Jarod's Organic Patch Disaster

Jarod has been visiting a chiropractor the past 2 months for his shoulders and back...  the newest remedy is this organic patch.  The patch sticks directly on the skin for 24 hours, then is removed.  After 48 hours, a second patch is attached.  The cycle repeats, 24 on then 48 off, for an entire week.  Jarod went through one week of patches and didn't notice a change, so the doctor gave him this different set of patches.  This is after one 24 hour period.  

The patch apparently left much of the goo still on the shoulder.

Yuck!

So this is after scrubbing with Palmolive Dish Soap!

This rag is trashed..  The goo was pretty much like a bad combo of tar & sap.  We eventually got it off.  And I think we are done with the patches!!

Family Trip to Seed:The People's Market

My family from Missouri is here!!!  My mother-in-law and my sister-in-law are here for a full week and it has been SO FUN!  They arrived at LAX on Sunday night, and what better introduction to SoCal, than dinner at In-N-Out?  They loved it.

On Monday, Jarod and his mom & sister went for Fish Taco's and took jet-lag naps [I had multiple swim lessons and was out most of the day].   That evening, we all headed to the heart of Orange County, where I taught a couple more lessons.  Then we took them to CAMP and SEED: The People's Market.  We just love these shops.  Here's some photos from the shopping:

An old truck sitting outside in the parking lot.

Jarod and I modeling feather headbands.

This was really a cute little June Cleaver dress.

Okay, I really REALLY love these aprons. 

Aimee & Judy modeling their dresses of choice.

This is the coolest display - earrings strung from miniature telephone polls.

This is one BIG skateboard!

Trendy bracelets.

Jarod and his new Nano Puff, Happy Early Birthday!

The trip to Orange County ended with a great late dinner at Macaroni Grill.  It is just SO FUN to have family here.  

Cranberry Oat Muffins

I feel like I should start this blog with an apology... another Muffin Recipe.. whoopdie doo, right?  Well, the thing with muffin making is 1] they're quick and easy 2] they satisfy my need for something scrumptious to go with my morning coffee AND 3] I usually always have everything on hand to whip these out in a rush.  So, ANOTHER Muffin Recipe :)

Cranberry Oat Muffins

Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour
• 2/3 cup rolled oats
• 1/3 cup sugar (heaping)
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup mashed banana
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 cup+ fresh or frozen whole cranberries
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans [optional]
• 
  

• Directions:

  • In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. In a small bowl, beat the egg, milk, banana and oil. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Stir in cranberries and pecans.
  • Grease muffin tin; fill two-thirds full with batter. Bake at 400° for 14-16 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. Serve warm. 
  • Yield: 9 muffins (regular) or 6 muffins (large)
  
  
  Bonus:  Less than 200 calories per [regular] muffin :)

Blogging

So, blogging... I'm really into it.  Probably because most of my loved ones live seven states away and I feel that this is an easy way for them/us to stay connected.  Secretly, I wish more of my close friends and family were bloggers, but I understand that there is only a certain amount of time in a day!  Hopefully, I can inspire more of them to jump on the bandwagon - it's just SO fun!!!

So, a few days ago, a fabulous friend from college highlighted my blog with "The Beautiful Blogger Award."  Aww, thanks Becca!  So, part of the deal for receiving the award is to 1] make a short list of things you may not know about me and to 2] pass on the award to a few new blogs!  Here goes:

New (?) things about Me you might not yet know:

I always order my drinks with no ice.  Why?  Because it's very confusing to try to open my mouth and drink, and likewise not have the ice enter and therefore resulting in a choking me.  I do know that this could be easily solved with a straw, however, what a waste!  That bit of plastic, used for a few minutes, then tossed; shame.  So, room temperature drinks, it is.  

I bake when I'm stressed.  I suppose that's only one measly step away from eating when I'm stressed, BUT I do find that baking, trying new recipes, making a mess in the kitchen, .. is all somehow gratifying and satisfying and healing for tension.  I also rarely bake or cook the same thing twice.  How boring!  I am always attempting something new in the kitchen and my sweet husband endures eats all of my creations :)

In the last year, flying makes me totally nervous! Okay, so I have NO IDEA where this is coming from... I have flown ALOT and OFTEN and on VERY LONG FLIGHTS for YEARS... and yet, just recently, I find my heart racing and my blood pressure rising every time there is some sort of bump or movement midair.  I imagine myself in this metal tube, thousands of miles in the air, in a row of seats, thinking how odd this would look if you took away the shell of the plane and left a hundred people sitting in nice rows, gliding effortlessly through the blue expanse... and I totally psych myself out.  Get a grip, Brooke!!!

I am a country girl.  Now that I live in the city, I know FOR SURE I am a country girl in my depths.  I miss the quiet, the trees, the peace, the serenity, the walks, the no leash laws, the simplicity of life.  I was not meant for this fast paced city, stressed out life and light/noise pollution!  LA is never dark, truly black dark.. and you can always, ALWAYS hear SOMETHING, a car alarm, a horn, babies crying, dogs yapping, school bells, bands practicing, thumping bass, screeching tires, a mariachi band, people arguing, people cheering for "the game", ahhh!  Many times I just want to stand on my patio and scream SHHHHHHH!  But, then I would be just one more noise contributing to the problem.

I am a coffee snob.  This is new.  It started with buying some gourmet beans, grinding them myself and then pressing them in my own glass, French press.. and now I just simply cannot return to Folger's or Starbucks or The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.  It's quite a shame and bit excessive and ridiculous, but I now prefer my own coffee preparation to any java joint or coffee shop around.

Now, on to highlight some of my FAVORITE blogs:

Bicycle Basket. My friends, Michael and Kristyn and their newly adopted son, have shared their tales and stories of the whole adoption process and now their everyday life with little Gunyea.  Kristyn is artsy and creative and her love for life inspires me daily.  Mitch is funny and endearing and sometimes it makes me a little teary eyed seeing how much he loves his son.  I really look up to this family.

101 Cookbooks. Yum.  This is a fabulous blog for whole food, natural and organic recipes.  When I'm feeling stuck in a recipe rut or wanting something extra special, I go here.

Bate's Klog.  An everyday blog with bit's of Kate's life, and it makes me smile.  She is a high school art teacher with a great sense of humor and a knack for finding inspiration and creativity in everything.  I admire the fun she has with her husband and her willingness to love and be just who she is.

Enjoy!

Angels vs. Dodgers

This week, my friend Anne Anthony (doesn't she just have the coolest name?!) and I went to watch a little Los Angeles rivalry in the field of baseball... Angels versus Dodgers.  First of all, I think it's quite humorous that our boys stayed in, and the girls went out to the game... ha.

So, a few highlights:
Anne had GREAT club seat tickets - cheers to cushy chairs and servers!
Some random guy bought us two Pacificos - cheers, again.
Most Dodger fans sound like this when they yell: "Go Doyers!" Haha, love hispanic ethnicity :)
The Angels came back in the bottom of the 6th and WON!!!

Here are a few shots from the game :

And I quote from Anne, "Some random guys bought us drinks...we made sure we flashed our wedding rings before we took the drinks, but of course we took the drinks! =)"

Angels v Dodgers -----> I'm sorry about accessing these photos, they are being temperamental!

Strawberry Pie

I had the best intentions of healthily eating the large carton of fresh strawberries I bought last week.. you know, a few sliced with some plain yogurt for breakfast, blended with a banana for a smoothie or just eating chilled as an after the pool snack.  

Well, my great intention did not come to fruition.  My carton of fresh strawberries sat untouched in the fridge for a few too many days.  Instead of resorting to freezing them all and be left with the only option of future smoothies, I made a pie.  Haha.  A very non-healthy alternative to my first wishes, but a tasty one, none-the-less.

Strawberry Pie Crust

1 1/3 cp flour

1 tsp salt

1/2 cp shortening

3 Tbs ice cold water

Directions:

In a food processor, blend flour and salt.  Add shortening, blending until course crumbles.  Add the ice water and blend until dough forms.  Chill in fridge.  Meanwhile, I de-stemmed the strawberries and halved into a large bowl while the dough chilled.  After 30 min, remove dough, roll out on floured surface.  Place in pie pan, pinching edges to form even, decorative crust.  Bake at 425 for 15-18 min.  Let cool, before adding strawberry mixture.

Strawberry Pie

Prebaked 9 in pie crust (see above)

1 qt fresh strawberries

3 Tbsp cornstarch

1 cp sugar (or less)

3/4 cp water

1/3 cp chocolate chips (melted)

Directions:

First off, melt chocolate and "paint" inside cooled pie crust (strawberry pies are notorious for becoming soggy, and by having a chocolate lining, no more wet crust!)

Pour a fourth of the berries, cornstarch, sugar and water in a small pot.  Cook on med-high heat until mixture boils, stirring constantly!  Allow mixture to boil 2-3 min, until thick and gel like.

In cooled crust, place the remaining (3/4) berries and top with stove top, berry mixture.  Spread evenly in crust and refrigerate for a few hours.  (You can check if it's chilled through by feeling bottom of pie dish).

Top with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle if desired.  Serve with dark espresso roast coffee.

My Fabulous Date

When I got home from work yesterday, my sweet husband had this waiting for me.  Nothing like cherries, sweet red wine and brie cheese to relax after a day in the office :)

And his sweetness didn't stop there.  We drove to Huntington Beach and played in the water and sand with Taiga.  We saw TONS of dolphins playing in the surf and a handful of surfers catching waves from the incoming tide.  We also met this European dude with these amazing wolf hunting white dogs, one of the most bizarre breeds I have ever seen!

I think we are both finally mellowing out and having fun now that summer is here and school/work is out!  I am looking forward to many more evenings of sunsets on the beach, cheese & wine and time with my man over the summer.  Yes, we made it, Summertime, we made it!