I so want to be back in MN, life here is good and right during the week, but come Friday and I miss my friends and family back home. Last weekend all I could think about was the fact that the weekend prior WAS spent in MN, My line of thinking was like, exactly one week ago I was eating greek salad and garlic grilled potatoes on the patio with the hose running water all over our feet which amazingly made me chilly in the 96 degree heat.

And I took like two pictures...which were lame...I hate that the most...not having any pictures of me with my friends I never see.

And the children, don't even get me started :) It was amazing to see all the little ones, my amazing two year old nephew "The Destructor", my week old nephew Sloan, who I got to hold onto for hours :) little Georgia Peach, Jack who is growing up into a real boy, awkward Cash :) Bernadette, who is bursting with personality and sweet little James. Plus my nanny girls I adore. I kind of miss the kids the most...

I want to come back in Septemeber if tickets prices are low....we'll see

Love this day

Tonight I want to hose down the balcony, put some candles out, drink wine and smoke cigarettes listening to Foster the People.

I woke up this morning and practically popped out of bed-Friday. I drank my coffee and did my mini workout so I'm going strong.

I have a few errands to run after work and the apartment needs a deep clean but then it's relax time...maybe make some shrimp bruschetta and angel hair with pesto and goat cheese...mmm

Monday Monday

I hate when people say this but I have a case of the Mondays.

I do not want to be at work.

I would be so content to be at home getting the laundry done that I didn't do over the weekend.

Heading up to Ikea to pick up that armchair and ottoman I can't stop visualizing in my living room.

Gardening.

Moving.

I am becoming quite discontent with my neighborhood, it is ghetto for lack of a better word, and I see change on the horizon. I would love to move up further north in CA, where there are some actual trees. Seattle gives pull and when I imagine life there one word encapsulates my being-cozy. I miss MN and believe at some point we will head back there but not until such a time as frequent escape is possible-I will not return just to be stuck once again...gives me the shudders, it's to far away from any shores (lake shores exempt.) The East coast also appeals to me, I am not meant for Southern California. Escape is imminent.

Sea Salt Caramel Brownies

I finally got around to making sea salt caramel brownies this weekend.

I've never made brownies from scratch and I've never made caramel ever.

Just for fun I decided to use coconut crystals instead of brown sugar, which melted up wonderfully... till I burnt it. It was my first time so I left it over the heat stirring it till I realized instead of bring to a boil, stir vigorously till thickens, it probably meant bring to a boil, remove from heat, stir vigorously till thickens.

I also overcooked the brownies...I couldn't tell they were done cause the caramel was all over and every time I dipped my knife in it came out liquidy (caramelly), they tasted amazing but not the fudgey, gooey, under-cooked-ness I love.

So I tried again.

This time I used the simpler recipe. It wasn't until the brownie batter is done when I realize that the recipe did not call for any eggs...confusion ensues, but I baked em on up any ways and it was super late so I decided to let them cool overnight and all day today so I will try them when I get home and let you know how that worked out, the website I got the recipe off of has a few different versions, one of them vegan, I used the vegan brownie recipe. Which would be great, if I were vegan. The batter tasted AMAZING though, and technically there would be nothing wrong with eating all of it like that, if that's what you wanted to do, since there are no raw eggs in it. That must be how they make brownie batter ice cream, or cookie dough treats, just leave out the egg.

This time I under heated the caramel in my attempt to not burn it so it was a lil granually at the end, I tried to go back and melt it with a higher heat but the graininess didn't completely go away.

I will perfect these brownies, it's just going to take me a few tries :)

Find the recipe here:

http://www.olivia-rae.com/2010/08/caramel-sea-salt-brownies-revised.html

Right now

1. More than anything, I wish I could be sitting in my moms backyard. I am pricing plane tickets so this can become a reality.

2. In my cup is Duchess Earl Grey (Trader Joes) and Wild Sweet Orange (Tazo)...exquisite.

3. I really need to learn to use my camera proper, it shouldn't be a luck thing if photos come out right.

4. Aloe Vera juice is amazing. I am ordering a case of it.

5. Tonight we are going to the gym and I am very much looking forward to it. I wonder if I can convince C to do Body Flow with me...

6. I really want eggs right now.

Gym Buddy

Yay! I finally convinced C to go to the gym with me! He has had a very bad experience with a gym and he works out at home so he was just never interested. This was bad for me because I used to have a friend/co-worker/workout buddy that I went with but she went to a new job and I am just not at all good at going by myself.

You put the lime in the coconut...

I am relieved to have no plans this weekend, I have 10 million loads of laundry to do and it would be nice to finally get my closet organized, we can maybe finally watch the movies I rented from netflix over a month ago (The Fighter & You Again). And maybe we can even go and see Water for Elephants! And a hike would be wonderful if it's nice, or finally get around to renting bikes. The possibilities are endless!

I have been on a coconut kick for a while, but it's more of an addiction than a kick. I recently discovered that there are such things as coconut flour, and coconut nectar (syrup), and crystals (like sugar), and vinegar! The crystals have a brown sugary essence, and also a slight mesquite flavor. It's different. The flour smells and slightly tastes like Samoas and I haven't yet tried the nectar or vinegar. It's really interesting though, I need to research it more but so far Ive learned that the flour somehow lowers the caloric value of whatever you use it with, you are supposed to mix it with reg flour as it has different absorptive properties and you can also use it to thicken gravy. The vinegar is also more nutritious than apple cider vinegar. Coconut products have a very low glycemic conversion so they are good for diabetics. I have been drinking coconut water regularly for about 4 months b/c I love it but also because it is really hydrating and a better source of potassium than bananas. I love the coconut fruit, or meat whatever it is, it just tastes beneficial somehow, they sell coconuts at the grocery store and I need to figure out how to chop them without having a Bahamian man or a machete. I wish we could grow coconuts here, it really makes me want to live in the Bahamas or Hawaii, you can practically live off the stuff.

Seaweed is creeping into my diet as well. Trader Joes has little packs of seaweed snack-it's good! It's dried, and salty, and as it sits in your mouth it re-hydrates and has a slight chewy texture. This inspired me to order some actual kelp, it comes dried and rubbery, but you can use it in many ways, such as in soup, like I am going to do. Combine the seaweed, miso paste, green onion and tofu and viola!

I sent my mom a care package of a bunch of coconut products and some seaweed and a sampler of all the teas I have acquired. I think it will be fun for her to go through and try them. I sent her tea bags of Sweet Thai Delight, Tahitian Vanilla Hazelnut, Mayan Cocoa Spice, Egyptian Licorice, Mango/Peach/Pineapple Green Tea, Cucumber White Tea, Ginger Pear White Tea, Pomegranate White Tea, Wild Sweet Orange, Mint Melange, Duchess Gray, Strawberry Pomegranate, Mangosteen Green, Coconut Mango Oolong, and Acai Berry. I love putting together little care packages.

And did you know that white tea and peanut butter both have more antioxidants than green tea! Crazy!

I am hopefully going to make these tomorrow night! Click on the pic for the recipe!

I say hopefully, because, well...you know me :)

He's a keeper!

Soooo...I guess I am getting married? :) Two weeks after I met him the thought popped in my head, "I think I'm gonna marry this guy," we had never even met in person, or talked on the phone for that matter, and we were 3000 miles apart.

We met on myspace, which used to embarrass me, but now I just think it's silly, like what are the chances? He had a picture of a man surfing as his profile picture that I thought was really pretty (the water) so I sent a friend request, he accepted and said a confused hello, I told him why I added him and he shrugged and said what the heck. My profile picture was of a foot. Hello turned into what music do like which turned into tell me everything about yourself. We emailed almost every day for a month and when I didn't really didn't know what to type anymore I decided to give him my phone number. He used it and four months later I flew out to California to meet him, five years later and the rest is history.

He takes me as I am and is truly my comfort from the storm. He challenges me and supports me and he even does the dishes.

Pretty Simple

I was going to do something fancier, but after Friday Night Giggle Dance Party I just threw some stuff together. Carlos had to work 6 a.m. (Oh Laud) to 10 a.m. Saturday, Friday we had three bottles of wine to three people and were up till maybe....1-2 a.m.? So we were a touch out of it. I had some veggies from the farmer's market the week before I needed to use up so I did just that. The eggs have shrimp. spinach and a bit o' mozzarella, the other thing on the plate is a mixture of left over red baked potato, mushrooms, and green onion fried up with some olive oil and salt & pepper. These were the best breakfast tators I have ever had....Seriously, I am not even tooting my own horn. Breakfast was at 10...not 6.

Marina & The Diamonds | I am not a Robot

I love this song and this is my new favorite band.

Breakfast Anyone?

Scrambled Eggs
Blueberry Herb Salad
Smoked Salmon w/ Cream Cheese, Thick Sliced Tomato, and Capers all on a crispy thin bagel slice and topped with a squeeze of lemon
Strawberries
Orange Juice

On Saturdays I love making something special for breakfast, instead of going out or skipping all together. We tend to stay in and relax with some wine and take it easy on Friday, so it's nice to plan something early and surprise him in the morning. This was last Saturday, the week before was Ahi Steaks w/ Asparagus topped with 2 Over-Easy Eggs (Not pretty enough to post a picture, I was out of oil so I fried the eggs in the fish juice and while it tasted lovely, it looked kind of grayish and just well....eh.

I get excited trying to figure out what to make.

This weekend I have a new thing to try. Surprise surprise :)

Water for Elephants

I cannot wait for this movie! April 22nd!

The book was very, very good! If you haven't read it...do.

Craving

Davanni's Turkey Hoagie....Homer Simpson drool face.

When I visit, here is where I want to eat:
1. Davanni's
2. Cossetta's
3. Carbones
4. Chino Latino
5. Jimmy Johns

Right now I'm thinking my visit will be from May 26-June 5, I am hoping Carlos can get that time off of work so he can come too, or at least part of it.

I wish we could do a girl dinner, with Ann and Jeana, and have it be just like old times. Just without me being chubby and awkward.

The epitome of a Saturday

-Made funfetti cupcakes with blueberries in the bottom.
-Went out and picked up some fresh flowers :)
-Made shrimp ceviche for dinner.

Coco couldn't stay away from the flowers :)

-Watched How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, this is my favorite romantic comedy ever, I LOVE the chemistry between Kate Hudson & Matthew McConaughey, when they let each other in towards the end, it's so friggin cute and makes me feel all bubbly inside.

I just want to cook.

I am all about food blogs lately, I wanted to buy a cookbook but I have no idea which to get, there are ten million of them out there and blogs are just so much more...me (easy)(and free;), I have no where to store cookbooks anyway.

I want a giant kitchen and tons of friends so I can cook for everyone and we can break bread and drink wine and it'll be just like a movie and we'll all get on just grand I tell you...

I want Cossetta's

I am craving Cossetta's sausage pizza right now...oh my gosh, they don't make pizza that good out here, not that Ive had yet anyways. The crust, the sauce, the cheese... it's enough to buy a plane ticket to MN for...

Yesterday I watched Little Women. It was pretty amazing, I haven't seen that movie in so long, and it's so good, I remember the first time I watched it, it was with you and Therese and it was forever ago, I'm not sure if I ever saw it more than once. It was the perfect day for it, super windy and stormy and cold, curled up on the couch and then I made homemade chicken spaetzle for dinner, it tasted just like Bruegger's, I swear, before they fucked it all up. It was a very good nostalgic cozy sort of day. I couldn't remember how it ended, but the moral is really quite wonderful. Jo follows her heart. I wish it would have ended differently, but I think it's a true story...I'm not really sure though...

When I got to work this morning my fish was dead :( He was awesome, he was a person, and he made me happy, and I will miss him.

So this radiation thing is pretty silly, I am scared but I'm not sure if I should be, it is so hard to know what to believe. People say to not trust the media (which I don't) but I found a website with a live radiation monitor in Santa Monica and it's all normal. And were exposed to so much radiation already it's just sort of ridiculous. Especially you. Just kidding. But seriously, our cell phones, electronics, GE energy saving light bulbs (those are bad), planes, trains, automobile's...what pisses me off the most is that supposedly Obama has plans with GE to build more nuclear plants on American soil. I am really confused by this, we should be focusing on solar power, not wind or water, but solar. It's pretty amazing and I can't believe the American government isn't making this a priority. I'm making a sign.

I hate watching the news, it makes me really angry at the things our government has done and kept us ignorant of, and the things we allow ourselves to be ignorant of. I think people don't want to think about it, or they don't think there is anything they can do, or they just don't want to know, or care. and this is bad, it is so irresponsible of us to allow our government to do what they want. They do not have the peoples best interests at heart, there is no longer any nobility in government. It makes me sad.

Date Night?

After Yoga class I always crave Greek food from my favorite rez Georges, which is right down the street. I'm not really sure why this is...maybe it's because the first time I took the class, the gym was having some sort of meet & greet type thing and they were serving Greek food...okay, i'm pretty sure that's why...regardless of the reason, I have never given in to this craving. It's already after 8, I'm by myself, I want to get home, I don't want to spend...anywhy, tomorrow I think I will give in, and maybe take in a movie, I'm thinking Black Swan. Yoga, dinner, movie...I can't wait for my date...with myself!

Weekend time is here.

It is Friday and I am ecstatic! Fun things to do this weekend! People to see, places to go...I LOVE having plans I actually want to partake in.

Tomorrow there is a folk show right behind my apartment at the new record store, the band is a friend of my friend. Then Bar 107, one of my favorite places, and hopefully end the night w/ some Kitchen 24 Disco Fries and a Monte Cristo w/ Maple Syrup.

Sunday is football and I plan on making Aztec chicken chili, cheddar jalapeno cornbread and sea salt caramel brownies - I STILL have yet to make my dream desert, and possibly black bean mango shrimp salad...depends if anyone else is coming over besides me and husband...

I want to watch

1. Benjamin Button


2. Australia


3. Pride & Prejudice


All right now....

I hate.

1. Ppl that call you and kind of just sit there...you called me, why do I have to make the conversation? I am not 12 anymore, I have other shit to do then sit on the phone.

2. The lady who sits right behind me at work. She huffs and puffs and moans and makes irritating exclamations as she passes my desk throughout the day. And the phone calls...stop giving everyone your fucking work #, seriously, it's quiet back here, I can hear everything you say and your whisper talk makes my brain literally hurt. And why do you take 20 bathroom breaks a day? And I'm starting to believe there is something wrong w/ you...

3. The British Office guys laugh, you are ruining your new show 'An Idiot Abroad' w/ your awful, screeching, chalkboard nails sounding laugh.

New Show that is just my style:

An Idiot Abroad


Ricky Gervais laughing way harder than anyone else which makes thing not funny all.

He makes these statements like, "This is really funny, people are going to love my new funny show." No, do not love your new funny show, I would, but then you laughed and made me want to kill myself.

This weekend

I want to:
1. Take down my bed
2. Take the carpet out of the bedroom
3. Make Sea Salt Caramel Brownies
(found here: http://www.olivia-rae.com/2010/08/caramel-sea-salt-brownies-revised.html)
4. Eat Chipotle
5. Watch a good movie
6. Finish organizing my closet
7. Visit the Malibu Getty
8. Trader Joes

I don't really know how do describe it...

Sometimes, do you feel a certain way, and when you think about it, like, try to label the way you feel, the only way to describe it or label it, is like a movie?

Right now I feel like Terminator 2, I don't really know what that means but that's how I feel...maybe I'm pms-ing...

Mmm...

Why the eff am I craving hot dogs? The kind from the pretzel place that are wrapped in pretzel...mmm...

Zumba anyone?

I signed up for a gym yesterday, Gold's Gym to be exact. It's $30 a month and right down the street from my apartment. I'm super excited, I have been wanting a treadmill for months now but never wanted to throw down the cash or sacrifice the minimal space in the house. I didn't know gym membership was so cheap or I would have done it a long time ago...oh well...and my friend joined too, so I have a workout buddy....Yay!

ugh

I need to stop eating...seriously, I feel like im gaining so much weight damn holidays. Thanksgiving is just one day of feast but Christmas lasts all month and it is catching up with my waistline, or current lack thereof, and my arse. I feel chunky, this ends now! This isn't a new years res, this is a for real right now stop letting yourself go just because you had a month of treats and feasts res. I declare war on you 7 pounds!