Styling a Bookself

I will admit right off that I ripped off the title for this post from http://www.designsponge.com/2013/09/styling-a-bookshelf-10-homes-that-get-it-right-5-tips-for-your-own.html. I do like this blog. However reading it daily is not a priority, so actually clicking and reading the entire post is rare. But as it is I love books and reading so I was totally hooked.

As I look at my bookshelves I wonder when I'll be able to have a nice organized space for all of my friends. My downstairs unit does look aesthetically pleasing and it is loaded up with the books I like to share and read often. My upstairs bookshelf is much bigger and thus has much more clutter. Textbooks and binders full of lecture notes live on the bottom two shelves. Yes my husband and I refer to them. Maybe not everyday but often enough. Novels, reference, and a nonfiction assortment fill the next two shelves. Some places are two deep when the books are small enough. Storage has overtaken the top shelf and the top of the whole fixture. The shelves are starting to bow. and the whole unit is held in a rectangular configuration via ducktape. Oh the trials of a bookworm. I don't like to place things in front of the books spines and the artsy stacks are nice until I pull a book off the bottom and the whole pile falls over. I often wonder how often do people read their books that stack them and have stuff in front of the spines so you can't read the title? Probably more than I give them credit for.

Sincerely,  The Chocolate Moose

This morning started off awesome. Waking up early and convincing my husband to do the same is always fun. We finished reading Matthew from the Bible and then I took off for a run. I love my pink running shoes. They are so light and airy and I even have pants and a jacket that coordinate.

I cleaned up my summer gardening projects from the front window ledge. They all started out so well. First they sprouted and grow tall and green. I think I bought some sort of giant marigold variety so they didn't work out very well in my cute little jars. They got to be about 6-7" tall and then died: and I might have over-watered one.

I also re-potted and dead-headed some mums. Hopefully they last through the winter months and will bloom again next fall. I was going to impress you here with some useful information about mums, but I have nothing

My other plants include a chive (which is not going to like winter because it is a sunlight hog) and a juniper tree.

I hope to bonsai the juniper at some point, but decided to let it get established in the pot before I started cutting and bending. Hope that goes well for me.

Any Flavor Cookies

This week I was called to be the Relief Society Secretary at church. Our first presidency meeting is tonight so I thought I would make a treat. Everyone loves yummy treats! These cookies are also super quick and easy. They are my go to when I am in a rush for a dessert or treat.

Any Flavor Cookies

1 pkg white cake mix
1 pkg any flavor instant pudding
1/2 C liquid oil
1/2 C chopped nuts
1/2 C flaked coconut
3 T water
2 eggs

Mix all ingredients together; blend well. Drop from teaspoon onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 7-10 min (depends on your oven) or until lightly browned around the edges.

This batch was a butter pecan cake mix and vanilla pudding. You can leave in or take out the coconut or nuts and add chocolate chips or whatever you want! Pecans and coconut were used in my butter pecan cookies and I should have included butterscotch chips but I did not think about that till later. Using different flavors of cake mix and pudding is fun too. I once did a cherry chip cake with vanilla pudding that was really good. I also like to do white cake and pistachio pudding. The cookies turn out green which is fun.

Mexican Spinach Frittata

This morning I went to Zumba. Now I've been attending a gentle zumba class that I have liked and today I did not have to work early so I could attend the regular class. The teacher said she was feeling tired today. I do not want to be in a class where she is not tired.

So after I got home I thought I would make something healthy for breakfast. This is what I came up with and was pretty pleased. It is light and I will probably mess around with the spices next time, making it spicier.

Mexican Spinach Frittata

1 small onion chopped
1/2 medium green pepper chopped
1 small tomato chopped
1-2 cups spinach chopped
cilantro chopped
1 teaspoon lime juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
2 tablespoons canola oil
8 eggs, beaten
shredded cheese
salsa and sour cream, to top

In a large ovenproof skillet, saute the onion, green pepper, lime juice, salt, cumin, and chili powder in oil for two to three minutes. Mix in tomatoes, spinach, and cilantro.
Pour in eggs. Cover and cook over medium-low heat for 8-10 minutes or until eggs are nearly set. Uncover: broil 6 in. from the heat for 2-3 minutes or until eggs are set. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover and let stand for 1 minute or until cheese is melted. Serve with salsa and sour cream.

Sunday Spinach Tortellini

Sunday's are an odd day to fix meals and eat. Well at least I think so. The three hour block schedule makes it hard for me to plan effective dinners. I will attribute this to having to plan ahead and then actually carry out the plans before going to church. Otherwise after church I am so hungry (or I think I am) that it is really hard not to just snack the whole rest of the day. Crock-Pots are great for this, but as I said before, you have to actually put something in them to cook before you want to eat it.

Today was not too bad because I had a plan. I concocted my plan about Wednesday. The plan was I really like spinach tortellini soup, so I will make it on Sunday. Easy enough. Luckily for everyone involved it turned out really good and I am now full and have saved myself from snacking all day (not a good idea if your watching your weight).

Spinach Tortellini Soup

3 cans vegetable or chicken broth
2 cans petite diced tomatoes (I like the italian style)
Garlic powder to season
2-3 cups coarsely chopped spinach
1 package cheese tortellini

Bring the broth and tomatoes to a simmer in a pot. Season with garlic powder.
Add spinach and tortellini. Continue simmering until tortellini is done (about 2-3 minutes).