Unseasonably Warm Alaska

We've been experiencing some downright unseasonably warm weather this month.  It's been in the 40's for weeks! And, we finally saw the sun for two days this weekend, which had been hiding from us for the better part of a month.  I was doubting it would ever return.  Thankfully, I was mistaken!

Cody and I spent this beautiful weekend outside as much as possible.  We actually grilled on Friday, Saturday, AND Sunday.  We have gone grill crazy.  It's one of my favorites though.  Cody usually grills meat for himself but I usually do potatoes, zucchini, asparagus, and a mishmash of other goodies. Serve with chips and salsa.  Voila! Perfect snack-y meal!

This weekend really improved my mood and outlook.  I am one of those people who tends to get the winter blues.  And, after a miserable December (we had 60ish inches of snow), a beautiful visit home to see my family, and then an entire month of monsoon-like rain I was feeling pretty blue and nostalgic for home.  This weekend was just what the doctor ordered! It was sunny so I made the most of it every day.  I spent Friday night grilling outside, all day Saturday with friends hiking/cooking outside, and I have a lunch date downtown with a teacher friend today.  Thank goodness for the sun!!

Questions:
What is the weather like in your neighborhood?
Does the sun/crummy weather affect your mood?
How do you fight the winter blues? 

Northern Lights & Tasty Meals

This weekend in Juneau was a MUCH needed holiday weekend.  Parent-teacher conferences demanded most of my attention last week, and I still have a couple to wrap-up tomorrow.  But, I felt so excited after wrapping up (most) conferences on Friday afternoon that I treated myself to a few tasty treats.

Yup, that's a strawberry velvet cupcake….heavenly.  And, I paired it with a little peppermint tea.  Both were bought at a couple of my favorite local hotspots.  It was an amazing way to kickstart my weekend.

The most exciting part of our weekend took place on Friday and Saturday nights….the Northern Lights were visible!!  Sadly, I don't have picture proof but we did get to see them faintly.  They were incredibly bright on Friday night and you can check them out here, on local artist Elise Tomlinson's Facebook page.  Keep in mind that the harbor that she pictures is only about three miles from my front door.  Whoa.

I snapped this picture at sunset one evening this weekend.  Not nearly as exciting but I still like it :) In an effort to see the Northern Lights a second time Cody and I ventured out to the glacier at 10:00pm on Saturday night.  We didn't see them but we did enjoy a romantic (and chilly) evening under the stars.  We could see the entire Milky Way. Amazing.

Anyways, back to something I have picture proof of…food.  Cody and I seriously indulged on meals on Saturday and Sunday.  Saturday we had chik'n parmesan sandwiches with homemade fries.  We also enjoyed a few tasty brews with our food.  The bottle caps gave us some weird, and possibly enlightened (?) messages.

Sunday we indulged on creamy tomato tortellini soup. Then, we topped it off with some chocolate cheesecake brownies. It was a delicious weekend but we will both be hitting the gym tomorrow, that's for sure!

Questions: 
What did you do this weekend?
Have you ever seen the Northern Lights? 

Things To Do In Juneau: Hangar On The Wharf

Hangar on the Wharf is a local eatery in Juneau.  However, the building known as the "wharf" also houses tour companies, fishing adventures, and is the location of both the sea-plane and cruise ship docks.  This can be a beautiful area to stroll in on a pleasant day…

As you can see, when went there this weekend it was not-so-plesant.  That's Juneau for you... it is a rainforest so the rainy weather is pretty typical.  Personally, I don't mind the rain and find it to be just as beautiful in the fog and drizzle.

Back to the Hangar.  We enjoy eating here occasionally.  The prices are a little spend-y compared to other Juneau restaurants. As a vegetarian they do have a few (3-4) good options but they definitely don't cater specifically to "our crowd."

At the Hangar you will definitely be paying for the atmosphere and location.  The restaurant is right on the water and has incredible views.  During the summer you are up-close and personal with the cruise ships and throughout the year you can watch the sea planes dip into the water while you dine.  I recommend trying this place out if you are in town.  It's quite beautiful and has that Alaskan-vibe.  Plus, when you finish eating you can walk down the hall and book a flight to the glacier! Woo!

Questions:
Do you enjoy going out to eat on vacation? 
What is your favorite restaurant? 

Pumpkin Spice Latte

It's no secret that I am in love with Fall.  In fact, I did an entire blog entry about my favorite season (you can read it here).  One of my favorite things is eating/drinking pumpkin-flavored goodies.  This weekend Cody and I enjoyed a lazy Sunday morning and I decided to tryout a recipe I saw for homemade pumpkin spice lattes.  There was no choice…I had to do it.

Ingredients:

1cup milk

1tbs sugar

1tbs pumpkin puree 

 1/2tsp vanilla

brewed coffee

cinnamon

nutmeg

Directions:  Heat 1/2cup of milk, pumpkin puree, sugar, vanilla, and spices on medium heat. Bring to a simmer and hold at this temperature for 5minutes while occasionally whisking.  Then, whisk in remaining 1/2cup of milk.

I used this as more of a creamer for my coffee.  The website that the original recipe came from included a few more steps (but, hey, I'm a little lazy).  My coffee was amazing! I definitely recommend it.  Plop a little whipped cream on top and enjoy!

Questions:
How do you feel about pumpkin-flavored goodies? 
Do you make coffee at home or get it to-go?

Veggie Pizza

Pizza is one of my favorite foods of all time.  It has veggies, cheese, bread, and basically everything I could ever want in a meal.  Sometimes though, you gotta spice up your pizza a bit! This pizza recipe is one of my favorites to make for parties/cookouts/weekly lunches.  It is perfect for parties and cookouts because it is fingerfood-ish and quick to make.  I also like it for lunch because it keeps me feeling full for a long time!

So, for this pizza you just bake a pizza crust to the package directions (without anything on it) and let it cool for 10-15minutes.  Meanwhile, whip up a package of ranch dip (the powdered kind, and they DO make vegan/organic) and mix it with your favorite dairy or non-dairy sour cream, I prefer Tofutti.  Spread the mix on the cooled pizza crust and add the toppings of your choice! I usually add peppers, carrots, onions, and broccoli.  I haven't tried it with spinach (yet) but I really want to at some point! I also recommend loading it up with veggies.  This particular pizza was a little bit skimpy on the veggies because it was grocery day.  Still super tasty though!

There you have it, a quick and easy meal that everyone can enjoy :)

Questions:
How do you feel about pizza?
Would you ever do a cold-style pizza like this one? 
What is your favorite kind of pizza? 

Do Vegetarians Go Fishing?

Today's post is about my adventures fishing in Alaska.  Before I start though, I thought I should address that fact that I AM a vegetarian.  Let's rewind…my veggie beliefs began at an early age.  I began refusing meat when my parents first tried giving it to me in my toddler years.  They were supportive of the no-meat attitude I had somehow developed by the age of two.  So, I just never ate meat and I was always actively against it.  As I grew older I was mainly against factory farming and big business controlling our food (I hate Monsanto too but that's a conversation for another day). I marched in parades to support vegetarian/vegan lifestyles, I handed out pamphlets, and generally supported my fellow veg-lovers and animals!

Activism, 2006. 

Then, I moved to Alaska in 2010 and saw the lack of resources.  It was impossible for me to be a vegetarian living in the Bush.  There was no milk of any kind (powdered-only), no vegetables, no fruit, and generally not a whole lot to choose from.  It took up 4-6 weeks for mail to arrive so ordering fresh food online wasn't even an option.  If food wasn't at the general store (and it almost never was), I didn't eat it.  So, while living in the Bush I ate fish, but only fish that I, or another villager, caught.  I chose to only eat locally caught fish by people that I knew because it allowed me to know who/what/when/where and that the person respected the animal.

Catching Dinner, 2010. 

So, while I am still not a meat-eater, my views have evolved after living in such a remote area of the world.  I learned that my lifestyle is actually impossible in some corners of the world (at least I found no other alternative).  In Juneau the vegetarian options are readily available (thankfully).  But, I still believe that Alaskans as a whole are a subsistence people who rely on hunting, fishing, and trapping to sustain themselves throughout the year.  They respect animals, they recognize that they are not the top of the food chain, and they hunt for survival.  This is simply their way of life and I respect them so much for this.

The Dolly that I caught under JD Bridge. 

Do vegetarians go fishing? This one did! I decided that I would try it out as long as we wasted none of the meat…and that is exactly what we did.  Cody plans to catch enough fish and other game to sustain himself this winter without store bought meat.  If I can contribute to the decline of factory farming through this route than I have decided that I will try it.  So, here are some pictures of my fishing adventures (as a vegetarian).  Enjoy:)

Fish Creek. 

Juneau-Douglas Bridge. 

Questions:
Are you a vegetarian? Why or why not? 
What choice would you have made in my position?
Do you enjoy fishing, hunting, trapping, or gathering? 

Fiesta!

I LOVE Mexican food.  I don't know if very many people know that about me, but it's true.  I am not a fan of greasy, nasty fast-food-type tacos, but authentic Mexican cuisine is just magical to my taste buds. Here in Juneau we are seriously lacking in this area (and in the restaurant area period).  There is no authentic Mexican food that (in my opinion) lives up to the divine cuisine of the Lower 48.  Sad =(

To cure this craving my girlfriends and I had a Mexican Fiesta! And, to make matters more amazing they were all totally on board with a vegetarian fiesta.  Pardon our classy (and not-so-classy) beverage choices ;)

Above is a shot of our overall spread.  We had both crispy and soft corn tortillas with your choice of  beans, lettuce, tomatoes, avocados, corn, peppers, onions, guacamole, and rice.  It was seriously amazing.  My taste buds were lovin' it.

One of my favorite parts of this meal was the corn.  This is a recipe that Cody invented (I am sure other people make it) a few months ago.  It is just butter (EB Vegan Spread), fresh corn (best if cooked on the cob and then cut off), and chopped cilantro.  Heat all ingredients on low, in a medium dish and cook until warm and melty.  Add it to a taco or eat it as a side dish…heaven!

So, here is my meal suggestions for the weekend.  Try having a Mexican Fiesta!

Questions: 
Do you love Mexican cuisine? 
If so, what is your favorite dish? 
If not, are you crazy???? (Just Kidding!) 

Meatless Monday #2: Weekly Eats

This week I decided that I was going to do a collection of meatless eats to celebrate this wondrous weekly holiday.  Since I always eat vegetarian, I figured there was no better way to honor the meatless holiday than a collection of super simple veggie eats.  Enjoy :)

Three Cheese & Tomato Tarts: Basically pizza but cooked to be much crispier (thinner crust) and made without tomato sauce (substitute ricotta or greek yogurt for the sauce).

Stir-Fry Noodles: It's all in the name.  Use some noodles, crisp them up with some tasty veggies and some Bragg's or soy/stir-fry sauce of your choice.

Crock-Pot Roasted Veggies: Vegetables chopped and cooked for 5-7 hours on low.  Just add 1/4cup of water and season.

Breaded & Baked Tofu: Bread some tofu with nutritional yeast and seasonings of your choice.  Preheat oven to 400 and bake for 30 minutes (or until crispy).

Hope you all will help my out and celebrate this weekly tradition.  If you haven't before, try out one of these easy treats that I posted today.  All of these recipes take under and hour and require minimal prep work.  Happy eating!

Questions: 
What is your favorite way to prepare tofu? 
How often do you go meatless? 

Warm Quinoa Salad & Vegan Fettucini Alfredo

Soooo….I have been slacking just a bit a whole lot on posting anything food-related lately.  So, here are two of my favorite recipes from recent meals.  The first is Warm Quinoa Salad and the second is Vegan Fettucini Alfredo.  Pretty dang tasty if you ask me.

Warm Quinoa Salad
1 cup quinoa
2 cups vegetable broth
2 cups edamame
Salt
Pepper
Olive oil
Squish of lemon juice

Directions: Toast quinoa in dry skillet for 4-5 minutes or until it starts to smell deliciously popcorn-like. Bring broth to a boil in a medium-sized pan.  Add quinoa to boiling broth. Add seasoning.  Reduce to a simmer and cook for 7-8minutes.  Add edamame beans (**note: I sauteed mine first with some spicy goodness ahead of time for about 2minutes) and let cook for an additional 7-8minutes.  Remove from heat.  Let cool for about 5minutes, squish with lemon juice, and then add on top of a delicious salad!



Fettucini Alfredo Sauce (V) with Roasted Brussels Sprouts
1 1/2 cups non-dairy milk
2tbs flour
2tbs garlic
3 tbs nutritional yeast
1tbs non-dairy sour cream (Tofutti is a great option)
1 1/2tbs olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Italian seasonings (all kinds welcome!)

Directions: Heat oil on med-high in a saucepan.  Put garlic in the pan for 2-3minutes.  Then add flour and whisk to create a thick, roux-like substance.  Stir in milk slowly.  Cook on medium for 4-5minutes.  Add seasoning, nutritional yeast, and sour cream.  **For brussels sprouts:  Heat oven to 450F.  Season sprouts.  Cook for 20minutes.  Add to sauce when complete.  Woo!

These are two pretty quick, easy recipes.  They are both packed with awesomeness as well.  Try them out!

Do you like brussels sprouts?  They seem to be a much hated food! 
Do you cook vegan ever?  

Calzones & Quinoa Bake

Week Two of my weekly meal planning endeavor was a success!  Here are two of my favorite recipe's from the week.  Enjoy :)

Broccoli Calzones
1package of pre-made dough (or homemade if you are feeling ambitious)
1 1/2cup broccoli
3tbs ricotta
1/2cup daiya or standard cheese
1/4 of a medium-sized red onion (chopped finely)

Served with a little tomato sauce :) 

1tbsp of chopped garlic
1tbs of Earth Balance or other butter
Dash of salt
Dash of pepper
Dash of nutritional yeast
Optional: topping of parmesan, tomato-ish sauce

Directions: Roll pre-made dough out onto a large baking sheet and cut into four equal pieces.  Preheat oven to 400F.  Steam broccoli and drain.  Place back in warm pan and stir in ricotta, cheese, and spices.  Combine this broccoli mixture well.  Warm butter up in the microwave so that it is completely melted and add chopped garlic.  Brush this mixture on the dough evenly.  Then, add the broccoli mixture to the dough (add to the side WITH the garlic mixture) so that 1/2 of each square has broccoli-mix on it.  Fold the dough over the mixture, creating a pocket and use a fork to form sealed edges.  Top with olive oil and parmesan, if desired.  Heat in the oven for 20-25minutes.  Serve hot!


Quinoa & Spinach Bake (Casserole with Vegan option)

Scoop out with a spoon and serve :) 

1pound frozen spinach leaves, thawed and drained
2cups cooked (equal to 1cup uncooked quinoa)
2tbs chopped garlic
1/2 cup of mixed veggies (mushrooms, onions, etc)
1/2cup daiya or cheddar (or substitute for nutritional yeast mix)
2tbs of Tofutti (or other sour cream-ish substance)
Dash of salt
Dash of pepper
Dash of rosemary
Dash of oregano
Optional: breadcrumbs & parmesan for topping

Directions: Preheat oven to 350F. Chop spinach into fine pieces.  Sauté garlic and any veggies that you have chosen to put in the mixture (excluding spinach).  Put all ingredients in a 9x13 baking pan (I am sure any size will work but you may have to adjust bake times).  Mix well so that the ingredients are evenly dispersed throughout the pan.  If wanted, top with breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese. For added crispiness drizzle a little bit of olive oil over the toppings. Bake for 35minutes or until mixture is warm and golden brown.  Serve hot!

These were, without a doubt, two of my favorite meals this week.  Cody loved them too.  Easy, healthy, and hearty.  I think they will both become go-to meals for us.

Do you have any go-to meals?
Do you usually use toppings on your casseroles?

  

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Weekly Meals, Part Two

So, last week was CRAZY as far as eating goes.  Cody and I both had super stressful weeks and celebrated our birthdays.  There was not a meal plan in sight.  I made one…but then completely threw it out the window.  Most of my meals came in the form of instant-meals from this company.  Annie's was my savior and go-to for the week.  The upcoming week is looking to be less kooky, here's to hoping!

Saturday: Eating Out (celebrating a friends birthday)
Sunday: Spicy Orecchiette with Steamed Veggies
Monday: Quinoa and Spinach Baked Casserole
Tuesday: Butternut Squash Soup with Tofurkey Rollups
Wednesday: Veggie & Tofu Stir-Fry
Thursday: Broccoli Calzones with Tomato Dipping Sauce
Friday: Mini Deep Dish Pizzas

This week I found a lot of my recipes on this website.  It is the Martha Stewart Vegetarian Meal website.  I usually search online for meals that look good and then make them my own.  That is my plan this week with my many Martha-inspired recipes.

I leave you all this morning with this aDORKable picture of my boys.  Aren't they the cutest?

The hubby and our puppy :) 

Weekly Meal Wrap-Up

So, I just thought I would update you on whether or not the weekly meal pan works.  The verdict is….It works!! Ok, so it worked for the most part. Obviously, there were some slight deviations.  Mainly this was due to not feeling like eating what I had planned and running out of certain ingredients.  I really liked having the meal plan though.  It helped me as far as grocery shopping and it helped me mentally plan my days.  I highly recommend it.

Fried polenta drizzled in a creamy mushroom sauce.  Side of fakin' bacon-wrapped asparagus. 

Saturday: Polenta & Mushroom Potpie  Fried Polenta in Mushroom Sauce with Asparagus

Sunday: Vegetable & Rice Crock Pot Soup (perfect for a long hiking day!)

Monday: Grilled Tomato Cheese, & Basil Sandwiches with leftover Veggie Soup Tomato Soup

New twist on the classic grilled cheese & tomato soup combo. 

Tuesday:  Teriyaki Tofu with Quinoa and Oven Roasted Veggies Vegan Cheesy Rice Bake 

Wednesday:  Fend for yourself day!  (aka-leftovers and such)

Thursday: Homemade Veggie Pizza

Friday: Vegan Baked Macaroni or Cheesy Rice Bake Pesto Pasta with Steamed Veggies

Quick and easy pasta served with delicious veggies.  

Saturday: Date Night! (We went to Chinese for lunch with friends and enjoyed leftovers for dinner.)

I am all shopped up and planned for this upcoming week.  The post with the meal plan is in the works.  Other than that, I am going to attempt to bring you guys some awesome veggie recipes this week.  I have been slacking on recipes, but it is my passion at heart so I plan to post some more in the upcoming days.

Do you create a weekly meal plan? 

Weekly Meal Plan

In an effort to really plan my cooking out better and grocery shop more efficiently I have been attempting to make weekly meal plans.  Last week I epically failed at following my meal plan but in general I have been able to follow my plans somewhat closely.  This week will hopefully be successful.

 

Saturday: Polenta & Mushroom Potpie with Asparagus
Sunday: Vegetable & Rice Crock Pot Soup (perfect for a long hiking day!)
Monday: Grilled Tomato, Cheese, & Basil Sandwiches with leftover Veggie Soup
Tuesday:  Teriyaki Tofu with Quinoa and Oven Roasted Veggies
Wednesday:  Fend for yourself day!  (aka-leftovers and such)
Thursday: Homemade Veggie Pizza
Friday: Vegan Baked Macaroni or Cheesy Rice Bake with Steamed Veggies
Saturday: Date Night!



Cross your fingers that I can actually make this happen!  In the meantime, check out the website for our local grocery store, Rainbow Foods.  Cody and I don't go there often because it is VERY pricey (makes your local coop look like Wally World).  In comparing prices (which we did this weekend)  our typical items were $2-$4 (sometimes up to $8) cheaper in the health food section of Fred Meyer.  EEK! They did have some great sales this week though.  And, I love to pump money back into the community when I can.

Enjoy your Saturday, I know we will :)

High tide on a sunny morning. 

Baked Veggie Ziti

Italian food is by far my favorite of the foods genres.  This week I was loving some superb pasta dishes.  I should have been born in Italy.  But, since I wasn't I just try to cook Italian food as much as possible. Here is my awesome (and healthy-ish) baked ziti recipe.

Ingredients

12oz uncooked ziti pasta (or other pasta-i.e. I used rotini because it is what I had on hand) 

Amount of tomato and zucchini needed. 

3/4cup low fat ricotta 

3/4cup of cheese (preferably mozzarella) 

2tbs nutritional yeast (adjust if not using cheese) 

1/2 large zucchini

1/2 large tomato

1cup unsalted tomato sauce 

2 gloves of garlic (chopped finely) 

How the mixture should appear. 

Salt- to taste

Pepper- to taste

Onion Powder- to taste

Oregano- to taste 

Olive Oil- enough to sauté veggies 

Viola! The finished product. 

Directions: Preheat oven to 400F.  In a medium pan, boil pasta until it is almost al dente(do NOT overcook).  Then, drain pasta and rinse with cold water, set aside.  Fill the bottom of a small skillet with some olive oil.  Sauté veggies and garlic until lightly browned.  While doing this stir ricotta, mozzarella, tomato sauce, spices, and nutritional yeast together in a bowl.  Pour cheese mixture into a the original pasta pan and warm on low for 3-4 minutes.  Add small amount of unsweetened non-dairy milk to sauce mixture if it is not the desired creaminess.  Put pasta and cheese mixture into a baking dish and top with a little fresh parmesan (optional).  Place in oven and bake for 20 minutes.  Serve warm!

**Awesome lunch leftovers!!

What is your favorite food genre?    

Kale & Tomato Strata

This week I needed something delicious, healthy, and simple to eat after work (and to take in my lunch as leftovers!).  This dish was purrrfect.  I was full, happy, and healthy.  It makes your entire house smell amazing.  I ended up sharing it with our neighbors because I couldn't eat the entire pan.  It was super filling and kept me going for hours.  Definitely suggest trying it out-especially if you are an egg lover.

Ingredients

1/3 loaf of bread (I used honey wheat, but sourdough is ideal) 

1/2 tomato (large)

2-3 large kale leaves 

2 eggs

2cups of greek yogurt (plain) 

1/2cup of water 

Onions (optional-to taste) 

Garlic Powder

Onion Powder

Salt

Pepper 

Basil and/or rosemary 

Parmesan Cheese 

Nutritional Yeast 

Directions:  In a baking pan place bread, cubed.  Sprinkle with olive oil and broil (low) for five minutes.  Remove pan from the oven and change the temperature to 350F.  Spread tomatoes (cubed), kale (shredded), and onion slices evenly throughout the baking pan.  In a mixing bowl combine all other ingredients.  Mix well.  Pour mixture evenly throughout pan (soaking bread and veggies).  Top with nutritional yeast and cheese. Place in oven for 30minutes.  Serve hot! 

Weekend Eats

Here is a collection of my favorite eats this weekend.  It was a dreary weekend so I focused on hearty and healthy recipes to keep us warm, dry, and happy.

Breakfast led me to these guys all weekend.  Have any of you tried this brand of waffles? Best instant waffles I have ever had.  No guilt about eating them either.  All natural, gluten-free, no preservatives…woo!!  Just top with a little organic, low-sugar maple syrup and a little Earth Balance.  Enjoy!

Van's Waffles…Yummm! 

I also enjoyed this delicious quiche for breakfast this weekend.  I normally don't eat much in the way of eggs but our wonderful neighbors made these and dropped them by for Cody and I.  They are fans of making me vegetarian cuisine so I am always in heaven when they bring food by!

The one on the left is veggie and the one on the
right is for carnivores. 

Lunches were composed of some of these delicious options: pesto pasta, leftovers, PB&J's, and sauteed veggies with rice.

Pesto Pasta topped with a little bit of fresh Parmesan.  

Dinners were composed of delicious vegetarian chili and my old standby of Vegan Cheesy Rice & Broccoli casserole, which I posted the recipe for here.  Overall it was a tasty weekend!

Spicy Chilli
3cups water
2cups No-Chicken broth (sodium free)
1cup of salt-free tomato puree
1 1/2 cup of quinoa
2cups of black beans (uncooked-soaked)
1cup of corn (frozen)
1cup of green beans (frozen)
1tbs garlic
1/2cup peppers (jalepeno, green, red, etc.)
Pepper
Red Pepper
Onion Powder
Seasoned Salt


What were your favorite weekend meals??

Wishful Thinking

Surprise, surprise….I am sick again! The kiddos at my school are officially germ monsters who are covering me with diseases at every turn (ok, that may be a wee bit dramatic).  But, I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.  I am pumping myself with good foods and beverages at every turn in hopes of getting my health back. However, I am beginning to think that being healthy is just wishful thinking.

In the throws of illness.  Tucked in my house with a warm cup of tea. 

This weekends meals were BORING.  I was pretty much on a soup/soft food diet because my throat was lined with razor blades (at least it felt like it). So, here are my food choices this weekend.  Soup, soup, tea, soup, and soup (check out Pacific Organic Soup here)  Oh, and I had some oatmeal…thrilling.

Pacific & Imagine brand soups = perfection.
Celestial Teas are my lifesaver. 

I decided to be nice and cook Cody some meat dishes this weekend since I so rarely cook us anything non-vegetarian.  I will occasionally cook him some fish or chicken to be nice.  This obviously is against my veg-belifs, but Cody makes sacrifices for me so I do the same for him occasionally.  I make sure he only buys organic and nicely treated animals (i.e. local).  So, here is one of the dishes I made him this weekend.

Fresh Tilapia, seasoned with cilantro, salt, pepper, and lemon. Side of rice & organic Soy Sauce. 

On Sunday I was finally feeling a little bit more energetic so Specks and I took a stroll.  Normally, we take one long (60+ minute) stroll/hike a day when I am off work.  Poor puppy has been mostly confined to the house with me while I have been sick though.  I couldn't manage much more than a thirty minute walk today.  Especially with the chilly weather and hilly terrain.  But, I managed to snap a few cute pictures a long the way and get the puppy some exercise.

Treacherous waters that Specks and I waded through.  

Beautiful heart-shaped bird seed.  These were hanging all along the trail. 

In other random news, I finally got my new bedspread in!!  I have been dying to get a new bedspread.  Our old one was dark, which made Specks's hair show all the time.  Literally, five minutes after washing it, it became covered in dog hair.  I also wanted to invest in a warmer bedspread.  So, I got a flannel duvet cover and a down alternative comforter to go inside.  Now, all we have left to do is find a cute headboard to match the bedroom furniture.  Check out the bedspread, I am in love with it!

If you look closely you can see that the stripes form Birch Trees. 

Specks- banished to the floor so he doesn't ruin the new bedspread. 

Last, but certainly not least, Cody has a ride-along with Juneau PD this week to determine if he gets the job.  I am soooo excited and proud of him for pursuing this career.  It will be a big change for us and will definitely give us the bank account boost to let him start taking some college classes.  Fingers crossed that it all works out!

I leave you with this funny picture I happened upon.  Cody and I took a PhotoBooth photo shoot on Christmas and this was one of the bloopers.

Outtake 1 of 50!