Going Paleo

 {This is a meatball recipe from Sarah Fragoso's blog, and it is one of my favorite paleo meals!}

I apologize for my lack of posts recently, but there hasn't been anything particularly "blog-worthy" going on in the past few weeks. However, I felt I should briefly share a decision I made at the end of June, and that decision was to begin eating paleo again. What is a paleo lifestyle? I am not going to attempt to tackle that question; instead, here are some resources and people in the paleo community who can better describe it: Robb Wolf & Sarah Fragoso)  

Joe and I tried eating this way in January, but we would revert to our old eating habits at least once a week. This time around I want to stick to it. Since July 1st, my eating habits have been clean, and I want to to keep it up through the end of the month. Do I want to keep going afterwards? Of course, but I plan to allow myself an indulgence here and there. 

Why have I decided to eat this way? I basically just want to eat healthier; I want to eat purposefully. I want to know that what I am eating is actually nutritious and not over processed. Because I try to consume as many fruits and vegetables as I can with my protein, I find myself at the grocery store about 2x a week. And though that isn't ideal, it shows me that I'm eating more fruits and vegetables than ever before, and that is awesome! 

Since I started eating this way, I would often ask myself "Is this paleo?" But after doing some research, I've learned that I have been asking the wrong question. In order to successfully eat this way, I should be asking, "Is this going to have a harmful effect on my health?" Ultimately, a paleo lifestyle isn't about how well you stay within the parameters; rather, it is about how deliberate you are in your food choices. 

Fire Season Must Haves

{I have been making some progress on my Summer Reading List}

I apologize for my lack of posts lately. Needless to say, nothing new has happened. But I feel it's time we talk about the fire season. Since my last post about fire season, my husband has gone to a couple fires in California and one week-long fire in Utah. We're expecting some warmer temperatures in California, and I'm expecting him to get a new assignment some time this week. For some, the time these firefighters are away can seem to drag. Here's a little list of the things I find essential while my husband is away, and I'm stuck at home. 

Fire Season Must Haves

1. Internet-Because how are you going to bookmark all of your fire information sites and keep up to date on the fires' containment levels?

2. Amazing Friends-Make breakfast, lunch, brunch, or dinner dates with friends you've been meaning to catch up with or with friends whose company you can't live without.

3. Netflix-Find a show that you can invest obscene amounts of time into, so you won't get bored when you realize that all of the dishes are done and all of the laundry has been put away.

4. Pinterest-Create an inspiration board of little projects you want to do, and then do them! 

5. An Interesting Read-Find a book you think you'll enjoy, and read it at night. If you have trouble falling asleep without your significant other, reading at night is one way that could help your eyelids to feel heavy and give you the push you need to knock out. 

Any other suggestions out there?

Ciao by Bethany Lopez

I first want to thank Bethany Lopez for allowing me to be a part of her third book's cover reveal. Since I'm going to be editing this book, I have read it, and I love it! You should really take the time and read the first two books, Ta Ta for Now! and xoxoxo, before jumping into this one. This new book is titled, Ciao, and it will be released later this summer. In the meantime, here is a sneak peak at the cover and a little bit about the third book in the Stories about Melissa Series. 

Drum roll, please...

Melissa has had a fantastic summer, hanging out with her friends and making new ones. Life as she knows it will change when they all come together to begin their sophomore year at Dearborn High. Connections will be made and friendships will be tested. Will Melissa’s family and friends be able to help her through the challenges she will face in the upcoming months.

Is your interest piqued yet?

If it is, follow Bethany on Facebook and Twitter for more teasers, which are sure to come in the next couple of months.

YA Literature and Bethany Lopez

Young adult literature is basically literature marketed to teens, but that isn't to say that people 18+ won't enjoy these books. YA lit isn't for young kids; it's for an audience who can relate to the complexities of a character and appreciate their many layers. It is often about growth... and as adults, you don't stop growing... ever! 

As I mentioned in my last post, I have a connection to  the author of Ta Ta for Now! and xoxoxo. Allow me to introduce you to Bethany Lopez, my sister-in-law. 

Bethany Lopez was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in Michigan and San Antonio, Texas. She went to High School at Dearborn High, in Dearborn, Michigan, which is where she has set her Young Adult novels. She is married and has a blended family with five children. She is currently serving in the United States Air Force as a Recruiter in Los Angeles, California. She has always loved to read and write and has seen her dream realized by independently publishing her contemporary Young Adult series, Stories about Melissa. Ta Ta for Now! and  xoxoxo are available now. Book three, Ciao, will be released in Aug 2012.

As a book fiend and fellow writer, I've had the unique opportunity of talking to her about writing her books as well as talking to her about the journey she's had in self-publishing. Because she has chosen to self-publish, she works extra to promote her books and connect with other writers who are in the same boat. She's pretty awesome, and so are her books.

Ta Ta for Now! and xoxoxo are the first two books in the Stories about Melissa series. These books follow Melissa, the main character, through her experience in high school. The first two books collectively sum up her freshman year. Here is a summary of each book:

Ta Ta for Now! 

Melissa begins her freshman year with one goal in mind, getting Brian Jackson to be her boyfriend. She will soon learn that things don't necessarily turn out the way you plan them, the value of true friendship, and the importance of family.

xoxoxo

Melissa has learned a lot since her freshman year began, but it isn't over yet! Her world is about to change again with the birth of her new sibling, and she has to figure out how she will adjust to being the eldest of five kids. She, Jess, and Jimmy are inseparable, and she is having a fantastic time although she can't help but miss Brian as she tries to learn how to deal with his relationship with Layla. Everything seems to be happening at once and that is when she is introduced to Ben Campbell, a senior at Dearborn High, who becomes an interesting distraction as he helps her deal with the new developments in her life.

The third book in the series is due to arrive this summer. But before it is released, Bethany has allowed me to share the cover... on June 13th, so you'll have to check back for it along with a synopsis of the newest addition to the series. Until then, check out the first two books and follow her on facebook and twitter. 

Summer Reading List

Like so many people out there, I too make a summer reading list. The books I intend to read are not always a reflection of the books that I actually end up reading. With that said, one book I intend to read and will actually read (but not in its entirety) is the Bible. Some of our friends and Joe & I have been doing a daily devotional where the goal is to read the Bible in a year. We started in April, and it has been awesome so far. Because I will not read it completely over the course of the summer, I am only going to include the titles of books that I plan to read from beginning to end of my list. 

There are so many classics that I am embarrassed to admit that I haven't read, and there are tons of new(er) titles that I can't wait to read. In an effort to reconcile the many different ways that my literary heart is being pulled, I have decided to make a list, which combines books from different genres and eras. 

1. Catcher in the Rye 

2. Always Running

3. Crazy/Love

4. In the Garden of Beasts (This author also wrote The Devil in the White City, which is AMAZING!)

5. Animal Farm

6. The Great Gatsby (This is a reread because I don't think I appreciated it as much as I should have when I was 17.)

While we're talking about summer reading, check out this new young adult fiction series available in paperback or for the Kindle...

Ta Ta for Now!

xoxoxo

I'll be posting more about the series and my connection to the author in the next week, so be sure to check back.

Do you have a reading list this summer?

Summer Checklist

Though summer doesn't technically begin until late June, it has begun for me now that fire season has started. Joe and his crew have left for their first assignment near Julian, California. It isn't as large as some of the fires in other parts of the U.S. right now, but here is a link to information about it.

{Courtesy of NBC San Diego's Facebook page}

Since my summer has begun, I thought it would be fun to make a checklist of all the things I would like to do this summer. Some things will take planning while others can be spontaneous. I'm looking forward to a warm summer with lots of gatherings with family and friends. 

1. See a production of Shakespeare by the Sea

2. Go on a few hikes to different places each month

3. Plant herbs in our mini backyard

4. Eat dinner outside at least once each week

5. Ride my bike more often

6. Read more (classics & new works)

7. Go to a Drive-in movie

8. Change my nail polish color each week 

9. Write and submit work for publication

10. Adopt a dog and have doggie dates

What are your plans for the summer?

Flea Market Find

{If only I had a real reason to purchase this beauty.}

My dad loooves going to yard sales on Saturday mornings. He has quite a collection of bicycles and guitars, and a few of the decorative pieces we incorporated into our home came from yard sales that my dad went to. 

I had been to Long Beach Antique Flea Market once before, and this month I told my dad I wanted to take him in case he'd run into something he liked. My oldest sister also joined us, and she left with two bracelets. My dad didn't buy anything, but he enjoyed looking around. I took a few pictures of some cool items I saw, but the highlight was the 90 year old Singer sewing machine I left with for... are you ready... $60!!. I've been looking for one at an affordable price as a keepsake since my grandmother had one in Mexico, and my mom learned to sew on a similar one. 

{I love Ernest Hemingway. He is one of my favorite authors.}

{Have you read or watched The Diving Bell and the Butterfly? If not, you should. It is a moving true  story about the Editor of Elle Magazine who suffers from a stroke and is almost totally paralyzed. This old Navy diving helmet reminds me of a few scenes from the film.}

 {I think old school gumball machines are the cutest.}

{There were tons of chandeliers.}

{The helmet on the left reminds me of an Ironman helmet.}

{Bringing it home.}

{I love the details on the machine. It's beautiful.}

{Zoe scoping our the sewing machine in its new home.}

Disneyland is for Lovers & Everyone Else

A few weekend's ago, Joe and I decided to spend the whole weekend together since his fire season was going to start that Monday. We were going to go camping, but because we decided to do that so late, there were no available campsites; instead, we got Disneyland annual passes. We had so much fun! Since we got passes, we didn't feel rushed because if we didn't get to go on a ride, we knew we had the whole year to do it. Annnnd we made a deal to try a different restaurant each time we visit either of the parks. Going to the parks will be great alternative to watching Mad Men whenever we have free time together.

Soda Pop Cupcake

In my last post, I mentioned that I did some baking last weekend. In addition to the Pie Pops, I also made Soda Pop Cupcakes. They were moist, and the frosting was light and fresh--Perfect for summer! I've included the recipes below.

Ingredients

Cupcakes:

-1 Yellow cake mix

-1 (6 oz) Package strawberry jello

-1 (12 oz) Can strawberry soda

Frosting: 

-1 Box of instant vanilla pudding mix

-1 1/2 Cups cold milk

-1 (8 oz)Container cool whip

Recipes

Cupcakes:

1. Use foil cupcake liners, and bake according to package. **Avoid filling them up too much because the jello/soda mixture will pour more easily if the cupcakes are level and not mounded**

2. After you take the cupcakes out and they're cooling, punch holes in the cupcakes with a round toothpick or skewer.

3. Heat soda to boiling and dissolve jello in the soda. Pour jello/soda mixture over the cupcakes and let it soak in.

4. Cool in the refrigerator before frosting.

Frosting:

1. Beat pudding and milk to smooth consistency.

2. Fold in whipped cream mixture and frost the cupcakes.

3. Keep refrigerated & enjoy!

Cherry Pie Pops

I did quite a bit of baking this weekend for my best friend's birthday and for Mother's Day. I followed these directions for the Pie Pops, but I also sprinkled sugar on top just to make them a tad bit sweeter. Out of the 32 I made, only 26 stayed on the sticks because some slide down the sticks if they're too heavy... Point being, if you decide to make some, make a few extra in case a couple break off or slide down. Enjoy!

{Don't roll the dough too thin, or the filling will break through while they're baking.}

{This was the first batch, and I put about 3 cherries in each one, but I soon learned that they can really only hold 1 large cherry and possibly 1 small cherry.}

{Don't mind my Coca-Cola glasses; they were the only ones tall enough to hold the pops without damaging them.}

Update # 6

I mentioned before that a lot happened since October, and I've blogged some updates, but this will be my final update; everything I post after this will be current. For those who are friends with me on Facebook or know me and my family, you all know that my mother had been battling cancer for a few years now, and in March she passed away. It isn't an easy subject to talk about, write about, or think about especially on Mother's Day. Rather than dwell on how unfair the illness is, God has allowed me much peace in her passing. I know that she is in heaven and is no longer suffering, and that brings me great comfort. She was an amazing woman to say the least.

-She grew up in a rural area, and her family owned land, which they used for growing crops. When she was a young girl, she helped her siblings pick tomatoes after school.

-She could balance a bucket of water on her head as she carried it from the creek to her home.

-When it was "Picture Day" at school she was very adamant about wearing clean shoes; however, the pictures were only from the waist up.

-She taught herself how to sew. Her first project was a blouse she made to wear on Easter Sunday, but she didn't let anyone know what she had been working on until it was finished.

-Her eldest sister always wanted to go to the dances that were held Saturday nights, and my mom was in charge or ironing each weekend. My mother made a deal with her sister to have the dresses ironed in time for the dances if she would grind all the corn for the week.

-She grew up across the street from my dad.

-She gave birth to my sisters at home. Only one of those labors was with a doctor present.

-She has always stood behind my dad.

-She made my wedding dress.

-She has always supported me and all of my ideas.

-She never lost hope.

January 3, 1945 - March11, 2012

Update # 5

Christmas! I love Christmas! Joe and I worked our butts off to make the house look as complete as possible before Christmas Eve because some of our family was planning to stop by and see the place. I am a neat-freak at times, and leaving the house a mess was not an option. So, we got it ready in time and spent the rest of Christmas Eve with Joe's family and Christmas day with my family. Now, a Christmas is never complete without tamales! My eldest sister, my dad, and I made my mom's tamale recipe. She wasn't feeling well, so we did our best to replicate her amazing tamales... and she agreed that they weren't too bad either ;)

*If you scroll to the bottom of this post, you'll find my mom's tamale recipe!!*

Ingredients:

10lb masa - prepared

 Sauce for the Meat

 1/2 med. onion

 1 tomato

 2 garlic cloves

 1tsp oregano 

1/2tsp comino (ground)

 1/2tsp cilantro (seed)

 1/2tsp pepper (seed)

 1/2cup jalapeno juice

 
5 chile pasia (boiled, peeled and seeded)

 Combine all in blender and puree

 * You can put aside some sauce to add to the masa if desired. 

 Meat 

5lb Pork (trositos/stew meat) 

1tblspn salt 

3 garlic cloves 

 Boil until cooked then shred and add the sauce 

 Veggies  

5 Potatoes (peeled and cut into strips) 

6 Carrots (peeled and cut into strips) 

Black olives
Raisins (optional) 

Jalapeno slices (optional) 

 Corn Husks (clean and soak overnight in water to make them plyable) 

 Putting them together 

Spread the masa onto corn husk, place meat and one of each of the veggies (jalapeno optional), tie ends/or fold and
steam until cooked (2-4 hours). 

Once cooked let sit to firm up.

Enjoy!