Well, life has taken quite a few turns in the last 4 months, I got a job, we celebrated our 2nd anniversary and all 3 of our birthdays, Dave deployed, and I got laid off!  Whew!  But I know that God has a plan for everything and I am trusting in Him.  I may not understand, but that's ok, because He is in control.  So until another door opens for employment, I am going to enjoy being home with Lucy, getting caught up on projects, working out, and trying to be 100% paleo.

So far, it's going great!  Yesterday I spent the afternoon exploring La Jolla with a great friend.  I finally got to see the seals and the beautiful cliffs along the Pacific Ocean.  Wow, God created some gorgeous things.

So I would say, enjoying time off....CHECK!  

I also had a very successful day of working out and eating paleo.  I went for a walk, a run, and did some strength training.  I also finally had the time to make some yummy, healthy meals, including an egg with some sauteed veggies and a plum for breakfast, some zucchini lasagna (no noodles or cheese) with some fruit for lunch, and tilapia in lime juice with a fresh avocado, salsa, and peas (which aren't 100% paleo depending on what you read) for dinner.  Oh, and some almonds and grapes for some snacks throughout the day!  Woohoo!  

Day 1 of not working = a success!

Beautiful Moon

It was a beautiful California night...perfect for seeing the "Super Moon."  We walked over to a little park to watch it come up over the mountains.  Amazing! (Sadly, the camera didn't capture the mountains in background)  It was such an experience to see it get bigger and brighter as the evening went on.  God's masterpiece!

  

In the kitchen I have been experimenting with new meals....I am always pinning so many yummy foods, organizational ideas, fun crafts....and yet...I never use them or make them....I just keep pinning!  I decided  enough of that!  One of the meals I've made recently was grilled chicken with spinach, mozzarella, and roasted red peppers, button mushrooms, and what we like to call "Aunt Susan's Salad."  Oh my mouth is watering again just thinking of it!  It was definitely a winner of a meal!!  And it was pretty simple...even better!

I used the recipe from skinnytaste.com to get the idea for the chicken, and then modified it a bit to make it my own!  Here is here link if you are interested!  http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/03/grilled-chicken-with-spinach-and-melted.html  

I marinated my chicken in Italian dressing all day...I think it just adds so much flavor!  I then sauteed up my spinach, and the grill master of the family grilled the chicken.  We then topped it with the spinach, some mozzarella cheese and roasted red peppers...and voila!  Deliciousness!  

Grilled Chicken with Spinach, Mozzarella, and Roasted Red Peppers

4 chicken breast, cut in half to make them thinner

Italian Dressing of your choice

EVOO

A couple handfuls of fresh baby spinach

1/2 yellow onion, chopped

3-4 cloves minced garlic

Roasted Red Peppers (I used the jar, but you could also make your own)

Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

1.  Marinate chicken in Italian dressing for at least one hour, or up to all day

2.  Saute spinach, onion, and garlic in EVOO until spinach is wilted and onions are tender

3.  Grill chicken breast until completely done.

4.  Leave the chicken on the grill and top with spinach, the mozzarella, and finally the roasted red peppers.

5.  Leave on the grill until the cheese melts

6.  Enjoy!

Next up were the mushrooms!  This was another great pinterest find and the link took me to Food Network!  Follow the link to enjoy these amazing "Michael's Best Button Mushrooms!"

Finally....the salad!  Every time we visit Dave's family in Melbourne Beach we have this oh so tasty salad and I drool for it every time!  Now that we are in Cali, it's going to be a while before I get to eat it...so I attempted to recreate it!  I've still got some work to do, and don't think I could ever make it as good (I think she has a secret!), but I've gotten close enough to satisfy that craving!  

"Aunt Susan's Salad"

Romaine Lettuse

Feta or Blue Cheese

Any type of fruit (I prefer strawberries or blueberries)  

Garlic

Slivered Almonds

EVOO

Balsamic Vinegar

Honey

1.  Chop up the romaine & fruit and place it in the bowl

2.  Mince some fresh garlic into the salad

3.  Add your slivered almonds.

4.  Drizzle EVOO, balsamic vinegar, and honey over the salad.  Toss until mixed

5.  Top with either blue or feta cheese!

6.  YUM YUM YUM!!!

Hope you enjoy these recipes as much as we did!  Tomorrow I'll share the tasty stuffed mushrooms we made!  Have a great night!  :)

Today we were tourists in our new city....we decided to check out the San Diego Zoo and Wild Safari Park.  What a fun and exciting day full of playful grizzlies, prowling jaguars, swinging monkeys, and to end it all, an African "Safari."

Just enjoying a midday snack

The monkey was so cute!

Lounging on the Range

The grizzly playing around

Nibbling on the tree

These are 2 of 8 left in the world of this species of Rhino

The lioness was so close!!!!

On to tastier things....we had a fantastic grilled dinner last night!  It was great teamwork...I prepped, Dave grilled, and we both cleaned....PERFECTION!

We made Grilled Baby Peppers with Feta, Grilled Onions with Bacon, and New York Strip Steaks.

Baby Bell Peppers with Feta & Mint

(Food Network Magazine)

*Preheat a grill to high.

*Toss 1 lb baby bell peppers or quartered regular peppers with 2 Tbsp. EVOO, salt, & red pepper flakes.

*Grill, turning until blistered (about 10 minutes)

*Transfer to a bowl and toss with 1 Tbsp EVOO, some chopped mint, and the juice of 1/2 lemon.

*Sprinkle with Feta and ENJOY!

                                                       Grilled Red Onions

(Food Network Magazine)

*Cut 4 red onions into wedges

*Quarter 8 bacon strips

*Toss with Oregano, 1 Tbsp EVOO, 2 tsp red           wine vinegar, 8 garlic cloves, salt & pepper.

*Divide between 2 large pieces of foil and seal into flat packets

*Grill over high heat for 15 minutes 

*Let rest before opening

The finished products!  The NY Strip is Dave's secret....and it was TASTY! :)

Changes

In the last three months:
*We drove through 16 states
*We  lived in 4 homes
*Dave graduated from his Marine Corps MOS school
*We spent lots of time with family
*We made lots of new friends and reunited with old ones
*And to end the great adventure...we moved to California!

Whew...I'm tired just remembering all of it.  But I wouldn't change it for anything!  Military life means you always need to be ready for change and you need to see it as a new adventure.  We have enjoyed every second of our Marine Corps experience thus far, especially the crazy adventure we've been on recently, and we look forward to what lies ahead.  Here is a recap in pictures of our last few months.

Lucy's first snow...she loved it!

Lucy finally met "Uncle Taz"

Cheered on Dave's brother Brian in the Shamrock Marathon
Go "Team B!!"

ODU vs VCU b-ball

Graduation!!

Great new friends!

And he's done!

The sunrise on Day 1 of driving

My view for 3,000 miles :P

Somewhere in Texas

The Mississippi River

,

Still in Texas

Rest Stop in Texas...Lucy showing off

The US/Mexico border

We're still smiling....about 2,400 miles down, 600 to go!

First signs for San Diego!

Through the mountains of CA

Welcome to San Diego....I have my kitchen back!!!!  :)