Valentine's Day

I can't believe MK's freshman basketball season is over already! It was fun while it lasted. For some reason MK looks more like MK wearing her b-ball jersey:So when she went to relief society with me the other night it came as quite a shock to me to see her modeling this: She reluctantly agreed since all of the Young Women were wearing them in a fashion show for the moms. Since the theme was weddings I was asked to make a cake for the occasion:

For Valentine's Day Bruce gave me these gorgeous roses:

And to complete the perfection of this day devoted to love, these puppies showed up at my door from my little next door neighbor. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. samoas.

While google ing for the pic I stumbled across this article. Which I naturally scoffed at while I scarfed them down:)

Tips for Mindfully Eating Girl Scout Cookies
1) One reason people mindlessly over eat Girl Scout cookies is due to the way they are packaged. The Thin Mints come in a long sheath and the Samoa, for example, are in rows. The natural "pause point" is at the end of the row or the sheath. A "pause point" is the place that you naturally stop and ask yourself if you want more. This way of packaging unconsciously leads people to eat more than they normally would. (Consider how Pop Tarts are packed in a set of two, to subtly imply that you should naturally eat two). Therefore, a helpful hint is to divide these rows of cookies into smaller baggies. That way when you get to the bottom of a bag of two cookies (instead of a row of cookies) you stop and ask yourself, "do I want more?" Creating your own pause points helps you to think mindfully about whether you really want another cookie. We often automatically respond to the subtle cues of packaging rather than our true hunger.

2) If you don't want to waste the cookies but feel uncomfortable with how many you have on hand, there are recipes that call for using several cookies at once. See the recipes below. Bring one of these desserts to a potluck, or to an office meeting. http://www.girlscoutsww.org/cookies/recipes
http://baking.about.com/od/leftovergscookierecipes/Recipes_for_Leftover_Girl_Scout_Cookies.htm

4) Freeze a box. If you are like most parents, coworkers or grandparents, you buy multiple boxes to help your favorite little one. The good news is that they freeze well.

5) Bring a box to work or other events. They will be gone quickly. If you worry about contributing to other people's mindless eating, you might also consider dividing up the cookies and putting one or two on a small plate. Wrap them up with pretty paper. This way you are sharing the cookies without leading others to eat them mindlessly.

6) Get the facts. Check out the nutritonal information on your favorite cookie. http://www.abcsmartcookies.com/cookies_nutrition.asp

7) Don't panic! Remember that Girl Scout Cookies happen once a year. This challenge won't last forever. If you do like them, eat them mindfully, savor and enjoy. Eating too many of them takes out the joy of these little treats.

For more mindful eating tips, see www.eatingmindfully.com By: Dr. Susan Albers, author of the new book, 50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food. and Eating Mindfully