Sunday 27 July 2014

An Almost Perfect Summer Weekend

This has been a pretty great week, ending with an almost perfect summer weekend. 

It feels like after all of my events I have finally gotten back into my regular work week routine.  I usually try to work 9 hour days Monday to Thursday so I can reach my regular hours by lunch time on Friday.  This allows me to have an afternoon all to myself. 

Which I usually shamelessly spend eating take-out sushi and watching reality TV that makes the Hubs cringe.  Unfortunately in the last couple of months I have had more important obligations that have prevented me from having selfish time. 

But that all changed this week when I was able to cap out my hours by 1:30pm.  So it was out of work and a quick stop at Naked Fish Sushi in Westboro before I settled in to a couple of hours of blissful relaxing watching Vanderpump Rules.
Reality TV and Pineterest = a Great afternoon

Hello Nippon Box it's been a LONG time.

Later that night the Hubs surprised me with a Chinese Food dinner and a quick game of Battleblock Theater on the Xbox.  It was possibly the BEST date night in a while.
Best husband Ever, fixed a 3 week craving and made a great date night
Saturday morning involved a lot of snuggle time and then when I finally dragged my lazy tushie out of bed it was off to the mall for a hair cut and some much over due clothing shopping. 

Katarina from Ravello Salon is great

After shopping I came home to the Hubs saying we needed to head out to Home Hardware so he can get some supplies.  I was a little tired but into the car I went.  We ended up using a couple of the gift cards that we got at the housewarming, and the Hubs built me a ramp so I can drive my scooter right onto the back deck.
My super awesome new ramp.  Plus now marsh can get up and down
On Sunday we finally made it to church after being gone for at least a month.  It was a good service and it felt nice to be back.  Afterwards we just laid around until Family Dinner.

We had our second Family Dinner, and since M is moving he offered us his dinning room table, which we grabbed up. 
The boys all ready to eat (the chairs are coming next week)
The Hubs makes possibly the BEST fish tacos

Fish tacos and a new table, I am going to say that our second Family Dinner was a success.  I am already planning what we will have next week.

The last couple of weeks things have been going great, I can't wait to see what next week brings.

How was your week? Are you having a great week also?

Weekly Thought:


Believe in yourself, dream, try.  Do Good – Mr. Feeny

Friday 25 July 2014

"Buttermilk" Biscuits

Things have calmed down a little bit for the Hubs and myself.  We have moved into our first house, gotten it more or less setup.  I stood up beside an old friend when she married her best friend and between all of that worked my tushie off.

But now all obligations are done with and last week was the first weekend where the Hubs and myself didn't have any real obligations to attend to.  So we had a few of our friends over for our first (of hopefully many) "Family Dinners"

We decided to take advantage of the nice summer weather and the Hubs BBQ'd some chicken which I brined in Sweet Tea for a day.  Now I know this sounds like a really weird thing but trust me it was AMAZEBALLS!!  I am not a very big fan of grilled chicken and I want to eat this again.   I really think you guys should check it out, I know it sounds really weird but just trust me.Sweet Tea Brined Chicken

To go with the chicken I decided to make some "buttermilk" biscuits 'cause let's be honest is there really anything better then biscuits with grilled chicken?
To see the original recipe click here.

These biscuits were a HUGE hit, they boys couldn't get enough of them.  They were simple and quick to whip up which is a big bonus when, in the summer I have much more fun things to do on a Sunday afternoon then baking in the kitchen.

All the ingredients and tools needed
My cheater method for how I make all dough
 In  the bowl of your food processor add the flour, salt, sugar and baking powder.  Pulse a couple of times to combine.
This is what the butter will look like when the butter is combined
 Add the butter  in a few batches pulsing to break up the butter.  When the mixture is combined and there are no more large pieces of butter dump contents into a bowl.


This makes a VERY sticky dough, don't say I didn't warn you
 Add "buttermilk" and egg stir a few times to get mixture mostly combined, add enough water to turn the mixture into a dough.

 Flour the top of the dough and roll to 1 inch thickness. 
Place biscuits onto a greased or lined tray, touching the edges to each other.


Bake until all golden and yummy.
 
So the next time you are having a BBQ I think you should throw these into the mix.  I'm sure your friends and family will love you for it.

"Buttermilk" Biscuits


3 c. flour
1 1/2 t. salt
1 T. sugar
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 c. butter 
(Very cold and cut into chunks)
3/4 c. buttermilk (I didn't have buttermilk so I used 'homemade' buttermilk = 3/4 c. milk + 2 T. lemon juice)
1 egg
1/4 c. water


Preheat oven to 450

In  the bowl of your food processor add the flour, salt, sugar and baking powder.  Pulse a couple of times to combine.

Add the butter  in a few batches pulsing to break up the butter.  When the mixture is combined and there are no more large pieces of butter dump contents into a bowl.

Add "buttermilk" and egg stir a few times to get mixture mostly combined, add enough water to turn the mixture into a dough.

Stir until just combined DO NOT OVER MIX

Dump mixture onto a floured board (it will be VERY sticky).  Flour the top of the dough and roll to 1 inch thickness.  

Cut with a biscuit cutter or a glass.

Place biscuits onto a greased or lined tray, touching the edges to each other.

Bake for 12-16mins or until golden brown.

Allow to cool slightly and then unleash the masses onto them.

Enjoy 
3 c. flour (I have used 1/2 white flour and 1/2 wheat and they turn our great!)
1 1/2 t. salt
1 T. sugar
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1 stick butter
3/4 c. buttermilk (I have made these with buttermilk as well as the 'homemade' buttermilk version of 3/4 c. milk + 2 T. lemon juice and they work out amazing either way)
1 egg
1/4 c. water - See more at: http://www.dealstomealsblog.com/2012/02/ruths-diners-mile-high-biscuits.html#sthash.9DKpiBH9.dpuf
3 c. flour (I have used 1/2 white flour and 1/2 wheat and they turn our great!)
1 1/2 t. salt
1 T. sugar
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1 stick butter
3/4 c. buttermilk (I have made these with buttermilk as well as the 'homemade' buttermilk version of 3/4 c. milk + 2 T. lemon juice and they work out amazing either way)
1 egg
1/4 c. water - See more at: http://www.dealstomealsblog.com/2012/02/ruths-diners-mile-high-biscuits.html#sthash.9DKpiBH9.dpuf
3 c. flour (I have used 1/2 white flour and 1/2 wheat and they turn our great!)
1 1/2 t. salt
1 T. sugar
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1 stick butter
3/4 c. buttermilk (I have made these with buttermilk as well as the 'homemade' buttermilk version of 3/4 c. milk + 2 T. lemon juice and they work out amazing either way)
1 egg
1/4 c. water - See more at: http://www.dealstomealsblog.com/2012/02/ruths-diners-mile-high-biscuits.html#sthash.9DKpiBH9.dpuf

Wednesday 23 July 2014

July TopBox


Every month I get a little surprise in the mail.  It's my monthly Topbox. 
Topbox is a monthly beauty service that delivers " luxe box of beauty samples for you to try out in the comfort of your home."
For about $15/month I get to try out about 5 sample and quite often full size products.  I have been signed up for a little less than a year and I LOVE getting my little present every month.

For anyone who is interested in checking out what they are all about go to Topbox

This month I got some great products:
**I didn't receive an insert this month with the product descriptions and purchases prices so unfortunately this month I will only have my review and if I would purchase and not the price or what TopBox says about the product**

LA Splash Nail Polish - Foolish:

What I Say:
I love nail polish. I always feel very fancy and done when my nails are done. So I am always looking for good polishes. This was a good polish (and I got the full size this month), it had great coverage and with my soft nails I had a couple days before I started noticing chips. I would however get it in a neutral or dark shade.

Would I buy: Yes but in a different colour.

Instain -Swiss Dot
What I say:
I am pretty pale so I always wear blush. My lazy makeup day consist of powder, mascara and some blush.  So I was a bit excited to try this out but this colour was too dark for me and I had a hard time blending it. 

Would I buy: No

Bioderma Moisturizing Stick
What I say:
I love chapstick, I rarely wear lipstick or gloss but I have a chapstick in every purse I own. So when I saw this full size "sample" I was really excited. I was not disappointed in this product.  It makes my lips so smooth and has a very faint berry smell/taste. 

Would I buy: Yes as long as it is under $10 it is totally worth it.

Clinique All About Eyes
What I say:
I am a little on the fence about eye creams.  I feel like I should be using them since I am pass my 20s but from the samples I have gotten before I have not noticed a difference that would warrant me spending money on a full size version.  I was a bit excited to try this out and of course you use it first thing in the morning (when I am all sleepy and a klutz) so of course I knocked it off the counter and spilled the container.  I do have a little left to try out but it's not the fairest review.  I have liked the light feeling of the cream, but since I don't have much I am not sure if it would improve my skin after continuous use.

Would I buy: Not too sure, I'm hoping for another sample to try.


Sunday 20 July 2014

A mix of emotions and laziness

Wow this week has been one for the books.  I think I have seriously felt every emotion that one can feel.  It is now Sunday night and I am so tired and I'm not sure if it was from the great day I had today or just an emotional burn out of this week.

Since I was still feeling the effects of my last two busy weekends it was a heavy coffee and candy week at work.  Fortunately on a walk with a coworker I found that my work is not all that far from Sugar Mountain (this could be a bad thing)

I LOVE the coffee sleeve my lil sis made me.  It makes me smile
After struggling though my week with both the good (got to help celebrate a friends birthday) and the bad (acupuncture and a doctor appointment) it was the blissful weekend which I had planned out for a super lazy "No Pants" Saturday. 

The Hubs and I bought a new 50' TV Friday night and on Saturday while I was away getting a massage he thoughtfully set it all up for my pantsless day.  After all his hard work he had a mini road trip with a couple of our friends leaving me to hangout and veg out all on my own. 
A little work reading since I slacked all week, and hey I'm outside
Where I was able to breakout my brand new Acti fryer (a housewarming present from the rents).  


I was really excited to use it and it made super yummy fries.  It only took a little longer than the traditional oven method and they taste just like deep fried fries.  mmmmmmmmmm the fat kid inside me is very happy. 
Yup I ate them ALL, and they were great
But as my luck has been going this week with the good comes the bad, and I couldn't get the TV to stream or connect to my computer.  After becoming super frustrated and almost crying (seriously I might just need a bit of a vacation) I decided to throw my towel in and watch my shows on my computer. 

The poor Hubs got a couple cranky calls from me about things not working out and since he was 1.5hrs away there wasn't a whole lot that he could do about it. 

I had been planning on going to church all week but when Sunday morning rolled around and my alarm went off get up for church time turned into cuddle time.  The Hubs and I laid in bed all morning and just cuddled it was great and just what I needed to turn my crummy week around.  Plus I figure God would understand and be ok with me skipping church for cuddle time.

After getting up and running a quick errand in the morning the Hubs and I had a great Sunday complete with our first (of many) "Family Dinner".  Since we don't have any family here in Ottawa a few of our friends came to help us eat and have a fun time.
A great end to a great day.

It was a great time and I really enjoyed family dinner.
 
Sunday was the perfect day that I needed to turn around my week.

How was your week?  Did you have a mix of emotions also?

Weekly Thought:
Before something great happens, everything falls apart. - Unknown