On a Break

So I'm on break from Grad School.  My program is a cohort program and you do 4 weeks on 1 week off.  We just finished Semester numero tres, for those of you who are counting!

Just to recap ...  The closing FINALLY went through ... it was a short sale so the process was rather daunting but we made it through.  We also survived the move! :P It was touch and go there for a minute! hehe

I am finally feeling like I've caught my breathe again after holding it in for six months. 

Just wanted to share what I was cooking ... and what I am cooking tonight!

EGGPLANT AND GROUND BEEF CASSEROLE

4 med. sized eggplants, sliced 1 lg. onion, coarsely chopped butter 1 1/2 lbs. lean ground beef 2/3 c. tomato paste 2 c. water 1 tsp. salt Black pepper to taste Saute chopped onion in butter until golden. Add ground beef and cook, stirring constantly, until it is crumbled and browned. Combine tomato paste with water, add salt and pepper and pour mixture over meat. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 5 minutes. Remove mixture from heat. Saute eggplant slices in butter until slightly soft. Place a layer of eggplant in the bottom of a well buttered casserole. Using a slotted spoon, add a layer of drained beef, another layer of eggplant, then beef and so on until all the beef and eggplant have been used. Pour the remaining sauce over the casserole and bake, uncovered in a 350 degree oven until eggplant is tender. Serves 4.

I'll keep you posted how it comes out! :)


Have a great day!

Thankfully Thursday

1. Well, I'm not running yet.  I'm not evening walking yet.  But even the thought that I will soon be doing both is something I am very thankful for. My life is still a little too eventful for me to get started today (which is what I would like) but my start date is quickly approaching and I'm still hoping to start before my planned date, but either way, it's going to be soon.
    
2. I am thankful that most of the uncertainty in my life shall be resolved very soon ... like pretty much by this weekend.  I'm also thankful to my family and friends for keeping me sane and level headed during this time. 
   
   
3. I am thankful that Grad School is whizzing by.  Time is flying by and the work is interesting and compelling.  I was afraid I would be bored out my gored when I started.  Thankfully, the material is intriguing and I am finding a way to relate with it.
   

... and last but not least ...

I'm also thankful it's Thursday, and the weekend is only a day away!

Happy Thursday!

My, My, This blog sure has gotten dusty!

Ok, so it's been 55 days since my last blog-session ... 67 days since my last run ... 6 months since I have trained in any consistent manner.

Here's the low down ...

• I am currently half way through semester 3 of 7 at FIU's CMBA program, working towards my MBA. Grad School = Stressful
  
  
• I am currently in the end stages of purchasing an apartment, all by myself, like a grown up. Who knew, I grew up! :) i.e. = Even more stressful
  
  
• Regardless of whether the sale goes through or not, I need to move by the end of this month because my lease is up ... YIKES!
  

All of this has taken it's toll ... I've gained ~25 pounds ... am again suffering from migraines ... and find my self esteem isn't at it's best.

Time to make a change?

Yes. Yes, I think it is!

I will be in and out over the next 10 days or so ... but hope to return to full bloggie-dom by August 30th.

Just in time for Marathon training, I reckon?

I plan to start a 6 week Couch-to-5k program and then start on Hal Higdon's Novice Marathon Training plan.

Wish me luck!

3 days and I'm STILL SORE!!!

Ok, so it's been 3 days since my Muay Thai class at ZEN'S PLACE and I am STILL SORE!

Muay Thai (Thai Boxing): Known as the art of “eight limbs”. One uses the hands, shins, elbows and knees as part of their arsenal. Thus Muay Thai allows one to execute strikes using eight points of contact.

Re-enforcing the fact that it has obviously been WAY TOO LONG since I have worked out!

It was a great class and a super fun workout and I can't wait till next Tuesday to do it again!!!

As for tonight, I am going to do some sort of Yoga (which I probably should of thought of earlier) and get in some sort of easy cardio (not sure what yet though).

Next race is already dawning on the horizon and still no running! Maybe a nice jog will lessen these aches and pains!

Happy Friday!!!

Update On What's Going On

So It's been 115 days since I started Grad School and a lot has gone on over the last few months:

• Mom & I ran at the 7 Mile Race in Marathon, FL.



MOM MADE IT!
I paced her and was very much Drill Sergent like! But she didn't get picked up by the bus! So YAY!


• My Family went to Cuba to visit where my grandparents used to live and where my mom grew up!





• I turned 32!

Sorry, no photos!

• Mom and I ran the Tour of the Gables!



Ran this one with mom too! :)

• Mom & I ran the Twilight 5k! I probably shouldn't have because I hadn't trained but still made it.

So I haven't run consistently, since Mid January so I am way off on my 1000+ Challenge but I'm not going to let that get to me, I will recalibrate and set a new goal. I have been keeping up on my Race-A-Month Challenge, even if my race results haven't been stellar (You can't expect to PR when you run once a month!) and I've gained about 15 pounds in the last 6 months.

But I finally decided to do something about it. Yesterday, I went to a new gym where the workouts are Martial Arts based. Yesterday's class was Mauy Thai! VERY FUN! I tried to stay for the Jujitsu class which is what I really wanted since Jujitsu is a close parent to Judo which is what I practiced in College but I barely made it through the warm-up! YIKES, I used to do this for 3 hours and barely broke a sweat! Time to get back on the wagon!

I am hopeful that this will give me some extra motivation, since it's been running in short supply lately! :( I hate that feeling!!! GEESH!

Today am hoping to get out for a short 2 mile walk-run to release the soreness from last night's work out.

Wish me luck!

Grad School Count Down: 381 days to go!

Happy Wednesday!

Press to Reset

How'd I 180 and 10 Days till the 7 Mile Bridge

So first things first:

I FINALLY GOT SOME RUNNING DONE!?!

It felt really good to finally get out there.

Monday I did a 4 miler and yesterday (Tuesday) I did 3 miles only about 40 seconds off my time pre-sabbatical

Today I'm slated to run with my co-worker which always turns into a walk :\ but I may need to leave her because I have some serious work to do in the next 10 days and I won't be able to run tomorrow. I don't like doing that but I might have to :( Normally, I would walk with her and then run on my own but I won't have time for that today because I'm getting behind on my study schedule and I need to keep it balanced.

I feel like I've done a 180 from the last 40 days. I don't know what came over me and was keeping me from running but it's gone now. I'm not going to question it and try to figure out what happened, I'm just going to be thankful it's gone.

The 7 Mile Bridge Race is 10 days away ... and even more exciting, today they announce the New York City Marathon Runners. I signed up last year (when my running was much more consistent) but I still want to get it, it would be great motivation to stay on track! It would be my first full! :}

Happy Wednesday!