01:: On Friday, we went to the Gymdogs meet with the newly wedded Price's. Thanks for the invite, friends! It's been super fun hanging out with them recently. It was hubs' first time at a Gymdogs meet {they're a big deal at UGA}, and it was fun to get to go with him. The Gymdogs hosted a "Pink-Out" {hence, our pink shirts} to raise awareness for breast cancer month.
02:: I made Broccoli soup for the first time today {thinking about posting the recipe later this week}. When I started the roux, I noticed it was WAY too thick, but I couldn't figure out what the problem was. The recipe is one of Mike's from the year he worked at Bear Trap Ranch. I decided to half it since it was intended to make 12 servings....but, I didn't half the flour for the roux. Oopsy. We now have A LOT of leftover soup.
03:: If you're a follower of this blog, you've probably already read that hubs and I are keeping to a cash budget. The most difficult envelope to maintain is our grocery envelope. BUT, I feel beyond successful because we kept to our allocated amount this month!!
04:: Hubs and I both got new running shoes from a new Running store in Athens last weekend. We went to Athens Running Company and loved it because they evaluate the way you run and fit your foot to the best kind of shoe. {Hooray for more motivation to run!} We spent a little more than what we would have normally done on athletic shoes, but we had some leftover Christmas money. If you're in the area, you should check them out.
05:: We have the most fashionable college ladies at our church. It's fun to keep up with see the newest fashions each season. I have to keep myself in check that I don't have to have the coolest clothes to go to church.
06:: I got to catch up with 3 of my closest friends on the phone last week, which was super fab. It was especially great to talk to Paige in Savannah. She is a newly licensed esthetician, and I'm MONDO excited for her new business. She's going to be great, friends.
Why, oh why, are the weekends never long enough? I am learning that I can't fit in everything I want/need to do, especially if I want to be sane by Monday. Now back to the Oscar's...
Recently I made one of my favorite cookies, Super Charge Me cookies. I like this cookie because it seems so healthy. It has so many good-for-you ingredients.
Here's the recipe:
1 cup quick oats
2/3 cup spelt flour {I used plain whole wheat flour}
1/4 tsp (rounded) sea salt
1/4 – 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/4 –1/3 cup raisins or chopped dried fruit {I think I used craisins the last ime I made these}
3–4 tbsp carob or chocolate chips (optional; or use more dried fruit, nuts, or seeds)
1 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup flax meal (not flax seed)
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
3 tbsp almond butter (may use cashew, peanut, hemp seed butter)
1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 tbsp organic canola oil
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a bowl, combine oats, flour, salt, cinnamon, coconut, raisins, and carob or chocolate chips, sift in baking powder, and stir until well combined. In a separate bowl, combine flax meal, syrup, almond butter, and vanilla and stir until well combined. Stir in oil. Add wet mixture to dry, and stir until just well combined (do not overmix). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spoon batter onto baking sheet evenly space apart, and lightly flatten. Bake for 13 minutes (no longer, or they will dry out). Remove from oven and let cool on baking sheet for 1 minute (no longer), then transfer to a cooling rack.
Recipe © copyright Dreena Burton (eat, drink & be vegan) 
When I make these cookies, it's really important that they are the shape I want them when I put them on the pan. They don't really rise.
Enjoy!! {{What's your favorite cookie??}}
If you're a regular reader of this blog, you know that Hubs and I went to Savannah last weekend to celebrate my Dad's birthday. We had a really fantastic time hanging out with the family. And, as I expected, it included going to garage sales all over town {we didn't find anything, ugh!} and to breakfast. Seriously, I'm pretty sure that's one of Dad's favorite things to do. After breakfast the whole fam went to Keller's, the flea market in Savannah. The girls found lots of fun things {more on that later}, and I'm pretty sure Hubs experienced culture shock the entire time we were at Keller's. :)
Later, we had a really fun birthday dinner, complete with beans & weanies. I made one of Dad's favorite desserts, banana pudding. We all chipped in to give him a Kindle this year, and he liked it! Needless to say, we were all pumped he was excited about it. Here's to hoping he will set up his account with Amazon to use the thing. After dinner, we played several rounds of Whits & Wagers, and Dad had us cracking up with his stories and a very random medley of "Hey-Ho," "Hee-Haw" {anyone remember this show? I used to watch it with my Granddaddy} and "Hi-ho" mid game. Totally random and completely awesome.
So, over the weekend, we jokingly said Dad should throw his hat in the mayoral running this year. Seriously, if it didn't cost so much money to put on an excellent campaign, I think it'd be a great idea. Too bad there's no money to pay me; I would make a great campaign manager. ;) Dad, if you're reading, here are the reasons you should be mayor:
- You have a deep sense of justice. More importantly, though, your pursuit of justice is married with an abiding compassion for people.
- You have the respect of many, many people in your community - probably many more than you realize.
- You're the best and most animated story-teller I know.
- You're an incredibly hard-worker.
- People like you. I mean, even the people you've put in jail like you {well, I'm sure not all of them}.
- You're a conservative enough Democrat to win folks from both parties.
- You're a practical and realistic idealist. While you would love things to be right in the world, you know they won't be, and you can try to find a middle ground in that.
- You can see a situation from more than one side.
- You don't put up with junk or excuses.
- You have a deep faith and love for Jesus that is lived out in all kinds of practical ways, like cleaning the church once a month, being Santa for lots of special kids, and giving money for schools {or clean water} in third world countries.
Happy Birthday, Dad! I hope this year holds lots of adventures for you, even if it's not a mayoral campaign. Thanks for showing Becca and me what a good dad looks like. You're the best. I love you.
