running4cupcakes

by KT | June 19, 2013

Grocery Challenge: Month 2 week 2

Another week of grocery shopping done! This week I went to all 3 stores in town. . . Hy-Vee for their brats, Sam’s Club for the usual stuff, and Cub Foods for cereal and fruit (on sale!).

Sam’s Club: total spent $32.77. Bought the usual milk, blueberries, bananas, as well as a few things for the BBQ: cream cheese and chips.

Cub Foods: total spent $20.73. Stocked up on fruit (on sale – otherwise I buy most fruit at Sam’s), avocado, cereal, buns, free banana via Kid’s Club and corn on the cob (first of the season!).

Hy-Vee: total spent $26.39. Bought brats and hotdogs for BBQ, yogurt, sour cream, sausage.

Total left for the month: $73.45

I wish it were more! Stocking up on staples last week really made a difference. It a good thing that I stocked up on staples when they were on sale, that’s all part of the plan. . . we will just be more frugal going forward for the rest of the month, and diligent in using up what we have.

Also, Gina mentioned that I should get a Cub Kids Card for Luke. You can pick one up at the Customer Service desk and it is good for one piece of fruit every time you shop with your kid. So, Luke got a free banana! Yes, it’s only $0.27, but every little bit helps! Just like you get $0.05 for each bag you bring to use at Hy-Vee. I’m already going to bring my own bag, so if I get an extra couple of nickels for them, bonus!!

I did spend a little extra for the BBQ on Saturday, with buying brats, hotdogs, buns, chips and cream cheese (for a dip). But, that’s part of life and that is what part of the grocery budget is for!! I saved on dessert because we are really big on making big batches of cookies and bars (when Laura and I have a cookie palooza), and so I used what we had on hand and made a dessert platter!

**This helped too because last week when Scott was putting away my latest bars, another container of bars fell out of the freezer and onto the floor, causing a few to spill out. . . So, he said that I can’t bake anymore until our freezer is empty!! And with blogs and Pinterest, I am always finding new recipes that I have to make, so you can imagine me just tapping my foot while we try to work our way through our current stash of desserts! Winking smile Oh well, also good for the challenge too, right??

This week it was key to check the sales – fruit and corn on the cob was cheap at Cub, and finding out about the Kid’s Card at Cub is awesome too!!

Now, back to the fridge, pantry and freezer to use up what we have for the rest of the month!! We still have a pretty big stash – especially in the freezer, we haven’t eaten any of the Let’s Dish meals from last month or the ones I bought last week! They are sitting right next to all the desserts… Winking smile

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Tagged as grocery challenge

by KT | June 18, 2013

Weekend Update: 6/16/13

Puppy snuggles and smoothies. . . a good start to the weekend!!

Followed by play time. . .

A trip to all 3 grocery stores in town. . .

Puppy couch snuggles and ice cream. . . a good way to finish any day!!

Early morning body pump in my basement (practicing 86!) followed by a 5 mile run in my new Ellie tank.

Play time with a new DIY toy –> super easy to make. . .I’ll share instructions soon.

Scott’s family came over on Saturday night to celebrate an early Father’s Day and Way’s birthday (on Tuesday!). Someone really enjoyed the strawberry fluff and hotdogs with ketchup.

Family walk to show where our new house will be built!!

Sunday started with smoothies. . . I think I have created a smoothie monster.

A beautiful Sunday morning walk. Sunglasses buddies!

Playtime at the park. . . can you spot Abby???

Where Abby and I spent Luke’s nap time. . .iced latte, Everyday with Rachel Ray magazine and sunshine!! Sunday perfection. Smile

We finished the day with a 4 mile run with Dad to celebrate Father’s Day!!

Hope you had a great weekend too! What were you up to??

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Filed under Abby, baby, weekend update

Tagged as Ellie, smoothies

by KT | June 16, 2013

Happy Father’s Day

Just popping in to say Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers out there, especially my favorite Dads. . .

Luke’s Dad. . .

My Dad. . .

Scott’s Dad. ..

Hope you all have a great day!!

I wrote a post about all the things my Dad has taught me about running a few weeks ago. . . perfect post for today! And check out what Luke’s 1st Father’s Day looked like. .. Happy Sunday. Smile

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by KT | June 14, 2013

Friday excitement

Happy Happy Friday!! Do you have anything exciting planned for the weekend?

We have a few things planned for this weekend that I am excited about. .. and that got me thinking about all the things that are coming up that I am excited about, so I thought I would share what exciting things are coming up!!

New house

We are building a new house! We are currently in the design process. . . which is equal parts stress, fun and exciting. We are moving about a half a mile from where we are now. We love our current house but is it on a busier road, especially with a toddler! We are hoping to break ground in August, and if all goes well, be moving in February-ish!!

Country Fest

7^th annual trip to Country Fest!! And this year we have 1^st row VIP Gold tickets. Who has two thumbs and is so frickin’ excited –> this girl!!

BBQ

Scott’s family is coming over this weekend for a BBQ on Saturday night to celebrate Way’s birthday/Father’s Day. To help out with the grocery challenge both Way and Ashley are bringing some yummy things to share.

Vegas!!

Every since Scott and I went there last winter, I have been itching to go back! And Laura is going to go with me. There is another medical conference that I will be attending, but I am super excited to go back again in September. Mon Ami Gabi’s French toast–> YES!!

Des Moines Half Marathon

So I’ve decided! I am going to be doing the Des Moines Half Marathon in October. I appreciate all of your supportive comments and encouragement with my decision. I have decided on the half, because every time I thought about marathon training, I just felt overwhelmed. .. and it shouldn’t be like that, it should be exciting. Also, half marathon training isn’t as intense as marathon training and I just feel like I don’t have the time and energy that I would like/need to do that training right now. Someday! But just not now. Smile I like having a goal, so I am looking forward to running the half again this year and getting some redemption from my horrible finish last year. Also, right now Scott is dealing with foot problems, but I am hoping he will get better soon and we can run it together again!

BP 86

The newest release of BODYPUMP is out! I have been practicing it at home and it is awesome. The tricep track is killer and I love it!! I am enjoying having a regular class at the YMCA again – Monday and Wednesday nights. And I am looking forward to teaching it soon.

Coco Beach

Family vacation planned for December to Coco Beach . I know it is super far away, but I am already excited to take Luke back to the beach. He will be so much older than when we were in Marco Island in February and I think he will be so much more fun to play with in the sand and water.

And this book. . .

I just picked it up from the library this week and have heard good things about it, so I am excited to read it!!

What about you – any exciting plans for the weekend or coming up???

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by KT | June 13, 2013

Trail Mix

I love trail mix. It is the perfect afternoon snack, pre-run fuel, car road trip travel buddy, dessert… anytime!! While I love the convenience of pre-bought selections at the store, and you all know about my love for the Target trail mix selection, trail mix is so easy to make and way cheaper if you put it together yourself.

Here is a list of ingredients to start from and how you put them together is up to you!!

banana chips
dried fruit – raisins, craisins, apricots, cherries, mangos, etc.
something chocolate – M and M’s, espresso beans, fruit, mini chocolate chips
nuts – peanuts, cashews, almonds, walnuts
yogurt covered raisins or fruit or nuts
cereal – kix, cherrios

You want a balance between sweet and salty, chocolate and plain, crunchy and chewy. The possibilities are endless!

Some of my favorite combos:

The Classic—> peanuts, M and M’s, and raisins

Coffee lovers –> chocolate covered espresso beans, almonds, dried apricots

Go Bananas –> banana chips, mini chocolate chips, walnuts, dried cherries

Halloween mix –> candy corn, M and M’s, peanuts

And remember if you don’t have time to make your own, there is always the awesome selection at Target! Winking smile

Do you have a favorite trail-mix mix???

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Tagged as Target, trail mix

by KT | June 12, 2013

Grocery Challenge: Month 2: week 1

Thank you all so much for all of your encouraging comments on yesterday’s post! I still haven’t made a decision yet, but I know that no matter which race I choose, I will have lots of support along the way! Smile

On to month 2 of the Grocery Challenge! After my success of Month 1, I ready and excited to take on Month 2!!

In addition to wanting to use things in my fridge, freezer and pantry. I still had a Let’s Dish gift card (from another previous Groupon purchase) that has been collecting dust on the shelf. So, I decided to use that and get a few more pre-made meals for this month. I have realized that I really like to get stuff and keep it. I will buy things that I want to try/make/cook with and sometimes I keep it for so long instead of using it, that it goes bad! I hate wasting food, wasting money and not getting to use the stuff that I bought for a reason. So, I am really trying to use up the stuff we have and then moving forward, buying things to use in the short term. Another place where meal planning is super helpful!! And starting the meal planning process with what I have on hand already. **Super good/useful tip for me!!

So, I had enough on the gift card to cover the meals with $17 out of my June budget. And then one trip to Cub last weekend for some groceries. And I found some pantry items on sale, so I stocked up on those items. **but not too many!! Total spent: $65.94. And total fail because I had cash with me, but since Luke was melting down, totally paid with my credit card instead! #fail

This week, I headed to Hy-Vee because I had a very special anniversary cookie cake to pick up! And bought a couple other items – bread and cheese. Our favorite mango salsa that we can only get at Hy-Vee. and frozen veggies – our fav garlic cauliflower were on sale. And total impulse buy – Pearson’s sea salt caramel nut goodie. Total spent: $40.05.

$177.01 left for the month. Having family over for a Father’s Day BBQ next weekend, so already menu planning for that based on what we have in the house! Don’t worry guys – it won’t be all leftovers. Winking smile So far so good. It helps that Scott has been really supportive and impressed with how well we I am doing with the challenge. Positive reinforcement is always helpful!!

Any tips to help me succeed in month 2??

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by KT | June 11, 2013

Coincidence?

So, as you guys all know, I do a lot of running.

But not too many races. I have done 2 marathons and I think 7 half marathons as well as a few 5Ks. My main reason for running is because I love it, it makes me feel good, keeps me in shape, and lets me eat more cupcakes! Winking smile

But, I do like to do races too. I like the challenge and focus of training for something. A reason to increase my weekly long runs. And get a cool medal and t-shirt!

I have been trying to figure out my next race. And I thought I had. . . the Des Moines Half Marathon in October. I ran it last year with Scott. And totally died the last 2 miles. So a chance for redemption at the race, and also, a chance to head back to Des Moines –> one of my favorite towns and my old medical school stomping grounds. Good plan, right?

Well, then Becky, posted about signing up for her 1st full marathon this winter. And she posted Hal Higdon’s novice marathon training schedule.

Which, I looked at.

Novice Marathon Training Schedule

And realized that I could totally do it.

And there are exactly 18 weeks between now and the Des Moines marathon.

Gulp. Ummm I have always known I wanted to run another marathon. My 1st one was awesome, my 2nd one was not. 3rd times the charm, right? But I am not sure if now is the time. I am not sure when the “right” time is. . .

So, I am struggling with which distance to do. . . I know I can do them both. The marathon will be harder, by a lot. And I know I am up to the challenge, but do I want/need that extra challenge in my life right now???

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by KT | June 10, 2013

Weekend Update: 6/9/13

Abby just couldn’t wait for Luke to get up from his nap. . . she was just sitting in the hallway and doorway outside of his room all during his naptime.

5th wedding anniversary lunch at Panera! What a difference 5 years makes. Smile

What someone thought of our 8 mile run on Friday afternoon. . . (new baby jogging stroller record!!)

Fun delivery from Chobani on Friday afternoon – Chobani bites!!

Headed to the cities on Saturday. . .sleepers in the backseat.

I dropped Luke and Abby off at my parent’s house for a few hours on Saturday afternoon. . .

A super fun get together with these ladies – Melanie and Becky! We met up at Caribou and spent 2 hours (that went by way too quickly) talking about life, blogging and everything. I am so happy that I have become “real life” friends with them!!

Then, we headed to Patisserie 46 for some of this. . .

And to meet up with Teresa from Famiglia Meschini wines. She shared her adorable story how her family started their wine company. They make their wines in Chile and Argentina and import them here! She is also a busy Mom. She was nice enough to meet with us and share her story and info about their wines.

She, of course, brought some wine for us to take home! I snagged a bottle of their Torrontes Premium. Thanks Teresa!!

After a quick run with my Dad and Abby. I picked up Scott and we headed out for our anniversary dinner at The Bradstreet Crafthouse at The Graves Hotel in downtown Minneapolis.

I knew it was going to be a good meal, when the waiter brought us a pre-cocktail cocktail! Winking smile We each started with a drink, Tom Collins for Scott and a gin-fruit-thing for me. Their menu is all small plates and sandwiches so we got a bunch of different things and shared them all. The best thing was a chicken fried black cod sandwich with fresh house made pickles – yum! But we also had. . .

The chicken and waffles was super yummy and Scott loved the caprese melt. The only thing that I wanted to get that we didn’t was the Becky recommended Lobster Mac and Cheese (so, we totally need to go there together, Becky!!) And we finished the meal with vanilla crème brulee. It was a really nice anniversary dinner! And I would recommend Bradstreet to anyone who wants a good place to go hang out and have some interesting drinks and fun food.

Luke had lots of fun hanging with Grandma and Grandpa Thompson while we went to dinner.

We headed back to Mankato on Saturday night. . .

And Luke and I went out for a 4 mile run. PJs are totally acceptable jogging stroller attire on Sunday morning, right?

Then, it rained most of the afternoon. . . which was fine by me! Snuggled on the couch, catching up on TV time and blog work during baby nap time –> perfect Sunday afternoon. ..

And cookie cake helps too!

Hope you had a great weekend too! Up to anything fun/exciting/totally boring?

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Filed under baby, blog, husband, Running, weekend update

Tagged as anniversary, blogger get-together, Bradstreet Crafthouse, Chobani, cookie cake, Patisserie 46, wine

by KT | June 7, 2013

5!

Today is our 5th wedding anniversary!! Thank you to my wonderful husband for making the past 5 years wonderful, exciting, challenging, and perfect. Love you.

I thought I would share “our story” with you all today in honor of our anniversary! Hopefully it causes a few laughs, a few ahhhhs, and a few smiles!

The Internet connection
One day while I supposed to be studying in my college dorm room at UW- Eau Claire. . . I was watching Oprah instead. And she had on the show that day the founders of a new internet dating site called “Great Boyfriends” (which I don’t think even exists anymore. . . ). The premise of the site was that all guys on the site were recommended by other girls, either friends or ex-girlfriends who think they are great guys but it just didn’t work out for whatever reason. So, to avoid studying, and being a single girl, I got on my laptop and checked it out. After looking around for a little while, I noticed this cute guy standing next to a tree. **I thought he might be cute, it wasn’t the best picture, so it was hard to tell. . . On this site, you could email the girl that had put him on the site. So, I emailed his friend Beth, and basically said, is he really a good guy? Which, of course, she replied YES! And then I decided to email him. Best. Decision. Ever. Smile

The first phone call
We chatted over emails for about a week, everything from favorite movie to how many pillows do you sleep with. And then, I gave him my phone number and he promised to call the following evening. Oh my goodness, I was sooo nervous. His voice was deeper than I was expecting, but otherwise, he sounded like the funny, nice guy that I had come to know over email. I think our first phone call lasted over an hour. I have the biggest cheesy grin on my face just thinking about it!

Our first date
A few phone calls later. .. he asked me out on a real first date. I was going to home from school for Easter weekend and we made plans to meet up for dinner and a movie that Saturday night. He called a friend and asked for a suggestion for a nice place to go near my parent’s place. And we met up at the restaurant (Sunset’s). He brought me a single red rose. (so cute!) It was a nice but hard first date. We had talked so much online and on the phone, we had already covered all normal first date material. So, there were some awkward pauses and silences while we figured out what to talk about, but, it was still nice and comfortable. I had the fish and chips and he had a chicken Cesar salad. I only remember that because I was sorta embarrassed that he got a salad and I totally didn’t. . . Then, we had time to kill before the movie, so I suggested we head back to my parent’s house for a few minutes. I know how much my Mom likes the leftover fish from Sunset’s, so I wanted to take the leftovers to her. What I didn’t count on, was for her to be in her PJs already! Thankfully, Scott took it all in stride and was a perfect gentleman meeting her. Although, I think she was totally embarrassed! The other reason I wanted to swing by my house, was to change cars. He had (and still does, although he’s trying to sell it) a mustang cobra convertible.

And I wanted to ride in it! So, we drove together to the movie. Winking smile We saw “Phone Booth”, which I don’t think is the best date movie ever, but it worked! Afterwards, we headed back to my parent’s house, where my little sister promptly launches into her latest drama and get’s Scott opinion on it. At one point, I went into my parent’s bedroom to say goodnight and Mom says, so how’s it going? And I said, eh, not sure yet. He’s sorta dorky. Which totally makes me laugh now! We ended up sitting on the couch, we watched another movie – Risky Business – again, a sorta questionable first date movie. . . and then a goodnight kiss –> such a gentleman!

We talked on the phone the next day and hung out the next night. . .

Dating
We dated for 5 years before getting married. Except for the first 4 months of dating, it was all long distance. Scott went to school at Purdue University that fall after we started dating.

I finished at UW- Eau Claire and then moved to Des Moines for medical school. With school and everything, it just wouldn’t have made sense to get married any sooner than we did. And I am glad that we had that time to get to know each other so well and I think that has served us so well during the 1^st years of our marriage. During that dating time, we covered everything – kids, money, jobs, family, likes, dislikes, pet peeves, food, music, movies, and everything in between.

The Engagement Story
We had gone out for the day, to celebrate Scott’s birthday. We went to the James J Hill house, which is on Summit Ave (one of my favorite running places!), for a tour.

After, we went to the St. Paul Cathedral to look around.

Originally we were going to try to take a tour, but they didn’t offer tours on the weekends. As we were walking out of the cathedral, onto the front steps, overlooking the capital and downtown St. Paul,

Scott says “Katie?”
“Ya, what?”
”Can you look at my hand?”
”Why?”
”Adam (his brother) and I were goofing around in the garage this morning and I cut my hand. I thought it was ok, but now it is really hurting.”
So, I am thinking, great, now we are going to have to go to the ER to get a tetanus shot and stitches, a great was to spend a beautiful spring day.
“When was your last tetanus shot?”
”Ummm, I don’t know.”
”Well, what did you cut your hand on?”
”A metal car part.”
At this point, I had grabbed his hand and dragged him down the stairs into the sunshine, so I could get a good look at it.
He had his right hand covered in bandage over the palm. (I have no idea how I didn’t notice the bandage all afternoon!)
I am giving him a hard time about having to go to the ER, how could he be so stupid, etc.
And then, the diamond in the ring catches the sunlight as I unwrapped his hand.
And he got down on one knee. . .

Our Wedding Day
And we got married at 3:45pm on 06.07.08! Smile

It was a beautiful day. A little rain in the morning, but it cleared in time for pictures at the Lake and was a nice sunny day. Not too hot! And it was a great day. . . we had lots of friends and all of our families come out to support us and dance the night away.

I cannot believe it has been 5 years already! I am looking forward to the next 75 more!!

We are heading to Bradstreet Crafthouse for our anniversary dinner tomorrow night. I have never been, but the menu looks delicious!!

Check out our previous anniversaries here:
4 years
3 years

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Tagged as anniversary, dating, engagement

by KT | June 6, 2013

National Running Day: 2013

Happy National Running Day!!

Did you celebrate???

At first I was bummed because I usually don’t run on Wednesdays because I teach an aerobics class at the YMCA.. . but then I realized that I just needed to incorporate running into my aerobics class. It was a beautiful evening – 68 degrees with a little sun and a light breeze. There is a trail that runs just in front of the YMCA, so I took my class outside to the trail! We did some steady state running and then some intervals. It was a nice change of pace for the class (normally a cardio/strength interval class) and a great way to celebrate and get some running in!!

I run. . . to eat more cupcakes! Winking smile