Mar

Mug Alert: The first Om Nom Nom

My neighborhood is in the beating heart of the coffee phenomenon. I am surrounded by caffeine addicts. They are everywhere. Before 9am it’s like the streets are overrun with zombies and only the children remain normal, happy and giggling. Standing in line at one of the thousands of coffee shops leaves you recounting the list of rules from Zombieland. Then, almost like magic, there’s actually HUMANS leaving the shop, not zombies! That coffee fix is a serious thing, not one to be messed with. My beloved coffee addicts have taught me that coffee comes before words.

© Duskbabe | Dreamstime Stock Photos & Stock Free Images

I am the one in a million that doesn’t drink coffee. There’s something about it’s taste that just, well, isn’t my cup of tea. It’s mostly drinking it that repels me, but I’m not opposed to making it for my beloved coffee addicts. It’s taken a few years but I actually like making coffee now. It’s a great way to make easy friends… the zombies always smile at the person handing them a hot cup of java. It’s become an act of love.

In honor of my beloved coffee addicts, I’m starting the Mug Alert post. Now you can remind yourself and those you love to let out their inner RAWR, first thing in the morning with a cup of coffee done just right.

The OmNomNomivore

Mar

Dinosaur sighting: The OnNomNomivore

I Love Brunch.

I love brunch SO MUCH… it makes me rawr.

Literally, I, “RAAAWWRRR” out loud because I am THAT excited for brunch.

When all else fails for dinner, I could eat brunch (which is Brinner in my home). When we travel I always want to find a good brunch spot, sitting back, relaxing and reflecting on a good/crazy/busy/lazy time usually makes for a great day. Brunch is almost like my weekly meditation, a slow meal slows me down, helps me relax before another crazy week. It helps me find and remember my gratitude’s.

Croque-Madame at Cafe Campagne

Finding Toast

I love finding French Toast that is thick and eggy, frenched and toasted to “just right.” Thick slices are key. I especially love a Brioche French Toast. In Seattle I can count on Bastille to handle the french toast with respect.

I LUV finding waffles, the good ones anyway. I’m talking about the waffles that are thick and puffy, and round is always more fun. The most glorious waffle in all my years of searching was at Pomegranate. It was perfectly cooked to a soft and chewy inside with just enough crunch to satisfy and topped with house-made whipped cream and fresh summer berries. It was so good they haven’t ever repeated it, but they come close enough to still get my top spot.

I’m looking for the pancakes that give what’s on your plate the deserved name of “cake”, waiting to be devoured. Throw some fresh berries in the batter and you got pan-an-cakes in all their antioxidant-al glory. The summer outdoor patio is primo seating during the kinder weathered months and the Huckleberry pancakes are not to be missed at the Barking Frog.

I’m not above a quick sandwich either. Some mornings (or afternoons) I just don’t have the patience to sit and wait for brunch to come to me. Some mornings, the hangry ones anyway, direct me to the nearest goodness available. In Portland, that place is the Grand Central Bakery’s Cafe. I love brunch so much I already opined upon their biscuit-egg sandwiches previously, in The Only Biscuits Worth a RAWR.

We’ll leave eggs for another day. I love eggs, but that’s exactly why it’s a post for another day.

All this talk of brunch and yummies had me wondering…What type of dinosaur am I?

It seems everyone has their favorite brunch meal and almost everyone is different. Some friends love a good vegan or vegetarian meal. Some of my friends scoff at anything without bacon. Some of my friends can eat a little of everything. Me? I’m all about the nomnomnom.

Call me, the Omnomnomivore.

Feb

Ode to the 80’s and the Moon

Ah, the days of Reese’s Pieces and ET phone home… Yup, those were the days, the 80’s. And eventually the wild-n-out RAWR of that decade morphed into the neon nineties. Somewhere in this mix of fashion adventure and extra terrestrials, an amazing shoe was born. It was over the top, the high top, to be exact. It was flashy. It was fahbyoulus. It was… the LA Gear Trainer.

Somehow (I can’t remember so it must be magic), I convinced my mom or my grandparents (again, I can’t remember, so maybe it was a wizard) to get me this pair of LA Gear High Tops, but in a crisp black and pink only (bottom right in image below). I will never forget the double laces and how supported my feet felt. I will always love the sassy touch of the side suede ribbing.

I do remember eeking out a small RAWR of excitement when I got my foot resting on the cushy sole, the double laces laced up, the velcro flap flipped over and velcroed down and the license plate flair promptly added to my key chain collection, I was ready to go. This is also when I discovered my power color. HOT PINK. And it made my wardrobe so much easier! Hot pink or Black leggings, check! Hot pink and black oversized sweatshirt, check! Hot pink or black scrunchie to complement my fountain bangs, CHECK!

So reminisce with me… In the spirit of the recent full moon, I’d like to share this handy mug. You can find it at Zazzle.com. Then, while you drink your coffee out of it, you can chuckle as you remember your early RAWRS.

Apr

anomalemon

For someone who lives in the greater Seattle area, I am an anomaly in that I do not drink coffee. There is Starbucks and Tullys and Peet’s, Oh My! (oh my because there’s so many more!) I’ve learned to tolerate the smell but the taste still gets me every time. No mocha, no thank you.

Now, this does not mean I do not need help waking up in the morning. I have never been a morning person either. A frustrating combination to live with when you’re 16. It has taken many years beyond 16 to gain a few tricks to help me wake up and feel motivated. Below are the suggestions worthy of a rawr.

1. My first go-to is the shower. The warm, steamy shower. The quality of the shower experience depends on a few factors such as the shower head, the surface under your feet, the space for your elbows and most importantly, the time span of hot water. Oh, and there’s a routine. The graphic below illustrates just so perfectly a typical morning.
Unfortunately, if your hot water tank is not large enough, you get stopped at step 4. Investing in a tankless water heater is like a bottomless cup of coffee that is always hot and fresh.

2. When the shower just isn’t enough, I turn to a cup of hot water and lemon juice. Yup, it is that simple. A cup with a handle, a kettle or hot water dispenser and one lemon is all you need. Slice the lemon in half, put it in a bag or container and stash in the fridge for your week. Squeeze several drops of lemon into your water and feel your snotty self dissolve away.

3. If I’m ever so blessed to have sunshine in the morning (remember, Seattle is gray and cloudy), that sparkling ray of sunshine is my last ray of hope to wake up with a smile. Just recently science is proving that humans need a certain amount of daylight (with its complex colors and varying intensities) to sleep well at night and feel good in the day. Daylight is crucial to balancing our circadian systems and maintaining good health. Even 15 minutes of direct sunlight can help you sleep better at night, so it truly is worth it to stop, take a break and get outside.

-Marie

11 years ago Short URL Comments

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Tag Archives: breakfast

Mug Alert: The first Om Nom Nom

Dinosaur sighting: The OnNomNomivore

Ode to the 80’s and the Moon

anomalemon