Here We Go!

Photo Credit: Nancy Hostetler

Feeling Grateful. And Hungry.
Oh life. Needless to say, I've been feeling a lot over the past several months. Nausea, exhaustion, cravings, yes. Crazy dreams and outbursts of sweat, sure. A ravenous appetite for bacon, it's true. But we will get to all of that. Even more than all of those things, I've been equally enamored with reflection and planning ahead for the future. It's amazing how a teeny, tiny second line on a test can cause you to evaluate everything - the home you live in, the career choices you've made, the relationships in which you invest. It's an incredible rush and also a daunting responsibility. I'm supposed to be ready to raise another human, but WOW I feel pretty inadequate to do so. I feel like I don't know enough bible verses. Or how to soothe a crying anything.

I'm sure everyone feels this way at first. I hope.

I just want to say thank you. I'm so grateful to everyone for the well-wishes and congrats on our little one, coming in August! Stevie and I are super excited and feeling really blessed. I'm currently at 13 weeks and still feeling rather puny, but I'm holding onto hope (shout out, E!) that the next several weeks will bring all the relief the second trimester promises. Thanks for all your prayers and encouragement - it really means a lot!

Since this is the biggest change of our lives, I want to share about this journey here on the blog. Have no fear, all of you who loathe "mommy bloggers"! I don't intend to focus soley on pregnancy/baby-related topics. I still cook. Audition. Write. I still explore my city (well, let's be honest... I've been a couch potato for 3 months. I have high hopes to return to normal life again and explore!) Stevie and I still have aspirations to travel and goof off. Our obsession with visiting our families a million times a year will only be compounded by the fact that now, we have another reason to! All good things.

Thank you again for sharing in our joy. We are feeling the love :-)

Our Next Adventure.

An Adventuresome Timeline.
Stevie and I have been on a LOT of adventures since we've been together. When I think back over all the trips and moves we made together, my head swims through a messy wonderful kaleidoscope of memories. As we look forward to what is coming next, I can't help but smile at our milestones:

2006:
- Moved across the country in a hippie-ish caravan of our brothers, sisters, cousins and friends. We saw penguins in Tennessee, marveled at the Grand Canyon, bathed in the Colorado River (epic mistake), mountain biked in Moab and finally found our way into the city of Redding, Ca.
- Encountered Jesus in a whole new way during our time in ministry school. Life changer.
- Got engaged at Christmastime in Atlanta's Centennial Park.
- Trekked to Kenya together. We watched Nacho Libre with the Masai in the middle of the Masai Mara National Reserve. Not to mention, we saw some crazy big animals.

2007:
- Got married on a sunny southern plantation in the wonderful month of June.
- Went to Ecuador. Fell in love with the Andes.
- Went garage sale-ing on the weekends. Cuz that's a wild Saturday while living in Redding.

2008:
- Attempted to uproot the Redwoods and take them with us when we journeyed back across the country a year later. Moved back to Atlanta.
- Stevie got a job.
- I went to college.
- We made the best friends of our life.

2010:
- Had the pleasure of creating sweet music with some of our favorite people.
- Ate a lot of family dinners. Because, you know, we could. (Hi Mom!)

2011:
- Stevie got accepted into Harvard Business School. Whoa. He's so smart.
- I figured out a way to work and go to school in Atlanta. While living in Cambridge. (Someone please pound a sarcastic "That was easy" Staples button)
- Made more best friends.

2012:
- Stevie went to India with his classmates to play with multi-million dollar diamonds. "For school purposes". I whined the entire time he was gone. LIKE THE GIRL I AM.
- Discovered the glory of Martha's Vineyard, Cape Cod and all things Maine.
- Surfed in Puerto Rico. Where I performed mild surgery on my husband because he stepped on an urchin.
- I graduated! Go Owls!

2013:
- Stevie graduated! Go... Crimson??
- We took off to Europe for a month and had the trip of our life.
- Moved to New York City.

And now? Well...

Oh Baby.
Here we go... and we are thrilled! Bring on this next adventure!

Taste: Green Apple & Bacon Grilled Cheese

Mmm. Bacon.
I've got another recipe for you this week! Since it's FREEZING outside (literally, its well below freezing temperatures today), I've been inside a lot, cooking and baking up a storm in my mini-kitchen. This is SUCH a great recipe, and so stinkin' easy. I don't claim that it's the healthiest, but we all like to veg out a bit when it's arctic outdoor, right? This is rich and comforting and indulgent, and isn't that a little bit necessary during the howling-cold month of January? Pair this with a nice tomato soup and an evening all to your Netflix, and you could battle me for the hibernation crown of glory. I invite you to try it.

Ingredients:
- 2 slices of whole-wheat bread
- 2 slices of cooked bacon
- 2 slices of mozzarella cheese (although I suspect gruyere or Vermont cheddar would be to die for, too)
- 1/2 green apple, sliced thinly
- 1 tbsp. butter

Don't love the idea of apple on your grilled cheese? Sub in one of these additions in its place:
- Avocado (to die for!)
-  Portabello Mushrooms
- Roasted Eggplant
- Mustard
- Prosciutto (my mouth is watering here)
- Sliced Tomato
- Artichoke Hearts

Method:
1. You've made grilled cheese before, right? For those of you too healthy to make this on a weekly monthly basis, I'll give you a quick refresher. Drizzle a tiny bit of olive oil in a skillet, and turn heat to medium-low. The lower the temp, the slower it cooks, but this is how you achieve the coveted oozing-cheese situation.

2. As the pan heats up, butter one side of each slice of the wheat bread.

3. Thinly slice half of your green apple (my husband likes this with a red apple, too, so pick your fave and go for it!)

4. Once the pan is heated, place the first slice of bread, butter-side down, into the pan. Place a slice of cheese on top of the bread, then layer the slices of bacon (broken in half), and then the slices of apple. Finish with another slice of cheese and then top the layers with the other side of the bread (butter side up).

5. Let the sandwich cook for 2-4 minutes per side, or until the bottom is golden-brown (just watch to make sure you don't burn it.)

6. Flip it. Repeat. Stop drooling.

7. Inhale sandwich. The end.

Cheesy Delicious.
If you would pay for it at Panera, then it is worth attempting to re-create, right?
Stay warm, friends!

Taste: Oatmeal with Poached Berries

Oatmeal with Poached Berries.
Happy Monday! I've got the best breakfast recipe for you. And it's surprisingly good for you, too, although it taste like the delectable nectar of the gods. If you wake up craving something sweet and fruity, this is an excellent healthy go-to that will leave you feeling pumped and full of energy all day!

Note: This recipe was inspired by this recipe by Giada from her book, Giada's Feel Good Food. However, I swapped the bulgur for oatmeal because A) Bulgur sounds weird and B) Since I am not a prairie girl with barrels of bulgur lying around, I decided to go with something I actually know how to cook: oatmeal. Not a mistake, people. Not a mistake.

Ingredients:
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup old-fashioned oatmeal
- 1 cup organic whole, hulled strawberries
- 1 cup organic mixed berries (I love raspberries, blueberries and blackberries)
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1 tbsp. agave
- 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice

Method:
1. In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of water (with a healthy dose of salt) to a boil over medium heat.

2. Add the 1 cup of oats, stirring frequently, for about 6-7 minutes. Most of the water should become absorbed and the consistency of the oatmeal should turn creamy.

3. Once the oatmeal is cooked evenly through, set aside and place a lid on the saucepan to keep heat in.

4. In another medium saucepan, combine the strawberries, mixed berries, orange juice and agave. Over medium-high heat, bring the mixture to a boil.

5. Once mixture is boiling, lower the heat until the mixture simmers and cook until fruit is soft, about 10 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat.

6. To dish up, serve the poached fruit on top of the oatmeal and serve immediately. Crazy wonderful taste delight is in your future.

Seriously, this breakfast will be on your mind for the rest of the week. I dare you to make it, because if you do I bet you'll make it twice!
Bon Appetit!

Surviving the Polar Vortex.

The Polar Vortex.
It sounds like something out of a science fiction film: the polar vortex. Can you believe that is a real term to describe weather?! I feel like it should be one of the chapters in the next Hunger Games. Let me explain what it felt like, because these photos are doing a really prissy job of showcasing the corrupt weather. You're not really able to tell how bitter the air felt. It was like a nastier version of the winter blues. Walking outside was like being slapped across the face. With an ice whip. It was an eerie, mean kind of cold... and it was almost mocking me, because the sun was out! The cold was defying the glory of the sun! And the howling winds somehow sounded like an evil chuckle, coming from... somewhere? The park, perhaps? I'm not being overly dramatic here. I'm not.

// Our hood. //

We survived the polar vortex, thankfully, by staying inside and eating beef stew for days and days. And watching a lot of Netflix. We're really into White Collar these days (although I truly miss Burn Notice). I am really glad we pulled through - it was touch and go there for a while.

I'm afraid to say it. But! There are predictions that we will encounter another vortex later on this month. Some say that we will experience temperatures 20-30 degrees below normal averages (!) for this time of year! People - pray for me. Dear, kind, warm, thoughtful prayers, k?

Anyone else counting down to spring?

Taste: Black Bean Quinoa Lettuce Burgers

Black Bean Quinoa Lettuce Burgers.
This recipe was solely inspired by my sister and bro-in-law. Over Christmas break, Lauren mentioned to me that her hubby makes quinoa burgers by adding an egg and some spices to leftover quinoa and they're "so delicious." I figured I would experiment a little and give it a try. I'm delighted at how easy these are to make and how deliciously they turned out! Many thanks to Lauren and the ALWAYS creative-in-the-kitchen Brent. You two inspired this radical meal. Stevie is already asking for it again.

Ingredients:
- 2 cups cooked quinoa
- 1 cup cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 cup black beans
- 1/2 avocado, diced
- 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup diced tomatoes
- 2 eggs
- 1 medium carrot, or 5-6 baby carrots
- Cheese slices (I used mozzarella, because its my fave)
- 1 tsp. ground cumin
- 1 tsp. fresh ground pepper
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 dash of red chili pepper
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- A dash of paprika
- 2 tbsp. Veganaise
- Lettuce (in place of buns)

*Note: I've started using Nayonaise, a vegan verson of mayonnaise per the sort of strict cookbook It's All Good. I don't have any kind of issue with mayonnaise, other than it is fattening, and this is an easy way to deliver flavor without the same amount of calories. You can easily sub another topping (like hummus or salsa) if you don't have any in your fridge, but it's worth trying out! I've been pleased.

Method:
1. Bring 4 cups of salted water to a boil. Add quinoa, reduce heat, and continue to simmer for 10-15 mins., until all the liquid is absorbed.

2. Add cilantro, black beans, avocado, diced tomatoes, eggs, panko bread crumbs, cumin, red chili pepper and a generous dash of salt and pepper to the quinoa and mix well. This mixture should be vibrantly colorful by now! Set aside.

3. Place the carrot(s) in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add the chopped carrots to the quinoa mixture. Mix well.

4. Form 3/4 lb. patties with the quinoa mixture. Yes, your hands will get messy, but its kind of therapeutic, too!

5. Heat a large nonstick skillet to medium and drizzle with olive oil. Wait for the pan to get hot, then place patties on the skillet. Cook until browned, about 8 minutes on each side (16 minutes per patty.) Once you flip the patty to the second side, place a slice of cheese on top to melt nicely. Mmm.

6. Serve the patties smeared with veganaise, topped with a dash of paprika and wrapped in
lettuce. So healthy and SO ADDICTIVE.

Burgerlicious.
Seriously, these are GREAT. A little bit spicy and a little bit savory. The fun part is that you can even make this with leftover quinoa from a previous meal. Add in all kinds of spices and just have fun with it - you can't go wrong with a burger! Let me know if you give it a try!
Bon Appetit!

January Delights

January List... by oykristen
// 1. Champion Women's Fit and Flare Tank // 2. Lacroix Pamplemousse Water // 3. Hale Groves Red Grapefruit // 4. Giada's Feel Good Food Cookbook // 5. Neoprene Flashbulb Handweights // 6. Vitamix Series 3 Professional Blender // 7. 2014 Paper Source Watercolor Art Calendar // 8. Korres Lip Butter in Quince // 9. Origins Plantscription Youth-Renewing Night Cream // 10. Paper Source Gratitude Journal //
 

A Jolly January.

It's a new year. Obviously, you know this. I have taken a little bit of time to reflect and think about what I want this year to be about. My bff Trish made a really point about resolutions. She said, "Year resolutions are too much pressure. I like to think about one goal for each quarter." So she makes mini goals for the Spring, Summer, Fall, etc. So smart! And certainly more manageable. That girl... she's a gem. 

So I've been focusing on wellness goals for the Spring (I know it's not quite spring yet, but humor me... I've gotta have some motivation to get through the winter up here!) When I say wellness, I do NOT mean just eating right, dieting or workout goals. I mean overall wellness; spirit AND body. What does that mean?

Spirit.
Making sure I take a few minutes every morning to pray, be thankful for another day of life and health, to read some scriptures or journal a little bit. It's annoying to wake up 15 minutes earlier than my eyes want to open, but I've found that it centers me for the entire day. And sometimes that 15 minutes turns into 45. It's rather peaceful. And it makes me more aware of others and their needs (hello, I write a BLOG, I don't need any extra incentive to be introspective. But I could certainly be less selfish.) This little journal (10. Paper Source Gratitude Journal) and calendar (7. 2014 Paper Source Watercolor Art Calendar) are a few great tools to get that reflective ball rolling!

Body.

Lets get real. My holiday was all-consuming. Literally. I vegged my heart out and worked out, um... very little. So I'd like to get back into the swing of balancing cardio and weights, along with some extra stretching. I never stretch anymore! Its ridiculous, because I know how good stretching is for the bod. When I watch TV, I'm taking half an episode to sprawl out on the floor and just stretch. There is just really no excuse. (Especially since I've been glued to House Hunters International and Property Brothers lately.) Oh HGTV. You slay me.

I bought this fun workout top (1. Champion Women's Fit and Flare Tank) and have been using these nifty little weights (5. Neoprene Flashbulb Handweights) to slowly regain my strength and stamina. In an effort to imagine that I'm living in the tropics, I've been snacking on grapefruit everything lately, and treating myself to this sparkling water (2. Lacroix Pamplemousse Water) like it's going out of style. Yum. My dear friend and health guru got me this fabulous book (4. Giada's Feel Good Food Cookbook) for Christmas, and I've been trying out a few of the recipes. Who doesn't love Giada? She's such a babe. And a wonder in the kitchen. ANNND (drumroll please) I got this dreamy blender (6. Vitamix Series 3 Professional Blender) for Christmas and I am FREAKING OUT about all the wonderful eats that will come from such a powerful machine. Stay tuned for lots of yummy recipes to come.

Side note: It's winter. It's a real bear on the skin. I'm currently involved in a dysfunctional love/hate relationship with Origins (love the products, hate the prices), and since I am the whipped party, I shell out the cash for the promise of a brighter tomorrow (in this case, 9. Origins Plantscription Youth-Renewing Night Cream.) And to be honest, these products make my skin so soft and less, um caveman-like? I tend to turn sallow-yellow in the winter (thanks, Dad, for that Italian heritage. And thanks, Mom, for throwing in that Native American heritage, too.), so while my lovely sisters got the rosy-pink undertones in their skin, I unfortunately inherited the olive face which means than sans-tan, I am sporting a tricked-out yellow-fever kind of palette. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place. Thankfully, a pretty pink-ish lip gloss (8. Korres Lip Butter in Quince) certainly helps the dismal situation. Am I being too chatty? I'm feeling deliciously girly today.

I hope your January continues in a jolly fashion. Don't let the cold get you down! Blast your heat and wear bright colors - the sunshine is in your future!

 

 

A Proper Farewell to 2013.

// Snapped this in the park. I found Cruella de Ville, people. I'm pretty sure she's an East-sider. //

Hi, 2014. Bye, 2013.
Well, happy new year, friends! I hope you're staying warm wherever you are! I've spent the past 2 weeks completely unplugged. Believe it or not, the laptop began collecting a bit of dust. It was pretty marvelous. I've had a bit of time to reflect and refresh and I would encourage you to go for it, too! Although many of you probably already have. It really does wonders for the soul.

I'm still processing 2013 and I think I will continue to reflect over the coming weeks. A lot has happened this year! However, I'm also crazy excited about what 2014 holds and I can't wait to share all kinds of new content with you. But before diving into a slew of healthy recipes and goals and resolutions, I want to say a proper goodbye to the memories of 2013.

Farewell, 2013. It's been REAL. I feel like we really lived this one.

// From the top: Skiied this spring. TWICE. Oh the mountainous glory. // Harvard in the famed NEMO blizzard // These girls, braving the storm! MISS YOU! // Marveled at the Colorado Rockies // Traipsed through Venice. No wait, ATE through Venice... // Witnessed my best friend accomplish his dream. // Visited Disney for the 1st time! // Family Vacay with these beautiful people. Sheesh. // All my favorite ladies had babies this year! Yes! // Venice, again. It's just ridiculous. // Us in Paris. We were on our best behavior at Notre Dam. // Saw the REAL castle that Disney was based on. In the mountains of Southern Germany. Oy. // Under the Tuscan sunset. // My niece was born! Hallelujah! Photo Cred: Kara B. // Um, had an encounter with a really bad bird. // I picked the Lion's nose. In Florence. Supposed to represent St. Matthew. //

// Watched a duck chill out in the alps. // Mom visited me in NYC! Party girls! // Had Pimms in London. It was a genuine treat. // Threw a Downton Abbey party. It was, hilarious. // Reflected into Chicago's "bean" // Spooked the birds in Siena. // Ah, Serenbe with the Spencers. Only my dream meal. // Yep, that's the view from the Amalfi Coast. Don't cry. Just go to there. // Locked our love to the bridge in Paris // Saw Taylor Swift with my besties!! // That's a precious bicycle. In precious Florence. // Just us, hanging out. In our new hood on the Upper West Side. // My view from the top of Copper Mountain, ready to dominate a black run! It was breakthrough for moi. // A sign on the city streets. // Taking tea at the famous Fortnum & Mason. The queen awaits my return, I'm sure. // My new home, New York City. //

Things I didn't love about 2013? 
1. I think I let my head spin a lot. I was always rushing around, often caught up in chaos, too many to-do's and plans for the future.

2. I missed my friends and family.

3. I spent a lot of time indoors because of the freakishly long New England winter.

Things I loved about 2013?
1. I had SO MANY adventures this year! I saw a huge part of the world I have spent my lifetime dreaming about: Western Europe. And it was even more epic than I ever imagined.

2. I watched Stevie fulfill a massive dream: graduating from Harvard Business School. I can remember sitting with him by the Sacramento river when I was 18, and he told me he hoped to one day, maybe, just maybe, apply to HBS. I remember thinking, is that in Boston? And here I am, 7 years later, with the privilege of watching him walk down the grassy lawn at Harvard Yard, getting that diploma (in a slightly creepy monk-like outfit.) Absolutely priceless.

3. People were literally exploding with children everywhere I turned. My best friend had her first baby. My sister just had her second. My other sister had her third! Along with my OTHER sister who also had her first. Not to mention about 10 more of my dear friends, sprinkled all over the country, who also gave birth to their first sons and daughters this year. Absolutely miraculous. Also, there must be something in the water.

4. I completed a running challenge. It might not seem like a lot to some super intense athletes, but it was a great way for me to be accountable and accomplish something I had never done before!

5. We moved from Boston to New York City. This is an insane life-long dream. I am drinking in every moment here, because I know this won't last forever. But for now, I am an Upper West Sider and loving every moment.

I hope this coming year holds more surprises, adventures, dearer relationships, better recipes, hilarious stories and lots of peace. Above all, I hope 2014 holds more laughter and joy than ever before. Here's to 2014!