Monday, September 29, 2014

My Favorite Things: Why Don't I Do Them More Often?

I do things every day that I need to do. Everything from personal hygiene and exercise to working, chores, and running errands. I do combinations of these things on a daily basis. I try not to think about them too much, especially if I don't like them. Sometimes I do like some things, or learn to enjoy them, or learn to deal with them. But I get them done. Something gets done every day.
But...
My favorite things:
Baking


Sewing
Playing Video Games (Yep, I'm a gamer.)
Swimming

Photography




Writing

When it comes to my favorite things, sadly I don't get to do them as often as I would like. My day fills with obligation, and next thing I know, it's time for bed. (Okay, sometimes, even frequently, I play video games before bed, so I can't complain there.) Sometimes a day simply goes by, and it didn't occur to me to do a favorite thing.
Life just happens, gets in the way, occurs. It's not a bad thing. It's life, after all. It's all the little strands coming together to weave our own cloth, our story.
When I do get the opportunity to do the things I love, especially if it's been a while since I've done them, I think to myself, "Why aren't I doing this every day? Every chance I get? I love doing this! I need to make time to enjoy this more often."
Then life happens. Still. Consistent. Strong.
Somehow I forget how much I enjoyed sewing that last outfit or gift for someone. I forget how much I love swimming, how it makes my muscles happy. I forget how much I love taking a picture for the sake of capturing something I think is beautiful. I forget how it feels to frost a cake and have it turn out exactly as I pictured it.
How could I forget these things? Why would I want to forget something that makes me happy?
Perhaps it is because I go spans of time between doing the things I love that keep them in the "love" category in the first place. By doing them less often than the every day things, they stay fun, enjoyable, loved, special.
(I feel like I just went off on a ramble, but that's how my mind works.)
Today I got to write. I enjoyed it. I will definitely do it again, hopefully sooner than later.
Enjoy something in your day, every day.

Monday, September 22, 2014

Random Thoughts: Things That Run Through My Head When I Walk


Okay, stomach in...IN!
Swing arms.
Heel toe, heel toe...BIG toe.
Swing arms.
Stomach in.
Music feels a little slow today, not that I mind, I feel a little slow today.
Can my iPod read my mind?
Damn, it's colder than I thought!
Should have worn capris instead of shorts.
Swing arms more.
Stomach in more.
Am I hitting that big toe? Yes, good.
Ugh, another car. I'm glad most of my neighbors mow up to the shoulder. Thanks neighbors.
Did that person just wave? Crap, I have no idea who that was. I hope they don't think I'm rude. The windshields reflect, and I can only see a hand. I don't always recognize cars.
Sheesh it's cold! Well, at least it's not raining.
Stomach in dammit!
So many people doing this or even running every day. How many do I know? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6...easily 20 or more people I know. Good for them. I wonder if it's easier for them, cause damn, this is hard. And I'm not even running. No way. That's not happening. Ever.
Stomach in already! How many times do I have to go over this?
♪ Lucy in the sky...wait...what happened? Did my battery really just die halfway through my walk? CRAP.
Now I'll be singing the same two lines of...which song...well this time it's Florence and the Machine...not too bad, but the same two lines for the next 20 minutes is going to suck.
You know what else sucks? This freaking freezing wind! Damn! I wish I could run now! Well, I could certainly double time it. It will make up for the dragging ass on the way out.
Here I go!

Monday, September 15, 2014

Sweet, Salty and Chocolate...Need I Say More?

I bought a jar of unsalted cashews a little while ago. Big surprise, my kids complained that they had no salt. Oh great. Now what am I going to do with these?


Perhaps I'll use them in baking something...but what? Hmmmm...


I bought some salted caramel sauce for ice cream. We used up the ice cream and had all this sauce left! Whatever shall I do with it? Hmmmm...

Cashews...salted caramel...actually those two sound good together! What can I put them in? My daughter found a really good chocolate cookie recipe that we love to use all the time. That would hit the spot for sure! Can I put chopped cashews in those? Why not! What can I do with the sauce?
OOOOHHHH!!! I'll use it on the cookie!!! I can't wait to try these!


Here's my new recipe! I don't have a name for them, so if you think of one, let me know, and I'll pick my fave!

2 sticks melted unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup dark brown sugar (or light brown, whatever one you like or have handy)
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
2/3 cup cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 - 1 1/2 cups salted or unsalted cashews, chopped
1 bag chocolate chips (I recommend Ghiradelli)



Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Mix butter and sugars together well, until they are lighter and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until well mixed.
Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and just before blended, add the chopped cashews and chocolate chips and finish mixing just until combined.
Drop spoonfuls onto cookie sheet and bake for 10 mins.
Remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes on the cookie sheet. Remove and let cool completely. Get the caramel sauce to a workable texture: smooth, flowing, but not runny.


Using a spoon, have fun drizzling the sauce right over the cookies! You can use any way you like. I just used zig zag lines for now. It would be fun for kids to do too!


These turned out so splendid, and very satisfying! You don't really need more than one!


Of course, you might just find another one in your mouth before you realize it!


You could also sprinkle just a wee smattering of salt on the top, for looks and a little more salty flavor. That's up to you.
Have fun, and let me know how you liked these!

Monday, September 1, 2014

Winging It



Today I'm just gonna write.
Right here.
Right now.

Writing.

I'll see where it takes me.
Where I end up.
What is my brain thinking about?
So many thoughts swirl through at once.
I glimpse a piece of something...
Then it's gone.
What was that?

Writing.

It's Labor Day.
Do I need to blog about it?
I think not.
Not that I've read anyone else's,
But I don't want to write about that.

Right now.
Right here.

Writing.

I'm hot and muggy.
Sweating for no reason.
I've wiped my brow more times than I can count.
I'm just sitting.

Writing.

Did I really just write about the weather? 
Oh man.
I guess I did.
But that's how it is...

Right here.
Right now.

Winging it.