Helping Ourselves
Mooch much? Today we made ourselves at home in a variety of places, and most certainly outwore our welcome. Memberships will be revoked, locks will be changed and phone numbers will be lost.
I started out my day taking advantage of my own free personal trainer.
I haven’t been this sore since my half marathon. Funny how you think you are in shape until you get a wake-up call like a fog horn in your eardrum at 4 a.m. However, somehow it’s more enjoyable doing “surrenders” by light of the Christmas tree. I spoke of “Sweet Lord Jesus” and “Mary, Mother of God” multiple times during my workout too, which made it extra festive. My goal is to get up and workout with Jillian before my runs each morning for the next few weeks, which basically means I’ll be doing it until Tuesday.
After my run, the girls helped themselves to half my blenderful of a green smoothie.
- spinach
- frozen strawberries
- frozen peaches
- frozen banana
- almond milk
- hemp protein powder
- silken tofu
- stevia
Gigi and Lulu helped themselves to Daddy’s computer. This photo is right before Gigi took the liberty of doing a green smoothie spit take all over Daddy’s screen. Daddy was NOT pleased. I took some hidden satisfaction in the fact that they were looking at yesterday’s blog post and that I was the source of the laughs. I don’t think Lulu was happy about the mohawk shot. I got a similar look from Daddy about the bunny ears.
After breakfast, we actually helped someone besides ourselves by delivering a food basket to our church for a foster family.
Well, Daddy delivered it. I helped myself to a heated car, a travel mug of tea and backseat tickling.
That’s right, girls, let that be the only backseat ticking you ever do.
We then hit up Costco, where we groped a Rebel camera that almost wound up in our cart, and we helped ourselves to some hummus samples.
Frozen yogurt for lunch?
Help yourself. Help yourself to a little father/daughter brain freeze while you are it.
Next stop: Mimi and Poppy’s for a little more mooching. I helped myself to some lunch. My mom said, “We don’t have anything vegan,” like I was looking for white winter truffles encased in gold leaf with a saffron sauce. I helped myself to her pantry and my Costco produce purchases and came up with a pretty decent meal.
- spinach
- carrots
- broccoli
- pinto beans
- pineapple salsa
- corn thins
Thanks Mom, it was veganriffic!
We also took our family Christmas card photo and mooched a little free babysitting so Daddy and I could do the weekly grocery shopping. Daddy’s “doing the shopping” consists of him standing in the magazine aisle, looking at his watch and randomly slipping red licorice and root beer in the cart. He’s very helpful.
After we had throughly exploited my parents as much as humanly possible, we headed home so that we could take advantage of our friends, Deb and J, who had the poor judgment of inviting us over for dinner.
I had offered to bring some focaccia bread and a salad, which I was regretting like spiral perms and stirrup pants come about 5 p.m.
I could handle a salad, and even mustered up some tahini dressing, almonds and apricots.
The bread was another matter entirely. I threw my dough together, slipped it some blue pills and a Maxim magazine and hoped it would somehow quickly rise to the occassion.
Easy Whole Wheat Foccacia Bread
- 1 1/2 c. warm water
- 1 packet of yeast
- 1/2 tsp. brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 T. olive oil + extra for drizzling
- ~3 1/2 c. whole wheat pastry flour
- chopped rosemary
- sea salt
Dissolve yeast in warm water and brown sugar and let sit for 10 minutes. Add salt, olive oil and flour. Keep kneading more flour in until dough is no longer sticky (I usually use my Kitchen Aid and my dough hook). Move dough to oiled bowl and let rise ideally for 45 minutes to an hour.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees, using a pizza stone, if available. Form dough into a round loaf and make small finger size indentations over surface of dough. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with snipped rosemary and sea salt. Bake for approximately 15 minutes.
Miraculously, in only an hour, we had something that resembled foccacia bread.
I didn’t say it resembled attractive, or even tasty foccacia bread. To make matters worse, my friend Deb is a expert bread maker (in addition to being an attorney, marathon runner, amazing mother and so attractive you want to dislike her). Offering to bring bread kind of felt like asking Kobe Bryant if he wants to play HORSE. You just pray you don’t embarass yourself and that no monetary wagers are involved.
Going to Deb and J’s house for dinner is a joy, on so many levels.
We sat down to a glorious vegan meal.
Deb made a glorious Spicy Arabian Butternut Squash Soup, along with Amaranth with Spinach, Tomato & Mushroom Sauce.
We enjoyed wine and watching our 2-year-olds take turns eating Earth Balance straight from the tub.
Deb and J’s sons are Gigi and Lulu’s ages, and (it is rare that I admit this) they are equally as adorable and brilliant. Another bonus to dinner with our friends, their house is childproofed which means that while we linger over our wine and enjoy the fantastic company, the kids have the run of the completely child-proofed house.
“You hide, I’ll seek.”
“Okay, my turn!”
The younger siblings had much more serious tasks to undertake, like pumping iron.
I hate to say it, but our times with our friends somehow turn into us drooling and getting our grimy, Earth Balance greasified fingers all over their possessions.
Gigi helped herself to a bike ride…in the house…on hardwood floors.
Daddy, Mr. Moochy Moochigan himself, not only filled up the memory card on their camera with shots of some smokin’ hot woman holding a point-and-shoot,
but he also managed to temporarily “borrow” (for what I’m sure is a completely legal purpose) The Beatles boxed set.
Me? I helped myself to a glimpse at the Holy Grail of Blenders.
I almost felt dirty, the longing was that intense.
Deb offered to make me dessert with the object of my desire, but I was afraid we would start dragging clothes out of their closets and siphoning gas out of their car were we to stay much longer. I did help myself to half the contents of Deb’s pantry and fridge, including dinner leftovers, steel cut oats, persimmons, and some Silk Nog which I’m currently sipping.
Did I mention that Ms. Thang ran a ridiculously fast 5K this morning and is making my vegan pumpkin cinnamon rolls for breakfast in the morning? Move over Jillian, I might just have a new girl crush. What can I say?
I just can’t help myself.
Silk Egg Nog! Who knew – I’ve gotta find some of that for the holidays!
Great post – definitely brought a huge smile to my face!
Yay for mooching! I loooove the looks on your family’s faces when they are eating the frozen yogurt – priceless!
The meal you had at your friend’s house looks so delicious and perfect for a cozy winter evening.
If you get a Canon Rebel you will be my new girl crush. Awww crap you have an iPhone. I guess you’re already my girl crush whether you get the new camera or not!
Love the Christmas decorations and YOUR sweater!
Aww looks like geat time with family friends.
Lol at the white truffle comment.
And that silk nog is so heavenly
Since I’m a newbie I don’t know if you already posted this… but can you please share which of Jillian’s dvds you use? I’ve been meaning to order some but there are so many to choose from. Thanks!
Hey Stasa, see my answer in response to Cynthia’s question. I think all of her DVDs are GREAT!
Yeah…I used to eat butter straight up too, when I was younger!
It was so good! But it loses it’s appeal…
Love the brain freeze pic…too cute
Which Jillian DVD’s do you have? I need to get a few before I find another Trainer after Therapy ends.
I love samples. They make it ever so yummy. And your friend would totally be my new girl crush after all she does.
I don’t have any of the DVDs but both Shreds, Master Your Metabolism and No More Trouble Zones are all on our Comcast On Demand. I like No More Trouble Zones the best, but Master Your Metabolism is also great because you don’t even need weights.
lol – i love the picture of daddy and the girls eating the ice cream – too cute!
Looks like a great day! I always “help myself” to my parents’ food when I’m home too!
Those shred videos KILL me…I used to do them when I was nannying, and the baby I stayed with always looked at me with such concern from his bouncy seat
LOL, father/daughter brain freeze. LOL.
The bread looks awesome! I don’t have a kitchen aid so I’ll have to wait on giving that recipe a try.
Again, lulu with the serious face;-). I see your friend’s 2 year old is just as serious. perhaps we don’t understand the challenges of being 2. LOL.
hmm, what is amaranth and where is it sold? i’ve never heard of it and my quick search on wiki left me with very few answers;-).
It is an ancient grain. My brilliant friend told me the history of it with the Incas, and how it was a staple in their diet and part of their rituals, but when they were conquered, it was forbidden due to the religious nature of it. It has been a hidden grain for so many years, but is nutritionally similar to quinoa, has all the amino acids and is a complete protein. I think you can get it in the bulk section of many health food stores.
Wow that salad looks terrific! I like this recipe!!!
got to try it out !
I didn’t know that Silk has a Nog version
Blue pills and rising to the occassion, a house that’s already childproofed, the Jillian opening humor comments, Daddy doing the Costco groc shopping w/ red licorice…OMG you had me about 7 times in this one.
I am most envious of dinner, with another couple, who is educated, who knows how to cook, who’s house is childproofed!!, and who “understand” that in 12 mins after arrival there could be a meltdown and you may be turning back around to home and there would be no other explanation necessary. And that they crack a bottle of wine for you just in case aforementioned may occur. Damn. I wish I knew someone like that IRL!
xoxo
so…you look like kate beckinsale..I’m not sucking up but making a general statement about your facial structure. Carry on your hottie self.
OMG, I LOVE her. Absolutely love her. And YOU!
silk eggnog = MMMMM! so GOOD! It’s so easy to drink the entire carton in one sitting.
you have the most adorable family ever!
i LOVED your post yesterday…it was sweet, heart-filled and hilarious. loved it.
and deb…i think we all have a friend like deb…the one who seems to have it so together that we wonder how they do it. i wonder if that’s what britney spears feels like on a daily basis? hmmmm…
times with friends, kid pics and everythang = hilarious. loves it as usual mama pea!
Jillain won’t go down easy to this new girl crush!!!
love the wish for that vegan truffle meal…i would have thought of that too…hah.
fun time with friends…and joy of nog. did you add the alcohol too?
What better way to bond than over a brainfreeze? I’m pretty jealous.
I bet your Christmas card is absolutely precious… no doubt about that!
You’d be happy to know I invoked Sweet Jesus during my spin session this morning. Hey, it’s Sunday morning. That was my church.
I can’t believe you went to Costco, with the kids, ON A WEEKEND! You are the bravest woman I know!
Yeah, I want to hate Deb, but she had you guys over for dinner so I’ll give her a pass. We should not envy, we should just aspire.
That’s from the Book of Carbzilla, 1:211.
Looks like a fabulous evening!
I made your curry recipe last night. It was AMAZING! So glad you posted it
Your friends sound delightful, it’s great that you have them and with so much in common between you
I have been wanting to try the soy nog after killing a container of the pumpkin spice Silk. Yum!
ooooh what a great day! I love the frozen yoghurt photos
so cute!
Yay for green smoothies (your recipes sounds yummy!) and yay for vegan food!!
Loved all the photos.
Cheers,
Kristen
you are such a beautiful momma!! LOVE ALL THOSE SALADS! you are my salad inspirer..just to let you know! ( i totally butchered the spelling of that word ) i want friends like those!
What an awesome post – you especially had me cracking up over the “blue pills and Maxim magazine to try and get a rise out of the dough.” I love it…
Your friend IS beautiful but you are just as and I’m sure just as good of a mom, cook, etc, etc, etc. Like I’ve said before, if I can do a job as a mom even half as well as you do I’d feel quite accomplished!
I loved the part about hoping your girls wouldn’t do any other kind of tickling in the car. Makes me think of my friend who is a young, single mom of 2 girls (about the same ages as yours). She works as a hairdresser at home and she had to tell her 3 year old to put her clothes back on and quit dancing on the table. Hopefully she won’t have to say that to her when she’s older!
Love the way your posts always tie back in to their titles…
Daddy Pea made the right choice with the Beatles box set. Nobody better try to help themselves to my box set!
Isn’t it ridiculously fun to mooch, I mean help yourself when at parents’ and friends’.
I want to try some of the Silk nog. I’m so intrigued.
If you can’t mooch off your parents who can you mooch off of? Thats why they exist.
home made foccacia is amazing!!!
mm drizzled with balsamic
How much did you love the Silk Nog?! Oh my gosh, it’s the best. And i’ve never even liked egg nog either….but silk nog, ooooh it’s good.
Love Silk Nog!
I was just talking about foccacia the other day so I’m glad to see a recipe up!
thats it. im on my way to oregon. seriously, i want friends like you guys..and ill use all the silk nog and home baked bread known to mankind to get it. well, maybe ill skip the homebaked bread and stick to what i know (hummus) – bribery works wonders.
geez, i lust after that blender toooooo….so so amazing. wedding registry?