Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Playlist Experiment

I thought I'd give this a try. Enjoy a little soundtrack to your reading.

A few dedications -

  • Tarzan Boy - To Kim. I'm not sure why, but this song always reminds me of you.
  • Independent Love Song - To Megan, Eryn, Kristy and Becky (aka Club 22) - here's to watching "Bed of Roses" repeatedly and requesting this at the Rollar Rink.

BTW- Listen to One Republic's "Stop and Stare". It's been a while since I've fallen so instantly in love with a song. Holy cow. I have to restrain myself from putting it on repeat. It just makes me wish I had a new crush to daydream about!

Monday, November 19, 2007

Thanksgiving Sans Guilt

This recipe was in my inbox this morning from RealAge.com. The Busse family is headed to TN for Thanksgiving, and won't be baking our own pies this year for sake of refrigerator space at the family reunion. However... I'll look forward to using this soon. I'm a firm believer that pumkin pie should be fully taken advantage of!

Healthied-Up Pumpkin Pie Crust
That flaky, rich crust makes pumpkin pie one luscious treat. But it sure doesn't do your figure any favors. What if you could have your pie and eat it, too, without the pastry guilt? You can! We've got a pumpkin pie crust recipe that cuts carbs, fat, and calories and still tastes delicious.

RealAge Benefit: Avoiding saturated and trans fats can make your RealAge more than 4 years younger.

References: EatingWell's Pumpkin Pie Crust. EatingWell.com, 2007. More about this Tip: EatingWell's Pumpkin Pie CrustOften the crust is where all the saturated fat and calories are lurking in a pumpkin pie. (Learn how saturated fat affects blood sugar levels.) But not with this tender crust. Here's what you'll need:

Ingredients
3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
2 tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons ice water

1. Whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. With your fingers, quickly rub butter into the dry ingredients until the pieces are smaller in size but still visible. Add sour cream and oil; toss with a fork to combine. Sprinkle water over the mixture and toss with a fork until evenly moist. Knead the dough in the bowl a few times -- the mixture will still be a little crumbly. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead a few more times, until the dough just holds together. Shape into a 5-inch disk, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 1 hour.

2. Remove the dough from the refrigerator; let stand for 5 minutes to warm slightly. Roll between sheets of parchment or wax paper into a 13-inch circle. Peel off the top sheet and invert the dough into a 9-inch pie pan. Peel off the remaining paper. Trim the crust with kitchen shears or a butter knife so it overhangs the edge of the pan evenly. Tuck the overhanging crust under, forming a double-thick edge. Flute the edge with your fingers.

3. Proceed with your favorite pumpkin pie recipe.

Nutrition information (per serving): 104 calories; 12 g carbohydrates; 6 g fat; (2 g sat, 2 g mono); 2 g protein; 7 mg cholesterol; 1g fiber; 10 mg potassium; 118 mg sodium.

Check out all the healthy-but-still-yummy Thanksgiving recipes at EatingWell.com.

Friday, November 16, 2007

If I were a Crayon...

Thanks to Shelly for the idea of this one...


you are lightcyan
#E0FFFF

Your dominant hues are green and blue. You're smart and you know it, and want to use your power to help people and relate to others. Even though you tend to battle with yourself, you solve other people's conflicts well.

Your saturation level is very low - you have better things to do than jump headfirst into every little project. You make sure your actions are going to really accomplish something before you start because you hate wasting energy making everyone else think you're working.

Your outlook on life is very bright. You are sunny and optimistic about life and others find it very encouraging, but remember to tone it down if you sense irritation.
the spacefem.com html color quiz

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

These are a Few of my Favorite Things

In no particular order:

  1. Fuji apples- self picked from the orchard
  2. Locations with loads of books - chiefly Barnes & Noble and public libraries
  3. Fall colors
  4. Peppermint and Spearmint herbal teas
  5. Ghiradelli 60% Cacao chips
  6. BYU Football
  7. Cross-country roadtrips
  8. Moby Dick's House of Kabobs
  9. Campfires
  10. Falling asleep to Frasier reruns
  11. Green Chile - from Luna Co. NM
  12. Sitting on the marble of any DC monument
  13. Watching for shooting stars
  14. Pedicures
  15. Good lectures
  16. Fleece blankets

To be continued....

Monday, November 12, 2007

Veteran's Day

I'm a few days late this year in wishing Happy Birthday to the Marine Corps. I suppose the observance of Veteran's Day is a good time to get it in, if I'm going to be tardy. Tonight, I will be joining the family with our favorite Veteran (and Marine) my dad for the annual Golden Corral Military Appreciation Night.

Take a minute to see Go Daddy's 2007 video for the Marine Corps Birthday. You can find it here.

It only takes a moment to send an email, text message or phone call to someone in your life who has answered the call to serve our country, to say thank you. Don't let that moment pass you by today.

Blast from the Past

I can't help it. I admit that I loved watching the Brady Bunch in syndication. Here's a little cheesy chunk of sunshine for you today.

Saturday, November 3, 2007

A Great Night

I have to be honest. Tonight is a close 2nd to Christmas Eve in the running for the night I look forward to most with childlike anticipation. Tonight, I get an extra hour. As I posted last year, as someone who frequently wishes for more than 24 hours a day, daylight savings is a very joyous occasion.

This year, I am celebrating in a Super 8 in Bristol, VA. Say what you will, but a king-sized bed in a one star hotel with a big screen TV and a room all to myself without interruptions is a little slice of heaven. And, in case you were wondering, I came to this corner of Virginia for business. It wouldn't have been the first location to pop into my head as a great weekend getaway.

Here's wishing you the best possible use of your gift of an extra 60 min. tonight!