Dear 16-year-old Me

I saw this video a few weeks ago on one of the blogs I read. Since May is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month, I thought now would be a good time to share it with you. This video is touching and poignant and funny and sad.

That's it for tonight...just the video.

For My Mom...

It's hard to find the words to talk about how ridiculously awesome my mom is, both a person and as a mom.

My Parents Engagement Photo, Circa 1980

She was my Girl Scout leader, multiplication tables teacher, and Halloween costume sewer.
She's my shopping partner, fellow book lover, shoe aficionado, and coffee connoisseur.
My mom has mended ripped hems, skinned knees, and broken hearts.
She told me I had to go back to school when I was on the edge of giving up.


Little Me, Mom, and YoungerBrother; Circa 1991

She taught me about our family tree and (along with my super-awesome Dad) taught me about the world.
She drove me to music lessons, sports practice, youth group, and a gazillion other activites all after a long day of work. I took that for granted then...I find it amazing now. 
She made sure I knew how took cook at least one breakfast, lunch, and dinner before I left for college; she also taught me to cook over a campfire, a propane stove, and an overturned coffee can.
My taught me to be stronger, smart, independent, and compassionate.


Mom, YoungerBrother, Me, Dad, BFFMandy; Alaska 2009

This is just a (super) small assortment of the things my mom has done for me over the years. Some of them are huge and some are small, but all of them made me who I am today. My mother is a wonderful person and I am glad that I will have her as a guidebook if I am  someday blessed to be a parent.   Thank you Mom for all you've done and all you continue to do. I love you so much.
Happy Mother's Day.
=)

Sugar High

 I have pretty much avoided processed sugar since the start of the year, I think I had an actual sugar high tonight. To cap off my week of emotional binge eating, I went to this new-ish Cajun-style/New Orleans-themed restaurant for dinner. The food was excellent, but we had beignets for dessert. HOLYFREAKINGCRAP! I never realized how good those suckers could be; my only experience was at Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans as a teenager...and I basically remember cold greasy pieces of dough (washed down with bitter coffee. But the beignets we had tonight we hot from the fryer and covered in powdered sugar; I truly had a totally wired, eye popping out of my head, sugar rush. Tomorrow I will be back on my healthy eating plan...hopefully.
=)

Happy Friday!!

This was an especially rough week. I'm glad it's over and that I'm home with my family.

Cinco de Mayo

I learned something new today. Cinco de Mayo is not actually the celebration of Mexican Independence; it is the celebration of the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla during the French invasion of Mexico in 1862. But have a shot of tequila anyway.

Side Note: Mexico's actual Independence Day is celebrated on September 16.
So there's your mini history lesson for today.
=)

No Words

I'd like to say I'm at a loss for words, but that would simply be a lie. I'm frustrated and angry and hurt and sad. I put my faith and trust in the wrong people and only got foul words and half-truths in return.

Tuesday: Weight Watchers Day

Starting Weight: 247.4
Weight Last Week: 229.4
Weight This Week: 225.2

I lost 4.2 pounds this week and that brings my total loss to just over 22 pounds.  Sometimes I think in the grand scheme of how much I have to lose 22 pounds doesn't seem like a lot, but then I think about it in the size of a Thanksgiving turkey and I'm stunned that I was carrying all of that around on my body.

Irish Soda Bread

I remember my mom baking a lot when my brother and I were kids. Our house was always filled with good food and the smell of something fantastic in the oven. My memories of Irish soda bread are genreally tied to St. Patrick's Day, corned beef, and colcannon.  But this bread in the oven reminds me so much of home, it smells warm and sweet and just slightly of caraway. And seriously...it's super easy.

Sorry for the blurry picture. This was in the middle of the St. Patty's day carnage. 

Irish Soda Bread

½ cup sugar

4 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

¾ teaspoons salt

3 cups raisins

1 tablespoon caraway seeds

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1¼ cups buttermilk

1 cup sour cream

1. Preheat oven to 350⁰F. Grease a 9-inch round cast iron skillet or a 9-inch round baking or cake pan.

2. In a mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, raisins, and caraway seeds. 

3. In a small bowl, blend eggs, buttermilk, and sour cream. 

4. Stir the liquid mixture into the flour mixture just until the flour is moistened. Knead dough in bowl about 10 to 12 strokes. Dough will be sticky. 

5. Place the dough in the prepared skillet or pan and pat down. Cut a 4x¾ inch deep slit in the top of the bread.

6. Bake in an oven preheated to 350⁰F for 65 to 75 minutes. The bread will be golden brown and it will sound hollow-ish when tapped. Let cool and turn bread out onto a wire rack. 

And that it, six easy steps to super-fabulous soda bread. 

=)

Reading up a Storm

I started reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins today. I'm about halfway through, because I can't put it down. It's interesting and engaging and I want to know what happens next! So as much as I want to write something profound tonight (like I ever actually do that), I'm going back to reading.
=)

Saturday Fun

Today was both fun and productive. I spent the majority of the day cleaning, straightening, and decluttering. Then this evening I went to a potluck/girl's night at a friend's house. It was fun to relax, chat, eat, and have a glass of wine with the girls.
=)

Also, I know it's after midnight, but I'm counting this as my post for Saturday because I ahven't been to sleep yet.