1 CAN Campbell’s Select Harvest Southwest Style Chicken Chili soup (18.6 oz. can) or 1 CAN of Campbell's Chunky Hearty Chicken Soup with Vegetables. (Either one is delicious)

    1/2 Bag Frozen Birds Eye "The Ultimate Southwest Blend Vegetables" (14 oz.)  Use half a bag or 7 oz.

    1 cup of diced roasted chicken, or more if you prefer. (I bought the fresh already cooked chicken roasters from the grocery store).

    1/4 cup fresh Cilantro

    1  tablespoon butter

    Pepper to taste

Step One:  In a medium size sauce pan combine butter, pepper to taste and the ½ bag of frozen vegetables.  Cook until the vegetables are almost thawed.  Add the cooked chicken and warm for just a few more minutes.

Step Two:  Add the can of Campbell’s Soup per the can's instructions (You do not add water to this soup).  Warm the soup until it bubbles lightly.

Step Three:  Just before serving the soup add the diced Cilantro.

Step Four:  Serve and enjoy. 

Serving size: Two (I eat a lot so you might get more servings that I do)

Note:  I have always enjoyed the Bird’s Eye "Ultimate Southwest Blend Vegetables" and adding them into a soup turned out to be the perfect combination. This soup is low calorie, filling, easy to make, inexpensive, and takes about 15 minutes to put together.

Created by: Madelyn I Sawyer

Grandmothers On The Run will be out and about again this year at steet faire's and racing events.  We’re returning to some of the events we attended last year and we're finding new adventures too.

The events in February and March are organized by Klein/Clark Sports and are both in Palm Springs, CA.  The Annual Women Running Wild 5K Run/Walk event is a fund raiser for the Jody Klein Breast Cancer Fund which was created in memory of event director Greg Klein’s sister.  Over $750,000 dollars has been raised for breast cancer in the past 12 years from this event. Come participate with us.

In April and May we’ll be in Encinitas and Carlsbad, CA. Both of these events are sponsored by Kennedy and Associates, Street Faire Consultants who organize some pretty incredible events.

Grandmothers On The Run donates a portion of each sale to the FoodBank of Southern California.  It's our way of giving back, so come join us, stop by our booth, say hello, get a fabulous gift for yourself, or for the Grandmother you love so much and know you are giving back too.

As the sun sets on 2011, I can say with great gusto that I had a fantastic year spending time with my Mom, my brother and sister, my children, my grandchildren, and the friends I have across this great country of ours.

And thanks to all of you Grandmothers On The Run out there; shirts, hats, and totes found their way into your homes in 33 states.  What a tribute to every busy and proud Grandmother who stays active everyday living life, having fun, and sharing their passions and treasures from their lives with their grandchildren.

So keep busy, stay active, and have fun in all that you do. I am so proud of all of you. And may 2012, be as incredible and fun as 2011.  God Bless.

Last weekend I got one more camping trip in at the beach with my grandkids before this summer comes to a close.  It’s really hard to believe that summer is just about over and it’s time for my grandkids to start back to school.

This summer was without a doubt a perfect summer for me.  I had lots of great adventures with my grandkids; going to the beach, camping, sleepovers, and swimming in the pool where I live.  I went camping and hiking with my sister, my brother taught me how to stand-up paddle board (SUP), and I got to spend time with my Mom.

This Grandmother On The Run kept fit, had fun, felt fabulous, and had a glorious summer without a doubt.

  Proper workout shoes are one of the most important pieces of equipment anyone can have when walking, running or cross-training.  If you didn’t know it, the way your foot strikes the ground when you walk influences the way your shoes wear on the bottom.  This is important to know because working out in the wrong type of shoe can possibly lead to injury. So when you have a chance sit down, take off your shoes, and look at the bottom of them.  Yes, just as I suspected they do look a little worn.

If the top outside edge is worn you’re a “supinator” and you should get shoes that have cushioning that will provide shock absorption to help cushion your foot as it rolls outward.  If your shoes are worn evenly you’re “neutral” and you’ll need shoes for stability or moderate-stability so they evenly strikes the ground providing you cushioning and support.  Finally, if your shoes are worn on the top inner edge you’re a “pronator” and you’ll need shoes for motion control or high stability to help provide stability as your foot rolls inward.

Sound confusing?  Well it’s a little bit confusing, but once you take a look at the bottom of your shoes and see that they are worn, I recommend that you take yourself and your workout shoes to the nearest sports store and have a professional in the shoe department assist you in finding the perfect shoe for you. 

Once you get your perfect shoe then it's time to get back to your favorite type of exercise.  Enjoy!

 A few weeks ago I finally decided to stop procrastinating and asked my brother Tim (Photo) to show me how to standup paddle board.  He's an avid windsurfer, surfer, and standup paddle boarder so why not tap into his expertise.  The only question I asked myself after the first 15 seconds on the water was "Why on earth did I ever wait so long to begin this new health and fitness adventure?"  The instant I got up on that board I was smiling, laughing, and well trying to get my balance.

Talk about a total body workout for anyone seeking strength, endurance, and/or gaining better balance.  It was an incredible workout.  As I've grown older, I've been looking for a sport specifically to enhance my balance and increase my strength.  Well this Grandmother On The Run found it!

You can SUP in the ocean, on lakes, rivers and even in swimming pools.  So for many of you it should be easy to find a place to paddle nearby.  Plus, you only need about an hour to get a great workout. Board rentals are farily reasonable (I recently rented a board at the beach for $15.00 an hour).  And they are lightweight which makes them easier to handle than a kayak.  There's lots of information on the web about this sport too.

So if you're looking for a fun adventure and a workout that you can do very close to home I highly recommend going for a paddle.  I'm in this sport for life! 

My sister sent me a link for a really good article on what to do to avoid a bear attack.  A hiker was killed this past week in Yellowstone National Park, a place my sister and I hiked last summer.  

The hiker lived in Southern California, in a city very close to mine, so it was especially sad to hear that we lost a local hiker. 

God Bless his family and be safe my friends when hiking this summer where bears live.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/bear-intelligence-stay-safe-grizzly-turf/story?id=14021626

 My sister and I got to see my Mom this weekend.  She's a wonder, she's a Grandmother On The Run.  My sister made Mom some of her favorite meals (my cooking is marginal), and I cleaned (I'm very good at cleaning,) and we spent time just hanging out.

When my Mom took her afternoon nap, my sister and I would get out and walk and talk and talk.  We like talking, we're the best of friends my sister and I.

We are blessed to have our Mom, 85 years old, and still taking life as it comes, still laughing and having a heck of a lot of fun.  She rocks!

Hug your Mom, your Dad, and your kids whenever you can for they are so very important in our lives.  We Grandmothers are blessed beyond words.

  My son, his wife, and I went to a wedding this weekend in St. George, Utah.  Near St. George is a state park called Snow Canyon.  It is an incredible canyon made of red sand stone with steams of volanic rocks that ceased flowing millions of years ago.  Simple put this park is stunning.

The wedding attire was casual so we decided to take the RV and stay at the campground there.  It was a wonderful weekend spent with family and dear friends laughing and enjoying the celebration of our friends marriage.   I got up early every morning, filled my thermos with coffee, and hiked as I watched the sunrise above those marvelous canyon walls.

It was truly a perfect weekend for this Grandmother On The Run.

 My son is 25 now with a family of his own. Fortunately we live near one another so I see him often. We’re family, we’re friends, which is the best of both worlds.

Last year my son was seriously hurt in a car accident that left him, at one time with many broken bones, enduring multiple surgeries, with one more to go, and a limp that reminds us all of the trauma he‘s endured. Yet he has a fierce determination to recover to the fullest extent possible and to return to work and the sports activities that he once so fully enjoyed.

One of the sports adventures that he use to do, and has his eye on again, is to hike in Zion National Park, specifically on a trail called Angel's Landing. It’s steep, it’s challenging, and its spectacular. The trail is 5 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 1520 feet in 2.5 miles with switchbacks galore. As you ascend, the trail gets steeper, more narrow, and challenging until you arrive at an incredible perch, that you've reached via hand chains the last quarter mile of the hike.  But once at the top, you're greeted with an incredible 360-degree view of Zion Canyon.

So next year, 2012, the goal has been set. My son's family and friends are going to hike Angel's Landing as a team family sports event. We’ll all hike with pride and determination. My son is incredible!

My daughter introduce me to this delightful "green soybean"  just a few months ago.  Since our introduction it has been a whirlwind love affair with this sweet, nutty tasting bean.  These soybeans are soft in texture, and probably have more flavor than other soybeans you have tried before because they are picked young.

You can serve them in the pod and gently squeeze the bean from the pod onto your tongue or you can serve them already out of the pod.  Either way, they are great for snacks, a side dish, or to replace a meat protein.  I microwave frozen Edamames for a minute adding a little sea salt for flavor.  After cooking them for one minute I add just a touch of butter and then cook them for an additional 30 seconds.  They are delicious!

Edamames are low calorie, yet packed full of protein and fiber that can help you lower your cholesterol levels and may even lower the risk of heart disease suggest some nutritionists.  And they are an excellent source of calcium which is ever so important for those lovely bones of yours.

So go on and try an Edamame and I bet you'll find a love affair for life with this young and beautiful soybean.

I think I'm healthy, I'm a runner, I think I'm invincible. Well guess what? I'm not! Last week my doctor gave me my bone density results and I have osteopenia, the stage where your bone density is below normal and may lead to osteoporosis.

Talk about in denial, talk about disbelief, hey, I'm a runner! I walk or run every single day.  Yet, my doctor told me I'm a classic example of someone who has risk factors; I'm female, white, been going through menopause for years, that's a whole story unto itself, and I'm more on the slender side, and I don't take any vitamins.  Fact, an astounding 80% of women over 65 years of age have osteoporosis, so we need to pay attention to our bodies ladies.

Well now that I'm in the thick of this, what do I do about it? Upon my doctor's advice I immediately began taking calcium and vitamin D as a daily supplement.  I live in CA so I'm outdoors a great deal, but maybe I'm not getting enough D through natural sunlight. Vitamin D also helps fight depression, heart disease and other serious diseases.  So I began taking what my doctor recommended, and believe me I'm on it now my friends.

So you think you're doing everything possible to stay fit...well make sure you have annual check-ups with your doctor and please if you've never had your bone density tested do it soon.  Put it on your 2011 must "to do" list.

And it's important to know that no matter where you are along the osteoporosis path, there are things you can do to slow down or stop this process.  As for me, I'm going to keep running, do more core exercises to strengthen my back, continue to take my calcium and vitamin D, and go for a follow-up visit in about three months with my doctor. 

Stay active and be sure to go get those marvelous, wonderful bones of yours checked immediately.

The holdays seem to arrived faster and faster with each passing year.  And the holiday decorations seem to be put on display around Halloween!  I'm not so sure I like time passing by so quickly, but I do have to admit I enjoy all of the holiday activities, the bright lights, the glitter and the glamor of holiday decorations.

What I'm also discovering is beginning in October I begin eating and drinking more.  Our family has most of our birthdays beween October and February, so we get together more, eat out more, and in general celebrate more.  It's fun, until January arrives and I find myself squeezing into my "fat" jeans, then the fun has faded.

So this year my advice to all my friends and myself is eat everything and anything you want, just don't eat too much of anything.  Keep your portions small.  Remember to keep drinking plenty of water and do whatever you can to stay active.  Park your car at the back of the parking lot and walk to where you're going to shop, walk an extra lap around the mall, walk the stairs at work, spend an extra 15 minutes a day doing some kind of exercise.  Keep moving to keep burning those calories. 

Have a blessed and happy holiday seaon everyone.  Grandmothers On The Run are the best!

 I called my sister, my best friend, last week for a spur of the moment road trip request and I was lucky enough to steal her away from her loving husband and adult children for a weekend of hiking, hiking and hiking!  We went to Zion National Park and Snow Canyon State Park near St. George, Utah.  The fall colors were out in full force, the hiking trails were quiet, and we felt the pure beauty of the earth, the sky and life itself.  We hiked 33 miles over 2.5 days loving every minute of it.  We felt our bones getting stronger and our souls mending as we hiked alone, and for miles, atop the West Rim of Zion National Park.  We lived and experienced something bigger than ourselves this past weekend. We experienced life.

So stay active my friends.  No matter where you are, hike, walk, run......keep moving, keep living, keep feeling!  It's the key to longivity, strength, happiness and fun.

On November 1^st Grandmothers On The Run (GMOTR) will be celebrating its first year as an E-Commerce Company and what a year it has been.  I’ve met so many wonderful and active Grandmothers.  The encounters, conversations, and shared experiences have been invaluable.  And I recently got to share some of my fondest memories with my favorite Great Grandmother, my Mom who lives in San Francisco, CA.

 I’m looking forward to the coming year.  Fortunately we were able to give a good amount of money to the FoodBank of Southern California, which we support.  And we blogged and twittered our way across this great country of ours.  We made sales in every corner of this great United States from the East Coast to the West Coast.

 We’ll have some new products coming out next year so stayed tuned.  And GMOTR will participate in a more racing events and fairs.

 Again, I thank each and every one of you for your support and am looking forward to continuing the quest to find more fit, active, busy and proud Grandmothers in 2011 and beyond.

 This past weekend the city of Manhattan Beach, CA held their annual hometown fair.   Needless to say my excitement level was high and I was really looking forward to meeting people and telling them about “Grandmothers On The Run” and the great products we have for fit, active, happy, and bragging Grandmothers.

So many people over the two day event stopped by our booth.  Sales were great and getting the word out about the company was fantastic.  You could hear people walking by saying the name “Grandmothers On The Run” out loud with smiles on their faces. The people stopping by were very; very enthusiastic about our clothing line, goods and that we donate a portion of our proceeds to a local food bank.

When the fair ended on Sunday, while I was standing by my car saying good bye to my niece and her fiancé, when a woman from New Jersey stopped to say that she had bought a tee shirt last year and all of her friends were so excited about my company and it’s goal of keeping Grandmothers fit and active that they are staring a walking club, a running club, or maybe even a kayaking group in their hometown.  She told me I was her “Rock Star” and how excited she was to meet me and to be a “Grandmother On The Run”.

I’m was humbled by the compliment, and very excited at the same time that Grandmothers everywhere are striving to stay fit so they can stay active and have fun with their families longer.  I am so proud of each and every one of you “Grandmothers On The Run”…..keep it up.  You all are my “Rock Stars”.

My Grandma Irene is the only person I knew that served beets until a dear friend of mine served a cold beet salad last week at her home.  Needless to say it brought back many fond memories of growing up with my grandmother and the rest of my family.  Grandma with her small frame, her sweet smile, happy laugh, and stark white hair loved beets.  I don't know if she knew how good they were for us, I just know she loved them.  And I love them too.

Beets are full of iron, they are an immunity booster, and guard against certain kinds of cancer.  They are low in fat, high in carbs, and are an excellent source of folic acid too.  And they are so pretty and so very, very good for us.

I think of Grandma Irene everytime I see beets.  Grandma's are so wise.

Where's a camera, any camera when you need one? That's what I was thinking a few weeks ago at a local 5K race. I didn't even have my cell phone with me. 

I dearly wished I had a camera on April 18, 2010, at the Hermosa Beach 5K race because two "Grandmothers On The Run" won 2nd and 3rd place in their age category.  Bobbi Wynhoff,  placed 2nd (she's fast) and I placed third (almost a minute behind Bobbi) on that cool, beautiful Sunday morning down by the beach.  When we got done and saw are race results we were very, very happy. I haven't place in a race since high school!  We received our medals while standing up on the winner's podium --  smiles and applause all around -- and no camera!

I searched high and low these past two weeks for a captured snapshot of our victory, but alas no luck.  These two Grandmothers On The Run will cherish the memory of that race, and next time, without a doubt one of us will bring a camera!

Every Tuesday, rain or shine I watch the TV show “The World’s Biggest Loser.” I know most of you have heard of the show and I hope many of you watch it too. It is so inspiring to watch week after week how people transform their lives from being helpless to having control over their minds and their bodies. I am so proud of each and everyone of them. They are brave, tough, determined and strong individuals.

Just like us! We’re strong and determined too. So get out and go for a walk, go for a run, just move and feel the power and control of gaining strenght and health.

Have fun, enjoy life, enjoy your families, enjoy your grandkids. Go Grandmothers On The Run everyone.

Five “Granny’s” had a great time at our first race together in Seal Beach, CA on April 11, 2010. We walked, we ran, we laughed, we shared our excitement with everyone we passed, yes, we did pass a few walkers along the way! Grandmothers On The Run is all about being proud of who we are as women, proud of our families, our grandchildren, and proud that we continue to stay active even though at times we wish we had slept in late vs. running a foot race early on a Sunday morning. The beauty is we can sleep in next weekend! Stay active, stay happy, believe in yourself and find other granny’s to have fun with. Enjoy for we are blessed!