Jumpstart your morning with a nourishing dose of Kale.  It doesn't take much effort to whip this up and the benefits will carry you through the day.

Just one cup of Kale provides a host of healthy benefits.  It's an excellent source of key vitamins.  According to WebMD, "one cup of chopped kale contains 33 calories and 9% of the daily value of calcium, 206% of vitamin A, 134% of vitamin C, and a whopping 684% of vitamin K. It is also a good source of minerals copper, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus.

Not everybody loves the taste of Kale, but you can hide it in your smoothie (even your kids won't know it's in there) and still reap the benefits.

I started my morning with a blueberry kale protein shake.  Just blend the following ingredients and enjoy:

• 4-6 ice cubes
• 1 cup of Kale
• 1 cup of frozen blueberries
• 1/2 cup Almond Milk
• 1/2 cup of Water
• 2 strawberries
• 1 scoop of SunWarrior Plant-based Protein Powder (Vanilla Flavored) 

[Nutrition Info:  213 cal, 29g Carb, 3g Fat, 21g Protein]

Want to know more about Kale? Check out this Infographic!

Last weekend, I attended a raw food cooking class at a friends house.  My good friend and inspirational chef, Elisa Haggerty was the main attraction.  Elisa, owner of Culinary Farmacy was there to show us how to make healthier meals for our families.

I left with lots of new recipes in my rolodex. From homemade granola bars to raw organic chocolate. What was most invaluable was the wealth of knowledge that Elisa imparted on us about how different foods effect our bodies. I learned so much last Sunday night and enjoyed a great time with friends.

Putting all the great education aside (it really was invaluable) I was introduced to the spiralizer. I had never heard of this kitchen gadget before but when I saw Elisa demonstrate the spiralizer, I knew I had to  have one.  Only $28 on Amazon.com, the spiralizer is going to be my new friend.  I am a huge salad lover, so if you're like me, you're going to want one of these.  The spiralizer turns your zucchini into spaghetti.  Basically, any veggie that you can put between two blades, you can spiralize.  The gadget comes with three different blades so you can create whatever kind of salad you want and it's going to look and taste amazing.  Elisa taught us how to make Raw Pad Thai.  I assumed we'd make this with rice noodles but we didn't.  It was 100% vegetarian and the "noodles" were made with zucchini. It was delicious.

My spiralizer arrived today. Of course, I had to bust it out along with the recipe for Raw Pad Thai that Elisa had given us.  I can not tell you 1) how fun the spiralizer is to make salads but 2) how amazing the Raw Pad Thai recipe is from Culinary Farmacy.  I made a double batch of this recipe so I would have enough for the entire weekend.  Check out Elisa's webiste to discover new recipes for you and your family!

Dick's Sporting Goods just kicked off spring with their #RunFor campaign.  It's a thirteen month campaign to get people talking about why they love to run.  I know what I run for.  Though my story isn't quite as complex and touching as Lisa and Sally's, everyone has a tale to tell and a personal fitness journey that they are on.  Whether it's running, biking,yoga or something else that motivates you to move, it's your personal crusade.

I found this video to be very touching, inspiring and motivating.  It made me think about all of you...the friends I run with, the friends I talk to about running/fitness and relationships in general.

Hope you are inspired too.  If you want to participate, visit Dick's Sporting Goods Facebook page.

What do you #RunFor? 

I'll go first! I run to:

1. stay in shape
2. clear my head
3. come up with new ideas
4. spend time with friends
5. be an example of health and fitness for my kids
6. strike a balance between work, home, kids, and the daily routine
7. have a reason to shop for new running gear:-)
8. relish in the satisfaction of knowing that I can go faster and farther than I could the week before

You're turn! Post a comment about what you #RunFor.

I never thought I'd love yoga as much as I do.  When I talk to people about Vinyasa Yoga, I inevitably say "I'm completely addicted," because I am!  I love everything about yoga, from stretching & strengthening my muscles to Shavasana...Yoga makes me feel strong and peaceful.  

There are so many health benefits to Yoga beyond the stretch and relaxation.  What are they? Good question. I found a short and informative InfoGraphic that breaks it down for you. Check it out.

Interested in investing in a piece of fitness equipment that will keep track of how many hours of exercise you’ve logged and the number of calories you’ve burn, while monitoring your heart rate? Of course you do! You hit the gym four to five times a week, maybe more and you want to know how hard you’re working.  A Heart Rate Monitor (HRM) or GPS watch will deliver just that.  

It’s a great investment in your health and well being.  It could become your new best friend; the one that pats you on the back after you killed it in the gym! 

I recently purchased the Garmin Forerunner 210 with Heart Rate Monitor. As an added bonus, I also picked up the Garmin Foot Pod so that I could track mileage when I'm running on the treadmill.  Gotta tell you, it wasn't easy to figure out which one to buy.  I bought the Garmin because it offered everything I wanted in an all-in-one unit.

If you're in the market for a GPS/HRM watch, check out the article that I wrote for the Girls Gone Sport Crew. I mapped out all the upsides and downsides to the Polar FT40, Polar FT60 (which I loved, by the way), Nike+ FuelBand, Garmin Forerunner 110 and Forerunner 210. As part of the article, I included a side by side comparison chart to make it easier for you to chose the best unit based on your budget and how you plan to use the device.  Hope this helps make your decision easier.

A "FitCation" is totally up my ally.  I would love to invest some time in a week or weekend getaway focused on fitness and health!  

Fellow blogger and Girls Gone Sporty Ambassador, Erin K. Shirey, recently wrote an article providing some great ideas about healthy Spring Break getaways.  In it, she highlights some of the best cities in the U.S. to visit to get your fitness on! 

Check it out for some great ideas on how you can relax this Spring Break!

First time back on skiis since 1998. It was like riding a bike, against 90 MPH winds! LOL. Seriously, it was windy and cold (-10 degrees) and it looked like twenty-foot tumbleweeds blowing up the mountain at you, but I was surprised at how quickly I got back on skis and remembered how much I love the sport.

We've been going up to Waterville Valley, New Hampshire with our kids for the past 3 years.  I love heading there because it means we get to spend time with friends that we only get to see a couple of times a year, it's a nice break away from the chaos of home and the kids get to keep working on their skiing skills.  They truly enjoy it and each year, they're becoming better skiers.  

Friend, guest blogger and member of the Morris Plains "Long Branch Half Team in Training" stopped by Sunday to discuss our training plan.  She brought along with her, the most delicious snacks.  We weren't sure what to call these, so I simply named them Sunbursts.  They are so good, my 6-year old and I had a thumb-wrestling match over the last one!  This is a great treat for you and your kids!

Stir together the following ingredients. Scoop one tablespoon of the mixture and form into balls (was easier to do with wet hands). 

Thanks, Denise for the great recipe!  Treats are on!

• 2 cups Trader Joe's low-sugar Brown Rice Cereal (I used Mom's Best Rice Cereal)
• 1 cup of sun butter (peanut-free alternative to peanut butter, made with sunflower seeds)
• 1-2 tsp of cinnamon
• 1 tsp of vanilla
• 1 cup dark chocolate bits
• 1/4-1/2 cup of raw local honey

P.S.- Denise is experimenting with the recipe to add Warrior Protein. More to come...

If anyone in my house was awake right now, this blog post would have a pic of ME doing a headstand. But alas, they are asleep. So, you guys get more stock photos! :)

I'm only weeks into my yoga practice but I am loving it and feeling stronger with every hour I put into it.

This weekend, I attended a 2-hour inversion/arm balance class held at PowerFlow Yoga by two amazing yogis.  It was not at all what I expected.  The class was more relaxed than a regular yoga session.  The instructors had a ton of energy as usual, but the energy in the room was less serious.  It was fun and conducive to learning.  With the teachers giving guidance and the students asking questions, it was quite noisy.  It was refreshing because as a new student, you can struggle through poses hoping that you're doing them correctly. You don't typically stop to ask your instructor in the middle of class for some pointers.  And usually, you're moving so quickly through poses that you're not spending a ton of time practicing over and over until you get it right.

A healthier version of the Chocolate Chip cookie can still taste good! Just ask chef and owner of Culinary Farmacy, Elisa Haggerty.

I love talking with Elisa because she is 1) a wealth of knowledge 2) introduces me to new ingredients and methods of cooking 3) it's always easy and you know I live for easy!

Sticking with the "easy" theme, Elisa recently posted this recipe for Almond Chocolate Chip cookies to my Facebook page.  I scanned the list of ingredients (most of which I had on hand) and decided to give it a try.