Awwww man!
I just went through my archives so that I could copy/paste the template for this post, and it made me realize that I was in Hawaii the last time I told you guys about life as I Currently know it. Hawaii!!
It honestly feels like it was forever ago, but apparently it happened just last month. Time, you’re playin’ me 🤔
And while I miss the beach, and the sunsets, and my little penguin buddies, I’m more than okay with being back in plain ol’ Edmonton too. I mean, the weather has been pretty decent, work has been good to me, I’ve got my biking adventures to look forward to, and all this other stuff currently going on too!..
(smooth transition, right!?! I know 😏)
Current book: Nothing. Nada. ZIP. Give me some good recommendations!
Current music: This is gonna sound a little crazy, but you know that song I mentioned listening to on repeat? It’s called “Feel Good” by Syn Cole, and it’s been my go-to background music while I work for a couple of weeks now. I first noticed it in the videos of a few YouTubers that I watch, and I was happy to finally figure out what it was called because it’s a perfect song to zone out to. That and it makes you… err… feel good 😁
[youtube=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1ULJ92aldE&w=640&h=427″]
Current [non]-guilty pleasure: Sleeping in, maybe? And by “sleeping in” I mean waking up at 6:30 instead of 5. I’ve been trying to stay up a little later so I don’t wake up at the crack of dawn, and the extra 1.5 has been nice because it makes the days not feel quite as insanely long.
Current drink: Iced Americanos. I’m still not really feeling the hot coffee, but iced has definitely been hitting the spot… which is weird since I’m normally the complete opposite.
Current food: Banana ice cream! Every.dang.day. I’ve had a few people ask me how I make it, and all I do is toss 2 or 3 frozen bananas into my Vitamix and blend away until they get nice and creamy like ice cream. Having a high-speed blender definitely helps when it comes to getting the right consistency, but a food processor works pretty well too. AND! it’s important to freeze your bananas at the right time. If they’re too ripe, you’ll end up with runny gloop, and if they’re too green, your ice cream won’t be sweet and tasty. You want the bananas to be slightly spotty and medium-firm.
Current obsession: I’m gonna have to go with biking on this one. I’m not even really sure why I randomly got so into it this year, but I’m not complaining! I’ve been loving going out and getting lost on purpose.
Current craving: A trip to the mountains, but this time to go biking instead of snowboarding. I’m not even sure that I’ve ever been biking on the trails up in the mountains, but I’m hoping to make it happen this year. Who wants to come with? 😃
Current need: Some water. I’m feeling a little thirsty.
Current indulgence: I’ve been doing a whoooooole lot of recipe testing, so I basically have baked treats coming out my eyeballs. I seriously can’t wait for you guys to see these 😁
Current bane of my existence: The wind. Not only does it make seasonal allergies a bit of an nightmare with all the white fluffs flying around, but biking into the wind is all sorts of hard. I might as well be going uphill. Both ways. With no shoes.
Current procrastination: Uhmmmm uhm uhm? Getting a gym membership? I told you guys last month that I really wanted to get back into lifting after reigniting the passion at the hotel gym, but I still haven’t gotten around to it. I blame it on the fact that biking has been the bulk of my exercise these days… which I’m kind of okay with.
Current confession: I may not actually end up getting aforementioned gym membership 🙊 I mean, I’ve been meaning to do it for a couple of years now and I always somehow manage to put it off because I find something that I like doing outside better. In the fall it’s running, in the winter it’s boarding, in the spring/summer it’s apparently biking… See my dilemma?
Current quote: A good thing to keep in mind when interacting with others. Don’t take things personally!
Current excitement: I’m so very close to finishing the initial manuscript for my cookbook!!! SO VERY CLOSE! 99% of the recipes are done, and now all that’s left is a bit of writing and editing 😁
Current mood: Peachy keen, jelly bean! And I hope you’re doing just as awesome!
Let’s chat!
Give me your current:
… a) book.
… b) music.
… c) food.
… d) obsession.
… e) bane of existence.
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I would LOVE to come to the mountains with you, I haven’t been in a while actually! I’m also in love with iced Americanos, except not so much in the cold weather we’ve been having the past week.
See now I really want to take up biking. I’d love to explore the metroparks in my area, just not on foot. A bike would be perfect. Now I just need to buy one. Minor detail.
I love that quote.
I’m thinking about joining a gym, one which offers childcare. Maybe sometime in July.
I think that’s one of my favourite parts about biking – you get around a whole heck of a lot quicker. And if you join one, I’ll join one. We can be long distance workout buddies.
Hi, latest book I read and LOVED is the LIttle Paris Bookshop: the Novel by Nina George. It is a translation from German. Have a great day and thank you for being you!
Well if that isn’t just the sweetest! Thanks so much for your kind words, Andy 😀
Okay, so I’m currently obsessing over how I’m gonna get my hands on this banana ice cream!! And I’m really into audio books lately!
Can you believe I’ve never listened to any? I bet they’d be a great thing to turn on while I’m in the kitchen…
I adore your current quote and the fact that you don’t have a current book reminds me that I don’t have a current book either and that needs to change pronto! What else needs to change is that I’ve never had banana ice cream either – gosh am so missing out! Hope your week is off to a wonderful start Amanda!
I jsut finished The Secret Keeper and I was in love with it!! It’s an easy read and keeps you interested. Definitely check it out if you have time 🙂
Thanks Beverley! Adding it to my list 🙂
I love biking! It’s one of my favourite ways to get exercise in the summer. That banana I’ve cream looks so good – as an ice cream addict I think I need to give it a shot!
So excited for you about the cookbook! So close to being done! It’s going to seel like hot-cakes, I just know it 🙂 And that quote – heck if that aint the truth! So often we view people’s thoughts about us as a reflection of our own flaws or imperfections when really it is the other way around!
Right?! Definitely something I’d go back and tell my younger self if I could.
Book: Im finishing up The Manchurian Candadite by Richard Condon
Music: I can’t stop listening to The Black Eyed Peas
Obsession: watching past episodes of Once Upon a time on Netflix
Bane of existence: when things to go as planned
Current…
Book: Sky Raiders by Brandon Mull. It’s just an okay series according to my brother and sister, but I am well and truly hooked on a different children’s fantasy series, the Percy Jackson series, by Rick Riordin (NOT at all like the movies I hear!).
Music: Basically any song by Andy Grammer, but “Honey, I’m Good” and “Back Home” are ones I play probably the most often (weird factoid, I found Andy Grammer from his dad, who sang kids’ songs I listened to as a kid!)
Food: This isn’t new, but I’ve been particularly craving all things cashew lately. Cashew butter, cashew cheese, homemade cashew milk (!!!), cashews in recipes…they’re just too good + versitle!
Obsession: Anklets. My sisters got me into this, though I’ve always thought they were cute; I just thought I’d never remember to wear them. They are lending me theirs to test-drive in hopes of winning me to the anklet side. It’s working. 😉
Bane of existence: Getting everything organized for my two separate trips in the next fortnight (I’m only home a day between the trips). Also counts as current stress and current [non]-guilty pleasure (I’m visiting some of my favorite peeps!).
Seeing as I love so many children’s fantasy series’, I’ll definitely check that one out! And I can totally relate to the stress that comes before a trip, but then it all disappears as soon as you’re on your way. Good luck with the prep!
I’m not reading anything great either 🙁 I recommend The City of Bones and that series. It was good! I’m totally eating banana nice cream right now! I left it for almost a year…but now its BACK! <3 #TypicalVegan
It was the same for me! I used to be so obsessed with it, gave it up for a pretty long time, and now it’s randomly back. Love it.
Cannot wait for this cookbook! I hear ya on the gym membership. I think what you’re doing is great. You can always pick up some weights for cheap and just use those for at home workouts. I don’t have a gym membership so all mine are at home! Keep up the biking. WHen you find something you love, keep on going!
Thanks Heather! And you’re totally right. I know I could do everything at home. I think it’s just more of an issue of getting out of the house since I work from home and spend so much time there.
You know what I find interesting? That I can consume a much larger quantity of iced coffee vs hot coffee. The caffeine also doesn’t seem to affect me as much? Am I crazy?!
I cannot wait for your book! Will you autograph my copy?!
You’re crazy! I feel like iced coffee hits me way harder. Hot coffee just makes me want to take a nap 😆
Current book – “The Outlaws of Time” by N. D. Wilson. He’s one of my favorite authors, even though he writes kids books. Although my favorite series of his is still “100 Cupboards”, I love the way he uses time travel in this book! I haven’t finished it yet, but there’s a lot of action so far!
Current music – Ben Rector (“Like the World is Going to End”, “Brand New” and “Crazy” are my faves of his that I’ve heard so far) and Andy Grammer. 😍
Current food – TJ’s Sweet Plantain chips. Pretty much every day, and I could probably eat an entire bag to myself. No shame. 😂
Current obsession – I would say all of the above, but I’m also fostering kittens (my first time!) and I am obsessed with their purrs! So adorable!
Current bane of my existence – when things keep going wrong and there is nothing you can do about it. That and waiting for my iPhone to arrive…12 hours after it was ordered I was already dying. Haha! But it might come a day earlier than I originally expected, which would be cool! 😎
Fostering kittens?!?!?! Oooomigosh. I’ve thought about fostering animals before but I don’t think my building would be too keen on the idea. That and I’d probably want to keep them all 😆
I’m loving the book Landline by Rainbow Rowell. It’s such a fantastic and sweet book! Highly recommended.
Thanks Carly! I’ll definitely check it out 🙂
I love that song! I’m listening to right now and it does have a feel-good vibe. 🙂
I feel your pain with the gym membership. I cancelled mine because something always comes up that keeps me from making it to the classes I like and I always think how much easier it is to just put on my running shoes and workout outside. But then as soon as I cancelled it, I panicked and rejoined, lol.
Haha! I could definitely see myself doing the same thing. I’d seriously love to join if it wasn’t so pricey since I’d probably only go in a couple times a week to use the weighs. Maybe I just need to shop around for a more affordable gym.
I have a love of the Iced Americanos too. I can never get enough. Rain, and lots of it, is currently the bane of my existence. Thunderstorms in Austin for the next ten days if you can believe that!!
That’s definitely a little crazy. You’re more than welcome to send them my way! We really need some rain around these parts.
Digging that song! Most of my reads lately have been yoga books (Happy Yoga is my favorite), but I also just finished The Lake House and The Time Traveler’s Wife, both of which I would recommend!
I’ve read Time Traveler’s, but not Lake House. I’ll check it out. Thanks Emma!
I love this post! Could I use your format for a post on my blog (I would for sure give you the credit of creating it!)? A. Current book: Fall of Giants by Ken Follett B. Music: Amber by 311 is playing on my Spotify as I post! C. Food: homemade chicken salad D. Obsession: shopping–I’m trying to find a dress for an upcoming wedding this weekend. E Bane of my existence: BEES! They are out and everywhere right now. I’m allergic and can’t seem to stay away from them!
You definitely can, Amanda! It’s a fun little survey to fill out 🙂
I do feel like the summer is the least necessary time of year to have a gym membership because there is just SO much that you can do outside for free! I’d rather put the money into a few equipment items and doing stuff like kayaking and whatnot. Enjoy the outdoors while it’s warm!
I LOVE iced americanos 🙂 Also have been loving biking. Spin classes are so fun! So excited for your cookbook to come out 🙂
Have you read the Red Rising Trilogy?
Twice! I seriously love that series.
We have been having really cool weather here lately. Usually by mid-May it is in the 90s and unbearably hot (I don’t like anything over about 80 anyway!) so the cool weather is really nice. I’m sure we will get super hot soon, so I’ll enjoy it while it’s here! It’s so nice to get outside to run, bike, just sit and read when it’s so cool out. I can’t do a gym membership. By the time I’m done with work, the last thing I want to do is leave home to go workout. I have a gym at home though, so I don’t have excuses if I don’t work out!
Working out at home is so great if you have the motivation! No wasting time in a commute and you don’t have to worry about people hogging your favourite machines 😉
Haha…I’m glad I’m not the only one guilty of having a favorite machine at the gym! And then I feel like personally offended when someone else is on it when I get there! How rude! I’m lucky that I generally speaking have enough motivation to use our equipment/machines at home and they haven’t become clothes hangers yet! 😉
Book recommendation: If I recall, you’re into fantasy, right? Have you read The Martian by Andy Weir. It’s sci-fi and not fantasy, but as someone who likes fantasy myself I absolutely loved The Martian and powered through it in 3 sittings. So worth it! Plus, the movie is hilarious and a great adaptation.
I haven’t read it but I feel like I’ve been seeing it a lot lately. I’ll definitely check it out. Thanks, Julia!
I’m loving the iced Americanos too lately…my wallet is not since I don’t buy hot coffee out and make it myself all winter long haha 🙂
That makes sense about the gym membership. I actually only use mine if the weather is terrible or if I want the hot tub. I love that quote. I think it’s perfect.
It’s one of my favourites too. Definitely helps with avoiding drama.
I’m glad to see what your book is almost done! I can only imagine how hard is it. And I love banana ice cream too! Try it with spoon of melted almond butter on top. So good!
I’ve done it blended in, but never melted on top! I’ll definitely give it a shot.
cant wait to see your cookbook, its kinda like your birthing a baby right! so excited for you! my current book is secondhand souls by christopher moore and audio book outlander book 5 i think its called the firery cross. if you need a good funny book check out christopher moore i love almost every single one of his books (not all because, hey they cant all be winners). current bane of my existence is the stupid extra 5 pounds that will not leave my body, go away stupid 5 pounds no one wants you here!
I never made that analogy, but it totally is like giving birth! Takes just as long and involves weight some weight gain 😛
I love going bike riding! It is so calmin and invigorating! My neighborhood is just so darn hilly though 😜
I just saw on Facebook that my Spain trip was a year ago. It’s crazy how fast time goes by. I’ve never done any mountain biking, but if you want to come my way and do a hike, I’d be in!
We’ll definitely have to plan something this summer! I’m pretty sure I still have your number, so I’ll send a text your way once all this crazy busyness settles down.
ugh the wind is the worst!! Current obsession is Chopped on Netflix–I cant stop watching it!
I love the banana ice cream tips, I honestly had no idea you needed bananas that were right in the middle. I’ve been meaning to experiment with ice cream for over a year but keep putting it off!
That’s because you’re too busy rockin’ it with gummy bears 😛
YAY iced coffee and banana ice cream. You’re basically ready for summer. Oh and I’m the same way with a gym membership. It’s like, I sort of want one, but between barre+yoga+home workouts, I don’t really need one. Perhaps one day!
I went for a bike ride on Saturday for the first time in forever and I loved it! I was a bit rusty because at one point I totally bit it and now have a massive bruise on my calf, but I didn’t do too bad for being years removed! I feel like I should go buy a bike now 🙂
Aww no! I haven’t bit it just yet, but I always have 1 or 2 pretty and wipeouts per season of whatever sport I’m doing, so it’s probably coming 😆
I despise the wind too. least favorite weather condition. I do not enjoy running in it and it always flings my hair all around. if I have lipstick on, then my hair gets stuck in it and sticky. ha!
That reminds me of those super sticky lip glosses from bak in the day. I was always getting my hair stuck in those.