Randoms

• my husband.  I've expressed how crazy I've been lately, and I'm still not sure how or why Justin has put up with me through it all.  I love him; he's the icing to my spoon!
• good friends.  Old or new; online or in real life; text, phone or in person; friendship really is very important to me.
• mint pants.  I bought them this past weekend while Justin and I were out shopping, and I can't wait to wear them again (I wore them on our lunch Sunday).  I'd wear them to work, except I'm terrified of getting them dirty.
• small Mandarin oranges, aka cuties.  I've been gobbling these things up lately; they are packed with flavour, and remind me of Christmas.  Nothing gets much better than that!
• the good things that are waiting around the corner.  A fundraiser walk next weeknd, mine and Justin's weekend trip down south the following weekend, reaching my goal weight, getting out camping for the long weekend, and my parents coming back here.  May's going to keep us busy!

Weekend Happenings

1 - Friday I finally got around to dying my hair, which I had originally planned doing last weekend.  I personally think it's lighter, but people really aren't commenting on it - so I'll take that as meaning it looks like that's what colour my hair should be!  On the other hand, it could look horrible, and nobody wants to say anything!?
2 - Justin and I went clothes shopping Saturday afternoon.  Justin was the one actually looking, but I ended up buying more than he did.  Scarves are catching my eye lately, like this moustache one; cute, just not for me.
3 - The best kind of graffiti.
4 - A happy little face.  I'm so happy that he likes the bed I bought for him!
5 - Ever since food trucks have been all the rage, I've been wanting to have my own.  It'd be a crazy food fusion: comfort/pub food, with an Asian spin, and some Mexican flavour thrown in for good measure.  Everything I love.  With a side of dessert.
6 - A couple drinks might of happened with our lunch Sunday.

Find me on Instagram: juliemkeller, or just click the button on the sidebar.

My A Game

Today is a new day; it is a day filled with lots of possibilities, and is full of opportunities to make today better than yesterday.  Hence, why I'm bringing my A game today.  I woke up early, got my stuff done around the house, then headed to this spot to capture a little bit of magic through my camera lens.  This little spot holds a lot of memories for me, it's right by work, and a place to escape to during my lunch break when the day is crazy.

 

I think this photo captures the feel I wanted from a black and white photo for the Click Chicks Photo Challenge this week.  It's also a lot better than what I envisioned the picture looking like; it has a lot more depth.  I guess it's a kind of like how we are all, right.  There's a lot more to us that how we appear on the surface, and what we chose to portray to the world.

Just Trust And Believe

This past month, I've been under a lot of stress, and I haven't been the easiest to live with.  It all came to a head Sunday, and I kind of lost it a bit.  Justin was there to pick up the pieces, to reassure me that everything would be okay, and to tell me to just trust him.  It's always hard when he simply says, "it'll be alright, just trust me."  He has no idea how things will turn out in this life, but I just have to trust that it all will turn out okay.  I mean, none of us really know how our lives  will be, but we can't live in fear, we just have to believe.

 

And, my poor husband should seriously get a huge hero cookie for putting up with my BS this past month, and especially this past week.  He amazes me in so many ways, and he is so strong when times get tough.  I think both of us are finally figuring out this whole relationship/marriage thing. 

 

Talking to my Grandpa on the phone last night, who has been married for over fifty years, he informed me that he still doesn't have women figured out - and he's been married to two of them.  He said no one could live long enough to figure women out!  I've got to give it to Justin, as did my Grandpa, for having it figured out this past month.

Gelatin Gummy Candies

Since I've had such a sweet tooth, I decided to come up with a healthier alternative to the goodies I've been consuming lately, in particular gummy candies.  The part of these candies that I really enjoy is the texture: that rubbery, chewy consistency that makes my jaw ache after I've eaten too many.  Candy and I go hand in hand; so much so in fact, that Fridays were reserved as a candy day at work, and I'd have a stash of gummy candies ready.  Oh, who am I kidding?  I'd randomly dig into my candy stash and get hyper, leaving my co-workers annoyed at my sugar high.  If I'm going to get to my goal weight, I better kick my bad habits, and replace them with better ones.  So, I found this recipe on Pinterest for an alternative, and I tried my hand at Gelatin Gummy Candies.

Ingredients:

2 envelopes no sugar added gelatin, any flavor

4 envelopes unflavored gelatin
2/3 cup water

Steps:

1 - Pour water into a saucepan, and sprinkle with all six gelatin envelopes.  For a variety I made three batches: orange, raspberry and strawberry.

2 - Heat mixture over medium high heat, until gelatin is dissolved and mixture is thick and bubbly.

3 - Remove from heat and pour mixture into molds.  I used a rubber heart ice cube tray from IKEA, but I'm sure you could find something similar at a dollar store.  Even the ice cube trays designed to make long skinny ice for water bottles would work.  It'd make gummy worms of sorts.

4 - Allow gelatin to set in the fridge for about thirty minutes.  This could take more or less time, just depending on the depth of the candy mould.  The thicker they are, the more time they'll take.

5 - Unmold the candies, and enjoy.



I made these for the first time last night, and they were a BIG hit.  I had two batches already made and in the fridge by the time Justin got home from work.  He didn't look directly in the bowl, but the bright red/pink colour caught his attention, and he just thought I had a bowl of beats on the go.  I took the bowl out to show him my creation, and he was eager for taste testing.  I told him he couldn't eat too many, since I needed to take photos for my recipe post.  I then made a third batch, and was thankful we were leaving the house, so Justin wouldn't eat too many of the candies.

When we arrived back at home, he was very impatient as I took the gummies out of the mold and took my pictures.  I delivered the candies to him on the couch, and he gobbled them up.  When he asked where I got the recipe from, I told him to take a guess.  He's catching on to my love of Pinterest!

Silliness And Sweets

1 - When I got home Friday night, I changed into my favourtite dress, and got my dance on.  Streaming YouTube music videos on my phone meant an instant Much Music Video Dance.  Please say I'm not the only crazy one that has crazy little dance marathons alone!?

2 - When Justin got home, we decided we'd go out for supper.  So an outfit change was in order.

3 - I might have been a little hyper.

4 - Justin's been wanting to go out for sushi for months, and I finally gave in to his wishes.  We went to the sushi bar that we haven't been to in years, and we actually ate at the same table where Justin and I had one of our first dates.  Thankfully, this date didn't end in a trip to emergency.  (On that date back in 2005, Justin was suffering from welder's flash, and I insisted he go see a doctor.)

5 - After sushi I was craving dessert, so we each enjoyed small double fudge cookie dough Blizzards, if you ever get a chocolate craving - have one of these.  So good!

6 - Saturday I headed to the mall for some new work clothes.  Two pairs of pants, two tops and two cardigans should make my work wardrobe a little fuller.  As a treat, I had a frozen yogurt.  Yup, I have a sweet tooth lately!

Find me on Instagram: juliemkeller, or just click the button on the sidebar.

Just Go With It

Dear weekend, I am more than ready for you.  Although I've only been at work three and a half days this week - I need a break.  Dear cheesy bread, be as amazing as you were two weekends ago!  Dear frozen yogurt or ice cream or fudge or brownie, (I don't know what I'll have!) please be extra tasty tonight!  Dear hair, I think I might dye you this weekend, get ready for a new look.  Dear tomorrow's shopping expedition, please let me find some new work pants.  As it is now I only have one pair that fit, and I can't keep wearing jeans to work!

Our Happy Place

It snowed Saturday night, and all day Sunday.  When I left for work Monday, I slipped on ice walking to my vehicle.  I didn't think too much of it, until I started to driving, then realized how much pain I was actually in.  I mustered through the day at work, and Justin and I went out for supper to help take my mind off of everything.  Tuesday I woke up in a lot of pain, wanted to stay home, but remembered that my boss had a dentist appointment and I needed to cover for him.  I got to work, and immediately burst out crying from pain, I suffered until my boss came back from his appointment, then left work.  I got a massage, which brought me relief, and took it easy at home the rest of the day.  Yesterday, I was also house bound, relaxing with my heating pad.  Thankfully, today my back is feeling lots better, and I'm back putting my nose to the grindstone!

Anyways, a trip out camping, spending time with my husband away from the stress of life, and no ice would bring a smile to my face!  This photo is from two summers ago, on one of my favourite camping trips.  Our best friends and my parents came out to spend a couple nights with us, and it was a blast!  So fitting for the Click Chicks Photo Challenge, and with everything that's been going on in the world this week, we could all use some happiness.

Weekend Relaxation

Once again, I only took one photo this weekend.  But really, you can't get a much cuter photo!  Lowie and I bummed around the house this weekend while Justin worked; I left only once to see my niece Mackenzie (and her mum).  Yesterday Lowie and I treated as a snow day, getting caught up on laundry and cleaning.  It was a good weekend, but I'm itching to head out of town again!

At Home

• green grapes.  This is our new favourite treat: cut the green grapes in half, and dip into a mixture of lime and raspberry Jello powders (other combinations would be good too).  It almost tastes like Sour Patch Kids, and that's right from Justin's mouth!  We ran out of grapes last night, so I dipped a granny smith into cherry Jello powder, which was also oh so amazing.
• little weekend getaways to the States.  Justin and I are dreaming, and longing for our next trip.  I think we'll bump up our original plans, and head back down the weekend after this one.
• new jeans.  My mother in law gave me money to spend on whatever I wanted, and I chose a pair of Suki Surplus Silver Jeans, at my new favourite US store, Maurices.  They were a birthday splurge, and I love these jeans.
• a weekend at home.  As much as I'd totally head back to the States this weekend, Justin and I need a weekend at home to get caught up.  Altough he's working, I'll putter around the house and catch up on life; you know, laundry, dishes, cleaning.  Such glamour!
• exercise.  I'm working out five days a week, sometimes I push myself harder and longer, other days I do a seventeen minute Pilates DVD.  Although I don't always love doing it, and I often try pushing it off, I am in love with the results I'm getting.  I'm seeing results in my appearance, my mood and my stress level.  All things that contribute to a healthy life.

Before It All

Way back when, I used to post photos to a Flickr account, and in doing so, I started participating in some photography challenges.  This photo was for Sunday Confessional, which will work perfectly for the Click Chicks Photo Challenge today: silhouette.  I took this photo back on March 30, 2008 before my appendicitis on July 18, and before Justin proposed on December 24.  Back before I realized just how much I love him.  I pray for health, happiness and more than fifty years of marriage for the two of us.

The 28 List

 

Here we go again, another list of items I'd like to accomplish before my next birthday.  Normally I write this list a couple days before my birthday, and have it completed no later than midnight on the sixth.  This year, I just didn't plan it into our weekend getaway, and I wasn't into letting it stress me out.  So, today I sat down to complete my list of 28 things I will do before I'm 29:

1. Get to my goal weight, and stay plus or minus five pounds of it.
2. Create three new recipes each month.
3. Lay on a sandy beach, soaking up the sunshine.
4. Travel to three cities I've never been to.
5. Go on ten walks with Sandy.
6. Enjoy a couple drinks out with Justin once a month.
7. Travel to Toronto.
8. Head down to the States at least six times.
9. Eat at five never been to restaurants in town.
10. Go to a brewery.
11. Read ten non-fiction books.
12. Travel by myself out of town.
13. Stay in Waterton for a weekend.
14. Go ten pin bowling with Justin.
15. Find a duvet cover I like and buy it.
16. Tube down a river.
17. Go on ten day-trips around Southern Alberta.
18. Take up knitting.
19. Travel to Vegas (again).
20. Enjoy breakfast out with Justin once a month.
21. Go on a little weekend vacation to Banff.
22. Travel to Vancouver (again).
23. Head out camping for ten different weekend trips.
24. Go on a little trip to the States with my parents.
25. Eat on restaurant patios at least five times this summer.
26. Try twenty different brands of wine.
27. Create a solution in our closet for hanging my scarves and hats.
28. Go on a wintry vacation, and actually enjoy the beauty of winter.

There we have it.  I really think most of these, if not all of these, can be accomplished.  At the very least it gives me something to strive towards.  Really, I just  threw that Toronto one in on a limb!  I love how most of these things are what I loved doing this past weekend with Justin, just relaxing and enjoying each others company.  Stay tuned to see how many I can get crossed off my list this year.

Who Had Birthday?

 

Somehow our little weekend get-a-way to Kalispell, Montana was the best trip we've ever been on.  Neither Justin nor I can really pinpoint why, but we enjoyed ourselves during ever second of our trip.  It also didn't hurt that our little vacation revolved around one of my favourite birthdays ever! 

 

After celebrating a friend's 50th birthday in town Friday night, we left for the States Saturday morning.  Justin and I didn't set the alarm, just got up and got ready whenever we naturally woke up, and for me that was right around seven.  We took our time driving down, and enjoyed just being on a road trip.

 

This weekend I losened up a bit on my diet, relaxed and savoured every minute of eating out at restarants.  Although Justin and I both ate too much food, we ate at some amazing restaurants: Cafe Jax, Famous Dave's, IHOP, HuHot Mongolian Grill, Brannigan's Irish Pub, and the Sizzler.  We always love eating at restaurants in the States; we try to always eat at ones we don't have at home (although we now have an IHOP), and it's so cheap - we love it!

 

After my birthday supper, we headed back to our hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn (if you're in the area - we give them a huge recommendation), and had drinks at the attached restaurant, the Blue Canyon Restaurant and Tavern.  I haven't had a martini in a very long time, and figured my birthday would be the perfect time to celebrate and indulge.  I ended up having the best martinis I've ever had: Cowgirl Punch martini, and Huckleberry martini.

 

 

As we walked to our room from the restaurant, we passed the front desk and a platter of sugar cookies.  I grabbed a few on our way past, then as Justin and I started walking away, he looked at me saying how amazing the cookies were.  I immediately went back to grab more.  When we got up to our room, Justin realized he forgot the key, so back I went to the front desk, to get the room key - and more cookies!  Without fail, Justin and I always manage to have a little adventure on our trips.

By far this was one of my favourite birthdays!  The only downside Justin and I could pinpoint was that our trip just wasn't long enough, so we're planning another little trip back down at the beginning of May.  Can't wait.

Away We Go

Dear tonights bowling festivities, I just want to look classy; please don't let me trip over my own two feet with the deadly combination of slippery floors and bowling shoes.  Dear our extended long weekend, please be the fabulous trip to Kalispell I am expecting.  Dear birthday (this Sunday), please treat me kind, and don't make me feel like I'm actually turning 28!  Dear Twisted Bliss Frozen Yogurt, be the nice little birthday treat I'm hoping you to be!  Dear celebratory glass of wine, please don't let me wake up with a headache Sunday morning.  I haven't had a taste of your nectar in over a month, so don't punish me for it!

Blinded By Sweets

I swear that before starting the Click Chicks Photo Challenge, there was a day in between Wednesday and Thursday when I used to get stuff done; it seemed I used to have more time during the week before it was coming to an end again.  Now it seems I'm scrambling at the last minute to complete everything I need to get done.  I realize we all have busy lives, and I really should just stop complaining and get stuff done!  We only have twenty-four hours in a day, and it's what we do with those hours, right?

 

Since I've wanted to bake for awhile now, I finally decided to make time for it; so after aquafit last night I pulled out my supplies.  While my pretty little banana cinnamon muffins were cooling, I suddenly realized I needed a picture for the challenge.  Please be kind towards my attempt at bokeh (or a blurry background)!  It's really not the greatest, but I'm hoping you won't really notice that as you wipe the drool from your mouth!  (Once I make this recipe a little healthier, I'll add it to my recipe stash.  Until then, if you want to make it the way it is, head over here for the original recipe).

Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

I must be in a roasted vegetable kind of mood lately, because this recipe came to me shortly after making the Spiced Cauliflower Poppers.  I wanted to come up with a spaghetti sauce that was healthier than the jarred varieties, and I created a sauce that was pretty tasty.  I had meant to write a post about it, but never got around to it.  I'm glad I didn't though, because I made the sauce again over Easter and tweaked the recipe, making it even better.  I present to you my Roasted Red Pepper Sauce.

 

 

Ingredients:

1 medium sized red onion

2 medium sized red peppers

cooking spray

2/3 cup canned diced tomatoes with juice

1 tablespoon crushed garlic

1 tablespoon Italian seasoning (I used Club House Italiano)

1 tablespoon salsa seasoning (I used MPK Mucho Foods Salsa Mix)

 

Steps:

1 - Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

2 - Cut peppers and onions into large pieces.  They'll get pureed later, so it doesn't really matter the size, just chunky bits.

3 - Put the peppers and onion into a bowl, and spray lightly with cooking spray. Toss, then spray again.

5 - Put the peppers and onion on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, and pop in the oven.

6 - Bake for a total of half an hour, taking them out of the oven after fifteen minutes to rotate them, so each side gets a little caramelized.

7 - Once the peppers and onion are baked, place in a food processor to puree to a chunky salsa consistency.  Add the canned tomatoes with juice and puree again, this time creating a nice sauce texture. 

8 - Next add the garlic, Italian and salsa seasonings to your sauce, and puree once again to mix thoroughly.

9 - If the sauce has cooled down, heat it up in a pot over the stove.  Serve and enjoy.

 

This recipe makes enough to share between two people.  The first time I made the sauce, I ate it with spaghetti squash and added it to pre-packaged ravioli.  When I made it again over Easter, I put it over spaghettini and enjoyed turkey spinach meatballs with it.  Once I have the meatballs perfected, I'll share that recipe too!

Let me know what you think of the sauce.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Favourite Photo Of Us

in Seattle.  This was the first official day of our honeymoon, somewhere around nine in the morning on August 23, 2010.  If we looked dazed we had good reason; we were riding on an adrenaline high from our wedding, and a lack of sleep.

Hoppy Good Times

1 - While driving home Thursday night, I decided I needed to get out in the sunshine.  A 45 minute walk around the neighbourhood did me the world of good.  I'm going to soak up as much sunshine as I can while it's here.

2 - I'm always craving dried cranberries, so this spinach salad did the trick.  That slice of banana bread was a-mazing!

3 - Supper I made for my cousin Brittany and I.  I perfected this roasted red pepper sauce, now I just need to get it posted.  The turkey spinach meatballs are next on my list to perfect, then share.

4 - My amazing niece.  Those cheeks and pouty lips.  Eeep!  I love her!

5 - Hoppy Easter.

6 - While my cousin Brittany was down we decorated eggs at our aunt and uncles.  Surprisingly, my uncle created some of the best eggs!  It was a lot of fun, and took me back to being kids.

 

Find me on Instagram: juliemkeller, or just click the button on the sidebar.