RAVE: Dark Cherry Mocha

As a girl who's appreciation for coffee started at a local (what has since turned regional) coffee house, I'm slightly ashamed to admit that I've jumped on the Starbucks bandwagon.

But let's be honest here, it's directly across the street from my office and I have gift cards that I received at Christmas that need to be used. Plus, it's not like I drink it every day...

Wait, what is my deal - why am I defending myself?

I drink Starbucks on occasion...deal with it.

Moving on.

So the other day I was feeling like something other than the standard Americano (espresso and water - it's smoother than their coffee that kicks you in the mouth), and notice they were featuring a dark chocolate cherry drink. Uh, yum!

I've always been a fan of the chocolate covered cherry so how bad could it be, right? So I ordered me up a soy dark cherry mocha latte and needless to say my taste buds were thrilled.

As you can imagine, I've been waiting for the opportune time to order another, and as I sit here this morning, I can't help but feel that my workday is a little bit better with the liquid chocolate covered cherry that sits in front of me.

Highly recommended!

Cheers!

-A

RAVE: York Peppermint Wafer Bar

Here's a little trivia for you: I grew up in the Mint Capitol of the world.

True story.

I was surrounded by mint farms as a kid. Kinda nifty right?

What's ironic about that is I don't like mint.

Wait - I totally just lied to you. I do like mint, I just don't like mint candy that much. Those hard peppermint things are just nasty, and I've never been much for candy canes - unless they are strawberry flavored, yum!

But I do like York Peppermint Patties from Hershey's. I think it's more about the dark chocolate than the mint, but the minis are a refreshing little treat when you need something sweet but aren't hungry for a full on snack.

Well yesterday, while the BF and I were shopping at a local overstock store, I came across something new.

York Peppermint Wafer Bars. They came in a big bag of 100 calorie packs - which include two chocolate covered wafers with a mint stripe in the middle.

HEAVEN!

I like that there are two - so you can spread out the enjoyment.

And let me tell you, these things are damn good for 100 calories.

Apparently they make Reese's wafer bars too...I'll have to find these! I'm not sure where else you can buy these lovely treats, but I highly recommend seeking them out for your after lunch sweets fix!

Cheers!

-A

it's the little things

This is something I find myself saying a lot: "it's the little things," like when you can walk right up to the Red Box without waiting or a new register at the grocery store opens and you get to it first.

Can you tell I don't like to be kept waiting?

Between yesterday and today there have been a number of little things that have really added up to make my day just that much better. And since I'm in the list-making mood, I've decided to share these with you, just for kicks.

1. When you have consumed just the right amount of coffee: enough to keep you energized and focused without making you jittery.

2. Checking items off the to-do list. I love when big projects get tackled and the list starts to get smaller! At least, it makes room for new tasks, anyway. :-)

3. Making the right decision for dinner, and having your partner be excited about that. Enough said!

4. When you wake up in the morning and your hair already looks great. Washing and drying my hair before bed seemed to work in my favor today!

5. When writers block lifts and the words flow with ease.

6. Freshly painted finger nails!

7. Falling asleep on the BFs shoulder. This always makes me happy! (sorry for the sap, but sometimes it's just necessary)

8. When your inbox is cleaned and organized. It's rare, but it feels so wonderful!

9. Starting the day early and being productive! This ties nicely with #2.

Believe it or not, I'm going to end this list at 9. I can't think of a 10th and I'm certainly not going to force it.

So tell me dear readers, what are some of the little things that make your day?

Cheers!

-A

Date night

When it comes to planning date nights, guys, y'all got it easy.

I mean really, flowers, candles, her favorite restaurant or a home cooked dinner, music (and dancing if she's into that sort of thing), end the night with coffee and a walk (if the weather permits) and you're guaranteed to end the night with some heaving breathing.

Hell, a combination of any of the above two shows that you're putting in effort - that's really all most girls ask every now and again.

But what is it that you dudes want on a "romantic evening." This is something I just went through planning, and let me tell you, it wasn't easy. And though I think I've come up with a great evening that my man will enjoy based on his unique interests, I may have exhausted my ideas for future use in this one evening.

So tell me my male readers - what do you like in an evening with your girl?

Cheers!

-A

RAVE: Mango Salsa

Okay so I started cooking again - and this time it's a little scary.

When I was living alone and cooking for one it was easy...and I could experiment without worrying if I messed something up. After all, I could always make a salad and try again tomorrow.

Well, now I'm not only living with the BF, but he's an incredible chef. Seriously, I'm intimidated even stepping in the kitchen (his domain, as we refer to it) these days.

He makes everything from pepperoni rolls to elaborate fish dishes to the most amazing desserts, all from scratch - most of the ideas just popping out of his brain as he goes.

Cooking doesn't come quite as naturally to me, but I do enjoy the challenge. And with the added challenge that I'm a pseudo-vegetarian and he's a diabetic, I've got my work cut out for me!

One way I'm learning is by searching for vegetarian dishes on blogs, recipe sites and even using Google. A couple nights ago I decided to make tilapia with mango salsa - the BF loves white fish.

Of course, I had to Google mango salsa for a decent recipe - and I found that, after looking at it, I probably could have come up with that myself! If there's one thing I know, it's mexican dishes, so the ingredients that went along with the mango made sense.

I used this little recipe from Simply Recipes:

INGREDIENTS

1 ripe mango, peeled, pitted, and diced (about 1 1/2 cup) (See: How to Cut a Mango)
1/2 medium red onion, finely chopped
1 Jalapeño chile, minced (include ribs and seeds for a hotter taste if desired)
1 small cucumber, peeled and diced (about 1 cup)
3 Tbsp fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
3 Tbsp fresh lime juice
Salt and pepper to taste

Also good with diced red bell pepper and jicama.

Naturally, I forgot the cilantro, but it was good none the less. I do suggest cutting back on the onion, I used half a red onion and it was a little strong.

But in the end I did get two thumbs up from the BF so I was happy!

Now my adventures in cooking for the type 1/veg combo continue. Stay tuned - I'll certainly be sharing these adventures along the way.

Cheers!

-A

Changing it up

Sometimes life lessons are easier learned from someone else...

As I was catching up on my Google Reader this morning I came across a rather inspiring post from Ben over at No Ordinary Rollercoaster.

Though the issues are slightly different, I'm still seeing where this whole quit-whining-and-just-do-it attitude can really come in handy in my life.

Here's a little background for those who give a crap.

Lately I've been working my butt off to get a couple of projects off the ground and there are a lot of road blocks to making these things successful. For some, it's just a matter of working past these things and coming up with new ideas, but for others they've really stopped me in my tracks.

And since I'm not one to easily give up, it frustrates me even more to see myself heading in that direction....or at least, putting things on the back burner until further notice.

It's a downward spiral from there, where I think I'm not good enough to get past the roadblocks so I stop trying, then I'm not even good enough to keep trying...you get the picture. It's tough not to get discouraged when your hitting roadblock after roadblock, especially when these barriers are people as opposed to circumstance.

Regardless, I'm putting my head down and barreling through...if I'm persistent something good will come of it all. Of this I am certain :-)

Oh and then I get this little bit of news:

So most of y'all are aware that I picked up skydiving in the last year and I'm totally in love with it. Most of you are also aware that I started a skydiving blog so I had a reasonable excuse to talk about it all. the. time. It's treated me well, to say the least, and I have a very supportive group of followers. Though on the not-so-positive side, in starting a new blog I've neglected this one more than I should....I can't apologize enough. But see, I'm trying. Brownie points for that, right?

....

Right?

Anywhosits, so it turns out this little blog of mine is a bit of a sore spot for some. Why? Got me. (editor's note: though as much as I hear they hate my blog, according to my analytics they continue reading regularly....not sure I get that, exactly, but whatever.)

Normally this is something I'd dig around to figure out because how can someone possibly not like me and not love everything that I'm doing in life...

Yes, I actually believed this for about 25 years.

But this is where I begin to adopt the who cares attitude. As my mother told me, not everyone is going to like me and the things that I do.

"But Mooommmm.......they have to. The just HAVE to like me..."

The challenge comes in sticking to your guns and living the life you believe in, even when there are people out there who outwardly ridicule your thoughts and actions.

Rather than stressing about pleasing everyone, I've found it's much easier to say "f- them" and go about business as usual. After all, THEY are the one's with the problem...not you.

Wait, who am I giving this pep talk to again? I think I switched right in the middle, but that's okay because I'm sharing with you a fabulous lesson that I learned in life, and it's this: no matter who doubts you, ridicules you, or discriminates against you for one reason or another, keep on living the life you believe in and accomplishing the goals you set out to in the first place. You'll be much happier in the end when it's about pleasing yourself and those you care about instead of pleasing those who make it clear they don't give a crap about you.

In the end, these people don't know what they're missing - but you can step back and take pride in your accomplishments and know full well that the people who are standing beside you a true friends and supporters. Why would you wish for anything less?

So tell me dear readers, what are some of the life lessons you'd like to share with the class?

Cheers!

-A

Want list

Right now I'm pretty broke. And let me tell you it sucks. It sucks major cajones.

Naturally, I have a want list the size of Brazil that I can't even afford to think about. But giving that blogging is free I thought I'd day dream about some of the purchases that are on my mind so I can focus on working and saving...

-Travel to some place exotic. Puerto Rico has been recommended on more than one occasion. I also wouldn't mind going here in the near future.

(Rio De Janeiro for those who aren't familiar)

-Pro Track. It's a mildly expensive audible altimeter and electronic log book for skydiving.

-Yoga studio membership. I'm too cheap to take yoga at an actual studio, so my gym's free classes have to do for now.

-Full Face Helmet. Another piece for skydiving. Shocker.

-A puppy. More specifically, one of these. But they come at a price...

-A plane ticket out to see my family in Southern California. I did promise my uncle I'd come out sometime this spring...

-A trip back to Skydive City in Zephyrhills Florida. Skydiving and warm weather...hello!

-Tunnel time. There's no training like wind tunnel training...from what I hear. But time in these tunnel is expensive. I'd like nothing more than to buy an hour with my freefly partner and just spend time learning.

-Clothes. I'm in need of an update. A SERIOUS need. I'm surviving on one pair of jeans I actually like and my work wardrobe rotates a little too quickly. But, I can get by for the time, so I am. I'm just not very happy about it.

Most importantly, and this one, if it plays out properly, shouldn't cost me all that much, I want to put my ambition to use...there's a certification I'd like to earn, if I can find the right people to help me along the way. Here are a couple other inexpensive things I've been dying to get started on - but the resource that is lacking here is time, rather than $$:

-Open an Etsy shop. I've got so many great prints I'd love to sell, it's just a matter of printing, framing and photographing to get things started.

-Get some t-shirts designed on Cafe Press. Unfortunately, I'm relying on finding a designer who's willing to volunteer to help me design a logo for this. It'd be for my other blog, Skydive Chick.com, which to my surprise has taken off...anyone wanna volunteer? Anyone?

-Start flexibility training. This is something I said I'd do throughout the winter and have yet to get anywhere with it. It's like the diet you say you'll start next week. So...I'll start Monday ;-)

-Stay in better touch with my friends. As I've mentioned before, my closest friends are scattered around the country. And though my intentions are good, I do a terrible job of keeping up with them all. Facebook helps, but I just don't pick up the phone enough these days. Sorry y'all, I'll try to be better!

So tell me dear readers, what are some of the things on your current wish list?

Cheers!

-A