Friday, April 13, 2018

Vegan Diaries - Chick Pea Salad Sandwich

Sorry about posting two Vegan Diaries in the same week.  I  came across this recipe and I wanted to try it out.  I'm always looking for easy, healthy lunch ideas for myself and Bella.   I don't eat a lot of sandwiches.  When I have to work, it's a lot easier to take something on a tortilla (hummus, peanut butter, etc.).

This recipe is so easy to make!  I put everything in the food processor.  Well, except the onions.  I like onions and don't mind mine a little chunky onion in my sandwich.

These would be great served with tomato slices, some spinach or even more onion!

Here's the recipe:

Chick Pea Salad Sandwich

15oz can chick peas, rinsed and drained
1 large ripe avocado
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
2 TBSP chopped green onion
Juice from one lime
salt/pepper to taste
garlic powder (optional)

Put chick peas in food processor along with avocado.  Add cilantro, green onion and lime juice.

Start making some sandwiches!


Enjoy!

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Texting Block

Other titles to this post:

How to block spam texters

or better yet

How to tick off your wife.

I know I have mentioned in the past how RT ignores my texts.  I send him texts and he doesn't respond.  I can be sending life altering texts and will get no response.  If it's my last text and I can survive only if he texts me back, I would surely die.

Recently, RT and Alex went out of the country on a Spring Break trip.  RT texted me when they arrived and I responded.  He texted the next day and even responded to one of my replies (a first).  Then, the texting block came back into play.  He would text and I would respond and then nothing.  This went on the entire trip.  Well, I have to admit that I finally gave up and stopped replying.  I figure he wasn't even reading my replies, so why waste my time?

When he returned, RT asked me why I didn't reply to any of his texts.  I told him I did, but he never responded to my replies.  I even showed him my phone with my replies.  His phone showed I hadn't replied for over a week.  I said, "Maybe you accidentally blocked me?"

RT finally looked into it (after a couple of hours of us going back and forth) and guess what?  I was blocked on his phone.  The funny thing is, he could send me texts.

So, all these months, I'm wondering why he doesn't reply to my texts.  And when I ask him, he will tell me that he never received a text from me.  I'm thinking this blocking is something he does so he doesn't have to get my texts.

My question is:  How long before I am blocked again?

Monday, April 9, 2018

Vegan Diaries - Chocolate Chip Blondies

Another success with a vegan dessert!  This recipe is vegan, gluten free and dairy free!  And, it's delicious!

I found this recipe online and decided to make them for the family.  I didn't give out any ingredients or tell them that they are a "special dessert" or use the word "vegan."  When you start saying things about the food, then my family will question it.  Hearing anything odd about the food, they might not try it, or they will try it but not have an open mind about it.   If I don't say anything, I will get an honest answer.

The things I have to do to get them to eat healthy.

We really enjoyed these and I thought I would share the recipe with you.

Here's the recipe:

Vegan Chocolate Chip Blondies

1 15oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup agave syrup
2/3 cup peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Blend all ingredients (except Chocolate chips) in blender (Vitamix or food processor will work).  Scoop onto parchment paper that is in an 8x8 baking dish.  Mix in chocolate chips as you are spreading the batter.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.


      * * * * * * * * * * * *
I'm thinking you could add to the recipe.  Maybe some chopped walnuts?  Or chopped coconut?


The blondies disappeared.  They were thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.  I still haven't disclosed the ingredients to my family.  Let's just keep it a secret for now, OK?

ENJOY!

Friday, April 6, 2018

Ten Things I Can't Live Without

I guess this is my first Top Ten list.  I feel like David Letterman should be reading this list to you.  Maybe you can read this post in David Letterman's voice?

Now that we straightened that out...

I thought I would write a list of things I can't live without.  These are not in any particular order.  So, lets get started.

This should be interesting......


1.  Water.

Yes.  Humans can't live without water.  But, water is my drink of choice.  That's all I drink.  Well, I do have tea, but, that is made using water.  I also enjoy an occasional alcoholic drink (that's another story)  but, when it comes down to it, I'm drinking water.  Oh, and it's just water.  It's not designer water.  It doesn't have a well known company name, fancy label or a celebrity endorsing it.  Just. Plain. Water.


2.  My leg sleeves.

What?

I have these athletic leg sleeves I wear when I walk or while I'm at work.  I love them!  I'm on my feet a lot and these help by not making my legs feel tired.

Oh, yea, and my family just loves when I wear them!  <  I'm kidding on that one.  I think they are a little embarrassed, but, hey!  That's why I'm here.  To embarrass them,  Right?


3.  Pens/Pencils

I love pens and pencils!  I have so many pens and pencils.  I'm trying to use them up so I don't leave them as a huge inheritance for my children.  I haven't purchased any new pens or pencils.  Well, unless it's for school.  The funny thing is, when I started to write this post, I couldn't find a pen or pencil to use.  Luckily I had one in one of my billion notebooks with me that had a pencil inside it!

Which brings me to...


4.  Notebooks

I save (can you say, "hoarder?") old notebooks that the kids have used for school.  Sounds strange, but, in some of these books, only a few pages have been used.  It doesn't seem right to throw them out.  I mean, some tree gave it's life for that notebook!  So, I save them and use them for various things.  Girl Scout notebook.  My daily notebook where I keep my "To Do" list and grocery lists.  And, of course, my blog notebook.  I'm not using them up as fast as they are accumulating.  I'm doing my best, though.

5.  Sleep

I need to get my precious 8 hours of beauty sleep every night.  It's essential for me so I can function during the day.

Ha ha ha!  I don't get good sleep.  Who am I kidding?  I'm usually up at 2 or 3 or 4am!

Let's try that one again.

5.  Calendar

Am I the only one that still enjoys the good old fashioned paper wall calendar?  It's where I put all appointments, important meetings, classes, etc.  I even have it color coded with kids activities (which is getting down to only one kid doing something now).  Still, it's easier for me to look at the big picture on an actual paper calendar than on a computer.  I don't know.  I'm just a paper person, I guess.


6.  My Family

I figured I should probably write that down.  You know.  In case any of my family members are reading this right now.

I have to admit, I love hanging out with my family.  They're fun and sometimes quite entertaining.  Although, they can drive me crazy and make me question if we are really related?  They are a great bunch and they help provide stories for this blog (gotta love that!).


7.  My Sense of Humor

Without my sense of humor I would not survive being around my family.

I mean, seriously!  Take a look at these posts:

The Shorts
E is for Empty
Almost Outta Gas
Gone Missing
Diarrhea
The Black Hole
Hearing
RT's Outbursts

If I didn't have a sense of humor, I would definitely have been put in an institution by now.


8.  My Weird Dog.

He's pretty strange.  I don't like that he wants to attack other dogs.  He also only listens when he wants to (selective hearing or selective obedience).  But, it's nice to come home and have someone super excited to see you!  It's also nice to be happily greeted first thing in the morning.  That's better than the grunts I get from some of my family members.  It's also nice to have someone so worried about you that they start crying outside the door...Wait.  Maybe not...


9.  Apparently, my glasses.

My eyesight hasn't changed in the last 30 years.  I've had a pair of glasses that I occasionally wear while watching TV or a movie.  All of a sudden, my eyesight started getting worse.  Sometimes it's hard for me to see at night and distance is, well, really bad.  I finally had an eye exam (my first in 30 years) and some new glasses.  Now, I just have to remember to carry them around with me.

and finally,

10.  Ear Plugs

My ears are sensitive.  No loud music for me.  I've always been the one at places with my fingers in my ears.  Church, concerts, recitals, etc.  Not sure why the organ has to be so loud in church?  So, after years of stuffing my fingers or Kleenex in my ears, I have finally decided to just carry some ear plugs with me.  They even have a nice little carrying case.  My family is embarrassed, of course.  Not sure why.  My hair is long and I just make sure it's covering my ears.  And, I'm happier because my ears don't hurt!

Well, that rounds up my first Top Ten list.  That was fun!  If that didn't scare you off, then, I'll have to come up with another list!

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Texting Buddy

Everyone has (or should have) that one person that you can text weird, random things.  Maybe it's words or a picture.  Lines from a movie.  Something funny that always makes you laugh.  Or something stupid that you just did or that happened to you.

For some people, it's their spouse.  Others it's their best friend or co-worker.  I text lots of weird stuff. I've been known to take pictures of stuff in a store, the outside of a store, signs, my food, the mess I made, nature, cars, etc.  The list is endless.

In my case, my texting buddy is definitely not my husband, RT.  He never replies to my texts, so, why bother texting him?  He claims that he doesn't receive texts from me.  I then have to tell him about the text or read it to him.  If it's supposed to be funny, then, it's lost all humor at that point.

Do you have a texting buddy?

What are some interesting things you have texted?

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

National Card and Letter Writing Month

How many letters can you write this month?

April is National Card and Letter Writing Month.  This is a wonderful time to send all of your love via snail mail.  I mean, who doesn't love getting a handwritten letter?  It's a lot better than receiving a bill in the mail!  

Why not cheer someone up and send them a handwritten letter or card?  A little note in the mail will put a smile on someone's face.  

Grab some paper and start writing!

Monday, April 2, 2018

Inspirational Quote of the Day

A little Monday Motivation for you.

"Change your thoughts and you can change your world."  Norman Vincent Peale