Well, Our bars are finally in the windows! I was wrong about the day. They actually came Friday to do them, not Thursday. I knew that it would be nice to have them, but I had no idea how nice. for the first time since we have been here, I was cold at night! The kids woke up in a room that was pleasant, and the AC got a rest the whole time! I wish that we would have done this right away! It was so worth it! The only downside to the night was that there is a big festival going on in the land behind our condo. The police "clubhouse" for the city is right behind us, and while it is fun to watch the horses they have there, times like this are not ideal. There was partying and hooplah until about 4am. It wasn't too bad because we mostly just heard music, and not so much of the party itself, but that still makes it hard to sleep.
Then, as if the heavenly night of cool fresh air wasn't enough, we had the most spectacular waffles for breakfast. I was/am so proud of myself that I have to share: I cut the calorie count PER WAFFLE by 290 calories!!!!! We have been making these belgian waffles in my MIL's belgian waffle maker, but while they were delicious, they were pretty unhealthy (even when I tweaked the recipe). First, it calls for 1 cup of butter. I had not been using that much, but still, more than I would ideally use. Also, it calls for 3/4 cups of sugar. Since we don't have white sugar in the house, that was an easy swap that I had been making from the get-go. We only have Splenda, so that's what we had been using. Also, I had been using low fat milk since that is what we drink. My goal for this weekend was to find some apple sauce so that I could swap out the butter. I usually do that at home, and having babies around, I pretty much always have some variety of apple sauce. I mix it up sometimes and use the cinnamon, or berry too! So when I make waffles at home, I always switch out the fat for some type of apple sauce. When I told Carlos that that was on my list, he laughed at me. Apparently, the only Colombians that eat pureed apples are babies. I had to buy baby food apples and I was crossing my fingers that it would be good. Well. It was! We did not miss the butter at all, and I didn't feel at all guilty putting a little on top :) They were so sweet from the Splenda and the apple compote that we didn't need to use any syrup either! (But then again, we never use syrup on these since they are so sweet.)
Ok- I need to vent for a second.. One thing here that I absolutely HATE... At the grocery, people who represent different brands stand around their products in the aisle, and they get in your business, asking what you are looking for, and trying to block the competitor's products. The first time it happened to me, I was looking for razors and she was trying to get me to buy Nair instead. The last time it happened was yesterday. We were in Carrefour, and I wanted to get an air freshener for the house so we could start smelling like apples in here. I am so ready for fall, so I wanted to kick the "season" into gear since it is almost September. The Febreze lady was so nosy, trying to explain how to use the Scent & Refresh, to which I had Carlos reply that I already know how to do it, but then she was trying to ask which scent I want, and if I need refills or a starter, and I was so annoyed that we left without buying one. I walked away thinking, "ugh.. I guess I will just wait and go to Bath & Body Works when I am in the US..." And as I was walking away, I remembered that I accidentally packed a Gingham Apple Wallflower this time! Yay!! I guess those people would be good if I was sending Carlos for something, and he didn't know what to get, they could help him, but I like to browse. I like to smell different scents, compare prices, take my time. Carlos said to just say, "no entiendo.. no entiendo" and hope that they leave me alone. So anyway- our house smells just divine now!
Another exciting thing this weekend: We got fish for the kids!! We were feeling nostalgic for our pets at home, and so we wanted to have some new little friends for the kids. Emma is obsessed with the fish here at the lake, so I thought that she would love to have some of her own! And she does!! She LOVES to feed them, and watch them eat. She named them "Meow" and "Ruff Ruff"
Also, It was the big sale at Pepe Ganga this weekend, and it's a good thing too because Charlie's 1st birthday is next week!! We were able to stock up and get his presents for 40% off!! Unfortunately they were still more than I would have spent in the US. But oh well! He is very excited for all his stuff :)
Then, as if the heavenly night of cool fresh air wasn't enough, we had the most spectacular waffles for breakfast. I was/am so proud of myself that I have to share: I cut the calorie count PER WAFFLE by 290 calories!!!!! We have been making these belgian waffles in my MIL's belgian waffle maker, but while they were delicious, they were pretty unhealthy (even when I tweaked the recipe). First, it calls for 1 cup of butter. I had not been using that much, but still, more than I would ideally use. Also, it calls for 3/4 cups of sugar. Since we don't have white sugar in the house, that was an easy swap that I had been making from the get-go. We only have Splenda, so that's what we had been using. Also, I had been using low fat milk since that is what we drink. My goal for this weekend was to find some apple sauce so that I could swap out the butter. I usually do that at home, and having babies around, I pretty much always have some variety of apple sauce. I mix it up sometimes and use the cinnamon, or berry too! So when I make waffles at home, I always switch out the fat for some type of apple sauce. When I told Carlos that that was on my list, he laughed at me. Apparently, the only Colombians that eat pureed apples are babies. I had to buy baby food apples and I was crossing my fingers that it would be good. Well. It was! We did not miss the butter at all, and I didn't feel at all guilty putting a little on top :) They were so sweet from the Splenda and the apple compote that we didn't need to use any syrup either! (But then again, we never use syrup on these since they are so sweet.)
Ok- I need to vent for a second.. One thing here that I absolutely HATE... At the grocery, people who represent different brands stand around their products in the aisle, and they get in your business, asking what you are looking for, and trying to block the competitor's products. The first time it happened to me, I was looking for razors and she was trying to get me to buy Nair instead. The last time it happened was yesterday. We were in Carrefour, and I wanted to get an air freshener for the house so we could start smelling like apples in here. I am so ready for fall, so I wanted to kick the "season" into gear since it is almost September. The Febreze lady was so nosy, trying to explain how to use the Scent & Refresh, to which I had Carlos reply that I already know how to do it, but then she was trying to ask which scent I want, and if I need refills or a starter, and I was so annoyed that we left without buying one. I walked away thinking, "ugh.. I guess I will just wait and go to Bath & Body Works when I am in the US..." And as I was walking away, I remembered that I accidentally packed a Gingham Apple Wallflower this time! Yay!! I guess those people would be good if I was sending Carlos for something, and he didn't know what to get, they could help him, but I like to browse. I like to smell different scents, compare prices, take my time. Carlos said to just say, "no entiendo.. no entiendo" and hope that they leave me alone. So anyway- our house smells just divine now!
Another exciting thing this weekend: We got fish for the kids!! We were feeling nostalgic for our pets at home, and so we wanted to have some new little friends for the kids. Emma is obsessed with the fish here at the lake, so I thought that she would love to have some of her own! And she does!! She LOVES to feed them, and watch them eat. She named them "Meow" and "Ruff Ruff"
Also, It was the big sale at Pepe Ganga this weekend, and it's a good thing too because Charlie's 1st birthday is next week!! We were able to stock up and get his presents for 40% off!! Unfortunately they were still more than I would have spent in the US. But oh well! He is very excited for all his stuff :)
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