Dining in

If you keep up on my blog, you already know how obsessed with good food I am. Since I went gluten free almost 2 years ago, finding and making some of my favorite foods has been a challenge, but has not held me back. Today was a nice day, and I didn't have much planned after my acupuncture appointment. I spent some time down on 4th street having lunch, looking in shops, and resisting the clip board people. (people with clipboards, want you to donate money or petition.... HATE.) I ended up in one of my favorite Italian specialty food/deli/bakery shops: The Pasta Shop I ended up buying some beautiful prosciutto. I was looking at the pasta and felt sad that I couldnt just buy fresh pasta. Then I saw it.... WHAT!!!??? Yes, my friends, they actually make fresh gluten free pasta. I also bought some almond cookies that are also gluten free. So, I knew dinner was going to be fabulous.

I picked up some heirloom tomatoes, sweet onions, Parmesan cheese, and cantaloupe on the way home. So excited to cook.

I ended up roasting the tomatoes, onions, garlic, and olive oil until oh so tender. Then, I made an alfredo sauce with butter, olive oil, half and half, and cheese (shhh.... this part isnt low cal..). I put the veggies in the food processor with chopped basil. (smells so good) Then, I pour the red veggie mix into the alfredo sauce and cooked with a splash of white wine. I also crisped some prosciutto to put on top. Also, our favorite tuscon melon with prosciutto.




I told you, I refuse to let gluten get in the way of eating like this every now and then. ahhhh!

Family reunion time

Hey friends and family! I get on my blog the other day and saw I have finally hit 5000 views!!!! I thought, "ok, I need to post again", so here we are.

Here we are in July and in some ways time is in slow motion, and in other ways, it seems to be going so fast. One exciting thing that happened this month is this big family reunion we had for my dad's 60th bday. It has been a while since we have all been together, and it was so wonderful to have all the siblings all together. All grown up.

We all went to Tilden park and had a BBQ/picnic for my dad. It was wonderful. Here are some pictures!

This is my dad RIGHT before he realized Matt was standing next to him. It was a WONDERFUL surprise!"WHAT!!!?"Adam playing "patty cake" with Mia. Priceless....

Then, all week I got to see my brother and his adorable family, Vanessa, Mattie, Jacob, and Mia. We went to Roaring camp and rode the train through the redwoods.


We went to the boardwalk and rode roller coasters!Matt's family on the ride together!!


Overall, it was a week full of fun, laughs, and family. We need to do this more often.

Now, my house is so quiet...filled with sounds of pugs snoring and people's court and price is right.... But thats ok with me too. I am thankful for my family. They are each so special and amazing in their own way. I am thankful for my husband, who continues to fill my life with laughter and happiness.

Happy 5000 views to me! Keep reading! (and commenting!)

Spring

Hello friends and family!

Lately I have really become obsessed with plants. I am proud that I have somehow managed to keep someplants alive for a year and a half. (record!) My thumb is as far away from the color green as humanly possible. Lately though, my thumb is telling me it wants to change. As you guys know, I started my veggies from seeds during my 30 day challenge. Well, yesterday was "graduation day", where I took them and put them in bigger pots, and took them on a field trip to the outside. I have 4 beautiful pea plants, 2 gorgeous zucchini plants, and some onions, lettuce, and tomatoes (still have some growing to do.) These are the peas.

Adorable?

Its funny how attached i feel to them. I am so proud I grew these all myself from seed. Im sad to send them outside now where there are scary things like bugs! But, I know they need room to grow, and more sun than I can provide inside. Sniff sniff. Its like my child moving away to college... hahahaha (pathetic?)



So, in effort to try and make a happy permanent home for these babies, I have been cleaning out the mess that is the back yard. Oh man, how the plants took over out there, and its like my nightmare. I got an estimate from a company to clean it up, and NO THANKS 1,400 dollars to weed my back yard. BS. SO, I am trying to do it and I am becoming so overwhelmed. I work and work till my hands hurt and I cant bend over, and it STILL is a mess! This is the "pile" AFTER 7 yard waste bags full.....

Im trying to take it one thing at a time, but gee wiz. I think this season my veggies will be planted in pots back there. I wont give up, I filled 10 LARGE yard waste bags, and 2 trashcans- today. By myself ... (pride sniff...) I know tomorrow I will be hurting, but what can you do?

Part of my job today was to take this huge pile of weeds that my KIND brother pulled for me, and bag them. The problem is I HATE BUGS. So, here I am, raking these weeds from this huge pile and all these bugs are jumping out. I SWEAR I saw a worm (thought it was a snake) that was 9 INCHES long. (Scream) I also hate spiders, weird beetles, and anything creepy looking. I have to pump myself up (I am strong, I am strong..) just to bend over to pick up this stuff. I swear if there was someone hiding in the bushes video taping me, they would post a viral video named: "crazy lady afraid of weeds".

Anyways, I enjoyed the sunshine, and just cant wait till it is cleaned up back there so I can plant things and enjoy it out there. Meanwhile... where is the Tylenol? Enjoy the picts of the pretty parts of the yard.

Time with family

Hello friends and blog followers. I have been really missing blogging daily, so I thought I would write a new entry today. What have I been up to? Well, pretty much the same thing, but last week was wonderful because I got to spend so much time with my family!! My parents came over from Utah with my younger brother, John. I grandparents came up from New Mexico (?), my aunt and uncle from Colorado, and other members who live in Ca, came from here there and everywhere to the bay area to celebrate my grandpa's 80th birthday!This is a pict of all the "ladies" at the party. I dont have one with everyone.....

I had such a wonderful time visiting with my parents while they stayed here for a few nights. They brought their pugs, Nick and Jack too. We mostly just hung out and visited, but we also went out to eat and went on walks. We took all FOUR pugs to the big dog park, and I was so proud of Mango for not killing anyone. ;) She proved to be a happy dog park lover (Also, salami helps.) This is an old picture of all four pugs!



My mom and I got our toes done, went shopping, and lunch! I wish I had more days like that! I love her so much, and just love spending time with her. Adam also loves her- hes always teasing and joking with her! My dad and I got to go out and walk around 4th street. I took him to the stained glass shop, which he LOVED!

My brother I spent the most time with, and I just really miss him. Hes so interesting and different, which I like. He also did some work in the yard, took the trash out, and cleaned my kitchen after dinner. I called him my "man servant". I paid him in burritos. hahaha


Now that they are gone, my house is so quiet. I can only hear 2 pugs snoring. I look forward to their next visit!

The birthday party went well. I was in charge of decorating, (my mom helped too!) which went really well! I think my grandpa really enjoyed seeing us all. We sat around telling jokes and memories involving him. Funny! I decorated tables with blown up pictures of him and his kids! I also made a picture poster for everyone to sign.



Today- Im off to the dentist, dinner with Rachel, and the last meditation class. Im down 6.2 pounds, (total of 29 since i went gluten free) and feeling pretty good.

Day 30!!!

Holy cow, I made it! 30 days ago I was in a pretty bad place. Emotionally and mentally I was really struggling. I started this challenge as a way for me to try and focus on the good stuff in life, and I really feel like in the past 30 days I have really grown and changed. In forcing myself to do something interesting everyday, or at least think about something interesting everyday, I actually feel happier. Now, I know my life problems aren't "fixed", and I am still going to have good and bad days, but I know I can get through it.

I have so many wonderful things in my life. Sometimes its hard to look on the good side when the "bad" stuff seems to take over in my heart. I think everyone will agree with me on this one. I have really enjoyed exploring what I already have, and new things that I can be grateful for. My family, my amazing husband, my friends, my pugs, my life, music, nature, knitting, crafts, walking, peace, and food are just things I can always look to for happiness.

Thank you all for reading my blog for the past 30 days. I promise I wont disappear, but blogging everyday is actually pretty hard!!! Spring is here and I have this wonderful life to live!!!!

My seeds have grown (some of them!), and so have I. Hugs to you all!

Day 29

Keeping it short and light tonight.

Today was just an average day, and since I have pretty much used most of the obvious things to write about the past 28 days, I had to dig deep. I looked for something, any small little thing that made me smile today.....

I get home and look out the windows and see the amazing lights of the city. At night the lights twinkle, kind of like they are moving, or like they are a giant Christmas tree. I absolutely LOVE where I live. We are so blessed to live here, where everyday I can look out my window and see the ocean, and the amazing city of San Francisco, and the golden gate. I am in awe of the beauty, and at night these twinkling lights are calming. Also, the house next door still has its Christmas tree up, and still turns on their lights EVERY NIGHT. Adam and I chuckle, and make little bets when we think this tree is coming down, but, here we are, almost APRIL, and I can look outside and see this.....





Goodnight.

Day 27-28

Ok, I am behind a day here, so I am going to say two things that make me happy!

One: I briefly explained on facebook about this, but left some details out. I went to Home Depot to get some dirt. I had 4 huge bags in my cart, and the stupid wheel broke. I was struggling to push this broken cart to my car when an employee saw me and ran over to help. He was so nice. He told me "You cant always be superwoman, sometimes you need help". What wise and wonderful words from this young man. I was brought almost to tears thinking about him on the way home- How NICE he was, and he didnt need to be. How many people do I come in contact with that I am that nice? I was so happy about it, i called his supervisor and told him.

My friend Tabitha is right. She said today : People are so quick to share when something pissed them off, even something minor, but few share when something pleases them.. especially when it is minor. Very true. I spread the kindness, and in turn, i felt GOOD inside. So, go spread some kindness! I would love to hear what you did!



OK, number 2: I am thankful for.... SPRING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow! Spring is here and I feel GREAT about it! The sun is out, the air is warm, and I spend every chance I could out in it today. I planted plants, I pulled weeds, I transplanted plants. How wonderful it feels! This past Winter was so dark for me, and now I feel a new breeze of fresh life, and feel so alive! There is still more to do in the yard, but- here are some picts of some happy plants that made my home their home today. Enjoy- and Go outside!! (except for my special friends who still live in the cold... im so sorry..)