Friday Confessions!

Good morning friends & happy Friday! My face is almost back to normal - more rectangle than pear shaped at this point - and I will take it! I figured I would take a break from stuffing my face with these amazing scones I made yesterday and join Lesley in some Friday Confessions. (Want to see something funny? Watch someone who recently had oral surgery try to chew a scone with their front teeth. A painful process).



Lesley has set some themes for us to follow for the month of June and this week is Pet Peeves. Ooooh, Lesley, have I got some pet peeves! Here we go:

1. When women wear crummy sweat pants/shirts with full hair and makeup. 
If it is midnight and perhaps you just got home, I give you a pass. But if it is 11am and you clearly got up, did your hair and makeup, and then gave up? No. How long does it take to put on jeans? 45 seconds? Put on some real clothes if you are going to do your hair and makeup.

2. When people start/end a gossipy story with "I just hate drama. I am not a drama person". 
Sweetie, please. You feed on drama. I can tell by the way you just shared that story about your "friend". People who hate drama don't spread stories that cause drama.

3. Watching a person cover a beautiful salad full of yummy veggies in ranch/blue cheese dressing.
Don't get me wrong, I love some salad dressing too. But covering a salad with a 1/2 cup of rich dressing completely covers up the flavor of all those amazing veggies! Just lighten up on the dressing a bit and enjoy the taste of real food!

4. Opening to a really amazing chapter in a book, right at bedtime.
This always happens to me! I am about to put my book away, when bam!, something exciting happens and I cannot put it down. There goes another 2 hours of sleep.

5. Kim Kardashion. 
I just don't care.

Happy Weekend!
Hannah 

Apple Oatmeal Scones

There are the most gorgeous apples in my refrigerator right now. They are just beautiful. I know, it is June and I should be gushing about watermelon and berries, but I just had my wisdom teeth removed and I am obsessing over the juicy crunch of an apple.

Thus, the scones.

I chopped apples, looked at them longingly, and then folded them into a healthy(ish) cinnamon scone dough. If you have some lonely apples in your refrigerator, give this a try this weekend. You won't regret it!

Apple Oatmeal Scones

makes 8

Ingredients
1 c. whole wheat flour
1/3 c oats
2/3 c. white flour
1/4 c. sugar
2 t. baking powder
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/2 t. baking soda
1/4 c. cold butter, cut into small pieces
1 medium apple, chopped with peel
1 t. vanilla
1/3 c. milk (whatever you have)
1/3 c. greek yogurt
Topping
sugar, oats, milk

Directions
Preheat the oven to 400*. Whisk the flours, oats, sugar, baking powder, soda, and spices. Using a pastry cutter (or two forks), cut in cold butter until well combined (this should create small pea sized clumps). Stir in apple chunks to cover with flour. In a measuring cup, mix milk, yogurt, and vanilla until well combined, then gently stir into flour mixture. Be careful not to over mix!
Dump dough out onto floured surface and shape into a round disk, about 1/2 -3/4 inch tall. Avoid kneading the dough, just press gently and let it be. Cut into 8 wedges, similar to cutting a pizza. Using a spatula, place scones onto a greased baking sheet 2 inches apart. Brush tops of scones with milk, sprinkle with oats and sugar.

unbaked scones

Bake scones at 400* for 15-17 minutes. Scones should be light brown around the edges when done. These are best eaten warm, topped with butter and served with tea. Enjoy!

x0x0,
Hannah 

Weekend Review

What a fabulous weekend! Last week was full of family and fun, with a weekend filled with apartment hunting and exploring. I wanted to share some fun moments from the last few days, as well as some awesome recipes I tried!

1. Visiting with my sweet mother. I was SO happy to see my mom, I just hate living this far from her. We had fun catching up and taking lots of walks together. I almost cried when she left yesterday.

2. Playing with these adorable babies. My cousins have some cute kids, wouldn't you agree? Look at all of these smiling faces!

3. Trying these yummy Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls from Kelly and Eat Urself Skinny. You should try them too! I didn't use gluten-free oats, but they were still yummy and perfect for a healthy snack.

4. I had the most amazing Indian meal in Atlanta this weekend - I have missed good Indian food. I enjoyed Saag Paneer, Aloo Ghobi, and chai tea. I enjoyed it immensely.

5. Apartment hunting. Aaron and I toured 8 places on Saturday and it was a lot! We found some incredible places, so now we just need to make a decision. The most important things on my search list? Modern kitchen, large closets, and windows :)

How was your weekend?
What do you look for in an apartment or house?

x0x0,
Hannah 

Friday Confessions

Happy Friday Lovelies!

I'm off to Atlanta today to search for an apartment with A. I've had the most wonderful week with my mother and extended family. But I should get back to the point. On to the Friday Confessions! I confess...

...that I need to go on a sugar fast after this week. My family loves sweets. We live for them. I woke up this morning feeling like I had a sugar hangover.

... I have enjoyed all of the babies in my family immensely this weekend, but I am happy not to have my own right now. It is SO exhausting, I do not know how all of you mommies do it.

.... I spent a good deal of time at Ulta yesterday and I cannot wait to try out some of my new products. I walked into that store needing nothing, but (surprise!) discovered many things that I "had to have", like pink lipsticks and erase paste concealer :)

... I cannot wait to apartment hunt this weekend and spend some time in Atlanta. I am so excited about moving and exploring a new place with A. I've already located the farmer's markets and fro-yo shops (my priorities are clear).

Well, I am off tot he airport - Have a fabulous weekend everyone!
Hannah 

Maple Almond Granola

I love granola. It is so yummy with milk, on top of yogurt, on top of smoothies, any way! And I always seem to forget how easy it is to make. Yesterday A asked me if I had any granola (I didn't. Fail.), so I quickly planned to make some this afternoon. I just pulled this out of the oven, my apartment smells incredible, and wanted to share before I forget again. Yummy, simple, and quick maple almond granola.

Maple Almond Granola

Makes approx. 2 cups

ingredients
1 T. nut butter (I like almond or peanut)
1 T. oil (olive, coconut, or butter)
1-2 T. maple syrup (sweeten to your taste)
1 T. chia seeds
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 cups oats
1/3 cup almonds, chopped.

Place nut butter and oil in class dish and microwave for 10 seconds. Stir in maple syrup, chia seeds, and cinnamon until well combined. Add the oats and almonds, mixing until well combined.
Spread mixture evenly on a greased baking sheet and bake at 300* for 25-30 minutes. At 20 min, take out the pan and stir. Continue baking 5-10 more minutes, watching closely to make sure is doesn't burn!

Note: This is really more of a method than a recipe. Feel free to change up the nuts, nut butter, mix-ins, etc. Make it yours and enjoy!

x0x0,
Hannah 

Marathon Training Overview

Alright, A and I have bit the bullet. We are going to do the Atlanta Marathon this April! This will be our second marathon and we cannot wait to train and run together. Next week I will do a post on our first marathon. It was epic.

We are following an adjusted version of the Hal Higdon novice 2 training plan. We followed the basic version of this for our first marathon and liked it, but we wanted to make a few changes to allow for two 20 mile runs, not one.

								Total Miles
Week	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
1	Rest	3 m run	5 m pace	3 m run	Rest	8	Cross	19
2	Rest	3 m run	5 m run	3 m run	Rest	10	Cross	21
3	Rest	3 m run	5 m pace	3 m run	Rest	8	Cross	19
4	Rest	3 m run	6 m pace	3 m run	Rest	12	Cross	24
5	Rest	3 m run	6 m run	3 m run	Rest	13	Cross	25
6     8/5	Rest	3 m run	6 m pace	3 m run	Rest	9	Cross	21
7     8/12	Rest	4 m run	7 m pace	4 m run	Rest	14	Cross	29
8     8/19	Rest	4 m run	7 m run	4 m run	Rest	16	Cross	31
9     8/26	Rest	4 m run	7 m pace	4 m run	Rest	Rest	Half Marathon	28
10     9/2	Rest	4 m run	8 m pace	4 m run	Rest	18	Cross	34
11     9/2	Rest	5 m run	8 m run	5 m run	Rest	19	Cross	37
12     9/9	Rest	5 m run	8 m pace	5 m run	Rest	13	Cross	31
13     9/16	Rest	5 m run	5 m pace	5 m run	Rest	20	Cross	35
14    9/23	Rest	5 m run	8 m run	5 m run	Rest	13	Cross	31
15  9/30	Rest	5 m run	5 m pace	5 m run	Rest	20	Cross	35
16   10/7	Rest	5 m run	4 m pace	5 m run	Rest	12	Cross	26
17     10/14	Rest	4 m run	3 m run	4 m run	Rest	8	Cross	19
18     10/21	Rest	3 m run	2 m run	Rest	Rest	2 m run	Marathon	33.2

Yes, this is lower weekly mileage than we both run right now. Because I am starting law school, moving, and making major transitions, we decided to go with a lighter training plan. I don't want to crash and burn :) After we see how the first semester of school goes, we will be able to better adjust.

Can I just say how excited I am to be training with A? I love running with him; our long runs have created space for some of our best conversations. I love getting to share the stress, frustration, exhaustion, and sense of accomplishment with him. I love the way he pushes me to be better and encourages me to give my all. We are a good team.

We don't run every run together. We always do the long run together and try to get a short run in together during the week. This week we did a hot & sweaty 5 miles together and plan on doing the long run this weekend.

I am looking forward to updating you on our training adventures and milestones! What are your race plans for this summer/fall?

x0x0x,
Hannah

Confessional Friday: Summer break addition!

I would say TGIF, but I am on summer break and yesterday kind of felt like Friday too :) I know, I know, you wish the teachers of the world would be quiet. I can't help it.

Anyways, lets get going with the my Friday Confessions. Thanks Lesley for hosting at A Blonde Ambition!

I confess...

... I drank 3 cups of coffee this morning and have moved on to a soy latte. Perhaps I should use summer to curb my coffee addiction? Probably not.

... I'm planning on shoe shopping today. I had a horrendous experience with a flash flood on Wednesday night that ruined my favorite pair of Nine West wedges. I had so walk 3 blocks in a downpour and my cork wedges don't seem to have made it. I did wrap a plastic bag around my Kate Spade tote, but I couldn't save everything (you should have seen my hair and make-up. Or not. It was bad). I've envied these on Caitlin and Emily's blogs, so maybe I will try them on today.



... I'm taking a rest day today and not going to the gym. I need to save my muscles for the move tomorrow.

... I am having some anxieties about putting my stuff in storage until I move into my Atlanta apartment. I just HATE the thought of locking it all up!

... After seeing these yummy little Chobani greek yogurt bites, I grabbed some yesterday. I cannot wait to try them! Who doesn't love coffee & dark chocolate?


What are your plans for the weekend?

Have a great weekend!
Hannah 

Crazy Week

Hey all, sorry I went missing this week/weekend. I finished up school on Friday, starting packing my apartment over the weekend, packed my classroom on Monday, and am finishing up my apartment today. It has been CRAZY! I am so sick of sorting, folding, and boxing. Saying this many good-byes in this short of a time span is no fun. On a positive note:
1. I've re-found many closet treasures.
2. I've finally said good-bye to many closet treasures.
3. I've enjoyed some yummy meals while trying to eat up my pantry and refrigerator contents. Come back tomorrow for my WIAW and check it out!

After Wednesday, I should be back in full force :) I'm off now for a run & Pilates class!

x0x0x,
Hannah 

Oatmeal Honey Wheat Bread

This bread is amazing. I love making bread and have tried a million recipes for a yummy whole wheat bread. After a few modifications, this one is perfect. I love hint of sweetness from the honey and cinnamon, and the soft texture from the oatmeal.

Often, I make a half recipe, which yields just one 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 loaf - the perfect size for one person! If you want to make a whole batch, you could always pop one in the freezer :)

This bread has oatmeal and wheat flour, making it very hearty. It is sweetened with honey and brown sugar, but you could also use maple sugar, molasses, or whatever sweetener you prefer. I use a mixture of white and whole wheat flour, just because the white helps it rise a bit more. Feel free to adjust the proportions to your taste! Enjoy :)

Oatmeal Honey Wheat Bread

makes two loaves

2 cups boiling water
1 cup rolled oats
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 cup olive oil

1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon Saigon-type cinnamon
1 tablespoon yeast
4 cups Whole Wheat Flour
1 1/2 cups Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

In a large mixing bowl, combine the water, oats, maple sugar, honey, butter, salt and cinnamon. Let cool to lukewarm.

Add the yeast and flours, stirring to form a rough dough. Knead (about 10 minutes by hand, 5 to 7 minutes by machine) until the dough is smooth. Place the dough to a lightly greased bowl, cover the bowl with lightly greased plastic wrap, and allow the dough to rise until doubled in size.

Divide the dough in half, and shape each half into a loaf. Place the loaves in two greased 8 1/2 x 4 1/2-inch bread pans. Cover the pans with lightly greased plastic wrap and allow the loaves to rise till they've crowned about 1 inch over the rim of the pan, about 1 and 1/2 hours.

Bake the loaves in a preheated 350°F oven for 35 minutes. If the bread starts to brown to fast, place a peice of foil over the top and continue baking. Remove them from the oven when they're golden brown, and the interior registers 190°F on an instant-read thermometer. Yield: 2 sandwich loaves.

(Adapted from King Arthur Flour)

Enjoy!

Hannah

This Week's Eats & Workouts

Hey all!

This weekend I did some major food prepping on Sunday evening, inspired by the Nut Butter Runner & the Lean Green Bean. I baked bread, cleaned and chopped all my fruits & veggies, boiled eggs, and roasted tofu and cauliflower. This week, I tried something new with my veggies: I washed them with vinegar and water. I was worried this would leave a flavor/smell, but all seems good!

Here is how I plan to use those items:
Bread: This oatmeal honey wheat loaf is my absolute favorite. I made a half recipe today and it turned out gorgeous (recipe coming this week!). I use this to make nut butter sandwiches and toast during the week.
Boiled eggs: snacks & in salad.
Sliced Strawberries: Yogurt bowl toppings!
Kale: Salads at lunch & kale chips.
Spinach: sauteed greens.
Asian roasted tofu: salads at lunch and stir-fry one night.
Black Beans (not pictured): Burrito bowl with brown rice & veggies.
Roasted cauliflower (not pictured): Mashed cauliflower.

In the workout department...
I am starting my MARATHON TRAINING!! (I'm a little excited). I start my training plan this week with lower mileage than usual. Here is what my week will look like:

Mon: yoga class
Tues: Run (3 miles) & cross-train
Wed: Pace run (5 miles)
Thursday: Run (4 miles) & strength training
Friday: Rest
Saturday: Long run (10 miles)
Sunday: Easy Run and strength training

Have an awesome week!
Hannah

Law School Bound

Today is the last Monday of school, and my last Monday as a teacher - ever!!!

After two years as a Teach for America Corp member serving as an elementary school teacher, I am leaving the first grade classroom for another one. This fall, I will be heading to law school at Emory University!

I made the decision last summer and began studying for the LSAT. I took it in October and ended up applying to several schools. I was accepted at Emory University, George Washington University, Boston College, Boston University, UCLA, Southern Methodist University, and DePaul University. I was over the moon! Emory School of Law ended of being the best choice for me because of the location, program offerings, and scholarships.



Outside the School of Law in April


I am looking forward to my move this summer and starting this new chapter. And, Aaron is moving with me!! We are thrilled to finaly be in the same city and cannot wait to explore a new place. I know so many blogging ladies living in Atlanta, so it must be an awesome place. Be on the lookout for moving updates and law school posts :)

x0x0x,
Hannah