Catching Up For the Holidays

It's been a long time since I've posted so I've got some catching up to do.

Carter's Next Step
My little boy is growing up right before my eyes. Now, his vocabulary consists of the following word (or variations thereof): uh uh (no), all done, hot, ball, cat, dog, mama, dada, uh oh, Targent (for our dog Sargent), and many more that I haven't quite deciphered yet. With his growing desire to socialize we decided it's time to enroll him in a school program. I spent the early part of December visiting different programs in our area and was shocked at the prices. INSANE! For 2 half days per week it's going to cost us $500 per month. That is a significant amount of money to expose your child to social opportunities. So I guess this is the start of what people are talking about when they say children are expensive. Up until this point, our baby expenses haven't been remarkable. Diapers are about $40 per month, clothes are inexpensive, we haven't gone crazy buying toys, and since he started eating the same food as us, any extra food cost is minimal. I also now understand why one parent in many two parent households decides to stay home when any proceeds from a job would all go to pay for childcare. INSANE! And then we wonder why there is a such a discrepancy in early childhood education between poor and wealthy families. Not many can really afford these prices. Especially when talking about multiple children. Fortunately, we can afford it but we are not happy about the cost. With that being said, Carter is all set to start school in February. I'm really looking forward to seeing how he adapts to the new environment.

Family for Xmas
I volunteered to host my family for Christmas Dinner on December 23rd. When I extended the invitation, I wasn't expecting many to accept since traveling to my house would involve a 4 hour drive from MI. To my surprise, one after the other, folks said they were coming. In all, we had 17 people, including us, and everyone crashed at our place. I didn't think we could pull it off but it worked out perfectly. We had a total of 4 air mattresses, 3 beds, 2 couches, and 1 crib in use. Dinner was also fun, although folks started hovering around the kitchen in true Canady fashion and then started picking from the Honeybaked Ham. Luckily we had lots of hands in the kitchen so I didn't have to do everything myself. Here's what we had on the menu:

2 Racks of Lamb (perfectly prepared by my husband)
Honeybaked Ham
Mac & Cheese
Pasta Salad with Cheese Tortellini, Broccoli, Olives, Cherry Tomatoes, and Pesto
Green Salad with Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Blue Cheese Crumbles, and Croutons
Corn Casserole (a specialty of my Aunt Margee)
Berry Salad with Strawberries, Raspberries, Blueberries, Blackberries, and Fresh Mint
Salmon and Potato Casserole
Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Dried Cranberries and Toasted Pine Nuts with Balsamic Reduction
Hawaiian Rolls

After dinner most of the group went to see Mission Impossible in IMAX but with my history of falling asleep at late night movies, I passed and instead did some late night xmas shopping at Target.

Everyone but my dad, stepmom, and my great uncle headed home so they could be back by xmas morning. I finished up my xmas shopping (in true Tara fashion) and then we continued our Canady family tradition of eating a nice dinner out on xmas eve by going to Ruth Chris. The food was predictably yummy and on our way out, the table next to us complemented Carter on his good behavior. What they didn't know is Carter is always good when there is food involved. CC and I decided to see the American version of Girl with a Dragon Tattoo and were both slightly disappointed (me more than CC). As CC put it, it was "Daniel Craig playing Daniel Craig." For anyone who cares, the Swedish version is better.

Christmas morning was all about Carter James. It was a lot of fun watching him open gifts and play with his new stuff with excitement. This was a big change from last xmas when he was only 6 months and didn't really know what was going on. He got so much stuff from other people that we didn't really get him much. Here are some pics.

The folks left after Carter finished opening his gifts and the Doss clan spent the rest of the day veg'ing out and watching the Matrix trilogy. We were so pooped that we didn't even feel guilty about our laziness and were just glad we had some left overs and didn't need to leave the house.

It was another great Christmas holiday. We really enjoyed having the houseguests and were happy that we could accommodate everyone. My stepmom commented that she had such a great time that we should host the dinner every year. Screeeeeeech! While we had a great time, I had to put a stop to that suggestion immediately. It was a lot of work and not something we're willing to commit to doing every year. Next year, I'm looking forward to having dinner at someone else's house.

Carter's 2nd Haircut

Since I missed Carter's 1st haircut I felt the need to capture his 2nd haircut on camera. He did pretty good and didn't start to squirm until Jimmy was almost finished. His facial expressions are hilarious. Enjoy the pics.

Banana Bread Recipe

The only bread I have ever made from scratch is Banana Bread with many variations. It's clearly my favorite but I do want to try to make a Zucchini Bread and an Orange-Cranberry Bread. If you have any good recipes for these or other breads please pass them along. The Banana Bread is fairly easy and quick with a prep time of about 25 minutes and a bake time of 45-60 minutes. I came up with this recipe by picking and choosing certain ingredients from several recipes I reviewed and then adding my own twist.

Here's the recipe:

1 2/3 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 very ripe bananas (the peel should almost be black), mashed
1 ripe banana, cut up into small pieces
2 tablespoons sour cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mash the 2 very ripe bananas in a small bowl. Add the sour cream and vanilla extract to the bananas, stir until combined, and then set aside. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. In yet a separate bowl, whisk the sugar and eggs until fluffy, about 3 minutes (you may use a hand mixer instead of whisk). Drizzle in oil as you continue to whisk. Then add butter and whisk until combined. Add banana mixture to egg mixture and stir with a large spoon just until combined. Add cut up banana pieces to the mixture and stir lightly (this is a trick I learned from my mom; it really adds an extra burst of banana flavor). Fold in flour mixture to the egg/banana mixture in three equal batches, stirring until there is no visible flour after each batch. Once all the flour mixture has been folded in, pour the finished batter into a lightly oiled or lined loaf pan (I just spray it with Pam). Bake for 45 to 60 minutes. Bread is done when you can stick a fork in the center of the loaf and it comes out clean. Definitely eat a slice while it's still warm with a little more butter. Indeed...butter makes everything taste better!

Variations: To make Sweet Potato-Banana Bread substitute the 1 cut up ripe banana with 1 small or 1/2 large sweet potato or yam, cooked and mashed. You can also add walnuts, raisins, or dried cranberries to your liking.

Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of the bread but here's one of Carter because he's just so darn cute.

Pure Exhaustion Part II

In the last 6 months I've run two half marathons and competed in my first triathlon. I also try to go to the gym at least 3 days a week. I should be in pretty good shape...right? So why am I so exhausted every time I have to get Carter ready to go somewhere. Could it be because he fights me on everything? He doesn't want to get out of the bathtub; then once I get him out of the tub he doesn't want to put any clothes on; then once I get him dressed, he doesn't want to put on any socks and takes them off just as quickly as I get them on; then he doesn't want to get his hair brushed and tries to run away from me as soon as he sees the brush in my hand; then he doesn't want to go down the stairs and instead, either wants me to carry him (even though my hands are full with purse, diaper bag, etc.) or he just sits on the top step playing with the child gate; then once we finally make it to the door he doesn't want to put on his coat (mind you it's 40 degrees outside) and unzips it as soon as I zip it up; then he doesn't want to put on his shoes and vigorously kicks his feet as I put them on and tie them up; and finally, he doesn't want to put his arms through the straps on the car seat. By the time I get him strapped in, put on my coat and shoes, and get in the car, I'm usually out of breath and have broken into a light sweat.

How can such a little person require so much energy? The funny part is that Carter thinks the whole thing is a game. He's doesn't seem to be behaving this way with ill intent. Especially, since he's laughing and giggling the whole time. So no matter how frustrated I get sometimes, I just have to laugh it off and keep it moving. That is...until we reach our destination and he has taken off both his shoes and socks and I have to stand outside in the cold trying to put them back on. C'est la vie!

Pure Exhaustion

Whew! That's the sound that came out of me when I finally sat on my couch at 8:22 this evening. I don't have many days on the go so today definitely took the wind out of my sails. My day went a little something like this:

7:45 am - Wake up to Carter's calls to come get him out of the crib
8:20 am - Shower
9:20 am - Leave the house for sorority meeting
12: 35 pm - Leave sorority meeting and head home
1:05 pm - Arrive home, hug and kiss husband, take two advil for killer headache, and take a 30 minute nap while Carter is still napping
1:45 pm - Take Carter out of crib and get him dressed
2:00 pm - Feed Carter lunch
2:20 pm - Head upstairs to brush Carter's teeth and wash his face
2:25 pm - Put gifts for birthday party in gift bags and sign cards
2:40 pm - Pull out of driveway headed to 1st birthday party
3:05pm - Arrive at 1st birthday party, play on gymnastics apparatus, eat snacks/cake, sing happy birthday
4:45 pm - Leave 1st birthday party to go to 2nd birthday party
5:00 pm - Stop at Kmart to buy gift for 2nd birthday party
5:35 pm - Arrive at Chuck E. Cheese for 2nd birthday party, more playing and eating
7:30 pm - Leave 2nd birthday party and head home
8:00 pm - Arrive home, change Carter into pjs and put him to bed
8:22 pm - Crash on couch and open my laptop

Now that was a full day but we had a lot of fun. I have a feeling more of my days will look like this as my little social butterfly continues to grow. I better stock up on some protein smoothies and vitamin C to keep my energy up.

It's My Birthday

Well folks today marks my 32nd year in this world (at least in this lifetime) and while I'm not that big into birthdays I have already had a great celebration. When Jimmy asked what I wanted for my birthday my response was "romance and seduction." With Jimmy's busy work schedule and an almost 18 month old "romance and seduction" are not in our everyday repertoire. Jimmy tried to play dumb and acted like he didn't know what I meant but in the end he came through with flying colors.

We drove to my parents' house in MI for Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving morning while Jimmy and I were sitting on the couch relaxing, he turns to me and says "I was thinking about surprising you with a trip to New York for your birthday but I thought it would be too much." At first I didn't believe him but then I was slightly annoyed because he should have kept that to himself. Then he asks "would you have liked that?" to which I respond "uh...yeah." "We can still go," he says as he starts looking for flights on his iPad. Long story short, we flew to New York City early the next morning leaving Carter behind in the loving care of his grandparents.

We stayed at the Double Tree in Times Square which was the perfect location for sites and shopping. We spent most of the day Friday shopping and walking up and down 5th Avenue. The streets and stores were packed as was to be expected. I couldn't imagine having a child(ren) in all of that. I would be afraid of losing them. I almost lost Jimmy. I had to hold on tight to his hand just to make sure we didn't get separated. After I found a cute outfit to wear for dinner that night we headed back to the hotel to change and meet up with my little bro Clinton and friend Freddie. We ate dinner at an Asian Fusion restaurant called the Ember Room. So delicious. We had Chocolate Ribs, Deep Fried Oysters, Korean BBQ Beef Fried Rice, and more. Then, stuffed, we walked over to 48 Lounge, which was a cool lounge with super-expensive ($15-17) drinks (welcome to NYC). From there we headed to Taj II where a friend was hosting a party. Mind you, I had been up since 5:15 am and was exhausted. Jimmy teased that I'd be ready to crash by 10:30 pm but I said I wanted to hang at least until midnight. So as soon as midnight hit I politely whispered to Jimmy that I was ready to go. We left Clinton and Freddie to party the night away and called it a night.

Saturday, we slept in a bit, grabbed a quick Starbucks breakfast, did some last minute shopping in Soho ( such a cute area) and then headed to Busker's bar to watch the U of M v. Ohio State football game. A fellow Michigan alum hosted the viewing party so there were plenty of Wolverines to cheer on the team. Jimmy was talking a lot of mess but in the end his negativity wasn't enough to derail the team and we beat Ohio State for the first time in 7 years. Go Blue!

The victory was a fitting end to the trip and after the game we headed to the airport. We got back to my parents' house just before 10 pm and Jimmy being the machine he is decided to drive back to Indy that night. We packed up Carter and hit the road. We got home just before 2 am. The last thing I heard Jimmy say was "I'm not even tired" followed by his snores. We had the perfect Sunday at home watching football all day.

I had a great weekend with family and friends and can truly say that ROMANCE IS NOT DEAD!

2 New Recipes

Here are two new recipes to try. One is a simple baked tilapia and the other is for white sangria. The tilapia recipe is my own and the sangria recipe is from Gina Neely (I found it on foodnetwork.com).

Baked Tilapia with Basil and Peppers

This recipe is super easy and healthy too. All you need is tilapia filets (how every many you want), fresh basil, red/yellow peppers, lemon slices, olive oil, salt and pepper.  Start off by preheating the oven to 375 degrees. Then rinse off the tilapia and pat dry with paper towel. Place the fish in a glass baking dish. Put on your desired amount of salt and pepper (you only need to season one side of the fish), place the cut up peppers and basil on top of the fish, drizzle with olive oil (you want just enough to coat the fish), and place one lemon slice on each piece of fish. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Squeeze the lemon juice from the lemon slices on the fish before serving. This dish is quick, easy, and oh so delicious. I usually serve it with steamed rice. You can always substitute the basil and peppers for your preferred herb and topping. For instance, I've also made this with rosemary, capers, and tomatoes.

White Sangria

I made this for the first time last weekend for my mommy group. The ladies loved it and Jimmy loved it too. Be careful because even though it tastes sweet, the alcoholic content is significant and you will feel a buzz. Here are the ingredients:

2 bottles of Sauvignon Blanc

1 cup of Peach Schnapps

1/3 cup of honey

1 Granny Smith Apple

10 or so Strawberries

1 Orange

Handful of Seedless Green Grapes

7-Up

Combine the wine, Peach Schnapps, and honey in a glass pitcher (or whatever you're using to hold the sangria) and stir to combine. Cut up the apple, strawberries, orange (leaving on the peel), and grapes and add to the mixture. Let sit in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours so the fruit can soak up the sangria. Serve over ice with a splash of 7-up on top.

Carter's First Halloween

Carter did amazing on his first trick or treat. I dressed him as a monkey (insert inappropriate racial joke here). One of our neighbors hosted a pre-trick or treat potluck for the neighborhood so we went over there at around 5 pm. The food was set up in the garage and the weather was nice enough where everyone could hang out outside. There were princesses, strawberry shortcakes, firefighters, goblins...you name it and it was there. One of the parents actually dressed up as a mummy using his own gauze and white tape (he's a doctor and just had the stuff laying around the house). After that we went back home to warm up and let everyone get back home before heading out to trick or treat.  I guess I was the only one who needed warming because as soon as the first group of trick or treaters came to our door Carter dashed outside to follow them. I took the hint and we started our journey. It took us about 15 minutes to get to the door of the first house and it's across the street. That was our first and only house. After that, Carter decided it was more fun to run up and down the driveways with his one bag of candy. When I tried to get him to go to the door of another house he tried to run away from me and I took it as a signal that it was time to go home. As soon as we got through the front door, he turned around and started going back down the front steps sending the message he wasn't done yet. I let him get almost to the sidewalk before picking him up and carrying him in the house. He fell asleep on the couch 20 minutes later at 7 pm.

I love days like these where we have a great time and he wears himself out. Can't wait for next year! Here he is in his monkey suit.

Food Wars

For the last couple of days Carter has been really difficult during mealtime. Last night and tonight he started off dinner by crying. Now it's not uncommon for him to fuss if he doesn't get food fast enough or doesn't like what's on the menu but rarely does he break out into a full cry. I was so confused. Last night we had chicken stir fry with broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, and rice. These are all things he's eaten and liked before so no problem right? Wrong. As soon as I tried to feed him some rice from one of his spoons he shook his little head and cocked it to the left in displeasure (his signature move when he doesn't want something). Thankfully, he ate the chicken and veggies that I put on his tray. I just chalked it up to him being moody and didn't think anything else of it...until tonight when it happened again.

Tonight we had leftover lasagna for dinner. I know he likes my lasagna based on him lapping it up two nights before. I fed him the first bite from one of his spoons and he took it with no problem.  However, when I offered the second spoonful, he spontaneously breaks out in tears. Like I've already said, my baby rarely sheds a tear when food is involved. I tried to think of what could be bothering him and then remembered that at lunch today I let him practice feeding himself with a spoon and that he really enjoyed  it. Eureka! I immediately fish out one of his spoons from the silverware drawer and give it to him with a small piece of lasagna. Score! He eats it and several more spoonfuls on his own. 

So it turns out that my baby throwing a fit was a good thing. He was just trying to tell me that he wanted to do it himself. I guess that's progress and I can't be mad at that.  The proof is in the pics. Look how proud he was of himself.

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

My baby got his first haircut on Saturday while I was away in Chicago. Since Jimmy cuts his own hair on a regular basis I though it would be safe to have him do it. To be clear, I asked him to trim Carter's hair. Don't get me wrong, I loved his little afro but it was getting to the point where he cried every time I had to comb it out. So I just wanted an inch or so taken off so his hair would be more manageable. Instead, Jimmy texts me this picture Saturday afternoon:

I'm thinking that sure does look like a lot of hair and definitely more than a trim. I ask Jimmy to send me a picture of the finished look and he sends me this text: "A pic may not do it justice. Probably better to wait and see it live." Uh oh! This was not a good sign. Then he sends a follow up text saying: "If his hair was his secret power, he is now powerless." Oh no! I knew what this meant. My baby was bald.

When I got home on Sunday the boys were out so you can imagine my anticipation. Then when they got home, Jimmy takes Carter directly to his crib because he was napping. I peeked in on him but couldn't really get a good view. I could tell there wasn't much hair left though. To make a long story short, here is my new baby boy:

You can see by his profile pic that he did inherit the Canady head.  Not what I had in mind but he's still a cutie pie. Here's one last "before" pic to remember him (and the fro) by:

Wolverine Weekend

So I drove up to Chicago yesterday to hang out with my family and to attend the Michigan vs. Northwestern football game. Jimmy and Carter didn't make the trip and instead stayed home for a boys' weekend. The drive to Chicago really isn't that bad. It took me about 2.5 hours to hit city limits and then another 15-20 minutes to make it through the Dan Ryan traffic and to find parking (more on parking later). I arrived in time to join everyone at the movies to see Ides of March, the political drama starring George Clooney and Ryan Gossling. I liked the movie but there really wasn't anything compelling about it. Without giving the story away, it basically showed how corrupt politics can be. Nothing new. Nevertheless, the performances were good with supporting cast members Paul Giamatti, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and Jeffery Wright doing what they do.

After the movie we hopped on the train in downtown Chicago and headed to Evanston for the game. I think that was the longest train ride of my life. Michigan fans sure do know how to show up. The trains were packed with the unmistakeable "maize and blue" that I love. The non-Michigan folk were upset at our takeover. The train was so packed, I felt like I was in China. Anyway, we made it to the stadium unsheathed. The Northwestern Stadium is small compared to the Big House but the good thing about that is there really isn't a bad seat. What was even better was that there were just as many Michigan fans as Northwestern fans and often times we out chanted them. Although the first half was shakey, with Denard throwing 3 interceptions and our defense looking pitiful, we ended up with a convincing win.  After taking the long train ride back to the city, we headed to Smith and Wolensky for a late night bite. I ordered the truffle mac & cheese and crab cake which hit the spot and by the time we got back to the hotel at 12:30 am we all passed out.

We woke up this morning to the cheers of the Chicago Marathon which started at 7 am. We had a great view from our hotel window of the starting herd rounding the corner on Michigan Ave and for a minute I was a little nostalgic about running. That feeling quickly dissipated as I climbed back in bed for a little while longer. A little later we had breakfast at West Egg on Fairbanks and Ontario. It was so good. A must visit if you're in the area and a block from Garrett's Popcorn which is always a great way to cure a sweet tooth. I recommend the Huevos Rancheros or the pancakes.

After breakfast we headed back to the hotel to pack up. Now, back to the parking. I avoided parking at the hotel because my dad told me it was $48 per night. Instead, I found a nearby lot that advertised $13 per day on Saturdays and Sundays. Score! Even if that price didn't apply for overnight parking the cost for 24 hours was $35 which was still a $13 savings. When I get to my car this morning and put in the ticket in the pay machine the screen showed that my total was $44. "What! How is this possible" you ask. Not only was the $13 no good for overnight but I was there for 24 hours and 5 minutes and the extra 5 minutes cost me an extra $9. So $35 +$9 got my bill to $44. I felt played. It always sucks when you think you're getting a deal only to find out later that you've been had. That exactly how I felt. I guess I should have checked my time stamp a little closer. It won't happen again.

I'm back home now typing in the comfort of my bed. All in all, it was a great trip. I love hanging with the fam. Can't wait until Carter is old enough to hang with us.

The Main Event

I did it! I finished the 2011 Go Girl Triathlon in 1 hour, 25 minutes, and 47 seconds. This was 208th place out of 467 finishers. Apparently quite a few people didn't finish because when we started the race they said over 600 people had registered. The breakdown of my time was 18 minutes, 58 seconds for the 500 meter swim (450th place); 38 minutes, 21 seconds for the 10 mile bike (262nd place); and 24 minutes, 42 seconds for the 3 mile run (61st place). Clearly, I need to improve my swim time. 1st place in the swim came in at 7 minutes, 53 seconds. That's super fast. I was expecting to finish in about 12 minutes because this was my time trial in the pool. However, I wasn't taking into account the fact that in the pool you have some momentum when you push off the wall. In the open water, this is gone. All you have is your own strength. They started us individually 2 seconds apart to try to avoid people swimming over each other but it still happened. I got kicked in the face and kicked someone in the face a couple times. The chances of this were increased by the fact that you couldn't see anything in the water, including another person. Also, on the way back to the shore, the sun completely blinded me. I couldn't even see which direction I was supposed to be going. At one point, I almost ran into one of the rescue canoes. To get by I had to stop every so often and listen for splashing so I could follow the sound. It felt great getting out of the water because I knew the hardest part was over.

All the bikes were racked in a designated spot based on bib numbers so after getting out of the water I ran to my bike, put on my helmet, gloves, sun glasses, socks, shoes, and race belt and ran my bike out to the start line where I was allowed to jump on. I had a little trouble getting my feet in my toe clips but once I did I was on the move. The route was quite hilly and one downhill/sharp curve combination almost took me out. I underestimated the sharpness of the curve and spun out a little to far. I recovered quickly and after that had a pretty smooth ride. My style of bike (hybrid road bike) definitely affected my time. With a true road bike and clipless pedals (when your shoes snap into the pedals) I'm confident I would have knocked several minutes off my time. I knew this going into it but I wasn't ready to invest that kind of money for my first event. I still stand by my choice.

The transition from bike to run was much easier. I re-racked my bike, took off my helmet and gloves, put on my hat, and took off. The run started with a steady incline which was killer but I felt strong so I just gave it all I got. I was in a zone. My time of 24 minutes, 42 seconds gave me an average of 8 minutes, 14 seconds a mile. This is an improvement of about 3 minutes from my trial run time and probably my fastest 5K time ever. I'll take the personal best. I felt so strong at the end that I was able to do an (almost) all out sprint for the last tenth of a mile. I felt such exhilaration crossing the finish line; especially when I saw Jimmy and Carter cheering me on.

The aftermath has been pretty good too. Usually, my body is hurting after a long running event (e.g. half marathon, marathon) but I felt good after the triathlon. I'm guessing because each portion of the event causes you to use different muscle groups and also the swim and bike are fairly low impact compared to running long distance. Considering I still feel good the day after, I think I'm in the clear. I'll probably go out for a short run tomorrow morning just to keep my muscles loose. I also have a massage scheduled for tomorrow which is definitely needed.

Overall, I loved the complete experience of training for and competing in a triathlon. I can see doing more in the future. It also made me realize that having several different types of exercises in my exercise regime is key to developing the muscles I want in my physique. The swimming really helped strengthen my upper body, the biking helped strengthen my hamstrings and calves, and the running helped everything else, including my abs. I hope to keep these three exercises in my regular workout schedule albeit at a much lower frequency.

On to the next project! I'll keep you posted once I figure out what that is.

Banana-Blueberry Pancakes

Here's a quick breakfast idea that takes about 30 minutes to prep and cook.

Aunt Jemima Original Pancake Mix
3/4 cup Milk
1 Egg
 3-4 tablespoonsVegetable Oil
1 tablespoon Butter
1 Banana
Handful of Blueberries
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Follow the directions on the Aunt Jemima Box to make the batter for 10-12 pancakes. Combine the pancake mix, milk, egg, and 1 tablespoon oil and stir until smooth. I use a fork or whisk so the egg is combined well. Then mix in the cinnamon and vanilla extract. Peel a ripe banana and mash in a separate bowl. Fold banana into batter (will not be smooth). Finally, fold desired amount of blueberries into batter. I pour the batter into a 2 cup measuring cup for easy pouring.  Using a nonstick skillet or griddle if you have one, heat 1 tablespoon vegetable and 1/2 tablespoon butter on medium-low heat. Once butter is melted, slowly add pancake batter. I usually make small silver dollar pancakes but you can make them as large as you like. The pancake is ready to flip once you see air pockets on the top of the batter and the edges start to form (usually about 1 minute). Flip the pancake and allow to cook for another 30 seconds to 1 minute on the other side. Repeat this process until all batter is cooked. You will need to add more oil and butter along the way so the skillet does not get dry. If your pancakes are burning then the heat is too high. Serve warm with syrup. Enjoy!

Game Time

Today was my last training day before the big event on Saturday. Of course I could always use more training but I'm ready to do this thing. What I'm most anxious about is the swim because it will be in a murky reservoir instead of a safe clear pool where I can grab on to the edge or put my feet on the bottom anytime I choose. I'm told that the reservoir is so murky that you can't even see your hand when you put it in the water. Anyhow, the water is something I can't control so no sense in worrying about it.

Doing this event reminds me of some advice a professor gave me while studying for the bar exam. He said "all you have to do is be average...just perform in the middle of the road and you will pass...either you pass or you fail." Applying that theory to my race goes something like this: I know I'm not the best and I know I'm not the worst so my focus in on finishing with the pack. Of course, I'm going to do the best I can and will compete to the fullest but I won't be disappointed if everything doesn't go perfectly.

What I do know is that training for this triathlon has really transformed my physical fitness. I feel like I'm in the best shape of my life since when I was playing high school sports. I even feel like my conditioning is better than when I train for a marathon or 1/2 marathon and I attribute this mostly to the swimming. I wish I had taken a before and after video so you could see how far I've come. At the end of practice today, my coach encouraged me to do another triathlon after this one because my swimming has really improved and could get even better with continued practice. I encourage folks reading this to consider adding swimming to your workout. It's not strenuous on your joints but it's probably the best cardio workout I've ever done while at the same time providing a full body workout. The downside is that it's rough on your hair, skin, and nails from the chlorine but it's a good trade off if you can work it into your schedule.

I'll let you know how it goes. Wish me luck!

Practice Run

This is the second time I'm typing this post because the first time it was mysteriously erased during spellcheck. Unfortunately, this one will probably be abbreviated because I don't feel like retyping everything.

Anyway, my training group did a practice triathlon last Thursday. We did a 500 meter swim in a pool (down and back 10 times), a 10 mile bile, and a 3 mile run (both on the monon trail). The idea was to make this as realistic as possible to the actual event so we didn't get any time to change clothes like we normally do. We started in the pool. I finished my laps in about 12 minutes, which is a pretty good time considering where I started. I climbed out of the pool, quickly put on my shorts over my swimsuit, laced up my shoes, grabbed my bag, and ran out to car to get my bike. The transition from swim to bike killed me. It took me about 6 minutes to pull out my bike, put on my helmet, shirt, sunglasses, gloves, and MP3 player. During the actual event my bike will already be set up so I'm hoping the transition will be cut down to 1-2 minutes.

I felt good starting off on the bike but I think the fact that I had no concept of how far 10 miles was on the trail hurt me. I could have probably pushed myself a little harder but I was trying to conserve some energy so I wouldn't burn out. It was also somewhat difficult riding on the trail because it intersects walkways and streets causing me to have to slow down or stop several times. I estimate I lost about 5-6 minutes from this stoppage. My overall bike time was about 42 minutes. I kept my watch running so this also includes any stop time. 42 minutes is extremely slow. When you subtract the stop time you get 36-37 minutes which is better but I still want to get it down to about 32 minutes.

The transition from the bike to run was much better (about 1 minute). I parked my bike, took off my helmet, grabbed my water bottle (I ran with it) and took off. I must have been running on pure adrenaline because I couldn't feel my legs for the first 1/2 mile. By the time I got to the 1 1/2 mile mark I was starting to feel pretty good and increased my speed a little. I still had enough juice at the end to increase my speed even more and finish strong. My run time was about 27 minutes or 9 minutes/mile. This is faster than my pace for longer distanced races (e.g. half marathon) of 9 minutes 30 seconds/mile so I'm pleased but would still like to shave off 1-2 minutes from the overall run time.

My total practice run time (with running clock) was 1 hour 29 minutes.  This would have put me in about 270th place out of 500 participants in last year's Go Girl Triathlon. The winner finished in 59 minutes.  If I deduct my lengthy bike transition time and the bike stoppage time I would have finished in around 1 hour 20 minutes which would have put in about 130th place. Big Difference!

My goal is to finish somewhere in the 1 hour 15 minute range. With 2 more weeks of training to go, I think I can do it.  Regardless, most of my anxiety has been relieved with this practice run because I now know I will finish.

Quick Training Update

With the Go Girl Triathlon less than 3 weeks away, I'm trying my best to stick to the training schedule. Believe me when I say it's easier said than done. Here's an idea of the regime:

Monday - swim 1000 meters (about 45 minutes for me)
Tuesday - run for 45 minutes
Wednesday - bike for 1 hour
Thursday - 40 minute swim with training group followed by 40 minute run/bike
Friday - rest day
Saturday - run for 1 hour, 10 minutes
Sunday - bike for 1 hour immediately followed by 20 minute run

Can you say...oh my goodness. The last time I worked out this much, I was in summer basketball camp in high school..and I didn't like it. I have to admit, I've been slacking on the bike portion of the training. I've only been riding about one time a week. Maybe I don't think I have anything to worry about as far as the bike portion of the race goes or maybe I'm just afraid of damaging my very expensive bike. You should see me...I'm almost afraid to touch it.  I have been sticking to swimming twice a week and I can tell it's starting to pay off. I feel a lot more comfortable in the water now. Which brings me to a funny story. Today after I finished my swim workout, a woman approached me in the locker room and complimented my good swimming form. "Were you on the swim team she asked?" "Not quite," I replied holding back my laughter. I almost let the compliment go to my head until I realized this woman could not swim herself. Hence, she wouldn't know the difference between good form and whatever it was I was doing. It gave me a chuckle at least.

My strategy in keeping to the training schedule is to get the workout out of the way in the morning so I don't have to worry about it the rest of the day. The runs are the easiest because I can strap Carter in the running stroller and take off. I've been using a sitter for my bikes and swims, except on the weekend when Jimmy can take over. I started off taking Carter to the daycare in the gym which was great but out of the blue he started having separation anxiety and wouldn't let me get out the door without crying and screaming. I tried just leaving him but the staff said he kept crying after I left. For his sake and my peace of mind, I feel better having him stay in the comfort of home. This is working out well and I can focus on training.

3 more weeks to go. I can do this. Let's go...

Another Fun Family Mini-Vacation

My dad, stepmom, Carter, and I traveled to Washington D.C. this past weekend to belatedly celebrate my brother Clinton's (CC) 30th birthday. His actual birthday was July 10th but we weren't available to make the trip so we decided to make up for it. Being my normal "cheap" self, Carter and I crashed in my parents' hotel room. We thought we were going to have two double beds but once we arrived they only had king bed rooms. What does that that mean you ask? It means that Carter and I were stuck on a roll-away bed. The room was so small that the only place the roll-away would fit was at the foot of the king bed. Once we did this, access to the far side of the room was completely cut off. Carter loved this configuration because it meant he could easily climb from one bed to the other. We've been in tight quarters before but this was "tight."

Other than the close quarters, the hotel was nice. It was The Fairfax on Massachusetts and 21st near Dupont Circle. The location was convenient to restaurants, bars, shops, etc. Everything we needed was a short walk or taxi ride away. My dad got a great rate on cheaptickets.com and I would highly recommend it for anyone looking for accommodations in the area.

On Friday night, we had dinner at a Lebanese restaurant (think kabobs) and on the walk back to the hotel we stopped to hear a street brass band comprised of about 6 young african-american kids ranging in my guestimation from ages 6-16. Those boys were rocking, had a good crowd, and had been playing for at least 3 hours. In a moment of weakness (this doesn't happen often) I donated $10. I thought they deserved it. Afterwards, I hung out with CC and one of his friends. We went to Public House in Dupont which is a multilevel bar/club. It was a cool place with a good crowd and the expected pop hits. However, if I hadn't already realized this, it confirmed that I am way over pushing through crowds, having drinks spilled on me, ringing eardrums, and standing room only. Is this a sign that I'm maturing or that I'm a boring housewife? Maybe it's a little of both but if I never step foot in another club I wouldn't be disappointed. They just don't hold the same luster for me anymore. In my 20s I used clubs to look for my next victim...I mean date...but now that I'm locked down (I mean that in the most endearing way possible) I have no use for them anymore. Although, I will admit, I still like the occasional booty shake with my honey or with my girls but 2-3 times a year is all I need. I was so happy to get back to the hotel and snuggle up next to my little angel.

On Saturday, Carter and I started our morning with a walk to Au Bon Pain for a croissant and muffin (so yummy). Why were random women stopping us on the street to gush about how cute he is? Of course he just eats it up. If this is any sign of what's to come I am not looking forward to his teen years. I can already imagine him as a "ladies' man" because he is very social and already a charmer at 14 months. We had lunch with an old family friend who, despite being 78 with one arm in a sling recovering from shoulder surgery, laid out a mini-feast for us at his home. I rarely see hospitality like this and it inspired me to be more like this to guests in my home. I was also impressed by his art collection which he acquired while living in Nigeria and South Africa in the 80s and 90s, as well as, his stories of the peace keeping missions he embarked upon while abroad.

We ended Saturday with a wonderful feast at CC's abode with the company of his roommates, family, and friends. My uncle Calvin and his daughter Kennedy were there and Kennedy (5 years old) and Carter, who met for the first time, got along glowingly.  So well that Carter felt comfortable taking Kennedy's drumstick from her plate and waving it around like a trophy. It was so much fun watching the two of them. Even with the age difference, they seemed to have a good time together. The highlight of the night was my dad trying to back out of the parking spot in the alley behind the house. It's really one of those "you just had to be there moments" but the best way I can describe it is the scene in Austin Powers where he was trying to turn around the motorized cart in the hallway and he kept hitting the wall. OMG...my dad could not get out of the spot and it was so hilarious that everyone from inside the house came out to watch. We eventually made it out, although with tears in our eyes from all the laughter. Ahh...all this and still in bed by 11 p.m. Unfortunately Carter didn't get the memo. I had to literally keep my arm around him so he would stop moving and fall asleep. I have never seen anyone fight sleep like him.

The trip ended with breakfast Sunday morning and we were off to the airport. I was so happy to get home and see my hubby but once that excitement wore off both Carter and I passed out. If this isn't a sign of great trip, I don't know what is.

The End of Another Great Weekend

I love weekends at home with my two boys. Jimmy was traveling for work all of last week and will be heading out of town again this coming week so I tried to get as much QT as I could this weekend.  On Friday night, I took us on an adventure to find some authentic Mexican food. I used my trusty Yelp app to find a highly rated place and it led us to La Parada, a tiny place off the beaten path of downtown Indy. From the moment we pulled up, I knew we would find authentic fare. It was in a small plaza with a panaderia (bakery) and Mexican grocery store. On the tv was a telenovela and the waitress gave those who looked the part (we didn't make the cut) the option of a spanish or english menu.  Needless to say, my craving to be back in LA for some comida autentica was temporarily satisfied. I ordered enchiladas with a side of guacamole and Jimmy ordered a beef chimichanga. My only disappointment was that they didn't have a full bar because a margarita would have set the meal off right. Even Carter enjoyed chomping down on the tortilla chips.

Saturday Carter and I joined a mommy group for swim lessons at the IU Natatorium. Carter and I took a swim class last month so that took the edge off a bit of whether he would be receptive to it. Despite the fact that they had us in 5 ft deep water-causing me to be on my tip toes the whole class-we had a great time. Carter is shaping up to be a little fish. He likes floating on his back and is starting to kick his legs when on his tummy. He also gets great pleasure from splashing as much water as he can in mommy's face.  After swimming, the mommy group went to lunch. Luckily, we chose a place where we could be confined in a private room because we had 6 kids between 12 and 20 months that wanted to run a muck. By another stroke of luck we had a server that was very patient and accommodating. I know this sounds strange coming from me, but I loved every minute of it (except when Carter was trying to escape and run through the restaurant). After lunch, we came home and hung out with Da-Da (Jimmy) for the rest of the day.

Today has shaped up to be my normal "Lazy Sunday." It started with an hour bike ride followed by a 20 minute run for my triathlon training. I was so stinky that I was trying to run away from myself. Jimmy stayed at least 5 paces behind me. After a much needed shower, I cooked breakfast and then had a quick visit from a friend who came over to check out our new digs.  After she left, our plan was to pick us some furniture we purchased. To our dismay, it started pouring rain on the drive over. This was a problem since we were using a pick-up truck to haul the load. Oh well...better luck tomorrow. We headed home to veg out and play for the rest of the evening. I took the opportunity to take a much needed nap while Carter took his afternoon nap. I've never been a "nap" person but since having Carter, I take advantage of them whenever I can. It buys me a few extra hours after Carter goes to bed.

Now I'm in bed trying to hurry up and finish this post so I can cuddle up next to my honey. On that note, goodnight!

Frittata Anyone?

Here's a quick breakfast recipe that can serve up to 5 people. It's call a frittata, which is an italian dish similar to a quiche or omelette.  The beauty of a frittata is that you can put whatever you like in it, such as potatoes, meats, veggies, and cheese. I will share the recipe for the one I made last week when we had friends over.  The prep is about 15 minutes and the cook time is about 25 minutes.  I will call this the Potato, Bacon, and Cheddar Frittata.

Ingredients


6 large eggs
1/4 cup heavy cream or milk
4 strips of bacon
1 baking potato
1/2 cup of sharp cheddar cheese
salt and pepper, to taste
3 tbsp olive oil

Preheat oven to Broil. Start by peeling the potato and cutting up into bite size pieces. Cook the bacon as directed on the package. Combine the eggs, cream/milk, salt, and pepper, and whisk until smooth. You will need a skillet that can also go into the oven (meaning, the handle won't melt). Once you locate that skillet, put about 3 tablespoons of olive oil in it and warm over low to medium-low heat. Add the potatoes to the skillet, season with salt and pepper, and allow them to cook until browned and soft (about 15 minutes), stirring often. When potatoes are ready, add the eggs to the same skillet on top of the potatoes.  Crumble the bacon into the skillet right after adding the eggs. Do not stir the eggs, just allow them to stiffen. This will take about 5 minutes. When they are almost cooked through but still a little yolky on top, add the cheese, and place into the oven. Broil for about 4 minutes or until browned on top.  Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes.  Use a spatula to loosen around the edges and carefully remove the frittata in one piece to a serving plate and cut into pie-like slices.

Serve with a fruit salad and mimosas. Yummy!

One More Thing to Check Off My Bucket List

As if I weren't busy enough, I have signed up to do my first triathlon on August 27th. It's called the Go Girl Triathlon and it's an all-female sprint distance triathlon at Eagle Creek Park in Indy. What this will entail is a 500 meter swim (in a lake), a 10 mile bike, and a 3 mile run.  In the last few years I have run 3 marathons and 3 half marathons so a triathlon is just the next step in the progression to challenge myself physically. I've signed up with a training group so I could get some guidance from a coach who has experience doing triathlons. I am most worried about the swimming. I can swim...which to me means I won't drown...but I can't SWIM...which I learned very quickly on our first day of practice. I thought I was going to die after swimming 2 laps. Swimming laps is no joke. You literally are working every muscle in your body.

What I didn't research before signing up for the event, however, was the investment I would need to make in a new bike and tri gear.  Who knew that a bike could be so expensive. The last time I got a bike I was a pre-teen and I'm pretty sure we got it from Meijer for about $100.  My new bike was $550 (and that was an inexpensive one) and that doesn't even include gear like a helmet, air pump, shoes, pedals, etc. This is definitely a rich (wo)man's sport.  I realize now why I like running so much.  All you need is $80-100 for a good pair of running shoes and you're out.

Nonetheless, I'm having fun so far and my swimming is finally starting to improve a bit. I will keep you posted on the progress of my training as the event gets closer.  Bike $550...Training Class...$200...Gym Membership (with pool) $400...Tri Registration Fee $60...The joy of getting my pre-pregnancy abs back...PRICELESS!

Long Hiatus

It seems like it's been almost a month since the last time I posted something. I swore to myself that if I started this blog I would keep up with it regularly. The problem of course is finding the time during my "hectic" life. Some of you may be chuckling at the use of the word "hectic" but trust me I am worn out at the end of everyday just like I was when working 10 hour billable days.

Jimmy and I closed on our first house together (my first house, period...woo hoo!) on July 1st. Since then, it's been a whirlwind of unpacking boxes, organizing, furniture shopping, repair guys, etc.  Doing all of this with a 1 year old has forced me to redefine the word "efficiency." By the time Carter goes to sleep around 8:30-9:00 p.m. I try to squeeze out another 2-3 hours to get some things done before crashing.  Theoretically, this is the time I should be using to add a new blog post but in reality, sometimes my brain is such mush I wouldn't even be able to form a coherent sentence. Instead, I end up using the time doing something that doesn't take much brain power, like folding laundry or surfing the web for the rug I need to buy for our living room. Or even better, I just use the time to cuddle up with my honey.

On top of getting the house ready we also had houseguests last weekend for the Kappa Centennial Celebration. Thankfully, we got the chance to relax, hang out, and have fun with friends.  My parents were also in town and they got a chance to hang out with Carter who I think is finally starting to recognize them.

Now that things have settled down a bit, I plan to post more regularly. As I'm writing right now, I think the most ideal time will be during Carter's morning nap.

My First Recipe

I've been cooking since I was about 6 years old. It started with scrambling eggs, boiling hot dogs, frying bologna (you know what I'm talking about), and making grilled cheese sandwiches.  By the time I was 10, I was responsible for cooking dinner for my family one night a week. Needless to say, by the time I reached adulthood I had a pretty good repertoire.  Some people are surprised to learn that I cook. I guess I don't give off that impression. I actually come from a family where eating in was the norm, eating out a treat, and where everyone (dad and brother included) contributed in the kitchen. I am so thankful for that upbringing now that I have a family of my own.

My main cooking inspirations are my mother and late paternal grandmother.  These two ladies can (could) throw down in the kitchen.  My mom loves to cook flavorful yet healthy food using fresh ingredients.  She's also like MacGyver in the kitchen. No matter what you have in your fridge and pantry, she can whip up a gourmet meal. My grandmother made cooking look so effortless. I don't know if it was something she loved to do but growing up in Tennessee, her southern roots definitely shined through. Dinners around her kitchen table went fast. If you didn't get there when dinner was served, you probably didn't eat. I have to also give props to my dad who taught me a lot about the basics of cooking. His specialty is baking pies. I get my apple and blackberry pie recipes from him.

I don't consider myself a great cook but I can execute a recipe. Now that I have more time to focus on cooking I have started exploring new and different cooking styles and adding my own flare.  Until recently I did not eat poultry, beef, pork, or any other kind of meat (except seafood) for about 13 years so the variation of what I'm cooking now has definitely expanded. I blame my husband for this. :-) With him being a carnivore, I quickly became annoyed at having to cook two separate meals. One night, I made him a t-bone steak and myself a tofu steak. While he was grubbing away at his steak, I looked down at my place and said to myself: "self, why are you eating this? It doesn't even taste good." At that moment I decided it was time for me to tip-toe back into the carnivorous world and I haven't looked back since.

Some of my recipes will be exact duplicates of a chef and I will give them credit where due. Others will be based on someone else's recipe with my own tweaks.  On rare occasions I may even throw in an original recipe. Most of my cooking is semi-homemade, meaning I cook some things from scratch and get other things from a can, bottle, or frozen pack.

My first recipe is for spaghetti and meatballs. The meatballs are from scratch and the sauce and pasta are store bought. The meatballs recipe is based on one from Bobby Flay but I have substituted some things based on what was available in my kitchen.

Ingredients


1 pound ground beef
4 ounces milk
4 large eggs
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
1 slice whole wheat bread (tear into small bread crumbs)
2 teaspoons fresh minced garlic (can get this in a jar)
A generous sprinkling of dried Italian Seasoning (usually includes oregano, rosemary, parsley, and basil)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with foil and spray cooking oil on top of foil.  Mix all ingredients in a large bowl with your hands. Form into golf ball sized meatballs and place on foil. If mixture is not sticking together add more panko bread crumbs.  Place in the oven and bake for 40 minutes.

While meatballs are baking, cook spaghetti in desired amount as stated on the package. Also, take a jar or two of your favorite pasta sauce and pour into a large deep skillet, cover and simmer over low heat. Once the meatballs are finished in the oven, place them, one by one, into the skillet with the sauce, making sure you spoon some sauce over them so they are covered.  Continue to simmer for about 10 minutes.

After straining, place cooked pasta in a large serving bowl. Pour sauce and meatballs over pasta. Sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan (or the Kraft stuff from a bottle) and serve with garlic bread (found in the frozen food section). Serves 3-4.

We had this last night for dinner and the leftovers for lunch today. So good. Enjoy!

New Beginnings

My friend Christine has inspired me to start this blog to document my life experiences as a wife and mother and the joys and challenges that come along with these titles.  Three years ago I met the love of my life at a dark bar in Venice, California. Two years ago we got married. One year ago, God blessed us with a beautiful baby boy who we named Carter James. For those of you that know me well, you will agree that "wife" and "mother" were not things I necessarily saw in my future. Now, I cannot imagine life without "my boys."

My husband Jimmy recently accepted a promotion at work which has relocated our family from Santa Monica, California to Carmel, Indiana (yes...we left California willingly).  Along with the change in geography, my career also changed. I put on hold my seven year career as an attorney to dedicate my time to Jimmy and Carter.  Again, for those that know me well, this decision was a bit of a shocker; especially since I was itching to go back to work after three months of maternity leave. Nonetheless, I have embraced my new role and have been surprised at how quickly I'm becoming domesticated...and I hate to say it...liking it. 

The purpose of this blog is to give you a window into my new life in a new city. There is so much to experience and I can't wait to get started. I will also include some of my favorite recipes from time to time and share fun ideas for activities to do with your child(ren). Enjoy!