Awesome Breakfast Bar

So, I've kept this secret for a while, until recently when helping a co-worker redesign her dietary and exercise lifestyle. (note I didn't say "help her with her diet" or "give her some exercise tips") Well, here it is, my morning time breakfast bar. Its yummy, and when I eat one, it generally holds me solid for quite some time. Its not a cure all, but rather, a tasty thing you can make, be sure of what is in it (no weird chemical ingredients), and carry with you on trips or to work. Have fun. Bring me one.

4 cups rice krispie cereal
1 1/2 cups dried cranberries (or dried blueberry)
1/2 cup sliced almonds (or sunflower seeds, or walnut, or whatever)
1/2 cup dried quaker oatmeal
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup tahini (sesame seed paste)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup honey (agave nectar is good too)
1 teaspoon vanilla (sometimes I use more)

In a large bowl, combine cereal, cranberries, almonds and oats, and wheat germ, and set aside. Combine tahini, brown sugar and honey in a saucepan and cook over medium heat until bubbling, stirring constantly to prevent burning. Add vanilla and stir until blended. Pour the tahini mixture over the dry ingredients and stir until coated. This is messy as hell. Might need to use your hands. Transfer the mixture to a 9x13-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Press down firmly, I actually place a layer of saran wrap over it and use another pan so that it is perfectly flat. Youll almost 'crush' this into submission. Cool for as long as it takes to be solid enough to withstand cutting and wrapping. I use the fold-over-sandwich bags, and stack in my pantry. Cuts into 12 bars.  You may want to cut smaller, but at 12, its the perfect size for me for breakfast.

Good luck!

Spreading the culture of an art

I had the opportunity this past weekend, to introduce a couple of young men to the martial arts. It is always a joy for me to see the enthusiasm people get as they learn a new art or skill, whether martial arts, or painting, or whatever. It's especially humbling, as I look back and remember early on in my learning as a new participant in class. How much excitement, nervousness, and desire to learn what was going on around me.

I truly enjoy teaching. Anything really. Martial arts, screen printing, even the times I get to show a fellow nurse a skill or talk about a drug we are using.

This week I am getting to precept a new-to-the-ER nurse, who's been in practice a while. It is a bit of pace change for her, but she had a very promising first day.

Just as in the martial arts, it is with anything: a persons skill is directly related to their instructors skill level and ability to teach in a way that reached the student. Our students are a direct reflection of us as teachers. And we should always strive to make great, bright reflections!

-Charlie Veuleman

A fast and furious week

Friday is here! Good
Thing I got to finish up the week with a call in to work ER today.

The week at InkInABlink! finished up strong, Matthew has been a great help with our production, and Aubrianne has done a great job scoring orders for the shop. Next week may lighten up a little, but we will be back at it the week after. We have many goals for our little shop. Can't wait to start seein them take life.

On a side note, the honey badger got removed from the LSU football team. Stupid. Waste of talent. Very disappointing. I'll be so busy this ball season, not sure how much it matters lol.

More later! Just trying to establish the habit of posting.

Check out my hot chicks!




-Charlie Veuleman

Another Try At Blogging

Well, this is probably my AT LEAST third blog.

I never keep up with these. I should try to do better. So, here goes.

Aubrianne says I need to blog better, so hopefully, this is something I can do more regularly. I am going to try and connect this to facebook, in an attempt to be more consistant. Facebook is great for the short stuff, but I bet, knowing me, this will be a more indepth look at stuff that I am in to.  I probably won't post a ton of stuff, but who knows.  With the ease of iPhone apps for blogging, hopefully my use of the site will be more consistant.

So...here goes.  It all starts with one step, right? That first workout at the gym, that first day of school or work, maybe even that first date.