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Not a darn thing

Posted by sarah3030 in Uncategorized

I didn’t do anything today. 

I didn’t do anything tangible.

I woke up late due to my late night last night.  I got coffee from downstairs and made a really great egg sandwich on a bagel with tomato and avocado.  I think I watched Gilmore Girls on TV during all of this.  

Around 11 I told myself I had to do homework until 3, then I could work out, then the evening was to be spent cleaning up my apartment.

None of that happened.  I stared at my laptop for a long time.  I have my book and notes on my desk.  I just sat here and stared and wondered what website would have the answers I’m looking for.  I tried to put on white noise tv shows in the background – ones I’ve seen so many times I don’t need to watch.  Didn’t help.

By 3pm I decided I was over this and moved into the working out phase of my day.  I did a Zumba toning dvd and an Exhale Core Fusion sculpting class dvd.  I was hoping working out would provide me clarity.  

Not so much.  I feel like I did something right after my workout.  But still nothing productive.  

I sat back down at my laptop.  This time to write it out.  Not on this blog, I simply opened up Pages and began to type.  And I typed a long time.  And then I changed out of my sweaty workout clothes.  Only to find a notebook in my room and write some more.  

Here’s what I came up with:

Image

and…

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And lastly…

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Okay – so some not so serious sentiments.  But I’ve had a long day of deep contemplation and I’m ready for bed.  So I can do double time on all the things I meant to do today.  

Starting with a run tomorrow morning!  I am going to treadmill it tomorrow because it’s hot as heck already here this weekend in St. Louis.  

Lastly, I’m on the bandwagon of loving the Harvard Baseball team’s Call Me Maybe video on You Tube.  Good clean fun for everyone!  

Let’s talk about weddings

Posted by sarah3030 in Event, My story continues, heavy, relationships, blogging and tagged with , ,

1. I love weddings.

2. I’ve had a fair amount of sparkling rose cava on an empty stomach.  Well, not completely empty, I ate 5 pieces of some kind of sausage off an appetizer platter.  That makes a dinner, right?  I’m just saying – you’ve been warned.

This has been a completely bizarre week.  I believe my last post was my grad school wrap up.  It was such a great weekend.  I felt confident and happy and like all my life choices were agreeing with me.  Then I came back to St. Louis and the sky fell down on me this week.  It started with Gentleman Friend and I getting into what I thought would be a discussion and turned into a 3 day fight including some really yucky discoveries and feelings.  With that came devastating feelings of insecurity and betrayal.  Yikes.  Two polar opposite feelings and experiences so close to each other have just wrecked me this week.  I’m even taking a vacation day tomorrow to have a minute to really process what happened this week and really understand how I feel about it.

But this post is not about fights with boyfriends and yucky feelings.  But it’s important to know that happened the same week as the wedding I went to tonight.  Yes, a Thursday evening wedding.  Who gets married on a Thursday?  A rock ‘n’ roll couple who are doing the wedding on a budget.  I worked with the bride at Kakao Chocolate last fall when I was unemployed.  She mentioned she wanted a bartender, but renting actual bartenders was expensive.  I told her I can pour wine and beer with the best of them, and I’m really friendly, and I was hired.  So, I didn’t so much attend a wedding as I did work this wedding, but whatever.

I was married for a bit.  My wedding was big.  Well, I supposed compared to some it was.  Not to others.  Since I’m just a little tipsy, I’ll be super transparent.  My wedding had 175 guests and cost about $35,000.  I think that included the honeymoon.  I told Ex Husband we had two choices – do it big or elope.  I was leaning towards eloping.  He said his family only saw each other at weddings and he had friends across the country – a big wedding made everyone come together.  Big wedding done right it was.  I cared about the photographer and my dress.  He cared about call brand liquors at the bar and, as it turns out, he had strong feelings about cake design. It was a lovely wedding and I think the people enjoyed it.  Also, I looked the best I ever have.  Isn’t that always the way with brides?

Here’s some pictures of my wedding:

Most of my favorite photos from that day don’t include my face. Seriously.

I got my own cake. It was Ex Husbands way of making up for the fact that he won the big cake argument.

This was Ex Husband’s choice for cake design. And I’m pretty sure all 172 guests came up to me at some point and told me they loved it.

Fun photo! No face!

Ahh, rain is good luck on your wedding day. Lies people tell brides so they don’t have a stroke.

Moving on.

Tonight I worked this small backyard wedding.  I think there were about 35 people in attendance.  They live in an apartment building that has a small-ish backyard with one giant tree in the center.  They rented cocktail tables and a bar and served appetizer platters from Whole Foods, a wedding cake and chocolates from Kakao.  I served up wine, champagne, beer and bottled water.  (And gin and diet Pepsi’s to the mother of the groom.  Who wore cargo shorts and a t-shirt.  Mother of bride wore very traditional cream suit.  Mother of groom, cargo shorts and t-shirt.  And it was okay.)

The bride and her sisters hung twinkle-y lights and paper lanterns they made out of white paper lunch bags in the trees.  Another friend of hers and I clothed the tables this evening and set up the food and bar.  They had a playlist from iTunes piped into the backyard.  And it was lovely.  It was sweet and heartfelt and simple.

Cake from tonight’s wedding.

Cake from above.

DIY sign on the backyard gate entrance.

Pictures cannot capture the romantic glow of the lights and lanterns. It was so perfect.

Snacks provided.

Now, I’m not comparing.  My wedding was lovely.  I’m bummed that such a big production didn’t lead to a lifetime of wedded bliss, but that’s the past.  This wedding, though, was intimate and full of love and so simple.  It was the beginning of a marriage and not just a wedding.

The owner of the chocolate company the bride and I work at was there with his wife.  They are both wonderful people and they told me they were celebrating their 23rd wedding anniversary next week.  A wistful feeling came over me.  I want to be married for 23 years.  I want a partner.  They arrived at the backyard first and the they were telling me about this time they had gone to a wedding and ended up taking over the coordinating efforts because it was falling apart.  They were relating these great stories and finishing each other’s sentences and reminding each other of what happened next…and I want that.

I want romance and fun and intimacy and love and a spirit of togetherness.  Which leads me back to the week I had with Gentleman Friend.  I am at a crossroads.

I am also at the end of this post.  I am tired and light headed.  No good can come from blogging any more this evening.  I leave you only with this advice.  Don’t spend the money on the big wedding.  Go on vacation instead.  Or buy a house.  Or redecorate a room.  Or save cats from a shelter.

Grad School May edition

Posted by sarah3030 in friends, Grad School, growth, Happy, running

New semester.  New professor.  New self awareness (although not as much self awareness as last semester, for which I’m grateful.  I didn’t sign up for grad school for all the hippy dippy stuff). New memories made with some of my favorite classmates. 

Dr. McFillen is the new professor and he is much more my style than last semester’s teacher.  He did a lot of lecturing (which wasn’t for everyone) and used relevant videos to support the theories presented.  We talked about organization structure and strategy, focused on the global environment and used manufacturing and the auto industry as most of our themes.  We watched a PBS program called America Revealed on manufacturing in America. 

Editor’s Note: Public opinion would have you believe you don’t make anything in the US any longer.  Check out the program America Revealed at PBS.org and find the episode about manufacturing.  We make quite a bit.  End note.

All the talk about manufacturing and global economies led to a minor crisis of conscience.  The world produces a lot of crap.  Walk into any dollar store and look at all of the nonsense that is being peddled.  Sigh.  The resources used to produce that and the energy wasted and the money spent…I understand people need jobs, but could we find a way to create better service or agriculture jobs with that money and energy?  And then I think about all the junk in my house and I just want to have the most incredible purge.  Where and how to begin getting rid of all the little nonsense stuff in my house?!  And then to stop putting money into the junk.  Money should go into education, food, and experiences.  For me, anyway.  Just my thoughts.  I don’t think I want to be an active part of an overacheiving/overproducing/overconsuming society.  Ok.  {urgh. climbing off soapbox.}

Other highlights of the weekend include:

  • A little professor crush on Dr. McFillen is the source of much delight to my cohorts.  It all started with my professor crush on Gary Loveman, who is the CEO of Caesar’s Entertainment.  My group got a kick out of the fact that I love him.  When they finally saw a photo of him, they were surprised at the dowdiness of him.  I don’t care – he’s smart and has a sharp sense of humor.  Dr. McFillen is not an attractive man.  But he was funny!  And he lectured!  And he giggled at his own stories! 
  • I want to use the word derivative more.  I think it sounds like I know what I’m talking about. 
  • I don’t think I know what the word miopic means.  Must look up. 
  • A little positive male attention never hurts anyone.  Nothing inappropriate, but one of my male classmates was asking Amber about our run and he followed up by asking me about the running I’ve done in general.  He told me I looked great – that it was clear I was getting healthier.  Big high five to this guy.  The scale and I have been mad at each other – as the numbers are not moving the way I’d like them to.  But I can tell my body is changing in some ways.  I think there was a whole package of changes he may have been noticing.  I straightened my hair, I’m starting to open up more around everyone and have fun and I had a cute sundress on for class Saturday.  To add icing to the cake (or whipped cream to the sundae, whichever you prefer) another classmate commented on my divorce saying, "any guy who leaves Sarah is an idiot."  Awwww.   I mean, it’s not entirely true, I’m all fun and games until you’re in a relationship with me, but that didn’t matter here.  All that mattered here is that there are people who see me how I am trying harder to be seen.  Win.
  • New semester stuff.  We have two classes a semester and there is a divide in the middle where we officially switch.  This semester, 2nd class professor came in to tell us not to wait until mid semester to start working on his stuff.  He’s kind of a spazzy guy who creates a lot of anxiety, only to so far have been proven very disorganized.  We shall see.

So, that’s the highlights.  Lots of good learning.  Lots of "norming" with the cohorts.  Lots of delayed flights coming home.  It was a great weekend.  Now, to get started on the mountain of work!Tags: , , , ,

Emotions. Feel them. Do not eat them.

Posted by sarah3030 in food, friends, Grad School, growth, heavy, running and tagged with , , , ,

Drinking them, that’s okay, though.

It’s a grad school weekend.  They’re always a little intense, in a good way.  We’re fitting 4 weeks of classes into 3 days, weeks of class bonding and team projects into a short time and then there’s the letting loose and the blowing off the steam.

Tonight’s post is short.  Mostly because I’m just a tad bit tipsy and a lot tired from a long night.

Some of my EMOD colleagues.

I’ve been keeping a list of things I want to brain dump after the weekend.  For tonight I simply want to say:

I ran this morning – keeping up with that even though I’m at school.  Whoo!!

Amber and I after our run. She was so kind to get up early with me.

I had dinner with one of my dearest friends from Harrah’s days.  It’s so fortunate for me that she is here and I can see her semi-regularly.

I decided, after much deliberation, to meet some classmates for drinks after dinner.  I thought they would be done by 7:30 and a few of us were going to get together to do homework.  That didn’t happen.  They were still at the bar.  Sometimes I don’t like seeing people socially because I think it will change my perception of them in a work/school environment.  I hedged my bets and went to meet them.  I’m glad to report that the professor who had joined them had already left by the time I got there.  I am not up for that socializing quite yet.  This particular professor makes me a little anxious right now.  Most of my favorite classmates were there, and I’m SO glad I joined them.  We laughed and laughed and got to know each other better and among the 7 of us there were at least that many conversations going on at any one time.  Drinks were had, I believe a round or two of shots were ordered, pictures were taken, backgrounds were shared, personal stories were relayed, insecurities revealed, dirty jokes were out there and there was more laughing.  I think attending humanized me with some of them.  We’ve been together 4 months now and our reputations are falling into place.  I’m thrilled to report mine is the smart, studious girl.  I think it’s because I reference a lot of books.  I like to read.  And I really want to do well in this program.  It was good they saw me as a little bit of fun tonight also.  I can hang with the drinking and dirty jokes and still be a smarty pants lady.

A few of us hung out in the hotel lobby for a while and kept chatting.  Conversation turned heavier.  Parents came up.  I missed my dad a ton during the conversation.  My very first reaction to being sad?  I should see who will deliver me a pizza!!  Seriously, it was immediate.  I clearly have a “girl who eats her feelings” problem.  I worked through it.  Stayed strong.  Distracted myself.  Did NOT order a pizza.  Am aware of how fast and furious the desire to feed my feelings came upon me.  Yikes.

Glad I resisted.  I want to feel stronger and in control.  Not like such a victim in my own life.  It was a step.  I was aware.  I fought back.

Now I’m off to bed.  One more intense day then a grad school weekend recap.

Goodnight.

Tubthumpin’

Posted by sarah3030 in My story continues, The job., growth, work, running and tagged with , , , , ,

“I get knocked down

But I get up again

You’re never going to keep me down”

I got some disappointing news today.  I had interviewed for a new position at my company several weeks ago.  It was a project manager position under the Director of Organization Development.  Could that be any more perfect?  Well, I didn’t get it.

I was sad.  I had been hopeful and optimistic.  It was such a great opportunity to move into the field I’m studying, have more of a mentor as a boss and, selfishly, get a more regular schedule.

I didn’t get much done at work after getting that news.  I was bummed.  I left work a half hour early.  I came home to run and shake it off.  And shake it off I am.

I treated myself – with flowers!  The gentlemen at Botanicals Design Studio were so kind when I told them I was looking for a bouquet to cheer me up.  They put together some colorful flowers and wished me a better week.

Pretty (and tall!) flowers

Then I went for a run.  I laced up the shoes and went to the park.  I tried not to focus on the running and focused instead of all the things I have to be grateful for instead.  I don’t want to get bitter and resentful.  So, I thought about the beautiful weather, the furry cats, the girlfriends you can talk dirty with and the friend you can tell everything to, the opportunities to help someone else out, still being employed and having the ability to focus more on school and running.

The universe is telling me I’m on the right track.  I got three emails from friends or colleagues thanking me for something or other.  I’m not so bad, after all!  I sent the most belated Christmas present ever to my friend Cyndi and she was so happy with it – yay!  I sent a recommendation/introduction email to a woman I used to work with on behalf of a former colleague who is interested in a position with her company and that friend was so grateful.  I also wrote a recommendation letter on LinkedIn for a woman who used to call on me when I was the training manager at the casino and she sent me a note of thanks.  It was nice to come home to those notes.  Put good in the world, get good back.

Also after my run, I was thirsty.  I opened my fridge, which was weird because I don’t keep a lot of beverages in my fridge.  I forgot I had some Coconut Water in there that I bought on a whim at the store last weekend.  Seemed like the perfect post run drink while I made dinner.  The package declares that it’s the ideal hydration beverage.  I took one sip and I made a face.  It was not good.  I took another.  It still wasn’t good.  This surprised me.  I love coconut.  I did not like this coconut water.

Sorry, Vita Coco. Not for me.

I’ll use the rest in my smoothies this week.  Perhaps that will help mask the taste of it.  I did make a smoothie dessert (sans coconut water tonight).  Tonight’s smoothie was a banana, almond milk, 2 T of peanut butter, 1 T of cocoa powder and a sprinkling of cocoa nibs.  Add ice and blend!  Super good!

And to top off my feel better night was the season finale of How I Met Your Mother!  There were two episodes tonight and wooooo!  SPOILERS AHEAD!

I love you, Ted Mosby!  I love the girl from the past who returned, I love the decision they made at the end and I can’t wait to see what happens.  I’m slightly confused by the image of Robin at the end.  I’m thrilled for Barney and Quinn, so I’ll be sad if that doesn’t work out.  But mostly, Ted Mosby, go get her!  And if it doesn’t work out – come and get me!

Seriously – don’t you remember how great they were! They were great together. So fun. I want this to work!

Have you heard the one about my ex-husband?

Posted by sarah3030 in Happy, heavy, My story continues, relationships, Sarah and tagged with , ,

Before getting my own divorce, I didn’t have a lot of exposure to divorce.  Ex Husband’s parents divorced when he was a teenager.  He was really surprised by it.  Having only known them apart and never as a couple, I was surprised they could have ever been together.  You can’t imagine two more different people.  Ex Husband says they became their own people after separating.  His mom became a Presbyterian minister and his father became a dirty old hedonist.  Seriously, how had they ever been together?!  Knowing them apart I couldn’t imagine them together.

As this is my blog and not Ex Husband’s I haven’t mentioned the crazy life change he made last fall.  He left his big job that paid big money and fed his big ego.  He did so fairly suddenly.  I remember walking through the park with him one day last fall and he told me he was quitting his job.  As the Ex Husband I knew valued money and prestige above all else (including the marriage, was my perception), this was a surprise.  He didn’t have other plans, was just quitting.  It came to be that he started to make art with LEGO’s(TM).  Portraits to be more specific.  You can go here and see for yourself.  He called the business Year of Creation and said he was trying to find ways to say Yes instead of No.  Commendable.

Tonight he had a piece at an art gallery opening.  A giant LEGO (TM) picture that was a replica of the local burlesque festival’s logo.  I stopped by to see it.  Support what I think are his positive life changes.  Be proud of how he’s finding himself.  And wondering if all divorced couples are as he described his parents – only able to find themselves after leaving each other?  Had we stayed together would he have made this move?  Or would we have continued down a path of bigger jobs and bigger houses?  Would I be in grad school?  When he told me he was quitting last fall he told me he was in a place that I was years ago – the place that said stop doing something if it doesn’t fulfill you.  Oddly enough that fulfilling path is leading me back what I hope are bigger jobs and bigger opportunity (and if a bigger paycheck comes with those – that’s cool too), while his is taking him down the path of creativity.  Would I have found Zumba and learned to like vegetarian food?

There were always two sides to Ex Husband.  We used to work together and our colleagues were always surprised when they found out we were dating, or married.  They would ask how people so different could be together.  I never really bothered explaining that the guy I knew was very different than the Finance Director they knew.   Artist Ex Husband is a lot like the other side of the work guy.  The guy who told animated stories and liked to entertain his friends (he has the greatest friends!) and played badminton in the backyard with me and when I get excited and tell a story I do this weird jogging in place thing and he used to mimic me doing that as I told the story so we were both jogging in place in our kitchen while we had a conversation.  We used to play Uno and Scrabble and Catchphrase.  He was fun.  And I’m glad he’s like that more.  I’m glad Work Ex Husband didn’t win.

 

In other news, I bought a piece of art tonight.  Man, I love to buy art.  This was probably the most affordable piece at the show (seriously, it was $75.  I spent more at Target the other day on cat food, vitamins and other nonsense.  Worth it.).  It’s a piece for the boudoir.   That sounds weird, right?  I have a cousin Anna, whose aunt on the other side bought her this line drawing of a mostly  naked woman a few years ago for her birthday.  Anna says: What am I supposed to do with this?  Aunt says: Everyone should have art for the boudoir.  This stayed with me.  Mostly because I lived with Anna for a while and the piece was hung in her bedroom and I saw it all the time.  This piece is kind of like that.  I’ll post a pic when I get it from the gallery in a few weeks.  It’s a little saucy, but just perfect for my bedroom while it’s still a lady only bedroom.  I imagine someday I’ll share a room with some fella and I’ll tuck this picture away in my walk in closet or bathroom or someplace only I can see it, but until then, my saucy lady and I are together against the world.

If it’s good enough for Bayless…

Posted by sarah3030 in cookbooks, cooking, Home cooking, Out of a cookbook and tagged with , , ,

It’s good enough for me!

Two summers ago I went to a book signing/food tasting with Rick Bayless.  His new book Fiesta at Rick’s had just been released.  I love me some Rick Bayless.  I tried to get a reservation at Topolobampo in Chicago for my 30th birthday.  Six weeks out I tried and it was already booked.  Bayless had just won Top Chef All Star, and Topolobampo was noted as one of the Obama’s favorite restaurants when they lived in Chicago, so it was a hot ticket, even so, I thought six weeks out I may have a chance!

Back to the tasting two summers ago – Rick made a guacamole inspired by a BLT.  Which was pretty  much his standard guacamole with some crumbled bacon.  I had one piece left from the cheese stuffed date adventure, so I crisped that up and added it to my guacamole.

Sadly, it was not delicious.  This is not Rick’s fault.  It’s the fault of over ripe avocados.  They were probably about 2 days past their prime.  I also added lemon juice instead of lime juice.  Rick told me that could be an option in guacamole.  I favor lime juice.  I am having fun experimenting with guacamole.  The corn-crab guacamole of a couple of weeks ago and the bacon addition this time.  I also had some mango-pineapple salsa that I put on the fish tacos I made, and smooshed some of that into the guacamole also for a few bites.  Excellent!  For sure the next time I’ll try that with a bigger batch.  Yum!

Also, fish tacos are fantastic!  I maintain that I don’t cook fish well, but this was okay.  I just squirted some lime juice and jerk seasoning on the cod before throwing it on my grill pan.  Then I put something from every color of the rainbow on the tacos.

bacon guacamole! ::photo from seriouseats.com::

Colorful tacos!

Summer of 2010, mugging with my new cookbook about to be signed

A little private photo op with Rick Bayless. No big deal.

This was such an exciting moment for me that it made my 2010 Christmas card. Ahh, summer of 2010 – you were a good one.

Weekend!

Posted by sarah3030 in cookbooks, cooking, dinner party; cooking and tagged with , , , ,

Around here, the weekend comes early.  My ten days straight are over and my weekend begins today.

I’m going to go for several runs.

I’m going to cook.

I’m going to do some laundry.

I’m going to fun group workout classes.

I’m going to read textbooks.

I’m making the Smitten Kitchen strawberry cake.

I’m going to try and forget about how delicious the cheese stuffed – bacon wrapped dates that I made last night were…

Have you ever had that appetizer.  It’s popular at tapas restaurants, which is one of my favorites.  Along with Mexican. And French Bistro.  And brunch.

Back to blue cheese stuffed, bacon wrapped dates.  There is a great tapas restaurant just three blocks from me.  It was a very happy day when a tapas restaurant opened within walking distance.  They make this dish there.  There have been many nights where dinner for me was an order of those and an order of the lamb sliders and a French martini.  I just love it there.

I was at Whole Foods over the weekend and blue cheese was CRAZY on sale.  So I bought some.  I’ve been sitting on a bag of dried, pitted dates for a while at home.  All of a sudden, I knew what I needed to do.  I grabbed 4 pieces of bacon from the meat counter at WF and made a point to make these soon.

That night was last night.  I should have run, or gone to Zumba, or done anything besides drink sangria and eat these dates.  But I didn’t.  After 9 days straight of work, this is all I wanted.

Start by reducing some balsamic vinegar and drinking some sangria

Three additional ingredients: pitted dates, blue cheese, bacon

Slice date, fill with blue cheese, wrap in bacon. Bake 15-20 minutes at 400. Brush reduced balsamic glaze. Bake another few minutes. Brush on more glaze. EAT!

And Dominika – this is for you! I love you!

I received a beautiful tapas cookbook several Christmases ago.  I really want to host a tapas dinner party with lots of little plates full of delicious Spanish inspired food.  Until then, I’ll eat these dates.

Let’s talk vacation plans

Posted by sarah3030 in Uncategorized and tagged with , , ,

I work a weird schedule.

90% of the time I work 10 days straight and then have four days off.

80% of the time one of those four day weekends meshes with a grad school weekend.  This is nice because I don’t have to take vacation time for school.

It’s hard when it gives me exactly four days off in June.

Ugh.

I am trying to work out sometime to take a relaxing long weekend away and a more legit vacation.  Here are some things I’m thinking about:

  • Seattle & Vancouver in July.  I took off a full week in July and would love to see some new places.  Nothing really expensive like a European adventure.  I think I would LOVE Seattle and I’ve found a few fun park activities in Vancouver.  I don’t know much about that area of Canada.  I always thought my first trip to Canada would be the Toronto/Montreal/Quebec side because I like big cities (Toronto) and I like pain au chocolat (French Canada).  Gentleman Friend has spent some time in that part of Canada, so it’s more fun to explore new places.
  • Harry Potter World in early December!  My friend and former roommate Meg and I are headed to Universal Studios Orlando for a few days exploring Hogwarts and Hogsmeade – theme park style!  I cannot wait!  I LOVE going to the Orlando theme parks, especially that time of year when they’re not very crowded at all.  I have a talent for traveling in off season.  Ex-husband and I went on Disney and Universal vacations a couple times and that kid has never seen a line at a theme park.  He doesn’t understand what people are talking about when they say they waited an hour in line for a ride.  You’re welcome!  Seriously, on our trip to Universal, we took a movie break every day around 2pm because we had already been on every ride twice.
  • Maybe contemplating a beachy getaway.  I don’t know when.  I don’t know how.  It may have to wait until spring of next year.  Just a few days at an all inclusive beach sounds so good.  It will probably sound even better next spring – post 1/2 marathon and with just one semester left of grad school.  Sigh.  Waiting it is.
  • A last minute mini road trip may happen.  It will be a spur of the moment thing I’m sure and has to be somewhere within 5 hours because I really don’t like being in the car much longer than that.  Maybe just a getaway to Chicago, Memphis, Indy or some small bed and breakfast town between here and there.  Ozarks?  Hot Springs?  Who knows.

There you have it.  Vacation goals.  Must maintain them along with work goals/running goals/school goals.  No problem.

Expelliarmus!

 

Running Outside

Posted by sarah3030 in baking; food, blogging, running and tagged with , , , ,

Team in Training is officially kicked off.  Launch party was last Thursday and first group run is scheduled for the 12th!  I’m running to prepare to run in front of other people.  I think it’s like cleaning your house for the housekeeper.  Running outside at 8am when there’s 90% humidity is an experience.  An experience that will motivate me to get up at 6am next time.

I’m going to keep blog posts about TNT shorter – I’ll occasionally provide a recap here – or do what I’m doing today – and that is shoot you over to my blog on the TNT site.  I’d like to keep the running posts together, and perhaps, if you don’t give a rats patootie about the running and you’re here looking for cake, you won’t have to wade through those.

So, for running/Team in Training/ Half Marathon training posts – go here.

But let’s face it, I’m really running so I can keep eating cake.

Like the smitten kitchen strawberry cake I plan on making later tonight.  With fresh farmer’s market strawberries.  I made this a couple of summers ago and it was fantastic.  Also, strawberries have a special place in my photographer’s heart.  They were some of the first subjects when I got my fancy pants DSLR camera.

I was so proud of my first photos!

Instant art. For food nerds like me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy your day!