Peanut butter cookies and a little hockey

So I have been away from blogger world for a little while. Been busy...been saving up so I could do one good post instead of a bunch of "meh" posts.

So before I get to these....

A quick recap of some hockey!

Allen and I went to the Vancouver- Montreal hockey game the other weekend with friends. The Canucks lost- boo...but it was still a good time!

Just checking out our hotel room. Gotta love King size beds!!

The tickets! :)

Now I know you are itching for the cookies...but hold your horses! I need to show you something that I am giddy with excitement over...

SPRING!!! It is almost here! I pulled some weeds today...still too wet and gross to do some major gardening, but I can tell Spring is coming!!!!

Now onto the cookies!

Allen and I made these delicious cookies last night. I swear I haven't made cookies in ages!

Butter/Oil Free Peanut Butter Cookies were just what I wanted!!

I found them through pinterest so you can find me on there and check out my Delightful Treats board... or just click the link :)

I copied the recipe...only thing I changed was I did half a cup Kraft Smooth Peanut and half a cup of natural chunky peanut butter.

They made 12 good cookies (especially since Allen and I dipped into the batter...seriously amazing batter folks!).

Anyways I am off to go do some errands... I see some sun popping out! Yahoo!

B

Amazing off leash trail

This past weekend my mom and I met for a walk. I searched for some good off leash parks so that I could bring Emma and hopefully tire her out! I lucked out! We took her to a off leash dog trail. Perfect place for Emma. It was a network of trails and all the poochies were off leash. Emma did wonderful! She listened and got some time to play with other dogs. My mom and I got to get a good walk in as well!

I had such a great day with my mom and Emma. Allen and I will be heading to the trail once he is home!

In other news, today was a first for me. I had to picket for the first time in my short career as a teacher. It was great for a couple of reasons. It felt good getting out there to stand up to George Abbott and Bill 22. It was great to spend two hours with Miss Amanda!

Not so good part...seeing that not everyone supports teachers. I know its part of being in a union, but it was really disheartening to see people showing their displeasure with teachers...

Something I need to get used to I guess!

B

Delicious salad

Happy Saturday!

Before I go into my delicious salad...a recap of the week!

I managed to fit in two classes at the gym this week as well as one workout of my own. Thursday is was Combo Express. Won't be returning to this class. I felt like it was a senior citizens workout class...

I left feeling like I could probably have worked out again. Oh well..

Friday morning I went to my usual workout class, Bender Ball. It was awesome.

After the class, I realized how much I need to work on push ups.

I CANNOT DO THEM!!

Anyways my arms have been sore since my workout on Wednesday.. and now my a** hurts from yesterday.

I love feeling sore.

Today I went to a Bridal Fair with my friend Chelsea. She is getting married in September and she thought I might want to join her.

I will never go to a Bridal Show again unless I am engaged. It was annoying being asked if I am a Bride-to-be. No I am here for friend that is getting married... please stop asking!!! :P

Anyways I was going to post you a
recipe for Banana Bread; however I have lost the recipe!?!?!? I don't know where it went!

I will leave you with this recipe creation though...

Please ignore the crap photo. I realized halfway through the dish that I should blog about it!

So I call this recipe Salmon and Yam Salad!

Ingredients:

1 yam (roasted or in my case microwaved)

Leftover salmon

Feta cheese

Spinach

Red wine and olive oil dressing

Combine and enjoy! I must say I didn't know how the yam was going to taste in this salad...it was delicious!

Any good salad combos?

B

 

Take a stand to bullying!

Before I get into the issue of bullys...here is a quick photo recap from Emma and I's Saturday afternoon at the beach!

I have to say...I LOVE INSTAGRAM!

So in regards to bullys....

BC teachers are withdrawing services as of Monday. We will be walking out....

We are taking a stand against the Government to try to get students needs met.

This is my first time going through a strike as an actual teacher. Its interesting to see people take to facebook, twitter and youtube to discuss the issue. It makes me so angry when people assume that the reason teachers are striking is just so we can get a raise.

THIS IS NOT THE CASE!! 

People need to take the time to educate themselves about the issues that todays classrooms are facing.

My hope for this strike is that George Abbott and Christy Clark will get a mediator and will come to the table ready to negotiate...not just say "no". Something needs to be done for our students.

The Government is trying to bully teachers into rolling over. We will not roll over...we will take a stand to make sure students demands are being met as well as ours.

Two things to leave you with...

Support BC Teachers

This girl is amazing. She is so well spoken! Please take the time to have a listen.

And a fantastic quote...

"Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength of the nation."

-John F. Kennedy

Coming soon...

Amazing Banana Bread!

B

Teaching update

Things were busy for me this week!

I was lucky to be in the same Grade 1 class all week!

Here are a couple of pictures from the week:

Our Paper Bag Houses:

My Body:

Please ignore my horrible body drawing!

I got to do lots of planning. I even got to spend some quality learning time with the class as I had 5-8 kids away each day. Wow...it would be amazing to have small class sizes! Speaking of class sizes... there has been alot of chatter in the staff room about the government and our strike stuff...

Here are a couple of things to leave with you...

"What if teachers adopted "net zero"?"

Just a little thing on whats going to happen if the government gives teacher net zero.

Hope you are having a great Saturday!

I will be back soon!

B

Tone it Up

Happy Monday! I am pretty happy right now because.....

ITS SUNNY OUTSIDE!!

I just went for a little jog, walk...and I am going to head off to the gym here pretty quick.

Recently I have come across the Tone It Up website and youtube videos.

The creators of this program have videos, meal plans, tips, etc.

Here are two videos that I am going to take some inspiration from for my gym workout today!

#1 Valentines Day work out

#2 Bikini Strap Workout

If only I had the hot summer weather so I could go workout on the beach too!

Anyways hope you enjoy these!

If you have a chance check out their website

Tone It up

B

Freezer turkey meatloaf

Before I go into the great recipe... a couple of photos that I took early in the week when the weather was trying to be nice...

I have bulbs that are starting to grow! Yahoo!!

Emma has been going through a weird stage this week...maybe more than a week. I am meeting with a doggy behavior consultant after work on Sunday to work on some new strategies to use with her.

Thursday and Friday I managed to fit two exercise classes in. I tried Cardio Combo at my gym with my coworker on Thursday and yesterday I went to Bender Ball with my neighbor and a lady from the firehall. It kicked my butt!

My lower back has been really sore from last weeks class, so I went to a massage therapist yesterday. She was super knowledgable and did wonders; however I AM SOOOO SORE TODAY!!!! No pain, no gain right (Allen loves this saying :P)

Last night I missed out on a special birthday dinner so I just wanted to give a shout out to Miss Courtney!

HAPPPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Thanks to pinterest I found another great recipe

I gave this recipe for Freezer Turkey Meatloaf a try a couple of nights ago. It was pretty tasty (for turkey :P). I find ground turkey can be pretty bland and I never seem to add enough flavor.

So since I changed the recipe a bit, I will give you my directions.

Mini Turkey Meatloaves (adapted from Sweet Potato Chronicles)

Ingredients:
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp minced garlic
1/3 cup of onion, diced on the fine side
1/3 cup of carrot, peeled and diced small
1/3 cup of red pepper, diced small
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 cup rolled oats
2 containers of ground turkey (from Costco) *I didn't weigh the meat so I don't know exactly how much turkey I used :S
1/4 cup ketchup
1 egg, whisked
1/4 cup parm cheese, grated

2 tbsp ketchup
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Warm olive oil in pan over medium heat. Add vegetables, red pepper flakes, and garlic and allow  them to soften, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool a bit.
In a large bowl, combine meat, oats, ketchup, vegetable mixture, cheese and egg. Combine with your hands or a spoon.

Measure 1/3 cup of mixture into muffin tins. In a small bowl combine 2 tbsp of ketchup and 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce. Use a small spoon to smear over the tops of the loaves.
Bake for 40 minutes.
Yield: 12
*If you would like to freeze some of the loaves, don't let them cool before freezing. The recipe I got from Sweet Potato Chronicles, said that letting them cool then freezing can cause bacteria to grow? 
I popped the loaves that were being frozen out of the muffin tin right away and put them in tupperware and got them into the freezer right away. They should keep fine in the freezer for 2 to 3 months.
For reheating, you can pop them (unthawed) into a 375 degrees for 20 minutes.

Just before you pop them in the oven!

I think the next time I make these I may play around with the spices and flavors a bit more, but overall pretty tasty.

One last recipe to leave you with...
At the beginning of the week I cooked up a whole bunch of quinoa. I used it for a greek salad...as well as this Strawberry Spinach Salad.

I just combined strawberries, spinach, quinoa and candied almonds then dressed it with a red onion salad dressing that I had. Super delicious and satisfying!

Anyways better go get ready for work!
Have a good weekend,
B