Chilly - The Things I Heart

Yesterday morning I woke up to the swirling of snow flakes! 

Minnesota's first snow fall of the year! 

(Source) Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis 

It instantly made me wish I could sit curled up in my PJ's all day.  You know with a cup of hot chocolate (loaded with marshmallows) a good book and a cozy blanket.  Now that would have been the perfect day! 

So in honor of the first snow and the fact that the weather is getting much much colder I thought I would share a few of my favorite winter inspired things (the stuff I love as the weather gets colder)!  

1- Starbucks Christmas Cups

2- Warm pots of chili on the stove. 

I made a big batch of vegetarian chili on Sunday in my new Le Creuset Pot. 

Here are some of my favorite recipes:

Tempeh Chili - Peas and Thank You  - I got the recipe from her Cook Book 

Pumpkin Turkey Chili - All Recipes 

3 Bean Chili - Cooking Light 

3 - Hot chocolate in holiday mugs - extra marshmallows!  

(Source) 

Try these recipes: 

White Hot Chocolate - Martha Stewart

Red Velvet Hot Chocolate 

Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa - Martha Stewart 

4- Warm Fuzzy Mittens and Scarves 

5 - And last but not least warm cozy blankets to curl up in and watch the snow fall!

What are the warm winter things you love the most?

Get out There and Vote - And My 10 Miler Recap!

Happy Tuesday Lovelies!

And Happy Election Day! 

I have to say that I am excited Election Day is finally here.  I am getting pretty sick of hearing political campaign ads every other commercial! Does anyone else feel the same way?

Now all I am going to say about election day is that I do hope you all get out there and vote! 

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and their own vote - I am not going to sit here and try to talk anyone into anything! 

Just get out there and make your voice heard! 

I know I am! 

Anyways , thats enough on politics. 

The next thing I want to share with you all is something I am personally excited about. 

This past Sunday I ran my first ever 10 mile race! 

The Kowalski's Strive 10 Miler.  I mentioned the run back in this post - check it out. 

This particular race supported the Strive Foundation which helps local seniors in high school raise their GPA's, graduate from college and get scholarships to further their education.  100% of the races entry fees went to the Strive Foundation!  That is amazing! 

I was a bit nervous scared and excited going into this race.  I was excited for the challenge of running such a long distance.  But also nervous in the fact that this would be the longest race I had ever run... and I was running completely alone!  I had a fear that I wouldn't be able to make it the whole way. 

But you know what... I DID IT! 

(Mile 4.5 or 5, half way there) 

I ran the entire 10 miles! I didn't go into this race with any expectations, I think that is why I was so happy with how I did. My one goal was to simply run the whole thing - I didn't care about what my time was.  But I am pretty happy with my stats!  Check them out! 

I ran the entire 10 miles in 1 Hour and 20 Minutes. 

Here were my rankings: 

52nd out of 135

18th out of 68 Females 

and 

4th out of 14 in my age group! 

Pretty excited about those stats! 

The best part was I had Derek and my Dad there cheering me on the whole time!  It was amazing.  It was a great pick me up when I saw my Dad and Derek around mile 4.5 snapping pictures and cheering me on! 

(Post Race!)

Thanks guys! 

All and all I am still in love with running... bring on the half marathon training! 

Happy Tuesday All! 

What I Have Been Up To

Happy Tuesday Lovelies! 

I am sorry for my lack of blogging, it has been a crazy few weeks!

What exactly have I been up to since I haven't been blogging?

Take a look!

1 - Hiking at the beautiful Taylers Falls!

Beautiful weather, 

Beautiful scenery 

and hiking!  

2- Trying out new wine bars!

Domacin in Stillwater

Where I found a new Charles Smith Wine I had never seen before (Charles Smith is my favorite wine maker, the same Charles Smith who makes Kung Fu Girl)

Vino is Charles Smiths Pinot Grigio 

We also tried out a new wine bar in Minneapolis,  Toast!

Great atmosphere, fabulous wine selection and great small plates. 

3- Last minute training for my 10 mile race this upcoming Sunday! 

Check out my new running shoes! 

I switched from Asics to Mizuno, and I love them! 

4- I have been working a ton! 

5- And last but not least trying out new recipes! 

Like this delicious Spicy Corn and Chicken Chili - Delicious

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

What have you all been up to?

Friday Fancies - Chocolate Revel Bars

Happy Friday! 

I thought I would share a sweet treat with you this fine Friday, I am posting it just in time for possibly a little weekend baking!  This recipe doesn't take that much time, smells divine in the oven and has loads of gooey chocolate!  I made these sweet treats for my team at work, and my personal taste tester loved them too! 

The one thing I loved about this recipe was the ingredients list.  The ingredients are pretty basic, and I had all the ingredients on hand in my cupboard - which is always an added bonus for me!

Enjoy!

Chocolate Revel Bars 

From Better Homes and Gardens (love that site!)

Ingredients:

1 C. Butter

2 C. Packed Brown Sugar

2 1/2 C. Flour 

2 Eggs 

2 t. Vanilla

1 t. Baking Soda

3 C. Quick Cooking Oats

14 Oz. Can Sweetened Condesned Milk

12 Oz Bag Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips 

1 C. Chopped Walnuts ( I left them out) 

2 t. Vanilla 

Directions: 

1- Reserve 2 T. of the butter for later. 

In a large bowl cream together the remaining butter and brown sugar.

  

2- Beat in your eggs and 2 t. vanilla into the brown sugar and butter. 

3- In a seperate bowl combine your oats, flour and baking soda.  Mix till combined and slowly add the oat mixture into your butter/sugar/egg.  Stir well till combined and set aside. 

4- In a medium sauce pan combine the 2 T. butter you set aside along with your sweetened condensed milk and chocolate chips.  

5- Cook until chocolate melts.  Remove from heat and add your 2 t. vanilla and chopped walnuts if using. 

6- In a 15 x 10 x 1 inch pan press about two thirds of your oat mixture into the bottom.  Now top your pressed oat mixture with your melted chocolate, carefully smooth the chocolate evenly over the oats. 

7- Using your fingers dot the remaining oat mixture over the chocolate. 

8- Bake for 25 minutes in a 350 degree oven or until the oat top is lightly browned.  Cut into bars and enjoy! 

Happy Friday everyone! 

Runners High

Happy Thursday everyone, sorry for the lack of posts!  It has been one of those weeks! 

A little over a week and a half ago I ran my first ever 10k. 

the TC (Twin Cities) 10K.

And you know what I loved it! 

I loved it so much in fact that I found another race to run! 

In a little under 3 weeks I will be running in the Kowalksi Strive 10 Miler that the Rotary Club of White Bear Lake puts on (a suburb of Minneapolis, we will ). 

The strive foundation that the race supports is a local non for profit here in Minnesota that provides scholarships for students of in theWhite Bear Lake are that are enrolled in the Strive program.  The Strive Program helps area high schools commit to improving their GPA over their Senior year of high school.    

The trail we will be running for the 10 miler circles the beautiful White Bear Lake 

Part of me thinks I am crazy and the other part of me can't wait to get out there and run. 

I am not going to try and run the 10 miles in any sort of time, I just want to run the whole thing! 

Its going to be chilly but this 10 miler will be a blast, and a huge accomplishment for me in running! 

Now it is time to pick up these running shoes! 

What is the longest race you have ever run?

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.  

(Source)

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)!

(Source)

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)

(Source) 

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!