A Morning Hike...And A New Disney Race!

Rich and I are doing the Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon on October 1, 2011. It is supposed to be a very low key fun way to celebrate our 30th Anniversary!!  I came up with this idea because... a) back in May we didn't have something on the calendar for that weekend... b) I was already into the walking thing and he goes to the gym and runs... c) It starts at 10pm and at the end of it we get to attend the annual wine and dine festival at the Epcot Showcase of the World...so could there be serious runners involved???  

Up to this point we have been doing our own "training."  He has been running and I have been walking.  The past three weeks I logged 61 miles and that doesn't count all the trips  from my car into various Targets, Best Buys, and Bed Bath Beyonds in the Southeast...and what about all of those trips into and out of Chelsea's apartment on the second floor and Katelyn's dorm!   I just can't seem to make that crossover back into running...I honestly think that I am either too old...or it's too hot...or I am too old.  And for Rich...he can't wrap his head around extended walking in a RACE.  I know that he's probably right, we will get there all ready to enjoy the event, take pictures along the way, maybe get an autograph from Mickey and Minnie ;)...and then it will happen.  We will see actual RUNNERS who have not seen a couch in oh...10 years...warming up by doing 50 yard sprints.  And also there will be those dedicated runners who have hydrated so well they arrive at the starting line and immediately get in line for the porta-potty come out of the stall and get right back in line!! Race Day (errr Night) Magic will kick in...I know of this to some degree I ran the Disney Half Marathon back in...well awhile ago.

Rich has a bit more experience with this...and ran the Half with me while sick!

We have compromised a bit and decided that we will run 6 miles and walk 7.1 (or maybe it is the other way around).  So today we hiked through WaterColor and Seaside (8.5 miles).  Rich clipped along at a nice speed and I slowed him down a few times to stop and take some pics on my cell phone (practicing for the real event you know).

  It was all good though. At the end of our hike we ate a delicious breakfast in Seaside and then we spent the afternoon lounging around the pool at the condo.  Stay tuned for fun updates from my "rigorous" training schedule during the next few weeks.  For now I am off to do 5 miles!

A Few of My Favorite Things...

Last year I did a post of my favorite things (August 25, 2010).  It remains to this day one of your "favorite" posts on my blog.  I decided it was time for a look at my new favorite things...

My new favorite fall color from OPI

This over sized Hobo wallet is from last fall but I love it! 

Gold bangles with some European bling!

A few weeks back I happened onto this Beth Moore study on Psalms 120 - 134.  I buy the videos  for $4.99 on

Lifeway and watch them on my computer!

Farmer's Market scented car fresheners by Yankee Candle

Turning the calendar page to September...I was dreading August 2011.  It is coming to a close and you know what...we all survived rather well.  And if my September calendar is any indication...there are lots of adventures in our future!!

AND finally...The Pioneer Woman gets her own TV show on the Food Network!  Tune in this Saturday (August 27th) at 10:30 am (central time) and check out life on her Oklahoma ranch...

Click on the link below and see a sneak preview of her show!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/videos/here-comes-pioneer-woman/80741.html

 Do you have some new favorites??? 

Katelyn's New Home In Nashville :)

We followed the Vanderbilt packing rules...everything boxed and marked!

Will all of this plus the three of us fit in the car?

 

 Saturday morning 8:30 am we are in line waiting to be directed to Murray House where the move in crew will unload and move Katelyn in. It happened sooooo fast I didn't get a picture (which I am pretty certain thrilled Kate ;)

 After unloading and unpacking we went to Target to get shelves, under bed storage, extra pillows for the bed, more hangers...Chelsea and I finished up while Kate and Rich went to the reception for the school of Engineering...By 5 pm we were done and ready for the big house dinner in the tent!

Sunday morning we snagged Kate for breakfast at the hotel, went grocery shopping and took a few pictures before saying good-bye! Roommate you ask..yes she has one...Berkley is from California and I was hoping to get a picture of the two of them however she was doing the same stuff we were and so our paths didn't cross after the first morning of chaos :)

Katelyn had a busy day ahead of her on Sunday as she started orientation...we headed home...after a trip to the bookstore for some Vandy essentials :)

Preparing to be an Empty Nester!

This is for all of you who think I have a handle on this empty nest phase I am about to enter...I went into Hobby Lobby to buy one thing...

...None of this was on the list of the one thing I went in to buy!  But this stuff will make a really cool scrapbook of our Girls' trip to Europe this summer...right?

Feeling the need for some retail therapy and scrapbooking!!

Hot Chocolate Angelina's Style...

Back to Paris for this post!  In previous posts I mentioned Angelina's...a wonderful tea shop on the Rue de Rivoli not too far from the Louvre.  I first went there back in the 90's and I remember thinking that I just wanted to stay all afternoon sipping the decadent hot chocolate.

The girls and I went to Angelina's this summer on our trip and had lunch...finished off with the hot chocolate and the famous Mont Blanc Macaroon.

It was...divine!!

Today as I was doing "stuff" I had on the Food Network's Barefoot Contessa...and she made...Angelina's Hot Chocolate!  So I stopped what I was doing and wrote down the recipe.  Make this for a special occasion this fall and winter...you won't regret it!

Double Hot Chocolate (Angelina's style)
4-5 servings

2 1/2 Cups Whole Milk
2 Cups Half-and-Half
8 ounces Bittersweet Chocolate, chopped
8 ounces Milk Chocolate, chopped
1 T Sugar
1 t Pure Vanilla Extract
1 t Instant Espresso

In a heavy saucepan over medium heat, warm milk and half-and-half to just below simmering point.  Remove from the heat and add both chocolates.  When chocolates are melted, add sugar, vanilla extract, and espresso and whisk vigorously.  Reheat and serve immediately.  Enjoy :)

The Last Supper...Beouf Bourguignon

                                                    

Tomorrow night is Chelsea's last supper before leaving for Auburn.  She says she's not coming home till Thanksgiving this year soooo we wanted a memorable dinner.  After much thought we are going to tackle Beouf Bourguignon from Julia Child's  Mastering the Art of French Cooking!  I know it doesn't seem like a light summer recipe...but it is supreme comfort food (if you get it right) and we love that in our house!!

 I own a copy of this cookbook and have read the Introduction to the Anniversary Edition by Julia Child, The Story of "Mastering" at Knopf by Judith Jones, both Forewards, the table of contents,the chapters on kitchen equipment, definitions, ingredients, cutting, wine, and at least 25 recipes. I have yet to attempt one...I am admittedly very intimidated by the whole French accent that I can hear in my head as I wistfully gaze at the recipes.  Well, no more.  Tomorrow we (cause it takes a village when I venture out sometimes) are going to "master"  this beef stew recipe and then move on to dessert which will be Crepes Nutella...keepin it

all french!

This brings me round to the movie Julie & Julia...I loved this movie! It had cooking, Meryl Streep, cheap pearls, blogging, mishaps and mayhem in the kitchen, and a happy ending!!   

                          
So, if things don't get too "dicey" in the kitchen tomorrow I will attempt some pictures of the process and our dinner...stay tuned...and Bon Apetit!

No Fear

We finished a series in church yesterday titled "No Fear."  Our new pastor likes outlines...I like them too (unless I am writing something down and miss the next fill-in-the-blank)!  This series spoke to our fears as fallen people.  I have a few rational and irrational fears. Whether they come to pass or not...life goes on and is good.  If there is a fear to be had in this life it is most certainly the separation from God.  Everything else can take a number...maybe I will fall for it...but hopefully not.

Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning." Exodus 20:20

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.  Proverbs 9:10

Book Club Update...

 I have been working on my blog and just realized that I totally missed July's book club update!! And I know you are all waiting (haha) so...I loaded up my kindle for our trip to Europe and planned to read, read, read...but actually only read a little bit. I read the new Tina Fey book...
And I think this counts as a memoir of sorts.  I read it because A) all of my girls are fans of hers...B) Nicole said she reminds her of me somehow (??) and C) She does a darn good imitation of Sarah Palin

It was good and funny and smart...like her.  The cover of this book bothers me though!!

I am finishing up this book... I love it...all about a couple buying a little house in France...and it just happens to be right next to a castle!!

I almost started the infamous Harry Potter...being in London and seeing the movie and all, but I am waiting until September when I am supposed to read young adult fiction.  Maybe I will fall in love with the series and it will help pass the time during those days when I wish Katelyn were still at Mosley and coming home at 3:00 :(

For August I am supposed to read something Science Fiction...and I just don't think I can do it...sooooo for now I am reading a non-fiction book...

This is a fascinating tale of a young-just-out-of-college woman who decides to hike the Appalachian Trail...alone.  I saw this book posted on Nicole's fb and checked it out on goodreads.com and loaded it on the kindle.  I started reading it on the treadmill at the gym (walking and reading...I don't really suggest this) and was immediately caught up...this morning I mentioned it to Nicole and she was like "Mom, I knew her at Samford...we were RA's together!"  Apparently, this woman's desire to find herself has led to many accomplishments since her first solo hike-thru.  Just this week she broke the world's record for the fastest solo hike-thru of the Appalachian Trail (over 2000 miles)! This evening Rich was browsing the newspapers on the internet and calls for me to come look at what he thinks should be our next adventure...it was the story of Jennifer Pharr Davis...hmmmm...I have camped maybe three times in my life! Those of you who know me well have heard me say that my idea of camping is a Holiday Inn built in the 80's!  Stay tuned!

I am also planning to finish reading this book...

What have you been reading this summer I am wondering.  Comment me, update me...looking forward to hearing from you! 

Happy Reading :)