Things I have been up to...

I took a couple days off of blogging to catch up on life.   I found myself spending a little too much time in front of the computer....I love reading and commenting on blogs.  It makes me feel like I have a social life even if it just through blogging. 
Finally got around to carving pumpkins and had so much fun!!!
Mine is the top one and Zachary's is on the bottom.  I think they are so cute!!!

 

I mentioned a few weeks ago I was in the process of sorting through my spices and changing over to Morton & Bassett because they seem to be more to my liking versus the regular brand.  I never used Chinese Five Spice so I picked up a bottle to see what it was.  It has a really interesting smell kind of like black licorice and cinnamon.

Chinese five spice powder is a spice mixture, typically made from fennel, cloves, Szechuan peppercorns, star anise, and cinnamon.

 I was feeling quite adventurous and roasted the pumpkin seeds with it and they were awesome. 

 

Lots of miles and spinning going on.

 

Rest, I definitely needed some serious sleep lately.  Unfortunately, Prissy had started a bad habit of banging on the blinds at all hours of the night/morning to wake me up.  I put her on the bed and she jumps down and does it all over again.  I have had her for twelve years and this is something new, but I am really tired of it.  She just wants company.  I woke her up all day long today thinking she may sleep tonight, I hope so.  I do not want to lock her out of my room. She has Grinch paws!!!

 

 

I have two races planned for November.  One is an 18 mile trail run and the other is a Turkey Trot.  I have A LOT of work to do.  I am just so excited to be healthy and injury free right now.  I rested more than I liked. Usually I just push myself through an injury. 

Well that is all I have for now.  I hope everyone is having a great weekend!!!!  Good Luck to everyone racing.

Have you carved your Halloween pumpkin?
Do you have a pet that refuses to let you sleep?
What is your next race?

 

Five things I did this weekend

 

Finally watched Quantico, which is a really great show. I cannot wait for the next episode.

 

Celebrated a huge milestone with my car.  She officially has over 200,000 miles on her and is going strong.  This car has had two people learn to drive in it. Moved more times than I care to say. She has taken a lot of abuse from three boys. Has been my home on more than one occasion. I love my car. Sorry for the blurry photo!!

 

Saturday after taking a double spin class I came home and cuddled with Prissy for the remainder of the day.  It was so nice and she really enjoyed it.

 

 

I finally tried Pyro's Fire Fresh Pizza.  Only I had a salad and Zachary had a pizza which looked delicious.  You get a huge bowl of what appeared to be spring greens and then walk down a line and select your toppings.  It is not like a traditional salad bar.  They had roasted potato cubes, roasted onion, roasted tomatoes, a large selection of various meats.  I made mine with black olives, roasted onions, roasted potatoes, mixed cheese, and ranch dressing. It came with two triangle garlic rolls which were ok.  pyrospizza.com

 

Made the best brownies ever, not from a box.  I like my brownies cake like.  Not to firm or dense. 

Sunday was my rest day for the week.  I have 10 mile runs planned each day this week and then double spin on Saturday.  Running is getting "easier" again and mostly pain free.  I still feel a little twinge of pain in my calf every now and then but it is bearable. 

I hope everybody had a great weekend.  Congrats to everyone who raced.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thinking out loud ~ Thankful edition

Yesterday sucked for me...I have days when everything seems impossible where if I take a shower it is a huge accomplishment. A couple years ago I was stuck in bed for days on end with depression, without going into all the details, I just wanted to die.  I got to rock bottom and learned there was a deeper level of rock bottom.  So today I have so much to be thankful for. 

Yesterday, is gone, today is my bitch!!!  

I am thankful for my children who never give up on me!!!

I am thankful for my doctors who listen to me and keep me supplied with Ambien. 

I am thankful for Prissy, she is my sunshine when skies are gray!!!

I am thankful for Pinterest. Why?  I think it is the easiest way to type in a word and there are literally thousands of motivational, inspirational, and humorous things that instantaneously lift my spirits...

I am thankful for not having to work anymore!!!!!!  This is what has ultimately changed my life the past couple years. I have simplified my life so I do not have to.  I have worked ever since I was able to work.  I went into the military when I was 18, spent the next twenty three years in law enforcement.  I was tired, I was depressed, I was just not enjoying life or my family.  Things had to change.

I am thankful that my car gets me to and from where I need to be.  I am thankful that I have good running socks and shoes.  I am thankful that I have raised my children to realize that things are just that things.  Time is the most priceless possession there is and to use it wisely.  I am thankful for peanut butter.  I am thankful that I sit here today and type this list because I never thought I would be able to sit and be happy.  I am thankful that God chose to make me live when I wanted to die.  I am thankful for my story. I am thankful that I walked away from police work and the only injuries I ever sustained were some bruises and cuts.  I am thankful that the bullets that went flying in my direction never hit me.  I am thankful that after I have put my friends through so much hell the last few years they are still by my side. I am thankful that six months ago I met my friend, Cat, who had been fighting addiction for years, is now six months clean and a friend for life.  I am thankful for an ice cold Coke after a long run.

One day I will detail my fight with depression, hopefully sometime this month because September is suicide prevention month.  The statistic that always sticks in my mind about this month is 22 Veterans will commit suicide today.  Which is 8,030 U S Veterans a year.  This is a problem.

I am thankful that my readers will not judge!!!!! 

What are a few things you are thankful for today?

Were you aware of the staggering suicide rate for U S Veterans?

Have you or a family member ever suffered from depression?

Butter baby and the Ambien curse

While I am baking all these wonderful treats, I am keeping up with how much stuff I use. I seriously have used 4 pounds of butter. That's a crapload of butter.  All the recipes call for unsalted butter.  I previously only used margarine because my mother said it was the same she was sooooooooo wrong!!! It makes a world of difference. I'm currently using Land O Lakes unsalted sweet butter.

Every time I use a lot of butter I always think about Julia Child saying this,

I totally agree!!!

So I knocked out peanut butter cookies which were so good,  I knew if I baked the whole batch my thighs were going to reach up and bitch slap me.  So I found this little bit of information in the book,  that said if you make the cookie balls and place them on wax paper in the freezer after they completely freeze you could bag them up for later use, genious!!!!! 

The cookbook said it grossed 24 cookies, ummmmmm it made a lot more!!! Here is a pic of the final product

 I also made banana bread, because I have too many frozen bananas,  I cannot wait to cut this sucker open.

I am not exaggerating when I say, everything I have made has been spot on.

So I cannot sleep without taking medicine.  I have tried melatonin, valerian root, over the counter sleep aids and many prescriptions with no success. So my doctor prescribed me Ambien a few months ago, and I actually fall asleep. I also have PTSD from the military and many years as a police officer in Atlanta so I have to take something to stop the nightmares.  Anywho, I know that a side effect of Ambien is doing things and not remembering.  This is so embarrassing, but I had no idea that I did it until I woke up with a big ass spoon of peanut butter in bed with me.  It was on my face, the bedding, probably on PRISSY!!!! This is PRISSY, my true love.

She loves me NO matter what and sleeps with me. Her name is fitting.

I hope everyone had a great Labor Day!!!

Have you ever woke up with food in your bed?

What did you do this weekend? 

Do you use real butter or margarine?