Less Wordy Wednesday: Girls Weekend Away!

This past weekend my dear Popsicle sent Mama Bird and I away for a weekend trip.

We loaded up our beach cruisers and headed for grand ol' Indio. 

Yep, the middle of the desert with literally nothing there. But this weekend was special...

Why? 

We had a date with Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood, Easton Corbin, 

Josh Turner, Rascal Flats, Steel Magnolia, Kenny Chesney, Joanna Smith... 

and the list goes on. 

(Yep country fans eat your heart out!) 

(classy bathrooms, just to set the mood for the weekend)

Shock Top + Cranberry Vodka = class.

(never did I think I'd double fist, but I did, with my mom)

Assless chaps. No more words needed.

Our rides into the concert with the bike parking lot.

Mullet. Boom, business in the front, party in the back.

Country 105 spoils. 

World's best kettle corn.

Young boy with cock hat on = inappropriate photo shoot.

Gotta love me some Carharts.

GTL gone country.

Spiced rum watermelon = danger.

Nappy time.

(Isn't my mom so sneaky?)

Absolutely inappropriate (for 2000 reasons) white pants.

Shirtless cowboys galore.

(I'm not promising they should all have their shirts off)

Festive pink heart nipples.

Carrie on stage in the background. 

Atomic Buffalo Terds (Jalapeno poppers gone country), fried pickles, 

and Shock Top = our diet for the whole weekend.

Kissing random drunk cowboy with random woman = totally appropriate.

Oh Stagecoach, you literally made our weekend and

 we are counting down the days until next year's bash. 

Please don't disappoint.  

I didn't die...

So I've been slacking.

Oh man, I thought balancing school and work and life was hard... Balancing work and life, time between home and family and San Diego and J, and finding a moment or two for myself in between has proven to be quite difficult.

I'm sorry for letting things go longer than I would like in between. But, I'm going to get back to it again. Some of my posts are going to be less words and more pictures, just to alleviate my feelings of guilt for leaving you all out in the cold... But there will still be recipes and stories and some of my thoughts.

Tomorrow I'm going to try out my first wordless Wednesday post... Or at least Less Wordy Wednesday post... I have some amazing pictures to share you with from my mom and I's weekend away at Stagecoach, California's Country Music Festival. Oh my, and by amazing, I mean highly inappropriate but guaranteed to make you giggle!

Here's a little teaser, check back tomorrow for much greater laughs! 

Yes, that is my mom and I on top of a GIANT chicken.

Simply Bo-vine! Beef Vindaloo

This little number is one of my favorite dishes from my childhood. My Mama Bird found this recipe in the local newspaper and trued making it. For such a random find it's a true gem!

Ingredients: 

• 1 pound top sirloin (or flank steak) 
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper 
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons butter 
• 4 cloves minced garlic
• 1/4 cup minced shallots 
• 2 teaspoons minced ginger root
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons vinegar
• 1 cup beef broth 

Directions: 

1. Slice the beef as thinly as possible. (It helps if it has been in the freezer for 15 minutes and is a little bit firm and if you cut across the grain of the meat) 
2. Combine the coriander, cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, cayenne, and the salt in a small bowl and set aside. 
3. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. 
4. Add the minced shallots and cook until golden brown (about 2 minutes). 
5. Add the garlic and ginger root and cook stirring until fragrant (about 2 minutes). 
6. Add the spice combination from the bowl and cook about 1 minute. 
7. Add the beef, brown sugar, vinegar, and beef broth. 
8. Bring all ingredients to a simmer and cook until the beef is cooked through and flavor is well-blended (6 to 8 minutes).
9. Serve on a bed of rice or pasta and enjoy! 

My Dearest Gramcracker and Why a Heart's Important

On January 1, 2010 my dear Mama Bird made the hardest decision of her life. Just a short 48 hours earlier my Gramcracker (Mama Bird's Mama Bird) suffered her second heart attack and was rushed to the hospital where she was admitted to the ICU and placed on life support. On New Year's Day the doctors said Gramcracker's chances of surviving were slim and she would have to remain on life support to sustain her heart. Knowing this is no life Gramcracker would want to live, Mama Bird prayerfully requested for her dear Mama to have the chance to meet her Maker.

(Here's my sweet Gramcracker with the love of her life, Grandpa John)

(Mama Bird, her sister, and dear Gramcracker)

In honor of my sweet Gramcracker and the Red month of February for hearts, love, and Women's Heart Awareness, I decided to share the benefits of common kitchen spices that are heart healthy. We often hear so much about heart-healthy foods, but these little additions can go with any meal!

The Manila Bulletin Publishing Company published an article with the seven super spices according to McCormick, one of the most renowned spice marketers in the world. 

 

Cinnamon, ginger, oregano, thyme, red peppers (like the flakes), curry powder (specifically turmeric), and rosemary are rich in antioxidants which help prevent cancer as well as keep your heart healthy and clean by keeping you blood flowing through your veins and arteries with little trouble! 

So, although spices can seem expensive (I admit at first I struggled with the price of owning them!) they are well worth the investment. Why? I propose three reasons (1) a little goes a long ways so they last for a long long time, (2) they add flavor to every dish that you use them in, and finally, quite possibly most importantly, (3) the effects of these spices are life sustaining and life long - again, a little goes a long ways!

Find a couple recipes that have these spices in them and get in the kitchen to help your heart and fill your hungry tummy! While you're enjoying your newly spiced meal, think about your heart this month and about the things you can do to help it, whether it's a relaxing bath, a walk to destress after a long day at work, or stirring some spices into your favorite recipe!