Our Volunteer weekend!

Trying to do some outdoor volunteering before it gets too hot this summer! Two days in a row of waking up at 5am and reporting by 6am...everyone knows I'm not a morning person! We had a great time at both events and it was so worth putting off housework that needs to be done or choosing to sleep in.

~ SATURDAY 5/22/10 ~

Maddie and I volunteered at the Somer Thompson 5k Run in Orange Park. We handed out timing chips to the 500+ registered runners and then manned the silent auction table. We won some great raffle prizes (I already used the $25 Carrabba's giftcard we won on dinner that same night!)

~ SUNDAY 5/23/10 ~

Tori, Maddie and I volunteered at the American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure cycling event. We worked the breakfast crew setup and checked in and registered the riders. My company had a team that raced in the event and raised over $11,000 for the cause! Every rider had to raise at least $150 dollars, even the kids in the fun ride...

Tori and Maddie registering the cyclists!

The Family Fun 12 mile ride start...

Us with two of the Jags ROAR cheerleaders!

Team Krewe of Eli on the 60 mile course!

My friends Jason and Elaine!

Maddie and Tori with Jaxson De Ville!

My running Update!

The family running shoes!

So I'm thinking about doing a 1/2 marathon in the late fall...Am I crazy? Not sure, but I definately have the running bug. They say once you start, you get addicted and I am. I have been using my Nike+ for my iPod for a little over a week now and I love it!

I am doing a 5k four to five times a week now on my lunch break or in the evening (still cant make myself wake up to run before work). I have a route I do through my neighborhood or when Evan is at dance, through a very nice neighborhood (which is kinda hilly) behind his studio that is on the river.

My first official 10k race is over Labor Day weekend, it is the Fernandina Beach Turtle Trot...I have a countdown on my blog page to keep me focused. I want to be able to run the entire 6.2 miles without having to walk any of it.

This past weekend I went to 1st Place Sports and registered and paid for all these upcoming events: the Memorial Day 5k on May 31st, the Never Quit Beach Run 5k on June 5th (this will be my first race on sand), and the Run for the Pies 5k the evening of June 12th! My friend, Jendy, will be in town visiting from Nashville, TN the week of the Run for the Pies 5k and she is running it with me...I am so excited! My goal by then is to do it in 30 minutes!

Menu Monday!

Citrus-Marinated Skirt Steak

I made this steak last night for the family and they LOVED it! Super fast, easy and it uses very little ingredients. I didn't take any pics b/c I didn't think it would be that big of a hit with the family, but we will be making it again soon! I served it with corn and rice.


1/2 cup orange juice (I fresh squeezed 1 large orange)

1/4 cup lime juice ( I fresh squeezed 2 limes)

3 cloves of garlic, chopped (I used the minced garlic I have in a jar in the fridge)

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1/4 tsp crushed red pepper

1 1/4 lb skirt steak (I used 1.5 lb flank steak instead)


Combine all ingredients in a large ziplock bag or in a glass pan. Turn and coat steak and let marinate at room temperature for at least 15 minutes (Mine sat for closer to 30 minutes). You can do for up to 5 hrs for really strong flavor.

Preheat a gas grill to high. (I dont have a grill so I pan seared it on hi setting on the stovetop.) Remove steak and discard excess marinade. Grill steak 2 minutes on each side for medium rare...just how I like it! Then transfer to cutting board and let it rest for 5 minutes before you slice it thinly.

Here is the link for the recipe from AllYou June edition so you can print it easily...I love this magazine!

My new Adidas Supernova Glide Shoes!

Check me out! Just got these today, an upgrade from my 1.5 year old Sauconys! 1st Place Sports was having a huge sidewalk sale this weekend and I got these for 50% off...not bad for $50 out the door, they were $100 originally!

Evan's Home Run!

Evan got another home run today, I captured this one on video (click the play button in lower left corner of the black box above). The Storm beat the Pirates 11-5!

Picture of us at his game today!

Maddie's Swim Banquet

Yesterday was the end of the season for Oceanway Middle swim team. The team celebrated with a pizza party and cake at the pool. They played greased watermelon and had a lot of fun. Coach Emery gave out really nice Nike drawstring bags and shirts to all the swimmers. Then she got a suprise when the kids pushed her in the pool fully clothed!

Mother's Day Weekend 2010

This weekend was the best Mother's Day ever!

On Saturday morning, I ran in the Hands On Jacksonville Spring Human Race 5k in Baymeadows and shaved a minute and a half off last weeks 5k!

Then Saturday night, Darby suprised me and took the kids to his moms overnight. We went to The Brick in Avondale for our date night. We had an awesome prime rib dinner and I got a yummy Mango Mojito!

Darby and the kids surpised me with this awesome ipod bundle pack! I have everything I need now to run like a pro!

On Sunday, I slept in and then we went to Cracker Barrel for a late breakfast...I got blackberry pancakes! Then we did a little shopping at Gander Mountain where I got some great North Face and Columbia clothes on clearance for my Grand Canyon camping trip coming up in October.

Then we picked up the kids and decided to spend the day at the beach! We bought new boogie boards and tried to go to Huegenot to break them in but it was closed off, so we went to Little Talbot Island instead for some relaxation, frisbee and football (you cant swim there).

Creamy Lemon Cheesecake Pie

Publix had sour cream BOGO and Cream Cheese 4/$5 so I decided to make cheesecake for dessert the other night! Evan was my helpful assistant, actually he made the entire thing...that's how easy it was. I filled the pan with a little too much filling, otherwise it wouldn't have cracked so much. It turned out very yummy, but next time I'll add a little more lemon zest and juice.

Evan whipping it up...

Zesting the lemon...

We brushed the crust with egg white and baked it for 5 minuted before we filled the pan, it makes the crust crispier and so much better!

Creamy Lemon Cheesecake Pie

2 pkg 8oz Cream Cheese, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup sour cream

1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

1 tsp grated lemon peel

2 eggs

1 Graham Pie Crust (I used Honey Maid 6oz)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Beat cream cheese in bowl with electric mixer until creamy. Add sugar, beat. Add sour cream, lemon juice and peel; mix well. Add eggs, on low speed just until blended. Pour mixture in pie shell. Bake for 35-40 minutes, cool on wire rack then refrigerate for 4 hrs or overnight. (This recipe is also on the bottom of the Honey Maid label) ENJOY!

Ocean and Oceans!

Yesterday we went to Jacksonville Beach for some fun in the sun! Evan invited Anna and Maddie brought Devon. The kids had so much fun on their boogie boards. After the beach, we all went to the theatre and watched the Disney movie, Oceans.

What a fun time!

2010 Shrimp Festival and 5K Run!

Maddie and I ran this morning in the 16th Annual Shrimp Festival 5k Run at Fernandina Beach! I have only been training for a week, so I was so proud of myself. I did it in 39:13 and walked for too much of it, but now I have a benchmark to improve upon.

Maddie has never trained and she did it in 35:06.

Evan did the half mile Shrimp Run for the 8 and under. He got 4th place out of the boys, with a time of 3:47!

Me, Maddie and Evan ready to run!

Me waving hi!

We did it!

Then, we headed over to the Shrimp Festival for some food, shopping, and fun! I got a mug for my morning hot tea that has a sea turtle on it and the kids both got an ornament for their tree. Then we pigged out after burning all those calories! We got a grilled shrimp basket, a shrimp pie, a hotdog, a funnel cake, boiled peanuts, a fresh-squeezed lemonade, numerous other drinks, and a flavored shaved ice...I'm BROKE now! But it was so much fun!