Checking it off...#7

Pre race

I like my number

Two weeks ago my friend Joni and I rode in the U.L.C.E.R (Utah Lake Century Epic Ride). This was my third time riding in the ULCER.  Three years ago I rode my first 100 mile ride at the ULCER and then I did it again two years ago. But last year I skipped the race because I had a lot of injuries and didn't have time to train. But the tradition is back in 2011.

Half way point

Joni and I rode the MS ride in June and during that 40 mile ride we came up with a genius idea that we would ride the ULCER together. This is the best idea we had. If it wasn't for Joni I would probably have given up and never rode in the race. We would get up by 6AM every Saturday to train. Mind you, I am not a morning person and every week I hated us for getting up that early. Until we got home and we had the entire left and we had beat the heat and then I loved us. I also love us, because now I can check off #7 from my yearly list.
The race was really fun and painful. We rode 60 miles. By mile 40 my knee was killing so the last 20 miles was not so fun. But we snacked and chatted which helped a lot. Joni is my favorite riding buddy. We help push each other but understand when one or both of us is having an off day. Love that girl.
Even though I have completed the bike race goal, Joni and I are still planning to ride together and I still have to keep training for my last Tri to complete #6. Wish me luck.

Oreo teeth

Orange teeth (I know we are dorks)

I'm stuffed

As part of my goals this year I wanted to learn some new recipes.  Especially ones I could easily memorize and adjust based on what was in my fridge at the time. So this week I decided to stuff a few things. I made these simple stuffed bell peppers for dinner Sunday (FYI the sauce is the best part) and then sort of made these stuffed jalapenos for a BBQ today. I say sort of because as I started making the filling I realized I was only using 2 of the same ingredients and was adding a few of my own. So I can't vouch for this recipe as much as I can for the one I made up, but it was a yummy experiment.

I forgot to take a photo so here is theirs.

Oh and these jalapenos are from my garden.
Didn't get an after photo, but they looked awesome. 

Delayed Seattle Post

Per usual my life has been a crazy mess of running from one thing to another. I like my life busy, but maybe I need to re-think this "do it all" mentality I have going on. But until then, I can't pass up an adventure.
Earlier this month Talena and went to Seattle. Why? Why not? Neither of us had been there and Talena had a cousin who has been begging her to come visit.
It was a great weekend. Seattle even put on a show for us. We had only one day of rain and only in the morning, just long enough for me to have an excuse to buy a jacket at the REI flagship store (I may or may not call it the Mother ship).
I am pretty sure I am in love with Seattle and must find me a job working for REI so I can move up there.

Here are a few highlights from the trip

1. The jumping and clapping from Robbie when he picked us up from the airport. Everyone should be greeted this way.
2. Beautiful views from the Space Needle of Mt Rainier. And being treated like a VIP as we got to pass everyone and go to the front of the line...totally worth the extra $.
3. Being offered rubber overalls by the Pike's Place fisherman.
4. BIG REI heaven. Need I say more.
5. Interesting Seattle history and underground tour.
6. Preforming with "cousin red" (our band name) at the EMP.
7. Lots of desserts: Cow Chip Cookies, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Specialty Cafe Bakery and lots more 
8. The troll (cause it isn't a Seattle trip without it)
9. The weekend (oh did I mention it was the 4th of July weekend) wasn't complete without watching fireworks over the water with Mt Rainier in the background.
10. Learning to play Tripoley with 3 fanatics.

Yep, we were there.

Next time I am kayaking

Gasworks park with Lady Liberty is cool

Watching planes land on the water is cool

Paddle boarders are cool (ok I'm done)

It is a joke we single ladies tell ourselves to make us feel better  :)

Tourists

I heart fish

Tripoley sad face (didn't get to use any of these beauties)

They love Tripoley. We took this for their Grandma.

BEST sandwhich

Space Needle

Super tourists

Love this view ... mountains!

Cousins

Roommates

Upside down vegetable steamer

Sweaters to keep them warm

Fashion poses for the sweater trees

Going in the depths of Seattle

Not so scary

But maybe a little spooky

EMP art

Annie being artist

Miss-Mix-A-Lot

I rock!

It came highly recommended...very tastey

I love the ferns, reminded me of New Zealand

Washington beach...must see

Out for a stroll

Artism 

pretty

We watched fireworks with this as a backdrop

Can you see Mt Rainier in the background? love it

The end of a great trip

Zoo keeping

I forgot why my parent's had so many photos of zoo animals. I went with my family and friend's kids to the zoo yesterday and I was constantly asked to take pictures of this snake and that bat and this turtle and that bobcat. It was so entertaining.
But it was a lovely day because I can't get enough of this face...

Cutest niece

even if her mom doesn't think so

How does your garden grow?

The garden is coming along very nicely. Well, at least for my garden. I was biking pass a house this weekend and looked at their garden then came home and looked at my garden...well let's just say her plants would eat mine. But my garden is producing, even if it ends up being really little I am happy with my first gardening attempt. Maybe I don't have a black thumb.

First jalapeno growing slowly but surely

I love bell peppers. I planted 3 variety, this is looking the best.

Oh Yeah! That is a bean.

I'm starting to see a few tomatoes on each of my plants.
But my cherry tomato plant is going crazy. Can't wait to eat them right of the vine.

This garden thing is great, lunch time

I am really enjoying this garden thing. The sprinklers have been doing great keeping all my plants alive. I give of few areas some extra water every few days, but really sprinklers are great. I have been coming home everyday and pulling any pesky weeds I find. Those vine weeds are the worst.
It was my brother's 30th bday on Monday (Happy Birthday Matt!) so at family dinner I got a few plant tips from my mom and sister.

• Cut off the flowers on my cilantro...check. 
• Dish soap and water in a spray bottle will get rid of my bugs...check. 
• And I can plant carrots every 2 weeks and keep harvesting all summer...check.

Today, was particularly fun. I came home for lunch and made a salad. But not just any salad, a delicious salad with delicious lettuce. Delicious lettuce that I grew in my little garden. Yes, that is right I am already harvesting some food. When my lettuce gets to a reasonable size I cut off the leaves for my dinner. It then grows back for me to cut again and again. I like this lettuce thing.

So lunch today was a steak salad with garden fresh lettuce, slivered almonds, crumbled feta cheese (my favorite), tomatoes (from the store, but soon to be replaced by garden fresh) and a little cube steak all topped with my favorite spicy chipotle dressing. I do say it was a great lunch. Don't you think?

The MS Ride and Number Seven

Half way to completing list item number seven. Saturday was my annual MS ride. This marks year six. I am sure I have talked about it a lot so I will only say this, my riding experiences haven’t always been positive (check out what I'm talking about here and here).

Joni and I at the start of the race

This year was a good one though. I rode with my friend Joni. She is so fun. We rode 40 miles through the beautiful Cache Valley and chatted about travel, boys, bikes, work, boys, bike pains and even tried to come up with names for our team. We have decided next year to create a team in her honor. Joni has MS and has been doing this ride for the last four years.  Next year you might see us sporting our team jerseys for team "Smedium" (sometimes you are not small or medium and you need a in-betweener) or "Hunt for the Cure" (sadly it might be taken) or something else awesome, but definitely not something lame like "Team Joni."

Four years and she still smiles

Six years and counting

Participation medals are the best