Relief Society Broadcast

I love President Uchtdorf.  I said to my sister last night, "How does he understand so much about women?"  I feel like he's got us pinpointed.  It's because he is a prophet of God. 

Chicken Curry Soup

A couple people asked for this recipe so I thought I would post it, since I am a big fan of this soup.  The recipe comes from my Uncle Dave, who is a fabulous cook!  It is definitely not too spicy, but you could make it spicy if you wanted to. 

Chicken Curry Soup

From:  Dave Duree

4 Tbsp butter

1 onion, diced

1 green pepper, diced

3 ribs celery, diced

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1” cubes

¼ cup flour

1 Tbsp curry powder (I do ½ red, ½ yellow)

1 tsp cumin

2 quarts chicken stock

1 can petite diced tomatoes

Juice of 1 lime

½ cup long grain rice (basmati)

2 tsp salt (or to taste)

1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

½ cup coconut milk

½ cup chopped cilantro

In a large dutch oven melt butter over medium heat.  Add chicken and cook until browned (chicken will not be cooked through).  Add onion, green pepper and celery and cook until translucent, about 10 minutes.

Sprinkle the flour, curry powder and cumin over the chicken and vegetables and stir until well combined.  Cook for 2-3 minutes.

Add chicken stock and stir, loosening browned bits from the bottom of the pan.  Add tomatoes, lime juice, rice, salt and pepper.  Stir to combine.  Simmer for 20 minutes or until the rice is cooked.  Remove from heat, stir in coconut milk and cilantro.

 

FALL!

I KNOW I'm not the only one.  I am so excited for Fall.  It feels like it's Fall already, this morning James and I slept in a little because we had our windows open and it was just a little too chilly to get out of the bed before snoozing 8 times.  The problem was, his phone and my phone were both at different points in the snooze cycle, so every 4 minutes one of us would have to push snooze again.

MY FALL LINEUP
Stephen's Pumpkin Spice hot cocoa
Hiking in the Fall Leaves
Decorate for Halloween (on Sep 22nd, James says I'm allowed to)
Asking about BYU football game scores because I never actually watch the games (Can you believe I'm a PE major?)
Crispix Mix
Lots of homemade soup
Christmas music (on Nov 25th, James says I'm allowed to)
Apple cider caramels from Our Best Bites
Hoodies
Sweaters
Fake Ug boots
Scarfs
Sweat pants
Tights
Not having to shave my legs quite as often
General Conference

I know as soon as I publish this I will remember 5 more things but oh well.  I love this time of year!

Songs I Really Hate Right Now

Last Friday Night by Katy Perry

Cheers (I'll drink to that) by Rihanna

Don't hate the girls, just these songs, and they play them ALL THE TIME on the radio.

Marathon Review

I did it! Yesterday was the American Discovery Trail Marathon in Colorado Springs. I should really say "We did it," because James has been so supportive and encouraging and was probably the best Marathon husband ever yesterday, travelling from one point to another on the race, taking pictures and cheering me on.

Before the race it was REALLY cold.

James workout buddy Aaron, who also ran the race.

I don't know why the heck those pictures aren't facing the right way.  I flipped them in the folder and they flipped back when I uploaded them to blogger. 

So it was really cold at the start, and dark.  My legs and feet didn't really thaw out until about a mile in.  You could see your breath when you were running, which I haven't experienced since Spring, it was kind of refreshing. 

At mile 4 or 5 I think, handing my coat off to James.

I started out ahead of the 4 hour pacer, and was maintaining pretty well.  I think you can see (in the picture above) the pack surrounding the 4 hour pacer behind me.  I had to stop to go to the bathroom 4 times, which was kind of frustrating, because each time I stopped I would watch the 4 hour pacer pass by, then I'd have to run pretty hard to catch up with them again, then I'd have to stop to go to the bathroom again.  By mile 13, I was watching them crest the hill and waiting for the port o potty and knew that was probably the last time I would see them.  However, I decided when we first started that I wanted to do my best, and that I was probably capable of more than I thought I was, but that I wanted to enjoy the race.  So after that I just kind of ran at my own pace and enjoyed it. 

At mile 8

Mile 10, maybe?

 As you can see, I'm smiling in all the pictures.  That's because of what happened in my Park City pictures, viewable here (just enter "mathatas" under last name).  I was smiling and having a good time, but it was hard. 

People say you hit the wall at mile 20, but I felt like it started to get really hard to stop and start again at mile 15/16/17 and after that I was just kind of numb and trying to get it done as soon as possible.  I guess at mile 20 I also looked at the clock and realized I could maybe finish within 4:15, so I started picking up the pace a little.  I walked through the water stations throughout the whole race, but the rest of the time I was running and I finished at 4:18:44.  I was kind of trying for under 4 hours but I am happy with my time.  It averages out to about 10 minute miles. 
My parents, Laura and Jeff, Mike, Marie, Manoj, Misha and Maddie also came and were there at the 20 mile mark and at the end, which was awesome.  Also, my friend Rachael, Aaron's wife was there and our friends, the Haights were there at the end.  We went to Red Robin for lunch afterwards, YUM!

Almost done, time for a cheesy-double-fist-pump!

About to cross the finish line

Blech.  I look awful.

My legs hurt.  The hardest movement is squatting down, sitting down or standing up from squatting or sitting down.  And stairs.  I am so glad I did it, and I know I'll do it again someday.  I have to take it easy for awhile because James and I are trying to have kids.  Right now, it just feels good to not be training for anything.