Can I ask for a Favor?

It's that time of year again. I'm going to act like I know what I am talking about here. Each year ISOC does a poll for Fan Favorite Racer Poll. If you would be so kind please vote for Levi LaVallee. He is a small town Minnesota boy who races snowmobiles for a living. I can honestly say I have never met someone who is so humble and down to earth like he is, especially for being famous.

If you could be so kind please go to:

http://www.isocracing.com/2012/03/04/fan-favorite-racer-poll/ and simply click the little circle by Levi LaVallee and scroll down to the bottom and click "vote" :) You can vote once each day and it goes on until March 13th!

Here are some fun videos of Levi if you don't know who he is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ghbdt2G-Y6s&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PLF5E7A612A9D8F8A1 crash and burn......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfKPgkwFV8g&feature=plcp&context=C43732d7VDvjVQa1PpcFMYxrraHJa9ySD0u89IIfu2H6J7149l8d4%3D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIEOjR5hGjI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk8Lw6FoE30&feature=plcp&context=C452db4cVDvjVQa1PpcFMYxrraHJa9yYb8UnBukvB6iMW0o1d612c%3D the jump! eeek!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7bNyX9FC7I&feature=plcp&context=C4a2e98dVDvjVQa1PpcFMYxrraHJa9yeF57NTdsPmYWrIXv2m3-CE%3D view from Levi's cam! New World Record!

So please go vote for him! :)

A yummy treat from me to you!

I haven't blogged in quite some time. While I finally have some time I thought I'd do a couple posts!

Last Monday I had a fabulous dinner with my best friend's mom and his sister! We made this delicious dinner that I'd thought I'd share the recipe. YUM!

Ginger Chicken with Sweet-Salty Noodles

Ingredients

	Salt
1	pound thin long cut pasta, such as capellini
5	tbsp vegetable oil
½	cup flat leaf parsley
½	cup fresh cilantro leaves
1	large garlic clove, smashed
¼	large onion, cut into chunks
3	inch piece ginger, peeled and grated
	Black pepper
1⅓ to 1½	pounds chicken breast cutlets, 8 thin pieces
½	cup rice or white wine vinegar
1½	tbsp sugar
3	tbsp tamari
¼	tsp red pepper flakes
1	seedless cucumber, cut in half lengthwise, then thinly sliced into half moons
1	red bell pepper, cored, seeded and thinly sliced
1	yellow bell pepper, cored, seeded, and thinly sliced
3	scallions, thinly sliced
1	12-ounce sack triple washed baby spinach

Directions

Preheat a grill pan or outdoor grill on high.
Bring a large pot of water to boil for the pasta, salt the water and add the pasta. Cook according to package directions until al dente. Once cooked, drain thoroughly.
In a blender or food processor, combine 3 tbsp of vegetable oil, parsley, cilantro, garlic, onion, 2/3 of the grated ginger, and salt and pepper. Blend until mixture is somewhat smooth. Transfer mixture to shallow dish, add the chicken cutlets, and coat them thoroughly. Let chicken sit a few minutes.
While the pasta cooks and the chicken marinates, place a small suacepan over medium-high heat, add the rice wine vinegar, sugar, tamari, red pepper flakes, and remaining ginger and bring them up to a bubble to dissolve the sugar. Once the sugar has dissolved, remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the remaining 2 tbsp vegetable oil. While it is still hot, transfer the sauce to a large salad bowl, add the cucumbers, red and yellow bell peppers, and scallions. Toss to combine.
Add the pasta to the dressed cucumbers and bell peppers, add the baby spinach, and toss to combine. Cover with foil and reserve covered to keep the noodles warm and wilt the spinach while you grill up the chicken.
Grill the ginger and herb coated chicken for 3 minutes on each side, or until it is cooked through and the juices run clear. Cut into thin strips. Divide the noodles and veggies among serving plates and top them with a pile of the grilled chicken.

Enjoy! :)

Family Therapy 101

You know you're in an amazing class when the only thing you want to do when you get home is share the knowledge you just gained with anyone who will listen.

I'll assume you as a reader will listen ;)

In my Wednesday class I am in a Marriage and Family Counseling class. Let me tell you, this class is so informational, and hilariously enjoyable. Basically in a nut shell we talk about what a "healthy family" is, as well as dysfunctional families. The stories we hear about are so crazy sometimes, that you just can't help to think "wow my family is so not crazy!"

Anyways, today we were talking about divorce and how it is so easy to see when a marriage is about to corrupt and how it normally takes 6 years before a couple will honestly try to work on their marriage, and sad to say...it is far too late.

On the positive side, we talked about how to have a healthy marriage! Some pointers go as follows:
1. Define boundaries with the in-laws. Notice this is rule number one....this is also one of the number 1 reasons why couples divorce.
2. Define yourself as a couple, as well as find your own self. Having separate interests is important.
the list actually names 9 but my favorite and most important one is ... allow yourself to laugh with the one you love. For example, if your significant other tells a joke that they find extremely funny.... laugh also. Just because you're laughing doesn't mean you are laughing with them... you actually may be laughing AT them...This is okay, just don't tell them ;)

Or a common example people say is "if you mess it up enough times they won't ask you do to that specific thing anymore" I like that idea. If only M would think my back massages sucked so then I would never have to give another one again.

My professor said the most important rule though to a successful marriage is this:

·The innermost core of the relationship is by drawing sustenance and renewal from the images and fantasies of courtship and early marriage and maintaining that joyful glow over a lifetime. Intimacy is about narrowing the gap.You have to keep your emotional connection alive and well!

While I am by no means a psychotherapist yet, I thought I'd share some tips I recently learned! :)

-K