Friday Favorites

Every Friday I would like to share a recipe that I have deemed fantastic!  Be warned…they may or may not be healthy. 

This is an easy favorite, a sweet treat made a bit healthier.  Pumpkin spice muffins.  For this you need two ingredients.  A spice cake mix and a can of pumpkin.  That’s it!  

Mix the two together and bake in cupcake form at 350 degrees for 19-21 minutes.  You may be tempted to add other liquids/fluids to the mix as it is very, very thick.  Don’t.  Pumpkin and cake.  It is THAT easy!

I cannot tell you how fabulous these are.  They are so moist and delicious.  They can also help curb a sweet tooth.  

I mustered up some of my mad math skills to provide a brief nutritional content.

Calories per muffin: 150

Fat grams: 2!

Carbs: about 29 grams

I usually throw about half of these in the freezer for later in the week.  They are so wonderfully moist that sometimes they go bad quickly.  They freeze great.  A can of pumpkin can also be used with other cake mixes; chocolate, white, yellow, carrot.  I have not tried these, but may be experimenting soon.

Happy baking!

Introduction please...

I have been so excited to start my own blog!  I have to admit, the ladies over on the 13 in 2013 have inspired me to start one of my own, as I’ve really enjoyed reading all of theirs.  So…. here we go!

I am a 37 year old, attached mom of one super cool 7 year old.  The main reason I wanted to start to blog is to share my love of running with others.  Over the years, I have been told that I have inspired many to start running, and for that I am flattered.  I like to tell others that if I can do it, anyone can!

I have been a nurse for 17 years and am currently in a Master’s degree program to become a Nurse Practitioner. 

I have been a “runner” for about 4 years.  I used to hate running.  I mean HATE it!  After having my son and going through a lot of personal stress, I soon found it to be my reprieve, my *thing*, the place where I could be alone with my thoughts and it fast became my obsession favorite spare time filler.  I soon found myself going from running a local 5k to wanting to run a marathon.  The only one I wanted to run was the NYC Marathon.  Then I would be done with that.  The lottery goddesses seemed to love me.  I got in on my first try (and then my second a year later).  The experience was not only once, but TWICE in a lifetime and really solidified my love with the long distance run.  I have gone from the back of the pack/bring up the rear runner to a middle of the pack and getting a little faster runner.  Since that “one” marathon I wanted to do, I have done 5 more and just finished my 12^th on Sunday (which I will recap in my next post.)

This year I committed myself to running 13, 13.1’s in 2013.  It will end up being more like 15, but oh well!  Worse things have happened.  13.1 is really my sweet spot, my favorite distance. 

I have some BIG goals for myself in the next few years and want to share them.  I figured a blog would be a great premise to do so!  I love the camaraderie and support of fellow runners!