Category Archives: green monster

by | January 2, 2011 · 7:55 am

Dreams of a New Year!

     Happy New Year! Now that I have my resolutions securely down and written in stone (or in a really pretty notebook), I’m ready to share! FIRST though, I’d like to share some of the “Morning After” quotes that I heard at work today:
1. “Did anyone else wake up miles from their house and not know how they got there?”
2. “Anyone have a great story about last night?” “I do, but I can’t share it…”
3. (In reference to someone’s bruised cheek and split lip) “What happened to your face?” “I don’t know yet. I’m waiting for someone to text me and tell me.”

Yep. Happy New Year.

     NOW for my resolutions!
1. Only try NEW beers when out – unless from a local brewery, like Ladyface, Island Brewing Company, etc… Gotta support the local breweries!
Bonus points if I try beer that scares the CRAP out of me – haha, get it? Weasel Crap Beer!
2. Spend more time with family and friends.
My GORGEOUS parents!
The lovely Tanya.
Serenading Dan.
Sleepy Malachi – who is being lame and flying off to France for six freaking months.
Sweethearts Jenny and Boa.
Grayson the Thoughtful.
Beautiful Allie.
Plus TONS more. It’s a year to focus on what’s really important – the people in my life.
3. Get back outdoors and HIKE!
4. Eat more vegetables, whole grains and olive oil!
Kitchen Sink Salad contains all of this!
5. Quit my retail job.
Seriously, it’s hazardous to my health!
I know I said I was putting in my two weeks notice last week, but I chickened out when I told my sweet coworker and saw the look on her face. I’m such a people-pleaser.
6. Travel more!
Stormy Arizona deserts.
Bee parts.
Me on the road = Ecastatic!
7. Drink more Monstas!
Cuz they’re DELICIOUS! And good for me. And stuffs…
8. Spend more time in the kitchen.
And spend more time out back, with this amazing view!
I need to get back into my apron and start cooking, STAT!
9. Attend more blogger meetups!
Need I say more? No, no I do not.
10. Join the Homebrewers Association, as well as the local homebrew club, and BREW IT UP!
Beer is good! Beer is good! Beer is good! And stuff!
(Lyrics from an actual song)
11. Start my new website and blog. That’s right, I’ll be heading up an actual website this year, as well as changing the name of my blog! I’m hoping the transition will be easy for you, but there’s still some time to get used to the idea before I officially move. EXCITED!!!

     There you have it – a sampling of my resolutions! I have a few more, but decided that twenty feet of pictures was probably more than people could handle as it is. I hope you had a blessed beginning to your new year, and that you’re as excited for what’s to come as I am!
Happy New Year! Let’s make it worthwhile!

5 Comments

Filed under Arizona, beer, blogger meet-up, friends, green monster, hiking, homebrewing, Island Brewing Company, kitchen sink salad, Ladyface, Morning after, NEW WEBSITE, New Year, retail, Weasel Crap Beer

by | December 2, 2010 · 9:26 am

Hanging with Celebrities!

     The Monstas are back!!!

Or they were yesterday! This baby had 5 cups of spinach, 1/2 a banana, 1/3 a cup of soymilk, 1/2 cup of frozen berries, 1 lemon and a splash of vanilla extract.
I followed up with a green lunch. I had a big Kitchen Sink Salad with 1/2 a bag of mixed baby greens, 1 sauteed zucchini, 1/2 a container of egg white salad, 1/2 a cup of warmed lentils and 1/2 of a red bell pepper.
     Today didn’t start the same. I had a hot boiled egg and had to run out the door to work an early shift. I bailed out after four hours so I could go to an audition in Valley Village, then went to meet up with Dan for lunch.
Hi, Dan!
We went to Miceli’s on Ventura Blvd.
LOVED the Chianti decor!
We split a FIRE IN THE HOLE!!!! Has anyone ever heard of that? I hadn’t, and neither had our waiter, but he had a lot of fun running around the restaurant yelling, “Fire in the hole!!!” and coming up to our table after we were served asking, “how do you like the fire in your holes?”
Very mature.
It was dark in there, hence the blurry pic. A FIRE IN THE HOLE has pepperoni, jalapeno and pineapple. I think I have a new favorite pizza!
     After lunch I met up with Tanya at Starbucks on Ventura Blvd. If you ever want to see the most beautiful, narcissistic people in the world, there’s where you should go! I walked past the three outside tables, all occupied by gorgeous humans reading highlighted scripts, and into the cafe where there were at least a dozen people all working on screenplays on their computers. I totally blended in in my baggy sweatshirt, flip flops and jeans that have washed to shreds. Totally…
     I had a tall soy chai and Tanya (now a vegan and looking AH-MAY-ZING!) had a decaf tea. We spent a while catching up, then headed over to Urban Outfitters to do some shopping and stumbled upon not only one, but TWO ridiculously successful actors.
(who is just as adorable in person)
I recognized them, but I’m not one to let them know! Gotta let those actors have their peace after a long day on set. Sigh, I’m not jealous at all…
     It’s a crazy, small world out there in the big city! As for me, I’m off to another big city – Tempe, Arizona! I’m back on the clock for my artsy job and I’ll be at the Tempe Festival of the Arts from December 3rd through December 5th! If there are any ASU students out there, come visit! I’m right on your main street! As for YOU, prepare yourself for another onslaught of creative pictures of creative arts!
Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Comments Off on Hanging with Celebrities!

Filed under ASU, audition, FIRE IN THE HOLE, green monster, kitchen sink salad, Melissa Joan Hart, Miceli's, Modern Family, pizza, Sarah Hyland, Starbucks, Tempe Festival of the Arts, Urban Outfitters

by | November 10, 2010 · 11:43 pm

Recuperation!

     It is wonderful to be back home! I’ve been recuperating from the long weekend in Arizona, and now I’m packing up my suitcase again to head BACK TO ARIZONA tomorrow! That’s right, I’ve got another art festival to attend, this time in Fountain Hills. If you’re in the area, come see me!

This has been my staple breakfast at home: A hot-boiled egg (all the rage in Germany, where my roommate recently returned from), and a Pumpkin Pie Monsta!
     I spent all day yesterday running errands and took a break a few towns over to get some lunch.
I got a personal pizza with whole wheat crust, spinach, tomatoes, bell peppers and soy cheese.
My friend went all healthy on me and got a salad with heart of palm, carrots, bell peppers, walnuts, mushrooms and sesame dressing on the side.
PizzaSalad – All the ingredients here are completely organic and farmed locally! Love it!
     I’ve got to finish up laundry so I can keep packing, and head to the library to pick up some books I’ve been waiting for. Then I’m off to get my mane weed-whacked and get to end the day at my lovely retail job. Daily life is so NORMAL! I don’t know how to handle it!

1 Comment

Filed under Arizona, art festival, Fountain Hills, green business, green monster, hot-boiled egg, organic, pizza, PizzaSalad, Pumpkin Pie Monsta, salad, soy cheese

by | October 19, 2010 · 9:40 am

Malibu, Mexican, Malachi!

    I woke up early this morning and headed to the gym! I’m known for going to extremes and overworking myself when I have the opportunity, so I kept that in mind when I walked through the doors this morning. I spent 35 minutes doing cardio on the elliptical because the stair-climber was broken, then did 25 minutes of weight lifting and stretching. I felt good when I got home… until NOW. Now my legs are screaming at me! I LOVE IT!

     I’ve almost used up all the leftover canned pumpkin! I had yet another Halloween Monster (thanks so much for mentioning it on your blog, Lynn!) for breakfast and I’m still not sick of it!

So thick!
     I had an audition in Sherman Oaks today – walk in, slate, profiles, chit-chat, “okay with kissing an onscreen boyfriend?”, “yes”, slate again, walk out. Commercial auditions are quick ‘n easy!
     Afterwards I went over to pick up Malachi and we headed towards Malibu.
It was a tough drive. The scenery was just SO distracting!
This is my ideal weather – I wish it were like this all the time.
     We arrived at a cute lodge tucked into the canyons of Malibu so Malachi could pick up an awesome car that his uncle was generously lending him, then went to lunch at Lily’s Cafe and Pastries for some local Mexican food.
I got the grilled fish tacos – tender fish covered with a white sauce and topped with tomatoes and cilantro, all wrapped up in fresh corn tortillas. They served a searing hot sauce on the side. Heaven!
Malachi’s food was so good it made him want to cry. 
Malachi modeled his ancient bracelets that he wears until they fall off. Here they’re arranged by age from “FREAKING OLD” to “You’ve worn that for HOW long?”
     I needed a little pick-me-up for the drive home up the coast, so I grabbed a tall soy chai from the Bucks. Malachi ordered a manly drink and posed with his manly new car.
Sippin’ a manly vanilla steamer and posing with his manly PT Loser Cruiser.
Stand proud, buddy!
     I have tomorrey off! The day will be stuffed with cooking, reading and Sundance films.

Speaking of cooking, DOES ANYONE HAVE AMAZING BUTTERNUT SQUASH RECIPES TO SHARE? 

2 Comments

Filed under fish tacos, green monster, gym, Halloween Monster, Lily's Cafe and Pastries, Malachi, Malibu, Starbucks

by | October 16, 2010 · 9:32 pm

PUMPKIN OVERDOSE!

     Ever since last year’s pumpkin shortage, I’ve become covetous over canned pumpkin. In the baking aisle at the grocery store, I fight the urge to snarl and hiss at people as they casually grab a can like it grows from an overactive pumpkin-tree. They obviously don’t recall the horrors of 2009.

   
     Even now, in the time of plenty, I get flashbacks. Each time I pass by a can of pumpkin and don’t pick it up, I get a tight, anxious feeling in my chest and fret about that can of pumpkin for the rest of the day, wondering if I’ve made a huge mistake by walking by… wondering if I’ll ever see another can of pumpkin again.
     This year, I’ve taken steps to prevent such a disaster. Canned pumpkin overflows from my cabinets, biding its time until I crack it open and let the pureed gold flow out.
 I give you: last night’s dessert.
Obviously we didn’t use the graham cracker crust. It turned out more like pumpkin souffle! YUM!
     Since we had to open a GIGANTIC can of pumpkin to make the pies last night and had a bunch left over, I decided to add some to the Monsta so it didn’t go to waste.
This is exactly like slurping down liquid pumpkin pie. So good!
Halloween Monsta (Makes 2 servings)
14 cups of spinach, washed
1 cup unsweetened soymilk
1/2 cup of canned pumpkin
2 carrots
1 frozen banana
1 lemon
1 lime
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
     1. Cram all the ingredients into a magical Vitamix.
     2. Turn the Vitamix to high. (If you don’t have a magical blender, put all the ingredients except for the spinach into the blender, then slowly add the spinach as the blender whirls.)
     3. Pour the thickest Monsta you’ve ever seen into a large glass.
     4. Add a straw.
     5. Try not to sprain your jaw while sucking it down.
     I still have about two cups of opened canned pumpkin left and I want to use it up before it goes bad!
Do you have any good pumpkin recipes??

2 Comments

Filed under canned pumpkin, Crustless Pumpkin Pie, green monster, pumpkin souffle, Vitamix, weight watchers

by | October 15, 2010 · 9:00 pm

My Day with Bobby Flay!

     I’m a poet. As I was typing out my title, I realized what genius I have stored up in my brain, just waiting to come out in rhyme. Thyme. Lime. Dime.

You’re welcome.

     Yesterday involved a trip to Costco to stock up on the necessities of life: ludicrous amounts of toilet paper, 6-packs of bell peppers, and mass quantities of bananas for the morning Montsas. Yeah, bulk shopping! While we were pushing the gigantic cart down the aisles, we passed this sign:

BOBBY FLAY!!!
We raced down the aisles, ramming into at least four other carts and rolling over a few ankles and feet, and found this:
Well, hello there!
Bobby was signing copies of his new book, Bobby Flay’s Throwdown. As much as I love Bobby Flay, I don’t love him enough to wait in a four-hour line. Lucky for me, I’m a blogger and always have my camera handy!
(Interesting fact: a family friend, Jenn Karlman, was on Bobby’s season premiere of “Grill It! with Bobby Flay”, and has an amazing cooking website with recipes she creates in her own savvy brain. Go check it out!)
Side note: I have now typed out the word “Bobby” too much and it looks funny…
     More good news???
Corduroys are back in style, and cheap when you buy them in bulk!
Sarcasm or sincerity? You be the judge!
Who’s your favorite FoodNetwork personality? I’m a sucker for Giada DeLaurentiis and the latest “The Next Food Network Star” winner, Aarti Sequeria.

3 Comments

Filed under Aarti Sequeria, Bobby Flay, corduroys, Costco, Giada DeLaurentiis, green monster, Grill It, Jenn Karlman, Throwdown with Bobby Flay

by | October 9, 2010 · 9:32 am

Becki’s Car Go BANG!

     I had kind of a rough day. I had an audition for a print job, which I find completely pointless to begin with because I AM NOT A MODEL, and as an added knee-to-the-groin, I got in my first car accident.

     But first…

The day started off well – Peach Pie Monsta with 6 cups of spinach, 1/2 cup of unsweetened soymilk, 1 carrot, 2 spears of asparagus, 1/2 of a peach, 1 lime, a teaspoon of cinnamon and a handful of ice.
Monstas = ENERGY!
     I decided that since I had to be in LA anyway, I might as well make the best of it, so I met up with Malachi for lunch.
Suzanne’s Country Deli – a little local place that Malachi has driven past and always wanted to try. I was up for the gamble!
Sir Malachi!
I ordered the Avocado Sammich – lettuce, avocado, tomato, cucumber slices and a light mayo on whole wheat bread. Simple, but delicious! I could only eat half before I was full.
Malachi got the signature burger and fries.
Dan got the remaining half of my sammich for when he wrapped up at work.
I spoil him 😉
     After lunch I headed out for my audition. I was feeling joyful, rocking out to some Flo Rida while driving down Vine, and as I switched lanes, someone decided that right then would be a genius idea to peel out of his parking spot and rammed straight into the rear passenger door of my car, shredding off a bunch of metal trip and leaving a groovy scratch along the side. I pulled over on one of the busiest streets in Hollywood with cars screaming by and exchanged info with the driver who “didn’t want nothin’ to do with no poh-lice” and somehow still made it to my audition on time. MAGIC!
I always said that as long as my car still functions, it won’t matter if a few bumps or scrapes happen – but that was before it actually happened to me. I got off lucky, I’ll say that!
I’ll never feel the same joy when I listen to “Club Can’t Handle Me” by Flo Rida.
     The audition went fine after that. They took a few pictures from different angles then had me do a little improv on video. The casting director told me to pretend that a friend had called me and given me great news. My improv went a little like this:
Becki answers phone: Hey Malachi, what’s up?
(She listens)
Becki: Sammiches are half off until 3 today? I am SO there!
(She listens)
Becki: No, dude I don’t do that veggie crap, I’m getting a burger. Your treat, right?
(She listens)
Becki: OKAYBYE!

     The CD laughed. Hey, half-off sammiches are GREAT news to me! If nothing else, I stuck out in their minds for originality, right? It’ll be interesting to see if I hear back considering they were looking for women in their late twenties – which, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, I am not.
     The drive home was spent with quiet music and extra caution, and I wrapped up the afternoon with some fun calls to the LAPD and my insurance company. When I went to work, I decided that gelato would be of great comfort to me. Honestly though, when is it not?
Pumpkin Cheesecake!!! Autumn flavors are out at Paciugo!!!
Everything looks better in macro!

6 Comments

Filed under audition, avocado, car accident, Flo Rida, green monster, Malachi, Paciugo, peach pie monster, Suzanne's Country Deli

by | October 3, 2010 · 6:35 am

Too. Many. Pancakes!

     My last few days have been a bit crazed. I have a lot of planning and prepping going on for the upcoming month (of which I’ll share with you soon enough!), so I decided to keep tonight’s post simple for my own sanity, as well as yours.

Yesterday’s breakfast. I’m really on pancake cruise control lately. These were based on my Vegan Banana-Pecan Oatmeal Pancakes, but we were out of rolled oats so I used a little more whole grain flour and soaked some quick-cook steel-cut oats in hot water for five minutes before draining them and adding them to the batter.
     I had to work a full shift today, so it was a typical day food-wise. The Monstas made a return, finally! I had a Monsta with 5 cups of spinach, 1/3 of a cup of soymilk, 1 carrot, 1 spear of asparagus, 1/4 cup of frozen blueberries, 1/2 of a frozen banana and 1/2 of a lemon. Happiness! These really give me SO much energy and up my mood like nothing else (even coffee!).
     
     Lunch was a mini-spicy tuna roll with brown rice. I didn’t take pics of the Monsta or lunch because I’m sure you’re tired of seeing the same thing over and over. And over.
     Dinner, on the other hand, was something fun and new! Kinda…
Mini burger with cheddar cheese and topped with spicy guacamole, and a Punkin Ale.
I had some leftover batter in the fridge so I made a banana-pecan pancake for dessert.
I. Am. Stuffed. 
     I finished my latest book, “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins. It’s a young-adult read, but I honestly recommend it if you’re looking for something riveting. It’s got a lot of action in it, and I feel it’s closer to the “adult” side of “young-adult”, with just enough innocence to make it palatable for the kids. All I know is that I’ve already started the second book of the series, “Catching Fire”, and will probably finish that within the next two days because I’m addicted and don’t want to put it down.
     Tonight will include another Punkin Ale and a healthy serving of “Catching Fire”. I’ve got another full day at work tomorrey (it has been WAY too long since I’ve been to church 🙁 I miss my Sundays.) and a lot of reading to do! I can’t wait to get back in the kitchen and make something that involves a lot of effort! I need an excuse to use my new apron, which I’ll show when I finally have time to cook!
Punkin Ale is affecting me. I have no questions. Anyone want to ask me something?
🙂

7 Comments

Filed under banana pecan pancakes, Dogfish Head Punkin Ale, green monster, sushi, Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games, work

by | September 30, 2010 · 8:44 pm

Green Monsta Pancakes!

     I made pancakes for breakfast. Again.

     We only had about 2 cups of spinach in our fridge this morning – definitely not enough to make three Monstas for three hungry roommates, so I decided to create something new, exciting, and scary!

Green Monsta Oatmeal Pancakes
Dry Ingredients:
1/2 cup whole grain rolled oats
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1.5 teaspoons baking soda
Pinch of salt
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Wet Ingredients:
1/2 cup soymilk
2 cups spinach
1 small carrot
1 banana
1 teaspoon vanilla
Soymilk to thin out the batter
     1. Combine all the dry ingredients in a medium bowl.
     2. Put the first five wet ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
     3. Stir 1 1/2 cups of the spinach blend into your dry mix and whisk until smooth.
     4. My first batch ended up too thick and didn’t cook all the way through, so I added another 1/4 of a cup of soymilk to thin it out. Use your own discretion – that’s what makes it fun!
Frightening! This might be good for breakfast on Halloween…
     5. Spoon a heaping tablespoon of batter into a large greased pan.
This doesn’t look appetizing…
     6. Let the pancakes cook through for a few minutes, and flip them when the bubbles around the edges pop.
Since there’s banana blended into the mix, they tend to caramelize pretty quickly.
     7. Cook the pancakes for another 3-4 minutes, then attempt to serve them in an appetizing fashion. This will prove to be very difficult.
See what I mean?
I’m not sure this angle helps it at all…
     This was an interesting try for me… The pancakes tasted like banana pancakes, but had a bitter aftertaste due to the raw spinach, and I don’t know how to get rid of that for next time – maybe steam the spinach beforehand?
     I’m going to go gargle some mouthwash for a bit. Okeybye!
Any suggestions to get rid of the bitterness without adding an artificial sweetener?

2 Comments

Filed under ATTACK OF THE PANCAKE, banana pancakes, bitter aftertaste, green monster, green monster pancakes, pancakes, scary

by | September 22, 2010 · 9:46 am

One Hundred Posts!!!

     This is my 100th post! That happened really fast! I was hoping to do something epic, but I’ll just be going back to my roots: hiking and EATING!

It was beautiful and overcast the entire day!
We had a nice chilly hour-long hike.
The Monstas are back! This one had 6 cups of spinach, 1/4 of a cup of soymilk, 1/2 of a frozen banana, 2 stalks of asparagus and 1/4 of a cup of frozen blueberries.
For lunch today, I went to a local cafe with the roommate and we split a tuna sandwich on toasted rye with a side of potato salad and a piece of dry watermelon that I didn’t touch.
Our lovely lunch needed to be rounded out with chocolate. I had the most ridiculously thick, chocolatel-y brownie I’ve ever had in my entire life, and my roommate got a hot cafe mocha.
ART.
     I went over to my parental unit’s to meet up with my mom for our Tuesday pottery class :)!
Tonight was glazing! I glazed five pieces and spent the rest of the time trimming one for MY ONLY CONTEST WINNER so far!
There you go, Amanda and Andy! It should be glazed and fired in about 2 or 3 weeks 🙂
My mom hand painted/glazed this! She’s so talented!
I’m not quite as talented. I think they put that sign up after I joined class…
     After class, we started heading home but I was distracted by the beautiful bright lights of this place!

BURGERS!!!! This magical land is called Five Guys Burgers and Fries. The lights have a gravitational pull. I tried to avoid it, but I have no control over scientific facts! GRAVITATIONAL PULL!
Hello baby cheeseburger and fries! These fries are awesome! They’re made from actual potatoes with the skins on – magic!
     Here’s something new: I tried to make one of those chocolate-cakes-in-a-mug two nights ago. How did it turn out, you ask? Here’s a little photo essay for you.
Looks good so far!
Puffing up, just like it’s supposed to!
And it turned into a baseball. Just like it’s… supposed to?
Yeah, this was a big fail. I microwaved it way too long and it was very dry and tasted like cocoa-scented dirt. I do not recommend.

    Post-class, it was pilot night! We watched a new pilot that I was in for – “Raising Hope” – I was up for the role that went to Bijou Phillips. Hilarious show! I hope it gets the viewers and ratings it deserves!
For you guys who haven’t entered to win the last two pieces of pottery, all you have to do is leave a comment on my blog about why you need a piece of pottery, then put a link to my blog on your Twitter!

10 Comments

Filed under brownie, cake in a cup, Five Guys Burgers, green monster, hike, local cafe, mocha, potato salad, Pottery, Two Boos Who Eat