Ok, so before you think that I am crazy and have never gone anywhere or had a break take a breath.
But I realized that these blissful weeks off are my first vacation.
Let me explain.
Throughout high school and before hand I did, of course, get a usual Christmas break at school. I would spend this time relaxing and enjoying myself, and often with a trip to Nebraska for Christmas to see family and spend a week or so there.
Then I left high school and entered the pre-real world. I was in school and got a winter break, but I also started working, and that break was spent....at work. My freshman year I spent my break readjusting, moving, re-enrolling, and arguing about classes etc. and way more time waiting around in counselor and financial aid offices than I ever imagined. For the next few years and breaks after that (the last 5 years) I was taking classes and working, cutting my 2+ week break into only a couple days at a time. Then I left my coffee house job and started working towards my teaching credential, but I was still working part time and over break I was able to get a lot more time in and I wanted the extra money. Then I started working part time in education and an office and it was the same story.
Now here I am with a break. I have gone a little bit stir crazy (and still have some time left) But it is really good to relax, get done those millions of things that I have been too busy to do the last few months, and usually/hopefully get a nice run in with my molly pup.
Monday, December 31, 2012
2012 in Review
The best way to sum up my year is...
I never thought that I would feel so comfortable outside of my comfort zone.
Over the last year there have been times that I have pushed myself to my limit....running 13.1 miles was totally stupid, but I am also considering doing it again. My first triathlon gave me a passion for riding and even running. If you would have told me a year ago that my husband and I would have a new favorite past time that was free and helped us be healthier I might have laughed at you, and been a little clueless as to what it was. I am honestly shocked at how much we both enjoy spending our weekends and evenings riding around, and how simple it is to ride and get a cup of coffee together on a weekend morning.
I also want to mention how grateful I am for my new things list in 2012 and the stuff that it DIDN'T include. As I look over my list there is nothing that is sad or heartbreaking. I have been extremely blessed and can look back at the year full of adventure without too many tears. Other than our bikes going missing, though it sucked, the year went over pretty well. A year of health, rewards, and love, for us and those that we care about. For that I am extremely grateful.
This doesn't mean that the year was perfect, there were still moments of frustration, impatience, and exhaustion, but none of them had endings that were heartbreaking, and most of those have turned out better than I could have guessed or imagined in the moment.
Through some long overdue changes and some new opportunities, there are now a number of areas that I never or rarely went to that I find myself in on a regular basis.
Basically throughout this year I have stretched myself....even if I only got about halfway through my goal. I feel like this year of adventure has been good to me, and taught me that it is okay to go outside of my bubble. If you have read more than a couple of my posts you probably got the idea that I was living in a bubble for probably about the last 12 years, maybe even longer. I still consider my world a bit of a bubble, because I don't think that it is possible that one person can embrace the entire community all at once, but I have to say that my bubble has changed over the year.
I have had some experiences that I would repeat, some that I am very excited to repeat (Triathlons again and hopefully at least 2 in 2013). I also plan on continuing the adventure into the next year, and writing down the new things that I have attempted or accomplish. Some of the new things that I tried in 2012 have become habits and that is a great reward in itself.
One of the best adventures of this year has been the wonderful amount of new recipes that I have attempted, and mostly succeeded. I think I have only come up with one or two disasters, and have really enjoyed most of the fruits of the labor. And the tasty desert treats have been delicious as well....though I fully admit that some of these things cancel out the triathlon training!!
I am looking forward to 2013, and new things that I can try, and hopefully succeed. If 2013 has half as many blessings I think I am in for a great one!
Happy new year to my loved ones, thank you for being part of the lessons that I have learned over the last year.
I never thought that I would feel so comfortable outside of my comfort zone.
Over the last year there have been times that I have pushed myself to my limit....running 13.1 miles was totally stupid, but I am also considering doing it again. My first triathlon gave me a passion for riding and even running. If you would have told me a year ago that my husband and I would have a new favorite past time that was free and helped us be healthier I might have laughed at you, and been a little clueless as to what it was. I am honestly shocked at how much we both enjoy spending our weekends and evenings riding around, and how simple it is to ride and get a cup of coffee together on a weekend morning.
I also want to mention how grateful I am for my new things list in 2012 and the stuff that it DIDN'T include. As I look over my list there is nothing that is sad or heartbreaking. I have been extremely blessed and can look back at the year full of adventure without too many tears. Other than our bikes going missing, though it sucked, the year went over pretty well. A year of health, rewards, and love, for us and those that we care about. For that I am extremely grateful.
This doesn't mean that the year was perfect, there were still moments of frustration, impatience, and exhaustion, but none of them had endings that were heartbreaking, and most of those have turned out better than I could have guessed or imagined in the moment.
Through some long overdue changes and some new opportunities, there are now a number of areas that I never or rarely went to that I find myself in on a regular basis.
Basically throughout this year I have stretched myself....even if I only got about halfway through my goal. I feel like this year of adventure has been good to me, and taught me that it is okay to go outside of my bubble. If you have read more than a couple of my posts you probably got the idea that I was living in a bubble for probably about the last 12 years, maybe even longer. I still consider my world a bit of a bubble, because I don't think that it is possible that one person can embrace the entire community all at once, but I have to say that my bubble has changed over the year.
I have had some experiences that I would repeat, some that I am very excited to repeat (Triathlons again and hopefully at least 2 in 2013). I also plan on continuing the adventure into the next year, and writing down the new things that I have attempted or accomplish. Some of the new things that I tried in 2012 have become habits and that is a great reward in itself.
One of the best adventures of this year has been the wonderful amount of new recipes that I have attempted, and mostly succeeded. I think I have only come up with one or two disasters, and have really enjoyed most of the fruits of the labor. And the tasty desert treats have been delicious as well....though I fully admit that some of these things cancel out the triathlon training!!
I am looking forward to 2013, and new things that I can try, and hopefully succeed. If 2013 has half as many blessings I think I am in for a great one!
Happy new year to my loved ones, thank you for being part of the lessons that I have learned over the last year.
Overnight cinnamon rolls
I started turning my favorite roll recipe into cinnamon rolls years ago. My mom taught me how and then I was hooked. Now most of the time that I make a batch of rolls I also throw together some cinnamon rolls. Now that I am married I am pretty sure there would be a huge disappointment if I didn't make the cinnamon rolls, I might be in trouble! haha just kidding.....
With this same dough recipe I usually play around with the flour.....it is the way I have to use up the 5 different kinds of flour that I have from different projects up until I made the rolls. (whole wheat, self rising, bread flour, cake flour.....you get the drift) Usually I start the dough fairly early in the morning, as I did this time, and then some point throughout the day I use that to roll out the rolls and/or cinnamon rolls and let them rise for the day. This year I decided that it might be a good adventure to let the cinnamon rolls sit out all night, that way when we ate them Christmas morning they would be fresh and perfect.
So I had a little trouble sleeping.....I got up a couple times to speak at them and make sure that they hadn't poofed down. AND I understand enough about how yeast works to know that the house had to be fairly cold....so I left the heater off for the night as well.
Come Christmas morning they weren't the totally poofy pieces of amazingness that I have always dreamed of making, but they were tasty. Some of the filling also drained towards the bottom of the pan. My parents came over for Christmas breakfast, and my dad is a HUGE fan of the sweet crunchy gooey pieces at the bottom of the pan, and pretty much scraped it clean. The best part is that it didn't bake on to where it was hard to get them off, which is Christmas roll perfection.....though I will someday have poofy amazingness.
With this same dough recipe I usually play around with the flour.....it is the way I have to use up the 5 different kinds of flour that I have from different projects up until I made the rolls. (whole wheat, self rising, bread flour, cake flour.....you get the drift) Usually I start the dough fairly early in the morning, as I did this time, and then some point throughout the day I use that to roll out the rolls and/or cinnamon rolls and let them rise for the day. This year I decided that it might be a good adventure to let the cinnamon rolls sit out all night, that way when we ate them Christmas morning they would be fresh and perfect.
So I had a little trouble sleeping.....I got up a couple times to speak at them and make sure that they hadn't poofed down. AND I understand enough about how yeast works to know that the house had to be fairly cold....so I left the heater off for the night as well.
Come Christmas morning they weren't the totally poofy pieces of amazingness that I have always dreamed of making, but they were tasty. Some of the filling also drained towards the bottom of the pan. My parents came over for Christmas breakfast, and my dad is a HUGE fan of the sweet crunchy gooey pieces at the bottom of the pan, and pretty much scraped it clean. The best part is that it didn't bake on to where it was hard to get them off, which is Christmas roll perfection.....though I will someday have poofy amazingness.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Stir fry
So due to the fact that my husband and I had a ton of left over meat, due to last minute changes in plans, we needed to use it somehow.
I love bell peppers....the fact that panda puts a lot in makes my heart happy....so we decided to use the leftover meat and make stir fry. I am currently regretting the use of my precious bell peppers....
So we use a bottle labeled 'stir fry' that has been around awhile. It was to salty so I added a dash of hot sauce....it was bland so I added some thai peanut sauce. I added a tiny bit of quinoa and the husband insisted we add more (should have left it and served it on top)
Anyways it was a disaster....not sure if it was too many clueless cooks in the kitchen but sooooo not happening again. The leftover soup I ended up eating for dinner was a disaster....hahaha
I love bell peppers....the fact that panda puts a lot in makes my heart happy....so we decided to use the leftover meat and make stir fry. I am currently regretting the use of my precious bell peppers....
So we use a bottle labeled 'stir fry' that has been around awhile. It was to salty so I added a dash of hot sauce....it was bland so I added some thai peanut sauce. I added a tiny bit of quinoa and the husband insisted we add more (should have left it and served it on top)
Anyways it was a disaster....not sure if it was too many clueless cooks in the kitchen but sooooo not happening again. The leftover soup I ended up eating for dinner was a disaster....hahaha
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Turtle bites
Another Pinterest piece of amazing.
Rolos
Pretzels(I used the window ones)
Nuts (I had cashews on hand)
I would give credit to some but I have seen this a million places. The pretzels I bought were accidentally butter salt ones but they worked.
I put the rolo and pretzel in the oven at like 250 for about 20 min and then pressed in the cashews. Tossed whole tray in fridge for awhile after. They were delicious. Had to take some to my parents to get them out of house.
Rolos
Pretzels(I used the window ones)
Nuts (I had cashews on hand)
I would give credit to some but I have seen this a million places. The pretzels I bought were accidentally butter salt ones but they worked.
I put the rolo and pretzel in the oven at like 250 for about 20 min and then pressed in the cashews. Tossed whole tray in fridge for awhile after. They were delicious. Had to take some to my parents to get them out of house.
Apple salad
I saw a Pinterest recipe thst included lots of cut up snickers, vanilla pudding, cool whip, and some apples. Mixed it all up and it had a good sweet but was tasty. Someone asked me why I put so much mayo in before they tried it, after that more people tried it haha guess I had some extra goop!
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Alfredo Sauce
Ok no this is FAR from my first attempt at Alfredo sauce.....but it is by far the BEST attempt at Alfredo sauce.
Two new things that I did in this?
1. Used a recipe on a can....and a can (thanks to the progreso recipe starters!)
2. Used corn starch to thicken it up. (First time ever using corn starch....I was a little worried my texture would suck....but I think I did it right! Leftovers will tell!)
This is far better than any other recipe...especially the one where I spilled all the pepper kernels...
Two new things that I did in this?
1. Used a recipe on a can....and a can (thanks to the progreso recipe starters!)
2. Used corn starch to thicken it up. (First time ever using corn starch....I was a little worried my texture would suck....but I think I did it right! Leftovers will tell!)
This is far better than any other recipe...especially the one where I spilled all the pepper kernels...
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Melt away sugar cookies
Ok so the recipe I used had like 4 ingredients....for reals.....soooo I tried it.
Main reason I tried this recipe? The plethora of powdered sugar left around now that I am done with my cake decorating class. And for some random adventures I currently have corn starch on hand.
All I can think is what a waste of perfectly good butter and flour....
It was a disaster. The cookies weren't good hot and they were too 'crunchy' after they cooled. This one? Never again.
Main reason I tried this recipe? The plethora of powdered sugar left around now that I am done with my cake decorating class. And for some random adventures I currently have corn starch on hand.
All I can think is what a waste of perfectly good butter and flour....
It was a disaster. The cookies weren't good hot and they were too 'crunchy' after they cooled. This one? Never again.
Parchment paper
So I am a baking rebel....by far....and when I say that I mean that I never measure things like baking powder, vanilla....etc. and I never NEVER use parchment paper. Like at all.....I have it, and sometimes I will use the parchment paper for cool cookies on the counter if I don't feel like dealing with a cooking rack.
So when I started a new recipe Friday and it said to use a parchment lined baking sheet.....I figured I was in a hurry and I REALLY couldn't deal with having it go on. So I lined one sheet and not the other. (I am telling you guys I like to live on the edge!)
There was no difference. Total total waste of time and paper.
but I tried it. One more down!
So when I started a new recipe Friday and it said to use a parchment lined baking sheet.....I figured I was in a hurry and I REALLY couldn't deal with having it go on. So I lined one sheet and not the other. (I am telling you guys I like to live on the edge!)
There was no difference. Total total waste of time and paper.
but I tried it. One more down!
Friday, December 7, 2012
Floor powder
I have been doing this for a few months and today realized I ever wrote about it.
So a couple months ago I bought a seven pound bag of baking soda....and wondered if I would ever use it. It is now nearly gone.
I used to buy those floor powder box
things, but I never had enough to use all my floors and I never had it when I wanted to vacuum.
So I added some Purex laundry crystals to some baking soda, stirred it up in a bowl and poured it all over my carpet. It does the same job and I always have the stuff on hand.
This time of year my floor just FEELS messier so this is a great feeling!
So a couple months ago I bought a seven pound bag of baking soda....and wondered if I would ever use it. It is now nearly gone.
I used to buy those floor powder box
things, but I never had enough to use all my floors and I never had it when I wanted to vacuum.
So I added some Purex laundry crystals to some baking soda, stirred it up in a bowl and poured it all over my carpet. It does the same job and I always have the stuff on hand.
This time of year my floor just FEELS messier so this is a great feeling!
Cranberry cookies
This recipe was supposed to use white chocolate and cranberries....but a quick inventory and a lack of white chocolate I went with milk chocolate and the bag of cranberries I have had on hand for awhile....
I hate raisins....cranberries turned out well!!
I hate raisins....cranberries turned out well!!
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Swirl Fudge
Ok so this isn't 100% new but you have to hear me out.
Yes I did go through a phase in high school when I made fudge all the time. I am not sure why I wanted to make it and share it but I made a TON.
So here we go, I tried this white chocolate recipe that used condensed milk and then added the white chocolate mix while still hot to the pan, put in chocolate chips, and then added more white chocolate mix. The white chocolate was supposed to HEAT the chocolate and make it swirl pretty. SOOOO didn't happen that way. It looked a little bit like....i dunno....weird not stirred fudge?
I will say it did look better after the pieces were cut. But it wasn't cute. Sorry guys that is a fact.
The really sad part? I am not even a fan of white chocolate.
fail
Yes I did go through a phase in high school when I made fudge all the time. I am not sure why I wanted to make it and share it but I made a TON.
So here we go, I tried this white chocolate recipe that used condensed milk and then added the white chocolate mix while still hot to the pan, put in chocolate chips, and then added more white chocolate mix. The white chocolate was supposed to HEAT the chocolate and make it swirl pretty. SOOOO didn't happen that way. It looked a little bit like....i dunno....weird not stirred fudge?
I will say it did look better after the pieces were cut. But it wasn't cute. Sorry guys that is a fact.
The really sad part? I am not even a fan of white chocolate.
fail
Stalked my husband
Ok so since this happened on accident, we have actually been getting legit use out of it. In a totally non creepy we both know about it way.
So one day I couldn't find my phone so I used the iPad app to help me page it. (I leave my phone on silent too much) Well Matt had hooked his phone into the app to and it showed me right where it was. We joked around about how it was sorta creepy, but from there we have found a lot of use for this app.
As you may or may not know the lovely state of CA is really cracking down on texting and driving as well as answering the phone. (and on maps but that is another story)
Anyways because of this we have realized that it is fairly easy and smart to take into consideration the fact that because of this, and because I want to see where my husband is in regards to dinner and being home, or when one of us has a meeting run late, or we have one of us run an errand. These sorts of things.
Sorta creepy but since we both know about it, it works out well.
So one day I couldn't find my phone so I used the iPad app to help me page it. (I leave my phone on silent too much) Well Matt had hooked his phone into the app to and it showed me right where it was. We joked around about how it was sorta creepy, but from there we have found a lot of use for this app.
As you may or may not know the lovely state of CA is really cracking down on texting and driving as well as answering the phone. (and on maps but that is another story)
Anyways because of this we have realized that it is fairly easy and smart to take into consideration the fact that because of this, and because I want to see where my husband is in regards to dinner and being home, or when one of us has a meeting run late, or we have one of us run an errand. These sorts of things.
Sorta creepy but since we both know about it, it works out well.
Decorated cupcakes!
I can't believe I didn't get an image!!!!
ARGH!!!
And the cupcakes got eaten.
I love decorating some cookies but cupcakes were another story....thanks to my cake decorating class I had an adventure....the lid of my carrier smashed them.
It is checked off the list...and not a repeat.
ARGH!!!
And the cupcakes got eaten.
I love decorating some cookies but cupcakes were another story....thanks to my cake decorating class I had an adventure....the lid of my carrier smashed them.
It is checked off the list...and not a repeat.
First student loan
This one sucked.
I had to start paying student loans the beginning of this year.
Tragic
I had to start paying student loans the beginning of this year.
Tragic
Asian dressing
So our favorite teppenyaki place has the most amazing salad dressing.
Yes I am THAT person....I choose where I eat based off of a salad or two....kinda sad but still AMAZING I am a sucker for super good dressing, especially a copy cat from a good restaurant. So as i was browsing through Pinterest I saw a similar recipe for this.
It took some carrots, ginger, and a few random spices, and I threw it all in the blender. It is sweet and tasty tasty good. I chilled it for a day and let the flavors mix, it has been a couple days since I have made it but I haven't really tried it yet....I have this thing where I am trying to eat more salad. We will see how it goes.
Yes I am THAT person....I choose where I eat based off of a salad or two....kinda sad but still AMAZING I am a sucker for super good dressing, especially a copy cat from a good restaurant. So as i was browsing through Pinterest I saw a similar recipe for this.
It took some carrots, ginger, and a few random spices, and I threw it all in the blender. It is sweet and tasty tasty good. I chilled it for a day and let the flavors mix, it has been a couple days since I have made it but I haven't really tried it yet....I have this thing where I am trying to eat more salad. We will see how it goes.
Healthy coconut bread
So the recipe that I started with a while ago I started to get going again and try some healthy substitutes.
I put in some lovely lovely coconut sugar
and subbed half the butter for coconut oil (that recipe had a TON of butter!)
added a little extra almond meal instead of flour and used some white whole wheat flour.
A little better for us and still pretty darn tasty....with more coconut flavor!
I put in some lovely lovely coconut sugar
and subbed half the butter for coconut oil (that recipe had a TON of butter!)
added a little extra almond meal instead of flour and used some white whole wheat flour.
A little better for us and still pretty darn tasty....with more coconut flavor!
Rolling bag
By the time they came out with rolling backpacks I was well over the age of it being acceptable to use a rolling back pack. I have of course used rolling luggage many times, but that is always acceptable in an airport.
My habit has officially changed. I was realllllly tired of carrying around a fairly large (heavy and awkward) laptop bag for my work stuff. The best thing about this, my mom has had more pieces of suitcase type stuff than I have had purses....so when she recently upgraded I got the rolling briefcase. I still feel nerdy, but the fact that I don't have a bag on each arm, didn't have to BUY new luggage, and get to have a free hand for coffee?
PERFECTION
Thanks mom!
My habit has officially changed. I was realllllly tired of carrying around a fairly large (heavy and awkward) laptop bag for my work stuff. The best thing about this, my mom has had more pieces of suitcase type stuff than I have had purses....so when she recently upgraded I got the rolling briefcase. I still feel nerdy, but the fact that I don't have a bag on each arm, didn't have to BUY new luggage, and get to have a free hand for coffee?
PERFECTION
Thanks mom!
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Vanilla fragrance
Little known fact about me: I have a special love for home fragrance, especially this time of year. There is something amazing and relaxing about having a great smelling house in the winter.
So as I was browsing through Pinterest the other day I saw an idea. Take an oven proof container (I used a small Pyrex) put in some vanilla extract. (I got a huge bottle at Costco so I ha it)
Then I popped it in the oven an turned th oven on to 300 degrees ad went about my evening.
Granted I have been going crazy lately, I feel like with the aslogh rain and our Molly pop that it smells like wet dog around here, and I am sensitive about it so anything simple and amazing to make my house smell delightful? All over it!
That being said I also have a few oil warmers burning around my house, but the vanilla smells delightful!
So as I was browsing through Pinterest the other day I saw an idea. Take an oven proof container (I used a small Pyrex) put in some vanilla extract. (I got a huge bottle at Costco so I ha it)
Then I popped it in the oven an turned th oven on to 300 degrees ad went about my evening.
Granted I have been going crazy lately, I feel like with the aslogh rain and our Molly pop that it smells like wet dog around here, and I am sensitive about it so anything simple and amazing to make my house smell delightful? All over it!
That being said I also have a few oil warmers burning around my house, but the vanilla smells delightful!
Christmas lights
I love Christmas, and I love decorating for Christmas. Growing up we were usually gone for at least a week over Christmas, and so we always had a fake tree and fairly minimal decorations. Also my dad dislikes decorations because he says they look cluttered.
My husband and I had our first live tree two years ago...it was a miserable experience.
So this year we have a fake tree back. It is also the first year for my husband and I that is is logical to have lights up outside. Honestly? I had mixed feelings, will they look cool? And I REALLY didn't want to spend money on lights. When we raided those 'cluttered' decorations there were four boxes of icicle lights so Matt spent Saturday hanging up the lights.
My husband and I had our first live tree two years ago...it was a miserable experience.
So this year we have a fake tree back. It is also the first year for my husband and I that is is logical to have lights up outside. Honestly? I had mixed feelings, will they look cool? And I REALLY didn't want to spend money on lights. When we raided those 'cluttered' decorations there were four boxes of icicle lights so Matt spent Saturday hanging up the lights.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Backed out of drive thru
So if you know me AT ALL you know I generally hate drive thrus, mostly for environmental reasons but on principle they suck.
But the other day I decided to stop by, I didn't feel like dealing with the parking lot for lunch people when all I wanted was piping hot coffee. So I pulled in, saw it was about 4 deep, waited ten second and backed out of the way.
I didn't get my coffee that afternoon...the real tragedy.
But the other day I decided to stop by, I didn't feel like dealing with the parking lot for lunch people when all I wanted was piping hot coffee. So I pulled in, saw it was about 4 deep, waited ten second and backed out of the way.
I didn't get my coffee that afternoon...the real tragedy.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Fire in fireplace
Ok so I have been MIA for awhile, I wish I could tell you I was bush packing in adventure in my life, really I have just been busy, which is of course an adventure.
So I have to say, our place before this one had a fireplace, and we lived there nearly four years. We have been in this place about a year, and a week or so ago we made our first fire. Our old place we had a great reason....NO ONE wants to haul firewood up stairs.
So last week we built a fire and I spend an entire day on the carpet reading. It was amazing.
Too bad we aren't allowed to burn very often and it is still wayyyy too warm for December.
So I have to say, our place before this one had a fireplace, and we lived there nearly four years. We have been in this place about a year, and a week or so ago we made our first fire. Our old place we had a great reason....NO ONE wants to haul firewood up stairs.
So last week we built a fire and I spend an entire day on the carpet reading. It was amazing.
Too bad we aren't allowed to burn very often and it is still wayyyy too warm for December.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Stopped at train track
So let me talk about this one....growing up in Kansas I am sure in the time that I remember that I got stopped at the train tracks on a regular basis, but in the 12 years that I have lived here....I was NEVER stopped at the train tracks. Part of that might be in my regular 'bubble' that there just aren't a lot of train tracks....and now that I am writing about this i don't even remember WHERE I was stopped at the train tracks....
I did have a hart time convincing my husband that it had never happened and it was the shortest train ever....but it happened....
Yay me?
I did have a hart time convincing my husband that it had never happened and it was the shortest train ever....but it happened....
Yay me?
Spinach smoothie
I tried and tried to get some extra health into my life this spring. It didn't work out too well....I had spinach......LITERALLY bought spinach for this reason (at Costco no less) and I figured that, because I had a ton, I would throw in a huge handful. So I did.....and I tasted it....note to self....just don't make a spinach smoothie with chocolate and strawberry....
Upside down on playground bar
Yes I am writing about this at the age of 26.....but I did this at age 25....does that count?
I guess there are some perks of doing a challenge like this when you don't remember anything before 5th grade....and in my world I guess that sometime before that is when you stop hanging upside down on the playground bars....
So there I am....i tuck my shirt in and manage to climb onto the rail.....it sucked I am not like MOST people that would just flip my legs over....it is different, first I set hold on and then flip upside down. I made my husband hold on and spot me....yes I was that worried....it sucked.
I don't plan on doing this again....cross it off the list and move on....
I guess there are some perks of doing a challenge like this when you don't remember anything before 5th grade....and in my world I guess that sometime before that is when you stop hanging upside down on the playground bars....
So there I am....i tuck my shirt in and manage to climb onto the rail.....it sucked I am not like MOST people that would just flip my legs over....it is different, first I set hold on and then flip upside down. I made my husband hold on and spot me....yes I was that worried....it sucked.
I don't plan on doing this again....cross it off the list and move on....
Monday, November 12, 2012
Garlic knots
My favorite Italian place (such amazing food!!!) has the most amazing garlic knots to add to their amazing menu. Slightly cheesy perfect texture...perfection.
This afternoon I made a nice batch of cinnamon rolls with my go to roll recipe, and I knew at the beginning I would have a little left. As I looked on the counter at my delicious soup and was thinking how nice something slightly crusty and garlicky would be...basically croutons but I decided to add some garlic butter and Parmesan to my dough recipe.
They came out a little sweeter than I wanted, this dough is naturally sweeter, I should have thought of that, but aren't they pretty?
This afternoon I made a nice batch of cinnamon rolls with my go to roll recipe, and I knew at the beginning I would have a little left. As I looked on the counter at my delicious soup and was thinking how nice something slightly crusty and garlicky would be...basically croutons but I decided to add some garlic butter and Parmesan to my dough recipe.
They came out a little sweeter than I wanted, this dough is naturally sweeter, I should have thought of that, but aren't they pretty?
Almond GF cookies
This was my first experiment with a gluten free recipe, so bear with me.
I looked at the recipe I had and then went totally off course so let me try to see what I came up with here:
2 cups whole almonds dashed to smaller pieces in food processor
1 cup shredded coconut
1 tbs cocoa powder
small handful chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate but dark would be better)
Egg whites (about 1/3 cup all together)
I also had some almond meal so I threw in a little bit in hopes of sticking all of this together.
It wouldn't form into cookies so i made it into a giant bar and popped it in the oven until toasty tasty. Probably about 20 min at 350, the husband liked them, and I didn't feel too guilty eating them.
Weird looking but tasty....I won't call it a win....but a tie.
I looked at the recipe I had and then went totally off course so let me try to see what I came up with here:
2 cups whole almonds dashed to smaller pieces in food processor
1 cup shredded coconut
1 tbs cocoa powder
small handful chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate but dark would be better)
Egg whites (about 1/3 cup all together)
I also had some almond meal so I threw in a little bit in hopes of sticking all of this together.
It wouldn't form into cookies so i made it into a giant bar and popped it in the oven until toasty tasty. Probably about 20 min at 350, the husband liked them, and I didn't feel too guilty eating them.
Weird looking but tasty....I won't call it a win....but a tie.
crock pot covered almonds
I didn't have almonds around so I called my parents to borrow a couple cups and then decided to use their crock pot to cook them. Rumor has it that they are over there and done and tasty....but if i go I will eat them....and we are on diet day 7.
So i mixed some egg white, brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and water in a plastic bag and shook it up before putting it in the crock pot on low for about 3 hours, stirring from time to time.
An adventure.....that I am afraid to try....ahhh
So i mixed some egg white, brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and water in a plastic bag and shook it up before putting it in the crock pot on low for about 3 hours, stirring from time to time.
An adventure.....that I am afraid to try....ahhh
Paper mâché bowl
You know those things that SOUND like a good idea even though they are far from it? Another pinterest disaster coming your way!
So I have seen the posts....you cover the bowl in paper mache used making your own paste of flower and water. I was SUPER excited about this one, making the decision to get up early Saturday morning and making the paste before dashing quickly out the door to buy some newspaper and coffee around the corner. (yes I paid money for this paper) I came home got out my favorite large pyrex bowl and started tearing paper. It was pretty relaxing to tell the truth, brainless yet detail oriented work. My husband got up and started helping me and we had a fun time. We waited until late afternoon the next day for it to dry, and then decided to pop it in the oven at about 125 for a few hours.
Now the question was how to get it off....I did think about this when reading the post that I started from, but it didn't seem like it would be an issue.....so I went for it. Peeling the paper off my favorite bowl to create one of equal size....not really my forte, even though there were times that we were convinced it would work out just fine.....i now have my favorite bowl yet....but the time spent covering it is gone....guess I will have to go the balloon route and make a less perfect bowl shaped one....
maybe next time...
So I have seen the posts....you cover the bowl in paper mache used making your own paste of flower and water. I was SUPER excited about this one, making the decision to get up early Saturday morning and making the paste before dashing quickly out the door to buy some newspaper and coffee around the corner. (yes I paid money for this paper) I came home got out my favorite large pyrex bowl and started tearing paper. It was pretty relaxing to tell the truth, brainless yet detail oriented work. My husband got up and started helping me and we had a fun time. We waited until late afternoon the next day for it to dry, and then decided to pop it in the oven at about 125 for a few hours.
Now the question was how to get it off....I did think about this when reading the post that I started from, but it didn't seem like it would be an issue.....so I went for it. Peeling the paper off my favorite bowl to create one of equal size....not really my forte, even though there were times that we were convinced it would work out just fine.....i now have my favorite bowl yet....but the time spent covering it is gone....guess I will have to go the balloon route and make a less perfect bowl shaped one....
maybe next time...
southwestern eggrollls (3)
First time with this recipe
First time with fillo dough
first time cooking with coconut
I have an unhealthy addiction to appetizers..... especially at a good restaurant....or a decent chain....or anything close to it.
The problem? The diet is a week in (as of today!) and they are SO not healthy....and usually fried...not a good combination. In fact we are avoiding eating out unless I am 100% sure before hand what to order and the calorie content.
So enter this recipe...here I REALLY should have taken photos the experience was a bit hilarious but with me and this blog you are lucky I am doing anything new at all! I also added chicken to the recipe because everything is better with chicken. I cooked said chicken in cocout oil which seemed slower than EVOO but the chicken was more moist.
When I went shopping last week intending to make this deliousness....I couldn't find egg roll or won ton wrappers ANYWHERE so I went with fillo dough....i figured it had a lot of the same qualities.....light and flaky. I have another box and a half and I am looking forward to some adventures with them.
But let me tell you....this stuff was difficult! Pretty sure it came in large sheets and one of them broke so I had tiny sheets. I played around with the layers, on these puppies, I used some with 2 or 3 layers...a lot with weird broken tops that showed my filling (which was totally delish)
I only managed to roll ONE of them in a cute little tiny burrito/egg roll looking thing. The rest varied in size like burrito to mini taco and were good.....but crazy. A fork was suggested more than anything else. I also skipped out on the ranch dip.
I thought when I started this little project that I had watched Rachael Ray make enough egg roll recipes (though only one came to mind....) that I would be able to handle this fillo dough.....but it didn't work out in any way....but it was a fun and tasty disaster!
First time with fillo dough
first time cooking with coconut
I have an unhealthy addiction to appetizers..... especially at a good restaurant....or a decent chain....or anything close to it.
The problem? The diet is a week in (as of today!) and they are SO not healthy....and usually fried...not a good combination. In fact we are avoiding eating out unless I am 100% sure before hand what to order and the calorie content.
So enter this recipe...here I REALLY should have taken photos the experience was a bit hilarious but with me and this blog you are lucky I am doing anything new at all! I also added chicken to the recipe because everything is better with chicken. I cooked said chicken in cocout oil which seemed slower than EVOO but the chicken was more moist.
When I went shopping last week intending to make this deliousness....I couldn't find egg roll or won ton wrappers ANYWHERE so I went with fillo dough....i figured it had a lot of the same qualities.....light and flaky. I have another box and a half and I am looking forward to some adventures with them.
But let me tell you....this stuff was difficult! Pretty sure it came in large sheets and one of them broke so I had tiny sheets. I played around with the layers, on these puppies, I used some with 2 or 3 layers...a lot with weird broken tops that showed my filling (which was totally delish)
I only managed to roll ONE of them in a cute little tiny burrito/egg roll looking thing. The rest varied in size like burrito to mini taco and were good.....but crazy. A fork was suggested more than anything else. I also skipped out on the ranch dip.
I thought when I started this little project that I had watched Rachael Ray make enough egg roll recipes (though only one came to mind....) that I would be able to handle this fillo dough.....but it didn't work out in any way....but it was a fun and tasty disaster!
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Another Coconut oil use
Ok, like I said, I am obsessed with the stuff.
So another recent use? Mascara remover! Now I don't wear mascara a TON but lately I have been for a variety of reasons, mostly I want to look more awake haha.....part of the reason I didn't wear it a lot in the past was because it was a pain to get it off.....nothing worked well and my lashes always felt clumpy.
Thank you again coconut oil! I use the wedge sponges with it and it comes off like a charm! So excited.....Coconut oil for the win!
So another recent use? Mascara remover! Now I don't wear mascara a TON but lately I have been for a variety of reasons, mostly I want to look more awake haha.....part of the reason I didn't wear it a lot in the past was because it was a pain to get it off.....nothing worked well and my lashes always felt clumpy.
Thank you again coconut oil! I use the wedge sponges with it and it comes off like a charm! So excited.....Coconut oil for the win!
Friday, November 9, 2012
Zumba Class
Ok, so anyone that knows my EXTREME lack or rhythm can attest that this is funny. And by funny i mean embarrassing.
So I should warn you all that I can't clap.....literally I CAN NOT CLAP on beat....it is actually humorous....only not. So when I started at the gym I figured that some of the classes would be a good way for me to get some of my new things out of the way.
So enter Zumba class. I have done zumba before...at home....on my Wii. It wasn't pretty haha...I mean i was able to get the dance done but was ALWAYS off beat...so why did I think it would be a good idea to go to a class? Full of other people? People that CAN DANCE? I still haven't decided what I was thinking.
So i joined the class.... I have to admit that some of the appeal was the long line that I regularly see on the way to class.
I wasn't on beat the entire time....and had no idea what I was doing....and I didn't even feel like i got that much exercise out of it.
Hopefully I am the only one that noticed how totally off beat I was!
So I should warn you all that I can't clap.....literally I CAN NOT CLAP on beat....it is actually humorous....only not. So when I started at the gym I figured that some of the classes would be a good way for me to get some of my new things out of the way.
So enter Zumba class. I have done zumba before...at home....on my Wii. It wasn't pretty haha...I mean i was able to get the dance done but was ALWAYS off beat...so why did I think it would be a good idea to go to a class? Full of other people? People that CAN DANCE? I still haven't decided what I was thinking.
So i joined the class.... I have to admit that some of the appeal was the long line that I regularly see on the way to class.
I wasn't on beat the entire time....and had no idea what I was doing....and I didn't even feel like i got that much exercise out of it.
Hopefully I am the only one that noticed how totally off beat I was!
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Key Lime cookies
So once in a while I will have key lime SOMETHING (it varies) that is near perfection, pie, cheesecake, etc. (I can feel my calories packing on...ug! so much for the diet)
Anyways it is these things that make me want perfection....and when I saw the random recipe here i figured it would go well on my new things to do list....bonus that I would have key lime juice in hand when i decide to be daring and make key lime pie.
Again I left out the zest....zesting takes a talent that I have yet to master to the point of perfection....so I try to avoid it whenever possible.
It turned out fairly sweet and tart....but more crumbly than I would have liked. But an adventure....sorta weird and fun!
The coolest thing about this was popping the "log dough" into the fridge for a good hour or so and then sliced it into cookie pieces. I had never done that with a cookie before. Other than the ones that you use from the store (haven't boughten those in ages)
Have a great adventure!
Anyways it is these things that make me want perfection....and when I saw the random recipe here i figured it would go well on my new things to do list....bonus that I would have key lime juice in hand when i decide to be daring and make key lime pie.
Again I left out the zest....zesting takes a talent that I have yet to master to the point of perfection....so I try to avoid it whenever possible.
It turned out fairly sweet and tart....but more crumbly than I would have liked. But an adventure....sorta weird and fun!
The coolest thing about this was popping the "log dough" into the fridge for a good hour or so and then sliced it into cookie pieces. I had never done that with a cookie before. Other than the ones that you use from the store (haven't boughten those in ages)
Have a great adventure!
Coconut Bread
I started out with this recipe for coconut bread. I had no idea what dissected coconut was but i got the sweetened shredded stuff at the store. Also i left out the Lemon Juice and zest because I didn't have any and it wasn't worth the trip to the store. (Yes I do need to take better notes and inventory before going to the store)
I put it in the pan and baked it...the recipe said 320 but I moved it to 350 at the end because i wanted to put something else in the oven. Such an adventure.
My husband likes it, which to me is success!
I put it in the pan and baked it...the recipe said 320 but I moved it to 350 at the end because i wanted to put something else in the oven. Such an adventure.
My husband likes it, which to me is success!
Ivory soap
So this is so dumb. So completely totally dumb.
We have all seen on Pinterest the pop ivory soap in the microwave and it becomes like clay. Well I am desperate like REALLY desperate for new things to do. So I remembered at the store today and grabbed a few bars.
Less than 10 minutes ago I popped a bar in the microwave for a couple minutes and went about my kitchen work. I looked back at the microwave and exclaimed whoa very loudly. My husband had no idea what I was up to. Our conversation went something like this:
Me: Whoa! It really is huge!
Matt: what?
Me: the soap I out in the microwave
Matt: why did you put soap in the microwave?
Me: because I bought it to put in the microwave.
Matt: YOU BOUGHT SOAP JUST TO PUT IT IN TH MICROWAVE?!?
Honestly it sounded practical at the time, but it is pretty hilarious and totally dumb. And by the way it didn't turn out cool like it says.
I mean it looks cool but it doesn't form anything cool.
We have all seen on Pinterest the pop ivory soap in the microwave and it becomes like clay. Well I am desperate like REALLY desperate for new things to do. So I remembered at the store today and grabbed a few bars.
Less than 10 minutes ago I popped a bar in the microwave for a couple minutes and went about my kitchen work. I looked back at the microwave and exclaimed whoa very loudly. My husband had no idea what I was up to. Our conversation went something like this:
Me: Whoa! It really is huge!
Matt: what?
Me: the soap I out in the microwave
Matt: why did you put soap in the microwave?
Me: because I bought it to put in the microwave.
Matt: YOU BOUGHT SOAP JUST TO PUT IT IN TH MICROWAVE?!?
Honestly it sounded practical at the time, but it is pretty hilarious and totally dumb. And by the way it didn't turn out cool like it says.
I mean it looks cool but it doesn't form anything cool.
Disappearing fabric ink.
There are some things that are just too seriously cool!
So when I had to start cutting the huge strips of felt for my ruffle curtains I spoke with the people at the craft store on how to best cut my cream colored fabric in a perfect line for 12 feet at a time.
So they suggested disappearing fabric ink. I was able to spread the fabric on my floor and get this done with lines across, matching four inches, and getting them done.
So this ink, after a couple hours LEAVES THE FABRIC! Or you can spritz it with a spray bottle and it will disappear anyways.
So this was funny....and then the best part? Molly pop got ahold of one of these markers....and it got all over the floor...and I didn't even have to worry about it!
So when I had to start cutting the huge strips of felt for my ruffle curtains I spoke with the people at the craft store on how to best cut my cream colored fabric in a perfect line for 12 feet at a time.
So they suggested disappearing fabric ink. I was able to spread the fabric on my floor and get this done with lines across, matching four inches, and getting them done.
So this ink, after a couple hours LEAVES THE FABRIC! Or you can spritz it with a spray bottle and it will disappear anyways.
So this was funny....and then the best part? Molly pop got ahold of one of these markers....and it got all over the floor...and I didn't even have to worry about it!
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Aqua Dash
I did this event a few weeks after the triathlon and it got lost in my list of life.
Originally I signed up for this event to do a mile swim and then to do a mile swim and a good 26 mile bike ride (two parts in Olympic triathlon) but they couldn't do the long bike. It has been YEARS (about 2 weeks before I was out of swimming for an extended period of time) since i have done an official mile...so I decided I wanted to do it. My swim was NOT a mile...and involved running across the ground and back into the lake. (Miserable! I wasn't prepared for that part!) and then a 10k run. I figured I would do it.
Worst thing EVER!!! I got LOST on the run....did around 7 miles (no hurt foot but did help train for half marathon...) the event was super small....the course was not well marked (one person did get lost behind me).
Never doing an event again with so few people! ew!
Originally I signed up for this event to do a mile swim and then to do a mile swim and a good 26 mile bike ride (two parts in Olympic triathlon) but they couldn't do the long bike. It has been YEARS (about 2 weeks before I was out of swimming for an extended period of time) since i have done an official mile...so I decided I wanted to do it. My swim was NOT a mile...and involved running across the ground and back into the lake. (Miserable! I wasn't prepared for that part!) and then a 10k run. I figured I would do it.
Worst thing EVER!!! I got LOST on the run....did around 7 miles (no hurt foot but did help train for half marathon...) the event was super small....the course was not well marked (one person did get lost behind me).
Never doing an event again with so few people! ew!
Cheesecake dip
The diet started yesterday.
Stop before you judge me. After work yesterday I hobbled through costco in search of fruits and veggies. This is important for obvious reasons.
I got a couple boxes of apples (yes they have sugar but as it isn't refined we will deal)
And then i found a great idea online (ug Pinterest!) for dipping fruit....you take a 2:1 ratio of cream cheese and caramel ice cream topper (I had it on hand cause I lightly drizzle my coffee with it)
and the cream cheese was reduced fat....
I had two apples and was stingy on this dip so it isn't that bad...right?
Seriously though....delish! and I didn't measure the caramel just did a light drizzle and stirred it up.
Pinterest suggested graham cracker pie crust as well....no way i am going to the store just to get graham cracker crust for my apples!
Stop before you judge me. After work yesterday I hobbled through costco in search of fruits and veggies. This is important for obvious reasons.
I got a couple boxes of apples (yes they have sugar but as it isn't refined we will deal)
And then i found a great idea online (ug Pinterest!) for dipping fruit....you take a 2:1 ratio of cream cheese and caramel ice cream topper (I had it on hand cause I lightly drizzle my coffee with it)
and the cream cheese was reduced fat....
I had two apples and was stingy on this dip so it isn't that bad...right?
Seriously though....delish! and I didn't measure the caramel just did a light drizzle and stirred it up.
Pinterest suggested graham cracker pie crust as well....no way i am going to the store just to get graham cracker crust for my apples!
Provisional Ballot
I am an avid voter, and a strong believer in exercising my right more than just during a presidential election. (though I have missed a time or two over the years) I am also a vote by mail voter....and by that I mean that I get a ballot in the mail, take my time to fill it out and usually drop it off the day of. One of my weird OCD tendencies I guess. So last night I go to grab my vote by mail ballot and complete it. It was no where to be found. UG (though molly had found and nibbled on it)
So I drove down to my polling place and told them my story. I was given a pink form and consistently glared at over the fact that I A. was asking for a provisional ballot B. did not have my sample ballot (that I didn't have because I was preparing to do it at home with my computer full of research, though I did look into various candidates and propositions) They even went so far as to ask me if I was sure that I was at the right precinct before hand....yes I was sure. I hate being made to feel uninformed/unprepared.
So i filled out the pink envelope, completed my ballot, folded it up and went on my way.
The form like this? Well it was a first experience, and one I hope I don't have to do one in the future....and that this isn't some short track to jury duty system.
So I drove down to my polling place and told them my story. I was given a pink form and consistently glared at over the fact that I A. was asking for a provisional ballot B. did not have my sample ballot (that I didn't have because I was preparing to do it at home with my computer full of research, though I did look into various candidates and propositions) They even went so far as to ask me if I was sure that I was at the right precinct before hand....yes I was sure. I hate being made to feel uninformed/unprepared.
So i filled out the pink envelope, completed my ballot, folded it up and went on my way.
The form like this? Well it was a first experience, and one I hope I don't have to do one in the future....and that this isn't some short track to jury duty system.
Zipper trick!
My favorite pair of jeans as I have gained and then lost weight...has a zipper issue (may or may not be related) so now that they fit a little loose (yay!) and the zipper always wants I fall down (irritating!) so as I put them on this morning I thought about changing and wearing different pants, even though I really didn't want to.
It was then that I remembered this handy trick I saw on Pinterest. You take an old key ring (I used the cheap ones that they put my tag number one when I take my car in) put it around the zipper pull an tuck it under the button before buttoning your pants.
I am officially heartbroken about some of the thing I have sent to the g will :-(
Thanks for a great idea Pinterest!
It was then that I remembered this handy trick I saw on Pinterest. You take an old key ring (I used the cheap ones that they put my tag number one when I take my car in) put it around the zipper pull an tuck it under the button before buttoning your pants.
I am officially heartbroken about some of the thing I have sent to the g will :-(
Thanks for a great idea Pinterest!
Puppy Classes
I love my Molly girl!!!
We started taking her to puppy training this year, and she is a crazy girl.
So we enrolled our slightly crazy girl in puppy training classes. She was obviously the cutest one there, but not nearly the largest one there.
This was a pretty basic class, she learned to sit, stay, lay, stay, leave treats, all sorts of pretty cool stuff.
Now that she has been done for a few months I don't think that she has retained as much of it as we would like, but we try to work with her on them from time to time.
She got to wear a doggie graduation cap and we took her pic.
Good job Molly Pop!
We started taking her to puppy training this year, and she is a crazy girl.
So we enrolled our slightly crazy girl in puppy training classes. She was obviously the cutest one there, but not nearly the largest one there.
This was a pretty basic class, she learned to sit, stay, lay, stay, leave treats, all sorts of pretty cool stuff.
Now that she has been done for a few months I don't think that she has retained as much of it as we would like, but we try to work with her on them from time to time.
She got to wear a doggie graduation cap and we took her pic.
Good job Molly Pop!
foot wrap
Here I am day 2 post half marathon. I really hope I won't be measuring the rest of my life in before half marathon (BHM) and post half marathon. (PHM) Let's face it, I have had way more exciting things in my life to measure by than 13.1 miles.
After limping around the entire day yesterday a good friend suggested that I try wrapping my foot. I was clueless....so she sent me a video on how to do it. Super sweet!
Here is the thing....yes a foot wrap is new to me, but also the more interesting thing is that this isn't my first introduction into being athletic. I have never been a couch potato (though I admit to being a homebody) and I do try to exercise. While my feet have been prone to blisters more often then I even want to think about, I have not been terribly injured. In fact for the number of times I LITERALLY ran around the pool deck I should be far worse off than I am. (I know I already said that)
I can ride 30 miles and not be miserable, I can do a triathlon and still run the next day. I can do 10 miles on the elliptical and keep on trucking.....So why does my foot hurt like crazy at 6.5 miles?!?!? ARGH!!!
So here I am with some tape on my foot, and it really does add some stability to my foot, and it is slightly less painful, but I am still not enjoying standing up, or walking. Not exciting, but a little bit of a cure and something new. I did leave the tape on over night...we will see when i switch it in a bit of that was a good idea.
Happy Tuesday, or currently known as PHM day 2.
After limping around the entire day yesterday a good friend suggested that I try wrapping my foot. I was clueless....so she sent me a video on how to do it. Super sweet!
Here is the thing....yes a foot wrap is new to me, but also the more interesting thing is that this isn't my first introduction into being athletic. I have never been a couch potato (though I admit to being a homebody) and I do try to exercise. While my feet have been prone to blisters more often then I even want to think about, I have not been terribly injured. In fact for the number of times I LITERALLY ran around the pool deck I should be far worse off than I am. (I know I already said that)
I can ride 30 miles and not be miserable, I can do a triathlon and still run the next day. I can do 10 miles on the elliptical and keep on trucking.....So why does my foot hurt like crazy at 6.5 miles?!?!? ARGH!!!
So here I am with some tape on my foot, and it really does add some stability to my foot, and it is slightly less painful, but I am still not enjoying standing up, or walking. Not exciting, but a little bit of a cure and something new. I did leave the tape on over night...we will see when i switch it in a bit of that was a good idea.
Happy Tuesday, or currently known as PHM day 2.
Coconut hair mask
Ok so have you read about the wonders of coconut oil? I have....an coconut in general....sooooo today at my favorite place (Costco) I picked up a huge jar of coconut oil and some coconut sugar. You can expect adventures from both of them over the next couple of weeks.
As I type this I have coconut oil in my hair and I am waiting....
But what I can say is that it is kinda cool stuff...i read that it melts in your hands...and it literally does! So neat and it smells good. I am looking forward o trying it in recipes very soon :-)
Update: I am a little bit obsessed with this stuff. So as the oil is sitting in a bowl on my counter (cause i had to separate the stuff for beauty against the stuff for the kitchen ewww) and my hair is drying i grabbed a TINY bit and put it back in my hair. I knew I wouldn't see any real results until this morning when I pulled out my flat iron and fixed my hair.
It is very soft and I am excited about that. It was a little bit oily (probably because of the extra I put in) so i added some baking soda and baby powder to my roots, now my roots like a little whiter and more grey than they actually are. (Yes that means I look older) But hopefully that will all be fixed by the time that I leave for work in a few hours.
I will try this again, but I am trying to avoid playing with the little scoop still on my vanity and putting it in my hair until right before the next time that I wash it.
Seriously coconut oil is cool stuff (it better be I bought 78 ounces thank you costco) I love how it melts in your hand! And it smells good....love!
As I type this I have coconut oil in my hair and I am waiting....
But what I can say is that it is kinda cool stuff...i read that it melts in your hands...and it literally does! So neat and it smells good. I am looking forward o trying it in recipes very soon :-)
Update: I am a little bit obsessed with this stuff. So as the oil is sitting in a bowl on my counter (cause i had to separate the stuff for beauty against the stuff for the kitchen ewww) and my hair is drying i grabbed a TINY bit and put it back in my hair. I knew I wouldn't see any real results until this morning when I pulled out my flat iron and fixed my hair.
It is very soft and I am excited about that. It was a little bit oily (probably because of the extra I put in) so i added some baking soda and baby powder to my roots, now my roots like a little whiter and more grey than they actually are. (Yes that means I look older) But hopefully that will all be fixed by the time that I leave for work in a few hours.
I will try this again, but I am trying to avoid playing with the little scoop still on my vanity and putting it in my hair until right before the next time that I wash it.
Seriously coconut oil is cool stuff (it better be I bought 78 ounces thank you costco) I love how it melts in your hand! And it smells good....love!
Monday, November 5, 2012
Freezer meals
So it took me most of my life to understand the concept of a freezer meal. My grandparents have two full sized freezers as well as 2 combo fridge/freezers. It took me years to understand. Even when I saw my grandma grab something from the freezer and toss on stove or oven for dinner I hadn't quit figured it out, how much work she was saving on a regular basis. My parents had two combo fridge/freezers at a couple points in my life, and the one they kept downstairs in our old house I never remember storing lots of food, jus snacks. (Though my memory is fuzzy) when we moved there was one outside because there was suddenly more fresh produce around.
A month or so ago I didn't feel like running more errands and bought a bag of potatoes at Costco. I have had potatoes there go bad faster than they should a time or two, so I was thinkn g of creative ways to cook them and save them. Enter freezer.
While I had the oven on anyway I sliced the potatoes in half and baked them as well. Then I whipped the inside into mashed potatoes and stuffed the potatoes before putting them into individual bags and freezing them.
My husband had one the other day and said that even though he spebt 8 min cooking it that it turned out pretty good.
I think frozen food (that isn't from the frozen food aisle) is something from an older generation that hasn't stuck around thanks to the freezer aisle. It is really too bad, because when you DIY it you get better quality...and I think thanks to Pinterest that it is coming back around.
Ahh the adventure!
Stay tuned for:
Frozen crock pot meals
Mozzarella cheese
Cauliflower etc.
quinoa madness
More adventures to come!
A month or so ago I didn't feel like running more errands and bought a bag of potatoes at Costco. I have had potatoes there go bad faster than they should a time or two, so I was thinkn g of creative ways to cook them and save them. Enter freezer.
While I had the oven on anyway I sliced the potatoes in half and baked them as well. Then I whipped the inside into mashed potatoes and stuffed the potatoes before putting them into individual bags and freezing them.
My husband had one the other day and said that even though he spebt 8 min cooking it that it turned out pretty good.
I think frozen food (that isn't from the frozen food aisle) is something from an older generation that hasn't stuck around thanks to the freezer aisle. It is really too bad, because when you DIY it you get better quality...and I think thanks to Pinterest that it is coming back around.
Ahh the adventure!
Stay tuned for:
Frozen crock pot meals
Mozzarella cheese
Cauliflower etc.
quinoa madness
More adventures to come!
Mango sticky rice
Our favorite Thai restaurant serves the most amazing mango sticky rice dessert. When I bought a box of mangos at Costco I figured when would be a better time to try it? Of course I had already pinned the recipe age ago, but finding the ingredients was another adventure.
Evidently sticky rice is made with a special kind of 'superior super sweet rice' so off on an adventure to find it. Of course it wasn't in ANY section of our regular grocery store, so off to the speciality store, where we searched and searched and asked. Eventually a staff member informed us that regular rice would work just fine. So against my better judgement home we went with regular rice and coconut milk to create a masterpiece.
(This was before the rice cooker so another round of rice on the stove) and then we poured a coconut milk mixture over the top of the mangos and called it good.
I have attached an image, but I must say it wasn't the masterpiece I was hoping for and if you are thinking about making it best find the right kind of rice before diving into an adventure.
Evidently sticky rice is made with a special kind of 'superior super sweet rice' so off on an adventure to find it. Of course it wasn't in ANY section of our regular grocery store, so off to the speciality store, where we searched and searched and asked. Eventually a staff member informed us that regular rice would work just fine. So against my better judgement home we went with regular rice and coconut milk to create a masterpiece.
(This was before the rice cooker so another round of rice on the stove) and then we poured a coconut milk mixture over the top of the mangos and called it good.
I have attached an image, but I must say it wasn't the masterpiece I was hoping for and if you are thinking about making it best find the right kind of rice before diving into an adventure.
Post 13.1 pain
I knew I would hurt, but I did not expect this.
For those of you that don't know I had a bad head injury in 2000 (large part of the reason I am pushing myself now but more on that later) and it kept me out of the water and other forms of exercise for a good like 4 months. It was horrible to be taken out of the natural environment. The day after I was finally 'cleared for all activity' I went back to the pool, but I also went back to my PE class (I had extra library time for 4 months good thing I like to read!) at my school we had a few different choices for PE and we had it one semester at a time, so when I got hurt in January I had only been in my weight lifting class a couple weeks. At the beginning of said class we all started out with few reps etc. to work our way up. By the time that I got back around April the class was further ahead than me on EVERYTHING. A day of form running (lunges etc) and one day of squats and I remember spending the next couple weeks feeling dead on my feet. And that was less than 2 hours all together, but it was bad. There was one point that my dad asked me to come upstairs and then when I was halfway up yelled at me to stop ignoring him (or something along those lines) but I really was just that slow.
It will be interesting to see if this muscle healing adventure is comparable to the misery I had at 13 One major difference between Kansas and California is thst there aren't a lot of stairs here so I won't have that to worry about. Whew. One good thing for me!
I will keep you posted....one last question....how do my arms hurt?!?
For those of you that don't know I had a bad head injury in 2000 (large part of the reason I am pushing myself now but more on that later) and it kept me out of the water and other forms of exercise for a good like 4 months. It was horrible to be taken out of the natural environment. The day after I was finally 'cleared for all activity' I went back to the pool, but I also went back to my PE class (I had extra library time for 4 months good thing I like to read!) at my school we had a few different choices for PE and we had it one semester at a time, so when I got hurt in January I had only been in my weight lifting class a couple weeks. At the beginning of said class we all started out with few reps etc. to work our way up. By the time that I got back around April the class was further ahead than me on EVERYTHING. A day of form running (lunges etc) and one day of squats and I remember spending the next couple weeks feeling dead on my feet. And that was less than 2 hours all together, but it was bad. There was one point that my dad asked me to come upstairs and then when I was halfway up yelled at me to stop ignoring him (or something along those lines) but I really was just that slow.
It will be interesting to see if this muscle healing adventure is comparable to the misery I had at 13 One major difference between Kansas and California is thst there aren't a lot of stairs here so I won't have that to worry about. Whew. One good thing for me!
I will keep you posted....one last question....how do my arms hurt?!?
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Half marathon. 5 things
As I sit here typing this I am not sure i will ever be able to walk again (sorry Molly pop)
Am I exaggerating? A little bit....maybe.
Let me tell you about my experience.
My goal going into this was to average a 13 minute mile. For the first five miles I was doing really well and was at exactly 5mph which was pretty good at this point I realized my phone battery would not last with both music and the running app I use so I turned them both off and kept trucking (but I was still watching my time) and then I got around to the 6.5 mile marker...and while still very much alive and trucking my foot had a horrible cramp. The kind that makes you wonder of you should pause but at the same time you know if you pause you will never keep going again.
So I kept going (and then they gave me a strawberry banana power gel....first time I have ever enjoyed th stuff and it made my hands sticky) I tried to run a few times through the rest of the race but it was horribly painful. (For those of you that don't know I have a pretty high pain tolerance so if I whine I mean it) and I power walked that baby (I really wanted to run!)
I tried to run towards the end and was just irritated how long we were 'close' to the end. After finally crossing the finish line (just over three hours dang foot!) they sent us into this long corral to the finishers village where the wait for a massage was two hours and they had mediocre ice cream but I did get my sweatshirt and a medal.
Not super exciting but I did it ahh.
A few firsts:
The half marathon
Injured in a competition I swam for like years and spent years running around a pool deck how does this happen?
Enjoying power gel
Crossing a start line with a mass of people
Disposable chip timing
There were a couple turns in the road where you crossed the people in front or behind you. The first time I realized that I had more people behind me than ahead of me the second time was late enough I had no clue.
There was a point that I thought I coul die but I trucked on.
Please don't ask me yet if I would do it again.
Am I exaggerating? A little bit....maybe.
Let me tell you about my experience.
My goal going into this was to average a 13 minute mile. For the first five miles I was doing really well and was at exactly 5mph which was pretty good at this point I realized my phone battery would not last with both music and the running app I use so I turned them both off and kept trucking (but I was still watching my time) and then I got around to the 6.5 mile marker...and while still very much alive and trucking my foot had a horrible cramp. The kind that makes you wonder of you should pause but at the same time you know if you pause you will never keep going again.
So I kept going (and then they gave me a strawberry banana power gel....first time I have ever enjoyed th stuff and it made my hands sticky) I tried to run a few times through the rest of the race but it was horribly painful. (For those of you that don't know I have a pretty high pain tolerance so if I whine I mean it) and I power walked that baby (I really wanted to run!)
I tried to run towards the end and was just irritated how long we were 'close' to the end. After finally crossing the finish line (just over three hours dang foot!) they sent us into this long corral to the finishers village where the wait for a massage was two hours and they had mediocre ice cream but I did get my sweatshirt and a medal.
Not super exciting but I did it ahh.
A few firsts:
The half marathon
Injured in a competition I swam for like years and spent years running around a pool deck how does this happen?
Enjoying power gel
Crossing a start line with a mass of people
Disposable chip timing
There were a couple turns in the road where you crossed the people in front or behind you. The first time I realized that I had more people behind me than ahead of me the second time was late enough I had no clue.
There was a point that I thought I coul die but I trucked on.
Please don't ask me yet if I would do it again.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Scrubbed floor (2 things)
So I am a stickler about getting my floor clean. I have been known to use three different strategies in an hour I get the floor clean. Three combined and then my floors are sparkling.
I have up on pine sol etc a couple months ago and pulled my Swiffer wet jet out because it was cleaner on the water. (That used to be one I my three strategies)
Now where we live our tile etc floors aren't in excess so I have slacked off even though I still care. Sad but true.
1. So today I made a solution (first new thing it included vodka and did a super good job of cleaning)
2. So today I got down on my ha as ad knees literally an scrubbed away away. My floors practically sparkle. I will be doing this again.
I have up on pine sol etc a couple months ago and pulled my Swiffer wet jet out because it was cleaner on the water. (That used to be one I my three strategies)
Now where we live our tile etc floors aren't in excess so I have slacked off even though I still care. Sad but true.
1. So today I made a solution (first new thing it included vodka and did a super good job of cleaning)
2. So today I got down on my ha as ad knees literally an scrubbed away away. My floors practically sparkle. I will be doing this again.
Crock pot chocolate cake
So now that I am actually getting close and making a more sincere effort at new things (oops...) I am going through those Pinterest pins a little extreme.
So I went to my parents house to borrow a crock pot (mine is occupied with stuffed peppers) and came home to mix a mound of chocolate butter and flour in. Granted the recipe wasbt super clear on what to do with my chocolate butter mix I got it all going anyways. After an hour I was digging into the gooey perfection....though the middle may or may not be done...but it is delish!
So I went to my parents house to borrow a crock pot (mine is occupied with stuffed peppers) and came home to mix a mound of chocolate butter and flour in. Granted the recipe wasbt super clear on what to do with my chocolate butter mix I got it all going anyways. After an hour I was digging into the gooey perfection....though the middle may or may not be done...but it is delish!
masa cornmeal
So I needed something interesting for dessert a while back to serve with my enchiladas. I did a little searching on Pinterest and then ran to the store to make masa harina.
The way my corn flour (I still have like 8 pounds of it left....it only came in a large bag ug) cooked was probably the most interesting part. You put the small pan inside of a larger pan that is filled with water and pop them both in the oven.
This was an adventure (I switched my pans around 20 times to make it work) but it was a pretty good one I guess? Haha
The recipe turned out well with the exception of my extra flour...recipe suggestions welcome.
Attached is a screen shot of the recipe I used on Pinterest.
The way my corn flour (I still have like 8 pounds of it left....it only came in a large bag ug) cooked was probably the most interesting part. You put the small pan inside of a larger pan that is filled with water and pop them both in the oven.
This was an adventure (I switched my pans around 20 times to make it work) but it was a pretty good one I guess? Haha
The recipe turned out well with the exception of my extra flour...recipe suggestions welcome.
Attached is a screen shot of the recipe I used on Pinterest.
Friday, November 2, 2012
Negative bill!
I have yet to understand HOW this has happened to us but I can't complain! It scares me because I know at some point that I will have some weird charge to cover this negative amount, and will pay what feels like more.
Anyways when we moved our electric bill was weird madness. We were on the balanced payment plan for our old place and I guess our electric/gas usage reflected more, so we payed some bizarre amount and turned on the new place. The next month we had some weird negative bill, so I celebrated and moved on. I wondered about this and at some point I am sure I did pay more, but it was a very cool idea to have a credit in a bill that we pay on a regular basis.
Anyways when we moved our electric bill was weird madness. We were on the balanced payment plan for our old place and I guess our electric/gas usage reflected more, so we payed some bizarre amount and turned on the new place. The next month we had some weird negative bill, so I celebrated and moved on. I wondered about this and at some point I am sure I did pay more, but it was a very cool idea to have a credit in a bill that we pay on a regular basis.
Curtain Rods
I finished my curtain rods a couple months ago. Now that I am writing this I have learned that they aren't strong enough to stand up to umm who knows what? I mean I guess that terror is probably my favorite pup Molly, but there is NO WAY that I would be able to explain if she actually effects it or just ate the couple pieces that came down.
I saw this plan on Pinterest but I will share my variation of it.
I started with a couple wooden dowels....I had to use 4 and cut them to a half point, because there wasn't one long enough to fit the width of my windows.
I used some round washers (they were in the doll craft section?) and glued them together 2 at a time to balance it out and then stuck those in the middle. (pretty sure it was this 'middle' that messed up the rods all along) and used these same washers on both ends. I then painted the entire thing black.
Then I took some black clay and formed it into small spirals and baked it according to package.I glued my spirals onto the end and was very happy with them.
A couple notes? Make sure the opening of your curtains will fit (yes I did learn the hard way).
And if the clay part falls don't let your dog break it ; )
I saw this plan on Pinterest but I will share my variation of it.
I started with a couple wooden dowels....I had to use 4 and cut them to a half point, because there wasn't one long enough to fit the width of my windows.
I used some round washers (they were in the doll craft section?) and glued them together 2 at a time to balance it out and then stuck those in the middle. (pretty sure it was this 'middle' that messed up the rods all along) and used these same washers on both ends. I then painted the entire thing black.
Then I took some black clay and formed it into small spirals and baked it according to package.I glued my spirals onto the end and was very happy with them.
A couple notes? Make sure the opening of your curtains will fit (yes I did learn the hard way).
And if the clay part falls don't let your dog break it ; )
changes
I posted a progress report recently, but as I get near an adventure that I am very excited/nervous about I feel the need to share my changes over the last 10 months.
(and yes this counts as new)
I have wanted to be the person that does random events for the longest time, seriously for the LONGEST time. It looked like it would be cool but I always said to myself. "I can't do that" What a horrible attitude! If I say it I never will!
In May of this last year I had the opportunity to watch people as they were finishing a half marathon that was around. If those people can do it, why couldn't I?
The next day I found the triathlon a couple weeks away and signed up before I could talk myself out of it. Then I got the tri bug.
So here I am, a couple days away from my first half marathon, and I will admit, running is still not my favorite thing. I don't always enjoy it, but I do enjoy the sense of accomplishment.
What I have learned about myself, and what I see in myself that is more exciting than sitting on the couch is my sense of determination. You can tell me I am crazy (I get that I didn't give myself a ton of training time!) or you could say that the idea of running doesn't sound fun. What I have learned about running over the last few months is how much I really do enjoy running, enjoy having my thoughts (and sometimes the dog or husband with me) and just heading off without having something to worry about. It is the same feeling I got as a kid from swimming, except I am on land. While I miss swimming running is more practical and I am sure that my stress level is much less than what it would be otherwise....
Bring it on, I am trying my best!
(and yes this counts as new)
I have wanted to be the person that does random events for the longest time, seriously for the LONGEST time. It looked like it would be cool but I always said to myself. "I can't do that" What a horrible attitude! If I say it I never will!
In May of this last year I had the opportunity to watch people as they were finishing a half marathon that was around. If those people can do it, why couldn't I?
The next day I found the triathlon a couple weeks away and signed up before I could talk myself out of it. Then I got the tri bug.
So here I am, a couple days away from my first half marathon, and I will admit, running is still not my favorite thing. I don't always enjoy it, but I do enjoy the sense of accomplishment.
What I have learned about myself, and what I see in myself that is more exciting than sitting on the couch is my sense of determination. You can tell me I am crazy (I get that I didn't give myself a ton of training time!) or you could say that the idea of running doesn't sound fun. What I have learned about running over the last few months is how much I really do enjoy running, enjoy having my thoughts (and sometimes the dog or husband with me) and just heading off without having something to worry about. It is the same feeling I got as a kid from swimming, except I am on land. While I miss swimming running is more practical and I am sure that my stress level is much less than what it would be otherwise....
Bring it on, I am trying my best!
Errands Downtown
Ok so they weren't exactly ERRANDS but one thing you need to know about me is that I live in a bubble. (not literally) By this i mean that I have places I go, and then I go home, my grocery store is always the same. I don't like to leave my bubble, and have been known to go out of my way to stay in the bubble.
So going out of my usual radius to get something done doesn't make sense for me. But when it is on my way and I am trying to get as much done as possible in the shortest amount of time that I can? Enter errands outside of my bubble. And without time to wait...(another weird tid-bit...I am compulsively early....and give myself time everywhere....so doing errands quick isn't me) so i ran to the bank over here and then hopped down to get a couple of things down downtown, (all without getting totally lost) and I was done within the hour, which is pretty fantastic....a first? Yes, outside of my bubble and still feeling accomplished.
So going out of my usual radius to get something done doesn't make sense for me. But when it is on my way and I am trying to get as much done as possible in the shortest amount of time that I can? Enter errands outside of my bubble. And without time to wait...(another weird tid-bit...I am compulsively early....and give myself time everywhere....so doing errands quick isn't me) so i ran to the bank over here and then hopped down to get a couple of things down downtown, (all without getting totally lost) and I was done within the hour, which is pretty fantastic....a first? Yes, outside of my bubble and still feeling accomplished.
Cookie dough cupcakes
This is from April or so?
So I was asked to do some baking and organizing and for me this is an opportunity to get creative. I started with eggless cookie dough (no food poisoning on my watch thank you!) and made this dough into small balls and popped it in the freezer.
Then I lined my cupcake tray (duh) threw some dough together and popped it into the oven and I really did end up with cookie dough in the middle and cake like cupcakes on the outside. Of course we had a million sweets....so this wasn't the idea that it seemed like sooo awesome to me wasn't as cool to other people.
But it is on the list...
So I was asked to do some baking and organizing and for me this is an opportunity to get creative. I started with eggless cookie dough (no food poisoning on my watch thank you!) and made this dough into small balls and popped it in the freezer.
Then I lined my cupcake tray (duh) threw some dough together and popped it into the oven and I really did end up with cookie dough in the middle and cake like cupcakes on the outside. Of course we had a million sweets....so this wasn't the idea that it seemed like sooo awesome to me wasn't as cool to other people.
But it is on the list...
Packet pick up
Ok so not 100% new because I did pick up the color me rad race packets for like 8 people, but it wasn't chaos, and it wasn't intimidating!
When I did my triathlon in June I had my mom pick it up for me because my work schedule was crazy that day.
So today after work I ran to packet pick up---I already had my bib number (thanks to constant communication from my email) so i hopped in my line....where all they gave me was a bib. For some reason I pictured in my mind that it would be really cool, and I would get this super awesome bag full of totally awesome goodies and they would tell me good luck and I would be done. I guess my reason for this was that I always see people with bags and never thought about how all of the goodies got there? No clue?
So I took my random blah bib and walked the other direction for a bag and then the OTHER direction to the VERY end for my shirt where they marked off my size and I left....disappointment? yes
Guess it will be an adventure! Stay tuned for my half marathon experience...
When I did my triathlon in June I had my mom pick it up for me because my work schedule was crazy that day.
So today after work I ran to packet pick up---I already had my bib number (thanks to constant communication from my email) so i hopped in my line....where all they gave me was a bib. For some reason I pictured in my mind that it would be really cool, and I would get this super awesome bag full of totally awesome goodies and they would tell me good luck and I would be done. I guess my reason for this was that I always see people with bags and never thought about how all of the goodies got there? No clue?
So I took my random blah bib and walked the other direction for a bag and then the OTHER direction to the VERY end for my shirt where they marked off my size and I left....disappointment? yes
Guess it will be an adventure! Stay tuned for my half marathon experience...
Hummus Attempt (but perfect chicken)
I am going to try this again soon...and it will be WAY more blog worthy.
So in my attempt to cook up a simmering batch of garbanzo beans I decided that I should get to have an adventure right? Did i mention I have a secret love for hummus? Cause I kinda do....I mean i try to be healthy, but they say you should get a lot of protein from plants not meat right?
So i didn't want to go to the store (and anyways where do you get tahini?!)
I heard that peanut butter is a good substitute....whoever told me that is a LIAR!
It did NOT turn out good...it was like the weirdest thing ever....tragic waste. Even worse was the plan I had for it that included a perfect chicken, some rice, garlic, bell peppers, it was Mediterranean heaven....except without the hummus.
Dear friends who lied about tahini....i will not share my amazing creations with you. (and I have heard this from a few people....)
So in my attempt to cook up a simmering batch of garbanzo beans I decided that I should get to have an adventure right? Did i mention I have a secret love for hummus? Cause I kinda do....I mean i try to be healthy, but they say you should get a lot of protein from plants not meat right?
So i didn't want to go to the store (and anyways where do you get tahini?!)
I heard that peanut butter is a good substitute....whoever told me that is a LIAR!
It did NOT turn out good...it was like the weirdest thing ever....tragic waste. Even worse was the plan I had for it that included a perfect chicken, some rice, garlic, bell peppers, it was Mediterranean heaven....except without the hummus.
Dear friends who lied about tahini....i will not share my amazing creations with you. (and I have heard this from a few people....)
Protein Cookies
Ok so this is similar to the brownies (even though it happened first)
I actually took them to work and had people that REFUSED to try them.
First I cooked up a batch of garbanzo beans (it took forever! and this also helped my first batch of hummus....hold on i will get there!)
I threw some other things together and they turned out pretty good. Not the type of "chewy" cookie that I usually look for, but it was pretty tasty.
Another adventure down...
I actually took them to work and had people that REFUSED to try them.
First I cooked up a batch of garbanzo beans (it took forever! and this also helped my first batch of hummus....hold on i will get there!)
I threw some other things together and they turned out pretty good. Not the type of "chewy" cookie that I usually look for, but it was pretty tasty.
Another adventure down...
Protein brownies?
Yes this is weird....it happens to the best of us. We all have a weakness, and for some people (me) that weakness is chocolate. There are times when i want a fresh gooey brownie. (though these adventures have given me other ideas on chocolate heaven)
Brownie seemed perfect, but the problem? No eggs, so could i successfully make brownies?
Maybe I will let you be the judge of that. I hopped online to see what my options would be and went with the weirdest one that I could find.
I grabbed a can of black beans from my pantry, tossed them into the food processor until they were pureed and then baked them. No egg, no oil. Better for me no?
So that was the true adventure....they were edible but not in a brag status way.....
Brownie seemed perfect, but the problem? No eggs, so could i successfully make brownies?
Maybe I will let you be the judge of that. I hopped online to see what my options would be and went with the weirdest one that I could find.
I grabbed a can of black beans from my pantry, tossed them into the food processor until they were pureed and then baked them. No egg, no oil. Better for me no?
So that was the true adventure....they were edible but not in a brag status way.....
Buffalo chicken casserole
Again thank you Pinterest (well my friend Amanda had to get it from somewhere)
I have realized I am wayyyy behind on this new stuff mission and now that it is finally cooling down turning my oven on works well.
I spent part of my lunch scrolling through my Pinterest stuff (the recipe I decided on to come soon)
So Amanda sends me a message telling me of this delicious meal.
Basically think simmering potatoes in hot sauce and spices with EVOO doing the same with chicken and topping it with cheese before putting it in oven.
Delish....I mean the kick is good but not too much,..and it fits the carb loading I am supposed to be doing....AND I am posting this the DAY IT HAPPENED!
getting better 11 months later...
I have realized I am wayyyy behind on this new stuff mission and now that it is finally cooling down turning my oven on works well.
I spent part of my lunch scrolling through my Pinterest stuff (the recipe I decided on to come soon)
So Amanda sends me a message telling me of this delicious meal.
Basically think simmering potatoes in hot sauce and spices with EVOO doing the same with chicken and topping it with cheese before putting it in oven.
Delish....I mean the kick is good but not too much,..and it fits the carb loading I am supposed to be doing....AND I am posting this the DAY IT HAPPENED!
getting better 11 months later...
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Bread
Ok if you haven't figured it out yet I love to bake. (Though at this point in the year I have tried far fewer new recipes than I had originally planned). If it is cold out that is by far my favorite past time.
I should inform you, I have been making the same bread recipe for like 10 years. This is impressive since I am barely 26 (at least to me). Well all things new are a consideration. A good friend of mine gave me her family recipe for bread/rolls I embraced it like all good new things bloggers would do.
A few different things....yeast, sugar, and water double on own before adding other ingredients.
And you shape them into round rolls as opposed to roll them up.
I have added a pic of mine but should tell you Amanda brought some over yesterday and hers are far prettier.
I should inform you, I have been making the same bread recipe for like 10 years. This is impressive since I am barely 26 (at least to me). Well all things new are a consideration. A good friend of mine gave me her family recipe for bread/rolls I embraced it like all good new things bloggers would do.
A few different things....yeast, sugar, and water double on own before adding other ingredients.
And you shape them into round rolls as opposed to roll them up.
I have added a pic of mine but should tell you Amanda brought some over yesterday and hers are far prettier.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Just dance
What better way to spend Halloween?
Let me first tell you....I am super unskilled at dancing. I have NO rhythm at all I am not joking when I say that I can't clap.
So my friend brings just dance over and I cave. 1. Because I was curious 2. I knew I was in serious need of calorie burning an realllly didn't want to run. 3. Kicks and giggles
So in the game system it goes.....and while I felt like I spent a whole lotta time shaking the remote I was a lot of fun...mayyyyybe I need to upgrade our system to something cool that recognizes motion...and do this again....I would so lose!
Let me first tell you....I am super unskilled at dancing. I have NO rhythm at all I am not joking when I say that I can't clap.
So my friend brings just dance over and I cave. 1. Because I was curious 2. I knew I was in serious need of calorie burning an realllly didn't want to run. 3. Kicks and giggles
So in the game system it goes.....and while I felt like I spent a whole lotta time shaking the remote I was a lot of fun...mayyyyybe I need to upgrade our system to something cool that recognizes motion...and do this again....I would so lose!
Dinner out with relatives
Ok this sounds totally lame. I have some seriously great relatives. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, lots if fantastic ones in the bunch, and others I wish I knew better. Being an only child my cousins all around were probably the closest thing I have ever had to siblings. As much as I enjoy my relatives I don't see ANY if them as much as I would like. Honestly we are spread in multiple time zones and a lot of states, tragic. When we do get together it is usually a huge gathering with lots of food etc. on a major holiday.
Until this most recent adventure I had never planned an adventure and met my cousins somewhere for kicks and giggles. Because I do enjoy my relatives I was sure to let them know when I was north in their neck of the woods. I actually was hoping to spend more time with them, but life and stress got in the way. Even considering this we were still able to get together and grab a meal. It is tragic really that you forget how much fun you can have with family, and I don't know when I became the kind is adult that wants to hang out with relatives over so many other options, but I did. It helps that I have so many cousins, and that as we have grown up I can consider a large chunk of them friends, even if we aren't hanging out or talking on a regular basis.
So here's to you all, the ones I just saw and all the rest, the siblings I never had.
Until this most recent adventure I had never planned an adventure and met my cousins somewhere for kicks and giggles. Because I do enjoy my relatives I was sure to let them know when I was north in their neck of the woods. I actually was hoping to spend more time with them, but life and stress got in the way. Even considering this we were still able to get together and grab a meal. It is tragic really that you forget how much fun you can have with family, and I don't know when I became the kind is adult that wants to hang out with relatives over so many other options, but I did. It helps that I have so many cousins, and that as we have grown up I can consider a large chunk of them friends, even if we aren't hanging out or talking on a regular basis.
So here's to you all, the ones I just saw and all the rest, the siblings I never had.
Girls weekend
So for those of you that don't know me, I am a bit of a homebody. I cut vacation short so I can be home for a day to relax. I love relaxing at home, being home, and even some household chores.
So leaving town or a vacation for me is a big deal, honestly there are times that I would just rather be home. It is so much more relaxing to scrub the house from top to bottom and then spend a weekend lounging around.
But as I have gotten older and friends have moved away that has changed. Would I still like to sit a home? Yes. But I also want to see my friends. Enter girls weekend, when you are 6 hours from friends what is a good solution? Meet in the middle. Face it where I live is boring to visit an I embrace that.
So myself and 2 friends met halfway and spent the weekend. It was an adventure, and had lots of not sitting around. I had never jus taken a weekend with the girls before but a new experience worth trying again.
So leaving town or a vacation for me is a big deal, honestly there are times that I would just rather be home. It is so much more relaxing to scrub the house from top to bottom and then spend a weekend lounging around.
But as I have gotten older and friends have moved away that has changed. Would I still like to sit a home? Yes. But I also want to see my friends. Enter girls weekend, when you are 6 hours from friends what is a good solution? Meet in the middle. Face it where I live is boring to visit an I embrace that.
So myself and 2 friends met halfway and spent the weekend. It was an adventure, and had lots of not sitting around. I had never jus taken a weekend with the girls before but a new experience worth trying again.
Oscar Meyer
I saw the weenie mobile!!!
The freeway on ramp was closed on my way to lunch so I had to take a detour....look what I found!
The freeway on ramp was closed on my way to lunch so I had to take a detour....look what I found!
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Melting pot
A few years ago I heard about this place. As soon as I heard it existed and consisted of fondue I felt the need to go there. A year and a half ago I noticed one down the street from a hotel we were at up north....I was SP EXCITED words really cannot describe it. We didn't get a chance to go because of a variety of reasons but I never forgot that it wa there. And it looked amazing.
So this weekend for girls' weekend it was the ONLY thing that I cared about doing. (Other than am coffee) it HAD to happen. An it did!
So the prices were a little expensive, but for the fondue experience it was worth it. And we decided to go with a cheese option and a chocolate dessert option.
The cheesy wonder of amazingness was literally amazing. And the chocolate was as well! You are missing out on life! They bring you whatever dipping items we needed. It was perfection.
So this weekend for girls' weekend it was the ONLY thing that I cared about doing. (Other than am coffee) it HAD to happen. An it did!
So the prices were a little expensive, but for the fondue experience it was worth it. And we decided to go with a cheese option and a chocolate dessert option.
The cheesy wonder of amazingness was literally amazing. And the chocolate was as well! You are missing out on life! They bring you whatever dipping items we needed. It was perfection.
Earthquake
It doesn't happen very often....or in my case never. We had a light earthquake a couple weeks ago. It just happens that I was up late and awake. Felt my first earthquake and wondered why my bed was moving.
Chocolate covered cricket
I should have known it would come to something like this. In Sacramento the girls and I stopped at a candy shop. As soon as the guy behind the counter started passing out chocolate covered crickets I knew I was doomed. They made me. It was minty.
Exercise on vacation
The last couple weeks have been slightly stressful and with the half marathon a week away from my vacation point I knew I had to do something while I was gone. Add the trail into old town and it was too good relaxing and wonderful to pass up. Exercise should be added into every vacation.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Quinoa with cheese
So it has been everywhere. We all know that. Quinoa is the Pinterest love.
I cook a batch up every week or so in the rice cooker and then use it anywhere for random stuff through the week. It isn't that great plain but this week was crazy and I almost had it plain for breakfast once. Not so much.
There was a cheesy quinoa post on Facebook, but the link didn't work.
I decided to take some advice from a friend and another recipe and chance it to what I had on hand.
In the bottom of my pan I mixed:
1 egg
1 cup milk
A couple handfuls mixed cheese
I stirred it up with my quinoa and it looked plain so I started searching my pantry.
I found:
1 can corn (drained)
1 can dice tomatoes (drained)
I mixed it with a nice scoop of the dry salsa mix that I had on hand and then threw it on top.
I baked it about 30 min at 350.
I would like to add bell peppers and some black beans and mix it all together maybe come cilantro but not bad!
I cook a batch up every week or so in the rice cooker and then use it anywhere for random stuff through the week. It isn't that great plain but this week was crazy and I almost had it plain for breakfast once. Not so much.
There was a cheesy quinoa post on Facebook, but the link didn't work.
I decided to take some advice from a friend and another recipe and chance it to what I had on hand.
In the bottom of my pan I mixed:
1 egg
1 cup milk
A couple handfuls mixed cheese
I stirred it up with my quinoa and it looked plain so I started searching my pantry.
I found:
1 can corn (drained)
1 can dice tomatoes (drained)
I mixed it with a nice scoop of the dry salsa mix that I had on hand and then threw it on top.
I baked it about 30 min at 350.
I would like to add bell peppers and some black beans and mix it all together maybe come cilantro but not bad!
Running with head lamp
I have literally kicked it into gear since signing up for the half marathon last week. I ran 4 miles the day before and then ended up with a headache consistently for the next 5 days. That three me off but I decided today to run early in the morning with my Molly baby. I ended up walking a lot when headache came back. Tonight I needed to move an mostly headache free by this afternoon I decided to make up for it and did another two miles tonight. There have been multiple times the last couple weeks that I have sucked around something last second, and wished I had a head lamp. Thi time I went for it. My awesome husband had one so I made it significantly smaller and then took off. There were times I bounced and it collected sweat kinda funny and gross. But if I moved it over slightly I feel this would be effective, and because I want to keep the exercise in the shorter days this seems like a great way to go!
Half marathon sign up
I can't believe I did it. But for me, I have to admit that it takes making that step and deciding to do it an train for it for me to actually do the event. That and I really want a race bib that has my name on it and the race goodies...but I have officially signed up for the challenge in early November!
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Tree house
I have never in my life been in a tee house.
Yes you read that right, so why, at 20 something would that be my goal? Well some of these things just sort of happen.
I had to drive down south to pick up some stuff for a work thing and my his and my husband is awesome an tagged along. We stopped on the way home at tiny little village area that has cool stuff. We decided to grab dinner and then toured around. Thy had the coolest treehouse I have ever seen! We are talking three stories very likely unsafe. Since we ran into our friend and one of my bosses who was also on the way back I can likely say that said tree house was likely not safe for three adults....but there were three stories...pretty amazing!
Somehow I did not get a photo....:(
Yes you read that right, so why, at 20 something would that be my goal? Well some of these things just sort of happen.
I had to drive down south to pick up some stuff for a work thing and my his and my husband is awesome an tagged along. We stopped on the way home at tiny little village area that has cool stuff. We decided to grab dinner and then toured around. Thy had the coolest treehouse I have ever seen! We are talking three stories very likely unsafe. Since we ran into our friend and one of my bosses who was also on the way back I can likely say that said tree house was likely not safe for three adults....but there were three stories...pretty amazing!
Somehow I did not get a photo....:(
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
So far so.....?
Ok so I am obviously lacking so far this year. I should have done like 280 new things by now? Hmmm
But that is not the important thing. Aside from the fact that there are many adventures to come, and about 30 i haven't even written about yet....this has been a great year.
Honestly? It took me until end of May or early June to really branch out and try something I thought I could do, and since then I have been challenging myself. I have made decisions that I can do those things I never thought I could attempt. I might struggle through them, I might fight myself on actually doing them, I might go crazy before hand, but the bottom line is that I CAN do it. It is a matter of trying and reaching out beyond the norms and things that once seemed impossible.
Thanks for the fun we have had this year, the new recipes, the new ideas, and to my friends and family for supporting me in the crazy ones. I am much stronger this year than I would
have though last year in the changes that I have attempted, and the new things that I have always wanted to
do and finally cut off my bucket list.
But that is not the important thing. Aside from the fact that there are many adventures to come, and about 30 i haven't even written about yet....this has been a great year.
Honestly? It took me until end of May or early June to really branch out and try something I thought I could do, and since then I have been challenging myself. I have made decisions that I can do those things I never thought I could attempt. I might struggle through them, I might fight myself on actually doing them, I might go crazy before hand, but the bottom line is that I CAN do it. It is a matter of trying and reaching out beyond the norms and things that once seemed impossible.
Thanks for the fun we have had this year, the new recipes, the new ideas, and to my friends and family for supporting me in the crazy ones. I am much stronger this year than I would
have though last year in the changes that I have attempted, and the new things that I have always wanted to
do and finally cut off my bucket list.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Color me rad! 3 things
New things:
First 5k
First event with group of friends
First time doused in color.
Ok this event was seriously cool!!! Even though we started later than we wanted it was fantastic!
We met up early at my friends house that lives close by, I passed out packets and bibs, we got muffins took some before pictures and headed to the race.
We waited FOREVER at the start line and they had already started with the color. Waited and waited and the group of 7 of us got split into two different waves. That was unfortunate but we waited at the first water station where they were out Of water (argh!!!) and all ran a good portion of the red of it together taking the color stations slow. At the end we got in line for a good pic and spent a while taking some more of each other. We went back to get get our wallets and walked to go get some lunch. The next adventure is getting all this paint off!
First 5k
First event with group of friends
First time doused in color.
Ok this event was seriously cool!!! Even though we started later than we wanted it was fantastic!
We met up early at my friends house that lives close by, I passed out packets and bibs, we got muffins took some before pictures and headed to the race.
We waited FOREVER at the start line and they had already started with the color. Waited and waited and the group of 7 of us got split into two different waves. That was unfortunate but we waited at the first water station where they were out Of water (argh!!!) and all ran a good portion of the red of it together taking the color stations slow. At the end we got in line for a good pic and spent a while taking some more of each other. We went back to get get our wallets and walked to go get some lunch. The next adventure is getting all this paint off!
Thursday, September 20, 2012
All errands in a day
So I am not the type of person to set out for a day and get everything I need. That is because sometimes it is more productive to deal with things more spread out, for instance if I need to go to four shops I will spread them out over a week. Not this time.
Lately, and even more so a few weeks ago my day to day world was up in the air. As a person that plans ahead this made me crazy. But it caused me to plan ahead and take a different approach to things, which is really what this year is all about.
So I planned early, went through cookbooks for a couple of days to determine meals that could actually be made and allow me to keep my sanity. I categorized...four lists one for each place....I cross referenced, is there anything that would be practical to get one place instead of another? I multi-tasked. It was great. I got to my first place as it was opening and was in and out. Because I did have perishables I ran home and put them away an the headed to Target where I got a few random things, most importantly my rice cooker. Then I ran to my favorite grocery store. I got home and made use of anything I could by preparing it. When life gets crazy I will be ready.
Lately, and even more so a few weeks ago my day to day world was up in the air. As a person that plans ahead this made me crazy. But it caused me to plan ahead and take a different approach to things, which is really what this year is all about.
So I planned early, went through cookbooks for a couple of days to determine meals that could actually be made and allow me to keep my sanity. I categorized...four lists one for each place....I cross referenced, is there anything that would be practical to get one place instead of another? I multi-tasked. It was great. I got to my first place as it was opening and was in and out. Because I did have perishables I ran home and put them away an the headed to Target where I got a few random things, most importantly my rice cooker. Then I ran to my favorite grocery store. I got home and made use of anything I could by preparing it. When life gets crazy I will be ready.
Fire....
This is an oldie....a couple months ago I made a batch of scalloped potatoes technically this was my first batch that didn't use a recipe and I jus threw it all together. (First problem) I also thought I had a bigger pan, but it turns out they pan was at my parents house (second problem) I made the same size batch anyways.
Needless to say thi brilliant pan caused a little bit of an issue. And some run over.
Fast forward another week as I am preheating the oven for something awesome.
I think to myself....why is there smoke coming out of that burner? Weird
Open oven...FLAMES!!'
I asked hubby to get a first extinguisher but the one outside our unit had glass and there was nothing to break the glass with. I said forget it and it dyed out eventually (I knew enough not to registry give it oxygen sillies)
No damage.
Guess I should scrub my oven as much as counters....
Needless to say thi brilliant pan caused a little bit of an issue. And some run over.
Fast forward another week as I am preheating the oven for something awesome.
I think to myself....why is there smoke coming out of that burner? Weird
Open oven...FLAMES!!'
I asked hubby to get a first extinguisher but the one outside our unit had glass and there was nothing to break the glass with. I said forget it and it dyed out eventually (I knew enough not to registry give it oxygen sillies)
No damage.
Guess I should scrub my oven as much as counters....
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Cinnamon Pizza
Last summer the hubby and I started our addiction of pizza on the grill. This summer I decided to continue the addiction, but I bought a few pizza crusts instead. Each summer we buy a large thing of mozzarella from Costco and it usually carries us through the jot wanting to cook inside summers.
This year I ended up with one extra crust, and cinnamon pizza seemed like a good idea. Growing up there was this horrible little pizza place in my hometown. I don't remember a lot, except I liked getting Sprite there ( never was a big soda pop drinker) because I thought it was cool that it was so carbonated that my straw floated. Their pizza was always lacking in sauce and never very good, but they had the best dessert pizza that I have ever had. All the cinnamon sticks, cinnamon rolls, etc. could not match this stuff, papa Murphy's could be close but it was different.
So I went for it. I slathered my crust in butter, added my cinnamon, threw in the crumble, sent the hubs for powdered sugar as I attempted this piece of amazingness....was it perfect? No, did it come close? Not really. But it was edible?
O well....
This year I ended up with one extra crust, and cinnamon pizza seemed like a good idea. Growing up there was this horrible little pizza place in my hometown. I don't remember a lot, except I liked getting Sprite there ( never was a big soda pop drinker) because I thought it was cool that it was so carbonated that my straw floated. Their pizza was always lacking in sauce and never very good, but they had the best dessert pizza that I have ever had. All the cinnamon sticks, cinnamon rolls, etc. could not match this stuff, papa Murphy's could be close but it was different.
So I went for it. I slathered my crust in butter, added my cinnamon, threw in the crumble, sent the hubs for powdered sugar as I attempted this piece of amazingness....was it perfect? No, did it come close? Not really. But it was edible?
O well....
Hot Fudge Pie
I mean seriously can you go wrong? Gooey chocolate amazingness? I think not.
Perfect with ice cream. Very happy camper.
Thanks to my friend Amanda it was a grand adventure.
Perfect with ice cream. Very happy camper.
Thanks to my friend Amanda it was a grand adventure.
Plant imprints
So for the first month of school around here I had no idea what was happening from one day to the next. If you know me you know this sucks. If I had a day off I didn't know if it was really a day off.
When I had the chance for a day to relaxed I was stressed. So it was on one of those days that I needed something fairly thoughtless to help me keep my sanity. Thank you again Pinterest.
I had tons of canvas sitting around from a sale I hit earlier this year, so I grabbed a few and ran to Joann's to get some paint.
I started by painting each canvas a solid color.
Then I found some random plants and used spray adhesive (thanks dad) to stick it before dousing it in a shiny gold spray paint.
It took most of the day because I painted one canvas at a time to make sure it worked.
Pretty sure my stress level decreased that day....success.
When I had the chance for a day to relaxed I was stressed. So it was on one of those days that I needed something fairly thoughtless to help me keep my sanity. Thank you again Pinterest.
I had tons of canvas sitting around from a sale I hit earlier this year, so I grabbed a few and ran to Joann's to get some paint.
I started by painting each canvas a solid color.
Then I found some random plants and used spray adhesive (thanks dad) to stick it before dousing it in a shiny gold spray paint.
It took most of the day because I painted one canvas at a time to make sure it worked.
Pretty sure my stress level decreased that day....success.
TP wall art
This is a sensitive topic for me.
See, I can't just sit in front of the tv. I always have something, phone, computer, iPad, craft project. Something. It makes me feel productive. So march madness is a really sensitive time for me. I get a little bit crazy. I get a little bit tense. I need SOMETHING to relax me. (And Kansas gave me a few tense moments during the tournament last year)
Enter a million rolls of toilet paper. A cut them, I trimmed them, I sat with my hot glue gun. I stuck them loved them and saved them. I actually slightly blame myself thst I finished this project too early. Fun? Yes. Stressful games...yes. Should I have had scissors in my hand? Probably not.
Currently accepting ideas for crafts for march madness 2013.
See, I can't just sit in front of the tv. I always have something, phone, computer, iPad, craft project. Something. It makes me feel productive. So march madness is a really sensitive time for me. I get a little bit crazy. I get a little bit tense. I need SOMETHING to relax me. (And Kansas gave me a few tense moments during the tournament last year)
Enter a million rolls of toilet paper. A cut them, I trimmed them, I sat with my hot glue gun. I stuck them loved them and saved them. I actually slightly blame myself thst I finished this project too early. Fun? Yes. Stressful games...yes. Should I have had scissors in my hand? Probably not.
Currently accepting ideas for crafts for march madness 2013.
Ruffle Curtains
This project is close to my heart.
I saw a curtain ruffle project on Pinterest and fell in love with them. I had some issues with sewing the pleats to ruffle them so I went seeking for help at my favorite craft store.
From this advice I found a really good sale on the sheer backing, that I bought right away, and experimented with some felt for awhile. I found ths I had to find a huge roll of felt and buy about 6 yards at a time to make it work and then cut that into four inch wide strips.
If you adjust the tension in the sewing machine and sew a basic hem up and down both sides it will ruffle itself on the second time and you can pull on the extra tension if you want it a little more extreme. The best part about using felt is that you don't have hem the sides. With one extremely long piece of felt (and a few new experiences you will hear about later) I was able to make 18 ruffles but I only used 12 (three for each panel)
If you have a dog make sure to trim the bottom or you will be re ruffling it later! It might look slightly nautical but I have enjoyed the pop of color the blue gives.
The ruffles are actually attached to the blue backing.
Tell me what you think!
I saw a curtain ruffle project on Pinterest and fell in love with them. I had some issues with sewing the pleats to ruffle them so I went seeking for help at my favorite craft store.
From this advice I found a really good sale on the sheer backing, that I bought right away, and experimented with some felt for awhile. I found ths I had to find a huge roll of felt and buy about 6 yards at a time to make it work and then cut that into four inch wide strips.
If you adjust the tension in the sewing machine and sew a basic hem up and down both sides it will ruffle itself on the second time and you can pull on the extra tension if you want it a little more extreme. The best part about using felt is that you don't have hem the sides. With one extremely long piece of felt (and a few new experiences you will hear about later) I was able to make 18 ruffles but I only used 12 (three for each panel)
If you have a dog make sure to trim the bottom or you will be re ruffling it later! It might look slightly nautical but I have enjoyed the pop of color the blue gives.
The ruffles are actually attached to the blue backing.
Tell me what you think!
Camping on Valley Floor
This was quite the experience! I have camped in Yosemite one other tiem in my life....we were at the campground that was closest to the gate that was furthest from it....it rained on our way there....it was miserable! I mean it was a lot of fun but it was crazy! Camping on the Valley Floor was another experience! We could wonder around and then go back to our tent to make meals, we could walk down to Curry Village for anything that we needed. Another first was eating the mediocre food from the o so adorable restaurant that they have in there.
Pretty great to be in what is practically a village and just wonder around....though I seriously won't lie, people are a lot crazier in the valley floor than they are in other parts of the park. I heard screaming the entire night and kept wondering to myself....do those people see a bear?!?! are they trying to scare off a bear?!?! (this was after our crazy bear experience you see) I could have sworn I either heard or dreamed (though most likely dreamed) that a bear was walking by our tent more than once.
Bottom Line:
camping on valley floor=awesome
camping on valley floor AFTER being too close to bear=paranoid
Pretty great to be in what is practically a village and just wonder around....though I seriously won't lie, people are a lot crazier in the valley floor than they are in other parts of the park. I heard screaming the entire night and kept wondering to myself....do those people see a bear?!?! are they trying to scare off a bear?!?! (this was after our crazy bear experience you see) I could have sworn I either heard or dreamed (though most likely dreamed) that a bear was walking by our tent more than once.
Bottom Line:
camping on valley floor=awesome
camping on valley floor AFTER being too close to bear=paranoid
Bear!!!!
So when I posted the last one I realized that this one wasn't up yet and probably didn't make sense. More so I am realizing that many many many MANY of these are all linked together.
So getting a campsite in Yosemite is rare especially because we have so many other things going on it is hard to take a weekend and JUST GO but we managed to get a campsite last minute in April the same weekend that we finally had free time.
We wanted to take a couple of fun crazy trails and do something different. It wasn't quite peak season but the animals were out and about and we stashed our food well.
Right off of the bus at the walk in camp group we saw a trail that led to the base of El Capitan...sounded good! Only a couple miles, relatively flat....etc. So we walked, it was beautiful, and we saw a couple of lovely deer along the way. We also kept our eye out and made jokes about what would happen if we saw a bear. We were to the end of the trail...it was RIGHT THERE when i looked NO JOKE about 15 feet to my front right....and there was a bear a big don't want to get close let's get out of here RIGHT NOW bear. Of course there was a guy coming towards us so we start making crazy motions until he turned around and when we high tailed it out of there.....While I was making crazy motions...Mr. Perf. looks around and sees TWO CUBS (It has been months and I am still pretty upset that I didn't see it as well)
I told the world the next couple months and that is my experience of seeing a bear.....exciting....but closer than I ever wanted to be....especially to mama bear!
So getting a campsite in Yosemite is rare especially because we have so many other things going on it is hard to take a weekend and JUST GO but we managed to get a campsite last minute in April the same weekend that we finally had free time.
We wanted to take a couple of fun crazy trails and do something different. It wasn't quite peak season but the animals were out and about and we stashed our food well.
Right off of the bus at the walk in camp group we saw a trail that led to the base of El Capitan...sounded good! Only a couple miles, relatively flat....etc. So we walked, it was beautiful, and we saw a couple of lovely deer along the way. We also kept our eye out and made jokes about what would happen if we saw a bear. We were to the end of the trail...it was RIGHT THERE when i looked NO JOKE about 15 feet to my front right....and there was a bear a big don't want to get close let's get out of here RIGHT NOW bear. Of course there was a guy coming towards us so we start making crazy motions until he turned around and when we high tailed it out of there.....While I was making crazy motions...Mr. Perf. looks around and sees TWO CUBS (It has been months and I am still pretty upset that I didn't see it as well)
I told the world the next couple months and that is my experience of seeing a bear.....exciting....but closer than I ever wanted to be....especially to mama bear!
Bike Riding in Yosemite
It was wonderful to ride around and relax and you get places so much faster than the bus! The down side? The next morning the hubby felt horrible....keep in mind I am the one that was doing triathlons and running miles at the gym....Mr. Perf felt a little miserable the next day from the extra exercise.
Fabric softener towel removes dog hair!
Okay this is lame! I know there are times it looks like I was getting desperate but bare with me because it is kinda cool!
So a few months ago I saw on Pinterest it would be a good idea to soak a rag in fabric softener, let it dry completely and use it in the dryer for a couple months. This was a great idea...it worked well for about a week...here is the catch....I wash A LOT of kitchen towels. Unless it involves Raw Meat Nasty (RMN) it gets wiped down with a towel and the towel tossed into a bin. Ever since I started to use my own cleaning products I have learned that they don't smell totally disgusting super fast and I can get by with wiping my counters down bi-daily (I know it seems silly but I love a good clean counter top!)
Anyways so there are times that I will pull said rags out of my dryer and not catch the fabric softener one until later. It was one of these such days that I looked and saw that Molly had gotten the couch full of fur...I decided to grab the old fabric softener towel and it worked like MAGIC!!!! you know how fast that thing picks up lint?!?! I then proceeded to dust my entire house with it....and had to wash it which sort of defeated the purpose buuuut it was seriously cool and I am really needing to do it again....
So a few months ago I saw on Pinterest it would be a good idea to soak a rag in fabric softener, let it dry completely and use it in the dryer for a couple months. This was a great idea...it worked well for about a week...here is the catch....I wash A LOT of kitchen towels. Unless it involves Raw Meat Nasty (RMN) it gets wiped down with a towel and the towel tossed into a bin. Ever since I started to use my own cleaning products I have learned that they don't smell totally disgusting super fast and I can get by with wiping my counters down bi-daily (I know it seems silly but I love a good clean counter top!)
Anyways so there are times that I will pull said rags out of my dryer and not catch the fabric softener one until later. It was one of these such days that I looked and saw that Molly had gotten the couch full of fur...I decided to grab the old fabric softener towel and it worked like MAGIC!!!! you know how fast that thing picks up lint?!?! I then proceeded to dust my entire house with it....and had to wash it which sort of defeated the purpose buuuut it was seriously cool and I am really needing to do it again....
10 miles
So I got the feeling around April or so that this year wasn't just about new things, but that it was about new HABITS. I need to challenge myself like I have been the past few months.....and I have loved it when I have!
So when I reactivated my very long lost gym membership I started pushing myself. I was proud when I left after 5 miles on the elliptical, but it wasn't long before I found myself doing ten. Granted that was burning the calories of the half a pan of brownies....but I did it! and continued that over time up until I froze my gym membership in favor of training on the open road.....
So when I reactivated my very long lost gym membership I started pushing myself. I was proud when I left after 5 miles on the elliptical, but it wasn't long before I found myself doing ten. Granted that was burning the calories of the half a pan of brownies....but I did it! and continued that over time up until I froze my gym membership in favor of training on the open road.....
Rodeo
For years I have said I should go....for a girl that grew up in the midwest around friends and family that have been to more rodeos than I have had birthdays, this is unheard of.
So back in *gulp* May, one of my good friends sends me a message the day of asking me if i could go....that is what this year is all about right? I rearranged a couple of quick things and made it work out! Had a lot of fun! Left my jacket in the car (oops!)
We had fun, I was cold....there was a concert after (basically another first the guy had been on American Idol) and I learned what a rodeo was all about....it was pretty neat and I am grateful to my good friend Heather for providing this experience.
Face time
Last month my dad's side of the family had a huge reunion. We are talking my grandma's cousins, my aunts, uncles, and cousins.....huge (though I didn't know a lot of them or see them in this experience)
I was unable to make it to this lovely reunion and I was a little sad....I have some pretty cool relatives that I do enjoy when given the opportunity to talk with them. Don't worry this is 2012 and you probably have an idea where this post is going.
I decided to ring in and say hello (love cell phones!) and my cousin suggested that we try to facetime....so we hung up the phone, I got home (wifi connection) and called back. It worked out well and my cousin passed me around, I got to say hi and wave to everyone, see some of my cousin's kids (they have grown up!) and "see" the family that I wasn't able to visit with. Pretty cool. Of course I have used facetime before....but only across the room to see what happened....so that doesn't really count.
Since that time last month I have actually gotten to use it again with the same cousin. Technology technology....one of the times this year it has been cool.
I was unable to make it to this lovely reunion and I was a little sad....I have some pretty cool relatives that I do enjoy when given the opportunity to talk with them. Don't worry this is 2012 and you probably have an idea where this post is going.
I decided to ring in and say hello (love cell phones!) and my cousin suggested that we try to facetime....so we hung up the phone, I got home (wifi connection) and called back. It worked out well and my cousin passed me around, I got to say hi and wave to everyone, see some of my cousin's kids (they have grown up!) and "see" the family that I wasn't able to visit with. Pretty cool. Of course I have used facetime before....but only across the room to see what happened....so that doesn't really count.
Since that time last month I have actually gotten to use it again with the same cousin. Technology technology....one of the times this year it has been cool.
Eclipse
Obviously this one is a bit old!
So exciting! The day before this I was running around a little crazy looking for some welder's glass. We were able to see it from our road outside....and a lot of people came up and we got to pass it around.....pretty beautiful....the only disappointment? I wasn't able to get a good photo
So exciting! The day before this I was running around a little crazy looking for some welder's glass. We were able to see it from our road outside....and a lot of people came up and we got to pass it around.....pretty beautiful....the only disappointment? I wasn't able to get a good photo
Triathlon! 5 things
So this was back in the beginning of June....yes I am THAT far behind! My life has been exciting.....that is that!
And with this event I can cut a few things off the list:
First open water swim
First ankle tracker
First race bib
First event for fun
First bike ride in the foot hills
So I didn't even register for this.....until 2 weeks before the event....I just decided to go for it. I realized I haven't been really challenged in the last few years (other than the whole doing a million new things, but I am not doing too well with that one...) and I wanted to do something to push myself!
Triathlon has always been on that I wish I could but I can't list....why can't I? Is there a rule? NO! So I signed up had some crazy training and did it! My goal time was under 3 hours...and I came in just under 2.5. My swim time was amazing (I would have been incredibly disappointed if it wasn't) the bike....SO DIFFICULT! I know now there is a difference in road bikes (more on that another time soon) There were a lot more hills than I was even remotely prepared for...and a lot of power walking for the lovely run...but I DID IT! I felt amazing....I want to do it again and I think i have the Tri bug! (3 months later that is still my plan, my training has picked up, but I have yet to find an event that I can make it to)
The ankle thing was pretty cool....I was able to look up the splits online totally cool!
And the race bib? Very possibly keeping it FOREVER and I plan on accumulating a lot more over the next couple of years....very cool and exciting!
And with this event I can cut a few things off the list:
First open water swim
First ankle tracker
First race bib
First event for fun
First bike ride in the foot hills
So I didn't even register for this.....until 2 weeks before the event....I just decided to go for it. I realized I haven't been really challenged in the last few years (other than the whole doing a million new things, but I am not doing too well with that one...) and I wanted to do something to push myself!
Triathlon has always been on that I wish I could but I can't list....why can't I? Is there a rule? NO! So I signed up had some crazy training and did it! My goal time was under 3 hours...and I came in just under 2.5. My swim time was amazing (I would have been incredibly disappointed if it wasn't) the bike....SO DIFFICULT! I know now there is a difference in road bikes (more on that another time soon) There were a lot more hills than I was even remotely prepared for...and a lot of power walking for the lovely run...but I DID IT! I felt amazing....I want to do it again and I think i have the Tri bug! (3 months later that is still my plan, my training has picked up, but I have yet to find an event that I can make it to)
The ankle thing was pretty cool....I was able to look up the splits online totally cool!
And the race bib? Very possibly keeping it FOREVER and I plan on accumulating a lot more over the next couple of years....very cool and exciting!
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