Thursday, February 4, 2016

Currently

Currently feeling:
Scattered. My to-do list keeps growing and growing and growing before my eyes.
At random moments, I keep remembering more things I need to do. Then I forget them before I can write them down. ARGH!

Currently reading:
Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt.
My book club did a book swap over the holidays, and I got to bring this one home. I am just underway so no other thoughts just yet, but my expectations are high. This book came with extremely rave reviews!

Currently snacking on:
Clementines, aka "Cuties." I can go through three of them in one setting. I love how sweet they are and easy they are to peel.
I get a kick out of pulling the entire peel off in one piece. Maybe this helps make up for me never, ever, ever being able to peel an entire apple in one piece?

Currently craving:
Dumplings, dumplings, dumplings. Any kind. Pierogies, wontons, samosas, empanadas, pelmeni, you name it.
Source
Proclamation: If I ever get to do an eating challenge where I get to pick the food, dumplings would be my choice. Runners-up include pizza, sushi, and burgers. But I digress.

Current dish I want to perfect in the kitchen:
Mashed cauliflower. I've tried various combos of cooking stock, garlic, onion, cheese, milk, yogurt, etc., but haven't been able to get the recipe the way I want it. (Is there some secret ingredient I don't know about?) I am going to be experimenting again in the coming days.
Currently looking forward to:
So many things! Attending my next Blackhawks game in less than 10 days, going to see Cabaret, upcoming plans with friends I haven't seen in a long time, vacation at the end of the month.
Currently considering:
Trying some new-to-me fitness classes that I've always shied away from in the past, e.g. HIIT core, Step and Sculpt, Fly Barre. I'd like to throw more variety into my tried-and-true rotation of running, yoga, Zumba, lifting, and the occasional stationary bike.

Currently nervous about:
My next long run with a side of hill-work on the treadmill to finish. After experiencing how challenging this workout felt last week, I am gun-shy about trying it again.
Currently reminiscing about:
Going to Second City last weekend with Adam and watching Fool Me Twice, Deja Vu. It was HILARIOUS. Days later, Adam and I are still cracking one-liners from the show. I haven't seen live improv in quite some time and I had forgotten how much I love it!

I've mentioned before that I took three levels of improv classes a few years ago, which were so much fun! I was observing the artists' techniques and they were all amazing. True creative geniuses!
Source
Currently noticing:
The days are getting longer! It is glorious to both wake up and leave the office when the sun is above the horizon. Let's all start replenishing the Vitamin D. =)

Current favorite Blackhawks gif:
I am dying to know what happened off-camera to elicit Artemi Panarin's facial expressions here!
Source
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Linking up with Amanda's Thinking Out Loud Thursdays.

12 comments:

  1. I loved that book! Don't want to set your expectations high, but it was really good. Normally, I finish a book and forget about it. That one stuck with me!

    I get to start hill repeats next week. I was hoping to do them at Payton's hill, but now the weather looks COLD. Dammit!

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    1. Oooh! I'm only about 10 pages in so far, but I already like the introspection and relateability. I am excited to keep going, especially after your thoughts. =)

      GOOD LUCK with your hill repeats!!! I wish you strong incline-training, whether at Payton's or the treadmill or elsewhere!!!

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  2. I've been looking for a new book to read so I'm going to add this one to the list!

    Just think of how much stronger you're going to be after doing those hill workouts on the treadmill! Eyes on the prize! Also, if you need a running buddy for the outdoor parts, you know where to find me.

    Have you had 5411 Empanadas yet? There's a location at 175 N Franklin if you ever want to meet for lunch :-)

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    1. Yay! If you want to wait until I finish my copy (probably in a week or two?) you can have my copy. Hopefully I'll have it done in time to give you at Forno Rosso next week. =)

      Sigh, yes, the mantra of staying strong when the training gets tough. Obviously we all know the harder we make it on ourselves in training, the easier it will be on race day. But I've started debating whether it's worth it to torture myself for 13 weeks straight and still hurt on race day (since it always hurts, no matter what), or just funnel all the pain into the single race day! Collectively, I think we feel more total pain when we train, LOL! Anyways - my plan is to start incorporating outdoor hill work to finish when the weather gets nicer and my long runs are longer than 6-8 miles. So I'll definitely be calling you then. =D

      I've never heard of 5411 Empanadas! Would love to meet there for lunch! Let's nail down a time in the coming weeks!!!

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  3. I have also noticed the days are getting longer. It's at least 30 more minutes of daylight, even if the sun is setting. We have a little over a month before DST, and maybe I can run outside after work again.

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    1. 30 minutes more of daylight is HUGE, isn't it? It can mean the difference between running outside after work versus being confined to an indoor workout! I'll have to look up when we "spring forward" which will make it even better. =)

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  4. OMG! I totally relate! A lot of times, I'll be working on one task but then thinking about all the OTHER things at the same time. I don't know why it's so challenging for me to focus on the task at hand. I'm embarrassed to admit that it's become really hard for me to talk on the phone without doing something else at the same time. I need to relearn how to just sit and focus on a conversation, LOL!

    I am interested to try to figure out what aspect you were weirded out by in the book! Would love to share my thoughts after I finish, and would very much love to hear your thoughts, too!!!

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  5. We've been eating cuties here too! A great way to get in some vitamin C! I'm also loving that it's staying light a bit longer now (just a bit but it's nice to believe spring is on its way)!

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    1. Vitamin C is so important during the thick of the wintertime! Whenever you can get it in a cute little package like a Cutie, all the better, yes? All hail to spring slowly approaching!

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  6. Try this recipe for your cauliflower! http://www.livehalffullblog.com/2014/04/08/garlic-mashed-cauliflower/

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  7. Tortellini and ravioli, yummy! Here is hoping the hill work will go easier this time, thank you! They say the first time is the hardest, right? Daylight just makes us all feel better!!!

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