Monday, September 28, 2009

start.

and begin.

today is orientation - I even went out and bought spray starch so there wouldn't be any chance of wrinkles. There is talk of the master chefs sending you out of the room if your uniform is wrinkled.


promised photos:

here is the fabric that will become a couple of new throw pillows for the couch:


the bracelet i made:


and sunday morning's bake:




uniform ironed. fish fed. house straightened. errands ran. dinner planned.

wish me luck.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

pumpkin cheesecake cookies



Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies

no baking required.

bowl one
cream cheese
pumpkin puree
maple syrup

sweeten to taste.

bowl two
oats
sugar
cinnamon

Scoop the mixture from bowl one and roll in bowl two, forming little cookie balls.
repeat.
eat.


good morning

good morning, I beat the sun.

I awoke around 4:15AM this morning, no intending to get up, maybe just wanting to lay in bed for a while, but my mind was in full swing. I was anxious to read a bit more of Anthony Bourdains' "Kitchen Confedential" (this book is authentic and humorous, with an overabundance of honesty pertaining to restaurant life.

Yesterday, I went to school and picked up my uniform and books. I'm nervous/excited/scared for my first official day. Apparently, if my jacket is wrinkled the cooking masters will send me out of the classroom to iron it. (The last time I ironed something was when I was living at home. The only reason I own an iron is because Charles owned one before we got married.)

I started my first official day of work yesterday as well. It was a good first day. I am working as a clothing buyer for the store Platos Closet. We see a lot of clothing come through, both good and bad. I like seeing what other people have in their closets and sometimes I am even shocked to think that they bought that in the first place. You would be surprised to see what people try to sell us - anything from worn bathing suits to stained clothing to clothing that should have gone out of style with those hideous boxy baby doll tees.
Oh, but I enjoy it. I am a working woman.

Later this morning - in about three hours, Charles is going to watch Formula One and I shall make breakfast. I found a recipe for Carrot Muffins:



(photo cred)

(adapted from Mrs. LC)


original recipe makes 16 muffins of 1 loaf, but since there is just two of us I chopped the measurements in half.

1 c. grated carrots
1 egg
1/4 c. milk
1/5 c. applesauce
1/5 c. brown sugar
1/2 t. vanilla

1 c. flour
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. baking soda
1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. cinnamon

Oven = 350 degrees. Bake Time = 15-18 minutes.

Mix.
Pour into muffin tin.
Sprinkle with raw sugar for a little extra somethin' somethin'.
Bake.
Cool.
Enjoy.


I feel inspired this morning .

by fall. the colors. the smells. the wonderful new happenings.



im working on a painting.

i bought some fabric for a throw pillow.

i made a bracelet.

(of course the photos will be posted soon)

Thursday, September 24, 2009

picking up pace

Life is rolling on by with a strong force. Summer is over. No more sitting around the house. No more filling my days with laying by the pool and thinking up tasty things to cook, meanwhile waiting for Charles to get home.

Fall brings new things.

I START SCHOOL Monday. 7:30AM orientation - crazy? I'd say.

I GOT A JOB I start tomorrow. Platos Closet, baby!

Meet Spartacus & Maximus:


Charles and I decided to get a couple fish today. They are epic (and cute).


Today, Charlie and I went to Piedmont Park. It was beautiful!

Found this little guy:

atlantaspider




Charles cracks me up.


He says:

Im too loud
I dance all the time
I add parts to the song that he doesnt hear
I eat weird

but when I make him cheesecake or impromptu pumpkin cheesecake cinnamon cookies
he gets this look on his face, grabs my belt loops, and tells me that I am beautiful and my cooking is beautiful.

charm.

Tonight - Movie in the park : Sabrina. :)

good night happy world.



Tuesday, September 22, 2009

welcome to hotlanta



photo cred : sean morgan

WELCOME TO ATLANTA.

We made it here.

Moving day came not without its challenges, it rained and rained and rained and rained.
But! We prevailed and are finally in the midst of unpacking and settling in before the hectic life begins.

So quick recap of whats been happening so far:

I ate gator for the first time:

Charles seasoned and sauteed it. It had great flavor though, I must say I was surprised.
We served this with a side of baked vegetables.

Im sorry Charlie, but this picture is HILARIOUS.

We went to a Braves game.
Which because of the rain, it was delayed two hours.
Luckily our seats were covered and the Braves won!!!

Today we checked out Atlantic Station:









Its full of some up and coming shops, restaurants, and a nice little park (which shows free movies on the lawn).
We spent the afternoon walking around, checking out cell phone plans and wedding bands. :)


So far, we havent been rained on too badly (were still above water), but its crazy to think that other parts of the city are flooded. CRAZY.

and thats all for now...were still getting settled.

Monday, September 7, 2009

check - fun with fondue

so charles and I made a "TO DO" list for the summer, things that we wanted to do together, things that inevitably turned into what we called the summer list.

One of the things that we put on there was "fun with fondue" = Charlie was looking for cookware back in May and he was picture messaging me about the different types of cookware that he had stumbled upon. Lo and behold I get a message and whats inside? A fondue pot. He was debating whether or not he should get it. My response - "I'll add Fun with Fondue to the list ;)"
Long story short, his mom had a fondue pot and TODAY we put it to good use.

I am F to the U L L of great food & fondue. Since I have never made fondue before it was complete trial. BUT! the trial turned out to be a success:

.white wine
.mozzarella
.parmesan
.cornstarch
.cayenne
.garlic (minced and salt)
.coffee creamer

so ill admit its a bit weird, but nonetheless it was tasty.


\However this morning, Charles and I made a sort of "cookie dough" -

.pecan paste (ground pecans & agave)
.spiced applesauce
.cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice
.one packet of splenda
.cocoa powder
.chopped dates
.oats
.chopped banana

mix mix mix.
eat.

this was divine.


Happy Labor Day::

i like her style:



usually i dont get into things like this, but this is really funny:

i want to try (offical voice here) THE GREEN MONSTER:


and lastly:

A photo =

taken by myself.

Greenferninthesky

peace.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

sunday bite...er....bike ride.

good evening and happy sunday.


coming to you live here, straight from the floor. just enjoying a glass of ice cold blueberry white tea. yum. crisp. refreshing. all words that DO NOT describe this afternoons bike ride.

sadly, I got eaten. see:

yes that is a MASSIVE bug bite. this is just one of a few that have appeared on my body after this afternoons bike ride. I suppose they are worth the rewards yes? maybe. (see picture below)

oh yes - look at that bicep. (p.s - this is my marathoners shirt and consequently I feel like I am iron woman when I wear it)


but bikes aside, the bike ride was great. fresh air. good company. and very informational (we rode to the public library)


In the short almost two months that I have been married I have learned a few things:
- being selfish is not an option. everything i do, say think, even feel effects the other person.
- its not about where you spend the time, its about spending time in the same place. period.
- assume that you are always wrong.
- sometimes it is necessary to give the other person the illusion of having their cake and eating it too.

However, opposites attract. This is fact.
I would have never been able to cope with someone that competes with my creativity (save that for the work force).

Charles James is my best friend. Period. So I shall end with a picture.


we love dark chocolate.

yes.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

and so saturday waves

i shall begin with last night to kick things off.

Charles and I went to the beach to watch sunset. Of course we packed food.
We kept it classy with a little chicken caesar salad.
This was my first time making a caesar dressing.

.one hard boiled egg
.one and a half tablespoons of wine vinegar (i used white wine)
.pepper
.half a clove of garlic
.extra light extra virgin olive oil until desired texture is obtained

put in blender and blend away.


so after we assembled the salad, we left the house and drove to the beach.

charlie was hungry so he just dove right in.



and the verdict on the salad:

i thought it was tasty too.



this is such a cute face.
:) and he makes me smile.



see? me smiling.



since there was a cloud right in front of the sun, our perfect sunset date was more like a perfect sundown date night. oh well. i was surrounded by good food, excellent company, and the sounds of a live band from the restaurant on the beach that we sat next to. ah - what a good time.


So this morning, I got up (had to make a quick run to the store), came back and conducted business as usual.

BREAKFAST WAS DIVINE (breakfast cookie w/ grapes and white tea)

you know, I used to not be a tea person, but! it has grown on me more and more.
At first black tea was my tea of choice, but now I have expanded into the realm of white tea.
However, I still dont think that green tea will ever be drinkable to me, but you never know.

HOUSE starts SEPTEMBER 21 > this is very exciting. I have taking advantage of not having to really do anything these past couple of days and catching up of past seasons.

holla.

Oh so right, today.

Today has flown (I mean FLOWN) by. Charles and I were supposed to go camping tonight, but my body decided that it would just crap out on me and so after a 3.5 hour nap, one game of football, and tea! I am feeling sub par.

ACCOMPLISHMENT - yesterday I jogged 4.7 MILES.
yes, MILES. It was great and I plan to continue this.

Friday, September 4, 2009

friday

HAPPY FRIDAY!

MorningFern


I think any day automatically goes better whenever you use "happy" as the prefix...or when you watch House, I mean...what they hey.

In other news: I MADE SOMETHING THIS MORNING!
(told you i'd try the breakfast cookie)

so charlie cannot eat peanuts, almonds, or cashews (this means no peanut butter, almond butter, etc.). To replace the absence of these butters, I made my own!

now you're probably asking yourself: How is this possible?
let me explain:

I used pecans.
and agave.

first, i just ground the pecans into a powder.
(the pecan powder is on the left and i realize that there are walnuts on the right, which will be used later)


then I just mixed in the agave.


(later)
and hello walnuts!
gave them a little chop chop.


added oats.


multi grain oats.


applesauce.


my moms homemade spiced applesauce.
(yes, it is even better then it looks & sounds)


a little but of chopped dates.
and the pecan agave mixture.


spices included:
nutmeg.
cinnamon.
pumpkin pie spice.
(were on the brink of fall)



mix mix mix.
anddd

TADA!


ENHANCED TO SHOW YUMMINESS!



covered it (quickly - less temptation to eat it that way)
and into the fridge to settle.



hoorah.


Yesterday: Charles and I biked 9.something miles.
its amazing how you can feel lethargic, tired, and run down, yet go on a bike ride and end up going farther then you would have thought....this is what happened yesterday.

Tonight = DATE NIGHT!

yes, I am very happy about this.
I grow more in love with Charlie every day.
Every day I get to know him better.
I wake up and smile.

:) CHARLES AT HIS FINEST. (ily)

keep it fresh.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

bike day = good day.

good morning.
FlowerPlantColors
(i found this little capture moment last night on a walk)

today is thursday.
lovely thursday.
biking thursday.

Charles is coming home even earlier then usual because they are throwing a goodbye lunch party for him this afternoon, so hoorah!

Ive been researching:

Amaranth - grain.
grown in US.
used as a breakfast cereal, popcorn like snack, & added to soups and stews.
full of vitamin e.
lowers cholesterol, improves skin tone & elasticity.
similar to quoiua & teff.



I def want to start making more smoothies.

this morning I made one. (even Charlie tried it) Consisted of:

.silken tofu
.silken vanilla tofu
.frozen banana
.carrot juice
.granola
.frozen pear

now i understand the skeptics here.
tofu & carrot juice? yes. it was creamy, frozen, and tasty.


NEXT.

RAW BAKLAVA

sunflower seeds
agave nectar
fuji apples

blend sunflower seeds into powder.
add agave nectar.

slice apples super thin.

put the sunflower-agave mixture in the middle of the apple slice.

ok. thats it.
seriously.
i know. easy.

:)


NEXT



BREAKFAST COOKIE
(adapted from Gina, aka The Fitnessista)

1/3 C. oats
1 T. nut butter (almond, peanut, soyut, etc.)
A sprinkle of protein powder (optional)
1/8 C. milk (reg, soy, almond, rice, etc.)
1/2 C. add ins (mashed bananas, canned pumpkin, apple sauce, etc.) (optional)
1/4 t. of cinnamon

and if its not sweet enough:

add something sweet, like stevia, agave, honey, etc.

mix.
arrange on plate.
cover.
refrigerate overnight.
eat.

This recipe WILL be tried.



FenceLensFlair
(found on the walk last night as well)

Today I choose to be encouraging.
Today I choose to be uplifting.

Proverbs 16:24 -
"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul & healing to the bones."

HOORAH for LIFE and GOOD THINGS!