Out With The Old, In With The Delicious!

No, the title has nothing to do with my birthday.  Although 24 is getting up there! If you read my last post, you may be wondering what I did about the camera situation.  Well, I think Mallard could sense my disappointment.  Although  I asked him NOT to return the Sony, he had already done so by the time I got home from work on Friday.  He also replaced it with…

 

That’s right, this is the camera that I have wanted!!  I’ve had fun playing with it.  My birthday was Saturday and I had to work all day.  But, Mallard’s mom was sweet enough to watch Snuffy.  She also arrived with with a boatload of gifts!!

This is my favorite one!  It’s a cheese serving tray made from a recycled glass bottle!  How cool!  Mama Mallard knows how I love recycled products. 

This is where she found it

And what’s a cheese serving tray without cheeseball ?

So, I’m not a huge cheese ball fan…especially when the ingredients are a mix in a box.  But, it’s the thought that counts.  Plus, chocolate + cream cheese must taste something like chocolate cheesecake, right?  Yum.

The next one is evidence of a love Mama Mallard and I share

That would be the love for Pampered Chef!  This is a cutting board with measured indentions at the end and a “scraper” to move my chopped, sliced or minced produce from point A to point B.

This next gift was the unintentional answer to my prayers! 

I know, it’s just a lil ID holder/change purse.  But, I have no camera case and I really didn’t want to shell out the $20 to buy a camera case that I didn’t care for anyway.  So, when I discovered that my new camera would fit into this cute little case, I was elated!

I recieved cards from my family as well. They live 2 states away but, they are always sure to make me feel loved.

This was the inside of the card from my sister.

 

My grandma always adorns our envelopes with tons of stickers!!

And my mom has inherited this habit.

 

This is the envelope that held the card from my parents.  At least my mom is aware that she is steadily becoming more and more like her mother…and I am becoming more and more like her!

Does your family live near you?  How do you stay connected?

I did exactly what I wanted with my evening…nothing!  I put on my comfy clothes and played with Snuffy!

She wore me out!!  Boy, I look haggard.  I promise I felt better than I looked there!  Yes, my shirt says, “I don’t smoke” and the back says, “I hookah!”  It was for the diversity club last year.

No, I didn’t have a birthday cake.  I didn’t see a need for one.  We wouldn’t have been able to eat a whole cake!  I made my own last year.  I’m just not huge on cake, I suppose.

I did have a delicious yogurt mess!

Started with some Stonyfield Organic Vanilla

Added some Dark Chocolate Almond Spread…Oh My Goodness.

Packed in some Puffins…I love these lil guys!

And a splash of Chocolate 365 Organic Soymilk

Snuffy had a treat of her own

Snuffy Mix!  Annie’s Bunny Grahams and 365 Peanut Butter Cereal

I had Amy’s Low-Sodium Indian meal (tofu, curried peas, chickpeas…I think) for dinner

 

Don’t forget our fruits and veggies!

 

 

Bursting with antioxidants!

 

Pears. Sweet and Crisp. I would have preferred them to be juicier but, they were still mighty tasty.

Celery to be accompanied by

Pitas.

Both of the above were slathered in

Maranatha Raw Almond Butter and PB and Co Cinnamon Raisin Swirl..  My word it was good!

Mallard requested more guy food for his Sunday Football Spectating.  This time it was a pizza roll with sausage AND pepperoni!  The man loves his animals, that is evident.

 

Snuffy asked to try something new.  Okay, well she stood at the cupboard saying, “bite, Mama?”  So, I gave her a bite of my Primal Strip

She was a fan.

But, Peanut was not.

Then, Mallard politely asked that I remove some things fromt the freezer.  You see, before I was aware of the benefits of whole, preservative-free, chemical – free,  natural foods, I ate a lot of  processed “diet food”.  So, we have lots of frozen  crap “diet food” meals that are at least a year old.  They are still “good” according to the expiration date.  But, Mallard and I are never going to eat them and food pantries don’t take frozen food  

This is what I removed from my life freezer.

I’m so glad I I have discovered the benefits of whole, natural foods!  It felt great to get this junk out of my freezer.

Do you buy these types of “diet foods”?  What are your thoughts regarding them?

I also found some natural Oatmeal Cookies that I had frozen a few weeks ago!

Snuffy ate one right out of the freezer

    …and she loved it.

Have you ever freezed your baked goods? 

 

After Snuffy fueled for our day, it was time to replenish our kitchen!

I was so excited to find these!  I wil give a full report when I try them.

I also found a big English cucumber.

Snuffy was impressed.

Of course I had to replenish some of my nut butters as well

Yum. 

I also grabbed some soups.

As soon as the chilly Autumn weather descends upon us, I want the warm comfort of soup.  I realize it would be more economical for me to make my own.  I love to cook and I do make my own soups sometimes.  But, I am being bluntly honest when I tell you I just don’t have time.  I wish I did.  But, most of the time I don’t

Tonight, I am studying for my lab exam.  I have a feeling it’s going to be a late one.  That’s where this guy comes in.

 Starbizzle!  Some people like beer or wine or Doritos…I like Starbucks.

Thanks for reading my boring birthday recap!  Now, it’s time for this old lady to get to bed.