run, forest, run

normally i'd be content with doing a little p90x in the basement, but this semi-warm weather has got me itchin' to be outside alllll the freakin' time. [see, that's the difference between here and florida - when you live somewhere where it's not beautiful all the time, and you've been stuck inside since october, you tend to appreciate the outdoors a little more]. 
35 degree weather didn't stop me from waking up early this morning and getting myself a little run in. note to all: i haven't really ran since last november...cough, 2009...when my 12 crazies and i did ragnar. ja know, running and i have this love-hate relationship when i'm training. so, when i go out and run after 16 months of not having to do it everyday i honestly do miss it. 
so, with that said, i leave you with some of my fav. workout gear:

 tank. zip-up jacket. v-neck tee

running capris. sports bra. running shorts.

new balance shoes. iPod/case. headbands. water bottle.

one thing that's so so so important - if you're going out for a run you need to make sure you have the right kind of shoes. the shoes you wear everyday to the gym aren't going to cut it. make sure you know what kind of support you need in a shoe based on your arch type. if you take care of your feet, they will take care of the rest of your body.

next thing beau and i will be training for? chicago muddy buddy - here we come!

so, go! get out there and run! or walk...whichever you prefer. just get out there and do something. cheers to our tushies.

meatless monday

last week's oprah show "harpo's vegan challenge" got me so inspired! i think beau and i eat pretty well as it is, but my choice of snack foods could improve a TON and i'd like to start thinking about what we eat, rather than just eating it.
by no means do i think i could ever become vegan (i love cheese and dairy wayyyyy too much), but why not be "vegan-ish" and lean into that lifestyle? oprah's staffers who took part in the challenge said that even though they might not 100% stick to a vegan diet, the challenge made them much more aware of what kind of food they were buying, where they were buying it from, and how they prepared it. (the sb farmers market will be seeing more of my pretty face, and i will definitely be purchasing kathy freston's book to learn more about being conscious of the way beau and i eat).
now, i don't eat red meat - just chicken, turkey and fish...no pork, nothing - so my meatless monday idea is much less of a challenge for me than it is for beau - my little indiana country boy, meat and potato lover is p-o'ed. buuut, i told him: "meatless monday, or starve". period. 

so, here's the first recipe in our meatless monday adventure - minestrone soup and tomato spinach pizza - not bad, right?! he's even taking leftovers for lunch today :)


minestrone soup

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 carrot, peeled and diced
1 celery stalk, diced
1 zucchini, diced
1 cup fresh (or frozen) green beans
2 (14-ounce) cans diced tomatoes
4 cups vegetable broth
2 cups water
1 (14 ounce) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup (half a box) whole wheat elbow macaroni
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
salt and pepper, to taste
parmesan cheese or yeast flakes (to make vegan) - optional, for garnish

- chop everything up prior to heating stockpot
- heat olive oil in a large stockpot
- add onion, garlic, carrot, and celery. cook for about 5 minutes, or until lightly browned
- add in zucchini, green beans, and diced tomatoes. stir in vegetable broth and water. add beans, macaroni, oregano, and basil. simmer until vegetables and macaroni are tender - about 30-35 minutes
- season with salt and pepper and serve warm
- garnish with parmesan cheese or yeast flakes, if desired. serve with warm bread

tomato spinach pizza
one organic pizza crust - whole grain or whole wheat
1 tbsp olive oil
1 cup (more or less depending on your taste) all natural marinara sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (daiya cheese for vegan option)
1 roma tomato, sliced
5-6 raw spinach leaves - cleaned with steams taken off - tear into pieces
1/2 tbsp dried basil

- preheat oven to 450 degrees
- drizzle and brush olive oil on pizza crust. spread marinara sauce over the entire crust, leaving a 1/2" border along the edge to prevent spilling over in the oven
- sprinkle mozzarella/daiya cheese over sauce, layer spinach pieces over the cheese and place slices of roma tomato over the spinach. sprinkle dried basil over the entire pizza.
- bake in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until cheese is melted
- let cool for a few minutes, then slice into wedges.

cheers!

someone had their first surprise party!

i'm trying really hard to focus on this post, but barefoot contessa is on the food network cooking these guys..i gotta take notes.
boy, have i been neglecting little s2s this week, huh? life seems to be zipping by ever since we moved - unpacking, setting up shop, reorganizing...you know, the fun stuff. on top of all that i hosted a surprise birthday party for beau this weekend. the entire bauer clan roadtripped it to south bend for some cornhole-playing, scare-the-crap-out-of-beau, warm weather, birthday fun :)
[note about the cake: beau's sister, nic, told dq that she needed an ice cream cake for an adult male. a buck in the forest is the best the could do. yeaa..only in indiana..]

so close

we are back in athens again this week and i realized how unfair it is that ohio has color in their landscape. i mean bright greens and yellows and the tiny cherry blossom trees are even showing their little faces.

what the heck, south bend? why you so lazy?

on another note: we have to clean and pack up the rest of our stuff today...well, i do. beau's in class. sooo, i'm doing all i can to postpone that activity...including taking pictures of myself with my mad-face on...

awesome news!

as you may have read here, the athens farmers market is like none other in the state. it is the largest open-air market in ohio, and its goods are extremely unique to the athens-area.
sooo, you can bet i was thrilled to learn that south bend had their own farmers market! beau told me about it on wednesday (little sweetheart, he is) and i was ready to hop on over there that afternoon. buuuut, i can be a sweetheart too (muahahaha), so i told beau that i would wait till saturday so we could go together :)
saturday monring we marched our pretty little butts over there and let me tell you...this place was unreal. i'm not saying it was better than athens because, let's face it, athens is on a playing field all their own. no, the south bend farmers market was just different. it was more like a farmers market mixed with a little bit of Etsy - there was LOADS of stuff, not just food, and the place went on forevvvvveeeerrrrr. there were deli counters, italian bakeries, cupcake booths, vintage goods, and even handmade jewelry. i fell in love with this one chick - her jewelry pieces are absolutely to-die-for. her name is ali oesch, and you best believe i will be making a purchase (or two) with her very soon. 

and to my dear athens - i still love you and your uniqueness :)

brittany, the painter

happy fridayyyyyyy!
it's supposed to snow today. no, i'm not going to bitch. instead, i'm going to focus my attention elsewhere.
see, we have this really old piece of furniture that my roommate, first year out of undergrad, gave to me. i think it was her grandma's, so i could never understand why she would want to get rid of it. untilllll i moved out...the freakin' thing weights a TON! beau and my dad hate it, but i love it (probably because i never have to lift it and i only get to admire it once i tell them where to put it). not only is it old, but it looks old too. so today i'm going to give it a mini-makeover. here's what it looks like now:

 

and here's what i'm thinking for color:

hopefully i'll be finished by the end of this weekend.

wish me luck :)

dinner for two

this recipe, from my fresh market cookbook, is super easy and quick to make. it can be made veggie-friendly, but the cream definitely makes it filling.

creamy tomato basil soup

what you'll need:

1 (14oz) can diced tomatoes seasoned with garlic, basil and oregano

salt & pepper, to taste

3/4 cup olive oil, divided

2 garlic cloves, minced (i always use more!)

1 yellow onion, diced

2 carrots, diced

2 celery stalks, diced

1 cup chicken broth (you can use vegetable broth to make this veggie-friendly)

1-2 fresh bay leaves

1/4 cup fresh basil

1/2 cup heavy cream

preheat oven to 450 degrees. strain tomatoes, reserve juices.

spread single layer of tomatoes on baking sheet, sprinkle with salt & pepper and drizzle with 1/4 cup olive oil. roast tomatoes until caramelized, about 15 minutes.

in medium saute pan, heat remaining olive oil over medium heat. add garlic, yellow onion, carrots, and celery and cook until softened, about 8 minutes. add roasted tomatoes, reserved tomato juice, chicken broth and bay leaves. reduce heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.

 

add basil and heavy cream, stirring to combine; remove bay leaves. in a food processor puree until smooth (i used a blender, on puree setting).

this made enough for two people (actually, one big portion for beau, and a tiny one for me. next time i'll probably double the recipe). i cooked a chicken breast in the oven and served the soup with a chicken caesar salad and warm crusty bread.

cheers!