2010 Linganore Caribbean Wine Festival
Friends, wine, music, and food. Need I say more?
Smoothie Experiment
Looks like barf, tastes like a banana split. Turn your noses up all you want - I've been cutting weight and warding off hunger with these concoctions.
1 banana
1 cup of ice water
handful of frozen strawberries
heaping handful of raw spinach
1 scoop of chocolate protein powder
Ciao,
Susan
Girls on the Run (MOCO) Spring 5K
I'm officially addicted to Girls on the Run. Last weekend's 5K was a huge success so when I found out Montgomery County's chapter of GOTR was hosting a race this weekend, I simply had to be a part of it. As luck would have it, my girlfriend Heather is a volunteer coordinator and immediately added me to the list.
This chick rocks!
It was a dreary and rainy morning but that didn't stop hundreds of eager runners from lining up at the start line in downtown Silver Spring. Despite the soggy and icky conditions, the positive energy from the runners was contagious; after a cup of Komodo Dragon from Starbucks, I was pumped and ready to watch Girls on the Run do their thing!
This course was challenging - Silver Spring has a few rolling hills that I'm sure every runner felt as they pushed through the 3.1 miles.
Here I am, course marshaling:
Their smiling faces made my day:
More race photos:
Way to go runners!
Susan
Girls on the Run (DC) Spring 5K
I was a course marshal for today's Girls on the Run 5K at American University in DC. Girls on the Run is a youth development program that combines an interactive curriculum and running to inspire self-respect and healthy lifestyles in pre-teen girls.
It was a beautiful day for a race! Hundreds of runners, mostly young girls ages 8-13, gathered on American U's campus for a day of racing, pampering, cheering, and celebrating.
A 5K race is a challenge for most adults so to see these children run their hearts out until they crossed the finish line was so rewarding and inspiring. They are my heroes - each and every one of them.
I meet some of the coolest/nicest people via running. Colleen and Rebecca also volunteered:
A tired but happy me proudly sporting my GOTR shirt:
If you're interested, here are more pics from the race.
Girl Power,
Susan
Wine in the Woods
I was first introduced to Columbia, Maryland's Wine in the Woods festival a few years ago by my good friend Heather. I really enjoyed myself and have been trying to go back ever since. This year, I went with Will, Luan, and Erica. We purchased tickets well in advance to avoid standing on a long line; much to our dismay, we were ushered to a ridiculously long line for ticket holders while we watched non-ticket holders walk right up to the entrance and gain immediate admission.
Festival officials scrambled to open up more entrance points as the growing number of agitated ticket holders plotted to storm the gates in protest (not really but people were getting pissed - we wanted our alcohol dammit). This sign mocked us as we finally made our way to the entrance:
Will and I quickly claimed our squatter's rights by the stage. It's a good thing we didn't start mingling first because the festival filled up quickly and before we knew it, people were milling around everywhere.
Maryland has so many wonderful vineyards. The well-known vendor booths were the most crowded but Erica is a great leader and somehow, we never had to stand in line for longer than 30 seconds for our samples.
I discovered a few new vineyards/wines. Far Eastern Shore's pomegranate zinfandel was so fresh and crisp. It is the perfect summer dessert wine. Terrapin Station's boxed wines made me raise an eyebrow at first but upon sampling the rosé, I was pleasantly surprised. I purchased a box: $25 for two bottles' worth of wine - not bad!
I ran into two friends from college I haven't seen in years. Good seeing you, Tawanna and Stephanie!
Of course, the lines for food were redic! I stood in the hot sun for about an hour to get crab pretzels for me and Will. It was tasty, paired with the rosé.
I finally got to sit down and enjoy the sights and sounds after the crab pretzel adventure.
Choking Will just because:
Good friends, good food, good drink, and good old-fashioned FUN. You haven't seen the last of me, Wine in the Woods!
"Drink wine, and you will sleep well. Sleep, and you will not sin. Avoid sin, and you will be saved. Ergo, drink wine and be saved." ~Medieval German saying
I'll drink to that,
Susan
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
