A couple of days ago, I turned 30. 30?!!? Truth be told I'm less than excited about it, but I don't really know why. I guess a lot of it is that I don't feel 30 and I don't look 30. I'm definitely not as mature as I think a 30 year old should be. So I must not be 30, right? RIGHT? Compared to a lot of other 30 year-olds, I've found myself lacking. Why? Again, I don't know. Is it because my idea of what 30 is and what it actually is, is so much different? Allow me to explain.
When I was younger and forming my ideas of adulthood, my mom was close to her 30's. At that point, my mom was a mom. She had already embarked on the responsibility of taking care of two little people. She already went to college, married and had two kids by my age.
I feel like I'm still in the beginning stages of everything and still trying to figure out what I want to do with the rest of it. It seems I'm 10 years behind everyone. But if that's where I am, that's where I am. I can't change how I've gone about things in the past but I can change how I go about things in the future. I'd like to make everything I do more meaningful and for a purpose, not just going through the motions. So instead of starting out my 30's (and a new year) depressed, I guess you could say I feel like I should start out hopeful, more optimistic.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Day 30 (alas..the last day)
{Goals for the future beyond the next year}
I'd like to be more self-sufficient. I don't mean I want to be a hermit or live miles from anyone/anywhere, but I'd like to be more renewable. By that I mean I'd like to use what I already have instead of buying more (make my own cards, grow my own veggies, re-style my clothes into new ones, etc.) If I do buy something I would like for it to be cost efficient (read: cheap) and if need be, something I can give a new life to with paint or something of the sort.
I would also like to continue to walk through life with Aaron. Maintaining and enjoying a marriage is a lot of work, but it's something I'm more that willing to work for.
I'd definitely like to be serving where the need is greater, whether that be unassigned territory or moving to help out a congregation in need. That's always in the back of my mind and something to shoot for.
Well, that's all I could think and those few things may take me years to accomplish. I'd better sit down and think of some more. To be completely honest I find it extremely difficult to plan beyond 6 months. Whether it's right or wrong, I seem to take life as it comes, day by day, until it seems I have no more. Whitney out.
I'd like to be more self-sufficient. I don't mean I want to be a hermit or live miles from anyone/anywhere, but I'd like to be more renewable. By that I mean I'd like to use what I already have instead of buying more (make my own cards, grow my own veggies, re-style my clothes into new ones, etc.) If I do buy something I would like for it to be cost efficient (read: cheap) and if need be, something I can give a new life to with paint or something of the sort.
I would also like to continue to walk through life with Aaron. Maintaining and enjoying a marriage is a lot of work, but it's something I'm more that willing to work for.
I'd definitely like to be serving where the need is greater, whether that be unassigned territory or moving to help out a congregation in need. That's always in the back of my mind and something to shoot for.
Well, that's all I could think and those few things may take me years to accomplish. I'd better sit down and think of some more. To be completely honest I find it extremely difficult to plan beyond 6 months. Whether it's right or wrong, I seem to take life as it comes, day by day, until it seems I have no more. Whitney out.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Hard-core deliciousness
A couple weekends ago, we had some friends stop by for the day. Anyway, while the guy-folk were out in the freezing cold brewing their latest concoctions, we girls were inside, doing whatever we did. At the end of the day, we all met at the table and had 'Golden Gate grilled cheese,' from Sunset magazine. I jokingly referred to them as "grilled cheesus," because this sandwich has altered the course for all other sandwiches. After coming in contact with the grilled cheesus, your life will never be the same.
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| Thanks for capturing grilled cheesus in action Cam |
Golden Gate grilled cheese (makes 2 sandwiches)
- 2 tbsp softened butter
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp red chile flakes
- 1 lg egg, beaten
- 1/4 c milk
- 1 c coarsely grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 slices sourdough (freshly cut if available)
- 6 oz thin sliced turkey
- 1/2 avocado, thinly sliced
- 2 slices muenster cheese
- 1tbsp chopped cilantro
In small bowl, combine butter, garlic and chile flakes. In a medium bowl, whisk egg and milk. Spread parmesan on a plate. In a large frying pan, melt half the seasoned butter over medium heat. Dip 1 bread slice in the egg mix, coating one side only. Dip coated side in parmesan cheese. Place to one side in frying pan, cheese side down. Repeat with 1 remaining bread slice. Arrange turkey, avocado, cilantro, and cheese on slices, dividing evenly. Dip remaining bread into egg and then into parmesan. Arrange on sandwiches,cheese side up and cook over medium heat until undersides are golden brown, about 3-4 minutes. Lift sandwiches and add remaining butter to pan; flip and cook until second slice is golden brown, an additional 3-4 minutes more. Serve warm and enjoy!!
I opened my door...
...and walked out into the dining/living area and saw these this morning (what a refreshing sight!):
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| Thanks for the BEAUTIFUL flowers Katie! You made my day! |
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Day 29
{Hopes, dreams, plans for the next 365 days}
It is still January, the month where I feel everyone gets a new beginning if they choose to begin. I choose to begin now: I hope to take the trip of a lifetime with Aaron and spend a lifetime with him. I hope Aaron and I stay as happy together as we have been so far, letting go of the small stuff and doing so with humor (or what we consider humorous).
I hope I don't get bogged down by everyday crap and forget to do something worthwhile everyday. I dream of moving to another town (but not far from family). I hope I can stick to my goal of weight loss and meet my goal. I hope to become a real sewer, not just someone with a machine and hope to explore my creativity more this year, whether it be through photography, sewing, cooking, etc.
I dream of revamping my office, the entry way, the living room and maybe even the kitchen. I dream of revamping myself, more true to my style and less of what everyone else thinks it should be.
I dream of improving the quality and quantity of of my spirituality and my mentality, of going to the "couples school." I dream of what life will really be like in the future and can't wait. I dream of making it to see that future.
I plan on getting up everyday and moving ahead, not living in the past. I plan on taking every day as it comes and not worrying about tomorrows and "what-if." I plan on.
It is still January, the month where I feel everyone gets a new beginning if they choose to begin. I choose to begin now: I hope to take the trip of a lifetime with Aaron and spend a lifetime with him. I hope Aaron and I stay as happy together as we have been so far, letting go of the small stuff and doing so with humor (or what we consider humorous).
I hope I don't get bogged down by everyday crap and forget to do something worthwhile everyday. I dream of moving to another town (but not far from family). I hope I can stick to my goal of weight loss and meet my goal. I hope to become a real sewer, not just someone with a machine and hope to explore my creativity more this year, whether it be through photography, sewing, cooking, etc.
I dream of revamping my office, the entry way, the living room and maybe even the kitchen. I dream of revamping myself, more true to my style and less of what everyone else thinks it should be.
I dream of improving the quality and quantity of of my spirituality and my mentality, of going to the "couples school." I dream of what life will really be like in the future and can't wait. I dream of making it to see that future.
Monday, January 17, 2011
A peek inside my weekend
Have you ever had a day where you needed it to be about you and only you? This past Friday was what it was all about. Big-M, little-e, Me. After a truly heinous week I needed a day to decompress - quiet time if you will. I took matters in my own hands and treated myself to a "spa day." Whatever I felt I needed done, I did. I loved it and afterwards felt a little more sane (but really only a little.)
So I dug out a Vogue pattern I have had for awhile and got to sewing.
It turned out to be a great, stress-relieving weekend and I can't wait to tackle another project I've been wanting to try: custom made cards. I'll keep ya' posted!!
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| Some of my favorite facial products |
Ever since November I've felt like I hit the ground running and never stop until I need to go to bed. I haven't felt like doing anything I normally do for fun time. Cooking seemed mundane. Scrapbooking seemed daunting. Blogging felt boring. I wanted to be creative, but I couldn't even muster up enough enthusiasm to figure out what I wanted to be creative with. My spa day must have helped, because on Saturday (after service of course!) I decided to sit down and sew. Guess what I made? A tie for Aaron. But not just any old tie. It's a plaid, faux-flannel tie as seen in J. Crew for $60!
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| Did I mention this tie runs for $60?!! |
So I dug out a Vogue pattern I have had for awhile and got to sewing.
And here's the end result. Aaron wore it to meeting and received several compliments on it (or so I was told.) I was very proud of it indeed. Now I'm thinking of trying to find even more fun material to make Aaron some custom (or as he says, "turbo") ties.
It turned out to be a great, stress-relieving weekend and I can't wait to tackle another project I've been wanting to try: custom made cards. I'll keep ya' posted!!
Day 28
{my worst habit}
I like to play those games where your first answer to any given question is usually the best, most accurate one that you'll ever come up with (or is that the general rule for the SAT's?) My first response to my worst habit is this: procrastination. Lordy, can I procrastinate with the best of them. I'm one of those wait- until-the-last- minute- or- bust kind of people. I've always been that way and probably always will be.
In school I'd drag my feet to write a report or study for a big test and literally wait until the night before. I'd then have to stay up super late to get anything accomplished. At home I have list upon list of things that should be done, but I usually wait until they have to be done and I'm running around the house like a mad woman trying to get my entire house looking great in under 1 hour before our guests arrive. At work it's pretty much the same story. Talk about stressful.
As I write this, I wonder if a blog is really the best idea for a grade-A procrastinator. After all, I could procrastinate and keep doing so until there was everything and nothing to blog about. Then again I could just think about it for awhile.
I like to play those games where your first answer to any given question is usually the best, most accurate one that you'll ever come up with (or is that the general rule for the SAT's?) My first response to my worst habit is this: procrastination. Lordy, can I procrastinate with the best of them. I'm one of those wait- until-the-last- minute- or- bust kind of people. I've always been that way and probably always will be.
In school I'd drag my feet to write a report or study for a big test and literally wait until the night before. I'd then have to stay up super late to get anything accomplished. At home I have list upon list of things that should be done, but I usually wait until they have to be done and I'm running around the house like a mad woman trying to get my entire house looking great in under 1 hour before our guests arrive. At work it's pretty much the same story. Talk about stressful.
As I write this, I wonder if a blog is really the best idea for a grade-A procrastinator. After all, I could procrastinate and keep doing so until there was everything and nothing to blog about. Then again I could just think about it for awhile.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Day 27
{what's in my purse right now}
As a child, I had a little purse with pink bows on it and I used to search high and low to just find something, anything, of value to put in it. After all, what good is a purse if it's an empty purse? Answer: no good at all. In the end I'd usually find a comb and the purse's matching wallet. It wasn't what I would really consider "valuable" but it got the job done. Fast forward to the present. I don't believe that I even own a "little" purse or have in the past 10 years and because of the size of my purse, I refer to it as the mom purse. You know, a purse that could hold everything from home, including the family? I have downsized, but not much. In fact, most of what you would find in my purse right now is still not valuable (besides my wallet....that has to count for something) but it's indispensable to me. These things found in the black hole of my purse make my life a little easier, a little more comfortable. You need a band-aid? I'm your girl. Stain remover stick? Ask good ol' Whitney. Tissue, hand sanitizer, cell phone, ibuprofen, wallet, notepad, hairbrush, gum, gum wrappers, burt's bees chapstick, small furry animal, blah, blah, blah....I've got it all and can fit it all, and then some in a tasteful, yet sizable black purse. By the way, I'm just joking about the little animal. Or am I?
As a child, I had a little purse with pink bows on it and I used to search high and low to just find something, anything, of value to put in it. After all, what good is a purse if it's an empty purse? Answer: no good at all. In the end I'd usually find a comb and the purse's matching wallet. It wasn't what I would really consider "valuable" but it got the job done. Fast forward to the present. I don't believe that I even own a "little" purse or have in the past 10 years and because of the size of my purse, I refer to it as the mom purse. You know, a purse that could hold everything from home, including the family? I have downsized, but not much. In fact, most of what you would find in my purse right now is still not valuable (besides my wallet....that has to count for something) but it's indispensable to me. These things found in the black hole of my purse make my life a little easier, a little more comfortable. You need a band-aid? I'm your girl. Stain remover stick? Ask good ol' Whitney. Tissue, hand sanitizer, cell phone, ibuprofen, wallet, notepad, hairbrush, gum, gum wrappers, burt's bees chapstick, small furry animal, blah, blah, blah....I've got it all and can fit it all, and then some in a tasteful, yet sizable black purse. By the way, I'm just joking about the little animal. Or am I?
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Day 25
{my day in GREAT detail}
At first I intended to take pictures of every little detail of my day, but I'm not "with it" enough to actually set time aside or remember my camera. So here it is. Warning: this could be terribly exciting.
5:45- alarm goes off
5:50- hurl my body out of bed, shuffle to bathroom
5:55- brush teeth,etc- pull on work out clothes
6:00 - 7:00- work out
7:00 - hop in shower
7:15- 7:30- get out of shower, throw clothes on, do hair and makeup
7:30-7:40- eat
7:41- run out door to work
7:50- arrive at work (late as usual), turn everything on and set up for patients
8-5:30ish- work, work, work
5:45: drive home and either start making dinner or find something to eat, somewhere
6:00- hop on computer and check in on "things"
6:45- 10- normally watch TV or read or go out or over to someones house or clean....whatever needs to be done
10: get ready for bed, lay out workout clothes, crawl in bed and set alarm.
10:01pm-5:44am- sleep and start all over again.
At first I intended to take pictures of every little detail of my day, but I'm not "with it" enough to actually set time aside or remember my camera. So here it is. Warning: this could be terribly exciting.
5:45- alarm goes off
5:50- hurl my body out of bed, shuffle to bathroom
5:55- brush teeth,etc- pull on work out clothes
6:00 - 7:00- work out
7:00 - hop in shower
7:15- 7:30- get out of shower, throw clothes on, do hair and makeup
7:30-7:40- eat
7:41- run out door to work
7:50- arrive at work (late as usual), turn everything on and set up for patients
8-5:30ish- work, work, work
5:45: drive home and either start making dinner or find something to eat, somewhere
6:00- hop on computer and check in on "things"
6:45- 10- normally watch TV or read or go out or over to someones house or clean....whatever needs to be done
10: get ready for bed, lay out workout clothes, crawl in bed and set alarm.
10:01pm-5:44am- sleep and start all over again.
Friday, January 7, 2011
I just didn't have time...
Where has the time gone? I had very good intentions of trying to make regular posts but these past couple of weeks have been crazy.....Anyway, I feel sorry and want to make it up to you. So here's a post AND a couple of my absolute favorite recipes ( but only a couple.)
A couple weeks ago we had Aaron's sister and her husband come stay with us, so I was able to make a "special" breakfast (one I don't make everyday.) It was in the form of a dried cherry "popover" with McMennamin's French Roast coffee on the side and deliciously refreshing mimosas. Yummers. Then I was able to make an old stand-by: Linguine with chile and crab, garlic french bread and a fresh green salad.
And now, I give to you the recipes (and pics- arranged and taken by Emelia, Thanks!!) to try, or not to try. It's in your hands. I know you'll make the right decision.
Linguine with chile, crab and watercress
1 clove garlic peeled and minced ( I add 2 x the amount)
1/2 tbsp sea salt
1 lg red chile, seeded and chopped (or 2-3 dried red chiles chopped/crushed)
11 oz crab meat (fresh, canned or frozen)
1/3 c extra virgin olive oil ( I don't use that much, maybe half that)
juice and zest of 1 lemon
1 (16 oz) package linguine
handful fresh or dry parsley
handful fresh watercress leaves, torn
Boil 5 qt. water. With mortar and pestle, grind the garlic, salt and chile into a smooth paste, until it is tinged red. Add crab meat, breaking it up gently. Pour in oil. Add lemon juice and zest. Mix all ingredients with a fork. Boil pasta until al dente and drain. Top with crab sauce and toss. Top with parsley and watercress. Toss again and serve.
Next up is the popover:
Dried cherry "popover"
A couple weeks ago we had Aaron's sister and her husband come stay with us, so I was able to make a "special" breakfast (one I don't make everyday.) It was in the form of a dried cherry "popover" with McMennamin's French Roast coffee on the side and deliciously refreshing mimosas. Yummers. Then I was able to make an old stand-by: Linguine with chile and crab, garlic french bread and a fresh green salad.
And now, I give to you the recipes (and pics- arranged and taken by Emelia, Thanks!!) to try, or not to try. It's in your hands. I know you'll make the right decision.
Linguine with chile, crab and watercress
1 clove garlic peeled and minced ( I add 2 x the amount)
1/2 tbsp sea salt
1 lg red chile, seeded and chopped (or 2-3 dried red chiles chopped/crushed)
11 oz crab meat (fresh, canned or frozen)
1/3 c extra virgin olive oil ( I don't use that much, maybe half that)
juice and zest of 1 lemon
1 (16 oz) package linguine
handful fresh or dry parsley
handful fresh watercress leaves, torn
Boil 5 qt. water. With mortar and pestle, grind the garlic, salt and chile into a smooth paste, until it is tinged red. Add crab meat, breaking it up gently. Pour in oil. Add lemon juice and zest. Mix all ingredients with a fork. Boil pasta until al dente and drain. Top with crab sauce and toss. Top with parsley and watercress. Toss again and serve.
Next up is the popover:
Dried cherry "popover"
1tbsp unsalted butter, melted, plus more for the pan
3 large eggs, beaten
1/3 cup, plus 1 tsp, granulated sugar
3/4 c all-purpose flour
1 1/4 c whole milk
1/2 c dried cherries
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Butter the bottom and sides of a 2-qt baking dish. In a bowl, combine the eggs and 1/3 cup of the sugar. Whisk in the flour until no lumps remain. Whisk in the milk and melted butter. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and scatter the cherries over the top. Sprinkle with the remaining sugar and bake until puffed and golden, about 45 minutes. Serve warm.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Welcome!!
I'd like to take this little opportunity to welcome my #2 follower ( Hiya Denise!!) in addition to welcoming back all of my near and dears who have given me good feedback. I'd also like to ask my mom if she is really reading this ( mom, MOM, mommy.....are you out there?) I've been loving all of your comments and have to say it surprises me what some people find interesting vs funny. I look forward to writing and hearing more!!
Day 24 (only 6 days left)
{what I have learned this past month}
I feel like December was an epic month for lessons, both big and small. Let's start with the smaller lessons. I fully embraced the fact that I'm a complete spaz and will always walk in to walls and trip on nothing. I realized how much I hate the snow. Beauty really is only skin deep and will leave as quickly as it's found. I'm already feeling bored just writing this so I can only imagine how you feel reading this. Let's cut it short. Big lesson? I have a lot to work on as far as I go. What am I talking about? I'm always striving to be a better, nicer person. I saw the light so to speak and finally saw that I have some huge personality flaws that need to be patched. I'll spare you the nitty-gritty details and won't share them even if you really want to know, but just had to tell you anyway. So there. I shared.
I feel like December was an epic month for lessons, both big and small. Let's start with the smaller lessons. I fully embraced the fact that I'm a complete spaz and will always walk in to walls and trip on nothing. I realized how much I hate the snow. Beauty really is only skin deep and will leave as quickly as it's found. I'm already feeling bored just writing this so I can only imagine how you feel reading this. Let's cut it short. Big lesson? I have a lot to work on as far as I go. What am I talking about? I'm always striving to be a better, nicer person. I saw the light so to speak and finally saw that I have some huge personality flaws that need to be patched. I'll spare you the nitty-gritty details and won't share them even if you really want to know, but just had to tell you anyway. So there. I shared.
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