INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (4426,1,'2011-03-08 21:08:58','2011-03-09 04:08:58','<a href=\"http://urbanconnectionrealty.com/2011/02/2011-coronado-historic-district-home-tour-info-and-tickets/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-4404\" title=\"Bungalow_House2\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Bungalow_House2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"234\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSpring aka Season of the Outdoor Festivals has sprung in my fair city.  With perfect weekend weather of 75 - 80 degrees,  we look to celebrate outdoors as much as possible because...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn a few months, it will be Summer aka Season of Yes, It\'s a Dry Heat, but So is a Blow Torch.  With temps of 110 in the shade, you will find us outside only in the wee morning and post-sunset hours.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis past weekend\'s festival:  <strong><a href=\"http://www.gcna.info/\" target=\"_blank\">Coronado Historic Home Tour</a></strong>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI realize that it\'s a bit of a stretch to label houses as \"historic\" in a relatively young city, but hey -- if they were built in the 20s and 30s, they\'re more than likely haunted which, in my opinion, means that they\'re old enough to be \"historic\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI suspect \"historic\" might also have something to do with architecture.  One of this blog\'s token male readers just so happens to be an architect, so perhaps he can enlighten us.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI invited Corinniecakes and Britt to embark on this Historic Tour of Bungalows.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMost people dream of living in mansions.  My dream -- ever since I read the book <strong><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Miss-Rumphius-Barbara-Cooney/dp/0140505393\" target=\"_blank\">Miss Rumphius</a></em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Miss-Rumphius-Barbara-Cooney/dp/0140505393\" target=\"_blank\"> </a></strong>-- is to live by the sea in a cozy bungalow.  Sigh...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBack to reality:  Until California falls into the ocean, we are seasideless.  The girls and I schlepped downtown to urban bungalows.  Nonetheless, a bungalow by any other location is still charming.  And so darned cozy.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4401\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Yesterday, I announced that I was Paula for the day.  But (pun intended) after seeing this photo, I&#39;m really more like JLo.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00331-20110306-13211.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4401\" title=\"IMG00331-20110306-1321\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00331-20110306-13211-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4399\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"We ate our way through the tour.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00334-20110306-1344.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4399\" title=\"IMG00334-20110306-1344\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00334-20110306-1344-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nStreet festivals are known for their food.  Luckily, Corinniecakes is preggers and ravenous, so Britt and I were forced to sympathy eat right alongside her.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPerhaps it was the hormones, but Corinnie was downright giddy upon seeing the <strong><a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/Short-Leash-Hot-Dogs/122567251113081\" target=\"_blank\">Short Leash hot dog truck</a>.</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Corinnie:</strong> (<em>breathless</em>)  \"I am waaaaay too excited about eating a wiener!\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThen Britt found a bone in her wiener, and...well...with my mind always ready to dive into the gutter...I\'m not sure I want to share the joke I made here.  I\'ll keep it classy.  For now, at least.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div class=\"mceTemp\">\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4402\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"My lastest fantasy:  a back porch.  While we&#39;re dreaming, let&#39;s throw in a front porch as well.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00335-20110306-1407.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4402\" title=\"IMG00335-20110306-1407\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00335-20110306-1407-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAll of this home touring and good vibes made me want to pack up my lovely \"country\" (I live in the suburban  foothills) condo and move down to the hood.  I started to dream about  Year 2 of this blog:  The Year of Historic Home Renovation!  Sigh...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nKnow anything about Historic Homes and Hoods?  Please share in the comment section below!\r\n\r\n</div>','Day 161:  Historic Home Tour ','','inherit','open','open','','4381-revision-21','','','2011-03-08 21:08:58','2011-03-09 04:08:58','',4381,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/08/4381-revision-21/',0,'revision','',0),(4427,1,'2011-03-08 10:38:36','2011-03-08 17:38:36','prize\n\n&nbsp;\n\nas a kid --exciting to see what prize lurked in cracker jacks and cereal box.  a surprise in your day.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nisn\'t this kinda sorta what this blog is about?  a prize each day?  surprise, etc.','Day 162:  Cracker Jacks','','inherit','open','open','','4406-revision-2','','','2011-03-08 10:38:36','2011-03-08 17:38:36','',4406,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/08/4406-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4428,1,'2011-03-10 01:01:00','2011-03-10 08:01:00','[caption id=\"attachment_4441\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"221\" caption=\"Carrots have high ORAC.  (And you thought it was the battery!)\"]<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/agitprop/2549700994/sizes/o/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4441  \" title=\"2549700994_af809b6242_o\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/2549700994_af809b6242_o-221x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"221\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI\'ve been eating like crap lately.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPeople generally consider me a \"health nut\".  I shop at Whole Foods and Trader Joe\'s.  I eat whole grains, fruits and veggies, very little sugar, blah, blah, blah.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLately, I\'ve been eating like a child.  I\'m single, so I can.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMac and cheese for dinner!  Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGrilled cheese with Velveeta for dinner!  Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI don\'t want to eat my veggies, and no one\'s gonna make me!  Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m a blogger and I don\'t have time to cook!  It\'s cool (in a geeky sort of way) to glue myself to my computer and not have time to eat right because I\'m eating, breathing, and sleeping my passion!  I\'m resilient!  I can get away with it!  YAY!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>Guess again, sister.  You\'re not 25 anymore.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>And when you were 25, you were eating a hell of a lot better.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn order to keep up with my crazy schedule, I\'m going to need to adopt my old ways.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI needed a nutritional road map to show me the way back home.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nChristy Jo provided me with one.  It\'s called <a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>The O2 Diet:  The cutting edge antioxidant-based program that will make you healthy, thin, and beautiful.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow, don\'t get any crazy ideas.  I am not using this as a <em>diet</em> diet.  Although it can be used that way.  Thank goodness for genetics -- I somehow remain a size 0 despite the madness.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m using O2 as a plan to trick me into eating like I normally do.  It\'s kind of like a game:  you see how many ORAC points you can pack into a day until you look 20 and feel like the energizer bunny.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>What is ORAC, you ask? </strong><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>I\'m sorry I asked.  What the heck does Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity mean? </strong> <em>The higher the points, the higher the antioxidant value. </em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Oh.  Cool.  I want to look 20 and bounce around like the energizer bunny.  Where do I sign up? <a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Here. </em></a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPlease feel free to join me in feeling better.  I roped a bunch of the girls at work into doing this with me.  We\'re all going to be positively radiant by month\'s end.  The men in the building are going to be beside themselves.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>You go off on so many tangents.  Didn\'t the title of this post read \"Accidental Top Chef\"?  Surely you can\'t mean the Velveeta grilled cheese sandwiches.</strong> <em>Right.  Let me get on with it.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor the first four days of O2, there is a shopping list of antioxidant powerhouses.  I purchased 99% of what was on that list in an effort to incorporate as many of those powerhouses as possible into meal and snack times.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3060178.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4438\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3060178-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOn night 1,  I looked blankly at the pile of health on my counter.  I had no recipe, but I\'ve watched a lot of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef\" target=\"_blank\">Top Chef </a></strong>over the years.  All of those viewing hours prepped me for this moment:  \"Your quickfire challenge is to concoct something nutritious and delicious from this heap of antioxidant-rich foods.  Your time starts now!\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>(insert Quickfire Challenge theme music here)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Late Bloomer\'s Accidental Top Chef Mystery Dinner</span></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Ingredients:</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nwhole wheat pasta\r\n\r\nskinless, boneless chicken breasts\r\n\r\nred, yellow, and orange peppers\r\n\r\nbaby spinach\r\n\r\nwalnuts\r\n\r\nolive oil\r\n\r\nsalt &amp; pepper\r\n\r\noregano\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>secret ingredient</strong></span> (you\'ll see below)\r\n\r\nmeat tenderizer\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Multitask the following:</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCook pasta to al dente.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRinse chicken.  Sprinkle with meat tenderizer and stab with fork.  Work out any residual stress in this step.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCut up chicken into bite sized pieces and sauté in a small amount of olive oil.  Add water if you need to prevent burning.  Season with pepper and oregano.  (Meat tenderizer already has salt.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Optional: </strong>Prepare a plain piece of chicken for the dog.  Set aside.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFinely chop walnuts.   Set aside.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSauté peppers in small amount of olive oil.  Add salt, pepper and oregano to taste.  When peppers are cooked, add a lot of spinach.  (It will cook down to nothing, as we all know.)  Add walnuts.  Spinkle with a couple dashes of <span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>cinnamon.</strong></span> (Trust me on this one.)  Remove from heat.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMix pasta, chicken, and veggie/walnut mixture together.  Add more olive oil.  It\'s really good for you.  Sprinkle with parmesan if you prefer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #008000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>As Carla from <em>Top Chef</em> would say, cook all the above with love.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3070179.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4439\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3070179-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBon Appétit, you soon-to-be energizer bunnies, you!\r\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" class=\"mcePaste\" style=\"position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 627px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;\"><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em></div>','Day 162:  Accidental Top Chef ','','publish','open','open','','day-162-accidental-top-chef','','','2011-03-09 21:53:24','2011-03-10 04:53:24','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?p=4428',0,'post','',6),(4429,1,'2011-03-09 16:38:39','2011-03-09 23:38:39','','Auto Draft','','inherit','open','open','','4428-revision','','','2011-03-09 16:38:39','2011-03-09 23:38:39','',4428,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/09/4428-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4430,1,'2011-03-09 20:15:18','2011-03-10 03:15:18','I\'ve been eating like crap lately.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPeople generally consider me a \"health nut\".  I shop at Whole Foods and Trader Joe\'s.  I eat whole grains, fruits and veggies, very little sugar, blah, blah, blah.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLately, I\'ve been eating like a child.  I\'m single, so I can.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMac and cheese for dinner!  Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nGrilled cheese with Velveeta for dinner!  Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI don\'t want to eat my veggies, and no one\'s gonna make me!  Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'m a blogger and I don\'t have time to cook!  It\'s cool (in a geeky sort of way) to glue myself to my computer and not have time to eat right because I\'m eating, breathing, and sleeping my passion!  I\'m resilient!  I can get away with it!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYAY!!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nGuess again, sister.  You\'re not 25 anymore.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd when you were 25, you were eating a hell of a lot better.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn order to keep up with my crazy schedule, I\'m going to need to adopt my old ways.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI needed a nutritional road map to show me the way back home.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nChristy Jo provided me with one.  It\'s called The O2 Diet:  The cutting edge antioxidant-based program that will make you healthy, thin, and beautiful.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow, don\'t get any crazy ideas.  I am not using this as a <em>diet</em> diet.  Although it can be used that way.  Thank goodness for genetics -- I somehow remain a size 0 despite the madness.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\"m using O2 as a plan to trick me into eating like I normally do.  It\'s kind of like a game:  you see how many ORAC points you can pack into a day until you look 20 and feel like the energizer bunny.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhat is ORAC, you ask?  <em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'m sorry I asked.  What the hell does Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity mean?  <em>The higher the points, the higher the antioxidant value. </em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh.  Cool.  I want to look 20 and bounce around like the energizer bunny.  Where do I sign up?  <em>Here. </em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPlease feel free to join me in feeling better.  I roped a bunch of the girls at work into doing this with me.  We\'re all going to be radiant by month\'s end.  The men in the building are going to be beside themselves.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou go off on so many tangents.  Did the title of this post read \"Accidental Top Chef\"?  Surely you can\'t mean the Velveeta grilled cheese sandwiches.  Right.  Let me get on with it.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFor the first four days of O2, there is a shopping list of antioxidant powerhouses.  I purchased 99% of what was on that list in an effort to incorporate as many of those powerhouses as possible into meal and snack times.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOn night 1,\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" class=\"mcePaste\" style=\"position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 627px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;\"><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em></div>','Day 162:  Accidental Top Chef ','','inherit','open','open','','4428-revision-2','','','2011-03-09 20:15:18','2011-03-10 03:15:18','',4428,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/09/4428-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4431,1,'2011-03-09 20:45:42','2011-03-10 03:45:42','I\'ve been eating like crap lately.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPeople generally consider me a \"health nut\".  I shop at Whole Foods and Trader Joe\'s.  I eat whole grains, fruits and veggies, very little sugar, blah, blah, blah.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLately, I\'ve been eating like a child.  I\'m single, so I can.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMac and cheese for dinner!  Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nGrilled cheese with Velveeta for dinner!  Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI don\'t want to eat my veggies, and no one\'s gonna make me!  Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'m a blogger and I don\'t have time to cook!  It\'s cool (in a geeky sort of way) to glue myself to my computer and not have time to eat right because I\'m eating, breathing, and sleeping my passion!  I\'m resilient!  I can get away with it!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYAY!!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nGuess again, sister.  You\'re not 25 anymore.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd when you were 25, you were eating a hell of a lot better.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn order to keep up with my crazy schedule, I\'m going to need to adopt my old ways.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI needed a nutritional road map to show me the way back home.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nChristy Jo provided me with one.  It\'s called The O2 Diet:  The cutting edge antioxidant-based program that will make you healthy, thin, and beautiful.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow, don\'t get any crazy ideas.  I am not using this as a <em>diet</em> diet.  Although it can be used that way.  Thank goodness for genetics -- I somehow remain a size 0 despite the madness.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'m using O2 as a plan to trick me into eating like I normally do.  It\'s kind of like a game:  you see how many ORAC points you can pack into a day until you look 20 and feel like the energizer bunny.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhat is ORAC, you ask?  <em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'m sorry I asked.  What the hell does Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity mean?  <em>The higher the points, the higher the antioxidant value. </em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh.  Cool.  I want to look 20 and bounce around like the energizer bunny.  Where do I sign up?  <em>Here. </em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPlease feel free to join me in feeling better.  I roped a bunch of the girls at work into doing this with me.  We\'re all going to be radiant by month\'s end.  The men in the building are going to be beside themselves.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou go off on so many tangents.  Did the title of this post read \"Accidental Top Chef\"?  Surely you can\'t mean the Velveeta grilled cheese sandwiches.  <em>Right.  Let me get on with it.</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFor the first four days of O2, there is a shopping list of antioxidant powerhouses.  I purchased 99% of what was on that list in an effort to incorporate as many of those powerhouses as possible into meal and snack times.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOn night 1,  I looked blankly at the pile of health on my counter.  I had no recipe, but I\'ve watched a lot of Top Chef over the years.  All of those hours prepared me for this moment.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMichelle\'s Accidental Top Chef Mystery Dinner\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIngredients:\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhole Wheat Pasta\n\nSkinless, boneless chicken breasts\n\nred, yellow, and orange peppers\n\nbaby spinach\n\nwalnuts\n\nolive oil\n\nsalt &amp; pepper\n\noregano\n\nsecret ingredient  (you\'ll see below)\n\nmeat tenderizer\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMultitask the following:\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCook pasta to al dente.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nRinse chicken.  Sprinkle with meat tenderizer and stab with fork.  Really work out any residual stress in this step.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCut up chicken into bite sized pieces and sauté in a small amount of olive oil.  Add water if you need to prevent burning.  Season with pepper and oregano.  (Meat tenderizer already has salt.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOptional:  Prepare a plain piece of chicken for the dog.  Set aside.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFinely chop walnuts.   Set aside.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSauté peppers in small amount of olive oil.  Add salt, pepper and oregano to taste.  When peppers are cooked, add a lot of spinach.  (It will cook down to nothing, as we all know.)  Add walnuts.  Spinkle with a couple dashes of cinnamon.  (Trust me on this one.)  Remove from heat.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMix pasta, chicken, and veggie/walnut mixture together.  Add more olive oil.  It\'s really good for you.  Sprinkle with parmesan if you prefer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs Carla from Top Chef would say, cook all the above with love.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBon Appetit, you soon-to-be energizer bunnies, you!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" class=\"mcePaste\" style=\"position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 627px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;\"><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em></div>','Day 162:  Accidental Top Chef ','','inherit','open','open','','4428-revision-3','','','2011-03-09 20:45:42','2011-03-10 03:45:42','',4428,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/09/4428-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(4432,1,'2011-03-09 21:06:20','2011-03-10 04:06:20','I\'ve been eating like crap lately.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPeople generally consider me a \"health nut\".  I shop at Whole Foods and Trader Joe\'s.  I eat whole grains, fruits and veggies, very little sugar, blah, blah, blah.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLately, I\'ve been eating like a child.  I\'m single, so I can.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMac and cheese for dinner!  Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nGrilled cheese with Velveeta for dinner!  Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI don\'t want to eat my veggies, and no one\'s gonna make me!  Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'m a blogger and I don\'t have time to cook!  It\'s cool (in a geeky sort of way) to glue myself to my computer and not have time to eat right because I\'m eating, breathing, and sleeping my passion!  I\'m resilient!  I can get away with it!  YAY!!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nGuess again, sister.  You\'re not 25 anymore.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd when you were 25, you were eating a hell of a lot better.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn order to keep up with my crazy schedule, I\'m going to need to adopt my old ways.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI needed a nutritional road map to show me the way back home.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nChristy Jo provided me with one.  It\'s called <a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>The O2 Diet:  The cutting edge antioxidant-based program that will make you healthy, thin, and beautiful.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow, don\'t get any crazy ideas.  I am not using this as a <em>diet</em> diet.  Although it can be used that way.  Thank goodness for genetics -- I somehow remain a size 0 despite the madness.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'m using O2 as a plan to trick me into eating like I normally do.  It\'s kind of like a game:  you see how many ORAC points you can pack into a day until you look 20 and feel like the energizer bunny.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>What is ORAC, you ask? </strong><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>I\'m sorry I asked.  What the hell does Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity mean? </strong> <em>The higher the points, the higher the antioxidant value. </em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Oh.  Cool.  I want to look 20 and bounce around like the energizer bunny.  Where do I sign up?</strong> <a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Here. </em></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPlease feel free to join me in feeling better.  I roped a bunch of the girls at work into doing this with me.  We\'re all going to be radiant by month\'s end.  The men in the building are going to be beside themselves.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>You go off on so many tangents.  Didn\'t the title of this post read \"Accidental Top Chef\"?  Surely you can\'t mean the Velveeta grilled cheese sandwiches.</strong> <em>Right.  Let me get on with it.</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFor the first four days of O2, there is a shopping list of antioxidant powerhouses.  I purchased 99% of what was on that list in an effort to incorporate as many of those powerhouses as possible into meal and snack times.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOn night 1,  I looked blankly at the pile of health on my counter.  I had no recipe, but I\'ve watched a lot of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef\" target=\"_blank\">Top Chef </a></strong>over the years.  All of those viewing hours prepped me for this moment:  \"Your quickfire challenge is to concoct something nutritious and delicious from this heap of antioxidant-rich foods.  Your time starts now!\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Michelle\'s Accidental Top Chef Mystery Dinner</span></strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Ingredients:</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhole Wheat Pasta\n\nSkinless, boneless chicken breasts\n\nred, yellow, and orange peppers\n\nbaby spinach\n\nwalnuts\n\nolive oil\n\nsalt &amp; pepper\n\noregano\n\nsecret ingredient  (you\'ll see below)\n\nmeat tenderizer\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Multitask the following:</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCook pasta to al dente.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nRinse chicken.  Sprinkle with meat tenderizer and stab with fork.  Really work out any residual stress in this step.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCut up chicken into bite sized pieces and sauté in a small amount of olive oil.  Add water if you need to prevent burning.  Season with pepper and oregano.  (Meat tenderizer already has salt.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOptional:  Prepare a plain piece of chicken for the dog.  Set aside.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFinely chop walnuts.   Set aside.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSauté peppers in small amount of olive oil.  Add salt, pepper and oregano to taste.  When peppers are cooked, add a lot of spinach.  (It will cook down to nothing, as we all know.)  Add walnuts.  Spinkle with a couple dashes of cinnamon.  (Trust me on this one.)  Remove from heat.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMix pasta, chicken, and veggie/walnut mixture together.  Add more olive oil.  It\'s really good for you.  Sprinkle with parmesan if you prefer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs Carla from Top Chef would say, cook all the above with love.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBon Appétit, you soon-to-be energizer bunnies, you!\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" class=\"mcePaste\" style=\"position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 627px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;\"><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em></div>','Day 162:  Accidental Top Chef ','','inherit','open','open','','4428-revision-4','','','2011-03-09 21:06:20','2011-03-10 04:06:20','',4428,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/09/4428-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(4433,1,'2011-03-09 21:10:09','2011-03-10 04:10:09','I\'ve been eating like crap lately.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPeople generally consider me a \"health nut\".  I shop at Whole Foods and Trader Joe\'s.  I eat whole grains, fruits and veggies, very little sugar, blah, blah, blah.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLately, I\'ve been eating like a child.  I\'m single, so I can.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMac and cheese for dinner!  Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nGrilled cheese with Velveeta for dinner!  Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI don\'t want to eat my veggies, and no one\'s gonna make me!  Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'m a blogger and I don\'t have time to cook!  It\'s cool (in a geeky sort of way) to glue myself to my computer and not have time to eat right because I\'m eating, breathing, and sleeping my passion!  I\'m resilient!  I can get away with it!  YAY!!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nGuess again, sister.  You\'re not 25 anymore.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd when you were 25, you were eating a hell of a lot better.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn order to keep up with my crazy schedule, I\'m going to need to adopt my old ways.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI needed a nutritional road map to show me the way back home.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nChristy Jo provided me with one.  It\'s called <a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>The O2 Diet:  The cutting edge antioxidant-based program that will make you healthy, thin, and beautiful.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow, don\'t get any crazy ideas.  I am not using this as a <em>diet</em> diet.  Although it can be used that way.  Thank goodness for genetics -- I somehow remain a size 0 despite the madness.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'m using O2 as a plan to trick me into eating like I normally do.  It\'s kind of like a game:  you see how many ORAC points you can pack into a day until you look 20 and feel like the energizer bunny.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>What is ORAC, you ask? </strong><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity.</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>I\'m sorry I asked.  What the heck does Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity mean? </strong> <em>The higher the points, the higher the antioxidant value. </em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Oh.  Cool.  I want to look 20 and bounce around like the energizer bunny.  Where do I sign up? <a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Here. </em></a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPlease feel free to join me in feeling better.  I roped a bunch of the girls at work into doing this with me.  We\'re all going to be radiant by month\'s end.  The men in the building are going to be beside themselves.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>You go off on so many tangents.  Didn\'t the title of this post read \"Accidental Top Chef\"?  Surely you can\'t mean the Velveeta grilled cheese sandwiches.</strong> <em>Right.  Let me get on with it.</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFor the first four days of O2, there is a shopping list of antioxidant powerhouses.  I purchased 99% of what was on that list in an effort to incorporate as many of those powerhouses as possible into meal and snack times.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOn night 1,  I looked blankly at the pile of health on my counter.  I had no recipe, but I\'ve watched a lot of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef\" target=\"_blank\">Top Chef </a></strong>over the years.  All of those viewing hours prepped me for this moment:  \"Your quickfire challenge is to concoct something nutritious and delicious from this heap of antioxidant-rich foods.  Your time starts now!\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Michelle\'s Accidental Top Chef Mystery Dinner</span></strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Ingredients:</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhole Wheat Pasta\n\nSkinless, boneless chicken breasts\n\nred, yellow, and orange peppers\n\nbaby spinach\n\nwalnuts\n\nolive oil\n\nsalt &amp; pepper\n\noregano\n\n<span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>secret ingredient</strong></span> (you\'ll see below)\n\nmeat tenderizer\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Multitask the following:</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCook pasta to al dente.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nRinse chicken.  Sprinkle with meat tenderizer and stab with fork.  Really work out any residual stress in this step.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCut up chicken into bite sized pieces and sauté in a small amount of olive oil.  Add water if you need to prevent burning.  Season with pepper and oregano.  (Meat tenderizer already has salt.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOptional:  Prepare a plain piece of chicken for the dog.  Set aside.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFinely chop walnuts.   Set aside.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSauté peppers in small amount of olive oil.  Add salt, pepper and oregano to taste.  When peppers are cooked, add a lot of spinach.  (It will cook down to nothing, as we all know.)  Add walnuts.  Spinkle with a couple dashes of cinnamon.  (Trust me on this one.)  Remove from heat.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMix pasta, chicken, and veggie/walnut mixture together.  Add more olive oil.  It\'s really good for you.  Sprinkle with parmesan if you prefer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs Carla from Top Chef would say, cook all the above with love.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBon Appétit, you soon-to-be energizer bunnies, you!\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" class=\"mcePaste\" style=\"position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 627px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;\"><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em></div>','Day 162:  Accidental Top Chef ','','inherit','open','open','','4428-revision-5','','','2011-03-09 21:10:09','2011-03-10 04:10:09','',4428,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/09/4428-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(4434,1,'2011-03-09 21:11:44','2011-03-10 04:11:44','I\'ve been eating like crap lately.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPeople generally consider me a \"health nut\".  I shop at Whole Foods and Trader Joe\'s.  I eat whole grains, fruits and veggies, very little sugar, blah, blah, blah.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLately, I\'ve been eating like a child.  I\'m single, so I can.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMac and cheese for dinner!  Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nGrilled cheese with Velveeta for dinner!  Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI don\'t want to eat my veggies, and no one\'s gonna make me!  Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'m a blogger and I don\'t have time to cook!  It\'s cool (in a geeky sort of way) to glue myself to my computer and not have time to eat right because I\'m eating, breathing, and sleeping my passion!  I\'m resilient!  I can get away with it!  YAY!!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nGuess again, sister.  You\'re not 25 anymore.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd when you were 25, you were eating a hell of a lot better.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn order to keep up with my crazy schedule, I\'m going to need to adopt my old ways.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI needed a nutritional road map to show me the way back home.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nChristy Jo provided me with one.  It\'s called <a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>The O2 Diet:  The cutting edge antioxidant-based program that will make you healthy, thin, and beautiful.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow, don\'t get any crazy ideas.  I am not using this as a <em>diet</em> diet.  Although it can be used that way.  Thank goodness for genetics -- I somehow remain a size 0 despite the madness.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'m using O2 as a plan to trick me into eating like I normally do.  It\'s kind of like a game:  you see how many ORAC points you can pack into a day until you look 20 and feel like the energizer bunny.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>What is ORAC, you ask? </strong><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity.</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>I\'m sorry I asked.  What the heck does Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity mean? </strong> <em>The higher the points, the higher the antioxidant value. </em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Oh.  Cool.  I want to look 20 and bounce around like the energizer bunny.  Where do I sign up? <a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Here. </em></a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPlease feel free to join me in feeling better.  I roped a bunch of the girls at work into doing this with me.  We\'re all going to be radiant by month\'s end.  The men in the building are going to be beside themselves.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>You go off on so many tangents.  Didn\'t the title of this post read \"Accidental Top Chef\"?  Surely you can\'t mean the Velveeta grilled cheese sandwiches.</strong> <em>Right.  Let me get on with it.</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFor the first four days of O2, there is a shopping list of antioxidant powerhouses.  I purchased 99% of what was on that list in an effort to incorporate as many of those powerhouses as possible into meal and snack times.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOn night 1,  I looked blankly at the pile of health on my counter.  I had no recipe, but I\'ve watched a lot of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef\" target=\"_blank\">Top Chef </a></strong>over the years.  All of those viewing hours prepped me for this moment:  \"Your quickfire challenge is to concoct something nutritious and delicious from this heap of antioxidant-rich foods.  Your time starts now!\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Michelle\'s Accidental Top Chef Mystery Dinner</span></strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Ingredients:</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhole Wheat Pasta\n\nSkinless, boneless chicken breasts\n\nred, yellow, and orange peppers\n\nbaby spinach\n\nwalnuts\n\nolive oil\n\nsalt &amp; pepper\n\noregano\n\n<span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>secret ingredient</strong></span> (you\'ll see below)\n\nmeat tenderizer\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Multitask the following:</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCook pasta to al dente.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nRinse chicken.  Sprinkle with meat tenderizer and stab with fork.  Work out any residual stress in this step.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCut up chicken into bite sized pieces and sauté in a small amount of olive oil.  Add water if you need to prevent burning.  Season with pepper and oregano.  (Meat tenderizer already has salt.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOptional:  Prepare a plain piece of chicken for the dog.  Set aside.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFinely chop walnuts.   Set aside.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSauté peppers in small amount of olive oil.  Add salt, pepper and oregano to taste.  When peppers are cooked, add a lot of spinach.  (It will cook down to nothing, as we all know.)  Add walnuts.  Spinkle with a couple dashes of <span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>cinnamon.</strong></span> (Trust me on this one.)  Remove from heat.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMix pasta, chicken, and veggie/walnut mixture together.  Add more olive oil.  It\'s really good for you.  Sprinkle with parmesan if you prefer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs Carla from Top Chef would say, cook all the above with love.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBon Appétit, you soon-to-be energizer bunnies, you!\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" class=\"mcePaste\" style=\"position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 627px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;\"><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em></div>','Day 162:  Accidental Top Chef ','','inherit','open','open','','4428-revision-6','','','2011-03-09 21:11:44','2011-03-10 04:11:44','',4428,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/09/4428-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(4435,1,'2011-03-09 21:14:05','2011-03-10 04:14:05','I\'ve been eating like crap lately.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPeople generally consider me a \"health nut\".  I shop at Whole Foods and Trader Joe\'s.  I eat whole grains, fruits and veggies, very little sugar, blah, blah, blah.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLately, I\'ve been eating like a child.  I\'m single, so I can.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMac and cheese for dinner!  Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nGrilled cheese with Velveeta for dinner!  Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI don\'t want to eat my veggies, and no one\'s gonna make me!  Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'m a blogger and I don\'t have time to cook!  It\'s cool (in a geeky sort of way) to glue myself to my computer and not have time to eat right because I\'m eating, breathing, and sleeping my passion!  I\'m resilient!  I can get away with it!  YAY!!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nGuess again, sister.  You\'re not 25 anymore.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd when you were 25, you were eating a hell of a lot better.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn order to keep up with my crazy schedule, I\'m going to need to adopt my old ways.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI needed a nutritional road map to show me the way back home.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nChristy Jo provided me with one.  It\'s called <a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>The O2 Diet:  The cutting edge antioxidant-based program that will make you healthy, thin, and beautiful.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow, don\'t get any crazy ideas.  I am not using this as a <em>diet</em> diet.  Although it can be used that way.  Thank goodness for genetics -- I somehow remain a size 0 despite the madness.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'m using O2 as a plan to trick me into eating like I normally do.  It\'s kind of like a game:  you see how many ORAC points you can pack into a day until you look 20 and feel like the energizer bunny.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>What is ORAC, you ask? </strong><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity.</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>I\'m sorry I asked.  What the heck does Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity mean? </strong> <em>The higher the points, the higher the antioxidant value. </em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Oh.  Cool.  I want to look 20 and bounce around like the energizer bunny.  Where do I sign up? <a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Here. </em></a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPlease feel free to join me in feeling better.  I roped a bunch of the girls at work into doing this with me.  We\'re all going to be radiant by month\'s end.  The men in the building are going to be beside themselves.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>You go off on so many tangents.  Didn\'t the title of this post read \"Accidental Top Chef\"?  Surely you can\'t mean the Velveeta grilled cheese sandwiches.</strong> <em>Right.  Let me get on with it.</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFor the first four days of O2, there is a shopping list of antioxidant powerhouses.  I purchased 99% of what was on that list in an effort to incorporate as many of those powerhouses as possible into meal and snack times.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOn night 1,  I looked blankly at the pile of health on my counter.  I had no recipe, but I\'ve watched a lot of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef\" target=\"_blank\">Top Chef </a></strong>over the years.  All of those viewing hours prepped me for this moment:  \"Your quickfire challenge is to concoct something nutritious and delicious from this heap of antioxidant-rich foods.  Your time starts now!\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Michelle\'s Accidental Top Chef Mystery Dinner</span></strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Ingredients:</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhole Wheat Pasta\n\nSkinless, boneless chicken breasts\n\nred, yellow, and orange peppers\n\nbaby spinach\n\nwalnuts\n\nolive oil\n\nsalt &amp; pepper\n\noregano\n\n<span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>secret ingredient</strong></span> (you\'ll see below)\n\nmeat tenderizer\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Multitask the following:</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCook pasta to al dente.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nRinse chicken.  Sprinkle with meat tenderizer and stab with fork.  Work out any residual stress in this step.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCut up chicken into bite sized pieces and sauté in a small amount of olive oil.  Add water if you need to prevent burning.  Season with pepper and oregano.  (Meat tenderizer already has salt.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Optional: </strong>Prepare a plain piece of chicken for the dog.  Set aside.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFinely chop walnuts.   Set aside.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSauté peppers in small amount of olive oil.  Add salt, pepper and oregano to taste.  When peppers are cooked, add a lot of spinach.  (It will cook down to nothing, as we all know.)  Add walnuts.  Spinkle with a couple dashes of <span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>cinnamon.</strong></span> (Trust me on this one.)  Remove from heat.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMix pasta, chicken, and veggie/walnut mixture together.  Add more olive oil.  It\'s really good for you.  Sprinkle with parmesan if you prefer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #008000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>As Carla from <em>Top Chef</em> would say, cook all the above with love.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBon Appétit, you soon-to-be energizer bunnies, you!\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" class=\"mcePaste\" style=\"position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 627px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;\"><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em></div>','Day 162:  Accidental Top Chef ','','inherit','open','open','','4428-revision-7','','','2011-03-09 21:14:05','2011-03-10 04:14:05','',4428,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/09/4428-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(4436,1,'2011-03-09 21:17:58','2011-03-10 04:17:58','I\'ve been eating like crap lately.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPeople generally consider me a \"health nut\".  I shop at Whole Foods and Trader Joe\'s.  I eat whole grains, fruits and veggies, very little sugar, blah, blah, blah.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLately, I\'ve been eating like a child.  I\'m single, so I can.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMac and cheese for dinner!  Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGrilled cheese with Velveeta for dinner!  Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI don\'t want to eat my veggies, and no one\'s gonna make me!  Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m a blogger and I don\'t have time to cook!  It\'s cool (in a geeky sort of way) to glue myself to my computer and not have time to eat right because I\'m eating, breathing, and sleeping my passion!  I\'m resilient!  I can get away with it!  YAY!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGuess again, sister.  You\'re not 25 anymore.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd when you were 25, you were eating a hell of a lot better.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn order to keep up with my crazy schedule, I\'m going to need to adopt my old ways.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI needed a nutritional road map to show me the way back home.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nChristy Jo provided me with one.  It\'s called <a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>The O2 Diet:  The cutting edge antioxidant-based program that will make you healthy, thin, and beautiful.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow, don\'t get any crazy ideas.  I am not using this as a <em>diet</em> diet.  Although it can be used that way.  Thank goodness for genetics -- I somehow remain a size 0 despite the madness.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m using O2 as a plan to trick me into eating like I normally do.  It\'s kind of like a game:  you see how many ORAC points you can pack into a day until you look 20 and feel like the energizer bunny.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>What is ORAC, you ask? </strong><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>I\'m sorry I asked.  What the heck does Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity mean? </strong> <em>The higher the points, the higher the antioxidant value. </em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Oh.  Cool.  I want to look 20 and bounce around like the energizer bunny.  Where do I sign up? <a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Here. </em></a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPlease feel free to join me in feeling better.  I roped a bunch of the girls at work into doing this with me.  We\'re all going to be positively radiant by month\'s end.  The men in the building are going to be beside themselves.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>You go off on so many tangents.  Didn\'t the title of this post read \"Accidental Top Chef\"?  Surely you can\'t mean the Velveeta grilled cheese sandwiches.</strong> <em>Right.  Let me get on with it.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor the first four days of O2, there is a shopping list of antioxidant powerhouses.  I purchased 99% of what was on that list in an effort to incorporate as many of those powerhouses as possible into meal and snack times.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOn night 1,  I looked blankly at the pile of health on my counter.  I had no recipe, but I\'ve watched a lot of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef\" target=\"_blank\">Top Chef </a></strong>over the years.  All of those viewing hours prepped me for this moment:  \"Your quickfire challenge is to concoct something nutritious and delicious from this heap of antioxidant-rich foods.  Your time starts now!\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Michelle\'s Accidental Top Chef Mystery Dinner</span></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Ingredients:</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhole Wheat Pasta\r\n\r\nSkinless, boneless chicken breasts\r\n\r\nred, yellow, and orange peppers\r\n\r\nbaby spinach\r\n\r\nwalnuts\r\n\r\nolive oil\r\n\r\nsalt &amp; pepper\r\n\r\noregano\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>secret ingredient</strong></span> (you\'ll see below)\r\n\r\nmeat tenderizer\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Multitask the following:</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCook pasta to al dente.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRinse chicken.  Sprinkle with meat tenderizer and stab with fork.  Work out any residual stress in this step.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCut up chicken into bite sized pieces and sauté in a small amount of olive oil.  Add water if you need to prevent burning.  Season with pepper and oregano.  (Meat tenderizer already has salt.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Optional: </strong>Prepare a plain piece of chicken for the dog.  Set aside.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFinely chop walnuts.   Set aside.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSauté peppers in small amount of olive oil.  Add salt, pepper and oregano to taste.  When peppers are cooked, add a lot of spinach.  (It will cook down to nothing, as we all know.)  Add walnuts.  Spinkle with a couple dashes of <span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>cinnamon.</strong></span> (Trust me on this one.)  Remove from heat.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMix pasta, chicken, and veggie/walnut mixture together.  Add more olive oil.  It\'s really good for you.  Sprinkle with parmesan if you prefer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #008000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>As Carla from <em>Top Chef</em> would say, cook all the above with love.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBon Appétit, you soon-to-be energizer bunnies, you!\r\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" class=\"mcePaste\" style=\"position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 627px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;\"><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em></div>','Day 162:  Accidental Top Chef ','','inherit','open','open','','4428-revision-8','','','2011-03-09 21:17:58','2011-03-10 04:17:58','',4428,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/09/4428-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(4437,1,'2011-03-09 21:28:50','2011-03-10 04:28:50','I\'ve been eating like crap lately.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPeople generally consider me a \"health nut\".  I shop at Whole Foods and Trader Joe\'s.  I eat whole grains, fruits and veggies, very little sugar, blah, blah, blah.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLately, I\'ve been eating like a child.  I\'m single, so I can.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMac and cheese for dinner!  Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nGrilled cheese with Velveeta for dinner!  Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI don\'t want to eat my veggies, and no one\'s gonna make me!  Yay!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'m a blogger and I don\'t have time to cook!  It\'s cool (in a geeky sort of way) to glue myself to my computer and not have time to eat right because I\'m eating, breathing, and sleeping my passion!  I\'m resilient!  I can get away with it!  YAY!!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nGuess again, sister.  You\'re not 25 anymore.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd when you were 25, you were eating a hell of a lot better.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn order to keep up with my crazy schedule, I\'m going to need to adopt my old ways.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI needed a nutritional road map to show me the way back home.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nChristy Jo provided me with one.  It\'s called <a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>The O2 Diet:  The cutting edge antioxidant-based program that will make you healthy, thin, and beautiful.</strong></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow, don\'t get any crazy ideas.  I am not using this as a <em>diet</em> diet.  Although it can be used that way.  Thank goodness for genetics -- I somehow remain a size 0 despite the madness.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'m using O2 as a plan to trick me into eating like I normally do.  It\'s kind of like a game:  you see how many ORAC points you can pack into a day until you look 20 and feel like the energizer bunny.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>What is ORAC, you ask? </strong><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity.</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>I\'m sorry I asked.  What the heck does Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity mean? </strong> <em>The higher the points, the higher the antioxidant value. </em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Oh.  Cool.  I want to look 20 and bounce around like the energizer bunny.  Where do I sign up? <a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Here. </em></a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPlease feel free to join me in feeling better.  I roped a bunch of the girls at work into doing this with me.  We\'re all going to be positively radiant by month\'s end.  The men in the building are going to be beside themselves.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>You go off on so many tangents.  Didn\'t the title of this post read \"Accidental Top Chef\"?  Surely you can\'t mean the Velveeta grilled cheese sandwiches.</strong> <em>Right.  Let me get on with it.</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFor the first four days of O2, there is a shopping list of antioxidant powerhouses.  I purchased 99% of what was on that list in an effort to incorporate as many of those powerhouses as possible into meal and snack times.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3060178.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4438\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3060178-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOn night 1,  I looked blankly at the pile of health on my counter.  I had no recipe, but I\'ve watched a lot of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef\" target=\"_blank\">Top Chef </a></strong>over the years.  All of those viewing hours prepped me for this moment:  \"Your quickfire challenge is to concoct something nutritious and delicious from this heap of antioxidant-rich foods.  Your time starts now!\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Michelle\'s Accidental Top Chef Mystery Dinner</span></strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Ingredients:</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhole Wheat Pasta\n\nSkinless, boneless chicken breasts\n\nred, yellow, and orange peppers\n\nbaby spinach\n\nwalnuts\n\nolive oil\n\nsalt &amp; pepper\n\noregano\n\n<span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>secret ingredient</strong></span> (you\'ll see below)\n\nmeat tenderizer\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Multitask the following:</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCook pasta to al dente.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nRinse chicken.  Sprinkle with meat tenderizer and stab with fork.  Work out any residual stress in this step.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCut up chicken into bite sized pieces and sauté in a small amount of olive oil.  Add water if you need to prevent burning.  Season with pepper and oregano.  (Meat tenderizer already has salt.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Optional: </strong>Prepare a plain piece of chicken for the dog.  Set aside.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFinely chop walnuts.   Set aside.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSauté peppers in small amount of olive oil.  Add salt, pepper and oregano to taste.  When peppers are cooked, add a lot of spinach.  (It will cook down to nothing, as we all know.)  Add walnuts.  Spinkle with a couple dashes of <span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>cinnamon.</strong></span> (Trust me on this one.)  Remove from heat.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMix pasta, chicken, and veggie/walnut mixture together.  Add more olive oil.  It\'s really good for you.  Sprinkle with parmesan if you prefer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #008000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>As Carla from <em>Top Chef</em> would say, cook all the above with love.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3070179.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4439\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3070179-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBon Appétit, you soon-to-be energizer bunnies, you!\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" class=\"mcePaste\" style=\"position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 627px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;\"><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em></div>','Day 162:  Accidental Top Chef ','','inherit','open','open','','4428-autosave','','','2011-03-09 21:28:50','2011-03-10 04:28:50','',4428,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/09/4428-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(4438,1,'2011-03-09 21:24:44','2011-03-10 04:24:44','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-243','','','2011-03-09 21:24:44','2011-03-10 04:24:44','',4428,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3060178.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4439,1,'2011-03-09 21:27:04','2011-03-10 04:27:04','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-244','','','2011-03-09 21:27:04','2011-03-10 04:27:04','',4428,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3070179.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4440,1,'2011-03-09 21:18:32','2011-03-10 04:18:32','I\'ve been eating like crap lately.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPeople generally consider me a \"health nut\".  I shop at Whole Foods and Trader Joe\'s.  I eat whole grains, fruits and veggies, very little sugar, blah, blah, blah.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLately, I\'ve been eating like a child.  I\'m single, so I can.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMac and cheese for dinner!  Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGrilled cheese with Velveeta for dinner!  Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI don\'t want to eat my veggies, and no one\'s gonna make me!  Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m a blogger and I don\'t have time to cook!  It\'s cool (in a geeky sort of way) to glue myself to my computer and not have time to eat right because I\'m eating, breathing, and sleeping my passion!  I\'m resilient!  I can get away with it!  YAY!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGuess again, sister.  You\'re not 25 anymore.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd when you were 25, you were eating a hell of a lot better.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn order to keep up with my crazy schedule, I\'m going to need to adopt my old ways.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI needed a nutritional road map to show me the way back home.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nChristy Jo provided me with one.  It\'s called <a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>The O2 Diet:  The cutting edge antioxidant-based program that will make you healthy, thin, and beautiful.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow, don\'t get any crazy ideas.  I am not using this as a <em>diet</em> diet.  Although it can be used that way.  Thank goodness for genetics -- I somehow remain a size 0 despite the madness.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m using O2 as a plan to trick me into eating like I normally do.  It\'s kind of like a game:  you see how many ORAC points you can pack into a day until you look 20 and feel like the energizer bunny.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>What is ORAC, you ask? </strong><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>I\'m sorry I asked.  What the heck does Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity mean? </strong> <em>The higher the points, the higher the antioxidant value. </em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Oh.  Cool.  I want to look 20 and bounce around like the energizer bunny.  Where do I sign up? <a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Here. </em></a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPlease feel free to join me in feeling better.  I roped a bunch of the girls at work into doing this with me.  We\'re all going to be positively radiant by month\'s end.  The men in the building are going to be beside themselves.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>You go off on so many tangents.  Didn\'t the title of this post read \"Accidental Top Chef\"?  Surely you can\'t mean the Velveeta grilled cheese sandwiches.</strong> <em>Right.  Let me get on with it.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor the first four days of O2, there is a shopping list of antioxidant powerhouses.  I purchased 99% of what was on that list in an effort to incorporate as many of those powerhouses as possible into meal and snack times.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOn night 1,  I looked blankly at the pile of health on my counter.  I had no recipe, but I\'ve watched a lot of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef\" target=\"_blank\">Top Chef </a></strong>over the years.  All of those viewing hours prepped me for this moment:  \"Your quickfire challenge is to concoct something nutritious and delicious from this heap of antioxidant-rich foods.  Your time starts now!\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Michelle\'s Accidental Top Chef Mystery Dinner</span></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Ingredients:</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhole Wheat Pasta\r\n\r\nSkinless, boneless chicken breasts\r\n\r\nred, yellow, and orange peppers\r\n\r\nbaby spinach\r\n\r\nwalnuts\r\n\r\nolive oil\r\n\r\nsalt &amp; pepper\r\n\r\noregano\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>secret ingredient</strong></span> (you\'ll see below)\r\n\r\nmeat tenderizer\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Multitask the following:</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCook pasta to al dente.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRinse chicken.  Sprinkle with meat tenderizer and stab with fork.  Work out any residual stress in this step.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCut up chicken into bite sized pieces and sauté in a small amount of olive oil.  Add water if you need to prevent burning.  Season with pepper and oregano.  (Meat tenderizer already has salt.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Optional: </strong>Prepare a plain piece of chicken for the dog.  Set aside.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFinely chop walnuts.   Set aside.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSauté peppers in small amount of olive oil.  Add salt, pepper and oregano to taste.  When peppers are cooked, add a lot of spinach.  (It will cook down to nothing, as we all know.)  Add walnuts.  Spinkle with a couple dashes of <span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>cinnamon.</strong></span> (Trust me on this one.)  Remove from heat.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMix pasta, chicken, and veggie/walnut mixture together.  Add more olive oil.  It\'s really good for you.  Sprinkle with parmesan if you prefer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #008000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>As Carla from <em>Top Chef</em> would say, cook all the above with love.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBon Appétit, you soon-to-be energizer bunnies, you!\r\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" class=\"mcePaste\" style=\"position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 627px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;\"><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em></div>','Day 162:  Accidental Top Chef ','','inherit','open','open','','4428-revision-9','','','2011-03-09 21:18:32','2011-03-10 04:18:32','',4428,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/09/4428-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(4441,1,'2011-03-09 21:30:42','2011-03-10 04:30:42','','2549700994_af809b6242_o','Carrots have high ORAC.  And you thought it was the battery!','inherit','open','open','','2549700994_af809b6242_o','','','2011-03-09 21:30:42','2011-03-10 04:30:42','',4428,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/2549700994_af809b6242_o.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4442,1,'2011-03-09 21:27:44','2011-03-10 04:27:44','I\'ve been eating like crap lately.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPeople generally consider me a \"health nut\".  I shop at Whole Foods and Trader Joe\'s.  I eat whole grains, fruits and veggies, very little sugar, blah, blah, blah.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLately, I\'ve been eating like a child.  I\'m single, so I can.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMac and cheese for dinner!  Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGrilled cheese with Velveeta for dinner!  Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI don\'t want to eat my veggies, and no one\'s gonna make me!  Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m a blogger and I don\'t have time to cook!  It\'s cool (in a geeky sort of way) to glue myself to my computer and not have time to eat right because I\'m eating, breathing, and sleeping my passion!  I\'m resilient!  I can get away with it!  YAY!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGuess again, sister.  You\'re not 25 anymore.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd when you were 25, you were eating a hell of a lot better.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn order to keep up with my crazy schedule, I\'m going to need to adopt my old ways.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI needed a nutritional road map to show me the way back home.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nChristy Jo provided me with one.  It\'s called <a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>The O2 Diet:  The cutting edge antioxidant-based program that will make you healthy, thin, and beautiful.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow, don\'t get any crazy ideas.  I am not using this as a <em>diet</em> diet.  Although it can be used that way.  Thank goodness for genetics -- I somehow remain a size 0 despite the madness.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m using O2 as a plan to trick me into eating like I normally do.  It\'s kind of like a game:  you see how many ORAC points you can pack into a day until you look 20 and feel like the energizer bunny.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>What is ORAC, you ask? </strong><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>I\'m sorry I asked.  What the heck does Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity mean? </strong> <em>The higher the points, the higher the antioxidant value. </em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Oh.  Cool.  I want to look 20 and bounce around like the energizer bunny.  Where do I sign up? <a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Here. </em></a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPlease feel free to join me in feeling better.  I roped a bunch of the girls at work into doing this with me.  We\'re all going to be positively radiant by month\'s end.  The men in the building are going to be beside themselves.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>You go off on so many tangents.  Didn\'t the title of this post read \"Accidental Top Chef\"?  Surely you can\'t mean the Velveeta grilled cheese sandwiches.</strong> <em>Right.  Let me get on with it.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor the first four days of O2, there is a shopping list of antioxidant powerhouses.  I purchased 99% of what was on that list in an effort to incorporate as many of those powerhouses as possible into meal and snack times.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3060178.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4438\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3060178-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOn night 1,  I looked blankly at the pile of health on my counter.  I had no recipe, but I\'ve watched a lot of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef\" target=\"_blank\">Top Chef </a></strong>over the years.  All of those viewing hours prepped me for this moment:  \"Your quickfire challenge is to concoct something nutritious and delicious from this heap of antioxidant-rich foods.  Your time starts now!\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Michelle\'s Accidental Top Chef Mystery Dinner</span></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Ingredients:</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhole Wheat Pasta\r\n\r\nSkinless, boneless chicken breasts\r\n\r\nred, yellow, and orange peppers\r\n\r\nbaby spinach\r\n\r\nwalnuts\r\n\r\nolive oil\r\n\r\nsalt &amp; pepper\r\n\r\noregano\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>secret ingredient</strong></span> (you\'ll see below)\r\n\r\nmeat tenderizer\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Multitask the following:</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCook pasta to al dente.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRinse chicken.  Sprinkle with meat tenderizer and stab with fork.  Work out any residual stress in this step.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCut up chicken into bite sized pieces and sauté in a small amount of olive oil.  Add water if you need to prevent burning.  Season with pepper and oregano.  (Meat tenderizer already has salt.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Optional: </strong>Prepare a plain piece of chicken for the dog.  Set aside.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFinely chop walnuts.   Set aside.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSauté peppers in small amount of olive oil.  Add salt, pepper and oregano to taste.  When peppers are cooked, add a lot of spinach.  (It will cook down to nothing, as we all know.)  Add walnuts.  Spinkle with a couple dashes of <span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>cinnamon.</strong></span> (Trust me on this one.)  Remove from heat.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMix pasta, chicken, and veggie/walnut mixture together.  Add more olive oil.  It\'s really good for you.  Sprinkle with parmesan if you prefer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #008000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>As Carla from <em>Top Chef</em> would say, cook all the above with love.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3070179.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4439\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3070179-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBon Appétit, you soon-to-be energizer bunnies, you!\r\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" class=\"mcePaste\" style=\"position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 627px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;\"><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em></div>','Day 162:  Accidental Top Chef ','','inherit','open','open','','4428-revision-10','','','2011-03-09 21:27:44','2011-03-10 04:27:44','',4428,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/09/4428-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(4443,1,'2011-03-09 21:33:35','2011-03-10 04:33:35','[caption id=\"attachment_4441\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"221\" caption=\"Carrots have high ORAC.  And you thought it was the battery!\"]<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/agitprop/2549700994/sizes/o/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4441 \" title=\"2549700994_af809b6242_o\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/2549700994_af809b6242_o-221x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"221\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI\'ve been eating like crap lately.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPeople generally consider me a \"health nut\".  I shop at Whole Foods and Trader Joe\'s.  I eat whole grains, fruits and veggies, very little sugar, blah, blah, blah.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLately, I\'ve been eating like a child.  I\'m single, so I can.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMac and cheese for dinner!  Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGrilled cheese with Velveeta for dinner!  Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI don\'t want to eat my veggies, and no one\'s gonna make me!  Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m a blogger and I don\'t have time to cook!  It\'s cool (in a geeky sort of way) to glue myself to my computer and not have time to eat right because I\'m eating, breathing, and sleeping my passion!  I\'m resilient!  I can get away with it!  YAY!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGuess again, sister.  You\'re not 25 anymore.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd when you were 25, you were eating a hell of a lot better.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn order to keep up with my crazy schedule, I\'m going to need to adopt my old ways.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI needed a nutritional road map to show me the way back home.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nChristy Jo provided me with one.  It\'s called <a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>The O2 Diet:  The cutting edge antioxidant-based program that will make you healthy, thin, and beautiful.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow, don\'t get any crazy ideas.  I am not using this as a <em>diet</em> diet.  Although it can be used that way.  Thank goodness for genetics -- I somehow remain a size 0 despite the madness.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m using O2 as a plan to trick me into eating like I normally do.  It\'s kind of like a game:  you see how many ORAC points you can pack into a day until you look 20 and feel like the energizer bunny.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>What is ORAC, you ask? </strong><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>I\'m sorry I asked.  What the heck does Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity mean? </strong> <em>The higher the points, the higher the antioxidant value. </em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Oh.  Cool.  I want to look 20 and bounce around like the energizer bunny.  Where do I sign up? <a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Here. </em></a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPlease feel free to join me in feeling better.  I roped a bunch of the girls at work into doing this with me.  We\'re all going to be positively radiant by month\'s end.  The men in the building are going to be beside themselves.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>You go off on so many tangents.  Didn\'t the title of this post read \"Accidental Top Chef\"?  Surely you can\'t mean the Velveeta grilled cheese sandwiches.</strong> <em>Right.  Let me get on with it.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor the first four days of O2, there is a shopping list of antioxidant powerhouses.  I purchased 99% of what was on that list in an effort to incorporate as many of those powerhouses as possible into meal and snack times.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3060178.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4438\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3060178-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOn night 1,  I looked blankly at the pile of health on my counter.  I had no recipe, but I\'ve watched a lot of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef\" target=\"_blank\">Top Chef </a></strong>over the years.  All of those viewing hours prepped me for this moment:  \"Your quickfire challenge is to concoct something nutritious and delicious from this heap of antioxidant-rich foods.  Your time starts now!\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Michelle\'s Accidental Top Chef Mystery Dinner</span></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Ingredients:</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhole Wheat Pasta\r\n\r\nSkinless, boneless chicken breasts\r\n\r\nred, yellow, and orange peppers\r\n\r\nbaby spinach\r\n\r\nwalnuts\r\n\r\nolive oil\r\n\r\nsalt &amp; pepper\r\n\r\noregano\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>secret ingredient</strong></span> (you\'ll see below)\r\n\r\nmeat tenderizer\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Multitask the following:</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCook pasta to al dente.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRinse chicken.  Sprinkle with meat tenderizer and stab with fork.  Work out any residual stress in this step.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCut up chicken into bite sized pieces and sauté in a small amount of olive oil.  Add water if you need to prevent burning.  Season with pepper and oregano.  (Meat tenderizer already has salt.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Optional: </strong>Prepare a plain piece of chicken for the dog.  Set aside.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFinely chop walnuts.   Set aside.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSauté peppers in small amount of olive oil.  Add salt, pepper and oregano to taste.  When peppers are cooked, add a lot of spinach.  (It will cook down to nothing, as we all know.)  Add walnuts.  Spinkle with a couple dashes of <span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>cinnamon.</strong></span> (Trust me on this one.)  Remove from heat.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMix pasta, chicken, and veggie/walnut mixture together.  Add more olive oil.  It\'s really good for you.  Sprinkle with parmesan if you prefer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #008000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>As Carla from <em>Top Chef</em> would say, cook all the above with love.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3070179.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4439\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3070179-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBon Appétit, you soon-to-be energizer bunnies, you!\r\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" class=\"mcePaste\" style=\"position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 627px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;\"><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em></div>','Day 162:  Accidental Top Chef ','','inherit','open','open','','4428-revision-11','','','2011-03-09 21:33:35','2011-03-10 04:33:35','',4428,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/09/4428-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(4444,1,'2011-03-09 21:37:14','2011-03-10 04:37:14','[caption id=\"attachment_4441\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"221\" caption=\"Carrots have high ORAC.  And you thought it was the battery!\"]<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/agitprop/2549700994/sizes/o/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4441 \" title=\"2549700994_af809b6242_o\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/2549700994_af809b6242_o-221x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"221\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI\'ve been eating like crap lately.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPeople generally consider me a \"health nut\".  I shop at Whole Foods and Trader Joe\'s.  I eat whole grains, fruits and veggies, very little sugar, blah, blah, blah.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLately, I\'ve been eating like a child.  I\'m single, so I can.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMac and cheese for dinner!  Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGrilled cheese with Velveeta for dinner!  Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI don\'t want to eat my veggies, and no one\'s gonna make me!  Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m a blogger and I don\'t have time to cook!  It\'s cool (in a geeky sort of way) to glue myself to my computer and not have time to eat right because I\'m eating, breathing, and sleeping my passion!  I\'m resilient!  I can get away with it!  YAY!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>Guess again, sister.  You\'re not 25 anymore.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>And when you were 25, you were eating a hell of a lot better.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn order to keep up with my crazy schedule, I\'m going to need to adopt my old ways.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI needed a nutritional road map to show me the way back home.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nChristy Jo provided me with one.  It\'s called <a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>The O2 Diet:  The cutting edge antioxidant-based program that will make you healthy, thin, and beautiful.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow, don\'t get any crazy ideas.  I am not using this as a <em>diet</em> diet.  Although it can be used that way.  Thank goodness for genetics -- I somehow remain a size 0 despite the madness.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m using O2 as a plan to trick me into eating like I normally do.  It\'s kind of like a game:  you see how many ORAC points you can pack into a day until you look 20 and feel like the energizer bunny.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>What is ORAC, you ask? </strong><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>I\'m sorry I asked.  What the heck does Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity mean? </strong> <em>The higher the points, the higher the antioxidant value. </em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Oh.  Cool.  I want to look 20 and bounce around like the energizer bunny.  Where do I sign up? <a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Here. </em></a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPlease feel free to join me in feeling better.  I roped a bunch of the girls at work into doing this with me.  We\'re all going to be positively radiant by month\'s end.  The men in the building are going to be beside themselves.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>You go off on so many tangents.  Didn\'t the title of this post read \"Accidental Top Chef\"?  Surely you can\'t mean the Velveeta grilled cheese sandwiches.</strong> <em>Right.  Let me get on with it.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor the first four days of O2, there is a shopping list of antioxidant powerhouses.  I purchased 99% of what was on that list in an effort to incorporate as many of those powerhouses as possible into meal and snack times.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3060178.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4438\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3060178-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOn night 1,  I looked blankly at the pile of health on my counter.  I had no recipe, but I\'ve watched a lot of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef\" target=\"_blank\">Top Chef </a></strong>over the years.  All of those viewing hours prepped me for this moment:  \"Your quickfire challenge is to concoct something nutritious and delicious from this heap of antioxidant-rich foods.  Your time starts now!\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Michelle\'s Accidental Top Chef Mystery Dinner</span></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Ingredients:</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhole Wheat Pasta\r\n\r\nSkinless, boneless chicken breasts\r\n\r\nred, yellow, and orange peppers\r\n\r\nbaby spinach\r\n\r\nwalnuts\r\n\r\nolive oil\r\n\r\nsalt &amp; pepper\r\n\r\noregano\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>secret ingredient</strong></span> (you\'ll see below)\r\n\r\nmeat tenderizer\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Multitask the following:</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCook pasta to al dente.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRinse chicken.  Sprinkle with meat tenderizer and stab with fork.  Work out any residual stress in this step.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCut up chicken into bite sized pieces and sauté in a small amount of olive oil.  Add water if you need to prevent burning.  Season with pepper and oregano.  (Meat tenderizer already has salt.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Optional: </strong>Prepare a plain piece of chicken for the dog.  Set aside.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFinely chop walnuts.   Set aside.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSauté peppers in small amount of olive oil.  Add salt, pepper and oregano to taste.  When peppers are cooked, add a lot of spinach.  (It will cook down to nothing, as we all know.)  Add walnuts.  Spinkle with a couple dashes of <span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>cinnamon.</strong></span> (Trust me on this one.)  Remove from heat.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMix pasta, chicken, and veggie/walnut mixture together.  Add more olive oil.  It\'s really good for you.  Sprinkle with parmesan if you prefer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #008000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>As Carla from <em>Top Chef</em> would say, cook all the above with love.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3070179.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4439\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3070179-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBon Appétit, you soon-to-be energizer bunnies, you!\r\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" class=\"mcePaste\" style=\"position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 627px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;\"><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em></div>','Day 162:  Accidental Top Chef ','','inherit','open','open','','4428-revision-12','','','2011-03-09 21:37:14','2011-03-10 04:37:14','',4428,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/09/4428-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(4445,1,'2011-03-09 21:42:02','2011-03-10 04:42:02','[caption id=\"attachment_4441\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"221\" caption=\"Carrots have high ORAC.  And you thought it was the battery!\"]<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/agitprop/2549700994/sizes/o/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4441 \" title=\"2549700994_af809b6242_o\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/2549700994_af809b6242_o-221x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"221\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI\'ve been eating like crap lately.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPeople generally consider me a \"health nut\".  I shop at Whole Foods and Trader Joe\'s.  I eat whole grains, fruits and veggies, very little sugar, blah, blah, blah.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLately, I\'ve been eating like a child.  I\'m single, so I can.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMac and cheese for dinner!  Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGrilled cheese with Velveeta for dinner!  Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI don\'t want to eat my veggies, and no one\'s gonna make me!  Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m a blogger and I don\'t have time to cook!  It\'s cool (in a geeky sort of way) to glue myself to my computer and not have time to eat right because I\'m eating, breathing, and sleeping my passion!  I\'m resilient!  I can get away with it!  YAY!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>Guess again, sister.  You\'re not 25 anymore.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>And when you were 25, you were eating a hell of a lot better.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn order to keep up with my crazy schedule, I\'m going to need to adopt my old ways.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI needed a nutritional road map to show me the way back home.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nChristy Jo provided me with one.  It\'s called <a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>The O2 Diet:  The cutting edge antioxidant-based program that will make you healthy, thin, and beautiful.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow, don\'t get any crazy ideas.  I am not using this as a <em>diet</em> diet.  Although it can be used that way.  Thank goodness for genetics -- I somehow remain a size 0 despite the madness.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m using O2 as a plan to trick me into eating like I normally do.  It\'s kind of like a game:  you see how many ORAC points you can pack into a day until you look 20 and feel like the energizer bunny.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>What is ORAC, you ask? </strong><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>I\'m sorry I asked.  What the heck does Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity mean? </strong> <em>The higher the points, the higher the antioxidant value. </em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Oh.  Cool.  I want to look 20 and bounce around like the energizer bunny.  Where do I sign up? <a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Here. </em></a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPlease feel free to join me in feeling better.  I roped a bunch of the girls at work into doing this with me.  We\'re all going to be positively radiant by month\'s end.  The men in the building are going to be beside themselves.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>You go off on so many tangents.  Didn\'t the title of this post read \"Accidental Top Chef\"?  Surely you can\'t mean the Velveeta grilled cheese sandwiches.</strong> <em>Right.  Let me get on with it.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor the first four days of O2, there is a shopping list of antioxidant powerhouses.  I purchased 99% of what was on that list in an effort to incorporate as many of those powerhouses as possible into meal and snack times.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3060178.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4438\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3060178-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOn night 1,  I looked blankly at the pile of health on my counter.  I had no recipe, but I\'ve watched a lot of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef\" target=\"_blank\">Top Chef </a></strong>over the years.  All of those viewing hours prepped me for this moment:  \"Your quickfire challenge is to concoct something nutritious and delicious from this heap of antioxidant-rich foods.  Your time starts now!\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>(insert Quickfire Challenge theme music here)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Michelle\'s Accidental Top Chef Mystery Dinner</span></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Ingredients:</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhole Wheat Pasta\r\n\r\nSkinless, boneless chicken breasts\r\n\r\nred, yellow, and orange peppers\r\n\r\nbaby spinach\r\n\r\nwalnuts\r\n\r\nolive oil\r\n\r\nsalt &amp; pepper\r\n\r\noregano\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>secret ingredient</strong></span> (you\'ll see below)\r\n\r\nmeat tenderizer\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Multitask the following:</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCook pasta to al dente.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRinse chicken.  Sprinkle with meat tenderizer and stab with fork.  Work out any residual stress in this step.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCut up chicken into bite sized pieces and sauté in a small amount of olive oil.  Add water if you need to prevent burning.  Season with pepper and oregano.  (Meat tenderizer already has salt.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Optional: </strong>Prepare a plain piece of chicken for the dog.  Set aside.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFinely chop walnuts.   Set aside.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSauté peppers in small amount of olive oil.  Add salt, pepper and oregano to taste.  When peppers are cooked, add a lot of spinach.  (It will cook down to nothing, as we all know.)  Add walnuts.  Spinkle with a couple dashes of <span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>cinnamon.</strong></span> (Trust me on this one.)  Remove from heat.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMix pasta, chicken, and veggie/walnut mixture together.  Add more olive oil.  It\'s really good for you.  Sprinkle with parmesan if you prefer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #008000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>As Carla from <em>Top Chef</em> would say, cook all the above with love.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3070179.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4439\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3070179-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBon Appétit, you soon-to-be energizer bunnies, you!\r\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" class=\"mcePaste\" style=\"position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 627px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;\"><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em></div>','Day 162:  Accidental Top Chef ','','inherit','open','open','','4428-revision-13','','','2011-03-09 21:42:02','2011-03-10 04:42:02','',4428,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/09/4428-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(4446,1,'2011-03-09 21:43:24','2011-03-10 04:43:24','[caption id=\"attachment_4441\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"221\" caption=\"Carrots have high ORAC.  And you thought it was the battery!\"]<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/agitprop/2549700994/sizes/o/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4441 \" title=\"2549700994_af809b6242_o\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/2549700994_af809b6242_o-221x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"221\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI\'ve been eating like crap lately.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPeople generally consider me a \"health nut\".  I shop at Whole Foods and Trader Joe\'s.  I eat whole grains, fruits and veggies, very little sugar, blah, blah, blah.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLately, I\'ve been eating like a child.  I\'m single, so I can.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMac and cheese for dinner!  Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGrilled cheese with Velveeta for dinner!  Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI don\'t want to eat my veggies, and no one\'s gonna make me!  Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m a blogger and I don\'t have time to cook!  It\'s cool (in a geeky sort of way) to glue myself to my computer and not have time to eat right because I\'m eating, breathing, and sleeping my passion!  I\'m resilient!  I can get away with it!  YAY!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>Guess again, sister.  You\'re not 25 anymore.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>And when you were 25, you were eating a hell of a lot better.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn order to keep up with my crazy schedule, I\'m going to need to adopt my old ways.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI needed a nutritional road map to show me the way back home.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nChristy Jo provided me with one.  It\'s called <a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>The O2 Diet:  The cutting edge antioxidant-based program that will make you healthy, thin, and beautiful.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow, don\'t get any crazy ideas.  I am not using this as a <em>diet</em> diet.  Although it can be used that way.  Thank goodness for genetics -- I somehow remain a size 0 despite the madness.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m using O2 as a plan to trick me into eating like I normally do.  It\'s kind of like a game:  you see how many ORAC points you can pack into a day until you look 20 and feel like the energizer bunny.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>What is ORAC, you ask? </strong><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>I\'m sorry I asked.  What the heck does Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity mean? </strong> <em>The higher the points, the higher the antioxidant value. </em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Oh.  Cool.  I want to look 20 and bounce around like the energizer bunny.  Where do I sign up? <a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Here. </em></a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPlease feel free to join me in feeling better.  I roped a bunch of the girls at work into doing this with me.  We\'re all going to be positively radiant by month\'s end.  The men in the building are going to be beside themselves.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>You go off on so many tangents.  Didn\'t the title of this post read \"Accidental Top Chef\"?  Surely you can\'t mean the Velveeta grilled cheese sandwiches.</strong> <em>Right.  Let me get on with it.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor the first four days of O2, there is a shopping list of antioxidant powerhouses.  I purchased 99% of what was on that list in an effort to incorporate as many of those powerhouses as possible into meal and snack times.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3060178.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4438\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3060178-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOn night 1,  I looked blankly at the pile of health on my counter.  I had no recipe, but I\'ve watched a lot of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef\" target=\"_blank\">Top Chef </a></strong>over the years.  All of those viewing hours prepped me for this moment:  \"Your quickfire challenge is to concoct something nutritious and delicious from this heap of antioxidant-rich foods.  Your time starts now!\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>(insert Quickfire Challenge theme music here)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Michelle\'s Accidental Top Chef Mystery Dinner</span></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Ingredients:</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nwhole wheat pasta\r\n\r\nskinless, boneless chicken breasts\r\n\r\nred, yellow, and orange peppers\r\n\r\nbaby spinach\r\n\r\nwalnuts\r\n\r\nolive oil\r\n\r\nsalt &amp; pepper\r\n\r\noregano\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>secret ingredient</strong></span> (you\'ll see below)\r\n\r\nmeat tenderizer\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Multitask the following:</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCook pasta to al dente.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRinse chicken.  Sprinkle with meat tenderizer and stab with fork.  Work out any residual stress in this step.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCut up chicken into bite sized pieces and sauté in a small amount of olive oil.  Add water if you need to prevent burning.  Season with pepper and oregano.  (Meat tenderizer already has salt.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Optional: </strong>Prepare a plain piece of chicken for the dog.  Set aside.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFinely chop walnuts.   Set aside.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSauté peppers in small amount of olive oil.  Add salt, pepper and oregano to taste.  When peppers are cooked, add a lot of spinach.  (It will cook down to nothing, as we all know.)  Add walnuts.  Spinkle with a couple dashes of <span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>cinnamon.</strong></span> (Trust me on this one.)  Remove from heat.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMix pasta, chicken, and veggie/walnut mixture together.  Add more olive oil.  It\'s really good for you.  Sprinkle with parmesan if you prefer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #008000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>As Carla from <em>Top Chef</em> would say, cook all the above with love.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3070179.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4439\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3070179-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBon Appétit, you soon-to-be energizer bunnies, you!\r\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" class=\"mcePaste\" style=\"position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 627px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;\"><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em></div>','Day 162:  Accidental Top Chef ','','inherit','open','open','','4428-revision-14','','','2011-03-09 21:43:24','2011-03-10 04:43:24','',4428,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/09/4428-revision-14/',0,'revision','',0),(4447,1,'2011-03-09 21:44:43','2011-03-10 04:44:43','[caption id=\"attachment_4441\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"221\" caption=\"Carrots have high ORAC.  And you thought it was the battery!\"]<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/agitprop/2549700994/sizes/o/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4441 \" title=\"2549700994_af809b6242_o\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/2549700994_af809b6242_o-221x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"221\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI\'ve been eating like crap lately.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPeople generally consider me a \"health nut\".  I shop at Whole Foods and Trader Joe\'s.  I eat whole grains, fruits and veggies, very little sugar, blah, blah, blah.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLately, I\'ve been eating like a child.  I\'m single, so I can.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMac and cheese for dinner!  Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGrilled cheese with Velveeta for dinner!  Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI don\'t want to eat my veggies, and no one\'s gonna make me!  Yay!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m a blogger and I don\'t have time to cook!  It\'s cool (in a geeky sort of way) to glue myself to my computer and not have time to eat right because I\'m eating, breathing, and sleeping my passion!  I\'m resilient!  I can get away with it!  YAY!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>Guess again, sister.  You\'re not 25 anymore.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>And when you were 25, you were eating a hell of a lot better.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn order to keep up with my crazy schedule, I\'m going to need to adopt my old ways.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI needed a nutritional road map to show me the way back home.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nChristy Jo provided me with one.  It\'s called <a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>The O2 Diet:  The cutting edge antioxidant-based program that will make you healthy, thin, and beautiful.</strong></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow, don\'t get any crazy ideas.  I am not using this as a <em>diet</em> diet.  Although it can be used that way.  Thank goodness for genetics -- I somehow remain a size 0 despite the madness.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m using O2 as a plan to trick me into eating like I normally do.  It\'s kind of like a game:  you see how many ORAC points you can pack into a day until you look 20 and feel like the energizer bunny.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>What is ORAC, you ask? </strong><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>I\'m sorry I asked.  What the heck does Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity mean? </strong> <em>The higher the points, the higher the antioxidant value. </em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Oh.  Cool.  I want to look 20 and bounce around like the energizer bunny.  Where do I sign up? <a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Here. </em></a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPlease feel free to join me in feeling better.  I roped a bunch of the girls at work into doing this with me.  We\'re all going to be positively radiant by month\'s end.  The men in the building are going to be beside themselves.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>You go off on so many tangents.  Didn\'t the title of this post read \"Accidental Top Chef\"?  Surely you can\'t mean the Velveeta grilled cheese sandwiches.</strong> <em>Right.  Let me get on with it.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor the first four days of O2, there is a shopping list of antioxidant powerhouses.  I purchased 99% of what was on that list in an effort to incorporate as many of those powerhouses as possible into meal and snack times.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3060178.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4438\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3060178-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOn night 1,  I looked blankly at the pile of health on my counter.  I had no recipe, but I\'ve watched a lot of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef\" target=\"_blank\">Top Chef </a></strong>over the years.  All of those viewing hours prepped me for this moment:  \"Your quickfire challenge is to concoct something nutritious and delicious from this heap of antioxidant-rich foods.  Your time starts now!\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>(insert Quickfire Challenge theme music here)</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Late Bloomer\'s Accidental Top Chef Mystery Dinner</span></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Ingredients:</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nwhole wheat pasta\r\n\r\nskinless, boneless chicken breasts\r\n\r\nred, yellow, and orange peppers\r\n\r\nbaby spinach\r\n\r\nwalnuts\r\n\r\nolive oil\r\n\r\nsalt &amp; pepper\r\n\r\noregano\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>secret ingredient</strong></span> (you\'ll see below)\r\n\r\nmeat tenderizer\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Multitask the following:</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCook pasta to al dente.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRinse chicken.  Sprinkle with meat tenderizer and stab with fork.  Work out any residual stress in this step.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCut up chicken into bite sized pieces and sauté in a small amount of olive oil.  Add water if you need to prevent burning.  Season with pepper and oregano.  (Meat tenderizer already has salt.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Optional: </strong>Prepare a plain piece of chicken for the dog.  Set aside.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFinely chop walnuts.   Set aside.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSauté peppers in small amount of olive oil.  Add salt, pepper and oregano to taste.  When peppers are cooked, add a lot of spinach.  (It will cook down to nothing, as we all know.)  Add walnuts.  Spinkle with a couple dashes of <span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>cinnamon.</strong></span> (Trust me on this one.)  Remove from heat.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMix pasta, chicken, and veggie/walnut mixture together.  Add more olive oil.  It\'s really good for you.  Sprinkle with parmesan if you prefer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #008000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>As Carla from <em>Top Chef</em> would say, cook all the above with love.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3070179.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4439\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3070179-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBon Appétit, you soon-to-be energizer bunnies, you!\r\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" class=\"mcePaste\" style=\"position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 627px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;\"><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em><em>Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity</em></div>','Day 162:  Accidental Top Chef ','','inherit','open','open','','4428-revision-15','','','2011-03-09 21:44:43','2011-03-10 04:44:43','',4428,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/09/4428-revision-15/',0,'revision','',0),(4448,1,'2011-03-10 19:55:49','2011-03-11 02:55:49','','IMG00339-20110308-1336','','inherit','open','open','','img00339-20110308-1336','','','2011-03-10 19:55:49','2011-03-11 02:55:49','',4406,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00339-20110308-1336.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4449,1,'2011-03-10 19:56:55','2011-03-11 02:56:55','','IMG00340-20110308-1613','','inherit','open','open','','img00340-20110308-1613','','','2011-03-10 19:56:55','2011-03-11 02:56:55','',4406,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00340-20110308-1613.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4450,1,'2011-03-10 19:58:09','2011-03-11 02:58:09','','IMG00342-20110308-1614','','inherit','open','open','','img00342-20110308-1614','','','2011-03-10 19:58:09','2011-03-11 02:58:09','',4406,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00342-20110308-1614.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4451,1,'2011-03-10 19:58:45','2011-03-11 02:58:45','','IMG00343-20110308-1616','','inherit','open','open','','img00343-20110308-1616','','','2011-03-10 19:58:45','2011-03-11 02:58:45','',4406,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00343-20110308-1616.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4452,1,'2011-03-10 19:57:09','2011-03-11 02:57:09','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00339-20110308-1336.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4448\" title=\"IMG00339-20110308-1336\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00339-20110308-1336-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>prize<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00340-20110308-1613.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4449\" title=\"IMG00340-20110308-1613\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00340-20110308-1613-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nas a kid --exciting to see what prize lurked in cracker jacks and cereal box.  a surprise in your day.\n\nisn\'t this kinda sorta what this blog is about?  a prize each day?  surprise, etc.','Day 163:  Cracker Jacks','','inherit','open','open','','4406-revision-3','','','2011-03-10 19:57:09','2011-03-11 02:57:09','',4406,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/4406-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(4453,1,'2011-03-10 19:59:02','2011-03-11 02:59:02','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00339-20110308-1336.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4448\" title=\"IMG00339-20110308-1336\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00339-20110308-1336-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00340-20110308-1613.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4449\" title=\"IMG00340-20110308-1613\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00340-20110308-1613-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00342-20110308-1614.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4450\" title=\"IMG00342-20110308-1614\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00342-20110308-1614-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00343-20110308-1616.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4451\" title=\"IMG00343-20110308-1616\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00343-20110308-1616-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nas a kid --exciting to see what prize lurked in cracker jacks and cereal box.  a surprise in your day.\r\n\r\nisn\'t this kinda sorta what this blog is about?  a prize each day?  surprise, etc.','Day 163:  Cracker Jacks','','inherit','open','open','','4406-revision-4','','','2011-03-10 19:59:02','2011-03-11 02:59:02','',4406,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/4406-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(4454,1,'2011-03-10 20:09:07','2011-03-11 03:09:07','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00339-20110308-1336.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4448\" title=\"IMG00339-20110308-1336\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00339-20110308-1336-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00340-20110308-1613.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4449\" title=\"IMG00340-20110308-1613\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00340-20110308-1613-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00342-20110308-1614.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4450\" title=\"IMG00342-20110308-1614\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00342-20110308-1614-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00343-20110308-1616.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4451\" title=\"IMG00343-20110308-1616\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00343-20110308-1616-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nIt was business as usual at work until I went to refill my water bottle in the kitchen.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOn the table, there were all sorts of goodies up for grabs.  I spied with my little eye the Cracker Jack box.  I wondered what the prize inside could be.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI snagged the box and returned to my desk.  I think that the last time I opened a Cracker Jack box I was 11.  I was hoping for a tattoo but found a pencil topper instead.  I didn\'t know pencil toppers existed.  I suppose the pencil is kind of boring and could use a makeover.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCan you remember the excitement of digging into Cracker Jacks and cereal boxes to discover what prize lurked inside?  a surprise in your day.\n\nisn\'t this kinda sorta what this blog is about?  a prize each day?  surprise, etc.','Day 163:  Surprise Inside','','inherit','open','open','','4406-revision-5','','','2011-03-10 20:09:07','2011-03-11 03:09:07','',4406,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/4406-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(4455,1,'2011-03-10 20:25:22','2011-03-11 03:25:22','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00339-20110308-1336.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4448\" title=\"IMG00339-20110308-1336\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00339-20110308-1336-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00340-20110308-1613.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4449\" title=\"IMG00340-20110308-1613\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00340-20110308-1613-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00342-20110308-1614.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4450\" title=\"IMG00342-20110308-1614\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00342-20110308-1614-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00343-20110308-1616.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4451\" title=\"IMG00343-20110308-1616\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00343-20110308-1616-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nIt was business as usual at work until I went to refill my water bottle in the kitchen.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOn the table, there were all sorts of goodies up for grabs.  I spied with my little eye the Cracker Jack box.  I wondered about the prize inside.  What could it be?  Oh, the suspense!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI snagged the box and returned to my desk.  I think that the last time I opened a Cracker Jack box I was 11.  Today, I was hoping for a tattoo but found a pencil topper instead.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI didn\'t know pencil toppers existed.  I suppose the pencil is kind of boring and could use a makeover.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCan you remember the excitement as a kid of digging into Cracker Jacks and cereal boxes to discover what prize lurked inside?  Something so mundane plopped a surprise in your day and a smile on your face.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs adults, wouldn\'t this be swell?  Mini surprises interspersed throughout your routines?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA piece of candy at the bottom of your Starbucks cup? A tattoo lining the lid of your Greek yogurt?  A toy kazoo in your organic non-gmo olive oil popcorn?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nShould we start a grass roots movement?  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOr perhaps we could plant surprises within our days.  I suppose that\'s what this whole 365 project is about, right?','Day 163:  Surprise Inside','','inherit','open','open','','4406-revision-6','','','2011-03-10 20:25:22','2011-03-11 03:25:22','',4406,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/4406-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(4456,1,'2011-03-10 20:30:03','2011-03-11 03:30:03','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00339-20110308-1336.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4448\" title=\"IMG00339-20110308-1336\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00339-20110308-1336-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00340-20110308-1613.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4449\" title=\"IMG00340-20110308-1613\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00340-20110308-1613-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00342-20110308-1614.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4450\" title=\"IMG00342-20110308-1614\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00342-20110308-1614-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00343-20110308-1616.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4451\" title=\"IMG00343-20110308-1616\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00343-20110308-1616-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nIt was business as usual at work until I went to refill my water bottle in the kitchen.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOn the table, there were all sorts of goodies up for grabs.  I spied with my little eye the Cracker Jack box.  I wondered about the prize inside.  What could it be?  Oh, the suspense!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI snagged the box and returned to my desk.  I think that the last time I opened a Cracker Jack box I was 11.  Today, I was hoping for a tattoo but found a pencil topper instead.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI didn\'t know pencil toppers existed.  I suppose the pencil is kind of boring and could use a makeover.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCan you remember the excitement as a kid of digging into Cracker Jacks and cereal boxes to discover what prize lurked inside?  <span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff6600;\"><strong>Something so mundane was lined with an element of fun.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs adults, wouldn\'t this be swell?  Mini surprises interspersed throughout your routines?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA piece of candy at the bottom of your Starbucks cup? A tattoo lining the lid of your Greek yogurt?  A toy kazoo in your organic non-gmo olive oil popcorn?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nShould we start a grass roots movement?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOr perhaps we could plant our own surprises within our days.  I suppose that\'s what this whole <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\">365 projec</a></strong>t is about, right?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>A surprise each day keeps the blahs away!</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhat are you going to surprise yourself with today?  :-)','Day 163:  Surprise Inside','','inherit','open','open','','4406-revision-7','','','2011-03-10 20:30:03','2011-03-11 03:30:03','',4406,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/4406-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(4457,1,'2011-03-10 20:36:26','2011-03-11 03:36:26','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00339-20110308-1336.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4448\" title=\"IMG00339-20110308-1336\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00339-20110308-1336-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00340-20110308-1613.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4449\" title=\"IMG00340-20110308-1613\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00340-20110308-1613-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00342-20110308-1614.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4450\" title=\"IMG00342-20110308-1614\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00342-20110308-1614-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00343-20110308-1616.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4451\" title=\"IMG00343-20110308-1616\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00343-20110308-1616-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nIt was business as usual at work until I went to refill my water bottle in the kitchen.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOn the table, there were all sorts of goodies up for grabs.  I spied with my little eye the Cracker Jack box.  I wondered about the prize inside.  What could it be?  Oh, the suspense!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI snagged the box and returned to my desk.  I think that the last time I opened a Cracker Jack box I was 11.  I always hoped to find a tattoo.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nToday, I wished for a tattoo but unearthed a pencil topper instead.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI didn\'t know pencil toppers existed.  I suppose the pencil is kind of boring and could use a makeover.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCan you remember as a kid the excitement of digging into Cracker Jacks and cereal boxes to discover what prize lurked inside?  <span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff6600;\"><strong>Something so mundane was lined with an element of fun.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs adults, wouldn\'t this be swell?  Mini surprises interspersed throughout our routines?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA piece of candy at the bottom of your Starbucks cup? A tattoo lining the lid of your Greek yogurt?  A toy kazoo in your organic non-gmo olive oil popcorn?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nShould we start a grass roots movement?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOr perhaps we could plant our own surprises within our days.  I suppose that\'s what this whole <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\">365 project </a></strong>is about, right?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>A surprise each day keeps the blahs away!</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhat are you going to surprise yourself with today?  :-)','Day 163:  Surprise Inside','','inherit','open','open','','4406-autosave','','','2011-03-10 20:36:26','2011-03-11 03:36:26','',4406,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/4406-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(4458,1,'2011-03-10 20:30:34','2011-03-11 03:30:34','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00339-20110308-1336.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4448\" title=\"IMG00339-20110308-1336\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00339-20110308-1336-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00340-20110308-1613.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4449\" title=\"IMG00340-20110308-1613\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00340-20110308-1613-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00342-20110308-1614.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4450\" title=\"IMG00342-20110308-1614\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00342-20110308-1614-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00343-20110308-1616.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4451\" title=\"IMG00343-20110308-1616\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00343-20110308-1616-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nIt was business as usual at work until I went to refill my water bottle in the kitchen.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOn the table, there were all sorts of goodies up for grabs.  I spied with my little eye the Cracker Jack box.  I wondered about the prize inside.  What could it be?  Oh, the suspense!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI snagged the box and returned to my desk.  I think that the last time I opened a Cracker Jack box I was 11.  Today, I was hoping for a tattoo but found a pencil topper instead.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI didn\'t know pencil toppers existed.  I suppose the pencil is kind of boring and could use a makeover.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCan you remember the excitement as a kid of digging into Cracker Jacks and cereal boxes to discover what prize lurked inside?  <span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff6600;\"><strong>Something so mundane was lined with an element of fun.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs adults, wouldn\'t this be swell?  Mini surprises interspersed throughout your routines?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA piece of candy at the bottom of your Starbucks cup? A tattoo lining the lid of your Greek yogurt?  A toy kazoo in your organic non-gmo olive oil popcorn?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShould we start a grass roots movement?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOr perhaps we could plant our own surprises within our days.  I suppose that\'s what this whole <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\">365 projec</a></strong>t is about, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>A surprise each day keeps the blahs away!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhat are you going to surprise yourself with today?  :-)','Day 163:  Surprise Inside','','inherit','open','open','','4406-revision-8','','','2011-03-10 20:30:34','2011-03-11 03:30:34','',4406,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/4406-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(4459,1,'2011-03-10 20:33:46','2011-03-11 03:33:46','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00339-20110308-1336.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4448\" title=\"IMG00339-20110308-1336\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00339-20110308-1336-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00340-20110308-1613.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4449\" title=\"IMG00340-20110308-1613\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00340-20110308-1613-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00342-20110308-1614.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4450\" title=\"IMG00342-20110308-1614\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00342-20110308-1614-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00343-20110308-1616.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4451\" title=\"IMG00343-20110308-1616\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00343-20110308-1616-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nIt was business as usual at work until I went to refill my water bottle in the kitchen.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOn the table, there were all sorts of goodies up for grabs.  I spied with my little eye the Cracker Jack box.  I wondered about the prize inside.  What could it be?  Oh, the suspense!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI snagged the box and returned to my desk.  I think that the last time I opened a Cracker Jack box I was 11.  I always hoped to find a tattoo.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nToday, I wished for a tattoo but found a pencil topper instead.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI didn\'t know pencil toppers existed.  I suppose the pencil is kind of boring and could use a makeover.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCan you remember the excitement as a kid of digging into Cracker Jacks and cereal boxes to discover what prize lurked inside?  <span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff6600;\"><strong>Something so mundane was lined with an element of fun.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs adults, wouldn\'t this be swell?  Mini surprises interspersed throughout our routines?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA piece of candy at the bottom of your Starbucks cup? A tattoo lining the lid of your Greek yogurt?  A toy kazoo in your organic non-gmo olive oil popcorn?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShould we start a grass roots movement?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOr perhaps we could plant our own surprises within our days.  I suppose that\'s what this whole <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\">365 project </a></strong>is about, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>A surprise each day keeps the blahs away!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhat are you going to surprise yourself with today?  :-)','Day 163:  Surprise Inside','','inherit','open','open','','4406-revision-9','','','2011-03-10 20:33:46','2011-03-11 03:33:46','',4406,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/4406-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(4460,1,'2011-03-10 20:34:37','2011-03-11 03:34:37','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00339-20110308-1336.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4448\" title=\"IMG00339-20110308-1336\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00339-20110308-1336-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00340-20110308-1613.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4449\" title=\"IMG00340-20110308-1613\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00340-20110308-1613-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00342-20110308-1614.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4450\" title=\"IMG00342-20110308-1614\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00342-20110308-1614-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00343-20110308-1616.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4451\" title=\"IMG00343-20110308-1616\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00343-20110308-1616-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nIt was business as usual at work until I went to refill my water bottle in the kitchen.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOn the table, there were all sorts of goodies up for grabs.  I spied with my little eye the Cracker Jack box.  I wondered about the prize inside.  What could it be?  Oh, the suspense!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI snagged the box and returned to my desk.  I think that the last time I opened a Cracker Jack box I was 11.  I always hoped to find a tattoo.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nToday, I wished for a tattoo but unearthed a pencil topper instead.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI didn\'t know pencil toppers existed.  I suppose the pencil is kind of boring and could use a makeover.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCan you remember the excitement as a kid of digging into Cracker Jacks and cereal boxes to discover what prize lurked inside?  <span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff6600;\"><strong>Something so mundane was lined with an element of fun.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs adults, wouldn\'t this be swell?  Mini surprises interspersed throughout our routines?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA piece of candy at the bottom of your Starbucks cup? A tattoo lining the lid of your Greek yogurt?  A toy kazoo in your organic non-gmo olive oil popcorn?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShould we start a grass roots movement?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOr perhaps we could plant our own surprises within our days.  I suppose that\'s what this whole <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\">365 project </a></strong>is about, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>A surprise each day keeps the blahs away!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhat are you going to surprise yourself with today?  :-)','Day 163:  Surprise Inside','','inherit','open','open','','4406-revision-10','','','2011-03-10 20:34:37','2011-03-11 03:34:37','',4406,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/4406-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(4462,1,'2011-03-11 10:11:55','2011-03-11 17:11:55','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090188.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4463\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090188-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>And you thought I was kidding, didn\'t you?  ;-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So I didn\'t actually <em>turn into </em>an alien, I just looked like one.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt all started with the O2 cleanse that I mentioned to you on <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/day-162-accidental-top-chef/\" target=\"_blank\">Day 162</a></strong>.  Keri Glassman, <strong><a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\">the author of the O2 book</a></strong>, is holistic in her nutritional approach.  Her program isn\'t just about eating right, it\'s about getting enough sleep, exercising, and sex.   Lots of sex.  As much as you can, Ms. Glassman suggests!  I am not making this up.  Turn to page 59 of the book.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor those of us who are single at the moment, do not fret!  We are strongly encouraged to spend time with friends and family.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMoving right along...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhere were we?  Oh, yes.  Holistic self-care.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith no sexual partner in sight, I chose to whip up a Go Green Facial Scrub instead.  (Turn to page 151.  Note:  I have the hardcover edition.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090177.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4464\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090177-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090179.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4465\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090179-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI must say, this scrub is absolutely mahvelous, dahlings.  I had never concocted any sort of homemade facial before, and my expectations were low.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was more than pleasantly surprised.  The result was exfoliating and hydrating.  I couldn\'t stop touching <del>myself </del>my face.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTRY this at home!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090192.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4466\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090192-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 164: I Turned into an Alien','','publish','open','open','','day-164-i-turned-into-an-alien','','\nhttp://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/day-162-accidental-top-chef/','2011-03-11 09:08:24','2011-03-11 16:08:24','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?p=4462',0,'post','',4),(4463,1,'2011-03-10 20:42:31','2011-03-11 03:42:31','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-245','','','2011-03-10 20:42:31','2011-03-11 03:42:31','',4462,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090188.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4464,1,'2011-03-10 20:58:58','2011-03-11 03:58:58','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-246','','','2011-03-10 20:58:58','2011-03-11 03:58:58','',4462,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090177.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4465,1,'2011-03-10 21:00:21','2011-03-11 04:00:21','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-247','','','2011-03-10 21:00:21','2011-03-11 04:00:21','',4462,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090179.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4466,1,'2011-03-10 21:04:34','2011-03-11 04:04:34','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-248','','','2011-03-10 21:04:34','2011-03-11 04:04:34','',4462,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090192.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4467,1,'2011-03-10 21:05:13','2011-03-11 04:05:13','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090188.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4463\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090188-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>And you thought I was kidding, didn\'t you?  ;-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So I didn\'t actually <em>turn into </em>an alien, I just looked like one.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIt all started with the O2 cleanse that I mentioned to you on Day 162.  Keri Glassman, the author of the book is holistic in her nutritional approach.  Her program isn\'t just about eating right, it\'s about getting enough sleep, exercising, and sex.   Lots of sex.  As much as you can, Ms. Glassman suggests!  I am not making this up.  Turn to page 59 of the book.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFor those of us who are single at the moment, do not fret!  We are strongly encouraged to spend time with friends and family.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMoving right along...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhere were we?  Oh, yes.  Holistic self-care.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWith no sexual partner in sight, I chose to whip up a Go Green Facial Scrub instead.  (Turn to page 151.  Note:  I have the hardcover edition.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090177.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4464\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090177-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090179.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4465\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090179-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI must say, this scrub is absolutely mahvelous, dahlings.  I had never concocted any sort of homemade facial before, and I my expectations were low.  I was more than pleasantly surprised.  The result was exfoliating, hydrating, and I couldn\'t stop touching <del>myself </del>my face.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTRY this at home!  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090192.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4466\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090192-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 164:  I Turned into an Alien','','inherit','open','open','','4462-revision','','','2011-03-10 21:05:13','2011-03-11 04:05:13','',4462,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/4462-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4468,1,'2011-03-10 21:08:41','2011-03-11 04:08:41','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090188.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4463\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090188-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>And you thought I was kidding, didn\'t you?  ;-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So I didn\'t actually <em>turn into </em>an alien, I just looked like one.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIt all started with the O2 cleanse that I mentioned to you on <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/day-162-accidental-top-chef/\" target=\"_blank\">Day 162</a></strong>.  Keri Glassman, <strong><a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\">the author of the O2 book</a></strong>, is holistic in her nutritional approach.  Her program isn\'t just about eating right, it\'s about getting enough sleep, exercising, and sex.   Lots of sex.  As much as you can, Ms. Glassman suggests!  I am not making this up.  Turn to page 59 of the book.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFor those of us who are single at the moment, do not fret!  We are strongly encouraged to spend time with friends and family.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMoving right along...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhere were we?  Oh, yes.  Holistic self-care.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWith no sexual partner in sight, I chose to whip up a Go Green Facial Scrub instead.  (Turn to page 151.  Note:  I have the hardcover edition.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090177.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4464\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090177-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090179.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4465\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090179-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI must say, this scrub is absolutely mahvelous, dahlings.  I had never concocted any sort of homemade facial before, and I my expectations were low.  I was more than pleasantly surprised.  The result was exfoliating, hydrating, and I couldn\'t stop touching <del>myself </del>my face.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTRY this at home!  :-)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090192.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4466\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090192-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 164:  I Turned into an Alien','','inherit','open','open','','4462-revision-2','','','2011-03-10 21:08:41','2011-03-11 04:08:41','',4462,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/4462-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4469,1,'2011-03-10 21:08:53','2011-03-11 04:08:53','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090188.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4463\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090188-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>And you thought I was kidding, didn\'t you?  ;-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So I didn\'t actually <em>turn into </em>an alien, I just looked like one.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt all started with the O2 cleanse that I mentioned to you on <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/day-162-accidental-top-chef/\" target=\"_blank\">Day 162</a></strong>.  Keri Glassman, <strong><a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\">the author of the O2 book</a></strong>, is holistic in her nutritional approach.  Her program isn\'t just about eating right, it\'s about getting enough sleep, exercising, and sex.   Lots of sex.  As much as you can, Ms. Glassman suggests!  I am not making this up.  Turn to page 59 of the book.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor those of us who are single at the moment, do not fret!  We are strongly encouraged to spend time with friends and family.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMoving right along...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhere were we?  Oh, yes.  Holistic self-care.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith no sexual partner in sight, I chose to whip up a Go Green Facial Scrub instead.  (Turn to page 151.  Note:  I have the hardcover edition.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090177.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4464\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090177-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090179.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4465\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090179-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI must say, this scrub is absolutely mahvelous, dahlings.  I had never concocted any sort of homemade facial before, and I my expectations were low.  I was more than pleasantly surprised.  The result was exfoliating, hydrating, and I couldn\'t stop touching <del>myself </del>my face.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTRY this at home!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090192.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4466\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090192-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 164:  I Turned into an Alien','','inherit','open','open','','4462-revision-3','','','2011-03-10 21:08:53','2011-03-11 04:08:53','',4462,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/4462-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(4470,1,'2011-03-10 21:09:10','2011-03-11 04:09:10','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090188.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4463\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090188-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>And you thought I was kidding, didn\'t you?  ;-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So I didn\'t actually <em>turn into </em>an alien, I just looked like one.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt all started with the O2 cleanse that I mentioned to you on <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/day-162-accidental-top-chef/\" target=\"_blank\">Day 162</a></strong>.  Keri Glassman, <strong><a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\">the author of the O2 book</a></strong>, is holistic in her nutritional approach.  Her program isn\'t just about eating right, it\'s about getting enough sleep, exercising, and sex.   Lots of sex.  As much as you can, Ms. Glassman suggests!  I am not making this up.  Turn to page 59 of the book.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor those of us who are single at the moment, do not fret!  We are strongly encouraged to spend time with friends and family.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMoving right along...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhere were we?  Oh, yes.  Holistic self-care.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith no sexual partner in sight, I chose to whip up a Go Green Facial Scrub instead.  (Turn to page 151.  Note:  I have the hardcover edition.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090177.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4464\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090177-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090179.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4465\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090179-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI must say, this scrub is absolutely mahvelous, dahlings.  I had never concocted any sort of homemade facial before, and I my expectations were low.  I was more than pleasantly surprised.  The result was exfoliating, hydrating, and I couldn\'t stop touching <del>myself </del>my face.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTRY this at home!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090192.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4466\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090192-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 164:  I Turned into an Alien','','inherit','open','open','','4462-revision-4','','','2011-03-10 21:09:10','2011-03-11 04:09:10','',4462,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/4462-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(4471,1,'2011-03-10 21:09:24','2011-03-11 04:09:24','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090188.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4463\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090188-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>And you thought I was kidding, didn\'t you?  ;-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So I didn\'t actually <em>turn into </em>an alien, I just looked like one.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt all started with the O2 cleanse that I mentioned to you on <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/day-162-accidental-top-chef/\" target=\"_blank\">Day 162</a></strong>.  Keri Glassman, <strong><a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\">the author of the O2 book</a></strong>, is holistic in her nutritional approach.  Her program isn\'t just about eating right, it\'s about getting enough sleep, exercising, and sex.   Lots of sex.  As much as you can, Ms. Glassman suggests!  I am not making this up.  Turn to page 59 of the book.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor those of us who are single at the moment, do not fret!  We are strongly encouraged to spend time with friends and family.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMoving right along...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhere were we?  Oh, yes.  Holistic self-care.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith no sexual partner in sight, I chose to whip up a Go Green Facial Scrub instead.  (Turn to page 151.  Note:  I have the hardcover edition.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090177.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4464\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090177-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090179.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4465\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090179-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI must say, this scrub is absolutely mahvelous, dahlings.  I had never concocted any sort of homemade facial before, and I my expectations were low.  I was more than pleasantly surprised.  The result was exfoliating, hydrating, and I couldn\'t stop touching <del>myself </del>my face.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTRY this at home!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090192.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4466\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090192-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 164:  I Turned into an Alien','','inherit','open','open','','4462-revision-5','','','2011-03-10 21:09:24','2011-03-11 04:09:24','',4462,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/4462-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(4472,1,'2011-03-10 21:11:49','2011-03-11 04:11:49','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090188.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4463\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090188-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>And you thought I was kidding, didn\'t you?  ;-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So I didn\'t actually <em>turn into </em>an alien, I just looked like one.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt all started with the O2 cleanse that I mentioned to you on <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/day-162-accidental-top-chef/\" target=\"_blank\">Day 162</a></strong>.  Keri Glassman, <strong><a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\">the author of the O2 book</a></strong>, is holistic in her nutritional approach.  Her program isn\'t just about eating right, it\'s about getting enough sleep, exercising, and sex.   Lots of sex.  As much as you can, Ms. Glassman suggests!  I am not making this up.  Turn to page 59 of the book.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor those of us who are single at the moment, do not fret!  We are strongly encouraged to spend time with friends and family.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMoving right along...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhere were we?  Oh, yes.  Holistic self-care.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith no sexual partner in sight, I chose to whip up a Go Green Facial Scrub instead.  (Turn to page 151.  Note:  I have the hardcover edition.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090177.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4464\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090177-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090179.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4465\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090179-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI must say, this scrub is absolutely mahvelous, dahlings.  I had never concocted any sort of homemade facial before, and my expectations were low.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was more than pleasantly surprised.  The result was exfoliating and hydrating.  I couldn\'t stop touching <del>myself </del>my face.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTRY this at home!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090192.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4466\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090192-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 164:  I Turned into an Alien','','inherit','open','open','','4462-revision-6','','','2011-03-10 21:11:49','2011-03-11 04:11:49','',4462,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/4462-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(4473,1,'2011-03-10 21:13:02','2011-03-11 04:13:02','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090188.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4463\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090188-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>And you thought I was kidding, didn\'t you?  ;-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So I didn\'t actually <em>turn into </em>an alien, I just looked like one.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt all started with the O2 cleanse that I mentioned to you on <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/day-162-accidental-top-chef/\" target=\"_blank\">Day 162</a></strong>.  Keri Glassman, <strong><a href=\"http://www.nutritiouslife.com/\" target=\"_blank\">the author of the O2 book</a></strong>, is holistic in her nutritional approach.  Her program isn\'t just about eating right, it\'s about getting enough sleep, exercising, and sex.   Lots of sex.  As much as you can, Ms. Glassman suggests!  I am not making this up.  Turn to page 59 of the book.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor those of us who are single at the moment, do not fret!  We are strongly encouraged to spend time with friends and family.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMoving right along...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhere were we?  Oh, yes.  Holistic self-care.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith no sexual partner in sight, I chose to whip up a Go Green Facial Scrub instead.  (Turn to page 151.  Note:  I have the hardcover edition.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090177.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4464\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090177-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090179.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4465\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090179-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI must say, this scrub is absolutely mahvelous, dahlings.  I had never concocted any sort of homemade facial before, and my expectations were low.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was more than pleasantly surprised.  The result was exfoliating and hydrating.  I couldn\'t stop touching <del>myself </del>my face.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTRY this at home!  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090192.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4466\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3090192-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 164:  I Turned into an Alien','','inherit','open','open','','4462-revision-7','','','2011-03-10 21:13:02','2011-03-11 04:13:02','',4462,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/4462-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(4476,1,'2011-03-11 16:41:00','2011-03-11 23:41:00','My 85 year-old great aunt aka Auntie I called my mother day.  She was in the middle of a recipe and had a question.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy sister had gifted Auntie I with <a href=\"http://www.philosophy.com/bath-and-body/bath-category/bath-bathandshowergels\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Philosophy </strong></a>bath &amp; shower gel for Christmas, and she was baking the scrumptious recipe plastered on the bottle.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was Auntie I\'s question to my mother:  Did the Philosophy bottle contents go into the recipe itself, or was it to be used as a \"glaze\" on the cookies?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHee hee hee!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy mother explained to her that it was body lotion, and no, it wasn\'t the kinky edible kind.  Nor was it an ingredient in a recipe.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAuntie I still didn\'t understand why a recipe graced the bottle.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou gotta have a gimmick!  Right, Auntie I?  And Philosophy\'s brilliant packaging is one heck of clever gimmick.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI heart Philosophy products.  I\'ve used them for years, and they make fabulous gifts.  I don\'t know of one woman who doesn\'t like Philosophy.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI also don\'t know one woman who has ever tried making the recipe on the bottle.  Until Auntie I.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 165:  Philosophy Recipe ','','inherit','open','open','','4475-revision','','','2011-03-11 16:41:00','2011-03-11 23:41:00','',4475,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/11/4475-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4477,1,'2011-03-11 16:49:28','2011-03-11 23:49:28','My 85 year-old great aunt aka Auntie I called my mother day.  She was in the middle of a recipe and had a question.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy sister had gifted Auntie I with <a href=\"http://www.philosophy.com/bath-and-body/bath-category/bath-bathandshowergels\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Philosophy </strong></a>bath &amp; shower gel for Christmas, and she was baking the scrumptious recipe plastered on the bottle.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was Auntie I\'s question to my mother:  Did the Philosophy bottle contents go into the recipe itself, or was it to be used as a \"glaze\" on the cookies?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHee hee hee!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy mother explained to her that it was body lotion, and no, it wasn\'t the kinky edible kind.  Nor was it an ingredient in a recipe.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAuntie I still didn\'t understand why a recipe graced the bottle.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou gotta have a gimmick!  Right, Auntie I?  And Philosophy\'s brilliant packaging is one heck of clever gimmick.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI heart Philosophy products.  I\'ve used them for years, and they make fabulous gifts.  I don\'t know of one woman who doesn\'t swoon over Philosophy.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI also don\'t know one woman who has ever tried making the recipe on the bottle.  Until Auntie I.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd me.  On Day 165.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the midst of my 4 day O2 cleanse, I chose the recipe from my old bottle of Pumpkin Spice Muffin shower gel (leftover from the fall.)  This O2 cleanse meant boosting my antioxidant to new heights, and pumpkin is an antioxidant superstar.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI gathered the ingredients for my Philosophy Superstar Pumpkin Spice Muffins.  I needed to alter the recipe a bit to suit my eating habits.  I\'ve done this a lot.  I\'m practically a professional.  Here was my plan:\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSubstitute white flour with wheat flour.\n\nCut the amount of sugar in half and then substitute agave syrup accordingly.\n\nCut down on the salt.  Are you trying to bring on a heart attack, Philosophy?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 165:  Philosophy Recipe ','','inherit','open','open','','4475-revision-2','','','2011-03-11 16:49:28','2011-03-11 23:49:28','',4475,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/11/4475-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4478,1,'2011-03-11 16:50:39','2011-03-11 23:50:39','My 85 year-old great aunt aka Auntie I called my mother day.  She was in the middle of a recipe and had a question.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy sister had gifted Auntie I with <a href=\"http://www.philosophy.com/bath-and-body/bath-category/bath-bathandshowergels\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Philosophy </strong></a>bath &amp; shower gel for Christmas, and she was baking the scrumptious recipe plastered on the bottle.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was Auntie I\'s question to my mother:  Did the Philosophy bottle contents go into the recipe itself, or was it to be used as a \"glaze\" on the cookies?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHee hee hee!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy mother explained to her that it was body lotion, and no, it wasn\'t the kinky edible kind.  Nor was it an ingredient in a recipe.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAuntie I still didn\'t understand why a recipe graced the bottle.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou gotta have a gimmick!  Right, Auntie I?  And Philosophy\'s brilliant packaging is one heck of clever gimmick.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI heart Philosophy products.  I\'ve used them for years, and they make fabulous gifts.  I don\'t know of one woman who doesn\'t swoon over Philosophy.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI also don\'t know one woman who has ever tried making the recipe on the bottle.  Until Auntie I.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd me.  On Day 165.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the midst of my 4 day O2 cleanse, I chose the recipe from my old bottle of Pumpkin Spice Muffin shower gel (leftover from the fall.)  This O2 cleanse meant boosting my antioxidant to new heights, and pumpkin is an antioxidant superstar.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI gathered the ingredients for my Philosophy Superstar Pumpkin Spice Muffins.  I needed to alter the recipe a bit to suit my eating habits.  I\'ve done this a lot.  I\'m practically a professional.  Here was my plan:\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSubstitute white flour with wheat flour.\n\nCut the amount of sugar in half and then substitute agave syrup accordingly.\n\nCut down on the salt.  Are you trying to bring on a heart attack, Philosophy?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 165:  Philosophy Recipe ','','inherit','open','open','','4475-revision-3','','','2011-03-11 16:50:39','2011-03-11 23:50:39','',4475,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/11/4475-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(4479,1,'2011-03-11 18:44:45','2011-03-12 01:44:45','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-249','','','2011-03-11 18:44:45','2011-03-12 01:44:45','',4475,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100193.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4480,1,'2011-03-11 18:46:12','2011-03-12 01:46:12','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-250','','','2011-03-11 18:46:12','2011-03-12 01:46:12','',4475,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100195.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4481,1,'2011-03-11 18:47:18','2011-03-12 01:47:18','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-251','','','2011-03-11 18:47:18','2011-03-12 01:47:18','',4475,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100196.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4482,1,'2011-03-11 18:48:19','2011-03-12 01:48:19','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-252','','','2011-03-11 18:48:19','2011-03-12 01:48:19','',4475,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100198.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4483,1,'2011-03-11 18:49:06','2011-03-12 01:49:06','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100193.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4479\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100193-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>My 85 year-old great aunt aka Auntie I called my mother day.  She was in the middle of a recipe and had a question.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy sister had gifted Auntie I with <a href=\"http://www.philosophy.com/bath-and-body/bath-category/bath-bathandshowergels\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Philosophy </strong></a>bath &amp; shower gel for Christmas, and she was baking the scrumptious recipe plastered on the bottle.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was Auntie I\'s question to my mother:  Did the Philosophy bottle contents go into the recipe itself, or was it to be used as a \"glaze\" on the cookies?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHee hee hee!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy mother explained to her that it was body lotion, and no, it wasn\'t the kinky edible kind.  Nor was it an ingredient in a recipe.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAuntie I still didn\'t understand why a recipe graced the bottle.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou gotta have a gimmick!  Right, Auntie I?  And Philosophy\'s brilliant packaging is one heck of clever gimmick.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI heart Philosophy products.  I\'ve used them for years, and they make fabulous gifts.  I don\'t know of one woman who doesn\'t swoon over Philosophy.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI also don\'t know one woman who has ever tried making the recipe on the bottle.  Until Auntie I.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd me.  On Day 165.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the midst of my 4 day O2 cleanse, I chose the recipe from my old bottle of Pumpkin Spice Muffin shower gel (leftover from the fall.)  This O2 cleanse meant boosting my antioxidant to new heights, and pumpkin is an antioxidant superstar.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI gathered the ingredients for my Philosophy Superstar Pumpkin Spice Muffins.  I needed to alter the recipe a bit to suit my eating habits.  I\'ve done this a lot.  I\'m practically a professional.  Here was my plan:\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSubstitute white flour with wheat flour.\n\nCut the amount of sugar in half and then substitute agave syrup accordingly.\n\nCut down on the salt.  Are you trying to bring on a heart attack, Philosophy?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100195.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4480\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100195-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100196.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4481\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100196-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100198.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4482\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100198-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 165:  Philosophy Recipe ','','inherit','open','open','','4475-revision-4','','','2011-03-11 18:49:06','2011-03-12 01:49:06','',4475,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/11/4475-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(4484,1,'2011-03-12 08:44:49','2011-03-12 15:44:49','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100193.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4479\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100193-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>My 85 year-old great aunt aka Auntie I called my mother day.  She was in the middle of a recipe and had a question.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy sister had gifted Auntie I with <strong><a href=\"http://www.philosophy.com/bath-and-body/bath-category/bath-bathandshowergels\" target=\"_blank\">Philosophy </a></strong>Chocolate Frosting bath &amp; shower gel for Christmas, and Auntie I was baking the scrumptious recipe plastered on the bottle.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was Auntie I\'s question to my mother:  Did the Philosophy bottle contents go into the recipe itself, or was it to be used as a \"glaze\" on the cake?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHee hee hee!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy mother explained to her that it was shower gel, and no, it wasn\'t the kinky edible kind.  Nor was it an ingredient in a recipe.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAuntie I still didn\'t understand why a recipe graced the bottle.  She argued with my mother for a few minutes that the bottle in front of her MUST be part of the recipe!  Why else would the bottle include a recipe on the label?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou gotta have a gimmick!  Right, Auntie I?  And Philosophy\'s brilliant packaging is one heck of clever gimmick.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI heart <strong><a href=\"http://www.philosophy.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Philosophy </a></strong>products.  I\'ve used them for years, and they make fabulous gifts.  I don\'t know of one woman who doesn\'t swoon over Philosophy.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI also don\'t know one woman who has ever tried making the recipe on the bottle.  Until Auntie I.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd me.  On Day 165.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/day-162-accidental-top-chef/\" target=\"_blank\">In the midst of my 4 day O2 cleanse</a></strong>, I chose the recipe from my old bottle of Pumpkin Spice Muffin shower gel (leftover from the fall.)  This O2 cleanse meant boosting my antioxidant to new heights, and pumpkin is an antioxidant superstar.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI gathered the ingredients for my Philosophy Superstar Pumpkin Spice Muffins.  I needed to alter the recipe a bit to suit my eating habits.  I\'ve done this a lot.  I\'m practically a professional.  Here was my plan:\n\n&nbsp;\n<ul>\n	<li>Substitute all white flour with whole wheat flour.</li>\n	<li>Substitute all brown and white sugar with <strong><a href=\"http://www.allaboutagave.com/substituting-agave-nectar-for-other-sugars.php\" target=\"_blank\">agave syrup</a></strong> accordingly.</li>\n	<li>Substitute buttermilk with almond milk.</li>\n	<li>Substitute butter with vegan buttery spread.</li>\n	<li>Cut down on the salt.  Are you trying to bring on a high blood pressure, Philosophy?</li>\n</ul>\n&nbsp;\n\nI know, I know.  With a major recipe overhaul, it sounds as though this recipe was doomed.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100195.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4480\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100195-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100196.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4481\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100196-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOutcome?  Delish!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAlthough...Karma for laughing at my Aunt\'s confusion caught up with me.  I forgot to...\n\n&nbsp;\n<ul>\n	<li>Substitute butter with vegan buttery spread</li>\n</ul>\n&nbsp;\n\nForgot as in <em>forgot entirely</em>.  As in <em>no butter or anything resembling butter</em> in the muffins.  You would think that my brain was 85 years old with that kind of forgetfulness.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSo the muffins tasted a bit more like pumpkin bread.  No big whoop!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat means I was able to lather them with buttery spread.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #ff9900;\"><strong>YUM! </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100198.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4482\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100198-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>','Day 165:  Philosophy Recipe ','','inherit','open','open','','4475-revision-5','','','2011-03-12 08:44:49','2011-03-12 15:44:49','',4475,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/12/4475-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(4485,1,'2011-03-12 08:45:56','2011-03-12 15:45:56','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100193.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4479\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100193-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>My 85 year-old great aunt aka Auntie I called my mother day.  She was in the middle of a recipe and had a question.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy sister had gifted Auntie I with <strong><a href=\"http://www.philosophy.com/bath-and-body/bath-category/bath-bathandshowergels\" target=\"_blank\">Philosophy </a></strong>Chocolate Frosting bath &amp; shower gel for Christmas, and Auntie I was baking the scrumptious recipe plastered on the bottle.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was Auntie I\'s question to my mother:  Did the Philosophy bottle contents go into the recipe itself, or was it to be used as a \"glaze\" on the cake?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHee hee hee!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy mother explained to her that it was shower gel, and no, it wasn\'t the kinky edible kind.  Nor was it an ingredient in a recipe.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAuntie I still didn\'t understand why a recipe graced the bottle.  She argued with my mother for a few minutes that the bottle in front of her MUST be part of the recipe!  Why else would the bottle include a recipe on the label?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou gotta have a gimmick!  Right, Auntie I?  And Philosophy\'s brilliant packaging is one heck of clever gimmick.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI heart <strong><a href=\"http://www.philosophy.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Philosophy </a></strong>products.  I\'ve used them for years, and they make fabulous gifts.  I don\'t know of one woman who doesn\'t swoon over Philosophy.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI also don\'t know one woman who has ever tried making the recipe on the bottle.  Until Auntie I.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd me.  On Day 165.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/day-162-accidental-top-chef/\" target=\"_blank\">In the midst of my 4 day O2 cleanse</a></strong>, I chose the recipe from my old bottle of Pumpkin Spice Muffin shower gel (leftover from the fall.)  This O2 cleanse meant boosting my antioxidant to new heights, and pumpkin is an antioxidant superstar.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI gathered the ingredients for my Philosophy Superstar Pumpkin Spice Muffins.  I needed to alter the recipe a bit to suit my eating habits.  I\'ve done this a lot.  I\'m practically a professional.  Here was my plan:\n\n&nbsp;\n<ul>\n	<li>Substitute all white flour with whole wheat flour.</li>\n	<li>Substitute all brown and white sugar with <strong><a href=\"http://www.allaboutagave.com/substituting-agave-nectar-for-other-sugars.php\" target=\"_blank\">agave syrup</a></strong> accordingly.</li>\n	<li>Substitute buttermilk with almond milk.</li>\n	<li>Substitute butter with vegan buttery spread.</li>\n	<li>Cut down on the salt.  Are you trying to bring on a high blood pressure, Philosophy?</li>\n</ul>\n&nbsp;\n\nI know, I know.  With a major recipe overhaul, it sounds as though this recipe was doomed.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100195.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4480\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100195-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100196.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4481\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100196-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOutcome?  Delish!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAlthough...Karma for laughing at my Aunt\'s confusion caught up with me.  I forgot to...\n\n&nbsp;\n<ul>\n	<li>Substitute butter with vegan buttery spread</li>\n</ul>\n&nbsp;\n\nForgot as in <em>forgot entirely</em>.  As in <em>no butter or anything resembling butter</em> in the muffins.  You would think that my brain was 85 years old with that kind of forgetfulness.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSo the muffins tasted a bit more like pumpkin bread.  No big whoop!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat means I was able to lather them with buttery spread.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #ff9900;\"><strong>YUM! </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100198.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4482\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100198-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>','Day 165:  Philosophy Recipe ','','inherit','open','open','','4475-revision-6','','','2011-03-12 08:45:56','2011-03-12 15:45:56','',4475,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/12/4475-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(4486,1,'2011-03-12 08:47:16','2011-03-12 15:47:16','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100193.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4479\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100193-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>My 85 year-old great aunt aka Auntie I called my mother day.  She was in the middle of a recipe and had a question.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy sister had gifted Auntie I with <strong><a href=\"http://www.philosophy.com/bath-and-body/bath-category/bath-bathandshowergels\" target=\"_blank\">Philosophy </a></strong>Chocolate Frosting bath &amp; shower gel for Christmas, and Auntie I was baking the scrumptious recipe plastered on the bottle.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was Auntie I\'s question to my mother:  Did the Philosophy bottle contents go into the recipe itself, or was it to be used as a \"glaze\" on the cake?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHee hee hee!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy mother explained to her that it was shower gel, and no, it wasn\'t the kinky edible kind.  Nor was it an ingredient in a recipe.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAuntie I still didn\'t understand why a recipe graced the bottle.  She argued with my mother for a few minutes that the bottle in front of her MUST be part of the recipe!  Why else would the bottle include a recipe on the label?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou gotta have a gimmick, Auntie I!  And Philosophy\'s brilliant packaging is one heck of clever gimmick.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI heart <strong><a href=\"http://www.philosophy.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Philosophy </a></strong>products.  I\'ve used them for years, and they make fabulous gifts.  I don\'t know of one woman who doesn\'t swoon over Philosophy.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI also don\'t know one woman who has ever tried making the recipe on the bottle.  Until Auntie I.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd me.  On Day 165.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/day-162-accidental-top-chef/\" target=\"_blank\">In the midst of my 4 day O2 cleanse</a></strong>, I chose the recipe from my old bottle of Pumpkin Spice Muffin shower gel (leftover from the fall.)  This O2 cleanse meant boosting my antioxidant to new heights, and pumpkin is an antioxidant superstar.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI gathered the ingredients for my Philosophy Superstar Pumpkin Spice Muffins.  I needed to alter the recipe a bit to suit my eating habits.  I\'ve done this a lot.  I\'m practically a professional.  Here was my plan:\n\n&nbsp;\n<ul>\n	<li>Substitute all white flour with whole wheat flour.</li>\n	<li>Substitute all brown and white sugar with <strong><a href=\"http://www.allaboutagave.com/substituting-agave-nectar-for-other-sugars.php\" target=\"_blank\">agave syrup</a></strong> accordingly.</li>\n	<li>Substitute buttermilk with almond milk.</li>\n	<li>Substitute butter with vegan buttery spread.</li>\n	<li>Cut down on the salt.  Are you trying to bring on a high blood pressure, Philosophy?</li>\n</ul>\n&nbsp;\n\nI know, I know.  With a major recipe overhaul, it sounds as though this recipe was doomed.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100195.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4480\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100195-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100196.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4481\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100196-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOutcome?  Delish!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAlthough...Karma for laughing at my Aunt\'s confusion caught up with me.  I forgot to...\n\n&nbsp;\n<ul>\n	<li>Substitute butter with vegan buttery spread</li>\n</ul>\n&nbsp;\n\nForgot as in <em>forgot entirely</em>.  As in <em>no butter or anything resembling butter</em> in the muffins.  You would think that my brain was 85 years old with that kind of forgetfulness.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSo the muffins tasted a bit more like pumpkin bread.  No big whoop!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat means I was able to lather them with buttery spread.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #ff9900;\"><strong>YUM! </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100198.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4482\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100198-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>','Day 165:  Philosophy Recipe ','','inherit','open','open','','4475-revision-7','','','2011-03-12 08:47:16','2011-03-12 15:47:16','',4475,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/12/4475-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(4487,1,'2011-03-12 08:49:22','2011-03-12 15:49:22','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100193.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4479\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100193-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>My 85 year-old great aunt aka Auntie I called my mother day.  She was in the middle of a recipe and had a question.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy sister had gifted Auntie I with <strong><a href=\"http://www.philosophy.com/bath-and-body/bath-category/bath-bathandshowergels\" target=\"_blank\">Philosophy </a></strong>Chocolate Frosting bath &amp; shower gel for Christmas, and Auntie I was baking the scrumptious recipe plastered on the bottle.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was Auntie I\'s question to my mother:  Did the Philosophy bottle contents go into the recipe itself, or was it to be used as a \"glaze\" on the cake?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHee hee hee!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy mother explained to her that it was shower gel, and no, it wasn\'t the kinky edible kind.  Nor was it an ingredient in a recipe.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAuntie I still didn\'t understand why a recipe graced the bottle.  She argued with my mother for a few minutes that the bottle in front of her MUST be part of the recipe!  Why else would the bottle include a recipe on the label?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou gotta have a gimmick, Auntie I!  And Philosophy\'s brilliant packaging is one heck of clever gimmick.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI heart <strong><a href=\"http://www.philosophy.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Philosophy </a></strong>products.  I\'ve used them for years, and they make fabulous gifts.  I don\'t know of one woman who doesn\'t swoon over Philosophy.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI also don\'t know one woman who has ever tried making the recipe on the bottle.  Until Auntie I.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd me.  On Day 165.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/day-162-accidental-top-chef/\" target=\"_blank\">In the midst of my 4 day O2 cleanse</a></strong>, I chose the recipe from my old bottle of Pumpkin Spice Muffin shower gel (leftover from the fall.)  This O2 cleanse meant boosting my antioxidant to new heights, and pumpkin is an antioxidant superstar.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI gathered the ingredients for my Philosophy Superstar Pumpkin Spice Muffins.  I needed to alter the recipe a bit to suit my eating habits.  I\'ve done this a lot.  I\'m practically a professional.  Here was my plan:\n\n&nbsp;\n<ul>\n	<li>Substitute all white flour with whole wheat flour.</li>\n	<li>Substitute all brown and white sugar with <strong><a href=\"http://www.allaboutagave.com/substituting-agave-nectar-for-other-sugars.php\" target=\"_blank\">agave syrup</a></strong> accordingly.</li>\n	<li>Substitute buttermilk with almond milk.</li>\n	<li>Substitute butter with vegan buttery spread.</li>\n	<li>Cut down on the salt.  Are you trying to bring on high blood pressure, Philosophy?</li>\n</ul>\nI know, I know.  With a major recipe overhaul, it sounds as though this recipe was doomed.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100195.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4480\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100195-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100196.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4481\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100196-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOutcome?  Delish!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAlthough...Karma for laughing at my Aunt\'s confusion caught up with me.  I forgot to...\n\n&nbsp;\n<ul>\n	<li>Substitute butter with vegan buttery spread</li>\n</ul>\nForgot as in <em>forgot entirely</em>.  As in <em>no butter or anything resembling butter</em> in the muffins.  You would think that my brain was 85 years old with that kind of forgetfulness.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSo the muffins tasted a bit more like pumpkin bread.  No big whoop!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat means I was able to lather them with buttery spread.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #ff9900;\"><strong>YUM! </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100198.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4482\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100198-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nRaise your hand in the comments section if you are a fan of Philosophy!  Have you ever attemp','Day 165:  Philosophy Recipe ','','inherit','open','open','','4475-revision-8','','','2011-03-12 08:49:22','2011-03-12 15:49:22','',4475,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/12/4475-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(4488,1,'2011-03-12 08:50:47','2011-03-12 15:50:47','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100193.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4479\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100193-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>My 85 year-old great aunt aka Auntie I called my mother day.  She was in the middle of a recipe and had a question.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy sister had gifted Auntie I with <strong><a href=\"http://www.philosophy.com/bath-and-body/bath-category/bath-bathandshowergels\" target=\"_blank\">Philosophy </a></strong>Chocolate Frosting bath &amp; shower gel for Christmas, and Auntie I was baking the scrumptious recipe plastered on the bottle.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was Auntie I\'s question to my mother:  Did the Philosophy bottle contents go into the recipe itself, or was it to be used as a \"glaze\" on the cake?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHee hee hee!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy mother explained to her that it was shower gel, and no, it wasn\'t the kinky edible kind.  Nor was it an ingredient in a recipe.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAuntie I still didn\'t understand why a recipe graced the bottle.  She argued with my mother for a few minutes that the bottle in front of her MUST be part of the recipe!  Why else would the bottle include a recipe on the label?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou gotta have a gimmick, Auntie I!  And Philosophy\'s brilliant packaging is one heck of clever gimmick.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI heart <strong><a href=\"http://www.philosophy.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Philosophy </a></strong>products.  I\'ve used them for years, and they make fabulous gifts.  I don\'t know of one woman who doesn\'t swoon over Philosophy.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI also don\'t know one woman who has ever tried making the recipe on the bottle.  Until Auntie I.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd me.  On Day 165.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/day-162-accidental-top-chef/\" target=\"_blank\">In the midst of my 4 day O2 cleanse</a></strong>, I chose the recipe from my old bottle of Pumpkin Spice Muffin shower gel (leftover from the fall.)  This O2 cleanse meant boosting my antioxidant to new heights, and pumpkin is an antioxidant superstar.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI gathered the ingredients for my Philosophy Superstar Pumpkin Spice Muffins.  I needed to alter the recipe a bit to suit my eating habits.  I\'ve done this a lot.  I\'m practically a professional.  Here was my plan:\n\n&nbsp;\n<ul>\n	<li>Substitute all white flour with whole wheat flour.</li>\n	<li>Substitute all brown and white sugar with <strong><a href=\"http://www.allaboutagave.com/substituting-agave-nectar-for-other-sugars.php\" target=\"_blank\">agave syrup</a></strong> accordingly.</li>\n	<li>Substitute buttermilk with almond milk.</li>\n	<li>Substitute butter with vegan buttery spread.</li>\n	<li>Cut down on the salt.  Are you trying to bring on high blood pressure, Philosophy?</li>\n</ul>\nI know, I know.  With a major recipe overhaul, it sounds as though this recipe was doomed.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100195.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4480\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100195-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100196.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4481\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100196-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOutcome?  Delish!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAlthough...Karma for laughing at my Aunt\'s confusion caught up with me.  I forgot to...\n\n&nbsp;\n<ul>\n	<li>Substitute butter with vegan buttery spread</li>\n</ul>\nForgot as in <em>forgot entirely</em>.  As in <em>no butter or anything resembling butter</em> in the muffins.  You would think that my brain was 85 years old with that kind of forgetfulness.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSo the muffins tasted a bit more like pumpkin bread.  No big whoop!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat means I was able to lather them with buttery spread.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #ff9900;\"><strong>YUM! </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100198.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4482\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100198-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nRaise your hand in the comments section if you are a fan of Philosophy!  Have you ever attempted one of their recipes?','Day 165:  Philosophy Recipe ','','inherit','open','open','','4475-revision-9','','','2011-03-12 08:50:47','2011-03-12 15:50:47','',4475,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/12/4475-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(4489,1,'2011-03-12 08:52:16','2011-03-12 15:52:16','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100193.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4479\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100193-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>My 85 year-old great aunt aka Auntie I called my mother day.  She was in the middle of a recipe and had a question.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy sister had gifted Auntie I with <strong><a href=\"http://www.philosophy.com/bath-and-body/bath-category/bath-bathandshowergels\" target=\"_blank\">Philosophy </a></strong>Chocolate Frosting bath &amp; shower gel for Christmas, and Auntie I was baking the scrumptious recipe plastered on the bottle.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was Auntie I\'s question to my mother:  Did the Philosophy bottle contents go into the recipe itself, or was it to be used as a \"glaze\" on the cake?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHee hee hee!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff9900;\"><strong>My mother explained to her that it was shower gel, and no, it wasn\'t the kinky edible kind.  Nor was it an ingredient in a recipe.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAuntie I still didn\'t understand why a recipe graced the bottle.  She argued with my mother for a few minutes that the bottle in front of her MUST be part of the recipe!  Why else would the bottle include a recipe on the label?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou gotta have a gimmick, Auntie I!  And Philosophy\'s brilliant packaging is one heck of clever gimmick.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI heart <strong><a href=\"http://www.philosophy.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Philosophy </a></strong>products.  I\'ve used them for years, and they make fabulous gifts.  I don\'t know of one woman who doesn\'t swoon over Philosophy.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI also don\'t know one woman who has ever tried making the recipe on the bottle.  Until Auntie I.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd me.  On Day 165.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/day-162-accidental-top-chef/\" target=\"_blank\">In the midst of my 4 day O2 cleanse</a></strong>, I chose the recipe from my old bottle of Pumpkin Spice Muffin shower gel (leftover from the fall.)  This O2 cleanse meant boosting my antioxidant to new heights, and pumpkin is an antioxidant superstar.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI gathered the ingredients for my Philosophy Superstar Pumpkin Spice Muffins.  I needed to alter the recipe a bit to suit my eating habits.  I\'ve done this a lot.  I\'m practically a professional.  Here was my plan:\n\n&nbsp;\n<ul>\n	<li>Substitute all white flour with whole wheat flour.</li>\n	<li>Substitute all brown and white sugar with <strong><a href=\"http://www.allaboutagave.com/substituting-agave-nectar-for-other-sugars.php\" target=\"_blank\">agave syrup</a></strong> accordingly.</li>\n	<li>Substitute buttermilk with almond milk.</li>\n	<li>Substitute butter with vegan buttery spread.</li>\n	<li>Cut down on the salt.  Are you trying to bring on high blood pressure, Philosophy?</li>\n</ul>\nI know, I know.  With a major recipe overhaul, it sounds as though this recipe was doomed.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100195.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4480\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100195-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100196.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4481\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100196-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOutcome?  Delish!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAlthough...Karma for laughing at my Aunt\'s confusion caught up with me.  I forgot to...\n\n&nbsp;\n<ul>\n	<li>Substitute butter with vegan buttery spread</li>\n</ul>\nForgot as in <em>forgot entirely</em>.  As in <em>no butter or anything resembling butter</em> in the muffins.  You would think that my brain was 85 years old with that kind of forgetfulness.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSo the muffins tasted a bit more like pumpkin bread.  No big whoop!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat means I was able to lather them with buttery spread.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #ff9900;\"><strong>YUM! </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100198.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4482\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100198-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nRaise your hand in the comments section if you are a fan of Philosophy!  Have you ever attempted one of their recipes?','Day 165:  Philosophy Recipe ','','inherit','open','open','','4475-revision-10','','','2011-03-12 08:52:16','2011-03-12 15:52:16','',4475,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/12/4475-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(4490,1,'2011-03-12 08:54:57','2011-03-12 15:54:57','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100193.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4479\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100193-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>My 85 year-old great aunt aka Auntie I called my mother day.  She was in the middle of a recipe and had a question.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy sister had gifted Auntie I with <strong><a href=\"http://www.philosophy.com/bath-and-body/bath-category/bath-bathandshowergels\" target=\"_blank\">Philosophy </a></strong>Chocolate Frosting bath &amp; shower gel for Christmas, and Auntie I was baking the scrumptious recipe plastered on the bottle.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was Auntie I\'s question to my mother:  Did the Philosophy bottle contents go into the recipe itself, or was it to be used as a \"glaze\" on the cake?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHee hee hee!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff9900;\"><strong>My mother explained to her that it was shower gel, and no, it wasn\'t the kinky edible kind.  Nor was it an ingredient in a recipe.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAuntie I still didn\'t understand why a recipe graced the bottle.  She argued with my mother for a few minutes that the bottle in front of her MUST be part of the recipe!  Why else would the bottle include a recipe on the label?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou gotta have a gimmick, Auntie I!  And Philosophy\'s brilliant packaging is one heck of clever gimmick.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI heart <strong><a href=\"http://www.philosophy.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Philosophy </a></strong>products.  I\'ve used them for years, and they make fabulous gifts.  I don\'t know of one woman who doesn\'t swoon over Philosophy.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI also don\'t know one woman who has ever tried making the recipe on the bottle.  Until Auntie I.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd me.  On Day 165.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/day-162-accidental-top-chef/\" target=\"_blank\">In the midst of my 4 day O2 cleanse</a></strong>, I chose the recipe from my old bottle of Pumpkin Spice Muffin shower gel (leftover from the fall.)  This O2 cleanse meant boosting my antioxidant to new heights, and pumpkin is an antioxidant superstar.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI gathered the ingredients for my Philosophy Superstar Pumpkin Spice Muffins.  I needed to alter the recipe a bit to suit my eating habits.  I\'ve done this a lot.  I\'m practically a professional.  Here was my plan:\n\n&nbsp;\n<ul>\n	<li>Substitute all white flour with whole wheat flour.</li>\n	<li>Substitute all brown and white sugar with <strong><a href=\"http://www.allaboutagave.com/substituting-agave-nectar-for-other-sugars.php\" target=\"_blank\">agave syrup</a></strong> accordingly.</li>\n	<li>Substitute buttermilk with almond milk.</li>\n	<li>Substitute butter with vegan buttery spread.</li>\n	<li>Cut down on the salt.  Are you trying to bring on high blood pressure, Philosophy?</li>\n</ul>\nI know, I know.  With a major recipe overhaul, it sounds as though this recipe was doomed.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100195.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4480\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100195-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100196.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4481\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100196-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOutcome?  Delish!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAlthough...Karma for laughing at my Aunt\'s confusion caught up with me.  I forgot to...\n\n&nbsp;\n<ul>\n	<li>Substitute butter with vegan buttery spread</li>\n</ul>\nForgot as in <em>forgot entirely</em>.  As in <em>no butter or anything resembling butter</em> in the muffins.  You would think that my brain was 85 years old with that kind of forgetfulness.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSo the muffins tasted a bit more like pumpkin bread.  No big whoop!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat means I was able to lather them with buttery spread.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #ff9900;\"><strong>YUM! </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100198.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4482\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100198-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nRaise your hand in the comments section if you are a fan of Philosophy!  Have you ever attempted one of their recipes?','Day 165:  Baking with Philosophy ','','inherit','open','open','','4475-revision-11','','','2011-03-12 08:54:57','2011-03-12 15:54:57','',4475,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/12/4475-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(4491,1,'2011-03-12 08:55:10','2011-03-12 15:55:10','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100193.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4479\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100193-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>My 85 year-old great aunt aka Auntie I called my mother day.  She was in the middle of a recipe and had a question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy sister had gifted Auntie I with <strong><a href=\"http://www.philosophy.com/bath-and-body/bath-category/bath-bathandshowergels\" target=\"_blank\">Philosophy </a></strong>Chocolate Frosting bath &amp; shower gel for Christmas, and Auntie I was baking the scrumptious recipe plastered on the bottle.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was Auntie I\'s question to my mother:  Did the Philosophy bottle contents go into the recipe itself, or was it to be used as a \"glaze\" on the cake?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHee hee hee!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff9900;\"><strong>My mother explained to her that it was shower gel, and no, it wasn\'t the kinky edible kind.  Nor was it an ingredient in a recipe.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAuntie I still didn\'t understand why a recipe graced the bottle.  She argued with my mother for a few minutes that the bottle in front of her MUST be part of the recipe!  Why else would the bottle include a recipe on the label?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou gotta have a gimmick, Auntie I!  And Philosophy\'s brilliant packaging is one heck of clever gimmick.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI heart <strong><a href=\"http://www.philosophy.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Philosophy </a></strong>products.  I\'ve used them for years, and they make fabulous gifts.  I don\'t know of one woman who doesn\'t swoon over Philosophy.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI also don\'t know one woman who has ever tried making the recipe on the bottle.  Until Auntie I.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd me.  On Day 165.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/day-162-accidental-top-chef/\" target=\"_blank\">In the midst of my 4 day O2 cleanse</a></strong>, I chose the recipe from my old bottle of Pumpkin Spice Muffin shower gel (leftover from the fall.)  This O2 cleanse meant boosting my antioxidant to new heights, and pumpkin is an antioxidant superstar.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI gathered the ingredients for my Philosophy Superstar Pumpkin Spice Muffins.  I needed to alter the recipe a bit to suit my eating habits.  I\'ve done this a lot.  I\'m practically a professional.  Here was my plan:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Substitute all white flour with whole wheat flour.</li>\r\n	<li>Substitute all brown and white sugar with <strong><a href=\"http://www.allaboutagave.com/substituting-agave-nectar-for-other-sugars.php\" target=\"_blank\">agave syrup</a></strong> accordingly.</li>\r\n	<li>Substitute buttermilk with almond milk.</li>\r\n	<li>Substitute butter with vegan buttery spread.</li>\r\n	<li>Cut down on the salt.  Are you trying to bring on high blood pressure, Philosophy?</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nI know, I know.  With a major recipe overhaul, it sounds as though this recipe was doomed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100195.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4480\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100195-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100196.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4481\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100196-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOutcome?  Delish!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAlthough...Karma for laughing at my Aunt\'s confusion caught up with me.  I forgot to...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Substitute butter with vegan buttery spread</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nForgot as in <em>forgot entirely</em>.  As in <em>no butter or anything resembling butter</em> in the muffins.  You would think that my brain was 85 years old with that kind of forgetfulness.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo the muffins tasted a bit more like pumpkin bread.  No big whoop!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat means I was able to lather them with buttery spread.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #ff9900;\"><strong>YUM! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100198.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4482\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100198-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRaise your hand in the comments section if you are a fan of Philosophy!  Have you ever attempted one of their recipes?','Day 165:  Baking with Philosophy ','','inherit','open','open','','4475-revision-12','','','2011-03-12 08:55:10','2011-03-12 15:55:10','',4475,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/12/4475-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(4492,1,'2011-03-12 08:56:10','2011-03-12 15:56:10','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100193.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4479\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100193-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>My 85 year-old great aunt aka Auntie I called my mother day.  She was in the middle of a recipe and had a question.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy sister had gifted Auntie I with <strong><a href=\"http://www.philosophy.com/bath-and-body/bath-category/bath-bathandshowergels\" target=\"_blank\">Philosophy </a></strong>Chocolate Frosting bath &amp; shower gel for Christmas, and Auntie I was baking the scrumptious recipe plastered on the bottle.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was Auntie I\'s question to my mother:  Did the Philosophy bottle contents go into the recipe itself, or was it to be used as a \"glaze\" on the cake?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHee hee hee!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff9900;\"><strong>My mother explained to her that it was shower gel, and no, it wasn\'t the kinky edible kind.  Nor was it an ingredient in a recipe.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAuntie I still didn\'t understand why a recipe graced the bottle.  She argued with my mother for a few minutes that the bottle in front of her MUST be part of the recipe!  Why else would the bottle include a recipe on the label?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou gotta have a gimmick, Auntie I!  And Philosophy\'s brilliant packaging is one heck of clever gimmick.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI heart <strong><a href=\"http://www.philosophy.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Philosophy </a></strong>products.  I\'ve used them for years, and they make fabulous gifts.  I don\'t know of one woman who doesn\'t swoon over Philosophy.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI also don\'t know one woman who has ever tried making the recipe on the bottle.  Until Auntie I.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd me.  On Day 165.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/10/day-162-accidental-top-chef/\" target=\"_blank\">In the midst of my 4 day O2 cleanse</a></strong>, I chose the recipe from my old bottle of Pumpkin Spice Muffin shower gel (leftover from the fall.)  This O2 cleanse meant boosting my antioxidant to new heights, and pumpkin is an antioxidant superstar.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI gathered the ingredients for my Philosophy Superstar Pumpkin Spice Muffins.  I needed to alter the recipe a bit to suit my eating habits.  I\'ve done this a lot.  I\'m practically a professional.  Here was my plan:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Substitute all white flour with whole wheat flour.</li>\r\n	<li>Substitute all brown and white sugar with <strong><a href=\"http://www.allaboutagave.com/substituting-agave-nectar-for-other-sugars.php\" target=\"_blank\">agave syrup</a></strong> accordingly.</li>\r\n	<li>Substitute buttermilk with almond milk.</li>\r\n	<li>Substitute butter with vegan buttery spread.</li>\r\n	<li>Cut down on the salt.  Are you trying to bring on high blood pressure, Philosophy?</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nI know, I know.  With a major recipe overhaul, it sounds as though this recipe was doomed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100195.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4480\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100195-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100196.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4481\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100196-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOutcome?  Delish!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAlthough...Karma for laughing at my Aunt\'s confusion caught up with me.  I forgot to...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Substitute butter with vegan buttery spread</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nForgot as in <em>forgot entirely</em>.  As in <em>no butter or anything resembling butter</em> in the muffins.  You would think that my brain was 85 years old with that kind of forgetfulness.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo the muffins tasted a bit more like pumpkin bread.  No big whoop!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat means that I was able to lather them with buttery spread.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large; color: #ff9900;\"><strong>YUM! </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100198.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4482\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3100198-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRaise your hand in the comments section if you are a fan of Philosophy!  Have you ever attempted one of their recipes?','Day 165:  Baking with Philosophy ','','inherit','open','open','','4475-revision-13','','','2011-03-12 08:56:10','2011-03-12 15:56:10','',4475,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/12/4475-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(4493,1,'2011-01-16 20:45:37','2011-01-17 03:45:37','<p>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3358\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Gelatinous Goo aka Speedy Chicken Pot Pie\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P1130180.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3358\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P1130180-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n</p>\r\n\r\n<p>My disgusting culinary catastrophe all started when my mother gifted me with a <strong><em><a href=\"http://www.cookinglight.com/magazine/\" target=\"_blank\">Cooking Light magazine</a></em></strong> subscription a year ago Christmas.  One year and 12 issues later, I never cooked a recipe. </p>\r\n\r\n<p><br class=\"spacer_\" /></p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?s=cooking+light\" target=\"_blank\">I pledged on Day 107</a> </strong>that I would cook one recipe from the January 2010 issue to absolve myself of all thankless gift receivee sins.  In a moment of delusion, I pondered cooking a recipe from each of the 12 issues, but I can now assure you that pigs will be flying and hell will be freezing before <em>that</em> ever happens.</p>\r\n\r\n<p><br class=\"spacer_\" /></p>\r\n\r\n<p>My recipe du jour seemed harmless enough:  Speedy Chicken Pot Pie.  Sounds yummy, right? </p>\r\n\r\n<p><br class=\"spacer_\" /></p>\r\n\r\n<p>Does the Speedy Chicken Pot Pie pictured above look yummy to you, my friends?  Hmmmmm??? </p>\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P1150182.jpg\"></a> </p>\r\n\r\n<p>Granted, I couldn\'t bring myself to schlepp to the regular grocery store for Simply Potatoes (whatever the heck those are).  I substituted red, white, and blue potatoes from Trader Joe\'s.  In retrospect, I suppose I whipped up a Speedy Patriotic Chicken Pot Pie. </p>\r\n\r\n<p><br class=\"spacer_\" /></p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #666699;\"><strong>I WASN\'T THINKING THAT THE BLUE POTATOES WOULD TURN THE ROUX INTO A PALER SHADE OF BLUISH-GRAY GOO!!!!</strong></span>  </span></p>\r\n\r\n<p><br class=\"spacer_\" /></p>\r\n\r\n<p>And since when does roux turn gelatinous????   What up with this roux recipe, Cooking Light???</p>\r\n\r\n<p><br class=\"spacer_\" /></p>\r\n\r\n<p>The leftovers were evolved into something more exotic:</p>\r\n\r\n<p><br class=\"spacer_\" /></p>\r\n\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3359\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"I actually ate these leftovers because I was too lazy to fix something else for dinner. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P1150182.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3359\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P1150182-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n</p>\r\n\r\n<p><br class=\"spacer_\" /></p>\r\n\r\n<p>I SWEAR to you that all of these photos are untouched. </p>\r\n\r\n<p><br class=\"spacer_\" /></p>\r\n\r\n<p>Luckily, my friend, David aka Captain Adventure was my dining partner that evening.  He gets his nickname for traveling all over the world to dangerous, off-the-beaten-beaten-beaten path places, so he\'s eaten plenty of disgusting food in his day. </p>\r\n\r\n<p><br class=\"spacer_\" /></p>\r\n\r\n<p>David assured me that the Speedy Patriotic Chicken Pot Pie was \"edible\".  I was grateful that he didn\'t ask to call for pizza. </p>\r\n\r\n<p><br class=\"spacer_\" /></p>\r\n\r\n<p>He was a good sport and cleaned his plate like a good boy. </p>\r\n\r\n<p><br class=\"spacer_\" /></p>\r\n\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3360\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"All gone! Now THAT&#39;S true friendship. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P1130181.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3360\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P1130181-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n</p>\r\n\r\n<p><br class=\"spacer_\" /></p>\r\n\r\n<p>A very good little girl waited in the wings for her turn.  I caught David trying to sneak her a table scrap before I freaked out and reminded him that table scraps are not healthy for poochies.  (Captain Adventure travels too much to own a dog.  Please forgive him.) </p>\r\n\r\n<p><br class=\"spacer_\" /></p>\r\n\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3361\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Gratuitous &quot;World&#39;s Most Precious Pooch&quot; Photo\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P1130179.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3361\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P1130179-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n</p>\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P1130181.jpg\"></a> </p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Comic Relief Moment of the Night:</strong> </span></span>When the onions were burning during phone call distractions, \"Disco Inferno\" was playing on iTunes.  Remember that song?  \"Burn, baby, burn!  Disco Inferno!  Burn, baby, burn!\"  I could not have scripted this better. </p>\r\n\r\n<p><br class=\"spacer_\" /></p>\r\n\r\n<p>Apple is known for its \"intuitive\" technology.  My iTunes apparently has intuitive comic timing.</p>\r\n\r\n<p><br class=\"spacer_\" /></p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Saving Grace of the Night: </span></strong></span>I don\'t consider investing time and effort in a disappointing dinner at the end of a long day \"soul-scintillating\" (which is supposed to be the determining factor for all of my blog activities).  I dreamed that this would be very Top Chef, and instead it turned out to be Hell\'s Kitchen. </p>\r\n\r\n<p><br class=\"spacer_\" /></p>\r\n\r\n<p>Captain Adventure to the Rescue!  He just so happened to bring along his computer and latest iMovie of his recent travels to Burma.  He invites you to take a look, too! </p>\r\n\r\n<p><br class=\"spacer_\" /></p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Captain Adventure\'s Burmese iMovie: </strong></span></span> <a title=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vinOwcerAXE\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vinOwcerAXE\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vinOwcerAXE</strong></a></p>\r\n\r\n<p><br class=\"spacer_\" /></p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Saving Grace 2:  </strong></span></span>We have our upcoming <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2010/11/30/day-61-thankful-for-fellow-t-day-orphans/\" target=\"_blank\">Lusty Cooking Project</a></strong> to turn this dud around.  Something tells me that these recipes will be simply divine, dahlings. </p>','Day 110:  Would You Eat This?  (View photos at your own risk.)','','inherit','open','open','','3355-revision-15','','','2011-01-16 20:45:37','2011-01-17 03:45:37','',3355,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/16/3355-revision-15/',0,'revision','',0),(4496,1,'2011-03-12 20:13:58','2011-03-13 03:13:58','<a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112130/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4495\" title=\"pandp\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/pandp-202x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" height=\"300\" /></a>I\'ve been wanting to see Colin Firth (my main Hollyweird crush) as Mr. Darcy in <a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112130/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong><em>Pride &amp; Prejudice</em></strong></a> ever since Bridget Jones yapped on and on about it.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nConsidering that I read <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Bridget-Joness-Diary-Helen-Fielding/dp/014028009X\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Bridget Jones\'s Diary</strong></em></a> about 10 years ago, it\'s about bloody well time I got around to watching this version.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI grew up watching the old black and white Pride and Prejudice with Sir Larry Olivier and Greer Garson.  That was a \"one-sitting\" movie.  This version is a mini-series.  Ladies, this translates to 5 hours of Colin.  Hurrah!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDina<em> dah</em>ling accepted my invite for the viewing.  We\'re watching in two shifts, as Dina <em>dah</em>ling was toast on Friday night and barely lasted two hours.  This means that next Friday night we look forward to another evening of pizza, couch, Colin, and cuddles with our pooches.  Apparently, Colin will appear smashingly in a wet white shirt if I recall Bridget Jones correctly.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDina <em>dah</em>ling will be on Spring Break (biotch!), and so I will not tolerate talk of tiredness.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBy the way, this is all in preparation for an activity on a future date which will be very, very funny.  Well...at least to me.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo be continued...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWho else has the hots for Colin Firth?','Day 166:  Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy.  Finally!  ','','inherit','open','open','','4494-revision','','','2011-03-12 20:13:58','2011-03-13 03:13:58','',4494,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/12/4494-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4497,1,'2011-03-12 20:18:56','2011-03-13 03:18:56','<a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112130/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4495\" title=\"pandp\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/pandp-202x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" height=\"300\" /></a>I\'ve been wanting to see Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy in <a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112130/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong><em>Pride &amp; Prejudice</em></strong></a> ever since Bridget Jones yapped on and on about it.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nConsidering that I read <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Bridget-Joness-Diary-Helen-Fielding/dp/014028009X\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Bridget Jones\'s Diary</strong></em></a> about 10 years ago, it\'s about bloody well time I got around to watching this version.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI grew up watching the old black and white <a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032943/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong><em>Pride and Prejudice </em></strong></a>with Sir Larry Olivier and Greer Garson.  That was a \"one-sitting\" movie.  This version is a mini-series.  Ladies, this translates to 5 hours of Colin.  Hurrah!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDina<em> dah</em>ling accepted my invite for the viewing.  We\'re watching in two shifts, as Dina <em>dah</em>ling was toast on Friday night and barely lasted two hours.  This means that next Friday night we look forward to another evening of pizza, couch, Colin, and cuddles with our pooches.  Apparently, Colin will appear smashingly in a wet white shirt if I correctly recall <em>Bridget Jones. </em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDina <em>dah</em>ling will be on Spring Break (biotch!), and so I will not tolerate talk of tiredness.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBy the way, this is all in preparation for an activity on a future date which will be very, very funny.  Well...at least to me.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo be continued...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWho else has the hots for Colin Firth?','Day 166:  Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy.  Finally!  ','','inherit','open','open','','4494-revision-2','','','2011-03-12 20:18:56','2011-03-13 03:18:56','',4494,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/12/4494-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4498,1,'2011-03-12 20:19:01','2011-03-13 03:19:01','<a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112130/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4495\" title=\"pandp\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/pandp-202x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" height=\"300\" /></a>I\'ve been wanting to see Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy in <a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112130/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong><em>Pride &amp; Prejudice</em></strong></a> ever since Bridget Jones yapped on and on about it.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nConsidering that I read <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Bridget-Joness-Diary-Helen-Fielding/dp/014028009X\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Bridget Jones\'s Diary</strong></em></a> about 10 years ago, it\'s about bloody well time I got around to watching this version.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI grew up watching the old black and white <a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032943/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong><em>Pride and Prejudice </em></strong></a>with Sir Larry Olivier and Greer Garson.  That was a \"one-sitting\" movie.  This version is a mini-series.  Ladies, this translates to 5 hours of Colin.  Hurrah!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDina<em> dah</em>ling accepted my invite for the viewing.  We\'re watching in two shifts, as Dina <em>dah</em>ling was toast on Friday night and barely lasted two hours.  This means that next Friday night we look forward to another evening of pizza, couch, Colin, and cuddles with our pooches.  Apparently, Colin will appear smashingly in a wet white shirt if I correctly recall <em>Bridget Jones. </em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDina <em>dah</em>ling will be on Spring Break (biotch!), and so I will not tolerate talk of tiredness.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBy the way, this is all in preparation for an activity on a future date which will be very, very funny.  Well...at least to me.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be continued...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWho else has the hots for Colin Firth?','Day 166:  Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy.  Finally!  ','','inherit','open','open','','4494-revision-3','','','2011-03-12 20:19:01','2011-03-13 03:19:01','',4494,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/12/4494-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(4499,1,'2011-03-12 20:20:28','2011-03-13 03:20:28','<a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112130/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4495\" title=\"pandp\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/pandp-202x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" height=\"300\" /></a>I\'ve been wanting to see Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy in <a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112130/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong><em>Pride &amp; Prejudice</em></strong></a> ever since Bridget Jones yapped on and on about it.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nConsidering that I read <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Bridget-Joness-Diary-Helen-Fielding/dp/014028009X\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Bridget Jones\'s Diary</strong></em></a> about 10 years ago, it\'s about bloody well time I got around to watching this version.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI grew up watching the old black and white <a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032943/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong><em>Pride and Prejudice </em></strong></a>with Sir Larry Olivier and Greer Garson.  That was a \"one-sitting\" movie.  This version is a mini-series.  Ladies, this translates to 5 hours of Colin.  Hurrah!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDina<em> dah</em>ling accepted my invite for the viewing.  We\'re watching in two shifts, as Dina <em>dah</em>ling was toast on Friday night and barely lasted two hours.  This means that next Friday night we look forward to another evening of pizza, couch, Colin, and cuddles with our pooches.  Apparently, Colin will appear smashingly in a wet white shirt if I correctly recall <em>Bridget Jones. </em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDina <em>dah</em>ling will be on Spring Break (biotch!), and so I will not tolerate talk of tiredness.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBy the way, this is all in preparation for an activity on a future date which will be very, very funny.  Well...at least to me.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo be continued...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWho else has the hots for Colin Firth?','Day 166:  Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy.  Finally!  ','','inherit','open','open','','4494-autosave','','','2011-03-12 20:20:28','2011-03-13 03:20:28','',4494,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/12/4494-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(4500,1,'2011-03-14 01:11:56','2011-03-14 08:11:56','&nbsp;\r\n\r\nfun, fun, fun, fun, FUN!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt all started with a birthday invitation for Laney\'s soon-to-be 7 year-old\'s birthday party.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130199.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130199-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen I heard that Laney was renting a bouncy castle for the event, I knew immediately that I could talk her into it.   :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4505\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120176.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4505\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> Maybe if I stood still for the only photo of the bouncy castle, it would have been clearer. Sorry, peeps.[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4506\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120177.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4506 \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120177-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a> I tried not to think of the germs lurking in this thing after 3 hours of bouncing sweaty 1st graders (and a few bloody noses.)[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt was all fun and games until someone got hurt.  Be careful with the balls in the bouncy castle, kids. You could shoot your eye out with one of those things.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/J-WL8Z4eycc\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"480\" height=\"390\"></iframe>','Day 167:  Tiggers are Not the Only One Who are Bouncy, Flouncy, Trouncy, Pouncy','','publish','open','open','','day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy','','','2012-10-18 21:29:47','2012-10-19 04:29:47','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?p=4500',0,'post','',8),(8867,1,'2011-05-02 20:45:52','2011-05-03 03:45:52','[caption id=\"attachment_5398\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Is that you, Nessie?\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/P42900681.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5398\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/P42900681-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nYou may recall that not too long ago <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/02/08/day-132-reconnecting-the-old-fashioned-way-over-the-phone-not-on-facebook/\" target=\"_blank\">I dreamed of traveling to Santa Barbara in March for a whale watching tour</a></strong>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI then cancelled my plans due to upcoming trips to <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2010/12/15/day-78-are-you-an-artist-of-non-conformity/\" target=\"_blank\">Portland</a></strong> and <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/02/21/day-144-i-planned-the-adventure-of-a-lifetime/\" target=\"_blank\">Italy</a>.</strong> Until my money tree brings in the bigger bucks, I need to show some semblance of restraint.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span>And then...wouldn\'t you know it?  <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/05/01/day-214-santa-barbara-i-think-i-love-you/\" target=\"_blank\">Jimmykins needed a trophy date for Santa Barbara.</a></strong> Twist of fate and twist my arm!</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span>On this ultra-indulgent President\'s Club trip, we were asked to pick daily activities to embark on.  I begged <span>Jimmykins</span> to reserve us a spot on the Whale Watching Tour.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou know what often happens on Whale Watching Tours, right?  <span style=\"color: #808000;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">When it\'s this late in the whale watching season, you may not see any whales.  But you will always see people blowing chunks.</span></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI boarded the boat feeling quite <del>cocky</del> confident.  I\'ve been on boats since I was in the womb.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you want to go back farther than that, my ancestry on my Mother\'s side is Portuguese.  Think back to history class.  Remember that Magellan dude?  Just one of a slew of Portuguese explorers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn addition, my father was a Merchant Marine.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #808000;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">In other words, I don\'t do seasickness.  It\'s not in my genetics.</span></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span>I assured the Nervous Nelly behind me that it was windy, but look -- no swells!  Only white caps!  You didn\'t take your Dramamine?  No problem.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nJust as I anticipated, we surfed through those white caps without issue.   A bumpy ride hurts your bum bum, not your tummy. (Or, if we want to be technical, a bumpy ride hurts your bum bum, not your inner ear.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span>Ten minutes into our trip, the captain spotted a gray whale and calf!  Hurrah!  No, that wasn\'t the Loch <span>Ness</span> Monster in the photo above.  Look closer!</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/P42900682.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5399\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/P42900682-300x224.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"224\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAfter stalking the mother and her calf for about 20 minutes and a thousand photos, the captain announced that we would head further out in search of humpback whales.  In a perfect foreshadow, he nonchalantly mentioned that Santa Barbara rarely experiences winds such as these (15 - 40 miles an hour).  However, the captain assured us that he could navigate through wind and water just fine.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt was then that I entered the cabin for the first time at the captain\'s advice.  There was a tremendous amount of water hitting the deck, and even though I dream of guest starring on <strong><a href=\"http://animal.discovery.com/tv/whale-wars/\" target=\"_blank\">Whale Wars</a></strong> where the crew gets soaked and chilled to the bone, this captain ordered everyone inside pronto.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe cabin air was stuffy, and the only remaining seat faced the back.  I started small talk with the couple sitting across from us.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI first knew something was about to go terribly wrong when the female member of the couple started to turn<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #808000;\"> <strong>this color </strong></span></span>after we hit a swell that made my tea shoot like Old Faithful from the spout in my to-go cup.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">\r\n</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #808000;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"color: #808000; font-size: xx-large;\"><strong>Holy Ocean Swells, Batman!</strong></span>\r\n</span></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCrap, Crap, Crap.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe captain then informed us that the sudden smell of oil was not a leak from the boat, but naturally occurring oil from the depths of the Pacific.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBetween the gas station smell, the stuffiness, and <span style=\"color: #808000;\"><strong>the green woman</strong></span>, I started to feel a wee bit nauseated.  When <span style=\"color: #808000;\"><strong>the green woman</strong></span><span> and hubby left our table (I\'m assuming to power puke), I quickly hauled my <span>hiney</span> around the table to face forward.  <span>Jimmykins</span> reminded me to keep my eyes on the horizon which I managed to do only when the swells weren\'t crashing against the window.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span><span>Our tour guide, Cubby</span>*, made his rounds while assessing the seasick percentage of passengers.  When he got to me, I blurted out, \"Do you have any more of that ginger candy?!?!\".  (I unfortunately declined the ginger candy 60 minutes prior when I was still in cocky mode.)</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span><span>Cubby</span> scrounged around for the last two pieces of ginger candy which tasted absolutely disgusting, but I sucked on anyway for dear life.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span>And then...music to <span>everyone\'s</span> ears and stomachs:  Humpback whale to the starboard side of the boat!  The captain would mercifully stop the boat for prime whale viewing. </span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI ran to the deck while gasping for cool air which (thankfully) was now fresh and salty rather than oily.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThar she blows!  Look what I caught on video, peeps!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"425\" height=\"349\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/GPZd1zI1hGI\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAfter stalking the humpback for another 30 minutes and two thousand photos, the concerned captain mentioned that \"a few\" passengers were sick.  He would therefore turn this ship around and head <em>slowly</em> back to shore.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHallelujah.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #808000;\"><strong>I stayed on deck and gulped as much cool air as I could.  Luckily, I never passed \"3\" on my own seasick scale of 1-10 with 0 being \"I feel fabulous!\" and 10 being \"hurling breakfast over the back of the boat\".</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy \"3\" nausea passed fairly quickly after Ms. Humpback.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOther passengers were not so lucky.  Apparently, there were <em>many</em> (not \"a few\", captain, sir) not-so-perfect 10s on that boat, because for the rest of the Santa Barbara trip, The Whale Watching Tour reached infamy.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>Everywhere</em> we went for the rest of the weekend, we overheard people talking about <span style=\"color: #808000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>The Whale Watching Tour.</strong></span> Or more specifically, <span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #808000;\"><strong>The Number of Sick Peeps on </strong><strong>The Whale Watching Tour. </strong></span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We overheard them a</span>t the pool.  At the spa.  In the restaurants.  In the bathrooms.  <em>Everywhere.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span>Even THE PRESIDENT OF THE GIANT CORPORATION who hosted this soiree brought it up at the Awards Banquet as a joke.  Hardy <span>har</span> <span>har</span>.  (Mr. <span>Prez</span> was not on the boat.)</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWas it worth it?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAbsolutely!  I saw whales in the wild for the first time in my life!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span>Next time, I\'ll venture out into calmer waters with Dramamine.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy sincere apologies, Nelly.  I now see that you had every right to feel nervous.  I truly hope that you didn\'t wind up blowing chunks.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n***************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span>*Yes, <span>Cubby</span> is his real name.  I forgot to ask if he was formerly a mouseketeer.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span>There was also a tour guide named Scooter.  No, he was not a Muppet.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 215:  You Know What Happens on Whale Watching Tours, Right?  ','','inherit','open','open','','5395-revision-16','','','2011-05-02 20:45:52','2011-05-03 03:45:52','',5395,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/05/02/5395-revision-16/',0,'revision','',0),(4501,1,'2011-03-13 10:15:52','2011-03-13 17:15:52','','Auto Draft','','inherit','open','open','','4500-revision','','','2011-03-13 10:15:52','2011-03-13 17:15:52','',4500,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/13/4500-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4660,1,'2011-03-21 01:11:27','2011-03-21 08:11:27','<a href=\"http://lorilee1.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/first-date-cloud.png\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4662\" title=\"first-date-cloud\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/first-date-cloud-300x133.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"133\" /></a>Oh, the excitement and anticipation of a first date.  It had been nearly a year since my last first date.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLately, my life has been work, World\'s Most Precious Pooch, and blogging.  And 173 curious mini-adventures.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLife has been more than busy.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span>So what do I do when my plate <span>overfloweth</span>?</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span><strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/18/day-171-oops-i-did-it-again/\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up on an Internet dating site. </a></strong> That\'s what.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUh-oh.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI hadn\'t been exactly motivated to date lately.  It would take a lot to tear me away from Little Miss B and my computer.  But I suppose that if you are going to jump into the Internet dating pool, this is probably the best position to be in.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span>As fate would have it, a potential \"match\" contacted me, and we have a mutual friend in real life.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span> <span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>An Internet guy with real world references!  Woohoo!!!</strong></span></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHe asked me out for Saturday night.  Not for coffee.  Not for a cocktail.  For dinner.  At my favorite restaurant in my fair city.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Let me assure you, this <em>rarely</em> happens in Internet dating, my friends.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span>Since it had been nearly a year since my last first date, I felt inclined to pamper myself for the day.  With my recent busy-<span>ness</span>, I had ignored things like <span>manis</span>, <span>pedis</span>, and even getting my car washed.  If a guy is going to walk me to my car, I want it to be clean.  This is very typical Virgo behavior.  Please don\'t be alarmed.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span>So...I finally used my <span>groupon</span> to head down to the car wash, and then luxuriated in a <span>mani</span>/<span>pedi</span> for the first time since <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/03/day-96-9-year-old-entrepreneur-gives-worlds-longest-pedicure/\" target=\"_blank\">World\'s Most Precious niece fit me into her tight schedule.</a></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI then came home, showered, and even blew out my hair.  (It\'s been a ponytail or air dry for quite some time.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #008000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>I felt like a girl again.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Or a \"woman\" for all of those feminists out there clicking their tongues.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAfter getting dolled up, I climbed into my clean car and drove off into the sunset.  Literally.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd I will stop here because even a blah blah blogger needs a bit of privacy in her life at times.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet\'s just say that this first date ends with a...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be continued...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 174:  First \"First Date\" in Almost a Year  ','','publish','open','open','','day-174-first-first-date-in-almost-a-year','','http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/18/day-171-oops-i-did-it-again/\nhttp://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/03/day-96-9-year-old-entrepreneur-gives-worlds-longest-pedicure/','2011-03-21 17:31:57','2011-03-22 00:31:57','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?p=4660',0,'post','',7),(4503,1,'2011-03-13 10:20:29','2011-03-13 17:20:29','fun','Day 167:  Tiggers (and Late Bloomers) are Bouncy, Flouncy, Trouncy, Pouncy','','inherit','open','open','','4500-revision-2','','','2011-03-13 10:20:29','2011-03-13 17:20:29','',4500,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/13/4500-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4504,1,'2011-03-13 10:33:08','2011-03-13 17:33:08','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-253','','','2011-03-13 10:33:08','2011-03-13 17:33:08','',4500,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130199.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4505,1,'2011-03-13 10:35:29','2011-03-13 17:35:29','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','Maybe if I stood still for the only photo of the bouncy castle, it would have been clear.  Sorry, peeps. ','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-254','','','2011-03-13 10:35:29','2011-03-13 17:35:29','',4500,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120176.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4506,1,'2011-03-13 10:37:05','2011-03-13 17:37:05','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','I tried not to think of the germs lurking in this thing after 3 hours of bouncing sweaty 1st graders which included a few bloody noses.','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-255','','','2011-03-13 10:37:05','2011-03-13 17:37:05','',4500,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120177.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4507,1,'2011-03-13 10:39:57','2011-03-13 17:39:57','fun, fun, fun, fun, FUN!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIt all started with a birthday invitation for Laney\'s soon-to-be 7 year-old.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130199.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130199-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen I heard that Laney was renting a bouncy castle for the event, I knew immediately that I could talk here into it.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4505\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Maybe if I stood still for the only photo of the bouncy castle, it would have been clear.  Sorry, peeps. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120176.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4505\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4506\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"I tried not to think of the germs lurking in this thing after 3 hours of bouncing sweaty 1st graders which included a few bloody noses.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120177.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4506\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120177-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 167:  Tiggers (and Late Bloomers) are Bouncy, Flouncy, Trouncy, Pouncy','','inherit','open','open','','4500-revision-3','','','2011-03-13 10:39:57','2011-03-13 17:39:57','',4500,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/13/4500-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(4508,1,'2011-03-13 10:42:00','2011-03-13 17:42:00','fun, fun, fun, fun, FUN!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIt all started with a birthday invitation for Laney\'s soon-to-be 7 year-old.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130199.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130199-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen I heard that Laney was renting a bouncy castle for the event, I knew immediately that I could talk here into it.   :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4505\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Maybe if I stood still for the only photo of the bouncy castle, it would have been clear.  Sorry, peeps. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120176.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4505\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4506\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"I tried not to think of the germs lurking in this thing after 3 hours of bouncing sweaty 1st graders (and a few bloody noses.)\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120177.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4506 \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120177-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 167:  Tiggers (and Late Bloomers) are Bouncy, Flouncy, Trouncy, Pouncy','','inherit','open','open','','4500-revision-4','','','2011-03-13 10:42:00','2011-03-13 17:42:00','',4500,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/13/4500-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(4509,1,'2011-03-13 10:49:00','2011-03-13 17:49:00','fun, fun, fun, fun, FUN!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIt all started with a birthday invitation for Laney\'s soon-to-be 7 year-old.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130199.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130199-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen I heard that Laney was renting a bouncy castle for the event, I knew immediately that I could talk here into it.   :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4505\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Maybe if I stood still for the only photo of the bouncy castle, it would have been clear.  Sorry, peeps. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120176.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4505\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_4506\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"I tried not to think of the germs lurking in this thing after 3 hours of bouncing sweaty 1st graders (and a few bloody noses.)\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120177.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4506 \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120177-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIt was all fun and games until someone got hurt.  Be careful with the balls in the bouncy house, kids.  You\'ll poke your eye out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 167:  Tiggers (and Late Bloomers) are Bouncy, Flouncy, Trouncy, Pouncy','','inherit','open','open','','4500-revision-5','','','2011-03-13 10:49:00','2011-03-13 17:49:00','',4500,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/13/4500-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(4510,1,'2011-03-13 10:50:16','2011-03-13 17:50:16','fun, fun, fun, fun, FUN!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt all started with a birthday invitation for Laney\'s soon-to-be 7 year-old.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130199.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130199-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen I heard that Laney was renting a bouncy castle for the event, I knew immediately that I could talk here into it.   :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4505\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Maybe if I stood still for the only photo of the bouncy castle, it would have been clear.  Sorry, peeps. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120176.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4505\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4506\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"I tried not to think of the germs lurking in this thing after 3 hours of bouncing sweaty 1st graders (and a few bloody noses.)\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120177.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4506 \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120177-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt was all fun and games until someone got hurt.  Be careful with the balls in the bouncy house, kids.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 167:  Tiggers (and Late Bloomers) are Bouncy, Flouncy, Trouncy, Pouncy','','inherit','open','open','','4500-revision-6','','','2011-03-13 10:50:16','2011-03-13 17:50:16','',4500,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/13/4500-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(4511,1,'2011-03-13 10:51:12','2011-03-13 17:51:12','fun, fun, fun, fun, FUN!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt all started with a birthday invitation for Laney\'s soon-to-be 7 year-old.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130199.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130199-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen I heard that Laney was renting a bouncy castle for the event, I knew immediately that I could talk here into it.   :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4505\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Maybe if I stood still for the only photo of the bouncy castle, it would have been clear.  Sorry, peeps. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120176.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4505\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4506\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"I tried not to think of the germs lurking in this thing after 3 hours of bouncing sweaty 1st graders (and a few bloody noses.)\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120177.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4506 \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120177-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt was all fun and games until someone got hurt.  Be careful with the balls in the bouncy house, kids.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"480\" height=\"390\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/J-WL8Z4eycc\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n','Day 167:  Tiggers (and Late Bloomers) are Bouncy, Flouncy, Trouncy, Pouncy','','inherit','open','open','','4500-revision-7','','','2011-03-13 10:51:12','2011-03-13 17:51:12','',4500,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/13/4500-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(4512,1,'2011-03-13 10:51:32','2011-03-13 17:51:32','fun, fun, fun, fun, FUN!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt all started with a birthday invitation for Laney\'s soon-to-be 7 year-old.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130199.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130199-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen I heard that Laney was renting a bouncy castle for the event, I knew immediately that I could talk here into it.   :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4505\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Maybe if I stood still for the only photo of the bouncy castle, it would have been clear.  Sorry, peeps. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120176.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4505\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4506\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"I tried not to think of the germs lurking in this thing after 3 hours of bouncing sweaty 1st graders (and a few bloody noses.)\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120177.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4506 \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120177-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt was all fun and games until someone got hurt.  Be careful with the balls in the bouncy house, kids.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"480\" height=\"390\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/J-WL8Z4eycc\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n','Day 167:  Tiggers are not the Only One Who are Bouncy, Flouncy, Trouncy, Pouncy','','inherit','open','open','','4500-revision-8','','','2011-03-13 10:51:32','2011-03-13 17:51:32','',4500,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/13/4500-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(4513,1,'2011-03-13 10:52:30','2011-03-13 17:52:30','&nbsp;\r\n\r\nfun, fun, fun, fun, FUN!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt all started with a birthday invitation for Laney\'s soon-to-be 7 year-old.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130199.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130199-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen I heard that Laney was renting a bouncy castle for the event, I knew immediately that I could talk here into it.   :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4505\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Maybe if I stood still for the only photo of the bouncy castle, it would have been clearer.  Sorry, peeps. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120176.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4505\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4506\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"I tried not to think of the germs lurking in this thing after 3 hours of bouncing sweaty 1st graders (and a few bloody noses.)\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120177.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4506 \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120177-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt was all fun and games until someone got hurt.  Be careful with the balls in the bouncy house, kids.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"480\" height=\"390\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/J-WL8Z4eycc\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n','Day 167:  Tiggers are not the Only One Who are Bouncy, Flouncy, Trouncy, Pouncy','','inherit','open','open','','4500-revision-9','','','2011-03-13 10:52:30','2011-03-13 17:52:30','',4500,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/13/4500-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(4514,1,'2011-03-13 10:53:17','2011-03-13 17:53:17','&nbsp;\r\n\r\nfun, fun, fun, fun, FUN!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt all started with a birthday invitation for Laney\'s soon-to-be 7 year-old.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130199.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130199-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen I heard that Laney was renting a bouncy castle for the event, I knew immediately that I could talk here into it.   :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4505\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Maybe if I stood still for the only photo of the bouncy castle, it would have been clearer.  Sorry, peeps. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120176.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4505\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4506\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"I tried not to think of the germs lurking in this thing after 3 hours of bouncing sweaty 1st graders (and a few bloody noses.)\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120177.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4506 \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120177-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt was all fun and games until someone got hurt.  Be careful with the balls in the bouncy house, kids.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"480\" height=\"390\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/J-WL8Z4eycc\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n','Day 167:  Tiggers are not the Only One Who are Bouncy, Flouncy, Trouncy, Pouncy','','inherit','open','open','','4500-revision-10','','','2011-03-13 10:53:17','2011-03-13 17:53:17','',4500,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/13/4500-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(4515,1,'2011-03-13 10:54:11','2011-03-13 17:54:11','&nbsp;\r\n\r\nfun, fun, fun, fun, FUN!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt all started with a birthday invitation for Laney\'s soon-to-be 7 year-old\'s birthday party.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130199.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130199-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen I heard that Laney was renting a bouncy castle for the event, I knew immediately that I could talk her into it.   :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4505\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Maybe if I stood still for the only photo of the bouncy castle, it would have been clearer.  Sorry, peeps. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120176.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4505\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4506\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"I tried not to think of the germs lurking in this thing after 3 hours of bouncing sweaty 1st graders (and a few bloody noses.)\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120177.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4506 \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120177-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt was all fun and games until someone got hurt.  Be careful with the balls in the bouncy house, kids.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"480\" height=\"390\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/J-WL8Z4eycc\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n','Day 167:  Tiggers are not the Only One Who are Bouncy, Flouncy, Trouncy, Pouncy','','inherit','open','open','','4500-revision-11','','','2011-03-13 10:54:11','2011-03-13 17:54:11','',4500,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/13/4500-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(4516,1,'2011-03-13 10:56:55','2011-03-13 17:56:55','&nbsp;\r\n\r\nfun, fun, fun, fun, FUN!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt all started with a birthday invitation for Laney\'s soon-to-be 7 year-old\'s birthday party.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130199.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130199-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen I heard that Laney was renting a bouncy castle for the event, I knew immediately that I could talk her into it.   :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4505\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Maybe if I stood still for the only photo of the bouncy castle, it would have been clearer.  Sorry, peeps. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120176.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4505\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4506\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"I tried not to think of the germs lurking in this thing after 3 hours of bouncing sweaty 1st graders (and a few bloody noses.)\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120177.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4506 \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120177-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt was all fun and games until someone got hurt.  Be careful with the balls in the bouncy castle, kids.  You could shoot your eye out with one of those things.  \r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"480\" height=\"390\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/J-WL8Z4eycc\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n','Day 167:  Tiggers are not the Only One Who are Bouncy, Flouncy, Trouncy, Pouncy','','inherit','open','open','','4500-revision-12','','','2011-03-13 10:56:55','2011-03-13 17:56:55','',4500,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/13/4500-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(4517,1,'2011-03-13 10:57:58','2011-03-13 17:57:58','&nbsp;\r\n\r\nfun, fun, fun, fun, FUN!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt all started with a birthday invitation for Laney\'s soon-to-be 7 year-old\'s birthday party.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130199.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4504\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130199-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen I heard that Laney was renting a bouncy castle for the event, I knew immediately that I could talk her into it.   :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4505\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Maybe if I stood still for the only photo of the bouncy castle, it would have been clearer.  Sorry, peeps. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120176.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4505\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4506\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"I tried not to think of the germs lurking in this thing after 3 hours of bouncing sweaty 1st graders (and a few bloody noses.)\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120177.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4506 \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3120177-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt was all fun and games until someone got hurt.  Be careful with the balls in the bouncy castle, kids.  You could shoot your eye out with one of those things.  \r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"480\" height=\"390\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/J-WL8Z4eycc\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n','Day 167:  Tiggers are not the Only One Who are Bouncy, Flouncy, Trouncy, Pouncy','','inherit','open','open','','4500-revision-13','','','2011-03-13 10:57:58','2011-03-13 17:57:58','',4500,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/13/4500-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(4518,1,'2011-03-15 01:11:07','2011-03-15 08:11:07','[caption id=\"attachment_4543\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"The final rise.  Nearly 12 hours later...\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130180.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4543  \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130180-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nRemember my <a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Birthday Twin Genius</strong></a> that I met at <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/31/day-125-wildest-wordcamp-in-the-west/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>WordCamp</strong></a>?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI propositioned Birthday Twin Genius aka Todd:  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universe kitchens on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it.  A He Said/She Said blog post!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Since all men love to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Todd is one of those people who cut his cable so that he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous and controversial decision.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI replied with an \"Awesome!\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDay 168 was Chick Food day.  I chose Chocolate Croissants which I have been chomping at the bit to bake ever since I saw the movie<strong> <em><a href=\"http://www.itscomplicatedmovie.com/\" target=\"_blank\">It\'s Complicated</a></em></strong>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOh, how I absolutely adore that movie.  If you haven\'t seen it, you\'re missing out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the movie, Meryl Streep and Steve Martin relive their youth by smoking pot.  A wicked case of the munchies ensues, and they traipse off to Meryl Streep\'s bakery to whip up a batch of decadent chocolate croissants in the middle of the night.  The scene is deliciously sensual and funny at the same time, as you would expect from the brilliant Ms. Streep.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI began my croissant preparation at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.  As a guide, I used the recipe from <a href=\"http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Croissants/Detail.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>AllRecipes.com</strong></a> which was recommended by an <a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>exquisite food blog</strong></a> that I stumbled upon when googling \"It\'s Complicated Chocolate Croissants\".  Isn\'t this Internet stuff incredible?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have never met this foodie blogger, but I think she\'s the greatest thing since <del>sliced bread </del>chocolate croissants.  She is living my dream life.  In a cottage on a lake in North Carolina.  It\'s sooooo Nicholas Sparks.   Sigh...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBaking croissants is an all-day extravaganza.  AllRecipes noted an 8 hour and 20 minute time frame.  Thus the early start time.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBy 8:30 a.m., the yeast had frothed and the dough had been kneaded.  I sipped my coffee while contemplating how thoroughly relaxing and therapeutic this croissant project had turned out to be.  Perhaps I\'ll be a pastry chef when I grow up.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI realized by late morning, that I hadn\'t heard from Todd.  I wondered if he abandoned ship.  I didn\'t call him, of course.  Who does that these days?  I texted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span>How\'s your dough?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> I\'ve had some minor technical setbacks this morning that necessitated a trip to the hardware store but I\'m on track again.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHardware store?  I wasn\'t about to open that can of worms.  I sipped more coffee and expressed gratitude for my baking prowess.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>3 hours later...</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> Crap.  This butter and folding stuff is confusing.  I\'m not much of a directions person.  Crap, crap, crap.  Something tells me these will be finished at bedtime.  Crap.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIs this a neurotic Sept 15 thing or is it just me?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00347-20110313-1429.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4539\" title=\"IMG00347-20110313-1429\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00347-20110313-1429-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>Uh, you\'re alone on that.  I\'m using a wine bottle as a rolling pin.  Apparently, I don\'t have one of those.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_7771.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4540\" title=\"IMG_7771\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_7771-300x223.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"223\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis is an example of texting miscommunication.  I was actually referring to the measuring tape, not the rolling pin.  You\'ll note an overabundance of references to lengths and widths in the <a href=\"http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Croissants/Detail.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">AllRecipes.com directions</a>.   If I was going to follow directions, then I was going to follow them implicitly.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">15 minutes later...</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAllRecipes.com directions:  \"Massage butter until pliable, but not soft and oily.\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI am 41, and not once have I heard of massaging butter.  Am I alone on this?  Do all of you massage butter on a regular basis?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had no clue what they were talking about, so I just started massaging away.  At first, I softened it in my hands, and then spread it out over the dough like I was finger painting.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130176.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4541\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis alone was worth the price of admission.  I am here to tell you, dear readers, that butter massage has an instantaneous calming effect.  Please try this at home.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>15 minutes later...</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span> This is actually a tad stressful.  I was relaxed during the butter massage, but now I feel like a harried mess.  That Lake Cottage woman seems so zen.  But I believe that she is retired and living on a lake.  I need to go buy and install a router, shop for the week\'s groceries, write a blog post, and report to my day job tomorrow.  In the midst of all of this, I\'m detoxing from an herbal cleanse.  I won\'t go into details.  Not good timing on my part.  :-o\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>LOL.  I\'m with you.  I\'ve been tempted more than once today to chuck it all and used canned dough, but I\'m persevering because though I have 16 hours of work scheduled for today, and it\'s not going to get done (cooking or not), I need a little \"me time\" and if that means insanely complicated handmade croissants, so be it.  :-)  No kitchen experiment is without risk or lessons to be had but the most important lesson I\'ve ever learned in the kitchen is...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(This was one of those really long texts that take up four messages.  Luckily, I have unlimited messages.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> ... to allow your self to fail and have fun no matter what.  The 2nd most important lesson which I\'m relearning today is make sure you buy all the junk you need before you start.  1 trip to Lowe\'s and 2 to Albertson\'s.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> 1st lesson was very profound.  Verklempt.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(I was distracted and at the Apple Store during the umpteenth dough rise.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span> The cottage lady\'s kitchen is unfreakinbelievable!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You can see dream cottage kitchen here:  <strong><a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/</a></strong><a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">.</a>)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYes, Todd, I know.  I imagine the rest of her life is as impeccable as her kitchen.  I\'m sure that she has a wonderful husband, perfect children, beautiful grandchildren, and (you can bet on it!) a serene and obedient Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSigh...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nStark reality:  My kitchen looks nothing like Lovely Lake Cottage Lady\'s kitchen.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130181.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4542\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130181-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>5 hours, several dough \"episodes\", and one chocolate shaving disaster later...</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVoila!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130183.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4538\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130183-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA bit overdone.  Breathe...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict:  No wonder Meryl &amp; Steve enjoyed their croissant-capades.  They were high.  You, too, would need to smoke wacky tobacky to find this process fun. </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInstead, seriously consider finding the best bakery in town and splurge on their chocolate croissants.  For the peeps in my fair city, go here:  <strong><a href=\"http://pcroissant.com/\" target=\"_blank\">http://pcroissant.com/</a>.</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\">Verdict #2:  Massaging butter is a blast.  If butter is not your thing, then find a tall drink of water and massage his shoulders.  Better yet, get him to massage yours. </span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Token male readers:  Massage a woman\'s shoulders.  There\'s nothing sexier than a giver.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict #3:  I would like for the Lake Cottage Lady to adopt me. </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSure this will tick my real mother off, but you can never have too many mothers.  As Hillary once said,  \"It takes a village.\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd I would like to be in a village with a cottage, thank you very much.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n*********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInterested in the \"He Said\" version of the Chocolate Croissant Extravaganza?  Find out how Todd\'s croissants fared at <strong><a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\">http://606diaries.com/</a></strong>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nComing next week...Todd and Michelle tackle Guy Food in an unconventional way.  Be afraid.  Be very, very afraid.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated','','publish','open','open','','day-168-its-more-than-complicated','','\nhttp://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/31/day-125-wildest-wordcamp-in-the-west/','2011-03-19 08:13:52','2011-03-19 15:13:52','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?p=4518',0,'post','',21),(4519,1,'2011-03-13 17:14:42','2011-03-14 00:14:42','','Day 168:  Chocolate Croissants.  They\'re co ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision','','','2011-03-13 17:14:42','2011-03-14 00:14:42','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/13/4518-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4520,1,'2011-03-13 17:14:55','2011-03-14 00:14:55','','Day 168:  Chocolate Croissants.  They\'re Complicated.   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-2','','','2011-03-13 17:14:55','2011-03-14 00:14:55','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/13/4518-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4521,1,'2011-03-13 17:20:36','2011-03-14 00:20:36','Remember my birthday twin genius that I met at WordCamp?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title? \n\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?   ','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated.   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-3','','','2011-03-13 17:20:36','2011-03-14 00:20:36','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/13/4518-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(4522,1,'2011-03-13 17:32:59','2011-03-14 00:32:59','Remember my birthday twin genius that I met at WordCamp?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI had the bright idea to launch a couple of he said/she said blog posts.  My proposition to Todd:  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universes on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince all men loved to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.  (Todd is one of those people who got rid of his television so he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous decision.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was thrilled.  \"Awesome!\"  (I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated.   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-4','','','2011-03-13 17:32:59','2011-03-14 00:32:59','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/13/4518-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(4524,1,'2011-03-13 18:26:37','2011-03-14 01:26:37','Remember my birthday twin genius that I met at WordCamp?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI had the bright idea to launch a couple of he said/she said blog posts.  My proposition to Todd:  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universes on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince all men loved to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.  (Todd is one of those people who got rid of his television so he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous decision.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was thrilled.  \"Awesome!\"  (I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated.   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-6','','','2011-03-13 18:26:37','2011-03-14 01:26:37','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/13/4518-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(4523,1,'2011-03-13 18:25:17','2011-03-14 01:25:17','Remember my birthday twin genius that I met at WordCamp?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had the bright idea to launch a couple of he said/she said blog posts.  My proposition to Todd:  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universes on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince all men loved to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.  (Todd is one of those people who got rid of his television so he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous decision.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was thrilled.  \"Awesome!\"  (I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated.   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-5','','','2011-03-13 18:25:17','2011-03-14 01:25:17','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/13/4518-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(4525,1,'2011-03-13 21:20:04','2011-03-14 04:20:04','Remember my birthday twin genius that I met at WordCamp?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI had the bright idea to launch a couple of he said/she said blog posts.  My proposition to Todd:  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universes on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince all men loved to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.  (Todd is one of those people who got rid of his television so he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous decision.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was thrilled.  \"Awesome!\"  (I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI haven\'t even met her and I think she\'s the greatest thing since <del>sliced bread </del>chocolate croissants.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nVerdict:  Find the best bakery in town and splurge on their chocolate croissant.  I will miss the butter massage.  Verdict 2:  Find a tall drink of water and massage his shoulders.  Better yet, get him','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated.   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-7','','','2011-03-13 21:20:04','2011-03-14 04:20:04','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/13/4518-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(4526,1,'2011-03-14 11:56:28','2011-03-14 18:56:28','Remember my birthday twin genius that I met at WordCamp?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI propositioned Todd:  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universe kitchens on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince all men love to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.  (Todd is one of those people who got rid of his television so he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous and controversial decision.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was thrilled.  \"Awesome!\"  (I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI haven\'t even met her and I think she\'s the greatest thing since <del>sliced bread </del>chocolate croissants.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nVerdict:  Find the best bakery in town and splurge on their chocolate croissant.  I will miss the butter massage.  Verdict 2:  Find a tall drink of water and massage his shoulders.  Better yet, get him to massage yours.','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-8','','','2011-03-14 11:56:28','2011-03-14 18:56:28','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/4518-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(4527,1,'2011-03-14 12:12:58','2011-03-14 19:12:58','Remember my birthday twin genius that I met at WordCamp?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI propositioned Todd:  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universe kitchens on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince all men love to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.  (Todd is one of those people who got rid of his television so he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous and controversial decision.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI replied with an \"Awesome!\"  (I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDay 168 was Chick Food day.  I chose Chocolate Croissants which I have been chomping at the bit to bake since I saw the movie <em>It\'s Complicated</em>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, how I absolutely adore that movie.  If you haven\'t seen it, you\'re missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the movie, Meryl Streep and Steve Martin relive their youth by smoking pot.  A wicked case of the munchies ensues, and they traipse off to Meryl Streep\'s bakery to whip up a batch of decadent chocolate croissants in the middle of the night.  The scene is deliciously sensual and funny at the same time, as you would expect from the brilliant Ms. Streep.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI haven\'t even met her and I think she\'s the greatest thing since <del>sliced bread </del>chocolate croissants.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nVerdict:  Find the best bakery in town and splurge on their chocolate croissant.  I will miss the butter massage.  Verdict 2:  Find a tall drink of water and massage his shoulders.  Better yet, get him to massage yours.','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-9','','','2011-03-14 12:12:58','2011-03-14 19:12:58','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/4518-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(4528,1,'2011-03-14 12:30:21','2011-03-14 19:30:21','Remember my birthday twin genius that I met at WordCamp?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI propositioned Todd:  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universe kitchens on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince all men love to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.  (Todd is one of those people who got rid of his television so he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous and controversial decision.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI replied with an \"Awesome!\"  (I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDay 168 was Chick Food day.  I chose Chocolate Croissants which I have been chomping at the bit to bake since I saw the movie <em>It\'s Complicated</em>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, how I absolutely adore that movie.  If you haven\'t seen it, you\'re missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the movie, Meryl Streep and Steve Martin relive their youth by smoking pot.  A wicked case of the munchies ensues, and they traipse off to Meryl Streep\'s bakery to whip up a batch of decadent chocolate croissants in the middle of the night.  The scene is deliciously sensual and funny at the same time, as you would expect from the brilliant Ms. Streep.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI began my croissant preparation at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.  As a guide, I used the recipe from <a href=\"http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Croissants/Detail.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>AllRecipes.com</strong></a> which was recommended by an exquisite food blog that I stumbled upon when googling \"It\'s Complicated Chocolate Croissants\".    Isn\'t this Internet stuff incredible?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI have never met this foodie blogger, but I think she\'s the greatest thing since <del>sliced bread </del>chocolate croissants.  She is living my dream life.  In a cottage on a lake in North Carolina.  It\'s sooooo Nicholas Sparks.   Sigh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBy 8:30 a.m., they yeast has frothed and the dough has been kneaded.  I sip my coffee while contemplating how thoroughly relaxing and therapeutic this croissant project.  P\n\n&nbsp;\n\nVerdict:  Find the best bakery in town and splurge on their chocolate croissant.  I will miss the butter massage.  Verdict 2:  Find a tall drink of water and massage his shoulders.  Better yet, get him to massage yours.','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-10','','','2011-03-14 12:30:21','2011-03-14 19:30:21','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/4518-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(4529,1,'2011-03-14 15:08:38','2011-03-14 22:08:38','Remember my <a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Birthday Twin Genius</strong></a> that I met at WordCamp?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI propositioned Todd (aka Birthday Twin Genius):  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universe kitchens on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince all men love to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.  (Todd is one of those people who got rid of his television so he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous and controversial decision.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI replied with an \"Awesome!\"  (I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDay 168 was Chick Food day.  I chose Chocolate Croissants which I have been chomping at the bit to bake since I saw the movie <em>It\'s Complicated</em>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, how I absolutely adore that movie.  If you haven\'t seen it, you\'re missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the movie, Meryl Streep and Steve Martin relive their youth by smoking pot.  A wicked case of the munchies ensues, and they traipse off to Meryl Streep\'s bakery to whip up a batch of decadent chocolate croissants in the middle of the night.  The scene is deliciously sensual and funny at the same time, as you would expect from the brilliant Ms. Streep.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI began my croissant preparation at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.  As a guide, I used the recipe from <a href=\"http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Croissants/Detail.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>AllRecipes.com</strong></a> which was recommended by an <a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>exquisite food blog</strong></a> that I stumbled upon when googling \"It\'s Complicated Chocolate Croissants\".    Isn\'t this Internet stuff incredible?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI have never met this foodie blogger, but I think she\'s the greatest thing since <del>sliced bread </del>chocolate croissants.  She is living my dream life.  In a cottage on a lake in North Carolina.  It\'s sooooo Nicholas Sparks.   Sigh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBy 8:30 a.m., they yeast has frothed and the dough has been kneaded.  I sip my coffee while contemplating how thoroughly relaxing and therapeutic this croissant project has turned out to be.  Perhaps I\'ll be a pastry chef when I grow up.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nVerdict:  Find the best bakery in town and splurge on their chocolate croissant.  I will miss the butter massage.  Verdict 2:  Find a tall drink of water and massage his shoulders.  Better yet, get him to massage yours.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI want Penny to adopt me.  Sure this will piss my mother of,','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-11','','','2011-03-14 15:08:38','2011-03-14 22:08:38','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/4518-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(4530,1,'2011-03-14 15:09:05','2011-03-14 22:09:05','Remember my <a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Birthday Twin Genius</strong></a> that I met at WordCamp?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI propositioned Todd (aka Birthday Twin Genius):  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universe kitchens on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince all men love to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.  (Todd is one of those people who got rid of his television so he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous and controversial decision.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI replied with an \"Awesome!\"  (I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDay 168 was Chick Food day.  I chose Chocolate Croissants which I have been chomping at the bit to bake since I saw the movie <em>It\'s Complicated</em>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOh, how I absolutely adore that movie.  If you haven\'t seen it, you\'re missing out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the movie, Meryl Streep and Steve Martin relive their youth by smoking pot.  A wicked case of the munchies ensues, and they traipse off to Meryl Streep\'s bakery to whip up a batch of decadent chocolate croissants in the middle of the night.  The scene is deliciously sensual and funny at the same time, as you would expect from the brilliant Ms. Streep.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI began my croissant preparation at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.  As a guide, I used the recipe from <a href=\"http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Croissants/Detail.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>AllRecipes.com</strong></a> which was recommended by an <a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>exquisite food blog</strong></a> that I stumbled upon when googling \"It\'s Complicated Chocolate Croissants\".    Isn\'t this Internet stuff incredible?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have never met this foodie blogger, but I think she\'s the greatest thing since <del>sliced bread </del>chocolate croissants.  She is living my dream life.  In a cottage on a lake in North Carolina.  It\'s sooooo Nicholas Sparks.   Sigh...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBy 8:30 a.m., they yeast has frothed and the dough has been kneaded.  I sip my coffee while contemplating how thoroughly relaxing and therapeutic this croissant project has turned out to be.  Perhaps I\'ll be a pastry chef when I grow up.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVerdict:  Find the best bakery in town and splurge on their chocolate croissant.  I will miss the butter massage.  Verdict 2:  Find a tall drink of water and massage his shoulders.  Better yet, get him to massage yours.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI want Penny to adopt me.  Sure this will piss my mother off, but you can never have too many mothers.  As Hillary said, It takes a village!!','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-12','','','2011-03-14 15:09:05','2011-03-14 22:09:05','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/4518-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(4531,1,'2011-03-14 16:08:40','2011-03-14 23:08:40','Remember my <a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Birthday Twin Genius</strong></a> that I met at WordCamp?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI propositioned Todd (aka Birthday Twin Genius):  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universe kitchens on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince all men love to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(Todd is one of those people who got rid of his television so he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous and controversial decision.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI replied with an \"Awesome!\"  (I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDay 168 was Chick Food day.  I chose Chocolate Croissants which I have been chomping at the bit to bake since I saw the movie <em>It\'s Complicated</em>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, how I absolutely adore that movie.  If you haven\'t seen it, you\'re missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the movie, Meryl Streep and Steve Martin relive their youth by smoking pot.  A wicked case of the munchies ensues, and they traipse off to Meryl Streep\'s bakery to whip up a batch of decadent chocolate croissants in the middle of the night.  The scene is deliciously sensual and funny at the same time, as you would expect from the brilliant Ms. Streep.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI began my croissant preparation at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.  As a guide, I used the recipe from <a href=\"http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Croissants/Detail.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>AllRecipes.com</strong></a> which was recommended by an <a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>exquisite food blog</strong></a> that I stumbled upon when googling \"It\'s Complicated Chocolate Croissants\".    Isn\'t this Internet stuff incredible?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI have never met this foodie blogger, but I think she\'s the greatest thing since <del>sliced bread </del>chocolate croissants.  She is living my dream life.  In a cottage on a lake in North Carolina.  It\'s sooooo Nicholas Sparks.   Sigh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBy 8:30 a.m., the yeast had frothed and the dough had been kneaded.  I sipped my coffee while contemplating how thoroughly relaxing and therapeutic this croissant project had turned out to be.  Perhaps I\'ll be a pastry chef when I grow up.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI realized by late morning, that I hadn\'t heard from Todd.  I wondered if he abandoned ship.  I didn\'t call him, of course.  Who does that these days?  I texted.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span>How\'s your dough?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> I\'ve had some minor technical setbacks this morning that necessitated a trip to the hardware store but I\'m on track again.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHardware store?  I wasn\'t about to open that can of worms.  I sipped more coffee and expressed gratitude for my baking prowess.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nVerdict:  Find the best bakery in town and splurge on their chocolate croissant.  I will miss the butter massage.  Verdict 2:  Find a tall drink of water and massage his shoulders.  Better yet, get him to massage yours.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI want Penny to adopt me.  Sure this will piss my mother off, but you can never have too many mothers.  As Hillary said, It takes a village!!','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-13','','','2011-03-14 16:08:40','2011-03-14 23:08:40','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/4518-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(4532,1,'2011-03-14 16:11:50','2011-03-14 23:11:50','Remember my <a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Birthday Twin Genius</strong></a> that I met at WordCamp?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI propositioned Todd (aka Birthday Twin Genius):  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universe kitchens on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince all men love to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(Todd is one of those people who got rid of his television so he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous and controversial decision.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI replied with an \"Awesome!\"  (I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDay 168 was Chick Food day.  I chose Chocolate Croissants which I have been chomping at the bit to bake since I saw the movie <em>It\'s Complicated</em>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, how I absolutely adore that movie.  If you haven\'t seen it, you\'re missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the movie, Meryl Streep and Steve Martin relive their youth by smoking pot.  A wicked case of the munchies ensues, and they traipse off to Meryl Streep\'s bakery to whip up a batch of decadent chocolate croissants in the middle of the night.  The scene is deliciously sensual and funny at the same time, as you would expect from the brilliant Ms. Streep.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI began my croissant preparation at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.  As a guide, I used the recipe from <a href=\"http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Croissants/Detail.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>AllRecipes.com</strong></a> which was recommended by an <a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>exquisite food blog</strong></a> that I stumbled upon when googling \"It\'s Complicated Chocolate Croissants\".  Isn\'t this Internet stuff incredible?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI have never met this foodie blogger, but I think she\'s the greatest thing since <del>sliced bread </del>chocolate croissants.  She is living my dream life.  In a cottage on a lake in North Carolina.  It\'s sooooo Nicholas Sparks.   Sigh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBaking croissants is an all-day extravaganza.  AllRecipes noted and 8 hour and 20 minute time frame.  GreatBy 8:30 a.m., the yeast had frothed and the dough had been kneaded.  I sipped my coffee while contemplating how thoroughly relaxing and therapeutic this croissant project had turned out to be.  Perhaps I\'ll be a pastry chef when I grow up.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI realized by late morning, that I hadn\'t heard from Todd.  I wondered if he abandoned ship.  I didn\'t call him, of course.  Who does that these days?  I texted.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span>How\'s your dough?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> I\'ve had some minor technical setbacks this morning that necessitated a trip to the hardware store but I\'m on track again.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHardware store?  I wasn\'t about to open that can of worms.  I sipped more coffee and expressed gratitude for my baking prowess.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nVerdict:  Find the best bakery in town and splurge on their chocolate croissant.  I will miss the butter massage.  Verdict 2:  Find a tall drink of water and massage his shoulders.  Better yet, get him to massage yours.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI want Penny to adopt me.  Sure this will piss my mother off, but you can never have too many mothers.  As Hillary said, It takes a village!!','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-14','','','2011-03-14 16:11:50','2011-03-14 23:11:50','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/4518-revision-14/',0,'revision','',0),(4533,1,'2011-03-14 16:12:44','2011-03-14 23:12:44','Remember my <a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Birthday Twin Genius</strong></a> that I met at WordCamp?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI propositioned Todd (aka Birthday Twin Genius):  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universe kitchens on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Since all men love to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Todd is one of those people who got rid of his television so he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous and controversial decision.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI replied with an \"Awesome!\"  (I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDay 168 was Chick Food day.  I chose Chocolate Croissants which I have been chomping at the bit to bake since I saw the movie <em>It\'s Complicated</em>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOh, how I absolutely adore that movie.  If you haven\'t seen it, you\'re missing out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the movie, Meryl Streep and Steve Martin relive their youth by smoking pot.  A wicked case of the munchies ensues, and they traipse off to Meryl Streep\'s bakery to whip up a batch of decadent chocolate croissants in the middle of the night.  The scene is deliciously sensual and funny at the same time, as you would expect from the brilliant Ms. Streep.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI began my croissant preparation at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.  As a guide, I used the recipe from <a href=\"http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Croissants/Detail.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>AllRecipes.com</strong></a> which was recommended by an <a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>exquisite food blog</strong></a> that I stumbled upon when googling \"It\'s Complicated Chocolate Croissants\".  Isn\'t this Internet stuff incredible?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have never met this foodie blogger, but I think she\'s the greatest thing since <del>sliced bread </del>chocolate croissants.  She is living my dream life.  In a cottage on a lake in North Carolina.  It\'s sooooo Nicholas Sparks.   Sigh...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBaking croissants is an all-day extravaganza.  AllRecipes noted and 8 hour and 20 minute time frame.  I started early.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBy 8:30 a.m., the yeast had frothed and the dough had been kneaded.  I sipped my coffee while contemplating how thoroughly relaxing and therapeutic this croissant project had turned out to be.  Perhaps I\'ll be a pastry chef when I grow up.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI realized by late morning, that I hadn\'t heard from Todd.  I wondered if he abandoned ship.  I didn\'t call him, of course.  Who does that these days?  I texted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span>How\'s your dough?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> I\'ve had some minor technical setbacks this morning that necessitated a trip to the hardware store but I\'m on track again.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHardware store?  I wasn\'t about to open that can of worms.  I sipped more coffee and expressed gratitude for my baking prowess.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVerdict:  Find the best bakery in town and splurge on their chocolate croissant.  I will miss the butter massage.  Verdict 2:  Find a tall drink of water and massage his shoulders.  Better yet, get him to massage yours.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI want Penny to adopt me.  Sure this will piss my mother off, but you can never have too many mothers.  As Hillary said, It takes a village!!','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-15','','','2011-03-14 16:12:44','2011-03-14 23:12:44','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/4518-revision-15/',0,'revision','',0),(4534,1,'2011-03-14 16:33:21','2011-03-14 23:33:21','Remember my <a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Birthday Twin Genius</strong></a> that I met at WordCamp?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI propositioned Todd (aka Birthday Twin Genius):  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universe kitchens on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Since all men love to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(Todd is one of those people who got rid of his television so he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous and controversial decision.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI replied with an \"Awesome!\"  (I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDay 168 was Chick Food day.  I chose Chocolate Croissants which I have been chomping at the bit to bake since I saw the movie <em>It\'s Complicated</em>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, how I absolutely adore that movie.  If you haven\'t seen it, you\'re missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the movie, Meryl Streep and Steve Martin relive their youth by smoking pot.  A wicked case of the munchies ensues, and they traipse off to Meryl Streep\'s bakery to whip up a batch of decadent chocolate croissants in the middle of the night.  The scene is deliciously sensual and funny at the same time, as you would expect from the brilliant Ms. Streep.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI began my croissant preparation at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.  As a guide, I used the recipe from <a href=\"http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Croissants/Detail.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>AllRecipes.com</strong></a> which was recommended by an <a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>exquisite food blog</strong></a> that I stumbled upon when googling \"It\'s Complicated Chocolate Croissants\".  Isn\'t this Internet stuff incredible?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI have never met this foodie blogger, but I think she\'s the greatest thing since <del>sliced bread </del>chocolate croissants.  She is living my dream life.  In a cottage on a lake in North Carolina.  It\'s sooooo Nicholas Sparks.   Sigh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBaking croissants is an all-day extravaganza.  AllRecipes noted and 8 hour and 20 minute time frame.  I started early.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBy 8:30 a.m., the yeast had frothed and the dough had been kneaded.  I sipped my coffee while contemplating how thoroughly relaxing and therapeutic this croissant project had turned out to be.  Perhaps I\'ll be a pastry chef when I grow up.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI realized by late morning, that I hadn\'t heard from Todd.  I wondered if he abandoned ship.  I didn\'t call him, of course.  Who does that these days?  I texted.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span>How\'s your dough?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> I\'ve had some minor technical setbacks this morning that necessitated a trip to the hardware store but I\'m on track again.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHardware store?  I wasn\'t about to open that can of worms.  I sipped more coffee and expressed gratitude for my baking prowess.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n3 hours later...\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> Crap.  This butter and folding stuff is confusing.  I\'m not much of a directions person.  Crap, crap, crap.  Something tells me these will be finished at bedtime.  Crap.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIs this a neurotic Sept 15 thing or is it just me?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(photo)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>Uh, you\'re alone on that.  I\'m using a wine bottle as a rolling pin.  Apparently, I don\'t have one of those.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis where texting leads to miscommunication.  I was actually referring to measuring the dough.  Not with a measuring cup, mind you, but a ruler.  You\'ll note an overabundance of references to lengths and widths in the AllRecipes.com directions.   If I was going to follow directions, then I was going to follow them precisely.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n15 minutes later...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAllRecipes directions:  \"Massage butter until pliable, but not soft and oily.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI have lived 41 years, and not once have I heard of massaging butter.  Am I alone on this?  Do all of you massage butter on a regular basis?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI had no clue what they were talking about, so I just started massaging away.  At first, I softened it in my hands, and then spread it amongst the dough like I was finger painting.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis alone was worth the price of admission.  I am here to tell you, dear readers, that butter massage has an instantaneous calming effect.  Please try this at home.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n15 minutes later...\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span> This is actually a tad stressful.  I was calm during the butter massage, but now I feel like a harried mess.  That Lake Cottage woman seems so calm.  But I believe that she is retired and living on a lake.  I need to go buy and install a router, shop for the week\'s groceries, write a blog post, and report to my day job tomorrow.  In the midst of all of this, I\'m detoxing from an herbal cleanse.  I won\'t go into details.  Not good timing on my part.  :-o\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>LOL.  I\'m with you.  I\'ve been tempted more than once today to chuck it all and used canned dough, but I\'m persevering because though I have 16 hours of work scheduled for today and it\'s not going to get done (cooking or not), I need a little \"me time\" and if that means insanely complicated handmade croissants, so be it.  :-)  No kitchen experiment is without risk or lessons to be had but the most important lesson I\'ve ever learned in the kitchen is...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was one of those really long texts that take up four messages.  Luckily, I have unlimited messages.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> ... to allow your self to fail and have fun no matter what.  The 2nd most importn\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nVerdict:  Find the best bakery in town and splurge on their chocolate croissant.  I will miss the butter massage.  Verdict 2:  Find a tall drink of water and massage his shoulders.  Better yet, get him to massage yours.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI want Penny to adopt me.  Sure this will piss my mother off, but you can never have too many mothers.  As Hillary said, It takes a village!!','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-16','','','2011-03-14 16:33:21','2011-03-14 23:33:21','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/4518-revision-16/',0,'revision','',0),(4535,1,'2011-03-14 16:35:19','2011-03-14 23:35:19','Remember my <a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Birthday Twin Genius</strong></a> that I met at WordCamp?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI propositioned Todd (aka Birthday Twin Genius):  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universe kitchens on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Since all men love to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(Todd is one of those people who got rid of his television so he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous and controversial decision.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI replied with an \"Awesome!\"  (I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDay 168 was Chick Food day.  I chose Chocolate Croissants which I have been chomping at the bit to bake since I saw the movie <em>It\'s Complicated</em>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, how I absolutely adore that movie.  If you haven\'t seen it, you\'re missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the movie, Meryl Streep and Steve Martin relive their youth by smoking pot.  A wicked case of the munchies ensues, and they traipse off to Meryl Streep\'s bakery to whip up a batch of decadent chocolate croissants in the middle of the night.  The scene is deliciously sensual and funny at the same time, as you would expect from the brilliant Ms. Streep.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI began my croissant preparation at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.  As a guide, I used the recipe from <a href=\"http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Croissants/Detail.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>AllRecipes.com</strong></a> which was recommended by an <a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>exquisite food blog</strong></a> that I stumbled upon when googling \"It\'s Complicated Chocolate Croissants\".  Isn\'t this Internet stuff incredible?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI have never met this foodie blogger, but I think she\'s the greatest thing since <del>sliced bread </del>chocolate croissants.  She is living my dream life.  In a cottage on a lake in North Carolina.  It\'s sooooo Nicholas Sparks.   Sigh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBaking croissants is an all-day extravaganza.  AllRecipes noted and 8 hour and 20 minute time frame.  I started early.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBy 8:30 a.m., the yeast had frothed and the dough had been kneaded.  I sipped my coffee while contemplating how thoroughly relaxing and therapeutic this croissant project had turned out to be.  Perhaps I\'ll be a pastry chef when I grow up.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI realized by late morning, that I hadn\'t heard from Todd.  I wondered if he abandoned ship.  I didn\'t call him, of course.  Who does that these days?  I texted.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span>How\'s your dough?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> I\'ve had some minor technical setbacks this morning that necessitated a trip to the hardware store but I\'m on track again.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHardware store?  I wasn\'t about to open that can of worms.  I sipped more coffee and expressed gratitude for my baking prowess.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n3 hours later...\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> Crap.  This butter and folding stuff is confusing.  I\'m not much of a directions person.  Crap, crap, crap.  Something tells me these will be finished at bedtime.  Crap.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIs this a neurotic Sept 15 thing or is it just me?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(photo)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>Uh, you\'re alone on that.  I\'m using a wine bottle as a rolling pin.  Apparently, I don\'t have one of those.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis where texting leads to miscommunication.  I was actually referring to measuring the dough.  Not with a measuring cup, mind you, but a ruler.  You\'ll note an overabundance of references to lengths and widths in the AllRecipes.com directions.   If I was going to follow directions, then I was going to follow them precisely.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n15 minutes later...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAllRecipes directions:  \"Massage butter until pliable, but not soft and oily.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI have lived 41 years, and not once have I heard of massaging butter.  Am I alone on this?  Do all of you massage butter on a regular basis?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI had no clue what they were talking about, so I just started massaging away.  At first, I softened it in my hands, and then spread it amongst the dough like I was finger painting.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis alone was worth the price of admission.  I am here to tell you, dear readers, that butter massage has an instantaneous calming effect.  Please try this at home.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n15 minutes later...\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span> This is actually a tad stressful.  I was calm during the butter massage, but now I feel like a harried mess.  That Lake Cottage woman seems so calm.  But I believe that she is retired and living on a lake.  I need to go buy and install a router, shop for the week\'s groceries, write a blog post, and report to my day job tomorrow.  In the midst of all of this, I\'m detoxing from an herbal cleanse.  I won\'t go into details.  Not good timing on my part.  :-o\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>LOL.  I\'m with you.  I\'ve been tempted more than once today to chuck it all and used canned dough, but I\'m persevering because though I have 16 hours of work scheduled for today and it\'s not going to get done (cooking or not), I need a little \"me time\" and if that means insanely complicated handmade croissants, so be it.  :-)  No kitchen experiment is without risk or lessons to be had but the most important lesson I\'ve ever learned in the kitchen is...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was one of those really long texts that take up four messages.  Luckily, I have unlimited messages.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> ... to allow your self to fail and have fun no matter what.  The 2nd most important lesson which I\'m relearning today is make sure you buy all the junk you need before you start.  1 trip to Lowe\'s and 2 to Albertson\'s.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nVerdict:  Find the best bakery in town and splurge on their chocolate croissant.  I will miss the butter massage.  Verdict 2:  Find a tall drink of water and massage his shoulders.  Better yet, get him to massage yours.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI want Penny to adopt me.  Sure this will piss my mother off, but you can never have too many mothers.  As Hillary said, It takes a village!!','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-17','','','2011-03-14 16:35:19','2011-03-14 23:35:19','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/4518-revision-17/',0,'revision','',0),(4536,1,'2011-03-14 20:15:22','2011-03-15 03:15:22','Remember my <a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Birthday Twin Genius</strong></a> that I met at WordCamp?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI propositioned Todd (aka Birthday Twin Genius):  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universe kitchens on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Since all men love to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(Todd is one of those people who got rid of his television so he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous and controversial decision.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI replied with an \"Awesome!\"  (I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDay 168 was Chick Food day.  I chose Chocolate Croissants which I have been chomping at the bit to bake since I saw the movie <em>It\'s Complicated</em>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, how I absolutely adore that movie.  If you haven\'t seen it, you\'re missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the movie, Meryl Streep and Steve Martin relive their youth by smoking pot.  A wicked case of the munchies ensues, and they traipse off to Meryl Streep\'s bakery to whip up a batch of decadent chocolate croissants in the middle of the night.  The scene is deliciously sensual and funny at the same time, as you would expect from the brilliant Ms. Streep.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI began my croissant preparation at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.  As a guide, I used the recipe from <a href=\"http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Croissants/Detail.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>AllRecipes.com</strong></a> which was recommended by an <a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>exquisite food blog</strong></a> that I stumbled upon when googling \"It\'s Complicated Chocolate Croissants\".  Isn\'t this Internet stuff incredible?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI have never met this foodie blogger, but I think she\'s the greatest thing since <del>sliced bread </del>chocolate croissants.  She is living my dream life.  In a cottage on a lake in North Carolina.  It\'s sooooo Nicholas Sparks.   Sigh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBaking croissants is an all-day extravaganza.  AllRecipes noted and 8 hour and 20 minute time frame.  I started early.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBy 8:30 a.m., the yeast had frothed and the dough had been kneaded.  I sipped my coffee while contemplating how thoroughly relaxing and therapeutic this croissant project had turned out to be.  Perhaps I\'ll be a pastry chef when I grow up.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI realized by late morning, that I hadn\'t heard from Todd.  I wondered if he abandoned ship.  I didn\'t call him, of course.  Who does that these days?  I texted.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span>How\'s your dough?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> I\'ve had some minor technical setbacks this morning that necessitated a trip to the hardware store but I\'m on track again.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHardware store?  I wasn\'t about to open that can of worms.  I sipped more coffee and expressed gratitude for my baking prowess.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n3 hours later...\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> Crap.  This butter and folding stuff is confusing.  I\'m not much of a directions person.  Crap, crap, crap.  Something tells me these will be finished at bedtime.  Crap.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIs this a neurotic Sept 15 thing or is it just me?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(photo)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>Uh, you\'re alone on that.  I\'m using a wine bottle as a rolling pin.  Apparently, I don\'t have one of those.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis where texting leads to miscommunication.  I was actually referring to measuring the dough.  Not with a measuring cup, mind you, but a ruler.  You\'ll note an overabundance of references to lengths and widths in the AllRecipes.com directions.   If I was going to follow directions, then I was going to follow them precisely.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n15 minutes later...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAllRecipes directions:  \"Massage butter until pliable, but not soft and oily.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI have lived 41 years, and not once have I heard of massaging butter.  Am I alone on this?  Do all of you massage butter on a regular basis?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI had no clue what they were talking about, so I just started massaging away.  At first, I softened it in my hands, and then spread it amongst the dough like I was finger painting.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis alone was worth the price of admission.  I am here to tell you, dear readers, that butter massage has an instantaneous calming effect.  Please try this at home.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n15 minutes later...\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span> This is actually a tad stressful.  I was calm during the butter massage, but now I feel like a harried mess.  That Lake Cottage woman seems so calm.  But I believe that she is retired and living on a lake.  I need to go buy and install a router, shop for the week\'s groceries, write a blog post, and report to my day job tomorrow.  In the midst of all of this, I\'m detoxing from an herbal cleanse.  I won\'t go into details.  Not good timing on my part.  :-o\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>LOL.  I\'m with you.  I\'ve been tempted more than once today to chuck it all and used canned dough, but I\'m persevering because though I have 16 hours of work scheduled for today and it\'s not going to get done (cooking or not), I need a little \"me time\" and if that means insanely complicated handmade croissants, so be it.  :-)  No kitchen experiment is without risk or lessons to be had but the most important lesson I\'ve ever learned in the kitchen is...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was one of those really long texts that take up four messages.  Luckily, I have unlimited messages.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> ... to allow your self to fail and have fun no matter what.  The 2nd most important lesson which I\'m relearning today is make sure you buy all the junk you need before you start.  1 trip to Lowe\'s and 2 to Albertson\'s.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> 1st lesson was very profound.  Verklempt.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span> The cottage lady\'s kitchen is unfreaking believable!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, Todd, I know.  I imagine the rest of her life is as impeccable as her kitchen.  A wonderful husband, perfect children, beautiful grandchildren, and (I would bet on it!) a serene and obedient Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSigh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\n5 hours, several dough \"episodes\", and one chocolate shaving disaster later...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nVoila.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA bit overdone.  Breathe...\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict: </strong></span>Find the best bakery in town and splurge on their chocolate croissant.  For the peeps in my fair city, go here:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\">Verdict #2: </span></strong> Find a tall drink of water and massage his shoulders.  Better yet, get him to massage yours.  Token male readers:  Massage a woman\'s shoulders.  There\'s nothing sexier than a giver.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict #3: </strong></span> I would like for the Lake Cottage Lady to adopt me.  Sure this will tick my real mother off, but you can never have too many mothers.  As Hillary once said,  \"It takes a village!!\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd I would like to be in a village with a cottage, thank you very much.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInterested in the \"He Said\" version of the Croissant Extravaganza?  Please visit Todd\'s blog at www.606diaries.com.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-18','','','2011-03-14 20:15:22','2011-03-15 03:15:22','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/4518-revision-18/',0,'revision','',0),(4537,1,'2011-03-14 20:30:40','2011-03-15 03:30:40','Remember my <a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Birthday Twin Genius</strong></a> that I met at <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/31/day-125-wildest-wordcamp-in-the-west/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>WordCamp</strong></a>?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI propositioned Birthday Twin Genius aka Todd:  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universe kitchens on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it. A He Said/She Said blog post!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Since all men love to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(Todd is one of those people who got rid of his television so he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous and controversial decision.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI replied with an \"Awesome!\"  (I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDay 168 was Chick Food day.  I chose Chocolate Croissants which I have been chomping at the bit to bake ever since I saw the movie <em>It\'s Complicated</em>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, how I absolutely adore that movie.  If you haven\'t seen it, you\'re missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the movie, Meryl Streep and Steve Martin relive their youth by smoking pot.  A wicked case of the munchies ensues, and they traipse off to Meryl Streep\'s bakery to whip up a batch of decadent chocolate croissants in the middle of the night.  The scene is deliciously sensual and funny at the same time, as you would expect from the brilliant Ms. Streep.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI began my croissant preparation at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.  As a guide, I used the recipe from <a href=\"http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Croissants/Detail.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>AllRecipes.com</strong></a> which was recommended by an <a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>exquisite food blog</strong></a> that I stumbled upon when googling \"It\'s Complicated Chocolate Croissants\".  Isn\'t this Internet stuff incredible?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI have never met this foodie blogger, but I think she\'s the greatest thing since <del>sliced bread </del>chocolate croissants.  She is living my dream life.  In a cottage on a lake in North Carolina.  It\'s sooooo Nicholas Sparks.   Sigh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBaking croissants is an all-day extravaganza.  AllRecipes noted and 8 hour and 20 minute time frame.  Thus the early start time.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBy 8:30 a.m., the yeast had frothed and the dough had been kneaded.  I sipped my coffee while contemplating how thoroughly relaxing and therapeutic this croissant project had turned out to be.  Perhaps I\'ll be a pastry chef when I grow up.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI realized by late morning, that I hadn\'t heard from Todd.  I wondered if he abandoned ship.  I didn\'t call him, of course.  Who does that these days?  I texted.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span>How\'s your dough?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> I\'ve had some minor technical setbacks this morning that necessitated a trip to the hardware store but I\'m on track again.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHardware store?  I wasn\'t about to open that can of worms.  I sipped more coffee and expressed gratitude for my baking prowess.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n3 hours later...\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> Crap.  This butter and folding stuff is confusing.  I\'m not much of a directions person.  Crap, crap, crap.  Something tells me these will be finished at bedtime.  Crap.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIs this a neurotic Sept 15 thing or is it just me?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(photo)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>Uh, you\'re alone on that.  I\'m using a wine bottle as a rolling pin.  Apparently, I don\'t have one of those.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis where texting leads to miscommunication.  I was actually referring to measuring the dough.  Not with a measuring cup, mind you, but a ruler.  You\'ll note an overabundance of references to lengths and widths in the AllRecipes.com directions.   If I was going to follow directions, then I was going to follow them implicitly.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n15 minutes later...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAllRecipes directions:  \"Massage butter until pliable, but not soft and oily.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI have lived 41 years, and not once have I heard of massaging butter.  Am I alone on this?  Do all of you massage butter on a regular basis?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI had no clue what they were talking about, so I just started massaging away.  At first, I softened it in my hands, and then spread it out over the dough like I was finger painting.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis alone was worth the price of admission.  I am here to tell you, dear readers, that butter massage has an instantaneous calming effect.  Please try this at home.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n15 minutes later...\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span> This is actually a tad stressful.  I was calm during the butter massage, but now I feel like a harried mess.  That Lake Cottage woman seems so zen.  But I believe that she is retired and living on a lake.  I need to go buy and install a router, shop for the week\'s groceries, write a blog post, and report to my day job tomorrow.  In the midst of all of this, I\'m detoxing from an herbal cleanse.  I won\'t go into details.  Not good timing on my part.  :-o\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>LOL.  I\'m with you.  I\'ve been tempted more than once today to chuck it all and used canned dough, but I\'m persevering because though I have 16 hours of work scheduled for today and it\'s not going to get done (cooking or not), I need a little \"me time\" and if that means insanely complicated handmade croissants, so be it.  :-)  No kitchen experiment is without risk or lessons to be had but the most important lesson I\'ve ever learned in the kitchen is...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was one of those really long texts that take up four messages.  Luckily, I have unlimited messages.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> ... to allow your self to fail and have fun no matter what.  The 2nd most important lesson which I\'m relearning today is make sure you buy all the junk you need before you start.  1 trip to Lowe\'s and 2 to Albertson\'s.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> 1st lesson was very profound.  Verklempt.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span> The cottage lady\'s kitchen is unfreaking believable!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, Todd, I know.  I imagine the rest of her life is as impeccable as her kitchen.  I\'m sure that she has a wonderful husband, perfect children, beautiful grandchildren, and (I would bet on it!) a serene and obedient Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSigh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\n5 hours, several dough \"episodes\", and one chocolate shaving disaster later...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nVoila.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA bit overdone.  Breathe...\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict:  No wonder Meryl &amp; Steve enjoyed their croissant-capades.  They were high.  You, too, would need to smoke wacky tobacky to find this process fun. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInstead, seriously consider finding the best bakery in town and splurge on their chocolate croissants.  For the peeps in my fair city, go here:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\">Verdict #2:  Massaging butter is a blast.  If butter is not your thing, find a tall drink of water and massage his shoulders.  Better yet, get him to massage yours. </span></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nToken male readers:  Massage a woman\'s shoulders.  There\'s nothing sexier than a giver.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict #3:  I would like for the Lake Cottage Lady to adopt me. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSure this will tick my real mother off, but you can never have too many mothers.  As Hillary once said,  \"It takes a village!!\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd I would like to be in a village with a cottage, thank you very much.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n*********\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInterested in the \"He Said\" version of the Chocolate Croissant Extravaganza?  Please mosey on over to Todd\'s blog at www.606diaries.com.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-19','','','2011-03-14 20:30:40','2011-03-15 03:30:40','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/4518-revision-19/',0,'revision','',0),(4538,1,'2011-03-14 21:19:31','2011-03-15 04:19:31','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-256','','','2011-03-14 21:19:31','2011-03-15 04:19:31','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130183.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4539,1,'2011-03-14 21:25:07','2011-03-15 04:25:07','','IMG00347-20110313-1429','','inherit','open','open','','img00347-20110313-1429','','','2011-03-14 21:25:07','2011-03-15 04:25:07','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00347-20110313-1429.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4540,1,'2011-03-14 21:26:26','2011-03-15 04:26:26','','IMG_7771','','inherit','open','open','','img_7771','','','2011-03-14 21:26:26','2011-03-15 04:26:26','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_7771.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4541,1,'2011-03-14 21:27:36','2011-03-15 04:27:36','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-257','','','2011-03-14 21:27:36','2011-03-15 04:27:36','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130176.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4542,1,'2011-03-14 21:32:07','2011-03-15 04:32:07','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-258','','','2011-03-14 21:32:07','2011-03-15 04:32:07','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130181.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4543,1,'2011-03-14 21:33:55','2011-03-15 04:33:55','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','Looks promising, right?  Read on and weep.  ','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-259','','','2011-03-14 21:33:55','2011-03-15 04:33:55','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130180.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4544,1,'2011-03-14 21:33:30','2011-03-15 04:33:30','Remember my <a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Birthday Twin Genius</strong></a> that I met at <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/31/day-125-wildest-wordcamp-in-the-west/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>WordCamp</strong></a>?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI propositioned Birthday Twin Genius aka Todd:  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universe kitchens on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it.  A He Said/She Said blog post!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Since all men love to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(Todd is one of those people who chucked his cable so that he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous and controversial decision.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI replied with an \"Awesome!\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDay 168 was Chick Food day.  I chose Chocolate Croissants which I have been chomping at the bit to bake ever since I saw the movie<strong> <em><a href=\"http://www.itscomplicatedmovie.com/\" target=\"_blank\">It\'s Complicated</a></em></strong>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, how I absolutely adore that movie.  If you haven\'t seen it, you\'re missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the movie, Meryl Streep and Steve Martin relive their youth by smoking pot.  A wicked case of the munchies ensues, and they traipse off to Meryl Streep\'s bakery to whip up a batch of decadent chocolate croissants in the middle of the night.  The scene is deliciously sensual and funny at the same time, as you would expect from the brilliant Ms. Streep.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI began my croissant preparation at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.  As a guide, I used the recipe from <a href=\"http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Croissants/Detail.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>AllRecipes.com</strong></a> which was recommended by an <a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>exquisite food blog</strong></a> that I stumbled upon when googling \"It\'s Complicated Chocolate Croissants\".  Isn\'t this Internet stuff incredible?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI have never met this foodie blogger, but I think she\'s the greatest thing since <del>sliced bread </del>chocolate croissants.  She is living my dream life.  In a cottage on a lake in North Carolina.  It\'s sooooo Nicholas Sparks.   Sigh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBaking croissants is an all-day extravaganza.  AllRecipes noted and 8 hour and 20 minute time frame.  Thus the early start time.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBy 8:30 a.m., the yeast had frothed and the dough had been kneaded.  I sipped my coffee while contemplating how thoroughly relaxing and therapeutic this croissant project had turned out to be.  Perhaps I\'ll be a pastry chef when I grow up.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI realized by late morning, that I hadn\'t heard from Todd.  I wondered if he abandoned ship.  I didn\'t call him, of course.  Who does that these days?  I texted.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span>How\'s your dough?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> I\'ve had some minor technical setbacks this morning that necessitated a trip to the hardware store but I\'m on track again.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHardware store?  I wasn\'t about to open that can of worms.  I sipped more coffee and expressed gratitude for my baking prowess.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>3 hours later...</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> Crap.  This butter and folding stuff is confusing.  I\'m not much of a directions person.  Crap, crap, crap.  Something tells me these will be finished at bedtime.  Crap.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIs this a neurotic Sept 15 thing or is it just me?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00347-20110313-1429.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4539\" title=\"IMG00347-20110313-1429\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00347-20110313-1429-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>Uh, you\'re alone on that.  I\'m using a wine bottle as a rolling pin.  Apparently, I don\'t have one of those.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_7771.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4540\" title=\"IMG_7771\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_7771-300x223.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"223\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis where texting leads to miscommunication.  I was actually referring to measuring the dough.  Not with a measuring cup, mind you, but a ruler.  You\'ll note an overabundance of references to lengths and widths in the AllRecipes.com directions.   If I was going to follow directions, then I was going to follow them implicitly.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">15 minutes later...</span></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAllRecipes.com directions:  \"Massage butter until pliable, but not soft and oily.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI am 41, and not once have I heard of massaging butter.  Am I alone on this?  Do all of you massage butter on a regular basis?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI had no clue what they were talking about, so I just started massaging away.  At first, I softened it in my hands, and then spread it out over the dough like I was finger painting.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130176.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4541\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis alone was worth the price of admission.  I am here to tell you, dear readers, that butter massage has an instantaneous calming effect.  Please try this at home.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>15 minutes later...</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span> This is actually a tad stressful.  I was relaxed during the butter massage, but now I feel like a harried mess.  That Lake Cottage woman seems so zen.  But I believe that she is retired and living on a lake.  I need to go buy and install a router, shop for the week\'s groceries, write a blog post, and report to my day job tomorrow.  In the midst of all of this, I\'m detoxing from an herbal cleanse.  I won\'t go into details.  Not good timing on my part.  :-o\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>LOL.  I\'m with you.  I\'ve been tempted more than once today to chuck it all and used canned dough, but I\'m persevering because though I have 16 hours of work scheduled for today, and it\'s not going to get done (cooking or not).  I need a little \"me time\" and if that means insanely complicated handmade croissants, so be it.  :-)  No kitchen experiment is without risk or lessons to be had but the most important lesson I\'ve ever learned in the kitchen is...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was one of those really long texts that take up four messages.  Luckily, I have unlimited messages.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> ... to allow your self to fail and have fun no matter what.  The 2nd most important lesson which I\'m relearning today is make sure you buy all the junk you need before you start.  1 trip to Lowe\'s and 2 to Albertson\'s.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> 1st lesson was very profound.  Verklempt.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(I was distracted and at the Apple Store during the umpteenth dough rise.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span> The cottage lady\'s kitchen is unfreaking believable!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, Todd, I know.  I imagine the rest of her life is as impeccable as her kitchen.  I\'m sure that she has a wonderful husband, perfect children, beautiful grandchildren, and (I would bet on it!) a serene and obedient Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSigh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nStark reality:  My kitchen looks nothing like Lovely Lake Cottage Lady\'s kitchen.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130181.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4542\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130181-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>5 hours, several dough \"episodes\", and one chocolate shaving disaster later...</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nVoila!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130183.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4538\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130183-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA bit overdone.  Breathe...\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict:  No wonder Meryl &amp; Steve enjoyed their croissant-capades.  They were high.  You, too, would need to smoke wacky tobacky to find this process fun. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInstead, seriously consider finding the best bakery in town and splurge on their chocolate croissants.  For the peeps in my fair city, go here:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\">Verdict #2:  Massaging butter is a blast.  If butter is not your thing, then find a tall drink of water and massage his shoulders.  Better yet, get him to massage yours. </span></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Token male readers:  Massage a woman\'s shoulders.  There\'s nothing sexier than a giver.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict #3:  I would like for the Lake Cottage Lady to adopt me. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSure this will tick my real mother off, but you can never have too many mothers.  As Hillary once said,  \"It takes a village.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd I would like to be in a village with a cottage, thank you very much.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n*********\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInterested in the \"He Said\" version of the Chocolate Croissant Extravaganza?  Find out how Todd\'s croissants fared at <strong><a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\">www.606diaries.com</a></strong>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-20','','','2011-03-14 21:33:30','2011-03-15 04:33:30','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/4518-revision-20/',0,'revision','',0),(4545,1,'2011-03-14 21:39:21','2011-03-15 04:39:21','[caption id=\"attachment_4543\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"Looks promising, right?  Read on and weep.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130180.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4543\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130180-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nRemember my <a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Birthday Twin Genius</strong></a> that I met at <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/31/day-125-wildest-wordcamp-in-the-west/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>WordCamp</strong></a>?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI propositioned Birthday Twin Genius aka Todd:  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universe kitchens on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it.  A He Said/She Said blog post!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Since all men love to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(Todd is one of those people who chucked his cable so that he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous and controversial decision.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI replied with an \"Awesome!\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDay 168 was Chick Food day.  I chose Chocolate Croissants which I have been chomping at the bit to bake ever since I saw the movie<strong> <em><a href=\"http://www.itscomplicatedmovie.com/\" target=\"_blank\">It\'s Complicated</a></em></strong>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, how I absolutely adore that movie.  If you haven\'t seen it, you\'re missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the movie, Meryl Streep and Steve Martin relive their youth by smoking pot.  A wicked case of the munchies ensues, and they traipse off to Meryl Streep\'s bakery to whip up a batch of decadent chocolate croissants in the middle of the night.  The scene is deliciously sensual and funny at the same time, as you would expect from the brilliant Ms. Streep.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI began my croissant preparation at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.  As a guide, I used the recipe from <a href=\"http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Croissants/Detail.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>AllRecipes.com</strong></a> which was recommended by an <a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>exquisite food blog</strong></a> that I stumbled upon when googling \"It\'s Complicated Chocolate Croissants\".  Isn\'t this Internet stuff incredible?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI have never met this foodie blogger, but I think she\'s the greatest thing since <del>sliced bread </del>chocolate croissants.  She is living my dream life.  In a cottage on a lake in North Carolina.  It\'s sooooo Nicholas Sparks.   Sigh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBaking croissants is an all-day extravaganza.  AllRecipes noted and 8 hour and 20 minute time frame.  Thus the early start time.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBy 8:30 a.m., the yeast had frothed and the dough had been kneaded.  I sipped my coffee while contemplating how thoroughly relaxing and therapeutic this croissant project had turned out to be.  Perhaps I\'ll be a pastry chef when I grow up.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI realized by late morning, that I hadn\'t heard from Todd.  I wondered if he abandoned ship.  I didn\'t call him, of course.  Who does that these days?  I texted.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span>How\'s your dough?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> I\'ve had some minor technical setbacks this morning that necessitated a trip to the hardware store but I\'m on track again.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHardware store?  I wasn\'t about to open that can of worms.  I sipped more coffee and expressed gratitude for my baking prowess.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>3 hours later...</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> Crap.  This butter and folding stuff is confusing.  I\'m not much of a directions person.  Crap, crap, crap.  Something tells me these will be finished at bedtime.  Crap.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIs this a neurotic Sept 15 thing or is it just me?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00347-20110313-1429.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4539\" title=\"IMG00347-20110313-1429\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00347-20110313-1429-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>Uh, you\'re alone on that.  I\'m using a wine bottle as a rolling pin.  Apparently, I don\'t have one of those.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_7771.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4540\" title=\"IMG_7771\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_7771-300x223.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"223\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis where texting leads to miscommunication.  I was actually referring to measuring the dough.  Not with a measuring cup, mind you, but a ruler.  You\'ll note an overabundance of references to lengths and widths in the AllRecipes.com directions.   If I was going to follow directions, then I was going to follow them implicitly.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">15 minutes later...</span></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAllRecipes.com directions:  \"Massage butter until pliable, but not soft and oily.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI am 41, and not once have I heard of massaging butter.  Am I alone on this?  Do all of you massage butter on a regular basis?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI had no clue what they were talking about, so I just started massaging away.  At first, I softened it in my hands, and then spread it out over the dough like I was finger painting.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130176.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4541\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis alone was worth the price of admission.  I am here to tell you, dear readers, that butter massage has an instantaneous calming effect.  Please try this at home.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>15 minutes later...</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span> This is actually a tad stressful.  I was relaxed during the butter massage, but now I feel like a harried mess.  That Lake Cottage woman seems so zen.  But I believe that she is retired and living on a lake.  I need to go buy and install a router, shop for the week\'s groceries, write a blog post, and report to my day job tomorrow.  In the midst of all of this, I\'m detoxing from an herbal cleanse.  I won\'t go into details.  Not good timing on my part.  :-o\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>LOL.  I\'m with you.  I\'ve been tempted more than once today to chuck it all and used canned dough, but I\'m persevering because though I have 16 hours of work scheduled for today, and it\'s not going to get done (cooking or not).  I need a little \"me time\" and if that means insanely complicated handmade croissants, so be it.  :-)  No kitchen experiment is without risk or lessons to be had but the most important lesson I\'ve ever learned in the kitchen is...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was one of those really long texts that take up four messages.  Luckily, I have unlimited messages.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> ... to allow your self to fail and have fun no matter what.  The 2nd most important lesson which I\'m relearning today is make sure you buy all the junk you need before you start.  1 trip to Lowe\'s and 2 to Albertson\'s.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> 1st lesson was very profound.  Verklempt.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(I was distracted and at the Apple Store during the umpteenth dough rise.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span> The cottage lady\'s kitchen is unfreakinbelievable!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, Todd, I know.  I imagine the rest of her life is as impeccable as her kitchen.  I\'m sure that she has a wonderful husband, perfect children, beautiful grandchildren, and (I would bet on it!) a serene and obedient Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSigh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nStark reality:  My kitchen looks nothing like Lovely Lake Cottage Lady\'s kitchen.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130181.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4542\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130181-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>5 hours, several dough \"episodes\", and one chocolate shaving disaster later...</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nVoila!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130183.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4538\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130183-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA bit overdone.  Breathe...\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict:  No wonder Meryl &amp; Steve enjoyed their croissant-capades.  They were high.  You, too, would need to smoke wacky tobacky to find this process fun. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInstead, seriously consider finding the best bakery in town and splurge on their chocolate croissants.  For the peeps in my fair city, go here:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\">Verdict #2:  Massaging butter is a blast.  If butter is not your thing, then find a tall drink of water and massage his shoulders.  Better yet, get him to massage yours. </span></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Token male readers:  Massage a woman\'s shoulders.  There\'s nothing sexier than a giver.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict #3:  I would like for the Lake Cottage Lady to adopt me. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSure this will tick my real mother off, but you can never have too many mothers.  As Hillary once said,  \"It takes a village.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd I would like to be in a village with a cottage, thank you very much.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n*********\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInterested in the \"He Said\" version of the Chocolate Croissant Extravaganza?  Find out how Todd\'s croissants fared at <strong><a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\">www.606diaries.com</a></strong>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-21','','','2011-03-14 21:39:21','2011-03-15 04:39:21','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/4518-revision-21/',0,'revision','',0),(4547,1,'2011-03-14 21:41:48','2011-03-15 04:41:48','[caption id=\"attachment_4543\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"The final rise. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130180.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4543 \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130180-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nRemember my <a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Birthday Twin Genius</strong></a> that I met at <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/31/day-125-wildest-wordcamp-in-the-west/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>WordCamp</strong></a>?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI propositioned Birthday Twin Genius aka Todd:  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universe kitchens on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it.  A He Said/She Said blog post!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Since all men love to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(Todd is one of those people who chucked his cable so that he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous and controversial decision.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI replied with an \"Awesome!\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDay 168 was Chick Food day.  I chose Chocolate Croissants which I have been chomping at the bit to bake ever since I saw the movie<strong> <em><a href=\"http://www.itscomplicatedmovie.com/\" target=\"_blank\">It\'s Complicated</a></em></strong>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, how I absolutely adore that movie.  If you haven\'t seen it, you\'re missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the movie, Meryl Streep and Steve Martin relive their youth by smoking pot.  A wicked case of the munchies ensues, and they traipse off to Meryl Streep\'s bakery to whip up a batch of decadent chocolate croissants in the middle of the night.  The scene is deliciously sensual and funny at the same time, as you would expect from the brilliant Ms. Streep.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI began my croissant preparation at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.  As a guide, I used the recipe from <a href=\"http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Croissants/Detail.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>AllRecipes.com</strong></a> which was recommended by an <a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>exquisite food blog</strong></a> that I stumbled upon when googling \"It\'s Complicated Chocolate Croissants\".  Isn\'t this Internet stuff incredible?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI have never met this foodie blogger, but I think she\'s the greatest thing since <del>sliced bread </del>chocolate croissants.  She is living my dream life.  In a cottage on a lake in North Carolina.  It\'s sooooo Nicholas Sparks.   Sigh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBaking croissants is an all-day extravaganza.  AllRecipes noted and 8 hour and 20 minute time frame.  Thus the early start time.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBy 8:30 a.m., the yeast had frothed and the dough had been kneaded.  I sipped my coffee while contemplating how thoroughly relaxing and therapeutic this croissant project had turned out to be.  Perhaps I\'ll be a pastry chef when I grow up.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI realized by late morning, that I hadn\'t heard from Todd.  I wondered if he abandoned ship.  I didn\'t call him, of course.  Who does that these days?  I texted.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span>How\'s your dough?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> I\'ve had some minor technical setbacks this morning that necessitated a trip to the hardware store but I\'m on track again.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHardware store?  I wasn\'t about to open that can of worms.  I sipped more coffee and expressed gratitude for my baking prowess.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>3 hours later...</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> Crap.  This butter and folding stuff is confusing.  I\'m not much of a directions person.  Crap, crap, crap.  Something tells me these will be finished at bedtime.  Crap.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIs this a neurotic Sept 15 thing or is it just me?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00347-20110313-1429.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4539\" title=\"IMG00347-20110313-1429\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00347-20110313-1429-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>Uh, you\'re alone on that.  I\'m using a wine bottle as a rolling pin.  Apparently, I don\'t have one of those.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_7771.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4540\" title=\"IMG_7771\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_7771-300x223.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"223\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis where texting leads to miscommunication.  I was actually referring to measuring the dough.  Not with a measuring cup, mind you, but a ruler.  You\'ll note an overabundance of references to lengths and widths in the AllRecipes.com directions.   If I was going to follow directions, then I was going to follow them implicitly.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">15 minutes later...</span></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAllRecipes.com directions:  \"Massage butter until pliable, but not soft and oily.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI am 41, and not once have I heard of massaging butter.  Am I alone on this?  Do all of you massage butter on a regular basis?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI had no clue what they were talking about, so I just started massaging away.  At first, I softened it in my hands, and then spread it out over the dough like I was finger painting.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130176.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4541\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis alone was worth the price of admission.  I am here to tell you, dear readers, that butter massage has an instantaneous calming effect.  Please try this at home.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>15 minutes later...</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span> This is actually a tad stressful.  I was relaxed during the butter massage, but now I feel like a harried mess.  That Lake Cottage woman seems so zen.  But I believe that she is retired and living on a lake.  I need to go buy and install a router, shop for the week\'s groceries, write a blog post, and report to my day job tomorrow.  In the midst of all of this, I\'m detoxing from an herbal cleanse.  I won\'t go into details.  Not good timing on my part.  :-o\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>LOL.  I\'m with you.  I\'ve been tempted more than once today to chuck it all and used canned dough, but I\'m persevering because though I have 16 hours of work scheduled for today, and it\'s not going to get done (cooking or not).  I need a little \"me time\" and if that means insanely complicated handmade croissants, so be it.  :-)  No kitchen experiment is without risk or lessons to be had but the most important lesson I\'ve ever learned in the kitchen is...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was one of those really long texts that take up four messages.  Luckily, I have unlimited messages.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> ... to allow your self to fail and have fun no matter what.  The 2nd most important lesson which I\'m relearning today is make sure you buy all the junk you need before you start.  1 trip to Lowe\'s and 2 to Albertson\'s.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> 1st lesson was very profound.  Verklempt.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(I was distracted and at the Apple Store during the umpteenth dough rise.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span> The cottage lady\'s kitchen is unfreakinbelievable!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, Todd, I know.  I imagine the rest of her life is as impeccable as her kitchen.  I\'m sure that she has a wonderful husband, perfect children, beautiful grandchildren, and (I would bet on it!) a serene and obedient Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSigh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nStark reality:  My kitchen looks nothing like Lovely Lake Cottage Lady\'s kitchen.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130181.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4542\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130181-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>5 hours, several dough \"episodes\", and one chocolate shaving disaster later...</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nVoila!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130183.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4538\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130183-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA bit overdone.  Breathe...\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict:  No wonder Meryl &amp; Steve enjoyed their croissant-capades.  They were high.  You, too, would need to smoke wacky tobacky to find this process fun. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInstead, seriously consider finding the best bakery in town and splurge on their chocolate croissants.  For the peeps in my fair city, go here:  <strong><a href=\"http://pcroissant.com/\" target=\"_blank\">http://pcroissant.com/</a>.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\">Verdict #2:  Massaging butter is a blast.  If butter is not your thing, then find a tall drink of water and massage his shoulders.  Better yet, get him to massage yours. </span></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Token male readers:  Massage a woman\'s shoulders.  There\'s nothing sexier than a giver.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict #3:  I would like for the Lake Cottage Lady to adopt me. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSure this will tick my real mother off, but you can never have too many mothers.  As Hillary once said,  \"It takes a village.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd I would like to be in a village with a cottage, thank you very much.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n*********\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInterested in the \"He Said\" version of the Chocolate Croissant Extravaganza?  Find out how Todd\'s croissants fared at <strong><a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\">www.606diaries.com</a></strong>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-23','','','2011-03-14 21:41:48','2011-03-15 04:41:48','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/4518-revision-23/',0,'revision','',0),(4546,1,'2011-03-14 21:39:44','2011-03-15 04:39:44','[caption id=\"attachment_4543\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"Looks promising, right?  Read on and weep.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130180.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4543\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130180-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nRemember my <a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Birthday Twin Genius</strong></a> that I met at <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/31/day-125-wildest-wordcamp-in-the-west/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>WordCamp</strong></a>?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI propositioned Birthday Twin Genius aka Todd:  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universe kitchens on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it.  A He Said/She Said blog post!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Since all men love to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Todd is one of those people who chucked his cable so that he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous and controversial decision.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI replied with an \"Awesome!\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDay 168 was Chick Food day.  I chose Chocolate Croissants which I have been chomping at the bit to bake ever since I saw the movie<strong> <em><a href=\"http://www.itscomplicatedmovie.com/\" target=\"_blank\">It\'s Complicated</a></em></strong>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOh, how I absolutely adore that movie.  If you haven\'t seen it, you\'re missing out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the movie, Meryl Streep and Steve Martin relive their youth by smoking pot.  A wicked case of the munchies ensues, and they traipse off to Meryl Streep\'s bakery to whip up a batch of decadent chocolate croissants in the middle of the night.  The scene is deliciously sensual and funny at the same time, as you would expect from the brilliant Ms. Streep.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI began my croissant preparation at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.  As a guide, I used the recipe from <a href=\"http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Croissants/Detail.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>AllRecipes.com</strong></a> which was recommended by an <a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>exquisite food blog</strong></a> that I stumbled upon when googling \"It\'s Complicated Chocolate Croissants\".  Isn\'t this Internet stuff incredible?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have never met this foodie blogger, but I think she\'s the greatest thing since <del>sliced bread </del>chocolate croissants.  She is living my dream life.  In a cottage on a lake in North Carolina.  It\'s sooooo Nicholas Sparks.   Sigh...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBaking croissants is an all-day extravaganza.  AllRecipes noted and 8 hour and 20 minute time frame.  Thus the early start time.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBy 8:30 a.m., the yeast had frothed and the dough had been kneaded.  I sipped my coffee while contemplating how thoroughly relaxing and therapeutic this croissant project had turned out to be.  Perhaps I\'ll be a pastry chef when I grow up.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI realized by late morning, that I hadn\'t heard from Todd.  I wondered if he abandoned ship.  I didn\'t call him, of course.  Who does that these days?  I texted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span>How\'s your dough?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> I\'ve had some minor technical setbacks this morning that necessitated a trip to the hardware store but I\'m on track again.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHardware store?  I wasn\'t about to open that can of worms.  I sipped more coffee and expressed gratitude for my baking prowess.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>3 hours later...</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> Crap.  This butter and folding stuff is confusing.  I\'m not much of a directions person.  Crap, crap, crap.  Something tells me these will be finished at bedtime.  Crap.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIs this a neurotic Sept 15 thing or is it just me?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00347-20110313-1429.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4539\" title=\"IMG00347-20110313-1429\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00347-20110313-1429-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>Uh, you\'re alone on that.  I\'m using a wine bottle as a rolling pin.  Apparently, I don\'t have one of those.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_7771.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4540\" title=\"IMG_7771\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_7771-300x223.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"223\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis where texting leads to miscommunication.  I was actually referring to measuring the dough.  Not with a measuring cup, mind you, but a ruler.  You\'ll note an overabundance of references to lengths and widths in the AllRecipes.com directions.   If I was going to follow directions, then I was going to follow them implicitly.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">15 minutes later...</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAllRecipes.com directions:  \"Massage butter until pliable, but not soft and oily.\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI am 41, and not once have I heard of massaging butter.  Am I alone on this?  Do all of you massage butter on a regular basis?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had no clue what they were talking about, so I just started massaging away.  At first, I softened it in my hands, and then spread it out over the dough like I was finger painting.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130176.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4541\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis alone was worth the price of admission.  I am here to tell you, dear readers, that butter massage has an instantaneous calming effect.  Please try this at home.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>15 minutes later...</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span> This is actually a tad stressful.  I was relaxed during the butter massage, but now I feel like a harried mess.  That Lake Cottage woman seems so zen.  But I believe that she is retired and living on a lake.  I need to go buy and install a router, shop for the week\'s groceries, write a blog post, and report to my day job tomorrow.  In the midst of all of this, I\'m detoxing from an herbal cleanse.  I won\'t go into details.  Not good timing on my part.  :-o\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>LOL.  I\'m with you.  I\'ve been tempted more than once today to chuck it all and used canned dough, but I\'m persevering because though I have 16 hours of work scheduled for today, and it\'s not going to get done (cooking or not).  I need a little \"me time\" and if that means insanely complicated handmade croissants, so be it.  :-)  No kitchen experiment is without risk or lessons to be had but the most important lesson I\'ve ever learned in the kitchen is...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was one of those really long texts that take up four messages.  Luckily, I have unlimited messages.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> ... to allow your self to fail and have fun no matter what.  The 2nd most important lesson which I\'m relearning today is make sure you buy all the junk you need before you start.  1 trip to Lowe\'s and 2 to Albertson\'s.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> 1st lesson was very profound.  Verklempt.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(I was distracted and at the Apple Store during the umpteenth dough rise.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span> The cottage lady\'s kitchen is unfreakinbelievable!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYes, Todd, I know.  I imagine the rest of her life is as impeccable as her kitchen.  I\'m sure that she has a wonderful husband, perfect children, beautiful grandchildren, and (I would bet on it!) a serene and obedient Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSigh...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nStark reality:  My kitchen looks nothing like Lovely Lake Cottage Lady\'s kitchen.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130181.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4542\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130181-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>5 hours, several dough \"episodes\", and one chocolate shaving disaster later...</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVoila!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130183.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4538\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130183-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA bit overdone.  Breathe...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict:  No wonder Meryl &amp; Steve enjoyed their croissant-capades.  They were high.  You, too, would need to smoke wacky tobacky to find this process fun. </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInstead, seriously consider finding the best bakery in town and splurge on their chocolate croissants.  For the peeps in my fair city, go here:  <strong><a href=\"http://pcroissant.com/\" target=\"_blank\">http://pcroissant.com/</a>.</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\">Verdict #2:  Massaging butter is a blast.  If butter is not your thing, then find a tall drink of water and massage his shoulders.  Better yet, get him to massage yours. </span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Token male readers:  Massage a woman\'s shoulders.  There\'s nothing sexier than a giver.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict #3:  I would like for the Lake Cottage Lady to adopt me. </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSure this will tick my real mother off, but you can never have too many mothers.  As Hillary once said,  \"It takes a village.\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd I would like to be in a village with a cottage, thank you very much.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n*********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInterested in the \"He Said\" version of the Chocolate Croissant Extravaganza?  Find out how Todd\'s croissants fared at <strong><a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\">www.606diaries.com</a></strong>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-22','','','2011-03-14 21:39:44','2011-03-15 04:39:44','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/4518-revision-22/',0,'revision','',0),(4548,1,'2011-03-14 21:45:06','2011-03-15 04:45:06','[caption id=\"attachment_4543\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"The final rise.  Nearly 12 hours later...\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130180.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4543  \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130180-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nRemember my <a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Birthday Twin Genius</strong></a> that I met at <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/31/day-125-wildest-wordcamp-in-the-west/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>WordCamp</strong></a>?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI propositioned Birthday Twin Genius aka Todd:  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universe kitchens on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it.  A He Said/She Said blog post!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Since all men love to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(Todd is one of those people who chucked his cable so that he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous and controversial decision.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI replied with an \"Awesome!\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDay 168 was Chick Food day.  I chose Chocolate Croissants which I have been chomping at the bit to bake ever since I saw the movie<strong> <em><a href=\"http://www.itscomplicatedmovie.com/\" target=\"_blank\">It\'s Complicated</a></em></strong>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, how I absolutely adore that movie.  If you haven\'t seen it, you\'re missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the movie, Meryl Streep and Steve Martin relive their youth by smoking pot.  A wicked case of the munchies ensues, and they traipse off to Meryl Streep\'s bakery to whip up a batch of decadent chocolate croissants in the middle of the night.  The scene is deliciously sensual and funny at the same time, as you would expect from the brilliant Ms. Streep.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI began my croissant preparation at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.  As a guide, I used the recipe from <a href=\"http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Croissants/Detail.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>AllRecipes.com</strong></a> which was recommended by an <a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>exquisite food blog</strong></a> that I stumbled upon when googling \"It\'s Complicated Chocolate Croissants\".  Isn\'t this Internet stuff incredible?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI have never met this foodie blogger, but I think she\'s the greatest thing since <del>sliced bread </del>chocolate croissants.  She is living my dream life.  In a cottage on a lake in North Carolina.  It\'s sooooo Nicholas Sparks.   Sigh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBaking croissants is an all-day extravaganza.  AllRecipes noted an 8 hour and 20 minute time frame.  Thus the early start time.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBy 8:30 a.m., the yeast had frothed and the dough had been kneaded.  I sipped my coffee while contemplating how thoroughly relaxing and therapeutic this croissant project had turned out to be.  Perhaps I\'ll be a pastry chef when I grow up.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI realized by late morning, that I hadn\'t heard from Todd.  I wondered if he abandoned ship.  I didn\'t call him, of course.  Who does that these days?  I texted.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span>How\'s your dough?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> I\'ve had some minor technical setbacks this morning that necessitated a trip to the hardware store but I\'m on track again.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHardware store?  I wasn\'t about to open that can of worms.  I sipped more coffee and expressed gratitude for my baking prowess.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>3 hours later...</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> Crap.  This butter and folding stuff is confusing.  I\'m not much of a directions person.  Crap, crap, crap.  Something tells me these will be finished at bedtime.  Crap.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIs this a neurotic Sept 15 thing or is it just me?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00347-20110313-1429.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4539\" title=\"IMG00347-20110313-1429\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00347-20110313-1429-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>Uh, you\'re alone on that.  I\'m using a wine bottle as a rolling pin.  Apparently, I don\'t have one of those.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_7771.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4540\" title=\"IMG_7771\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_7771-300x223.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"223\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis where texting leads to miscommunication.  I was actually referring to measuring the dough.  Not with a measuring cup, mind you, but a ruler.  You\'ll note an overabundance of references to lengths and widths in the AllRecipes.com directions.   If I was going to follow directions, then I was going to follow them implicitly.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">15 minutes later...</span></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAllRecipes.com directions:  \"Massage butter until pliable, but not soft and oily.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI am 41, and not once have I heard of massaging butter.  Am I alone on this?  Do all of you massage butter on a regular basis?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI had no clue what they were talking about, so I just started massaging away.  At first, I softened it in my hands, and then spread it out over the dough like I was finger painting.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130176.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4541\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis alone was worth the price of admission.  I am here to tell you, dear readers, that butter massage has an instantaneous calming effect.  Please try this at home.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>15 minutes later...</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span> This is actually a tad stressful.  I was relaxed during the butter massage, but now I feel like a harried mess.  That Lake Cottage woman seems so zen.  But I believe that she is retired and living on a lake.  I need to go buy and install a router, shop for the week\'s groceries, write a blog post, and report to my day job tomorrow.  In the midst of all of this, I\'m detoxing from an herbal cleanse.  I won\'t go into details.  Not good timing on my part.  :-o\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>LOL.  I\'m with you.  I\'ve been tempted more than once today to chuck it all and used canned dough, but I\'m persevering because though I have 16 hours of work scheduled for today, and it\'s not going to get done (cooking or not).  I need a little \"me time\" and if that means insanely complicated handmade croissants, so be it.  :-)  No kitchen experiment is without risk or lessons to be had but the most important lesson I\'ve ever learned in the kitchen is...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was one of those really long texts that take up four messages.  Luckily, I have unlimited messages.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> ... to allow your self to fail and have fun no matter what.  The 2nd most important lesson which I\'m relearning today is make sure you buy all the junk you need before you start.  1 trip to Lowe\'s and 2 to Albertson\'s.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> 1st lesson was very profound.  Verklempt.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(I was distracted and at the Apple Store during the umpteenth dough rise.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span> The cottage lady\'s kitchen is unfreakinbelievable!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, Todd, I know.  I imagine the rest of her life is as impeccable as her kitchen.  I\'m sure that she has a wonderful husband, perfect children, beautiful grandchildren, and (I would bet on it!) a serene and obedient Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSigh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nStark reality:  My kitchen looks nothing like Lovely Lake Cottage Lady\'s kitchen.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130181.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4542\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130181-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>5 hours, several dough \"episodes\", and one chocolate shaving disaster later...</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nVoila!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130183.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4538\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130183-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA bit overdone.  Breathe...\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict:  No wonder Meryl &amp; Steve enjoyed their croissant-capades.  They were high.  You, too, would need to smoke wacky tobacky to find this process fun. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInstead, seriously consider finding the best bakery in town and splurge on their chocolate croissants.  For the peeps in my fair city, go here:  <strong><a href=\"http://pcroissant.com/\" target=\"_blank\">http://pcroissant.com/</a>.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\">Verdict #2:  Massaging butter is a blast.  If butter is not your thing, then find a tall drink of water and massage his shoulders.  Better yet, get him to massage yours. </span></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Token male readers:  Massage a woman\'s shoulders.  There\'s nothing sexier than a giver.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict #3:  I would like for the Lake Cottage Lady to adopt me. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSure this will tick my real mother off, but you can never have too many mothers.  As Hillary once said,  \"It takes a village.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd I would like to be in a village with a cottage, thank you very much.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n*********\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInterested in the \"He Said\" version of the Chocolate Croissant Extravaganza?  Find out how Todd\'s croissants fared at <strong><a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\">www.606diaries.com</a></strong>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-24','','','2011-03-14 21:45:06','2011-03-15 04:45:06','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/4518-revision-24/',0,'revision','',0),(4549,1,'2011-03-14 21:48:02','2011-03-15 04:48:02','[caption id=\"attachment_4543\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"The final rise.  Nearly 12 hours later...\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130180.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4543  \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130180-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nRemember my <a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Birthday Twin Genius</strong></a> that I met at <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/31/day-125-wildest-wordcamp-in-the-west/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>WordCamp</strong></a>?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI propositioned Birthday Twin Genius aka Todd:  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universe kitchens on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it.  A He Said/She Said blog post!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Since all men love to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(Todd is one of those people who chucked his cable so that he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous and controversial decision.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI replied with an \"Awesome!\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDay 168 was Chick Food day.  I chose Chocolate Croissants which I have been chomping at the bit to bake ever since I saw the movie<strong> <em><a href=\"http://www.itscomplicatedmovie.com/\" target=\"_blank\">It\'s Complicated</a></em></strong>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, how I absolutely adore that movie.  If you haven\'t seen it, you\'re missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the movie, Meryl Streep and Steve Martin relive their youth by smoking pot.  A wicked case of the munchies ensues, and they traipse off to Meryl Streep\'s bakery to whip up a batch of decadent chocolate croissants in the middle of the night.  The scene is deliciously sensual and funny at the same time, as you would expect from the brilliant Ms. Streep.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI began my croissant preparation at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.  As a guide, I used the recipe from <a href=\"http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Croissants/Detail.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>AllRecipes.com</strong></a> which was recommended by an <a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>exquisite food blog</strong></a> that I stumbled upon when googling \"It\'s Complicated Chocolate Croissants\".  Isn\'t this Internet stuff incredible?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI have never met this foodie blogger, but I think she\'s the greatest thing since <del>sliced bread </del>chocolate croissants.  She is living my dream life.  In a cottage on a lake in North Carolina.  It\'s sooooo Nicholas Sparks.   Sigh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBaking croissants is an all-day extravaganza.  AllRecipes noted an 8 hour and 20 minute time frame.  Thus the early start time.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBy 8:30 a.m., the yeast had frothed and the dough had been kneaded.  I sipped my coffee while contemplating how thoroughly relaxing and therapeutic this croissant project had turned out to be.  Perhaps I\'ll be a pastry chef when I grow up.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI realized by late morning, that I hadn\'t heard from Todd.  I wondered if he abandoned ship.  I didn\'t call him, of course.  Who does that these days?  I texted.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span>How\'s your dough?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> I\'ve had some minor technical setbacks this morning that necessitated a trip to the hardware store but I\'m on track again.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHardware store?  I wasn\'t about to open that can of worms.  I sipped more coffee and expressed gratitude for my baking prowess.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>3 hours later...</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> Crap.  This butter and folding stuff is confusing.  I\'m not much of a directions person.  Crap, crap, crap.  Something tells me these will be finished at bedtime.  Crap.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIs this a neurotic Sept 15 thing or is it just me?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00347-20110313-1429.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4539\" title=\"IMG00347-20110313-1429\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00347-20110313-1429-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>Uh, you\'re alone on that.  I\'m using a wine bottle as a rolling pin.  Apparently, I don\'t have one of those.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_7771.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4540\" title=\"IMG_7771\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_7771-300x223.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"223\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis where texting leads to miscommunication.  I was actually referring to the measuring tape, not the rolling pin.  You\'ll note an overabundance of references to lengths and widths in the AllRecipes.com directions.   If I was going to follow directions, then I was going to follow them implicitly.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">15 minutes later...</span></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAllRecipes.com directions:  \"Massage butter until pliable, but not soft and oily.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI am 41, and not once have I heard of massaging butter.  Am I alone on this?  Do all of you massage butter on a regular basis?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI had no clue what they were talking about, so I just started massaging away.  At first, I softened it in my hands, and then spread it out over the dough like I was finger painting.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130176.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4541\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis alone was worth the price of admission.  I am here to tell you, dear readers, that butter massage has an instantaneous calming effect.  Please try this at home.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>15 minutes later...</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span> This is actually a tad stressful.  I was relaxed during the butter massage, but now I feel like a harried mess.  That Lake Cottage woman seems so zen.  But I believe that she is retired and living on a lake.  I need to go buy and install a router, shop for the week\'s groceries, write a blog post, and report to my day job tomorrow.  In the midst of all of this, I\'m detoxing from an herbal cleanse.  I won\'t go into details.  Not good timing on my part.  :-o\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>LOL.  I\'m with you.  I\'ve been tempted more than once today to chuck it all and used canned dough, but I\'m persevering because though I have 16 hours of work scheduled for today, and it\'s not going to get done (cooking or not).  I need a little \"me time\" and if that means insanely complicated handmade croissants, so be it.  :-)  No kitchen experiment is without risk or lessons to be had but the most important lesson I\'ve ever learned in the kitchen is...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was one of those really long texts that take up four messages.  Luckily, I have unlimited messages.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> ... to allow your self to fail and have fun no matter what.  The 2nd most important lesson which I\'m relearning today is make sure you buy all the junk you need before you start.  1 trip to Lowe\'s and 2 to Albertson\'s.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> 1st lesson was very profound.  Verklempt.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(I was distracted and at the Apple Store during the umpteenth dough rise.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span> The cottage lady\'s kitchen is unfreakinbelievable!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, Todd, I know.  I imagine the rest of her life is as impeccable as her kitchen.  I\'m sure that she has a wonderful husband, perfect children, beautiful grandchildren, and (I would bet on it!) a serene and obedient Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSigh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nStark reality:  My kitchen looks nothing like Lovely Lake Cottage Lady\'s kitchen.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130181.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4542\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130181-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>5 hours, several dough \"episodes\", and one chocolate shaving disaster later...</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nVoila!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130183.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4538\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130183-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA bit overdone.  Breathe...\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict:  No wonder Meryl &amp; Steve enjoyed their croissant-capades.  They were high.  You, too, would need to smoke wacky tobacky to find this process fun. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInstead, seriously consider finding the best bakery in town and splurge on their chocolate croissants.  For the peeps in my fair city, go here:  <strong><a href=\"http://pcroissant.com/\" target=\"_blank\">http://pcroissant.com/</a>.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\">Verdict #2:  Massaging butter is a blast.  If butter is not your thing, then find a tall drink of water and massage his shoulders.  Better yet, get him to massage yours. </span></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Token male readers:  Massage a woman\'s shoulders.  There\'s nothing sexier than a giver.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict #3:  I would like for the Lake Cottage Lady to adopt me. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSure this will tick my real mother off, but you can never have too many mothers.  As Hillary once said,  \"It takes a village.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd I would like to be in a village with a cottage, thank you very much.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n*********\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInterested in the \"He Said\" version of the Chocolate Croissant Extravaganza?  Find out how Todd\'s croissants fared at <strong><a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\">www.606diaries.com</a></strong>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-25','','','2011-03-14 21:48:02','2011-03-15 04:48:02','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/4518-revision-25/',0,'revision','',0),(4550,1,'2011-03-14 21:52:10','2011-03-15 04:52:10','[caption id=\"attachment_4543\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"The final rise.  Nearly 12 hours later...\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130180.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4543  \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130180-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nRemember my <a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Birthday Twin Genius</strong></a> that I met at <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/31/day-125-wildest-wordcamp-in-the-west/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>WordCamp</strong></a>?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI propositioned Birthday Twin Genius aka Todd:  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universe kitchens on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it.  A He Said/She Said blog post!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Since all men love to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(Todd is one of those people who chucked his cable so that he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous and controversial decision.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI replied with an \"Awesome!\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDay 168 was Chick Food day.  I chose Chocolate Croissants which I have been chomping at the bit to bake ever since I saw the movie<strong> <em><a href=\"http://www.itscomplicatedmovie.com/\" target=\"_blank\">It\'s Complicated</a></em></strong>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, how I absolutely adore that movie.  If you haven\'t seen it, you\'re missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the movie, Meryl Streep and Steve Martin relive their youth by smoking pot.  A wicked case of the munchies ensues, and they traipse off to Meryl Streep\'s bakery to whip up a batch of decadent chocolate croissants in the middle of the night.  The scene is deliciously sensual and funny at the same time, as you would expect from the brilliant Ms. Streep.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI began my croissant preparation at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.  As a guide, I used the recipe from <a href=\"http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Croissants/Detail.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>AllRecipes.com</strong></a> which was recommended by an <a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>exquisite food blog</strong></a> that I stumbled upon when googling \"It\'s Complicated Chocolate Croissants\".  Isn\'t this Internet stuff incredible?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI have never met this foodie blogger, but I think she\'s the greatest thing since <del>sliced bread </del>chocolate croissants.  She is living my dream life.  In a cottage on a lake in North Carolina.  It\'s sooooo Nicholas Sparks.   Sigh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBaking croissants is an all-day extravaganza.  AllRecipes noted an 8 hour and 20 minute time frame.  Thus the early start time.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBy 8:30 a.m., the yeast had frothed and the dough had been kneaded.  I sipped my coffee while contemplating how thoroughly relaxing and therapeutic this croissant project had turned out to be.  Perhaps I\'ll be a pastry chef when I grow up.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI realized by late morning, that I hadn\'t heard from Todd.  I wondered if he abandoned ship.  I didn\'t call him, of course.  Who does that these days?  I texted.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span>How\'s your dough?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> I\'ve had some minor technical setbacks this morning that necessitated a trip to the hardware store but I\'m on track again.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHardware store?  I wasn\'t about to open that can of worms.  I sipped more coffee and expressed gratitude for my baking prowess.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>3 hours later...</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> Crap.  This butter and folding stuff is confusing.  I\'m not much of a directions person.  Crap, crap, crap.  Something tells me these will be finished at bedtime.  Crap.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIs this a neurotic Sept 15 thing or is it just me?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00347-20110313-1429.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4539\" title=\"IMG00347-20110313-1429\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00347-20110313-1429-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>Uh, you\'re alone on that.  I\'m using a wine bottle as a rolling pin.  Apparently, I don\'t have one of those.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_7771.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4540\" title=\"IMG_7771\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_7771-300x223.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"223\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis where texting leads to miscommunication.  I was actually referring to the measuring tape, not the rolling pin.  You\'ll note an overabundance of references to lengths and widths in the AllRecipes.com directions.   If I was going to follow directions, then I was going to follow them implicitly.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">15 minutes later...</span></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAllRecipes.com directions:  \"Massage butter until pliable, but not soft and oily.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI am 41, and not once have I heard of massaging butter.  Am I alone on this?  Do all of you massage butter on a regular basis?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI had no clue what they were talking about, so I just started massaging away.  At first, I softened it in my hands, and then spread it out over the dough like I was finger painting.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130176.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4541\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis alone was worth the price of admission.  I am here to tell you, dear readers, that butter massage has an instantaneous calming effect.  Please try this at home.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>15 minutes later...</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span> This is actually a tad stressful.  I was relaxed during the butter massage, but now I feel like a harried mess.  That Lake Cottage woman seems so zen.  But I believe that she is retired and living on a lake.  I need to go buy and install a router, shop for the week\'s groceries, write a blog post, and report to my day job tomorrow.  In the midst of all of this, I\'m detoxing from an herbal cleanse.  I won\'t go into details.  Not good timing on my part.  :-o\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>LOL.  I\'m with you.  I\'ve been tempted more than once today to chuck it all and used canned dough, but I\'m persevering because though I have 16 hours of work scheduled for today, and it\'s not going to get done (cooking or not), I need a little \"me time\" and if that means insanely complicated handmade croissants, so be it.  :-)  No kitchen experiment is without risk or lessons to be had but the most important lesson I\'ve ever learned in the kitchen is...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was one of those really long texts that take up four messages.  Luckily, I have unlimited messages.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> ... to allow your self to fail and have fun no matter what.  The 2nd most important lesson which I\'m relearning today is make sure you buy all the junk you need before you start.  1 trip to Lowe\'s and 2 to Albertson\'s.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> 1st lesson was very profound.  Verklempt.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(I was distracted and at the Apple Store during the umpteenth dough rise.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span> The cottage lady\'s kitchen is unfreakinbelievable!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, Todd, I know.  I imagine the rest of her life is as impeccable as her kitchen.  I\'m sure that she has a wonderful husband, perfect children, beautiful grandchildren, and (I would bet on it!) a serene and obedient Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSigh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nStark reality:  My kitchen looks nothing like Lovely Lake Cottage Lady\'s kitchen.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130181.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4542\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130181-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>5 hours, several dough \"episodes\", and one chocolate shaving disaster later...</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nVoila!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130183.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4538\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130183-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA bit overdone.  Breathe...\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict:  No wonder Meryl &amp; Steve enjoyed their croissant-capades.  They were high.  You, too, would need to smoke wacky tobacky to find this process fun. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInstead, seriously consider finding the best bakery in town and splurge on their chocolate croissants.  For the peeps in my fair city, go here:  <strong><a href=\"http://pcroissant.com/\" target=\"_blank\">http://pcroissant.com/</a>.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\">Verdict #2:  Massaging butter is a blast.  If butter is not your thing, then find a tall drink of water and massage his shoulders.  Better yet, get him to massage yours. </span></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Token male readers:  Massage a woman\'s shoulders.  There\'s nothing sexier than a giver.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict #3:  I would like for the Lake Cottage Lady to adopt me. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSure this will tick my real mother off, but you can never have too many mothers.  As Hillary once said,  \"It takes a village.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd I would like to be in a village with a cottage, thank you very much.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n*********\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInterested in the \"He Said\" version of the Chocolate Croissant Extravaganza?  Find out how Todd\'s croissants fared at <strong><a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\">www.606diaries.com</a></strong>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nComing next week...Todd and Michelle tackle Guy Food in an.  Be afraid.  Be very, very afraid.','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-26','','','2011-03-14 21:52:10','2011-03-15 04:52:10','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/4518-revision-26/',0,'revision','',0),(4551,1,'2011-03-14 21:56:10','2011-03-15 04:56:10','[caption id=\"attachment_4543\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"The final rise.  Nearly 12 hours later...\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130180.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4543  \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130180-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nRemember my <a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Birthday Twin Genius</strong></a> that I met at <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/31/day-125-wildest-wordcamp-in-the-west/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>WordCamp</strong></a>?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI propositioned Birthday Twin Genius aka Todd:  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universe kitchens on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it.  A He Said/She Said blog post!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Since all men love to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(Todd is one of those people who chucked his cable so that he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous and controversial decision.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI replied with an \"Awesome!\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDay 168 was Chick Food day.  I chose Chocolate Croissants which I have been chomping at the bit to bake ever since I saw the movie<strong> <em><a href=\"http://www.itscomplicatedmovie.com/\" target=\"_blank\">It\'s Complicated</a></em></strong>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, how I absolutely adore that movie.  If you haven\'t seen it, you\'re missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the movie, Meryl Streep and Steve Martin relive their youth by smoking pot.  A wicked case of the munchies ensues, and they traipse off to Meryl Streep\'s bakery to whip up a batch of decadent chocolate croissants in the middle of the night.  The scene is deliciously sensual and funny at the same time, as you would expect from the brilliant Ms. Streep.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI began my croissant preparation at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.  As a guide, I used the recipe from <a href=\"http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Croissants/Detail.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>AllRecipes.com</strong></a> which was recommended by an <a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>exquisite food blog</strong></a> that I stumbled upon when googling \"It\'s Complicated Chocolate Croissants\".  Isn\'t this Internet stuff incredible?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI have never met this foodie blogger, but I think she\'s the greatest thing since <del>sliced bread </del>chocolate croissants.  She is living my dream life.  In a cottage on a lake in North Carolina.  It\'s sooooo Nicholas Sparks.   Sigh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBaking croissants is an all-day extravaganza.  AllRecipes noted an 8 hour and 20 minute time frame.  Thus the early start time.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBy 8:30 a.m., the yeast had frothed and the dough had been kneaded.  I sipped my coffee while contemplating how thoroughly relaxing and therapeutic this croissant project had turned out to be.  Perhaps I\'ll be a pastry chef when I grow up.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI realized by late morning, that I hadn\'t heard from Todd.  I wondered if he abandoned ship.  I didn\'t call him, of course.  Who does that these days?  I texted.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span>How\'s your dough?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> I\'ve had some minor technical setbacks this morning that necessitated a trip to the hardware store but I\'m on track again.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHardware store?  I wasn\'t about to open that can of worms.  I sipped more coffee and expressed gratitude for my baking prowess.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>3 hours later...</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> Crap.  This butter and folding stuff is confusing.  I\'m not much of a directions person.  Crap, crap, crap.  Something tells me these will be finished at bedtime.  Crap.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIs this a neurotic Sept 15 thing or is it just me?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00347-20110313-1429.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4539\" title=\"IMG00347-20110313-1429\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00347-20110313-1429-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>Uh, you\'re alone on that.  I\'m using a wine bottle as a rolling pin.  Apparently, I don\'t have one of those.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_7771.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4540\" title=\"IMG_7771\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_7771-300x223.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"223\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis where texting leads to miscommunication.  I was actually referring to the measuring tape, not the rolling pin.  You\'ll note an overabundance of references to lengths and widths in the AllRecipes.com directions.   If I was going to follow directions, then I was going to follow them implicitly.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">15 minutes later...</span></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAllRecipes.com directions:  \"Massage butter until pliable, but not soft and oily.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI am 41, and not once have I heard of massaging butter.  Am I alone on this?  Do all of you massage butter on a regular basis?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI had no clue what they were talking about, so I just started massaging away.  At first, I softened it in my hands, and then spread it out over the dough like I was finger painting.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130176.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4541\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis alone was worth the price of admission.  I am here to tell you, dear readers, that butter massage has an instantaneous calming effect.  Please try this at home.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>15 minutes later...</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span> This is actually a tad stressful.  I was relaxed during the butter massage, but now I feel like a harried mess.  That Lake Cottage woman seems so zen.  But I believe that she is retired and living on a lake.  I need to go buy and install a router, shop for the week\'s groceries, write a blog post, and report to my day job tomorrow.  In the midst of all of this, I\'m detoxing from an herbal cleanse.  I won\'t go into details.  Not good timing on my part.  :-o\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>LOL.  I\'m with you.  I\'ve been tempted more than once today to chuck it all and used canned dough, but I\'m persevering because though I have 16 hours of work scheduled for today, and it\'s not going to get done (cooking or not), I need a little \"me time\" and if that means insanely complicated handmade croissants, so be it.  :-)  No kitchen experiment is without risk or lessons to be had but the most important lesson I\'ve ever learned in the kitchen is...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was one of those really long texts that take up four messages.  Luckily, I have unlimited messages.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> ... to allow your self to fail and have fun no matter what.  The 2nd most important lesson which I\'m relearning today is make sure you buy all the junk you need before you start.  1 trip to Lowe\'s and 2 to Albertson\'s.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> 1st lesson was very profound.  Verklempt.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(I was distracted and at the Apple Store during the umpteenth dough rise.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span> The cottage lady\'s kitchen is unfreakinbelievable!!!  (You can see it here:  <strong><a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com</a>/</strong>.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, Todd, I know.  I imagine the rest of her life is as impeccable as her kitchen.  I\'m sure that she has a wonderful husband, perfect children, beautiful grandchildren, and (I would bet on it!) a serene and obedient Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSigh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nStark reality:  My kitchen looks nothing like Lovely Lake Cottage Lady\'s kitchen.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130181.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4542\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130181-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>5 hours, several dough \"episodes\", and one chocolate shaving disaster later...</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nVoila!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130183.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4538\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130183-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA bit overdone.  Breathe...\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict:  No wonder Meryl &amp; Steve enjoyed their croissant-capades.  They were high.  You, too, would need to smoke wacky tobacky to find this process fun. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInstead, seriously consider finding the best bakery in town and splurge on their chocolate croissants.  For the peeps in my fair city, go here:  <strong><a href=\"http://pcroissant.com/\" target=\"_blank\">http://pcroissant.com/</a>.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\">Verdict #2:  Massaging butter is a blast.  If butter is not your thing, then find a tall drink of water and massage his shoulders.  Better yet, get him to massage yours. </span></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Token male readers:  Massage a woman\'s shoulders.  There\'s nothing sexier than a giver.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict #3:  I would like for the Lake Cottage Lady to adopt me. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSure this will tick my real mother off, but you can never have too many mothers.  As Hillary once said,  \"It takes a village.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd I would like to be in a village with a cottage, thank you very much.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n*********\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInterested in the \"He Said\" version of the Chocolate Croissant Extravaganza?  Find out how Todd\'s croissants fared at <strong><a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\">www.606diaries.com</a></strong>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nComing next week...Todd and Michelle tackle Guy Food in an unconventional way.  Be afraid.  Be very, very afraid.','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-27','','','2011-03-14 21:56:10','2011-03-15 04:56:10','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/4518-revision-27/',0,'revision','',0),(4552,1,'2011-03-14 21:57:27','2011-03-15 04:57:27','[caption id=\"attachment_4543\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"The final rise.  Nearly 12 hours later...\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130180.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4543  \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130180-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nRemember my <a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Birthday Twin Genius</strong></a> that I met at <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/31/day-125-wildest-wordcamp-in-the-west/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>WordCamp</strong></a>?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI propositioned Birthday Twin Genius aka Todd:  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universe kitchens on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it.  A He Said/She Said blog post!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Since all men love to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(Todd is one of those people who chucked his cable so that he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous and controversial decision.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI replied with an \"Awesome!\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDay 168 was Chick Food day.  I chose Chocolate Croissants which I have been chomping at the bit to bake ever since I saw the movie<strong> <em><a href=\"http://www.itscomplicatedmovie.com/\" target=\"_blank\">It\'s Complicated</a></em></strong>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, how I absolutely adore that movie.  If you haven\'t seen it, you\'re missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the movie, Meryl Streep and Steve Martin relive their youth by smoking pot.  A wicked case of the munchies ensues, and they traipse off to Meryl Streep\'s bakery to whip up a batch of decadent chocolate croissants in the middle of the night.  The scene is deliciously sensual and funny at the same time, as you would expect from the brilliant Ms. Streep.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI began my croissant preparation at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.  As a guide, I used the recipe from <a href=\"http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Croissants/Detail.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>AllRecipes.com</strong></a> which was recommended by an <a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>exquisite food blog</strong></a> that I stumbled upon when googling \"It\'s Complicated Chocolate Croissants\".  Isn\'t this Internet stuff incredible?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI have never met this foodie blogger, but I think she\'s the greatest thing since <del>sliced bread </del>chocolate croissants.  She is living my dream life.  In a cottage on a lake in North Carolina.  It\'s sooooo Nicholas Sparks.   Sigh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBaking croissants is an all-day extravaganza.  AllRecipes noted an 8 hour and 20 minute time frame.  Thus the early start time.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBy 8:30 a.m., the yeast had frothed and the dough had been kneaded.  I sipped my coffee while contemplating how thoroughly relaxing and therapeutic this croissant project had turned out to be.  Perhaps I\'ll be a pastry chef when I grow up.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI realized by late morning, that I hadn\'t heard from Todd.  I wondered if he abandoned ship.  I didn\'t call him, of course.  Who does that these days?  I texted.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span>How\'s your dough?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> I\'ve had some minor technical setbacks this morning that necessitated a trip to the hardware store but I\'m on track again.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHardware store?  I wasn\'t about to open that can of worms.  I sipped more coffee and expressed gratitude for my baking prowess.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>3 hours later...</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> Crap.  This butter and folding stuff is confusing.  I\'m not much of a directions person.  Crap, crap, crap.  Something tells me these will be finished at bedtime.  Crap.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIs this a neurotic Sept 15 thing or is it just me?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00347-20110313-1429.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4539\" title=\"IMG00347-20110313-1429\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00347-20110313-1429-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>Uh, you\'re alone on that.  I\'m using a wine bottle as a rolling pin.  Apparently, I don\'t have one of those.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_7771.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4540\" title=\"IMG_7771\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_7771-300x223.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"223\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis where texting leads to miscommunication.  I was actually referring to the measuring tape, not the rolling pin.  You\'ll note an overabundance of references to lengths and widths in the AllRecipes.com directions.   If I was going to follow directions, then I was going to follow them implicitly.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">15 minutes later...</span></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAllRecipes.com directions:  \"Massage butter until pliable, but not soft and oily.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI am 41, and not once have I heard of massaging butter.  Am I alone on this?  Do all of you massage butter on a regular basis?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI had no clue what they were talking about, so I just started massaging away.  At first, I softened it in my hands, and then spread it out over the dough like I was finger painting.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130176.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4541\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis alone was worth the price of admission.  I am here to tell you, dear readers, that butter massage has an instantaneous calming effect.  Please try this at home.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>15 minutes later...</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span> This is actually a tad stressful.  I was relaxed during the butter massage, but now I feel like a harried mess.  That Lake Cottage woman seems so zen.  But I believe that she is retired and living on a lake.  I need to go buy and install a router, shop for the week\'s groceries, write a blog post, and report to my day job tomorrow.  In the midst of all of this, I\'m detoxing from an herbal cleanse.  I won\'t go into details.  Not good timing on my part.  :-o\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>LOL.  I\'m with you.  I\'ve been tempted more than once today to chuck it all and used canned dough, but I\'m persevering because though I have 16 hours of work scheduled for today, and it\'s not going to get done (cooking or not), I need a little \"me time\" and if that means insanely complicated handmade croissants, so be it.  :-)  No kitchen experiment is without risk or lessons to be had but the most important lesson I\'ve ever learned in the kitchen is...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was one of those really long texts that take up four messages.  Luckily, I have unlimited messages.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> ... to allow your self to fail and have fun no matter what.  The 2nd most important lesson which I\'m relearning today is make sure you buy all the junk you need before you start.  1 trip to Lowe\'s and 2 to Albertson\'s.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> 1st lesson was very profound.  Verklempt.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(I was distracted and at the Apple Store during the umpteenth dough rise.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span> The cottage lady\'s kitchen is unfreakinbelievable!!!  (You can see it here:  <strong><a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/</a></strong><a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">.</a>)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, Todd, I know.  I imagine the rest of her life is as impeccable as her kitchen.  I\'m sure that she has a wonderful husband, perfect children, beautiful grandchildren, and (I would bet on it!) a serene and obedient Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSigh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nStark reality:  My kitchen looks nothing like Lovely Lake Cottage Lady\'s kitchen.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130181.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4542\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130181-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>5 hours, several dough \"episodes\", and one chocolate shaving disaster later...</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nVoila!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130183.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4538\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130183-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA bit overdone.  Breathe...\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict:  No wonder Meryl &amp; Steve enjoyed their croissant-capades.  They were high.  You, too, would need to smoke wacky tobacky to find this process fun. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInstead, seriously consider finding the best bakery in town and splurge on their chocolate croissants.  For the peeps in my fair city, go here:  <strong><a href=\"http://pcroissant.com/\" target=\"_blank\">http://pcroissant.com/</a>.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\">Verdict #2:  Massaging butter is a blast.  If butter is not your thing, then find a tall drink of water and massage his shoulders.  Better yet, get him to massage yours. </span></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Token male readers:  Massage a woman\'s shoulders.  There\'s nothing sexier than a giver.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict #3:  I would like for the Lake Cottage Lady to adopt me. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSure this will tick my real mother off, but you can never have too many mothers.  As Hillary once said,  \"It takes a village.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd I would like to be in a village with a cottage, thank you very much.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n*********\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInterested in the \"He Said\" version of the Chocolate Croissant Extravaganza?  Find out how Todd\'s croissants fared at <strong><a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\">www.606diaries.com</a></strong>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nComing next week...Todd and Michelle tackle Guy Food in an unconventional way.  Be afraid.  Be very, very afraid.','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-28','','','2011-03-14 21:57:27','2011-03-15 04:57:27','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/4518-revision-28/',0,'revision','',0),(4553,1,'2011-03-14 21:58:06','2011-03-15 04:58:06','[caption id=\"attachment_4543\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"The final rise.  Nearly 12 hours later...\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130180.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4543  \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130180-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nRemember my <a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Birthday Twin Genius</strong></a> that I met at <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/31/day-125-wildest-wordcamp-in-the-west/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>WordCamp</strong></a>?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI propositioned Birthday Twin Genius aka Todd:  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universe kitchens on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it.  A He Said/She Said blog post!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Since all men love to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Todd is one of those people who cut his cable so that he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous and controversial decision.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI replied with an \"Awesome!\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDay 168 was Chick Food day.  I chose Chocolate Croissants which I have been chomping at the bit to bake ever since I saw the movie<strong> <em><a href=\"http://www.itscomplicatedmovie.com/\" target=\"_blank\">It\'s Complicated</a></em></strong>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOh, how I absolutely adore that movie.  If you haven\'t seen it, you\'re missing out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the movie, Meryl Streep and Steve Martin relive their youth by smoking pot.  A wicked case of the munchies ensues, and they traipse off to Meryl Streep\'s bakery to whip up a batch of decadent chocolate croissants in the middle of the night.  The scene is deliciously sensual and funny at the same time, as you would expect from the brilliant Ms. Streep.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI began my croissant preparation at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.  As a guide, I used the recipe from <a href=\"http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Croissants/Detail.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>AllRecipes.com</strong></a> which was recommended by an <a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>exquisite food blog</strong></a> that I stumbled upon when googling \"It\'s Complicated Chocolate Croissants\".  Isn\'t this Internet stuff incredible?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have never met this foodie blogger, but I think she\'s the greatest thing since <del>sliced bread </del>chocolate croissants.  She is living my dream life.  In a cottage on a lake in North Carolina.  It\'s sooooo Nicholas Sparks.   Sigh...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBaking croissants is an all-day extravaganza.  AllRecipes noted an 8 hour and 20 minute time frame.  Thus the early start time.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBy 8:30 a.m., the yeast had frothed and the dough had been kneaded.  I sipped my coffee while contemplating how thoroughly relaxing and therapeutic this croissant project had turned out to be.  Perhaps I\'ll be a pastry chef when I grow up.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI realized by late morning, that I hadn\'t heard from Todd.  I wondered if he abandoned ship.  I didn\'t call him, of course.  Who does that these days?  I texted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span>How\'s your dough?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> I\'ve had some minor technical setbacks this morning that necessitated a trip to the hardware store but I\'m on track again.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHardware store?  I wasn\'t about to open that can of worms.  I sipped more coffee and expressed gratitude for my baking prowess.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>3 hours later...</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> Crap.  This butter and folding stuff is confusing.  I\'m not much of a directions person.  Crap, crap, crap.  Something tells me these will be finished at bedtime.  Crap.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIs this a neurotic Sept 15 thing or is it just me?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00347-20110313-1429.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4539\" title=\"IMG00347-20110313-1429\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00347-20110313-1429-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>Uh, you\'re alone on that.  I\'m using a wine bottle as a rolling pin.  Apparently, I don\'t have one of those.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_7771.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4540\" title=\"IMG_7771\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_7771-300x223.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"223\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis where texting leads to miscommunication.  I was actually referring to the measuring tape, not the rolling pin.  You\'ll note an overabundance of references to lengths and widths in the AllRecipes.com directions.   If I was going to follow directions, then I was going to follow them implicitly.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">15 minutes later...</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAllRecipes.com directions:  \"Massage butter until pliable, but not soft and oily.\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI am 41, and not once have I heard of massaging butter.  Am I alone on this?  Do all of you massage butter on a regular basis?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had no clue what they were talking about, so I just started massaging away.  At first, I softened it in my hands, and then spread it out over the dough like I was finger painting.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130176.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4541\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis alone was worth the price of admission.  I am here to tell you, dear readers, that butter massage has an instantaneous calming effect.  Please try this at home.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>15 minutes later...</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span> This is actually a tad stressful.  I was relaxed during the butter massage, but now I feel like a harried mess.  That Lake Cottage woman seems so zen.  But I believe that she is retired and living on a lake.  I need to go buy and install a router, shop for the week\'s groceries, write a blog post, and report to my day job tomorrow.  In the midst of all of this, I\'m detoxing from an herbal cleanse.  I won\'t go into details.  Not good timing on my part.  :-o\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>LOL.  I\'m with you.  I\'ve been tempted more than once today to chuck it all and used canned dough, but I\'m persevering because though I have 16 hours of work scheduled for today, and it\'s not going to get done (cooking or not), I need a little \"me time\" and if that means insanely complicated handmade croissants, so be it.  :-)  No kitchen experiment is without risk or lessons to be had but the most important lesson I\'ve ever learned in the kitchen is...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was one of those really long texts that take up four messages.  Luckily, I have unlimited messages.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> ... to allow your self to fail and have fun no matter what.  The 2nd most important lesson which I\'m relearning today is make sure you buy all the junk you need before you start.  1 trip to Lowe\'s and 2 to Albertson\'s.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> 1st lesson was very profound.  Verklempt.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(I was distracted and at the Apple Store during the umpteenth dough rise.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span> The cottage lady\'s kitchen is unfreakinbelievable!!!  (You can see it here:  <strong><a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/</a></strong><a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">.</a>)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYes, Todd, I know.  I imagine the rest of her life is as impeccable as her kitchen.  I\'m sure that she has a wonderful husband, perfect children, beautiful grandchildren, and (I would bet on it!) a serene and obedient Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSigh...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nStark reality:  My kitchen looks nothing like Lovely Lake Cottage Lady\'s kitchen.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130181.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4542\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130181-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>5 hours, several dough \"episodes\", and one chocolate shaving disaster later...</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVoila!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130183.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4538\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130183-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA bit overdone.  Breathe...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict:  No wonder Meryl &amp; Steve enjoyed their croissant-capades.  They were high.  You, too, would need to smoke wacky tobacky to find this process fun. </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInstead, seriously consider finding the best bakery in town and splurge on their chocolate croissants.  For the peeps in my fair city, go here:  <strong><a href=\"http://pcroissant.com/\" target=\"_blank\">http://pcroissant.com/</a>.</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\">Verdict #2:  Massaging butter is a blast.  If butter is not your thing, then find a tall drink of water and massage his shoulders.  Better yet, get him to massage yours. </span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Token male readers:  Massage a woman\'s shoulders.  There\'s nothing sexier than a giver.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict #3:  I would like for the Lake Cottage Lady to adopt me. </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSure this will tick my real mother off, but you can never have too many mothers.  As Hillary once said,  \"It takes a village.\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd I would like to be in a village with a cottage, thank you very much.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n*********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInterested in the \"He Said\" version of the Chocolate Croissant Extravaganza?  Find out how Todd\'s croissants fared at <strong><a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\">www.606diaries.com</a></strong>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nComing next week...Todd and Michelle tackle Guy Food in an unconventional way.  Be afraid.  Be very, very afraid.','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-29','','','2011-03-14 21:58:06','2011-03-15 04:58:06','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/4518-revision-29/',0,'revision','',0),(4556,1,'2011-03-14 22:05:06','2011-03-15 05:05:06','[caption id=\"attachment_4543\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"The final rise.  Nearly 12 hours later...\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130180.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4543  \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130180-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nRemember my <a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Birthday Twin Genius</strong></a> that I met at <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/31/day-125-wildest-wordcamp-in-the-west/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>WordCamp</strong></a>?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI propositioned Birthday Twin Genius aka Todd:  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universe kitchens on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it.  A He Said/She Said blog post!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Since all men love to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(Todd is one of those people who cut his cable so that he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous and controversial decision.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI replied with an \"Awesome!\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDay 168 was Chick Food day.  I chose Chocolate Croissants which I have been chomping at the bit to bake ever since I saw the movie<strong> <em><a href=\"http://www.itscomplicatedmovie.com/\" target=\"_blank\">It\'s Complicated</a></em></strong>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, how I absolutely adore that movie.  If you haven\'t seen it, you\'re missing out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn the movie, Meryl Streep and Steve Martin relive their youth by smoking pot.  A wicked case of the munchies ensues, and they traipse off to Meryl Streep\'s bakery to whip up a batch of decadent chocolate croissants in the middle of the night.  The scene is deliciously sensual and funny at the same time, as you would expect from the brilliant Ms. Streep.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI began my croissant preparation at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.  As a guide, I used the recipe from <a href=\"http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Croissants/Detail.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>AllRecipes.com</strong></a> which was recommended by an <a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>exquisite food blog</strong></a> that I stumbled upon when googling \"It\'s Complicated Chocolate Croissants\".  Isn\'t this Internet stuff incredible?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI have never met this foodie blogger, but I think she\'s the greatest thing since <del>sliced bread </del>chocolate croissants.  She is living my dream life.  In a cottage on a lake in North Carolina.  It\'s sooooo Nicholas Sparks.   Sigh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBaking croissants is an all-day extravaganza.  AllRecipes noted an 8 hour and 20 minute time frame.  Thus the early start time.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBy 8:30 a.m., the yeast had frothed and the dough had been kneaded.  I sipped my coffee while contemplating how thoroughly relaxing and therapeutic this croissant project had turned out to be.  Perhaps I\'ll be a pastry chef when I grow up.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI realized by late morning, that I hadn\'t heard from Todd.  I wondered if he abandoned ship.  I didn\'t call him, of course.  Who does that these days?  I texted.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span>How\'s your dough?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> I\'ve had some minor technical setbacks this morning that necessitated a trip to the hardware store but I\'m on track again.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHardware store?  I wasn\'t about to open that can of worms.  I sipped more coffee and expressed gratitude for my baking prowess.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>3 hours later...</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> Crap.  This butter and folding stuff is confusing.  I\'m not much of a directions person.  Crap, crap, crap.  Something tells me these will be finished at bedtime.  Crap.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIs this a neurotic Sept 15 thing or is it just me?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00347-20110313-1429.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4539\" title=\"IMG00347-20110313-1429\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00347-20110313-1429-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>Uh, you\'re alone on that.  I\'m using a wine bottle as a rolling pin.  Apparently, I don\'t have one of those.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_7771.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4540\" title=\"IMG_7771\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_7771-300x223.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"223\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis where texting leads to miscommunication.  I was actually referring to the measuring tape, not the rolling pin.  You\'ll note an overabundance of references to lengths and widths in the AllRecipes.com directions.   If I was going to follow directions, then I was going to follow them implicitly.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">15 minutes later...</span></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAllRecipes.com directions:  \"Massage butter until pliable, but not soft and oily.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI am 41, and not once have I heard of massaging butter.  Am I alone on this?  Do all of you massage butter on a regular basis?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI had no clue what they were talking about, so I just started massaging away.  At first, I softened it in my hands, and then spread it out over the dough like I was finger painting.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130176.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4541\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis alone was worth the price of admission.  I am here to tell you, dear readers, that butter massage has an instantaneous calming effect.  Please try this at home.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>15 minutes later...</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span> This is actually a tad stressful.  I was relaxed during the butter massage, but now I feel like a harried mess.  That Lake Cottage woman seems so zen.  But I believe that she is retired and living on a lake.  I need to go buy and install a router, shop for the week\'s groceries, write a blog post, and report to my day job tomorrow.  In the midst of all of this, I\'m detoxing from an herbal cleanse.  I won\'t go into details.  Not good timing on my part.  :-o\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>LOL.  I\'m with you.  I\'ve been tempted more than once today to chuck it all and used canned dough, but I\'m persevering because though I have 16 hours of work scheduled for today, and it\'s not going to get done (cooking or not), I need a little \"me time\" and if that means insanely complicated handmade croissants, so be it.  :-)  No kitchen experiment is without risk or lessons to be had but the most important lesson I\'ve ever learned in the kitchen is...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was one of those really long texts that take up four messages.  Luckily, I have unlimited messages.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> ... to allow your self to fail and have fun no matter what.  The 2nd most important lesson which I\'m relearning today is make sure you buy all the junk you need before you start.  1 trip to Lowe\'s and 2 to Albertson\'s.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> 1st lesson was very profound.  Verklempt.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(I was distracted and at the Apple Store during the umpteenth dough rise.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span> The cottage lady\'s kitchen is unfreakinbelievable!!!  (You can see it here:  <strong><a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/</a></strong><a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">.</a>)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, Todd, I know.  I imagine the rest of her life is as impeccable as her kitchen.  I\'m sure that she has a wonderful husband, perfect children, beautiful grandchildren, and (I would bet on it!) a serene and obedient Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSigh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nStark reality:  My kitchen looks nothing like Lovely Lake Cottage Lady\'s kitchen.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130181.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4542\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130181-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>5 hours, several dough \"episodes\", and one chocolate shaving disaster later...</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nVoila!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130183.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4538\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130183-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA bit overdone.  Breathe...\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict:  No wonder Meryl &amp; Steve enjoyed their croissant-capades.  They were high.  You, too, would need to smoke wacky tobacky to find this process fun. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInstead, seriously consider finding the best bakery in town and splurge on their chocolate croissants.  For the peeps in my fair city, go here:  <strong><a href=\"http://pcroissant.com/\" target=\"_blank\">http://pcroissant.com/</a>.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\">Verdict #2:  Massaging butter is a blast.  If butter is not your thing, then find a tall drink of water and massage his shoulders.  Better yet, get him to massage yours. </span></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Token male readers:  Massage a woman\'s shoulders.  There\'s nothing sexier than a giver.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict #3:  I would like for the Lake Cottage Lady to adopt me. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSure this will tick my real mother off, but you can never have too many mothers.  As Hillary once said,  \"It takes a village.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd I would like to be in a village with a cottage, thank you very much.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n*********\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInterested in the \"He Said\" version of the Chocolate Croissant Extravaganza?  Find out how Todd\'s croissants fared at <strong><a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\">www.606diaries.com</a></strong>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nComing next week...Todd and Michelle tackle Guy Food in an unconventional way.  Be afraid.  Be very, very afraid.','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-31','','','2011-03-14 22:05:06','2011-03-15 05:05:06','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/4518-revision-31/',0,'revision','',0),(4554,1,'2011-03-14 22:55:52','2011-03-15 05:55:52','[caption id=\"attachment_4543\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"The final rise.  Nearly 12 hours later...\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130180.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4543  \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130180-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nRemember my <a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Birthday Twin Genius</strong></a> that I met at <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/31/day-125-wildest-wordcamp-in-the-west/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>WordCamp</strong></a>?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI propositioned Birthday Twin Genius aka Todd:  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universe kitchens on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it.  A He Said/She Said blog post!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Since all men love to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Todd is one of those people who cut his cable so that he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous and controversial decision.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI replied with an \"Awesome!\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDay 168 was Chick Food day.  I chose Chocolate Croissants which I have been chomping at the bit to bake ever since I saw the movie<strong> <em><a href=\"http://www.itscomplicatedmovie.com/\" target=\"_blank\">It\'s Complicated</a></em></strong>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOh, how I absolutely adore that movie.  If you haven\'t seen it, you\'re missing out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the movie, Meryl Streep and Steve Martin relive their youth by smoking pot.  A wicked case of the munchies ensues, and they traipse off to Meryl Streep\'s bakery to whip up a batch of decadent chocolate croissants in the middle of the night.  The scene is deliciously sensual and funny at the same time, as you would expect from the brilliant Ms. Streep.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI began my croissant preparation at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.  As a guide, I used the recipe from <a href=\"http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Croissants/Detail.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>AllRecipes.com</strong></a> which was recommended by an <a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>exquisite food blog</strong></a> that I stumbled upon when googling \"It\'s Complicated Chocolate Croissants\".  Isn\'t this Internet stuff incredible?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have never met this foodie blogger, but I think she\'s the greatest thing since <del>sliced bread </del>chocolate croissants.  She is living my dream life.  In a cottage on a lake in North Carolina.  It\'s sooooo Nicholas Sparks.   Sigh...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBaking croissants is an all-day extravaganza.  AllRecipes noted an 8 hour and 20 minute time frame.  Thus the early start time.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBy 8:30 a.m., the yeast had frothed and the dough had been kneaded.  I sipped my coffee while contemplating how thoroughly relaxing and therapeutic this croissant project had turned out to be.  Perhaps I\'ll be a pastry chef when I grow up.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI realized by late morning, that I hadn\'t heard from Todd.  I wondered if he abandoned ship.  I didn\'t call him, of course.  Who does that these days?  I texted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span>How\'s your dough?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> I\'ve had some minor technical setbacks this morning that necessitated a trip to the hardware store but I\'m on track again.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHardware store?  I wasn\'t about to open that can of worms.  I sipped more coffee and expressed gratitude for my baking prowess.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>3 hours later...</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> Crap.  This butter and folding stuff is confusing.  I\'m not much of a directions person.  Crap, crap, crap.  Something tells me these will be finished at bedtime.  Crap.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIs this a neurotic Sept 15 thing or is it just me?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00347-20110313-1429.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4539\" title=\"IMG00347-20110313-1429\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00347-20110313-1429-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>Uh, you\'re alone on that.  I\'m using a wine bottle as a rolling pin.  Apparently, I don\'t have one of those.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_7771.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4540\" title=\"IMG_7771\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_7771-300x223.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"223\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis is an example of texting miscommunication.  I was actually referring to the measuring tape, not the rolling pin.  You\'ll note an overabundance of references to lengths and widths in the <a href=\"http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Croissants/Detail.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">AllRecipes.com directions</a>.   If I was going to follow directions, then I was going to follow them implicitly.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">15 minutes later...</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAllRecipes.com directions:  \"Massage butter until pliable, but not soft and oily.\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI am 41, and not once have I heard of massaging butter.  Am I alone on this?  Do all of you massage butter on a regular basis?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had no clue what they were talking about, so I just started massaging away.  At first, I softened it in my hands, and then spread it out over the dough like I was finger painting.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130176.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4541\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis alone was worth the price of admission.  I am here to tell you, dear readers, that butter massage has an instantaneous calming effect.  Please try this at home.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>15 minutes later...</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span> This is actually a tad stressful.  I was relaxed during the butter massage, but now I feel like a harried mess.  That Lake Cottage woman seems so zen.  But I believe that she is retired and living on a lake.  I need to go buy and install a router, shop for the week\'s groceries, write a blog post, and report to my day job tomorrow.  In the midst of all of this, I\'m detoxing from an herbal cleanse.  I won\'t go into details.  Not good timing on my part.  :-o\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>LOL.  I\'m with you.  I\'ve been tempted more than once today to chuck it all and used canned dough, but I\'m persevering because though I have 16 hours of work scheduled for today, and it\'s not going to get done (cooking or not), I need a little \"me time\" and if that means insanely complicated handmade croissants, so be it.  :-)  No kitchen experiment is without risk or lessons to be had but the most important lesson I\'ve ever learned in the kitchen is...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(This was one of those really long texts that take up four messages.  Luckily, I have unlimited messages.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> ... to allow your self to fail and have fun no matter what.  The 2nd most important lesson which I\'m relearning today is make sure you buy all the junk you need before you start.  1 trip to Lowe\'s and 2 to Albertson\'s.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> 1st lesson was very profound.  Verklempt.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(I was distracted and at the Apple Store during the umpteenth dough rise.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span> The cottage lady\'s kitchen is unfreakinbelievable!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(You can see dream cottage kitchen here:  <strong><a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/</a></strong><a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">.</a>)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYes, Todd, I know.  I imagine the rest of her life is as impeccable as her kitchen.  I\'m sure that she has a wonderful husband, perfect children, beautiful grandchildren, and (I would bet on it!) a serene and obedient Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSigh...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nStark reality:  My kitchen looks nothing like Lovely Lake Cottage Lady\'s kitchen.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130181.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4542\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130181-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>5 hours, several dough \"episodes\", and one chocolate shaving disaster later...</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVoila!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130183.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4538\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130183-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA bit overdone.  Breathe...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict:  No wonder Meryl &amp; Steve enjoyed their croissant-capades.  They were high.  You, too, would need to smoke wacky tobacky to find this process fun. </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInstead, seriously consider finding the best bakery in town and splurge on their chocolate croissants.  For the peeps in my fair city, go here:  <strong><a href=\"http://pcroissant.com/\" target=\"_blank\">http://pcroissant.com/</a>.</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\">Verdict #2:  Massaging butter is a blast.  If butter is not your thing, then find a tall drink of water and massage his shoulders.  Better yet, get him to massage yours. </span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Token male readers:  Massage a woman\'s shoulders.  There\'s nothing sexier than a giver.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict #3:  I would like for the Lake Cottage Lady to adopt me. </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSure this will tick my real mother off, but you can never have too many mothers.  As Hillary once said,  \"It takes a village.\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd I would like to be in a village with a cottage, thank you very much.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n*********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInterested in the \"He Said\" version of the Chocolate Croissant Extravaganza?  Find out how Todd\'s croissants fared at <strong><a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\">http://606diaries.com/</a></strong>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nComing next week...Todd and Michelle tackle Guy Food in an unconventional way.  Be afraid.  Be very, very afraid.','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-autosave','','','2011-03-14 22:55:52','2011-03-15 05:55:52','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/4518-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(4555,1,'2011-03-14 21:58:45','2011-03-15 04:58:45','[caption id=\"attachment_4543\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"The final rise.  Nearly 12 hours later...\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130180.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4543  \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130180-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nRemember my <a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Birthday Twin Genius</strong></a> that I met at <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/01/31/day-125-wildest-wordcamp-in-the-west/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>WordCamp</strong></a>?  We not only share the same birthday, but also blogs with \"diary\" in the title?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCoinkidink or astrologically predetermined?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnother coinkidink or astrological predetermination:  Our readers tend to perk up and comment a lot on our cooking posts.  Coming from a Portuguese family whose food obsession rivals the Italians, I understand this phenomenon completely.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI propositioned Birthday Twin Genius aka Todd:  Let\'s choose a chick food and a guy food.  We\'ll cook them in our parallel universe kitchens on two separate nights.  (Todd lives in Vegas.)  We\'ll then...well...blah blah blog about it.  A He Said/She Said blog post!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Since all men love to be propositioned in any way, shape, or form, Todd immediately accepted.  \"I like the symmetry of the idea,\" he responded.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Todd is one of those people who cut his cable so that he could build his brain with old-fashioned pursuits such as reading instead.  His choice of vocabulary almost always reflects his outrageous and controversial decision.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI replied with an \"Awesome!\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(I still have cable which I\'m convinced kills more brain cells than pot.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDay 168 was Chick Food day.  I chose Chocolate Croissants which I have been chomping at the bit to bake ever since I saw the movie<strong> <em><a href=\"http://www.itscomplicatedmovie.com/\" target=\"_blank\">It\'s Complicated</a></em></strong>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOh, how I absolutely adore that movie.  If you haven\'t seen it, you\'re missing out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn the movie, Meryl Streep and Steve Martin relive their youth by smoking pot.  A wicked case of the munchies ensues, and they traipse off to Meryl Streep\'s bakery to whip up a batch of decadent chocolate croissants in the middle of the night.  The scene is deliciously sensual and funny at the same time, as you would expect from the brilliant Ms. Streep.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI began my croissant preparation at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.  As a guide, I used the recipe from <a href=\"http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Croissants/Detail.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>AllRecipes.com</strong></a> which was recommended by an <a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>exquisite food blog</strong></a> that I stumbled upon when googling \"It\'s Complicated Chocolate Croissants\".  Isn\'t this Internet stuff incredible?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI have never met this foodie blogger, but I think she\'s the greatest thing since <del>sliced bread </del>chocolate croissants.  She is living my dream life.  In a cottage on a lake in North Carolina.  It\'s sooooo Nicholas Sparks.   Sigh...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBaking croissants is an all-day extravaganza.  AllRecipes noted an 8 hour and 20 minute time frame.  Thus the early start time.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBy 8:30 a.m., the yeast had frothed and the dough had been kneaded.  I sipped my coffee while contemplating how thoroughly relaxing and therapeutic this croissant project had turned out to be.  Perhaps I\'ll be a pastry chef when I grow up.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI realized by late morning, that I hadn\'t heard from Todd.  I wondered if he abandoned ship.  I didn\'t call him, of course.  Who does that these days?  I texted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span>How\'s your dough?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> I\'ve had some minor technical setbacks this morning that necessitated a trip to the hardware store but I\'m on track again.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHardware store?  I wasn\'t about to open that can of worms.  I sipped more coffee and expressed gratitude for my baking prowess.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>3 hours later...</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> Crap.  This butter and folding stuff is confusing.  I\'m not much of a directions person.  Crap, crap, crap.  Something tells me these will be finished at bedtime.  Crap.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIs this a neurotic Sept 15 thing or is it just me?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00347-20110313-1429.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4539\" title=\"IMG00347-20110313-1429\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG00347-20110313-1429-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>Uh, you\'re alone on that.  I\'m using a wine bottle as a rolling pin.  Apparently, I don\'t have one of those.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_7771.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4540\" title=\"IMG_7771\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_7771-300x223.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"223\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis where texting leads to miscommunication.  I was actually referring to the measuring tape, not the rolling pin.  You\'ll note an overabundance of references to lengths and widths in the AllRecipes.com directions.   If I was going to follow directions, then I was going to follow them implicitly.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">15 minutes later...</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAllRecipes.com directions:  \"Massage butter until pliable, but not soft and oily.\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI am 41, and not once have I heard of massaging butter.  Am I alone on this?  Do all of you massage butter on a regular basis?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI had no clue what they were talking about, so I just started massaging away.  At first, I softened it in my hands, and then spread it out over the dough like I was finger painting.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130176.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4541\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130176-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis alone was worth the price of admission.  I am here to tell you, dear readers, that butter massage has an instantaneous calming effect.  Please try this at home.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>15 minutes later...</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me: </strong></span> This is actually a tad stressful.  I was relaxed during the butter massage, but now I feel like a harried mess.  That Lake Cottage woman seems so zen.  But I believe that she is retired and living on a lake.  I need to go buy and install a router, shop for the week\'s groceries, write a blog post, and report to my day job tomorrow.  In the midst of all of this, I\'m detoxing from an herbal cleanse.  I won\'t go into details.  Not good timing on my part.  :-o\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span>LOL.  I\'m with you.  I\'ve been tempted more than once today to chuck it all and used canned dough, but I\'m persevering because though I have 16 hours of work scheduled for today, and it\'s not going to get done (cooking or not), I need a little \"me time\" and if that means insanely complicated handmade croissants, so be it.  :-)  No kitchen experiment is without risk or lessons to be had but the most important lesson I\'ve ever learned in the kitchen is...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was one of those really long texts that take up four messages.  Luckily, I have unlimited messages.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd:</strong></span> ... to allow your self to fail and have fun no matter what.  The 2nd most important lesson which I\'m relearning today is make sure you buy all the junk you need before you start.  1 trip to Lowe\'s and 2 to Albertson\'s.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> 1st lesson was very profound.  Verklempt.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(I was distracted and at the Apple Store during the umpteenth dough rise.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Todd: </strong></span> The cottage lady\'s kitchen is unfreakinbelievable!!!  (You can see it here:  <strong><a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/</a></strong><a href=\"http://lakelurecottagekitchen.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">.</a>)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYes, Todd, I know.  I imagine the rest of her life is as impeccable as her kitchen.  I\'m sure that she has a wonderful husband, perfect children, beautiful grandchildren, and (I would bet on it!) a serene and obedient Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSigh...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nStark reality:  My kitchen looks nothing like Lovely Lake Cottage Lady\'s kitchen.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130181.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4542\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130181-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>5 hours, several dough \"episodes\", and one chocolate shaving disaster later...</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVoila!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130183.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4538\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/P3130183-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA bit overdone.  Breathe...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict:  No wonder Meryl &amp; Steve enjoyed their croissant-capades.  They were high.  You, too, would need to smoke wacky tobacky to find this process fun. </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInstead, seriously consider finding the best bakery in town and splurge on their chocolate croissants.  For the peeps in my fair city, go here:  <strong><a href=\"http://pcroissant.com/\" target=\"_blank\">http://pcroissant.com/</a>.</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\">Verdict #2:  Massaging butter is a blast.  If butter is not your thing, then find a tall drink of water and massage his shoulders.  Better yet, get him to massage yours. </span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Token male readers:  Massage a woman\'s shoulders.  There\'s nothing sexier than a giver.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Verdict #3:  I would like for the Lake Cottage Lady to adopt me. </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSure this will tick my real mother off, but you can never have too many mothers.  As Hillary once said,  \"It takes a village.\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd I would like to be in a village with a cottage, thank you very much.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n*********\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInterested in the \"He Said\" version of the Chocolate Croissant Extravaganza?  Find out how Todd\'s croissants fared at <strong><a href=\"http://606diaries.com/\" target=\"_blank\">www.606diaries.com</a></strong>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nComing next week...Todd and Michelle tackle Guy Food in an unconventional way.  Be afraid.  Be very, very afraid.','Day 168:  It\'s More Than Complicated   ','','inherit','open','open','','4518-revision-30','','','2011-03-14 21:58:45','2011-03-15 04:58:45','',4518,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/4518-revision-30/',0,'revision','',0),