Smart Cookie

Dream Wedding

2012-07-16T11:28:00.000-06:00

Well, well, well, fancy meeting you here. This is my first official post as a Mrs. On May 5th, 2012 I married my MAN!! Evidence?

Amen

2012-02-28T11:21:00.002-06:00

Source: Uploaded by user via Casey on Pinterest

Pinterest: Making you want great abs AND whip cream filled strawberries with a side of stuffed grilled cheese.

Weekend Musings

2012-02-27T11:55:00.005-06:00

Musings. I don't think that word means what I think it does, but I don't want to think of another one so I'm leaving it. There are no rules here. Words don't need to be used in proper context, they don't even need to be spelled right for that matter.

Freedom of improper speech.

Last night we had an amazing family supper at my parent’s house. The star of the supper was definitely my Mom’s Faux Fried Chicken made from Janet and Greta’s “The Loneyspoons Collection” cookbook. Best supporting role goes to my Sister’s Banana Cream Pie (also from that cookbook) and lurking in the background were my Butternut Squash Fries.

I’ve been terrible at taking pictures since I started blogging again, but here’s a picture of the chicken straight from the cookbook. And you can find the recipe here.

Source: janetandgreta.com via Brittany on Pinterest

You should definitely try making this chicken, and when you do make sure and invite a large number of people over so they can all tell you how great it is and what a wonderful cook you are. Don't just make if for your boyfriend or husband. That's a waste. Invite them both over.

JUST kidding.

Saturday morning I started the day off right with a BREAKFAST Cookie..

I polished that off and a few cups of black coffee before doing a Condo Castle workout. I did a version of one of the many "hundreds" workouts I do with the trainer. You'd be surprised by the level of intensity you can get in your own living room. Well maybe YOU wouldn't be surprise, but I am. I am surprised that I'm doing mountain climbers beside the couch when I could be sitting on it.

Once I finished up my workout and before heading to my parents house to swim (stand in the shallow end) with my Sister and nephew, I made my Man Banana Chocolate Chip pancakes!

Such a good almost-wife I am.

I didn’t snap any pictures of Tyson swimming, but I DID paparazzi him when we got out..

What a handsome little man.

I spent the rest of the day laying in bed and catching up on PVR'd shows. My view the entire afternoon looked a little something like this..

Aren't those cords hanging down the wall attractive? I was thinking about adding a blue one, but thought that might be too much with the grey, white and black.

Once the evening rolled around Lex and I went to the Vow..

Source: filmternational.com via Natasha on Pinterest

I LOVED it. I still loved it even though I spent most the movie mad and annoyed at Rachel McAdams character. I sat in the theater calmly watching on the outside but on the inside I was throwing popcorn at the screen yelling, "REMEMBER HIM DAMN IT!!! You're NOT TRYING!! Go back to the Notebook."

Welp, that pretty much sums up my weekend. Happy Monday!!

Home Parties

2012-02-24T10:09:00.005-06:00

It’s FRIDAY!!!

So where was I. Wednesday night’s leg workout ended up being fifties just as I was hoping. I’ll welcome anything with open arms that doesn’t involve 100 reps. After the gym I cleaned the condo castle just like I’d planned in anticipation of last nights Tupperware/Epicure party. I got the toilets SO clean that I actually broke the toilet brush in half. I like to think it broke because my arms have gotten so strong that plastic just snaps when I touch it, not because the toilet was so dirty I was thrusting my entire body weight into each brush stroke. Before calling it a night I listened to a Jillian Michael’s Podcast on my ipad. I just discovered her podcasts and can’t get enough of them. It will be a sad day when I’ve listened to them all and gotten caught up to date.

Yesterday, I worked as usual and had my workout at noon. It was a cardio day, which meant 30 minutes of steady state cardio with a few 7 second bursts of intense speed to get the heart rate up. There was nothing fun about it because I really hate cardio. I love lifting weights, but cardio is always a chore.

Here are some of yesterdays food pictures..

Breakfast Cookie and Coffee

Green Drink (Spinach, Almond Milk, Stevia and Cinnamon)

Protein Shake (I'm not sure why I didn't combine this with the green drink)

Lunch (Butternut Squash Fries and Egg Whites/Spinach/Mushrooms)

Supper was this again... (Brown Rice, Eggwhites, Veggies, Olive Oil, Epicure spices and Salt)

Before bed I had a Larabar, which was planned, and then things really went downhill. A wrap with butter, some (a lot) PB straight out of the jar, then I had some (a lot) almond butter right out of the jar. Wedding Dress, Wedding Dress, Wedding Dress. How many times can I remind myself? A million. That's how many.

Anyway, the Tupperware/Epicure party was really fun. It was fun because the guest list was so exclusive and high class. A few of my close girlfriends, my Mom, Grandma, my Sister and my nephew Tyson. Tyson might have actually liked the Tupperware more than anyone. Although.. none of us tried eating it so that might not be a fair assumption.

He has a very distinguished palate, it doesn't just stop at Tupperware. He's been known to like a good dishcloth from time to time as well.

I took some pictures of the clean condo castle, but unfortunately I didn't take any pictures of the actual party. My Man and I bought some new curtains a couple of weekends ago. Aren't they nice? My Man jokes that all the people backing on to our kitchen windows will now have to rely on the videos they've been making since i've finally shut them out. He thinks he's so funny.

Not in attendance at the Tupperware/Epicure party...

Crazy.

Happy Friday!!

Quotes & Stuff

2012-02-22T12:40:00.003-06:00

So last night was my Splurge night. If you don’t know what a splurge group is, it’s where you and 12 of your girlfriends get together once a month, pitch in 20 bucks to an imaginary pot and draw a winner. You can only win once and when you win the pot you’re supposed to SPLURGE on yourself. Since I was the first girl to win, it feels less like a splurge group and more like I'm being charged by my friends to hang out with them. You want to come to dinner with us? That’ll be 20 bucks. A movie? 20 bucks. And buy your ticket too.

Last night we went for dinner to the Fainting Goat and the experience was quite a bit different than the last time we were there when this was taking place in the parking lot...

As for my workout yesterday, it involved running stairs and burpees. There aren’t many things worse than burpees. Except for maybe falling down the stairs I was running up. That would suck. Especially sober.

Tonight is legs and abs and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't dreading it. I'd also be lying if I said I'd rather go to legs and abs than clean the women's and men's bathrooms here at work. Have you ever done a 100 lunges, squats, fire hydrants, step-ups, sumo squats, low walks, kick backs, romanian dead lifts and leg abductors? You would choose cleaning dirty toilets too. I'm hoping tonight isn't hundreds. I THINK it might be a circuit or fifties. Please. Be. Fifties.

After the gym tonight I'll be cleaning the condo castle and preparing for my Tupperware/Epicure party tomorrow night. That's right, I'm having a Tupperware party. I attended one of my girlfriend's parties a few weeks back and got sucked into hosting while playing an innocent game of Deal or No Deal. Okay, it wasn’t innocent. It was actually quite straight forward. If you said “deal” you got to open your envelope and take home your prize, but NOT before committing to hosting a party. And if you said “no deal”, you didn’t have to host, BUT you didn’t get a prize. Greediness always wins. When I opened my envelope and immediately saw "Spaghetti Holder" I felt duped and outraged. That Tupperware Lady mislead me, this is NOT a prize. Obviously my feelings must have registered on my face since she made an exception and said I could choose my own prize. Either that or she clued in when I yelled out, "I don't even eat spaghetti!!"

SO tomorrow night I earn my Cereal Set. I suppose I probably could have just taken the containers and never answered the woman’s phone calls, but that wouldn’t have been very nice. Plus after hearing her stories about Tupperware ladies driving trucks over FridgeSmart Containers in Florida I decided I didn’t really want to take my chances.

ANYWAY, I decided to make it an Epicure party too because most my friends already have enough Tupperware and well, because I need more Epicure. The Tupperware lady wasn’t very receptive to this, but she didn’t say NO. Instead she used scare tactics like, “neither parties will do well” and “that’s not typically allowed.” Since I don't care about earning Tupperware or Epicure I decided to go ahead with it. It should be interesting when she shows up and see’s the Epicure girl. I should have tossed in a Scentsy consultant in there too and really created some fireworks.

Let the BATTLE begin. At least this party should be nothing short of entertaining. Perhaps i'll invest in a ring or boxing gloves..

Before I go I wanted to share some of my favorite quotes off of pinterest. Some are unusually small and some are unusually big, but hey, I'm lazy.

Source: images.search.yahoo.com via Brittany on Pinterest

Source: sawdustcityllc.com via Brittany on Pinterest

Source: iwastesomuchtime.com via Brittany on Pinterest

Source: friendship-quotes.info via Brittany on Pinterest

Source: deviantart.com via Brittany on Pinterest

Source: songsungmeg.tumblr.com via Brittany on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Brittany on Pinterest

Source: brownpaper--packages.com via Brittany on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Brittany on Pinterest

Source: images.piccsy.com via Brittany on Pinterest

Source: msimondesign.blogspot.com via Brittany on Pinterest

Source: pinterest.com via Brittany on Pinterest

Happy Wednesday!!

Body for Life

2012-02-21T09:48:00.005-06:00

SO I’ve been all over the map lately with diet and exercise. In October my Man and I went to Phoenix and while I was there I decided to buy the Body for Life book. Why? Because I got it in my head that I really really really wanted muscles and that I really really really wanted them by my wedding. If you’re not familiar with the Body for Life book, it’s because it was popular in the 90’s and no one does it anymore. No really though. One night when we were out for supper in December my Man told his dad that I was on a diet and it was called Body for Life. His Dad's reaction was, “Ohhh I did that diet back in my 30’s. That's a good one.” I never thought the first and only thing that my Man’s Dad and I would have in common was a body building diet. For a number of reasons..

Anyway, it’s a 12 week diet and exercise program that promises fat loss and muscle gain and I did it for about 9 or 10 weeks before deciding I didn’t like my results or lack there of and enlisting the help of my now trainer. I definitely gained muscle while following the program, but I didn’t feel like it was changing my body in the way that I hoped it would or wanted, which may have had something to do with the fact that I wasn’t your typical “before” when I started and really had no where to go but UP. Basically I chose the wrong plan for the look I’m after. BASICALLY I was accidentally bodybuilding when I really just wanted to add a little lean muscle.

In January I started with my new trainer (the one who had informed me i'd been bodybuilding for 9 weeks) and from January until now I was following a new nutritional plan I’d made up myself by combining all the information I’d been reading in Oxygen magazine, online fitness websites, etc.. I was using protein shakes as snacks and eating protein in every meal while making sure I was eating every couple hours. I also became focused on whether or not I was eating enough calories to “grow muscles”. Still obviously reading more bodybuilding based information. Clearly confused.

In a recent conversation with my trainer she told me that I was eating more protein than I needed (double to be exact). Someone of my weight and height only needs 60 grams of protein a day and that excess protein is hard on your kidneys. Nothing resonates with me more than when you relate something to my health. For the first time since I got on this muscle building kick I realized that what I was doing wasn’t super healthy. Since I’m really NOT looking for a diet, but a lifestyle I decided to re-evaluate what I was doing. Because really, if the results I’m after are only maintainable by doing something unhealthy than they’re not the results I want. I also have to mention that I LOVE my trainers body and if she’s not downing protein like it’s going out of style, then maybe I don’t need to do it in order to get the arms I want.

Needless to say, I’ve come full circle. I’m going to go back to eating clean, eating for health and nutrients and eating whenever I’m hungry. All that being said, I wouldn’t change a THING about any of the stuff I've done because I’ve learned SO much. I’ve also sped up my metabolism and since January have also made some changes that I love. My trainer has changed the way I work out and I’ve pushed myself harder than I’ve ever pushed myself and I'm starting to see results.

SO now I just have to relax my diet, stop trying to eat as much protein as I can and have faith that I’ll still have muscular arms by my wedding and look like THIS.

Source: 3.bp.blogspot.com via Brittany on Pinterest

A girl can dream.

So, you wanna see some recent eats? Here are some of the things I ate yesterday minus a protein shake, scoop of PB and a glass of homemade chocolate milk. Everything should look familiar...

A Breakfast Cookie..

Butternut Squash Fries and Egg Whites & Mushrooms..

Larabar...

My FAVORITE supper EVER..

Brown Rice, Egg Whites, Mushrooms, Zucchini, Butter Olive Oil and Red Pepper Spices.

Lately, I've been OBSESSED with rice bowls. This week I think i'll try a Quinoa bowl too.

Happy Tuesday!!

UP to DATE

2012-02-15T13:17:00.005-06:00

80 days.

80 days until my wedding. Can you believe it? Of course you can because you haven't thought about it.

In 83 days I will be a WIFE. And I will have a husband. To me, there are very few things that sound stranger than this. Like, dead whales can spontaneously explode and that a toothpick is the object most often choked on by Americans. Quit eating toothpicks America.

Instead, do something useful with them. Build SHIPS.

Source: fubiz.net via Christopher on Pinterest

So on the wedding front.. The invites have slowly been trickling out. Slowly because finding 300 addresses is not an easy task. It’s also hard to find an address for people listed as Craig, Craig’s Wife, Craig’s Mom and Craig’s Dad. This is how my Man’s invite list looks. Craig doesn’t seem to have a last name and it would appear as though his family is even less fortunate and don’t have first names.

What else. So far I haven’t found wedding planning to be stressful and I feel so lucky to have such an amazing family, group of friends and almost husband. With their help and the help of some really good vendors, the wedding we’ll be everything I want right down to a room full of bright colored lights and a reeses peanut butter cup cake! All that and I don't have to make one thing or set anything up, which is for the best since a DIY wedding by me might look more like a frat party. Chips? Beer? Is my CD player loud enough?

My dress is also here and currently residing in my parent’s closet. To say it fits like a glove would be an inaccurate statement since I’ve never had a pair gloves cut off my circulation and forbid me to move. Either the dress needs to grow an inch in the bodice or I need to lose an inch. Since it doesn’t seem very receptive to favors I’d say I’m going to have to lose an inch. That’s the trouble with measuring and ordering your “perfect” size. My measurements didn’t account for sitting, drinking a glass of water, and although not extremely important, breathing. Let’s be real though, I’m just going to have it let out. Let that bodice OUT.

In other news, 3 weeks from now my girlfriends and I are going to AZ for 1 of my 2 stagettes (told you I was lucky). It’ll be like the Bachelor house only smaller and we won’t be fighting over floppy haired Ben from Sonoma.

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And if one of my friends start acting like Courtney she'll have to sleep outside. At someone else's house.

Lastly, for our honeymoon my Man and I are going to HAWAII. I can’t wait. We even decided that we’re going to try surfing. We came to that decision today after my Man made me google, “shark attacks in Hawaii”. I’m not sure what number would have been too many, but 115 since 1882 seems to be alright with him.

Source: google.com via Lori on Pinterest

Now I think i've brought you up to date on the wedding stuff. Tomorrow we'll talk fitness? Okay? Okay.

Is anyone even reading this? No? Okay.

Hello?

2012-02-10T14:32:00.002-06:00

How many times have I disappeared and then come back on this blog? Stopped calling, stopped writing, stopped visiting; Leave without saying goodbye or giving so much as a reason.

So. Many. Times.

I think it’s safe to say that if this blog were a male, he’d have left me by now. Perhaps I’d still receive the occasional drunk dial, but sober? Not a chance.
Good thing this is just a blog.

I’m back.

I decided mid-afternoon today that I missed blogging. So I logged on and here I am.

Source: Uploaded by user via Lisa on Pinterest

Sorry had I known I was going to come back today I would have done something with myself.

THINK of all the fun I can have now that pinterest has made it so easy to upload pictures legally. According to pinterest that little guy is Baby Enrique. I just love him. And if you don't, what's wrong with you?

If pinterest were a dating site I would be misleading you. That's right. In a I'm-70-years-old-but-posted-my-20-year-old-photo-of-myself-on-plentyoffish.com kind of way.

You would be under the impression that my home looks like this..

Source: theeleganthomeblog.com via Brittany on Pinterest

My hair looks like this..

Source: rebelbecauseyoucan.tumblr.com via Brittany on Pinterest

I serve nightly meals like this..

Source: twospoons.wordpress.com via Regan on Pinterest

Have a banging body like this..

Source: starqh.tumblr.com via Brittany on Pinterest

And tuck my imaginary kids into this every night..

Source: marligrace.blogspot.com via Brittany on Pinterest

Good thing i've already tricked my Man into being with me. Let's be honest though, that last room is nothing more than disappointment and slivers.

Certified First Aid & CPR... er

2011-10-05T11:40:00.013-06:00

So for the last couple of days my Man and I have been in First Aid and CPR training. That’s right. I’m officially a “first-aider”. That is until it expires in 2014. Mmm hmm. I could splint you up, wash your wounds and attempt to give you the Heimlich maneuver.

WE can save YOU

I can even use one of THESE..

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However, if you’re going to collapse in front of me it would be better to do it within the next few months while it’s fresh. Four years is a long time, two and I’m liable to shock you AND myself; in which case we’ll need TWO more first-aiders since now there are two unconscious victims laying on top each other.

The class was really fun, but mostly because I got to take it with my Man. We seemed to think giving each other splints, slings, pretend CPR and the Heimlich was pretty funny. Well I did anyway. I imagine the instructor wasn’t amused by my giggling the entire time he was “checking my body for injuries” or responsiveness. I also found it funny pretending to be serious and hollering, “get the AED” at him while I performed CPR on a naked half-bodied dummy. "FASTER, I'm going to lose him!! So what if he's already missing his bottom half and doesn't have arms!!"

Now before you can become an official “First-aider” you have to pass an open book test. My Man got 100 percent on his exam and I, well, I got a few wrong, which is strange since I was half copying him. And it was open book. Anyway, for starters, I said that if I were cutting an umbilical cord (if this is the case than I think you have bigger problems anyway) that I would cut it 10 to 15 cm meters away from the belly button. The RIGHT answer is 5 to 10. So it’s a little long? Big deal. I also tried to say that CPR restores partial flow of oxygenated blood to the heart and brain keeping the victim alive until EMS arrives (which is true) AND that it also prevents cardiac arrest and EVEN restarts the heart (not true). Turns out it does not prevent cardiac arrest since that person is already IN cardiac arrest. And, although it would be nice, it does NOT restart the heart. Other than that I can’t remember what else I got wrong. I know what you’re thinking, you hope I’m around if you ever go down don’t you?

One thing I noticed about the course was that with all the potential emergencies like diabetic emergency, heart attack, stroke, bone break due to osteoporosis, etc.. We not only talked about how to handle the situation but also prevention. And you know what prevention always came down to with these sorts of diseases and illnesses? DIET and EXERCISE. Clearly in some cases it can be hereditary, but in MOST cases these are your two best forms of prevention.

Other forms of prevention..

Impaled Objects: Stay away from flying objects.

Snakebites: Do not aggravate a snake.

Swallowed Poisons: Don’t drink cleaners.

Speaking of diet and exercise. Actually just diet. And more like, food. Friday night was my SPLURGE night and MEL'S bday celebration.

I don't know how many times I have to tell her, "you are not a wizard".

Since it was a sweat pant and no make-up kind of affair I only took pictures of the SPREAD, which was well stocked with lots of Mel's favorite things.

I hosted at my parents place, since the Condo Castle isn't as spacious. Well and because their house is beautiful.

Double Chocolate Single-Chin Brownies, which I frosted with vegan Cream Cheese icing from the Carrot Cake recipe. This is ANOTHER great recipe. And another recipe down in my quest to make the ENTIRE book.

Brie Cheese with Maple Syrup and crushed Walnuts..

Shrimp Ring

Salsa, Nacho Mmm Sauce and White Bean Guacamole..

And my new OBSESSION, Veggie Straws..

If you don't see this bag when you open your pantry I hope it's because you ate them all. Someone described them to me as crunchy McDonalds fries. Thankfully, unlike McDonalds fries, I don't plan on dipping these ones in mayo or "McChicken Sauce" as rotten ronnie's likes to call it. Sensible Portions did good. I think? I haven't actually checked the ingredient list. They're probably better than doritos though!

I also like the fact that a portion is 68 straws. That's my kind of serving size. I like to pretend that the entire bag is 68 straws. Just go with it.

Happy Wednesday!! Call me if you choke.

They Do

2011-09-29T10:15:00.011-06:00

The Wedding! So Saturday was Linds' big day...

She's the big girl, not the little one. We're in Canada, not Bangladesh. Who said that?

Here are a bunch of random pictures in a somewhat specific order. Somewhat was the best I could do. This one should go here, this one here, that one... Bored.

About half of these pictures are from my camera and the other half are from none other than LEX.

I know these next two pictures are practically the same. I only posted them because my eyes are shut in both. What are the odds? I swear I wasn't sleeping.

This next one might actually be the best picture of the whole night. See that shoe on the ground? It landed there after hitting the bouquet catcher in the head. Someone REALLY wants to get married.

How cute are they?

Spa Nights

2011-09-22T13:08:00.009-06:00

Ugh it's Friday and the last time I posted was Monday. It's been 3 days too many since my last post. Well WHAT can I tell you..

Monday night I watched The Playboy Club and fell in love with it. Although Playboy magazine isn't really my thing, nor is hedonism or Crystal Harris, I am fascinated by Hugh Hefner and the empire he created. I like people who do different things. Push the envelope. Through his magazine, playboy clubs, the bunnies and the mansion itself, in the early 60's Hefner offered a fantasy/lifestyle that went against society's fundamental morals. Talk about pushing the envelope, he threw it across the room. I like his style.

Anyway, The Playboy club is set in 60's Chicago and takes place during the beginning of it all. Mobsters, bunnies, hot shot lawyers, politics, secrets? Yes please. Watch. This. Show.

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This is how I look sitting at my desk too..

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WHAT else.

Wednesday was a Bridal Party Spa Night. Photography courtesy of Lex. She just got a fancy new camera, but it looks like she's been taking professional pictures forever.

The Spa Night was hosted by the Beautiful Bride..

And future Mrs. S..

I'm one of her bridesmaids, remember? Of course you don't. Anyway, she spoiled us with lots of treats..

And gifts..

I can't WAIT for tomorrow, which is the actual wedding day. Judging by Lindsay's good taste, event planning skills and eye for detail, her wedding is going to be over the top phenomenal. Phenomenal, ALWAYS such a hard word for me to spell.

Speaking of weddings, yesterday I stumbled across this article,Why So Many Of Us Marry The Wrong Person. And WHAT a good article it was. I don't know about you, but I'm always hearing about people getting divorced and I always wonder why. Which one ended it? Who cheated? Who thought the grass was greener? Which neighbor called the police? Who gets the kids? Okay, I don't really know any couple friends with kids but if I did, who gets the kids?

According to this article a large chunk of women KNOW they're marrying the wrong person on their wedding day and these are the top 5 most cited reasons why they do it..

1. We've dated for so long I don't want to waste all the time we have invested in the relationship.

2. I don't want to be alone.

3. He'll change after we get married.

4. It is too late, too embarrassing and/or too expensive to call off the wedding.

5. He is a really nice guy; I don't want to hurt his feelings.

6. I am stupid.

Okay, I added that last one myself. Thankfully, I'm not expecting any changes after marriage. I hope he's not either. I'm never going to do the laundry or steadily pick up after myself. Or wash my hands before touching the cupboards. Maybe I should make that clear incase he's banking on that? Anyway, the moral of this story is calling off a wedding might be embarrassing and expensive, but divorce is embarrassing and expensive. The priest is a priest not a magician. You might not be able to get a refund on your past investments, but you can quit adding to your debt. If you don't want to be alone, buy a dog.

Or buy one even if you accidentally went through with the marriage, they'll give you a whole new set of problems and you'll forget about the rest.

And before I go, this post is lacking FOOD.

TGIF.

What Weekend

2011-09-19T10:28:00.009-06:00

This past weekend FLEW by. If you told me it never happened I would believe you. Unless I saw these pictures, then I'd know you're lying.

SATURDAY

My Man and I attended the wedding of this beautiful couple.

The dinner, decor, music, candy bar, speeches, slide show, did I say candy bar? Were all outstanding. Everything was perfect, right down to the tiny little details. The tiny details that I'm sure to forget and overlook when it comes to my wedding. I needed music?

Can't WAIT to make him my husband..

SUNDAY

My Mom and I hosted a baby shower, "Tyson's First Bash", for my Sister and this little guy.....

If you don't want to pinch those cheeks, what's wrong with you?

I took full advantage of this opportunity and made MOST of the appetizers/baking out of the Peas and Thank You cookbook. Remember when I told you that I'm obsessed with making people eat the food I make and then hope that they'll tell me how good it is? Well I was in my glory. The food was a HIT, like "can I get the recipe?" kind of hit. Here's what I made.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls

Vegan Sugar Cookie Cutouts

Vegan Carrot Cake Bars with "Cream Cheese" Icing

I made them as mini cupcakes instead..

Peanut Butter Blondie with Chocolate Ganache

White Bean Guacamole

It's like Where's Waldo, only look for the bowl of green.

I did pretty good if I do say so myself.

Once everyone left the boys were allowed back in the house and we had our usual Sunday Family Supper.

The happy family..

And my Man, watching football while awkwardly holding the baby for what I'm pretty sure is the first time.

He looks good with a baby, no?

Iron Woman

2011-09-16T08:22:00.005-06:00

Another day, another reciPEA. Yesterday for breakfast I had a Baked Oatmeal Square and topped it with some raw almond butter. I made mine sans dried cranberries though. I didn't have any. What?

I liked this oatmeal square. I liked it alot. It's quick, thick, dense and filling. Just the way I like my food. In the cookbook it says the whole batch makes 9 squares, but I cut mine into 8. The recipe is SO simple and I must say, one thing i'm loving about all these recipes is the left overs. Now I have 7 (well 6, I had one this morning too) more breakfasts ready in the fridge!

Also from the fridge, yesterdays lunch..

I ate the LAST Black Bean Burger with a side of Butternut Squash Fries..

After slaving away from 8-5 I headed to a doctors appointment straight from work. Although I'm not actually a Vegetarian or Vegan (I occasionally eat), I eat a mainly Vegan diet and so I'm PROBABLY lacking in the iron department. My Mom's brought this to my attention on nurmerous occasions, but apparently this last time I decided to take her seriously. Fifteenth times the charm.

ANYWAY, the doctor sent me for some bloodwork but said that I should definitely be on an Iron supplement, as well as a prenatal supplement. Apparently any female of child bearing age should be on one since it's the most well rounded multi-vitamin. I can't wait to leave a bottle of these lying around the house without explanation. The doctor went on to say that a lack of Iron can cause stress, loss of hair and PALE SKIN.

You know who's not lacking iron?

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However, she might want to see the doctor for other reasons.

Okay so, no Iron = pale skin, thin hair and stress...

"So what you're trying to say is, Iron makes you pretty?"

"And nice?"

Pass me some Iron.

After picking up some new vitamins, cleaning the kitchen and eating supper, I spent the rest of the night watching the season Premiere of Vampire Diaries.

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Ohhh what I'd pay to be in the middle of that sandwich.

Before calling it a night I needed to eat ONE more time. Lately I've been having a banana with almond butter before bed, but last night the new bananas were looking a little too green for my liking. SO I figured it was a good time to force myself into having something NEW, something high protein maybe. The words, "warm protein pudding" sounded appealing so I googled it. That's when I found an exciting new blog to read AND a recipe for Warm Peanut-Pumpkin Protein Pudding. SOLD.

I made it wrong since I didn't have any vanilla protein powder. Well and because I glanced at the recipe, went downstairs for something else and then decided to just make it right then and there. Off memory. SO a 1/4 cup of milk turned into 1/2 a cup. What ya going to do. Lazy gets, what lazy deserves.. runny warm peanut-pumpkin protein pudding. Not bad though, not bad at all.

Happy FRIDAY!!!

Black Bean Burgers and Lies

2011-09-14T08:31:00.002-06:00

A lie is a type of deception in the form of an untruthful statement, especially with intent to deceive others. A LIAR is a person who is lying, who has previously lied, or who tends by nature to lie repeatedly-even when not necessary.

I am liar. Not one of those liar by nature types though, I only lie when necessary. I’d like to think of myself as a white or noble liar. A noble lie is often told to maintain law, order and safety. A white lie is a lie told by a Caucasian person. Did you think I was serious? I hope so. A white lie is a minor lie which could be considered to be harmless, or even beneficial, in the long term. A common version of a white lie is to tell only part of the truth.

That’s what I did yesterday. I only told part of the truth. A half lie. See on Sunday when my Man was out of town I made a batch of Peas and Thank You Black Bean Burgers, as well as, a batch of Thai Chickpea Burgers. Now I made these burgers with intention to eat them all myself. However, I have this odd obsession with wanting other people to eat my food and then tell me how good it is. SO I told my Man about the burgers. Actually I sold my Man the burgers. I told him how great they are, how healthy they are, how red meat causes cancer and steals fiancés, etc.. By the time I was finished selling them, as if my livelihood depended on it, he caved. He would eat a BLACK BEAN BURGER.

Shit. I hadn’t thought that far ahead. He can’t try a Black Bean Burger because the Black Bean Burgers are made with chopped mushrooms. My Man HATES mushrooms. Actually, he loathes them. He will NOT eat them and if you try to convince him, “to just try one” or say “you won’t even know they’re in there”, it is sure to escalate into a fight. A FIGHT. If there’s a mushroom in and around, or touching something he will NOT eat it.

I quickly refocused and began to try and sell him the Thai Chickpea Burger. Nope. Apparently chickpeas are too “weird” and he wasn’t “ready” for those. He wanted the Black Bean Burger. The excitement of the fact that he was going to eat something I made and then tell me how good it was (hopefully), AND that it was vegetarian no less, was just too great. Selfishly I decided right then and there, I’d lie.

“So what’s all in the black bean burger?”

“Ohhh black beans, soy sauce, nutritional yeast.. umm.. garlic, oat flour, tahini.. that’s about it really.”

As I stared at the least-mushroom-looking-burger I was cooking I started to panic. What if he sees the mushrooms? What will I say? I can’t say they’re mushrooms. He won’t think that’s funny. He might be mad. What if he sees one mid-burger? That will be a waste. And awkward. This was a bad idea. Whose idea was this?!

Now here’s the thing with lies, once you get caught up in one there’s no turning back. There are only two options. One, you can out yourself. Tell them the truth before it goes too far. Or two, hope that the lie goes undiscovered, in which case, you win. You’re an amazing cook, a burger connoisseur, an innovative chef. I’ll take option two.

One Black Bean Burger coming right up.

He LOVED it. Well those weren’t his exact words. He said, “this is actually really good”. I KNOW he loved it though because he had another one for supper and he NEVER has the same thing for lunch and supper. Even when I try to convince him otherwise, “let’s get pitas again. Come on! Didn’t you like yours?”

I liked mine too.

And guess what? You're in luck because you can find the recipe here. Or maybe i'm lying.

Cookbook Love

2011-09-13T08:21:00.005-06:00

I'm in love with this cookbook.

I really am. I feel like it should be called Vegan Family Cooking for Dummies. There isn't one recipe in the entire cookbook that I don't want to try. Everything looks good and it's probably because the majority of recipes are things that everyone already knows and loves. Burgers? French Toast? Carrot Cake? Spaghetti and "Meatballs"? Pancakes? Sugar Cookies?

Speaking of, remember when I said I was considering trying out all the recipes in the cookbook EXCEPT the desserts? Well I take that back. With my Sister's baby shower coming up this weekend and splurge night/Mel's birthday two weeks later I'm going to have plenty of opportunity to try out the baking.

In fact, I already started this past weekend... Cut Out Sugar Cookies!!

Thank God I'm getting married next year, I think a new mixer might be on the top of my wedding registry. Now don't get me wrong, there's something nostalgic about this ancient, perma-dirty, bent beater, dough tossing mixer, but I swear it's dangerous. It's one cookie recipe away from sending a beater flying.

If it were a car it'd be a 1980 cutlass. I need a kitchenaid. The 2011 porsche of the mixing world.

In pink.

Until then..

Mixers aside. This dough surprisingly came out of THAT mess..

Afterwards, I tossed the vegan sugar cookie dough in the fridge. You'll have to wait until Monday to see the final product. And ALL the other Peas and Thank You baking i've done for the shower. Some aesthetically pleasing, some a little off. I'm a rookie.

SO for lunch yesterday I tried my hand at ANOTHER recipe. Thai Veggie Burgers. If I didn't think there was some sort of copyright law i'd be violating, I would post this recipe and tell you to make it. I can however, tell you to buy the cookbook and make it. Or take a paper and pencil to the bookstore.

The base of this burger is chickpeas. It also called for broccoli slaw and since I didn't use the whole bag I decided to serve it up on the rest of it. I also added a layer of carrot puree, which was also left over from some of the baking. Would I recommend eating it like this? No. Eat it on a bun (or lettuce bun) with a side of butternut squash fries.

Wanna see what I had for Suppa? Okay. If you insist.

Ezekiel Wrap, BBQ Sauce, Mushrooms, Mushroom Veggie Burger (store bought, I was tapped out on the whole "make it yourself" for the day) served with a big'ol side of ranch.

So I still haven't totally come up with ALL the details of my challenge, but part of it is that I'm going to make EVERY recipe out of this cookbook. No matter how long it takes. EVERY one.

What else...

That is all.

Heeeeey

2011-09-09T15:20:00.006-06:00

So summer is basically over and now i've got the post summer itch. What is that? I don't know, I made it up. I made it up for good reason though. I need something to explain this itching for something new. I'm not BORED exactly, but lets just say the never ending dinners out, summer plans, stagettes, BIRTHS, etc.. are over. When I look forward I see, well two weddings, a baby shower and splurge night, but just humour here and pretend I see nothing. SO I need to spice things up a little around here. I need to start cooking again, start trying new recipes, start decorating for fall, START expanding my horizons. That's right. Expand these horizons.

So I figure what better way to expand horizons than to come up with some sort of challenge. I haven't decided exactly what sort of challenge this is going to be since, lets be honest, I'm not sure what I'm ready to commit to here, BUT I have a feeling that it will have something to do with this...

The other night I was browsing around Superstore when I came across one of my favorite blogger's cookbooks. Clearly I had to have it. Mostly because I love the praise I get everytime I make one her cookie recipes or desserts. I like attention.

Anyway, as I perused through the pages of endless dessert, breakfast, lunch and supper recipes I realized something. Ever since I stopped blogging about food my cooking has really gone downhill. Like REALLY downhill. It actually ran downhill and then hid somewhere. I can't remember the last time I followed a recipe for anything other than cookies. I kind of miss the excitement of trying new things. However, I also have to take into account that part of the fun of trying new things was sharing it on here. Like I said, I like attention. Plus I can't put in work without some kind of reward. This is my reward. Talking about the food and telling the stories.

ALL that being said. There's a challenge somewhere in there and I'm going to find it. Maybe it's making one recipe out the book everyday until it's done. I'm not talking about the desserts though. Let's be real. I don't want to balloon out on this challenge. And I only said MAYBE.

This challenge also needs to involve this..

Because what's a challenge without something physical? A not challenge, that's what.

And lastly, I think it might include this...

No not the dog. The condo castle. You all KNOW I don't clean or decorate well for holidays. Maybe the time has come. It's time for a challenge.

Ready? Break. Be back later with details.

Best Summer Ever

2011-08-31T09:10:00.010-06:00

WHERE to start? I can’t believe tomorrow is September 1st. I feel like the last time I was paying attention to the date was somewhere near the beginning of June. SO much fun stuff has happened.

For starters, my Sister had her BABY!

I signed up at hautelook.com and next thing you know 1000 of my hard earned dollars went missing. Coincidence? Yes, as IF I spent 1000 dollars online shopping.

Just like last year I walked the runway for H&B’s fall launch. There’s also a video I could link here but I don’t think we need to go into THAT much detail.

Took a self portrait hoping to copy the makeup. Possible? Not likely.

August was the month of Showers and Stagette’s...

Lindsay's (SO excited to be one of her Bridesmaids)..

And Carly's...

And Birthdays..

My Man turned 28!!!! (I think)

I made him the BEST Chocolatey Peanut Buttery dessert, which I found HERE. Make. This. NOW. My Man said it might be the best dessert he's ever had. Then he went on to say, "you know what you should do? Print all the recipes you find on blogs and put them in a book." This was that good.

I didn't have any wrapping for his present so I compromised. He liked it.

What else? My hair is still brown. And I don’t know how I feel about. Keep in mind I only put pictures on here that I look good in. There are some questionable facebook pictures where either my brown hair is making me look ugly OR my lack of tan. It's a toss up. UNTAG.

Oh ya and I’ve barely planned or booked one thing for my wedding.

I think you’re up to speed?

Hello?

2011-08-24T16:47:00.001-06:00

I'm coming back!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh hiiiii!

2011-06-01T08:33:00.007-06:00

It's about DAMN time...

Not that I started blogging again, for a SHARK movie. I've only been waiting since 1999 for a new one. That's 12 years. I didn't even realize I was old enough to say I've been waiting for something for 12 years. However, I suppose i've been waiting for boobs for 25.

So last night I spent my evening baking cookies and watching The Real Housewives of New York City. My Man has been in Saskatoon for work and I MISS him (it's only been two days but STILL), so I decided to make him PEANUT BUTTER DOUGH BALLS. It's okay, you can judge me.

Now I was GOING to wait and surprise him with them when he got home but clearly i'm too impatient for that and instead sent him a BBM picture. SO proud I was. So proud.

I didn't want to have to cook them in TWO batches, so instead I squished them all on to one pan. This is exactly the reason why I will never be a really good cook. No patience. No attention to detail. What? There are siamese cookies on that pan? Noooo. They are perfect.

That's a poor use of container space right there.

Today I need to fill out this "2011 Census" that's been sitting on my kitchen table for weeks. I really like the part where it says, "Complete the Census - it's the law." I was going to take my chances with the law until my Dad found I hadn't done it and told me I had to. Seriously though, how are they planning on inforcing that law? What's going to happen to the non-census filler outters? A fine? Jail?

"What are you in here for?"

"I lit my neighbors house on fire. He was in it. You?"

"Didn't fill out the 2011 Census."

Speaking of census i've come to the concensus, well it's not really a concensus since i'm the only participant, BUT this is the ONLY good stevia. The only one. I haven't been able to get my hands on it for a month and after dabbling in other stevias I now know this is the ONLY stevia for me.

Shwarzenegger might want to take a page out of my book and try that line on Maria. "After dabbling in foreign Nannys and having other babies I now KNOW that you and OUR kids are the ONLY one for me."

Before I go here are a few pictures from a girls night out on Saturday..

Like my new purse? Me too.

Chocolate CHIP Cookies

2011-05-17T08:24:00.006-06:00

Morning!!

Sunday, in between going for a walk with me, tanning and taking me for tea, my Sister baked a batch of her famous Chocolate Chip Cookies for my "work birthday". I'm spoiled. These things were definitely the highlight of my Monday. They're just so versatile.

Enjoyed alone...

With coffee..

While hovering right over the bag..

She's the best.

I'll get the recipe ASAP and then you have to make them. If you make them and don't love them I'll give you your time back. That's right. Your time.

So last night my Man and I had a date night. I cooked us supper which I haven't done in FOREVER. I was excited to remind him how good of a cook I am. So while he was at the gym I got busy steaming, grilling, taste tasting, etc.. Since i've never quite mastered the art of timing everything was finished cooking and sitting on the plates 15 minutes before he got home. Enough time to do a little photo shoot.

I have to warn you about these next pictures. Looking at them one after another may make you motion sickness. My photography skills lack symmetry. And talent.

On the menu, COLD sweet potato, chicken skewers, shrimp/scallop skewers, corn on the cob and soggy asparagus. Top chef material for sure.

I tried to keep things fancy by putting the food that didn't fit on my Man's place on a plate in the middle.

Afterwards we watched No Strings Attached. I give this movie FOUR peanut butter covered thumbs up. It was SO cute and funny.

Rent it!

Work hard today folks. Work hard.

.25 cents

2011-05-16T08:34:00.009-06:00

Monday Monday Monday Monday... I figured if I typed Monday enough times I would think of something nice to say about it. Nope. Monday's suck. I googled Monday and here's what I learned about Monday's, "it's the day between Sunday and Tuesday". Mind BLOWING.

So this past weekend I turned 25. If I were money I would be worth a quarter. Or one large bubblegum. Or a handful of reeses pieces depending on how you look at it/spend your money. I'm considering moving to China since I'd be more like 1.68 yuans. Or then I'd at least be one cookie from Cookies By George. More bang for this buck.

My birthday festivities started on Friday when my Grandma took me out for lunch to Moxies, my fav. Then Saturday was my pretend birthday since Sundays can only be so fun. I could barely sleep Friday night. I may be 25 on the outside but I'll forever be 6 on the inside. I woke my Man up like it was Christmas morning at 8 am. We kicked off my bday celebration with a wonderful breakfast together....

Source

Reese's Puffs. Sooooo fancy. SO perfect.

Afterwards I headed to help one of my girlfriends (and Bridesmaid) register at the Bay for her upcoming wedding and then she treated me to lunch!

The rest of the day was spent with THIS guy..

He took me present shopping.. to Cookies By George (I had 3 by the time we left the mall)... out for dinner... annnnd... then to DQ....

Sunday (my real birthday) I woke up (well, FULL.. for starters) and watched Easy A with my Man. Once the afternoon rolled around I decided to take Bailey for a walk, however, I was missing something rather important. Her leash. After searching the house high and low I decided someone stole it and gave up. Still wanting to take her for a walk I picked her up and headed out. I carried her. I carried her all the way to my sister's house. I took my dog for a carry.

In other news..

I'm currently reading Keith Richards book, Life..

Source

And loving Bethenny Ever After...

Source

And Dance Scene..

Source

Happy day between Sunday and Tuesday!!

MIA

2011-05-13T15:02:00.002-06:00

I've been MIA. It's true.

What have I been doing? I don't know.

Making my wedding avatar..

Which looks nothing like me..

I'll be back on Monday and when I am i'll be 25!!!! Sunday is my quarter century BIRTHDAY. Write that down. I plan on going for as many suppers/lunches as I can this weekend. If i'm not still full Monday morning I'll have failed.

Happy Weekend!!

Taste of Mint Sorbet

2011-05-04T08:27:00.006-06:00

What to talk about? How about the comment that "Gord" left me while I was gone. Gord is passionate about the seals..

"IF you're going to be against something be against it because your educated not because they're cute or you disagree with someone Else's culture the seal population as of today is in no danger The DFO set kill quotas of 270,000 seals in 2007, 275,000 in 2008, 280,000 in 2009, and 330,000 in 2010.[2] The actual kills in recent years have been less than the quotas: 82,800 in 2007, 217,800 in 2008, 72,400 in 2009, and 67,000 in 2010.[3] In 2007, Norway claimed that 29,000 harp seals were killed in its seal hunt, and Russia and Greenland claimed that 5,476 and 90,000 seals were killed in 2007, respectively. Harp seal populations in the northwest Atlantic declined to approximately 2 million in the late 1960s as a result of Canada's annual kill rates that averaged over 291,000 from 1952 to 1970.[4] Conservationists demanded reduced rates of killing and stronger regulations to avert the extinction of the harp seals. In response, in 1971, the Canadian government instituted a quota system, though penalties are not imposed for exceeding the quota. A 2007 population survey conducted by the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) estimated the current population at 5.5 million (95% CI 3.8 million - 7.1 million)."

Who says I have to be educated to be against something? And who says it can't be strictly because they're cute and I feel bad for how and why they're being killed? Gord. That's who. So many rules Gord. So. Many. Rules.

So Saturday night I went to Taste of Spring with a few of my girlfriends. For those of you who don't know, Taste of Spring offers attendees the opportunity to sip, sample and taste some of the best wines, spirits, hard alcohol and food from around the city. True to self I gulped, guzzled and chugged concentrating solely on the booze rather than the food. You can imagine how my night turned out. Don't though.

Here are a few/a billion pictures from Saturday night...

These next two pictures won't do my nail polish justice but I swear to you it's nice. Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Colour in Mint Sorbet. Buy it. Paint your nails. If you don't like it? You didn't hear it from me.

CLEARLY I had to use my ring hand. Come on now. I lack both moderation AND shame.

Happy Wednesday!! It is Wednesday, right?

Cabo Wabo

2011-05-03T08:13:00.007-06:00

I'm Back!!

PS

2011-04-20T09:02:00.001-06:00

I wonder how many people will judge me by my beach reads..

Meh they'll probably be accurate.