fitness adventures around Toronto

Today I did something a bit decadent. I had a dozen cupcakes delivered to my work from Cupcaketionery. Sometimes you got to add some extra excitement to the day!

Why cupcakes? Well, you see these weren’t just any old cupcake – the ones I ordered were both vegan and gluten free friendly. Kind of healthy treat I would say! Cupcaketionery is also dairy free, lactose free, rennet free…I don’t think I even know what that means!

I put them through a taste test with a handful of curious colleagues – none of them are vegans or gluten free people – and here’s what they thought:

“Icing is very good and light” – seemed to be the general consensus

“Actual cake is kind of dry and not as moist as I would like”

“Very cocoa-ey”

“Can tell they are healthy”

My final verdict. I would order from Cupcaketionery again, but think I would stick to their other variety which is not gluten free. For the record I loved their icing and for me icing really makes the cupcake.

Flickr: nOnick

A while back I wrote a post about finding the perfect running shoe charm – more difficult to find than you think! Like many of you I would love to have found a Tiffany running shoe charm, but sadly I have never been able to find one.

Someone wrote me the other day saying that Tiffany used to make one. So, I decided to put on my detective hat (a.k.a. writing to Tiffany customer service) to figure out if such a charm does  or will exist.

Today I heard back and it is sad news.

“Although we do not offer a Running Shoe Charm, we would be glad to help you find a suitable alternative.  Please contact a Tiffany representative at 1-800-265-1251.”

Mmm, are runners being given the cold shoulder here? They make other sports-related charms – tennis raquets, ballet shoe…Why not a running shoe?!

Did you know today is International Women’s Day? I first became aware of International Women’s Day when I was a child living in Turkey. To mark this year’s International Women’s Day I thought I’d give a shout out to the women that have inspired me fitness and health-wise:

• The first one is an easy one for me. My Mom. Over the last few years she has constantly inspired me with her ability to become an incredibly healthy and fit woman. 
• Ms. Run Shorts – an incredible running coach and friend.
• All of Team Green – I could not have run a marathon without any of you. 
• My childhood friends who I went to the Hillside Club with. You name it we did it. 
• The entire team at Core Studio – because of all of you I love Pilates.
• Carla and Myrna Saliba – both have played key roles in introducing running to me.

Brunch at Fressen

For the most part this weekend was the perfect weekend. A couple of great classes at Core, a walk along a sunny Queen West with B, a brunch (or two!), some shopping (thank you Little Honey Bee!) and some drinks with friends. I find there is always one weekend toward the end of winter where you realize that summer is just around the corner – this was the weekend. 

The weekend’s highlight, though, had to be the blogger brunch I went to. For a while now I have been following the adventures of Oh She Glows. A couple of weeks ago she suggested a meet up in Toronto and I decided to put my name down as someone who would be interested in going. I have to admit I was a little nervous. I had never done something like this before – is kind of like going on a group blind date! You are worried about what the other people will be like, if they will like you and what to wear. 

Turns out I had nothing to be worried about. The other 16 ladies (!) who ended up going to this blogger brunch at Fressen were fantastic, interesting and down to earth. It was great to connect with a bunch of women and hear about their stories. Thank you Angela for taking the time to organize this! To get an idea of who I met check out their blogs! I know I’m looking forward to reading them!
 

• Life after bagels
• Julie Boyer
• An Opera Singer in the kitchen
• Kristin nibbles
• Revel
• Training to live
• Happy Go Lucky
• Mediterranean miss
• Stars in the City

 
On a final note, yesterday’s meeting reminded me how good (and healthy for you!) it is to put yourself into new situations. Lululemon really is right – it is good to do one thing a day that scares you.

Its been a while since my last race. To get back into the spirit of racing I have registed for the Nike Runners Lounge Shamrock Shuffle which takes place on March 18. An 8 km race spring race sounds like the perfect way to get back into things. Is not too short, is not too long and best part…it is free to register. I even have signed up B (although he doesn’t know it yet! All part of mt master plan to get him exercising more!)

What do you need to do?

Check out the Lounge’s Facebook fan page. One of the tabs at the top is all about the Shamrock Shuffle. This will contain all the information that you need! They are also running free training runs Thursdays at 6 p.m.

Hope to see you there!

PS: A lot of people are curious about the Nike Runner Lounge it seems. The best way to find out about what they are up to is to go to their Facebook Page or pop by the Nike Store on Bloor.