Desperately Seeking Joy: Thanksgiving 2020

 

We had a great at-home Thanksgiving this year. First we enjoyed our meal in the "dining" room. It's a fancy room with tons of antiques and breakables. I think I've only eaten in there 3 times in my whole life. I remember an Easter when we celebrated in there. I think my mom was really excited to be able to eat in there and really appreciated it.

The day started with a visit from the wild cats who live under the neighbor's porch. My daughter loves them and we both enjoyed them a little bit today.

Then it was time for our Turkey Trot around the lake! We skipped Starbucks this year, because, while a tradition, it just didn't feel worth it.

Then it was time to put on MST3K on ShoutFactory. Sadly, it didn't hit all the buttons for all the family members. My mom and daughter went to take a quick mid-morning nap while my husband enjoyed a 20 year tradition. After everyone had a chance to rest, we got the meal going. It only took an hour to get everything ready.

We enjoyed a simple meal:

• Pre-cooked Festival Turkey
• Stove-Top Stuffing
• Canned Corn
• Jarred Gravy
• Bob Evans Potatoes
• Ocean Spray Cranberry Jelly
• Pre-made Dinner Rolls
• Homemade Green Bean Casserole (We use Chicken ala King instead of Mushroom Soup)
• Homemade Keto Sex in a Pan Dessert

My mom and I spent a good bit of time sharing stories in the dining room while my husband cleared the table and watched some MST3K. The majority of the afternoon was spent relaxing and digesting. But as I was scrolling through a feed, I saw this Thanksgiving Mad Libs and we did it together was a family.

Thanksgiving from a Kid’s Point of View

Today we are celebrating HALLOWEEN dinner at TRUMPY’s house. When we arrived, my DAUGHTER greeted us with a big, METALLIC kiss. Kisses are so CLANGING! Now we’re just waiting for the LION to come out of the oven. My dad is watching SOFTBALL on TV. He always shouts, “FUDGE” when his team scores a HOUSE. Yesss!! Only 20 more minutes until the CAT will be ready to eat. I wonder if my mom will let me try the PIZZA first. My grandma makes the best SWEET pie! It smells like a TOWER. (Much better than my GRANDCHILD. He/she smells like LEAF.) Happy CHRISTMAS!

Before it got too dark, my mom had some papers to burn, so we went out together and tried to start a little fire in the pit. Some things were too damp, so we couldn't get the whole pit going, but we got some burning done.

The rest of our day was spent relaxing. We put on some holiday movies that were playing in FreeForm. It was a lovely, relaxing day. What a nice and simple Thanksgiving. The only changes from our normal Thanksgiving is that it wasn't held at our house and I didn't home cook everything. 

Desperately Seeking Joy #13

 

Gather up all the wood in the world and knock on it right now. I have had two really positively amazing days in a row. Part of me wonders if the exercise is kicking in. Another part of me wonders if my medication is kicking in. And still, further, all these wonderful vitamins are finally doing something! I don't even know, but I've been relatively happy! I've been able to get tasks done. I've been able to read and write. It's almost like a BP2 manic episode. This kind of "normal" happy and I'm accomplishing things!

That said, I'm still having some issues. Wanting to do things that it's not time to work on yet or still ignoring tasks that really are a priority to get done. 

Some of the exciting things I've done the last couple days are:

• Walking a ton of steps! 30 min walks.
• Wednesday I walked 2 miles (not all at all once, but on the treadmill in 3 parts).
• To reward myself, I had a super health Alaska Roll for lunch (salmon, avocado, cucumber).

• Shopped for Hot Cocoa Bombs.
• Picked up the Hot Cocoa Bombs I purchased at Target.

• Drank that Hot Cocoa Bomb with the family.

• It was National Vanilla Cupcake Day yesterday!
• Made Vanilla Cupcakes!

• Shared my Thanksgiving decorations with my iggles!

• View this post on Instagram

  Thanksgiving decorations. #iggppc #iggles #thanksgiving #turkey #holidaydecor

  A post shared by Sarah B. (@adventgeekgirl) on Nov 10, 2020 at 6:07am PST

• Finished watch The Haunting of Bly Manor with my hubby-wubs.
• Finished ALL the laundry! (There's more now, but I was officially done!)
• Put a huge dent in the clothes sorting in my room. 
• Watched Critical Role Episodes 63 & 64.
• Worked on D&D for the Tomb of Annihilation!
• Have a date set for our next meet up for D&D ToA.
• Chose my Christmas D&D One-Shot!
• Realized I have a real Bag of Holding - My Bag of Holding Pursue really works like a real bag of holding. I need my keys? BAM! I need a pen? BAM! So cool!
• Made a chocolate sundae for National Sundae Day!

I hope that by acknowledging how awesome things have been I haven't jinxed anything for myself. It has been wonderful feeling so good. It's been a good week.

More Custom Starbucks Frappuccinos

I have to say that I went on a bit of a bender with these drinks. Sugar abounds, which is never a good thing in my household, but after living a year and a half on an extreme food lifestyle, I feel entitled to have a little bit of fun. So this weekend we had a little bit more fun!

The first one was the Smelly Cat. The Friends secret Starbucks menu is popular right now and while the majority of the drinks are just something straight off the menu that a character would order, I thought the Smelly Cat would be a fun drink to try.

Smelly Cat (Totallythebomb.com How-to-Make)
It is a nice drink. It has a bit of earthiness to it from the dragon fruit. It really felt like a "hippie" drink, which is the point. My husband got the same thing and he loved it.

How to order:
- Size (we did Grande.)
- Vanilla Bean Frappuccino
-  Coconut Milk
- "Splash" of Guava Juice and Dragon Fruit
- Whipped cream


Then this weekend, we went and tried some spooky Halloween drinks, but also my husband just wanted something that felt more him. The sad part is... I forgot my phone the first time we were going to go, which was when we dropped our daughter off at acting. The second time... and I warned my husband about this, was going to be during too busy of a time and they wouldn't be as happy about a custom order. And sure enough... they were not. So sadly these pictures aren't what we hoped for, but honestly... isn't it also about the taste of it?


The Joker (Totallythebomb.com How-to-Make)
I am a green tea fan. Not a "Venti" green tea fan, but I really enjoy it. The Venti was too big for me, but my husband just went Venti because his order later down was listed as a Venti. The Joker, though, was pretty good! The strawberry sauce with the green tea balanced out the tea and sweet factor. Despite it looking like an injured Swamp Thing or a horrible zombie attack, it was really quite delicious. Unpredictable, maybe, because you never knew if you'd get just the tea, just the sauce, or both. Chaos in a cup? Totally Joker! Awesome!

How to order:
- Size (my husband ordered a Venti...)
- Matcha Green Tea Creme Frappaccino
- Draw a strawberry sauce smile on the side of the cup.
- Matcha Whipped Cream (which mine doesn't have, so it's regular whip with Matcha sprinkle)
- Mocha Drizzle finish



Beetlejuice (Totallythebomb.com How-to-Make)
The image of this would have been great, but the lines weren't there and it just all ran down. The person making them was in a frenzy and just dumped things into the cup. But that's alright. It had some great flavor if you're into a more mocha flavor from the drizzle. Almost like... well... it was like a shake with some mocha flavor. My husband liked it just a smidge more than his Horchata, but would not swap out the Horchata for the Beetlejuice. (Note: My husband isn't a Starbucks fan and it takes quite a bit to find a drink he'll like. I learned last week that nothing with Pumpkin Spice should be served to him.)

How to order:
- Size (my husband ordered a Venti...)
- Vanilla Bean Frapp
- Mocha Drizzle (lining the cup like stripes)
- Matcha Whipped Cream (which mine doesn't have, so it's regular whip)
- Matcha sprinkles on top



Horchata (Totallythebomb.com How-to-Make)
My husband loves Horchata and tries it most places we go that serve it. So when I was scrolling through custom drinks, he saw it and wanted to try it. He really enjoyed it, especially the foam. It blew his mind! (My husband took the picture below while in the passenger seat... it doesn't do the drink justice and you can't see the cute sip-lid.)

How to order:
- Size (my husband ordered a Venti)
- Iced Latte
- Almond Milk
- 2 Espresso Shots Only
- 2 Pumps Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup
- 5 Pumps Sugar-Free Cinnamon Dolce Syrup
- Add Cold Foam made with Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup
- Cinnamon Topping

The recipe said to get some stevia to add in, but my husband liked it just fine without. It's a taste thing.


I don't know if I can keep up the sugar rush of the drinks, but I really have had a ball trying these. I also lucked out on one of my drink orders and essentially got the drink for free because of all my stars! Bonus! 

Those Custom Starbucks Frappuccinos

I haven't been to Starbucks in a long time. I find them to be overpriced and often so sugar-packed I can't imagine consuming that amount of sugar daily. That's not to say I'm not a sucker for cool things and this weekend I totally indulged in the world of obnoxious custom drink orders.

We went full on The Nightmare Before Christmas. We were at a game convention all weekend with my family, so I knew I had to get a drink for myself, my daughter, and my husband. This was the perfect thematic lineup. I found the easy recipes on Totallythebomb.com:


Sally (Totallythebomb.com How-to-Make)
This was absolutely delicious! My daughter and I were almost obnoxious enough to fit over it! Not too sweet and a total treat. A must try if you're doing any of these!

How to order:
- Size (we did Grande.)
- Vanilla Bean Frapp
- Add Matcha Powder
- Caramel drizzle on sides of cup
- Whipped cream, strawberry sauce, and freeze dried strawberries on top



Jack "The Pumpkin King" Skellington (Totallythebomb.com How-to-Make)
My husband drank it, but it just wasn't our bag. If you like the chia and spiced pumpkin and all that, it might be your thing, but it definitely wasn't ours.

How to order:
- Size (we did Grande.)
- Pumpkin Spice Frapp
- Chai syrup
- Mocha drizzle on sides of cup
- Whipped cream on top
- Java chips on top



Oogie Boogie (Totallythebomb.com How-to-Make)
This was my drink and now is so naughty that I want it more. Cookie crisps and mocha and it's a chocolate chip cookie in a cup. The java chips and the cookie bits just make it so delicious. It looks pretty great, too!

How to order:
- Size (I did a Ventie, because I thought it needed space....)
- White Chocolate Mocha Frapp
- Add Java Chips mixed in
- ON THE BOTTOM: Whipped Cream with Java Chips
- ON THE TOP: Whipped Cream, Matcha Powder, and Mocha Cookie Crumbles

There is another way to order it, but I couldn't remember. Had something to do with the type of base Frapp, but I can't remember what it was.



The next day we went in and got two more creations. The first one I ordered that I had seen floating around was the Pennywise It: Chapter Two drink. The second one was the Maleficent drink that had apparently been hacked from Disney.


Pennywise It: Chapter Two  (Totallythebomb.com How-to-Make)
My daughter insisted on drinking this one and it tasted just like strawberries and cream. Our local Starbucks did an awesome job! We would totally order again. My barista knew what it was, but had never made it. So excitement!

How to order:
- Size (we did Grande)
- Vanilla Bean Frapp
- Strawberry Puree (either on the sides and/or drizzled on the top before the whipped cream)
- ON THE TOP: Whipped Cream and freeze-dried strawberries



Maleficent (Totallythebomb.com How-to-Make)
This thing tastes like a FRUIT LOOP!!! Oh my goodness... what a treat! If you like fruit loops, this is the drink for you. I wanted to share it with my husband, but he was so busy gaming, I couldn't share this amazing secret with him. Honestly just so delicious!

How to order:
- Size (we did Grande)
- Vanilla Bean Frapp
- Add in blueberry and dragon fruit
- ON THE TOP: Whipped cream and matcha powder
Someone said ask them to make the matcha powder whipped cream, but I couldn't do that to them.

I have more frapp tries coming up. I've found all sorts of crazy ones and now feel compelled to try them. I can't say I'm not totally stoked.

How I Keto at a Con

KETO EATING AT CONS

I've not been mum on the "I'm Way of Eating" my husband and I have been doing for over a year. You also won't find me a rabid-die-hard-soap-boxing-advocate who will crush you if you think I'm crazy. We do our best. We live our life. Isn't it all a crap-shoot anyways? Look at how often opinions flip and a flop. Remember when eggs and broccoli were bad?

So we adopted what they call Keto. Essentially cutting out carbs and sugars and focusing more on proteins and fats to force your body to change it's fuel source. Let me just say.... this makes traveling and snacking very hard. Essentially you're not supposed to be snacking in the first place. Pretty much everything we eat is fresh or cooked in the moment. I also struggle to find food when we travel. That's not to say there aren't a plethora of options out there, but honestly... how many do you want to carry in your bag at a geeky convention?

There are tons of Con lists out there recommending the food to bring so that it doesn't spoil but keeps you going. Examples:

• Popcorn/healthy "chip" option
• Beef Jerky
• Nuts
• Fruit Pouches (like applesauce)
• Granola Bars
• Dried Fruits
• Hard Candies
• Sandwiches (uncrustables or homemade)
• Lunchables/other premade packs
• Trailmix
• Coffee (bring your own)
• Water, Water, Water

When it comes to keto, there are three, maybe four options on that list that someone who eats this way can take.

Premade Lunch Packs 
There are some out there, but they are not lunchables. One that I've fallen in love with is Ready, Set, Egg! The sad part is that they need to be refrigerated. I mean, who wants to carry a smelly hard boiled egg around in the heat!

Nuts
You still have to be careful with nuts and not eat too many of them, but there are some that really do the trick: Almonds, Pecans, Brazil Nuts, Macadamia Nuts, and Walnuts (just to name a few). These you can easily pack and not worry about keeping them cold. You just have to watch the amount that you eat. Prepackage everything. I really like the Planters NUT-trition Heart Healthy Mix. It has several of the good nuts and the net carbs are only 2 for 30 whole nuts. Definitely a pre-portion snacks.

Water
Water is a must on the Keto diet. My one friend argued that drinking a gallon a day really made all the difference for her. Regardless, water is a must no matter what your way of eating. I found at GenCon that there is nowhere to refill a water bottle unless you use the sink in the bathroom and a filtered water bottle, so you might want to find a way to carry enough water for you for the day or be prepared to drop the big bucks. Drinking as much water as possible is key to Keto. I've heard in some circles a gallon of water a day is recommended.

The Fourth
You can bring your own homemade snacks, as mentioned in the list above, but the ingredient list can be a bit tricky for what will keep with a whole day out and about.

But what else can I take to a convention that will help when I feel the need to eat, because maybe I've been expending more energy than you needed to?  We're not talking meals. That you'll have to figure out on your own, but what can I keep in my bag for those moments when I really need something. Here is what I found:

• Keto fat bombs that won't melt.
• Olives (Kalmata or Green for 0 carbs)
• Quest Bars (not too many, but work for a quick sweet tooth. Only if you need it.)
• Pork Rinds
• Keto friendly Peanut Butter and celery
• Bell peppers
• Raw Broccoli/Cauliflower
• Black Coffee (or with your own Keto additives)

If I had the means to pack  a small ice pack for my day out, it would really opens up the options available for me, such as:

• Hard boiled eggs (still weird to carry around a crowd of people)
• Cheeses
• Guacamole with veggies for dipping
• Cucumbers and Cream Cheese
• Lunch Meat
• Pre-Cooked Bacon
• Keto Broccoli Salad
• Fat Bombs that require cold temperatures

I'm not an expert and will never claim to be, but as I plan for my own trip to GenCon, I wanted to make sure that I put most temptations aside. Will I indulge a little bit? Absolutely. I don't, though, want to go overboard and will still be trying to stay as true to my Way of Eating as possible.

Good luck!


*If I can swing it, I might get to blog about my GenCon Food Adventures. I always love the diversity of the food, so we'll see what happens.

5 Fandom Friday - Comfort Foods That Always Make Me Feel Better

(Edited and republished from 8/25/2017)

This week's 5 Fandom Friday is "Comfort Foods That Always Make Me Feel Better." I find this one funny, because my husband has us going Keto and while typically I don't miss food... there are some days I just crave something so badly that I'd give up the whole lifestyle to have it. Yet, after a year of living on Keto, I have found foods that really help fill that gap when I need it. So I've concocted 2 lists of 5. Non-Keto and Keto.

Non-Keto Comfort Foods That Always Make Me Feel Better

1. Toast with Melted Butter and Honey
I'm being totally honest... that is such a comfort food and so sweet! There is no replacement for this nostalgic taste.

https://www.thekitchn.com

2. Pizza
Enuf said! Specifically Jake's Pizza... the Buffalo Chicken pizza with the thin crust. God I love that place. It's my cheat place, actually. I get a small. It doesn't kill my progress as much as other things.

3. Macaroni and Cheese
This was always my favorite little food. From scratch or a box, I had perfect making any kind of Mac n' Cheese, because it was my favorite. I miss you pasta...

simplyhappyfoodie.com

4. Salvadorian Breakfast Cakes/Cupcakes
I don't remember how I found this recipe, but I made it and I fell in love. A Parmesan sweet/savory and I made a Chocolate version. Oh my goodness... they are so delicious, but sugar is everywhere! Will always love it.

https://food52.com

5. Pretzels (Soft or Hard)
Pretzel fiend over here. Pretzel nuggets at the movies, pretzels at the ballpark, pretzel sticks with cream cheese... Supposedly there are Keto-Friendly pretzels, but... I don't know if I want to be disappointed. My daughter has just discovered the joys of soft Pretzels with Nacho Cheese... and so I bought her those ones with the cheese inside. I'll be honest... I steal one off her plate.

www.platingsandpairings.com

Keto Comfort Foods That Always Make Me Feel Better

1. Ham and Pickle Rolls
These are one of my favorite party foods, but when I'm having such a hard time figuring out what to eat or pack for lunch, these always just make me feel a bit better. A bit nostalgic. They're ham with cream cheese spread on them and a slice of pickle in the middle. A friend called them "Wisconsin Sushi." haha! You can also chop up the ham and pickles and then add in the cream cheese and it becomes a dip or cracker topping or something like that. You have the ratios on everything right. I can't even find a picture of them that I think really represents it... whether the ham type, the amount of pickle or the amount of cream cheese. It's crazy! Ah well. Pickles, ham, and cream cheese. MIX IT LOVE IT!

2. Gordon Ramsey's Sublime Eggs
When we saw these made on MasterChef, I knew I could make them and we have just fallen in love with them. A small pillow of joy. I've perfected my version. Sometimes even use a little cream cheese instead of creme fresh.  We cook ours JUST a bit more than absolutely runny like him. Either way. It's delicious!


3. Low-Carb Chicken Divan Casserole
I found this recipe looking for some cauliflower dishes. This has become a total comfort food. Something I need more in the winter than in the summer, but oh my goodness... it's creamy and there's chicken and broccoli. Oh so delicious!

4. Rotisserie Chicken and Broccoli dipped in Butter
One of the quickest keto meals we can have when I don't want to cook. Strip the chicken, steam the broccoli and get out that dipping bowl of butter. Dip chicken, eat. Dip broccoli, eat. Chew, napkin, repeat. Always hits the spot and relieves the stress of cooking.

5. Chocolate Chip Cookie Butter Fat Bomb
This recipe comes from Sweet & Savory Fat Bombs by Martina Slajerova. It is a bit fiddly at the beginning, because you have so many steps, but oh well. It's worth it! I make the cookie, then chop it up, add, butter, then add some keto chocolate chips. BOOM! Such a treat for lunch or at the end of a long, hard day. Love them so much.


Man... that entry was hard... let's get on to some geekier entries. Ha!

IGGPPC Camp Activity: Jell-O Aquarium

Jell-O Aquariums are all the rage right now, especially since it's summer and something young and old alike can enjoy! I streamline the activity, because there are so many variables that can make it fail. Talk about trial and error on my end. I essentially had to get rid of the gravel at the bottom, because it always turned a horrible color. So let's get started with what I finally settled on.

Materials

• Mixing Bowl
• Measuring Cup
• Something to Mix With
• Water
• Something to Boil Water with
• Wide-Mouthed Jar (or clear plastic cup... smaller is better and you'll make more than one)
• Blue Jell-O mix (can't find this? see below)
• Gummy sea creatures (Swedish Fish, Gummy Octopuses, Sharks, or other aquatic animals)
• Something to break the surface of the Jell-O/Gelatin
• Whipped Cream (optional)

Not Using Jell-O?

• Gelatin Packets
• Raspberry Extract 
• Blue Food Coloring
• Stevia
• Electric Whisk

Directions for Using Jell-O

1. Following the directions on the Jell-O box (you'll need the bowl, measuring cup, the Jell-O mix, something to boil water with and water).

2. Pour into your jar(s) or cup(s).

3. Chill until you are ready to serve (the color from the fish will bleed into your Jell-O if you do it too early).

If you have some like-colored or candy you're sure won't bleed, try it out!

4. Take a butterknife or knife or something else and gently break the surface of the Jell-O an slip in your gummy sea life! You can put them up along the side or in the middle. Depending on how deep your jar is, you could probably get some on the bottom.

5. Then decorate as you wish! Whipped cream for waves or fishing jumping out of the water, etc.

Note: The Jell-O is a bit darker than I'd like, but it tastes better and is easier to work with.

Directions for Using Gelatin

1. Follow the directions on the box for making Gelatin. Mine said boil 3 cups of water and keep one cold. Then pour your 4 packets of gelatin into the cold water for 1 minute to firm up.

2. Once the water is boiling, add it to the cold water gelatin. Then use an electric whisk for 5 minutes.

3. Once hat is done, at 2 drops of blue food coloring, 8 drops of Stevia, and a TBSP of Raspberry Extract.

4. Gently whisk together and then pour into the jar. 

5. Put the jar in the fridge and let it set until you are ready to serve.

6. Before you serve, use something to gently create a slit in the gelatin. Then take your favorite aquatic gummies and carefully push them down into the gelatin.

7. You can put whipped cream on top to create waves or add any of your favorite things to the jar. 

Note: The Gelatin doesn't taste as good, but the color is preferable so you can see everything easily. You have more freedom to play around and really make it your own, but I found it to be much more tedious. I also could not put candy in before it set like the Jell-O.

Don't forget to take pictures and hashtag them #IGGPPC and #IGGPPCAMP for Twitter and Instagram! Or @IGGPPCAMP on Twitter!