Feeling GREAT!

It's been a GLORIOUS Wednesday in Portland...and it's not even 3 o'clock yet.

I got off my butt this morning and went for a 7 mile bike ride down the Springwater Corridor.  Nothing toooooo long - but it felt so great to get moving.  I was back at home by noon and made myself a delicious iced coffee.

Decided to make some mexican for dinner so I bought ingredients to make Jalapeno poppers (and with fat free cream cheese - they'll be decently healthy too!)  Shrimp tacos will also be on the menu.

I'll probably keep moving forward on my crafting project tonight - but gotta enjoy the sunshine while I can!

Yay for Spring in Portland. :)

My New Hobby

I've come up with this new hobby since the beginning of the year.  I'm talking about my very own VODKA INFUSIONS!  It all started when my fellow and I didn't want to pay for the $24.95 pepper vodka at the liquor store - and decided to make our own.  Thus, the birth of a new hobby.

We use Vodka Monopolowa from Austria.  The only reason we've gone with this one is because our favorite Bloody Mary place uses it - so we trusted it.  So far so good.

The first infusion - involving habeneros - turned out BRILLIANTLY.  It was so easy and the end result was so much better than any pepper vodka we could buy at the liquor store.If you're unfamiliar with the steps to infusing vodka - let me share.

1. Cut up what you're using to infuse.
2. Place in mason jar (with a tight sealing lid).
3. Add vodka.
4. Put in cupboard for a few days.
5. Strain.
6. Enjoy!

Seriously...so easy!  We enjoyed it in Bloody Marys - with homemade mix of course!

Since that first infusion, we've also infused Vanilla, another batch of Habenero, and Pineapple.  All of which have been ridiculously good.  On deck are Cranberry/Pomegranate, Grapefruit, and Garlic.  I know, garlic sounds weird - but we're thinking it would be delicious in Bloody Marys too!

Couch to 5k!

I now have something to blog about. Regularly.

Yesterday I started Week One of the Couch to 5k Running program. Not that I ever intend to be a "runner," but this seemed to be a program that I could do and STICK WITH. Even though it's only March, the weather is becoming nicer and with this free podcast - the price is right for me!

Let me tell you a little bit about it. Couch to 5k (or C25K from here on out) was developed by a guy in his 40's who wanted to start running again. He created this 9-week interval program to help people who don't run at all to train and run for a straight 30 minutes.

Some people may think, "Running for 30 minutes? That's easy!" Well sure, I can imagine it's easy if you do any sort of regular work out or are in any sort of shape at all. I. am. not. But I'm doing something about it. And instead of paying $50 a month in a gym membership that I'd only use 5 of 6 times per month - this fits my budget much better.

Three times a week (or more if I'm inspired) I will be "running" this program. Writing this blog will hopefully help me stay accountable.

Woot.