Sweet T and a Honey B
Food, Fitness, and the Adventures That Make Life Sweet

Dear Isla – A Letter to You on your 1st Birthday.

Dear Isla.

It seems silly to think that I could possibly convey everything that I want to say to you in the confines of this space. There are 12 whole months worth of memories, feelings, and belly laughs that I never want to forget. Your first year of life. My first year of being a mother – a title I proudly wear. Wasn’t it yesterday that we so carefully drove home from the hospital on the most gorgeous fall day? You wore the most precious onesie with flowers with matching sweatpants that we picked out just weeks before. Wasn’t it just last month that we would fall asleep while watching our daily dose of ‘Ellen’ and waited for Daddy to come home from work? And why does it feel like just weeks ago that I spent an embarrassing amount of time researching the best baby food maker so that I could make all of your food (I was an overly-ambitious new mom).

Of course – we had hard days. Some of them were the hardest I’ve ever experienced. Our breastfeeding journey was anything but easy and your reflux made it that much tougher- but we did it. The dreaded ‘4 month sleep regression’ showed me exhaustion that I didn’t know was possible – but we navigated it. And how could we forget the global pandemic? We’re still finding our way through the uncertainty of that one – but you are our light during it. Lately, I find myself wishing you would nurse just one more time. Wishing you would need me to rock you back to sleep in the middle of the night just a little more often. Little did I know at the time that I’d be yearning for one of those ‘hard days’ to come around again.

Oh my sweet girl what a personality you have. Your favorite things to do include ‘cheers’ with your Elmo water cup, playing with your sweet finger puppets, chasing after our pup, Whiskey, and above all else – eating more pancakes than any adult could take down in one sitting. It’s an understatement when I say that I truly enjoy watching you grow, learn, and evolve every single day. I never knew I could be SO proud of someone for clapping their hands or holding a soon! Despite the crazy year it has been, I thank God that it has at least given us the chance to be home with you more often and witness all of your ‘firsts’. We find ourselves running to be the one to get you from your crib in the morning because the feeling we get from seeing you smile when we walk in is like nothing else. While I certainly miss those snuggly newborn days, your quickly-approaching toddler days are SO much fun. I think one of my favorite days of this year involved a recent breakfast disco dance party in the kitchen with your Daddy (naturally the menu that morning was pancakes).

You are our whole world, Isla Grace and I cherish this time, though I know is temporary, that we are yours.

We have a saying in our family that goes ‘I love you so much my heart hurts’. It’s usually playfully used to describe the way that we feel about the babies and not-so-babies-anymore in the family. I thought I understood what it meant but until I had you I had no idea. The first time I understood is when I first saw you (after 36 hours of labor I might add) and said to Daddy – ‘She’s all ours’. This kind of love is an overwhelming, all consuming kind of love. One that I realize how lucky I am to be able to experience. I will spend the rest of my life making sure you feel safe, respected, and happy – even if that means watching our 17th episode of Sesame Street that day or making that extra pancake. Happiest of 1st birthdays my sweet girl. Thank you for making me a mama.

“No one else will ever know the strength of my love for you. After all, you’re the only one knows what my heart sounds like from the inside”

Doggie Day Revenge!

Very few weekend activities can so easily combine my favorite things; a cold beer on a summer afternoon, the chance to give back to a very worthy cause, and dogs. A LOT of dogs. Lo and behold, I stumbled upon an event scheduled for Labor Day Weekend that included all of these things while mindlessly browsing Facebook last week. Lagunitas Brewing Company, one of me and hubs favorite breweries in Chicago, was hosting an event they called ‘Doggie Day Revenge’. This afternoon get-together was essentially one big party aimed at celebrating Chicago locals, their pups, and ‘One Tail at a Time‘ (or OTAT)- a no-kill, all breed, dog rescue that commits themselves to reducing euthanasia rates in the city and surrounding area in hopes of making Chicago the next no-kill city. They have facilitated 2,000 adoptions to-date and are located in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood. We were looking forward to an afternoon of good brews and playing with an endless amount of pups, but were even more excited to find out that all proceeds from admission was going to such an incredible cause. 

With admission / the donation to OTAT, everyone received a treat! Bryan and I each received a token for a beer and Whiskey got a very fashionable orange Lagunitas bandana that he looked very handsome in. The parking lot was transformed in to an absolute doggie heaven. There was a designated area for the pups to play off-leash complete with sprinklers, small pools, approximately a million tennis balls, and a few shaded areas. What was even better about this area was that we could bring our beers in with us while we watched Whiskey play with some new friends. When our little buddy got wet, a little muddy, and good and tired, we purchased a couple of tamales (YUM) to enjoy at the tables set up in the lot while we chatted with some fellow dog + beer lovers. 

I couldn’t decide if Bryan was more excited for an afternoon IPA or if Whiskey was more excited about the smell of chicken tamales…?

In addition to Lagunitas tapping a few of their beers (I had their appropriately named ‘DogTown’ Pale Ale) and the tamales available for purchase, they of course thought about our furry friends too! Wiggle Waggles Pet Food Truck was in attendance for the event and Whiskey was such a good boy that we picked out a peanut butter/banana cookie for him to enjoy at the party and a bacon/cheese cookie to take home. 

Whiskey waited very patiently for his cookies

 

This was such a thoughtfully put together event and a fun way to close out the summer! We all left with full bellies and tired eyes after playing in the water + sun. I loved Lagunitas and their extremely tasty brews before, but knowing that they celebrate and appreciate rescue pups as much as I do make them number 1 in my book. I’m hoping they make this an annual event because Bryan, Whiskey, and I will certainly be in attendance at next year’s party!

 

After doing a little more research, I found that One Tail at a Time is so much more than an adoption/fostering organization. OTAT offers solutions to Chicago’s issues surrounding pets with ‘community pet days’ where owners in need of resources receive microchips, vaccines, and spay/neuter vouchers in effort to keep pets with their owners and out of shelters! They have also established a shelter diversion program with seven no-kill rescues in the area. Four days a week, volunteers are on site at Chicago animal control to try and help owners figure out a way to keep their pets as opposed to surrendering them. If a pet has to be surrendered, volunteers immediately begin working with the partnered no-kill rescues in order for that pet to be taken in by one of the rescues instead of the city shelter. These are just a couple of ways that OTAT interacts with the community in order to provide resources and educate pet owners on top of facilitating foster homes and adoptions. I was proud to support One Tail at a Time this past weekend and I plan on finding ways to do so in the future! Please click this link to donate to OTAT and help bathe/groom, feed, vaccinate, or even save the life of a rescue animal in our city!

 

Our boy left a little wet, a little muddy, and very happy!

Nacho Bar with Siete Cashew Queso

When it comes to ‘at home (insert your favorite food here) bar’ night – we tend to go all out at the Bolton house. I’m of the belief that calling it a ‘make your own’ or ‘ Do it yourself’ meal makes food 10X more fun to eat. Whether it’s paninis or grilled cheese, baked potatoes, parfaits, tacos, or most recently – nachos, I love serving up a dozen toppings and watching what everyone (okay, usually it’s just Bryan) adds to their plate. Our most recent nacho night included a complete game-changer when it comes to nacho toppings. I waited a long time for our local Whole Foods Market to carry Siete Food’s newest product-Cashew Queso. Siete Foods is easily one of my very favorite brands when it comes to authentic, but healthy, Latino food. We always have a package or two of my favorite almond flour tortillas and grain-free lime tortilla chips on hand (caution: it’s super easy to eat half the bag by yourself!). Growing up in a Mexican household myself, I ate (and still eat) a lot of corn based chips, tortillas, dishes, etc. While I personally don’t have a dietary need to eliminate grains or dairy, and often times still enjoy a good taco with corn tortillas, Siete products make it easy to enjoy my favorite dishes while eating real, good food that doesn’t leave me bloated after a meal. The queso  comes in two mouthwatering flavors, queso blanco and mild nacho, and you better believe I topped my nachos with a little of each 😉 

Nacho bar is best paired with a Friday night, a good movie, and a group of friends and/or family. Cook up a little chicken in some fajita sauce/marinade, and serve with black or pinto beans, green chiles, avocado slices, roasted peppers, and a little of your favorite Siete queso.

 

(We actually used normal tortilla chips during our recent nacho night. Our Whole Foods was completely out of Siete chips!). 

What are you favorite ‘DIY’ meals at home? Football season is coming and I think these will be on the Sunday menu A LOT. Am I missing any crucial nacho toppings? 

 

The Wooden Spoon

Last week Bryan and I celebrated our three year wedding anniversary and it’s unbelievable how much has changed and how fast these three years went by. I love this man more and more each day and have truly enjoyed having him as my partner to tackle life’s lows and celebrate the highs. With that said, as I am sure the majority of couples can relate, it’s easy to get caught up in day to day routines. Often times we have to remind ourselves to step back from the responsibilities of running a home, graduate school, work e-mails, taking care of a dog, etc. and that before any of this, it was just him and I wanting to spend every moment together (still true..well..most of the time 😉 ). Because him and I usually have so much going on, date nights are sometimes a rare commodity. This is why I surprised him with a cooking class in the city to enjoy some wine + good food, celebrate these last three years, and possibly learn a thing or two along the way. 

While researching the dozens of places to partake in a cooking class in Chicago, one place in particular caught my eye. The Wooden Spoon had everything I was looking for – an intimate setting with a great menu, knowledgeable chefs, and was tucked inside of one of Chicago’s many interesting neighborhoods. It was a mere coincidence that once I had decided on this location for our class, they had a ‘Whiskey Grilling’ class scheduled for the week following our anniversary. I was sold. 

Let me start off by saying that this is one of those times I wish I could capture just how incredible of an experience we had in a blog post. I got a small taste of how kind and patient everyone is there after a small bout of panic while calling and telling them we would be 25 minutes late to our class due to a bad accident on Lake Shore Drive. Needless to say, we arrived a little bit flustered but were greeted by Chef Richard and four other wonderful couples with cheers, blue aprons labeled with our names, and wine opener to quickly get the Zinfandel flowing. 

The Location

In order to convey how cool this place was, it’s definitely worth mentioning the neighborhood as well as the welcoming store front, store and kitchen set up, and beautiful outdoor grilling area. The Wooden Spoon is located in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood and is family owned and operated. Upon arrival you are greeted by an adorable store front complete with an actual giant wooden spoon, windows adorned with various kitchen gadgets, and chalkboards boasting the cooking classes scheduled for that day. It’s also important to mention that The Wooden Spoon is not just a cooking school but also a one stop shop for pretty much any kitchen tool or gadget you’re looking for. I had barely gotten my apron on and I had already made mental note of a few items I wanted to purchase after class. 

At the back of the store is the kitchen area out of even the most inexperienced of chef’s dreams. At the center of the prep and seating area is the equipment and enough open space to ensure that everyone feels included in the preparing/cooking of the meal and for the Chef of the evening to demonstrate and answer questions. 

Just outside the back door of the kitchen is the patio and grill. I could have easily spent all evening on this patio staring at the colorful mosaic tiled pizza oven and charming fountain and garden area. We got incredibly lucky with perfect grilling weather for the evening and as a result, we were able to socialize with everyone inside and outside while we sipped on our wine and waited for the last few dishes to finish up. 

 

The Chef

Bryan and I both agreed that Chef Richard Ginn was probably one of the coolest people we have ever met. If I could describe the ideal person to walk us through how to cook with our favorite beverage – it would be him. Originally from South Carolina, Chef Richard is not only part of the team at The Wooden Spoon, but also has his own custom furniture design and construction company in Chicago called Riftsawn Woodworks. With such an interesting background, we really enjoyed learning from him and he creates an environment in which every couple feels relaxed and comfortable asking questions. 

 

The Menu

It would be ridiculous to not mention what we made but I left this for last because I sit here still dreaming about easily one of the best meals I have ever had (husband agrees too). The pictures I took on my phone don’t do any of this any sort of justice but I was desperate to capture each and every dish. 

The couples began with preparing of all the sauces/glazes we would need, chopping vegetables, and combining the ingredients for the dessert. After the initial prep, the real nitty gritty of the meal began. First up was Grilled Shrimp with a Whiskey Cocktail Sauce. This looked delectable despite me not being able to take part (silly shellfish allergy). Luckily, Bryan took one for the team and ate both of our shrimp portions. Between bites, his only words were “holy crap”.  I’d call that a stamp of approval.

Next, the couples split up cooking the main dishes and sides. This included Grilled Chicken with a Whiskey BBQ sauce and spicy slaw, Grilled Whiskey Mustard Pork Chops with grilled apples, and Whiskey Glazed Carrots (this was my”holy crap” moment – we’re talking carrots glazed in butter, brown sugar, and whiskey, people). While it’s easy to say that any of this was the ‘best of’ chicken, pork, vegetables, etc. we’ve ever had – let’s talk dessert…

GUYS.

 

I kid you not- there was complete silence once the Double Chocolate Whiskey Cake with Whiskey Chocolate Ganache was served and everyone took their first bites. We’re talking out-of-body-experience kind of cake. It was the perfect amount of moist (I hate that word) cake mixed with a warm, oozing, ganache at the center of it all. One of the other ladies in our group caught eyes with me from across the seating area, shook her head, and threw up her arms in praise. We were each able to have a gigantic slice and I borderline licked the plate. 

Bryan’s reaction: “I never want another kind of cake for my birthday ever again”. 

We ended the evening with applause for ourselves and Chef Richard, took pictures with our newly made cooking friends, and perused the shop for some must-have kitchen items. Bryan and I picked up a cute cast iron cook book, new meat thermometer, and of course- a couple of adorable wooden spoons with their logo to remember the evening by.

 

 

To say that we left with our bellies full is the understatement of the year. I loved that Bryan and I got to share this experience together and we will 100% be going back for future classes. The recipes from the evening were shared with us via e-mail minutes after we left the class and I know these dishes will be on rotation in our own kitchen here at home. I more than recommend The Wooden Spoon for your own date night or a fun evening out with a group of friends. Thank you to everyone at The Wooden Spoon for making our anniversary celebration such a special one!

 

Link here to the calendar of classes to book your own experience at The Wooden Spoon!

 

 

Mango Peach Protein Smoothie

It’s been really hot in Chicago these last few weeks and if you’re like me, the last thing you want on a humid morning after a good workout or while running around getting ready for work is a heavy breakfast. In addition to this heat wave we have been experiencing, my commute to work has drastically changed as my company just recently moved their headquarters to the city. I have joined the thousands of people that commute to downtown Chicago from the suburbs every day and as a result, I need something that’s quick to make because in true Teresa fashion – I’m usually running to make my train. I use Orgain Protein Powder and it’s been a staple in my smoothies for a while now because it’s plant based, has a great flavor, and doesn’t leave you with a chalky feeling in your mouth. I’m a fan of the vanilla because you can add it to anything. 

Tip: Freeze extra fruits and steamed veggies. This can help a lot with eliminating the need to throw out extras at the end of the week. I usually keep halved bananas, peaches, steamed cauliflower, and some berries on hand to add to smoothies throughout the week. In this case, I had some frozen peaches and packaged mango (Mango is expensive and I have a hard time getting all the meat off of one so I buy already frozen organic cubed mango) this past weekend and thought it might be a good combo with the vanilla protein powder and some honey! 

I also always add plain greek yogurt to my smoothies in addition to the protein powder and almond milk. When I first started making smoothies for breakfast I found it hard to stay full without the little extra added protein, especially after a workout. It also makes it super thick and creamy. Siggis Yogurt is literally the only kind of yogurt we buy anymore because there’s very little sugar, no preservatives, no artificial coloring, and comes in a million delicious flavors. 

This was a super refreshing treat after a long walk with the pup last weekend. What are your go-to smoothie add ins? Any recommendations? 

Have a great week!

Fun straws optional – but totally makes it more fun 🙂 I buy all of mine here

 

Mango Peach Protein Smoothie

  • 1/2 cup Siggis Plain Greek Yogurt
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk (or any milk of your choosing. Coconut milk would add some creaminess to this too!)
  • 3/4 cup frozen mango
  • 1/2 frozen peach
  • 1 or 2 scoops of vanilla protein powder (if using after a workout I add 2. If just for breakfast I add 1)
  • 2 tsp of honey
  • 1 tbs of chia seeds (new found favorite in my smoothies. I LOVE the texture of the little seeds and they provide a little extra fiber, calcium, and iron. They also give a little boost of HDL- the good cholesterol that can help prevent heart disease or strokes!)

 

Add all ingredients besides the chia seeds to your blender. Top with the seeds and enjoy!