Happy Halloween!!

Busy doesn't even begin to decribe the last week and a half but thankfully I have had some time to partake in Halloween Festivities!

Last Thursday my roomies and I decided to have a bunch of our friends over for pumpkin carving and to watch the Tigers in the world series.  We had an absolute blast and I loved my little spider pumpkin!

Saturday was a big party for halloween and for one of my Roomies B-Day.  J and I wanted to be something cute but didn't feel like having to go over the top and I think our Mario and Luigi costume was perfect.  I would also like to note my crafting skills for not only dying my green hat but also all the little pieces we added!

And then today was a big Halloween costume contest at work which I helped throw so I had to get involved.  This man showed up on stilts and of course blew everyone out of the water!  I love my work and how much fun we have.

Tonight is just some movies and candy with the friends and since we live in a house we are hoping we also get some trick-or-treaters. Everyone have fun and be safe!!!

Apple Brunch Bake

With so many close friends (including ourselves) running the race on Sunday the roomies and I decided it was the perfect opportunity to host a celebratory brunch!  We had all burned off at least 1300 calories and wanted some food!!  My grandpa used to make this bake for us on Christmas morning and it was perfect since I could make it the night before and just throw it in the oven when we got home.  Everyone loved it and it is the perfect pair with a savory casserole as well to round out a crowd pleasing and filling brunch.

Cinnamon Apple Brunch Bake

(Adapted from McCormick)

Ingredients

1 can (21 ounces) apple pie filling
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
3 tablespoons butter, melted
2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

1 can (12 ounces) refrigerated biscuits
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional I usually don't include the nuts)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Mix apple pie filling, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and vanilla in medium bowl.

3. Spread 1/2 of the apple mixture in 2-quart shallow baking dish.
4. Cut or rip each biscuit into quarters. Arrange biscuit pieces, points up, over apple mixture.

5. Spread remaining apple mixture over biscuits. Sprinkle with nuts.

(this is when you could cover and let sit in fridge until next morning)
3. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.



THIRTEEN POINT F*ING ONE

I DID IT!!!!

Sunday was the day, and yes I am just now blogging about it today because the only thing I could think about yesterday was how much pain I was in lol.  I have never been so nervous/excited/scared/anxious then I was that morning.  The alarm going off at 4:45 wasn't so pleasant but I was surprised at how quickly I popped up!

Getting pumped with the girls!

The course was absolutely gorgeous.  The coolest part about the Detroit Free Press is that you get to cross the ambassador bridge at dawn into Canada, run about 5 miles through Windsor, and then back through the tunnel into Detroit.  The views were amazing and it really did distract from the whole running 13 miles part ha!

I am happy that my body held up for the first 10 miles really well (actually beat my training pace which was probably an issue) and then at mile 11 it all fell apart.  My hip gave out which meant that I had to walk a majority of the final 2 miles but I still finished it.  I am so proud of myself this is something I never imagined I would do and accomplishing it felt amazing inside.  BF did really well too, his hips started to give him troubles around mile 21 which meant he had to walk/run the rest but he still finished just over his goal time. 





My Finish time 02:45:48  BF Finish time 04:18:00

Overall it was an amazing experience, and something that I will never forget.  Since I am still in so much pain I keep telling myself that this is my first and last... but we will have to see :-)

Counting your blessings

There are times in life when you realize how lucky you are.  My life hasn't always been easy, at times it has been far from it, but thankfully it has brought me to the life I now have.  Every once and a while events occur that make you realize just how blessed your life really is. 

I recently learned that a high school classmate, and elementary school best friend, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.  We haven't spoken in years but learning of her fight brought tears to my eyes.  She has been gracious enough to track her progress in a blog and yesterday I finally sat down and read from the beginning.  Needless to say I was shocked.  Not because of her diagnosis, or her treatments, but because of her spirit.  Through her blog I laughed more than anything, her comments, and reactions to what is occurring to her are priceless.  Even in one of the most difficult times in her life she is still wittier, more positive, and outgoing (the girl shaved her head into a mohawk when her hair started to fall out) then most people, including myself, will ever be.

 It’s a reminder that things can go wrong, plans can change, the world can fall from your feet, but you can still remain a person that can make yourself and others smile.   It’s a reminder that when life is good to embrace it, don't let the little stuff break you down, and in her case even this big stuff. 

Crunch time

Yup there it is!!!  I am already getting so anxious/excited/nervous, I can't believe it is this close.  This week has been pretty awesome since I don't have to do any long runs and I get to up my carb intake to 50-60% of my meals which never happens.  I signed up for this race in February because "all of my friends were doing it" but never really realized it would be happening, which sounds stupid I know. 

In 3 days I will do something that I never imagined I would do!!!!

Wine Tasting Weekend

My crazy busy weekends have already begun and they won't slow down until New Years!!  I am so lucky though to have some pretty awesome friends and experiences.  This weekend I was able to meet up with 5 of my girlfriends to do some wine tasting in northern Michigan.  We rented a little house on a lake and spent the entire day Saturday tasting wines from 6 different wineries.  I was pretty proud of myself for only buying 2 bottles but I have a whole list that I fell in love with and will try to find at home. The weather was basically a monsoon with about an inch of rain and only about 50 degrees which means we didn't get very many cute pictures of the scenery, but I can tell you northern Michigan in the fall is one of the most beautiful places!

Best quote of the whole trip from my wonderful roomie (mind you we were a few wineries in at this point) "Why are the grape trees so small"... "Because they are vines dork"

Baked black bean and quinoa burgers

I am always looking for healthy and tasty recipes that are easy to make.  I love the spicy black bean veggie burgers at the supermarket for quick meals but since I had all of the ingredients on hand for these I figured I might as well make them myself.  These will def be a new staple in my meal plans!

Baked Black Bean and Quinoa Burgers
Recipe adapted from Greatist

What you'll need:
1 can black beans (15.5 ounces)
1/2 cup cooked quinoa (prepared according to package directions)
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon hamburger seasoning mix
1/2 teaspoon yellow mustard
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

How to make it:
1. Drain and rinse the can of black beans. Make sure your quinoa is fully cooked and on hand.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the beans and cooked quinoa with the remainder of the ingredients.
3. Using your hands or a fork, thoroughly mix the ingredients together, mashing the beans as you go. This should form a paste-like mixture that is easy to form into patties. (the better the beans are mashed the easier they will stay together)
4. Divide the mixture into four equal balls, and form each into a patty between 1/4 and 1/2 an inch thick.
5. In a medium saucepan over high eat, cook the patties in 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil for 1 minute on each side, or until lightly browned.
6. Transfer the saucepan to a 400 degrees oven and bake for 15 minutes.
7. Serve on a whole-grain bun or over fresh greens with your choice of fixings on top. Serves 4.





10 Miler and some retail therapy

Yes this is a little late, but thanks to a weekend trip and a federal holiday on Monday I have been busy busy!

Due to our weekend vacation I needed to do my LR on Friday.  I was really afraid going into it since my LR last week went horribly, and this was the first time I was ever going to attempt to run double digits.  Well... I DID IT!!   And at a pace that will set me up for my goal time of under 2:45 for my half marathon!

I was so so proud of myself and now can't wait for the half marathon in only 10 days ahhhh.  I decided that due to my hard work I deserved a prize, and I wanted to spend a little money for no reason.  So we went to the mall and I bought myself the prettiest purse I ever did see (well that I can afford) HA.  

Debate Drinking Game

Don't worry this isn't a political post lol

The debate was on, which really I don't really care about, but we put it on anyway and decided to play along with the drinking game I found on pinterest.  We really didn't stick to the rules but we sat on the couch cuddled up with our wine and drank the night away.  Def wasn't the plan to go through 2 1/2 bottles on a work night but I couldn't have been happier. 

Last night was one of those nights that wasn't planned, wasn't expected, and was perfect.  BF owed me a dinner for beating him in fantasy football last week so that part was planned but the rest is why I know I'm the luckiest girl in the world. 

I've been through a lot in life when it comes to relationships.  But last night I realized just how truly happy I am with BF.  To anyone else it wouldn't have been a special night, and thats what makes it amazing.  When two people can sit on a couch for a few hours and just laugh, talk, joke, and enjoy eachother, thats when you know you have something real. 

Nights like last night remind me of how amazing my life really is!  My head may be killing me but my heart is so happy and I couldn't ask for anything more!

Beyond Easy Pumpkin Spice Cookies

Last year I set out to find a tasty and easy pumpkin treat that I could make all fall long.  I found this recipe a few places on the internet and honestly only made them because it seemed too good to be true.  Basically I didn't believe anything this easy would actually taste good.  To my surprise these really are the easiest cookies to make and a total crowd pleaser.  These have much more of a soft muffiny (if that's a word) consistency rather than a hard cookie which makes them enjoyable and dangerous any time of day.  Last night I made my first batch of the season, and with that Fall is officially here!

Beyond Easy Pumpkin Spice Cookies

• 1 box Spice Cake Mix
• 1 15oz. can Pumpkin Puree
• 1/2 can Cream Cheese Frosting (Optional) 

1) In large bowl mix the spice cake mix with the pumpkin puree
 (Just the dry cake mix, do not add any oil, eggs, water, or anything else listed on the box)
2) Drop Tablespoons full of batter onto well greased cookie sheet
3) Bake at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes (cookies will begin to look dry and get brown on edges)
4) Allow to cool
5) Heat frosting 30 seconds in the microwave until runny
6) Drizzle over COOLED cookies and Enjoy! 



Failed LR and some Football

Weekends really are never long enough!  All summer we were crazy busy and starting next weekend it will pick back up again.  This means that we really wanted to enjoy our last weekend of just relaxing and enjoying fall.

Saturday was LR day for the BF and I... he had to go 20 miles (training for the marathon) which made my 9 not look so bad.  But thanks to not feeling well and not eating friday night I couldn't run past mile 2.  My legs literally wouldn't lift of the ground and from my endomondo you can tell that I even struggled to walk.

I have to say it was super discouraging especially since we are only 20 days out (HOLY CRAP) but this Friday I will do my 10 miler which will be my last long run until the half and I am confident it will go better then this one did.  On a better note BF did do his 20 miles in 3 hours exactly I am so so proud!

Sunday was football day!!  Living in Detroit it amazing for sports because all of the stadiums and activities are super close.  BF is from Minnesota and is a Vikings fan so he made sure to get some tickets to the Vikings V. Lions game this year.  It was the perfect day for some tailgating.. and maybe too perfect since I had one too many vodka sodas oops!  But it was a great game and a good time with friends.  Vikings won which made the BF happy, and since I am a Bears fan I'm just happy I didn't have to deal with a cranky fan on the way home LOL