Slow Food

What could be in there??

It's CSA (community supported agriculture) Tuesday and you know what that means...pictures of veggies (and my cats).  I think that they are just as excited about our CSA delivery as I am because it means they have a box to jump inside!

Avi loves the CSA box!

What?? Mangoes from my CSA?!?!

Today's delivery did not disappoint and actually had a BIG surprise....Mangoes!  I really think that joining the CSA has been one of the best things I've done in a long time.  Not only am I getting some awesome organic veggies but I am helping to support local farmers.  I am really starting to embrace the slow food movement and recently started reading Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingslover.  It is about her family's one year plan of buying or growing as much of their food as possible from neighboring farms or their own garden.  It is also about how our food choices effect our health, the economy, politics, and our environment.  But don't worry, typical of Kingslover, this book is well-written and captivates the reader, making it hard to put it down at night, even if it is after midnight and I have to get up at 6 am!

One of my New Year's resolutions has involved eating better...but not just choosing veggies over junk, but eating better veggies (organic and local, sometimes known as more flavorful).  I had started by getting eggs at the little chicken farm I drive past almost everyday...it's always fun to stop by and be greeted by a swarm of curious chickens of all types and then to open up the carton and find not just brown eggs but some that look pink and even green!

The Welcoming Committee

Green eggs!!!

About a month ago I received an 'invitation' to join Farm Fresh to You, a local CSA that my 'practically' daughter-in-law uses.  Using a Groupon, I was able to procure a fabulous assortment of veggies and fruit for $15!!!  Well, I was so impressed that I decided to stick with the programming, getting a delivery once every 3 weeks.

If you have access to a local CSA, farm or even a farmer's market I challenge you to try to purchase as much of your produce as possible from these great resources.  They may not have the full selection as your big chain grocery store, but you will most likely be able to buy locally grown, in-season, organic produce at a better price.  And you'll also be helping to support a farmer  by allowing him/her to pocket the profits that would otherwise go to the big corporations.  Click on the CSA link above to find out more!!



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Taking One for the Team

I sometimes forget things, which is why I have been carrying the Amy Knapp's family planner with me for the past 6 years (although I don't have a "family" per se to keep track of, just ME).  Yet, I still managed to forget that Tuesday was my first Farm Fresh to You CSA delivery.  Instead, I remembered Wednesday morning but was pleased to find that not only was my box delivered and waiting on the front porch, but the weather was reasonable and didn't destroy any of my beautiful veggies by sitting out all night!

The BEST carrots ever!

Even Miso loves her veggies!

Aside from a quick fried rice I made for dinner last night, those veggies will have to wait a few days before I can get creative and utilize all of that goodness.  It's been a busy week for training and Team in Training fundraising activities.  Tuesday night was a buddy run at a local park...and even though it was cold, extremely windy (gusts up to 40 mph!!!), and dark out I managed about 3.4 miles in our 30 minute run.  Then I was home to make dinner for the BF and me (he works swing shift so dinner is about 9:30pm), clean up and catch up on blog stuff (mostly reading).

After work Wednesday, there was a fully body kettlebell workout with Lauren Brook's DVDs (Vol 1 and 2) followed by some light house cleaning and envelope addressing for TNT.  Thursday was a big day of finishing my fundraising letters...addressing and stuffing 150 envelopes!  I had to take a break to run to the court house to get some necessary paperwork to update my passport (Cabo trip in May!!!), grab a late lunch at Chipotle, and go grocery shopping.  Let me tell you, it was very strange to skip the whole produce section at the store since my fridge is full from my CSA delivery!!!

Exactly 150 letters, now give me my t-shirt!

Hmmmm, he looks suspiciously like my BF!

After unloading the groceries I forced myself to do a 31 minute interval run on the treadmill...I really lacked motivation and even resorted to whining a little bit to the BF.  But he didn't fall for it, announcing that it will not be because if his sheer laziness that I fail to accomplish my goal.  Thursdays are a normally scheduled run and will be held as group runs at the track starting next week so I might as well get used to them.  Besides, I feel like I'm no longer running just for me...I have a team now and honorees that I am running for who keep me going when I want to quit.  As a matter of fact, my honoree, Josh, had a chemo treatment on Wednesday...poor little guy.  His reward was to go where ever he wanted for lunch, which was Fresh Choice (most likely for the soft-serve ice cream) so the least I could do was drag my lazy butt on to the treadmill...after all, my struggle would only be for 30 minutes, his has been going on for 2 years so far.

Josh, my honoree!

My Thursday Dreadmill Interval Run:

Time	Speed	Incline
0-5	6.0	.5%
5-10	6.5	.5%
10-15	7.0	.5%
15-20	7.5	.5%
20-30	6.5	.5%
30-31	8.0	.5%
Total:	3.5 miles

I'd also like to mention that Life as Kristina is having an AWESOME giveaway with her favorite protein powder, Mung and Black Bean Pasta and chocolates (yes...I said CHOCOLATES).  The drawing will be on Feb. 15.  Check it out here!!