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????

The Most Delicious Carrot Soup You Could Ever Imagine

I know that title may not have brought a lot of people any excitement. I know how most people feel about vegetables. Not huge fans....Will eat some, but only in certain ways. I used to be one of those people. I used to loathe vegetables. There were multiple, FANCY family dinners that I spit tons of vegetables into my napkin, only for it to be found later when my mom did the laundry because they were clothe napkins---like I said, FANCY. Since becoming a vegetarian, or maybe just an adult, I have found that I actually love vegetables. And not just in the plain green beans next to my mashed potatoes way, but I could make entire meals out of yummy vegetables---DUHH, I'm a veg!

Anyways, I have been trying to make sure that we eat all of our perishable food before Sunday (we are going to Bulgaria for 2 weeks, so food will go bad) and I had a bag of carrots that needed to be eaten, so I came up with this simple recipe. Honestly, I am no genius. This is a recipe that could be altered to so many different vegetables and other add-ins. But even though it is simple, it packs a lot of flavor.

And no, it does not have a huge carrot taste for everyone wondering. It doesn't taste like carrot juice, because if it did, I probably wouldn't like it. It tastes like deliciousness that you can prepare in 30 minutes and feed to your whole family, baby included, and know that they are getting great nutrients =)

Carrot and Pepper Soup
Ingredients:
1 pound of carrots, peeled and chopped
1 red pepper, seeds removed and chopped
1 onion, chopped
3-4 garlic cloves, chopped (this really just depends on your liking for garlic)
3 cups vegetable broth
1 tbsp. fresh ginger, peeled and grated
1 tbsp. olive oil
1/4-1/2 cup low fat plain Greek yogurt
a dash of curry powder (or if you're like me, a couple dashes)
a dash of ground mustard
salt and pepper to taste

^Carrots, red pepper and ginger root!! Ginger is so good.
If you have never tried to cook with it, I urge you to. I
was once afraid of it, but now I try to throw it in everything =)

1. In a large pot over medium-high heat, sautee onion and garlic in olive oil. Add carrots, pepper, curry and mustard and cook only for a minute or two, just to get the flavors going. Add vegetable broth and ginger, and bring it all to a boil. Simmer and cover for about 15 minutes. Check to see that the carrots and peppers are soft by sticking a couple pieces with a fork.

^^Big ole' pot of veggies. Just what I like to see!

2. Let it cool slightly, then blend in batches, being sure not to fill blender the whole way. I recommend about half way, just to make sure it all gets blended well and doesn't over flow hot soup on you. OUCH!! <<I've done that.

3. Once everything is blended, add the yogurt. The amount you add is up to you, just depends on how creamy you would want it, but I like to add at least the 1/4 cup because it's protein!! Then taste, and add salt and pepper if you would like.

^^^Finished product, paired with roasted garlic potatoes and a tall glass of
water, because what else would I be drinking. Always hydrating! 

See how easy that is!!! Honestly, everyone could do that. It takes NO time (well, maybe a little) and it's easy on the bank too. A pound of carrots was 79 cents at my grocery store. I cannot complain with that!


** On a side note, I ran 6 miles while pushing Mila at a 8:10 pace. That really isn't that fast, but if I could hold that for 26.2 miles, I could qualify for Boston!! Let's hope the next 6 months of training make that happen!

Running on the Brain....

I sat here for a few minutes trying to think of a poetic way to start this post but my mind was just completely blank.

You see, when I try to describe running to someone who isn't a runner, it just sounds like I am a crazy person. I LOVE running. I do not run to lose weight, nor do I consider it exercise. If I ran for either of those reasons, I am sure that I would hate it. I run because I feel awesome whilst doing it. Even on days when I am exhausted from a sleepless night with Mila, I know that running will make me feel better..... and it does. Very rarely do I go out for a run and hate it so much that I have to turn around and come home. Sure, this used to happen a lot in the beginning for me, but that was before I fell in love with the sport. That was when I was running to lose weight. That was when I didn't know how amazing running could make me feel.

While I was pregnant, I made the decision to not run at all and just to stick with walking. I thought it would be nice for my body to have a break, and I was really tired during my pregnancy (anyone else??? I was the nap queen) so it seemed like a good thing to do. About 6 months into my pregnancy I was feeling such urges to run but I knew by that point that my body was so out of shape that it would just be upsetting, so I held off. Honestly, never again will I quit running. As good as the idea sounded, running is something that keeps me sane and grounded through my day to day life. It is my therapy, and I need it. <<Now I really sound crazy!!

My whole reason for writing this love note to running and posting it here, is that I have decided to really train. I never considered myself a runner because I was just running at whatever pace my body allowed and for however long I wanted. I never tracked anything, and the first time I even knew my pace was the first half marathon I ran. Since having Mila, I have become a bit more dedicated, but still come up with lots of excuses as to why I don't actually push myself most of the time. My excuse is always that I am pushing Mila and it is hard. But that's exactly what I need. If I can keep a fast pace for long runs with Mila, then I can certainly pull out some fast times when I am running without her. So this is basically me promising myself to work harder. Train harder. Be a better runner. Make it to Boston. Maybe it won't happen the first year, but it WILL happen. And just knowing that I am putting it out there for any of you to know will push me, because I hate to come up short.

<<Waiting to start my first half marathon in January 2011. This is how I prepared....by sitting on the stairs. Meanwhile, 20,000 other runners were stretching and warming up like crazy people. I honestly had NO idea what I was getting myself into. I had never run a race before, let alone a race with so many runners.

















<After I finished in 2:00 hours flat. Not the best time, but for my first half, I was pretty pleased with my time. Also, the fact that I did not walk at all.






<<Don't I look like such a baby???? Crazy what a few years can do to you.

After my second half marathon in December 2012, less than 8 months after having Mila. Even though I was running regularly before this, I was definitely not in shape for 13.1 miles. The last 5 miles I wanted to just quit, but I didn't. Finished in 2:20 minutes, and at that moment, I started running harder and logging more miles. 

After an 8 mile run recently. Got to run without Mila, and I paced 7:40 for 8 miles which is pretty good for me. And the best part about it was that it felt easy. I didn't feel like my lungs were on fire or that my legs were going to break off.....it just felt good. So maybe there are some faster race times that this body can run.....

And, just a cute picture of Mila before a run, because what's a post without Mila in it???? 

Homemade New York-Style Bagels

.........And then I became the person who makes their own bagels. I was NOT this kind of person before. I never cooked, let alone baked, and now here I am hand kneading dough for bagels. WHAT HAPPENED?!!?!

Nik (husband) is semi picky when it comes to his breakfasts. He is not a huge breakfast person, and does not believe that cereal is an actual food. I however, insist that he eats breakfast. Everyone should eat breakfast, it's so important. Anyways, one thing that he will eat is a bagel. The bagels from the grocery store are mehhhh and they cost way too much to taste like mehhh, so I got the bright idea to just make them myself. I found a super simple recipe here and was pleasantly surprised with how they turned out. Nik has now declared that we never buy bagels again......looks like I will be kneading dough once a week. What a great arm workout though!!

This dough, as simple as it may look, took a while to get it that way. My arms were definitely burning afterwards. 

                            

Sectioning off the dough to form into individual bagels. I did not weigh them to be precise, although maybe I should have since I ended up with some pretty interestingly sized bagels. Oh well, small ones for Mila and the big ones for Nik. 

                            

One lonely bagel......

                            

A silly looking bagel and a silly looking me, but hey....I'm proud of that silly looking bagel!! 

****Excuse my poor photography. I guess if I am going to be taking pictures of my food, maybe I should actually learn how to use my camera....I've only had it since I was 17. It may be time to read the manual....

Good Eats for Vegetarians and Everyone In Between

For some time now I have really been into cooking---anyone else with me??? I am a vegetarian (well, really, more like a "pescatarian" but I eat fish so rarely that my diet is mostly veg), so I really cook a lot to make sure my diet consists of more than salad and bread or cereal, because apparently that is not a balanced diet. <<But if it was, I would be SO happy to live off cereal>>

This cookbook has changed my life. It came at just the right time when I was really getting creative and comfortable with trying a lot of new recipes. For a while there, I fell into that rut of always cooking the same few things. Nik and I haven't been able to eat lentil soup since.....I really ran that one into the ground. Oops.


Anyways, this book by Martha Stewart is great. Not too fancy, but full of flavor. I have a one year old, so anything that has more than 4 steps, you can basically count me out of. I have made at least 20 (maybe 30) of the dishes from it, and every single one of them has been yummy. I made this one on the cover the other night--golden tomatoes, kale and whole wheat fettuccine-- A-MAZ-ING.


And I totally understand that most people are not vegetarians, but I think that everyone should have some really good vegetarian recipes in their mix of meals they cook. Sometimes it is good to take a break from all that processed food and just eat a simple, clean and delicious meal.

Here are some other things I have made recently (not all from the book):

This double portobello mushroom burger hit the spot after 90 minutes of Bikram Yoga. Paired with cauliflower cheese sticks from here and homemade buns--I mean, how could you go wrong??? 

Tilapia, avocado, fresh homemade mango salsa and corn tortillas I baked to make chips--YUMMO. These mangoes were so fresh-----like from a tree outside fresh-----and that's just how I like it! Picked just a few hours prior to eating, and not to mention FREE =) Who knew I was such a savvy saver?? 

Polenta with roasted tomatoes and garlic, and a spinach salad. If you are from the south, then you have probably had polenta (or grits, which is very similar). It's a really great alternative to pasta, and can be prepared many different ways. Sadly, I did not get to eat all of that. Mila ate half of it---- that baby can eat I tell you!!! (Not complaining though) 

**What is also so great about me cooking so many things, and not buying a lot of store-made food (such as breads, sauces, etc.) is that I know Mila is getting really good nutrients. I have no idea if this will be able to last forever, especially when I start working full-time, but for now, I am more than happy to spend lots of time cooking for my family.