Till Then Smile Often

Dog Tired and Winter Blues

Happy Humpday!! I can’t believe it is only Wednesday. This week is going by so slowly. I have a lot of work to get done today I am going to leave you with just a few of my confessions.Let’s get to it shall we!

* I have been so incredibly tired lately. Like this kinda tired:

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You wanna know why I am so tired? Because Seamus does this but around the bed at 4:30am. Even though my alarm is set for 5:30am. It is a good thing he is cute!

perpetual motion bulldog

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 * I have a four day weekend starting on Friday and I am so excited. Saturday will be spent with the Insurance Adjuster and then babysitting my nieces but the rest of the days will be spent lazing about and organizing some rooms in the house.

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* Ever since the flooding in my basement I have this irrational fear of going in my basement. The mold issue is really freaking me out and I don’t want to use my home gym anymore until it’s fixed.

* May latest Netflix addiction is Flashpoint.  I mean come on men in Tactical gear, how can I resist.

* I think I have the Winter blues. I am so tired and want to eat and sleep all day and then wake up when Spring arrives. Pretty much I want to Hibernate like a Bear. I will be reading this guide on how to Fight The Winter Blues.

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Linking up with Kathy from Vodka and Soda for Humpday Confession and with Liz from Fitness Blondie for the Hump Day Blog Hop.

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The Hump Day Blog Hop

 

 

 

 

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Fig and Spinach Pinwheel

I have to say after watching a lot of Food Network Challenge shows on Sunday I was feeling inadequate in the cooking department. The amazing dishes that they can make on the fly in 30 minutes or less is amazing! Not only that but half the dishes I couldn’t pronounce let alone make.

So to soothe my aching soul I experimented with a new dish. The first time I made this dish I kept the fig raw and drizzled honey before rolling the dough. It ended up a little gritty and a little too sweet then what I wanted. I decided for the second batch to try and cut the sweetness and chewiness of the fig with some balsamic vinegar. This really left the fig very soft and subtle, most of the vinegar cooks off and you can taste just a hit of it in the final dish.  The final result was a touch creamy, and a hint of sweet.

Fig and Spinach Pinwheel

Ingredients: 4 Figs (1/2 cup chopped- stems removed)  ~ 2 TBSP Balsamic Vinegar (Fig Infused preferred) ~ 1/3 cup water  ~ Pinch Salt ~ 4 oz cream cheese (softened) ~ 1 Crescent Roll Sheet ~ 1 Cup Spinach (Chopped) ~ 1 Tsp Garlic Powder

Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Remove the stems on the figs and chop into cubes.

Fig and Spinach PinwheelPlace in a skillet over high heat with 2 TBSP Balsamic Vinegar, 1/3 cup Water and a pinch of salt. Once it begins to boil reduce heat and simmer for 3-5 minutes until the fig begins to soften and the sauce thickens.

Fig and Spinach Pinwheel

Roll out the crescent dough and spread out the softened cream cheese onto the dough. Sprinkle the spinach on top of the cream cheese.

Fig and Spinach Pinwheel

Sprinkle on the garlic powder then spoon on the fig vinaigrette mix.

Fig and Spinach Pinwheel

Roll lengthwise and cut into 1 inch thick slices with a serrated knife.

Fig and Spinach PinwheelFig and Spinach Pinwheel

Place on a greased cookie sheet cut side down.

Fig and Spinach Pinwheel

Bake for 9-12 minutes or until the dough is golden brown.

Fig and Spinach Pinwheel

How are your cooking skills , do you add as you go or follow a recipe?

What is the weirdest ingredient you have used in your cooking?

 

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Rest Required

I have to say I was a little boring this weekend but it was really what I needed after last week. Between the flooding, the snow and being sick I really needed a weekend of doing nothing.

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Saturday: I spent the morning watched an obscene amount of American Horror Story on Netflix. Last week I realized I watched the whole new season but never watched the first 2 seasons.  I did make a really good salad for lunch though. I didn’t get moving until 3pm, but I had just enough time to get to the library and pick up some new books. It felt a little odd not to have a book to read, and now I have four to get started. Then I did some crazy quick cleaning (I get all my energy in the afternoons) including vacumming, cleaning the bathroom (the one I have left, haha), laundry and dishes. I then began taste testing for a new recipe I am working on. It started with the idea of making a pinwheel dish. I really wanted to use fig and spinach. The first batch was a little too sweet and gritty though it wasn’t bad it just wasn’t what I was going for originally. I spent the rest of the night watching TV and knitting.

Sunday

Sunday: This day was all about rest. I had some more cleaning to do, but really I watched a lot of TV. I did get my grocery shopping done early and did a second batch of the pinwheels for lunch and it was even better and really more what I was going for, it was creamier and richer. I can’t wait to share the recipe. The rest of the day was watching movies, snuggling with Seamus and finishes any cleaning I didn’t finish yesterday.

Very relaxing, and not a lot of running around, which I really needed.

*As I was getting a few things ready for work at night I came across an old box of odds and ends. In it was an old letter my Dad wrote me while I was in college. I think it was for mid-terms or maybe when I was really homesick. It was really about the road he took and that he believed in me even if I didn’t believe in myself. It left me bawling. I never would have made it through college without his support and all he sacrificed. So just putting this in to give him props, he deserves it.

What were you up to this weekend?
Linking up with Leeann from Join the Gossip

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Coffee, Shoutouts, and Love

Happy Friday!!! I know it has been a short week for me being as the first part of the week was spent dealing with the flooding of my bathroom and basement. Missed it? Read that disaster here. Then Wednesday was the snow storm so this week actually felt like it flew by. Anyone want to sign a petition to make every work week a 3 day week?! Well if you have been reading for awhile you know Friday I share my 5 favorite things for the week. So here we go!

One. I have a huge obsession with coffee mugs lately. I even signed up for the mug swap that is open till February 18th. Let’s just say I found a few gems lately that made me laugh. This one is for Kathy at Vodka and Soda. I knew we were friends when we discussed poop! Haha!

I Pooed Today! Mug

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This one is for Heather at My Little HEA and for Kate at Another Clean Slate

Go Away Mug

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This one is for Stephanie from Life According to Steph

Know Your Grammar Large Mug

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Two. Speaking of coffee I was at Target last night and I came across the best coffee flavor I have had in awhile. I already have a half bag left in my fridge so these two are going in my freezer so I can make it last. These are a special edition and on serious clearance. Total score! See that super super savings of $3.24 per bag. Boom!

Hot Buttered Rum Coffee

Three. With the flooding and demo of my half bathroom I get to figure out how to put it back together. I haven’t liked this bathroom since I owned my home but I didn’t do anything because who cared, it was a half bath off the kitchen. I am thinking I want to remove the ugly pink tile for white beadboard and yellow paint. This vanity is cute and small enough to fit. What do you think?

Style Selections Euro Style 24-in x 17-in Espresso Belly Bowl Single Sink Bathroom Vanity with Vitreous China Top

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Four. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all the support on my Be The Change series. Hope it is inspiring you to do your own Acts of Kindness. This week I posted about leaving lollipops on the windshield or handle of the cars in the mall parking lot. Ninja skills – 1 I also mentioned Logan who is an 11 year old autistic boy who is being bullied and sending him birthday cards. If interested let me know and I will give you his address.

Random Acts of Kindness - #BeTheChange2014

 

Five. This really is the best thing ever. Read it, and remember it!

You wanna know who's amazing and has the cutest smile ever? Read the first word again. #Smile #Flirty #Quotes

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Go get your Friday on and make it count!! I will be dealing with the plumber again on Saturday but I will still be baking up a storm this weekend!

What are you up to this weekend?

THE GOOD LIFE BLOG

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Pass on a Smile – Be The Change

This Random Act of Kindness is something everyone can do. It is really great too because you can leave some in your car to pass out whenever you have a chance. At the Grocery store, at Target, at work, at the Bank, really anywhere there is a random car.

Random Acts of Kindness - #BeTheChange2014

I used one bag of Tootsie Pops and taped them to a card and placed either on their windshield or on their door handle.

Random Acts of Kindness - #BeTheChange2014

Anytime you are in a parking lot you can add one to a car. Just imagine, having the ability to  make someone’s day a little better. It’s worth it right?! Of course it is.

Random Acts of Kindness - #BeTheChange2014Random Acts of Kindness - #BeTheChange2014I passed these out on Sunday when I was in an outlet mall.  It was the perfect place to pass them out since there was hundreds of cars. There were a lot of people getting in and out of cars so I really got to work on my Ninja skills which are still clearly lacking, but getting better! 😉 For a blank template of the Be The Change cards click here.

I also want to share with you an Instagram account I follow @ariellecaputo she is another positive person who does Random Acts of Kindness. Her website and blog is D.E.A.P . – Dream Actively, Endlessly Pursue and she put a call out to send some cards to Logan Pearsons who is an Autistic boy who is turning 12 on February 24th and is currently dealing with bullies. She is trying to get some birthday cards sent his way so please let me know if you want to send him a card and I will send you his address. He is located in Massachusetts.

Are you considering doing your own Act of Kindness? If not, what is stopping you? Grab a button if you would like to spread the word. The change that we seek in others has to first come from within. This year I hope you decide to Be the Change You Seek.

Till Then Smile Often

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