Cold Cream

Today I made some cold cream in my pharmaceutics lab.  It was not an exciting day.  

From this...

...to basically this.

My hands are extra moisturized.  I'm going to work out and clean up the apartment a bit, but tonight I think I'm going to post a super fun giveaway to make the day a little more exciting... 

Maintaining the Balance

On days where there is a big exam that seems all consuming, it's hard to maintain what I strive to do on a daily basis.  Striving to live the healthiest that I can seems to take a backseat to the major project on my plate.  I know it's a constant struggle for most people, but it's definitely a tough one to master as a student.  

Sometimes you can't fit that workout in because an extra hour of sleep with do you wonders when you are going to be up late studying.  Sometimes meals get skipped, then bigger, slightly unhealthier meals are enjoyed.  Sleep schedules are thrown off kilter, and everything becomes slightly out of wack. 

I try not to have an all or nothing approach to eating and fitness.  Today was an off day because I was busy with an exam, and then needed to rest after it is over.  Tomorrow is a new day, where you can make better decisions eating-wise, and can maybe find the time to fit in a great workout. 

I mean, if these guys can make the time to find the balance and workout...then I should be able to as well.  

Tomorrow is a new day!  :-)

Season's 52 for my Mom's Birthday

Last night was my mom's birthday and we all went to Season's 52 in King of Prussia to celebrate! 

We sat in the piano bar and enjoyed our favorite tunes all evening

My parents

Mom and brother

My brother and I

Me and Joey

Season's 52 has a seasonal menu and a weekly special menu that changes 52 times a year

Riesling was a must for my mom's big birthday bash

App 1 - Weekly special flat bread - goat cheese, balsamic onions, roasted peppers, and artichoke

App 2 - Ripe Plum Tomato Flat bread with fresh basil, roasted garlic and melted Parmesan cheese

App 3 - Caramelized Crab & Shrimp Stuffed Mushrooms with roasted garlic and Parmesan cheese

My entree - Roasted Artichoke-Stuffed Shrimp with wilted leaf spinach, pasta pearls and clam cioppino sauce

Mini indulgence - Chocolate peanut butter mousse

Birthday girl!

I really love the fresh, delicious food at this restaurant.  Everything we ordered was out of the world, and the ambiance was great.  I had just recently gone for the first time with my mom in Florida when it was the last week of their winter menu.  I was happy I got to sample the spring menu as well.  If you haven't been to Season's 52 before I highly recommend it!  All of their dishes are below 475 calories and are fresh and seasonally inspired.  And yummy.  Go try it out!

Today is a day full of studying for my exam tomorrow.  Assume my diet will consist of too many cups of coffee to count.  I'll post tomorrow afternoon.  Hope everyone out there is have a Monday that is a little less stressful than mine!

The Billy Mock Foundation 5K

Today I had a mid-day 5K at Ridley Creek State Park in my hometown.  It was pretty nice having a 2pm start time because it allowed me to go out late last night and sleep in.  

Basically it allowed me to drink these puppies all night last night

Pre race brunch: Whole wheat wrap with goat cheese, reduced fat Buitoni pesto, grilled chicken, and spinach.  I also ate some un-pictured hash browns.

delicious

It was a surprisingly large race and a lot of people from the community were there.  I really enjoyed running in the park (it's a nice change from city running...sometimes you just need a little nature.)

Getting ready to race

And they're off!

Finish line...some youngsters putting me to shame.

There was a DJ, food, volleyball, and lots of fun family stuff to do before and after the race.  It was well organized and I really enjoyed it.  The first half was all downhill and I was making great time (9 minute miles).  I wasn't really sure if we were doing some sort of loop or if it was out and back until I started to see the speed demons coming back towards me.  I then was a little bit dreading the uphill second half, but it wasn't too terrible.  Unofficial time under 34 minutes...I forgot to stop the garmin so I don't know the exact time. 

Awesome giveaway bag at the race.  It included a long sleeve t-shit, Comcast Frisbee, Comcast tote bag, pop chips in sour cream and onion and BBQ, a coupon for a free hand-spun milkshake at Chick-fil-A, a coupon for laser tag (random?), an orthodontist pencil and sticker, a TD bank pen, a Colgate mini-tube of toothpaste, and a Nature's Code protein smoothie mix in berry.  I'll take it!

After the race, Joe and I had planned to walk the 5 mile loop in Ridley Creek Park, but we decided to save that for another day and head back to my parents house.  We had some time to kill before dinner so he studied, and I walked on the treadmill in our basement gym.  I did the 5 miles I was planning to complete on the loop so I was happy about that.  8 miles total for the day. 

Now I'm pooped and my legs are tired.  Time to shower up and get ready for my mom's big birthday dinner!  We are going to Season's 52 in King of Prussia and I'm really excited to try out their Spring Menu!

Did anyone else do any races this weekend?

Race for Humanity

Today I participated in the Race for Humanity that was actually being held at my school.  Since I'm trying to do as many races as I can and support my fellow student organizations, today was a win-win.  

Today was a cold day in Philadelphia, and I did NOT want to get out of my bed.  I let the fact that the race was just a few blocks away fooled me into not being there ridiculously early in case anything was to go wrong.  So I got there a little before the race was supposed to start, grabbed my bib and t-shirt, and then worked my way over to the start site of the race which was a few blocks away.  Lucky for me they started 5 minutes late and I got there just in time to snap one picture with some of my sorority sisters walking the race before they shouted GO.

We obviously weren't even all ready for it, but there was no time for a redo

I'm not going to lie this race was tough for me.  Since I got up so late, I didn't really drink water or eat anything beforehand.  I wasn't fueled properly.  I also hadn't run much this week, and it was bitter cold.  All these tied in together to make this race harder than it needed to be.  

The course was through a cemetery (weird huh?), and it was 3 larger loops, and the last loop had a bit of a short cut.  It was hilly, which I didn't like, and tough.  I don't really train on hills, and all of the race courses I've run so far have been flat.  

(Pro of the Loop Course...my number one fan had 5 chances to snap pictures of me..so enjoy me looking like I am about to keel over)

After I finished my chest wasn't feeling so great, and I was really ready to get out of there.  Unofficial time was 34:50.  Nothing to write home about, but I'm happy that I didn't quit.  Plus I got to sport my new Skinny Runner Fueled by Frosting Made by Miles tech tee so that was nice.  

Post race breakfast - Breakfast sammy on Thomas' everything bagel with egg whites, reduced fat Sargento shredded cheeses, and turkey sausage.  

After my post-race meal, I promptly passed out for a nice post-race nap.  I am about to head out and grab some lunch with my number one spectator at a place we've been craving lately.  :-)

All in all, I've never regretted a workout, and I'm glad I got it done with today.  I don't like being a quitter so I'm happy I didn't quit.