Smoothie Dog

by Lucky Red Hen on May 1, 2012

After 120 some-odd smoothies in our BlendTec, I think I’ve finally perfected a semi-green smoothie that my kids will eat. For some reason, I don’t mind weird tasting smoothies but they do. Sigh.

And the dog sings while it blends…

Step 1: add liquid (water or juice) to allow the blade to start it's job.

Step 2: add a heaping serving spoon of super protein rich Greek yogurt (too much and it'll be too sour because I don't add sweetener).

The Greek Yogurt (I got from Costco) label... Hey! Gluten-free!

Step 3-4: add a huge handful of spinach (it's tasteless and I usually add WAY MORE than what you see in this pic but this was all we had in the fridge) and a banana for sweetness and creamy texture (without having to add heavy cream like I have been known to do in the past), which can be fresh or frozen (freeze bananas in 1/4's individually on a cookie sheet before transferring them to a storage bag or they'll all stick together).

Step 5: add frozen mixed berries for the rich, red color, taste, and chilled effect (if I use non-frozen berries I'll add ice at this point).

Step 6-7: blend it all up, pour it into a cup/glass (I have been known to stick a straw into the pitcher so I don't have to dirty another dish), and enjoy (but not too fast or a brain freeze might ensue).

Give it a try if these flavors intrigue you. It’s a trial-and-error sort of method, especially if you don’t have certain ingredients on hand. But I actually get cravings for my smoothies, especially in place of breakfast. Sure, I could have more greens or other healthier items, but this is better than a bowl of Cap’n Crunch and doesn’t rip the roof off my mouth!

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What’s That I Smell? MOMMY!

by Lucky Red Hen on April 20, 2012

The other day my son came to give me some squeezes, and he smelled something.

Wait. I need to back up.

A while back, I finally got my prince to agree that sugar cereals are like eating dessert and that’s the opposite way we should be starting our day.

He’s gotten on a healthy kick after starting a Navy Seal workout program (Your Body is Your Gym, or something like that; he works out at home with household items like the broom over two bar stools, a towel on the back of a chair, pull ups on the pantry door knobs).

After finding out how important it is to eat healthier, lower your glycemic intake, and cut processed foods and drinks (he used to have pop/soda/cola regularly), we’ve all been eating more fruits and veggies as well as enjoying healthier meals together.

Because of this new eating situation, we eliminated sugar/dessert cereals from our house. We don’t make the kids eat granola, bran, or muslix stuff, but we don’t buy Cap’n Crunch, Cocoa Puffs, Sugar Smacks, or Frosted Flakes anymore. Except for holidays; birthday’s, Christmas, etc.

Then recently we decided not to torture our kids completely and changed the rule to Saturday mornings (which is kind of like a holiday in this house.) After they eat their one bowl, we note the amount left and put them up super high (the shelf would break if they tried climbing them to reach; so far we haven’t had to worry about that).

Back to the squeezes… it was a weekday (definitely not a Saturday or holiday) and my son bounded over to me in the afternoon and snuggled up close.

Then he backed his head up and said, “What’s that smell?” O_o

He came closer to my face and sniffed like a dog. Sniff. Sniff sniff. Sniff.

“That’s,” sniff again, “dessert cereal!” Sniffsniffsniff, “That’s… TRIX!”

He found me out. I had a bowl as a snack about four o’clock (it was a hard day, don’t judge) and thought I’d get away with it.

I pulled the, “I’m an adult and the rules don’t apply to me,” but felt guilty as I said it because it’s definitely a rule that should apply to me. It’s not like I was driving a car and telling him he couldn’t because he’s not an adult.

Shame on mommy. Shame. But look how pretty they are in the bowl!

I’m not the only one who’s been a bad mommy like this, am I? What’s YOUR shame on me story? Go ahead, you’ll feel better getting it out :)

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Giant Map Wall: DIY

by Lucky Red Hen on April 17, 2012

Had a hankerin’ for a giant map on my office wall that we can mark (with pins) places we’ve been, places, we’d like to be, and friends/family we love. Also, I suck at geography, so having this close to my face might make me smarter (maybe even by osmosis?)

Bought the giant map at a map store (20% sale for under $20), the foam core ($15) at xpedx (so happy to be near an xpedx again), the plastic sucker things at Home Depot (about $6), and I had the spray adhesive on hand.

Imagined the map framed, but the quote, at 50% off – what a crock, was over $200 (which is NOT a bad price for that large a piece; I don’t mind paying for good quality framing; but I don’t have that much right now and wanted my map hung pronto). The next best thing is to mount it to the wall frame-less and enjoy it until I have some pocket money to frame it proper.

Here are some pics of the before/after and process:

Before: that framed print is temporary, bought it for the frame at a charity yard sale

Lazy, not dead, dog. Clamped half the map down and sprayed the other half first to keep it in place. Then took off the clamps (binder clips and clamps with something between so it didn't crease the map), then sprayed the other half.

Lazy, not dead, dog, moved lounge spots. Tall, long-armed husband helped hold and press the map as I sprayed. That's a cheap plastic liner we bought in a roll at Home Depot years ago during a remodel on another house. Even though we held up the plastic to help catch the spray adhesive, some still got on the wood floor. But doing this outside wasn't an option and I'm not patient enough to wait until we could. The garage was too cold (which could interfere with the adhesion).

The foam core is about 1/4" thick. Enough space to stick a pin into it and hold it in place.

These are a fairly new product that's supposed to provide temporary hanging that's still strong. I was skeptical, but the Home Depot guy said I could bring them back if I'm dissatisfied; I'm not. These little guys work GREAT! They also make it so I could take the map down and reattach if I wanted to. I don't know why I would, but it's an option.

Here's the end result. It looks kinda small to me now. I either want it bigger or I need to paint the walls to help it not be so small. I'm thinking of a blue/gray color. Might even slap up a frame around the map directly to the wall and call it good (which would just be moulding, I could even attach them with the same sucker thingys).

Seeing the end result reminds me that I wanted to paint the desk. It was left by our rentors and it too heavy to carry out of there easily. So I stuck my old door with glass top on it (took off it’s wooden top and am using it downstairs as a make shift table top) and decided to keep it (with the intent of repainting it eventually).

I’m thinking of a distressed cream, or perhaps a turquoise like the map.

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I Burn What I Cook : Can’t Help It

by Lucky Red Hen on April 7, 2012

Seriously. What is wrong with me that I cannot pay attention long enough to keep my food from burning. It’s not HARD to stand there; barely takes any energy. I get distracted and think that if I’m doing one thing at a time how efficient I’ll be getting TWO things done! Except then I burn my bread. Who just heard, “My biscuits are burning, my biscuits are burning!” in their head?

Sometimes I’ll buy two loaves of French bread that we’ll bake with garlic butter because we know I’ll burn one and we’ll save the other. I’ve tossed charred asparagus. That hurts the worst because they’re ‘spensive!

Doesn’t this look lovely? :D

But then this happens to the other side when I’m not looking. It’s like a ninja snuck into my kitchen (they ARE very sneaky, those ninjas) and turned up the burner while I had my back turned (I think I was filling the paper towel dispenser… you know, something imperative that I do at that very moment.)

My other quirk with grilled cheese? Even though I use my mouth as a weapon, it’s very sensitive on the inside. Hot cocoa to me is better when it’s warm cocoa, pizza straight out of the fridge is my preference, sometimes I even eat leftovers without warming them up for fear that one corner piece that I shove in my mouth first is on fire. Having to baby a burnt mouth for a few days while I avoid eating anything with flavor, texture, or density and suck on yogurt (squirm). So I do this…

…and eat it with a fork. That way I don’t have to bite it and rub the roof of my mouth.

Yes, I AM that tender. All over the place. Inside and out. So be careful. Tread lightly :D

P.S. Did you also noticed that I cut off the outer crust BEFORE I cook it? Oh yes I DO! It’s just barely a sliver that I get rid of then I don’t have to eat around the outside edge first then savor the inner softness. I get to savor from outside in! And I also know I should stick with Cravings Bistro for my Gourmet Grilled Cheese needs. Sigh.

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STOP IT : Gossiping (Lying)

by Lucky Red Hen on April 2, 2012

Lying sucks. Add gossiping to that and you get nothing but a bowl full of nasty.

It’s no surprise that people talk about me/you behind my/your back. This isn’t news. I’m actually used to it. Not that I like it, but I’ve accepted the fact that it will/does happen, and I cannot change it so why get bent out of shape about it. (If only someone would invent a remote control that will MUTE gossipers.)

A thread on Facebook that started with “So here’s the deal… DON’T LIE TO ME!” was a trigger to write this post. Here are comments from it:

  • Lying is the ONE thing that EVERYONE has control over. When you lie you make a conscience decision to do it… and for some it comes naturally.
  • Why is NOT lying so stinkin’ difficult for so many people?
  • I will never put up with that again… from anyone! One of my biggest pet peeves too.
  • A lie is one of the worst things you can ever do to degrade yourself; it is one of the most difficult things to undo. You may be in trouble for telling the truth, but to lie makes things twice as bad. Tell the truth, take your punishment and live with your choices!
  • Lying shows a persons weak character, what they lie about shows their heart!
  • You know some folks just don’t get it. Delete from your life. Don’t waste your time with them.
  • Some people don’t lie just to get out of trouble and lots of times the truth wouldn’t even mean punishment. Making up a story to make you look better to the world, ugh! Then there’s lying by omission, just NOT telling. JUST TELL THE TRUTH!
  • People who, in general, walk in truth live an easier life because they would not do something they would have to lie about later.

That last comment is me to a tee. My memory is kinda horrible. Having to remember what I lied about to not get caught is impossible for me so I tell the truth. Well, I tell the truth because that’s the right thing to do (even if I had a good memory).

Another trigger was an unexpected text exchange yesterday with a friend…
Buddy:  He’s in deep trouble with a lot of people. He has not been good about telling the truth. Truth is important to me.
Me:  Dude, you’re preaching to the choir!
Buddy:  That is what I love about you. Could tell from day one. Your word is WORD.

I’m glad people recognize that in me, if nothing else. The trick is when I find out someone, especially someone close to me (who really, REALLY knows better), has lied to me. And if you BOLD FACE lie to me after I’ve specifically asked you up front…

Maybe it’s that I find it hard to forgive
the follies and vices of others,
or their offenses against me.
My good opinion, once lost,
is lost forever. – Mr. Darcy

Yesterday’s LDS General Conference had a poignant talk by Dieter F. Uchtdorf that I’ve already reread, and it’s made me ponder what I should do when I find out I’ve been crossed, lied to, gossiped and talked negatively about behind my back. Just be honest with me and we’ll get along swimmingly.

I created this artwork based on President Uchtdorf’s message:

I adhere to the lesson, “Burn me once, shame on you. Burn me twice, shame on me.” I don’t have a problem with forgiving. We are imperfect people, we (I) make mistakes, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to stick around to keep getting burned.

Sometimes we have to look at friendships/relationships with people and say, “That was good while it lasted, it served its purpose. Now we move on to other life experiences.” They could be FABULOUS people, full of joy, love, honesty, and whatever else. Just because we no longer maintain a relationship doesn’t mean either of us are bad or something went wrong. Maybe that one is done to make room for the next.

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Gourmet Grilled Cheese: Cravings Bistro

by Lucky Red Hen on March 23, 2012

Don’t laugh, but all growing up (note: I haven’t finished that yet) it was my younger (by 7 years) brother who outdid me in the kitchen. Except for dishes. I’m the only one in the house who ever did them, so he could never do that better than me ;)

(Mom, this isn’t the time to comment about how you think I didn’t always do the dishes. This is my blog and, according to my stellar memory, I ALWAYS did the dishes.)

When he was probably 10ish, he started making the grilled cheese sandwiches. It was probably after I had burnt one too many of his that pushed him to try. Let me clarify so you don’t think me a rotten sister (which I was, but not because of my cooking). I usually only burnt one side of the sandwich, not both, and in the beginning I’d scrape off the burnt part with a butter knife. But that became tiresome so I stopped and left the burnt part, calling it “Cajun-style.”

(I still burn things when I cook. When we buy French bread, we’ll buy double because I’ll no doubt burn one of them and have to start over.)

Today I found a source for delicious gourmet grilled cheese and the beginning of never eating another burnt one in my house.

It’s a new little shop on Main Street in American Fork, Utah, called Cravings Bistro (in the left side of what was Finders Keepers; man I miss that store). I heard of it the other day from someone random, then again today by Suzanne at The Quilting Cottage just before lunch time.

The favorite is the ABC (apple, bacon, cheddar) so I got that. You should do that when trying a new place to eat, ask for the most popular dish. We’ve had plenty of soul warming Tomato-Basil Soups in Seattle (you know it rains there, a lot, and soup hits all the cold spots), and the Cravings Bistro organic version makes me wish for rain. Topping off my comfort food lunch was a fat/phat, dense, and sweet-tooth-satisfying frosted sugar cookie the owner proudly makes from scratch (Thursday is BOFOHO sweets, stock up).

Thank you Cravings Bistro ladies for your hospitality, foodie conversation, and yummy grub! I hope it rains people on your place so you can stick around to feed me whenever I want.

Pardon my crummy iPhone pics, but I wanted to include as much information in case you’re interested in checking them out (and you should be, seriously, I’m already looking forward to my next visit… take me with you if you need company).

Heading west on State Street, this is what you'll see when you need to get ready to park. Cravings Bistro is a couple doors down from Allen's (there is also parking and an entrance behind the building)












Cravings Bistro 801.756.3333
63 East Main Street, American Fork, UT 84003

Mon-Thur 11a-6p
Fri-Sat 11a-8:30p
Sunday closed

Twitter: @CravingsBistro
Facebook: Cravings Bistro

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My Lifeguard Walks On Water

by Lucky Red Hen on March 12, 2012

Santa gifted me an online Illustrator 101 class. You know, the kind that’s just a video series you follow along to and turn in homework once a week for the teacher to critique.

I figured that would be a handy way to learn without the commitment of having to drive somewhere, park, and set aside a certain time every week. Going at my own pace seemed like a handy way to manage my time.

Instead, it’s kinda turned out to be irritating because of my recent Russian worm virus (or, with a Russian accent, I like to pronounce it Russian verm) that struck my main computer, a PC.

Switching from a PC to a Mac is a long time coming, yes. Being forced to change is stressful enough and adding instruction on a new-to-me program threw me into a tailspin. Luckily, the teacher sympathized with my plight and transferred my scheduled class to the next one, giving me some time to adjust to the wonders of Macdom.

Our first week explained the basics, mixed with some magical tricks only Illustrator can do. She encouraged us to peruse Etsy for ‘poster typography’ examples and create something utilizing what we’ve learned. I had seen the following words on a picture on Pinterest and came up with the design on my own (with plenty of mistakes, redo’s, start over’s, and jimmy-rigging to do what I wanted)…

A graphic designer friend nicely told me I did a great job (thanks, Joel!), knowing that I’m new at this and have NO design background. I’m excited to learn more and hope I get more natural with the design process so it doesn’t frustrate me so much. With so many ideas in my head, it’d be cool to figure out a way to get them on paper (or in a digital file, haha).

Practice makes closer to perfect so I’ll keep plugging along :)

P.S. Do you get that the lifeguard is Jesus? Is that implied or do you go ??? at the end?

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Roots Are Important, But…

by Lucky Red Hen on March 6, 2012

Having had many weeks without a paycheck coming in (oh, the life of an entrepreneur’s wife is so glamorous!), with last summer’s landscaper calling periodically for his invoice to be paid (oh, Enrique, thank you for your patience and kindness), I’ve held off getting my hairs did (oh, just kidding, that was getting on my nerves).

“But your hair looks great! You don’t have roots,” exclaim sweet people who comfort me for my lack of funds. Yeah, I guess it’s ok and not very noticeable…

But if I’m in a convertible soon, the top is down, and my hair is left to blow in the wind, ERRBODY who drives by will see THIS >>>

Eek! Don’t look! Turn away and protect your eyes from the hideousness! I’m sorry you had to see that. Don’t send me the bill for your therapy sessions (for I have no money to pay it, see?)

Darn it that I’m not vain enough to forego my families food budget and make them eat rice so I can pay for a dye job. We already eat rice and not really darn it. I’m glad I have the willpower to wait and confidence that it’s not my root line you keep coming back for but what’s UNDER the roots.

F.Y.I. These photos were taken in the bathroom, this post was written while I sat on the toilet… helping my sick daughter with her bath (which means I wasn’t USING the toilet, except like a chair by sitting upon the top, with the lid closed).

P.S. I measured and they’re 2″ long O_o

P.P.S. Do you think dressing up a sweatshirt with snazzy earrings is a good thing or should I stop? I think it’s kind of weird, but I like it. ?

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