It's been a while. Here's what's new in my neck of the woods:
* Summer racing season is in full bloom. I've done one of my three target races for the year, the American Fork Canyon Half Marathon. My goal was to finish it in under 2 hours and I crossed the line at 1:59:13. At mile 8, I was on target for a 1:53 finish, but I couldn't sustain the pace for the last five miles. It was an awesome race, with awesome organization and food at the finish line. I'll definitely be doing that one again in the future. Next up is the San Rafael Classic Olympic Tri next weekend. I've already resigned myself to my fate of coming in last. This really isn't about me being modest--I will be very shocked if I'm not dead last--but I'm just going to go out and do the race for myself and not worry about it...too much.
* As I was laying on the grass following my half marathon finish I was thinking "holy crap. I have to do this again, only I have to swim 1.2 miles and then bike 56 miles beforehand." I'm a wee bit nervous about that as well.
* While Wade was away on a scout trip this last week, I took the opportunity to redo the master bedroom. The inspiration hit one day while I was laying in bed reading. I find that I spend a lot of time in my room and when I looked around, it looked suspiciously like my college dorm. Specifically, there were mounds of books and papers and crap milling around and the walls were beat up from 10 years of living and so I decided to redo it. I knew that Wade wouldn't be on board--and it's easier to displace just one of you instead of both of you--so I waited until he left. Needless to say, he wasn't exactly thrilled when he got home, but it's done. When everything is put back together I'll post some pictures.
* The neighbors have put their house up for sale. I have been looking forward to this day for a long, long time. I hope it sells quickly to a family with respectable children that won't ring my doorbell incessantly at 9 in the morning. One can hope, right?
* My brother and his wife took the kids for the entire weekend this last weekend. It was awesome. Too bad that Wade and I were dead tired from our escapades (him--canoeing, me--running 1/2 marathon + redoing the master bedroom all week) to actually capitalize on this rare occasion. It was nice to only have to get ourselves ready for church (we were still late) and to sit through sacrament meeting without interruption (Wade had to speak though) and then come home and take an uninterrupted 3 hour nap. I guess it wasn't a complete loss. The house was really, really quiet though. Too quiet. That quickly changed the minute the kids returned.
* J. started piano lessons this month. He's been doing really well and seems to enjoy them.
* I was hired as a math tutor for my regular babysitter. We've worked out a deal where we tutor for an hour and then I get to go "exercise" for two hours. I'm still making a profit and she's earning some money for summer fun. It's a win-win situation. Originally, I was going to use my two hours for swimming, but have had to use it to run errands and such on a few occasions. I don't mind, because at least I don't have to drag the kids with me.
* The summer is simultaneously dragging and flying. I can't wait for school to start again, even if it means having to endure the morning routine again.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
What's For Dinner Wednesday--Balsamic Chicken Pasta Salad
Hey, look at me go!
This recipe was found on tasteofhome.com. It looked good and guess what...it was. I halved the recipe because it makes A LOT, but this is the recipe in it's full glory.
3 cups uncooked bow tie pasta
4 cups cubed cooked chicken
2 cups chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped red onion
4 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled (cheaters: real bacon bits found in the salad dressing aisle)
1/4 cup crumpled Gorgonzola cheese (found in the "exotic" cheese aisle)
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup minced fresh basil (cheaters: basil from a jar works too)
2 T brown sugar
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse in cold water; transfer to a large bowl. Add the chicken, tomatoes, onion, bacon and Gorgonzola cheese.
In a small bowl, whisk the oil, basil, vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, salt and pepper. Drizzle over salad and toss to coat; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
This was a very easy meal to throw together and it tasted great. Wade went back three times, so I'm guessing he really liked it. Warning though, the onion can be a little overpowering if you're not really an onion person.
This recipe was found on tasteofhome.com. It looked good and guess what...it was. I halved the recipe because it makes A LOT, but this is the recipe in it's full glory.
3 cups uncooked bow tie pasta
4 cups cubed cooked chicken
2 cups chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped red onion
4 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled (cheaters: real bacon bits found in the salad dressing aisle)
1/4 cup crumpled Gorgonzola cheese (found in the "exotic" cheese aisle)
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup minced fresh basil (cheaters: basil from a jar works too)
2 T brown sugar
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse in cold water; transfer to a large bowl. Add the chicken, tomatoes, onion, bacon and Gorgonzola cheese.
In a small bowl, whisk the oil, basil, vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, salt and pepper. Drizzle over salad and toss to coat; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
This was a very easy meal to throw together and it tasted great. Wade went back three times, so I'm guessing he really liked it. Warning though, the onion can be a little overpowering if you're not really an onion person.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Sweet Revenge
Oh. My. Heck. The days are FLYING, aren't they??? Well, they were until J got out of school. But still...it's been almost two weeks. I'm not doing so good with my resolution here...
Monday, I ran a Memorial Day 5k with my older brother. We did this same race last year. I love the race because it's (a) free and more importantly (b) you run a portion of it through American Fork cemetery where they've lined the pathway with American flags and theoretically you're reminded of the sacrifices made for the freedoms we enjoy.
The reason behind the theoretically will be divulged shortly.
The only thing I don't like about this race is that it's an hour away. But, it's a small price to pay for an avenging race against your older brother.
Back in March, we raced together in my annual Running of the Leopards 5k. I've done that race every year since it's inception--2008. My brother, macho man that he is, made it a goal to beat me and by golly if he didn't pull it off by a measly 15 seconds.
But I've been hearing about those 15 seconds for two months now. Monday was my race to win if it was going to kill me.
About half way to the race I realized that I had forgotten my music. My heart sunk because I am a much faster runner with music. I'm not someone that has to have music on their run, but if I'm pushing it hard, I do considerably better when I'm not listening to myself wheeze. But, I had no option to turn around and go back for it. I was going to have to go au natural on this race. It's been a long time since I've done that.
We met up and got situated at the starting line. The first part of my strategy was to determine at what pace my brother was going to run. I need some warm up time in the first mile and can't usually go all out from the beginning. I let him set the pace and made sure to keep him in my sights. As I warmed up and sped up, I realized that I was going a bit faster than him and so I hung back, letting him think he had me for the first half mile.
Then I waited for a big group of people to pass. I melded into them and overtook my brother on the outside. To be honest, I thought this would only buy me a few minutes at most. I had chosen a bright green shirt to run in and thought he'd pick me out pretty quick, but at least I would have the upper hand for a little bit.
We wound our way through the streets of American Fork and started the big climb to the cemetery. In previous years, I always end up having to walk up this hill, but I was a little worried about where Eric was at, so I kept running. We turned down the pathway through the cemetery--this is where the theoretical comes into place--and it's downhill the rest of the way to the finish line. I figured if Eric had his eye on me, this is where he'd be overtaking me so I took off as fast as I could go. I barely registered the flags at the time (though I did think about their meaning throughout the rest of the day--I'm not completely heartless) and flew the final mile.
As I neared the finish line, I thought he'd sprint past me and overtake me by his 15 seconds, so I turned on the jets and crossed it before he could. I was a little surprised that he wasn't right behind me, huffing. And then, I waited at the finish line.
And waited.
Can you imagine the look on his face when he crossed and there I was, holding a water bottle and looking relaxed? He thought he was ahead of me the entire time. He didn't see me when I passed by a half mile into the race.
I beat him by over 2 minutes.
2 FULL minutes.
Ahhhh....revenge is so sweet.
Monday, I ran a Memorial Day 5k with my older brother. We did this same race last year. I love the race because it's (a) free and more importantly (b) you run a portion of it through American Fork cemetery where they've lined the pathway with American flags and theoretically you're reminded of the sacrifices made for the freedoms we enjoy.
The reason behind the theoretically will be divulged shortly.
The only thing I don't like about this race is that it's an hour away. But, it's a small price to pay for an avenging race against your older brother.
Back in March, we raced together in my annual Running of the Leopards 5k. I've done that race every year since it's inception--2008. My brother, macho man that he is, made it a goal to beat me and by golly if he didn't pull it off by a measly 15 seconds.
But I've been hearing about those 15 seconds for two months now. Monday was my race to win if it was going to kill me.
About half way to the race I realized that I had forgotten my music. My heart sunk because I am a much faster runner with music. I'm not someone that has to have music on their run, but if I'm pushing it hard, I do considerably better when I'm not listening to myself wheeze. But, I had no option to turn around and go back for it. I was going to have to go au natural on this race. It's been a long time since I've done that.
We met up and got situated at the starting line. The first part of my strategy was to determine at what pace my brother was going to run. I need some warm up time in the first mile and can't usually go all out from the beginning. I let him set the pace and made sure to keep him in my sights. As I warmed up and sped up, I realized that I was going a bit faster than him and so I hung back, letting him think he had me for the first half mile.
Then I waited for a big group of people to pass. I melded into them and overtook my brother on the outside. To be honest, I thought this would only buy me a few minutes at most. I had chosen a bright green shirt to run in and thought he'd pick me out pretty quick, but at least I would have the upper hand for a little bit.
We wound our way through the streets of American Fork and started the big climb to the cemetery. In previous years, I always end up having to walk up this hill, but I was a little worried about where Eric was at, so I kept running. We turned down the pathway through the cemetery--this is where the theoretical comes into place--and it's downhill the rest of the way to the finish line. I figured if Eric had his eye on me, this is where he'd be overtaking me so I took off as fast as I could go. I barely registered the flags at the time (though I did think about their meaning throughout the rest of the day--I'm not completely heartless) and flew the final mile.
As I neared the finish line, I thought he'd sprint past me and overtake me by his 15 seconds, so I turned on the jets and crossed it before he could. I was a little surprised that he wasn't right behind me, huffing. And then, I waited at the finish line.
And waited.
Can you imagine the look on his face when he crossed and there I was, holding a water bottle and looking relaxed? He thought he was ahead of me the entire time. He didn't see me when I passed by a half mile into the race.
I beat him by over 2 minutes.
2 FULL minutes.
Ahhhh....revenge is so sweet.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Mumblings
I just don't feel like there's a lot going on right now. Which I guess is a good thing. For a while there, there was too much going on. But right now, my days are pretty dull. J. is out of school for the summer on Friday and I'm a little freaked out about that. Now what? But this year, I want to do a lot of "stay-cation" type things with both kids. They're old enough now to enjoy the activities and for right now they still want to be seen with me in public. Plus I'm always so tired from insane workouts that I feel like by the time J gets home from school, I'm ready to call it a day so it will be nice to get some quality time in.
So, we're going to do lots this summer.
Other than that epiphany, not much has manifested itself to me recently as to what else I should be doing with my life.
I want to decorate the house but I lack the motivation, funds, and talent to do it and so far not much has gotten accomplished. But the desire is there, so that's a start. I really think we're actually going to get the upstairs painted this year.
Do other people go into other homes and think about how much nicer it is then their own?
I feel like I'm waging a futile war with the yard. I'm trying, but I can't seem to move past the front flowerbed. I was admiring my mom's gorgeous yard and wondering why that particular talent--you know, instead of the one where I can touch the tip of my nose with my tongue--didn't get passed on to me. I'm trying to spruce up the yard but it's hard when you're also trying to defend it against neighbor kids.
The hours in the day seem to go by really fast, yet most days I don't feel like I was all that productive.
I was so on top of things last week, but this week has not been as triumphant.
Organization will never be my strong point, but I'm making some progress.
For the first time in what seems like weeks, I'm going to be able to *sleep in* tomorrow morning. Chances are, something will happen and I'll still be up early.
Turns out if I burn 6000 calories a week, I can eat pretty much eat whatever I want and still maintain my current weight.
That's insane, right???
I can barely keep my eyes open, so I'm going to call it a night. Alert the presses. It's 10:15. This is usually when my second wind kicks in.
So, we're going to do lots this summer.
Other than that epiphany, not much has manifested itself to me recently as to what else I should be doing with my life.
I want to decorate the house but I lack the motivation, funds, and talent to do it and so far not much has gotten accomplished. But the desire is there, so that's a start. I really think we're actually going to get the upstairs painted this year.
Do other people go into other homes and think about how much nicer it is then their own?
I feel like I'm waging a futile war with the yard. I'm trying, but I can't seem to move past the front flowerbed. I was admiring my mom's gorgeous yard and wondering why that particular talent--you know, instead of the one where I can touch the tip of my nose with my tongue--didn't get passed on to me. I'm trying to spruce up the yard but it's hard when you're also trying to defend it against neighbor kids.
The hours in the day seem to go by really fast, yet most days I don't feel like I was all that productive.
I was so on top of things last week, but this week has not been as triumphant.
Organization will never be my strong point, but I'm making some progress.
For the first time in what seems like weeks, I'm going to be able to *sleep in* tomorrow morning. Chances are, something will happen and I'll still be up early.
Turns out if I burn 6000 calories a week, I can eat pretty much eat whatever I want and still maintain my current weight.
That's insane, right???
I can barely keep my eyes open, so I'm going to call it a night. Alert the presses. It's 10:15. This is usually when my second wind kicks in.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Happy Mom's Day
It's that time of year again! I know some people LOVE Mother's Day and some people (a lot of mom's actually) don't. I'm pretty ambivalent towards it. I like the recognition of all the hard work I do but I don't bask in the glory of the day.
Well, mostly anyways.
The first couple of Mother's Days I experienced, I spent a lot of them in frustration. It wasn't until just a few years ago that I changed my perspective on the day.
* It's not a day I get to take off. If I take the day off, then I just have to do it all--and more--the next day.
* An uninterrupted nap is a great way to show mom how much you care.
* The opportunity to use the bathroom without an audience is another great way to show mom how much you care.
* Sometimes, you have to buy your own chocolate. And then share it when the natives discover your secret stash.
* Your kids sit on you even though there's plenty of room on the bed because they love you.
* It's adorable when both kids get to sing in Sacrament for the first time, even if someone else's kid with a big noggin' pushes your three year old out of your line of sight. It's also the first time, even if for only a brief moment, that your bench has been absolutely quiet and still in almost four years.
* Spiders are no less frightening at 3:30 in the morning than at other rational and sane times.
* Dinner doesn't make itself.
* Family walks are less enjoyable when the bratty neighbor kid tags along.
* How come my kids are so cute and other kids aren't?
Man, I have some awesome kiddos. I also have an awesome husband. And two lazy cats. And some beyond amazing friends. Plus a cool mommy myself who I have the opportunity to visit on a weekly basis. Not a lot of people get that. Life is pretty good right now.
Happy Mother's Day to all those moms and almost-moms and surrogate moms out there.
Well, mostly anyways.
The first couple of Mother's Days I experienced, I spent a lot of them in frustration. It wasn't until just a few years ago that I changed my perspective on the day.
* It's not a day I get to take off. If I take the day off, then I just have to do it all--and more--the next day.
* An uninterrupted nap is a great way to show mom how much you care.
* The opportunity to use the bathroom without an audience is another great way to show mom how much you care.
* Sometimes, you have to buy your own chocolate. And then share it when the natives discover your secret stash.
* Your kids sit on you even though there's plenty of room on the bed because they love you.
* It's adorable when both kids get to sing in Sacrament for the first time, even if someone else's kid with a big noggin' pushes your three year old out of your line of sight. It's also the first time, even if for only a brief moment, that your bench has been absolutely quiet and still in almost four years.
* Spiders are no less frightening at 3:30 in the morning than at other rational and sane times.
* Dinner doesn't make itself.
* Family walks are less enjoyable when the bratty neighbor kid tags along.
* How come my kids are so cute and other kids aren't?
Man, I have some awesome kiddos. I also have an awesome husband. And two lazy cats. And some beyond amazing friends. Plus a cool mommy myself who I have the opportunity to visit on a weekly basis. Not a lot of people get that. Life is pretty good right now.
Happy Mother's Day to all those moms and almost-moms and surrogate moms out there.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Update
Eek. It's been a long time. A lot has happened too:
* J had a birthday. I can't believe how old he's getting. He's really matured this last year too. I wish I could say the same thing about his friends. Sigh.
* I had a birthday too. It was nice. Really nice, actually, because I got a brand spankin' new road bike. I can't believe how much different it is. What have I been riding for the last three years?
* I also had multiple parties with friends and family and managed to eat a 1/3 of a cake by myself. Plus I ate out nearly every day for two weeks straight. It's been awesome.
* Training has been...going. I've been pleasantly surprised that some of my speed has been returning. I just wish I didn't have to torture myself to get there.
* I bowled a 201 the other day. It's the best I've ever done and is 3rd highest in the league for this year. I also have the fourth highest average in the league.
* I had some gorgeous flowers that have bloomed the last few weeks. They were so pretty to look at every time I pulled up in the car. That is, until I found their decapitated heads in my mailbox.
* J got his first black eye when he hit the edge of his eye on the pony wall. Poor kid.
* A got kicked in the face with a soccer ball (courtesy of one of J's friends) and got a bloody nose. I'll admit that I was relieved when the blood stopped because I'm pretty sure DCFS would have been called if we would have had to go to the hospital and one kid had a broken nose and the other one had a black eye.
* Wade took J on a "run" the other day--2 miles. Looks like we have a runner in the family. I'm going to sign him up for a 5k this summer and see how he does.
* School is almost out for the summer. It's going to be a long three months.
* J had a birthday. I can't believe how old he's getting. He's really matured this last year too. I wish I could say the same thing about his friends. Sigh.
* I had a birthday too. It was nice. Really nice, actually, because I got a brand spankin' new road bike. I can't believe how much different it is. What have I been riding for the last three years?
* I also had multiple parties with friends and family and managed to eat a 1/3 of a cake by myself. Plus I ate out nearly every day for two weeks straight. It's been awesome.
* Training has been...going. I've been pleasantly surprised that some of my speed has been returning. I just wish I didn't have to torture myself to get there.
* I bowled a 201 the other day. It's the best I've ever done and is 3rd highest in the league for this year. I also have the fourth highest average in the league.
* I had some gorgeous flowers that have bloomed the last few weeks. They were so pretty to look at every time I pulled up in the car. That is, until I found their decapitated heads in my mailbox.
* J got his first black eye when he hit the edge of his eye on the pony wall. Poor kid.
* A got kicked in the face with a soccer ball (courtesy of one of J's friends) and got a bloody nose. I'll admit that I was relieved when the blood stopped because I'm pretty sure DCFS would have been called if we would have had to go to the hospital and one kid had a broken nose and the other one had a black eye.
* Wade took J on a "run" the other day--2 miles. Looks like we have a runner in the family. I'm going to sign him up for a 5k this summer and see how he does.
* School is almost out for the summer. It's going to be a long three months.
Monday, April 23, 2012
My Almost-Ban From Public Swimming Pools
I have the worst luck at Public Swimming Pools. The worst. For example, after I had A. I would take her to the pool and sit her in her carseat by the side and swim laps while she slept and J was at preschool. However, it was during Geriatric Hour, where I was the youngest person by at least 50 years. Overall, it was perfect. But, my swimsuit was not. One fateful day, I was swimming back towards the shallow end when I mentally made the note that swimming seemed suddenly so freeing. Much more free than it had, say, the lap before.
Luckily, I realized before I stood up that the tie holding my swimsuit top up had come undone and I was literally free.
Other bad swimsuit moments include showing up in the same swimsuit as a 60 year old.
Twice.
But two weeks ago might have been the worst. To this day, I'm still not sure what I would have done if things would have gone differently.
I was in a hurry to get to the pool because I wanted to get my workout done before Wade needed to leave for work and then I wouldn't have to worry about bringing A in. I grabbed an old swimsuit bottom and noted that it had been stretched out from use (NOT because I'm shrinking at an alarming rate), but didn't really comprehend what this would mean when I started swimming laps.
I jumped into the pool and started off to the deep end--the deep end that is 10 feet deep. As I neared the wall, I dove a little under the water and turned so I could kick off the wall and return to the other side. As I made the kick off the wall, I could feel my swimsuit bottoms start to fall off.
By pure luck and probably divine intervention, I was able to catch them before they got too far and before they left for the bottom of the pool.
Eek. Can you imagine having to spend your workout time trying to reach your swimsuit bottoms under 10 feet of water?
My normal workout took forever because at each turn I would have to hold on to the edge of the swimsuit bottoms. I threw them away the minute I got home.
Seriously, they're going to throw me out.
Luckily, I realized before I stood up that the tie holding my swimsuit top up had come undone and I was literally free.
Other bad swimsuit moments include showing up in the same swimsuit as a 60 year old.
Twice.
But two weeks ago might have been the worst. To this day, I'm still not sure what I would have done if things would have gone differently.
I was in a hurry to get to the pool because I wanted to get my workout done before Wade needed to leave for work and then I wouldn't have to worry about bringing A in. I grabbed an old swimsuit bottom and noted that it had been stretched out from use (NOT because I'm shrinking at an alarming rate), but didn't really comprehend what this would mean when I started swimming laps.
I jumped into the pool and started off to the deep end--the deep end that is 10 feet deep. As I neared the wall, I dove a little under the water and turned so I could kick off the wall and return to the other side. As I made the kick off the wall, I could feel my swimsuit bottoms start to fall off.
By pure luck and probably divine intervention, I was able to catch them before they got too far and before they left for the bottom of the pool.
Eek. Can you imagine having to spend your workout time trying to reach your swimsuit bottoms under 10 feet of water?
My normal workout took forever because at each turn I would have to hold on to the edge of the swimsuit bottoms. I threw them away the minute I got home.
Seriously, they're going to throw me out.
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