Fall Food

Thomas and I have tried a few new menu items this month.  This past Tuesday I was super busy with homework and so Thomas spent like an hour and a half making dinner and made wontons.  We had a recipe from the Taste of Home website for some filling for the wontons that had spicy chicken.  Soooo good! Then some were filled with cream cheese and imitation crab. Some were boiled and some were fried.  Of course the friend ones were the best :)

Thomas took this picture.  Not sure why he didn't put it on a plate :)

Boiled wontons

 I also made some pumpkin bars.  Our local grocery stores have been out of canned pumkin becuase of a pumpkin shortage last year.  They had some come in Friday and we picked a few cans up.  I got the recipe from other bloggers.  Super easy.  One big can pumpkin, one box of spice cake and a bag of white chocolate chips. We opted to make them into bars instead of cookes.  So yummy! And made a ton! So we wrapped some up to give to our friends.

Mesa Falls Hike

Today started out with a 7 mile run with my friend Karlee and we had a new partner this week, Brittany.  At church last Sunday, Brittany heard me talking to another friend about running and said she was looking for a running buddy so invited her along for our Saturday long run. 
Our run was about 3.5 miles all uphill.  More hilly than last week and even faster than last week and a mile more too :) I haven't been running during the week, just doing workout videos but I still feel just fine on these weekend long runs.  I don't want to lose my mileage.  This next weekend is the Boise Women's 5K!
This afternoon we took off to Mesa Falls to go see the falls and go on a little two mile hike with Karlee and her hubby Will.  We were just there at Mesa Falls for our half marathon a month ago and already the leaves have changed color and it looks life fall.  It's beauitful.  We couldn't have asked for better weather either.

Tommy Boy outside the visitors center.

The Upper Falls.

Beauty

I love fall colors.

Will and Karlee

Afterwards we stopped to get ice cream at a cute downtown icecream parlor.

Delicous!

I love having friends who enjoy doing the same things we do.  I love the warm/cool fall weather.  I love weekends with no homework (I worked hard this week to get it all done before Saturday).

Class Schedule

School, school, school.  That is my life right now.  I am happy to say that I've been getting up every morning at 6:30am to work out.  This makes it a little less stressful later in the day.  Every day this week I've done a Jillian Michael's video.  Apparently Bob from Biggest Loser has just come out with some videos too and they are killer! I really want to get them and try them out.  This next Monday free excercise classes start at the gym on campus, I can't wait for that. 
I really am enjoying my classes.  Here they are:
Literacy Practicum- I'm assigned to a first grade classroom and so far what I've done is work with them in small groups on literacy skills like ryhming and intial sounds.  The kids are adorable and so well behaved.  My cooperating teacher is super nice and young and very nice to talk to.  I'm so glad I feel so comfertable around her and the students.
Science Methods- This class I learn how to teach science.  My teacher is amazing and makes it very interesting and applicable.  Yesterday she let us do an experiement on how to split an atom using water, rubbing alcohol and vegetable oil.  She pointed out how if we as college students loved this activity so much imagine elementary kids. 
Hispanic Civilizations- This class we learn about the history of different hispanic countries.  We have already been put in groups to start researching the countries we have been assigned.  I am assigned to Venezuel and Columbia.
Exceptional Students- This class is taught by another wonderful teacher.  Here we study the history of special education.  Right now we are getting into the laws concerning special ed.  I really like this class it is so interesting to me.
Weight Training- I am partners with a girl from Russia.  We have so far maxed out on bench and squat.  I remember doing this in high school and I was a lot stronger! We also took all of our measurements calves, thighs, waist, shoulders, chest, forearm, bicep, and neck.  I'm excited to see improvement as the semester goes on.
Math Methods- is learning how to teach math. Every day we come prepared to teach a math activity in a small group.  I love being creative and modifying math activities to better suite students. 
Religion- this class is online so I thought it would be super easy but it takes up a lot of time.  It's crazy how technology has changed.  There is something called Adobe Connect where you can meet with your classmates and teacher online for meetings and video chat, IM, and voice chat. 
I'm really glad that I enjoy the classes I am taking, it makes it a lot easier to get up in the morning, go to class, and then come home and do homework til 9pm. 

Post #100

My first blog post was November 1, 2009 and today is my 100th post! Today has been a most excellent Saturday, doing some of my favorite things.
#1 went running.  Last night Karlee texted me to tell me she was scheduled for a 10 miler and wanted to know if I wanted to join her.  I told her I'd meet her for 5 miles.  We met at her house (she only lives about a half mile away) at 8am.  Karlee had already ran 4 miles.  It was cold out this morning! I wore long sleeves the whole time and was wishing I had gloves for the first mile or so.  We ran to the nature park which has a paved path.  I had ran here before but I wasn't aware of a little dirt bike trail that you can take that leads you through some wooded/camping areas.  Nice! I love new running routes.  We then ran up the mile long hill that leads up to the temple and looped back home.  I ended up running six and felt fantastic.  I felt a runners high that last mile and it felt wonderful! It's been good to have a break to be able to recognize how great running makes me feel.  I'm so glad I have a friend to run with! Hopefully this next week classes will start at the gym so I can start going to those too, while Thomas can lift weights (or join me in the classes).
#2 Thomas and I went for a bike ride.  I just absolutely love going on bike rides.  By the time we went it was perfect weather.  We first stopped at a local bike shop to have them look at my breaks.  They are super squeaky and the back break seems to slide and doesn't fully stop me.  It's kind of embarrasing going downhill through campus and squeaking all the way down.  We thought I should get new break wires but the guy at the shop said he thought it was the break pads.  He put some new ones on the back tire and sent us on our way. That wasn't the problem, still can't stop.  Waste of ten dollars.  Instead of going back to try another solution we decided to see if I could just use my brother in law Ivan's bike for the next little while.  Also, my bike is like a 12 year old Wal-mart bike so going uphill (and my classes are all at the top of a hill) is VERY difficult.  Even just going on a flat path I have to be in second gear.  Ivan's bike should work better.  I really want to get a nice bike someday.  I think I want a hybrid bike so that I can use it in tri's but also take it out on trails.  I'll have to find somebody who is not a sales person to explain to me about good bikes cause I have learned you can't trust that somebody who works in a bike shop knows there stuff. 
Running and biking, I just love those two things.

School update and Jon Schmidt Concert

An update on my first two days of school.  It's going fantastic.  I have gone to my Thursday classes which include Literacy Practicum (where I go into a local elementary school and work with kids on reading), Science Methods, and Hispanic Civilizations.  So far so good there.  Turns out one of the girls in my Lit. Practicum class also lives in our apartment complex and her and her husband go to church with us.  She also is in my Science Methods class and in one of my Friday classes :).  Friday I just have one class, Exceptional Students.  I love now that I'm in my senior year I am taking all classes that interest me and have to do with my career.  It helps so much in my motivation to do my homework and go to class when I know the material will be applicable to my career. So far I've done well managing my time.  I watch my nephew Alex after class and try to sneak in a little homework before he gets here and since he loves being read to I'll read to him from my textbooks :) He's going to be one smart cookie.  Getting homework done seems to be a lot easier now that I'm married, no social pressures to go out with roommates or go on dates. 

Although speaking of dates, Thomas and I went on a fun date tonight.  First, we stopped at Coldstone.  I got a cup of Peanut Butter Cup Perfection and he got the Founder's Favorite.  Both excellent choices.  Then we headed to a concert on campus.  Jon Schmidt a wonderful piano player performed with cellist Steven Sharp Nelson.  So awesome! There video on YouTube of them mixing Love Story by Taylor Swift and Viva la Vida is really popular.  Thomas really liked the concert because not only do they play awesome songs but they also mix in humor.  Jon will lay on the piano bench and have his head under the piano while he plays.  I love piano music and I loved the mix of modern and classical songs. 

My sweet boy came home from work a little late Wednesday night.  I had called him around 5:15pm cause he's usually home by 5pm and asked if he had stopped to fill up on gas and he said yes.  When he walked in the door though he had a beautiful bouquet of sunflowers and tulips for me and my favorite chocolate Reeces' peanut butter cups and some sour skittles.  He told me he wanted to tell me that I'd do great in my classes and that the last year of marriage has been amazing and that the next year will be just as wonderful.  What a sweetie!

Back to School and Workouts

I've been loving doing whatever workout I feel like doing. Monday was fartleks with Thomas. Tuesday was level 3 of Jillian's 30 Day Shred, today was 5k with about 1.5 mile of it uphill.  I read in my new Runner's World that once you have been running for awhile, in order to increase speed I need to speed up at the end of my runs. So the last mile I really tried to pick the pace up.  Overall I averaged like a 9:15 pace. Yikes, I need to be going like a minute faster than that.  But I'll give myself credit, half of it was uphill. 
School starts tomorrow!! AHHH!! I already recieved an e-mail from one of my professors with an assignment for the first day.  It took me two hours! That stressed me out a little bit. I'm afraid I'm not going to be juggle everything school, working out, work, making dinner, keeping the apartment clean, etc. But the good thing is that I really think I'll enjoy the classes I'll be taking.  They are mostly practicum classes which means I'll be doing lots of lessons and even get a chance to be in a classroom doing reading interventions in a local elementary school.  And I'm starting my application for student teaching.  I'm hoping to do it this spring or next fall in Boise.  I was going to post my rough draft of my letter of introduction but I made even more changes and still want to fix it up a bit.  Wish me luck!

Labor Day

I love lazy days with my baby cakes.  We slept in and then mozied around for a bit before heading to the campus bookstore to pick up my books.  I reserved my books online so that means they get them together for you and you just have to pick them up. Only problem is they don't let you pick them up til when all the new freshman arrive on campus so then there is a long line.  Luckily I got there earlier enough it was only about a 10 minute wait.  School starts on Thursday!! AHHHH!! I haven't been in school for like two years now.  I got a little bit stressed while waiting for my books. 
I told Thomas that I am really going to work on balance these last few semesters.  My problem is that I know I'm capable of getting all A's so I spend tons of time stressing and studying.  But I think I need to lighten up just a little and realize that it's okay to get a B or two and stay sane and healthy by still spending time with friends and family and getting excercise. 
Speaking of exercise, Thomas and I went and did a little speedwork/fartlek workout.  We wanted to explore a new paved path that I spotted awhile back.  I didn't take my Garmin again cause I just wanted to enjoy the workout with out stressing on time or distance.  We would jog for about 5 mintues or so (or to a certain point) and then walk for a minute, then run fast for 2 minutes or to a certain point.  We were both dying during the running fast part.  I guessed we did about 4 miles, Thomas thought we did six so we compromised and said we did five :)
Afterwards was stopped at Jamba juice for some breakfast/after workout smoothie.  I got the acai berry smoothie with a soy protein boost.  Loved it. 
The rest of the day was spent being lazy reading and watching Little People Big World on TLC.  I am also working on my letter of introduction for my student teaching placement.  I am taking it to the writing center to be reviewed tomorrow and then I'll post it on here and hopefully can get some feedback from everybody on it. 
Tonight for dinner we walked about 1.25 miles to a little sandwhich/frozen yogurt spot.  Loved their sandwhiches which were made on homemade bread that was crustless and so yummy.  We walked home and Thomas is watching the Boise State football game while I read and occasionally sneak a peak at the game.  This is the life!

Together Forever

We had a wonderful time for our little 24 hour getaway.
I got to see my best friend from elementary school Aubrey and her family at her little brother's wedding reception.

Jonathon and Amber cutting the cake

Terry, Aubrey, and I

I love this family.  They were always so kind and loving to me growing up. Terry would make us a big ol' breakfast Saturday mornings when I spent the night.  And I remember after school when I would come over she'd have some treat like home made banana bread.  Such a wonderful person.  Terry even invited Thomas and I over for Saturday morning breakfast sometime and Sunday dinner.  We are totally going to take her up on that option.

This was the groom's cake.  We totally thought it was a real guitar.

Our hotel was AMAZING!!

The Black Swan Inn

I LOVED this tub! It was so huge and had a waterfall that came down from above.

My babes and I outside the hotel.

Lovers for life

 We stayed in the caveman suite and loved the decorations.  The lighting was very dim and the fabric was all lepoard and animal print.  So cool. For breakfast they offer to have it delivered to your room and you get a bunch of selections or they give you a voucher for a local restaurant, Perkins.  We went to Perkins and had eggs, sausage, hashbrowns, and pancakes. 
We went and scoped out my childhood neighborhood Sunday morning.  It's crazy how the house I grew up in and my elementary school has not changed a bit!

Syringa Elementary where I attended from 1st to 6th grade.

The playground.  I remember staying warm in the winter in those big tires.

My old house.

The park right next to our old house.

The house from Extreme Makeover Home Edition which was right next to the hotel.

It is HUGE!!

 It was a great one year anniversary.  Can't wait for many many more anniversary's. 

One year anniversary weekend

Thomas leaves for work around 7am and when I woke up yesterday at 9am and went into the kitchen he had written on the white board "Happy Anniversary Weekend! I love you babe!" How sweet is that?




So to start things off, last night, we walked to a chinese restaurant that I remember being very tasty from my earlier college days called New Fongs. We were both very dissappointed. I had the General Tsao's chicken and it was way too deep fried and had way too much sauce on it. We both agreed we prefer Safeway's chinese food. I will say though that my fried rice was delish. We still had a great time just taking our time chattin' away and had a nice little walk too and from the restaurant. I'm all about enjoying walking while the weather is nice and getting in that little bit extra exercise. After dinner we enjoyed hanging out watching BYU and WSU women's soccer. I love watching sports with Thomas cause he knows a lot about it and we have some good convos while watching. This morning we watched a little bit of tennis and he explained the scoring to me (it's so wierd).
After a lazy morning watching tennis we headed out for about a 3 mile hilly run. I didn't bring my Garmin watch or my Ipod. I told Thomas I wanted him to come with me and he could choose the pace and the distance and route. I love running with that boy. Afterwards I decided to do Jillian's 30 minute Yoga Meltdown to stretch and get a little toning in.
We are headed to Pocatello this afternoon to check into The Black Swan Inn and spend the night in the "caveman" suite. We will also be attending the wedding of my best friend from elementary school's little brother.
I'll leave you all with a link to our wedding pictures put to music. I love the song. I've been feeling sentimental this week so I have already watched it this week.

Lindsey and Thomas

Three Things Thursday

1.  I love pillow talk.  Last night Thomas just let me go on and on about experiences I had while in Ecuador.  I love that he is really interested in listening. 

2. This week I've decided to do whatever workouts I feel like and wait to start training for the 5K.  Monday I did Jillian's No More Trouble Zones.  I was sooooooo sore the next day.  Not a good idea to do one of her workouts only a day after running a half marathon.  My butt was the sorest part so I had Thomas use his elbows to give me a really deep butt massage.  The next day I did a 3 mile power walk with my heart rate monitor.  I always thought that walking just was not beneficial at all but it still got my heart rate up into the 130's going uphill.  Jillian's Yoga Meltdown felt absolutely wonderful yesterday and really helped take away the soreness.  Today was a bike around town and do errands day for excercise.

3. I finally subscribed to Runner's World magazine and got my first issue today! Love it.  It really motivates me to train hard. It has an article about Kara Goucher and Paula Radcliffe, two marathoners, and even now as they are pregnant they run twice a day and can do like 7 minute miles! That's insane.  I honestly don't know if I could do one seven minute mile.  But for them that is slowing it down big time, because there usual times are 5:30 miles for a whole 26.2!

Mango Smoothies

Thomas and I LOVE mango.  The local co-op bountiful basket offerend 10 kilos of mangos for $5.50! That's only like .50 a mango! They are normally a dollar a piece.  The mangos we got are perfectly ripe and so delicous.  They are a treat for sure. 

Tonight I made a healthy mango smoothie.  Here is the recipe:
1 frozen mango cut into chunks
1 cup greek yogurt
3/4 cup water
1tbsp sugar (you could probably go without the sugar)
Blend and enjoy.  Makes 2 small glasses of smoothie.