Chocolate, Chocolate and Chocolate ~ Day 19

Last night we spent Christmas Eve at our Friends home. I really miss my family that live in another state, but felt very fortunate to spend time with such wonderful friends. It seems we spent the evening talking and taking in chocolate of all kinds.

The new things for the evening include chocolate gluten free brownies with peanut butter chips, and a yummy chocolate martini. Both were outstanding.





Two new things for the evening and wonderful friends to share Christmas Eve with. It was a fantastic day.

Starbucks - Day 18

What kind of person are you? Do you go to through the line at Starbucks looking for something different or do you already know what you want 30 minutes before you get there. When it comes to Starbucks, I know what I want before I arrive. If it is the winter months I want a Decaf Soy Pumpkin Spice Latte with whip on top please.

I got in line with my husband and was arguing with myself. Yes, I was protesting something new. Why try something new when I already know what I like, why chance it? I may hate it, I may waste $5 dollars on a latte I don't like. Besides, it is just a coffee, why not do something else. The goal is not to stick with the same old, same old, it is to try something new, so damn it, I did it. It doesn't have to be a huge thing, it just has to be a new thing. It is to the break the patterns and the routine and to enjoy new things.



All I can say is, Caramel Brulée Lattes are AWESOME, I love the candies on top. It was my new thing for the day.

Calling all my Peeps!!!!

I am looking for some fun new things to do this new year. If you have any ideas or things, food, places to go, things I shouldn't be living with out, activities or anything, send them my way. I would love to hear them!!

Shepherds Pie ~ Day 17

I have always wanted to make Shepherds pie but never have because of the meltdown I knew would follow. For some crazy reason, 2 of 3 children in this house hate mash potatoes. Tonight I decide too dang bad, mamas making a Shepherds pie!!

I got the recipe off of food network http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/shepherds-pie-recipe2/index.html It had 5 stars, so I had hope. I altered a few things, gluten free flour instead of regular all purpose, ground beef instead of lamb and 1 cup of corn instead of corn and peas, because well, I was all out of peas.



The outcome was a surprise success. Even though it had mashed potatoes, the kids ate it and they all loved it. My oldest asked for seconds and my two that "didn't like mashed potatoes" mixed it all up together and threw it down. Our six year old kept telling me, "I can't believe I like this, it must be a different kind of mashed potatoes." "Sure it is", I said winking at her.

My new thing for the day was Shepherds pie and I am heading back for seconds.

Yogi Tea, a Monkey Bar, and a Mineral Soak ~ Day 16

Have you ever been at a store and thought...hmm I would like to try that! Well, that is what I did today. I tried 3 new things.

Whole Foods has such an amazing selection of food. I love to just walk around and look at all the different things they have. Our first new thing was in the bakery. I got the girls cupcakes and myself a monkey bar. Going gluten free is hard in the treat section, but this was gluten free and some how the combo of coconut, bananas and chocolate chips sounded good. Well, almost anything with chocolate sounds good. I did like it, but it was a little too sweet for me. Although, anything with chocolate it good. Next time the gluten free whoopie pie has my name all over it!

Next I bought Yogi's sleepy time tea to help me ease into bed at night and, oh my, the tea was so good. I would say it was the best sleepy tea I have ever had. This is going to be something I continue to buy, it is something you need to go out and get yourself. It is that good. The Aura Cacia Aromatherapy Mineral Bath was awesome too. I choose Tranquility. The smell filled the bathroom and into my bedroom. I laid in the bath thinking..."this is the life." There is something about a bath that can wipe clear all the stresses and worries of the day. It is almost like a reset button. A cup of tea and a hot bath, who could ask for more after a long day.

My new things for the day monkey bar, tea, and the tranquility mineral bath. A happy end to a crazy day.

Crab for Dinner ~ Day 15

Inspired by Julie and Julia, the movie I watched last night, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and cook something I have never cooked before. I was at Costco and they have whole crabs for a very good price. Although the look of them scared the children, I decide "why not?". I grabbed two and stressed the whole way home.

I don't know what it is about seafood that scares me. Don't get me wrong, I love to eat it, I just have no idea how to cook it. I went to college in Monterey and my husband and I use to love to go out to eat at the local restaurants and seafood was our favorite.



The man at the counter told me to steam it with onions and garlic and I would love it. Worried I may some how mess it up, I looked and looked online for suggestions. Finally after 30 minutes I went with the onions and garlic. Well, the funniest part about the whole thing is they were already cooked. You would think I could figure that out but like I said, I do not cook seafood. Regardless, I steamed the crab for 15 minutes with the garlic and onion and have to say it was AWESOME. Everyone loved it but our youngest who still was freaked out by the whole thing.

We bought crab tonight and cooked it and loved it!!!! It was so easy, definitely something I will do again. Maybe next time I will try buying it live. Talk about freaking out the children.

Homemade Ornaments ~ Day 14

I laughed so hard tonight watching Julie and Julia, a movie I have seen several times and love. I can relate to so many things in both women's lives and I find myself writing down quotes through out the movie that make me laugh or that scream "me". My quote for the day, "I probably need a deadline. Why? Because it will be like everything else I do, and lets face it, I never finish anything. It's true. you know why, I think it is ADD. It is why I am so bad at housework. Oh is that it?" Written for Julie and Julia yet a statement that would come straight from my mouth. So true Julie, so true!!! :) That is also why I gave myself a deadline, to stick with it and to be held accountable. To know that someone, if only one person a day would read this and know. Who ever you are out there, thanks for reading. It is what keeps me writing and trying new things.

Today's new thing included the whole family. To my wonderful mother and mother in law. If you are reading this....STOP NOW. You do not want to ruin your surprise from the girls.

We all sat around the table cutting snowflakes, singing and talking. I finished my gift cards for my nieces and nephews who are now at an age where a giant candy bar and cash makes them smile bigger than spiderman pjs my 4 year old nephew is going to love. I could explain what we made or just show you pictures. I am sure pictures would be much easier.




I laminated them so they would hold up for years to come, and we all had fun. Even my husband, who is not so much of the arts and crafts guy, proved to be the master snowflake maker. Although, he just arrived home and the craft stuff is still on the table, and I just heard him mutter Holy Shit. ADD or not, I think I will clean that up tonight.

Our new thing for the day was homemade ornaments for our family, I really hope they enjoy them.