SEASIDE STUFF

A portion of our group just had an amazing experience with a road trip and extended weekend revolving around the Seaside Half Marathon & 5k. This has been a building tradition among our southern sole sisters with Floree and Hazel holders of the longest streak of attending this event at seven years. This blog post author enjoyed her second year and a few of our group got to experience their first year. The SSS majority is in between the 2-7 year participation. The weekend obviously is centered around the actual event so a quick few words about that..the run is held on a Sunday (1^st one in March) and is an out/back on 30A. It sells out fairly quickly. The run itself is pleasant, not really hilly compared to Georgia, and features fab swag (tech t-shirt, medal and the coveted Vera Bradley bag-choosing between two designs).

 The after festival is so much fun with great food & beverages, music and if the weather is good, an amazing recovery place-to-be. Wrap around this great run experience with a road trip, fun eating & beverage experience, the beach, bicycles, warmer weather, shopping, more beverages, delicious restaurants/bars and a really nice house for us all to stay together (8-10 southern sole sisters under one roof) within walking distance of EVERYTHING..and did I say, lots of beverages?!

I will stop short of describing what actually happened on our most recent trip and leave that for cherished, funny memories and lots of photos (Instagram posts) and treat it like VEGAS.

 Other than a salute to all that is SEASIDE, this post actually has a different intended and important purpose…to save us from RECREATING THE WHEEL and to capture our Seaside preparation and planning wisdom somewhere for reference next year and the year after that and so on. Nothing is ever written in stone but it was often heard, over our glorious weekend, “We have to remember that for next year”. Besides capturing that stuff, all of our Southern Sole Sisters have not yet experienced Seaside and we have been fortunate to continue to expand our tribe, so these tips may come in handy for continued Seaside newbies.  As I write this post, please know it is the combined wisdom as told to me by you, my southern sole sisters. Furthermore, this post will be edited and reedited until it reflects all of your thoughts. You can post them as comments or email me and I will weave them in.

THINGS NOT TO FORGET TO PACK & WHAT DID WE WEAR RACE DAY

• Start with the single most important item as told to us by Hazel…SUNGLASSES– The back part of the out/back is brutal sun in the eyes wise during the run event.
• Pearl says, “As for packing, I will always bring a hat for the run.  I also liked having a light wind breaker.  I bought one of those light scarves and loved having it the rest of the trip to burrow down when the breeze blew off the ocean.  March 1 is still cool.  Pearl forgot her beans so she recommends beans, if that is your preferred fuel source, as they only had gu on the course.
• Bathing Suit could be considered..some do, some don’t. Didn’t use it this year but some did last year.
•  Yoga clothes – just in case we want to pick up a yoga class with the more seasoned Seasude residents who we want to grow up to be..
• Pre-run foods like oatmeal as well as any snacks, bars and special beverages you want for the weekend.
• Cause we always ask ourselves, "what did I wear when I ran this last year?"..most of us have worn over the past couple of years, tank tops, capris, some with long sleeve or shrug over and for Hazel, gloves this year. Add your race number, cap, sunglasses & put money/credit card* on you for important post race purchases.

This is why you might need money. Mimosas Modica Market ROCK!

•  Race Day, we pack a bag, without valuables, that contains towel for post-race lounging in the grass and some warm overclothes. Leave bag in post race area....

GETTING THERE

Travelling to Seaside by CAR has been the preferred mode of transportation. This year, different pods of SSS set off from the Atlanta area 5:30am on Saturday to arrive in Seaside around 11:00am. N (Seaside is an hour behind Atlanta). With limited road traffic, one or two stops along the way (Starbucks in Columbus), it was commonly commented that it felt fast and the timing was perfect. Not only did it land us before the crowd at Great Southern, it allowed our group to choose between brunch and lunch menus which is a short window at one of our favorite restaurants. This also placed us with full bellies ready to attend packet pick up which began next door at 12pm.

You can also get there by PLANE. Pearl has done this multiple years in a row and tried different airports. Here are her thoughts:

I have decided that I prefer flying into Panama City (ECP) airport.  It's only 30 min away from Seaside.  Ft. Walton (VPS) is about an hour away from Seaside by going through Destin.  The positive for this airport may be food or shopping options in Destin area.   

LODGING ARRANGEMENTS

Houses for rent must be rented for three night say minimum and typically for desired area and size, houses have been renting for around $3,000. The last two years, we have rented a house that can accommodate over 10 people from 360 Blue Properties and have had wonderful experiences. This year’s address was:

848 Western Lake

Pros for this house was definitely the proximity to the starting line (Left only 10 minutes before race time, to not use porta potties…PRICELESS). Comfortable, very nice accommodations.

Cons were bathroom arrangements. One bedroom with four bunkbeds did not have access to bathroom unless travelling through other bedrooms or going downstairs.

104 Buttercup

Pros-best common area ever, with long dining table that could easily accommodate our large group.  Better bathroom access

Cons-sort of. Some sleeping arrangements were in separate guest house.

If you have previous years places to make note of.. Or if you know of one, that should be considered for the future years… send them my way.

EATING, EATING AND PLANNING TO EAT

A few random thoughts to take or ditch. Great Southern could become a great tradition. Already mentioned earlier, two years in a row this has been a first stop. They have brunch and lunch, which our group, split down the middle on who ordered what…and amazing Mimosas and Bloody Mary’s to start our trip off right.

A few years in a row, we have dined in the night before the run and found this was nice because we could accommodate different food needs (which some of us are more finicky what we eat before 13 miles…this blogger for one) and we can control the ingredients that might come back to haunt us (garlic, anyone?). This was our menu this year and recipes are in a coming section. The night after the run, we have thought, in the past, we would be uber party girls and enjoy a gourmet dinner out. Well give us one experience of closed restaurant even though we had reservations and then zombie stoned waiter…we changed it up this year and had dinner IN. Picked up Pizza By the Sea and most declared it divine while dining in comfortable clothes or even pjs. Again, nothing set in stone but it was suggested we write this down..so there ya go.

ARRIVAL BRUNCH/LUNCH at GREAT SOUTHERN

PRE RUN MENU-EAT IN

·         Seaside Chicken

·         Roasted Carrots

·         Orzo Salad

·         French Bread

RUN DAY DINNER (après run) –PIZZA BY THE SEA & DELICIOUS SALAD MADE BY FLOREE & PETUNIA

COMMUNITY BRINGING ASSIGNMENTS AND SHOPPING

In our planning for the trip, we have recycled the list of what we are bringing (folks just sign up) for those important house community needs like Toilet Paper and then we have a Grocery Store trip when we get there. These lists modify a bit from year to year but again in the not to work too hard in planning, here are lists from this year.

GROCERY LIST FOR SEASIDE

Bananas - one bunch about 8

Oranges - big navel -6

Lemon-2

Coffee fixins - half and half

Skim milk - half gallon
Chicken Thighs- boneless skinless 4 + lbs

Onions- 2 sweet onions

Beer- blue moon- 12 pack

Hard cider

Orzo-box

Sundried Tomato- jar

Feta- 4 oz container crumbled feta

Basil- bag of

Romaine lettuce heart (comes in bag/ box of 3)-1

arugula (box of)

shaved parmasean in plastic container (thick shaving) not powdered-Over with the cheeses. 

French baguettes of some other kind of bread with dinner

Carrots whole - 2 on bag in produce

Ben & Jerry frozen greek yogurt with blueberries, graham cracker/Bluish container - 2 pints

BROUGHT BY US (divide/volunteer/assign)

Seasonings- Hazel

 Salt/Pepper- Hazel

Olive Oil- Hazel

Aluminum pans-

Aluminum Foil-

Stevia-

Coffee-

hand washing soap-
Clorox Wipes-

Toilet Paper-

Paper Towels

Napkins
Dishwasher tab
trash bags

Laundry detergent/dryer sheets

RECIPES..this section is still a work in progress

ORZO SALAD from FRANCES -I don’t have a recipe BUT everyone knows I don’t cook so it’s one of those that anyone can do. 

Ingredients:

Orzo – Think I only did 1 lb

Sundried tomatoes pack in oil (the ones you find in a glass jar near canned tomatoes)

Fresh basil

1 package of Feta or equivalent fresh parmesan (believe we did feta and I like it a little better than parm)

Olive oil

Cook the orzo.

Take about ¾ jar of the sundried tomatoes and put into a blender or food processor (all the rentals should have a blender)

Add all the basil that comes in the package (removing stems and breaking apart the big leaves)

Add a little more olive oil (maybe 2 Tbls)

Blend until the texture is not smooth and runny but the tomatoes and basil are really chopped.    You’ll need to run the blender, mix with a spoon, repeat etc..

It won’t look like a lot but it goes a long way.  Mix with the orzo and add the feta. 

Oh – and I like the salad better the next day after it’s been chilled.  Great for leftovers!!!

SEASIDE CHICKEN from HAZEL

11/2-2lbs. Boneless skinless chicken thighs (amt depends on how many you are feeding) I sometimes add skinless chicken legs for the kids.

1-onion

Olive oil

Season All

Paprika

Vegetable broth (enough to cover chicken

Pyrex dish (size again depends on how many you feed)

Preheat oven to 375

Put chicken in Pyrex and lightly season both sides with SeasonAll. Arrange chicken in Pyrex and drizzle with olive oil. Slice onion into rings and arrange on top of chicken. Pour vegetable broth over chicken - enough to cover chicken. 

Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.

Cover and bake an additional 45 minutes.

MARGARITAS from BLANCHE (makes 4)

1/2 cup fresh squeezed lime juice

1/2 cup Cointreau or Patron Citronge

1/2 water

3/4 cup silver tequila

1/2 of an orange (squeezed)

She made double batches at the beach!  Enjoy

More editing and adds to come to this particular post but hopefully it is helpful to ease future planning. Girls, here’s to many more fun adventures with our Southern Sole Sisters where it be in Seaside or in the many miles we share together.  Sadie

LOCAL STUDIO REVIEW

When we conceptualized the blog, one of the many uses discussed was sharing reviews of new, different fitness classes. In this blog, I will dip a toe into that water. There is one BRF who inspires me as she has written email reviews of different workouts and does such a great job of sharing the details I want to know.  Not going to out her because she may not want to review on the blog but try to channel her and her style. One other set up point, my intent here is to share with my BRFs as it might be interesting and prompt a future shared review.  For ease-of-use, our blog site public and that makes me hesitant to share thoughts, as I would not want unintended consequences on a business in our community. With this in mind, I will not identify the studio. If my BRFs cannot figure it out & want to know, just ping me off blog.

VARIETY.  I do like variety in my workout and fitness quest. FLEXIBILITY. Another key factor in my fitness planning..rainy day => book myself indoors to gain strength, flexibility, cardio or just assuage guilt from the previous day’s calorie consumption. I blame my VARIETY AND FLEXIBITY needs, coupled with the JOY of a good financial DEAL, that causes me to acquire lots of class packages with varying expiration dates (30 days, six months, year). The looming expiration date for a 10 class package at this studio has me visiting a few different classes. This studio is not new to many of us but I think it has been awhile. During my rush to beat expiration, I have tried three different classes offered in the early week day morning hour: Cardio Strength, Athletic Yoga and TRX Strength & Mobility.  I will do detail on each class but let me give the studio overview details first.

CLASS SIGN UP – is on mind body online. Any studio that offers this gets bonus points to use the app and get it automatically on my calendar. I have not had to cancel a class so I’m afraid I cannot accurately tell you what that policy is.

PACKAGES – A single class is $ 20 but the 10 class package I bought a year ago puts the classes at about $16/ class. Studio offers a 3 class deal for newbies at $20. Also this studio is on Class Pass.

PARKING – If attending a class prior to 7am, generally you can park within inches of the door. There are several front door spaces that have a sign that says no parking there after 7am as those spaces designated for Physical Therapy practice next door. You will be able to get out before 7am if attending 5:45am or 6am class. If the class is popular though (which I only encountered with Cardio Strength), you might have to park around back. Driveway to the left of studio.

RECEPTION/CHECK IN – The studio owner or other receptionist will pretty much recognize you after your 2nd visit. Members seem to have a card/tab that they scan for check in. I just state my name and they click me on the computer.

STOWING YOUR STUFF & OTHER AMMENTIES – As part of the reception lobby, they have a row of cubbies, a bench/chairs and hooks. There is a clean restroom in the next alcove but it is interesting that the sink is outside the actual toilet room meaning that no one can really wash their hands until they exit the toilet room. There is also a water bubbler to fill your water bottle.

ATTIRE – Of course you all could figure out what to wear to a TRX, Yoga or other class but the interesting detail here is that the studio now allows you to wear athletic shoes in the studio. Not that you would want to wear this for yoga but I did wear shoes for TRX and CardioStrength. It is actually recommended for CardioStrength as I heard the instructor tell another newbie. I personally am thrilled with this development is that is probably my biggest issue here in the past.

STUDIO SIZE & EQUIPMENT-This is a smaller studio but they do a really good job of maximizing the space. They provide EVERYTHING including your yoga mat, straps, blocks. Just bring yourself and your water bottle.

Now I will get into a bit of information about each class.

ATHLETIC YOGA – It should be noted that I am a yoga novice and a reluctant yoga attendee. I am not zen, do not strive to be zen and the thought of meditating quietly sends me up a wall. When they say things like “Put your hands in the prayer position and set your intention” what runs through my mind is “I cannot wait to get to Starbucks” or in the case of this morning “My intention is to have no snow, I do not want to spend the night at the hospital”. This has been a long time favorite class of Zelda and she knows her yoga. Actually I saw they quoted her on their website so I share:

"I have tried yoga classes at several studios around Brookhaven and R's class is by far the best! The yoga classes focus on stretching and flexibility and are great for all levels. As a runner, I never get enough stretching and I love how I feel after this class. The vibe at the studio is very comforting and the instructors are amazing and very talented. I can't get enough!

Plus yoga is supposed to be a great thing for runners.  This is probably the very best yoga class for my personality type. It is challenging but goes along at a good pace to keep me from wigging out. I feel like I am working my muscles and stretching often at the same time. When you arrive at class, you pick up your mat, strap and block. Typically this class has about 15 attendees, the majority females but there are about 2-4 regular male attendees. Another big plus is this class starts at 5:45am. Earliest yoga class I know of on this side of Atlanta. The class, in the past, has been taught by R, studio owner.  A and J have subbed when R was unavailable. R, in my opinion, is a master instructor but does get a little ethereal for me at times. But the movements are good and hard. Actually the first class I ever attended of R’s had me sore for days.  I also like both A and J. A has a nice accent (I don’t know from where) and this accent just adds a little something exotic to the flavor of the session and another layer of mental challenge in discerning that when she says “Ty” she means “thigh”. Not at all poking fun at her, just saying it makes me focus even more.  Only one experience with J, she moves fast. Which although good for the anti-zen me, really hard for the me that barely knows yoga. (today I learned a dolphin and a camel..so proud). This class has a real following and same folks there each week. At the end of the class, the lights are lowered and you are told to assume the corpse position and do some visioning/ imagining of this and that. The instructor comes around and offers lavender scented wet warm washcloths to place over your eyes/on your forehead. This part drives me crazy and takes all within my being to sit still.

TRX STRENGTH & MOBILITY – This was a Thursday morning class. Nice TRX equipment and you get to wear shoes but it can be close quarters. Newthing here is a digital screen that the instructor uses to guide the work out. For those of you who have been to OT..just like the one in the weight section. Even the warm up is on the screen and here is a made up example of what it looks like:

Each set 1 min/3x	BASIC	EXPERT	PRO
CHEST PRESS	Feet Apart	Feet Together	One Leg up
SCORPION	Off Side Plank	One Leg In/Leg over body	One leg In, touch ground

Instructor would flip screen for each new set, explain each exercise and the three different approaches (Basic, Expert, Pro) and then you could choose your own difficulty level. On the third round, she would push us all up a level in difficulty. Each set contained three exercises and we probably went through 5 screens. The screen has a timer which is nice because she did not do the counting thing. And you know how some instructors counting can bug you. Their version of 10 seconds….Anyway, you could clearly see the countdown and the program has transition timer. Time flew by, I enjoyed it but I was not really sweaty… Remind myself it is called strength & mobility..not cardio & sweaty.

CARDIO STRENGTH- shoes recommended. Full house with 60% female/40% male attendees.  Each attendee had large inflated ball (what are those called?), set of weights. K, the male instructor, used that same digital screen in the same method to lead our work out. Exercises, number of sets, 3 rounds, transition timer. Exercise examples: Planks/pushups on the ball, Sits up with the ball, Bicep curls with weights. Basic and advanced approaches demonstrated for each exercise. Instructor corrected form.  Halfway through, instructor declared our strength portion complete and put us into groups of 4. Each group was assigned one of four stations. Spent time at each station and then rotated for 3 sets, mini bootcamp style: 1) Spider Pushups, 2) Plank to Squat, 3) Bose Ball Run, 4) mini high steps in ladder station.  My heart rate was up, was more sweaty and able to do every exercise but had more in the tank.  

IN SUMMARY, although I was kicking myself for having this package, I actually am enjoying the experience. Enough to buy another large package?..Probably not.  I have two more classes booked and (one yoga and one TRX Circuit-this one has cardio) before the expiration. Yoga is starting to grow on me so I hazard to say I will end up here occasionally for some yoga.  Certain sole sisters keep pushing the Class Pass so maybe that will be the vehicle.

BY THE WAY, my yoga intention failed because it is snowing and I am bunking in at the hospital. Maybe I don’t quite have that tree position down yet?

Today begins my candy challenge!

Full disclosure here... I love sugar.  In fact, I love every food that is bad for me from candy to chips to ice cream!  This time of year is particularly tough for me with Easter candy. I love jelly beans and Cadbury mini-eggs, they are my absolute favorite! Each year, I look forward to when the Valentines displays roll over to Easter because that means, mini-eggs are coming!

Because I overindulge in sugar and candy at this time of year, I have decided to give up sugar for Lent, starting today. I am going to miss my Starburst jelly beans and Cadbury mini-eggs, but I am committed to getting healthier this Lenten season and eating better. I am looking forward to getting back to the food basics and hopefully, having more energy for those early morning workouts!

And, so 40 days begins today. So long candy and mini-eggs!  I am going to miss you, this will be hard, but I am looking forward to the challenge!
 
 ~ Bea

What's on your phone?

Recently, I put together a list of top smartphone apps to share at my neighborhood Home & Garden club and thought it would be fun to share here!

What are your favorite apps?  How about your favorite fitness apps?  I love MyFitness Pal, Mind Body Connect app to book my fitness classes and my Up band (and app!)

Enjoy!

Bea

LIFESTYLE

• Amazon
  Access to full Amazon catalog, streamlined for mobile. You can even search with your voice or with your camera and compare products before you buy.  Access to Amazon Prime from app as well.
• AroundMe
  Allows you to quickly find restaurants, gas, ATM, etc around you based on your location. It quickly identifies your location and allows you choose the nearest bank, bar, gas, hospital, movie theatre, restaurant, and more.  You can also check out Find Me GF, an app focused on finding you the closest Gluten Free options.
• Houzz
  Design ideas that allows you to browse by style, room and location and save them to your virtual ideabook. They even have children’s app called Houzz Kids.
• Groovebook
  Ability to create personalized photobook with pictures you take with your iPhone. For $2.99 a month, you can a monthly book of photos. You can upload up to 100 photos.
• Starbucks
  App is designed to allow you to pay and have easy access to My Starbucks Rewards.  You can track your rewards status and continue to build rewards by paying with the app. You can also redeem rewards using the app.
• CVS
  Manage prescriptions, scan to refill prescriptions, send ExtraCare rewards to the card, and upload and order photos directly from app for pickup.

• Publix
  Allows you to see weekly ads and manage digital coupons by clipping coupons and adding them to your account. It’s tied to your phone number so you will need to enter your phone number when you checkout for the coupons. 
• Pulse
  A news app designed by LinkedIn allows you to customize your news reading experience with customized feeds and easy to digest headlines.
• Yummly
  Recipe search that allows you to search recipe sites you love, create digital recipe box and receive recipe recommendations based on your settings.
• Our Groceries
  Automatically tracks your grocery list with up to date changes to every family members phone. Every change is shared and is visible to every phone linked to app. You can also track key ingredients in your favorite recipes.
• Stocard
  Store all of your reward cards in one app, at the store just pull out app and scan barcode.
• Map My Run
  Track your workout details and determine your running routes, directly from app. 
• MyFitnessPal
  Fast and easy way to track calories, water, food and workout directly from app.
• Mind Body Connect
  Allows you to conncet to fitness classes, book online and even pay from the phone. You add your favorite studios to the app and you can quickly and easy book your classes and manage your fitness schedule.

SHOPPING

• ShopSavvy
  Helps your find the best online and local prices. You can quickly narrow search to check out sales and deals and you can scan or search for products to find the lowest prices.
• Target Cartwheel
  Different offers are made available on various weeks.  For example, 20% off Circo clothing.  You select which offers you want to be in your "cart."  When you checkout at the cash register, you have the cashier scan your cartwheel barcode on the phone app and the offer is applied to your order. 
• Walmart Savings Catcher
  Scan after purchase to determine whether you could have bought the products cheaper somewhere else.  The difference goes into an account. 
• IBOTTA
  Each week different products are featured.  If you purchase the product and take a picture of your receipt, you receive the allotted amount of money into your account. Eventually that money is transferred into a PayPal account.  You can link up with others on a "team" to earn money faster. 
• Checkout 51
  Same principal as above except the money goes into a gift card that is mailed to you. 
• Receipt hog
  Take pictures of your receipts and once you have earned a certain amount of coins, you receive a gift card to Amazon. 
• Shopkick
  Get "coins" when walk into variety of stores.  (i.e. Target, Macy's, Old Navy, Best Buy, etc)  You can also scan products with your phone, while in the store to earn more coins.  You can trade coins in for e gift cards to stores.

TRAVEL

• Waze
  Traffic app that helps navigate based on real-time traffic. It helps to save time with live routing based on community driven, real-time traffic alerts.
• 511 Georgia
  Official app of DOT and provides real-time access to traffic and travel information.
• Uber
  Request a ride with one button and set your destination for an easy pickup. You pay be credit card and tip is included.
• Delta
  Delta’s app allows you to check-in, check flight status, track luggage and have your boarding pass available all from your app.