Everything But...

My blogging has been pretty sporadic lately but that has always been normal behavior for me especially during the summer when it is just so beautiful outside that the last thing I want to be doing is sitting inside blogging.

I had meant to start off my weekend with a long run but since I had ran pretty hard on Friday, I was still a little bit sore on Saturday morning so I decided to hit up the farmers market instead. Everything is currently available and plentiful. Lots of beautiful bright colors and I even found some Romenesco which aren't always available. I didn't pick some up this weekend since my fridge is packed to the gills but next week if they are still there, I am getting some for sure.

So instead of running, I played some tennis this weekend. I picked it up again a couple of weeks ago and am starting to get my groove back.

Source

Speaking of getting my groove back...I've been playing more and more with Dance Central lately. It is definitely getting easier but I think I played with it too much this weekend because I woke up this morning and my glutes were really sore.

Source

Finally, I went online last week looking to buy a new bike jersey and I wanted a Hello Kitty one but I wasn't able to find one. So I decided to design my own over at Eclipse Cycling. You basically get a starting template and you control almost all aspects of the design. When everything is the way you want it, they print it for you. This short sleeve jersey here runs for about $29.99. Pretty neat, right?

Help Me Pick Out A Swimming Cap?!

Hello hello! I haven't blogged in about a week so it warranted two 'hellos'. I haven't blogged because all I did last week was go to work, recover from the race and celebrated National Running Day (June 6th) by going for a run and having dinner at Souplantation with some amazing local runners. And when I say 'amazing' it is because of the incredible amount of salads these ladies can put down. Overall, it was a good day.

Some time last week I saw Heather tweet about doing her last long run on Saturday, so I got the bright idea to go out there and keep her company for parts of it. I had a company picnic last Friday afternoon. Later that evening I had a bad stomach ache. I may have over done it at the picnic buffet line. I told Heather that I wasn't feeling well and wasn't sure if I would make it out the next morning. But the next morning I was feeling better. I got up later than I was suppose to but I was feeling better. So I laced up and went out looking for Heather. I had started about an hour later than her so I took lots of shortcut in hopes of catching up. But due to starting too late, maybe going the wrong route or running at a sluggishly slow pace, I never found Heather. But due to the June gloom, it was a nice overcast day for running.

After my run I went to the farmers market to pick up some produce for the week.

And it is officially cherry season. Get'em while the gettin's good!

And look Peonies! I love June! Overcast skies, Cherries, Peonies...

After shopping at the farmers market, I went to Salad Republic to get a Greek yogurt snack. It was amazing! This place boasts an impressively healthy and delicious menu. I joked on Twitter that I was going to be the duchess of this place on Yelp soon but I was only half kidding around. I think I am just going to give my 30-day notice and move right on in.

I hung out at the mall on Sunday with my family. It's been a really long time since I've been to a large mall. My niece dragged me to the Baby Gap to help her pick out a swimming cap because well you know...it's swimming season and she has to look her best. She wasn't sure about this one but I thought it looked adorable on her!

Running All Day...Errands That Is

Last night before I went to bed I wrote up a list of errands that I had wanted to get done today. It's been a while since I've had a free Saturday to run errands so I wanted to get as much of it done as possible. First up, I wanted to hit up the farmers market to pick up some produce for the week. I've missed the beautiful produce at the farmers market. If you like beets and Maui onions, you are in luck because they are in season now and they are huge! I saw some cherries but they are not quite there yet.

Next up, the OC Fairgrounds to pick up my race packet for the OC Half Marathon tomorrow. Really slow moving traffic into the parking lot of the fairgrounds. Thousands of people trying to get into a small area. Sucked! I ended up parking on a side street because it would have taken me two hours to get into the fairgrounds parking lot. There was a lack of signage so I had no idea where the registration area was located. There was a kids race going on near the Centennial Farm area so I just walked over there. I finally found the expo located in one of the buildings. I picked up my bib and shirt, walked around a bit and left. From there I headed to the car wash and then the grocery store.

This photo has nothing to do with errands, just some pretty flowers from Sister K.

Some beautiful produce I got from the farmers market that I will be cooking up for my pre-race carbo meal this evening. 

And for dessert...

Spectating the Socal Half Marathon

This morning was the running of the SoCal Half Marathon held in Irvine the first weekend of January. Believe it or not I did not run it this year even though it is literally in my back yard. My UC is acting up so I haven't been running as much as I would have liked but I woke up early this morning to cheer on my fellow runners.

The spirited ladies of Team Sparkle: Sarah, Kat, Heather and her daughter, Julie, some super short chick and Margot. When I saw Heather's tweet a couple of weeks ago about being out on the course on race morning to cheer on the runners, it occurred to me that this was the perfect opportunity for me to still be a part of the race without running it. Plus I would get to spend some time with some of my Ragnar teammates.

I'm such a rookie at this race cheering stuff, unlike Sarah who came with an actual cowbell or Heather who came with posters or Julie who came with extra cowbells and mimosas (thank you for lending me a cowbell!) or Margot who came with orange slices. Gah! Next time!

It was actually really fun to spectate and cheer, plus we coordinated the heck out of those Sparkle skirts. Hehe. It wasn't even planned. Being a spectator did make me realize that I need to be more interactive with the crowds the next time I run a race.

Photo borrowed from Sarah

I left my cheerleading duties early because Sister K was in town and I wanted to spend time with her.

We went to the farmers market to pick up some produce for the week. Then we went to a late lunch at a Korean restaurant. I will post about that at a later time.

I've been craving strawberries but they have not been looking very good in the markets but today I saw these organic ones and they are amazing!

Since we had a late lunch, we made this snack later on in the evening to eat while watching Chopped. Calling it a day! Good night!

Running 14 Miles 4 Cupcakes

Happy Saturday! I had a long run this morning and was suppose to wake up at 5:30 but I slept in a bit and didn't get started on my long run until 7:30. I was so lucky that it was an overcast day so it wasn't too hot the entire time I was out running. I had 19 miles on the schedule but my legs had other plans. I did manage to get in 14 miles but my legs and feet were really tired. I decided that was good enough since I have a half marathon coming up next weekend. Who else is running America's Finest City Half?

After my run, I headed to the farmers market to pick up some groceries. Fresh eggs from Gama Farm, oh how I've missed you. Grocery store eggs just do not compare. These are at least 1.5 to 2 times larger and the yolk is brilliant yellow. But how does it taste, simply amazing!

Some water spinach because I LOVE this stuff.

I also picked up some plums which are so sweet right now.

And this...

I picked up a hunk of Roquefort cheese a few weeks ago at the Cowgirl Creamery and I am dying to have some in a salad. I am going to make an epic salad for dinner on Monday. As a note, I am able to tolerate this cheese because it is made from goat's milk plus I've heard that the mold used to cultivate this cheese is good bacteria! Well, at least I'd like to believe they are good. :)

I picked out these pretty purple flowers that the florist informed me were called Dahlias. Now I know!

Aren't they gorgeous?

Then I headed to Susie Cakes to check out their 5th Birthday Party celebration. They had a DJ spinning beach music out front and beach decorate throughout the store. 

And number 5 cookies!

They were busy in there today because...

...the first 50 people to make a purchase got a complimentary pack of 6 mini red velvet cupcakes. So now my regular size red velvet cupcakes have some mini companions! ;)

Happy 5th Birthday to Susie Cakes and 4th Birthday to my Blog! Nothing says "happy" and "birthday" quite like cake...make that red velvet cupcakes!

Teddy: Momma, seems like you look for any reason to eat cupcakes.

Farmers Market @The Ferry Building (SF)

So the farmers market at the Ferry Building in SF makes my local farmers market look like child's play. I mean just look at this...

Unfortunately, I don't live here so I didn't buy anything but I would have loved to do some cooking with all this amazing produce.

Hog Island Oyster

Freshly shucked

Oooo...these were so good! All of them.

Hayes Street Grill - we didn't get a chance to eat here but it smelled amazing.

There was even a Raw and Organic food stall.

I purchased some organic juice. Yum!

Film crew filming something.

I forget what this stall was called but the baked goods looked and smelled so wonderful.

Blue Cheese from Point Reyes!!! I love me some blue cheese!

HOURS

Tuesday: 10am–2pm
Thursday: 10 am - 2pm
Saturday: 8am-2pm