Things to Do in New Mexico | Santa Fe and Albuquerque

I love to discover new things when I'm on vacation. I learned a lot while taking a mini-vacation in New Mexico last month; but I think the most important thing I discovered was that I would like to come back in the next life as a burrito. Maybe it's because when we got to Santa Fe it was snowing, but all I kept thinking about was being wrapped in a warm tortilla, covered in melting cheese, and smothered with red and green chile. Picture me sitting on a warm plate underneath a heat lamp just enjoying life. Seems like the life for future me.

Merry Christmas from Santa Fe (a distant cousin of Santa Claus)

We stayed at the Don Gaspar Inn

We spent four days in New Mexico and in that time I consumed roughly 8,000,000 burritos. You've got your breakfast burrito, lunch burrito, dinner burrito, dessert burrito, snack burrito, late-night burrito, 2:00pm burrito, the I'm-so-full-I-can't-eat-anymore-hey-is-that-a-burrito? burrito. Lots of burritos, guys. Lots. Besides eating a burrito, here are the other things I recommend when you're in this beautiful state.

1. Create Your Own Art Walk in Santa Fe

Georgia O'Keeffe Museum

The World's Cutest Docent. I want to be a docent when I grow up into a little old lady.

There are beautiful sculptures everywhere!

Wilford Gallery had the best sculpture garden.

2. Feel Like a Giant at Kakawa Chocolate House

Kakawa Chocolate House

They give out samples of all the drinks - so definitely try before you buy. Some are really delicious, some are spicy, and some tasted like soap. 

Cute little cups! Our afternoon treat was hot chocolate with chili and coconut sugar, bourbon caramel chocolate, and chili caramel chocolate. Yum!

To put this in to perspective, I'm basically the size of a cartoon character. Just imagine how small their cups were!

3. Shop Local

Local pottery store. I couldn't afford anything, but it was so beautiful.

Palace of The Governors

Collected Works Bookstore in Santa Fe

Bookworks in Albuquerque

4. Drink Local

Ohori's Coffee - Santa Fe

Marble Brewery - Albuquerque

Marble doesn't serve food, but they have local food trucks parked outside.

5. Order it Christmas-Style

The Shed - Santa Fe. Home of the hottest green chile known to man. 

Delicious breakfast burrito at The Plaza Cafe

Please don't judge - Cocina Azul

6. Toast Yourself for Climbing Up the Mountain (or you know, taking the 13 minute Tramway...)

Some may have chosen to make the long hike up the mountain. Others may have chosen to pay the $20 to be carried up the mountain. I was already 5,000,000 burritos in at this point of the trip, so taking the tram seemed the way to go. Sandia Peak Tramway

Treat yourself to a nice appetizer or drink at the High Finance Restaurant. You deserve it after those 13 minutes of standing.

The moment when I learned Bryan can't read.

7. Take a Moment to Enjoy the View

New Mexico is beautiful. There's no other way to describe the colors there.

We made a detour on the way to Albuquerque because we wanted to get closer to the mountain. We maybe saw two cars drive by the entire time we were there.

True story: ten seconds after we took this picture I looked down and realized that there were ants crawling all over my feet and the road. Sometimes enjoying the view from inside the car is nice too.

Let's Talk Books: An Untamed State

An Untamed State by Roxane Gay (5/5 stars)
What it's about: Mireille, her husband Michael, and their baby boy are visiting family in Haiti. As they back out of Mireille's parent's driveway on their way to the beach, a group of armed kidnappers swarm the car and take Mireille. For thirteen days she is held hostage by a group of men led by a man who calls himself 'The Commander'. As her husband pleads with her father to pay her ransom, Mireille attempts to forget the woman she used to be and struggles to become the person she needs to be to survive.

What I thought: This book consumed my life for two days. From the first sentence I was hooked into finding out what happens to Mireille. Gay's writing made me feel every hopeless moment of Mireille's thirteen days as hostage and every painful minute of her recovery. The structure of the book weaves between Mireille and Michael recalling past events from their relationship to their current day situation. Usually I find these back stories to be overdone and tiring, but like a boxer who needs a break between rounds I found myself needing some time in the corner to re-energize my heart before diving back into the main plot line. An Untamed State reminded me a little bit of Emma Donogue's Room, but with more detail into what happens after freedom (I'm sure that's in part to Room being told from a child's perspective). Gay did an excellent job describing how difficult and painful Mireille's life was after she escaped. An Untamed State is definitely not for everyone. I think the subject is difficult for...well, anyone human. It's still haunting me.

I Wrote Some Fitness Goals - No Joke

Is it weird to make fitness goals on April Fools' Day? Will anyone take me seriously? Will I take myself seriously? I will! I mean, I do! After a year of running a 5k every month I decided to take the winter off. I swore that I wouldn't run in the freezing cold. I told myself, "Self, no more running in the snow. You hate it." Too bad I didn't tell myself to stop ordering pad thai every week, but it is important to set realistic goals.

I got a Fitbit for Valentine's Day to help track my activity...or lack of activity. Yes, it took about a week to get that Fitbit song ("Well...earlyfit, latefit, rowfit, datefit, stairfit, weeeeeee, find your fit") out of my head. But now I'm keeping track of my steps, monitoring my heart rate, and (when I remember) entering my calories. It's definitely helping me make healthier choices. I was at the airport last month and decided to walk instead of using that moving walkway! Nevermind that I was walking to McDonald's to get a hash brown. Baby steps count as much as regular steps.

I'm starting fresh in April with a few goals to help get and keep me motivated.

April's Goals:

1. Walk 10,000 steps a day
2. Run 40 miles
3. Complete a 5k
4. Get out of the house when the weather is nice!
5. Stop eating like a Gilmore Girl

What are your goals for this month?