Uncategorized – Page 5 – Birds of a Feather

One Track Mind

February 9, 2018Faith, Goal setting, Happiness, Milestones, Running, Special People, Success, Uncategorized, Work1 Comment

My mother jokingly says that from the moment I could walk, I chose to run instead. In elementary school my grandfather gifted me my very own starting blocks that he purchased at the flea market. Most evenings, I laced up my shoes and sprinted around the front yard letting the imaginary gun in my head send me on my way. By middle school, I ate, slept, and breathed cross-country and track. And so began the miles upon miles of strength and speed workouts that helped me develop into a distance athlete with a one track mind.

My life on the run shaped me into the woman I am today. A life of high mileage required stamina, strength, speed, skill, and spirit. In shaking the hands of my competitors, demonstrating sportsmanship through winning and losing, and forging friendships with my teammates, I developed a level of character carved out of perseverance, faith, and heart.

This year I have the privilege of sharing these life lessons with a group of high school distance runners at my school coaching the middle and long distance athletes. I hope to impart some of the wisdom I learned along the way both on and off the track from influential coaching mentors like Sylvia Torres, Melba Barreiro, Meme Garza, and Gary Staley.

STAMINA

Effective distance running requires stamina. This can only be achieved through a well-established base of mileage that allows you to find that third and fourth wind when you need it most. Success in life also requires stamina; the ability to sustain prolonged physical or mental effort. True to the adage, “life is a marathon; not a sprint.”

STRENGTH

It takes great physical and mental strength to be a successful distance runner. Sometimes a distance race will try to break you if you let it. There are moments in life that will try to do the same. It takes great strength to overcome adversity. The challenges we face in competition force us to push through the pain, refuse to accept failure, and chase our dreams until we cross the finish line. True to the saying, “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

SPEED

Although speed in the 1600 meters looks a little different than the speed demonstrated in the 200 meters, don’t discount the level of effort it requires. In life and on the track, it often comes down to the last stretch of the race. Stamina and strength will only carry you so far. You have to find that last gear and sprint with every ounce of speed you can reign in to chase down your opponents.

In life, there will always be a winner, and the winner is always the person who trained the hardest and refused to settle for anything but a first place finish. In life, there will always be a loser too. The positive side of losing, however, is the takeaway. What did you learn from your failure that will make you better?

SKILL

Success on the track and in life requires a high level of skill. Developing and honing these skills takes time, effort, dedication, sweat, and grit. You can’t be afraid to fail, to fall, to hurt, and to face disappointment.

SPIRIT

All of the stamina, strength, speed, and skill in the world are not enough to break a world record or shatter a glass ceiling. The most important part of pursuing a dream is the human spirit. Believing in yourself and putting your whole heart into your work, truly are the foundation for achieving great success in life. Humility, grace, and faith together with spirit will light the fire in your heart that propels you forward.

Oftentimes, the phrase, “a one track mind” carries a negative connotation. But in the pursuit of a first place win, you will need to pull from all of your resources and chase down the gold with blinders that block out anything that might stand in your way and prevent you from cinching the win.

Off the track, the same mindset dictates success. Harness your spirit, muscle up, find the speed and stamina to persevere, and hone your skills so that even in the face of adversity, your one track mind refuses to back down until you successfully summit your mountain. Carpe diem!

Good Things Come in Threes

February 7, 2018Dinner ideas, Happiness, Healthy & Delicious, Low carb, Opportunities, Recipes, Special People, Uncategorized, VegetarianLeave a Comment

In the last month, we’ve enjoyed some savory homemade soups, spectated at a few sporting events, and smiled almost every step of the way. True to the adage, “good things come in threes”, tonight’s blog post highlights three of my recent favorites- soup, spectating, and smiles!

TUSCAN CHICKEN SOUP

Since Christmas, I’ve been on a soup kick- chicken tortilla, chicken detox soup, vegetable beef, and now a simple Tuscan chicken soup. Most Sundays, I make a pot of soup that starts the week off on a great foot with a delicious dinner option that also makes for some amazing workday lunches.

This soup was adapted from a recipe I found on Nicky’s Kitchen Sanctuary (www.kitchensanctuary.com). It could also very easily be a delightful vegetarian option by substituting the chicken for cannellini or white beans.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp olive oil
1 sweet onion, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 sprigs fresh thyme
2 stalks of celery, chopped
3 medium carrots, peeled & chopped
2 medium white potatoes, diced
2 cartons chicken broth
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp ground pepper
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1 rotisserie chicken, skin removed; deboned & shredded
4 handfuls fresh kale

Directions:

In a large soup pot, sauté the onions on medium heat in one tablespoon olive oil for ten minutes until soft and translucent. Stir occasionally.

Add the garlic and thyme and sauté until fragrant (2 to 3 minutes).

Next add the carrots, celery, potatoes, chicken broth, and spices. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 20 minutes.

Add the shredded chicken and kale and heat through for up to five minutes until the kale is wilted. Garnish with fresh grated parmesan cheese and serve with a crusty bread. We enjoyed ours with some delicious rosemary focaccia.

SPECTATING

Atticus and I joined our friends Gabe and Miriam and their sweet son, Milo, to cheer on our friends along the Chevron Houston Marathon course. It was beautiful, cold, sunny day- a trifecta for perfect racing conditions. We cheered loudly and encouraged our fellow Bayou City Road Runners along the course as they zoomed by us a mile 22 in Memorial Park. Despite the cold temperatures, Atticus and I enjoyed spectating, spending time with good friends, and offering smiles to the fearless runners on their journey to the finish line.

One evening a few weeks ago while Sean was in Dallas for work, I threw a little spontaneity into our week when I took the boys to the girls’ varsity soccer game at my school. Both boys enjoyed cheering on the Lady Lions as they savored Chick-fil-a kids meals in the bleachers. In my favorite picture of the evening, Liam moved to the railing for a close up view of the action, and Atticus turned just in time to smile for the camera.

Every Saturday for the last month, Atticus and I have cheered on the Liam and his fellow Heat teammates. Sean has earned a special place in heaven for the amount of patience it requires to coach a team of kindergarten basketball playing boys. Every week, we’ve seen Liam make great strides on the court as his dribbling and passing skills have improved. Go, Liam, go!

SMILES

In a house full of laughter and light, smiles and happiness are plentiful. Between the squeals, giggles, and screams of a 15 month old and a six year old, it is often a constant cacophony of sounds. Beautiful smiles almost always accompany the noises and sounds that reverberate off of the walls in our den. Below are some of my most favorite smiles from the last month.

As I reflect back on the memories shared around a kitchen table, the happiness accomplished through sportsmanship, and the simplicity and beauty of a child’s smile, I am reminded time and time again of how infinitely blessed I am. Here’s to many more moments of joy. May they continue to come in threes, fours, or any other numerical combination of greatness!

Unwavering, Unconditional, & Unfaltering

February 5, 2018Baby Bears & Little Bears, Counseling & Wellness, Love, Mama Bear Rant, Uncategorized, WorkLeave a Comment

This week work proved to be incredibly challenging. On more than one occasion, I left work holding back tears that came pouring out as soon as I hit the freeway. Being a counselor, places difficult situations in your lap almost every day. In the course of a day, you are often pulled in numerous directions. It can be emotionally draining and oftentimes thankless work, but my heart guides me every step of the way.

As a mother, my heart broke this week for two students I have been working with all year. Motherhood is a gift, I am so incredibly blessed to have in my life. In sharing stories with my friends who are mothers, all of them share the same sentimentality. We love our children deeply, fiercely, and unconditionally. Motherhood is not always a cakewalk, but whether our children are fifteen months old or fifteen, our children need us to walk with them, accept them, respect them, and love them.

Maintaining confidentiality is an important part of my role as a counselor, so I cannot get into specifics as to why my heart goes out to these students. However I can encourage and motivate the mothers reading this to consider what I’m about to say so that their children alway feel love and supported.

Motherhood tests us each and every single day. Our children will make mistakes, but more importantly we will too. Forgiveness is such an important part of our role as mothers. First we must forgive ourselves for our shortcomings, and then we must forgive our children for theirs.

As our children get older, they will push boundaries more than we might like. They might frustrate us and at times anger us. Don’t lose heart, Mama Bears. Remember it’s part of the job description. We might be tempted to cast judgement in our times of anger. We might have a hard time holding our tongue. It will take incredible self-control, but we absolutely must be mindful of what we say to our children. We cannot take back what we say. Our words have great power and can create mistrust and great heartache for our children. We will not always agree with our children’s actions, decisions, or lifestyle choices. No matter what though, they are our children. We must remember every step of the way how our children deserve to feel safe, secure, and supported.

Our work as a mother requires unwavering patience, unconditional love, and unfaltering support. In infancy, while toddling, growing into childhood, and then blossoming into adolescence, our children need their mother’s love in its purest and truest form. My work with high school students has made that more evident than ever. Be that pillar of support and love they so desperately need even when they seem too big to need it anymore. They will forever be our babies, and our babies will always need their mamas!

mama

Good morning, Sunshine!

February 2, 2018Breakfast recipes, Healthy & Delicious, Simple & easy, Uncategorized, VegetarianLeave a Comment

Mornings aren’t for everyone, but I’ve always embraced them wholeheartedly. Before children, I was up before the sunrise and out the door logging in my daily miles. Since children, I’m up bright and early with the boys toting them to school during the week or playing with the boys pushing cars or trains around in the early morning hours on the weekend.

There is nothing better than starting the day with a cup of coffee and a glimpse of a beautiful sunrise. Mornings are a fresh start to a new day, and the morning sunshine offers us an opportunity at a brand new beginning. A critical part of every morning routine should include breakfast. Something hearty, wholesome, fresh, and delicious. During the week when I’m pressed for time, it takes a little more thought and preparation, but starting my day off with a healthy breakfast makes all the difference in the world.

Below are three ideal go-to recipes you can easily pre-make and pre-pack for easy, on-the-go breakfast options. Only one of the recipes requires an oven and two can be prepped and stored for an entire week of ways to break fast!

MASON JAR GRAB & GO CEREAL

For my vegans and vegetarians, this first recipe is the easiest to prep and enjoy. I originally discovered it from a cycling friend of mine who recommended the book, The Engine 2 Diet by Rip Esselstyn. This former professional triathlete and firefighter based in Austin developed a vegan diet specifically designed for endurance athletes. Naturally it was a read that was right up my alley. I’ve modified the recipe slightly but the hearty oats and other grain cereals make this breakfast an ideal way to get a wholesome breakfast that staves off hunger easily until lunch.

Ingredients:

Almond milk
1/4 c old fashioned oats
1/4 c whole wheat shredded wheat
1/4 c Uncle Sam’s cereal
1/4 c grape-nuts
1 tbs sliced almonds
fresh fruit

In a mason jar, add all of the dry ingredients and store in the pantry until the morning of. On your way out the door, top with fresh fruit and milk. Cover with a lid, and you’re ready to jet out the door.

Some of my favorites fruit options include blueberries, strawberries, kiwi, and sliced bananas. Unsweetened or light vanilla almond milk are a great way to add a little sweetness to your cereal. Soy or cow’s milk are also great substitutes.

Allow the cereal to soak for a few minutes so the oats and shredded wheat can soften slightly. Enjoy the wholesome yumminess!

Green smoothies are another great grab and go breakfast that are also vegetarian friendly. Nothing is easier to consume on your commute to work, and you get a great jumpstart on your daily fruit and vegetable intake.

GOOD MORNING GREEN SMOOTHIE

Ingredients:

3 handfuls of greens
2 c water
1 apple, cored & quartered
1 handful of grapes
1 c frozen strawberries
1 c frozen mango
2 tbs ground flaxseed
2 packets stevia

In a blender pitcher, add the water and greens and cover and store in the fridge overnight. Core and cut the apple and place the apple and grapes in a Ziploc bag. Store in the fridge overnight. Measure the frozen strawberries and mangoes, and store in a Ziploc in the freezer overnight. Plug in the base of the blender and have it ready to go for tomorrow’s smoothie too. Pre-measure the ground flaxseed, and store in an airtight container next to the blender for easy access. Also leave the two packets of stevia out so you don’t have to do much more than throw everything in, blend, and pour.

The morning of, blend the water and greens until juiced. Spinach, kale, spring mix, or a blend all work well. Next add the apples and grapes and liquify. Add half of the frozen fruit, blend, and then repeat with the remaining frozen items. Add the flaxseed and stevia and mix until well blended. Pour, sip, and enjoy!

ANYTIME BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

This recipe is a Mama Bear exclusive developed with minimal effort thanks to always having key kitchen staples on hand. It would also be delicious with sautéed mushrooms and grated cheese. This one does require more cooking and prep than the other too, but it provides ample leftovers that can also double as leftovers to enjoy as a midweek lunch option or on a busy weeknight for dinner.

Ingredients:

5 slices of bread, cubed
16 oz ground sausage
3/4 sweet onion, sliced
3 to 4 large handfuls of spinach
1 fire roasted red pepper, jarred and diced
1 dozen eggs
1 c milk
1 tsp olive oil
Sea salt & pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prep a 9 x 13 Pyrex dish by lightly spraying it with cooking spray. Cube the bread and layer across the Pyrex evenly. I typically use some kind of a grainy bread like 12 grain or wheatberry. The sky’s the limit though, so use what you love or what you already have on hand.

In a bowl, add the eggs and milk and whisk until well blended. Pour over the bread and allow to soak while you prepare the other ingredients.

In a skillet on medium high heat, sauté the onions in olive oil until translucent. Add the ground sausage and cook until brown. Slowly add the spinach (about a handful at at time) and mix continuously until wilted. Add the red bell pepper and stir until everything is evenly distributed. Pour into a colander to drain. Then drop the sausage mixture evenly over the bread and eggs.

Bake in the oven for 40 to 45 minutes until the eggs are fluffy and cooked through. Cut evenly and store in Tupperware containers in the refrigerator. Reheat in the microwave for an instant breakfast packed with color and protein.

I hope these easy breakfast recipes make your mornings beautiful and delicious. They might even inspire you so much that your belting out, “It’s a beautiful morning!” as you head off to work to take on your day. Arguably breakfast is the most important meal of the day. You don’t have any excuses after reading this blog post to skip out and slight yourself!

Sharing is not always Caring

January 31, 2018Family, Golden Bear, Mama Bear Rant, Special People, UncategorizedLeave a Comment

Between daycare, an elementary school, and a high school, our den is prime real estate for germs to be passed from one bear to the next with sometimes very unfortunate results. This weekend these germs reared their ugly head and knocked half of us off our feet.

It started with me on Saturday night. Sean and I enjoyed a date night out at a colleague’s birthday party. On the drive home, I started to feel bad and by the middle of the night I was praying to the porcelain gods. This wasn’t the result of too much drinking and no it’s not an early sign of morning sickness. My initial thought was food poisoning but the madness continued well into Sunday afternoon. I spent the majority of my Sunday either in bed or tossing my cookies- definitely not my idea of a good time! I was certainly in no condition to write a blog post.

vomit everywhere

By Monday morning, I was feeling more like myself and finally able to keep food down only to discover that poor Liam was now sicker than a dog. Armed with a bucket, we dropped Atticus off at daycare and trekked to CVS to arm ourselves with Nauzene, Pedialyte, 7 Up, and fresh bread. All of the essentials, to help fend off the ickiness of a stomach bug. For all of the times Liam threw up, the little guy was one hell of a trooper. His lingered around longer than mine so he spent half the day at home today and the other with his Grandpa Jim to make sure he was fully recovered and ready to return to school tomorrow.

By the grace of God, Atticus appears to be spared. I pray both Sean and him fare better than the two of us. To combat the breeding ground of germs in our house, I’ve been running around with Clorox spray, disinfectant wipes, and Lysol trying to prevent these nasty germs from settling in like their welcomed guests.

sure i don't mind

When half of your clan falls flat on their rear, it definitely debunks the “sharing is caring” adage we sprinkle on our children like confetti for most of their formative years. Sharing is not always caring when it comes to spreading germs from one person to another.

Aside from recounting the disgustingness of the last few days in our casa, I am writing this blog as a PSA for other Mama Bears out there. The flu in various strains is running rampant across the country. We have an obligation as mothers to recognize the signs, take the necessary precautions, and keep our children out of schools and daycares when they’re sick. Most schools maintain a policy of 24 hours fever and symptom free for a reason. While Liam seemed to be on the mend last night, I knew if the shoe was on the other foot I wouldn’t appreciate another parent sending their child to school when they might still be contagious. It might not always be convenient either. After all, I missed a day and a half of work. But things aren’t going to get better if we don’t make a concerted effort to change the trend. Take precautionary measures like hand washing to minimize the spreading of germs. But more importantly keep yourselves and your children home when they’re sick. Sharing really is not always caring, especially when it comes to contagious viral infections, flus, and the like!

sick kids

Okay, I’ll simmer down now and put an end to my Mama Bear rant, at least for now.

When All Else Fails…

January 26, 2018baby bear, Dinner ideas, Family, Happiness, Uncategorized, VegetarianLeave a Comment

This afternoon as my workday came to a close, I catalogued through my mental Rolodex of dinner ideas. I thought about the kitchen staples I had on hand and decided that Caprese chicken with fresh basil and sundried tomatoes sounded amazing. I knew I had two chicken breasts in the fridge but would need to stop at H-E-B for a few key ingredients: smoked provolone and fresh basil.

On Thursdays the dinner table is pretty quiet. Liam has gymnastics and his grandparents usually take him to dinner afterwards. Sean rarely eats with us during the week because he’s either still at work or at the gym. With half of the bears in our den missing for dinner tonight, I knew I’d enjoy the leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

With Atticus underfoot playing with an assortment of bowls and lids, I started gathering the ingredients on the island in preparation for dinner. I preheated the oven to 400 degrees and a drizzled olive oil in a Pyrex baking dish. Then I opened up the chicken breast to start prepping the meat and immediately realized something was amiss. An icky stench filled my nostrils and my heart sank. In the few days since I’d purchased the chicken, it had spoiled. The sell by date clearly stated 1/25, and yet it was clear the poultry was past it’s prime.

I quickly tried to recover as I considered other potential dinner options. But with my muse past her prime, I decided on the next best thing. When all else fails, order takeout. I called our neighborhood Chinese food restaurant and ordered vegetable Lo Mein, an order of General Tso’s chicken, and chicken with mixed vegetables. Less than thirty minutes later, the doorbell rang and just like that my dinner dilemma was remedied. Sometimes fixing a problem, really is that simple.

Atticus absolutely loves Lo Mein. It truly is a sight to see watching an adorable 14 month old picking up the slimy noodles and slurping them up with gusto and joy. Over all, he’s a pretty good eater. He especially loves the broccoli included in the Lo Mein and is quite a fan of the peas and carrots in fried rice too.

Another perk of Chinese takeout comes from an insightful fortune. Opening our fortune cookies provided exactly the right amount of wisdom for this Mama Bear to consider as I cleaned up and boxed the leftovers.

Appropriately, Atticus’s fortune cookie stated, “Be yourself and you’ll feel at home anywhere.” Truer words were never spoken especially when you reflect on its meaning through the eyes of a child. In their naivety, they lack the ability to be self-conscious. If only we were all so lucky to never have to outgrow this one. To be able to let our hair down and not fixate on what others think about us.

Although our self-awareness as adults is significantly different than that of our little ones, we can just as easily circle back to being ourselves. True to the adage, “Be yourself, everyone else is taken,” maybe we need to worry less about what others think. In the end, it really isn’t worth the stress. If someone doesn’t like us for who we are, then they probably don’t really need to be a part of our inner circle anyway.

For a Mama Bear, nothing could be more poignant or telling than, “Love yourself first and everything else falls into line.” How often do we forget this one as we put the needs of our spouse or children before our own? While we carry out these selfless acts of love day in and day out, we need to remember how important self-care is for our own well-being and ultimately the well-being of everyone else in our family. This is why I honed in on doing one thing every day for yourself in my last post.

In these quiet, little moments for ourselves, we’re making the time to love ourselves first. You know as well as I do that we don’t have more than a few minutes of quiet in any given day, especially when you have young children. But remember that quality traditionally outweighs quantity. If we allow ourselves just a few moments every day, over time the pay off will be exponential. Carve out time for solitude even if that solitude can only be achieved when you lock yourself in the bathroom briefly and close your eyes and slowly count to twenty. Cherish these small moments of “you” time. When our children graduate from high school and head off to college, we’ll have more time than we know what to do with. But those moments can take their time. I’m certainly not ready for that anytime soon. In the meantime, I’ll take what I can get when I can get it and trust that less is more, at least for now!

An Open Letter to Myself

January 24, 2018Counseling & Wellness, Faith, Family, Happiness, Love, Mama Bears, UncategorizedLeave a Comment

Allowing ourselves to be emotionally vulnerable isn’t always easy. Tonight’s open letter to myself offers a candid and heartfelt message of self love and working through challenging moments in our life. It’s addressed to me, but I sincerely believe many of the women who read this post may see themselves in parts of this letter. Writing this for me proved to be incredibly cathartic. My hope is that in reading this letter, you too walk away recognizing how beautiful, accomplished, and amazing you are.

Dearest Heidi,

I know you set out every single day to be your very best self. There are times when you fall short of your expectations and no one is harder on you then when you let the thoughts in your head marinate. You often stew in those thoughts for far too long and carry them around until they feel burdensome and heavy.

Cut yourself some slack. You do so many wonderful things for your family, friends, colleagues, and students. You’re going to slip up sometimes. You’re going to walk into a bad day and it might take an extra glass of wine, an extra mile, or a long, hot bath to walk out of that bad day. But like every challenge you’ve ever met, you will get through it.

Like so many women who have come before you and like so many who will come after you, sometimes you just need to get out of your own head. Walk away from the challenge to regain your composure and work up the courage to start tackling it again. Don’t forget to lean on the people who love you and care about you. You look out for those you love and care about, and those beautiful people who you call friends are there to do the same when you need a little push, some extra reassurance, or a shoulder to cry on. At its core, that’s what friendship is for- lean into it, take the support when you need it, and return the favor when it’s your turn to catch them when they’re down!

You are an amazing woman, but you still need to remember that you are not a superhuman. Some days you will misstep. In your frustration, you might raise your voice when your children test your patience. Don’t lose heart. This doesn’t make you a bad mother. Motherhood will test you in ways you never knew imaginable. There will be days you want to pull your hair out, and there will be days where you wish the beautiful moments with your family didn’t ever have to end. Take it one day at a time. Soak it all up; the good, the bad, and everything in between.

Don’t be so hard on yourself. As much as you want to do it all. Sometimes something has to give. If it means the dirty dishes stay in the sink overnight or the laundry stays in the dryer for a few extra days until you find the time to fold it, so be it. There will always be tomorrow until there isn’t. Fixating over every little to do is only going to weigh you down.

Love yourself inside and out. Do more of what makes you happy. Surround yourself with positive people. Dream big and work hard. Love fiercely and tell the people in your life who matter the most how much you love them. Give thanks and offer gratitude for your blessings. Respect others even when you may not see eye-to-eye with them. Be proud of who you are. Shower your loved ones with smiles, love, and simple acts of kindness. Cook often. Enjoy good wine with even better company! Kiss your children and your husband every single day.

Remember that every day is a blank slate. The opportunity to hit restart and do it all over again. Slow down enough to savor the little things before you blink and they’re gone. Do one thing for yourself every day- even if it’s just appreciating a sunset in solitude or savoring a cup of coffee before everyone else in the house is awake. Put your best foot forward every day, and get out there and do you!

With love,

Mama Bear

Five More Minutes

January 22, 2018Baby Bears & Little Bears, Faith, Family, Happiness, Love, Mama Bears, Milestones, Opportunities, Papa Bear, Special People, UncategorizedLeave a Comment

On my favorite local country radio station, a song by Scotty McCreery has been getting a lot of air time. The song evokes strong emotions and often brings me to tears as I sing along to Five More Minutes.

“Time rolls by the clock don’t stop
I wish I had a few more drops
Of the good stuff, the good times
Oh but they just keep on flying
Right on by like it ain’t nothing
Wish I had me a pause button
Moments like those Lord knows I’d hit it
And give myself five more minutes.”

Holding Atticus tonight before bed as he fell asleep in my arms, I found myself silently singing the chorus to myself. Thinking about how quickly time passes and how before we know it these moments become nothing more than a distant memory.

A loved one we lost before we had a chance to say goodbye. A baby now going off to college before we’re ready to be emptynesters. An embrace with a loved one as you say goodbye and part ways until the next time. In our life, if we were only so lucky to have the opportunity to slow time, hit a pause button, and give ourselves five more minutes with the people we love and care about.

You know as well as I do we would all be so lucky if we truly could afford ourselves more time. But time marches on at the same rate every single day. It is up to us to soak up the beautiful moments, grow from the moments that challenge and test us, and give thanks for all of the little things that make our lives special and rich.

Slow down enough to savor a cup of coffee with your husband or girlfriend and get lost in the small talk that comes from two people sharing time together. Take the long route home when you push your children home in their red wagon after an afternoon at the playground and soak in the smiles and laughter. Give yourself five more minutes on the phone with your mom or best friend even if you have a mountain of to do’s piling up and savor the beauty of your relationship.

One moment at at time. One day at a time. Live it as though it could be your last. We never know when that day will come but allowing ourselves to marinate in these enriching moments will carry us along through the more difficult challenges life throws in our path. It will propel us forward and give us the grace, appreciation, and love to keep these beautiful memories close to our heart. Give yourself permission to give yourself five more minutes…

An “Egg”cellente Kind of Week

January 19, 2018Baby Bears & Little Bears, Dinner ideas, Family, Inclement weather, Low carb, Recipes, Running, Uncategorized, VegetarianLeave a Comment

Between our holiday Monday for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and then two consecutive “Snow Days”, this week has included a lot more play than work. On our snow days, the boys and I lounged around the house in our pajamas without a care in the world. I got so caught up in the ease of no makeup and messy hair that I had to mentally psyche myself back into the idea of going back to work last night.

Another highlight of my week was plated and served the last three nights for dinner. Let me just say each of these recipes was incredibly fresh, easy, and simple to orchestrate from start to finish. With the wintry conditions, I didn’t venture out for my typical midweek grocery store run. Grateful for my standby kitchen staples, I whipped up three amazing egg dishes I highly recommend. Every single one of them was vegetarian friendly too. From my kitchen to yours, enjoy!

HUEVOS RANCHEROS

Ingredients:

2 tsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp ground comino
1 can black beans, rinsed & drained
1 avocado, chopped
cherry tomatoes (not pictured), quartered
eggs, # depends on how many you’re serving
corn tortillas, again the quantity depends on the # of people at your table
sea salt & pepper to taste
salsa

Directions:

In a skillet on medium high heat, sauté the garlic in one teaspoon of olive oil until fragrant. Add the black beans and ground comino and stir until well blended. Allow the beans to warm through. While the beans are warming, in a separate skillet fry an egg in one teaspoon of olive oil. Season with sea salt and pepper to taste. As the egg is frying, warm the tortillas on a comal until slightly charred. To assemble, place the tortilla on a plate, top with a fried egg, black beans, tomatoes, avocado, and salsa. Continue frying eggs and assembling until everyone at your table is served.

The only ingredient I didn’t have on hand was fresh cilantro. Next time, I’ll make sure to have an extra bunch in my fridge to enhance the flavor of this dish even more.

This recipe is truly a simple, delicious, and healthy option that is ready in no time flat. The only skill required is the ability to multi-task in the kitchen!

AVOCADO TOAST

Ingredients:

1 tsp olive oil
12 grain bread, # depends on your dinner party and/or how hungry your guests are
fresh spinach
cherry tomatoes, quartered
eggs, again this will vary
sea salt & pepper
avocado (not pictured), smashed to create a spread
hot sauce- our new favorite is Yellowbird Sauce Jalapeno Condiment

Directions:

In a toaster, toast the bread to your preference. Set the toast aside.

Cut an avocado in half, squeeze into a bowl, and smash with a fork. Spread evenly on each slice of toast. Then evenly layer the spinach leaves on top of the avocado.

In a skillet on medium high heat, fry an egg in one teaspoon of olive oil. Place the fried egg on top of the spinach. Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper to taste. Add the tomatoes and top with hot sauce.

My brother and sister-in-law gave us this amazing new hot sauce for Christmas. It’s made and bottled in Austin and apparently is in high demand in all of the local restaurants there. My brother said Austinites have dubbed it their local Siracha. The flavor and heat bring a lot to the palate, and it definitely harmonizes well with eggs.

BAKED EGGS IN TOMATO SAUCE

I discovered this recipe while perusing the internet. A blogger after my own heart Recipe Runner (reciperunner.com) encourages her readers to “eat well and run happy.” A mantra I’ve been living by for years. This recipe is hands down the easiest thing you could make on a weeknight. I was blown away by the combination of flavors and will definitely be serving this one again very soon.

Ingredients:

1 jar of tomato sauce
6 eggs
parmesan cheese (not pictured), grated
fresh basil, roughly chopped
sea salt & pepper

Directions:

In a large cast iron skillet, pour a jar of tomato sauce and spread evenly with a spatula. I used a jar of H-E-B’s Tomato & Basil. Feel free to use whatever sauce you have on hand. Next evenly layer the grated parmesan cheese over the sauce. Then carefully break six eggs over the cheese. Season with sea salt and pepper to taste.

Bake in a preheated oven at 425 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes. You will know when the dish is ready when the tomato sauce starts to bubble and the whites of the eggs set. Remove from the oven and garnish with fresh basil. Serve warm with fresh bread.

Seriously, “egg”cellente!

A Snow Day in South Texas

January 17, 2018Baby Bears & Little Bears, Family, Happiness, Inclement weather, Love, Special People, UncategorizedLeave a Comment

This morning Liam crept into our room at 7:15 full of excitement about today’s snow day. Atticus slept soundly in the nursery as Liam and I searched the Internet for the latest weather updates. Soon we were cozied up in our bed watching the local news and preparing for our day.

A little before 8:00, Atticus peeked his sweet head over the side of the crib as I was finishing my breakfast. I noticed the movement in the monitor and sent Liam into the nursery to spend a few minutes with his brother before I joined them to nurse. As I listened to the two of them giggling and playing happily together, I felt my heart melt with joy. I silently slipped into the nursery to sneak an unexpected photo. Brotherly love truly is beautiful!

Truth be told, on our “snow day” there was a lot of anticipation and waiting for snow. Liam repeatedly and anxiously looked out the window hoping for snowy conditions to come into full effect. He kept asking, “Mom, can we have another snow day?” I tried explaining that this kind of weather in South Texas was incredibly rare. I told him that he was very lucky that already in less than a month an a half he’d already had two days of wintry weather with snowlike conditions. For an overeager six-year old though, explaining and rationalizing how the precipitation and temperatures had to align in perfect harmony to create a winter wonderland was lost on him.

As sleet and snow flurries fell intermittently all morning, the boys and I settled into a morning full of indoor adventures. Building a teepee, experimenting with polymers, baking peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies, playing with Octonauts and Hot Wheels, and a little video gaming set the stage for an ideal morning together.

By mid afternoon when the wintry mix of precipitation led to an accumulation of more sleet than snow fall, Liam decided to venture out even if it meant playing in a slushy mess of ice. Bundled up in long johns, ski pants a few sizes too small, a warm winter coat, mittens, and a beanie, he ventured out to the backyard. Our trampoline covered in a sheet of white sleet and snow offered a perfect platform for him to slip, slide, jump, and play. After a day of being cooped up, it was an ideal way to expend some energy and take in the wintry elements.

More and more little Atticus aspires to be like his big brother. It is truly an endearing quality and so incredibly adorable to see. He wants to wrestle on the floor with Liam the way he sees Liam and his dad rough house. Today proved to be no exception. When Liam anxiously peered out the window in search of snow, Atticus followed suit.

And when Liam ventured out to play in the snow, Atticus expressed great sadness that he couldn’t partake in the wintry merriment too. He stood on the window ledge banging on the window and babbling with a tone of sadness about how he wished he could also be frolicking in the snow. His sadness crescendoed with a loud thudding noise as he banged his hands on the window pane. While my heart ached seeing him so distraught, I also couldn’t help but feel heartfelt joy about the love and adoration he had for his big brother.

As today’s snow day comes to a close, I’m reminded by how beautiful these little moments in our lives can be. It is rare that we have the opportunity to enjoy a day with no agenda whatsoever. So often the constraints of work and other daily to do’s take precedence. Today offered an unexpected opportunity to let things come to fruition organically and with little concern for time. Life has a way of circling back to the little things that remind us how truly blessed we are!