Hobby Hunter

I find myself buzzing around like a bee, trying to find my niche in life.  Well I realize that I can be a great mom, wife and still have time for some hobbies.  But I don't have any hobbies really besides running.  Then I thought I haven't used my food blog in so long I might as well revamp and give it a makeover.  So I did, and now I am going to try different hobbies and make a journal of my progress and how it works out.  I am sure there will be some I love, some I hate and some that will be just ok.  I get tired of not having that crafty part that every other female seems to have.  I don't have any posts right now, but I plan on prepping for my first entry soon.  So stay tuned and keep checking to see how it is going.  You can find the link to my page on my sidebar or HERE.

You So Ugli

I am all about trying new fruit or vegetables.  I was in the produce section this past week and saw this display with these ugly fruits on them.  I really didn't know that they were called Ugli fruits.  I wasn't going to buy it.  It basically looks like a rotted piece of fruit someone left on the ground.  But the produce lady was there and she assured me that they were delicious.  So I bought one (1.99) and took it home.  It has sat on my counter for about a week.  I subconsciously just couldn't peel it and eat it.  I mean, look at this thing.  So finally this morning I got up to make breakfast for Corey and I peeled it.  Corey and I were so surprised.  This thing is awesome.  I think the lady said it was a cross between a tangerine and a grapefruit.  It was so juicy it was flying everywhere.  I loved it.  The only downfall is the huge seeds like an orange and the sections do have tough skin on the outside.  You could sit and chew them I guess, but I opted to take the skin off and just eat the inside.  You should really try it....... yummy good.

Fish or is it?

I don't know if I have ever mentioned this before, and I am pretty sure I probably have, but I hate fish.  As a rule I just don't like the taste of it.  I did try some fish at a nice restaurant this weekend and I did like it.  But it was dripping in sauce so I figured it covered up the fish taste nicely.  Well I decided to give fish another go tonight.....and I liked it.  In fact, the whole family ate all the fish.  Logan had like 3 helpings of it.  And the best part is the recipe is so simple it is hard to believe it tasted as good as it did.  The original recipe called for Bass, but I remember Corey telling me this was super fishy.  So when I went to the grocery store they had a sale on Swai.  Never heard of it before and it was white so I figured why not try that one.  I was not disappointed.  It wasn't all that fishy.  I might have found my new favorite fish.  I thought I would include the recipe since it turned out so good.  I also found a recipe for asparagus and almonds.  I really like asparagus but my family not so much.  I was surprised that they even ate this one.  Must have been a good night for cooking.  Here is the recipe, if you give it a shot let me know if you liked it or not.

Put 2 tsp. olive oil in a pan and heat to med-high.  Put pepper on your fish fillets and then cook them in the hot oil for around 2.5 minutes each side.  You will know when it is done because it flakes super easy.  After the fish is done take it out of the pan and cover to keep warm.  In the same skillet put another 1 tsp. of olive oil and about 8oz of mushrooms sliced.  Cook for 2 minutes.  Then add about 1 tsp. fresh chopped ginger and 1 clove of garlic chopped.  Cook for another 1 minute.  Then add about 4 green onions chopped, 1/4 c. water and 1 TB. of lemon juice.  Cook for another 2 minutes.  Serve the fish with the mushrooms on top.  Corey wanted rice so he put that under it all. 

When I researched it Swai is the new Tilapia.

Green Monster

Wait a second, that isn't a green monster.....that's my friend Cookie Monster.

This is a green monster,

I remember a friend in Oklahoma talking about these and I thought she was crazy.  There was no way I was going to drink my spinach.  But this is the perfect way to get a bunch of vitamins and minerals and still have it taste really good.  Plus everything you put in this monster is on my caveman diet.  This is what I put into it:

1 Cup of fresh orange juice

3/4 C. almond milk

2 C. of baby spinach

1 Cup of frozen peaches

1 banana

handful of ice

That is all.  And it taste just like a fruit smoothie.  You honestly can't even taste the spinach.  I was drinking it and I tried to get Hailey to taste it.  She was a little scared of the color, but once she did she wouldn't leave me alone.  This might be a regular thing for me from now on.  So good.



Eating Paleo

I told Corey just the other day how tired I feel lately.  For someone who runs 7 miles in the morning you would think I would have plenty of energy, right?  Well I don't.  I find myself not having enough energy to fold my laundry, which if you know me is a huge thing.  Since I burn so many calories I wanted to research a way to eat plenty but get some much needed energy.  I Googled marathon running and eating and came across something called the Paleo Diet, which really isn't even a diet but a way of eating.  I have been researching it all day and it has gotten some great reviews from some hard core runners.  The idea is to limit sugar which makes your energy spike and then leaves you feeling crappy.  Also to limit grains going on the idea of the Caveman diet which gives the idea you can get your carbs from vegetables, fruits and nuts.  Of course this does include all meats, lean cuts.  And the best part that I love is no counting calories, no portion control.  You eat till you feel full and your energy is supposed to be through the roof.  The other thing I liked was they didn't totally prohibit diet soda, which is a plus for me.  They said just in moderation you can drink it, which is what I have been trying to do anyways.  I am using this as a type of journal to log in and see how I feel each day that I follow it.  Hopefully  my energy will go back up and I can actually feel like doing things instead of laying around all day feeling so tired.  Plus when I get up I have to sit back down due to blackouts.  I know my Gilbert's doesn't help with feeling fatigued either so this should also help that.

Oh and Mom please don't worry or throw a fit.  I will be eating healthy and lots and not restricting my calories.  Support me...Love you.

Introducing.......

Miles....yes I finally got my dog.  Corey is none to thrilled about it.  He has two rules with the dog.  He can't go in our bedroom at anytime and that during dinner he must sit in his kennel and wait.  I thought both these rules were fine with me.  I have to share how I found him. 

So we went first to the SPCA here in Douglas and they only had about 6 dogs to choose from.  The only one I liked was a pit bull named Firetruck.  He really was such a sweetie and he loved the kids.  But Corey just was not comfortable with a pit bull seeing as he was attacked by one as a kid and had to jump on top of a car to get away from it.  So I turned my sights to the SPCA in Casper which is so much larger.  They had about 40 dogs to choose from.  We went in and I told the guy I was a big fan of gentle giants.  I wanted a large dog that wasn't going to knock down Hailey and get really crazy.  So I mentioned no labs.  If you remember George he was crazy and I don't think Corey could handle another George.

So he brings out this Husky mix and after watching her for 5 minutes as she basically jumped from chair to chair and then tried to jump on the table I told him that it was way too much energy for me.  Plus he said since she was part Husky she would basically pull me as I was running.  So why did he even bring this dog out?  He swears after awhile she settled down but who was to say what a little while was.

So next he brings in this Great Pyrenees.  These dogs are giants and this one barely made it in the room before he flopped on the ground and didn't get up.  We all sat on the ground and patted him.  He would sometimes lift a paw to put on your leg but he basically didn't move.  I then asked if he would be able to run with me.  He assured me he could, but I didn't think so.  Then I asked how old he was, he replied 9 years.  So basically a senior dog that maybe had 2 or 3 good years left.  He was sweet but I didn't want a dog that old or lethargic either.  So he took "Sparky" back.

I asked if he by chance had a dog that was about a year old.  He said he did have a lab mix but since I said I didn't want a lab he didn't think about him.  I asked to see him anyways.  So they brought out "Rex" and he was so cute and fluffy.  He was so calm and would just sit on your foot and let you pet him.  He didn't like Hailey too much, but I don't think any dog likes to have a 2 year old all in it's face the whole time.  I loved him instantly.  So I filled out the application and we had to go home and wait.

We went on Saturday and so we waited until Thursday to go pick him up.  He was so scared.  He even growled at Hailey a little bit and I was thinking great my instincts were off and I will have to give him back for being aggressive.  He wouldn't get in the car, so I brought the kennel and they put him in that then loaded him in my car.  I was having so many second thoughts by the time I got home.  Got him inside and I was a little scared of him at first.  You never know who your dog is going to turn out to be.  But can I just say after one day he turned into the biggest lovable baby ever.  He has so many great traits that I will just have to list them:

1. He hasn't barked yet, I don't even know if he knows how to.  Even when he sees other dogs nothing comes out of his mouth.  It has been wonderful.

2. He is not hyper at all.  He will just sit and lay down all day long while inside.

3. He never jumps on anyone, and he loves people and dogs.

4. He is very submissive to me and he has never had an accident in the house.  He even pees on command now when I say pee-pee.

5. He loves me, and I know this by the way he will follow me around all day long and even sit on my feet and make me pet his belly.

For awhile there I thought he would never play.  He doesn't like toys.  I got him some and tried to throw them and nope, no interest.  But a couple of nights ago after he used the bathroom I started rough housing with him and he loves it.  He will run like crazy around the house and then jump on the porch in one swoop and attack my feet like a cat does.  I am laughing so hard it is hard for me to concentrate.  And when I want him to calm down all I do is tell him to sit and he turns back into my cuddle bug.

That is the other thing, he knows how to sit, give me paw and the best is stay.  And when we eat meals he will go and lay down on his blanket and wait for us to get done.  He goes in his kennel at night and never complains.  I just feel like I picked the best dog ever.

Today I took him to the groomer to get him cleaned up.  He was pretty dirty from the SPCA and he was a little stinky.  When I went to pick him up he looked so fluffy and smelt so good.  Plus his fur now feels like those soft teddy bears you buy.  He looks even more handsome.

And as a last note...what kind of dog is he?  Well that is all speculation.  I have different remarks from everyone he has been to.  The SPCA said he was part lab part Akita.  The Vet said she saw lab and German Shepherd.  And the groomer said he didn't see any lab at all.  He swears he is German Shepherd and chow mix because of his fluff and head shape.  I really don't care what he is, all I know is he is mine and amazing.

In his kennel happy as can be.

 Out of all the kids he loves Logan the best.

 What a handsome boy his is.

 When I am in the kitchen cooking this is what he does.  He just lays there and watches me.  Never begs or gets under my feet.

 He loves to snuggle and get his belly rubbed.

 He will paw you if you stop petting him.

And for some reason he thinks he is a small lap dog.  I don't know how many times he has tried to sit in my lap.

The Giver

I don't know why I have never read this book.  You would think since it won the Newbery award I would have read it at some point in school at least.  And if you have spoke to me about books and book club reading YA books that won the Newbery have not been my favorite ones.  But I was actually surprised on how this book kept my attention.  I never felt like I was forcing myself to finish and the fact that it is a short book also helps.

It felt a little sci-fi to me, and I normally don't go for those.  But it actually had a great ending.  As I was nearing the end I was getting  a little alarmed because I saw only 2 more pages and where the characters were at was not really comfortable to me.  I like the ending the best.  One of those endings that are uncertain and mean different things to different people.  I felt that they both met the bad or pessimistic ending.  I read up on the reviews and I agree with the sad ending.  That is what I thought before I even did the research.  But I guess you could also switch it to the happy one as well.  For me it just holds so much more meaning and sacrifice for the not so pleasant one. 

I feel that people do that every day.  We deal with the not so great things and experience the bad so we know the good.  This book felt a little like what Satan would have our lives be like if he would have won that argument in the pre-existence.  No choice and everything with strict rules.  They call it sameness.  But we don't live like that and so we all have choices.  And those choices make our lives unpredictable yes, but also so wonderful at the same time.  If you haven't read it yet, you really should.  I love a book that actually gets my brain a thinking.  I really should have picked this book for book club back in Maryland when we were doing the Newbery's.  Oh well, at least I got it in.  Happy reading everyone.