74. Give Blood

 We can thank my Dad for this one! I had told him with plenty of reservation that I would go with him next time he gave blood, little did I know that was only a few days away. So yesterday at 4:30 he came into my office and asked if I was ready to go give blood.. Tanya, I said to myself, get going, this is important and it's on the list!

So off we went to the High School Gym, my Dad being the ever eager donor had an appointment and was taken in right away. No problem.. I would meet him inside, after a registration, a quick run down of what was going to happen, and I first timer sticker, I was in.

My Dad with his extensive knowledge told me what would happen next and once that was done, answer the questions as quick as possible to "jump ahead" not an easy task for a first-timer. I got up to the first station, to check my iron and register on the computer system and sign a form. The set up is incredibly efficient.. props to the Winnipeg Blood Donor Clinic! We did however, had a mix up with my birth date, once that was sorted out.. it was the finger prick, my iron was too low... now I'm thinking am I going to be refused, no worries, they'll just try again... good to go!

Off to the next station... questionaire, right.. mark fast to jump ahead, I tried I really did, I may have jumped over one person, more likely I was probably jumped over, but as I'm sitting there waiting for the next station (the personal questions station), I realize I was in such a hurry to jump over donors, I hadn't read the instructions properly, I was suppose to colour in the boxes not check mark them, so here's my dilemma, I could go back and fill them in, but the lady already has my card in slot waiting for my turn. I'm up, into the personal questions station.. easy peasy, blood pressure a wee bit high, but I was nervous and for a first timer.. she said it was pretty normal.

Off to the chair, phew.. starting to sweat. They get me set up -- tipped back further than most, because I'm a first timer, with things taped to my arm and a girl comes over with a dozen of those blood bags, now being a first timer, I had to ask... "Am I suppose to fill ALL those bags?" NO no.. just one. Phew, pulse regulating. So, as the RN is finding my vein, she's telling me to make a fist, ok, the tubes are wrapped around my thumb, so it wasn't very tight, she goes and gets a stress ball, we sort out the tubes and I start pulsing the stress ball.. perfect, veins are out in full force! So, it's time, she pulls out the needle and I'm thinking.. that has to go in my arm? Holy crow! Again a tight fist.

So in goes the needle, now they kept telling me if I feel any change in how I feel I should let them know, now between you and me, I had my fist squeezed so tight, it fell asleep. As they're taking the vials of blood to test, I'm thinking is this normal.. maybe I should ask, of course I did not, and my hand finally came around. "So, how long does this usually take, I mean how long before I've filled a bag?" Nurse says.. "Well anywhere from five to 15 minutes, but probably, closer to 15 since you're a first timer". Ok, relax Tanya, I'm thinking.. this will take a while. The vials are full, and she leaves for a few minutes and comes back tells me I'm done...

Conversation that ensues
Nurse 1: "Ok, wow you're done"
Me: "Pardon? I'm finished already"
Nurse 1: "Yes, four minutes, 20 seconds. That's incredible. Are you feeling ok?"
Me: "Yup"
Nurse 2: "You're done already, are you feeling ok?"
Me: "Yup"
Nurse 2: "You better stick around for a bit longer"
Me: "ok"
Nurse 3: "You're finished, wow, that was fast, are you feeling ok?"
Me: "Yup"
Nurse 3: "Ok, please make sure you eat and drink, you sure you're not feeling light-headed or dizzy?"
Me: "Nope, I'm good, thanks"

Now my only explanation for the championship blood, is nerves. That blood was definitely coursing through my veins last night, I was nervous! It really wasn't nearly as traumatic as I thought it would be, and we should all do our part and give a pint! I'll be doing it again for sure! My goal is to beat my record!

As a little side note.. I beat my Dad's pint of blood by two minutes!
I wouldn't have done it without him, he's very convincing! Thanks Dad, I'm glad I went!

78. Cook my way through an entire magazine/cookbook

Makeover Rosemary Muffins
January edition of Healthy Cooking Magazine.

 

Oooh, I've been waiting for that one recipe that I want to devour from this magazine. Healthy always ins't the tastiest choice, but these muffins are by far the BEST recipe so far.

I gave some of these savoury little morsels away to the family and I can say there is a chance the next time I make these, I will be keeping these to myself. They are delicious!

The recipe is below

Makeover Rosemary Muffins

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1-1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1-1/2 cups (12 ounces) reduced-fat plain yogurt
• 1/2 cup fat-free milk
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese
• 1/2 cup chopped Greek olives
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. In another bowl, combine the eggs, yogurt, milk, oil and mustard. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in the cheese, olives and rosemary.
• Coat muffin cups with cooking spray; fill three-fourths full with batter. Bake at 375° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in muffin comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. Serve warm. Yield: 1 dozen.

29. Cook for my Grandmas monthly for a year

Tuesday,  March 29 (Yes, I know.. cutting it close!) Grandma Del and I headed over to Grandma Peg's home for our monthly dinner.

I was going to test out a  brand spankin' new recipe, I searched and searched, and had a few chosen, but decided last minute to go with a tried and true recipe... it doesn't have a name or let's call it Beef Tomato Casserole, I've made it a bunch of times and always love it. We added some brocolli and corn to round out our dinner.

I forgot my camera so I couldn't take a picture of our dinner, but I did catch a pic of the leftover casserole. I always leave some leftovers for my Grandmas, but they insisted I take some too.

I love these dinners, I've learned so many things about my family that I had no idea about prior to this. This is probably the best item on my list, the memories that we are making are priceless and I wouldn't trade this "task" for anything.

April's dinner... Grandma Del's with Shore Lunch Chicken Noodle Soup, It's already decided!

Beef Tomato Casserole
1lb. Ground Beef
1.5 cups instant rice
1.5 cups water
2 Medium Tomatoes chopped
1 package onion soup mix
1 tomato, sliced
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

Brown ground beef in a skillet, add next four ingredients, mix and bring just to a boil. Remove and cover tightly with foil, bake in 350º oven for 25 - 30 minutes, until water is absorbed. Remove foil top with sliced tomatoes and sprinkle with cheese, bake for another 10 minutes until cheese is melted, serve.

11. Read 50 Books

The Spellmans Strike Again
by Lisa Lutz

summary

Izzy has finally agreed to take over Spellman Inc., not without strict contracts and stipulations. Her first order of business take down the competition, not without a few deceptions on, said competitions part. A missing-person case at the home of an aging millionaire, adds to the mix, enter Izzy's friend Len, who infiltrates the mansion as an undercover butler, Len practices his method acting and will not break character for anything, driving his partner Christopher to the brink.

Blackmail further complicates Izzy's life -- date 2 professionals per month to keep her Mother at bay, not something that her current boyfriend finds too amusing. Add to this, calls from the edge, Rae's unrelenting pro-bono work, missing fixtures and daily rules at the Spellman office and you've got  the funniest book in the series.

I absolutely recommend this series, I still couldn't put them down!

SPOILER ALERT!

I  had to include this in my blog, I had a fit of giggles reading this... too funny. Now it could be because I have read the entire series that I find this hilarious.. but I'll risk it anyways.

A bit of background for you...

Len:  San Francisco born and bred, actor, Black and gorgeous (as if you could question this.. hehe), Christopher:  British, partner to Len, Black and gorgeous (again.. as if you could question this!)

Izzy from time to time hires her friends Len and Christopher to help with cases, mostly her jobs include stereotypical work as thugs. Not this time, Len, between acting gigs, is hired to play the role of butler to an aging millionaire, a role Len takes a little too seriously, driving Christopher to his breaking point. Christopher asks Izzy to take Len off the case or serious consequences will ensue. You see Len will not break character, to make his role more believable he adopts a british accent. Christopher, Len's brithish boyfriend strugglin with both this unending role and his new accent, asks Izzy for advice.. her advice... a dose of his own medicine

Here is a tidbit from the book... A dose of his own medicine...

   That evening, Christopher phoned me and said that he had collected some fingerprint samples from Mason's room. I decided to drop by their loft and see how my Method actor and his partner were doing. I'm afraid I have to report that things had taken a turn for the worse.
   Just a quick refresher: Christopher is British; Len (AKA mr. Lenonard) is San Francisco born and bred.
   This is how Christopher answered the door: "Yo, Izz, where ya been?"
   While his accent wasn't perfect, it resembled Baltimore slang a la HBO's The Wire, Len and Christopher's favourite show. However, if I missed the point with the accent, Christopher's puff jacket, saggy jeans and do-rag cleared it up for me.
   "Uh-oh," I said.
   "Yo, make yourself comfortable."
   "Where's Len?" I asked nervously.
   "The mother f*cker's makin' tea or something. You feelin' thirst?"
   "No, I'm fine," I replied, finding a seat on the couch, bracing myself for what might happen next.
   When Len entered the room, the contrast reached the point of absurdity. Len was still in his three-piece work attire and he was, as his companion had said so eloquently, making tea.
   "Isabel, what a pleasant surprise," Len said. Yes, still in his valet character.
   "Yo, I told you she'd be dropping by for the shit."
   "Oh yes, must have slipped my mind," Len said with excessive sarcasm.
   Then he turned to me as if I'd be his ally. "Can you believe the vulgarity I have to contend with here?"
   "Oh my god, what have I done?" I said.
   "You want the English shit or a forty instead?" Christopher asked while popping his own can of malt liquor.
   "This is what I want. I want the fingerprints and I want both of you to break character and talk like reasonable people about what's going on here."
   "I'll get you your shit," Christopher said, heading into the other room
   Len approached and sat down on the couch right next to me, leaning in conspiratorially.
   "He won't stop. No matter what I do, I simply cannot get him to stop. I'm absolutely at my wit's end."
   "You stop first," I said.
   "I'm merely doing my job; what's he doing?"
   "Heads up." Christopher said, tossing a paper bag in my direction.
   I caught the bag in midair and made a beeline for the door.
   "I'll be in touch," I said.
   "Isabel, I beg you don't go," said Mr. Leonard.
   "I have a date," I replied.
   "Bitch you lie," Christopher said, following me to the door.
   "This is dreadful," I said.
   "Holler if ya need more investigative materials," said Christopher, and finally breaking character he mumbled, "I want this case closed."
   "Fo shizzle:, I replied.

From the novel ~ The Spellmans Strike again by Lisa Lutz

11. Read 50 Books

Revenge of the Spellmans
by Lisa Lutz

summary

After a short career in mixology, Izzy,  is pressured back into her calling by her Boss Milo, who's "friend" is suspicious of his wife's friendships.with a curious case of surveillance on her work load, Izzy is back to work. With court-ordered therapy, Izzy is trying to sort out her own personal issues, which include but are not limited to; sleepless nights,  a housing crisis, a car that continually disappears in the night, and interpreting her own romantic feelings about the new Irish Bartender or Det. Stone.







Adding to the fold are David's (Izzy's brother) unusually new laid back ways and her sister Rae's PSAT scandal. Add in blackmail by her folks, Izzy has her hands full!

I still highly recommend this series, I couldn't put them down!

11. Read 50 Books

The Curse of the Spellmans
by Lisa Lutz

summary

I have to say this is my new favourite series, well to be fair, I think it's the only series I've ever read.. and I LOVE it. I think everyone should read these novels. They are the funniest books I've read in a very long time. I read the last three books a few weeks ago, but I haven't had the chance to blog about them yet.

This book starts with Izzy's fourth arrest in three months, two of which she denies the validity of. Over lunch with Mort, her 80+ lawyer, she recounts her past few months.

John Brown, with his suspiciously common name becomes "subject" number 1; garbage duty, lock picking, and a two-story fall ensues. Not only has John Brown made her list, her whole family has made this list, each with their own suspicious behaviour reports. On top of this Izzy is busy trying to track the culprit(s) that are recreating her highly creative juvenile pranks, of which she swears she knows nothing about.

I highly recommend this series, I couldn't put them down!

78. Cook my way through an entire magazine/cookbook

Crab Macaroni Casserole
January edition of Healthy Cooking Magazine.

 

I gave this a whirl last week, it looks really good in the magazine, I mean really really good, this helping of creamy gooey goodness... it was a bit deceiving. My Dad makes the best macaroni in the world, loaded with cheese, onions and bacon really I should've known any "light" version of macaroni really would not measure up, but as per my requirements.. I still needed to cook my way through a magazine. So, I whipped up this quick concoction.

It needs some sort of spice... I've tested a few servings using different spices.. nothing really added that "something" it needed, but the sriracha added the most taste.. maybe cause it really just covered up everything with that HOT taste. It made quite a bit- so for a group that likes bland food, this probably will satisfy, but not my favourite, that's for sure!