halloween

Made this. Makes me smile.

It's super easy. All you need is the Martha Stewart bat punch and Halloween paper.

Labor Day Silhouettes Project

After seeing a friend's silhouettes (Thanks Aynsley!)  and seeing glittery ones in a store (Sanctuary) in Austin, I was inspired to make my own. I wanted to make glittery ones, but I didn't like the glittery paper colors that were available at Michael's. Therefore, I went for shiny scrapbook paper.

Here's the final project:

Please excuse the glare on Jasper's. (I'm being rushed) And yes, we have a betta fish....

dog accessories

Most people assume I dress Lexi up. Surprisingly I don't. However, she does have quite a collection of collars. It seems that every time we go out of town our hotel is near a doggie boutique. And of course, I have to buy her and Jasper something. She typically gets a collar and Jasper gets something to eat. If you know Jasper, he loves to eat (like more than a normal dog). 

While I was in Florida, I came across this collar for Lexi:

It's from Up Country Inc. After looking at all the collars, Jasper got a new one too. 

Ha! So perfect for him! 

summer cooking

As a kid, my mom always experimented with recipes in the summer. I am sure most of the new attempts were wonderful, I only remember a really terrible one... cucumber soup. It was cold, green, and tasted extra cucumber-y. If I remember correctly, we all threw it out and ate pb&j sandwiches.

Today I was hit with the realization that I am my mother. Scary. I've always heard this would happen.

I decided to make a Chocolate Banana Freezer Pie out of the Clean Eating magazine. The picture in the magazine looked delicious. I am afraid the verdict is still out on whether or not it was good which is typical Clean Eating.

It's funny that I even made the recipe because earlier this month I was at my sister's house who made Clean Eating brownies. Upon taking them out of the oven, she threw them away because they tasted like black beans and I said something like, "Please don't become one of those people who brings healthy desserts to gatherings!" No one likes that person and dreads their dish. But low and behold, I fell victim to the Chocolate Banana Freezer Pie. Luckily it was just for David and I to enjoy.

Although dessert is still on the chopping block, dinner was pretty good. The best part was again the sauce - Avocado Sour Cream. We had chicken chile tortillas - basically chicken fajitas.

Avocado Sour Cream
1 avocado -pitted and cut up
1/4 c light sour cream
1 clove of garlic
1/4 tsp sea salt
2 tbsp of cilantro leaves
2 tbsp of water (optional) - I didn't add the water. I'm not a fan of runny food items....

Place all the ingredients in the food processor or blender and puree.

Easy and healthy!

greek yogurt & siracha

Like I posted before, Clean Eating can be sketchy at times. Tonight we made a sauce that was delicious and easy!

1/4 cup of plain Greek yogurt

1 to 1 1/2 tbsp of Siracha hot chili sauce (you can find it in the Asian section of the International aisle)

It was the sauce on our tuna lettuce wraps but I think it would be great on a sandwich and/ or salad. 

Success!

clean eating

In January, we decided to try eating healthier and so began our subscription to Clean Eating. The meals aren't anything to get excited about nor do we crave them. However, we do seem to have more energy.

Some of the meals, we cook, eat, but never make again. There are a few that we revisit often. Here is one of our favorites.

Thai Spicy Pork Soup

2 tbsp safflower oil, divided
8 oz boneless pork chops, cut in 1/2 in cubes
4 oz mushrooms
1/2 cup of chopped red onion
1 lb of tomatoes diced
2 cups of low sodium chicken broth
1 jalapeno pepper, unseeded and finely chopped
1 cup of light coconut milk
1/2 packed cup chopped cilantro leaves
1 tbsp of grated ginger
3 stevia packets
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 lime, quartered

Heat 1 tbsp of oil in large saucepan on medium- high. Add pork and cook for 2 minutes or until almost opaque in center, stir frequently; set aside on a plate.

Cook mushrooms in remaining 1 tbsp of oil for 2 minutes, then add onion and cook for 2 minutes more or until mushrooms are soft, stirring occasionally. Return pork and accumulated juices back to pan. Add tomatoes, broth and jalapeno. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to simmer and cover. Cook for ten minutes.

Stir in remaining ingredients, except lime and cook for 5 minutes. Serve soup with lime wedges on side to squeeze into soup.

(As I typed this I remembered why I like this recipe, it only requires one pan!)

Tips about Clean Eating:

- some of the ingredients are hard to find, but over time the ingredients seem to build in your cabinets - example : safflower oil
- add time for chopping all the fresh veggies and herbs.


Happy, healthy eating!

mother's day

I am two days late.

But who cares about a date?

She won't mind,

Cause she's often behind!

Here she is right before we met

I caused some pain, I bet :)

Crazy to think she had a life before me, 

Without her I can't imagine what life would be!

Wanted

They look like Jasper and Lexi. 

https://www.oliveandcocoa.com/

one year ago...

I picked Lexi up from the airport. I wish I would have taken a better picture...

 She was the beginning of a new phase of life for me.

"My lonely days are over

and life is like a song" :)

Easter Weekend

It happened.

The parents met.

Quality time with the siblings. 

The dogs planned their escape to take over the world.

The weekend was wonderful. A kind boyfriend with a sweet family.... if only I could truly verbalize what that means to me...

Opossums, strip joints, and paddle boats

In honor of our Friday night:

Jasper dug a hole to the neighbors backyard and ran a opossum up a tree. Then barked. All. Night. The neighbor tried to call to tell David, but he didn't hear his phone... until 2am because we decided to close the bars down.

On Saturday, we decided to paddleboat around the pond at Hermann Park. While waiting for our boat to be ready, the girl who was helping get our life jackets on told us about how she went to Lubbock to strip joints. Strange topic to discuss with paddle boaters. Especially since it is a family activity and there were small children everywhere.

In the midst of paddling...

And when we returned...

Snackiness

Snacks are important to educators. They're especially important at this point in the school year because typically we are tired of the snacks we've had all year. I found a new one.

Can't wait for "Snacky Hour!"

How's it growing?

Some green plants! 

one-fourth inch of dog hair

And quite a bit of mold...

If only the plants and dog hair would grow like mold...

Taylor Taylor Quite Contrary

How does my garden grow?
With two vegetables and some herbs.
And a hairless dog with a bow.

Let's hope they germinate!

And my assistant...

10:45AM Smiley Face Visitor

She always begins by putting the tiara on her head. 

"I can't pway til I has something on me head."

 And then she adds the boa.

 "I wook pretty."

She picks out every small plastic animal that resides in my office and puts them on my desk.

 "Meow, ribbit, ruff, meow, eww that's a mean one." (picking up the lion). 

Then we play kitties. The kitties always get along. They are always happy. Sometimes they kitties go to the "wimming ool". Other times the mommy and daddy kitty are too busy to play with the baby kitty.

Finally we clean up. She never wants to leave. She holds my hand the entire way back. This last time she kissed the top of it. 

"I wub you."

She only comes if she's had a smiley face day.  Little does she know she adds a smiley face to my day!

What do you write in a blog?

Blank screen. Blinking cursor. What do you write in a blog?

I write about my dog, Lexi GenreRain Denison. I specifically write about her hair. It is black, white, and very nappy. There are a lot of knots. I would brush them out, but she won't let me. She has a very sensitive scalp with a lot of fine hair. So that's what I write about... Lexi and her beauty.