Last week BJ was craving vegetables and I was craving easy (an easy dinner, that is).  So I scoured my cookbooks & Pinterest and settled on one-pot pasta. I mean, what’s easier than cooking everything in one pot. Yes, even the pasta cooks with the veggies.

Ingredients

• 1 pound spaghetti
• 1 pound baby bella mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 2 zucchini, thinly sliced and quartered
• 2/3 cup peas
• 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 2 sprigs thyme
• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1/3 cup Parmesan Reggiano cheese, grated
• 1/4 cup milk (you can use heavy cream if you want/like creamier)
• optional: add chicken if you want some protein

Directions

In a large Dutch oven over medium high heat, combine spaghetti, mushrooms, zucchini, peas, garlic, thyme and 4 1/2 cups water; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, until pasta is cooked through. Stir in Parmesan and milk.

Enjoy!

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner (I mean, how are we already half way through February?!). In true Valentine’s Day fashion, I thought I’d share a few gift ideas that I love.

Whether you’re single or spoken for, buying for your baby or your bestie, here are some gift options for everyone in your life.

1. Woodford Reserve Whiskey – because what guy doesn’t love a good bottle of whiskey?!

2. Brooks Running shoes – because you can never have too many pairs of running shoes (Brooks Launch2)

3. Love is You & Me – because who doesn’t love a sweet celebration of LOVE! I read it to Mr. President every day & night (Barnes & Noble)

4. Laura Mercier Watercolour Mist Eye & Cheek Palette – because shades of green, mauve, navy, and wheat are so dreamy (bluemercury)

5. Diptyque Rosafolia Candle – because you can’t have too many candles, especially ones in pretty containers (bluemercury)

6. Tea for the Tub – because baths are the perfect way to start – or end – the night…. (Capital Teas + read my review here)

7. Valentines’ Day Tee (kids) – because Mr. President looks adorable in this “Dr. Love” tee and graphic tees are awesome (Baby Gap)

8. Tickled Pink: OPI Nail Polish – because it never hurts to have pretty nails

9. Thug Kitchen – because the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, right?! Plus this cookbook is the f*ckin’ bomb (if you’re familiar with the book, you’ll get the joke)

10. Hugo Boss “Jason”: because who doesn’t love a man in a tailored, collared shirt?! (Hugo Boss)

11. Chocolate Covered Strawberries – because homemade gifts – especially ones that involve chocolate + strawberries – are always a winner (or you can buy them here)

12. Flowers – because flowers have the ability to brighten anyone’s day (go ahead, order some for a friend or lover)

13. Sweet Peony Press Art Print/Card – because “I love you” never gets old (etsy)

14. Lover’s Tea Collection – because good conversation over tea is pretty nice and doesn’t happen that often (Capital Teas)

15. Oval Link Bracelet – because if you’re going to be a high-roller, today is the day (David Yurman)

What’s on your Valentine’s Day wish-list?

For more margaritas and musings, follow me:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/willrunformargaritas
Twitter: @run4margaritas
Instagram: http://instagram.com/run4margaritas
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/run4margaritas/

Coming May 2015!

Yea, yea, I know I’m 27 weeks into pregnancy #2. And I know that some of you already know. But there are a lot that don’t know, or think you missed a big announcement. Well, you didn’t. I’ve just been busy, or lazy, or sick.

By the time I realized I wanted to announce it, I had to find the perfect shirt for Mr. President. When I found the perfect shirt, and eventually purchased it, it took another 3 weeks to ship. Oye.

So, here I am. 27 weeks pregnant and announcing my pregnancy. Which some of you already know because you’re my friend or follow me on Instagram or read my blog. But if you ‘ve been busy, or lazy, or sick (just kidding), I’m due with #2 and we couldn’t be more excited! Just like Mr. President, baby #2 is a surprise (gender, that is) – and I have to say, it’s a lot easier not to find out the second time around.

I’m still not sure LJ knows what’s going on, but he loves “mommy’s baby belly” and gives the belly hugs, kisses, and pats (oh, and “honks” my outie belly button like a horn) many times a day. It’s really the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen.

If you have any advice for 2 under 2 – and more like 2 under 19 months – I’ll take it! Some days I’m not sure how I’m going to handle the sleepless nights (LJ still doesn’t sleep through the night), but I know {love} – and lots of it – will get me through!

For more margaritas and motherhood, follow me:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/willrunformargaritas
Twitter: @run4margaritas
Instagram: http://instagram.com/run4margaritas
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/run4margaritas/

For today, I decided to link up with some fabulous bloggers to share “A Day in the Life…”. I love to know how everyone does it – full-time working mom, part-time working mom, stay-at-home (but always busy) mom. What happens each day? And how does everyone do it all?!

For the time being, I’m mostly a stay at home mom – but work about 10 hours/week consulting for small, local companies. I don’t have help/nanny so I try to squeeze everything in while Mr. President is sleeping. BJ travels for work (often gone 2-3 nights/week), so sometimes it feels like a lot. But I love it, and wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Even though I’m sharing yesterday with you, this is a pretty typical day in the life of {will run for margaritas}. BJ is out of town (like most weeks), so I’m covering it all today.

2am: Mr. President wakes up. Crying. Screaming. “Mommy”. Poor guy is teething and congested. After 10 minutes, I go in, change his diaper, and try to calm him down. He calms down, snuggles up to me, and we rock as I try to get him back to sleep.

No such luck.

We end up on the floor, in a makeshift bed. He’s up until 4:30am but eventually falls back to sleep.

6:30am: Mr. President wakes up and is ready to go. Me? Not so much.

We get up. I read him a few books. And head downstairs for breakfast.

7:15am: Breakfast. Today we’re having waffles (slice of toast for me), fresh fruit, and a smoothie. I “splurge” on a cup of Green tea.

8-9:30am: Playtime. LJ and I hang out. Lots of trucks, puzzles, books, and learning. I also vacuum the house during this time, since I don’t dare vacuum while he’s asleep (moms, can I get an AMEN?!)

9:30am: Nap for Mr. President, free-for-all for me. Put away clean dishes, put dirty dishes in the dishwasher. Clean-up from breakfast. Start a load of laundry. Answer emails. Do 1 hour of work. Pick-up the house. Make the bed. Put away clean clothes. Maybe, just maybe, I have time for a quick (uninterrupted) shower.

11am – 2pm: LJ is up and ready to play. We eat lunch. Today we’re having fish, rice, and avocado. After lunch we bundle up and head out. Errands include Whole Foods and the Post Office. We go to the library and meet up with a friend + her son. The library is a great place for the boys to run around and burn off some energy.

2pm: Nap for Mr. President, free-for-all #2 for me. 45 minutes of work. More laundry. Clean up lunch, toys, snacks on the ground. 30 minutes cleaning the basement (I’ve committed to cleaning the basement since baby #2 is on the way). Prep dinner.

3:45-6pm: Snack time. Play time. It’s warm – for January – so we bundle up and go for a run + post-run playtime at the park. We see friends at the park and play for an hour. Head home to eat dinner.

6:15pm: Dinnertime. Salsa verde pulled chicken + corn tortillas, avocado, and sauteed peppers + onions. It’s a huge hit (recipe coming soon).

7:00pm: Bath, books, bedtime. I read anywhere from 5-10 books before bed, we love to read. After I turn out the light, I rock with LJ and sing to him. It’s one of my favorite parts of the day! Just the two of us.

8:00pm: Mr. President is in bed, sleeping. I pick-up bathtime toys, clean-up the kitchen, straighten up the playroom. Grab laundry from the basement and start folding. Turn on trashy TV, tonight it’s BRAVO’s Millionaire Matchmaker (and if I wasn’t pregnant, I’d be drinking wine too).  Grab my computer, answer a couple of emails. Unwind.

10pm: Bedtime for me. Can’t wait to sleep!

There you have it.  A typical day in my life as a {part-time work-from-home, runner with a 15mo old + #2 on-the-way mom}.

What does your day look like? How do you do it all?

Link up a post about your day & check out the other “Day in the Life” posts.