1. My new spring jacket!
I ordered this super cute fuchsia trench from Gap.com a couple of the months ago during the middle of winter while everything was gloomy and gray and I was jonesing for spring. I’m not usually one to go for pink, but the color is so deep and rich and happy–it’s a shade I can actually get behind! Spring is now here, and I’m pleased as punch to wrap myself up in this pretty pink jacket. The first time I put it on, Kate’s eyes widened in awe and she exclaimed, “Ooh! Mama’s birthday party dress!”
2. Making homemade ice cream!
I received this Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt & Ice Cream Maker as a Christmas gift from my mom, and used it for the first time last week to make homemade vanilla ice cream. It was amazing! Not only was it incredibly quick and easy to use, but I also went with all the low-fat ingredient options for the recipe and it still tasted so rich and creamy that it rivaled full-fat vanilla ice cream that I’ve bought in the store. G has one hell of a sweet tooth, and even he agreed that it tasted amazing! As committed as I am to making food from scratch in our home, I have to admit that making our own ice cream was never on my radar–but now that I’ve tried it I may never buy ice cream in the store again!
3. Archer Farms Organic Blue Corn with Flax Seed Tortilla Chips
Mmm…have you tried these chips yet? They’re sold at Target, and they’re almost as good as that vanilla ice cream I just mentioned–maybe even better! (And now you know who has the carb tooth in the family.) First of all, they hide flax seed in these suckers. Brilliant! Flax seed is a “super-food” loaded with fiber, antioxidants, and Omega-3 fatty acids, plus it’s been linked to reducing the risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. Secondly, there is a grand total of…wait for it…five ingredients in these chips: organic blue corn, organic sunflower oil, organic flax seed, salt, and lime. Not one single ingredient I don’t recognize or can’t pronounce. Have I mentioned this is a chip we’re talking about here?! They’re so good I usually end up eating them plain–no salsa needed. In fact, I’m eating them right now.
4. Alfalfa Sprouts
What are the health benefits of sprouts? I don’t know, but I hope it’s something amazing like curing cold sores, erasing forehead wrinkles, or increasing metabolism by 500%. I just know I like them. I started eating alfalfa sprouts last month during my Whole Living Challenge and discovered that I really like them on my salads! Cheese wasn’t allowed during the Challenge, so I decided to try to trick my brain into thinking sprinkling sprouts on my salad was just like sprinkling cheese on it. Turns out, not only did it work, but I think I prefer the sprouts! There’s really no flavor to them if I’m being honest–I just like the added texture they add. They’re fun to eat!
Edited to add: I researched the health benefits of sprouts and they sound pretty darn good to me. Like how I publish first, research later? Kind of like how I tend to “speak first, think later” in life.
5. My new glass water bottle:
I’m sure this is boring for most of you, but I have this ridiculous love affair with glass storage that has finally infiltrated my preference in water bottles. I picked up this Ello Glass Water Bottle for $10 at Target and it is now a more common presence in my hand than my iPhone–and that’s saying something. I got mine in gray, but it also comes with lime green, red, and blue protective covers. I love this thing!
Mmm….I love those chips and sprouts too!
Ironically, I had an ‘oh-no-she-didn’t’ moment with sprouts this weekend. I brought my own sprouts to a sandwich shop this weekend because they stopped using them! (they are difficult to clean so risky for restaurants)
I love sprouts too.
I want those chips.
I received a sunny yellow trench for Christmas, and adore it. Your berry colored one is wonderful.
Are you truly coming here (to my city)?? I need to know so that I can crash diet and clean my house before you arrive. : )
jbhat
Can you share the ice cream recipe you used? I have the same ice cream machine and tried out a low-fat option once and it did not turn out well! Thanks
Hahaha, Allison, that’s awesome!
@jbhat–Yep! G and I will be there at the end of April. Let’s meet up for a coffee or a drink! That will save you from having to clean your house. And no crash dieting necessary, crazy girl! (Look at me, problem solving.)
@Katie–I made plain vanilla ice cream and it was delicious! I did 2 cups of Half & Half (instead of 2c. of cream) and 1 cup of skim milk (instead of 1c. of whole milk). I followed the rest of the recipe exactly (3/4 c. sugar, 1 T. real vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt). Hope that helps!
Oh my goodness, I have been on a search for a glass water bottle but didn’t want to pay above $25 …it is a water bottle after all! Thanks for sharing, I am going to target tomorrow to stock up on pretty glass water bottles. Yippee!!
fair warning on sprouts–there is not a food-safe way to ensure they are clean to consume. they are very easily contaminated with microbes. i work with a lot of microbiologists and there isn’t a single one that will eat sprouts.
@Ann–So glad I could help!
@prazenjc–Ugh. That’s not good to hear.
Thanks for the info, though!
I just googled archer farms organic blue corn with flax seed and came across your web site. I googled the chips because I wanted to see if anyone else is talking about how good they are. I am addicted to them. They are healthy (I also eat them plain), for sure. But they also taste just perfect. The right amount of salt, perfectly crisp, and very flavorful. I would eat some and hand a few to my dog, and she loves them. She is over 16 years old, and I hope the flax seed does for her what it does for humans.