Last Saturday Recap

Life has settled down from what life was like in December.
It's a much slower pace with not so much stress.
However, last Saturday, we spent the entire day out and about.
Dance class was cancelled due to our first very small snow storm.
We had the entire day to do whatever we wanted.

Our first stop was AAA.
Why do you ask?
We booked our next trip to the Happiest Place on Earth.
We are heading to Disney World in late August.
We are changing it up a bit this year.
We are staying in a different location and flying down a day earlier to use the full day's ticket instead of it being a travel day.

Next, we hit Friendly's.
Why do you ask?

 

I never had one before but because it was free I decided to get one.
I was pleasantly surprised how good the coffee Fribble tasted.

We then did a bunch of errands.
One, very important one, was to renew Pistol Popper's passport.
It was due to expire in March.
She first got one when we traveled over seas for a cruise.
She was 11 months old when she got it.
I'm not sure how TSA let us through because she looked nothing like her 11 month old passport photo. 

We dropped by the house to pick up Ann Taylor Loft coupons very late in the afternoon.
Yes, once again they were having a crazy sale.
A sale that we just couldn't pass up.
We even made a friend, the manager, and she closed out each sale after $100.00 so we would benefit from the 50% discount multiple times.

However, we first we went to a great restaurant.

I had a great alcoholic drink.
I could have downed a few of them they were so good.
I ordered a yummy green leaf salad and garlic spinach cheese flatbread.
There flatbread is to die for.
A place we don't go to often but when we do I remember how much I like it.
We should visit it more often.

We didn't get home until 7:30pm.
Wow, we started our Saturday journey at 10am.
We were literally out ALL day.
Although we were out all day it was relaxed and enjoyable.

Wordless Wednesday

Another Recipe....Slower Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

I got a new slow cooker for Christmas.
I saw this one at Costco.

I liked it because it has a timer and I can set it to begin cooking after I leave for work.

I've been searching the internet for a recipe for Chicken Cacciatore for several months.
My dad made a killer one when he was visiting in August.
His version wasn't hard but I don't typically have that kind of time while working.
I came across one on Allrecipes.com.
I read the reviews and added some of things people had suggested.
I got the pot ready the night before and put it on the refrigerator until the next morning.
I put the pot into the heating unit and turned it on.
When I got home 9 hours later it smelled great.
I turned it to warm for the last hour or so.
I made white rice to go with it and it is a keeper.

Chicken Cacciatore

via

INGREDIENTS:

6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (I used 4 chicken thigh & 5 drumsticks)   1 (28 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce 2 green bell pepper, seeded and cubed                   1 medium size can tomato paste 2 red peppers, seeded and sliced 2 tablespoons minced garlic

8 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced 1 onion, finely diced

Directions:

1.	Put the chicken in the slow cooker. Top with the spaghetti sauce, green bell peppers, mushrooms, onion, and garlic.
2.	Cover, and cook on Low for 7 to 9 hours

Honeybun Cake

It was time to make something new for a weekend breakfast.
I've been going grocery shopping on Friday afternoon's so I made sure I had all the ingredients.
It's another simple one.
And, YES, I found it on Pinterest.

I made it with Pixie early on Saturday morning.
Why do our children sleep and have to be woken up during the week and are up at the crack of dawn on the weekend?
Anyways, I only dirtied one bowl and it was in the oven baking in no time.
If you are looking for something easy and makes a good amount this is the recipe for you.
It would be great for a brunch item.

Honeybun Cake

Ingredients

• 1 box (18.25 Oz. Box) Yellow Cake Mix
• 4 whole Eggs
• 1 cup Sour Cream
• ¾ cups Vegetable Oil
• 1 cup Light Brown Sugar
• 2 teaspoons Cinnamon
• 2 cups Powdered Sugar
• 6 Tablespoons Milk
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Preparation Instructions

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.

By hand, blend the cake mix, eggs, sour cream, and oil until well-incorporated. The mixture will be pale yellow; it’s okay if it has some lumps! Then set aside.

In a separate bowl, mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon until well-blended; set aside.

Pour half of the cake batter into a greased 13×9 pan, spreading the batter out into a thin layer. Add half of the swirl mixture to the top, covering the entire layer of batter. Don’t be alarmed if it looks like you’re over-saturating the cake—it’ll taste great! Pour the rest of the batter on top, and spread the batter until the cake is even. Top the cake off with the rest of the swirl mixture. With a knife, swirl the batter until you create a beautiful masterpiece (I always pretend I’m a barista pouring cream into a cappuccino because I’m really nerdy like that).

Place the cake into the oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

While the cake is baking, make the glaze. In a bowl, mix the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until glaze is of desired consistency. When the cake comes out of the oven, immediately pour glaze onto the hot cake. You might have to pick up the cake and tilt it to spread the glaze evenly. Let the cake sit for a few minutes so the glaze can set and serve warm or at room temperature.

Map My Run

Map My Run is one of the best apps for running on the iPhone.
At least I think so.
I was introduced to this app by a coworker.
She is an avid runner and shared this wonderful piece of technology.
I had downloaded the free version and was just waiting to use it.

I got my first opportunity this past weekend while in Charleston.  

I wasn't sure how it was going to work or if I had to load my music into the app.

I was happy that it turned out so easy.

I opened the app and began to record the workout.

I opened and started my music.

It was as simple as that.

I knew Map My Run was working because "she" was talking to me telling me my pace, my distance and lots of other stuff.  

I ran for the first time with my Dad.

I wasn't sure how that was going to go.

I haven't run "with" anyone in my almost one year of running.

I thought I could run at a faster pace than he and for longer time but just didn't know.

I'm here to say, it worked out great.

I loved running with a partner.

I need to find a regular partner to run with once the weather breaks.

Are there any takers?  

As I ran I thought to myself that it was pretty cool that I was running with my Dad.

It was a little daughter-dad activity.

It was something we both enjoy doing.  

I'm looking forward to the next time.

I ended the workout at the end of the run.

This map appeared on the screen to show me a visual of my run and gave me every statistic I would ever want.

I knew the distance, speed and the elevation of the run.

It looks like we were running in the ocean.

I can guarantee you we weren't.

It was low tide and we ran on the hard sand near the water.

This app will be great once I start running outside again.

I can keep track of the mileage and the speed.

I'm getting ready for Broad Street and want to make sure I can finish.

And if you know me, it's not that I just want to finish it.

It's more like I want to finish with less than 10 minute miles for 10 miles.  

So, if you're new to running or you haven't heard of this app...get it.

You will love it.

I'm really thinking about buying the upgraded version.

I'll let you know if I do and if it's worth it.  

Happy running!  

Charleston

I felt like a jet-setter this past weekend.
We went to visit Pop-Pop (my dad) in Charleston, South Carolina.
We planned it for the long Martin Luther King weekend and it worked PERFECTLY.

The weather this time of year is always tricky and unpredictable.
We started weather watching about two weeks ago.
The temperatures in Philly were staying warm with a few cold spells.
The cold spells are fine; we just couldn't mix cold with precipitation.
The weather looked like it was going to cooperate with our air travel as we got closer to weekend.
It was a clear, cold and windy day but definitely flyable.
Hubby, Pop-Pop and I all got messages from the airline stating our flight was delayed two hours at 2:45pm.
Two hours meant we weren't leaving Philly until 11:05pm.
What..that really wasn't in the plan.
Our original flight time was pushing it already but a two hour delay would really push the envelope.
There was a flurry of phone calls.
A plan was made and then the flight went BACK to a 9:05 departure.
Ha, I never knew positive things happened with airlines.
We are proof it does happen.
We left on time and arrived in Charleston 20 minutes early.

The girls did SUPER on the flight.
Pixie finally fell asleep with about 10 minutes to go in the flight.
Pistol Popper never did fall asleep because it was very exciting flying at night.
She loved seeing the cities lit up at night.

My dad met us at the airport where Hubby installed the car seats.
We got to the Isle of Palms (an island outside of Charleston) just before midnight.
Both girls went to bed without a problem.
And a first for them....they shared a bed!
It worked out great all three nights.

We all woke by 7am on Saturday morning with a full day ahead.
My dad and I went for a run together.
I'm going to write a post just about that soon.
We went out to lunch to a restaurant on the water.
The girls were entertained by the activity on the water.
The food was great..how can you not like southern food.

It was then time to head into Charleston.
My dad gave us a driving tour first of the city.
He dropped us off and went to find a parking spot.
After the drop off, our first stop, a candy shop.
Pixie had fallen asleep in the car and was now sleeping in the stroller.
We wheeled her in and WE ate fresh warm taffy.
It was the best taffy I had ever eaten.
It puts Salt Water Taffy to shame.
I, thenm sampled Southern Pralines...WOW!
Warm Pralines are deadly...
We left one candy shop for another and another.
The city was busy with lots and lots of people.
It must have been the holiday weekend.

My aunt and uncle are living in the area too so we met up with them for dinner.
Actually, my dad made some killer pasta.
My aunt brought a killer cake and some very yummy frozen yogurt.
Yes, I ate and ate this weekend...I'm paying for it now!
It was so great to see them.
We hadn't seen them in two years.
We also visited with them the next night for dinner as well.
We went to their house...which was beautiful.
It made me want to move to the south.
The south has beautiful doors and grand entrance ways.

On Sunday morning, we all went for a very long bike ride.
The house had beach bikes and a buggy for the girls.
I pulled the girls behind me in the buggy.
We biked down to the beach.

The girls flew a kite, collected seashells, starfish and saw jellyfish.

They just loved it.

It was chilly and windy but nothing a heavy coat couldn't manage.

On our final leg of the bike ride we checked the crab traps my dad put out the day before.
He pulled up the traps and we found crabs, conch shells and snails.

The girls loved it.  

We arrived back to the house 2 hour later.

The weekend came to an end on Monday at noon when my Dad dropped us back off at the airport.
What a great weekend.
It was so nice to get away for the weekend.
We didn't spend the 3 days off running errands and doing things around the house.

We did something as a family and had a wonderful time doing it.
The girls held up so nicely.
Their bedtimes were late, their wake up times were the same and their was little time for naps.

Thanks Dad for a great weekend.
We are looking forward to our next trip down south!
We've marked our calendars!

Wordless Wednesday