by Alexis -

Pico Berry

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A group of friends and me went to try out a new frozen yogurt place in Fairview Village. That’s the east side of Portland. And if you’re in the neighborhood you should go and check it out.

You know those chic places that are very modern…and pretty…this one painted their walls lime green and bright pink…and serve treats? If not they’re all over Europe

. This was a little like that, or at least it reminded me of it a bit. The place was called Pico Berry which means ‘spend all your money here’.

OK, not not really.

It was actually really cheap and had tons of choices. peanut butter, white chocolate, cake batter and other fancier ones I can’t remember. Emma and my yogurt together was $3.50. Awesome. Emma was interested in the pink ice cream (strawberry)…surprise surprise.

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Mine was the boring one. Cake batter and strawberries. Same thing I get at Cold Stone.

Why no, I’m not unadventurous…um, I’m consistent. Here are our creations:

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Emma and Rylee decided about 2 bites into it that they would rather have the free tiny lollipop the register person gave them.

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Which turns your tongue colors. Which they loved.

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And lastly, the friend who organized it all. She is obsessed with frozen yogurt. Bless her heart. Thanks Amy for organizing this, we’ll all have to make this a summer ‘must’ .

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by Alexis -

Apple Tart

I made a random apple tart. Partially random. I bought a package of pie crust and it came with two crusts. 🙂 So I made it with Trav in mind. One of his favorite desserts is apple pie. Thus this easy peezy artistic apple tart.

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The stand it’s on is made from two pieces I found at Goodwill. I like it. It makes me happy. 🙂

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The tart is, as I said above, just one of those refrigerated crusts. I think this is about 3 apples with a little flour, 1/4 cup sugar and butter to top. The flour I just sprinkled in. Sorry, no amount there. Make it for a ‘oh crap there’s company coming over and I have no dessert’ night. It’s awesome! 🙂

by Alexis -

pretty and practical

I used to do martial arts and a lot of that included stretching. Lots of memories and stories there, but for now lets stick to this one: my resolution to be more limber. You see, I have noticed how tight I’ve become just in picking up Emma and how sore my back is. I then decided to do yoga stretches I’ve memorized from doing them a while back. But when could I do it? When Emma was asleep, I did a lot of cleaning and admin things. And then Emma wakes and any window is gone.

So I decided to do it when she took her bath. I also moved it to after her nap time.

(please ignore the horrible lighting)

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It worked great. She was in her world and I was in mine, but also ready if she is in trouble. She now is OK with me stretching. She used to freak out saying, ‘no mommy! no!’ with fear in her eyes. Now she thinks I’m weird for doing it in the bathroom. I’m pretty sure I am, but at least I get to keep my resolution AND do my mommy duties.

This last one I think everyone has heard of. But I just didn’t do it till last night. (froze chicken stock already seasoned) Trav asked me what the heck I was doing and I smiled and said I felt so smart it hurt. I’m humble.

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This is just a pretty picture of a necklace I got (via gift card-thanks Eric!) from Claires. LOVE IT!

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FYI, they have tons of awesome things there! It’s not just for tweens. 🙂

by Alexis -

Food thoughts and plans

When I went grocery shopping yesterday I was reminded of what I would buy if it was only me I was feeding. Loads of Velveta Mac and Cheese, Chicken Ramen noodle soup, chocolate milk and Captain Crunch. I am not the healthy one in the family. 🙂 I can schedule meals if I have to, but I would seriously eat cereal in pretty bright colored bowls most of the time if it were me.

I on the other hand married the opposite of me. One that looks at the nutritional value of a box of mac and cheese., which seems silly to me cause we don’t eat if for nutritional value, but maybe that’s me. I do have to say that I am better because of him. Literally. I’m healthier than I would be plus I have to use my brain to make up meals,  grocery shop on a $200 month budget and make something we all like and is healthy. I like this challenge.

I also get to use pretty bright colored reusable bags. They have pink yellow and polka dots with butterflies.

Part of meal scheduling is figuring out Trav’s lunches. Because he is healthy I can’t just send him on his way with chips, cookies, a sandwich. And I’ve learned that making things from scratch is cheaper. Plus you feel kinda like superwoman when its all made. (nice feeling)

I came home with almost no food at our house and so I had to think shrewdly and creativly. Here are some things I made yesterday and today for Trav’s lunches.

DSC_0175.JPGPretzels: Dollar store

Seasonings: Ranch packet (for making dressing) and garlic salt.

EVOO

Drizzle, sprinkle mix and bake

I made mine a little too long but at 350 they should be ready in like 10 min. And now I have a nice ranch flavored bag of pretzels. (healthier than snacking on chips) and something different to put in lunches.

next…

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Why mess with a classic? These are chocolate chip, oatmeal and reeces pieces cookies.

next…

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After posting I’m making cranberry banana bread. Great snack but also good in the lunches. It’s so moist that you don’t even need butter.

I also bought trail mix (Trav’s favorite!) in bulk and am giving him carrots and apples. (haha not that he’s a horse) I also make him different kinds of sandwiches and of course the wonderful left overs.

What ideas do you have for lunches to make them different? I am always looking for new ideas.

by Alexis -

winner and cupcakes

Congratulations to MARIA!!! You are the new owners of the green bracelet and green glass earrings! 🙂 Email me with your address. Thanx!

New jewelry coming up later today! They are beautiful in my opinion!!! It’ll be worth it for you-trust me 🙂

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In other news, we… made cupcakes! (‘we’ being a relative over generalized term) From scratch. Yummo. They were a little more dense than I would have liked but they were tangy and I loved that. Eggnog cupcakes anyone?

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I wrapped them for Trav to take to his work but I guess he forgot them. Maybe tomorrow he’ll bring them. I’m also a little obsessed with cool plates like what’s pictured. Oh, anthropology, if only I have millions to spend on plates from you.

I topped them with toffee and chocolate chips. The icing is chai cream cheese.

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by Alexis -

Polish Restaurant in LA

We went to an amazing Polish restaurant tonight here in LA. (can’t believe I wrote that sentence!) Trav and I went with a couple that we had met here who care called to Mexico. They are super nice and passionate for the families in Mexico who have nothing. They not only build houses and provide food for the many touched by their ministry, but they reach the people’s spiritual needs more importantly.

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We ranted and raved about how amazing Polish food is and as we sat down I realized that there was a chance they might not like it! They’re called to a country that eats mostly beans and rice so what would they do with stuffed cabbage and sauerkraut stew? (which is my favorite)

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They gave us soup, salad, main course and dessert. Crazy good food! This is a picture of the amazing salad that I devoured- and I don’t like salad. I run away from anything that looks like close to it.

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The food guy ate here! I was so impressed and happy we tried this place! (thinking of you Amy!) They also decorated wierdly. Like with a rabbit with ears…um, yeah. Hey, made me smile! It was so good to hear Polish again it actually surprised me. I practiced whatever minimal Polish I knew and was apparently understandable because she started talking to me a million miles a minute and I was like….”uh, tak?” ( “uh, yes?”) then we all laughed.

After that Travis in his all knowing wisdom answered her questions. I have a lot of Polish to learn!

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I have more pictures to upload but I’m both tired and cold. Bed time. More pictures to follow in the morning!

by Alexis -

National Bundt Cake day!

Happy National Bundt Cake Day! I have been looking forward to this day to try new recipes and, as it turns out, I went totally predictable and went seasonal. Boring. But my taste buds aren’t complaining. If you have 30 seconds PLEASE go check her out. It is because of her that I even know of this holiday. She has been leading up to this day with 30 bundt recipes! Seriously, bundt cakes are her passion and we get to reap the benefits with pictures that make me want to lick the screen. Hmm, not sure that’s a benifit…but anyways she is amazing and dedicated to say the least. And creative, meatloaf bundt anyone? Personally, I just have fun looking at her pictures, she’s the one who makes the cakes at 5:30am. Hah!

I’ll be in LA, which is where she lives, this week for a fundraising conference and would love to meet her if nothing else but to eat her cakes! (No offense Food Librarian, I’m sure you’re very nice hehe)

OK, so enough rambling, just go check out her blog. Here is my bundt cake to celebrate this very special, very sacred holiday.

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My Bundt cake is a Pumpkin Spice cake with raisins. Topped with a Vanilla Glaze. I double glazed it. Double the calories. Double the goodness. I also froze the mini’s for a dreary day. Planning ahead. For when I’m feeling lazy wanting to surprise Travis with a dessert.

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by Alexis -

Donut World

I remember my dad and mom bringing donuts to Sunday school. They were my teachers in a couple grades. They were smart- the way to a pre-teen and teenager is through their stomach. Today, they have fancy dancy donut places that I only read about and am dying to try but sadly there are no fancy donut places near me.

Instead, we went to a huge red barn looking building that has a mega sign outside reading DONUT WORLD. Classy my people. Classy. They had the fake wooden siding, limited red vinal seating and cramped bathrooms. HOWEVER, they hand make their own donuts (you can watch the guy-which the girls liked) the most sweetest owner (yes I talked to him), cartons of milk, HUGE donuts the size of my head and honestly the best nostalgic feeling place. They had old pictures of Portland and it just made me smile. I just felt like I did when I would go with dad to pick up the donutsfor our Sunday class. Sweet memories.

Only it was 10am and the most liked donuts were gone. But there’s no way I’m waking up this little lady to pick up a few donuts. Hah. Unless we are driving to an airport, we’ll pick some up on the way. Yum. Hot fresh donuts. Great healthy breakfast.

My friend, Amy, and I went to Donut World with our girls. They got a little impatient waiting for me to fumble with the camera to take a picture of their donut they couldn’t eat. Hah. It’s not like they’re 2 yrs old with a treat in front of them.

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Emma and Rylee (Emma’s best friend) had to have sprinkles. 🙂

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Why do parents have the most boring donuts? I was looking forward to tryng some interesting ones but there were only traditonal ones. No Bacon Maple bars or Salted Apple donuts. Oh well. The girls didn’t notice.

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Here’s Amy and Rylee. We’ll so miss them while they’re away! Her husband and her are looking into being missionaries to a country and are visiting this next couple weeks. Rylee is visiting Grandpa and Grandma in L.A.

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And finally the after. Not much icing was left but a lot of the donut was. 😉

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It seemed like the girls felt the sugar like imediatly! They were boinking off the walls! Here are some action shots 🙂

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Then they crashed. Hahaha

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Happy Wednesday Donut Day 🙂

by Alexis -

bacon

I think bacon is my chocolate. You know how every woman and practically every man love an would even die for chocolate? Are you one of them? I married one. Lucky for him, he gets all the chocolate people give me. Why? cause I don’t like the taste of chocolate.

Yes I’m human. Yes I’m a woman. Yes, I don’t like chocolate. My mother doesn’t, nor my brother nor my sister. It’s a family thing I guess. So when a person asks me what I like in it’s place I shrug and come up blank. Salty foods have always been my downfall but I love them all so much. Motzerella sticks (addicted!), Chips and Salsa (my granmom shakes more salt on the chips at restaurants), and of course bacon. Lovely pepper bacon or apple bacon…they’re all yummy. But the new craze of bacon chocolate? Not so much…at all.

I was cooking tons of bacon (for storage) and realized how much I  love it. It makes any meal way better. Period. I could almost write a poem about bacon…but I’m not that creative. It’ll probably come out lame. hahaha

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