Kitchen Adventures; Farro Salad with Kale, Feta & Heirloom Tomatoes

I'm trying to like tomatoes.

Have I mentioned that before? I don't know. Let me get a little bit more specific though....

I am suuuuuuuper picky about tomatoes. For a long time I didn't like them at all. Then I started appreciating them in caprese salads and on bruschetta... or green, breaded and fried. Yum.

But see...

Tomatoes are really good for you. In addition to being super high in vitamin, they're loaded with lycopene, and research has shone lycopene to have cancer fighting properties.

A friend of mine - also not a tomato fan - inspired me. She ordered a wrap on a lunch date and didn't specify they leave the tomatoes out. They're healthy. So, she's trying to eat them despite not caring for them.

San Francisco Birthday Adventures

I told you we went to San Francisco for my birthday last weekend, but I only talked about the Golden Gate Bridge adventures. Sorry for reusing this picture. I wanted something iconic.

Here's a look at the entire weekend, and all its glory.

We arrived pretty late on Friday night. We knew where we were and we knew where the hotel was, but we didn't know where anything else was, so we maaaaay have walked the wrong direction once or twice before we figured it out.

BUT WE GOT THERE!

And because the hotel knew it was my birthday, they had a bottle of bubbly and some fruit and chocolate waiting for us.

The bubbly is Martinelli's, by the way, because I had also told them that I'm pregnant. On the ball, those folks.

Seven Days of Yoga; Week 31

Wednesday I tried my hand.. or feet, rather... at spinning again. It was a good class. I got a little snappy with the guy next to me before class started. I feel sorta bad about that. I don't have spin shoes so I needed stirrups for my feet. He graciously volunteered to help me put them on... or rather, do it for me. Error #1 dude, this chick likes to do sh*t for herself. I'd never put stirrups on a spin bike before so I accepted and didn't say anything, but then he proceeds to talk over me to the instructor, like he's gonna help me adjust my bike, and I say "it's ok. I think I know how to do it" and he IGNORES ME and says it over my head to the instructor again and, so I say, "I've got it. I've taken class here before." There was a little bite in my voice. I didn't mean for there to be, but dude was ignoring me. Anyway, I set my bike and class was fine - challenging and all that. I think I do need to play around with the settings a bit for next time so my thighs don't hit my belly quite so much.

Thursday night I had great experience in power yoga. The class itself was pretty much the same as always, but I felt really strong and able to listen to my body. I did get tired, but I took the breaks I needed when I needed them. I was able to do some flying. I felt so good afterward.

Friday I was really tired all day, but I had plans to take spin again, this time with my friend. I liked this class a little bit better - maybe because it didn't have the weird vibe from the guy who tried to set my bike. Also maybe because I had my buddy there to chat with.

Saturday we slept in and it was glorious! Then I went to vinyasa flow at noon, which was a little tougher than I expected it to me. Not sure why, exactly - something about the flow itself and how it all fit together. Plus it was noon and freaking hot outside.

Sunday morning I managed to get up in time for boxing. I've even gotten a hanging bag near the A/C vent the last few times I've gone. After that I taught at 1130 about a half hour away. I barely had time to go home and change into unsweatied clothes. Teaching was good. Almost a Fail though, since no one told me on Sundays it was in a different room and I was sitting in the small room thinking I had one student, while there were 20 in the big room. Luckily someone came and found us.

Monday night I did yoga with my friend. We moved into her house from the garage a month or so ago when it started to get really hot out. Yoga with the a/c is much nicer than yoga in 90-100 degree heat.

Tuesday was my hubby's birthday, and I had a checkup in the morning, so I ended up taking a rest day. I made us brownies and we sat around on our butts. I feel good about it.

How was your week?

And then I turned 30...

Here's where I stand with my 30 goals to accomplish by the time I turned 30. I fell short on a couple, but I think I did really great overall. The thing I didn't get to will just become life goals - who needs a timeline anyway, right?

1.    Clean out and reorganize the garage (5/26-5/27/2013)

2.    Redo the master bedroom & bath (Repainted 11/9-11/10/13), Bathroom scheduled to be done before yoga baby arrives in December. 

3.    Run a 1/2 marathon (registered 3/27/13, run on 9/8/13)

4.    Get paid to teach yoga (completed 2/21/13) 

5.    Meditate (at least once if I can't make it a regular thing) (Began 3/11/13)

6.    Buy a new car (completed 12/29/12)

7.    Try (at least) one new recipe every month (October 2012, November 2012 , December 2012, January 2013, February 2013, March 2013, April 2013, May 2013, June 2013, July 2013, August 2013, September 2013, October 2013, November 2013, December 2013, January 2014, February 2014, March 2014, April 2014, May 2014, June 2014, July 2014) You can probably see I ended up missing a few months, but I like this goal in general. I've loved trying new things in the kitchen at least once a month. Even when I'm busy, I can usually get in at least one new recipe. :)

Yoga Baby; Week 22

Week 22

One of my other pregnant friends said this best. The days are long but the weeks are fast. It rings so true.

Here's what's happening with me and the tiny one...

Cravings: Meh, I was telling my girlfriend last week that my cravings are less cravings and more a complete lack of self control. Do not take me to the grocery store hungry. Bad things will happen.
Also, if there are french fries and lemonade around, I could pretty much have that 24/7. No craving necessary.

Aversions: Still not really having them. I started eating more veggies lately. Hooray me!

Energy:  Same. 70/30 good days to bad days.

Missing: Wine. I'm planning a redo of my 30th birthday for January or February in which much wine will be consumed by yours truly. Complications may ensue because of breastfeeding, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
Also, Tracy (Shutterbean) talked about eggs over-easy in one of the last JTB podcasts and I maaaaay have gotten a little misty.

Feeling: Iced tea is my besty. For reals. I feel a headache looming. I drink some iced tea. I feel better. Best ever.
Still having the occasional round ligament pain. I'm so glad I know what that is now.

Movement: Thor (that's what we're calling him until we reveal his name) does barrel rolls, especially when I lay flat on my back - occasionally when I bend forward. The feeling makes me think of a large fish in a small tank swimming in circles and hitting the sides.
I also felt the first real kick a little over a week ago. I was stressing about the stone fruit recall (after having eaten an entire Costco pack of pluots by my lonesome), so I was looking to him for reassurance - just something to tell me he was OK and we didn't get Listeria, and he just kicked me right in the center of my palm - snare drum style. I said thank you and we went to sleep.
Since then he's been partying up a storm. I feel him for kick and punch and roll for a minute or so a few times a day.

Wearing: I got two more foldover skirts from Target. I heart them so much. I wear them every Friday in my weekly pictures (except week 20, sorry about that).
I used my birthday discount at Anthropologie to buy myself a really cute mid-length dress with a lot of room for my tummy. It's hi-low, which makes me a little nervous, but its long enough in the front that it won't be a problem.
I have had some success in the shirt department. I found a couple at Target and my mom realized she had a shirt she never wore in her closet that I would like, so I have a decent collection of long comfy shirts that cover (and will continue to cover) the stretchy tops of my fancy maternity pants.

Yoga: I am the queen of modifications. Wide stance forward folds. Make room for the belly. I'm still twisting and it totally works as long as I plan ahead and have my legs out of the way. Twisting chair looks ridiculous when I do it because my feet are so far apart. Not glamorous.

Gender: Pretty sure there's still a little dude in there. My mom was so funny when we told her he was a boy. She hasn't spent much time around little boys since her brothers (so, we're talking 50 years), so she was saying she has no idea what to do with boys. Silly momma.
I'll drop this category for my next update. We all know he's male.

18 weeks to go, y'all. This business is flying by!