tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10142828208083459412011-12-05T07:44:16.270-07:00Following my two feet and ten toes as I pursue my dream to pursue a career in the culinary industry.Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.comBlogger5251100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-43870614142247336782011-11-03T15:00:00.000-06:002011-11-03T15:00:27.433-06:00

A new blog has been started. Fresh new starts are always fantastic. Enjoy! No Yellow Brick Road

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-43075417078850255172011-07-26T14:12:00.000-06:002011-07-26T14:12:09.293-06:00

And I am telling you the truth. Glacier is an adventure. An immense, wonderful, exhilarating, challenging adventure. I do not have internet access, except when I want to pay for it at the store in town. But I have news! I am engaged! Stephen proposed on Saturday! He proposed at Iceberg Lake during an amazing hike. 5 miles in as boyfriend and girlfriend and 5 miles out ENGAGED!! Just wanted to

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-5338029540279764912011-05-22T19:57:00.000-06:002011-05-22T19:57:18.249-06:00

I am back!! Actually, I was back...but Blogger ate a post. Sad. Following your dreams is important. What they don't tell you is that there is no definitive end to any road we choose to take. Life is a huge adventure. With a bunch of mini journeys, each different from the other. Each challenging. You can't expect life to change and become "easier" or even to make more sense when you make a

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-58267923930699836072011-05-01T09:01:00.000-06:002011-05-01T09:01:22.718-06:00

Happy first day of May. Somehow I only have 3 more weeks of Chef Track and then I will be a professional chef. This scares me. The beginning of a new journey is always the easiest for me. It is easy to jump into something new. There is nothing to lose. Yet. You don't have to prove yourself. Yet. There is a nice, blank slate, and you can only get better from your starting point. But at the end?

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-67918828540323970982011-04-20T09:47:00.000-06:002011-04-20T09:47:01.637-06:00

Do you like cheese? I love it but am ashamed to say that I know very little about it. What I do know revolves around my love for goat cheese, brie, blue cheese, and melty, ooey, gooey cheese in my grilled cheese sandwiches and on top of my nachos. Yesterday, Chef Anthony Hassel had five types of cheese flown in for us to try. He gave us short lesson on cheese. It was about an hour long, but

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-83391140486232337122011-04-19T09:11:00.000-06:002011-04-19T09:11:42.172-06:00

Here's to living without apologies. The most interesting part of the Chef Track program at the Culinary School of the Rockies is the second half of the program where we have the opportunity to work with guest chefs. These chefs are successful and acclaimed in the Boulder/Denver area, if not beyond. They have experienced the trials of working their way up the ladder. Some young, like Chef Jesse

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-58431520386277435432011-04-18T09:36:00.000-06:002011-04-18T09:36:57.631-06:00

This weekend was spent enoying Stephen's company in San Antonio. We had some great food adventures. I am sorry, but if you date a foodie, especially one who is in culinary school, you will gain a great appreciation for food. Thankfully, Stephen has always been an adventurous eater. And, like me, has an affinity for beer over wine. So to start off our vacation, he put together (by himself) a beer

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-8106776645496135792011-04-13T10:29:00.000-06:002011-04-13T10:29:15.914-06:00

Sometimes life is about trying things out and seeing what works and what doesn't work. This week we are in the testing process for our dining room event in school. Two weeks from today, we are holding a 3 course meal for three different seatings. The diners have a choice between 3 soups/salads, 3 appetizers, and 3 entrees. It has been fun so far, but also a strange experience. I am one of the

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-44048021940093632202011-04-11T09:09:00.000-06:002011-04-11T09:09:00.191-06:00

There are times in life where I feel like I have found my stride. I have learned to use these legs and have found my rhythym. I gain momentum and feel unstoppable. These moments feel exhilirating and hopeful. Then I round a corner and there is a hurdle. Actually, there are about 24 different hurdles looming in the horizon. The rush of my good streak has caught up with me and I am left with

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-64429051260461034032011-04-08T08:54:00.000-06:002011-04-08T08:54:35.629-06:00

Let's play a game: Sad Face and Happy Face Sad Face: Long distance relationships are not easy. I miss Stephen. Happy face: It is fun to anticipate our weekends together. We will be in San Anotnio next weekend. I am so excited to explore the cit, relax, and enjoy being with him. I now that eventually we will be in the same place longterm. Until then, I will enjoy beautiful Colorado in the summer

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-51883891926407474132011-04-07T09:20:00.000-06:002011-04-07T09:20:41.676-06:00

I am capable of huge things. I am creative. I am intelligent. I can cook. I can bake. Yet I am in a job where I have an immense amount of responsibility, yet no power or recognition. Phenomenal cosmic powers. Itty, bitty living space. Like the parsley leaf trapped in this potato chip, I feel suffocated and trapped at my job. I walk in to find nothing stocked. Nothing. Well, there were sandwiches

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-10829019272560536202011-04-06T09:29:00.000-06:002011-04-06T09:29:01.019-06:00

It's okay to mess up and make a mistake. It is not okay to make the same mistake twice.If you make the same mistake twice, it means one of two things: You are an idiotorYou don't care And neither of those is a good option. When I was a very little girl, I was terrified of getting in trouble. I was scared of getting anything less than perfect grades. I wanted to be right and good and perfect. And

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-15916755071742000302011-04-05T12:47:00.000-06:002011-04-05T12:47:13.737-06:00

Sometimes we need a reminder of why life is so simply awesome. It isn't suppose to be easy. If anything, we will need plenty of help hands (or claws). At work, we have punch cards. You order 9 coffee drinks and your 10th is free. A man came in and received his 9th punch. I told him that his next drink is going to be free. Instead of getting excited and dreaming up an elaborate treat to spend the

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-28775086775481736272011-04-04T09:03:00.000-06:002011-04-04T09:03:32.708-06:00

Is there an adult within this picture? I don't see one. You see, I do not feel 26 most of the time. And I know that I do not look anywhere near my own age. Like a 3-year-old, I am looking for attention. I am looking for hugs. I am looking for recognition of my talents and accomplishments. I am looking to be seen, appreciated, loved, and all that comes along with being a child in a loving family.

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-77010094093630686692011-04-03T09:12:00.000-06:002011-04-03T09:12:15.603-06:00

This weekend I was thrown into the fire. I had an assignment to spend a shift in a restaurant kitchen. Any restaurant kitchen of my choosing. Of course, that kitchen was required to say yes to having an inexperienced, high strung girl running around it. I wanted a place that I did not think I would enjoy working in. Somewhere with snobby clintelle. Somewhere that made emaculate food under well

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-55590289660367572332011-03-31T09:32:00.000-06:002011-03-31T09:32:47.653-06:00

Make it happen. This is what Chef Jesse Yoh from Happy in Boulder said to me during class. This resonated with me far beyond what it means in the kitchen. In the kitchen, you are required to come up with cool ways to bring butts into your restaurant's seats. You want to create awesome meals that will wow them and have them drooling over their next experience with your food. It doesn't matter what

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-66317578343057165972011-03-30T08:56:00.000-06:002011-03-30T08:56:20.175-06:00

Fear. Something that you are irrationally afraid of. Yet fears can be much more limiting than that one, simple definition. Fears hold us back. Sometimes fears can keep us safe and in our own personal bubbles. Fear keeps us surviving, but does it help us in LIVING our lives? During the second week of culinary school, I chopped the tip of my thumb off with a Japanese mandolin. Yesterday, guest

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-42366996760372097312011-03-28T23:50:00.000-06:002011-03-28T23:50:39.327-06:00

Life is simple. Be aware, take everything in, breathe, smile, enjoy. Cry, if needed. Take pride in that you are present within your very own present. Accept who you are and the things about you that ake you shine just a bit extra. When I smile, my eyes get very squinty. Especially if I am smiling and laughing at the same time. But sometimes life doesn't always go as planned. Like the meal we

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-49260659081318605902011-03-28T09:54:00.000-06:002011-03-28T09:54:23.164-06:00

It is time for a personal post. RECOVERY is an extremey loaded word for so many of us. So much more of a journey than the direct path we all thought it would be. Yet, keeping up the fight and clearing new paths is necessary if you want to ever be "free". Beneath all of the layers of crap that we throw on ourselves, our minds, our presents and futures, is some pure and simple...our heart, our

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-28700879220666871022011-03-25T21:13:00.000-06:002011-03-25T21:13:09.352-06:00

Do you ever feel like eating out by yourself? Tonight I did, but I have to admit that I felt a bit apprehensive. I wanted a nice quite atmosphere, without it being empty. I wanted good food that was not pricey. I wanted a place where other people were relaxing by themselves enjoying some food. I thought I was asking for a bit much, but I did find a nice llittle spot off of Pearl Street. Saxy's

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-73901361119665086832011-03-24T09:15:00.000-06:002011-03-24T09:15:09.992-06:00

Life is huge. Vast. Enormous. Yet it is so easy to feel like we are our own little bubble. Like a layer of cake trapped within layers of frosting. Even if the cake is a chiffon cake and the frosting is a chiffon buttercream (made beautifully, thank you very much), seeing yourself as something so concrete and full of form is quite limiting. It is easy to put on a happy face. To apply make up on

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-24442610539422432312011-03-23T09:18:00.000-06:002011-03-23T09:18:47.217-06:00

Good morning. Yes, that is me first thing is the morning. Untamed hair. No makeup. For some reason I feel happy to be here this morning and I feel beautiful. Why? Did I do anything extra excellent? Did I find out that I have the top grades in class? Have I gotten a job offer? Has anything "good" happened? Nope. I am simply thankful for the pure fact that I can see clearly again instead of being

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-23958841992635481822011-03-22T09:04:00.000-06:002011-03-22T09:04:44.218-06:00

I take life personally. What happens to me, what I do, where I go, who I know, etc, are all terribly important to me. What I have trouble accepting is the fact that everything passes eventually. Nothing lasts forever, even the wonderful moments. I spend so much time fretting about and planning for the future. Guess what? The future will never be here. All I have is the present. All I have is

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-36141995959102945652011-03-20T20:44:00.000-06:002011-03-20T20:44:03.824-06:00

I have spent much of this past month with my head both up in the clouds and buried in the sand. I have been trying to figure out my own identity. It did not occur to me that my identity cannot be something I create. It is something I am. I am here in the present, living, whether or not I define myself in a certain way. With this thought, I am returning to my tiny corner of the internet after a

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-79146047104000022912011-03-03T21:38:00.000-07:002011-03-03T21:38:41.033-07:00

I have been struggling to breathe these days. I know that I have allowed myself to dive straight into all of the stress (good and bad) that is present in my life these days. Clearly I have every right to be stressed, there is a lot:Culinary school: We learn a lot during the 6 hours of night class. We are each running around trying to absorb everything and get our hands on each and every element

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-80800765447585741342011-03-01T09:02:00.001-07:002011-03-01T09:03:44.775-07:00

I have been absent for a week, but I am back in full force with a month wrap up for January. I can never miss these posts, because they remind me of how much can happen in such a short amount of tie. February is a short month, but boy was it a mighty month! Wrap up!  Person of the month: Lisa from culinary class gets this award. She gives me a rie home every night from class. Even though Boulder,

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-19436810147326161642011-02-22T09:13:00.000-07:002011-02-22T09:13:48.704-07:00

Sometimes feeling good about your life involves remembering the things that make you feel good a long time ago. As chidren or even young(er) adults, there were things that we would do without thinking that made us happy. They made us feel good, whether it was a favorite CD or a favorite food. I spent a good part of the morning rolling around in bed enjoying the warmth of the covers and simply

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-66059635200119161042011-02-20T18:07:00.000-07:002011-02-20T18:07:30.654-07:00

Life feels a lot better at the end of this weekend. Signs that I am doing better: I catch myself talking and humming to myself. A lot. When I am too far inside of my mind and thoughts, I get earily silent. I'm in a good place when I'm a bit chatty, even if it is by myself. I don't avoid people I know in stores or out in public (aka: I don't isolate). When I'm not doing well, I avoid interaction.

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-17776033477172005252011-02-18T09:29:00.000-07:002011-02-18T09:29:08.496-07:00

Since I have been in Colorado, I haven't done much baking on my own. It was something I do nearly every day in Texas. After baking for a few hours yesterday, I realize why I loved having that outlet in my life. Every chef will tell you that every chef is either all sweet or all savory. You love pastry or you love cooking. No one is half and half. I beg to differ. I am both baker and cook. I do

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-70269802795996560252011-02-17T10:25:00.000-07:002011-02-17T10:25:50.939-07:00

Choices Some people sit, some people try.Some people laugh, some people cry. Some people will, some people won't.Some people do, some people don't. Some people believe and develop a plan.Some people doubt never think that they can. Some people face hurdles and give it their best.Some people back down when faced with a test. Some people complain of their miserable lot.Some people are thankful for

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-26277053624904686222011-02-13T21:48:00.000-07:002011-02-13T21:48:33.116-07:00

29 Gifts - Day 7 - Give Love In honor of Valentine's Day and my weekend with Stephen, I gave love today. I gave my love to Stephen over three years ago and I still give as much as I can every day. We are not together as often as we would like to be these days, but I still love him the same way. I hate the thoughts of not seeing him for another month. But I know that everything is temporary. We

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-90348990121007241662011-02-13T08:25:00.000-07:002011-02-13T08:25:48.683-07:00

I am quickly learning that Boulder and Denver are extremely fantastic foodie towns. There are so many restaurants that use local and fresh ingredients. And the restaurants are mostly originals that you would be proud to take nearly anyone to enjoy. So far, we do not have an exact favorite out of the places we have tried. They are all taking our breaths away and leaving us with full (somteimes)

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-20087110202232616372011-02-11T22:34:00.000-07:002011-02-11T22:34:16.553-07:00

Stephen is here this weekend and we have been exploring Denver and Boulder. You see, although I have been here for 4 weeks, I have not had the opportunity or the people with which to explore dining options around town (and Denvert). Plus, I have the added bonus of having free meals both at school and at work. Therefore, going out to eat isn't a necessity. But this weekend is all about exploring

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-8409830255396367822011-02-09T23:40:00.000-07:002011-02-09T23:40:13.518-07:00

29 Gifts: Day 6 - Giving something a chance It's fun to try new things. But sometimes it is super scary to change things up and try something that you may not be good at. Today I tried a new class at the gym called Bump and Grind. It's a choreographed dance class, and the choreography is not easy (at all) for a beginner! But I decided to try anyways.I will be honest. It was a little frustrating.

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-50768811466874560412011-02-08T23:31:00.000-07:002011-02-08T23:31:34.167-07:00

Day 5 of 29 Gifts - Compliments It seems like such a small gesture, but giving comeone a compliment can really change his or her day. I know that I feel amazing when someone does something as simple as compliment my new hat or my boots. It is even more awesome when someone compliments my abilities or passions. It makes me feel like I am doing something well in my life. Compliments I gave today:I

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-15241350273486747492011-02-07T23:57:00.000-07:002011-02-07T23:57:56.053-07:00

A quick post to reflect on another day of giving. Day 4: Giving to good causes. Through 29 Gifts, I found out about Greatergood.org. It has many cool causes that you can donate to. You can make as small a donation as $1. This sounded perfect for me as a good way to give something today. You know how I am with money, it is hard for me to let go of it. So even giving a few dollars is a huge deal.

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-48266103761639597162011-02-06T21:18:00.000-07:002011-02-06T21:18:43.937-07:00

29 Gifts- Day 3 Today's gift was a simple one. The woman I am living with has to take pictures of all of the stuff she is giving to her ex husband. She has been dealing with the divorce like a trooper and has the burden of sorting and dividing everything the way he wants it. She doesn't have a camera, so today I gave her my camera to use while I was at work. It was the least I could do to help

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-37625177179854007272011-02-05T20:23:00.000-07:002011-02-05T20:23:43.876-07:00

29 Gifts - Day 2 - Honesty, a gift for others and myself Today I decided to give my honesty and own up to something I did. I could have easily lied. Blamed someone else. Play it off like it wasn't my fault. But I didn't. I took the blame. I gave my honesty and was true to myself.Last night was a long, hard night at work. We had a band, so instead of closing at 9:00 like usual, the band didn't

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-38287476000510514612011-02-04T14:19:00.000-07:002011-02-04T14:19:38.860-07:00

I spend a lot of time trying to plan for tomorrow. I make lists of everything I want to do and need to do. I think about possible places to go, possible meals to eat, possible classes to take at the gym...the list goes on and on. To put it simply, I spend a lot of time outside of NOW. Yesterday I learned about a website, called 29 Gifts. For 29 days, you give one gift a day. It can be a gift to

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-9427577327050713602011-02-03T08:48:00.000-07:002011-02-03T08:48:00.101-07:00

This post has a review, some culinary school goodies, and thoughts after being in Colorado for 3 whole weeks! Rudi's Bakery - A review! Boulder has many cool local food companies that many of you have probably heard of. It is a great place if you like supporting local businesses. One local bakery that I have grown to love is Rudi's Organic Bakery. They make delicious bread products including

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-62300785760464966902011-02-02T08:57:00.000-07:002011-02-02T08:57:45.533-07:00

February has started! Things to celebrate this month: American Heart MonthPlant the Seeds of Greatness MonthInternational Boost Self Esteem MonthInternational Embroidery MonthInternational Expect Success MonthLibrary Lovers' MonthNational Snack Food MonthPotato Lovers MonthResponsible Pet Owners MonthWise Health Consumer Month Things to do to celebrate:Get a library card and use it!Try a new

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-7066177914490235992011-01-31T23:43:00.000-07:002011-01-31T23:43:45.949-07:00

January is over and done. Well, there are 20 minutes left in my part of the world.It is time for a month wrap up. A lot has happened this month, and I know that a lot will continue to happen this year. It surely won't be a boring one at all. Person of the month: Chef Michael. He has been such a great chef in class. He is balancing teaching our class and the culinary arts class. I have no idea how

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-6359581242361608742011-01-30T20:57:00.000-07:002011-01-30T20:57:54.462-07:00

Last night, before I lay myself to sleep to the words of Anthony Bourdain, my mind was racing. I wanted nothing more than to walk upstairs, grab a ton of food, and...well, you know the rest. This would have been an easy way to solve my axieties. It would have been a quick fix to calm myself down, exhaust my body, and sink into a dizzy, shaky, state of rest. Instead of using my quick fix, I tried

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-56886929225281647162011-01-29T20:21:00.000-07:002011-01-29T20:21:17.329-07:00

"Turn your wounds into wisdom." ~Oprah Winfrey Life is too short to regret anything that has happened. Everything you have ever done has led up to where you are now. Even those horrible moments or injuries that you try your hardest to forget. Wound: An unhealthy relationship with food, exercise, and my body. I have struggled with restricting, overexercising, and bingeing. Wisdom: Loving myself

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-44067269969285752822011-01-28T22:18:00.000-07:002011-01-28T22:18:06.188-07:00

"What a wonderful life I've had! I only wish I'd realized it sooner." ~Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette Life is spent too often in fast forward. We are always looking ahead as far as we can see, around every sorner we can find, to get where we want to go. We forget to live right now and realize that life is actually pretty cool in the present. I know that I am regularly guilty of living in the future. I

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-54385602674598421512011-01-27T20:58:00.000-07:002011-01-27T20:58:48.820-07:00

"Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." ~Lewis Carroll Today is Charles Lutwidge Dodgson's (aka Lewis Carroll) birthday. I adore Alice in Wonderland, so in honor of this brilliant master of nonsense, here are seven (why stop at 6?) impossible things that I believe in today: I believe that I will one day be recognized for my creativity and talent with food. I

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-88375647126482442822011-01-27T10:05:00.000-07:002011-01-27T10:05:39.102-07:00

I have picked a winner for the Rudi's Bread Giveaway! Karissa from CardioFoodie! Congrats, and I hope Houston is being kind to you. High altitude highlights: I have reached the 2 week mark in Boulder! In these two weeks, I have managed to take the wrong bus two times, find a job (yay), chop the tip of my thumb off, and survived 2 weeks of culinary school. I made it through the week of being Team

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-32387549310783915332011-01-26T11:38:00.000-07:002011-01-26T11:38:28.373-07:00

"When you find yourself tightening; a knot in the stomach, a clenched jaw, tightened shoulders, you are living in a moment of fear and separation. Gently pull yourself back into the moment by connecting to something real in the moment; that flower, that ceiling fan, the rush of the traffic, the breeze gently blowing across your skin. Let all of it in without judgement. Be the I Am with What Is.

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-77060857852610437502011-01-25T09:10:00.000-07:002011-01-25T09:10:01.226-07:00

What do you get when you combine Astrid and a mandolin slicer? It was bound to happen at some point during my 18 weeks of training. Why not get it over with during the second week when I am Team Chef? Way to go, Astrid! I was out of commission, because it would not stop bleeding. I did try wrapping my finger in about 5 bandaids, some finger covers, and a glove after about an hour. But then blood

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-35858613089491173222011-01-23T20:39:00.000-07:002011-01-23T20:39:39.762-07:00

I have a confession. I watch reality weight loss shows. Part of me enjoys them. Part of me wants to throw my tv (or computer) on the ground and smash it. These shows can be super motivational for anyone wanting to live a more active and healthful lifestyle. You get to see people go from no activity, mostly processed food diets, and zero self esteem, to being exercise demons, whole food eaters,

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-14660757728978761912011-01-22T20:23:00.000-07:002011-01-22T20:23:29.176-07:00

I have excellent news. I have been offered a position with Caffe Sole. It is a nice combination of local food, beer, wine, art, and music. And a bonus, it is located right next to the culinary school! I will be cooking and also training as a barista. I am so excited to find out more details and hopefully start working soon! Black Swan I had a movie date with myself today. I packed myself a lunch

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-3490142032221352022011-01-21T20:22:00.000-07:002011-01-21T20:22:53.109-07:00

It's time for a giveaway! If you have been visiting the past few days, you may have noticed that I have been eating a lot of Rudi's organic bread. I decided to contact the people at Rudi's Organic Bakery to see if they would be interested in a giveaway. Good news for you: Rudi's is going to give some bread to one lucky winner. Trust me, you should definitely take this opportunity, because it is

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-19618714455298268602011-01-20T20:50:00.000-07:002011-01-20T20:50:39.947-07:00

On January 20, 1885, the roller coaster was patented by L.A Thompson of Coney Island, NY. I adore roller coasters. That is, the amusement park ride. Life can be a huge roller coaster, too. There are ups and downs and in betweens. The funny thing is that the in betweens on a roller coaster are usually really boring. You can equate this to living life in a safe zone, or merely surviving from day to

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-12522533486932000512011-01-20T09:07:00.001-07:002011-01-22T17:33:00.612-07:00

This is what I see everyday. Feel free to oooo and aaahhh. I have been in Boulder for one full week and am finished with my first full week of culinary school! It is a part time program, 5-10:30 Monday-Wednesday, so I have a nice long weekend to practice my skills. Which this weekend will be all about cutting up carrots. Lots of carrots. Oh don't worry, I will share pictures of my beautiful

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-22770876504420001822011-01-19T09:45:00.000-07:002011-01-19T09:45:23.926-07:00

When you make a big change to pursue a dream, it will not be all sunshine, rainbows, and puppy dogs. No, sir. It is not going to be easy. And even a few days into it, the world will try to knock you down. It sucks. It does not feel good. But it is necessary to give you motivation to fight back. In honor of feeling down at times, It's completely normal and okay to: Feel smooshed when the man at

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-70340360743679179212011-01-18T09:17:00.000-07:002011-01-18T09:17:00.049-07:00

"We write to taste life twice." ~Anais NinThis is so tre. I cannot count how many times I have smiled, laughed, or cried when reexperiencing moments through my writing. Something cool: It is National Hot Tea Month. Weird...I have been drinking more tea this month than in my entire lfe. I am loving how soothing it is. Even my morning chai is soothing. Did you know that Celestial Seasonings has its

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-13437043792296204992011-01-16T21:22:00.000-07:002011-01-16T21:22:13.502-07:00

Thank you for making me feel less lonely. It is impossible to feel lonely when you read the blogs of people you care about, get sweet comments from amazing readers, get constant texts and phone calls from Stephen, and have a great phone call from dad. I am feeling slightly better. Fresh air, a cool museum, and my dad have made me feel a little more at peace. My dad has always been so proud of me

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-38336262086711953932011-01-15T20:54:00.000-07:002011-01-15T20:54:10.769-07:00

I never thought I would meet someone who was more antsy than I can be. The woman I am living with is always go-go-go. She loves to walk (like I do) and walks super heavy (like I do). It is a little disconcerting to hear her seemingly pace back and forth endlessly. She is so efficient that she accidently put my phone charger away, thinking that it was her son's. When the sound stops, that means

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-80867688023938664932011-01-14T21:12:00.000-07:002011-01-14T21:12:23.727-07:00

"I've learned that life is tough, but I am tougher." ~Andy Rooney This quote is very appropriate for me right now. Not that life is necessarily tough. But tough times have made me put a lot of things into perspective. So now being in Boulder is super fun and exciting, and not as stressful as it could be. I have grown a lot since I moved to Texas 3 and a half years ago. I am no longer escaping

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-83337180405693668302011-01-13T20:36:00.000-07:002011-01-13T20:36:51.634-07:00

I am officially in Colorado. This is really happening. I walked out of my house this morning, turned around, and this is what I saw. Gorgeous mountains. I actually stopped and jumped up and down with excitement. I haven't seen a view like this in such a long time. And knowing that I will be seeing this every single say for a few months seems unreal to me. Oh. There is snow, too! Everywhere. So

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-34997760166933729672011-01-11T19:43:00.000-07:002011-01-11T19:43:43.392-07:00

I have discovered a new body image hero. Winnie the Pooh. I was in a crappy mood last night and declared that I had turned into a rain cloud. With raindrops all over my face. I then started to sing "I'm just a little black raincloud" from Winnie the Pooh and the honey tree. This inspired me to watch the song on You Tube. The episode of Pooh starts with him doing his toe touching exercises. It

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-822550476937564112011-01-10T19:56:00.000-07:002011-01-10T19:56:20.099-07:00

Two days until Colorado! Far too soon, in my opinion. I can't think straight! Whatever writing powers I usually have are taking a break right now, so bare with me please. I also can't exacty make much progress packing. You see, there is a little problem... Ginger is relaxing in my underwear.  am going to miss her so much. For now, I will delay my packing so that she can be comfortable. She truly

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-88232895076688291062011-01-09T19:42:00.000-07:002011-01-09T19:42:31.685-07:00

Today we had lunch with Granny, mom, and Hannah, in Waco. I wanted to see them all one last time before I move to Colorado. I also got to see Malcom. We adopted Malcom August of 2009 when he was about 5 months old. He wasn't a very big dog back then. Now he weighs about 90 pounds. He is  beautiful boy. He is some type of Catahoula mix. Big and sturdy. Hi Malcom! A fun blog quiz is going around.

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-41895140556895222572011-01-08T20:09:00.000-07:002011-01-08T20:09:27.067-07:00

"Although it may be terrifying to get out of your comfort zone, it's very exciting to start a new chapter in your life." ~Katie Couric I agree. It is terrifying to think that on Wednesday I will be climbing aboard a plane and flying to Colorado for a nice adventure. Part of me wants to stay here in my little safety bubble and not try the culinary world. But I know that would be silly. I was brave

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-38238945762702612472011-01-08T08:20:00.000-07:002011-01-08T08:20:34.366-07:00

The final Puerto Rico post. If you missed the others, here they are:Day 1Day 2Day 3 On Thursday, we left Ponce. Here you can see the letters of PONCE as we drive away from the city. We are on our wy to San Juan. We wanted to spend the morning in El Old Juan so that we could enjoy the city and have some lunch before checking into our hotel (with internet!). San Juan is where the cruise port is

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-4081456723515515912011-01-06T18:07:00.001-07:002011-01-07T21:55:46.730-07:00

I hope you have been enjoying my little tour of Puerto Rico. If has been a quick week here, but definitely a very full one. Spiritually full. Family full. Food full. And culture full. If you missed anything, here are the posts for Day 1 and Day 2. Before we get into some more Puerto Rico and recap my Wednesday, I want to wish everyone a happy January 6, which is Three Kings Day or Dia de los

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-89430590379279419872011-01-06T14:18:00.000-07:002011-01-06T14:18:20.953-07:00

Puerto Rico has been a nice experience. My dd has it right when he says that it is the type of vacation that makes you feel really good. It has been overwhelming seeing so much family, most of whom I have not seen in 5 years. I do love seeing them though, and although there isn't much to say, there is always plenty to keep me occupied and happy on a trip to this beautiful island. Amazing things

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-23192966948183047002011-01-03T19:40:00.000-07:002011-01-03T19:40:04.331-07:00

I have always loved airports. I love the anticipation of a vacation and knowing that in a few short (or very long) hours, I will be somewhere new. It have always felt like magic to me. These days, airports are a little bit more stressful. I usually am not stressed, but it seems like everyone else in the universe is. I actually see traveling time as a time to finally let go and relax. It isn't

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-64283828195321372622011-01-02T20:43:00.000-07:002011-01-02T20:43:25.823-07:00

Stress is always fun. It causes you to revert to all of your coping mechanisms. It causes someone who is resolving to be nicer to herself spend money on herself to go to stores just for the shear pleasure of abstaining from buying anything. I know that I do this to feel "superior" to everyone "weak" enough to spend money on things they "don't need". It's control...and funny enough, I feel

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-21618698405584849302011-01-01T20:53:00.000-07:002011-01-01T20:53:26.260-07:00

Everyone always has the same resolutions. Eat healthier, exercise more, be more punctual, be more organized, etc. For me, what I need is the opposite of the "traditional" resolutions and goals. I want to be more relaxed and enjoy this year. My overall goal is to start loving my life. I do love the fact that I am alive and I love life. But I have not been loving my life over the past few years. I

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-85643214225988883382010-12-31T20:20:00.000-07:002010-12-31T20:20:32.653-07:00

Astrid's 2010 Awards! I know that I have been posting list after list after list these past few days. Now I want to take the time for a little awards ceremony. Person of the yearThis award can only go to Stephen. We have gone through some rough patches this year, but it is competely understandable. Most couples do not spend as much time together as we do. We spend almost 24 hours together when

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-3851867712963717372010-12-30T20:09:00.000-07:002010-12-30T20:09:25.448-07:00

2010 RECAP PART II You cannot have a blog that talks about food without talkng about some great restaurants. Here are my 12 favorite restaurants of this year. In no particular order. Top 12 Restaurants of 2010 Barnaby's in Houston, TX - This restaurant might be my new favorite in Houston. The menu is quite simple and the food is absolutely delicious. It is the type of restaurant that I would not

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-64089557241860223322010-12-29T20:39:00.000-07:002010-12-29T20:39:35.660-07:00

YEAR WRAP UP PART 1 There are only two full days left in this year, so I want to take some time to reflect on some of my favorite things this year. These are taken from my monthly wrap ups, with some other additions along the way. Enjoy and reflect on your own favorites from the year. Thinking back, it is making me realize that a lot happened this year and that maybe it did not fly by as quickly

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-48736267943483124762010-12-28T20:59:00.000-07:002010-12-28T20:59:27.311-07:00

Have you ever stopped and thought about why you do what you do? Today I have been thinking about why I love cooking and art so much. I realized that I got into both of these passions when I was starting my recovery. They were both ways to connect to the younger me - my inner child. The me before I started focusing on being "perfect" and "impressive". Why cooking? When I was little, I really

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-54260858793377137032010-12-27T20:04:00.001-07:002010-12-31T15:31:20.121-07:00

"I write for the same reason I breathe - because if I didn't, I would die." ~Isaac Asimov The last days of the year always leave me questioning my priorities in life and how the quality of my life. What is it that I absolutely need in order to live? Anyone can survive under any conditions, but what do you need to thrive and live and be your most genuine self? When I was seeing my therapist, she

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-61165061205029800382010-12-26T20:03:00.001-07:002010-12-31T15:40:59.575-07:00

"Develop an interest in life as you see it; the people, things, literature, music, the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself." ~Henry Miller What are some treasures, souls and interesting people that you want to get to know better during the last week of this year and during the next year? Here are some of mine: Treasuring

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-88940976069931656432010-12-25T20:38:00.000-07:002010-12-25T20:38:21.455-07:00

Now that I am home, I have had time to reflect on my favorite parts of Vegas. Here is a collection of our favorite restaurants, shows, and places for a drink in this amazingly fun city. Food Raffles Cafe. This restaurant is located in Mandalay Bay, so we stopped here for a bite to eat before looking around the shark reef. Apparently this cafe is open 24 hours. This is good to know for the next

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-3185558948598934982010-12-24T23:38:00.000-07:002010-12-24T23:38:52.584-07:00

"How did it get so late so soon? It's night before it's afternoon. December is here before it's June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?" ~Dr. Seuss I have no idea how it is already the last week of December, the last week of the year, the night before Christmas, and my trip to Vegas is over. It almost seems as if all of this (the year, the trip) never even

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-75036674496597583342010-12-23T09:48:00.000-07:002010-12-23T09:48:06.416-07:00

Another quick recape of Vegas as I wait for Stephen to wake up! Christmas time in Vegas. There are lots of funny decorations. Including a scandalous Santa. I thought this was hilarious! Lunch was at Max Brenner's restaurant. Chocolate by the Bald Man. I would love to take kids here. It is a chocolate paradise. The chocolate looks great, but we experienced the great food. The waitress told me

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-64755955538599646482010-12-21T18:50:00.000-07:002010-12-21T18:50:16.813-07:00

A quick recap of the day so far! This is the view from our hotel room. It is on the 24th floor and we have 2 windows with this amazing view. Today is a bit dreary and sprinkly, so this would be a nicer view with some sun. Treasure Island has a few awesome motorcycles. This one is awesome. It's a motorcycle made out of a woman's body. Pretty awesome pieces of art in a casino, if you ask me.

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-1471298861548300462010-12-19T19:33:00.000-07:002010-12-19T19:33:57.261-07:00

Quick post today because I need to start packing. Lunch was an at home endeavour this Sunday. We are conserving money for our trip to Vegas, which for some reason starts tomorrow. I don't think I am quite ready for this. At all. Stephen's sandwich: Grilled cheese with bacon and tomato. My sandwich: cheese, avocado, tomato, and spinach.Sandwiches are a food group to me. I could eat them for

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-85393035788004878732010-12-18T20:12:00.000-07:002010-12-18T20:12:25.330-07:00

I am learning something about balance these days. I feel silly, because although I can do a headstand (without a wall) for 3-4 minutes, I have issues balancing in life. Balancing food. Too many treats gives me a tummy ache. Too many veggies gives me a tummy ache. So the clear answer is to balance both. Enjoying a cookie after a meal or for a snack is GREAT. So is having some carrots with that

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-81737282234677566182010-12-17T20:25:00.000-07:002010-12-17T20:25:23.844-07:00

The winners of the Siggi's gift certificates are Rebecca and Jess! Congrats! Today I was pretty productive:I cleaned the kitchen. Completely. I even scrubbed the floor. I felt a little like Cinderella.I made banana muffins in the morning for breakfast.I bought 5 books for 18 dollars at Hastings. Talk about a steal!I started working on Stephen's present. I am pretty excited about it!!I watched

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-38185828326818236442010-12-16T21:17:00.002-07:002010-12-20T11:27:06.169-07:00

Today I had a baking mission to complete. I had to prepare a goodie bag for a friend of mine that has provided so many good references for me and such amazng help in applying for jobs and culinary school. He deserves far more than baked goods, but this was the best I could do for right now. I made brownies and cookies this morning, and packed up some peanut brittle and shortbread bars. The

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-72209811095222884902010-12-15T20:30:00.001-07:002010-12-31T15:22:22.319-07:00

I love the holidays. This is mostly because as a kid it felt so magical to me. I loved how happy people looked, and how happy and excited I felt when I ran through the toy store dragging my dad behind me, pointing at everything I saw. "Daddy, I want that, and that, and that, and that...." These days, I still love Christmas. I love hanging up christmas lights, having a reason to bake too many

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-60737400078337302072010-12-14T19:37:00.000-07:002010-12-14T19:37:43.919-07:00

"I delight in what I fear." ~Shirley Jackson I do not delight in what I fear. I am scared of what I fear. And currently I am feeling quite scared of a few things in my life. I am scared of the bored rut I have sunk into the past few days. But more than that, I am scared of things that are occurring in the far too near future. In less than a month I have two trips, presents to finish buying, and a

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-21612537072027888552010-12-13T19:58:00.000-07:002010-12-13T19:58:47.336-07:00

"When I knew nothing, I thought I could do anything." Robert Duvall When you ask a child what they dream of doing with their lives, you will hear big things. A child wants to become an astronaut, they want to be in a movie, they want to travel to China. And the beauiful thing is that they truly believe that these things are possible. Why can't they become a version of their personal super hero?

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-71875820645658978202010-12-12T20:23:00.000-07:002010-12-12T20:23:58.564-07:00

You know you should cook for a living when: It is not uncommon to more than 1 bread product from scratch in a dayYou plan your activities around baking and cooking timesYou use extra snacks in your baking so that you actually eat them (kind of like hiding veggies in food for kids)You critique your own food. To yourself.When you eat at a restaurant you think about how you would make certain dishes

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-26433251396334514632010-12-11T20:18:00.000-07:002010-12-11T20:18:57.363-07:00

Today's Awemanac page says that it is LAUGH OFF YOUR HOLIDAY STRESS DAY. This is the perfect time for a day like this. Since it is only 2 weeks away from Christmas and I have not bought very many presents, I am starting to get stressed. You see, I am running out of time to get things shipped by the big day, and we also leave for Vegas in about 9 days. So lots of planning and lots of buying left

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-37697192971108845922010-12-10T22:20:00.000-07:002010-12-10T22:20:51.479-07:00

Welcome to the weekend! My students had their lecture final today so they are offically done with Mineralogy (as long as they passed). I hope they did a good job!! I just wanted to say a nice congrats. They all worked hard and deserve to have it over with. Today's post is quick. My lunch salad and a restaurant experience. Enjoy! I made another lunch salad with brusseul sprouts and leftover

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-65763969645344814142010-12-09T19:18:00.000-07:002010-12-09T19:18:35.157-07:00

I have been reading Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl. It is brilliantly written, about her life as a New York Times restaurant critic. I have never read such words about food. It makes me long to learn more about cooking and to experience more restaurants. Here is a favorite passage: "....while cooking demands your entire attention, it also rewards you with endlessly sensual pleasures. The

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-68174623277208325462010-12-08T19:41:00.000-07:002010-12-08T19:41:19.928-07:00

"Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness." ~ James Thurber This is a perfect quote for how I am feeling. You see, I just had an amazing treat for dessert. I had a sticky bun and a mug of hot chocolate (recipes later in this post). Just one serving of each, and thoroughly enjoyed. But a small part of my mind cannot help but feel guilt at enjoying such a treat. A

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-27028526365934830572010-12-07T20:00:00.000-07:002010-12-07T20:00:39.931-07:00

Stephen asked me this the other night: If you could teleport right now, where would you go? His answer was Australia, so that he could be somewhere warm and go surfing. When I think about teleporting, I don't think about going on vacations. For me, the act of getting to a new place (plane, train, automobile, etc) is half of the fun. I love the anticipation and all of the fantasies that float

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-91191068330920223502010-12-06T19:41:00.000-07:002010-12-06T19:41:28.367-07:00

I slept in this morning. By a whole hour. No idea how that happened but I am actually proud of my body for this miracle. Maybe one day I will revert back to my earlier days of sleeping in until 10 or 11 when I could. A girl can dream, right? I did a quick morning yoga routine that I remember enjoying from a Yoga Journal issue a couple of years back. You can actually access it online, here. It is

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-91628332098479622422010-12-05T21:00:00.002-07:002010-12-31T15:32:06.187-07:00

Today is Walt Disney's birthday! "The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." ~Walt Disney Appropriately, today I do not have much to say. So I will go ahead and show you what I did. Sophia commented that the marshmallow in my coffee yesterday looked like tofu. The marshmallows do look like pieces of tofu!! I think that is why I am a bit weirded out by them. But I am not weirded

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-66357978701502007422010-12-04T20:02:00.000-07:002010-12-04T20:02:37.457-07:00

Happy Saturday! Can you believe that it is only 21 days until Christmas! And only 27 days until the new year? I can't believe I have so much to think about and plan before the year ends. Time for a list: Finish last project for the class I am takingFinalize my students' gradesBuy and make christmas presentsPrepare for Vegas (20th)Prepare for Puerto Rico (first week of January)Prepare for my move

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-85879539554446093792010-12-03T21:03:00.000-07:002010-12-03T21:03:26.622-07:00

Today I am going to share a page from my Awe-Manac. Spots warranting removal for December and Spot removal 1. People who don't believe in us, people who are crazy-makers, intolenrantly righteous, immoral, untrustworthy, unkind, and chronically cranky How to remove: Create boundaries and in some cases find new people, family, friends. I know that I have people in my life that are like this. I have

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-53757971308495012292010-12-02T20:55:00.000-07:002010-12-02T20:55:31.220-07:00

I am a very special girl. You see, I have issues like everyone else. And there are days when I get in such a funk that I end up collapsing on my yoga mat in tears. No exact reason, really, just some type of self implosion. So what is a girl to do when she is a ball on her yoga mat? Well, Stephen showed up about 30 seconds after the tears were falling and he held me under the sobbing and shaking

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-78298444675650685202010-12-01T22:00:00.000-07:002010-12-01T22:00:58.898-07:00

Happy first day of December. This is it. The last 31 days of the year. December is: National Stress-Free Family Holidays MonthWinter MonthHi Neighbor MonthRead a New Book MonthSafe Toys and Gifts MonthInternational Calendar Awareness MonthUniversal Human Rights Month Today was the last lab I will ever teach as a Teach Assistant as Texas A&M. I will really miss teaching Mineralogy lab, because it

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1014282820808345941.post-34802045018441999792010-11-30T20:08:00.000-07:002010-11-30T20:08:56.580-07:00

November is ending on us, which means it is time for another monthly wrap up. Time to reflect on the highlights of the month and realize that it really did not fly by unnoticed. Please free free to chime in with your own favorites of the month. Person of the month: Joanne (JoJo) Adams. She was my boss at Bowdoin's bake shop for the four years I worked there. Those four years of scooping cookie

Astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104100492873173275noreply@blogger.com7