One of my goals to accomplish during the 30 weeks before I turn 30 is to give away bread and baked goods each week to unsuspecting friends, acquaintances, co-workers and the like. Because whose day is not brightened by a sweet treat or a warm loaf of bread?



Vegan carrot cake, peanut butter chocolate pie were wrapped up and delivered to the directors of the Washington Chamber, Economic Development and Main Street.



A loaf of cinnamon raisin walnut bread went the the library.





And a boule of sourdough and a bit of sun dried tomato olive oil for dipping was dropped off for the employees at Backyard Candle to enjoy.



A handful of other breads and desserts have wound up on the doorstep of our close friends and I am sure they just waiting for the day for these deliveries to stop...

my sunday morning kitchen table

Awaking to a rainy Sunday morning, I roll out of bed and sleepily start to brew the first of many pots of coffee.

Cracking eggs, stirring in milk, and dunking bread, we feast on french toast for breakfast, greedily gulping down mugs of piping hot coffee while talking of dreams.

Cookies to bake and macaroons to dunk in chocolate to be donated to a bike race, he left, leaving me with an empty, clean kitchen.

 

Cookbooks cover my Sunday morning kitchen table, with distracted thoughts jumping from King Cake to rye bread to honeyed apple torte, to Mardi Gras dinner plans, and always, always back to I think I should brew another pot of coffee.

With a chicken scratched grocery list a quick trip to the store to pick up only the essentials, back before the dog wakes from her nap.

The clean kitchen quickly begins to look like my normal kitchen, pots and pan strewn about, measuring cups scattered, flour, sugar, vegan butter and real butter dotting every flat surface.

Eggs to crack, cake to make, dishes to wash, bread to knead.

House fills with aromas so comforting as the outside clouds begin to break and the sun shines if only for a minute.

Cookbooks cover my Sunday morning kitchen table, and my life is good.

30 'til thirty

No sense in beating around the bush here. There are 30 weeks until my 30th birthday and I am going through a quarter life crisis (yes, I do plan to live to 120).

Instead of cowering in a corner hiding from this crisis thing, I am taking hold with force and plan to use these next 30 weeks to my advantage.

These next 30 weeks will lay the groundwork so my 30th year will be the best yet and incredibly epic.

Incredibly epic.

There is no other path for me, except an epic one.

30 weeks, 210 days. Let's go.

This is going to be a very productive 30 weeks. If there is anything in life that I have talked about doing, I will either do it before I am 30 or figure out a way to do it.

I am breaking down these things into a few categories and reserve the right to add to the list at anytime. I also reserve the right to remove an item from the list if I have truthfully tried to check it off, and in doing so, determine that it is not worth my valuable time, or I find out that it is no longer a passion.

30 'til Thirty Goals

Personal/Marriage/Family

• Launch new (rebrand?) food/travel/run blog
• Gift myself the best birthday gift ever 
• Date nights once a week
• Enroll in the American Cancer Society CPS-3 (I am finally OLD enough, yippee!)
• Plan a trip to Europe with Nic (because taking all these trips to Europe without him is just not fair)
• Start the "Washington Book & Cook" book club with some fabulous ladies
• Con at least 3 sets of my friends to come visit us in Washington (here's looking at you Nancy, Crystal, & Greg!)
• Road trip to Georgia
• Downsize (possessions, house & weight - heh)
• Finish all unfinished house projects
• Spend more time playing with Maia & Jack

Financial

• Save $15,000
• Minimize frivolous spending (not to the point of becoming a shut-in though)
• Sell our house for a profit 

Hobbies/Passions

• Set up a meeting with a SCORE volunteer to work on a business plan
• Complete a business plan
• Get a part time job at a bakery on the weekends
• Give away one loaf of bread a week
• Give away one dessert a week
• Continue hosting dinners each weekend
• Bake for the Washington Farmers Market
• Bake for a CSA
• Volunteer on a farm
• Make cheese (because who ever let me not eat it for so long? Hi, my name is Kierstan and I am a recovering vegan)
• Butcher a chicken (this is a total stretch goal)
• Get a freelance position developing recipes
• Enroll in 1-2 bread baking workshops

Fitness

• Run an average of 30 miles per week
• Run for 10 hours on April 15
• Get my super sexy abs back (read - lay off the cookies!)

30 weeks is a long time, but in the grand scheme of things, will be over before I even know it. I can manage this crisis and come out of it a happier, better, person...who is 30.

Thirty.

Gah - what is going to happen when there are 40 weeks until forty??

bearing all

I am not sure as to what the point of this post is, but for some reason, maybe because we are beginning a new year, I feel like getting some things off my mind. Maybe the point is to lift a weight, to let go so I can start not fresh, but start again from where I stand. Maybe the point is to think, ask myself, where do I stand now, where do I want to go, am I happy?

In the last 6 months I have applied for three jobs. All with the promise to provide a fresh start, to mark a new career path, to advance my passion. In these 6 months I poured hours of preparation, thoughtful planning, brainstorming, and research into my lap and the laps of my closest family and friends. In some cases I spent hundreds on the perfect outfit for my perfect job, transporting the outfit to Sweden and back, diverted flights, booked hotels, rented cars, and explored new cities. I interviewed with panels of potential employers in person, over the phone, prepared marketing plans, 30/60/90 day plans, had second interviews, and spent miles thinking of better responses.In the last 6 months, I have applied for three jobs. In the last 6 months, I have been second best for all three jobs. In one case, the second best turned into an offer a week later, in the wrong city, for a position I thought I wanted, but didn't. In another case, the second best was okay and in the last case the second best proved conflicting. The second best was what I wanted so I didn't have to choose my path in life. But being second best always hurts.

I celebrated five years of marriage to my best friend. We decided to give it another five. Sometimes I wonder if we will make it another one, sometimes I wonder what we are doing. We are complacent. Not happy where we sit, not taking steps to get up and move. We are happy, in love, but sometimes I don't see it.

In the last 6 months, I have poured hours into a passion I wish could sustain me full time. I eat, dream and breathe this passion. I share this passion with the community and it is for what I am known for most. I tour potential buildings that could house my passion. It frustrates me, it drives me, but yet I don't take the crucial steps to fulfill my dream. Why?

I lost a grandma. I learned of her hospitalization via facebook and her death via text. Does death not warrant phone calls anymore?

In the last 6 months I gained another sister. Sisters make the world go round and I love my brother more for marrying his wife. I also gained another brother and I love my sister-in-law for choosing him, and for choosing New York.

My tires have taken me back and forth between the two states I love allowing me to spend time with the people I love. I am a proud transplant, but are my roots deeper in the north?

In the last 6 months, I have found RedBox and laughed at movies I would not have chosen had I not. Butter, Ruby Sparks, The Words, This is 40, Skyfall, and Rise of the Guardians were all worth time cozied up in front of the fire, ringing in the New Year, or celebrating a 6th birthday with a favorite handsome nephew.

I have one not one, not two, but three awards for cooking. Salsa, grilled tofu and cashew cheesecake propelled me into a new venture that someday will worth the effort, but again (see above) what is my first step?

In the last 6 months I have found cheese again, good cheese. Good enough to lose the vegan label I have falsely been carrying around for years. Cheese and eggs. Locally produced. Totally worth it.

We almost bought at farm, a beautiful cathedral like barn. But didn't.

We have taken cooking classes together, and as I type, I have learned to relinquish my tight grip on the kitchen. He cooks, she cleans?

In the last 6 months I have envisioned many different dreams for my life. Dreams that all relate to one thing, dreams that I can taste. I have to choose one. Why do I have to choose just one?

I have gained 15 pounds and counting. I have logged fewer and fewer miles. Running makes me happy, baking makes me happy but my hips wide. I need to find balance.

In the last 6 months I have lived my life, the life that I have chosen for myself. In the next 6 months I am changing my life in ways I can't yet decide, but change is coming. Change should be my word for 2013.

I wrote this post a week ago and just the act of writing it was very therapeutic. My attitude changed overnight and I was able to move on from so many of these things. I guess writing the post was the point of writing the post...

how many dollars a week...

I've been doing some math lately and have been wondering; 

how many dollars a week can a family live on?

Not including any recurring expenses (mortgage, cell phone, utilities, insurance, student loans, etc), how many dollars a week does a family need to feed themselves, feed their pets, put gas in their car and maybe have a little fun?

2012 christmas moose

Introducing the Christmas Moose!

He guards our door and is the keeper of our keys.

And we thought he could use some sprucing up for the holidays.

So....

Which do you like better?

{a} Our sweet moose showcasing one of my handmade wreaths which we no longer own (because I gifted it to my amazing co-worker).


{b} Our glowing moose, who lights up the night and the wee hours of the morning as I roll out the door to teach my 5:15 class at the YMCA.


{c} or, my favorite, our rebel moose, who would scare away any grinch!


Vote vote vote!

:)

twenty miles twenty dollars

I found a twenty dollar bill on my twenty mile run today. The lonely bill was lost on a wet street corner in Washington. Super soggy, just waiting for someone to pick it up. And I did. Without hesitation. Tucked it into my pocket and kept running. Didn't miss a beat. And then when I wanted to call it quits at mile 19, that $20 bill kept me going. Just so I could tell people that I found it. That's all.

just add water

Have you heard about the recent news from PepsiCo? The company has reported unusually strong results for the last quarter of 2011. ...revenue was up 14 percent and profits grew seven percent. (source)

What's the secret for this recent success?

Just add water!

Yep, the company rolled out a new strategy in their juice product line, "Trop50," a line of juices that have been diluted with water to make the beverage lower in calories.

Smart move on PepsiCo's part. Some people are just too lazy to dilute their morning glass of juice themselves, and anything with half the calories is sure to make it into your cart, right?

Before this news even rolled out earlier this week, I had planned to write something similar about coconut milk. I have been on a cooking kick using coconut milk this week (amazing recipes to come!) and when I pick it up at HyVee I have a HUGE variety to choose from, sometimes my mind just can't handle the decision...



I knew previously that light coconut milk is just a watered down version of the full fat can, but the other day, as I was reaching for a few cans on the bottom shelf, I was curious as to the price for each.

$2.19 (or so) for the regular version.
$2.19 (or so) for the light version.

So here's a kitchen tip for you - next time you are reaching for that can of lite coconut milk, do yourself and your wallet a favor and grab the full-fat (gasp!) variety. When you get home, divide its contents between two jars and...

Just add water! 

BAM! Two cans of lite coconut milk for the price of one.

Happy Saturday Morning! It is time for me to bury my nose into this thick text book that has been begging for me to crack it open all week and start reading up on muscle and muscle tissue.

scenes from yesterday

Looks interesting, right?

More details forthcoming.

Happy Wednesday & Happy Birthday to Nic!

kicking off the weekend

TGIF, right?

I was hoping to take the entire day off of work today since I opted to work on MLK Day, but it doesn't look I will be able to escape the day without doing something.

Thankfully, I had a good start to my morning.

A 5:15 Absolute Body Conditioning class (that I always wake up dreading to teach, but come home an absolute ball of energy), followed by a cuppa joe*, green monster and a pot of oats cooking away on the stove.

My workout this morning was a good one. I love it when I hear groans and sighs from the participants. 

I can't believe she is making us do that again. 

What? Another one?

It took me four days to feel normal again after last week!

I am sure I'll hear a few comments next week about what we did this morning.

1 minute each:

Bench Press

Body Weight Squats

Shoulder Press

Three minutes cardio/1 minute each:
Jump Rope
Running Up on Bench
Jumping Jacks

1 minute each:

Right Lunge w/ weight

Left Lunge w/ weight

Bicep Curls

Three minutes cardio/1 minute each:
Jump Rope

Running Up on Bench
Jumping Jacks

1 minute each:

Tricep Bench Press

Weighted Squats

Calf Raises w/ weight

Three minutes cardio/1 minute each:
Jump Rope
Running Up on Bench
Jumping Jacks

Wash, Rinse, Repeat x 2

Abs:

1 minute crunches

1 minute flutter kicks


------------------


Here's to the weekend!! Any fun plans? We are keeping it low key here and the only thing I really need to get done is some school stuff and a 15 miler.

*Do you listen to the How Stuff Works: Stuff You Should Know podcast? If you don't, you should. I just started listening to them while walking the dog, and I am hooked. A few weeks ago, I learned how this phrase, cuppa joe, originated. Quite interesting.

think you know iowa?

I love this. And hopefully it brings a smile to your face.

many have eaten here...

While Nic and I prefer to give gifts than to receive, we were very lucky to bring home some great, practical items from our weekend in Minnesota. And while we love them all, and can not pick a favorite, I have to share what my father-in-law gave me.

Not a minute after I got done with my shower after a Christmas morning run, my father-in-law told me to go find my present on the fridge. Clearly, he was excited for me to open it.

So I go and stand in front of the fridge for a full minute searching for the gift. I finally spot a small wrapped magnet.

I open it and laugh.



So so so true.

It is the perfect phrase to have adorning my fridge, and I am certain everyone who has stayed with us will agree.

muddin'

Nic's sister is in town visiting for a few days before heading up to Minnesota for the holidays.

We decided to show her a good time on Sunday and took her mudding.

Because we are red necks like that.



Or we might have just made a really stupid decision and happened to get almost get stuck on a minimum maintenance road...

Thanks to our (Kajsa and I) brute strength - we were able to make it through the mud pit to safety.

Too bad Nic had just spent the previous day doing this:



It goes without saying that a few glasses of this was needed after all of that:

predator-vegan

Nic's boss shared this "Zits" comic with him yesterday, stating that he immediately thought of me.


source

Love it.

today i...

Woke up.

Enjoyed a cuppa joe while Nic biked 10 miles.

Made Nic stuffed french toast for breakfast.



Blogged.

Watch Nic power clean the house.

Ran 11.75 miles while Nic did five loads of laundry.

Felt like a failure because my pace was slow and my goal was 15 miles.

Ate lunch...at 4:00.

Watched Nic do yard work.

Went to Hy-Vee for a $2 bag of top soil.

Came home with a $200 patio set (talked down from $225, originally $300).



Repotted a plant.

Made spaghetti sauce with 90% of the ingredients from my garden.

Made dinner.

Ate outside.



Tried a new beer.



Dreamt of a dream that I've been dreaming since high school.

Strategized ways to live out that dream.



Enjoyed a refreshing drink.



Got excited about my next vacation.

Took another sip of said refreshing drink.



Day dreamed about seeing my sister on my next vacation.

Wished away September and October so I could go on vacation (guess where I am going).

Blogged from outside from my new patio set.

Ate dessert.



Twas a good day.

pounding the pavement

Yesterday afternoon I laced up my sneakers for what was supposed to be a quick run before heading out to a friend's house for dinner.

The plan, an easy 4 mile recovery run with 6-100 meter pick ups.

The outcome, a speedy 6 mile run at 7:20 pace with 9-100 meter-ish pick ups, and a few tears.

That's right, I totally cried on my run. This is a rarity and I think it has only happened three times before yesterday. Once, on my first ever 20-miler with about 3 miles to go I just couldn't take it anymore and started sobbing. The second and third times happened towards the end/at the end of both the Fargo Marathon and Grandma's marathon. Those were tears of joy.

Yesterday's tears were of the frustrated type.

What brought them on? A few stressful weeks of work/life and actually listening to the lyrics of Katy Perry's Firework song.



I listened to the song over and over again while pounding all of the stresses of life out on the good old country road.

It helped, if not only for the time being, but I came home feeling like a new woman. I think this song needs to be my theme song for the next few weeks/months while I try to strike a better balance in my life.

what i wore

Thank you all for your comments on what I should wear to the two weddings that we attended the last two weekends!

Here is what I ended up wearing:


My cousin Kasey's wedding                                 My friend Nancy's wedding

And in case you haven't been able to tell by my lack of posting lately, life has been extremely busy. I need to strike a better balance between work, running, being a good wife, and being a generally happy person. I have never felt so out of whack and I really don't like it. I need a day (or three) to breathe and get my life in order. I am just not sure when I will have time to do that!

jack the cat

Why hello there, Mr. Jack.



You are looking pretty comfy up there in that basket...that is sitting on top of a CASE of peanut butter patties.



That is sitting on top of the fridge.

Weirdo.

Yes, that really is a case of peanut butter patties, AKA my favorite Girl Scout Cookie ever. Surprisingly, I think I have only eaten one (cookie, not case). Shocking. I paid $20 for the entire case at an auction for Relay, the previous bidder had put down a $2 bid. That is just wrong.

burgers & beer

Last night Nic and I headed up to Iowa City to grab dinner at Short's Burger & Shine.  Our favorite brewery in Iowa, Peace Tree, was taking over the tap to help kick-off Iowa City's Jazz Fest, which will take place all weekend.



Twas a grand time.

You can't really beat a great burger, a cold beer and a pile of fries.

The chocolate chip cookies we grabbed at New Pioneer Food Coop were the proverbial cherries on top of an already fantastic night.

We took the scenic route home (read: rural highway) and started packing up for today's camping trip immediately when walking in the door.






This morning in snuck in a quick 12.48 mile run down the Kewash nature trail.

Camping....here we come!

divide and conquer

Divide and conquer. That is our motto for the day.

So much to do...and we slept in until 10:30 this morning.

We partied hard last night and worked our tails off with the rest of the county to raise over $109,000 for the American Cancer Society. (Remind me to do a post later and share a few of my favorite quotes from the night!)



In fact, much of the past 2+ weeks has been spent finalizing details for the event, so a lot of work around the house has been neglected.



Time to get caught up.

Today's to-do lists:



Guess I should add "Grandma's Marathon Recap" to my list of to-dos, huh?

Check back in later to make sure we got it all done!