It's a Wednesday

It's a cold rainy day outside, we've had some beautiful weather and I know the rain is welcomed, but brrrr, I've all ways liked the rain. I've grabbed some lunch that wasn't very yummy and tossed half of it. That pretty much is the way of the day. This morning I woke and told the Dude it was time to get up, he had an appointment this morning. I just want to curl up with him. I've been busy doing things, baking and other projects. I think if I could just lay there and kiss him for about 2 hours I'd be on cloud 9, but alas there are kittens to be fed, showers to take and work to be gotten to. I was running late and I actually buttoned my underwear into my jeans button?? how do you even do that? unbutton and unwedgie myself and ran out the door, again in my glasses because I'm weirdo that can spend 1-5 dollars on strange things and won't spend money on important things like reordering my contacts. I'm working on that today, but I sort of like my glasses from time to time, I look at the face in the mirror and see 24 year old me from many moons ago. Granted she had contacts... but same ole Mandy waited to order contacts back then also, but because she was figure out how to make a meal out of mustard broke, not just being cheap. ha ha 

Got to work with my banana muffin, that I didn't drop at all and figured that was a win, and of course my Mac is being wonky it has gone on Spring Break ya'll Beach balls for everyone!! (Mac's have little beach balls instead of hour glasses flipping which I think PC's have) At some point I go to the bathroom and I have my underwear on inside out... my underwear hates me today. I swear I have been dressing myself for years...

I've been feeling a little blue. I think I've overwhelmed myself. I get this way from time to time. Like I have all of these ideas and I want to get them all done and I have projects and thoughts and then I also have things that I need to do, laundry, scrub the tub, dinner, workout, beauty regiments, world peace, write the great American novel, feed the hungry, cloth the naked... etc. you catch my drift. I must add that my guy is amazing he just does things, laundry boom, dishes done, he helps me with my strange projects - he's amazing. But I like to feel like I can do it all. Simple thing is I can not, even when it is just me in the cats in the Great Kick a Shoe Nation, life is messy and we all go thought times like this I believe. So I just have to take a step back and go well look at what I did do today. I also have to check my attitude, I can't control a lot of things, but this one I can. I can chose to be stubborn and grumpy or laugh and find the bright. I choose to laugh. 

I've gotten up, I've kissed my guy, I've fed our cats, I've kicked some layouts' booties, I've given out a recipe, I've counted how many stamps we'll need for wedding invites, I've ran in the rain, I've prayed for loved ones, I've laughed at myself, I've filled out not one but 2 basketball brackets, I've seen a photo of my new baby cousin, born today and he is beautiful, I've read some of Gone Girl. I totally plan on stealing chocolate from a jar and having a blast with some good friends tonight and eating this yummy  vanilla lemon cake I made and jungle juice I assembled, then coming home and snuggling up close to this handsome man that will wrap his arms around me and tell me stories about his day. If you look at it, it's a pretty good day. :)

Tomorrow I plan on not doing anything, but curling up on the couch next to him and watching some tv. No wedding things unless we need to, no baking, no other projects just relaxing and letting this mind chill. Mmmmm maybe I'll grab some tea and start now mmmmmmm.


So grab some tea and chill with me,
-Amanda

I geek out even when I don't know it

Today as some girls do I wondered what I would name my future babies. I always lean towards 2 boys and a girl, but who actually knows what I'll get. I was trying to put some of our family names together and I really love James Forrest for 2 of our grandpas and I've always loved the name Lily. While girly-ly writing the names down I noticed that I would have a James and a Lily...... my subconscious loves Harry Potter too much I think.... But I'd totally love them, my little potters and they wouldn't have any idea ha ha.

The Bathroom Stall Seamstress Will See You Now

This is me and my new fantastic tiny scissors!!

Do you know why I had to get tiny fantastic scissors??
Well Let me tell you!

In search of wedding shoes I went to Payless they were having a 15% off of your purchase sale for Friday the 13th.... DUN, dun DUNNNN! I went over there to take a peek and didn't see anything I liked, but as I walked out headed to my Jeep and noticed this on the ground thinking it was a snake about to strike my foot...

 I leapt into the Jeep and heard a loud ripppppp! And.... yeah.....

I had a piece of tape I tried to "fix" it with......

I looked back outside (took photo) of my "snake" ..... and about died laughing...
shoelace snake....

So off to Walmart I go to get a sewing kit, I have TONS of sewing stuff at home, but thought as this just happened I really should have something at work.... or in my purse or everywhere....
why do I do weird things??

I found a tiny one that would be perfect for $1 and back to work I went.
I took my tiny kit and opened shop inside the last stall. 

It ain't pretty but it will due :D  Let me add that is is very hard to sew with your clothes still on. I should have taken my pants off then sewn.... but yeah that didn't happen. What if a fire started?? 

Here I would be hopping around pant-less. At least this way I'd just stab myself if I had to hastily pull my pants up.... there was no fire, only bad stitching...

So next time you rip a slip, bounce a button or slit your shirt Call:

Amanda Your friendly Bathroom Stall Seamstress

Pardon our smell, we'll get you mended up swell!

I'm up in stitches, smell ya later!

-Amanda

Cookies.... Lot's of Cookies

I love Walking Dead. Zombies scare the poop out of me. I have nightmares about zombies sleeping on my floor and having to whack them with something or stay very quiet. Last episode of Walking Dead the character Carol made cookies...... and put fear into a small boy...... but everything is alright.... as long as you keep  your mouth shut and just chew your cookies....
Sooo many funny meme's appeared plus a recipe that I'm going t make on Sunday for the next episode!!!

I'm just gonna go look at the Flour.....-Amanda

I’m an artist I can render anything ha ha

This is my drawing talent.....

Sometimes (a lot of the time) I have the most random thoughts about things. In the shower this morning I thought the house is quiet, and little too quiet, It’s a Ralph, a little too Ralph.... ahhhh Ninja Turtles how I love you. 

I always see those things that say “artist’s rendering” and I think to myself, I’m an artist I could render something.... oh how I wish I had actual drawing abilities.... If I try really hard I can, but that’s not my main form of art. I’m a graphic artist, I let my ideas fall into a computer program and then I bend it to my will. A mouse and key board are my tools of the trade. I really love it, I love everything the Adobe suites can help me do! I feel like I’m an artist in other ways, I love to try things, crochet, knitting, sewing, baking, writing and building. I feel like there is an artist in all of us needing to create. I do have a degree in computer networking, but switched to art, when my dad asked me why I said that my father (God) is a creator I feel like I need to create things like him. That’s how I feel about things that artist’s make, it is their talent to bring things to life. I love that we are all built with an ability to do something in our hearts something that makes us feel complete. My beautiful friend Georgia is becoming a nurse, I 100% believe that she is meant to do it. It’s natural for her it’s like breathing to care for people to fix there bodies to see what is hurting and broken. I really feel like I’m going to burst when I think about how proud I am of her and seeing and hearing the joy that she has learning  how to care for people and actually doing it.  oh the love!!!

Got my teeth cleaned they feel sort of ouchy now. I could hardly eat a banana.... I have a few cavities to fill., but not too bad. Butttttttt! I have to have my wisdom teeth out in the fall. At least it will be after the wedding.

I’ve ordered my corset for my wedding dress should be here by the end of the week!!! The shoes are a no go. Those evil things although beautiful have like a 3 inch platform on the front and I can’t walk in them, which is most of my job during the wedding. I figure I’m the most important walker, better not fall. So the shoe search continues. I feel like I have a ton of things to do before the wedding and I haven’t done any of them, well got them finished I have to finish the programs and flowers, mail the invites, get stamps to mail the invites. I still have time, but I feel like it’s going to creep up on me quick.

I’m really wanting to sew things!! I’ve got plans for a baby blanket for my cousin-to-be Kaylee and her new baby girl and I want to make things for my bridesmaids and oh yeah my dress and veil yadda yadda. I need to just roll my sewing machine out to the living room and get going. (I have a sewing room/office, but I made my machine mobile because I like to watch my big TV....) I also love opening the living room windows and enjoying the fresh air. I’m just going to buckle down and do it tonight! woot! I love making things so much!!!

While at Sam’s last night I saw Lilac bushes for sale. I sooooooo want one of these. We had one growing up and it is the best smell in the world the pretty purple flowers are wonderful to pick and put into a vase to freshen up the room or my office desk! I’d love to be able to bring fresh ones in. Flowers make me happy. I just cleaned up the front over the weekend and I’m ready to pick out some new flowers and planters for the front and on the deck for this weekend is cleaning out the back yard garden to get ready to plant hopefully next month.

I don’t work this weekend so we are having family over for a little dinner BBQ. The Dude is lord and master of the grill so I leave that up to him, I shall assist in any sides, but I shall preside over the dessert! My aunt’s favourite dessert is Key Lime pie... so I’m doing a take on that. My uncle can’t have milk, the dude can’t have gulten so in comes PALEO KIWI LEMON CHEESECAKE!!! I’m going to give it a test run this week and if it’s yucky back to the drawing board, but I thought it had everything for the makings of a truly tasty spring dessert everyone could enjoy!

http://www.paleolland.com/2014/paleo-kiwi-lemon-cheesecake/

PALEO KIWI LEMON CHEESECAKE

PREP TIME

30 mins

TOTAL TIME

30 mins

Author: Paleolland

INGREDIENTS

For the crust:

• ¾ cup (100 gr) raw nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts)
• 10 Medjool dates, pitted
• 3 tbsp cinnamon

For the filling:

• ½ cup (70 gr) cashews, soaked for 4-8 hours and rinsed
• 1½ cup coconut cream (leave a can of full fat coconut milk opened in the fridge overnight and scoop off the top part, this is coconut cream)
• ¼ cup honey
• juice of 2 lemons
• zest of 2 organic lemons
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• pinch of seesalt
• ½ cup coconut oil, liquefied
• optional drops of vanilla stevia

For topping

• 2 kiwis, peeled, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add nuts and dates to food processor and process.
2. Press nut-date mixture into a round 7" springform pan lined with unbleached parchment paper on the bottom.
3. Rinse your foodprocessor.
4. Place cashews, coconut cream, honey, lemon juice, lemon zest, vanilla extract, and sea salt in the food processor and blend.
5. Add the coconut oil last while the processor is running.
6. Puree the mixture a few minutes until the cashews are completely broken down and you get a completely smooth, creamy mixture.
7. Taste your “cheese” and add stevia (optional) to suit your needs.
8. Pour filling onto crust
9. Scatter kiwis on top.

Gosh I just love that is going to be spring!!! Loving the weather, loving all the fun things coming up!!! Ahh1 It’s just so exciting to be out of the winter!!

See ya later springtime gators!
-Amanda

March in like a Lion, I like to work it, work it!

So for many March Madness is all about basketball. While in our home there always seems to be some sort of game on, my March is going to be mad with working out. I've finally (hopefully) pulled myself out of my winter funk where all I want to do is live indoor in a blanket, seriously I would want to be a house broken bear or some animal that hibernates. Call me when winter is gone.

So yet again up on the workout wagon. Today I hopped on the bike and did 20 mins at different resistances and speeds from one of those modes things, hit the button and the bike beeps at you like Pedal faster lumpy legs GO GO GO.... I can tell you where to shove all of your beeps bike, I'm pedaling as fast as they go today. All that sweaty work and only 100 calories gone. But it wasn't all bad I did get to watch part of Downton Abby on instant video. Fell off bike wattled upstairs and into the shower.

Packed my lunch a yummy salad with ham and ranch dressing, grabbed an apple and a banana and out the door.  I went planning of sticking to the food stuffs I brought to eat, but that went a little out the window when I went to the bookmobile to grab my reserved books.  I bought a vanilla ice cream cone.... I've been WANTING ice cream forever. I made frozen bananas last night and while super yummy it just didn't fill that ice cream void... oh well I have tons of work out stuff tonight, kickboxing and PiYo! Woot!

BTW I looked like a total creeper at the bookmobile... I got 3 Joe Hill books (horror) and The Marked Ones (horror) movie, plus when I checked out I bet she could see that I still had The Boy Who Drew Monsters (I'm reading currently) lol it's just me, but if I were her I'd be weirded out that this chick is way into creepiness.... They just all became available at the same time!!! and yes I do like creepy from time to time, but it doesn't usually look so um.... much... So off I went with my stack of hide-under-your-blankets fuel and headed back to work.

I am hopping that the salad/ice cream cone tides me over today. I do have a delicious apple and if that doesn't do the trick I have lightly salted popcorn I can nuke.

I've got a wedding dress to look wonderful in and a fun summer ahead so hitting the workouts hard and trying to become better in what I eat.

Toast triangels and ta- ta!
-Amanda