Weekend Recap - A Ballet and My TC 10K Results

This past weekend was jam packed with some of my favorite activities:  A ballet, a wonderful dinner, a early morning run and lots of relaxing! 

Friday night Derek and I enjoyed a night out in Minneapolis.  We started our evening off with an early dinner at Cafe Lurcat (located right in the beautiful Loring Park)

before heading to see Minnesota Dance Theater perform at the Cowles Performing Art Center. 

The food was amazing.  We enjoyed a Crab Cake as an appetizer followed by Lobster Ravioli for Derek and a wonderful Halibut for me!  We also shared some of the most amazing roasted cauliflower I have ever had.  

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Buttery, crispy and just a bit salty: a perfect side to my meal. I could have eaten an entire plate of that cauliflower and been content.  

After our meal Derek and I headed down to the Cowles center for the ballet!  The new Cowles performing art center is beautiful.  Being in the same building that I used to dance in brought back so many wonderful dance memories.  Hard to believe it has been so long since I have danced.  Anyways Derek and I saw Minnesota Dance Theater perform The Enchantment: 12 Dancing Princesses.  The dancing was beautiful and elegant, I enjoyed every minute of it!

  Going to the ballet was a perfect birthday present!  Derek and I had an early evening; we headed straight home after the ballet to mentally prepare for our early morning 10k race! 

 Saturday - Race Day: 

 6:30 AM Saturday morning came way to quick, but I somewhat jumped out of bed and into my running clothes.  I have to say I was a bit nervous as we headed to the Medtronic TC 10K Saturday morning.  Not only was Saturday mornings 10K the longest race I have ever participated in, but Saturday morning was cold (about 37-40 degrees). 

 I went into Saturday mornings 10K with one goal, I wanted to run the whole thing.  I didn't set out with a time in mind I simply wanted to be able to say I ran the whole thing.  And you know what... We did! 

 I was so proud of Derek and I.  We ran the 10K in about 50 minutes!  I am now on a runners high and looking for my next race to run! See my stats below: 

I came in 28th in my age group!  I will take that! 

It was a wonderful weekend full of new experiences and memories! 

A Night at the Ballet

Well we made it to Friday and I am so glad we did because I have a fun filled evening, and weekend! 

Tonight Derek is taking me to see Minnesota Dance Theater perform The Enchantment: 12 Dancing Princesses at the Cowles Center (one of my birthday gifts, such a sweet guy)!

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I have been dying to go see a ballet at the new Cowles Performing Art center ever since I moved downtown Minneapolis.  The Cowles center is now connected to the building where I used to study ballet (the Hennepin Center for the Arts). 

"The Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts permanently connects two of downtown Minneapolis' most historic structures, The Hennepin Center for the Arts (HCA) and the former Shubert Theater, which originally stood two blocks apart." (Source)

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Isn't it beautiful?

It is hard to believe that this beautiful performing art center now exist, especially because the plans were just being talked about when I was still dancing up in Minneapolis! 

To say I am excited is a bit of an understatement!  

To follow our fun filled Friday evening,  Saturday morning bright an early (like 7:30 early) Derek and I will be up getting ready to run my first ever 10k! 

I am excited for my first race, all in all it is going to be a good weekend! 

Stay tuned for the recap! 

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! 

There Back... Pin Recipes

Wow it seems like ages since I have shared a new recipes with you all, it has also been ages since I have cooked.  That is crazy!  I guess you could say I got swept up in enjoying ever minute of life! 

But I have to say I missed cooking, and trying new recipes.  So this week I have 3 brand new ones for you! 

Check them out!

1- Vegan Enchilada Casserole from Oh She Glows:

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

I am thinking serve this up with some guacamole and hot sauce - perfect!  I have been craving mexican!

2- Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili for 2  from Eating Well

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

The perfect portion for 2 people or I can easily eat this all week if just cooking for myself!

3- The Greek Goddess Bowl From

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

I have been meaning to try this dish for a while.  I think it will be delicious, and I just bought some red lentils from the bulk bins!

Oh and before I forget I owe you a review of this Stuffed Acorn Squash Recipe

Now I have to say I love acorn squash, but this filling just didn't do it for me.  There was just not enough flavor!  I am still on the hunt for a good stuffed squash recipe.

Now Stay tuned for the yummy results of our 3 new recipes!

Scenes from the Weekend - Down South

Happy Tuesday Lovelies. 

This past weekend Derek and I were down south visiting our families for the weekend.  And when I say down South I really just mean Southern Minnesota! I had my lovely friend Katie's baby shower so Derek and I just decided to spend some quality time at home! 

Check out some of the fun things we did!

Beautiful Fall Day!

I made Derek stop on the drive down to Whalen so I could take these pictures!

Love the new panoramic camera on the Iphone 5!

Just spending some time in the fields!

My first time in a combine!

Look the tire is taller then me!

Making homemade Applesauce... Yum!

Recipe to come....

Just wait it is good!

and lovely girls at Katie's baby shower!

What did you do this weekend?

Fall - Ammoudts Apple Farm

It is officially Fall!

My favorite season of the year.  I love watching the leaves change color, the smell of crisp cool fall air in the morning, pumpkin spice lattes (or pumpkin anything for that matter), apple cider and of course apple orchards! 

This past Sunday Derek and I wrapped up our relaxing weekend by taking a trip to Aamodt's Apple Farm in Stillwater with my parents! 

Lets just say I was super excited to go to the apple farm, I was like a little kid bouncing around. 

We had a beautiful fall day, just perfect for going to the Apple orchard! 

Aamodt's Apple Farm is one of the well known apple farms in the area, I mean people from Minneapolis drive the 45 minutes to Stillwater just to go to get apples( I am going to have to go back and get pumpkins). 

I could spend the entire day at Aamodt's..ok maybe that is an exaggeration, but there is so much to do there! You can go apple picking, enjoy a hayride and even do some wine tasting: The St. Croix Vineyard is on site too!  How fun is that?

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It was the perfect way to end the weekend, and I came home with several pounds of the most delicious HoneyCrips apples... which fun fact is the Minnesota state fruit. 

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Just wait and see what I did with the some of the apples I brought home.

Happy Hump day everyone! 

26 Years

Birthdays have now become a time where I look back on the past year and reflect on what I have learned, I think that has to do with the fact that yes I am indeed getting older (26 seems so old)! 

I feel like 25 was a big year for me.  I moved home to Minnesota, spent countless hours job searching, finally found my "dream" job/company, moved to a big city, and started out on a new chapter of my life.  It has been a pretty exciting 25th year full of ups and downs, but I wouldn't have changed any of it.  

So today I thought I would share a few things I learned in my 25th year!  

You are never to old to move home.  This was probably one of the smartest things I ever decided to do!  

Listen to your family and value their advice.  Believe me your family knows you better then you think they do! 

Cherish the time with friends. 

Take time for yourself, sometimes you just need some quality you time.
Never stop believing in yourself because

Source: jhousetawk.blogspot.ca via Tessa on Pinterest

and finally try something new and don't be scared to look stupid doing it.  I feel like this quote sums it up...

Source: healthy-perfection.tumblr.com via Hilliary @ Brunch and Cupcakes on Pinterest

it is so true! Who knows you might just discover something that your good at or enjoy! 

With all that being said it is time to celebrate my 26th birthday in style!  

I am going to make my 26th year one of the best I have seen, I think it is going to be a year of endless possibilities! 

Happy Hump Day Everyone! 

Medtronic TC 10K - New Years Resolution

Yesterday I signed Derek and I up for the Medtronic TC 10K race here in St Paul!  This is going to be my first ever 10K race and it as one of my New Years Resolutions - To run a 10k in 2012!  And ever since running the color run...

I have been dying to run another race, not sure why it has taken me this long to sign up!  

While I am a bit nervous for the race I am still extremely excited!  We still have a

 a few weeks to prepare for the race, since the race will be taking place on October 6th! 

The race will be taking place in our lovely capital of St Paul. 

"The TC 10K follows the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon course in reverse, beginning near the official finish line of the marathon at John Ireland Blvd. It begins with a climb past the majestic St. Paul Cathedral 

and follows tree-lined Summit Avenue as you run past historic mansions. 

This out-and-back course features a downhill finish with a spectacular view of the State Capitol" (Source)

Sounds like a great run to me, and a wonderful way to see St Paul!  

Now I just hope it isn't to cold!  

Are any of you running a race any time soon?

What is one of your New Years Resolutions you are sticking with?