Lovin Right Now

I have a few favorites that I am "Lovin Right Now."  I am sure they will change soon enough as most things do.  But currently this is what I'm into.

Downton Abby season 2.  I didn't start watching Downton until the televised season was on season five.  Much like other TV shows I get hooked on.  So I rented season one from the library and borrowed the rest from my Mom.  Shaun and I began watching season 2 on Sunday night and I already have plans in my head to watch an episode each night this week if I can.  I'm hooked... just like everybody said I would be!

I am absolutely hooked on the refreshing and clean scent of doTerra lemongrass.  I like to add a couple of drops to my nice hot baths.  Among many uses, lemongrass oil is used for toning skin and soothing muscles.  Perfect for bathing!

Most of the time I read before bed.  It has to be a really good book for me to read during the day.  And a REALLY good book for me to take it to the day care to read every chance I get.  The first novel of this series, that my sister Marty introduced me to as well as loaned me the books, proved to be a very easy and fast read and kept me interested enough to finish it in three days.  I am on the second book in the series now and am quite enjoying it so far too!

This one I'm not so proud of.  I really try to eat healthy and my sudden addiction to Doritos I am borderline ashamed of.  They simply can't be good for you.  So then why are they so hard to put down?  I've even ditched my jalapeno chips for them... momentarily.  I only bought a bag for the kids at the day care to have with their sandwiches sometimes and as a treat but guess who wanted a quick snack one day and spied the nacho cheese bag?  That's right... me.  I'm pretty sure it started with a 666 Park Avenue read, sunshine and kids playing outside, and me in my lawn chair working on my farmer's tan and eating these chips.  Bad... bad girl.

lovin right now

I really enjoy putting together "lovin right now".  I know when I am lovin change quite often but doesn't it for everyone?  We don't like the same things all the time and I am thankful for change.  Each one of these items was inspired by someone else.  So I am going to try and share where the inspiration came from for each.  

Happy weekend!

1  my new favorite hat that I bought at Kmart last weekend.  I wear it all the time now when outside. It is light weight, comfortable and sort of has a wired brim that will stay when adjusted.My inspiration has come from several places but mainly from a blog I follow of a gal who wears hats.  I like the ones made of wool but know they would be too hot this time of year... plus they can be high priced.  Her blog is Roots and Feathers

2  My friend Jennifer shared a couple of food blogs with me that her daughter really likes. 

On one of them called  My Whole Food Life, I found the recipe for Almond Joy Bites.

Not really including a lot of sweet in my diet, but still craving mercifully, I decided to try these.

Oh my... I'm on my second batch and have only shared them with one person... my sister Tracy.

Love them!!!  The blog has amazing recipes!

3   My hair dresser and I were talking movies several months ago and I wrote down the name of the movie Lawless at that time.  I had forgotten about it until I was working on my taxes and found the piece of paper I had written the name of the movie on.  I got it from the library and we watched it... twice.  We really liked it.  So then I got back on the music part of the library and found the Lawless soundtrack which I now really like!  My two favorite songs are Fire and Brimstone and Cosmonaut.  Listen to a tad on amazon.

4   Someone mentioned to Shaun that comfrey oil helped their psoriasis.  Last Saturday I ventured in to the Orbit Health Food Store in Goodlettsville Plaza on my run to the library.  I am also going to start yoga lessens there that I am sooo excited about!  I bought the comfrey oil and have been mixing it with jojoba oil and applying it to my legs.  It really does seem to be helping so far although it's only been a few days.

5  My friend Barb had favorited these earrings in a shop on Etsy.  I saw them and wound up buying the turquoise ones.  I wore them every day for over a week, loved them and decided to buy the dark red pair too!  What a hog!  The shop is called LostBirdArt.  Really sweet gal!

In other inspiration around the web...

Teaching kids to sweep the floor.  Love this and plan on using it at the dc!

6 important health benefits of fresh air.

16 minute meals from Pioneer Woman.  Chicken Florentine Pasta is my favorite!

10 simple ways to spark creativity, by Her Library Adventures.

and... The Magic Whisk, by Sarah Lohman of Four Pounds Flour

Here's my hat and the turquoise earrings!  My mp3 player is in my pocket with Lawless playing too! And trust me... there were a couple Almond Joy Bites in the fridge that day that are way gone now!  Have a relaxing weekend!

cinnamon popcorn

OK.  I know a lot of recipes found say "The Best" or Best Ever".  I am claiming this recipe to be "most addictive".  I seriously have a hard time leaving this alone.  This is a snack that we make at the day care and one that I promptly talked my sister into making to take on a road trip with friends!  When I made the first batch, while equally addictive, I didn't bake in the oven.  Which left the cinnamon kernels kind of soggy and some stuck in my teeth.  Not complaining... it was still wonderful.  But the second batch, not the same day, was baked in the oven which made each kernel crunchy again and delectably wonderful!  I strongly suggest the second method!  

Heating the popcorn in the oven reminded us of our neighbor Carol when we were kids.  She would heat up stale Cheetos in the oven and they would crunch up even more and made them last a lot longer!  I personally liked the more burnt ones but I am a little odd like that.   Funny memories!

Here is the fantastic recipe.  Please make this and try your very best to share it!  I will not be held responsible for any belly aches as a result of over gorging!  It reminds me of last year, coming home from Bellbuckle, TN, we ate and ate and ate the kettle corn that we bought on the way out.  So much that my tongue wasn't quite the same for a couple of days.  But somehow I couldn't stop.  There was just one more piece that was doused in sweet stuff.  Good Luck!

What?? What's Bellbuckle??? Only the best craft fair in the South!  See my posts about our trips 

HERE and HERE.  

And read a funny story about someone who stole some flower seeds.

And our favorite store, Phillips General Store.

P.S. Happy April Fool's Day!  Don't let anybody fool ya!

broccoli snack

While at the day care one day during nap time I got an odd craving.  My nap time cravings usually consist of cookies or hidden chocolate... sound  like home?  I imagine homes with kids hide special sweets!  Only this craving involved healthy stuff and I just happened to have the three ingredients I needed... broccoli, cream cheese and Melba toast. 

I first learned how to make steamed broccoli in the microwave when I was a teenager and my Mom had gone on a diet in which she ate a chicken breast, steamed broccoli, cauliflower and squash with a side of Melba toast and maybe a piece of cheese on the toast it seems.  The chicken and veggies were all cooked in the microwave but not together.  We had these Tupperware microwavable bowls that had lids that didn't seal.  The chicken had lemon pepper seasoning and it's bowl was partially covered with plastic wrap to let steam escape and the vegetables had lemon pepper and dill.  I think we all got hooked on this combination.  I know for sure Tracy and I did.  Not for the weight loss but because it all smelled so good and was easy for us to cook and clean up.  At least I hope we cleaned it up after ourselves.  Sorry Mom if we didn't!

I have used this simple way of steaming broccoli ever since and used it the day of my craving last week.  I had said that I was going to try and share a green recipe each week during March and you can't get much greener than steamed broccoli!  You could make these for yourself or to share.  Enjoy!