lilly bean...

is an adorable puppy.

loves the snow.

licks alot.

loves new treats.

thinks new toys are the best.

hates the bathtub (and to share this with us, she lowers her ears and doesn't make eye contact)

thinks the vet is scary.

enjoys girls weekends.

is learning that stay really does mean stay... even when a treat is staring at her.

has learned to sit like a champ.

wishes she could shake but just cant quite figure it out.

falls asleep on dereks lap in approximately 2 minutes... and while I am trying to take a nap on the couch attempts to lick my face, jump on my feet and nuzzle under my hand.

loves her best friends in richmond, ellie and crosby.

misses her buddy zissou.

cant wait to meet darcy mae in annapolis.

thinks that little charlotte is one of the cutest puppies she has ever seen and really wants to meet her!

wishes her cousin bella would come to play!

has finally found her voice.

enjoys hauling all of her toys out of her crate and places them around our room.

likes pulling down her cute basket of "lilly's things" and choosing toys.

adores fun visitors and welcomes them with a wagging tail.

is such a fabulous addition to our little family!

FOMO.

Fear Of Missing Out.

A dear friend of mine explained a fabulous term to me yesterday... FOMO. Have you ever been sitting on your couch, in your pajamas and you've been invited to go somewhere fabulously fun? You think, part of me wants to stay in my PJ's and the other part wants to hop up find cute jeans, great shoes and a strikingly fun top to go out with friends...you might be suffering from FOMO.

let me introduce you to my sherpa & the garm.

by definition... "The term Sherpa is also used to refer to local people, typically men, who are employed as guides for mountaineering expeditions in the Himalayas, particularly Mt. Everest. They are highly regarded as elite mountaineers and experts in their local terrain."

i love my sherpa. he is my husband...best friend...and cheerleader (even on a chilly, gray winter day!) according to the definition he is a guide.. which he does very well for long runs. I am not climbing Mt. Everest... but I am running 26.2 miles in Nashville TN. He is definitely an expert in the local terrain and because of that was able to clearly allocate appropriate water stations for me along my 8.25 mile journey yesterday. i am forever grateful to have such a wonderful supporter through this adventure. i thought running this marathon and training for this marathon was an individual task (with my running buddy in chattanooga, tn)... however, during my run yesterday i was humbled to realize it is not. i couldn't do this without support... and love... and water stations from my sherpa!

and now... let me introduce you to "The garm" as i like to call her. she was another grand idea of my husband. i introduced you to the good ole nike fit for ipod a few weeks ago; however, when i ran 6 miles, per the map, and it told me i ran 9, i knew we had a problem! after some research, blog reading, consideration and a visit to my favorite running store, Bryn Mawr Running, i am a proud owner of a Garmin Forerunner 405.




"the garm" travels with me on each running adventure telling me my pace, time, distance and when i get home... calories and the map of my exact location throughout the run. what a fabulous invention. i don't need a gps for the car, as i train everywhere i go, but a gps for running... genius.

731 miles...

my running partner... marathon buddy... accountability... and one of many cheerleaders is 731 miles away.

you might think that the distance would be a bit daunting as we train "together" for this marathon adventure...and at times it seems so very far... but in reality... we feel as close as neighbors.

it brought a huge smile to my face when i had the first feeling of... "I just don't want to run today"... Angel wrote back to me and said... "I had the same feeling, but it brings a smile to my face knowing we can do this together."

that my friends is accountability.

yum.

Yum. apple crumb one day and shrimp and corn chowder the next....

I have officially been inspired by my a3 roommates after our girls weekend last weekend... and the addition of our stand mixer that I adore.

Yesterday after a 7.25 mile run... I came home to notice about 6 apples that were getting a bit soft, so rather than throwing them away... I decided... why not make apple crisp?! and let me tell you what... it is amazing!!! You should really try it...

Ingredients:

• 4 cups peeled, cored, sliced apples
• 1/4 cup water
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup softened butter

Preparation:

Place apples in a lightly buttered baking pan or dish, about 10 x 6 or 9-inch square. Add water. Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle crumb mixture over the apples. Bake apple crunch at 350° for 35 to 45 minutes, or until apples are tender. Serve apple crumble warm with ice cream, if desired. Apple crumble serves 6.

and now for today's recipe...perfect for a cold, rainy day... (and I learned what leeks and fennels are!)

Shrimp and corn chowder with fennels

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 leeks (white and light green parts), chopped
• 1 fennel bulb, chopped
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 8-ounce bottle clam juice
• 3 cups whole milk
• 1 pound potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 3/4 pound cooked peeled and deveined medium shrimp
• 1 10-ounce package frozen corn
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• bread, for serving (optional)

Directions

1. Heat the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the leeks and fennel, season with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, 4 to 5 minutes; stir in the flour.
2. Add the clam juice, milk, and potatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 12 minutes. Stir in the shrimp and corn and cook until the potatoes are tender and the shrimp and corn are heated through, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the parsley and lemon juice. Serve with the bread, if using.

happy bridesmaid.

...being a part of someone's wedding day is such a special honor. you get the opportunity to stand by a dear friend's side as they pledge their love.... what an unbelievable testament of friendship.

now I happen to believe that being a bridesmaid is one of the most fun and fabulous experiences in the world.

i love everything wedding. i love everything wedding both for myself and for others. i love the planning, i love the selection of photographers, i love flowers, creating the vision for centerpieces, connecting the vision with a theme and coordinating the theme throughout.

i love creating gift bags, slecting hostess gifts, calling hotels to book reservations and coordinating transportation, i love tying ribbons on programs, creating candy bars and details. i love the cutting of the cake, i love the first dance song and i love the look on the groom's face as his bride walks down the aisle.

i love the photo of the bride the minute before the doors open.. or the minute before she walks down the sand aisle. i love the conversation that the bride has with her dad... or her brother... or whoever special it is that has the honor of walking her down the aisle (and it is a huge honor).

i love ribbon bouquets and bachelorette parties. i love showers... really any kind of shower but the classic bridal shower is my favorite. i love the joining of old and young... the 90 year old seated next to the 5 year old flower girl. i love registering for gifts, i love helping others register for gifts, but more than that i love selecting the perfect wedding gift. i love coordinating colors and i love bridesmaid dresses... and that is one of the many reasons i am one happy bridesmaid for the marriage of julie and peter on july 3, 2010.

the color: caspian blue
the material: silk taffetta
the make: J.Crew
and now a selection between the following three dresses (blakeley, gracen & lorelei)...

These shoes were made for running...

...and that's just what they'll do...

one of these days these shoes are gunna ...

RUN ALL OVER NASHVILLE, TN!










The mizuno wave creation 11 are in full marathon training mode. I adore this shoe... I have been wearing wave creation's since version 7.. clearly, don't mess with a good thing! This version is a bit different than the others, the toe box fits a little wider, which is apparently a great improvement (says my favorite running store, Bryn Mawr Running Co.) I am still getting used to them as it has been about 2 weeks since I purchased them.

Two other fabulous running finds are below... I am a new believer in the Nike Fit products that are compatible with your ipod! It works beautifully with the new 5th generation nano (my dear husband gave me one for christmas.) There is a small chip that you either put in your running shoes (if you wear Nike's) and if you don't, you buy a 5 dollar contraption that connects to your laces and holds the chip in place. It calculates distance, time, calories and will talk to you while running if you like updates! It also makes me giggle... after my run tonight, Lance Armstrong comes on stating, "This is your longest run to date, congratulations!" Yeah, thanks Lance Armstrong, you ride bikes a million miles but you congratulate me on a 6 mile run... I'll take it.

Furthermore, as I ventured out this evening in the 26 degree weather with some crazy wind chill... I was thankful for my nike dry fit ear cover / headband contraption. It looks a bit bizarre but I thought many times during my run, "that was the best 12 dollars I have ever spent." If you are running outside in this weather... you NEED one!

"The body does not want you to do this. As you run, it tells you to stop but the mind must be strong. You always go too far for your body. You must handle the pain with strategy...It is not age; it is not diet. It is the will to succeed." - Jacqueline Gareau, 1980 Boston Marathon Champion

and tonight.... I go to bed with a wind burned face... and bright red wind burned legs... with the hope that tomorrow it might be just a wee bit warmer!

cookies... movies... and girls weekend oh my!

sugar cookies... are so much fun to make when you have a fun new mixer! however, I strongly suggest making sure you have a rolling pin before beginning the 4 hours adventure of chilling dough, mixing icing and having a cookie decorating contest with your husband. however, if you don't have a rolling pin, what would you use?

and then... when you have too many bananas... and a cute new loaf pan... what should you make? little banana nut chocolate chip loafs.. tied with a bow!


Extraordinary Measures... and an extraordinary opportunity to attend a premiere at the Philadelphia Prince Music Theater in center city.

We arrived welcomed by cameras and guest lists, had a lovely glass of wine and found our seats in the theater. Shortly after sitting, we turned to see Brendan Fraser walking in and sitting immediately behind us! He came to the premiere and sat with the "real life dad" in the story of Extraordinary Measures. It is based on a true story of a family struggling to find a cure for their two children dealing with Pompee disease. It is an exceptional movie that I HIGHLY recommend seeing the minute it comes to the big screen!


A girls weekend is a fabulous way to spend the weekend! Laughing, talking, shopping, cooking, drinking wine... registering for fun items at Crate and Barrel with our fabulous bride Julie... what a perfect weekend!

We decided to cook fun meals in this weekend... Julie, Sam and Kate created a fabulous risotto Saturday evening complete with asparagus, lemon zest, mint and other yummy ingredients... and a great salad! I made brunch on Sunday morning with an open faced goat cheese, scallion and tomato omelet as well as an overnight coffee cake! See recipe below~ and ENJOY a good southern family tradition!

1 pkg. frozen dinner rolls

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 cup chopped pecans

1 1/4 sticks butter

1 pkg butterscotch pudding mix (not instant)

Grease bundt pan. Layer frozen rolls in the pan. Mix cinnamon with sugar. Pour over rolls. Layer one at a time....chopped nuts, brown sugar, then pudding mix. Slice up butter and place it over the whole thing. Cover with a cloth and place in "OFF" oven over nite. Bake in AM. Bake at 350 for 35 - 40 minutes. Remove from oven. Invert pan and allow to set for about 5 minutes. Remove cake pan. Best served warm!!!

Some goals in life...

...are long term goals... some are short term goals... and some are goals you have dreamed about...


I... am officially running the 2010 Country Music Marathon on April 24 in Nashville, TN! It is something I have dreamed of doing...

When I ran my first half marathon in Nashville, TN I thought, "Thank goodness I am only running the half... but wouldn't it be awesome to run the full?!"

When I ran my second half marathon in Memphis, TN for St. Jude's I thought, "I am freezing (it was 28 degrees when I started the race and 36 degrees when I finished) but I think I could go longer!"

When I ran my third half marathon in Philly I thought, "I'm tired, but I think I really want to run a full!"

When I ran my fourth half marathon in Richmond, VA I thought, "That is a really long time, but I know I could do it. Parts of it won't be fun and parts of it will hurt, but I want to complete a marathon."

Derek and I have been discussing the country music marathon on and off for about a month. He finally said to me, "We talk about this alot. What is it that is holding you back?"

When only the fear of the unknown is holding you back.. GO FOR IT... I know I can do it... I have dreamed of doing... and I cant wait to cross that finish line in Nashville after running 26.2 miles.

What's your dream?

Happy New Year!