And I am in love with this room. Love.

Coaster cuties

Truth be known, paying $20 for coasters I semi-like doesn't make me happy. What does make me happy are these cute coasters I found on Pinterest. How cute are they? And cheap. That's what I'm talking about. You could even take black and white photos and add instead of scrapbook paper.

Make your own coasters- 4x4 tiles ($.16 Home Depot); 4x4 scrapbook paper; adhere to tile with Mod Podge and let dry; Spray a coat of clear spray paint and let dry; attach felt pads to the bottom

We got our bib numbers today!

Dear Erin Shmidt, We are looking forward to seeing you at the 15th Air Force Marathon, Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K! Your bib number is 11343. Please be sure to print this email and bring it with you to the expo, along with a government-issued photo I.D. Brandon's bib no. is 11344. The Expo is located at Wright State University's Nutter Center, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Dayton, OH 45435. Hours of operation are Thursday, September 15, 11am-7pm, and Friday, September 16, 10am-8pm. There will be no bib pick-up on Saturday. Sincerely, Air Force Marathon Staff

What's for dinner?

When 3 or 4 pm roll around in my house, the question of what's for dinner plays in my head. I go on these wildly creative spurts where we eat different, new recipes every night. And then sometimes we have cereal. Yes, my mom is horrified. Cereal? That's verboten. ha.

Well, although I could live on one meal for a week, my husband is this character who's love language is...food. And food on the table when he walks in the door or about 45 minutes in or he starts getting twitchy like I do without my run. Poor guy gets up at 5:30 am to leave for work, what can you do?

In the last couple of days we had tomato and mozzarella with basil (don't pre-salt, it makes tom. watery), salmon with lemon and asparagus and spaghetti squash. I call the Spaghetti squash recipe Poppa Kuhns Spaghetti Squash because it tastes almost like his favorite french bread pizzas and it's from his and mom's garden. When my mom leaves for vacation or to visit grandkids, he always stocks up on french bread pizzas.

Poppa Kuhns Spaghetti Squash

Preheat oven to 400

To prepare squash

Cut squash in half and pierce skin with knife, remove seeds and place on a 9x13 pan with one inch of water. Cook 40 min. or until squash is soft. Take a fork and fluff up spaghetti so squash strands come apart.

Add pizza toppings (i use san marzano crushed tom for sauce and return to oven until everything is melty and crispy, maybe 10 min. For Ava and Sophia, I usually add mozzarella, sauce and pepperoni. For me, I added green peppers and onions.

So good you won't miss your old french bread pizzas!

Fresh Salmon with lemon and asparagus

Preheat oven to 400

Season salmon with salt and pepper and feel for pin bones that might be left on fish. Add olive oil and let sit for 15 min. Heat skillet or cast iron skillet for 3 min. Add salmon to skillet flesh side down. Don't move or touch fish until side of fish is cooked halfway through. Add cut, washed asparagus and season with salt. Add lemon to pan.

Flip fish and finish cooking in oven until fish is cooked - 3-4 minutes. The top of the fish should be firm, but give a little. Bring out and let fish sit for 3-5 minutes so it can finish cooking.

Oila! A one pan meal fit for a date night! I finish it with a squeeze of the lemon and a drizzle of olive oil.

Amazing Caprese Salad

For the tomato, basil and mozzarella salad

Slice tomates, balls of fresh mozzarella

Take about 5-6 basil leaves and roll them up like a cigar and cut them in little strips. Finish with kosher salt and olive oil. And balsamic vin. if you like. Best if used with garden fresh tom.

You can also add all ingredients to bread to make a caprese panini

Mmm!

Enjoy!

What do you like to make? Quick and easy meals? Creative? fresh and local?

That's Verboten

Day 10 of no running has subject morose, quieter than usual with signs of twitching. Patient exhibits marked irritability, fatalistic thoughts of never running again and motivation to throw projectiles toward runners out her window.

Pool at rec center is closed for week and bike kind've hurts her foot. Yoga made her foot hurt but her legs hurt in a good way. Patient needs exercise soon or will eat entire Dairy Queen supply of twist flavored ice cream.

Husband agrees. Especially when he ran a blistering five miles at 8:29 pace (one mile was 7:58) and came home and exclaimed about it. Danger zone. As patient's sister Jessie says, that's verboten (forbidden in Pennsylvania dutch. We often use it while playing dutch blitz, a crazy addicting card game.

verboten - excluded from use or mention; "forbidden fruit"; "in our house dancing and playing cards were out"; "a taboo subject

Talking about your "great run today" may get you a shot to the gullet. Or at the very least a very, very bad look.

I have the Emerald City half marathon this weekend, which is why I am trying to rest my foot, ice it, and take lysine (helps with sports injuries-only one vitamin a day.) Hopefully, I will be able to run the race.

Also, Brandon and I are pumped about the Air Force 10K Sept. 17. It looks sweet. They have it at an air force base with flyovers while you are running. My goal if healthy is to run it under one hour.

Fun weekend.

Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address. On the other hand, this not knowing has its charms.

It's getting to be balmy and mid-70s in Central Ohio now. That mixed with beautiful sunny days has me trying to figure out how to enjoy it! We are used to 80-90 degree weather with humidity that makes your toes slip in your sandals.

Don't you love "You've Got Mail?" My sisters and I love to quote the movie lines including, "that's a garnish!" It was Meg Ryan at her ultimate. It's just this cozy movie that you can watch over and over and always feel like time has not changed. We had a great weekend and today I caught up with some housework and canned tomato juice. Pictures to come!

The girls and I had Becca join us on a girls road trip to Apple Valley Lake to spend time with friends for Saturday. We played at the beach, went tubing (first time) and had some amazing dinner including pulled pork with cole slaw, gratin, and brownies and brownie trifle. MMm. Thanks Banks! We had an amazing time! I have never seen Sophia and Ava so tired on the way home. And the boat was so fun. I could live there on the weekends.

While we were there, Brandon was mountain biking and cycling. He took some pretty pics of Union Country covered bridges. We also went to his softball tourney on Sunday and they made it to the semi-finals. Good job guys! We had a great dinner to celebrate at El Vaquero since Momma and Poppa weren't home. The girls actually sat down and ate and it was a beautiful night. So nice to spend quality time with our family together. We had our Sunday calendar night - planning the week, which my geek side totally loves. I love to plan. :)

Columbus or bust!

Here are some more pics of Colorado including our airport, Brad in his cowboy outfit and ninja outfit, cute Colin, Jessie, our fearless tour guide, my hot airport pickup (Brandon) and the girls in front of our famous Columbus Zoo. Jessie and I also enjoyed our trip to Tommyknockers Brewery to sample beer. My favorite was a wheat beer. Mmm. We also went for fro-yo and a bookstore after. How much do I love books! They are peaceful, energizing and so easy to get lost in. I usually read books in like 24 hours if they are really good. Brandon says I hibernate.

12 miler

On Saturday I ran 12 miles for my last long run before my race. I felt awesome and had a great time running it with Jess and her stepdad Rob. They did about 10 and I went ahead and did my 12-12.5 miles at a 9:41 pace. I felt awesome and could have pushed more, but wanted to try to make sure I didn't run it too fast. We started at 7 am and then headed back and joined the Columbus Running Company in Dublin at 8 am. They have a free club and water stops and a fun way to get your long runs in.

At that last mile my foot hurt a little, but I felt overall really strong. I drank half gatorade, half water. My fuel was two gels and 3 lifesavers (mint). I did eat a half bagel at 7 miles when we went back to the CRC. Fuel was perfect this time and starting earlier was so nice. It wasn't so hot. And I got some sweet new shoes and a new hairband that I love to keep my hair back. Don't you love the baby pool ice bath idea? It's was awesome because outside it was 80 degrees!

But, it's Wed and my foot hurts like a motha. It's my heel and outside of the foot.

Please say it's not the dreaded PF. I have a race in two weeks. So I have been using the RICE method (Rest, ice, you know the drill) to help and Brandon gave my calves a great massage last night. Supposedly if you are suffering from foot pain it's usually tied to cramped or tight leg muscles.

On Tuesday I had an epic workout fail. I woke up at 5 am to run 6 miles before Brandon went to work. I had everything laid out and was out the door and tried to run. Nothing. I was limping down the road for about .35 miles. I heard people running behind me and I tried to run, but my right foot hurt so badly I couldn't make it happen.

In all of my years running, I have never ever had to stop running. However, I would rather make sure I am healthy and have a long term approach then a short term approach. That evening I was heading to our pool to swim laps and guess what? It's closed for the season. Epic fail.

So I went on a beautiful hour bike ride and did about 10 or so miles on the road and trails. It's gorgeous here now and the trails are lush and green. Don't judge me though if I silently look at runners passing my window and mutter under my breath.

Brandon was really sweet and prayed for my foot. Not sure if it will feel better by next weekend, but I guess just take it one day at a time.

More pics from Colorado

I never got a chance to load all of the pictures from my time in Colorado. We have been super busy and now we are catching up on house things and blogging!

During my trip, we visited Jamba Juice, a cowboy store for the girls (red for ava and pink for soph) and went out to eat with Jessie and Lydia. Those sweet potato fries were amazing.

Brandon was amazing and took the girls everywhere.

Thanks to both Momma and Poppa Kuhns for watching the girls overnight and Nana and Poppa Shmidt for coming down and helping Brandon.

I came back and said, "I need one of these weeks every year!" and he just groaned. But really, it was so rejuvenating to get a little break and see Jessie and Nick and the kids. Sister trips next! Highly recommend to any mom to get some great downtime! The girls loved being with Brandon and he enjoyed his one-on-one time with them. FaceTime through our Apple helped me say goodnight to the girls every night.