August 2020

Summertime Birthdays and Celebrating from a Distance 

With the weather warming up and summer coming to a close, we hope you are all healthy and enjoying the sun as much as possible. We have been keeping busy with some new construction on the house, the new puppies, and trying to get down to the beach during our free time. This month we celebrated my sister, Lexie's 25th birthday, and my 23rd birthday. It was our first birthday's apart, but we both enjoyed a mellow day with our friends. Face Time really helps too.  Can you believe that we have used up 8 months of the year and 6 of those months under the Covid-19 restrictions.  What have you been up to these last couple weeks of summer? We hope you all have a safe and fun rest of your summer! 

Birthday Celebration 

Lex and I both celebrated our birthday's this month. Although we weren't together we still had a great time. Funny how empty our family feels when we are not together, mostly dad, but we all look forward to being together again soon for the Holidays.  What a great birthday gift my boyfriend Wes shared with me.  We took a flight in one of the oldest commercial biplanes, from 1924, over the San Diego coast & enjoyed a weekend away exploring Zion National Park.  Reflecting back and setting goals for the future, I am super grateful to be back home surrounded by family & friends. This year I look forward to beginning my journey at nursing school and settling back into California. If you are ever in Carlsbad, look me up at Senor Grubby's as I start my side hustle in the restaurant industry.  Both my mom and dad worked in restaurants before opening up their insurance practice.  Looking forward to the tips as well.  Lex took a drive from NYC to Pittsburgh to visit Addison for her birthday weekend. They enjoyed a Tiki Float down the river with a couple of cocktails to celebrate. Lex looks forward to navigating the new teaching and educational challenges this year and exploring New York City with her boyfriend, Ian. She completed the Masters Program at Long Island University in Special Education.  My dad introduced her to the Director of Special Education for the Carlsbad Unified School District and hopefully someday soon she will return home when she is ready.  

Restaurant Review 

With restaurants opening back up I thought this month I'd give you a list of a few that we have been too and believe they are adhering to the guidelines and have adapted to these new ways of dining out. 

1. Mikko Sushi - Created a super nice outdoor dining area. Salmon skin salad is my favorite! 

2. Crackheads - Made their own upper deck seating. Great place for a cocktail or Sunday brunch! 

3. 264 Fresco - Turned their parking lot into an elegant dining space. I love cioppino!  

4. The Best Pizza - Cool outdoor vibe. Super casual, great pizza, wings, and beer! 

5. Señor Grubby's - Made a new outdoor bar and deck to sit at. If you love spice, shrimp diablo is YUMMY. 

***Beware that hours are subject to change at most restaurants during COVID-19, so what websites say may not apply. We suggest calling ahead of time if you are concerned.***

Recipe of the Month 

OOOY, GOOY, ChocolateChip Cookies 

Mmmhhmm. I don't know about you, but I love the smell of some freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. In true Kiki fashion, I had to put my own healthy twist on these. I will say, some people didn't even notice a difference!

- Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees F 

- Line your baking sheet

Ingredients: 

 

- 1 egg

- 1/4 C tahini 

- 1/4 C maple syrup or honey 

- 1/4 C almond flour or coconut flour 

- 1/3 C almond butter or cashew butter or peanut butter 

- 1/3 C melted coconut oil 

- 1 tsp vanilla extract 

- Any amount of chocolate chips you desire 

Bake: 

- Mix all ingredients in a bowl 

- Place small "blob" on lined cookie sheet 

- Bake for 10-12 minutes 

- Let cool, and enjoy! 

Workout of the Month 

Set your timer and get ready for a sweat. 2 blocks, 23 minutes each for a 50 minute sweaty session! This workout can literally be done anywhere, no excuses! 

Block A: 15 reps each 

- Glute Bridge 

- Jump Squat 

- Alternating Lunges 

- Side Lunge 

- Pulse Squat 

Block B: 30 reps each 

- Jumping Jacks 

- Mountain Climbers 

- High Knees 

- Plank Taps 

- Crunches 

Heatin' Up 

When the weather gets hot... here's a list of things to do inside or to cool off! 

1. Head straight to the beach! 

2. Clean out the closet you've been wanting to this whole quarantine. 

3. Find a new recipe and try it out. (Maybe even the cookie one I listed above...) 

4. Make a yummy refreshing smoothie! 

5. Learn a new cocktail and enjoy it. 

6. Have a movie marathon. 

7. Re-organize your closet or bathroom. 

8. Start a new book. 

9. Phone a friend or family member you've been meaning to catch up with. 

10. Embrace the heat, sweat it out, and take a walk outside! 

Whatever you decide to do, keep a positive attitude and you'll make the most of it no matter the circumstances! Share with us what you guys have been doing to stay busy, stay cool, and stay sane during these uncertain times, we'd love to hear from you. 

Kindly and with Gratitude, 

Amanda Kiki Domingo