Cleanse or Bust?

Have you ever been on pinterest, or any other site, and seen this photo for Julian Micheal's detox drink? It calls for 60 oz of water, a tablespoon of cranberry juice, 1 dandelion root tea bad, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to be drank for 7 days straight. If followed, one could lose 5 (or more!) pounds in water weight. 

I tried this regiment, just to see if it worked or not. And to my surprise, it did! I lost about six pounds in the week, and even noticed a difference after day two. I did the drink mix a bit differently. I could not stand the taste of this drink. I mixed it all together in a pitcher, and then used that as my water supply for the day. But every time I took a sip, I immediately wanted something else to chase it down with. So instead of simply 'sucking it up' and just drinking it as is, I would mix the ingredients in 20 oz of water and then drink 40 more ounces of regular/pain water. Much better than the original recipe. And, like I said, I still lost a decent amount of water weight.i also experienced a difference in higher energy levels and improved skin complexion. ***Note: This is water weight, meaning it's very easy to gain back. To lose actual fatty weight, one needs to eat right and exercise on a regular basis.*****

There are a few other detox/cleanse drinks I want to try out, obviously after my body returns to "normal". But for this one, I'd say it works. Just make sure after every cleanse cycle to maintain a healthy diet, to avoid unnecessary bloating and clogging of your organs!

Amy Brick-House: Quote of the Week

Me, as Marshal from HIMYM: Ted, the only people in the universe who haven't seen Star Wars are the characters in Star Wars. And that's because they lived them, Ted. They lived the Star Wars.

Amy: I haven't seen Star Wars....

Me: o.O

Amy: I haven't seen Lord of the Rings, either.

Me: What did you do as a child????

Amy:.....I played outside....?

Me: Were you the only one? You played with sticks and rocks, didn't you? Because you were the only kid playing outside.

Amy: Yes.

My Week, In Pics

                                                                      

1. Make a wish!
2. How does one play checkers again? With a jumbo board, of course.
3. Outfit I got on a shopping trip when I should have been studying and/or sleeping....Don't tell BigW!
4. Fun projects I do at work to put of studying.
5. Trying to decided better which bag to get: Epiphanie or JoTotes....thoughts?
6. Hugh enjoys the new pillows. 
7. Sunset on the road back home =]
8. Hughie, my little blueberry, enjoying his nappy nap.

*Side Note: I cannot wait to get my little camera. Photos taken on a camera photo just aren't the same :/ *

Taco Twist

Ok, so there's no twist involved, but it is a bit different from the normal everyday taco. It's SO good! There is the recipe to the new sandwich I created last week, featured in the pics of the week. 


Ingredients: 
Italian Herbs pita bread
Ground beef
1/4 of a green pepper
1/4 of a white onion
Shredded Coby and Jack cheese
Sour Cream (optional)
Salsa (optional)
Steak seasoning
Italian Herbs seasoning


Directions: 

1. If you were to have sour cream and salsa, spread on the insides of the pita before adding the beef to it. 
2. Cook the ground beef on a medium setting for 9 minutes. Add steak seasoning to it and place in the pita. 
3. Chop the green peppers and onions while cooking the beef. Add to skillet after ground beef in placed in pita. 
4. Cook the green peppers in the grease and extra seasoning left behind. You may add the Italian Herbs seasoning now. Cook until tender. 
5. Add the peppers and onions to the pita and then top it off with cheese.

Variations: 

We tried this with chicken and spinach artichoke dip, instead of ground beef and sour cream/salsa combo. That was also very lovely sandwich. Dylan suggested adding a Chipolte sauce to the ground beef version, instead of sour cream and salsa, which sounds interesting. This is a really simple recipe that allows you to have fun with it, and get creative. So go ahead and experiment with different combinations. That's what makes cooking fun! 

My Week in Pics

1. Road Trip to Lucas'
2. Free Starbucks!!!!
3. RoLo's Great Escape. I was clean my room, and he was not having it. 
4. Amy: "Bitches get left behind.", while creeping on this cool kid.  
5. Dylan Pickle, photo-bomber extraordinaire, strikes again!
6. Cookout in the summer sun : )
7. Dylbear and I took a walk around Levis after our day date at the movies. Finally got to see What to Expect When You're Expecting.
8. Taco Twist, a new sandwich invented this week.
9. Beer Battered Onion Rings and Wine....makes total sense to me...
10. Unexpected trip home brings me to my second home and a bonfire :D

Breakfast for Dinner, Dinner for Breakfast??

This is real simple to make, and super duper cheap. Dylan considers this a treat basically whenever I get around to making this for him. 

Ingredients: 

1 can of Roll Out Crescents 

4 large eggs

.5 cup chopped onions

.5 cup chopped green peppers

1 large potato

1 package of bacon and chives potato seasoning

Directions: 

1. Bake the potato and crescents following the steps I used for Poor Man's Beef Wellington. 
2. Scramble the eggs while mixing in the onions and peppers. 
3. Brew your coffee. I love Highlander Grogg from this local coffee shop/bookstore. It's quite tasty =P You may also choose whatever breakfast drink you wish, whether it be OJ, Apple Juice, Milk, etc...
4. When crescents are finished, cut them in half 3/4 of the way in order to make them a little pocket sandwich when you put the eggs in them. 
5. Enjoy them with your breakfast potatoes!! 

Romeo Monty

 "What light though yonder window breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is the Sun." -RoRo

He's a snuggler!!! 

Romeo Monty, or as I like to call him RoRo, is the precious baby kitten that Dylan found outside his window a week ago today. It was tucked away under the window, meowing up to Dylan. Hence, the name Romeo. It was cold and storming outside, and the poor thing wouldn't last the night if we hadn't found him. Much to Dylan's reluctancy, a few friends and I brought him into the apartment. He didn't come without a fight, though. His original name was Spitfire because of his sauciness. In reality, he's the sweetest thing next to Hugh Hugh. 


And just like Hughie when we first got him, RoRo's a sick little guy. No fleas or ticks...Thank God! But he has an ear infection (like Hugh did), and pink eye with an URI. It makes me love him and want him around even more. Thankfully, it appears that Dylan has taken him under his wing. Therefore, it's my belief RoRo is not going anywhere any time soon. :D 

Ode to More Adventurous Times

This week's new recipe is Beef Wellington. I had it once while I stopped in Lacock* for lunch one day. Beef Wellington is beef, or steak, wrapped up in a pastry like bread, smothered in gravy. My version is called: Poor Man's Beef Wellington (Cost: approx. $.75 per serving).

**Fun fact: parts of HP were filmed in Lacock!**

To add to this little remembrance dinner, Heineken on the side is a must. 

Ingredients: 
1 can of Pillsbury crescents
.5 lb to .75lb of ground beef
1 can of gravy (or make your own using this recipe!)
.5 cup of onions
Roasted Garlic and Herbs seasoning

 Directions:

1.  Set the oven to 375 degrees.
2. Place the ground beef on a skillet and cook on Medium setting. 
3. Unroll the crescents onto a baking sheet, and roll over the triangles to make on big rectangle. 
4. Cut the rectangle into four small rectangles. 
5. Place a couple spoonfuls of ground beef on each rectangle, and fold the dough over the beef. Leave little to no beef showing. 
6. Bake for 11 minutes. 
7. Sautee the onions
8.  Empty the gravy into a microwavable bowl. Microwave for one minute. 
9. Add onions and Roasted Garlic and Herbs seasoning to gravy. 
10. When the pastries are finished, place them on a separate plate and pour the gravy mix onto them and you are finished =]

For a nice side dish:
1 large potato
1 package of Bacon and Chive potato seasoning (May be found in any Wal-mart for 88 cents) 
DON'T FOLLOW THE PACKAGE INSTRUCTIONS!!!  Follow mine:

1. Wash and cut potato into wedges. Place in a medium sized mixing bowl.
2. Add one tablespoon of the seasoning and one tablespoon of vegetable oil to the potatoes. (Package asks for more oil, unnecessary in my opinion.) If you wish, you may add onions or other complementary veggies to the mix as well.
3. Place the potatoes on a baking sheet sprayed with Pam and place in the oven before you place the beef pastries in.
4. When you take out the pastries, turn up the oven's heat to 400 degrees for about 15 minutes (The Package wishes you to back the potatoes at 400 for 30-40 minutes. Again, unnecessary, trust me!You could also place them in the oven for 10 prior to the pastries and then cook for about 5 minutes at 425 instead. If you do that, I would turn the potatoes over after you take out the pastries to avoid burning them.)
5.  Serve with or without gravy and enjoy!

Holidays in the Good Ol' CLE

I very rarely go back home. I'm either too busy with school and my three part time jobs, or simply can't afford to due to money restrictions and what-have-you. But when I do get the chance to go, it's always the best, and this past weekend was no exception. I stayed with this kid, my brother from another mother basically, like I often do. I spent time with him, his family and his girl (Maggie), who I adore. Finally! a friend and a girl of Cameron's who I truly enjoy having around every time I see her. We visited the West Side Market, enjoyed some Melt (SO. GOOD.), had a night of drinking games, and a party with the fam. Unfortunately, I don't have many photos of this trip, since I spent the time playing with Uncle George's camera instead of my own. Therefore, he has them and not me :( 

This are the few photos I do have:

Cammy, Buddha and Me. Can you see why I love them? :P

Cameron wearing my "mozzie" glasses....he can't pull them off like I can ---->

Cleveland's West Side Market was established in 1912, and has been a city landmark for nearly a century now. One can find anything from baked goods to fresh fruit to seafood there. I normally don't buy much there; I go to people watch and dabble with my photography skills.

I also had the opportunity to see a dear friend, who's been there since middle school, Jessy, as well as own mama who I haven't seen since Thanksgiving.

Jessy just became an aunt!!! Super excited for her and her family right now. It's gonna bring such great changes to all their lives I feel. Jessy is that one friend who knows all there is to know about me and my past. If something new is effecting me because of my past, she understands it because she was there. You don't find many friends like that. It's too hard breaking in new friends to know that much about you as well; so needless to say, I am very grateful to have her around still.

My Mama's well, better than she has been in the past. I got the chance to have breakfast with her and a client of her's named Joe. Let me tell you, this little old lady is what I hope to be when I'm her age. She's still sassy and funny, and so down to earth. I adore her.

The only sad part of my weekend home was that I didn't see my friends from high school. I really miss them. I often finding myself wishing I could somehow join all of my life aspects, i.e. them, my college friends, my life in this college town, everything. It'd make everything easier. Otherwise, I feel like I'm just drifting away when I don't always wish to. That's probably the saddest thing about growing up, drifting away that is. Then again, that's also want makes these little trips home all the sweeter....