baked goodness

What is better on a cold, winter day than fresh baked goodies? Nothing beats the smell of baked goods and the scent of fresh banana chocolate bread filled the kitchen this afternoon. The recipe is so easy, I was able to mix it together and throw it into the oven in no time!

Banana Chocolate Bread
1 cup white flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
Dash of salt
2 eggs, beaten
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/3 cup applesauce
1/4 cup water
3/4 to 1 cup chocolate chips

Mix dry ingredients in medium bowl. In a large bowl, combine eggs, bananas, applesauce, and water. Add dry ingredients to wet and mix until moist. Add chocolate chips. Pour into bread loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 55 minutes.
Hubby came inside from shoveling mounds of snow and was greeted by a couple slices of bread (of course I had to try some too!). Good thing he cleared that driveway because we home bound folk are hitting the town for dinner tonight! Fernando, here we come!
;-)

winter wonderland!

Last night, the weather forecast seemed promising. With a 100% chance of snow, I knew we were bound to get something. Our total this winter has only been 5 inches. Only 5 inches the ENTIRE winter! I've been wanting a decent snow for months! I woke up this morning, took a peak outside...snow! It's still flurrying and blowing and looks mighty cold but I am so content indoors, under a warm blanket. I'm looking forward to being home bound today!

simpler times

Even though I barely have time to read the magazines I already get, I want another one.

I used to receive this magazine. I faithfully read it each month enjoying the pictures, the tips, the recipes, the stories. But for some reason, I let my subscription fizzle. Maybe it was because I was already getting too many magazines (actually only 1 or 2 others). Maybe it was because I was once again gearing up for a round of classes. Maybe it was because I could barely keep up with my book club reading. Maybe it was because I had a mountain of professional books waiting to be read. Whatever the reason, I let the subscription go. Even after I stopped receiving the magazines, I would look through them. In fact, one weekend I leafed through each kept issue, tearing out pages I wanted to personally archive (which I did in an accordion file. i know, i'm a dork.). It is obvious I have a love for this magazine.

Over a year later I think I'm ready for this magazine to appear in my mailbox once again. I'm ready to leaf through it's colorful pages, ready to read the inspiring articles, ready to salivate over the recipes, ready to attempt some of the decorating and organizing tips. I'm ready for a simple life again.

accomplishment

With huge help from Mitch, we were able to get everything done this week before our absence from home this weekend. House is clean, shopping is finished, laundry is done, homework is completed. We are free to leave town and enjoy some relaxation and family time this weekend. Thanks, Mitch! You're a great husband.

tired

I am so tired of work! Right now, I should be working on homework - I need to complete on my tutoring logs and I need to respond to three online discussion posts. I should also be working on school work - I need to analyze school asset maps, plan out my first grade teachers' new strategy study, and decide on books to pull for teachers. But I'm just not motivated! Maybe it's because I had a meeting after school, Mitch and I cleaned the kitchen, dusted, and vacuumed, I made dinner, and now I'm working on laundry. Maybe it's because I'm sitting on our couch, in my pajamas and am thinking about how nice it would be to lay my head down on the pillow next to me. What to do??? Maybe I can put it off one more day...

comfort food

Tonight seemed like a comfort food night. Mainly because I had the day off and had time to make something that takes longer than 30 minutes. I chose meatloaf (because it's one of Mitch's favorites) accompanied with mashed sweet potatoes. So good! I mostly throw things together but here is a good guess on the recipes:



Meatloaf
1 lb. lean ground beef or turkey
1/2 package of chicken flavored Stove Top Stuffing
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup of water
1/2 cup of barbecue sauce


Combine all ingredients. Mold into loaf. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour.


Mashed Sweet Potatoes
2-3 sweet potatoes
1 small or half of one medium onion, chopped
1/4 cup Italian dressing
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon brown sugar


Scrub potatoes, slice into quarters. Bring to a boil and cook for about 5-8 minutes. Meanwhile, chop onion. When potatoes are cooked and soft, drain water. Mash potatoes. Add onion. Add remaining ingredients and cook on medium low for 5-10 minutes.

Easy and a no fail!

my musical valentine

The Hubby and I agreed this year we would not exchange gifts. We figured our upcoming trip was the real gift! But of course, my husband did not listen. Granted the gifts were not extravagant but very thoughtful! Since both of us enjoy music and are continuously finding new music to listen to, I should not have been surprised that music was the theme of Valentine's Day. It started with Feist's newest CD The Reminder. I had been wanting this CD for a few weeks so was excited to get it Friday night. Another gift of music awaited me Saturday morning. Rosie Thomas' If Songs Could Be Held hid behind my V-Day card. I'm noticing a Woman Power kick I might be on right now...

You can imagine my guilt when all I got for Mitch was his favorite beer from Boulevard's Smokestack Series (he did buy himself a new record to continue the musical theme) but he was thrilled. So, music playing and beer opened, we enjoyed a nice dinner of grilled (in the sleet) steak, rosemary potatoes, and steamed asparagus. Delish!

i did it

One day down, 50 to go! It wasn't so hard to get out of bed this morning. Maybe it's because I know tomorrow is Saturday = sleep in but I think I'm off to a good start!

i will run again!

I was once an avid runner. I didn't train for marathons or road races. I simply ran because I enjoyed it and it felt good. Some may have called me obsessed...it was rare I missed a day. Then somehow, things began to change. I do blame Mitch a bit for this. Up until our wedding I stuck fairly closely to my running regimen. There were those days here and there (icy roads, trips to other countries, lightening storms) that I missed but most mornings you could find me outside, hitting the pavement. Then, change ensued:

Honeymoon. (Who wants to run when you can sleep in, gorge yourself on a gourmet breakfast and then lounge at the pool?)
Strange man "following" me in the neighborhood. (I swear he was following me.)
Pneumonia. (Constant coughing and lungs filled with fluid can make running difficult.)

Then, VICTORY! We got a treadmill and I could bring my running inside. I did very well the fall/winter/spring/summer of 2007/2008. Well done, Nicole.

But, something has happened since then. It started with me taking one day off a week. That has to be good for the body, right? Well, one day turned into two, which turned into three, and then slowly, I was not running more days then I was running. How did this happen? I blame a warm bed and the need for extra sleep. It is bad.

Enough is enough. I need to lace up my shoes and get back on that treadmill. Several reasons are pushing me out of bed. One, I haven't been feeling well lately. I've been tired, I've had headaches...I think I need physical activity. Second, Mitch and I will be on the sandy beaches of Mexico in 51 days. 51 days!!!! I know no one will give a care about me but I want to feel somewhat okay with myself as my white pasty body meets sun.

So, the quest is on. The quest to run again. And since I've blogged about it you better believe I will be up with my 5:15 alarm tomorrow morning to lace up my shoes and hit that treadmill. Stayed tuned for my success (hopefully not miserable failure).

target love ~ part 1

It's true. I am addicted to Target. I can go in there with a list and come out with ten items that weren't on my list. I love their clothes, their cards, their towels, their bags, their decor, their unique food...I love it all. I had no intention to even go there today but needed to pick up a few cards and suddenly, I was in a trance, wandering around the store looking in every corner. I managed to stray not too far from my list (milk and a bottle of lotion did fall into my basket) but then I saw something ahead of me...Target's Home Design Event.


I had seen their Home Design line before. It's pretty chic and sleek but normally I merely glanced as I walked by, on to my next conquest. Today, however, I noticed something different. The area was nearly empty. In the empty space, workers were busily transferring items to shelves and I noticed the lovely bright red clearance sticker. I love the red clearance sticker. I'm a sucker for the red clearance sticker. I was walking over to simply browse when my eye caught a very unique and catching lamp. Then I looked at the price tag. Half off!!!! Immediately I was convincing myself that yes, this could go somewhere in my home. When a worker tried to nudge his way in front of me, I quickly grabbed them lamp in a moment of weakness. But, now that it's home, in it's place and plugged in, I can see it was a very necessary purchase!

Well, I couldn't just stop at the lamp, could I? I love dishes - all kinds, shapes, sizes, and colors. I spied a stack of bowls. Very cute. Very cheap. I couldn't pass up the deal of $2 a bowl! They are a perfect addition to the kitchen decor.

To all those fellow Target lovers out there, I encourage you to check out this sale. And of course, I'm very curious what they will be placing in that large home area next...

sushi, please!

Tonight we decided to be adventurous and try a new place we have both heard about called Moonlight Sushi. With any sushi place, I was a little leery at first but were greeted by a very nice hostest who promptly seated us at the sushi bar. We ordered drinks and some edamame to start and then after some debate, chose two different rolls. The advantage to sitting at the bar is we could watch our rolls being made right in front of us. The chef was delightful and fun. Mitch loved interacting with him. In no time our rolls were delivered to us - ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL. We both said these were the best rolls we've ever had, hands down. I didn't want the deliciousness to end! We topped our meal off with some Mochi, Japanese green tea ice cream. An interesting treat! We are thrilled to find this place and even more thrilled that it is just minutes from our home. Sure to become a regular rotation for our meals out!

a very good cause ~ $7 on the 7th

A few months ago, I was browsing some boards and found a blog that was as intriguing as it was heartbreaking. The blogger is a young dad, who began the blog when his wife was pregnant, wanting to document and share stages and events with family and friends. Now, he is raising his 10 month old daughter alone as a result of his wife dying from a blood clot just one day after she gave birth to their daughter. I stumbled upon the blog again and found that a foundation has been established in the mother, Liz's, name. Their goal is to help strengthen the support system of widows and widowers. For more information you can go to The Liz Logelin Foundation or go directly to the blog to find information about $7 on the 7th. In my opinion, this is a very worth cause and after reading about this family, I think you'll agree.

girls weekend

This past weekend I had the opportunity to check some great gems in our city. I love that we don't live too far from downtown and can take advantage of all that is available. And, I had two of my best friends in tow so there was definitely fun to be had!

First, we headed to JP Wine Bar. We found a cozy booth and scoured over the extensive wine menu. After choosing a wine flight (South American for me) and a cheese flight (love the French cheese) we sipped our wine, nibbled cheese, and definitely felt sophisticated! Next we headed down the street to Nara, a chic Japanese Robata. GREAT reverse happy hour specials! We savored some edamame, spicy tuna rolls, and drink prices anyone can smile at. After that, we headed down one more block to The Bulldog, which was rather quiet for a Friday night but still enjoyed good beer and conversation.

(note the crop job...the waitress was having some problems)

The next morning we rose early for a trip to a true city gem, The Boulevard Brewing Company. After hearing some history and viewing some holding tanks and assembly lines, we tried many a sample served by the founder and owner himself. After the tour, we were a little hungry so headed to LuLu's for some yummy Thai food.

It was fun to explore the city and show some of my favorite places to my favorite girls. Girls weekend - definitely a success!