A Fun Idea

I was sifting through my pins last night and came across this cute idea, I had completely forgotten that I had pinned this!  The idea is you label popsicle sticks, with different "date night" ideas.  Random, fun and spontaneous!

Source: lifeinthegreenhouse.com via Hilliary @ Brunch and Cupcakes on Pinterest

Not only is this idea cute for "Date Night" Ideas, but I figured that I could use this idea for my Minneapolis "To Do List!"  Check out my Minneapolis "To Do List" here in this post!


So far I have gone to:
A Twins Game
Basilica Block Party
Williams Peanut Bar
Stella's Rooftop Cafe
Run around Multiple Lakes
Pier 500

And I am sure there are some that I am forgetting!
I have an empty jar, now all I need to do is make the popsicle sticks, look out Minneapolis To Do List!

Two New Recipes and a CookBook Recommendation!

Happy Wednesday Lovlies! 

Is your week going well, glad it is the middle of the week?

Hard to believe it is already Wednesday, the week is flying!  I am a bit behind on getting this weeks Pin Challenge Recipes to you.  But I will admit there recipes are not on my pin board, they are actually new recipes I got from my sister! 

Since I have an abundance of Quinoa I decided I needed a few recipes featuring the lovely grain! 

This first recipe stuck out to me, you all know how much I love stuffed peppers.  But never before have I made a stuffed tomato.  

Quinoa Stuffed Tomatoes 

From Whole Foods

Source: wholefoodsmarket.com via Hilliary @ Brunch and Cupcakes on Pinterest

The second recipe just sounded delicious, hot weather always puts me in the mood for a big salad!  And the fact that this salad featured broccoli one of my favorite veggies, I was all for it!

Mediterranean Crunch Salad

From Whole Foods

Source: wholefoodsmarket.com via Hilliary @ Brunch and Cupcakes on Pinterest

And while I am on the topic of food, I have to share a cook book with you that I am in need of picking up! The new Mayo Clinic Cookbook.

My sister has this cook book, and I copied a few of the recipes out of it! 

The Tabouli is amazing! I highly recommend getting this one! 

Happy Wednesday! 

Wolfe Pack...Domination

(Such Great Shirts My Dad Made for All of Us!)

Yes, The Wolfe Pack dominated the Omaha Color Run this past weekend! I enjoyed every color filled moment of this race!  It was exhilarating to run through a spray of color as you completed each Kilometer!  By the end of the race, We looked a hot colorful mess when we were done!

 

Love my Family!

I may or may not still have some paint splotches left on me!

It was great to see my entire family out there racing, great family bonding event!  We even got some great pictures for our Christmas Card!

Trash Bags make the perfect post race outfit!

This is how you ride home in style!
Can't get the car dirty! 

The Omaha Color Run had a great turn out, 13,000 people showed up to participate on a hot Saturday Morning!  And I will say that despite the heat I ran well, I now cannot wait to sign up for my next race... I am thinking it is time to start training again for a 10k! 

Did any of you run the Color Run?

After running a race do you instantly want to sign up for another one?

Omaha - Color Run

I am really glad that today is Friday.  Not just because the weekend is here, but because we are heading down to Omaha tonight for the Color Run on Saturday! 

One of my New Years resolutions for 2012 was to run a 5k!  I feel like this year so far,  I have had a lot of set backs running, like runners knee, and a stress fracture, but I am finally running a race!  And I get to cross running a 5k off my list of new years resolutions!  

I am excited that my whole family will be running the race, we are going to be one colorful mess when all is said and done (don't worry lots of pictures to come)!  My parents made us all white shirts to wear for the race, I am so excited to see how they turned out! 

Are you doing anything fun this weekend? 

Anyone else running the color run?

Banana Bread

Sunday afternoon as my friend Katie and I sat enjoying a slice of Apple Sauce Bread (waiting for the boys to get back from golf) we got on the topic of Banana Bread.  We both agreed that we had yet to find our perfect banana bread recipe, and we love us some banana bread!  We kept talking about how we wanted our banana bread recipes to be exactly like the Apple Sauce Bread (only banana)!  Then the thought came to us... why not tweak the  Apple Sauce Bread recipe just a little bit and add in some bananas!  The idea seemed perfect, so we tried it!  And the results we got were nothing short of amazing.  We got the moist banana bread we love, without all the oil!  

This recipe is to good not to share with you all!  

So here is Katie and my version of Banana Bread!

Banana Bread

Adapted from Eat Live Runs Almond Apple Sauce Bread

Dry Ingredients 

2 Cups Flour 

3/4 Cup Sugar 

3 Teaspoons Baking Powder 

1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda 

1 Teaspoon Cinnamon - I left this in 

Wet Ingredients 

1 Egg Beaten  

3 Tablespoons melted butter ( I use...) 

3/4 Cup Apple Sauce ( I like Motts Natural) 

3 Over Ripe Bananas

Optional Toppings:

1/4-Small Handful Cup Granola of Choice (I like Bare Nakeds Fruit and Nut Granola, or Trader Joes)

A few Tablespoons Brown Sugar 

Optional Mix ins:

1/2 Cup Chocolate Chips

1/2 Cup Chopped Walnuts

Directions: 

First spray a loaf pan with cooking spray and  pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees.

1-Combine your flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl. 

Mix dry ingredients well and set aside. 

2-Now grab another medium bowl.  Place your over ripe bananas in the medium bowl and mash with a spoon.  Add your applesauce in with your bananas and stir to combine, and set aside.

3-Grab a measuring cup and melt your 3 tbs of butter, once melted beat your egg into the butter.  

Now add your egg and butter in with your banana/applesauce mixture.  Stir well to combine.  

4-Pour your wet ingredients into your dry ingredients, stir well until combined (but dom't over mix).  

5-Pour your bread batter into your greased loaf pan, and sprinkle with a handful of granola if you wish ( I like the added texture the granola provides, I believe Katie sprinkled the top of hers with brown sugar - Both are delicious)

6-Bake your banana bread for an hour-an hour and fifteen minutes.  Be sure to check the center of your bread with a tooth pick.  If your tooth pick comes out clean its done!  Mine took about an hour and fifteen minutes to bake! 

And there you have it, a delicious treat!

Enjoy! 

What I am Loving - July Edition

Happy Hump Day! 

I feel like Wednesday is one of my favorite days of the week, well besides Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  This is because Wednesday represents the middle of the week and means you survived the first half of the week ( well work week)! And from Wednesday on things just seem to get easier, and the weekend is in site which is always a plus! 

So on this fine Wednesday I thought I would share with you the things that I am loving right now in July!  Starting with... 

...The Beautiful Weather!

Minnesota is finally over the hot muggy weather we experienced for the past week!  The weather here has been a perfect, comfortable, warm 80 degrees!  Oh and we have been enjoying lots of sunshine!  

This perfect weather is great for an outdoor rooftop brunch, 

(Uptown Cafeteria Rooftop!) 

or even a good 3 mile lake run! 

Both of which have been done this week, and I am loving both! 

I am loving huge summer salads, there are a million good inspiration recipes on Pinterest! 

Like.... 

Source: guiltykitchen.com via Kayla on Pinterest

(Caprese Salad)

And... 

Source: becauseimaddicted.net via Joanie on Pinterest

(Watermelon and Feta Salad)
And... 

Source: pipandebby.squarespace.com via Dee on Pinterest

(Grilled Vegetable Salad)

I am loving my new pitcher from Target!

I have been experimenting with different spa waters! 

So far my favorite has to be cucumber mint, it is so refreshing! 

I am loving the smell of fresh baked bread floating through a clean apartment! 

And finally I am loving that I get to see my family again this weekend! 

The Wolfe's are going to dominate the Color Run this weekend in Omaha! 

We are going to have a blast! 

What are you loving in July?

Weekend Recap-Basillica Block Party

This weekend was a blast, but it went way to quickly!

Going into the weekend we really had no set plans, but it turned out for the best.  We had a fun filled weekend with wonderful friends! 

Friday night I had an itch to go shopping!  

And that is exactly what we did!  I found some super cute dresses for work! 

Like this white dress from Loft.

I even scored this Sanctuary denim Blazer on sale! 

I am super pumped to rock this in the office! 

Friday was a low key night because Katie and her husband Richard were coming up Saturday to take on the city, and I wanted to be well rested for that!  

Saturday morning was my ideal morning! 

An early 7AM workout followed up with coffee and BRUNCH (my favorite)!

Katie and Richard picked us up around 10 am and we all headed down to the Uptwon Cafeteria for a sunny Rooftop brunch! 

(source) 

It was fabulous! 

We enjoyed some fabulous Banana bread, and I had the biggest fruit platter I have ever seen! 

I even enjoyed the Uptown Cafeterias Famous Bloody Mary Bar! 

(Source) 

Lets just say they don't skimp on the booze! 

I loaded my drink with olives and pickles, and tons of spices!   It was delicious! 

Katie, Derek and Richard order the French Toast Treasure Box.  

Which is 3 slices of french toast filled with a cream cheese filling, and topped with blueberry compote!  Of course I had a taste! 

We did a bit more shopping after brunch on 50th and France in Edina! 

Super cute little shops!

I picked this dress up from Athleta! 

Super Comfortable, I can dress it up for work with a sweater or wear it around town! 

After a quick lunds run it was time to start making a tasty dinner! 

I made the famous shrimp risotto for dinner!  A small group of us got together for dinner, before heading to the Basillica Block Party! 

(On my List of things to do in MInneapolis)!

It is a yearly fundraiser for the Basillica of St Mary! 

Such a great event! 

It is a 2 day music festival, with 3 out door stages! 

There were a lot of great bands this year!  The Avett Brothers, Train, OAR, the Luminers just to name a few! 

 It was everyone wear blue day! 

OAR!

It was such a beautiful evening to enjoy an outdoor concert, and the Basilica Block Party was one of my Must Do things on my To Do List!  I get to cross something off! 

Sunday was low key. 

A relaxing morning, a bit of shopping, and a lazy evening! 

Great way to end a fun filled weekend! 

So tell me what did you do this weekend?  Any big outdoor events going on around you?