Vegan Dinner #1

Well our first purposefully vegan dinner was less than ideal...in fact I must be honest here and admit that after eating some forced bites Steven and I decided to go to Wendy's and get 99 cent frosty's...not exactly the most vegan treat : \

I tried to make a vegan "pot-pie" recipe that ended up tasting really bland even with all the amazing veggies inside.  I think the liquid filling is to blame...it was basically soymilk, cornstarch to add thickness and salt/pepper...probably should have added something to it but I'm still not sure what would have done the trick.

Steven was really sweet and said he liked it while forcing down spoonfuls.  I on the other hand took three bites and called it quits with Steven following suit about a minute later (ha!)

No worries though, we are still determined to find amazing Vegan recipes and I have very high hopes for tonight's endeavor!  Hopefully my next Vegan post will leave you drooling :)

Going vegan for dinner in november

Friends It's VEGANovember at the Murray's!

For the past few months Steven and I have been trying to do something "out of the ordinary" each month in an attempt to either save money, be healthier, or both.  

September: no eating out.  We weren't perfect at this, but we certainly gave it a go.

October: no coffee unless it is made at home.  aka: the birth of our own pumpkin spiced latte :)  we only broke this 2 times all month!

November: we are trying to go vegan for each dinner meal we make at home.  This does not include thanksgiving (duh) or eating out at restaurants.  No worries Amber and Ryan!  (our dear friends we get to see in Dallas this weekend!!!!!!)

Why this particular challenge?  Well Steven and I are trying to loose some weight/be healthier and all semester i've been reading up on healthy eating habits.  I'm not interested in going on a diet, but instead I want to make changes within my eating that will last further than when I finally decide I'm back to a desired/healthy weight.  I've been learning a lot about vegan eating and have heard great statistics on how it is a much healthier way to eat.  (for more info try out these links here, here, and here)

Basically the average American eats way more animal products than he/she needs to which can have harmful effects on their health.  Now don't get me wrong, I love my burger and steak, but Steven and I thought this would be a great way to try out some new recipes and limit the number of animal products we consume each week.  (Thanks Aurelia and Lyle for really introducing us to this idea!) 

So get ready for some new veggie-filled recipes coming to the blog!  I'm about to leave for the grocery store now...watch out produce aisle, and will attempt to find tofu for one of my recipes.  I'm not even sure if HEB has tofu, where I would find it if it does carry it, or if Steven and I will even like it...oh well, this month is all about experimenting!

My thoughts...in no particular order

1. The bears are bowl bound!
2.  I think I'm still wet from the monsoon at the Kansas State game this past Friday.  Sic' em homecoming!
3.  I'm moving to Dallas in less than 2 months...whoa!
4.  Within the next 6 months I will have traveled to two foreign countries.  I've never even left the country before
5. I need a passport (see #4)
6. I'm a really really good procrastinator (strengths perspective)
7. I'm sore from bear cycle today...damn my 3 week hiatus from working out.  what was I thinking??
8. In exactly 2 months I will be having the first Christmas away from my immediate family (thankfully I have awesome inlaws!)
9.  My brother is playing for Louisiana Tech next year!  So proud!
10.  My husband has his first interview tomorrow!  So excited for him and am singlehandedly taking on all of his nerves...I guess that's my contribution.

The DOW went up 38.6 points today

How do I know that??

This is my current study spot

Steven and I both have lots of studying to do and he has to work on his presentation for some class where he gets to trade stock to raise money for Baylor endowed scholarships...eh I guess I'm proud.

He apparently needed some fancy bloomberg machine he can only get in this room so I joined him.  I feel extra classy reading about community development while the stock ticker scrolls above my head, CNBC is playing on the TV and I get to see how the dollar is trading with other foreign currency.  

1.390 with the Euro  if you must know. 

Oh and just incase I get bored I can see what time it is in Singapore, Bahrain, London and New York

Why we aren't having children soon

::our conversation after I told Steven that one of our couple friends is waiting to completely determine the name of their child until he/she is delivered because they want to make sure the name fits with the baby's personality::

Steven: Babies don't have personalities right out of the womb.
Katie: Sure they do!
Steven: how so?
Katie: well they can be calm, hyper, alert, looking around etc.
Steven: What?  Babies don't look around right after their born, their eyes don't even open for a few weeks
Katie:...that's puppies Steven...

Candle Math

I think I'm developing a slight obsession when it comes to candles.  I attribute this to my nose's amazing ability to remember and appreciate really good smells.   

Example 1: When people ask "what is the first thing you notice about the opposite sex" my answer has always been the way they smell.  Weird, I know, but it's true.  

Example 2: When Steven and I were just friends our freshman year I used to always give him a hug, not because I particularly loved hugs, but because he wore the best smelling cologne.  

Example 3: Once we started dating I decided to buy him new cologne for Christmas because he was running out of his so I went to Dillards and picked out an amazing fragrance by Ralph Lauren that I just loved.  I called my mom on the way home because I was so excited about how great this cologne was and when I told her the brand she laughed saying "that's what your Dad wears."  awkward??? um yes...did I return it??? no because I had fallen in love with it 

Example 4:  My mom has always used Yankee Candles at our house and when I would get particularly homesick in college I would go to Bed, Bath and Beyond to smell the candles we used at home.  I never bought them because they were too expensive...

So needless to say I have been on the lookout for the perfect fragrance(s) for our home.  I fell in love with Woodwick candles a few years ago because the family I babysit for always had one lit when I would come over.  They are amazing because the wick is real wood and crackles (thus the name woodwick...)  When I went to the store to buy one a few years ago I realized their large jars were so expensive!  Why in the world would I buy a large candle for way more than I could buy one at Bath and Body Works?  So for the past few years I have been buying Slatkin and Co. candles from Bath and Body Works dreaming of one day being able to afford a large woodwick candle.  

Disclaimer:  Slatkin and Co. is actually really good.  The aroma will fill up your entire apartment, but I was really wanting the crackling sound the Woodwick candle makes...

But this year I decided to do some math.  I was admiring some Woodwick candles at the Hallmark store and realized that the medium jar burned for up to 100 hours.  I thought wow that seems like a lot....so I did some research and found out an amazing discovery!  WOODWICK IS CHEEPER THAN YANKEE CANDLE OR SLATKIN AND CO!  let me explain.  (this experience is truly life changing so brace yourself.

Slatkin and Co. (Bath and Body Works)

Price for 14.5oz Jar (Large): 19.50

Burn Time Max: 65 hours

Price per hour: 30 cents

Yankee Candle

Price for 14.5oz Jar (Medium): 21.99

Burn time Max: 90 hours

Price per hour: 24 cents

Woodwick Candle

Price for 10oz Jar (Medium): 17.99

Burn time Max: 100 hours

Price per hour: 17 cents 

So really it's all in the math :)

Needless to say me, my nose, and my ears (remember the wood wick crackles) are eternally pleased.  

Fragrances used in the Murray household to date:

Applewood

Autumn Sunset (purchased this afternoon. mmmmm fall :)

Things that make me laugh...

...people who call my husband "Steve" after he introduces himself.

For instance, the dialogue below has happened more times than I can count.

Steven: "Hi, nice to meet you (insert name here) my name is Steven"
Person: "It's nice to meet you too Steve"

He used to correct people, but now he just nods in agreement.

But just to be clear...don't ever try to call me Kate because I will smack you down.  Not that I don't like the name Kate, because I do, in fact I have many friends who go by Kate and it doesn't make me cringe...but for some reason I can't handle it being my name.

In fact only my sweet sweet sweet 83-ish year old grandmother is allowed to call me Kate and that's because she's too precious to say no to.

So the point of this post?  I laugh when people call my husband Steve and cringe when anyone but MeeMee calls me Kate.  

I leave you with my favorite picture of Steve and Kate (laughs while cringing :)