How to Keep Your Engine Fueled

This was my week to do the longest run before the marathon. I managed to get in 20 miles yesterday. The weather was perfect and my ankle made it all the way. My calves did start cramping at mile 18 so that made for a painful run/walk the last two miles. ( My chiropractor daughter told me I need to be taking magnesium supplements to help with that.)

In order to have enough energy for my long runs I have been trying to eat really healthy. Lots of whole grains, fruits and veggies. I didn't really want to rely on granola bars to snack on so I was happy to come across this Trail Mix For Runners recipe. It is extremely easy, delicious and sticks with you. It would actually be a great snack for anyone that is working hard.

Runner's Trail Mix (courtesy of Runners World)
1 cup dried blueberries
1 cup dried tart cherries
1 cup almonds
1 cup walnuts
1 cup sunflower seeds or pepitas (pumpkin) seeds
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips

Mix all together and enjoy. (I think you could also add in a little flake coconut.)

1/4 cup serving is a great evening snack for me. Along with staying hydrated this should help me on those long runs!

Give it a try!

How to Get Fabulous Feet

 

If I had my life to live over

 

I would start barefoot earlier in the spring

and stay that way later in the fall.

I would go to more dances.

I would ride more merry-go-rounds.

I would pick more daisies.        

by Nadine Starr

 

Here in Minnesota our temperatures are FINALLY supposed to be warming up! That is giving all of us spring fever!

 

Are you ready for spring and bare feet? Here are some tips on

 "How To Get Fabulous Feet".

1. Soak your feet for about ten minutes.

2. Pat feet dry.

3. Clip toenails straight across or file with an emery board (but wait until toenails are completely dry).

4. Using a pumice stone, remove any rough areas.

5. Massage cuticle area with a little oil or moisturizer.

6. Gently push back cuticles.

7. Apply foot cream/lotion and massage into each foot.

8. Remove any excess lotion.

9. If you wish to apply polish put a small amount of polish on your brush; paint one stroke down the center of your nail. Stroke the sides of the nail and you are done.

10. Wait until polish is set and then apply the top coat. 
      Don't skip this step as it not only adds life to your pedicure, it will protect your nails as well.

Our Gathered From The Garden products can help make your pedicure special. Try our Peppermint Foot Soak, Foot Scrub and Foot Soak. Our Flip Flop Foot Cream is intensive therapy for dry feet. Use this at night and your feet will be ready for summer sandals and flip flops. We also have Pedi Balm, a roll-on, not a liquid so you can pack it in your carry-on!

(These would also make great Teacher Appreciation Gifts or Mother's Day gifts!)

Has spring arrived in your part of the country yet?


 

Wordless Wednesday

The only flowers blooming around here are at our local greenhouse.

It Could Always Be Worse

Last Friday put a leettle crimp in my Marathon training. I was so careful to not run on any icy roads so I wouldn't fall. So what happens? I take a tumble down the garage steps at my daughter's house. I ended up spraining my ankle and my arm. (Yes, there were tears shed from pain and from the realization that I wouldn't be running the Earth Day Half Marathon the next morning.)

But, things could always be worse. We thought at first my arm might be broken. Luckily, after my chiropractor x-rayed it we found out it wasn't. My ankle had just a simple sprain. I heard today that part of the half-marathon course was a very icy downhill. I know of two gals who fell down and got seriously hurt. (hamstring injury and blown-out knee)

So I am recovering and saying prayers of thanksgiving that I wasn't hurt worse. My daughter is my chiropractor. Lucky for me she could get me into her clinic several times over the weekend for ultra-sound and inferential treatment. The swelling has gone down quite a bit and so has the pain. I'm trying hard to be a good patient and follow all of her directions. I'm so hoping she will give the ok for me to run later this week. I am scheduled to get in my last long run this weekend before the marathon in 4 weeks.

I am actually a little embarrassed to even write this post after what happened in Boston. My injuries pale in comparison to those marathon victims and their injuries. You can bet that when I'm running my marathon I'll be running for them!

(Any tips on how to take care of a sprained ankle?)

Wordless Wednesday

Are these guys wondering why they came back so early?

"A Dream So Big"

 

I was given a book called A Dream So Big to read and review. When I opened the package and saw the cover I thought what kind of book is this? Do I really want to read a book about Africa. (not my favorite place--Paris or London yes, Africa, no) So the book sat on an end table for a few weeks forgotten. I finished reading a Jodi Picoult book and looked around for another book to start. I saw this one. What the heck, I thought. I'll give it a try.

The first part of the book gives the background of the author, Steve Peifer and his family. Steve and his wife Nancy lost an infant son shortly after he was born. To escape the pain, the family decides to follow Nancy's dream to be a missionary in Africa.

Once the family gets to Africa and Steve begins to describe the horrific poverty they encounter I could only read the book in segments. It was very hard to read about starving children and the AIDS orphans. Steve tells of his family's trials and tribulations along with their joy. He uses narration and shares emails he had sent to friends back in the states. He paints a picture of incredible frustration with the Kenyan government and incredible resilience in the face of almost insurmountable odds. He also shares how the generosity of many helped him feed thousands of starving school children. (Being a teacher it was really hard to read the descriptions of the schools and classrooms.)

One of the things I found most incredible was that he was able to set up computer-training centers using solar power. At schools in remote places without running water or electricity children were learning how to use technology. Steve felt it was one of the ways the next generation could help lift themselves out of poverty.

I can't imagine the sacrifices that Steve and his family made in moving to Africa and living there. I can't imagine giving someone giving that much of him or herself to help strangers. I am truly moved that someone would! (After the Boston Marathon pain we need to be reminded that goodness is still out there.)

Reading this book makes you want to do your part in helping children in poverty. In the back of the book Steve lists ways that we can help the children of Kenya. Besides buying the book you can go to this website which provides instructions on financial support for Steve's school feeding program and the computer centers. You can also read his blog posts there.

If you are looking for a book for your next book club I would highly recommend this one!


 

Hearts Broken Again

For a different perspective on tragedy you need to read this post today, such a sad day. 

You're Only As Old As You Feel or You're Fabulous At Every Age?

Today I needed to run 17 miles for my marathon training. It was a very hard 17 miles. We had just gotten over 8 inches of snow and the streets outside are very slippery. That means running inside on the treadmill. To top it off, I have a touch of stomach flu. I can't tell you the number of times I wanted to quit.

While I was running, I was trying to make time go faster by reading O magazine. Interestingly enough, there is a section on "Fabulous at Every Age" spotlighting women of different ages. The last person they chose to spotlight is Ida Keeling. (I had never heard of her before.) She is a 97 year-old sprinter. She broke the US sprinting record for her age group in 2012. She finished the 100 meter dash in just under 52 seconds! She didn't even start running until the age of 67.

This little bit of inspiration was just what I needed to finish out the 17 miles. Some days this body feels so old and I think what the heck am I doing? All of those young people are going to fly right by me at the marathon. Then I think of Ida, sprinting at age 96. I don't know if I'll still be running then but now I know it's possible. And...it's possible to keep this "not so old?" gal still going!

.

Such Lovely Words...

I came across a super sweet blog by Hannah Brencher. Her writing is just lovely and inspiring. I have to send you over there to read her post 25 Things Every Woman Needs To Know. You'll nod your head in agreement and smile. Then you'll want to read more of her other posts.

Grab a cup of coffee or tea and head on over for a "soul snack"! Then come back and tell us what you think of Hannah's writing.

Wordless Wednesday

Fifty and Fabulous

I had the pleasure of listening to a well-known photographer talk about photographing different demographic groups. It was interesting how she used different posing, lighting and marketing for each group. What I found especially noteworthy was that she said that no one markets to the women over 50 group.

She asked the audience if they could think of any major marketing campaign for us "mature" women. As with the audience, I couldn't think of any. Every once in awhile, I have seen in MORE magazine articles that will list things to wear, or products to try for women in their 20's, 30's,40's,50's and 60's. (I haven't ever seen anything past the 60's. Don't women in their 70's and above want to look good or are able to look good too?)But really no one has a specific marketing campaign for us.

So that got me thinking about my own company. We have baby products, aromatherapy products and general products for men and women.I haven't done any marketing for my own age group even though we have wonderful skin care products for mature skin.(Gathered From The Garden's Facial Serum is just heavenly on mature skin!) I'm going to have to give that some serious thought as to how I can reach the women over 50 group.

How do you feel about this issue? Have you seen any marketing specifically for the over 50 group? Have your mothers or grandmothers ever voiced an opinion on this?

 

Wise Tips for Living

I read about a woman who lived to be 91 and her husband to be 100. Her name was Helen Nearing. She was a great pioneer of simple living. Helen had eleven wonderfully wise tips for living not only a less stressful life, but for living in a more connected and organic way.

Here are some of her tips:
1. Do the best you can, whatever arises.
2. Be at peace with yourself.
3. Find a job you enjoy.
4. Live in simple conditions; housing, food, clothing; get rid of clutter.
5. Contact nature every day; feel the earth under your feet.
6. Take physical exercise through hard work; through gardening or walking.
7. Don’t worry; live one day at a time.
8. Share something every day with someone else; if you live alone, write someone; give something away; help someone else somehow.
9. Take time to wonder at life and the world; see some humor in life where you can.
10. Observe the one life in all things.
11. Be kind to the creatures.

What a truly wise blueprint for living! I know that I need to get rid of clutter--in my home and even in my mind sometimes! I think if you nurture plants and animals you can't help but nurture humans too. The one that hit me the most was to share something with someone else every day. I thought that would be really easy but when I started to work on it--sometimes I had to really think about what I wanted to give and to whom. I should have just started with something easy like a smile but I wanted it to be a little more meaningful for me and the person I was sharing with. I am going to try to add more of these tips to my life.

Something you could share with someone else is any one of our Gathered From The Garden products. They are bound to put a smile on your special someone's face. Check out our website.

Which of these tips is your favorite?

Wordless Wednesday