In spring 2011, Rhett and I made a fun and big purchase. We'd been saving for a DSLR camera for a while, and we happend to find one we wanted in Target on sale. Even better, it was the last one left and we got a 10% discount on it since it was the floor model. Not bad! With the sale and additional discount, we spent less than $400 on what is usually minimum $500.
Within the last year, and specifically the last few months, I've been getting more comfortable with this fancy camera. Initially I used it on Automatic, and while the pictures were good, I knew they could be better. It was just a matter of learning how.
Rhett's advice? Take a class, or read the manual. One expensive option, one boring option. Instead, I had my friend Danielle (who was taking a class and who probably did read the manual) to show me a few pointers, and I eventually made my way from Auto to Manual.
Beyond that, two sites have been extremely helpful for me to understand the photography language and how my camera functions. One is Say No to Auto (I purchased the $10 E-book and would recommend this to any beginners out there), and the other is the Pioneer Woman Photography page. I discovered the latter about a month ago and it has been a lifesaver. I was already familiar with the Pioneer Woman's easy-to-follow and delicious recipes, and I was amazed at how many fantastic tips she had from an amateur photographer's perspective. Better yet, professional photographers contribute content and advice to the site.
Watch this space for some shots from this past weekend!
Monday, May 21, 2012
Friday, May 18, 2012
Weekend wrap up
Just a quick peek at last weekend:
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| First Phillies game of the season! |
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| Perfect night for a game |
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| The Ellie Belly head tilt |
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| Reunion with Bubs and post-kickball victory drinks |
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| Bubba face |
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| Good pup |
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| Kitten treats. Evie gobbled hers up and wants more. |
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| Oklahoma map designed by Rhett's brother, Zach. |
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| Schweaty post-run pic. Even with SPF 70, I still get nice and pink.
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Monday, May 7, 2012
Recap: Broad Street Run 2012
Sunday, May 6, 2012 marked one of my favorite days of the year: Broad Street Run. This was the 4th time I ran the 10-mile road race, and it was by far my best experience.
For fun, I looked up my previous times:
2008- 1:54
2009- 2:00
2011- 1:47
2012- 1:41
That’s right, a big PR for me this year! I think I owe that to a great training schedule and regiment, a delicious carb-filled dinner on Sat night, and a fantastic playlist.
Here’s a quick recap on how the race went this year.
A little inside info for you out-of-towners:
The race starts every year at 8:30 a.m. and the easiest/best way to get there is to take the Broad Street Line up to North Philly (BSL stop: Olney). Lucky for us, we live right by the Lombard/South stop, so it’s a quick 2-minute walk to the subway.
In years past, we have always been good about getting there with plenty of time to properly warm up, stretch, check our bags, etc. This year, however, was a different story. We got a slightly later start than we would have liked- our goal was to be out of the house by about 7:10, and I think we actually left around 7:20. At the station, 4 trains passed us by because they were jam packed- this was the largest BSR to date (30,000+ runners), and the runners took advantage of the free and convenient train ride. We still hadn’t left by 7:45, and I was getting a bit stressed since I had my bag to check. I made a last minute decision and ran home to drop off our bag and thankfully arrived back just in time for a train to stop around 8:00. Cutting it close for sure!
We arrived at about 8:27 (aaaaagh!), and thank god we left our bag. Otherwise, we would have been running with it. Rhett and I hugged and he went up to find his starting corral.
(Side note: people find it funny that we don’t run together, but he is a very fast runner and I am a self-proclaimed pokey runner, so it works for us).
I found time to do a quick stretch, and thankfully spotted some empty Port-A-Potties. Whew! Relief in every sense (TMI? Too bad).
The race itself is SO MUCH FUN. The camaraderie of the fellow runners and the cheering crowd is really something- in fact, in 2008 and 2009, I ran without any accompanying music, and had no problem with my energy or motivation. The cheering is that loud and exciting. People hung out of their windows and yelled and clapped, and people lined up on the streets on either sides. Probably the best motivation is City Hall- it serves as a beacon the first half of the race, and it’s so cool to see it getting closer. Best of all, as soon as you pass it, you're more than halfway finished!
Highlights included seeing Erica and Ponch on the sidelines. I gave Erica a sweaty hug and Ponch some puppy kisses, and she said pups howled for me after I ran off. Around mile 7 in South Philly, right by Morris street, I saw Jen, Kev, Baby Ellie and Petey. Ellie was sleeping, Kev got a pic of me and Jen, and Petey howled and barked.
After I passed Jen, my legs and hips really started to feel it, so I slowed down slightly. Once I saw mile marker 8, though, I picked up speed, and after mile marker 9, I really pushed myself. It felt good to complete the race breathless and tired, as it showed I ran a good run. It was also good to note that I could have run longer if I needed to- the half marathons in September and November will be great races, I can tell!
After getting my medal and my race packet, I found Rhett in a crowd of thousands of people. We arranged to meet “to the right of the Dunkin stand,” which was still pretty tricky, but luckily I found him within 2 or 3 minutes. Our journey home was fantastic. In previous years, it has been a nightmare in terms of organization and crowd control, and we would have to walk another mile to get to the subway stop. NOT FUN. This year, we went immediately to the shuttle buses and got a free ride to the subway. We hopped on an express train, then walked 3 blocks home. Easy schmeezy.
At home, we showered, played with the cats, and made smoothies. I chugged water, but still ended up pretty dehydrated and got a bad headache later in the day- I also blame the sun for that, though. Standing out and playing kickball when you are in the direct sun and dehydrated is not a good idea. I skipped game 2 and went home to rest, and thankfully prevented a migraine. WHEW!
Today, I'm pretty sore- my calves and shins are achy and I could use a good massage. Mentally, I feel great knowing I ran a great race and secured a new PR for myself. Hopefully after a summer of training, the half marathons in the fall will be just as successful.
For fun, I looked up my previous times:
2008- 1:54
2009- 2:00
2011- 1:47
2012- 1:41
That’s right, a big PR for me this year! I think I owe that to a great training schedule and regiment, a delicious carb-filled dinner on Sat night, and a fantastic playlist.
Here’s a quick recap on how the race went this year.
A little inside info for you out-of-towners:
"The course starts at T.S. Park in the Logan neighborhood at the athletic fields at Central High School and goes south along Broad Street. Runners pass Temple University, City Hall, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and the Kimmel Center. The race finishes at the Navy Yard in South Philadelphia. Due in part to its nearly flat (actually slightly downhill) course, it has become a favorite in the running community for setting personal best times." Wikipedia
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In years past, we have always been good about getting there with plenty of time to properly warm up, stretch, check our bags, etc. This year, however, was a different story. We got a slightly later start than we would have liked- our goal was to be out of the house by about 7:10, and I think we actually left around 7:20. At the station, 4 trains passed us by because they were jam packed- this was the largest BSR to date (30,000+ runners), and the runners took advantage of the free and convenient train ride. We still hadn’t left by 7:45, and I was getting a bit stressed since I had my bag to check. I made a last minute decision and ran home to drop off our bag and thankfully arrived back just in time for a train to stop around 8:00. Cutting it close for sure!
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| Waiting for the train, before I ditched the backpack |
(Side note: people find it funny that we don’t run together, but he is a very fast runner and I am a self-proclaimed pokey runner, so it works for us).
I found time to do a quick stretch, and thankfully spotted some empty Port-A-Potties. Whew! Relief in every sense (TMI? Too bad).
The race itself is SO MUCH FUN. The camaraderie of the fellow runners and the cheering crowd is really something- in fact, in 2008 and 2009, I ran without any accompanying music, and had no problem with my energy or motivation. The cheering is that loud and exciting. People hung out of their windows and yelled and clapped, and people lined up on the streets on either sides. Probably the best motivation is City Hall- it serves as a beacon the first half of the race, and it’s so cool to see it getting closer. Best of all, as soon as you pass it, you're more than halfway finished!
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| Pictures from Broad Street 2011. Beginning of the race |
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| BSR '11. Approaching Center City |
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| BSR '11 City Hall |
After I passed Jen, my legs and hips really started to feel it, so I slowed down slightly. Once I saw mile marker 8, though, I picked up speed, and after mile marker 9, I really pushed myself. It felt good to complete the race breathless and tired, as it showed I ran a good run. It was also good to note that I could have run longer if I needed to- the half marathons in September and November will be great races, I can tell!
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| BSR '11. Almost finished! The end is near |
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| BSR '11 FINISH LINE |
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| All smiles on the shuttle bus |
Today, I'm pretty sore- my calves and shins are achy and I could use a good massage. Mentally, I feel great knowing I ran a great race and secured a new PR for myself. Hopefully after a summer of training, the half marathons in the fall will be just as successful.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Lazy April
I don't have anything wildly exciting to discuss in this blog post- all is fine and well in my world, so certainly no complaints, either. Just enjoying my routine during the week, relaxing and having fun on the weekends, and looking forward to a lovely Philly summer. :)
Some recent happenings
Rhett and I are lucky to be able to travel home and see family on a lot of holidays, but a few we decide to save money by staying in Philly and doing our own thing. Easter has traditionally been one of those holidays. I can’t recall what we did for our first year in Philly, but our second year is when we started our tradition of fancy hotel brunch buffets.
We first tried The Sofitel in 2009 and really enjoyed it. Last year we changed it up and tried the Double Tree Hotel- it was very good, but was just missing that certain je ne sais quoi. So, last Sunday we made our grand return to The Sofitel and it was as just as lovely as we remembered. Bottomless mimosas? Yes please! I think we’ll keep this tradition alive in years to come.
Some current happenings
I’ve been dealing with some pretty mean shin splints in my Broad Street Run training. I’ve consulted websites and blogs for feedback and have been RICE-ing. My last option is to bite the bullet and go to Philadelphia Runner and get analyzed for some new shoes- I’m hesitant to do this, because I only bought these shoes in September and I just don’t think they are spent yet. And (the obvious concern), running shoes aren’t cheap! I’m hoping with some rest days between runs, some icing at night, lots of stretching before and after, and strengthening my weak calf muscles, the problem will solve itself and I can forgo the purchase of new runners until late summer. Fingers crossed.
Some future happenings
Rhett is visiting friends in San Francisco next week, and while I’ll miss him dearly and wish I could go, too, I’m making the most of my weekend alone in Philly. I’m planning on going swimming on the Friday night and test out my new one-piece suit, and Rhett won’t be there to complain that I smell like chlorine. I’m going to Dominick’s 1st birthday party in Fairmount Park, and then on Sunday, getting a facial and a massage and then playing kickball.
Broad Street Run is in 3 ½ weeks! My favorite race of the year. Let’s hope my shins and IT bands behave throughout the 10 miles.
Now, I leave you with a FANTASTIC recipe I made lately: Chicken Tortilla Soup from The Pioneer Woman. No words can do this soup justice. Just make it and taste for yourself.
Ingredients
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix cumin, chili pepper, garlic powder, and salt. Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil on chicken breasts, then sprinkle a small amount of spice mix on both sides. Set aside the rest of the spice mix.
Place chicken breasts on a baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until chicken is done. Use two forks to shred chicken. Set aside.
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a pot over medium high heat. Add onions, red pepper, green pepper, and minced garlic. Stir and begin cooking, then add the rest of the spice mix. Stir to combine, then add shredded chicken and stir.
Pour in Rotel, chicken stock, tomato paste, water, and black beans. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer for 45 minutes, uncovered.
Mix cornmeal with a small amount of water. Pour into the soup, then simmer for an additional 30 minutes. Check seasonings, adding more if needed---add more chili powder if it needs more spice, and be sure not to undersalt. Turn off heat and allow to sit for 15 to 20 minutes before serving. Five minutes before serving, gently stir in tortilla strips.
Ladle into bowls, then top with sour cream, diced red onion, diced avocado, pico de gallo, and grated cheese
Some recent happenings
Rhett and I are lucky to be able to travel home and see family on a lot of holidays, but a few we decide to save money by staying in Philly and doing our own thing. Easter has traditionally been one of those holidays. I can’t recall what we did for our first year in Philly, but our second year is when we started our tradition of fancy hotel brunch buffets.
We first tried The Sofitel in 2009 and really enjoyed it. Last year we changed it up and tried the Double Tree Hotel- it was very good, but was just missing that certain je ne sais quoi. So, last Sunday we made our grand return to The Sofitel and it was as just as lovely as we remembered. Bottomless mimosas? Yes please! I think we’ll keep this tradition alive in years to come.
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| Do you like my frizzy hair? |
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| He approves! |
Some current happenings
I’ve been dealing with some pretty mean shin splints in my Broad Street Run training. I’ve consulted websites and blogs for feedback and have been RICE-ing. My last option is to bite the bullet and go to Philadelphia Runner and get analyzed for some new shoes- I’m hesitant to do this, because I only bought these shoes in September and I just don’t think they are spent yet. And (the obvious concern), running shoes aren’t cheap! I’m hoping with some rest days between runs, some icing at night, lots of stretching before and after, and strengthening my weak calf muscles, the problem will solve itself and I can forgo the purchase of new runners until late summer. Fingers crossed.
Some future happenings
Rhett is visiting friends in San Francisco next week, and while I’ll miss him dearly and wish I could go, too, I’m making the most of my weekend alone in Philly. I’m planning on going swimming on the Friday night and test out my new one-piece suit, and Rhett won’t be there to complain that I smell like chlorine. I’m going to Dominick’s 1st birthday party in Fairmount Park, and then on Sunday, getting a facial and a massage and then playing kickball.
Broad Street Run is in 3 ½ weeks! My favorite race of the year. Let’s hope my shins and IT bands behave throughout the 10 miles.
Now, I leave you with a FANTASTIC recipe I made lately: Chicken Tortilla Soup from The Pioneer Woman. No words can do this soup justice. Just make it and taste for yourself.
Ingredients
- 2 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1-1/2 teaspoon Cumin
- 1 teaspoon Chili Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 cup Diced Onion
- 1/4 cup Diced Green Bell Pepper
- 1/4 cup Red Bell Pepper
- 3 cloves Garlic, Minced
- 1 can (10 Oz. Can) Rotel Tomatoes And Green Chilies
- 32 ounces, fluid Low Sodium Chicken Stock
- 3 Tablespoons Tomato Paste
- 4 cups Hot Water
- 2 cans (15 Oz. Can) Black Beans, Drained
- 3 Tablespoons Cornmeal Or Masa
- 5 whole Corn Tortillas, Cut Into Uniform Strips Around 2 To 3 Inches
- Sour Cream
- Diced Avocado
- Diced Red Onion
- Salsa Or Pico De Gallo
- Grated Monterey Jack Cheese
- Cilantro
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix cumin, chili pepper, garlic powder, and salt. Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil on chicken breasts, then sprinkle a small amount of spice mix on both sides. Set aside the rest of the spice mix.
Place chicken breasts on a baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until chicken is done. Use two forks to shred chicken. Set aside.
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a pot over medium high heat. Add onions, red pepper, green pepper, and minced garlic. Stir and begin cooking, then add the rest of the spice mix. Stir to combine, then add shredded chicken and stir.
Pour in Rotel, chicken stock, tomato paste, water, and black beans. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer for 45 minutes, uncovered.
Mix cornmeal with a small amount of water. Pour into the soup, then simmer for an additional 30 minutes. Check seasonings, adding more if needed---add more chili powder if it needs more spice, and be sure not to undersalt. Turn off heat and allow to sit for 15 to 20 minutes before serving. Five minutes before serving, gently stir in tortilla strips.
Ladle into bowls, then top with sour cream, diced red onion, diced avocado, pico de gallo, and grated cheese
Friday, March 23, 2012
Full bloom
Yesterday I went for a 7-mile run along the Schuylkill River Trail. It wasn't my most productive run because I was so distracted and enamored by all the blossoms on full display.
Have I mentioned I love springtime in Philly?
Have I mentioned I love springtime in Philly?
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
Lessons learned (or re-learned) while Bubba-sitting
1. Always take more than one plastic bags with you on walks for unexpected second...surprises.
2. Dog-sit or baby-sit for people who have their own washers and dryers. So convenient compared to our $3.75 per load basement set-up we currently have.
3. Getting a dog insane with puppy crazies at 7:00 a.m. is always good idea.
4. If you walk around Old City around 6:30 p.m., you are guaranteed to see at least 10 adorable puppies on a single block.
5. I never outgrew my love for grape juice. Nick has some cran-grape juice in his fridge and I literally chug it, it's so good. And while I'm ruining my teeth and health with all the sugar that's in it, at least it's not high fructose corn syrup!
6. I love Old City. It's always been my favorite part of Philadelphia, and likely always will be. I always think I want to move there, but I don't want the novelty of it to wear off of the cobblestones and the historical sites. So I think I'll just make a pledge to visit more often this summer.
7. Always take a jacket with you when you leave the house, especially in the spring, because bizarrely enough, sometimes the weather changes from the day before.
8. Make sure you read parking signs properly so you avoid parking in a "free" spot that has a 1-hour tow zone from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. Doing such a silly thing will result in your car being towed and cost you a fancy price.
9. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. *See #8 above.
10. Dogs are a lot more work than cats, but they are also much more affectionate and eager to give puppy kisses. Evie does NOT do puppy kisses.
2. Dog-sit or baby-sit for people who have their own washers and dryers. So convenient compared to our $3.75 per load basement set-up we currently have.
3. Getting a dog insane with puppy crazies at 7:00 a.m. is always good idea.
4. If you walk around Old City around 6:30 p.m., you are guaranteed to see at least 10 adorable puppies on a single block.
5. I never outgrew my love for grape juice. Nick has some cran-grape juice in his fridge and I literally chug it, it's so good. And while I'm ruining my teeth and health with all the sugar that's in it, at least it's not high fructose corn syrup!
6. I love Old City. It's always been my favorite part of Philadelphia, and likely always will be. I always think I want to move there, but I don't want the novelty of it to wear off of the cobblestones and the historical sites. So I think I'll just make a pledge to visit more often this summer.
8. Make sure you read parking signs properly so you avoid parking in a "free" spot that has a 1-hour tow zone from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. Doing such a silly thing will result in your car being towed and cost you a fancy price.
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| Picking up the car from PPA. |
10. Dogs are a lot more work than cats, but they are also much more affectionate and eager to give puppy kisses. Evie does NOT do puppy kisses.
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