It's All About Me

Holy Harvest!

2011-08-10T22:10:00.000-05:00

A picture of just some of the squash and peppers harvested from the garden. We have also been getting green onions, stumpy carrots and the cucmbers are just starting to come up.

I feel like we have done really well with our garden this summer and are still hoping to get some more goodies. If anyone wants some squash let me know!

I love my Dog

2011-08-09T09:56:00.001-05:00

I can't remember if I posted about this when it happened months ago, but we were attacked by a dog while walking sweet Willie. Again tonight the same dog charged at us. We yelled at said dog and detered it before it got to Willie. It charged us again, three times in total.

Finally the adult owner leisurely came to get the dog that his kids could not control. He had a few words and then went on to call the cops on US!! Yep! He did.

When we called the cops they came to our house, apparently they had been waiting for us to call to find us. The dog owner was worried that we were going to come and kill their dog. He was scared.

I would never hurt an animal unless it hurt me (or my dog) first. It would be an act of self defense only.

I cannot believe in all the laws in the world, animals that have a history of violence towards other animals are allowed to continue to freely run around the neighborhood. I just don't think it is right.

I am not sure what to do about it but stew. I have to say that it did help me get my heart pumping on my walk, I was VERY mad and scared at the same time.

I love my Willie Butch

Monday Quote

2011-08-01T21:12:00.003-05:00

You get over having your appendix out, but when you've lost your leg, you limp the rest of your life"

~CS Lewis

I am reading a book by Abby Rike called Working It Out. If you aren't famililar, Abby was a contestant on the Biggest Loser. She was quite memorable to me because she had been through the loss of her family. Before she was on the show her husband, daughter and newborn son were killed instantly in a car accident. I could not understand how anyone could live through that pain. I know that I have felt pain and reading about hers, we are so similar. I found comfort in reading this book. It was the first book that I felt like the author had lived through something similar to what I have been through and am going through.
I have tried to remain tough, but I still have rough times. Like tonight, I think I have cried about 20 times, about nothing really. I don't know why it gets to me sometimes. It just does.

Anyway, it is a good book and this is just one of the quotes I found in reading it.

Monday Quote

2011-07-25T09:25:00.002-05:00

Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of traveling.

~Margaret Lee Runbeck

Feeling a little bit like motivating others today. I really do believe that "happiness" isn't a place, but on how you get where you are going. This goes along with my favorite line from an Aerosmith song "Life's a journey, not a destination". And seriously, I love me some Aerosmith and I ask, who doesn't?

Well, that was a bunch of rambling.....

Feeling goof this morning, just a bit tired. I got up and took a 30 minute walk this morning and while I think that is supposed to help your productivity or help jumpstart your day, it did nothing for feeling a bit tired right now mid-am. I usually warm/wake up as the day goes on.

We got a great storm last night that did not take out our power, which was very exciting. What was very exciting about the storm is that it RAINED!! We have been fighting the 100+ temps everyday for most of the month of July and everything is dying (ie my lawn). We have not had a lot of rain, but plenty of sun. I am sooooooooo ready for fall!

Sick Day- a week ago

2011-07-21T14:20:00.006-05:00

I don't know if it was the lack of sleep from the day before or the fury of the HEAT in Kansas, but I could not make it to work today.
After sleeping for what seemed like forever this morning, and I think finally cooling down, I started to do a few things like watching movies and baking a bit.
I started out with the romcom No Strings Attached and honestly this is the first movie I have liked Atchten Kutcher in in a long time. I won't say that the movie was all that great, but I liked him in it. It is one of the first in a series of the "friends with benefits" movies that have been showing up in theaters in the past year or so.
Then a little more substance, I watched Conviction. If you haven't seen this it is a true story about a case in 1983 where they convicted a man based on collected blood at the crime scene, however, this was before DNA proof was able to be processed. It was quite interesting.

Then I decided to get some food together. I am planning on making some Clean Bison Burgers and I need some mash sweet potatoes and will roast some others. Then I need to use up some blueberries from the farmer's market, I plan on making a bread that I made last summer. It is also a clean recipe, yep I am trying to get back into that, at least a little bit.
I started looking at my magazines and cookbooks, something I haven't done in a long time and I was actually happy to be doing it.

I am not sure why I needed to stay home today other than I was very hot, tired and had a headache.
I feel much better after sleep and feeling inspired again!

Garden project

2011-07-20T21:21:00.002-05:00

So here is a month after we planted!! looking pretty good. Took me too long to post these. Above is the herbs: cilantro, basil and whatevery I put in the other side of the pots....they never grew.

Yellow squash...seriously, have so much of this stuff now!

I have yet to see any color but green from these plants. They aren't getting as big as the ones at the market, but they taste o' so good!

These are my onion and carrots. Willie really enjoys the carrots!

I am very happy with our gardening experience so far this summer. I think we will do it again next year, but I think there will be some improvements to our space as well as choosing some different things to grow. Hint ** you should grow what you really want to eat! not that these things are bad in any way but I seriously do not know what I am going to do with all of the yellow squash!

Does blogging kill insomnia

2011-07-20T04:54:00.004-05:00

So according to the Mayo Clinic insmonia is ....well apparently something you cannot copy from their website. Any way it is 5 am and I have been up for 2 hours.
I woke up to go to the restroom, which isn't all the surprising due to the fact that I am drinking gallons of water a day to try to deal with the heat of Kansas. However, when I got up to walk, I felt an intense pain in my knee. As I crawled back into bed, the pain worsened. I tried to will it to stop and fall back to sleep....no such luck my stomach started to growl. Instead of waking up the SO, I got up got ice and some pain relievers and set up camp on the couch. A few minutes later I realized that my slick moving to the couch had in fact woke up the SO. He came out to check on me pondering why we were both awake.
Now I say this with all the love in my heart....I hate him for being able to fall back asleep while now 2 hours later, I am up!!
Anyway, I went bak to bed with him and an ice pack and seriously does one really need to move that much in bed? My stomach kept growling and I decided sleep just wasn't going to happen. After a healthy Trader Joes granola bar, I settled onto the couch deciding that since I can usually fall asleep to any movie that I would check the DVR for something slightly interesting. I came up with the Lifetime movie "Magic Beyond Words" the JK Rowling story. Sadly, it was not all that interesting AND it didn't put me to sleep. So after trying to stay off the computer, I am here blogging. Maybe insomnia is good for my blogging?

Knee pain, where did it come from you ask? Well, oddly enough after using a month long pass to Jazzercize, I signed up for a year membership. I missed my usual time to get my sweat on tonight and went to a later and quite possibly in my attempt to rock it out, I may have jumped up and down on my knee a bit too much. However, after a pain reliever and ice I am doing alright....let's just hope I didn't ruin my jazziness for too long!

Alright...maybe bloging does cure insomnia as I am starting to feel a little sleepy...that and I turned on another movie, New Moon making me sleepy.........too bad now I only have 30 minutes befor the alarm goes off.

Farmers Market

2011-07-18T20:59:00.001-05:00

I feel like I totally scored at the farmer's market this week. Everything was looking so good.
Only bad part was that by the evening, for some reason the potatoes were rotting and smelling up my kitchen, I had to throw them away. Bummer, I had plans for those!
I am looking for recipes for all of these veggies...I just keep grilling and roasting everything.

Quoting, quoting, quoting

2011-07-18T07:49:00.002-05:00

It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.

~Mark Twain

If I do nothing else with my Monday, I owe it to my blog to keep this up! One task off the to do list!

Willie Day

2011-07-17T20:15:00.003-05:00

Who doesn't love a picture of the cutest dog ever?? I know that I haven't blogged in awhile, something about being uninspired.

Stress and Water

2011-06-28T14:14:00.000-05:00

A friend sent this to me today by email. I am not feeling stressed right now, but I know I need to remember this for those times.

A young lady confidently walked around the room while leading and explaining stress management to an audience; with a raised glass of water, and everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, 'half empty or half full?'..... she fooled them all... "How heavy is this glass of water?", she inquired with a smile.
Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.
She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes." She continued, "and that's the way it is with stress. If we carry our
burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on."
"As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden - holding stress longer and better each time practiced. So, as early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night... pick them up tomorrow.
Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment. Relax, pick them up later after you've rested.

Monday Quote

2011-06-27T14:12:00.001-05:00

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”

—Helen Keller

Bagels

2011-06-21T09:32:00.000-05:00

Long ago in a blog far far away, I made bagels. I found the recipe for these bagels in a new Healthy Cooking magazine. I am a sucker for bagels and things I can easily make for breakfasts. In addition to the bagel recipe this article included a recipe for Maple Nut Cream Cheese....um yeah. How can I not make these.

I was able to whip these out using my bread machine (you forgot I had one didn't you?? so did I) one Saturday morning. We really enjoyed them. I personally could eat the cream cheese by the spoonful and I don't even eat cream cheese on anything else...I know weird!

Pumpkin Spice Bagels
Healthy Cooking Magazine

2/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons water (70° to 80°), divided
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
3 cups bread flour
1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
1 egg white
1 tablespoon cornmeal

In bread machine pan, place 2/3 cup water, pumpkin, brown sugar, salt, spices, flour and yeast in order suggested by manufacturer. Select dough setting (check dough after 5 minutes of mixing; add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water or flour if needed).
When cycle is completed, turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Shape into nine balls. Push thumb through centers to form a 1-in. hole. Stretch and shape dough to form an even ring. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes; flatten rings slightly.
Fill a Dutch oven two-thirds full with water; bring to a boil. Drop bagels, two at a time, into boiling water. Cook for 45 seconds; turn and cook 45 seconds longer. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels.
Whisk egg white and remaining water; brush over bagels. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray and sprinkle with cornmeal. Place bagels 2 in. apart on prepared pan. Bake at 400° for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks to cool. Yield: 9 servings.

Nutrition Facts: 1 bagel equals 180 calories, trace fat (trace saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 273 mg sodium, 40 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 6 g protein.

Maple Nut Bagel Spread ~you WILL want this!!
Healthy Cooking Magazine

1 carton (8 ounces) reduced-fat spreadable cream cheese ~ I used a brick and softened it
3 tablespoons maple syrup
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts, toasted
Bagels, split

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, syrup and cinnamon until smooth; stir in walnuts. Chill until serving. Serve with bagels. Yield: 1-1/4 cups.

Nutrition Facts: 2 tablespoons equals 84 calories, 5 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 11 mg cholesterol, 107 mg sodium, 6 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, 3 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 fat, 1/2 starch.

Monday Quote

2011-06-20T11:14:00.002-05:00

"I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in. "

~George Washington Carver

I am just feeling like I have not been spending enough time enjoying the outdoors lately. It has been all about watering the new sod and seed in our yard and that really isn't a happy thing for me. This weekend I have a picnic and plan to enjoy the time outdoors with friends.

I hope that all of you take the time to spend time outdoors, whether it just be for a few minutes in the morning before it gets too hot, or long enough to join a cocktail in the evening....do not let this time pass you by.

There is always a project

2011-06-02T09:09:00.002-05:00

Yep that is us always with a project to do. In all fairness, we did nothing to the outside of the house last spring because we moved on Memorial Day weekend and then I was helping in Omaha so much or it was raining. This year the outside of this house is getting the full treatment, well until it gets too hot.

We used a landscaper for the installation of the wall, but old A and I did the rest. If you have followed me for awhile, you know I love me some bushes as they are easy to put in and maintain. I have found a couple kinds that I really like and keep using them. I was happy when we found this house and they had bushes that I liked around the house.

Now we just need to get some more mulch to fill in and the grass to grow and we will be all set. I am very excited to see how it all looks. Here's to watering!

Willie Wednesday

2011-06-01T08:29:00.002-05:00

I know you have missed Willie Wednesday. So here you go!

Willie is in the laundry hamper and looking through the handle. I know, you may think I am being mean, but we used to have to put him (when he was little), in the hamper to contain him for a minute or too. He got too big for just the laundry basket and graduated to the hamper. Usually, he is out without in 30 seconds after putting him in, but he is still so cute!

For my parents

2011-05-30T18:51:00.001-05:00

God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be. So he put his arms around you and whispered "come with me". With tearful eyes I watched you pass away. Although I loved you dearly, I could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating and hard working hands laid to rest. God broke my heart to prove to me, that he only takes the best.

I saw this posted on facebook, of all places. I simply reposted it, but then realized I wanted to put it here. I do believe that things happen for a reason and seeing this post reminded me of my dreams last night. In my dreams, so some reason both of my parents were able to come back to earth to see my sister and I.

I have had different dreams like this since my parents died. I don't have them every night. Sometimes I wish I would have them more often as I wish I could just talk to my parents and be near them again. I am not sure what makes me dream of them some nights rather than others.

At different times in this past year and a half, I have needed my parents and really missed them. There are many times that I just wish I could tell my mom something that would make her proud, or show my dad a new exercise I am doing or even just make them a new cookie or cake.

I find that I miss many of the simple things that many people take for granted.

My friends often worry about how I will handle special days like Mother's Day and Father's Day. I will tell you that I try to do things one those days that remin my of my parent's, doing things that I would with them. Go out to eat, eat something in particular, plan flowers, watch a certain movie.....I just try and remember some of thing things other's might call traditions and do them myself.

Today, I am still working on a project that I started on Mother's Day.

Update on the Garden

2011-05-29T20:58:00.000-05:00

I know that all of you are anxiously awaiting new pictures of the garden items I am growing. I have two main things, herbs and the veggie garden. I am just really showing you what I have gotten from seeds.

I grew a few things from small plants: tomatoes (in a Topsey Turvey), 2 kinds of mint, oregano and 2 small pepper plants (although I did do seed peppers too).

Farmers Market

2011-05-15T11:04:00.001-05:00

The Farmer's Market in Topeka has started. While my veggies at home are just at a starting state the Farmer's Market is ready to roll. I know this means that these veggies are not local, so I will keep checking back until they are. However, this week was our first visit to the Farmer's Market and we did not leave empty handed.

As usual, we got Willie some special treats: puppy muffins!

A new stand Pink City was there selling muffins and as they were packing up gave us a deal on the muffins and threw in cookies too.

The Summer Kitchen in Melvern is one of our favorite stands and we picked up caramels, Honey Wheat Bread and a mini pie from them.

Another new stand Abundant Life was selling organic teas and nut butters. We picked up some Apple Pear Green tea to use in our iced tea maker.

Our bounty is very brown this week, but I know it will get more colorful as the temps rise and the veggies grow. Can't wait to keep visiting and trying out new stuff!

Trying something new!

2011-05-14T22:33:00.003-05:00

As most of you know we moved to our house on Memorial Day weekend last year. While this house is in good condition inside and out, we still had a lot of work to do to be at home in our new house.

One of the things that we noticed about this house when we were looking at it was the good sized garden plot in the side yard. While in our previous house we had filled in and sodded over a garden plot, in this house we just kept cleaning this one out thinking we might try to grow something.

Last weekend, was our opportunity. The SO and I know very little, err nothing about gardening. We secretly were watching for our neighbors to work on their garden so we would know the time is right, especially since there garden did so well last year.

We got our act together on Mother's Day and with many packs of seeds in tow we hand tilled and planted what we hope with be a bounty of vegetables.

In our large garden plot we planted, 2 pepper plants and then seeds for green bell peppers and a variety bell pepper. The rest of the seeds in the big garden include: green onions, 2 different kids of cucumbers, carrots, and yellow squash. We are very excited to see how our first attempt to grow our own veggies works.

On our deck we are also trying out hand out at growing herbs. In pots we are growing: lime mint, spearmint, oregano, clinatro, basil, and thyme. We are already seeing some of the herbs popping up through the dirt, which makes us excited.

I am going to keep taking pictures and post about our progress, so be sure to check back!

Yep, its Monday.

2011-05-02T11:16:00.002-05:00

"Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of."

~Benjamin Franklin

I am feeling a little bit time managey today. I need to refocus how I am spending my time and get back to the gal that was really good at it. I find that I need to go back and relearn many things in life, or really just add on to what I am already doing. Some ideas for improvement don't always work for me. Time management, however, is one of those topics that I think we can never learn enough. This quote was in an article that I received from Brian Tracy. He is a world renowned speaker and time management is at the core of all of his lectures and books. He is one of those people who seems to have the answers to questions many people are asking. I do enjoy how he presents information and adds more tips to my personal and professional "toolbox".

Still a little Irish Left

2011-04-19T09:26:00.001-05:00

Not the greatest picture, but you can see the difference in the layers.

I made this to go with my Beef and Beer Stew. It was easy to think they went together with the Guinness in both of them. This recipe is also from the March 2010 Cooking Light issue. These brownies were purely divine. I think they tasted more like a cookie with a brownie on top than 2 brownies. These were so good that I had to get them out of the house as I was eating way too many of them.

Black and Tan Brownies

Tan Brownies:

6 T butter, softened

1 1/2 c packed brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla

4.5 oz all-purpose flour (about 1 cup)

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 c chopped pecans

Cooking Spray

Black Brownies:

3 oz unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped

4 T butter

1 c granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 c Guinness Stout

4.5 oz all purpose flour (about 1 cup)

1/4 tsp salt

Place one rack in lower third of oven; place another rack in center of oven. Preheat oven to 350.

To prepare Tan Brownies, place 6 T butter and brown sugar in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in 2 eggs and 1 tsp vanilla. Weigh or lightly spoon 4.5 oz flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine 4.5 oz flour, baking powder and 1/4 tsp of salt, stirring well. Add flour mixture and pecans to sugar mixture beating just until combined. Spoon into a 13X9 inch baking pan coated with cooking spray, spreading evenly with a knife or rubber spatula. Bake at 350 in lower third of oven for 15 minutes.

To prepare Black Brownies: melt chocolate and 4 T of butter in a microwave safe bowl on HIGH for 1 minute or until melted, stirring after every 20 seconds until smooth. Add granulated sugar, stirring until well combined. Add 2 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla and Guinness, stirring with a whisk until well combined. Weight or lightly spoon 4.5 oz flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour and 1/4 tsp salt, strirring well. Add flour mixture to chocolate mixture, stirring to combine. Pour mixture evenly Tan Brownies. Bake on the center rack at 350 for 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted into center comes out almost clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack; cut into squares.

Yield: 32 servings

Calories: 162

Fat:7

Protein: 2.2

Carb:23.7

Monday Quote

2011-04-18T21:58:00.002-05:00

Made it through Monday. Tuesday will be a blur, Wednesday will be busy. Thursday will bring rain. Friday will make it all better as it will be almost the weekend again.

heather original.

It has been a long day and the week is just starting. I am already looking forward to the weekend ahead.

Books

2011-04-12T10:42:00.001-05:00

I haven't been writing much about books lately, but I have been reading. I just completed Women Food and God by Geneen Roth. It is a self-help sort of book. I say sort of because it is difficult for me to describe. Maybe I use sort of because I don't want to admit I read a self-help book. I think I have an aversion to self-help as a genre of books as I feel like reading them is admitting I have a problem. I started reading this book with a friend. It was an Oprah book club book so there was lots of hype surrounding it when she featured it, I am about a year behind Oprah. However, you can log into her website and follow along with reading guides and discussions for yourself and with others. I got geeked out about the whole slew of information, but then I just couldn't do it all. I found myself having to make myself read. I read because I just wanted to finish. It is not that this is a horrible book, I just don't like having to analyze myself. I recognize I have an emotional attachment to food. I had a friend point at to me that they think that I use food for comfort and that in what I have been through with the death of my parents and taking care of all of these things as well as my sister, that food has always been there for me. This friend thinks that I am depressed. This was pretty shocking to me to read this. I don't feel like I am depressed. I think I was brought up to enjoy food and use it for more than food. I was brought up in a classic, love to cook and love to eat out family. Food was a celebration. We were/are much more about food than drinks (I would so rather eat dessert than have a cocktail). I love to try new foods and truly enjoy the different tastes there are to offer in the world. My tastes are not exquisite, I am pretty simple, a good burger and fries can make me happy. Mostly going out to eat is about being with people and enjoying my time with them. So few people take time out to be with others unless they are multitasking it with a meal. I have yet to find the kind of friends that want to get together to walk or workout as some diet gurus will suggest. Food is always involved, it always seems like there is a meal right around the corner. This book asked many things of its reader when thinking about food. The take-away that I will utilize is to stop berating myself about my food choices. Many of us have that little voice in our head that will scold us for doing things, such as choosing dessert or pop, we need to be ok with our choices. I am hoping that is something that I will do. I need to shut that voice up. While this was not my favorite book of all time, I do think it starts to look at the hard part of losing weight or being ok with our bodies...the mental part. So many times you can read about what to eat and how to exercise but what about what happens on the inside. How do we fix our brains? This books takes the step in that direction.

Monday Quote

2011-04-11T22:36:00.003-05:00

Yes, it is still Monday when I am writing this!! YEAH! I will be on time. Now to find a quote. Well piss, nothing will let me to a copy/paste here tonight. So I will have to get creative. On my my favorite things my buddy Harrison says is ....."Where's Willie?" If you could all hear him say it, you would hear it in your heart too. I love that boy. And he loves my dog. Can't wait to see him again.

Scentsy Fragrances - Flutter, April Scent of the Month

2011-04-05T19:27:00.000-05:00

I thought this was interesting to feature scent with a video.

tuesday quote

2011-04-05T07:41:00.002-05:00

So I have moved quote day..... I had to this week as my power was out for 23 hours on Sunday/Monday. I was so happy when it finally came back on. I will admit to you all how niave I am about electricity. I found myself thinking I could do things that I couldn't because there was no power. Now this will be even one step better....I actually had some poems from the Oprah website, but for some reason they won't let me copy and paste (I love to copy and paste). So maybe not so exciting. Here is a simple one for you.... It is better to light a candle, than curse the darkness.

~Chinese Proverb

Kind of perfect that I am posting this one today after my power outage. I personally believe a flashlight is better as it will never cause a fire, but I can't really change the proverb.

Irish recipes

2011-03-23T20:50:00.006-05:00

This past week, I was inspired to start looking at recipes like I used to. Sometimes I honestly don't know what gets into me. But lucky for you this gives me something to blog about.

Now when I made this, it was about 80 degrees outside and I thought it was silly to be making stew, but since then we have snow, rain and below freezing temps, which makes this recipe perfect. I wish I had saved some.

Now I recognize the fact that some recipes just don't photo well. The SO even mentioned that this looks like dog food. Well, this is not the fault of the photographer, but stew, done well really looks like this and I LOVED it!

I call them Irish recipes because a couple of items came from the March 2010 Cooking Light magazine and well, both of them include beer.

Beef and Guinness Stew

2 T canola oil, divided

1 T butter, divided

1/4 c flour

2 lb boneless chuck roast trimmed and cut into 1 inch cubes

1 tsp salt, divided

5 c chopped onion (about 3 onions) yep that is a lot of onions folks

1 T tomato sauce

4 c fat-free, less-sodium beef broth

1 (11.2 oz) bottle Guinness Draught

1 T raisins totally forgot these were in there

1 tsp caraway seeds

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 1/2 c (1/2 inch thick) diagonal slices carrot (about 8 oz)

1 1/2 c (1/2 inch thick) diagonal slices parsnip (about 8oz)

1 1/2 c (1/2 inch thick) cubed peeled turnip (about 8 oz)

2 T finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Heat 1 T oil in a dutch oven over medium high heat. Add 1 1/2 tsp butter to pan. Place flour in a shallow dish. Sprinkle beef with 1/2 tsp salt; dredge beef in flour. Add half of beef to pan; cook 5 minutes, turning to brown on all sides. Repeat procedure with remaining oil, butter and beef.

Add onion to pan; cook 5 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in tomato paste; cook 1 minute stirring frequently. Stir in broth and beer, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Return meat to pan. Stir in remaining 1/2 tsp of salt, raisins, caraway seeds and pepper: bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Uncover and bring to a boil. cook 50 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add carrot, parsnip, and turnip. Cover reduce heat to low and simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Uncover and bring to a boil; cook 10 minutes or until vegetable are tender. Sprinkle with parsley.

Yield: 8 (1 cup) servings

Calories 365

Fat 19.4

Protein 25.3

Carb 18.8

Fiber 3.6

Tuesday Quote

2011-03-22T07:30:00.002-05:00

Well, I had a quote and it is not copying, dang. Let's see if I can get it right.

"Every day brings a chance for you to draw in a breath, kick off your shoes and dance."

~Oprah

I signed up for a couple of newsletters on Oprah.com. I have never really spent much time on the site, but am currently reading a book from her club....Women Food and God. On the Oprah site (after you register) you can have access to worksheets and discussions about the book. The book it so much different than other books I have read, so I felt like the discussion or even reading other's thoughts, might help me move through the book and not give up.

I know it has been a long time since I posted and I will try to do better for you out there that are still checking in. I have a backlog of recipes to post. I will keep working diligently and get some new things posted for you!

What to do with leftover chicken

2011-01-26T13:59:00.000-06:00

The one problem people incur when making a turkey or a whole chicken is what to do with the leftovers. I know there are recipes pouring out of websites dedicated what to do with poultry leftovers. For me, I believe you can't go wrong with adding poultry to two things 1. pizza 2. Mexican dishes.
After making my whole chicken, I decided to use the leftover chicken to create chicken and black bean enchiladas. Now I didn't follow a recipe per se and I definitely do not have have exact measurements for this little dish. I love that it changes each time, it makes it more creative and so simple.
Essentially here is what I did: mix left over chicken (that we shredded as we took it off the bird) 1 jar of enchilada sauce, 1 cup of cheese, 1 can drained black beans, 1 pkg of corn tortillas.
I mixed the beans, chicken, 1/3 c of the cheese and 1/3 c of the sauce in a bowl. Then I put spoonfulls of this mixture into the tortillas and rolled them up, placing them in a 9X9 pan. Once the pan had enough enchiladas to hold tight, I poured more sauce on top and sprinkled with cheese. I covered them with foil and baked them about 20 minutes on 375.

Now how many you get out of this depends on how much chicken you had left and how full you make your enchiladas. With my leftover chicken, I made 3 9X9 pans of enchiladas. Two went to the freezer and 1 went in the oven.

I like to serve/eat mine with sliced avocado.

Back at the Muffins

2011-01-25T09:14:00.000-06:00

As you know, I like to search for new recipes and am always on the lookout for something healthy. Well this recipe is not only new, but it is healthy! I checked out Jillian Michael's Master Your Metabolism Cookbook a couple of weeks ago and finally got around to making something from the book! This cookbook follows the ideas of healthy eating and living from Jillian's Master Your Metabolism book (which I have yet to honestly get through). I love the idea of eating foods that are healthy for different reasons. I of course always love the opportunity to try a new cookbook and to make some new recipes!

To describe these muffins, I definitely have to use the word healthy. These muffins taste like muffins, in that I mean that they don't taste like light fluffy cupcakes. These are dense muffins with the oatmeal and walnuts. They are made with no sugar, but with honey. The sweetness really sticks out from the chocolate chips.
This recipe made me 12 regular sized muffins and 6 mini muffins.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins
olive oil spray for the tin
1 1/2 c white whole-wheat flour
1 c rolled oats (not instant)
1 T aluminum-free baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 t salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 c coconut milk
1/3 c honey
1/4 c olive oil
1 large egg
zest of 1 orange (I used very little zest)
1 c finely chopped walnuts, toasted
1/2 c 70% cocoa chocolate chips

Place an oven rack in the center of the oven, then preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Lightly spray a 12-cup muffin tin with olive oil or line it with paper liners.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.

In another bowl, whisk together the coconut milk, honey, olive oil, egg and orange zest. Add the liquid ingredients to the dry and stir just until moistened. Fold in the walnuts and chocolate chips.

Spoon the mixture into the prepared muffin tin. Place the tin in the oven and reduce temperature to 400 degrees. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffins comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before unmolding onto a cooling rack. Serve warm. (For longer storage, let cool completely and store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.)

Happy Monday

2011-01-24T07:13:00.004-06:00

Do you ever get excited about a new week beginning? I know most people dread Mondays, but I don't mind them at all. I look at Monday as a day that begins new possibilities....there is so much to look forward in the week.
I also read about a year ago that really Tuesdays are the day that really are hectic for people. Why? Because in general people look at Monday as a bad day so they spend it complaining and slumping around so really Tuesday is when they get to work and have a ton on their plate because of how they spent Monday.

I prefer to look at a week like this BUSY BUSY BUSY on Monday, Tuesday Wednesday and then slow things down Thursday and Friday.
This could also be that I am a morning person and the beginning of the week is akin to the morning of the day.

Many studies done on productivity say that you need to be aware of when you work the best and schedule your projects to get done during that time. That doesn't mean that when you are "off" so to speak that you take a nap, you might just schedule easier tasks for that time.

I know that scheduling my week and my day using these themes in mind helps me get things done.

Sunday Quote

2011-01-23T17:55:00.002-06:00

Order is the shape upon which beauty depends.

--Pearl S. Buck

I saw this quote and just felt like posting it. I came across it when reading one of the many newsletters I subscribe to. Today I decided since I have been vegging out all weekend, basically only accomplishing finishing a book and watching countless episodes of How I Met Your Mother, I decided it was time to catch up on some of my personal work. Well the flood gates were opened the minute I opened my email box. Oh the clutter that came spilling out.
I have been spending the last hour catching up on emails, reading online newsletters and filing away information.
I have really been trying this year to get control of the clutter in my life. One of the first things that I did was vow to give up my many magazine subscriptions. Now as they are dwindling down to the last few issues, I am trying to get through them all and get them out of the house.

Last week it was my goal to go through all of my craft items that are stored in our guest room. It was funny looking at all of the things that I had kept over the years. I definitely felt better after clearing that out. The SO went through clothes and got rid of a few items that were of no use to him anymore. This weekend, I just tried to work on getting through more magazines and books. I did a great cleaning of the house and did what I really needed to do which was rest.

I think one of the hardest things about de-cluttering and getting rid of things is that we feel bad about getting rid of things that maybe someone else gave us or that we feel should have sentimental value. One thing to remember is that the objects are not the memories. Regardless of whether or not you have the object, you still have the memory.

Example: my dad's baseball mitt. When we were cleaning out my parents house to put it up for sale, I found my dad's baseball mitt. Now my dad had two daughters and neither of use were sports people, well not playing sports anyway. However, my dad had a mitt and I think him and I might have played catch once or twice, however, not a significant amount of time. When we were first getting rid of things, I couldn't throw this mitt away, I mean it was my dad's. Now as I look through items again I look at the mitt and think of how it is in good condition and someone else could use it. Instead of it sitting in a box in my basement. I will always remember that my dad liked sports, he would try to help us learn to play sports, and he would always encourage us in whatever sports we may have wanted to try. But I don't need that baseball mitt in my basement to remind me of that.

I still have quite a few spaces to go through in my house before it will be de-cluttered, but any little amount I do each day will help me get to where I want to be.

because its snowing....

2011-01-19T20:39:00.003-06:00

So yes it may be mean that I am making Willie stay outside while I take this picture, but look he has his sweater on. He is warm!
As you can also see, I have shoveled him a walkway off the deck, which I think is rather nice.
Later, when the snow actually stopped, I shoveled the whole deck.

Anyway, just wanted to post a Willie picture.

Just when you thought I had cooked everything

2011-01-18T20:47:00.000-06:00

Ok, not really. However, I have never made a whole chicken before. I think though that since I have made the Thanksgiving turkey the last two years, a chicken couldn't be that hard. In fact, it was quite easy and a lot easier to manage than a turkey.
I got this recipe from Spark Recipes. Super simple, super easy....that is my kind of recipe. I do have to make a suggestion....please do yourself a favor and put a TON of carrots in the pan. My carrots turned out to be the best carrots ever. I think next time...and there will be a next time, I will also put in other vegetables.

Healthy Roasted Chicken
1 T rosemary, chopped - I didn't chop
1/3 t black pepper
1 t kosher or sea salt
1 T butter, softened
1 T olive oil
1 lemon, cut into quarters
1 3 pound chicken

Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mix oil and butter together in a small bowl. Gently lift up chicken skin from the breast and rub oil and butter mixture between the flesh and skin.

Season chicken with salt and pepper.

Place chicken in roasting pan on a roasting rack or bed of vegetables. Place lemon and rosemary inside the cavity of the chicken. Tie legs together with cotton string.

Roast chicken 20 minutes.

Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Roast chicken until meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of inner thigh registers 180 -185 degrees Fahrenheit, about 1 hour 15 minutes.

Lift chicken and tilt slightly, emptying juices from cavity into pan. Juices should be clear. Transfer chicken to cutting board.

Cover chicken with aluminum foil to keep warm and wait 10 minutes before carving.

Quote

2011-01-13T06:27:00.003-06:00

"One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. "Which road do I take?" she asked. "Where do you want to go" was his response. "I don' t know," answered Alice. "Then," said the cat, "it doesn't really matter."

-Alice in Wonderland

I am again reading my book of daily thoughts, "Good Morning". I began reading it last year, but let life get in the way. I do wish I spent more time with the book and all of the thinking activities that it sets forth. However, I almost feel overloaded this time of year reading things to improve myself. Have you ever felt overloaded with "self help"? I am not really looking into traditional self help literature, but it is coming out that way in organizational challenges I am doing, business books I am reading and people I am meeting. The good thing about it is I am learning so much. I think that if I told myself I had to spent 2 hours improving myself by reading and thinking, my brain might hurt. However, I know that I am getting that much time in each day learning.
Self help is generally a genre that people stay away from (or certain types of people), however, isn't learning something new "self help"? It is how you frame it I guess.

Relating to the above quote, I believe that many of us do not fully know where we want to go and really where we want to be....or maybe we don't take the time to really spell that out to ourselves. Could that be the reason we never get there? I like to think so.

You may read these lofty words and I think that I have all of this figured out. No indeed I don't. I am, however, trying to get there. Sometimes you have to take baby steps to get things figured out. Sometimes you have to change what you have figured out by adding or even deleting what you think you know. The important thing is to take the time to do it.

willie pic break

2011-01-11T19:15:00.002-06:00

When I look at this picture now, I think that Willie looks a little scared. He sometimes doesn't like getting his picture taken. I think I also woke him up to take the picture.
Funny thing for me in this picture is this was months ago when I thought it was cold and now it actually is cold! go figure how that works.
Anyway, Willie is now 5 and he is just my best friend as always.
He is warming up to the new house and really does like to snuggle.

a challenge

2011-01-10T21:38:00.003-06:00

I am participating in an online challenge to become more organized. I have been laughed at that I just need to live my life. I know that I need to relax and let life happen, but I also believe that I spend WAY too much time on the things that don't matter.
One may say that blogging doesn't matter. I, however, enjoy writing out my thoughts and feelings. Weird though that I like to do my organizing on paper, but I like to write my thoughts on the computer. I am trying to broaden my horizons by learning to use the internet and my phone to keep myself organized.
Currently, I am using a program called Toodledo online and an app called Go To Do. I am just learning so I can't fully evaluate them yet. I just think it is kind of fun.

Anyway, the challenge I am taking is being put on by Chalene Johnson. Most people know her because of her awesome exercise programs: Turbo Jam, Chalene Extreme, Turbo Fire, Turbo Kick, HHH and PiYo.
She is a to do list maniac and I mean that in a good way. I am a ho-hum list person. I make a grocery list and keep track of items to buy at Target and try to keep track of a million other things, but really I honestly forget somethings. I want to do a better job with keeping track of life. I want to life a more organized FULL life.
Many things have been added to my plate since my parents died, but really things are starting to calm down. I am so much more calm and able to handle items as they come. It has taken me a lot to get to this point.
I am proud of where I am. Now to organize it all!

Inspiration

2011-01-06T21:05:00.002-06:00

It is weird how much TV can affect our lives. As I mentioned the other day, I am watching Biggest Loser again. Last night I had a dream that I met Jillian. I wasn't on the Biggest Loser, but I met her and we were going to be friends. She was going to help me lose weight, but we were going to hang out too.
I have to admit, I really do like Jillian Michaels. I used to listen to her radio show as a podcast each week and I loved listening to her. I like how she can be tough, but to me she is real.
I know after the show became popular people weighed in on who they would prefer as their trainer...Bob or Jillian. I think I wouldn't want to choose. I think there is something to learn from both of them. I feel the same about the new "unknown" trainers introduced in this season. I think that they will be able to show success with the cast they have with them.

Besides the Biggest Loser, I haven't watched anything else. I have recently become obsessed with How I Met Your Mother. If you remember how I got with Gilmore Girls, I am about there with this show. I am getting the first season on DVD and am going to watch them through while working out on my elliptical. I think that will keep me motivated to keep going! I am also giving Private Practice a try. It has lasted a few seasons now and I liked it when I watched it with my friend this past November. Who knows, it could be a new favorite.

I have also been reading a lot lately. Most magazines...I am giving up all of my subscriptions and am reading the backlog of them. I have also found The Hunger Games series. I LOVE these books. I have been reading them like crazy. I am just waiting to get the last book to finish it out. If you haven't heard of this series, I HIGHLY recommend you check them out.

Have you seen any new shows (either to TV or to you)? Read any good books lately?

Inspiration Found Again

2011-01-04T19:08:00.002-06:00

I will be real honest with you, my reader(s). I worked a long time to lose weight and it took just a year and a half after my parents death to put 20 pounds back on. It got to an all time high after my surgery this summer. I just haven't been able to get control of it.
Now I have control once again.

Tonight, I am tuning into Season 11 of the Biggest Loser.
I have been watching this show since the beginning. Last season however, after the first show, I just couldn't. I did not like the first show of Season 10. I could not bring myself to continue to watch people cry about their lives and their weight. I know that may sound like a horrible thing to say, but I just couldn't handle watching other's pain in this way. It was too much.

Tonight, I am watching with an open mind and heart. I am looking for the show to be what it used to be to me, and inspiration. A show that forced me to realize that I can do this. A show to give me power, compassion, and to even learn a bit .

I hope that the show will return to what I loved about it. I hope I will be able to watch it.

What do you think of the show? Did you know that this is Jillian's last season?

1st Monday

2011-01-03T22:09:00.003-06:00

It is of course the first Monday of the year. While one of my New Year's resolutions is not about blogging this year, I am going to make a conscience effort to blog more. I find that just writing or often times, just rambling on helps me process thoughts and ideas and even makes me feel like I am contributing my creativity to the world.
A couple of years ago, when I switched from exclusively food blogging to widen my blog to other topics, I thought it would be easy to just write and have people want to read about me. I have learned that I do not blog to get other people to read. I do not blog because I want a book deal or lots of followers who think I am great. I blog because honestly I like to talk. It also gives me a written journal of things that I was doing through out the year.
I use my blog as a place to talk about things I am experiencing or foods I am trying.

I promise to still post recipes here once in a while, or maybe even a picture of Willie. I do know that this year has I have been leaning to for awhile has started to change. I am developing into a different Heather. I don't completely know what that means that this point, but I do know that I am starting to come out of my fear and anxiety of life without parents. It has been a long year, but it is time to come to realize what life will and can be without them by my side.
I know I can do it.

I hope you continue to come back and read and respond.

Tuesday - for Monday Quote

2010-12-21T08:35:00.002-06:00

Our CEO at work posted this on the company site today saying it came from a funeral home. It gave me some comfort today as I have been having a rough time celebrating this holiday season without my parents. Eventhough it is the second year, last year it was so close to my mom's dealth that I was just numb. This year, I just don't feel like doing anything....and you would notice this if you stepped into my house, no decorations, no tree, no cookies.

"I still hear the songs. I still see the lights. I still feel your love on cold wintery nights.I still share your hopes and all of your cares. I'll even remind you to please say your prayers.I just want to tell you, you still make me proud. You stand head and shoulders above all the crowd.Keep trying each moment to stay in His grace. I came here before you to help set the place.You don't have to be prefect all of the time. He forgives you the slip if you continue the climb.To my family and friends, please be thankful today I'm still close besides you in a new special way.I love you all dearly, now don't shed a tear. Cause I'm spending my Christmas with Jesus this year."

A year

2010-11-22T13:12:00.005-06:00

A year ago today, my mother passed away. She was 62 years old and lost her battle with pancreatic cancer.

It has been a long year full of sadness, anger and frustration. But also happiness and proud moments. While my heart still remains broken, it is starting to heal. I miss my mom so much.

I have to say that no matter how many times I heard that she had cancer, I did not believe that it would take her so quickly. I never fully grasped that I would be 32 years old and no longer have a living support system that included my mom and dad.

My mom was one of those people who cared so much for others. She rarely got sick as she didn't have time to be sick. She made the best cinnamon rolls. She loved to make meals for the family, but also spend time enjoying them with us. She planned outings for us as we were growing up and always had a plan to tackle projects or even just a Saturday.

My mom really and truely helped me be the person I am today. She taught me to love books and reading. She taught me to enjoy the outdoors and spend time out in nature. She also taught me how to cook and how to budget. I may not do all of these things the way she did them, but I see her words in actions in my daily life.

I will never forget all of the things we did together. I miss my mom and wish she was here with me.

Monday Quote

2010-11-15T08:44:00.000-06:00

Look at everything as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time.

-Betty Smith

I think this is a wonderful way to look a life. We never know it will be our time so it is important to treat every day like the gift that it is.
I know that I try to do all that I can each day and to thank God for the day.

Sweet Willie

2010-11-14T20:25:00.002-06:00

Sometimes my favorite part of having a dog is the times that I can look at him and think about how cute he is. I know it has to be a parent thing, but I do think my dog is the cutest.
This is Willie in his night-night kennel. He rarely goes in here on his own accord. However, this day, he had lots of excitement with guests coming over to the house. He loves guests, but does tend to get a little excited trying to get everyone's attention.

Monday Quote

2010-11-01T07:50:00.001-05:00

People with many interests live, not only longest, but happiest.

~George Matthew Allen

Maybe this is why when I am busy with things to do (that I want to do) I am most happy? I had such a good weekend doing things that I wanted to do and it made it so enjoyable....well that and the HUSKERS big win over Missouri!! You know I am wearing my business casual Husker shirt today, such a given right??

Working on the House

2010-10-29T20:20:00.000-05:00

One of the first things I wanted to do in this house when we got it was to paint! The whole interior of the house is a tan/beige color, which is a great starting palette, it is just not how I want to keep things. I know 3 months is a long time to do the "first thing", but I guess I did do other things.
I am in LOVE with this color. I am not going to paint the whole interior this color because, well that would just be too much. BUT I love that it is so close in color to my couch that it really looks like ti made it too match. Really this color matches a part of a Husker picture my mom cross-stitched that now is at my house.
In addition to this being the perfect color for me, you can see that it looks pretty good with my fall display. I still need to do a few touchups, maybe even a whole additional coat, but for now I am pretty happy with my kitchen!
Now on to the next room.

Monday Quote

2010-10-25T10:57:00.002-05:00

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: 'What! You, too? Thought I was the only one.'"

C.S. Lewis

I have these kind of ephiphanies all the time with my best friend. Most people in the world do not think the same as me and even my best friend doesn't on all things. However, there are just enough times that we do have these "what, you too" moments that lets me know we truly were meant to be friends.

Husker Game Day

2010-10-23T19:39:00.003-05:00

This is a picture from my favorite play today. Henery, who is the Nebraska kicker, faked a punt and took it for a first down. I know, trick play, who knew we had it in us.
After last week's loss to Texas, I was heartbroken, but I didn't see it as bad as others did. Texas knows where and how to hit Nebraska where it hurts.

Today, I was proud of my Huskers at the end of the game. I wasn't happy with all of the plays and I personally get very upset that Niles Paul drops passes, but end the end I have to be happy with a win.

Next week we take on Missouri.

Fun Cake

2010-10-15T19:43:00.000-05:00

Boss' Day!! Apparently, I am not the horrible tyrant others make me out to me. OR my staff just wanted to eat cake, HA!!

It was a great little lunch that my staff put together for me. And the cake was AWESOME!!

Calling All Sides

2010-10-11T20:48:00.002-05:00

I like to borrow (ie steal) recipes from other blogs. This is So much easier! Once I find a blog that I like...good writing, good looking recipes, etc, I keep coming back and end up being a groupie. As you might have noticed, over the past couple of months, I have been swooning (stalking) over at Plain Chicken. I heart Plain Chicken.
I used to be able to blog as often as Plain Chicken, I lost my bloglove a while ago, but I really want to get it back. I tell you if I could still find great food to make, eat and write about, I would be all over it. Some of my cooking and recipe searching mojo disappeared.
However, sometimes, I find something that I just need to try AND I have the ingredients, or a trip to the store planned. Tonight I was serving leftovers from a party I held on Saturday and I wanted to make something new and quick to go with the leftovers. I find that adding a bread or a different side- makes leftover all better.

I found these on Plain Chicken and since I had all the ingredients at home, I thought why not? I will be honest I don't know who Jim 'N Nick are, but these muffins, aren't too bad.

Better than Jim 'N Nick's Cheesy Biscuits

1 1/2 cups Bisquick

3/4 cup buttermilk

3 Tbps sugar

1/4 tsp vanilla

1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

Preheat oven to 425. Stir together all ingredients just until combined. Scoop into a mini muffin pan coated with cooking spray. Bake 12-15 minutes, until golden.

I made these using a regular muffin pan and got 10 muffins.

Monday quote

2010-10-11T13:37:00.002-05:00

Look to be treated by others as you have treated others.

~Publius Syrus

Most people growing up are taught the golden rule "treat others how to want to be treated" or "do unto others as you would have done unto you".

A while back I was giving a training on sexual harassment and I researched the golden rule and found the platinum rule "do unto others as they want done unto them".

I tend to like the platinum rule which is similar to this quote. I do believe that you reap what you sow, but that you should also be sympathetic to how others want to be treated.

Some people believe that they should be treated like princesses all the time when in turn they treat others badly.

Huskers

2010-10-10T15:30:00.000-05:00

I really can't believe that I went this long without writing about the Nebraska v. K-State game! I have to honestly say that Facebook gets all my witty banter these days, as it is live action posting and publishing!
Anyway, YEAH!! My beloved Huskers started their final run through the Big 12 with just that a RUN, SPRINT apparently to the end zone, a couple of times.
They came out on top of KSU 48-13. What a wonderful way to start out this final season in the Big 12. I couldn't ask for a better score, what I could have asked for was a better game. Many times (even KSU fans pointed this out to me) it appeared as if the KSU defense moved out of the way to let the Husker QB walk right into the endzone. HA!
My favorite part was listening to the sports casters talk about how one of the KSU players was Heisman material all before the game started, then by the end of the game they had changed their tune to talk about how Husker QB Martinez was Heisman material! LOVED IT.

Next up on the Husker road in Texas. It would be nice to think it will be an evenly matched, yet tough game for the Huskers, but I don't know. I guess we will find out Saturday, Oct. 16th at 2:30. If you are a Husker Fan be sure to where your RED as it is RED OUT around the World day!!
BEAT TEXAS!!

Monday Quote

2010-10-04T11:15:00.000-05:00

Life is like a game of cards. The hand that is dealt you represents determinism; the way you play it is free will.

~Jawaharal Nehru

Honestly, most days, I am ok with the hand I have been dealt.

NO Huskers!!

2010-10-02T17:30:00.000-05:00

While I am one that loves a weekend...there is nary a weekend in the fall where there isn't a Husker game. But alas, this was one of those weekends. I didn't feel the same excitement for Saturday as I usually do. I honestly wasn't sure what to wear, as I usually don Husker gear on Fall Saturdays...what does a girl do??
Well, I did find some clothes to wear and I did, find things to do.
1. I went to see the Challenger roll into town.
2. Went to Lowes to pick up some Tomato Red Paint
3. Tried to support the Big 12 teams playing today by watching KU v. Baylor (sad sad day for KU) and OU v. TX (what is up with Tx?)
4. Treated myself to dinner and a movie, at home, it was so relaxing.
5. Did all those cleaning things that one is supposed to each week....oh the laundry!!

It was a very full day and tomorrow will be as full as the painting with the Tomato Red will begin!

Books, Books, books

2010-10-01T20:04:00.000-05:00

I feel like I have been a crazy reading fiend lately, but that is what you get when you condemn me to my house in pain for so long.
I feel like I read so much this summer and I am so glad that I did.
While I belong to a book club, we seem to be more about the actual meeting that possibly finishing books...I like this no pressure type of group. It also gives me a chance to be reading more books than one at a time.
In the past month, I have read the following books: Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert, House Rules by Jodi Picoult, Have a little Faith by Mitch Albom. Each was so different from the others, but I loved them all. I felt like I raced through them, but really enjoyed each page.
I felt like I gained insight reading each of them. I picked all of them as books I wouldn't normally read. They all had something to add to my life. They all told stories about people that were going through their lives with problems and pain and they each taught me something.

Husker Tunnel Walk 2010

2010-09-25T12:09:00.000-05:00

First time I have seen this. I am ready for game day!!

it happens every time....

2010-09-21T10:46:00.002-05:00

It really does. I keep finding great quotes, or thinking a cute antecdote to share, or even make something new.....then my computer freezes. I have to shut it down and then the drive is gone.

I apologize for not even getting up a Husker post this weekend. I was very excited for the game and after the game. I try not to be a unfailing optimist about the Huskers, but they are doing pretty dang good this year. Once October 7th hits, however, it could be a whole new ball game. I hope it doesn't become a bad ball game, but stays on the upswing.

If you aren't into sports or possibly even Husker football, you may not know that this is their last year in the Big 12 division. Next season they will be playing in the Big 10. I know there are positives and negatives to this, but for me really (as I have said before) I don't care who they play or what division they are in, but I like a good game. I like the close games. Of course I like it when they are close and we win, but I like a hard fought win.

I believe that the Huskers are ranked 7th this week. It is nice to see them in the top 10. It is a nice place to be.

Can You Feel It? - Nebraska Football

2010-09-04T16:35:00.000-05:00

I can feel it!! Can't wait til kick off!

Lots o' Chips

2010-08-26T22:50:00.001-05:00

I am trying to go back in my long list of pictures of food that I have made to blog about. Well, it has been so long that I no longer remember where the recipe for this cookie. I do remember that these were AWESOME cookies. They had several different kinds of chips: chocolate, peanut butter, butterscotch and possibly white chocolate chips. Yummy!

Now I really need to get to find the recipe. I think it might be in a box from when we moved.

Long time, no talk

2010-08-25T16:16:00.000-05:00

Whew! It has been a long time since I posted anything. To tell you the truth, I actually have good reason, I had surgery. Apparently, when you you have your appendix removed by a surgeon that cuts you in half....you have a higher percentage of a chance of having a hernia. Yep, a hernia. Apparently, to that previous surgery you add my tough personality and the fact that I think I am tougher than I really am and you have a recipe for a hernia.
So about 2 weeks ago, I had said surgery and I won't lie to you, I was in pain. Not fun stay at home and play pain. I am talking stay at home watching the clock count down until it is ok to take the next pain pill pain.
I have filled my 2 weeks off from work with watching countless episodes of Gilmore Girls (starting on season 5), Grey's Anatomy (did you know this is on 3 hours a day on Lifetime) and Veronica Mars (I have already watched this through once, but I needed a little variety) and also reading.
I have finished 2 books and 4 magazines and am starting on more. I also went on a bit of an online shopping spree Amazon and LL Bean have been slowly shipping me things.
I really can't take it anymore.
I am finally approving and will be able to head back to work at least part-time on Friday. Hopefully this will end the feeling of stir-craziness. I am also starting to feel infinitely better about a lot of things.

Lesson learned from this part of my life....don't try to be so tough, go to the doctor and relax.

Do I have my groove back??

2010-08-08T21:47:00.000-05:00

I don't need any one to tell me that I haven't been the same. Basically, because I have not been the same person since my dad got really sick over a year and a half ago. I have not been the same person since I got the call that I needed to hurry to Omaha as my dad was not going to make it. Even though I did make it and he was fine, for a least a month, I am still not the same person. Once that event happened, I feel like my life changed. That event seemed to be the beginning of a new life for me. After that month, my father passed away and then my mother was diagnosed with cancer. After her death in November, I have still not been able to be the same person I was before all of this happened. I have had to take on a new life. The things that I used to enjoy, do not bring the same joy to me. Even when I have something to look forward too, it isn't the same. I don't know if I carry guilt, or it is just sadness, but I feel like my heart is broken and it isn't mending.
These are the big things that have affected my life, but of course there are others. Since I moved to Kansas 7 years ago, my life has been intertwined with my family (of course), but I have built my own life here. I have a job and a house and a dog and all the responsibilities that come with these things....they didn't go away when things got bad with the family.
I have talked about my feelings with trusted friends and family members. I have tried to do all of the things that I know I should do...journal, exercise (in many forms), listening to meditation CD's, praying, baking.....Nothing has been working.
A friend told me this week that I may not go back to who I was before. I might not ever get there and THAT is ok.
While all of this grieving and dealing has taken up much of my time, now I am having surgery. It is pretty routine and I don't need to wax and wane about it here, but since I have scheduled this surgery , I actually have been feeling better....weird.
I have been taking short walks with Willie and today I baked 2 things!! The good thing was that they both turned great.
So a bit of me feels like my ok-ness might be improving.
The first recipe, I want to share with you is for none other than cookies. I am so loving hanging out over at Plain Chicken these days. Cookies have always made me feel better and when you add peanut butter and butterfingers, I don't know how anything could be wrong.

Butterfinger Cookies
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2 large egg whites
1 1/4 cups chunky peanut butter (or smooth)- I used smooth
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 (2.1 ounce) butterfinger candy bars, chopped-I used 3

Preheat oven to 350°F degrees. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add egg whites; beat well. Blend in peanut butter and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in candy bars. Shape into 1 1/2-inch balls and place on a baking sheet.

Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes, or until cookies just start to turn brown. Do not over bake! Let sit on cookie sheet for a few minutes, before transferring to a wire rack. Cool completely.

In The Deed The Glory - Nebraska Tunnel Walk

2010-08-07T00:25:00.001-05:00

I just have to be honest, I get goose bumps. We are only a month away.....CAN YOU FEEL IT???
Umm because I can. I think actually there is some football on this weekend?? I will take it any way I can get it.

Monday Quote

2010-08-02T13:11:00.001-05:00

"Your current safe boundaries were once unknown frontiers."

-author unknown

Using Bisquick

2010-08-01T20:08:00.001-05:00

A month or so ago I found a new foodie blog. I have written about it before. I don't know if the writer usually used Bisquick a lot, but it seemed when I started reading the blog there were several recipe posts that used this baking mix. I never was one to keep Bisquick in the house basically because I buy something like that, I make a couple of recipes and then I never use it again... AND it goes bad. OR I forget what I originally bought it for. I am terrible about that.

Well I have made 2 different recipes with my box of Heart Healthy Bisquick. Now I just need to make some more. Both of these recipes I got off of the Plain Chicken site.

Chocolate Chip Bisquick Cookies

7Up Biscuits

Both turned out great in my mind, but the SO thought they tasted Bisquick-y. I think he believes that I am better than Bisquick. He started to ponder who and WHY someone came up with Bisquick when you (or really we) have all of the items in Bisquick in our well stocked pantry. I had to laugh at him and explain that not everyone has the "stocked-ness" that we do.

Monday Quote

2010-07-26T13:34:00.002-05:00

"Rather than aiming for being perfect, just aim to be little bit better today than you were yesterday."

A friend of mine posted this on another site to me. I think it is exactly what I needed to read today. I do, too many times, try to be perfect. I let perfection, hold me back and beat me down. I know I am not perfect by any means, but I try so hard to have things be perfect. I want things orderly, organized, clean, sanitary, you know perfect.
I realize that this holds me back and causes me grief. I know it is something that I need to work on, and I am. I was brought up this way, so it will take time.

Monday Quote

2010-07-12T22:04:00.002-05:00

It is going to be OK.

~Heather

This is something that I find myself saying a lot these days. I don't know how to be more positive than that on most days. When dealing with issues at work, or at home, or with oh the yard...I just think "it is going to be OK".
I feel like I have been through the worst in life and now, I just have to deal with life as it is handed to me. I am trying to work on not letting some of the little things in life affect me the way they used to, or really get me upset. It is going to be OK, really it is.

Do you have something that you say to yourself (or others) to get you through tough situations??

Red Out Around the World

2010-07-09T22:49:00.000-05:00

I love the line that says the best thing about summer is that it turns into fall. I have to agree...we just have to get through July and August and we back in it!!
I can't wait

A new era

2010-07-08T20:28:00.002-05:00

I like new eras. Eras are something that need to be changed every once in awhile and today, I decided that a new era needed to be started.
Beginning tonight...I am joining the Gilmore Girl watchers club. I think watching and experiencing this show for me is long over due. Watching this series has been something I have wanted to do for a long time. I have heard several recommendations about the series and am anxious to get through...I believe 7 seasons of the show.

Danny Gokey - I Will Not Say Goodbye - Official Video

2010-07-01T20:50:00.000-05:00

A friend shared this with me today, and this is how I feel about my parents.

Monday Quote

2010-06-29T19:50:00.002-05:00

Priorities are something that everyone needs to have. I am having a hard time with my priorities. I feel guilty for having personal priorities and not focusing on what has to be done at work, for my sister and to take care of thing for my parent's estate.
For a time this weekend, I didn't focus on anything but me, but it was short lived and when I had to come out of the "me" haze, reality set back in and the headache came back.

I need to do a better job of taking care of myself.

Big 10, 12, 18??

2010-06-28T20:43:00.000-05:00

So I can't believe it has been a whole week and I haven't gone on a rant about the Huskers and the Big 10 er, 12.
Remember I live in Kansas, so being a Husker fan is always rough (well I say that loosely because when NU wins at football it isn't bad, I get lots of heckling when they lose and I could care less about basketball).
In the past couple of weeks (as if you live under a rock) the Husker have decided to leave the Big 12 Conference and join the Big 10. This has caused many mixed feelings in the people in Kansas and around other schools that have been traditional Big 12 schools.
I will be real honest with you...I don't care who Nebraska plays, what conference they are in as long as they are playing, playing a good game and I can occasionally watch them on TV. That is all I ask for.
I liken the whole change to joining a sorority. Nebraska was wanted by more than one, other teams were not wanted. It is those other teams/fans that are jealous.
Again, it doesn't matter where they play, as long as they play. I am excited as I know that football season will be here before I know it.

Monday Quote

2010-06-21T08:07:00.000-05:00

"Every day in every way I'm getting better and better."

-Emile Coue

I have been watching losing it With Jillian these past couple of weeks and I think that she should use this as a daily affirmation for the folks that she works with. I know I may be one of the few out there that truly believes in setting goals and working on them. I have a rough time like everyone else, but I believe working towards my goals helps me. I believe that doing small things are what make a huge difference.
I get stronger every day and a little bit closer to each goal.
I have many different goals in life, some that are focused on health, some that are focused on my house, taking care of my mental health and my financial health. I am one of those dorks that writes out goals and action steps to achieve my goals. For me it works, other just like to go and not plan. I am a planner.

The goulash debate

2010-06-16T22:34:00.001-05:00

So A and I have a constant debate on what really makes a goulash. We have become food snobs of sorts these days, but at the end of the day you still have to put something on the table and most of the times, I don't want it to take a million years.
My goulash is usually comprised of things I leftover over in the fridge, so it tastes a bit different every time.
However, it always consists of noodles of some sort, meat, veggies and sauce. My sauce and veggies vary, but really it tastes a bit different each time. I love to add green peppers.
There are a million and one recipes for goulash and I am sure I could do some research on what is in a traditional goulash, but I am sure there would be varying opinions.
We have been to a resturant in Kansas City that serves a great Hungarian Goulash. I think it is one of those dishes that everybody has their own version.

What do you put in yours??

Monday Quote

2010-06-15T21:30:00.002-05:00

"Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of going the hard work you already did"

-Unknown

I believe that my life is all about perseverance these days. I have people telling me they don't know how I handle all that I do. I just keep going, I guess. I feel like that is all that I can do.
To keep going is all many of us have in life and I think it is very important. Quitting is for the weak. I will admit that sometimes I am weak, but I usually get back up and keep trying.

Welcome Home

2010-06-12T23:29:00.000-05:00

There is some nice landscaping around the new house, I never really noticed flowers before. I am personally not a big flower person. In our last house, I pulled out all of the flowers in the first year and put in bushes, I know I am horrible. I just don't want to deal with plants. I like easy maintenance items.
However, I thought it was a warm welcome when these bloomed on the day we moved in. I thought it was the perfect welcome and it made me think I might actually like to have some flowers around in the future.

First Meal

2010-06-11T23:13:00.002-05:00

It may not be glamorous, but it was the first meal we put together. Yes we were eating it in the kitchen off of a cooler as our table. A put together our grill so we could cook this. I have to admit that it was so delish after eating out while we were packing and moving.

New House

2010-06-09T23:04:00.000-05:00

Yep, we packed up and moved! While I haven't taken a lot of pictures, because quite frankly it is still a little messy; I thought I would post a picture of Willie and his favorite part of the new house....yep the stairs. He never used the stairs to the basement in the old house until moving day. Now he loves to go up and down them like a crazy. It definitely wears him out which is great since he running in the backyard has been cut down since we are not fully fenced yet.

Monday quote

2010-06-07T19:08:00.003-05:00

"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one."

-Jan Howard

I have learned, but feel like I really already knew how important a family is. For me and many others family is more that just the people you were born to. While up until recently, I had a solid family: mom, dad and sister. I had aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents that have been there for my whole life. Now it seems as my family is getting smaller instead of bigger.
As I get older, however, I have learned that more and more you realize who should belong to your family. Instead of me expanding by having kids, I am expanding by becoming a part of others families. You may say that I invite myself, but I tell ya, baking will win your way into many families. Sometimes the other families seem so much like my own, I wonder why I am so lucky.
I am truly blessed. Even in life's downs, which I feel I have had a lot, there are ups. My family and friends are truly something that mean so much to me and help me get through each day.

Willie Wednesday

2010-05-26T18:37:00.001-05:00

This is a picture of Willie taking a short nap on the step on the back patio. I don't know why he was all faluting about getting outside just to sleep on the step right outside the door. However, that is besides the point. In this picture, Willie looks like the Cavalier that he is.
And However again, I feel bad for him when he gets knots in his hair and then I cut them out and he looks choppy AND I feel bad that he has all that hair and it is getting rather warm here in KS. So I took him in to be trimmed, de-knotted, bathed and such.

This is how Willie came home!!
Yep, he looks like a puppy to me... NO HAIR! Cavaliers aren't really supposed to ever get their hair cut, but I am not a normal Cavalier owner. I want him to be clean and not have to dip his ears in his water bowl.
He looks so tiny now and like a different dog to us. Good thing is that dogs don't care what they look like....AND hair grows back!!

Don't Poke Me!

2010-05-25T06:45:00.000-05:00

I am 33 years old and I have never made a Jello Poke cake, please take away my license to bake. However, now I can have it back! I have conquered the poke!
Recently, A told me his favorite cake his mom used to make him (in addition to the Twinkie cake I have already mastered) is a Jello Poke Cake. For some reason, I never remember EVER having a jello cake, EVER.
I don't know if people just didn't make those on my "side" of Omaha or if I just always went for the chocolate items, but I have never had one.
Anyway, I found this in one of the Betty Crocker magazines in the checkout rack. In a fit of retail therapy, I got A to purchase it.

Cherry Limeade Poke Cake
Cake
1 box Better Crocker SuperMoist white cake mix
1 1/4 c lemon-lime soda
1/3 c oil
3 egg whites
4 tsp grated lime peel
1 box (4 serving size) cherry-flavored gelatin
1 c boiling water

Frosting
1 container (12 oz) Better Crocker Whipped fluffy white frosting
optional items: maraschino cherries, lime peel twists

	Heat oven to 350°F (325°F. for dark or nonstick pan.). Spray bottom only of 13x9-inch pan with baking spray with flour.
	In large bowl beat cake mix, soda, oil, egg white and 3 teaspoons of the lime peel with electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into prepared pan.
	Bake 28 to 32 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 20 minutes.
	Meanwhile, stir gelatin into boiling water, stirring for 2 minutes to completely dissolve gelatin. Poke cake every inch with tines of meat fork or table knife. Pour cherry mixture slowly over cake, allowing mixture to fill holes in cake. Cool completely, about 1 hour longer.
	In small bowl, mix frosting, lime juice, and remaining 1 teaspoon grated lime peel. Spread evenly over cake. Optional: Top each serving with cherry and lime twists.

This was a pretty simple cake to make and I made it for A's birthday. We had plenty to share with friends and they all liked it. At first A pointed out that his mom never used premade frosting for poke cakes, that was all wrong. I was supposed to use Cool Whip. I told him we would do that for the next poke cake. :)

Monday Quote

2010-05-24T07:33:00.003-05:00

"The hardest thing in life is to know which bridge to cross and which to burn. "

~David Russel

Ain't it the truth?
I got a new book a few weeks ago titled " Good Morning 365 Positive Ways to start your Day" by Brook Noel. I have wanted a daily quote/affirmation book for awhile, but all of them are dated. I feel a little robbed since I started this in the middle of the year instead of on January 1st. However, I decided in my retail therapy stupor, that it would be ok for me to have this now.
I have been having some rough weeks this month and got a bit behind on the reading my quote daily, but today I caught up. Back on track.

This quote is from last week and I really thought it rang true. It is hard to decide which bridges to cross and which to burn. We have to pick our battles every day and work with what we have to accomplish the things in life that we need to accomplish or even that we want to accomplish.

I honestly hope that there are no bridges to burn today.

Ramblings

2010-05-12T20:56:00.002-05:00

Today is only Wednesday (yep no sneaky changing the dates on this one), but it feels so much like Thursday. I feel like I have done enough for the week that it surely has to be over. I sometimes wonder if I just stayed in bed, if I could just skip a day altogether.
Some people might notice, but others wouldn't even know I wasn't there. This is the nature of having a job where I have to be there, yet also out and about. Sometimes this can be a scary thing, but also a liberating thing. However, for me I am always where I am supposed to be as for some reason, I have a guilty conscience. It might come from actually not being perfect, from trying to be perfect, or from having such horrible experiences with bosses in the past. I don't have these bad experiences anymore because I have a much better job and boss, but sometimes I just wonder about disappearing.

I am counting down the days until I move...just a little over 2 weeks. We have begun packing, I just can't believe how much stuff we have accumulated in this house and we have only been here 6 years. I guess we really settled in. I am sure our next house will accumulate even more. I am excited to show you all pictures.

Now, I am facing having to put my parents house up for sale. I have mixed emotions about this. I can't keep it forever, that is just silly, but I didn't think we would have to sell it this fast. My sister is already moved out. Now on to the cleaning and putting it on the market. I have a realtor already waiting in the wings with a camera and a sign. I hope that it sells quickly so that, in a way we can move on. Some of the harder things will be past us, but I know we aren't healed with our loss. However, I know that we can't get them back.

All of the shows are coming to an end...Survivor, Biggest Loser, Greys.... I am happy they are all ending as I need a break. They have all been great this season. I am, however, excited for the return of Royal Pains and Drop Dead Diva. I hope they both live up to their first seasons.
On netflix, we are moving on to Season 5 of Six Feet Under. All I can say about that show is it is absolutely mind boggling. I highly recommend it to anyone that is looking for a drama with twists.

In my reading world, I have been cruising through some Nicolas Sparks with both Dear John and am about to finish The Last Song. I have enjoyed both. My book club started up again and we just finished Thank you for All Things by Sandra Kring. I thought this was a good book to start up with as I thought it was an easy read that kept me picking up the book to finish it. I have to admit that I feel like I am a reading fiend lately and feel I have a sense of urgency to complete each book I get my hands on. This weekend, I let myself buy a new Mary Higgins Clark at Target because well, all of my other books are packed to move, what will I do in the meantime. I might be developing a reading sickness, but I am ok with that. Reading was one of those things that my parents instilled in me. I think it makes me a better person.

Just to ask some questions...what shows are you happy that are ending? Beginning? Have you seen any good movies lately that you would recommend? Read any good books??

Monday Quote

2010-05-10T07:36:00.001-05:00

"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by what you bring to life."

~John Homer Miller

Mother's Day

2010-05-09T10:58:00.001-05:00

I had several people that thought that today would be hard for me because this is the first Mother's Day I have celebrated without my mom.
I have to be honest with you, it wasn't any harder than any other day since my mother died in November.
It was just different.

I didn't spend the day cooking a meal for my family. While my family isn't big by any means, it is different cooking for 5 than just two. I tried to invite people over so that I could cook dinner for them in traditional Mother's Day style, but either they didn't call back or they were too busy to indulge me. Oh well.

I made a back up plan. I took A to breakfast. We went to a place that I had taken my mom a couple of time and she greatly enjoyed. We ate just what I would have eaten had she been there. We lingered in the booth a little longer.

I read an article in Cooking Light and the author was also spending her Mother's Day without a mother to celebrate. She quoted writer Terry Tempest Williams "I am very sad, and very happy." This is how I feel each day about the death of my parents. Special days like holidays, just evoke memories for me. Today I remembered how last year we had just lost my dad and my mom and sister had come to spend the weekend with me. I don't remember all of the activities that weekend, but I remember making a hashbrown casserole and scone for breakfast. We didn't know it at the time, but cancer was already in my mom's pancreas. She wasn't eating well and her stomach was bothering her. The doctor has told her that is was the saddness and stress of caring for and then losing her husband.

I think what is important for me to remember is that I do still have a mom. She is still with me. She and my dad are both in my heart and in my memories. I will not let those things go. I think that is the hardest thing about losing someone, is thinking that you will never see them again. I have learned to accept that I can see them everyday: in photos, in my memories and in my dreams. It may sound trite, but I will take what I can get.

Updates!

2010-05-04T19:21:00.001-05:00

Well, the first and most exciting news is......we found a house! They took our offer, hook, line and sinker. Now the waiting......oh the waiting. A actually suggested today to see if we could close everything up a week or so early, just to get the show on the road.
We are not very patient people.

We are on the countdown....May 28th is closing day. I have a hard time getting excited about things because all that has happened this last year. So I guess once we actually have the keys we will be satisfied in saying we are actually moving and the house is ours.

Now on to the next issue....my sister is also moving. That means I have another house to sell. She is also moving here in May and my parent's house will go on the market shortly there after. I have mixed feelings about this. One is that mostly...I won't have anywhere that HAS to let me stay there when I visit Omaha. I guess I will keep away more too. I have honestly not been going to Omaha as much since my parents are gone because they were the reason I went. While I usually had something else planned for part of the time, most of my time was spent with them. I could spend time with my sister, but she works on the weekend.
It has been a week or so since I have heard this news and I am getting more detached from it now.

Other updates....I found a new blog I wanted to point out it is called Plain Chicken. It is quite frankly a very nice blog. After following it for a few weeks now, it reminds me a lot of my old blog "Eating for One". There seems to be a new post almost every day and she is making some pretty good food over there. I highly recommend you check it out.

Monday Quote

2010-04-27T10:59:00.002-05:00

On Tuesday morning....some people are catching on that I don't always get up my posts on time, however, with the beautiful magic of "posting options", I can make my post show up whenever I want.
Lately, I have been finding quotes just in my daily life and this one just came to me in an email and I liked it.

"Life is not the way it's supposed to be.. It's the way it is..
The way we cope with it, is what makes the difference."

I do not know the source, but I thought it was true and almost fits with some of my previous Monday quotes.

Using some cake mix

2010-04-22T22:40:00.000-05:00

I needed to take some treats to work to celebrate birthdays and since we are moving, I am trying to use up items that I have in the house. It took me awhile to hunt down a recipe that didn't require me to run back to the store, but I have to say that this turned out pretty darn good!.

Chocolate Upside-down cake
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup baking cocoa
2 cups water
12 to 14 marshmallows, quartered
1 (2-layer) package chocolate cake mix 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350° F. Combine brown sugar, cocoa, water & marshmallows in greased 9 x 13 inch pan. Mix well. Prepare cake mix using package instructions. Spoon over brown sugar mixture. Sprinkle with walnuts. Bake at 350° F. for 25 to 30 minutes or until cake tests done.

Cool in pan. Invert to serve. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream.

12 servings

Be aware that the cake will cook and still have liquid swishing around the outside of it. Do not keep baking. I actually burned my cake a little bit because I wanted the liquid to go away. Live and Learn!
This is a rich chocolaty cake and I high recommend following the suggestion to serve with whipped cream or ice cream.

One....Singular Sensation!

2010-04-20T15:55:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was one of the best days in a long time. I went to see A Chorus Line in Kansas City. I loved it and want to go back and see it again. Maybe, I will :)
I have to tell you that if you haven't seen this musical and you like musicals, you will love this one. I have never seen the play before, but when I was little my family had the Soundtrack and honestly we listened to it to so much that I knew all of the words. Yes I sang along on Saturday.

A Chorus Line was something my mom and I had always talked about seeing together, we just didn't get it done. However, I know that my mom was with me in spirit, the seat next to me was open for her.
I knew she was there because I made sure to have lots of her stuff on me... here shirt, a necklace she gave me and her ring.

I had such an awesome time and even got to meet some of the cast!

Monday Quote

2010-04-19T18:49:00.000-05:00

We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.

-E.M. Forster

I found this quote today and it spoke to me. I know I am not the only one in saying that my life has not turned out the way I had planned it. When I was younger, I thought I would grow up, be a teacher, be married and have at least one kid. I thought my parents would be around forever and that I would live in a nice house on a circle that was close to my family so that we could spend time together.
Well, life didn't really go as planned. I am not trying to be a whiner, but my life is nothing like that. In some aspects, I am happier than I think I would have been with those plans. I am not a teacher, that thought left when I learned how many more credit hours I would have to take. And I like many college students changed my major several times before deciding. I now have both a bachelors and masters degree. In not getting a teaching degree, I am not a teacher, but I love my current job. I have enjoyed most of my jobs, but the "real world" of work is not how you picture it as a child.
Growing up and getting married and having kids hasn't happened yet. I have been in a relationship for 9+ years and while there has been talks of marriage it hasn't happened yet, so in my mind no kids. I am not sad for either of these things. I am in a very committed relationship that functions as a marriage. The kid I do have is my adorable Willie Butch who I love very much.
I don't live close to my family, but I don't live far away either.
The thing in life that I didn't plan for that hurts me the most is the death of my parents. I am only 33 and they are both gone. My dad passed away a year ago this week, my mom 6 months ago. I am still very saddened by these losses. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about them. While my dad had been diagnosed with MD in his 40's and was slowly deteriorating, it still want not something that I thought would happen so early in my life. After my dad had left us, I honestly thought that my mom would be around for a long time. Then she was diagnosed with cancer. And while they went back and forth with life expectancy, I don't think we were ever prepared for it to come so soon.
I honestly feel lost most of the time without my parents. No one in your life will love you as much as they do, at least that is how I feel. My mom might tell me to quit crying and buck up through all of this, but I don't think it is that easy. I am having a rough time, but I am functioning. I go to work, I still put food on the table and I still do many of the things that I enjoy. I struggle though. I have been added a lot more responsibility in all of this. I think I am doing pretty well handling it, but just like my own trials and tribulations, I sometimes have a hard time.
I am trying to accept what and how my life has turned out, but sometimes I do wonder where I went wrong. I know some of my choices could have changed the outcomes, but really the part I am the most upset about would have happened anyway.

Celebration Cupcakes

2010-04-14T19:39:00.003-05:00

I have gotten back into wanting to bake now that my house has sold. Also because the people that work for me want to do birthday treats once a month, which is the perfect excuse for me to bake and then take things to work.
These cupcakes were easy to put together as long as you have the ingredients. I am not a big drinker and I am not sure even if you are that you would have champagne on hand. I had to hit the liquor store here in good old Topeka and actually have help picking out what to use in these. I went a head and picked out a middle of the road pink champagne so give the cupcakes a little more color. It also helped as I was almost out of red food coloring.

Pink Champagne Cupcakes
Betty Crocker
1 box Betty Crocker SuperMoist white cake mix
1 1/4 c. champagne
1/3 c. vegetable oil
3 egg whites
4-5 drops red food color

Champagne Frosting
1/2 c butter
4 c powdered sugar
1/4 c champagne
1 tsp vanilla
4-5 drops red food coloring

Heat oven to 350. Place paper baking cups in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups. In a large bowl, combine dry cake mix and champagne. Add oil, eggs and food color. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.
Bake 17 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
In medium bowl, beat frosting ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Frost cupcakes. Sprinkle with pink sugar and pearls.

Monday Quote

2010-04-12T21:56:00.001-05:00

"If we wait for the moment when everything, absolutely everything, is ready, we shall never begin."

-Ivan Turgenev, novelist, poet, playwright

I am a planner and this quote and others like it help me to realize that sometimes the planning can't be taken so seriously. We have to treat each day like the present it is and enjoy it. Some days are definitely easier to think this way than others, but I try to remember this when having a rough day.

Its SOLD!!

2010-04-09T19:38:00.000-05:00

Now to find a new one for us!!

My colors

2010-04-06T13:42:00.003-05:00

I saw this today on another blog, which I will write about later. I thought I would check myself out. You should too!

Color Career Counselor

Best Occupational Category: You're a CREATOR

Keywords
Nonconforming, Impulsive, Expressive, Romantic, Intuitive, Sensitive, and Emotional

These original types place a high value on aesthetic qualities and have a great need for self-expression. They enjoy working independently, being creative, using their imagination, and constantly learning something new. Fields of interest are art, drama, music, and writing or places where they can express, assemble, or implement creative ideas.

CREATOR OCCUPATIONS: Suggested careers are Advertising Executive, Architect, Web Designer, Creative Director, Public Relations, Fine or Commercial Artist, Interior Decorator, Lawyer, Librarian, Musician, Reporter, Art Teacher, Broadcaster, Technical Writer, English Teacher, Architect, Photographer, Medical Illustrator, Corporate Trainer, Author, Editor, Landscape Architect, Exhibit Builder, and Package Designer.

CREATOR WORKPLACES: Consider workplaces where you can create and improve beauty and aesthetic qualities. Unstructured, flexible organizations that allow self-expression work best with your free-spirited nature.

Suggested Creator workplaces are advertising, public relations, and interior decorating firms; artistic studios, theaters and concert halls; institutions that teach crafts, universities, music, and dance schools. Other workplaces to consider are art institutes, museums, libraries, and galleries.

2nd Best Occupational Category
You're a SOCIAL MANAGER

Keywords:
Tactful, Cooperative, Generous, Understanding, Insightful, Friendly, and Cheerful

This very social type enjoys working in groups, sharing responsibilities, and being the center of attention. Fields of interest are instructing, helping, nurturing, care giving and instructing-especially young people. They discuss and consider feelings in order to solve problems, lead, direct, persuade, guide, organize and enlighten others.

All this because I like RED. Funny how choosing colors can help you know where you should be working. I used to be in Corporate Training, now I work in Administration. I love my current job more than anything that I have even done. I still get to train new staff and staff that have been here awhile. I get to learn new things and help develop systems to make things work better. I love when you can find something that validates how you are feeling about something in your life.

Monday Quote

2010-04-05T13:00:00.000-05:00

"Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in one's own sunshine."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

To me this reads that we choose our moods and the outcomes of our actions. I firmly believe that we have a lot of choice in our lives. While many things are determined by something bigger than us, I believe that I do always have a choice. The choice is generally in how I reacte to things.

I am honestly trying to choose positive rather than negative. I mean the sun is shinning and that makes me happy on most days, but somethings it is hard.

I just finally completed the taxes for the family: mine, mom and dad's, sisters and the trust. Even though I physically didn't put them together it was a lot of work on my part. I am thankful that my mother put together all that she did on her and my dad's finances, but this is still hard. Next year instead of 5 returns, I will just have 3.

I am still fighting with 2 different banks and I will tell you their names because they are horrible and awful to people dealing with the accounts of their deceased relatives: Wells Fargo and Chase. I honestly hate them. I would like to meet with both of their presidents and let them know how I have been treated. I don't usually like to complain about poor service because it is usually a fleeting thing, but I have been dealing with both of these companies for 5 months now and I am still getting no where. I could write a whole blog on these companies, but really I have better things to do.

April- My version of an Ode

2010-04-03T17:05:00.004-05:00

Oh April, how I love thee.

The days are getting longer
The weather is getting warmer
Buds are popping on the trees.

The sun shows its face more often than not.
The clouds are white and fluffy
Instead of gray and dreary.

The Farmer's Market starts its planning
The grass starts its growing
Lots of time outside.

It is April 3rd and I am really enjoying my day. I slept longer than usual as Willie was nicely tuckered out next to me and not wanting to go in and out. Right at 8 am, my cell phone rang. I didn't feel like answering it. Then the home phone rang, no one ever calls us. So it must be something important enough to call both phones. It was, it was the showing company saying that someone wanted to look at the house at 9:30 and then another person at 3. HELLO!!
We jumped out of bed and got to work. While we had a showing scheduled at 1, we still felt that gave us plenty of time to spruce up things in the morning. But 90 minutes was a little soon.
We cleaned and loaded up the car.
Breakfast was at a little out of the way place called "the Almost Home Cafe". I have to admit, breakfast is not my favorite meal of the day, but it is A's. Willie slept in the car as it was still very cool this morning.
While we were eating breakfast the showing company called again, someone was outside the house and was wondering if they could see it NOW. Of course.

After breakfast we came home. I worked on the yard. Cleaning up from winter's chill. I popped out the few dandelions that dared to show their faced and worked on my many plots of wood chips. The hostas are ready to burst out of the ground and I am always so happy to see them.

Our next trip out was to the Bark Park for Willie and then a big walk for all of us. Off to the library and then driving around with a Sonic tea to look at houses.

Now I sit and hope for an offer and ponder what is for dinner. Hockey playoffs tonight in town, which will be fun.

Moving

2010-04-01T22:15:00.002-05:00

Right now, life is a bit crazy. We put our house on the market. I did not realize that keeping my house clean would be such a chore. While I keep a pretty clean house, it is the pick up that is about to drive me nuts.
I am sure others have been through this, but I consider what I have been living in for the last 2 weeks as "clean hell". We have had various showings, an open house and even more showings, but no offers!! I am feeling a little crazy.
Now if we actually had an offer, we would have to then decide on which house we like the best, which may be just as hard. I feel like my life is an episode of House Hunters (love that show). I really wish we would just get an offer. We have had like 5 second showings and popular Open House on Sunday and still nothing.
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.......

Monday Quote

2010-03-29T08:53:00.002-05:00

Remember, we all stumble, every one of us. That’s why it’s a comfort to go hand in hand.

Posted using ShareThis

I tried a new quote source today that had pictures with the quote and I don't think I know how to do this quite right. I guess I will keep playing with it.

This quote spoke to me today because as I go through life I have realized that everyone has problems or stumbles. We as individuals believe many times that we have to be alone in our problems and our sorrows, but really joy isn't the only thing that you should share. We all need at least one friend to share things with good or bad. I can happily say that I have found that person.

Wednesday News

2010-03-24T07:32:00.000-05:00

Pulled this from Sparkpeople.com. Makes me happy that at least they are trying.

PepsiCo Promises Less Sodium, Fat, Sugar in Products

PepsiCo Inc. plans to reduce the amount of sodium, sugar and saturated fat in its products.

At the start of an investor conference Monday, the maker of Pepsi drinks and Frito-Lay chips said it will reduce by one-quarter the amount of sodium per serving in key brands within five years and cut the average added sugar per serving by 25 percent and saturated fat per serving by 15 percent within 10 years, the Associated Press reported.

The company also plans to add more whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy to its product lines.

Last week, PepsiCo said it would remove full-calorie, sweetened drinks from schools worldwide by 2012, the AP reported.

The food industry is facing increasing pressure from governments and consumers who want healthier products.

Monday Quote

2010-03-23T07:33:00.002-05:00

"Making peace is the most difficult work of all."

~Hanan Mikhail Ashrawi

When I read this I thought of all of the different ways that peace can be used. World peace, with with work, peace with others, peace with decisions, peace with death. And I am agreeable that it is the most difficult work of all. I can't think of a way that peace could be accomplished easy.
I know that when I was growing up, like many of you, I was told "just get a long". Getting a long would be a type of peace, but we were all kids once and it isn't easy to just get a long.

Peace is hard to achieve and hard to maintain. I think that each step towards peace is a step in the right direction, but to maintain peace takes just as much work.