I absolutely LOVE the month of December! Think Advent calendars, sending Christmas cards, crafting, Christmas caroling, making cookies, eating said cookies and playing holiday games like White Elephant/Bastard Christmas and Elf on the Shelf, better known in my childhood days as Huckle Buckle Beanstalk! This game was introduced to me in first grade when Miss Renza, our teacher, hid a spool of thread in the classroom and we would take turns trying to find it while she told us if we were close to it by yelling “HOT” or way off with “COLD” until we discovered it. This was when the finder would yell out “Huckle Buckle Beanstalk” and the game would start all over again and again and again….!
When I was younger, my Auntie Janet would come visit from California and we would play for as long as she could take it! Still to this day, we sign our cards “HBB” and I get a good laugh every time I read it! So imagine my surprise when I discovered this Elf on the Shelf craze happening amongst kids and adults alike. It’s basically HBB but with an elf! And a cute one if I may say. I ran out and bought one at Target yesterday. It’s a must have!
Andy and I are gonna have so much fun playing this game during the holiday season.. or at least I am! My friend Marron posted a board on her Pinterest site with cool spots to hide him and I brought him to the yoga studio yesterday… the students were cracking up as I sat him on top of the stereo speaker. I told them to have perfect practices or else the Elf would report back to Santa… that means NOT doing your home practice in class!!! HA!
Buddy, my Elf, demonstrating lotus position, a forward fold and how to properly hang off a fire extinguisher.. all while keeping an eye on the students for a full report back to Santa!
I also love the winter months for the produce it brings… especially the squash! You all know by now that I am obsessed with squash. It’s cheap, simple, clean, easy to make, quick to prepare and is low in calories and FAT-FREE! It’s easy to digest and doesn’t make my tummy hurt like so many things I come in contact with. Winter squash varieties include butternut, acorn, delicata, kabocha, kuru, buttercup, hubbard, golden nugget, sweet dumpling and these cute spaghetti squash that I got at the Farmer’s Market on Wednesday. They are the perfect size for one person and remind me of a personal pizza from Pizzeria Uno in Chicago or something like that.
Oh! And squash is packed with Vitamins A, E, C, B-cimplex, beta carotene, iron, zinc, copper, calcium, and potassium. Especially in the winter months when you can’t touch anything without immediately washing your hands, squash is beneficial in supporting your nervous system while it strengths your immune system. So eat up! And don’t toss your seeds! Roast them off and snack on them before bed since they carry the amino acid tryptophan in them… that helps to promote a healthy night’s sleep, cool huh?! A girl needs her eight hours!
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Avocado Pesto Stuffed Spaghetti Squash- serves two
Ingredients:
-1 avocado
-1 cup scallions, chopped
-3 cloves garlic
-2 tsp olive oil
-1/4 cup basil, chopped
-1/4 tsp red pepper chili flakes
-sprinkle of Veggie Cheese
-salt and pepper
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 400. Cut the squash in half, remove the seeds and drizzle some olive oil, salt and pepper inside. Place cut-side down on a baking sheet for 20 minutes or until soft.
2. While the squash is cooling, chop up the scallions and herbs and add them and the avocado to your food processor and pulse. The consistency will resemble guacamole.
3. Scoop the Avocado Pesto into the spaghetti squash and sprinkle some Veggie Cheese on top. Enjoy! Quick, healthy and easy peesy to make!
The perfect portion!
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I’m headed to the Stitch Market, a craft fair featuring local merchants, in SLO tonight with my girlfriends. For me, craft fairs are a great way to gather ideas, or rather steal ideas, for gifts I can easily handmake for the holiday! Of course I plan to spend some money too… who can resist? But first, I’m doing something I haven’t done in over two years…any guesses? I’m getting a manicure! I used to get a mani/pedi every other week in Chicago and write them off of my taxes as part of my “uniform” since most of the floors I teach on are nasty with long hair, spilled water and sweat stains, dust, and God knows what else. But when we moved here, I promised myself I would save money by doing it myself and I have! Like over $800 a year, according to my accountant! But I miss the luxury so I’m treating myself today… cause why not?
Oh! And I’m shooting a commercial tomorrow for Laurus College in SLO so I thought it might look nice. Yes! I’m going to be on TV. My student Eileen produces commercials and she thinks I’d be great as the talent for this one so I’ve agreed. All press is good press right?! Now to move my Elf around and head to the nail salon! Stay warm out there kids!
Buddy loves the Buddha.