Thursday, October 31, 2013

Orlando Yelp Event- Halloween Party at The Station

On Monday, I drove over to the UCF side of town to attend a Yelp Halloween part at The Station.







This was a cute bar that I can see guys going to when they want to watch a game during the day, and a hangout place for college kids at night.

 There was lots of yummy food out for us--pita chips with hummus or spinach dip, sliced up cheeseburgers, and sandwiches, pizza skins, and salad.  There were also some mixed drinks to choose from.

And you can't forget the costumes!  Unfortunately, my doctors appointment beforehand took way longer than I expected so I wasn't able to go home to put on my costume.  My friends looked so cute though!  (and there were some great other costumes including a ghost from Pacman and the Price is Right contestants!)

There was Snap Studio Booth there for us to take our pictures!  I love photobooth pictures!

Before we left, there was candy out for us to take home in a baggie and we got a $10 gift card for when we return to The Station.  I had a great time!

Oh, and random, but when we were leaving, this group of college kids came by with this puppy.  I reached over to pet it, and it scramble up on me.  Chompers (a Rottweiler/dauchand mix) was so sweet!  I love puppies!  (don't mind that I look as pale as a ghost!)



Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Orlando Yelp Event- Krisp Kreme

Last Thursday I attended a Yelp Event at the Millenia Krispy Kreme store.  The store had burnt down previously and was re-opening. 

The store re-opened today and had some great prizes for those who were first in line.
 
 
I met up with Cecille, Mia, and Pamela.
 

As soon as I walked in, this is what I saw. 



We were told to order whatever doughnut we wanted.  I went with the custard filled.  (I asked what the difference between the kreme filled and custard filled.  Custard is more like a pudding-y texture.)  It was sooo good!

 I also ordered coffee--the Kaffe Kreme flavor.  I was told that it was supposed to taste like the glazed doughnuts.  I have to be honest, I don't like the taste of plain coffee and prefer the flavoring to be strong.  This flavor wasn't strong enough for me, unfortunately.

I also tried the Chocolate Iced Glazed--my fav!

 The employees were so incredibly nice!  They encouraged us to try everything!


Next up was the Maple Iced Glazed.  Mia and I split it.  It was okay, but I like the chocolate one better.

I also tried a seasonal flavor, the pumpkin cake doughnut (yum!) and of course, a fresh, hot original!!

And of course I had to check out how the doughnuts are made.   They keep a strict eye to make sure they're all good ones!

Look at that wall of icing that the doughnuts are going through! 


We got to take home a dozen of whichever flavor we wanted!  At first I felt bad taking them, but then I rationalized with myself that since they weren't open for business yet, I should take so home so they wouldn't go to waste!


I had such a great time!  Thanks Krispy Kreme and Yelp Orlando!





Sunday, October 27, 2013

Weekly Recap- October 21-27, 2013

Since my knee was still hurting, I saved the running for my race today.  It was the Evergreen Pumpkin 10 Miler--the only race I had to use as proof of time for my corral placement.  I was so nervous!  Before I got injured, I wanted a sub 11 pace and then after I got injured, I told myself I'd be happy with a sub 12.  Well, I got a 10:27 pace! And I got a 20 minute, 16 second 10 miler PR! Even better than I could have hoped for before my knee problems!  My knee definitely hurt a lot, but it wasn't excruciating and I could run through it!  I finally have my doctors appointment tomorrow.  Here's hoping I find out something and don't just get the "ice it and no running" spiel!

(Just found out that was my gun pace.  My actual chip time was 1:43:38...so a 20min 59 second PR and pace of 10:26)

Sunday- Evergreen Pumpkin 10 miler: 1:44:21-- Mile 1: 9:37, Mile 2: 9:36, Mile 3: 9:30, Mile 4: 11:06, Mile 5: 11:17, Mile 6: 10:30, Mile 7: 10:28, Mile 8: 10:52, Mile 9: 10:48, Mile 10: 10:05, average pace: 10:27

Total miles this week: 10
Total miles in 2013: 461.67
Total miles: 887.16

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Giveaway Winner- Armpocket



Congratulations to

Lisa N.

 for winning an Armpocket of her choice!!! (except for the Nighthawk)

 Lisa, email me at onceuponarun (at) hotmail (dot) com by Saturday at 11 pm and I'll get you your info for your Armpocket!!

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Weekly Recap- October 14- 21, 2013

I took 2 weeks off again to see if I could get my knee healed.  I wanted to get in to see a doctor (but the earliest time is NEXT Monday, the day after my race.  Sigh).  I even took off 2 weeks of softball.  I wanted no running on my knee. 

So I tried again yesterday.  I was supposed to do 14 but decided on 7.  I told myself that I would stop at the first twinge.  Well, that came at mile 1.25.  That's right when I met up with my running friend and was going to start 2:1s so I decided to keep on.  At mile 3, we split and I decided to keep going but I dropped down to 1:1s.  The knee pain got a little better so at mile 6, I did 2:1s again.  My knee definitely hurts, but it's not excruciating like it was at the Tower of Terror 10 Miler.  I definitely could have gone longer. 

I used the full knee method of KT taping and I think it helped.  Although I was keeping it on longer than necessary to see if I could use that one application for several days.  But then I noticed that my knee was hurting in different spots than it was before. I took the tape off and my knee doesn't hurt there anymore, just in the old spot.  So weird!  At least there's no limping this time!

Saturday--7 miles in 1:22:40 (Mile 1: 10:41, Mile 2: 12:21, Mile 3: 12:44, Mile 4: 12:11, Mile 5: 11:57, Mile 6: 11:51, Mile 7: 10:56, average pace: 11:49)

Total miles this week: 7
Total miles in 2013: 451.67
Total miles: 877.16

Saturday, October 19, 2013

September Villains Weekend- 1900 Park Fare

On Thursday night, we had dinner reservations for Cinderella's Happily Ever After Dinner at 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian.  Our group that night was Jennifer & Charley, Beth & Paul, Melissa & Peter, Debra, and me.  It had been a while since I had eaten the dinner here and I was pleasantly surprised. 
 
When we were seated, we noticed that most of the characters were on our side of the room so we decided to get all the pictures done first.
 
Up first, Cinderella!











Next up, Lady Tremaine, the Wicked Stepmother!













Then Prince Charming came over


 
 
 











And Drizella











And Anastasia was my favorite!  Her sense of humor was hilarious!












Then we got down to the eating business.  Somehow I only took a picture of my first plate!  Not sure how that happened1
 
 
I was so excited to see sushi and seafood (a mini clam bake with crab legs, either mussels or clams (can't remember), shrimp, and corn on the cob).  I also had some mac & cheese, mashed potatoes, a few meats, and strawberry soup.  And the desserts were yummy!

 
 
We had a great character dinner buffet!


Friday, October 18, 2013

Five Things Friday- October 18, 2013

1) I got my StrideBox last week!


It included:
~a Eat Sleep Run StrideBox drawstring bag
~Rock Tape sample
~Perform Pain Reliever sample
~Fig Bar
~ That's It Bar with 1 apple and 10 cherries in the fruit bar
~Honey Stinger Waffle in Honey flavor
~ Chocolate #9 Chocolate Agave Gel
~ Fluid Performance drink powder in Raspberry Lemonade

2) I got my medal for the Earning My Glass Slipper Virtual Run benefiting Give Kids the World


3)  With the temps getting (hopefully) cooler soon, I'll be running later in the day.  I hate wearing sunscreen and I know I need to protect my face from the sun so I ordered a really cute tiara visor from Running Princess made by Headsweats.



4) I also got my Kona Kase.


It included:
~Musette Bakery bar, in Bernie
~Skratch Labs Exercise Hydration Mix with Pineapples
~Flap Jacked Protein Pancake mix in Cinnamon Apple
~Barnana (I'm sooooo excited to try this one!)
~Kind Oats and Honey Clusters with Toasted Coconut
~PowerBar Performance Energy Blends in Pear Apple Peach
~Honey Stinger Waffle in Lemon flavor

5) I'm having a giveaway for any Armpocket (except the Nighthawk).  The giveaway ends tomorrow night at midnight!  Enter here!


Thursday, October 17, 2013

September Villains Weekend--Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review

I am sooo far behind on blog posts, but slowly catching up.  Last month, a group of friends came down over Friday the 13th.  We had so many things planned and I was soooo excited!  We all met because we got married at Disney and they've become some of my closest friends! 

Wednesday night kicked it off (well, a couple of them came down a little earlier but this was the first planned event.)  We (me & Kory, Beth & Paul, Jennifer & Charley, Melissa & Peter, and Debra & her daughter) went to see the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review at Fort Wilderness.  We met at the Wilderness Lodge where Beth and Paul were staying and the took the boat over.  I saw the show once on my first trip to Disney World when I was 8 and I remember it so clearly because my brother was chosen to be the boy who gets to go on stage and wear the jacket.  And I was sooo jealous!  I went another time with Kory's dad and aunt.  And I couldn't wait for this time!


The show is so much fun.  It's really engaging and interactive with the audience.


First up we had some salad (which you can see in the picture below) and Paul got sung to!

Then after a little bit more show, the regular food is brought out.  It's all you can eat, served family style.  Fried chicken, ribs, beans, corn, mashed potatoes, and corn bread.  Oh man.  The cornbread is sooooo good!  I think I ate a loaf all by myself!!  Jennifer found the recipe for me online..I'll post it at the bottom!



After dinner, they asked all of the anniversary couples to stand up.  We embarrassed Jennifer and Charley because it was their 2 year anniversary that weekend.  They had to stand up and dance.  Awww.

















The entertainers were soo good!  I wish I had their talent!


 
 Next up: dessert!  Strawberry Shortcake!  Yum!  I only had a little bit since I had stuffed myself with the dinner!
 And then the part of the show that I remembered so vividly from when I was younger.










 At the end, they pass out musical instruments to the audience.





 Such a fun night!



 If you're looking for a fun, interactive dinner show, then I definitely recommend seeing the Hoop-Dee-Doo!

Here's the cornbread recipe Jennifer found for me from the Disney Food Blog.  And this is their picture as well.  (Our cornbread was a thicker loaf-type)


Ingredients:
3/4 cup cornmeal
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1 3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup milk
2 eggs

Method:
1. Mix flour, cornmeal, salt, baking powder, and sugar in a large mixing bowl.
2. In a separate bowl, blend milk, eggs, and oil until well mixed.
3. Using a mixer, slowly add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing just enough to incorporate.
4. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with non-stick cooking spray and pour the batter into the pan, spreading evenly.
5. Bake in a preheated oven at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.