JUNE 11, 2010: OUR WEDDING

HUATULCO, MEXICO

Rob's Father & Son Mexico Trip 

My Husband is My Hero.

KANAB, UT

     I’ve been home for a few days now and my whole body is exhausted.  Even though the hikes were not too difficult to finish, the desert sun and the altitude change must have gotten to me. 

     I had been to Utah before but always on road trips with my family or for any of the week long summer camps that BYU hosts.  I hadn’t been back since I left for the MTC in Provo.  Utah has always felt very familiar to me due to my upbringing and my relatives that live there.  It has always remained a memorable place for me.  I have never been through Zion National Park or Bryce Canyon.  I have vague memories of being at the Grand Canyon with my family when I was really little.
     As we got closer, to Kanab, the place of our gracious host, the country was growing more beautiful.  We drove through the park and saw two groups of Big Horned Sheep and a few deer.  These rare animals with the red desert backdrop and sculptured mountains and canyons already were making the trip for me.

     The next day we did Bryce Canyon.  Bryce Canyon seemed something surreal.  I kept thinking of the painting by Dali with the melting clocks or scenery out of a book by Dr. Sues. 

     Then Saturday came.  This was the day the whole trip was centered around.  We went on a 12-mile hike at the bottom of a crevice.  On either side of us were walls that seemed to go up three or four stories high.  Just days before, a flash flood had washed through it, making it a little damp and believable that the area that were in was a dried up riverbed.  The largest way wide of the area was usually about ten to fifteen feet.  Then we would come up on places that we would have to climb down ten-foot drops with a rope.  Most of these areas had a pool of water at the bottom so you can jump off of the drop. 

     By the last three miles of the hike, we connected with the Narrows, which was all water sometimes to you ankles other times to your waste or chest.  This definitely was the finale of the hiking trip and left me wanted so badly to go back and do the Subway Hike, another hike at Zion comparable to the one we just finished.

     The trip wasn’t only fulfilling because of such gorgeous scenery but because of the company.  It was one of the only chances I knew some of us would get together before Robbie and I headed back to Oahu.

     It was nice to see some of my best girlfriends.  We’ve all been friends for a while.  Some people can’t believe that we’ve still stayed in touch all of these years.   And even more, there were a couple people that I just met on the trip and I'm really glad I did!  It was nice to be around my peers and share our life happenings at the moment.

     All in all it was a tremendous trip for me and I would do it again in a heartbeat.  Special thanks and gratitude goes to Marti and Megan for making it so unbelievable.  And thanks to Ryan and Marti I have these few pictures to post.

Grapefruit & the Beet

     It’s quite possible that I have just created the healthiest smoothie I’ve ever made.  Being home from my trip has been great.  Unfortunately all of that driving in the car has gotten me feeling bloated.  In honor of my “travel bloat” I decided to make a grapefruit smoothie.  Grapefruit is known to fight the bloat and act as a natural cleanser.  Grapefruit smoothies are often a treat in our household but today I decided to go even more nutritious by adding a raw beet as well.

     After living in Russia for some time, I somehow fell in love with beets.  Beets are not only delicious in borsht or boiled and chopped into a beet salad but they also are highly nutritious.  They are a huge source of fiber, rich in potassium, iron and other vital vitamins.  They are low in calories yet, rich in nutrients, cleanse toxins from the body and nourish the bloodstream.

     A few more ingredients were added to my grapefruit & beet smoothie for some flavor and more vitamins.  They include: 1 frozen banana, 1 carrot, 5 frozen strawberries, agave, & ice

It turned out gorgeous!

August 15, 2010: Open-water Swims

  A few weeks ago I decided to go for an open water swim with the Masters.  All I knew was that it started at five thirty on Moonlight Beach.  Robbie and I rushed to get there and I was really excited about doing it.    I figured I would go for a swim just goggles and a swimsuit.  When I got down there, I realized most of these people about to swim were professional triathletes.  There I was in my little racing suit while all these people had really nice triathlete wetsuits.

    Robbie was still parking the car and was putting on his wetsuit when the group went out.  I didn't know wether or not he would get in.  I went when everyone else started their water entries but on the way out to the buoi, I noticed that the water was very clear and everyone was a good distance ahead of me already.  My mind could not stop thinking about other things that were also swimming in the water with me.  I became very nervous and went in hoping that Robbie would swim out there with me.  I didn't know it but he was on my tail end following me.  He ended up doing the whole swim while I sat on the beach being a scaredy-cat.
     After watching this youtube that was filmed this summer in San Onofre, I feel a little justified.  Maybe I'll get in and do it before we head back to school.

August 12, 2010: SALT

Seeing Salt was on our to do list ever since it came out to the movies.  Most of the excitement was because I love watching films that have to do with Russia.  We finally got the chance to see it last night.  It wasn’t what I expected and maybe the unpredictability  was one of its best features. The Russian accents were well done and there was lots of suspense and action.  Unfortunately, some of the action just didn’t seem very likely.

AUgust 12,2010: The Shoe Guru

A good pair of running shoe was next on Robbie’s list for training supplies before we take off this fall.  We stopped by Moving Shoes in Encinitas yesterday.  It was a little local shop for runners.  I’ve never been in a store quite like it.  Everyone knows that San Diego is a Mecca spot for surfing.  What many don’t know is how much of a Mecca it is for other athletes like tri-athletes and marathon runners.  This store seemed to be like any surf shop but instead of selling boards and bikinis, their main products were shoes and running shorts.  The people who worked there were obviously seasoned runners.

 Part of the procedure of buying shoes at Moving Shoes is to take each shoe for a spin on the sidewalk out in front of the store. Robbie probably tried on ten pairs of running shoes while we were there.  That means at least ten spins down the sidewalk.  Then the guy helping us would ask certain questions about arch and cushion.   He would comment on how Rob ran and what sort of shoe he would need for his own movement. The way this man talked about shoes was unbelievable—In comparison to him, felt like I was a stranger to my feet.  I’ve been wearing shoes my whole life but never have I been so intimate and expressive about my feet.  He knew the exact questions to ask Rob in order to find the perfect pair of shoes.  And perfect pair we found!

Auugust 12,2010: Another Reason Why to DIY

     Nothing can top tart yogurt flavor at any of the frozen yogurt chains.  Tart with fruit is my absolute favorite. I can't seem to go in those joints without getting myself half the cup full of fruit--especially kiwi.  Recently I really am enjoying an addition of chocolate chips and almonds.  As the toppings stack up so does the price.  I thought I would be beating the system this time as I figured out a way to get myself a great deal.  I figured that I could run in and fill the cup up with yummy tart yogurt and then go home and top it myself.  All my favorite toppings are sitting in our fridge anyway.
     I figured Robbie would already be home from work and want some too so I made it extra big.  Unfortunately it still came out to about $8.00 and half of it melted in the San Diego summer heat on the way home.  I knew I could make the tart myself by running to Trader Joe's and getting the Greek Yogurt and then put it into our ice cream maker with 1/2 cup sugar but I didn't want to wait so long.  It would have been half the price.  Oh well.  Guess I'll have to do that next time.

August 11, 2010: Jillian Michaels

I never was one to do exercise videos but now I am hooked.  I spent the night at my cousin's a few months ago.  She asked me if I wanted to do exercise TV the next morning.  We thought we'd give Jillian a go.  The next day I felt it.  From then on I swear by Jillian especially her NO MORE TROUBLE ZONES workout.  This will whip a girl into shape for sure.  I haven't been very diligent with Jillian over the summer break.  I did her video today and my body sure was sorry.  No more slacking--I'm back with you Jillian.

August 10, 2010: The chance to go the park with a Babushka.

I was cornered in the locker room at work the other day… I guess you could say I was more surprised than anything.  There I was getting something out of my locker when I heard a Russian voice speaking to me in Russian.  It was like God was listening to my thoughts earlier that hour because I was distinctly wishing that I could have a friend to speak Russian with somewhere here in Carlsbad.

“They told me you speak Russian,” the voice said.

“Yes,” I replied “…but how did you know it was me?” I asked.

“They told me you were beautiful,” this Babushka said smiling.

I like her!  We proceeded to exchange phone numbers and eventually get together when it was convenient.  Unfortunately, I was going to be out of town for a week but as soon as I got back I called her and left a message.

I was so excited you have no idea!  The chance to go to the park with a Babushka in Carlsbad is rare!  A real live Russian Babushka.  What an honor.

She has to be in her seventies.  She has thick curly white bangs with her long white hair rolled up on top of her head in a bun.  She’s witty and sharp and has the most gorgeous light blue sparkly eyes.

We finally had the chance to meet yesterday.  We sat in the park and talked for an hour.   She brought me Russian grammar books and told me all about her life moving here and her other friends who are also here from Russia.

This Babushka goes to the beach and even tans!  She plays in the water too!  She told me about how a few months ago a big wave pounded her and a girl lifeguard pulled her out.  I felt proud of her for playing in the surf out but sad she had such a scary experience.

My favorite part of the conversation was this: she’s originally from Moscow but during World War II it was unsafe for them to live there.  She and her family moved to Balikova. This is a city within the Samara Mission.  I know that city.  It is within the county of Sarotov.  I told her that I knew of Balicova and how I lived in Sarotov.  Her eyes glistened with tears because she couldn’t believe that I had been to the city of her childhood and then eyes started to get wet because she knew about Sarotov.  It was like someone maybe understood or actually understood a lot better what it was like to miss that area of the world.  Needless to say we had a little moment and now I am adopting this Babushka as my own!

August 9, 2010: Smoothie Craze

I heard that McDonalds now sells smoothies.  I looked it up online and this website was quite the advocate for them.

http://thestir.cafemom.com/food_party/107101/mcdonalds_smoothie_vs_jamba_juice

This gave the McDonalds smoothie a "hands down better than Jamba," rating.
When I picked up Robbie from work I took him to McDonalds for the first time of our married lives and the last.  The wild berry smoothie tasted like the Costco smoothie with a slight improvement of a more yogurt texture.    The strawberry banana smoothie was better in my opinion but there isn't much about the taste that leaves you with a healthful feeling by the end of the drink.  Needless to say Jamba is definitely better than McDonalds but even better than that is Blenders in the Grass smoothie chain in Santa Barbara.  I should have known.

August 8,2010: Brett Simpson Won the 2010 US Open at Huntington Beach

Congrats Brett Simpson!  He's a two time winner of the US Open at Huntington Beach.






http://www.usopenofsurfing.com/article.cfm?id=42377
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-surfing-20100809,0,522958.story

August 7, 2010: Shades & Swimwear

    

     At the Jr. lifeguard competition in Huntington Beach I scored a deal and got these new sunglasses for $30.00. I just checked online and the going rate is $120.00. They are even polarized and I am in love with them.

     I also couldn't resist a sweet deal with this swimwear company who designs sports swimwear. Check them out http://www.tiemsurf.com/tiemsurf.com/Tiem.html

     Who knew Robbie actually had to work the tower today. If I only knew. I was just in Huntington Beach and now I have been watching the 2010 US Open Surf Championships which are going on right there. I wish I could have stayed although... The internet does show better footage. The Weezer and Hot Hot Heat concert would have been fun though.

August 4, 2010 Carpinteria Jr. Lifeguard Swim. Paddle. Run. & August 5, 2010 Jr. Lifeguard Nationals

     Last Saturday, Robbie and I  made a trip up to Summerland to see my sisters and spend time with my family.  We had a blast.  Rincon was flat as a lake but we were able to go out on the stand up paddle and kayaks and hang out with the dolphins!  Lindsey and Robbie had fun chasing after me from the other paddle board and pushing me into the freezing water!!! Needless to say it was a blast.

I originally made the trip to be there on Wednesday to watch Makenna in the Annual Swim Paddle Run for the Carpinteria Jr. Lifeguards program.  Jessy, Lindsey and I made our own team for fun and participated in the AA division.  We had a blast.

And last but not least, Lindsey, Makenna, Mom and I went to Hunnington beach for the Jr. Lifeguards Nationals Competition.  I am so proud of Makenna for her participation in Beach Flags, the long paddle, placing 19th in the long swim, and 6th in the iron guard.  Congradulations to our little winner!!!!