Standards of Portions

There are few things that I love more than a big bowl of crunchy cereal drenched in cool soy milk and topped with a drizzle of maple syrup (light!) and plain yogurt. Mmm!

..but why is that I always have to go back for a second one? 

For as long as I can remember, I always have to go back for a second bowl!

Pizza is another food like this for me. Regardless of the size of my serving, I would feel shorted if I stopped at one. But not all foods are like this. I never make a second bowl of oatmeal or take another apple. 

Do you guys have any foods like this? Foods that you must have a certain amount regardless of other factors? I'd love to hear if I'm not the only one!

by the way- I'm typing this as I eat my bowls of cereal #1 and #2! I told you!

My Voice

Especially since I work in politics, I am so ready for this election to be over. The negative ads and drama among supporters gets old fast.

But this election (every election actually, but this election is special) is crucial. The two sides of the tickets are very vocal about their issues and there has been a lot uncovered. I don't want to turn this blog into a political rant-- but every vote counts. And every voice counts. So I will show mine.. quietly.

BOTM NOVEMBER NOW AVAILABLE FOR PICKUP

BOTM NOVEMBER IS HERE! DRINK, YOU DRINKERS!

cheers,

dave

BEER: OLD VISCOSITY AND GIFT OF THE MAGI

2 arriivals from Port Brewing today.

1. Old Viscosity- bourbon barrel aged imperial stout.
2. Gift of the Magi-Winter release Biere de Garde with brettanomyces and spices

I'd say more, but I assume you're already on your way.

cheers,

dave

Brighter Days!

Hey everyone!

I don't have time for a real post right now, but I wanted to send out a quick update. Things with David and I are better (hopefully continuing on..). The bad stuff lasted a few days and all of your comments definitely helped me through them. You all have some great tips!

I'll be back soon to talk about an interesting product. In the mean time, enjoy your hump day!

So What Did YOU See on Your Drive Home?

Yes, this is a camel dancing down the road in a multi-colored school bus. Can you believe it!? This changed the mood of my commute entirely. I was laughing for the rest of the night. Watch to believe.

*******
In other news, I'm going through a tough relationship issue. I'm really struggling. I'm eating EVERYTHING and have zero motivation to work out or do anything at all. Any tips on how to not gain 10 pounds in one day?

530 bottles of beer on the wall

That's right. 530 bottles. For now. There are at least 100 more coming in the next 3 weeks. Some people say that makes us the store with the largest selection of beer in the Bay Area. I would tend to agree with them.
Mix-A-Six is a whole new beast now, with nearly 100 domestic 12 oz. micros to choose from (in addition to 430 other bottles. We have 530 in stock, by the way). Mix any six beers and save 10%.
-----------------------------------------------------
FYI: HEALTHY SPIRITS WILL BE OPEN UNTIL 2 AM THIS HALLOWEEN.

-cheers!

dave

Reviewing EAS!

Tristan from EAS was nice enough (and so sweet!) to send me some products from the EAS line to sample. Especially since I'm training for my half marathon in January, I'm looking into foods/drinks that provide my body with what it needs to keep up with my training. 

Reviews

The Myoplex Deluxe Bar in Smores was huge! 

Likes:

- This bar was huge. I could cut a piece off and save the rest of the bar for other post-workout snacks.

- It really sticks to you. I promise it will keep your belly full!

- It is tasty. This tastes just like a candy bar. Can anyone say Snickers??

- The sugar content is pretty low and the protein is HIGH!

Dislikes:

- High maltose corn syrup, fractionated palm oil, ferric orthophosphate... seriously, I am having trouble even spelling many of these ingredients. For someone who favors nourishing their body with organic this and whole that, these ingredients are a bit hard to swallow.

- The size! I know I listed it as a positive, too. It might be a negative for those of you who can't always save the rest for later... or have issues with portion control! (330 calories can be a good meal substitute!)

- 6g saturated fat? Eeek!

This is the nutrition. It also has TONS of vitamins and minerals.. which is a plus.

_____________________________

EAS also sent me a few drinks to try out! Myoplex Lite Ready-to-Drink in Strawberry Cream was my favorite of the drinks. The other flavors were Chocolate Fudge and French Vanilla.

Likes:

- The strawberry flavor was GOOD.

- The shakes are really thick. They actually have substance.

- The shake split into 1/2's were great pre- and post-workout snacks.

- These shakes really kept me full!

- 20g protein for 170 calories? I think it's a deal.

- No saturated fat.

- They are portable... just like little juice boxes!

Dislikes:

- The French Vanilla tasted too rich and fake for me.

- Again, the issue with the ingredients. I like shorter ingredient lists. 

Overall: I wouldn't recommend you all to eat these products every day. The ingredients intimidate me a little. I would recommend it for a once- or twice-a-week treat for something that tastes yummy, gives you a huge kick of protein and vitamins and staying protein power. After trying these, I would buy something from the EAS line.

You can get your free sample here!

Have you had any of these products? Leave your review in the comments!

SAN FRANCISCO BEER+CHEESE TASTING EVENT

The SAN FRANCISCO BEER AND CHEESE TASTING group is having a tasting on November 2nd. If you would like to attend, sign in to Beer Advocate and follow this link to RSVP:

http://beeradvocate.com/events/info/21023

The theme is dark strong ales. Bring a few bottles, and/or some interesting cheese.

cheers,

-dave

Choose

I have some fun topics and reviews to post, blogs to visit and so much more... but I can't right now! But I do have one thing to say:

Let's choose our moments of weakness.

I'm all about making the choices that make us happy, so let's remember everything we do is our choice. So choose the nights you want to skip a workout and relax on the couch. And choose the moments when another slice of pizza is just sooo good!

I'll be back! ;)

Here are great tips on how to store your produce! Did you know pears should ripen on the counter and then be refrigerated?

I will never buy this again.

... unless someone promises to give me one serving and eat the rest themselves.
I bought this glorious product last Monday. Today is Friday and it is all gone. All of it. And nobody has touched it but me. This tastes like the peanut butter inside of a Reeces Cup... except better.

It's not even that I've just had tons of PB sandwiches. No, the only thing this beautiful creation touched is my spoon.

..all-natural peanut butter blended with sweet white chocolate.... no cholesterol, no trans- fats, no hydrogenated oils, and no high-fructose corn syrup.... gluten-free, vegan, and certified kosher..

I officially endorse Peanut Butter Co.'s White Chocolate Wonderful. Oh my goodness.


p.s. Make sure you watch THIS VIDEO. It will challenge you! Have a great weekend!

Bar Review: Cascadian Farm Vanilla Chip (Something Sweet!)

Hey guys! Busy, busy over here, so I'm going to make this review quick!

Bar Review: Cascadian Farm Vanilla Chip Organic Chewy Granola Bars

I don't usually go for "chewy granola bars"- something about the 'chewiness' makes me think of them as unnatural and unhealthy. But when I began my quest looking for healthier bars and saw that the Cascadian Farm's Vanilla Chip Organic Chewy Granola Bars are both organic and vanilla chip, I had to at least try them! Boy am I glad I did!

Taste: SO Yummy! I definitely taste the vanilla chips. The entire bar is sweet.

Texture: Like it says, CHEWY GRANOLA BAR. Yums.

Nutrition: Certainly not a piece of fruit, but no HFCS or any junk like that. Just pure organic (sugary!) goodness!

Satiety Factor: This isn't the wonder snack in terms of keeping me full, but it definitely treats my sweet tooth!

Overall: I really enjoy this bar. Most days I'd rather choose a Clif Brownie Zbar, but this bar is so tasty too!

Have you tried this bar? Are there any other bars you use to tame your sweet tooth?

CUSTOMER REQUESTS?

As some of you may know, I'm working on bringing in a hundred or so new beers over the next month or two. I have alot of ideas, but I want to know what YOU want. More IPAs? An entire shelf of Russian Imperial Stouts? Gruit ales? Meads? Let me know.

cheers!

-dave

2 DE PROEF SIGNATURE ALES NOW IN STOCK

NOW IN STOCK:
1. DE PROEF SIGNATURE ALE (Tomme Arthur Port Brewing Collaboration)BATCH 2
2. DE PROEF"LES DEUX BRASSEURS SIGNATURE ALE (Jason Perkins Allagash Brewing Collaboration) BATCH 1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Les Deux Brasseurs is a Golden Ale fermented with multiple strains of brettanomyces yeast.
------------------------------------------------------------------
No need to reserve bottles for now. I have a decent amount of both.

-Cheers!

dave

MIX-A SIX

Don't let the economic crisis get in the way of your drinking.
Come in and mix a 6-pack. You'll save 10%.
Over 350 bottles to choose from!
(6-pack deal is for 6-packs with no more than 2 of the same bottle. Deal does not include cans.)
___________________________________________________________________________________
ALSO:
Look out for a major expansion of our beer selection in the next few weeks!

cheers,

-dave

Race: Richard's Run for Life

Last year I ran Richard's Run for Life in historic Ybor City in Tampa. It was a beautiful course on a Friday night... running down the brick roads in the middle of a historic, active scene.

The race supports children's cancer research. The little boy that kicked off the race each year unfortunately lost his young life to cancer last year before the race.

It was such an emotional start. The people gathered to run are all there more for the cause than the run itself. Really, it was beautiful.

So when I heard registration opened for this year's race, I signed up without hesitation! I love putting money into great causes.

You'll notice on my sidebar I added an Upcoming Races list. This 5K will be perfect right before my 10K.... and the 10K right before my Half!!


I encourage you all to look into charitable 5Ks in your area. Most novice runners and walkers can complete a 5K safely. The training and accomplishing will leave you feeling great... and the cause will benefit, too.

I know there are a few Florida readers here. Here you can find out about this great race. Let me know if you're going and we can meet up! (Afterward they have a huge party with tons of great Cuban food! That's worth more than the registration fee!! Yum!)

Discussion: Not Just Progress.... Goals

Have you ever looked close at your goal and thought, "There's no way that I could get there."? I'm not talking about a general lack of faith. If your goal is running, maybe you believe you'll eventually conquer 5 miles... but never 10! Or if you're losing weight, maybe you're eyeing a 20 pound loss... but definitely not your pre-baby weight!

Last night I decided to try on my goal jeans after the gym.. just to see how far I had to go.

They wouldn't even reach my hips.

These are my favoooorite pants. You could call them my "hot" pants! But seeing everything that has to be lost really made me think I could never get back in them.

...But I know that's not the case. After all, I've worn these pants for years while living a normal, healthy life. So I can do it... it's just really intimidating right now!!

So here's where this evolves into a discussion. How do you (or have you!) mentally confirm/actualize/work-for-specifically your goals. Get what I'm saying? How do you/have you moved past progress and really believed you can reach your ultimate goal? I would love to hear!

___________________________

In other news, Tristan from EAS was kind enough to send over some bars and shakes for me to sample. I'll be sure to share my review with you all! Thanks, EAS! While I'm tasting and writing my reviews, register for the EAS newsletter here and receive your free sample!

BEER: NEW ARRIVALS

WET...STICKY...PUNGENT...HOPS!

Today, I recieved not one, but TWO fresh hop ales!

1. Port Brewing High Tide Wet Hop IPA
2. Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale

The Harvest 08 is one of the best hoppy beers is the best yet in the Harvest series. Its light piney hop character and surprisingly malty backbone form a serendipitous balance. I think my bottle lasted about 5 minutes.

OTHER NEW ARRIVALS:

1. Lost Abbey Avant Garde Ale
2. Port Brewing Wipe Out IPA
3. Port Brewing Santa's Little Helper (at brewer's request, not for sale until October 15. No need to reserve, I've got loads;)
_________________________________________________________________________________
OTHER NEWS
I'm working on bringing in alot more beer. We currently stock around 350 bottles at a time. We re-arranged the store today to accomadate alot more bottles, so expect some interesting new additions in the near future.
ALSO:
In case anyone missed my message, BEER OF THE MONTH: OCTOBER IS NOW READY FOR PICK-UP!!!

cheers,

dave

When Maintaining is Not Enough

I shouldn't be writing this. I am frustrated and severely lacking motivation. But I work hard to make this blog real- all of my ups and downs in striving to be "healthy ashley." So I write tonight to represent women who are frustrated when their hard work just doesn't pay off.

Tonight I used the LifeCenter at my gym (a small booth that measures and tracks weight, cholesterol, heart rate, body fat, etc.) before my appointment with my personal trainer. End result: the numbers are the same as two months ago. All the numbers are the same. Even body fat- so it's not like I've just "gained muscle."
I feel great. I'm happy and strong and feel tight all over (woohoo!). But I am over the weight I should be. I don't fit into my normal jeans-- and I really don't fit into my skinny jeans.

So I get new workouts from a personal trainer every week, exercise as much as I can, limit my calories and eat mostly whole foods. Yet I maintain. It pisses me off.

Really I know I need to hit the calorie range 1400-1500 each day and I will lose, but right now I'm really upset that the things I'm doing already should be working... yet nothing changes at all.

So tonight I cut my workout short, ate a bowl of cereal and am going to bed without cleaning the house.

So when you're fed up and need to quit for the day, it's okay. You're not alone. Tomorrow I will think of my half marathon in January, how strong I am from my new workouts and the nutrients I consciously put into my body each day. But tonight I am pissed that every stupid number stayed the same. And my jeans still won't fit.

Facing Mountains

I have an announcement. And in my mind, it's a big one!

For the past year or so I've become increasingly interested in running. Most of my life I believed I just couldn't run. I've never been athletic, bad knees run in the family and I have exercise-induced asthma that leaves me feeling like I'm going to die if I push too hard.

But in February I began to train anyway. Step by step I improved. Now I didn't become the best runner around by any means, but I proved to myself that I, the non-runner, could run and improve with hard work and dedication.
So I ran a 5K. My time was slow, but I actually ran it! I was overwhelmed with pride and inspiration. I was addicted. (Read this post.)

After months of reading about other blogger's experiences with their 10Ks, halfs and marathons, a goal brewed within me. I decided to challenge myself to a half marathon.

If you knew me and my very non-athletic history and family, this would seem pretty out of sorts! But I want to prove to myself that yes, you can accomplish tough things... but you can also accomplish really tough things!!

Deep down inside I don't think I can do it. So I went ahead and registered for a 10K on Thanksgiving Day and a Half Marathon on January 18, 2009.

__________________

I'm trying to make more time to run right now. Look for a post later on when I talk about my training, etc.!

Any training/sports nutrition tips would be very appreciated!!