This Saturday morning was tad on the busy side… first I judged a historical documentaries for the Juniors Historians of Texas Annual Meeting.  The Junior Historians program is made up student in 4th grade through kindergarden who have an interest in history.   The Students prepare projects and present their work at the meeting.   

Following the Junior Historian’s Meeting I laced up my shoes and ran in third 5k of year – 2013 the Race for Prevention of Child Abuse, which benefited Boys Town.   Boys Town is an organization that helps provide children of all ages a safe place to stay.   

The run went well – I did my best 5k time of 37 minutes.   

 

The United Nations has declared March 20^th International Day of Happiness.   This is to underline the commitment it’s member states to “better capture the importance of the pursuit of happiness and well-being in development with a view of guiding their public policies.”

The side effects of happy include smiling and laughing more, less street, better overall health, and increased productivity.

Happiness for me comes from my friends and family …

Allyn …

My mom and grandmother …

Friends…

It also comes from these two monsters, Patrick and Molly …

I also find happiness in the things I do …

Running …

Photography …

Traveling ….

 

I love to cook that is no secret.  What I love more than cooking is grilling … especially in the early spring when it is not too hot.

This weekend I grilled shrimp on Saturday for my mom’s birthday and then on Sunday I grilled steaks and Asparagus.  There are so many different ways to grill Asparagus… this time I used a basic recipe and they came out nice and tender.

 

Grilled Asparagus

1 pound fresh asparagus

Spray Butter

Salt & Pepper

Steam the Asparagus in the microwave until just about tender.

Let cool and spray with butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Place on grill, heated to medium temperature.  Grill on each side for about 4 to 6 minutes depending on desired tenderness.

 

 

 

 

Last year at this time I signed up for my first 5K; I was 80 pounds heavier and a newbie to running.   Flash forward a year, I have completed 5 – 5k since.  Over the past year, running has become an outlet … an outlet for weight loss, stress, and for personal time.  When I run I have time to think and clear my mind, it simply puts me in touch with my inner self, my true self.   Running has become something I am passionate about.  When I signed up for my first 5K a year ago, I did it to give myself something to work towards and look forward to.  I never thought I would become something I enjoy.  

I hope to complete at least 12 – 5k (or longer distances) this year. I have my eyes set on the running the Disney Princess Half Marathon, February 21 – 23, 2014.  I am also eyeing the San Antonio Rock-N-Roll half marathon in November, if not else as a volunteer.   Running in 5Ks are huge motivation for me … for they motivate me to stay in shape, eat right, and push myself. 

This year, I am averaging 14 miles weekly.   I am striving to run 3 more miles daily. 

Staying motive to eat healthy and run is one of the hardest things I have done.  It’s not easy because I love food … I love to cook, to bake and to eat.   Over the past year it has been learning about portion size and how to make wise choices.  

I have 45 more pounds I would like to lose this year. I have set myself the goal to lose it by my birthday at the end of July (30^th). 

What are my overall motivations for running and weight lost??? First, my health.  I want to be healthy. I don’t want to have to deal with medical issues associated with being overweight.  Second, I work in job where I often have to give lectures, public presentations and do a lot of public speaking. I want to look my best when doing so.  I don’t want people to remember me for being the “fat” girl.  Next, fashion!  Simply put I want to be able to wear cute outfits!  Additionally, I want to be attractive. Not only for my significant other but I wanted others to find me attractive as well. Finally, I am doing it for myself.  I am highly successful person and I want to body to accompany that.

My mom is a “St. Patrick’s Day” baby…. Well her birthday is the day before St. Patrick.  To celebrate we went on a mother daughter date to Sur La Table to learn all about Irish cooking.  Instructing us was local chef Jason Cruz.

The Menu for the evening included:

Irish Apple and Parsnip Soup – this had to be my favorite dish of the evening! I honestly never knew parsnip tasted so good.  I also didn’t know that apples and potatoes would make a good combination, in a soup no less.   I can’t wait to make this dish again.

Guinness and Maple Glazed Salmon with a side of Potato Mash with Braised Cabbage (Colcannon)

I had my hesitation about mixing mashed potatoes with cabbage but the combination was really good together.

Bittersweet Chocolate Irish Whiskey Cake

The cooking class was extremely fun and great way to spend time with my mom.

Happy Birthday Mom!

A few weekends ago … Allyn challenged me with a day at an autocross event, to test out my new beetle.  With no hesitation I agreed.

So what is autocross?  Autocross is a competition in which drivers navigate one at a time through a defined course of obstacles, seeing who can finish with the best speed.

Our day started with putting numbers on the car.  Then we got our racing assignments.  We were both racing in the second heat, which meant were helping on the track during the first event.

Allyn drove first to show me how autocross … I don’t think I was prepared the high speed plus all the quick turns.

After that it was my turn to take the wheel.   I had no clue what I was doing during my first run.

 

At the end of the day Allyn got 3rd place and I finished last. In the end it was a good way to see how my car could handle and it was tons of fun!!!!

The purpose of our road trip was to obtain a new play toy for Allyn, a 2007 Volkswagen GTI Fahrenheit.

Fahrenheit models of the GTI are distinguished by their Magma Orange paint job, special Fahrenheit badging, a commemorative plate placed on the steering wheel, body-coloured interior panels, orange stitching on the DSG boot, steering wheel, park brake handle and floor mats, as well as special gunmetal-colored 18″ “Charleston” wheels. The Fahrenheit also came with a European tuned suspension.

The Fahrenheit GTI was available only with Volkswagen’s DSG transmission. Only 1200 Fahrenheit GTI models in Magma Orange were produced for the US.

For Allyn, it was love at first sight…. It was love at first sight as the car was pulling up to the hotel.

Then when he was handed the keys he was a super happy boy

I always enjoy fixing lasagna; however it is often too much for just two or three people.  Lasagna rolls are my solution to fixing lasagna for a small number of people.  Surprising I found them to be pretty simple and easy to make as well.

Italian Sausage Lasagna Rolls

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1 cup milk

½ pound ground Italian Sausage, cooked

15 oz Ricotta Cheese

½ cup pesto sauce

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

6 lasagna noodles, cooked

2 cups marinara sauce

Preheat oven to 375

Add the butter to a medium saucepan set over medium – low heat.  Once melted, add flour, whisk to combine. Cook for one minute. Gradually, add the milk, whisking constantly.  Raise the heat to medium-high, continue cooking, making sure to whisk constantly, until sauce has thickened; season with salt and pepper to taste and remove from heat.   Pour about ¼ cup of the white sauce on the bottom of a 8 X 8 baking pan and spread in an even layer.

In a medium mixing bowl the ricotta cheese and pesto; season with salt and pepper to taste. Lay cooked and cooled lasagna noodles on a flat surface (a cooking board) works well.   Place a 1/3 cup scoop of the ricotta cheese and pesto mixture on the noodle and spread covering the noodle.  Sprinkle the Italian sauce and cheese on top on the ricotta cheese mixture.   Roll the noodle up, then place in the baking pan.  Repeat with the remaining noodles.

Pour the remaining white sauce over the lasagna rolls, and then top with marinara sauce.  Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the rolls.

Bake for 30 minutes or until the cheese has browned and sauce is bubbling around the edges of the pan.

January is all about new beginnings and resolving to be better.  While I have been trying to play catch up with blogging, I wanted to take a moment to reflect and talk about self growth.  Several months back I wrote about how I was in a rebuilding phase of my life.  Since I wrote that post I have been living life to fullest and enjoying every moment of it; while I have changed, it has been for the best.  I have discovered new things about myself and gotten back in touch with things I enjoy.  

When Mason came out as gay, part of me did not know what do, I became numb, because so much of my life was focused and centered on him.  I started focusing on myself, for the first time in a long time, for someone who is selfless; this was a great challenge and was hard.  I focused on my health and fell back in love with running.  I learned how to make new friends and seize every moment.  Professionally, I began focusing on new career goals and took a serious look where I was and where I wanted to be.  I continued to focus on the things I enjoy – photography, cooking, traveling, family and friends. 

As I have been focusing on becoming my best self, I learned that loving yourself is a must.  I also learned that it is okay to take time for you.  In the end no one else is going to take care of you but you and sometimes this is a hard lesson to learn.  

Time is my biggest nemesis today.   There are so many things I want to accomplish, do and experience.  I know I will do, accomplish and experience all of these in time. While each days brings a new challenge,  I love my life and would not have it any other way.

So where am I at?  Professionally, I am growing.  I am doing what I love. I am learning to balance a demanding career and professional life with an equally demanding yet fulfilling personal life.  From a personal perspective, I am doing what I love and surrounding myself with positive people. 

So what is my best self… I think it is a girl who is striving and pushing for the best in life and not giving up on what she really wants.   It living my life to fullest and being happy and not letting the negative get in the way.

For Christmas I basically gave Allyn a trip to Washington DC and New York City.   On Christmas Day we left San Antonio and flew to DC to begin our adventure…