Tri-tip salad

Thanks for all of your sweet comments on my Makeover post. My cousin and my best friend alternately style my hair for me so I'm going to ask them for some advice too. I think adding in some lighter brown highlights and layers would be awesome. I'd like to go really short but I have a chubby face. Not sure my self esteem could handle that. We'll see. Hair can usually grow back! I'll be fine.

Currently Andy is doing the Jackie Warner DVD without me. My knee hurts so bad. I can't do squats or squat kicks without wanting to cry. Annoying. I think it might have to do with subbing kindergarten today. I spent a lot of time sitting "criss-cross applesauce." That always bothers me. I'm getting old and busted.

I'm bummed because last night's dinner was incredibly delicious but just isn't so photogenic. I need a new camera, better lighting and an actual kitchen.



I made a huge salad with mangos, tomatoes, feta, bell pepper and pepper jack cheese.



Then I added tritip! This was my first time making a tri-tip. I put it in the oven wrapped in foil for 50 minutes until the center was 145 degrees. (Medium) Incredibly easy. Next time, I'll try marinating it myself.

I used 1/4 of the tri-tip for the salad. We have tons of leftovers.



While the tri-tip rested and the salad chilled, I put some zin in the wine chiller.

Chilling the salad was a great idea. The contrast between cool, crisp salad and warm tri-tip was killer.





And no salad dressing needed! I used a little guacamole and sour cream.



And then Andy and split a Margarita cupcake from Crumbs. I am really doing great on this cutting back on sugar thing. :(

Anyway, I'm off to make dinner, fix my knee and stretch lots! Oh and watch Parenthood. (Andy and I are obsessed!)

In need of a makeover.

Not food-related but I need your help!



I am over my hair. So over it. I haven't colored it in over a year and I haven't trimmed in a few months.



I've had short hair before and had a love/hate relationship with it. It takes less time to blow-dry and flat-iron but oh man...I have such thick hair! It gets so poufy.



See what I mean? No?



Shiny but frizzy. I have naturally wavy hair that doesn't quit straighten or curl. Can't decide if a color and a trim would satisfy me! any makeover ideas?

PS. I'm getting my eyebrows professionally shaped for the first time in a few weeks. I'm excited about that. I have the worst eyebrows.

350th post!

On Sunday, Andy and I decided to drive to Santa Barbara so I could check out the Lululemon store. I loved it! I ended up buying a running tank that was on sale for $39. I couldn't believe the quality of their running and yoga gear. If I had more money, I would have gone all out.

I'm trying to find a picture of the running tank but it must be discontinued.



Then we went to an Indian lunch buffet. The chicken wasn't great so I picked at it and tried all of the veggie dishes. The saag and tofu was AMAZING! I love spinach.



But it wasn't my favorite. Andy and I have a few favorite Indian restaurants that we enjoy. I think next time I have a saag craving, I'll go there.



Can't hate huge, fluffy pieces of naan though.

So now that I've been to Lululemon, I can't seem to get it out of my head. MUST BUY MORE STUFF. I'm wondering if buying lightly used stuff off ebay would be a terrible idea. As much as I'd love $90 running pants...I really can't justify it. I rarely spend $90 on work pants or jeans!

Do you own anything from Lululemon? Or have a suggestion for cheaper running/yoga clothes for me?

All of my supa fly ladies

This post was started on Friday and finished today. I am slow.

Surprisingly I've been given a lot of sub jobs this week! I've worked with high school, kindergarten, elementary school and later today middle school.

I thought I'd have more free time once school ended but I'm still pretty busy. I don't hate it. I'm one of those people who stresses out when I don't have anything to do. In fact, not having deadlines or work makes me lose sleep. I can't relax! Very annoying.

I have a ton of pictures to share before I get back into the swing of regular blogging.



homemade o'brien potatoes with light sour cream, shredded pepper jack and a soft scrambled egg. I loved this. Will recreate ASAP.



Menchies froyo topped with goodness. YUM.



Andy likes chocolate obviously.



We went to a Dodger game. Andy is from San Diego and roots for the Padres so we try to catch a Dodgers vs Padres game whenever we can.



Me (looking haggard), my little sister Sarah and her boyfriend Chris.







Our beautiful best friends Tiffany and Gary.



Going nuts over a beach ball.



Bacon, a 2 egg omelet with cheese, a banana fiber one muffin and oj. This is the only breakfast that manages to keep me from eating my arm on days when I work without a lunch.

Buy nitrate-free bacon. Trust me on this one.



Roasted bell peppers and Trader Joe's spanokopita. Delish.



Sipping that bub?



Yes, I have a name tag on.



Tiffany, Robyn (the birthday girl) and myself.



Andy and Benjamin Franklin.

Life has been amazing!

I have lots more to share and write about. In fact, here is a list so I don't forget.

1. Planning to run a 10k.
2. More weight training.
3. A makeover. I need it.
4. My first Lululemon experience.
5. BFL before pictures.

Santa Monica Classic 5k!

I was stoked to run the Santa Monica Classic on Sunday. I won a free entry from the lovely people at Pom Wonderful!

First of all, I do not suggest running a 5k the day after wine tasting. I went to bed at 11:30pm and woke up at 5am. (Santa Monica is about 45 minutes away from me without traffic.) I was exhausted!



Still I managed to beat my last 5k time! I finished in 37:30. Still not my fastest (37:23) but pretty darn close. I ran the first mile in 11 minutes and then proceeded to run/walk. I only walked for 30 seconds at a time though. I'm slowly chipping away at that mental block.



The course was really nice and fun to run. I saw parts of Santa Monica that I had never seen. I really enjoyed being outside despite the fog. I did miss seeing the ocean however.



I had to take a picture with the Pom people at the expo! Thanks for the entry POM!

(Being sweaty and red is bad but even worse, I spilled my water all over myself. Graceful!)



We walked 2.6 miles after the 5k and got bagels. Everything with sun-dried tomato cream cheese for Andy.



And a sun-dried tomato bagel with egg, cheese, lettuce, turkey and tomato for me. We each had a half of each. Sharing is caring.

Also Sunday was our 5 year dating anniversary. We didn't celebrate since we're married now and all but I had to mention it! Andy was so supportive of me during the race. And he drove me to the race at 5am on his day off. Gotta love him.

Three 5K's in less than 6 months. I'm pretty darn pleased with myself. I will run my next one in June. I hope to finish in under 36 minutes.

Disney's Food and Wine Festival

Wow! I love going to Disneyland and California Adventure but I love it ten times more during the Food & Wine Festival!



We started the day off right with a ham, egg and cheese crossiant.



Here we are with our best friends Tiffany and Gary.



After breakfast, we went to see Captain EO. I'm not going to lie it kind of freaked me out. The 80's were a weird time.



A few hours later, we met up with more best friends to attend the festival.



We started off with small bites. These plates were priced from $2-$5 and were cute and tiny. I got a White Cheddar & Beer soup. TDF!



And an assortment of cheddar cheeses with raisins. I hate raisins so I pawned them off and split some cheese with my friends.



Andy ordered a beef slider.



Friends! Gary, Brett, Adina, Andy and Tiffany.



After our snack, we were on to the wine! They had $10 wine samplings. You got 4 half-pours. We tried wines from California first.





I'm no wine snob, I drank them all!



A few hours later I got another White Cheddar soup. It was that good.



And Adina got a profiterole. I sampled the cream filling. Superb.



We attended another wine tasting. This one was only $1!



A chardonnay, pinot noir and a zinfandel.



Gary, Tiffany and I just cracked up the entire time. We are very mature.









I don't even remember the guy's wine-talk. Sad.



Brett, Adina, Andy and Gary attended a beer walk while Tiffany and I scouted out more wine. Tiffany and I were a little tipsy at this point...







Don't ask.





Amazing! I'll definitely hit up the Food & Wine Festival next year!

--I ran a 5k today! I'll recap tomorrow! :)