Sunday Runday: Orlando United 5k

The past few weeks have been one tragedy after another.  It's sad and it's scary.  And part of the sadness and scariness is the feeling of victimization and helplessness.  What can we do to help?  What can we do to prevent these tragedies from happening.


It's hard feeling so helpless.  Because no matter what we do, it doesn't change what has already happened.  The best we can do is to remember.  There's an age old adage "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."  Memories become so vital.  We must remember for those who are unable.  We must live for those whose lives were cut short.  We must come together in the hopes that such togetherness serves as deterrent to destruction. 

The tragedy at Pulse in Orlando didn't effect me personally in that I didn't know any of the victims, but it did effect me personally in that I have many friends in the LGBT community.  And what happened in Orlando could have just as easily happened in my own community.  It's senseless and terrible, and it leaves me with a hollow feeling, a dull ache for the lives that were lost.

As I said before, the best thing we can do is remember, and not forget.  So in remembrance, and as a way to stand with our brothers and sisters in Orlando, a virtual run was created.  The Orlando United 5k took place yesterday.  People from across the country dressed in their rainbow colored best, got together, and ran in remembrance of the men and women of Orlando.  Because we are all Orlando.

Any man's death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind,
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee. 

- John Donne

Round and Round at Thatbaby's Carousel Birthday

This is a picture heavy post, but not as picture heavy as it could be.  As usual, I ended up running late with the party and not having time to take pictures of everything before the guests arrived. 

I decided on a carousel theme for Thatbaby's birthday.  Which to me just seems fun and youthful.  But a quick google search found that most carousel parties are geared toward little girls, with pinks and golds as the predominant color. 

I wanted something brighter and more colorful.  I set the scene with our invitations, from delightinvite.com.

Almost everything else was handmade by me.  Because I am a glutton for punishment.  And I don't make good choices. 

One of the things I knew I wanted to do was make actual carousel horses for decorations.  I cut them out of cardboard, painted them, and mounted them on PVC pipes.

Then Thatboy used them to line the driveway, the entrance to the party.

And I made a banner with all of Thatbaby's monthly pictures on it.

I did a terrible job of taking picture of the food, so I'll just tell you what I served - corn dogs, quesadillas cut in the shape of carousel horses, mini Greek salads, fruit salad, circus animal cookies, cotton candy, and cake.

I did manage to take a picture of my fruit salad!

I also thought it would be fun to have a milkshake bar, as a fun drink alternative.  I made carousel straws to go with them.

And served watermelon, pineapple, and blackberry smoothies.

We went with caramel cakes for the cakes.  Like Thatbaby's smash cake.  It's obvious this is a homemade decorating job.

 

The bigger cake featured a spinning carousel cake topper.

 

I made a crown for Thatbaby along with a high chair banner for his eagerly anticipated cake smash.

Which he wanted nothing to do with.  He loved putting the candle on and off the cake, but wasn't so interested in eating the cake.  He kept asking for watermelon instead.

Having the party at home meant we could entertain the kids with toys we already had.  Like the swing set, or hula hoops.

 And Thatbaby's birthday gift from grandma.  All the kids loved this one.

For favors we sent each guest home with a carousel stick horse!

Overall the party was a great success.  Although after so much cutting of horse shapes I've decided the theme of next year's party is going to be "squares."

The Big Day

It's going to be all birthday all the time here for a bit.  I've got parties and adventures to share with you, but let's start with the actual day.

I have made it no secret that I did not want to share a birthday with Thatbaby.  But he had other plans.  In a way, my fears were realized, as I spent so much time planning and working on his birthday party that my own birthday seemed a little anticlimactic.

Thatboy did a great job of celebrating us both.   We both woke up with our rooms decorated with balloons.

We did Thatbaby's presents in the morning, and mine at night.  He got an Anywhere Chair, which he promptly crawled into and fell in love.

And his brother got him a little mouse, which he also loved.  Success all around.

Thatboy also made the two of us breakfast.  With fresh squeezed orange juice for me.

And then I was off to work.  Thatboy spent the day at the beach with Thatbaby.


And then I got to pick where we were going for dinner.  Thatmom came to meet us and brought strawberry pie.

And just like that it was over.  Pretty uneventful huh?  Well don't worry, there's more fun birthday recaps to come!

Mommy Mondays: 12 Months

Weight: 23lbs (+14bs 12oz)
Height: 32 inches (+10.5 inches)
Head: 18.4 inches

 

Sleep:  We were mostly down to one wakeup a night, until last week when he developed Hand Foot and Mouth.  Characterized by sores in his mouth which meant he was up every 45 minutes in pain.  Poor kid.  So glad we're done with that.

Eating: Along with the mouth sores came another lack of appetite.  Which is normal.  In fact, Thatbaby's doctor was impressed with his growth/weight given his recent illness.  I think that's because his refusal to eat solids didn't come with a refusal to nurse/drink milk.

Best Moment: He started signing "more" this month.  Which is just the cutest thing ever.

Monthly Wisdom: 12 months/1 year seems like such a milestone.  But it's important to remember that there is no magic switch that goes off at that time.  Thatbaby doesn't know he's one. So all the big changes that happen "at one" are really theoretical.  There are changes, but there are changes every month.  And just like every other change, they all occur at their own time.

Goals for the Upcoming Month:
- Weaning from the pump
- More sleep
- First night away from the boys!



Things Thatbaby is doing:
- signing "more"
- mimicking intonation
- standing unsupported until he realizes he's unsupported
- drawing
- throwing balls

Crave Wednesday: Philly Cheesesteaks

They say you can't go home again.

This weekend I tried to prove them wrong.  It's been way too long since my sorority sisters and I have seen each other.  And we decided to rectify that.

On Saturday, we swarmed - with husbands and kids in tow back to our old stomping grounds.

Well, they had husbands and kids in tow.   I left mine at home, due to Thatbaby being sick.    And they spent the whole weekend together, whereas I went home after tea and conversation, but it was really good to see everyone again.

It seemed as though no one had aged a day since we graduated, and despite the fact we now inhabit very diverse walks of life, we can slip right back into old conversations and groups the way we used to. 

As I walked through the house with RunAudRun, she kept pointing out all the amenities they had that we didn't have.

"But you wouldn't want to do it again, right?" I asked her.  "The homework, the stress?"  She agreed she didn't.  It's easy to get caught up in the nostalgia again.

When I was growing up in Southwestern PA I bemoaned the area like everyone else.  But of course I didn't want to leave.  And now it's painted with a rosy glow of childhood and youth.  Like 9th Street Deli with its phenomenal hoagies.  We don't really have hoagies here in California.  Sure there are sandwich shops, but not hoagies.  Hoagies are a decidedly Pennsylvanian thing. 

I think this is a fairly recognized fact, after all, does any other city have a sandwich associated by name?  The Philly cheesesteak is from the other side of the state from where I grew up, but the concept remains.  It's not just cold meat slapped on limp bread.  It's meat, cooked with sauces and spice, a melty cheese sauce, mushrooms, and onions, on a toasty hoagie roll.  Accept no substitutes.


They say you can't go home again, but sometimes you can.

Philly Cheesesteaks (From Cooking Light)

1 flank steak, trimmed

2 portobello mushroom caps

2 tsp olive oil, divided

1 cup thinly sliced onion

1 1/2 cups thinly sliced green bell pepper

2 tsp minced garlic

1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp lower-sodium soy sauce

2 tsp flour

1/2 cup milk

2 Tbsp grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese

1 oz provolone cheese, torn into small pieces

1/4 tsp dry mustard

4 hoagie rolls, toasted

1. Place beef in freezer 15 minutes.  Cut beef across grain into thin slices.  Sprinkle beef with salt and pepper.
2. Remove brown gills from undersides of mushroom caps using a spoon.  Discard gills and remove stems.  Thinly slice mushroom caps; cut slices in half crosswise.
3. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat.  Add 1 tsp oil to pan; swirl to coat.  Add beef to pan; saute 2 minutes or until beef loses its pink color, stirring constantly.  Remove beef from pan.
4. Add 1 tsp oil to pan.  Add onion; saute 3 minutes.
5. Add mushrooms, bell pepper, and garlic.  Saute 6 minutes.
6. Return beef to pan, saute 1 minute or until thoroughly heated and vegetables are tender.  Remove from heat.
7. Stir in Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce.  Keep warm.
8. Place flour in a small saucepan.  
9. Gradually add milk, stirring with a whisk until blended.  Bring to a simmer over medium heat.  Cook 1 minute or until slightly thick. Remove from heat.  
10. Add cheeses and mustard, stirring until smooth.  Keep warm.
11. Hollow out top and bottom halves of bread, leaving a 1/2 inch thick shell; reserve torn bread for another use.
12. Divide beef evenly among bottom halves of hoagies.  
13. Drizzle sauce evenly over beef mixture.  Replace top halves.

Mommy Monday: Mother's Day Run

I'm a little behind on my Sunday Rundays.  Saturday nights have been busy and late and that's usually when I type these up.  Not that last night was any different.  Thatbaby's party is next weekend, which means I'm up late every night doing party prepping and crafts.  But it's getting embarrassing that we're nearing a month behind on these posts, so let me fill you in on the last race of my 3-in-a-row series.

I was tired and sore from running the Del Dio Trail Run the day before, but this race had a lot going for it.  The whole family would be joining me, and it didn't have an insanely early start.  Plus, they really took care of the runners.

When we got there, they had booths set up just handing out fill sized bars.  "Take as many as you'd like, we have a ton."  Lara bars, Luna bars, Clif bars, and some I'd never even heard of.  Which means breakfast was taken care of!

 They also gave out full sized bottles of suja.

Which Thatkid really loved.  

 Good Pop popsicles also set up a stand.  Which I really appreciated after the race!

 I called this race my "redemption race" after my abysmal performance the day before.  I knew it would be nice and flat.  And short, since I was only doing the 5k option.  I'm not typically a competitive runner.  The only person I want to beat is myself.  But I did the classic runner trick where I picked a person in front of my and tried to pass them.  It worked, and before long I was at the half-way point.

I did the same philosophy on the way back.  This time counting women.  I knew I wasn't going to be in the top 3, which are the only ones who would medal, but I wanted to see how close I could get.  The last half mile I was playing cat and mouse with another women, who eventually finally gave up.

I crossed the finish line as the sixth female.  And while I didn't get a PR, I was solidly below 30 minutes, which definitely felt good after the day before.  Like I might be back in my groove.

Once I finished the race, I collected a rose and a goodie bag and hung out on the grass.  Thatbaby examined my swag.

Inside were all kinds of samples and coupons from Burts Bees, Babyganics, and Dr. Bronners.

 

One of my absolutely favorite parts of the race was the kid's dash.  A lot of races have these tacked on these days.  But what makes this one stand out is that it's free.  Which is such a nice perk, and honestly such a great idea for a Mother's Day race.  So that families can be there together.

 

Thatkid lined up and ran his little heart out.

It was a redemption race for him too!

Sick in the Spring: Chickpea, Bacon and Chile Soup

You know about Murphy's Law, right?  Things always seem to happen at the worst possible time.  Like when I picked up Thatbaby from daycare yesterday only to be told I had one very sick baby on my hands.  Of course I did.  I mean, first week of work, what better time for a sick baby?

Thatbaby is pretty miserable.  But he's also lucky, because last weekend I made a big batch of chicken stock.  Which means I have the means to make the perfect homemade remedy for his illness - soup!

And not just any soup.  Chicken noodle is probably the go-to soup for most people when they're sick.  But this is 2016 - we don't need to stop with the same soup that your great grandmother served your sick grandmother. 

I love bean soups, because pureeing beans always gives such a rich and creamy texture to soup.  Chickpeas aren't typically used in soups, but there's no reason why not.  We already love them in hummus.  At least in my house.  Adding the smokey bacon works in the soup, and frankly would be a nice addition to hummus too!  But what really helps sickness is the addition of chiles.  Removing the membranes and seeds takes away the heat, which makes it good for little guys, but I think personally think chiles still have some healing power!

Chickpea, Bacon and Chile Soup

3 1/2 cups dried chickpeas

7oz bacon

3 Tbsp olive oil

1 onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 long red chiles, seeds removed and chopped

9 cups chicken broth

1. Place the chickpeas in a large bowl and cover with water.  Set aside for 24 hours to soak.  
2. Drain the chicpeas and place them in a large saucepan with enough water to cover.  Bring to a boil and boil vigourously for 10 minutes.  Drain and rinse under cold water.
3. Cut the bacon in half.  Cut half of the bacon into strips and leave the rest whole.
4. Return the pan to the heat and add 2 Tbsp of the olive oil, then add the oion, garlic, and chile and sweat for about 5 minutes.
5. Add the drained chickpeas and cook for another 2 minutes.
6. Pour in the broth and add the whole piece of bacon, then bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer until the chickpeas are tender - about 2 hours.
7. Remove the bacon and discard.  Puree the soup until completely smooth.  Season to tasste and keep warm.
8. Heat a skillet and add the remaining olive oil.  Add the reserved bacon strips and cook over a fairly high heat for 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown.  Drain on kitchen paper towels.  
9. Ladle the soup into bowls and scatter the bacon on top.

Crave Wednesday: Mushroom and Provolone Patty Melts

I hope you had a very happy Memorial Day weekend.  Ours was busy.  I know, you're shocked.   We went to a pool party on Saturday, an indoor play space on Sunday, and a brewery on Monday.  I was almost looking forward to the slower pace of work on Tuesday.

And speaking of work on Tuesday, I started a new job yesterday!  It's only been a day, but so far, so good.  My schedule is going to be pretty much the same, so don't think you're going to get any sort of break from my whining about being tired.  Or short on time. 

So meals like this will stay weekend meals.  Because no one has time to wash 2 pans during the week.  At the same time, is it so bad to have a patty melt on the weekend?  Picture it, you've had a hard week, all you want is to relax, sit down and sink your teeth into a warm patty of meat, dripping with cheese, and mushrooms.  You deserve it. 

Mushroom and Provolone Patty Melts (From Cooking Light)

3/4 cup thinly sliced onion, divided

1 lb 93% lean ground beef

1/4 tsp salt, divided

1/4 tsp ground pepper

1 Tbsp olive oil

8oz sliced cremini mushrooms

1 1/2 Tbsp flour

1/4 cup dark lager beer

8 slices rye bread

cooking spray

4 slices reduced-fat provolone cheese

1. Chop enough of the sliced onion to measure 1/4 cup.  
2. Combine chopped onion, beef, 1/8 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp pepper in a medium bowl.
3. Divide beef mixture into 4 equal portions with moist hands, shaping each into a 4-inch oval patty.  Press thumb in center of each patty, leaving a nickel-sized indentation.
4. Heat a large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.  Add 1 tsp oil to pan, swirling to coat.  Add patties, cook 4 minutes on each side or until done.
5. Heat 2 tsp oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat.  Add mushrooms, remaining onion, 1/8 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp pepper, saute 3 minutes.
6. Sprinkle flour over mushroom mixture, cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
7. Stir in beer, cook 30 seconds or until thick.  Remove from heat and keep warm.
8. When patties are done, remove from large pan.  Wipe pan clean; heat over medium-high heat.  Coat 1 side of each bread slice with cooking spray.
9. Place 4 bread slices, coated side down, in  pan.  Top each with 1 patty, 1 cheese slice, and one-fourth of mushroom mixture.
10. Top with remaining bread slices; coat with cooking spray.  Cook 2 minutes on each side or until browned.