fresh. start.

December 31, 2017 4 Comments

Wow… 2018 is upon us. Damn that went fast 😳

Personally, I’m excited to bid 2017 farewell. Looking back it has been a year of extremes. The one pattern that I see over and over is love and loss.

So much love.

Unconditional love. That warm fuzzy feeling of excitement of big things to come.

Love that makes you want to take the pain of others and have it yourself so that you no longer need to see suffering

So much loss.

Loss of loved ones, loss of dignity, loss of self.

Throughout much of ’17, I felt much like the guy at the carnival, sitting on the ledge about water while others threw balls at the target trying to knock him down into the water.

And 99% of the time, I ended up in the drink (see what I did there?). Soaking wet.

Whelp… tonight at midnight starts a new chapter. I’m not much on the word ‘resolution’. It seems so final. So formal.

I’m using the word ‘plan’

I’m heading straight into the storm of 2018 with a plan. A plan and a safety net. And a safety net for my safety net.

Ive read that Japanese have a word for fixing what’s broke. Kintsugi. They take what’s broken and fix it with gold so that it is even more beautiful. The ‘scars’ so to speak remind you of how strong and beautiful an item can be, regardless of it’s past.

Sometimes the scars that hurt the worst are the ones that can’t be seen.

<<<<<
nger have the handle, nor the gold, but I see beauty in my broken mug ☺️

There are so many that I'd like to thank. You know who you are and you know what you did. And you are amazing. And I am one blessed lady.

Legend has it that if you burn a bayberry candle on new years' eve, it will bring abundance in the year to come

it’s not too late to get a bayberry candle to burn tonight…. 😉

My words for 2018 are gratitude and grace. Gratitude for all that has brought me to where I am today, and grace for learning that even stars can fall.

I’ve come a long way.. but I still have a ways to go. I’m ready. I’m prepared. I’m loved. I’m learning to love myself.💜

I wish anyone reading this a very happy and healthy 2018.

I’ll see you further down up the road.

With grace and gratitude 💕

-shel

Filed Under: self Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

creamy buttermilk lemon-herb dressing

October 24, 2014 3 Comments

Yes. You heard me correctly.

Last night I had a couple of friends over to carve pumpkin ( yup… It’s not just for kids 😉)

I take any advantage to make PIZZA. Even if it’s Thursday night,not Friday.

( the pup was uber happy to get pizza crust a day early )
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Since I thought we should be all healthy ‘n stuff, I thought a salad was appropriate. Then I thought buttermilk dressing. And I was off!

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You’ll need

1/2 cup buttermilk ( sounds unhealthy… It’s actually low in fat )
2 TBSP Light mayo
2 TBSP creme freche or sour cream
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
2 TBSP olive oil
Chives, chopped ( I used a small bunch )
1/4 cup chopped parsley
Freshly ground pepper
Sea salt to taste

Add it all to a small mason jar ( heads up, there are measuring marks on the glass, so this is truly a one dish thing to make )

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Put the lid on and shake

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Taste for salt and pepper and enjoy!

Take that store-bought
dressing!

Oxoxox

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Boo!

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Filed Under: salad Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

re-post… i’m thankful

March 14, 2013 1 Comment

In this time of extreme change for me, I have spent hours upon hours remembering what life has been like and envisioning what life will be.  All of the soul searching has had me thinking. A lot.

 

I found myself laying in bed the other night, re reading old posts, trying to decide what direction that I want the blog to go in ( I had contemplating quitting it altogether, but have changed my mind.)

 

Anyway.. I read this post from this past Thanksgiving. Although it’s not an old post, I feel like it bears repeating.  It’s very easy in life to think about what we don’t have, or how how difficult something might seem when we are in the midst of journeying through something… but we always come out the other side, usually with great lessons learned. Priceless, really.

So if you have already  read this, please forgive me…

 

I feel in my heart that it is important to remember what we are thankful for all year ’round…

 

❤ me

 

 

i”m thankful.

 

*for my mom and my dad ~or bringing me into this world, and for being there when I really need them.. the advice & support that you both have given me ( the same btw) will guide me… thank you.. I love you both

* for my sista~ I’ve known you the longest and lord knows growing up was a challenge, but I love you dearly and wouldn’t change you for the world. you are simply amazing! SMOOOOCCH!

* for John, and Dick and Phyllis… for loving me like your own

*for my aunt~ a sweet woman with a huge heart and so much love. and an uncanny way of knowing the exact moment that I needed to talk.. and being that phone call

*for Scott~ married almost 24 years now, and although it has not always been easy, we are still here.. About to become empty nesters… With a whole lot of adventure in front of us :). Just think… We may end up in an osteo bi flex commercial or something 🙂 oxox

* for my oldest son, Jason~ the boy who changed my direction in life. I am SO proud of you and am thankful every day for what an amazing man that you have become..

* for my second child, Ryan~ who taught me in an instant that you can love 2 children with the same amount of undying love. For teaching me that you have to peel an onion so to speak to get to someones’ true self… never judge a book by its cover, the world is full of all types of people, and that its ok.. that there is NO obstacle in life that you can’t over come if you want to.. and that having a part of my heart across the country actually feels ok.. because I know he is happy and THAT makes me unexplainablly happy.

* for  Ali~ my ali…. Im thankful for the wonderful compassionate young woman that you  have grown in to. I dont know of anyone else who thinks of others as much as you do .  You  will go far in life .. and be surrounded by people who love you … always

*for Amanda Sue~ Jason’s wife.. my wonderful daughter in law. I may not have given birth to her, but I love you  like you are my own. You are  a hard worker with a lot ahead of you  and and you have an amazing attitude.

*for Kim~ thank you for sharing Amanda with me 🙂

*for our grandparents~ gone too soon, this is a holiday that they are greatly missed, ( meme, pepe, papa, babchi, dzaciiek) but knowing they are in heaven looking down on us makes me smile :

* for my ‘shared ‘ sisters and brother … Krista, Bryan, Audra and Val… We may have grown up with different lives. But siblings we are .. And we’ll always have each other:).

* for Tian~ my exchange daughter from Hong Kong.. for opening my eyes to what life in China is like

* for my nieces and nephews~ watching them grow and become extentions of who we are is mind – blowing. It makes me think al the time about the circle of life… YOu are all amazing people and have bright futures ahead of you

*for my in laws- Linda and Pete… For helping Scott and I get a head start early in our marriage.. and all of your help along the way 🙂

*for Scott’s extended family~ I’m thankful that they raised a man with such drive and adimance… and with such love for his family

* for Erika~~ I love that I can just show up and have a cup of tea at your counter unannouced. and feel warm and welcomed and loved.. and I feel that i am an extended part of your family. I love Leah and Grif like they are my own.. it’s been a pleasure watching them grow…

* for Celia~ my closest friend that is so far away….. I love that you are in my life <;;3

*for Kara~ thank you for all of your help recently… it’s so nice to know that you have insight and can help talk me through some of this….. and the fact that we both love lunch doesn’t stink 😉

*for my ‘ho’ friends~ you know who you are. I love that they have been there always for me, and they are proof positive that real relationships are not affect but distance. they have become some of my very best friends.. and I look forward to someday traveling the country to meet up with all of them…. these are truly wonderful ladies

*for my ‘old time’ friends~ the friends that I went years without seeing, or even in contact with… this past week has had me in awe of how many of you reached out to me and really care. It has had me thinking at length about old relationships. and times spent together .. and about how lucky I am to have had you all in my life. YOu are all a huge part of who I am today… I feel so blessed whenever I hear from one of you..

* for Ali’s friends…the really special ones that make me feel loved every day. Sara and emmy I love that you know that our home is your home… Thank you for making her smile.. And Colleen. Because you know how much I love you !!!!.. And Alyssa… Ali’s younger sister and my second daughter…I love you girls!!

* for my pup, Fenway~~ I just love her to pieces and no matter where I am.. she is *right there*

* for my grandpuppies, bruin & Kallie…. because they love me so much and I can;t wait to make them home made frosty treats 🙂

*for yoga~ yoga has brought not only a ‘peace’ to my life, but a biggest understanding that the path that we are on is exactly the path that we are supposed to be on.. don’t always knock the broken road.. that’s usually the one that is getting you to where you are supposed to go…

*for Bruce Springsteen~ yes I went there……. I love this man’s amazing voice, talent, poetry, etc…… as long as I live I could never explain what his music does to me… I swear it hits a little lost part of my soul… I am thankful that I always can turn to his music.. no matter my mood

*for my blog readers~ you are what makes me want to keep on writing… you comments always make my day and I am thankful that you take time from your lives to read whatever was on my mind today. This is what makes us friends

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and lastly…… I’m thankful for the moon. because throughout my life, it has always been there… and I know that wherever I am, wherever I may be.. I can always look up.. and have the moon with me… and know that each and every one of you, wherever you may be.. will be under the same moon. possibly looking up at it, and thinking of me <;;3

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happy thanksgiving, friends.

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Filed Under: family Tagged With: , , ,

there’s a turkey in the backseat…

November 26, 2012 3 Comments

howdy friends!

I know that Thanksgiving seems like it was sooooooo far away, giving the shopping weekend that followed, but I had a few things to share with you and couldn’t get around to it until now, so do me a favor.. fire up the Delorean and come back to Turkey day with me… just for a minute ( or 10 )

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a few of you have asked me what I did with Theo after his 2 day salt spa bath….. when I was ready to put him in the oven, I removed hime form the brine.. rinsed him and patted him very dry with paper towels. I place some carrots, celery, onions and fresh herbs in the bottom of a roasting dish , the placed a roasting rack on top ( this makes the gravy extra yummy ) I stuffed the cavity with fresh herbs, onions, lemon and clemetines. Trussed him, then stuck a few fresh sage leaves between the skin and the breast an brushed melted butter all over him. Season with salt and pepper.

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place on bottom shelf ove 425 degree oven for 30 minutes… then reduce heat to 325 and tent with aluminium foil…Roast for a few hours ( depending on the size ) basting every 45 minutes or so….

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oops….. dont hold it in the oven too long…. 😉

remove the bird when the internal temp in the leg is 165… then let rest.

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ok.. so I have a story…. pull up a chair.. ( I LOVE storytime!)

Every year, after the dinner, we bundle up and take a walk.. ( like everyone else does 😉 So about 4 or 5 years ago, we were walking in downtown plymouth when we saw a rollerblader. Unusual? hmm.. not so much.

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but the station-wagon chasing her ( clearly a family member) well… that was a bit odd.

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The driver of the car was screaming at her ” get in the car…. I’ve got the turkey in the back seat” and she in turn was rollerblading as fast as she could screaming back to the driver ” I’m trying to get away form you.. can’t you see that?” and again…. ” but the turkey is in the back seat…

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now I know we all have some sort of drama around the holidays ( myself included ).. and although I’m not making fun of what was happening…. when all was said and done… we all just looked at each other and said, did that just happen?

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so our standard thing to say was ” there’s a turkey in the backseat”..

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then I found this card…

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ugh.. the pic is horrible.. but it is a station wagon full of turkeys!

So the following year, as we headed out for our walk . we were remembering the crazy walk from the year prior and discussed how we wouldn’t see anything that crazy that year….. so we decided to change that. We began the ‘Thanksgiving walk o Shame”

we all dress up in crazy attire and sing and dance and ‘decorate’ the downtown

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this is a pic from last year

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you can’t miss us… trust me 🙂 Its fun and like I said, we sing a dance around and remember all the little things that we are thankful for !

the pic is dark, but here is Jo & i from this year 🙂

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I love crazy traditions… SO MUCH!!

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so I’ll leave you with a few pics from our holiday…

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<img class="alignnone wp-image-2580" title="Thanskgiving table with flowers form my kiddos

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and lastly… I found this on the web… and decided to tackle it…. I am super proud of it..

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It’s entirely edible!! I made it out of bread!!!!

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one very last note.. you may want to re read I’m Thankful again…. I was afraid that I would leave some out and it turns out that I did….. and half of the paragraph about Scott disapeared… it made me sound heartless, really..

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so I have updated it 🙂 smoooches!

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now.. head back to the future! it’s Cyber Monday! .

Filed Under: Dinner, family, goofy, holiday Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

re-post… service with a smile…

November 1, 2012 Leave a Comment

forgive me.. when I moved the blog over to the new server, this post did not move with the rest because I posted it during the move. So I am re typing it just so that I have it.. because I kinda like the food truck analogy… especially since I ate at one for the first time this week 😉 more on that soon!

So I am able to re-type it ( I have the draft on my phone) but I am unable to move the sweet comments that you all made 😦

that’s ok.. I will remember how much I was loved 🙂

re-posted from 10/23/2012

service with a smile?

it has come to my attention that I have actually been missed.

this makes me happy to feel so loved. Life is a bit of a whirlwind right now and support, wherever I can get it is greatly appreciated.

I want to point out that I have been doing a lot of ‘behind the scenes’ stuff here at barefoot… I’m liking the way that the blog is looking, but the ‘inside the computer confusing internet stuff’ has me more than confuzzled.

let me try to explain. Picture that you are at a food truck. and you have a sandwich a really GREAT looking sandwich. buuut… It doesn’t really taste that good. I mean, you want it to taste good, but in reality it looks much better than it tastes.

 

kind of a let down.. ya think?

 

But over at the next food truck… the sandwoch doesn;t LOOK  quite as nice… I mean, it looks pretty good but not mouth watering to look at. But when you taste it. OH MY GOD when you taste it, it is out of this world!!

BUT!… there is more!  you can add all sorts of toppings! to it.. side dishes! pickles, chips, salads, dessert…. the posibilites are endless!

 

it takes someone to take a chance and try that second sandwich  to see that it really is THAT good.

 

Have I lost you? sorry.

 

Back in high school , one of my best friends and I used to sometimes ‘treat’ ourselves to one of those delicious looking brownies covered with frosting.

 

they looked yummy.

 

and it was a great experience.

 

until 30 minutes later when your stomach realized what you had put in there and immediately hated you  and let you know just how horrid it actually was. We used to say the brownie had ‘landed’.

 

we nicknamed them ‘landing squares’.. because once they hit your stomach, it was all over.

 

where the heck was I going with this? oh.. yeah..

 

I like the blog the way that it is.. but there is so much more that I want to do with it.  this si much more than a blog to me, this is me sharing,  an extension of myself.. my life.

and my life is getting crazier by the day. and it will only be crazier as time goes on..  I am always learning and love to share things with you… my friends 🙂

 

so even thought I have not been posting, I have been setting up my food truck.. and although a nice looking food truck with ok food is the norm, I’m not normal.

 

at. all.

 

I’m working really hard on an ok food truck with tons of sides and knock your socks off flavor!

 

 

maybe I should just stick to soup instead?

 

lots of fun posts coming up.. I promise.  I have tons of pictures  and recipes for you.. and a really fun home made give away.. if I can just get my engine in my truck all souped up and running…

 

oxoxo  thanks for standing by me

 

🙂

 

Filed Under: goofy Tagged With: , , ,

being rich *giveaway*

October 3, 2012 25 Comments

 friends, I have a story to share ( I know big surprise. ) you see, I like to talk, and my pup , Fenway can only listen to me for so long, so I’m chatting with you !

You may know that in my past life I was a cosmetologist. I worked in the same building for over 20 years. ( the ownership changed 3 times, but like the bathroom, I always stayed… I was a fixture there)

Over the years , I made a lot of friends, both co workers and clients.  To this day i am still friends with so many people who I met there.  I am actually still friends with 2 girls that I gave their first day of school kindergarten haircuts to! They are both married with children now.. ghheese…. I sound old when I say that..

Anyhoo… I was kind of an amazing nail tech back in the day. And what happens when you ‘do nails?’  you sit across from someone, hold their hand, and talk for an hour… it doesn’t get more intimate than that… you really get to know someone.

Like Mrs. m.

Mrs. m was a hot ticket.  She had an ‘air’ about her that turned some off, but I just loved her. She said it like it was.. like it or not.

Mrs.m and her husband had a very nice house in an upscale neighborhood in the outskirts on NYC. They also summered on the Cape. ( where I met her)..

After a few years, they sold their NYC house , put everything in storage and starting renting a place in Sedona for the winter.

They talked about buying a place out  in AZ.  They spent the summer talking about what they wanted  and they disagreed ( c’mon friends, they  are married!) 

Mr. m was still traveling for business a lot during this time period..

So the fall came, and they headed to AZ to what she thought was a meeting with a realtor. Turns out, it was a closing. He had bought the house that he liked without her.

She was furious. She stood up, walked out of the room and caught the next flight back to Boston.

About a month later , when she came in to see me at the salon, she had her car FULL of all of her kitchen items. She had her kitchen storage locker delivered to the cape and gave it ALL to me.

Now picture.. I am newly married with just the basics… she gave me a kitchenaid mixer, matching food processor, blender, ice cream maker, entire set of pots and pans, serving dishes.EVERYTHING

I was in Heaven 🙂

She was so furious with Mr. m that she told me that he was going to buy her all new kitchen items once they resolved the AZ. issues.

So one day, we are facing each other, I’m about to paint her nails with OPI ‘ Chicago Champagne Toast’ ( yes, I still remember this, I pay extreme attention to detail… and this was her color)

She looked into my eyes and said ” what makes you rich?”

Now I was confused, because I was anything BUT rich… Scott was still in school and we lived off of my paycheck.. And the tips that I made paid for groceries for the 3 of us)

She then said, ” picture that you could have anything that you want..it’s not as cool as you’d think. Now think about that one thing that just makes you happy. that you feel happy just because you have it and you want to surround yourself with it..it’s the thing that makes you rich”

her thing? was kitchen clips. She could have had anything that she wanted, but kitchen clips made her rich.

So that got me to thinking…  what makes me ‘rich’

the answer?

socks.

I

puffy heart

socks.

And they don;t even need to match :).. A few years ago my mom knit socks for everyone for Christmas.  When we opened them, we all had mismatched socks. She had wanted us to search out which family member had our matching sock.

here’s the thing.. we all liked that they were miss matched and that she had done it that way .. we kept our socks that we had opened

so the following year she gave us these for Christmas

I KNOW!  how cool are these????

I love love love the fingerless gloves!!!!  everyone say hi to Fenway pup 🙂

then earlier this year she made me these…

YOGA socks!

( sorry about my crazy legs & feet 🙂

so there you have it. Mrs. m was a very  wealthy woman, but it was a $5 item that made her rich.

now, because I puffy heart all of my wonderful friends.. I have a surprise for you….

Look what mom made Just for one of you!!!!!!

there are many ways to enter…

1~ like seabreeze designs~ cape cod socks on Facebook

2~ Leave a comment on the blog telling me what makes YOU rich

3~ Share a barefootgirlinthekitchen on Facebook

4~ refer a friend to barefootgirlinthekitchen

5~ ‘Like barefootgirlinthekitchen on facebook ( if you havent’ already)

6~ sign up for new posts via email

7~ pin a barefootgirl recipe or post to pinterest

now… I found this really cool way to host a giveaway ( please forgive my newbie-ness) but I cannot install it here on this blog until I learn how to speak a foreign computer language… It’s just not working for me… so to enter the contest, head over to  hand knit socks by mom giveawayand check off all that applies to you 🙂 ( but remember to tell me what makes you rich.. I really want to know.. and it just might help me with my Christmas shopping 😉

***Don’t forget that after you comment to head over HERE ( click on the word here) to officially enter :).. sorry about the confusion… hopefully someday I can have that directly on the blog….***

Mom is also offering an October special…  All of the proceeds from everything that she knits goes toward our big 40 mile breast cancer walk in May.  So for the month of October she is offering free shipping on any item !! With all proceeds going toward finding a cure for breast cancer

check out her stuff.. she makes the most amazing fingerless gloves ( perfect for texting , and driving, but never texting and driving at the same time, because that is very very bad)

She had tons of stuff that she has already made, and she is more than happy to take custom orders… think ahead to the Holidays, these are all perfect gifts 🙂

This post has taken me forever to type… I need an internet fairy to come help me with the behind the scenes part of the blog….

*waves my magic wand*

xooxox

and good luck!

ps…..   HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD !!!! oxoxox

Filed Under: giveaway, goofy, Knits Tagged With: , , ,

weekend recap

September 23, 2012 11 Comments

here it is Sunday night already… how does that happen?

The girls enjoyed homecoming weekend… which was really nice considering it was their last one as students…. when they come back next year, they will be Alumni!! (I wonder if any of them have actually thought of this… I almost hope not. I hope that they are living in the moment and enjoying this ever important senior year of high school )

Remember in THIS POST how I mentioned that I ran into a friend that I haven’t seen in years? Well what I didn’t mention is that when we were catching up and I was telling her about my recent ‘finishing my first 5k victory'( I know you are all sick of it.. I’m sorry….) she had asked me when my next one was. I told her that I did not know.  We had run into each other at bayside runner a small local running store, Opened by a man with a passion for running and helping others run. They will expertly fit your feet with the perfect running shoes…. trust me… you need to go to a professional.. if you are local… Bayside is the best… Adam and his staff are committed to make sure you are in the right shoe.

opps… sidetracked again 😉

crap.. where was I… oh yeah… I had not seen my old neighbor in at least 10 years .. but in reality it was probably more. She is currently training for her first marathon 🙂

Both she & Heather, one of the employees at the store told me about a race in my hometown this weekend. A benefit for a very young boy who had unexpectedly had passed away… It was the Plymouth Police and Fire 5k.. Liam’s Run. I told them that I was pretty sure  I was busy with homecoming stuff, but that I would check it out.

And I did. And I realized that anything ( other than making waffles early Sunday ) that I needed to do homecoming-wise was not on Sunday, I signed myself up.

alone.

So this morning I arrived at the race wandering around looking for where to go, when I see my old friend, Joanne. She was walking toward me with a big smile…  she said’ ” there you are…. I looked to make sure that you signed up…your number is 150.. lets go get it… I’m so happy that you are here.”

A few minutes later we ran into Heather, who  recognized me and high-fived me for coming:)

<– felt a tad bit important and loved 😉  it turns out that runners are sooo nice!!

And boom.. just like that.. years of not being in touch.. I was next to one of my best friends again 🙂 Since she is training for a marathon.. she had already run 15 miles this morning. She did run the 5k.. and came in 2nd in her age group ( I believe she beat out those ‘youngens’ (as we called them) in the age group below her!

She ran the race 22 something ( I tried looking but could not find the official times online yet… I’ll update this post as soon as I do)  *edited… her time was 22 :57* 🙂

She was able to finish her race.. get herself a water and come back to the finish line to cheer me on!

My official time was 35 :05.. although This explains why… I certainly could have been under 35.. I would guess same time frame as last weekend.. And although I did almost throw up again *insert laughter here* trying to sprint to the finish line…. MY breathing throughout the race was much more even and controlled.

I’m getting this!!!

So here are a couple of pics…I’m so happy to have bumped into her and her share this experience with me 🙂  (doesn’t she look great? she will ROCK this marathon!)

so…… on another note..  I debated posting this pic…  I have put on weight.. and even though I posted THIS about my feeling on diets, Eating healthy is most important  and that, my friends, I have not been doing.

So tomorrow I am starting a mini 3-day cleanse. I have a friend who works for beach body and I purchased the basic kit from her. It’s only 3 days. I  can do this. And I know that I will feel better.  I’m traveling a lot in the weeks to come, and although I love wearing yoga pants & sweatshirts … it;s just not reality. I do squeeze myself into ‘normal clothes’ when I have places to be…. but it;s all kinds of ugly… and it kinda hurts. I’m not gunna lie.

If anyone is interested in the 3 day mini cleanse, shoot me an email and I will give you the info…

meanwhile, I’ll still be cooking for the girls…  I might write a tiny blurb about how I am doing/ feeling…. more if you guys want it.. .. but for now I’m off to enjoy family time.

ciao bellas!  cheers to old friends and paths taken…… all for a reason….

oxoox

Filed Under: health Tagged With: , , , , ,

are you a wiener?

September 22, 2012 10 Comments

the wieners of the soap nuts giveaway are about to be announced.

I have been researching ‘give away’ sites that can help me to determine a winner based on how many entries I receive.  I have found one that I will use on the next one ( possibly just as crazy as the soap nuts idea 🙂 ) but I would have had to set it up from

the get go.. and I already had entries and couldn’t figure out how to add them manually..  ( I’ve had a very technically challenging day today 😦 )

… so ….I still needed help with this one..  I asked Scott to pick 10 random numbers like I did  last time and  Ali came running in with her calculator eager to  show off her new statistics skills…

 

this is what she came up with

#1,8,10,12,14,15,16,19,29,32

which translates to :

Courtney

Christina

Candice

Cathy

Sue

Jodi

Glenda

Heather

Amanda

Dawn

 

so congrats ladies ( ya’ll are ladies who won…)  you will soon get the opportunity to play with your nuts *giggle*

I need for you to shoot me an email at barefootgirl27@me.com with your correct mailing address and I will give it to Laundry Tree on Monday so that they can ship you your soap nuts!

 

Thanks again for playing and for continuing to help get the word out about barefootgirl in the kitchen 🙂 I could kiss you if i could….. ( just as long as my finance , Christina doesn’t mind 😉 )  lol

 

it’s Homecoming weekend in these parts…. lets her a big thank you for Ali’s talented statistics skills  and a big shout out to the Lady Saints 🙂

and a big shout out to my daughter on loan from her parents in Hong Kong, miss Tian

Homecoming Queen!!

she looks a little bit surprised, dontcha think?

 

pizza time before the dance…. into the kitchen I go….

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , ,

banish boring salads

September 18, 2012 21 Comments

well… maybe not banish but know that there are options out there.

You know how when you got to a restaurant and some of the fancier salads look sooo good… but you have a hard  time shelling out 13 bucks for a salad..

yeah  me too.  Here’s the thing.. you can make these at home!!  Now I know some of you are like, “duh? is she going to seriously walk us through salad making 101?”

yes. Because I have a few friends whose diets have changed and they need to add more fruits and veggies into their diet & want to show the amazing amount options that are out there. If you already know all of this.. I apologize…. just scroll to the bottom to help answer a question about my next giveaway.

WHOA!!! wait.. YOU!… get back up here.. I’m not done yet.

We’ll start with making a dressing….  yes.. making it is super simple.. and there are 17,000 combinations that you can create… just use a basic formula and add the flavors that you like!

you will need

1~ an acid.. either vinegar, lemon or lime juice, wine….  1/8 cup

2~ an oil…. olive oil, canola oil, sesame oil.. coconut oil ( my new FAVORITE! ) 1/4 cup

3~mustard… again… SO many flavors out there… play with it! 1 tsp

4~ honey.. or maple syrup ( the real stuff) or agave…. 1 tsp

5~ (optional) herbs.. fresh or dried… or sesame seeds, or crushed garlic….. 1/2-1 tsp.. depending on how strong you would like ( always start with less then add more)

6~ sea salt and pepper…..  I have a slight salt obsession as well…..  we’ll chat about this later 🙂 remind me if I forget.

simply add everything to a small ball jars

   put the top on the jar and shake….

you just made dressing 🙂

trust me.. you can’t get that out of a bottle…. anywhere.

I don’t like overly dressed salads, so I usually use about a tablespoon per salad.. if you like more, then add more… I mix it with whichever greens I am using so that they are coated, then place in serving bowl… top with toppings…

like the quiche ‘recipe’  ( are you starting to get my method of cooking… it’s always a formula, then playing with ingredients… because I am a firm believer in  play!  <—- please read this post, it’s one of my favorites 🙂

so.. you will want

1~ green of choice… baby spinach, arugula, mesclun, romaine, butter lettuce..

2~ dressing of choice

3~ ( optional.. ) protein of choice… ( chicken, beans, salmon, beef, tofu, edamame.)

4~ other veggies.. just pile them on!

5~ (optional ) cheese

6~ (optional) something for crunch.. croutons, sunflower seeds, pepitas, sliver almonds

7~ (optional) dried cranberries or apricots or mandarin orange wedges

and  you, my dear have just made a killer salad worthy of any restaurant.

here’s your 13 buckaroos back 🙂

This salad  has

baby spinach

basic vinaigrette

topped with edamame ( I used trader Joe’s ).. about 1/2 cup

black beans .. about 1/4 cup

1/4 avocado, chopped

1/4 cup cranberry goat cheese ( if you are vegan, by choice or m=by force, eliminate it…  the avocado give the same mouthfeel… and you probably wont miss it)

1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes

finish with sea salt and pepper..

I ate this for lunch yesterday and it kept me full all afternoon!  ( and peeps ask me all the time where I get my protein from 🙂  )

so be brave…. look beyond iceburg, cukes and tomatoes ( not that there is anything with it, it’s the only way I can get my kids to eat a salad, so I still make it… ) and have fun!!!!

NEEEEXXXXTTT…

I have fallen in LOVE with Greek Yogurt. Have you tried it yet? I buy the non fat plain and it tastes just like sour cream. I sub it out for sour cream all the time.  It is also a perfect base to make granola parfait but also… to make some ‘creamy’ sauces!  like this

Chipotle cream sauce

I used about 1/2 the can of peppers.. if you like it more mild, use less

about a cup of the Greek Yogurt

half a lime

I put them all in the magic bullet looking thing and blended

if you don’t have one of these babies, you could use a blender, just keep scraping down the sides.. or use a food processor.

that’s it folks… does it get simpler than that? I think not.

The girls had this on their tacos last night & I topped my tostada with it.

the girls’ taco filling is made with lean ground chicken, then when I add the taco seasoning ( only half the package… it’s so loaded with sodium.. a little goes a long way.. you also can make your own, considerably knocking the sodium down, but I had it so I used it) and when I add the water I add a can of refried beans. They blend in perfectly… it stretches the filling and boosts the protein 🙂 I’ve been doing this for years..

It also freezes and defrosts well, so you can make double the amount and have it in the freezer for a super quick dinner…. If you need to cook for one, make a batch and freeze it into individual portions…  again.. quick dinner for one

*if you have dinner for one, please do me a favor and do it by candle light.. you are special and should have a nice dining experience.. if you want you can face time me and we can eat dinner together 😉 *

My filling was chopped mushrooms, sautéed  in oil, then  I mashed some back beans and lime juice in, seasoned with sea salt, cumin & chile powder

I placed it on a small flour tortilla that I heated in my cast iron skillet ( I CANNOT say enough how much I love  cast Iron to cook with)

top with cheese ( if vegan, try the daiya cheese shreds.. it’s very good, melts and stretches like cheese and can be frozen.. It is on the pricey side ( $5 a bag) but it does freeze, and I just pull out what I need when I need it )

the I added avocado.. fresh salsa.. Chipotle cream sauce and some plain Greek yogurt..  YUM!  ( and sooooooo easy )

As far as the rest of the chipotle peppers ( I’ve never had a recipe that I’ve used the whole can ) I take a freezer bag & label it… place in a jar

then press out the air & seal

Whenever I need some for a recipe, or a burst of flavor, I just break a piece off! No waste here.. yo!

so now that I’ve made you hungry… I have a question for all of you.

I have a fun company that has offered for me to give away one of their products.  I have the choice…

1~ 1 big gift for one lucky recipient…

OR

2~ 10 small gifts ( of the same item) so that TEN of you can win….

so whatcha all think? 1 big winner or 10 smaller ones???

smooches friends!!  oxooxo

Filed Under: Dinner, giveaway, lunch, Main dish, make-ahead, salad, side dishes Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

behind the scenes…..

September 10, 2012 7 Comments

I woke with every intention of sharing 3 watermelon recipes with y’all……  oops..

you know what they say about the best laid plans….  I have however been working behind the scenes

ALL

DAY

LONG

and truthfully, I feel possibly even further behind then when I woke.

There are many things that I like about my blog, but there are also things that I cannot do here and really want to be able to. I plan on being very dedicated to this and if I can’t do everything that i envisioned here, then I need to find somewhere else.

This is where I am lost..  I did purchase my own domaine ( Greek to you.. I know TRUST me me too 😦 ) .. but there is soo much more to know.

where is my magic blog fairy to come set this all up for me so that I can cook and quilt and sew and share…..

I’m not giving up.. I”m just a tad fried right now.

Brushing my teeth today would have been  over-rated.. right? Right.

There’s always tomorrow….. where I pinky promise your watermelon dishes 🙂

ciao bellas!

*why yes, a glass of wine sounds lively right now 🙂 thank you very much!*

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , ,
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