Yesterday was an awesome Saturday that included some of my favorite things -- time with my hubby and puppy, football, a yummy dinner (veggie & mozzarella panini with basil pesto), frozen yogurt, and the activity that took up a chunk of our day: hiking Mount Woodson, a mountain by Lake Poway that offers a spectacular 360 degree view of San Diego County once you make it to the top (we also spotted Catalina Island and Mexico up there!). Yesterday was a chilly day here, so I wore a new Everlast workout hoodie I just got for Christmas that has the hand cover thingys to keep my knuckles warm. It was a good move, as it pretty damn chilly at the top. There were even patches of snow towards the mountain summit! Neither Adam or I had ever been to Lake Poway before, and it is a ... [Read More]
San Diego
Cajun Roasted Chickpeas + Sweet & Spicy Sweet Potatoes (& a Giveaway!)
The biggest reason I love going to San Diego's Little Italy Mercato is that I get to meet the people who are creating the food -- the farmers, owners, and bakers who are passionate about their businesses. The food sold at the market is local, and it's real food with real ingredients you can pronounce and are familiar with. One business that sells their products at the market is Panache Pantry, a maker of all natural, gourmet bread crumbs that contain no fillers or preservatives. They caught my eye one day when samples were being given out of vanilla ice cream topped with Panache bread crumbs, which sounds a bit odd but tastes delicious. From salads and fruit to cookies and garlic bread, the bread crumbs can jazz up many dishes and foods. Using their pumpkin cajun flavored bread crumbs, ... [Read More]
My Interview With Amputee Triathlete Sarah Reinertsen
Growing up, my dad frequently used the phrase, ''You get like who you hang with." I've come to completely agree with him. I believe that the people you surround yourself with have a major impact on your own behaviors and attitudes, whether in a positive or negative light. Meeting and getting to spend time with people who do amazing things inspires me to do great things myself. That's why when I was contacted to meet the first female leg amputee to complete the Ironman World Championships , Sarah Reinertsen, I jumped at the chance. I can't think of meeting a type of person more inspiring than an athlete whose overcome major obstacles to achieve amazing goals. Sarah has broken the physically challenged world marathon record numerous times, as well as world records for 100m and 200m ... [Read More]
Your Greatest Power is the Power to Be
Well, a fabulous long weekend is coming to an end. Here is a photo summary of my San Diego adventures the past few days: And here's my quote of the week: May you take these words of wisdom to heart moving forward in your week, as I know I will! ... [Read More]
An Afternoon of Grape Stomping at Menghini Winery in Julian
Earlier today my hubby, father-in-law, and I headed out East to a more rural area of San Diego County, to a place called Julian. Known for their apple pies and being a close B&B getaway spot for people like us living in the city, Julian is a cute little area that Adam and I have spent some time in before. It's interesting because it's only an hour drive from where we live, yet you feel as if you're a world away. Roaming horses, rolling hills, empty twisty roads, snow, and cowboys are things you don't usually see in San Diego but will notice in Julian. The reason for our trip there today was to go to the town's Grape Stomp Festa at Menghini Winery. It was a beautiful day outside for the occasion, and I sampled a few glasses of sangria from local wineries. My girlfriend Jackie met ... [Read More]
Hiking Iron Mountain
"Somewhere between the bottom of the climb and the summit is the answer to the mystery why we climb." - Greg Child Last night Adam surprised me with an early birthday gift -- a CamelBak for use during my outdoor workouts! It's a backpack that you fill with water and can continuously drink from. This was a perfect little gift, as I'm always thirsty and drink an insane amount of water, especially during exercise. What a smart man I married! Wanting to put my new workout gear to use, today my little family and I headed to a nearby town called Poway to hike somewhere we had never been to before, Iron Mountain. In reading reviews of the mountain prior to going, I had seen a few time estimates at 4 hours. My first thought was that there is no way Harley would last that long, as ... [Read More]