The Christmas Letter

so……..Christmas cards went out on Wednesday. If you didn’t get one it is either because we don’t have your snail mail address or you are the card whose address label printed funny and Jeff put aside to show me and now we don’t know where it is!

if so, this is what it looks like:

 

(don't mind that little yellow triangle in the middle of the photo.....that is the photo place trying to tell me the photo's resolution is crummy! it looks just fine people......chill out!)

here is a brief tour of what each photo is of……….more specifically than “here’s Ryan and David and Dolly”……..which really is all that one in the center is! above that is the photo of Jeff and I (with Dolly) at the Running with the Bears half marathon. you might remember reading about it HERE?!?!? this photo was post race. yes, we all three survived! to the right of that is boys in mud. no shocker except it was after a 5K obstacle race and the boys are a bit older than your average mud playing kiddo. in the bottom right is a photo taken at our 20^th anniversary dinner at a super swanky restaurant in town (The Kitchen......duh!). unbeknownst to us, or her, a friend who is an awesome professional photographer was on assignment there that night. not only did it provide for some fun conversation, but also resulted in a really nice photo of us! I guess once every 20 years?!?!? and last but not least, a family shot from the Red Shoe Crawl. who can resist an afternoon of walking around eating scrumptious tidbits? I might have mentioned it HERE.

as you can tell from the photos, 2013 was a pretty spectacular year for us Bergs. we ate good food, we went to fun events, and a few of us even got older (not me).  Ryan would like you to know he got his driver’s license……but I am pretty sure you heard me scream. Jeff has gotten more interested in bike riding and David has been dipping his toe into the world of running. sssshhh........the word “marathon” has even crossed his lips! as for me, I went from taking Dolly for 2 mile walks to completing 5 half marathons in 2013 and starting to prepare for a couple triathlons in 2014……all something I would have laughed at you about a year ago!

 

with all that and a kid graduating from high school, 2014 is looking pretty crazy too! (starting with a Polar Plunge on New Year's Day........at least what passes for one in California!) I hope 2014 brings you some equally fun adventures!  

p.s. because I KNOW you miss it SO MUCH.....I will be doing a Year of 24 wrap up.......more like clean up......before year end. sheesh! what a slacker, huh??

mid-year resolutions? courtesy @themotherrunner

first.........you have 2 days to enter the GIVEAWAY.....so you might want to go do that first.

second.......if you recall I set out to make 2014 the Year of 24 (dun dun dun!). it focused on a little scrapbooking (with less purchasing), a little weight loss, and a little Dolly walking. well, halfway in to the year I am doing pretty well on all accounts. Dolly isn't quite getting the 24 walks a month from ME, but she has put some serious mileage on her paws. funny, it is the scrapbooking that I am lagging the most on. probably because the focus has shifted. but that is okay too. I am still going to track my original goals (cuz I'm no quitter man!) but would like to see about tackling a new set provided buy the fun ladies over at Another Mother Runner.....A Virtual Aid Station.

third......or 13.1 to be exact: 

1. Run naked—no GPS, no music, no watch, no agenda—regularly. Could be once a week or once a quarter: whatever feels possible for you and your level of anal retentiveness. 

(whew! I thought they meant without CLOTHES!) most of the time I am listening to music or a podcast. I am not so super worried about time but like to know my finished distance. however, I can see where this is coming from.

 

2. If you haven’t run on a trail, do so. If you have, up the ante and try a trail race. 

I haven't. isn't Cheree going to be so excited when she gets that text: find me a trail race please! 

3. Find at least one new running route from your house. 

well, really ALL running routes from my house are really NEW ones, but as I have been pretty active in looking for new ways to get the miles in, I am comfy knowing this is continually happening. 

 

4. Promise yourself that if your knee, foot, IT band or other vital body part is feeling the destructive kind of pain on a run—you’re wincing or changing your stride or gutting it out—you won’t just plow forward with your training. You’ll do your best to figure out the cause, then foam roll, strengthen your hips, or do what you need to do until you’re not wincing, changing your stride, or gutting it out. Repeat after us: No running-induced injury ever got better by more running.

I promise! I use my knee brace religiously. and in fact, I bought a foam roller last week, watched and bookmarked that very video and plan to work very hard to prevent injuries!

5. When somebody asks you if you run, simply say yes. No qualifiers. Just this: “Yes, I am a runner.”

yes mom! I am a runner! a Bad Ass Mother Runner! 

6. Volunteer at one race, minimum.

already planning on volunteering at the California International Marathon and volunteered at the Positive Energy Kids Triathlon. made me start thinking how fun a triathlon would be! and of course Thanksgiving wouldn't be complete without volunteering at the Sacramento Food Bank's Run to Feed the Hungry! perhaps this year I can volunteer AND run??

7. Run a race with just one goal: To take it all in. 

I want to say that is how I treated the Bay 2 Breakers. how can you not? and seriously.....you take it ALL in whether you want to or not! but I hadn't gone there thinking I was going to do anything other than start, finish, and enjoy myself in the middle. 

8. Set a numerical goal. Make it slightly ambitious, but still doable considering your schedule and running experience: Run X times weekly or monthly; race X times in 2013; run X miles monthly or yearly. Adding those little numbers is (almost) as fulfilling as a post-run high.

right after Boston, I joined a group whose goal was to do a bunch of 26.2s whether at one time or over the course of a period of time. I gave myself a week and made it even though Dolly and I had to push it on that last night. it was a little farther than the training plan but it felt good. I think that is what they mean here and I plan to keep setting various non-race related goals for myself. keeps things fun!

9. Pick one run a week, cut it short by 15 minutes and spend those 15 minutes strength training.

I'll think about it. currently I take Mondays to do strength training. this will probably tie in nicely to the Nike SF half training program.

10. If you run a marathon, don’t run at all for at least a week post race. After a 13.1, give yourself at least two days of no pounding. And then make your runs easy-peasy, no-more-than-30-minutes for at least three outings. Your legs will thank you—and us.

well.....I was kinda forced to after the American River Parkway half when I flew off for work......except that I managed to get in to the hotel gym twice. I figured between sitting in the conference all day after the plane ride out there I would need to get the blood flowing! maybe after Running with the Bears??

11. Whether they’re on foot or bike, have your kiddos join you on a run. They set the pace and distance, of course. 

okay, this one is FUNNY!!! I realize they view "kiddos" as those cute adorable little rascals that can sit on your lap and still finger paint. both my "kiddos" are taller than me. one doesn't do ANYTHING at a pace quicker than a "too cool for school" boy and the other I have decided is going to be my biking coach for next year's triathlon. HE had to slow down for ME last week! but......he did set the distance. (however, I will state here that I am currently beating them both at the 30 Ab Challenge. gotta get SOME props!)

12. Ask a friend to run. If she’s a newbie, pace her nice and slow—a run/walk combo is a great call—and go a little longer than she thinks she can. Before you part ways, set up specifics (time, date, place) for your next run together.

yeah! totally done this! remember me convincing Lori to do the Spirit of Benny 10K? that was her first race. she was working up to a 5K at the time! she also did the Parkway Half and will be doing the Davis Moonlight Half. and poor Jenn got suckered into the Bay to Breakers and Davis Moonlight too. I am wondering when she is going to start ignoring my texts!

13. On those days when you’re hit with the there’s.just.no.way.I.have.the.energy.to.run blahs, head out for half of a mile; if you’re still not feeling it, you can turn around, and you still got in one mile.

this has already happened several times. there are days (usually every 4 weeks on the dot......) that I wanna just curl up under the quilt. THOSE are the days that this one comes in to play! and yes, a couple times I have gone out for just a mile. it's okay.

.1. Tell a friend about the another mother runner tribe. 

okay....I'm telling you! I've told a couple others already.....one isn't even a mother! lol! but who can resist a great group of supportive women?

so......not bad overall, right? probably helpful that I am new to all this. I think that trail run is going to be the most "off the beaten path" item for me. I am not a dirt girl. wonder if that Merrell Down & Dirty Mud Run Cheree made me sign up for would count as a trail run?? still shocked I signed up for that!

2. If you haven’t run on a trail, do so. If you have, up the ante and try a trail race. The vibe is so different than a road run or race, you owe it to yourself to give it a whirl.
3. Find at least one new running route from your house. (If your options are limited, at least run your regular route backwards.)
4. Promise yourself that if your knee, foot, IT band or other vital body part is feeling the destructive kind of pain on a run—you’re wincing or changing your stride or gutting it out—you won’t just plow forward with your training.You’ll do your best to figure out the cause, then foam roll, strengthen your hips, or do what you need to do until you’re not wincing, changing your stride, or gutting it out. Repeat after us: No running-induced injury ever got better by more running.
5. When somebody asks you if you run, simply say yes. No qualifiers—I’m so slow, I just started, I only do 5K’s—allowed. None. Just this: “Yes, I am a runner.”
6. Volunteer at one race, minimum.
7. Run a race with just one goal: To take it all in. Leave all thoughts of numbers behind and high-five every spectator you can; chat up your fellow runners; check out the scenery; don’t curse the lines at the Port-a-Potties; see if you can snag an excellent finish line pic. (And if that’s your usual M.O., for one race focus more on the clock and yourself: What are you capable of?)
8. Set a numerical goal. Make it slightly ambitious, but still doable considering your schedule and running experience: Run X times weekly or monthly; race X times in 2013; run X miles monthly or yearly. Adding those little numbers is (almost) as fulfilling as a post-run high.
9. Pick one run a week, cut it short by 15 minutes and spend those 15 minutes strength training: Lunge, squat, push-up, plank, crunch, triceps dip…you know the drill. Better yet: if the weather is cooperating, stop your run 5 minutes from the end, get in some strength at a park or quiet street, then finish up the run. (Promise, nobody cares if you’re lunging down the sidewalk.) If you want something more challenging, check out Sarah in Get Ripped Like a Mother.

10. If you run a marathon, don’t run at all for at least a week post race. After a 13.1, give yourself at least two days of no pounding. And then make your runs easy-peasy, no-more-than-30-minutes for at least three outings. Your legs will thank you—and us.
11. Whether they’re on foot or bike, have your kiddos join you on a run. They set the pace and distance, of course. And you make it fun: can you get to that stop sign? Can you sing and run at the same time? Can you run for 30 seconds then skip for 30 seconds? Can you beat me? (If you have to hold yourself back to let your kid win, soak it up, mother runner. Guessing it, like most beauties of childhood, doesn’t last long enough.)
12. Ask a friend to run. If she’s a newbie, pace her nice and slow—a run/walk combo is a great call—and go a little longer than she thinks she can. Before you part ways, set up specifics (time, date, place) for your next run together.
13. On those days when you’re hit with the there’s.just.no.way.I.have.the.energy.to.run blahs, head out for half of a mile; if you’re still not feeling it, you can turn around, and you still got in one mile.
.1. Tell a friend about the another mother runner tribe. 
- See more at: http://anothermotherrunner.com/2013/07/04/running-resolutions-running-goals/#sthash.Cx0IqNQK.dpuf

A plea.....followed by some giveaways! (UPDATED)

this is a blog in 3 parts: a plea (or request....call it what you like), a giveaway, and the rules for the giveaway.

THE PLEA:
you may or may not know, but D was adopted through the foster care system. let me tell you, it is one seriously messed up system! not sure how it can possibly ever get fixed, but intelligent caring people who are adequately funded would be a start. to that end, the family is participating in a fundraising walk/run. J and I are doing the half, D is doing the 10K, R is doing a 50K - on his bike. whatever! he made up his own event! Dolly is joining us too.......weather will determine which race she does. the event is a fundraiser for a group called Mountain Circle Family Services. as I have done a lot of training along the American River Parkway with the turkeys, dear, snakes, and occasionaly coyote, I am looking forward to seeing a couple of bears during their race, Running With the Bears. (please note: the race is NOT called "Running FROM the Bears......though that might improve my time?!?!?) I am also hoping for lower temps than Sacramento!

so the plea........please consider making a donation to our "team" HERE. quick, easy, tax deductible, will make you feel good and earn you my undying gratitude! figure, it has been too hot for Starbucks so you should have an extra $5 or $10, right?? thankyouverymuch!

THE GIVEAWAY:
as a thank you for reading (and potentially responding to) the above plea, I present the giveaway portion of this blog!

4 tickets to the 2013 California State Fair
 - you can see me wax poetic about it HERE 

4 tickets to the River Cats 2013 season
 - Senate Seats - you pick your seats & the game!

4 tickets to the Sacramento Zoo
 - expire May 31, 2014

NO DONATION is required to enter the giveaway. tickets will be mailed to you or meet-up arrangements can be made.

THE RULES (UPDATED):
because what would a giveaway be without rules?
all the following can be done in the same blog reply.
NO DONATION is required to enter the giveaway.
entries MUST be posted by midnight PST July 10, 2013. (hey, the Fair opens July 12th.....)

to enter, please reply to this blog post with the answer to these questions:
1. what will you eat at the State Fair or River Cats game?
2. what animal will you see at the Sacramento Zoo?
3. rank the prizes in order of preference.

winners will be randomly drawn and prizes will be awarded in order of preference listed. I don't know how to use those fancy internet drawing things. so if you don't trust me, don't enter. sorry!

whew! I'm worn out now! good luck and thank you for reading all that!

Come to the Fair........California, life as it should be!!!

that is how the theme song for the first ever California State Fair I ever attended went. how do I know? I can't find it on the internet anywhere, but I hear it in my head and remember being in the house we moved in to when we arrived in Sacramento.......and we only lived there one year. (a lot happened in that one year in that one house.....but perhaps I should save that for another post?)

anyway.......with living in Sacramento, going to the State Fair seems like a "must do".......and for our family that is pretty much the case. we have had season passes, attended free concerts, done sleepovers, assisted in the birthing of animals, ridden rides, eaten way too much fried food, drank some of the World's Largest Margarita, etc. good times! good times!!

a general family Fair memory is back in the day when the Fair was held in August. I would take the boys' last day of summer off and we would go to the Fair. we would be there at opening, get all you could ride wrist bands. then the boys would ride their hearts (or perhaps stomachs??) out until late afternoon when Jeff would join us. the afternoon and evening were spent looking at exhibits (with Jeff telling me every year I should enter the next year), seeing shows, and then dinner of lovely Fair foods......usually fried ones.

but the BIG memory is of the boys' obsession with wheels at the 2007 State Fair.....you know, the ones you spin and possibly win something. the boys would spot one in the distance and race to get there first. it didn't matter whose wheel it was, what they might or might not win, etc......it was just spinning that wheel!

they were even excited to spin a wheel that would require them to answer a question! (looks like Ryan has a tough question.......but he still wanted to spin that wheel!) the crazy addiction to wheels continues but nothing like that summer at the State Fair!
 
what are your favorite California State Fair memories? if you have been once or a dozen times, this is when you should dust them off. you can enter the California State Fair Memory & Photo Contest......hey, you could be in a commercial for this year's Fair!!!

btw, tickets are on sale now. I thoroughly recommend the Family Pack. it is a great price even if you don't use the monorail tickets......but really, why wouldn't you? it is a nice break on a hot day where you can check out an aerial view of the Fair and maybe figure out what to see next! this year I definitely want to try the deep fried watermelon and spaghetti ice cream......the boys can help with that last one!

#TeamHerkimer and my first guest blog post!

Shortly before the horror at the 117th Boston Marathon, a friend at the Sacramento Zoo asked me to write a guest blog post about our family’s participation in the 32nd Sacramento Zoo Zoom. This is that blog post:

It all started with an off-handed comment: “Sure I could do a half marathon…….if I could walk it!” A few days later a friend sent me a link to a walking half marathon the first weekend in May (aka TOMORROW!!). There was no time limit! How could I ignore that challenge? So my husband, Jeff, and I signed up and I started training.

In preparation, I knew I would want to complete a 10K, and what better than the 2013 Sacramento Zoo Zoom? We love participating in Zoo events and this would give us the experience we needed on our way to that half marathon. But, the same concern arose: time limit. I was assured that we would have at least 2 hours to walk the 6.2 miles. I could do that, right? And if we were the last people to cross the finish line, who cares? Slow but steady still completes the run! Our teenage boys both agreed to do the 5K making this a family event.

That gave me the next crazy idea. Why not have the Zoo’s tortoise as our own personal mascot? Herkimer, the Desert Tortoise, is an Animal Ambassador for the Sacramento Zoo and gets to meet and mingle with zoo guests.

Thus, #TeamHerkimer was born! We embraced our slow tenacity. With help from Kreative Design/Marketing I had t-shirts made for the race including our name and team motto.

Boy did we stand out against the turquoise run shirts! It was great! Even better was meeting our inspiration, 86-year old spunky Herkimer! He loved our shirts and team spirit! Just look how excited he is! Equally as fun were the fans #TeamHerkimer inspired along the race. Several of the more hare-like participants took a moment to high-5 us or shout out a cheer as they sped by. In fact, one of the guys in the lead complimented our motto as he lapped us to place in the top 10. Whoever he was, he totally made my day!

So how did #TeamHerkimer do? We finished the race! Out of 555 participants in the 10K, Jeff and I placed 538 and 537, respectively (he let me beat him), with an average pace of 15:48. Hubby placed last in his age group and I placed 74 out of 77 in mine. Appropriate positions for #TeamHerkimer! The boys really took the team motto to heart and finished with a 17:17 pace, both second to last in their age groups.

But #TeamHerkimer did what they set out to do and had a blast doing it! Look for us next year!

I will be honest, I did not consider myself a “runner.” As my boys like to remind me, I walk fast. I walk for my health and to exercise my dog, Dolly, not for speed. I did not know when the Boston Marathon was taking place. I had runner friends who were talking about it, but the event was so far off my radar that it wasn’t until I heard about the explosion that I started paying attention. In the aftermath of the Boston Marathon, the camaraderie of the ZooZoom was even more poignant. These people didn’t know us but they showed us that the running community is a family…….a big happy, sweaty, supportive family! I may still only walk really fast but I now consider myself a part of that family, a “runner”……a really slow runner. But the running community has opened their arms to my tortoise-paced self. What more can you ask for?

Shit on a Shingle.....mmm, mmmm good!

yes, you read that right. and if you were my father's daughter, you can still remember the taste and texture of this extra special not-so-delicious treat.

(the biggest problem with this blog post is how to approach it: totally chronological from the inception of SOS, from my childhood experiences with it, or what brought it to mind now......)

but since this is MY blog.....about ME and MY life......

when I was a kid my dad did a reasonable amount of the cooking. probably more than most men did at the time. he watched and loved the Galloping Gourmet and would cook some fancy schmancy dishes (like escargot and a really yummy dover sole dish that I remember had a cream sauce.......and green grapes). he also cooked what he called Shit on a Shingle. (nice language dad!) at the time I knew nothing of it's illustrious history, just that it looked like a cream of ______ soup meat mixture on top of toast. I don't remember liking or disliking it......it was just WEIRD!

well......as a grown up, a friend posted on Facebook that having asked her family for dinner suggestions they responded with a "whatever shit she wanted to make" or something similar. heck, sounds like a perfect request for SOS....so I told her about my dad's recipe. what I didn't know was that OTHER people ate this stuff too! in fact, it is some sacred old military recipe! obviously, being a Navy man, that is where my dad was exposed to this dish.....which I guess is chipped beef and not hamburger (hey, I was a kid! what did I know?!?!?)

I was startled to find out that my weird family dinner dish was in fact a REAL meal.....what meal or family tradition have you thought was yours alone only to find out EVERYONE does it too?

btw.....in case you are craving Shit on a Shingle now, here are a few good recipes! I remember dad serving it with overcooked peas.

Walk fast Susan! Walk fast!

(you know......."Run Susan! Run!" but I don't run.....I just walk really fast!)

10K.........CHECK!

last Saturday I did my first 10K!!! I figured since I intend to walk a half marathon in May that I should probably get a 10K under my belt first. (though my original plan had me doing that 10K at the Sacramento ZooZoom on April 14th)

instead........a friend mentioned The Spirit of Benny 10K/5K Fun Run & Walk and I couldn't resist! (seriously........who am I to answer the siren call of exercise??) but I loved working in Placerville oh so many years ago.......a small wonderful community and gosh, it is gorgeous up there! so why not? this way I will have TWO 10Ks completed before I make the leap to a half marathon!

a friend, Lori, was suckered in to joining me at the last minute. crazy girl didn't think she was up for it........I had the fastest pace ever with her!

the course wasn't as flat as the race lead you to believe.....but having worked in Placerville, I pretty much knew that ahead of time! my FitBit told me I had climbed 24 flights of stairs by the end of the 6.2 miles! not bad, huh?!?!? the weather was PERFECT for the race! a little breezy in the shade and not too hot in the sun. the path went across a wooden bridge and through the woods. wish I could walk there every day......even with the inclines!

David was happy to do the 10K too.......once he found out he didn't have to s-l-o-w-l-y walk with MOOOOM and could run off on his own. how did he fair? we don't know. his number is all bunched up in his backpack so the announcer couldn't see it......and the timing equipment didn't pick him up crossing the finish line. on top of that......he isn't in any of the photos people took and posted on Facebook. this is the only proof that he did it......and the photo isn't even in focus!



as for me........I finished the race second to last (poor Lori got that honor) and last in my age group (obviously) with a 1:41:14.......but there were only 300ish people running and I was just happy to have not needed a handsome EMT's attention during the race! honestly, kinda bummed by the great time. it is going to be hard to beat at the ZooZoom!

next year........I'm taking Dolly!

Dear People with No Common Sense.....

as you are probably aware, I walk my dog a lot. I also live near a larger local park that is great for walking Dolly, swinging children on swings, playing baseball, smoking pot.....oh but I digress! this post is a public service announcement to those parents who are.......idiots.

the park is lined with homes whose backyards back up to the park. most of these people have cyclone fences (harder to tag) and animals.......dogs, chickens, roosters......probably a pig in there somewhere, who knows. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THE PARK IS A PETTING ZOO!!!


please do not tell your child it is okay to go "pet the nice doggie." how do you know my dog is nice? did you ask me? animals don't like it when people (especially unpredictable wobbly toddlers) come running straight at them. did you happen to notice that I am walking with a focus, not meandering around whistling with my hands in my pockets?

and do not tell your child to STICK THEIR HAND THROUGH THE FENCE to "pet the nice doggie" or "feel the chicken's feathers." really! is there a sign I don't see that says "friendly rooster......loves to be pet.......don't mind all the noise"? what makes you think that animal doesn't think your child's finger isn't an afternoon treat.......or a nice juicy fat worm?!?!?

on more than one occasion I have walked by as a parent has encouraged their child to stick their finger through a fence to pet, touch, feel, whatever an animal of some kind that they have absolutely NO CLUE about! one time, the child was CRYING as the parent continued to push them to endanger themselves. at least it looks like the kid got his brains from someone other than his parents!

anyway......while I can deal with the kids trampling down on Dolly (most of the time they can't catch us......zoom zoom zoom)......please stop asking your kids to offer body parts to unknown animals! and if you feel their lives won't be complete without touching animals, I suggest the Sacramento Zoo and FairyTale Town. though, please note, the Zoo has fences too.......for a reason!

Fourth Annual Red Shoe Crawl!

last year I mentioned that eating at charity events shouldn't count. I realized that I posted that the weekend before the Third Annual Red Shoe Crawl that supports Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern California.......and that I hadn't mentioned it earlier in the year so you would have a chance to get tickets.

The Fourth Annual Red Shoe Crawl is June 23, 2012. GO BUY YOUR TICKETS!!!

what? you say. why are you bugging me so early? I've got months before I need to worry about that! well I am telling you to buy them now because they sell out EVERY YEAR! and last year more than one friend missed the fun because they hadn't purchased their tickets early enough.

yes, I have already bought ours.

here are the answers to more of your questions.......some you didn't know you were going to ask:

yes, you need to wear red shoes.

no, they won't stop you from participating, but you will look like a total fool with all us red footed partiers!

yes, you do a lot of walking. we walked about 5 miles last year.

no, you won't notice.

yes, you really go to 20 different restaurants (we found some new favorites)

yes, you get to try a LOT of food.

yes, you get to taste some mighty tasty drinks.

yes, you should bring your kids.......unless they don't like food or having fun.

yes, you should get friends together to do this with you. this is the world's best progressive dinner......no dishes or housecleaning!

so in case you haven't figured it out:

yes, you WILL have a blast!

The boys take the Mission Super Soft Tortilla challenge!

you may recall my previous post about being the recipient of a big ol' box of Mission Super Soft Tortillas.....this is the second post about the fun things that we did with our tortillas (other than eating them straight out of the packaging).

PIZZA TILLA

PIZZA! was the boys first thought about what to do with the tortillas! I thought it defeated the point of them being so wonderfully soft and pliable to crisp them up like pizza crust.....but hey, the boys were happy, the boys were fed. guess I can't complain!

medium Mission Super Soft Tortilla

pizza sauce

1/2 cup of shredded cheese

your choice of toppings - I chose pepperoni, black olives, mushrooms, and garlic stuffed green olives.

heat a non-stick pan to medium or medium-low (depending on your pan and burners). slide the Pizza Tilla from your plate to the heated pan. using a spatula move the Pizza Tilla every so often until the tortilla is nice and crispy and the cheese has melted. 

D thought he had burned his Pizza Tilla and set out to make a second once. while he did that, R and I ate his first crust. it was a bit overcooked but that little bit of char was tasty! so if yours gets a bit darker than you think you might like, try it anyway!

Hubby came home a bit late and decided to try using the oven and the broiler. It was quicker and he got that same nice char that D got. I wouldn't suggest this method unless you are going to cook them for the kids........or like cleaning your oven! 

S'MORSADILLAS

a dessert the boys can customize and make themselves? yes please! this one could be done with bits and pieces leftover from other noshings.

the boys had open faced S'mores in mind while my mind went more towards the dessert quesadilla. my version did a better job of keeping the good stuff in the tortilla, but their version was prettier! either way, we were all happy with our results.

small Mission Super Soft Tortilla

traditional and non-traditional S'mores toppings: I used mini marshmallows, mini chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, and crumbled graham crackers

fold your tortilla in half to give it a little crease (don't worry, it won't crack) and place in a non-stick skillet at medium heat.

add your fillings to one half of the tortilla and fold the other side over.

using a spatula, press down the top of the tortilla as the fillings are melted, turning over occassionally to crisp the tortilla.

I did not get mine as crisp as I think I would have prefered. however, I had 3 people behind me waiting for the skillet!

the boys opted for open face S'morsadillas and hubby started that way but decided to fold it up at the end for his own S'morsaTACO. Look at the great crisp on his tortilla! they both added the graham cracker after all their fillings melted. guess that is a benefit of doing it open faced?

Disclosure: In case you were sidetracked by mentally wondering if you had the makings of S'morsadillas in your cupboard, I received compensation for this blog post in the form of free tortillas.....which is awesome! There is also the possibility of a fun filled trip away from my family in which they will probably survive on........quesadillas and burritos and S'morsadillas made with Mission Super Soft Tortillas!

Mission Super Soft Tortilla's Walking Omelets - aka: breakfast for the family on the GO!

A couple weeks ago I received the email that we all wish we would get......no, I did not win the Liechtenstein lottery (again)......I was being offered some of the new Mission Super Soft Tortillas to try, make a recipe for, blog about, and potentially win a trip to the International Food Blogger Conference in Seattle. Well.....you know me......they had me at "tortilla." Seriously! Those things are a staple in our house. With an active family and growing boys, tortillas are BETTER than sliced bread!

Then the box arrived and I had to fight the boys off! We were given a package of fajita, soft taco, and burrito sized tortillas (aka: small, medium, and large). Being in a crazy house, I wanted to think of something that would appeal to like-minded people who need good food fast and sometimes on the go.

Thus........the Walking Omelet! You might say it is "just a breakfast burrito" but I beg to differ. Those burritos are wrapped in paper (if you buy them in a drive thru) or fall apart and have to be eaten with dirty fingers or utensils (if you make them at home). That wouldn't suit my purposes! I wanted something that the boys could grab as they rushed out the door to school, Scouts, whatever, without me fearing their breakfast was falling out behind them.

Thus..........the Walking Omelet:

bacon strips (newly cooked or leftover from a previous meal)
scrambled eggs (made in bulk with enough for as many Walking Omelets as you plan to make. we generally go with 1 1/2 per person)
shredded cheese
salsa
sliced avocado
sliced black olives
really, anything else you would like to put in an omelet!

(If you are fortunate enough that everyone likes the same omelet ingredients, I would make a big ol' omelet and then put scoops of the completed omelet in the tortilla. That is what I did when it was just me, myself, and I. However, in my family no one agrees on anything so the eggs are made separately and a post cooking omelet is created in the tortilla.)

The tortillas are soft so there is no need to warm them up. Pile your ingredients in, slightly down one side to allow room to fold up your Walking Omelet.....and GO!!! No fear of the tortilla cracking or ripping causing you to lose the most important meal of the day!

Disclosure: In case you forgot after seeing those yummy pictures of my Walking Omelets, I received compensation for this blog post in the form of free tortillas.....which is awesome! There is also the possibility of a fun filled trip away from my family in which they will probably survive on........quesadillas and burritos and Walking Omelets made with Mission Tortillas!

Oh, and btw, I have already been informed by the boys that they have a better idea for using these tortillas......so you might see another post coming real soon with a few more ideas!

Soup - my new addiction #DineDowntown

I have never really been a soup fan. sure it is nice on a cold winter's night, but I like to CHEW my food! I'll never be successful on a smoothie diet unless I can have a bowl of popcorn or chips with it to snack on..........and I have yet to fool myself into thinking celery makes a nice crisp snack!

between Dine Downtown and my birthday, I have had 3 wonderful bowls of liquid amazingness in the past week!

first was the lovely Curried Cauliflower-Dungeness Crab Bisque from The Firehouse. as you can see from the photo below, they "plate" it at your seat. succulent crab is bathed in a thick cauliflower veloute (a stock and roux based sauce) that is flavored so well you have to work hard to remember you don't like cauliflower!  (did you know you can get a cup of this lovely soup along with half a sandwich at lunch for $10.95? I didn't......but do now! YUM!)

 

then there was the snuck-in bonus Dine Downtown dinner at Thir13en. seriously hadn't planned on going but was cruising menus and saw they were offering scallops! not sure why.....but I have been craving scallops for the past week. it seemed kismet and I squeeked in reservations. the scallops were amazing and totally over-satisfied my craving........but again, the soup stole the show! red curry and butternut squash from Feeding Crane Farms with some sage and cumin. so warm and rich! I joked that I was resisting licking the plate. I am not joking that I think I might start bringing a mini spatula with me to make sure I get every drop!

and finally.........The Kitchen! buttered Main lobster with puff pastry, tarragon, celery heart and mascarpone. Randall Selland explained that how they made the soup and how it came out so rich even though they didn't put any cream in it. I'd love to tell you.........but I was in a euphoric state from the flavorfulness of the dish. one of the great things about an evening at The Kitchen is that you can get seconds (or thirds.....etc) of any dish you like! seriously......this is the world's most tasty all you can eat place! with seven "acts" and a sushi intermission, I had been reluctant to even consider asking for seconds of anything.......but both myself and the other lovely birthday lady in my group had requested another bowl before we had even finished the first one! (it was served after the next course.....a nice break so you could enjoy it new all over again!)

maybe it is because this winter has seemed so cold? maybe it is because I have had the opportunity to have soups prepared and some pretty amazing places? whatever it is......I am a soup convert! I might even start making some at home!

Wishing you a Holly Dolly Christmas!

as before, Christmas time reminds me of how many wonderful friends I have......and how many addresses I don't have. heck, some of them I don't even have phone numbers......but that has not lessened the friendship! thank heavens for the internet.

to each and every one of you, I thank you for your friendship!

 

though......Dolly may not quite feel the same way!

why I vote in person......

because, gosh darn it, sure would be great to vote by mail!

• voting by mail means you get to do everything in the peace and quiet of your own home......assuming you ever have peace and quiet there.
• voting by mail means you can do it whenever it is convenient for you.
• voting by mail means you don't have to stand in lines and deal with really slow old people working at the polls who can't seem to figure out that yes, you ARE the Berg that is listed right under the Berg they just checked in! (funny how that works!)

BUT............

voting by mail means you don't walk to the polling place with your kids every election (I'll admit sometimes we drive due to weather or time constraints)

and this is super important to me. it is easy to tell the boys that I voted and they should too. but I think it makes a greater impact when they see their parents take the time and effort to show up at the ballot box. they also get to see the others who have done the same. and yes, they also get to see those really slow old people who call them "honey" or "sugar" and give them an "I just voted" sticker even though that would be a federal offense (voting, not the sticker or sweet name calling).

sadly, this choice has caused me to miss voting in one election. an unplanned business trip out of town snafued my plans. but I figured if I missed one election in 27 years I am doing pretty darn good!

today is the last day to register to vote in California. if you are 18 or over, do it! do it, read about the issues and candidates and make an informed choice! start here now: REGISTER TO VOTE ONLINE!

Speaking of FUN ..... SundayFundayIDon'tHaveToRunDay

well, kinda........

last year I reminded you about the Citrus Heights Fun Day that runs from 11am to 4pm at Rusch Park. it is THAT time of year again......THIS Sunday in fact!! same ol' same ol' that I told you last year about what they'll have their and how much fun you will have.......and please note I mentioned the parking issue last year! this year I expect it to be a bit more chaotic due to construction and a really stupid light cycle. (yes....that "reader" is ME! and while I am totally supportive of the improvements they are doing, I want them completed before someone gets hurt!)

back on topic.............. this year, the City politely sent us all a postcard about the event and apologized for the parking/traffic issues associated with THROWING US A FREE PARTY!!!

"Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding." Lol!

I am SO not going to tell you how I feel about THAT......but if you know me you already know how I feel. I do wonder how many people they sent those postcards too........because if my house is the closest parking you can find, I'd suggest a movie instead!