Orange Chicken + Fried Rice

Don't ask me what is up with Asian food and me lately, but it is just so simply delicious! Orange chicken has always been one of my favorite foods and I decided it was high time I found some at Costco. Below is a picture of my Costco purchase. It was $14.99 and came with two bags of frozen chicken + two sauce packets. Each bag is at least two servings (it should probably be 4 servings per bag, but for us it was two...).

I made one bag of chicken with the sauce and I can't even tell you how amazing it was. It was crispy and hot and dare I say almost better than Panda Express. I'm glad Rex still thinks I'm cute after I made "yummy" noises for about an hour straight [I felt like I was in What About Bob?].

What's some orange chicken without fried rice? Luckily, we have an oriental market near our house so I headed over there to purchase soy sauce and oyster sauce. I found an amazing fried rice recipe on Pinterest that is comparable to Panda Express. [Note: I used freshly cooked, hot brown rice even though it says to use cold, and I didn't have frozen peas/carrots, so I used frozen mixed vegetables and it was delicious].

Here is the link to the recipe: http://www.iwashyoudry.com/2014/02/05/quick-easy-brown-fried-rice/

[Picture found on the website]

This was a delicious meal that you just have to try! I'm excited to make it again soon.

xx.
| Flower |

oh, and here are some extras, for fun.

The first picture expresses my true feelings toward this deliciousness.

Green Smoothies

If you haven't given in to the green smoothie trend, you may want to jump on the band wagon (not because it's trendy, but because they are healthy + delicious!). I was first introduced to green smoothies through my mom's e-mails to me when I was an LDS Missionary (see "O Canada" tab above). I laughed each week as I read her e-mail detailing every ingredient in her smoothie that day.

Rex and I love to have a variety of options for breakfast and smoothies make it easier to wake up for my early morning train ride to school. The great thing about smoothies is that nothing has to be measured and you can add any ingredient that sounds good. We like to prepare our smoothies beforehand by putting the ingredients in a quart-sized ziploc bag (which we put back in the freezer after we empty it so we can refill it later). Rex is so wonderful and makes breakfast each morning while I'm getting ready. All he has to add to the pre-made smoothie bag is liquid and protein. Our smoothies usually turn out purple, but they have greens in them. Here's an example of what we do:




Smoothie bag (2 servings):

• 1 1/2 cups frozen mixed fruit 
• 1/2 cup blueberries
• 2/3 banana
• 1 Tbsp flaxseeds
• 1 Tbsp chia seeds
• 1 1/2 handfuls spinach                                     

To make the smoothie, follow these steps (this is for a Blendtec blender, adjust if different brand):

1. Pour 1 cup milk in blender.

2. Dump in whole smoothie bag.

3. Add heaping spoonful of peanut 

    butter.

4. Add 1/2 cup water.
5. Blend and enjoy!

Other ingredients to try:
               Cilantro                    Oats                           Cucumber                       Oranges
               Almond milk            Soy milk                      Almond butter                 Cottage cheese
               Kale                          Vanilla extract           Unsweetened cocoa     Pomegranate juice
               Plain yogurt             Greek yogurt             Apples                              Etc.

Simple fun

Today was wonderful. I didn't have work so I woke up early with Rex, ate breakfast with him (then he went to work), Skyped with my sister, and then got back in bed to rest some more. I got up a little before 10:00 a.m. and went mall walking with my sister-in-law, which was great exercise and conversation. Rex came home for lunch and I went to school with him after. While he was in class, I met with a wellness coaching client via google hangouts. Then Rex and I went to Institute where the class is studying the New Testament. We had a great Costco run to get a few groceries and gas for the car. I have been wanting Chinese food for a while and on the way home, Rex suggested that we get some Panda Express and watch Kung Fu Panda. We really have been living these days up - days of no homework and spending lots of time together.

Calligraphy Commission

About a month ago I posted a picture on Facebook of a calligraphy piece that I did for a friend's bridal shower (see Calligraphy tab, turquoise framed quote) and it was a hit! My neighbor upstairs contacted me with three different quotes that she wanted. I did one for our friend's baby shower (Calligraphy tab --> Bushel and Peck) and I have finally completed the other two.

An original work such as the one in the pink frame takes a total of over 2 1/2 hours to plan, hand letter, detail with designs, and complete. I am happy to say that I will now be selling prints on Etsy for a cheaper price than it would be to re-do every quote from start to finish. Of course I still do custom calligraphy, but prints of my original work will allow people to get prints quicker and at a lower cost. 

Thanks to my sweet Rex for the curling wand for Christmas. It makes curling hair so much quicker and easier!

Interested in place cards for a nice dinner? Quotes to hang on your wall? Hand-addressed envelopes? Check out my Calligraphy tab for more info.

xx
H

It's a New Year!

Rex and I went to my sister's house for dinner and games on New Year's Eve. Their cat Lucy enjoyed watching sports with Rex on his iPhone. Once my sister's kids went to bed, we made brownies and played King, Queen, Beggar (also known as Scum), which is an often-played game in my family. I had my first New Year's kiss of my life. We slept over.

New Years Day we got up and had breakfast, then drove home to get ready for the day. The same sister's family picked us up just before 1:00 p.m. to head to our traditional New Year Lunch at Golden Corral with extended family. I must say, the Golden Corral off of the 7200 S exit in Salt Lake is much better than the one in Orem. After lunch, we went to my grandparents' house for a little program and games. 

My goals for this year are simple but will be most important in progressing and having a great year. Rex and I are reading the Old Testament and I have loved reading and learning each day. I also want to exercise more and am excited to use the brand new exercise facility that opened up at the University of Utah. It's going to be a great year filled with love, laughter, graduate degrees, newness, and joy!