bring on the snacks: it's tailgate season!

Happy Friday! I've got an all-day meeting to get through, and then I've got an impromptu lake weekend ahead of me! C and friends are doing his fantasy football draft at our house this weekend, so I decided to vacate the premises and head down to SML with my mama. I am sad to say that I haven't had a lake weekend since Memorial Day! This summer has just been too busy. So I am looking forward to some down time! There is some rain in the forecast, so we may not get much sun, but I know it'll still be a great weekend. Wahoo!

Even though summer isn't quite over, I've got fall and football on the brain (sorry not sorry), so I thought that for my Five for Friday this week, I'd share some fun new tailgate snacks that I'm wanting to make this year. We are already making plans for some game-watching parties with fellow Hokies fans, and everyone knows that the best part of a football game is the snacks! Football season is basically a free pass as far as snacking is concerned, right?? There's nothing better than a table full of appetizers and an ice-cold beer. Bring it on!

Here are a few recipes that are piquing my interest so far!

1 // Caramelized Onion and Shallot Dip - this looks like a fancier version of my kryptonite: Helluva Good French Onion Dip (that stuff is like crack!)

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2 // Beer-Cheese Hushpuppies - golden brown bites of deliciousness... These would be amazing with a hearty soup or chili!

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3 // Asiago-Artichoke Dip - Spinach-artichoke dip is one of C's all-time favorite foods, and I'm pretty sure he would love this indulgent version.

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4 // Cheddar-Bacon Loaf - I have made "Crack Bread" several times with very positive results, and this looks like something that would be just as much of a crowd-pleaser. Carbs, cheese, bacon, happiness.

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5 // Seven-Layer Dip - I don't really need a recipe for this one, but this one will do if you've never made it before. This Mexican-oriented dip is my favorite tailgating snack, and I could probably eat a pan of it myself. Always a good go-to dish!

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So tell me...

• Are you a football fan? College? NFL? Both? Who's your team?
• What's your favorite tailgate snack?

  linking up with karli and amy  

& linking up with erin

Take me out to the balllll game!...

This weekend flew by! Definitely one of those where I remember that it was Friday afternoon... and then I blinked and it was Sunday evening! Sure sign of good times being had, right?

On Saturday afternoon, I sunscreen'd myself up, grabbed my raincoat, and headed out to the ball game with my three favorite guys: my dad, my husband, and my uncle!

My dad had gotten tickets for the Nationals game from work, and so we headed to the stadium for an afternoon of fun. So far, I've attended exactly one baseball game per season for the last three seasons - I'm not a huge baseball fan (give me a hockey game any day) but it is definitely fun to go to a major league event, and the Nats stadium is a fantastic place to see a game! We had such a blast wandering around the stadium, drinking beers and enjoying bratwursts with onions, peppers, and sauerkraut (<--my fave! ha). We had club seats, so we were nicely shaded from the sun - and also from the rain when it started to pour! I experienced my first real-live rain delay.

Dark clouds rolled in, and it poured rain for a bit. I actually found it kind of fun to watch the field crew roll out the cover for the field, and then roll it back up once the rain cleared.

The teams came back out to play the last inning and a half, and the Nats held off the Mets for the win! We all had such a great time - and definitely needed naps afterwards! Sun + beer = tired Lindsay. Well worth it, though!

Five for Friday - A Twist!

In a twist on my usual completely random "Five for Friday," I've decided to have a theme this week. Allow me to present to you the Five for Friday: Things I Can't Live Without - Sports Edition. (That's an awkwardly long, awkwardly formal title. This is the shit I need for the gym/running. Obvi.)

Five for Friday

Things I Can't Live Without - Sports Edition

1. My shoes. I have three four five pairs of athletic shoes in my closet right now. (Well that's slightly embarrassing.) I rotate through three pairs for the most part - a pair of  random Nikes (don't know what they are) that are lightweight and stable for BodyPump class, a pair of Shox for random free-weights/whatever days, and a pair of Brooks Glycerin 9s for running. I'm on my second pair of Glycerins, and I really love them. They're the shoes that were recommended to me at the VA Runner store in my area, and they have worked beautifully for me for the last 10 months! Apparently they are currently on sale, and I'm thinking perhaps I should invest in pair number 3... hmmmm.



[Brooks - Glycerin 9]

2. My pants. The infamous Suzann (my running buddy) recently introduced me to Lucy. I am in love. They have amazing clothes! I bought two pairs of pants from them - the Hatha crops and the X-Training Knee Pants - and I pretty much want to live in them. So comfortable! Great for running, group classes, yoga, everything.

[Lucy X-Training Knee Pants]

I also have a couple of pairs of crops from Under Armour that I love, and some ColdGear compression pants from UA that I wear in the winter. All are equally fantastic.

3. My shorts. This is definitely a different category from #2. Like so many other people out there, I love Nike Tempo Shorts. I don't really love the price, so I pretty much just rotate through the pairs I have, or else buy a few if I find them at a great sale price. Tempo shorts are another item that are great for lots of things - running, weight lifting, errands... totally fine.

[Nike Tempo Shorts]

4. My shirts. The Under Armour Charged Cotton Sassy Scoop T-Shirt is hands-down the best workout shirt ever. I have six of them. I would like to have 16. The Charged Cotton fabric is fantastic. It's light-weight, four-way stretch, moisture-wicking, and I absolutely adore them. This shirt is thin without being see-through, even when I'm wearing the white one with a neon sports bra and drenched in sweat. That is a sign of greatness. Seriously!

[Under Armour Charged Cotton Sassy Scoop Tee]

5. My socks. As any runner or high-intensity athlete knows, socks are super important. Socks can make or break a workout. My absolute favorite brand of athletic socks will probably come as a surprise - they're from Old Navy. Seriously. I only have three pairs, and I ALWAYS want to buy more, and I ALWAYS forget. (Shocking. From the girl who regularly goes to the grocery store for "one thing" and comes home with five bags and not the "one thing.") They are truly the best socks I have though, and my favorites for running in. They're thick but not too thick, and they don't get weird and squishy when sweaty like some socks do. AND I've had my pairs for I-don't-know-how-long, and they've never gotten weirdly stretched out or pilly. Also, they're low-cut without being too low, which is one of my pet peeves: I don't want ankle socks, but I want my whole foot covered. Why does that seem to be too much to ask sometimes?? Anyway. At $6.50/3 pairs, these socks are a steal. Reminder to self: buy more!

[Old Navy Sport Socks]

So there ya have it. The five pieces of clothing I can't live without when it comes to fitness. Obviously, this list doesn't include any of the other things I love, like pre-wrap for headbands, my iPhone armband, or my weight-lifting gloves. (If you want recommendations for any of those things, just ask!) Good workout clothes are key to a good workout - if you feel good, you will do good! Or at least that's what I tell myself. I want to be comfortable, warm & cool (both are necessary), and be wearing clothes that fit well. If I have that combination, I'm bound to have a good workout (or at least start on the right foot).

I tend to be very brand-loyal when it comes to fitness gear. If I find something I like, I buy multiples. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!! Hence, two pairs of the same running pants, two pairs of the same running shoes, four of the same sports bras, etc. Find something that works for you, and stick with it!

CLEARLY all these opinions are my own - I wasn't compensated by any of these companies, though I happily would be if they offered. :) I just love these products,and want to share what I love with anyone who enjoys a good workout.

The most wonderful time of the year

My sister’s birthday was on Sunday. I am possibly the worst sister ever and failed to tell her “happy birthday” – not my phone, not by text, not by facebook, not by blog post like every other family member… It just didn’t happen. Sorry ‘bout it. She was off frolicking around at my parents’ new lake house (!!!  A post all in itself) with no cell phone signal and I was travelling back from a weekend of debauchery with friends from college in Richmond so… the connection was just never made. Natty, I’m sorry, I love you, there’s a card for you on my coffee table. You can have it… sometime. Welcome to 23. It’s kind of anticlimactic. I'm glad you were born.

For you, I will put things like this on the Internet.
Please note the mullet. And the box of raisins.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS BACK. Thank the sweet CFB gods. The kickoff of CFB is practically a holiday in our house (as is the start of NFL season and NHL season… we like sports) and I was so flippin’ thrilled to be able to turn on the games that I almost couldn’t stand it. While everyone else swam and played cornhole and hung out outside on Saturday night, I parked myself on the couch in front of the TV and flipped back and forth between all of the games. Not ashamed. It was lovely.

Even better than plain ol’ CFB being back is… HOKIE FOOTBALL IS BACK. Yes, yes, yes. After a heart-breaking, seriously depressing loss to Michigan in the Sugar Bowl to end last season (IT WAS A CATCH), I’m pretty sure every Virginia Tech fan everywhere was ready for a fresh start and the new season.

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We didn't play until last night - the wait was excruciating. The minute "Enter Sandman" started playing was so worth it, though. 


The best entrance in college football.
I would have given a limb to be in Blacksburg for the game - I miss my alma mater more than is probably healthy, and football season compounds that emotion by like 1763%. Give or take. C & I proudly rocked our maroon and orange all day yesterday, and we last night we made wings and drank beer and cheered so loud in our own living room that the neighbors were probably concerned. They better get used to it. We stayed up til midnight watching the game, and were rewarded with a win in overtime (the first ever overtime in Lane Stadium - nice). (Hence being too tired to function today, and probably too tired to be writing this post. Sorry I'm not sorry.) Not gonna lie, it was not the most exciting nor the best game I’ve ever watched – but a win is a win. 1-0. Let’s go!

Our bell, ready and waiting for the first W of the season!

Ringing the bell after the win!
We tried to restrain ourselves for the sake of
our neighbors & their school-age children.
It was hard.

Our first full season as an old married couple. Bring it on!

I was THISCLOSE to ordering a Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks this morning before my brain reminded me that it’s a million degrees and 100% humidity out today. My heart wants fall, my brain knows that it’s not quite time. BRING ME FALL. I’m so over this disgusting summer weather.

My sister has requested a chocolate-on-chocolate cake for her birthday (I may not be very good at birthday wishes, but I am damn good at coming through with a birthday cake) so there will be one more baking adventure before this baking flurry comes to a screeching halt. I may have finally quenched the baking thirst – I actually moved my mixer back to its home behind the dish drainer yesterday, instead of leaving it in the center of the main counter for easy access/a quick fix. HOWEVER – I did make my dad an amazing German chocolate cake last week. Behold.

Today is Tuesday, but it feels like Monday. That is both the best and the worst thing ever.

I promise to have a post with some semblance of logic sometime soon. Promise…

We've been sucked in...

Yesterday, there were a lot of things that I needed to do. The house needed to be cleaned. The litter box needed to be changed. The laundry needed to be done. The dishwasher needed to be emptied. I needed to get my state inspection done on my car. I needed to go to the grocery store. I needed to look at a couple of work-related things. I needed to prep some things for dinners this week.

I'm sure you can already see where this is going.

Instead of doing the majority of those things, we spent the day on the couch. Why? Because we are Olympics-obsessed. Just can't get enough!!

We. Watched. Everything.

Water polo.
Fencing.
Swimming.
Synchronized diving.
Gymnastics.
Soccer.
Volleyball.

Things the USA wasn't even competing in. It doesn't matter. If it's on, we watch it, and we get sucked in - for hours at a time! I love everything about the Olympics, and C just loves watching sports. This is like a free pass to heaven for him, I'm pretty sure - sports on TV constantly, on multiple channels, and I want to watch, too. A dream come true!

Needless to say... we weren't very productive yesterday. And really, I don't mind at all. I'm too busying cheering on the home team to do things like laundry and vacuuming. Come on now! GO USA!

Not sure that staying up until midnight watching womens' gymnastics (when I already knew the results... thanks interwebz) was really my best decision - but also not my worst decision. Gymnastics is my favorite Olympic sport (duh - isn't it most girls'?) and I can't not watch. Feeling a little bit droopy today as a result, but nothing a couple of cups of coffee can't fix! I'm proud of the USA girls (sad for Jordyn Wieber, but what can ya do?) and I LOVE the hot pink gymnastics arena! It makes me giddy just to look at. Just wish it was on at a normal time so I could watch it AND sleep. #needy.

Anyone else Olympics-obsessed? Patriotism makes me happy!