Eternal Instants

We just celebrated my oldest daughter's birthday last weekend. In our family, birthdays are done with style. The birthdays do not last just for a day but can carry on for the entire weekend. You are the star of breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The phone rings off the hook as distant family members call to wish you the best in their own creative song. It is truly a celebration of you.

Having just celebrated my oldest daughter's birthday brought back a slew of memories for me. Memories of the day she was born, the three months following as my husband took that much time off to spend with his first child, and her first birthday where happiness was mingled with the relief that we had made it through the first year alive. It also brought back the memory of when she was a baby and how she would never want to be put down. She was a snuggler from the moment she got up until she went to bed. Those days my husband and I survived the day by watching Judging Amy and baking batches of sugar cookies. The days were long and chilly since it was fall but the house was warm and smelled delicious.

Now I look at her at age 7 and am dazzled by who she is growing up to be. She really was a solemn little baby. Always had this skeptical look on her face like she was trying to tell us that she knew what was going on the minute she got here. I look at her now and see a vibrant, loving, and kind person. I also see the amazing adult she will be in her face.  I find joy in watching her find her passions in life, such as tape (give her a roll of tape and she is happy as can be), school, learning, art, and music.

All of these memories of who she was as a baby and the glimpses of who she will be as an adult mingled with who she is now remind me of what Max Lucado described as Eternal Instants. In his book, God Came Near, which I am thoroughly enjoying now, Lucado describes these instants as :

"An instant in time that had no time. A picture that froze in midframe, demanding to be savored. A minute that refused to die after sixty seconds. A moment that was lifted off the timeline and amplified into a forever so all the angels could witness its majesty."


Over the weekend, when my daughter was opening her presents and the joy was plastered all over her face over a roll of tape, that was an Eternal Instant for me. Those are the memories that are brought forth every birthday. Even every day when I stop moving around, stop trying to get my to-do list done, and really look at my daughter, I see those moments and the moments to come. I am truly blessed by this gift of my daughter and what she has brought to our life.

So, in honor of my oldest, here is the sugar cookie recipe that makes the day a little warmer and the house smell delicious. They do not last long so savor them while you can!

Rolled Sugar Cookies from The Complete Book of Baking by Pillsbury

1 cup sugar
1 cup butter, softened
3 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

In a large bowl, combine sugar, butter, milk, vanilla, and egg; blend well. Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt; mix well. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate 1 hour for easier handling.

Now, the traditional recipe calls for rolling out the dough and using cookie cutters. Then baking for 5 to 9 minutes at 400 degrees.

But we do it differently in our house and they are really yummy this way. Roll dough into 1 to 1-1/2 inch balls; then roll dough balls in turbinado sugar which is a natural cane sugar (also called Sugar in the Raw). You can find the sugar in grocery stores in the baking aisle. This sugar is a large grained sugar that does not melt easily and provides a great, crunchy coating to the cookies when finished. We have also rolled them in the colored sugar found in the baking aisle near the birthday candles.

Bake cookies for 9-10 minutes at 400 degrees until slightly brown on bottom and firm to touch. Enjoy!

Sally and the Muffin Top

So the marathon pictures have been slowly coming back through the marathon website. Each day a new one is posted and each day I am humbled beyond belief. I mean, I have a little nugget of pride that I can run 26.2 miles and still be standing at the end. In my mind, as I am running, I see myself as fit, trim athlete running down the road with a smile on my face. Kind of like the covers of my running magazines. Poised and effortless.

And then the pictures prove me wrong. Every single time! When I look at the pictures I think to myself, "Really??? That's how I look when I run?" Not the image I have in my mind, that's for sure! In these pictures, the wonderful body part called "The Muffin Top" is accented and shouting out loud, "Look at me!" Granted I have my fuel belt, which carries my survival food, cinched on nice and tight right below this lovely body part lifting it up for all to see. And for all the pictures to catch. Sigh...

Of course, I do have to state, that the photographers at the races always seem to catch you in the down step where your entire body mass is pressing down on one foot. At this time in the running gait, gravity is at it's meanest and is pulling and highlighting every wrinkle, roll, and imperfection in your body. You look like you are ten years older than you are and in extreme pain.

At the marathon a few weeks ago, the photographers were placed after the half-way point, the point of no return as I call it. As my muscles were freezing up from the rain and cold, I tried desperately to look like I was having the time of my life. Didn't work, no, not at all! After a certain point, I just gave up. Every time I saw a man in black with a large camera attached to him, I thought to myself, "Really? You want me to smile now? When I am just trying desperately to get to the finish line whole?" Just so you know, those were the prettiest pictures of me (no, not really). Looking fine, Amy, looking fine, with my head shaking, was all I could think.

So all these humbling pictures led me to Sally. You would think that running every day, every weekend, for the length and time that I do, that my core muscles (those in my back and stomach) were as strong as steel. That the Muffin Top would be non-existent. Ummmm.....no, not in the least as I found out last week. My close friend and I decided that we should do a Pilates class at the local gym. I haven't belonged to a gym since college and then it was called an athletic center, not a gym. A few weeks ago I gave in and bought a membership, something to do after the marathon so I didn't jump right in to another marathon. This Pilates class was my first attempt at being a gym girl and proved to be another humbling experience.

We arrived at the gym, settled my youngest in at the childcare center, and went to the room where the class was to be held. And there was Sally, Deceptive Sally. Sally is about 65, beautiful white hair, and tougher than nails, as she proved in the Pilates class. Right before our class, she was bouncing around in a step class, talking non-stop as she moved around the room. Like it was no problem whatsoever to be doing it. Effortless. As the step class finished, we settled in with our Yoga mats and foam rollers, waiting for the class to start. And then the pain and humiliation begin.

There I was, laying on a mat, taking my arms and legs through various motions using only my core muscles, trying with all my might to look like I knew what I was doing. Trying with all my might to look like my core was stronger than it was. But the shaking of my leg muscles gave it ALL away! During this time, Sally was moving through the Pilates motions with ease, talking the entire time, strong and fit. What I want to be when I grow up!

Then, just as I was getting somewhat used to being on the floor and my legs were shaking only a little bit, Sally had us get on the foam roller. Really??? You want me to balance on the foam roller while doing the moves? Oh boy this was going to be entertaining! And entertaining it was! There I was, balancing on a four inch foam roller that rolled (did I mention it rolled?) with both legs and one arm in the air, trying to move as effortless as Sally. Didn't work, not at all, no way, no how! I couldn't balance on the roller for more than a second with all limbs flying around in the air.

After the Pilates class, my friend and I just looked at each other and shook our heads. I had been humbled beyond belief during a 45 minute class by a 65 year old woman named Sally. Well, Sally, just so you know, I am here for the long haul. I am here to get rid of the Muffin Top so it doesn't show itself in my next round of race pictures. I may not look like the mean, lean athlete that is in my head but doesn't mean that at 65 I can't be like Sally. Now I have another challenge ahead of me, which I love challenges and embrace them. Maybe next week, as I perch myself on top of the foam roller, I won't fall off with a resounding thud. Oh, did I mention, I almost fell off of the foam roller? Almost fell off onto a wood floor in a room that echoes? Humbled beyond belief, is all I can say....

Woman vs. GU

Yesterday I asked a lot out of my body by running the marathon in Portland. It was one of those crazy ideas that came to me after my last marathon in June, run a 2^nd marathon in one year, four months past my first one. What was I thinking??? I guess I have to admit that it was a goal of mine to complete two marathons in one year so this was the year. Unfortunately, four days after I registered for the marathon, I was injured and off the training map for a month.

But, my goal was meant to be because I was able to resume training after my shinsplints healed and there I stood at the starting line with all the other runners yesterday morning. What a morning it was! Pouring rain and blustery winds! My training partner and I were sporting the garbage bag cape to keep ourselves dry for at least a little bit. As soon as we took off at the start line, though, everything was soaked from my hair to my shoes. Nothing like running in little puddles contained in my running shoes for 26.2 miles!

Running for four hours takes a lot of strategy, from what to wear to how to pace yourself through the miles. Go out too fast and you are doomed at the end. Wear a new shirt you bought at the expo and you will be chafing in places that haven’t been chafed at all during the training months. Having to be so engaged with one's mind and body for four hours is an amazing feat but also an exhausting one. Every little twinge causes one to panic which is why this was written on my hand during the race:

Having this on my hand reminded me to physically relax every time I looked at it. And it worked.

One strategy that takes months to perfect, even years, is the art of eating on the run. (Knew I would bring it around to food, didn't you?) What one eats is as crucial as finding the perfect running shoe. Without proper nutrition during the run, that's it, say goodbye to any sort of sanity you may have before the race because you will be hurting. Been there, done that. My first marathon I did not eat properly during the race and it was brutal. It was truly a test of my entire being just to get to the finish line upright. I thankfully managed not to hit the guy in front of me as I brought everything up at the end of the race. I did hit my shoes spot on though. Pretty impressive after running for so long!

Which brings me to these little packs of nutrition called GU packs. The purpose of these little treasures is to get energy to you as quickly as possible. The sad thing about these little treasures is that they have the consistency of toothpaste. On a run, every 45 minutes or so, you rip one of these packages (see picture at top of post) open, squeeze it into your mouth, and follow it with a HUGE drink of water. It is important to practice using these GU packs because you have to practice the art of shutting your mind down completely and I mean completely. 

I am a huge foodie, as you know. I love the flavor, the texture, and the smell of food but, if my mind is not completely shut down when I consume these packs, well, my stomach gets a tad upset. My stomach shouts back at me, "What the *bleep* was that????" (Insert colorful word of your choice here.) After relishing in chocolate cupcakes, steak, and other goodies my stomach gets very upset when I send a GU pack down the hatch. But, it is the most effect source of nutrition for me out on a run, sad to say.

Now that my fifth marathon is done and I am into the heal and repair stage of training I am happy to be taking it easy. Happy to be home in the afternoon without having to head out on a 10 miler. Happy to say that in the epic battle, "Woman vs. GU", I brought it to the table and won! Five times over a course of 26.2 miles I consumed that little treasure and perservered. No man in front of me at the finish line nor did my shoes have to wear the previously consumed GU. Really happy to say that I will not have to consume that foil-wrapped, strange-textured, nutrient-dense GU for a very, very, very long time. At least not until my next marathon...

Big City, Big Taste

The Chocolate Caramel Potato Chip Cupcake

We hit the city last weekend on Friday. Both of us had had one of THOSE days. Too long and too crazy to fit into one 24-hour period so we decided that a little food adventuring was in order at 5 pm that night. We piled the gang into the van and hit the road in search of the food cart pod on Mississippi Avenue. This is the pod with The Sugar Cube food cart in it, home of the chocolate cupcake topped with ganache, caramel sauce, and potato chips. Needless to say I was giddy, ecstatic, beside myself with glee, etc., etc., etc. You get the picture.

As soon as we hit the highway, which is 5 minutes away from our house, all three kids were out. That is how tired our family is. We are still trying to adjust to our school schedule so by the time Friday rolls around we have a cranky bunch of kids. Makes for interesting days, that’s for sure. Having 20 minutes of passed out kids in the car that night meant 20 minutes of catching up with each other. What a blessing!

We had no problem finding the food cart pod on Mississippi Avenue. As soon as you turned the corner, there it was, a cluster of twinkling Christmas lights, canopies, and picnic tables. A beautiful sight! I spotted The Sugar Cube right away and made a beeline for it. As I got closer, I saw that some of the desserts were out. No! It couldn’t be! As soon as I read about this cupcake in Portland Monthly I have craved it. But, thankfully, it was not true. They still had those delicious cupcakes lined up on their baking trays in the back of the food cart. I bought one right away, just to make sure, I would not miss out on this food moment.

As we sampled the food carts, we could feel the tension of the day melt away and no longer was it a crazy, long day but one that was relaxing and reviving. Throughout the night we sampled sopapillas filled with shredded, spicy pork and cheese from Nuevo Mexico. We had a classic meatball sub from the Garden State and salty, crispy fries from Magic Beans that truly became my favorite savory dish of the night. But, my anticipation grew as I ate my dinner and gazed at the chocolate cupcake sitting beside my plate, calling my name.  It was going to be good, I just knew it!

At last, my dinner was done and it was time to delve into the one thing that brought me here, the Chocolate Caramel Potato Chip Cupcake. But before I could eat it, I had to take a picture of it, just so I could share the moment with you. It was truly a cupcake done with style. The cake itself was tender and could stand alone without the ganache and caramel sauce. The ganache gave the cake a gooey consistency and then the caramel, what can I say? I licked the wrapper, that’s what I can say! You know something is good when there is wrapper-licking to be done. The potato chip on top was a great contrast to the sweetness of the chocolate. Sweet and salty is one of my favorite combinations. Job well done, Sugar Cube, job well done!

The Sugar Cube Food Cart

After dinner, we hit Mississippi Avenue to explore the city and to walk off some of that yummy food we had consumed. During that walk, I realized one thing, I need to let me kids out more often. I thought I had been doing a good job of exposing them to the world around them. Trips across country to grandma’s house, trips to the zoo through the city, and so on. But to watch my kids inhale the sights around them Friday night, you would think we never left our house! They were touching everything in sight from mailbox slots (a huge hit!) to doorknobs to pressing their faces to windows, peering into restaurants and stores. What a sight, right? If you were on the other side and three little faces were peering back at you?

One door had up to 10 doorknobs on it, one of those arty stores, and they had to touch every single one. Oh my! I am usually the one breaking out the hand sanitizer but my husband, this time, remarked that he was up for a hand sanitizer break. I can just imagine how many germs they brought home with them that night. I think we would have had less germ exposure if they had just licked one doorknob and not touched every single one they came across. But, oh well, they were enthralled with the amount of new sights that it was well worth the germ fest!

Nights like that make me glad that we enjoy going on food adventures. It gives our life a boost of excitement and a dose of good food. I am so very thankful that Portland has a huge food cart business that is thriving. With very little money, our family can enjoy a wide variety of delicious food. So take some time, hit Mississippi Avenue, and enjoy a night of food, family, and fun! You might just see me there enjoying another cupcake, which by the way, I did not share with my family. Is that wrong? Or, maybe a smart move if you are a sugar-lover like me!

Bacon, Bacon, Bacon

I know I just posted to this blog two days ago but last night we had BLT’s for dinner and I had a one of those moments in the kitchen where you realize how much you love something. That something was bacon. I mean, look at that sandwich! The bacon was just right, the tomatoes fresh from the garden, and the lettuce extra crispy. Wow! I just loved eating that sandwich for dinner and all because it had bacon on it.

Bacon to me is one of those foods that fall into my “bad food” category but one that I cannot see myself living without. In my house we live by the 80/20 rule. We eat healthy 80% of the time and 20% of the time we eat whatever we want. Obviously, bacon falls into the 20% category. I love bacon on my sandwiches, in my soups, on my salads, and even in chocolate. They make chocolate bars with bacon, you know. It is strange at first but quite addicting!

Now, I do have to say that I am very picky about my bacon. I really do not enjoy the thick slab bacon you find in the deli but LOVE the highly processed bacon you find near the hot dogs and other strange meats they put in plastic that shouldn’t be in existence. I know that that bacon probably has come from a very unhappy pig and has enough preservatives in it to keep me going until I am ninety but I love it. It cooks up perfect, nice and crisp, and it is what I crave when I want bacon. Am I to the point where I will put an “I Love Bacon” bumper sticker on my van next to my Runner Girl sticker? Most likely not, but if I was to find an “I Love Bacon” shirt, I just might have to buy it and proclaim my affinity to the crispy meat.

If I did find a bacon shirt, I would have to wear it to this amazing restaurant off of Morrison Street in Portland called Bunk Sandwiches. Have any of you eaten there? This place is a small hole in the wall that serves one of the best sandwiches I have ever eaten, the Pork Belly Cubano. This sandwich has ham, Swiss, pickles, mustard, and pork belly on buttery, crispy bread. (Just writing about it makes me want one!) The pork belly is quite a few steps up from bacon. Just as crispy but with an intense flavor that just overwhelms you. We ate at Bunk Sandwiches this summer without the kids and throughout the whole meal, did not say one word. It was one of those moments in which the sign “Don’t talk to me, I am eating”  was thrown down on the table. The only sound that was heard was yummy noises. You know what I am talking about right? Those sounds you make when something is just too good for words but you have to state your love for the food. It was a beautiful moment!

So here’s to bacon, I love you and glad you find your way into my shopping cart. Maybe someday my love for you will be proclaimed on the back of my van. That day might be when I finally give in and paint flames on my van. Make my 'mom van' finally cool to drive. Maybe I can name it the Flamin’ Bacon Van…hmmm…now that is an idea...