HWE's Quarterly Book Review

I am an avid reader.  It's one of my favorite ways to relax.  It's my brain escape.  If I had to give up cable there would be only a couple of shows on TV that I would truly miss.  Make me give up books?  That would break my heart.

When I say I read a lot .. let me define that for you.  As of today, not even two weeks into March, I have read 26 books this year.  Yep, you read that right.  Twenty-six books since January 1st.  When do I have the time?!?  I read mostly during my lunch breaks at work which gives me five solid hours a week.  Then I read a little here and there at night and on the weekends. My nose isn't constantly in a book though .. I promise ;)  Keep in mind, too, that all the books I read are not necessarily that taxing AND I'm a naturally fast reader. I can get through a light read in two days.  When you add it up .. you can see why the number is so high.  I'm not that crazy.

I understand that most people are not like me.  Reading a book is a commitment; sometimes a couple weeks, sometimes a couple months.  It can also be overwhelming to try and figure out what to read next. What do I do? Good Reads**. I've promoted Good Reads before and I will do it again.  Good Reads is a social networking site designed with the reader in mind.  It has millions of books, reviews, and discussions at the ready.  Not sure if you want to invest your money or time on a book?  Research it beforehand!  I rate every book I read and try to review most of them.  You can sign up and follow my reviews to keep up in real time. The mentionable ones that I manage to write a review on will end up posted on HWE.  I can't post them all though so I thought a "Best of the Best" sort of summation would be ideal. 

Welcome to a new series I'm calling "HWE's Quarterly Book Review"! 

Four times a year, I will make a short list of recommended reads and give you a quick summary. I will try to span several genres so I can have a little bit of somethin' somethin' for everyone.  Did you read a book on my list?  Did you like it as much as I did?  Did you hate it?  Is there a book I haven't read that you recommend?  I would love to hear from you!  Consider this a VERY spaced out book club.  We only meet four times a year. :) Hopefully I can incorporate some giveaways as well.  Everyone loves a free book, right!?

The first review should be coming up in a couple weeks.  Check back in and let the bookworm fun begin!  (haha could I get any cheesier?!  Nope, I didn't think so either.)

** Good Reads did not pay me to endorse them.  I just give them repeated shout outs because I like them that much.  Just wanted to clarify....



Birthday Cake

In honor of my wonderful husband's birthday today, I thought I would share our family's "Birthday Cake".  This chocolate bundt cake is our favorite and it is what we make for our birthdays (or anytime we have an excuse, really).  It's SUPER easy to make and really delicious.  I hope you enjoy and, while we're at it, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARK!!

Cake Ingredients:
~ 1 box chocolate cake mix (I usually choose Betty Crocker's Devil's Food or Dark Chocolate)
~ 1 box chocolate pudding mix (5.9oz)
~ 1 cup veggie oil
~ 1 cup sour cream
~ 1/2 cup hot tap water
~ 4 eggs, beaten


Directions:
~ Preheat oven to 350 degrees (or whatever the cake box says).  Grease your bundt pan really well, including the top of the center divider!  I use Crisco for this (it's about the only thing I use Crisco for ...) and I've never had a problem.  Just put some on a paper towel and wipe the whole surface down.
~  In a large bowl, combine cake mix, pudding mix, oil, sour cream, water, and eggs.  Mix until thoroughly combined.
~  Pour mixture into greased pan and bake for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
~  Remove pan from oven and let cool for at least 20 minutes.  Invert cake onto dish.  Drizzle glaze on top. (See recipe below)



Sugar Glaze Recipe

Glaze Ingredients:
~ 1 cup confectioners sugar
~ Approx. 2-3 tbsp milk
~ 1/2 tsp almond extract (you can switch this up to any flavor)

Directions:
~ In a small bowl, mix sugar, extract, and 1 tbsp of milk.  Stir to combine.
~ Slowly add more milk until the glaze becomes the consistency you prefer.  Mix well before adding more milk; a little goes a long way. 
~ Drizzle over cake and serve!

Paint Picks

I love color and I am definitely not afraid to show it.  I'm drawn to darker walls and lighter floors/major furniture.  It just works for me.  It makes the room feel cozy but not heavy and closed in.  We have lots of windows in our house and our carpet is beige so that helps balance everything. 

Each of our rooms holds a strong but subdue hue.  The colors were picked for their combination of boldness but subtleness.  I know that's a contradiction but it's true.  I love Apple Green and I wanted a green kitchen.  The problem with Apple Green though is that is can get kind of loud.  We instead "dulled" it and chose a more Avocado green.  It's perfect.  I love colors muted with gray/brown undertones.

Over the past few years we've tackled almost every room in the house.  There are only three rooms left to be decorated. (Of course that doesn't mean I will be done .. it just means they will be "complete" for the first time ..)  The three rooms left are: the office, the future nursery/spare room, and the master bath.

the master bath 

This room has actually been painted already.  About a year ago Mark and I tackled our foyer/mini-hallway and decided to keep it light and airy.  We have cathedral ceilings, light carpet and lots of windows in the main part of the house but the foyer is different.  It has a standard ceiling and dark wood floors. To keep it open, we reversed our general design cues and went with a light buttery yellow.  It's fun and bright and helps break everything up.  Since we had leftover paint, we used it to paint the guest bath off the hallway and the master bath.  We've lived with it for a year now and, although I still love it in the front of the house, I'm just not feeling it in the master bath.

Time to start over. (yay!!!)  We decided to get rid of our shower curtain, rugs, etc and completely start from scratch.  I decided to switch back to what I love .. darker walls and lighter everything else.  The bathroom floor is beige-y white and I found a beautiful shower curtain I love in a tan/taupe color. Since it's connected to our bedroom (which is a gray blue color) I knew I wanted it to coordinate.  We have a 5-foot wide canvas hanging in our bedroom of the Brooklyn Bridge and NYC skyline.  The picture was my inspiration for my bedroom and thus should carry over into the bathroom.  I noticed a lot of purples in the sky and decided that was the avenue we should go down.

So this is where you come in. The following are color swatches from Benjamin Moore. I've narrowed it down and would love to know what you think. We will mostly likely get testers, paint patches on the wall, and then decide but it never hurts to get a second opinion. Remember there is a lot of light bouncing around in there and lots of white so no fear.

I can totally see how next to Purple Rain, Chambourd practically looks brown. 

It's not. I promise.


I just can't decide if I want to go purple purple or hint of purple. I want it to be sophisticated because we could very much so get into teenage girl territory and that.is.not.ok.

When coupled with pretty whites, tans, and stainless fixtures.. this could work.  So which one should I pick?

the nursery and office

I've coupled these two rooms together because we are going to paint them the same color; part for convenience and part for continuity since their doorways are right next to each other and thus part of the same visual field.  In this instance, I am calling the spare room the nursery because that is how we want to think of it for this application.  Painting is not our favorite thing.  We don't want to have to do this again. 

The office is totally hodge podge right now.  It's a bunch of mix-matched pieces with no consistency.  You've got to start somewhere and I've chosen paint.  Since the office can go in any direction, I've decided to let just follow suit to the other room... and true to form, I have already planned the nursery. (of course I have, right?!)

As far as nurseries go, I am a more gender-neutral-anti-"baby-room" kinda gal.  I love baby blues and soft pinks in other people's homes but in mine it would stick out like a sore thumb.  I want the room to be something I would want to hang out in and something that can grow with my kid.  That's why, no matter the gender, I have chosen gray walls. (*gasp*) I know it's very non-baby and some people think WAY too dark but I promise, if you saw the whole plan, it makes perfect sense.

Speaking of "the whole plan" .. I will not be revealing my nursery ideas until there is an actual baby.  So it will be a while.  Just saying ...

In order to help you pick colors, I have to give you a little hint of what I am thinking for in there.  Since it really does matter the gender (even though it is mostly gender neutral) .. think jewel tones.  Think apple green, bright blues and bright corals.  See why I am going with gray? 

Anchor Gray has a blue undertone that makes we waver but Mark likes it the best.  Stormy Sky is a more "true gray" as far as my eye is concerned but does it have enough personality?  Burnt Ember is the warmest but maybe it's a little too brown?  Who would have thought picking a gray would be so hard?!

So there you go.  Three grays.  Three different directions.  We have a large Impressionist-style landscape that hangs in our office.  I have confirmed that all three of these colors would coordinate nicely so there would be no need for new artwork .. unless, of course, I just want to ;)

So there's my color conundrum.  Which purple and which gray should we choose?  Any other hues I might have overlooked?  Are we just simply crazy?  Leave a comment and cast your vote!

My Pledge & Apologies to Parents

I have received a couple mother-related things lately.  They've made me smile for one reason or another so I thought I would share. First things first...

Apologies to the Parents I Judged is an article I read via my friend Lena.  This article made me both laugh and cringe. 

Here's my confession:  I am not currently a mother.  Yes, I have judged.

I used to judge much worse several years ago.  I would see strangers and their "terrible" children and think "I wouldn't have handled it that way."  Of course I would never say that to someone's face but the writer of the article brought up a good point:  I didn't have to.  This makes me sad and embarrassed.

Over the past couple years several of my closest friends have become mothers.  Through them, I have seen more of what the "real world" is like and my idealistic/unrealistic/hypocritical bubble has greatly shrunk.  The fact remains though that I am not a mother.  I can babysit and emerge myself all I want in the lifestyle but I am still an impostor.  I'm still looking outside in.  I do not look at my friend's children and consider them bad.  I do not look at how their situations are handled and think my friend's chose poorly.  I know better now.  I have learned there is no such thing as the right way and that every child and circumstance is different. 

Do I still play the "What Would I Do?" game? Of course.  And I bet you that other mothers do as well.  I think it's human nature (especially women's) to put yourself in someone else's shoes and "solve" their problems.  It's not right.   It's just how it seems to be.  I can guarantee you though that my mouth stays shut and my face blank.  If and when I play my little game now it is purely for an answer to the question and not because I think I could do it better.  I couldn't.

Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong, but I feel that when all of your perfectly tidy hopes and dreams don't pan out the way you thought .. you can be the one mom looking at the other naive newcomer, gritting your teeth smiling and saying "Welcome .. it's never how you planned.."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sooooo I may not be a mother to a child but Mark and I are parents to a wonderful pup.  (No I am NOT comparing the two .. it's NOT the same thing .. just bare with me...)  Mark and I tend to be very strict puppy-parents.  Our friends and family give us a hard time about this and predict we will be "nazis" as parents.  We laugh and are kind of OK with this because we know we really won't be like that.  I have no idea what we will be like as parents.  How can anyone?  I know we are going in with certain expectations and I know those will, most likely, drastically change.  It's a learning process.

Well my friend Rebecca found the "Meanest Mom Pledge" and sent it to me.  You can see which side she is on ;)  Well this made me laugh and I have to say .. I love it.  So with a sense of humor, read my future pledge to my future offspring.  I honestly do love what it says .. we'll just see how much I can stick to it when the time comes :)

Braided Spaghetti Bread

This is another Pinterest find.  If you are remotely watching your carbs then stay away from this.  If you couldn't care less and love some carby goodness, sink your teeth into this spaghetti and garlic bread combo.

Ingredients:
1 package lough of french bread dough
6 oz spaghetti, cooked
1 cup thick spaghetti sauce
8 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded or cubed
1 egg white
Garlic powder
Parmesan cheese
Parsley flakes
** you can add cooked ground meat, too, if you want the "spaghetti and meatball" effect


Directions:
1.  Spray counter lightly with non-stick cooking spray (or use parchment paper).
2.  Roll loaf into a 12x16-inch rectangle.
3.  Cook spaghetti according to package instructions. Drain and let cool slightly.  Mix with sauce (and meat if you want).
4.  Place spaghetti lengthwise in a 4-inch strip down the center of dough. Top with cheese.
5.  Make cuts 1 ½-inches apart on long sides of dough to within ½-inch of filling.
6.  Begin braid by folding top and bottom strips toward filling. Then braid strips left over right, right over left. Finish by pulling last strip over and tucking under braid.
7.  Lift braid with both hands and place on large sprayed baking sheet. (or transfer parchment paper to baking sheet).
8.  Brush with egg white and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, parsley and garlic powder.
9.  Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly and slice to serve.

Quinoa Patties

yum

I think one of the biggest fails in vegetarian cooking is when people try to recreate meat dishes.  It just never turns out right .. except for Morningstar Corn Dogs .. those things are amazing and even carnivore's can't tell the difference!  But I digress..

I came across a recipe for Quinoa Burgers.  I am renaming them patties and I did not serve them on a bun.  They just aren't burgers but they are delicious nevertheless.  Check them out below!



Ingredients:

2 rounded cups cooked quinoa

3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese

1 cup shredded zucchini, squeezed

3 eggs

3 tablespoons all purpose flour

2 green onions, including white parts

1 /2 teaspoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

Olive oil for frying

Directions:
1.  In a large bowl combine the cooked quinoa, cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, zucchini, eggs, flour, green onions, sugar, pepper, cumin, salt, and garlic powder.

2.  Heat a frying pan and a couple teaspoons olive oil over medium-low heat.  Mixture will be slightly sticky, so using a 1/4 cup measuring cup, drop mixture into pan and lightly flatten to 1/2 inch thick.
3.  Fry until golden-brown, about 4 minutes on each side.

I served mine with a dollop of greek yogurt on top.

Review: Domino: The Book of Decorating: A Room-by-Room Guide to Creating a Home That Makes You Happy

Domino: The Book of Decorating: A Room-by-Room Guide to Creating a Home That Makes You Happy by Deborah Needleman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This is a fantastic book for decorating and inspiration. Written as a sort of textbook/manual, you will be well-educated by the end. I highly recommend this resource for anyone interested in home decor.



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February In Review

Whew! I'm glad that is over!  If I had to sum up February in one word it would be "blah".  I know I said this throughout the month (in the very few posts that actually got published) but I just couldn't get my head on straight!  I felt non-stop busy the entire time but when I stopped, looked around, and tried to take inventory of what I actually accomplished .. I was left with nothing.

I think we all sometimes get stuck in the hamster wheel of life.  I won't harp on it.  I won't let it get me down.  I absolutely feel frustration for the fact that I just "wasted" a whole month with nothing to show for it.  But you know what?  It's a new month and I am determined to make March SO much better.

Am I completely out of the fog yet?  Actually, I don't know.  After having a "come to Jesus" talk with myself last night I woke up with renewed energy this morning.  Maybe I will be back in the funk tomorrow but at least I will have this post to remind me that I can get it under control again.  I need to evaluate and determine the things that give me the "accomplished" feeling.  I know my lack of blogging greatly contributed to my downward spiral but when I sat down to write I just couldn't think of anything.  This will change.

NO MORE, I say.  I will not spend another four weeks like a zombie.  I will take control of my happiness.  I will make a to do list and then fervently check each item off because taking action makes me happy.  I don't know how this will manifest itself but you can bet that, this month, you will be included.

This blog was a promise.  House Without Elephants means that I owe it to myself (and my followers) to expose the layers; to challenge the parts of my life that I don't like and to celebrate the parts of my life that I do. 

Here we go, folks.

Happy Friday and Happy March!

Double Layer Cupcakes

yum

I have several posts pending from the last couple weeks and they seem to all be recipes.  I have found a lot of fun dishes lately so keep checking back for all the deliciousness!

While recently celebrating my birthday, I decided I wanted to bypass the whole "birthday cake" thing and do something more fun.  I love cupcakes so I immediately went to my favorite obsession site to find inspiration.

I came across a layered cupcake that looked so good.  I decided to try it out and it was a success!  So many possible variations so you will never get bored!  The picture is a Neapolitan-inspired version with chocolate brownie, strawberry cake, and vanilla icing.  I also tried chocolate brownie, funfetti cake, and rainbow chip icing.  You really can't go wrong and the recipe couldn't be easier:

Ingredients:
1 box of brownie mix (any kind), prepared as directed
1 box cake mix (any kind), prepared as directed
1 container frosting

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven according to package directions.
2.  Prepare mixes in separate bowls.
3.  In a greased (or lined) cupcake pan, fill each cup 1/3 the way up with brownie mix.  Then go back and fill them up another 1/3 with the cake mix.
4.  Bake 20-25 minutes, or according to the directions on the box. 
5.  Once cooled, ice them and enjoy!!

I love Reese's Cups so my next variation might be brownie, vanilla cake and peanut butter icing with crushed mini Reese's Cups on top.  Anything goes!  What variations do you want to try?

Rice Whiskey Treats

I'm a scotch drinker.  It's a very non-girly thing to enjoy but I love it.  My husband, of course, shares similar taste buds.  While at a friend's Super Bowl party, we were eating regular rice krispies treats and thought to ourselves "although delicious .. this needs something .." and then in dawned on us .. bourbon!!

After some googling I realized we were not the first to come to this realization so I do not lay claim to inventing this, however, the recipe below is my own.  Feel free to tweak it as you see fit.


Ingredients:
5 ½ cups Rice Krispies
½ stick butter
10oz bag mini marshmallows
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp cinnamon
¼ cup bourbon (I used Maker's Mark because that's our fav bourbon)
pinch of sea salt

Directions:
- Melt butter and marshmallows in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Mix in vanilla and cinnamon. Remove pan from heat and add the bourbon*.
- In a large bowl, pour the marshmallow mixture over the Rice Krispies and stir to combine.
- Press into greased 8x8 pan (for thick treats) or 9x13 (for thin treats). Let cool and set.

* The alcohol will smell A LOT stronger than it really is.  Don't worry if it seems too boozy.  I promise it doesn't taste that strong at all!


For regular treats:
- Reduce Rice Krispies by 1/2 cup and leave out bourbon and cinnamon.

For Orange Creamcicle treats:
- Double the vanilla, leave out the cinnamon and replace orange liqueur for the bourbon.

Happy 4th Anniversary!

Love is

friendship on

fire.

That quote is from Jeremy Taylor, a royalist for King Charles.  I think he was absolutely correct.  Today, my best friend and I are celebrating our fourth wedding anniversary.  I say this all the time because it's true .. I can't believe it's been this long!  I simultaneously feel like I have known him all my life and yet it all happened yesterday.  I have been insanely blessed from the beginning and I am so thankful for every moment. 

Happy Anniversary, Mark.  I love you!

Review: Unwind

Unwind by Neal Shusterman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I already had a heart for dystopian novels before I came across Unwind but this took it to an entirely new level. It's creepy and thought-provoking in its realism. Usually the "World War 3"s of dystopian novels are so futuristic, and the results so drastic, that although disturbing they leave a considerable gap that can be a stretch to bridge sometimes. Unwind was different in that it hit a little closer to home.

This story is set in the not-so-distant future. "World War 3" in this instance was a Pro-Life vs Pro-Choice war called the Heartland War. The result was a "compromise" that resulted in parents being given the 'right' to unwind their troublemakers kids if they didn't want them anymore. Basically the unwound kids would be dissected because they would be more useful to society divided than whole.

Have eyes you don't like the color off? Get an unwound's. Have a cancerous liver? Get an unwound's. Lose an arm in an accident? Get an unwound's. Nevermind they were unwillingly taken and come with their own memories intact.

This story is facinating and disturbing. The part that gave me the most pause was when we experienced an unwinding through the senses of a patient. This is technically a YA novel but it has a message that anyone should read. I loved this book and I won't soon forget it.



View all my reviews

midweek confessions

I love to cook.
I love to cook things that I have never made before.
Since we are adventurous eaters and I get bored easily, this means that I cook new dishes all the time. I have people often ask me “What are some typical meals that you make?”. This should be a fairly easy question to answer yet I am always left stumped. Every week I sit down and plan my meals/create my grocery list. I’m always pinning/googling new recipes and so therefore I have a seemingly unending supply that I rifle through. This means that I very rarely repeat meals. Since it is hard for me to keep track I try to use the HWE platform as a sort of online cookbook by documenting the ones that we really liked because otherwise I would never remember them.



With the previous confession in mind … I am so used to cooking new recipes for just Mark and myself that I tend to cook brand new recipes when guests come over because that’s “normal” for me. Welllllll I may be a good cook but that doesn’t mean I always find success. Sometimes a recipe just isn’t quality… and it seems like I always make those when people come over .. which leaves me scrambling to save dishes at the last minute. Guests might be none the wiser because the end result is ok .. but I know it could have been better.



With THAT previous confession in mind … we recently had my birthday party at my house and I cooked for everyone. I wanted to make tortilla soup so I went online and started searching. I found a crockpot tortilla soup that seemed pretty decent. I figured using the crockpot would be great because that would free me up to finish chores and then mingle once guests arrived. Guest were supposed to start showing up at 6:00pm. At 4:45pm (amidst a slew of last minute chores I hadn't counted on) I decided to taste-test the soup. B-L-E-C-H! It was inedible. Often times a dish is just not as amazing as a thought but still good. Nope. Not this. It was gross. So with about an hour until guests arrived, I had a hot crockpot full of a ruined dinner. I decided I would just have to come up with a Plan B fast and ran to the store to find SOMETHING to throw together for 10-15 people expecting dinner. I ended up finding a dry soup base mix for tortilla soup. Six dollars later and with 5 minutes to spare I had dinner ready.



What did I do with the piping hot soup that I couldn’t throw in the trash because it was a whole bunch of chunky piping hot liquid, but couldn’t put down the garbage disposal because it was a whole bunch of chunky piping hot liquid?? I stuck the whole thing in the oven. Yep. I hid the ruined dish and some other random dirty dishes in the oven and just hoped no one looked in there because I didn’t have the time between the last minute grocery store run, last minute cleaning and showering/getting ready to actually do the dishes.



So see? I may be a clean freak and an über planner but I can guarantee that sometimes it’s just a façade. I feel like this entire month has been like this.  I have only blogged 6 times this month and usually I would have approximately 20 posts by now.  Maybe it's time management or maybe I really do have more on my plate.  I'm not sure.  Either way, I haven't abandoned my little bloggy home and I will really try to get back to the daily grind.  It just might take me another week or so.  Thanks for hanging in there with me!  You guys are the best ;)


Have you guys hidden any flaws in your oven lately? Any dishes that went awry? Any dishes that were awesome and you want to pass along? I would love to hear from you!

midweek confessions

~ Remember how I mentioned a few weeks ago that I wanted to start waking up earlier?  And then do you remember me mentioning it was a big FAIL because I was trying to wake up at 6:15 which is after Mark leaves for work?  Turns out 5:45 is the key.  Ironically, if I wake up 30 minutes sooner.. it's MUCH easier.  I know the reason and it's because of how I function.  I am a morning person in the sense that once I wake up I am awake for good.  The biggest hurdle for me is actually sitting up and not rolling over.  By forcing myself out of bed when Mark's alarm clock goes off and onto the couch .. it guarantees that I will stay awake.  Then, by the time Mark is leaving for work, I am wide awake.  After that .. working out is a breeze because there is no reason NOT to.  I still haven't broken the 2-week mark so I'm not home free yet.  If I can manage to keep consistent then I will be good to go.  Here's to hoping..

~ My birthday was on Saturday.  I love my birthday and I love getting older.  I think I am one of the few that is excited by the idea.  I think I am looking forward to the big 3-0 like most people look forward to 21.  Even though it's given me a ton to think about, I know this will be an awesome year.  I can't wait.
~ I'm a little anti-Valentine's Day.  Is that bad?  (No offense to those people that love the roses, chocolate and hoopla ..)  I don't know how I originally got the bad taste in my mouth.  I always got my fair share of classroom valentine's and then went on dates once I became older.  I think it's just when I realized what love truly meant to me, I realized Valentine's Day, a day when I feel forced to proclaim my feelings in a very specific way, felt fake. 
     I want to tell you how much I love you because it's Tuesday .. because I can .. because you deserve to know that you were on my mind and I needed to share. And NOT because the calendar comes with a heart icon on this day .. everyone else is getting presents so I feel obligated to keep up .. or because it's required in any way.  That may sound pessimistic but it's how I feel.  It also seems entirely unfair that all the pressure is on the guys.  What about the girls?  Shouldn't men feel loved, too?  If you are my friend or family and you are reading this .. know that I love you.  I love you every day of the year.  Not just because I am told to.
~ On a little lighter note .. my work did celebrate V-Day by having everyone bring food to share.  I tasted the fondue and chips and fruit.  It was all delicious.  Then I spotted a crockpot full of cheesy goodness.  It had what looked like hot sauce floating through it.  In my mind I thought "spicy cheese dip!" and dug right in.  It wasn't until halfway through that someone pointed out to me that it was Buffalo Chicken Dip.  Oops.  I only had a few tablespoons of it left .. and you know what?  I ate it and I don't regret it.  A little bit won't kill me and it was SO good.  I don't miss meat (except sometimes bacon .. just saying) but man that particular flavor can not found elsewhere. yum yum!

~ When I get really animated I talk so fast that sometimes I get out of breath. haha. Seriously.  This happens most often when I talk to one of my friends at work, Allie.  She talks fast too but not like me.  Well, actually, maybe she does but she sounds normal-paced to me.  The thing is that, in my head, I say everything clearly so when people make me repeat myself it takes me a second to realize why.  I think everyone around me has gotten so good at decoding what I say that I just don't pay attention.  Mark has had to ask me to repeat myself a lot lately and THAT is bad.  He practically knows what I say before I say it so if he can't figure it out .. I'm in trouble.  I should probably start to work on that ...

Do you wake up early and work out?  Did you celebrate Valentine's and think I'm just a big Scrooge? Has the holiday had you eating things you normally avoid?  Are you a fast talker or have some other habit you need to work on?  Let me know so I can feel a little bit more normal ;)

27

I turned 27 three days ago. I think I am still absorbing what that means. With that being said, it's not the actual age that is giving me pause. I think I am one of the few girls that actually loves getting older. It's more about what comes with said age.


When I was younger I came up with an estimated timeline of my life. It's one of those far-fetched things that I am sure a lot of people do. It's the "by the time I'm __ I will be ___" schedule that you compare your life with to see if you're "on track" or not. This can be both a good and bad thing. It can be good because it can fuel your dreams and push you to achieve goals. It can be bad because those dreams and goals were set at an age when you most likely didn't know what went into making them happen.

I have been blessed. Aside from only one or two aspects .. my life is "right on track". School, work, marriage, etc all happened when I expected. It may not have turned out exactly how I originally planned but the timing was nevertheless perfect. I have spent a few years now floating along with no big adjustments on the horizon. It's been more about maintenance and fine-tuning. Well, things are about to change.

I know I've shared my baby fever with you .. frequently. My want ebbs and flows. There are days when it's all I can think about and there are days when I am shouting praises that I am child-free. This will probably never change. The main factor is though that we want kids and I have always planned to have my first one at 28. That's what this monologue boils down to. Considering the 40 week delay and my crazy math ... instead of having a year left .. I feel like I have 2 months left.  Twenty-eight feels a lot closer than it used to.

Are we going to plan a family based on my own neurotic schedule for my life? Absolutely not. I'm not THAT crazy ;)  It's just that all the other goals have come and gone fairly effortlessly and this is the first one that really has me taking a step back, taking a deep breath, and looking at the bigger picture. Who knows what will happen and when. Maybe this is the point at which the path splits. Maybe not. It's just a whole lotta food for thought .. and I'm stuffed.

Belated Weekend Update

Sorry about the mini-hiatus but I'm back! 

Last time we chatted I was planning for my solo weekend at home.  Mark went on a guys' weekend in the mountains and so the pup and I were on our own.  Naturally I wrote down a huge to-do list to keep myself busy.  It looked something like this:

~ Read 1 book (maybe 2)
~ Detail inside of my car
~ Start (complete?) taxes online
~ Deodorize/clean carpet
~ Finish organizing and decorating the guest suite and lounge from the room swap a couple weeks ago
~ Come up with an appetizer for the Super Bowl party (and then attend said party)
~ Laundry
~ Come up with menu/grocery list for the week
~ Clean the house (dust, bathrooms, etc.)
~ Go to a birthday party for a little friend that is turning 1 (this depends on the sick status .. no need to spread germs!)
~ Go to Target for items to complete tasks above.

So how did I do, you ask?

~ I finished one book and got through a big chunk of the second.
~ My car remains un-detailed .. but I bought an awesome air freshener that clips to the car vent so that makes everything ok ;)
~ I gathered some tax docs together that were already sitting on top of the desk in a messy pile to prep for actually doing it.  That counts, right?
~ Yes!  This was actually one of the priorities.  A few days earlier, while laying in Downward Dog (don't be fooled by the yoga-speak .. I just started), I had my nosed pressed into our carpet .. and was mortified to realize it REEKED of actual dog.  Merlin is cute but GEEZ!  He is bathed regularly and I keep plug-ins around the house so I guess kudos to them for actually doing their job.  I had no idea!  Now, thanks to Arm and Hammer .. we are back to being so fresh and so clean clean ...
~ Ohhh buddy .. this little bullet point shall continue below..
~ I copped out on this one.  I was going to do individual veggie cups but ran out of time.  Instead I went to the store and bought a veggie tray and hummus.  Oh well..
~ Done but the clothes weren't actually put away until Mark got home .. which might have actually been part of the plan .. because I will wash clothes all day but I hate hanging them ..
~ Yup!
~ Check!
~ I felt much better by the time Saturday night rolled around and so I went.  It was a ton of fun!  I don't often (ever?) hang out with that crowd stag so it was a nice change of pace.  The topic of my birthday came up (which was 3 days ago) and it was decided we would throw a house party.  Just something simple, easy and fun.  I will recap this in another post.
~ OK SO!  This was one of the major highlights of the weekend.  Yes .. I know .. I saw great friends and went to a sweet birthday party but OH HOW I LOVE TARGET!  My original intention for the guest room (thus Target trip) was to get some missing essentials.  We repurposed/donated a lot of the items that were in the previous guest room so all that I was left with was pretty much JUST a bed and a couple chairs.  Since this room was painted a different color, I couldn't even use the bedding because it clashed so badly!  So I made a list of what I needed: a lamp, some sort of side table, a hand towel holder for the bathroom and a comforter that didn't make you reach for sunglasses. Four things.  That's it.  And really it was possibly just three because Mark could build me a side table or two.

Off to Target I went. 

I started in the lighting department.  I didn't really have a budget in mind but cheap (without looking like it) is ALWAYS what I'm going for.  I saw several lamps I loved but didn't feel like dropping $40 on a lamp at the time.. especially since I really wanted two.  I kept perusing and then I saw this little red sticker that said "clearance".  Usually Target uses their endcaps for clearance so when I saw the lamps above the sticker (shoved way in the back) I figured the whole thing was misplaced.  Just on a whim though I checked.  FOUR DOLLARS!  Say what!?  They are medium/large ceramic white lamp bases, in perfect condition, and only $4.  There were two sitting there and so I grabbed them up.  They were meant for me. 

I figured it had to be a fluke until I was heading out of the lighting department and spotted a second little red tag.  It was for a smaller black lamp with a cool oval shade.  SIX DOLLARS! Then halfway down the aisle a stainless floor lamp with remote for TWELVE DOLLARS!  I had been in Target all of 15 minutes and my cart was full with three ceramic lamps and a stainless floor lamp for a whopping $26.  I was totally elated.  The extra lamps weren't really on my list but how can you turn down a sale like that!? 

I looked around for signs advertising some sort of crazy sale but there was nothing.  Just these little red tags stuck amidst the regularly priced items.  I immediately started to amend my shopping list in my head to include all the "wants" and not just the "needs".  I thought about how I wanted to dress the room and began to practically skip to the other departments.  All in all I came away a HUGE winner.  Turns out those little red stickers were everywhere!  This is what I ended up with:

- 2 large white ceramic lamp bases
- 1 black ceramic lamp with shade
- 1 stainless floor lamp with remote
- hand towel holder for bathroom
- embroidered curtain panel
- sheer curtain panel
- curtain rod
- super soft throw
- 2 accent pillows
- glass vase
- welcome mat
- makeup

What was the grand total?  $114.76! I think the checkout girl thought I was nuts because I totally asked her to repeat herself (even though it was on the screen in front of me) and there may have been a very small happy dance involved.

Needless to say it was a success :)  I will post pictures soon of the finished results.  Below is the photographic evidence.  Consider this me bragging ...


Sorry for the bad pic.  Mark took the good camera with him to the mountains.



Lesson Learned?  ALWAYS look for the little red tags. 

Do you love Target like I do?  Have you scored some insanely good sales lately?  Where is your favorite place to shop?  Have you ever embarrassed yourself with a happy dance?

I'm still here.

These week has been crazy!  I promise I am still here.  I have about 6 posts in the works but none of them are 100% finished.  I will try and tie up the loose ends and start pushing them out.  Thanks guys for your patience ;)

Jesus Calling: February 4th

This seemed especially pertinent today.  This is from Jesus Calling and it's vital:

Bring me your weakness, and receive My Peace.  Accept yourself and your circumstances just as they are, remembering that I am sovereign over everything.  Do not wear yourself out with analyzing and planning.  Instead, let thankfulness and trust be your guides through this day; they will keep you close to Me.  As you live in the radiance of My Presence, My peace shines upon you.  You will cease to notice how weak or strong you feel, because you will be focusing on Me.  The best way to get through this day is step by step with Me.  Continue this intimate journey, trusting that the path you are following is headed for heaven.

The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.
~ Psalm 29:11

The Lord bless you, and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace.
~ Numbers 6: 24-26

But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
~ Psalm 13:5

Weekend Outlook: The Single Girl Edition



 Normally I write a post with a specific topic in mind.  I don't feel like it today.  I guess if I have to label it then we will go with "weekend".

Mark left this morning for a guys' weekend in the mountains.  He really deserves the mini-vacation so I am happy for him.  That means, however, that I will be single until Sunday. 

Mark is definitely not one to get in the way when I am trying to clean or organize or anything but yet I always get excited when this weekend rolls around annually.  I get the chance to not cook full meals, organize/clean at whim, and read hours on end.  It's my own little retreat, too.

I set out yesterday making my to-do list for the weekend; a list of all the things I wanted to accomplish on my own timetable and without distraction.  Unfortunately, everything might not get done as I planned (surprise. surprise.) because I woke up this morning with a cold.  Right now I am just looking forward to quickly swinging by Target for a couple things and then going home to bed.  NOT how I planned to start my weekend.  I am kind of bummed about it because I haven't been sick since April.  I was hoping to go a full year but no cigar. Maybe I will get a second wind when I get home.

Nevertheless, I have a to-do list and I am sticking to do.  I may not complete the whole thing but at least some is better than none.  In the spirit of organizing my thoughts and making myself accountable to my goals, here is my to do list as it stands now:

~ Read 1 book (maybe 2)
~ Detail inside of my car
~ Start (complete?) taxes online
~ Deodorize/clean carpet
~ Finish organizing and decorating the guest suite and "lounge"* from the room swap a couple weeks ago
~ Come up with an appetizer for the Super Bowl party (and then attend said party)
~ Laundry
~ Come up with menu/grocery list for the week
~ Clean the house (dust, bathrooms, etc.)
~ Go to a birthday party for a little friend that is turning 1 (this depends on the sick status .. no need to spread germs!)
~ Go to Target for items to complete tasks above.

I think that is about it.  There are ton of little individual tasks on my written list in front of me but they all generally fall under the categories above.  Honestly, the list is totally doable.  It's actually pretty doable with a cold (minus the birthday party) but you never know.  I may wake up tomorrow healed or I may wake up feeling dead.  We'll see. 

The point of all this is that I plan on having a productive, happy weekend.  I wish the same for all of you. Whether you are hammering out a to-do list like me or just want to sit on the couch for 48 hours...  I hope it's everything you want it to be.  I will report back and let you know how I did.  Happy Weekend!

* Ever since the man room moved downstairs it has kind of lost it's exclusivity.  It's not longer separated from the main living space and so "man room" or "man cave" just doesn't feel appropriate.  Right now it holds two lounge chairs, a bookcase and a small beer fridge.  (It used to have a couch, TV, etc but those were repurposed for other rooms)  Since its main purpose right now is reading or listening to music, we jokingly deemed it "The Lounge" .... and it kind of stuck.  It's embarrassing but we really just don't know what to call it.  So with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek .. I will now be referring to the former office as "The Lounge".

midweek confessions

~ "Operation: Wake up earlier and exercise" is a FAIL.  I started a week ago and officially only managed to wake up early on Wednesday, Thursday and yesterday.  I did, however, exercise 5 of the 7 days so that's something.  Once I am up then the rest is easy.  It's just motivating myself to get out of bed because I know I could sleep in for another hour and a half (if I push it).  The first two weeks are the hardest (I remember that from last time) so I need to just man up and do it.  Last time I did this I got up at 5:45 with Mark and that was my motivation .. to be up when he was and be able to say bye.  This time around I have been attempting to get up at 6:15 (right as he leaves) but once that happens the house is quiet and sleepy.  I think I may need to push my alarm back 30 minutes to get me through the first couple of weeks and then I can adjust once I get it under control.  As per usual .. you will be updated ;)


~ Sometimes I struggle with inadequacy.  It comes upon me every once in a while and seems to color everything.  It's my own personal cloud cover.  I can usually get a grasp on it and kick it out the door but it nevertheless comes back.  It came back for about 3 days before I realized what was going on and pulled myself together.  It's not that I feel inadequate in a certain area of my life .. it affects everything.  I just see how I can be better in so many ways and I play the "compare" game.  The reason I am bringing this up now is because Mark made an innocent joke (one in which we've made a million times) and I took it the wrong way and burst into tears.  That was the big fat clue that I need to self-check and find out what was going on.  Needless to say I gave myself an attitude adjustment, notified Mark what was really going on and moved on.  I'm sure this happens to others and I hate it.  I wish I could rid myself of those thoughts forever.  Just another foothold...


~ I'm a reader.  A big reader.  I average about 100 books a year (and yes I keep count).  My mom is a reader, too.  I think it's genetic.  I read a little bit of everything but I mostly camp in fiction.  I try to cover the classics, the bestsellers, and everything in between.  I have standards though and I admit to sometimes being quick to generalizations.  I have excluded an author's entire collections of works out of "principle".  It's not fair and it certainly means I sometimes fail at the whole not-being-narrow-minded thing.  An example of a couple of these authors are Nicholas Sparks and Nora Roberts. 

Nicholas Sparks is on the list because I feel like it's overly sappy, it's this "perfect love" and then someone goes and dies in the end from cancer or whatever.  I read for enjoyment so why would I want to sit around and cry reading his books?  No thanks.  Nora Roberts is on the list because I thought she was the one with Fabio on the front and everyone is from the 18th century and sex-obsessed. Ugh.

My mom read Nora Roberts (and the like) growing up.  I thought I would never read "crap" like that (sorry Mom!).  I wanted to read real books.  Wellllll I eventually caved and I read one of her books...just to see what it was like.  What is it like?  It's like a cozy blanket.  It's the book version of a contented sigh.  It's effortless and comforting.  I have no idea why but I just love her.  I always end up throwing in a couple of her books (or a series) each year.  It's happy ever afters and they just make me smile.

I know it's silly but at almost 27 I feel way too young to be reading Nora (even though that's the general age of her characters).  I always stereotyped her for the 50+ set.  I've kept our relationship a secret long enough .. so here I am .. claiming my adoration.  I still hold my grudge against Sparks and his followers.  I have yet to drink that Kool-aid.  Maybe one day .. maybe not.