Make your own Trail Mix

I realize that ages and ages and ages ago I said today would be Munchy Monday, and so it shall!!

I love trail mix. I've always loved trail mix. Salty and sweet and savory in one bag- I'll take it. I recently relocated to my boyfriends hometown for my internship, which acquired The Fresh Market. If you're a fan of organic, healthy, or fresh food ( I don't know why you wouldn't be...), then you would love this place. I know there are Whole Food markets everywhere, but this is an awesome addition to this growing city.

An great thing about The Fresh Market is that they have an extensive corner of trail mix and other goodies for sampling/buying. My favorites include a pumpkin nosh and a berry... something. A delicious berry something.

I leave you with 3 different trail mix recipies. Something sweet. Something spicy. Something savory. Enjoy!

Super Simple Sweet Nothings Trail Mix
http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/sweet-nothings-trail-mix-recipe.htm

Sweet Nothings Trail Mix

Prep and Cook Time 10 minutes

YIELD Makes 10 (1-cup) servings
See Cooking Videos

INGREDIENTS

5	cups rice and corn cereal squares
1‑1/2	cups raisins
1‑1/2	cups small thin pretzel sticks, broken into pieces
1	cup candy-coated chocolate pieces
1	cup peanuts (optional)

 

This one is not my style, so I am not very familiar with spicy trail mixes. It looks pretty hot though!

http://www.thespicehouse.com/recipes/spicy-trail-mix-recipe

 

 

Ingredients

• 1 (9 ounce) package ranch flavored whole grain crackers or thin wheat crackers
• 1 (5 ounce) package Southwestern spiced sweet potato sticks, or 3 cups shoestring potatoes
• 1 (12 ounce) can honey-roasted peanuts
• 1 (3 ounce) package freeze-dried roaster sweet corn, or 4 ounces freeze-dried super sweet corn
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried sage, crushed
• 1 (7 ounce) package chocolate covered raisins

Serves / Yields

13 cups

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 300F.
In a large shallow roasting pan combine the crackers, sweet potato sticks, peanuts and corn.
In a small sauce pan heat butter and sage, over low heat, until butter is melted. Drizzle butter mixture over cracker mixture and mix well.
Bake, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes or until lightly toasted, stirring twice. Spread mixture on a large piece of aluminum foil to cool. When cool, stir in chocoate covered raisins. Store in an airtight container.

http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/savory-trail-mix/971aefe5-2f95-4219-b3ea-3c44b6bebbb5/

3/4

cup toasted whole-grain oat cereal, bite-size squares crisp corn cereal, oyster crackers, cheese-flavored tiny fish-shaped crackers and broken pretzel sticks

4

teaspoons soy sauce

1 1/2

teaspoons Dijon mustard

3/4

teaspoon garlic powder

3/4

teaspoon onion powder

• 1 Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 15x10x1-inch pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix both cereals, both crackers and the pretzel sticks.
• 2 In small bowl, mix remaining ingredients until well blended. Drizzle over cereal mixture; toss to coat evenly. Spread mixture evenly in pan.
• 3 Bake 5 minutes. Stir; bake 3 to 5 minutes longer. Cool completely, about 15 minutes. Store in tightly covered container or resealable plastic food-storage bags.

The Intern

First week, DONE. I have been a marketing intern for about 43 hours as of right now. I have been working away diligently in my OFFICE. I HAVE AN OFFICE. Calling people. Taking calls. Making lots and lots of lists. Decorating. You know I couldn't resist the decorating. Yankee candle just happens to be directly next door. Needless to say, but I'll say anyway, my office smells amazing. People walk by and ask what I'm burning. Pumpkin yumminess, that's what. But about the decorating.

My internship is split between where I currently am and the local CVB. That being said, I simply cannot load down with stuff I own to make everything feel super-duper personal, so I added a touch here and there.

This is my tea set for one. It's sad at home because... well.. it's tea for one, but perfect at work because it's TEA FOR ONE! It also looks adorable on my shelf.

I also added a five wine bottle tea light holder, which I cannot find an image of to save my life.

Moving into an office can be a big moment. It was for me, even though I know when I leave in about a month, my desk and walls and big door go bye bye and I'll have a community office. Desk- yes, my own door- no. Goodness, I've already been spoiled. But I'm still SO excited. A trick when having your own office, is not to over kill this with your excitement. A few photos, a couple trinkets, and some candles offer the homey-ness I prefer without making me feel overwhelmed by stuff. However, I'm not saying that practically living in your office is a bad thing. Well.. it might be, but I don't judge. If your time spent there is excessive and many in years, then what the heck. Add some throw pillows. I honestly thought about bringing my yoga mat for breaks. Now that I'm thinking about it, I still may.

Have fun with your office! Make it feel like your space. I still suggest against fish. You already have enough responsibility at work. No need to add lives to that.

Have a Happy Day!

Creative Pay-It-Forward

Greetings! How is 2013 treating you so far? Three days into the new year and I have bronchitis, but that happens often anyway, so no mad juju there.

Let's get to the point. 

On facebook, a past co-worker of mine had a status update that I thought was PHENOMENAL! So, here it is, in my own words. 

Creative Pay-it-Forward 2013

Post this to facebook, your blog, anywhere people can see it and respond with a private message:

At some point during the year, I will send the first 5 people respond to this something in the mail. Something creative. Something that excites your brilliant little noggins! I can make it, find it somewhere and think YES! this must go to (fill in blank). I'll decide what it is and when I'll send it. I wont tell you what, or when I'm mailing you your nifty little thing-a-ma-bob. All I as is for your current address...AND that you re-post this SOMEWHERE and extend the fun to others you know. If no one responds, that's cool; at least you tried. 

There are several reasons I like this idea. First, who DOESN'T LOVE GETTING PARCELS!?!? TELL ME WHO?!?! I love getting things in the mail. Second, I love all around creativity and little gift giving, especially when there is no pressure from the Holidays, birthdays, etc etc. It also allows people to express themselves in new ways of they want.

So go ahead- Pay it forward in 2013! 

Resolutions

It's that time of year. You know... Where everyone says they want to lose 25 pounds, quit smoking, wake up earlier, then my the second week of the new year, 8 out of ten people ( just a guesstimate) have already failed on their resolutions.

While resolutions are a pretty good idea, I don't understand why people make huge goals only one day a year, putting themselves on such high a pedestal, they almost doom themselves to fail. I mean... Honestly- do you really think you can lose 50 pounds, find your dream job, move across the world, find the love of your life, marry and pay off all your student loans while waking up at 6 am and going to bed at 9 pm? Maybe if you're super human or are just really really good at serious multi-tasking.

With that little rant out of the way, I will now list my logical resolutions.

1. Exercise more. I'm not giving myself a weight goal. If I get there, I get there.
2. Gradually transition to waking up an hour and a half before I have to work.
3. Try to like tomatoes. Just... Try.
4. Blog more. I started this ages ago and from work to school to extra curricular activities, time was not on my side.
5. Calm down more. I'm a pretty chill person, but lets be honest, I get a little more snarky and overactive sometimes.

Just don't over do it. It's perfectly fine to commit to something fully, but remember, you're human.

(three days ago was) Thrifty Thursday

Yes... I'm aware it's Sunday,but I just could not NOT post this...

As a college student I don’t have an enormous amount of money lying around. The only problem with that is the fact that I like to shop! To my advantage, though, is my superpower.

Thriftiness.

My motto? I want to get what I want at a price I am willing to pay. Now this, naturally, leads to the occasional item staying in my online shopping cart for a few months until I see it go on sale.

Most recently I had my eye on these adorable appetizer serving bowls from Hobby Lobby.

I was not about to pay the listed price. Why? I’m cheap. But to be honest, if you are paying for something full priced at Hobby Lobby, you are doing something wrong, but I’ll get to that later. Anywho- the little dishes were so darn cute and because I love to cook and have people over for holidays, little dishes are great for me. The can also be used for more things than just appetizers. Think mini desserts, dips possibly, maybe even for décor if that’s your thing! Now the best part was the price at which I purchased them. All of Hobby Lobby’s Spring Shop was 66% off. Yes, please and thank you, may I have another, Sir. I will certainly pay less than half the marked price for something I wanted. These little cuties don’t even go out of style “in the spring”. They aren’t floral shaped or printed, they aren’t bright colors or pastels- they are beige and at most “leafy looking”.

Hobby Lobby continuously marks down seasonal items, so it is very possible that when things get scarce, items will drop to 80% off (sometimes 90%!). Keep an eye on their sales and you can really snag some great stuff.

Now as I mentioned above, usually if you pay for anything full price at H.L., you aren’t doing something right. Because I live so close to the store, I visit several times a week. If I have a project planned over the weekend, I will slowly gather items for it during the week using the 40% Off Coupon. On www.hobbylobby.com, a weekly (Monday-Saturday) coupon is posted. Now, if you are part of the smart phone world, you can show the cashier the coupon and there you go- all electronic, no killing trees. If you do not have a smart phone, the coupon is printable or you can even find it in one of the newspapers…. No idea which, but I’ve seen it! You can you the e-coupon more than once. Trust me. I’ve done it.

So if you have the time, gather items over the week, or have a buddy come with you to use the coupon, too, because I have realized that usually things that are needed to do a project go on sale at different times (i.e. flowers and glassware). You can save a ton of money by “working the system” and having a bit of patience.

WEEKLY AD
http://www.hobbylobby.com/weekly/entire_ad.cfm

COUPON

http://www.hobbylobby.com/weekly/weekly.cfm

Hobby Lobby- There’s an App for that!

A (Relatively) Wired Wednesday!

So my full time Summer II term classes are in full swing, and one of them is bright and early at 9:15- okay, maybe not super early, but I'm a night owl. Mornings do not like me and I do not like them. Because of this unfortunate pairing at the moment (and any other morning I encounter) I have taken up coffee. 

Now I know what some of you might say. "Coffee is bad for you!" or "Caffeine is horrible for your body!" I'm not a compulsive drinker (all the time), but I know my way around syrups and creamers. I'm no Starbucks barista (YET!) but in my own little apartment, I can sure whip up a mean cup of Joe.

Here are my tips for Java a la Bobbie:

1. Coffee is not to be consumed black. If it isn't tan, it isn't happening. Which leads to...

2. Creamer. I use flavored International Delight. My go to is Hershey's Chocolate Caramel

3. Experiment with stuff in the cabinet. (to an extent)

4. When it's hot out, add ice. I love coffee, ice, I.D. Almond Joy creamer, fat free whipped cream, and coconut blended up all frothy. So. Good.

5. Torani. Amazon- $35 (usually) for a set of six of these babies! Mind you when stock is low, prices increase a bit.

• Regular-   http://www.amazon.com/Torani-Variety-Regular-25-4-Ounce-Bottles/dp/B003PFWNSE/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1341985184&sr=8-8&keywords=Torani  
• Sugar Free Holiday -  http://www.amazon.com/Torani-Sugar-Holiday-Variety-150-Ounce/dp/B005VOOJL6/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1341985184&sr=8-6&keywords=Torani
  
  
• Sugar Free-  http://www.amazon.com/Torani-Variety-Sugar-25-4-Ounce-Bottles/dp/B003PFUNU4/ref=pd_sim_gro_1 

I swear by these. I've had mine for ages because you only need a little bit to add an awesome punch of flavor. Also, buying from Amazon allows for great discounts off the MSRP as well as options for lower shipping or Prime!

While I love making my own coffee concoctions, I still love Starbucks, though. They're my main supplier of Chai Tea and mugs. I just love mugs. Plus their Pumpkin Muffins during the fall are INCREDIBLE.

Health tip:

One thing to remember when drinking coffee is to drink more water. Because coffee is a diuretic, your body can become dehydrated and leave you with an awful, morning after hangover feeling. Drink. Water. 

Some of you, though, may like your coffee black and nothing but black. While I commend you for your bravery (it is just so BITTER), my coffee will always be beige.

I hope to have inspired to you whip of a few cups of your of imagination! Happy brewing!

Super Sleepy Sunday

I fail. I know I know. I seriously haven't posted in what.. two? Three weeks?
Two jobs and school lead to a very drowsy Bobbie.
Anywhos... Its Sleepy Sunday. A day of rest, worship, family. Whatever floats your boat.

Today's Sleepy Sunday topic will beeeeee.....

How to "Fall-ify" Your Home

I love my apartment. It may not be huge, but its my.. Well my and  my boyfriend's (:D) apartment. As seasons change so do my decor and the smell of my rooms. Here are a few simple steps you can take to make your space more season friendly.

1. Scents
Scents are the strongest connection we have in tracing memories. Have you ever walked into an old home and suddenly remembered something from your childhood at your grandparents? Or perhaps you got a whiff of someones cologne/perfume and remembered what you did last summer (sorry for the pun.. :P)

I change the smell of my little space here using three key elements- Wallflowers, candles, and room spray.
Wallflowers are sold at Bath and Body works. They have cute little "starters" which plug into the wall. For sale are also bulbs full of liquid fragrance, which your screw int the holders, plug in, and the holders heat just a little and fill your rooms with yummy scented what have you. My living room smells like Marshmallow Fireside, my bedroom Cloves... A different scent for every room.

Wallflowers are also great for college dorm rooms as candles aren't allowed.

Candles
I cannot express enough my love for candles. Candle arrangements, singles, three-wick... Just.. Mmm... Candles. Depending on their size candles can really fill a room with a potent fragrance. Last week I burned Autumn from B&BW, today is Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin (Also BBW). I have several Yankee Candles and Potter Barn candles as well, but I've just become partial to BBW. The size of the candle also matters. Bigger surface area means more fragrance to be diffused. Candles also are great decoration. I love my Pottery Barn pillar candle arrangement, though they are unscented, and I also have several in lanterns and holders.

Room Spray

Okay.. Room spray gets a bad reputation. It's usually kept in the bathroom for.. well you know, or used to make the garbage can smell better.
Yes, room sprays are technically used to make things smell better, as are any scented anythings, but they are also very handy. Yet again, B&BW sells rooms sprays. One spray lasts upwards to four hours. They also have sprays that match the candles and wallflowers as well. I personally just use Febreeze. Their Autumn scent works great for my small area and isn't too overpowering for me. The only problem is their fabric refreshers never matches the sprays, so I first mist lavender and vanilla, and then use Autumn .. leaves? I think  and the smells can become intermingled and it just isn't super pleasant.

Don't be afraid to mix scents. Burn two different scented candles at once to create a signature scent. Burn a scented tea candle with a different scented tart in a warmer. Experiment with your scents! You're nose will be surprised at what you've created.

2. Flowers

Simple arrangements, fresh flowers, make your own, pre-arranged. Anything goes. I have mums by my door, fake sunflowers in my wreath, and a mixture in my centerpieces. Flowers are a great way to bring outdoor seasonal pieces indoors.

3. Fabrics
Better Homes and Gardens has fleece throws from $7 at WalMart. $0.97 oven mitts, hand towels, and pot holders.
Blankets, whether printed or just seasonal colors, can transform a room in seconds.  Throw pillows also in seasonal colors (or pillow covers), add comfort and a  dash of color on an other wise blank surface.  Small prints here and there with anything from leaves to pumpkins invite fall inside for a  comforting, cozy feeling.


There you have it. Three simple ways to bring the season into your home. I hope you enjoyed!