September is my Favorite Month

September - although this usually means that summer is over, it really means that nature's beautiful colors are about to show themselves to us and bring with it all the flavors that I have come to love.

So what is in store for me this September? TONS! And I hope to share it with all of you.

1) I joined my first DietBet through Blogilates, to help me lose 4% of my body weight in 4 weeks. Here is the gist: Pay a nominal fee to make you accountable to the bet and then those that have success and complete the task (in this case, lose 4% of my weight in 4 weeks) split the pot.I'll be using Cassie from Blogilates' videos as additional resources to running and eating healthy. Her app has great recipes as well! Ok - Ugly before pic to keep me honest!

Yikes - before picture - look on my face says enough bahahaha

 2) I need to really pick up on my training for my 10k in October. It still seems a far ways off, but I haven't really been running and I need to. I know I can complete a 5k and maybe make it through a 7k but I don't want to be a cripple after a 10k so I have to get my butt in gear. Cool weather makes this very possible for me!

3) I was lucky enough to be selected to purchase Mumford & Sons tickets and the concert is tonight. I'm going with my friend Shauna, who asked me to be her Maid of Honor this weekend!!!  I almost ugly cried at dinner when she asked, but I held it together and just shed a tear or two. I am so excited to be even more a part of her big day and we are going to celebrate tonight with dinner at Braise and great seats at the show!

Very enjoyable everyday wine that I have only found at Pam's

 4) My former boss (and best boss ever!) is finally stepping down from his part time wine store gig and my former co-workers and I are getting together to send him off in style tomorrow evening. Pam's Fine Wines in Mukwonago is where he has been moonlighting for a few years. The shop is cute, with a vast selection of wine varietals and you can bring in your own food to have while you enjoy a bottle there. My only complaint is that the store is a bit unorganized, no fault to my former boss, as he just helped keep customers happy in the evening, but the owner definitely needs to let someone help her with the inventory!

5) I have a BlogPal for this month and Amanda is from Michigan. We are in the getting-to-know-each-other phase, but I will be documenting our blog journey that we are on this month together.

2012 Dylan's Run Good Friend Inc Team

6) I have the 2-mile Dylan's Run for Autism Awareness and Research this Sunday at Indian Summer in Milwaukee. I work with Good Friend Inc. of Waukesha and am 

7) I'm going to Vegas! My company is turning 30 and my boss is paying for each of us and a guest to go to Vegas. We are staying at Red Rock and enjoying some bowling and a Pink Canyon Jeep Tour and probably a few other things but the itinerary is still out on that.

8) I need to buy stock in Chai Tea. With these cool mornings and warmer afternoons heading out way, my body wants a warm Chai tea latte in the AM and one on ice in the PM. I don't have money for that, but it's so good and makes me think of Fall.

9) I want to try this recipe so bad - Apple Cinnamon White Cake. It sounds like a perfect fall dessert (or even breakfast if I'm naughty).

Ok - I'll leave it at 9 entries as I'm sure more things will pop up as my calendar continues to fill, but I don't want to bore you too much!

Move It Monday: 10k Training Begins

July starts today and we are officially half way thru 2013! I can hardly believe it.

Wisconsin was blessed with one of the most beautiful weekends of the year and I took full advantage.

View from my backyard on Friday evening.

Friday my grandma came over and Dad served up his amazing fish fry. We fry it outside so the house doesn't smell all fishy and the mess it kept outdoors. The fish was breaded in a cornmeal mix and the fries were lightly seasoned with Lawry's. We heated up the grill just to keep everything warm while more was frying.

Saturday, I walked the Summerfest grounds from end to end and only had to stop moving around 10 pm at Imagine Dragons. As you can read from here and here and here, no one was moving on the grounds! I also couldn't hear the band at all (straight back from the stage) and ended up making my way over to another side stage to actually hear music and move around. Didn't stay long enough to hear this one, (and I wouldn't have heard it anyways) but it sounds great and hope they come back to the BMO or Marcus Stage next year :)

Today, I spent some time out on the patio getting a little sun, and then decided to cook up a Skirt Steak from the #MKEFoodies picnic from last summer. It was from Red Meat Market and I highly recommend checking out their cuts. It got lost in the deep freeze (that I inventoried last weekend) and I'm glad I found it. I used this marinade on the skirt steak and to ribeyes and it was absolutely wonderful over a bed of greens. Seriously, try this marinade. So simple, yet sooooo good.

The grilled veggies were awesome as well. Used a little Penzey's Salad Elegant, EVOO and grill power to flavor up the potatoes.

 

Balsamic Vinegar, EVOO, salt and pepper on the zucchini. 

 

EVOO and Salad Elegant on the mushroom skewers. 

 

Finished product!

My parents went for a cruise yesterday and stopped at this Winery in Milton and of course they brought some home. The Pinot Noir was nice and mellow and perfect with the steak.

And then the real fun began....I started my 10k training for the Monster Quarter Marathon Run in Whitnall Park in October. I am not a fan of the app I started using as I can't see my distance and see how I'm doing. It's the 10k For Pink Free.

I warmed up for 5 minutes and then alternated 1 minute of running and 1.5 minutes of brisk walking for 20 minutes, and then a 5 minute cool down. I wish I could see my pace and how far I actually ran. Any suggestions are welcome for better apps to use!

I felt great on the whole run but let me tell you....Red Wing Blackbirds are vicious!!!! I was attacked twice on my route. The bird actually pulled my hair! Turning around and seeing the bird divebombing your head makes the bird seem like this

Suggestions on how to keep the birds from attacking my head? Maybe wear a light in my hair or aluminum foil? I know foil scares the birds from building nests on my parents garage lights. According to this video, they like the bouncing hair - maybe I need to wear a hat?

So now that I ended June on such a good note, I hope to continue this into July. I was hoping to be at a much lower weight and be a bit stronger by now, but well....I guess I let it slide. I hope to stay on track this time and have a fellow blogger that is going to help me stay accountable.