Santorini Dreamin...

For some reason my heart has just had this little desire to travel the world. Visiting Greece (specifically the island of Santorini) has been on my bucket list since I was 14... coincidentally the same time that I read "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" series for the first time, so if I said that I was inspired by something less laughable I would be lying.

Recently my need to travel has been at an all time high. I have been daydreaming about Greece for a week now. Any spare time I have I am looking at pictures, videos, vacation packages, and airline tickets. I literally get butterflies when I  see the pictures of the whitewashed buildings and caldera view.

Clint isn't 100% convinced but he's more open to the idea than I thought he would be. I have been calculating costs and timing for the trip over the past week so that I can create a business proposal to present to him because the guy's got the mind of a business man (but seriously, he takes a salesman's approach when we talk about big decisions. gets me every time).

I can't even describe my love for this place that I've never even been. Santorini has my heart and that blue water is calling my name.

...and also I want to ride one of those adorable donkeys. Saw it in a movie once.

Quinoa "Fried Rice" Recipe

Quinoa has a lot of great health benefits, but I had tried a few different recipes and wasn't a fan of anything I tried.  I mentioned this to my mother-in-law and she said she had used quinoa instead of rice to make a quinoa fried rice.

I bowed my head in shame. because I'm half Asian. And I should have thought of that.
or even at least half thought of that.

So on a whim one week night (and by whim I mean I didn't go grocery shopping or have any meals planned), I tried making up my own version of this quinoa fried rice and I loved it! The first time I made it I used half rice and half quinoa because as I mentioned, Clint and I were not big fans of the quinoa recipes I had tried in the past. I would definitely recommend that if you're hesitant about quinoa. I've made it multiple times since then without the rice and both ways are great.
(PS You pronounce it "Keen-Wah" if you're unfamiliar. Who even makes up words like that?)

I posted a picture of my the quinoa fried rice last month on instagram and got questions about the recipe, so today I finally actually measured it out (eh, sorta) so I have a recipe to share:

This recipe will make about 2-3 regular bowl sized servings:

2/3 cup of quinoa
1/2 TBSP sesame oil (olive oil will work too, but sesame adds great flavor)
1 cup of diced yellow onion (you can use white or purple as well)
3 cloves (or about 1 heaping TBSP) minced garlic
1.5 cups of other diced mixed veggies (I've used traditional fried rice type of veggies like carrots and broccoli, but today I also added diced red and orange bell peppers and mushrooms. If you're using frozen vegetables, make sure they're thawed out first.)
3 egg white, and 1 whole egg (don't use less, the eggs are the yummiest part!)
~2 TBSP sodium free soy sauce (plus or minus depending on your taste)
Optional: cooked chicken or diced ham

Start by cooking your 2/3 cups of quinoa (Double the amount of water than quinoa. Bring to a boil, then simmer with the lid on for about 15 minutes).

While that is cooking, add the sesame oil to a pan and allow it to heat up. Add the onion and cook for about 2 minutes until softened, then add the garlic and remaining vegetables (if you are using vegetables that take longer to cook such as bell peppers, just add them in with the onion). Once all vegetables are cooked, move them to the side of the pan and add eggs. Once the eggs begin cooking, mix them in with the vegetables.

Once your quinoa is done cooking, add it in the pan with your veggies. If you are using any sort of meat (I have used both chicken and ham) put it in now as well. Add in the soy sauce and stir all together.

And there it is.

The 18 Tosh Truths

1. Some good old fashioned girl talk/girl time throughout your entire life until your 99 (I'm talkin' Golden Girls' Style) is one of the 5 essentials of life. The other 4 are food, water... stuff like that.

2. Taking the extra time on yourself to get ready every.single.day is 100% necessary. Only good things can come from feeling good about yourself.

You're basically killing 67 birds with one stone. and a good lipgloss.

3. Soulmate friends are real things. And you should find them because they're the best kinds.

4. Developing a habit of healthy eating, exercise and an overall active lifestyle is one of the best things you can ever do for yourself, your family, your body, and your happiness.

5. ... and even thought healthy eating habits are the goal, occasionally unhealthy food is totally necessary. preach. 

6. Unicorns have existed at one point in time. I just have this gut feeling.

7. "Happy is the man who can brush aside the offending remarks of another and go on his way." Gordon B. Hinckley

8. If you don't make yourself laugh in your head at least 5 times a day, you need to figure out how to be funnier. Even if no one else thinks you are.

If you can't figure out how to be funnier, just watch Ellen and live vicariously through her.

9. The best way to feel good about the person you are is to regularly evaluate your personality and actions, and be honest with yourself about what you can work on without justifying anything.

10. Shaving your legs is only necessary once a week before church. Sometimes less.

11. Having siblings you are close to is one of the very best things in the world.

12. "Don't complain about something you're not willing to work hard to change."
Your habits, your body, your marriage, your spirituality, your messy room, your happiness... this can apply to everything and it's given me a new perspective on a lot of things in my life.

13. Sometimes comfort zones are ok... What I'm referring to currently is that short hair is just not me. never again, man. I reallllly miss my long hair.

14. You always feel your best in a dress and heels.

Unless you're a guy.

15. When people don't like Taylor Swift I just don't really understand anything about them as a person. As hard as I try.

[Remember that I over-exaggerate my feelings a little sometimes. but really you should reconsider]

15.  You have to surround yourself only with people who lift you up and inspire you. There are too many good, creative, strong, beautiful people in the world to surround yourself with those who don't.

16. A day at the ocean can clear your head of anything.

17. The hugging type of people are always the best kind of people. Plus I legitimately don't really know how to communicate with people who aren't the type.

18. "Always be kinder than you feel."

xo
Tosh

No Shame Here.

Upon googling ourselves at work a couples month ago, I discovered that I still had a MySpace account. Let's take this moment of silence to remember those who made our "Top Eight".....................

Anyway...why I still had a MySpace account, I have no idea.

So before I deleted it, I dug through the archives of embarrassing [and awesome] memories. It was a slam in the face of duck faces, questionable clothing choices, and cheesy profiles. Kind of cute and fun to look at for a second, but pretty embarrassing overall.

That's probably how I'll look back on this blog one day.. but whatev.

I'll probably say things like:

Why did I write about 83 subjects in one post and think it was even coherent enough for people to follow along? (Note to future self: it's because you have a hard time containing your excitement for anything.)

Why did I use words like whatev, holla, hollaaaaaa (emphasized version), and obvi (meaning obviously. obvi.)? (Note to future self: You should use these words when you're 80 because that's hilarious.)

Why did I discuss the Royal Wedding in more depth than any conversation I've ever had in my life? (Note to self: Ok not that in depth, but you were intense.)

Why did I obsess over Taylor Swift and celebrities in general? Just kidding. That's crazy talk. Like I would say that, ever.

Not in a drunken way, but you know what I'm sayin.

It's whatev.
xo tosh.

The Most Influential Mother's in My Life...

It's hard to put into words all of the wonderful things that I've come to admire in my mom. The one that stands out the most is her amazing heart and her love for absolutely everyone. My house was always the "teenager house" where all of mine and my sibling's friends came to hang out (and still do) because of how awesome my mom is. She would bake us cookies, help us with school projects, and even cook entire meals for hungry friends. I remember multiple times coming home from school, dance, or other activities and seeing a group of friends (and even friends of friends) just hanging out at my house. To this day, I still have friends stop by to visit her and my family. I've had friends cry on my mom's shoulder, confide in her, buy her flowers for all the things she's done for them... the list goes on. Everyone loves "Mama Vu."

The other thing that really stands out to me is her example to me of the importance of marriage, sticking it out when things get rough, and teaching that family comes first in all things. I can't begin to express how much this has impacted my life and my marriage, and I can honestly say that my marriage wouldn't be what it is without the example of my parents. 

I wouldn't want to leave out my mother in law. She is such a wonderful person and influence in my life. I am beyond grateful to her for the way she raised her family, and I am of course especially grateful to her for raising the amazing man I am married to. She has taught me that it is in fact possible to make a cake that doesn't come out of a box, and that Kraft didn't invent Macaroni and Cheese- it can be homemade (no but seriously... I really didn't know that.) I absolutely adore her excitement and zest for life. She has accepted me into their family from day one and I am so grateful to her for that.

My wonderful little sister, Shantelle. Who would have thought that my baby sister would be teaching me so much about motherhood? I look to her and see the joy that being a mother brings to her, and I know that I can someday have that same joy. I admire her for her absolute love of being a mom. And of course for raising the coolest, sweetest little girl in the world. I am also grateful to little Bostyn because I am able to get a glimpse of the love I'll have for my children through the love I have for that little one.

let's talk about how perfect this picture is. Bostyn doesn't take making wishes lightly. 

And lastly to Reid's mom, Taylor. I haven't met her yet, but I already love her like family. I'm so grateful to her and her husband for raising baby Reid, for loving him, and especially for loving and welcoming my family to be in their lives.

I could go on and on because I've been blessed to have so many "mother figures" in my life. I'm so grateful to each and every one of them. Happy Mother's Day to all the beautiful mothers out there. Thank you for what you do.

xo Natasha

Liberating: Tending to set free.

The feeling of running at that golden time of night. Running in general has always been very liberating to me. I don't think I necessarily like running itself. I think I like the way I notice the world around me and how everything seems to slow down. I feel like it's just time for me and I can sort through my thoughts. At "gold time" this feeling magnifies by 100 and I'm addicted to it.

The feeling that even though I'm far from home, I know that I am where God intended me to be.

The feeling of speaking my mind. I've always been one to keep my mouth closed and be very passive, sometimes to a fault. This is something I've been working on- to speak even when confrontation is uncomfortable if it means standing up for myself, my beliefs, or the people I care about.

The feeling of pushing myself and my body to work harder than my mind tells me it can. Fitness is very mental to me and I'm slowly overcoming the mental blocks of when I think I can't push forward.

The feeling that I am becoming the woman that I always knew I wanted to be.

There's just something to be said about liberating moments. And life in general.

xo

Natasha

My Version of Catching Up...

Staying busy with...

My semi-new calling as Young Women's President. 

This is the best shot we got. So what?

CrossFit (accomplished my goal of getting down my 15' rope climbs. and looking extremely ungraceful while doing it, which wasn't part of the goal but whatev.)

obsessing over pictures of Bostyn. obvi.

and getting ready for the Beach to Bay relay run.

Obsessing over...

Kate Middleton's baby bump. and hoping they'll adopt me next.

Taylor Swift's designs for Keds. 

gold polka dots.

Spending way too much time...

On Adobe Illustrator.

A few of the designs for the gym finally done.

Reading...

Salt, Sugar, Fat by Michael Moss (I definitely recommend it. I also recommend not letting your fingernail polish look like mine.)

Looking forward to...

A July trip to Utah (and finally meeting baby Reid), a July trip to Cali, and a September work trip to Oklahoma. 

And wondering...

How time goes by so fast. 

I was in Belize this time last year, we will have been in Texas for one year next month, and today is the 4 year anniversary of our first date. 

stop it, time.

Back when we were just babies. 

Aaaand I realized I never put pictures up of my short hair. Because Instagram runs the world now, basically. So here's what I got.

If I were a real blogger, all these pictures would be the same size. And I actually wouldn't have to be playing catch up due to a lack of blogging. But ain't nobody got time for that. 

xo

Tosh