Taking a quick break!

Hey friends! I decided to take a little break - just a few days or a week. Lots on my plate, and I need to just step back a bit, rejuvenate, brainstorm and rest. I'll be back at it next week, I promise!

Fieldtrip Friday: Summer Solstice

Enjoy the longest day of the year! Go for a walk, host a BBQ, hit the beach or just soak up the sun!

Thrifty Thursday: City Digz

Recently I learned about a new thrift store that benefits the homeless: City Digz. This is a new, hip resale store located in downtown San Diego. About 70% of the merchandise is new and appeals to a "youthful, upscale and urban market." Sell your clothes and then buy some new "digz"! Apparel is replenished every two weeks. So, go buy thrifty and support your community.

What's New Wednesday: Smart Crunches

Summertime typically means swimsuits. And while I'm gravitating for the one-pieces these days, I still would like to have the tummy I sported back in college. So, here is how to make your crunches count.

1. Nix those old-school sit-ups.
   Sit-ups that require you to come all the way up from the floor to your knees can put a strain on your lower back and neck. Make the switch to crunches instead. Crunches should be a smaller movement where you lift your head and shoulders up from the floor about 1/3 of the way, then back down again.
2. Cross your hands over your chest, not behind your neck.
   Pulling your head up with your hands when you do crunches can really put a strain on your neck. Instead, cross your arms over your chest and focus on pulling up with your abdominal muscles. Your head, neck and abs should be in one straight line.
3. Pull in and press down.
   At the top of your crunch, pull your belly button in towards your spine while you press your lower back down to the floor. Exhale while you do this to steady your breathing. According to FitSugar, these small adjustments will create the right amount of tension in your abdominal wall, making the muscles stronger.
4. Keep Your Chin Up.
   Instead of touching your chin to your chest while you crunch, keep your chin pointed upward to the ceiling. This will isolate your core and create that burn in your lower abdomen. You will also minimize strain on your neck: double bonus.
5. Inhale and relax.
   When you’re lowering down from your crunch, inhale and relax while you return back to your starting position, without completely relaxing the muscular tension in your abs. According to Livestrong, a set of 10-25 repetitions should be a challenge if you are doing your crunches correctly.

Now...get crunchin'!

Source: Lauren Conrad

Tasty Tuesday: A Summer Cocktail

I need to try some new, festive drinks for summer. Enter Bing Cherry Mojito

What's in it?

• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 1/4 cups freshly squeezed lime juice (about 9 limes)
• 3 pounds Bing cherries
• 18 ounces best-quality black cherry or plain vodka (www.beekmanliquors.com)
• 1 bottle sparkling water (750 mL)

 

What are the directions? More complicated than my normal cocktail but I'll give it a whirl.

Bring sugar and 1 1/4 cups water to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat; let cool completely. (Makes about 2 cups syrup.) Syrup can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 month.

 

Put lime juice into a medium nonreactive bowl. Halve and pit cherries; add to lime juice. Stir in syrup. Refrigerate at least 1 hour (up to overnight).

 

Stir cherry mixture and vodka in a large serving bowl. Fill 12 glasses with ice. Spoon 1/2 cup cherry-vodka mixture into each glass. Top off with sparkling water. Serve immediately.

Source: Martha Stewart

Motivation Monday: Summer Goals

This week is all about summertime as summer solstice approaches on Friday. Today I wanted to share my summer goals and encourage you to make a list as well! I learned of this approach from a volunteer who established five summer goals. So, here are mine!

Summer Goal #1: Make healthier lunches. I want to start preparing healthy work lunches on Sundays. I like the idea of chopping veggies and assembling a salad in a mason jar. Make five for the week, keep in the fridge and voila!

Summer Goal #2: Be MORE active! I want to go bike riding on Sundays, hike at least once a month, workout @ Barre Body three times a week and swim.

Summer Goal #3: Build the photography business. My goal is to create a blog for my husband's photography business, restructure our prices and establish a marketing plan.

Summer Goal #4: Save more money. My goal is to stop going out to restaurants and bars as often and save some cash for rainy days.

Summer Goal #5: Enjoy the San Diego flare! My plan is to go to the beach more often (um, I live less than a mile away!), watch some horse races and concerts at Del Mar, see more Padres games and go to the San Diego Fair!

Happy Father's Day

Life is short, unpredictable and sweet. Make certain to appreciate your family everyday. But today? It's all about dad. I love you very much, dad.  Thank you for teaching me responsibility, courage and the art of dancing like nobody is watching. =) Mom would be very proud of the man you are today and how you carried our weird, loving, little family since she went to heaven.

Fieldtrip Friday: Staycation

No money in the bank? But need a break from the 9-5? Easy as pie - just stay home! There is plenty to do at home that will make you feel like you are on vacation. Here is how...

• Host a wine and cheese night with the girls. Experiment with new wines and stinky cheeses!
• Enjoy a read fest ALL DAY! Sit outside, soak up the sun and read a book cover-to-cover.
• Game night with your friends/neighbors! I recently purchased bingo (wheel and all), and I cannot wait to have folks over to host my very own bingo event.
• Purchase a kiddie pool, water balloons and/or slip n' slide and have a little summer day party. You will feel like you are nine again; is there a better way to unwind?
• Rent a ton of movies, make popcorn and purchase a ton of movie snacks for an all-day movie sesh!
• Try out a new recipe!
• Um, just relax. DOH!

Or,  you can have lunch with Leroy!!

Thrifty Thursday: BBQ Wear

Throwing a BBQ? Or attending one? Beyond the food (and beer), you want to have a comfortable yet cute outfit. Here are some ideas!

What's New Wednesday: Raised Planter Beds

Not a project for the weary, that's for sure. But my husband had the genius idea (and I'm not being sarcastic!) to build raised planter beds for bamboo, creating privacy within our backyard space.  Our backyard butts up against an apartment complex, allowing four curious neighbors to peer into our business. While I really don't notice (it's almost like white noise in a way), every house guest has made a comment. So, we thought we would rectify this naked feeling our backyard gives you. Enter raised planter beds.

What do you need?
PATIENCE!
A LONG Home Depot trip (actually, several)
And a caring, handy husband

Okay, in all seriousness. Here are the directions.

Material:
Corrugated metal roofing panels
Galvanized screws
Plastic sheeting
Wood (1 by 4 pine boards)
Dirt

Based on an idea from Fresh Home Ideas (see a similar version of the model here), my husband was able to dream up a garden and bamboo planter using corrugated roofing panels and wood. The steps are complicated but to break it down simply we...

1. Cut the boards for our planters. We did three bamboo planter boxes: two at 2ftx4ft and one at 2ftx6ft. The garden boxes are 6ftx4ft and 3ftx4ft. That's a lot of cutting! Luckily we were able to get some pieces already prepped for FREE at Home Depot. My husband did the rest - thank goodness!
2. Then, we assembled each leg of the planter boxes. We wanted the boxes to stand at 18 inches with a false bottom since bamboo is known to be invasive.
3. After we screwed together the legs, we made the frames for the planter boxes.
4. Once the frames were assembled, then we attached the corrugated panels to complete the planter box. Then, we shaved off protruding screw (or, to save time you could buy the correct screw length. Just a thought...) and stapled plastic sheeting.
5. Then, it was time to fill the boxes with dirt, compost and mulch. Warning: compost and mulch stink...badly.
6. Finally, we planted our privacy bamboo. The bamboo will grow 5ft-15ft to eventually cover the neighbors' windows, providing us our much needed privacy.

The garden process was almost identical (except no false bottom; my husband wanted to make sure I clarified this important detail). We planted various tomato plants, squash, cucumber, strawberries, jalapeno, red/yellow/green bell peppers, cilantro and basil. We hope to see the fruits (literally) of our labor in less than 50-days! But we have already used some basil on pizza yesterday - yum!

Here are some photos to catalog our experience...

 

Tasty Tuesday: Fajitas

Since moving into our new home, we have been entertaining at least once or twice a week! Our go-to meal? Fajitas! It's super easy, yummy and versatile. Check it out!

Grilled Skirt Steak Fajitas
1/2 cup olive oil
1/3 cup soy sauce
4 scallions, washed and cut in half
2 large cloves garlic
1/4 cup lime juice
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
3 tablespoons dark-brown sugar or Mexican brown sugar
2 pounds inside skirt steak, cut into 3 equal pieces
2 red bell peppers, cut into strips
2 green bell peppers, cut into strips
1 large white onion, cut into strips
Olive oil
Salt
Sour cream
Fajita-size flour tortillas

Place all marinade ingredients in a blender and puree. Put pieces of skirt steak in a large ziplock bag and pour marinade into bag. Seal the bag, removing as much air as possible and allow the steak to marinate for 1-hour in the refrigerator.

Heat 1 chimney full of charcoal. When all the charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and start grilling the steak immediately. Grill on each side 3-5 minutes. Remove the steak from the grill and wrap in tin foil and allow to rest 10-15 minutes.

While the steak is resting, toss the peppers and onion with some olive oil and a pinch of salt. Place a cast iron skillet directly on the hot coals in the grill, and when heated, add in the peppers and onions. Continue to cook until they are soft and nicely browned.

Heat the tortillas on the grill or in the oven until soft. Assemble fajitas with the vegetables, steak, and a bit of sour cream.

*Also pretty darn yummy with chicken!

Motivation Monday: Personal Space

I firmly believe that the state of your home contributes to (if not, dictates) your perspective and mood. If anything, it at least affects your stress levels.

After a long day at work, I love to come home to a sparkly-clean space that is inviting, livable and reflective of my tastes. So, after a year of searching for a rental property that had yard space, no shared walls and character, my husband and I finally found our new home in an adorable 1940's cottage with a sustainable front yard and huge backyard that has served as a canvas for our imagination. (Keep your eyes peeled for Wednesday's post about a fun DIY project that has completed the backyard!)

This week is all about the home, specifically the Califf Cottage. My goal is to share our new space, showcase our favorite food to entertain guests, backyard projects, BBQ/house party outfits and staycation ideas.

First off? Check out our home!

*More photos to be posted on 30andfaddy's Facebook page!

Fieldtrip Friday: Montana

Fieldtrip Fridays are my most challenging blog day as it requires to report about an adventure. And to be honest, my life hasn't been fun to recount as I have been a homebody since the big move. So, I'm highlighting the recent trip of my friend, Carter who visited her bestie in Montana. Check it out!

Carter traveled to Great Falls, Montana, a small town residing along the Missouri River. Fun fact: Great Falls is historically known for the Lewis and Clark expedition!

Carter, her boyfriend Sean, and her best friend Lindsay had quite the adventure! First stop? A visit to the legendary Sip n' Dip Lounge, named the" #1 bar on earth worth flying for" by GQ Magazine! My hunch for this international recognition is due to the real-life mermaids on-top the bar and swimming in the bar's swimming pool/aquarium! Even the original mermaid herself, Darryl Hannah has been spotted in the aquarium.

Next adventure, Dearborn river, which flows for more than 60-miles. The Dearborn River initially flows through rugged, mountainous, terrain, before spilling out onto the plains of the Rocky Mountain Front. The picture below showcases this natural beauty.

Then the group explored The Club Cigar, an old-timey bar for drinks and fun!

And course, there is baby Norah - the beastie's adorable lil' girl.

Source: All photos and information is provided by Carter Anderson

Thrifty Thursday: Crochet Shorts

In a moment of forgetting my age, I purchased crochet shorts from Ross. Heck, they were only $12.99, provide an elastic waist (my favorite!) and showcase the bohemian vibe I desire. But in taking them home and attempting to wear them, I have run into a few road blocks. How do you wear crochet shorts??? Well, thanks to teen fashion (ignore the irony) I have found a few ways to integrate this newish trend into my wardrobe. Check out some photos found from Pinterest.

Looking for an inexpensive pair? Check out Forever21.

What's New Wednesday: 100 Posts!

Today is my 100th post! Thank you for following me in this journey thus far. Guess what? It's not over. I know, I know - you were probably thinking when is she going to realize her only readers consist of her hubby and M.I.L.? But honestly, I really enjoy finding new things to write about (and try!). So, I'm going to keep going. My goal for the next 100 is to find more unique content, post more professional photographs and provide more of a personal account. While I'm still finding my identity in regards to this blog, I'm having a blast with this discovery. Thanks for hanging in there with me!

Tasty Tuesday: Eggs n' Toast!

Over the weekend, I was wide awake before 6am. I know. What's up with that? So, I was inspired to make breakfast. Saturday? It was a breakfast burrito with scrambled eggs, veggies, sausage and hash browns. But Sunday, I was feeling Stepford-wives(esq) and thought I would attempt the ever-clever eggs n' toast ubiquitously found on Pinterest. Turns out - it's not that difficult. Take that pinstrosity!

Here's the simple directions...

Ingredients: 
2 slices of bread
2 tablespoons butter
2 eggs
salt and pepper

Preparation: 
Add the butter to a medium hot skillet. With a drinking glass, cut out a hole from the center of each slice of bread. Place the bread in the pan to toast for about a minute. Flip the toast over and crack an egg into the center of each piece of toast. Let the egg cook for about one minute then reduce the heat to medium and cover the pan. Allow to cook until the whites are set, about three more minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add the center pieces of toast to the pan (add more butter if necessary) and cook until browned, about two minutes per side.

Motivation Monday: Summer Reads

Get motivated. Read! Here are some books on my queue (for pleasure and work) this summer...

Happy reading!