Hello Blog!

Hi friends! It has been ... a very long time :) So many days I go to write a blog post and then... ADD much? distraction, life, fun things happen. and no blog post. But today -- I felt inspired! I have still been reading all of your blogs and discovered so many fun new ones (Young House Love, Cotter Crunch, Daily Garnish are some faves), and I figured it was time I started writing my own. We've been super busy with home renovations (the upstairs bathroom is finally almost done! so excited... the toilet has been in the hallway - unusable, of course - since we moved in ... last July), work, hanging out with friends & family - life stuff. The husband started a new job at the end of last year and he's gone Monday - Friday week in and week out which leaves me ... alone in the kitchen ;) We do both love to cook but something about being in the kitchen at the end of the day really helps me to unwind. Speaking of which.... one of my favorite recipes for the (occasional) chilly days is:

Butternut Squash Kale Soup to warm your soul <3

(hint: it is super easy!)
Sweat in olive oil, wine, water or veggie broth until softened:
1/2 yellow or white onion
1-2 cloves garlic

Add in:
2 cups butternut squash, diced in ~1/2" cubes (can also oven-roast at 400* for about 20 minutes, until softened but not mushy)
1 stalk celery, diced
1/2 carrot, diced
1/2 cup white beans (optional)
2 cups veggie broth (can add more or less depending on desired consistency of soup: more for a more brothy soup, less for a thicker, stew-like soup)
salt & pepper to taste (I love the fresh ground kind)

Simmer for 15-20 minutes until veggies are softened, then add in 2 cups chopped kale and cover (kale will shrink a lot, I promise!). Once kale has wilted, serve and feel the winter blues melt away :)


Even with the hubby out of town, I still have help to clean up the kitchen:

It's hard work! (makes me exhausted too!)


But Maki is a great companion and always (ahem) on her best behavior:



Workout-wise, it's been a lot of HIIT with Zuzana at Bodyrock, and I recently started Gina's Winter Shape Up plus I finally started training to run a race! I'm doing the Gasparilla 15K and so stoked. My running buddy Sarah & I did 9 miles this past Sunday and it was the greatest feeling of glory - the furthest I'd run prior to that was a little under 6 miles, and doing something you didn't know you could do -- there's nothing like that feeling of accomplishment!

By the way, I spent Thanksgiving day diving the Santa Rosa wall in Cozumel:


I want to live there! It was super beautiful and the water is crystal clear - we were at 80 feet and it felt like 5.

So friends, I will see you soon, to bring some agave & spice to your life! haha, yes I just said that :)