If at first you don't succeed Tri, Tri, again!!!!!!!

I believe that some people are born with natural talent, or they have that natural ability to be ridiculous good at something. Like Michael Jordan and Basketball or Scorsese and film making, or Lea Michele and singing.Now this doesnt mean that they didnt work their butts off, but people have their hidden talents and sometimes they stay hidden until they are brought out somehow. For me it took a while to find out what I was truly good at. Growing up I was never good at singing or anything musical, which is strange cause I am full blood mennonite..haha! And I was never the artistic one either, but I was always pretty athletic. Though I have always been athletic I have never been the top, the one breaking the records or getting scholarships or really dominating one sport. But in the last few months while I was training for my first sprint triathlon, I realized something...my talent, my natural ability, my gift, is.... EXERCISE!!! I am freakishly good at Exercising! I have been exercising consistantly since the seventh grade, when I started running a mile in the mornings before school. Later in high school I participated in a sport that most people would consider a punishment...Running ie: cross country & track. And then when I got into college I was probably one of the only students at Goshen College who was up at 5 am at the Rec Fit, working out. When I got into college I started cross training, spinning, lifting, swimming, running, jump roping, kick boxing, zumba...you name it and I did it! 

busting out of the water after the swim!

So anyways my point to all of this is, this past sunday, May 29th, I finally put my talent, my passion, my natural ability, my hard work, into something, and it was a triathlon. It started with a 500 yd swim, then went into a 12.5 mile bike, and finished with a 3.1 mile run. Going into this I thought I would just take it easy and do the best I could, but my natural competitive nature had me going right from the start of the swim. Swimming is one of my strengths so I got an early lead in the pack of women and finished my swim in 8 minutes and 34 seconds. Then I moved into the first transition area and hopped on my bike. The first few miles of the bike were a little unsettling because I was riding a real racing bike, that I borrowed, and that was made for things like this and I was not used to it. So I got smoked my  a few people in the first few miles of the bike, but once I got my barrings I made up some ground and was really able to push it through the up hills and down hills. I finished the bike in 41 minutes and I felt strong...probably because of all those spinning classes!ha! When I hopped off my bike at the second transition my legs felt like Jello, but surprisingly I had a great run. The first mile was all down hill and then the second mile was all up hill and the third mile was up and down hill. I actually finished the run in 24 minutes and 20 seconds! So in all with the transitions I finished in 1 hour and 18 minutes! I was the seventh female overall and 45th out of 130 people! So overall it was an awesome experience! Even better was that I got to do this with my dad! I whooped up on him in the swim but he beat me with the bike and run and finished just over a minute faster than me! But that is awesome for a man in his 50s!haha! Me and my mom and Dad had such a great weekend in southern Ga doing this and all I can say is that I am officially ADDICTED!!! I definitely want to do more of these triathlons in the future for sure! So until that time you can find me at L.A. Fitness doing what I do best...Workin Out!!!haha!


peace and blessings

Music Mayhem..."yeah yeah!!!!!!"

So I decided it was time for a little update...No No, there are no recipes today, no strange celeb news...although did ya see Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez kiss at the Billboard music awards this past week??? AWKWARD!!! Anywho I decided that this post would be my opportunity to share a few good tunes that are kickin off my summer! Now I could share with you my 30 new fave tunes but I understand that would be totally overwhelming so im just gonna give ya a few now to ponder!!


1. "Pumped up kicks"- Foster the People

- Though this is actually a dark song about a kid who is an outcast and goes crazy, it has a very upbeat melody. Its a catchy california tune that will have you singin "all the other kids with thier pumped kicks better run better run faster than my gun..."


2. "Light up the world" -Glee Cast

-This song had me singin and dancing long after the finale was over. This is a new original song by the Glee cast and I am totally loving it! I have it on my workout mix on my ipod and its my total self esteem booster! Love it!


3. "Lost In my Mind" -The Head and The Heart

- This song makes me want to whistle and play guitar. Its a totally chill and cute song that I love to get lost in. It starts out light and builds and builds. So roll down your window, put your sunglasses on and get Lost in your mind and in this song.


4. "L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N" -Noah and The Whale

- Not sure if I just missed out on this song or what, but I have loved Noah and The Whale for about a year now and just stumbled upon this song a few weeks ago. I love it!!! This song can be kinda depressing and very up lifting at the same time...Crazy how artists can do that with their tunes.


5. "Belong Here" -78 Violet

- I was sad when the CW cancelled Hellcats but at least I am left with this song... which I love to workout to!ha! Sisters Aly and AJ Michalka used to be Aly and AJ and now they are 78 violet. And there tunes are a bit "Disney" but still fun! so check it out!


6. "Missed Me" -Matthew Mayfield

- I love Matthew Mayfield and all his songs are awesome but this is a new jam from his new CD "Now Your Free". Its just a good old rockin tune and i love his voice! A true rocker who also has some slow jams that are totally romantic like "First in line".




So yeah check out some of these Jams and let me know what ya think! Next week I will post some new jams!!! Turns out Im obsessed with the word "JAM" if ya couldnt tell already!


Peace out girl scout...


-AL

Black Bean soup & Cobb Pita's Recipe 5/25

Hey guys I got a new recipe for ya, and its one my mom makes so well! Now I know you might think that soup in 95 degrees would not be good, but this black bean soup, rivals that of the one at Panera, and it works in any season. So try these two things together: the soup and the cobb pita salad

Black Bean soup & Cobb Pitas

Black Bean Soup:
Ingredients 
4 (15 oz) cans black beans
1/2 can (15 oz)
1/2 cup chicken broth
small onion
minced garlic
cumin
salt and pepper to taste


saute 2 cloves minced garlic and onion (cut up into small pieces) with a little bit of olive oil on medium t high heat
-After about five minutes, add three of the cans of black beans
-Add the chicken broth and tomato sauce too
-Add some salt and black pepper
-Stir on the heat for about ten minutes


Take the mixture off the heat and puree it using a blender or handheld blender etc.
-Add cumin to taste (how ever much you like, mom just kinda tosses it in)
-Add more salt and pepper for taste (again its whatever you like) 
- Then add the last can of black beans but do NOT puree so that you have some whole beans in the soup for some texture


If serving at this time put it back on heat for a few minutes until hot, if not you can put it away in the fridge till a later time or even freeze it for another day! serve with a dollap of sour cream on top and some chopped up onions
-Serves about six people


Cobb Pitas:
Ingredients
-1 package american style lettuce blend
-1 & 1/2 cups coarsely chopped smoked turkey breast
-1/3 cup bacon bits
- 1 cup Monterey jack cheese
-Dressing of choice
-small cherry tomatoes halved
-Whole wheat pitas cut in half


Combine first five ingredients in bowl and toss
Fill each pita half with lettuce mixture and top with some cherry tomatoes
-Serves 4 people (each person gets two pitas halves)

Summer Lovin had me a blast...NEW RECIPE 5/21

Hey everybody happy weekend! I have many reasons to be happy this weekend, and not just because it is 95 degrees outside...

1) I had a garage sale today and even though it wasnt quite the hit I hoped it would be, I still made a few bucks from it...as you can see in the pic we didnt have that many customers!Ha


2) this new frozen yogurt place FIVE SPOT opened up today and they were giving away free yogurt and it was sooo good! I am totally loving this new fro yo craze! its way better for you than ice cream but it tastes just as good!


3) FIRDAY NIGHT LIGHTS- now I realize that this show was on last night, but my dad DVRed it so that we could all watch it together as a fam. I love watchin shows with the fam! But anyway this show is probably the most well written show on tv and its ending this season. I have watched it since the the beginning and its been an awesome show! So if you havent ever watched it the I recommend you start with season one and watch all five seasons cause it is addicting.


3) and the fourth and final reason today was great is because my mother, whom I love dearly, tried out a new recipe for these Cane Pole Kabobs, and they were delicious! Thanks for cooking Mom! 
 check it out!

- wooden kabob skewers
- 1 (16 oz package) turkey sausage, cut into one or two inch pieces
-1 (16 oz jar) marinated cherry peppers (they are like sweet peppers) YUMMM!!
-2 medium sized sweet onions cut into pieces
-2 green peppers (or any other vegetable that you want to go on your Kabob)
-1 cup barbecue sauce


1. Preheat the grill to 300 or 350 depending on your grill. Soak your wooden skewers in water for about fifteen minutes to prevent burning


2. Thread sausage, peppers, onions, and any other vegetables, evenly on to skewers


3. Place kabobs on the grill for about five minutes, until sausage is lightly browned. Then turn them and grill for a few more minutes. Then brush with barbecue sauce and grill for few more minutes.


4. Take off the grill and serve with additional barbecue sauce if desired. 


Suggested side dishes: corn on the cobb, dinner rolls, and potatoes! This is a great summertime dish and isnt bad for you is you use turkey sausage!! ENJOY!

Namaste on my mind

"Its Thursday, Thursday, oh why do I love Thursday???" See Rebecca Black, I can write a song about a day of the week too!! NOT HARD!haha anywho I love Thursdays cause so far today is great and I want to share with all of you, whoever YOU might be, why today is great and what is knockin around in my noggin! 

This morning I went with my dear mother to Yoga. I have been a cardio girl since I can remember and I never wanted to do Yoga. But I decided that this summer I would deviate from my regular six days a week cardio and do one day of Yoga at L.A. fitness with my mom. Let me tell ya people Yoga is hard....like I would rather run a 5k at 7 minute mile pace Hard! I realized I have no stretching techniques and Yoga kicked my butt! While it was really tough, it was also very relaxing! So I am going to keep going back and eventually Im sure I will be able to keep my feet flat on the floor during DOWN DOG (who comes up with these names for the moves????)! I encourage you all to try Yoga if ya havent yet!!


Secondly, my bro aka Radio DJ Zach Miller aka claims to know music, sent me a link for a group I had never heard of called Walk The Moon. The song is called "Anna Sun" and I am obsessed with the song and the vidoe...especially the dance number in the middle of the video. So do check out this song at the link...im sure you will love it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW7f54tVRmQ


Third, as most of you know its nearing the end of my which means most of our fave shows are either ending for summer or beginning for the summer session, this also means that network execs are relseasing what shows got cancelled, what got renewd, and what is new for the fall! If your like my mom you can cry over Brothers and Sisters ending, but if your like me you can say "hey I loved Hellcats, but ya win some and ya lose some, but lets celebrate the NEW" and after watching some of the previews for the new I am getting excited to see what is in store for the fall! Here is a link to watch a few preview videos for some new shows on the CW network (a personal fave of mine) http://www.tvline.com/2011/05/cw-fall-preview-secret-circle-ringer-dixie/

And lastly, I have forgotten how awesome the band, Toad The Wet Sprocket, is! Tuesday's One Tree Hill featured the song "Walk On The Ocean" which reminded me how much I loved them back in the day!!! anywho check them out too if ya havent already heard of them!

Okay I think that is all I got for now...I got to go apply for jobs and plan a garage sale!!! Peace out 

Parachute's "The Way It Was" Album Review

Okay people I know what you are thinking...She is updating again??? Three days in a row!! All I can say is don't get used to it, im sure I will get busy soon...Hopefully!ha! But until I become otherwise occupied by applying for jobs, some sort of work, or working out, I will continue to blog frequently.

Anywho last night I came across the band, Parachute's new album on Itunes. It is called "The Way It Was" and its a follow up to their 2009 #1 chart topping album "Losing Sleep". Now if you are like me, you might only remember their one smash hit, "She is love", but other than that I didn't give to much thought about this band... But their new album is awesome! There are ten tracks of easy listening tunes with appealing vocals.  Many of the songs like "Kiss me Slowly", "White Dress" and "You and Me", have enough sappy love in them to make me think T-swift wrote these. Never the less, though many of the songs are about love, they are easy listening and very catchy. Also most of these songs kinda make me wish I was in love...So if your in love, these could be your tunes!LOL! Anywho my personal fave on the album is the single "Something to Believe in". It feels like an anthem of sorts, its very catchy, and it has a gospel like chorus. I definitely recommend you to check out this album, cause it is a fun one!

Check out the link here to hear the song "Something to Believe in" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyVZ4uVHYRw

Cooking with Allison 5/17

Hey everybody, just as I promised in my first post, I will be giving you all sorts of neat recipes, workouts, movie reviews and rants! Today I decided to try a new recipe from Southern Living Magazine, and its for a Smoky Chicken Chili! Its a delicious white chicken type chili and its really healthy! If you are on weight watchers like me, its only 5 points plus for a whole cup! So if you like to cook I reccomend you try this recipie:


Ingrediants:
2 poblano chili peppers, chopped
1 large red bell pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves minced
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 (14.5oz) cans zesty chili-style diced tomatoes
3 cups shredded or chopped chicken
1 (16 oz) can navy beans
1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 & 1/2 cups low sodium, fat free, chicken broth
1 (1.25oz) packet of white chicken chili seasoning mix


How to:
Saute first four ingredients in olive oil in a large pan over medium/high heat on the stove for about 5 to 10 minutes. Then stir in diced tomatoes and the next five ingredients in any order. Bring it to a boil on high heat for a minute. Then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes to an hour, stirring occasionally. Serve with toppings such as sour cream, cheese, cilantro, corn or tortilla chips. 


A great side to this dish is guacamole and tortilla chips!


Here is a pic of the finished Chili on the stove! It easily serves a family of 5 or 6 people! Enjoy!

Blogging Now!!!

So now that I have graduated from college and I have no idea really where my life is going (other than the fact that I am going to move to Florida and try to get a teaching job there), I have decided to start blogging. I have many friends in many places, and I think this is a great way to keep people updated on my life, my interests, and my rants!ha! Most people who know me, know Im not the best writer but I do love to talk. So I want to use this blog to share all of my passions with you! I love to exercise, cook & bake, listen to music, and of course watch movies! So each week I will be uploading posts about exercising things I do, or new recipes I like to make, or what music I am into these days, and last but not least good old movie reviews (cause you all know I know what I am talking about when it comes to cinema!haha) So we are going to try this blog thing out for the next year, while I am transitioning to the next chapter of my life and I hope you guys will check out the blog and take this journey with me!

-Peace and Blessings,

Allison