silver bells, silver bells..

it's Christmas time in the city!

just a few snapshots of how we have been enjoying the holiday season here in Baltimore...

our apartment, all dressed up for Christmas

our tree! It is almost nine feet tall. I really wanted a big one since we now have the space!

Baltimore's Washington monument

34th Street in Hampden. This picture was actually on Bing.com a few days ago, along with tips on how to speak Baltimorese. It is Baltimore's own Miracle on 34th Street!

thankful

I can't believe that it has been over a month since I last posted something. And by that, I mean that this month has completely flown by! Derek and I have both been extremely busy at work and traveling a ton, so we have really been looking forward to spending time with our families today and tomorrow.

Today, tomorrow, and every day, I am thankful for..
                    ..the love that always fills my home.
                    ..the distance between Baltimore and Virginia. Hah! I mean I am thankful that they
                       are not so far apart. My parents and brothers mean so much to me and it is so nice to live  
                       close enough now to see them more often.
                    ..evening runs with my future husband. It is our chance disconnect from the world no
                       matter how crazy the week is.
                    ..our little bear, Kaiah. She brings us such an immeasurable amount of happiness. I can't  
                       wait for her to be our flower girl! She is already practicing.
                    ..experiences that push me out of my comfort zone. I have started living by the motto,
                       "what would you do if you knew you could not fail".
                    ..the opportunities I have had to be a traveler, experience new things, and see the world.

inspiration for the weekend

Some positive thoughts and pretty words to start the weekend...

via

via

eight years..

Eight years ago, on the most perfect fall evening, Derek took me to the movies and asked me to be his girlfriend. 

It seems like just yesterday that I was picking out the perfect outfit and spending hours in front of the mirror getting ready for that night. I was full of butterflies, but I felt like I had already known Derek for my whole life. 

If you had asked me then if I thought that one day I would walk into our living room and see Derek on one knee, asking me to be his wife, I probably would have just giggled.

Well here we are, eight years later, and a few months ago I turned the corner in our apartment, truly, completely, absolutely unsuspecting, and there he was..on one knee! He was smiling from ear to ear, with the most incredibly beautiful ring in his hand, and I’m sure he said some very sweet words but I don’t think I was listening to them very well. All I remember were the four words that I had dreamed of hearing for so long... “Will you marry me?"

Eight years later and I love him more than I ever thought possible. 

Eight years later I still wake up and pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming and that this is real.

homecoming -- October 2005

Christmas 2006

Cologne, Germany -- Summer 2008

Summer 2009

Negril, Jamaica -- August 2012

I am so happy that I met Derek when I did, and I am grateful for all the years of memories that I got to make with my best friend.

This year, we got engaged! We celebrated our engagement in Jamaica. We moved into a beautiful and spacious new apartment and Derek was admitted to graduate school.

Our eighth year together was pretty amazing and I can't wait to see what the next year brings!

turkey and quinoa stuffed peppers

This recipe feels like fall! It is warm and hearty, but it is also super healthy! These stuffed peppers prove that comfort food doesn't have to derail your healthy habits.

Ground turkey is a low fat alternative to ground beef. We use 95/05 ground turkey that is freshly ground. Quinoa is very high in protein (14% by mass) and calcium, it decreases appetite, and is rich in amino acids and vitamin E. It is a great alternative to rice.Tomatoes have the antioxidants lycopene, vitamin C and vitamin A, and they also reduce inflammation. Bell peppers are loaded with vitamin C, and because they are baked in the oven, the nutrients do not escape as they would if they were cooked in another way.

Turkey and Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients
          3 cups quinoa, cooked
          1 lb lean ground turkey
          1 large onion
          2 cans diced tomatoes with no salt added
          1 tbsp cumin
          2 tsp minced garlic or garlic powder
          salt to taste
          shredded 2% milk cheese
          5 or 6 sweet red bell peppers

Directions
          Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
       
          Cook the quinoa according to package instructions.

          Spray some olive oil spray in a large saute pan and heat on a medium flame. Add onion, garlic and cilantro to the pan. Saute about 2 minutes and add ground turkey. Season with salt and garlic powder, and cumin and brown meat for several minutes until meat is completely cooked through. Add the tomatoes and let simmer for a few more minutes.

          Combine the quinoa and the meat mixture in the large saute pan.

          Prepare the peppers by removing the stem and all seeds by cutting off the top, or cut the peppers in half lengthwise and remove all seeds. Place the peppers in a baking dish and spoon the meat mixture into each, filling them up as much as possible. Top the peppers with shredded cheese.

          Place the peppers into the preheated oven and bake for about 20 minutes, or until peppers are soft.

       

our trip to Jamaica

We're back at home after 9 days in paradise. We were so so excited to get home and see our girl, who spent the week being spoiled by her Oma and Opa. We are extremely grateful that my parents were able to enjoy our apartment for the week, and take such amazing care of Kaiah. We came home to a warm dinner and a freshly bathed dog. They are absolutely wonderful.

It was so nice to relax and disconnect from the rest of the world. We celebrated my birthday, our beautiful life, 8 years together, and our engagement. We spent the long tropical days talking about how much fun we have had together the past 8 years, and about all the things we are excited for in the years to come. We also read a few books, jumped from a few bridges, and ate a goat.. I can hardly believe that last one my self.

We left for Jamaica early Saturday morning, and had our toes in the sand on Negril's 7-mile beach by the afternoon. We were lucky that tropical storm Isaac spared Jamaica, only causing some wind and a few waves in the usually crystal clear, calm water. After four nights on the beach, we moved to the cliffs of Negril, which are located on the westernmost tip of Jamaica and are actually made of fossilized coral. Our little villa was extremely private, and about three feet from the edge of the cliff. From our terrace we could see the Negril Lighthouse and the cliff divers at Rick's Cafe. The view was breathtaking and the sunsets were incredible!

We can't wait to be back in the Carribean doing some wedding planning!

a peek inside our new home

These pictures were taken when we were just barely moved in, so please excuse the lack of decoration!

living room ...which is actually even bigger than it appears in this picture!

kitchen

terrace off of master bedroom

view from terrace

We absolutely love it already!

We ended moving day watching the beautiful sunset!

moving day

We have so many amazing memories in this little apartment.

A year ago, we got a big opportunity in an unfamiliar city and we took it. We took a little leap of faith, trusting that everything happens for a reason.

We came to Towson for Derek's interview on a Tuesday, he got the job offer on Wednesday, and we came back to Towson on Thursday so that he could attend meetings and so that we could house hunt. We stopped by the building that we now live in and were told that no apartments were immediately available. The next day, Friday, we got a call from our building to tell us that they had worked it out and a 1 bedroom was now available. We drove to Towson on Saturday, signed our lease, picked up our keys, and went straight to our rooftop pool! On Sunday, my wonderful parents brought Kaiah and some more boxes. Monday was the Fourth of July, and Derek started work on Tuesday. Whew! Did you follow that? It was a whirlwind of a week.

But we couldn't be happier with how things have turned out.

We feel at home in Towson and we really love this charming city of Baltimore.

I found a job that I absolutely love, and that constantly challenges me.

Derek and I grew closer while we shared 600 square feet and 1 closet with an 80 pound bear dog. We learned that more is not always better, and that we didn't really need so much 'stuff''.
I would not trade that experience for anything.

This was the apartment where we had our first real Christmas Tree.

This was the apartment where Derek proposed.

We grew a whole lot in this apartment, and it is bittersweet to let it go.

But as much as we’re going to miss this place, we are so beyond excited for our new place and what’s to come. More room. An office space for Derek to study without distractions. Four timesas much closet space. A balcony where we can watch the sunset in the evenings, where I can plant a little garden, and where Kaiah can spend her days watching the world go by 15 stories below. A guest room for our favorite people to come and visit.


The best is yet to come..

bits & pieces

We had a very eventful week and weekend! On Thursday night we went to an Orioles game. The weather was beautiful and although I don't know anything at all about baseball, it was a lot of fun. Derek explained a lot to me, but we were in the third row and I was more focused on being ready to catch a ball!

Over the weekend we visited our parents, which is always so nice. We had lots of wedding ideas to talk about. I am so grateful that my parents will be driving a moving van up with some furniture for us next weekend. I can't believe we are moving in 4 days!

bits & pieces

My goal is to make this a weekly post, to keep our family and friends updated on what is going on in our daily life!

---

I sprained my ankle last Monday evening while trail running. :(

Several days a week, we take Kaiah to run a few miles up at the Baltimore County reservoir on some rarely used mountain biking trails. She gets to run off leash and chase squirrels and deer, while we get a really challenging workout. It is usually a win-win.

This time Derek's workout got a whole lot more difficult, because he carried me 2 miles back to the car, up and down hills, over the uneven, rocky ground.


On Friday evening, I came home to this pretty face, and a bouquet of red roses "just because"..

Have I mentioned how lucky I am to be marrying this guy?


Over the weekend, I made delicious White Bean Chicken Chili and also Chicken Enchiladas.
Follow the links for the recipes!

white bean chicken chili

I made this White Bean Chicken Chili the same week as Chicken Enchiladas because they had many of the same ingredients. It was great to be able to just buy more chicken while it was on sale, and to buy cilantro and a bag of onions and be sure that they wouldn't go bad before they were used up.

You can use different amount of each type of bean to suit your taste. White kidney beans are one of Dr. Oz's superfoods. They are high in fiber and help lower blood sugar, so use a lot of them!

White Bean Chicken Chili

Ingredients:
          1 1/2 cups shredded low fat Mexican cheese
          cilantro (optional)
          fat free or light sour cream (optional)
          4 chicken breast halves
          1 small can of chopped green chiles
          2 cans chick peas
          2 cans white kidney beans, aka Cannellini Beans
          2 cans pinto beans
          2 cups frozen corn
          8 cups chicken broth
          2 medium onions
          1 1/2 tbsp ground cumin
          2 tsp chili powder
          4 cloves of garlic, minced
          Salt to taste

Directions:
          Preheat oven to 300. Combine all but the first 3 ingredients in a large, oven-safe pot or dutch oven. Place chili in preheated oven at 300 for 45 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.

          Once the chicken is fully cooked, pull the breasts out of the chili and pull into small pieces using two forks. Recombine the pulled chicken with the chili.

          Serve chili in bowls. Top with cheese, cilantro, and sour cream to taste.
         

skinny chicken enchiladas

I love making dishes that can be eaten for dinner for several days. They mean less cooking and less cleaning when I come home from work. I usually tend to make soups and chilis, but last week I decided to try enchiladas, cooking the chicken in advance to last a few meals. Derek and I loooove mexican food, and this recipe is much healthier than a restaurant's version.

Skinny Chicken Enchiladas

Ingredients:
          corn or flour tortillas
          1 1/2 cups shredded low fat Mexican cheese
          cilantro (optional)
          fat free or light sour cream (optional)
          chopped scallions (optional)
          3 chicken breast halves
          1 can of chipotle chilis in adobo sauce
          2 medium onions
          4 cups tomato sauce
          3 cloves of garlic, minced
          2 tsp cumin
          2 tsp chili powder

Directions:
          Preheat oven to 300. Combine all but the first 2 ingredients in a large, oven-safe pot or dutch oven. Cook chicken in sauce at 300 for 30 minutes, or until cooked through.

          Once the chicken is fully cooked, pull the breasts out of the sauce and pull into small pieces using two forks. Recombine the pulled chicken with the sauce.

          Put 1/3 cup chicken mixture into each tortilla and roll, placing them in a baking dish seam side down. Top with sauce and cheese, and bake in the oven for 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the edges of the tortillas are crispy.

          Top with cilantro, sour cream, and scallions to taste.
           

out of many, one people

Derek and I are just bursting with excitement for our trip to Jamaica in a few weeks.

I can't wait for Derek to see my "other half" (he has already been to Germany!), to meet the local people, eat the local food, and soak up the culture. 

I have a feeling that he is especially going to enjoy the food. He actually passed up my offer to make him a Jamaica breakfast of Ackee and Saltfish this weekend, saying "I'm saving my appetite for Jamaica".
I could hardly believe my ears.

This is a very special year to visit Jamaica, because it marks 50 years as an independent nation.

Today, August 6th, on Jamaica's 50th Independence Day, the Jamaican flag will be raised and the Jamaican national anthem will be played in London's Olympic Stadium in honor of Usain Bolt's gold medal in the 100m!

Beautiful coincidence.

everything I know I learned on pinterest..

how to pick the best watermelon

label your cords with bread clips

hang spray bottles from a tension rod under your sink

healthy recipe substitutions

25 documents you need before you die

how to properly set a table

dining etiquette 101

slip-proof your rug

organize your hair tools with pvc pipe

bits & pieces

**I realized that I never published this post from a few weeks ago! I just couldn't let it sit forever as a draft!**
******************

On Tuesday, we got some exciting news... Derek was admitted to graduate school!

After work, we walked to appointments at the salon down the street, and then we picked up Kaiah and walked to get celebratory pizza. It was a beautiful day and the perfect day to sit outside for dinner. 

The pizza was delicious, and dare I say... possibly better than Tony's! 

As usual, Kaiah enjoyed all the attention she got from people walking by.

My grad student! 

Plan to get a tan

I surprised Derek with this a few days ago...

because we're going on a little Engagement-moon to Jamaica!!

We are spending 8 nights in Negril.. some on the famous 7-mile beach, and some on the gorgeous cliffs!

I'm so excited because I have never stayed on the cliffs, and because it is Derek's first trip to Jamaica.


This will be our private cottage on the cliffs..



And this is where we will have our toes in the sand during our stay on the beach..

I am a planner, so of course I've been making a google doc packing list, adding things as I think of them. We will not be checking any bags because we don't want to deal with the chance of them getting lost.
Only taking carry-ons means we have to be more organized and only take what we really need!

Some of the more unique things on the list are:

Snorkeling gear
Inflatable floats (found these for $2 each at Five Below!)
Travel iPod speakers
Prepaid phone card
Travel first aid kit (for shark attacks)
just kidding, there are no sharks in Negril :)
Citronella candles
Koozies (for keeping our Red Stripes cold!)
Cheap sunglasses that I won't be devastated to lose


Do you have any tips for travelling with carry-ons only? Leave your advice in a comment below!

bits & pieces

We had a very cozy, rainy weekend, and gladly accepted the weather as an excuse to take naps and watch movies.


On Friday evening, we made naan pizzas and watched A Thousand Words.

The movie was hilarious, and the perfect way to end the work week. We stole the idea for naan pizzas from my mom, who makes them better than I can and is always coming up with new ideas for toppings. I will post the recipe one of these days, minus a few family secrets ;)

On Saturday morning, we ventured into the city to stop by the farmer's market and go for a long run on the harbor. We expected it to rain lightly, but of course it began to downpour once we were a few miles away from the car. The waterfront was empty, so Kaiah got to run off leash most of the way, with only one... incident.

She spotted a group of baby ducklings and decided that they needed a momma. Derek noticed her crouching and dipping her feet toward the water, and grabbed her by her back legs just before she jumped in the water. She was so quiet about it, not wanting to disturb the babies, so we were lucky to have caught her! I don't even want to think about what a mess it would have been trying to pull her out of the harbor.

We eventually made it home, all soaked. Kaiah couldn't wait to dry off so she rubbed against the wall all the way down our hallway, even turning around to repeat a few times.

Once we were dry, we went and watched Spiderman, and picked up dinner and canollis! I made some fancy mozzarella and tomato appetizers.

Sunday was a lazy day. This sleepy face helped me do laundry before she joined her daddy for a nap.