portland ASAP. Spabettie, can I stay with you and Basil?
Needless to say, I’ve made it. A little break for the weekend. Time to relax, right? Hmmm, kinda. There are still a ton of emails that need to be answered, maybe…not sure. Honestly I don’t know what to do with them. I am a little overwhelmed. Help a Cotter out here.

Theses emails have one thing in common…..SOCIAL MEDIA!!!

BLOGGER, FACEBOOK, NETWORK BLOGS, TUMBLR, TWITTER, PINTEREST, GOOGLE+, etc. etc. etc.

What the heck did I get myself into? Feeling like Social Media Glutton. Now I know the basic ones; facebook, twitter, blogging. But Pinterest is a whole new world to me and now the hubs has put me on GOOGLE +.

This is my “I’m a bit overwhelmed, somebody hand me a cocktail” face.

Speaking of Cocktails. I made my own and guess what?

I decided to enter a cockatil contest with it….on facebook.

Go Figure!

I choose this cocktail cause for one, I love limoncello and one of my Italian clients makes her own.

She gave me a bottle. WOW, its good and STRONG!

And two,

Cascade Ice sent me some fun flavors to choose from.

So here I am, a Social Media Monkey, asking for a little advice. How do you do it all?

Do you even bother with Google+ or Pinterest?

And if your still into Facebook, go vote on my Cocktail Recipe HERE or HERE!

Cheers to Friday!

P.S.

need a "virgin" style alternative cocktail? Try fresh squeezed lemon juice.

A is for…..

2011-07-13T14:34:00.000-05:00

First of all, just wanted to say thank you from the Cotter Crew. Your kind words from the last post (race recap) pretty much MADE OUR WEEK!

So on to today. It’s a filler post. I firmly believe in filler posts if NEED BE! Meaning, they are informative, light-hearted, and fun or clever. I need this today. It gives my mind and my emotions a break. But it also keeps things going and moving, which is what we’re all about. Moving forward….one DAY at a TIME!

Here goes.

A is for…..

A is for Austin

We’ll be home for the month. No racing till AUGUST.

There’s no place like Austin, come visit PLEASE!

A is for Active Recovery

Since the hubs is not racing anytime soon, he can focus on a good solid block of quality training. But FIRST, he must focus on Active Recovery.

I decided I’d do the same with a little Aqua Jogging.

Beats running in the 100+ heat! And no I’m not injured or insane.

A is for ATE….(WIAW)

What, did you think I’d forget?

Lets just say we have yet to restock our fridge since being home.

But at least we have the Cotter Staples…

Eggs and GF Toast!

And on a whole other note, I am still thinking about these.....

the famous VOODOO donuts were at the PORTLAND RACE!

Think I could try to make these “GF style?” Now there’s a challenge!

A is for AUCTION!!

If you're not paying attention to this post (which is totally cool), at least pay attention to this!!

I sure hope most of you know about this by now, and if you haven’t, well here it is!!

Susan (aka the great balancing act) was recently diagnosed with Lymphoma. The scary thing is that she lived a very healthy lifestyle before all this happened. She is currently in the hospital undergoing treatment. You can read about her brave story here! But needless to say, cancer comes with more than just a diagnosis, it come with treatment and medical bills! Being self employed myself, I can only imagine the cost of treatment for her.

This auction is our chance to come together and support! Bloggers are awesome at this and we can help relieve Susan of this financial burden.

Check out Janetha’s page for details!! I’ll be auctioning off some fun items. But you'll have to stay tuned till next Wednesday to find out what. hehe!

So there you have it. My A list!

Any A’s you can relate too? Are you coming to Austin to visit me?

Cheers!