Grocery Haul & Healthy Foods to Cook With

I don't usually talk about what I buy, but I wanted to share some of things I've found at the grocery, and the health food store near us here in Burlington, Iowa. My mom has a lot of allergies, so it's really important that I find, and work with ingredients that are ok with both of us, and I've been very lucky to find these ingredients, sauces and flavors, that don't have anything that can make us sick.

My mom loves her sauces, so I've been trying to come up with some of my own. One of my first, that she seemed to like a lot was coconut aminos, with sesame seed oil, especially on chicken. I also was able to find a health food store near us called Nature's Corner, and they have a vegan mayonaisse, made without eggs, or soybean oil, which is very important in our diets. They also have a ketchup made by the same brand, Primal Kitchen, as well, and later I was able to find it our local HyVee store, as well. 

Recently I also discovered another brand that is a little healthier for us, called Noble Brand (by the New Primal), and they have a good, and spice bbq sauce. Plus, at Nature's Corner, they have soup packets, that don't have anything bad, like soy, wheat, or any added perservatives.

I've always enjoyed cooking healthy, and even doing things from scratch. Sometimes, when I'm working on the basics, it's nice to have quality sauces, and it makes it easier on me. It can get pricey if your not careful, but I always say it's worth it.

A Different Perspective for This New Year

A lot of the time in January, the days can start off cold, foggy, and seem off, but give it some time and, the sun can try to make an appearance. What could seem like a complete disaster, could shape up to be not bad, even awesome.

There have been a lot of moments this month, the first of the new year, where it’s felt like a seesaw, one moment things are pretty hard, and then they are looking up, and the next day, you get some news that tries to bring you down again. I guess we all need to try and keep an open mind and maintain a balance of some kind.

A New Style for a New Year

Starting this new year, I'm going to be working hard on making things different. I know I don't write and post as often as I want, but I'm working really hard on changing that starting now. I've been getting really inspired and going to start using that as motivation for my many projects.

This blog has a new template, and hopefully a new style. For now, I'll keep writing about the things that interest me, but all video's will be posted on my other blog, please go my storylines page for further information.

I do have a couple different blogs, and that's because I have so many ideas I want to share, and there are so many awesome, incredible templates that I want to use to showcase them. From my favorite movies and tv series, to my adventures when I travel. Not to mention all the different styles of cooking I like to try.

Books into Movies and Series: Jenny Han

Two different series, based on two different books, but all by the same author, Jenny Han. The first time I ever heard of this author, was when the Netflix movie, To All the Boys I've Loved, came out. After I watched the first movie in the series, I loved it, and I was hooked.

Then, I saw the trailer for, The Summer I Turned Pretty, I was intriqued, especially by the fact that the book series was written by the same author of the Netflix movies. After I watched this new series, I was addicted yet again by the stories this writer created.

I love that the main character is a female, not sure of herself, trying to figure herself out on her own terms. I think that’s awesome. I also like that in the movies, both characters are portrayed by actresses, who are not just your usual brunettes.

Misadventures and Oriental Shopping

We went back to Coralville again, the first of this month. The trip was supposed to be quick, considering we didn’t have Missy, and we knew where we were going for the most part, and what we were supposed to get. However, the best laid plans,… often turn into misadventures.

We got started pretty well, we went to Walmart, and I found the coffee I love best, and we were leaving, but we got to looking around, and found some other food stuff that was important, but they didn’t have a great selection of some other stuff we were hoping to find there, like dog food.

After that, we went to a store, World Fresh Market, I though they would have an amazing selection of oriental foods, and the key items on my list. But as it turned out, they didn’t. Most of the stuff was Indian, and was interesting, but now what I was looking for, except for some miso.

Next stop was Trader Joe’s. We got there, and we went looking for the things on our list. We had trouble finding one of the key products, but we found it with help from someone who worked there. We also found some amazing foods, potstickers, and macarons, two of my favorite things. We didn’t find everything we were supposed to though. However, as we were getting ready to checkout, one of the ladies who worked there, told us the place to go for oriental food and ingredients, and things, was a place called Chong’s.

So, we took a chance, and payload! All items on my list were practically there: miso, kombu, Benito flakes, and boba pearls. I was so happy! Even though our time there was cut short, it was nice, and now, I know where to go.

We got coffee, and headed home, so even though the trip was kind of crazy, it was awesome. We didn’t find everything, and we went to some wrong spots, but now we know better, so we can plan better for next time. Isn’t that the point of living?

Overview of the Batte of The Brushes 2022

It was my first time going to an event at the Art Center, downtown. My mom and I had reserved a table, beforehand so we would miss out on anything. I was so excited for the event, I planned a special outfit, and go my hair redone, cut and colored, just for the occasion.

When it was time, we got there a little late, but it was okay. We had time to find our seats, got something to eat and drink, and got settled to watch the artists go. We were supposed to go with two others, but they couldn’t make it. When we arrived, we met up with some friends of ours from church, who joined us, so that all worked out.

There was some awesome food, catered by an awesome local vendor, Tasty Endeavors, and the price was reasonable, at least to me, and they an awesome selection of sodas at the bar, and they also served an amazing charcuterie board, with cheeses, crackers, salami, and a balsamic vinegar for dipping.

Each artist had their own unique style. The task they had was to take topic, in this case: Riverfront, I think, and paint, and as a added twist, they had to include a mayfly. Some of the artists used acrylic, or watercolor, but I was amazing to see them go, and be around all that energy, including all those who were there to support the arts as well.

In the end, there was one artist, I liked better than the others, even though they didn’t win, and my mom and I didn’t get chosen in the raffle drawing for a finished work, I was still impressive, and was totally worth going. In the next couple of months, we may try and go to another event.

         

Everything That’s Been Going On This Spring

I’ve been a little lazy in my writing lately, so allow me to catch up with everything that’s happened around me lately. A lot has been going on, and I’ve even experienced some new stuff as well.

Spring is a time of cleansing, and renewal. For me, it’s also the time when the weather warms, for me to get my hair redone, and to get ready for some awesome things to come, like the farmer’s market here in town. There was some other stuff I didn’t expect, but we’ll come back to that, maybe.

We finally got rid of my broken frame, and by laying my futons on the floor, I can fold them up each day, and really get working on my room. It already looks so much better, although I did run into an unexpected problem. I’ve been trying to sort through all of my stuff that I want to work on and all of my projects. But I think I need to just get rid of a lot of the dead weight that’s been holding me back, and start fresh.

I got my hair redone, cut and colored, and I’ve done some pretty new, and interesting things this summer, it’s just hard to get back to work, and I’m trying to get that mojo back, starting now. 

Farmer's Market This Year

One of the things I’ve been looking forward to this year is the farmer’s market, downtown. I love seeing, and walking down the stalls, and hearing this saxophone player, and smelling all this incredible produce, baked goods, and other stuff.

It’s been a little tricky, keeping the budget straight, when we try and go, every Thursday, but we managed to make it work for most of the months that it’s been going on. That’s because it’s always worth it.

Road Trip to Doctors and to Find Coffee

We had another road trip today. To me, these are always an adventure, because we can go somewhere new, and different, if just for a day.

Today, we had to go to Coralville for a doctor's appointment. I did a little research, and found they had a Walmart Supermarket, and they carried my favorite brand, and roast coffee, Coralville also had a Traders Joe's!

We got started by grabbing something to eat at Hy-Vee, and coffee and tea at Starbucks. After that, we started driving for a long couple of miles. A lot what we saw was open, wide fields, valleys, and hills, from West Burlington, to Danville, and to New London.

When we finally reached Coralville, we stopped by their Walmart, and it was a mega store, way more wide, and fully stocked then the one I usually go to. And I was able to find my coffee of choice, YAY! After that, we headed to the University of Iowa Medical Center. After we parked in the large, dark garage, I went to Trader Joe's, which was right across the street, very convenient. I looked around, and finally found some amazing nut butters, with out soy, corn, wheat, or peanuts, which was impressive. There was also some good flat bread, and amazingly, some black garlic.

The doctor's visit was long, but afterwards, we went to Red Ginger, and had some sushi, and miso soup, and onion soup on the way home. It all was incredible! All in all, the trip was long, and the day was tiring, but everything ended on a pretty good note. Next time we go, we'll be better prepared, so here's to next time.