Fab Five Favs

In honor of Trader Joe's opening in our town (a few weeks ago), my Fab Five Favs are all Trader Joe's items. I love you Trader Joe's!

1) Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans-I love these things when I need a quick pick-me-up during the day. I only need about 3 or 4 and I get just a little caffeine boost!

2) Luna Bars -I have always loved Luna bars (honest I really have) and I found that Trader Joe's has the best prices and selection of Luna bars. I also love that you can buy the larger sized boxes here. Have you tried the Protein ones yet? This one is like a giant peanut butter cup.

 3) Epicuro wine - One of my favorite wines of all time. It's dry, crisp, spicy and it goes with just about anything. The best part is that it is under 10 bucks!

4) Fresh Sushi - These were really good but I love all of the sushi they sell. I particularly liked this type because of the packet of sauce it came with. It was a ginger orange soy sauce that was delicious.

5) The nuts - TJ's has the best nut selection....ever!

Anniversary- Pottery

The traditional gift for 9 years of marriage is Pottery.

We just landscaped the backyard and it looks great (photos are coming soon). The retaining wall was built out of claystone pavers....(pottery maybe?) Does that count?

It's the best present because the weather has started getting warmer and I was really  missing playing in the backyard with the kids. We spent a lot of time in our old house on the lawn and the wooden swing set. Now we have them both again and am just so happy and so are the kids.

Happy 9 years, honey. The kids and I love you and appreciate all that you do for our family.

Luna Summit

On Friday morning I will be heading up to Berkley, California. I was honored to be invited to attend Luna Summit this year. Summit is a chance for all Team Luna Chix members to come together and learn more about Clif/Luna Bar and all of their fundraising efforts, specifically the Breast Cancer Fund. Local team members (and the bloggers) have the opportunity to hang out and train with the Luna Pro team. Some of the Pros will host clinics on nutrition, injury prevention, bike skills, running tips, yoga sessions and many more. We will get a chance to tour Clif Bar headquarters and meet some of the staff members.  I also look forward to meeting the other 3 bloggers and maybe a couple ladies from the local Phoenix Triathlon team. It will be a jam-packed weekend and truly a memorable one.

Just a "shout out" to my in-laws for stepping in and helping with childcare this weekend, thank you. I am also super excited that when I get home my brother and sister in-law will be here for the whole week. It's been over a year since we have gotten together and they will be spending their Spring Break with us. We will be playing tour guides next week as this is their first time visiting Northern Arizona!

Am I a better runner?

Probably not...but the running clinic Coach Paintrick held yesterday helped get me in the right direction.

Clinic at the local YMCA

Coach Paintrick. I find it amusing that he is actually smiling in this picture. He doesn't smile very often, he just inflicts pain.

At least the arms are not flailing around.

Quinoa Turkey Meatloaf

Lately I have been trying to add more Quinoa to our diets. After reading about all the benefits of Quinoa, I thought why not? I love it because you can add it to almost anything. Tonight I experimented with adding it to meatloaf along with throwing in some extra veggies. I figured it's meatloaf, how can you screw up meatloaf?

It's was AWESOME, second helping awesome!

Quinoa Turkey Meatloaf

1 package of Jennie O ground turkey (a little over a pound)

1 packet of McCormick Reduced Sodium Meatloaf Seasoning

1 small can of organic tomato paste

1/2 grated yellow onion

1 small grated yellow squash

1 small grated zucchini 

1 egg

1 small jar of baby food carrots

1 small jar of baby food peas

3/4 cup COOKED quinoa (to cook the quinoa separately: boil 2 cups of water and add 1 cup dry quinoa cook for 12 minutes you will have extra but I put in fridge and use it in oatmeal, tacos, spaghetti sauce, whatever)

2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley

Mix everything together. Lay out a cooking bag in a shallow pan. Form the mixture into a loaf, inside the cooking bag. Tie up the bag and cut a few holes in top.

Cook at 375 for about 50 minutes. Internal temperature should reach 170 degrees. Cut open bag and let it stand for 5 minutes.

                                                              What you need:

                                                               Before putting it in oven.

                                                              Cooked quinoa

                                                                   Voila!

I top my meatloaf with ketchup because I am like a 2 year old-I looooove ketchup!

Love thy neighbor.

So I didn't have to bust out any emergency crafts today because my awesome neighbor called this morning and said "send the kids outside to play with my kids (they have 3) and literally they have been doing this ALL DAY LONG! It's almost 6:30 pm and they are still outside building sled runs and snow forts. I don't have the heart to tell them that the forecast in a few days is 65 degrees and it will all be melted soon.

Even White Dog joins the fun!

Snow Day from school

Today is a snow day from T's school. Wonderful since he just had all last week off.

It has been snowing nonstop since yesterday. This morning my doorbell rang and I thought "who is driving in this storm and why are they at my door?" It was three teeneagers donned in full snow gear, shovels and Camelbacks full of water. They were going house-to-house offering to shovel driveways (I am sure a decent tip was expected). I didn't use their services since T loves to shovel the driveway (really he does) and I don't have to pay him. But note to self when T gets older this would be a great job for him!

I guess today I better dust off the emergency crafts, puzzles I have hid and maybe the playdough (gasp I hate playdough but I am desperate) so I can find a way to keep these kids from killing each other.

Trapped

Just 2 days ago it was 70 degrees and sunny. This morning we woke up to well over a foot of fresh snow!

Paul went out to survey the driveway and attempted to shovel it this morning (we have a very steep and icy  driveway so it makes it impossible to get the cars out of the garage).  It's never a good thing when his words are "you don't have to go anywhere for the next couple days do you? You have all the food you need right?"

WHAT THE ???????

We only have 4 wheel drive on one car and he is leaving in an hour to go to work for the next few days. He needs the truck to get to the airport. The roads are not yet clear and most likely won't be for awhile (it's Sunday nothing happens in this town on Sunday).

Hoping this storm is over soon and it melts fast!

GORD Race

P raced a Duathlon yesterday for St Patrick's Day. It was a 1.5 mile trail run, 8.2 mile mountain bike ride and another 2.2 mile run. I thought he did great. He wasn't impressed with his time but aren't we all like that? Regardless we are so very proud. I am envious of his sore muscles today...how sick is that? I am jealous that he is in pain, gheez I need help!

Spring Break in photos

All packed in.

                How awesome is that, I caught White Dog peeing on Opa's lawn in the background?

                                                               Polar bear at the Zoo.

                                                        Took the ferry over to Coronado.

                                                                   Playing in the sand.

                                                                    Parents-to-be!

                                             Making fresh OJ from Grandma & Opa's trees.

Model train museum

               Kids are fighting the backseat about who is touching who and I still have 200 miles to go.

Spring Break

We are having a great trip so far. Enjoying the beautiful Southern California weather. So far we have done the Zoo, Coronado and Mommy even got to have some alone time at her Mecca- Fashion Valley Mall.

D ended up with an ear infection but after a quick trip to a nearby Minute Clinic he is meds-up and is doing just fine. It didn't stop him from sight seeing with the rest of the family.

The exciting news has been that my brother and his wife are expecting their first baby this Fall. I couldn't be happier for the both of them. I admit though I already had an idea about the baby. They are both such "planners" and the fact that they didn't yet have any Ironman races on their calendar for 2012 left me very suspicious! So congrats W&K, I can't wait to meet my new niece or nephew.

Packing up and heading out.

We are off to San Diego today for Spring Break.

Isn't that what Zonies are supposed to do for Spring Break?

The car is loaded and the DVD players are on standby for the long ride. It's just me, the boys and White Dog.

P conveniently has to work so he gets the luxury of flying in and out while the Family Truckster chugs along I-10.

I am excited to spend the next week visiting with family, catching up with old  friends and even more happy that California is switching time zones......muaaaahhhhaha we don't have to be out of sync!

Peanut Butter, Chocolate, Spinach Smoothie Recipe

Made this today after getting my arse kicked by Coach Paintrick.

I know this recipe sounds so gross but it's SO very good!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Spinach Smoothie

- one small container of vanilla yogurt
- 1 scoop whey protein powder
- handful of baby spinach
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon of ch-ch-ch chia seed
- splash of milk
- 1 tablespoon of chocolate syrup
- a handful of ice cubes

whip it up in the blender!

You cannot even taste the spinach.




Amazing...the drink matches my countertops!

30 Day Shred

Damn you Jillian Michaels and your 30 Day Shred DVD.

I started this workout the other day to tone up my arms for my photo shoot I have with Luna Bar at the end of the month. Today I cannot lift my arms to brush my hair. I do hear that the bedhead look is in, so I am goin' with it.

You might find me dead in front of the TV if I did this for 30 days straight. My plan is to do this workout on the days I cannot get to Spin class to be tortured by Coach Patrick (aka Coach Paintrick).

Dress-up day at school should have been fun.

I think I have had anxiety my whole life.

I know this because today while dropping my son off at school he had his Pajamas on. It was Pajama Day at his school. As I dropped him off and watched him excitedly skip away wearing his rocket-ship PJ's, I had horrible images flash through my mind. Those were images of me as a kid having dress up day at school and how nauseous and terrified I would get. I would fear that I would be the only one wearing either PJ’s or a Halloween costume so I would secretly sneak a change of clothes in my backpack. That way if I didn’t see anyone dressed as crazy as I was, I could immediately run to the nearest bathroom and change into regular clothes.

Fab Five Favs

Another month down and here are my Fab Five Favs!

1) Pinterest www.pinterest.com

I am hesitant to put this on on here because I am just now starting to learn to like it. I am trying to give it a chance. I actually used to hate this site and didn't quite understand what all the hype was. I mean really a bunch of stuff that wanna-be crafty people will probably never do or stuff that people can't afford or DIY designs in people's "dream" homes. Who cares! But I admit I have succumbed to the hype. I find myself posting funny sayings, pictures of things that I too myself cannot afford (but want) and kid crafts that look "oh so cool" but will just stay a pin on the inside of my laptop. So why do I like it now? It has been quite helpful with landscaping ideas as we are about to start in on our backyard.

2) Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin Detergent (with fresh scent)



D has eczema pretty bad so he's allergic to most laundry detergents. He can use the free and clear ones but I always hated that they don't have a scent. With the way my workout clothes smell after spin class, you better believe I want a scent in my wash! I tried this one and am hooked. We have been using it for weeks now and it doesn't seem to bother his skin at all. The best part is that it does have a nice fresh clean scent.

3) Maybelline Age Rewind Makeup Primer


A few weeks ago a friend turned me on to this product. She really talked it up so for 6 bucks I thought "what the heck!" Turns out I love this stuff too. I put this on before I use my powder or liquid foundation. I have a lot of sun discoloring (shocker huh?) so this helps even out my skintone. It also smoothes out the wrinkles (a little... no miracles here people but a little) so your makeup doesnt just seep into your lines. It also has a little bit of a sheen to it so it almost gives you a glow. Think pregnancy glow but without being knocked-up (god forbid)!

4) Hanging Pendant Light



I have always loved the look of hanging lights in the kitchen but was afraid we would have to re-do all of our lighting since we have recessed lights. And I didn't dare want to give P another item on his to-do list. They now make these lights that fit right over your current round recessed lights. Basically you just screw the entire thing over the recessed light and voila you have a hanging pendant light. It took less than 5 minutes to install. Really it did, I watched my Dad install it. What? Did you think I did it myself?


5) Smart Girls Re-Sale shop http://smartgirlsfashion.com/

The best little re-sale shop in the area! They are pretty picky on the stuff they buy back so that means their selection to shop from is pretty darn good. They have all the current labels and their prices are really reasonable. I got these two super-cute jackets (I don't think they were ever worn) for 10 bucks each!

Now if I can just decide which one to wear for Moms Gone Wild Moms Night Out this weekend. Help me pick, ladies.