Snow Day!

It's snowing! And not little dinky snowflakes that dissapear before they hit the ground but huge snowflakes, ones you could actually inhale. I would know, because I did. This morning on my walk to the car. Not the best feeling in the world but at least it's behind me now. I also caught a snowflake on my tongue, that was fun.

Sadly tomorrow it's supposed to turn into an icy mix. I'm really not looking forward to that one but luckily I only have to walk next door tomorrow, so at least I don't have to drive.

Nothing

After work on Saturday I decided that for the rest of the weekend I wanted to do absolutely nothing. I've spent a lot of time recently working, thinking about working, writing curriculum and generally just getting things done. I've been craving going on a vacation and taking some time off but with needing to save my vacation days for my brother's upcoming wedding, it's not really a possibility right now. So instead I felt that the best part of a holiday is doing nothing, so nothing it was for the entire weekend. Nothing to me consisted of watching TV, baking cookies, reading a book and watching M's hockey game. That was it. All weekend. And I have to say, it was glorious!

I forgot how much I like reading fun-reading books. It's been a while since I've picked something up to read just for fun. Most of my reading lately has been nutrition related, work email, curriculum writing, etc. Not fun lose-yourself-in-a-good-book reading. I picked High Fidelity off of M's bookcase and I have to say it was a great choice. The perfect easy to read story, short chapters, and parts of it were even laugh-out-loud funny. Perfect for curling up on the couch under a blanket on a cold winter weekend and doing nothing.

Stand Mixer Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Last week I made regular chocolate chip cookies. Since they were super easy and delicious I decided that this week I would try out another cookie recipe and this one is even better then the last. I have to admit I didn't have all the ingredients in my house at the time of creation, I forgot I only had steel cut oats and not rolled oats, so the dough sat in the fridge overnight without oatmeal and without chocolate chips. Whether that made them tastier or not, who knows.

What I do know is that these cookies are even better warm. So if you have let them cool, pop them into the toaster oven for about 45 seconds to warm up (or the microwave if you don't mind not having the crispy outsides) and you will not regret it. Oh yeah, and don't go skimpy on the chocolate chips, they help to balance out the dryness of the oatmeal.

Ingredients

• 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

Preheat oven to 350F. In a medium bowl mix together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Place butter in mixer bowl and beat on speed 4, using the flat beater, until soft and creamy. Increase to speed 6 and beat in sugars, brown and granulated, until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla. Reduce speed to stir and mix in flour 3/4 of a cup at a time. Add oats. Turn off mixer and hand stir in chocolate chips.

Drop by tablespoonfuls onto baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for approximately 10 minutes or until golden and slightly firm to the touch. Enjoy!

Inauguration

Inauguration day started at 5:30 am for me. That's when we (M, his cousins, his uncle, and his uncle's friend) got up and got dressed. And by dressed I don't mean put on pants, shirt and shoes. By dressed I mean I put on my leggings, knee high socks, regular socks, jeans, snow pants, tank top, long sleeved shirt, sweater, fleece, coat, fleece coat, snow jacket, two hats, scarf, two pairs of gloves, and shoes. This of course was in preparation for the 20F degree weather that we had been warned would feel more like 9F with the windchill.


What a silver ticket for inauguration looked like.

At 6am we left the house and started our walk down to the mall. I think we walked something like 6.5 miles to finally be allowed onto the mall. We started by heading north around the capital towards the parade route. We passed the gates where people with tickets were lined up and ready to go. But by the time we got to the parade route, 7am, it was already full. Instead we turned down the third street tunnel, an area that made us all nervous in case something went wrong, to South West DC. Once in this area we were marched all around town, following the crowd, until we reached 12th street, our entrance to the mall.


Just in case you weren't sure where all the people were headed.

Once on the mall we staked a spot pretty quickly. Close enough to a jumbotron to read the captions and hear the sound. Closer to the Washington monument then the capitol but on the mall nonetheless. Then we waited. And we waited. And we tried to stay warm. And we waited.


View of the crowd from the eyes of a 6-year old or otherwise known as ways to entertain yourself when you are sitting outside in 20F degree weather.

I have to say it was pretty awesome to be amongst all the people. Everyone was just excited and happy to be there and taking part in history. It was also pretty cool to see the range of people that were there. You had high school kids, grandmas, people from DC, people from California, family groups, groups of friends, and groups from schools.


Usually there is grass around the base of the Washington Monument. On inauguration day it was all people.


Our view of the Capitol building where the inauguration ceremony occured.

Finally when the ceremony started we all laughed when they asked us to stand, didn't they know that we had been standing and trying to stay warm for the last 3 hours?! If only we had chairs. The ceremony was the quickest memory of the whole day. I think we were all just waiting for it to be over so we could return to our homes and get warm. One of my favorite parts was watching everyone walk in. I could identify a few people here and there but I didn't know many of the famous political faces. It felt like when I watch royalty events in England and have to constantly ask my mom, Who's that?! I also liked the benediction, that was pretty entertaining.


Our view of the jumbotron as Obama was being sworn in.

After the inauguration ceremony was over we decided to skip the parade and head home. Sadly though, getting out wasn't as easy as getting in. For some reason we got stuck in an area, jammed in like sardines, where no one was moving. There was a wall between us and an area 30 feet away where everyone was walking out. To call it frustrating was an understatement and it was the only point during the entire day that I actually felt unsafe. Not only was I stuck amongst a mass of people but after 20 minutes of not going anywhere the crowd got a little restless and people started chanting, "Move! Move! Move!" followed by "Go! Go! Go!" and then someone had the bright idea of yelling out, "Just Push". Luckily a stampede did not ensue because others around stopped it pretty quickly but it was a scary moment.

Shortly thereafter we turned around and walked back to get to the area where people were walking freely. The walk home wasn't as long as the walk to the Mall but it felt a lot longer. Partly because we were stuck for 20 minutes partly because we were absolutely exhausted. So exhausted that I was in bed and asleep by 9:32 pm.

Lincoln Memorial Concert - Kickoff to Inauguration

Today I stood on the mall for probably about four and a half hours in 20 degree weather. All to witness and participate in the Inaugural Kickoff Concert. I have to say it was pretty amazing. I have been to some other cool events in my life, listening to the Pope's speech on Easter, the Queen's Jubilee in London, but this was different. This was in America and there was just so much excitement and a feeling of hope.

We arrived around noon even though we knew that the concert wouldn't start until 2:30. Lucky for us that meant a relatively short security line and being able to find some space to set down a blanket and relax for a little while. We even got to see the three US Helicopters fly in, we think returning the President to the White House. One actually landed the other two aimed for the White House but then diverted and flew off in different directions. Sneaky, very sneaky.

I can't begin to tell you just how awesome the entire concert was. I was shocked when the Obamas walked in as I thought it was a concert in his honor, I had no idea he would be in attendance. Bruce Springsteen started the show off on a high note, rocking away on his guitar. I thought that the best trio was seeing Usher, Little Richard and Shakira perform together, however James Taylor and Jennifer Nettles were pretty awesome too. The highlight of the show for me was the Garth Brooks interlude. He got the most songs out of all the performers and he sang upbeat songs that got everyone to move around and get the blood circulating again, like "Shout!" It was also pretty awesome when a group of people near us busted out the electric slide.

I am so lucky that I was able to experience this today. I guess I picked a good time to be living in DC. Below are some photos to show you a little bit more of the experience.

This was the view of the Lincoln Memorial (where the stage and performers were) from where we originally staked our spot next to the reflecting pool.


A view of the number of people behind us to the Washington Monument. This was early in the afternoon. By the time the concert started the area we were in was packed like sardines and there were people all the way around the Washington Monument. A sea of people of you will.


I swear the reflecting pool is in there somewhere amongst all the people.


M and his uncle went to get us some food and drinks to hopefully keep us warm. They returned with 6 hot dogs, 2 sausages, chips, roasted almonds, 2 cups of coffee and four cups of hot chocolate. Probably why I am not frozen solid and am able to post this blog.


After staking out a nice space next to the reflecting pool for 2 1/2 hours we decided to move to the side lawn, where there was space to move around, a hug jumbotron we could actually read the captions off of and beautiful sound. This is near the end when Obama was giving his inspirational speech. (Sorry O! Not the best picture of you.)


The sea of people we had to make our way through in order to get away from the mall and back to M's house. Kinda makes me scared for Tuesday.

Stand Mixer Chocolate Chip Cookies

I love my kitchen aid stand mixer, it's one of the best additions to my kitchen since the food processor. But seriously, who knew it was so flippin easy to make cookie dough when you have one of these around? I'm not sure if knowing this is a good thing or a bad thing, yet, but for now I'll take it! This recipe comes from the Mixer Bible which I immediately ran out and bought after getting the mixer. Although they don't sink in the middle these cookies are extremely tasty and soft baked. Mmmm, mmmm!

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup lightly packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350F. In a medium bowl combine flour, baking soda and salt.

Place butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar in the mixer bowl. Using the flat beater mix on speed 4 until light and fluffy. Add in the eggs and vanilla, mix until combined. Reduce speed to stir and mix in flour mixture in 3/4 cup increments. Turn off mixer and stir in chocolate chips.

Drop by tablespoonfuls onto baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake about 10-12 minutes or until golden around the edges but soft in the middle. Enjoy!

I walk, do you?

A lot of my patients complain to me that the reason they aren't exercising is it is too cold outside. I often give them recommendations on things they can do inside their house (walk in front of the TV, exercise video, dance to music in the living room, hula hoop, etc) but I also ask them whether they have a hat, scarf, gloves and a good winter coat. When they say "Yes", I say, "Then you can go outside."

And to prove it to them, that's exactly what I did today. Despite the 11F temperatures I put on: a long sleeved shirt, cardigan, fleece cardigan, jacket, winter coat, two hats, the hood on my coat, gloves and a scarf and walked myself the 10 minutes to work. Yes my legs were a little cold with the work pants I was wearing but by the time I got there my hands were hot and I was ready to peel off some layers.

So there you have it. If I can go outside for a walk, maybe my patients will too!

Pizza

Last night was pizza night at my house. Who knew that with a little help from a standing mixer pizza making from scratch would be so simple.

Morgan's Pizza Dough

• 1 cup water 110F
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 2 teaspoon active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup wheat flour
• 2 cup unbleached all purpose flour, divided
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• corn meal
• Pizza Sauce
• toppings, as desired (cheese, vegetables, pepperoni, etc.)

Combine yeast, sugar, and water in a small bowl and let sit 10 minutes or until frothy.

Measure 1/2 cup white flour and 1/2 cup wheat flour into the mixing bowl of your standing mixer. Add olive oil, salt, and yeast mixture. Using paddle attachment, stir until smooth. Let dough rest for 5 minutes.

Preheat oven and pizza stone to 450F. Remove paddle attachment from mixer and attach dough hook. Knead for 6 minutes on speed 2.

Lightly sprinkle cornmeal on a baking sheet. Place dough on top of corn meal and roll out to desired size. Cover with pizza sauce and toppings. When ready sprinkle cornmeal onto pizza stone and slide pizza onto the stone. Bake at 450F 15-20 minutes or until cheese has melted and crust is golden.

Enjoy!

Tired

Getting up early to be on time to work to find traffic on the freeway that makes a usual 20 minute drive into a 1 hour drive makes a Monday tiring. Especially when you had scheduled an extra patient in the morning, didn't eat breakfast, and you are expected to weigh in the staff members who are starting the company weight loss challenge.

All I can say is I'm looking forward to bed at 9 tonight and I'm not afraid to say it.

Shopping

• 2 pairs of work pants
• 1 pair of jeans
• 1 bikini
• 1 cardigan
• 1 sweater
• 2 t-shirts
• 1 tank top

I would say it was a successful shopping trip!

Vegas Baby!

Highlights of my weekend trip to Vegas:

1. Rehearsal dinner at the Venetian; Delicious meal topped off with Tiramisu.
2. Walking the strip in the sunshine despite the cooler temperatures.
3. Getting dressed up for a night of eating and dancing at Rum Jungle.
4. Napping on Sunday afternoon.
5. Dinner at Seablue in the MGM.
6. Seeing one of my college roommates after five years.
7. Having an empty seat next to me on the plane and being able to share the movies/tv shows with the guy in the window seat.

Nadir of the weekend:

1. Crappy customer service at the Pyramid Cafe inside the Luxor. I will not ever stay at the Luxor again and neither should you.
2. Having my flight delayed for two hours on the way home and not getting to bed until 2 am.

All in all it was an awesome weekend and I honestly can't wait to go away again. I just wish my flight wasn't delayed on the way back and I wasn't as tired as I am right now. Sadly, tonight is the night I teach my nutrition class in the evening. Fingers crossed I can stay awake!