Plantar Fascitis

Yes I know it sounds like something gross!

And worse- I have it!!!

Plantar fascitis is inflammation of the thick tissue on the bottom of the foot. 

I was diagnosed by an orthopedic resident who I work with. 

While I was totally bummed I was also relieved to know that is was not anything worse. 

Most likely I am getting this because I am starting to be a distance runner and do admit that I probably am over stretching my shoes.  They recommend new shoes for runner every 300-500 miles depending on how much distance you run.  I figured out today that I have not bought a new pair of running shoes since August.

Yes shame on me!!!

So I looked up the treatment methods:

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) to reduce pain and inflammation
• Heel stretching exercises
• Resting as much as possible for at least a week
• Wearing shoes with good support and cushions

So basically, I need new shoes. 

Futhermore, I need to get shoes that are working for me. 
While I love Asics, I am starting to wonder if they are the best shoe for me- I have now had shin splints multiple times, and now this. 

I need better shoes.

So this weekend, while my hubby is powerwashing and staining our deck
(I have learned it is best to leave him alone with his man projects)
- I will be on my way to Potomac River Running Store in Herndon to get fitted for some new shoes.
=0)

New Furniture...

So a while ago I blogged about a furniture purchase that Joe and I were considering. 

A buffet to store all our china.  

You might ask... How much China can you have?

My answer.... A LOT!!!!

1)China that my mom purchased for me in Japan (when we were stationed there when I was a baby)
that I received as a house warming gift

2) My great grandmother's china which was passed down to my grandmother then me

3) Wedding China- we actually were not going to register for China. 
When I told my mother this, it looked like she was going to cry. 
Joe quickly advised me that we were registering for China for my mom's sake. 

4) Christmas China from Joe's Mother.  

They are all special to me!

More importantly we use them!  

I should have taken a picture of when all the china was sitting out as it was quite comical-
it took up our entire dinning room table and most of the island!

 Up to this point we have had the China stored in multiple places in the kitchen and it was just starting to get cluttered!  So we decide to purchase the buffet that matched our dinning room set from Crate and Barrel with a 15% coupon that I received in January.  

We had been gifted some money for Christmas and decided to use it on something for the house. 

It unfortunately was in back order and did not arrive to mid March. 

I totally am in love with it and the freedom of our cabinets!! 

We ended up having to move the wine bar to a more central location in the kitchen, 

which I am also loving...

 

 Happy Re-arranging....

Egg and Sausage Souffle

So Sunday morning, we had brunch with my parents to celebrate Easter.

Again I needed something super easy...

Egg and Sausage Souffle.

This is again something you make the day before and put in the fridge until cook time.  

Recipe:  

6 eggs

1 pound pork sausage, cooked  and in pieces

6 slices of bread cut in to cubes (we used french bread)

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

2 cups milk

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon mustard season

Cook sausage and drain on paper towel.  

Beat eagg before adding all other ingredients

Poor mixture in a casserole dish and refrigerate for at least 12 hours

Bake at 325 degree for 45 minutes to 1 hour. 

We ended up mixted everything together and poring over the bread which we placed in the pyrex.

Turned out delicious!!!

Bacon Wrapped Dates

This weekend was a marathon, not a sprint....

What movie is that from?

We had three family events in less than 48 hours, and it was a blast.

Saturday, my parents inviting my in-laws over for a send off since they are leaving Maryland in less than 2 weeks and moving down to Sarasota FL.  

My mom tasked me with making an appetizer.  

She was making a dip and asked me to make something else- that had to be gluten free due to Joe's Dads allergy.  

So I decided to make Bacon Wrapped Dates stuffed with Blue Cheese.

I chose this recipe because I could put it together the night before which took all of 10 minutes and then just bring them over to my parents and stick in the oven to bake.  

Very easy.

So here is the recipe:

 1 pound sliced bacon- cut in half

1 pound pitted dates

You can purchase these at Costco- you want the large ones.  

4 ounces blue cheese

I went with a mild blue so it would not be offensive. 

 Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). 

Slice dates in half, and open them up. Pinch off pieces of blue cheese, and place them into the center of the dates. Close the halves of the dates, and wrap a half-slice of bacon around the outside. Secure each one with a toothpick. 

 Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the bacon is crisp. Turn dates over after the first 20 minutes for even cooking.

I did step 2 the night before and then just put them in the fridge until cooking time.  

Most excellent

There was not a single one left!!

Working in the Yard

So this afternoon after running, running errands and doing some other stuff I needed to do I decided to do some yard work that I have been really wanting to get done.  So I went to work cutting down these two trees which are in the front of our AC unit because Joe and I dislike them and have decided to place different plants there.  So while I am sweating away- Yes I do sweat, even thought my hubby thinks this is a complete myth.... there is Clemson Puppy chewing up the branches that I am cutting down and making a bigger mess.

But all I could do was smile and laugh.  

If life were as easy as it is for Clemson Puppy.  

Happy Monday!!!

What is Family....

As a midwife, I see all kinds of families. 

Big ones, small ones.

Families with no kids, families with lots of kids.

Young families, old families.

Families with 4 legged friends. 

I recently have been thinking about this a lot as the topic of families has come up multiple times for me this month. 

What is Family???

The beauty of Family is it has no definition!

That definition is for us to make. 

Family is no longer limited to the people we are blood related to- at least not by my definition!

My definition of family is people/beings that I hold close to my heart. 

This encompasses my hubby, parents, brother, grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins, godparents,

but also for me includes my hubby's family, my beautiful puppy, and close close friends.

Yes, I include both my dog and my friends in my family which is very modern but they are my family and I hold them close to my heart.  They probably understand me better than I understand myself sometimes. 

It is interesting how our generation is challenging the traditional definition of "family." 

How do you define family?