Tag Archives: coffee

A Coffee, Toilet Paper, and Fun Family Weekend

Do you get caught up with the gazillion things on your to-do list and forget to just kick back and relax every now and then? We do, and it ends up consuming our weekend to where it’s Monday and the past two days are just a blur. This happens all too often, but this past weekend actually turned out to be a fun family weekend.

Every Friday, we kick off the weekend with a chocolate green smoothie. It used to be just for Kelley and I, but now Avery demands a daily green smoothie to be like Mommy and Daddy. How can I refuse when she’s begging for a drink that is full of healthy, whole foods?

I never follow a recipe, but the ingredients I have on hand are mixed berries, green banana, citrus, kale and other mixed greens, peanut flour, hemp protein, hemp seeds, plant protein powder, Great Lakes gelatinraw cocoa powder, coconut, carrots, beets, spirulina, NuttZo, sea salt, stevia, homemade kefir, unsweetened coconut or almond milk, and a husband/father’s love.

Phew, now I’m out of breath. Maybe I shouldn’t talk out loud when typing…..

Anyway, not all of those go in at once, that’s just the typical list of things we keep around and I will use. Back to Friday and chocolate smoothies; Avery quickly and happily downed hers as a pre-dinner drink and then went to bug Going Mom as she wash her face and got comfortable before dinner.

Drinking a Chocolate Green Smoothie

While she was behaving being a toddler in the bathroom, Avery got into the cabinets where we keep the toilet paper and proceeded to take all of the rolls out. This is nothing new, and that’s all we keep in the cabinet just to give her something to keep “occupied”. But, afterward, when Kelley was picking up the rolls, she spotted something…..

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Green smoothie bite marks. I guess the smoothie didn’t have enough fiber for her, so she found a way to supplement. At least she didn’t unravel the whole thing all over the house. Silver lining?

I made the usual grocery store trips to Costco and Sprouts on Saturday while Kelley and Avery stayed home. While out, I had a couple free birthday coffee offers to use, so I got a black iced coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts (the only time I’d ever go there) and a Trenta iced Americano with 8 shots of espresso at Starbucks.

I’m just now finishing the Americano, and even what’s left is hitting me with a good buzz. I couldn’t imagine if I drank it all in one day!

Later in the day, we took Avery to the neighborhood pool and had a blast playing with her. We started with her in the floating canopy she has, but eventually took her out to hold her.

Yeah, I'm ready for you to take me out now.
Yeah, I’m ready for you to take me out now.

We threw her in the air a few times, but she keeps a tight grip on our thumbs so it makes it very difficult to get her airborne. Then she found a new activity, kicking her feet and making big splashes.

No pictures or videos of her in action, but Going Mom and I took turns holding her in front of us with her legs out and kicking as fast as they could go. I’m pretty sure her goal was to splash water into her mouth since she kept it open the entire time. Whatever the case, Kelley and I both had the same thing in mind…..naptime success!!

And she slept pretty well as we figured hoped. Which led us to the obvious choice of doing the same thing on Sunday.

We started Sunday with coffee, as usual, but it was with a new French Press we ordered since the other one broke. Love the new press and know it was a great investment in our morning happiness!

Kelley spent most of the morning reading and playing with Avery as I prepped a few meals for the week ahead and our dinner that night; taco chili!! She spent a good amount of time with Avery on her training potty while reading almost every book we own until she pooped or peed. Finally, she peed, and we praised her for the tinkle. This is where the experience of owning a pet before kids pays off!

We eventually made it down to the pool for another kicking and splashing session, but Avery didn’t get into as much as the day before. She still kicked and splashed around, just not with as much vigor. Either because it was no longer new, or she was just tired from all of that potty training, but it was another fun family time at the pool regardless.

The rest of Sunday was spent flipping Avery on the pillow and blanket pallet I made in the living room along with doing a few household chores. Avery relaxed next to the pallet with a book and leftover green smoothie as we finished up.

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I should go eat some more toilet paper.

This past weekend ended up being an awesome time spent as a family and I look forward to many more as Avery gets older. Not that I’d ever rush her growing up, she’s done enough of that already!

Have you ever had an “eating toilet paper” experience?

Do your kids love or hate the pool?

Coffee or Beer: What Would You Give Up?

Does the thought of having to choose either coffee or beer and give up the other make you cringe? Or maybe it gives you the shakes…..or it’s sobering to think about!

It’s a question that enters my thoughts frequently, usually as I’m enjoying one or the other and wonder what others would choose.

For me, I will happily give up beer to keep that precious black liquid flowing, but beer would still be missed. I have been alcohol-free since before getting on antibiotics for my butt issue and haven’t found myself missing it that much. But coffee, oh man, coffee, would be dearly missed if I had to lay off.

Luckily, that’s not the case and I’m a happy camper drinking it daily. Knowing where I stand, I took to asking my fellow Dad Bloggers what they would choose. Now I see these guys posting their drinks of choice all the time and figured most of them would give up coffee in lieu of beer, but turns out, it’s about 50/50.

Beer vs Coffee-Dad Bloggers Poll

Well, from the 100+ that answered.

I gathered all of the comments, removed the names and time stamps, censored one, and left the rest as-is and figured I’d share them here. I meant to ask if they would give up alcohol in general, and I quickly realized my mistake. Without further adieu, here are the replies:

·        My first instinct was to keep beer, but sharing a cup of coffee with my wife in the quiet before the kids wake up is always something I look forward to.

·        I really enjoy beer but I enjoy coffee more. In saying that, I drink beer like once a month. Coffee is weekly.

·        I gave up coffee and haven’t had it in 15 years

·        I enjoy beer, but I really appreciate coffee. So, I’d give up beer.

·        I don’t drink aside from special occasions (christmas, etc) but I cannot function without coffee.

·        I’d keep coffee and give up beer because I don’t drink it. I must have coffee in my life.

·        I’m not a huge beer drinker. Now, if it were between whiskey and coffee, you’d have to pry them from my cold, dead hands.

·        I would keep coffee because I drink it more. But if we are going great for most beneficial, I probably should give up coffee because I drink it more. I have 1-2 beers every now and then, but I drink 4-6 cups of coffee a day.

·        See I enjoy fresh roasted properly brewed coffee so that happens for me once a week or once every two weeks when I get time. The only thing I take out of moderation is soda. I need to give up soda.

·        I still get Whiskey, right? Then beer. Beer for sure.

·        I don’t need beer to function…

·        I need to cut soda out again. Last time I did I lost 12lbs of water weight in 20 days.

·        I gave up soda for New Year’s and am glad I did. I’ve lost weight and feel better drinking water or the occasional glass of sweet tea.

·        I work nights and get up early with the kids, I need the coffee.

·        Since cutting out everything but coffee and water, I can’t hardly finish a beer anymore. Every time I want one I stop myself because I don’t want to waste half of it. haha

·        This was tough, but I suppose wine will always be there for me.

·        I couldn’t give up soda (primarily sugar-free Cola) I know its bad for me, but I have an addiction and its got me bad! Its the only substance that I’ve actually been properly addicted to

·        I’d give up beer before coffee. There are other ways to relax, but coffee  gets me functional

·        I have mostly given up soda. I have a 1L Nalgene bottle with me everywhere

·        Beer makes me happy. Coffee keeps me sane. I’ll take sanity over happiness. And I will still drink bourbon.

·        Never had either. So, neither.

·        I’m a specialty coffee drinker and part of traveling is visiting specially coffee shops. So coffee is very intertwined into everyday life but also part of experiencing and understanding the different cities.

·        Although I love beer it’s the coffee atmosphere that I prefer.

·        What kind of question is this? Nobody wants to live in your $@#@% up world RC.

·        “Does whiskey count as beer?”

·        Why you making us think so hard in the AM?

·        You can have the beer.. I like my Jameson and my coffee..

·        I drink so little beer, and don’t really even like it that much much of the time. So, I’d keep my daily flavored creamer with a dash of coffee.

·        I like beer, and will have 1 or two a week… But coffee is something I drink 2 cups of daily. I can give up beer and only drink scotch as long as you keep the coffee flowing! I mention other great uses for the “mug of the week” which I should be posting later today if I can figure out how to post an audio file.

·        I can replace coffee with other caffeine sources and I can drink a coffee stout if I get to missing the taste.

·        I feel like I could find a suitable replacement for beer, but not for coffee.

·        Keep the coffee (and cannoli), leave the beer.

·        Beer is a much less common feature in my life than coffee.

·        I don’t drink coffee. I do drink beer.

·        I love beer, but coffee is necessary to function.

·        Coffee… because there is always other forms of alcohol.

·        I don’t drink either. I’m sure that’s gonna get me kicked out of Portland eventually.

·        As much as I love Beer… I can not give up coffee.

·        I’ll gladly give up coffee. And bacon. And Star Wars.

·        I went from drinking over a gallon of soda every day to none over the course of the last two weeks. I’ve been soda-free for four days. I may still have it when we go to a movie, but other than that it’s been plain water or flavored water.

·        I don’t drink coffee at all, a rarity for someone who works th r overnight shift, but I never developed a taste for it, and really don’t even like the smell if it.

·        I drink gallons of coffee so I would choose to keep it.

·        I don’t drink coffee at all, so if I gave up beer I’d get dehydrated

·        I wouldn’t have to give up anything. Beer is my savior.

·        The choice was kind of made for me since I needed to go gluten free. I’ve rarely had a gluten free beer in 3 years. Wine, on the other hand…

·        I like both, naturally, but I’d sooner give up on beer than I would give up on coffee. I can always have wine, whiskey, etc. etc.

·        I would give up beer in a heart beat. Not coffee.

·        I drink a good amount of both. Would give up coffee before beer. Tastes better and costs just as much or more.

·        Having been on coffee bans twice in my life, both times for a month, and knowing how I came close to killing everyone around me, I would struggle to give up coffee for good. It’s my only vice.

·        Coffee. But then I never drink the stuff.

·        I would give up beer.

·        LOL easy enough to do, I havent had any alcohol in over 10 years.

·        If you really want to polarize the group, offer giving up cocaine or hookers.

·        I’d keep hookers. Oh, wrong question. I would keep coffee because there is no substitute for it. I LOVE beer, but I love JD even more, so that would drown my sorrows re: beer.

·        Need coffee or can’t even wake up in the morning. Without beer, well at least there’s whiskey and wine.

·        Beer would go. There’s always whiskey.

·        I’d keep beer. Not a big coffee fan nor a fan of hot drinks. Only coffee I drink is iced coffee if it has some kind of flavoring in it, so it wouldn’t be that big a loss. For beer i’m a quality guy not a quantity guy. Also, how the hell does Tom aka Mr Tom’s House of Beer choose to keep coffee over beer?

·        Tom I know, I know. There are a lot of fantastic beers. I guess I could get my caffeine from elsewhere. I do love my beer

·        RC Liley Soooo, nice to see where so many of you stand. I wrote this question and then had a full day of not being on FB until now!

·        I should’ve said alcohol in general as scotch/other liquor is an obvious loophole, so-to-speak. I’m with the coffee keepers though

·        RC Liley One last thing, thanks to all of you for sharing your thoughts! Love the coffee stout idea, that’s the way to go too!

·        If the question was rephrased to ask coffee or alcohol, then coffee is out. Gotta have my scotch!

·        RC Liley It would be a harder decision, but i’d stick with coffee still

·        Pierre Calzadilla Priority of food: Water -> Coffee -> All other things that enter mouth

I get that these are all dads/men, but figure the same holds true for the general population. Just a hunch.

What side of the fence are you on? Think about it as you’re most likely enjoying your weekend cup (or 3) of coffee today or as you’re gearing up for some good beer this evening.

I’ll leave you with this infographic depicting the effects of beer vs coffee to see if it helps you in your decision.

Have a great weekend and enjoy your coffee…..or beer…….or both!!

WIAW #11: No-Bake Mini NuttZo Pumpkin Cake

Baking can be such a hassle. Especially when you have little ones running the kitchen. Crazy kids plus a hot stove/oven NEVER mix! So, feeling creative for Avery’s breakfast, I decided to make a delicious and healthy cake that I didn’t need to bake. Wham, and I just rhymed; score!

NuttZo No-bake cake

I grabbed one of my 24 cans of Organic Farmer’s Market Pumpkin (Thank you, Amazon!), some NuttZo Power Fuel, peanut flour, and unsweetened shredded coconut and got to work. It turned out to hardly be “work” since 5 minutes later, our NuttZo Coconut Pumpkin Pie was born.

Avery was tugging at my shorts and whining for the first bite, so after I took a few quick pics, I fed my ravenous daughter.

I thought maybe, just maybe, there’d be a little leftover for me to savor, but that hope died fast. Unlike a typical pie, I found it easier to just roll into balls to feed her. At least that way I had messy fingers I got to lick!

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If there was time, I’m sure chilling it would make for a cleaner finger food, but as Jack Bauer would say, “There’s no time!”. It does cut pretty good even at room temp though.

Wanna give it a go for yourself? Do it!

Mini No-Bake NuttZo Coconut Pie

by RC Liley

Prep Time: 5 Minutes

Keywords: raw appetizer breakfast dessert snack nuttzo

Ingredients (Serves 1)

  • 1/2 Cup Pumpkin Puree
  • 2 Tbsp NuttZo (or other nut butter) at room temp
  • 1/4 Cup Peanut flour (Can use coconut or almond flour or even protein powder instead)
  • 2 Tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 packet stevia or 10 drops liquid stevia
  • Pinch of sea salt

Instructions

Add all ingredients in a bowl and stir well to combine.

Form into a small cake, roll into balls, or just leave as is to eat with a spoon.

Enjoy!!

Powered by Recipage

 

On to the main part of the post now, my eats!

Thanks as always to the wonderful Jenn from Peas and Crayons, for creating this fun link-up for foodies everywhere! It was great then and continues to be an awesome linky now!

what I ate wednesday, WIAW

 

Breakfast – One of my many leftover cups of black coffee from Starbucks that I picked up on Mother’s Day.

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Lunch – Steamed veggies with eggs and raw broccoli on top. Then some Greek yogurt with purple sweet potato, NuttZo, and homemade banana bread. While watching Avery not take her nap!
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Dinner – Shredded chicken with black garlic and steamed broccoli and a little spicy kimchi mixed in as well.
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And don’t tell Avery, but I made another batch of the no-bake NuttZo pie for myself to have as a nighttime treat.
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Yeah, I’ll be making more of that for the both of us for sure! Have a great Hump Day!

Do you like no-bake recipes or prefer to always cook your meals/snacks?

Ever buy things you use a lot in bulk on Amazon or another site? It’s a must in our home!

Brilliant blog posts on HonestMum.com