Jenna Volden has a degree in business and has spent the last 10 plus years working for others. She believes it is time to start her own photography and writing business. She enjoys running, coffee and helping others achieve their goals. Gluten-free foods are a lifestyle, not a choice, for her due to celiac disease. She is currently based in Phoenix, Arizona.
This is actually a cell phone photo of Haleakala but it is one of my favorites from my recent trip.
We woke up at 2:30 am to drive up 10,000 feet to the summit of Haleakala to see the sunrise and get THE photo. It was an amazing experience, despite freezing out butts off. It was maybe 35-40 degrees out but it was the windchill that was killer. I had on sweats and I was still cold. And by cold, I mean freezing. I would take a jacket or blanket and gloves next time.We spent about an hour waiting in the car for maybe 30 minutes watching the sunrise. We scoped out a spot where no one was gathering. Granted, we weren’t as high as everyone else but we were the only ones with this point of view. I took several photos with my cell and DSLR but this was my favorite. I love that you can see the top of my camera. I love the rays of the sun.
I had to stop taking photos because eventually I could not feel my fingers. They were beyond numb. When I got back to the car I struggled to work my tripod. I was frozen and wanted to get in the car but couldn’t because I had to get the tripod collapsed. It was almost comical.
I love being above the clouds. The feeling is just indescribable to be that high up. There is just something about Haleakala that draws me to it and feeds my spirit. I could spend hours on Haleakala and hope to be able to do the 11-mile hike into the crater someday. Haleakala is one of my favorite places on the planet. I think I could spend several days there and never get bored.
I was so happy with this experience that if I didn’t do anything else on this trip I would have been content. Haleakala is my muse.
What place inspires your soul?
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Have you ever wondered what a travel photographer takes with?
I am a newbie travel photographer and don’t take as much equipment as photographers that have been doing this for years. I love seeing a behind the scenes peek at other’s gear. I think seeing what other’s use is a great way to learn and help figure out what you may need. I say may because all you really need is the camera but there is a lot of items to help make even better photographs.
I also think I need to update my camera bag. I need something I can carry all my equipment plus my laptop. I have pretty, purse like camera bags. They are great for going out but not for traveling. I can’t decide between a roller bag that can go in an overhead bin or a backpack, which would be great for hikes.
Anyway… here is what I packed for Maui:
Canon 60D camera body
Canon 18-135mm lens
Canon 70-300mm lens (great for whale watching except the boat was rocking and my pictures are blurry)
Canon 50mm (although I did not end up using this
UV and polarizing filters for each lens
Cody BrownSignature Filter Kit for my 18-35mm lens
Joby camera strap
Extra batteries and charger
Manfrotto travel tripod
Remote (which I didn’t end up using as much as I expected)
Laptop
Epiphanie camera bag
Microfiber cloth to clean filters and lens glass
*Whew* That is a lot of stuff and my bag was full. Next time I would probably leave the 50mm at home. I love that lens and it can make great landscapes but I am limited by the lack of zoom.
This actually comes at the perfect time for me. I am going to be completely honest. I feel transparency on the internet is important. I am not perfect, nor do I try to come across as perfect. We need to realize everyone struggles. No matter how happy or fit someone looks, they are struggling with something.
For me, my current struggle is excess pounds. Yes, I’ve mentioned my 8ish pound gain after my initial celiac diagnosis but this is on top of that. I didn’t lose those 8 pounds instead I gained about five more in the two weeks before my vacation. Now instead of a few vanity pounds to go, I am up to nearly 15 pounds.
I have struggled this year and my eating habits have become horrible. Instead of watching my protein I’ve been stuffing my face with dark chocolate. And I’m not talking a serving here and there. I mean eating half the M&Ms in one sitting. It’s not healthy fo my body or mind.
Nutrition month is the perfect time for a reboot. I need to focus on increasing my protein. I want to build muscle and protein is the best way to aid in that. I need to keep adding in fruits and vegetables with each meal. I love fruits and vegetables but I tend to reach for premade snacks. Those snacks tend to be carbs and full of sodium. I get more than enough starch and sodium. I’d rather have fruits and vegetables be my carb source.
Don’t worry, I will continue to eat dark chocolate or ice cream but I will get back to having it in moderation. I can’t pinpoint exactly what made me go off the rails but it is time to get back to moderation and consistent exercise.
I believe in moderation or an 80/20 approach to eating. 80% healthy, 20% of something you want (I try not to use terms like junk food, treats etc). This is what always works for me. When I lose the balance, I gain weight.
So my challenge this month is to get my eating habits under control, eat more nutritious foods and hit all my workouts.
If you haven’t noticed, I have a slight love affair with Hawaii. I have been there three times and visited the four main islands, Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island. If there is one state you must visit it is Hawaii. There is something there for everyone. Hawaii is full of vastly different eco-systems. You can see the ocean, rainforests, volcanoes, mountains and lava fields all in the same trip.
Every time I travel to Hawaii I find new inspiration. Each island is unique and gives me something new to be inspired by. I look forward to the trip and have yet to be disappointed.
Oahu is probably my least favorite island but there is a lot to love here. I am not a fan of the Waikiki area. There are far too many people and it is very commercialized. It is similar to a lot of other cities. The key is to travel out of Waikiki you can see a lot of inspirational things. If you are a fan of the show Lost you can see the beach where the plane crashed and other areas where the show was shot. Diamondhead is a great place to hike. There are tons of beaches and bays to travel to and find your favorite spot.
Lastly, there is Pearl Harbor. I was incredibly moved by the USS Arizona Memorial. You can practically feel the souls that still lie beneath. It is quiet, still and the perfect place for reflection. We arrived at dawn and watching the sun come up over Pearl Harbor was an experience you shouldn’t miss out on. It is difficult to find the words to describe the experience. If you only have time for one thing on Oahu, make it Pearl Harbor.
The Big Island still has an active volcano. I had hoped to see lava but they had it closed off on the day we went. We did take in Volcano National Park which includes the crater, which is smoking and sulphur banks. I was really inspired by the sulphur banks. You walk along a wooden sidewalk and just watch the sulphur be expelled from the Earth. It is truly amazing how our world works. The lava fields all over the Big Island reminded me of the moon. There were some spots that were just lava rocks as far as you could see. Also, Kona coffee region. You cannot beat Kona coffee. Be sure to take a tour of a coffee farm. I would recommend Greenwell Farms.
Maui and Kauai are my favorite islands. I cannot pick between them. Both offered amazing ocean views where sunrise and sunset paint the sky. Both have the luscious green landscapes you see in TV and movies. On Maui be sure to take a day to do the road to Hana. You will feel like you are in Jurassic Park in some parts. There are waterfalls and beautiful beaches the entire road. And the bridges. I love the bridges. I am inspired by unique architecture and these bridges offer just that.
While in Kauai be sure to take a boat tour to see the Na Pali coast. There are several waterfalls that are much easier to get to then the ones on Maui’s road to Hana. Hopefully, you will go to Waimea Canyon on a clear day. Waimea Canyon is the Grand Canyon of the pacific but when we went to see it was filled with fog. I could only imagine what it looked like based on photos. I definitely need to go back to Kauai to see the canyon.
There is so much more to see on the four islands. I could go on and on but I think you have a few excellent starting points.
Every time I go to Hawaii I feel I get even better photographs. I have grown so much since my first trip. I am much more comfortable with my camera and can really see a difference between my first and last trip. Hawaii makes me a better photographer and fuels my creativity. I cannot wait to share the most recent photos of Maui with you but not just yet!
I come back from Hawaii refreshed, ready to buckle down and work on my photography. There is something about the fresh ocean air, the landscape and food on the islands that just puts me in a photography mood. Eventually I will need to move there and open a gallery. You will then have another must stop place on your list!
I love baking. I love eating. And I love photographing it. I issued myself a challenge when planning my blog posts for 2016: one new recipe a month to share with you, dear readers. I have also decided to bake my way through Good Morning Baking! but change everything to gluten free, because obviously I want to eat what I bake. (This was supposed to be January’s recipe but I kind of forgot about it in my drafts. Oops).
I may, at times, share a meal or drink recipe but most will be dessert-like items because who doesn’t love a good dessert?
This project will allow me to practice my gluten-free recipe conversions and food photography/styling. Plus, you will get yummy recipes once a month! Win-Win-Win.
I went through the cookbook and selected three recipes. I then sent the names to my boyfriend and asked him to choose. This is how I landed on the Caramel Applesauce Cake as my first science project… ummmm… experiment… ummmm… recipe. I hope you all enjoy!
The recipe below is my modified version. I swapped out items for gluten free and some spices but I did keep the raisins. I do not like raisins in baked good but I am trying to expand my palette.
(disclosure: Cookbook link is an Amazon Associate link. I would earn pennies if you ordered through the link).
Ingredients:
2 3/4 cup all-purpose gluten-free flour
1 1/4 tsp Xanthan gum
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
3 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp salt
4 eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups unsweetened applesauce
3/4 cup canola oil
1 cup raisins
Caramel topping:
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/4 cup whole milk
Steps:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray a 9×13 inch baking pan with non-stick spray.
In a large bowl, mix flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and salt.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and granulated sugar, then add the applesauce and oil and whisk until combined.
Make a well in the flour mix and pour in the applesauce mixture. Stir until combined. Fold in the raisins. Spread batter in the prepared pan.
Bake until the cake springs back when pressed gently in the center, 38 to 45 minutes. Let cool slightly on a wire rack, in the pan.
While the cake is cooling, make the caramel topping. In a medium saucepan, combine the brown sugar, butter and milk over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Boil uncovered, stirring constantly until the topping is bubbling and thickened. About 5 minutes.
Poke the surface of the warm cake all over with a fork. Pour the hot caramel topping evenly over the cake. If the caramel pools, swirl it over the cake to be absorbed.
Let cool before serving.
I reheated the cake in the microwave for about 10 seconds before eating. It was delicious. I am still not 100% sold on raisins in baked goods but it wasn’t as bad as I remember. (It has been ages since I had a baked good with raisins). I never got around to it, but this cake would be amazing warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on it!
What, besides vanilla ice cream, would you top this cake with?
Normally, I do not celebrate Valentine’s Day. I am not a believer in the holiday but I think it’s important to show yourself some love.
We are all guilty of proclaiming what we hate about our body and/or ourselves. Myself included.
2016 is my year. I am working on myself and learning how to relax and let things go. Part of my stress relief is writing in my journal. As I was writing the other day I started writing about what I love about me. I think it is easy to lose what makes us special and amazing when life happens and we are bombarded with images of perfect people and/or perfect lives.
I am far from perfect.
But I do have a lot to love about myself.
I love the shape that my face has settled into. It’s still round but it doesn’t seem as round and child-like as it did a few years ago. I love looking more my age.
I am strong and independent. Yes, I am in a fantastic relationship but I am still a strong woman and depend on my man because I can, not because I have to. I love that I have my own time to do the things I love.
My collarbones. I have always loved my collarbones. I especially love wearing tops/dresses that accentuate them. And I love the song Clavicle by Alkaline Trio because my favorite group sings about my favorite part of my body.
I love learning. I have always been smart and I really do love learning. I read a lot of articles and books on subjects that interest me. I listen to podcasts as well, my current favorite is Stuff You Missed in History Class. It has introduced me to subjects I knew nothing about or reintroduced me to things I forgot about. I highly recommend it.
My legs. They can carry me 13.1 miles and soon 26.2. I use them to run and lift weights. I can walk and climb stairs. Jump. The powered me through 20+ years of dance lessons.
A Recent photo that shows my face shape and clavicles.
Those are my top five. I am sure if I tried I could come up with a few more.
I’m issuing you a challenge… write down the top five things you love about yourself and share at least one in the comments!
Running allows you to see areas you may have missed on your vacations.
Maybe you see someone out running every day in your neighborhood and you think, “I could do that”. Or you see your friends posting about that race they did over the weekend and it looks like fun. If I can run, pretty much anyone can run.
Growing up, I had exercised-induced asthma and it was not well controlled. I could barely do a lap around the track. I don’t recall every running a full mile, with no walk breaks, until I joined a gym in college. I ran on a treadmill for health, to lose weight. Nothing more. I ran off and on, eventually moved outside and ran my first race. I became hooked.
I am all for sharing my love and knowledge of running. I hope that my joy is infectious and others turn to running and love it. I want others to reap the health and fitness that comes from running. To clear your brain and stress less.
But just how does one get into running?
Have you tried in the past and given up because it seemed too hard? You went all out and didn’t enjoy yourself? It happens to a lot of people. I know I often went too hard when I first started. Heck, I sometimes start out too fast still!
My biggest tip for new runners is to go slow. Every time someone tells me they can’t run because they always become short of breath withing a few minutes I tell them they need to slow it way down. Not everyone can run a 7-minute mile. Sometimes I run 13-minute miles. There’s no shame in that. I am out there, doing my thing and I know that day is a slow run day for whatever reason.
You can see gorgeous sunsets (or sunrises).
My second tip is to take breaks. Too many people think they need to go out and run 30 minutes straight. Nope. Walk breaks can be beneficial, especially when starting out. In fact, I took strategic walk breaks during my last half marathon and thought I did a decent time for no training.
Go slow and build up. No one started out running half marathons. Most people can’t just go out and run a 5k with no training. We all have to start somewhere. Instead of wishing you were out in the race, why not start training for one?
When I started running in college there weren’t really apps. There was a Couch to 5K plan online but you had to print it off and time yourself, no prompts. Nowadays, there are a million apps and coaching programs available. The apps and programs are great and I guarantee you can find one that works for you.
Couch to 5Ks will have you do a run/walk and decrease the walk portion slowly. Don’t be afraid to repeat days if you aren’t comfortable moving on yet. A lot of the programs also have a 30-minute end goal but don’t feel pressured to go fast. As I said before, we can’t all be hares. Some of us need to be the tortoise. 😉
Do you want to start running? Do you have a dream race you want to do?
Natural History Museum was one of my favorite stops in New York.
I went for the bones but stayed for the rest. We didn’t get to see all of the museum and could have spent another few hours there, if not another day. If you are interested in going to the National History Museum I would recommend arriving when they open and don’t have anything else planned for the day. You can definitely spend the entire day there.
We arrived a bit before they open (at 10 am) and took a walk through Central Park. We got in line at 10 and despite being down the block it was actually quite quick to get in. I would recommend getting the city pass as we got to jump ahead in line with ours.
Our first stop was the Rose Center for Earth and Space. I am fascinated by all things stars. I was actually interested in the science behind space. It was fascinating. The only bad part? The planetarium was closed. Favorite? The meteorites.
My least favorite parts was the dioramas. They were ok but I could have skipped most of them. I did enjoy the hall of ocean life with a life size blue whale.
The gems ad minerals were also interesting plus there was jewelry. What woman doesn’t like looking at fancy jewelry? I actually saw a few pieces I wouldn’t mind wearing.
And oh my gosh, the fossils! It was such an a amazing experience. There was several types of skeletons but the most impressive were the dinosaurs. You really get an idea of how big they really were. I would go back just to walk through the fossils again.
Have you been to the National History Museum? If so, what was your favorite part? Have you ever seen dinosaur bones at another museum? What did you think?
Racing is a huge part of my life, even though I am not fast. I believe everyone should do a race at least once.
I have done a lot of races over the years and one of my favorites continues to be the Kiss Me I’m Irish 4K, 8k or 17K which takes place every March at Westgate in Glendale, Arizona. I am a very small percentage Irish but this race is for everyone, Irish or not! Why not make this your first race?
This years swag
I usually do the 8K but this year I decided to give the 17K a try. I would love for you to join me and see why this is my favorite race. Here are the Top 5 Reasons to run Kiss Me I’m Irish.
The Course – The race starts and ends at Westgate. You run through the parking lot and head over to 91st Avenue. You run along 91st Ave a bit before hopping on the canal trail. You go out and back on the canal and then run past Cardinals (University of Phoenix) Stadium and back to Westgate to finish. It’s the best of the west side.
The medal – You get a medal. That’s awesome but what’s even better is the medal is a bottle opener and a magnet! You can show off your awesomeness on your fridge and whenever you need to assist someone in opening a bottle of beer.
Last years medal
The After Party – Green beer and mini bundt cakes… what else could you want? Unfortunately, I can no longer partake in these goodies but there’s no reason you shouldn’t! Plus, there is always an Irish band performing and a good selection of other snacks.
Before I learned I can’t drink beer
Medals & mini bundt cakes
Everyone wears green – You may not be Irish but you can deck yourself out head to toe in green. Some people even wear kilts. Looking at other’s costumes is half the fun!
I’ll be wearing these this March
Charity – The money raised by Kiss Me I’m Irish benefits prostate cancer, an area I am passionate about. My dad had his cancer surgery a little over a year ago. He has been cancer free since and we hope it stays that way.
Previous Swag
Bonus: You can bring your furry child. Dogs are welcome. Dog costumes are encouraged.
Bonus #2: You can save 10% on registration if you use my code EspressoKiss at checkout.
I hope I see you at the Kiss Me I’m Irish run on March 12th! Be sure to let me know which race you’ve registered for in the comments!
Sunday I ran a half marathon. I was not trained. For a while, I didn’t even want to do it. I was originally supposed to do a marathon, my first, but didn’t get far in training. I had a rough year and for some reason got a mental block about running.
Why do I do this to myself?
I finally decided I needed to run the half. I signed up and paid and did not finish is better than did not start. I got up early yesterday morning and braved the (Phoenix) cold. I finished. It was a battle but I did it.
Brrrr…
I started out at my normal race pace but knew I needed to slow down. I was running 10:30-11:00-minute miles for my first three miles. I took a walk break for a mile and knew I needed to slow down.
Mile 7
I tried to watch my pace and preserve energy for the later miles. I knew the (Phoenix) hill at mile 9 was going to challenge me. It does every year. You crest the hill and get to go down but then you have to turn around and go back up. It is the biggest mental hurdle on the entire course.
Mile 7: Did that take the photo? Best to take another just in case!
Then I hit mile 10. The road has a slight incline and is slanted. I wanted to stop. I almost just went to the side of the road to sit down and wait for the sweeper vehicle. I struggled to imagine finishing the last three miles. I repeated, “it’s only a 5K, you can do a 5k” over and over. I probably sounded like a crazy person.
At mile 11 I took a final walk break. I didn’t feel any pain until I switched to walking. My feet were on fire. My hips hurt. My toes felt like they were going to fall off. But then I hit mile 12 and started to run again. I knew the finish was within reach. I looked up and saw the marathoners coming in. I said to myself, that will be you next year. You will make it through this half and finish your first full marathon one year from today.
I tried to watch my pace but I just kept going. I have run this course three previous times. I know it like the back of my hand. The finish was so close I could taste it. I don’t think I have ever been more excited to finish a race, especially knowing I wasn’t going to PR.
To finish, you run over a bridge, make a right and go the last .1 (or so). Running over the bridge, I know how close I am and always want to speed up. I made sure to keep myself in check. Mile 13 was 10:39, my best mile. But when I turn the corner? All bets are off. I pretty much sprinted (for me) the last .10. I glanced at my Fitbit Surge and saw 7:40 at one point. I did slow down a bit but I ended the race with a 7:34-minute mile (for .10 of a mile).
Finished and earned that medal!
I collected my medal and desperately wanted a Gatorade. The course was stingy this year. I think I got maybe an ounce at the three stations. I only carried water (in my new Nathan Hydration belt – amazing btw) and really wanted more Gatorade to give me a boost on the course. I also did not see any orange slices or Glukos packs at the stations (I saw the evidence all over the course though). Thankfully, I carry my own Gu packets for situations like this.
Observations:
There were a lot more walkers than previous years. I did walk (3 run/1walk) but there were a lot of people that seemed to be just walking
The aid stations seemed poorly stocked. The first water station was half empty by the time I reached them. Yes, I was a tad slower than past years but not by much. We received maybe two sips of Gatorade at each station and as I said before I saw no food, or food like items, at any of them (it is possible I just missed them)
There were no clear directions on how to leave the finish area. All it said was to go under the bridge. I did but apparently not in the right spot. I still got out, just had to do some off roading.
I took a fruit cup and banana after because I didn’t want to be the person asking if there is gluten in things while a million people attack the free foods.
The volunteers did do a great job at the finish, making sure people only took one. Someone was trying to grab for a friend and they would only let him take one. He was yelling to friend to come and the volunteer apologized and said she had to make sure everyone got one.
While I was at the expo on Friday I signed up for next years marathon. There was a special price and I received two free shirts. I plan to make 2016 my year so that I can conquer 26.2 miles in January 2017. I hope to document my year and would love if you joined me. I’ll have blog posts, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter updates. If you aren’t following me all over the internet, please be sure to do so. You don’t want to miss out, do you?
