let the training begin!

Last weekend my friend Kristin and I signed up for the DC Rock 'n Roll half marathon! The longest race I've run was the Cooper River Bridge Run last year, which is only a 10k... but I've been wanting to run a half for a while. I'm a little scared but a lot excited. The race is on March 17th (must wear green!), so we have 16 weeks to train. I can't wait to be back in DC again! 

[photo taken from pinterest]

the best soup ever

Sice the beginning of fall I've been on a soup kick. I usually make a different soup each week. When I was visiting my friend Nina, we were discussing recipes, and she told me about The Culinary Couple's Tortellini Soup. I made it one night and it was AMAZING. Seriously. I couldn't stop talking about it or talking about it to people. It's fast, easy, full of fresh vegetables with some hearty meat to please the husband. I have made it twice and am ready to make it again. I told my mom, and she's made it twice in the past month. So yummy. You have to make it!!!  

Tortellini Soup

1/2 lb sweet Italian sausage (chicken or turkey sausage also works)

1 cup onion, chopped (I leave this out since my super-taster husband hates them.. I don't miss them)

2 cloves garlic, minced

5 cups beef broth

1/3 cup water

1/2 cup red wine

4 tomatoes, chopped, or 1 can diced tomatoes

1 cup carrots, chopped

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1 cup tomato sauce

1-2 zucchini, chopped

8 oz. cheese tortellini (can substitute another pasta)

1 package or 1 bag fresh spinach

1 tablespoon parsley

Parmesan cheese

1. In large pot, cook sausage ~5 minutes. Remove meat and set aside.
2. Add onion and garlic. Saute.
3. Add broth, water, wine, herbs, tomato sauce, and vegetables (except zucchini and spinach), and sausage. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered ~30 minutes. 
4. Add zucchini, spinach, and tortellini. Simmer ~25 minutes. 
5. Ladle into bowls, sprinkle with Parmesan, and serve with crusty bread.

boone trip #2!

This past weekend Brian, Toby and I headed up to Boone for the second cabin trip of the season! We met up with my friends from grad school! What's better than a group of SLP's hanging out discussing the frustrations of artic therapy, swallowing, medicaid, and school systems? Our poor husbands... But really. It's always refreshing to see these girls and discuss all that goes into the day-to-day life of being an SLP. :)

We went to the game on Saturday and sat on the hill very snug to stay warm. 

The dogs! Ellie May, Toby, and Marley! They played wonderfully together and were quite entertaining. 

Brian and I love being back in Boone.. So many memories there. We are thankful we were able to go twice this fall! 

iron & wine

Last week, my friend Julie told me that her husband Josiah would be filming Iron & Wine for a dvd of their show... A few days later, she said she won free tickets and asked if I wanted to come with her! Yes! I have loved this band since college.. Never seen them live though. I drove down to the Buckhead Theatre straight from work that night and met her there. It was amazing. A smaller, more intimate show with only 500 people in the audience. Totally worth feeling extra tired the next day and getting sicker! Really. It was also cool to see Josiah at work.. filming is hard work!! I had no idea what all was involved. He did a great job, and we had a great time! Thanks Julie!

As Josiah said, "It's dark, but it is an image." 

puppy high

Get ready for puppy overload... Dan and Natalie came up from FL for a visit and brought WALTER! This was the greatest weekend ever. It was love at first sight. He is the sweetest, most laid back pup ever. 

He is so snuggly!! We spent Saturday at Piedmont Park.. It was the perfect fall day. The leaves were beautiful and the weather was lovely. And everything is more fun when you have a puppy! 

He got so much attention from people at the park. Every time he greeted a dog, he pawed like he was shaking the dog's hand. Then he'd prance along happily. Adorable. 

It's not an overstatement to say I was obsessed. A lot obsessed. How could you not be??? 

His first ride in a Trader Joe's shopping cart.. Not too sure about it! He ended up jumping out of the cart in the parking lot. He prefers to be held. :) 

Toby did such a good job. At the dog park he wouldn't go very far.. He kept coming back to check on Walter. I think this is the beginning of a great friendship. 

Thanks Nat and Dan for the pictures! I hope you come back again soon! With or without the puppy. :)