Summer is so close I can taste it!

One more week and I am officially on summer vacation. For the first time in forever I have a pretty low key summer planned. No visitors, no projects, no moving, only a little traveling which is always fun. Once school is out on Friday, I have until June 15th to do basically nothing. I can't wait! Well, I do have to take the AZ/US constitution class on the 5th to renew my license, but other than that...NOTHING. I can't wait to relax, do some organizing and cleaning, maybe a little planning for next school year, and of course lounge by the pool. Then, on the 15th we leave for Indiana to spend four days with family, including grandpa who is coming from Ecuador. We are then bringing grandpa back to Phoenix with us for one quick day, then driving him out to L.A. for father's day with the family out there. After a couple days in L.A. with family, Santi and I are driving down to San Diego for some couple time and a relaxing vacation. This will be the first vacation we have had as a couple since our honeymoon. All other vacations have been family trips, or trips to visit family, so I am excited to have this alone time. I am also hoping to squeeze in a girl's weekend in July with my old college roommates. I miss them terribly and it's been WAY too long since we've seen each other.
Other than counting down the days until summer, I have been busy with all of the last minute end of year school stuff, not to mention grad school. I am pleased to announce though that I am only 2 and a half classes away from being DONE. I cannot wait and I really hope it pays off (literally because I owe a boatload of money on student loans now). In between all the craziness, Santi has had two whole weekends off which has been FANTASTIC. I have also accomplished a few more items on my list of 101 in 1,001. We visited a new restaurant, our third from Food Network. It's called Joe's Farm Grill and it's located in Gilbert, AZ on the east side of Phoenix. Here's a couple of pics:

It was a really cool restaurant located on an urban farm. It was featured on the show "Diner's, Drive-Ins, and Dives" with Guy Fieri. It was set up like a burger joint, and all the food is made with ingredients straight from the urban farm on the property. I guess it's been in their family for years, and they turned the old 60's style ranch farm home into the restaurant. It has tons of outdoor seating, and huge old trees (which are rare in Phoenix) to create some shade. They also have misters for hot summer months. It's got a really neat retro vibe, and the food is all organic and healthy. We have also visited Matt's Big Breakfast from that show, located in downtown Phoenix, which is also delicious. Here's a pic there with the Food Network logo in the background:

Aside from visiting another restaurant, I have been trying some more new recipes. So here they are:

Greek Chicken Pitas with Tabouli Salad

I admit, this is technically the second time I have made this meal, but I love it and it's so quick and easy to make. Here's the recipe:

Cucumber Sauce
1/4	cup Yoplait® Original Fat Free plain yogurt
1/3	cup finely chopped seeded cucumber
1	medium green onion, sliced (1 tablespoon)
1	teaspoon grated lemon peel
	Dash salt and pepper
Sandwiches
2	teaspoons lemon juice
1	teaspoon olive or vegetable oil
1/4	teaspoon dried oregano leaves
	Dash salt and pepper, if desired
2	boneless skinless chicken breasts (4 oz each)
1	pita (pocket) bread (6 inch), cut in half to form pockets
1	small tomato, sliced
2	thin slices red onion

1.	Heat gas or charcoal grill. In small bowl, mix sauce ingredients. Set aside. (Sauce may become watery if it stands longer than 30 minutes.)
2.	In another small bowl, mix lemon juice, oil and oregano. Brush lemon mixture over chicken, coating all sides. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
3.	Place chicken on grill. Cover grill; cook cook over medium heat 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (170°F). Wrap pita halves in foil; place on grill 1 to 2 minutes or until warm.
4.	Place chicken, tomato and onion inside pita pockets. Top with sauce.

For the tabouli salad I cheated and bought the box mix. Much easier. I like the Far East brand best. Look for it by the couscous and rice.
I also tried this:

Mediterranean Chicken with Rosemary Orzo

1/2	lb uncooked chicken breast tenders (not breaded)
1	clove garlic, finely chopped
3/4	cup uncooked orzo or rosamarina pasta
1	cup Progresso® chicken broth (from 32-oz carton)
1/4	cup water
2	teaspoons chopped fresh or 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves
1/4	teaspoon salt
1	medium zucchini, cut lengthwise into fourths, then cut crosswise into slices (3/4 cup)
2	plum (Roma) tomatoes, cut into fourths and sliced (1 cup)
1/2	medium bell pepper, chopped (1/2 cup)

1.	Heat 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken in skillet about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until brown.
2.	Stir in garlic, pasta and broth. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 8 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed.
3.	Stir in remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 5 minutes, stirring once, until bell pepper is crisp-tender and pasta is tender.

And this:

Crab Cakes with Cilantro Lime Salsa

I had to use a lot more bread crumbs than what the recipe called for, but they were pretty good. I served them with brown rice and avocado. The salsa was delicious and I actually used the leftovers in another recipe the next day (see below). Here's the crab cake and salsa recipe:

Salsa
1	can (15 oz) Progresso® black beans, drained, rinsed
1	can (11 oz) Green Giant® Niblets® whole kernel sweet corn, drained
1	large tomato, chopped (1 cup)
2	tablespoons lime juice
1	tablespoon olive or vegetable oil
1/2	cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4	cup chopped red onion
2	teaspoons ground cumin
1	teaspoon sugar
1/4	teaspoon salt
Crab Cakes
3	cans (6 oz each) crabmeat, drained
1/2	cup finely chopped green bell pepper
1/2	cup Progresso® Italian style bread crumbs
1/4	cup chopped fresh cilantro
1	medium green onion, sliced
1/4	teaspoon salt
1/8	teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
2	tablespoons mayonnaise or salad dressing
1	egg, beaten
2	tablespoons olive or vegetable oil
2/3	cup Progresso® Italian style dry bread crumbs

This is what I did with the leftover salsa:

Chicken Soft Tacos with Mexican Rice

This was my own invention. I just browned some chicken in the skillet, added some water and taco seasoning, then the leftover cilantro lime salsa. I served it with flour tortillas and some Mexican rice which I just make by adding Goya brand "sazon" which makes the rice orange but very yummy.

Well, that's all for now I think. Right now we are working on some delicious Ecuadorian swordfish ceviche with tostado and patacones. I will post this recipe and pic at a later date;)

My husband needs a new job because...

...it's not about the money. I miss my husband! This weekend my husband was lucky enough to get both Saturday and Sunday off. This is a rare event. I am usually blessed if I have him home one day of the weekend, let alone two! We didn't plan anything special, but we did manage to accomplish a lot of work around the house that needed to be done, mainly cleaning up the backyard, weeding again, and cleaning the office which was an absolute disaster zone. I would have taken before and after pictures but I was too embarrassed. I can't really take credit, my super amazing husband tackled it by himself while I worked on other housework. Which means, I can check "clean office" off of my 101 in 1,001 list! I can also add that I can update "try 20 new recipes" to "try 17 new recipes". This past week I got motivated to get in the kitchen and try some new things and this is what I came up with:

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

 We always have bananas that we let get a little too ripe, and I am always making banana bread because Santi loves it. This time I took my mom's basic banana bread recipe and used whole wheat flour and threw in some chocolate chips. It was soooo yummy! I am going to use this version from now on!
Then I tried this:

Minestrone Pasta Salad

If you like minestrone soup, this is basically the pasta salad version. It's also pretty healthy, and I used wheat pasta. Here's the recipe:

3	cups (7 1/2 ounces) uncooked medium pasta shells
2/3	cup Italian dressing
1/2	cup shredded Parmesan cheese
2	medium carrots, sliced (1 cup)
1	medium green bell pepper, chopped (1 cup)
1	can (19 oz) red kidney beans, drained, rinsed
1	can (15 oz) chick peas (garbanzo beans), drained, rinsed
1	can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with Italian herbs or stewed tomatoes, drained

1.	Cook and drain pasta as directed on package.
2.	Toss pasta and remaining ingredients. Serve warm or cold.

Then I made this:

Black Bean Pasta Cancun

This is like a Mexican pasta dish. I used quinoa pasta in this one (found it at Sprout's). It was pretty yummy. Here's the recipe:

2	cups uncooked radiatore (nugget) pasta (4 oz)
1	can (14.5 oz) Muir Glen® organic fire roasted diced tomatoes with green chilies
1	cup Progresso® black beans (from 15-oz can), drained, rinsed
1/2	teaspoon grated lime peel
1/4	teaspoon ground cumin
1/4	bell pepper, cut into 2x1/4-inch strips
2	tablespoons fat-free sour cream
2	lime wedges
	Cilantro leaves, if desired

1.	Cook and drain pasta as directed on package, omitting salt.
2.	Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, heat tomatoes to boiling. Stir in pasta, beans, lime peel, cumin and bell pepper. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until hot. Garnish with sour cream, lime and cilantro. Squeeze lime over pasta.

I decided I like to take pictures of my new dishes, one because it makes me feel like a real chef (ha ha ha), and two because I feel like I need proof that I can actually cook if I take the time. Anyways, most of the new things I have been trying come from www.eatbetteramerica.com which is a great place to find easy, healthy recipes. I also use the Food Network website when I am feeling adventurous. I love Bobby Flay.
On another note, I survived field day at school yesterday. The kids had a good time, I was a little stressed because I did a lot of the planning and organizing and it included all of first and kinder this year which was a LOT of kids. Here is the evidence that they had fun:

And here is what brought them to that point:

I am going to tear up at graduation this year. I was so blessed with a wonderful class of some really great kids this year. They are really a great group.

101 in 1,001

So I was looking for something interesting to spice up my blog. I wanted to do something different than just blog about our daily lives. In my quest for new ideas, I came across the idea of 101 in 1,001. A list of things I want to accomplish, see, do, try, etc. over the course of 1,001 days. I saw it as a challenge. Something to push me to do things out of the ordinary, try new things, experience new things, experience all life has to offer. Now, I am always up for adventures and trying new things, but I thought what a cool way to motivate myself to actually do all the things I want to do. I am going to keep you all updated on my list through my blog, just to keep things interesting between posts about our exciting or not so exciting lives:) So, without further ado...the list:

My 101 in 1,001: 101 things to tackle in 1,001 days
Start Date: April 24, 2010
End Date: January 19, 2013 (wow that seems like a long time from now!)

Personal Improvement:
Attend yoga at least once a week for two months
Attend kickboxing class at least once a week for two months
Try acupuncture
Not eat out for a month
Have a no tv/internet week
Participate in some type of run (5k, etc.)
Finish my Master's Degree
Try a whole Zumba class at the gym
Do strength training exercises twice a week for a month (working on this)
Jog 3 miles again like I used to be able to do:)
Have a spa day
Get some new jewelry
Get an awesome pair of heels and actually wear them
Get a tan!
Get teeth professionally whitened

Faith:
Finish reading the entire Bible
Consistently journal my Bible reading daily for at least one month
Share my faith with someone new
Complete a missions trip of some sort
Pray for others every day (work in progress)

Travel:
Visit San Diego
Visit Tombstone
Go camping
Return to Ecuador
Go to the Galapagos
Go on a cruise
Drive route 1 in California
Stay at the Venetian in Vegas
Go to the Phoenix Zoo (and not just for Zoolights)
Go to Napa Valley
Stay somewhere new in Sedona
Visit Flagstaff in the winter

Adventures:
Hike Camelback mountain
Hike the Grand Canyon
Learn to play golf
Learn to play blackjack
Try 20 new recipes (8/20)
Learn to make a new mixed drink
Chop my hair off (Done! 5/28/10)
Read 10 new books (currently reading 1 of 10)
Try the night tour of the Desert Botanical Gardens
Try 5 new hiking trails in Phoenix
Find 10 new restaurants to try in Phoenix (2/10) 
1. Ta Carbon (super yummy Mexican hole-in-the-wall kind of place)
2. Joe's Farm Grill (another restaurant from Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives)
Make ceviche again  Done 5/16/2010
Learn to bake and decorate a cake
Get a bike or rollerblades
Go horseback riding again
Go to a concert
Stay for both movies at the drive-in
Go swimming in Lake Pleasant
Find a place to go fishing in Phoenix
Drive across the border
Buy an expensive bottle of wine (more than $20)
Try 5 new sushi rolls

Family/Friends:
Have a baby
Have a girl's weekend with my college roommates (in the planning stages)
Have a designated date night once a week for a month
Go on a picnic with my husband
Take my dog to the dog park in Gilbert with the lake (checked it out on 5/16/10, planning to take Tevez in a couple of weeks, it looks really cool!)
Get grandma and grandpa out here for a visit
Have a candlelight dinner with my husband once a week for a month
Take a dancing lesson with my husband
Take a mother/daughter trip
Host a wine and cheese party
Go to at least 5 sporting events with my husband
Get professional pictures taken of my husband and I

Financial:
Pay off the Nissan Altima
Get a minimum of $5,000 in the savings account
Reach a point financially where I can stay home or work from home
Stick with a budget for five full months
Not buy any new clothes for a month
Spend less than $300 on groceries in a month
Put $5 in the savings for each completed task and donate $5 for each incomplete task

Hobbies and Creativity:
Make Shutterfly albums with all of our pictures
Learn some type of new craft
Get a nicer camera and learn how to take great pictures
Update blog at least once a month (in progress)
Go to a pottery studio

Home:
Redecorate/repaint our bedroom
Buy a sectional sofa with a pullout couch for our guests
Finally clean and organize the office  (completed 5/1/10 thanks to my husband!)
Buy something from Etsy
Put grass in our backyard
Get some flower pots for the front yard
Have a shredding party and clean out the filing cabinet
Get a digital picture frame
Make the bed every day for a week  (done 5/10)
Organize my favorite recipes
Keep up with cleaning for an entire week
Bake something once a month

Reaching Out:
Volunteer somewhere other than church
Leave a 50% tip for dinner
Give money to one of the homeless people by school
Actually meet and know both of our neighbors names
Lend someone a microloan
Send handwritten notes to each of our sponsor children in Ecuador
Pay for the person behind me in the drive through
Make a new friend
Buy a goat for someone in a poor country

Getting Green:
Use reusable shopping bags every shopping trip for a month
Try a new "green" method of cleaning
Eat fruit off the trees in our own backyard
Grow an indoor herb garden (in progress, just planted my cilantro and parsley!)
Learn to garden desert style and actually have a vegetable garden in our backyard

There you have it! If you are interested in starting your own list, here is a great website to get you going:
http://dayzeroproject.com/

Blessed

“As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.” Ecclesiastes 11:5

It's been awhile, I know. We have been BUSY. I know I always say this, but we are ALWAYS busy. Since the last time I posted we have had some major life accomplishments worth celebrating!!! On March 21st, Santiago became a United States citizen!!!! What an amazing gift from God. I got teary eyed during the ceremony. Just looking back, just thinking of all Santi and I have been through together. Thinking of how long he has waited for this moment. Thinking of the weight that has been lifted off his shoulders. Thinking if how proud he is to have reached this point and have this opportunity. While he is now a U.S. citizen, he will always been an Ecuadorian first. I know his pride for Ecuador will never fade, but I also know he is just as proud to be an American. God is good!
So that leaves us with working on his parents immigration status. Practically as soon as we got home from  the ceremony, we got rolling on all the paperwork for his parents. We are really looking forward to being able to lift this weight off their shoulders as well. They have been waiting over 13 years. It's been a long time coming. I will keep everyone posted on their status as well. It will be yet another moment to celebrate.
At the end of March God brought us to another milestone, and Santi completed his bachelor's degree! He has worked so hard and I know it has not been an easy road for him. We are so grateful he had this opportunity, and not only that but it was completely paid for. I know he is so relieved to be finished, and I know he feels truly accomplished. He is actually thinking about pursuing a Master's degree already! I am so proud of my husband. I have the best husband in the world, and God truly blessed me when He sent Santi my way.

Now that he is finally finished with his degree, the job search begins. It is a little scary and overwhelming to be looking for a new job in this economy, especially because he needs to find one that matches or exceeds his current salary, which isn't too shabby. What he really needs is regular hours (weekends off so I am not stuck home alone every weekend), and a job that fulfills him. I know his current job is stressful, and it's not where he wants to be. We could really use your prayers that God sends the right job his way at the right time. I just have to remember that God's timing is impeccable.

Along with all of these blessings, we have also had some personal struggles this month. And while I know things aren't always going to be easy, and life is full of ups and downs, I find comfort in knowing that God is in charge. My strength is in Him and Him alone. He gives and takes away. In the end, we are truly BLESSED.

The First Month of Twenty Ten

Is tomorrow really the last day in January already? Wow. As I was changing our classroom calendar to February on Friday after school, I found it hard to believe how fast the first month of 2010 has gone. I would say this year has gotten off to a pretty good start for us. We have successfully maintained our resolution to eat better and get more exercise (I think Santi has done a little better than I have on that one, he has lost about 15 pounds!), we are still working our budget (there will always be room for improvement in this area), and we are plugging away with school and work. On the 23rd we celebrated Santi's 29th birthday. His last year in his 20's. We have heard that the 30's are better than the 20's. I guess he will have to let me know if that is true next year:) I think I pulled off a pretty good birthday surprise. I started the day off with a massage appointment for him, then surprised him with lunch at The Brazilian Bull, then tickets to the Suns game...and the Suns even won! I think I enjoyed his birthday just as much as he did. Really, any weekend we get to spend together is a great one since it doesn't happen too often.
Last week Santi got a letter about his citizenship. It was a list of all the documentation he needs to prepare before his interview. One more step in the process. We are getting there. It feels so close! He is also only about two months away from graduation. We are ready to celebrate that as well! Speaking of graduation, he is on the hunt for a new job, which is not the easiest task in the current job market. We have been praying for the right opportunity to come his way and waiting for God to provide. This week we discovered that Goodyear is going to be home to the new Solartech plant, right down the road from our house. They will be bringing over 200 jobs to the area. According to the paper they are going to be opening in September and will be looking to hire mostly locals. Could this be God's provision? I'm not sure, but it definitely gives us a feeling of hope! So for now, we will keep praying that Santi finds a career that he enjoys, that allows us time together, and also allows him to provide for us. As for my job, I just have to pray that all of the current state budget cuts aren't going to mean a salary cut or furlough days for me next year. It is not looking too promising at the moment. I know that God will be faithful and that He has a plan, but sometimes it isn't easy to sit back and wait to find out what that plan is.
Here's to hoping that February brings even more promise and hope!