A Totally Random Post: Questions, mainly

Oh Hey!

How are you doing?

Today is my last day of work to kick off the Holiday weekend until Tuesday!  Holla!  {Errr, sorry. I actually hate it when people say "holla" and that word has never rolled off my tongue before, unless I have been 5 deep in margarita ville; let alone me typing that out}. But, at the end of the day, I'm pretty stoked about a 4-day weekend!  :)


Ahh, now some randomness:

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- What are you doing for the Holiday weekend?  We are having a BBQ on Saturday and GOD WILLING, mother nature is not PMSing.  I keep seeing 60% chance of rain and then 30%. Not cool. Guess we will just see.  Sunday we have nothing planned; probably just a lot of cleaning up and chillin' it. Oh and eating leftovers. That's really the best part of gatherings, right?  Monday we are going to our best friends parents' house for another BBQ. It's an annual thing. Did I mention they have the most amazing pool and backyard and garden, ever?  It's open for business, too! I hope the sun is shining and it's HOT cos' I am jumpin' in! {Before I pig out of course}!

-What are your BIGGEST pet peeves?  Brace yourselves, because these are mine:  ANY kind of loud mouth noises.  Swallowing or chewing. Forget it. I cannot last longer than a minute around whomever is being gross, even if they do not realize it.  It's not necessary AT ALL to chew gum like a pissed off cow. It's not necessary AT ALL to swallow your beverage loud, and keep swallowing it in different intervals so that those sounds have a rhythmic pattern. Oh yes, people do that. And it's a real thing. It's not necessary AT ALL to keep smacking your lips after every bite. Just stop it.  It's an awful thing to do. My dog even knows better. {but he's the exception to the rule...sometimes}. :) 
 Have I marked my territory yet of being 'mean'?  I'm sorry.  I'm just ranting off my answers to my question,  while being honest with you, that's all. I'm really a nice person.  Give it time. :)

So, that's my #1 pet peeve. A few others?  Negative people. Boring people. Jealous people. Fake people. Rude people aka people who think they have 'special pants' and that they actually do put them on a different way than you. Um, nope sorry. We are the same people and you are not better than me. We put THE same exact pants on every day...among other things.  My Grand pop always used to say that to me and it's a VERY good lesson to have and learn. I will keep that with me until the day I die.  I also can't stand employees who don't acknowledge you at all when you walk into their store. OR when they look at you...yet say not a word.  What's so hard about saying, "hello." ??  I also don't like them up my butt while I'm shopping.  Happy Balance people.  But a quick hello never hurt anyone.  Oh, and people talking on their cell phones while driving.  It's unsafe AND they drive slower and dumber. Put the cell phone away!

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- What are your most sinful and favorite eats?  I love me some salted-caramel ANYTHING, brownies with chunks of chocolate chips in them, REAL Ice Cream, with loads of yummy toppings, Reese's Piece's are my #1 weakness candies, Pizza with extra cheese, CHEESE, thick and creamy milkshakes, BBQ potato chips, waffles, bacon, and pancakes. OK. Sorry for making you drool all over yourself and maybe ruining your 'healthy food thoughts.'  for the day. My bad. :)


- Are you OCD with anything?   I sure am. just a teeny, tiny bit.  Cleaning, like, everything and everywhere but ONLY when I am in FULL BLOWN CLEANING MODE. I'm sure everyone gets like that at some point. But not a day goes by where I don't think about cleaning something; toilets, sinks, kitchen counter tops, table, floors, glass, vacuuming.  The mental list goes on and on. Details.  I feel with my work, this blog, other blogs, invites to somewhere, and just in general every day life happenings, I am a detail-oriented person.  I really don't miss a beat.  Besides wanting to (unless hubby somehow squeezes it in before me and then shuts me up)  get the last word in. I am just always 'on' I feel.  The mind doesn't stop thinking. I think that's good and bad.  I have been trying my best, this year the most, to chilllll it more and not hone in on every thought or detail I see and try to fix it.  Does that make sense?  I know I'm probably coming off real jittery right now aren't I?  I did just have 2 cups of coffee.  hehe.   Every day is a new beginning, right?  Did I mention I am obsessed with spell check , too?  We get along great, but I think it feels that I am just using it.  See what I did there?  I tried to make a  funny. :)  I also love emails and am ALWAYS checking my mail. I don't even get important emails. It could be anything. But I am checking it 95% of the time { even easier now with the iPhone..eek!} and I get back to whomever literally within 5 minutes.  "I'm right on top of that, Rose!"  <--- Name that movie!


- How many times do you hit the snooze button?  At least 15 times. yep.

I want this shirt like yesterday!

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Even more random:  You know what's really bothersome?  Washing your hands in the restroom, then when you go to leave, you touch the filthy doorknob.  I ALWAYS take a paper towel or tissue or something before I leave the restroom to open the door  with that nasty-germ filled door handle!  OK Dana, good to know.


-What's your "therapy" ?  Cooking, sunshine, exercise {although I suck at working out recently}, songs that take me back to good memories/moments/people, dancing and having a good time! Chocolate.  Oh and of course, wine. sometimes.  :)


Confession Time: Sometimes I worry that the trash collectors will think we are alcoholics because of all the wine bottles in the cans. Really not looking forward to what they will think after the Holiday weekend. ;)   Give me one confession, pretty please?

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I feel like today doesn't count or something because it's my 'last day.' It's a bit boring right now at work and we have a lovely new system training at 3pm. So.not.motivated. I hope it goes fast!!  Tonight I hope to hit the gym and then we are probably just chillin' it. If we have dinner, I have no clue what it'll be.  I don't feel like cooking. It's supposed to rain and T-storm.  Friday is errand day and preparing for the BBQ on Saturday! Hubby took off, too!  Please pray it doesn't rain. Or just think it.  Something. 

Menu plans:

Homemade:  mac & cheese (mom)
                   fruit salad (MIL)
                   Brownies (mom)
                   Potato Salad (me)
                   Meatballs (me)
                   Hummus (me)
                   Red & White Sangria (me)

Other items:    Burgers & Dogs
                      Guac/salsa/chips
                    
And few other yummy things up my sleeve. :)
                     





Remember, I'm the crazy one and you rock!  I plan on taking tons of snapshots of the BBQ  (mainly food, naturally) and some people that I like. Have a good one and I'll be back soon with a yummy recipe or two!

Snapshots From a Tired Lady

Hello!  Hope this week is treating you kind.  It's more of a tiring week for me; a more 'feeling kinda cruddy and bloated" type week for me.  meh.  But I have two more days and then I don't go back until Tuesday! Gotta love Holiday weekends! I am currently sitting outside on the patio on this gorgeous evening we're having in Jersey.  But mother nature apparently has different plans later in the week with downpours and T-storms to come.  I don't mind that stuff though, and we could still use some good ol' rain to get this nasty yellow chalk pollen out of our hair.  It's been much warmer though and I will take that kind of weather any day.

The hubby and I right now.  We work hard so we play hard. hehe.

I thought I'd share a few snapshots from the weekend and this week so far as I really don't have energy to do much right now and don't feel too hot.  Although, I always have energy to read other blogs which I will most likely do once I am finished with this post. :) 
 

I give you instagram photos from a lazy tired girl!  Enjoy!

Arthritis walk with my ladies. Sammy.more walk {I got a ten minute free massage aka heaven}! Toasted bagel with tomato, melted gruyere and smoked-cheddar topped with a little evoo and panko bread crumb.Yummy Mimosa Post-walk. Iced coffee with skim. Sammy and I chillin'. Knocked up aka nevergetsold. quick, yummy lunch. dark chocolate break. Froyo.


Question of the day:  How obsessed are you with Instagram?  I'm pretty crazy about it! :)

Salted Dark Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies

There's just something about adding a touch of sea salt to sweet treats.  Don't you agree?  I don't know what it is but it seems magical or just plain brilliant. I love caramel flavors with a touch of chocolate that's been kissed with a sprinkle of sea salt.  It packs a punch of flavor and makes that treat even that more special. When I made Rachel's Salted Caramel Brownies {recipe as a link on my page}, I was in heaven.  I loved this recipe and the look of the brownies.  They are so tempting-looking.  They are also prettttyyy rich.  Rich in a good way though.  Delicious and sinful all in one.



These cookies pretty much entertain the same idea.

Sunday was a nice, relaxing day.  The walk went well except for the fact that it was chilly and rainy outside.  Boo.  We then went to brunch post-walk and I had a tasty mimosa and a buffalo chicken wrap.  There's no photo of the wrap and I was starving. I'm sure you understand. :)


Note: This was my lovely friends instagram photo, not mine.



When we got home, I got straight to laundry and cleaning up around the house a little bit. I was going to go food shopping but between the lousy weather and the food I inhaled at brunch, I was tired.  I then thought about making something with sea salt and I wanted to make something sweet but didn't want it to be crazy elaborate or tons of work.  So I figured a simple peanut butter cookie { PB cookies are my fav}!  with chocolate chips and some sea salt would rock.  And ohhh boy did they ever!

These cookies are moist, chewy, peanut-buttery, perfectly chocolaty and have just the right amount of sea salt.  It really makes these peanut butter cookies unique.  I also chose to use dark chocolate chips because I purchased them a while back and forgot I had them, and well, dark chocolate is healthier after all.  Right? :)

Cookies are of course always wonderful when they are warm and right out of the oven; these cookies are so tasty warm!  But these also hardened up nicely yet still remained very chewy and moist.  You can freeze them for a later sweet-tooth date, or just keep in an air tight container on your nightstand kitchen counter.

I hope you give these a try and soon!

 Salted Dark Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies

I just googled a basic peanut butter cookie recipe and then added some of my flair. :)

* 1 cup dark chocolate chips

* sprinkle sea salt/kosher salt on top of cookies before placing in oven. Pat cookies down just a touch.

 You'll probably need an ice cold glass of milk.  Enter: childhood.

Have a super Monday!

Late Night Pancakes

 Happy Sunday!

After a wild and crazy night of cooking dinner, catching up on Netflix with the hubs and reading a couple of my favorite blogs, the urge to make a different recipe came upon me.  And for some reason, a brand spankin' new recipe for pancakes came to mind!  I mean, I love breakfast for dinner, but I whipped these babies up around 11pm. I gotta say, sometimes I swear I cook better late at night.  Hmmmm.  I'm glad I did because these turned out beautiful, fluffy, and delicious!  And on the first try!

A late night snack if you will...

These were probably the easiest pancakes I've made yet. I haven't really made too many pancakes over the years, but when I do, I tend to mess them up the first time because they don't like me, cook too long. Each time though, I'm learning to really watch over them like a hawk and they are slowly getting better.  I was WAY proud when these beauties turned out perfect and so yummy on the first try!  My supportive {and hungry/taste tester} husband said these were " awesome and so fluffy"...on the first bite.

I was a happy girl. I tried the first bite myself with a little whipped cream and totally thought they were perfect.  But he sealed the deal after basically giving a two thumbs up!  Gary is a good eater, but still pretty picky. I always like to say that his palate still needs to mature, yet. ;) He's probably the most simplest guy I know.  He prefers things pretty much plain. Good ol' steak?  No butter sauce, no steak sauce, or no caramelized onion and mushroom peppercorn spicy  kind of sauce.  Nope. {crazy, right?}  I'm a sauce girl all the way!  The more different combinations of flavors I can experience, the better!

But he seemed to really dig these and that means that this will be on the future breakfast/brunch menu. And again, first time wonderful pancakes!  yay!  OK, enough bragging.  I don't know what made me think of Nutella, but it just randomly popped in my head. I didn't even see a commercial for it and I haven't touched the jar in about 2 weeks. Shame on me!  I'm glad I thought of it though, because it really made these pancakes special!  You could call them chocolate pancakes, but, I mean, Nutella is not just chocolate. It's heaven in a jar.

I think you should make these right now, but that's just my opinion.


Nutella Pancakes

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
3 tbsp. granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups cold milk {whole milk is best or butter milk for fluffy pancakes}
2 large eggs
about 2 tbsp. melted unsalted butter
cooking spray for griddle pan
2 tbsp. Nutella


Method:

In a medium mixing bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients together. {I like to use a whisk}. In a smaller mixing bowl, whisk with fork, the eggs and milk together.  Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Blend until all is combined well with wooden spoon.  Add the melted butter and the Nutella.  Mix well.  The batter will turn a pretty chocolate color.  You'll want to eat the whole thing.  I wouldn't recommend that. The batter is sinful though. ;)

Spoon/ladle the batter onto a hot and greased griddle, flipping the pancakes after about 2 minutes on each side.  Serve with any topping you love!  I tried a couple of toppings on these babies, and they all really tasted delish!  Peanut butter on these pancakes was my favorite!  See for yourself!


Honey

 Syrup

Peanut Butter...mmm 

It was almost like a peanut butter sauce as it melted slowly on the pancake. so yum!

Then I added some syrup. Perfection!




The Nutella is not overpowering in these pancakes at all, but then again, how could it be?  It simply adds a pretty chocolate color with the subtle flavor of chocolate all while combined in a light texture, yet very fluffy and moist pancake.  I'm already drooling and want to me these again soon!  My hope is you feel the same way!

What are you doing today?  - My hubby, my sister-in-law, and me and our best friend are walking together for arthritis. It's our best friends little cousin who has it and this is our 3rd annual walk for it.  It's going to be rainy though. :(   This entire weekend here in Jersey has been rainy and ugly.  We are probably bringing Sammy this year though!  Should be fun!  When I get home it's food shopping and laundry time! yayyyyy.

What is your favorite pancake topping? - I love just plain ol' syrup or a raspberry/strawberry sauce most of the time.  Hmmm. definitely trying a strawberry sauce on these babies next go around.

Enjoy your day!

A Tasty Smoothie and 'mini' Date Night

Friday is finally here!! What are you up to tonight?  This weekend?   I got home from work around 4:30 and decided to 'run' again.  The air quotes are serious bizz, because I suck. Or my body just hates me recently?  I don't know but I feel much slower than usual.  Yes, Im glad I did something and broke a decent sweat, but..eh.

Here's the wuss proof:



Oh well. It was something.  Now I will enjoy my pizza a little more tonight. Gary and I are so dead from this week so tonight is a 'mini' date night; pizza and a movie.  We're seeing The Great Gatsby!  I'm excited!  I love me some Leo. :)

So, as I leave you because we are starving, I hope I leave you drooling and running to the kitchen to make this delicious smoothie!

Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothie to be exact!  It's health-ier because it's got Almond milk in it. It's wonderful and refreshing!  Enjoy!

My 'smoothie storage.'

Pre-pizza munchie. Dark chocolate covered cranberries from TJs.

Have a good night!