March 2021

Marching Into Orange

March Birthday celebrations with our family & visit from Addison's girlfriend, Ariana

WOW. I don't know about you guys, but this month came and flew by! Moving closer to the Orange Covid Tier, a time change, and many adventures made the month of March come and go pretty quickly. We celebrated St. Patrick's Day, some birthdays, and some visitors. My dad performed on Palm Sunday at our local church with his ukulele group, the Sonshine Strummers, and it was amazing to see the joy he had in his heart. We are looking forward to springtime this April when we will celebrate Easter, dad will take a trip to see Lexie in New York City and help her set up her new apartment, and hopefully some more fun adventures!   

Please remember to stay safe as our State of California moves closer to the Orange Tier.  Just wear your mask while in public, social distance and stay healthy.  Let's not let Covid sneak back up into the Purple because we all feel comfortable.  Lets listen and pay attention to the science and experts.  

Dad's performance at New Song Community Church Carlsbad Campus  

Many Adventures in March

This past month I have been extremely blessed to be able to go on all kinds of adventures from the snow, to beaches, to the sky! Prior to COVID, my plan was to do some international traveling before I really settled into a "career".  Although that didn't quite happen, I have been able to do so much more than I had expected and I am extremely grateful that I have I job that allows me to, parents that support me and encourage me to enjoy life while I can, and great company to enjoy it with. As I prepare to get into nursing school within the next year, I am going to take in and enjoy all life has to offer in the present moment! It has been my first ski season and I absolutely fell in love with it. My boyfriend and I took a trip to Mammoth and got to camp and ski for a couple of days. The conditions were cold, but I finally am getting a feel for it and attacked my first black diamond.  A couple weeks later, I got to take a little trip to Oahu with my best friends and a few short days upon returning I was up in the sky jumping out of an airplane. 

Mammoth 

Waimea Bay with Mal 

Skydiving @ GoJump Oceanside 

Recipe of the Month - St. Patty's Edition 

GO GREEN - Protein Smoothie

One of my favorite and "go-to" smoothies! So refreshing for spring time and healthy. I use it as a post workout shake, on the go meal, or sweet treat dessert. 

Ingredients: 

8-16 oz plant based milk/coconut water 

1 cup frozen tropical fruit blend (mango, pineapple, peach) 

1 ripe banana 

1-2 scoops vanilla plant based protein (or protein of your choice)

2 handfuls of spinach (trust me you won't taste it, but it gives the smoothie a pretty green color!) 

Throw all your ingredients into your blender and blend to the consistency of your choice! For a thicker smoothie bowl, use frozen bananas and less liquid, then top with your favorite granola and nut butter...YUM! 

Restaurant Review - Eureka! 

Eureka!

A great place for a date night or a night out with a bunch of friends. Located in Carlsbad off of Palomar Airport Road, it is hidden in the business park area. They have indoor/outdoor seating that is a very chic, trendy vibe. The cool part is you scan the QR code at your table and order directly from your phone. They bring out your drinks, food, and whatever sides you want. When you are done, super seamless, you pay directly from your phone too and just leave when you're ready. They have a happy hour, plenty of cocktails, beer and wine, and they are gluten/vegan friendly with a ton of options to alter your meals. 

Book Review - Money Honey 

Maybe some of you are super good with your finances, maybe some of you struggle, and maybe some of you have no clue what you are really even doing. Whether you are a broke college student or multi-millionaire I have found this book to be extremely helpful and relatable with all basics of finances most of us are not so fortunate to learn. I found my copy on Amazon and got it next delivery through prime! Give it a read, you will not be disappointed. 

Just A Friendly Reminder to Fund Your ROTH or TRADITIONAL IRA 

2020 and 2021 traditional & Roth IRA contribution limits

Total annual contributions to your traditional and Roth IRAs combined cannot exceed:

• 2020: $6,000, 2021: $6,000 (under age 50)
• 2020: $7,000, 2021: $7,000 (age 50 or older)
• Must fund 2020 by April 15th 2021 for your deduction on your Traditional IRA or Future possible tax free withdraws with your ROTH IRA.  Please check with us on income limits for maximum benefits. 

April Awaits 

Lex has officially moved in to her very first apartment all by herself. She has a cute studio apartment in Brooklyn, NY. She is enjoying her time being back in the classroom with her students and is eager for us to come visit. We all miss her so much, but cannot be more proud of her as she navigates her way through adulthood in the greatest city. Opportunity awaits wherever you go, there you are Lexie girl! Love you sissy. 

What are you excited for in April? We hope you all have a healthy and happy Easter holiday! 

With love from our family to yours, 

The Domingo's 

February 2021

Love is in the Air and Its Killing the Covid

Love does conquer all my friends.  We are close to returning back to a more normal way of life.  Life actually will never be the same as we start to see the pandemic decrease in numbers.  I title this monthly message because we should all still be very aware of others who are struggling with the Covid - 19 Pandemic.  The mental toll has been huge for our youth and elders.  When in public, be very aware of your surroundings.  Is everyone wearing a mask around you?  Then you should as well.  Don't let your pride or opinion make people feel unsafe or uncomfortable.  Continue to do our part in reducing the spread of this crippling and deadly virus.  Where mask, social distance, get vaccinated, and most of all, be considerate.  When we started this journey about a year ago, I wanted to create a shirt that said "Spread Love, Not Covid".  I believe it is out of form now but the message is true.  When we focus our efforts on helping others, blessings and a positive attitude are byproducts of such actions.  That being said, enjoy the read and continue to stay safe, stay smart and stay loving to all.  

A true month of love. February 5th, my parents celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary. It is crazy to see two people grow together through all the ups and downs, running a business together, raising a family of 5, and still managing to stick it out is something that is more rare to see nowadays. We were also lucky enough to have Addison and Lexie join us for two separate visits this month. It was a nice getaway for them to take some time to rewind relax and be surrounded by friends and family. 

Valentine’s Day - 

The big love day. Maybe you were spending the day with someone special, or maybe you celebrated some self love this year. Either way, it’s a great day to use as a reminder how important it is to love one another. Especially with everything going on in the world, it’s a fun little holiday to remember how important it is to be surrounded by people you love and love you back. Here are a few ways to celebrate with yourself or some of your loved ones:

1. Self care - Make yourself a bath with your favorite drink (maybe some wine, tea, or a margarita). Relax and unwind with a face mask while you enjoy your favorite drink and a movie.
2. 
   Romantic evening - Its not always about the big extravaganza on Valentine’s Day, mostly it just comes down to the effort. Surprise your loved one with their favorite home cooked meal, let them choose the Netflix show or movie that maybe you can barely stand, and top it off with their favorite desert!
   
3. For the love of friends - Always a good idea to share the day with some of your closest pals. Throw a homemade pizza party with some of your favorite booze and movies and enjoy hanging out in your pj's with all your favorite people. Keep it super casual and fun! 
   

Getting Vaccinated

Have you gotten vaccinated? My dad was fortunate enough to be offered the vaccine early because he is a primary care taker of my grandmother. We have seen many mixed reviews and reactions which seem to indicate it is all based on the individual. My dad is doing great with no side effects and will be getting his second dosage here shortly. We hope you all are staying healthy!  Remember that we all have a part in reducing the spread of this virus.  

Recipe of the Month 

Baked Sweet Potato Wedges

One of my absolute favorite foods- sweet potatoes! I could eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner everyday. So easy full of nutrients and great for pre or post workout. One of my favorite ways is to chop them up like a wedge and bake them like steak fries. 

1. Preheat oven to 425
2. Cut and chop into wedge like fries
3. Put in a big bowl with 2 tbsp olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika
4. Lay on lined baking sheet and bake for 40 minutes shaking/flipping half way through baking 
5. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce, in burger night, or as base with some sunny side up eggs! 

Restaurant Review 

CraftCoast Brewery Review 

275 Mission Ave, Oceanside, CA
Open 11:45 AM - 9:15 PM

CraftCoast Beer & Tacos Menu 

This month’s restaurant review is CraftCoast Brewery located just east of the Oceanside Pier in the heart of downtown Oceanside. Homemade tortillas, amazing beer, and a mulita you must try! Super fun atmosphere all seating is indoor/outdoor. Mask is required upon entry but you are able to take it off when you get seated like many other restaurants. I recommend the Mexican Lager and they also have kombucha on tap for the non beer lovers. Give this authentic Mexican restaurant a try and let us know what ya think! 

Dinner Party

As many of you know all our friends are considered our family. We have been lucky enough to keep our friendships with the “Brew Crew” for thirty plus years. As many of us have moved away and just got busy with life, we make it an effort to keep in touch and gather together every 3 months or so. My parents and 2-3 other couples take turns hosting a full on home cooked meal. My parents hosted with an amazing surf & turf spread! What are some fun, entertaining, and socially distanced ways you are keeping in touch with your friends and family? 

Let us know what you think or want information on.  We appreciate your eyes and your time.  Have a blessed Spring Season and we look forward to connecting personally soon.  

Your bloggers from the West Coast, Glenn and Amanda Domingo