Tucson life

Hi friends! Happy Monday to ya. I hope you’re enjoying the morning. The girls are off to their fun half-day camps, and I have a couple of conference calls and a car-related errand. Always a joy. We’re getting excited for my nana’s bday this week (I need to find a piñata!) and I’m looking forward to catching up with an old friend from high school for brunch.

It rained almost all weekend! The desert was definitely needing it, and it cooled the temps way down. Before the rain hit Friday evening, we met up with Meg and Everly at the park, and then grabbed dinner at Bear Canyon Pizza.

You guys. Bear Canyon Pizza may be my new favorite kid-friendly place. They have not one, but TWO kids’ play areas (an indoor area with a chalk wall, toys, and books + an outdoor place house) and the food is awesome. They also have local beers, gluten-free pizza, and cauliflower nachos. I can’t even. 

Saturday morning, we woke up early and headed straight to the Mercado San Augustin to grab Mexican donuts from Estrella with Kyle, Meg, and Everly.

(My childhood in a glass case.)

We hadn’t been to the mercado yet, and it looks like we’ll be making up for lost time. They have quite a few vendors (like little boutiques and food stands, like a bakery, raspado shop that has Mexican shaved ice and fruit with chili powder and lime <— the best), and a couple of great restaurants. The entire area is shaded by trees; it’s ideal to dine and relax al fresco. The kiddos happily ate their donuts and chased each other around, while Kyle, Meg and I watched them while sipping coffee and snacking on fresh, soft Mexican pastries.

I’m not quite sure when P will smile for a picture again, but for now, the faces are a crackup.

I got a chocolate donut and helped P finish off this piece of pan dulce. (It’s like a soft egg bread with a hardened sugary topping.)

Liv had no trouble crushing her treats. I also bought a dozen tamales in a Ziplock bag that the girls ate with their hands. #tucsonlife

Saturday afternoon, we chilled here at the house, and later that evening, the fam came over for dinner. My Uncle E made a “No Apron” meal (a Blue Apron meal I had delivered. He doesn’t look at the recipe and creates his own thing). It was intended to be a crispy fish recipe with potatoes, but he turned it into a ridiculous Asian fish stew. My mom brought over grilled salmon, Caesar salad, and apple pie, and I had the ingredients for strawberry shortcakes.

Uncle E helped me make a strawberry syrup for the berries with 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup water, a few springs of mint, and about a cup and a half of sliced strawberries. Summer on a plate. 

Since it was pouring, the kiddos hung out inside watching The Greatest Showman and we all chatted and enjoyed each other’s company until late. 

Sunday morning, we took it easy, had pancakes at home, and ventured out to the mall. I got in an afternoon workout, 

 and we had pasta here at home before heading to church.

This morning’s breakfast is a repeat of yesterday’s:

(2 eggs, 2 egg whites, 2 Siete tortillas, a cup of mixed berries, and Four Sigmatic decaf coffee with almond milk)

This week, I’m getting stuff ready for Summer Shape Up, putting the finishing touches on this week’s podcast episode, and writing the workouts for two Fit Guide videos I’ll be releasing this fall. We’re filming with Grant this weekend (wahoo!!) so if you have any video requests, please send them my way.

Happy Monday friends!

xoxo

Looking for a workout? Try this core workout, this barre blast, or this total-body circuit. 

PS. Amazon Prime Day is today! Some of my favorite finds:

Instant Pot

MY FAVE VACCUUM (I’m yelling because it’s that good)

Fire Stick