Tag Archives: hot chocolate

Snow Survival

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I don’t know about you…but I’m over the snow! This would be a lot of snow throughout the winter months as a whole, but man! it’s all come down in only a matter of weeks! I know I’m not the only one subject to these conditions so I won’t spend this post complaining, and at this point, it’s all about what you make of it! Right?

Thankfully, today my school canceled evening classes (which I was secretly hoping for!). It’s not that I dislike my class. In fact, I rather enjoy it. However, beginning in my first class of the day, I started planning a trip to Whole Foods for some much needed essentials. Some of them were pretty standard (plain yogurt for smoothies, etc), but some were definitely a part of my personal snow survival guide.

Okay, so maybe they weren’t originally intended for that, but after getting things home – I started realizing just how having those things in the house would make the storm more bearable…?

My Own Personal Snow Survival Guide – Foodie Edition (Warding off Cabin Fever Since ’11?)

  • Dark Chocolate - this goes without saying.

  • Larabars – simple, easy and delicious – and if something happened to the power, I’d at least have these to munch on!

  • Various flavors of hot chocolate (I may have a lifetime supply stashed away in my cupboards…) … hmmm are we noticing a chocolate theme here?

  • Breaking with that theme – some deeelicious flavors of Chobs! Even for some froyo on the fly…yes, even in snowstorms.

  • Also – popcorn. The do it yourself – on the stovetop – kind. Once you pop you just can’t stop! Seriously though, there’s something great about sitting in your bay window and watching the snow fall while snacking away on freshly popped corn.

These are just some of the goodies that I can depend on to lift up my spirits – or stave off stir-craziness. Regardless – all these foods, paired with a good book or just a good television show or movie…ahh, sublime survival. :)

  • What are some of your must haves for “emergencies”??

I Can’t Believe I Ate the Whole Thing

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Okay…so technically that’s an old Alka Seltzer commercial – but truly, the only reason I remember it is this:

 

p.s. have you seen the "new" cartoon cover art for this book...pshh...not nearly as awkward or amazing. :)

Beverly Cleary was one of my faves growing up….anyone else? Bev and Judy Blume made my little, bookworm world go ’round! (Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. anyone?)

Anyway – that’s a little off-track.

So – this past weekend, I did a lil’ travelin’ (not much), and made my way up to my mom’s house in NH. I think I just needed some time out of the snow-jammed city. This also seemed to be the plan of about 90% of all other Bostonians because 93 North was JAMMED on Friday night. For any New Englanders out there, it took our bus 20+ minutes to get out of South Station, through the tunnel and over the Zakim…yeah. It’s supposed to only take 35 to get to NH. I knew I was in for a heck of a ride…and this was at 7pm.

One thing I know that I’ll always be treated with at my mom’s is Nutella. Ohh…soo…good.

Okay…so it might be slightly exaggerating to say that I ate the whole thing…..but I was pretty close, and well, I totally could have polished that sucker off with just a spoon.

When I saw this in the pantry, I just knew what I had to do with it first (okay,that’s a lie…I spoonful went straight to my grill first)….

Jenna’s Nutella Hot Chocolate. She posted it a few days ago, and it’d been calling to me since.

Easiest thing ever. Nutella + Milk + heat + whisking….taaadaaaa! I mean, it’s actually kind of dangerous how simple it is to make.

My original measurements were 1 Tbsp of Nutella to 8oz. of milk…I ended up adding a little more Nutella simply because I have a problem…. (admitting it is the first step, right?)

The end result was creamy, chocolate-hazelnut goodness. Perfect for starting off a weekend of (almost) completely unplugging…

Ahhh – perfection.

Now, if only we could make weekends longer….

  • P.S. My inner bookwork wants to know your favorite childhood reads!! Dish!

You’re Getting Warmer

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You know those days when you’re not quite sick…but you just feel… Blah?

Is there a better way to describe it? I don’t think so.

Today is one of those “Blahh” days for me – I just haven’t been able to shake a headache and just an overall feeling of being a bit rundown.

My distraction? Hot.Cocoa. This was the year of hot cocoa for me…I got it from at least three people throughout the Christmas/Holiday season. I have yet to open any of them…and I decided that today would be the perfect day for it.

Enter: The Starbucks Holiday Cocoa Trio.

My best friend’s parents gave me this trio as a lil’ Christmas gift; such adorable packaging.

The “Toasted Marshmallow” option was calling my name. Mini-marshmallows? I’m in.

Mini-marshmallows?

There they are.

Love this mix – so tasty, and I actually think my headache is going away as I type. Ahhh, the magical powers of cocoa (or blogging?). Okay, it’s probably totally coincidental – but still. Delicious.

My only issue??

4, c'mon???

A lil’ stingy with the mini-marshmallows!!

I hope you all are having absolutely stellar weekends!!

A Cold One

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Ahh, last night’s game with my brother was a great one – but freeeeeeezing. I was not dressed for a 35 degree night at Fenway (plus wind!!)…brrr. Let’s just say that $4.25 hot chocolate is probably what kept me from hypothermia. Our seats were fantastic and it was a great game…especially because they actually won. haha

Yoouuuk

After the game, my bro and I met up with some people at Jillian’s to warm up and …imbibe.. a little. It’s his senior week. While there, I discovered just how delicious a vodka soda can be when you put both orange and lime in it. Oh the simple things. haha Yum. Oh, and ironically, the doorman was from our hometown and went to our high school – small world.

Today’s eats were pretty straight forward – no big surprises from me. Coffee (Honey Dew this time around). PB&J roll ups. A bagel thin with a layer of cream cheese. Oh…my mom’s amazing split pea soup. Nom.

  • How are you all doin??? Anything new and exciting?? I feel like I’ve been out of the loop!!

Snowflakes + BBQ

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Hi allll! It’s been a snowy day here in New Hampshire. Yep…I’m still in NH… (though where I live is really not all that far from Boston)…I’m milking the time home with my fam. haha I do miss my apartment, though. The one thing that is hard about being home is FOOD. …bad food. I …mean…extremely delicious food!…but lordy..I feel like a blimp.

Today was a bit better (food-wise)…I had some pizza, a few chocolates, some hot chocolate and some soup…and while the food in and of itself wasn’t that great…portion-wise, it was pretty decent…cuz…you know, now that I think of it…it’s technically not WHAT you eat (although the better you eat the better you feel, in my opinion)…it’s how MUCH you eat — and I think that’s more of my issue than WHAT I eat.

California Pizza Kitchen‘s BBQ Chicken Pizza for lunch (my absolute favorite — though, I wish they carried the thin crust variety around me…):

Hot chocolate was once again a staple. It was snowy..and unfortunately, my stuffy nose/cold has now turned into a rather ugly cough — oh the joys of winter. haha My mom delivered an — in the words of Perez Hilton — AMAZEBALLS soup for dinner. Tons of beans, veggies, and oven roasted turkey. Some parmesan cheese…miiiight have found its way into the equation.

So the snow is still coming down (it started last night) — it’s SOOO windy…so I’ve just lay low all day. It’s probably for the best seeing as I have done something “not good” to my back/hip. I don’t know what. All I know is it’s either the worst knot I’ve ever had or something is out of whack with my left hip. Rest and heat and relaxation have been my mantra, and if it doesn’t improve…doctor’s appointment. Boo. I don’t even know what I did! — I think that’s the frustrating part.

I’ve been glued to a NCIS marathon all day. haha :) I will continue to nurse myself back to 100% with the help of hot chocolate, tea and I will try to remain optimistic about my back. :)

By the way, has anyone else been seeing the commercials for the Taco Bell Drive Thru Diet?? Honestly…I think it’s ridiculous…I mean — yes they are much better options than other stuff of the Taco Bell menu or most other fast food restaurants…but it’s still fast food! I think it’s horrible that they are allowed to advertise it in that manner.

I hope everyone is staying warm and safe and enjoying the weeeekend!