Till Then Smile Often

October 23, 2014

Throw Back Thursday – Halloween Edition

I am a huge fan of Halloween always have been even though I don’t have a lot of pictures to prove it. I have been decorating my Dad’s house even when I haven’t lived there in about a dozen years. The kids get so excited when I open the door and I am dressed up, so who am I to tell them no. Some have even asked to take pictures. I always try and DIY my own costumes and this year will be no different.

When Heather posted about doing a Throw Back Thursday Holiday edition I knew I had to join in. It is my favorite holiday after all. So here are a few of me back in the day.

What the heck was with the plastic costumes.

Clearly we like to reuse costumes.

Really dude, batman again! Bugs Bunny was too cool. Obviously. Hehe!

Then I stole my sisters costume. Man we were so original. Can we check out those stylin’ cabinets. Woah baby.

This was 2011 and 2012 as Day of the Day – Sugar Skull.

Last year queen of hearts

I have everything I need for this year, so I am excited to see how it comes together.

Are you dressing up this year?

Are you making your costume or buying it?

October 21, 2014

One Pan Apple Chops over Zoodles

One Pan Apple Chops over Zoodles | Till Then Smile Often

As I mentioned on Friday I am trying to go Paleo as a way to be healthier and detox my body. It is also a great way to lose weight if you follow it pretty closely. I am down 7 pounds in the first week which is mostly bloat and water weight so I will be interested to see how this week goes.

The basic premise of Paleo is to eat as close to the caveman did back in the day. Basically anything unprocessed, think fruits veggies and proteins. The hardest part for me will be cheese, diet coke and the stevia/truvia for my coffee. I have switched to tea and just water for now. In the book I was reading they do allow for a 85/15 ratio of eating on plan and off after the initial 30 day detox. Most gauge how they feel after eating certain foods. Most likely I will be incorporating Truvia or stevia back in for just coffee. It is not too far off how I’ve eaten before minus the cheese, but I wanted to try a few new meals. This one popped into my head during my hike so I stopped at the grocery stores for ingredients.

Ingredients: Roughly a Pound of Boneless Pock Chops ~ ~ 1 Apple ~ 1/4 Apple Cider Vinegar ~ 1-1/2 cups of Stock ( I used Organic Veggie Stock) ~ 1/2 Tomato ~ 1-2 Medium Zuchini ~ EVOO ~ Garlic Powder ~ Onion Powder ~ Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions: Trim the pork chops if that is your preference. Pat the seasonings into the pork chops with the garlic, onion, salt and pepper. Heat the EVOO for a minute in a saute pan, then add the pork chops. Sear for about 2-4 per side. Add the apple cider vinegar and the stock to the pan, the stock should be a little more than up half the sides of the chops.

Chop up the apple and add to the pan. Reduce to medium-low and cook for about 10 minutes per side. Dice up the tomato and let it simmer for another 2-3 minutes. Remove the chops, apples and tomato from the pan with a slotted spoon. Leave the stock in the pan and add in the zucchini noodles, increasing to a boil.

Allow to cook for about 4-6 minutes, the noodles come out soft like a spaghetti. Plate the zoodles, top with a chop and a little of the apple and tomato and serve. I did add a fig balsamic vinegar drizzle but that is totally optional.

Have you ever made zoodles?

Could you go without coffee for 30 days?

5.0 from 1 reviews

One pan Apple Chops with Zoodles

Ingredients

Roughly a Pound of Boneless Pock Chops ~ ~ 1 Apple ~ ¼ Apple Cider Vinegar ~ 1-1/2 cups of Stock ( I used Organic Veggie Stock) ~ ½ Tomato ~ 1-2 Medium Zuchini ~ EVOO ~ Garlic Powder ~ Onion Powder ~ Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

Instructions: Trim the pork chops if that is your preference.
Pat the seasonings into the pork chops with the garlic, onion, salt and pepper.
Heat the EVOO for a minute in a saute pan, then add the pork chops.
Sear for about 2-4 per side.
Add the apple cider vinegar and the stock to the pan, the stock should be a little more than up half the sides of the chops.
Chop up the apple and add to the pan. Reduce to medium-low and cook for about 10 minutes per side.
Dice up the tomato and let it simmer for another 2-3 minutes. Remove the chops, apples and tomato from the pan with a slotted spoon.
Leave the stock in the pan and add in the zucchini noodles, increasing to a boil.
Allow to cook for about 4-6 minutes. Plate and serve.

October 20, 2014

Relaxing is Hiking

Relaxing is Hiking | Till Then Smile Often

I am struggling to even begin to recap this weekend because it really all melded together. I may have relaxad less than I wanted to but I also feel like I got a lot done and still had time to really just sit on the couch and reach, watch TV and multi-task because this is me we are talking about, right?! So let’s just get to it.

Friday: I finished up the book I was reading which was pretty good. It was a YA/College age book. Brinley is the girl who never does anything wrong but struggles with her past due in part to her alcoholic mother, Ryder is the boy who kissed her during a game of truth or dare. It ended with Brinley in the pool and her hating him.

A few years later they meet up again in college and they can’t stay away from each other. Brinley’s best friend has been keeping an eye out for her and one drunken night makes a play for her. Her roomate also helps to shake her life up a little. This was an advanced readers copy but the book is due out tomorrow the 21st, so click on the picture to add it to your Goodreads list or pre-order on Amazon, it’s currently listed at $2.99 for the kindle version.

Saturday: I tried to remember to relax and enjoy the day. Considering I woke up early I needed this mug to remind me. I did get to start a new book though and watching Seamus make faces at me helped.

I did a little bit of laundry, and other chores before heading out to get some cardio. My favorite form of cardio is obviously hiking. It is just so peaceful.

It was perfect timing though because it started to drizzle just as I wwas finishing up. On the way home I headed to the grocery store to pick up some supplies for lunch. I also grabbed The Fault In Our Stars from Redbox. I made Bacon Wrapped Steak, smashed Cauliflower with Chives and Almond milk, and Pan Seared Asparagus. I noticed when putting the movie in that I still haven’t taken the sticker off my t.v., that I’ve had for almost 5 years, and I still haven’t taken it off either! Haha!

After the movie was over I watched a few episode of Friday Night Lights while working on some blogging stuff, like that new Facebook like box in the sidebar. You’re following me there right? 😉

Sunday: I read for a few hours before getting going making a to-do list and getting some stuff done. My spare bedroom took a huge hit when I re-decorated my bedroom, excess furniture, bedding and spare items got tossed in there. So my biggest to-do was cleaning it up and moving items to the basement for storage. Also the big bag on the bed is stuff I am donating, so it was off to Goodwill. I saw the copy of my brothers published stories/poems that he did back in college. So proud. Seamus also always feels the need to rub his face all over the bed which is why I keep the door closed a lot.

After that I headed out for another hike, it really is so beautiful at this course and I try to take new paths every so often to switch it up. My post-workout meal was some Apple pork chops over zoodles, recipe coming tomorrow. The rest of the night was catching up on my DVR, blogging and the Walking Dead!!

Overall it was perfect and though I would have liked to have less on my to-do list and just veg out I think this weekend was a good compromise.

How was your weekend?

Linking up with Leeann from Join the Gossip and Biana from B Loved Boston.

October 17, 2014

Friday Favorites | Relaxing is Possible

Friday Favorites | Relaxing is Possible | Till Then Smile Often

I am looking forward to this weekend. I am really going to try and not doing anything other than relax, and maybe organize my spare room. Okay and go hiking, and clean, and read, and watch Friday Night Lights on Netflix but that is it. At least that is the plan anyways. Anyone want to come over and sit on me so I don’t move? Any one? Please!

Well let’s get to it then so I can get to that relaxing. My favorites from this week.

Favorite Quote: Help yourself while helping others.

Favorite DIY: This looks like a good project to try.

Watercolor Mug DIY - this is incredible! What a great holiday gift idea.

Favorite Mug: OMG! I want, I want, I want. My most favorite of the Friday Night Light quotes. Tim Riggins!!

Favorite Recipe: Now this sounds tasty. Champagne Margaritas w/ white tequila, triple sec, sweetened lime juice, sparkling wine/champagne.

Favorite Funnies:

They always search out the sun spot.

I am trying to go Paleo and cut out sugar, this is how I feel about it.

Seriously! You are not cool for saying it so just stop.

The only time anyone should ever use phrase 'ride or die' is if you're a paramedic and your patient won't get in the ambulance.

Sure you love someone but do you love them this much?

What are you up to this weekend? Linking up with Amanda

Also linking up with Natasha for 5 on Friday.

October 15, 2014

Get Down, It’s Your Birthday

Get Down, It’s Your Birthday | Dog Birthday | Till Then Smile Often
If you are not a dog person I can totally understand if you want to skip this post because it may get mushy and contains lots of pictures of Seamus.

Today is Seamus’ birthday, he turns 9 years old. I can’t believe that Seamus has been in my life for eight years, he was one when I adopted him. When I decided to volunteer at the Quincy Animal Shelter I was searching for purpose, a way to matter. It may just have been walking dogs, cleaning up poop, doing laundry, and helping with temperament tests but it was so much more. I got to cuddle the dogs, and show even if it was just a few hours out of my week, that they mattered, someone cared. To me that helped make me feel important even if just to them.

Just a few weeks after I started I came across this little hellion who wasn’t very nice to strangers, lunging and barking, trying to escape but he had the look of a lost soul. I could relate. He escaped once or twice and would even try to bite the volunteers as they got out of his cage. That didn’t deter me though. He was so adorable and I knew he wouldn’t hurt me he was just scared and misunderstood. Maybe I just read into that part but I believed it.

At the shelter – 2006

So when I went into his cage and sat down he ran around in circles and barked but I just sat down.

Me in his cage, even then he smiled

After a few minutes he butted his nose against my hand and laid down, exposing his belly for me to rub. I was a goner. Every time I volunteered I would take him to this little grassy area by the police station and sat with him, and gave him extra belly rubs.

One night I was scheduled to volunteer and he was set to be adopted. I lost my cool, the only adoption to affect me. As a no-kill shelter I knew all dogs were going to the right home not just any home. This one though, hurt. I bawled so hard and vowed to take him if it didn’t work out. Just a day and a half later he came back and as they say, the rest is history.

He has given me so many happy moments, I just hope I give him just as many back in return.

Here is the part where I say Sorry Not Sorry for all the photos of Seamus. His smile gets me every time. *Disclaimer: I only cried 3 times writing this post so I feel like that is a win.