Muffin Wednesday: Russian Tea Cakes

OK, so these aren't muffins. But I was looking for a recipe yesterday and longing to make Christmas cookies. So here we are.

Clarke helped me whip up this recipe from BettyCrocker.com. I'd used it before, and it's quick and easy. On the plate in his right hand is a gigantic cookie he made for himself:

1 c butter, softened

1/2

c powdered sugar

1

t vanilla

2 1/4

c flour

3/4

c finely chopped nuts

1/4

t salt

Powdered sugar for rolling

Heat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and the vanilla in large bowl. Stir in flour, nuts and salt until the dough holds together.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls, placing about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set but not brown. Remove from the cookie sheet and cool slightly on a wire rack. Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar and cool completely on the rack. Roll again in powdered sugar.

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These went together quickly and easily, with very few ingredients. Everyone really liked them, so I guess it's a winner :)

No-TV Tuesday: snooze fest

My No-TV Tuesday plan was to take these boxes of decorations and ready my house for Christmas.
Instead, I slept.

I took a nap after work and then made dinner. Then I laid down to read and fell asleep again. I woke up near bed time and decided to just finish my book:
Then I went back to sleep.

Brad was sick all weekend, and lots of my students and coworkers are fighting the crud. Maybe I am too - and it just hasn't hit yet. Hopefully all that sleep will keep it away.

My calendar is open tonight, so I'll tackle those decorations today :)

Forgotten photos: Starlight Run

Way back in June, I was a running buddy for Girls on the Run. Brad took a ton of pictures during the Starlight Run, and I'm finally getting around to posting them - woohoo!Because it was my birthday weekend, I fueled for the 5K with offerings from Grilled Cheese Grill and Waffle Window... nice!

Last year, my friends dressed up and ran with me...
This year, I traded the hibiscus bra for a Girls on the Run shirt... matching with my buddy, Betsy:
We all met up on the Lincoln High School track.
Our team was from Harvey Scott Elementary School:
We all got blue hair!
Betsy brought me a gift...
a belt that she'd woven for me!
Gotta get the glow sticks ready...
My cousin, Kayla, ran the race with some girlfriends:
Aunt Kari:
Cousin Jessie was also on a Girls on the Run team:
Photographer Brad:
We're ready!
Harvey Scott team photo:
Getting excited - almost time to head to the starting line:
Here we go!
Running down 14th Avenue:
We walk/ran our way through the Starlight Parade route and ended right back at LHS:
We did it!!
Nice job, Betsy - you rocked it! :)
I wore my Garmin, just because I always do. Not bad for a run/walk combo with a second grader :)
Betsy is a great girl who needed a lot of love and attention. I hope GOTR - and the culminating Starlight Run - was a positive experience for her :)

Spin, spin, spin!

Spin class at 3 p.m. ... the perfect way to end my workday :)
Now time to hit the shower, eat a veggie BLT and drive to bells to rehearse Christmas music :)

Thanksgiving self portraits #2

Thanksgiving started with a race and an early dinner in Newberg. Then on to our second dinner at Eryn's house in Tigard.

The chef: My tummy was so happy! I spotted these flaky crescent rolls on EatLiveRun and decided to give them a try. It was a very long process, but I think they turned out pretty good - especially since I have very little yeast experience... and the woman who posted the recipe is a culinary school graduate and former professional bread baker. But then I ate one. I don't know what I was expecting, but that wasn't it. They were good - but certainly nothing special. Kinda blah... and definitely not worth the hours spent laminating and such. Oh well. It was a fun experiment.

Then out came the camera: I really shouldn't have used the flash. I will tell you that we are a funny looking bunch... but not THIS funny looking :)
Thanks for hosting, Eryn - and everyone who contributed to my full tummy!

Happy Thanksgiving!!! :)

Balancing

Life's all about balance, right? So how'd you do in the exercise vs. Thanksgiving pig out? I think I did pretty well!

I certainly enjoyed my dinners and leftovers and get-togethers, but I also managed to get sweaty several times over the long weekend.

We did the 10K race Thursday morning and I squeezed in 22 minutes on the elliptical Saturday night before company came for dinner. And I just finished another 33 minutes on the elliptical.
I love food. And thankfully, I also love the feeling of working and sweating hard!

Spin class tomorrow... can't wait! :)

Thanksgiving self portraits #1

After our morning race, we cleaned up and drove to Newberg for Thanksgiving No. 1 with Brad's family. We thought we'd be eating in the Friendsview dining room, but Grandma Barbara surprised us with a complete home-cooked meal in her apartment! Love the pilgrim candlesticks: I tried to go light since it was the first of two meals for us. So good: And then came the pies: Gotta be the pecan for me: Then it was time to pass around the camera... my new favorite family-gathering game :) Thanks for all the hard work, Barb! Such a nice family dinner :)