House Mouse

This past week was really just hairy for me. My boss was out of town and I became the De facto boss of a new employee and a crazy employee. It was stressful at the beginning of the week, but as the days past, I found myself becoming more accustomed to the ways of my coworkers. Unfortunately I completely skipped out on my homework, and the house became slightly more messy than I prefer. However, because of the stress at work, I was inspired to come home every day and get on my yoga mat for about 40 minutes. The harsh, rainy weather made my yoga routine even more restorative. I enjoyed it so much, I started wondering why I stopped taking formal classes. When I was in high school I did yoga every day. There was a little fitness center on the other side of town that hosted a variety of yoga classes, which was no big deal at the time since I was finished with school by 2 pm every day, and religiously I would attend. I became so good at it I was able to do a head stand (okay, so I could only hold it for 15 seconds, but still!!), and most importantly, I enjoyed it. The center closed down before the end of my senior year, and I haven't regularly attended another yoga center since. I think there are probably a variety of reasons for this, but I could probably sum it up by saying that I have never felt comfortable anywhere else. Now, I am more interested in home practice anyway, mostly because I don't have copious amounts of free time, and what little I do have a spend cleaning, doing homework, and running errands.

This weekend I decided to treat myself. I felt so great that I was able to make it through the work week with my head held high, and manage myself an those around me successfully, that I went straight to Barnes and Noble Saturday morning and purchased a variety of magazines. I stopped reading Vogue, Elle, and Marie Claire years ago though. No, I was on the hunt for crafty, health and fitness, and gardening mags. I already subscribe to three different cross stitch magazines (The Cross Stitcher; Cross Stitch Collection; and Cross Stitch & Needlework) but what with my renewed interest in yoga and the spring planting season just around the corner, I was ready for some new literature. I ended up choosing these: 

I cannot yet give a review of these because I haven't actually read any yet. I bought a lot!

My Reviews:

I picked up "Whole Living" on a recommendation from Mrs. Catherine Ruehle. This magazine really runs the gambit when it comes to topics. Everything from workplace wellness to recipes. But, I'll admit what really sold me was a little article in the back of the magazine about playing with your cats and how to train them to not scratch you. It seems like every time I read something on pet care, it's really only about dog care. Not that I don't love dogs, but hey, where's the stuff for us overly obsessed cat parents??

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Both of the Yoga magazines are actually the same magazine, just different issues. I didn't realize this at first, but it seems the "Yoga Journal" focuses on a different theme each issues. For example, the December issue read "Yoga for healing and happiness", the January issue read "Yoga for fitness and health". I like this publication a lot! There is just a wealth of information in each issue, explaining every pose in depth so that when practicing at home you can monitor yourself and not cause potential harmful side effects by holding a pose incorrectly. 

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The "Natural Home and Garden" I didn't really care for. There were no articles that really spoke to me, and I just couldn't connect with the feel of the magazine. There were very few projects or home ideas I would implement in my own home, and in general I was very bored reading it.

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"Tea Time" magazine may soon be my new guilty pleasure. If you don't love tea or all things feminine, I wouldn't suggest this magazine to you. But, I loved it. There were many fun articles about tea, recipe ideas and even whole party themes for hosting a tea at your own house. I am hosting a whist party next weekend and you can bet I will be using some of the ideas from here to decorate my table!

Sometimes I like to say, "I didn't get a thing done this weekend". And, while I truly feel like I didn't, when I tell people what all I did, they look at me like I might be a bit crazed. Saturday I was up early, first going back to the office where I had left my cell phone, then heading to B&N for the magazine extravaganza, then to Kubes to pick up my opal earrings (they cracked over the summer), then to Kroger for my weekly grocery run, next to Central Market (swanky grocery run), then back to the house to stash all necessary items in the fridge, and finally rush to the Big House to get Dad and take him to the Honda Dealership. Afterwards, I came home and started baking two batches of granola bars. Oh yeah, I as usual, I cleaned the house Friday night. So, how is it, you ask, that I still feel like I got nothing accomplished? Well, the simple answer would be, I am a woman.

When I was little, my mom, like so many others of the nineties, was totally in love with Mary Englebreitmommying full-time in the evening. Then I would look to my Dad, sitting on the sofa … By George, the mug was right! As a new home owner, these words have never been more true. So, while I say I have done "nothing" it's just because my list is never ending.

I made two types of granola bars this weekend. I was inspired to do so after wasting many calories on Ritz Peanut Butter Sandwich Cracker packs. Not only do they have a lot of calories, but there is just a lot of "stuff" in them that I cannot even pronounce, let alone know what they are. The first type I made, I have dubbed "Power Delight" bars, composed of various nuts and dried fruits. The second type I dubbed "Cocoa Dreamy". In the end, I was WAY more impressed with the "Power Delight" recipe. You can click on the link above for the step by step process, I have included pictures of the process from my kitchen below. If you do decide to make the "Cocoa Dreamy" bars, please please please add some salt! These bars just turned out tasting like sweet nothing to me. I think if I made them again, I would nix the cinnamon completely and add several teaspoons of salt to bring out the chocolate. Mom also suggests using special dark chips to help enhance the chocolate taste.

Ingredients gathered, except for the PG Tips!

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 "Power Delight" Granola Bars

Add the nuts, wheat germ, and oats together and toast.

Melt butter, brown sugar, honey, and salt in a pan until simmering.

Combine warm grains/nuts, dried fruit, and the sugar/butter mixture. Mix until everything is well coated.

Place the hot mixture in a long pan. The author lined her pan in wax paper, but I didn't have any, I substituted plain plastic wrap. Also, the instructions say to "press hard" once the mixture is in the pan and covered. Please take care as this is mix is HOT at his point. you will need some paper towels between you and then granola while pressing. I left my granola in the pan to cool over night.

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 "Cocoa Dreamy" Granola Bars

Mix all dry ingredients. (chocolate chips, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, wheat germ)

Everything is well mixed.

Make a well in your mixture and add the egg, vanilla, oil, and honey.

Mix until well combined.

Bake in a greased pan at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Cut them after cooling for ten minutes. I waited to lift mine out of the pan until the following morning because I was worried they would fall apart while warm. I had no trouble getting them out with a spatula.

Some final tid bits...

While on my magazine quest I found this little tin treasure. I LOVE this tea! I first had it about a year ago at the Kimbell Art Museum, and instantly fell in love. It's refreshing, beautiful, inspiring, everything a good tea should be. Anyway, I was too cheap to buy it online and pay for the shipping (how shameful to even admit!), so imagine my delight when I found this little tin in the B&N coffee shop. I was so excited I almost bought two tins, but had the presence of mind to remember that I don't have that kind of space in my miniature pantry. Of course, now that I have it, I will probably hoard it as I still think of it as a rare treat. What is it that makes us hoard those little indulgences we keep around the house? The other day I had run out of soap (Dove) and was forced to either a) use no soap (questionable) and b) use the soap my sister's sister-in-law gave me almost two years ago for my birthday. It was a bar of "Fresh" brand magnolia soap that I had been stowing away in my bathroom. Honestly, I almost put it back in the cabinet, but sighed with the realization that it had to be used. As I carefully unwrapped the pretty packaging, all I could think of was what a luxury the soap was. It is expensive and very perfume-y compared to my modest bar of Dove. As I was standing in the shower, lathering my body in steam laden perfumey bubbles, I though, "why have I been waiting to use this soap?" The more I rubbed, the more I started to realize, "It's like I don't feel worthy of my soap…", and I suddenly understood what a silly idea that was. I am worthy of my soap. I don't have to be a size 2 to have the right to enjoy these expensive luxuries every once and a while. Needless to say, my soap talks down to me no longer… It was an enlightening shower experience. 

I know it looks like my shawl is progressing slowly, but I didn't really work on it at all this week. I am happy with the way it is turning out though.

I had a heavy meal tonight with Mom and Dad and Cracker Barrel. I didn't eat much, but it the food (while wonderful) is very heavy in my stomach. Peppermint tea to the rescue!