A new look for an old bookcase

Hello everyone! I feel like it has been a while since I have posted. Life has gotten pretty busy. I am packing up my house because I am moving in like 2 weeks! But I made some time for some crafting! I have this bookcase that my oldest sister Jennifer and brother-in-law Todd gave me for a high school graduation present. When I got the bookcase it was unfinished so I painted it light purple and lime green. Those were my colors for everything when I was in college. Well I decided it was time for a face lift and I wanted it to look a little more grown up. So I painted it black. It looks so much better and way more grown up :)

Before

After

If you may remember I said I wanted to do a couch to 5 K. Well so far so good! I have finished the first two weeks. It is at the third week that the workouts really pick up so we will see how it goes. But I am enjoying it so far and it is nice to just be able to put shoes and workout clothes on and go and not have to get my bike to the greenway to get some exercise. 

Race for the Cure and Ham Hawaiian

Hello everyone! This past weekend I was part of the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure. It was so awesome to see all of those people out there supporting Breast Cancer research. Now if only we could give that kind of support to all cancer research that would be awesome! But that is another rant :) It was so cool to see all of those people running and walking. It was pretty inspiring and almost made me wish I could run. I walked with my Mom and my oldest sister Jennifer. We saw tons of people who were part of teams and whole families out there. We decided that next year we wanted to get my whole family out there. Thats my other sister Erin, both brother in laws and my Dad. We promised we wouldn't make them wear pink shirts or tutus. Granted I did see some cute little boys who were about 4 who had tutus sewed to the front of their shirts. They were so stinking cute. Now before you start thinking wow I didn't know Meredith was a runner. Well I'm not haha! Most people walk the path and those who run just weave around the walkers. I was thinking about how cool it would be to be able to run the race next year. I have always wanted to be a runner so I am going to take this new inspiration to start running. I kept seeing those couch to 5K workouts on Pinterest so I thought I would look into. I also found out that I can get a free app for my phone that tells me when to start and stop running. I did my first workout yesterday and it really wasn't bad! You have to run 3 days a week for about 2 months. Wish me luck on my new adventure! I will keep you all post on how it goes and if I don't tell you about it NAG ME to go run!!! No I'm serious make me do this!

Pre-Race Picture!

Now on to the yummy food part of the blog :) I made this dish called Ham Hawaiian that my Mom made all the time for us when we were younger. This dish is super yummy and of course pretty easy. 

Ingredients: 

- 1/4 cup margarine, divided

- 1/2 green pepper chopped

- 2 cups cooked ham, chopped

- 1 9oz can pineapple tidbits

- 1/8 tsp cloves 

Mix these ingredients with pineapple juice:

- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar

- 1 1/2 Tablespoons cornstarch

- 1 1/2 Tablespoons vinegar

- 1 1/2 teaspoons prep. mustard

- 1/8 teaspoons pepper

- 3/4 cold water

Directions: 

1. Melt 2 Tablespoons margarine. Add green pepper and ham. Cook for 5 minutes. 

2. Drain pineapple reserving juice for sauce mixture. 

3. Mix juice with sauce mixture. Stir into ham and green peppers. Cook until thickened. 

4. Add pineapple and heat. Add cloves.

5. Serve over rice :)

Recipes not from Pinterest!!!

Holy Moly I have two new recipe that is not from Pinterest! My friend Rebecca a Mexican Casserole for me a week or so ago so I made it for myself this weekend! It was so good and very filling. The other recipe is not really new to me. My Mom gave me this recipe a while ago and it is one that I make on a somewhat regular basis because its easy and super yummy!

Mexican Casserole

I took a picture with a piece out so you could kind of see the layers.

Ingredients:
- 6 flour tortillas
- 1 can refried beans
- 1 1/2 cups salsa
- 2 cups frozen corn
- 2 cups Mexican cheese
- 1 pound ground beef or turkey
- 1 packet taco seasoning.

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. In a microwave safe bowl mix together refried beans and salsa. Microwave for 1-2 minutes until spreadable. Set aside.

3. Cook ground beef and drain fat. Add taco seasoning and water as said on package. Let simmer for 10 minutes

4. Spray pan 9x13 dish with Pam. Rip up 3 flour tortillas and place in bottom of dish. Layer half of the meat then half  the bean mixture then half the frozen corn and cheese. Then repeat another layer.

5. Bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes. 

I usually make it with rice and broccoli :)

Chicken- Wine, Honey, Soy

Ingredients:

- 4-6 pieces chicken

- 1 cup white wine

- 1/2 cup honey

- 1/4 cup soy sauce

Directions: 

1. Sprinkle garlic on chicken. Brown chicken in skillet just until lightly brown.

2. In a bowl mix wine, honey and soy sauce. Pour on chicken. 

3. Simmer for about 45 minutes to an hour until chicken is cooked through. 

This week I also grilled some salmon that my Mom had given me. I think I drive my parents crazy when I try something new for the first time because I feel like I call them every couple of minutes. The salmon I had was already marinated in something. Sorry I don't know what it was already in. I made it with a baked potato. The salmon was a little dry. I think I over cooked it but I was more worried about it being under cooked.