Dwelling on Food

Dirk and I went to the Dwell on Design exhibition today and it was SO much fun. We saw a lot of really cool things but the best part was the food forum "The Food Network: Social Media and the Way We Eat." You all know that I love food and everything about food.

All of the presenters were really cool but my favorite was Sarah Gim. She created the website Tastespotting.

I have never heard of this site but it is amazing!!! She talked about how she and a few other people started the site for themselves and it totally took off. Basically you can go on this site, type in almost any word related to food and you will be given amazing pictures and often some killer recipes, like this one.

I'm really excited to plan this week's meals using at least one new recipe from this glorified search engine. I was totally inspired!

Operation Cupcake

If you haven't seen the preview for the movie "Julie and Julia" you need to watch it below.



I am so inspired by this movie that I have decided that I am going to start Operation Cupcake. I am committing to baking one new thing each week for the entire summer, minus the week we're on vacation. Two of my students got wind that I was really wanting the book "Hello, Cupcake!" and bought it for me as a going away present.

Between that book and Bakerella I think I already know the items I want to bake. The thing is that I'm not big into eating sweets and Dirk certainly can't eat all of these sweets on his own so I've decided that I'm going to find someone each week who could use some cheering up and surprise them with a baked good surprise. If you know of someone in the Riverside area who is going through a hard time or could use some cheering up send me a message on Facebook (www.facebook.com/aliciadallas) and I would love to deliver some cheer to their doorstep. I will start this not this coming week but the next week. I would love your help!

Eating My Emotions

I was never an emotional eater and food was never really a reward for me until a couple years ago. Now, I am realizing that I totally eat my emotions. My one big emotional binge is Entenmann's cinnamon powdered "pop'ettes", among other things.

It's the weirdest thing, I'm not even really into sweets but oh those yummy donuts. These things are highly unhealthy. 3 mini donuts have 23% of your daily fat intake along with hydrogenated vegetable oil and who knows what else. The nutrition facts for 3 donuts is not horrific but when I buy these things I can guarantee I will not eat just 3. Oh no, I've got to eat at least 5 in one sitting and usually with a glass of milk. Why is it that "comfort" food is always so unhealthy and so heavy?

I'm curious to know what your comfort food is. Do tell!

Preheatin' the Oven

You've all heard the saying "A Bun in the Oven." Well I call preparing for pregnancy preheatin' the oven. Dirk and I are not trying to get pregnant but I suppose we're also not trying not to get pregnant.

As most of you know I am a planned person. I want conditions to be perfect for every situation and pregnancy is no different. I have been doing all sorts of things to "preheat my oven." I'm taking prenatal vitamins, just bought a recumbent exercise bike to keep up my cardio and now I'm looking into foods and meds to avoid. I don't want to wait until I find out I'm pregnant to stop eating harmful foods, as you're usually a month into your first trimester by the time you find out your pregnant and the first trimester is the most vulnerable and vital to the baby's spinal health.

One big thing I've been trying to research is coffee consumption.

I love my coffee but of course would be willing to give it up. I've searched and searched and can't find much that is conclusive. One book, "Skinny Bitch Bun in the Oven: A Gutsy Guide to Becoming One Hot (and Healthy) Mother!" by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin says this about coffee, "Caffeine is a diuretic...and it drains fluid and calcium from the body, both of which are vital to mom and baby. It can also interfere with your body's ability to absorb iron, which is also detrimental...It can affect your unborn baby: decreased birth weight, smaller head size, jitters, metabolic problems, and even mental retardation." They also go on to say things about increased rate of eventual diabetes and 2 cups of coffee a day increases your risk of miscarriage so why drink one?


Now, I don't believe everything I read and this book so far seems to be on the very extreme side of healthy, one of those take what you believe and leave what you don't type of books. However, without conclusive evidence and the potential of risks to pregnancy I guess I'm going to have to give up my morning coffee. Starting this week I'm going to mix decaf and caffeinated coffee to start weaning myself off of caffeine.

For those of you who are pregnant or have kiddos. What did your doctor tell you to do? What did you do? I don't want to be one of those over paranoid, over planned people, I just want to be rational :)

photo credits: amazon.com

What the Hoot?

My friend Justine has coined the phrase, "What the Hoot?" and I thought it'd be the perfect title for this post. I have an aunt who loves owls and I never really understood the hype but owls seem to be the new bird in town and I'm totally falling for these cute feathery friends.

Here are some things I found today:
Twig and Thistle's Li'l Tweet baby stuff.


You can now purchase the Li'l Tweet stitch kit at Target. These would be perfect for baby shower favors. So cute!


A store and blog that I just LOVE is called Sarah + Abraham. Their blog is super inspirational but I love these notecards, so cute!

Rolla'coasta

Man, this whole future thing is an up and down rollercoaster!!! Just as I'm starting to really get used to the idea of leaving the classroom to work from home I'm hit with a ton of bricks! I received two extremely sweet e-mails yesterday. One was from a parent and another was from my district mentor. Today as I was packing up my classroom I came across my staff picture. I was looking at all of the faces who helped mold me into who I am as a teacher and I can't believe that after 5 1/2 years, I'm leaving this place. It's so bittersweet. Sometimes more bitter than sweet and vice versa.

I know that God will give both Dirk and I a peace about what we're supposed to do but being in this position is so difficult. Knowing that the Lord has worked through me to work in these kids lives and knowing that people have been encouraged by my teaching is difficult to deal with. On the flip side, I know that my family is suffering from my committment to this job and that's not okay in my book. My heart is so torn. I feel that I have a confirmation from the Lord on what to do but it's not easy. May He be glorified!!!

It's Graduation Time

I love keeping up with the Hostess with the Mostess. Through this blog I found another blog called Bakerella. Bakerella is everything that I hope I can be someday. Her stuff is absolutely amazing!!!!

On May 6th, Hostess with the Mostess featured Bakerella's Candy Cup Caps. My little brother Adam is graduating from High School this Thursday so I'm making these as party favors. I'm so excited to see how they turn out!!!!

I Heart My Hubby

D2 Photography
MAN OH MAN! I know it's been awhile. We just haven't been able to stay caught up with life. We've had tons of birthdays, several graduations and Dirk was gone for almost a week in South Dakota. Amongst all that chaos Dirk and I celebrated 2 years of marriage on the 19th of this month. May is such a big month for us as far as our relationship goes. It was 9 years ago on our wedding day that we left for Australia which is where our friendship started. May 3rd marked 8 years of being together and then of course the 19th of 2007 was our wedding day. It is amazing to see how God has worked in us and through us during the past 9 years.

In honor of our 2 year wedding anniversary I thought I'd share 10 things that I love about Dirk.

* He stops to pray with me often and is constantly praying for me.

* He does his devotions daily and shares with me what he learns.

* He's proactive in all things related to the house.

* He puts me first. I never have to fight for his time, he freely gives it to me.

* He would rather spend money on me than spend money on himself, even when I fight it.

* He lets me know he appreciates me. I never feel under-appreciated.

* He listens to me rant and rave and helps hold me up when I'm falling apart.

* He makes eye contact with me across a crowded room.

* He takes care of our finances but still lets me know what's going on.

* He loves me unconditionally and let's me know it.

Well that's 10. I could go on forever but I'm sure I've already bored you to death. Thanks babe for being an amazing hubby. I love you so much and so glad that we are best buds. Go Team Dallas!

Hey Baby

GARDEN UPDATE!

There are a lot of little baby veggies growing in the garden and I'm so excited! Here are some pics.

Zucchini




Cucumber


Tomato


In the words of Mr. Dirk Dallas...PTL!

ROAD TRIP!!!!

So it's not official but Dirk and I are talking seriously about taking a road trip up the coast to Oregon this summer. I'm so excited. I've never been on a real road trip where we can just stop where we want and try new and interesting things. One of the best sites I've found for road trip planning is Rand McNally. All you have to do is input where you are coming from where you are going and where you want to stop and it tells you how long it will take, how many miles it is, etc. So very cool.



I've literally seen NOTHING up the coast. I haven't even to been to San Fran. I'm so excited to experience CA with the hubby. So far I want to stop in San Fran and Big Sur. I'm also going to be researching must-have foods along the way. For those of you who have been up the coast, is there anything that you think is going to be a must-see? Any foods that one must stop for? Any input is appreciated.