Best thing EVER!!!!!

Thanks to the oh so linguistically clever and geographically knowledgeable Sebastian, I’ve just been given a lesson on British colonization and the spreading of exaggerated and unmeaningful terms like “my favorite,” “the best EVER,” “the cutest,” “awesome,” etc. Now, I believe that this British trend has left me reasonably unaffected. Sebastian on the other hand, disagrees. To make his long lesson short, I’ll share with you a map, outlining the spread of the British language exaggerating epidemic.

Please read in your German-professor-want-to-be-voice. “As you can clearly see in this diagram, the small British Isles were quite influential in the spread of exaggerated terms of endearment on the global spectrum. Interestingly, such exaggerations and commonly used phrases were not integrated into the languages of the Islands’ neighbors.”

In honor of my German-professor-want-to-be boyfriend, I dedicate this blog post on the 16th day of the third month of the year 2010.

Breakfast was the best EVER!

My breakfast was so AWESOME, that I HAVE TO break it down for you!

This was the BEST SMOOTHIE I have EVER EATEN!!

• 1 frozen banana
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 1 cup Kefir
• 1.5 Tbsp. coconut powder from the best mistake EVER!
• 3ish Tbsp. orange juice
• 2 tsp. chocolate protein powder

Blend until smooth and eat right up!

I was SUPER SNEAKY and added a bit of the coconut powder into the coffee grounds as well. It tasted AWESOME! Like Hawaii in my mouth!

I also ate one of Anne’s A-MAZ-ING quinoa peanut butter granola bars.

This morning went SO FAST and before I knew it, it was time for work.

I spent the morning working out tricks for the SUPER DIFFICULT 8 times tables.

During literacy, I kicked MAJOR multicultural, generational and cross-curricular ass by connecting an 1842 poem by English author, Robert Browning, with a poem by American author, Shel Silverstein, and a song by the Swedish band ABBA. Have no fear, I only played the song by ABBA, not the visual pleasures of the youtube video. My students have LOVED (no exaggeration) the story of the Pied Piper of Hamlin. They know the story forwards and backwards and now also LOVE ABBA.

Extra Credit for the person who can follow my planning between the three media sources. Here’s your extra hint:

My TREMENDOUSLY TERRIFIC Tuesday continued with the most DELICIOUS left-overs EVER!

THE MOST aromatic dhal EVER! All my colleagues were SO JEALOUS!

The school fun continued with a bit of social studies- including a game I created about Roman homes, class fruit snack, and computers.

I was SO GLAD to come home once school was over. Talk about EXHAUSTION!

I LOVE dark German bread with carrots and walnuts! It is SO YUMMY! Topped with a sliced wedge of camembert cheese, DE-LIC-IOUS!

For dinner, I was the BEST GIRLFRIEND EVER! By the time my Genius-German-professor-want-to-be boyfriend came home from work, I had homemade pizza dough, sauce, and sliced fresh cheese and veggies waiting for make your own pizza.

His and Hers

Because it is SO mentally EXHAUSTING to talk think write like this, I’m going to end my adventure in British exaggerated terms of endearment RIGHT NOW!

Before going, I must make one thing clear I LOVE the inspiration for this post SO MUCH! He is MY FAVORITE, EVER! REALLY, I SO MEAN IT!!!!!

Question: Do you fall under the power of the British language exaggeration epidemic? What phrases do you overuse? I say apparently way too much, apparently.

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Flea market Frenzy

For 5 long months, I’ve been patiently awaiting this day. It’s official, the flea market season in Germany has begun!

Today the Bonn Bad Godesberg Antik and Trödelmarkt kicked it all off! Before you delete me from your google reader, you must understand that flea markets in Germany are like nothing you could imagine in the US. Our American antiques would be considered gently used in Germany.

Every well organized booth is breathing with history. The hidden treasures tell stories hundreds of years old. There is nothing like it!

Unfortunately, today was rainy, cold, dark, and dreary- not at all how I had imagined this glorious day! Luckily not even rain could stop the vendors from coming out! Although the it did prevent my camera from making very many appearances.

Before the flohmarkt began, Sebastian filled me up with a delicious breakfast.

1 poppy seed roll with cheese and a hard boiled egg, 1/2 sunflower seed roll with almond butter

By the time I made it to the market, it was pouring down. Luckily, I was prepared with my gym bag so waited the storm out while sweating on the treadmill, pumping some iron, relaxing in the sauna, and getting squeaky clean. I even enjoyed a cappuccino in the gym today!

Then, out to the antiques!

I was on a mission to find some new dishes. I’ve noticed my oatmeal pictures are all beginning to look the same. Most of the vendors wanted to keep their dishes in sets, but I was able to convince one family to sell me two lovely soup bowls.

I can already imagine my oatmeal nestled between the little handles.

Once the rain started up again, I decided it was time to go home, but not before picking up my favorite Arabic equivalent to baklava and a flat bread for tomorrow’s lunch.

Rainy weekend = busy bustling kitchen.

I whipped up some avocado chocolate pudding. This jar is heading Kim’s way!

Raw Avocado Chocolate Pudding

• 2 avocados
• 1 banana
• 1/4 cup almond butter
• 1/4 cup sunflower seed butter
• 1/4 cup coco powder
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 3/4 cup agave
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 2 Tbsp. coconut oil

Put all ingredients into a food processor and blend until whipped and creamy. Refrigerate.

I also put my food processor to good use making hummus for my lunch tomorrow.

Raw Red Pepper Hummus

• 3/4 red pepper
• 1 cup soaked chickpeas
• 1 Tbsp. water
• 3 Tbsp. olive oil
• 4 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 6 tsp. sesame seeds
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp. cumin
• 1 tsp. chili powder (I like it hot, use your own judgement)
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 Tbsp. dried basil

Put all ingredients into a food processor or blender and blend until smooth.

For dinner, I continued the Indian theme with Red Lentil Dhal

I loosely followed the recipe from HappyHerbivore only adding 1tsp. lemon juice and substituting some ingredients

½ cup red lentils

2 cups vegetable broth

1 tsp turmeric

1 tsp cumin  ran out so used 1/2 tsp. cumin seeds

1 whole tomato, chopped (with juices)

3 ounces tomato paste  2 Tbsp. tomato paste

2 whole garlic cloves, minced

1 small onion, diced

1 tsp paprika

1 tbsp ground ginger 1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and quartered

a dash of cayenne pepper  red pepper flakes

1 tbsp coriander

2 tsp garam masala

Instructions:(From happyherbivore)

In a medium pot, saute onions and garlic in 1/4 cup water until translucent. Add spices, except garam masala and coriander, and cook for 2 minutes, adding more water if necessary to prevent sticking, burning or drying out. Add lentils, broth, tomato paste, tomatoes and coriander. Cover and turn heat to high. Once boiling, reduce to low and simmer for 15 minutes, or until lentils are cooked (they will expand and turn orange). Add garam masala and stir to combine. Cover and set aside for 3-5 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve.

Sebastian has a fear of lentils so I had this delicious dinner all to myself! I ate the dhal over quinoa and have enough of both for at least one more meal.

Now that the evening is coming to an end, it’s time to bid farewell. I have a skype date with my parents!

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