In honor of Nanette's Friday recipe party, I am posting Tyler's somewhat infamous raspberry jam.

Ingredients:
4 c. crushed raspberries (frozen raspberries that are thawed work just as well)
3/4 c. Sugar (more to taste)

Directions:
Put raspberries in TALL pot and bring to a boil. Add sugar and bring to boil again. Boil for approximately 30 seconds. Pour into jars and freeze.

Note: You may have to experiment with the amount of sugar and amount of time boiling until you come up with your "perfect" recipe. Tyler likes his jam a little runny and pretty tart, so we add less sugar and boil for less time. The more you boil the raspberries after adding the sugar the more firm and sweet it will be (raspberries have natural pectin in the seeds that is released as they are boiled).

When I first moved to LA and started school I kept hearing about how fabulous Pinkberry is. Since I had no idea what people were talking about, I pretty much ignored the chatter. Then, a few months ago I tried it for the first time. I remember thinking it was good and craving it at random times for days afterward. So tonight, Kristen and I took a last minute trip to DSW so I could exchange some tennis shoes. Since we weren't in a hurry to get home, we stopped for at Pinkberry for a mid-week treat. After trying it again, I have to say that I think I have found a new addiction. Luckily, at 100 calories and 0 grams of fat, its an addiction I can afford. YUM.

I watched Iron-Jawed Angels in my Leadership class on Thursday. The movie is about the women's suffragist movement. It primarily follows the efforts of Alice Paul (played by Hillary Swank) and the suffragettes in the Washington, D.C. area as they tried to secure the 19th Constitutional Amendment. It is a good thinking & awareness movie in terms of really understanding what women had to go through to secure rights we take for granted now. 112 women were arrested and imprisoned for peaceably picketing the White House. Alice Paul went on a hunger strike, was taken to the psychiatric hospital and force fed through a tube. Because of this, the movie is a little hard to watch at times, however, I can historically guarantee a good ending.
(Warning for my PG-oriented friends: There is a fairly erotic one woman bath-tub scene, doesn't show a whole lot but hints. However, it is really easy to know right where it is and fast forward through it. The rest of the movie is squeaky clean.)
I am glad I saw this movie, especially because I am sometimes a little apathetic about voting. It is good to remember that exercising my right to vote is making my voice heard, and also honoring those who fought and sacrificed to give me that right.

Tyler cooking raspberry jam. Notice his intense concentration. To him cooking is an art form: He will spend inordinate amounts of time playing with a recipe until it is exactly right.

Yummy Jam, Happy Tyler

what I got for V-day:

yep... a comb. in a cute white bag with pink tissue paper.

okay, okay, so it was symbolic. Tyler actually got me a gift to go to the George Michael hair salon in Beverly Hills. I have been complaining about my hair for a while, but he knows how much i LOATHE spending money on getting it done, so he gifted it. ah... so thoughtful. Anyway, my plan is to hold out for graduation so I can look fabulous for all the pictures :)

Yummy Salad

So I managed to concoct a salad that even Tyler will eat. The trick is to avoid the "traditional vegetables" (tomatoes, carrots, etc.) and put tons of other STUFF into it instead. Here's the instructions for those of you who want to try at home:
Romaine, Mixed Greens and / or Baby Spinach
Fresh Basil
Pre-cooked lentils from Trader Joe's
Pre-cooked beets from TJ's
Feta Cheese (we like the one with Mediterranean herbs)
Candied Walnuts
Hard Boiled Eggs
Dried Cranberries
Avocado (cut right before eating so it doesn't turn brown)
Sprouts (optional)
Dressings:
Tyler likes TJ's "Goddess Dressing"
I like "Brianna's Poppyseed Dressing"

Yum. This is making me hungry....

I VOTED!!

February Goal

As some of you may recall, I am doing monthly goals so by the end of the year, I have hopefully developed 12 new healthy habits.

January: Drink more water. (check)
February: Exercise a minimum of 4x per week.

Here's the plan:
Monday - go with Tyler in the morning, 6:00am (ick), RUN
Tuesday - work out during lunch break at school, LIFT WEIGHTS or YOGA class
Wednesday - probably break day, but option of LAP SWIMMING after work in evening
Thursday - work out during lunck break at school, LIFT WEIGHTS or CORE class
Friday - go in morning before class, RUN
Saturday - YOGA class

I'm recording in RED on my calendar all my success days. I'll share a pic at the end of the month :)