30 Day Blogging Challenge

One of my friends told me about this challenge and I decided to do it. I copied the list from the blog TOAR. I wanted to give credit to Nydia and the blog where I found the list I wanted to blog about.

Here is the List:

Day 0: Explain the 30 day challenge

Day 1: Introduce, recent picture of yourself and 15 interesting facts

Day 2: Meaning behind your blog name

Day 3: Your first love

Day 4: Your parents
Day 5: A song to match your mood

Day 6: A picture of something that makes you happy

Day 7: Favorite movies

Day 8: A place you've traveled to. 

Day 9: A favorite picture of your best friend

Day 10: Something you are afraid of

Day 11: Favorite TV show

Day 12: Something you don't leave the house without

Day 13: Goals

Day 14: A picture of you last year and how you've changed

Day 15: Bible Verse

Day 16: Dream house

Day 17: Something you are looking forward to 

Day 18: Favorite place to eat

Day 19: Something you miss

Day 20: Nickname

Day 21 : Favorite picture of you of all time

Day 22: What's in your purse

Day 23: Favorite movie

Day 24: Something you've learned

Day 25: Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs

Day 26: Your dream wedding

Day 27: Original photo of the city you live in

Day 28: Something that stresses you out

Day 29: 3 wishes

Day 30: a picture of yourself on this day and 5 good things that happened on this day since you started this challenge

I'm really looking forward to doing this and sharing this experience with all of you.

Until next time,

Nats

2012 New Year's Resolutions!

Welcome to 2012! Can you believe it? I hope this year does not go as fast as last year. This might sound cliche, but this is going to be the best year yet, I can tell. So on to the resolutions:

1. Run in at least 5 races (any length).

2. Run 400-450 miles 

3. Write on my blog once a week. (I need ideas)

4. Eat Healthier (I need a nutritionist)

5. Have more patience 

6. Try a new cuisine

I know this are probably so easy, but I am looking forward to getting them done and completing other one's as well. 

If you feel that I should include other resolutions let me know. I am open to almost anything... :)

See you soon,

Nats

Making Guava Pastries

I spent most of the day on Saturday making guava pastries (pastelillos de guayaba) for a cookie exchange party I am attended yesterday. Guava pastries are a Puertorrican delicacy. I grew up eating them and it wasn't until recently that I became interested in making them because I was craving them and I knew I was not going to find them here. So I went on the internet and found an easy to make recipe. Here is the recipe:

1 puff pastry sheet cut 1 or 2 inches
guava paste cut in 1/2 inch squares
cookie sheet
parchment paper
sugar

Preheat oven to 375
Put parchment paper on cookie sheet
Put guava paste in the middle of the puff pastry
Close the puff pastries as if they were ravioli or that they look like squares. Make sure they are closed really well.
Put the puff pastries on the cookie sheet ( leave about 1 inch in between)
Bake the puff pastries in the oven for 15-17 minutes
After you take out the puff pastries, sprinkle powdered sugar on top of them.
Enjoy...

Assembling...

They look like ravioli's

Ready to be baked

In the oven

Ready!

Ready to eat! Yum.

Merry Christmas to all!

I hope you like them as much as I enjoyed making them and then eating them... I hope you all have a Happy Holiday Season..

See you soon,
Nats

Fill the Shoes 5k

On November 5 I ran my second 5k. This time was different because I was not running with one of my running partners, but I was running with James and 2 of my friends in The Fill the Shoes 5k in Kingstowne, VA. I ran my first 5k in September and my time was 33 minutes flat. After that race I knew I wanted to get faster and that I could do better. After I signed up for the race I decided to keep the same training program, but concentrating in getting faster.

After a couple of weeks of training I started to notice that I was running a little faster. I was beyond excited because I knew I was going to be able to beat my last personal record, I just did not know by how much (since I am new at running). I knew that when the race came I  wanted to keep my last time or run it at least 1-2 minutes faster (I was really aiming for 31 minutes).

The Wednesday before the race James and I decided to run the race course to get a feeling for it before the race. It was a cold afternoon and a new course, but I was able to run it in 31 minutes. That made me feel better. I was going to be able to beat my last time.

The day of the race came and it was a really cold morning. I was nervous because I did not know if the cold would affect my time. Needless to say it was so cold that I think that my body decided to run faster and I finished the 5k in 30.08. I was beyond excited when I crossed the finish line and saw the time. Why? you ask. The last .25 mile was hard because I started to hit "The Wall". I wanted to quit, I was cold, I was hurting and I just wanted to quit, but then I saw James (my savior) waiting for me and I told him "I'm tired", but something came over me as soon as he started to run along side of me, I knew I could do it...

Official result

Running has changed my life and I am excited that I have been able to start racing. Racing keeps me motivated to keep on running. I was never a competitive person, but running has made me understand how to become better at something and not to quit, even when I want to.


See you real soon,
Nats

Blessed Me with Blessed Friends

Hello again, it's been a while. I've been busy with work and social events...

This week I've been remained more that once to count my blessings, so here is my number one blessing: friends...

Friends and family are the one constant in our lives. Sometimes we make friends and sometimes we loose friends. All we have to think about is that your true friends will accept you for who you are, even when you make a mistake. I've been lucky enought to have great friends who have always been there for me and I've been there for them as well. I'm lucky of all the awesome,sweet, sincere, and loyal friends I have in my life. I am glad continue to meet new people and establish new friendships...

So to all of you of whom I call a friend thank you for being in my life. You have made it a better life and I enjoy your company.


So if you have friends that you haven't seen in a while, or you've had a problem with, contact them and re-establish that friendship...


See you next time,
Nats