Beach Fourth: Summer Chili

Do you ever have an image in your head of how you'd like something to be in an ideal situation?  I think most of us do.  I know I imagined being a new mother as lying in bed with my husband while our adorable baby cooed at us.  Which is not how things actually go.

But sometimes. Sometimes those romantic visions actually do materialize.  Which is what happened with our Fourth of July.

My ideal Fourth of July involved having a hotel that overlooked the fireworks so we didn't have to camp out somewhere all day, or even deal with parking and traffic.   We tossed around a couple of ideas - traveling across the country, staying in town, but eventually ended up deciding on heading north to Dana Point.

We headed up a day early and checked into our room.  

The key part of the room?  The reason behind our stay?  Our front "porch"  looking right out onto Dana Point Beach where the fireworks would be.

After checking in and dropping off our bags, we headed to the beach.  Thatboy had picked up some Zinka for fun and decided they should REALLY have some fun putting it on.

The big boys went off for a little surfing while the little guy and I played in the waves.  Then Thatboy went off to surf himself leaving me with the two sand-monsters.

Eventually we all ended up sunning and playing together.

We were close enough to head over to Thatmom's for dinner, and then back to the hotel for some sleep.  When we woke up the next morning it was July 4th!

Before I even met Thatboy, I went to the Sawdust Festival every summer.  Once I met Thatboy we both went to the Sawdust Festival every summer.  So it only made sense to take our kids while we were in the area.

The boys got to make some Fourth of July art.

And watch some glass blowing.

We then grabbed dinner at one of the most touristy spots I could find.  It seemed fitting to be extra "vacation-y" with this vacation, so we went with some place with Mai-tais and a view of the water.

After dinner we grabbed some ice cream and headed back to the hotel to it it on our porch.

Then came the magic part of the evening.  The boys got ready for bed.  Baths, teeth brushed, and in their pajamas.  I set up a bunch of glow toys outside while they got ready and then they came out and played until it was time for fireworks.

And then we sat back and watched the show.

It was the most perfect way to do Fourth of July.  Thatkid even watched the last few minutes in his bed.  And after the show, both kids were tucked in and asleep.  No driving anywhere.  No going anywhere.  It completely matched the idea in my head.

It was a wonderful way to start off our summer.  I recently learned that some people are funny about summer.  Did you know that there are people who don't eat chili during the summer?  I know.  I was shocked too.  It doesn't heat up the house and chili in summer is so much better because you can use fresh tomatoes!  YES!  We all know that fresh tomatoes make everything so much better than the canned variety, so it stands to reason that chili with fresh tomatoes would be better than chili with canned tomatoes.  The other great thing about chili in summer is using the best, most sweetest, summer corn.  I like to make chili whenever I have leftover corn after grilling a bunch for dinners or a party.  But I'm also just as likely to grill corn just to make chili.  Especially when I come into a bunch of vine-ripened tomatoes.

Summer Chili

2 ears corn, shucked

6 Tbsp butter

6 onions, sliced

3 lbs ground beef

3 lbs fresh tomatoes, chopped

6 oz tomato paste

1 cup beer

1 Tbsp salt

1/2 tsp Tabasco

3 Tbsp chili powder

1. Grill the corn about 2 minutes per side, until it is browned.  Remove kernels from ear of corn.
2. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.  
3. Add onions and cook about 5 minutes, until tender.
4. Add ground beef and cook until lightly browned.
5. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, beer, salt, Tabasco, and chili powder.  Cover and cook for 45 minutes.
6. Add the corn and simmer for 15 minutes.

Sounds of Summer: Lemon Beer Bread

Summer for us wouldn't be summer without hitting up some summer concerts.  There is such simple joy in sitting out on the grass and listening to music as your children dance.  My family also uses this as an extra excuse to picnic-  something we all enjoy.

Our first concert of the summer was a repeat performer, and a repeat venue, but our first time seeing this performance at this venue!

Ruth and Emilia at the Botanic Gardens

Both kids enjoy this musical show about an alien who lands in a young girl's backyard, but Thatbaby especially loves it.

The space they used this year was a little different from years past.  With less sitting room for parents, and not a conducive space for picnics.

On the other hand, our local Arts Center started a new program this year with concerts every Friday night.  And there's much more space for everyone.

We attended a few of these concerts, everytime we were home on a Friday night.  They set out some chairs for people, but the rest of the space was open for you to bring your own chairs or blankets.

They also set up yard games and inflatables for the kids to play.  Which can make it even nicer for parents who want to just sit and listen while their children run around.

They also brought in food trucks every week, so that you could grab dinner while you sat and enjoyed the summer evening.

Sometimes we brought our own dinners, sometimes we picked up once we were there.  But we always end up with some kind of treat.

Speaking of treats, I picked up Trader Joe's new "Lemon Peal" malt beverage this summer, thinking it would make a nice evening drink for Thatboy and I.  It did not.  Honestly, neither of us could finish it.  It was harsh.  Not light and refreshing.  I started brainstorming immediately how I could use it.  I decided it would be best used in recipes that called for beer.  The lemon flavor there would complement the dish, and the maltiness would serve for the same use as the beer in the recipe.  I tried it with some chicken dishes, in the marinade, and it was successful.  But I knew that it would really shine in a beer bread.  I tend to think of beer bread as a great fall food.  Served alongside a nice roast, or soup, or chili.  But with a lemon-beer?  I was hoping it would add some lightness and brightness to make it more of a summer experience.  I was right here too.  Thatboy said this is the best beer bread he's ever had.  The boys loved it.  It's even worth buying a six-pack of Lemon Peal, just to make it!

Lemon Beer Bread

3 cups flour

1/4 cup sugar

4 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 tsp lemon zest

1 can of Trader Joe's Lemon Peal

1/4 cup butter, melted

1. Preheat oven to 350.  Spray a loaf pan with baking spray.  Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, pepper, and zest.
2. Stir the beer into the dry ingredients just until combined.  Pour the batter into the loaf pan. 
3. Drizzle the melted butter over the top and bake for 50 minutes.
4. Allow to cool in pan before slicing and serving.

Summer Festivals: Scotch Eggs

I don't know about where you live, but the summers round these parts are filled with festivals of all kinds.  And we've been hitting them all up.  We usually try to make it to one or two festivals, but since I started volunteering with Broadway San Diego, I've been helping man a booth and we've been attending twice as many!

Like this weekend we went to the Festival of Books.  I manned a booth and the boys went and listened to stories, got new signed books, and found a tortoise rescue.

And before that, we attended PRIDE and got to march in the parade!

I manned the booth at the ArtWalk while the boys went around and looked at art and made art.

One of the most unexpected festivals we went to was not related to my volunteering.  Thatboy had heard about the Scottish Highland games and decided we MUST go.  The kids had a great time trying out the traditional Scottish games.  Thatkid fell in love with archery.

Thatbaby learned how to toss sheafs.

But found out he really has a talent for caber tossing.

We watched the real competitors and ate Scottish food and had a really great day.  So great in fact, that we did a little Scottish food night at home.  With Scotch Eggs!    Scotch eggs are a typical British pub food, but also great for picnics.  The concept is easy - an egg wrapped in sausage and then deep fried.  This is one of those things both kids and grownups seem to love.

 Scotch Eggs

6 hard-boiled eggs

1 pound sausage meat

flour

2 eggs, lightly beaten

bread crumbs

Canola oil

1.  Place flour, beaten eggs, and bread crumbs in 3 separate bowls.
2. Peel the eggs and roll them in  flour.
3. Divide the sausage meat into 6 balls and flatten slightly.
4. Place each egg in the center of each flattened ball and wrap the sausage meat around the egg.
5. Roll the sausage covered egg in flour, then dip in egg, and then roll in the bread crumbs.  Place in refrigerator while the oil heats.
6. Heat canola oil until it reaches 375 degrees.  Fry the eggs in the hot oil until browned and cooked through. 
7. Drain on paper towels.  Chill and serve cold.

Sunday Runday: Lululemon Seawheeze Half Marathon

This story starts back in January of 2018.  Back when there was a draw for the 2018 Seawheeze Half Marathon in Vancouver. 

My friend Sugarkissed had run the race in 2017 and raved about it.  In fact, everyone I knew who had run the race raved about it.  And it had been on my bucket list for years.  And then my friend Stiny ran her first half marathon in 2017 and became hooked.  

So in January 2018, I suggested that the three of us enter the drawing for the SeaWheeze Half Marathon for the 2019 race.  And we did!

Unfortunately, as is the case with random drawing entries, we didn't all get in.  Which meant Sugarkissed and I were heading to Vancouver, but Stiny would not be joining us.  And really that just means we'll have to run it again one year WITH her.  

SeaWheeze is a two day event that is jammed packed and begins the day before the race.  Packet pick-up included all sorts of fun like hair appointments, nail appointments, sports bra fittings, tattoos, yoga, meditation.  I signed up for some late afternoon appointments because I thought I would get in early afternoon on Friday.  I ended up getting in a little later than expected and headed right to the Convention Center where packet pickup was.

I managed to make it to both my appointments for hair and nails.

And then I found Sugarkissed!

My plan was to head to hotel and check in, then return for some more of the fun and yoga and meditation.  But once I got to the hotel I realized it had been a long day and I really didn't want to head out again.

Plus, the hotel had left me a nice little welcome package!

I grabbed dinner at the hotel restaurant and called it an early night.  The next morning I headed back to the Convention Center.  And I wasn't the only one!  There were a bunch of people heading from my hotel, or nearby hotels.  And at every corner we picked up more and more people.  

The weather was perfect - in San Diego it's been really warm and humid, but in Vancouver it was slightly overcast, with just the barest chill in the air.

I headed over to the start line to get in my corral, but no one was getting in their corral.  It was just too crowded.  So I hung out on the sidewalk with other runners, just pressed into the crowd.  There were wave starts, so eventually we were able to get onto the course, and head to the start line.

We ran through Gastown and Chinatown and over the Georgia Viaduct which was decorated with those wavy hand guys.

Ride Cycle Club was out on the course, using their energy and motivation to keep us motivated.

There's nothing better than drummers on a race course, I firmly believe there's a connection between percussion and heartbeat.  It's such an energizer.

We ran beside False Creek - which was fun because typically I ferry across it!

The first 4 miles were so easy and fun.  My time was great, and I was feeling great.  We turned onto Burrard Street, which had just a minor incline, but for some reason I was feeling it.  I was really nothing compared with the hills at home, but I found myself having to push it as we went across Burrard Bridge into Kitsilano.

More drummers!  We ran around Kitsilano and through the misting station and back down - which meant downhill.  This is also where my Hadestown songs started popping on my playlist.  And let me tell you how much fun I had flying down the hill and singing:

"I'm coming wait for me

I feel the walls repeating

The echo of my feet

It sounds like drumming.

And I am not alone

I feel the rocks and stones

Echo in my song

I'm coming"

And after that we were running the coast at English Beach.

And all along the seawall.

Right before heading into Stanley Park we ran into a group of mermaids.

And then with a little less than 2 miles to go we were covered in trees in Stanley Park.

And then it was over.

We got our medals, hats, and headed up to grab brunch - banana bread, grapes, and yogurt.

And then we headed into the recovery room.  There were massage therapists, as well as self-care tools like theraguns and massaging chairs.

After a massage I headed back to my room for a long hot shower.  I walked around Vancouver a bit, picked up a snack and some treats, and then headed back to grab one of the shuttles to their Sunset Festival.  Because even though the weekend was over, the festivities were not.

Stanley Park had been turned into a yoga and music festival.  We spread out our mats and were led in meditation and a yoga class.

Before the music started, I had a little time to explore, grab a bite to eat.  And a beer specially brewed for the festival.

There were vendors and a pop-up shop, and even an "enchanted arcade" with video games.

At 7:30, the first act took the stage - Big Wild.  He kept the crowd energized as he danced around on stage, playing drums and speakers.

At 9:00 Kaskade lit up the night.  It was another high energy performance, but it was a long day and I'm an old lady.  So after a few songs I headed back to the shuttles to go home and go to sleep. 

The race itself was such a great experience.  I loved every minute of it, which I can't say for a lot of half marathons.  It didn't seem too long and there was no point at which I thought "why am I doing this."   There were water stations about every 2k (or 1.2 miles), two different misters on the course, and so many "activation stations" which is what they call the spin cyclers, the mermaids, the drummers, to keep you motivated.  But what makes it such a great race is that it's more than just a race.  I've traveled to a lot of races and sometimes that feels like a lot to do just to run 13 miles.  It seems a lot less of an ordeal when there's more to do than just run.