Cinnamon Bun Oats

Cinnamon buns are one of my favourite sweets, so the other day I turned them into oatmeal.

Cinnamon Bun Oats

1/4 cup quick oats

1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla Almond Breeze (or milk)

1 T almond butter

1 tsp cinnamon

1 T brown sugar

1 T golden raisins (optional)

Bring the Almond Breeze to a boil.  Add the oats and boil 1 minute.  Remove from heat, cover and let sit for a couple minutes.  Stir in the almond butter and top with the other ingredients.

Mmmmmmmmm!

 

Other breakfasts this week have included eggs and toast, and smoothies with 1/2 banana, Amazing Grass, vanilla, cocoa, and Almond Breeze.

Now that I am back to work I have been packing a lunch.  Lately it has included a sandwich, clementine and a cheese string. Boring, but it does the trick.  Luckily I don't have to worry about packing a lunch for tomorrow.  My colleagues and I always go out for lunch on Fridays.

The last couple days we have had fresh dinners that I am hooked on - Cobb Salad and a Hippie Bowl.

You can find my recipe for the Hippie Bowl here.  It is SO good!

Do you pack a lunch for work?  What do you take?  

Do you ever buy your lunch at a restaurant during the work week?

International Bacon Day

Saturday was Jolene Day International Bacon Day.

I grabbed this months Food Network magazine insert  (which was clearly made for me) and chose a recipe:

I went with the Bacon Fried Rice:

It was even better topped with Sriracha.

I had some family over for a hotdog roast on Sunday.  

We had veggie skewers and Mediterranean potato salad on the side.

Dessert included burnt grapes and s'mores.

Needless to say, it was a great long-weekend. 

When was the last time that you roasted a hotdog or a marshmallow?  How do you like 'em cooked?  Burnt?  Golden?  Exploding?

Frustration

I am totally frustrated for 2 reasons.

1) On Tuesday someone tried to steal my car, from my work parking lot, in the middle of the day, while it was facing a VERY busy street.  They destroyed the driver's side door trying to get in, then threw a cinder block through the window, wrecking my interior as the block bounced off my center column and onto the floor of the car.  They tore apart the steering column trying to hot wire it, and did so much damage the car will not start.  It had to be towed to an adjuster.  The hubby was out of town for work (for the first time EVER), when this happened, and I was without a vehicle for 2 days.  We are waiting to hear if the car will be fixed (fingers crossed), or if they will write it off.  :-(

2) I have just figured out that the comments I have been leaving on 3 different blogs (on each post) have not been showing up.

Love Veggies and Yoga
The Gonzo Gourmet
Girl with the Red Hair

For some reason, I cannot comment on your posts!!  I have been commenting daily, thinking that it was working, but I don't see any of my comments on your posts :-(  I don't know how to fix this.  I also don't know for how long you haven't been getting my comments - I feel bad!  I have tried re-following your blogs, and that doesn't seem to be working either.  Any ideas of what could be wrong?

Is there anyone else who normally receives regular comments from me and has not been getting any lately?

September & The Grotto

About 5 months ago we went to a restaurant in a small town about an hour away.  It is usually a little coffee shop, but on Friday nights it serves an authentic fixe prix Mexican dinner.  There is no menu to order from.  You just show up and eat what they cooked that evening.  

Last night we went to this restaurant for a second time with our friends Emma and Dalton.  

The meal was definitely worth the drive.

Emma and I drank Green Iguana Margaritas:

 

The sopa ranchera doesn't look that great, but it was fantastic:

The main course included Pacific coast style BBQ 1/2 chicken, "sandles" filled with veggies and cheese, a beef tostada with green tomatillo salsa, Mexican style corn on the cob, and rustic Mexican salad:

 

I barely made a dent in this plate of food.  The waitress said no one ever finishes all of it.  Most people take a doggy bag home.  

Dessert was a hibiscus flower cake.  I tried a bite, and then the hubby polished it off.

Our evening out last night was a great way to kick off September and to start off a great long-weekend.

September, more than January, seems like a new year start to me.  I start back at work and school, and the trees start to reflect the beginning of a new season.  This September I am most looking forward to a weekend in Vegas that we have planned.

What are you looking forward to in September?

Is it a long weekend where you are?  What do you have planned for the weekend?

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - Last Set of Sister's Wedding Photos

Bridesmaid Shoes and Bouquet

Father-Daughter and Mother-Son Dance

Moi

First Dance Together (EVER!)

My strapping nephew

Last day of August today ... hard to believe!  

This wedding was definitely a highlight of my summer.

What was the highlight of your summer?

Getting Ready for the Wedding

The morning of my sister's wedding, she treated all us girls in the bridal party to manicures.  We then went to my cousin's salon to get our hair and makeup done.

My sister's hair was simply regal.

Once we were all beautified, we headed to the hotel to get our dresses on.  I snapped a couple pictures of before we left for the church:

Excitement and nerves were high as we drove to the church ...

Stay tuned for the final, and most beautiful wedding post and pictures.

In other news ...

The hubby participated in a bike race for palliative care yesterday.  

I was up bright and early to watch him start and finish.

The Hubby is on the right with his head up.

Also, I made Sophia's chicken soup.  The warm, comforting smell filled my house and the taste was unique with the flavour of a spice I hadn't cooked with before.  I loved it.

Lately I have been drinking a lot of green monsters:

And tomorrow kids start school - eeeeeeeeeek!  I hope they like me!

Have you ever cook/baked with star anise?

Wedding Recap: The Day Before

The day before my sister's wedding was a whirlwind.  We started the morning off by getting pedicures, and then heading to the reception site to decorate and meet with the DJ. 

The boys ran errands, picking up alcohol, flowers, and the cake, while the girls set out the candy buffet,  and other wedding must-haves.

After checking in at the car dealership, the girls headed to The Mediterranean Bistro for lunch.  

I ate this:

We were soon back at the reception site getting stabbed by thorns as we trimmed and arranged 44 dozen long-stem ivory roses. 

We left the hotel with enough time to run home and grab the rehearsal bouquet that I made for my sister, and then quickly head to the church.

The Pastor sat us down for a quick talk before running through the ceremony twice.  

My nephew added some much needed comic relief after a long, tiring day.

I barely slept, as I was too excited for the big day to follow ...