Broccoli Salad

Happy June!! Happy Friday!!! Happy day!!! :)  I hope you're doing so, so well and that your weekend is going to be just fabulous. 

I've got to keep things short and sweet over here today, so I thought I'd share with you an easy, peasy recipe for my favorite broccoli salad recipe.  The best part?  This salad packs a serious nutritional punch- it has nuts for protein, amazing nutrients from the veggies, and you wouldn't even know it was healthy.  You can even make it vegan if you want! 

I like to make the dressing and the salad in separate containers if you are keeping it for longer than a day.  If you combine the dressing and the salad and let it sit for too long, the broccoli gets a little wilty and gross.  That said, I'd recommend putting the dressing on the salad about two to three hours ahead of time to let all the flavors marinate for a bit before serving. 

This salad is great as a side dish to bring to pot-luck, for a picnic, or any summer afternoon barbecue.  It is light and fresh, cool and delicious.  Everyone will love it, I promise.  Enjoy!

Broccoli Salad 

Ingredients 

for the salad
1 large head of broccoli
1/4 red (or white or yellow) onion
3/4 cup raisins
8oz walnuts, chopped

for the dressing
1/3 cup vegannaise (you can substitute regular mayo or even plain yogurt here)
3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp white sugar 

Instructions

1. Wash broccoli and remove leaves, peel stems 
2. Chop broccoli into small, bite-sized pieces 
3. Chop onion
4. Combine broccoli, onion, raisins and walnuts in a large bowl.  Mix well. 
5. About 2-3 hrs before serving, whisk together all dressing ingredients and pour over salad.  Mix well.  Serve chilled or at room temperature.

See?  I told you it was easy!!

Alright I hate to rush off but work is a bit hectic and it is Friday so I don't want to have to stay too late.  :)  I hope you have an absolutely fabulous weekend.  Please tell me about your plans in the comments!  Also, I'd love to know...

What is your favorite side dish to bring to potluck, parties or barbecues? This is my favorite salad to bring, but I also love bringing dips, veggie trays, sausage balls, pigs in a blanket and brownies if I'm not preparing the main dish.  Foods that are easy to eat with your hands are key for parties!

Habit Keeps You Going

I did not realize today was the last day of May until just a moment ago!  Freaky.  June is here and before I know it, I'll be running the Peachtree 10K.  I've got to train!  I ran a measly 2m this morning and just about died.  The heat is killer this year.  Combine that with the humidity (even though we need more rain, please more rain!) and you've got a wheezy Carol.  I feel so out of shape!

Don't get me wrong- nothing feels better to me than sweating in the summer heat (except when trying to look cute in a sundress ;]), but it sure makes it harder to run.  Either that or I've just been slacking.  My longest run all month has been about 3.5m and I am getting slightly concerned.  I really intended to keep running longer runs on the weekends and keeping my distance ability at about 6-8 miles.  Though I had the best of intentions, my body felt like it needed a break and I just haven't stuck to a weekend workout plan at all.  I have logged about 40 miles this month though, which isn't too shabby.  I definitely need to re-visit my fitness plan and evaluate what I can do better.

(source)

Thankfully, I am still in the habit of exercising regularly.  I workout between four and five times each week.  I've been quite good about going to Body Works and have been getting in around 10 miles a week, running about 3-4 times a week.  I also have been getting in a second strength training session most weeks, but it hasn't been quite as intense as I'd hoped so I need to amp those up a notch or two.  Where am I slacking?  I've yet to purchase Insanity and have not been to either Yoga or Spin since I laid out my plan.  At least I'm batting .500!

I got home last night and finally found the motivation to get busy in the kitchen.  I made my favorite broccoli salad and also some homemade hummus for sandwiches and dipping.  (I'm always trying to re-create Panera's Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich.)  Two perfect summertime snacks/meals!  I'll definitely be posting the recipes soon.  After cooking, Sadie and I snuggled up on the couch and she slept while I worked on some personal things on the computer. 

It was a quiet night that gave me a little time to reflect on my goals and what I need to do to reach them.  Running is still very important to me, but there are some other things I am feeling pulled towards that will require a good amount of attention and dedication from me as well.  Sometimes it is so easy to get caught up in our daily lives and short-term goals that we lose sight of the future.  Too often we end up spinning round and round on a hamster wheel and waste all our energy going nowhere. I always want to be growing and evolving into a better person than I was yesterday.  Not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.  Reaching a balance between all these; that is something for which one must work.  Effort does not always feel easy, but it certainly yields better results than laziness.

Tonight I may get to see my friend Katie and then this weekend is going to be yet another packed one... We've got Summerfest, seeing my grandfather and my parents, and hopefully a little time poolside all on the agenda.  I'm thankful it is already Thursday!  One more day to go.  The beauty of a four day week... :]

Of Possible Interest:
The 5 H's of Happiness
9 Ways to Become an Optimist
4 Exercises to Help You Run Stronger

Are You Hydrating Enough?

The Opposite of Loneliness

Hey, hey!  It is Wednesday!  Certainly the best thing about a four day work week is that the weekend comes much more quickly than usual.  Somehow, I'm already anxious for Friday...

Sadie and I had a great time last night meeting up with Laura for a quick run in the park.  She is struggling with an ACL injury right now but somehow still is busting out personal training sessions and runs.  Amazing.  It worked out well because I am a much slower runner than Laura usually is, but with her injury, a slower pace was just right.  We ran about three miles around some really gorgeous parts of the park.  I thoroughly enjoyed talking to her about all kinds of different things.  She is one of the most driven and motivated people I've ever known and I really value her advice and insight.  I can't wait until we get together again!

On to the next one.  I mentioned yesterday on Twitter how excited I was to discuss an article with y'all.  Have you heard Keegan's story? 

She was a contributor to the Yale Daily News and tragically died in a car accident after writing a thought provoking piece about the "opposite of loneliness." 

Her wisdom and insight throughout the article seem to reach far beyond her 22 years.  As she states, there is no word in the English language to convey the feeling she deems the "opposite of loneliness".  The happiness, carefree lifestyle and joy we experience in our college years appear to be unmatchable in the days and months after graduation.  How could adult life ever live up to such fun?  So many people refer to those years as the glory days, the best days of our lives.  But Keegan poses the question- who is to say the rest of our days can't be just as glorious?  We can still have fun as we age.  Perhaps in different ways, but fun nonetheless.

Four years removed from college, I certainly miss the "glory days" of my youth; the carefree, responsibility-free days where all the mattered was which outfit I'd wear and where we would pre-game.  My friends lived next door, not hundreds of miles away.  Summers were filled with endless vacation days, bikinis and adventure.  Those days were incredible.  But today is incredible too. 

When I was younger, I'd always tell myself I would be more fabulous at 30 than I was at 20.  At the time, I meant looks: a better body, prettier hair, better makeup, fancier clothes.  Now I realize being more fabulous can be so much more than just physical appearance.  As I age, my abilities are expanding.  With every day I gain valuable experience.  I work hard to better myself not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.  The stability granted with the wisdom that comes with age is something I would never trade.  These days, I strive to make every part of me better, and it is with age that I do so.

Today our fun may be different, but it still brings joy.  Life has a different way of being lived but we still are happy, joyful and carefree, albeit in a different light.  You'll find me laughing all the way to 30, and I've still got over four years to get there.  

I actually don't feel remotely old enough to be writing out this content, but the more I think on what I'm saying through this post, the more I realize these feelings, ambitions and dreams of aging gracefully will come true if I simply remember this: 

It is up to us to choose.  Will we grow old and wallow in our age, dreaming of days long gone?  Or will we rise to the challenge of life and make the most of each day given to us on this green earth?  I truly believe age is just a number.  It is our choice whether our "glory days" are our present ones or if we will let the glory fall under yesterday's shadow.

I think if we live in the moment and are able to appreciate all the little blessings life gives us each and every day, then our best days are today.  Every day. 

Our zest for life is what will keep us embraced in that "opposite of loneliness".  We may be "too old" to pull all-nighters and party until the sun comes up.  We may get together for book club now instead of Tequila Tuesdays.  My friends may not be living next door and our gossip may have changed from that week's boy to this life's man, but we'll never be too old to be together, to have fun, to be joyful, to enjoy life.  At each step in life there is a new adventure, and I hope to be there to welcome each new adventure with open arms and an open mind. 

If for nothing else, we should do it for Keegan...
"... let us get one thing straight: the best years of our lives are not behind us. They’re part of us and they are set for repetition as we grow up and move to New York and away from New York and wish we did or didn’t live in New York. I plan on having parties when I’m 30. I plan on having fun when I’m old. Any notion of THE BEST years comes from clichéd 'should haves...' 'if I’d...' 'wish I’d...' "

What will you choose?

4 Day Week

Hey y'all!  How was your Memorial day?  I hope you had a lovely weekend!  Once again, I want to send a huge thank you out to all those who have served and are serving our country.  You truly are heroes each and every day.

My weekend was pretty packed (yet again) but also loads of fun.  Jesse and I had a lot of plans Sunday-Monday, so we took advantage of the free time we had Friday and Saturday and tried to relax and enjoy ourselves.

Friday afternoon we kicked things off at Happy Hour!  Neither Jesse nor I had ever been to happy hour before, so we walked over to a bar near our house and sat outside enjoying the fresh air while we sipped away on our "happy meals."

We both went with #2- the Tecate beer and a "baby" Cuervo.  Let me just tell you... their "baby" shots were really not baby at all...

Yikes!  Definitely regular sized shots.  And, no, I'm not insane and taking two shots at 5 in the afternoon.  That second shot glass is holding pineapple juice.  It is the secret behind shooting tequila. :D

After our adventures in happy hour-ing, we were ready for dinner so we walked over to Mellow Mushroom, a pizza joint located nearby.  We got a white pizza with spinach, bacon and tomatoes.  Delicious!  I love me a good pizza.  Mellow's crust is probably my favorite crust out there other than thin crust.  It was just what I needed!  The night ended pretty quietly after dinner with an at-home movie and an early bedtime.

Saturday morning I got up and headed back over to Big Peach (a local running company).  After purchasing my new shoes on Monday, I thought on it for the week and decided I wanted to go scoop up those Nike shoes that were my second choice.  I thought it would be good to have two pairs I could switch between so the shoes had time to re-form instead of running in the same pair of shoes multiple days in a row.

I haven't run in these babies yet, but I can't wait to break them in.  Hopefully I'll get to do that with Laura on a run tonight!  Over the weekend, I took several walks in them and they are really comfortable though quite different from the Sauconys I first chose.  I look forward to seeing how switching shoes affects my runs.

I'm going to let you in on a little secret... I actually didn't run the whole weekend.  I'm not feeling too guilty though as I ran six times in five days last week. 

After getting my second pair of new shoes, I headed over to Taqueria del Sol in Decatur with Jesse for lunch.  As always, the food was delicious.  We shared a guacamole and I had two tacos and an enchilada covered in lemon cream sauce.  We decided to go to the location in Decatur because we were meeting Jesse's family at the pool after our meal!  Being at the pool felt great.  I really wanted to make it to the lake over the weekend, but timing was off and we didn't end up making it down there so the pool was the next best thing!  The water felt amazing as did the sunshine.  The temperatures were in the 90s over the weekend and it was perfect lounging weather (as long as there was water nearby to cool off in!)

Post-pool, Jesse and I went out to dinner and watched a soccer game.  Soon after, I called it a night pretty early again.  You know you're getting old when you go to bed at 10pm on the weekends...

Sunday morning, I headed over to Whole Foods with Jesse to do our weekly grocery trip together.  I know I've said it a million times before, but grocery shopping is one of my favorite things to do with my boyman.  I feel pretty lucky that he actually enjoys this because a lot of my friends tell me their husbands/significant others hate going to the store.  Jesse and I really enjoy it because we plan out the meals we're going to have together that week and I think it saves us a lot of money by sharing a grocery list.  It also gives me the chance to know what days I'll definitely get to spend time with him during the week which always makes me happy.  We love cooking together and exploring new and (mostly) healthy meals so shopping together really is just an extension of that.

After our grocery date, we went out for a quick lunch thanks to Scout Mob at HD1, a new hot dog joint in town.  We both really enjoyed the food but unfortunately had a server that was overwhelmed and not paying us much attention/kept forgetting about us.  He never asked if we would like water or anything and it took us nearly twenty minutes after we finished eating to get our bill.  He finally brought us our check after someone else who sat down quite a while after we did had already been served, eaten and paid for.  It was a little frustrating to watch that happen as we sat continuously waiting but we were trying to be understanding.  They experienced a short power-outage right when we got there which I think threw them into a frenzy.  I still wish the server had been more considerate of us because it felt as though we were being ignored.  Overall, the food was great, so I think we will probably go back and give them a second chance.

Once we finished up with lunch, we both headed home to get ready for Rachel and Nate's wedding!  It was such a beautiful ceremony and took place at the Trolley Barn in Inman Park.  The bride and groom were so beautiful together and you could just feel their joy.  Everyone there had a wonderful time celebrating their union!  It was so fun to go to a wedding for Jesse's friends.  Most of the weddings we attended last year were for my friends, so I enjoyed seeing him in something that was more his element.

It was a beautiful ceremony, a fun reception and a great night overall!  We had a blast and I am so thankful to have gotten to know this wonderful couple over the past few months.  I hope they're having a wonderful time on their honeymoon, and Rachel & Nate- if y'all read this, thank you again for letting Jesse and I share your special day with you!  It was wonderful.

Monday meant the weekend was coming to a close, but we made sure to squeeze in every ounce of fun we could and headed off to the Braves game.

Sadly, our Bravos weren't able to pull off a win this time, but the game was still a blast.  We got to hang out with our friends Chris, Kelly and Tommy and I even got to see one of my closest friends from high school who also happened to be at the game.  After the game, we headed back to the pool for dinner with Jesse's family.  It was the perfect ending to a long, fun weekend.

I'm pretty exhausted from all our activities, but I'm hanging in there and am looking forward to whatever this four day week holds!  I don't have many plans for the evenings and I can't say I'm too disappointed about that.  Sometimes quiet weeks are just what we need to get back on track after all the holiday excitement!

What did you do for Memorial Day weekend? 
Do you like the heat or do you prefer winter? 
Do you like to stay busy on the weekends or do you prefer to relax? 

Summertime Veggie Pasta

Friday is here!!!! Happy Hour!!!! SHOTS!!! [too far??]

I am too excited for this long weekend.  I've been thinking it was Friday for three days now.  'Bout darn time today arrived.  I mentioned before that we've got a lot going on this weekend and I am stoked.  How can you not be excited about a long weekend?

Can y'all tell I had a little coffee this morning...?

Calming things down a bit over here...  How has your week been?  It seems like there are so many exciting things going on in everyone's lives right now.  I know people who are moving, planning trips, getting married, switching jobs... it is crazy!  I suppose my friends and I are just at that age where major life changes occur, but it still blows my mind how many folks are going through these things.  The only one I can really relate to is planning trips, and sadly not much trip planning has gone on for me lately.  Oh well!

Yesterday, Jesse was playing soccer with some buddies in the park, so Sadie and I walked over there with him and then went off to do our thing.  He was playing in part of the park where dogs aren't allowed, so we couldn't stay and watch.  Instead, she and I ended up completing about 5.5miles of running, walking, stair climbing and meandering.  It was really quite fun!  We ran for about 2.5m straight and then alternated between walking, running and running stairs (the best cardio burst ever!).  We also spent a good amount of time staring at ducks, people getting their pictures taken and all the other interesting happenings in the park.

There were also some turtles in the water which I thought was so cool!  At first, I thought the turtles were drowning ducks but then I looked a little closer and realized all the ducks were safely above water.  Blonde moment...

We kept passing this one family taking pictures and I felt so awkward every time we had to walk between them and the photographer!  They must have thought I was insane.  Anyways... by the time all was said and done Miss Sadie was pretty well exhausted.

It was, after all, her second run of the day!  We are getting crazy- that makes two days this week we've worked out twice in one day. Swoll ladies over here, I'll tell ya.  Hah!

We headed home and were both more than ready to eat.  I wanted something simple, refreshing and packed full of nutritious veggies, so I whipped up this easy Summertime Veggie Pasta.  I know you're going to love it.  The sweet flavors of the veggies combine with the garlic sauce to create a light yet filling pasta dish that is the perfect summer meal.  Enjoy!

Summertime Veggie Pasta

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 6 adults

Ingredients
16oz whole wheat linguini
2 medium summer squash
1 large zucchini
1 large red bell pepper
1/4 large yellow onion
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
1 small head of baby bok choy (optional; can sub for spinach or other leafy green)
2 cloves garlic
3 tablespoons butter (or olive oil)
Olive oil for the pan
salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Chop veggies into large (but bite-sized) pieces (Squash, zucchini, pepper and onion into about 1in pieces; tomatoes cut in half; chop bok choy leaves and stems in approximately 1in sections) 
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. 
3. While water is coming to a boil, place a small amount of olive oil into a large skillet or wok and bring to medium heat.  Add chopped veggies (squash, zucchini, bell pepper, onion, cherry tomatoes, baby bok choy) to pan.  Stir occasionally. 
4. Once water is boiling, add pasta and reduce heat.  Cook until al dente (about 10 minutes). 
5. While pasta and veggies are cooking, get a small saucepan.  Mince your garlic and add it to the butter or olive oil (3 tablespoons) in the saucepan.  Place over medium-low heat.
6. The first thing to finish cooking will be your pasta.  Remove it from the heat and drain it.  Place in a large bowl. 
7. Pour garlic & butter (or oil) sauce over pasta and salt lightly.  Mix until all the pasta is coated lightly with the garlic sauce. 
8. Now your veggies should be done.  Check that the onions are almost translucent.  The squash, zucchini and bell pepper should be firm yet tender, the greens will be wilted and the tomatoes will be cooked down slightly.  When they are ready, lightly salt the veggies.
9. Spoon a serving of pasta into a bowl and then top with vegetables.  Mix together and salt to taste.  Enjoy with a glass (or two) of white wine! 

This pasta really was the perfect light meal after being out in the heat for so long.  The veggies are cooked but still crisp and having a light garlic sauce instead of a marinara or cream sauce kept the dish lighter but still filling.  I loved the sweetness of the veggies in contrast to the salty garlic sauce.  I'll definitely be making this dish again in the near future.

Alrighty, I hope y'all have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!  Have fun, stay safe and enjoy the extra day off!  Also, let us all try and remember the true reason we celebrate this day.  Thank all the current soldiers and the veterans in your life.  They deserve our thanks and praise.  Let's let them know how much we love them and appreciate their sacrifices which keep us safe and free each and every day.

I love you Daddy!! You have always been my hero.  Thank you for what you have done and still do for our country each day!

God Bless America!