Archive | February, 2011

Lazy Saturday

28 Feb IMG_4646

After a mega-stress-packed week. I knew it was calling for a lazy Saturday. I like lazy Saturdays better than lazy Sundays.

Sundays are usually for football. But also, I like to be productive on Sundays, so laziness just isn’t an option.

I had big plans for this lazy Saturday. I had a monstrous sleep thanks to my handy-dandy earplugs.

I also had plans for the Apple Cinnamon Streusel Bread I got from Sunflower Market recently. (I am obsessed with all of their bread)

FLAXY FRENCH TOAST

“Marinating”…

I love this bread on its own, but it may not have been sturdy enough for french toast. It got kinda soggy and hard to flip

I got the hang of it by the second piece of bread:

I added my attempt of Jess’ chia icing. I added some orange juice to the mix which was the BEST decision ever

Something still felt like it was missing….

Warmed Berries!

Ahh much better

As you saw in yesterday’s post. I got paid a visit by the stevia fairy.

I couldn’t wait to crack into those babies and figured I try it out with a recipe I had been eyeing from Kate’s blog

Blueberry Lemon Scones! I’m obsessed with scones and these looked DE-vine!

I made a few changes though…

  • 2 cups whole wheat pastry flour Spelt Flour
  • 1/3 cup NuNaturals stevia baking blend or sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, frozen Earth Balance Butter
  • 1/2 cup dried blueberries
  • 1 tbsp lemon zest Lemon Juice
  • 1/2 cup sour cream Greek Yogurt
  • 1 large egg
  • Sucanat (to be sprinkled on top)

Pre Oven:

Post Oven Lovin’:

These were everything I was hoping they would be!

Not too sweet, delicate enough to be paired with tea. But flavorful enough to be eaten on its own.

The lemon juice gave it nice zing too.

These remind me exactly of the crumbly scones you would get at a coffee shop!

I was going to divvy these out to friends, but these are so good I think I’m going to have to be greedy.

It’s okay I’ll make them some orange cranberry scones next week ;)

Since I have just finished my report of Flax and given my presentation, its time to conclude my Flax-a-thon

Now I’m not going to stop shoveling flax down my throat any time soon. I’m just gonna keep all the flaxalicious factoids locked up in my brain.

So I bring you my last Flax Fact of the Day: Flax shortens recovery time for fatigued muscles after exertion and aids in the healing of bruises.

Attention to all Athletes: Go Flax Yourself!

Hope your week is off to a great start!

Casey

Edibles

27 Feb IMG_4534

I interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you an extra special weekend post.

Well it may not be extra special.

You may have noticed I omitted my usual friday post (coz of Grad school interviewing, ya know the deal)

I thought it called for a lazy saturday and follow-post on Sunday!

I really loved all of your comments and commitment to smile at strangers. We’re gonna make this world a better place one smile at a time :)

The post-man has been paying me plenty of visits this week.

I love snail mail! It’s like opening a present that you never know the exact arrival date of.

I received the giveaway I won from Kate over at A Healthy Passion

In the box were: Stevia Baking Blend (So excited to use this!), stevia packets, and vanilla liquid stevia (I later discovered this hidden beneath the packing peanuts.)

Edible

I also got a massive cookbook from the lovely people at NuNaturals. Sadly, I don’t think I can crack into the liquid stevia since I leave so soon.

That one will just have to wait until the fall.

Non Edible (I wonder if elephants ever get confused too)

Note: this is my “confused face.” Procrastination can do crazy things…

Edible

Elise’s TVP faux “tuna” salad.

I mixed the hydrated TVP with some Nayonaise, Relish, chopped Celery and Carrot, and some Stone Ground Mustard.

Another surprise in a cardboard box awaited me at my door:

Non Edible

Thanks, Grandma. This is only slightly creepy.

This battery-powered cat apparently laughs uncontrollably until the batteries run out. My parents warned me that it is pure evil, alas, I have no batteries to bring it to life.

Edible.

After seeing Hannah rave about these bars, I knew I had to take advantage of the availability of them while I’m still in the US of A.

I got a mini Habana bar made with fresh plantain bits…..

Delicious!

Non-Edible


You may remember me talking about my sleeping problems before. Well… I wasn’t going to bed before 2am, even on days where I had to wake up super early.

This went on no matter how tired I was.

My body clock is still off but I am utterly obsessed with earplugs and what they are doing for my sleep and study habits.

These babies form to your ear when you put them in.

I am no longer distracted by outside noises, and I am no longer woken up from clattering pots and pans in the morning or by loud girls coming home from a night out.

 

Do you use earplugs/noise cancellation headphones?

I love em’ both, but due to the price difference (Hello? four pairs of earplugs are two dollars!) I go with the plugs.

Casey

Happiness is a Journey, not a Destination…

24 Feb IMG_4548

I found this card with an inspirational quote on it in the bookstore yesterday.

It spoke to me so much, I just teared up right there in the store.

“Happiness is a journey, not a destination…

For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin – real life.

But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid.

At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.

This perspective has helped me to see there is no way to happiness.

Happiness is the way.

So treasure every moment you have and remember that time waits for no one.”

-Souza

I feel like we all grapple to find happiness constantly and the problem is that we look in the long-term when we should be looking for the happiness in each and every day.

It’s always excuses, excuses, excuses for why we are not happy.

If I only had that job, If I only had more money, If I only had a boyfriend.

It’s time to stop blaming all of these things and take ownership.

You are the only person standing in the way of your own happiness.

It’s time to stop making excuses and start living.

Australia really taught me how to live and take things day by day.

I get so caught up in the future sometimes I miss out on the present.

I went to listened to one of my favorite professors speak tonight. He began his speech by talking about something so simple, yet so overlooked. Saying “Hi” or even a simple smile to the person walking past.

It’s such a small thing but honestly, it can make your day just a little bright brighter, or even theirs.

People are so caught up in their Blackberry’s, Facebook, iPod. They lose touch with reality and lack the time for something as simple as meeting for coffee.

I could on and on about Corey’s speech… or you can just buy his book and have your own personal motivational speaker at your disposal ;)

Operation Beautiful is also another inspiring resource with a great mission.

Next to my mirror I have another greeting card with a quote on the front that I look at every morning.

It says: “Shoot for the Moon. Even if you miss, You’ll land among the Stars.”

My attempt at taking a photo of myself and the quote I have taped up next to my mirror.

Another failed attempt but look! I captured my Australian Flag in it too!

So today I challenge you: smile at least ten people you walk past today. Write down five reasons why you are happy today. And have a conversation, a real-life-in-person conversation, instead of sending someone a text message.

Casey

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