Good morning! My sleepy, rainy morning started with oats – butternutty oats – and a half cup of orange juice (calcium enriched!).
My butternutty oats contained 1/3 cup oats, 1/3 cup almond milk, 1/3 cup water, cinnamon, 1/4 cup butternut squash puree, and topped with hemp seeds, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds.
Please go check out the butternut squash puree recipe! It’s the same one I made for Thanksgiving, and it’s such an easy holiday recipe. (Plus, since I posted this recipe I’m now running late for work…so you should really check it out. 
)
Speaking of recipes – go check out the recipe for the Pomegranate Cheesecake Truffled Brownies that I submitted for the POM Wonderful recipe contest! The recipe format is a little weird, but I’ll be posting a better format, more pictures and the vegan version over here soon.
Now it’s time for our little Tuesday morning ritual! Confessions of SE 4!
1. This is a cheater confession – I was *this close* to forgetting about Confessions of SE today! I thought about skipping it as I’m running late, but it’s just too much fun to miss out on.
2. Even though I have a much greater idea of what I want to do with my career/ what I want to go back to school for, there are still days where I doubt, wonder, and think of hundreds of other jobs that would be perfect for me. Which leads me to question if I should go back to school at all.
3. I’m a control freak. There, I said it! I feel so much better already! Seriously though – I get so agitated when things are outside of my control. Like the dumb Christmas tree – we STILL have not found the burnt bulb/ figured out why one section of the tree won’t light up and it is driving. me. insane. All I want to do is decorate the tree already!
4. In light of Caitlin’s post and her responsible spending challenge, I got to thinking what kind of money person I am. Conclusion? I am a very practical person, which leads to *mostly* responsible spending (I say mostly because no one is ever perfect). The reason I’m practical (and yes, I agree- boring) is because after dealing with almost a year of combined unemployment on my end, living off of Ross’ teacher salary, working at paying off Ross’ student loans, and more, we’re forced to be responsible with our finances. I’m not saying this to rub in anyone’s face who struggles with finances, because like I said – no one, including us, is perfect. If anyone wants any tips, let me know! Or if you have any unique tips that work for you – let us know!
5. I am about to get ready for work in record time. 
I am a total control freak too. I just realized that the reason the Thanksgiving holiday was so successful for me (with no overeating and bingeing) was because I was in control of everything I cooked. I can’t decide if that is a bad or good thing. I need to learn to be more comfortable outside of my element as well!
First off, those pom cheesecake bites look INCREDIBLE!! I love when you do confessions.
I can relate to the control freak one – I am really a control freak but have calmed down since getting married – thank goodness.
My own confession? I use expired milk. Alot. And not just 1-2 days expired. Like 1 week expired. As long as it doesn’t have chunks, I use it.
I’ve definitely been irresponsible in the past but now that my husband and I are working on paying off our debts, I have become much more practical, getting only the things I need and doing without some others. I hope to stay this way, even when our financial situation improves.
WOW those cheesecake brownies look amazing! I think you should win for SURE with those. I can relate to the control freak thing, too. I also think one of the reasons I am prone to panic attacks on airplanes is that I feel like I don’t have control. Even though car accident deaths happen MUCH more often, I “feel” like I am mostly in control over what happens. But with planes? So scary. My life is totally in the pilot’s hands! And the ground is a looooong way down. Well that was cheery
Have a wonderful day, girl!
GORGEOUS brownies!
I’m definitely like you with #3, haha.
Those brownies look incredible! Have a great day at work chica!
My confession today is: I’m so over Lady GaGa!!!!!!
Sometimes I don’t like things just because everyone else does like it (I’m contrary that way) but I just am truly not that into Gaga.
Courtney
Adventures in Tri-ing
I have been thinking a lot about the kind of spender I am as well. I struggle with saving money (especially while living off Andy’s teaching salary only!) and would love to pay off credit card debt and slowly build a nest egg.
I’m excited to try out your recipes!
So with you on #2 and #3. Could have written those bullets haha.
The brownies look so good! I hope you win
Drooling over those brownies!!
We all have those doubts sometime. I had a minor freak-out last week about it, in fact. You’re not alone in that for sure
You are seriously killing me with those brownies of yours. They should definitely win the contest
And I am right there with you on #2. I always feel like I talk myself out of it. I can definitely be content with the job I am doing, or any other job in this field. But then I wonder if I would be a much happier person. I don’t know!
Those brownies were SO GOOD!
I hope you made it to work on time!
Those brownies look great! I have some POM to use up too, so I may end up baking them.
mmm the puree looks fabulous! I might have to give this a go. I’m a total control freak too…but I think our way is the only way…right? haha
Mmm I love butternut oats, sweet or savory!
Great confessions…i’m a control freak too, and i’m like you as a spender too!