To Tri or Not to Tri

So no triathlons this season.
As hard as it was to say no this year, a break has been good. I've thrown myself into learning so many other things. Who would have thought I could survive a season without obsessive training!
Well, it is possible. Trying to get my own little business in place has been really rewarding, and some days a little busy. No complaints here though! This rocks!
I've been incredibly fortunate to work with some amazing people. Learning from everything I do every day. Time management has been a huge one. Especially living in Calgary. Some days, however, I think it takes far to long to do the simplest things. So I have to figure out how to do five things at once!  Ahhhh the simple life. Still clinging on to the idea that it is out there somewhere. Or maybe it's right here? Just have to not overthink and stress about the little things. I have to remember. Don't sweat the small stuff and it's all small stuff.
This long weekend I will spend doing a bit of mountain biking, not too far away, and trying to soak up some more lovely summer sun. I will be volunteering at IM 70.3  as well! I'm excited to cheer on the people racing. No doubt it will get me charged up for races for next season!
Well just a little tid bit for today. Now on to enjoying the rest of summer. Dinner awaits.

Sugar, and spice, and all that's nice!

I was sick all weekend. Lovely. Twice a year, if I'm unlucky, and I let the stress level get a little too high(self induced of course!) do I catch a little gem of a bug. Gross. My brother told me that when you get sick, you carry 7lbs of mucus in your body. Again.. lovely. Leave it to brothers to inform us of only the grotesque! Not sure how true that is. But with the boxes of kleenex I went through in two days, I'm not going to protest his stats.
Therefore I did no cooking. Mark bought so many amazing, delicous groceries from the Calgary Farmers Market and Community Natural Foods, to make us our meals. I laid on the couch, coughing, and sneezing while he prepared his meals. I got soup.  But not just any soup! Amy's Soups! I think one of the best alternatives to home made. I just didn't have the energy to get it together to make soup. So added to the grocery list was this alternative.
He came home with armfulls of goodies.  I did manage to help unpack some groceries. I couldn't resist seeing what little gems he brought home. What can I say. I'm an addict, a food junkie.
In the grocery bags, I dug out a brand new ditty. Bob's Red Mill Homemade Wonderful Gluten Free Bread Mix. I have to admit, I was a bit sceptical at first. Not that I don't trust Mark's taste. He know's what he's doing.  But I passed this up many times in the store because I knew that I just didn't have the extra time to be mixing intense GF "doughs". (Banana bread and muffins are quick and easy in comparison) Also, as I've mentioned before, I would rather try and make my own recipes instead of pre-packaged stuff. So the bag sat on the counter for a day and a half until I was a bit better.
Monday morning I felt more like myself. Still requiring a few tissues, but somewhat "normal". I was out of bed early, made Mark his coffee, and I set to work on my breakfast and bread making.  It wasn't so bad. I read the package directions and made short work of all the ingredients and stirred that crazy batter like nobody's business.  The "dough" came together quite nicely. My scepticism melted away once I saw how beautiful the "dough" was.  I said outloud to myself "this is going to be reeeaally good"!  The package directions say to mix it with a stand mixer or hand mixer.  I don't have a stand mixer, and I burned the motor out on my hand mixer! he he. So, a wooden spoon was all I used, and just had at 'er for about 4 or 5 minutes.  Then got the batter into a little bread pan and let it rise.  Once that was good, in the oven it went for an hour.
Oh man! It turned out stellar!  And giant! The directions did ask for a good size bread pan....

Overall, I am definitely going to buy this again and again.

Even the second day the bread was still fresh, didn't fall apart.

I had bought some Udi's Gluten Free bread in Vancouver last week as well, and this, I'd say, is pretty comparable, and less expensive!

So as long as I don't go through a loaf of bread in a few days, then cost wise and taste wise this is alright. 

Now I still have to tackle those cookies, and banana bread this week.  Better get on it. The weekend and hopefully some good times cycling, are only four sleeps away!

Life is a whirlwind

So apparently people actually read my blog! Well then, I'd better get with it and post something. Here I thought I was doing all of this out of pure vanity. Guess not. Ha!
Thought it would be fitting to write about my island trip, and of course some food stuff, and some other dribble in there too!
I sat back for a moment this afternoon, and realized that summer is half over!
I'm befuddled. Yes befuddled.  In the past week, I've travelled to Vancouver Island(by car, yes driving!) to see some lovely, amazing friends get married, and then to Vancouver to see my brother and then back to Calgary, and right in to "work" again.  How is it possible that five days are literally a whirlwind. We drove, slept(well hardly slept, trains and air matresses are kind of sleep disruptors), ate, drank, visited family and friends, and drove some more.  I hate to wish time away, but waiting for ferry's and driving 12 hours straight is tough on my bottom and mental state. I'm not someone who cares to sit for too long. But it was so worth it. To be out on the island drinking in the.. oh wait.. there was no sunshine this time! First time we've been to Victoria and the weather was dreary. No biggie of course. Doesn't stop me from going out for food and walking! We hit up Ferris' Oyster Bar & Grill again, which after trying a few different places on the island, I think, have the best raw oysters. I was able to meet up with a fantastic triathlon coach. Which, I am lucky to be part of her ambassador program too! Check out PT Performance Training. 
We walked along Dallas Road and watched seals catch fish. You could see them swimming in the clear, blue sea. These sleek, grey bodies under the water, then a little head bobbing on the surface. I could stand for hours and watch them. Waiting for them to pop up again. I love it.  Then a late night mint tea from Tre Fantastico. Where I learned about Panela sugar! This stuff is worth the money. But it's not local of course. Used some in a smoothie yesterday, and I will be making some banana bread where I think it will blend in beautifully.
The wedding in Duncan was wonderful. It was this fantastic piece of land with a little pond, a campsite, two little houses, little outdoor bathrooms, and a giant white tarp where the ceremony and dinner takes place. It was fabulous. Best wedding I've ever been to. Drinking wine while our friends said their vows, how can you beat that!  Then whamo, it's 2am, and the fire has made me nice and toasty enough to crawl into my sleeping bag.
Back to see my brother in Vancouver for a day, then back to Calgary.  I couldn't believe that it was actually warm when we got in to Calgary! First bit of real heat and dry weather we've felt in awhile. That was sweet treat.
I always love being away for even just a short while. It refreshes the mind, and allows me to really savour the moments. There were so many the past week. I find myself so fortunate to be able to experience so many simple, wonderful things. Nothing fancy. Nothing extravagent. It's a nice reminder of how incredible it is to be human.

TDF Stage 9 Crash

Watching the Tour this year, I can't get over the number of crashes happening. I'm sure all that are following feel this way..

I couldn't believe what I was watching.
To view an incredible video clip, log on to YouTube and type in Tour de France stage 9.
I was unable to post a video clip due to copyright. Oh well.

Jonny Hoogerland went on to finish the stage! These men are made of steel. Unbelievable.

Pick-me-up

I wanted a little pick-me-up this afternoon. Iced tea was what I was craving. But none of that packaged shmackaged, over processed stuff! Blah. The real thing. So I boiled some water, and while that was heating up, picked my tea from my Teopia tin(thanks Uyen). When the water was ready, I poured it in my tea pot, added my little mesh, loose tea holder, and let it steap for 5 minutes or so. I like my tea strong. Then once that was ready, I took my ice from the freezer and popped two trays full into a jug. Poured in my steeped tea(which had cooled a bit),added about 3 tablespoons of agave syrup,(I like sweet too!), fresh sliced lemon, a squeeze of fresh lemon, fresh mint, and stired it up. Done. Perfect. Almost instant. Now I can sit for a few minutes, read, and soak up some heat. Summer is awesome!