something to think about

Can you imagine how dull life must be without the gays' sense of humor? Have a happy weekend!

photos from here.

apple picking

It's that time of the year again. Our kitchen counter is littered with over a month's supply of apples. We already started the day with peanut butter on apple slices. I'm thinking I will be baking some apple cinnamon muffins and apple crumble in the next couple of days. Hmm, apple brown betty sounds good too. 

What are you favorite apple recipes? Please feel free to share!

fall uniform: purple pants

Today is officially the first day of fall but really temperatures have started dropping 2 weeks ago. I've already traded in my bright colored shorts for just-as-bright-colored pants. One item that I have been wearing on heavy rotation lately is a pair of purple pants. As you can see, it's been worn a lot in the past couple of days. It's really amazing how adding one new piece in your closet can make you see your clothes in a whole new light.

Have you gotten yourself a pair of colored pants yet? Would love to see how you've worn it.

i did it!

                                    

After weeks of training, the Mister and I finally ran our first half marathon race last Saturday, horray! But unlike the usual road race, we joined a trail race. I didn't realize what a trail race meant until we started running the course. I remember reading on the race information that 75% of the course would be on dirt trails and to expect challenging hills. It never occured to me that we would be racing on a forest hiking trail! What was I thinking? It felt more like an adventure race than a marathon. And when they said expect challenging hills, they were not kidding one bit. 

Running up the hills was not a problem. What was more challenging for me was running down. Who races down a steep dirt trail? Apparently, there are people who do it so I ran along with them. 

My biggest concern, when I finally realized what I got myself into, was tripping on a rock or sliding down the side of the hill. I had gotten through 2/3 of the race unscathed until I tripped on tree stump on the 11th mile and scraped my knee. The Mister was not surprised at all when he saw me at the finish line. He was already expecting it to happen on the first mile. At least, I was not the only one. There were quite a number of us with battle scars to show for .

                         

I was a bit disappointed with my race time but at the end of the day I'm just proud of myself for doing something I have never thought of doing before. It was probably the most physically challenging activity I have ever done in my life. So much harder than the road race I was training for.  

                      

photos c/o f/go photography

a day at the fair

My mother-in-law arrived last weekend and we gave a her a hearty Minnesota welcome by bringing her to the State Fair. And what else is there to do in a State Fair than to eat, eat and eat. We binged on hotdog subs, corndogs, cheese curds, frozen custart and roasted corn. I also treated myself to a stick of fried Snicker bar and a cone of Sweet Martha's cookies. I was so tempted to buy a bucket of cookies but I remembered I will be running a half marathon on Saturday and didn't want to have a food coma before the race.

How was your Labor Day weekend?

Fried Snicker Bar

Sweet Martha's chocolate chip cookies

frozen custard

p.s. Last year's Texas State Fair here

plastic jars

I'm a self-confessed pack rat when it comes to empty jars and containers. Instead of throwing them in the recycling bin, my first instinct is to wash them and keep them in the cupboard just in case. The Mister would ask "just in case of what?"

Well, the plastic jars come in handy for organizing the little one's mess toys - blocks, magnets, puzzle pieces, crayons and whatnots.

Have a great week ahead, bunnies!

welcome snack box

youaremyfave

My mother-in-law is coming to visit and I thought this would be the perfect way to welcome her - with a snack box filled with all her favorites.

goodbye summer

Today we celebrated the last hot day of summer with an afternoon swim at the lake. A fitting ending to three whole months filled with days in the sun, sand and water. Oh summer, we will miss you sorely!