Rants, Recipes, and Running

Last week as massive snow storm swept the east coast, we got our own little "winter storm" in Arizona. Of course, our winter "storm" is a little different. I'd hardly call it a storm. But I will say that the mountains got a descent dusting of snow! We had 2 day straight of rain. I loved every second of it. Except for the point that I came home from work Friday night after a long day. It was rainy. We both got home late, and had to work the whole weekend. So decided it was going to be a wine, cheese, and hummus kind of evening.  But we walked into the home to find a large puddle on floor, and a bulging ceiling in our kitchen. Yes, the roof was leaking. So our "relaxing" Friday night, turning into an evening of getting up on the roof in the rain and dark, putting down a tarp to help plug the leak. (Well, that was mostly Ryan's doing. I supported from below. And scrubbed the floors, as he cut out chunks of ceiling) #happyfriday...... That was th...

I've had some really awesome moments, and some "trying" moments in these past weeks! Here they are. Trials: Sitting on a 3 hour conference call today for training on a new computer system I'll be using at work. Example of why I was annoyed: The woman explained (in depth) how to "copy and paste". I'm a millennial . Which means I basically means I had a computer on my height chair, right? I don't do well sitting and listening in the 1st place, so listening to redundancy about simple computer tasks makes me a little crazy. My puppy loves chewing things. Including my ankles and shoes. And it hurts . He's testing my patience. It's a good thing he's cute. I'm working every weekend until February 20. It plain sucks. Goodbye, social life for a few weeks. Triumphs: My speed workouts lately have my run down to a sub 8 minute pace (when I'm not running crazy hills). It's pretty gratifying to see that pace on my Garmin. Our ...

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...