Another week begins! I can’t believe how quickly last week flew! How was your weekend?
We went for a walk and Snuff found her first fall leaf.
Then, a neighbor saw us walking down the sidewalk (I let Snuffy walk on the sidewalk like a “big girl” when we’re in our neighborhood) and gave Snuff a flower from her flower bed.
I checked the mail upon arriving back home and I found an early birthday “gift”
Nice but, I don’t usually buy salon products. Sweet of them to send it though. However, this is a reminder that my birthday is quickly approaching! What does that mean to you? NO MORE BLURRY PHONE PIX!!
Snuffy and I took a long overdue trip to Trader Joe’s. We went to Whole Foods and Wal-Mart (gasp!) as well. Some of you may know by now that I tend to shop at at least three stores for the best deals. Usually those three stores are Kroger, Whole Foods and Wal-Mart because they are all so near one another. But, on Saturday we were going to be right accross the street from Trader Joes’s. I got a coupon in the mail for a FREE pair of VS panties, no purchase required! Naturally, we had to go to VS. I also got fitted for a bra while I was there. Everyone should seriously get fitted. I have gone twice . The last time was right after I went back to school and I had lost a lil weight due to the new stressful schedule. This time I measured at at 32 instead of the 34 before and I went up a cup size. Amazing what ten pounds can do. I do look better with the ten pounds on. But, how did I go down in circumference and up in cup size? I don’t know, but, I’ll take it! I will probably continue to buy 34′s though just because I don’t like the tight feeling.
I didn’t snap pix of everything because much of it is redundant week to week. As you know from last week, I packed Snuffy’s lunch on the days when I knew the food would be processed to the extreme and full of unhappy meats. Well, I felt I may be taking it too far. I didn’t want to be a crazy, overprotective mama. So, I didn’t pack on Friday. Yup, I let her eat beef pot pie. The result? She apparently ate almost half the beef pot pie and she had …errrr…major tummy issues (you know what I mean) . So, now the overprotective mama is back. I will be packing for her almost everyday. So, we had to get some more Snuffy lunch goods! The toddler room has no fridge and no microwave. So, in order for Snuff to eat when the other kids eat, I have to make sure her food will keep well in her lunchbag with an ice pack. I also have to pack things that don’t have to be heated.
Snuffy eats string cheese (from happy cows 
at least once everyday. In fact, “cheese” was one of her first words.
Trader Joe’s has these organic fruit cups for the same price I usually pay for the regular fruit cups at other stores! Today, I asked Snuff what she wanted for lunch and she grabbed one and said “fruit!”
Lara Bars for kids!!! They were way less than a buck each too! Uh Oh I’m starting the LARA habit early….
Normally, I just give Snuffy her Veggie Dogs plain with some fruit and Cheddar Bunnies. But, I thought for lunch she may want to have a bun like the other kids. Plus, since it IS a veggie dog and she has been known to steal veggie dogs straight out of the fridge, she could eat it without it being warmed…right?
When I saw these initially, I thought, “Those are definitly NOT real peas and they are probably full of preservatives, fillers and good marketing.” But, I was wrong
Nutrition Facts
INGREDIENTS: GREEN PEAS, CORN OIL, RICE, SALT, CALCIUM CARBONATE, ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C).
It’s not stellar but, it isn’t THAT bad. I think they’re pretty darn tasty too!
I’ve seen these around the blog world and the ingredient list is great! So, I thought if I heat one in a pan to crisp the edges, I could put it on a bun for Snuff’s lunch…I hate that they don’t have easy access to a microwave. I know they probably could microwave her food. But, I have this image of her sitting there, waiting, watching all the other kids chow down…
This was something that I had been meaning to pick up everytime I go to Trader Joe’s. I always forget! I can’t wait to try it!
Obviously, a Whole Foods find. I love that they have their own brand of organics. To clear up confusion, I don’t need EVERYTHING WE EAT to be organic. Most of what I buy is not organic. I do, however, need food to be free of “extras”. I prefer that foods be free of chemicals, preservatives, additives, unhappy animal meat (happy animals are sometimes okay), and non-food substances.
Anyway, the ravioli was inexpensive and Snuffy loves it!
Since Mallard was away all weekend, I wanted to bake him something to welcome him back home. It’s true, you know: the way to a man’s heart is most certainly through his stomach!
I settled on banana bread due to our over-abundance of over-ripe bananas.
I modified a recipe from my most used cookbook
I used these to modify
Banana Bread
Prep: 25 minutes
Bake: 55 minutes
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. I baked at 330 for 1 hour and 15 minutes Grease bottom and 1/2 inch up the sides of one 9x5x3-inch or two 7-1/2×3-1/2×2-inch loaf pans; set aside. In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Make a well in center of flour mixture; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl combine eggs, banana, sugar, and oil. Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy). Fold in nuts. Spoon batter into prepared pan(s). If desired, sprinkle Streusel Topping over batter.
3. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes for 9x5x3-inch pan or 40 to 45 minutes for 7-1/2×3-1/2×2-inch pans or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean (if necessary, cover loosely with foil the last 15 minutes of baking to prevent overbrowning). Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on a wire rack. Wrap and store overnight before slicing.
4. Makes 1 loaf (16 slices)
5. Streusel-Nut Topping: In a small bowl combine 1/4 cup packed brown sugar and 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour. Using a pastry blender, cut in 2 tablespoons butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in 1/3 cup chopped walnuts.
So we started with our bananas
and we moved right along.
Everything was going well until I decided, after 25 minutes, that the bread was not cooling quickly enough for me. So, I ran a knife around the edge of the loaf and turned it upside down on a plate…rookie mistake. I know better than to rush things. I used to bake at least twice every week! But, for some reason I had to hurry things along.
What did I do? I scraped the piece from the loaf pan and replaced it on the inverted loaf. I let it cool. I sliced it .
Mallard still doesn’t know that I am a Banana Bread failure
I also made Snuff a Banana Bread Pudding by modifying the same recipe. Yes, we had LOTS of over-ripe bananas! We usually go through them like water but, for some reason, we just hadn’t been feelin’ them last week.
To modify the recipe to make Banana Bread Pudding, I lowered the flour to a cup of Whole Wheat Pastry Flour, I added 3/4 cup of unsweetened apple sauce and I cut back on the baking powder. I baked it at 300 until it was set…I’m sorry I don’t remember how long it took.
It was a hit!
Yes, she was covered in ‘nana stickiness after this and yes, she did get a bath immediately after her tasty treat
Today, I started with yoga as has become my favorite Sunday tradition. I love it. I feel so good after yoga. I have a long day of studying ahead! Mallard got back before I left for yoga and took over the parenting post. I have an Anatomy and Physiology exam coming up in two days!!! I have zero study time other than today!
*EDIT*
Shout out to my little sister, Jillian, who turns 16 in 16 minutes !!
(September 14)
Happy Birthday, Aunt Jilli!
Do you buy your hair products at a salon? I bought my flat iron from my salon but I haven’t bought other salon product since I moved so far away from my mom’s salon and I use mostly earth-friendly products.
If you are a label-reader, have you been surprised by the ingredients in any of your favorite foods?
What do you pack in your lunch? Spill it, ladies!! and err…I think I have one guy reader, so you spill it too! 
Show your body some love!
J
Another week begins! I can’t believe how quickly last week flew! How was your weekend?
We went for a walk and Snuff found her first fall leaf.
Then, a neighbor saw us walking down the sidewalk (I let Snuffy walk on the sidewalk like a “big girl” when we’re in our neighborhood) and gave Snuff a flower from her flower bed.
I checked the mail upon arriving back home and I found an early birthday “gift”
Nice but, I don’t usually buy salon products. Sweet of them to send it though. However, this is a reminder that my birthday is quickly approaching! What does that mean to you? NO MORE BLURRY PHONE PIX!!
Snuffy and I took a long overdue trip to Trader Joe’s. We went to Whole Foods and Wal-Mart (gasp!) as well. Some of you may know by now that I tend to shop at at least three stores for the best deals. Usually those three stores are Kroger, Whole Foods and Wal-Mart because they are all so near one another. But, on Saturday we were going to be right accross the street from Trader Joes’s. I got a coupon in the mail for a FREE pair of VS panties, no purchase required! Naturally, we had to go to VS. I also got fitted for a bra while I was there. Everyone should seriously get fitted. I have gone twice . The last time was right after I went back to school and I had lost a lil weight due to the new stressful schedule. This time I measured at at 32 instead of the 34 before and I went up a cup size. Amazing what ten pounds can do. I do look better with the ten pounds on. But, how did I go down in circumference and up in cup size? I don’t know, but, I’ll take it! I will probably continue to buy 34′s though just because I don’t like the tight feeling.
I didn’t snap pix of everything because much of it is redundant week to week. As you know from last week, I packed Snuffy’s lunch on the days when I knew the food would be processed to the extreme and full of unhappy meats. Well, I felt I may be taking it too far. I didn’t want to be a crazy, overprotective mama. So, I didn’t pack on Friday. Yup, I let her eat beef pot pie. The result? She apparently ate almost half the beef pot pie and she had …errrr…major tummy issues (you know what I mean) . So, now the overprotective mama is back. I will be packing for her almost everyday. So, we had to get some more Snuffy lunch goods! The toddler room has no fridge and no microwave. So, in order for Snuff to eat when the other kids eat, I have to make sure her food will keep well in her lunchbag with an ice pack. I also have to pack things that don’t have to be heated.
Snuffy eats string cheese (from happy cows
at least once everyday. In fact, “cheese” was one of her first words.
Trader Joe’s has these organic fruit cups for the same price I usually pay for the regular fruit cups at other stores! Today, I asked Snuff what she wanted for lunch and she grabbed one and said “fruit!”
Lara Bars for kids!!! They were way less than a buck each too! Uh Oh I’m starting the LARA habit early….
Normally, I just give Snuffy her Veggie Dogs plain with some fruit and Cheddar Bunnies. But, I thought for lunch she may want to have a bun like the other kids. Plus, since it IS a veggie dog and she has been known to steal veggie dogs straight out of the fridge, she could eat it without it being warmed…right?
When I saw these initially, I thought, “Those are definitly NOT real peas and they are probably full of preservatives, fillers and good marketing.” But, I was wrong
Nutrition Facts
INGREDIENTS: GREEN PEAS, CORN OIL, RICE, SALT, CALCIUM CARBONATE, ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C).
It’s not stellar but, it isn’t THAT bad. I think they’re pretty darn tasty too!
I’ve seen these around the blog world and the ingredient list is great! So, I thought if I heat one in a pan to crisp the edges, I could put it on a bun for Snuff’s lunch…I hate that they don’t have easy access to a microwave. I know they probably could microwave her food. But, I have this image of her sitting there, waiting, watching all the other kids chow down…
This was something that I had been meaning to pick up everytime I go to Trader Joe’s. I always forget! I can’t wait to try it!
Obviously, a Whole Foods find. I love that they have their own brand of organics. To clear up confusion, I don’t need EVERYTHING WE EAT to be organic. Most of what I buy is not organic. I do, however, need food to be free of “extras”. I prefer that foods be free of chemicals, preservatives, additives, unhappy animal meat (happy animals are sometimes okay), and non-food substances.
Anyway, the ravioli was inexpensive and Snuffy loves it!
Since Mallard was away all weekend, I wanted to bake him something to welcome him back home. It’s true, you know: the way to a man’s heart is most certainly through his stomach!
I settled on banana bread due to our over-abundance of over-ripe bananas.
I modified a recipe from my most used cookbook
I used these to modify
Banana Bread
Bake: 55 minutes
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. I baked at 330 for 1 hour and 15 minutes
Grease bottom and 1/2 inch up the sides of one 9x5x3-inch or two 7-1/2×3-1/2×2-inch loaf pans; set aside. In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Make a well in center of flour mixture; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl combine eggs, banana, sugar, and oil. Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy). Fold in nuts. Spoon batter into prepared pan(s). If desired, sprinkle Streusel Topping over batter.
3. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes for 9x5x3-inch pan or 40 to 45 minutes for 7-1/2×3-1/2×2-inch pans or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean (if necessary, cover loosely with foil the last 15 minutes of baking to prevent overbrowning). Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on a wire rack. Wrap and store overnight before slicing.
4. Makes 1 loaf (16 slices)
5. Streusel-Nut Topping: In a small bowl combine 1/4 cup packed brown sugar and 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour. Using a pastry blender, cut in 2 tablespoons butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in 1/3 cup chopped walnuts.
So we started with our bananas
and we moved right along.
Everything was going well until I decided, after 25 minutes, that the bread was not cooling quickly enough for me. So, I ran a knife around the edge of the loaf and turned it upside down on a plate…rookie mistake. I know better than to rush things. I used to bake at least twice every week! But, for some reason I had to hurry things along.
What did I do? I scraped the piece from the loaf pan and replaced it on the inverted loaf. I let it cool. I sliced it .
Mallard still doesn’t know that I am a Banana Bread failure
I also made Snuff a Banana Bread Pudding by modifying the same recipe. Yes, we had LOTS of over-ripe bananas! We usually go through them like water but, for some reason, we just hadn’t been feelin’ them last week.
To modify the recipe to make Banana Bread Pudding, I lowered the flour to a cup of Whole Wheat Pastry Flour, I added 3/4 cup of unsweetened apple sauce and I cut back on the baking powder. I baked it at 300 until it was set…I’m sorry I don’t remember how long it took.
It was a hit!
Yes, she was covered in ‘nana stickiness after this and yes, she did get a bath immediately after her tasty treat
Today, I started with yoga as has become my favorite Sunday tradition. I love it. I feel so good after yoga. I have a long day of studying ahead! Mallard got back before I left for yoga and took over the parenting post. I have an Anatomy and Physiology exam coming up in two days!!! I have zero study time other than today!
*EDIT*
Shout out to my little sister, Jillian, who turns 16 in 16 minutes !!
(September 14)
Do you buy your hair products at a salon? I bought my flat iron from my salon but I haven’t bought other salon product since I moved so far away from my mom’s salon and I use mostly earth-friendly products.
If you are a label-reader, have you been surprised by the ingredients in any of your favorite foods?
What do you pack in your lunch? Spill it, ladies!! and err…I think I have one guy reader, so you spill it too!
Show your body some love!
J