memories that hurt my head

We went out for a wild night last weekend for a friends birthday. There was a rented limo + several stops at bars and a restaurant (where I did not eat enough, BIG mistake) + champagne in the limo (another big mistake, I really can't handle anything more than 2 glasses of champagne) + the giddy excitement that Patrick and I get when we are in social/party/fun environments. Basically this all adds up to a horrid, horrid hangover that kicked Patrick and I's butt like never before. Over the years we have endured quite a few bouts of the irish flu together (let's be honest, it is usually Patrick), but this hangover was the worst yet. Piper was basically roaming the house, fending for herself, Patrick was barfing Gatorade all day and I was attempting to not barf while finding the closest couch to lay my weary, weary head on. We didn't leave the house or put any sort of liquid/food in our body until 5:30pm. It was not pretty.

But what would have been pretty is this picture (too bad it isn't in focus) that was taken of us that night, right around the time that things started to get hazy and about an hour before Patrick and I were the sole dancers at a super hip downtown bar where, unfortunately, no one else was dancing but us.

Don't you like Patrick's buzzed hair? Everyone says he looks "mean" now. I usually prefer him with shaggy hair and a beard, but his new buzzed look is quite cute!

recent photo shoot

Turn up your volume, it has a cute song that plays with the photos.

pet week

It's pet week at Piper's preschool and each child is supposed to bring in a picture of them with their family pet. It took us all weekend to get these two shots since getting Piper to look at the camera is practically impossible.

Seriously, the child will NOT look at the camera, nor will she smile at it.

back on the train...

I just signed up for the Evergreen Pumpkin Run 5K on October 31. The race weaves through one of the oldest cemeteries in Jax and the whole course is lined with pumpkins - neat! I need motivation to get back into running and I'm hoping this will help me.

I like running. Or rather, I like running once I'm actually in shape to run. I've been jogging Piper to school about 2-3 mornings a week when I don't have to be in clinicals/class early. Her school is only about 3/4 of a mile away from our house and so far I can't make it both ways without walking. It's hard to believe that I use to run 13 miles without stopping!

So...here's to getting back in shape just in time for the nice Fall running weather that is starting up.

If you make one meal this week...

... make it this meal. Trust me, it is awesome.


Chicken and Glass Noodle Salad (from Cooking Light)


It literally took 20 minutes to make and required no cooking at all. While I was mixing everything together in the bowl I was wondering if it was going to be totally bland and I started to want to just start throwing other stuff in, like peanut butter and ginger and sesame oil. But I stayed true to the recipe and I'm so glad I did because this was really good. Patrick definitely approved and downed two big bowls himself and requested more. Only semi-complaint, this isn't super hardy - sorta like how sushi fills you up at first and then you are hungry again an hour or so later. However, it is low fat, easy and very pretty too.

World's Best Dog version #129684739

Life hasn't been that great for Sammie since oh, I don't know ... maybe February 26, 2008. He dropped way down the family totem pole when Pip arrived and he's basically been living off scraps and the occasional pat on the head ever since.

Sure his constant scratching drives Patrick and I insane, along with the very annoying full-body licking he chooses to do around 2am that wakes us up and he doesn't exactly run full-speed to greet us at the door anymore (it's more of a leisurely peek down the hall at us with a oh, it's you again look, and then he retreats back to the closest rug) ...but he is still a wonderful, loyal and patient family dog.

He just sat there while Piper covered his entire body with baby powder. He eventually got fed up after about 10 minutes and retreated into the bedroom.

yum

I have yet to make anything less than a stellar dish whenever I get a recipe off of Smitten Kitchen, my favorite food blog. Tonight was just the same - I did a quick search for "lentils" and was given this awesome dish, Stewed Lentils and Tomatoes

Very easy, low-fat and no outlandish ingredients. Sausage or chicken could easily be added to this to make it more Man-Approved, and Patrick suggested it perhaps being served over rice next time.