Just One of My Favorite Things

Almost every morning I get to wake up to snuggles with my Bug. It's my favorite part of the morning.  He makes my life infinitly better. Today we got to buy a Teansformers Dino Bot because he is now officially potty trained.  It's one large step towards being grown up and independent.  I'm excited, happy, and proud of him.  I'm also kind of sad that he's growing up. This is a big milestone for him. One day I won't be getting morning cuddles anymore and that will be super sad.  For now I'll be grateful and relish the moments in between wake and sleep when I can hold my baby boy tightly. It's the best part of waking up.

Makers Gonna Make

Tonight was again another awesome craft night.  Same place, same women, same fun to be shared by all crafters. I brought my sisters with me tonight so it was even better: Sisters Craft Night Out!

I have to say how much I love this place.  I have been looking forward to this night and coming back since last week. The Spiffing Jewelry Studio and Warehouse has such a great vibe and is gorgeous.  It's he most perfect office I could ever imagine and I seriously want to work there.   There are so many positive and pretty things I just can't even begin.  Here is just a taste from the bathroom.

I stole my inspiration from this post from a custome silver cuff at Spiffing Jewelry.  I love what is says and what it means.  "Makers Gonna Make".  It is true. It carries over to my life in other ways and boils down to "I'm Gonna Be Me".  Runners gonna run.  Momma's gonna mother. Pollyannas gonna  be positive.  It's a fun little motto to think on.  I really like the cuff. 

Anyways, tonight the crafters crafter.  The makers made custom eye shadows and brown sugar body scrubs.  I smell fantastic and I cannot wait to play with my shadows!

I made a chocolate spice fudge body polish that smells so deep and delectable. It really smells like a dark fudge. The recipe was simple and Pinterest worthy. It was not a fail at all.  The recipe for the body scrub is simple.  It's 2 parts brown sugar to 1 part olive oil.  The sugar should be moist and a little crumbly. Mine was a smudge to oily but I like it that way because I have super dry skin.   After the sugar and oil are mixed you add in essential oils or fragrances. I put in 2/3 tablespoon Ghiradeli chocolate powder, I believe it was Dutch processed, and about 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, maybe a bit more.  I thought I would be done but the scent was still a little flat.  I'll be honest and admit that I meant to grab the vanilla extract but had the great misfortune of dashing pumpkin spice fragrance in my scrub.  I didn't even realize until it was too late.  I'm glad though because it really rounded out the scent and deepened it.  The scrub smells really chocolately and dark with warm notes of spice and a hint of sweet cream.  I got lots of compliments on it. 

We also made custom eyeshadows. The pictures here don't do it justice at all! I made a lovely coppery creamy gold that I've been looking all over to find to no avail. I think I'll call it "Penny, Penny, Penny!" It's got a bright shine to it and photographs well.  The other two are beautiful in person but don't photograph as well; they are kind of subtle. The aqua I am going to call "Aquaholics Annonymous".  I love this color and have it in clothes, shoes, jewelry, accessories, etc.  I really am addicted. I'm not big on colors so this should be fun and the gold undertones and microfine glitter should be gorgeous.  Lastly, the dusky purple is really pretty and intense but hard to film the bright fuchsia microfine mica that really set this off. I'll try to get a better picture of this one. It reminds me of a grown up version of Harold and the Purple Crayon. I think I'll call it "Harry's Purple Pen".   They are all really pretty. So pretty  and were a lot of fun to make.

I'm again thankful for creative outlets, sister time, and the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.  It's soul enriching and those opportunities can be hard to come by.  If you are lucky to find them you just have to give in and go with it. 

I'm tired but I'm Still Thankful

Just a quick post on a delicious dinner I made tonight for my family. It's a Monday but essentially a Friday in its feel since tomorrow it Vereran's day so I don't have to work!!!  Yeah! So a midweek Friday means I get to sleep in tomorrow so I can relax and make a delicious all out dinner tonight. So I did. I'm trying the CookingLight Diet and it's awesome. Their food is always so delicious and filling.  I've never had anything that was less than delicious from their recipes. Tonight was no exception

Josh has been craving my Mom's Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas but those are so time consuming and I wanted to treat her today so I found this. It was super easy and everyone kept going back for more. It's a make again meal for sure. Oh, by the way, they are completely correct in saying the tequila makes the slaw pop. It was fantastic.  

Chicken Verde Enchiladas

How do you shred chicken superfast? Insert two forks into the meat while it's still warm. Then pull apart to shred.

(400 calories)

Makes 4 servings (serving size: 2 enchiladas)

• 3/4 cup prechopped onion
• 3/4 cup unsalted chicken stock
• 1/2 cup salsa verde
• 1/3 cup finely chopped cilantro stems
• 2 tablespoons sliced pickled jalapeño pepper
• 5 teaspoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 8 ounces shredded skinless, boneless rotisserie chicken breast (about 2 cups)
• 3/4 cup chopped tomato
• 3 tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream
• 1 ripe peeled avocado, coarsely mashed
• 8 (6-inch) corn tortillas
• 4 ounces reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese, shaved
• 2 tablespoons cilantro leaves

• 1. Place oven rack in lower third of oven, and preheat broiler to high.
• 2. Combine first 8 ingredients in a medium saucepan, stirring with a whisk. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer 4 minutes. Stir in chicken; cook 1 minute or until heated. Remove from heat. Stir in tomato, sour cream, and avocado.
• 3. Stack tortillas; wrap stack in damp paper towels, and microwave at HIGH for 45 seconds. Spoon 1 cup chicken mixture into an 11 x 7-inch glass or ceramic baking dish. Spoon 1/3 cup chicken mixture in center of each tortilla; roll up. Arrange tortillas, seam sides down, in baking dish. Top with cheese. Broil 3 minutes or until cheese melts. Sprinkle with cilantro leaves.

• CALORIES 400
• SERVING SIZE 4 servings (serving size: 2 enchiladas)
• CARBOHYDRATE33.0g
• CHOLESTEROL 75.0mg
• FIBER7.0g
• PROTEIN 29.0g
• SODIUM620.0mg
• FAT 18.0g
• SATURATED FAT6.5g
• MONOUNSATURATED FAT7.9g
• POLYUNSATURATED FAT2.0g
• CALCIUM 267.0mg
• IRON 1.0mg

Tequila Slaw with Lime and Cilantro

Grab a bag of packaged coleslaw mix, and you've saved yourself the time of slicing cabbage and shredding carrots. A splash of tequila adds spirit and complexity (we urge you not to leave it out), while lime juice's zing perks up earthy cabbage. 

(64 calories)

Makes 6 servings (serving size: about 2/3 cup)

• 1/4 cup canola mayonnaise (such as Hellmann's)
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1 tablespoon silver tequila
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/3 cup thinly sliced green onions
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 (14-ounce) package coleslaw

• 1. Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl. Add remaining ingredients; toss.

• CALORIES 64
• SERVING SIZE 6 servings (serving size: about 2/3 cup)
• CARBOHYDRATE6.4g
• CHOLESTEROL 0.0mg
• FIBER1.8g
• PROTEIN 0.8g
• SODIUM 162.0mg
• FAT3.0g
• SATURATED FAT0.0g
• MONOUNSATURATED FAT1.7g
• POLYUNSATURATED FAT 1.0g
• CALCIUM37.0mg
• IRON 0.1mg

There are Messages Everywhere

Today I am thankful for messages and the ability to experience them. Messages are everywhere as long as you are open to them.  They may be a thought, a feeling, a smell, a taste, a look, any sense that sparks can be a message.

Today, the trainer in my workout caught me off guard by saying, "Stop comparing yourself. Comparison is the their of joy!"  I had never heard this wonderful quote by Theodore Roosevelt but it struck me hard in the chest and I haven't been able to shake it. This past week I devoted an entire session in therapy to comparisons and their damage. I can say that I am sure it hurts both parties equally in different ways.  This could be a great example of cognitive bias but in any case I am glad I heard this message and have taken it in.  It's a new motto for me and a guiding thought to live by. 

I also got to go to a book signing today with my sisters and hopeful future brother in law. We stood in line to meet Theresa Caputo, The Long Island Medium.  She is so cute and sweet in person. I'll start right off saying we did not get a reading but it was healing and special in our own way.  My youngest sister, Demi, loves Theresa.  We had so much fun waiting in line, even though it felt like 100 degrees outside.  November is way drunk here in San Diego and needs to pull itself together. It's Fall and I was by the ocean.  I should not have been in a sundress with sweat running down my body and burning like it's August!  I guess it was nice weather though to sit outside the new Sausage and Meat and enjoy good food and well made drinks afterwards.  I sweated enough to deserve to eat Churro Chicharones. I will say that yes, that sounds scary odd but they were delicious.

Demi was so excited to be there and was giddily shaking with happiness.  It was cute to see.  When it was our turn, Demi was overcome with emotions.  Theresa asked her, and only her, what her name was.  They hugged and Demi began to cry.  It was a happy thing. Theresa looked at me and it felt like she wanted to say something but couldn't because of the time. It felt like an understanding, as odd as that may be.  Maybe it's all schtick but it seemed genuine.  Outside, in line to meet Larry, Theresa's husband, Demi told us that she knew our Grandparents were there and Theresa wanted to talk to us but couldn't.  She also told us that she felt our Grandma in that hug they shared. It was beautiful for what it was and all that it meant.  I'm grateful for the experience. I'm blessed to have my sisters and Joe too for these fun little outings. 

On Forcing Oneself to Move

This morning I did something unprecedented...I ran.  It was not far or fast but it was enough to make me feel proud.  I alternated between running and walking for roughly 3/4 a mile.  I hate physical exertion.  Thanks exercise induced asthma!  The rush of air in and out of my lungs burns and I don't like feeling like I'm breathing molten glass.  The coughing fits after are no fun either.   I also don't sweat. Really, I don't. I overheat and feel like I'm burning up with the rays of 10,000 suns.  My red blotchy skin shows the heat all too well like a lobster in it's final boiling bath. 

Basically, exercises makes me feel like I am the girl on fire.  Today, I was ok with it. I can't guarantee that I will do it often but I did it today and that's what counts.  Baby steps but today I'm thankful to be moving at all.