love day.

I hope you all had a great valentines day. We don't go too crazy about it, but Tyler did give me some amazing gifts: he picked out some decals from Shanna, and a ring from Odette.

We couldn't help but put up a decal right away, this one is from her new line (not available online yet). We put it by our front door as a bit of a mantra. 

We got some pizza take out and chocolate cake, which was just what I wanted. We went to a late showing of The Artist, which was really good. Tyler was totally enthralled, but I was bit distracted because pizza + chocolate cake + jelly bellies x(26 weeks pregnant) = loud tummy noises that in a silent movie, the other 4 couples there could probably hear.

one and not done.

I got one sock done. Now I have to do the other one. Hopefully I won't have this turn into my mitten project. Making two of something is hard! Mentally I just want to move on. I guess I could learn how to make two at a time, I'll see if I get sock obsessed after this pair.

This one turned out well, the fit is good, but I feel like I can feel the stitches a bit when I walk. This is probably too simple of a pattern, I would like to do a toe-up version next time. A good place to start, and I didn't have to think about it much while I was making it or refer to a pattern.

making milk.

I feel like instagram has turned into quite the mini blog for me, I love posting on there but I know it only limits to iphone users. Those who follow my instagram have seen my blender obsession. After making hundreds of smoothies in my food processor, I went for my dream and got a blendtec blender (my mom got one at a costco demo show for me). I've had it for a week and used it dozens of times. I'm in love with an appliance and I don't care who knows it!

One of the things I wanted to try was making my own almond milk. It's so simple, and so much better than store bought (and cheaper!). It can be made with any blender, just probably takes longer than my 40 seconds. :) I used a couple different recipes for reference. I did not have a nut milk bag, I used cheesecloth, but I folded it twice so it was strained through four layers. One layer alone would not be fine enough. Worked great that way.

I used it with my favorite smoothie recipe, and it was fantastic on cereal. I hope to make this a weekly routine. Makes about a quart, and it keeps for 3-4 days. Like all almond milk it separates in the fridge but just give it a stir and it's back to perfect.

Almond milk

1 cup raw almonds soaked overnight in water, rinsed and drained
4 cups filtered water
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
pinch of kosher salt

Combine water and drained almonds and blend on high until well blended (maybe 5 minutes for regular blenders, whole juice button on blendtec). Pour over cheesecloth or nut milk bag set over/in a pitcher or bowl. Press all liquids through and put back in a rinsed blender. Combine with the rest of the ingredients and pulse to combine. Pour in a pitcher and keep refrigerated.