Live Your Dream

My mom sent me this quote today while I was at work:

"By Recording your dreams and goals on paper, you set in motion the process of becoming the person you most want to be.  Put your future in good hands - your own." - Mark Victor Hansen

I found this so inspirational!  Go and become the person you want to be!  Live your Dreams! 

Happy Tuesday!

6 Things from the Weekend

With another week beginning I thought I would share 6 highlights from a wonderful weekend that has come to a close.  Such a wonderful weekend full of friends, family and impromptu moments!  Take a look at how I spent my weekend... 

1- Patio dinner overlooking the beautiful Minneapolis skyline with our friends Katie and Ryan! 

(Source)

It was my first time eating at Tuggs in St Anthony and Maine and let me tell you I fell in love with this charming part of Minneapolis! 

2 - A beautiful 5 mile run Saturday morning along my favorite downtown trail! First long run since Derek and my half marathon!  Beautiful scenery! 

 Love running along the Stone Arch Bridge! 

3- A little impromptu shopping!  

(Found Here) 

I picked up the above maxi skirt and the below cocktail dress on a whim this weekend!  I really been obsessing over stripes and maxi skirts lately. 

(Found Here) 

4 - A lovely evening backyard wedding! 

Derek and I attended his cousins wedding Saturday night and had a blast with family!  The evening was laid back and casual which I loved!  

5-A spur of the moment rainy day DIY projects! 

My apartment is slowly looking more and more like a home!  An early morning Ikea trip led to this lovely afternoon project! 

6- And last but not least - good quality time with an old friend!  Always good to catch up and reminisce! 

What did you do this weekend?

Weekend Plans - City Pages 2013 Beer Fest

Despite the fact that this work we was only 4 days long due to having Monday off for Memorial Day... This work week felt like one of the longest!  I feel like the weather is mostly to blame.  Minnesota went from bright sunny skies to dark gloomy and rainy!  But I am not here this morning to talk about the weather or my long week!  I am here to tell you about the 2013 City Pages Beer Fest that Derek and I are attending tonight with some friends! 

Now for those of you who know me well you know I am not a beer drinker.  Wine would be my drink of choice!  You can actually count the number of beers I enjoy and will drink on 3 fingers.   And on top of only liking 3 beers I truly have to be in the mood to drink a beer!  But non the less I thought this would be a fun weekend event and something different to do on a Saturday night! 

The City Pages Beer Fest is being held downtown Minneapolis a mere 3 minute walk from my apartment (I saw them setting up tents yesterday from my gym window), and is featuring live music, food trucks and of course beer tasting!  This particular beer fest is one of the longest running of its kind and is returning to downtown minneapolis for its 21st year!  There will be over 20+ of the finest domestic and import beers to taste and a part of the proceeds will go to Finnegans a local non for profit brewing company that was started in 2000 here in Minneapolis.  See below for what Finnegans does... 

"Over 98% of the funds that land in the FINNEGANS Community Fund are distributed to our non-profit partners to support hunger alleviation in each state where our product is sold" (Source).  

How cool is that?  A brewing company that believes in giving back and building great communities! 

So if your in the area this evening come on down and check out the City Pages Beer Fest - You can buy tickets ahead of time here.  

Summer Reading List

One of my New Years resolutions this year was to read more.  And I have to say that I am not doing very well with it!  In fact I am not sure I have even finished a book!  I have started a few but they are all sitting half finished on my night stand or in the closet.  As I looked at my dead Nook (yes it needs charged) I decided that I wanted to make a summer reading list.  This list of books isn't going to be long but I am hoping this list will prompt me to read more!  And what better time to read then during the summer!  

2013 Summer Reading List: 

One Thousand Gifts - Ann Voscamp

Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn 

Sharp Objects -  Gillian Flynn

Lean In - Sheryl Sandberg

Room - Emma Donoghue

Three Cups of Tea - Greg Mortenson 

Born to Run - Christopher McDougall 

Life of Pi - Yan Martel

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald 

And Derek and I need to finish this book - The 5 Love Languages 

Any other good books you recommend?

In a Pinch - Stuffed Poblano Pepper

I am always on the look out for fast and easy recipes. Especially on those nights where I am just cooking for one. So when I found myself with an extra poblano pepper and a rumbling stomach you better believe I was all about a quick 5 ingredient or less dinner that would come together in a pinch! 

If you have been reading my blog for a while you know that I am a huge stuffed pepper fan. Just look at all the stuffed pepper recipes that have been featured on the blog.

Vegetable Stuffed Peppers  - Better Homes and Garden

Stuffed Peppers Two Ways - My Own 

Sweet Potato Stuffed Peppers - Natural Health Magazine 

 So when a quick recipe search produced dozens of stuffed poblano pepper recipes I knew exactly what I was going to make. 

I settled on the following recipe from Cooking Light for a  Cheesy Refried Bean Stuffed Poblano Pepper.  You can find the recipe here. And since this recipe had a mere 5 ingredients this dinner took no time to prepare (we are talking 15 minutes)!  

I loved that I could sub in whatever ingredients I had on hand.  Since I had no instant rice in the house I omitted the rice and crushed up a few tortilla chips which I sprinkled on top for some added crunch!

Not the pretties picture -

 The results? Pretty darn good! Easy enough to make for just one and tasty enough to make again! Try it tonight! 

End of a Chapter - Graduation

This past weekend Derek and I traveled to Omaha with my family to watch the little one graduate! 

My little sister! 

Hard to believe my little sister Miranda is a college graduate, a Creighton University Alumni! 

Where Have the 4 years gone?

We had a wonderful time this weekend celebrating this wonderful mile stone in my sisters life.  It was exciting to see her walk across the stage at graduation and which marks her entrance into the real world.  

I am so proud of the women my sister has become.  She has a wonderful future ahead of her and I know she is going to do great things.  She can do anything she sets her mind to, the sky is the limit.  I cannot wait to see what the future holds for her. 

Your future is bright Miranda! 

Oh the Places You Will Go!

Salad Bar Love - A Guilty Pleasure

Let me start by saying that one of my guilty pleasures (it's not even bad for you) is a well stocked salad bar.  The Lunds (MN Grocery Store) across the street from me is one of my favorites and I will frequently run over there and make a huge salad for dinner when I am being lazy!  I am also pretty spoiled at my offices because our Cafe has a pretty great salad bar too!    I know odd way to start a blog post talking about salad bars and how they are my guilty pleasure... But I swear I have a point.

There are many things I love about a well stocked salad bar.  Lets take a look at the one at work as an example.  Our work salad bar is packed with a great selection of fresh veggies and this really awesome grain bar!  I mean we have everything from fresh made quinoa to farro and everything in between.  It is pretty awesome!

Ok now here is the point I am trying to make by telling you all about my salad bar obsession... I am completely obsessed about adding grains into my salads!   Quinoa and Farro have been my favorite go to grains recently!  Not only do I love the bulk that grains add to my salads but I love the addition of the texture and flavor!  I find that topping my salads even with a few spoonfuls of these nutrition packed grains keeps me full and alert well into the afternoon!   Check out my favorite go to lunch salad!  Its pretty hearty!

Farro Chopped Salad for One:

Ingredients: 
One Handful Arugula Chopped
1 Handful Lettuce (I like romaine or butter lettuce) torn into bite size pieces
Handful of Grape Tomatoes Chopped Small
1 Tbs Red Pepper Chopped
1/4 Cup Corn (Fresh or Frozen)
1/2 Cup Prepared Farro (I like Trader Joe's - cooks in 10 min)!
1/4 Cup Chickpeas
1/4 Avocado Chopped
1 Tbs Dressing of choice (Trader Joe's Asian Style Spicy Peanut Vinaigrette is my fav)

Directions:
Combine chopped vegetables in a mixing bowl and toss.
2- Add in farro, chickpeas - toss again
3- Add dressing of choice - toss one last time and serve!

Easy, delicious, filling and nutritious!

Check out these other great grain salads from around the web!

1- Waldorf Salad with Steel Cut Oats - Cooking Light 
2- Heirloom Grain Chopped Salad - Epicurious
3- Everyday Green Chopped Salad - Jamie Oliver - I would add grains to this!