Keep It Coming…

Birthday Dinner Date

If you read my actual birthday post yesterday, you know that I pretty much LOVE my birthday! As a matter of fact I love it so much that I felt a little sad when I woke up today and realized that I wouldn’t have another birthday for another 365 days.

People keep warning me that the day after the wedding I am going to really feel bad… because you won’t have another one of those… well ever.

But last night I ended my birthday with a bang… Tim and I had a hot date to The Lockview Tavern in downtown Akron. I have been wanting to go here since Casey, Jen and myself attempted to make dinner plans there only to find out that they weren’t open for some reason that day (a weird sort of holiday maybe? I don’t remember). But anyway when Tim said we could go anywhere I knew I wanted to try somewhere we hadn’t been before and since we both L.O.V.E grilled cheese and because I wanted to not care about my waist line on my birthday we went to live it up with cheesy goodness smashed in between warm bread!

We actually made it there JUST in time for a few happy hour specials so I got a pomegranate martini (and I only had 1- not like my other birthday celebration at Flemings).

And in case you can’t see the true beauty of that girl right there I took a close up…

And Tim got this orange martini that had too many spices in it for me… but it did look really pretty!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And because appetizers were half hour (for 3 whole remaining minutes) we decided the timing was right to order some of those too! So we opted for the macaroni and cheese bites (fried cheesy noodles- can’t go wrong) and a basket of tatter tots that came highly recommended by a co-worker.

After all of that food, even though we didn’t need it, we each ordered a sandwich since that was, after all, what we went there to get! I got the #2 and Tim got the #3 (and they need to update their menu online because I believe my sandwich was more than $6).

My review: My sandwich was good. Acceptable. Worth the money. May try it again. Tim’s sandwich was DELICIOUS. Perfect. Would have paid more. Will order it next time. Will make it at home.

There was something the spiciness of the peppers mixed in with the cheese that really hit the spot. The blue cheese dressing for dipping was also a highlight but you didn’t need it. Although Tim is amused that I dip EVERYTHING even before I try it. He keeps telling me that I should try things plain before I add more salt or a dressing yet I just can’t seem to break the habit of the dip.

We ended the evening with the peanut buttercup cakes that Casey got us from Pandora’s Cupcakes in Akron and well.. they were fantastic! Although I have to say I am really looking forward to Peggy from Just Desserts in Medina’s cupcakes for the wedding! These cupcakes were devoured while watching Whitney and some 90210! Looking forward to The Vampire Diaries tonight when I get home from my grad school class!!

 

Salmon Salad

I like egg salad.

I like tuna salad.

I like chicken salad.

So why shouldn’t I like salmon salad?

The answer is simple, I should!

We had left over salmon from the cookout with my mom the other night and wanted to put it to good use but wasn’t sure what I would do with it. I’m typically not a fan of re-heated fish. So I decided to make some salmon salad after being inspired by some blogs and recipes online. It was pretty simple

  • Shred the cooked salmon I already had
  • 1 hard boiled egg
  • Mayonnaise
  • Onions
  • Red peppers

Mix it all together, put it on some bread and you have a really taste and good for your sandwich for lunch!

This was so filling I could only eat half of my sandwich and it was so tasty that I am looking forward to making it again. The salmon egg mix is what really did me in I think. The unique flavors somehow someway blended together really nicely. All of that with a dash of salt and pepper on some whole wheat bread, some spinach, and some cut up tomato (which is hidden under there) and it is a lunch to be proud of!

My review: Loved it. Will have it again. Soon. You should try it.

 

Working Out

It probably goes without saying (since I usually update good workouts on here) that my work out schedule has been LACKING this week! Between birthday fun and and injury I sustained at last weeks soccer game I have been a little bit behind on my work out goals for the week. BUT I did at least get 1 workout in this week!

But to my injury. So the goalie and I got in a little bit of a fight till the death match at the game (he won I guess considering it resulted in no goal for me) and my knees took the grunt of the hit. Practically ripped off all of the skin on my left knee (and a little on my right) and it ended up throbbing for days! I did take a picture of it but trust me, it was extremely gross so I decided the right thing to do would be to delete it.

That darn turf really freaking hurts!

But on Monday I knew it was my one and only day to get a really good workout in (considering Tuesday was dinner with the parents for my bday, Wednesday was my bday dinner with Tim, and Thursday I have grad school class) so like the champ I am I wrapped up that knee and headed downstairs to complete a CrossFit routine.

Gross I know but I am glad I got the workout in this week! My mom had to tweak a few things for me (since I couldn’t kneel at all) but everything worked out and I was feeling great! My arms were a little sore on Tuesday but it was well worth it!!

It’s still feeling a little rough today but I can at least wear pants because I don’t cry when something touches it. As long as it heels by Sunday (when it is bound to happen again) I’m a happy girl!!!

The workout consisted of 1 minute work with 20 seconds in between and had…

  • Bicep curl and row on Pilates reformer
  • dip drive with Olympic bar
  • Skull crusher triceps workout
  • Press with the cable system
  • Sit-up with medicine ball side to side

Great upper body workout which was PERFECT for me since my injury really only held back the lower part of my body.

But oh my goodness those skull crusher triceps workout is HARD. I was just trying not to drop the bar on my head!

Runaway Weekend

The title today definitely has double meaning. 1) weekends truly go by so much faster and for the life of me I can’t figure out why 24 hours feels like 12 hours on the weekends but like 100 hours during the week at work… it’s truly a weird phenomenon I hope to be able to explain some day and then 2) I had a great run this weekend I am excited to share!

Weekend Run

Saturday morning was the PERFECT morning for running. The sun wasn’t beating down and the air was cool but warm enough to run in shorts and a t-shirt. So I threw the hair up in a messy pony, pink Nike shorts on, Asics laced up and ready to go, and lululemon Headband in my hair and I knew I was ready to rock and roll.

My goal was simple…

Beat last weeks run

And so I did!

I completed 6 STRONG miles… I mean I was feeling really good almost all 6 miles. Of course I didn’t really hit my pace until 2 or 2.5 miles in but after that I felt great. The hills were hard and my breathing sounded closer to death than I wanted it to a few times but I felt great. My legs felt really strong and when my head started to go to that negative “I’m tired place” I simple said out loud (yes the cars thought I was talking to myself”) “you’re strong so be strong. be impressive” and I think I accomplished just that.

I will say it again and again, there is something so freeing about being on foot. Something that just makes you feel so independent and like the world you know doesn’t actually have a hold on you. It’s like saying look Murano I love you and you get me back and forth every day but check this out, look at what my legs can do.

The Murano usually laughs because she knows my legs can’t take me the 25 miles to get to work

Not yet Murano… not yet.

I think I just had a conversation with my car… on my blog… for all to read.

It sure is Monday, isn’t it?!

Birthday Celebration #1

After my run I ran some errands. I had a legit panic attack when I thought I got lost trying to get propane for the grill (I WON’T be doing that again) and acted like a real pain in the butt when Tim didn’t answer his cell phone when I was lost haha. I explained to him later that the nice old man who filled up the propane (yes I eventually found it) saved his life… because he gave me a tootsie roll.

Delicious.

I went to the jeweler and got my ring cleaned so that it was nice and shiny.

Then I went to the grocery store and picked up some treats for dinner on Sunday.

Then when I got home, I painted my nails and I feel asleep on the floor in the living room haha. I used the excuse that I was letting my nails dry when Tim came home and caught me passed out but I think he knew the truth… I just like to take naps! Mind you this was the second day in a row I managed to pass out on the floor in the living room… Friday, after enjoying a cold beverage outside, I also fell asleep on the floor with the sun shining in… it was heavenly!

THEN I got ready for my first OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!

It is has become a ritual for Tim and I to go out to eat with Casey and Mark whenever it is someone’s birthday (and most other times just because we want to) and Tim and I had scored some Flemings gift certificates other the holidays and I heard their happy hour was amazing so we headed that way!

Casey and I both had a delicious White Cosmopolitan martini (okay I had two) and we also each had a Pomegranate martini (if you are counting that meant 3 drinks for me… haha I was a bit silly).

We enjoyed some appetizers and then each had a burger… which was DELICIOUS and HUGE but mostly just delicious.

It was a really enjoyable meal and we will definitely be back for such a killer happy hour! $6 martinis and a $6 hamburger? Yes please.

After dinner we headed to…. get ready for it…

MENCHIES (of course right?) where Casey and Mark were kind enough to treat me to a birthday Menchies trip!

I just love that frozen yogurt. With so many choices I found it hard to decide but in the end the Angel Food Cake won the battle (against the cake batter and sorbets).

Added bonus is that Casey and Mark got me a gift card to lululemon! So I can’t wait to do some shopping soon!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Birthday Celebration #2

On top of a fabulous evening out with the Juve’s, I also got to spend time with my bestest on Sunday wedding planning and getting another birthday surprise! Bestest has the best taste in clothes so I am just always thrilled when she decides to get any of the fashionable items on my birthday list! This year I got jewelry AND shirts so it was the best 26th birthday ever!

On top of the birthday surprises we also finalized almost all of the flower arrangements for the wedding which is a HUGE to-do to cross off the wedding to-do list!

YAY for birthday surprises AND wedding things getting done!

Weekend Tasty Treats

As usual, I try to use the weekends to do a little more cooking since during the week my schedule is jam packed with grad school and workout classes. So Friday night Tim and I enjoyed a simple but tasty recipe brought to us by Kraft.

Have you used the Kraft Fresh Takes yet? It comes equipped with some shredded cheese and essentially shake and bake in two separate baggies that you can combine for a simple meal. We put this on chicken and both really enjoyed it! I tend to like my food spicier now a days so I think next time I’ll add in some red pepper flakes or something but it was good.

You just put the two together and then spread it on the chicken… voila!

On the side we had some peas (good old frozen peas in a steam bag- makes my life better) and some parmesan cheese and basis Orzo. You may remember my initial Orzo experience which ended up in the first batch burned but the second batch becoming one of my favorite things to make. In this case I started to just kind of make up my own recipe. So I used

  • 1 cup Orzo
  • 1 can (smaller can) Chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon butter (or margarine if you want)
  • A bunch of dried basil (fresh would be 10X better but I just didn’t have it)
  • Few handfuls of Parmesan cheese (yea I’m not much of a measurer)Melt the butter in the pan then dump in chicken broth and bring it to a boil… add in the Orzo and let it cook until soft (only about 12 minutes) and then add in the cheese and basil.Stir it up and SERVE!

    Delicious with chicken for sure!

    Then last night (Sunday) for dinner my mom came over before my soccer game and brought a serious slab of Salmon. I wish I would have snapped a picture of this before we cooked it up I did get it after we cooked it..

    Was really simple but tasted great! Put some lemon herb seasoning on the salmon then threw it on the grill in foil for about 20 minutes. While the salmon was cooking I attempted to make some homemade sweet potato fries but well I burnt them so no success story there.

    So I ate some Orzo summer salad on the side with some spinach cooked up with veggies.

    Orzo Summer Salad (no clue what it is really called but The Mustard Seed Café inspired me)

  • Cooked Orzo
  • Olive Oil
  • Cut up Olives (green for me please)
  • Cut up tomatoes
  • Feta CheeseMix it together and service cold! You won’t be sorry.For dessert (which I did not get to eat because I didn’t want to throw up on the soccer field) was Angel Food cake with fresh strawberries and fat free whipped cream of course! My mom and Tim’s both looked delicious and and I think I’ll be enjoying some before bed tonight!

    P.S. We WON our soccer game and did AWESOME!

    Well I hope you all have a FABULOUS week… I know I will because it’s birthday week for me!!! Happy Monday =)