Jingle All The Way

Yesterday, I ran in the Jingle All the Way 5k with my friend Jessica.
It was Jessica's second race and a first for me.
My mom was on hand to cheer for us and she was such a trooper in the freezing cold weather.  

My race number!

The race wasn't an overly crowded one, so it was a great introduction to the racing scene.  I decided to take things slow in the beginning, because my over all goal was just to finish the race.  I had only ran a 5k once before and that was Monday on a practice run.  Much to my surprise I completed the race with much more ease that I anticipated and I really enjoyed it!  I'm ready for the next one!

My final time was 32:10, so I averaged just over 10 minutes per mile.  

For the next race I am shooting for 9 minute miles and to finish under 30 minutes!

Elation!  I was so proud of myself!

I haven't really competed in any sports since college,
so it was really cool to feel my competitive spirit coming back.
I am even trying to convince Daniel to get back into running and try a 5k out with me.
Who know's maybe a half-marathon is in my future!!  

Freedom!

Today was the first day of Christmas Break! Sweet Freedom!

I was so unsure of what to do with myself since 

I haven't truly been free from obligations since the middle of June.  

I decided to take a little trip to visit my old workplace and see some friendly faces.

It was so good to be back there and it reminded me of how much I miss everyone.

Then I got to have lunch with my mom and that was awesome!

I love visiting her at work and when I can bring her some food its double happiness.

When I got home I had the most ridiculous sweet tooth!!

I never crave sweets, maybe its that 5k glooming in my mind?

No worries though, because I found the most delicious recipe here.

Chocolate Crinkle Cake Mix Cookies

what you need

1 box Devil's Food cake mix

1/4 cup canola oil

2 large eggs

powdered sugar for garnish

how you make it

preheat oven to 350 degrees

combine cake mix, oil, and eggs in a large bowl and mix until combined

(you may need to use your hands...i did)

roll cookie dough into small balls and roll around in a bowl of powdered sugar

place dough balls on a greased cookie sheet and bake for approximately 12 minutes

enjoy (while listening to christmas music)!

well, tomorrows the big day

the day i put myself through unnecessary torture

also known as the "Jingle All The Way 5k"

Goal: Finish... with a pulse

I'll let you know how it goes!

Creamy Cheese Tortellini

Well its been a while... but school is coming to a close so free time is in my future!

Tonight's menu was maybe a new favorite for the Pennington's

I was searching through a Christmas cookbook for some holiday goodies and 

came across this one... its pretty amazing and super easy!

what you need

1 package (7 oz) cheese-filled tortellini

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin slices

1/4 cup butter

1 small green bell pepper, chopper (1/2 cup)

1/2 sweet onion, chopped

8 baby carrots, sliced

1/2 cup frozen garden peas

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 3/4 cups milk

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 cup shredded monterey jack/colby cheese

how you make it

Cook and drain tortellini as directed on package.

Meanwhile, in 3-quart saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook chicken in oil, stirring frequently, until no longer pink in center. Remove chicken from saucepan; keep warm.

In same saucepan, melt butter over medium-high heat. Cook bell pepper, shallots and carrots in butter, stirring frequently, until bell pepper is crisp-tender. Stir in flour and pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is bubbly; remove from heat. Stir in milk and frozen garden peas. 

Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute; remove from heat. Stir in cheeses until melted. Stir in tortellini and chicken until coated.

I was extra happy tonight, because it was the first time I got to use my AMAZING Le Creuset dutch oven!!  I ogled over these pots for years watching Giada de Laurentiis on the Food Network.  Earlier this year Daniel and I broke down and purchased this little beauty and I must say it was well worth it!

In other news, I have a 5k coming up in only a matter of days.  You may remember that I started training for a race last month.  However, with school and the holidays I have had way too much going on to run.  My friend contacted me yesterday though and said a race was coming up this weekend and wanted to know if I was interested.  

Call me crazy, but I agreed!  I gave a 5k a try today for the first time ever and I made it!! Well, I did have to walk just a little bit, but I finished which is my main purpose for Saturday.  I am so happy to give this a try, I just hope I make it!

I'm Thankful for...

First of all, HAPPY THANKSGIVING everyone!

We had an amazing Thanksgiving and I am completely stuffed.

I had great intentions of taking a picture of all the delicious food,
but extreme hunger overtook me and I devoured it immediately!

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for so many things including:
my husband, my family, and all that God has provided for us!

Thanksgiving Eve

may your stuffing be tasty

may your turkey be plump, 

may your potatoes and gravy

have nary a lump

may your yams be delicious

and your pies take the prize,

and may your Thanksgiving dinner

stay off your thighs!

-Author Unknown

So its Thanksgiving Eve and we have been busy little bees at the Chase house.

Food preparations and decorations are underway, 

now all thats left is sleep and the big day tomorrow

Tomorrow will be awesome.  Why you ask?

1. THE FOOD 

(no explanation needed)

2. Family Time

Daniel and I are lucky enough to see our family a lot, but its really nice to get together for the holidays and this year both of our families are celebrating together!

3. Games

That's right- all of you headed to the Chase house tomorrow be ware... I have planned some awesome Thanksgiving inspired games to play, so get excited

4. Did I mention the food?

5. Christmas is right around the corner!

I love Thanksgiving, but come on you know you are pumped that the best holiday ever is around the corner!  I am particularly excited about Christmas this year, because that means I am exactly half way through my master's program and graduation is only 5 months away!

In other news, I started a new fitness regime this week.  I emailed a friend recently inquiring about her success with running a 5k, because I was really interested.  She gave me some great advice and I selected a program on my phone very similar to the Couch to 5k program and I have successfully completed the first week of running.  I am feeling so much better since I have started going to the gym regularly and I really hope I can keep it up with the upcoming holidays.  I have also started scouting out some local 5k races for early next years, because I want to have a firm date to work towards!  I am still an amateur at this whole working out thing, so if you have any great tips or websites with tips for workout newbies let me know! 

Tomorrow is a free day though... and this will be me... all day long!

BrrrBerry

After a delicious dinner of baked chicken, broccoli, and rice Daniel and I headed out for a little froyo. Luckily  there are plenty of places in town so we picked BrrrBerry.  I highly recommend check it out, because its amazing! They seriously have a million toppings to choose from!  Tonight I had vanilla froyo with chocolate chips, fruity pebbles, strawberries, walnuts, and chocolate covered raisins. 

Amazing combination!!

Tuesday Randoms

I have been terrible about updating lately, so a random post was a must!

Last week, Daniel and I put up our Christmas tree!  It was so much fun to put together our first tree as a married couple and I think its perfect!  

We are still in the ornament collecting process, but its looking pretty good.

Daniel surprised me with some special christmas decor this week too!

ECU Stcokings!

Aren't they adorable?

Thursday, Daniel ran into a little car trouble when he tried to pick me up from school so we spent Friday morning getting that fixed.  Let's just say that a Volkswagen is not the ideal car to use when you need to jump start your battery.

Tiny Car = Tiny Battery Compartment

In other big news, I finally got a desk at school this week and now I feel legit!  My clinical teacher made a nice little nook for me in the back of the classroom and I have a space of my own!

He also let me go through a huge bin of school supplies to stock up my desk, so I only need a few more things!  First on the list- a drawer organizer! 

Well that wraps up this edition of Tuesday Randoms.  Check in later this week for a full depiction of the first Chase/Pennington Family Thanksgiving!  It will be full of family, fun, and FOOD!!

Happy Anniversary!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY 

TO THE BEST SECOND SET OF PARENTS A GIRL COULD ASK FOR!

29 YEARS TOGETHER!

WOW! 

Their wedding day- November 21, 1982

The lovebirds in 2011

 Congratulations to Mr. Rex and Mrs. Jan!

42 days 14 hours 49 mins 40 sec

CHRISTMAS!!

my favorite time of the year

hallmark movies

hot chocolate

cold weather

time off

food, food, more food

homemade goodies

gift wrapping

christmas trees

decorating

did i mention food?

well, these are a few of my favorite things!

i am so pumped that christmas is only a mere 42 days away.  so now its time to starting thinking about the pennington's first christmas and our apartment decorations.

our apartments pretty tiny, so i am thinking i am going to go on the non-traditional route with a smaller tree this year.  my mom has this awesome skinny christmas tree she is letting us borrow and i think its going to be perfect.  it looks something like this (p.s. no real trees for us, it makes mr. pennington all stuffy)

i'm thinking a beautiful tree skirt will spiff it up nicely!

today i must journey out to find some beautiful decorations.  i have some that i bought last year at hallmark at the end of the year, but it don't think that is going to cover the tree!  i'm kind of indecisive about themed trees versus traditional trees... i think i'll go traditional this year though.

i'm loving these stockings!

so what are your thoughts?  are you gearing up for christmas yet?

pictures to come once things are up and looking awesome!

my cat earl

meet my cat earl

earl was the sweetest cat in the world

earl is now in kitty heaven, but i miss the little tiger

i proclaim on a regular basis that i will never have another animal,

because the pain of losing one is so severe

but the love we get from out pets outweighs the heartbreak i guess

for now though... no more pets for me