tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84439078780774505552024-02-07T15:58:12.966-08:00Bubbly & ButtercupDiana Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010169567128239343noreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443907878077450555.post-30331784949478204222012-04-15T03:40:00.000-07:002012-04-15T03:40:44.092-07:00STOOOOLEN!I had some guy friends in college who used to steal random bottles of alcohol from parties with a rule that you could only drink from the bottle if you shouted "STOOOLEN!" prior to drinking. Slightly immoral, but I'm sure there are worse things they could have been doing. On that note, here is a little survey that I stole but I'm making that theft okay by shouting "STOOOOLEN!" and acknowledging that I nabbed it from the gorgeous <a href="http://www.hungrymeetshealthy.com/2012/04/10-to-1-survey.html" target="_blank">Christina</a> - seriously check out her blog and tell me which celeb she looks like because I can't put my finger on it.<br />
<br />
Any old way, without further ado, STOLEN survey!<br />
<br />
<b>10 Favorite Musical Artists</b><br />
Tim McGraw<br />
The Beatles<br />
The Band<br />
Brad Paisley<br />
Bonnie Raitt<br />
Paul Simon<br />
Bruce Springsteen<br />
Frank Sinatra<br />
Sam Cooke<br />
Bob Dylan<br />
<br />
<b>9 things in your purse</b><br />
Cell<br />
Keys<br />
Wallet<br />
Hand sanitizer<br />
Lip gloss<br />
Hand lotion<br />
Random trash<br />
Cough drops<br />
Headphones, just in case I stumble onto a treadmill<br />
<br />
<b>8 places you want to visit</b><br />
CALIFORNIA<br />
Austin, TX<br />
Charleston, SC<br />
Savannah, GA<br />
Miami<br />
Portland, OR<br />
Prince Edward Island<br />
Australia<br />
<br />
<b>7 movies you love</b><br />
Breakfast at Tiffany's<br />
Scrooged<br />
Love Actually<br />
Fletch<br />
Clueless<br />
Wet Hot American Summer<br />
Romeo + Juliet<br />
<br />
<b>6 favorite hobbies</b><br />
Making new friends<br />
Seeing old friends<br />
Running<br />
Baking<br />
Crafts<br />
Reading<br />
<br />
<b>5 fave fruits/vegetables</b><br />
Pineapple!!!!<br />
Avocado<br />
Butternut Squash<br />
Broccoli<br />
Carrots<br />
<br />
<b>4 favorite colors to wear</b><br />
Pink<br />
Light Pink<br />
Dark Pink<br />
Black<br />
<br />
<b>3 things that stress you out</b><br />
Traffic<br />
Possibly missing a flight<br />
Birds<br />
<br />
<b>2 things you say too much</b><br />
Oh my gosh<br />
Wait, what?<br />
<br />
<b>1 favorite dessert</b><br />
Blueberry Pie.<br />
<br />
And now I'm off to run a marathon! Enjoy your Sunday!!Diana Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010169567128239343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443907878077450555.post-28276147800305102492012-03-26T16:21:00.000-07:002012-03-26T16:21:22.033-07:00Sneaky spinachDo you have any healthy foods or habits that you have to trick yourself into adopting? Even though you're no longer 6 and trying to sneak your vegetables to your dog? Personally, I hate greens. I know, that's like blasphemy from anyone who even pretends to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but I despise them. The worst is a restaurant salad that is 90% greens - be they iceberg or romaine, it's all blechhhh to me! I love veggies, but anything leaf-like makes me feel like I'm eating grass.<br />
<br />
So anyway. THANK THE HIGH HEAVENS for green monster smoothies, am I right?! My food <i>tastes</i> like a chocolatey peanut-buttery dessert-y heaven, but I am actually devouring at least two {loosely} packed cups o' spinach, which are some <i>serious</i> greens, which <i>seriously</i> yick me out in a salad setting. Yick is a new word, just go with it.<br />
<br />
Anyway, there is a small and super simple <a href="http://www.peanutbutterrunner.com/7-day-green-smoothie-challenge/">blog challenge</a> I discovered through one of the lovely hostesses, Jen at <a href="http://www.peanutbutterrunner.com/">Peanut Butter Runner</a>, going around to consume a green smoothie once a day for 7 days. Washing-out-my-blender issues aside, this idea seemed like a brilliant way for me to get in some much-needed darker greens and not even be mad about it. I generally make precisely the same smoothie recipe, so I'm excited to challenge myself to try some new flavor combos!<br />
<br />
For today's, I kept it classic and chocolatey (so also it looked sort of like vomit, hence no 'after' picture for your viewing pleasure) with the following mix-ins:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk</li>
<li>1/2 cup Trader Joe's mixed berries (frozen)</li>
<li>1 tablespoon flax seed</li>
<li>1 scoop chocolate protein powder</li>
<li>1 tablespoon cocoa powder</li>
<li>2 tablespoons peanut butter</li>
<li>2 cups of <b><span style="color: #38761d;">SPINACH!</span></b></li>
</ul><div><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcm-a4FBXIgLfKVILPtYLGkApcze-FWwULhBDlVf7vGoRN6uLO7DfAgwhyvqYin7ugDh0lE8r9XsyaOCyzm_FwVTdHzG-37KvcofWwJHB2hM2VLG_510HVH_iCQBo-TDn6eqH7rP-xWaY/s1600/IMG_0617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcm-a4FBXIgLfKVILPtYLGkApcze-FWwULhBDlVf7vGoRN6uLO7DfAgwhyvqYin7ugDh0lE8r9XsyaOCyzm_FwVTdHzG-37KvcofWwJHB2hM2VLG_510HVH_iCQBo-TDn6eqH7rP-xWaY/s320/IMG_0617.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div>Blend, Devour, Feel good about self.</div><div><br />
</div><div><i>Any fave green monster recipes I <b>must</b> try?</i></div><div><i>Any healthy foods you have to sneak in your mouth?</i></div>Diana Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010169567128239343noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443907878077450555.post-43752031939272503542012-02-20T15:19:00.000-08:002012-02-20T15:19:51.516-08:00What's your nard?First of all, nard? Great word.<br />
<br />
Second of all, I'm grabbing that word from the book of John in which Jesus visits Mary and Martha and Mary breaks a jar of her most expensive nard {can't not giggle} to wash Jesus' feet. {full verses <a href="http://niv.scripturetext.com/john/12.htm">here</a> for inquiring minds}<br />
<br />
That verse was taught in my church yesterday in a way that I hadn't totally considered it before. Not just focusing on sacrificing wealth or even sacrificing anything, but focusing on the fact that Mary held nothing, not even her most prized possession, above Jesus. If I'm going to sit here and list the things that I regularly place above Jesus - that I'm not fully confident I'd be able to sacrifice completely for Him - I'd be sitting here all day.<br />
<br />
What if all, like <i>all</i>, of my friends abandoned me? If my family was lost in a car crash? If I could never run again? If I developed a fatal allergy to avocados? Would I be able to carry on, knowing only that I had the love of God?<br />
<br />
There's a part of me that says, "of course, after a period of mourning or struggle, I would eventually be able to carry on." But there would be a period of serious darkness. And I've endured that before. It's not a pleasant place, and it can be easy to lose sight of all that you do have. Thinking to yourself, "well, at least I have God," can, to the truly miserable individual, be akin to having your mom still think you're cool even though you didn't get invited to the popular boy's Bar Mitzvah. Like, thanks, but really, no thanks.<br />
<br />
So this teaching was a powerful reminder to me to stop acting like a 12 year old girl, literally, and be sure that my priorities are in line. Like anything of true worth or difficulty, that's not an easy, one-stop endeavor. That's an ongoing, daily practice that will continue throughout my life to re-assess, to pray, to ask myself, "Would I be willing and able to break my bottle of nard today?"<br />
<br />
It's an important lesson, because all that we have here is temporary. Our loved ones will pass away. You can't take your shoe collection with you. But<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <b id="internal-source-marker_0.6161754315253347"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">“The Lord’s love never ends; his mercies never stop. They are new every morning. Lamentations 3:22-23”</span> - </span><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and that's pretty cool.</span></b></span>Diana Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010169567128239343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443907878077450555.post-675570172849688352012-02-19T14:43:00.000-08:002012-02-19T14:43:47.999-08:00Addicted to technology and the day I almost diedMarathon training (for the <a href="http://www.gostlouis.org/">Go! St. Louis Marathon</a>) is in full swing and I ran 20 miles on this past beautiful Saturday morning. Following that successful run, I went to Mardi Gras and almost died.<br />
<br />
St. Louis' <a href="http://www.mardigrasinc.com/">Mardi Gras</a> celebration is the second largest in the nation, behind - you guessed it! - New Orleans. The last time I was in St. Louis during this time of year I was 17 and for some reason that I can't even imagine my parents wouldn't have found it appropriate for me to attend an all-out rager, so this was my first time checking out the scene. <i>And what a scene it was</i>. I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting, but it was certainly a wild ride, packed with thousands of people, and frankly, overwhelming. {I get overwhelmed very easily, but whatever}<br />
<br />
Since I got a bit of a slower start to my morning and had to toss in a quick almost 3 hour run, I didn't head down to Soulard until about 3, so I was thrust into the craziness when everyone else had already been downing their body weight in beer since about 8 a.m. YIKES doesn't even begin to describe my feelings!<br />
<br />
I met up with one of my close guy friends, his girlfriend and some other friends at one random street corner and had made plans to meet up with another friend in the muy exclusivo (not actually) Bud Light tent, for which you need a ticket in order to enter. Despite my friend's warnings about creepy men and reminders of my ability to get lost on the way from my bedroom to the bathroom, I meandered off solo to meet my friend. En route....MY PHONE DIED. I put that in all caps to express my anguish. What did people do before cell phones? I'm fairly certain they spent the vast majority of their life lost and looking for their friends. At this point in time, my life sort of flashed before my eyes as I realized that I was most likely going to die in Soulard and never see anyone I love again. I'm so casual and non-dramatic.<br />
<br />
I knew I would never be able to find the first group of friends I was with again, and I couldn't let my other friends in the tent know that I was there to bring me a ticket for entry. The cab situation was dire at best. Essentially, I was stuck.<br />
<br />
Thankfully, sort of, I ran into a high school classmate of mine, a guy who I would classify as a friend but also as one of the sketchiest characters in the book. His phone died too, so we were two phoneless souls, and he was also really weird. One time in 10th grade he passed me a note in Mr. McKone's math class that was essentially a five paragraph essay on why he wanted me to be his girlfriend. I politely declined. Anyway. There was a good thirty minute period during which we were alone together, it was uncomfortable, he's not much of one for personal space.<br />
<br />
We ultimately ran into some other high school friends, he ran away muttering something about being in trouble with his ladyfriend {<i>I can only imagine</i>} and I skipped off into the distance with my friends, eventually to warm up in another friend's apartment where I could <b>charge my phone</b>. I made it. I survived Mardi Gras. How? I'm still not sure. A lot of luck and some very large beers definitely played a part. I can't help but think about how narrow of an escape I made! What if I had never run into a friend? Cabs were nearly impossible to hail, I couldn't call one, I couldn't call my dad to come save me, I felt so very helpless! And yet, even ten years ago, most people attending Mardi Gras likely did not have cell phones. And, as I haven't read statistics suggesting otherwise, they all survived. Or if they died it was not because they lost their friends. But really - can you imagine that?!<br />
<br />
So the lesson here is to always charge your cell phone, and if your well-meaning friend advises you not to wander off by yourself at a crazy outdoor drinking event, maybe you should listen.<br />
<br />
<b><i>How was your weekend? Did you celebrate Mardi Gras?</i></b><br />
<b><i>Do you have a scary cell phone fail story?</i></b>Diana Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010169567128239343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443907878077450555.post-75598727516696395572012-02-08T15:01:00.000-08:002012-02-08T15:01:31.031-08:00Everybody's out on the run tonightAnyone who runs, bikes, ellipticizes, or engages in similar exercises, knows the power of a good playlist - unless you are one of those zen people who go on 20 mile runs with no music, in which case, I am proud of you, but I don't understand you.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div>I am constantly searching for new bumpin' tracks as nothing zaps my motivation quite like an old, tired playlist. I am so thankful for iTunes song of the week and cancion de la semana (over on iTunes latino - I highly recommend) as they have some truly great offerings for <i>free</i> - I think we all know iTunes purchases seem cheap but add up pretty quickly so being introduced to a new artist and saving 99 cents is a double victory over here in my wild and exciting life. And don't even get me started on my reaction on the weeks I see that the theme is "<a href="http://bubblyandbuttercup.blogspot.com/2011/07/princess-of-queens.html">Country Music</a>" - remember the holiday commercials with the over-excited Target 2-day sale lady? Like that.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gT57wKXLcAicaxEDbvK1Psmzo9_QfBbu40HjBM1lKdC6OxBJ5_JkXDEJd_K4QnyKDyMYf9_vYrvq2amwDEEmPaO-gKs8qzno_hqA6yAlX1ZxufVj2OrN0YupFLkJWhUBnul0WhTDk-Y/s1600/crazy-target-lady.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gT57wKXLcAicaxEDbvK1Psmzo9_QfBbu40HjBM1lKdC6OxBJ5_JkXDEJd_K4QnyKDyMYf9_vYrvq2amwDEEmPaO-gKs8qzno_hqA6yAlX1ZxufVj2OrN0YupFLkJWhUBnul0WhTDk-Y/s1600/crazy-target-lady.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://babyandsofia.com/2010/11/27/target-lady/">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
In addition to some great free songs, I also have a few standbys that <i>never ever</i> get old and boring for me. My cousin has just picked up running and asked for motivational music recommendations...so I took it upon myself to make her an entire <a href="http://www.spotify.com/">Spotify</a> playlist. Some tracks that I always love to hear on a run?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HKNAhAxMAk&ob=av2e">Paul Simon, Obvious Child</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9_VOy7VipQ">Dire Straits, Walk of Life</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKbADFJOCkU">The Spinners, Rubber Band Man</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-VX6p4hQ5U&feature=fvst">Cody Chestnutt, Look Good in Leather</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDgxnjgVFi4">Michael Jackson, PYT</a><br />
<br />
And of course....<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxuThNgl3YA&ob=av2e">Bruce Springsteen, Born to Run</a> (no one else can pull off the plaid cut off shirt quite like The Boss...am I right or am I right?)<br />
<br />
<i><b>What are some of your favorite, throwback, never-get-old, running tunes?</b></i><br />
<i><b>Any new hot jams I should add to my list?</b></i><br />
<i><b>Do you run without music??</b></i>Diana Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010169567128239343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443907878077450555.post-65430808669494260872012-02-07T11:01:00.000-08:002012-02-07T11:01:17.411-08:00Second City, Third MarathonLast week I made what, at the time, seemed like a brilliant idea. I signed up for the 2012 Chicago Marathon. I have a wonderful group of running friends I met in New York, one of whom actually came to run the St. Louis Marathon with me <a href="http://bubblyandbuttercup.blogspot.com/2011/04/our-view-at-start-of-marathon-good.html#links">last year</a>. She is also a huge fan of the Chicago marathon and has run the race every year since starting to run marathons - maybe 2006 or 2007? Every year she coerces various members of our running crew to join her in "the second city" and race Chicago - some years it's awesome, and some years, like apparently in 2010, it is a boiling sauna of misery.<br />
<br />
At any rate, now that I am back in the Midwest, I thought to myself, "self, you're not that far away from Chicago <i>and </i>you never get to see your old East Coast friends, let's run Chicago and reconnect and check out this amazing marathon." So I registered.<br />
<br />
And then, a day or so later, it hit me like a dang mac truck. The race is in October...so I will have to start training in July/August. In Saint Louis. Remember <a href="http://bubblyandbuttercup.blogspot.com/2011/08/hot-hot-heat-and-when-not-to-pr.html">running in the heat</a>? I try not to. But it's too late now, non-refundable active.com purchase, it's too late now.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Do you prefer running in the heat or the cold?</i></b><br />
<b><i>Any racing buyer's remorse out there?</i></b><br />
<b><i>Will you be running Chicago?!??</i></b>Diana Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010169567128239343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443907878077450555.post-35113800569984425912012-01-27T11:13:00.000-08:002012-01-27T11:13:23.857-08:00Just a few months late...Did y'all catch the movie <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780504/">Drive</a>? A few friends of mine have started a little "movie night" tradition, as one of my friends is a true film buff and the rest of us like to make as many immature observations as we can in the span of a feature length film. She loves hanging out with us, promise.<br />
<br />
Anyway, last weekend we watched Drive (finally! I had been wanting to see it for <i>months!</i>) and, while I loved the cinematography and of course <a href="http://feministryangosling.tumblr.com/">Mr. Ryan Gosling</a>, my favorite part of the film was the uber-cool soundtrack. I feel a little high school-ish to be totally hooked on a movie soundtrack, but I'm not going to fight it. Particularly as this soundtrack reminds me a lot of being in high school: restless and a little angsty, always searching for something bigger, better and more exciting. It makes me want to go for a long, late-night drive with no real destination in mind. {did you ever do that in high school? we totally did; I even went on a date once where literally we just drove fast down back roads and talked about life}<br />
<br />
For your listening and reminiscing pleasure:<br />
<br />
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</i></b><br />
<b><i>If you saw Drive, did you like it?? Are you as worried about the psychological future of all of the characters as I am??</i></b><br />
<b><i>Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend!!</i></b>Diana Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010169567128239343noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443907878077450555.post-32413703267027518722012-01-25T12:43:00.000-08:002012-01-25T12:43:08.320-08:00The American Dream, back again?Did all y'all in America catch the State of the Union last night? I had actually forgotten about it (whoops!) until about 8:03 CST, but thankfully was able to listen to the entire speech. I am the first to let you know that I am very conservative and pretty skeptical if not downright upset regarding most policies Obama has put into play over the past three years. That being said, I have a great respect for our country and for the office of the presidency and was eager to hear what our president had to say and hopeful that he had some awesome ideas up his sleeve. I am not one of those individuals who seeks to tear down members of another political party or who hold to an opposing ideology <i>just because</i>, I think it is so important to continue to have dialogue and to truly understand where other people are coming from and the full implications of their political ideas. I'm not going to run around assuming that I'm always right; I think that's a dangerous position to hold.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I'm also the first to tell you that Obama is one handsome, articulate man. Everything he says just sounds <i>so good</i>. But is it true? And are any of the programs he alludes to, or tax breaks, or reductions in regulations, really going to happen? And what are the unseen implications of some of the new policies he's proposing? These are just a few of the questions I always have to ask myself. I, probably like a lot of people, can get easily swept up in the formality and excitement and optimism surrounding the SOTU, forget the facts and just drink the punch of patriotism that is handed over to me that night.<br />
<br />
I think it's important, as citizens of America or anywhere other country with an operating democracy, to always think for yourself, research the facts, disregard talking heads and ignore party lines.<br />
<br />
One news source I like is CNN's <a href="http://www.cnn.com/">website</a> for just a glossy overview of what's hip, happening, and breaking. They have a little blog called the "Truth Squad," which, if you're not familiar with already, you should definitely check out! They do the fact-checking for you on some of the bolder claims politicians make in debates and speeches, and <a href="http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/25/truth-squad-fact-checking-the-state-of-the-union-address/">here</a> is their assessment of Obama's speech and the corresponding Republican response.<br />
<br />
<b><i>What did you think about last night's speech? Loved it? Hated it? Never watch those things?</i></b>Diana Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010169567128239343noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443907878077450555.post-71649978304298862012-01-23T10:16:00.000-08:002012-01-23T10:16:18.390-08:00Technology, the bane of my existenceThis Christmas, I was elated to open a Garmin 410 watch that my dad swooped up in a hot deal at Costco. Since Christmas, however, I have been disappointed to discover that I am apparently completely inept at operating the dang thing. I can rarely access the menu portion of the screen and usually, no matter which part of the bezel I touch, I just alternate between viewing the time and date and the remaining percentage of battery life. Also, as I was initially setting the little demon up, back in the day when I could view more than one screen option, I accidentally set myself as my correct weight...but a 32 year old man. So now my watch thinks I am a tiny little man who can't figure out technology. No wonder I'm getting no respect.<div><br />
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</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwzSNnHu5TZpvusvrt_cizW-E6kI5aCm3PZvIJ5exRhxtMK5e4z1Byb9Fnlar961sBIuRagOMBlHxEg7bdIzwcXPjROoT6IxjO3axlWLFa4-5r_bpCfweLgJW_BeZ0OubSt6RDBMKDDY/s1600/%2524%2528KGrHqYOKi4E6jKQR3CkBOtCf3%2521roQ%257E%257E60_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwzSNnHu5TZpvusvrt_cizW-E6kI5aCm3PZvIJ5exRhxtMK5e4z1Byb9Fnlar961sBIuRagOMBlHxEg7bdIzwcXPjROoT6IxjO3axlWLFa4-5r_bpCfweLgJW_BeZ0OubSt6RDBMKDDY/s320/%2524%2528KGrHqYOKi4E6jKQR3CkBOtCf3%2521roQ%257E%257E60_1.JPG" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">smart Garmin, stupid Diana</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><br />
<div><br />
</div><div>Now, ordinarily this situation, while annoying, wouldn't really necessitate action. But these are no ordinary times. Marathon training 2012 has begun! My girl <a href="http://www.hungryrunnergirl.com/">HRG</a> hooked me up with her training plan from her first marathon, and I would absolutely love to actually time my speed work and accurately determine my mile pace during long runs to the second!</div><div><br />
</div><div>Any advice, or links to technologically impaired support groups would be greatly appreciated.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b><i>Do you use a Garmin?</i></b></div><div><b><i>Have you ever had a similar total failure with newfangled technology?? Make me feel better.</i></b></div></div></div>Diana Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010169567128239343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443907878077450555.post-40911269227719480062012-01-20T07:08:00.000-08:002012-01-20T07:08:47.874-08:00Inspirational Friday!<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I mentioned in my last post that frustrating moments can be wonderful as they offer us opportunities to grow and strengthen ourselves. In the past, I've allowed myself to throw <i>raging</i> pity parties in which I revel in my frustrations, my mistakes and whatever might be lacking in my life. As I've matured {sort of} I've recognized these habits in myself and developed methods to find joy in bleakness, calm in storms, blessings in every aspect of my life, and minor miracles every day. </span><br />
<div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the midst of all of my recent talk on ancient Indian ideologies, I thought I might mix in some other ideologies and introduce a favorite Bible verse that speaks to this same topic:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><div><b id="internal-source-marker_0.6786052729003131"><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance and endurance produces character, and character produces hope and hope does not disappoint.” –Romans 5:3-5</i></span></span></b></div></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I hope that, regardless of your religious background, this verse inspires you to welcome the inevitable difficulties of life with an open heart, because they can shape you in beautiful ways.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Do you have any wonderfully inspiring quotations I should know about? Please share!</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Enjoy your weekend!!!</span></i></b></div>Diana Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010169567128239343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443907878077450555.post-75468509861101914132012-01-18T07:55:00.000-08:002012-01-18T07:55:41.855-08:00Got a minute? It's all you need!I've been ranting on about different ways to cope with SAD or general winter glumness for the past few days and thought, well why not just keep ranting?!<br />
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I mentioned in my post regarding <a href="http://bubblyandbuttercup.blogspot.com/2012/01/find-your-dosha-find-your-bliss.html">ayurveda</a> that meditation can help balance your kapha during winter, when kapha is notably out of sorts. Regardless of the season, I think we can all agree that taking time to relax your mind and meditate is always beneficial. Long days at the office or in class, crowded malls, tensions with loved ones, Whole Foods running out of cilantro, all of these things frustrate us year-round. The exciting thing {yes, really} about frustrating events is that they provide us with an opportunity to hone our stress-relieving skills and come out the other end brighter and calmer. Conversely, if we let minor frustrations rule our lives, they can make us truly yicky people. Let's avoid the latter option, shall we?<br />
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Over the years, I hope that we've all found ways to cope with an irritating day. Exercise is an obvious option, as is a nice glass of wine at the end of the day -- hey, sometimes, you need it! Another option that is a little more difficult to tackle in our busy, crazy, noisy world, is meditation.<br />
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I, for one, have historically been terrible at meditation. I've tried it on my lonesome periodically since high school, I've tried it in yoga classes, I've tried it in health class at the bequest of my instructor, I've even tried it with friends and for years, <i>always failed</i>.<br />
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Maybe you're like me and could use some serious help quieting your mind and <i>chilling the heck out</i>. Maybe you're like my old roommate in New York, who could get totally zen on the West Side Highway running path listening to chanting on her iPod. {I know, I'm jealous too}<br />
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Either way, you probably struggle to find time to truly relax and let go. Enter <a href="http://onemomentmeditation.com/">One-Moment Meditation</a> from Martin Boronson, who has also written a <a href="http://onemomentmeditation.com/buy-the-book.html">book</a> on meditation and has created a <a href="http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Transform-Stress-in-30-Days-with-One-Moment-Meditation">series</a> for Oprah.com and you know Oprah doesn't mess around. His website features a darling little animated video which will guide you through a quick, one-minute, period of meditation.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/F6eFFCi12v8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<br />
<br />
And can I be honest with you? For the first time I can recall, I was able to actually only focus on my breath, let go of my worries and my to-do list, my past and my future, and meditate. For a whole minute! I was so excited I've now become a meditation junkie. Can't stop, won't stop.<br />
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<b><i>Have you ever attempted meditation? Any success/failure stories?</i></b><br />
<b><i>What are some other methods you employ to relax?</i></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>*disclaimer: no one asked me to praise one-moment meditation, because really, why would anyone?! I just happened upon it and love it.</i></span>Diana Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010169567128239343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443907878077450555.post-5063690801845322112012-01-17T14:52:00.000-08:002012-01-17T14:52:24.022-08:00Find your dosha, find your blissDo you like quizzes? I LOVE them. It's so enlightening finding out what kind of shopper I am or what kind of household pet I would be or what Friends character I am most like. Sometimes I even take quizzes that have real bearing on my life, my health and my future, like when my doctor asks me pesky questions and I answer {mostly} truthfully or a family friend grills me on what I want to be when I grow up {I'll never grow up, so this is a moot issue at best}. Those are generally less fun.<br />
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A few months ago, however, I took a quiz that was both informative and fun: "<a href="http://www.whatsyourdosha.com/">What's Your Dosha, Baby?</a>" is a quick quiz from yogi Lissa Coffey that determines which ayurvedic body type you are. Also, it's my new pick-up line.<br />
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Okay, so let's back up about ten steps. In order to determine why you should take this quiz or even care, allow me to elaborate on the basic principles of ayurvedic yoga and describe the three doshas (or body types). My overview on pick-up lines, however, will have to come at a later time and date.<br />
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<b>Ayurveda</b><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>describes a holistic healing method developed in ancient India that seeks to both treat and prevent diseases through balancing the five major elements that compose the universe: earth, water, fire, air and sky. Emphasis is placed upon meditation, diet, hygiene, and of course, yoga.<br />
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The three doshas are: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Vata types are generally slender, Pitta types are generally athletic, and Kapha types are generally more heavy-set.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryudRlsNyK_EDuhwybRKkuU0ujQ6fATJNmks0fpbFI98QdUBcJwZZbK0DmvpgwVIeTb-ekdHiH-QTqamzrkMtX10MLiY6eGtFpCaf3hKK3k38etW_bRfkgWZjAlyMfVJRApgYD8lJ6LU/s1600/Dosha+Table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryudRlsNyK_EDuhwybRKkuU0ujQ6fATJNmks0fpbFI98QdUBcJwZZbK0DmvpgwVIeTb-ekdHiH-QTqamzrkMtX10MLiY6eGtFpCaf3hKK3k38etW_bRfkgWZjAlyMfVJRApgYD8lJ6LU/s320/Dosha+Table.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://heymonicab.com/2009/06/seasonal-dosha-chart/">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
While I think that breaking the entire human population down into only three groups is certainly constricting, the body type definitions do give us some decent basic guidelines. I can only speak to the guidelines given to my particular body type, which I felt gave me an accurate reading of how I can sleep better and maintain my energy levels.<br />
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I can also speak to the ayurvedic approaches to the changes in seasons. Regardless of your particular dosha, ayurveda can prepare you for a better winter with a few simple changes to your daily life. I scored these tips in this <a href="http://yoganonymous.org/ayurvedic-tips-winter-kapha-wellness-yoga-tania-kazi/">great article</a> from Yoganonymous, which I will quickly summarize in bullet points below:<br />
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<ul><li>Winter brings about imbalance in Kapha in the body</li>
<ul><li>Kapha's main attributes are: cold, sticky, sweet, oily</li>
<li>"like increases like," so we should avoid substances with those attributes</li>
</ul><li>Eliminate or avoid heavy foods, particularly wheat & dairy</li>
<li>Eliminate or avoid sweets</li>
<li>Integrate warm spices such as cinnamon, cumin & cayenne into your diet</li>
<li>Maintain a regular routine (<a href="http://bubblyandbuttercup.blogspot.com/2012/01/dont-let-january-get-you-down.html">I already knew this one!</a>)</li>
<li>Exercise daily & try to incorporate a few sun salutations into your daily routine</li>
<li>Begin a meditation practice</li>
<li>Get a massage (I can <i>definitely</i> get on board with that one!)</li>
<li>Wear BRIGHT colors </li>
</ul><div>What do you think of the ayurvedic guidelines for winter? Do you think you could implement them in your own life?</div><div><br />
</div><div>Don't believe me? Want to learn more? Here are some resources to learn all you wanted and more about ayurveda!</div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="http://www.jaim.in/currentissue.asp?sabs=n">Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine</a></div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="http://yoganonymous.org/ayurveda-yoga-holistic-science-health-wellness-ancient-philosophy/">Yoganonymous' overview of Ayurveda</a></div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="http://www.yogajournal.com/health/ayurveda">The Ayurveda portal of Yoga Journal</a></div><div><br />
</div><div>And of course, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayurveda">Wikipedia</a></div>Diana Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010169567128239343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443907878077450555.post-44441469665623640152012-01-16T14:12:00.000-08:002012-01-16T14:12:05.226-08:00Don't let January get you down!I am famous, or perhaps infamous, for my yearly meltdowns. I become so grouchy and terrible to be around during the months of January and February that I wonder how I've kept any of my friends, any at all. I always wonder why it is that I'm feeling so generally awful about life when I look at a calendar and realize, "oh, yes, that's right, I do this every year, I hate winter."<br />
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One of the reasons I think I've recently been so affected by SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is that, growing up in St. Louis, while the weather was certainly sub-tropical during winter months, I still had sufficient sunlight and the dreariness didn't hit levels that would totally destroy my spirits.<br />
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Heading off to college in Maine, however, was an entirely different story. My school has a special short <a href="http://www.colby.edu/academics_cs/janplan/">January term</a> during which students take one intensive class or have the opportunity to take on an internship or study abroad for the month. My freshman year, I took a very interesting class on film and gender in the 1960s, which I loved. What I did not love was that my class went from one to four pm. Being a wild and crazy college kid, I found myself in a routine that would get me up at about 11 am just in time to get ready, eat lunch, go to class, get out of class, and woops! It's 4 pm, dark already and you want to cry. The following January, I spent the month in Costa Rica. I would recommend that particular path to anyone trying to avoid SAD.<br />
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In the event that you aren't in college and have a 'job,' a 'budget,' and 'responsibilities' (ew, ew, and ew), I have found a few tactics to stave off suicidal/homicidal tendencies that I'd like to share with you:<br />
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1. Vitamin D supplement - I take it every morning with breakfast. This time of year means less sunlight, and therefore less Vitamin D which is a definite cause of mopeyness.<br />
<br />
2. Sticking to a regular routine. I know it's dark outside, but wake up anyway! Enjoy a hot beverage and if you can, get a quick walk in before work in the morning. The chill will <i>certainly</i> wake your face up!<br />
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3. Don't sleep so much! It's so tempting to sleep in and take naps when the weather is gross and, as mentioned about 12 times so far, it's really dark outside. But don't! It'll only make you feel even more sluggish than if you had just gotten up and powered through the day.<br />
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4. Exercise! Even if you are stuck on a treadmill, do something - it'll help you feel more energized. I highly recommend taking a hot yoga class, whether it's a Bikram class or a Hot Vinyasa class. The cold winter air will feel <i>amazing</i> afterwards! Also, so long as it's not snowing/sleeting/icing, running outside in the cold is quite refreshing and easier on your bod than running in a heat wave. Remember August? Gross.<br />
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5. Eat healthfully. Don't allow your hibernating tendencies to make you think you actually need to fatten up - you are not a bear, my friend. Eating excessive sweets or fatty foods might be comforting, but again, they will slow you down. Resist!<br />
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I'm going to address further ways to handle this yucky season with one of my favorite methods of holistic healing later, <a href="http://yoganonymous.org/ayurveda-yoga-holistic-science-health-wellness-ancient-philosophy/">Ayurvedic Yoga</a>, so get excited about that!Diana Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010169567128239343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443907878077450555.post-77275705138690351832012-01-14T08:49:00.000-08:002012-01-14T08:49:02.968-08:00Crisis of CharityFor nearly two years, the American Cancer Society's charity endurance athlete program, "DetermiNation," has been an important part of my life. I have raised money for it through at least one endurance event each year, I have discovered my love of half and full marathons through the program, I have made wonderful friends, I have taken joy in spending my time giving back rather than focusing {even more} on myself, and I have felt that I am contributing to a cause very dear to my heart - the fight against cancer.<br />
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I have recently discovered through <a href="http://www.charitynavigator.org/">Charity Navigator</a>, however, that the American Cancer Society devotes more than the recommended 25% of its income to overhead expenses. At 28% it is only slightly over the generally accepted limit for an efficient charity, however, even 25% is pushing it in my opinion.<br />
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I cannot in good faith continue to ask my friends and family to donate to an organization that, while it does significant good, will not administer their donations as efficiently as possible. I have already attended one event hosted by the St. Louis area DetermiNation chapter at which I learned that their numbers for the upcoming Go! St. Louis Marathon and Half are considerably lower than their expectations. I feel guilty to not pledge myself to run on their team, but knowing that I wouldn't feel comfortable fundraising, how could I? As I am registered to run the race, I feel that I cannot continue to attend DetermiNation meetings knowing that they need more runners on their team, but that I refuse to be one of those runners.<br />
<br />
Have any of you experienced such a crisis of charity? Do you have other recommendations for a charity I can get involved with in the Midwest -- giving back is so important to me and I don't want to let that go, just because I am moving on from the ACS.Diana Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010169567128239343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443907878077450555.post-81504626697974107332011-12-14T16:00:00.000-08:002011-12-14T16:00:45.890-08:00Sparkly Ginger Snaps {recipe!}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>As I mentioned a ways back, I participated in the <a href="http://www.loveandoliveoil.com/category/cookie-swap">Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap</a>. From that, I have gained approximately 47 pounds as I received {dangerously} delicious dark chocolate cookies from Meg over at <a href="http://www.mychocolatecoveredlife.com/">My Chocolate Covered Life</a>, cookies made with coconut oil rather than butter {like tropical Christmas cookies!} from Peggy over at <a href="http://getfitjuju.blogspot.com/">Get Fit with JuJu</a> and sour cream sugar cookies that just about melted in my mouth from Brittany over at <a href="http://www.ahealthysliceoflife.com/">A Healthy Slice of Life</a>. I heard that as a result of this exchange, over <i>22,000</i> cookies were flying across the country! I got to share my cookies with <a href="http://www.jaimasjourney.com/">Jaima</a> in Florida, <a href="http://nevernursefoodfunorfitness.tumblr.com/">Christie</a> in nearby Illinois, and <a href="http://tadwell.wordpress.com/">Jenn</a> from North Pole, Alaska!!! I'm sure she gets that all the time, but I just thought it was too cool to send Christmas cookies to the real North Pole, and I pretty much want to hop on a plane and visit her. I'm sure I'll see Santa.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Sk-bFm6ffd2z5qS58RvSOxhsED_xlMqTlsdHsFyZZAakMYbA-uS1Sm7ibxlDj4zXXfLP0_pLLkxHQ7-SZZfqsERP9AagCZuWbE72xAxcV2meADdiOoR0nX2_90AzVbvTjJW-uApwDY0/s1600/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Sk-bFm6ffd2z5qS58RvSOxhsED_xlMqTlsdHsFyZZAakMYbA-uS1Sm7ibxlDj4zXXfLP0_pLLkxHQ7-SZZfqsERP9AagCZuWbE72xAxcV2meADdiOoR0nX2_90AzVbvTjJW-uApwDY0/s1600/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">blogger love notes with a side of old German computer</td></tr>
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So what did I send these little ladies?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxDD5IaXUEiWmX1exJIjc8wpYilRfi_OwVtccwXiNBJjC_ypvrsv4zrm-HzLKKYGBWO5P82M1VpgsP3LPLwTBr2m9wjjwlBV7OzX8XPcgE4vn57wEHXb0tUGA_QCo3KaNrn0BE8sexvc/s1600/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxDD5IaXUEiWmX1exJIjc8wpYilRfi_OwVtccwXiNBJjC_ypvrsv4zrm-HzLKKYGBWO5P82M1VpgsP3LPLwTBr2m9wjjwlBV7OzX8XPcgE4vn57wEHXb0tUGA_QCo3KaNrn0BE8sexvc/s1600/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">what's in here??</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I tried out a few cookie recipes {my freezer is stuffed to the brim with tupperwares of cookies, #christmasseasonproblems} and ultimately decided to send out a vegan-ized version of my go-to cookies-as-pressies: Sparkly Gingersnaps. They last forever so no fears that they'll show up at your loved ones' homes stale beyond edibility, taste like Christmas, and, when rolled in raw sugar, look so pretty, they should be on a Christmas card!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_FN5XYQjOHaUUgocX2VVaB2_n0fxBVm20-GHr32saEuKSmuzK4VbmOJmJiTLR2FPLzd86RlNApAA-vP_00Ol4RQ0_r0tLanI65cAKo8_p6_RG64agigw18A6fxuDoombvsY2aMnfsg4/s1600/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_FN5XYQjOHaUUgocX2VVaB2_n0fxBVm20-GHr32saEuKSmuzK4VbmOJmJiTLR2FPLzd86RlNApAA-vP_00Ol4RQ0_r0tLanI65cAKo8_p6_RG64agigw18A6fxuDoombvsY2aMnfsg4/s1600/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">raw sparkly gingie snaps!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Sparkly Gingersnaps (vegan)</span></i></b><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">adapted from Williams Sonoma Christmas Cookie book</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></i><br />
<i><u>Ingredients</u></i><br />
3/4 cup vegan butter {I used Earth Balance}<br />
1/2 granulated sugar<br />
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar<br />
1 flax egg*<br />
1/4 cup molasses<br />
2 cups all purpose flour<br />
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda<br />
1/2 teaspoon salt<br />
2 teaspoons ground ginger<br />
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon<br />
<br />
In a large bowl, cream together vegan butter + both sugars until light and smooth.<br />
Add flax egg and molasses and mix until smooth.<br />
<br />
In a medium bowl, stir together dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon)<br />
<br />
Add flour mixture to butter mixture, gradually, and mix until smooth. Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes - I usually chill it for several hours until I'm confident it's firm.<br />
<br />
Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease baking sheets.<br />
<br />
Pour raw sugar into a shallow bowl. Roll dough into 1-inch balls and roll in raw sugar to coat lightly. Place on prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart.<br />
<br />
Bake cookies for 10 - 12 minutes {honestly, I always bake them for 12 - 14 minutes, every oven varies!} or until just brown on edges and still a little soft in the middle.<br />
<br />
Serve warm, serve cooled, store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks, freeze 'em, mail 'em, they're the best.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahObykopNqK82FRaHLCRgsAOp67fYx95ZOLKXfBJPanTwKJ57AetJVS18On6PbyXrN0mNCFfE567fblbWA-t1hUO-y5PPje2sviaSkPB_vr3-iOhPXkn0O7jQPXtl-7f0CRJ0lo42ID0/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahObykopNqK82FRaHLCRgsAOp67fYx95ZOLKXfBJPanTwKJ57AetJVS18On6PbyXrN0mNCFfE567fblbWA-t1hUO-y5PPje2sviaSkPB_vr3-iOhPXkn0O7jQPXtl-7f0CRJ0lo42ID0/s1600/photo.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">le final version</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
One thing I noted about the vegan version of these cookies is that even a week after making them, they were less snappy and more soft and chewy. Not a bad thing in my book, as I prefer a softer cookie, but if you're hoping for a snappier snap you might consider using less vegan butter.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">*note on making flax eggs: stir together 1 tablespoon of ground flax seed and 3 tablespoons of water until it forms a gel-like substance. That equals one egg!</div>Diana Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010169567128239343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443907878077450555.post-37841881280903173592011-11-23T11:14:00.000-08:002011-11-23T11:14:24.170-08:00Thanksgiving: You Just Can't Escape ItThis week, Wednesday is the new Friday. It's hard to miss the fact that tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I hope you are all looking forward to one of my favorite days of the year, with plans to eat too much food and hopefully balance it out with some healthy activity! I'll be running a local 10K before divebombing into stuffing and pie with abandon and while I won't be sporting a costume myself, I hope to spot other, more festive folk in the crowd!<br />
<br />
Some fun links to get you into weekend-mode:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMKUEDq2xAVcHDMcjIuoJLlm27UCYmlYS3m8scfyOeDMhqFyr_HycF9OqM9CXDEEtiMTyBkgDW2xrNks1ZT3DCHAfNR9rgQYi2rrEZyiKO9ZvaaB6JSn3Ony3XySZDdLKzvroNiMQDAw/s1600/yd-2010-survival-guide.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMKUEDq2xAVcHDMcjIuoJLlm27UCYmlYS3m8scfyOeDMhqFyr_HycF9OqM9CXDEEtiMTyBkgDW2xrNks1ZT3DCHAfNR9rgQYi2rrEZyiKO9ZvaaB6JSn3Ony3XySZDdLKzvroNiMQDAw/s1600/yd-2010-survival-guide.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.yogadork.com/news/yogadork-survival-guide-to-thanksgiving-black-friday-holiday-madness/">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<a href="http://www.yogadork.com/news/yogadork-survival-guide-to-thanksgiving-black-friday-holiday-madness/">YogaDork's</a> suggestions for post-feast and mid-party season recovery poses, including a lovely meditation tactic: focus on sending love, gratitude and forgiveness for someone close to you.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyHllze2lnMNczYlOojRdubWBDyOWb4nr3H-Ru3UuNSHUxEPa7tXUG1j0DdaGz-TOy9C2xZNsn4yas6LEH9khRJyLXkf6KMtDjMxrVn0pMlMqW6BIDhD-JZRWrXxFZc1qgKYxlFS0DOX8/s1600/which-beatle-would-you-kiss-favorite.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyHllze2lnMNczYlOojRdubWBDyOWb4nr3H-Ru3UuNSHUxEPa7tXUG1j0DdaGz-TOy9C2xZNsn4yas6LEH9khRJyLXkf6KMtDjMxrVn0pMlMqW6BIDhD-JZRWrXxFZc1qgKYxlFS0DOX8/s320/which-beatle-would-you-kiss-favorite.jpeg" width="243" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/2011/11/which-of-beatles-would-you-kiss.html">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>There are just no words for how cute this poster is, from the lovely <a href="http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/2011/11/which-of-beatles-would-you-kiss.html">Cup of Jo</a>. How can you possibly choose?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvuh1FGHZYhLXmYOEuAVa8ELAS5PKrGbM8unQPyeAhhOju8rZf0C4wL_DtEqrcwVI8pSQ9ow6xYpxpxfmegTouwvAdzgsNv6RMSsnLbTGkp9Vb2k4SPI5qiW_ol_ztqx9SR5GoLaozjo/s1600/tumblr_lv2565HdfC1qmf9gqo1_500.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvuh1FGHZYhLXmYOEuAVa8ELAS5PKrGbM8unQPyeAhhOju8rZf0C4wL_DtEqrcwVI8pSQ9ow6xYpxpxfmegTouwvAdzgsNv6RMSsnLbTGkp9Vb2k4SPI5qiW_ol_ztqx9SR5GoLaozjo/s320/tumblr_lv2565HdfC1qmf9gqo1_500.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://animalstalkinginallcaps.tumblr.com/day/2011/11/22">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>This may look like a sweet picture, but just wait until what you hear what these animals are actually saying to each other...IN ALL CAPS. <a href="http://animalstalkinginallcaps.tumblr.com/">Animals Talking In All Caps</a>: It's Just What It Sounds Like.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://bonnielangfitness.com/?p=5295">This workout</a> taught me how to do "side-by-side burpees," and how to cry.<br />
<br />
Am I the last person to discover "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/MyHarto">drunk kitchen</a>"? And in case you were wondering, yes this is exactly what I look like when I'm <a href="http://bubblyandbuttercup.blogspot.com/2011/11/great-blogger-cookie-swap.html">baking</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/qTyotI3IHFQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
Enjoy your holiday and I'll see you Monday, bloated and fighting a pie hangover.Diana Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010169567128239343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443907878077450555.post-25510397471776898032011-11-21T09:10:00.000-08:002011-11-22T10:34:25.101-08:00Living together: romantic, or frugal?While I was living in NYC, I knew quite a few young couples who lived together. Some of these couples were engaged, some became engaged while I knew them, some were and are far off from engagement, and some are even seeking ways to end these long-term relationships. Whatever the case may be, there was always a part of me that was jealous of the girls who lived with their boyfriends. Not because I was in any sort of rush to live with a boy - I've spent most of my life living with boys in the form of my brothers or friends in co-ed college dorms and learned a few things which can basically be summarized by saying: boys are smelly. I'm also a bit old fashioned and want to save what I feel is a very important stage in a relationship for marriage.<br />
<br />
So why, then, was I jealous? HELLO. I lived in Manhattan and spent two thirds of my itty bitty salary on rent. Girls who live with their boyfriends get to live comfortably in one bedroom apartments for half the price. Cha-ching!<br />
<br />
Reflecting on the frugality of such an arrangement definitely led me to wonder if a few of the co-habitating couples I knew made the decision to move in together based on financial over romantic reasons and therefore ran the risk of rushing the sharing-lives-process -- I mean, it would have to be tempting, right?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.seddons.co.uk/uploads/images/Cohabitation_etc._page_-_happy_young_couple_by_boxes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.seddons.co.uk/uploads/images/Cohabitation_etc._page_-_happy_young_couple_by_boxes.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.seddons.co.uk/people/family-and-children/cohabitation-agreements-and-disputes-between-cohabitees/">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Turns out, I'm not the only person who has wondered about frugality trumping romance, the U.S. Census agrees, according to <a href="http://www.learnvest.com/living-frugally/psychology-of-money/money-mic-why-cohabitation-will-help-your-finances/">this interesting article</a>, which also states that 7.5 million unmarried couples lived together in 2010. That's 15 million moms shaking their heads. Kidding!<br />
<br />
The other element to be aware of if co-habitating is the possible legal implications should you choose to end the arrangement - breaking the lease early, divvying up larger joint purchases, handling your partner's possible debt or credit issues...although it's not marriage, moving in with a romantic partner is a lot different than just having a roommate that likes to cuddle more than the sorority sister you've been rooming with since college! Therefore, an appropriate amount of attention and care should be taken in considering when your relationship is ready for such a tremendous step.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/rro/lowres/rron1139l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/rro/lowres/rron1139l.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/l/living_together.asp">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<b><i>What do you think? Is moving in together a wise financial choice? Would you move in with a significant other to cut costs? Would you rather wait until <strike>you had to</strike> marriage?</i></b>Diana Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010169567128239343noreply@blogger.com0Greater St Louis, United States38.719804935256832 -90.16479529687501337.825219935256833 -91.304935796875014 39.614389935256831 -89.024654796875012tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443907878077450555.post-3550748506130514212011-11-20T19:19:00.000-08:002011-11-20T19:19:07.991-08:00Mocha Pumpkin Spice Smoothie of LUV {recipe}<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I ordered some <a href="http://drinkclick.com/">Click</a> protein powder in the hopes that it would make me as speedy {and skinny, obviously} as <a href="http://skinnyrunner.com/2011/11/17/avoiding-those-judging-little-eyes/">this girl</a> and finally made something out of it this afternoon as I was sitting on my couch after a long run, not showering, and enjoying the <strike>amazing</strike> Rams/Seahawks NFC West "showdown" {announcer's words, <i>not mine</i>}.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<div class="tweet-row" style="clear: left; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="tweet-user-block" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/dasternberg" style="color: #c34242; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Diana Sternberg" class="tweet-user-block-image user-profile-link js-action-profile-avatar" data-user-id="62601454" src="http://a1.twimg.com/profile_images/1049876567/n19302799_30988538_442_normal.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 32px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 32px;" /></a><br />
<div class="tweet-user-block-name" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 40px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 36px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a class="tweet-user-block-screen-name user-profile-link js-action-profile-name" data-user-id="62601454" href="http://twitter.com/#!/dasternberg" style="color: #c34242; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: -1px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Diana Sternberg">@dasternberg</a><span class="tweet-user-block-full-name" style="color: #999999; display: block; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Diana Sternberg</span></div></div></div><div class="tweet-row" style="clear: left; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="tweet-text tweet-text-large" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: Georgia, Palatino, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif !important; font-size: 21px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 8px; word-wrap: break-word;">on the smelly scale how bad is it that I'm waiting to shower after a 10-mile run until Rams/Seahawks halftime?</div></div><div class="tweet-row" style="clear: left; display: block; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><span class="tweet-actions js-actions" data-tweet-id="138372090351988738" style="display: block; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</span><span class="tweet-actions js-actions" data-tweet-id="138372090351988738" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Full disclosure...I didn't shower until after the game. Eh, whatever.</span></span><span class="tweet-actions js-actions" data-tweet-id="138372090351988738" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><span class="tweet-actions js-actions" data-tweet-id="138372090351988738" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">However, I still considered my post-run activities a win because I recovered like someone who actually attempts to recover, for once in my life. I stretched voluntarily (!!!) and drank a protein shake. Totally makes up for the lack of showering.</span></span><span class="tweet-actions js-actions" data-tweet-id="138372090351988738" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><span class="tweet-actions js-actions" data-tweet-id="138372090351988738" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I throw together scary combinations of ingredients in the blender on a fairly regular basis, so I thought I'd share what that might consist of. This time, the mix included:</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<div class="tweet-row" style="clear: left; display: block; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="tweet-actions js-actions" data-tweet-id="138372090351988738" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></span></span><br />
<ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="tweet-actions js-actions" data-tweet-id="138372090351988738" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk</span></span></span></li>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="tweet-actions js-actions" data-tweet-id="138372090351988738" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 cup water</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 17px;">1 serving of <a href="http://drinkclick.com/">Click</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 17px;"> Mocha protein powder</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/2 medium banana, frozen</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">large spoonful pureed pumpkin</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">large handful of raw kale, stems removed</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 Tablespoon maple syrup</span></li>
</span></span></ul></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><div class="tweet-row" style="clear: left; display: block; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><span class="tweet-actions js-actions" data-tweet-id="138372090351988738" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I attempted to come up with a name for this bad boy, but since it didn't taste totally like pumpkin pie, nor did it totally taste like mocha, I couldn't really decide how to title it</span></span><span class="tweet-actions js-actions" data-tweet-id="138372090351988738" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">appropriately. Let's just say that you could taste both of those wonderful flavors, and none of the kale.</span></span><span class="tweet-actions js-actions" data-tweet-id="138372090351988738" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><span class="tweet-actions js-actions" data-tweet-id="138372090351988738" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I also considered photographing my smoothie, but it looked like vomit {thanks, kale} so I didn't. You're welcome for that <i>mental</i> image, though.</span></span><span class="tweet-actions js-actions" data-tweet-id="138372090351988738" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><span class="tweet-actions js-actions" data-tweet-id="138372090351988738" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Fun fact about Click: their tagline is, "The Coffee Lover's Protein Drink." Um...<a href="http://bubblyandbuttercup.blogspot.com/2011/08/au-revoir-grande-bold-with-soy.html">yes</a>.</span></span><span class="tweet-actions js-actions" data-tweet-id="138372090351988738" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><span class="tweet-actions js-actions" data-tweet-id="138372090351988738" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>What's your favorite method of recovery?</i></b> </span></span><span class="tweet-actions js-actions" data-tweet-id="138372090351988738" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>Would you rather: watch football, or shower after working out?</i></b></span></span><span class="tweet-actions js-actions" data-tweet-id="138372090351988738" style="color: #444444; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></div></span>Diana Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010169567128239343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443907878077450555.post-79993670901473382472011-11-18T09:00:00.000-08:002011-11-18T09:00:47.465-08:00It's the Freakin' Weekend again!We made it to Friday again! If your office to-do list or attention span is waning, I'm with you. Here are some fun mood pick-me-ups from the interwebs to you!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.lululemon.com/is/image/lululemon/lovenote17?$LNThumb$" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.lululemon.com/is/image/lululemon/lovenote17?$LNThumb$" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://shop.lululemon.com/home.jsp">Lululemon</a> gives me one more reason to be obsessed...free <a href="http://lululemon.com/lovenote/?LoveNoteNumber=19&cid=stl_19?cid=twlovenoterun">love notes</a> to share on their website! They also have an entire shopping section labelled "<a href="http://shop.lululemon.com/products/category/sweat-date?pagesize=All&icid=hp;middleband;sweatdate;110811">sweat date</a>" - I feel like they are crawling around in my head, giving me exactly what I want to spend my entire paycheck on!<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/17/business/economy/as-graduates-move-back-home-economy-feels-the-pain.html?_r=2&hp">New York Times</a> recently featured a thought-provoking <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/17/business/economy/as-graduates-move-back-home-economy-feels-the-pain.html?_r=2&hp">article</a> on young college graduates who are moving back home - some have jobs, some don't, but all are seeking to save money and plan for their future. The article claims that these young adults are hurting the economy by not spending (money that they don't have...) - <b style="font-style: italic;">what do you think? </b>{in case you can't tell, I disagree - if you don't have disposable income to spend, don't spend it!}<br />
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On a brighter note, someone replaced the famous artists on iconic album covers with kittens and made a <a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lubgglxDWo1r5gmoeo1_500.jpg">tumblr</a>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lubgglxDWo1r5gmoeo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lubgglxDWo1r5gmoeo1_500.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fewocious!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
For pretty-in-the-face overload, check out the new <a href="http://www.vogue.com/magazine/article/western-union-lauren-bush-and-david-laurens-wedding/#/magazine-gallery/western-union/1">Mrs. Lauren Lauren</a>...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.vogue.com/files/filecheck/2011/11/16/1211-VO-WELL56-01_142019699148.jpg_article_singleimage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="http://media.vogue.com/files/filecheck/2011/11/16/1211-VO-WELL56-01_142019699148.jpg_article_singleimage.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my wedding will also be featured in Vogue</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I blogged about the greatest dining experience of my life at Pure Food & Wine <a href="http://bubblyandbuttercup.blogspot.com/2011/07/pure-raw-lady-date.html">here</a>; enjoy 15% off of to-go snackies from the owner's takeaway operation <a href="http://www.oneluckyduck.com/">One Lucky Duck</a> from the savvy divas over at <a href="http://recessionista.com/">Recessionista</a> <a href="http://recessionista.com/dealsandsteals/">here</a>!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://s7d1.scene7.com/s7viewers/dhtml/images/spacer.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://s7d1.scene7.com/s7viewers/dhtml/images/spacer.gif" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.oneluckyduck.com/store/Images/Product_Images/396_1s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.oneluckyduck.com/store/Images/Product_Images/396_1s.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">raw vegan cookies...get in mah mouf!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Enjoy your weekend loves!<br />
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<b><i>Any exciting plans?</i></b><br />
<b><i>Any more funny pictures of kittens I should be aware of?</i></b>Diana Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010169567128239343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443907878077450555.post-45891336614176192102011-11-16T09:46:00.000-08:002011-11-16T09:46:26.622-08:00Party like it's 1999 - in cargos?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Do you remember the 90s? I was two and a half when they began so much of that decade is a blur {from all of my wild partying, obviously} but the late 90s were, for better or worse, a seminal point in my life.</div><br />
In 1999, I graduated from elementary school, began junior high, finally got to choose my own hair cut, and bought my first pair of adult-Gap jeans {they still didn't fit, it was more of a principle thing}<br />
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I also idolized the clothing and the models in the monthly Delia*s catalogue - I wanted to look just like them, platform sandals, butterfly spaghetti strap tanks, baggy cargo pants (<i>cargo pants, really?!?</i>) and all.<br />
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In an awesome moment combining nostalgia and shame over past fashion mistakes, Refinery29 put together a slideshow of the <a href="http://www.refinery29.com/do-you-remember-delias-1999-catalog/slideshow#slide-1">1999 Delia*s catalogue</a>. If you were there, you will appreciate this.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrarFziBLWknSitIp6t2SdDpkOJun83eHJI6mGuqWpkafsTNAwM4uHs8PLkX5_jQizRHkoUPAZNKHpXi1Ch4z9Ah8Rj4Vnbk8wlkOkwzC0Ig0vSw7tNpyfcw_PVHju5sFz2VSI8JN5_xM/s1600/9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrarFziBLWknSitIp6t2SdDpkOJun83eHJI6mGuqWpkafsTNAwM4uHs8PLkX5_jQizRHkoUPAZNKHpXi1Ch4z9Ah8Rj4Vnbk8wlkOkwzC0Ig0vSw7tNpyfcw_PVHju5sFz2VSI8JN5_xM/s320/9.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">head to toe 90s perfection</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div>Happy Hump Day!</div><div><br />
</div><div><b><i>What were your favorite 90s fashions? Embarrassing junior high fashion moments?</i></b></div><div><b><i>Why were butterflies so popular?</i></b></div>Diana Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010169567128239343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443907878077450555.post-7244105865448131352011-11-12T07:38:00.000-08:002011-11-12T07:38:03.578-08:00The Great Blogger Cookie SwapAfter reading <a href="http://www.sweettoothsweetlife.com/2011/11/01/blogger-cookie-swap-2/">Courtney's news</a> that she was joining the <a href="http://www.loveandoliveoil.com/2011/10/the-great-food-blogger-cookie-swap.html">Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap</a>, I knew I wanted in immediately, if only to cross my fingers that I am the lucky recipient of one of her decadent desserts!<br />
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But truly, it is better to give than receive and that statement is no more true than in the tradition of baking holiday cookies for friends and family to enjoy. I love eating cookies {believe me.} but I love even more knowing that a baked good I've made brings a smile to someone else.<br />
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Come Christmas time, I always think I am going to bake 30 batches of different cookies but in reality I bake about 5-6 different types of cookies each year. I used to try to attempt to make gingerbread houses entirely from scratch but my brother would somehow always eat one of the pieces of the house before I could assemble it...Robert I did not make "side of a house shaped cookies"....<br />
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">This year, though, I am upping my game! </i><br />
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I will be sharing a mescla of some sugar-free cookies (developed for an old boyfriend's grandpa with diabetes), vegan cookies, gluten free cookies, and cookies so unhealthy you won't know whether to laugh or cry.<br />
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Join in on the fun <a href="http://www.loveandoliveoil.com/2011/10/the-great-food-blogger-cookie-swap.html">here</a>, let's swap cookies!Diana Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010169567128239343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443907878077450555.post-22542093485373628962011-11-10T09:04:00.000-08:002011-11-10T09:04:25.467-08:00Happy Birthday, Lilly!<a href="http://blog.lillypulitzer.com/">Lilly Pulitzer</a> is one of my favorite brands for the following reasons:<br />
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1. I love her bright, colorful, playful patterns - they suit my style perfectly!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXE8Ap0o1H1ky5ky7ow3RNpVMN0IQDyAf2lbiXF387fUMhnLwGlKg_-xunngsqsG11pA2O9j5KygKRHSiAfP5G9VuiocpAtMFg5i5v6fKZbGoVsUch2dE1lhgqhWzSp53FB8xmGK7a5vQ/s1600/IMG_0673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXE8Ap0o1H1ky5ky7ow3RNpVMN0IQDyAf2lbiXF387fUMhnLwGlKg_-xunngsqsG11pA2O9j5KygKRHSiAfP5G9VuiocpAtMFg5i5v6fKZbGoVsUch2dE1lhgqhWzSp53FB8xmGK7a5vQ/s320/IMG_0673.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hiding my face, but not my lilly!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
2. The company has built its brand around the idea that girls just want to have fun, that everyone can be youthful, that ladylike dress is always chic, and that life is too short to be boring. All of these statements could also be my personal mantra.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSjTcrmuTv5YhxrBlVUSwvBsc1Qflz_FmBQhmOvCl99QCzDLU8xmfHmbhypvpv8fQ0OjrVRGTiIrYhkUBGcfCcgYc2n5bY8jabqWhS6UGnESLuHWeI8h_wwBvwRngMGn4op4KeQwvVNg/s1600/IMG_0734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSjTcrmuTv5YhxrBlVUSwvBsc1Qflz_FmBQhmOvCl99QCzDLU8xmfHmbhypvpv8fQ0OjrVRGTiIrYhkUBGcfCcgYc2n5bY8jabqWhS6UGnESLuHWeI8h_wwBvwRngMGn4op4KeQwvVNg/s320/IMG_0734.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">life is apparently long enough to pose awkwardly by fountains</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
3. The company was started by a young lady with a lot of gumption who wanted to create<a href="http://www.lillypulitzer.com/content_slides.jsp?groupName=OurStory"> dresses that would hide fruit juice spills</a>. I spill <i>all the time</i> so I can definitely relate.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0WrbwKVAC-FPQJUB5QFRiWeNPq_vIws6xgM5pKQ92h6IcPX9979S_w-kSm95EAPyU8MMopm8pc1JRL2xrrFOQi0UTWvkejJJog7_66LjgZlRlBCSt56J65JYR-HNirCrYlV1vIaxCXo/s1600/IMG_1387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0WrbwKVAC-FPQJUB5QFRiWeNPq_vIws6xgM5pKQ92h6IcPX9979S_w-kSm95EAPyU8MMopm8pc1JRL2xrrFOQi0UTWvkejJJog7_66LjgZlRlBCSt56J65JYR-HNirCrYlV1vIaxCXo/s320/IMG_1387.JPG" width="156" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">but for the grace of God that birthday cocktail stayed off my Lilly</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Lilly Pulitzer turns 80 years young today and I can think of only one way to celebrate...grab some more <a href="http://www.lillypulitzer.com/">Lilly</a> gear, grab a fruity cocktail and dance around with it with abandon...after all, if you spill it, no one will be able to tell!Diana Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010169567128239343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443907878077450555.post-16906955597607823762011-11-07T09:33:00.000-08:002011-11-07T09:33:12.884-08:00The anthropological foodieI may have graduated from college two - <i>okay fine, almost three</i> - years ago, however, as the saying goes, "You can take the girl out of the Anthropology seminar but you can't take the discourses on Foucault, human tendencies of classification and attempting to control the body out of the girl." What, that's not a saying? I'm pretty sure it is.<br />
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At any rate, I am always observing our world through the frame of my own knowledge and perspective, as we all do, and in my case this knowledge and perspective has its roots in anthropological theories and practices.<br />
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Therefore, when I hear or read of women {and yes, occasionally men} discussing their food choices, dietary preferences and past food struggles, I cannot help but make a small ethnographic study of these opinions and experiences.<br />
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My brief interaction with biological anthropology taught me that anthropologists can ascertain an alarming amount of detail about a past culture by observing its population's eating habits: the tools they used for hunting or farming, food preparation and eating, the role of food in religious customs, the specific types of foods native to their land and the role that food played on determining their culture. YES, food, it appears, can play a role in determining culture. Archaic peoples with a plethora of spices and exotic fruits available to them have a different cultural history than those who lived in sparser, colder, less fertile lands.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtQKQ8KAcP5K7dI3XtPXIMdOdaZeVfGlaGUWEqXCy1vcgKLkGK8z0XuoMCa8J7TIZNQXMBsphp3KBjRz9IdjAngmy8bQ7aT8l-z3X3P6YKHxSbOGwGQH3TvEeGrJEyfImiEFDV4HZ5dQ/s1600/IMG_1356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtQKQ8KAcP5K7dI3XtPXIMdOdaZeVfGlaGUWEqXCy1vcgKLkGK8z0XuoMCa8J7TIZNQXMBsphp3KBjRz9IdjAngmy8bQ7aT8l-z3X3P6YKHxSbOGwGQH3TvEeGrJEyfImiEFDV4HZ5dQ/s320/IMG_1356.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">british food for royal wedding party...this is why they had to conquer so many countries</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Consider our current climate. In the United States and in most of western civilization, we have an obsession with food. We love it. We can't stop thinking about it. We've built up entire industries around food - agriculture, factories for processed food production and packaging, shipping of food across countries and the world, distributors, restaurants, grocery stores, farmer's markets, charitable food drives and soup kitchens, food festivals...and that is just the tip of the iceberg.<br />
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For women {and again, I recognize that many men also fit in this camp}, food is something we love, yes, but it is so much more. Food is associated with: reward, guilt, celebration, good health, poor health, generosity, self-deprivation, gluttony, joy, fear, doubt, pleasure, pain...again, just the tip of the iceberg.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoVaiVwtZrjVgVOfKuc70-K9OkkSH0jKmuHdAAM9ip3juBUGytPIRe2TRtkg86dyHhNXHAEPIta3IfvEDCSU89dFdMl_3g5zmPRVjlAp0JGrxbEvsfXmrvKERCvCwtLeK8YQaNSCMChY/s1600/IMG_0465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoVaiVwtZrjVgVOfKuc70-K9OkkSH0jKmuHdAAM9ip3juBUGytPIRe2TRtkg86dyHhNXHAEPIta3IfvEDCSU89dFdMl_3g5zmPRVjlAp0JGrxbEvsfXmrvKERCvCwtLeK8YQaNSCMChY/s320/IMG_0465.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">so many adjectives describe what's happening here...most of them gross</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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Food has become so much more than just food. Food, in its simplest form, is sustenance. Nourishment. Necessary for life just as water and oxygen. How often do you think to yourself, "have I breathed enough today? Too much? How much should I breathe tomorrow? What about on Thanksgiving?" That would most likely be never, unless you have some form of rare breathing disorder I have never heard of, and if that's the case, I'm sorry because that must be rough.<br />
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My point is not to dole out advice, such as, "eat when you're hungry and stop when you're full and don't worry about it," or "just use common sense about your diet," although those are two of the greatest pieces of diet advice on Earth. My point is to give you some food for thought (heh, sorry, couldn't help myself) ~ we take so much of our daily existence and thoughts and culture for granted. Try to take a moment to think, "why <i>do </i>I think about food so much?" and "why <i>do </i>I have absolutely no problem with the fact that I basically have to publicly disrobe to fly to my parents' house for Christmas?" Okay fine, totally unrelated, but totally intrinsic parts of our daily cultural experience that we accept without question.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7G1uUzk4bJW6ThLjMDza7qeDPqxHgSLJb1nrBgZaBqaFt1Poo1DLlsaLuJU7Ekt7AMI4xazotLiKFWKBpXSZx54E7b2QFE1ub5CeNcKReQQWrVFMvlVjL_GSLh5RlFAFMp5iTFtWhn3Q/s1600/IMG_0101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7G1uUzk4bJW6ThLjMDza7qeDPqxHgSLJb1nrBgZaBqaFt1Poo1DLlsaLuJU7Ekt7AMI4xazotLiKFWKBpXSZx54E7b2QFE1ub5CeNcKReQQWrVFMvlVjL_GSLh5RlFAFMp5iTFtWhn3Q/s320/IMG_0101.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">well, why not?!?</td></tr>
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Our cultural conceptions have not existed since the dawn of time, as we may believe, and I find it fascinating to take the time to unpack our tightly held beliefs and practices and consider <i>how</i> and <i>why</i> we've come to where we are. I find that doing so helps me find balance in my life, helps me approach situations with a greater degree of reason, and helps me bore people when I won't stop rambling about it.<br />
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<b><i>Any boring, daily occurrences you think too much about?</i></b><br />
<b><i>How do you think about our eating habits?</i></b><br />
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If you haven't had enough of re-considering our so-called inherent cultural beliefs, check <a href="http://www.thelunchboxdiaries.com/my-princess-boy/">this interesting post on gender</a> from Colleen, a psychology grad student who also probably thinks about humans too much.Diana Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010169567128239343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443907878077450555.post-59516733245798672462011-11-06T08:46:00.000-08:002011-11-06T08:46:11.394-08:00Too soon...or never soon enough?I firmly believe in the law...it's a federal law, not just a state thing...that you must not listen to Christmas music before Thanksgiving. Celebrating the greatest holiday in the history of holidays from October onwards is a both a sham and a shame.<br />
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Preparing oneself for said holiday, however, is not a crime in any size of community. This day of glory brings with it parties, gift giving occasions, decorating opportunities and fashion opportunities galore. And I am not going to allow them to catch me by surprise this year...as I have every single other year since birth.<br />
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</div>Here is a break down of my aggressive takedown of Christmas {that sounds terrible}<br />
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1. I am baking a batch of cookies each weekend leading up to Christmas and freezing them so that they can be brought out at a moment's notice. Cookie swap? Nailed. Party I feel obligated to bring something to? Got it. Spontaneous gift? Done, and <i>hand made</i>. Made with my very hands!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRqdn2JBI9dB7n2OiBLpgS4TPYL-lM-YTt9y0gRzXnCqLNfjItbDdvNsC3J_8x5X6IHgXtvNurdCXFyeltTPIeMVYO6CuowJ8iZ4fiQlEFU42o9pjOOvlVjrntl45KcfhAmz7mESmG0A/s1600/IMG_0698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRqdn2JBI9dB7n2OiBLpgS4TPYL-lM-YTt9y0gRzXnCqLNfjItbDdvNsC3J_8x5X6IHgXtvNurdCXFyeltTPIeMVYO6CuowJ8iZ4fiQlEFU42o9pjOOvlVjrntl45KcfhAmz7mESmG0A/s320/IMG_0698.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">week one's batch! partying in my freezer right now. recipe <a href="http://www.bhg.com/recipe/pies/chocolate-hazelnut-and-caramel-thumbprint-cookies/">here</a></td></tr>
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2. Create outline for Christmas gifts, listing who I need to purchase a gift for, what my gift-giving <b>budget </b>is, and a few ideas that fit within that budget. Hopefully some forethought will prevent me from panicking and spending too much money on a mediocre gift on December 24th. <i>Not</i> that that has ever happened before!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_532313079"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBmVzjRw5w5Hm2HetHMvuOg4gWYTvgaTQAq9NF_8hkltMib6sW1sZp7Tmyg0mxdHFfZv__d8-5PIPWaIATtR-70VIpWuRFk5mnVB7cHDNHeCdayOQFAzYFWIqhSlOzDuJs5BeO9shOy4/s1600/detail.jpeg" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.skymall.com/shopping/detail.htm?pid=203290078&c=203339579">a couple of benjamins for a model ship? weider gifts have happened.</a></td></tr>
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3. Put into writing a few healthy holiday rules. Although I know that a <a href="http://fitnessista.com/2011/11/staying-on-track-giveaway/">little holiday indulging isn't going to kill me</a>, preventing myself from having a total free-fall into pie-land prepares me to greet food-oriented get togethers and seasonal desserts happily because I know which treats are worth splurging on and which are not. In my opinion, pumpkin pie is practically mandatory whereas pre-dinner cheese and cracker hour is not, I will stuff stuffing in my face but mashed potatoes can be left out of the party, and anything that is either prepackaged or that I have easy access to year-round can be skipped.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFpDAVVYXdUA72A_YbKSsu4MZUtsgj4ZyreO7MboB-r7TlHmLdk3R0ZS-gAN6bDRQFk04KUr5ylR5_LIoXOrerZNlmgsvmal0PKU1pij4O_sbZCnHdSEMOCsok-7fsnkSet7Et256qYw/s1600/pumpkin-pie-lg.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFpDAVVYXdUA72A_YbKSsu4MZUtsgj4ZyreO7MboB-r7TlHmLdk3R0ZS-gAN6bDRQFk04KUr5ylR5_LIoXOrerZNlmgsvmal0PKU1pij4O_sbZCnHdSEMOCsok-7fsnkSet7Et256qYw/s320/pumpkin-pie-lg.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/activities/recipes/mini-pumpkin-pie-turkeys/">let's just say I wouldn't throw this away</a></td></tr>
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4. Reviewing my closet and mentally prepping a few holiday event outfits, again so I'm not left in a panic purchasing something expensive, mediocre, and entirely unnecessary.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zN4DchgFb1h8DihoWzzyJXJlLy8qeYWxoqp65IqI7BQqIENismJatasfxRFN1-zmdVTRytGZXMURXrnDpfVqDUGQlrtUsURXtLGM11l4gliZDGUAqCjfdHs30KCNT2w5GrwlNSwW8cI/s1600/n15402527_31103520_6914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zN4DchgFb1h8DihoWzzyJXJlLy8qeYWxoqp65IqI7BQqIENismJatasfxRFN1-zmdVTRytGZXMURXrnDpfVqDUGQlrtUsURXtLGM11l4gliZDGUAqCjfdHs30KCNT2w5GrwlNSwW8cI/s320/n15402527_31103520_6914.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">I mean with an outfit like this...who needs shopping?<br />
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5. On that note, and tying #4 into #2, budgeting how much expendable income I can use on <i>myself</i> during this season. The conclusion....not <strike>any</strike> a lot. So larger purchases - a new down coat, shopping carts full of new home decor, planning another out-of-town trip, all those new jeans I so desperately need...those will have to wait.<br />
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Hope these little ideas inspire you to greet the holidays - whichever you celebrate - prepared rather than scrambling!<br />
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<b><i>How do you get ready for this bonanza season?</i></b>Diana Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010169567128239343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443907878077450555.post-50433275531485380402011-11-01T07:37:00.000-07:002011-11-01T07:37:51.152-07:00{Recipe} Vegetarian Cincinnati Chili!My dad is from Cincinnati and will shout its many apparent glories from the mountain tops, making ridiculous claims that this medium-sized midwestern city is the greatest metropolis on earth. Among them: the weather is substantially better than in St. Louis: cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. This belief is blatantly untrue, check weather.com if you have time on your hands. Since I know you don't, I did it for you...I will do anything to prove a point.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QkCjVLtP9wFRMnnpafx811RQRDab9SqE9USbH6fH_qvKM81pv8aFH7OJrXZ21KAHIKK03NKJvo62tWkJFyyKGaAGCu24CfS35caCZE-17SygvXLG1EUHz_GvIYBgpgymgOb-wa-oWZo/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QkCjVLtP9wFRMnnpafx811RQRDab9SqE9USbH6fH_qvKM81pv8aFH7OJrXZ21KAHIKK03NKJvo62tWkJFyyKGaAGCu24CfS35caCZE-17SygvXLG1EUHz_GvIYBgpgymgOb-wa-oWZo/s640/Picture+1.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">can you even tell which is which?</td></tr>
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Proof positive: Cincinnati may be one degree cooler in the summer, but it is <b>five</b> degrees cooler in the winter and set a record <i>low</i>. I'm pretty sure way more people die of cold than of heat and winter brings out more grumpiness and overall seasonal depression, so St. Louis wins this battle.<br />
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What St. Louis does not win, however, is the chili battle. Mostly because St. Louis doesn't really have a contender in the battle. If we did, we would definitely win. We're just too busy creating <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toasted_ravioli">toasted ravioli</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis-style_barbecue">BBQ</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gooey_butter_cake">gooey butter cake</a> to turn our attention to chili. Oh, and winning World Series {how do you make that plural? when you've won 11 that becomes important}.<br />
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That being said, Cincinnati chili is pretty amazing. It contains dark chocolate and cinnamon. If you can't get on board with that, leave. I recently whipped up a batch of vegetarian chili (could be vegan if you didn't smother it with cheddar cheese....as I did....) that was so delicious I just had to share. No choice, really.<br />
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">Vegetarian Cincinnati Chili</i> {adapted from <a href="http://brian-downing.suite101.com/the-best-vegetarian-cincinnati-chili-recipe-a190921">here</a>}<br />
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<i>Ingredients</i><br />
1 medium sized white onion, diced<br />
2 cloves of garlic, minced<br />
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon<br />
1 teaspoon salt<br />
1 teaspoon paprika<br />
1 teaspoon allspice<br />
1 1/2 teaspoon Mexican chili powder<br />
2 1/2 teaspoons chili powder<br />
1 Tablespoon olive oil<br />
1 bag of veggie crumbles (I used Morningstar brand because they were the most readily available)<br />
2 ounces dark chocolate<br />
12 ounces pureed tomatoes<br />
3 cups vegetable stock<br />
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<i>Directions</i><br />
Get out the big pot that you intend to cook the whole chili in and sautee the onion and garlic in one tablespoon of olive oil for about 5 minutes. Add in all of your spices. Add in veggie crumbles, vegetable stock, pureed tomatoes and <i>don't forget the chocolate!</i><br />
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</i><br />
Let this simmer with a low boil for about 10 minutes, that put it on low and let it stew for as long as you'd like - 40 minutes to an hour is most desirable - occasionally popping in to <a href="http://youtu.be/OLnq_tZf3eQ">stir it up</a>. {as a child I thought that song was about hot chocolate. still not totally sure what its meaning is}<br />
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Serve your chili with spaghetti squash and optional cheese if you aren't vegan, and of course, a Cincinnati-brewed Little Kings beer, and it's a chili 3-way dinner!<br />
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You can also feel free to top it with kidney beans and uncooked onions to make it a chili 5-way...that was too many 'ways' for me so I kept it simple.<br />
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<i><b>What's a regional favorite of yours?</b></i><br />
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</tbody></table>Diana Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010169567128239343noreply@blogger.com1