Wednesday, December 11, 2013

How tough is Race Junkie Tutu?






  I get a lot of questions from customers asking if my tutus are built to last. Will they last the entire distance of 13.1 miles? Can they withstand a little rain? Can you wash them and wear them again?
Will they interfere  with running? Will they limit my ability to move with ease and enjoy myself or will they completely overwhelm me and distract me from the race? These are all legitimate concerns and no matter how many pictures I show of me wearing them at races or write out my own testimonial nothing will ever compare to the testimonial and pictures for long time customer Patty.

  Patty has been a Race Junkie customer since I opened my shop and first came to me to design a tutu to match her Spartan shirt and colors. I remember thinking at the time .." Wow that Spartan looks pretty hard" I had no idea she did so many races and that basically that was all she ever did. You really have to be one tough cookie to dedicate yourself to Spartan. The race she was doing at the time was partially at night, appeared to be underground and in the snow.






  She has taken the tutus through mud, in the water, on a bike over ropes and obstacle courses. One of the things she said to me that really struck me is that she has taken them over obstacle courses and seen people collapse all around her but the tutus made it!


 Patty loves tutus but don't think for one minute she just wears it and then tosses it. Oh no she wears them, washes them and wears them again and again. Each tutu comes with wash and care instructions and and she really makes them last.





She has even converted her friends and family to start wearing them. Let's face it tutus make every event more fun! It's not like you can wear to the office but you sure can to a sporting event so why not? If Patty can crawl in the mud, ride a bike and hang from ropes in a tutu anyone can run a long distance race in one. 



Here is what Patty had to say in her own words...

"I've now wore your tutus swimming, biking, through all sorts of mud, crawling under barb-wire and leaping threw fire and they have all held up incredibly well. I've now converted my sister into a tutu wearer.  Anyway, I am always impressed with out well the tutus make it through races; I've been able to wear the same tutus to multiple races and ones I'm running certainly put the tutus to the test. I also find myself running a little stronger down the trail or putting a little more oomph into an obstacle after every "nice tutu" comment I get."


I would like to thank Patty for sending in her pictures and testimonial. She has been such an awesome customer and so much fun to work with and design for. I live my secret Spartan identity vicariously through her ad someday hope to be as brave as she is.

Friday, November 8, 2013

Fit Foods Friday: Spinach Salad

Do you love spinach as much as I do?
Probably not.
I love, I mean LOVE spinach!


I love using spinach chopped up as a base for a salad and even though Thanksgiving is all about stuffing and turkey I insist on having a salad on the table. Here is my go to favorite spinach salad for the fall. I have eaten this salad with a basic balsamic dressing but it is also super YUM with a ff french dressing as well.


Favorite Fall Spinach Salad
3 cups of torn fresh spinach leaves
1 chopped red bell pepper
1/4 cup drained canned garbanzo beans

* (sometimes I like to add fresh mushroom or red onion too) *

Toss all ingredients and dress however you like. 

There you have it. Super easy salad to throw together for your Thanksgiving feast!

Friday, November 1, 2013

Fit Foods Friday: Broccoli Casserole

Now that it is November, I am excited to share with you all some of my favorite low fat lower calorie Thanksgiving recipes.

Broccoli Casserole
ingredients
1 1/2 cups shredded non fat cheddar cheese
2 10 0z pkgs. frozen chopped broccoli (thaw and drain)
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
1 3/4 cups non fat cottage cheese
1/3 cup fat free egg substitute
2 Tablespoons flour
salt and pepper to taste

directions
Combine 1 cup of the cheese and all other ingredients in a bowl and stir to mix well.
Coat a large casserole dish with cooking spray of choice.
Place broccoli mixture in dish and top with remaining cheese.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 50 minutes.



Per 2/3 cup serving you are under 70 calories and less than 1 gram of fat!!!


Friday, October 25, 2013

Fit Foods Friday: Pumpkin Smoothie

Ending our month long pumpkin theme with one of my favorite fall recipes...

PUMPKIN SMOOTHIE
1 cup plain greek yogurt
1/3 cup canned pumpkin 
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
2 tsp splenda
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 frozen banana (or about 6 ice cubes)

Place all ingredients in a blender and and blend until creamy and smooth.

Friday, October 18, 2013

Fit Foods Friday: Pumpkin Vanilla Protein Cookies

More PUMPKIN!!!!!!

Pumpkin Vanilla Protein Cookies

ingredients
1 cup greek yogurt
6 egg whites
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp vanilla
1.25 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup pumpkin
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup oat flour
1 level scoop vanilla protein powder

directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix together protein powder and flours in one bowl.
Mix all ingredients in another bowl.
Combine all ingredients carefully, do not over stir.
Spoon on to cookie sheet.
Bake 12 minutes.



(this is the kind of canned pumpkin I use for all my recipes)


Friday, October 11, 2013

Fit Foods Friday: Pumpkin Spice Bread

Another October Friday
Another Pumpkin themed recipe for you...


Pumpkin Spice Bread

2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup brow sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
3/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons orange juice
1/2 cup mashed cooked or canned pumpkin
1 egg white

optional add ins
dried cranberries
pecans
chocolate chips


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and pumpkin pie spice and stir well. Add the juice, pumpkin, and egg white. Stir until moistened. Fold in any add in ingredients if desired. Coat a loaf pan with cooking spray and spread the batter in the pan. Cook for 45 min or until center is done. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 min before slicing. ENJOY!!!

Serves 16 slices
Contains 78 calories per slice and less than .5 gram of fat per slice. (stats go up with add ins)