I also just completed party planning for my mom's surprise 60th birthday party -- my brother flew in (to MN) from LA and I flew in from DC and along with 70 of my mom's friends and family, created one big surprise for Mom! :) So I was planning that for the past couple of months from afar. (Well worth the effort for a successful party, though!) I also am on my 10-year high school reunion planning committee. I, unfortunately, can't attend this August, but have been happy to help with the planning and tracking down folks' contact info. On top of that, I've been babysitting more than ever. I have 5 families now that I am babysitting regularly for.
So you can't blame me for not being on top of the blog, right? I'm feeling great, though. I have to stop and remind myself how lucky I am every so often. I'm at my happiest when I'm busy, so I'm in my glory days. :)
One thing I want to share with you is my secret for a power breakfast. I decided to do my marathon training in the mornings. It's just too darn hot here to run later in the day, so I get up between 5:30 and 6:00 each morening and run 3-5 miles before work. On the weekends, I still get up as close to 6:00am as I can and get my run in early. Sunday is my long run day - so especially important to get the party started early. After every run, I make this super easy oatmeal. It's easy peasy - no need for a "recipe".
I slice up one banana and put it in the bottom of the bowl. Then I prepare one serving of "quick oats" oatmeal (cooks in 1 min) - it's 1 cup of water and 1/2 cup of oats. I pour the hot oatmeal right on top of the banana and top it with a handful of blueberries and a dash of rice milk. YUM.
Here's why it's good:
Oatmeal naturally lowers cholesterol, plus it's high in fiber, keeping you full all morning (among other health benefits). Bananas are loaded with potassium and (again) fiber. They also help aid your digestive system while promoting kidney health. The sweetness and texture of the bananas pairs perfectly with the oatmeal. Blueberries are loaded with nutrients and antioxidants, yet are low in calories. Great for your eyes, brain, digestive system AND has shown to help prevent ovarian cancer. And the tartness pairs wonderfully with the banana's sweetness. Give it a try - the worst thing you can do after a workout is load your body with high sugar, unhealthy cold cereal, so devote an extra minute or two and fix up a toasty bowl of oatmeal!
