Weird soup

Barley, water, veggie broth, garlic, red onions, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, celery salt... boiled, drop 2 eggs. On top, add sugar snap peas, green onions, avocado.
So weird. So good.
So happy with my new Le Crueset bowl!

Old photo

Was searching through my photos and found this one of little-me all dressed up and ready to play some soccer!

It's funny, I remember this so clearly. I remember the team and the players and the immense pressure I felt as the goalie.

But I look at the photo decades later and I look like a baby. It is a good reminder for me that young doesn't matter, children have pressure, stress, things that loom large and make them anxious, and they don't know that in 20ish years they will look back on them and grin. I'm glad my parents took me so seriously, because I sure did.

My old room

Here's a photo of my nearly-2-year-old asleep this morning in my childhood bedroom. That's a crazy rabbit hole of thoughts... could never have dreamed up how wonderful he is and it would be to be his mom.

Throwback to best photo ever

I love this picture. Makes me feel so loved and proud. Everything that is good is in this picture.

March goals

Here's how I am tracking my march daily goals in my bullet journal! I love a new, fresh month!

Bobcat

There was a bobcat on our roof! Stuck around long enough for some photos!

Sprint Triathlon!

Competed in my first Sprint Tri today with Rosie!!! I was really sick, but I did it! The 5k run was hot, and I could have gone faster. The biking was long (13.1 miles) & definitely the hardest part, and the swim was disproportionately short (200 meters).

Husband surprised me by showing up to cheer me on -- I thought he had to work! So grateful for him, my sister for doing it with me, for a dad who cheered us on and insisted on selfies, for my aunt who came early to say hi, for sister who ran the 5k in the morning and came back to cheer us on...

I am sunburned, sore and sick, and also satisfied.

Galentine's Day

Yesterday was a day of waffles and sister-friends and favorite gals and heart earrings and blind date book exchanges! We went down to Main St. in Seal Beach and had brunch lady-style!

Daily task bullet journal

Bullet journal page  -- daily task checklist!

Bullet journal

Here is one page of my new bullet journal - I picked 10 areas of my life that I am focusing on, and listed some tasks/milestones that would increase my satisfaction in those areas.

Surf City Half Marathon

After many months and many miles, I finally did it -- I ran and completed the Surf City Half Marathon!

Rosie and I did it together, all 13.1 miles. We ran representing our Hogwarts Running Club houses, abd met up with some other HRC members before the race.

Our time was 3 hours and 34 minutes. It was faster than I thought -- and hurt more than I thought it would, too.

I sprinted when I saw the finish line. It was quite a feeling - I've never felt that driven before.

Adam was at the finish line to meet me, and Chris and Therese met us at mile 12. Therese took the photo of Rosie and I.

Soup

Made more soup today, to eat healthy and recover from the food from Rosie's birthday party!

Lentil, yam, turmeric soup

This was sosososo good.

Diced 1 yam
Diced 1 white onion

Sautéed til soft with some earth balance. Added coarsely chopped garlic (4 cloves), some salt, pepper, a teeeny but of cumin, and a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes.

Added 1 box of vegetable broth and about 4 cups of water. Added 1 cup of dried lentils. Added about 1 TBS of turmeric.

When everything was soft I used a potato masher to blend it up a little.

Vegan tacos

Diced purple sweet potatoes,  sautéed with onions
On corn tortillas, with
Cherry tomatoes, guacamole, shredded lettuce, tapatio sauce and lime juice.

Amazingly delicious.

9 mile run

Tonight I did a 9 mile run with my sister. Proud isn't enough of a word. I am stunned that I have gotten to this point.

9 and 3/4 kilometers of the run went to earning my Platform 9 3/4 medal for the Hogwarts Running Club. With that run I also officially earned the Marauders Challenge Medal.

Wedding Cross Stitch

I started this just after our wedding in 2010. 5 years later, it is done!!!! I used stitchyourphoto.com and I just can't believe it's finally finished.

Next step: framing it!!!

Training schedule

Made a training schedule and so far I've stuck with it!  I've also been hula hooping every day of 2016.

Today we stayed home and tried to make a teething toddler less miserable. I baked a few loaves of bread, watched the Democratic debate... weird, lazy, exhausting day.

Last day

Today I said goodbye to 6 of my clients. I did some sort of technique with a rock with everyone. This came from one of them.

Beautiful food

Made rosemary bread and vegan cashew "cheese" & had a delightful lunch with my sisters today between clients.

The cashew cheese was so gooood.
Soaked 1 cup of cashews overnight then put them in the food processor with nutritional yeast, lemon, vinegar, salt, farlic cloves, parsley and dill. Blended, and put in a cheesecloth in a bowl overnight. Turned out to be the consistency of spreadable cheese, like allouette or a cheese ball.

Blueberry honey meringues

1 cup blueberries
1 tsp balsamic vinegqr
1 tsp honey

In the oven for about 5 minutes at 350 degrees, then pureed in food processor

4 egg whites
1 cup sugar

Mix egg whites in kitchenaid til peaked, add sugar, keep mixing. Added the blueberry mixture, then swirled in a little bit of food coloring. Dollops of the mixture on parchment paper.

Oven at 275 degrees, cook meringues for 30 minutes, then turn off oven. Leave the meringues in til oven cools.

My 2nd batch I used a pastry tool - the ones that were smaller and taller were crispier, turned out better.

Purple sweet potato tacos

Sautéed purple sweet potatoes with onion, then put them in corn tortillas with radish, pickled carrots, cilantro, salsa and a little lime juice. It was pretty AND delicious, my favorite way to eat.

Running

I'm a runner. There. I said it. I can't believe I said it. I don't run far, and I don't run fast, but I run. And I love it.

My sister and I trained up to run a 10k, which we completed in October. We are now training for a half marathon. We've all been sick, so hadn't run for a while and I was afraid that I had forgotten how, or something. Last night we did 3 ten minute runs in the cold, cold night and it was a joy.

I received a bunch of running things for Xmas and my bday (gloves, pants, sunglasses, water belt, medal display, tech shirts...) and it's been nice to feel properly outfitted. No excuses, even when it's cold!

So we have a 5 mile run on the calendar for today. Looking forward to it!

Aquarium and Star Wars

Family time at the aquarium, and then movie date!

Harry Potter escape room

Tonight we did the harry potter themed escape room for Desirée's birthday, and had so much fun! It was hard, we all wore all the HP stuff we had, and we are pumped to do another escape room soon!

Hula hoop

Hula hooping every day for 10 minutes,  I have a 9 day streak! Makes me happy, happy, happy.

Hours

My 3000 experience hours needed to become a licensed marriage and family therapist are complete! Application done, mailed andd received by the BBS. And now I wait.

Sewing space

Adam got me a sweet little sewing table for christmas and set it up last night! I love my little sewing space. It's so bright and warm.

Painting class

These are photos from a couple months ago when we went to a painting class for my birthday. That painting is now hanging in my livingroom. I am slowly but surely filling my house with art, and that makes me so, so satisfied.

Word of the year

Last year it was BUILD
This year, FULFILL

more on this later.

Cold January Walk

Photo is Wy asleep in the stroller for a cold walk with Baba and Roxana (and Persie the dog, of course). He was asleep before we hit the driveway, I think.

I have joined an awesome organization called the Hogwarts Running Club, and am getting in consistent mileage thanks to them! Today I biked and walked. I am training for a sprint triathlon at the end of February,  and a half marathon at the beginning of April! 

Kitchenaid bread!

So thrilled,  finally used my new kitchenaid,  and made gorgeous bread! The whole house smells warm.

Tomato saffron confit

The best thing I have put in my face in a long time, and soo easy.

3 pints cherry tomatoes,  halved
1/3 cup olive oil
1 pinch saffron
Salt and pepper

Cook the tomatoes in the olive oil in a medium saucepan on highish heat til they start blistering (15 minutes or so) and add the spices. Then reduce heat to lowish and simmer for another hour. Add more salt if it needs it. Eat with french bread, on noodles, or lick the bowl like I did.

Yummmm.

Earrings

Some earrings waiting for adhesive and hooks!