Homemade Whole Wheat Turkey Tacos

B and I have both decided it is high time we took our nutrition seriously so, in addition to working out more often (providing my stupid knee cooperates), we are attempting to make healthier choices on the weekends (the wine stays though!). We both love to cook so this weekend we tried out turkey tacos with homemade whole wheat tortillas. Surprisingly, homemade tortillas are SUPER easy and yummy too! I got to B's place at 6:30pm on Friday and we were happily munching away on tacos by 7:30pm. I used this recipe for the whole wheat tortillas and this one for the turkey tacos. For breakfast one day we made oatmeal blueberry pancakes that were equally as delightful. We just substituted whole wheat flour and skipped the yogurt topping. Here's to a healthier us! :)

Grey Days

Perhaps it's the damp and dreary weather lately, but I just can't seem to get enough of grey walls. I am once again wrestling with the idea of buying a house and have started to look, albeit casually, for a little place to maybe, just maybe call my own. Home shopping, for me at least, always gets the creative juices going and sends me spiraling off into the great interior decorating unknown. I think I may have to have at least one grey room in my (hopefully near) future home. Below are a few images from around the web that particularly inspired me. I especially like the pops of vibrant red in the room below and dream of adding some rich dark woods and soft fur blankets to drape over the bed.....

(Via Windlost)

(Via Mochatini)

(Via Made by Girl)

(Via Houzz.com)

Have a lovely weekend!

Boredom is a dangerous thing

For most of my life I have had short hair. However, over the last two years I have been trying desperately to grow it out now that the texture has changed (gotta love them 20's hormones) with the support of my lovely hair dresser who refuses to cut it even when I beg her. Now that it is finally past my shoulders I am getting that darn itch to chop it all off again. You just can't beat the feeling of running your fingers through short hair in the shower...plus you save a TON of money on shampoo. I so wish I had enough courage to do Natalie Portman in V for Vendetta short but I dare not in case I am harboring a frightening mole under my locks :) Below are a few ideas in case I get the nerve to actually chop it off. What do you think?

(Bottom left via Cup of Joe)

Going going gone!

After much consideration and careful planning, this weekend B decided to shave the man beard. When I first met him he was silky smooth but quickly began his ascent to mountain man status as soon as he realized I harbor a secret love of facial hair. Instead of shaving it all off at once we decided to give The Beard the farewell it deserved and stage a photo montage of the many faces of B. Enjoy :)

The Biker....
The Redneck.....

The Frenchman....

There was one more before the biker but it is too frightening to post. I forgot to snap one of him clean shaven but will make sure to get one before The Beard returns :)

Happy Monday!

Change Gon' Come

Happy Wednesday to you all! Though I can't say it has been an especially happy week for me. I learned last Thursday that my boss for the last three years is resigning! While I am excited for him and all the opportunities the future will bring I am sad for myself and those in my office. Even with all his quirks and demanding work style he is the energy of the office and brings fun and spark with him everyday. I was his assistant for two of the years and have come to realize that you develop a friendship, trust and comfort in working so closely with someone....tracking down Christmas trees for his fam on Christmas Eve, hoofing it down to Macy's to buy him socks because he managed to forget his, helping pick out birthday presents for his wife (last minute of course).


For me this change begs the question: Where does my career go from here? The good ol' office has been my first and only experience in the professional world and, with the boss man leaving, I must admit I am feeling a little lost. How will it be working for someone new? Will our work styles mesh? Will I continue to grow in my career? I know these questions seem silly as my ultimate goal is to get into nursing school but I strive to succeed in my current position in the interim. Only God knows where it will all go from here. I pray that I have enough faith to get out of the way when He decides to take me down a new path :)

P.S. Gotta love Sam Cooke..

There been times that I thought I wouldn't last for long
Now think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, a long time coming but I know
A change gon' come, oh yes it will

Happy Valentine's Day

May God's love and grace be with you all today!

This song is perfection :)

Birfday

Happy Friday lovelies!

Today is my birthday and I can't wait to spend it with my adorable madre and handsome gentleman caller. I started the day off with a few bday texts from my wonderful friends, an extra large cup of home brewed coffee and eucalyptus honey (honey in coffee is perfection), a call to the credit card company (there's no reason not be productive on your bday) and a blog from my bestie that made me tear up a little...okay a lot. Now I'm off to get ready for lunch and pedicures with my mama, then dinner at Todo Un Poco with B, cant wait!


Have a wonderful weekend and romantic or self spoiling Valentines Day. Whatever fits your fancy :)

Feathers, Flowers, and Flags oh my!

How delightful is this bouquet from Flora Grubb Gardens?! I love the addition of spotted feathers...SO unique. For the record I was NOT looking at wedding stuff but stumbled upon it while searching for Valentine's Day gift for B :)


Also, I am currently obsessed with the idea of using these cut out flags at my next soiree.


Happy Friday! At least for me... :)

Love.....

Is not always pretty :)

Fun Facts

Did you know the human body disposes of over 50 tons of food over a lifetime! Sorry for the mental picture but our bodies are just so darn fascinating! Obviously, I'm thoroughly enjoying my nutrition class and learning lots. For example: I eat WAY too much sugar and definitely don't get enough exercise.


With that said, I have decided to attempt to run a marathon this year. I say attempt because I won't be held liable if said attempt fails to materialize :) To help me stay on track I'm going to use Nike's "Walk to Run" program followed by a marathon training program. Sculpted calves here I come!

Happy Tuesday!

Classic Beauty

Etsy is fast becoming my favorite spot for jewelry ogling. They have so many original, vintage, and classic pieces, many of which are one of a kind. I stumbled upon these delightful hoops today that I think I might just have to have. They're a fun spin on your everyday run of the mill hoop, with a slight hammered oval shape and fun swirly clasps.


I find myself always heading towards the more simple pieces even though I secretly wish I could pull off the bolder pieces like Anthropologie's In the Rough Earrings.

My best friend is Persian and wonderful and always has something deliciously exotic and edgy hanging off her ears or around her neck (often from Iran....jealous!). Though she did convince me to wear this fun and funky piece at her wedding this July. How kind is she??? Anthro bridesmaid dresses AND necklaces!

F is for Felt...and Fun

How sweet is this felted bear skin?! B always talks about wanting to lounge out by a roaring fire on a bear skin rug. Perhaps this will do for now.

Hope you all have a blessed week!

Lovely Leaders

Not a huge fan of Mr. President but I've got to give the man credit....he seems to know how to love his lady :)



“Sometimes, when we’re lying together, I look at her and I feel dizzy with the realization that here is another distinct person from me, who has memories, origins, thoughts, feelings that are different from my own. That tension between familiarity and mystery meshes something strong between us. Even if one builds a life together based on trust, attentiveness and mutual support, I think that it’s important that a partner continues to surprise." --Barack Obama

(Reposted from Alkeemi via A Cup of Joe)

Over the Hill and Under Control

In 7.5 days I will officially step off the top of the hill (i.e. 25) and begin my slow roll down to my 30s, 40s, yikes! 50s....! I must confess I was NOT happy to reach the top of said hill and had quite a hard time dealing with the fact that I was, at least, a quarter of my way through this life. However, surprisingly, 26...not so bad. Perhaps it is because my mental state is so much better than it was a year ago. I've made an effort to find outlets for my craziness, refuse to let my genetic oversensitivity (thanks Mom!) take over, and try to remember my purpose in this life (to serve the Lord). Or perhaps I've just come to terms with the fact that I will get old and maybe, just maybe my genetics (thanks again Mom!) will hold up and I won't look like an overwashed bag of skin. Now the real question that remains is what to get myself for my bday :) A few ideas....

Proenza Schouler Boots (or a similar pair that wont run me $700)

(Via Cupcakes and Cashmere)

A super sweet backpack for B's and my next trip to Russian River

A quaint little 2 bed 1 bath with white washed wood floors and plenty of natural light

Maybe in my dreams... :)

(Via Design to Inspire via Cup of Joe)

Beauty

This woman's writing is heartbreakingly beautiful.

we

I hugged a man the other day. I took him into my arms and hugged a man. I noted as I hugged him, how very physical it all was, how wide his shoulders were. Actually, quite the contrary, how wide his shoulders were not. I pulled him into me . It seemed I appraised his ribcage and what most likely resided within it. It was all rather curious. My nose was quickly at his neck. I felt his heat, his breath. A man. And yet I felt, this is only a man, not really very much. How fantastical it is that he is so small, but yet can do such large things! And here he is in my arms. I thought, I could hurt him. And I could have, but the thought only occurred in correlation with the thought, be careful, he is delicate, not to actually do the man any harm. We were startlingly made of the same stuff. I wondered how big or small I seemed to him?

***

This morning my son found me in the bathroom after my bath. He wanted to correct me. He said, "Mom, in that shooting in the States, seven were shot, not six." And he told me that a nine year old stepped in front of a five year old to take a bullet. My son is eight. He will be nine soon. I corrected him and said, "Actually, six were killed and ten more injured. I don't know about a five year old involved at all." He said, "Oh." Then he asked why. I told him it seemed someone was upset because a politician's ideas were different than his own. He said, "Really, they were killed over ideas?" and then he asked, "Where?" I said with leaden gravity, "It happened in a parking lot, son." He was very still for a very long time.

***

This evening we sat on the couch and watched Roberto Benigni in Life is Beautiful. We laughed a lot. It was getting late. Benigni is very comedic. My son liked it very much. I paused the movie though when Roberto Benigni and Nicoletta Braschi went into the greenhouse. I thought perhaps the movie was going to show them making love. This only seems ludicrous to me now while writing this, to explain a graphic shooting in a parking lot in the a.m. but to not allow my children to see two people making love in the p.m. I tucked my children into bed. I kissed them. I didn't know, but the movie was to take a turn after that, leaving most of the comedics, just as life turns for people with different ideas. In the movie all sorts of people die. Well, only Jews, but a vast variety of Jews.

***

I am tired. I go to bed. I pull my pants down. I pull my sweater off. I am surprised to see that under my clothing I am only shoulders and flesh and a ribcage. How do I explain to my son the idea of us and them? There is no us and them! There never was. There is only we.

(Via the tiny leaf)