Things to remember today...

This weekend...

Women's Bobsled Bronze Medal

2-man Bobsled WORLD CHAMPIONS {first time in US history}

Team Event: World Champions!

Didn't suck!

The Soundtrack

I absolutely adore Adele.  I really think that if I ever met her we would be BFFs, she would make an awesome addition to the WP...

I mean how cute is she?  And how awesome is it that she won every category that she was nominated in?  Pretty awesome.  When I was driving to work this morning I decided to celebrate her wins by BLASTING this CD...  

While I was driving {and singing} I kept thinking how fantastic her songs are and how much they could be a sound track for my life this year.  So here is my 2011- 2012 {so far} life soundtrack according to Adele:

2011

January

He Won't Go

February

Rolling in the Deep

March

Set Fire to the Rain 

April

Crazy for You

May 

Hometown Glory

June 

Turning Tables

July

Take it All

August 

One and Only

September 

Melt My Heart to Stone

October

Don't You Remember

November 

Someone Like You

December

I'll be Waiting

2012

January 

Rumor Has It

Thank you email land

Over the last few days, I have had some interesting emails hit my inbox.  First, there was this gem of my horoscope on Monday:

When was the last time you got any serious exercise? Now is the time to begin a new routine that you can stick to. You've got the commitment and the right kind of energy for it!


Little did my email know that Monday was the start of my 12 week training program for the Country Music Half Marathon.  I had an awesome 4 mile run Monday after work.  Today in the mail came the Jillian Michaels Revolution, which is basically p90x but Jillian style 30 minute workouts.  Can't wait to start those on Thursday.

Then I got this email today:

Love is a temporary madness.  It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision.  You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part.  Because this is what love is.  Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two. ~Louis De Bernieres

I had quite the interesting weekend.  Feelings that I normally have weren't there and new feelings of familiarity and comfort were in place of anxiety and worry.  That created some questions in my mind about whether I cared less about that person or whether we were just moving into a new phase of our relationship.  This quote in my email was just what I needed to hear.  I think this quote is so perfect, because not only does it talk about what the first excitement phase of a relationship.  It also talks about what happens when the glamour and the sparkle is taken out of it.  That is when you find out who is in it for you and who is in it for what you can do for them.  I am intrigued to see where this new phase goes and what happens.

Stay tuned...

Meatless Monday: Quinoa Burgers

Last week, I decided to make a bunch of new recipes mostly found on Pinterest.  Since my birthday was on Thursday, I didn't end up making most of them due to nights out to celebrate.  I have been wanted to try quinoa for a while because its a higher protein grain, which works well for my low carb tendencies.  I found these Quinoa burgers here, but I did make some modifications {see the recipe below}

Quinoa Burgers:

2 rounded cups cooked quinoa {cooked by the package directions}

3/4 cup shredded cheese: I used pepperjack

1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese {I accidentally bought fat free cottage cheese with pineapple, but it was so good...}

1 medium carrot, finely grated

3 eggs

3 tablespoons all purpose flour

2 green onions

1/2 tsp splenda

Dashes of: salt, red pepper flakes, garlic powder

Olive oil for frying

Combine all the ingredients in the bowl and mix together.  Using a 1/4 cup measure, drop the mixture in the pan and flatten them out {like the picture}

Cook for about 4 minutes on each side, until they are golden brown.  I slightly over browned mine because I was nervous about the egg in the mixture cooking all the way through {everything else is fully cooked}.  Mine made 15 burgers...

I served mine with some BBQ sauce...

And a blue moon....

The best part {per burger}...

Has anyone out there ever tried quinoa?  How'd it go?

Also as a complete aside, my official half marathon program started today!  4 miles in 53 minutes.  Super proud, also within that was a sub 40 minute 5K which is my best time for sure....  WOOO HOOO :)

Eating 2 weeks from Pinterest Recipes...

In an attempt to save money and eat better, I have been menu planning.  Not just for a week, for the whole month.  I go grocery shopping once every two weeks and get everything I need for the two weeks worth of cooking.  In that vain I am getting tired of making the same things month after month, enter Pinterest.

I am obsessed with Pinterest right now, as is nearly everyone I know.  I have pinned lots of recipes but have yet to make any of them, so I made it my goal for February to try more new recipes.  The first one I tried was this...

I had a long run of meetings this morning and came home sorta in a panic that I wasn't going to be able to get everything ready for dinner, eat lunch, give the dogs some attention, and get back to work to actually get some stuff done.  I was totally wrong.  This recipe came together so fast, it was in the slow cooker within 10 minutes.  Most of that time was me not knowing where in my tiny kitchen I've stored the ingredients.  The best thing about this recipe other than how great it tastes is the AMAZING smell that I was hit with when I unlocked my front door.

Look at that cheesy goodness!

Here's what I know you've been waiting for, the recipe!  I made some adjustments front the original pin...

Honey Parmesan Pork Roast

1 (2-3 lb) boneless pork roast
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
1/4 c. honey
3 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp dried basil
2 tbsp minced garlic
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt

Place the roast in the slow cooker.  In a small bowl combine honey, soy sauce, basil, garlic, olive oil and salt.  Pour the mixture over the roast.  Cover the roast in the 1/2 cup of cheese over the roast.  Cook on low for 6-7 hours (I cooked mine for 6.5).

Calories: 349, Carbs: 7, Fat: 21, Protein: 32 (per slice).

The original recipe made a gravy out of the liquid that was left behind.  I actually hate gravy, so I saved the yummy juice to keep the pork moist when I store it in the fridge.  I served up my pork with a nice salad of baby romaine, blue cheese, dried cranberries, and balsamic vinaigrette.

I'll post the other recipes I try here as well!  Have you ever cooked from a Pinterest recipe?  Do you follow me (@hales5) on Pinterest?

Hope everyone has a great Groundhogs Day!  I know I will since its my birthday :)