My 34 before 34 List and my 34 birthday!

Happy birthday to me! I am 34 today and that is awesome.
As many of you know, I attempt to do a list of during each year of life. Here is how 34 before 34 shook out this time around!
One things that wasn't on the list originally did occur this past month, I DMed my first Dungeons and Dragons Campaign!

Health

1) Run a 5k

2) Run a 10k - didn't do, but did a 10k over the course of 2 days.

3) Complete 90 Day BBM Challenge

4) Get to Pre Baby Weight 135 - Started at 155 Ended
               Made it to 148 Pounds - I don't think I every really committed to a weight loss diet and exercise plan at the same time...so that'll make it hard to loose weight, obviously.

Creativity

1) Recreate 1 thing from my “recreate” list

2) Knit or Crochet a project

3) Learn to use my Sewing Machine

4) Cosplay of Rosie Beestinger

Just Cuz

1) Throw a Mid Winter Party

2) Throw a Cocktail Party

3) Organize Vanity Table and Wardrobe 

4) Organize Baby stuff in the basement

Cooking

1) Learn to make a "cornerstone"

2) Learn to Decorate a Cake - Buttercream specifically

3) Do a week of meal planning/Meal prep for a Month

4) Meal Prep for a month

Adventure

1) Go Ziplinging with MiL - still hasn't happened :(

2) Go on an unplanned Weekend Trip - Phoenix

3) go on a hike 

4) Get pregnant with second child - there is a grace period for this one. I'll let you know...lol

Travel

1) Go to Michigan with Golomskis

2) Go visit Honey moon friends

3) Plan Canada Road Trip

4) Got to PAX South

Quarters

1) 2 things TBD on my 1/4 birthday July 10th 

A) Go Back to school and become a teacher

B) See A

2) 2 things in any category TBD on my 1/2 birthday October 10^th

A) Go Back to school and become a teacher
B) See A

3) 2 things TBD on my 3/4 birthday January 10^th

A) Go Back to school and become a teacher
B) See A

Learning

1) Go Back to school and become a teacher

2) See Number 1

3) See Number 2

4) 34 Books To read: (4 Classics) DONE!

1. If you ask me, but of course you won't. - Betty White

2. Blood Rites - Jim Butcher

3. The Princess Diarist - Carrie Fisher

4. Serefina and the Splintered Heart - Robert Beatty

5. Bury Your Dead - Louis Penny

6. Lean In - Sheryl Sandberg

7. The Go Giver - Bob Burg

8. Station Eleven- St John Mandel

9. The Slow Regard of Silent Things - Patrick Rothfuss

10. The Happiest Baby on the Block – Dr Harvey Karp

11. Classic – Walden – Henry David Thoreau

12. I'm a Stranger Here Myself - Bill Bryson

13. 5 Love Languages of Children - Gary Chapman

14. Serefina and the Twisted Staff - Robert Beatty

15. Serefina and the Block Cloak - Robert Beatty

16. Fantastic Beast - J.K. Rowling

17. A Distant Mirror - Barbara W. Tuchman

18. Eligible – Curtis Sittenfield

19. Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child – Bob Spitz

20. Keep Moving - Dick Van Dyke

21. The Bad Beginning - Lemony Snicket

22. The Reptile Room - Lemony Snicket

23. The Wide Window - Lemony Snicket

24.  The Miserable Mill - Lemony Snicket

25. The Austere Academy - Lemony Snicket

26. The Ersatz Elevator - Lemony Snicket

27. The Vile Village - Lemony Snicket

28.  The Hostile Hospital - Lemony Snicket

29. The Carnivorous Carnival- Lemony Snicket

30. The Slippery Slope- Lemony Snicket

31. The Grim Grotto- Lemony Snicket

32. The Penultimate Peril- Lemony Snicket

33.  The End- Lemony Snicket

34. Classic – Dracula – Bram Stoker

Edible Eggless Cookie Dough

So this is all the rage right now, not gonna make you sick raw cookie dough. So I figured I should give it a try. This is the recipe I used: 

Edible Eggless Cookie Dough Recipe

This Edible Eggless Cookie Dough Recipe is safe to eat raw! There's no flour, we use homemade oat flour instead, & is free of eggs! Edible cookie dough for the win!

Ingredients

1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter softened to room temperature

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar packed

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons milk room temperature

1 1/2 cup homemade oat flour directions below (you'll need about 2 cups old fashioned oats)

1/2 teaspoon salt

2/3 cups chocolate chips

Instructions

Cream together softened butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and milk until fluffy, about 60 seconds.

Beat in oat flour and salt.

Once combined, stir in chocolate chips.

Serve immediately or store in the fridge, covered, for later!

Recipe Notes

Homemade Oat Flour:
Place about 2 cups old fashioned oats in food processor. Process until it resembles fine flour. Measure out 1 and 1/2 cups and proceed with recipe above!

If you're gluten free, make sure your oats are, too!

This turned out VERY rich and quite yummy, but nothing like the stuff you can buy from the food truck. If anyone can get their hands on that recipe Half Baked uses, pass it along to me!.

In response to the horrific Las Vegas Shooting...

This hymn is in my heart right now. I hope that MiniGSki will be the peace in the world in years to come as well..

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me
Let There Be Peace on Earth
The peace that was meant to be

With God as our Father
Brothers all are we
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.

With ev'ry step I take
Let this be my solemn vow
To take each moment and live
Each moment in peace eternally
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.

Songwriters: Jill Jackson / Sy Miller

Cosplays: L'illusion's Next Projects

As some of you know, I love me some Cosplay. I even made up a handle to use when cosplaying, not that I have any sort of following. L'illusion
You know, for my stature and the whole "illusion" thing that is cosplay.

Here are some of the Cosplays I have been thinking about making:
Riddler from BTAS - Lady version
Zatanna
Dr Harley Quinnel
Velma from Scooby do
Rogue - black body suit with Green Crop
Arya Stark: House of black and white
Doctor Who: 1950s Faceless Rose
Doctor Who: Clara
Catwoman (Golden Era)
Batwoman: (Golden Era)
Diablo: Leah
Hell Cat

Any thoughts or opinions? I can't decide which one to start on currently. Mainly because I have my post baby body right now, which is more like right after baby body. I need to work on my physical fitness before I invest in the money of another costume I feel like, but that might be small minded of me.

Lactation Cookies

Do not try to double this recipe unless you have one of those big KitchenAids.

The Miracle Milk Cookie
Ingredients:

2 Tbsp. flaxseed meal {or linseed can be used} 

4 Tbsp. water

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups all purpose flour (Note: I've also used self-rising flour for this recipe, if you use self-rising flour do not add baking soda or salt to the recipe)

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

2-6 Tbsp. Brewer’s Yeast {This is the active ingredient, so the more the better. I used about 3 Tbsp. and it worked great!}

3 cups quick oats

1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

1.    Preheat oven to 375ºF. 

2.    Mix together the flaxseed and water and let sit for 5 minutes.

3.    Meanwhile, cream together the butter and sugars.

4.    Add eggs one at a time and mix well.

5.    Add flaxseed mix and vanilla.

6.    In a medium bowl, combine together flour, baking soda, salt, Brewer’s Yeast, and oats.

7.    Add to the butter mixture 1/2 cup at a time.

8.    Once the dough is mixed together well, add chocolate chips.

9.    Bake for 9-11 minutes.

Poblano Chili 3 Ways - Way 3: Chili Stroganoff

This was really good. While not my FAVORITE of the 3 dishes, it was a strong contender and a great choice to help use up sour cream.

Chili Stroganoff
Ingredients

8 ounces uncooked wide egg noodles
1 tablespoon olive oil
12 ounces cremini mushrooms, quartered
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
5 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups cooked chili (from Smoky Beef and Poblano Chili
3/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream
1/4 cup 2% reduced-fat milk
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup chopped green onions
How to Make It
Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat; drain.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms; cook 6 minutes or until browned, stirring occasionally. Add thyme, paprika, cinnamon, and garlic; cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Add chili; cook 5 minutes or until almost all of the liquid has evaporated, stirring frequently. Remove pan from heat; let stand 5 minutes. Combine sour cream and milk in a bowl; stir into chili mixture. Stir in salt.
Divide pasta evenly among 4 plates; top evenly with chili mixture. Sprinkle with green onions.

Poblano Chili 3 Ways - Way 2: Chili Pot Pie with Cheddar Biscuits

yes yes yes yes yes yes yes....
Why are you not making this yet?

Chili Pot Pie with Cheddar Biscuits
Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 (11-oz.) pkg. diced peeled butternut squash
5 cups cooked chili (from Smoky Beef and Poblano Chili), divided
5 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 cup plus 3 Tbsp.), divided
Cooking spray
1/4 cup plain yellow cornmeal
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons frozen unsalted butter, grated
3 ounces grated cheddar cheese (about 3/4 cup)
1/2 cup nonfat buttermilk
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
How to Make It
Preheat oven to 475°F.
Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add salt and butternut squash; cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-high and cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Combine 1 cup chili and 3 tablespoons flour in a bowl; add to pan. Add remaining 4 cups chili to pan; bring to a simmer. Spoon chili mixture into an 8-inch square baking dish coated with cooking spray.
Combine remaining 1 cup flour, cornmeal, and baking powder in a bowl. Cut butter and cheese into flour mixture using a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in buttermilk just until combined. Drop flour mixture evenly over chili to form 24 biscuits (about 2 teaspoons each). Bake at 475°F for 15 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown. Sprinkle with parsley, if desired.