A good fun article - simple questions but good questions
20 Questions that Could Change Your Life
This is a really good blog too...How to Make a Life List You’ll Actually Do: A Comprehensive Guide
2011 has been about me answering some of those 20 questions and making that list. I have started it and keep adding to it.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Gratitude Friday
I am thankful for...1. an amazing drive to Durango - so beautiful!
2. Colorado Mountain Pie for dinner! Yums!
3. Godiva Chocolate
4. beautiful inspiring book on collage
5. music
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
I thought it was just me
I am soaking up everything Brene Brown writes and says. Yesterday she was on VoiceAmerica Talk Radio Network - Real Recognition Radio and I have played it several times - link to her interview.
I really want to be reading The Gift of Imperfection but the library doesn't have it. But they had her other book I Thought It Just Was Me - that is about shame. And although I know have shame - I felt that the other book would be better for me at this time. But I was wrong. I am sure the other book will be great for me as well but this book I think is very helpful for me right now too. I am only a chapter in have several flags in it. Many of her definitions have been like light bulbs for me. The illuminate many places in and how those experiences have effected me today. Even in my art which is why I wanted to read The Gift of Imperfection because I suffer with it having to be perfect.
I am sure I will have a lot of flags sticking out of this book by the time I am done with it.
I really want to be reading The Gift of Imperfection but the library doesn't have it. But they had her other book I Thought It Just Was Me - that is about shame. And although I know have shame - I felt that the other book would be better for me at this time. But I was wrong. I am sure the other book will be great for me as well but this book I think is very helpful for me right now too. I am only a chapter in have several flags in it. Many of her definitions have been like light bulbs for me. The illuminate many places in and how those experiences have effected me today. Even in my art which is why I wanted to read The Gift of Imperfection because I suffer with it having to be perfect.
I am sure I will have a lot of flags sticking out of this book by the time I am done with it.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
What Memories?
Someone on Facebook was talking about how she wanted to find the Vice Principal of our elementary school. I was thinking later that I don't remember any of my elementary teachers names except my 3rd grade teacher as she lived across the street from us and her family was friends with our family. But otherwise I don't remember any of my elementary. And I don't think I remember any junior high. And only a handful of high school teachers. I don't have a lot of memories that others seems to have and it bothers me. It just feels like chunks of my life are missing.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Gratitude Friday
I am thankful for...1. talking to my Grandma
2. warm French Bread
3. date night with my sweetheart - movie and dinner
4. seeing the movie Serenity with other Serenity fans
5. dreams
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Green Shopping
Just some recent finds that like....
Nature Bags - green sustainable bags - look good and not a bad price on them either.
And then these are from the Green Heart Shop
Nature Bags - green sustainable bags - look good and not a bad price on them either.
And then these are from the Green Heart Shop
Monday, January 17, 2011
Popcorn
I made these popcorns as gifts for Christmas the last 2 years. They are always well received and requested.
Zesty Popcorn
1/2 cup unpopped popcorn
6 tablespoons butter, melted
3/4 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 salt
1/3 to 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups pretzels - optional
1 cup nuts - optional
Pop the popcorn. Place in a large bowl with pretzels and nuts if you are adding those (or 2 bowls if you don't have anything large enough to to place all the popcorn).
Combine butter, paprika, chili powder, salt, garlic and onion powder - stirring well. Pour over popped corn; stir to coat popcorn as evenly as possible. Turn mixture onto baking sheet. Sprinkle half the cheese on the popcorn. Bake at 250 degrees F for 20 minutes or until crispy; stirring once. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and toss to coat evenly. Let stand on baking sheet, stirring once or twice as mixture cools.
When thoroughly cool, store in airtight ziplock bags or container.
NOTES:
* I used butter but I am sure margarine would work also.
* My second batch of this I used Penzey's BBQ 3000 in place of the paprika and chili powder and it was even better. The first batch, as the recipe is above, was really good but the BBQ 3000 just gave it a little something extra.
Chocolate Popcorn with Nuts
1/2 cup popcorn kernels
1 1/2 cups nuts (last year I used just peanuts this year I added mixed nuts to it)
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup light corn syrup
6 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoons coarse salt
Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Take a rimmed large cookie sheet (or jelly roll pan or 2 smaller rimmed cookie sheets) and line it with tinfoil. Spray it with cooking spray. Pop the popcorn and place in a large bowl. Add the peanuts and set aside. Put sugar, corn syrup, butter, cocoa, and salt in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until mixture comes to a gentle simmer, about 5 minutes.
Pour sugar mixture over popcorn and nuts; toss to coat. Keeping tossing even if it doesn't look like it is coating well. And even if you are having trouble getting it to coat "well" - it doesn't need to have chocolate on every bit of popcorn. It will be good no matter how the chocolate mixture coated the popcorn. Transfer to baking sheet. Bake until dry. Stirring every 20 minutes and cooking about 1 hour. Cool on sheet on wire racks. And then break apart into pieces. Store in airtight containers or ziplocks.
Butterscotch Popcorn
1/2 cup popcorn kernels
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup corn syrup
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup butterscotch chips
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups peanuts/mixed nuts (optional)
Heat oven to 250 degrees F. Line a large cookie sheet (or 2) with tinfoil. Spray with cooking spray.
Pop the popcorn. Put nuts and popcorn in a very large bowl.
Bring brown sugar, corn syrup and butter to boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Reduce heat and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in butterscotch chips, vanilla extract, baking soda and salt until blended and smooth. It will foam up when you put in the baking soda - that is normal.
Working quickly and using two spoons, pour syrup over popcorn and nuts, stirring to coat thoroughly.
Pour mixture into pan; bake 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
Remove from oven, cool mixture in pan about 15 minutes. Turn mixture out of pan onto foil to cool completely. Break popcorn into smaller pieces; store in airtight containers in cool dry place up to 2 weeks.
Zesty Popcorn
1/2 cup unpopped popcorn
6 tablespoons butter, melted
3/4 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 salt
1/3 to 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups pretzels - optional
1 cup nuts - optional
Pop the popcorn. Place in a large bowl with pretzels and nuts if you are adding those (or 2 bowls if you don't have anything large enough to to place all the popcorn).
Combine butter, paprika, chili powder, salt, garlic and onion powder - stirring well. Pour over popped corn; stir to coat popcorn as evenly as possible. Turn mixture onto baking sheet. Sprinkle half the cheese on the popcorn. Bake at 250 degrees F for 20 minutes or until crispy; stirring once. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and toss to coat evenly. Let stand on baking sheet, stirring once or twice as mixture cools.
When thoroughly cool, store in airtight ziplock bags or container.
NOTES:
* I used butter but I am sure margarine would work also.
* My second batch of this I used Penzey's BBQ 3000 in place of the paprika and chili powder and it was even better. The first batch, as the recipe is above, was really good but the BBQ 3000 just gave it a little something extra.
Chocolate Popcorn with Nuts
1/2 cup popcorn kernels
1 1/2 cups nuts (last year I used just peanuts this year I added mixed nuts to it)
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup light corn syrup
6 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoons coarse salt
Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Take a rimmed large cookie sheet (or jelly roll pan or 2 smaller rimmed cookie sheets) and line it with tinfoil. Spray it with cooking spray. Pop the popcorn and place in a large bowl. Add the peanuts and set aside. Put sugar, corn syrup, butter, cocoa, and salt in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until mixture comes to a gentle simmer, about 5 minutes.
Pour sugar mixture over popcorn and nuts; toss to coat. Keeping tossing even if it doesn't look like it is coating well. And even if you are having trouble getting it to coat "well" - it doesn't need to have chocolate on every bit of popcorn. It will be good no matter how the chocolate mixture coated the popcorn. Transfer to baking sheet. Bake until dry. Stirring every 20 minutes and cooking about 1 hour. Cool on sheet on wire racks. And then break apart into pieces. Store in airtight containers or ziplocks.
Butterscotch Popcorn
1/2 cup popcorn kernels
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup corn syrup
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup butterscotch chips
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups peanuts/mixed nuts (optional)
Heat oven to 250 degrees F. Line a large cookie sheet (or 2) with tinfoil. Spray with cooking spray.
Pop the popcorn. Put nuts and popcorn in a very large bowl.
Bring brown sugar, corn syrup and butter to boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Reduce heat and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in butterscotch chips, vanilla extract, baking soda and salt until blended and smooth. It will foam up when you put in the baking soda - that is normal.
Working quickly and using two spoons, pour syrup over popcorn and nuts, stirring to coat thoroughly.
Pour mixture into pan; bake 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
Remove from oven, cool mixture in pan about 15 minutes. Turn mixture out of pan onto foil to cool completely. Break popcorn into smaller pieces; store in airtight containers in cool dry place up to 2 weeks.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Gratitude Friday
I am thankful for...1. the migraine med I am on....I had my 2nd migraine on Wednesday but 2 migraines in almost 4 weeks - AMAZING!
2. Godiva Chocolate that Michael's parents gave me for Christmas
3. sticky notes. I would be lost without them lately. I need a note to remember everything - my desk has them stuck everywhere.
4. book flags - This little memoir I am reading right now about depression has a few sticking out of them.
5. the nice weather we have been having - beautiful blue skies
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Migraines
I am going to be seeing my doctor soon for my check in to discuss how things have been going with the migraine med. And I can't begin to express what a life changer it has been for me. When you get migraines 3 to 4 times a week, quality of life is non-existent. And with this med, I have only had 1 migraine so far in 3 weeks. And that is when we were in Denver so maybe it was just high altitude thing? I want to blame it on that instead of the med of course. But no matter what this med is working. It is giving me so much light and life. I am able to accomplish more with my day. I am able to see things differently. I am feeling better over all mentally and emotionally too and I know that having migraines so often really hurt me in ways I wasn't even aware of because I was too busy just dealing with the blinding pain. It bothers me being on meds for the sciatica and migraines and depression. But they help. And I don't want to live the other way anymore. Waking up each day without a migraine has been amazing and my doctor is my ROCKSTAR!
Saturday, January 08, 2011
I am Enough
Here is another Dr. Brene Brown TEDx video that actually is more popular but I still like the other better. For me - the other one had more meaning as she has some lines int that I really needed to hear. But this of course as an equally good with the same focus.
Friday, January 07, 2011
Gratitude Friday
I thankful for...1. the good weather over to Denver
2. fun time I always have traveling with Michael. We have good road trip talks and laughs.
3. beautiful Colorado
4. my sister sharing photos of my niece on facebook
5. having my first migraine since being on my med. It is not great that I had a migraine but it has been my first migraine in almost 2 weeks which is unheard of for me so that is GREAT!
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
Dr. Brene Brown
I have a button on the sidebar that says "I choose authenticity." It is from Brene Brown's site. And I love the statement that went with it. Yes that is what I want. And in 2011 it is something I am working towards.
But really what I found interesting is that I put that button up on this blog a while ago. Maybe over a year ago. But I forgot about it. I forgot what the statement on the website said. And now I have come across people quoting Brene Brown, people posting youtube videos of her, talking about her books or about seeing her speak and so on - all over the web it seems I have stumbled upon people talking about Brene Brown. It was like someone was trying to remind me about the button and also trying to tell me to read one of her books as I had been told that a few times too in the past. So I do have a book by her on hold at the library. But the thing that made me go finally put request the book was this video that I stumbled upon somewhere while surfing a few days ago and I can't figure out where now. Sorry!
But really what I found interesting is that I put that button up on this blog a while ago. Maybe over a year ago. But I forgot about it. I forgot what the statement on the website said. And now I have come across people quoting Brene Brown, people posting youtube videos of her, talking about her books or about seeing her speak and so on - all over the web it seems I have stumbled upon people talking about Brene Brown. It was like someone was trying to remind me about the button and also trying to tell me to read one of her books as I had been told that a few times too in the past. So I do have a book by her on hold at the library. But the thing that made me go finally put request the book was this video that I stumbled upon somewhere while surfing a few days ago and I can't figure out where now. Sorry!
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