Month: September 2014


Sep
2014

YOLO & YOYO

categories: Sincerely, Karina
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My baby bear walking up the stairs on our walk!

You signed up for a 50-mile bike ride and you just got a new puppy – where you drive 30 mins on your 1 hour lunch break just to check on him-when you should be training for the race!!…. I’m talking about myself, of course!!

People ask me all the time….How do you find the time? You have so much going on…How (& why) are you involved in so many things? The answer to How is…. a mobile calender! Without my I-Phone calender and my pocket size planner… I’d be virtually screwed. The answer to Why is….  You Only Live Once and I want to make sure I do as many things as I physically,emotionally and mentally can in a day… Granted there are times, I want to do NOTHING but snuggle up on the couch with some mint tea (or a glass of white!) and a bowl of hot fudge coffee ice cream (with cream and nuts). However, I will get down on myself if I fall into a routine of doing nothing but going to work – doing the minimal amount then going home to eat something simple, wash up and go to bed….talk about BORE. I’m sorry if that is your life… but the good thing is: you can change that! You can get involved – whether it be joining a book club, going beyond your job description at work, taking a spin or yoga class, volunteering at a local soup kitchen ( highly recommended in the next few months with the cold weather), babysitting, puppy sitting, taking a cooking class, going for a run, taking a photography class.. LEARN!

So having a fulfilled life is possible and some people do not know what they are missing until they try something new and get involved! I encourage everyone to YOLO and YOYO (You’re Only Young Once). There are so many things to do in your 20’s, new things to do in your 30’s,40’s…even 80’s! Get out there! Enjoy all that is good in this world!

The good and bad of #YOLO – I only use it for the good benefits- you should too!

Back on track to what I was trying to talk about,(ADHD problems) I have been riding from work on my bike every day this week so far to “train” -more like cope- with riding the 50 miles this Saturday!! Got to keep telling myself its for a great cause and I can finish..eeek We’ll see!

xo,

KPM

 


Sep
2014

Puppy Play Date

categories: Dog Mom, Style
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Freddy Meet Charlie and Play nice!!

Freddy had a puppy play date on Saturday morning.  The date was with Charlie, a chocolate lab puppy that I actually -pup-sitted right before deciding to get my own!

My friend/coworker was watching Charlie for her boyfriend and we thought the pups could play while we  enjoyed a French pressed coffee and croissants on my deck– a relaxing Saturday morning.

Ya. Keep dreaming, Karina! The second Charlie walked in the door, he got way too excited (maybe he remembered being here once before) and ran to the door mat to relieve himself, Freddy was so confused why another animal  was in the house that he ran over to step into the mess and then chase Charlie through the house, tracking everything he stepped in.. I immediately opened the back door to let them in the backyard and carrying Freddy down the stairs (he hasn’t mastered going down yet), I managed to get his poo covered paws all over my new J-crew V neck…awesome!

Finally, I could welcome my friend over to my house. What an entrance!!After 4 hours of play time, Freddy was ready for a longggg nap and nap he did!(momma too!)

Is this what I have to look forward to when I have kids? Amen to all this practice!!

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Big puppy follow the little puppy!

Sep
2014

Date Night

categories: Delish

How important is date night? When you’re not home 7AM-6PM (M-F), your boyfriend is back in school getting his MBA, so not home till 10PM some nights, you just got a new puppy, you’re balancing living away from home for the first year (AKA:dinner planning, weekly lunch planning, where is all this laundry coming from!?, dishes galore, didn’t I just go grocery shopping?,maintaining the garden, forget about putting my clothes away, studying for Dental Admission Test( uhh?),training for the bike race, GYM? (why do I still pay for a membership?),blogging, keeping up with friends & some sort of social life, schedules, too many weddings, baby showers! (so happy for my BFF!), the list goes on and on. I may or may not over-commit story of my life -really!

So yes, the time for your significant other can be slim- even if its just cuddling in bed.. the puppy cries and we keep him in bed so cuddling and that minimal alone time we had together can be a challenge now!

Date night is VERY important. 

I’m excited to go out with my handsome guy tonight. I made a reservation via Open Table to an Italian restaurant in the North End… Think wine (bottle, please!), warm bread, Chix Marsala, fresh cannoli, …. Is the work day over yet?

I need to plan my outfit! Its chilly out so I’ll mix in some Fall-inspired items along with a pop of summer… Not ready to let it go fully!

Xo,

Happy Friday!

Oh, I found some fun, creative  date ideas (cheap too) on Boston.com! Once the pup gets older, I’ll have to plan a VT trip – my absolute favorite esp during Foliage season! – so soon!


Sep
2014

Cycling 50-miles to help young girls!

categories: Delish, Good for you glossary, Sincerely, Karina

Helping young girls around the Boston area find a good, strong role model.unnamed

So, my BF’s boss signed him up for this road race for MS 3 years ago. He legit got on a bike- not a regular bike you get for your 5th birthday, but a bike that costs around a grand – I’ve seen some for 8 grand$$$ (craze) done up with skinny tires, clip in shoes with some type of carbon frame.  Nico rode from Boston to Ptown, cape cod – like 180 miles! uhm yeah I’m exhausted driving my car that far – forget having to peddle my way there.  Check out the page to support MS and ride yourself next year!

but yeah funny thing, I ended up buying myself a road bike last year and since I’m in the Big Sister program felt the need to sign up for this race in honor of the organization….We are raising money on behalf of Big Sister Association of Greater Boston for the 2014 Rodman Ride for Kids. This ride is the #1 single-day athletic fundraiser in the nation supporting at-risk kids.

There’s my pitch for donations. 100% goes to support these wonderful children in the world we live in today!

Click Here To Support Karina Mroczko’s Rodman Ride Page   unnamed (1)

 

p.S. How I’m going to ride the 50 mile portion?… I don’t know! Since getting a pup, my training has slowly disappeared!! Better gear up this weekend and put some major miles on … someone is going to be sore!

 


Sep
2014

Tofu Scramble (Vegan)

categories: Delish, Recipes

I went Vegan for Lent, so 40 days. I made sure we finished everything that comes from an animal before we started so we wouldn’t be tempted. When I say, we, I’m saying I made Nico do this with me! He did it more by default since I was the one grocery shopping, packing lunches and making dinner while he started grad school ..  When we got back from our Jamaican vaca- all inclusive, so alcohol and food all the time non stop – We needed a cleanse which is how the 2 things came together (Lent & Cleanse) = Vegan Challenge

Anyways, his cousins got me this book for our housewarming party. ISA DOES IT – all Vegan recipes. At first, I didn’t’ know what Vegan was.. I thought vegetarian- only eat vegetables- no meat. okay can’t be that hard. But when I realized Vegan meant NO animal products whatsoever, I knew I had a challenge ahead of me. Being for Polsih decent, there really isn’t a meal that doesn’t include some type of meat.. Kielbasa, hello! or dairy- Sour cream on top of CHEESE Pierogie — yummmy, sour cream on top of everything for that matter!  (My 1st Vegan Bible-Legit amazing!)

So Nico’s cousins (my inspirations for this challenge) have been vegan for 5, going on 6 years now. I will have them guest blog soon to offer up some advice and give insight into why they went Vegan and the benefits/challenges they face…

But in the meantime, let me go ahead and share this Tofu Scramble Recipe– I had my friend over last night and she requested I make her this b/c its that delish!! I  usually make it at the end of the work week; when I have leftover veggies and need a way to wrap them all up into something easy and good. I usually pair it with potatoes pancakes, vegan garlic bread, in a sandwich, with a salad, on top of quinoa… anything you feel like really!

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Tofu scramble with some Vegan Garlic Bread (recipe coming soon)

Tofu Scramble by Isa Chandra Moskowitz

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