Turn off the T.V.
Play this song loudly. Put it on repeat and dance around the kitchen.
Make the following meal from Ellie Krieger. I am cooking my way through her cookbook, So Easy.
Each week, I pick one or two of her recipes and cook them on the weekends, then eat on them through out the week, and I am on number 5 right now, and she has not let me down once. At first glance, this meal appears to be heavy, and honestly, not very good for you. But, when you eat it, it is refreshing, and yummy, just like everything else she has done that I have tried.
After it was done, I held the plate in my hand, danced around the house eating with my fingers. A great night.
So grab a beer, play some tunes, and cook this ASAP.
Sirloin Steak with grainy mustard sauce and Parmesan steak "Fries"
Steak:
4 teaspoons canola oil
1 small shallot, finely chopped
1 tablespoon flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 sirloin steak
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons whole grain mustard
2 beefsteak tomatoes, thickly slices
Directions:
heat 2 teaspoons of oil over medium heat. Add the shallot and cook until softened. Stir in flour and cook for 30 seconds. Stir in the broth, bring to a boil, and cook until reduced to 1 cup. (About 10 min)
Cook the steak. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper. Heat 2 teaspoons of oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Cook steak, turning once for 6-8 min. Transfer to cutting board and cover with foil.
Discard fat from pan. Add sauce and bring to simmer. Stir in mustard and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Steak Fries
2 russet potatoes
1 tablespoon canola oil
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
salt to taste
Preheat oven to 450.
Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
Cut potatoes in half lenthwise. Cut each 1/2 into 4 slices lenghtwise.
Put potatoes in a bowl and coat with oil.
Place in over and bake for 20 min.
Sprinkle with cheese and bake for another 15 to 20 min.
Eat, dance, enjoy.
Live Simply-Live Well
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Finish already
Does this month seem like it has been going on forever? Am I the only one who feels this way or what?
I am ready for January to be over. I don't know why, but I am.
So far this month, P has moved to Dallas for work for 6 months, there have been major issues with students at school, I have been out of town for 2 weekends this month, I had a pretty serious sickness which involved a steroid shot and pills, and some allergy attacks.
So overall, I am ready to bid January, adu.
I am ready for January to be over. I don't know why, but I am.
So far this month, P has moved to Dallas for work for 6 months, there have been major issues with students at school, I have been out of town for 2 weekends this month, I had a pretty serious sickness which involved a steroid shot and pills, and some allergy attacks.
So overall, I am ready to bid January, adu.
Monday, January 24, 2011
He's done the research
This weekend while at my aunts, she was reading the newspaper and we began discussing the economy and the housing market. The paper said that because home prices have been falling, 2011 is a great time to buy a home.
She looked at me and said, with yall moving this summer, yall should buy a house.
We started talking and I explained to her that P and I are on the Dave Ramsey baby step plans, and that our goal is to buy a home with cash.
She looked at me like I was a bit crazy, and asked several questions. She said she didn't agree with it, and didn't quite understand it, but it was great to have that discussion.
As we continued talking, the subject of forclosure homes came up, and I remembered Dave's quote, and I told her, "Dave has done the research, and he has found that 100% of the homes that are fully paid for, don't get forclosed on."
She looked at me, laughed, and shook her head.
It was such a great reminder of what our goals are.
She looked at me and said, with yall moving this summer, yall should buy a house.
We started talking and I explained to her that P and I are on the Dave Ramsey baby step plans, and that our goal is to buy a home with cash.
She looked at me like I was a bit crazy, and asked several questions. She said she didn't agree with it, and didn't quite understand it, but it was great to have that discussion.
As we continued talking, the subject of forclosure homes came up, and I remembered Dave's quote, and I told her, "Dave has done the research, and he has found that 100% of the homes that are fully paid for, don't get forclosed on."
She looked at me, laughed, and shook her head.
It was such a great reminder of what our goals are.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Just call me
After a long week at work, I had big plans for this weekend. I knew that I would not see P this weekend, because I saw him last weekend, so my plans were to go on a long run, do a ton of work to get ahead, and then cook, bake, clean, relax, and watch some football.
Yesterday, I was booking a flight for P to come home in a few weeks, when my phone ran. It was my great aunt. She never calls me--or anyone for that matter. When I picked up, she asked what I was doing this weekend, and finally after about 15 minutes of beating around the bush, she told me she fell, hurt her knee, and was going to be on bed rest for 48 hours.
She is a stubborn old battle axe, and would not ask for help. So I told her I would leave within the hour to come and take care of her this weekend.
I packed up my stuff, and 2 hours later I was here. In a town that I spent all my summers in growing up. A town and home that I love, with a woman who became my surrogate grandmother after mine passed away. A woman who packed up her home and took care of my grandmother for 2 years while she fought cancer. With a woman who took care of her younger sister for 5 years while she fought illness after illness.
Now, suddenly, the woman who did everything for everyone else needed help, and who did she call? She called me.
I don't think I would have been able to live with myself if I had not rushed up here as quickly as possible. In all the years I have come up here, I have not had to lift a finger for anything, because she always did everything for me.
And now here I am, and I get to do something for her.
Heroic? No.....not at all.
This is the least I could do for someone who has loved me unconditionally for a lifetime.
I think this is one of the lessons I have learned through marriage. I have learned that it is an honor and a pleasure to take care of others. It is a joy to take care of those who are in need.
Every time P gets sick, I get a slight glimmer of joy in that I can do something for him, that I can take care of him.
So my weekend plans have changed, but it is a joy to be here caring for someone I love so much.
Yesterday, I was booking a flight for P to come home in a few weeks, when my phone ran. It was my great aunt. She never calls me--or anyone for that matter. When I picked up, she asked what I was doing this weekend, and finally after about 15 minutes of beating around the bush, she told me she fell, hurt her knee, and was going to be on bed rest for 48 hours.
She is a stubborn old battle axe, and would not ask for help. So I told her I would leave within the hour to come and take care of her this weekend.
I packed up my stuff, and 2 hours later I was here. In a town that I spent all my summers in growing up. A town and home that I love, with a woman who became my surrogate grandmother after mine passed away. A woman who packed up her home and took care of my grandmother for 2 years while she fought cancer. With a woman who took care of her younger sister for 5 years while she fought illness after illness.
Now, suddenly, the woman who did everything for everyone else needed help, and who did she call? She called me.
I don't think I would have been able to live with myself if I had not rushed up here as quickly as possible. In all the years I have come up here, I have not had to lift a finger for anything, because she always did everything for me.
And now here I am, and I get to do something for her.
Heroic? No.....not at all.
This is the least I could do for someone who has loved me unconditionally for a lifetime.
I think this is one of the lessons I have learned through marriage. I have learned that it is an honor and a pleasure to take care of others. It is a joy to take care of those who are in need.
Every time P gets sick, I get a slight glimmer of joy in that I can do something for him, that I can take care of him.
So my weekend plans have changed, but it is a joy to be here caring for someone I love so much.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Quitter
I just quit facebook.
After almost 9 years on Facebook, I quit.
At one point in my collegiate life, I used to joke that "Facebook was my life."
And now I quit.
I don't know why I quit, I just did.
I don't know when it happened, but I just stopped using it at some point. I just got beyond wanting to sign on and see the stuff other people were doing.
My husband will be exstatic, he dislikes Facebook so much.
Hummm.
After almost 9 years on Facebook, I quit.
At one point in my collegiate life, I used to joke that "Facebook was my life."
And now I quit.
I don't know why I quit, I just did.
I don't know when it happened, but I just stopped using it at some point. I just got beyond wanting to sign on and see the stuff other people were doing.
My husband will be exstatic, he dislikes Facebook so much.
Hummm.
Part 3, The Ending
The car has been towed to my apartment. The next morning, a friend picks me up and takes me to work. I called the dealership told them the situation, and asked if they could make me a key. Sure we can make you a key they said, but you have to bring the car into the dealership. WHAT???
Honda can only make another key with the car there. UHHHH.
Call AAA again, and ask them to tow me, the 3 miles to the dealership. I asked if they could go and pick up my car while I was at work, take it to the dealership, and I could pick it up and go home from there.
Answer: No.
AAA will only tow with the owner present.
Hang up with AAA, call Honda to make an appointment for 4:45.
Call AAA back, make an appointment for tow at 4:25.
Friend gives me a ride home from work.
4:25 comes and goes, no AAA.
Call Honda, let them know tow truck is running late, please don't close, as I need keys for my car tonight.
Finally at 4:50 AAA tow truck shows up.
Get to Honda around 5:15.
An hour and 230.00 dollars later, 3 brand new car keys that not unlock the car, but start the car.
Moral of the story-- Praise God for AAA, don't lose your keys, and always have a spare key that starts your car, not only unlocks the door.
The end...finally.
Honda can only make another key with the car there. UHHHH.
Call AAA again, and ask them to tow me, the 3 miles to the dealership. I asked if they could go and pick up my car while I was at work, take it to the dealership, and I could pick it up and go home from there.
Answer: No.
AAA will only tow with the owner present.
Hang up with AAA, call Honda to make an appointment for 4:45.
Call AAA back, make an appointment for tow at 4:25.
Friend gives me a ride home from work.
4:25 comes and goes, no AAA.
Call Honda, let them know tow truck is running late, please don't close, as I need keys for my car tonight.
Finally at 4:50 AAA tow truck shows up.
Get to Honda around 5:15.
An hour and 230.00 dollars later, 3 brand new car keys that not unlock the car, but start the car.
Moral of the story-- Praise God for AAA, don't lose your keys, and always have a spare key that starts your car, not only unlocks the door.
The end...finally.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Part 2
So, I am walking around the neighborhood praying. Just praying to find the keys. It is about 3:00, and I just want to find the key. After back tracking for a while, I can't find it.
I get on the phone and call my husband. He is 5 hours away job training, so he is not able to bail me out. I call him to tell him the situation. When he answers, he says starts chatting and is pretty talkative, then he puts me on speaker, and tells me he is at his sisters, and all the kids start yelling into the phone, and finally I just say, "please take me off speaker" and in the back ground, I hear, "uh, oh."
I tell P what is going on, and he says ok, let me call you back. As I am walking around the sub division, I start to formulate a plan. First, I need to get into my apartment because I have a spare key, but my house key is in the car. Second, I need to get into my car because my purse, and everything else is in the car.
I drive a Honda. Honda's are very hard to break into, I have locked my keys in my car, and the service guys were unable to break their way in.
P calls back, and tells me to call AAA. I cant call AAA because my card is in my purse, and my purse is in the car. P calls AAA for me. He calls me back and tells me they will be there in an hour. But, I am worried that he wont be able to break into my car, and I need to get into my apartment. I have P call our apartment management office for an extra key, (again I don't have the number to them).
By the time I make my way out of the neighborhood, I have about 45 minutes to make a 3 miles round trip to the apartment, get the key, and get back to the car to meet AAA. I ended up running along the road that I didnt want to run on because it was so busy. I sprinted 100 yards, walked super fast, sprinted 100 yards, walked really fast until I got to the apt. office.
They kept chatting, chatting, chatting, and I finally got the key.
I high tail it to the apartment, drop off the dog, and run to the porch for my bike. The tires are flat, so I air up the front tire, then begin to work on the back. IT WONT AIR UP. I am getting really frustrated and end up saying to myself--whatever.
I grab the extra key to the apartment, my extra car key, and the bike with one flat tire, and book it down the road. I bring the hand held pump with me just in case, and I ride the bike the car. I could feel the road grating the back wheel. But I made it before the AAA guy shows up.
I get to the car and whip out my spare key--but here is the problem, Honda programs keys, and the spare key is only programed to unlock the car, not start the car.
I get it, and rest for a minute. I have covered over 10 miles so far that day. I sit in the car for a moment, and then I realize I am parked on a side street, and I need to make my way to the intersection so that the AAA wrecker will find me. Right when step out of the car to start walking to the intersection, which is about 800 yards away (I think), I see the AAA wrecker drive past the street where I am.
I ended up sprinting to the intersection. I mean, I was full out sprinting trying to catch the guy, but when I get there I don't see him. He turned on one of the many side streets.
I sit there and wait for him. Finally he turns a corner and I start flagging him down like an idiot.
I jump in, we tows me to my apartment, and drops off my car.
Ok, its going to be all right....but its not over yet.
I get on the phone and call my husband. He is 5 hours away job training, so he is not able to bail me out. I call him to tell him the situation. When he answers, he says starts chatting and is pretty talkative, then he puts me on speaker, and tells me he is at his sisters, and all the kids start yelling into the phone, and finally I just say, "please take me off speaker" and in the back ground, I hear, "uh, oh."
I tell P what is going on, and he says ok, let me call you back. As I am walking around the sub division, I start to formulate a plan. First, I need to get into my apartment because I have a spare key, but my house key is in the car. Second, I need to get into my car because my purse, and everything else is in the car.
I drive a Honda. Honda's are very hard to break into, I have locked my keys in my car, and the service guys were unable to break their way in.
P calls back, and tells me to call AAA. I cant call AAA because my card is in my purse, and my purse is in the car. P calls AAA for me. He calls me back and tells me they will be there in an hour. But, I am worried that he wont be able to break into my car, and I need to get into my apartment. I have P call our apartment management office for an extra key, (again I don't have the number to them).
By the time I make my way out of the neighborhood, I have about 45 minutes to make a 3 miles round trip to the apartment, get the key, and get back to the car to meet AAA. I ended up running along the road that I didnt want to run on because it was so busy. I sprinted 100 yards, walked super fast, sprinted 100 yards, walked really fast until I got to the apt. office.
They kept chatting, chatting, chatting, and I finally got the key.
I high tail it to the apartment, drop off the dog, and run to the porch for my bike. The tires are flat, so I air up the front tire, then begin to work on the back. IT WONT AIR UP. I am getting really frustrated and end up saying to myself--whatever.
I grab the extra key to the apartment, my extra car key, and the bike with one flat tire, and book it down the road. I bring the hand held pump with me just in case, and I ride the bike the car. I could feel the road grating the back wheel. But I made it before the AAA guy shows up.
I get to the car and whip out my spare key--but here is the problem, Honda programs keys, and the spare key is only programed to unlock the car, not start the car.
I get it, and rest for a minute. I have covered over 10 miles so far that day. I sit in the car for a moment, and then I realize I am parked on a side street, and I need to make my way to the intersection so that the AAA wrecker will find me. Right when step out of the car to start walking to the intersection, which is about 800 yards away (I think), I see the AAA wrecker drive past the street where I am.
I ended up sprinting to the intersection. I mean, I was full out sprinting trying to catch the guy, but when I get there I don't see him. He turned on one of the many side streets.
I sit there and wait for him. Finally he turns a corner and I start flagging him down like an idiot.
I jump in, we tows me to my apartment, and drops off my car.
Ok, its going to be all right....but its not over yet.
Monday, January 10, 2011
The Drama of it All...(part 1)
Don't think I am a liar when you read this, because it will contradict what I said in my last post about being stuck inside.
I wrote that post on Saturday morning. Saturday night it rained, hard, and a cold front blew it. I checked the pollen report, it was very low. I couldn't resist. Sunday afternoon I went outside, and loved it, almost.
I wanted to go for a long walk with my dog yesterday, so I drove 1.5 miles to a neighborhood down the road. There is a sidewalk that stretches exactly one mile in front of our place, but it is so boring to walk. I had to drive to this neighborhood because the road to get there has no side walk or shoulder and it pretty busy. It is fine for me when I run on my own, but with a dog it can be pretty dangerous.
We get there, and I walk our dog for about an hour. I am feeling good, cherishing my time outside, so I decide to run. I stop by the car, drop off my sweatshirt and gloves, and hit the road. It was a great run. It felt awesome to be running allergy free.
When I run, I carry a small runners belt around my waist and I almost always have my keys, cell phone, and Ipod in there. At some point in the run, I opened it up, took my Ipod out,and kept running. The last 1/2 mile I kicked it in gear, and ran a great finish to my car. AWESOME!!! As I reached in my belt, I felt my phone, but no key. Apparently, at some point when I was messing with my Ipod, my key fell out, yet I failed to notice.
O gosh.
My first response was to remain calm, back track, and start praying.
I wrote that post on Saturday morning. Saturday night it rained, hard, and a cold front blew it. I checked the pollen report, it was very low. I couldn't resist. Sunday afternoon I went outside, and loved it, almost.
I wanted to go for a long walk with my dog yesterday, so I drove 1.5 miles to a neighborhood down the road. There is a sidewalk that stretches exactly one mile in front of our place, but it is so boring to walk. I had to drive to this neighborhood because the road to get there has no side walk or shoulder and it pretty busy. It is fine for me when I run on my own, but with a dog it can be pretty dangerous.
We get there, and I walk our dog for about an hour. I am feeling good, cherishing my time outside, so I decide to run. I stop by the car, drop off my sweatshirt and gloves, and hit the road. It was a great run. It felt awesome to be running allergy free.
When I run, I carry a small runners belt around my waist and I almost always have my keys, cell phone, and Ipod in there. At some point in the run, I opened it up, took my Ipod out,and kept running. The last 1/2 mile I kicked it in gear, and ran a great finish to my car. AWESOME!!! As I reached in my belt, I felt my phone, but no key. Apparently, at some point when I was messing with my Ipod, my key fell out, yet I failed to notice.
O gosh.
My first response was to remain calm, back track, and start praying.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Trapped
I am trapped inside. It is allergy season here, and it has hit hard. I am currently on major meds, over the counter, prescription, and natural supplements just to function. I went to my allergist this week, and the pollen counts are high, very high, and it looks like this is going to be a rough season. Uhhhh. I really hate this time of year because I feel trapped. I am trapped inside and I go out as little as possible.
Yesterday I was stupid, stupid, stupid. It was beautiful, and I went to the park to do my long run for the week. 30 minutes into the run, my eyes were blood shot, and they were watering so bad it looked like I was crying, my nose was stuffed, and I started wheezing. I stopped after 30 minutes and went home. Because of my 30 minute run outside, I ended up suffering for the rest of the day. Last night, I woke up around 3 A.M. and had trouble breathing. I was up until 5, monitoring my breath, and trying to remain calm. Everything ended up being ok, but this time of year is hard.
So, while I will be trapped inside for the next few months, I will remember the great outdoors that I love. Here are a few pictures from a hike we took with P's parents a few weeks ago. This is at Enchanted Rock, a state park about an hour West of here.
Yesterday I was stupid, stupid, stupid. It was beautiful, and I went to the park to do my long run for the week. 30 minutes into the run, my eyes were blood shot, and they were watering so bad it looked like I was crying, my nose was stuffed, and I started wheezing. I stopped after 30 minutes and went home. Because of my 30 minute run outside, I ended up suffering for the rest of the day. Last night, I woke up around 3 A.M. and had trouble breathing. I was up until 5, monitoring my breath, and trying to remain calm. Everything ended up being ok, but this time of year is hard.
So, while I will be trapped inside for the next few months, I will remember the great outdoors that I love. Here are a few pictures from a hike we took with P's parents a few weeks ago. This is at Enchanted Rock, a state park about an hour West of here.
Friday, January 7, 2011
A House Divided
Cotton Bowl--2011.
Texas A&M vs. LSU
His team vs. Her team
Watching the game while on skype tonight.
No mercy from either side.
Geaux tigers.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
The Longest Year
It has begun, the longest year, or half year, maybe, hopefully.
Today P "relocated" to Fort Worth, TX to live with his parents for the next 6 months to a year. He recently accepted a position at a new company based out of Dallas, and he needs to go through training, and when he is finished, he will be opening up a new branch of the company. The problem is Fort Worth is 5 hours away from here, and P is there, I am here. We decided to do this for several reasons. Reason one, P and I believe in keeping our commitments, and I made a commitment to finish teaching until May, and I would not feel right breaking my contract. Reason two, financially this is going to be really great for us. P has not had a "normal" job for about 9 months, so this will really help us make headway into our financial goals.
I know we are doing this for us, to help us cement our foundation for our future, and I know we are doing this for P. He had the option of opening the branch straight away, and just learning as he went, but he has never had the opportunity to be trained by someone this way, and it is something that will hopefully pay off in the long run. But......
I will just come out and say it, this sucks.
We dated long distance while I was in grad school, except I was up there, and he was down here. And, of all the husbands I have had, he is my favorite one by far (just kidding, there has only been one).
It is hard already. The day has been filled with goodbye's, tears, and an emptiness in the pit of my stomach. Walking around here, I look for his things, but so many of them are gone. The closet looks so empty because he took most of his clothes, his shoes are not by the door, his wallet is not on the counter, and most importantly he is not here on the couch watching Sunday night football with me.
I will say it again, this sucks.
I know so many marriages go through harder things than this. Military wives can go years without seeing their husbands, who are fighting in harms way on another continent. Mine is a few hours away living with his parents, but its still so hard.
Today P "relocated" to Fort Worth, TX to live with his parents for the next 6 months to a year. He recently accepted a position at a new company based out of Dallas, and he needs to go through training, and when he is finished, he will be opening up a new branch of the company. The problem is Fort Worth is 5 hours away from here, and P is there, I am here. We decided to do this for several reasons. Reason one, P and I believe in keeping our commitments, and I made a commitment to finish teaching until May, and I would not feel right breaking my contract. Reason two, financially this is going to be really great for us. P has not had a "normal" job for about 9 months, so this will really help us make headway into our financial goals.
I know we are doing this for us, to help us cement our foundation for our future, and I know we are doing this for P. He had the option of opening the branch straight away, and just learning as he went, but he has never had the opportunity to be trained by someone this way, and it is something that will hopefully pay off in the long run. But......
I will just come out and say it, this sucks.
We dated long distance while I was in grad school, except I was up there, and he was down here. And, of all the husbands I have had, he is my favorite one by far (just kidding, there has only been one).
It is hard already. The day has been filled with goodbye's, tears, and an emptiness in the pit of my stomach. Walking around here, I look for his things, but so many of them are gone. The closet looks so empty because he took most of his clothes, his shoes are not by the door, his wallet is not on the counter, and most importantly he is not here on the couch watching Sunday night football with me.
I will say it again, this sucks.
I know so many marriages go through harder things than this. Military wives can go years without seeing their husbands, who are fighting in harms way on another continent. Mine is a few hours away living with his parents, but its still so hard.
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