Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay

I signed up for the Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay at the end of January. I have been busy training for the Salt Lake Half Marathon in April and the Ragnar in June. (I'm also doing the Women of Steel Triathlon in May). I'm starting to think I got myself in over my head. I am Runner #11 for my team the Hairy Breeks. Here is a little info about my legs. Wish me luck!

Leg #1
3.7 Miles described as "VERY HARD"
On my first leg I will have beautiful views of Pineview Reservoir but I will also be climbing approximately 900 feet in 3 miles. I googled how to calculate the incline because my estimates have been nowhere near 900 feet. I will have to train on the treadmill at 5.6% incline. I don't even know if the treadmill goes that high.

Leg #2
5.5 Miles described as "MODERATE"
I think they have adjusted a few legs of the race. When my team first decided who would be what runner, this leg was over 7 miles long. I will get great views of Rockport Lake and run through Wanship.

Leg #3
5.4 Miles described as "VERY HARD"
They also shortened this leg. It used to be over 7 miles also. I actually enjoy running downhill. I am excited to run through Deer Valley and Park City.

KEEP CALM AND HAVE A CUPCAKE

I made coconut lime cupcakes with white chocolate frosting last night. They were so yummy. Check out the recipe here. They reminded me of Spring and I can't wait to make more than just a short appearance.

I love cupcakes. Who wouldn't want to eat a cupcake sitting on this adorable stand like the one below. (Just as clarification. I did not actually make any of the cupcakes on the stand below. This is just a picture I found on line.) A special thanks to my sister-in-law, Collette, who bought the cupcake stand for my mom, which means that I have access to it. I served yummy lemon cupcakes from it for my flatmate, Emily's birthday. It was definitely a hit.

THE RETURN OF...

THE DOMESTIC GODDESS.


Feast your eyes upon the scrumptious Spiderman cake I made last weekend. In light of the recent economic downturn and feeling a little under- recognized / appreciated / valued in my current profession, I am considering quitting my job to become the female version of The Cake Boss (aka the Cake Goddess). My little brother, Scott, says I have some mad skills.

I wasn't sure Spidey would turn out. I used a Devil Food Cake mix and added buttermilk like the cake doctor recommended. I even greased and floured the pan but Spidey did not want to come out. His top fell off a bit but I put him in the freezer for a couple of hours and with a little extra frosting he turned out just fine.

I have been feeling a little more domestic lately. For Christmas I got the Pioneer Woman cookbook and I love it. I cooked the lasagna last week and it was honestly the best lasagna I have ever made. I also recommend the Migas recipe. Whenever I tell people about the cookbook they always ask if it is a Mormon cookbook. I explain that it is just about a woman who feel in love with a cowboy. My favorite response has been "well wouldn't hat make it the cowgirl cookbook." Whether she is a pioneer woman or a cowgirl, I highly recommend her website. Check it out, it may bring out the domestic goddess in you.

SUGAR FREE IS NOT FOR ME...

My last post appealed to the hearts of my flatmates. We decided to end our sugar fast. It did take quite a bit of negotiating to convince Anne. Emily and I were relentless and convinced her to share this blessed container of Phish food. As we were dipping in our spoons I said "I dreamed about chocolate ice cream." Some of the other memorable comments from the night included:

• "It was like cutting out a part of my soul." (Emily)
• "I don't think I learned a thing in the last week." (Emily)
• "I think I'll be a little better. I probably won't have rolos for breakfast." (Emily)
• "I have a lot more mental space now because I'm not thinking about food." (Anne)
  

Now Panic and Freak Out

My mantra for the year is to Keep Calm and Carry On but I have been doing more of the above recently. I am sick for the second time in two weeks. There is a constant stream of snot coming from my left nostril and my left eye has been twitching. I am a wreck. I called the family Nurse yesterday to ask for advice. She said the twitching is probably just a muscle spasm and that I need to take vitamins. She also said that I have probably been depleting my vitamin stores with all of the excessive running I have been participating in. I ran for an hour and a half on Friday after work and then went snowshoeing the next day. I have also been a little panicked about the calling I have been avoiding for years finally catching up to me.

Another hypothesis about my current crisis is that my no sugar policy is the cause. My flatmates decided to go off sugar after the Valentine's sugar cookie binge a few weeks ago. We are just off until the end of February, but it seems like eternity. Emily and Anne I blame my eye twitch on you and my current sugar deprivation.

Marzipan [mahr-zuh-pan]

Yesterday was my birthday and of course, my dad's birthday. My mom was sweet enough to order a Marzipan cake from Schmidt's Pastry Cottage. What is Marzipan you ask? "Marzipan is a confection consisting primarily of sugar and almond meal. It is rolled into thin sheets and glazed for icing cakes." Marzipan is definitely an acquired taste. This was my first Marzipan from Schmidt's and it was the best I have ever had. The frosting was still soft and the four layers inside were the perfect combination of cake and raspberry filling. In one word, Delicious!

Let it snow...

Six more weeks of winter...I would normally be disappointed in a certain groundhog but I've been too busy playing in the snow to care.

The last weekend in January I went up to Monte Cristo which is just past Huntsville. Several years ago I had done a pioneer trek with my ward in the same area. We arrived just after dark, dressed in our snow stuff and snowmobiled to a cabin. It was freezing but the full moon was breathtaking. I was reminded of the full moon as I rode a camel up Mount Sinai. My camera could not do the moment justice.

The next morning I woke up to a beautiful winter wonderland. Seriously can life get any better than this?




I was surprised with an early birthday present. My newest pair of shoes are pictured below. It was seriously just what I wanted. Life is great :)