CarrieR

Married mother of two boys, living in the midwest of USA, addicted to distance running. Currently in marathon training!

I adore: chocolate (especially dark!), interesting spices, coffee, books, and regional-specific items.

I'm not a fan of: flowery things, country-themed items, overly sentimental and cutesy objects, knickknacks.

I collect: teapots, sparkly jewelry, cookbooks.

Art music (hey, I have a master's degree in music composition; I get to be pretentious if I want!), 80s and early 90s popular music.

I will read ANYTHING of quality. Currently, I'm reading a lot of running-related books, particularly memoirs and historical accounts, but also books related to sports nutrition, etc. I also enjoy science fiction and fantasy books.

I really don't watch much television, but when I do, I like Doctor Who and Torchwood, as well as the reality competition shows in cooking, fashion, and design.

I knit, though not nearly as much as I used to; I have a closet full of yarn waiting patiently for me to return.

I already mentioned coffee, which is the nectar of life, as far as I'm concerned. I'm a bit of a coffee snob, in that I will not drink instant under any circumstances and that I refuse to buy ground coffee beans. I'm the person pestering the barista about when the beans were roasted, if you know what I mean. I don't own an automatic drip coffee maker; they produce sub-par coffee in most cases. I like French press, espresso, and manual drip (easier to control for temperature of the water).

I enjoy cooking, especially when it comes to finding a happy balance between delicious and healthful. As a runner, I'm always concerned with how best to fuel my body, so I like to know exactly what I'm putting into it. I've also lost over 120 pounds in the past couple of years, thanks to conscious eating choices and the running, so though I don't deprive myself (see: chocolate!), I am an unrepentant label reader.

Eastern flavors are among my favorites; I crave Indian and Thai foods like some folks crave cheesecake.