Weekly Wins!

A little belated on the Weekly Wins, but I promise, it’s worth it.  Lots of wins this week!

I made an AMAZING Applesauce Mac & Cheese with Apple Chicken Sausage (I used TJ’s Cheddar/Gruyere blend & the Unexpected Cheddar…seriously, AMAZING)

I have an audition for Leavenworth Summer Theatre in a couple weeks, but I was so excited for them to get this email…apparently this is the fastest the audition slots have ever filled up!!!!!  Looking forward to meeting some new people and getting to see some friendly faces I’ve been missing!!

I lunch and dinner prepped like crazy for this week.

Broiled halibut, brussel sprouts, and scallion noodles!

Shrimp, asparagus, and more scallion noodles…I was kind of obsessed.

Many wins for AMT…going to the school where we did samesies again!

Hilarious letters from children.
Also two children making their stage debut, including one who decided to just plop down on the stage with us during our big production number.  Seriously, I love children’s theatre!

Bought my Footloose dance audition outfit…also came across this gem.  I’m thinking singing audition dress?  Slash…DIBS FOR PROM!

Getting to see the Space Needle in all it’s beauty before the rest of the city has woken up.  As much as 5:45 is not my favorite time to wake up, I’ve really been enjoying the walk in the morning to the van meeting place.

My health life this week was training for the Hot Chocolate 5K (today!), doing some barre3 classes (obsessed!), and really going back to the Mediterranean diet with my food.  I also got to take a beginning Jazz dance class at Exit Space in Greenlake, and I loved it!  I forgot how much I love dance class, I will definitely be going back.

Fuck yeah 5K!

Post-race photo!  My unofficial runkeeper time…I busted ASS to get across that finish line before 30min, and I was so pleased with my time.  Despite walking a couple times due to some awesome phlegm-induced nausea.  Gag.  (#tmi)

Post 5K refuel at Toulouse Petit…Duck Confit Hash!

And my OFFICIAL TIME. WHAT.

What an amazing week.  This week, I’m looking forward to more barre3 classes, a dress rehearsal hopefully, dinner at Terra Plata, and a trip to Portland with the folks for food and a voice lesson!

Life Update #19429

Hi, 2013!

Well. I’ve been busy. If you don’t religiously check my instagram feed (ummm, wtf), here are some photos from this fabulous year that I would like to share with you

I did this and I loved it.  (TMI ALERT!) I was pooping like crazy, but I didn’t have any weird side effects (or any crazy pooping, like some people reported), and I felt great.  Totally worth the $15!!!  Check it out!

I left the pizza place full-time…still picking up occasional shifts, but I miss these fabulous jewels.  No idea what I did that inspired the above note, but lo que sea, sometimes people think they’re really funny.

And this made me laugh.

I’ll miss Mya’s coloring sheets!!

Megs and I moved to Capitol Hill finally!  I bought a new bed and grown-up girl sheets!

My room is a bit of an odd shape, but I found a bookcase that fits in a nook perfectly.  LOVE Ikea, and I’m obsessed with my new “nightstand”.

I’m doing an awesome show with an awesome group of people.

(Photo cred: Pamela Campi Spee)

(Photo cred: Pamela Campi Spee)

I’m auditioning for LST this year…a couple of bucket list roles that I can’t turn up the opportunity to at least try out for!  (Cough Rusty/Ariel, Narrator cough)

My parents rock and bought me new pots and pans.  What.

I made homemade honey roasted peanut butter.  Literally just threw the peanuts in my dad’s food processor and WAH-BAM.  Peanut butter in less than five minutes.  No added oil, no separation.  It’s amazing.

I’m running my second 5K on March 3 with a couple of the girls from the show.  I’ve been a little nervous, cuz I haven’t really had time to work out (tsk), but then I randomly busted this out!?!  (Mind you, this was at home with the ‘rents, it’s a little flatter up there than in Seattle, BUT STILL)

And then this is my bro.  He’s pretty kickass.  I’ve been having to stock him via his groups fbook page, but found this AMAZING pic of him.  So proud.  He’s technically a Navy Corpsman, but he’s working with the Marines in North Carolina right now.

Photo Cred: US Marines

Well, that’s all folks.  As soon as I have some extra time, I will be back to posting recipes I hope.  You may just be getting these random updates for a while, but we’ll see!  Love you all! <3

I promise I did not fail you!

Seriously.

I just fell behind on life.  AS USUAL.

I made a goal and actually, for the most part, I really stuck with it…I just forgot to post things.  I mean, I’ve got about 5 more recipes to post!  Unfortunately, a couple recipes I tried were abysmal failures…seriously, I will post the white chocolate apple pie cookie butter fudge recipe later (2 attempts!), and see if we can’t figure this out together.  IT WAS SO AMAZING AND TASTY it just never set.

Regardless.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I started my new year resolutions yesterday.  I do better starting things on Monday because then I feel like at least I have a whole week to try and keep up. 

Less along the lines of losing weight, more along the lines of eating cleaner and getting out and running at least 3 times a week.

Say Heather, speaking of exercise, where have your Monday workout posts gone?

Well, dear blog readers…it was time for some new running shoes.  My left knee got F*CKED up, so I’ve been resting it.  Went on a couple of runs, taking it easy.  But check out my Pump It board on Pinterest, specifically the VS Model Ab Workout…HOLINESS the entirety of my abs, from the bottom of the bra to the top of my pants line, and my obliques, wanted to die the day after.  I <3 blogilates.  So I’ve been doing more at-home strength training than getting out and running.

But I went shopping yesterday and spent lots of gift card money and bought lots of cute new workout gear from Target, so if that doesn’t motivate me, I’m a lost cause.

New things in my life:
#1) Got cast in AMT (Adventure Musical Theatre) again this year!!  Excited to work with Director Mat, Stage Manager Pam, and friends Mike & Daniel.  Expect lots of solid instagramming starting Jan 14.  Upsides: solid pay for a theatre job, getting to perform for kids, getting to perform, getting weekends off which is the best thing ever.  Downsides: Missing Ari’s marathon.    Also, wanting to die around the month of March.

#2) Also starting Jan 14 (well, technically it started yesterday, but it’s in preparation for Jan 14), I’m going to be eating on the road a lot.  Last year, I spent a lot of money (and gained about 7-10 pounds) eating poorly.  I’m really excited to get a second chance at this and do a complete 180.  Besides the fact that I have to save $$ for Leavenworth this summer, I need to cut back on the amount of calories I’m eating, and I need to revamp my diet.  So I will be cutting back on gluten & meat products (specifically pork…except bacon bits, I love bacon bits!! #dontjudge), and working towards incorporating a solid 8-10 servings of fruit and veggies.  I tried this Green Smoothie yesterday and loved it.  A food journal is in the works.

#3) Sort of in addition to #2, obviously my schedule is going to be hell for the next few months, so blogging will become less frequent.  I absolutely plan on getting back on track with Weekly Wins and Monday Workout Posts (which will now hopefully include my food journal-pics).  But the goal is to still keep posting recipes/ideas.  It will just be based more on eating on the go, and crockpots, and Mason Jar Meals.  That sort of thing.

#4) I’m drinking less coffee.  We’ll see how long this lasts.  I’m trying to switch to tea.

#5) Taking care of my well-being!  Vitamins and vocal health!!!  Flu shot!  Emergen-C!!!!!!!

Ok, that is pretty much it.  Just checking in.  Expect those recipes I promised over the next couple of weeks.  I’ll space them out.  Just don’t hate me for posting the peanut butter balls, they’re kind of the devil.

No words

I was getting my food photos and birthday photos all edited and loaded onto WordPress (you know, because I’m like 4 days behind of course) when I finally turned to Yahoo News.

And my heart hit the floor.

I have no words to express the sheer horror I feel over what has happened.  I can’t stop crying after reading about how the police had the kids close their eyes as they got them out of the school.

As an eventually-future mom, my heart grieves with those parents.  As an eventually-future teacher, my heart hurts but grows so big knowing those teachers did what they could to keep their students safe.  But as an only-too-recently kid, my heart just breaks.  At that age, no one should have to deal with PTSD or losing their best friend or walking the hallways of their school worrying that it’s going to happen again.

I cannot fathom.

My thoughts & prayers are with that community tonight.

S’more martini

In honor of my birthday week, I created a cocktail that is a LOT like my secret guilty pleasure winter coffee beverage.

Wait for it.

Toasted.

Marshmallow.

Mocha.

I KNOOOOOOW!!! I KNOW!!!! Ridiculous. Everyone always gives me a face when I make them try it before dissing it and then they continue dissing it.

So if you don’t like overly sweet, this might not necessarily be for you. But if you’re as obsessed with the marshmallow vodka as I am? Make this. Today. Even if you judge my love of marshmallow mochas.

Marshmallow Mocha Martini

Yields ~2 drinks

1 part Kahlua
1 part marshmallow vodka
1/2 part white creme de cacao
2 parts fat free half-and-half
Sprinkle of Hershey’s Cocoa Powder

Shake all the liquids together with ice.  Pour into glasses.  Sprinkle with cocoa powder and serve.

I tried so hard to garnish with toasted mini marshmallows…didn’t really turn out.    But I had so much fun lighting the on fire with the candle lighter, I couldn’t not post the pic!

Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup – 25 Days of Christmas: Day 13

This isn’t really a recipe…more like MY ABSOLUTELY FAVORITE WINTER MEAL EVER.

THE.  BEST.

Seriously, no recipe.  Just my grilled cheese and tomato soup requirements:
1) Roasted Red Pepper Tomato Soup. Seriously.  It can be TJ’s.  It can be Pacific Organic.  But this absolutely makes or breaks the meal.  Plus the box is enough for four servings, so I can have this for 4 days in a week.  Don’t judge.
2) Cheese IN the soup.  Just a sprinkle.  Recently I’ve been obsessed with gorgonzola in the soup.  Adds a really great bite to the soup. Cheddar is an obvious great choice as well.
3) Fancy cheese or cheese COMBOS in the sandwich.  It’s not all about the cheddar anymore!  I love smoked gouda…since I can buy Lucerne smoked gouda sliced at Safeway, that’s my standard choice.  Also love Goat Cheese&NoMozzarella.  Nick’s Grilled Cheese Sandwich is also amazing…bread, Kraft Single, sprinkle mozzarella, another Kraft Single, and another piece of bread.  It makes a super gooey sandwich which is awesome.

Now go make yourself a birthday present from me and eat some grilled cheese & tomato soup.

Nutella Fudge – 25 Days of Christmas: Day 12

I’ve been meaning to make fudge out of Nutella for a while…the problem was finding a recipe that would balance out and still set.  This one was amazing!!!  I added some crushed Pirouline cookies on top which was GREAT the day I made the fudge (added a kick ass crunchy texture and a taste that mixed perfectly with the Nutella), but they got super soggy by day two.    Regardless, the fudge was a hit everywhere I brought it.

Nutella Fudge

Recipe from Tasty Kitchen

1-14oz can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 tsp vanilla
8 oz chocolate chips
1 C Nutella
3 tbs butter
1 small pkg Pirouline cookies (opt) (I found a 10-cookie box at Safeway for $1!)

Fill an 8×8 pan with wax paper and spray with cooking spray.

In a nonstick saucepan over low (like a 2) heat, mix all of the ingredients (except the cookies) together until melted.

Pour into the 8×8 pan and spread evenly with a spatula.  Press the crushed cookie pieces into the fudge if you’re using them, and put in the fridge for a couple of hours.  Once set, cut into bite sized pieces.