Rants, Recipes, and Running

As I highlighted in my "looking forward" post for 2015, in August, Ryan and I will be backpacking the Kalalua trail. To a seasoned backpacker, this may be a walk in the park. But for me, this is a big challenge !! It is listed as one of the top 10 most dangerous hikes in the world . What it will entail: Hiking 11 miles through mountains, hugging a cliff, through rainforests to a beach. This is described as "difficult" terrain with steep inclines and sharp cliffs. If you lose balance and fall off that cliff, you will most likely die. If hiking those 11 miles in isn't enough challenge, try it with 30 pounds on your back. Then we will camp overnight on a secluded beach. Wake up on the morning of our 6 year Anniversary (awwww), and then do the 11 mile hike all over again. (I anticipate there will be many mai tai's consumed the night we complete this, and arrive to our hotel. And I've already been warned about this incredible dive-of-a-burger-joi...

I am very content with life right now, but I have to stay it's been pretty "simple". Which I kind of planned purposely my 1st weeks of January to really get organized and balanced. Plus we have a puppy at home, so when we are not working -- we've really tried to stay at home..... So due to my list of "interesting stuff", here is my "Currently post" for the winter! Reading : I am currently reading "The Kitchen House", which I am having a very difficult time really enjoying. It's a good book, but it seems to be moving slow. Or I'm just moving slow. One of the two... Thinking: Frustrated : That I don't have a weekend off until February 20. Feeling : At this moment, nostalgic. I'm helping my friend plan her music for her wedding in October. She had asked me what my processional song was, so while I was digging through my old "wedding stuff", I happened to pull out my wedding video. And 1 hour later, I found...

So in a previous post talking about my 2015 goals, I said I wanted to try some new recipes out of my comfort zone. While this week's recipe was nothing out of my comfort zone, it was something different! Whenever we buy a roast, I tend to make the same exact stew every time. Beef roasts were on mad sale last weekend at my market, so I "indulged". (We don't eat a lot of red meat, so getting a roast is a rare thing!) I used my bread oven to make some home-made bread and spent my morning preparing all the good, delicious ingredients for this stew! Let me tell you, it is amazing. Hearty, healthy, soul-warming, good stuff! And it makes your house smell like heaven. Or at least what I think heaven might smell like?! Fresh baked bread and beef stew? ;) Here it is: -4 lb beef roast, cubed -1 cup barley -3 potatoes, cubed -about 10 baby carrots, halved -1/2 onion, sliced -5 cloves garlic -1/2 cup tomato paste -red wine (about 1/2 cup? I just pour until ...

Had you asked me a year ago "Would you ever consider getting a dog?", I would have responded with hysterical laughter. I did not grow up with dogs, so was never a "dog person". In fact, I was always kind of scared of them. Except for when I was about 6-7 years old, and I was a "pen pal" to a cocker spaniel who lived next door my parent's lake home. His name was Sam, and we would write letters back and forth. I was a strange child . On the flip side, my husband loves dogs. He grew up with a dear Golden Retriever named Charlie. Every time we see a Golden while we are out running or hiking, I'd watch Ryan melt a little. And then one Sunday evening in November, he asked for a dog. My initial response was a vile one. "A dog?!?!?! Have you lost your mind?! I would NEVER get a dog". Then I promised Ryan and I would do my researching and pondering...... And here we are....Meet "Miles"     And here is how we are cop...

 I'm not going to do a post on my resolutions or goals for 2015, because a) I never keep my resolutions (it's sad, but true) b) I can't even come up with goals, because I don't know what I want. (again, probably kind of pathetic) But there are a few things, I can tell you what I want to get out of this year ! I always love a new year, and the promises it holds. So far, 1 week down: it's been good to me! I am completing a miniature "resolution/goal every week". Because I do better with baby steps. I write down a bunch of these and put them in a jar, and every week I take a new one out! "Abby the Realist" assumes this will last until March. But we shall see! ;) Be more connected to the loved ones in my life . Sometimes I have a tendency to distance myself. I am going to be better about keeping in touch with my family and friends I don't see often - and not via social media! I am looking forward to completing one of the " Top 1...

I have really been slacking on "blogging consistency" lately. Let's just say December got away from me! I got slammed with a 15 days course of bronchitis, while trying to get ready for Christmas. We had a week trip home with my family, which seriously filled my heart with more joy than I could ever explain. Then I got the stomach flu and spent 2 days writhing in fevers and nausea. (on our last days of the trip home) We had a 14 hour day of travel back home, where we picked up our new puppy. I went straight back to work, while trying to figure out how to take care of a puppy. And then it was midnight of January 1, 2015!! Whaa???... I have so much to talk about, but before 2014 gets away from me and just becomes a date I keep writing......let me do a recap of my favorite moments of 2014! (in chronological order) My few weekend trips to Alamogordo, NM to visit Ryan while he lived there for 6 months. Alamogordo is nothing to "write home" (or blog) abou...