Author: Ang Anderson

Let It Go

Posted on by Ang Anderson

I am a person who holds on to things. Tightly. Memories. Conversations. Things. I hold on especially to things that have any sort of personal attachment tied to them (which is pretty much everything). A gift from my grandmother. A stuffed animal I bought for my child before they were born. My son’s art projects from kindergarten. And because I associate these very special people or memories with the particular item, I cannot let the item go. It is as if by getting rid of the item, I am afraid I will lose the attachment that I associate with it. Obviously, that causes quite a conundrum. (Not to mention a lot of extra stuff.)

Which is where my sweet little friend Marie Kondo comes into the picture. I picked up this little gem right before Thanksgiving…

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I have slowly and very consciously made my way through this darling and insightful book. And it is has fully changed the way I see items in my home. {alleluia music}

People! It’s a total game changer. I am so happy to report that I can now let things go. Because they are just that. Things. If I don’t love the item or it doesn’t serve a purpose to me or my family (read: used regularly), I let it go.

That is right, folks.

I. Let. It. Go.

{insert musical break to belt it out like Elsa from Frozen for a few minutes}

It has been very refreshing to be able to let things go and I just wanted to share this new way of thinking with you. Just in case there are other like-minded, attachment-issue peoples out there just like me. 😉

Thank you Marie Kondo for the life-changing magic of tidying up.

Dear readers, I highly recommend checking out the book. Kondo has great ideas and insight for those of us who need some help letting go of our long-held, but no longer necessary items that clutter the nooks and crannies of our homes. She has great tips and tricks on how to store items too. We all want to live in a space that sparks joy, which Kondo has aptly titled her next book . Here’s to spring cleaning!

May you experience the magic at your abode,

Simple Fish Dip

Posted on by Ang Anderson

Okay, y’all. I’ve got something yummy to share. Last fall, I took a trip to see my dear friend Mo in Florida and was lucky enough to meet some new friends too! We ended up at a lovely little local spot called Nauti Nancy’s with live music and cocktails. It set the scene for a very relaxing Sunday. Of course, the menu included a wide variety of items that boasted of our proximity to the ocean. We started off with an appetizer of fish dip, which was raved about by the locals who were dining with us. It was such a simple dish and lately, back home in MN, I was craving the beloved appetizer. I improvised a little and just used tuna (Please don’t laugh. I know we have fish here in Minnesota too but I was taking the easy route.) So, what I am sharing with you is the idea of fish dip because I don’t really have an actual fancy fish dip recipe (yet) to share with you. But I do have the accompaniments and my improvisation which gives a delightful little remake of the fish dip I experienced in Florida.

Without further ado, here is the spread:

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The cracker is just the very basic soda cracker (saltine, if you will). Next, the meaty base consists of a package of white tuna mixed with a spoonful of mayo and some salt and pepper. You could easily improvise here with chicken too, in place of the tuna. The thing is that most of the flavor comes from the toppings so you don’t have to get too fancy with the base. After that, we have diced tomatoes, hot banana peppers, jalapeño peppers, and red (purple) onion.

Once assembled, our simple appetizer resembles a colorful array of flavors:

A delightful close up:

And don’t forget our lovely, little lady, Cholula (any hot sauce will do) to kick up the party to a whole new level. She likes being added right on top, if you dare.

This was my attempt to bring a wonderful vacation memory back to life. And you know what? It actually worked. My husband loved it too. It goes quite well with a cold beer (or two). Enjoy!

Best Beer Ever

Posted on by Ang Anderson

We recently enjoyed a family dinner at a local restaurant. It was Friday night and the beer list beckoned to me rather strongly. After a brief perusal, I found one that piqued my interest. The name was definitely unique and the description intriguing. After the first sip, I was awestruck.  After the second sip, I exclaimed to my husband, ‘This is the best beer I have EVER had!’. He is the responsible one who orders a coke and doesn’t care to be missing out on the indulgence of a cocktail. For me, it’s a food thing. You see, I needed the beer to go with my burger. Thankfully, he and I have different needs.  *whew*

So, I knew that this beer revelation was meant to share. You are wondering, pray tell, what beer? It was the Horny Goat Brownie Porter. If you get the chance to try this most amazing brew, I recommend it whole-heartedly.

 
Notes from the official Horny Goat Brewing Company Page:

Brewed with 8 different types of malt, this thick, sweet, and nutty brew has slight notes of vanilla and hazelnut to complement the cinnamon and chocolate flavors, just like a delicious warm brownie.