Race for the Cure 2014

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This was our second year walking with my friend’s team, Keeping the Headlights On. Our friend’s mom is a breast cancer survivor, so every year my friend and her sister rally to get friends and family together to participate in this event. Like last year, we got up early and met at my friend’s house, a little sleepy but ready to walk, not realizing what a day it would be. It’s a day of celebration for the survivors, a day for remembering lives lost, but most importantly a day for hope.

The walk itself is a fun experience because everyone dresses up, and the road is paved with high fives and cheerleaders, getting everyone excited to be there. By the time you make it to the end, happy to be there and happy to have done something to help the fight against breast cancer, you feel why you’re there.

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It’s hard not get teary eyed watching the survivors hugging family after the race, grateful to be there and fight another day. It’s hard not to notice a young girl sobbing as she wears a t-shirt that says, “we’ll miss you, Grandma Vi”. And it’s extremely hard to see a friend in tears over the recent passing of a family friend. Her daughter was there walking (a breast cancer survivor herself) on Sunday, even though she had just lost her mother on Tuesday. There was a moment yesterday when I looked around and felt so privileged to be there, as if I were on the outside, looking in. I felt humbled.

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The Seattle Seahawks drum line, Blue Thunder, was even there to lead the survivors to center stage, to be cheered on and celebrated.

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The pain and sadness are awful, of course, but if you can see past that, you see that the hope is inspiring. I’m not an expert in advocacy for the fight against breast cancer, I’m not an advocate for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, but I am an advocate for people helping people. Do something small, do something big, but do something. Your heart will thank you.

xo

 

Glacier View Camping Excursion

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We went to Glacier View campground on Lake Wenatchee, about two hours east of Seattle, for Memorial Day weekend (and for my annual birthday trip). We have been to this campground before and really enjoyed it so we decided to pay it another visit, but this time we brought a lot more friends, eighteen friends to be exact. The sites are first come first serve, so you have to get there early enough to beat the long weekend rush. Luckily my husband and some of our other friends, who went up a day early, were able to snag three neighboring campsites on Thursday afternoon. Upon arrival, everything was set up, so I grabbed a beer and immediately immersed myself into camp life, turning off my phone and no longer worrying about the time. The views were spectacular from our site, so I found a little patch of sun on a log and took it all in. It was a fantastic weekend full of laughs, beauty and friends.

Hidden Lake

Some of my favorite things…shenanigans, friends, and a cold beer.

Since we are fairly seasoned campers, I thought I’d share a little about the food, especially since we tried some new things that worked out great.

BREAKFAST // Eggs two ways, yes please.

Breakfast Burritos: You can make these ahead of time for the easiest, most delicious breakfast ever. (The genius behind these, Mel, used 6 eggs and it made 7 burritos.) Prepare the corn salsa; chop red onion, finely chop the cilantro, and mix in corn. Thaw and drain some frozen peppers, and be sure to get all of the moisture out using paper towels. She used about 1/2 the bag of frozen peppers. Shred 1 1/2 cups of pepper jack cheese. Barely scramble the eggs and season them to your liking. The eggs should be clumping together but still a little gooey. Combine the eggs, cheese, peppers, corn salsa, and some more fresh cilantro. For the carnivores in your group, you can add chicken sausage, or whatever meat that might strike their fancy. Now would also be a good time to add some hot sauce. Once you have everything you want, divide it up into the tortillas and roll them up. Wrap them in foil and store them in freezer bags until they are ready to make. You just need to throw them on to a camping stove, a grill, or the campfire. We made ours on a camping stove and it took about 15 minutes. I accidentally left one on for much longer, more like 30 minutes, and it was just fine. The tortilla was just a little crispier.

Breakfast Sandwiches: This is a tradition for our group, and they are a great way to start your day. You’ll need a pack of English muffins, eggs, cheese, and deli meat for the meat lovers. On the camping stove, make an to your liking. I always try teeter between over medium and over hard. While that’s cooking (and it’ll take a while on a camping stove, about 10-15 minutes), slice an English muffin in half and toast the inside first, just for a couple minutes, directly on the grill. Flip the English muffin over and  add some cheese so that can begin to melt. Put some of the deli meat directly on to the grill and allow it to get some grill marks. Once the deli meat is done, gently fold it over the top of the melted cheese. By now, your egg should be done, so add it to the sandwich, and there you have it a hearty breakfast for a day of hiking.

HOBO PACKETS // Pure genius, worth the prep time.

Thai Coconut Shrimp with Peppers : Mel used Thai noodle soup packets as a base (4 packets).  Genius! First, slice and saute 1 package of button mushrooms. Next, clean and de-vein your raw shrimp. Soak the noodles from the soup packets in hot water for 2 minutes and then drain. While those are soaking, chop some cilantro. You’ll need a can of coconut milk, and 1 can will be enough for 4 hobo packets. Shake well and stir it if needed. Lay out a sheet of foil and begin layering in items: noodles, spread them out a bit, a drizzle of coconut milk, a small amount of the seasoning packet, mushrooms, peppers (use the other 1/2 bag from the breakfast burritos!), cilantro, shrimp. For the shrimp be sure to only do a single layer so that they don’t overlap. Drizzle the shrimp with the oil packet from the soup mix, and add more of the seasoning packet. You’ll only need about half the packet. Bringing the long sides of the foil together, fold it over a few times, making it fairly flat. Then roll up the sides so everything is well contained.

Lemon Pepper Asparagus & Mushrooms:  I made this one up because I had the ingredients on hand. Using about a 1 1/2lbs of asparagus, 1/2 white onion, a container of mushrooms, and a cup of brown rice, will make four packets. (You can add chicken sausage for the carnivores in your group.) I cooked the brown rice, let it cool, then placed it in the center of the packet. I chopped the veggies, mixed them together in a large bowl, and then added them to the packet around the rice. For the seasoning, I added about 1 tbsp of butter (place it in the center, right on top of the rice), a generous helping of lemon pepper and a dash of sea salt. Bringing the long sides of the foil together, fold it over a few times, making it fairly flat. Then roll up the sides so everything is well contained.

With that said, how about some fun photos from the trip?

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Mia, my little model.

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Another beautiful view from our campsite.

 

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Hidden Lake

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Meet Stihl and Bentley. They were enjoying the views too.

I know that camping isn’t for everyone, but there is something really amazing about it. We spent 5 days entertaining ourselves with conversation, playing games, hiking, and sitting around the campfire. How many people can say they do that nowadays? If you’ve never tried it, maybe give it a chance.

xo

Taco Tuesday: A little of this, a little of that…

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Using some leftover potatoes from breakfast over the weekend, and a few gems from the fridge, I created a tasty meal for Taco Tuesday. I had high hopes for this meal, but once I started cooking, the meal got away from me. I forgot to take photos, I overcooked the eggs, and meant to add avocado. I thought about not posting it because it’s not the prettiest meal I have ever plated, BUT it was so yummy, I decided to go ahead and do it.

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Let me tell you what you’re looking at here. We had corn tortillas with melted extra sharp cheddar cheese, potatoes seasoned with cumin and sea salt, topped with over hard eggs. For the side, we had black beans spooned over sautéed onion, spinach and beets seasoned with minced garlic. To eat the tacos, we simply folded the tortilla –with all of its deliciousness inside– in half and ate it like a normal taco. My husband spooned some of the beans and veggies into the taco too…brilliant.

Okay, my inspiration…the leftover potatoes. I didn’t want them to go to waste and it was time for a Taco Tuesday post, so there you have it.

*I added some olive oil, cumin and sea salt, and then I mashed it to create a little potato patty. I popped it in the oven at 350 for about 15 minutes to crisp it up.

*While the potatoes are crisping, prep your veggies and start heating some oil and garlic in a pan over medium heat. Once the onion is translucent and the garlic is fragrant, add the beets and sauté for about 15 minutes. I say, add whatever veggies you have here. You can’t go wrong (says the vegetarian). This is also a good time to heat up your beans on the stovetop and season them up. It shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes to heat leftover beans or canned beans.

*Add a little olive oil to a pan over medium heat, put two tortillas in the pan at a time, and then sprinkle on some cheese to get it melted. Now is a good time to make your eggs. Making an over hard egg takes about 5 minutes (cook 2-3 minutes on each side). While the egg is cooking, and the cheese is starting to melt, add some of the potatoes and let it all cook for another couple minutes to allow the cheese and potatoes meld together nicely. Your egg should be ready to flip now.  Pull the tortillas off the pan and place them on to a plate where they can stay warm. Top the tortilla concoction with half of your over hard egg.

*That’s it! Add some hot sauce to your tacos, serve the veggies and beans. Enjoy!

xo

 

 

Today’s BGD // 5.15.14

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This chicken scratch you’re looking at is my schedule for tomorrow, well, my schedule up until 1:45 pm. This list goes well on to the back of this page. I already deemed it a day from hell yesterday when I learned how hectic the day would be. I vented to my husband, my sister and a girlfriend about my frustration with this day. “Why all of this in one day?!”, I whined. However, after giving a bit more thought with a clear head and fresh eyes today, I realize that tomorrow is nothing more than another challenging day. Some of the most challenging days come out of nowhere, but I see tomorrow coming from a mile away and have the opportunity to make the day mine. So, I have a plan, and I will be able to prepare tonight by packing a lunch and choosing my outfit, two things that always trip me up. I even added a little coffee and donuts stop to add some fun to our morning. And, one fantastic thing I realized is that I will have so many interactions with people that I enjoy, which is a total bonus. Many days I never leave my office, but tomorrow I will be out and about and it’s going to be 75 in Seattle…in May…that’s crazy talk! When tomorrow is over, I will feel accomplished and relieved, and I will be able to unwind with my wonderful husband. Tomorrow is going to be great.

To quote Tony Hseih, “Without conscious and deliberate effort, inertia always wins”
Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose

Today’s BGD, realizing that you have what it takes to rise to the occasion, and turning a challenging day into a great one.

xo

Currently.

READING…Tony Hseih’s Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose

If you are an entrepreneur, business owner, or just love being inspired, read this book. I am a little over half through it and am so impressed with the honesty and wealth of information in this book.

LISTENING…Phantogram, Fall in Love

This single is on the radio a lot right now, and I can’t get it out of my head. I love, love, love this song. Check out their album.

EATING…cauliflower like it’s going out of style

Try roasting it with Indian spices like Turmeric and Cumin, or boil it and mash it up for a new take on mashed potatoes, pour a rich cheese sauce over roasted cauliflower for a healthier version of macaroni and cheese, or use it as a pizza crust. So.Many.Options.

DRINKING…Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA

This is a fresh, perfect for drinking in the sunshine, mild but flavorful IPA. There is a distinct citrus note that is fantastic.

SUCCEEDING…in making my old clothes feel new

I am committed to making my spring wardrobe feel new, and I have been jotting down ideas like crazy. Today, I am wearing an old white 3/4 sleeve woven top that I hadn’t given a chance over the last few spring seasons. Now, I just feel silly, because I styled it with some torn, rolled up jeans and moccasins, and I love it again.

FAILING…in my attempt at documenting #100happydays

Let’s be honest, this is kind of hard. It’s not that I haven’t been happy, but it’s really hard to remember to document all happy moments. I’m not giving up though!

LOVING…the smell of my freshly groomed pups

It’s ridiculous. I can’t stop smelling my pups. They smell like oatmeal cookies, and I could just eat them up.

WAITING…patiently for our camping season to begin

This is my most favorite time of year, and the beginning is only a couple weeks away! I am excited to try out some of these cool camping hacks.

WEARING…milkmaid braids

Yep, right now, and I’m so proud of myself. If you knew how limited my hair styling talent was/is, you’d be impressed too. Everyone makes it look sooo easy, and really, it wasn’t that hard. If I can do it, you can do it!

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That’s it for me, but what about you? Any book, music, recipe, etc suggestions? Please share.

xo

 

Today’s BGD // 5.9.14

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Image found on Pinterest

I read this great article this morning, called Living With Less, and it is such a fantastic reminder to live simply. We often measure success in material possessions, and that is wrong, plain and simple. To have more is not to live better. Don’t get me wrong, having money to provide a comfortable life is important, but do we really need to take it to the level of excess that we have become so accustomed to? I am guilty of exercising retail therapy to make myself feel better after a rough week. We have a 1600 sq ft home for the two of us and our pets, and I know we would be just fine in a smaller home. I’m not going to do anything dramatic like sell our home, or donate all of our possessions, but I’m going to challenge myself to think more about need vs want.

Lately, I have been complaining about my lack of spring clothes, so perhaps the answer is to shop my closet and re-invent a little. Of course, I will buy a few things, but keeping this article in mind will help put my insatiable appetite to buy, buy, buy in check. Let’s be honest here, it’s not the material things that make us happy, it’s the feeling we get when we buy something new. I do have a few possessions that make me happy, but about 90% of my possessions made me happy the moment I bought them, but that feeling does not return when I look at them now. If you think long and hard about what makes you happy, I’m sure there’s a long list, and that this list has very little to do with “things”. Snuggling my pups after a long day makes me happy. Kissing my nephew on the forehead makes me happy. Being outside makes me happy. Holding hands with my husband makes me happy. Today’s BGD is about living simply. Step one for me is to return the new top I just bought. Baby steps, right?

xo

Old Dining Rooms Chairs Get a Facelift

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We have had the same dining room table and chairs for about 10 years. For all of those 10 years, I disliked that fabric on the seats, and for 10 years I said I was going to change it out. The day has finally come, and it was so easy that I cannot believe it took me that long to do it.

You’ll Need:

  • Fabric (28in x 28in for each chair)
  • Fabric Scissors
  • Staple Gun
  • Marker
  • Iron & Ironing Board

First off, you all know that I like to use what I already have, so I used some upholstery fabric samples given to me by my mom’s friend. I chose a few different patterns that were in the same color family to create a cohesive look. Clearly, not everyone has upholstery fabric samples lying around, so I’d suggest digging through the remnants at your local fabric store, or perhaps buying an inexpensive sofa slip cover.

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Since I chose three patterns and have four chairs, two chairs are in the center fabric (our favorite of the three) and the other two are in the other two patterns.

Once you have chosen fabric, be sure to measure prior to buying. The sample squares were more than large enough for each seat at 28in x 28in. You just need to allow for enough fabric to secure on the underside. I left a 2-4in allowance on the underside, all the way around.

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Okay, so you have found fabric you love, it’s the right size, so it’s time to wash it, and then press it and make sure there are no deep creases. I suggest pressing it on the wrong side of the fabric.

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Set aside the fabric so you can remove the seat from the chair. My chairs have four screws underneath, so I just used a screwdriver to get those out. Once they were out, the seat popped right off. I chose to leave the original fabric on the seats and just layer on the new fabric.

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Next, take the fabric and lay it on a flat, sturdy surface. I worked my way from the center top (shorter side) to the center bottom (wider side), stapling about three to four times on each side. Make sure you’re pulling it tight (but not too tight) and making sure it looks smooth on the top and on the sides. From there, tuck the corners neatly and begin stapling the sides. If you need to trim some fabric to remove bulk on the corners, this is the time to do it.

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Once all four sides are secured and you’re happy with the look, it’s time to put the chair back together. I placed the seat on tops of the chair frame and dry fit it, and then used a pen to mark where the screws needed to go. Using those markings, I cut small holes for the screws. Once you’ve done this, go ahead and put the chair back together. That’s it! It took maybe thirty minutes per chair, so this can be done in one afternoon.

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This is what the original fabric looked like. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it, but I wanted something a little different, and two of the four chairs  had stains on them.

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I’m much happier with this line up.

xo

Backyard Planning

This past week was full of discussions about the backyard. I shared photos in this post, but now that we have given it more thought, some of the ideas have evolved a bit. I want a backyard escape, a place to read, to enjoy a beer or a glass of wine. We love entertaining, so we would love to see more seating so that everyone is comfortable, and it wouldn’t hurt if we could get a lovely view from inside the house too. Now that I know which elements we can incorporate, and which elements are most important to us, I need a plan and a budget.

bench DIY

I found this image on Pinterest, and a great tutorial for the project at kaylasbasement.blogspot.ca – This is the inspiration.

More seating for entertaining // We are going to make two benches at the back of the patio, most likely of cinder blocks and wood. From what I can tell, this will run us about $40 for the materials. Cinder blocks cost a little over $1 at Home Depot, and then we will need pressure treated 4×4’s, which run about $9 for an 8 ft post, and I will need 3. So, that means $12-$15 for cinder blocks and $27 for lumber. This could be cheaper if we have lumber in the shed, but we will check that out prior to the big Home Depot shopping trip.

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This image is my inspiration, so beautiful and cozy. Click on the image for the original source.

Reading nook // We are looking into weatherproofing our papasan chair, and I was able to find some sealant for just under $20.00, and it will help prevent any moisture from collecting on the wood frame. I need to make a stop to my local fabric store to see what kinds of outdoor fabrics they have, so I can entertain the idea of re-covering the cushion. I have checked on-line, and it could be about $9/yd, and since the cushion is quite large, this could be a pricey update. Maybe at the local fabric store I can find some deals. Aside from weatherproofing the papasan chair, we have been thinking about where to put it. I initially pictured it under the tree behind the patio, but my husband (the creative and inventive thinker he is) wants to try hanging the chair from our tree with stainless steel cables or rope. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for that to happen but have no idea what it would cost. From what I am seeing on-line, a cable kit could be about $35. Keeping this on the conservative side and just going with what I initially thought up, I’m budgeting $20.

Lighting

I have yet to find any better lighting inspiration. Click on the image for the original source.

Lighting // I have one sad little string of solar lights strewn across our back fence, so those are going to go up in the tree where they can be put to better use in a smaller area. We are also going to buy some globe string lights that will float from post to post, on either side of the patio. The lights I have my eye on are 25 ft long and cost $35, but I’m going to keep shopping because I think I can do better. In order to hang said lights, we will need posts. We plan to use 8 ft. steel T posts, and those run about $7/piece. I’m budgeting about $50 for this.

We are looking at a $100 backyard makeover here. Now, all we need is some dry weather, so we can get out there and get started!

I can’t wait to share an update on all of this.

xo

 

Taco Tuesday: Tilapia with Avocado Salsa

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I actually received this recipe from my cousin, Melissa, and thanks to her, we had a delicious dinner last night.

Tilapia with Avocado Salsa
Marinate the fish: (I let it sit for 15 min)
1 tbls cumin
1 tbls red chili powder
1 tsp salt
Lime juice (2)
Salsa:
2 tomatoes
2 jalapeños (remove seeds)
Lots of chopped cilantro
Lime juice (l think I used 2)
1 Avocado
I pan seared the fish for about 15 minutes and topped the tacos with shredded red cabbage. The recipe called for sole but I used tilapia.
Meli

Here is a pic of Meli’s version, and the chef herself.

This was a quick and easy recipe, and I would highly recommend trying it out. I used lemons as well as limes, simply because I didn’t have enough limes. Since, as you know, we love spicy food in my house, we added a little Sriracha hot sauce. But that’s it. Usually I do some tweaking to recipes, but this was fantastic as is.
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Enjoy!
xo

 

Today’s BGD //4.19.14

In the busy lives that we all lead nowadays, sometimes I wonder if we do enough to make ourselves happy, and to really take time for ourselves. With #100happydays, I have been trying really hard to be honest with what I post. What makes me happy from day to day changes, and how often I feel happy in a day definitely varies, so to look at each day and choose something can be tough.

Yesterday it was easy…seeing my pups running free, and knowing that my husband had the day off and the time to take them out on a special little trip to the park, made my heart sing.

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Thursday was easy too. I don’t wear a lot jewelry, so when I chose to wear the earrings that my dad bought for me, it made me happy to wear them and think of my dad.

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Some days aren’t easy at all though. Some days you’re running from one thing to the next, your mind constantly trying to keep up. And when you finally get to stop, all you want to do is sit on the couch and zone out to give your mind a break. At least, that’s how it is for me. Today’s BGD is about being grateful for the opportunity to make yourself happy. Instead of zoning out, you have the choice to do something that will enrich your day. Monday night, I sent myself to bed early and read with a cup of tea, and it was a ridiculously happy moment for me at the end of a long day. On a fantastic Saturday like today, it may take a little more than that, but that’s okay, because I have the opportunity and the choice to make the most of this day.

xo