Top 10 Things Texas Gave Me

As my time living in Texas comes to a close, I can't help but think of the past 7.5 years as some of the best in my life. Moving here was one of the greatest decisions I have ever made. It opened new doors for my career, my love life, and my personal development. Texas helped make me the woman I am today and I will forever be grateful. I have about a week and a half left here, and this imminent fact causes me to reflect upon all the blessings this great state has given me. So, here it is - a countdown to the Top 10 Things Texas Gave Me.

10. Cowboy Boots

I never really had a love for footwear. This is mainly due to the fact that the prettiest shoes are high heels, and I've always been too tall to appreciate them. But the great state of Texas introduced me to the variety and pleasure that are cowboy boots. They are relatively flat (only a slight heel) and come in a variety of colors and styles. I now own four pair and constantly crave more!

9. Pride in Where I Call Home

I'll never forget when I first moved to Texas and was shocked that every TV station, every radio station, all I heard was "here in Texas" or "The great state of Texas." I remember my roommate and I watching a local TV commercial and laughing out loud at the car salesman who spent half his time touting the greatness of his home state. Texans have so much pride and who they are and where they come from that it is contagious. It didn't take me long to become proud to call myself a Texan. It made me realize how important it was to me that I absolutely love where I live, where I call home. That's why, when Z and I decided we wanted to try living somewhere else, we made sure to find a city that we would be proud to call home. And we believe we have found that in Seattle.

8. Texas Country Music

The first time I heard Texas Country music was in college when my good friend Ashlin introduced me to Pat Green and Cross Canadian Ragweed. I instantly fell in love! Since moving here, I've been introduced so many more bands and so many songs about Texas, about love, about the pride of living in a place that is all about enjoying life. The beat of the music, the lyrics, they get me every time.

7. Tex Mex

You all obviously know I am a foodie. I LOVE cooking new recipes and trying new cuisines. My love for spicy and flavorful food was certainly ignited when I moved here. From sour cream chicken enchiladas and tamales to tablitas and carne asada. Oh, and the margaritas! The margaritas!! I love it all and will miss it when we move. I just hope I can find ways to recreate it in Seattle.

6. Independence

While my independence started at a young age, when I first had to get a job to pay for my own expenses. Moving to Texas taught me an entirely new kind of independence. It's not just a separation from my family. I had that all through college. Moving to Texas gave me a new found sense of finding my way in life - helping me determine what I wanted to accomplish and what kind of woman I wanted to be. It didn't always go smoothly. I had many years of faltering and poor decisions, but I had noone to rely on buy myself. I was completely on my own, and I grew so much as a result.

5. Love of the Water

My true love of the water started at the Colley's lake house during high school summers. But in Texas is where my appreciation for lakes and boats grew exponentially. Z bought a boat about a month after we started dating and it showed me that we shared a lot of the same passions. I learned to wakeboard in Texas, I learned to drive a boat in Texas, I even learned how to back up the boat/trailer down the ramp! I will truly miss our times on her, but I know we will find new adventures on the West coast. This is my favorite picture of our boat tied up to the dock in Cedar Creek.

4. Friends

I developed some really great friendships in Texas. Some are still here, others have moved on, but the friendships I have made and the lessons I have learned from these ladies will be with me forever. Whether i is the friendships I made at The Richards Group in my first few years, the ladies I trained with for the marathon, or those that I grew with as we all began to fall in love... I feel so grateful!

3. Appreciation for my Liberalism 

As everyone knows, Texas is a VERY conservative state. I mean the amount of backward thinking here on social issues sometimes just makes me want to vomit. However, I will say that living in Texas has made me appreciate the conservative stance on fiscal situations. Texas has consistently produced fantastic economies, even during the recession. But being a liberal in a conservative state has also made me become more steadfast in my beliefs in marriage equality, freedom of choice, legalization of marijuana, among others. Texas may be the last to come around to some of these issues, but I'm glad these people didn't rub off on my too much. :-) Washington will appreciate me!

2. A Fantastic Career

If it wasn't for my move to Texas, I never would have found this fantastic career in marketing. I first owe it to The Richards Group for recruiting me out of undergrad to come down here and work. I never would have had a reason to move here without that job offer. But my job at Frito-Lay is what really made me love marketing. All the skills I developed and the people I worked with, the things I was able to accomplish... it really renewed my love of this industry.

1. My Husband

By far, the best thing Texas has given me is my wonderful husband. I won't lie. Texas gave me some other relationships - some good, some disastrous. But just when I thought I was done with love and done with Texas, Z walked into my life. At the time, I was ready to leave this state and never look back, but meeting this amazing man pulled me right back. If I owe anything to this great state, it's thanks for giving me a fantastic life and a fantastic future with my best friend and the love of my life. When we have kids, when we have grand kids, I will look at them and know they are a result of the great state of Texas. I am forever changed and forever grateful.
God Bless Texas. 

We are moving!

For a long time now, Z and I have been talking about taking an adventure. We've dreamed of packing our things and moving to a new city where neither of us have ever lived. The idea of doing this is scary. Z has lived in the DFW metroplex his entire life. We both have great jobs, have built a wonderful life here. Everything is pointing to us taking the next step in our relationship - have a baby, buy a house, grow old together. But what if we didn't? We are still young. We have our whole lives to have babies and buy houses. What if we did what noone expected?

So that's what we are going to do. In one month, we will be hitting the road and setting off for Seattle, Washington. We can't wait for this next chapter in our lives. The mountains, the ocean, the culture, the amazing culinary scene - we can't wait to consume it all! So get ready friends. We will document it all for you to enjoy. But if you want the true experience, well, you will just have to come visit!!

One of my Faves!

When I studied abroad in France, this was one of my favorite things to make. It's a spin off a salad nicoise and makes for a filling, well-rounded lunch. I like to cook the rice and egg the night before and then assemble for an easy work lunch. You can also add any other fresh veggies you want to the following ingredients. I've added diced bell peppers, celery, and even cucumber before.

Salad Ingredients

• 1/2 cup cooked rice (think leftovers from dinner or you can buy those single serve microwavable cups of rice)
• 1/2 can whole kernel sweet corn
• 1 can tuna in water, drained
• 1 hard boiled egg, diced
• Tomatoes (I usually use grape tomatoes or dice up some small, on-the-vine ones that are sweet)

Dressing Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon EVOO
• 2 tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar
• 1/2 tsp dijon mustard
• Salt & pepper

To keep the salad as fresh as possible, keep rice (if leftover and not microwavable) and egg in one large container. Microwave for approximately 40 seconds to bring up to room temperature.
Next, add corn and tuna straight from the cans. Add tomato and any other vegetables.

Put all the dressing ingredients into a small tupperware container. When all your salad ingredients are mixed together, shake up the dressing in the container and pour over the salad.

Enjoy!

The Best Nuts You'll Ever Eat!

One day I was having a lazy afternoon and had a Food Network marathon. It was a perfect day! I came across the show "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" and Giada started talking about these mixed nuts that she was just crazy about! It made my mouth water seeing these warm, flavorful morsels come out of the oven. I just had to learn how to make them. I did just that last weekend for Katie's birthday party and everyone agreed. Giada was right!! 

Now, usually I take recipes I find and I make changes, add my own twist to them. But in this case, that would be disrespectful to the masterpiece The Union Square Cafe has created! Therefore, I'm just going to post the link directly for you. Please make these at a time you can eat or serve them right away. They are so good warm!!

Oh, you can always throw a handful of the leftovers in the microwave for 30 seconds or so any time you need a snack. ;-) 

ENJOY!!!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/nigella-lawson/the-union-square-cafes-bar-nuts-recipe/index.html

Thai Chile Tacos

Obviously I love a sweet & spicy combo and this recipe was just perfect! You can easily adjust it to make it sweeter (add more sugar) or spicier (add more chile sauce). I started the steaks marinating before I left for work this morning and cooked everything else after an exhautsing yoga/pilates workout! It was filling, light, and FULL of flavor. Enjoy!!

Thai Chile Tacos w/ Asian Slaw & Spicy Sour Cream

Steak Ingredients

• 1 tsp. minced garlic
• 1 1/2 tsp. grated fresh ginger (don't use ginger powder... seriously... huge difference)
• 1 tbsp. sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp. fish sauce (don't worry, you can find this even at Walmart in the Asian aisle)
• 1/2 tsp. chili garlic sauce (also in the Asian aisle, a staple... you should really have this in your pantry if you're a fiery foodie like me)
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper
• 2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 pound flank steak (or any thin cut, tender steak)
• Cooking spray

Slaw Ingredients

• 1 tsp. chili garlic sauce
• 1 1/2 tsp. fish sauce
• 1/1/2 tsp. grated fresh ginger
• 1 tbsp. sugar
• 2 tbs. rice wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 2 tsp. minced garlic
• 3 cups packaged angel hair slaw
• 2 cups packaged matchstick carrots
• 1/4 cups sliced green onion
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro 

Other Ingredients

• 8 corn tortillas (you can use flour, but corn is so much better for you!)
• 6-8 tbsp. Light Sour Cream 
• 1 tbsp. Sriracha 

Directions:

1. Combine first 7 Steak ingredients into a large gallon-size ziploc bag. Mix/shake ingredients together, then add in the steak and let it marinate. It should marinate at least 20 minutes, but I prefer to throw it together before work and let it sit in the fridge soaking up the flavor all day long!
2. When you get home or are ready to get started, first prepare the slaw. Combine the first 7 ingredients and whisk together in a large bowl. Next, add the cabbage/slaw, carrots, green onion, and cilantro. Toss everything together really well. 
3. Spray down the grill really well and heat it up for the steak. Once hot, throw the steak on and cook it 3-5 minutes on each side depending on the thickness of the steak and how you like it done. Once you remove the steak from the grill. Let it rest for about 5 minutes before you cut it up! Some people like to cut flank steak into strips, but I can't stand biting into a steak taco and having a whole piece of steak pull right out with the bite. Therefore, I prefer to cut into cubes. 
4. While the steaks are cooking, combine the sour cream and sriracha and heat up your tortillas. For those that don't live in Texas and need instructions on heating up corn tortillas you can do one of two things - wrap in aluminum foil and pop them in the oven OR for a faster finish wrap them in a wet paper towel and throw in the microwave for a minute or so. 
5. Finally, it's time to EAT!!! Take a warm corn tortilla and spread with the sour cream sauce, next add some steak and finally some slaw. Yummy!!

**Reference Recipe: Cooking Light April 2008
Nutrition Information: 

Serving Size: 2 tacos

Calories: 450 calories/serving

I'm Back!!

In case you haven't heard, my hair has grown back!!!!

The good news is, I finished treatment 3 months ago and still haven't had any bald patches. The bad news is, between the steroid injections last year and the mild depression I experienced losing all my hair, I've gained weight. A lot of weight. I tried to lose the weight by cutting things out and dieting here and there, but dieting just doesn't work for me.

In an attempt to shed the pounds, I've decided to reinvigorate my blog with healthy recipes that actually taste good! If I can still cook and still eat foods that taste delicious, then I'm much more likely to do well. I like to take recipes I find in Cooking Light and other healthy websites, then add my own twist and spin to them.

Be on the look out for great recipes coming from me soon!

Progress

10 sessions, 3 weeks per session... 30 weeks since I started treatment. It's been over a year since I first started losing my hair. When I think back to the past year, I of course think of my wedding and my amazing honeymoon, but I also think of the emotional turmoil I have been through. It started with shock and denial, escalated with anger and embarrassment, and ultimately culminated in what my therapist called a "mild depression." The depression led to overeating, less exercise and subsequently a significant weight gain. A new year signifies new beginnings, and although it is February, I am finally realizing that significant changes are in order if I truly want to put the past behind me.

My first step was of course treatment and making myself feel better as I came out of my shell and reentered society. Treatments have been incredible. Every three weeks I go in to have an abrasive chemical put onto my scalp. It burns, it itches, and often it blisters and peels. It certainly hasn't been fun. In fact, in spite of nurse Janette's upbeat attitude, it has been miserable. But yesterday, when I took my hat off and my jolly nurse looked down at my scalp, she couldn't believe what she was seeing. Her staff had been treating me the past few months, so it had been a while since she'd seen me.

"You are doing so well!" she exclaimed. "I love seeing success stories. Your hair is just so beautiful."

My hair? Beautiful? I almost began laughing. I sat back and prepared for my scalp to be drenched in acid. She took the end of her giant Q-tip and began running it through my hair, inspecting all my bald spots, searching for new ones. By now I was used to the drill so I concentrated on the book I had in my hand.

"You know," she began, "on your next visit you should make an appointment with Dr. Cruz."

"Why?" I asked.

"Well, you are doing extremely well. I think you are ready to be dismissed. I just need to put a little here and a little there, and other than that you are good."

She had literally barely put anything on my scalp. Dismissed? Done? Is this really happening? Had my hair actually grown back? The good news was more than I could take. I thought it would be years since I would hear something like that. Tears instantly started welling up in my eyes. This is really happening!

So now that my hair is on the mend, it is time to take a hard look at my other issue. The long-lasting result of my depression - the weight gain. It's time to fully focus on getting myself healthy and fit again. I really don't know where to begin, but I know I will figure it out. I have so much support - my family, my husband, my friends. I tackled allopecia, I've got to be able to tackle this. I just need to develop a game plan...