Tangents + the most expensive area of our house.


I have a new friend-to-friend post up HERE about internet negativity!


You know you are from Utah when you are down to a sports bra when it is 35° out. Eight miles @ 9:18 average, and so much to catch up on after five days apart, ha.

Most of the day was spent doing laundry and filling up the fridge again. I also made Shalane’s Recovery Salad because I have been craving it.

I added roasted sweet potatoes and rotisserie chicken and doubled the recipe!

I have some tangents to talk about:

*I realized the most expensive place in our home is at the top of our mud room. I should probably put these in a safe just in case we are robbed.

*Laughing so hard she fell to the ground.

*Current my #1 candy.

*And SkyJo is our #1 game.

*I asked my niece for some ideas on Christmas gifts for teenagers! I hope this helps!
*My sister just got this so she can grow herbs year-round in her kitchen! Does anyone have this or something similar? I’m going to get one too because it will help me finally keep some plants alive.
*He is passing down his shorts in winter tradition to Knox. They both received plenty of stares.
*I like the ISH, haha.
*When I saw him come in with these, I thought he must have bought a new bike (or two;).  Nope… He just understands my obsession with chocolate and peppermint combined.

Just another reminder that I have a friend-to-friend post up today HERE!


Have a tangent for me?

Any peppermint desserts I need to have this season?

Any ideas to add to the teenager’s gift list?

Do you eat quinoa often?  Have a favorite recipe that uses it?

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33 comments

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I also love the chocolate and mint combo. You need to find frangos if you haven’t before. Also, Lilys makes white chocolate peppermint chips for baking projects. They’re really good with chocolate cookie dough. Or straight out of the bag.

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I have never tried frangos but I just found them at a grocery store near me, I’m so excited to get them. And those peppermint chips sound amazing. Thank you, Victoria! Hope you have a beautiful day!

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The aerogarden is pretty cool, I bought one for my niece last year for Christmas! Great to use indoors in the cold months when your herbs won’t grow outside.

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I’m excited to try it out and actually keep some plants alive, ha. I hope your day is off to a great start, Nicole!

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In your first picture from today’s post it looks like the mountain is a volcano erupting – very cool.

I love using quinoa to make stuffed peppers. I substitute it for rice.

As the parent of a teen girl, your list is perfect and gave me a couple of ideas!

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Oh my gosh, you are right… nature is the best. Andrew loves stuffed peppers, I will have to try that out! Yay, happy shopping and I hope your day is off to a great start. Thanks Amanda!

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I have an aerogarden and love it!! I have been eating tomatoes year round :)

Also I love anything with peppermint and chocolate combined.

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I didn’t even think of planting tomatoes! I’m going to copy you. Hope you get all of the peppermint and chocolate this season! Have a beautiful day, Katrina.

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We love the recovery salad! I often add grilled chicken to it, but rotisserie chicken and roasted sweet potatoes sounds amazing. I made a chicken and quinoa soup a couple of weeks ago that was so good. I will find the link and send it to you.
My oldest son wears shorts all winter too. Even out in Chicago… Weirdo
I’m heading out for my 1st run in a week! Aaahhh… We’ll see how uncoordinated my legs feel, ha ha. Then it’s back to the toy drive and food pantry.
Have a great day Janae 😊

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Ummmm yes, I need that link please. Hahah shorts during Chicago winter?! Andrew would get along great with him. Happy running! Thanks Wendy!

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Sunglasses for the list! Gosh Andrew is the best with flowers and those ice cream bars?!
My shoe rack is also one of my most expensive areas in the house 🤣🤣. Hope you have a great week!

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I really hit the jackpot with him! Hahah hopefully they take everything but our shoes if we ever do get robbed;). Thanks Mollie, you too!

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My all-time favorite quinoa recipe: slow-cooker turkey chili with quinoa! I think I’ll make it for dinner tonight actually! https://www.southernliving.com/recipes/slow-cooker-turkey-chili-1

Happy Tuesday, Janae!

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THANK YOU for the link, I will be making that. Enjoy tonight, and happy Tuesday to you too. Thanks Rachel!

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Ahhhhh, good job being awesome Andrew. I am so happy yo guys found each other. The father son pictures are sooooo cute, how many years until Beck joins?

The trails look amazing, I can’t wait to get back out on ours, we got a fresh layer of snow today so they will be extra beautiful.

Have a wonderful day!

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Hahaha valid point, I’m sure Beck will be doing this craziness too;) Enjoy the fresh snow and I hope your first run back on the trails is perfect. Thank you Beth, you too!

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Hahaha I love how you immediately thought Andrew bought a new bike when he came home with flowers and ice cream.

My tangent today is my dog is currently at the hospital getting a somewhat routine surgery. Who knew a salivary gland/duct could get clogged?! Not me. Anyways she should be okay but wouldn’t mind some good vibes sent Bailey’s way that all goes smoothly.

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Hahaha I mean he has been talking about a new bike he needs;)

I am so glad she will be okay but I am sending all of the good vibes your way. I am so sorry, Maureen. Please let me know how Bailey does.

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Love the teenager list! I’m going to add gum to their presents.
Are you tolerating ice cream better these days?? Hope so! Those do sound delish!

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So I haven’t had ice cream in quite some time but the bar last night only hurt my stomach a bit and then I fell asleep so worth it?!? But I probably will just eat them right before I go to bed ha. I hope you get them. They are so so good. Hope your day is off to a great start!

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MMMmmm, the ice cream bars look so good!

I just picked up Andes mints, the peppermint crunch Christmas variety. I have to fast today for a routine procedure tomorrow, and I am being very dramatic about how starving I am, hahahaha. The salad sounds perfect for when I can eat tomorrow, nice & hearty! I’ll definitely go to the store today for the ingredients + the sweet potatoes!

I’m a baby with the cold, 35 I would have my coat on and fleece pants for my run.

Have a great day!

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I hope your procedure goes well tomorrow. And you are not dramatic… I can’t even skip one meal without crying and burying myself in my blankets. Enjoy the quinoa salad! Thanks Tracy and good luck!

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Love the teenager gift list! Does Andrew have any suggestions for good mountain bike gloves (a hubby gift, not a teenage gift)? I don’t know where to start, finger, fingerless, padded!

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GREAT QUESTION… I’ll text him now (he is at work) and get back to you. Yay for mountain biking husbands. Have a great day, Michelle!

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CHOCOLATE AND PEPPERMINT FOR THE WIN! Where did he get these? I’m going to find them!!

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Costco! You will love them so much!

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Love chocolate peppermint season!! I already bought some holiday mint M&Ms. I need to get some Dove peppermint bark chocolates too.
That quinoa salad looks delicious. I haven’t made quinoa in a while so I need to try that recipe.

also, I purchased that Madewell Shacket you shared a month or so ago on Black Friday. It just came in the mail yesterday and it’s the softest thing ever!! It’s my first shacket and already living in it. A bit chilly to wear outside right now, but come spring I will definitely be wearing it everywhere. I’m also going to Arizona in a couple weeks to visit my sister and I think it will be perfect for the trip with the cooler mornings right now.

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I love that she has a portable fire pit on her list :)

We got our kids wallets and an air tag. We are also taking a trip. I’m a huge advocate of time/service/experiences as gifts.

My husband makes peppermint fudge and it’s to die for.

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I was at the NCAA cross country championships last week with Shalene. I thought of you and creepily took a picture of her at the airport. We also were boarding with the BYU cross team. I’m pretty sure you would have passed out in excitement.

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You know me well, I absolutely would have. SO SO cool!

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You will have an amazing little garden in no time! I bought one a year ago, and we have more herbs than I know what to do with. Lol. It’s the best for people like me who always fail at growing plants. :-P

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I just got some Trader Joes Dark Chocolate Peppermint Creams and they were divine. I think they’re part of the holiday lineup.

Fave quinoa recipe is Food52s Crustless kale quinoa quiche. The quinoa gives it structure so you don’t need a crust, and you can swap out lots of different cheeses and greens. I love to make it on a Sunday and bring it for lunches during the week.

We had to evacuate last year for the Caldor fire (still grateful every day for all the firefighters!!) and after grabbing our bikes the next thing I went for was all my running shoes.

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I have the same Aerogarden! I tried growing lettuce in it last year and it just didn’t taste right. Now I use it as a low-maintenance plant propagation station and it’s perfect for that! #millennialplantcollector

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