Cycle Salt Lake {almost} Century

BD and I hit up the Bike Bonanza on Friday night and on a whim decided to register for the Cycle Salt Lake Century the next morning. Since I haven't actually been out on my bike yet this season, we didn't expect to finish the full 100 miles. Even if my legs could take it, I knew my butt wasn't prepared for 7+ hours in the saddle. No amount of chamois butter can save you in those situations. I've concluded that organized rides are a dream because they shut down the roads to traffic, provide feed stations along the way, and support vehicles if you happen to get a flat. In the end, we rode 73 miles total. It was a good thing we didn't go for the 100, because my legs were screaming like firecrackers those last 10 miles.I loved spending 4.5 hours of a beautiful Saturday on my bike with BD at my side making me laugh so I didn't notice the miles tick by. He's so patient and doesn't care how fast we're (not) going, just as long as he's on a bike. Really, he's that easy to please: Bike=Happy. I'm looking forward to completing my first full century in June for the Bike MS: Harmons Best Dam Bike Ride (check your inbox because you'll probably be getting a fund raising email any day now!).

Marci's Granola

For my last birthday my sister Marci gave me some homemade granola in a clear bag tied up cute with a bow. It would appear to be just regular old granola, but let me assure you...this is not. BD and I fought over the last three crumbs of that bag. I couldn't stop thinking about it for days and so I begged her for the recipe. BD especially loves this granola because it is packed with carbs, protein, and good fats. Now that he has begun training for Lotoja, he is burning heaps of calories and requires energy packed food. He loves to eat a big bowl of this homemade granola with goat's milk every morning. Since I'm not burning near that many calories, I prefer to eat a smaller portion sprinkled over fresh fruit and plain yogurt. Anyway you like it, I guarantee that you'll love it.

Marci's Granola
2 cups oats
1 cup coconut (big flake)
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 sunflower seeds
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup chopped cashews
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
1 tsp. cinnamon
-----
1 1/2 cups all natural peanut or almond butter
1 cup agave nectar
1 tsp. vanilla
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toss the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Heat peanut butter and agave nectar in the microwave for 1 minute or until warm and melty. Stir together until combined. Add vanilla. Pour peanut butter mixture over nut mixture and combine. Spread granola into an ungreased half sheet pan. Bake granola at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Remove from oven, toss and transfer to another sheet pan to cool. Store in an airtight container.I hope you try this recipe! It's fast becoming a staple in our kitchen and makes a wonderful gift. Thanks for letting me share Marci!

I could cry right now, but instead I just want to win

My heart skipped a beat when I saw this pretty blue bucket bike via Swiss Miss today. And then my heart actually went into v-fib when I saw that this is a local SLC company. I'm obsessing, which is a clear sign that I spend way. to. much. time with hubby these days. I can think of a half dozen people who would want one of these just as much as I do. Madsen Cycles is giving one away in July to those who are helping spread the word about their coolest cargo bike. Thus, spread that word I shall. Help direct traffic from my page by clicking on the Madsen buttons. If I win, I'll give you a ride! But you might have to squeeze in with my groceries.

Spring Cleaning

The novelty of this will probably wear off before I'm done typing this post, but for now I'm completely fascinated watching these guys repel down the building like Spider Man with sudsy appendages.And he totally busted me taking his picture. That's not embarrassing or anything. Happy weekend! And Happy Mother's Day to all the great mommy's/would be mommy's/and soon to be mommy's out there!

Some backtracking on Easter

I was lucky enough to grow up with a plethora of nieces and nephews around. And because I'm so close in age to a few of them, they were more like little brothers and sisters that I never had to share a room with. Turns out, it's a very peculiar thing to watch your nieces and nephews become parents. My oldest niece has three beautiful little ones. And when I think of myself as a great aunt I immediately begin searching for gray hair and pulling back my crows feet. But that's totally another story.
On Easter we got to hang out with the little greats. This one is Zoee, and as you can see this picture was taken just seconds before I gobbled her up completely. There was virtually no trace of her left. She is so delicious and looks pretty much exactly like her mom did as a baby. Minus the chub rolls. We've all been praying for Zoee's chub rolls to arrive.This little man's-man is such a good kid. For as big of a stinker as his mom was, she sure is lucky to have such good little boy. McColeson is so easy to please and will gladly follow his big sis around and do whatever she says, including playing dress-ups. We anticipate that this will not always be the case. Nonetheless, the scrape on his cheek, the dried runny nose, and the dirty shirt are all good signs of a hard days play at the park. And the leader of the pack, Gabbi, knows just what it means to be a big sister and does not miss an opportunity to let her siblings know that. She's the sweetest little thing you'll ever meet and can melt your heart from across the room. Just don't ask her to leave the park before she is ready, because you do not want to witness the meltdown that will inevitably ensue. I'm so glad that BD took these pictures on Easter because I opted not to go to the park that day and stayed back to throw coconut around Brook's kitchen, some of which landed on this bunny cake. Along with a carrot (?) and an unfortunate amount of M&M's, all of which I can not take credit for.With all that going on back at the house, I was sad to have missed my amazing niece Shelby's acrobatics at the park. She can flip her body in ways that my middle finger is not capable of. And that's a good thing.Thanks for letting me gush about my fam!

Happy {belated} Birthday Dad

BD's dad turned 60 last Sunday and even though I'm a week late, I wanted to wish him Happy Birthday! He is the most wonderful father I know. I can only pray that BD will be half as patient and loving with our own children.I'm on strike with my oven at the moment {long story, but we've had a rather difficult falling out and the situation is still too sensitive to talk about here}, however my sister let me help break in her new kitchen with this gorgeous almond cake with chocolate ganache frosting. I wish I had a piece right now...

Plus, he's cute with a walkie

We've been fully immersed in cycling 'round the clock this weekend. Since last October when the U of U team was awarded the opportunity to host the conference championships BD has been acting as Race Director. He did such a great job with all three events despite terrible weather setbacks. They had to cancel one race due to high elevation snow and quickly re-route a new course. It's been a lot of stressful work for him but it paid off and the riders had a great time. On the way home this afternoon he promised not to direct a race again. Until next year.

Jessie O'Neal Photography + Give Away

Hey bloggies! My uber talented BFF Jessie has just launched her brand spankin' new website this week. It's beautiful. It's amazing. Although I'm not all that surprised given that she herself is beautiful and amazing and everything that she even breathes on becomes such as well. I love this picture she took of my gorgeous sister and brother in law. Aren't they a handsome couple? And if you knew them, you would know that this picture sums them up perfectly. It's like their whole love story wrapped up into one perfect image. I LOVE it.

AND

As if her new website wasn't exciting enough, you should also know that today Jessie is being featured on Give Away Today. So click on over there and enter to win her give away! And be sure to visit her photography blog often to see what she's up to.

What the What?!?

My office is right across from the Walker Center which, by the way, is my favorite building in downtown and whose weather tower has been flashing red for much of the day. I'm all for springtime rain showers, but when I see flashing red in April my only impulse is to jump out of this window. Here's something cool you might not know about SLC's historic skyline: The Walker Center's weather tower predicts the forecast!
Blue: clear skies
Flashing blue: cloudy skies
Red: rain
Flashing red: SNOW
I'm looking forward to some solid blue come the weekend. Huzzah!

Happy Easter

Welcome to life

My BFF had a baby today, and it makes me so happy. I can hardly wait to hold him and smell him and never give him back. She requested from me a box of Oreo truffles as her push prize, and well, I think she's earned them. Welcome to life little man! Your mom is a piece of work.

freshly

Steeping a cup of herbal tea everyday, sometimes twice, to combat rising stress levels and just because it's s'dang cozy.Quick fixin' Palermo's Primo Thin pizza for those all too often 9pm dinners. I'm telling you for a frozen pizza, these are awesome. And cheap. And at Costco. Print coupon here . [The Costco variety comes 3 to a box, and 1 pizza is plenty for BD and I to share. Right now my Costco has the Old World 6 Cheese pizza for $6.99 per box (that's < $3/meal) = recession proof.] Reading Jane Austen's Persuasion. Not gonna lie, it's been a tough read because I'm not accustomed to the old English writing style. Holding out for chapter 23, which I hear will either make your skin crawl or your heart melt. Wish-listing these gorgeous daffodil dangles from MDsparks on Etsy. How precious are these for spring?? I'd also take these or this without complaint.Watching Friday Night Lights. I tried, but I can't give this show up. I love all of the characters, but I especially appreciate how the Taylor's live/work/parent. Anyone else?Cleansing with Yerba Prima from the recommendation of LTB. It's awesome, but I'm just warning you that by day 5 you do not want to be without a bathroom close by. Potting the newest edition to our family. BD and I are so pleased with our Money Tree. We call her baby. Looking forward to a fantastic conference weekend in order to fill my spiritual canteen. I need it bad.

Springtime in DC

Last weekend I met BD in DC because he was there for work and I couldn't pass up an opportunity to get out of town for a few days. The weather was bright and sunny which was like my own personal dose of happiness. Pale pink blossoms were starting to pop up everywhere. Then, I came home to snow snow and more snow.Even though it was a fast trip we found time to stay up late, sleep in, get lost, eat the best fried shrimp and broiled flounder, catch up with friends, catch up with family, get a speeding ticket, down an entire pint of Haagen Dazs, go shopping in Georgetown, see the Great Falls of the Potomac, be tourists, people watch on the National Mall,loose one of my favorite earrings, visit the National Gallery of Art, walk through the sculpture garden, get my Rothko fix, meet Sundance the Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy, play with Morse the not-so-puppy anymore, hear unheard family stories, attend my first D.U.P. meeting with my aunt, and basically have the most perfect weekend ever.

I sense a nightmare coming on

Dear Siblings,
Can you even imagine the amount of therapy we all would be going through right now had this sleeping bag been around during our childhood? I'm talking on top of the amount of therapy we are all currently going through for other reasons, including Napkin Man. I can't help but imagine Sleeping Bag Man and Napkin Man totally cahooting in the basement dungeon just waiting for mom to send me down for another bottle of canned plums.
This is only a small sampling of things that I try not reveal about myself. Imagine the horror when I finally learned that Napkin Man doesn't really exist, or should I say only existed in my house. You mean to tell me that Napkin Man, the one with the face of a Napkin, doesn't live in your storage room?

Well, that explains a lot.

Image via swissmiss.

Some Action

Been super busy with an office move to new digs downtown.
Am loving the new work neighborhood.
Was surprised today to hear Free Tibet! demonstrators right out my window.
That never used to happen in Sugarhouse.