Things I Love Thursday

I've been pathetic with my posting recently, so here goes a full out TILT post of everything that I realized I really appreciate this week.

Pandora Radio: I have this application on my new Droid 2 and I absolutely love it.  Seriously, I listen to this almost daily and am collecting an ever growing list of "stations."  If you aren't familiar with Pandora Radio, and I wasn't for much too long, you make a free account and search with a band name or song title and it builds a radio station based on what you searched.  I have Dave Matthews, Tool, Nine Inch Nails, Beethovan, Mumford & Sons, and The Trucks stations already. Sometimes it gets a little frustrating when the station doesn't play anything by your chosen artist for a few hours, but I have discovered groups and music I wouldn't have otherwise.

Cinnamon & Nutmeg: In an attempt to be a healthier person and a better role model for my daughter, I have started cutting out excess sugar and salt from my diet.  In doing this, I have stopped putting sugar in my coffee and hot cereal, instead, I'm using liberal amounts of cinnamon and nutmeg.  Not only does my house smell like the holidays, but cinnamon can help control blood sugar levels, and nutmeg is just awesome.  Massive amounts of cinnamon (and raisins) are also the "secret" ingredients in my world's best applesauce.

Bob's Mill Creamy Brown Rice Farina: Speaking of hot cereal, while I'm fine with a nice hot serving of oatmeal, this is my favorite ever hot breakfast.  I was first served Farina as an adult a few hours after my daughter was born.  The L&D nurse (Deb, my angel from India who had nursed me through early labor and "false contractions" twice before I actually went into labor), offered to order me breakfast to help keep my strength up.  All I told her was that I am a strict vegetarian and she ordered the perfect meal, farina, vanilla soymilk and pears.  I had my husband buy farina when we got home and ate it every day for weeks.  Now that V is eating solid food, we share a bowl sweetened with apple or peach sauce, cinnamon and nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice.  Sometimes I will put soymilk in my portion.  I even made up a recipe when I didn't have enough farina to make a full portion.
1 cup water
Several tsp cinnamon, few shakes nutmeg
1 handful organic raisins
1 small sweet organic apple diced
1/4 cup farina
Mix all ingredients EXCEPT farina in small saucepan, bring to boil.  Boil, stirring constantly for at least 6 minutes or until apple starts to soften a little bit.  Add farina, stir constantly and cook until thickened enough to pull away from bottom of pan briefly.  Add soymilk if desired. Yummy.

Scunci 1/2" Comfort Headband: Yes, I'm loving a headband.  I bought this two pack a while ago so I could make a fancy head piece for a friend who was turning 9-years-old.  She's blonde, so I used the "tortoishell" headband for her.  My hair has gotten quite dark over the last few years, so I kept the black one.  My hair is also currently a train wreck since I shaved it down to 1" a few months ago as it was falling out with a postpartum hormone change.  It is now growing out and well, yeah, I need something to make me not feel like I have ridiculous helmet hair.  And yes, I've resorted to wearing a headband and I'm not going to apologize.  What's so great about this band is that the ends curve up and are not pressed into my skull by the earpieces of my glasses.  Awesome!

Fraggle Rock: Fraggle Rock is as wonderful now as it was over 25 years ago.  And while it would be great if I could avoid making my child as much as a TV monsters as I am, at least this is wholesome entertainment we can both enjoy. Plus it is adorable to watch her dance to the songs.

Random Love List: October thunder storms, pumpkins, butternut squash, dried leaves, purring cats, migrating monarch butterflies, vegan sausage and peppers over rice, grilled asparagus, canolli cake.