4 Easy Miles and a Pot of Chili

Yesterday I ran 4.1 miles around part of Lake Calhoun and part of Lake Harriet. It took me 0:47:48 to complete, which is an average of 0:11:40 mile.  I was a little slow to warm up and get used to the cooler temps and ran the last 2 miles considerably faster than the first two.  It was a little windy, but the temperature was in the low 60s with low humidity, so a nice change of pace from recent hot and humid runs.

This morning I was planning to get out for a 7 miler.... but (excuses, excuses) my Garmin wasn't charging this morning, so instead I watched Valentine's Day on TBS.   B was out golfing this morning, but when he came home he was able to easily fix my GPS.  The day's not over yet, so I suppose I've got plenty of time to fit that run in after all.

In honor of the  fall-like day yesterday, I made White Bean Chicken Chili for dinner.  For dessert, I whipped up some Betty Crocker Hot Chocolate Brownies.  I've been trying out a lot of Pinterest recipes lately, but it was a nice change of pace to make an old stand by (I got the Chili recipe from my mom), and make some quick-and-easy, but tasty mix brownies without a lot of fuss versus trying something brand new.

MMMMM!


Here's the White Bean Chicken Chili recipe - you won't be disappointed!  (Goes very nicely with a beer and hot chocolate brownies and natural vanilla ice cream for dessert). Enjoy!

4 chicken breasts ( about a pound or so)

1  16 oz can shoepeg white corn ( drained)

2  4 oz cans diced green chilies and juice 

2  15 oz. Northern White Beans ( drained)

1 tsp. lemon pepper

1 tsp. ground cumin

2 TBS lime juice

minced clove garlic

1 cup chopped onion

2.5 Cups water (more, if needed)

1.  In large pot or dutch oven,  Cook chicken, 1 tsp. lemon pepper, 1 tsp. cumin in 2 1/2 cups water.  Simmer for 30 min.  Remove chicken and cut into bite sized pieces and return to pot.

2.  Add garlic, onion, corn, chilies withjuice, cumin,  lime juice...bring to boil.....add beans and cook unitl heated through....

3.  Serve with tortilla chips & shredded cheese.  

Mish Mash - Running, Labor Day, and the First Annual Cat Vid Fest

Today I Ran 3.5 miles at a 0:12:05 pace.  Slow and steady was my motto today (and a motto to which I often subscribe) because it's very humid, hot and sunny here (not the most comfortable running combination), and I was feeling a bit tired out from yesterday's 4.5 mile run (also at a 0:12:05 pace...I like to keep it consistent).  I'm currently training for a 10 miler in Oct, and my goal is 2 hours, so I feel as though I'm right on track. Today's route was a simple there-and-back with some "easy" hills -- and lots of sprinklers too, so that helped to make the hills more bearable.

It's hard to believe that in high school I could run a 5K in under 25 min, and that's pretty slow for a  high school cross country runner.  Today, it nearly kills me to run a single mile in under 10 min, and I'm happy to complete a 5K in 35 min (about 11:15 pace).  Nevertheless, proud to say that I'm still running, after all these years.

Anyway, it's been a lazy weekend at Casa de Brian y Molly this weekend, with very little laboring this Labor Day weekend.  Brian did assemble a table we purchased at Ikea...and, I'm about to put that table to good use with a little work prep for the week.  So, scratch that labor-free comment after all...

I'll leave you with these images (found via Google Images) of the first EVER "CatVidFest" hosted at the Walker last Thursday (you can read about it here).  I was one of the 10,000 attendees at this spectacular 1-hour long viewing party where we watched-you guessed it-cat videos!  I also was lucky to sit next to Maestro (cat pictured below) and his owner during the viewing.  Such a fun event and ohhh, how I embrace my cat craziness!




(images sourced from Google Images via search on "Cat Vid Fest")

It's been a year...a lot has happened.

Brian and I live in Minneapolis now.

I have a "new-old" job.  No more advertising agency.  I'm back to my 'roots' in consulting working for a former company that now has a Minneapolis location.  I have an office to go to again, no more working primarily from home.  


I'm still getting used to "getting ready" for work every day.  I do miss the yoga-pants work wardrobe.

I have a driving commute for the first time in 6 years.  It's not too bad - 25 min each way approx, and I don't mind the drive.  I prefer it to being sardined on the El.

I've taken up swimming (well...attempting to)...I'm currently taking lessons and am getting better at Freestyle.  It's all in prep for a longer term goal of doing a triathlon some day (next year, it's on).  


I own my own set of golf clubs now.  


I got Brian a remote control inflatable shark for his birthday this year.  I also got him a new pair of golf shoes that he picked out.  I also made him delicious Guinness chocolate cupcakes with Bailey's butter cream via a recipe I found on Pinterest.


I  am a Pinterest fan, and have gotten more ambitious in the kitchen, as a result.  


I made macarons from scratch.  Not a Pinterest find, but made during a French macaron class I took with my friend Jen while still living in Austin. 


I painted a room, for the first time ever in my life.  It was a lot harder than I expected.  It turned out well though. Our bedroom is now 'dolphin fin grey' to match our fancy duvee cover, which is grey, cream and chartreuse.

I introduced Brian to Ikea.

I lost my uncle to Cancer.

I went to the dentist for the first time in 4 years (gross I know.  But I really hate going to the dentist).  I have one small cavity.  I am now recommitted to flossing (as in, I've now flossed for 2 days in a row -- my appt was just a few days ago).  And I have my next six month cleaning scheduled.  I'm setting several goals based on this date, both related to my teeth and not at all related to my teeth.


I was in a wedding (the wedding of Barrie, one of my oldest and closest friends) in the Bahamas.  I consumed several island cocktails during this wedding weekend.


I did not go home for Christmas.

I witnessed a fire in the building next to ours. It was, quite literally, too close to home for comfort.  No one was injured.

I flew back and forth to Chicago at least 10 times, not to mention NYC, Boston, Detroit and Minne-pre-move (the other  more oft' visited cities).

I turned 32.

And that's not nearly the half of it.