My musings

Moving

2012-01-05T04:50:00.000-08:00

Over here: http://cernocksays.blogspot.com/

I'll be blogging solely from this site from now on, while expanding my blog posts to include a wider range of topics. Happy Thursday!

Look What I got...

2011-12-30T05:31:00.000-08:00

In honor of my new toy, that I haven't used yet, I give you this article on critical points in using cast iron. I'm going to season it today. I think my first recipe will be a deer stew.

Seven secrets of
Dutch oven cooking

By Roger L. Beattie

Squatting heavily in dank basements, drafty attics, and dusty, cluttered garages, these three-legged hulks from a bygone era wait impatiently to release their treasures. Until then, they are pitted by time and tarnished by neglect. For those who will uncover the mystery, their gaping caverns can once again be brimming with magic.
From the birth of our nation, Dutch ovens have been an integral and versatile part of Americana. Sadly, today’s high-tech hustle-and-bustle lifestyle has all but forgotten the art of “leather-glove cuisine.” The coal-black cast iron ovens appear outdated, unfriendly, and forbidding. Interestingly however, with seven simple secrets revealed, the beginning camp cook and the consummate backyard chef can utilize these forgotten friends to produce a marvelous and unforgettable variety of succulent delicacies.
Dutch ovens owned by cooks who understand their subtleties are kept in places of honor, sanctuaries reserved specifically for them. On the other hand, ovens owned by cooks who can’t seem to keep the potatoes from burning to the bottom or who can never get the chicken to look anything but a pasty white, are quickly relegated to some obscure location where they will be “out of the way.” For the unsuccessful current user, the interested but uninitiated, or anyone who just wants to cook better, the seven secrets outlined below will provide a firm foundation for the creation and consumption of mouth-watering Dutch oven meals fit for even the most discriminating palates.
Secret 1: Choosing wisely
When deciding on a Dutch oven, there are a few important guidelines to keep in mind. A common question is, “Should I buy cast iron or aluminum?” Both have some advantages. Aluminum Dutch ovens weigh about one-third less than their cast iron counterparts. They require no curing, and, like the cast iron pots, can be used over open fires, buried underground, or used with coals or briquettes. However, aluminum Dutch ovens do not retain heat as well nor distribute it as evenly as cast iron. The flavoring of foods produced will also be different. Aluminum ovens sometimes give a chalky flavor to foods, whereas iron ovens give a smoked flavor to foods. Most Dutch oven aficionados use only cast iron ovens.
When buying a cast iron Dutch oven, whether new or used, look carefully at these five important areas:
1. Only buy Dutch ovens with legs. Some are manufactured with flat bottoms and are far more difficult to use. The three legs should be cleanly attached to the bottom of the oven, never cracked, bent, or broken off.
2. Check the fit of the lid. It should lie flush with the lip of the oven all the way around, with no significant gaps.
3. Check the casting, or thickness, of the metal, especially around the rim. There will be some inconsistencies. However, areas that are 15% (or more) thicker or thinner than the remaining areas will produce hot or cold spots during cooking and cooling. This variance in thickness will also make the oven much more likely to crack or warp.
4. Make sure the lid has a loop handle, cleanly attached to its center.
5. Check the bail (the wire handle) attached to the oven itself. It should be easily movable and strong enough to use for carrying or hanging a heavy pot full of stew without difficulty.
If these five areas pass inspection, you’ve got a good Dutch oven.
Another purchase consideration is the size of the oven. Dutch ovens range in size from 8 to 22 inches in diameter. The most commonly used are 10-inch, 12-inch, and 14-inch ovens. The larger ovens hold more if you’re cooking for large groups, but they are huge, heavy, and hard to handle If you only buy one oven to get started, pick a 12-inch. Later you can add a 10-, 14- or additional 12-inch ovens.
Secret 2: The miracle cure
Once you have an oven, it must be cured. This process will keep your oven from rusting and produce an interior coating that will prevent food from sticking. The process is very simple. If you have an old rusty oven, scrub it well and use a fine-grade sandpaper to clean up and expose the entire surface, inside and out. Once the metal is exposed—or if you are curing a new oven—wash the entire oven well with hot soapy water. This will remove the waxy coating from a new oven and the fine metal dust remaining in an old reconditioned one.
Next, heat your Dutch oven, with the lid on, to about 200° in the oven in your home. (You can also do this in a fire, with coals or briquettes.) While the oven is hot, pour or drop in a small amount of oil, shortening, or lard, and while wearing oven mitts or heavy leather gloves, use a clean cotton cloth to wipe the entire surface well, inside and out, to coat it with the shortening, oil, or lard. When the oven is coated, heat it to 350° for an hour. If you do this in your house, expect some smoke. After an hour of heating, let the oven cool slowly. Force-cooling a cast iron oven by putting it in a freezer, snow bank, or outside during a cold rain, can crack or warp it.
Once you have your oven cured, it is ready for cooking. However, after each subsequent use and cleaning, you maintain and strengthen the cure by wiping a very light coat of oil, shortening, or lard over the dry, warm oven.
The proper cleaning of a Dutch oven is a favorite topic of many cast iron cooks. Some say that excess food must be burned off by turning the oven over in a fire, or by putting the lid on and heating the oven until the food residue inside is burned to a black crust or dust (like a self-cleaning household oven). Others claim it is a mortal sin to use any kind of soap when cleaning Dutch ovens. All, however, agree that you never scrape or scour a Dutch oven. Using metal utensils or wire scrubbers or brushes can remove the curing and allow food to stick in the exposed areas unless the oven is re-cured.
Most frequent Dutch oven users have found that wiping out excess food with a paper towel, then washing the pot with hot soapy water and a sponge will produce a clean and sanitary oven. Remember, after cleaning, be sure to dry the oven completely, then wipe a light coat of your chosen oil over the entire surface of your oven, inside and out, legs included, using a paper towel or cotton cloth. Soon your oven will have a beautiful dark brown or black coat that will be amazingly easy to keep clean.
If you use too much oil while curing or after cleaning your oven, it will become apparent the next time you use it. Each time you take out the oven, remove the lid and smell the inside. If it smells a little rancid, you used too much oil, but don’t worry. Just heat up the oven on your stove or over a fire to allow the oil to melt down and puddle in the bottom of the pot. Wipe out the old oil with a paper towel and you’re ready to go. There is no need to clean the oven again before using.
Secret 3: Power tools
You will need all the usual utensils required for cooking, such as spoons, forks, spatulas, etc. However, when you pick utensils to use with your Dutch ovens, choose items made of wood, plastic, or Teflon. Metal utensils tend to scrape off the curing when hungry eaters try to dig the last bite of food out of the oven. If areas do get scraped to the bare metal of the oven, you’ll need to re-cure it.
In addition to the utensils you are familiar with, there are other tools unique to Dutch ovens which will make your efforts safer, easier, and more successful.
1. You will need a pair of loose-fitting leather gloves long enough to cover your wrists. When leather gloves get hot, loose ones can be flipped off easily and quickly. Tight hot gloves will stick and burn you. Some people prefer welding gloves (gauntlets), but any good thick leather gloves should do fine. Wear these gloves when working with your ovens. They will prevent numerous painful burns, dropped ovens, and ruined meals.
2. Another tool you will need is a lid lifter. There are a number of lid lifter designs to choose from. The most typical is a wire-handled hook. Many of these hooks have a small bar welded horizontally a short distance up the handle from the curve. This is to keep the lid from tilting from side to side while being lifted. Hook lifters can be very ornate or simple hay-hook-like designs. Probably the surest lid lifter is a more recent design which combines the hook with a three-legged brace. The three legs fit flush against the top of the lid, and the hook goes down the middle of the legs and under the lid handle. With this type of lifter, the hook is pulled up to tighten the lid against the three legs of the brace. This design is steady and excellent for keeping coals and ashes on the lid from accidentally becoming additional garnish for the dish being prepared.
3. Lid holders are also a necessity. This tool may be anything from a clean brick to a three- or four-legged wire rack. It is used to keep hot lids off tables and counter tops or out of the dirt when the cook is adding spices or checking the progress of meals cooking.
4. Long-handled tongs are an invaluable addition to your Dutch oven tools. Even a cheap stainless steel pair will last indefinitely. Tongs are used to place, add, or remove coals as necessary. Attempting to position coals with sticks, pliers, etc., often results in poor placement, burned hands, and generally miserable experiences.
5. A small shovel is also important. This small tool, a garden shovel or fireplace shovel, is used for moving coals from a fire, digging a long-cook pit, or burying excess extinguished charcoal.
6. The last special tool you will want to consider is a whisk broom.The broom is used to brush the dirt, ashes, etc., off the lid and side of your oven in preparation for serving. This makes the possibility of ash-flavored beans remote and cleans up the ovens nicely to prevent carrying dirt or charcoal into your camper, cabin, tent, or kitchen.
Secret 4: A fire in the belly
Here’s a secret that even most seasoned outdoor cooks don’t know: You can prevent burned bottoms, raw tops, and dried-out foods by using properly sized and spaced coals to control the interior oven temperature. Virtually all baked goods can be baked successfully at 350°, which is the ideal temperature for a Dutch oven. To establish and maintain this temperature, the first thing to remember is to use coals from a fire that are roughly the same size as charcoal briquettes.
Or, for more consistency, use briquettes. Charcoal briquettes will burn longer and more evenly than coals from a fire. Use the best briquettes you can afford. There is a difference in quality, and the more expensive brands are generally worth the additional cost.
The number and placement of the coals on and under your oven is critical.The optimal number of coals used for any oven is based on its diameter. For example, if you are using a 12-inch oven, you will need two coals per inch, a total of 24. More coals will likely burn your food and less may necessitate too long a cooking period. To determine how many coals go under and how many go on top, remember the magic number 2:

· 2 coals per inch of oven diameter
· place 2 more coals than the oven size on the lid, and
· place 2 less than the oven size under it.

Example: For a 12-inch oven, 12 - 2 = 10 coals under the oven, and 12+2=14 coals go on the lid, for a total of 24. The same formula applies to all ovens. A 10-inch oven should have 8 coals underneath and 12 coals on the lid. A 14-inch oven should have 12 coals underneath and 16 coals on the lid.
The placement of the coals is also an important part of proper heat regulation. The proper layout for coals or briquettes under the oven is circular. Coals should be approximately one inch apart in a circle under the oven. Never place coals directly under the center of the oven. If you do, you will create a hot spot and burn whatever you are cooking. By placing the coals in a circle, the natural conductivity of the oven will distribute the heat evenly and effectively.
The coals on the lid of the oven should also be placed evenly in a circle along the flange of the outer lid. However, four of the coals should be placed toward the center of the lid, two on either side of the handle. This coal placement will produce an even, consistent temperature within the oven of approximately 350° and maintain that heat for up to two hours.
In the event that you need to generate a higher temperature inside your oven, “cheat up” the coals. Additional coals placed two at a time, one on the lid and one under the oven, will add another 50°. Two additional coals top and bottom would bring your oven’s temperature up to 450°. It is extremely rare to need a temperature of 450°, and you should never need one higher than that.
Secret 5: A cut above
Meats prepared in a Dutch oven are delectable. They have a flavor and aroma you will never duplicate using any other cooking method. While the taste is always exquisite, some Dutch oven users have difficulty producing a visually appealing meat from inside the steamy oven. The secret is simple: regardless of the spice and flavorings you use on any meat or poultry, always brown the meat first.
To brown the meat, place some oil, bacon, or any fatty item in the hot oven to produce a good covering of oil on the bottom, heat the oven, then put the meat you want to cook in the oven and sear or brown it well. This will seal in natural juices and provide the outer texture and color more typical of grilled or fried meats. Once the meat is well browned on all sides, drain off any leftover fat drippings, add whatever seasonings you like, put on the lid, and cook the meat for 30 to 35 minutes per pound of beef, pork, or lamb, or 25 to 30 minutes per pound of poultry.
Secret 6: Garden pride
Garden vegetables are a magnificent addition to any Dutch oven dinner. Most Dutch oven vegetables are prepared in a sauce of some type, but they may be steamed or boiled as you would on a traditional stove. However, if you choose to bake or roast Dutch oven vegetables, they should cook for approximately three minutes per inch of oven diameter. A l0-inch oven full of squash should cook for about 30 minutes, a 12-inch oven full for 36 minutes. Vegetables to be cooked in sauces, such as sour cream potatoes, broccoli in cheese sauce, or new peas and potatoes in white sauce, should be brought to a rapid boil first, the water discarded, the sauces added, then baked for the proper time noted for other vegetables.
Secret 7: If you knead the dough
Good Dutch oven breads seem to be a rarity. However, marvelous corn breads, biscuits, rolls, and sourdough loaves are surprisingly easy to perfect in the old black pot. The larger the oven the better when it comes to cooking breads. A 14-inch oven serves nicely to produce three loaves of bread or up to three dozen rolls or biscuits. To successfully brown breads, however, you must alter the cooking process for the last five to eight minutes of the traditional 25-30 minute, 350° baking time.
First, put a light coat of oil on the interior of a cool oven (including the lid), and let the rolls or bread complete their final rise in the oven prior to applying the coals. Second, place the oven on the coals with the proper number of coals on top as noted earlier. (Remember: no coals directly under the center of the oven.) Third, when there are five to eight minutes left in the cooking time, lift the lid, lightly brush the tops of the breads with butter, replace the lid, then take all the coals from under the oven and distribute them evenly on the top. With all the heat now on the lid, check the bread every couple of minutes until you think it looks perfect. After brushing the coals and ashes from the lid, remove it, tilt the oven over a bread board, and your perfect bread will gently fall out.
Now that you know the seven secrets, here is a trio of fabulous tried-and-true recipes you can easily make with your old, new, or reincarnated Dutch oven.

Baking Roundup: Holiday Edition

2011-12-22T06:44:00.000-08:00

Our holiday baking experience took an entire day, and I enlisted the help of David. My holiday baking is the only time I don't try to make it healthy. It just seems wrong to do that.

Everything needed for our baking:

Stirring the rice krispies.

Peanut Butter & White Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats & Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cups

The Choco Chip Cookie Dough Cups were not easy for me. I couldn't get my melted chocolate to maintain the right consistency.

The rice krispie treats were awesome. David did a great job with them, they weren't sticky at all.

Mocha Coconut Fudge

I'm really proud of this one, it's turned out pretty! And it tastes so good, with the mocha and coconut flavors very distinct.

Mexican Hot Chocolate Balls

This was my favorite recipe, by far. Perfectly chocolately with a thin, crunchy outer layer and a soft cookie inside.

Oreo Cheesecake Truffles

Not pretty, but dang tasty. The recipe called for refrigerating the balls, next time I'll just freeze them.

All in all, my most successful holiday baking to date. Today I'm making gingerbread, more mexican hot chocolate balls, and Bailey's mint chocolate chippers to take to Chicago with us.

If Your Camera Could Talk

2011-12-14T04:47:00.000-08:00

For those of you that dream of being a better photographer (I do). Some of these tips are beyond my scope of knowledge about camera's, but some aren't. So here I share.

It would tell you these things:

1)Al Focus and Al Servo are not interchangeable.
Nikon cameras only have single servo (AF-S) and continuous focus (AF-C) , so you don’t have to worry about this one. On a Canon camera, you have spot, AI Focus, and AI Servo focus modes. When photographers are shooting subjects that will move constantly during the shot (for example, a football player running toward the camera), they need a focus mode that will continue to focus until the instant that the shutter is released.

Trouble is that most users learn whether to use AI Focus or AI Servo for this situation, and most choose AI Focus since “Servo” sounds scarier. AI Focus tracks focus continuously until the subject stops, then it locks focus, and then tracks again if the subject begins to move. AI Servo continuously tracks focus and never locks. Although there are some situations where AI Focus is useful, my personal testing shows that a SIGNIFICANTLY higher percentage of all “moving target” shots are sharper using AI Servo in 99% of situations.

One writer online summarized it like this (and I totally agree):

One-Shot is for when neither you, nor the subject, are moving.
AI Servo is for when either you, or the subject, is moving.
AI Focus is for when neither you, nor the subject care if your focus is accurate.

Cleaning a lens.

2)Lintless cloths never seem to be lintless.
I bought three or four lintless cloths at varying prices to clean my camera over the years, and then I simply gave up. Every time I cleaned the camera with the lintless cloth, it would instantly become twice as “linted.” Part of the problem was the quality of the cloths, but the other problem is that the lintless cloth can get lint on it from your camera bag if you aren’t extremely careful with it at all times. Then, I discovered a cheaper, easier, and cleaner way to clean my camera. I found a little product called “Pec Pads” on Amazon. It is basically a package of 100 disposable TRULY LINTLESS cloths. Use once and throw it away, so you don’t have to worry about lint getting on your lintless crap. For only $10, it’s a steal!

3)Memory cards are not created equal.
Without even arguing brand, let us talk about speed for a minute. If you do not know how to check the class of your memory card, you MUST read this article on memory cards. Suddenly, you’ll realize that it was your memory card, and not your camera, that was slowing things down.

4) The camera feels more secure with the center column of your tripod down.
When I go on workshops, I see about half of the photographers use the center column of their tripods to get the camera up to eye level. Most of the time, the photographers use the center column because their tripod is too short if only the legs are extended. When you buy a tripod, make sure to buy one that is tall enough to reach your eye level without using the center column. Need help with a tripod purchase? Here’s a list of tripods I personally recommend.

5) Exposure compensation is the best friend of a pop up flash.
Most photographers don’t use the pop-up flash because of the horrendous light quality it produces, but all of us get in a pinch sometimes where we use it to get a grab shot. You may not know that you can control the output of the flash by using the FLASH compensation setting in your menu. No, it is not the same thing as exposure compensation, which has no effect on the output of the flash.

Battery grip. Just plugs right in to the bottom of the camera.

6) A battery grip will be the best $50 you ever spend on your camera.
A battery grip is an add-on to the bottom of your camera that gives you another shutter button so you can hold the camera properly when shooting verticals. Also, it allows you to stack another battery in there. For some camera models, the battery pack will increase the frames per second you can capture and improves your autofocus speeds. For every camera model, it allows you to shoot for twice as long (read: an entire wedding) without changing batteries. Most battery packs by Canon or Nikon cost $250 or more. Fortunately, there are many third-party batter packs available and most of them are EXACTLY as good as the Canon or Nikon battery grip. Copy this paragraph and email it to your spouse. Make the subject line of the email “Christmas idea.”

7) You don't need 3 pictures of every picture.
This weekend, I hired 3 models and a few assistants for a MASSIVE portrait photography shoot in a studio, a soccer field, a barn, an urban city, and in a lake (yes, IN the lake). It was a giant production that lasted 12 hours. How many memory cards do you think I needed for that shoot? Answer: one. I shot a total of 420 pictures. Why so few? I only took one frame of each pose. When you have the fundamentals of sharpness down, it will no longer be necessary to take multiple photos of the exact same pose in hopes of getting a sharp one. I always tell every model I work with that they should vary up the pose slightly every time they hear the shutter snap. If I really want to go back and work on one pose, I’ll say so. Working this way is much more efficient, and you will save time editing. Also, I believe I came home with more DIFFERENT poses than if I had taken multiple pictures of every pose.

8)The LCD will like like a politician.
Photographers call it “chimping” when someone looks at every shot on the LCD after it is taken. The name comes from people looking at the camera and repeatedly saying “oooh” like a chimpanzee. Anyway, looking at the LCD all the time can distract you from shooting, but the point here is that, if you don’t check the histogram rather than the picture on the LCD, then chimping isn’t going to do you much good. Think about it. You already knew what the composition and lighting would look like before you took the shot. You don’t need an LCD for that, you only need a viewfinder. The purpose of chimping, for me, is mostly to see the histogram.

Why look at the histogram rather than simply looking at the picture to determine if it is properly exposed? The problem is that an LCD is made up of little lights! If you look at the screen when it is dark outside, the photo will look VERY bright. If you look at the picture when it is bright outside, the photo will look dark. Judging exposure by looking at the picture on the LCD is a terrible habit. When you get home and put the photos on the computer, you’ll probably recognize that many of your photos are not properly exposed. You’ve probably heard this tip before, so START DOING IT!

Aww... See what I mean? This photographer obviously loves her camera enough to treat it right.

9) RAW files should never be left naked.
I always recommend that photographers shoot in RAW so that they have a greater latitude in post-processing. UNFORTUNATELY, I have spent enough time on Flickr to see that many many photographers shoot a RAW file, convert it immediately to JPEG, and then post it on the web. It is easy to spot because RAW files look totally naked. They have no sharpening, contrast, or color pop to them. Your camera would appreciate it if you either (1) shoot in JPEG so it can apply these things for you, or (2) never EVER convert a RAW file to JPEG without first dressing it up a little with some basic changes in Adobe Camera Raw or Lightroom. And, before you ask, the “clarity” slider in Adobe Camera Raw and Lightroom is NOT for sharpening.

10) Your camera doesn't have much to do with sharpness, so find something else to blame.
I have shot with almost every DSLR made by Canon, Nikon, and Sony produced in the last 5 years, and I have never seen a DSLR that is incapable of recording sharp images. That simply isn’t the problem. If your photos aren’t as sharp as you would like, then you should first fix your fundamentals and then determine the problem is caused by a cheap lens.

11) The camera strap that came with you camera is for lynch mobs, not photographers.
I survived about two weeks with the uncomfortable camera strap that came with my first camera. One of my first purchases was a cushy camera strap. I have gone through a couple different brands, but my current favorite is the Black Rapid camera strap. It’s a thing of beauty. Check out my full review of the Black Rapid strap here. It doesn’t matter which one you choose, but do your neck a favor and buy something comfortable. You can even by cheap cushioned straps on Amazon for as little as $10.

12) Erase all images and "format card" do very, very different things.
If you have been using “erase all images” then you will probably like reading this article, “9 Things Photographers Should Know about Memory Cards.”

Camera tips

13) Your camera craves customization.
Most higher end DSLRs (anything other than Canon Rebels and Nikon D3100s) give you the option of customizing what the buttons on your camera do. If you find yourself constantly going through the menus to do some things, you can customize your camera buttons to do that operation for you. Spend 10 minutes with your camera manual and you’ll have a much easier time shooting in the field. This is how many sports and wildlife photographers do “back button autofocus.”

If you enjoy reading the photography tips I write here on Improve Photography and want to be a part of the Improve Photography community, sign up for the email photography tips newsletter by entering your first name and email in the box on the right of the page near the large red arrow. Also, make sure to LIKE Improve Photography on facebook!

Published from here: http://improvephotography.com/2092/13-things-your-camera-wishes-you-knew/

I've been stuck

2011-12-13T04:26:00.000-08:00

On this site: Pinterest. I just hooked up with this site and I love it. I find myself browsing through photo's of food and drinks and crafty ideas the most. Here's some of the stuff I've been looking at.

Jam Straws. A quick breakfast idea that looks pretty.

One thing I have plenty of: pine cones. Now I have something to do with them.

This looks really easy, it's only 3 ingredients. Plus, I can play around with all

different types of flavors.

Spinach and Sausage Pasta. I've been mildly obsessed with sausage. Strange,

considering I didn't even like it until I was pregnant with Hannah.

Alcohol Ink Washer. This is a plain, hardware store washer. I LOVE it, and can't wait to make some. I just need to find Alcohol Ink.

A really neat and simple idea.

Christmas Mojito's, fun and festive.

And this is only a sample. Isn't it easy to see why I can't pull myself away from this site. In other news, I'm knocking out another exam today. After today, I'll only have one thing left to do by next Sunday. I gotta go get my books from the library!

Fitness Friday

2011-12-10T05:49:00.000-08:00

I stole this idea from: Carrots N Cake.

Five Fitness Things I Can't Live Without:
* Hair restraining device, most of the time this is a headband and a pony tail holder
* Moisture Wicking Shirt, I can't stand the way other shirts feel wet and itchy when I sweat a lot
* Ya know, there's not that much stuff I can't live without. I tried coming up with more answers but I realized that it's not happening. I guess I'm a low maintenance workout gal.

Most Embarrassing Songs I Listen to While Working Out:
* 3 by Britney Spears
* Circus by Britney Spears
* Spice World by Spice Girls
* There might even be some old school Hanson on my ipod!

My Fitness Bucket List:
* Disney Marathon
* Athens Marathon, where it all started
* A Triathlon

Must Have Stuff:
*Women's Health IPhone App, a great list of routines

* Good socks, different brands

* C9 Capris

Must Have Gear:
* Kettlebells
* My RoadID bracelet, in case anything goes wrong
* Weights, assorted sizes

Motivational Mantras:
* I am Superwoman
* My feet won't fail me now
* Just don't stop

Fave Cardio Moves:
* Lunges
* Squats

Fave Strength Moves:
* Shadow boxing, also good for stress relieving
* Push ups
* Overhead Press

I tried really hard to fill out this list more. But then I got to thinking about it and decided there's nothing wrong with not having *must haves.* Actually, I try to run my races "technology free" because I'm the type of person that gets too caught up in numbers. In the past, I have allowed the time on my garmin to hold me back by thinking "this is my pace because this is what I normally run" and don't push myself.

Happy Friday,

Do one thing to break a sweat today!

The skinny on skinny fat

2011-12-06T07:37:00.001-08:00

Below is an EXCELLENT article on the benefits of weight lifting and why weight lifting is essential to an weight loss program. I used to be just like the females the author describe, I didn't want to lift weights because I didn't want to get big muscles. The bottom line is your body will burn more calories at rest if you have muscle mass. The more muscle mass you have, the more calories you will burn. David once explained it to me using vehicles engines. A v8 uses more gas than a v6. It's the same concept really. Anyways, the article is great. You should read it: Skinny Fat.

Photographic Moments

2011-12-03T18:30:00.001-08:00

Every once in awhile I'm lucky enough to snap a truly awesome photo. I'm not going to claim that it's a talent I have, sometimes I just get lucky enough to have my camera ready at the right time. It probably doesn't hurt that I think I have some awesome subjects to snap pictures of! Here's a few of those truly awesome photo's.

Riley, fascinated with the lamp.

Hannah cuddling with Riley in her bassinet.

I LOVE this picture.

Her face cracks me up in this picture.

Like I said, it's easy to work with such gorgeous subjects!

DIY Book Wreath

2011-11-30T04:55:00.001-08:00

We saw this wreath in Greg's the last time we were in there and I fell IN LOVE with it! Only it was $40. And the more I studied it, the more I thought that David and I could make it. So I got David to take a look, and he agreed that we could do it. A couple of days later, I headed to a used book store, Paladin Used Books and picked up a grocery bag full of older books for $5.

Here's some pictures of us putting the first wreath together.

Staring up.

We just twisted the pages and then pulled the top edge out a little to slant it

and give it the cone look.

We attached to pages to a piece of cardboard we had laying around

Here's the rolling process. I know, real complicated, huh?

A side shot.

We did edge the pages with a black marker to give it some contrast.

I think I'll experiment with some paint because the markers gave it the

tiniest bit of contrast and I'd like a little more contrast in my wreaths.

Pandora Christmas Radio

Starting the second row.

Our finished product.

This was our first one. We've done two more since then. I'll throw some pictures up of them. The one I did turned out a little different because I placed the pages differently, not as organized. Incidentally, it turned out really pretty as well. I really like them. And they were so inexpensive! Our cost was less than $1.50 total. It's hard for my to calculate an exact price because we had so much of the stuff on hand. The only thing we purchased were the books and a bag of glue sticks. Right now the one's we're making are Christmas gifts for a handful of people. However, I am definitely making one for myself.

Last of the Leftovers

2011-11-29T18:51:00.001-08:00

Tonight's meal was one of those very proud moments for me. David normally gets home around 630. At 6, I began to ponder dinner. At 603, I threw dinner together.

I actually remembered to snap a photo.

In the mix is 2 small cans of salmon, 1 can of diced tomatoes with juice, 1 cup of edamame and a little bit of monterey jack cheese layed on top. Oh yeah, and all the leftover mac and cheese. I literally threw it all together an baked it for 30 minutes, It was fantastic. I am so happy that something I threw very little thought into turned out so yummy.

A Thankful Time

2011-11-25T06:59:00.001-08:00

It's a day late but still relevant.

1) My church family. The support they reached out to David and I while we're were going through Riley's hear surgery was nothing short of amazing and comforting.

2) My husband, David. There is not another person who supports my hopes and dreams like David so unselfishly. He puts his family first, and values his time with us. And he likes to have fun with us, sometimes he's a bigger kid than our kids.

3) My kids, Hannah and Riley. Hannah has the sweetest, most caring heart. It kind of amazes me because I don't see that in myself or David, at least not to the extent that Hannah has it. And Riley has amazed me with her recovery. She came through something so major so quickly. Less than 3 weeks out you would not know that she just had heart surgery.

4) My sister. Casey and I have always been close, even when we were younger. Don't get me wrong, we had the "mom, can't you get her to stop going in my stuff" fights but we have always been close. We don't look alike and we certainly don't act alike but over the years she has become so much more than a sister to me. I love her and miss her so much but am so happy for her.

5) The rest of my family, to include all the Cernock's. My mom and Art, for never failing to be there regardless of what is going on. My dad for being the strongest man I know, even if it drives me nuts most of the time. Amy and Tom for love and support that extends driving across half the country (practically) many times a year to be with us. Bob and Susan for dependability and help in times of need. And Bob specifically, for being an outlet for David. I could go on and on. Our family reached out to us this year in such a heartfelt, caring manner. I have no doubt that I could've called any one of you for help and our needs would have been met.

6) There's a handful of friends I call close. Those of you that know what I'm thinking and feeling when I'm not being honest about it. Thank you for being my checks and balances.

7) Elizabeth, my therapist. I've been seeing her consistently for a year, but overall for almost 2 years. She has helped me through the hardest times in my life. I believe that every breathing person could benefit from talking to a therapist. Who I am now is not the person I was year ago and a big part of that is her.

8) My home, the structure and the place. I complain about living in Fayetteville a lot but there are benefits to being here. I think it's pretty awesome, and convenient, that Michelle leaves less than 2 miles from me. Most of my family is within a 10 minutes drive. We're close to the beach. I see the community trying to evolve and it's neat to watch areas change and grow.

9) Our medical community. Our pediatrician for catching Riley's heart murmur within hours of her birth. This is VERY uncommon. Her cardiologist for the time he spent with David and I. The doctors and nurses at Duke (with the exception of one person). They saved my baby. And did an awesome job of it! The nurses in the PCICU were so caring. The whole experience was frightening but bearable because of the caring and attentive staff.

Things you probably don't know about Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T07:09:00.001-08:00

Here's some interesting things about turkey day:

Oh yeah, Happy Thanksgiving!

1. 91% of Americans eat Turkey on Thanksgiving.

2. The turkey we consume today is nothing like the turkey Americans ate 100 or 200 years ago. It has been bred for an extra large breast, just like its chicken cousin. In fact, the turkey’s body is so warped it cannot walk very well, nor can a turkey couple consumate their love in a natural manner – breeding is aided with technology.

3. There is a resurgence in heritage turkeys in the last few years, with some birds fetching prices of $100 or more for a 13 pounder.

4. Real turkeys can fly, but not the ones commercially grown.

5. The name “turkey” comes from the country of Turkey. A few hundreds of years ago, merchants from the Ottoman empire (headquartered in Turkey) brought fowl from Madagascar and traded it with the rest of Europe. Eventually the “Turkey Fowl” found its way to the new world, where it was bred with native wild fowl for consumption. The name “turkey fowl” was shortened to “turkey”.

6. If Ben Franklin would have had his way, the turkey would be our national bird, not the eagle. Thomas Jefferson said No, and ever since, a male turkey is also known as a “Tom”.

7. The original Thanksgiving feasts celebrated by the Pilgrims did NOT include turkey. They did most likely eat: wild game, berries, acorns, squash, fish, maple syrup, and cranberries.

8. The average turkey weighs 15 pounds, but the largest one clocked in at over 80 lbs!

9. Turkeys can die of heart attacks. How do we know. In the 1950′s when the Air Force test flights started breaking the sound barrier, nearby turkeys dropped dead. Turns out they were scared to death…

10. The presidential turkey pardon, in which 2 lucky birds’ lives are ceremonially spared by the US president, is a tradition that started with president Harry Truman.

Reblogged from: Fooducate

A reason to run

2011-11-22T11:37:00.001-08:00

Depending on the distance and the popularity of the event, a participant can pay a wide range of fees to run a race. The most I've paid to run a half marathon (the furthest race I've run to date) is $80. But I've also paid $50 for the same distance, in a different location. David and I signed up to run the Battleship Half but that ended up being the day we had to leave for Riley's surgery. I emailed the coordinators and explained my situation and even though refunds were not allowed, we did receive a refund. Last week I received an email from the race coordinator that went out to all race participants. This is what it said:

We've mailed out checks to almost all of our Race Beneficiaries and have donated over $12,000 from the race to local non-profits and charities. We've also mailed custom made shirts to the Marines of Combat Logistics Battalion 6 at Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan. We were able to do these things thanks to you for doing our race and thanks to our great sponsors including Carolina Sports Medicine, Port Land Grille, Trysports, Coastal Carolina Pathology; Murchison, Taylor & Gibson PLLC, and too many others to name.

This is the first time I've ever received information about what race fees went to. I thought I'd share. It made me smile to know that good things are being done. I hope it makes you smile as well.

Jogging with a Jogger

2011-11-22T05:40:00.001-08:00

1. You’re going to run slower, at least a minute (sometimes more) per mile for me. Get over it. Think of it as running + resistance training. It also works on your core.

2. Running with one hand pushing the stroller is easier than running with two hands pushing the stroller. As long as the road is straight and flat. Key phrase here: straight and flat. My routes never are, even on a paved track.

3. If you are running up over a curb or making a sharp turn, hold on to that stroller for dear life. With both hands.

4. Always strap your dear baby into the stroller. Even if she can’t move yet. And even if you’re just walking.

5. Hills have never been more difficult, remember; you're pushing a 15+ lb weight up that hill now. Also, use two hands to push that stroller up hill, it's easier (at least for me).

6. You have the best justification to stop for walking breaks…I need to check on the baby.

7. You always have a running buddy. I talk to Riley, she listens really well. ; ) We talk about what we see on our runs.

8. The stroller is a hand place to hold things you might want to take on a run but not normally have a place for; like your iphone/camera.

9. You’ll be amazed at how quick and coordinated you feel when you run without the stroller.

Idea Adapted from: Yes I Want Cake

Crazy Good: Pumpkin Sage Risotto

2011-11-20T12:56:00.001-08:00

Why don't I ever take my own photo's? Geez, I have got to get better about that!

We decided to have a Thanksgiving meal with Amy and Tom before they left. We planned a menu: fried turkey, macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes, brown sugar carrots and brussel sprouts, cornbread stuffing and this pumpkin sage risotto.

It looked just like this as I was making it:

Recipe

1 c of arborio rice

3/4 c broth

1/2 c dry white wine

1T sunflower oil

2.5T clarified butter

3/4 c diced onion

1 c pumpkin puree

1.5T fresh sage

2t garlic

Salt

toasted walnuts/parmesan/fried sage

In a large pan, over medium heat, melt 1T ghee with 1T oil. Add onion and cook 4-6 min, until soft, stirring frequently. Add rice + garlic, and cook for another 1 min, stirring constantly. Add wine and stir constantly until it is absorbed. Add pumpkin and stir slowly + constantly for about 3-5 min until thickened. Add in 1c veggie stock, stirring constantly until the liquid is absorbed. ~5-7 min. Repeat step 6, 3 times, stirring and waiting for liquid to absorb each time. After the 3c of stock is absorbed, taste test to see if the rice is cooked enough. It should have a slight al dente bite. If it’s not quite done, add 1/2c more stock, stirring until liquid is absorbed. Taste again and repeat step 9 if the rice still isn’t done. Once the rice is cooked all the way, stir in the remaining 1.5T ghee and salt + pepper to taste. The end result should not look wet, but very thick and creamy.Serve immediately and top with toasted walnuts, shaved parmesan, and fried sage leaves [as desired].

My variations:

I used a variety of broth and I did not use any white wine. I did use a chicken broth infused with white wine and herbs which smelled fantastic. I didn't use clarified butter or sunflower oil, because I didn't have these items. I also omitted the walnuts, just because. Do not omit the parmesan and fried sage, it's really brought the finished product together. For all those non pumpkin fanatics, this really didn't have a strong pumpkin flavor. You could also easily substitute butternut squash puree or sweet potato puree. Furthermore, it seems like an intensive recipe but it really wasn't. Don't rush it though, our else the risotto will not come out

Recipe Adapted from: The Edible Perspective

Date Night: The Wine Cafe

2011-11-20T06:42:00.001-08:00

While I was still pregnant, a new wine store opened up about 5 minutes from here. The Wine Cafe is a new, exciting addition to the little town of Hope Mills. Since they've opened, we've been many times but never have David and I been and both been able to drink. We have talked with the couple who owns it many times and they are so nice and helpful. They lead me to try this Fire Road Sauvignon Blanc, which is THE BEST Sauvignon Blanc I've had. And it comes at an awesome price, less than $20.

We started with some half glasses. I really like the emblem The Wine Cafe uses, with the wine bottle and vine.

But then we found this:

We shared a bottle of Amarone, for only $37. That's a great price for this wine. And reminisced about living in Italy.

These last two items go together, and are actually a gift for our friends Josh and Leah. David wanted to test the bags out! The owner gave us these sheets after we discussed our idea to her.

We got these for our own blind taste testing event in December with Josh and Leah. I'm going to go to the store and give her our money. She'll pick out three reds and a champagne, and bag them for us. That way we have no idea what we're getting.

So yes, after many glasses of wine we came home and had a blind taste test. As is always the case, I learned something about my taste in wine. I really liked the Hickory Ridge Norton. David and Amy preferred the Chianti. It surprised us all, David has never enjoyed Chianti and Amy is always so proud of her Norton's.

The Uniqueness of Runners

2011-11-16T18:20:00.001-08:00

I "borrowed" this from a friend:

Here are 10 reasons to celebrate why runners are a different breed of human:

1. We do everything low-carb diets say not to do. More pasta? Yes, please!

2. Using porta potties is normal. Porta-potties are a necessity, and at times the most beautiful site in the world. But we still get excited when we have a Brooks VIP porta potty pass.
3. We can lift weights without developing muscle mass.

4. We use the word “fartlek” in serious training conversations.
5. We automatically start humming the Chariots of Fire theme song when running (or walking) on a beach.
6. We replace our running shoes more often than we replace our toothbrushes.
7. We not only watch track races and marathons on TV, but are fascinated by the fact that the leader’s 18th mile was 2.8 seconds faster than mile 17. Gosh darn it, he’s running negative splits!

8. We consider chocolate milk to be a “recovery drink” and therefore a perfectly healthy excuse to consume more chocolate.
9. We use porta potties at least 12 times before a race. We no longer try to explain why to spectators.
10. We use watches to tell everything BUT the time: splits, distance, heart-rate, pace, elevation gain… Who cares what time it is?

What do you think makes runners so unique?

Speaking more for myself, I feel far more confident as a "runner." I try not to sounds cocky, because that's not what it is. For so long I never thought I was a runner. I thought because I was short, with short legs, that running wasn't for me. Then I learned how to run. I learned that running was 90% mental. It's still challenging. Every run I am forcing my body to do something my brain always said I couldn't do. But I do it, over and over again. I am religious about replacing my shoes. Also sports bras. I've tried for a long time to fight the porta pottie battle but I caved during my last half marathon.

So what do you think makes runners unique?

Pizza is a Vegetable?!?

2011-11-16T17:43:00.001-08:00

Pizza a Vegetable?

Next time you hear a legislator talk about how it’s “all for the children,” ask them how they voted on this bill. This exercise in lawmaking should be taught in civics classes everywhere so young people can really understand who this Congress is — and isn’t — working for.

Yes, you read that right. A proposed bill would allow pizza to be a vegetable as long as it had at least 2 tablespoons of tomato sauce on it. In case you don't want to read the article, the article talks about a bill introduced to Congress that would allow public schools to consider pizza a vegetable as long as there is a small amount (1/2 cup) of tomato sauce on it.

Might that be a reason for this:

The scary though? Even though this story is making headlines now, as an incredulous thought, it stands too good of a chance of actually getting passed.

Something fun

2011-11-14T11:38:00.001-08:00

That I've decided to participate in: Gift Exchange. Star & Jennifer's Christmas Gift Exchange!

Welcome friends! Today, Star from Star's Pink World and Jenniferfrom Crazy Shenanigans are announcing a great gift exchange! With the holiday season fastly approaching and our deep love of the season, we've decided to team up and host this years Blog Gift Swap!

Interested in participating and getting a great package of goodies in the mail?Everyone is welcome to participate! All you have to do is sign up, be willing to send out a package spending a minimum of $20.00 with a maximum of $30.00 before shipping to your swap partner and answer the few simple questions below.

Here's all the details:

1st- Comment or Link Up That let's us know you want to participate

2nd- Answer the questions below and email them to:Holidayblogswap@gmail.com

3rd- Let us know if you're willing to ship your package overseas.

Then watch your e-mail for your swap partner & all their information.

Don't forget to include your mailing address in the e-mail along with your responses to the questions

Here's all the dates:

The cut off for signing up is midnight on: Monday, November 28th.

You're partners information will be sent via e-mail &posted on: December 1st.

We request that everyone send their packages by Thursday: December 15.

Just Answer these Questions! That way your partner will have some idea what to fill your box up with.

1. Favorite colors, candies, snacks and treats:

2. Favorite holidays items:

3. Do you like to bake/craft/scrapbook for christmas?

4. Any specific colors or holiday ornaments you decorate with or collect?

5. Name 3 items you always love to have/get/use:

We hope to see all of you participate!

Whole Foods!

2011-11-13T20:42:00.001-08:00

Sunday night as we were driving around Durham, trying to kill nervous energy and time, we stumbled across a Whole Foods. Now, I'm a foodie. I love all things unique, different, hard to find, decadent and delicious. I'll try anything at least once and there are few things I've tried that I don't like. I love Trader Joe's. They have all kinds of cheap, organic stuff. They also have some of the best scottie dogs (black licorice) and chocolate covered cherries. So I've heard lots about Whole Foods but have never had the opportunity to go in one. Seeing it, I knew I had to go. And I must say, it's a small slice of heaven. Is it more expensive? Yep, it is. But it is better quality. Everything they carry is of the purest quality available. Meaning real ingredients that you can pronounce! Here's just a few of the things I'm super excited about from my trip.

This citrus blend of sparkling water is awesome. I wish I had bought more than 2 bottles.

They're extra crunchy. A little too crunchy for David but they have a really

great cheddar flavor.

I haven't opened this yet, I'm saving it for Thanksgiving. But I don't need

to open it to know I like it. I used to get these all the time in Italy.

Trader Joes carries a far bigger selection of wine and beer. Not only that, but they have cheap wine and beer that's good! They also have lots of unique things. They carry a big selection of pumpkin stuff. Whole Foods has a huge section of pure health remedies, which I thought was fantastic. Whole Foods also has a huge bulk section. You don't have to buy it in bulk though. It's set up so that you can buy exactly what you need or want. I got some Muesli and Pumpkin Granola and Quinoa. I also got a veggie soup spice blend and a thai seasoning blend. The prices in the bulk section were VERY reasonable. Next time I visit a Whole Foods, I'm really going to take advantage of this section.

So it looks like heading to Raleigh is just going to become a staple. I can hit Trader Joes and Whole Foods. Between the two of them, what more could a person desire.

Look! Look! Look!

2011-10-28T16:25:00.000-07:00

More seltzer water! I love La Croix brand, I wish it were a little bit

cheaper though. As it stands, I save it for splurging. And I had to splurge when I

saw this new brand. I also got another pack of the coconut. I really love the coconut flavor. I also like that my grocery store now carries it in this bigger plastic bottles.

Holiday Herbal Teas, like this one. But not excluded to this one. I also like Egg'noggin.

This flavor is decaf, which means I can enjoy it at night.

Lunges. Truly a wonderful, always hard, exercise. At least for me. I did these, in sets of 15, for 10 minutes after my run the other day and I am still feeling it!

Adventures with Venison

2011-10-21T08:22:00.000-07:00

*Graphic Images Below*

Last week another officer called David and told him that a different police officer had hit a deer on his way to work, did David want to come get it. Of course David did! Around here we don't care how the deer ends up in our freezer, just as long as it ends up in our freezer. The deer had only been dead about 10 minutes and the guy calling us estimated it was 150 lbs. David was on a tight schedule, by the time he got the deer home he would only have about 30/45 minutes before he had to leave to go to work.

8 points. That's a big deer here in eastern NC.

We got it done. I helped. By helped, I mean I let David boss me around and tried not to get in his way. He gutted it, I packed it on ice and he went to work. When he got home, David and Donnie dressed the deer, in the dark, in the garage.

Here's one of the tenderloins.

After letting it sit on ice for a week, we got to butchering it. Letting it sit on ice for a few days removes some of the gamey taste by draining off the blood.

Thanks to my dad and his electric grinder, it took A LOT less time than with the hand grinder. We spent more time grinding a smaller deer with the hand grinder

last year.

For a deer that had been hit by a car, we lost very little meat; no more than 3 pounds.

Now we have two full freezers.

What I've learned about the heart

2011-10-19T03:25:00.001-07:00

I've waited a long time to make this public. At first, it was because we didn't know how serious it would turn out to be, and it could have been a relatively simple fix. Heck, it could have fixed itself. But it didn't. So here's the breakdown. When Riley was less than 24 hours old, David and I were told that she had a medium sized Ventricular Septal Defect. It was terrifying. It felt like someone had ripped the bottom from our world when they told us. I'll never forget sitting next to David after the doctor left our room. The expression on our face was one of pure shock. How could Riley possibly have something wrong with her, she looked perfect. Our pediatrician came back to see us later, and talked some of our fears down. At that time the diagnosis was a 6 mm hole in the wall separating her right and left ventricle. Sometimes, the hole will close up on it's own. In those instances when it doesn't, and surgery is required, it can be put off for years as long as symptoms don't become present. On August 16th, I took Riley to see her cardiologist for a routine checkup. At this appointment, we discovered that the hole was larger, over 7 mm and another defect was found, a problem with her mitral valve. Surgery was talked about. We knew if it didn't start to close up on it's own that this size hole would need to be fixed with surgery. We knew the call would be made at her 6 month visit. So David and I began to mentally prepare for open heart surgery in January. On October 12th, her cardiologist said that he could feel her liver, a sign that it had enlarged. This is a direct problem of her VSD. I had also noticed some changes in her breathing while eating, another symptom associated with VSD. Now surgery is next month. David and I are traveling to Duke Children's Hospital to meet the surgeon. We'll schedule the surgery that day. Miss Riley will be in ICU for a couple of days following surgery, then moved to a regular room before being released. It looks like we'll spend at least a week at Duke. All in all, it's terrifying. I think about my baby, less than 4 months old being hooked up to a bunch of machines. I think about her possibly being chemically paralyzed while in ICU. Doesn't that sound lovely. I think about being there when they put her under and then having to walk away. It's more than I think I can bear, but I do. And then, I think about Hannah. Mostly about being there for her less as I tend to Riley. David has thrown himself into work. Sometimes I look at him and can see him completely zoned out and I know what he's thinking about. Through all this, an amazing support group has surrounded us. Now, if we could be a little better about accepting help, things might actually get a little easier! This is our life for the next couple of months and I hope that you'll all take a minute and pray for my family, if you're the praying type, because this is certainly the hardest thing we've ever faced.

Woman finishes Chicago Marathon, then gives birth

2011-10-11T10:57:00.000-07:00

Woman finishes Chicago Marathon, then gives birth

It's quite the story, a celebration of life.

Another What I'm Loving!

2011-10-10T18:42:00.000-07:00

I downloaded this app a few months ago but just now got around to using it.

It works great! I ran 4.2 miles tonight and it matched up 9 songs to my pace perfectly, 9 songs from my running playlist. It's nice to not have to skip songs because it doesn't match up with my running. Even though I have a running playlist, it's not perfect, mostly because I'm a little lazy on the upkeep of my playlists. You can also manually speed up or slow down the pace of the songs for warmup/cool down.

Godiva Chocolate Rewards Club: Join Now or Sign In

2011-10-10T12:31:00.000-07:00

Free chocolate, what could be better!!

Godiva Chocolate Rewards Club: Join Now or Sign In

Things I'm Loving Right Now

2011-10-06T12:05:00.000-07:00

These are recent discoveries in my life that I am absolutely loving right now!

Yes, that's coconut seltzer water. Very good. Different, but take my word

for it, good.

So these are my new candles from Target. They bleed!

This white skull now has blood pouring out of it's eyeballs.

Both these items came from Target. I do so love that store, it's probably a good thing that there's not one closer.

The last 30 years

2011-10-03T07:25:00.000-07:00

Today I turn 30. Looking at these photo's I am reminded how truly awesome the last 30 years have been.

@28 years

I have a husband that loves me and wants all my dreams to come true just as much as I do. I have two girls that make me smile so many times a day. I have a sister who is also my best friend.

@23 years, the Corn Pops Cake from my then neighbor Amanda.

This was my first birthday in Italy. It's early because Amanda

was going to be in the states for my birthday.

I have the most incredible friends. Friends that have gone the extra mile for me.

Friends that are always there, friends that make me laugh and smile.

@24 years, David just got through leading this Oktoberfest

beer tent crowd in Happy Birthday for me.

while away at Oktoberfest my neighbors Claire and Monika

did this to our apartment.

that's 3 tiers!

@23 also, from then neighbor's Nicole and Kyle.

@29 years, from Leah. From DC she coordinated a birthday cake for her and I.

We couldn't celebrate together so she coordinated birthdays cakes for me at her house and my house so we could still celebrate together. We may have had a bottle of wine together, over the phone!

@27 years, with Kelly, my longest friend. I just realized, are the 3 cakes

in this pictures?!?!

This weekend was exactly what I wanted. A bbq with friends, a little bit of beer (ok, maybe more than a little) and lots of laughing. Yesterday the wee one (Riley) was dedicated at church. I spent the afternoon with family. Today my mom, Hannah, Riley and I are going to go to tea time. David's bringing me dinner. It's just life, with a lot of love.

And I could not ask for more.

What I'm up to

2011-09-28T04:26:00.000-07:00

I've been working out 5 and 6 days a week, most of it at home or running because it's what's easiest with the wee one. I really like the selection of dvd's I have.

I'm a Jillian Michaels fan. I know everyone is not but I like the way she gets in a persons ass. That motivates me.

I really like both of these. I like that they're 2o minutes workouts. I like that I break a sweat and that it's a challenge for me. I also like that no matter what, I have time for Jillian Michaels! I'm not your typical yoga fan. Right now, I need it to help with my balance and flexibility. I'm pretty flexible but my balance left when I gave birth! SHe also throws in low impact cardio moves, which I really like. Finally, the step plan she has in her workouts allow a person to see how they're progressing.

I know I'm behind the power curve on this one. This was my mother's day present. It's a great workout! It pushes me to my limits and then some. I'm always a hot, sweaty mess when I finish. I like that. I feel like I've accomplished something when sweat it pouring off me.

In other news, I ran 6 miles Monday night and could've gone on for another 6. I found my groover. It was a slow 6 miles but with 3 half marathon's coming up in the next 6 weeks, I'm less concerned with time and more focused on my mileage. Monday night was the first time I felt confident that I would be able to 13 miles in a month. I feel good about myself. I feel myself getting strong.

I've also decided to sign up for the White Lake Sprint Tri next May. I get butterflies in

my stomach just thinking about it. But I'm going to do it. I won't make time to swim if I don't force myself to have a reason. I figure this is the best way to do it. The sprints are short distances and I think I could complete it without "training" for it. But I"m going to train. Transitions are hard. I've biked and then gone straight into a run, it's really difficult. Your legs don't want to make the transition and you feel like you're going so slow. It took about a half a mile to work that feeling out.

I'm excited. On October 23rd, David is running in the Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon. This was my first, and to date, last, half marathon. I'm giving myself two more weeks to decide whether I'll run it with him. I think I am though. Two weeks later, I'm running the Battleship Half with David. Five days later we're running the JSOC 10k which will be my first trail run, mud included. Then, a week later, we'll be doing the Beer Run. Two weeks later, the Reindeer Fun Run. And then a break. I'm excited, it's going to be a busy 2 months.

The difference between a Mac and a PC user

2011-09-16T14:34:00.000-07:00

I think this article is very interesting!

Report shows cultural, political gaps between Mac and Window users

Mac users lean left and trend chic, while PC users like their soda caffeinated and their motorbikes loud

By Ted Samson | InfoWorld

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If you're a liberal-leaning urbanite who prefers bistro-type French fries to McDonald's fries, you're more likely to consider yourself a Mac person. If, on the other hand, you're a suburbanite who prefers a tuna fish sandwich to shwarma, a Harley to a Vespa, and "20/20" to "60 Minutes," you're more likely to fall into the Windows (or PC) camp.

Those, at any rate, are among the findings in a report compiled by Hunch.com, based on more than 80 million aggregated responses to an array of questions gathered from March 2009 through April 2011. Hunch stresses that correlation doesn't imply causation, meaning it would be imprudent to conclude, for example, that using a Mac will turn you into a liberal or that spending more time viewing Hollywood films instead of indie films will lure you to Windows-based computing.

According to Hunch, 52 percent of its users identified themselves as PC users, while 25 percent deemed themselves Mac people. The remaining 23 percent chose neither.

In general, the report found that PC users are more likely to be between the ages of 35 and 49, live in a suburban or rural area, and prefer casual fashion trending toward jeans. Among soft drinks, they lean toward Pepsi, Jolt, and Orange Crush. During cocktail hour, they opt for strawberry daiquiris, Irish coffee, or screaming orgasms; if going to the vino, they'll take California-style Chardonnay, a white zin, or pinot grigio.

PC users tend to consider themselves less tech-savvy than Mac users do, and they tend to be relatively late adopters of new technology. Windows users' magazines of choice include TV Guide, Redbook, and US Weekly -- compared to Mac users who prefer reading Dwell, ReadyMade, and MacWorld.

Mac users, as noted, are more likely to live in a city, to lean left politically, and to have a four-year college degree or higher (67 percent vs. 54 percent among PC users). They're 80 percent more likely to be vegetarian than self-described PC users.

Among their preferred soft drinks are San Pelligrino Limonata and Boylan's Root Beer. At the bar, they prefer ordering a hot toddy, a gimlet, or a Moscow mule as a cocktail, or a chianti, Côtes du Rhône, or cabernet sauvignon among wines. They also say they throw parties more often than PC users.

When hitting the Web, Mac users' top destinations include Huffington Post, Apartment Therapy, and Boing Boing, as opposed to PC users who head to I Can Haz Cheeseburger, Go Fug Yourself, and CNN.com. Mac users are also 27 percent more likely to choose the New York Times over USA Today for the paper-based media intake.

Among other differences, Mac users say they have stronger verbal skills than PC users; PC users consider themselves better at math. Mac users prefer modern art, while PC users are more likely to appreciate a work of Impressionism.

There may be much on which self-described Mac and PC users disagree, but they do have common ground one on particular TV show: Both camps say "The Office" is the funniest show on television, though among PC users, "South Park" is tied for that top slot.

This story, "Report shows cultural, political gaps between Mac and Window users," was originally published at InfoWorld.com. Get the first word on what the important tech news really means with the InfoWorld Tech Watch blog. For the latest developments in business technology news, follow InfoWorld.com on Twitter.

Let's see....I am not liberal leaning, I do not have a four year degree but I am closing in on that. I am not a vegetarian although I believe in the benefits of eating vegetarian and our meat consumption is low. However, I do love San Pellegrino and Cab Sav (my personal favorite) and my verbal skills are MUCH better than my math skills. What do you guys think?

Another one for the books

2011-09-07T05:13:00.000-07:00

Join Us For the Pink Shamrock 5k

Run/Walk & Street Party
Saturday, Sept. 24 at 5pm

This event benefits the 1in9 Breast Cancer Organization

1 in 9 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and one of these women could be someone you love. 1in9 assists women facing financial crisis due to a breast cancer diagnosis. To learn more visit www.1in9.com.

Plan to stay after the race for a great block party hosted by Hibernian Irish Restaurant & Pub in the popular South Glenwood area.

Your registration includes Irish food (banger & mash or shephard's pice). It also includes your first beer (age 21+).

Party with your friends to great music and fun.

Run Wild 5k Review

2011-08-22T05:27:00.000-07:00

Here's my race recap.

We were up by 420 and out the door by 5 am. We got to the park at 630, which was perfect. David went and collected our packets while I fed Riley. At 715, we headed to the race start and hung out with the other strollers. Strollers were supposed to have a later start time because of the narrow path throughout the park. That didn't really happen so the race start was rough. It took close to a half mile to get out of the congestion. It was really hard navigating a jogger around single people in the narrow clearing. Note: all photo's are blurry! Hey, I was trying to snap photo's without coming to a stop, and this getting run over.

That black person is someone in a gorilla costume.

Blurry me.

Right after our finish.

All of us.

Kids fun run. It was 2/10ths of a mile, which is the farthest Hannah has ever run.

If you look, she's kind of in the middle, between the girl in a pink shirt and khaki shorts and a girl in a yellow shirt and pink bottoms.

David and Hannah at the beginning of the kids run.

Finishing up. She's done other kid fun runs but this time she seemed nervous.

So David stayed with her the whole run.

After her run, you can see her medal in this one.

We went to the zoo after the race. I didn't take many photo's of the animals. We spent most of our time in Africa. Hannah really like the elephants. We went back and saw them a second time before we left. However, we did go up on the giraffe stand while two giraffe's were there. Hannah stood up there, feeding them, for probably 10 minutes. It wasn't very crowded and as long as you let other kids feed the giraffe's too, the trainers didn't care how long the kids were up there. She loved feeding them.

I enjoyed the route. It was very challenging, it was nothing but short, rolling hills. It was a constant up down, which I found really difficult for my third run since having Riley. But I'm glad I did it. My other complaints have to do with the race set up. The race was organized by nothing but volunteers. Race entry was average for a 5k. However, if you wanted to get into the zoo later the only discount you received was a free kids entry. Now, the race entry was double the entry price into the park. There was no need for officers to hold traffic, since it was all on park property. In other words, the profit margin was larger in this race than a typical race, yet participants didn't receive much a discount for the zoo. Free entry into the zoo would have been awesome but unrealistic, a discount into the zoo would have been nice. I know, we still paid entry into the zoo but it just didn't feel right to take Hannah on a run through the zoo, past animals exhibits, and then not take her into the zoo. On the other hand, this is the first time the race has been run since 1994, so chances are things will be very different next year. Oh yeah, we didn't see any animals! We ran past plenty of animal exhibits, but no one was out! And the water setup was a little sloppy. They had big jugs set up with water and gatorade that individuals had to fill up themselves with small plastic cups. I like the ease of water bottles.

So would I do it again? Probably, I need to redeem my finish!

Saying Goodbye

2011-08-19T05:30:00.000-07:00

We all say goodbye to people we love many times a day. It's a little different when you know it's the last time you'll say goodbye to that person. My grandma has been battling cancer for about 2 years now but her fight is coming to an end. This past Wednesday I drove my mom and I up to see her. She lives about 3 hours north of where I live. Things made a turn for the worse a couple months ago, when I was so far along in my pregnancy I knew it wasn't safe for me to go see her in the long term hospital she was in. Now she's home for good. And I really wanted her to meet Riley. We spent 4 hours at her house and I wish I could say it was an awesome visit. The truth is, I'm not sure she was even aware I was in the room. She showed no signs of recognition when I was in the room. They say that hearing is the last to go, so I hope that's true.

These are just the pictures I have on my computer:

Christmas 2008

October 2009

May 2010

2010

We talked about her programs; The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless. How is it that the people on this show have not aged in 15 years??? I want some of that skin care stuff! She's watched it as long as I can remember. Riley cried for her. So I know even if she didn't see Riley, she heard her. The bedroom was covered in pictures, those from a camera and those from a child's hand. She was one of the few people in my family who remembered us the whole time we lived in Italy. She would call us. She always remembered David's birthday. She was also the only person in my family, outside of my mom, who ever sent David stuff while he was deployed. Not all of my memories of my Grandma Rose are pleasant ones, but these are the ones I'm going to remember.

Run Wild 5k

2011-08-17T04:38:00.000-07:00

Guess what I'm doing this Saturday??? You gotta it, running through the zoo! To say I"m excited is an under statement! There are some runs out there, like Disney's Wine and Dine Half Marathon and Marathon, that just sound like fun routes. This is one of those. We'll be running through the park. There's also a fun run for kids, and kids get a prize when they finish their run. After the race, we'll walk around the zoo for a little while. I don't care about my time. I'll take it slow and just finish.

Race Details

The 5K will take place on the property of the North Carolina Zoo, 4401 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro, NC 27205.

Runners and walkers will make their way from the North America section of the Zoo, pass through the Africa section, and finish the second half of the race on the beautiful, wooded Connector Trail. As you run or walk through the zoo, you may hear the morning howls of our Red Wolves or the wake up roars of our Lions.

The last race at the North Carolina Zoo was in 1994, so please join us as we bring back this fun family event!

Cornhole Boards

2011-08-16T05:16:00.000-07:00

Here's some of the corn hole boards that David has made for people.

These were for another police officer's wife. They requested to two colors and the

design on the boards.

In this case it was a fish.

Because the fish were hand drawn, David found himself frustrated more than a

few times.

This set was for Amy and Tom.

This is the end result of both sets.

Personal Questions

2011-08-15T05:05:00.000-07:00

What do you have on your bedside table?

I don't have a bedside table. I have a wall bed with a huge headboard. On that are a few books, my alarm clock, a picture of David, a tinkerbell statue painted by Hannah and a plant.

Do you have a tattoo?

I have four; a butterfly on my stomach, a heart on my right shoulder blade, shooting stars on my right foot and my astrological sign on my left ankle.

Do you believe in abstinence prior to marriage?

It's a wonderful concept. I didn't. But it's a beautiful thing when I see people who did.

What is your worst habit?

I play with my hair. All the time.

How do you handle finances in your relationship? Or, how would you like to handle money in your future relationship?

David and I have multiple joint accounts. It's what we started at 19, right before we got married and it's just what works for us. At this point, it would be way too confusing to change what we've been doing for 11 years. David knows how to pay all the bills, but it is something I typically do.

If you could change your name, what would you change it to?

Something more unique.

Where do you want to go on your next vacation?

Temecula, California

What is one political cause you feel strongly about?

Food regulations; those placed (or the lack thereof) on companies for advertising. The regulations placed on those who grow/raise food.

Have you ever stolen anything?

Aside from the occasional pen, or things of that nature, I can't think of anything I've stolen.

Tell us something embarrassing about yourself.

I'm shy about speaking up in Sunday School

My Signature Lifestyle

2011-08-11T12:12:00.000-07:00

is
romance

The results are in – your Signature Lifestyle is Romance. Inspired by distinguished European furniture designs, Romance delivers bespoke charm minus the fuss. It’s a fresh take on pretty that harmoniously blends carved woods and handcrafted finishing details with dressmaker fabrics. Layers of rich texture, curvaceous silhouettes, and antiques-inspired accessories complete this enchanting look.

It's not what I would've guessed, for sure! But reading it, I see that it is me. Plus I took the quiz 3 times, it a really short quiz, and I got this result twice. So it must be right. If your curious about your own style you can go here and find out: What's Your Signature.

2 Failed Births

2011-08-08T07:01:00.000-07:00

I thought about writing this for awhile. It's still hard for me to think about the now 2 Cesarean deliveries I've had. You see, when I got pregnant with Hannah I immediately knew I wanted a drug free labor. I felt pretty confident that I could do it too. I've got a hard head and a high tolerance for pain. I read one book on labor and delivery, which I thought was a great book by the way.

Easy Labor

I skipped the chapter on C-Sections. This was a mistake. I just didn't think I'd have a C-Section. I'm not sure why I thought I was immune to it.

Fast Forward to April 30, 2007.

This is when I was admitted for labor. At the time I was admitted, my water had been broke for more than 24 hours. Another 24 later and I was no closer to having Hannah than I had been admitted. I still didn't consider how I would handle a C-Section. So after more than 72 hours of nothing, I had to have a C-Section. It devastated me.

It took me a long time to get pregnant this time. Almost 2 years. During that time, I did not have a cycle or ovulate. We (myself and the many doctors I saw) are not sure why this happened. Late last summer I made a decision to stop taking all the medicine I was on, and 6 weeks later I was pregnant. I knew I didn't want another C-Section and made it very clear to my doctor. He was fine with this, in fact, he said he would rather me have a VBAC than another C-Section.

On July 15th, I walked into labor and delivery for my scheduled C-Section. It devastated me. The C-Section was scheduled on the 13th, so I had some time to prepare, and feel sorry for myself. I didn't tell anyone. If I couldn't admit it to myself, how could I admit it to anyone else? I was ashamed and I couldn't let go of the hope that I would have a VBAC. That hope did not vanish until I was wheeled into the surgical room. While getting checked in and prepped, I continued to cry. You see, I felt like a failure. As with Hannah, my body never progressed to active labor. My body can't do what God designed a female's body to do. I can not delivery a baby naturally. I felt broken. And yes, I know how ludicrous this all sounds, but it's still how I felt.

I blogged about the birth of both kids; here: Hannah's story, Pt l and here: Riley's Story, Pt l.

Looking back now, I think having the 2 days to let the possibility sink in helped. After I had Hannah, I was still pretty upset about the C-Section. I still thought about it and "my failure" after it was all said and done. With Riley, I don't think about it so much. I find it easier to forget it all now that she's here. I've also conceded that if we have any more kids, I will likely have to have a C-Section. It doesn't mean that I won't hold out as long as possible, it just means I see things a little more realistically.

I don't like to give people advice, unless they ask for it. But I am now. Don't skip the C-Section chapter.

*Update*

I want to clarify that I no longer feel like I failed at anything. The title simply refers to how I did feel. It's me being completely honest about how hard it was for me to come to terms with the hand I was dealt. Right or wrong, we can't help the way we feel. And for a long time, I selfishly wanted labor to go my way. However, I think if I had educated myself on C-Sections, it wouldn't have been as hard on me to accept it.

Kitchen Shelves

2011-08-07T07:04:00.000-07:00

We started here a couple days ago. We've had the makings for the shelves for two months. These shelves are part of the kitchen addition and we know how long that's taken!

Yesterday we did this. But we weren't satisfied with the way it looked, so we played around with some things until we got it just right.

And eventually it looked like this:

Here's the other side. I've had these glasses for years. They've been safely tucked away in the boxes they came in because I didn't have a safe place to put them. The tall glasses were bought in Italy before Hannah was born. They are Murano glass. The decanter and mini glass set came from Prague and are crystal. The short glasses were a gift from Amy and Tom.

Again, we weren't happy with the original appearance so we played around with the glasses until we came up with this:

I love the way the shelves turned out. And I'm so happy to finally have a place for my glasses. Now we can actually use them! As always, there are things we would do differently about the shelves, if we were to do them again. With every part of this addition we've learned what we would, and wouldn't, do the next time.

I had a craving

2011-08-04T14:29:00.000-07:00

for some cookies. I also had some very ripe bananas. So I made these:

Butterscotch Banana Cookies

And there are WONDERFUL!!!

Coming soon

2011-07-26T05:31:00.000-07:00

Riley Moon.....

Hot

2011-06-21T11:59:00.000-07:00

98F, feels like 101F. Chance of rain: 30%. My large, pregnant belly and I are going to stay inside. Possible a Law and Order marathon?

A roller coaster

2011-06-16T17:36:00.000-07:00

of emotions, is what today has been. Days like this are so hard. I feel like a lunatic. I feel like crying. I feel terrified. I could go on and on. Granted, a lot has happened in the last couple of days. David's income went down, as we no longer receive the GI Bill. This has me freaking out, in a panic about how next month is going to go. Also, my sister told me Tuesday that she's leaving in 4 days for California. And I'm really sad about that; I'm going to miss them! And I just want to spend as much time with her as possible but I"m not the only one! The well we've been digging has hit a big snag. Mostly due to our, er Davids, doing but that's beyond what matters. What matters is that we now have to spend more money to fix it, and the hole will have to be re-dug. At least we know how far down we have to go down to hit water! David's doing good managing my roller coaster today. He calmly explained that I was just in a panic because our little lady will be here soon and my panic revolves around her arrival and making sure everything is perfect! Now, if I weren't pregnant, I would probably fix this with a bottle of wine. Seeing as how I can't do that, I had a giant piece of chocolate cake with cool whip icing from my Sunday School baby shower this past Sunday. And it was delicious. I do feel better. And that's what's going on in the little world.

Do you see what I see????

2011-06-14T05:10:00.000-07:00

You might remember that I was unsure where I had planted the 3 berry bushes within the garden. One never made it last year. Out of the remaining two, one had thorns. So I knew it had to be a blackberry or a raspberry and only time would tell.

Looks like blackberries.....

There's a reason they say

2011-06-11T10:35:00.000-07:00

that it doesn't pay to be the good guy! Thursday, David and I stopped by our local Food Lion to pick up a few things. One of those items being a carton of cigarettes. There was some confusion surrounding our check out, and in short, we left with a carton of cigarettes that I later confirmed we did not pay for. This morning I took my receipt back up to Food Lion to let them know about the mistake made and pay for the cigarettes. David thought I was goofy, that I should just take it as good fortune and go along but I have a horrible guilty conscious! I just couldn't do that. So I do my shopping and head to check out. I inform the clerk of what happened and give her the old receipt. There are two other employees standing there, one walks away with my receipt. She comes back a few minutes later, informs me that I did not pay for the cigarettes and tells the cashier what to do. Then she walk away. While bagging my groceries, they try to give me another carton of cigarettes twice. Which I hand back to the cashier both times. I left. Without one thank you. Without one acknowledgement that I could have kept my unpaid cigarettes. I didn't do it for any recognition but I don't think a 'thank you" is expecting too much. Not to mention, they kept trying to "give" me another carton of cigarettes that I continued to hand back over. I mean, really Food Lion, shame on you!

What I learned this past week about my doctor

2011-06-11T10:15:00.000-07:00

It's a service. I think many people overlook this thought. It's a service I pay for! No different than choosing a mechanic or home service repairman. A few weeks ago, I had a horrible visit at my doctor's office, Fayetteville Women's Care. I requested an exam that the doctor disagreed with. I insisted, and thus the worst exam I've ever had! I felt that this had occurred because the doctor disagreed with me to begin with. The doctor was rushed, impatient and very rough with me. I left the office knowing that I did not want this man anywhere near me while I am in labor. Now, it took me a very long time to get to where I am today, 35 weeks pregnant. It took almost 2 years of trying to figure out why things were not working normally with my body. I saw my doctor regularly to try and fix the problem I was having. Furthermore, I do not want another C-Section. In short, because of my past and what I want from this pregnancy, I need to know that the doctors in charge of my care are being patient with me, and advocating on my behalf. Yet, when I feel I am treated differently because I simply disagree with you, this is not what you, as a doctor's office, are relaying to me. Up until a few years ago, my medical care fell under the Army, which I loved. But it's a lot different in the civilian world. Now, I've paid for my portion of the labor and delivery. It had to be paid months ago. However, I am not bound to this clinic. See, any one of the four doctors at the practice may deliver may baby, it just depends whose on call. This is the tricky part in me knowing I don't want this particular doctor. The key thing for me to remember is that a resident at the hospital can deliver my baby. If the said doctor is on call, I can still refuse service! How awesome is that! I think it's something, as patients, we typically overlook. We have a choice. The bottom line is that I paid for this. And I can take my money, and pregnancy, somewhere else. For us, we have talked our feelings over with another doctor. David and I are going to talk to the specific doctor at my next appointment, in attempt to resolve this before my labor. I really just want to take this to remind you all of the power you have!

Changes, Changes

2011-06-11T04:25:00.000-07:00

Let's see, I've got 5 weeks to go to my due date. I'm ready. I'm hot, sweaty and sticky all the time. North Carolina has had upper 90F and 100F temps for the last two weeks. My pregnancy is going great. Overall, the whole thing has. My biggest struggle has been the lowered motivation throughout the entire pregnancy, much lower than with Hannah. We're ready for baby, as far as our house goes. I do still need to put my hands on the car seat base. And I should put together a bag for the hospital, but I just don't feel a need to do those. I hope my sister doesn't read that, she lectures me about those two things every time we talk right now! Also, I discovered yesterday that I haven't gained a single pound since February. Sounds off, huh? Well, if you'd seen me through this pregnancy it wouldn't seem so off. I gained about 20 pounds over the course of January and February. When it happened, I really freaked out! I was searching for what I was doing wrong and panicking about how huge I would be at the end of my pregnancy. So my overall weight gain is perfect. It makes me feel so much better about myself to know that it wasn't my habits that caused that super rapid weight gain. It seems that it was just how this pregnancy is going to go. We have not nailed down a name for baby girl number 2. Actually, David and I don't even talk about it right now. We have a short list, very short (6 names). I keep joking that she'll have a name when we meet her. I've put together my post pregnancy race schedule. So far, it's got 2 10k's and a half marathon throughout October and November. I'd like to find a couple to do in September.
In other news, David has a new position on the police department: Special Projects Unit. According to the department website, SPU "consists of various specialized units that work on a variety of projects. Examples of the various projects are street level narcotics violations, robberies, quality of life issues and so on." I can't get too specific about what he does, but he LOVES it! He works Monday thru Friday, 8 hours shifts. He was holidays off. His hours vary daily; three days this last week he had to be at work at 4 am. SPU is a small, 6 person, team and what they do varies from day to day and sometimes within the day. He's having fun. I recently stumbled across a new blog: Views From My Squad Car. The author is hilarious. And it completely embraces what being a patrol officer is.

My musings

Moving

Look What I got...

Baking Roundup: Holiday Edition

If Your Camera Could Talk

I've been stuck

Fitness Friday

The skinny on skinny fat

Photographic Moments

DIY Book Wreath

Last of the Leftovers

A Thankful Time

Things you probably don't know about Thanksgiving

A reason to run

Jogging with a Jogger

Crazy Good: Pumpkin Sage Risotto

Date Night: The Wine Cafe

The Uniqueness of Runners

I "borrowed" this from a friend:

Pizza is a Vegetable?!?

Something fun

That I've decided to participate in: Gift Exchange. Star & Jennifer's Christmas Gift Exchange!

Whole Foods!

Look! Look! Look!

Adventures with Venison

What I've learned about the heart

Woman finishes Chicago Marathon, then gives birth

Another What I'm Loving!

Godiva Chocolate Rewards Club: Join Now or Sign In

Things I'm Loving Right Now

The last 30 years

What I'm up to

The difference between a Mac and a PC user

I think this article is very interesting!

Report shows cultural, political gaps between Mac and Window users

Mac users lean left and trend chic, while PC users like their soda caffeinated and their motorbikes loud

Another one for the books

Join Us For the Pink Shamrock 5k

Run/Walk & Street PartySaturday, Sept. 24 at 5pm

Run Wild 5k Review

Saying Goodbye

Run Wild 5k

Race Details

Cornhole Boards

Personal Questions

My Signature Lifestyle

isromance

2 Failed Births

Kitchen Shelves

I had a craving

Coming soon

Hot

A roller coaster

Do you see what I see????

There's a reason they say

What I learned this past week about my doctor

Changes, Changes

Run/Walk & Street Party
Saturday, Sept. 24 at 5pm

is
romance