Homemade Fig Newtons

I totally forgot about Fig Newtons somewhere between 8 years old and now, but I recently rediscovered them and fell in love with them all over (I love when that happens). I have been researching ways to refuel my body after or during long runs that is as natural and easy on my system as possible. Some of the common ways of fueling---energy gels/drinks---don't sit so well with my tummy, so I needed to find something that would. My mom suggested carrying bananas on long runs but I couldn't figure out where to keep them without them becoming banana pudding, so I stumbled upon Fig Newtons. They are small enough for me to carry in my water pack and they provide just enough to keep me going. And they are cookies and I will take any opportunity to eat a cookie, even if I have to run 10 miles to justify it.

Nik had never had a Fig Newton (he's so sheltered) but he also quickly fell in love with them. Being the "homemade is always better" person that I am, I decided to make them myself instead of buying them. I used this recipe, and was so pleasantly surprised at how simple it was. Any type of dessert that has more than one part usually terrifies me because I am bound to ruin it, but this really was a breeze. There is no butter or sugar, which is great because Mila likes to eat them to and Lord knows she doesn't need any extra sugar!

^^Mila running away from me after she snatched a cookie from the table. I forget that she is getting taller and can reach things now.....

Nik also declared that he likes my homemade cookies better----music to my ears! Next up, homemade energy bars. 

****Also, its National Running Day!! Go run some miles and breath some fresh air =) 

Bulgaria continued...

Here are some more pictures from our time in Bulgaria.

^^Some pictures of me running. I barely ran while I was there since there were much better things to do like eat a humongous breakfast of fried dough and nutella, but I did manage to get a few miles logged.

^Hanging out in the summer kitchen (which is outside). I love that during the hot months they cook outside to keep the house from getting too hot. Maybe I should get a summer kitchen in FL but use it all year..... 

We went to Nik's cousin's wedding. It truly was a totally new experience for me. Nothing like weddings that I have been to in the states. And Mila was a party animal and stayed up until midnight. 

^For some unknown reason, Nik and I both love this picture. It's not even pretty, it just captures a little moment between Mila and I.

Carrying her Michael Kors clutch. DIVA 

^^^These little rides are placed all over the city and they are traps for all parents because every child wants to ride EVERY SINGLE one of them. You could literally spend half an afternoon and $15 on these.....

PLAY TIME. They were so sick of all the boring adult things we were always doing. Nothing like a slide to make a child smile =)

^^Nik's sister and I. She's the BEST!! and has really good baby fashion that she gladly hands down to me. So thankful for that. 

^Typical picture of Mila and I. I swear she loves me, it's just hard to tell sometimes with all the extreme maneuvers to get away from me. 

Cutest. Picture. Ever. 

^^My salad and Pavlina's pig ears.....yes, PIG EARS. Such a contrast in how we eat. 

^^^It was my birthday!!! So here is my one picture on the day that I turned 23. (I look exhausted though, oh well)

We're BACKKK!!!

Our trip to visit Nik's family in Bulgaria was A-MAZ-ING! Honestly, I love going there so much. I love his family (which is now my family and I feel so lucky that they are) and I also really enjoy the country. It was a really short trip--only 2 weeks--so we laid low and just spent lots of time enjoying each others company.

I swear Mila grew up so much in those 2 short weeks. She ate meat for the first time (!!!) and made best friends with baby chickens and turkeys. Her older cousin, Yoanna---by 10 months---and her became best friends also and I cannot wait to see how that relationship grows as they grow up. We attended a Bulgarian wedding which was shocking for me because it is night and day compared to weddings that I have attended in the United States. I turned 23 in Bulgaria-WOOT WOOT-and was presented with a cake at every meal that day and I loved it. I had my first massage, which was a really funny experience since the masseuse and I didn't speak the same language and there were points where I wasn't quite sure what she wanted me to do on that table =/. All in all it was a great trip-----wait, let's be honest. The flight home was pure torture-----but other than that I can't wait to go back again.

Here are some pictures from our trip:

I try to dress cute but comfortable while
traveling because I have learned that after
15 hours of travel, you will always feel gross
but if you are dressed cute, it totally helps.

^^Way too excited for the plane ride ahead of
her.....

  

^^Watching all the guys on the tarmac instead of the planes

^^Baba Kolki and Mila. 

  

Give this girl a swing and a sand box and she will

need no further entertainment.

^^Disclosure: So many patterns/colors on babies 

usually occur when Dads dress them. At least

they try..... =) 

There were baby chickens & turkeys!! My heart

melted they were so cute---and then they grew 

and got uglier and I didn't want to pet them as much =(

 Baby animals are always more fun.

^^^You know...just casually trying to lick all the 

pool toys. I really thought we would be out of 

this stage by now. 

Too little for the tricycle.....

.....too big for the tricycle.

^I guess she is old enough to shower herself now. 

Packing and Mother's Day---because that's how everyone celebrates Mother's Day, right???

Over the years I have gotten really good at packing efficiently and quickly for myself. Add a 1 year old, and that all goes out the window. When we go on trips, I still try to be as low maintanence as possible because I realize that everything I pack, I have to carry. Plus a child.....I'm not THAT strong, so I try to to pack as little as possible without actually forgetting something important.

The bag that gives me the most trouble is the carry-on. Clothes can be washed, so the checked luggage can be packed in no more than 5 minutes. But the carry-on has to have everything that you could possibly need for at least 20 hours. I pack wayyyyy more diapers than may even be humanly possible to use in that time frame, but the one time I don't pack enough is the one time we would have an emergency and need them. I also pack extra clothes for Mila, snacks, toys, water, wipes, snacks for me (I eat way too frequently to forget a snack for myself), medicine just in case something happens and passports!! <<Can't forget those!

That mountain of diapers could probably last us a few days, but I take no chances while flying for 10 hours. 

Other than packing, I just pray that Mila is good on the plane. She has a bad habit of screaming--for joy or sadness--so there could potentially be a lot of that and I will feel so bad for the people around us. Maybe I will have to buy them those little bottles of wine. Drinks for everyone!!! <<HAHAH I hope that doesn't happen. Hopefully they are just understanding.......

Aaaaaannnnnddd it is Mother's Day. So, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all the mommys out there, but especially to my momma. She is become such a good friend to me as I have gotten older, and I honestly don't know how I would get through a single day without talking to her on the phone. (It has become a problem....I'm pretty sure she ignores my phone calls sometimes...)

16-year-old me and my momma in Tanzania. We really are best friends who traveled the world together. Sadly, she has found a new travel friend and is in Costa Rica as I type =( booo. <<I just say that because I'm so jealous. LOVE YOU MOM!!!

And can't forget that I'm also a mom (I mean, how could I) to this beautiful little girl. Can't wait for the years when she will be making me breakfast in bed----this WILL happen. I only get one day..... 

And here's one more adorable picture of little Mila drinking a smoothie. I had to make smoothies twice yesterday because she likes them so much. Can't complain though since she is getting tons of fruit/veggie servings. Just look at that expression......girl has a serious personality. 

It's 6:15 and I've Been Awake for an Hour.....

It's 6:15 and I have already been awake for an hour. I hate when this happens to me, and it has been happening very often lately. I have considered going for a run about 17 times already, but my running clothes are in the same room that Mila is sleeping in. BOO =(

I went for a run on the beach yesterday with Mila. I usually just run around the neighborhood because I hate having to take apart the jogging stroller for it to fit in my 2-door car (seriously wish I had a bigger car). I figured since I will be in Bulgaria for a couple of weeks that I should get as many beach-view runs in as I can. I love the view as I am running, and there are a few hills which is great for me to train with, especially pushing Mila up them against wind. I ended up running 6.5 miles at an 8:09 pace. While I was running, I passed a woman running with a dog in a jogging stroller. Only in Boca will you pass someone doing this.....

I have also passed women carrying their dogs in a baby bjorn.......

                                                 

.....which made me laugh really hard as I was carrying Mila in one also.

**Last night  I made the worst dinner ever. I hate when that happens, but I blame it on the recipe and not on me. It just didn't taste good. Oh well. I scrapped that and decided to eat a big bowl of frozen yogurt instead. It totally made my taste buds happy after eating my gross dinner. 

                                     

And it was the last of the frozen yogurt, so Nik got none. Oops. I'm a dessert fiend and I will always have the last of any dessert. I can't help it. I don't like to share desserts. Sorry. 

There's a Baby In That Suitcase

It's Thursday, we leave for Bulgaria Sunday and I have done nothing to get ready. NOTHING. Before, when I was traveling alone, I could get ready for a month long trip to Ghana in about an hour flat. Now that I have to think about a baby who requires a lot of things, I definitely can't pull that off. So maybe I should start prepping to at least pack. Maybe...

^^^This picture is from the last trip I took to see my family. Mila thought it was appropriate to sit in the suitcase and inhibit me from packing. Maybe she will be more helpful this time, but that's doubtful. 

**Also, those chubby 6 month cheeks!! I DIE!!! How cute is she!?!!?

Randomly, I have become a smoothie addict. I had one smoothie from Jamba Juice and I was hooked, just not to paying $5 for a smoothie (WHAT!?!) so I have been whipping them up at home every day since. I love having one for my morning snack after I run. There is nothing better than a tall glass of cold-deliciousness after a long, hot run, and they really are so good for me. I have a hard time eating enough calories some days due to the amount I run, and a smoothie is a great way to pack a bunch of calories (but good ones) into a drink and slurp it down really fast. Nothing like getting tons of fruit/veggie servings in the form of a yummy treat!

Some of my favorite combinations thus far are:

                         

Banana, strawberry, kiwi, low fat plain Greek yogurt and orange juice.

Banana, green apple, kiwi, spinach, low fat plain Greek yogurt and skim milk. (no after photo, but it was a pretty green smoothie!)

Mango, banana, strawberry, low fat plain Greek yogurt and orange juice or skim milk. 

Mila also shares my new love for smoothies! She stole this smoothie straight from the hands of my friend Dawn. 

^^My view this morning of Mila while I was running. She likes to REEEEALLLLY get comfortable in the stroller. Feet up and everything. There is usually a trail of cheerios behind us, so if I ever get lost, all I would have to do is follow the cheerios home. 

Ran 4 miles at a 7:54 pace. Felt super tired this morning after doing 90 minutes of Bikram yoga last night, but  running always makes me feel better and gives me more energy. Crazy how expelling energy can actually make me more energized! Yayy for endorphins!!!

Long Nights

Man, oh man! Last night was one of those nights that just seems too long for life. Mila didn't really sleep until 2:45 in the morning, which meant that Nik and I didn't sleep either. She went to sleep just like she always does around 8 pm, but by 10 we were doing the every-30-minutes-I'm-going-to-wake-up thing. The funny thing about it was that she wasn't waking up upset and crying, but she was SO happy. It really was comical. I almost couldn't be annoyed because she was having such a good time and making me laugh so much. Maybe it was from delirium, but either way, it's as if she was ready to party. Nik on the other hand was not so pleased. Poor guy had to get up at 5 am, which really meant that he never went to sleep. SORRY!!!

Regardless, we went for a run this morning and spent a little time playing in the park in our neighborhood.

I ran 3.522 miles and kept an average pace of 8:02. I am really considering getting a Garmin GPS watch to more accurately keep track of my runs.   <<Santa, do you hear me????

Have I told you how much I love living where we live?? Honestly, it is so perfect for us and our lifestyle right now. So many outdoor opportunities to play and burn off some of Mila's energy. **However, it doesn't sound like I did a good job of that yesterday.

Here is a cute picture of Mila from this past Sunday. I really can't get enough of her and her cuteness. 

When your 13 month old is still too small for 9 month clothes and simply walks them off.....

What a life!!! ^^^^

And these two pictures are simply just too funny not to share. I met a new friend--a bird--and he was so friendly. We look so comfortable together, right??? Not really. He really made me feel like this....

I was terrified of what he might do with that little beak. Anyone else afraid of birds????