So, I played Betty Crocker today. Just 'cause I felt like baking. Not 'cause I felt like eating. I bought a couple packages of cookie mix at the store, and some chips. I started putting the mixes together at home, when I decided to be creative. I went through the fridge and the pantry and started chucking in anything else I thought would go well in cookies. So, this is what I came up with. Turned out purdy-darn tasty if you ask the boys (and yes, I even tried one. Okay, I tried two)
Recipe: Everything But The Kitchen Sink Cookies
1 pkg Betty Crocker oatmeal, chocolate chip cookie mix
1 pkg Betty Crocker peanut butter cookie mix
1 tbsp water
3 tbsp oil
2 eggs
1 stick softened butter
1/2 can canned pumpkin (not pie mix, just canned pumpkin)
2 tbsp honey
3 tbsp Peanut Butter Co. dark chocolate dreams peanut butter
1/2 pkg Reese's peanut butter chips for baking
1/2 pkg Hershey's semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 pkg Hershey's butterscotch chips
1/2 pkg Hershey's cinnamon chips
1 individual pkg M&M's
1 individual pkg peanut butter M&M's
(I would've used pecan pieces too, but our kids don't like 'em)
Pre-heat oven 375
Mix the packaged mixes with all the chips and M&M's first. Then add the rest of the ingredients. Mix well, then dollop onto cookie sheet in whatever size cookie you choose. I make them about the size of a heaping tablespoon. Bake in oven 13-15 min. I stop at 13, 'cause we like them uber soft and mushy. (They're not that mushy, lol, but they're good!) Let them cool on cookie sheet 1-2 min, then move them to either a cooling rack, or a plate, and let them cool another 5 min or so, or be like my Austin, and just take it straight off the cookie sheet, regardless if it's so soft, it just falls apart.
Enjoy, they're ever so yummy!!! :-)
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
My Happy Place
In the sense of "raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens", I feel the need to mention some of the things that make me smile on the outside and feel warm and cozy on the inside.....taking me to my happy place.....
Since it's fall, I'll start there -- the temps dropping overnight, so I don't feel the need to run the window ac in our bedroom, making it cozy enough to cuddle under all the bedding and next to my hubby. The temps rising enough in the daytime that you can't decide if it's cool enough for a hoodie, but better bring it just in case. Obviously the beautiful glow of the rainbow of colors spilling out from every tree, every bush, the golden glow of the bean/corn fields against the horizon of a turquoise sky. The leaves crunching underfoot as you walk with your kids to the high school football game. Football, both pro and local high school. Who doesn't enjoy Friday Night Lights when 1/2 the town gathers in the stadium, our boys are on the field, either throwing the ball, making the tackle, or playing their trumpet, baritone or percussion, giving the audience a truly fantastic show of creativity, talent and skill, or our cheerleaders getting the audience all wound up and excited as we all root for our team! Eating pumpkin flavored anything. Enjoying the warm, inviting scent of cinnamon, baked apple pie, pumpkin, snickerdoodle, cranberry cobbler or vanilla spice candles burning in every room throughout the house. A bright sunny sky, with or w/o some clouds, no matter what the temp is. Cumulonimbus clouds bringing the excitement of a good thunderstorm. Cumulus clouds that you can let your imagination run wild with as you determine what shape each cloud makes, usually it's cartoon characters or animals, lol. The flowers in gardens that are finally in their full, vibrant bloom, reminding you, there is still a hint of summer remaining. The kids raking up piles of leaves, just so they can take a running leap, dive in, bury themselves, and scare the first unsuspecting person walking by. Fall festivities such as Scenic Drive, trips to the pumpkin patch or apple orchard, corn mazes, scarecrow contests, bonfires. Actually having a bonfire that you can stand close to, to keep warm while roasting marshmallows or hot dogs, telling ghost stories to the kids, or sending them out on a snipe hunt, (I still claim that I saw one once!!) I love, love, love Hallowe'en!! One of my fave holidays!!! Seeing all the creative costumes the kids (and adults) wear. Getting to dress in costume myself (yes...I still love doing that!!!) Digging through the boys trick-or-treat buckets for chocolate. Hearing spooky music being played. Choosing to get scared on purpose, either by going to a haunted house, or watching a scary movie.
The kids being in school so my hubby and I have some "free" personal time, like going out for lunch or Christmas shopping (always start early!) Getting to wear make-up again, and re-discovering my fall/winter wardrobe, and shoes. Scarves. I love scarves. Watching in fascination as the birds begin their migration to warmer climates - although that's kind of a love-hate thing, lol. It's fascinating to see these birds by the hundreds, but so sad to know why they're leaving.
I love the smell of bread baking. I love open-fingered gloves, and the super-soft (like a baby's stuffed animal) gloves. I love big, knit berets. And I love wearing all these....and a scarf w/nothing more than a sweater or hoodie. As long as it's not cold enough for a coat, it's all good! I love hearing the boys laughing and excited to tell me all about their day at school, as they're walking in the door at 3:30 in the afternoon. I love it when they're being so loud and obnoxious, and crazy-silly. Or when they bring out the Eye Toy on the PS3 to make super-silly movies. I love hearing a small child w/a big belly laugh that is so contagious, you don't want it to ever end, and you start laughing right along with them, clueless as to what is so funny, lol. I love when a stranger smiles at you, as you pass them by, or when a boy shows he's a gentleman as he proudly holds the door open for you w/a friendly smile across his face. I love hearing musack being played in the store that is mimicking a current top 40 song, and bobbing my head to it....then of course singing it out loud, making people look at you funny. Even more fun is playing an awesome song in the van and bouncing around to it, singing loud enough for the person in the car next to you to hear. Especially when it's either a current popular song that teens will think you're too old to enjoy, or a classic that most teens don't appreciate (although, our kids prefer classic rock, The Beatles and even 80's music). It's so much fun to embarrass them, lol.
I love wearing tops that make me feel like I'm in my early 20's. Like long sleeved thumb-hole shirts under artsy tee shirts. I love wearing my hair like Alice from my favorite Twilight movies, (time for a haircut soon, it's been a year since my last one!) I love, love, love nail polish!!!! I love painting my nails. And although it drives my husband crazy that retailers are ripping us women off by charging $7 a bottle for polish (he compares the cost to a gallon of paint, and says it's much cheaper that way, lol!), I'm always looking for new colors. I have an obsession over colors. Probably why I still colored in coloring books until I was introduced to Stampin' Up! only a few years ago, and the obsession of card making, lol. I love colors, and finding creative ways to use them.
And......I looooove working out at the gym. So, on that note (and worthy reminder that I am indeed still sitting in my van in the gym parking lot, watching people exit the building....after I previously watched them enter.......does this give you an idea of long I've been working on this?!?!) -- I seriously need to get my butt in there to get my own workout done for the day.
I sure feel good now, thinking about so many things that make me feel happy this time of year, or all the time, for that matter, lol. Now to enjoy my morning!!! :-) :-) :-) :-)
Since it's fall, I'll start there -- the temps dropping overnight, so I don't feel the need to run the window ac in our bedroom, making it cozy enough to cuddle under all the bedding and next to my hubby. The temps rising enough in the daytime that you can't decide if it's cool enough for a hoodie, but better bring it just in case. Obviously the beautiful glow of the rainbow of colors spilling out from every tree, every bush, the golden glow of the bean/corn fields against the horizon of a turquoise sky. The leaves crunching underfoot as you walk with your kids to the high school football game. Football, both pro and local high school. Who doesn't enjoy Friday Night Lights when 1/2 the town gathers in the stadium, our boys are on the field, either throwing the ball, making the tackle, or playing their trumpet, baritone or percussion, giving the audience a truly fantastic show of creativity, talent and skill, or our cheerleaders getting the audience all wound up and excited as we all root for our team! Eating pumpkin flavored anything. Enjoying the warm, inviting scent of cinnamon, baked apple pie, pumpkin, snickerdoodle, cranberry cobbler or vanilla spice candles burning in every room throughout the house. A bright sunny sky, with or w/o some clouds, no matter what the temp is. Cumulonimbus clouds bringing the excitement of a good thunderstorm. Cumulus clouds that you can let your imagination run wild with as you determine what shape each cloud makes, usually it's cartoon characters or animals, lol. The flowers in gardens that are finally in their full, vibrant bloom, reminding you, there is still a hint of summer remaining. The kids raking up piles of leaves, just so they can take a running leap, dive in, bury themselves, and scare the first unsuspecting person walking by. Fall festivities such as Scenic Drive, trips to the pumpkin patch or apple orchard, corn mazes, scarecrow contests, bonfires. Actually having a bonfire that you can stand close to, to keep warm while roasting marshmallows or hot dogs, telling ghost stories to the kids, or sending them out on a snipe hunt, (I still claim that I saw one once!!) I love, love, love Hallowe'en!! One of my fave holidays!!! Seeing all the creative costumes the kids (and adults) wear. Getting to dress in costume myself (yes...I still love doing that!!!) Digging through the boys trick-or-treat buckets for chocolate. Hearing spooky music being played. Choosing to get scared on purpose, either by going to a haunted house, or watching a scary movie.
The kids being in school so my hubby and I have some "free" personal time, like going out for lunch or Christmas shopping (always start early!) Getting to wear make-up again, and re-discovering my fall/winter wardrobe, and shoes. Scarves. I love scarves. Watching in fascination as the birds begin their migration to warmer climates - although that's kind of a love-hate thing, lol. It's fascinating to see these birds by the hundreds, but so sad to know why they're leaving.
I love the smell of bread baking. I love open-fingered gloves, and the super-soft (like a baby's stuffed animal) gloves. I love big, knit berets. And I love wearing all these....and a scarf w/nothing more than a sweater or hoodie. As long as it's not cold enough for a coat, it's all good! I love hearing the boys laughing and excited to tell me all about their day at school, as they're walking in the door at 3:30 in the afternoon. I love it when they're being so loud and obnoxious, and crazy-silly. Or when they bring out the Eye Toy on the PS3 to make super-silly movies. I love hearing a small child w/a big belly laugh that is so contagious, you don't want it to ever end, and you start laughing right along with them, clueless as to what is so funny, lol. I love when a stranger smiles at you, as you pass them by, or when a boy shows he's a gentleman as he proudly holds the door open for you w/a friendly smile across his face. I love hearing musack being played in the store that is mimicking a current top 40 song, and bobbing my head to it....then of course singing it out loud, making people look at you funny. Even more fun is playing an awesome song in the van and bouncing around to it, singing loud enough for the person in the car next to you to hear. Especially when it's either a current popular song that teens will think you're too old to enjoy, or a classic that most teens don't appreciate (although, our kids prefer classic rock, The Beatles and even 80's music). It's so much fun to embarrass them, lol.
I love wearing tops that make me feel like I'm in my early 20's. Like long sleeved thumb-hole shirts under artsy tee shirts. I love wearing my hair like Alice from my favorite Twilight movies, (time for a haircut soon, it's been a year since my last one!) I love, love, love nail polish!!!! I love painting my nails. And although it drives my husband crazy that retailers are ripping us women off by charging $7 a bottle for polish (he compares the cost to a gallon of paint, and says it's much cheaper that way, lol!), I'm always looking for new colors. I have an obsession over colors. Probably why I still colored in coloring books until I was introduced to Stampin' Up! only a few years ago, and the obsession of card making, lol. I love colors, and finding creative ways to use them.
And......I looooove working out at the gym. So, on that note (and worthy reminder that I am indeed still sitting in my van in the gym parking lot, watching people exit the building....after I previously watched them enter.......does this give you an idea of long I've been working on this?!?!) -- I seriously need to get my butt in there to get my own workout done for the day.
I sure feel good now, thinking about so many things that make me feel happy this time of year, or all the time, for that matter, lol. Now to enjoy my morning!!! :-) :-) :-) :-)
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Day of recovery
Wow! I had a true experience in just how important it is to allow your body a full day off from working out, so it has the chance to fully recover!! Especially, if you're like me and do a cardio and weight resistance or weight training workout. Let me start from Monday. Monday I went to the gym for my full workout. Then, that afternoon, I decided to work in the yard. Cleaning out dead flowers from the flower bed, then I took on the big job of weeding out a section of our gravel driveway that has been recovering in its own right from my van getting stuck in it back in March, ultimately leading to a temporary demise. So, I spent the remainder of the afternoon pulling weeds there, bent over in a squat position for several hours.
Tuesday, I went to the gym only for time on the treadmill. Most of my "off-days" I will still get a good cardio workout in, which will allow me to get my heart rate up, burning fat, but allowing my muscles a day to recover and repair. Then I came home to return to my weed-pulling task, again in squat position for several hours. Wednesday, back to the gym for a full workout, then my hubby and I spent the afternoon at the driving range practicing our golf swing. Thursday, a FANTASTIC workout!!! I still can't get over how much I worked myself that day! But, I was too busy the rest of the day to get anymore weed pulling in.....which proved to be a good thing. By Thursday evening, I was getting real sore, and real stiff. Yesterday, (Friday), I was so incredibly sore, there was absolutely NO way I was going to even try to walk at a snails pace on the treadmill, I could barely walk around the store when Don wanted to so some shopping! I took Advil several times yesterday to help squelch the pain from my workouts and weed pulling. Didn't really help much. I was in so much discomfort and pain, I wanted to just curl up and cry.... but I can't just sit around and do nothing, so I kept at my day of running around, till bedtime. Uncomfortable the entire day!!! I went to bed scared that I'd not be able to do my workout this morning, and that maybe something else was going on, other than a painful recovery day.
But.....here I am...after a good night sleep, and an honest-to-goodness day of recovery, most of that pain is officially gone!! And, I am ready for another great workout!!! It is sooo important to allow your body a full day of recovery every few days. Your body needs that time to repair itself. Regardless if you've been having bad diet-days, or if you've hit a plateau, and feel the need to just keep going everyday......if you don't give yourself the proper time to recover/repair....you're only going to cause damage, which could lead to injury, which could lead to a lot more time off from your workout. So, take that full day off now and then. You won't regret it! :-) :-)
Tuesday, I went to the gym only for time on the treadmill. Most of my "off-days" I will still get a good cardio workout in, which will allow me to get my heart rate up, burning fat, but allowing my muscles a day to recover and repair. Then I came home to return to my weed-pulling task, again in squat position for several hours. Wednesday, back to the gym for a full workout, then my hubby and I spent the afternoon at the driving range practicing our golf swing. Thursday, a FANTASTIC workout!!! I still can't get over how much I worked myself that day! But, I was too busy the rest of the day to get anymore weed pulling in.....which proved to be a good thing. By Thursday evening, I was getting real sore, and real stiff. Yesterday, (Friday), I was so incredibly sore, there was absolutely NO way I was going to even try to walk at a snails pace on the treadmill, I could barely walk around the store when Don wanted to so some shopping! I took Advil several times yesterday to help squelch the pain from my workouts and weed pulling. Didn't really help much. I was in so much discomfort and pain, I wanted to just curl up and cry.... but I can't just sit around and do nothing, so I kept at my day of running around, till bedtime. Uncomfortable the entire day!!! I went to bed scared that I'd not be able to do my workout this morning, and that maybe something else was going on, other than a painful recovery day.
But.....here I am...after a good night sleep, and an honest-to-goodness day of recovery, most of that pain is officially gone!! And, I am ready for another great workout!!! It is sooo important to allow your body a full day of recovery every few days. Your body needs that time to repair itself. Regardless if you've been having bad diet-days, or if you've hit a plateau, and feel the need to just keep going everyday......if you don't give yourself the proper time to recover/repair....you're only going to cause damage, which could lead to injury, which could lead to a lot more time off from your workout. So, take that full day off now and then. You won't regret it! :-) :-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)