Milwaukee Mood

Today's words

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Genesis 50:20
"As for YOU, you meant evil against me, BUT GOD MEANT IT FOR GOOD, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as the are today."

Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God, ALL THINGS work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

If what has happened has not moved us closer to Jesus and made us more engaged in his Kingdom's work, we have waisted our wiring and hindered God's purpose. Everything in our lives happen for a reason, good and bad things have a purpose. Our thoughts toward the events in our lives are the reflection of our faith and our trust in God.

21 day vegetarian challenge

One of my new friends who is a Holistic Health Coach just got certified from the Cancer Project and is going to start doing a 21 day plant based diet. It is supposed to be a "vegan" diet but since we are taking baby steps we are modifying it to be vegetarian.

Honestly I don't think I can give up cheese, meat I don't mind so much, but cheese? come on! So yesterday we made our 1st recipe and was I surprised! This is one of the best vegetable recipes I have ever tried, its hearty and filling and its roughly 300 calories per serving (2 enchiladas) I highly recommend you try it, I promise you will be pleasantly surprised.

Zucchini Enchiladas

Ingredients:

• 1 medium sweet yellow pepper, chopped
• 1 medium green pepper, chopped
• 1 large sweet onion, chopped
• 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 2 Garlic Cloves
• 2 Cans (15 oz. each) tomato sauce (we did half)
• 2 Cans (15 oz. each) no salt added diced tomatoes
• 2 Tbsp Chili Powder
• 2 tsp. Sugar
• 1 tsp. Dried Basil
• 1 tsp. Ground Cumin
• 1/4 ts. salt
• 1/4 tsp. Cayenne Pepper
• 1 Bay Leaf
• 3 lbs Zucchini, shredded (about 8 cups)
• 24 corn tortillas
• 4 cups shredded low-fat cheddar cheese
• 2 cans of diced black olives
• 1/2 cups of fresh cilantro

Preparation:

In a large sauce pan saute peppers and onion in olive oil until tender. Add garlic and cook for another minute, stir in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, chili powder sugar, basil, cumin, salt and cayenne pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered for about 30 min until the sauce is slightly thickened.

In the mean time, start building your enchiladas. You can grab about a 1/3 of a cup of zucchini and place it in the center of the tortilla and top it with about 2 Tbsp of cheese and one of olives. I personally like to mix the olives, zucchini and cheese and then roll my enchilladas. Before rolling the tortillas make sure you warm them up on a pan, if not they will break. 

Place rolled tortillas side to side seam down in baking dish coated with a bit of the sauce. Pour Sauce over and sprinkle with cheese. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 - 35 min. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve with sour cream if desired.

Enjoy!

CM

Wise words...

Some people aren't worth your time or happiness. Love those who love you, leave those who curse you and pray for those who hurt you.

I'm a Gypsy

Lyrics

This is the translation from the spanish version to English and the English version of the song does not translate well!

Nunca use un antifaz (I never wore a mask)
voy depaso por este mundo fugaz (I'm just passing through this fast pace world)
No pretendo parar (It's not my intention to stop)
¿Dime quién camina (Tell me who choses walking)
Cuando se puede volar? (when u can actually fly)

Mi destino es andar (My destiny is to go)
Mis recuerdos (My memories)
Son una estela en el mar (are a wake in the ocean)

Lo que tengo, lo doy (what I have, I give)
Digo lo que pienso (I say what I think)
Tómame como soy (take me as I am)

Y va liviano (And travels light)
Mi corazón gitano (my gypsy heart)
Que solo entiende de latir (that only knows of beating)
A contramano (when its reciprocated)
No intentes amarrarme (don't try to tie me down)
Ni dominarme (or control me)
Yo soy quien elige (I am the one who choses)
Como equivocarme (what mistakes to make)

Aprovechame (enjoy me now)
que si llegué ayer (that if I got here yesterday)
Me puedo ir mañana (I could be gone by tomorrow)
Que soy gitana (Cuz I'm a gypsy)
Que soy gitana

Sigo siendo aprendiz (I'm still learning)
En cada beso (with each kiss)
Y con cada cicatriz (and each scar)

Algo pude entender (If their is something I learned)
De tanto que tropiezo (after tripping so much)
Ya sé como caer (is that now I know how to fall)

Y va liviano (And travels light)
Mi corazón gitano (my gypsy heart)
Que solo entiende de latir (that only knows of beating)
A contramano (when its reciprocated)
No intentes amarrarme (don't try to tie me down)
Ni dominarme (or control me)
Yo soy quien elige (I am the one who choses)
Como equivocarme (what mistakes to make)

Aprovechame (enjoy me now)
que si llegué ayer (that if I got here yesterday)
Me puedo ir mañana (I could be gone by tomorrow)
Que soy gitana (Cuz I'm a gypsy)
Que soy gitana
Vamos y vemos.. (We shall see)
Que la vida es un goce (That life is to enjoy it)
Es normal que le temas (It's normal to fear)
A lo que no conoces (that u don't know)

Tómame y vamos (take me and lets go)
Que la vida es un goce (That life is to enjoy it)Es normal que le temas (It's normal to fear)
A lo que no conoces (that u don't know)Quiero verte volar (I wanna see you fly)
Quiero verte volar

Y va liviano (And travels light)
Mi corazón gitano (my gypsy heart)
Que solo entiende de latir (that only knows of beating)
A contramano (when its reciprocated)
No intentes amarrarme (don't try to tie me down)
Ni dominarme (or control me)
Yo soy quien elige (I am the one who choses)
Como equivocarme (what mistakes to make)
Si vine ayer (that if I got here yesterday)aprovecha hoy que me voy mañana (enjoy me cuz I leave tomorrow)
que soy gitana (cuz I'm a gypsy)




So me... XOXO

What a fun day!

This weekend has been pretty active, I decided to challenge my comfort zone and adventure into the undiscovered places that surround my area. I've been promising Sophia that I would take her to the Disney Store so she could use her 2 gift cards. She have had those, one since her b-day, and the other since we left Chicago.

Thank you Sarah, she loved the shopping adventure and this is what she got!

Now, the closest Disney Store is about an hour away in a suburb north of Atlanta. For some reason there are no malls in my area, which is actually good because that would be torture. Unfortunately the same applies to Chipotle, my favorite fast food restaurant in the whole wide world, which is why any time we adventure into Atlanta or the northern burbs it is a MUST to eat there.

On the way back from the mall and while hunting for a Chipotle I ran into one of my favorite Chicago burger places, I had no idea there was more than one of these, but it absolutely made my day! I cannot believe food makes me this happy, lol!

No, I did not eat there because I had to satisfy my Chipotle craving, but I am soon to return to make myself one of those very deserved custom burgers that I adore. I guess that this teaches me that I might want to start researching some of my favorite Chicago places, I might be pleasantly surprised.

Since we were already near Atlanta I decided to check out Piedmont Park which I've been told it's Atlanta's smaller version of "Central Park". The weather was a little chilly and foggy which made the park even more beautiful! One of the beautiful things about Atlanta is it's vegetation, even in the city you can find tons of trees and foresty areas. Here are some random shots!

The day followed with an interesting twist, an MMA fight in my town where I ended up seeing Shia LaBeouf, unfortunately no pics of Shia, but he's been hanging out at the Waffle House down the street and at the Starbucks that I go after my runs. If I see him again I am definitely getting a pic of him! Here are a few pics of the fight! 

Drinks followed with new friends, it was a fun fun day, it feels nice to get a break  =)

XOXO

CM

Can't Sleep

I hate when this happens, I really thought I would sleep like a baby since I had a pretty busy day. Took care of the basics and To Do's and then hit the gym for 3 classes. Power, which is a weight training class, Zumba and last but not least Centergy, a mix of yoga and pilates.

I was exhausted and went to bed early and now I've been up for 2 hours... annoying! Maybe it has something to do with my munchkin sneaking into my bed around midnight. That is her latest, at about 12 to 1 a.m. she comes in my bed and tries to go under cover. I usually send her back to her room but sometimes I give in :s

Of course the results of that is me not getting my sleep, but at least she's happy... they will only be little for a bit, right? Soon enough she will be an obnoxious teenager that would want nothing to do with me (I hope not) so I might get all my "Bibby" time now.

I think this is it for now... My head is spinning with stuff that I wish was already forgotten,  time my dear friends, time will do it!

XOXO
CM