Archive
trip highlights
1. weekend in uber-veg-friendly London with my boyfriend, Geoff
2. meeting Douggie (Geoff’s brother) and his lovely girlfriend, Hannah
3. visiting Vegetarian Shoes in Brighton
4. 65 degree weather !
5. finding not one, but TWO veg cafes in Bilbao (aka carnivore central)
6. Guggenheim !!
7. killer vegan desserts in Brighton
8. awesome flight back home
9. meeting cool people at the airport, in cafes, etc…
10. not feeling like a tourist
me, Hannah, Douggie and Geoff
02.16.07-02.22.07
this is the week i left for my trip and had tons of social things on my agenda, so training was pretty much non-existent.
friday 02.16:
rest
saturday 02.17:
1 hr spin class
sunday 02.18:
rest
monday 02.19:
1 hr spin class
tuesday 02.20:
rest
wednesday 02.21:
vacation
thursday 02.22:
vacation
02.09.07-02.15.07
i completed the AFAA Indoor Cycling course on Saturday. the instructor was awesome and the material complemented my previous Spinning certification class really well. i feel ready to teach now !!
friday 02.09:
rest
saturday 02.10:
2 * 40 min spin classes
sunday 02.11:
rest
monday 02.12:
1 hr spin class
tuesday 02.13:
rest
wednesday 02.14:
1 hr spin class
thursday 02.15:
rest
Guggenheim, check !
a week from today, a big flying metal can will take me away to Bilbao, Spain where i will realize one of my dreams. i’m going to see the Guggenheim Museum !!! i’ve wanted to do this for a long time. the Guggenheim in Bilbao was designed by Frank Ghery, my favorite architect and is considered one of the world’s most spectacular buildings. i can’t describe how thrilled i am about the idea of standing in front of this magnificent structure which has, for so long, existed only in my fantasies.
02.02.07-02.08.07
i finally upgraded to wordpress 2.1 ! and changed the theme cos (as some of you know) i get bored easily.
Saturday was manic and if you saw the Super Bowl, you know what the weather was like here on Sunday. so i didn’t get any riding in this weekend, but i have to admit, i am very impressed at how well i’ve been handling my running come-back. 
friday 02.02:
rest
saturday 02.03:
rest
sunday 02.04:
rest
monday 02.05:
24 min run (road)
tuesday 02.06:
37 min elliptical @ gym
strength training: upper body, abs
wednesday 02.07:
1 hr spin class
thursday 02.08:
25 min run (road)
Vanilla Rum Cake
I went to a Super Bowl party with my cousin this weekend. The hosts had purchased a specialty cake from a trendy cake shop in Miami. This place is notorious for their vanilla rum cakes. I can still remember their distinct flavor though it’s been many years since I’ve had a piece. My cousin asked if i could come up with a vegan version of it. So my quest began. This first attempt turned out nothing like Edda’s infamous cake recipe, but it was too good not to blog.
cake:
1 pk vegan yellow cake mix (about 17 oz)
1 pk vegan vanilla pudding mix (about 4 oz)
egg replacer for 4 eggs
1/2 cup dark rum
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup canola oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract
glaze:
1/2 cup dark rum
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup non-hydrogenated vegan margarine
1 cup turbinado sugar
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Grease a bundt cake pan and set aside.
3. Combine all cake ingredients and beat with an electric mixer (or by hand) for 2 minutes.
4. Pour mixture into greased pan and bake for 50 to 60 minutes.
5. To prepare the glaze, bring all the glaze ingredients to a boil until the end result is a thick runny syrup.
6. After removing cake from oven, let it cool for 5-10 minutes and remove from pan.
7. Put cake back in pan so it doesn’t stick when glaze is poured over.
8. Poke deep holes about an inch apart all around the cake.
9. Pour hot glaze over the cake.
9. Let cake stand for another 1/2 hour or so until completely cooled and soaked with the glaze.
10. Carefully invert onto a cake platter. Dust with powdered sugar and serve.
I’m going to let a few people at work try this to see what they think. 
you can look all you want, but…
yes, i have a rather unusual hair style. total strangers comment on it almost daily. that’s usually as far as it goes. last night, however, someone took it a bit further.
i met my friend for a drink at the local bar. during my first (and last) trip to the restroom, i found three women gathered around the only sink. they had obviously had a few too many drinks. i excused myself and started to wash my hands. just then, one of them asked me something. i didn’t respond because i wasn’t sure if 1. she was speaking English or 2. she was actually speaking to me. but then, she started to put her hands through my hair. i was trapped with my soapy hands under the running water. i made like a snake and slithered away from her. she then said “your hair is gorgeous.” i politely said “thank you” and stormed out of there.
01.26.07-02.01.07
running is starting to feel better, but i have to admit i’ve been enjoying spin classes more. i never thought i’d say that. i need to get back on the road and in the pool. there’s a triathlon in April that i’d like to “tri.” 
friday 01.26:
22 min run (road)
saturday 01.27:
50 min spin class
sunday 01.28:
rest
monday 01.29:
15 min elliptical @ gym
50 min spin class
strength training: abs
tuesday 01.30:
rest
wednesday 01.31:
1 hr spin class
thursday 02.01:
21 min run (road)
2007 MS Bike Tour
Dear Friends,
It’s that time again ! On April 21st and 22nd, I will be participating in the MS Bike Tour for the fourth time. I have challenged myself to ride 150 miles and raise $300 dollars to help fund research into the cause, treatment and cure for multiple sclerosis and provide services to the 5,000 people living with MS in South Florida. I hope I can count on your generosity and support to make these goals a reality.
In the past few years, great progress has been made in MS research, and the Society now recommends drug therapies that help slow the disease’s progression and reduce the frequency and severity of MS attacks. With the generosity of people like you, we someday hope to find a cure for MS. Donations of every size are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated.
You can make checks payable to the National MS Society and mail directly to me. Please be sure to put my name in the memo section. You can also click here to submit an e-pledge with your credit card.
Thank you, in advance, for your support.
Liz
