Tag Archives | Smutha Mutha

Scenes From the Weekend (2/8/13)

By on February 10, 2013 in Chef Bob, Meatloaf, parental units, running

The highlight of this weekend was most definitely seeing my parents. Chef Bob and Smutha Mutha don’t live too far from me but I miss seeing them on the regular. On Saturday afternoon, my plus one and I drove to Gettysburg, PA to have a leisurely lunch at the historic Dobbin House Tavern. Rumor has it this is one of the oldest homes in America that was later converted to a restaurant and tavern. You guys know I am a bit of a history nerd so I was totally in my element.  

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The atmosphere was definitely my favorite part. The home is on the National Registrar of Historic Places so everything is as it was in 1776. I enjoyed spitfire chicken and a baked potato, though I neglected to photograph it. We took a couple of cute photos before heading our separate ways.

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My favorite guys and I.

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The famous Chef Bob and Smutha Mutha. I love them so much!

Speaking of love…Smutha Mutha, Josh, and I all love chocolate and peanut butter. As such, my mom brought us Zimmerman’s famous chocolate peanut butter eggs that are only sold during this time of year. These nuggets will be my downfall. Josh and I plowed through most of them in the car and I saved one to savor once I arrived home.

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I just can’t even. I promise they are worth every decadent calorie.

Once I emerged out of my chocolate peanut butter coma I headed to Trader Joe’s with Chef Bob’s Meatloaf recipe in hand. I decided to use turkey since I am trying to lose weight and all that jazz but I promised to share the original in all it’s glory with you guys! Check back tomorrow for the full recipe.

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I then proceeded to spend all my money and came home to a fancy dinner of Trader Joe O’s.

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And then I made muffins and passed out. I love quiet nights at home.

This morning I woke up early and hit the road.

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(That’s my game face.)

It was a beautiful, cold morning. I ran along the Mt. Vernon trail and stayed on the Virginia side rather than crossing into DC to run the National Mall. It was a nice change of scenery.

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I hit the halfway point just after the Key Bridge in Georgetown and turned around to face headwind and so many gradual inclines. Around the 7.5 mile point my legs were feeling the pace I was trying to keep and it became a mental battle to finish. I wanted to walk SO BAD but I kept telling myself that these are the runs that make you stronger and that it would be worth it in the end.

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It was totally worth the pain to see double digits again. I haven’t seen that mileage since I stopped marathon training over a year ago. It feels good to know I fought for that number.

The remainder of the day has been spent recuperating, brunching, and baking.

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I can’t believe tomorrow is Monday again. :( I am looking forward to a short workweek and a fun getaway next weekend.

Question: What was the best part of your weekend?




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“When you wish upon a star”- Disney 2012 (round 2)

By on January 11, 2012 in Disney magic, Disney World, overeating, smutha mutha

I am currently blogging at the airport and I am not happy about it. Disney 2012 has come and gone much too fast and I am already nostalgic for the great times we had.

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(I have no shame in Disney. None what soever!)

This place holds a very special place in my heart and it is always difficult to walk away from people I love so much. That said, I refuse to make this a sappy post. I mean, we were in Disney World after all! It is pretty difficult to be sad in Disney.

So after a short night’s rest we were ready to head to the Magic Kingdom for a fun filled day.

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My favorite park! I love that it is so secluded that you have to take a monorail to get there!

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View from the monorail station. That is the Contemporary Hotel conveniently located on the monorail line.

Our first stop in the park, after the bathroom of course, was to pick out our ears! Cat snatched up this feisty pair right away…

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…and I kept holding out for some Goofy ears I saw the day before but never managed to locate again.

‘Twas a beautiful day to stare at the castle and hit up as many rides as possible.

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The park was surprisingly crowded but we managed to get fast passes for Space Mountain and waited in a couple of lines to go on our favorite rides.

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Soon enough it was time to eat! I started off each day completely on plan and usually kept up my resolve through lunch. Both days in the parks I ordered the greek salad which was delicious but sadly lacking in protein which meant my sweet tooth took over and well….

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…this happened. I love love love these cookies and Smutha Mutha has been feeding them to me for as long as I can remember. It’s practically tradition.

We caught the 3pm parade in Frontierland and ended up making a special friend from Syracuse! He handles traffic control during parades and shows so we ended up seeing him multiple times throughout the night.

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For a crowded park he sure showed up a lot. :) Anyways, the parade was super cute and I snapped the most important picture…

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Hey Cinderella, heyyy.

After the parade, Cat and I caught a glimpse into our future.

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And then proceeded to sit on the ground and eat popcorn/people watch.

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As the sun set on the castle and dusk turned to twilight the real magic of Disney came out.

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You see, Cat and I like to surprise Smutha Mutha at least once every trip. She does so much for us to make our experience magical that it is only fitting to return the favor. So this year we took Princess Sharon to meet her fellow kinfolk.

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I can honestly say I have not laughed that hard in years. Each princess remained in character throughout the whole thing and really helped Princess Sharon feel in her element. Serious props to Cinderella for fielding Princess Sharon’s questions about how she stays so thin while eating pumpkin all the time and to Aurora for not laughing when Princess Sharon asked if her kiss was “the best one in her lifetime.”

The finale of the day came much too quickly but we certainly went out with a bang.

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I’m sick to my stomach just looking at it. That said, it was worth every decadent bite.

I was sad to leave the park knowing we would not be back. But there is always Disney 2012 round two or Disney 2013 to look forward to and I am already counting down the days!

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Question: What is the most gluttonous thing you have ever eaten? I am pretty sure that cinnabon is the top on my list!

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“Wishes!”- Disney 2012!

By on January 10, 2012 in Disney magic, Disney Marathon, Disney World, smutha mutha

Hi everyone!

Sorry for the disappearing act but what can I say…there is just way too much Disney Magic to experience and not enough time!

I received a few emails/tweets/facebook stalking comments asking how the race went (not sure if y’all were referencing the half or the full), but I thought I should just let you guys know that I ended up opting out of all of the races. Why? Well, for one thing, I am in no shape to run 13 miles right now. But more importantly there was 1 bib and 2 of us wanting to race.

In the end it seemed only fair to give my sister the same experience that was so monumental in my health journey so with that said…

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…she did great! Rach finished in 2 hrs and 30 minutes and I could not have been more proud!

As for the rest of the vacation, well it has been full of magical moments and memories that I would not trade for anything. It started the moment I landed as Smutha Mutha planned the mother of all surprises and had my best friend fly down without me knowing! Of course I cried in the airport like a sap, but honestly it just isn’t a Disney trip without Cat.

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Here we are in 2009.

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And today!!

We spent the first day relaxing. Think mani/pedis, a trip to Whole Foods, and a quick workout around the lake at our hotel.

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The evening was spent with my cousins and aunt in Downtown Disney and actively seeking fro-yo.

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(Ohh yeahhh cookie dough!)

Day two was all about the parks! We frolicked through MGM (now Hollywood Studios but I am old school) and Epcot. I was even able to cheer on the marathoners at mile 23!

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The parks were pretty tame which was great as we were able to hop on and off plenty of rides. We stopped for lunch and this happened:

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(not mine.)

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But a happy Cat makes for a fun Disney experience so I sat and watched while munching on my $10 greek salad.

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Don’t fret. It was not all healthy eating. Not by a long shot. Shortly after I calculated my points for the salad this happened: IMG_1330

Yeahh…it took about 3 tries to even get to the apple. ‘Twas glorious.

The rest of the night was spent riding seashells (name that ride!) and walking around Epcot enjoying the scenery.

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We were headed to dinner in China after our little stroll when I heard someone yell my name. Then, before I could even take in what was happening, Disney magic happened right before my eyes! My running buddy Bridget found me!

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It was a short, but oh so happy reunion, and by far the highlight of an already amazing day.

Whew, long post! I’ll be back tomorrow to recap our day in the Magic Kingdom! Princess Smutha Mutha lived it up so if you like entertaining stories about her, you’ll want to be sure to check back!

Question: What is your favorite ride in Epcot and/or MGM?

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How I plan to navigate the holidays

By on December 23, 2011 in adjusting, Holidays, overeating, smutha mutha, weight, Weight Watchers

For most people the holidays are a time of ultimate stress on the food front. Christmas cookies and Hanukkah treats at every corner, big meals on the actual holiday, and countless booze and treat filled parties to navigate. Thats a lot of temptation.

I can relate to this. My company essentially runs on cupcakes and free snacks in the kitchen so avoiding “the extras” is no new point of contention for me.

But this holiday season and beyond (I am looking at you Disney 2012!) will be different. Different because I am in a different headspace than I was a week ago. Different because I say so. And most importantly, different because I have the strongest of supposed networks. That is the most valuable thing during tough times.

I don’t know if I have mentioned this before but my resident Smutha Mutha is a Weight Watchers leader. Once upon a time she lost 40lbs, took control of her life, and became the best role model a daughter could ask for. Having family in town may be an excuse to deviate from the (new) norm for some, but having my own leader in house is going to put me at a serious advantage.

We have agreed to stay on program no matter how challenging (and it will be challenging if you have ever seen the holiday meals Chef Bob whips up).

And for my upcoming Disney trip, same plan. I anticipate using the extended break from work to fall back in love with exercise and portion control.

Life isn’t going to stop or slow down while I get my act together. I am going to roll with the punches and adapt when necessary.

I am striving for progress, not perfection.

(On a completely unrelated note…t-minus 5 hours until the parental units arrive! Wahoo!)

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The parentals are coming!

By on November 21, 2011 in apartment, Chef Bob, D.C.

On this perfectly cloudy and cozy day off from work nothing feels better than preparing for the arrival of my long lost family.

It has been 5 long months since I have seen Chef Bob and even longer since I’ve seen my busy sister. But that is what the holidays are all about…bringing family together. Sure I have to work the day after Thanksgiving (it is Black Friday after all!) and I most definitely will not be partaking in any turkey carving festivities… but none of that matters. My family unit is descending upon D.C in a little over 24 hours and I could not be more excited.

I am really thankful that my family was able to accommodate my busy work schedule and come to DC for the holidays. I appreciate it more than they probably know. I’m not sure what I would have done if I was not able to be with my family this time of year. Sappiness aside, the reality of my clan invading this apartment tomorrow has very much set in and there is work to be done!

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So after a relaxing breakfast of pumpkin banana oats, pumpkin spice coffee (I like pumpkin, no judging!) and a little quality time with my blog I am off for a fun-filled day off from work.

First up, BodyRock and a short run. I am doubling up my workout today in anticipation of tomorrow being a rest day.

Then it is off to grab some last minute things for the parentals arrival and my groceries for the work week. I’m following that mindset that Thanksgiving is 1 meal and the rest of my food will be completely normal. Bucket salads are here to stay…as soon as I get some spinach.

I also need to finish cleaning the apartment. I knocked out a good bit of scrubbing last night while catching up with an old friend but there is still work to be done!

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I don’t take lightly the fact that this is the first time Chef Bob and Smutha Mutha will see the life I have built for myself here. I want everything to be perfect. I never imagined that I would be the one hosting Thanksgiving this year. Last year at this time I had no job, no plans, and no idea where my life would take me after graduation. The six month lull of living at home presented some trying times. Chef Bob, Smutha Mutha and I had many serious conversations around the dinner table contemplating what direction my life would take.

And now…5 months after deciding to take a leap of faith and start over I have so much to be thankful for. My parents support, a great first job (with so much opportunity to grow), the people I have met here, and the countless ways in which my life changed. Sometimes I wake up and still can’t believe this is the life I have built for myself. I can’t wait to share it with my family this week!

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Welcome to the Ikea Family!

By on August 28, 2011 in bucket salad, D.C., family dinner, oatmeal, smutha mutha

Before Irene unleashed her fury on the D.C. Metro area Smutha Mutha, Chef Bob and I set out to Woodbridge to take in the mecca that is IKEA. I had never been before but had been warned that I was in for an overwhelming treat.

I started off the day with a blog post, some blog updates (I told you I was going to whip this baby into shape this weekend), and a filling breakfast.

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(Breakfast: 1/2 cup oats, egg whites, water, cinnamon, and stevia. Served with 2 clementines.)

A mere 30 minute rainy car drive later we arrived at the mega-store.

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Shop we did. Ikea is an interesting experience. Affordable is an understatement, but they make you work for it. You mark what you want to purchase on the actual floor where everything is set up and then you go down to a warehouse to load it all yourself.

At this point I was thanking my lucky stars that Chef Bob was there to help with the schlepping.

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With a bit of finagling we managed to load my entire bedroom furniture set onto one flatbed. Then it was time to checkout.

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It was at this point that I was welcomed to the Ikea family. Mazel tov to me.

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Above is a couple of odds and ends I picked up for the apartment. Plates, silverware, a bathroom trashcan, and a plant for my desk at work (priorities!) My roommate and I will go shopping for all of the common area stuff once we have actually moved in so we kept the extras to a minimum.

Once we made it home alive (the roads were pretty messy), we feasted while watching the news and drinking nice wine. #ilovefamily

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I started a bit earlier than everyone else with a huge bucket salad since I had not eaten since the oatmeal in the early AM. A few hours later the table was set and Chef Bob’s masterpiece was revealed.

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Veal Parm…obviously not for me.

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Enough Pasta to feed the masses of hurricane survivors…or a family of 4.

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My precious parents.

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My plate: Pasta, farmer’s market broccoli, marinara sauce, and garlic bread.

Chef Bob certainly did not disappoint. I went to bed with a full, full belly.

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This morning we woke up with power and sad news that the majority of people around us are without power. I’m still not sure how I turned out to be so lucky during this storm but we are no worse for the ware over here. The plan for the day includes mattress shopping (if the stores are open), another homemade meal by Chef Bob (!!), and a sad goodbye with the rents (if their flight isn’t cancelled).

Question: How did you fare during the hurricane?

P.S. I posted my Marathon Training Schedule!

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