Canoe of Life

All packed up....

2011-04-17T13:54:00.003-04:00

It's moving day!!! Well at least blog moving day, and even though the new site isn't all finished it is at least started and it will continue to transform as I work on learning more about how to use Wordpress!

The new location is: little-crumbs.com

You'll notice that it is no longer entitled, Canoe of Life, but instead is now Little Crumbs. I hope you enjoy!

(Oh and if you notice any major issues with the blog or it doesn't allow you to post comments you can leave a comment here and I'll make the necessary adjustments- Wordpress is so different but I think in the long run it will be a better blog!)

MIA...

2011-04-14T09:56:00.001-04:00

It may appear that I've gone Missing in Action. Well honestly I was taking some time off from blogging, and then I decided to create a new blog name and purchase a domain. I have a little more work to do before the new site is ready for it's big debut...but stay tuned I'll be back real soon!

Green and Stuffed...

2011-03-17T20:44:00.002-04:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

In celebration of the day I created a mint green protein shake...

You might be thinking it looks like a Shamrock Shake, but unfortunately I must report that it did not taste as good. The bright side is that it was healthy, so I guess I'll just have to be happy with that! We have more celebrations coming this weekend when we are IN the big parade....

In other news, it has been quite busy over here, it seems like all I do lately is sleep, work, go to the gym, eat dinner and then do it all again. When we have a rest day from the gym it seems like we have a meeting or something else going on that occupies my night. Well last night I actually didn't have anything going on so I finally got around to creating some stuffed peppers.

I should tell you also that for Lent I decided to eat a vegetarian diet, which means no meats for me. I decided to instead stuff the peppers with a lentil mixture. After cooking the lentils, I added sauteed onions, garlic, and carrots. I need to create a bit of 'sauce' so I added in tomato sauce and then some chipolte bbq sauce- nice and spicy!

They came out of the oven looking just like I had hoped, and I must say that they were quite today when I finally got to eat one for lunch today.

Anyone have any good vegetarian recipes to share or link to?

I'm trying to keep them veggie based and staying away from pasta.

Shopping in Color...

2011-03-13T10:14:00.002-04:00

Spring has been making a solid attempt to come to Buffalo. Last week it was in the form of rain, that later turned to snow. Next week it looks like it might be in the 40s with more rain.

In preparaiton for more rain I made an investment into some "wellies" or polka dotted rain boots. I think black is too boring for rubber boots so I went with the more colorful version for spring.

I also did some shopping for the upcoming spring running I'm planning to do, but you'll learn more about that later this week. While browsing the clearance section of my local DSW I came across Nike Free's on clearance in size 11!!! (I have big feet) I was planning to buy a pair online in the next week or so, but I was able to save $30 by picking up this pair on clearance! I love saving money.

Sabrina and I also had hit up the outlets early Saturday morning to score some weather appropriate running gear. We shopped the clearance racks and scored great gear, and well basically ended up buying the exact same things for the most part.

First up a running jacket...

I picked up some general workout shirt for regular strength days...

Some Cold Gear from Under Armour...

Another Under Amour pullover...

Oh, and the best part- thumb holes! I can't stand running with gloves on so thumb holes provide the warmth, but can easily be removed (and not lost).

Despite that spring is almost here we still have pre-purchased ski passes that must get used before the snow melts in the mountains, so I'm off to try out my cold gear!

Do you like thumb holes or gloves?

Swag...

2011-03-08T20:47:00.005-05:00

Sometimes when your run a race or a marathon, you get a swag bag. Well this weekend we created our very own 'swag' bag by standing in the lines and making second passes after lunch to booths we wanted more 'swag' from. Check it out...

My husband got a bit of a chuckle tonight seeing me spread the goods across one of our tables in an orderly fashion, but a girls gotta blog. Now for a closer look at the goods.

Mini Larabar samples including PB &J, Carrot Cake, Lemon, and Peanut Butter Cookie- yum!

Cascadia Farm Organic Dark Chocolate Almond Granola and Harvest Spice Granola Bars...

StarKist tuna in a wide array of flavors...

(If you're confused by the tuna it's because body builders eat it for the protein and usually straight out of the cans.)

EAS Finish Vanilla Protein Powder...
(Even though I prefer chocolate, it was free so I can't complain)

Various sample of other Whey Proteins and pre-workout items; most of which will be used by the husband since things labeled 'ANIMAL' and 'RAGE' scare me a bit.

Though we got a lot of 'swag' for free, I did decide to buy "The Stick" to help soothe my sore muscles. I've recently changed up my workout plan, and that change left my legs begging for relief so it should come in handy.

Another purchase was Power Fx wrists bands that help balance the ions in your body giving you a better since of balance. I know you're probably thinking we got sold, but honestly I'll do that tests on you and you'll seriously consider buying one. No joke!

What's your favorite Larabar or granola bar?

"I'm gonna pump YOU up!"

2011-03-07T21:17:00.008-05:00

This weekend we ventured to Columbus, Ohio to check out the Arnold Classic Sports and Fitness Expo. The expo is centered around different types of sports. They had areas for gymnastics, kickboxing, karate, boxing, board breaking (not sure of the official name), figure competition, and strength competitions. And in the middle of all that there were many vendor booth set up to try sample of various fitness nutrition products.

Tosca Reno, the queen of Clean Eating, was there...

Some guys got ego boost having the photo taken with girls in tiny outfits...

Other guys got ego boosts by having their "before" picture on their shirt...

Matt got his picture with Lee Haney- an 8 time Mr. Olympia...

I got to ease sore quads with "The Stick"...

Jay Cutler, a former Mr. Olympia...

After morning of walking all the isles we decide to take a break and head outside in search of a great place to eat lunch. We came across Betty's, and since we were sitting at the bar decided to start our meal with a drink.

I decided to throw caution into the wind and got a "PB & J" Cocktail. It contained peanut-infused Finlandia vodka, grape simple syrup, and grape soda. My taste buds were so confused, it was definitely an interesting drink!

The Surly Girl turkey wrap was full of flavor (and Gorgonzola cheese)...

A tasty meatloaf sandwich for my husband...

During lunch our two women next to us mentioned "interesting" ice cream at Jeni's- including chipolte ice cream- so we had to give it a shot. I did try a taste of the chipolte which was another taste bud confuser, but in the end I settle on a very chocolate choice.

The husband and I share a two scooper, one for him and one for me...

After all the eating we headed back to the fitness expo to make another round through the isles, and we came across Kai Green another professional body builder- the line for his autograph was quite long so we just snapped a picture.

Do you recognize this man? Think about it, think of the color green, shirts ripping. Did you get it yet?
If you guessed Lou Ferrigno, the original Hulk, you were right!

After visiting passing through the booths we decided to check out some of the actual sports going on around us including youth boxing. It was quite intense, and there was even a grandma judge that seemed to really be enjoying the match.

Men and women chopped their way through stacks of boards, quite impressive...

After a fun day of walking through crowds we met up with a friend for dinner at Bodega, starting things off with a round of beers. They had my favorite- Youngs Double Chocolate Stout- so I couldn't say no! We also ordered up a cheese plate...

And with cheese we also needed a hummus plate...

We spent a couple hours eating, drinking and catching up- it was a really great end to the day!

Does that sound like an interesting weekend? Well maybe it isn't your cup of tea, but it definitely worked for us. Plus we got some free stuff and we purchased a few things, which I'll tell you more about tomorrow.

What was the best thing you ate all weekend?

For me it was a tie between the Surly Girl wrap and Jeni's ice cream....

Weekend Away...

2011-03-06T21:50:00.002-05:00

This weekend my husband and I went on a road trip to check out the Arnold Classic Expo in Columbus, Ohio...

We drove...

We viewed...

We enjoyed a few beers with a friend...

More details to come tomorrow, but for now I must sleep!

ABCs of me...

2011-03-04T16:20:00.002-05:00

Everyone knows their ABCs, but do you know the ABCs of me???? I don't normally participate in these "surveys", but I thought it made for a fun way of letting you know more about me! I saw Natalia over at A Side of Simple, and a few other bloggers so I figured I'd just go for it.

A = Age: Just around the corner from 30...I can see it coming at me fast!

B = Bed size: Queen, our King took up to much room!

C = Chore you dislike: Cleaning the bathroom.

D = Dogs: We had dogs growing up, but we don't have one now because I feel like we are on the road too much!

E= Essential start to your day: Hitting the snooze button...at least twice!

F = Favorite color: Green, any shade.

G = Gold or silver: Silver, but I will wear both together too.

H = Height: 6', and with heels I'm really up there.

I = Instruments you play(ed): The flute, but I definitely I don't remember how to play anymore.

J = Job title: Wife. Friend. Personal planner.

K = Kids: None yet, but someone day I hope to hold the job title of mommy.

L = Live: Buffalo, NY

M = Mom’s name: The Lady that doesn't stop...or Bev.

N = Nicknames: Jen to most, but Aunt Jenny to my niece and nephew.

O = Overnight hospital stays: I don't remember any, so I guess 29 years ago when I was born.

P = Pet peeves: People that say "good morning" and "good night" to Facebook, I just find it odd.

Q = Quote from a movie: 'Nobody puts baby in a corner'- Dirty Dancing; I couldn't come up with anything else and I recently came across the movie on TV.

R = Righty or lefty: Righty

S = Siblings: One older brother, one younger sister, and one (much) younger brother.

T = Time you wake up: Typically 6am on the weekdays and 7am on weekends. Gone are the days of sleeping until noon, I feel like it wastes a day.

U = Underwear: Yes, please.

V = Vegetables you don’t like: I used have a long list, but now I'm pretty willing to try anything and I usually end up liking it!

W = What makes you run late: My husband! Just joking...

X = X-rays you’ve had: I get annual x-rays of my teeth from my dentist, then all the sudden I need fillings- it's my favorite thing! (again I joke)

Y = Yummy food you make: I'd say most anything in the dessert department, but especially anything in chocolate chip cookie family.

Z = Zoo animal favorites: Elephants, or maybe the Gorillas I could just watch they play all day!

Any there you have it! That's small glimpse into the ABCs of me...

Anyone have exciting plans for this weekend???

Cookin by the book...

2011-03-02T20:29:00.005-05:00

...or by the magazine actually! This week I was looking for a little guidance when planning our meals so I decided to pull out an old edition of Clean Eating Magazine (May/June 2010) and check out their budget recipes sections. This section provide five meals with recipes and even a shopping list!

First up this week was Chicken Pomodoro...

It actually came out pretty good. I made a few adjustments to the recipe, but overall it came out the same. I also went with whole wheat fettucini noodles that we had on hand. Most of the recipes in Cleaning Eating's budget plans are set for four or more serving so that means it ends up being lunch the next day- BONUS!!!

Last night I cooked up a little bit of New Orleans in the kitchen with Creole Dirty Rice.

I even used dried kidney beans this time. I have a tendency to lean towards the canned version of beans because it is just more convenient, but since I really wanted to follow the recipe I did it as instructed and it wasn't too bad it just required some overnight soaking.

Personally I thought it could have used a bit more of a kick, so I topped it with some hot sauce. I actually doubled this recipe so we had lunch today, and we still have plenty leftover for another meal.

Tonight was a night off from cooking to enjoy dinner with the girls. We try to find at least one day a month to get together, dine, and catch up. Tonight was sushi! I'm not up to eating the raw fish just yet, but I've moved from shrimp up to crab as of tonight.

It was a great night, but I'm still exhausted from the time zone change and I guess you could say it is my own fault since I refuse to slow down. Oh, and maybe because there is so much to catch up on both at home and at work!

Anyone make any good recipes lately? Please post a link.

In 36 hours...

2011-02-26T22:23:00.007-05:00

I learned that I can do a lot in 36...and I can write a long post after that so stick with me.

Friday morning at 4:30am (Pacific Coast Time)- Time to Leave California!

I got up, worked out, and was on my way to the airport by 6:30, only to learn my flight had been delayed. I settled in with the free wi-fi, Starbucks, and even snagged a pre-boarding pass due to only having 15 minutes to make my connection. It was a rather uneventful flight, which is a very good thing. I landed early, and found my husband waiting at the exit for me. I can't tell you how excited it was to finally see him after two weeks- though time went pretty fast for this trip.

After a long day of flying we headed to a local brewery/restaurant for some drinks and dinner. During our wait for a table we caught up over some beer, peanuts, and popcorn. There is nothing like a chocolate cherry beer after a very long day of traveling.

About the time we finished the first round of brews we were seat, ordered up some dinner, and another round. For me turkey burger with Shock Top and for the husband Buffalo Wings & Beef on Weck with a new brew that I can't remember. Yummy!

After dinner I learned my husband had picked up a few items for me! New snow pants and a ski helmet- I know this might not sound like a romantic gift, but we're practical people. We had been invited to join on friends on Saturday for skiing, but I didn't have any ski pants that fit and I have been needing a helmet for a while. Then I was informed that our planned departure time was 8AM!!! I'm normally a morning person, but not after traveling.

Anyways we made it up and out the door in record time, only to learn our ski buddies were running behind- I guess you can't win them all! After everyone arrived we headed toward the slopes and skied for about 6 hours and I can already feel the workout my legs got!

Here I am sporting my new gear...

After a long day of skiing we hit up the grocery store in search of dinner. Matt created a panini that was a cross between a Muffaletta and a Cuban, I'm calling it the Cubaletta. I must say it was quite yummy with a side of blue chips and hummus, it is good to be home!

So what have you accomplished in the last 36 hours???

And the winner is....

2011-02-24T23:22:00.003-05:00

I'm a little late with posting the winner, but in my defense it isn't 9pm on my clock so I guess I'll let myself pass.

The official winner according to the random number generator is
Natalia from A Side of Simple!

Thanks to all of you for your kind words. I'm happy to see that you all enjoy visiting me on my part of the blog world and I look forward to reading all the new blogs too!

RANDOM.ORG - Integer Widget
True Random Number Generator
Min:
1
Max:
11
Generate Result:
9
Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Adventrures in China Town...

2011-02-24T09:17:00.005-05:00

Last night after work we decided to venture across the bay to check out a chinese restaurant recommended during our tour of San Francisco over the weekend.

Prior to heading out we checked the reviews online, and while the food got rave reviews we were warned that we shouldn't judge the restaruant based on the atomsphere. We were also warned that the owner might come to the table and decide to order for us, and just start sending dishes out.

And that is exactly what happened. He took one look at us and decided that since it was our first visit that he would send out his best dishes, and he so kindly checked to see if any of us had dietary restrictions. And then the dishes started coming...

Welcome to the House of Nanking!

Tsingtoa, an asian beer...

BEST WONTON SOUP EVER....

Potsticker with Peanut Sauce...

Crunchy Noodle Salad with Shrimp...

Chinese Beef w/ veggies wrap...

White fish and veggies in a brown butter sauce...

Nanking Sesame Chicken w/ sweet potatoes...

All these dishes were so full of flavor! My favorite was the wonton soup because the broth actually was flavored unlike any other wonton soup I had ever had. Also I have never had a sweet potato at a chinese restaurant before, but these were also amazing with the sesame chicken. All around two thumb, I'll definitely be going with my husband when we visit San Francisco together!

The Giveway...

2011-02-22T20:44:00.004-05:00

Thank You!

As a thank you to all my wonderful readers, I'm hosting my first giveaway! It's completely self-funded so you're getting items that I selected from Trader Joe's and that I have been wanting to try after seeing them on other blogs.

Items include:
Peanut Flour
Banana Chips
72% Dark Chocolate
Omega Trek Mix Packs(5)
Fiberful Fruit Bar
Penguin Gummies

To enter, just leave a comment below about how long you've been visiting my blog or just say hi!

I will draw and post the winner on Thursday at 9pm ET, so enter quickly!

Stay Tuned...

2011-02-22T09:39:00.003-05:00

As a thank you to all my lovely readers I'd like to do a giveaway. Since I'm located in California for the next week and have access to Trader Joe's it will include items I'd like to try! One for me, and one for you!

I'll post all the details tonight, so stay tuned!

Today she shops...

2011-02-20T20:54:00.006-05:00

I decided to stick near the hotel today and do some relaxing. And any girl knows that a casual shopping day can be relaxing. Even though I'm not a big shopper normally, but it was nice to stroll through the sunny streets and go from store to store with no real purpose. It was a beautiful, sunny day so I was just enjoying myself.

And having no purpose caused me to find a few things...

Thanks to President's Day weekend there were plenty of sales so I picked up a few new tops...

And I got a chance to check out West Elm, which was fabulous! Luckily my bank account was spared too much damage because I have to travel home with the items purchased so I had to keep it under control- not an easy task!

We've been in need of some coffee mugs, and I thought these monogrammed mugs were great. Also found some great clearance/sale items that I could put to use around the house- sorry to ruin any surprises for my husband, but I just had to share!

Did you find any good sales this weekend?

A day in the city...

2011-02-20T09:22:00.008-05:00

Street Car 'F' to the Pier...

Chocolate Macadamia Nut Coffee...

Open Motorized Street Car for touring the city...

Alcatraz from a distance...

Fisherman's Wharf...

Traditional Street Cars coming down the hill...

Ghiradelli Square...

Cars parked on a steep hill...

Palace of Fine Arts...

R32 spotting at the Palace...

Golden Gate Bridge...

Another perspective of the bridge...

Posing with the Golden Gate...

Gates to the Japanese gardens...

The 'Painted Ladies'...

The 'Painted Lady' used for Full House...

Lululemon spotting...

Lines in Chinatown for the New Year Parade...

A Garlic Restaurant...

Tulips in bloom...

Boudin's Sourdough Bread Animals...

Crabs waiting to be cooked...

Fishing boats at the Wharf...

Sourdough bread, yum...

Crab Cake Sandwich, yum...

I took over 200 photos during my adventures in San Francisco, came back with soaking wet shoes, and frozen in the open seating on the tour. Despite the negatives it was a great day and I saw a lot! Today I plan to lay low and maybe head into Berkley to actually shop at Lulumelon...

Definitely going to San Francisco again with my husband...

San Francisco...

2011-02-19T10:29:00.004-05:00

I can see it from my hotel balcony...

However, it won't stop raining here and it's only in the 40s. We have decided to at least attempt to venture out so off I go to travel across the bay....

Red Velvet....

2011-02-16T21:42:00.004-05:00

Red velvet cake is a definite must-try food, it is quite amazing. However, I believe I may have found a way to enjoy it even more- Red Velvet Cake Balls.

You've been reading food blogs for a while I'm sure you've come across cake balls, and I think I might have to nominate them for top prize. The weekend before Valentine's Day I created these treats for a church potluck and they were a hit.

The steps are pretty simple: bake a boxed cake mix as directed, crumble the cake after it cools, mix the frosting into the crumbles, and then begin the creation of your cake balls.

Roll them and freeze them....

Dip them....

Decorate them...

Eat them...

For details directions on how to prepare check out this post on How Sweet It Is, it was the guide that I used when creating mine.

Have you ever tried a cake ball???? Did you love them????

Special Delivery...

2011-02-15T21:44:00.003-05:00

Tonight upon arriving back to my hotel room, I found this on the desk...

I wonder who might have sent me flowers...

Oh yeah, my wonderful husband who knows just how to brighten my day and bring a smile to my face for the next two weeks!

Aren't they beautiful????

They have slowly started to open up while I've been working away tonight, and they smell good too!

Thanks COL Husband!!!!

Time Zone Change...

2011-02-15T09:33:00.005-05:00

Changing time zones has been working out in my favor this morning...

It's only 6:30 here in California and I have already worked out, made coffee, showered, gotten ready for the day, and now I am blogging- Crazy!

My luggage arrived last night at around 9am, and I quickly unpacked and went to bed. I was so exhausted so it was hard to fall asleep, but eventually I caught some shut eye.

I got up about 4:30 this morning because well it's similar to sleeping in until 7:30 for me. I had read last night that the gym didn't "open" until 6am, but I figured I'd see if I could get in and it worked. Nobody came to kick me out so I just did what I needed to do. Today's workout included 10 intervals at 7.8mph and an incline of 1.0, and then my normal upper body routine modified based on the available equipment. It felt good!

After the workout I made some coffee, showered, and got ready for an interesting day.

One thing I'm looking forward to today is this apple, it's called a Pink Lady. I have never heard of this type of apple, but I'm excited for my afternoon snack.

Alright off to get some breakfast, then it's work all day!

Have you ever tried a Pink Lady apple? Do you like changing time zones?

Landed...

2011-02-14T18:50:00.004-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

I spend my Valentine's Day flying the friendly skies with "LUV" Airlines, AKA Southwest. In the terminal I was greeted by this kissing booth, but I'm a married woman so I did not partake. Don't worry though no actual kisses were being given, only the Hershey versions.

My husband dropped me off bright and early at 6am, I didn't sleep last night, I didn't sleep on the flight, and for some reason I'm not even sleepy now. Upon arrival here in Oakland, I learned that apparently my bag got left behind on my transfer. I'm just hoping it didn't sent to San Diego, and that I have it at some point tonight.

The good news- I got a glimpse of the Grand Canyon! It was so beautiful I can't wait do to a road trip across the country! Looking at the different landscapes out the plane window makes you appreciate the beauty in this world.

After checking into my hotel in rainy, foggy Oakland I decided to venture out for some provisions. I was lucky enough to score a fridge and microwave so I can keep healthy foods available. And I even got a chance to check out Trader Joe's, (Anyone need Peanut Flour???- because they have some.)

I picked up seltzer water, honey Greek yogurt, mixed berry yogurt, spicy hummus, cilantro and jalapeno hummus, baby carrots, bananas, apples, unsalted pistachios, natural peanut butter with roasted flaxseeds, lentil wrap with tahini dressing, and a salad with pear and Gorgonzola. Oh, and some dark chocolate non-pareils. (Happy Valentine's Day to ME!!) Don't worry they will be rationed appropriately.

I also brought some KIND bars and Larabars too, but for now they are in my suitcase which is somewhere in the Continental US- hopefully! My luggage also has all my chargers- seem to require at least 5 different ones to keep everything operating.

Alright well I think I'm going to go relax a bit, pray my bags come soon, and maybe eat some dinner soon- maybe salad.

Have you been to the Grand Canyon? Did you ever have your luggage lost?

Queen of Hearts..

2011-02-11T23:03:00.010-05:00

You all made some pretty good guesses!

The scissors, ruler, xacto blade, printer and laminating sheets were used to create these:

They are oversized playing cards personalized with my friend Emily as the Queen of Hearts, her husband as the Joker and their dog as the face on the septor. Emily was the birthday girl and it was a surprise party so I didn't want ruin anything.

The 'food items' included four 9x13 white cakes and frosting- isn't frosting the best part? The spatula and food items to create this:

Fully assembled I came up with this beauty...

So now you're probably wondering- was she surprised? Yes she definitely was, and her husband definitely put a lot of effort into planning! He made little paninis, pizzas, quasdillas, cheese and crackers, chips and dip, and other tasty treats. The party had a casino theme with lots of great decorations, gambling chips for the guests, a black jack table, and beer pong with wagers.

It was a great night! How was your Friday night???

Getting Crafty...

2011-02-10T20:34:00.003-05:00

I can't show you any pictures just yet, but I've been getting crafty tonight. It is a small project that I will hopefully unveil for you tomorrow when it is finished.

Until then we'll play a game. Guess what it is that I'm creating based on the tools I'm working with:

-Scissors
-Spatula
-Ruler
-Laminated sheets
-Printer
-Xacto blades
-Food items

Oh the fun I having over here!!! Off to finish it up!

Make a guess and have a great night!

Flash Forward...

2011-02-09T21:01:00.005-05:00

It's been crazy busy in my world lately, not anything out of the ordinary really just everyday stuff going here, doing this, and doing that....and I just haven't been able to keep up with the blog at the same time. So I'll just give you a quick flash forward so I don't get any further behind...is it really Wednesday night already? I'm not complain because I do have a fun weekend planned, but it still went by pretty quick.

Friday night we had a great pizza party...

Saturday afternoon the husband and I set out to spend some gift cards and do some shopping.

New suitcase for the upcoming Oakland Trip...

Coat #1 for the husband- 70% off!!!

Coat #2 for the husband- only $30!!!

Frozen Yogurt- not self-serve but the next best thing...

After that is was off to church, grocery shopping, dinner at Chipolte, then relaxing at Barnes & Noble. It might sound like on odd place to head, but we grab a coffee, a few magazines, and just read for a little while. By then it was 10pm so it was off to bed.

Sunday morning came early and I had a full day of activity planned so I decide to hit the gym first things to get some calories burning.

Treadmill intervals...

Breakfast at our favorite site...

Swedish Massage...

Then in the late afternoon the day hit a small bump, literally. Not to worry you, but COL husband was a bit under the weather so I made him go to Urgent Care to get checked out. I don't think he really wanted to go, but in the end was able get relief. So don't worry his fine now, but most of Sunday night through yesterday was spent caring for him. He probably didn't need me waiting on him hand and foot, but I'm sure he enjoyed it!

So there you have in a nut shell...and hopefully I'll be able to post again this week but I can't make promises because it is going to be busy. I can't tell you exactly what I'm working on, but I will and I'll even take some pictures.

Can you forgive me for being MIA???? Did you miss me???

Pizza Party!!!

2011-02-05T08:41:00.008-05:00

Friday=Pizza=Party

Okay well not a raging, crazy party- instead a small gathering of two couples. Last night was our first meet-up with a pre-cana couple from our church, and we really couldn't have been matched more perfectly. We are all foodies, love outdoor adventures, DIY weddings, and we were just generally on the same page.

Our guests offered to bring appetizers, which were amazing! They said they just threw them together quickly so I'm very interested in to see how great it is when they are trying! Don't they look yummy??

We had decided before our meeting up that we wanted to keep things informal and comfortable for our guests, so we decided to decided to go with make your own pizza night. Make your own allows creativity and everyone loves what they are eating.

Topping Choices:
-Pepperoni
-Crumbled sausage
-Chicken
-Artichokes
-Mushrooms
-Onions
-Green Peppers
-Spinach
-Brussel Sprouts
-Banana Peppers
-Jalapenos
-Kalamata Olives
-Shredded Mozzarella
-Feta
-Crushed tomato sauce

We all got our own dough and set to work designing pizzas tailored to our own tastes. The really good thing about this is that you can divide your pizza into multiple combinations that way its like two or three pizzas in one.

While they baked we all chatted, and a little while later out of the oven came some amazing creations.

We served the pizzas along side a simple mixed green salad with my new Garlic Gold Balsamic Vinaigrettes (more on these later!) We all enjoyed our own creations even though we couldn't even finish them all, so they even got to take the rest to go!

Dessert was simple, but yummy! Treasure Cookies! These cookies are a no fail, especially when your guests come across the peanut butter cup snugly hid in the middle. At the end of the night we sent them off with some homemade peanut butter and more cookies for their enjoyment!

From the toppings above, what would you put on your pizza? Anything I left out that you'd like to add to your pizza?

Cookbook Challenge: Week 4

2011-02-02T21:49:00.003-05:00

The next cookbook in the line-up is Betty Crocker's: Eat and Lose Weight.

This is a cookbook we received free from someone clearing out their clutter. We figured why not, we have a lot of shelving space! No not really, but a cookbook is a good thing to have around.

As I was flipping through the recipes I found a recipe based around polenta. Neither of us had ever had polenta so I figured we should at least try it out, plus it included lots of veggies.

The Recipe: Ratatouille Polenta Bake

So I chopped, sauteed, layered and baked it all up together. At the end I even topped it with some cheese, yum!

Overall we liked it, I made it Sunday night and it was gone by Tuesday. Polenta is heavy on the carbs, so it definitely isn't something that I would choose to eat a lot though it was a good experience. Next time I think I would look for a different brand of polenta, maybe something flavored, and something that wasn't in a brick form. I always thought polenta came in a tube, but all I could find was a brick of polenta.

Anyways I say- one thumb up, one thumb down.

Have you ever had polenta? Do you like it?

Interval Addiction...

2011-01-31T20:53:00.004-05:00

I say: "Hi, my name is Jen, and I maybe addicted to intervals."

You say: "Welcome Jen."

Tonight's plan was an upper workout with Sabrina joining me. She had mentioned earlier in the day that she'd like to get a good run in, so me being the interval addict that I am becoming created a cardio plan that really gave us both a workout.

First you should know Monday's are the craziest at the gym, and coming across an open treadmill isn't always easy. I anticipated this so I created a plan that required one treadmill for two people.

We each did 1 minute sprint intervals alternating turns on the treadmill. During our non-sprint minute we did the following actions:

Round 1: Tricep Extensions
Round 2: 30 sec plank
Round 3: Bicep Curls
Round 4: 30 sec side plank (right)
Round 5: Crunches
Round 6: 30 sec side plank (left)
Round 7: 10 push-ups
Round 8: 30 sec plank
Round 9: Crunches
Round 10: Dumbbell Rows

After we completed our 10 sprints and 10 non-sprints, we decided to push it for 5 more rounds. For the last 5 rounds we each chose our own non-sprint set. Needless to say this was an awesome workout and made the time go fast. Each time we switched spots on the treadmill we used the pause button and then gave it a few seconds to get back up to speed before timing ourselves. In 40 minutes we covered over 4.5 miles between the two of us!

Normally I would only do Fastest Payoff once a week, but since I changed things up a bit I consider them different workouts. I guess my suggestion would be to give yourself at least one day of rest between high speed intervals, and always listen to your body!

Intervals- do you love them or hate them?

If you really want more, scream it out louder,
If you're on the floor, bring out the fire,
And light it up, take it up higher,
Gonna push it to the limit, give it more.
-More, Usher

Fastest Payoff..

2011-01-30T20:36:00.004-05:00

I happy to see a few other enjoy edamame...they are quite tasty! This weekend was again fairly busy, nothing terribly productive but just a typical weekend.

Normally I workout Friday evenings, then take Saturday and Sunday as rest days so that I can "sleep in" and we can just have some fun. Well I woke up today (Sunday) at 7 so I figured I could squeeze in a workout before going out breakfast and heading to church!

So I went with the best quick workout around- Fastest Payoff! It is a great combination of cardio and strength training intervals that will having feeling great in no time, and maybe a bit sweaty. Sweat = Progress.

Here's the plan:

Set 1: 60 second sprint, 10 squats, 3o second plank of any style
(Complete 5 times in a row.)
2 minute active walking recovery

Set2: 80 second sprint, 10 bent-over rows w/dumbells, 15 sit ups (any-style)
(Complete 4 times in a row.)
2 minute active walking recovery

Set 3: 40 second sprint, 10 push-ups, 10 Single-leg Twists
(Complete 3 times in a row.)
2 minute active walking recovery

Set 4: 60 second sprint, 30 second planks
(Complete 2 times in a row.)
5 minute active walking cool-down

All you'll need is a yoga mat, 2 weights of your choice (I use 10lbs), and a treadmill. I grab everything I need and set up a little station behind my treadmill at the gym. Your sprints can be at any speed you're comfortable with, today I was sprinting between 6.5mph and 7mph- which is quick for me. Nobody seems to mind that I keep jumping on and off the treadmill, but I'm sure they are wonder where I came up with this idea.

My husband actually came across this workout about 2 years ago when we were in the earlier stages of our lifestyle change. I must say that back then I was probably doing my sprints at 5mph and feeling the burn. This workout is great because it grow with you!

Do you have any great workouts to share? Include a link if you have one!

Twig beans...

2011-01-27T21:05:00.005-05:00

Lately I'm really into edamame, or when translated from Japanese "twig beans". It's a young soybean that is harvested in it's pod before it is fully ripened.

[source]

Soybeans are full of great nutrition. They are rich in protein, dietary fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and micro nutrients. To prepare you just steam or boil them, it is really that easy. You're most likely to see them served at a Japanese restaurant or for sale by the sushi. I always head to the natural/organic section of my grocery store where the frozen packages are cheaper than the fresh.

To eat you basically just pull the soybeans from the pod using your teeth, it's one time where playing with your food is allowed. I was introduce to them a few years ago by my friends Sabrina, and once you try them I don’t think you’ll be able to deny they’re good!

Do you like edamame? Would you ever try them?

And some fun lyrics for the weekend...

Waking up too early
Maybe we can sleep in
I'll make you banana pancakes
Pretend like it's the weekend now
-Banana Pancakes, Jack Johnson

Cookbook Challenge #3

2011-01-25T20:57:00.004-05:00

This weekend was crazy so I wasn't sure that I was going to get to the cookbook challenge, but on Sunday I took a look through the next cookbook in the line-up. I easily found a recipe that intrigued me and one that I had most of the ingredients for.

The Cookbook- Moosewood Restaurant: New Classics
This cookbook was a freebie my husband received from a co-worker that was clearing off her bookshelves. Moosewood Restaurant is located in Ithaca, NY and this cookbook was full of appealing recipes that will definitely be considered in future cookbook challenges.

The Recipe:

I chose this recipe because I've never made biscotti, I had most of the ingredients, and I love chocolate (who doesn't?). I made a few small substitutions on this recipe because it was far to cold to run to the store: I used craisins instead of dried cherries, white chocolate chips instead of regular chocolate chips, and vanilla extract instead of vanilla & almond.

I followed the recipe and combined all ingredients, and then formed a "loaf" with the dough that I molded until it was approximately one inch high, four inches wide, and fourteen inches long. I baked it as a "loaf", as instructed.

After it came out of the oven it cooled a bit before Matt sliced it to resemble the typical biscotti form. The sliced biscotti was then baked for a few more minutes on each side to create the crisp crunch we all know and love.

After all the baking and awesome smells filling the house our final product was pretty impressive for a first shot at biscotti. If I had been really ambitious they would have gotten dipped in chocolate, but after tasting them I decided they were perfect the way Moosewood Restaurant intended them to be!

What did you cook this weekend? Do you have any recipes planned for this week?

Social Butterfly...

2011-01-23T20:57:00.004-05:00

Matt's birthday weekend really brought out the social butterfly in us both!

Friday I organized a bunch of Matt's friends to meet at a bar, which I brought him to. He was so surprised to see everyone gathered together and we had a great time!

Most of Saturday was spent with our friend Sabrina. I chatted with her in the warm house, while Matt took over her garage to do oil changes on both of our cars. It was probably about 10 degrees on Saturday, but luckily Matt had a friend with a propane powered heater to take the chill off.

After hanging out with Sabrina all day we decided to visit with two of our other friends, Jon & Emily, for some game night fun. We played Sorry!, Uno, and Crowns- it was quite a fun night. We were having so much fun it was 1am before I knew it, and I'm normally in bed by 10pm.

Sunday was equally as social with church in the morning and then hanging out with our friends, Kristy & Shawn, unexpectedly when Matt returned the propane heater. They have a cute little 1 year old that warmed up to us quickly and we just couldn't leave the cute little guy. By the time we made it home it was 5pm, and the preparations for the week were taken care of.

Coming tomorrow...Cookbook Challenge #3. It was a last minute decision, but it smells so yummy!

How was your weekend? Did you make any yummy treats?

Pretty pretty please don't you ever ever feel
Like you're less then, perfect
Pretty pretty please if you ever ever feel
Like you're nothing you're perfect, to me
-Perfect, Pink

Happy Birthday Matthew!

2011-01-21T06:28:00.003-05:00

Twenty-eight years ago there was a snowstorm in New York and two new parents were on their way to the hospital to welcome their bundle of joy into this world. That little baby grew into the wonderful man that I now call my husband.

Everyday at some point I have a silent celebration that two parents created a bundle of joy that can always make me smile, supports me, and knows just what I need.

Happy Birthday Matthew!!!

(pictures thanks to my MIL, Kathy)

Zumba...

2011-01-19T21:17:00.004-05:00

Tonight was Zumba night...

I must say it was quite the workout! I definitely felt like a newbie, but tried to keep up as best as possible. I have a feeling most of the group goes to class regularly and knows what move is next- and I was just figuring it out as I went. My motto became 'just keep moving, even if it isn't right (and looks weird)'.

My Official Review: Two Thumbs Up! I don't know if I'm ready for crazy outfit and headbands that say ZUMBA all over them, but it was definitely a great way to break up my normal routine. And I can definitely say that Sabrina and I had fun shakin' our groove things!

Everything i can’t be
Is everything you should be
And that’s why i need you here
So hear this now
Come home
Come home
Cause I’ve been waiting for you
For so long
For so long
-Come Home, One Republic

Disappearing Act...

2011-01-18T20:29:00.006-05:00

I disappeared again, sorry sometimes I get busy and it always seems like blogging gets put aside. A busy long weekend getting things done around the house plus our Internet network being out for a bit combined to cause my lack of posting...so moving on.

A big THANK YOU goes out to all of your for continuing to come back here to my little corner of the blog world. I love and appreciate the comments, and I hope to figure out how to respond to your comments. I've been blogging for a year and haven't really done much yet. I get easily distracted, but I'm still loving the comments!!!

Getting My Clean On...
The filing drawers are finally clean. YEAH!!! It took some motivation to tackle, but I grabbed everything out of the drawers, spread it out on the floor, and just started dealing with it.

While I was working away it looked like this....

After it was all done my drawers and floors were in great shape. Everything got put in a binder or tossed if it wasn't necessary. Even all the owner's manuals have their own spot now, it may not sound exciting but it is! The only pile left is destined for the recycle bin...

Getting My Bake On...
I also got a chance to do some baking for my neighbor's son who has been helping shovel our sidewalks and driveway during the last few snowstorms. I guess he just likes to shovel, so I thought it appropriate to reward him with tasty cookies! (My husband benefited too!)

Other than that I've been sticking to my plan, getting my workouts in, making food at home, and finding ways to keep reaching for those goals! I even went for a run outside yesterday with temps 10 or less, but it was so sunny I couldn't resist the Vitamin D!

Oh wait...
I did attempt the cookbook challenge again this week- but it didn't work as planned. I used this cookbook:

I was going to make the asparagus risotto with tilapia for Matt's dinner last night, but in the rush I grabbed wheat berries from the cupboard instead of the rice- so it never actually came to be. He didn't go hungry though, I quickly whipped up whole wheat rice and topped it with the tilapia and asparagus- his taste buds were happy!

Alright I'm signing out for tonight...hopefully I'll be back tomorrow with my thoughts on ZUMBA!

I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord
We'll I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord, oh Lord
-In the Air Tonight, Phil Collins
(Tell me you don't love the drum solo!)

Exciting News...

2011-01-13T20:33:00.004-05:00

I just found out some exciting new- I get to do some traveling for work! And it's to a place I've never been- CALIFORNIA! How exciting is that?

My destination is the Oakland area, which I never realized was so close to San Francisco and the Redwood Forest. I'm only going for two weeks, but at least I might be able to rent a car and do some exploring on the weekend.

Most people probably don't like traveling for work, but I don't mind it so much especially because I'm young and don't have a family that I'm leaving at home. Sure I do have a husband, but he's pretty self-sufficient so I'm sure he'll be okay- though I will miss him! It would be great if he could join me for a few days, but it's just not possible with his schedule and the long flights.

Anyone know of any must do activities or restaurants in the Oakland area?

In the middle of the night I go walking in my sleep
Through the desert of truth to the river so deep
We all end in the ocean, we all start in the streams
We're all carried along by the river of dreams
In the middle of the night
-River of Dreams, Billy Joel
(an old one, but a good one)

A Cookie for Me and A Cookie for You

2011-01-11T21:04:00.006-05:00

To be honest I was just being lazy tonight, but my friend Katie just sent a request through the comment section on the last post:

Katie said...
Jen, I've been trying to find that cookie recipe that I asked you for, but I cannot find it. One of my students just finally passed his first test all year! So, I promised him some cookies if he passed, so now I have to follow through!

My Response...
Katie, after he tastes these cookies he might try to find a way into your class next year just so he can get more cookies- just saying!

I also think making these cookies might just get her selected for teacher of the year! My teachers never baked for me when I passed a test!

For the rest of you that didn't get a taste of my newest cookies, they are basically stuff chocolate chip cookies. They can be stuffed with a brownie (the original), peanut butter cups, rolos, or anything else you want to try to hide inside. Doesn't that sound good?

So without further ramblings here it is:

Treasure Cookies
(adapted slightly from Bakerella)

1 cup butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs, plus 1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon vanilla

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

12 oz. bag miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips

To make your dough:
Beat the butter with a mixer until creamy, then add brown sugar and beat again.
Add your eggs, yolk and vanilla and beat until smooth.

In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder, soda and salt and stir together.

Next, if you're lucky enough to own a Kitchen-Aid Mixer slowly mix the flour into the wet ingredients until combined. But if you're like me and like to add love your baked goods, slowly stir the flour in by hand with a good sturdy Scopula. (Toward the end of mixing it will get a bit sticky, but hang in there and keep adding love!)

Once it's all combined add in your mini chips. (Note: I actually never used a full bag, but you make that decision as you go.)

Next take a break for yourself and let the dough set in the fridge, it makes the cookie flavors really come together and will make it easier to deal with. I left it in the fridge overnight, but you might only be able to make it an hour!

When you can't resist any longer, preheat your oven to 350 degrees and be prepared to get a little messy.

Using a spoon take a little more than a tablespoon of dough, make a little patty (not too thin!), and place it on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Do this only six times per baking sheet, and trust me here because these cookies grow when baked.

On your little patty place your treat. The candies are easiest to work with, but if you're using brownies go with a batch of brownies that you prepare ahead of time. Take a small chunk of brownie, create smaller patty, and place it on your cookies patty.

Next you will need to top each of your cookie/treats patties with a dome of cookie dough. It is key to cover completely, and again don't go too thin because the cookies will bake down and out.

Place in your preheated oven for 15-18 minutes. You'll know they're done when they are slightly browned around the edges. Remove from the oven and let them sit for approximately 5 minutes before moving to a cooling rack. Repeat until the dough is gone.

And there you have it! It's a bit long winded and sounds like a lot of work, but I assure it isn't as bad as it sounds. I can also promise you that it is worth the effort.

These are big crowd pleasers so bring them to your next gathering or potluck!

Going green...

2011-01-10T20:54:00.003-05:00

This week at the grocery store I decided to pick up a package of baby spinach in addition to the normal package of mixed greens. I picked them up to use in my protein shakes and to increase my intake of green goodness.

Tonight after work I made a quick green shake before I hit the gym. I used 2 cups water, 1 cup almond milk, 1/2 a banana, and 3 big handfuls of spinach. All of it went into the Vita-mix, and out came the lovely green drink below. Be sure to note that radiant light beams are coming from the cup- it is not a coincidence- it is that good!

I know you're thinking- 'It looks a bit like swamp water.' I promise it tastes great! And it kept me well fueled during my upper body workout, and my 30 minutes of intervals!

All the doors that I had to close,
Everything I knew but I didn't know,
Thank God for all I missed,
Cause it led me here to this...
-This, Darius Rucker

Cookbook Challege- Week 1

2011-01-09T19:48:00.004-05:00

One of this year's goals was to use my cookbooks more by selecting one cookbook and one recipe a week to tackle. I picked the book on the end to start it off.

The Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook This cookbook is 300+ pages of recipes that stretch the vegan food options further than just pasta with tomato sauce and salads.

After flipping through the cookbook and considering that I was craving some comfort food- I decided on Mac Daddy! This recipe is a vegan version of mac and cheese, obviously containing no cheese.

I made vegan mac and cheese once before last winter, but for the life of me I can't locate the recipe so I decided to give a new one a shot. Based on the ingredient list I knew this one would be different because it included tofu. I know many people eat tofu, but this was new for me!

I mixed, I boiled, I simmered, and then I combined everything together into a baking dish. Thirty minutes later, out came baked Mac Daddy!

Here's a close-up shot just in case you want a closer look at it.

So, now you're probably wondering- how was it? Honestly, I'd say it was just okay. It did have a similar look and texture to mac and cheese, but for me the taste just wasn't right. The ingredients for the "cheese" sauce called for tumeric and yellow mustard, which I think I would consider skipping if I make it again.

The good news is I have plenty of leftovers, which I'll eat during the week!

Did you try any new recipes this weekend? Add a link to your post or just share below.

Well, I’m not paralyzed,
But, I seem to be struck by you
I want to make you move
Because you’re standing still
-Paralyzer, Finger Eleven

Lentil soup for the soul...

2011-01-06T20:22:00.003-05:00

It was a balmy 50 degrees last week for New Years, by Sunday it was back in the 20's and snowy- gotta love 30 degree drops in temperature! Anyways now that the temperatures are back to normal and there is snow on the ground once again, I decided it was time for some soup.

I had veggies left over from New Years and lentils in the cupboard so I decide to whip up some soup last night. I chopped up some carrots, celery (don't tell my husband), red onion, and garlic then sauteed them in a little olive oil to soften them.

(Yes that onion is sprouting!! Must be too hot in my cupboard.)

While the veggies cooked down a bit and filled the house with their tasty aroma, I measured out some some lentils. I decided to go with part green and part red for a bit of variety.

After adding the 1.5 cups of lentils to the pot, I added about 5 cups of liquid. I used about 2 cups of stock and 3 cups of water. Next time I'd use just stock, but I ran out so I had to be flexible. For purposes of seasoning you can add a bay leaf or two, and anything else that you like. I added some hot sauce because I wanted a bit of kick in my lentils.

Then let it cook for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once the lentils are tender and tasty, serve up with a dollop of Greek yogurt.

Lentil Soup

1 cup carrots, diced
1/2 cup celery, diced
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups lentils, any type
5 cups of stock and/or water
2 bay leaves (don't eat)
Hot Sauce to Taste

Saute the first four ingredients in a little olive oil in the bottom of your stock pot until soften, and be careful not to burn. Then add in your lentils, stock and/or water, and bay leaves. This would also be the time to add any additional seasonings you'd like. Simmer approximately 60 minutes, stirring occasionally until lentils are softened. Serve and enjoy!

What is your favorite meal to warm up with?

This land is your land and this land is my land,
From California to the New York Island,
From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters,
This land was made for you and me.
-This Land is Your Land, Woody Guthrie

(Yeah I know totally random song that reminds me of elementary school, but it's been stuck in my head all day!)

Current Workout Plan...

2011-01-05T20:30:00.006-05:00

On the last post, ELC asked what workout program I was using so I guess it is as good of time as any to show you what I'm up to in the gym.

To give you a little background I should let you know that I am not a professional, and do the workouts because I've learned about my physical abilities/limits. If you don't normally workout, or aren't familiar with the exercises, please seek help from a professional prior to taking on anything new.

I have been using "12 Weeks to Your Hottest Body Ever" by Derek Charlebois. The program is set up to help you evolve your strength of 12 weeks (see page 32). I'm currently on week 5, and have definitely seen an important in the amount of weight I can lift. Also, the meal plan is based on body weight, which not every plan takes into account (see page 14). After reading the entire 49 pages, I decided to do the strength training routine and include portion of the meal plan suggestions.

After having done the lifting workouts for a month, I decided that I also wanted to include a more planned cardio routine and stretching routine as part of my weekly plan. While reading Self Magazine (January 2011) I found just what I was looking for- a yoga based workout and different cardio plans to use along with my normal cardio.

I've only completed one of the yoga workouts so far, but definitely feel good about it and there is plenty of room for improvement. And with that I'm off to get some sleep because Thursday morning is yoga workout number two!

Do you have any workout routines to share?

"I throw my hands up in the air sometimes, Saying AYO, Gotta let go, I wanna celebrate and live my life..."
-Dynamite, Taio Cruz

Move it...

2011-01-04T21:38:00.003-05:00

Today was quite the gym day. It all started at 6am when I headed out to the gym for a morning workout- yeah I know am I crazy? The answer is no, I'm determined.

I found a yoga based workout that includes 6 moves performed as a set, then repeated five times. It took about 45 minutes, then I was on my way home to get ready for work.

After work it was back to the gym for round two- yes round two, but don't worry Wednesday is my rest day. Tonight's workout was weighted lower body movements and cardio. Cardio consisted of 25 minutes on the elliptical and 20 minutes on the stairs- I got a great workout in and I'm feeling good!

So now I leave you with this bit of lyrics to consider...

"I dare you to move, I dare you to move, I dare you to lift yourself, to lift yourself off of the floor..."

-Dare You to Move, Switchfoot

Workin' my plans...

2011-01-03T20:56:00.008-05:00

With a New Year comes a chance to refocus on goals. I've spent the last week or so thinking about what my current goals are and created a little list. I broke the list into four different areas that make up "Canoe of Life".

Personal:
-Sticking to our budget, and being able to say at the end of 2011 that I am debt free.

-Learning to use our new toy- Canon T2i! I've been using it for a month now, and I've seen some improvement in the blog photos, but I'd like to learn more about the manual modes.

-Planning, saving, and taking our real honeymoon in Germany!

Professional:
-Working hard at my current position and making new connections whenever possible.

-Looking for new opportunities that can improve my chances to get the position I'm hoping to get in the next two or three years.

Fitness/Health:
-Fine tuning my current eating and activity levels to continue working toward my goals.

-Competing in at least one race greater than 5K, and possibly the Iron Girl Triathlon if I can figure out an affordable place to get pool time.

-Working to hold plank for 2 minutes!

-Supporting those around me that want to include more fitness and health in their daily lives.

Blogging:
-Starting each post with the lyrics of a song. Since I'm always listening to some kind of music in the car, at work, while in the kitchen, while at the gym, and even when the alarm goes off each morning. (Let me know if you like it!)

-Trying one new recipe a week, taken from the shelf of cookbooks.

-Posting at least three times a week whenever possible.

And there you have it, my ever evolving plans. What do you think?

"Life’s not the breaths you take, But the moments that take your breath away..."
-George Strait, The Breath You Take

2010 in Review....

2011-01-02T15:05:00.001-05:00

One year and 197 posts later, 2010 is over. It was a year of many adventures, excitement, and learning...

Posts that really sum up the year here at Canoe of Life include:

Weclome to Canoe of Life 1/1/10- The first post on Canoe of Life.

Valentine's Day Treats 2/14/10- A day full of fun homemade treats...even healthy can taste good!

Mission Accomplished! 3/6/10- My first race distance greater than 5K...

I Have Arrived, Where am I?, and I'm back from a Whirlwind. Just a few post from a month spent in Dallas for work between March/April.

Finisher!!! 5/30/10- A recount of my first Half-Marathon, which was a major goal of 2010.

Kitchen Remodel! From May through July we gutted our kitchen, rearranged the layout, installed all new cabinets and fixtures, and completed the upgrade all on our own! While I don't have single post, we posted several times on our progress.

Twenty Nine and doing fine... 7/29/10- I celebrated my 29th year, which means this year is the big 3-0!!!!

Celebration of One Year Together 9/7/10- Our first wedding anniversary weekened when lots of fun was had...

Warriors!!! 9/21/10- Along with some friends we officially became Warrior at Windham Mountain- and we are recruiting for 2011!! Want to join us???

Thankful 11/25/10- I recounted the many blessings in my life...

Workin for the Weekend 12/19/10- I prepared all the cookies for Christmas and assembled all the gifts and platters. Which reminds me I need to share some recipes that were requested from those that tasted the goodness...

New Years Celebration 12/31/10- The last official post of 2010 recapping our festive party to ring in the New Year...

Next up is the plan for 2011!!!

New Years Celebration...

2011-01-01T13:43:00.006-05:00

We rang in the New Year with great friends, great drinks, and great foods! Here's a fun photo review of our evening!

My husband rockin' his New Years hat...

Hats for our guests...

Drinks for all tastes...

Homemade Sangria...

Saranac Winter Beers...

A gourmet spread for all tastes...

Mini Cuban sandwiches...

Chicken, Apple, Brie Paninis....

Braided stromboli from Sabrina...

Displayed stromboli....

Fancy cheese board...

Hummus and blue chips...

Now does all that look like a super tasty way to ring in the New Year????

Up next a recap of 2010 at Canoe of Life, and a look forward at what we hope 2011 will bring...

Special Delivery...

2010-12-31T11:00:00.004-05:00

This morning the door bell rang while I was prepping the goodies for tonight's festivities. It was my blogger gift! So excited that I didn't miss it while I was away for the holiday. I immediately headed to the living room to check it out....

It's a mug with White Hot Chocolate Mix and homemade treats! I love homemade treats, and it was my first time getting to taste a cake ball.

The cake ball was made with cinnamon cake and vanilla frosting, then covered in chocolate! Love it! I'll have to learn more about how to make these tasty treats.

All these gifts were thanks to Maren over at Maren's Morsels. I just skimmed her blog, and I can't wait to read more!

Sorry I must run now...lots of pre-party preparations to handle!

Thanks Maren!!!

Christmas Recap...

2010-12-30T16:22:00.005-05:00

Sorry I've been away and I'm finally getting a chance to go through some pictures from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I plan to post again tomorow, but for now here's a photo recap of the excitment.

See you soon for a 2010 recap and 2011 goals.....

Merry Christmas....

2010-12-24T21:19:00.004-05:00

I'm currently spending time visiting friends and family, so I haven't had a lot of time to spend on the computer or read other blogs so I thought I get something in quick before Santa comes...

I participated in this year blogger gift exchange organized by Tina at Faith, Fitness, Fun. And today my recipient, Katy at The Singing Runner, recieved her gift! I'm so happy she recieved it in time for Christmas! Check out her post to see the goodies she got- a gift anyone could love!

Alright off to wrap some last minutes gifts, pile them under the tree, and then head off to evening church services.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

What is today?

2010-12-20T20:11:00.001-05:00

Well I guess I should tell you that I know it is Monday, December 20, 2010. But someone needs to let the crowds at the gym know that it isn't January 1st yet...

Today it was packed! I was there for almost two hours, and noticed that it got busier as time passed.

Normally I don't go to the gym for two hours, but tonight was different. My workout was doubled up to cover both upper and lower body today so that I can avoid missing workouts due to the holidays. I plan to try to work something into the holidays excitement, but just in case our plans get too hectic.

When I got home dinner could not be prepared quick enough...luckily everything was precooked and just needed to be heated through. I created a protein bowl to fill my very hungry self.

My protein bowl contained:

-Baked Chicken
-Black beans
-Quinoa (I think it might be my favorite grain!)
-Greek Yogurt
-Salsa

It didn't photograph well or I'm not good at using my camera- either way it tasted great!

Working for the weekend...

2010-12-19T21:35:00.007-05:00

I have been working hard this weekend checking off my baking/gift list. Here are some pictures taken along the way, though most are credited to my husband because my hands were either covered in dough or frosting. It was a sugar filled weekend!

Sugar and Chocolate was melted...

New Recipes were tried...
Icing was piped onto cookies....
Lots and lots of cookies...
Other cookies cooled on racks....

Cookies were 'flooded' with color...
Cookies trays were assembled....

Everything, but the fudge....

Gift boxes were assembled...

Filled with goodies to spread Christmas cheer...

Ready to be delivered to family and friends...

I'm tired and the kitchen is covered in powdered sugar- but I'm ready for some holiday fun.

How was your weekend? Ready for the upcoming holidays?

Also, I'd still love to hear what you'd like to see change on my blog in the upcoming year if you have thoughts?

Feeling like Ms. Claus...

2010-12-17T23:06:00.003-05:00

I'm beginning to feel like Ms. Claus over with all the baking...and I've got more great cookie ideas than I have time for by reading what other bloggers are doing. I'll put up a post later with links to my favorite ideas so you can use them too...

Tonight I noticed that many of the goodies I'm making are filled with extra treasures, I've been using Oreos, Peanut Butter Cups, Rolos, and Sweet Dates. Are you intrigued?

My family and friends are in for a real treat this year, but first I have more work to do including tomorrow's goals:

-Get to the gym (A great way to start the day!)
-Mail my blogger secret Santa gift
-Bake two remaining types of cookies
-Decorate my cut out cookies
-Grocery Shopping

And hopefully if all that gets accomplished I'll get some relaxing in! It's going to be a full day so I'm off to get some rest...have a great night!

I'm still here...

2010-12-14T20:46:00.008-05:00

It's the holidays and life has gotten a bit busy, and when I get a few minutes I'm typically reading other blogs. Let's just say I'm torn- write my own blog or gain inspiration from other blogs. I seem to be taking the inspiration!

In my absense I've been doing lots of stuff:

-Working as usual, but looking forward to some holiday vacation!

-Going to the gym to stay fit and get stronger!

-Getting New Winter Tires (They plow through quite nicely.)

-Scrubbing our floors on my hands and knees. I do own a mop, but I just feel like getting down there with the dirt gets it cleaner.

-Putting my dining room back together for the first time since the remodel that started in May!
During the remodel:

Present Day:

-Decorating the dining room so we can show a little Christmas spirit- hopefully next year we can have a tree!

-Baking Matt a batch of Ginger Snaps, and probably the only cookie I don't like.

-Starting work on my homemade Christmas gifts.

-Enjoying Sunday Brunch with the girls as part of our Christmas celebration!

-Falling down the stairs, which a good friend of mine can understand. I'm sure she is in much more pain than I am- I only have two small bruises. (Feel better soon!)

-And trying to come up with a plan for improving my blogging, which I hope to do more of starting in the new year. I just need to figure out what will work for me and what you all will want to read.

So with that I ask: Anything you'd like to see or read on my blog? What am I doing well? Want more health/fitness? More Cooking? More Baking?

Tell me what you think- I could use a little feedback.

Winter Wonderland...

2010-12-06T21:41:00.005-05:00

It's official, my house is now part of the Winter Wonderland. We are surrounded by snow on all sides and have had to shovel the driveway, brush the cars, and cautiously move along unplowed roads.

In the last 24 hours my husband has spoiled me and my car. I got a new extended reach snow brush (love it!), new rubber floor mats, and he ordered me up snow tires! We decided we might as well be super safe, and have quality winter tires this year that will make the all-wheel drive even better.

I'm looking forward to not getting stuck in the snow piles that I park in at work everyday. A few years ago I had a really bad incident where I got stuck, pulled out of the snow pile by a truck, and pushed a few times before I made it home. It was not a good day!

Moving on to our fabulous dinner from last night:

That is lavash stuffed with caramelized onions, sliced apples, chicken, and a little cheddar with a mixed green salad. It was amazingly tasty!

Now if I could just stop sampling the Christmas cookies!

Lazy Sunday Morning...

2010-12-05T12:19:00.007-05:00

Yesterday was a productive day of grocery/Christmas shopping...

Left side is a bunch of baking related groceries, while on the right are the typical groceries we consume during the week. And then I did my first cookie test, a new cookie with cranberries and white chocolate. The verdict was positive but it needs a little bit of work according to the husband. (Although he hasn't stopped eating them yet, so they aren't too bad.)

After a long day of working around the house we went out for the evening to enjoy a movie and dinner. We had a nice relaxing time, sometimes it is fun to get out of the house.

This morning we continued out laziness with a late breakfast of pancakes. Matt made me chocolate chip pancakes, and he went for strawberry topped pancakes.

And now that we've spent all morning lounging around we need to get to work around here because we have another outing planned for tonight! Bowling is $1 per game on Sunday so we'll be meeting our friends for some fun.

Have a good day!

Cookie Time...

2010-12-04T09:17:00.003-05:00

I'm off to go Christmas shopping! For me that doesn't mean the mall or the retail stores, it means the grocery store and craft store. I have recently been dubbed the 'Cookie Lady', and each year I plan my gifts around treats I love to make.

Last year lucky friends and family received a bag filled with:

Homemade Peanut Butter
Homemade Hot Chocolate
Spiced Nuts
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Homemade Cookie Mix with instructions

This year there is a whole new line-up because I like to keep people guessing. And with that I'm off...

December...

2010-12-03T21:23:00.004-05:00

Welcome to December in the Buffalo area. Imagine driving home from work or running errands on Wednesday night and getting stuck in traffic due to snow. Then slowly realizing that the traffic isn't moving and the snow isn't stopping. Hours pass and you haven't moved, you're suck there overnight and well into the next day.

This was the reality on 7 miles of a Buffalo highway from around 8pm Wednesday night until roughly 3pm Thursday afternoon- and even then the road did not open until Friday morning. Crazy right?

This stretch of highway is only about 5 miles from my house with around 2 feet of snow falling in a 24 hour period. The neighboring streets and towns were also buried, with residents spending many hours digging from out the heavy wet snow.

Now you're thinking, did you shovel yourself out? The answer is no because we didn't get any snow. Weird right? Gotta love our crazy weather, but I know we'll get ours soon enough so for now I'll just enjoy it.

Getting Back on Track...

2010-11-29T20:11:00.001-05:00

During the holiday we took sometime away from the gym to allow our bodies to rest and reset. I did originally have intentions on going for a walk/run, but the cold brisk temperatures deterred me and I left my Garmin at home.

Now that we are home the plan is to get back on track, though it isn’t always easy to do when you’ve been out of town over a weekend. Normally one day of my weekend is spent grocery shopping, doing laundry, and getting ready for the work week. While I did have a productive Sunday of driving and visits with family along the road home- there was no time left for any normal tasks.

So Monday night got an extra dose of activity:

Gym Workout
Grocery Shopping
Unpacking
Baking Chicken for the Week
Getting in a quick blog post

And Tuesday night will get more activity too:

Gym Workout
Laundry
Baking Hidden Treasure Cookies

What tricks do you use to get back on track?

Thankful....

2010-11-25T08:16:00.000-05:00

On this Thanksgiving I am thankful for:

-My understanding and supportive husband. (I love you!)

-Our families and friends that are always there for us.

-Our home and the ability to make improvements on it.

-My health, and my personal decision to make changes for a better me.

-Our jobs. (Even though some days we wish for longer weekends.)

I'm thankful for so much that some days I don't realize all that God has made possible in my life.

What are you most thankful for?

Gettin' my glow on...

2010-11-22T20:35:00.005-05:00

Monday night is a gym night, and with the holidays coming I wanted to make sure I got in a really good workout.

I started with some stretching and a light warm-up, then headed for the weights and completed the following upper body workout:

Bent Over Row- 60 lbs for 3 sets of 12
DB Shoulder Press- 20 lbs for 3 sets of 12
Lying Tricep Extensions- 30 lb barbell for 3 sets of 12
Barbell Curls- 40 lbs for 3 sets of 12
Bench Press- 45 lbs for 10 reps, 65 lbs for 10 reps, 75 lbs for 8 reps, 80 lbs for 4 reps, and then reversed back down to just the 45 lbs bar

It sounds like a lot, but it actually is a pretty quick workout. Then I headed over to the treadmill, my mind wasn't feeling the cardio at first but once I got going it felt good. I did the following cardio workout:

2 miles of intervals that were run at 1.0 incline:
1 min @ 4.0mph
1 min @ 6.5mph
1 min @ 4.0mph
2.5 min @ 6.0mph
1 min @ 4.0mph
1 min @ 6.5mph
1 min @ 4.0mph
2.5 min @ 6.0mph
Repeated for a second mile.

Total time was 22 minutes and 10 seconds- that's great for me!

Then as my "cool" down I walked at 10.0 incline @ 4.0mph for 6 minutes then brought it down to no incline for the last 2 minutes of my 30 minute cardio. And believe me that I looked like I had worked out...

Did you get your glow on today???

Whirldwind Weekend...

2010-11-21T20:24:00.007-05:00

It was another weekend of nice weather here in Buffalo, and yes, temperatures in the mid 40's still count as warm at this time of year. We got lots accomplished around our house and also helped out a friend.

Saturday we (read: mostly Matt) installed a garage door opener for one of our good friends, which took a while, but was very successful. It took about about six hours to get it perfectly up and running - pretty good for the first time. I think Matt is secretly hoping he might be able to use our friends garage to "tinker" with his car this winter, since we don't have one (a garage.)

After wrapping up the installation, we decided a quiet movie night at home was in order, so we headed to Wegmans for dinner and a movie. Matt got a sub, while I headed to the salad bar. At first I had a pretty lame looking salad, but I decided to think "out of the box" and created this:

It contained mixed greens, chopped eggs, onions, carrots, bean salad, tabbouleh, and then I grabbed a couple piece of Chinese Lemon Pepper Chicken (because you can't be healthy all the time!). last stop was tot the Redbox. We had a nice, relaxing night.

Sunday was another nice weather day so we worked around our house, and again we used the divide and conquer method.

Matt's accomplishments:
-insulating our pipes in the basement
-blanketing the hot water heater
-installing a storm door
-beginning to frame out the exterior of our new door

I accomplished:
-grocery shopping
-baking chicken
-baking brownies
-making spiced nuts
-baking cookies (Yum!)
-packing lunches
-making sweet potato gnocchi!

The house smells very yummy right now! jealous aren't you?!

Wish Granted...

2010-11-18T21:52:00.002-05:00

Everyone that requested their car be washed- wish granted! But can we wait until the weather is warm again???

I got quite the workout washing our cars last weekend! I was basically doing squats for two-three hours straight, I could barely walk on Saturday evening. Later that night we went out to meet some friends at the bar, we played a few trivia rounds with the local bartender, then when we left my quads were so tight I had to lift my legs into the car! It was quite pathetic, and funny at the same time.

Don't worry I recovered by going bowling Sunday night. I'm not your typical bowler, I don't have any "proper" form. I basic lunge and warrior pose my way around the lanes, but it helped me to loosen up and stretch out my legs. Luckily I had no problem this week getting my all my workouts and cardio in, and now that it's Thursday night I'm looking forward to the weekend. One more day of work!

There's going to be lots of baking going on in my kitchen this weekend, I just have to resist the urge to taste test everything. Wish me luck!

Sponge Bath...

2010-11-13T19:23:00.005-05:00

Today was a busy day...

We started our day with a run to a local home improvement store for some quarter-round that we need to finish the dining room and rest of the house. But while there, we got distracted by another potential project- exterior doors.

They had a great clearance door that has the mini-blind inside the glass panes!! How fun is that!? It was a pretty good deal, but since we didn't have the right vehicle with us we decided to check our look Habitat for Humanity Re-Store, to see if they had a better deal first.

Reuse didn't have anything to fit our needs, so we got the other car, the roof rack, and headed back across town to see if we could get an even better deal on the door. And my husband- so bargain savvy- got another $25 off! The door has some minor blemishes- but to me it's 1000 times better than our original door. Only $125!!!

And who says you need a pick-up truck...its multi purpose!

Matt was very excited for the new door, so he spent the rest of the day ripping out the old one, and installing the new one. It is "almost" done, and will be finished up tomorrow.

Now onto the sponge bath...

While Matt was busily installing the door, I decided to capitalize on this beautiful 60 degree weather in Buffalo and give the cars a sponge bath. Both of our cars were in serious need of some love. I sprayed and scrubbed them clean. I didn't realize just how dirty they were until I was up close cleaning!

Tomorrow I'm hoping to get to the interiors of both of our cars- oh and I really need to pick up some new brushes in preparation for the white stuff (aka the"s" word) that I'm sure will fall before I'm ready for it.

Off to dinner- I'm starving!

Melts in your mouth...

2010-11-10T20:03:00.005-05:00

So last night when I left you I was off to bake. I love to bake, and cookies are my specialty. Recently I came across the idea of putting hidden treats inside my infamous chocolate cookies- and let me just tell you that it was an AMAZING idea!

Picture this...

One minute you are enjoying a chocolate chip cookie, then next thing you know you make it to the center!

In the center you could find a brownie, a peanut butter cup,a Rolo, or another mystery ingredient. Doesn't that just sounds delicious....

Based on reviews from a lucky few testers these cookies are worth every single calories. And in the interest of full disclosure these cookies are not healthy by any means. They are made with butter, sugars, and lots of chocolate- but everyone deserves a treat once in a while, right?

Would you like a cookie?

Chicken...

2010-11-09T16:40:00.006-05:00

it's what's for dinner and lunch, and well my snacks too. Obvously I have many other choices for protein, but for now I'm eating chicken because it's what I like!

For a new variety today, I baked up some chicken breasts in the oven. They look yummy don't they?

And they look like they are breaded, but that's just an optical illusion. It was actually nut-crusted chicken. The chicken was coated with ground up nuts and other seasonings. Nuts are a healthy fat and are an important part of my current meal plan.

To prepare:
1-Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2-Chop nuts in a food processor until they are finely, you can use any type of nut(s).
3-Flavor your nut mixture as you'd like, I chose garlic powder and ground pepper.
4-Coat the chicken in your nut mixture.
5-Place chicken in a foil lined pan, and bake for 45 minutes or until the juice runs clear when pierced.

I must tell you that the house smelled mighty yummy while it was baking, now I'm off to bake some cookies for a future visitor....

(Side Note: Thanks for all the comments on the last post- I can't tell you how happy it makes me to know that I have readers!)

Beer and Football....

2010-11-07T20:40:00.004-05:00

Since my last post we have been very busy folks. Obviously we had our normal weekly activities, but we also took on the challenge of creating a cake for my brother-in-law's 30th birthday. And in our little world we don't just make a simple rectangle or circle, we go big or we (don't) go home! Which means if we are going to drive 2.5 hours one way to deliver a cake, it better be worth the trip.

My BIL, Paul, is a big football fan and isn't one to turn down an ice cold beer so we decided to use that for a theme. After many hours of decorating, we had a six pack of beer sitting on the 30 yard line- which was so appropriate. Check it out!

My hubby is responsible for the decorating of the cakes, and he does a great job and takes it very seriously. I'm responsible for the baking and gathering materials. It is a long process to create a cake, but it is worth it when the recipient really enjoys the creation!

We only spent the day at home, then headed back to Buffalo so that we'd still have Sunday to get stuff done at the house. So I shopped, cooked and cleaned; while Matt painted, installed fixtures, and other home improvement duties. One day wasn't quite enough, but we'll continue next weekend.

We still have lots of stuff to get done around here before we can consider the first floor "finished" but really is a home really ever "finished"?

Bending and posing....

2010-11-03T21:23:00.005-04:00

My 'last' day of yoga was tonight. I say 'last' because I bought I one month unlimited pass that expires today.

Over the last month there have been lots of ups and downward dogs, and I have learned a lot along the way about the mental strength it takes to work into each pose and the strength to trust your body.

I never thought I would be standing on my head or being so close to doing a tripod.

[source]

In one month I have completed 12 classes. I did some sweat-inducing hip-hop yoga, some introductory all levels yoga, and a form of yoga focused on taking poses to the next level of stretch- Vinyasa.

I'm now much better at push-up than I previously was and I am addicted to doing headstands. I'm happy to repot I don't get too many stares at the regular gym.

So actually after all those positives, I don't think it will be my last yoga class!

Have you challenged yourself lately? What challenge would you like to take on???

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T13:39:00.007-04:00

Happy Halloween from Buddy the "Cake Boss" and his Yoga Instructor...

Here are some pictures to get you in the Halloween mood. Matt and Sabrina got a chance to attend a cake competition last weekend, and these are some of spook treats created by local bakers- both professional and amateurs. Enjoy!

Blogger Block Broken by a Cookie...

2010-10-28T20:35:00.007-04:00

You may have noticed that lately I haven't been posting...well I've hit a road block. It's similar to writer's block but I'm calling it blogger block.

I've been busy lately- mostly focused on going to work, eating a well-balanced diet, getting plenty of sleep, and working out! I'm guessing you really don't want to see pictures or read paragraphs about such normal activities, right?

So the only other thing I really I can tell you is that I have a new favorite cookie- or maybe it isn't a cookie???

The confusion is because it's a chocolate chip cookie with a brownie inside! Yes- you read it right there is a brownie inside a cookie. I couldn't believe the concept either when Sabrina told me about them at the apple farm- so she very kindly bought one for me. AMAZING!!!

According it the internet it's called a pillow cookie, but personally I would define it as unbelievable.

After tasting it I couldn't get it out of my mind so I had to master it. I knew that I could make a mean chocolate chip cookie- so now I had to take it up a notch. If you've had one of my cookies, just imagine finding a hidden brownie halfway through- it's a welcomed surprise I assure you.

I don't have pictures (they were eaten very quickly!), but I can tell that the lucky folks that saw me on Sunday or Monday gave it great reviews! Aren't you jealous you didn't run into me?

Well there is a good chance that the upcoming holiday could bring goodness your way....keep your fingers crossed!

(And I'm going to try to be better about blogging...I said TRY!)

My pet frog....

2010-10-19T20:39:00.004-04:00

I keep talking about frogs, but to be honest I really don't like frogs. I won't touch them because they just look slimy and gross- and I heard once when I was little that the cause warts! So no literal pet frogs will be found near me, but since Katie asked in the comment section about what I'm jumping for I guess I'll put it out there.

[source]

I actually have several jumping frogs on my lily pad right now, but the newest frog will be jumping for a Germany/Europe vacation. Matt and I really wanted to go for our honeymoon, but it just wasn't going to be possible after the wedding due both to funds and vacation time. However we had a great mini-moon, and have been talking about future vacation plans ever since.

We'd really like for it to happen next year if possible. We've made a savings plan and will be jumping toward that! We haven't made any exact plans, but we will be working toward it and that's a great start.

Obviously I'm still jumping for my normal daily decisions like staying healthy, being a good wife & friend, doing my best at work to allow more future opportunities, and continuing to remodel the untouched areas of our house.

So everyone keep jumping for each day and each dream!

Frogs...(part 2)

2010-10-18T18:02:00.003-04:00

Okay so nobody even attempted to answer the question, I guess maybe you're worried there is a trick to it. You're right, so here it is again.

Three frogs are sitting on a rock next to the water. One frog decides to jump in the water. How many frogs are still on the rock?

The answer is three, the frog only "decides" to jump- but it does not say that he does it.

I am working on "jumping" and following through with the decisions I make. Is there something you've made the decision to do, but haven't yet jumped for?

Frogs...

2010-10-17T15:35:00.002-04:00

[Source]

Here's a thought to ponder:

Three frogs are sitting on a rock next to the water. One frog decides to jump in the water. How many frogs are still on the rock?

Put your answer in the comment section.

Headstand...

2010-10-13T21:49:00.004-04:00

Ever have one of those days where you thought- 'I wish I could do a headstand?' Yeah, me neither. However tonight at yoga our instructor asked us all to place our mats next to the wall and showed us how to work into a headstand. My first thought was..."ummm, yeah". But I followed the instructions and figured at the least I could work at it. Then look what happened...

Obviously I don't normally take pictures during yoga, but after I did it I needed evidence of my accomplishment (I could barely believe it). So Sabrina was kind enough to snap a few pictures as I tried it again.

YEAH!!!!

Four Years Ago...

2010-10-12T21:48:00.004-04:00

Four years ago things were pretty crazy here in Buffalo. The weather went from 70 and beautiful to 30 and snowing, which caused trees to start falling. Throughout the night you could here an odd silence that was broken only by the sounds of snapping branches. We woke in the morning to find the power out, work and school cancelled, snow covering the ground, giant trees across on cars and homes, and the only way out was by foot.

Enjoy!

Where did the weekend go?

2010-10-03T19:03:00.006-04:00

It's been a busy weekend around our house...

Matt was able to continue taking down the walls in the basement, and now it's one big room. All the framing had to be taken down as well because of water that leaks in with each rain has caused rotting wood. Next up Matt will be building a workbench area for himself.

While Matt was busy in the basement I took to the dining room that was in need of some love after serving as our interim kitchen and construction storage area. I repaired some dents and dings on the walls then repainted the entire room. We went with a slight change in color, it's now 'Chocolate Truffle'. If I can't eat chocolate everyday at least I can look at it!

Before, painted with Chocolate Sparkle:

After, painted with Chocolate Truffle:

(Sorry my camera still isn't up to par!)

Matt is currently working on framing our french doors and insulating them better, so hopefully next weekend it will be finished with the furniture back in.

In other news today was the first day of yoga!

Sabrina and I had planned to attend a free class at a local studio that I am planning to join for the month, and at the last minute Matt decided to come along too!

We had a great one-hour session of stretching and posing our way to healthy. The instructor was great and easy to follow through the moves. It was also easy to adjust each pose to your personal abilities. So for the next month I will be attending classes about 3 times a week, and each class is a different type of yoga so I hopefully it will help me get focused and give me exposure to multiple type of yoga.

The rest of Sunday was spent getting ready for the week by grocery shopping, making chili, making lunches, and making our dinner for tonight. Alright off to enjoy some meat loaf and brussel sprouts. (Yes, I eat brussel sprouts- I can't believe it either.)

Change of focus...

2010-10-01T20:09:00.002-04:00

It's a new month, so it's time to change the focus. For the last few months my focus has been to get through each week, accomplish something each weekend either at home or while traveling, and only fitting in personal focus when time allows. Basically that means I need to get the focus back on me, not the tasks around me.

As Matt's dad would say, "Focus, Focus, Focus..."

So this month I will be bringing it all back to health and wellness in my life. It's easy to get off track when life gets so busy, but the imporatnt thing is to realize you need more focus.

Matt and I have both come to this realization for ourselves and will each be working to a healthy October- both mentally and physically.

More to come later...

Weekend Away....

2010-09-30T18:05:00.006-04:00

I've been away, but now I'm back and found sometime to fill you in on what I've been up to. Let's start with this picture to give you a hint.

Obviously you noticed it was an outhouse, so hopefully you guessed that I went camping. Last weekend was a girls only weekend, and we all headed up to Brenda's family camp (thanks Brenda!). Don't worry though we didn't have to use the outhouse pictured above. Her family has two beautiful cabins that had indoor plumbing and electric- well most of the time but we'll get to that.

We arrived very late Friday evening, took a few wrong turns, and ended our night with some homemade pizza and a glass of wine. Prior to going to bed we were warned that the power might be going at 8am due to the local crews needing to do some work. Sure enough at the strike of eight in the morning the power went out and the fire alarm went off. Let's just say it woke everyone that was planning to sleeping.

We were hoping that the power would come back soon, but in the meantime Brenda's mom took to the grill and made us all a hot breakfast of eggs and sausage. A few of us went into town to pick up some hot coffee because we had no way to brew it ourselves. After breakfast we had planned a day of spa activities that required electricity, but we made it work. Where there is a will there is a way!

The main cabin had two massage rooms set up, and everyone else hung out down at the original cabin with the pedicures. Without power we had to improvise and get hot water by heating it on the grill. We were willing to go pretty far for some pampering.

Unfortunately we spent the entire day without power and were beginning to wonder if we would ever get it back, luckily around 6pm it came back on. We were so excited because it meant we could take hot showers and have a hot meal! We had a great time just sitting back, relaxing and chatting the weekend away. I highly recommend a weekend away.

Upon returning home it was back to the normal work week so I won't bore you with those details, but I will leaving you with some scenic pictures from the weekend.

Have a great day! I'll try to be better this coming week with getting posts up!

Green Morning...

2010-09-24T06:42:00.003-04:00

Wow! An early morning post?!?!? Tell me about it. Just thought I'd share with you a lovely green goodness shake to start my day.

It contained:
1 cup almond milk
3 handfuls of spinach
2 scoops Whey protein
4 strawberries

I put it all in the Vita-mix and mix it all together. I know some people might think you could taste the spinach, but honestly it tastes more like a milkshake. I hoping it will help me kick this cold now have do to the up and down temperatures around here. It's officially fall, so why is it suppose to be near 90 today?

Taco Thursday...

2010-09-23T20:42:00.004-04:00

After lots of cooking in the kitchen tonight for my upcoming weekend with the girls, I decided to put together dinner based around the idea of a taco. For some reason I haven't felt like cooking with meat lately, though I do still eat meat when we're other places, so tonight's meal was made with veggies!

I cut up an onion, a green pepper, a yellow summer squash, and a zucchini. Then I tossed them in a pan and steamed until it cooked down. Then I added some of my favorite taco seasoning (read: spicy!), and gave Matt the option of nachos or tacos. He went with nachos, but he ate it up so quick I didn't snap a picture.

As you can see from above I went with deconstructed nachos. Toppings tonight included: hot salsa, black olives, Greek yogurt, and cilantro. I also had a side of homemade guacamole and blue chips. Super yummy!

Alright I'm off to get packed up for my weekend away- hopefully Matt won't miss me too much! Though he might miss my weird meals.

WARRIORS!!!

2010-09-21T20:38:00.012-04:00

On Sunday Matt, Sabrina, Jill, and I made our way to Windham Mountain to take part in Warrior Dash. I assume you've read my original post, but just in case you haven't I'll give you a quick run down.

Warrior Dash is an event that in multiple locations across the US, and provides participants the chance to not only compete in a race but too get really involved in the race. Each participant must not only cover 3.23 miles, but also must dig deep and make it through 13 different obstacles. As our group learned it really ends up being more unlabeled obstacles along the way. This is unlike any race I have ever done, there are more people than you can imagine, and it's not only a physical- it's mental.

A lot of work goes into planning and executing this event in each region, so each event lasts two days with a group of at least 200 people leaving the start line every half hour. It was a crazy event, clean people, dirty people, food, beer, music-one great big party! Alright so onto the excitement...

Start of the day picture....

We got to Windham Mountain with plenty of time to check in, take in the sight, watch people cross the finish line, and try to get mentally prepared for the fun to come. When standing at the starting corral all you can see is the MASSIVE hill, and it gets intimidating.

Here's the conversation;
S: Oh my- look at the hill!
J: We can do this! Just keep your head down and keep going.
S: Okay, but I don't know.
J: We can do this!!!

Then the gun goes off, and our 12:30 group has officially started Warrior Dash. We start our climb up the hill- guess who the first person to walk is? Yup, me. I realize as we begin our climb it isn't a hill- it's a Mountain and I realized that as we rounded the first corner and it got even steeper. We climbed the mountain for probably approximately a half a mile!!! (No joke.)

Then we came up to our first obstacle the 'Knee High Hell' or basically speed stepping through the tires to the other side. We got through this, but I know I was barely breathing. Then we continued our climb up the mountain, then we came across the Warrior Walls. A series of three walls that were about chest high that you had to get yourself over- not too bad at all the biggest thing was to try not to kick the face of the person behind you or get kicked yourself.

Then we climbed another half mile up the mountain, at this point I just kept my hands over my head so I could breath. I don't mean to sound like a baby- but we were climbing a very steep part of a muddy mountain- it was intense (but doable). Then we came to the Tunnels of Terror- probably one of the easiest obstacles because you just had to crawl through a tunnel/pipe of approximately 3 feet in diameter. It was a little rough on the knees but not bad at all really.

Upon crawling out of the tunnel, we were finally cut a break- we no longer had to climb straight up. It was more of a zig zag down the mountain- with a few climbs along the way. As we ran across the mountain we made our way through uncharted territory referred to as the Black Forest obstacle. The important part was to pay attention to each step to avoid slipping on a rock or twisting an ankle in the thick, slippery mud.

Then as we rounded the corner there was the Slithering Swamp- you climb into icy cold water that comes up to your chest and then make your way to the other side to climb out. Although it was super cold it felt great on my burning from the climb up the mountain- maybe one of my favorite obstacles.

We continued weave our way down the mountain by Walking the Plank, running over a bridge, running down a small river, then we climbed up a cargo net then down the other side. Then we could hear the crowds of people, which meant one thing we were almost there!!!!

The last three obstacles were one right after the other. We first slid down an adult version of the slip'n slide. As I was headed down face first I realized there was a small pond at the end so I quickly covered my face, then after we all had to quickly stand up and get out of the way of the others come down. Next we ran toward the fire and jumped over two different rows of fire- it sounds scary to jump over fire, but it was actually quite fun. And you're soaking wet so you're really don't in any danger.

We were suddenly at the end with all the people cheering as you jump into the Muddy Mayhem and crawl your way across under the barbed wire. Then it was up and across the finish line.

Pretty incredible right?

What an adventure! We all completed it successfully with no injuries. Jill was the first from our group to finish up, then Matt, Sabrina and I crossed the finish line at about the same time. We haven't been given any official times but it took us about an hour to finish.

And here's our final group picture after all the fun!

Anyone want to join us next time???

A weekend of extremes...

2010-09-20T20:54:00.003-04:00

Matt said it perfectly the other day- “We either pack the weekend full of excitement or do nothing.” I guess we’re just extremely busy or extremely bored, and once we get moving we just can’t stop.

Saturday:

7:00am- We got up early to get packed and organized for the events to come later in the day and on Sunday. We had a Volkswagen meet-up, a wedding, a reception, and a challenging event- spread across the great state of New York.

9:30am- Noon: Car loaded and on the road to a meet-up with some of the local Volkswagen folks. We all made our way down the Thruway toward Rochester to check out a local business that specializes in car modifications. It was a pretty neat company and the cleanest, most organized auto shop I have ever been in!

Noon- 2:00pm: On the road toward the Volkswagen meet-up we realized we forgot to grab Matt’s dress shoes. Oops! So after leaving the meet up we headed toward a mall in Rochester to quickly get Matt shoes to wear to the wedding, we changed into our wedding dress clothes, then hit the road again for a 40 minute drive to the church ceremony. We arrived with a few minutes spare, but not many. (I have no pictures from the wedding due to my dysfunctional camera.)

2:00: Emily & Jon's Wedding Ceremony

3:00pm-6:00pm: We had three hours between the wedding and reception, so what did we do? We went to our go-to place: Barnes & Nobles! It is such a great place to spend time reading magazines and sippin' coffee.

6:30pm-10:00pm: We enjoyed a nice reception in the Rochester area, with good food and great dance moves by Matt. Unfortunately we had to cut it short because we had a lot of miles to cover before we could rest! We're just glad we had a chance to have some fun before we had to run.

10:00pm-2:00am: We got back on the Thruway and headed to Kingston. We are crazy, young people who like to try to do as much as possible, and all at one time. We had to be in Kingston in the morning for an epic adventure, so we just figured it was best to do it after the wedding. Matt let me sleep while he did the driving- such a good guy!

So what was it that we had to get to Kingston for???? Do you remember when I mentioned Warrior Dash on my blog a while ago???? It was called 'Are we crazy???'. Well believe it or not, this weekend it was time for us to finally take on the challenge and become WARRIORS!!!!

However since this post is getting long, I'm going to leave you with a cliffhanger. I will tell we covered the 3.23 miles and 13 obstacles with success and met the challenge. You'll get the details, possibly pictures, and hopefully official stats from the race tomorrow.

Did you do anything crazy this weekend???

What I've been making...

2010-09-16T21:27:00.005-04:00

Monday: Tilapia with Roasted Asparagus

Tuesday: After a little lacrosse, we went to our favorite Greek restaurant- Kostas!

Wednesday: Green Rice with Black Bean Burger (anything else you could want!)

Thursday: Eggplant and Olive Tapenade Pizza (Sorry no picture after it came out of the oven because we inhaled all it's goodness.)

And lastly Thursday night's experiment with recipe making. My inspiration was an apple pie, and my goal was to turn it into a cupcake. The first batch into the oven tasted great, but didn't have that cupcake look. The second batch was much better! I topped it with some yummy cinnamon frosting!

I'll leave you to drool over the fabulous food coming out of our kitchen- this girl needs some sleep. Tomorrow is Friday and it can't come soon enough!

What do you do?

2010-09-13T20:31:00.002-04:00

So I don't have a ton of time to write a normal blog tonight, but I wanted to ask you all an etiquette question.

Here is the scenario:

You are in a public restroom (or office bathroom in my case) with multiple stalls, obviously. You're going about your normal bathroom type business when from the next stall comes the sounds of a person making a phone call. (Using speaker phone no less!) This person appears to be calling their doctor to make an appointment, and you can clearly here both sides of the conversation. So by now you're done with your business, do you flush or do you wait for the person in the neighboring stall to finish their phone call?

I thought for a quick second and decide to just flush and get on with my business. A bathroom is for one purpose, not for carrying out phone calls. I just could feel bad for her, make calls from your desk! Who knows I could been stuck there all day waiting for her to finish all her calls.

(Note to self: Don't ever borrow another person's cellphone, you don't know if they are a bathroom talker!)

Tell me what you would do....

Do guys ever run into this issue?

What do you do?

2010-09-13T20:31:00.000-04:00

Pink Dress Run and Other Fun

2010-09-12T10:11:00.006-04:00

Friday night after work Sabrina and I took part in the Pink Dress Run in downtown Buffalo. It was a 2-mile fun run/walk to "save second base". All money raised went to breast cancer awareness and research at Roswell Park.

I kept with the theme and wore a pink dress, with shorts underneath- just in case. I only felt out of place while leaving my office building because you don't usually wear a pink dress with bright green sneakers. Once I got to the event, I soon looked less out of place, especially with these outfit. And yes men wore dresses to get into the excitement!

The run was only 2-miles, and while I didn't time it we did find out from a fellow run that our first mile was done in 10:14- yeah!!! I really didn't feel like we were moving that fast but I'll take it. I didn't find out our official time because this was an untimed event- but I believe we probably came in under 22 minutes- we're pretty happy with that!

After the race we were suppose to catch a bus back to the start line, but the first bus was full and took almost 30 minutes to get back for a second load- which we also missed out on. So we walked the 2 miles back to the start- so we got in a 2 mile run and a 2 mile walk. We were starving we finally finished, so we each headed home then met up for some sushi (or in my case a chicken dish). It was a late evening, but a fun time.

After dinner it was home for some sleep! Matt and I had an early morning wake up call to take care of some house stuff. We had to rent a Pick-up truck to haul some construction debris and other house garbage to the dump. We're allowed to bring 2000 pounds a year, and we did 1000 pounds in one week! We got all the garbage from the kitchen renovations, a bunch of miscellaneous doors and closet doors, and we also ripped all the paneling out of the basement! (We now have just the 2x4 studs left, which will get taken down and re purposed.) Let's just say we feel 1000 pounds lighter- I can't believe we had that much stuff.

After dropping of the garbage we loaded the truck with all the donation items left from the garage sale a few weeks ago and dropped it all at goodwill. I'd guess that was another couple hundred pounds of stuff!

After it was normal Saturday tasks like groceries, re-organizing the kitchen, mowing the lawn, and other fun around the house. Then it was finally time to shower and head to church. After church we decided to have a date night, and got on our bikes headed for a local festival. On the way we stopped off to see friends, and ended up spending the whole night there catching up and sitting by a backyard fire.

Today will be much more leisurely- I have some baking to do and some giant zucchini to use. It's going to be a yummy day!

Black Beans + Spices = Yummy Burgers!

2010-09-08T14:32:00.006-04:00

Okay I must confess I had intentions to go to the grocery store Tuesday night, but never got there. I even went through the trouble of creating a list, but once the rain started pouring down I changed plans.

So now I've had to re-think the whole week of food because the week is almost over so there is very little reason to do a full out shopping trip. I stopped at the store on my way home from the gym tonight. My reduced shopping list came to just under $30- sounds like a good week for me!

So for tonight I've decided to prepare black bean burgers because I have the items on hand- and because I've been meaning to get the recipe to Sabrina!

So here goes... black bean burgers with sweet potato fries.

Black Bean Burger Recipe

1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, finely diced
2 tsp chili powder
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp cumin
3/4 cup walnuts
1 can black beans (drain & rinse)
1/4 cup salsa
1/4 cup corn
3/4 cup bread crumbs
1 Tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water, whisked

1. Preheat oven to 425*.

2. Whisk ground flax and water together in small bowl and allow to sit until used. (This replaces 1 egg for a vegan burger.)

3. Saute the onion and garlic in 2 tablespoons of olive oil. After about 3 minutes add in the chili powder, paprika, cumin and red pepper flakes.

4. Place the walnuts in a food processor, and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add the black beans, salsa, corn, bread crumbs, "egg" mixture from step 2, and onion mixture from step 3. Process until the mixture forms a paste- then add salt & pepper to taste.

5. Allow mixture to sit for approximately 10 minutes, then form six patties. Patties should be cooked on an oiled baking sheet, with the tops of the patties also brushed with olive oil.

6. Bake 15 minutes, then flip and cook 10 more minutes.

7. Remove from oven and enjoy!

I must warn you though that the burgers came out looking good, this recipe may need a little more adjustment to make them easier to handle. They are a bit soft, and have too much moisture. I would still say to give them a shot because they are super yummy!

What did you have for dinner tonight?

Celebration of One Great Year

2010-09-07T19:09:00.018-04:00

We have had quite a fun weekend here, and all the preparation I mentioned in the last post really paid off. When I left off Matt was busy in the kitchen making meals for our trip to the great outdoors to go camping, in a tent and in the woods. Before I get into what we had to eat and what we did, I should explain that all the meals were planned and made by Matt- I must say he did an outstanding job! I think we're going to have lots of people wanting to come camping with us in the future after you see how well we ate.

We decided on Raccoon Creek State Park located west of Pittsburgh because it had available camping spots, it was near Pittsburgh, and it had lots of hiking trails. We used the tent we got from Matt's dad that has been used since before Matt was even born, and although it looked small from the outside the inside was quite spacious- but not quite the tent 'castle' I was used it. Growing up we had a tent with three "rooms" and you could stand up inside, while this tent was more of a crawl in version. I wasn't complaining since it fit an air mattress with plenty of room-yes an air mattress!

We arrived Friday afternoon around 3pm to check into the campgrounds during pouring rain. Needless to say I was a bit concerned because camping in the rain isn't much fun, and setting up camp in the rain would have been much worse. Luckily we just waited a little while and the rain stopped and the sun came out for the rest of the trip. We set up the tent, got the bed all made, then headed into town to get some firewood.

Friday we planned just to set up camp, have dinner and relax. Dinner was tilapia with grilled corn. Matt prepared the tilapia by creating foil packets with mixed veggies and seasoning. The foil packets were grilled over the open fire with fresh grilled corn.

It was a great meal and we spent the rest of the evening just enjoying a campfire- and of course some s'mores. Sorry no pictures of the s'mores because they were consumed very quickly.

Saturday morning was our official one year anniversary, and after a shower I found this love meal prepared.

Yes those are pancakes stacked with layers of jam, peanut butter, banana, maple syrup, coconut, and cocoa nibs. AMAZING!!!! A fabulous way to start our day of adventure.

Saturday we took a 2 hour drive to see one of the most famous homes created by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Fallingwater.

We took a tour of the grounds surrounding Fallingwater and toured the inside of the home. It was a relaxing day of taking in the sights, but unfortunately I can't show you the pictures we took of the home because we received specific instructions that pictures could not be posted on personal websites. We would definitely love to live in that house! Too bad it will never be for sale!

We enjoyed lunch at the cafe located on the grounds of Fallingwater because we were so far from our camp, but upon arrival back at the campsite Matt set to work on another amazing dinner. He skewered chicken, beef, tomatoes, peppers, and mushrooms- then grilled them over the open flames. It was served with a wheat berry salad, and was the perfect meal after a long day of exploring.

Matt even planned a dessert for that evening of grilled peaches. He packed the grilled peaches in a foil pack with brown sugar over the open flames to create a tasty treat.

Sunday morning we slept in because it was so cold overnight that we didn't want to get out of bed. I think it was in the forties during the night, and our toes were freezing! I think I slept with the blanket over my head and the thought of crawling out of the bed to go to the bathroom was dreadful, so I always tried to wait until I really had to go.

Anyways Sunday morning we had a pretty leisurely day, Matt prepared another great breakfast of eggs with sweet potato home fries and crumbled turkey sausage. On the side we had fresh cantaloupe with blueberries. It was so very tasty, and better than any breakfast I've made at home.

After lunch we took a walk around the park and just enjoyed the beautiful weather, later in the afternoon Matt made us lunch. It was homemade black bean soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. By grilled I'm mean literally grilled over the open flames- with two thumbs up and no complaints from me!

After another great meal we headed out to explore the Wildflower Reserve and took a walk through the trails and captured some beautiful photos.

After a nice walk we grilled some sausages over the fire and had some fresh made guacamole on the side. We enjoyed another great fire and another round of s'mores.

After all that fun I was so relaxed I curled up in a blanket and fell asleep next to the campfire! Shortly after Matt snapped this picture he woke me up and sent me to bed, while he enjoyed more fire burning. Boys sure do love playing with fire.

Monday morning was the end of our camping trip but not before Matt prepared one last meal. Egg, ham, and cheese sandwiches on grilled rolls. Two thumbs up!!!

Then it was time to pack up the campsite and hit the road home. We back a couple wraps for lunch on the way, and headed out. We did stop at the outlet mall to do a little shopping, had lunch, then enjoyed some self-serve yogurt! We've been looking all over for a place that have multiple yogurts with endless toppings- you pay by the ounce and can mix and match as you want. So fun and it tasted great!

There you have it, a great weekend camping! We celebrated our first year of marriage, and are looking forward to many more!

Have a good night!

It's getting crazy....

2010-09-02T22:17:00.005-04:00

Matt is very busy in the kitchen. He's taking charge of the meal planning for the next few days, and he is doing lots of prep work. I went in briefly to get some water- there he was chopping, packaging, and labeling lots of goodies. I'm excited to see what the next few days bring...

I used the iPhone to snap a photo of my stuff peppers from last night!

It's a Stuffed Pepper, and it's organic (bonus!). Matt's mom gave us these peppers last weekend so I used them to create a protein stuffed pepper.

Protein Filled Peppers

What you'll need:
1 small onion
1 clove garlic
2 cups spinach
1 can black beans (rinsed and drained)
1 tbsp cumin
1 tsp cayenne (if you like it hot!)
1 cup tomato sauce of your choice
1 cup quinoa (dry)
2 cups water

2 bell peppers (any color)

How to do it:

1- Cook the quinoa in the 2 cups of water.
2- Meanwhile in a pan saute the onion, garlic, and spinch in a little olive oil.
3- When the spinach has cooked down add the remaining ingredients, then the cooked quinoa. Mix it all up.
4- Cut the two bell pepper in half, removing the ribs and seeds. Then stuff them full of your awesome mixture.
5- Bake at 375* for about 30 minutes.

Enjoy!

(The blog just better with pictures- don't you agree?)

Blogging break....

2010-09-01T21:06:00.003-04:00

So you might have noticed that I've been away for a whole week! Well it's been very eventful with a trip to visit Matt's family, lots of cooking and baking, and preparing for another very busy weekend.

Unfortunately I have nothing to show for all the tasty eats and treats because I'm experiencing camera issues. I'm not sure why but the function buttons stopped last Thursday and today the picture button doesn't work! So it's now officially completely broken.

The good news: I bought the warranty, so it will get fixed for free.

The bad news: It will take 3-4 weeks before I get it back.

Even worse news: There will be very few blog pictures until I get my camera back. I'll try to take some with the iPhone, but they don't come out so well.

Alright well I have more to do tonight, baked goods in the oven, and eventually I need to sleep. Have a good one...

Operation Veggie...

2010-08-25T21:15:00.004-04:00

One of tonight's many goals was to use our veggies up! I had peppers, tomatoes, green squash, and patty pan squash that needed to be used soon. So I went the mexican direction and created Veggie Enchiladas.

I started by cutting up all the veggies adding onion, garlic, and black beans to the mix. Then I sauteed all the items on the stove until they had cooked down flavoring with taco seasoning, cayenne, and jalepanos. Next I filled three whole wheat tortillas, rolled them and placed them side by side in a baking dish. I topped with the remaining mixture and a little cheese. I baked at 375* for about 20 minutes until the cheese was melty.

Dinner was served up with a side of gaucamole and blue chips that Matt prepared at the last minute. I topped my serving with greek yogurt. (Don't worry it isn't sour cream!)

It was very filling and we even had enough leftovers for lunch tomorrow. I love having leftovers because it makes lunches easier.

Other kitchen duties tonight included chopping, mixing, and baking. Unfortunately I'm not ready to give you details on all that just yet, but I did do some experimenting with Vegan cake and frostings which I found pretty interesting. So far the taste is two thumbs up.

Well that's all for tonight, I must clean up my very big kitchen mess.

Hubby Cooks...

2010-08-24T19:52:00.005-04:00

In a change of roles this week Matt has been taking care of dinner the last two nights, and I must say he is doing so good that maybe it should be a permanent change??? I'm joking because while it sounds like a nice break, I'd miss the kitchen too much.

Last night were both exhausted from a long weekend and I had some work to do before I could rest, so Matt took care of dinner. He asked me what I wanted, my response was whatever you come up with. Next thing I know I'm presented with this yummy goodness.

Flatbread pizza with fresh cherry tomatoes, olives, onions, and feta.

Then tonight after a nice run with Sabrina, we came back home to take care of business around the house. My job was the laundry and blogging (yes it is a job!), while he set to work in the kitchen on food. First up was a Spinach, Fruit & Protein Shake, it takes like a milkshake but it's load with goodness. Then he set to work on dinner, all I knew was it would involve Tilapia and Kale. Out came this amazing dish...

Lightly breaded tilapia topped with avocado, tomato, corn, and onion salsa paired with baked kale chips. This week we picked up whole kale leaves and they were so tasty, if you haven't had them it is a must!

Now go eat good, healthy food!

Aloha!

2010-08-22T21:23:00.004-04:00

It's been a very busy and long weekend.

We had a yard sale, hung out with friends, made a trip to the mall, baked s'mores cupcakes, went to a bachelorette party (just me), cleaned the back porch, prepared donations for the salvation army, went grocery shopping, and then enjoyed a nice meal on a restaurant patio to cap off a productive weekend.

As you might guess there were long nights and early mornings so I'm a bit tired- so I'll leave you with a picture of my cupcake creations. The s'mores cupcakes were created using Martha Stewart's recipe for chocolate graham cracker cupcakes with toasted marshmallow.

Though the cupcakes look awesome with just the toasted marshmallow (lovin' the kitchen torch) I took it a step further. I was told the theme of the bachelorette party was a luau, so I used the toasted marshmallow as the 'sand'. Other decoration include hibiscus flowers, homemade coconut bras, little umbrellas, and little palm trees. It was a very successful cupcake adventure!

Aloha!

Italian Squash...

2010-08-19T20:47:00.004-04:00

I knew tonight was going to be spent preparing for our upcoming yard sale, so I planned ahead and prepped dinner before Matt got home. Earlier today I was trying to think about what I could make that would be tasty, healthy, and fresh. I decided to base the meal around the yellow and green squash I had on hand. And I decided I'd invent an Italian Squash Casserole.

Italian Squash Casserole
1/2 purple onion
2 cloves of garlic (we love garlic)
1/2 pound of ground turkey
1 yellow squash
1 green squash
1 tablespoon basil
1 tablespoon oregano
Black Pepper
1 1/2 cups tomato sauce (no added sugar!!!)

Start by chopping the onion and garlic then saute in a skillet with a little olive oil. Next add the ground turkey and cook through. Chop the squash in larger chunks then add to skillet along with the basil, oregano and black pepper. Allow the mixture to cook through until the squash is tender.

Add the tomato sauce and mix.

You can enjoy it at this point, but I took it a step further. I placed it in a oven safe dish, then when we were ready to eat topped it with homemade bread crumbs and a little Parmesan cheese. It was baked at 375* for 15 minutes, then broiled on high for 5 minutes.

Does this is not look yummy????

Matt loved it and was surprised to find meat in our meal tonight, guess I've been cooking too much vegetarian??? I think not, we actually have a pretty good balance.

Alright off to get some sleep- tomorrow is going to be a long day with work, final yard sale prep, and I'm also working on some cupcakes for a bachelorette party.

I'm in the mood...

2010-08-18T20:34:00.004-04:00

...for some protein after that workout! Matt and I had the opportunity to work with one of the new trainers at the gym today. He took us through a 60 minute workout that was intense! The first time I looked at the clock I was covered in sweat and feeling it- then I realized only 15 minutes had passed. We made it through somehow, but definitely know that we have plenty of room for improvement. It felt good and I'm sure we will be feeling it tomorrow.

So to fill the protein needs caused by our intense workout I made something with a little Mexican kick. Tonight's meal came together in an odd way, and it all started with a yellow squash. After that I just kept grabbing random items until it looked like it might turn into something tasty.

Here's what I gathered:
1 yellow squash
1 purple onion
1 pepper
1 can black beans (protein!)
1 small can green chilies
1 cup quinoa (protein!)
2 spicy black bean burgers (protein!)
taco seasonings

I cooked the 1 cup of quinoa in 2 cups of water until all the water had been absorbed. Meanwhile in large skillet I sauteed the chopped squash, onion, and pepper. After the veggies were cooked down I added one can of rinsed black beans, green chilies, and taco seasonings.

At this point your quinoa should be done, so add it to you veggies. Then add taco seasoning to your liking, we like it spicy so we added extra cayenne pepper. Then add in the cooked and chopped spicy black bean burgers. (Note: feel free to leave them out and substitute chicken or any other meat you'd like.)

Mix it all together and then top it as you like. Our toppings included greek yogurt, sliced olives, grape tomatoes, and some crumbs from tortilla chips for a little crunch.

Does that look yummy or what? It was very tasty and it was super filling. In total the above recipe made four servings, so we also have lunch tomorrow!

Maybe something Italian tomorrow??? Or maybe I'll be inspired by something else during the day!

Eggplant...

2010-08-17T20:30:00.005-04:00

Tonight's main ingredient was eggplant. I picked it up this weekend at the Farmer's Market for $1, so not only is tonight's meal veggie based but it is also cost effective.

I grilled the sliced eggplant with a little olive oil and pepper in the grill pan. It was pretty quick and I did it ahead of time and let it rest until we were ready to prepare dinner.

When Matt got home from work we decided we needed to head for a run, so we hit the local streets for just over 2 miles. It was a good work out and only one inconsiderate driver tried to hit us. Some people just don't have any respect for runners with the right of way.

After returning from a good run I chopped the eggplant and added some olive tapenade, then put it on a flatbread. It was topped with slices of provolone cheese, then baked to perfection. I baked it at 375* for 15 minutes then broiled it until brown.

Now I must go figure out how to get information off the Garmin. I'm still trying to figure it all out.

New obsession...

2010-08-16T20:07:00.005-04:00

Last week we picked up a bag of kale. It's a veggie from the cabbage family that has powerful antioxidant properties and it is even is considered to be anti-inflammatory. It is very high in beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C, lutein, zeaxanthin, and reasonably rich in calcium. And most importantly it tastes pretty good!

Tonight after the gym, I prepared a quick dinner of roasted kale and muffulettas.

To prepare the kale I simply tossed the Kale with some garlic scape olive oil and some fresh ground pepper.

Then I baked it at 375* for about 15 minutes until crispy. It's really good and you need to try it.

Tonight's main course was Matt's favorite sandwich, a muffuletta. The first time he tried it he was in New Orleans while helping with Katrina relief and ever since he has been obsessed. Normally he'll get it when we go to one of our favorite local deli's, but I have now been able to successfully recreate it at home. (And it just might taste better!)

The "muff" made on a wheat roll with salami, ham, provolone, and olive tapenade. I think the mix of olives really gives the sandwich it's kick. And the cool sandwich knife we got for a shower gift is awesome! And it's purple- so much fun!

I'm thinking either Italian or Mexican tomorrow- any thoughts on what you guys want to see?

Crazy Busy Week...

2010-08-15T19:22:00.007-04:00

Sorry that it has been a week since I gave you an update on life in Buffalo, but it's been busy and at 10pm I'd rather get sleep than try to blog. Sorry, but this girl needs her 8 hours when she can get it.

Our week was rather normal- work, gym, and household jobs. I won't bore you with the monotonous details, I'm sure you can imagine the fun.

Then came Friday, Saturday, and Sunday...which meant Matt and I were headed our separate ways for the weekend. Matt headed westward to Ohio with his friend Matt to visit their friend Chris for a boys weekend that included kayaking and other fun.

I on the other hand headed eastward to Liverpool for a quieter weekend ending with a 5K trail race with Katie. Friday evening and Saturday was spent at my mom's house playing with my niece and nephew (so cute and fun), shopping at the farmers market, and picking out new running shoes. Nothing too crazy, I decided not to run around town this time trying to visit everyone. I feel bad, but at the same time I'm only one person and I needed to just do less this time around.

A little over a month ago Katie asked me to join her for a 5K trail run at Beaver Lake Nature Center. Sunday morning we got there early to check in and get our race numbers. Then we walked around looking for the start line, and boy was it hard to find! After much walking around we eventually found it painted in the grass (I never thought to look there).

Before the race Katie had said she was planning to run for her best time, so we started together- but she was quick out the gate thanks to her training over the last few months. This run was much different than any either of us had ever run because it was on trails. There was "high" grass, dirt, mulch, boardwalks, and some steep dirt hills that we came across throughout the 3.1 miles.

Katie came in at 32:30, which was awesome!

I came in at 38:52, which was good.

I was hoping to come in closer to 36, but considering my lack of running lately and my inability to pick up my feet (I tripped twice!) I'm satisfied overall. I had a good first mile, but the last two were a bit harder. I think I might be going out too fast! I need to work on it before Warrior Dash...

After crossing the finish line I had lots of water and a banana. Then Katie and I decided to split a Panera Cinnamon bagel- they are such tasty bagels, but loaded with calories so it was a special treat.

After we were cooled off, we decided we needed some protein so we headed over to IHOP. I know at first it doesn't sound like the healthy option, but they have a new healthy menu that gives you nutrition details and substitutes a side of fruit instead of the toast and hash browns.

I had an omelet with spinach, tomato, and mushrooms- Yum!

After getting breakfast, I headed home for a shower. I can't believe how dirty the trails are! I think I like running on pavement much better. Later in the afternoon I joined the family for some lunch, then I drove a very busy thruway back to Buffalo.

Well, off to wait for the husband to get home- he must have been having lots of fun....

What's cookin'?

2010-08-08T20:44:00.008-04:00

This weekend was the official 'opening' of our new kitchen! I am still working on filling all the shelves and drawers, but it is definitely coming together. There will be an upcoming post of the full remodel, and maybe even a video. In the mean time if you want to see some pretty pictures check out Matt's post- pretty impressive stuff!

To 'open' the kitchen we made:

Double Chocolate Stout Cupcakes
Vegetarian Chili
Guacamole
Dried Cilantro
Angela's Maple Peanut Butter, Banana & Jam Pancake Stack

Saturday we attended an international beer party, so I decided it was a great opportunity to try out Big City, Little Kitchen's recipe for Beer Cupcakes! I made a few changes to the recipe by substituting Greek yogurt for the sour cream and using Young's Double Chocolate Stout instead of the suggested Guinness.

Topped with beer flavored cream cheese frosting! Beer cakes are quite good, I'd definitely recommend them. I'm also looking forward to trying them in the future with other beers, like the raspberry organic beer we taste tested during the party.

Sunday was a busy day in the kitchen too! I started the morning by chopping up some fresh veggies that we picked on Saturday morning from the farmer's market. The chopped veggies were put in the crock pot to create a yummy vegetarian chili for this weeks lunches. Don't you want some chili?

This afternoon Matt used some fresh cilantro and farm fresh yellow cherry tomatoes to create a yummy guacamole to snack on between lunch and dinner.

We put the leftover cilantro into the dehydrator to create our own dried herbs:

Then after working on more of the kitchen and trying to get the house a little more put together we decided to make breakfast for dinner. Inspired by the fresh blueberries we picked up at the farmer's market, we decided to try out Angela's Angela's Maple Peanut Butter, Banana & Jam Pancake Stack.

I should start by telling you that the pictures do not do these pancakes justice, they are simply amazing! I think Matt said "Oh my" about twenty times- no joke. I highly suggest you go to Angela's site, jot down the recipe, and try it for your next meal! Do this now, you will not be disappointed.

After all the cooking we cleaned up the kitchen, loaded the DISHWASHER (!!!!), and are now taking care of a few other things that need to get done before the work week starts.

Have a great Monday everyone!

Running Buddy...

2010-08-05T21:02:00.005-04:00

I have a new running buddy!

A Garmin Forerunner 405! I've had my eye on a Garmin Forerunner since I started Half-Marathon Training. I never could justify spending the money on it, but then I found it on sale! I decided to combine all the generous birthday gifts received from family into one very awesome present! Since I got almost 25% off, I decided to go for it.

I shall call her Smarty Pants....

Little babies...

2010-08-05T05:56:00.000-04:00

Nope- not my babies (keep holding your breath on that one!)

Anyways a few months ago we noticed a bird building a nest under our front entry awning. It turns out it was a mommy bird that layed four eggs, and now we have baby birds. Aren't they cute?

Obviously they are little babies so they don't do much, but we know when their mommy comes with food because they start chirping like crazy. We only notice because we have the window and front door up, but otherwise it really is no bother having them move in.

And on Sunday night Matt noticed what he thought was a male bird trying to come around, which mama didn't like. Just imagine what little birdies say to each other as they chirp.

What do you think birds say?

Exciting News!!

2010-08-03T17:59:00.004-04:00

I've been asked to do a review CSN Stores, which means there are 200+ shops to choose from. These shops have some great stuff too! Maybe I could use a dutch oven from Cookware.com, an overhead light from CSNlighting.com, or maybe I'll treat myself to some new shoes from ShoesGotSoles.com Really if you can think of it, they have it!

There are so many choices, how is a girl to decide? Well, actually I did decide! I'm going to keep to keep it to myself for now though. You'll find out soon enough. Sorry to tease you, but it's more fun this way!

Go check them out, you'll probably find that item you've been wanting at a great price!

Are we crazy????

2010-08-02T20:43:00.006-04:00

We have made a decision- and it's definitely 'outside the box.' A few weeks ago while reading comments on Caitlin's blog Healthy Tipping Point, when I came across one that mentioned an event called Warrior Dash. I was interested so I immediately typed 'Warrior Dash' into the search bar.

The explanation of the event is as follows:

"Welcome to America’s most insane race. Warrior Dash lands in the Northeast for the first time in 2010 where 13 obstacles from hell await this 3.23 mile course. Are you a warrior? "

The 13 obstacles include:
1. Knee High Hell- speed step through tires
2. Warrior Wall- climb over
3. Tunnels of Terror- burrow through
4. Black Forest- uncharted trek
5. Slithering Swamp- unknown murky waters
6. Walk the Plank- traverse the gully on wooden planks
7. Rip Van Winkle Way- cross the bridge without getting weary
8. Rio Run- dash down the river
9. Cargo Climb- up and over
10. Flagstone Stack- scale the wall
11. Catskill Skid- slosh down the slippery slope
12. Warrior Roast- leap over the warrior fires
13. Muddy Mayhem- scramble through mud under barbed wire

FINISH LINE!!!

Now when I first found out about this event I mentioned it to Matt, and he took an interest too. Sabrina was intrigued too. After much debate Sabrina finally laid down the law on July 26th and said, "Let's make a decision- deadline July 30th!" Needless to say that was the push we all needed- by the end of that very day we were all signed up for this insane event!!!

After signing up we mentioned it to few other people, and got two more warriors to add to our "clan".

Our CLAN is made up of: Matt, Katie, Sabrina, Jill (Sabrina's friend), and myself. Needless to say Matt is one very lucky guy! He's going to run around Windham Mountain, through the mud, and over the obstacles with four crazy women. This should be very fun and interesting!

These are some images I found on google that show the fun to come:

It's going to be nuts and we need to start training. We started by hitting the gym tonight and doing some interval training.

Any other crazy takers out there?