I had one of the best days I’ve had in ages (in terms of relaxation, contrasted with exciting days). The fall weather, the option to do whatever I pleased, playing outside with my camera and my husband.
I found a new subject!!!
Any ideas for names!?
Playing with the camera settings while he worked on the computer:
Juxtapose such a lovely day with one of the worst workouts I’ve had all year! We set out for a run around 4:30, 2.5 hours after I’d had lunch. But I felt like there was a bowling ball in my stomach!! I didn’t eat that much at lunch, but gosh it was horrible. I couldn’t breathe, my HR was up in the 170s. Quote Matt "I’ve never seen you run this slow." No idea what my problem was, but I blame lunch. We ran to the YMCA (2.2 miles), I wimped out on weight lifting quickly and then we ran 2.2 home. The run home was a lot better after I’d had the run there to expedite digestion!
Once we were back in the neighborhood the plan was to bike to a field and play sports. We decided to play in our cul-de-sac instead
Got him!! (Doesn’t he look just a little like Nate Archibald!? Minus the bangs?)
After our frisbee we walked to the grocery store (the short way – we were tired!) to pick up the week’s produce. Once home we showered while the rice cooked and came down to assemble dinner.
Peel-N-Eat Shrimp with Maple Date Collard Greens + Brown Rice
The shrimps were from our tailgate. Reheat + eat!
As for the collards, I made them my favorite way: sugary sweet!
Take a huge bunch of kale and rip into pieces off of the stem into a salad spinner.
Wash + Dry
Steam in a huge stock pot with a bit of water in the bottom for about 5 minutes on medium high heat until collards are tender.
Meanwhile chop ~4 dates
And stir them in with about 2 tbsp maple syrup. You may need to drain the collards before serving.
I think any vegetable tastes better sweetened!
Lundberg Short Grain brown rice. Only the best.
Shrimps
Gotta have old bay like my mom!! This Old Bay was sent to me as a sample from the company itself. I’ve been eating it on shrimp since I was in the womb and they aren’t the same without it! (Yeah, cocktail sauce is good too 😉 )
We watched the movie Two Lovers after dinner. I was NOT a fan at all….
We each had a little dessert to enjoy. Some Living Harvest Tempt "ice cream"
I tried the Mint Chocolate Chip, which Matt picked out as his flavor. I did not care for it at all. It tasted very chemically to me 🙁 The Coffee Biscotti flavor is so rich that I was really surprised at the contrast. I let them sit out a bit to melt.
Topped with some Cacao Nibs and Cacao Bliss!
I had a really, really fun weekend and these next 3 days are going to be work, work, work to prepare for a test on Thursday and a few more assignments off the list.
Off to tuck my camera into bed 🙂
Kristin @ Iowa Girl Eats says
Sounds like a FAB day – all that exerciese, you must feel great! 😀
That camera is taking some wicked pictures – they are so life like!
Erin says
Hey there little pine cone hedgehog. I have your twin as a xmas ornament. We love him.
I don’t even understand how to eat shrimp w/o Old Bay. I’m from the mid-atlantic region tho and it’s a sin to eat them any.other.way.
Chemical ice cream is the worst.
Jenna says
glad you had a fun weekend kath!
looks like it was really fun 🙂
jenna
angieinatlanta says
I’m sorry about your run but it looks like you and Matt got to spend a lot of QT together!
And I love peel ‘n eat shrimp; I think the best part is that it’s impossible for me to eat them too fast since I have to work for each one! I always feel the right amount of full after!
Stacy says
Kath,
I am absolutely in LOVE with your neighborhood! I have an obsession with cute quaint towns and moving to San Francisco has developed my appreciation even more!
Your weekend was much like mine, a lot of relaxation with some fun outdoor activities!
Chris says
I have no idea why, but your cute little subject looks like a Sherman to me!
Sorry to hear about the poor run – sometimes a little walk break can knock out the bowling ball feeling. =(
Katharina says
Ohh you and Matt are such an awesome couple. Makes me slightly jealous 😉 but not in a bad way. You two are very blessed 🙂
kay (eating machine) says
i was staring at those hemp ice creams at the store tonight and almost got one! i totally would’ve gotten the mint too, i’m glad i didn’t!
JessicaR says
That’s funny… when I read your Nate Archibald post, I thought to myself, “Well gosh, doesn’t her husband look a lot like that?!” 🙂
Sarah @ The Foodie Diaries says
I’ve never had sweet greens! They sound delish! And that shot is very Nate 🙂
Leianna says
Love the shrimp and collard greens! Such a cute southern dinner, I wish I could eat more like that here in Iowa!
Have a great week and love the camera for great pictures!
Stephanie says
Shrimp + Old Bay is always a winner in my book! I like the collards idea a lot, never made them but this combo sounds great! Gossip Girl season premiere = t-minus 1 day oh yea 🙂
maria says
How about Herbert? Herbert the Hedgehog! It’s got a nice ring, I think!
Also, that ice cream looks soooooo good! Ugh… I need to stop looking at food now!
-maria
Matt (NoMeatAthlete) says
Old Bay is the best! Even though I don’t eat meat anymore, I still put in on stuff like popcorn.
Also nice job with the kale. Sauteed kale with a little soy sauce is one of my favorite foods these days, and so healthy!
Lizzy says
a bad run happens from time to time, but don’t worry!!!!!
those shrimpies look amazing! i love shrimp cocktail so much! 🙂
have a good night!
Steph says
How fun! I love frisbee! The collard greens sound very good 🙂
Jenn (www. j3nn.net ) says
Looks like Henry the Hedgehog to me 🙂
I love shrimp, not a fan of peeling them though! 😆
Jenn
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
So glad to hear that you had such a great day, despite the difficult run. It always feels nice to finish off the weekend on a good note! Haha, and I can totally see Nate in Matt’s photo there… guess your dreams really do come true. 😉
Lele says
Aren’t there a lot of hedgehogs in Britain? You should give him a fun British name like Neville or Nigel or Alfred!
Cynthia (It All Changes) says
Bad runs stink…at least you got it in. I’m more likely to not go if I have a bowling ball in my stomach or to just do yoga.
I don’t know why but the first name I thought of what Mr.Ham. I have no idea why.
That pic totally looked like him. I saw him on the VMA’s tonight and thought about your post 🙂
[email protected] says
What a fun day, mine was similar:) I LOVE MY CANNON!!!!
Ali says
that little fella looks like an Edwin to me! 🙂 haha
Allison (Eat Clean Live Green) says
Sounds like a great day! That little ‘mouse’ is too cute
Jenn Eats Nutritiously Now says
I want to try that ice cream. Thanks for the review.
Run Sarah says
That salad looks awesome! I love playing frisbee/ultimate…so much fun!
BroccoliHut says
Two things I must have from this post: a salad spinner and Tempt:)
Marissa says
You photos are so crisp with your new camera!
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
you should name the hedgehog “nate” or “archibald!”
Julia says
Good luck with all that work!
xxx Julia (Taste of Living)
eliza says
that ice cream looks so good, wow with the cocoa bliss it looks heavenly! i am dying to try the cocoa bliss… 🙂
xo have a great Monday,
Eliza
Jac says
interesting sweet greens! have to try that.. Bob is a cute name for that little fella! Lol..
Have a great day Kath!
Jac
Cara (Cara Craves...) says
Going with the “H” name theme, here are some that I thought went well with Hedgehog. Maybe some of them will inspire you.
Harley, Harlow, Hector, Hester, Holmes, Horton, Hughey
christie, honoring health says
yikes, sorry about the run 🙁
I am making collards tonight, I always make them spicy but this gives me the idea to make them spicy AND sweet!
Mom says
Love all the hedgehog names. Don’t know how she will ever pick.
Madelin @ What is for breakfast? says
Congrats on the new camera! Luckeeeee – as Napoleon would say 🙂
Lauren says
Gorgeous photos with the new camera!
I wish my husband’s schedule was more on par with mine so we could exercise together… I love that you guys played frisbee after the gym! So cute.
The maple date combo sounds like the perfect accompaniment to greens. Looks like a yummy dinner!
Hangry Pants says
LOL – totally see Nate.
A lot of people tell me Dan reminds them of Mark – I guess that makes us Sabrina and Blair?
April says
Stewie or Franklie would be my choice for a name. I really want something to name Frankie LOL!
Mmmm….Old Bay Seasoning..!
whitney says
I’m so glad you had a great day. Do not worry about the workout. I have days like that ALL the time. I think sometimes our body and mind just poop out on us. We take for granted how wondeful of a system our bodies are. Sometimes they need a break 🙂 hope your workout today goes better. Have a great day back at school
JENNA says
your camera is so cool!! You are going to have so much fun playing with it!! I love your dinner! looks great!
Paige says
Sounds like such a fun day! I love that you guys were so active! And love even more that you played frisbee!! haha
AnnQ says
Okay, the shrimp, brown rice and kale looks fan-tastic! And great camera! 😀
Meg says
What a fun day and dinner looks amazing! I love your new little friend…do you have a name yet?
Don’t miss the Sweet Potato Scone giveaway over on my blog!
Pam says
How about Wilbur the hedgehog!
Shrimpies look great!
Kate says
YUM! I love Old Bay — reminds me of home! I am from Baltimore, and seafood (crabs especially) are just not the same without that smoky Old Bar flavah.
Ha, I second Wilbur. Very cute.
Anne [email protected] New Weigh says
Shrimp + Old Bay = Perfection!
Joanne says
Isn’t weird how we have those crapola workout days…just can’t get those feet moving. Usually, once you get going things kind of kick into gear but there is that odd day the bod just says “NO WAY”. You ended up with some great activity anyway.
As for that adorable little guy you recently adopted… I like Herbert (aka Herbie) or Wilbur is really cute (would Willy work?)…what about Goochie? I don’t know why – just made me smile.
One more thing… I have updated my site so instead of the link pointing to applecrumbles wordpress…. my site is simply applecrumbles dot com. Would you mind changing the link on your blog roll? Thanks. OH! … if you have a second, can you check out the new site and let me know your thoughts… I’d really value your opinion and that of your readers.
meghan says
re: the lens questions. i think if you have the money, a macro lens is a fun “want” to have, but not necessarily a “need.” i don’t have one and if you flip through my flickr feed, you can see a lot seem like they do, but i find that by using the lens with a bigger zoom (i use a 28.0-300.0 mm lens), standing back and using the AV setting, i get the results i’m after. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/) as far as filters go, i do so much post-shot editing, i find filters kind of annoying. i do have a polarizing lens that i use if i’m only shooting outdoor landscapes, but how often is anyone shooting just that?
good luck with the new camera, you’ll love it. my best advice is just to play it with it a lot. i’ve had mine for a year and i constantly find new tricks.
Angela (Oh She Glows) says
Congrats on your new camera (just getting caught up from the weekend!). Your pics look fab…you will have so much fun with the macro. I am STILL figuring mine out! lol.
Sorry about the run…I have realized myself that I can’t run on more than a small morning snack. When I run in the PM hours I never feel good no matter how long since the last meal.
Seth @ Boy Meets Food says
I started reading this post before the last one and was thinking to myself… “Wow, Kath’s pictures are really looking better.” Then I saw the reason why! Congrats on the new camera. I definitely need to look into getting a new camera. Your pics look great!
ally says
old bay is also great for crabs 🙂