Chocolate Valentine

I bet you're sad that I didn't post about Valentines on Valentines but hey- life's been busy y'all.

I like Valentines...why you ask? Because I get to get loved on and get presents and chocolate. Seriously, what woman doesn't love that? Okay, I know a single one...I agree it used to suck. You will have your Valentine one day and then you will love it and forget all about the crappy ones. Now, time for Chocolate!

For Valentines this year we decided to spread out the love. The Saturday BEFORE Valentines I came up with some random fun to do with the hubs to try and surprise him. (Even though it turns out my mom told him the night before, "y'all are going to have so much fun at the chocolate factory tomorrow" Smooooth Mom, real smooth) I really want to start doing fun things around Seattle and I thought what's the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Valentines Day? Love  Chocolate. After googling "Seattle Chocolate Factory's" I found Theo's Chocolate!

The best part was that they do Tours! Now, if you know me you know that I just LOOOOVE me some food tours- reason #1... FREE SAMPLES! I was so excited when they had spots open for that Saturday so I booked the reservation and planned the rest of the day around the factory. It was so cheap too only $6 per person which is totally worth it - the tour was absolutely fantastic and very informational. Do you know what a cocoa nib is? I didn't. Do you know where chocolate comes from and how it was discovered? I didn't..but Now we do!

We've got the Golden Ticket

When we got there they gave us special hats to wear.... wait for it...

Thank God my job doesn't require a hair net.

I mean really how utterly fabulous do I look. Good thing he already married me, not sure if he would have stayed around after seeing That.  

Our tour started in the classroom where I got a few action shots:

Teaching us all about Chocolate and Theo's mission. All of their products are Fair-Trade and completely Organic. It was a bunch of information that I do not have time to type up so just go read there mission statement on their website Here (Click me to get smarter)

Then we got samples while he was teaching us. SEVEN samples... We got to try Chocolate with Chili's in it, Bread and Butter (seriously), Super Dark Chocolate, another one I can't remember, Chocolate truffles with brandy, Chocolate truffles with Caramel, and Cocoa Nibs (which taste like a chocoalte nut!)

Then we got to see where the magic happens:

I'd love to go have my mouth under that spout over there...but then I'd probably burn it off with Molten Hot chocolate... what a way to go I say.

After the tour which lasted about an hour we got to go buy some chocolate in the store for 10% off! Heck yea!

The store also had samples of EVER SINGLE thing they sold. We were a little sick to our stomachs when we left but man oh man...it was Fun! (Yes, we TOTALLY bought the Bread and Butter one...it was SO GOOD- had little bits of crunch toast in it... so weird but so tasty.) All of that was only $12 bucks too..which is pretty reasonable to me for Organic/Fair Trade goods.

After the chocolate tour we went to the movies and had dinner.. per usual but a Great end to a fun day! If you're in Seattle or visiting I highly suggest touring Theo's Chocolate in Fremont - it was Outstanding!

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Valentines Day Events!

I had to work Valentines so we decided to keep it low key and when I got home from work CK had these waiting for me:

Presents! Yes, that is Breaking Dawn. Don't Judge me.

Then after I kinda sorta through a hissy fit about getting a DVD he KNOWS we are going to buy anyway as a present he told me he wanted one of my Reeses. The nerve! I begrudgingly opened them to find out the little trickster was sending me on a scavenger hunt...

After I went and looked in the Purple Cabinit I found that white bag! He got me a 60 minute massage! Ahhhhh-Mazing job there CK! I have been bitching for months about needing a massage. See bitching really does work girls!

Then for dinner he totally blew my socks off...

A Papa Murphys heart shapped Pizza for me!?!?!

He really does love me.

So, I bet you're all wondering what I got CK right? Well, in my opinion Valentines day is a "girls" holiday meaning boys should go out of the way for the girl. But...I'm not that mean I did get him his favorite candy, a sweet card, and a present (that still hasn't arrived in the mail) I swear it's really cool but it's taking forever to get here. Oh well... good thing CK is the most patient person in the world!

Do you LOVE or HATE Valentines?

What is the best Valentine you have ever had?

127 hours... in IKEA

On Sunday the hubs and I decided to go to IKEA to find a dresser that I had previously scoped out online. I have been needing said dresser the entire time we have lived in WA - four months later: I buy one.

On that note...moving is a biatch and I had decided that I will no longer buy things I want for the rest of my life because if we move again (which we at least will into a house or hell across the country again who knows) I don't want to have to move a ton of STUFF. We have tooooo much STUFF and moving made me want to throw it all away. However, I still wanted something cute and that went with my furniture enter, IKEA

This all being said I've always wanted to go to IKEA (thanks Fight Club) but never did I expect how HUGE it was. I mean I knew it was going to be big...but seriously? A "Showroom" the size of Sams/Costco, A "Marketplace" the size of 2 Sams/Costco's, and a "Warehouse" the size of 1 Sams/Costco. That's like 3 football fields people. Not to even mention the parking garage just for IKEA shoppers....

After almost killing 2 mothers and a child we finally parked.

Then we walked half a mile to the entrance and to the showroom:

Children should never be allowed in public.

CK managed to find some toys hidden in a corner at one point:

I can't take him anywhere.

Then it was time to get down to business... finding our dresser that we had picked out in the Warehouse. Isle 46 mind you. Which is in the second warehouse .... past those blue signs at the very end back there:

46 isles later...

This is when CK realized he would be putting it together later.

All 7,000 pieces.

So, I had to bribe him with chocolate... Swiss Chocolate YUM!

After IKEA we decided to go to the movies thanks to GROUPON and fabulous 1/2 price tickets that you can only use after the movie has been in theaters 2 weeks. Hello, UNDERWORLD Awakening. Oh, how I love that series! It was Awesome...but when we got out we were caught in the middle of this:

Hail... what in the world WA?

Funny moment of the night: While waiting for CK to go get the car I watched a guy walk outside of the theater and look around then he looked to the sky with this disgusted look and gave the finger. It was all I could do to not burst out laughing. Hahaha.

After we got home CK disappeared for 2.5 hours and magically this appeared in my bedroom!

I didn't ask questions, I didn't watch, and I think it was quite possibly the best furniture put together experience that we have ever had. Although, it could have gotten done a little faster...

Then my babies crashed:

and I couldn't resist posting it.

Have you ever been to an IKEA store?

Life 2.0

Friday Night is consisting of me Not going to CK's show (yes, I'm obviously a horrible wife) and instead staying home listening to the rain and FINALLY getting to watch the Documentary Life 2.0.

You may remember me bitching about the availability of the Documentary that was on the OWN network ONE time. They never showed it again and then the damn filmmaker didn't have any copies out yet - so, 8 eons later Netflix gets it and here I am...staying in on a Friday night for it. 

I mean the fact that it was only on ONE time is just ridiculous Oprah. You could have seriously played Life 2.0 more and not 7000 episodes of this:

Have any of you ever seen this show!? It is nuts...but completely interesting. I swear people are the most entertaining thing ever. Screw scripted drama...reality baby, RE-AL-ity!

Yes, I cheated.

He Cheated.

Are you freaking kidding me!? TV Gold.

I must go...my TV is calling.

PB Obsessed Bloggers:

Dude, all you bloggers out there that just "love" Peanut Butter. Well, let me tell you this... you ain't got Nothing on my Momma! Haha seriously just about all of these 4 POUNDS of Peanut Butter was DESTROYED by her over a couple of weeks. I mean I like the stuff but DANG she Loves it.

...

Owned.

What food could you eat 4lbs of?

I AM SPARTACUS!

Why you ask?

Not because of this picture...

For starters I planned an awesome Valentines day date for the boy yesterday... (I'll be doing a full Valentines Post after Tuesday)

We like to stretch out Holidays for as long as possible (except my birthday yuck)

BUT I am SPARTACUS because I made the most Ahhh-mazing Chinese food (IN MY KITCHEN) last night!!!

Homemade Lo Mien noodles with Chicken and Broccoli

I'm Changing my name to Betty.

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In other news!

As most of you surely haven't heard and I'm going to break this to you as softly as I can...

Whitney Houston Died Yesterday.

Damn you Bobbie Brown. I totally blame you.

Her voice was amazing...but drugs (no, not officially yet but I'd be shocked if not) took her life yesterday. Another great talent wasted and gone...With the Grammys tonight I'm sure it will be all about Whitney.

I will always love you.

What does Bill Cosby want for a Snack??

PUDDING!

This is not at my home... I hate pudding.

People seem to get really annoyed with me when they find out I don't like that slimy, gritty, tangy, slop.

I'm sorry but I rather enjoy "real" deserts not this wanna be chocolate skank.

But back to the picture... that is at my office! One of my coworkers is totally random and bought TEN of these because they were on sale for 10 for $10. That's so something my Gran does, needless to say the rest of the day was him calling me a snob because I don't like pudding.

Oh and in case you are confused Yes, that is a doll in our kitchen at work...the same coworker puts the most random statues, posters, and pictures all around our office. The confusion I had when I first started working there was out of this world but now I absolutely love it - funny coworkers are my number 1 reason for enjoying going to work everyday!

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Remember when I said I was going to start tanning and eating smoothies during work!? Well, I'm really doing it!

I had a smoothie everyday for lunch this week (only tanned once) and ran errands every day at lunch. Go me! Worked out twice and in general I feel A LOT better.

MONDAY

Yoplait Berry mixed smoothie - mmm mmm good

TUESDAY

Oatmeal, Peanut Butter, & Banana - Very heavy I won't be eating these often

WEDNESDAY

My First Green Monster! Not very green because I put Strawberries in there

THURSDAY

Green Monster #2

I bet you're wondering where FRIDAY is...well I wasn't hungry today so I didn't make one. Pretty stupid on my part because by 5 I was starving but then I didn't end up eating until 8. Dumb.

My Green Monster Ingredients:

Lots of Spinach (1-2 cups)

Strawberries

Blueberries

Pineapple

1 Cup Milk

Ice

BUT the weather was Awesome today! No Sunshine but do you see that Temp?!

Seattle, I can handle that!

Do you Like Pudding?

Thank God

Thank God my blog name does not have "Runner" in it. I would feel much more obligated to actually be one then. I just need to face reality- while I used to run quite often and for *gasp* 5 miles as my personal best distance- I just have absolutely no desire to run right now. I went to the gym tonight (FYI the New Year Resolutioners are GONE!! yay!) and got on the treadmill for like the first time in months and I am ashamed at how hard it was. I have been having a love affair with the Cross Ramp and I am HAPPY with what it's been doing for my ass and legs BUT I have a St. Pattys Day Run coming up and I begrudgingly started back running tonight. 1.5 miles in 25 mins... send me a medal right now people.  



In other news I have a new food obsession!

First off let me explain: I go through these stages where I just can't stop eating certain foods like fish or hamburger or rice and then I burn myself out on it... I think that is pretty normal but there has always been one food that I've never been fond of but that has all changed now!

 Every time I say the word I think of the movie The Fifth Element:

Chick-AN

Yes, LeeLoo... It's Good. 

I have been craving Chicken and eating it a lot the last week.

Bring on the Bird!

PS. NEVER EVER do I mean McDonalds Chicken:

Nope...that ain't Strawberry Ice Cream folks...

Yes, I'm for real... have any of you seen this yet?

That is what the chicken nuggets from McDonalds look like before they are "bleached, colored, flavor injected, and shaped." WTF Don't believe me? Watch THIS.

This is just another reason why I'd rather cook at home.

I hate fast food.

Although, I do miss Popeyes.

I need to find a recipe for that Rice!!!

Do you Love/Hate Fast Food?



Monster blog RAWR

For the last few days I have been taking pictures of the following:

The most useful item I own in my kitchen. Without you I would perish dear Slap Chop.

Celebrating 12 years

Having photo shoots in my car

Watching CK play at the Anchor Pub

Making ridiculous amounts of party finger foods.

Taking Olive to the dog park so she can run way to fast in huge circles

And turn down boyfriend requests.

More Fattening foods for the Superbowl

Whore Brownies. (Yes, I was too cheap to buy Real Oreos.)

Then this happened. Thanks Groupon, Thanks.

Pinterest...this all happened because of Pinterest.

Whore Brownies all dressed for the party.

And this is what I'd look like bald. Fancy.

"The Triple Door has a NOLA Jazz Band!"

It's not like I'm THAT into Jazz...but that was the most excited I've gotten in awhile.

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Now, Terri's New Plan!:

I'm in need of a "healthy pick me up" AKA new eating plan.

 I don't like to call them diets because it's not changes I intend to stop doing in 3 months.

So, Breakfast will be the same as always (usually Oatmeal or Eggs and Toast) Lunch will take a huge turn (for the better!) and be replaced with Smoothies! Think Green Monsters, Berry Blasts, Peanut butter & Banana, etc. This also gives me time to tan or shop on lunch now instead of going home and eating unhealthy things. Dinner will go back to what I was doing but then slowly started adding baked potatoes back in. Dinner will once again be Protein (chicken, beef, fish, turkey, etc) and Veggie (broccoli, green beans, cabbage, etc.) I'm also free to have several small snacks if I want... nothings off limits just under a calorie budget.

So, I've got the tanning and eating on check Now onto the workouts! It's the goal to go everyday but 5 times is the real goal. At least 30 mins of cardio but with a wanted 60 mins of cardio. I also need to start doing crunches again...those are the goals. Not really a lot different than I have been doing but small changes I think will make the difference!

Today was Day 1 and all was accomplished.

Do you eat smoothies for any meal often?

What is your FAVORITE smoothie recipe!?