Easy peasy mostly green best shower/tub cleaner EVER!

When I tell people I make cleaners and deodorants and laundry soaps and such I hear lots of how do you have time or wow that's crazy or I love it or why? But what I tell them is what I do is easy. I mean ridiculously easy. Like it takes less time to make some of this stuff than it does to watch Jeopardy.
The answer to the why question is easy. Because it is healthier and greener and so much better for me and the ones that I love and who doesn't want that?

Somewhere along the way someone told us these processed chemical laden cleaners and products were better for us than the natural ones we had been using...and we believed it.

I want to get back to a time when we take 5 minutes or less to put together cleaners that work just as well and sometimes better than the crap we buy at the store and I want to start by sharing a recipe for a shower cleaner that will blow your mind.

What you need.

- an empty spray bottle (I reused one)
- white vinegar
- blue dawn dish soap

Equal parts dawn and vinegar.

Yep that's it. In all honesty I usually use less Dawn and more vinegar and it does a great job.

One recipe I found say heat the vinegar and feel free to do so, but I never use it all after heating it and so I use it room temp too and it seems to work just fine this way too.

Spray it in your shower and wait about 30 minutes and wipe down. Please note and please be careful the tub/shower will be slippery, but what would you expect when you spray it down with dish soap? So please don't slip and fall and hurt yourself and get mad. You HAVE been warned. Also you may have an intense desire for fish and chips to go with the vinegar, this is perfectly normal.

BAM! THAT'S IT!!!

I also use this to clean the stove and microwave and countertops and anything greasy. It would probably make a kick ass pre-treater for clothes wit any type of grease stain.

Granted this one uses Dawn and it is not chemical free, but it does clean birds and sea life after oil spills so it is not super duper evil in my book.

****WARNING****

This makes surfaces slippery! If you choose to use it on any surface you stand on please make sure to thoroughly clean up all cleaner residue!!! 

Confessions of a lip balm addict...

My name is Mo and I have a problem...a problem with chapstick, lip balm, burt's, lip smackers, medicated, plain, honey, menthol, cherry I like it all and I can't stop, especially in the dark and cold depressing winters here in Upstate - New York.

So what is this hippie chickie supposed to do? This stuff can be expensive. And I lose it. All. The. Time. Or I wash it and that goes over well...

After a wee bit of research which includes many hours of in depth research on pinterest (I love all you creative types - so many amazing ideas!). I found about 8,000 different recipes for homemade lip balm. The next task is do I have all the ingredients in the house and if not can I piece together a recipe from what I have and what I like best from several of the ideas.

My recipe was something like this:
one quarter to one third ounce of bees wax from the local farmers market
a few tablespoons of coconut oil
a few capsules of vitmin E
a few drops of peppermint essential oil

Pre lip balm.

I set up a double boiler and melted the bees wax then added the coconut oil. Stirred it all together and popped open the vitamin E and squeezed it in and lastly added the peppermint oil (which I can't even tell is in there).

The melted stuff in the double boiler.

This project had been on my radar for a bit so we have been saving used tubes which I boiled and cleaned and then refilled with my new concoction. This small amount that I made filled all of the empty tubes I had and there is still a mess left over. Hopefully I will be able to find more containers locally that  can be used.

The tubes-cleaned, and refilled.

My review = AWESOME!

A glimpse in to my inner hippie - makin' stuff!

So much free time. 

Now that I don't have my days jam packed with long runs, and speed work and hydrating I find I have time for other stuff...like real stuff...like life stuff. There is also a household ban on electronic devices in the house during the week after 5:00 pm (unless it is work related or text or phone calls) which has also allowed me to be more creative and slightly more organized.

If you know me even a little you know I am a tree hugging, recycling, garden growing, vegetarian, hippie chick. What you may not know is how we are trying to purge so many nasty chemical filled products from the house and from our bodies.  So we make stuff. Some conventional and self serving and some because if you read labels it might scare you with what goes into that crap.

Okay so here are a few of the recent creations (let me know if you want to know about one of these and I will try to get to it in a timely manner).

In no particular order:

- laundry soap
- shampoo
- conditioner
- sauerkraut
- kimchi
- eye moisturizer
- lip balm
- kombucha
- bread
- mozzarella cheese
- shower cleaner
- hardwood floor cleaner
- canned home grown tomatoes
- mint jelly

I am sure there are more, but I am totally drawing a blank.

I have been trying to photo document the making of these creations but have missed some of the early ones and when we need to replenish I will try to take pics.

I will start with an easy one. Today I made an eye cream. Super duper easy. Super duper good for you.
Oh and I am what is called a dump cooker and the same goes for these creations. I just kinda wing it...(sorry Clara)

Coconut oil & vitamin E. Yep there you have it. That's it. Easy is what I do.
I melted a few tablespoons of good quality coconut oil (it is solid below 80ish something degrees) and stirred in 4 vitamin E capsules that I drained into the melted coconut oil. I then put it all in a cleaned out glass jar that formerly housed a sugar body scrub.

Two ingredients and a jar. That's it. No gunk. No junk. Just good for you all natural eye cream.

Done.

A few thoughts - Running from the back of the pack.

This post goes out to all of you that run. 

Fast or Slow. Long or short distance. This is especially for all of you race directors or those who help plan or sponsor or volunteer or support a runner - celebrate slow!

I want to talk for a moment about running in the back of the pack. Being slow isn't a curse. It isn't something to be ashamed of and it isn't something that should be punished or disregarded.

We work just as hard and sometimes harder than those that running is more natural. We push, push, push, push, do hill workouts, and do short speed interval and long speed intervals. We do tempo runs and we sweat just like everyone else oh and we cry. Some of you have been witness to my mental and physical break downs. We don't all look like runners. Some of us are older, or short, or fat, or skinny, or injured, or sick in some way that doesn't show...we are diabetic, or battling mental demons, we are strong, and we broken, but we keep going day after day, week after week, month after month and year after year.

I am not taking anything away from the quicker runners and am only speaking from my humble perspective. I admire you. I love watching you run. You make it beautiful. I am jealous. I want to be a gazelle not a rhino.

Here is where I get ticked off...

I have had more than one person say you did a marathon? You mean a 10k? Or you mean a half marathon? NO I DON'T MEAN EITHER OF THOSE. I RAN A MARATHON. A WHOLE MARATHON. 26.2 LONG, HOT, PAINFUL MILES. ALL OF THEM NOT HALF NOT OR SOME SMALLER PORTION. AND YES I AM YELLING.

I have also had well meaning people tell me they are amazed at how much exercise I do and that I am not much smaller than I am. I am not tiny, but I am fit. I see my doctor regularly and I have stellar bloodwork. On paper I am the model of health, but no I am not tiny. 

Okay and my last rant.

My race rant.

I trained for my race for about 28 weeks. I did not just decide to DO a Marathon a few weeks prior. I did months of base runs and speedwork and long long long runs. I did my research and chose a race that was not only slow runner friendly, but also walker friendly. There was only one cut off point and I would need to maintain a 16 minute mile pace up until about mile 22. 

I maintained somewhere between a 13-15 minute mile pace for the majority of the race. I made it to the cut off point with a little time to spare. As I have mentioned in my other posts my feet blistered. So my last 3.5 miles or so were much slower and the pace was about 19 minute miles, but since we had passed the sweep point it didn't much matter because I was going to finish.

Here are the parts of the race that really hurt as a back of the pack runner...and I wasn't last and I had actually passed people.

When the race brags about having each mile marked with different groups to cheer on the runners and when I get to several of the mile markers the tents are deserted or the groups are breaking them down it hurts. I was doubting myself. Why was it that the back of the pack runners are not receiving the same fanfare? I know that many of these  stations are manned by volunteers, but have them come in shifts...have them manned until the cut off point is reached. Celebrate Slow! Now the tents that were still manned were awesome and I appreciate each and every one of those volunteers that waited and cheered and shook those cowbells.

The back of the pack is thin. Sometimes there are very big gaps between runners. I am sure this isn't the most thrilling part of the race, but it is the most thrilling for us.

When I crossed the finish line, a good portion of the volunteers there, were there because they had come with me. My entourage (I have always wanted to say that) consisted of 15 people from 6 states and more than half of them had volunteered. I didn't expect masses of people, but it was even thinner than I had anticipated. The race store was closed. The race barriers were being broken down. By the time I waddled over to where the post race party was being held it was a ghost town. The only food available for the runners was BBQ - I don't eat meat. I asked if there was anything for a vegetarian...and was told there was pasta salad but it would cost me $3. Three dollars. Really? I just ran 26.2 flippin miles. I didn't bring my wallet. Oh and then they were out so it didn't really matter anyway. The beer truck was still there, but it was packed up and pulled out not more than ten minutes after I got there. All I wanted was something to eat, a beer and a place to sit, but the chairs had all been put up. We had to get our own chairs and put them back after we watched the food area close and the beer truck drive away. 

I felt that I was an afterthought. My accomplishment was not as important as those that finished in four or five hours. This was my first marathon. This may be my only marathon. I wanted to feel this was as big a deal as I thought it was. If you are going to advertise being walker friendly...those that cross the line last should feel as special as those that finish first. We were out there for seven plus hours. Moving. Running. Walking. Crying. In pain. For seven plus hours. We deserve all the same rewards. 

This was the seventh year of this particular race, not the first. The finish times from last year are similar to this year. This shouldn't have been a surprise.

I filled out the post race survey with my concerns and I also emailed the organizers. My response was basically we will take it into consideration for next year. I feel like my concerns have been swept unter the rug and I am still a wee bit angry. 

I think that is all. 

Please don't pity the people at the back...cheer for us, motivate us and celebrate our accomplishments - BECAUSE WE ARE RUNNERS TOO!

So now what? The post race doldrums.

So now that I am done with THE race, what do I do now? I am not registered for anything in 2013 yet and I am contemplating how to find new challenges for 2013.

Here are my thoughts:
I would like to do a couple of half marathons in 2013. I am thinking a spring and a fall race and am shooting for the Athens half in April and probably the Empire again in October...although there is an inaugural race here in Syracuse in March so who knows.

Next I believe I will do an Olympic distance triathlon and maybe one sprint.

Maybe just maybe...if a proper do it to finish not do it to win it team can be assembled I would like to do the relay for the Syracuse Half Ironman.

And lastly I am going to shoot for a Century Ride (translation a 100 mile bike ride).

I would love thoughts on these goals or race/ride suggestions.

I have gotten back in the pool...once...and didn't drown so that is a good sign and I have been doing some spin classes with the ultimate goal of becoming certified to teach. I know what you are all thinking...man she would be a kick ass spin instructor. Yep. I know it. And I have many ideas if I can get there.

I don't have any fun pics for this blog so I will leave you with this....

Crabs LOVE Guinness too...from the floor of the Guinness Factory in Dublin, Ireland.

13.2 to 27 - yep 27

On the road again...I just can't wait to get on the road again...Off trails and out on to the road no shade, not a cloud in the sky, 65ish degrees beautiful day, but not so beautiful for the second half of a marathon for me worlds slowest runner with hydration issues and another half marathon to run.

Now the runners are on the same course as the earlier half marathoners. Awesome more than halfway done. So here is where it all starts to go downhill. The marathoners pass the 14 mile marker and one tenth of a mile later you pass the one mile marker for the half. Are you kidding me? Really? Seriously?Ugh. That hurts and is kind of funny, but it hurts more.

I run past the Outer Banks Y and wave...hello Y people! Oh and speaking of the Y. I am wearing my Y Running shirt...and as I pass some smarty pants spectators they keep asking me why and I keeping saying it really seemed like a good idea 28 weeks ago.

And then you pass Jockey's Ridge which are the largest sand dunes on the East Coast. I wish I could say I paid more attention, but I was just trying to keep moving forward and remember this is your first marathon enjoy - um enjoy and marathon should not be in the same sentence, paragraph, work of fiction. Don't die - this is what I was thinking. Oh and speaking of that in some twisted route planning, you run right by the Outer Banks Hospital. Very convenient me thinks. I did think about stopping in for some Valium and some heavy duty pain killers oh and muscle relaxers sound good too. Oops too late as I was lost in thought and ran right by and I was not going to back track.

Here is how the next few miles are described in the race info:
Miles 14-22 are flat and fast. Every mile along the marathon course will be marked Outer Bank’s style, with Mile Marker Sponsors providing entertainment every mile. From bands to clowns, to cheering squads – you can look forward to a surprise every mile of the way!
Ummm yeah. At this point nothing I am doing is fast. They are so funny.

So I was totally negligent in picture taking for several miles. I don't think I have any from about 13-22. Oops.

Whoa...is that mile 17? Now I only have a Boilermaker left to go. Which seems awesome until I remember running the Boilermaker and that it pretty much sucked - both times. And that the 15k I have left is 9.3 freaking miles. What was I thinking.

Somewhere around mile 17 maybe 18 I got a running partner. I could not have asked for a better gift. One of my oldest (and by oldest, I don't meant age wise, I mean by how long I have known her) and bestest ever friends and her family came to support me and my insanity. Her husband is a runner. A FAST runner. Like two weeks prior to this race ran a 3:17:10 (I hope that is right) marathon. I can maintain a pace like that for ohhhh about 30 seconds. So bless his heart he joined me. He even registered to run what they call the Southern Six which is a race created for people to run the last six miles of the marathon course.

Off WE go.

By this time my feet have begun to hurt and I have even popped a few tylenol from one of the medic tents. I feel pretty good other than that surprisingly. I have been really good about hydrating and have gnawed on my waffles and I feel okay. Our only job right now is to make it to the bridge before the cutoff time so we won't get swept off the course. Once we get to the bridge we can stroll the rest of the way.

Have I mentioned we have actually passed people? Me. I have passed people. During a race. Me! We were like svelte cheetahs in the wild stalking our prey...the weak, the old, the broken, the damn near dead.

I can't help but notice that the race keeps winding through neighborhoods and developments and off of the bypass. Don't they know it would be way quicker if I stayed on the bypass? I keep asking the race people and they chuckle like haha look at the crazy lady...don't they know by this point I am super serious?

We run past the outlet mall and I seriously consider stopping for a pretzel and possibly something from the gap outlet. Wait...what are you saying? I need to focus and keep going? Damnit all. Around the bend and closing in on that pesky bridge. I felt like a French Revolutionary...only we weren't storming a prison, but a bridge...TO THE WASHINGTON-BAUM BRIDGE!!!!! I know it don't have the same ring, but anything to keep moving forward.

Wait what is that I see? Is that another mile marker? We have made it into the 20+ mile range. This is boldly going where No Mo had gone before.

Now my feet really hurt but as the little running devil beside me keeps saying hey we only have 10k more. Which seems awesome until you remember that a 10k is 6.2 miles. UGH.

ONWARD!

Just keep talking to me and distract me from the fact that my feet are on fire. Okay another mile marker...am I delusional? What does it say?

Last mile marker before the bridge. DOOM CERTAIN DOOM AWAITS!

Right before we start our ascent we are greeted by more awesome GO MO GO cheerer on-ers with a sign that says: NOT QUITE DEAD YET (a reference I hope some of you get). I am not sure they are correct, but I assume they know what they are talking about and we keep moving.

So now we get to the bridge. The heartbreak hill of this race. Here is how the website describes the bridge:
Crossing the Washington-Baum Bridge at mile 23 will be your next challenge. The bridge is tall (stats: 1.05 mi long, 82' high, with a 650' climb to the top at a 4% grade) - be sure to look down. You’ll see charter boats heading out to catch your dinner! An unbelievable view over the Roanoke Sound, and then downhill onto Roanoke Island where the first English colonists settled in America in 1587.

Going UP the bridge. You can't quite get the scale of it. Let's just say it is BIG!

The bridge was not nearly as bad as I had expected, at least the going up and down part. The course had been so flat for the past few miles it was nice to use new muscles. What I didn't like was the bridge is made out of concrete which is really really hard and it was grooved which made my foot movement within my shoes even worse and about mile 23 I was convinced my baby toe had fallen off.

The best part about the bridge? I was going to finish. I had made it past the point where I could get swept off the course. Was this for real? Was I about to become a marathoner?

At the top of the bridge we took the opportunity to do a little site seeing and take a few pics...you know for posterity.  Plus you do have a great view from the top of the bridge on a bright sunny day.

If you look REAL close beyond those houses WAY over to the right is where this long ass race ends...

So what else do you do at the top of this crazy bridge? You also take a silly picture...one that shows just how desperate you have become after losing your baby toe a few miles back!

NO MO - DON'T JUMP I SWEAR WE ARE ALMOST DONE!

Sure we are almost done. Only a 5k to go. Great until you realize that is 3.1 more miles. How am I going to finish this? How can I NOT finish this. Every step is now pretty much excruciating. My feet feel like some evil soul had red hot nails and they are driving them into my heels. The ball of my left foot feels like there is a sandpaper balloon on it and my baby toe is mutantly huge.

Down the bridge.

Now THE END really is almost NEAR.

We turn off of the bypass and onto the road leading to my feet's salvation.
This is where I am fairly certain I have lost it. There was a gorgeous grasshopper in the road...so what's a girl to do? OOOHHHH BUG!!! Get out of the road pretty bug...go on move it. What do I hear? My little running angel saying come on Maureen...this way...leave the bug alone...we are so close...the finish is this way. Alright already. But I do love bugs.

About another quarter of a mile I spied a McDonald's french fry in the road. Damn did it look good...I wanted it. I was sure it hadn't been there more than 5 seconds never mind the fact there was no one else in sight. It looked okay...again that voice...no Maureen do NOT pick up the french fry. We are almost there. Damn it. Must move forward.

Turn right at the light...everyone keeps saying the finish is right there. WHERE??? Curve to the left - more Awesome Go Mo Go people cowbells in hand! Sweet I must be getting close...my mom is there. Another right...I see my dad. I mutter several curse words and keep going. Another left and what is that? Is that the finish line? Holy shit did I just go 26.2 miles? Almost seven hours later I cross the finish line and into the arms of my biggest fan. We did it! Thank you.

So now a medal, a beanie, a banana and a beer. Aaahhhhhhhhhhhh

I AM A MARATHONER.

Yep. I did it.

And if you want to know why my feet hurt so bad? My best theory is I got some sand in my shoes on the unpaved road. You don't notice a few grains of sand really...16 miles later my feet, like oysters, were trying to make pearls. I had seven blisters all over my right foot and six (but one was ginormous and my baby toe the blister wrapped around the toe...it was so big you could shine a flashlight on it and it would shine through my toe) on my left foot. This picture does not do my blisters justice.

Blisters heal but I will always from this day forward be able to call myself a marathoner.

So what's next? In 2012 I did my first triathlon, first half marathon and first full marathon. I have a few ideas for 2013, but I will save that for another day.

Lastly, a huge, enormous, gracious thank you to all of you that have been a part of this journey...your words of encouragement, training runs, speed work, tissues, hugs, and faith in me when I wasn't sure how the hell I was going to do this will never be forgotten. You all crossed that finish line with me. You all share the title of marathoner with me. Much love to each and every one of you.


Me and those that followed. We braved the roads for seven hours. See, I wasn't last, but I cheer for and congratulate all those that both finished before me and especially those that finished after me:


1176 1006 MAUREEN JONES 6:59:05.9  6:58:41.9 15:59 37 F Marathon CLAY NY 96 F-35 to 39
1177 952 CRAIG HAUGAARD 6:59:50.6  6:59:12.4 16:00 55 M Marathon ABERDEEN SD 45 M-55 to 59
1178 933 LORA HAAUGAARD 6:59:50.5  6:59:13.0 16:00 51 F Marathon ABERDEEN SD 40 F-50 to 54
1179 1143 DEBORAH NEWMAN 6:59:56.4  6:59:49.2 16:01 46 F Marathon MYRTLE BEACH SC 55 F-45 to 49
1180 719 CORRIE AMEIGH 7:00:42.6  7:00:01.1 16:02 35 F Marathon CAMERON NC 97 F-35 to 39
1181 718 BRANDT AMEIGH 7:00:42.4  7:00:01.2 16:02 36 M Marathon CAMERON NC 90 M-35 to 39
1182 1321 ROBIN WATERFIELD 7:04:14.8  7:03:24.5 16:10 54 F Marathon NORTH GARDEN VA 41 F-50 to 54
1183 1276 MIKE STOCK 7:04:14.6  7:03:24.8 16:10 56 M Marathon CHARLOTTESVILLE VA 46 M-55 to 59
1184 1288 SONYA TAYLOR 7:04:51.6  7:04:07.6 16:11 39 F Marathon GRAHAM NC 98 F-35 to 39
1185 1071 PATRICIA MARSHALL 7:05:30.0  7:05:00.7 16:13 47 F Marathon RALEIGH NC 56 F-45 to 49
1186 82 PEGGY MCKEAN 7:05:59.0  7:05:22.5 16:14 42 F Marathon NJ 79 F-40 to 44
1187 1497 LEAH NICHOLAS 7:05:59.1  7:05:22.9 16:14 38 F Marathon SAYREVILLE 99 F-35 to 39
1188 766 GILA BROCK 7:08:48.5  7:08:39.5 16:22 42 F Marathon CHESAPEAKE VA 80 F-40 to 44
1189 1056 EDMUND LOY 7:20:13.9  7:19:59.7 16:48 33 M Marathon HONOLULU HI 100 M-30 to 34
1190 2051 MERI KOTLAS 7:23:14.8  7:22:46.5 16:54 53 F Marathon RALEIGH NC 42 F-50 to 54

Marathon - part deux. 0-13.1

You technically start this race in Southern Shores (Southern freakin' Shores - if you have been to the Outer Banks Southern Shores is really really really really far from Manteo). The first few miles were fine. Not much to say. Just like the start of any long run for me. I did feel like I was working fairly hard and was trying to keep a steady pace... after all I have never done anything more than about 16 miles at this point and you know I don't want to go TOO FAST (see photo below).

This is one of those Oops photos, the ones you don't actually mean to take, but I love it! It makes it look like I am going super fast. Look at that blur from all the speed!!! WHEEEEEEEEE!

Out of Southern Shores - proceed to Kitty Hawk.

The route was beautiful and I am such a gawker when I am out...oh tree, look at the butterfly, I love that landscaping. I also took pictures as you can see (I learned this from a fellow awesome running friend) and talked to the spectators and fellow runners.  About mile three my favorite athletic supporter was on the side of the road to cheer me on holding a sign saying - THE END IS NEAR! Needless to say he was completely lying to me.

Onward...

I wish I had taken more pictures. Not really sure what I was thinking about, but I know I was not thinking about how much further I had to go. The route took you along a trail along the Albemarle Sound and some amazing houses. A perfect day.

A pier in the Albemarle Sound. The sky fades into the water...about mile 4.

Another picture of the sound...so pretty. Still about mile 4.

Onward...

Out of Kitty Hawk - proceed into Kill Devil Hills

Right after entering KDH there was a couple cowbells in hand welcoming all of the runners to Kill Devil Hills. I swear they were real estate agents.

Somewhere about mile 5.5 I had a group of spectators who were drinking beer and other good stuff (this is about 8:30 in the morning) offer me a mimosa. Normally this would be awesome, but I had a million more miles to go and no way to bring enough with me to keep me tipsy until the end. I declined saying I would prefer a bloody mary...which they said they could make me. I love spectators with mad bar tending skills.

Still smiling at this point...the delirium has not yet set in.

Mile 8 (I so should have taken pics...my bad) I was passing the Wright Brothers Memorial. Thankfully you don't have to run UP to the monument just around the base. Passing the memorial more awesome GO MO GO supporters with signs WORST PARADE EVER and HURRY UP THEY ARE RUNNING OUT OF BEER! After the memorial the terrain changes from road running to off road running.

Off the road - onto the trails!

Miles 10 to almost mile13 are run through the Nags Head Woods Nature Preserve a beautiful non-paved roads...here they are not dirt, but sand. Soft on the knees, bad as we will see, on the feet.

Mile 11.

The mile marker tent sponsors out here where I am sure only a handful of OBX visitors have ever gone are fantastic.  I stopped at the medical tent out here in no where land to empty my shoes of road debris...so far so good. Right before turning up a steep trail was a group handing out oranges and banana bread and enthusiastic cheers...not that it made the hill and entrance into the true trail portion easier, but it was great to have people out here cheering us slow back-of-the-packers on.

The trail was a narrow path through a beautiful maritime forest. I am thankful for my trail running time I have had with so many wonderful people in New York at Green Lakes and Beaver Lake.

Gorgeous Maritime Forest Trail

The trail was gorgeous. Run Run Run.

Out of the woods...back onto the roads. 

Wow. This is really long. So I am going to make this a three parter. The second half deserves just as much thought as the first and I have more pictures and musings to share if you will have me.