H-A-double L - O-W-double E-N spells HALLOWEEN....

I LOVE. LOVE. LOVE Halloween.

Every year I worry "am I too old to dress up??" 

Every year the answer is "HECK NO!"

I am slacking this year. 

I usually have my costume in the works by this time. 

I generally have pumkins carved...or plans to do so.

So...time to dig up some inspiration for the pumpkin season.

I've thought being a zebra would be fun. 

Like this...maybe a little less um, sexy.  But I love the tutu.

Audrey Hepbur as "Holly Golightly" would be fun...

And I somehow guess that Grace is NOT going to be down with this...

And Wembley would probably (totally) bite me for this...

New Favorite Song.

JJ Heller, Your Hands

 

I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn’t there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That you would take my pain away
You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crooked lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands

When you walked upon the earth
You healed the broken, lost and hurt
I know you hate to see me cry
One day you will set all things right
Yeah, one day you will set all things right

When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands

Your hands that shaped the world
Are holding me
They hold me still

 

Hope.

Hope 

Emily Dickinson     

 

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

A few of my favorite things...to eat.

Recently I had been asked for a few of my favorite recipes, so I figured why not blog them?  So here are a few of my go-tos in the kitchen.  In no particular order. 

Mom's Chicken Soup: 

• 1/2 package Grandma's Egg Noodles (frozen section)
• 2 cans of the 49oz Chicken Broth (or "stock")
• 2 large carrots (dice 3/4 of these - save 1/4 one!)
• 2 stalks for celery
• 1/4 cup chopped white onion
• 3 green onions, sliced
• 1 chicken breast, sliced & diced small
• 3 Bullion cubes (or 3tspn of bullion powder)

*In a large pot, add 3 tablespoons EVOO and chicken peices.  Cook on medium until chicken is no longer pink and is easy to cut with a plastic cooking spoon.  (if you prefer more "peppery" taste - pepper and salt your chicken at this time)

*Add the cans of chicken stock and bullion, diced carrots, celery, and both onions.  

*Shred the remaining 1/4 carrot (use a cheese grater if you don't have a food processor) into the pot. 

*Salt and Pepper to taste. 

*Cook until carrots are just a little softer than normal - about 5-8 min on medium.

*Take Gma's noodles - slit the bag in various places and microwave per directions.  Seperate 1/2 of the noodles out - if you like it REALLY noodley - use all - but these babies get HUGE.  (saran wrap the 1/2 noodles, put in freezer bag and re-freeze for next time!)

*Separate each noodle as best you can and add to the pot.  

*Cook for 12-18 min, or per the directions on the noodle package :) 

ENJOY.

_____________________________________________________________________

Redneck Casserole

• 1 pound ground lean beef (or turkey burger)
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 6 Velveta cheese singles (yes, like what you use for grilled cheese!)
• 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/2-2/3 bag frozen tator tots
• 1/4 cup chopped white onion

 * Brown meat and chopped onion over medium heat - you can add minced dehydrated garlic, salt and pepper as well as some Cajun seasoning for some pizazz - I recommend all of the above or this can be pretty bland :) 

*Bake tator tots per direction on the package

*Spray baking pan (9x13) with EVOO or the like

*Lay 2/3 of the tots in the bottom of the pan

*Cover tots with burger mix

*Spread can of mushroom soup over meat layer, top with the 6 cheese slices

*Add remaining tots to the top and sprinkle with cheddar cheese. 

Bake @ 425 for aprx. 20 min and Waaa-La...YUM. 

____________________________________________________________________

Butterscotch Rice Krispies

• 1/2 bag large marshmallows
• 2 tablespoons vanilla
• 2 tablespoons butter (or the like)
• Box of rice krispies 
• 1/2 bag butterscotch chips

*Over medium heat, combine marshmallows, butter and vanilla in a large pot.  Stir constantly until marshmallows become creamy.

*Remove from heat. Mix in rice krispies 2 cups at a time until there is enough cereal to cover most of the mallow creme. 

*Mix in butterscotch chips to your liking - 1/4-1/2 a bag is PLENTY

*Pour into a SPRAYED 10x10 pan

*Spray a large spatula and press the treats flat. 

*Let cool - NOT in the fridge - this will make them hard :) 

Cut 'em up and try not to eat the whole pan at once

Home. With a View.

I love summer...even though I work my ass rear off through most of it. 

*

I love beers on a patio.  I prefer my own. 

I love that the bulbs I planted last fall are now these giant leafy items in my yard. 

And that this rose was a winter-worn shrub not 4 months ago. 

And that occasionally I get to live vicariously through "the nephews" while they slip and slide like champions. 

 

Being from Wyoming, I REALLY love that I can have a wind chime.  That doesn't break.  That is actually soothing. 

 

* OFFICE ... WITH A VIEW *

 I see pretty neat things throughout the day --

Like this rooster with "bloomers" (ie: feathered feet)

 And in the top left corner...that's a turkey.  Named "Thanksgiving".  Poor guy.

 I see dogs like this one.  Her name is Maggie.  Her owner told me she might bark, but she looked more dead than anything.  Oh, did I mention she's 13?  What a way to treat your aging companion, folks. 

 I made friends with this miniature donkey.  He would bray anytime I went too far.  And quiet down when I got closer.  I wanted to take him home.  He is about the size of a large dog. 

 This woman was the cutest thing, albeit a tad out there.  When asked about this hole in her roof she replied, "Oh, yeah, that might be from the squirrels...we cut them out a house in our soffits."  Wow.

 The same lady's husband (must to her dismay as I gathered) turned both of their garage stalls into a bird habitat.  He had 5 African Greys and a few others...only about 15.  At least they called me pretty when I walked by.

And when I am really lucky, I get to chase rainbows down the reservoir during a rainstorm.

 And work with a view like this......

And I even witness wanna-be super heroes on their way to the save the day...

And when I am lucky enough to catch some time in the office to chase the paper trail, I sometimes get to see this little desk lizard that I love. 

Must have attire. For me, at least.

 

 

New Meaning of Tired.

I am tired.   Like seriously.  

Could fall asleep at any given time of the day tired.  

I have worked 132 hours.  In the last 11 days. 

It's been hot.  Like 90-103* hot.  And humid.  And Sticky.

I get 8-9 hours of sleep at the end of the day.  It's not enough.

I weigh less at the end of the day than I did at the start of the day.  

I sweat.  

I haven't gone to the gym in 10 days.  That's 9 days missed that I don't usually have.

I signed up for this.  I must be a work-masochist. 

I still love my job.  I still like (most) my homeowners.  

My house did not sustain any damage.  I would not mind a new roof and some paint.

5 more days to go.  I can do this.  

I think I can do this. 

Guess this 6am gym pays off?

I went home this weekend.  And if you've ever spent the night at my mama's, you know that sleeping in is a non occurrence.  So we got there at 8 Thursday, were in bed by 11 and by 5am, I was in the car with my mom on the way to her Cross Fit gym.   By 515, we were in the parking lot (class started at 530) with my sisters, Jewlz and Becks, drinking coffee and waking up.  At 530 we were running.  And those ladies had the NERVE to make fun of the way that I "prance" instead of run.  Can you believe that?  Humph.  I made Beckers run with me (it was only .25 mi!) and she said that she doesn't even sprint at that speed.  

On to the WOD (workout of the day) - overhead squats.  Thank you, Bilal for being an awesome trainer...I was able to do the workout and kick those ladies rears ;)  We finished up with a mile run around the "loop" which includes a hill.  And we were home lounging by 630.  

Thanks, Mountain Fit, for letting me take the class for free.  And it was sure nice to know that my workouts have paid off and I can hang when thrown into a new workout routine :) 

Wish I had my mom and sisters with me for the WOD every morning!

Who Knew? Whonu!!

I love  cookies.  I realllly love Oreo cookies.  One time, I ate an entire bag with my college roommate...I don't think she had more than half of a row, while I ate the other 2.5.  In just a few hours.  And although, I would like to feign regret or embarrassment, I simply cannot.  I love cookies.  And I really love Oreos.  

SO.  Whilst shopping last week when I stumbled on a "WhoNu Nutritional Cookie" - that looked like an Oreo?  I had to buy them.  And damn if I am not glad that I did :)  YUM.  

And apparenlty they have other flavors...so I will be looking for this as well.  MMMM MMMM good.

New Favorite!

Calling all salsa lovers!  While cruising the vendors at the Taste of Fort Collins, I stumbled across a sample of this amazing salsa.

 

I didn't buy it at the fair...so when I saw it while at King Soopers, I knew it was destiny.  Sure, $5.00 for a jar of salsa is a bit extreme (hey, I am "economical"! ...never "cheap"!) but it is oh, so worth it. 

If you love salsa and want to give a local Fort Collins salsa a whirl, you can shop here: 

http://www.gilbertosgourmetgoodness.com/index.php?option=com_rokquickcart&view=rokquickcart&Itemid=73

Happy eating :)

Killer Legs...The Workout

Yesterday was leg day - so my friend Erin and I ran through the Bilal Templeton leg session.  It doesn't feel like much while you do it, but about 20 hours later....I want to die.

Part 1:
Squats with 30lb bar + 20lb on each side. Rep until you can't squat in good form & rack it.

Leg Press - 50 lbs - Rep both legs until they burn.  Unilateral (just one foot) until you lose good form - switch to other leg.

*Repeat 3x each.

Part 2:

Calves - Same bar/lbs as the squats - put 2 barbell weights stacked on the floor - one leg at a time, with bar square across your shoulders, rep calf raises until you can't, switch legs.

Hang Clean -   Hard to describe ....See the photo below...  30lb bar, rep 3x interchanging with calves - rep until you can't keep proper form & rack it.

Part3. Attempt to walk the next day :) Remember to stretch it out! You WILL be sore!!! 

Sunshine and the Gym.

It's been nice lately.  Well, not today...today it is raining straight puddles and very dreary.  But, generally it has been nice.  Which means that going to the gym has been painfully hard.  Add to that - we are building a deck on the back of our home and it is taking a lot of time and energy...so do you think I have made it to the club 3x a week like I had been? HA.  No.  I have been 1x each week for the last 2 weeks.  Trying to get better about that, but the damn sunshine just makes me want to drink beer and eat nachos on a patio in Old Town.  However, Monday I had a new break through in the running arena.  I ran 1/3 of a mile at a 7:35 mi/min pace.  That was a record.  But the REAL record was the fact that I didn't stop at 1/3 of a mile becuase I was dying; I stopped because I thought I should.  This mental thing seems to be more of a hurdle than my physical ability.  Turns out, I could be a "runner" after all...short legs and everything.  So...here is to hoping that I can keep it up...and do so more than 1x a week through the dog days of summer.

MOTIVATION. 

Latest Faves in The Kitchen!

I used to LOVE to cook.  Now, it is more like a chore most days.  I like to eat...so I need to learn to love to cook again.  Avoiding eating out is pretty important to me these days...and so far, well, I suck.

So this last week I made a few things that were new...and they were a success!





First off, I made honey glazed chicken.  This is a crockpot deal, which ROCKS.  Put it on about lunchtime and it was ready in 4.5 hours for dinner.  All I did was add some potatoes and corn side dishes and dinner was served.  Chicken fell apart when you stuck a fork in it and the flavor was oh, so good.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/8 cup low sodium soy sauce
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup bbq sauce
3 chicken breasts
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Pepper & Salt

Directions:

Place the chicken in the crockpot. Stir the remaining ingredients together in a bowl, then pour over the chicken. Cook on low 6-8 hours or on high 4-6 hours.

For freezing: Place all ingredients int a 1-gallon freezer bag. Lay flat in freezer. To thaw: Take the bag out of the freezer the night before, making sure the frezer bag is completely sealed. Dump contents in the crockpot and follow the directions above. 

Thanks to http://stephaniecooks.blogspot.com/  for this one! 

Next up was the oven "fried" pork chops.  These came straight out of the cookbook my mama gave me when I was 19 and moved into my 1st apartment.  

The process was simple, the ingredients I actually had in the cupboard and I had just thawed pork chops.  So it all seemed to work out well :)  I don't even like pork a whole lot....but these were very good!  And only took about 30min.  (I used fatty chops, so it was a little longer to cook than the recipe stated)  And...I halved this recipe and it worked out really well. 

Ingredients

1    egg
2  tablespoons  fat-free milk
1  cup  packaged corn bread stuffing mix
4    pork loin chops, cut 1/2 inch thick (1 to 1-1/2 pounds total)
2 tablespoons melted butter

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

2. Meanwhile, in a shallow dish, beat egg with a fork; stir in milk. Place dry stuffing mix in another shallow dish. Trim fat from chops. Dip pork chops into egg mixture. Coat both sides with stuffing mix.

 3. Melt butter and pour into the baking pan, coating pan.

4. Arrange pork chops in a single layer in one side of a 15x10x1-inch baking pan.

5. Bake, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes or until pork is done (160 degrees F), turning pork once at 10-12 min. 

I also had to switch it up a bit for breakfast...so I went with a spinach quiche.  It wasn't as easy to make (although still, pretty simple!) and it took a little while longer, but the results were well worth it!! 

Ingredients

1  recipe  Pastry for Single-Crust Pie
1/2  cup  chopped onion (1 medium)
6  slices  bacon, chopped
8    beaten eggs
1/2  cup  dairy sour cream
1/2  cup  half-and-half, light cream, or milk
1/4  teaspoon  salt
1/8  teaspoon  ground white pepper
    Dash ground nutmeg (optional)
3  cups  lightly packed chopped fresh spinach
2/3  cup  shredded mozzarella cheese (about 3 ounces)
1/2  cup  shredded Swiss cheese (2 ounces)
    Cherry tomatoes, cut up (optional)

Directions

1. Prepare and roll out Pastry for Single-Crust Pie. Line a 9-inch pie plate with the pastry. Trim; crimp edges as desired. Line the unpricked pastry shell with a double thickness of foil. Bake in a 450 degree F oven for 8 minutes. Remove foil. Bake for 4 to 5 minutes more or until pastry is set and dry. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F.

2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet cook onion and bacon until onion is tender and bacon is crisp. Drain on paper towels.

3. In a bowl stir together eggs, sour cream, half-and-half, salt, pepper, and, if desired, nutmeg. Stir in onion mixture, spinach, and cheeses.

4. Pour egg mixture into the hot, baked pastry shell. Bake in the 325 degree F overn for 45 to 50 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. If necessary, cover edge of crust with foil to prevent overbrowning. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. If desired, garnish with cherry tomatoes.

5. Makes 6 to 8 servings

6. Spinach Quiche: Prepare as above, except omit the bacon. Cook the onion in 1 tablespoon butter or margarine. Stir into egg mixture with spinach and cheeses.

HAPPY COOKING.

Calling all Twilight Lovers!

So I ran across this book called "Wings"... it got a good review from Stephanie Meyer (author of Twilight Series), and it was FREE for my kindle...so I was sold.  I read it in a day, it was just about as good as Twilight!  Totally fed into my need for high school paranormal romances :) So, for all ya'll that openly admit to their love for Edward and Jacob...read, read.  Meet David (a lowly human, although a cute geek-type) and Tamani (a hot ass Faerie).

This book with take you on an adventure back to the awkward days of high school, through the land of Avalon where the fae reside and into the woods with some disgustingly wrong trolls.  Enjoy :)

Find the book here!

Oh, and this is the first of 4 books...again, like Twilight.  The 3rd just came out yesterday...and I have already read it :)  So......now I have to wait for a year until the final book comes out.  (Wings, Spells, Illusions ... read 'em!)

HOME.

I bought a house. 

And with a lot of elbow grease, a little bit of money and some great friends....it became a home.

A barren room became the place I lay my head each night. 

To dream.  

Empty rooms

Became guest rooms for the ones I love. 

To bathrooms that made me cringe...

Turning into ones that I actually like to get clean in. 

And the kitchen.... which left a LOT to be desired.

 Somehow became a kitchen that feels like home. 

I don't even mind doing the dishes.

 Well, not really....but it is more pleasant. 

                                                                          Little things I've picked up along the way add the finishing touches.

 Gone are the cold white walls.  For my favorite blues with splashes of bright colors

HOME.

LOVE.