Summer Foods!

We had our first official BBQ tonight. It seems little late in the year to have the first one, but it is never too late to get started. I have been eating and really loving a few good summer/BBQ foods. Here is what I love right now:

#1 I have been looking for an acceptable substitute for my daily Diet Coke and might have found one! I tried a sample of Simply Lemonade with Raspberry in the grocery store and then immediately bought a bottle. I've always liked lemonade but it is often too sweet especially when it is raspberry. This stuff is delicious! I still water it down a little but it tastes like summer.

#2 Laughing Cow Cheese- I happen to have the garlic and herb variety but I love the Swiss also. I was introduced to Laughing Cow cheese when I was following the South Beach Diet two years ago. I love that it comes in great individual servings and that it is spreadable. I love to eat it with crackers but right now I'm stuck on cheese and celery. Another attempt to avoid junk when I get home and am starving. I also is a great crunch.

#3 Veggie Chips- Even though they really aren't much better than my usual Sun Chips the word veggie makes you think that they are. They also taste great. Down fall is that they don't have them at King Soopers and Whole Foods just isn't very close. So when I have them and I'm not eating celery instead I do enjoy Veggie Chips.

#4 Amy's California Veggie Burger- Now it has been two or three years since the last time I had a hamburger, and it was from the farm down the street. And before that it was probably 10 years, so I've been stuck on hot dogs at BBQs for awhile. Hot dogs are okay but you just don't know what you're getting in them. That and trying to eat better and more organic just doesn't go with hot dogs. I've tried veggie burgers in the past but just didn't like it. I think it was the consistency and there were too many spices going on. Well I have found a winner! Thanks to Rachel Ray's magazine I tried their top choice and it was great! Granted it wasn't the same as a hamburger but in my opinion it was WAY better. (I might be biased though because I haven't eaten a burger by choice...they make my stomach hurt.) Grill them up like normal, I put cheese on it and a tomato and eat a way.

Yesterday was a bad day...

For my fingers. I started the afternoon by cutting my pointer knuckle on the serrated edge of the packing tape dispenser I was using at work. All I did was try to pick up something next to it. Then I was trying to clean the kitchen scissors and cut my thumb open. Later I was cutting up fruit and Paul so nicely asked why I was using a knife. If that doesn't prove that I'm clumsy I don't know what would. I wish I could say that the band-aids were just for looks but unfortunately both of my cuts are located in places where they kept splitting open and Paul for some reason didn't want blood on his food.

On another note: Friday was the last day of school. Hooray for summer! The lovely violets in this picture were one of three flowers that I got from my students. I love having flowers but I do NOT have a green thumb. I know violets are not easy to grow... any suggestions? The other two are/will be potted and put outside.

Fill in the Blank Friday

Here is something I found on another blog and I thought I'd play along...

1. One fashion trend I really regret is: Over sized clothing from high school. I really should have dressed more appropriately for my body when I was super in shape instead of covering it up with XL shirts.

2. The one thing that always completes any outfit is: a simple silver necklace

3. I would describe my personal style as: comfortable classic.

4. My fashion muse is: I don't think that I follow celebrities enough to have a fashion muse. Can a store be a muse? If so it would be The Loft.

5. If I could own one designer piece of clothing it would be: a Kate Spade purse

6. I would love to raid the wardrobe of : Susan Meyers on Desperate Housewives. She dresses pretty casually but I bet she would have a couple of nice dresses too.

7. Today I am wearing : Jeans, work polo and Keens. Yep today is definitely comfortable, but it is also the last day of school!

Acupuncture

So I have started going to acupuncture. I'm willing to see what the world of alternative medicine has to offer but Paul isn't so sure. It is a very interesting experience. I leave wishing I could just go home and continue being relaxed while laying in bed. It is interesting because my acupuncturist always gives me tidbits that she prefaces with, "Now I know this sounds like some weird Chinese medicine but... " But what the heck, why not try it. The worst that could happen is nothing and the best is that it works. So hear is what I've learned so far:
1. I have "weak kidneys" (not sure what weak kidneys mean but it is diagnosed by these symptoms: low back pain, knee pain, and fatigue. I also think that allergies are one of the symptoms) I didn't get any advice on what else to do about this other than continue the acupuncture
2. I have a "low internal flame"- My understanding of this means that my body is cold. Which is true most of the time. In order to get my flame warmer I need to eat warmer foods and drink warmer drinks. That is easy enough especially when it is snowing in May. :-) She also recommended Chi Tea because ginger and cinnamon is also good. So I will be trying to drink Chi Tea, which I have found that I do like Chi Tea Lattes when they have more than half milk (so they aren't so sweet). I haven't bought any plain Chi tea to try out yet. Normally I find that they're too spicy (with ginger and cinnamon I guess).

Talent Show

The hit performance from this week's talent show. His mom posted it on YouTube. Pretty funny.... this little guy is in first grade.

What I've been up to lately, in pictures

Woke up to snow on April 29th. The new tree is on the small one on the left.

Bought and planted a tree to replace the one that had died in our backyard.

Went to Paul's niece's 3rd birthday at Chuck E'Cheese.

Dinner at Cracker Barrel with Paul's family.

Lunch and shopping in Boulder with my friend Melissa who was visiting from Michigan Maddy vs. Cows and Horse in Oklahoma "The Stare down"

Spring Break in Oklahoma