owl_girl's Mentor Group for Mommies - CLOSED (Page 6)

Im Jeni, 37 yo, from SLC, Utah orginally from Rockville, Md. My husband and I have 4 kids ranging from 9yr to 9months. I did a Sprint tri 8 years ago and knew this was the sport for me. I get bored any one thing for too long. So mixing it up keeps me throughly engaged. Now that I have some more free time Im training. I have always maninted a good fitness level but lacked endurance.
I am an ICU nurse and have worked for the University Hospital in SLC for 10yrs.

Goals 2011: I signed up for the Xterra Oly Road Bike Tri in Moab, Utah May 14th. I want to sign up for about 1 per month. Wondering if that is a reasonable goal or if its too much?

Mostly I am training inside for now. Spin classes, swimming (ill join a Masters group in 2 weeks) and running on the treadmill.  Im using the 20 week training program I found on the the BT website.

I enjoy all the sports equally. They all intimidate me a bit but that is part of the attraction for me. I need some suggestions on buying a good bike on a limited budget. As well, if my Oly tri is 50% trail running should I have trail specific shoes or regular running shoes are ok?
Thank you!

Hi Jeni!  Thanks for checking in!  You can post any questions you have right here at any time.  We will all see what you write.  It doesn't matter if several of you have the same question.  That's why were here together.  We can all learn at the same time from each other.  Just ask away!

As for adding all of us as "friends", here are some instructions.

• Click on "Settings" at the top of the BT page
• Click on "Training Blog Customization"
• Click on "Friends"
• Begin adding all of our names
• Click on "Update Friends" when you are done

Oh no!  I hope they are OK! 

Hi All!  Hope you are enjoying the weekend and recovering from New Year's Eve.  I'm still coughing today but I want to do something so I think I'll do a strength workout and maybe some bike.  I've been cooking like crazy today- I'm experimenting with sourdough bread, so that's rising, and I prepped and/or  cooked a whole bunch of vegetables and some chicken so I'll have healthy food to start the year.  I'm planning to "eat clean" more, especially as I try to "return" the 5 or so pounds I picked up in the last few weeks!  I have been trying to think of a recipe- the problem is that I don't usually cook from recipes (and when I do I rarely follow them completely).  I make simple food but try to add flavor from herbs and spices.   I also have one very picky child, so I tend to have at least 2 things he will eat (a starch like bread, and a salad- he likes caesar).  Besides that we roast or grill, or sometimes braise.  We've started sourcing most of our meat locally- we have a 1/2 a beef, 1/2 hog, a lamb (and another one coming), and various whole chickens, so I've had to learn to cook more than grilled chicken breasts!  We are having rotisserie chicken tonight (we have an attachment for our grill), with artichokes, roasted potatoes, sourdough bread, and caesar salad.  And I promised the boys brownies so we'll make those today too- fortunately they aren't something I can't resist!   

Me too!  She has some good family recipes and plans in the newest book (and I think she has a family cookbook too).  I also love Clean Eating magazine- just picked up the new one .

Recipe Share- I'm making this up tonight for tomorrow night's dinner...... first time trying it but it looks good. Somehow the fam thought I was going to be serving them along with the ribs and cornbread? Ummmm, no.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/12/meatballs-with-peppers-and-pineapple/

Meatballs with Pineapple and Peppers

Ingredients

• 1-¼ pound Ground Beef
• ½ whole Onion, Diced Very Finely
• 1 whole Egg
• ½ cups Panko Bread Crumbs (or Regular Breadcrumbs)
• 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper, To Taste
• ½ teaspoons Crushed Red Pepper, More To Taste
• ¼ cups All-purpose Flour
• Canola Oil, For Frying
• 2 whole Green Bell Peppers, Seeded And Diced Roughly
• 1-½ cup Fresh Pineapple Chunks
• 2 cups Beef Stock Or Broth
• 2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
• ½ cups Sherry Or White Wine Vinegar
• ? cups Sugar
• 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
• Salt To Taste
• Crushed Red Pepper, To Taste
• Extra Beef Stock If Needed

Preparation Instructions

Combine ground beef, diced onion, egg, salt, pepper, breadcrumbs, and crushed red pepper. Mix with hands until combined. Roll meat mixture into small balls and place on a cookie sheet. Freeze on the pan for 15 minutes to firm.

Mix together beef stock, soy sauce, sherry (or vinegar), sugar, and cornstarch.

Heat canola oil over medium-high heat. Roll meatballs in flour, then fry in two batches until nice and brown, about two minutes per batch. Remove meatballs and set aside on a separate plate.

Pour off oil from pan and return pan to medium high heat. When pan is hot, throw in the chopped green peppers and cook for one minute. Add pineapple to pan and cook for one minute, stirring gently. Pour in stock/soy sauce mixture, then add meatballs. Stir gently to combine and allow to cook and bubble for a few minutes, or until sauce is thickened. Add salt and crushed red peppers to taste. (Hint: this dish is yummy if it’s a little spicy.)

Serve over cooked brown or white rice

We have chickens so we get fresh eggs every day.  My in-laws raise meat chickens, turkeys, and meat goats.  We share those since we help with slaughtering.  I'd like to get some milk goats.  We need to fence an area where goats would not be able to escape.  I think it's important for children to know where their food comes from.

I went on a 39 mile bike ride today in the glorious, sunny, 55*F weather!  The first half was by myself.  The second half with with my friends.  We had a great time!

We have been pounded by an incredible amount of rain lately.  It was nice to see the sun!

Good morning ladies!!!!  What are your active plans today?

I will be swimming and going to yoga this morning and then teaching Spinning tonight.

Hi!

I'm feeling a little better today- I think I'll try for a half-hour bike on the trainer tonight.  My husband's in class so I'll have to plan it around the evening schlepfest .  Right now I'm back at work trying to pretend I don't have a ton of stuff to get done!  I'm thinking I should try to fit in a little yoga routine too- I like yoga and have taken some classes in power vinyasa, but it's really hard to get to the classes.  I learned a little routine from one of our local triathlete/yoga instructors (yes, there is one), and I want to do that a few times a week, even if it's only 10-15 minutes long.