Misc Ramblings – Page 18 – a hippie with a minivan

There's an app for that…

Now that I got an ipod touch for xmas.. I understand the catchphrase so much better.

I used to have a Zune for music, podcasts and videos and a palm for grocery list, recipes, reading etc… but going to a Mac made both of those no longer possible to use.. so this not only replaces both but works so much better…

Wilhelmina is nearing a year it is getting a bit easier to get things done so I am trying to get into more of a routine so that weekends will be less of cleaning and more of family time… I am also ready to get rid of this weight finally and I won’t have another pregnancy to get me off track this time…

So I have downloaded and have been using a few apps that have been helping me out…

One of the apps is called HomeRoutine and it has been a way to get me motivated in the house. I have only been using it for a week but I love it. I customized it for what I want to get done in the day and then I am able to check off the things as I do them… I tried the same system on paper or a dry erase board in the past but it was never as satisfying and never kept me as motivated as this one does. Not only does it have daily routines, but it also has “zones” which are parts of the house that change each week to focus on for 15min each day so that the little jobs that you often forget to do get done…

With weight loss, journaling what I eat has always helped me out. I am happy with the way we eat, but journaling it makes me accountable for portion sizes some days or even makes me realize that I need to eat more others. I tried the “LoseIt” app for journaling and I love it. Not only does it keep me journaling but it comes with a small online community and lots of motivation. Whatever you add into the app is uploaded automatically onto the website (if you choose so) and it is an amazing feeling to get comments when you log a bit of exercise or even a small amount of weight loss… it is so motivating.

Another great app that I found is Home Budget. I have been using Quicken for years but again, with the transition to Mac, it makes it hard and having the numbers always on me, letting me enter expenses right away if I want makes it easier to see where our money is going. With one income, and 6 people, we really need to stick to it…

ibook is great for reading though I miss the automatic scrolling I used to have on my Palm and after a few years of using the same grocery list on the palm, I am starting to get used to using the app that I got for the ipod. I am also slowly entering all my recipes into the “Paprika” app so I can have all my favourite recipes in one place. Another thing that I loved with my Palm.

I have to admit that I might be a hippy in many ways, but technology can not only be helpful, but makes it fun also and it is all in a small enough device that I can stick it into my wallet and always have on me.

Do you have an ipod or iphone? I would love to know you favourite apps too!

NaBloPoMo 2010

I did it!

I got through a month of blogging every day for the third year in a row. I didn’t find this year hard at all…I even have more post ideas leftover!

It reminded me that you don’t always need elaborate posts… that sometimes just a few words is enough…

I know that some of you were doing NaBloPoMo this year also… how did it go? Did you get through it? How did you deal with the sometimes challenge of finding something to blog about each day?

White cake (or Butter cookie cake)

I usually make our favourite Black Magic cake for birthdays. Everyone likes it and it has just become a tradition. When I asked Khéna what he wanted for his birthday this year he said he wanted vanilla cake with chocolate icing… well, that threw me for a loop..

I have never made a white cake.. I decided to try adapting my favourite to a vanilla cake and it failed..

So I kept on looking and found this recipe…

Of course, I can’t follow a recipe to the letter… so this is my version….

2¼ cups cake flour (I never have this and usually just use normal flour but this time I used Joy the Baker’s substitute for cake flour)
1 cup coconut milk, at room temperature
6 large egg whites (¾ cup), at room temperature
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1¾ cups granulated sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened but still cool

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare two pans (grease and the flour)… I use 2 square 8X8 pans…

2. Mix coconut milk, egg whites, and vanilla in a small bowl.

3. Mix cake flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl or mixer bowl. Add butter and beat at slow speed (use use forks)until mixture resembles moist crumbs. (like when making pie dough)

4. Add all but ½ cup of milk mixture to crumbs and beat at medium speed for 1½ minutes. Add remaining ½ cup of milk mixture and beat 30 seconds more. Stop mixer and scrape sides of bowl. Return mixer to medium (or high) speed and beat 20 seconds longer.

5. Divide batter evenly between the two pans and bake until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 23 to 25 minutes.

Let cool on wire racks and let cool completely before icing.

I don’t know if it was the slight scent of coconut or the butter or the vanilla but this cake smelled and tasted like butter cookies which is why I feel the need to call it Butter Cookie cake… It was perfect!

I used the chocolate buttercream that I have here... or of course you could go all vanilla and use the vanilla buttercream here…

My Khéna is 4…

4 years ago today I my little boy was born unassisted in our living room. My biggest baby and my easiest labour.

Today he turned 4.

His favourite food is Mayonaise with cheese.. he loves Sushi and Pizza, burgers and poutine. He won’t even try nut butters or citrus.

He love cars and trucks, and planes and helicopters an anything that has and engine. He still runs to the window each time the Garbage truck comes…

He is a charmer, he is sensitive, he is expressive, he is independant, he is handsome, he is funny, he is smart, he is cuddly , he is boisterous, and he is just happy…

He loves to blow kisses and give the biggest hugs…