THE BIGGEST SURPRISE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE + Brown Rice Pudding

I still can’t believe that I’m an adult. Turning 18 is a huge age change – I’ve gone from childhood to an official adult. I felt like an adult before, but for some reason today I feel even more like one. I celebrated this weekend with some fun:

I saw PianoGuys LIVE at their concert at my college!

I went to the thrift store and got some new clothes! A pair of jeans, 3 shirts/blouses, 3 skirts, a dress, a pair of pajama pants, 4 plates, and a bowl for less than $40!

I bought 9lbs of strawberries Saturday night.

And I’ve already finished them. It’s been quite a delicious weekend.

(Because I ate my strawberries so quickly before I got a picture of them, I’m borrowing this picture from Google. They looked just like these though – absolutely red and gorgeous.)

Monday I went and got my hair done. They trimmed it and added more layers (since I love layers – they really bring out the curl in my hair when I scrunch it instead of blow-drying it).

Today I also got to talk with my beloved Nutrition Instructor about life and how I’m doing in college. I am so grateful to have someone I feel comfortable going to and can talk with. Yes I cried (I always seem to do that…), but it really helped me today. I needed it. (Do you feel that same way sometimes?)

AND, I JUST GOT THE BIGGEST SURPRISE IN MY LIFE! MY ROOMMATES AND FRIENDS GOT TOGETHER AND MADE ME AN EDIBLE ARRANGEMENT CAKE!!!!!

IT ABSOLUTELY MADE MY DAY!!!!! <3

Today I also wanted to share with you a new favorite recipe.

My Brown Rice Pudding!

Combine the rice,

cornstarch, cinnamon, and stevia

in the bottom of the crock-pot.

Add the soymilk and vanilla.

Cook on high heat for 2-3 hours.

Top with desired toppings and dig in!

Brown Rice Pudding

Great for breakfast or dessert. Makes 2 cups worth (4 servings with add-ins)

Ingredients

• 1 ¹/₂ cups milk of choice (I used fortified vanilla soymilk)
  
• 2 cups cooked brown rice (or quinoa if you have it on hand)
  
• 1 Tbsp. cornstarch
  
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
  
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  
• Stevia to taste (I use 2-3 packets)
  

Plus add-ins/toppings of choice – see below

Directions

Combine the rice, cornstarch, cinnamon, and stevia in the bottom of the crock-pot. Add the soymilk and vanilla. Cook on low heat for 2-3 hours. Serve warm or cold.

Print This!

Add-in ideas:

• Chocolate chips + cherries + vanilla extract
  
• Bananas + walnuts +cinnamon
  
• Raisins + apples + dash of nutmeg
  
• Coconut flakes + sliced almonds + chocolate chips
  
• Strawberries + vanilla extract + “cream” (I used vanilla soymilk)
  

There are a lot more than this, but these are just a few on the top of my head. If you try any other flavor experimentations I’d love to hear about them!

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! <3

With lots of hugs,

Btw, Reese’s PB Cups are the BEST!

Workouts, Shopping, Game Night, Expos, Exams, Papers = Crazy Fun Life.

Hey My Frosty Snowflakes!

This past week has been SUPER busy and crazy, but fun.

In addition to a paper on Thursday, group activity that weekend, Game Night on Friday, working at an Expo all day Saturday, preparing my lesson throughout the week (which involved a lot of work on my part) and teaching my Sunbeams on Sunday (all the work paid off because they all had a BLAST! I’ve never seen my little ones so happy and having so much fun with the lesson!), and babysitting jobs and a big exam on Monday — I’m currently freezing (a cold front came in and it’s 69*F in my house. I am SO cold right now even though I shouldn’t be!). I opened my box of clothes I had packed for Idaho and have been wearing them because everything else I have in my closet is short sleeves. (I guess this cold is preparing me slightly for what I’ll experience in January… if it’s anything like this… I know I’ll need layers. Lots of them.)

Nonetheless, the cold isn’t stopping me while I get ready for my scripture study class tonight, another paper and gathering activity this weekend, a Thanksgiving activity with the girls in my church (I get to make cupcakes! ), preparing for Thanksgiving Day this next week (which includes a new pumpkin pie recipe with homemade vegan evaporated milk), preparing for a YW in Excellence coming up in a few weeks (YW in Excellence is a night where the young women in my church come together and share some of the things they’ve done that year, including school, activities, projects, etc.) and participating in a research project for a student in my school. I’ve been quite busy, but life has been great!

In the midst all of this, I have been able to fit in my workouts. (They are the only thing that has kept me sane.) This past week was Week 6 of ThisFitChick’s workout program – the half-way mark. As a part of that, I did 3 split days of heavy lifting with HIT cardio. I upped a few of my weights, but others I’m keeping the same and just focusing on form. I also combined my weight workouts for Friday and Saturday into one workout because they both focus on the arms and my arms were KILLING me last week on Saturday because I didn’t get a day between to rebuild, and I also knew I would be busy on Saturday (doing the expo all day – I talk about it below). So I combined them into a longer workout. It worked. The workout was more arduous (as my arms were getting very tired y the last reps), but they also had the chance to rebuild Saturday and Sunday before I did my next session. I know I’ll be doing that again this weekend (I’ll probably separate the workouts and do both weight sessions on Friday and do the more cardio-session on Saturday to keep things balanced).

Before I did my workout Friday afternoon I went shopping to 4 different stores: Kohls, Bath and Body Works, Target, and Payless (as well as going to the bank to make a deposit). I live less than a quarter-mile from these, so I just walked. I would tell you everything I got, but because some of the things are presents I can’t spill the beans (mi familia reads my blog). One thing I did get was a shirt I’ve been eyeing at Kohl’s for a while:

The last time I went to Kohl’s I found a shirt like this (It’s this shirt, but the stripes go across on the top instead of up and down) and loved it, but decided on a different one. When I went Friday caught my eye again and I knew just HAD to have it.

Once I got home (and did my workout), I made my Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars (this time used applesauce in place of the tofu and a French vanilla cake mix in place of the yellow cake mix). Once the party started they started to disappear very quickly. There were a lot of teens who came over and we played lots of games and had a lot of fun.

After it was over, I shared with two of my friends these three videos from Tim Hawkins, and because I love them so much I wanted to share them with you: The Government Can, Things You Don’t Say To Your Wife, and Tim Hawkins on Teenagers. My sister shared these with me and they always make me smile. (If you watch them, tell me your favorite parts! )

One of my dear friends also gave me a Dr. Seuss t-shirt!

Since I read Dr. Seuss’ book “Oh the Places You’ll Go” at my HS Graduation, this shirt brings back so many memories and it really means a lot to me that she would do that. I wore it to the Expo I worked at and everyone was asking me where I got it. I had the pleasure of telling them my friend gave it to me.

Talking about the Expo, Saturday morning I woke up bright and early to help at the Expo for the Rock n Roll Marathon and ½ occurring the next day. I worked up front from 9am-5pm (with a small break in-between to refuel with lunch), and then helped organize everything, clean up, and put stuff away into the truck afterwards. Even though I was SUPER tired after I got home (and the day after that), I had a blast. I am very grateful for the opportunity I had to do this because I learned how to use a credit-card machine and practice my social-people skills (which is always a good thing). I must say, I handled many credit cards and started liking them (because they can be so pretty and have the cutest pictures on them), but that’s one of the reasons I don’t have one. I have a debit card (I need to find out how to change my pin for it though since it’s been over a year since I last used it….), but I won’t be getting a credit card any time soon. (Not that I would want one either; they can be financially dangerous for young college students.)

In addition to helping out, I also got to pick out one of the t-shirts they had there. I picked one of the long-sleeved shirts that said “Some girls chase boys. I pass ‘em.” Heheh. I was also eyeing the shirt that said “Forget glass slippers, this princess wears tennis shoes.” Next time I go to one of these (or work at one) I’ll see if I can find it.

(I also got a little sticker that says “I <3 Recycling.” I had gone around to the other booths before I started working, and one of the other exhibitors gave me a sticker when I told him I was taking an Environmental Science class and learning all about what he was talking about.)

Btw, I found this DIY for styling curly hair via Pinterest and I LOVE IT! Some days (when I have the time and want to do it) I will blow-dry my hair with a round brush, but usually I do it curly or simply natural (wavy). This DIY styling for a curly hairstyle is so convenient, easy to follow, and doesn’t take much time. It definitely works for those days where I have a busy schedule ahead of me.

In addition to a crazy (but fun) life, one thing that has been pretty consistent have been my breakfasts. I’ve seriously had this Vegan Pumpkin Spice Milkshake for breakfast every single day for over a week (with either pecans or sliced almonds).

And it’s official:

I reached the bottom of my 6 lb bag of frozen strawberries.

After I took this picture Sunday afternoon, they quickly disappeared. Heheh.

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What is some busy, crazy, fun stuff going on in your life?

Tell me! Tell me! Tell me! (*Hahah. I say like a 3-year-old. No wonder I fit in with my Sunbeams so well.)

Do you ever eat a cold breakfast when you are cold and it makes you even colder?

Yeah. That’s what happens to me when I eat the pumpkin milkshake and frozen strawberries.

Do you like Dr. Seuss? Running? Running Shirts? Shopping?

I’m not much into long-distance running, but I do enjoy running around just for fun if I’m playing with kids or “passing” a boy.

With lots of hugs,

What Kat Ate# 19 – TFC edition

Hey My Colorful Autumn Leaves!

Thanks for all of your comments on my last post. You’re support really means a lot to me and always brightens up my day. I’ve been really enjoying the convenience slow cookers can bring into my life (and the deliciousness too!). It’s helped me start adapting to a college-thinking mindset and get into the groove of it.

As a part of ThisFitChick’s program, I’ve been following these guidelines, which are pretty adaptable for any kind of diet (from gluten-free to paleo to vegan to whatever!).

Thanks for hosting these WIAW parties, Jenn! They are always so much fun!

BREAKFAST:

This morning I found a bag of mushrooms that need to be used, so I sautéed them up in a little olive oil and had them with an egg w/ a few egg whites (seasoned with chili powder, garlic seasoning, and a mix of herbs), a big handful of almonds, and a large apple.

LUNCH:

A vegan burger with chickpeas, almonds, and homemade kale chips! I made the kale chips by rinsing the leaves, removing the stems, tearing the leaves into bite-size bites and laid them out on a dry baking sheet. (I use enough kale leaves to fill the sheet.) I sprayed them with oil olive and topped with ground pepper and a little garlic salt. I then baked them at 400*F for about 10 minutes until they crisp up. They don’t take long to prepare and are a delicious addition to any meal (or snack).

SNACK:

Bowl(s) of frozen strawberries.

(This picture is cropped from another picture because I always seem to eat my strawberries before I ever get the chance to take a picture.) My parents bought a HUGE 6lb bag of frozen strawberries from Costco a few days ago and I feel like I am in heaven! I am an absolute strawberry monstah! They are my favorite fruit EVER! I can seriously go through an entire 2-lb bucket of them all by myself (not that I would know… ). That’s why we buy frozen ones now — they take me longer to go through.

DINNER:

A big bowl of my Slow Cooker Quinoa with Black Beans topped with coconut oil and a little garlic salt alongside a 10oz package of frozen spinach cooked and topped with smart balance light buttery spread.

Note: There’s almost always some unsweetened vanilla almond milk in my day too cause I love it so much. Also, some mornings I have oatmeal, a smoothie, or pancakes, or what I have pictured above  – my meals just really depend on what I’m in the mood for and/or have the time for. 

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Favorite food pictured?

I’m loving strawberries right now, so I’m going to go with them. <3

Which recipe do you want next: Cake-Batter Almond Butter? Homemade Evaporated Milk? Or Copy-Cat Great Harvest Honey Whole Wheat Bread?

I always love nut butter, but that’s just me.

With lots of hugs,