Mountains into Molehills

Here in the PNW we have a little candy company called Brown and Haley.

(Maybe you are familiar with Almond Roca ~ no Christmas is complete without it, just fyi)

Well they also make something called a Mountain Bar. 

I loved these when I was little and hadn't seen them in the store in years.  Yesterday my mom and I were in a little local gift shop and they had them.  I plunked down my 69 cents and chose the Peanut Butter one.

As I was about to rip into it, I decided I would just check to see what the calorie count on this baby was. 

230

It stopped dead in my tracks.  I was so excited for my peanut buttery goodness, but I just couldn't justify that many "empty" calories (especially with something the size of a half dollar) so I put it in my purse.  Later in the day, I decided that if I just ate half of it that would be better than all of it.  I ate half of it and it just wasn't as good as I remembered and certainly not worth the calories I just gave up. 

I was bummed yet proud of myself at the same time. 

The old me would have just popped it in my mouth and not given it a second thought (I might have even gotten a second one for the road, tsk tsk) but my newly more aware self took a second to think, evaluate and then decide. 

 

Even though I still ate half of it, I realized that I won't be temped in the future and a Butterfinger mini packs the same punch (maybe even slightly better) and is on 80 calories. 

It all comes down to choices and every calorie saved gets me that much closer to my goal.

Fresh Starts

Happy 2013!!

As with every January 1st we look ahead with excitement for things to come.

Fresh starts always seem to be the theme of the day.

Trying to get a jump start on my New Year's Resolution, I started mine on Dec. 2nd.

I was watching a YouTube video on simplifying and the chick made a good point ~ why wait? 

So I didn't. 

I've really been trying to be more mindful of my eating. 

Most days go well, some are less than stellar, but still much better than before.

Focus on the positive, right??

One of my goals is to eat more eggs.  I'm not a huge egg fan to begin with, but I know they are a good source of protein and good way to start your day.  For me, the secret for eating eggs is to mix them with things I do like so I've been enjoying this little breakfast casserole. 

I whip it up on Sunday and breakfast is ready for the week. 

The best part it is only 230 calories per slice and surprisingly filling.

Pair it with some fruit or a smoothie and you are good to go.

 

Benji's Egg Casserole
3 servings of hash browns
1 C 1% milk
6 eggs
2 oz shredded cheddar cheese
1 C bacon bits (I use the Kirkland "fresh" bacon bits)
In a 9x9 pan layer hash browns, eggs/milk, bacon and cheese
Bake at 350 for 55 min
Makes 6 servings

Enjoy

Yokofest '12

The house is quiet so I thought I would do a little post of our annual Christmas party. 

It was a few weeks ago and it went really well. 

Way back when,  I remember watching an episode of the Wonder Years and it was about the neighbors who threw a Christmas party every year. 

I remembered thinking, "when I grow up, I want to be those neighbors". 

When we bought our current house, we kicked off our annual shindig tradition ("Yokofest" as it is known in the hipster circles of Browns Point).

This year it was legan (wait for it) dary.

We had over 50 folks so up and the house was FULL and buzzing with that good party vibe.  We have a pretty eclectic group of friends but it is usually the same crowd year after year. So despite the fact folks are from all over W. WA, they have gotten to know each other making mingling much easier. 

 

After 8 parties, I think my sister-in-law and I have found the secret.  We kept the food simple.  In years past we have found ourselves slaving away in the kitchen and not with our guests.  What's the point of having a party if you don't get to enjoy yourself??  This year, the goal was to have all the food done and out by 7:30-7:45.  The party starts at 7 but we know folks like to be fashionably late so this worked out perfectly. 

We pride ourselves on a good spread.  Good food and lots of it. We try and offer lots of options (nothing worse than going to a party and you don't like or can't eat any of the food)  It is a lot of work, but the end result is worth it. 

At the end of the night, the best part is always the people.  We are so blessed to have so many dear friends who make the pilgrimage every year to kick off the holidays in our home and I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

Bullying

Not all bullying happens on the playground.

I thought the point of fundraising was to help get kids to camp not line some rep's pockets.

Silly me

Scouts

Not this kind of scout...

This kind of scout.

I had an interesting experience yesterday, Ben was scouted.

I was working the gate at the football game yesterday when a guy came up and asked if the Tigers were playing today.  They weren't and the guy said, "that's too bad. I was hoping to check out one of the players".  Out of curiosity I asked who he was hoping to see.  He said "I want to talk to the tight end about coming to play for our select 13/14 team.  I think his name is Yokosomething".

Really?? Ben??

Now in our little neck of the woods, there is a little thing called select soccer.  It is insane.  Like totally life consuming, drain your bank account crazy.  Whenever I hear my friends talking about traveling here or writing a check for thousands of dollars there (yes, you read that right, THOUSANDS)   I think thank god Ben doesn't play soccer.  So when the word "select" came out of his mouth I got a pit in my stomach. 

Was it kind of cool, the guy knew about Ben and actually knew his name (well, he was close)?

Yes

Where we ready to get involved with something "select"?

Not sure

I sent the scout down to talk to Joj and Ben.  I figured Joj could size this guy up and ask the important questions.  When I caught up with Joj I asked what he and Ben thought. 

Turns out Ben wants to try out for the team. 

Try outs are tonight and Ben is going to check it out.  I'm glad that Ben is excited about football and sees this as an opportunity to improve his skills, but I'm also very leery about we might be getting into.

I guess we will have to wait and see.

Flour ~ it's important

Today is finally Fall here in the PNW.

It is gray

It is raining (altho around here WA call it "sprinkling" ~ we are like Eskimos and snow, we have a million different names for types of rain)

Joj is on his way home from a biz trip in SC and the kids are at school. That means the house is QUIET and it seemed like a good time to bake. 

I'm making some long promised Snickerdoodles.

Whenever I am looking for a recipe I always start my google search with "the best ____ ever".  I found one that sounded simple enough, didn't require crisco (which I was out of) and had a pretty picture of the final product.  Okay, sold.

I measured, mixed and baked.

When I checked on them, I was NOT happy with what I saw.

Ugh.

I really HATE when a recipe flops.  All that time and expensive butter down the drain (literally). It sucks more when you realize that YOU didn't read the recipe correctly.  Yes, cookies will spread if you leave out a C of flour. Umm yeah. I believe the kids these days call it a "facepalm".

Long story short I found another recipe, read it very carefully and the result is pretty impressive if I do say so myself. 

Wishing you a very yummy weekend

:0)

 

Back to school...

Yesterday was the first day of school.  Ben is a big 8th grader (his last year of middle school) and Sam is in 4th grade with the same teacher she had in Kindergartem (we are very excited about that)

This summer seemed to zoom by a little too quickly for my liking, but I have to admit I do like that fact that kids are back in school. 

We need some structure around here so it's a good thing. 

The start of school also means back to work for me. 

I do English testing for my old district and it allows me to make a little mad money without being tied down to a "real job". 

Plus it allows me the flexibility to volunteer at the kids' schools which is nice.

I hope your first day of school went well.

:0)