Yowsahs. It looks like the new Carrots ‘N’ Cake design didn’t go over too well. But, I’m working with my web guys to make some changes, so please hang tight. Hopefully, we can workout the kinks in the next few days. I’m trying my hardest to turn the negative into a positive! 
Lunch
I pretty much wanted to eat only baked goods for lunch today, so I threw together a light lunch of salad with feta crumbles and Goddess dressing to save room for dessert. So very CNC of me, right? 
On the side, I had a couple of Seeded Spelt crackers.
I love these babies. Actually, I pretty much love all crackers. Well, carbs, in general!
After lunch, I cheered myself up with some baked goods. My baking “experiment” resulted in soft, moist Sweet Potato Blondies. Oh, yes, it did!
Sweet Potato Blondies
Makes 16
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup mashed sweet potato
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp canola oil
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350*F.
- Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Blend well.
- Pour batter into a greased 8X8 baking pan.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until top of blondies begins to brown.
- Allow to cool before cutting.
- Eat and enjoy!
I love the flavor and consistency of these blondies, but, the next time that I make them, I’d double the recipe for a thicker bar. These ones seemed too wussy.
Workout
Mal and I are officially in Week 2 of marathon training! (FYI: My workout schedule is now the marathon training page. I’ll continue to update it every week until the marathon and then the regular schedule page will be back.)
Today’s work was “Track Workout 1.” Unfortunately, it’s still raining here in Beantown, so I hit the treadmill at the gym instead.
Track Workout 1
2 lap warm up, 6 X’s 400M, 2 lap warm down, 1 lap rest
Pace based off of 5k race time
Here’s the workout that I did on the treadmill this morning:
- 0.50 miles @ 6.3 mph (9:30 pace)
- 0.25 miles @ 7.0 mph (8:30 pace)
- 0.25 miles @ 6.3 mph
- 0.25 miles @ 7.1 mph
- 0.25 miles @ 6.3 mph
- 0.25 miles @ 7.2 mph
- 0.25 miles @ 6.3 mph
- 0.25 miles @ 7.3 mph
- 0.25 miles @ 6.3 mph
- 0.25 miles @ 7.4 mph
- 0.25 miles @ 6.3 mph
- 0.25 miles @ 7.5 mph (8:00 pace)
- 0.50 miles @ 6.3 mph
Total: 3.75 miles in 35:52
At times, I felt like I was cruising on the treadmill, but I also got really tired on the last two 400′s. I actually ended up walking for a little bit to catch my breath.
I’ve never really done speed work as part of my training, but I hear that it’s very beneficial. I’m looking forward to doing this workout again in a few weeks to see if my speed has improved.
P.S. Today is the last day to enter our TNT raffle to win a Breville juicer! Please consider supporting us!
{ 126 comments… read them below or add one }
← Previous Comments
Next Comments →
@Trish: Same here. I get photos in firefox on PC, but no photos on iPhone browser.
On your last post, you asked for problems people had with the new site … of course they’re going to complain. I, for one, like the look.
And those blondies look delish! Can’t wait to make a batch for myself.
sweet potato blodies sound amazing! cant wait till fall
good luck on the training–I just started preseason for sports (field hockey) looks like all my running this summer has paid off
with love and cupcakes,
Cookteen
Is there a reason you don’t add chicken or some other complete protein to your salads? I was also wondering if your eating has changed for training? Love the blog!
I still don’t know what you’re talking about- I think it looks great! People are just so accustomed to the old one… that’s all!
those sweet potato blondies sound delicious! and i’ve got all the ingredients on hand!
@Mary: Nope, hasn’t changed at all. We didn’t have any beans or tofu in the house and I was too lazy to hard-boil an egg.
Google reader is back to the full post…hoooray! Otherwise, I think it looks really great.
yay back on google reader! i like the redesign. its different but in a good way.
Great Workout! I love 400s, they really do improve your time!!!
Tina – congrats on the offer on the house and on the new design! I think it looks great – it just takes people awhile to get used to change. Everyone loved the old CNC so much that they are used to that design…in a few years people will feel the same way about this updated design! Its just a sign of everyone’s love for your blog
I really appreciate your positive attitude to the comments! You are awesome!
Sweet potato blondies sound amazing! Oh, and how could we have complaints about the redesign when we get to see a cartoon Murphy giggling at us first thing when we get to your site?
I’m so glad you restored the google reader feed.
You know I have other feeds I read on google reader that have display or google ads on the bottom of posts (within the google reader feed). I don’t mind them at all!
Maybe since you do this full time you can consider that so you can get revenue from people who don’t visit the domain.
Sweet potato blondies. I must try!
I think a main dislike was the google reader issue…mark one item off the list! I like the new design…especially the pug addition!
The new look, is really nice! Love those “blondies”! That is also a terrific workout on the treadmill. Will have to give that a try! Take Care…
Yeah I’m with you on the carb-lovin’! Your recipe for blondies looks great and really simple. Definitely a must try!
those orangies (yes, i just coined the term) look superb! definitely worth doubling the recipe! thanks for sharing
your content hasn’t changed, you are still the same fabulous girl — do what makes you happy and what you feel best reflects who you are and forget the rest
If people didn’t care about you and your successes inlife, they would never comment on the layout. They would just stop reading.
Be open to the feedback, good or bad, and change what you want to change! Change is hard for anyone to accept, but we will all get used to it.
Love the new header!
I like the design and I’m so glad to see the full posts are now showing in Google Reader. Totally agree with what Kel comment #68 has said
Those look delicious!
to think, i went 25 years of my life never having a sweet potato! blasphemy! I now have a fierce love for them…these blondies look phenom!
I agree with Shannon at the daily balance, people just need to get used to the change. I think one thing that everyone can agree on is that they love what you write and appreciate all that you share with us.
Blondies look amazing!
Love the new blog design light and airy very cool! Plus for some reason it makes your photos look even better than they already are!?
P.S Those blondies look insanely good! x x
I love speedwork! good job!
Blondies look amazing, and I think the new layout is awesome
I love the look! You have a great attitude about the feedback and I love it!
I like the new blog. I really do. You can’t please everyone. Hope all is well with you otherwise and you got all your stuff figured out (re: our email the other day).
Take care!
Hope all the bugs get worked out for you:) Looks great on internet explorer! Nice and Bright!
I love your site but the new design isn’t as ‘viewer friendly’. Harder to read. Anyway, I know you’ll figure it out and I’ll keep reading no matter what
Salad looks amazing!!!! Not a huge fan of sweet potatoes, but you made those blondies look mouthwatering!!
Jen
http://jenslosinit.blogspot.com/
definitely want to try a sweet potato blondie recipe this fall! blondies are my fave.
it’s great you are listening to all the feedback – it’s only going to make your blog better!
Hi Tina,
Ihave to ask…isthat you in the picture of the woman on the treadmill???
I think it is…and girl, you got one heck of a figure!
@JEAN: No, it’s just a stock photo.
I just made a batch of banana muffins because I am in some serious need of baked goods! Definitely a comfort food for me. I hope your afternoon goes better.
That’s why I like your blog Tina. You’re a very positive person with minimal complaints. Oh, and your dog is cute.
OMG I am adding those sweet potato blondies to my baking to-do list! Yum!
those blondies look AMAZING! I have a sweet potato laying around and I may just have to make those tonight
Although I wish I didnt have to click on each post I do have to say that your pictures look extra amazing with this new layout!
I think the new look of the blog is adorable and contemporary and really reflects your life.
Re: the Firefox issue, I am running FF on a Mac and can view the page/all pictures without issue. However, the view on the iPhone is sort of a disaster, but I’m sure that’s an easy fix with a “mobile” version of the page. Good luck!
I love your new blog design!
I like the new layout! I think it is fresh. And I like how the pictures appear as you scroll down the page. Don’t let other people push you into changing it if you really like it!
I like all the hard work you have put in, it’s just hard to read. Hang in their you will get it.
Is it weird if I say those blondies look delish since I don’t like sweet taters? Well, they are. I guess you “experiment” was a success!
I don’t think any of the comments were negative. You asked for feedback and people answered. I think it was all very constructive and you got a lot of positive feedback as well. Try not to take it so personal. The blog will come together and look great. Relax girl!
There’s something wrong with the new layout? I guess I don’t notice anything
I love it though!
I LOVE the dr Kracker Seeded Spelt crackers! I just got a bunch of the crackers given to me by George (one of the founders) while he was in Sydney
The pumpkin cheddar ones would have to be my favourite though!
I like the new layout! The header is adorable! Change is good
Don’t be bummed at us Tina… you asked for feedback so I guess everyone wanted to add their two cents.
Anyway, now that I’m viewing from home, it looks a lot better. The dates are showing up correctly, I can see these fonts that everyone was talking about, etc.
Just do you, we’ll get used to it and I’m sure you won’t lose any readership if you stay true to yourself.
Um, yeah, someone already mentioned this but I think the main problem is that everything looks great in IE but is showing up really weird in Firefox. The header is all wrong, and the fonts look off. Just technical issues!
PLEASE don’t change the site- this new layout rocks. I love it so much. I think the design is genius. I used to miss some of your posts but now they are so compact and neat I can see very clearly the last post I read. I think the blog is great- so please don’t change it.
People really didnt like the new layout! i love it!
oh yummy. I will have to try those. Maybe with some chocolate chips.
← Previous Comments
Next Comments →