Whoever said that dogs can't smile?

This old girl had/has an ear infection and some kind of skin bacteria.  

She smiles. 

Smiling about the private time in the car with her mom or smiling at the fact that her parents spent a million dollars at the vet to set her straight?

I made this!

It's spicy chicken sausage risotto with sundried tomato and basil...if you can't tell...AND...I made it in our pressure cooker. One pot meal!!

Girls on the Run...

...So much fun!

This past weekend was the Girls on the Run 5k. 2500 girls from around the Triangle participated in the 5k event. Some of them, like my team, ran their first 5K ever!

Gathering in the grass before the race

My lil' running buddy

Fayetteville Street Team

Awesome husband who came out to support by running with a girl

Awesome sister who came out to support by running with a girl

Alton Brown

I had no idea who he was (until I googled him) and I'm sure many of the kids at Fayetteville Street didn't either, but Alton Brown came to our school!

This is him.

He did a cool science/culinary experiment that involved popcorn, exploding balloons and dried crickets. 

Needless to say, the kids loved it and now we all know who Alton Brown is.

Popping popcorn with an extra hot lamp

Making culinary science jokes.
 I didn't know it but he has his own show AND was on Iron Chef!

He's doing 2 shows at DPAC tonight and we got front row seats at Fayetteville Street Elementary.

Trying to emulate the chemical reaction that occurs when popcorn is popped. Inside the balloon is kale (for fiber), packing peanuts (for cellulose), and dried crickets (for protein).

This was right after he made that lady eat a dried cricket!

Heating up the "kernal"...this poor woman!

And...POP!

The best part was that Alton Brown stayed after the show and gave each child (over 300) and teacher a personalized autograph!

Thanks, Alton Brown!

This Year's Pollen Post

I should probably have a special blog just for my posts about pollen, because I legit have posted about pollen every season since I began blogging. In lieu of saying how much I hate pollen (which I do) and how much it is rocking me (which it is), I will just leave these right here as legit representations of how I feel:

Pretty Much...

For when your friends are enjoying the lovely weather and you just want to hide

For when you're tired of your need to avoid pollen dictating your daily routine

For when you try to explain what's going on with your sinues

For that first day in late May when you can actually go outside again

All the makings of a perfect weekend

Coffee, husband, Sabahs, tiny Morroccan table

Can't shake this fever

Carolina Blue nails for spring!