Epcot flower show

Running St Augustine at dawn

First time to see the ocean

Kids loved their first visit to the Atlantic. St. Augustine is a great spot.

The little green things

I've been trying to figure out why I have been craving pistachios. I can't seem to get enough of them the past few days, and I don't even care that they are still in the shell.

It's not like I've been eating and loving these little green things all my life. I only started eating them last year while at work. Someone had gotten a large bag for the office, so while I was there one day, and had not taken a lunch, I grabbed a cup of these nuts. I was surpised they were satisfying, but nothing spectacular. At least, not that day. Pistachios are a nut I have actually never purchased myself. I dislike "pistachio ice cream or jello, and all the other such flavored pies and things. So what the heck?  Why now am I madly in love with them?

Turns out it may just be I need the nutrients. Years ago we had this fabulous doctor who told me "when you have cravings, it's most likely because you need a nutrient that food can supply."  I have never forgotten that, and think of him (and his advice) often when things like this crop up.

I am currently nursing a slight sprain, bordering on an almost-maybe stress fracture.  Just the beginnings of it perhaps but I"m trying to stay focused and alert to anything that might derail me in running.

Pistachios are one of those foods that supply potassium in very high amounts. Potassium - an electrolyte - counteracts the effects of sodium, and helps in nerve and muscle contraction. Remember how mom used to tell you to eat a banana if you had leg or foot cramps?  It seems that 30 pistachios have as much potassium as a whole banana. That's a lot considering that after you shell 30 pistachios they don't take up much space.  Below are some other really good facts about Pistachios:  these little nuts...

**are lower in fat than any other nut, yet higher in protein than any other (13g of fat per ounce)
**lower in calories than most nuts - 50 (about an ounce shelled) of them are only 160 calories
**have more antioxidants than blueberries, blackberries, garlic and  pomegranate juice
**are higher in potassium
**contain no cholesterol
**contain nearly 90% unsaturated fats
**have more lutein than any other nut - this substance is good for the long-term eye health
**extremely high in phosphorous (a mineral needed for bone health!)
**there is NO natural sodium in these nuts (unlike other nuts)! unless you buy the salted ones of course
**contain healthy amounts of calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese and selenium (all minerals that help you heal faster)

I guess it makes sense that my body needs all this stuff. I'm enjoying these little nuts, and I'm also very happy that the kids also like eating them. Nuts are not always their favorite snack, but they really enjoy shelling and eating these!

I think I'll go buy another bag today.  Yum!

10k Music City

Today's race was good and weirdly enough, I placed first in my age group! It didn't come easy but it was certainly worth it.

Pi Day 5K

Today we all ran the Pi Day 5K since we are all at home.  Yesterday it was 26 and snowing, today it's 50, perfect weather to run.

We all got to run, and we were rewarded by medals for all, AND the final touch - PIE!!

Michelle made pumpkin because she said we all need our vegetables!

Weather report

Two days ago it was 75 here. Today it is 26 and snowing. I think this is our first real snow this year.

And, little miss just HAD to run out in the snow and play before breakfast!

Official pics from our race

These just came out from our Half Marathon on Sunday.

Having just run through the castle, we stopped for a pic