Leaf Crunching.

I have this weird quirk; I love to crunch leaves by stepping on them. I adore this, actually. I've always enjoyed said act. Luckily, we live on a prime leaf-stomping street.
Those are sycamore trees. They're awesome; the size is impressive, they can provide nice shade in hot weather {not that it ever graces us with it's presence} and the best/crunchiest leaves rain down on us.

The leaves start to bud in late April. I drive home everyday and when I turn into the street at this time of year, I start furiously looking up when I round the corner. When the buds finally make their appearance the trees develop this beautiful, ethereal if you will, light green hue. It's hard to focus on any of the baby leaves since they're so high up there which causes the trees to look as though they're glowing light neon green. I love that.

The leaves then become a BEAUTIFUL rich almost Kelly green in late May and early June. Then our California sun takes it's toll and the leaves begin to brown ever so slightly. Around this time of year, the weird little mummified leaves start to fall. I'm not quite sure what it is; it could be a mold and I annually rejoice over something that's bad for these trees. Whatever it is, though, it makes the leaves delightfully "crunchy". With these crunchers, it's extremely satisfying to step down on one. I can feel the give and the sound is nicely crackly. I think this is weird behavior but I'm willing to come out of this closet, so to speak; maybe there are others like me out in the world.
Here's what the funny whitey stage looks like.

And here's the act itself.

The pathetic thing, I readily admit, is that I've injured myself in my endeavor. I was running and took an errant step in an effort to "get a leaf"; I landed funny and rolled my ankle. It wasn't severe by any means but it was enough to make me think about how stupid it would be to get really hurt this way.
But it certainly didn't stop me.
xoxo, natty ♥

Wordless Wednesday™; "I love Indian food more than my husband does" edition.

xoxo, natty ♥

Danger.

Behold: Bear Territory - it looks terrifying, doesn't it?! Yes!

While running today, about three miles in, I thought about how I was loving on lots of things I passed by. I had seen a really cute cactus plant {I kid you not} and some lovely kitty cats amongst other things. I then decided to not take any pictures and just write about these things on this here blog. I made this decision based entirely on my hunger level and that I needed to get home as.soon.as.possible so that I could eat supper. Anytime between 4 PM and whenever I eat my dinner is not a good time to get between me and my food y'all. It's no small miracle that I often run during this time in the school year.
Anyway, just as I had that thought, I ran past a house with a cute little front yard vineyard/garden. This is not uncommon in our area; we are quite blessed with a Mediterranean Climate and almost anything can grow here so people take advantage of this situation with all of their land. Then something caught my eye that made me change my mind. I even braved the risk that this sign boasted to get a close-up picture. I just had to and couldn't resist.

Will wonders never cease? I certainly hope so!
xoxo, natty ♥
PS
For all you local-yokels...this is Newhall Avenue in Santa Clara. Think about THAT {the bear danger} the next time you're wandering around those mean streets.

Marvelous Monday.

Happy Monday y'all. A few things on which to cogitate for you here.

1. I know what that thing is from Thursday's post! My friend Kathy told me that it's a praying mantis...ugh!!!!
2. Halloween is coming up! Some might be offended at the early onslaught of holiday-ness {the witching day through love day} but I kind of like it. I do love my job but sometimes the school year goes by slowly, generally when it's between 6 and 6:15 AM and I'm trying to wake up...we joke in our family that the academic year is just about over when Halloween hits and it does feel true. I think it has to do with looking forward to something. It feels exciting to anticipate a fun occasion and I find the holidays fun...even the ones just our family celebrates like crab fest weekend. Anyway, the message from this convoluted point is that I like holidays even/especially if it's an excuse to dress up and eat themed {or not} food.
3. I had a good running weekend. Today may or may not be my day off, I haven't decided yet, but the two runs I got in got me feeling good and jazzed about my plan. I should probably get some new shoes, just like Bec's {way to reciprocate blog love today!!!}, to make me even more pumped.
4. I made a YUM-O dinner last night. Pardon me, please, since I took a picture.The lighting was poor and I try not to take pictures of my food since I'm not a professional food photog and my efforts just don't communicate the deliciousness of whatever if is that I was enjoying, they just make it look weird. But this blog is here so that I can remember things dagnabbit. And remember this dinner I will.

I love to cook. I really love it. I also love to eat. I double-really love it. But cooking kind of fell by the wayside with wedding planning so it's an effort of mine to do it almost every day for the rest of the month. There is something I don't usually like, though; contrived stuff. That sounds weird. What I'm trying to say is that I like to make things myself. It most certainly doesn't always happen that way. More often than not it doesn't. I do derive great satisfaction by cooking from recipes; making my own taco seasoning, for example, instead of buying the packet, since I have all the spices anyway. So when I saw these interesting little contraptions, I was skeptical, but I got over it and decided that they might just help us when 1) the going is not strong {we're tired after work} and 2) the creativity is lacking and we're making tuna melts for the 5th time this week. What I'm talking about is packets of spices, just the right amount of each, and a recipe card. I put in all the "regular" ingredients {the meat and cheese or whatever} and don't have to measure out the spices. Lazy? Yes! Fun and convenient? Yes! Last night we did the quesadilla casserole. Not fine dining but DELISH! We substituted pita chips for tortillas and did kind of a beefy/cheesy/tomato-y/pita chip bake and I loved it. Thanks McCormick! They don't know about me, bee-tee-dubs; they have NO clue, I just like these little spice packet/recipe card things they've got going on.
5. This is related to #2: along with holly-daze, I also like Autumn. Now, living where we do, and I'm not complaining here, we don't really have super definite lines between our seasons; one just kind of melts {get it?! It doesn't really work here though since we get no snow...} into another and the variation in temperature year round {hottest to coldest, around average} is maybe 30 degrees {Fahrenheit, y'all, we in the U S of A here...just kidding; but really, it is Fahrenheit...}. I have had the lovely and valuable experience of living somewhere where there are seasons {Minnesota} for four years, albeit that the emphasis was on cold there; though don't let me forget beautiful, because it is. So even though our seasons aren't super defined and varied, I still am appreciative of Fall and the contrived nostalgia of warm/cool days and leaves floating around. I say "contrived" since I didn't do especdially idyllic things at this time of year growing up {it was a great though, don't get me wrong!}, I think I just really like the color scheme most often associated with it {golds and reds and deep greens} and all that jazz. I'm weird like that. Apple picking and pumpkin patches don't detract from it at all either. To sum it up, I'm actually happy that the season is changing; summer is my number one love, that's for sure, but Fall is beautiful and a lot of fun it it's own right.

What is great about your Monday? Is there a season or the onset of a season which delights you? Do you have any interesting motivational tools when it comes to home cooking? ¡Hasta luego!
xoxo, natty ♥

Community.

I think that today is always a somber day, not just on a big number anniversary. I was 17 when the attacks happened and definitely didn't fully get it. I kind of still don't get it. What I can do, though, is be grateful. I think I talk a lot on here about what I love and the things in life that I am thankful for but I am also of the mindset that one cannot do this enough. This exercise of being aware of the positive in my life and the world at large helps me to do the things in life that aren't so fun {like waking up at 6 am for work} as well as to do the things I do love {eating}. If I were to focus on the bad things {whatever they may be, for there are many} or not on anything at all, I would just be kind of stuck; I wouldn't be able to do much at all.
This is a kind of convoluted stream of consciousness post for you here today, dear reader, but it's what's on my heart. I titled the post "Community" not in a reference to the TV show but in a reference to communities all around us. I truly believe that community and caring is the key to a well functioning society {amongst a few other things}. I am really lucky to have so much great community all around me {work, friends, family...} and Mike and I were blown away by the AMAZING outpouring of community at our wedding last weekend. Folks coming together and connecting = community; it warms my heart and makes me love people as a whole and believe in great and positive things happening.
Here's to community - local, familial, global, intergalactic, animalistic, culinary and all other groups of connection; may they be joined in peace.
xoxo, natty ♥

Saturday

This Saturday was great. Not as great as last Saturday, but lovely nonetheless. I am promising myself, by the way, that I will get up an official Wedding Post, not just blathering about love, but I need some time here folks. 
Anyway, we schlepped it up to the city today to run our long run {14}. My running has gotten so sloppy. I ran pretty well and steadily this summer, six days a week, five to seven miles at a time. I didn't do any long runs because I wasn't officially on a training plan yet. The first week of the plan happened to be Costa Rica but a one week difference isn't a big deal for me and these kinds of things. 
The week after CR was spent recovering and, again, I let it slide. I'm definitely the kind of athlete/runner who NEEDS her recovery in order to tear it up later on. So I started on the third week of the plan. It was also the week where school meetings started and then classes came the following week. It wasn't prudent of me to put off the training until these two very tiring weeks of adjustment, but I made it work...until the day before classes when I was at work until really late getting set-up. Thus ensued several days of being dead on my feet and I didn't want to be exhausted while teaching so I was lenient with myself. 
That brings us to two weeks ago. Mike and I got in our long run. I am also the type of runner who gains a lot of confidence from a long run so I took that as a good jump-start to re-beginning my miles, even though it was actually very hot and we ran at rancho which was soooooo hilly that day {not like it changes, but we ended up on hilly trails}. Then wedding week happened. Then the week after wedding week happened. Now we're at today. 
As I'm sure you know I love running. I've emoted on this topic before. Today made me realize that even more, even though I was SUPER pooped at the end. I'm really looking forward to getting back on track {no pun intended} and to tearing it up in December at the California International Marathon. Hear me now - I have a goal. I actually have many, but one bucket list-y thing is to qualify for the Boston Marathon. At the Nike Women's last year, my first 26.2 miler, I came close. Seven minutes close. It was an amazing experience. I had trained for almost 20 weeks and felt so pumped up; I loved every minute of it. Even when it was rainy. Even when it was windy. Even when it was hilly {and it was very hilly, being in San Francisco [which, somehow, didn't really come to mind at all in the months leading up...what a dumb-dumb I was]}. What I'm hoping is that with marathon número dos, I can shave off eight minutes. That's a fairly big improvement, but I'm hopeful for two reasons:
* It was pouring rain and windy and super hilly in SF last year.
* The CIM is supposed to be one of the fastest courses. 
Wish me luck!
After our run we drove across the bay to visit friend Eddie and he took us to a deli in his neighborhood.

It was so dang delicious. I got a sandwich that was on a French roll, which I normally don't care for. In fact, I'm not a huge sandwich fan unless it's Jimmy John's . But today, my provolone, prosciutto, mortadella, sauteed mushroom, grilled pepper and balsamic sandwich was incredible.
The deli also had a beautiful array of cold cuts and salads; total eye candy for someone who had just run longer that humans should and was ready to eat a whole cow if given the chance.

Don't waste your time and calories on the fruit salad...a life motto by me™.

It took a great deal of self control to not order one of everything as well as five pounds of three bean salad, my fave. 
I did make it out with some olives. I've been crazing salty this past week and the olives with the sandwich certainly gave me my allotment.
Mr. Mikey also came out on top; he got a pickle. It didn't even make it home; it got ett while he was driving. I'll stick with my olives thankyouverymuch.

One other random note to end this post. Poor Sugar, the other dog of the household, gets the shaft in terms of gratuitous pet-picture-taking. She's a bit skittish and the g-dog is very malleable, not mention pick-up-able and corner-able, thus, Guinness makes many an appearance on ye olde blog. But Sugar looked so cute last night and I was able to take these before she registered what I was doing and run away, her usual reaction to anything I do.
Both dogs will take advantage of ANYTHING that has been left on the floor. If it's edible, then they will eat it. If it's soft, then they will lay in or on it. This is Guinness' bed and a bit small for Sugar baby; that certainly did not deter her.

Happy week-end y'all!
xoxo, natty ♥

Recipe for a happy wife.

* my husband ♥
* some wine, preferably white
* dinner at El Burro {¡Carne Asada para mí!}
* coworker fun {off-campus}
* a hairy dog
* Friday
* the warm, hot wind tonight
* Halloween next month {!}


I apologize for the sappiness these days - but don't we all just love the way the weekend makes us feel?!


Good Days of Rest to you all!
xoxo, natty ♥

PS

PLEASE help me figure out that thing in yesterday's post...it's haunting me in a weird way; I need to know what it is to feel better!

What the heck is this creature?! Also, a name change!

I was walking on campus this afternoon and daintily side-stepped a stick. All of my actions are dainty. 
Anyway.
I looked at the stick again.
It wasn't a stick.

But I can't say what it is.

Can you? Please? It really freaked me out! Is it a praying mantis? Are they supposed to be this beige color? I thought they were green? An aged and thus bleached-out grasshopper mayhaps? I'm hoping the latter; in my opinion mantises belong in the same category as silverfish {& Carrot Top} - a part of nature, which I love, but dis-gust-ing nonetheless.
Also, you, dear reader, might notice a slightly new header. Yes indeedy, I am now, in fact, a Señora! I'd like to unroll a more autumnal  blog design come Fall. That happens around September 21st because I like to follow rules, like when the seasons really do switch over. I'm paranoid like that.
Happy almost-Friday y'all; it's gonna be my first married weekend!
xoxo, natty ♥

Wordless Wednesday™; you know you had a good an amazing the best time ever at your wedding when...

...and you kept on dancing ♥

xoxo, natty ♥

Easing back into reality...

My in-laws {I love being able to say that!} and aunt/uncle in-law are leaving later this afternoon. I just cleared up all of the crafting supplies from the wedding. Laundry desperately needs to be folded later today and I need to do a bit of planning for...uhhhh...ummmm...I"d rather not say what needs to be planned for, but I think we can all guess seeing as how today is my last day-off. Anyway.

At the risk of boring my reader{s}, I am still on cloud-nueve. I had such an amazing past week and I am so happy right now. So much so that the return to what-shall-not-be-named tomorrow doesn't seem all that bad; though it still does not need to be directly mentioned.
Again, just so much love!
xoxo, natty ♥

Marvelous Monday; photographic and married {♥} edition.

As I mentioned yesterday, I LOVED our wedding. I am still thinking about how much fun was had and how much love was everywhere throughout the whole day. I have a few pictures I've poached gotten from people that I want to put up soooooooo Marv. Monday turne photographic; plus, I feel as though y'all know exactly what it is I'm grateful for right now {family, friends and a husbanc!}.
Without further ado, several pictures {and a link} to represent what is making me so happy this day...

1.

2.

3.

4.

5. Engagement photos ♥


Soooooo much love and happiness right now.
xoxo, natty ♥

Amazing Most Wonderful Best Day.

Alternate title being "I'm so happy I can't even contain it or stop smiling or even stop askin people if they're this happy too and if they had a good time and telling them that I'm so happy they came to our wedding." Yesterday was phenomenal. Exhausting, too, in a great way - quite a lot of work was done even up until the last hour; a HUMONGOUS thanks goes to our bridal party, family, friends and innocent bystanders. I really am SO FULL of love and happiness right now. My parents and family were amazing and my new family is incredible {though they're not that "new" to me, it's just official now}. It's anyone's guess as to when I'll manage some pictures seeing as how I took none myself but I am really looking forward to seeing them. What I can muster up right now, though, is that we, my HUSBAND {giggle giggle...aren't I too young to be able to say that?}and I, are SUPER grateful and appreciative of all the love and support our family and friends showered upon us these past days; I LOVE {again with the caps, I know...but I'm excited!} being loved. This is on my phone because the comp-you-tour got left back at he buzz-ouse {we're enjoying out of town family time at the hotel for two more night before reality welcomes us back with her cold and scaly grip} so the formatting might be blah; please pardonez mois. So much love! The only picture I have, actually, is of our cake! We didn't have a traditional one last night, we had little bite thingies. This morning, though, the wonderful bakery owner who whipped up a beautiful spread for our breakfast, gifted us tbis morning with a beauty. Princess Cake! He doesn't even know how much I love it! We might eat it but haven't decided yet since we could also freeze it to eat in a year. Again, I am SO happy right now. xoxo, natty ♥ PS I need to change my header...I'm a "señora" now!

xoxo, natty ♥

Yikes!

I just missed posting on Friday by, like, 3 minutes! Well, if I were in Hawaii, it would be legitimate...oh well; I'm getting married!
xoxo, natty ♥

Great things.

The best part about this week, other than great family and friends coming here, was the surprise of these amazing shirts last night at the airport. I promptly stripped to my sports bra and put mine one.

 

Also, this is what the boys {cousins, dad, brother, Mikey & his dad} did while we girls enjoyed the great shower I blogged about earlier this week.

In case you can't read what the Hooters girls wrote on the paper towels tucked into his shirt, it spells out   "S-U-C-K-E-R.

Class all the way, homes.

xoxo, natty ♥

Wordless Wednesday; what a wedding does to your life...

  ***I do need to express that I am not a fan of Blogger's new format...any thoughts out there?***

...makes your cat coo-coo.

...shoves all of your furniture into one room...

...while floors get waxed {look how shiny!}.

...brings family together.

...takes you to San Francisco.

...lets you see the ocean.

...gets you a yummy lunch.

...lets you see more surf...

...and waves...

...and water.

...and lets you see this for the first time ♥.

xoxo, natty ♥