Things that make you go...

WTF?  You thought I was gonna say "Hmmm..." didn't ya! Like the song?!?!  So since October my life has been crazy! You know i've been through some tough times the last little while & i'm not so great at coping w/those kinds of things.  And now that my BFF, my rock, my hero & biggest supporter, my mom is gone, well i've kinda had to figure myself out. I've just always counted on her being there & picking me up, cleaning up my messes & in general just getting me by.  Right? So, now i'm just I guess finally becoming my own independent person, or at least trying to. I'm by no means perfect, in fact far from it...like thousands of miles from it, but i'm working my way back to what everyone calls a "normal life". 

Isn't it weird how people see you? From the outside my family & myself seem pretty normal, like we don't have any problems. But really when you get in to it, just like any person or family you see all the problems & craziness that happens within. 

So, right now i'm working on ME. I've been reading a lot of inspirational quotes...if you haven't noticed from my Twitter timeline.  Or my FB posts. I've made a vision board, for those of you that have read the "Secret" then you know what i'm talking about.  I also need to get myself back to the gym. I don't know why I feel like that's so difficult.  I'd go in the morning but then i'd have to get there at like 7am & then get all ready there or at work.  And at the end of my work day it sounds like not a good time. I'm all tired.  But when I use to actually go after work I felt better when I left, but I just cannot talk myself in to it.  The last week, i've been telling myself only positive things.  I can't let certain situations & circumstances get me down this time. I'm keeping a positive frame of mind & any time I feel fear & anxiety I stop & breathe.  Breathing in positive energy & out all fear & anxiety.  It's been working really well. If I hadn't been doing this who know where i'd be right now...seriously. 

So...I know I haven't written for a while & this one is all about me.  But you got a little insight into me & now know what's been going on. Hope I didn't disappoint.  I'm gonna try to get back in to writing on here regularly with new stuff & hopefully some new recipes.  Or even some old ones that I have never given you.

Mr. Oat-y

I LOVE oatmeal for breakfast!  But, i'm talkin' about real oatmeal...not that crappy stuff in a package from Quaker that you cook in the microwave for 3 minutes, or whatever!  I can't eat that stuff...it has too much sugar & generally makes me sick.  I also don't like how the oats in it are all small & piecey.  I like to buy Old Fashioned Oats, not quick cook, original & make my own oatmeal.  It doesn't take that long either.  I prefer mine with Almond Milk since I don't drink regular milk.  My perfect oatmeal goes like this...1 C. Almond Milk in a small saucepan.  1/2 C. Oats.  Cook for around 7 minutes.  It's gonna still look runny but as it cools down it'll thicken up.  When finished I add about 1 tsp. Butter...that just smoothes out the texture.  A few pinches of brown sugar & a small handful of raisins.  Mix together, let cool for a few & then eat!  Perfect!  In all, it probably takes 10 minutes & is so much better for you than that pre-packaged stuff!  I have a thing with pre-packaged foods though...I limit myself from eating them as much as possible.  I'm a big believer that food is better for you, body & soul if made from scratch.  And besides, I love to cook, so that's gotta put some kind of karmic goodness into it...right?  I like to think so!  Try this out...you'll like it.  You can add whatever you want too, if you don't like brown sugar add Agave....or whatever sweetener you prefer.  And you can also put any kind of dried/fresh fruit in it!  :)

Worth it? I think NOT!

"You kjnow I'd rather walk on my lips than to speak bad about someone but..."

So, you know i'm a huge fan of OPI & nail polish in general but I have a complaint!!!  Me complain?  Right.  Anywho, when I bought this color I was loving it!  It's a black base but with super big kinda chunky silver glitter in it so it's super shiny & just my kind of thing.  Then over the next few days, it started to chip & if you know me once I get a chip in my nails the whole paint job has to come off!  I just think chipped nails looks tacky & cheap.  So, I was a lil disappointed in that.  Well then I decided to take it off & let me tell ya...it was a chore!  I don't know what they add extra in those glittery kind, but I literally had to soak my nails in remover for 5+ min to make any kind of progress.  I went through dozens of tissues & probably 1/2 a bottle of remover.  And I do buy the OPI remover cuz it's super quick & eats through anything, but it could not stand up to this stuff!  This color was in the Nicki Minaj collection which I was really diggin' but now i'm not so sure.  Just FYI!

Love me some trashy TV!

I admit it...I love trashy reality shows!  They are my guilty pleasure!  You know I like anything on Bravo & definitely ALL of the Real Housewives...OC, Atalanta, New York & of course Beverly Hills!  I wasn't sad to see the DC wives get cancelled though & especially not the Miami ladies...I didn't much care for them.  I'm also a Jersey Shore fan "Yeah Buddy"!  And if that wasn't bad enough it even goes in to Bad Girls Club & Toddlers & Tiara's territory.  Maybe I just like them cuz it a self esteem booster!  Don't ya think?  You think you're screwed up & then you watch all of them & you're like...oh wait...i'm not so bad...in fact i'm NORMAL!  LOL!  I'm also a fan of any of the makeover shows & most of the cooking shows.  Ya know who has so real crazy ones??? A & E...how do I know?  Cuz I watch Hoarders...duh!  No, but who watches the shows like....Lady Hoggers???  Just wondering'.  

Artichokes are the way to my HEART!

I was just looking around on www.kraftfoods.com at recipes & I ran across this one on the MVP Recipes for football season! I don't really watch football, except for the occasional Utes games but I thought i'd just make this for myself one night at home! It sounds awesome! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE artichokes! I love them in a sandwich with Sundried Tomatoes. I always joke & say that if you could put a whole antipasti bar on a sandwich it'd be my dream come true! I love all those things! Especially olives...that's the best sandwich ingredient! So, i'm gonna try this out & you should too! I might however, omit the red peppers & maybe do sundried tomatoes or olives...cuz peppers & I are not friends. Haha!

Black Pepper & Artichoke Pizza 

Ingredients:
1 can (14 oz.) artichoke hearts, drained, chopped
3/4 C. KRAFT Mayo with Olive Oil Cracked Pepper Reduced Fat Mayonnaise
1/2 C. Shredded Parmesan Cheese
1/2 C. Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1 ready-to-use baked pizza crust (12 inch)
1/4 C. chopped drained roasted red peppers

HEAT oven to 400ºF.
COMBINE first 4 ingredients.
SPREAD onto crust; top with peppers.
BAKE 15 min. or until cheese is melted.

PS: Ya know what else might be good on this??? Spinach! Then it could be like a different take on Spinach Artichoke Dip...but in a pizza! YUM!

No Squints!

I have an unhealthy obsession with sunglasses. I admit it! I say unhealthy cuz I just can't help myself from buying them...even though I have 20 pair laying around. And they're all basically the same! Just different colors & a little bit different shapes. They have to be pretty square & big though or they make my face look round, ok rounder than it looks anyway. And ya know who has the best selection??? You guessed, didn't you! Ross. I don't really like to admit I shop there but I do, it's my guilty secret. They have the best sunglasses & the best shoes. Clothes...so so. They're usually cheap so when you wash them they get all mishapen & crazy. But, back to my sunglass obsession. I use to buy expensive ones but then realized it wasn't really worth it since I either end up scratching them, losing them or somehow breaking them. So now I just buy cheapies. I also almost ALWAYS wear sunglasses outside as a preventative measure against "crows feet"! You know i'm all about looking younger than I am! So, I suggest getting some. I'm not necessarily particular either...if i'm at some crappy gas station & I see a pair I like, i'll buy them! You should too! Just another one of my compulsive shopping habits! Hahaha!

Meet Your Meat

It's probably been I dunno....10, 11 or 12 years since I stopped eating meat.  When I tell people that they think i'm crazy.  I might be.  You might be wondering why I quit eating meat.  It's all thanks to 1 man.  John Feldmann, the lead singer of Goldfinger.  He put a video on the Peta Starter Kit DVD "Meet Your Meat" of his song "Free Me".  I've seen it a bunch of times & each time I watch it, it makes me cry like a baby.  Literally.  I thought it was so sad that I decided then & there I would not contribute to the cruelty of slaughtering animals.  I do however eat dairy.  But only "Cage Free" Veg fed eggs.  No milk though...it makes me sick to my stomach so I drink Almond Milk.  I use to eat mainly Soy products but not so much anymore since they are finding out that it's not so great for your body.  If you are looking for  a good meat alternative i'd recommend the Quorn brand.  They sell it at Whole Foods & Smith's Marketplace.  I like it the best because it most closely resembles the taste & texture of real meat.  I however, haven't found a good Tofu dog that I like.  Except for the veggie corn dogs at Hot Dog on a Stick.  Weird right?

Another thing I get asked is "How come you cook meat if you don't eat it?"  Why?  Cuz not to eat meat is MY decision.  Not yours.  If you want to eat meat go ahead, it's your body & mind that has to deal with that.  For me though it just seems right.  I don't like those non-meat eaters who think they're all better than people that eat meat.  It's a personal choice just like everything else you do or put in your body is.  Who am I to say i'm right & you who are you?

I'm putting the "Free Me" video at the end of this entry, but I strongly suggest NOT watching it if you are squeamish in any way.  And, if you do watch it...I suggest a box of tissues!


Free Me - Goldfinger