Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

I hope your weekend is filled with family, food, and laughter!

Husband and I are earning our turkey this year.  It's been a long few months, of eating the same dang thing every Friday before our long runs and never sleeping in.  I really do mean never.

It's over though!  By the time you read this I'll be finishing up or done! 

Pictures to come!

Love,

Susie Q

TGIF Ya'll!!!!!

OMG BLEEPS!

Were did the week go?? Seriously, I remember Monday, I remember thinking "wow, this week is going to be tough" and I remember Tuesday thinking "It should be Friday by now"  and then the rest is a blur. SO with that, I have almost nothing to write to you about.... So I wanted to share some random thoughts from the week:

1) If anyone ever types Friday three times consecutively do you automatically start singing the Black Eyed Peas in your head?  No? Just me?

2) In honor of Halloween, I've eaten a Reese's every day this week... just one... but could there be a more perfect taste than that?  Well, that or white chocolate covered pretzels....I need the molecular structure of these two things to change so they're as healthy as spinach.

3) Eating chocolate is good for you.  Apparently, I just skipped over the DARK chocolate part... Reeses needs to make DARK chocolate peanut butter cups


4) Did ya'll know milk has pus in it... so gross.  Raven did an awesome post on the benefits of being a vegetarian... I've been thinking about this for a long time, but this really makes me want to do a meatless day each week.... I wonder how that will go over with Husband.  Husband, are you reading? What do you think?


5) I've been in denial about the cold weather.  I feel like I was truly not ready for it this year... I want to fly away to someplace warm and sit on a beach and really take it all in... build a sand castle. You know, act like I'm 5, and on a beach, but not 5, because I'll be enjoying some cocktails.


6) My mom comes home next week from Argentina.  I'm SUPER pumped to see her... not so pumped to give her car back.  I took it again for one last round this week... I have to give it back this weekend ... bye bye SUV :-(

7) I have to run 11 miles this weekend on my training plan.  Do ya'll know how far 11 miles is?? It's a crazy long run!  Add in a sore hip and an ankle that's been just not right since last weeks run and I'm nervous.... ya'll I was not built as an athlete... I love the feeling when it's over... but going through it sometimes sucks. What do you do to break through your proverbial walls?

8) Would it be wrong to pin my own posts?  I totally want to pin some of my food posts b/c I think they taste so darn good!

9) We went to Blue Ridge a few weeks ago for family filled fun day.  Husband snapped these pics.  It was a beautiful day, if you're in the GA area, you really should go to Blue Ridge for a weekend!  They're the up and coming Highlands of Georgia.  You can rent a cabin here.  They are awesome and have the BEST cabins!!

 

 

 

 

Have a great weekend!!!  I've got something super fun to tell you... but you'll have to stay tuned!


Love,
Susie Q

Marathon Runner

Not me....

First stop, mile 6

Last Stop -- Mile 21

the Husband.

I am so proud!  He finished in 4:28 and some seconds!!

Here are some pics:

 Daisy had fun running around town demanding letting people pet her

Doesn't she look alert!  (Auntie Kathfryn is holding her)

Atlanta Center for the Puppetry Arts was at our last stop cheering everyone on!

Here he comes on mile 21!  That is not a car accident behind him... 

Daisy made a sign

We made him signs too.

 BeBe brought glitter... you can't see it but these signs are sparkly!

He got a massage after to help with the sore muscles -- look at that face!

And then we ate Five Guys

All in All it was a great day!  We followed Five Guys up with a nap.  Then we had dinner with my grandparents while we skyped my mom in Argentina! 

They were so amazed.  And happy to see their daughter's face.

It was cute.

They always are though!

:-)

Love, 

Susie Q

Follower Fest

Happy Halloween Weekend Friends!! 

What are you looking forward to??

I'll be running 10 miles BEFORE I go get some sweet peeps married. 

Hubby's running his first Marathon on Sunday. 

AND

My Grandparents are in town.  

It's ALMOST the same exact pose... so stinking cute!  I love them!

All these things make for a fun filled weekend!  I can't wait to tell you all about it next week!!

 

If you're joining from the Follower Fest please leave a comment!  I'd love to Meet you and follow you too!

Love, 

Susie Q

Mushroom Sauce Yumminess!

I've been trying to find new pasta recipes lately since the Hubs is training for this little old thing called a marathon... I came across this recipe on Sam's blog and thought I would give it a shot.  The only change I made was to add a chicken breast for a bit of protein.  I believe she also adapted her version from EatingWell.com  so this would be the third tweak to the original recipe.

Ingredients

Pasta with Mushroom Sauce

12 oz whole-wheat fettuccine (I used regular spaghetti because it's what we had... it really doesn't matter too much)

1 T olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped (*I love me some red onion*)
2 cloves garlic, chopped
3/4 tsp dried thyme
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 lb mushrooms, sliced
2 T dry sherry
3 T all-purpose flour (I use whole wheat flour)
1 cup broth (vegetable or chicken)
1/3 cup light cream
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1 Chicken breast

Cook pasta according to directions. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add onion, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper and cook, stirring, until onion is soft. 

 Add mushrooms and cook about 10-12 minutes.

In a separate pan, cook one cubed chicken breast with salt and pepper to season

Stir in sherry and cook until the liquid has evaporated, about 1 minute.  Sprinkle flour over the mushroom mixture and stir to coat.  Pour in broth and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.  Simmer, stirring, until thickened, about 1 minute. 

Remove from the heat and stir in cream and 1/4 cup Parmesan. 

Drain the pasta, the chicken should be finished

At this point you can either add all the ingredients to one bowl and mix for you to separate later, or you can portion them into two bowls and serve

Don't mind the mess on my stove... I'm a messy cooker, oh Wow, and there's a door open in the cabinets...I really should not have shared this picture.

Either way, once in two bowls add a bit more Parmesan for the heck of it

My phone is supposed to have a zebra print cover... I think it more just blends in with the counter.

This was a really great, easy to make dinner.  Hubs and I really like 'shrooms and he has requested I make it for all of his long runs now because he said he felt really great last Saturday morning for his 16 mile fun run!

Do you have a pre-workout ritual?

Any pre-long run suggestions?

What is your favorite pasta dish to make?

Do you often take very messy pictures of your kitchen???

Random Thoughts on a Friday

Happy Friday Everyone!

What are your big plans for the weekend?  We're cleaning tonight...I know, so fun.

Tomorrow is long run day for the Hubs, and my first "Long Run"  I'm supposed to go three miles.  I think I'll go 4.5 instead so I can run from our condo to Chastain Park and back.  Only a few more weeks of running distances I'm used to and then it's gonna get interesting!

After that I'll meet Hubs and give him some refreshments, start baking, meet hubs again, and then take the dogs to the vet...

THEN, when I get back, I'll finish baking and getting ready for our Friends to arrive!  We're showing off our kitchen watching the USC/UGA game at our condo with a bunch of friends Saturday.  I'm really excited to have everyone over!  USC will obviously win though! Go Cocks!

Sunday I'm hoping will be a pool day... and craft day :-).

So since that is my plans for the weekend, and while they are very exciting it's also all I have to share with you, I thought I would send some random thoughts out in the world to see if anyone else thinks these things too... an "Am I Normal" of sorts.

• There are certain grown adults who sound like they're wearing a diaper when they walk....
• How do dogs collect so many eye buggers in a day?
• Pollen sucks
• Is it the instructor or the music that makes cycle class so awesome?
• This week is National Waffle Week... I might make waffles for lunch tomorrow just to celebrate!



Does she look like she knows it's "her week"

• I'm really enjoying this weather, but am I the only one that's sad summer is ending?  I think the kitchen distracted me from the August heat.  

That's it!

I'm making this and this for Saturday... wish me luck! 

Love,

Susie Q

Inspriation... Where are you?

I seem to have no inspiration for today's post... actually, that's not true, and I cannot tell a lie... I have lots of inspiration for today's post... just nothing so interesting I can talk about it for long enough to make it a real post...

EXCEPT!

This...

SPAGHETTI WITH ROASTED ZUCCHINI

Serves 2
2 medium zucchini, sliced into ½-in. rounds
Olive oil
½ cup chopped yellow onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
Zest of ½ lemon
1½ tsp. butter
¼ cup fresh bread crumbs (I used canned crumbs)
1 tbsp. chopped fresh mint
6 oz. spaghetti
¼ cup pitted Kalamata olives
¼ cup Parmesan cheese

1. Preheat oven to 450. Place zucchini on a sheet pan. Drizzle with 1 tsp. olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Roast for 10-15 minutes, stirring once. Remove from oven and set aside.

2. In a 12-in. saute pan, heat 1 tbsp. olive oil. Saute onions over medium-low heat for 5 minutes or until translucent. Add garlic and saute 1 minute. Stir in zucchini and lemon zest. Remove pan from heat.

3. Melt butter in small skillet over low heat. Add bread crumbs and saute until lightly browned. Let cool, stir in mint and set aside. (You don't need to do this step if you use canned crumbs)

4. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 9 minutes. Drain, reserving ¼ cup of pasta cooking water. Add pasta to zucchini mixture. Add olives and reserved water. Bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and sprinkle in cheese. Toss pasta until cheese melts. Divide between two bowls. Top with bread crumbs. 


We tried this recipe last Friday before Husband's 10 mile run on Saturday.  I ripped it out of the magazine the other day and made note that it seemed like a good "carb filled" meal for the night before a long run.  It did not disappoint, it was really delicious!  There are just a few things I would change:

1) I added a grilled chicken breast in -- cubed and split between the two of us (or in searching for this recipe online I saw someone added shrimp, that would be good too!)
2) I would add Mushrooms next time
3) I would half the mint, it was a little strong.
4) I 86'd the olives... I'm so not a fan.

After Hubby finished his plate he asked me if there was any more, always a good sign to "keep it in the rotation."

PS, I prepared this post yesterday, except I couldn't find the recipe anywhere online... I searched for an hour, then gave up.  However, I gave it one last shot and found it this morning!   So anywhere it says "today" just think Yesterday :-) 

What did I just do??

If you want to make drastic changes you've got to do something drastically different.

And I guess getting married in the last year and wasn't enough of a change...

I signed up for the Atlanta Half Marathon

OMG... I feel like puking! For real, like I have butterflies in my belly, much like when you're about to go on a first date with a guy you think is SUPER cute, and you just really really hope he likes you.  That kind of nervous, feel like you might throw up, or you might not be able to eat anything (PS men, THAT is why women don't eat on first dates...)

I know this should be an inspirational, I'm so excited, I just can't wait to start training kind of a post.  I was the one that chose to do this, Husband said if I wasn't comfortable I should just do the 5K, but no, I decided all by myself that I should do this...


I am excited, but I'm also extremely nervous.  I am my worst critic and I HATE to fail... there's not much worse in my eyes than not reaching your goal.  That's why I usually am VERY careful about sharing my goals.

But this time is different. 

I don't know if I'd push myself hard enough if the whole internet world -- or the 5 peeps that read this blog :-) -- didn't know about it. 

So my goal is to finish, and since they have a 3.5 hour time limit, I almost think that's a reasonable goal.  I'm running an average of a 13 minute mile now (because sometimes I walk a bit, or jog REALLY slow up the super hard hills)... so with my math, IF I maintained that pace it would take me 2 hours and 49 minutes...  I'm thinking between race day excitement (making me go faster) and the loooonnnng distance, after training, I should be around the same time.  Or MAYBE faster?

Faster would be awesome

But I'm scared to make that a goal.  I've read a LOT of articles and they all say that for your first half your goal should be to finish, not to focus on the time... so that is my goal.  I will finish. 

Then next time I'll try for more... (NEXT TIME?!?! Who am I becoming?!?!?!) 

So there's my goal bleeps! (Bleeps= Blogs+People a phrase coined by this one)

Husband will be running the Atlanta Marathon a few weeks before Turkey Day.  I'm SUPER proud of him, he seems to have a natural athletic talent (a gene I'm not sure I got so I hope he passes it on to our littles -- when we get there ) and I'm sure that just like anything else he sets his mind to, he'll do great!

So between this and remodeling our kitchen (info to come) I think I've got my hands full for a little while...

While we're at it, I might as well go Blonde next week... watch out!