25 While 25

Perhaps I have been feeling a bit like I am in a "quarter life crisis" or maybe I need some goals to work towards now that I have no more school and a "career".  Anyways, I had been seeing something similar to this on different blogs and I started thinking about creating my own list a few weeks before my birthday.  Originally, I had thought I would do a 25 by 25 list, but I ran out of time. Plus, I like the idea of giving myself a year to accomplish some things on the list. A few I will note, were ones that appeared on my New Years resolutions/goals list, so it serves as a reminder because I still want to do them! As I complete tasks I figured it give me new posts to write about as I update y'all on the fun! These tasks are in no particular order, so the numbering means nothing about their importance. Here we go...

1. Get a pedicure - the toe-bearing summers in Memphis are long and let me just tell you - long distance running does not pretty feet make!

2. Sign up for Twitter just to see what all of the fuss is about.

3. Bake a legit cake - with layers and frosting - the whole shabang. 

4. Take a ballet barre fitness or hot yoga class.

5. Take an art/photography class. (One class and/or a mini series - not a whole semester!)

6. Learn to make my own iced coffee/tea. 

7. Go kayaking/canoeing. 

8. Read 25 books. 

9. Take a wine tasting class. 

10. Get my wisdom teeth pulled. (Eek!)

11. Invest in a better camera.

12. Visit Charis in Ireland. 

13. Go vegan for a few days.

14. Host a party.

15. Plant a tree/plant.

16. Be able to do 20 real push-ups in a row.

17. Make something crafty.

18. Do a "mud run" or adventure race.

19. Find out what the heck a "cheese double cheese" is!!!

20. Go on a road-trip to somewhere I have never been before. 

21. Go camping. 

22. Visit Graceland. I figure if I don't make it a goal, I will move away and realize "why did I never go when I still lived there?".

23. Go to the dermatologist - just to make sure I'm skin cancer free!

24. Attend a nutrition conference.

25. Learn to can/make jam.

Pictorial Summary of My Life in the last Week(ish)

I realized that it had been a few days since I had last posted and over the last week or so, I've taken so many pictures! None of them are really related whatsoever, so I thought I would just give you a quick summary of my week... Be warned, there is a fair amount of sushi and other food involved! (Of course!)

Sushi at the new Mulan restaurant in Cooper Young

Awesome tree at Mellow Mushroom Pizzaria!

Pizza date on Tuesday at TSM with Will. :-)

Sushi at Pacific Rim

Celebrating Alex's birthday with sushi, cake, and new friends!

Appetizers at Andrew Michael's Italian Kitchen

Delicious Grouper at Andrew Michael's!

Workin' this cute dress Charis sent me for my birthday!

Kitchen Fail

So, despite the way it may appear at times on this little blog of mine, I am in no way, shape, or form an amazing cook. You see, I was super excited to try these little "Chocolate Chip Quinoa Trail Mix Balls" posted by Jenna on eatliverun.com a few days ago. Yet, somewhere in the process of making them, I must have made a mistake because I just couldn't get the dough to gather enough to shape it! I kept adding more and more peanut butter until I gave up and just spread it all on a pan and baked it up like granola... and surprise! It worked out well! Although, they weren't the packable little granola spheres that I had intended. Basically, I just followed the recipe linked above  and added 2 more tablespoons of peanut butter. Once everything was mixed well, I baked it on a cookie sheet for ~7 minutes until it started to brown a bit. Voila!
It just served as a great reminder that despite our best intentions, things don't always go the way we planned. Sometimes we fail - or sometimes we just have to pause and consider perhaps there is a better/different way! Hope you have more success with Jenna's recipe!

Ingredients!

All mixed together...

Finished deliciousness!

Things I'm Totally Loving Right Now

1. Strawberries!!! The Farmer's Market finally got their first crop last weekend. I've enjoying them on my cereal and yogurt in the morning... every morning this week. So delicious. Plus, I've been drooling over this recipe that Jenna from eatliverun.com posted...
2. My new Garmin watch. Love! I've been wanting one of these since I started running group but was indecisive about buying one and now I don't have to because Will bought it for me for my birthday! This pretty in pink watch tracks my run time and distance and gives me immediate feedback on my pace (which helps immensely when doing pace work!!). Plus, now I can look like one of the cool kids with a fancy watch (if only it could make me faster...). :-)

3. Choffee. Basically it tastes like guilt-free hot chocolate... with a buzz! I've been drinking this instead of coffee in the morning (oh yeah, you heard that right!) and it's been a nice change of pace. Will had bought me some for my birthday and I've been savoring it every since. Just brew it in your coffee pot or in a French press and serve with a little milk and sweeten to your liking.

4. This probably makes me sound pretty nerdy, and I have come to terms with the fact that I dress a little like a librarian or maybe Liz Lemon but... I really like Dr. Scholl's flats! These are so much more comfortable and supportive than any others I've bought so my feet are much happier with me in the evenings after walking around the hospital all day at work. Plus, they're cute! (Or at least, I think so!)

5. This song by Gotye! I have been playing it on repeat for the last few days. Never mind the music video is a little... scandalous?! (Not to mention the lead singer reminds me a bit of one of my undergraduate profs... awkward!)

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend!!!

The Dip from Heaven

A month or two ago one of the RDs at work brought in the delicious dessert dip for a potluck. Then, I came across the recipe on Pinterest and I knew I needed to make it for book club lat weekend. Be warned however, this dip is in no way healthy... and it is highly addictive! (Hence the reason I "forgot" the leftovers at Will's house...!)

Cookie Dough Dip
(Recipe from addapinch.com)
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1- 8oz pkg. cream cheese
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
Directions:
1. Cream together butter and cream cheese. Add powdered sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla and mix well. Stir in chips. Voila! So easy!!!
Serve as is with a spoon... oh... I mean, with graham crackers, pretzels, cinnamon pita chips, vanilla wafers even? or maybe cookies? There are no limits when it comes to this delicious dip. :-)

Possibly the Best Couscous Ever

Mac - at The Elegant Farmer! (source)

Today, I thought I would share this recipe for couscous that I learned from one of the local chefs who came to do a cooking demo during National Nutrition Month at work. Mac Edwards is this super-friendly, humorous chef that we met at the Downtown Farmers Market last year. He serves on the board for the market as well as runs the fantastic Elegant Farmer restaurant in town. Mac definitely has a passion and talent for showcasing local ingredients in unique ways. During his chef demo at work, he cooked up smoky turnip greens using a smoked, dried pepper to mimic the flavor of pork without adding meat as well as this great couscous!

Delicious-ness!

Mac Edward's Currant Couscous
Ingredients:
- 2 cups dry couscous
- 4 cups boiling water, lightly salted
- 1/4 cup currants (soak in 3 tbsp rice vinegar and 2 tbsp olive oil)
- Juice and zest of 2 lemons and 2 limes
- 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 red onion, diced
- 1 bunch scallions, sliced
- 1 bunch fresh cilantro, diced
- 1 bunch fresh parsley, diced
- Olive oil
- S+P to taste
Directions:
1. Add boiling water to couscous in bowl and cover. Let sit for approximately 5 minutes. (As couscous sits, you can be chopping the veggies...)
2. Remove lid and fluff couscous with a fork. Add remaining ingredients and toss to combine well. Serve!
Feta cheese would also be a fantastic addition. Plus, the currants can easily be replaced with raisins or dried cranberries.

BTW - A currant is a small dried seedless grape - so basically a raisin only a bit smaller but still just as sweet. Real life... I totally had to look that up! They are also similarly priced in the store so it didn't break the bank to include these again when I made it myself at home. :-)

Quarter of a Century Young

I had a wonderful birthday weekend! (Many thanks to Will for making it so special!) Friday was book club - delicious snacks and plenty of Jack Nicholson craziness in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. (Does Nicholson creep anyone else out????) Saturday started with a great 7-mile run - the perfect distance I've come to learn.
Saturday evening, Will made some fantastic hummus and other snacks which we enjoyed with a few of my friends for my birthday! :-)

Sunday, we went to Brother Juniper's for the best breakfast/brunch in Memphis-town! I've never had salmon or any fish for breakfast before, but let me tell you, this omelet with smoked salmon was life-changing! So delicious!!! Cheesy grits on the side - the only grits in Memphis that I like!

Afterwards, we headed to the Botanical Gardens to gaze at some of the most gorgeous blooms of Spring!

I ended my birthday with some free yoga at one of the local running stores (loved it!), pizza from Bosco's (yum!), and of course... some frozen yogurt!! :-) Here's to another 25 years as great as the first!