Running Daydream

I'm sitting outside on a beautiful day, having already had a wonderful, super-great-fantastic day, and I'm actually missing running.  Totally missing it.  I was lost in a daydream about how in October(ish) 2009 Pete had me run around the track and I couldn't even run 2 laps (which is 1/2 a mile!!) and then we joined the YMCA in November and I quickly took a liking to running on the treadmill.  Pete had motivated me by telling me "if you can run 3 miles, you can run anything".  If this is true or not, I don't know, but it motivated me and in a few weeks time I was running 3 miles.  the more time I had at the gym, the longer I ran.  My longest run was 7.2 miles.  It was so easy for me to just keep going and not give up... and just see how long and easily I could run for.  Now, when I was running these "long" miles, I was at about a 10 min mile pace, so its not like I'm a fast runner, but I just don't get exhausted.  Sitting here in a chair, outside on a sunny day, with a pregnant belly filled with ice cream and sprinkles, I just really miss running.  I hope I'm motivated to do it after the baby comes, because at this point I'm just exhausted.  The last thing I ran was the Turkey Trot at 2-3 months pregnant, and I had high hopes of running half's this year, so I'm pretty bummed.

Anyway, about my wonderful day.  First, Mikayla is now a soccer girl.

Mikay is the cute one!

 I registered her to play 5 yr old soccer, and she was so super excited to "play soccer ball".  Its every Saturday morning right at her elementary school.  She definitely looked the most professional on her team, as Pete and I obviously have high ideals of what soccer girls should look like, complete with the hair up in a skinny headband, which she loved.  Mikayla was a mini-version of her coach, it was great. 

Soccer chick in the making

See that?  That's the line we skipped by arriving at 9:15 vs 9:30 on opening day.  Its funny how going someplace only a few minutes early actually saves you so much time in the end.  We were like the 5th person in line, and Mikayla was first to arrive on her team, that line must have taken over 30 mins to wait on. 

When we got home Mikayla and I made 'Dilla pizzas and leftover Spaghetti

Which eating with chopsticks is obviously much more fun than a fork.  Afterwards we chowed down on these amazing chocolate covered Peeps that Mikayla's Grammy got her for Easter... and let me tell you... they were AMAZING.

We also drove down to Snowman's Ice cream place today and Pete ate this amazing sundae

And I enjoyed soft black raspberry frozen yogurt in a chocolate-dipped-rainbow-sprinkle-covered waffle cone, with extra chocolate sprinkles

Sprinkles light my fire!!

Obviously I over-indulged myself and this is why I'm sitting here missing running.  I wish I could just get up and start jogging, but truthfully, my body is telling me to walk inside and take a long nap while its quiet at my house. Either way, its pretty obvious I'm just going to relax for the rest of the day. 

Jumpin' Jacks

I ended my awful eating day yesterday with a healthy dinner from my parents house... but then I went to pick up my husband and just knew I had to feed him dinner.  (Yes, I'm going to blame what comes next on him.)  I decided, since he worked so hard yesterday, to take him to Jumpin Jacks for burgers, fries, and milkshakes.

It was nigh time before we got there, and we stood in line (he ordered the food, I went to the ice cream shop)

I came back with a strawberry milkshake for me, and two baby vanilla cones with sprinkles for him and Mikay. 

 He came back with this delicious spread

Not like I enjoy greasy burgers and fries or anything.... its the whole draw of the burger place that I like.  Its outside, its inexpensive, its fun, its on the river, etc.  I totally upped my cheeseburger with onions... and added fries, coleslaw and mustard. 

I should totally open my own restaurant. I bet people would order that, who wouldn't?! One bummer is they were out of cheese sauce for the fries... boo.  As healthy as Ive become, I do still love me some cheese sauce, although I'm sure baby boy Vottis benefited from them not having it yet.

When Peter and I got home from work yesterday, we had a nice lil surprise waiting for us... or, shall I say, waiting to eat Pocket girl

A baby snapper! That was a cute bright spot in my day.  Yesterday was one of those days that everything just goes wrong.  After I filled up my car with gas I realized my windows wouldn't move up or down, and they were half open, AND my wipers wouldn't work.  Good thing it stormed all day yesterday.  Now I have to take my car in to be fixed, how annoying is that.  Today is Friday, which just makes it a great day no matter what! My hubby picked me up an iced coffee from DD's, and some breakfast sandwich thingie, which I devoured.

You also see a million baby cuke slices, which I eat like potato chips, and a "salad" sandwich, which I already ate half of.  On the sandwich went Mascarpone cheese, spicy marinated mozzarella cheese, spinach and cucumber.  (we are sort of out of groceries and are getting creative).  I was getting funny looks walking down the hall shoving this sandwich in my mouth, two-handed.  Okay... yeah... its a veggie sandwich for breakfast, not normal but not weird. I leave you with a photo of the hubster in his classroom, working hard... surely enjoying me snapping photos of him when he is trying to concentrate and do work.

Yes, some people have careers. Showoff. 

Online Shopping

Yesterday was another gorgeous, hot, sticky day outside.  Its funny, because usually I absolutely love the hot and humid weather, but the past two days I just couldn't handle it.  Being pregnant really changes your body, but of course we all know that.  In fact, I'm sitting here sweating right now typing on my blog! I left work yesterday on my lunch and actually ran to Target to try and find inexpensive summer maternity clothes.  I came back with one pair of black Capri's, which I will probably wear every day of my life now that its hot out.

The hubster and I are working in the same school again today, which I love.  He already brought me an iced coffee and a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich from Stewart's.   For breakfast this morning I also made myself a nice egg sandwich, complete with spinach, mustard, and chia seeds. (Yes, yes. yes... I already had two breakfast sandwiches.  A girls gotta eat...)

My friend Katie ordered things from www.iherb.com, so I got jealous and ordered things too! I ordered my mother and I each a bag of Chia seeds, and I also ordered 3 packs of Seaweed snacks. 



Okay, so I have read a ton about Chia seeds and the health benefits, and how everyone loves them... and couldn't find them in stores, so I did order them online.  If you know me... you know I never order things online.  While I was there I saw seaweed snacks.  Now, I love seaweed.  I love it in sushi and I absolutely looooove seaweed salad, so I thought Id give these a shot.  Pete looked at me like I was crazy but then tried one and declared he did like them.  He's not going to open the cabinet to eat them or anything, but I promise you they are really good, high in vitamins, and low calorie.  Very low calorie.  And salty, and I loooove salty foods!

Enough about my weird food discoveries, last nights dinner was made specifically with my husband in mind.  Mikayla went out with her father to a movie and Pete was...doing guy things... so I had time to myself.  I cooked.  I made Pete chicken, because he likes chicken and I just rarely make it.  I defrosted about a lb of drumsticks and decided to bake them.  First, I dredged them in flour

Another healthy purchase

then egg and then a mixture of Panko breadcrumbs, parm cheese, parsley and garlic salt.

I then put them on a rack and baked them on 400 for about 25 mins.

On the side I roasted a ton of cauliflower, and green beans mixed with roasted garlic leftover from Easter dinner.

I also made a side of this rice, which was pretty good.

This was totally made for the hubby to enjoy, I only had one piece of chicken and lots of veggies.  I was still so hungry after dinner that I indulged in some Coffee ice cream with sprinkles.  I was going to blog this last night on my free time, but Pocket was sleeping on the laptop and she was just too cute to move

I know you probably cant see that photo, but I didn't want the flash to wake her.  (Yes, she is my baby!). I am driving to my parents house after work today, hopefully eating something delicious for dinner, then coming home.  I cant believe it almost Friday already! This week went by super fast... I'm sure the baby countdown helps that out.

Outside & Scampi

This afternoon was absolutely fantastic!! It was so nice out that Mikayla and I took Rocket and Pocket for a walk, then invited to neighbor girls over... Carol (Mikay's friend from school) and Ellie (a new girl from next door).  They came over and played with all of our outside toys for about 2 hours! It was so nice to finally enjoy our backyard.  I took full advantage, bringing out the laptop and sitting in my new plastic Adirondack chair.

Rocket and Pocket also enjoyed the afternoon outside. When it was time for dinner I decided to make something with Shrimp.  Here in the Vottis household, we all love shrimp! I have been craving shrimp scampi for a while, but its so terrible for you that I couldn't force myself to make it... except tonight.

I started out by putting up a pot of water to boil.  Then I took one stick of butter (yeah, yeah, that's what I said) and put it in a saucepan, along with white cooking wine, olive oil, garlic, spicy mustard, parsley and lemon.

I melted it down and cooked it for a bit, while I chopped up some veggies and sausage to roast in the oven.

I also peeled and butterflied some shrimp and placed them in a glass pan, and sprinkled the shrimp with parsley, garlic salt, and basil.

Then I poured half of the butter mixture on the shrimp and popped them in the oven for 12 mins.

In the leftover butter mix I chopped up one tomato and added it, and just let it sit.

When everything was done - noodles, shrimp, veggies and butter mix, I drained the noodles and mixed the rest of the stuff together in a big pot.

Poured it over noodles and enjoyed our wonderful meal outside

Shrimp Scampi (& Etc) Bake

1/2 cup Butter

1/3 cup White Cooking Wine

1-2 tbsp Olive Oil

1 tbsp Garlic

1 tbsp Spicy Mustard

1 tbsp Parsley

1 Lemon, juiced

1 Zucchini

1 chicken sausage

1 onion, quartered

1 tomato, chopped

Shrimp

Parsley, Garlic Salt, Basil, to taste

Boil the pasta water.  In another pan, melt the butter, wine, olive oil garlic, mustard, parsley and lemon.  In a glass pan place in zucchini, sausage and onion, and drizzle on some olive oil.  Roast in preheated oven on 450 for 15 mins.  In another glass pan place butterflied shrimp and sprinkle on spices.  Place in oven for 12 mins. Drain pasta, and then mix all of the other sauces/veggies together. Let your husband tell you how amazing you are, and enjoy!

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Easter Sunday

Sometimes, I feel like Bree Van de Kamp from Desperate Housewives. 

But then... I realize my house is never perfect and I don't wear high heels and an apron to cook dinner.  I kind of did feel like it on Easter thou.  We had plans to go to my parents house for Easter, and I was going to relax and bring some dessert.  It turns out that on Saturday my mom discovered her oven didn't work!! It was broken! Of course, being the most perfect daughter that I am, I swooped in and saved the day.

Easter Basket

Easter morning, Mikayla found her Easter basket, complete with outside toys and good candy-store chocolate. we got dressed, went to church in Delmar and then swung by my parents house, picked up the groceries, and drove back to our place to (quickly!) clean and cook.

Family on Easter Morning

On the menu:
Leg of Lamb
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Stuffed Mushrooms
Roasted Asparagus
French Bread
Roasted Garlic Spread
Salad
Ricotta Cake
Honey-Apple Custard Pie
Peanut Butter Cookies
Chocolate Zucchini Bread

I made the desserts the night before, so that was okay. I have never made a leg of lamb before, but I wasn't nervous.  It came out amazing!! I opened a can of crushed Pineapple on it, and loaded it with Rosemary and Garlic, and baked it on 325 for about 2.5 hours.  It came out simply amazing. 

Leg of Lamb

The stuffed mushrooms were great too, I don't use breadcrumbs when I stuff them so the taste is pretty unexpected.

Stuffed Shrooms

I do believe I cooked a great Easter dinner, especially on a whim!

Easter Spread

Roasted Garlic Spread

Homemade Bread

Some Desserts

Ricotta Cake

Custard Pie, Ricotta Cake, Choc Zucchini Bread

Unfortunately, we were unable to visit my in-laws house due to time constraints and me hosting Easter dinner.  However, I was kind of in my glory because its something I really enjoy doing.  Plus, it motivated us to clean our home :)

Mikay and Uncle Adam

Easter Dress #2

All in all, it was a very nice holiday.  It was nice to spend quality time with the fam, along with Mikayla and the puppies. 

FYI~ Baby is doing great! I am now officially 32 weeks pregnant... and I gained 3 pounds since last week. Seriously.  THREE.  Three whole pounds in one week.  Someone should probably give me a new pair of running shoes for my baby shower... this was I can run when baby boy decides to come!