Monday, September 16, 2013

Doughsants! (also known as cronuts)

I normally try to stay away from trends...but it's hard when they pertain to food!  I recently read about cronuts, and found out that a local bakery called Spudnuts carried a knock-off called doughsants.  We went there the morning of the bbq to pick some up to share with everyone.

We tried five flavors: powdered sugar, cinnamon, blueberry, chocolate cream, and vanilla cream.  Everyone at the barbecue loved them!  I only tried the blueberry, but it was delicious!

I forgot to take a picture of the inside, but this picture I found on google pretty accurately shows it.


We also tried cinnamon rolls, crumby cinnamon rolls, and apple fritters.  She even threw in a blueberry muffin!

I will definitely be eating doughsants again!  I hope they introduce more flavors because I just can't resist new foods.  Have you had the opportunity to try these yet?  If not, what is your favorite donut?

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Manischewitz Review and Giveaway



It's 5774 now according to the Jewish calendar, and Manischewitz has some new products to help us all bring in the Jewish New Year.  They now have great products such as Honey Apple Macaroons, new Cous Cous mixes, Rye Tam Tams, and more!

I was sent some of these amazing new products to review, plus an old classic.  What a treat for my family!


I only use egg noodles for noodle kugel, and I haven't had time to make a kugel.  But I assure you, kugels with these noodles are always delicious!  You can also use the noodles for soups!

I have always enjoyed Tam Tams, and this new flavor was great!  The taste of rye is very strong in the crackers.  I'm lucky I have the self control to not eat the whole box in one sitting.  My favorite thing about the Tam Tams is that they are even kosher enough for my Orthodox family to eat so we can share them! Tam Tams are also available in original, unsalted, garlic, onion, and everything.

I was sent Roasted Garlic & Olive Oil and Mushroom & Olive Oil cous cous to sample.  I have never made cous cous before so I was amazed at how easy they were to make!  You just heat up some water and oil, add in the mix, and it's ready to eat in 5 minutes!  I love easy cooking!  The cous cous is also available in Tomato & Spinach and Herb & Vegetable.


Manischewitz has also just released the beta version of The Manischewitz Recipe & Holiday Guide. This free app contains hundreds of delicious, kosher recipes from past Cook-Off winners, kosher chefs, and home chefs.  Download it at either link below.


Manaschewitz has graciously offered to send the same products I received to 2 lucky winners!

Please only enter using Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Manischewitz provided product samples and is providing the prizes.  All opinions are my own.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Blog Every Day in September - Day 15: My Favorite Outdoor Activity

I decided to join a blog challenge to blog every day in September.  It is hosted by Karissa at A Fresh Start on a Budget.

Today's topic is: Favorite Sport or outdoor activity?

Sorry for skipping Day 14 everyone.  It was Yom Kippur and I didn't get a post up ahead of time....anyhow...on to day 15!

I am not a super athletic person...I did marching band for high school PE credit.  But I do love spending time with my dog outside.  I love taking him for walks or slow jogs and letting him be outside!

This is a recycled photo from the day we took Hunter to the car show.  We stopped off at the Lake Cachuma vista point.  He loved it!

I believe this is another recycled photo from the Breakwater in Santa Barbara.  Hunter was so scared of the water coming over the wall that day!

What do you like to do outdoors?


Thursday, September 12, 2013

Blog Every Day in September - Day 13: A Difficulty I Have Overcome

I decided to join a blog challenge to blog every day in September.  It is hosted by Karissa at A Fresh Start on a Budget.

Today's topic is: Something difficult in your life you’ve worked to overcome.

I feel like as an adult, I have had to work hard to overcome being shy and being afraid of new things. Through high school I was outgoing and fearless, but I think it's because I was always in my comfort zone.

Now, I have to push myself to socialize with new people.  I'd much rather just hang out with my few friends. But...I am trying to get over that!

This is what I have to not do!

I am also trying new things....sometimes.  The latest is yoga.  I go a few times a week now and I keep having to push myself to try new classes and new teachers.  I'd rather just do what I know.  I have also been trying to find new things to do in town instead of the same old stuff.  I now have season passes to the local community college's theatre program!

The last play we saw was the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.  I really enjoyed it!

If you are a blogger, please feel free to join the challenge by clicking below!

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Blog Every Day in September - Day 12: My Biggest Pet Peeve

I decided to join a blog challenge to blog every day in September.  It is hosted by Karissa at A Fresh Start on a Budget.

Today's topic is: What is your biggest pet peeve?

Where do I start?  I feel like this could easily be my longest post of all time LOL  I will try to keep it short!

The very first thing that came to mind is when people push the crosswalk button incessantly.  Once will get the walk sign to light up when the traffic signal changes.  Any more than once makes no difference!!!!


The other big one that comes to mind is bad spelling / grammar.  I actually have trouble reading things when the grammar/spelling are too bad.  I get distracted!


What are your biggest pet peeves?  And if you are a blogger, please feel free to join the challenge by clicking below!

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Blog Every Day in September - Day 11: Chores - Blech!

I decided to join a blog challenge to blog every day in September.  It is hosted by Karissa at A Fresh Start on a Budget.

Today's topic is: What is your favorite and least favorite chore?

Do people have favorite chores? I can't say I'm a fan of them LOL

My favorite chore is taking care of the family dog.  I love having him, so I'm really happy to take care of him. I'm glad I can give him food, water, walk him, etc.

I took this on a really hot day which is why he looks like that.

My least favorite chore is vacuuming.  I think it smells terrible.  It is pretty much the only chore I refuse to do!

Monday, September 9, 2013

Blog Every Day in September - Day 10: My Dream Vacation to Japan

I decided to join a blog challenge to blog every day in September.  It is hosted by Karissa at A Fresh Start on a Budget.

Today's topic is: What would be your dream vacation?

I am half-Japanese on my dad's side.  I have always wanted to go to Japan to explore that side of me.  And cmon...who doesn't think Japan looks awesome?

I love how high-tech everything looks!

They have every type of vending machine you could ever dream of...even bananas!

I also want to see the Cherry Blossoms!

The architecture is amazing as well!

Where would your dream vacation be to?

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Blog Every Day in September - Day 9: My Favorite Photo

I decided to join a blog challenge to blog every day in September.  It is hosted by Karissa at A Fresh Start on a Budget.

Today's topic is: Show us a favorite photo and tell why it’s a favorite.

I am housesitting right now so I only have access to what is on my laptop.  My favorite pictures are always of family or pets though.

These are my three little cousins in Boise in a big tub normally used to store drinks at parties.  This was a little over a year ago.  I absolutely adore them!

What are your favorite pictures normally of?

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Blog Every Day in September - Day 8: The Best Advice I've Ever Received

I decided to join a blog challenge to blog every day in September.  It is hosted by Karissa at A Fresh Start on a Budget.

Today's topic is: Best piece of advice you’ve ever received. Who was it from?

I had a best friend in high school who told me to relax.  I'm naturally a worried, uptight person.  But I am always trying to just chill out and relax.  He reminded me constantly to just not worry about things and to calm down!  I wish yoga had been trendy back in high school...it might have helped me to relax sooner! :)


Friday, September 6, 2013

Blog Every Day in September - Day 7: My Best Piece of Advice

I decided to join a blog challenge to blog every day in September.  It is hosted by Karissa at A Fresh Start on a Budget.

Today's topic is: My best piece of advice I could give. It can be anything at all. (parenting, marriage, blogging, health, etc)

My best piece of advice would probably be to not make other's problems your own.  I feel like this is one that I am saying to people all the time.  We all have problems, and we all have to deal with them, but we have enough without taking on any extras.

If everyone just worried about themselves and their own problems, I think we would all have fewer problems.

What is your best advice?


Thursday, September 5, 2013

Blog Every Day in September - Day 6: The Greatest Moments of My Life

I decided to join a blog challenge to blog every day in September.  It is hosted by Karissa at A Fresh Start on a Budget.

Today's topic is: What have been the three greatest moments of your life?

I have lived a fairly happy life my whole life, but it's hard to pick three moments that were "the greatest".

I did love the trip I took to Israel 5 years ago.  If you are Jewish, you can apply for a program called birthright between the ages of 18-26.  They pretty much let everyone go on a free trip to Israel before they turn 26.  I did have to pay for my airfare to and from New York, but Birthright took care of everything else. I had an amazing time on my trip and found a connection with Israel that I didn't have before it.

This is a shot of our whole group at the Wall in Jerusalem.  I am in the front on the left with the light blue shirt on.

Another really fun weekend in my life was my mom's 50th birthday weekend.  We had a ton of family come in for the whole weekend.  We had a birthday party and a brunch at our house.  It was so much fun!  And her birthday is on Halloween...woohoo!

I'm on the left again!

Bringing Hunter home was a great moment also.  Our last dog, Argus, had been gone about a year by the time we found Hunter.  We had gone to animal shelters from as far north as Santa Maria and as far south as San Pedro.  We spent a long time looking for our little terror!

This is Hunter when we first brought him home.

What have been your best moments?


Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Blog Every Day in September - Day 5: My Favorite Books

I decided to join a blog challenge to blog every day in September.  It is hosted by Karissa at A Fresh Start on a Budget.

Today's topic is: What is your favorite book?  Why?

I've never had 1 favorite book.  I've always had a favorite author or favorite book series.  My current favorites that are still being written are the "In Death" series by J.D. Robb and the Michael Bennett books by James Patterson.  I love reading all types of books, so it is a bit funny to me that my two favorites are murder mysteries.

Do you have a favorite book?  I'd love to check it out!




Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Blog Every Day in September - Day 4: My Favorite Blog Post I've Written

I decided to join a blog challenge to blog every day in September.  It is hosted by Karissa at A Fresh Start on a Budget.

Today's topic is: What has been your favorite blog post you’ve ever written?

One of my favorite blog posts was also sad.  A year after my little dog Charlie died, I wrote a post all about him.  He was my first pet, which means he will always have a special place in my heart.  We adopted him from the shelter and he was just the cutest little thing.  You can read the post about him here.

I wasn't very good about taking pictures of Charlie (the black dog).  This is the same picture from my favorite post.

Monday, September 2, 2013

Blog Every Day in September - Day 3: Why Did I Start Blogging?

I decided to join a blog challenge to blog every day in September.  It is hosted by Karissa at A Fresh Start on a Budget.

Today's topic is: Why did you start blogging?

My mom got me started blogging.  After she created a blog, it made me want a blog.  She does a lot of things before me on the internet, which isn't the norm with my friends.  She also had a twitter before me and played facebook games before me!

My mom with my newest "cousin".


Sunday, September 1, 2013

Blog Every Day in September - Day 2: My Favorite Season

I decided to join a blog challenge to blog every day in September.  It is hosted by Karissa at A Fresh Start on a Budget.

Today's topic is: What is your favorite season? Why?

I live in Southern California.  We don't exactly have seasons.  It is generally 65-70 most of the year, it warms up in the afternoons, and occasionally we get a storm.

I love visiting snowy places in the winter.  I am 30 and I still love throwing snow balls at people and just being in snow!

This is my sister and me in a teeny bit of snow a few years ago.
Another picture from Lake Tahoe.

I love summer because that is when I usually visit my far away family.  Family is really important to me so I love getting to see them.  We go to Chicago a lot of summers to visit my mom's family and we go to Boise every summer to visit my dad's family.

My Chicago cousins with my mom.

My littlest cousin in Boise.

Blog Every Day in September - Day 1: My Life Story

I decided to join a blog challenge to blog every day in September.  It is hosted by Karissa at A Fresh Start on a Budget.

Today's topic is - My life story in under 300 words:

I was born in Torrance, California to a Caucasian mom and a Japanese but American-born dad. I am the older of two children. My sister, Jen, is 7 years younger than I am. When I was 10, we moved to Santa Barbara because my dad was transferred. I had a fairly average childhood and even enjoyed high school.

This is a picture with my extended family from my 30th birthday party a few months ago.

Unfortunately, I hated college. I chose the wrong school and came home after two years. I got two part-time jobs, one at Blockbuster and one in an office. I worked at Blockbuster for 4 years and made it to assistant store manager. I worked in that office for 8 years.

For the last 2 years, I have been working in the home office of an amazing woman. She runs special needs programs in Santa Barbara. Some of our activities are baseball, football, basketball, two annual dances, and more!

I am currently trying to become a healthier person. I happily go to yoga 3-4 times a week. I begrudgingly go to the gym 2-3 times a week. I also love walking or jogging with my cocker spaniel, Hunter.



When I’m not at work or exercising, I love watching movies, reading books, playing facebook games, playing phone games, and entering giveaways. James Patterson and Nora Roberts are two of my favorite authors. The best giveaway I have won was a trip to New Orleans, so I am always trying to equal or top that!

I hope you enjoyed reading a little about me. I am looking forward to reading about everyone participating in this challenge!