Grace and chocolate ice cream

I agreed to something without giving it a 2-second whispered prayer.

Two days later I awoke from a deep slumber at circa 3 a.m. with a sense of deead as I realized I had not prayed and waited and listened to that still, small voice.

Two days later a sense of dread fell heavily on my shoulders.  The yes I said "yes" to should have been a "no, thank you."

Dread pressed in on my heart and soul for 48 hours.

The Lord sent me a dear friend who came along side to pray for me and to listen.

The following day - today - a whisper of grace came in the form of an exit strategy.  A whisper of grace for a 2-day late prayer...

Tonight I am celebrating this grace with supper out and CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM.

Hair ties

How is it possible that I am an adult and have never ever, ever, ever tried using fabric headbands to restrain "the beast" (read:  MY CURLS)????

My soon-to-be-annexed-with-me co-worker brought me a funny Valentine gift...a package of fabric hair ties and dark chocolate.  Talk about making my day alot brighter!!!

I am currently wearing one of these fabulous headbands.  They secure my curls and are actually quite comfy.

Will I win a beauty award?  Ummm...maybe for my fleece faux fur (leopard...rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr) jammies but certainly NOT for the state of my curls.

I HEART HOT CHOCOLATE!!!!!!

It's chilly outside.
I love hot chocolate.
I have a gift card.
I love hot chocolate.
I am buying yarn to make a hooded bear hat.
Did I mention that I love hot chocolate!!!

Something else boy's don't understand...

...after the tire conundrum, I want to watch Kate & Leopold.  The ultimate chick flick.  Boy travels through a hole in time and ends up in modern-day New York city.  He meets a girl.  They fall in love.  He has to travel back in time.  Are they really in love?  Can centuries separate a love like theirs?

I'm breaking out the chocolate, flannel jammie pants, and K&L.  I love Saturday night chick flicks.

Love,
The Girl with Curly Hair

A new treat

Every now and then I will get the urge to try something new.  Tonight I went to Woodman's after an hour-long cardio session.  Good idea - get groceries;  Bad idea - get groceries when you are hungry.  :)

Actually it wasn't a "bad" idea...and I honestly didn't over-spend or indulge in mass quantities of junk food.

I did, however, try a new snack food.  The name of the bar "The gluten free bar."  I promise you - that was it's name.  They have a fabulous website www.theglutenfreebar.com. 

My snack was the peanut butter bar.  I did purchase the chocolate & peanut butter combination bar to keep for an emergency situation.  You know...when the day needs to be ended in chocolate.  Let's not try and deny that we ever have THOSE days...  I know me and you know you.  There are some days when at the end of the day chocolate is calling our names.  I've heard it call your name too.  :)

I must confess, I was a little nervous about trying this new snack.  The last time I tried something new it was a box of brown rice crackers.  My first clue should've been the look of the cracker.  It looks like corrugated cardboard.  Note to self:  If the cracker resembles cardboard, it's probably going to taste like cardboard.  (Sigh.)  I tried.  I even tried eating them twice.  The first time was dreadful.  The second attempt only occurred after I felt guilty for preparing to throw them away due to the amount of money I spent on said box of cardboard -- er, crackers. 

No worries...the second attempt was made and the grossness was still a factor.  The box and the contents went in to the trash.  For 0.3 seconds, I considered throwing the crackers out in the yard for the squirrels, but I was fearful that the squirrels wouldn't like them and retaliate by chucking nuts at me!  I know the two oversized squirrels that are residing in the tree adjacent to the cottage...they are BIG and squirrelly!!!! 

Dark Chocolate

As far as I am concerned, dark chocolate is medicinal.  It’s soo good for you that you just NEED to consume it.  Seriously! 

The website www.allchocolate.com states:

“Studies show that eating chocolate, primarily dark chocolate, may contribute to improved cardiovascular health.  Packed with natural antioxidants, dark chocolate and cocoa sit in the same good-for-you category as green tea and blueberries.  That’s because chocolate comes from cacao beans (or cocoa beans), which grow on the cacao tree and are full of natural plant nutrients.  Most of the studies to date highlight dark chocolate’s health values because it has the highest percentage of cocoa solids, therefore more flavanol antioxidants.”

After reading this wonderful declaration by people who clearly understand the importance of dark chocolate…I asked myself (yes, outloud), “What are flavanol antioxidants?”  A quick Google search and I discovered they contain anti-aging benefits AND they help reduce effects of sun sensitivity.

Soooo what do I propose?  I, Angie Good, suggest that atleast once weekly, we embrace the benefits of dark chocolate and consume happily.

I embraced the flavanols and other antioxidants by purchasing a Dove Dark Chocolate bar.  And because I am an enabler, I bought one for my crafty co-worker.  I would hate to be the only one in the department to enjoy dark chocolate’s benefits.  Seems kinda selfish when you don’t share, right?

Cashews, Seattle, and Pencil Skirts :)

Within the past year, I have discovered that I love...

1. Cashews

2. Seattle

3. Pencil Skirts

First -- cashews.  I must confess that I am an anti-nut sorta gal.  I like peanuts especially with vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup -- TIN ROOF!  :)  I will tolerate almonds because they are extremely healthy.  But cashews, they took me by surprise.  I love them.  Salted.  Unsalted.  Covered in dark chocolate...technically I've not had them covered in dark chocolate, but isn't everything better covered in dark chocolate?  Grasshoppers would not be better covered in dark chocolate.  Infact what a tragic waste of dark chocolate to cover an evil grasshopper with such preciousness as dark chocolate.  


I think it's safe to say...I could consume my body weight in cashews.  Not all at once.  Goodness.  I would pace myself....so it might take me 6 months.  Yes, given an ample supply of cashews, I could eat my body weight in 6 months time.




Seattle...you've read the blog posts.  You know, blog-stalkers, about my smitten-ness over the Emerald City and a certain 7-member clan that now resides there.




Pencil skirts.  Again...HELLLLLLLLLLLO...where have I been?  Living under a rock?  Pencil skirts.  They are fun and remind me of my days working for Rockford Public Library.  I particularly enjoy wearing pencil skirts with a cardigan and my glasses.  This way, my co-workers will teasingly ask, "And when are my books due back?"  No worries -- I enjoy it so I reply, "Three weeks.  And keep your voice down.  Shhhhhhh..."  

Fabulous VD

Today I am thankful for...

...the ability to arise early from my slumber and enjoy a non-stressful morning.

...my job.  I do love my co-workers.

...my friends that sent me emails and text messages bidding me a happy VD.

...the opportunity to host a couple of great friends -- supper, dessert, and conversating!

...candles!  They add sooo much warmth to a chilly night.

...the mail in my mailbox!  Two delightful cards and a crayon-colored picture!

...dark chocolate brownies topped with a smackeral of coffee ice cream.

...laughter.

...winter because it makes me more thankful for spring.

...two wonderful VD surprises -- note cards, Dove (not the soap, honey!), and nail polish & a cute journal and a purple pencil.

...a bunch of pink carnations!

...hymns being played throughout the cottage.

...my fat and yet FABULOUS feline!  (On a side note -- she was very hospitable this evening!)

...another day to consider that every little thing I do should bring glory to God!

A little motivation...

"I am not above motivating the children with baked goods!  Kids will do anything for baked goods!" said Miss Angie.


"Ummm...I will do anything for baked goods!" declared a by-stander.


The recipe said "Yields 48 cookies" -- well, HA! HA!  Take that Hersheys -- because the girl with curly hair actually ended-up with 53.  Only one cookie was slightly compromised...as it took a jab from the spatula.  No worries, I don't think the children will notice.  I cannot believe that I ended-up with the yield amount + 5!  This never ever ever happens...well, it did happen once or twice when I made buckeyes.  Have you ever had buckeyes?  They are balls of peanut butter and powdered sugar that are covered in chocolate!  I've always wanted to try using almond butter in place of the peanut butter...and then cover them with white chocolate...but what if they taste icky and I have wasted all those ingredients...  Blog-stalkers, have you ever tried experimenting with the buckeye recipe???  Please let me know via the COMMENT feature below.


These cookies smell soooo good.  Oh for the days when I could eat them fresh out of the oven...and don't get me wrong, I could...HOWEVER I DO NOT WANT TO END UP WITH A TERRIBLY PAINFUL STOMACH ACHE...and that is what would happen.  The pain is not worth the sweet treat. 

Too help curb my craving, I took a teaspoon and enjoyed a healthy serving of smooth peanut butter straight from the jar.  Look...a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

OH - this reminds me that I finished the book titled What's A Girl to Do? and at the end Janet Folger enjoys some yummy Godiva chocolates...and as she enjoys the blessed treat, she writes, "What's a girl to do?"  Ummmm...EAT THE CHOCOLATE!!!!  Smart girl. 

While the cookies baked, I watched the newer version of How The Grinch Stole Christmas.  I love that movie.  It explains the story behind the Grinch's loathing of Christmas.  Here's a quote from the end of the movie...

And the Grinch, with his

Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow,

stood puzzling and puzzling,

how could it be so? 

It came without ribbons. 

It came without tags. 

It came without packages,

boxes or bags.  And he puzzled

and puzzled 'till his puzzler was

sore.  Then the Grinch thought

of something he hadn't before. 

What if Christmas, he thought,

doesn't come from a store. 

What if Christmas, perhaps,

means a little bit more.  ~Dr Seuss

The other day one of the turtles from the pond was found wandering underneath the Christmas tree in the lobby of my place of employment...and the first thing that came to my mind was the Faith Hill song from the Grinch movie, "Where are you Christmas?"  I thought, This poor turtle is wondering...WHERE ARE YOU CHRISTMAS????