My sassy girl

I cannot believe how big my girl is.

She is her own person.  Sure of what she wants, and does not want. 

I feel so impressed and challenged by her.  She drives me crazy and overwhelms me, in both good and bad ways.  She makes me feel both excited and proud.  

Some days I wonder what I am doing or more importantly what am I doing wrong.  

This months challenge for myself is to let go, enjoy and remember to show her that she is everything  I could ask for and more.  I will make sure that she sees how happy she makes me and how much joy she brings to me.  I will not cry over spilled milk, of clothes on the floor or....

I will take an extra ten minutes to snuggle her every night that she needs me to because  someday she will stop asking.

I will tell her a hundred times that I love her, that I am lucky to have her and she is everything she needs to be.




Thanks Tracy for the picture.
http://tracygracephotography.blogspot.com

Whats cooking this week...

 

Colorful and healthy.

Pumpkin Lasagna

 

This recipe is a keeper, yummy.

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/pumpkin-lasagne  

Everyone ate it, it was easy to make (I made two I and sent my friend so she did not have to cook she is cooking later this week).  I almost fallowed the F & W recipe (I did not measure, I used milk and no cream and I used more Parmesan). 

Turkey Posole

It was good and healthy, my chile was spicy so it was too spicy for my kids.  I would add veggies next time.

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/december-2007-turkey-chili-soup-with-hominy

Later this week: 

Shrimp Fajitas, no recipe (just limes, Chile powder, shrimp, bell peppers and onions)

Sweet Potato Biscuits with chicken sausage gravy (not so healthy but it looked good).

http://brokeassgourmet.com/

Running in Heels After Child: Running In The Rain

Running in Heels After Child: Running In The Rain: "I call myself an unlikely runner. I never thought I would be a runner. I like high heels, baking and tequila. But somehow I became a runn..."

Running In The Rain

I call myself an unlikely runner.

I never thought I would be a runner.  I like high heels, baking and tequila.  But somehow I became a runner.  I run slowly but I run.

This weekend we needed to run at least 15 miles.  It is not easy to get a group of moms out of the house at the same time, we have kids and several schedules to juggle. 

There is no rescheduling, rain or shine we run. 

Yesterday it rained.

At first it was a light drizzle, small rain drops.  Kind of nice, just enough to make me feel strong and impressed with myself for being out there. 

Then the real rain started, soaking wet, big rain drops. I could feel my feet sloshing in my shoes, I could wring out my dry fit jacket.  When we finally finished, my toes looked like I had been soaking in the bathtub. 

It was not fun, I did not feel strong, it was hard.  Some runs feel great even in the rain, not this week.

Silver Lining: I am done (until next week), I have friends that are as crazy as I am and want to run in a rain storm, and I have friends who will watch my kids while my husband is at work and I am running.

It's here, it is finally here!

I don't buy big ticket items.  I don't spend a lot of money.

I love a new pair of shoes and on occasion I go out and buy them.  And it makes me happy.  I am all for a little retail therapy when needed.

However, on a given week, I spend money on groceries, and honestly that makes me happy too.

When we moved I decided that the ugly couches were not coming with us.  After seven years of staring at them wondering when they could go away- I sold them, and they went away.  

I ordered a new set online and I have been waiting, and waiting.  They were delayed almost a month, so for the past four months our living room has had a swing and a jumper in it and that is it.

But today, they arrived.  I am excited. I am ecstatic.  They are here and I love them!  The four month wait only adds to my joy of their arrival.

They are nice,  modern and clean, grown up, and microfiber (so I can wipe clean).  I made a decision (not easy for me to do, a couch is a big commitment) and the payoff was big.  I love them.

Now I need throw pillows and a rug, but I will bask in the glory of my new furniture for today.

Forget running, I want to cook.

Welcome Fall.

I have been less then inspired to cook.  I was tired and pregnant, then I had a new baby and moved and it was too hot to care.  Now it is cooling down and I am ready to cook.

This weeks menu:

-Pizza margarita
-Mushroom-Sausage Ragu served on top of polenta
-Butternut Squash Risotto
-Mixed Veggie Soup with Farro
-Pumpkin Pancakes

The Pancakes were the big hit this week and I made a ton so I could freeze and cook them as Taylor wants them.

The pizza;  Jaxson took a nap and Taylor and I got busy in the kitchen.

She had a rolling pin and I had a glass of wine. 

It was one of those moments that I could breath and enjoy my child and her childhood.  We made a mess and it was great.  When it was time to eat she decide that she did not like the pizza and she only wanted to eat broccoli and have cereal for dessert...well ok then.

- Mushroom-Sausage Ragu served on top of polenta

Thank you Food and wine,  everyone ate it.  Taylor had each part separate- but she ate it.  Next time I would skip the dry mushrooms and just use more fresh ones, it was good, different and easy.

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/mushroom-sausage-ragu

-Butternut Squash Risotto (with chicken drumsticks in case my family does not like it)

I thought it was good, but Taylor and Rob ate chicken.

Still to come this week:

-Mixed Veggie Soup with Farro

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/mixed-vegetable-and-farro-soup

I made it yesterday day because we were stuck at home with a sick Taylor, I had time and soup always tastes better the next day.   I am pretty sure I should have skipped the Farro and gone for pasta.

-Friday we have friends coming for dinner, I am still looking for an idea.

Saturday...carbs lots of carbs, Sunday I am running 17 miles.

Here I am. I am still here and I am going to write all about it.

This is my first blog posting. 

I am unsure about sharing my thoughts, ideas, pictures….basically my life, with an unknown group if people (assuming someone actually reads this) but here we go.

The last few months of my life have been non-stop. 

April 24^th my son was born.

Then we found a new house, bought it and remodeled it.  Then we moved and rented our old house, with a newborn and a 4 year old.

I have been shuffling and going nonstop.  I need to stop and breath and feel my life. I am not complaining.   I have a great life, a great family and great friends.  But when life can be so much about taking care of other things other people I need to remember to who I am.

I am trying to get back to me.  I am enjoy my life, I express my creativity through food, I run to find solitude (while I run with friends?) and strength.  I like to laugh and roll on the floor with my kids and I go week in the knees for a hot pair of heels or a really nice cooking contraption. Go figure.

I am going to try to document our life, with picture, my ramblings, stories and food.