just two more days of august left. Today we decided to escape the
triple digit heat and all the smoke and ash and live it up in Malibu.
Next to us is a surf class learning the basics. It makes me want
start surfing again.

I can't believe this year is heading into fall. Hooray for
Halloween, our second anniversary, our bdays and Christmas! Before
you know it, it'll be 2010!

back to today, I hope all of you are enjoying life as much as we are
right this moment!

Things to do before SEP 09 -- Update #3

1. Walk/Run 40 miles (21)
2. Cook 15 meals a week (12)
3. Save 60% on our grocery bills (50%)
4. Do one craft project (I'm going to make some things for the dinner table)
6. Work out more frequently and stop making excuses. (making an effort to walk more)
7. Make reservations for upcoming trips (done!!!)
8. Make 7 new meals/recipes I haven't made before. (So far: aug 4: egg pie, aug 12 cucumber slaw, aug 13: poached orange chicken, aug 16: plum torte & homemade granola)
9. Blog more frequently (not going so well)
10. Keeping up on the gardening. (going well)
11. Rain Gutters: measure house, create cost sheet, map out where rain barrels will go. (need to do this one)
12. Go to a fair (done)
13. Host a dinner potluck and game night! (don't think this is going to happen since we're busy for the rest of the month... maybe september)

Homemade Granola

Learning to make new things at home is the name of the game. Last week I decided to try my hand in making granola. Seemed easy enough!

1.5 cups Oatmeal
1/4 cup of flax seed
1/4 cup of nonfat powered milk
1/2 cup of raisins
2 heaping tablespoons of Raw Agave Syrup or two long squirts from the bottle!

I just threw everything in the bowl, mixed it up, and then put it in the oven for at 300 for 20 minutes (mixing it at the 10 minute mark).

End result:


Super tasty and super easy!!! Totally eating it with my nonfat plain yogurt! :) What a great afternoon snack that is yummy and nutritious!

Well, there goes my writing...

Seriously... you'd think I fell off where the sidewalk ends!

I'm here... and though I have a bunch of things I've been cooking up, harvesting, and other fun activities, i just can't shake this anti-writing mood I've been in. I know I said I'd write so much more but I need to figure out how to turn my desire to write to actually...well, words on the screen.

So, beware, tomorrow I'm going to bombard you with lots of posts.

In the meantime, thanks for sticking around! You're a true blog friend!

~lmp

Random thoughts

~the weekend went by too fast for me. i need another two days.
~did i do anything of importance on the weekend? not really, other than try out a new recipe and plan my lunches for the week.
~finally went to the optometrist. i get to get glasses. yea
~i was sooo good about my caffeine addiction and then all of a sudden i fell off the wagon. one should not be able to drink an entire pot by themselves.
~dragging the hubby to the spinning class tonight. i secretly hope he struggles and i can finally beat him in something. i know... i should not wish torture on anyone but seriously, all the cycling i've done in my life and his lack of should give me some edge! :) yes, i'm that petty and competitive sometimes!
~bought some raw agave syrup. pretty tasty. i wonder what i can use it for?
~looking forward to this weekend. lots of fun things lined up! i love endless days at the spa!
~doesn't the title remind of you SNL? okay... it was called "deep thoughts by jack handy" but still makes me chuckle.

Things to do before Sep 09 -- Update #2

1. Walk/Run 40 miles (17)
2. Cook 15 meals a week (8)
3. Save 60% on our grocery bills (62%)
4. Do one craft project (I'm going to make some things for the dinner table)
6. Work out more frequently and stop making excuses. (making an effort to walk more)
7. Make reservations for upcoming trips (done!!!)
8. Make 7 new meals/recipes I haven't made before. (So far: aug 4: egg pie, aug 12 cucumber slaw, aug 13: poached orange chicken, aug 16: plum torte & homemade granola)
9. Blog more frequently (have 15 posts by the end of the month)
10. Keeping up on the gardening. (going well)
11. Rain Gutters: measure house, create cost sheet, map out where rain barrels will go. (need to do this one)
12. Go to a fair (done)
13. Host a dinner potluck and game night! (don't think this is going to happen since we're busy for the rest of the month... maybe september)

Things to do before Sep 09 -- Update #1

1. Walk/Run 40 miles (12)
2. Cook 15 meals a week (6)
3. Save 60% on our grocery bills (62%)
4. Do one craft project (I'm going to make some things for the dinner table)
6. Work out more frequently and stop making excuses.
7. Make reservations for upcoming trips (done!!!)
8. Make 7 new meals/recipes I haven't made before. (So far: aug 4: egg pie, aug 12 cucumber slaw)
9. Blog more frequently (have 15 posts by the end of the month -- so far 4)
10. Keeping up on the gardening. (going well)
11. Rain Gutters: measure house, create cost sheet, map out where rain barrels will go. (need to do this one)
12. Go to a fair (done)
13. Host a dinner potluck and game night!

New Posts on LMP Farm

Here's the link!

New Posts on LMP Farm

Here's the link!

Stalled...

My head that is. I feel like there is so much to talk about but really I can't find a voice to speak out. So this month I'm going to make an effort to jump start the creative juices in my head. I need to if I'm actually going to do any real writing in November for this. If you knew me personally, you'd know how much I love to write. One of my best friends is making me do this and if wasn't for him, I doubt I'd push myself to really follow through.

So in an effort, I will attempt to post daily with quality posts ranging from how-to's to recipes. I might even through in a some rambling posts like this one in there. So, with my camera all juiced up, and my desire growing within my heart to share, here I go, throwing myself into August ready to type till my fingers turn blue.

BTW... if I'm not posting here, I might be posting on my garden blog. I need to start posting more than just photos. Pictures are pretty but it's time I finally share how it really is going.

TTFN

LMP

Things to do before Sep 09

1. Walk/Run 40 miles (1)
2. Cook 15 meals a week (2)
3. Save 60% on our grocery bills (%)
4. Do one craft project (I'm going to make some things for the dinner table)
6. Work out more frequently and stop making excuses.
7. Make reservations for upcoming trips
8. Make 7 new meals/recipes I haven't made before. (So far: aug 4: egg pie)
9. Blog more frequently (have 15 posts by the end of the month -- sor far 2)
10. Keeping up on the gardening. ()
11. Rain Gutters: measure house, create cost sheet, map out where rain barrels will go. (need to do this one)
12. Go to a fair
13. Host a dinner potluck and game night!

Things to do before Aug 09 -- Final Update

ya, i know, it's august and I'm a bad little blogger...


1. Walk/Run 40 miles (35)
2. Cook 15 meals a week (18)
3. Save 60% on our grocery bills (44% --not to shabby!)
4. Do one craft project (seriously? come on LMP! I can do better than this!)
6. Do one different type of exercise I haven't done in the last two months a minimum of once a week. (1.rock climbing, 2.nothing, 3.swimming, 4.Spinning, 5.wii active)
7. Lose 5lbs. (let's not talk about this... why do i even try...)
8. Make 7 new meals/recipes I haven't made before. (So far: spaghetti sauce with cherry tomatoes, making new dessert for picnic, bruschetta, roasted green beans, baked green bean fries, key lime pie, marinated orange grilled chicken... I'm on a roll!)
9. Blog more frequently (have 20 posts by the end of the month -- so far 12)
10. Plant new tomato plants. (planted 4 more, might plant two more next week)
11. Rain Gutters: measure house, create cost sheet, map out where rain barrels will go. (need to do this one in August)
12. Plant new flowers under the trees (done)
13. Send out Evite for bbq. (postponed bbq due to plans with the mi familia this weekend)

New Posts on LMP Farm

Here's the link!