Update On My Summer Bucket List

Posted on July 25, 2014 by Coco

Summer is flying by, so it’s a good time to revisit my summer bucket list goals, and see what I’ve got left on my list.  This is an exercise in honesty and accountability, because many of my biggest goals are out of reach now. 

Summer Bucket List

I am succeeding with my first two goals–being home for dinner with my son and using the grill to fix dinner several nights a week. Last night, my daughter kicked off her visit by grilling steaks and corn on the cob–such a treat! 

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I thought goal number three was a gimme, but I ended up DNS-ing my usual July 4th race. I opted for a 10 mile run with one of my MRTT friends the next day instead, and had no regrets. 

July 5th Run

My saddest update relates to goal number 4. I just don’t see how I can get to the beach this summer. I was hoping to get away after my son goes back to school, but then realized that he doesn’t start until Labor Day this year! To add insult to injury, my son and daughter decided to take a quick trip to the beach today. I was thisclose to joining them, but then the reality of four adults in the cheap motel room we were able to find at the last minute sunk in, and I wished them well on their adventure. At least I have these pictures from last year. 

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My husband and I did book a vacation for the fall. It’s going to be fantastic! 🙂

Share your goals with the Friday Five link up sponsored by Eat Pray Run DC, Mar on the Run and You Signed Up for What.

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Have you taken a summer vacation? 

Posted in Life | 26 Comments

Garden Vegetable Gazpacho Recipe

Posted on July 23, 2014 by Coco

Once again, my Mom has been sharing the bounty of her garden with me. When she was overrun with too many tomatoes, cucumbers and green peppers, I knew I had to make garden vegetable gazpacho.

Gazpacho
I dug up an old Cooking Light recipe, hauled out my Cuisine Art, and started chopping. Continue reading →

Posted in Fitness | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Summer Vacation Reading

Posted on July 22, 2014 by Coco

I can’t believe I read four books in July! I wanted to share my book reviews early in case people are planning August vacations and looking for summer vacation reading ideas.

book review amazon affiliate

This month I read The Attachments by Rainbow Rowell, The Vacationers by Emma Straub, Summer House With Swimming Pool by Herman Koch, and All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr,  Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews | 13 Comments

Entertaining With New Blue Diamond Almonds Flavors

Posted on July 21, 2014 by Coco

This post is sponsored by Blue Diamond Almonds.

I’ve been a fan of Blue Diamond Almonds long before they invited me to be a Tastemaker. Their 100 calorie packs are a staple in my “snack drawer” at work, and I usually take several packages of almonds in my travel bag for healthy snacking on the go.

Blue Diamond Almonds

While the basic roasted, salted flavor has been my favorite, there are new Blue Diamond Almonds flavors that are really fun for entertaining.

I am not generally a big fan of coconut, but I do love the Toasted Coconut Blue Diamond Almonds. 

Blue Diamond Almonds - Toasted Coconut

They are slightly sweet, and go perfectly with a glass of sangria on the patio! 

Sangria

Another new flavor is Rosemary and Black Pepper. 

Blue Diamond Almonds Rosemary and Black Pepper

 These are great to munch on while dinner is cooking on the grill.

Kebabs On The GrillOr to make a meal out of a bowl of gazpacho.

Gazpacho

They have other “bold” flavors including Honey Dijon, Lime ‘n Chili, and Salt ‘n Vinegar, and fruit flavors like Strawberry and Blueberry (which was a big hit with my friends at work).

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 What is your favorite nut to snack on?

What flavor almonds would you like to try? 

 

Posted in Food, Product Reviews | Tagged , | 11 Comments

Five Things Friday – Things I’m Loving

Posted on July 18, 2014 by Coco

Today’s Friday Five topic (Friday Favorites) is really broad, but I’m taking it pretty narrow and sharing five things I’m loving right now–this week even. 

5 Things I'm Loving

1. The Weather. It may be clichĂ©, but I just can’t resist raving about our weather. This forecast is unheard of for mid-July in Washington D.C. It makes me want to run every day, and spend as much time outside as possible. (I’m even writing this out on our patio!)

July 19 Weather Forecast

2. Having my son around. My son has been home all summer, but some weeks his social life is busier than others. This week he’s been home for at least part of most evenings, and I am doing my best to soak up every moment I can without annoying him too much. 

3.  Looking forward to seeing my daughter. This may be stretching my “right now” theme, but my daughter is coming to visit next week and I am getting so excited to see her! I’m hoping to take some time off from work, although I’m sure I could work in the morning and she’d never know–between her college student schedule and jet lag she usually sleeps in. 🙂    

4. Chobani Oats. I hadn’t heard of these before I saw them in the grocery store. It looks like Chobani has caught on to the overnight oats craze and now has a yogurt with steel cut oats blended in. I wasn’t sure about the banana maple flavor, so I only picked up two, but I wish I had stocked up. The banana flavor is pretty mild, the sweetness of the maple syrup is a nice change from the fruit-on-the-bottom flavors, and I love the texture of the steel cut oats.

Chobani Oats

5. Gazpacho. My Mom has been overwhelmed by the bounty of her garden, and gave me more tomatoes, cucumbers and green peppers than I knew what to do with–until I found a great gazpacho recipe. I’ll save the details for my recipe post next week, but it’s delicious. This week the Washington Post had a recipe for Watermelon-Tomato Gazpacho that I might try this weekend, if I can find some good basil. 

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Check out other Friday Favorites in the Friday Five link up sponsored by Eat Pray Run DC, Mar on the Run and You Signed Up for What!

Have you seen the Chobani Oats? 

Do you like gazpacho?

Posted in Food, Life | Tagged , , | 19 Comments