We don’t usually do wordless Wednesday posts because we are a wordy bunch. That said, these pictures need few words…
http://welcometothenuthouse.com/
http://mandmpage.blogspot.com/
http://thisgirlashdoesstuff.blogspot.com/
http://thefinelinellc.com/
https://heatherinthemiddle.wordpress.com/
http://www.theclassycrafter.com/
http://runstretchgo.com/
http://jenniferspen.wordpress.com/
Happy Wednesday!
xo Team Scoot a Doot, Million Mile Run
We don’t usually do wordless Wednesday posts because we are a wordy bunch. That said, these pictures need few words…
http://welcometothenuthouse.com/
http://mandmpage.blogspot.com/
http://thisgirlashdoesstuff.blogspot.com/
http://thefinelinellc.com/
https://heatherinthemiddle.wordpress.com/
http://www.theclassycrafter.com/
http://runstretchgo.com/
http://jenniferspen.wordpress.com/
Happy Wednesday!
xo Team Scoot a Doot, Million Mile Run
This meal is almost as easy to prepare as a PB&J. It’s definitely simpler than grilled cheese; a meal which I have my husband fix, because I always burn the sandwich. And I always feel a little smug when I make a soup that doesn’t come from a can.
This isn’t the best soup you will ever eat. (That would be my mama’s potato soup.) But it’s a cinch to cook, nutritious, and adaptable. I always have these ingredients on hand, and I end up eating this soup at least once per week. Sometimes I add sausage or chicken that we’ve grilled the night before, sometimes I add beans for extra protein. Sometimes- okay, most of the time, I skip the onion.(It isn’t easy to chop while babywearing, folks.) But it’s definitely better with onion. And crushed red pepper. And shallot pepper from Penzey’s. In my opinion. You can- and should- customize this soup to your liking. And soon it’ll be like we’re eating together once a week. Fun times!
Tortellini Soup
Serves 3-4 (or 2 plus lunch the next day!)
INGREDIENTS
1 tbsp. olive oil
½ cup onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ tsp. dried oregano
1 (15 oz.) can diced tomatoes, with juices
4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
9 oz. tortellini, any variety (fresh or frozen)
3 cups fresh baby spinach, loosely packed
Salt and pepper
DIRECTIONS
In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions to the pan and cook until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add in the garlic and cook, stirring frequently, for about 1 minute. Stir in the oregano and diced tomatoes. Add the broth and bring the soup to a boil. Add the tortellini to the pot and cook according to the package directions. One minute before the tortellini is fully cooked, stir in the spinach. Remove from the heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Source: The Well-Fed Newlyweds via Annie’s Eats
Tomorrow, I’ll be volunteering (while wearing yellow, of course) for the local chapter of Queen For A Day, an organization that provides a special pick-me-up for pediatric cancer patients. By now, you all know that the Scoot chicks (and some awesome friends) are running with intention this month; to raise awareness for children’s cancer. Please sport some yellow, join our team and donate if you feel so moved. Thanks.
As you probably know by now from our blog posts, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts we are participating in Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation’s Million Mile Run. ALSF raises funds and awareness for pediatric cancer research. If you’re wondering why, exactly, we need Childhood Cancer Awareness month, please check out the infographic from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia at the end of this post. I learned a lot that I didn’t know and think that you might be surprised too!
But first, my family and I have hosted two Alex’s Lemonade Stands at our home for the past two years. I thought that I’d share our lemonade recipe. You might be thinking… lemonade from a mix is easy and convenient, why don’t they do that? You would be correct. But if you’ve met me, you know that I roll with the Type A crowd; why do something easy when something hard can be done? Fortunately, this lemonade isn’t too hard and it’s also deemed as the “best lemonade ever”. No, really, it’s first the first recipe that shows up when you Google that phrase!
Of course, we can’t just make one serving of the best lemonade when we are hosting a lemonade stand. That’s crazy talk! Especially when we need to fill our ridiculously large glass carafe.
The “small” version calls for 1 3/4 cups of sugar, 1 1/2 cups of lemon juice and 8 cups of water. However, when we MEGA-SIZE it, everything jumps up. If you ever want to hold a lemonade stand of your own and make a large amount of lemonade… this is how we do it (cue Montell Jordan).
Ingredients:
Directions:
My husband and I decided to try to make an adult lemon beverage for this post. We settled on a Gin Fizz.
But, um, the finished product tasted like lemon flavored cleaner. Or maybe it was a “guy” drink that I just didn’t enjoy at all because he drank his. And mine. So I can’t in good conscious share the recipe. You just let me know if you want it. (You don’t.) (Or maybe you do. If you like drinking lemon flavored cleaner. Not that I have anything against lemon flavored cleaner as cleaner… just as a drink.)
And hey, if you’re looking for a delicious sounding foot scrub for after those long runs or if you just need a little pampering, check out Sara’s post at The Classy Crafter.
Now for the most important bit of this post…
We’re painting the month yellow here at Scoot A Doot, and we’re off to an incredible start. I am so inspired by my chicks and our friends who’ve joined our team. It’s only been three days, and already we’ve run, walked, skipped or jumped over 145 miles! We’ve also raised over $600. IN THREE DAYS. I’m completely bowled over by the support for this cause, and so thankful that I know wonderful people, who know other wonderful people. (And I’m sort of lost with the words over this. Truly.)
When we decided to participate in the Million Mile Run, we weren’t sure what our goal would be. Teams are supposed to run 100 miles, collectively, and right away, we knew that we’d surpass that with ease. Some of us are training for long distance races, one of us is running her way through Napa this month, and one of us walks as her primary mode of transport. We’re a pretty ambitious bunch though, and since our mindset for this event was “Go BIG or go home,” we each set our sights on an individual goal.
BEC:
My goal is 13.1 miles for the month. I’m hoping for more but i wanted a workable goal and I’ve done a half in a month before so that seemed good.
This will be achieved primarily through walking, although i am restarting C25K, so there will be some running.
Because my phone died, and my replacement phone is on backorder, I’ll be using the local high school track as my mileage guide, and logging my time manually in Runkeeper. And once my phone gets here, I’ll be all about my Runkeeper and Couch to 5k training apps.
JESS:
I typically walk about three miles a day, so I know I can hit 90 miles by the end of the month without any problem. My secret goal is 100 miles – still doable but it will definitely require more effort. I’ll be stoked if I hit that!
To achieve it, I plan to keep doing what I’m doing: by walking around the city as much as possible. Once I’m back to 100% health (summer colds are the worst!) I plan to run on the weekends as well.
I’ll be tracking miles with My Fitbit One, of course!
MER:
My miles for the Million Mile Run will be taking place during gym warm up (I usually average two prior to an hour of strength/cardio) and while my kids are at school. I’m going to try to streak as much as my schedule will allow this month and get at least a mile a day because, really, why not? The weekends will be dedicated to long runs.
I usually use my Garmin or just general knowledge to track my miles (I do my quarter mile stretch prior to the gym sans watch). However I’m getting a Fitbit within the next couple of days so perhaps I’ll use that to track my mileage. I’m excited to play with a new gadget and there’s really no better way to break it in!
VIC:
The Million Mile run happens to fall into my schedule at the same time I ramp up my mileage as I prepare for the NYC Marathon. As I look at my training schedule, I see that my long runs alone total more than 60 miles in September. So – I’ve decided to set my goal for 100 miles. I think my training should bring me pretty close, if not over the century mark. I was already nearly 1/5 of my way to my goal on Sept. 1, as I run an 18-miler in Watertown, NY.
I plan to run 4-5 days each week, with a little cross-training of swimming or spinning thrown in. Now while I do train with a Garmin (forerunner 210, folks!) I typically am lax about downloading said information into a fancy spreadsheet, but I do write my mileage, pace and time on my weekly running log. Now don’t laugh, but it’s all kept in a weekly pocket calendar from Target’s dollar spot. It’s old school, but it works for me.
BROOKE:
As for me, I plan to run 75 miles this month. I’m at the beginning of my training for Wine and Dine, and 75 is slightly over the planned mileage, but I’m going over on most of my runs already anyway. (Sorry, Hal Higdon.)
Cross training will be walking with my family or hanging with Hannah on the elliptical (does that count?), and all miles will be tracked by my trusty Garmin.
I’m sporting my yellow today (good thing I have a lot of it!) and I can’t wait to see how much we run- and raise- to help support children’s cancer research.
Please donate if you’re moved to do so. Thanks.
Have you ever done a running streak? What are you currently training for? Tell me how much you love your FitBit (my mom has a birthday soon and I’m eyeing it for a gift!) What yellow clothing do you have in your closet?
Way back when, summer was my favorite season. The break from school, swimming, the hot weather, family vacations and bonding time… I mean, what could be better?
While I still appreciate summer, I’ve really come to appreciate all that FALL has to offer. In fact, it’s moved to the top slot in the seasons list (sorry summer).
September is next week and while it’s still technically summer, we’re winding down with summer and preparing for the start of school. My kids are excited to meet their teachers and see their friends on a more consistent basis (I know some are already back in school in some parts of the country). The air conditioning has already been off more days than it’s been on this week and I’ve been breathing in the refreshing cooler air. Of course, the cooler air is also GREAT for running as well; it’s not so stifling and I don’t HAVE to get out there at 5:30 to run.
My favorite quarter mile stretch when you can actually see it!
I haven’t even mentioned pumpkin flavored treats. Because yes, I do love all the pumpkin flavored treats.
However, pumpkin is going to have to hold off just a tad bit longer because we Chicks are still embracing the LEMON.
Yes, that’s right, when we first heard about Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation hosting its inaugural Million Mile Run we knew we had to get in on the action!
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and we want to help spread awareness about a cause which we hold near and dear to our hearts. What’s the Million Mile Run all about? Are we all going to really run a million miles in September? Check out this video!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjZruV37FfY&w=640&h=360]
Throughout the month of September we’ll be logging our miles for the Million Mile Run. If you’d like to join Team Scoot a Doot and help raise awareness for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we would LOVE to have you. Fundraising is certainly encouraged but not mandatory; we want to spread the word and make a difference! EFF CANCER!
What else can you look forward to when you join us for the Million Mile Run?
On Wednesdays We Wear Yellow – pink might be where it’s at for Mean Girls but we’re Nice Girls here and we’re going yellow on Wednesdays. Join us and we’ll highlight pictures shared here, Instagram, Facebook, EVERYWHERE! (I don’t have much yellow in my wardrobe so this will be a particular challenge for me.)
Lemon-y Goodness – drinks, recipes, and whatever other good stuff we can find to share with you that has to do with lemon! Lemon juggling! Lemon bowling! Because lemon is the new pumpkin. We’re bringing lemon back, yeah!
Fundraiser Giveaway – while fundraising isn’t a requirement to participate, if you do and you’re the top fundraiser, we’re putting together a special little prize pack just for you.
You can register any time in the month of September but obviously the sooner you register, the sooner we can count your miles toward the goal. And bond. And make s’mores! And tell stories around the campfire.
Your miles count whether you’re walking, running, or skipping (if you’re skipping, please take a video because I want to see someone who is able to skip a mile). And since we know many of you are runners, walkers, skippers and jumpers, there’s really no better way to get involved.
So… what are you waiting for? Are you ready to get your miles on and spread the word about the Million Mile Run? Do you have yellow clothing you want to share with me on Wednesday? Join us with the #MillionMileRun and together we can make a difference!
http://www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/115748
Last week, I wrote about our first Alex’s Lemonade Stand. This past weekend we hosted our second annual event.
The goal this year was to beat last year’s total of $566.
This kiddo wants in on the action. He wants his name in lights.
Which we did.
By a lot.
Not by a couple of hundred… but by over double.
Despite it being Father’s Day.
And with the assistance of my bro-in-law, Matt, who said he’d shave his hair and beard to help raise more funds.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmEdo5eQ_7c&w=420&h=315]
No longer looking like he’s on Duck Dynasty.
We raised $1,292.35 for Alex’s Lemonade Stand!!!
Because when life gives you lemons… you make LEMONADE!
A couple of tips we followed to make our stand a success:
Mix. Pour. Find a cure!
How have you given back recently?
My Pooks is a sensitive kid.
This is both a good and difficult quality to possess. He cares too much; he cares with his whole heart. Sometimes it gets him in trouble (when he cares too much about what his classmates think rather than standing on his own two feet)…
And sometimes, most times, it’s absolutely glorious.
No, he will not fix your computer. Which is probably good for everyone involved.
In March of 2012, Pooks announced that he wanted to hold a lemonade stand.
Now, I don’t know about where you live, however, March in New Jersey isn’t exactly prime lemonade stand weather. It might have still been snowing at the time. When I mentioned this to him, his response was “Well, okay. When can we do it?”
I asked his motivation and naturally, he wanted to make money. I’m all about the American Dream but he is healthy, happy and wants for… not much.
Or rather, he wants a lot, gets some and we say “no” to the ridiculous.
I saw the opportunity to turn his dream of a lemonade stand into something special, something more. So, I told him about Alex’s Lemonade Stand and how he could help other children; children who are sick. We looked at the website together, we watched videos together. We read books together. And, just like that his dream got grander and it was no longer solely about himself.
It was about carrying out Alex’s dream.
It was about helping others.
We registered our very first annual Out of This World Lemonade Stand to benefit pediatric cancer research.
And we got working!
Building
And working.
Publicizing
And working.
Lemonading!
And working some more!
Best little cup carrier this side of the Mississippi.
Until finally…
After all the hard work of preparing our Alex’s Lemonade Stand, we got to work some more! Within two days through the generosity of friends and neighbors, near and far, the Out of this World Lemonade Stand raised $566 for pediatric cancer research.
Let me repeat that because that’s AMAZING. $566!
Enjoying a cup of lemonade after two hard days of work (don’t worry, he had more than a cup over the two days!).
The thing about kids, especially kids who’ve got eight years of experience behind them and many more in front of them, is they feel with their entire hearts. It’s up to us to steer them in directions where they can use those feelings, those hearts, to accomplish great things.
We’ll be hosting our second Alex’s Lemonade Stand this coming weekend. We’ve been talking about it since we packed up the stand last year and the goal is to reach (and hopefully surpass!) $600.
We can and we will! (I’ll do a follow up post next week.)
What sort of philanthropic endeavors do you take part in? What organizations speak to you; which do you hold near and dear to your heart? How do you volunteer your time and your efforts? I want to hear all about it!
On Again, Off Again
Ah, running. How you and I seem to find each other every few months. And it’s always the same ol’ story. I’m taken by your charm, your charisma, your appeal. Pretty soon (maybe too soon?), I believe it’s love. For awhile, we’re getting together nearly every evening: We meet up at the gym or along the picturesque waterfront. We become inseparable for a month. “I’m committed to you,” I proudly proclaim one morning. “You’re my one and only.” You don’t say a word. I guess you know what’s coming. You’ve seen it too many times before.
“I have to work late,” I hurriedly say to you a couple weeks later. “What?!” I ask defensively as you silently stare back at me. “I have a deadline!” I explain with conviction. “Besides, the weather’s kind of damp. If you and I hang out tonight, I may catch a cold. And then I’ll be out of commission for days!” Yes, that’s it. Even if I was ABLE to run tonight, I shouldn’t. It’s better this way. (Justification is a funny little thing.)
The next night, it’s something else. A dinner date with a few close friends. You gently remind me that that I don’t have to be at work until 9:45. Why not consider a jog before work? “You make a good point,” I admit. “A morning run is totally feasible.” And I do it! I really, really do it. In fact, I like it so much that I excitedly announce to you that a.m. jogs are going to be the new normal.
That lasts for three days.
Over the next month, our get-togethers wean down to about once a week. Then to once every 2 weeks and before long, you and I are history. It’s a fairly amicable breakup, but no one here is a winner. I feel like a failure; you feel used. For a couple months, we have no contact. Then we bump into each other one Sunday morning and start up our rocky relationship all over again…
Running for a Cause
Last spring, I was in a really good place with running (we’d been hanging out religiously for a good month and a half. Deep down, I knew it wouldn’t last. I’d do the breaking up for sure, but I was enjoying things while they lasted). The reason I was feeling so committed was because I was training for the Phillips 5K Run/Walk, an event put on by the Christopher and Susan Phillips Foundation. The Foundation was started in July 2011, when my dear friend Sharon Phillips experienced the most unthinkable of tragedies: She lost her mother Susan (64) and her brother Chris (27) within days of each other.
As Sharon waded through her grief, it became clear that their deaths could not, would not, be in vain. And so, the Christopher and Susan Phillips Foundation was born, with a single, solid mission: To help others. It just made sense—Christopher was studying to be a nurse and had also volunteered as an EMT; Susan was a Pharmacist Technician at Walgreens for nearly two decades, and customers used to ask for her by name.
Sharon Phillips and her boyfriend Geoff Lenat at the October 2012 Wine Tasting Fundraiser at Villa Rose Winery in Madison, NJ
Since its start, the Foundation has hosted a multitude of fundraisers including the Annual Wine Tasting Fundraiser in both 2012 and 2013—each year, the event drew hundreds of people, and the money raised helped go toward scholarships for two graduating students of Jonathan Dayton High School—the alma mater of the entire Phillips family.
And the 1st Annual Phillips 5K Run/Walk was held last year at Watchung Reservation in Morristown, NJ . On a beautiful June morning, friends, family, and complete strangers took to the trail while volunteers and supporters lined the route, the starting line, and the finish line.
Sharon Phillips gets the runners ready at the 2012 Phillips 5K Run Walk at Watchung Reservation
That day, I ran well. Not my BEST time ever, but when you factor in the typical trail obstacles (sticks, stones, hills, and the risk of spills), I did A-OK. This time, I wasn’t running for any type of fickle reason. I was moving and sweating and breathing and believing—all in the name of Chris. And Sue. And Sharon. My dear friend Sharon who, even on days when it feels nearly impossible, continues to put one foot in front of the other.
Frank Phillips, Sharon’s father, awards a medal to one of the winners of the 2012 race.
On June 9, 2013, the Christopher and Susan Phillips Foundation will host the Phillips 5K/10K Run/Walk at Lewis Morris Park in Morristown, NJ. To register for the race, get a map of the route, and see a schedule of the day, please visit http://www.phillips5k.org/.
To learn more about the Foundation’s initiatives, visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christopher-and-Susan-Phillips-Foundation/131654973587693 or http://www.christopherandsusanphillipsfoundation.org/.
Jodi Rigotti is a Senior Editor at QualityHealth, a consumer health website based out of Jersey City, NJ. Her hobbies include exploring new neighborhoods in and around New York City, trying her hand at new vegetarian recipes, and working out when she feels like it. She currently lives in Hoboken, NJ with her husband (and college sweetheart), Dan.
The running community is a strong and rowdy bunch. There’s a certain level of insanity the comes along with runners, people who choose to spend much of their free time running long distances for the love of the sport and achieving the impossible (with a side of bragging rights and medals sometimes thrown in for good measure).
After an event like the one at the Boston Marathon, there’s a certain sense of helplessness that hits us. We are doers, movers and shakers, so to do nothing is not an option.
Since Monday’s tragedy, we’ve participated in reflection runs; we’ve worn the Boston Marathon colors of blue and gold; we’ve donned race shirts from any and all events; we’ve prayed for the victims, first responders, runners and the city of Boston.
And we’re still left asking, What else is there? What more can we do to show support, solidity and love?
Well, friends, might I offer up Medals4Mettle?
met·tle /ˈmetl/ Noun
A person’s ability to cope well with difficulties or to face a demanding situation in a spirited and resilient way.
In May 2005, Dr. Steven Isenberg gave his own Chicago Marathon medal to his patient, Les Taylor, who was battling prostate cancer. Before his death, Taylor told Dr. Isenberg just how much the medal meant to him.
From that seed Medals4Mettle blossomed. I first heard about Medals4Mettle, or M4M, last year when I began running races.
Currently M4M is collecting Boston Marathon medals from any year to give to Monday’s victims and first responders.
For those who haven’t run the Boston Marathon, M4M will gratefully accept all donations of hard-earned half marathon, full marathon or triathlon medals to those battling life-threatening illnesses and severe disabilities.
“Think about when you are out on a course, and you have dozens to hundreds of people you don’t know who are cheering you on, and want to see you succeed and get to the finish line,” said Andrea Herrmann of M4M. “This is our chance to return this encouragement to others, and to celebrate their strength in dealing with their health struggles, cheering them to their personal finish lines.”
Directors and chapter coordinators are all volunteers at M4M. I reached out to my local chapter coordinator, Reed Costello, who said that his responsibilities include local awareness and collecting/passing medals along to the area coordinator who then distributes them to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The children love receiving the medals and the runDisney medals are among the favorites; many wear the donated medals to chemo treatment or hang them from their IV pole.
A selfless way to lift someone’s spirits and give back, Medals4Mettle is a non-profit organization that assists runners and athletes in doing just that.
Have you ever given your race medal to someone else? We’d love to hear about it in the comments!
