Taste Test-McCafe Edition

This weekend on the way back from our mini road trip to the beach, B and I decided we wanted something icy and refreshing to drink so we went to Dunkin Donuts to get some iced coffee.  There was a line out the door (which I found to be really weird) so we didn't stop.  An hour or so later we still wanted a nice icy drink so we pulled into the drive-thru of a McDonald's (the only place around that we knew sold icy drinks).  Neither of us could decide if we wanted an iced coffee drink or the new iced strawberry lemonade so we went ahead and decided to split one of each.

Taste Test Time!

First off....The Strawberry Lemonade...

I had high hopes for this because I really enjoy a nice refreshing strawberry lemonade.  This was OK.  It was pretty refreshing but also really sweet.  I like my lemonade a little more on the tart side.  And the strawberry stuff was all globbed into one spot near the bottom.  Also the strawberry stuff seemed to be some sort of strawberry syrup which I was not really a fan of.

On to the Iced Mocha...

I really enjoyed this.  It was chocolaty, coffee-ey, creamy, etc.  I think this might have to do with the fact that I normally get skinny (skim milk) coffee drinks with no whip cream.  So this was like a special treat, almost like a milk shake.

Action shot....

In Conclusion, the clear winner of this taste test was the Iced Mocha.  I'm not factoring in any kind of nutrition info as we were on vacation.  This is based solely on taste.

Hobie had no opinion as he hates both chocolate (well hopefully he's never actually had any) and lemons.

Have you had any McCafe Drinks?
What's your favorite summer drink?
PS-Here's another lovely post about summer drinks by Amanda at It's Blogworthy.

***McDonald's did not sponsor or know about this post.  It's all just my very fascinating opinion.

Movie Madness...

I hardly ever go to the movie theater (unless it's something really important like Harry Potter) and I usually don't rent movies because of my extremely full TV schedule but lately I've seen several movies .  So let's talk about them......

There are no spoilers down here, just my thoughts so if you haven't seen the movies you won't be spoiled but you also will have no idea what I'm talking about.

Movies I rented....featuring my high school boyfriends Ben Affleck and Matt Damon...plus some of my favorite TV stars...

The Town-Overall I would say I kind of liked this movie.  I love movies featuring Ben Affleck in track suits and I really liked the girl who played the lead female in this movie.  I don't, however, enjoy watching (and/or participating in) violence so that kind of made me not love everything about this movie. 
The Adjustment Bureau-I really liked Matt Damon and Emily Blunt in this movie.  Parts of it reminded me of Inception a little bit but I liked this movie a lot more than Inception.  Sometimes when I watch movies (like Inception) with a weird concept I feel like the movie makers are just trying to confuse me and make me feel dumb with a high concept that never fully makes sense.  I did not feel that way with this movie.

Away We Go-I loved this movie.  Even though John K wears glasses the whole time (even when he sleeps) and has weird hair, I thought it was awesome.  It also really made me like Maya Rudolph a lot.  My favorite scene is the trampoline scene.  I watched it about 4 times.
HappyThankYouMorePlease-Josh Radnor aka Ted Mosby wrote, directed and starred in this movie..  It's about 6 upper 20 year olds (and one under 10 year old) so I can kind of relate.  I really enjoyed it as well.  The main character of the movie was not Ted Mosby but he looked a lot like him.

Theater-
Super Eight-I heard this movie was supposed to be really good.  I like the beginning but I thought the ending was weird and cheesy.  I feel like I was supposed to be crying at the end but instead I was thinking...the movie people are just trying to make me cry but instead I just feel like this is cheesy and not fully explained.  I thought all the kid actors did a really good job though.

Bridesmaids-This was very funny and good and at times a bit gross.  Kristen Wiig is awesome.  It was what you expect it to be and if you have been a bridesmaid/bride you will be able to relate at least a little (but maybe not on such a crazy level).  Sookie from Gilmore Girls was both hilarious and disturbing.

Have you seen any of these movies?
What did you think?
What should I see/rent next?

Less Words Wednesday-Farmer's Market Finds

I went to the big Farmer's Market this weekend and it was slightly overwhelming.  I did manage to come away with some good stuff.

I combined the granola from above and some blackberries plus some yogurt from the regular grocery store to make this awesome breakfast.

That granola was really awesome by the way.

Do you go to the Farmer's Market?

Making Stuff is Hard-Vegan Cupcakes

And for another installment of how baking is hard.....

This weekend my mother-in-law and sister in-law were in town and staying with us.  Well my MIL is a vegan and her birthday was a couple weeks ago so I decided to make her some vegan cupcakes.  My mom recently bought me the Southern Living Big Book of Cupcakes and there was a vegan recipe in there so I decided to give it a try.
The cupcake part turned out well, actually much better than I expected.
Then we got to the icing.  That is when the above mishap occurred.  This icing involved something called vegan shortening.  Vegan shortening looks kind of gross and does not blend at all.  I paused the mixer for a few minutes and left the bowl on the counter and as you can see, it fell on the floor and on me.  Good times.

So then I pulled out the big guns for my second attempt..........
Mr. Green Kitchenaid Mixer.

I was finally able to get something that resembled icing.

I think my finished product ended up looking pretty good.  I added some blackberries.

They tasted decent.  I could tell the difference from normal cupcakes but B's mom seemed to really enjoy them.  And they are all gone now so I think that's a good sign.

Here is the recipe if you are interested....

1 tbsp cider vinegar

1 1/2 cups vanilla soymilk
2 cups all purpose soft wheat flour
1 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup canola oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
paper baking cups
vegetable cooking spray

Vegan frosting
8 tbsp vegan butter or shortening
1 tsp salt
1/3 cup vanilla soymilk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 16oz package powdered sugar

For the cakes....mix the vinegar and soymilk together and let it sit for five minutes.  Then mix the flour and next four (all the dry) ingredients in a separate bowl.  Add the oil and extracts to the soymilk mixture and then mix that into the flour mixture.  Bake in a mini cupcake pan at 350 for about 12 minutes.

For the icing....mix the first four ingredients until combined (the hardest part) and then add in the sugar until you get icing. 

Best daughter-in-law ever?

Have you ever done any vegan baking?

Or attempted to make your mother-in-law like you by making her cupcakes?

Fill In The Blank Friday

I am in a lazy blogging mood this week so I'm getting help from Lauren's blanks over at the little things we do.

1. The last movie I saw was Bridesmaids last weekend with a bunch of my girlfriends.  It was awesome.  I will never look at Sookie from Gilmore Girls the same way.

2. I want to go back home and go to sleep for a little longer.

3. Surprises are fun to plan but sad if they go awry.  I was thrown a surprise birthday party a few years ago.  That was pretty awesome.

4. The best accessory is earrings probably.  Maybe necklaces.  Maybe hair.  I'm not that good at accessorizing sometimes.

5. My favorite warm drink is hmmm, let's see.  I used to love skinnamon dulce lattes from Starbucks but I haven't had one lately.  I like regular Dunkin Donuts coffee.  I enjoy a nice hot chocolate now and then and I like hot apple cider when I'm decorating the Christmas Tree.  Warm drinks are good but I'm pretty hot right now so it's hard to decide.

6. My favorite cold drink is also hard to decide.  I like a nice really cold bottle of water.  I also really enjoy the diet lemonade from Chick-fil-A.  Oh and sweet iced tea with lemon.  I like both iced tea and hot tea. 

7. Currently loving The Help, which I am reading now.  I am also really into the idea of watching that show Party Down.  I just looked it up on instant Netflix and feel like it's going to be something I like.  Also Hobie.  And B.  And the summer.  And vacation planning.

I'm so lazy this week that I'm not even going to put a photo in here.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Stuff Other People Made-My Latest Etsy Purchase-The Gold and Silver Necklace

I pretty much always wear silver jewelry but lately I have been seeing some gold things that I like.  I wasn't ready to go full on gold but this gold and silver necklace caught my eye when I was perusing Etsy one day.

Picture from Popsicledrum's Etsy Shop

It's pretty awesome.  It came in a cute little box.  It's simple and I can wear it everyday if I want (which is probably good for me because I'm a little lazy with things like changing my jewelry everyday).

And for your viewing pleasure here is a picture of me and the necklace at 7 in the morning.....

I know.  Scary right?  But that was literally the best I could make myself look.

So check out the Popsicledrum Etsy shop.  (I don't actually know that person or anything, I just liked her necklaces).

Do you like gold jewelry?
Silver jewelry?
Wooden bead jewelry?
A mix?

Having Stuff Made for Me is Fun-Husband Style

Sometimes making stuff is not fun.
Like when you are having a rough week at work.
Apparently I may have sent my husband some complainy-ish emails last week from work.  I was having some work strife but we won't get into that.

However, sometimes complainy emails get you flowers and dinner.

I like when my husband makes dinner because.....
1-I don't have to make dinner.
2-He usually makes something that I don't typically make (like pork chops).
3-There is usually an appetizer and probably a dessert.

So last Thursday my husband made us pork chops, spinach (with bacon) and green beans.  And there was an appetizer (jalapeno pimento cheese spread on bread) and a dessert (skinny cow ice cream sandwiches).  It really improved my day.

Thanks B!

Have you ever surprised or been surprised by someone with dinner and flowers?

Should I complain more often?  (no, I know the answer to that is probably no, I don't want this to backfire)

My Biggest Haircut since that Bowl Cut in Kindergarten.....

Did you take my Pop Quiz?

Well I know you are on pins and needles so I'll just go ahead and let you know.........
I
Got
My
Hair
Cut.......

It's the most I've gotten my hair cut at one time since my Kindergarten bowl cut.

My hair is really thick so the stylist had to put my hair in 5 mini ponytails and razor them off.  I was slightly scared when I saw the first 9 inch ponytail come off.  Then I remembered that my mom had to have her whole head shaved so I figured I could power through this.

So now I have short hair and can cross of #20 on my 30 for 30 list which I changed to 'do something daring with my hair'.  I think that getting a foot (she had to cut more to even it all up after the ponytails came off) of hair cut off is pretty daring.  At least for me.

I got my hair cut 9 inches so that I could donate it to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program.  This program is similar to Locks of Love but gives wigs to the American Cancer Society wig bank for people who cannot afford wigs.  I figured that now was as good a time as any for me to donate as my hair is slowly but surely turning gray and you have to have less than 5% gray hair to donate to this program.  So hopefully someday someone will get to give my hair a second chance. 

There was a fundraiser at my church and 38 people donated their ponytails, so that should make at least a few wigs.

I'm still trying to adapt to life as a short haired person.  My hair is too short for a ponytail at this point which is my go-to style.   Today I have attempted a headband.

Have you ever donated your hair....

Or done something daring with it?

Less Words Wednesday.....Pop Quiz-A Hairy (or Harry) Situation

What has happened?

A-Hobie caught me this creature in the backyard.

B-I needed supplies (aka, hair) to make the 7 JM's with a nice batch of Polyjuice potion (Harry Potter reference, anyone? no, ok, moving on)

C-I cut my hair.  A lot.  For a good cause.

Come back on Friday for the answer!

My Homemade Birthday Present Streak Continues...

Curly J was back from her honeymoon just in time to celebrate her 30th birthday this weekend.  Of course I had to attempt to make her present since I made that goal of making all birthday presents this year.  Plus I wrote about that goal on my blog and she reads my blog. 

I kind of took the easy way out and made some earrings.  It's just too hot for any more t-shirt scarves at this time and I was drawing blanks on everything else.  I also gave her a bunch of photos from her wedding shower, bachelorette party and wedding and an album.  I had big plans to make an album but they fell through.  So, earrings it is.

Plus I made her a birthday cake.  It's my go-to chocolate chip poundcake which I have finally mastered over the years.  And by mastered, I mean it actually came all the way out of the pan instead of getting stuck in there and ripping apart.  Yay me!

The evening started with dinner at her favorite Mexican restaurant followed by game night at her house.  B and I were victorious at a game of LCR and scored $7 in prize money.  Have you ever played LCR (left, center, right)?  I was pretty skeptical at first but it ended up being pretty fun.

So in conclusion, Mexican food and cake are good, LCR is fun, and I'm still doing ok on my handmade presents. 

Gwyneth Teaches me to Make Salsa and Other Beach Things....

It's been 90 degrees all week and I feel as though it's officially summer so let's talk about my last beach trip.

Last weekend I went to the beach with my parents and I coerced my mom into attempting a recipe from Bon Appetit.   I bought a year long subscription to Bon Appetit for $4 a few months ago that I learned about from Hip2Save, a cool couponing/saving website.  My first issue arrived last week and it had Gwyneth Paltrow on the cover.  Apparently she has written a new cookbook.  She is taking multi-tasking to a new level. 

We decided to make Grilled Halibut with Mango Avocado Salsa.  We pretty much dropped the ball on the fish as we decided to bake it instead of grill it and also to get some cod instead of all halibut.  So the fish was not my fave.  But the salsa was awesome.  I loved it.  I was a little worried about the mango but apparently we ended up getting one that was perfectly ripe and sweet.  The sweetness of the mango was good mixed with the other veggies and such.  Seriously, it was good.  I ate a bunch of the leftover salsa the next day on some chips.  I think the fish would have been much better if we grilled it.  I also added a few onions to the salsa the next day when I used it on chips.  It was delightful and a great summer dish.

So in conclusion, I trust Gwyneth with my food needs. 

Now here are some pictures.....

Hobie, I'm sorry for showing you in all your glory.

Good Salsa!

Hobie's favorite beach activity=staring out the window
in the car.

JM's Book Corner...

One of my 30 for 30 goals this year was to read more books.  I have been doing semi-Ok in my goal to read more books.  Not great, but ok.  So here is what I've read......

The Hunger Games Trilogy-That's THREE books yall-Yes I waited a couple months after reading the first one.  I know some of you can't beleive that, but it's true.  Sometimes I like to delay joy.  (For example I read Harry Potter 1-6 and then re-read them all before reading the 7th book even though they were all available at the time). I think the 2nd book was my favorite and I'm excited about the movies.  Everyone on the Internet who recommended these books is right.  They are good.  And now, everyone that I've recommended them to also likes them.  Sidebar-who thinks Amazon should let you loan a book more than one time?

The Backup Plan by Sherryl Woods-This was the first book I bought to read on my iPad.  It was cheaper than a bunch of the other books and by an author I'd heard others mention.  It was ok.  It's a quick chick lit beach type read.  Nothing ground breaking but not bad.

Romantically Challenged by Beth Orsoff-Another quick read.  My girl, Curly J loaned it to me and I read it at the beach this weekend.  I liked it better than The Backup Plan. 

Bossy Pants by Tina Fey-My mom bought me this as a surprise.  I really enjoyed it.  Very quick read and a lot of laugh out loud moments.  My husband looked at me weird while I was reading it when I kept busting out laughing.  If you like Tina Fey, you will like this book.

One Day by David Nicholls-Hutch wrote about this on her blog one day and a mere 6 months later I read it.  I really really liked it.  The book spans 20 years but each chapter is the same day of the year but a different year.  It's pretty cool.  You should read it.  But you will probably yell out loud at one part of the book, just warning you.  Plus they are making a movie of it and it's always cool to read the book before the movie comes out.

I have also read many cookbooks as well as many articles on people.com and a few magazines.  Ok I might need to read a little bit more quality stuff.  More suggestions?  I think Shanzie (who is legitimate member of a monthly book club) is bringing me The Help and Water for Elephants next week.