Hello! Happy Spring Break!

I'm back!  I seem to say those same two words every time I blog now.  

I haven't posted anything in the past few days because I have lacked a computer at hand.

But I chose to post now, because if this rain lightens up, and even maybe if it doesn't, I am headed to the barn to help take care of the horses.

This is really exciting, and I am also hoping for sun on Sunday because we will be having a barn party where everyone is invited to come eat party foods, paint the barn, and for those who have lessons on Sunday, they get to ride as well!

Aren't I lucky?

Also, an hour ago I created three more recipes out of HH.  Yummm.  They tasted great!  Except for some Cinnamon Raisin Biscuits w/ Basic Glaze w/ Almond Extract.  

Sigh...

I didn't go to dance last night because I was so tired, and it's break so...

There is no dance tonight, and even if there was, I wouldn't be going. 

Happy Herbivore is almost below a hundred recipes to go!

I hope to do more of the baking/desserts soon as well.

Wish me luck!

Finally Meeting Some MAJOR Goals

First of all, I will be blogging more next week!  No school, see?
Anyway, while I have not been blogging, I have been cooking non-stop.
Not only did I throw down a bunch! of Happy Herbivore recipes out of the book, but I met my three Vegan hopes after I turned.
- Mac and Cheese (Baked, wanted an almost-exact replica of my friend Colleen's)
- Mashed Potatoes
- Chocolate Chip Cookies

AH!  I was so happy when I made these.  Remember Brandy?  Remember how she doesn't like Vegan/healthier food (she doesn't eat well...)?  Well, I gave one of each cookie to my teacher and she liked them a lot.  She even said they didn't taste any different from a normal cookie!
Happy Days...
Also the Mac and Cheese came from the 30-Day Vegan Challenge.  Boy, I need that book soon.  The mac and cheese was amazing!  I made the baked version so I could have it taste like Colleen's...
It was just like how I remembered!

Finally, I just, as in just, made these potatoes.
They were part of the St. Patrick's Day stagger.
They were amazing plus they were with a mushroom gravy!
Those recipes came from Robin Robertson's 1000 Vegan Recipes which I hope to finish in the next four years.

So the past few weeks have been all about dance, and I am finally catching a break.  Meaning, I don't have it five/six times a week and don't have any performances on the weekend.
Whew...
I am back to regular classes and don't plan on doing any of the feisanna for a while, unless the MA one...but the judging wasn't great last year even though people loved the hotel.

So yesterday was horse day.  I rode Mojo.  Mojo was different.  Extremely different.
Here's how I see it:
Jersey Girl - Stubborn.
Phantom of the Opera - Lazy but Obedient.
Mojo - Prankster but Obedient.

Mojo is also a pony.  Maybe two-thirds Phantom's size.  I was to say Phantom is between fourteen-fifteen hands but that might be too much.  Anyway, Mojo is pretty small, also meaning that his strides are shorting, "quicker" as it feels, and his neck is longer.
All opposites of Phantom's stride and body.
And Mojo's skinny, but since I gave Phantom four sugar cubes yesterday, Mojo will get fatter too...
I almost fell out four times yesterday.
New record!
But my instincts are getting sharper and more prepared for a fall.
At one point, Mojo faltered in hole.
Another time Mojo had an itch (Actually this happened twice) and quickly stopped to put his head down and scratch his leg - I almost fell out as I jerked forward.
Finally, Mojo tripped again, and fell forward to the side (right, outside leg).  This time, as my left foot came out of the stirrup and I tilted to the side, I grabbed the bridle then pulled myself up and literally hugged Mojo who was standing still in half-seat.
It was a ride to remember.
Bounce, bounce, bounce....
It didn't help Mojo's quirks are stopping in corners or standing in the middle of the ring and stopping (he did not stop in the center, just refused to stay trotting near the gate corners or by my instructor.
Gr.
I did love him though, but I need to get used to him.
Also, there was a three-way conversation between me, my instructor, and a little girl cleaning her horse.
We were talking about what Mojo was, and my instructor says I hit it right on the dot: a Rogue Teddy Bear.
Ha, can't wait till next week.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

No photos today or reviews, just a heads-up.

Today consists of:
Four performances at four different places.
Making mashed potatoes!  (Hopefully...Depends when I'll be home long enough)


Also, I have already make Beer Bread.

My St. Patty's Day recipes will be staggered.

Sigh...

I am going to make sugar cookies too :) '

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

BIGGEST PERFORMANCE EVER

Last night was HUGE.
It was the biggest performance I have had yet.
And it was a lot of fun.

I won't tell you what specifically, but we were an opening performance for something that was broadcast on TV.
:D
We weren't on TV though....
But last night we met the owner, his mascot, and caught glimpses of other things.
Amazing!
Plus, it was really sweet because I was leading a little girl named "Bailey" around.
She kept jumping up and down to become taller than me, and I said maybe by the recital she'd make it, but when I knelt down a little, she made it and she was so excited!
Bailey showed me her family in the stands and it was sweet just talking to her.

Anyway, I didn't fully remember what order the second dance went in, so I made it like this with motions:
Circles, Cheer, Partners, Double, Out, Bow.
:) Mysterious how I can't tell you exactly what that is, but that's the rules of my school.

On another dancing note, we have another Big, but not so big, performance this afternoon.
Fun, but I am so tired...
Dance for the past two weeks has been five or four times each week.
1 and a half to two hours.
Exhaustion is here...

We left the show early, due to the fact we don't really like it, and when I got home, I dressed in clothes that I could breathe in, and I was in complete Boston wear. (we were dressed in boostieas/corset type of things)
It were as though my mind were cleansing itself ;).

:)
Next, an update for St. Patty's Day!
I have four performances, plus I am cooking a dessert, breakfast, and side dish.
They look very good.
Also, Happy Herbivore is almost done with.
YES!

"Um, excuse me...."

"You lost an earring," a little girl at dance practice told me yesterday.
It was so adorable!
Then later, as we were all leaving the studio, another girl came up to me and asked me if I only had one earring.
I said, "No, I just have three earrings."
Strange number, I know, but I only wanted an odd one.

Dance was yesterday for two and a half hours as the first practice for a big performance next weekend.  So excited!

We have practice a few more times this week and then have the last one on the day of the performance.

So last night I tried to cook myself a re-creation of a salad that I have yet to post.
I completely ruined it!
Yesterday was just not my day.
First off, as I cooked, I turned away to chop some cucumber then went back to the stove knowing the couscous was done.
The recipe next to it was burned.
Half of it.
Amazingly, all the notes and recipe instructions were still in tact, but not only was there charred paper flying around the granite counter, but I also charred a little bit of the wooden spoon I was using.
Uh-oh.

Then, when I was adding the mint to the salad, I took the lid off of the spice container and out is all came!
It was disgusting.
I tried to force it down, adding more salt and olive oil but that didn't help at all.
So I had some leftover chilled banana with some cinnamon and coconut flakes.
Dessert first.
Then, I had some leftover stir-fry my parents had.
Now, I love cashews in a stir-fry, and my parents had put shrimp in it, so I worked around it with a fork.
I selectively took out anything and everything I wanted with the four-pronged fork, and stuffed it into a little wooden bowl.
Sadly, to my lack of knowledge, I never saw the big, wooden spoon lying next to the wok.
....
How frustrating.
I could have saved myself  a lot of time.

Now for today.
So remember Splotches from last weekend?  Well, today I learned, once again, that his name is Happy.
Ugh, Happy is so annoying.  His full name is Splotches Rude Face Sugar Addict Happy.
Mouthful, yes.
S.R.F.S.A.H. tried to nip my face off (maybe that's being too dramatic).
He kept coming at me for a fourth sugar cube.
I had yet to give Phantom one.

Then, I went over to Big Red.
I scratched him a little, but left after being a little grossed out because someone had a runny nose...

My dad and I also met Mojo, the horse I should be riding soon.
Mojo was white and his upper lip was quite silly because it would jut out as he tried to nibble his way into our pockets where the sugar cubes were held.  But the only problem was that he was a good three inches too far from our pockets :P :).
Remember the black horse?  I forget what I called him, but his name is Token of My Affection.  Love that name.

Anyway, I tried to give Phantom a cube before I got on in hopes he'd have a sugar rush.
No.
Not even close.
He was just as lazy in the circles and crossing across the ring or riding down the center on a turn.
He also wouldn't keep the trot up.  I swear I was squeezing him the whole time and just as hard.
Besides him, it was really great.
Sigh, today I had the worst crop but I used it more than I ever had!
I wasn't angry, just a little annoyed.
I love him though...

As my instructor told me that I could get off as I brought him to a stop, I was so excited!
Not only was I still holding the crop as I got off, but she wasn't holding on to his bridle either!
I pulled something in my leg as I slid off.
Gr, I did not need that this week.
I mean it is better, but still, what if it hurt me all week?
Phew.
Sigh, maybe next week.
Phantom then got two more cubes.

The Much Long Awaited Post Has Arrived

I don't want to be an unfaithful blogger but it sure has turned out that way, especially when I get off of my blogging-binges.
Well I know you have been dying for the results of the feis right??
Well..........

After waiting and standing for five hours straight, no water since breakfast which was not even 1/4 c., I, 426, was called to take the stage alongside one of my fellow dancers from my school.
We did Reels first, then Slip Jigs, then Treble Jigs, Hornpipes, Saint Patrick's Day, Treble Reels, and finally Jockey to the Fair.  I only Reels, Slips, Treble Jigs, and Jockey (I keep spelling it Jocket...).
Anyway, when we finally got to the awards, the three of us in our age/level group went up.  This means that I had to get a trophy for each dance I did.
I got Four trophies plus a medal for participating.
It was a rush to get my third trophy...
Why?
Reels - Second (My arm came in front of my dress's skirt at one moment before I fixed it, and I forgot to bow... don't know if that changes anything)
Slips - Third (Slips are my bad luck dances because my soft shoe always starts to come off during my favorite Slip and I just made it with that at the feis)
Treble Jig - First Place.  
Jockey to the Fair - Tied with Second (because it was only me and one other girl from my school who did it)

Not bad for my first Novice/"Normal" Feis eh?

                      Some horses are just to pretty too pass up like this Morgan horse!  Plus, this one says Hi :) !
Let's start with the first photo:
Southwest Chop Salad p. 124
Notes: Winner.  Lime juice for dressing, avocado would also be good in here. 


Second:
Creamy White Bean Dip
Notes: Best. Dip. Ever. Nuff Said.


Third:
Tiffany Blue Almond Frosting and Vegan Mini Chocolate Cupcakes
Notes: This frosting is great with coconut milk. Smells fantastic too.  These were so good! My first Vegan cupcakes too :)

Forth:
Cherry Quinoa Salad p. 122
Notes: Needs dressing.  Winner by far. 


Fifth:
Greens Quiche p. 152
Notes: Winner.  I did not have a chance to eat this till nine o'clock after dance, but my parents did and my mom had been on a cleanse and took a bite and loved it.  My dad on the other hand, had to stop himself from eating anymore and had to make himself mac and cheese because he wanted to eat it all!  I needed some so he stopped.  It was fantastic.  But nothing like real quiche he said.


Six:
Spicy Mushroom Stir-Fry p. 142
Notes: Very good.  Spicy and warm in the belly.


Seven:
Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie p. 16
Notes: Tastes like a cookie.  Nice and thick.  Just how I like it :)


Eight:
French Toast Muffins p. 53
Notes: So good!  I ate half the batch before the next day.


Nine:
Pasta with Greens 
Notes: This was amazing, my dad said this was the first time he LOVED Kale.

Ten:
Tuscan Kale Chips
Notes: The might have tasted better, no they definitely good, but they needed to be crispier. They smell awful if you throw them out (as I did today).

Eleven:
Apple Oatmeal Smoothie
Notes: My play on H.H.'s Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie.  I used an apple, not a banana.


Twelve:
Ginger-Miso Quinoa Stir-Fry p. 136
Notes: Winner. Light, crunchy, and tasty.  Quinoa does not add much, only nutrients and texture.  Reminded me of my first time with Fish roe.


Thirteen:
Whole-Wheat Drop Biscuits p. 37
Notes: Pleasant, tasty.


Fourteen:
Mistake Muffin
(Notes on another post)

Fifteen:
Tex-Mex Shepherd's Pie p. 157
Notes: I used almond milk.  SO good.  Like very good.  We added hot sauce.


Sixteen:
My trophies, medal, and flours from family.

Seventeen:
Creamy Dijon Pasta p. 197
Notes: NEEDS Salt, GARLIC.  Parsley might be nice.  Pleasant (w/o add ins).  We did put in tomatoes and peas.  It was NOT a favorite at all without garlic, but with garlic... I WANT IT AGAIN SO BADLY.  Can't wait for leftovers!


Eighteen:
Close-up on pretty flowers :)

Nineteen:
Horse :)

Well that's it.  The Creamy Dijon Pasta was tonight's dinner.

Recipe:
Another Smoothie:
Cacao Nibs (Sunspire, the ones I didn't like)
Banana
Rolled Oats
Almond Milk

That might have been it, I will need to make it again to fully remember, but otherwise it was so good!

Now that I have caught up on all the photos, here is a new blog update:
If you look at my profile, there is now another blog on it.  Only, it hasn't and will not start until sometime next September.
Why?
One set back is the fact I will need to find and make my own copywright so no one steals my work.
Secondly, and this is really the main thing, the photography is what I hope to take as a class next year and I see no reason as to why I will not be able to.

So why did I make it now?

The excitement of the idea was too much, plus I loved the name The Remembered Forgotten and I did not want anyone to think of that name before me.  Although, I have had the name in my mind for the past five years and have been thinking of almost every imaginable idea to name it this.

Anyway, I hope to finish Happy Herbivore before June and then I will hope to finish Appetite for Reduction  over the summer.  By next September, I plan to start Vegan Bites for Singles so I can make them after school and so on.

1 More Day

Tomorrow is the feis.  Check-in time is 12:30 for Novice and I should be dancing around 1-1:30.  The feis is small and is estimated to end at 2:45.
Anyone else excited?
I am not nervous... Let's see how long that'll last ;)

Two More Days

Anyone see the Grammys??
Just saying, Deadmau5 was great :) Foster the People was funny.  Maroon 5? That was not their best.

Saturday is the feis.  Ready?  I will be in my new dress and will dance two soft shoe: Reel and Slip Jig and two hard shoe: Jockey to the Fair and Treble Jig.
Excited, not nervous.  Yet...
I made CCK Nutella again so we can make sandwiches for dinner tomorrow at our hotel and then I wanted to make Soft Molasses Cookies from Happy Herbivore but... no white beans.
So here's a recipe that is a combination of two HH recipes: Soft Molasses and Spiced Chocolate Muffins. (remember those delicious cutie muffins?)

The Mistake Muffin
Makes 5 Muffins

1/4 c. unsweetened applesauce
1/4 tsp. cinnamon, nutmeg, ground ginger (maybe a little more to override bitterness)
pinch of salt
1/2 tsp. cornstarch
1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder (maybe a little less for a less bitter taste)
1/4 c. water
1/4 c. nondairy milk (I used (unsweetened/original Almond Milk)
1/2 - 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Mix and bake for 15 minutes.  Maybe a little more, I lost track of time.

So I messed up and didn't check for beans because I was too lost humming "Raise Your Weapon"  by Deadmau5.
Sigh.
They were slightly bitter, but I would make them again but maybe with more spice or less cocoa.
They were small but sweet :)
Just like I like em'!

Still sick :(
Missing Phantom again this week because I might be tired after the feis.
Hey, so I brought sugar cubes last week and now I can't find them!  Argh!
There was at least 100 cubes in this medium sized, bright colored box!
How can you lose sugar cubes?
Did some horse fairy (maybe a horse fly :) take them?
Sneaky.
Sigh, now I can't give them to anyone now :(
I am supposed to be riding a different horse sometimes to get a feel for another rhythm and stride.  Plus, Phantom is a good beginner lesson horse and I am one of the more advanced riders, so I suppose the other horse I am going to ride, who I believe is a little too small for me and my teacher does too, but his name is Mojo.

Lesson of the day:
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."
I write this because when I last rode, two years ago, I still couldn't get trotting.  I had been over a jump once and I had never held a crop before!  Now though, I am back and stronger and better and love it all the more.
Anyway, maybe God has these things happen to us to stop us for a while so our bodies, especially our minds, because more capable to handle these things we learn.
I really feel that this is true because it has happened to me!  (As I said before).

I really love to ride.
I plan on working there at least two times a week next year to pay for lessons.
Maybe I'll start in the summer?

Dinner tonight is from Happy Herbivore!  

I Officially Own A Dress

X1654.  Bought it and done.  Now, all is needed is the alterations.

It is so extremely pretty and it came with a pink hairband with black flowers and then a pair of earrings that are really not me at all.  My teacher even said it. Ha ha.  Gaudy and big!

It is really sparkly too.

Next on the blogging agenda, is no pictures but some reviews.  Finally, I know!

Happy Herbivore
Cherry Quinoa Salad pg. 122


Notes: Delicious, but needs a dressing. Or so my dad claimed.  I thought it was fine.  It also calls for some lemon (that'd be the dressing) but that would take away from the sweetness of the cherries.  Furthermore, I HATE cherries, but I hated coconut too (hint hint), until this salad.  There was no coconut in the salad, but the dried cherries were amazing!  Really, it the whole salad was.  
Also, I had some of the cherries with some coconut flakes we had.  What a special treat!


Southwest Chop Salad pg. 124
Notes: Winner.  Lime Juice for dressing.  Avocado would be very good in here.  Good with chips :) Who'd knew? ;) 


Ginger Bok Choy Stir-Fry pg. 139
Notes: A.Maze.Zing.


Spicy Mushroom Stir-Fry pg. 142
Notes: It was tonight's dinner.  Warm, very spicy, and absolutely delicious. 


Greens Quiche pg. 152 
Notes: It is making it into a weekly/monthly schedule.  So, in other words, it was very good.  Although my mom hates tofu, she liked it, and although my dad said it tasted nothing like quiche, he had to make mac and cheese after two slices to make sure I got some after I came home from dance.  :)


So that's all the reviews from Happy Herbivore for now.
Next thing.
Superbowl.  Let's not talk about sad things, but very good things.
Like...
Red: It was inside the cake. Mini Cupcakes. Note: I didn't have mini things so I made twelve big ones.  Just as good plain :)
Blue: Coconut Almond Frosting.  Note: The coconut is a replacement for the vegetable shortening to make it healthier. Although, it came out a little watery and I don't know why :( But it still tasted delicious!  My dad loved them very much.  
White: Best bean dip ever!  Note: I had to make two batches because I was tempted to finish out the first one.  But the second one, the one I did purely from memory and rough measurements, came out just as good and dilly!  Not so garlicky as the first one, which I like.  The second was definitely my favorite.  Serve with crackers (Stone Wheat Thins and such) and celery.


So that was the Superbowl for us.
Not glamorous but definitely the tastiest :)

So no pictures for now, but guess what?? I officially got Jockey.  Now for the feis next weekend... whew.

Maybe pictures this weekend but I have to do these things also: Sat. The Vow and Starbucks with friends.  House being shown to realtor which means cleaning.  Reading and if I can, finish War Horse.  Sun. Horseback riding.  Logging it for project. Pastor's wife's baby shower.  Making another Herbivore recipe.

I guess it isn't that much, but who knows!  And throw in food shopping too!

Food shopping, on that note, has become tons of fun!  Not that it wasn't last time, but it has become more fun now that our budget is 100-.  It is like a game :) and for the first time, we do another of my favorite things: Plan what we are going to eat.

Sigh, it is fun.

1,2,3, 100!

Yep.
This is the 100th post.
Does it deserve something special?
Yes, but all I can do is give you an idea of what's to come for Super Bowl Weekend...

Let's just say Red, White, and Blue...

*Cliff Hanger*

Next, is McDonald's finally comes out!

Meat eaters who eat this stuff, look what you've been eating!
Uck!
Awful!

Back when I ate this crap a few times, I threw up.
I will never forget... Ew...

Dance was last night.
I have it again tonight, but I am exhausted from the cold I've had, and today everything has been blurring together.
I saw one of my friends' outfits, and I thought, "Didn't he wear that yesterday?"
Few seconds later, "No, that was still today..."

See?
And I was glued to the bed this morning.  I did not even feel my body connected together.
Sigh.
What else?
OH!
I am going to write a letter about something in IDM.
That's exciting.

So are apple seeds really poisonous?
Yes.  Everything that comes up on the search of "apple seeds poison" all say they are!

Well, hear's how yesterday's lunch went:
I came sat down.
Talked and ate my apple.
And finally, when it was down to the core, I always knock the seeds out when I see them.
But there was one problem...
I didn't see them. 
Gasp!
I felt my face freeze and I looked up at my friends and asked if they thought they were poisonous.
Then, I went to my teacher and asked, "Mr. 'Teacher', will apple seeds make me sick?  'Cause I just ate all the seeds in my apple..."
I know I looked horrified, but all he said was, "No, I eat the whole apple all the time.  What about when you make smoothies?  The seeds get all crushed up.  They are full of nutrients anyway."
....
Not what Google said.
My whole homeroom agreed that they all thought they were bad, and all I could think was, "Am I going to die?  Dear God, please tell me I'm okay."
I am still here.
Twenty-four hours later.
Unless, it is a slow and painful death of course...
By the way, while I thought of death, I said, "But can't you die?" then I quickly corrected myself knowing he would correct me. "I mean, you are still here and alive, but..."
He is in his sixties and I suppose if he eats them daily, something he is eating or doing is counteracting the poison.
?
Questions that cannot be answered are terrible :(

Jockey to the Fair

I finally got it!  I just need to get the timing down pat.  The timing was my problem.  I am getting better!  YES!
Three more weeks.
Six more practices.
 Ten more hours.
Correct?
Anyway, the dress is going to be sent on Friday.  So excited!

This is Why You Wear a Helmet.

Happy Sunday!

No recipes :((
No Vegetarian news :((

Irish dance news?
Well, there is still only the dress.  Strange woman who is selling...

Horses?????
YES

I went over more poles today. Ha HA.
One step closer to a jump!
LOVE Jumping.

Exhilarating.  a Rush.  Fun.

Hey, has anyone ever heard the saying, "The hardest part about riding is the ground?"
Well, I once again experienced it today, and I gotta say, I am getting the hang of how to fall in different circumstances and ways.

I have fallen three, four times and it has only been the first time that was scary and actually threatening.
Why?
Because the horse got spooked and reared and started hysterically running around our one-and-a-half-man length area.
Furthermore, my helmet and I have been through a lot.  My helmet has saved me every time and it now carries many "scars" or "memories" if you will.

Anyway, when I fell today, I would have ranked this as my 2nd best fall.
This is how it went:
Once upon a time, on a snowy day in an indoor riding ring, Phantom and I went back and forth from trotting to walking.  Then, I don't even remember asking if I was just trying to trot, preparing for a walk or a sitting trot, or if I was just so into it that I bounced right out of the saddle!
PAUSE
My falls are categorized into two titles: Comical or Graceful.
It seems that my comical ones are always on my own two feet and the graceful are on something else.  In this case, the fall was Graceful.
Now, it is really amazing how fast our minds can react.
So when I started to fall, my mind had never been so clear!  In fact, my first thought was, "Grab the bridle."  Then, "No!  What if Phantom fell on me?  Or the saddle fell with me?"
Before I hit the ground, my helmet hit the wall and made a loud thud. 
It didn't hurt.  Or at least, the pain has not yet, or never will, be registered. 
Next, when I hit the ground, my instructor said my face was like, "Why am I down here?"
But I did stand right up after that with a throbbing pain in my butt.
To continue, my lesson went on happily.  My parents dusting the dirt off my side until I was clean enough to get into the car.
Good news is though, I am very close to a summer job.  :D
Phantom and I are gonna be even better friends :)
Maybe Jersey will like me too....
After all, the key to a horses' heart, is through food.
Right now, I am sitting with Magical Unicorn.  My first and only PillowPet.
Why do I have a P.P.?
Because all I asked for from my friends for my birthday were stuffed horses :P

Wait!  Before I wrap up, I do have a Vegan update: I have only done 20 recipes out of 175... What a slap in the face!  It felt like so much more!  Grr... I need to do more again.
Then, I also did the pancake recipe again yesterday for lunch and this time I managed five out of six pancakes.
I suppose again that I ate a pancake's worth of batter... I held out for so long too!

My dress!!!!

Yep, X1654 from dance-again.com is my dress.  :D and better yet, I will have it in time for the feis!  She is packing it as we speak!
Sigh of relief.
Next thing.
I might make waffles tomorrow if we get snow.
Where I am, we are supposed to get 3-6 inches.
Nice and cozy!
OR
I will make the Dark Chocolate Pancakes that I still haven't reviewed yet on here -tis tis me.
Hey, so the Nutella is gone now too :((
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
For dinner, I had four of my special tacos :))
Black beans, Green Mt. Salsa (medium), Corn Tortillas, and Daiya Mozz. Cheese.  YUM
It really is a great combo.  You just really got to try it.

Off topic a minute,
the weather channel has really pretty music when it is showing the satellite map....

Is there anything else I need to say...
No :)

My Pumped Up Kicks

Dress X1654 is to be my dress.  :D This is so exciting!  And I hope, I should, have it before the upcoming feis on Feb. 18.

Not only with this hopefully up my points on presentation/appearance, but this will be my first small feis - meaning, Nationals (my first feis) was really big :).
I have the whole year too to get up past my current level Novice, and Prizewinner and hopefully be a Junior Champion within the next four years.
This way, I will be able to qualify for World's :))
Yes, it is one of the many dreams of every (competitive) Irish dancer.  And one of my goals within the next four years.
Imagine if I qualified by the end of the Summer?
Right before World's?
It is possible.  After all, I have been moving up consistently within these past few feis' I have been in.
But I don't think, or maybe I know, I wouldn't be able to dance at that level.
A World Championship level.

Anyway, dance again tonight.

Then, double practice starting this week for an upcoming dance event.

What else was I going to say...

Well, Corn Tortillas are good warm with cold Amy's Black Bean Soup :))
OH YEAH!

Anyone else reading the Hunger Games?

I don't really like Peeta right now, but everyone is telling me I will hate Gale next book. :((

Furthermore, in the what-I'm-reading subject, I got my first Horse Illustrated magazine today that was one of  my Christmas gifts. <3

Then, cacao nibs are also good with that Oats/Craisin/Cinnamon mix I love so much.  Only, with the Cacao nibs, they stick to the crowns of your back teeth and leave a chocolate covered raisin taste.

I don't mind, but those of you who didn't/did like that combo, won't want cacao drops from Sunspire in their's :))

I am a Bad Blogger

I never posted this past weekend!  And it is even more shaming that I had a three day weekend!  Gr.  Well, since I still haven't posted pictures and reviews, I will at least give two recipes :):
Flowery Smoothie (The word flowery just literally popped into my head)
1 c frozen/thawed-ish strawberries
1/2 a frozen/thawed banana
1/2-1 c Quick Oats
1 - 2 Small handfuls of Cacao Nibs (I used Sunspire)
A few icecubes (Optional)
1/4 Unsweetend Almond Milk

Blend and Serve

Note: I finally used some of the Cacao nibs that have been sitting in my baking drawer :)

Next.
I made homemade Nutella.  Only, it is better than Nutella.
It is healthier.
Vegan.
Lower in calories/fat.
No crap-ingredients.
And it is just really good.
My dad and I have started eating it.
It is almost half gone already after making it two days ago.

Did you know roasted hazelnuts seem to either taste like "Nutella" or popcorn?
Yes, I was eating some when they came out of the oven while I skinned them.

Sigh.
So good.
CCK is helping fulfill my dream of eating a "whole" container of Nutella :))

Anyway,
dance is tonight and maybe tomorrow too.  I hope not though because I am exhausted.
(Got too excited about some snow and ice accumulation warnings)
...

Next recipe.
Another TACO!

1 corn tortilla, warmed
A small handful of Daiya Mozzarella
Some lettuce
Black Beans, your choice of how much
Some Green Mountain Gringo Medium Salsa

Put it all together and eat!
I had two.
They were really, really good.
They are a little messy...
Feel free to comment about what eating tactic you used to get it all down :)
I went from all sides.
Yummy.

Miss Me?

Hello!
Sadly, this post will not have any pictures, but some other foodie-dance-random related this.
I have had many Happy Herbivore recipes in the past...whatever time period from the last post.  In fact, I just made one and happily ate it.  The serving was very large to my small appetite but I couldn't help myself to put it in another container for another day!  The second serving, I'm afraid, is going to have to be made into a third serving.  The "afraid" part, is my laziness speaking.  Sigh.
Well, besides that, I had dance last night.  And last week too.  :) My blister from November is still slowly healing along with a bruise on the opposite foot and just two days ago, my other toe started to hurt on the blistered foot and now, I must suck it up because it kills to walk but I strangely have no idea what happened to it.  Stupid Advil doesn't work either...Humph.
Still haven't watch Christ McCandless yet...
OH!  I had my first PB&J this past weekend on a Youth Group retreat on a blueberry bagel type thing... AMAZING.  My new favorite two-condiment sandwich :)
Also, I have started using Nutritional Yeast!  Only, my fear still plagues me to the point of using Latex Gloves when I do...I look so stupid.
Anyway, what else...I got taller :)
And I think I am more than half way done with the Happy Herbi. cookbook.
Back to dance though.
I have it again tonight and we are going to learn White Blanket, a set dance that will be needed for levels higher than Novice which I am currently in.
Our next competition is on Feb. 18.
I am still looking for a dress.  So frustrating!  I am thinking about getting a custom made on though.
And by the way, I suck at Jockey to the Fair.  My rhythm just disappears when I do it.
Hey, has anyone heard about the new TLC show coming out in the summer called, Tween Irish Dancers?
The producer called my teacher to ask her and our school to be on it.  She said no because she wouldn't do that to us unless we went and emailed the producer ourselves.
I looked into it last night.
It screams Toddlers and Tiaras + Dance Moms = Tween Irish Dancers.
The show will probably make the guys look gay.
The girls bratty.
And the dance, which they call, "Irish Jig Dancing," look stupid and snobby.
The just turned many peoples passion, look like complete scum.
At first, I was really excited.  I would only have done it if I got paid (Save up for college and beyond that), but then again, I don't really have time for a TV stalking me.
They will take all the good I say, and make it sound like I am cussing behind the camera and putting all the crap I didn't stop myself from saying, and put that in place of all the good.
The also say our dance costumes look strange.
That we have only "tween" dancers, but really, we have dancers from the ages of 3-80.
Buzz-kill.
So!
Who wants to watch that show now?
They already have 8 episodes recorded :D
(Sense the sarcasm)
Moving on!
DAIYA
I finally tried it.
The Mozzarella though.
It is fantastic.
Throw some Portobello mushrooms, lettuce, Happy Herbivore's Taco Sauce, and melt some cheese on a Spinach Wrap, and I have a really nice meal.  - I had this for breakfast the past two days :)
Or!
Lettuce, Cheese, and Kidney Beans on a Spinach Wrap, though I am strangely sensing I forgot to write down another very important ingredient...I hope I will remember.
What else do I need to tell you?
I am going to try to make my own granola bars...
I had the BEST taco ever from this cookbook...
Um.........................
I think that's it.
I promise to post this weekend too. :)

The Competitive Class

My first competitive class was today.  It was awesome.
We did Jockey to the Fair too.
AH! (I also made two dishes from the cookbook!)
I couldn't get it at all!  My rhythm was completely off!
I also learned that some of my normal steps that I have been using in feis', are considered "baby" dances that Novice's don't do.  :( I am running out of dances here!
Good song for "baby" dances: "Kids"
Night!  Dance, normal class, tomorrow!

"She is still in MA," "No, she's sick," NO I'M HOME

"Do we have gym today?" Brandy texted me at 6:30 this morning.
8:40 A.M. Almost two hours later.
"We don't have school today," I answered. "But tomorrow we do."
3:29 P.M. Twenty-nine minutes after school ended.
"Echo," Brandy texted me. "We had school today....is that why you weren't there?"
.....

"Did we have school today?" I asked Cathleen.
"Did we have school today?" I asked Bryant.
"Did we have school today?" I asked Mandy.

Yes was the same answer each time.  After Brandy and Cathleen answered me, I truly thought they were out to scare me, so I asked Mandy, the one I knew I could trust, instead.

"You didn't know?" She said.
"Nope, my mom said we didn't 'cause it's a national holiday." I texted back sheepishly.
"...but you're right we should've had today off. :P not fair."
"hahahaha good ;))) lol did mr. A or Ms. S ask where I was?"
....
Now, the two answers I got for that last question were:
"Everyone assumed you were still in MA." Brandy told me.
":) No everyone assumed you were sick." Mandy told me.

Well guess what????
I wasn't the only one gone, but I don't know why my other friend was out either.

Sigh, might as well have thought I'd died!  Lack of "Protein!"

Anyway, today was really awesome without school...by the way, I have dance tomorrow and Wed.  - Competitive class is starting!  Wahoo!

Today, my dad and I went shooting, but instead, for maybe an hour, we tracked a female deer instead that was around the targets :)) I found it.  It was really cool.  Then, after a while, we shot a target and went home due to my starting-to-feel-like-their-freezing fingertips and toes.
Later, I made the Fried bananas and granola bars from Happy Herbivore.
Will post reviews about those another day.
Anyway, today was good.  Both food wise and non-food wise - today also included Skyrim! :D
Sad to say, I did not get to watch the movie about Chris McCandless.
Tomorrow is another day though...not that I'll have time... 7-9 dance this week.

To think that I could have been snowed into Boston...that would have been awesome!  Trust me, I prayed for that while we were in MA. Sigh, I guess God gave me a snowless day here at home, not in the place I wanted, but it definitely felt like snowy day.  I hope we get snow though soon!  

Happy New Year!

Sorry I haven't posted in a week, but it has been the holidays!  Went to MA for family and First Night.
Anyway, I made two new recipes and I am going to try and do maybe two at least tomorrow.  Sadly, I didn't get to do that salad for Christmas :( but what I did make was very good.
Please excuse the poorly taken pictures...

                       First, I made Peanut Butter Dog Treats for my dog :) He loves them!  I want to take a picture                       of him with one of the people shaped ones in his mouth :)) - the next picture is also them.

                      Now, I didn't have enough parsley, so I only got to use, I think, half a tsp.

                                             Someone here, tried to open someone else's, gifts!

                        I tried to make these Raw Gingerbread Men, but I think they didn't work out because there weren't enough dates :(

                                But when I came home today from MA, I put some uncooked rolled oats, one mashed banana, and maybe 1/4 c of this stuff in and ate it!  It was really great!

                                             Dunkin' Donuts business truck - looked funny

                                   We went to the Taj to sit down... after a "grueling" walk through the "cold"

                           Later, we went to Mcgreevy's, an Irish Pub across the street from the Hynes Center

                                                My what-really-was-pretty First Night button
One of the few things, or really, only things, we did, was go see the O'Shea Irish Dance Co. dance with a hip-hop or mixed types of dances, from a dance school in Roxbury, MA; they also danced with the Boston Tap Company.
They weren't my favorite.  I could see the difference between their school and my own.  It just felt different.
I won't go on explaining, but two of the three of their Open Champions (a few seniors in my own school are trying to get into the World Championships, by the way) were really good.
One thing about the Mcreevy's place, was that it was one of the first times I didn't see anything on the very limited menu that evening I couldn't order.
Thankfully, being me, I like to plan my meals in advance.  So, that afternoon I had looked up their menu to see what my family could eat: There had been a BLACK BEAN burger :D
That was what I had for dinner.  And it was good.
This past week I have had so many nuts, that it was just crazy!  At the Taj, I ate two out of three appetizer holders that are complimentary to eat, which contain all different nut blends, almost all by myself!
Every time in the past we have gone to the Taj, I have never liked Wasabi nuts, but guess what???
I have a new found love for them.
See what changing your diet can do?
Amazing.
Rewind!
A day or so before First Night, my parents and I took my grandma to Easy Bay Grille.
There, (we had gone also the day before when my parents and I got there to get lunch...) I ordered a salad for dinner.
My salad was there Simple Green Salad and I asked for the vinaigrette on it.
I got a "creamy" vinaigrette instead.
As soon as it appeared in front of me, I thought it was bleu cheese.
I took a few bites, maybe ate one third of the salad, before I really started to see the cheese chunks.
Now, don't think this was really obvious, because the waiter and my parents all said it was the vinaigrette.
Although, my parents became more convinced the more I said I didn't think, or knew, that it wasn't the right dressing.
We sent it back.  Got the right dressing later.
Overall, I forgot to say a belated Merry Christmas!

Novice Speaking Herbivore

I have found another dress!  It is more traditional then the other one and my teacher approved as we looked through page, after page, after page, of dresses.  She took my measurements again and told me what to look for - I am very happy with the dresses we found.  My heal has a huge! blister on my right foot; my left foot is getting there too.  It burns!  But I am used to it...stupid open calluses.  Next big news is, I tried the first recipe from the Happy Herbivore. It was a smoothie titled Cinnamon Bun Smoothie.  - Big thing is, I have never had a Cinnamon Bun before, and if I ever do, Veganized of course, I would be greatly disappointed if it didn't taste like how that smoothie did.  It was delicious!  Now, I can't give you the recipe now, or show the picture because I still have homework to do, but I will tomorrow.  I am so desperate for a Friday.  I have woken ever morning, asking myself, Is today Friday?  NO it isn't. I wanted to cry, but thankfully, tomorrow is finally Friday!  Also, I might make some simple black bean burgers tomorrow that look short, easy, and most importantly, I have all the ingredients it seems.  Anyway, with a bleeding heal, tired mind - my freakin' dog just licked the heal!  ARGH!, I need to share with my mum the pictures I found.  OH!  I forgot to tell you, I learned the Black Bird step tonight - mostly... I wanted to cry at each hop.
I can't show you the picture of the dress yet!  Just in case you're looking for one too!  ;)