Staying where and why?

“I wasn’t staying for the place. I was staying for the people.”

This is what a partner said to me when I asked why she moved back home to Orange County from Seattle. It got me thinking…I wonder how many people in my life have stayed in North County just for their friends and or family. Or because of the butcher at the local Vons. Or for the love of his or her life.
My mom moved to sunny CA from the east coast before she was 20. And As I’ve gotten older I’ve learned more and more about why she moved. (Well of course those things along with her wild, adventurous character.) She definitely didn’t stay anywhere for the people and she missed the loved ones she moved away from dearly.

So about staying for the people and not for the place: I’m sure that I haven’t seen nearly enough places around the world to know what ‘place’ fits me best. But I have met the love of my life and I will go wherever his career and our lives take us.

But I could never stay somewhere just for the people…or am I?

These bananas are sure to cause a conversation..

One of the best investments I’ve made yet:

Student’s Vegetarian Cookbook

By: Carole Raymond

 

 

I’ve been trying to follow a recipe from this book about twice a week. I flipped to an interesting one today…baked bananas.  At first I thought that it sounded delicious. Then, I read the first line…

“These bananas are sure to cause a conversation with the way they change color when they bake.“

Being an inexperienced cooker, my palms immediately began to sweat and my heart race. GREAT! I thought, something that sounds delicious but difficult. I read on…

“1. Lay the unpeeled banana on a baking sheet.  Make a slit along the length of the banana.  Bake the banana with the lit side up for 1o to 15 minutes, or til the skin turns black.”

Turns WHAT?! Alright then. I kept reading…

“2. Remove the banana from the oven and split open the peel.  Top with 1 to 2 teaspoons yogurt and 1/8 teaspoon or sprinkle of ground cinnamon. Eat with a spoon.”

That was it. That’s it! How EASY! And delicious! The prep time of 3 minutes is just about right…tin foil the cookie sheet, bake at 400 degrees and viola! The black banana skin is a turn-off but the smell allows for an inference of delectable experience.

Fresh out of the oven - Black banana skin with fruit inside.

I definitely will be baking bananas more often.

=)

Day 2

This post was meant for yesterday but I was caught up at the gym, taking a nap, and spending time with mi amor. SO here’s yesterday’s post, today. =)

Beans.
Black beans, kidney beans, pinto, refried and vegetarian. In reading my vegetarian student cook book (even though I’m a proud graduate now – or “non-student”) there’s an entire chapter explaining the staple foods of the herbavore lifestyle. Beans being one of the most important. Calcium and fiber and protein.
Anyway, there are a variety of beans now in my pantry and I wasn’t in a creative mood so I kindof shuffled through the pantry and this is what I found.
Low carb tortillas, low fat mozzarella cheese, lettuce, pepper, black beans, and I threw together a light lemon vinegarette (I’m horrible at spelling) dressing. + grapes.

Score: 8 out of 10! It was absolutely delicious!

So there it is. A light lunch just before a nap and the gym. And still I feel great.

=)

this is it!

drum roll please….

=)

Warm brown rice and cold apples?

So the new year brings about the typical resolutions. “Eat better.” “Work out more.” “Smile often.” “Drive the speed limit.” But let’s be real people – how long do any of those meaningless resolutions last?! 3 weeks? A month at its best?

So in response to all of these crummy resolutoions (going to the gym this time of year is really a pain…) I made a promise to myself to be brave in mixing and matching food so I can eat a little healthier. Now…the only meat I eat is fish. So fruits, veggies, (beans,) grains, nuts, and rice are pretty much all I can choose from.

Well today I was feeling a little bold. So I brought brown rice, an apple, and almonds in my lunch to work today. I sliced up the apple, warmed up the rice, mixed the two, added a hint of butter and sprinkled the almonds on top. Cold apples and warm rice? Sounds odd I know. But it was delicious! And I’ve felt full since 12!

So even though those crummy resolutions have filled the gym and all of the healthy food in the grocery store is sold-out…I’m thankful for it leading me to this delicous new mixture.

=)

advising my trips

Felt like taking 1.5 day trip…kindof happened on a whim. I googled a few ranches/hotels to stay in and happened upon www.tripadvisor.com.

All I’m saying is…I love this website! Photos and comments are made about the hotels, venues, historical sites and other things through comments and photos by recent visitors.  All of the comments I have read are intelligent, helpful, and exciting!

WOO 1.5 DAY VACATION! and WOO FOR TRIPADVISOR.COM!

Its 2012! There’s just one little thing…

Rang in the new year with my ‘plus 1′ tonight after hopping around orange county from house party to house party. Watched the ball drop, got a new years kiss, and a gift. Let’s just say I was caught off guard…in a good way! And I couldn’t be happier.

Well, 2012 has begun with a surprise…a welcomed surprise! (I like surprises…more the good than the bad.) So I would like to welcome the new year and all of the good and not so good that is has to bring!

This is a time when I wish I had a gong. – Anyway, Happy 2012 WordPress readers! May it bring you more goodness and less political BS.

For I am a newly, promise ring, fingered lady. =)

Wake up (at 3am) and smell the roses.

Well no more school.
And the antique laptop is gone.
My new HP is here.
And my work schedule says…
     Chelsea is here.
     Oh yes, quite a bit.
     She will now have just 5 others
     That can trade her a shift.

     She’s ready for it
     But a little nervous you see.
     She will now be a shift supervisor.
     A leader.
     But not for anything close to free.

     Her schedule, that’s me,
     Has hours of broad.
     She works at 4am
     And sometimes until 12.
     12 in the morn- that is.
     Not ’till just noon.
     Unless she opens: like tomorrow
     Which would just mean
     She should be fast asleep now.
     And showered, oh so clean.
     But she’s not – not asleep that is.
     She’s up writing about me
     Her schedule that is.

     And shes waiting for that first sheep
     To fly upon the night.
     So she can be fast asleep.
     And rest well and be wide
     Awake for tomorrows open at work.
     Where she’ll probably make some mistakes
     And forget how to make
     The pastry case organized
     And the coffee and tea
     Ready for customers.
     The ones that wake
     At the morn of dawn’s crack
     To get a cup of coffee
     And some a small Bux snack.

     So I finish this list
     With a small yet great wish-
     That she sleeps with some snore
     Like a bears winter nap
     And counts at least one-hundred twelve
     Sleepy- time sheep.

Off HP.
Off phone.
On alarm
     One
     Two
     And three.
Goodnight moon.
Goodnight stars.
Goodnight love.

Hello sheep.

The Science Gal…

In just 8 days I’ll be a graduate from CSUF! =)

Looking into Single Subject Credential programs in the Science field…boy am I excited.
Now the questions are:
* When do I want to start taking prerequisites for the program(s) and where do I take them??
* What emphasis do I choose?
* Where do I want to apply to get my credential? (Public or private?? ah!) CSUF again?
* Do I want to get a job in the education field while I am in school for my credential?
* Living where?….
* Do I observe past high school and jr. high science teachers for experience in a science classroom?
* These are just a few…so. many. more.

I feel mostly excited to be done with undergrad shenanigans  but I am now in search of where to go next. Next = Science. But where? when? howww?

Well, LET THE NEW CHAPTER BEGIN!

Always makes me laugh.

Watch “Karate Buzz : My funny scene from Toy Story (1995)” on YouTube