Orientation and Hurricane Crazytown

Yesterday day started well...

 I figured a power breakfast was probably a good idea before getting my brain stuffed to the brim with information, names and new people at orientation, so I fixed up a quick smoothie using a Green Superfood Packet from Amazing Grass (found in my HLS Swag Bag). 

 Frozen berries, water, ice, soymilk, protein powder, chia seeds, ground flax seeds and some Amazing Grass Green SuperFood Powder! DE-LICIOUS!

 I hopped in the shower, packed my bag and then it was off to school! :)

 Today was a little overcast, but still pretty beautiful!

 I had a bit of time to sit and relax under a tree before orientation- the Brooklyn College campus is pretty!

First my class had a meeting with the head of our department. We talked a bit about what to expect on this journey, got our schedules and went over our first assignments. My program is very small- there are seven first year MFA actors (including myself) and 7 second years. The second years came for an informal Q & A and we got to know each other a bit, which was wonderful. They were so kind and welcoming and helped relieve a lot of our anxiety about starting school.

Next we attended a department-wide orientation (where we got to meet the MFA Directors, Designers, Dramaturgs and Theatre Managment students). It was inspiring and a bit humbling to meet everyone and hear a bit about their story. Our department seems to have students representing every continent, many states, all ages and backgrounds- each of us brought together by our love of and dedication to the theatre. It's a powerful thing to sit amongst so many others and hear what they've been through to get to this point. 

After Theatre Department orientation, myself and a few of my classmates skipped forgot to attend the college-wide orientation (which largely didn't apply to our major- don't judge!) and headed out to use my classmate Amanda's Groupon at ZuZu Ramen in Park Slope. 

 Amanda had hyped the steamed pork buns and they did not disappoint! Sweet and savory pork with crunchy mixed greens and a soft, chewy and slightly sticky. Awwww yeahhh...

Sweet, juicy happy-town.  

For my main, I ordered the Garlic Soy Ramen, with bok choy, slow cooked egg and bamboo shoots. Warm, wet, slurpy and satisfying. 

We strolled over to BAR(n) afterwards to meet up with the rest of the graduate theatre department!

I got to spend time with my pageant-blog-running-Brooklyn College Theatre Dept friend Aubrie! She has many hyphens, because her awesomeness cannot be contained! She's getting her MFA in Performing Arts Management. 

I kicked around with these boys most of the night- Aaron and Jonny are two of my six fellow first years. And they're awesome. 

I returned home to this:

My. First. Race. Cancelled. AGGGHHHHHH! I was so excited about it, but had a sinking suspicion that with the hurricane craziness that's supposed to beat down on NYC that it would get scrapped. Hurricane Irene, you crushed my dreams! (Ok- I'm being dramatic...)

But on a more serious note, my home is in Zone A, which is the first evacuation zone. All of the hospitals and nursing homes in our neighborhood have already begun evacuation.

Our area is at extremely high risk of flooding and.... my husband and I live in a basement apartment. We have friends in Jersey who've graciously offered to open their homes to us, so I'm spending today trying to get our valuables and important documents as high up as I can, unplugging and moving our electronics, moving things away from windows, etc. Preparing for a flood/ hurricane is something I've never done before, and honestly it's a bit scary. 

FINGERS CROSSED that the storm isn't nearly as bad as it's predicted to be, that I'm able to get back into NYC for class next week, and that our home is spared from flooding and damage. Please keep us in your thoughts/ prayers/ meditations. 

Back to School, Back to School...

Brownie points if you read that in an Adam Sandler voice. 

I feel...

I'm so excited to be a part of this program. It's small (my class consists of myself and six other actors), and we're in very competent hands. I think this is the right choice for me, but as many of you know, returning to school (especially a program this rigorous) meant leaving a career that I had fallen in love with. I know that teaching will be waiting for me at the end of this journey, but the opportunity to focus on myself and my craft as an actor without distraction is something I've been dreaming of for years!

Fun incredibly random grad school fact? Fellow NYC Blogger Aubrie at Drunk on Opportunity (whom I met when I was the outgoing Miss Brooklyn and she was competing to take my place) is ALSO in the Graduate Theatre dept at my school (though I believe she's studying arts admin- so I won't see her as much). It's nice to know there's a fellow blogger hanging around- maybe we'll be able to squeeze in a few lunchtime runs! :)

This weekend should be exciting. I'm meeting a beautiful friend for brunch on Saturday and then on Sunday I'm running my first race EVER- the Bronx 1/2 Marathon- hooray for waking up at 3a to leave my house at 3:45a for 5:30a registration! Unless it hurricanes and my nabe is evacuated (you know all those obnoxious "I live near the beach!" "I live on a bay!" posts? No bueno in hurricane time...). Never a dull moment. 

What do you do to center when you're nervous/ excited?

HLS Goodies, Long(ish) Runs and New Ingredients!

Back to the real world! School starts in three short days, so I'm rapidly trying to get myself organized and re-establish my routine! 

Breakfast yesterday was delicious- simple, clean and wholesome! 

I added the Love Grown Cocoa Goodness Granola from my HLS Swag Bag to some greek yogurt and topped with frozen berries. 

Uh-mazing. The granola is everything I want and more- sweet (but not too sweet), sort of chewy, sort of crunchy with the perfect ratio of oats to mix-ins. I'm in love. And lusting over their 4 other flavors. Oyyy....

I did A LOT of blog and computer catching up after breakfast... It's funny how my weekend at a blogging conference was the most disconnected I've been from a computer in a long time- it was a nice break, though! :)

I had a late lunch, mostly because I wasn't paying attention to the time... I dug through my HLS Swag Bag again to see if I could find something savory and came across these gems (well... nuggets, technically). 

Garlic Gold WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?

These nuggets come in other flavors, and oils, and vinaigrettes. I. DIE. Perfection. I think I've found my new obsession. Has anyone tried any of their other products?

I threw the Garlic Gold (love) Nuggets into a pot with a large frozen chicken breast, a can of kidney beans (rinsed), 2 cups of water and a 1/4 cup bulgur wheat and let the flavors dance. The result was a mix between chili and stew- SO filling and satisfying. I will definitely be making this more when it gets colder. 

After my late lunch it was off for a run! I decided to rock the Healthy Living Summit T-Shirt from Five Bamboo. This is quite literally the most comfortable piece of clothing I own. So soft and durable. 

I was a little worried about taking my poor bamboo t-shirt on an 8.5 mile run, convinced that it'd be soaked within the first mile, but this baby did a great job of keeping my cool and dry (for the most part- I sweat like a beast, but this shirt was significantly less drenched when I finished my workout). I'm sold! I love it so much that I just ordered one in black for school! 

The run itself was a bit slow, but I've fallen out of my training schedule, and it's been a while since I've done anything this long, so I didn't push it. Either tomorrow or Thursday AM will be my beast run, and then my 1/2 is on Sunday! Oyyy!

For dinner I made cauliflower and cheddar pizza with an almond-meal crust. I haven't quite perfected the crust recipe yet, but it has the potential to be EPIC- I will share as soon as I get it down...

What have you been chomping on? How have your workouts been going? Training for anything?

Happy Sweating! :)

Sushi Date, Baking and the WORST RUN EVER.

I was able to cross a few more things off of yesterday's TO-DO list! :)

I got to the gym and hopped on the treadmill for what turned out to be one of my worst runs in a lonnnnnng time. It was the perfect storm of upset stomach, severe sleep deprivation, dehydration and not keeping up on my training. I had to PUSH for three miles. Embarassing. "Hey Keelie, weren't you just doing 10 mile runs?" "Yep." "And don't you have a 1/2 marathon coming up in like a week?" "Yep." Oyyyy.

After my craptastic run I ran to the grocery store to pick up supplies. I spent the rest of the evening baking for my babies- a special treat for today, which is their show and my last day teaching before embarking on a new journey. Expect a VERY weepy post in the VERY near future about how these munchkins (the kids, not the cookies) have changed my life. I ate enough batter to make myself nauseous. In a good way. 

 I made THESE Oreo Chocolate Chip Cookies from Heidi Bakes- I've seen recipes for GIANT oreo cc cookies with an entire oreo in them, but my students definitely do not need that much sugar... These turned out great! I'll let you know what the kids think of them. 

 Gyoza! (Did you know I'm a dumpling snob? One of my best friends in life (who sadly has relocated to Hawaii) and I are dumpling connosieurs of the most discriminating quality- our favorites are the 5 dumplings for $1 in Sunset Park- Brooklyn's Chinatown). These were OK, though. 

 Hand rolls! Sweet potato and mango/ avocado (MY FAVORITE ROLL ON EARTH). Delicious!

I'm sort of packed for the Healthy Living Summit. My train doesn't leave until 10p tonight (have fun at the cocktail party, homies) so I'll have a little bit of time after my kid's show to finish packing. 

If you're attending HLS this weekend and are based out of NYC or the surrounding areas, HOLLA AT ME about the upcoming NYC BLOGGER PLAYDATE!

Run Like A Beast

Oh HEY THERE, 1/2 marathon training. I swear I didn't forget about you... it only seems that way...

I took today's 10 miler indoors for a few reasons- A) It's mad humid out, yo. B) I'm ditching my gym membership next month when I go back to school (Brooklyn College's gym is $15/ semester and on campus, where I'll be spending most of my life for the next two years) so I'm getting as much use out of it as I can. C) There is no such thing as an uneventful trip to the Sheepshead Bay Bally's.  (Today was no exception- an old guy ATE IT on the treadmill... fortunately the only thing hurt was his pride...)

I have felt like crap for most of the day. For no reason at all. I slept in. I ate well. I had my coffee... I've just felt light-headed and slightly out of it... I'm surprised I actually got myself to the gym, but once I was there, things sort of took care of themselves... I ended up averaging around a 9 min mile for 10 miles... not terrific, but not terrible!

Wow. This looks a lot more like an overly dramatic Myspace photo than I had originally intended. Don't be fooled by the towel and wet hair- I did NOT just get out of the shower...

Last night, before grocery shopping, Joe called me and said, "I"m hungry. Do you want to get dinner before groceries?" I said, "Sure, but I want it to be relatively healthy." Joe said, "OK. There's a new-ish place near the train station. Let's meet there." And so we did. And much to my chagrin, Joe's idea of healthy is ANY cuisine that's not standard American. I could have argued, but I just went with it. I do looove me some South American food...

 Pupusas, anyone? A favorite of mine, also enjoyed at the Red Hook Soccer Fields... When Joe ordered, they asked how many. He said two, natch. He also ordered two tostadas. For himself. Our table could barely contain our order.

 I got a sope (aka antojito or gordita) with chorizo.

You know your hubbers loves you when he shares his pupusas with you.

I gently reminded Joe that while our dinner was delicious, it was NOT to be counted as healthy. His rebuddle? 

"LOOK AT ALL THAT LETTUCE!"

Sighhh....

Easy Night, CRAZY Morning!

Happy Sunday, Homeslices!

Yesterday was pretty chill for me. As in, I didn't leave my house once yesterday. No joke. Joe worked in the afternoon, so I spent my time doing some random kettlebell workouts, studying for my ACE Certification, doing some summer reading for school and skyping.  Awesome!

I had snacked a bit throughout the day, but around 7 or 8 I realized I was STARVING. At a loss, I dug through my freezer and was thrilled to remember we had picked up some brussel sprouts at the grocery store!

Holy awful lighting. Don't stop loving me for this terrible picture. I beg you. Just share in my brussel sprout enthusiasm! Did you know this bag serves 4 regular people or 1 Keelie?

I also found a lonely little porkchop in the freezer. 10 minutes to yumminess! 

I noshed on some fresh cherries and razzies with a bit of dark chocolate for dessert. So. Summery.

And then, like a boss, I woke up this AM to meet my friend at the gym for a 9 mile run! OHHHHH YEAH. My time... sucked. BUT I did it. 

And I got to try out two new Honey Stinger products from the sample packet they sent me. I've previously tried (and loved) their Honey Stinger Gold Gel, and today I tested out the Honey Flavored Waffle and the Ginsting Gel. 

(Image from the Honey Stinger website)

I woke up a bit later than intended this AM, and since I was meeting a friend at the gym, I had to get moving. Without time to make myself breakfast, I snarfed down the Honey flavored Waffle on my way to the gym. This is the second waffle I've had (I tried the Vanilla one last week), and I honestly didn't notice much difference between the two flavors. The texture is satisfying... slightly chewy and sticky, and I didn't feel hungry once I got going.

About 6 miles in, I walked for a few minutes to suck down the Ginsting Gel. To my pleasant surprise, it tasted very similar to the Gold, which I enjoyed. This one might have been slightly thicker, or maybe it was just because this one hadn't been in my bra for an hour warming up (like the Gold had when I took it outdoors)...  As with the Gold, the latter half of my run felt steady and strong. My legs tired out before I did, which doesn't usually happen to me. The caffeine didn't make me jittery at all (though I do chug the equivalent of about 6 cups of coffee a day...). 

After a quick shower and some protein chocolate milk, I'm off for a girl's day with my super bad-ass trainer/ surrogate mom/ manager, Ellen Stein. Look for a guest post from her in the near future!

Random side note: 

HOW AMAZING DOES THIS LOOK?

It's not going to happen any time soon for this broke grad student, but if they ever want a sassy fitness blogger to come and stay for the week, they've got their girl right here! :)

Gel Hell

Runner friends! Help! I'm desperately looking for a gel that isn't impossible to choke down... I'm new to fueling during a race, and the gels I've tried have left me gagging...

Do you use gel? Chews? What brand? How far into a run?

How to Hydrate?

As I mentioned yesterday, I'll be running my VERY FIRST RACE EVER in August- the Bronx 1/2 Marathon! Should I have started with a shorter distance? Hmmm... Maybe. But I'm a balls-to-the-wall type of girl. 

I'm completely CLUELESS about hydration, though, and I need your suggestions!

What do you do for a 1/2? Water belt? Carry a bottle? Rely on hydration stations? 

It's gonna be HOT...

Suggestions! Please!

I'm off to Manhattan Beach with a pal! :)

More later!

Heating Up and Chilling Out

Mmmm.... Protein pancakes with pumpkin, peanut butter and honey! THE BEST way to start my morning! :)

The morning was full of housework and computer work. Joe and I whipped up a quick batch of Lemon Garlic Quinoa Salad. Mmm....

It got up to 92 today here in the Big Apple. Gross. I REALLY try not to be one of those people who constantly complains about the heat, but HOLY MOLY. I was so sweaty that when I got to work, my students thought I had just showered. (At least I didn't smell bad!) It's supposed to get up to 100 tomorrow. UM. WHAT?!

I registered for the NYRR Bronx 1/2 Marathon today! My first race EVER! 

I decided it was too hot to run outside today, but I needed to get some miles in so I don't fall too far behind on my training. I headed to the gym (though it was warmer inside than outside- GET IT TOGETHER, BALLYS!) and had some tech issues (my TM shut off several times, losing my distance and time) but I DID do my first 7:30 mile! That's pretty darn fast for me. It. Felt. Good.

I ran home and took a nice cool shower, followed by some of my favorite summer products.

Some Vaseline Aloe Moisturizing Gel! So light and cool- perfect for a little moisture when it's too warm to slather on lotion. I also LOVE the Aloe Protect (I put it on after every daytime shower). I'm huge on sun protection, and having this on under whatever sunblock I'm wearing makes me a happy girl.

I whipped myself up a nice, cool happy time smoothie.

And now I'm chillin' out max and relaxin' all cool (brownie points for anyone who can identify that obscure reference). 

I want to know:

1) Have you ever run a 1/2 before? What should I know???

2) What are your favorite foods on hot summer days?

3) Do you have any secrets for keeping cool?

These bad boys found their way into my freezer. Oh. Yeah.