Kelocity.com

A runner with an appetite for adventure!

A New England Garden Salad July 24, 2011

Filed under: Boston,Family,Food,Travel — Kelocity @ 7:42 pm
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Ahh! I miss my blog! We just got back from a whirlwind 9-day trip to New England. It was an awesome week filled with family, friends, sightseeing and a wedding! It feels like we’ve been gone for a month! My google reader has 250 unread posts, there are piles of laundry and mail to sort through and we’re tuckered out, but we wouldn’t have changed a thing, it was a fantastic trip.

Last Friday night (July 15th), we boarded a red-eye flight to Boston. I wish I could say I slept, but we had a stopover in Texas and I just couldn’t get comfortable. We made the most of it, and Irving even got some real Texas French Toast before our next flight!
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And then a few hours later, we were flying over Massachusetts! IMG_6317

We didn’t get to spend any time in Boston this trip, but it still excites me to see the skyline every time. Though I’ll probably never live there again, it still feels like home when I go back.
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As soon as we arrived, my mom and sister were excited to show off the vegetable garden they have growing in the back!
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My mom has been working really hard on growing a bountiful garden and this year, it really paid off. She waited til I got home to let me pick the first vegetables!!
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First up, raspberries! One in the bucket, two in my mouth. Delicious!
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Next up were peppers! Those are kind of expensive in the grocery store, I can’t believe these grew in mom’s garden! I always feel so lucky to know the taste of fresh-from-the-earth vegetables. There’s nothing else like it.
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There was even a banana pepper in there!
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Next was butter lettuce! “Pull em’ from the root” my mom said. Aye Aye captain!
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Today’s bounty!
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Sisters! It was so fun hanging out with her again!

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Clockwise…. Irving, Chris (Mikaela’s boyfriend!), Me, Mikaela… and Gizmo.

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Oh yea… don’t forget the herbs! Mint, Parsley and…. Rosemary?
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Of course we served our fresh garden salad with dinner! I love cookouts!
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Dining al fresco! So fun!
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And dessert was poundcake with berries (including our Fresh Raspberries!)
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Later, we had a campfire out back! I feel like this is the epitome of living in New England in the summer.
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I was the only one who wanted a s’more. Those guys are weird. YUM!
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Stay tuned this week for pictures from the rest of the week!

Do you live away from home? Living on the opposite coast from family is tough, but it makes going back all the more sweeter.

 

Gelato on the Go July 5, 2011

Filed under: Family,Food — Kelocity @ 8:00 am
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Sunday, we had a great lunch with Irving’s our mom and grandma up in the Bay Area.
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The weather was perfect, the food was delicious and the company was fun. It was a nice way to end the weekend.
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We said goodbye and got back on the road to head back to LA. We knew we had a 6-hour drive ahead of us, and decided that some gelato was in order. Costco now carries it in three flavors (Chocolate Chip, Berry and Pistachio) at select locations, so it sounded like something we should try. It’s 3 HUGE scoops for $1.50. But truthfully, it was sub-par. It tasted more like ice cream than gelato, but we enjoyed it nonetheless. Especially on a 90* day.
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Yep, I indulged in some sugar, I figure once a week can’t hurt, right?

Does your Costco have Gelato yet?

 

All Birthdays Should End with Gelato June 16, 2011

Filed under: Dining Out,Family,Food,Happy — Kelocity @ 7:45 am
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Last night, for Irving’s Birthday, we took the celebration outside and headed out on a walk. There was some gorgeous evening sun, and it was nice to get some fresh air (I nixed my walk from work today in lieu of getting home sooner for his Birthday!)

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It was nice to catch up and chit-chat. And find cute things like this to entertain us.IMG_5959

Eventually, we ended up at our destination: Ca Del Sole. It’s an Italian restaurant that I’ve been dying to eat at for quite a while. I love Italian food!
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The menu was pretty authentic. You won’t find Buca Di Beppo quantities of pasta, but you will find really great, fresh, homemade food that you can’t find anywhere else. This menu made me really miss speaking Italian!
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We started with some crusty bread, served with an olive tapenade.  IMG_5963

I could have dined on the bread alone. Delicious!IMG_5966IMG_5967

We were seated in a cabana style section, it was really cozy and fun. And nice to sit outside!
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Irving ordered the short ribs risotto and also the veal tortellini!
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And I ordered the Pumpkin Ravioli. It came out, and I remember thinking to myself “I’ll snap a picture of it once the waiter adds the fresh Parmesan cheese on top… and once he did, I started eating. It was too good. So this is the only picture of it that I got:
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But the meal wasn’t over yet! There was still dessert yet to come! You can’t have a Birthday without dessert!!! Irving didn’t want me to tell the waitress that it was his birthday, but I couldn’t help it! It’s a very special day!

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So our dessert came with a birthday candle. It was only appropriate!
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Make a wish!
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Nicely done. Hope all your dreams come true this year!IMG_5978

It was hazelnut gelato with an Italian pastry, drizzled with chocolate. Mmmm! IMG_5980

Date nights are fun!
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Happy Birthday, Irving!!!

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PS… check out my guest post about how I accidentally got to visit London on Two Boos Who Eat‘s blog today!!

 

Happy Birthday, Mikaela! June 15, 2011

Filed under: Family,Happy,Sisters — Kelocity @ 5:00 am
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When I moved across the country almost seven years ago, I thought about how much I’d miss my friends, my town, my traditions and my family, but never really occurred to me just how much I’d miss my sisters. They were still in school when I left and I always felt “so much older” than them (there’s 3 years between me and Mikaela and 5 years between me and Laurie).
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Now that we’re all in our twenties, I miss them more and more. I wish I knew them better and had more inside jokes. I wish I could ask them for advice and bud into their lives and offer them mine. It’s definitely easier with cell phones, skype and facebook, but it’s not perfect. And with 3,000 miles between us, it never will be. All we can do is try our best to stay in touch (something my mom reminds me of c-o-n-s-t-a-n-t-l-y with her “did you call your sisters this week” texts).

Today is Mikaela’s 25th birthday!!!! Happy Birthday!!!!
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When I talked to her last night, she said “25 is soooo old!” Instead of brushing it off, I said, “That’s because we ARE old!” I’m a nice sister, promise!

In honor of her birthday, let’s share some facts, shall we?

FACT: Mikaela insisted on wearing dresses everywhere we went. Even outside to play in the sandbox. She’d ride bikes in her dress, and play in the woods in skirts. That girl loved ruffled socks and pretty bows.

FACT: Back in the day, when getting chicken pox was cool (“when I was your age, kids used to get Chicken Pox!”) we both had them at the same time. Better to put your parents through it as few times as possible I guess.
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FACT: While all her friends were obsessed with cabbage patch kids and barbies, all Mikaela wanted was “a boy doll”. I think she named him Bruce when she finally got one. [UPDATE: The “boy doll” was named BRIAN. It’s been confirmed!]

FACT: She was OBSESSED with dogs. She begged my parents for a puppy for years until they caved and brought home Nikki for her birthday one year!
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Now, she’s a proud mama to Gizmo!
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FACT: She rocked the bowl cut for the first seven years of her life. Heck yea she did! Mikaela, send me a good bowl cut pic so I can show everyone!! Come on, it’ll be fun!

Hope you have the BEST birthday ever!

PS. how cute is this picture of her and Laurie from this week?! LOVE!
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Walking and Eating…. June 9, 2011

Filed under: Cooking,Family,Food,Workout — Kelocity @ 5:11 pm
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As my mother who lives 3,000 miles would say, “Where have you been?” (Said in a ‘I’ve been looking for you’ tone!)

Oh, I’m here, it’s been a busy week! Here’s what I’ve been up to!

1.) Walking! I’m in a pedometer challenge, and I’m determined to win! Or at least place in the top three! It’s not easy when you’re also competing against New Yorkers! Those guys walk EVERYWHERE! I’ve been walking in the morning and at night. And hiking three miles almost everyday at lunch time! (I aerobically walked 9 MILES yesterday! What?!) It’s all about squeezing it in when you can!

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2.) And that includes walking to the grocery store too! I bought myself some pretty flowers this week!
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3.) Irving’s mom was in town this week! We had fun hanging out! And she brought goodies!! Thanks!!
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4.) Irving whipped up his mom’s famous meatballs (with fresh beef from Harris Ranch!)
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We had quite a nice dinner together! Hi Julie!
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And to top it off, a sweet moscato served on the side!
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5.) I cooked! I actually found a recipe, shopped for ingredients and COOKED. Alert the press!
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I cooked up Jenna’s Greek Stoup! <— Click over there for the recipe! Instead of Alphabet pasta, I opted for Orzo to stick with the Greek Theme.
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Served with some Feta, it was yummy!
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6.) I got The Reader on Netflix and me and Julie watched it last night. Probably not the best movie to watch with your mother-in-law, but hey, if I can see Zumanity with my sister-in-law, we can do anything, right? I really loved The Reader. It was just a good story with an interesting plot. I actually can’t believe we’ll be going to Auschwitz later this year.

7.) And now, our guests have left, and I came home today to find that Irving went to Costco. And he bought me the BEST thing you can possibly by at Costco:
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I LOVE PICKLES!!!!!! I actually finished a jar today! Good timing, babe!

8.) More walking…. I’m walking to Erika’s place soon so I can see the baby again! I am so excited to have a new baby to play with!!! She’s the CUTEST thing, and only four days old today! So excited!