I've never been a corn eater. ever. Something about the fact that it, well, doesn't digest just freaks me out. But then I realized how sweet and delicious it is when you puree it. And now I can't stop.
We stopped by the farmers market a couple of weekends ago after our beach mini photo shoot and picked up some amazing white corn, and I immediately put it to good use! With it being so hot lately, I decided to make a chilled corn soup! And Y'all, not only is this almost fat free, vegan, and super easy to make, but it is SO good CL asked to put this on the dinner rotation!
Chilled Corn Soup

5 white corn cobs 1/2 onion, diced 1 medium to large shallot, diced 2 cloves of garlic, diced salt & pepper, to taste olive oil chicken stock ground thyme, to taste shirmp ceviche (optional)

 After you have diced your onion, shallot and garlic, add a few teaspoons of olive oil to a large pan over medium heat.

Cook about 8 minutes or until onions become translucent. 
Add corn; add salt and pepper to taste as well as a teaspoon or so of the ground thyme (or really to taste!)

 Cook over medium heat for another 8-10 minutes.

Once you are done 'cooking' the corn mixture, transfer about half of the mix to a blender. Add about 1/2 cup chicken stock to mixture. I may have used more, but its up to you! Some like more liquidy soup, some like it thicker!

 Puree!

Transfer to a bow to cool, and puree the other half of your mixture. And that's it! Chill on the counter so that it doesn't condensate, then move your soup to the fridge!

I served it with a shrimp ceviche (thanks Fresh & Easy), and it was delish! 

Enjoy!

#WeRunSF Training: Week 1

As most of you know (if you're friends with me on FB) that i'm running a half marathon in October. I signed up on a whim for the lottery for the Nike Women's Half Marathon a couple months ago with the thought of 'i'll never get picked!". Needless to say when I got the email saying I was 'in' my heart dropped. 

A half marathon? Me? With a baby? While breastfeeding? Have I lost my mind?
Yes. To all of it.
I can't say that running has ever been something i've enjoyed, but as I train, it's slowly getting easier. This is definitely a bucket list item, especially since B is only (currently) 6 months old and i'll complete this before he's 1! While it's helping me get in shape, it's also setting me up for a healthy lifestyle, and im hoping to keep this up to show Beckett that not only am I his momma, but Im healthy and active.
  I've set up a couple smaller goals as I work up to the half, which has been really great! A 5k, a 10k then the half is where i'm headed! (Although I already ran the Sharks Fitness Faceoff 5k and run 5ks with almost every run now!) I've even almost convinced CL to run another 5k with me in September! Im running the San Jose Rock 'N Roll Half Marathon Mini Marathon (10k) in October, followed by the half 2 weeks later!
Anyways, training, like anything that is new has its ups and downs. Some days are easy and I feel great. Some days my legs feel like weights and my knees feel like they can't carry me. 
It's been really great having an amazing support system at home. CL has been amazingly supportive with both words of encouragement and helping with B in the afternoons while I go for runs. He even sends me photos of B saying 'Go Momma Go!' He tracks me during my runs and knows when i'm on my way home so I even sometimes get the 'You're almost there!' texts as well! It doesn't seem like much, but they really help get through those miles!
My Mom and Dad have also been on support duty and have been sending me words of encouragement and running tips. It's really great to have them on my team! My mom even 'ran' with me the other day via FaceTime!
Now, what keeps me on track? The amazing Nike+ App partnered with the We Run SF app. Seriously. Nike has this down. The Nike+ app keeps track of all your runs and training mileage. I'm using both to help me train. They both have training programs so I don't even have to do the math on how many miles I need to run and when I need to run them or when I need to strength train and take a day off. Plus the two apps sync so that one knows that you actually completed your training.. now that's accountability! Plus, you can connect to other friends running the race, or challenge someone. It's been a really great, positive tool! I highly recommend it!
Oh and Thank you to Nike Training Club (@Nikewomen) for all the tweets of encouragement! It's really great that you interact with your runners! 

So without further ado, here's week 1!

#werunsf #fatgirlsruntoo
Its been a learning experience, but it's also been really great for my well being, posture, health, and soul. So follow me on my journey to a half! I'll be checking in every week!

a list and a baby!

happy friday, y'all! hope you have had a great week! and NO, no baby for me!
I feel like  I need to take a load off and vent. nothing major, just a lot that needs to get aired out.
i do not understand how one works out every.single.day. eats healthy and in moderation. and hasn't lost a single pound. not a single pound. i kid you not. we actually thought the scale was broken, but we have some handweights and double checked. (im still not convinced). i know that muscle weighs more than fat and i know my body is changing (hello curves!) but still. im trying a new eating plan next week, so we will see. anyone every have this problem?
i sometimes wish there was a place (not this blog anymore!) where I could vent. like really vent, without anyone seeing it or getting their feelings hurt. i guess i'll have to revert to handwriting my feelings and lighting the paper on fire and releasing my irks unto the universe. i wonder how my apartment is going to feel about that! haha
i am still not 100% used to living in california. i mean, its cold here, still (weird) and it rains periodically (even weirder.) like to the point where i believe i've out worn the 4 long sleeved shirts i own. haha.
and while im on the topic of 'i live in california', all my houston friends are all like, 'its rodeo season', and all my austin friends are like 'omg sxsw' and im like i live in california, bitches! but seriously. living here is indefinitely more fun than both said events.
and last but not least, my oldest friend of 23 years is now a mom! on march 6, michelle and eddie welcomed a beautiful baby girl to the world, elle deńee is just perfect! congrats you two!

The Contemporary Capture

welcome to the world, elle!

have a great weekend everyone!

progress report.

this may or may not be the most embarrassing post, ever, but the more i get it out in the open, the more motivated i get.

anyways. 

im overweight. this really shouldn't be a surprise to many people who know me. i used to be tiny. in high school i was fit. like really fit. then i went to college. where i tried to stay fit, and completely failed at it. 

example a-

me, freshman year in college.

now, im horribly miserable with my body, and am working as hard as i can to get back into shape-- not only for my health, but you know that wedding im having in 103 days? yea i want to look good that day too.

its not been easy, but when is something worth it ever been easy?

CL and i started the year off right. we gave up sugar, salt, caffeine, soda, juice, ALCOHOL (including wine) fast food-- anything bad for you, name it, we haven't had it since January 1, 2012. 

yall it was HARD. unsweeted, caffeine free green tea for breakfast. egg whites with plain whole wheat toast.water-- and lots of it.  plain brown rice. romaine salad with a little oil and vinegar. chicken seasoned with fresh herbs only. yea. rough. kale, spinach, and other leafy greens only flavored with lemon. sounds good. huh?

it was. and is. we have only cheated once, and it was this last saturday night. we went out for sushi at piranha and a piece of the most delicious chocolate cake from the four seasons.

we have completely changed our eating habits. and its paying off. with the help of MyFitnessPal via the trusty iPad, and the accountability of CL, and a determination from myself that i havent seen in years, the weight is falling off. yes, i count calories. yes i write down everything i eat. is it annoying? no. it it time consuming? nope. its totally worth it.

to date i've lost 15lbs. yea, you saw that right. 15. im working out-- everyday. no days off. it doesnt have to be 5k runs, but just something-- weights, abs, a walk.

heres a little visual progress. (yes, i know my work out pants are pulled up over my belly button. damn adidas, they like their yoga pants high waisted!)

 and for good measure, you know your doing something right when your pants fit like this.

so there we have it. month one of my weight loss journey. i hope next month is just as successful! i feel great, have a lot more energy, and happy all the time (minus wedding stress!).

here's to a very healthy 2012!