Cleaning & Snacking
Yowsahs. Where did the day go?! 
I basically just spent the last 7 hours cleaning and snacking. But, I guess that’s not a terrible way to spend a day, right? 
Check out the condition of our apartment this morning! Yikes!
We left it in shambles before our trip to Oregon. I don’t think our apartment has ever been so messy.
I’m happy to report that our place looks a million times better now. It just took awhile to get it that way!
Lunch
While cleaning, I snacked my way through lunch.
I started with Oikos + chopped pear.
Then, I had a cinnamon-baked sweet potato.
And then a piece of homemade fudge.
Mmmmm! 
And, finally, a slice of Grammie’s raisin-walnut bread.
I took half of a piece and then went back for the second half a few minutes later. I couldn’t resist its deliciousness!
Dinner
For dinner, I made buffalo chicken nachos with chipotle cheddar cheese, green bell pepper, chicken breast, Guiltless Gourmet tortilla chips, and Frank’s buffalo sauce. Holy yum!
Did you catch that funky oven mitt? It’s made out of silicone and withstands temperatures of up to 330 degrees Celsius. Pretty bad-ass, right?
It looks like a big, blue mouth to me.
Ahhhhhhhhh! 
The folks at Open Sky sent me this silicon oven mitt to test out– and I have to admit that I’m a lot more impressed than I thought I would be by an oven mitt. I mean, a potholder usually works just fine, but this thing was pretty cool.
While Mal snapped a few photos of the oven mitt in action, I held the pipping-hot nacho pan for a solid 30 seconds. While striking a pose, I didn’t feel any heat through the mitt at all. I thought I’d at least feel a little something, but I didn’t.
Oh, how I love buffalo chicken nachos! 
I started with a good-size portion and went back for a much smaller second serving.
For dessert, I dug into some Malley’s holiday chocolate from VeggieGirl. Thanks, Liz!!!
NuVal Buzz
Melissa of A Better Bag of Groceries answered a number of blogger questions about NuVal in her post today. Be sure to see if she answered one of your questions. Also, check out her New Year’s tradition post.
Trading Up Downtown features a guest blogger, who shares her shopping experience at HyVee. A number of product scores surprised her!
The Spark Giveaway
Thanks to everyone who entered! The Spark seems like a neat book, doesn’t it?
Here’s your random winner: 166
#166 Mary
on Dec 28th, 2009 at 12:02 pm [edit]
It’s always nice to hear tips from average people. Nutritionists know the facts but those facts usually aren’t one-size-fits-all. Hearing what works for different people brings an a whole different perspecitive.
Congrats, Mary! Please email me with your full name and mailing address.
—
Movie time and then BED!
Posted by: Tina 41 comments
Posted in: Uncategorized, products
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
I don’t know where you found the energy to clean after a long trip, but way to go! Your snacks look mighty tasty.
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
I love you apartment!
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
I think sometimes I use cleaning all day as a good excuse to snack all day too … ha, it makes cleaning more fun that’s for sure ; )
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
That fudge looks delicious!
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Ohh, I LOVE giving our house a good cleaning after a long trip! It feels so good to get the place spic and span again
Glad all your travels went well and ended up okay!
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Chicken nachos look amazing!!! Gives me an idea for a quick dinner in the near future
P.S. Isn’t Malley’s chocolate wonderful? It’s a Cleveland company and you see tons of cars with their “CHOC” bumper sticker driving around Cleveland daily!
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Those buffalo nachos looks delicious!
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Haha I got a kick out of the oven mitt- ours has a big hole in it so you burn your hand anyway
Everything looks tasty!
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Mmmm I love a day of snacking! And you have some good stuff for just having come home!
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
I saw those oven mitts advertised on TV and wondered if they really worked — guess you answered that question!
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
You have a beautiful home even “in shambles”
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
That oven mitt is amazing! I need something like that because my oven mitts always get so dirty and I hate doing laundry. Your blog post tonight is making me crave fudge like no other!!
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Haha that oven mitt does look like a big mouth… like a cartoon or something!
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
That totally is a pac-man oven mitt!
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
hehe, that oven mitt looks so cool
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
The blue mit looks like a claw!! haha.
Buffalo chicken nachos? Sign me up!
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Enjoy the movie and the bed! You deserve it!
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Grandmas walnut bread and the fudge look so good!
Those BBQ nachos look to die for!!!
Jenna
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Call me crazy but I love spending a whole day cleaning…there is nothing like a spotless house!
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Our appointment looked way all Christmas season because of work. Now it is clean.
I have seen that oven mitt in Bed Bath and Beyond and want it with a little face on it.
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
I got one of those mitts in green from your coupon with Open Sky!! I haven’t tried it out yet but I love how snazzy it looks!
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Your nachos look delicious! I have blue silicone oven mitts, too. The design is different from yours. They protect very well from the heat. The only thing is you have to ensure you are comfortable with the grip, because it feels a lot different from cloth potholders.
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Those nachos look awesome!
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
i snacked through lunch today too
i find it easier when i’m busy.. or i just wanna eat a whole bunch of random things!
yummm looking nachos
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
Happy New Year 2010 to you both, and the team is with you always enjoy your blog…Allan
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Had to comment on those delicious lookin’ nachos!!! Glad to hear you didn’t burn your hands posing for pictures.
p.s. Was the giveaway for 1 copy, or 5? I ask only because I really want to read The Spark!!
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
Holy yum is right on those nachos! Glad to hear the apt is looking better…I know I will be facing the same thing when I get home on Saturday
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Those nachos look great! I always try to tidy up the house before we leave for a trip so I can just relax when I get home.
on Dec 31st, 2009 at 1:18 am
Those nachos look delicious! Love Guiltless Gourmet products.
on Dec 31st, 2009 at 9:00 am
anything a grandma makes tastes yummy. Loving EVERYTHING about your foods today. Can Mal’s grandma make me some goodies next year?
on Dec 31st, 2009 at 9:02 am
Now I am super jealous of the fudge, not even sure when the last time it was I had some
on Dec 31st, 2009 at 9:08 am
I love you’re apartment!! Those nachos are making my mouth watering even though it’s way too early for nachos…;)
on Dec 31st, 2009 at 9:37 am
I don’t think I’ve ever seen your apt in so many views. It is absolutely adorable! (mess or no mess :O))
on Dec 31st, 2009 at 10:22 am
Happy New Year Tina! I wish you a happy, healthy, and successful 2010! I’m looking forward to your continued success with writing and in social media! Keep up the great work
on Dec 31st, 2009 at 11:15 am
I really like your apartment! Sounds like you were very productive today as well
Cool oven mitt!
on Dec 31st, 2009 at 11:44 am
I love the oven mitt! Weird looking but cool. I always end up using kitchen towels for hot stuff and burn myself.
Have a great New Year!
on Dec 31st, 2009 at 11:55 am
I want that bad-ass oven mitt!! Happy New Year!
on Dec 31st, 2009 at 12:00 pm
So random but this post popped in my feed right before I went to bed, and I didn’t read it I was too tired. Somehow, though, the title crept into my dream!
I had a dream you were giving me cleaning advice on my house and I was so thankful hahaha. RANDOM!
on Dec 31st, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Your apartment is so cute! and I haven’t made nachos in ages, yum. Hope you have a fun New Year’s!
on Dec 31st, 2009 at 12:14 pm
The mit totally does look like a monster mouth! Nachos are yummy… mmm how could you not go back for seconds?
on Dec 31st, 2009 at 12:18 pm
I have silicone oven mitts that really ‘are’ mouths! *Goes to find a link* Okay, I’m back (not that you knew I was gone….)
http://www.quirkyjessi.com/2007/11/silicone-potholder-puppets-hot-heads.html
And if you don’t want to click a link to my site (because uh, that’s spammy or something, right?), then check ‘em out at vat19: http://www.vat19.com/dvds/hot-heads-pot-holders.cfm
Still spammy? Gah, whatever. I *love* my oven mitts. I have the frog and dog ones, but they’re blue and green (Got them on Ebay, I think). The kids love that they’re little “puppets” and think I’m goofy for using them, so mission accomplished. You’re so right about not even being able to feel the heat through them. I expected to be able to, too, but nope. So awesome…and fun. <3