Thursday Favorites: Coachella Edition

::le squeal!:

Almost all packed and ready to go.
3 straight days of music, desert, sunburn, sweat, food, and chillaxin to the maxin'....ummm yes please.

I'll be vacationing from my blog until Monday, but no worries...the recap will be...
IN... wait for it...SANE.

Favorite #1

One good thing about music...when it hits you, you feel no pain.

Listen to some of the new bands....HERE....go ahead, step outside of your musical box and discover a whole new world of sound. I bet you $20,000,001 that you will find a new band or artist that you like! ::shake hands::

Favorite #2:
The Crew that I'll be Movin' to the Groovin' with...
The Hubs. This will be our Third time going together and I say it'll be the charm.


2008

 


2009 a la no facial hair

 


















The lil Brother Bear.Vincey

And Three of the Coolest People I know. Adam. Jo. and Irish


Don't lie... you know we've all had this face




















They're going to hate me after this.... but I hope they know I love them.... alot....like alot....I sowee.

Favorite #3:
Spicy Pie...the best slice of pizza....EVER!

Source

I will take a picture when I get there. You will see the magical-ness that is this slice of pie. We ate it twice a day for three days...and it was not enough. I will probably eat it all weekend...and cry when I have to leave...like last time.

Favorite #4 Crunchy Coachella Treats
This year, I made some sustenance.

Crunchy Coachella Granola Bars

Ingredients:
4Tbs unsalted butter
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
2 cups Flax Seed and Pumpkin granola
1 cup Rice Crispies
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup pretzel sticks
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. In a medium saucepan, melt together the honey, sugar, and butter.

2. Remove from heat and add granola, rice, raisins, and pretzels. Fold.

3. Spread and press into a 9 by 13 inch pan.... I was a rebel and did not spread it too thin.

I want granola BARS not granola CHIPS.

4. Gently press in the chocolate chips and chill in the fridge for 15 minutes...then CUT!

I cut and then chill, because how the hell was I supposed to taste it if I didn't cut it first? DUH!

Off I go!

Awww Shucks ::Blush::

Hey there, Hi there, Ho there! Hope your Tuesday is going well.
If you're in So Cali, you're like me, enjoying this GORGEOUS weather.

This guy is definitely diggin' the rays. Sonic takes a lot of naps. I wish I were him sometimes.

But right now, I'm happy to be me because I received one of these from a fellow blogger!

Thanks Megan! You're so sweet and thoughtful! Go check her out at Dirty Dishes Daily. She's funny, smart, and knows about good food! What a catch!

So here is what I'm supposed to do:
1.) Thank and link back to the one who awarded you...done and done
2.) Share 7 things about yourself
3.) Pass the award on to some awesome blogs
4.) Contact said bloggers and let them know they are awesome

7 Random Facts:

1. I am a newlywed and was blessed enough to have a Big Fat Filipino/Mexican Wedding. We had about 350 guests. I wish I could blame it on Hubby's big Mexican Family, but my big Filipino family was just as huge-a-shus.


Just some of the girls...






















Some of the boys singing to lil' ol' me




















To accomodate, we had our reception at the LA Union Station...a real running train station.


Before

















After


















2. I don't know how to swim.
I don't like the feeling of water in my nose, I don't like the feeling of being blind, I don't like the feeling that I can drown at any moment.

 
















I don't care that I'm a 5'6 girl standing in a 3 ft. deep pool.
I don't care if I can stand up here....hold me and don't let me go or I'll scratch your face!
I want to learn though...I really do.

3. I don't like Roller Coasters. My tummy is too scared to do the loopty loops.


Source

























It's ok, I'll just meet you guys next to the Churro Stand.

4. I Love Hello Kitty! I worked there while I was in High School AND College.
Even my Bachelorette party was Hello Kitty Themed.

**Fact- Hello Kitty weighs as much as 3 apples and stands 5 apples tall.**

5. I'm ADDICTED to the game Diner Dash.

I get lost in it. And if you try to talk to me, I'll give you Angry Eyes and you will regret the day you crossed me and my beloved game.
I blame it on my mother...she's addicted to Tetris and still to this day.... plays every night.

6. In college, I once made a grilled cheese sandwich for Sergio and we found Jesus' face.
This is our real photo of it...what do you think?


Cheezus Do you see him?




















We contemplated selling it to the media, but we didn't feel right banking on the Lord.
So, Sergio ate it.

7. I've always had this weird affinity towards Maine. Yes, the state. I don't know what it is...but I've always wanted to go there since Elementary School. Maybe something is waiting for me there.

Any bloggers or readers from Maine? I'd like to come visit you....oh and can I sleep over?

Speaking of Bloggers... I pass this on to:
Christine @ Bookishly Boisterous
Rachel @ The Avid Appetite
Chrissy and Lauren @ The Little Yellow Kitchen
V. Furnas @ Life 4 Me By Me

I really can't tell you how many blogs I read on a daily. I would love to tag everyone I follow or comment on regularly. If you want to do it.... do it and say I tagged you! I'll even add you to the list. I love the blogging community and it would be my honor.

Prom, Puberty, and Potatoes

::Hug::

Oh blog world! How I missed you so! Life has been busy and blessed.

REEWIIND ::blooppeopirppelakjpao::

Thursday
It was BUNCO night with my Ladies and I made out like a Food Bandit!
My lovely friend Sue brought me some Vanilla Sugar. Oh, the things I can do with this! Vanilla cupcakes, Vanilla scones, Vanilla Ice Cream, Vanilla butter, Vanilla cream, Vanilla shrimp....ok that's enough Bubba.

I'm a Vanilla FREAK! If I go for Ice Cream, 9 out of 10 times I will choose just plain ol' Vanilla. Never let's me down.

I also got some Amish Friendship Bread. I'm boggled in my brain because I've never heard of such a thing. There are so many directions that my ADD is preventing me from paying attention. I hope I don't screw this up!

The Amish....what will they think of next? 

Friday
One of my teacherly duties this year was to chaperon Prom.
Dollin' myself up? Bringing my Husband for a hot date? Free dessert and Music? Sure, why not.

Before the prom festivities, the other chaperons and I went out to dinner.
*Remember how I told you I spend way too long reading menus...here's proof that I'm horrible with decisions. Here's one of the other teachers telling me to HURRY THE HELL UP.
I can see annoyance in his eyes.


It was a tough choice between the Scampi or the Salmon


















After 3 rounds of "Can you give us another minute" I finally decided on the Scampi.
Then we rushed on out to take some pictures. Here are some of my teacher friends....
yes, we are the cool teachers. :)


I swear my dress wasn't that short!


















Then we arrived at the beautiful Midnight Masquerade.

T and I had coat check duty. Most Boring job in the world. Never sign up for that.

Luckily our hubbies were there to keep us entertained.


You didn't think we'd leave without taking one of these, did you?


















We also had the "pleasure" of watching our youth grind and gyrate on each other. It's safe to say the kids were pretty much trying to make babies through their pants. I was able to stop a couple of kids from eating each other's faces, but really, I didn't want to get in the middle of these hormonally challenged individuals. Plus I didn't want to get any STDs.

The Weekend
One word....STEAK. I don't know what the HECK my body was doing to me, but all I wanted...all I NEEDED was a big fatty piece of steak. Maybe my body was craving Iron? Or whatever else kind of things are in steak?


I feel a bit cruel about taking this picture.


















And you know what goes perfectly with steak?

Readers Project Wifey Wife Week #14-The Savory
Christine's Potato Risotto
adapted from Epicurious.com

Ingredients
1 Tbs butter
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 lb Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/8 in. cubes
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
Coarse kosher salt (I just used regular salt)
1 1/2 cups low salt- chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 finely grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup finely chopped chives

1. Melt butter in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; cover and cook until soft, stirring occasionally (about 7 minutes)

2. Add potato cubes and cayenne pepper; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add chicken broth; bring to a boil. Add more chicken broth a tablespoon at a time if it gets too dry. Reduce to medium heat.


Mister Pot says HELLO!


















3. Add cream and simmer until potatoes are tender but still hold their shape, stirring often (about 10 minutes.

4. Stir in cheese and chives. This is good, people...real good.

Why is cheese so good? It's a gift from God. I'm pretty sure of it!

So here's my little WAH-PAW ::kung fu style:: of flavor. The fat that was leftover from the frying of the steak...umm...yeah I put it...alll...up...in....dere.


 Fat...it's what's for dinner.

Best potatoes on this side of the Mississippi. Forkful of buttery goodness. I wish I could tell you that they were fat free, but then I'd be lying...and I, my friend, wouldn't do that to you.

Tell me Friends

• Have you ever heard of, or had, or better yet MADE Amish Friendship bread?
• Tell me something funny about your PROM NIGHT.

Apple(pie) of my Eye

There are so many little things that made me happy as a clam today.

Something about a perfect Pandora radio mix just really pumps up my morning. This song came on right as I pulled into school and I was  toe tappin', car singing, head boppin' HAPPY.

This version is super cute.

Here's a little secret.... I miss teaching First Grade. I miss it so much that the other day, when I was alone, I dusted off one of my books that I used to read for my First Graders and read it....out loud....in my "teacher voice"..... then I teared up. Sergio thought it was cute...I felt pathetic.

Other little things....
-Hubby made me a sandwich for lunch today. Something about having someone else make your food somehow makes everything special...er.
-I drove a different way home only to find out that it was a bit faster than my usual route. Bonus, it was MUCH more peaceful and so scenic!
-I spent my prep period talking to teachers I rarely talk to and it was entertaining and deeelightful.

And then there were these little gems that added to the colorfulness of my day....

Project Wifey Wife Week #13- The Sweet
Mini Puffed Apple Pies
adapted from Raley's Family of Fine Food Stores

Something about having these mid-week just makes you smile and eat the whole batch by yourself!

Ingredients
2 small green apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp. butter
2 tsp. flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/3 cup chopped pecans
1 sheet frozen puff pastry (1/2 of a 17.5-oz package),thawed according to package directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Put the apples, brown sugar, butter, flour, and cinnamon in a medium microwave-safe bowl, stir, and microwave on HIGH for 2 minutes.

3. Stir and cook for 2 more minutes. Stir in the pecans.

Didn't have pecans, so I used peanuts.

4. Roll the puff pastry out on a lightly floured board into a 10-by 12-inch rectangle and cut into 12 equal pieces.

The pizza cutter should be re-named to everything cutter. Give credit where credits due!

5. Press each square into a muffin tin and fill with a heaping tablespoon for apple mixture.

If there was extra credit for neatness... I would be out of the running.
6. Bake for 12-15 minutes until pastry is puffy and golden brown.

Some call it baked deformities... I call it perfect for holding!

SOOOOOOO GOOOOOD!

Is it sad that I just want to cook the rest of the puff pastry dough unfilled....just to munch on?
I was also the child that begged my mom to fry me some eggroll wrappers, so I can eat them as chips. She never did.

• What is one "little thing" that made you smile today?
• Name one song that makes you happy EVERY time it comes on.